Chapter 79: Night Talk Over Wine·Hidden Discussion of the Common People (Part I)

The bandits' corpses were dragged to a distant spot outside the village and hastily buried, the bloodstains on them roughly covered with dirt.

But the heavy smell of blood in the air could not dissipate in a short while.

Although they had just experienced a sudden skirmish, no one sustained serious injuries.

But the mental and physical exhaustion was considerable, making the originally planned quiet rest impossible.

Then the subordinate of that "elder brother" took some salt and seasonings from his pack.

They placed the half-roasted wild rabbit back over the fire, added more firewood, and let the bonfire blaze brighter.

The orange-red flames flickered, dispelling the night's chill and illuminating faces of varied expressions.

After fighting side by side, the invisible barrier between the two groups seemed to have thinned considerably.

Although they still did not sit together, the atmosphere was no longer as tense as before.

"Brothers, fellow warriors, if you don't mind, shall we share some food to calm our nerves?"

"Elder brother" took the initiative to invite, his tone gentle, carrying an sincerity that could not be refused.

He personally cut several large chunks of the rabbit, roasted until fragrant and sizzling with oil, using his dagger.

Placing them on clean large leaves, he handed them over to Chen Wen's side.

Chen Wen pondered briefly, then accepted it openly:

"Thank you for your generosity, elder brother; we would be rude to refuse."

He gestured for Zhao Dayan and the others to come over and get food.

After a day of toil and combat, the temptation of hot food was hard to resist.

Everyone sat around the bonfire, silently eating the rabbit meat.

The meat was coarse, seasoned only with salt.

Yet at this time and place, it surpassed any delicacy.

In the silence, only the sound of chewing and the crackle of the firewood could be heard.

In the end, it was still "elder brother" who broke the silence.

"How should I address you, brother?"

"I am Chen Wen; may I ask your esteemed surname, elder brother?"

"No need for formalities; my surname is Rong, and my style name is Rongjun."

"Brother Chen."

"Brother Rong!"

The two raised their cups to each other, then fell silent again.

Not long after, Brother Rong continued to break the silence.

He swallowed the food in his mouth, his gaze turning to the leaping flames.

As if sighing, yet also probing, he spoke slowly:

"These times… are becoming increasingly unsettled."

"During the day we see the powerful bullying the good; at night, bandits kill and plunder."

"Brother Chen, you have traveled south and north, seen much; what do you think?"

"The realm is in turmoil; how have the people's livelihoods deteriorated to this extent? Where does the root lie?"

This question is quite grand, even somewhat sensitive.

If it were an ordinary merchant, they might give a vague answer.

They would spout clichés like "constant military disasters" and "unceasing natural disasters."

But Chen Wen understands deeply.

The "Brother Rong" before him is certainly no ordinary guard leader; this question must have a deeper meaning.

He set down the meat in his hand and wiped his hands with a cloth.

He did not answer immediately, but instead posed a counter-question:

"What do you think, Brother Rong?"

"Brother Rong" seemed not to have expected Chen Wen to turn the question back.

He blinked slightly, then a flash of admiration crossed his eyes.

He did not hide anything, speaking frankly:

"The surface appearance is naturally that of regional warlords carving out domains, martial men holding power, attacking each other, leading to endless warfare and the suffering of the populace."

"The Khitan, Dangxiang and other foreign barbarians likewise took the opportunity to raid the borders, plundering without restraint."

"But..."

He paused, his voice dropping a few degrees.

"If we trace it to the root, perhaps it is that the two characters 'bonds and norms' have already collapsed."

Chen Wen nodded, then shook his head.

This action caused Brother Rong and his subordinates to show expressions of interest.

"What Brother Rong spoke of are results, not the root cause."

Chen Wen's voice was calm, yet carried a penetrating quality.

"Warfare and foreign barbarians are merely appearances."

"The collapse of the bonds and norms is also merely an appearance."

"Oh? I would like to hear the details."

"Brother Rong" leaned his body slightly forward, adopting a posture of attentive listening.

Chen Wen's gaze swept over the fire, as if he could see from the flames the history of Jiao Tu Zhen from nothing to existence.

Seeing the refugees' eyes longing for peace, and also seeing Liu Du Tou, Chuan Shan Bao, and even the Iron Crow Army's greed and cruelty.

He slowly said: 'The root lies in the two characters: "order".'

'Order?'

'Not bad.'

'The top-down order has already failed.'

'The Imperial Court's orders do not reach Bian Liang, let alone the palace inner courts.'

'The regional military governors, holding military power and finances, are like independent kingdoms.'

'They treat the people as straw dogs, levy without limit to support private troops, and attack each other to expand their territories.'

'This is the first chaos, namely official chaos.'

He paused, then continued:

'When officials are corrupt, law and order cease to exist.'

'Powerful landlords can annex at will, oppressing the countryside;'

'Jianghu gangs, mountain bandits, and wandering refugees then proliferate, the weak preyed upon by the strong.'

'This is the second chaos, namely popular chaos.'

'Official and popular chaos intertwine, leaving the people with no means to survive.'

'Either they become starving refugees, or they take to risky paths, joining the ranks of plunderers.'

'Thus cycling, order collapses completely, and the human world becomes a purgatory.'

Chen Wen's voice was not loud, yet each word was clear.

Like a cold awl, it pierced the fig leaf that many had grown accustomed to.

'Therefore, the so-called "officials forcing the people to rebel" is not empty talk.'

'When merely staying alive becomes a luxury, benevolence and righteousness turn into castles in the air.'

Around the campfire, all was silent except for the sound of the flames burning.

Rongxiong's guards mostly showed a thoughtful expression.

Clearly, these words touched upon what they usually see and feel.

Zhao Dayan and the others wore faces of pride.

Having personally experienced Jiao Tu Zhen's transition from disorder to order, they understood the leader's words more deeply.

Rongxiong remained silent for a long time.

His fingers unconsciously tapped his knees, light flickering in his eyes.

Chen Wen's words drew no citations from the classics.

Yet they pointed directly to the core, their insight profound.

Far surpassing the usual scholars' discussions, and certainly not something a mere martial man could say.

He took a deep breath and asked:

'Then, according to Brother Chen's view, to pacify this chaotic world, where should we begin?'

This is the crux of the problem, and also what Rongxiong truly wants to know.

Chen Wen answered without hesitation:

'To pacify the world, first ensure sufficient troops and provisions; primary is a clear and honest administration.'

'Troops and provisions are the foundation; this is common sense.'

'But this clear and honest administration…'

Rongxiong pondered.

'Easier said than done?'

'Nowadays, having troops and provisions makes one a hilltop warlord; who still cares about administration?'

'Precisely because of this, its importance is all the more evident.'

Chen Wen's gaze was firm.

'To gain a territory, if one cannot select the virtuous and capable, purge corruption, make orders flow smoothly, and let the people rest and recuperate,'

'then this place will never be fundamental, merely another stronghold for squeezing the people's fat and ointment.'

'Without provisions, troops will not gather; without trust, the people will not stand.'

'This "trust" comes from a clear and honest administration.'

'It comes from governance that brings order and hope to the people.'

He recalled the five offices established in Jiao Tu Zhen.

He recalled Granny Wang, Shi Dun, Qian Gui, and others each fulfilling their duties.

Although simple, it was extraordinarily efficient.

'Even if it is just a town or county, if an effective order can be established, with strict laws,'

'so that farmers have their land, artisans gain their profits, merchants circulate their goods, and soldiers defend their borders.'

'then the people's hearts will naturally turn toward it, and the foundation will naturally be solid.'

'Based on this, one can then plan for greater things.'

These words almost summarize the practice of Jiao Tu Zhen.

It merely hides the core role of the system, emphasizing the power of the concept and order itself.

Rongxiong listened, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

What Chen Wen said was exactly what he had been thinking and hoping for.

Yet it is hard to find a successful example of this idea in reality.

He couldn't help but clap his hands and sigh lightly:

"What an excellent saying: 'To bring peace to the world, first ensure sufficient troops and food; the primary task is to have a clear and honest administration!'"

"Chen brother, your words are truly precious advice, capable of rousing the deaf and enlightening the dull!"

"If all the provincial governors and military commissioners across the world could share your view, what worry would there be that the troubled age would not be pacified and the common people would not be at peace?"

His gaze toward Chen Wen had completely changed.

It was no longer the look one gives to a chance‑encountered merchant or hero with some ability.

But rather like discovering an uncarved piece of jade, a rare talent fit to assist a king!

Tonight's discussion in this rustic village far surpasses the value of the earlier skirmish that drove off the bandits.

That vague notion in his mind grew ever clearer and more urgent:

This person must be brought under my command!

The campfire crackled, illuminating two equally youthful faces that both harbored extraordinary ambitions.

A conversation concerning the welfare of all under heaven has only just begun.

Yet already, weighty stones have been dropped into each other's hearts, stirring up layer upon layer of ripples.

And these ripples will eventually spread outward, influencing the course of the entire era.