Chapter 227: Within the Seven Hundred Li of the Three Gorges

"I never thought I would live to see the Three Gorges before they were submerged!"

In mid-April, Heifu stood atop a hill twenty li west of Yiling County town, buffeted by the whistling river wind, feeling a little dazed and also somewhat fortunate. At the same time, he began to feel that this trip accompanying the Commandery Governor on his county inspection tour had yielded something after all.

Ignorant and ill-informed as he was, he did not know that in later ages, this particular stretch of the Three Gorges was actually never submerged either...

"For seven hundred li through the Three Gorges, the banks are lined with continuous mountains, with scarcely a single gap. Layer upon layer of crags and tier upon tier of cliffs blot out the sky and hide the sun. Unless it is midnight or high noon, one never sees the sun or moon."... If he remembered correctly, that was how the textbook described it, and the scenery before Heifu's eyes could find no more fitting words to depict it.

The hill where Heifu stood was called "Western Gorge Mouth," the very endpoint of Western Gorge, one of the Three Gorges. Here, the seven hundred li of tiered peaks and layered cliffs, the dense treacherous shoals of the mighty Great River, all came to an end. From here eastward, the continuous mountains on both banks turned into low hills, and the swirling, raging river waters gradually spread out into a calm, smooth current.

Hence the locals say: "The waters here become placid, and the mountains here become mounds," and so the place was named "Yiling."

Yiling County lay one hundred and fifty li west of Zhijiang County, and was precisely the second stop on this Commandery Governor's inspection tour.

In Yiling, Governor Ye as usual first inspected the winter wheat planted locally, checking the harvest results after applying the compost and retting-fertilizer method. The yield had likewise increased by about thirty percent. The Governor was very satisfied, and then continued on to inspect the progress of water-powered trip-hammer implementation in this county.

Yiling was high in the west and low in the east, with many rushing streams, making it an ideal place to promote water-powered trip-hammers. Moreover, the county's population was only a little over twenty thousand; installing more water-powered trip-hammers could precisely compensate for the shortage of manpower.

This time the Governor did not ask Heifu to accompany him, so Heifu was happy to take it easy. After spending a day checking the local military registers and confirming the conscription procedures, his official duties were done. Seeing that the Governor was still wandering about the countryside, Heifu grew restless. Using the pretext of inspecting the waterways, relay posts, and courier stations at Western Gorge Mouth, he had a few local minor clerks act as guides and took him on a day trip to Western Gorge.

Time was limited, so this outing could only be a cursory glance. After catching a glimpse of Western Gorge's scenery, Heifu had to hurry back. It was not until the afternoon, around the hour of husking, that he returned to Yiling County town.

The county seat of Yiling was very small, less than half the size of Anlu County town. The buildings mostly spread out along the riverbank. At the bend in the river where the current slowed, there was the dock, where several boats that had sailed from Ba-Shu were now moored.

"Setting out at dawn from White Emperor City, one reaches Jiangling by dusk. Though the distance between them is twelve hundred li, even riding a swift steed or harnessing the wind could not be faster."

That being said, in this era, coming out of the Three Gorges from Ba-Shu into Nan Commandery was a perilous affair. After all, the Three Gorges were thick with treacherous shoals, and without an experienced old boatman, accidents were all too easy. Having just endured a heart-stopping voyage of seven or eight hundred li, the crews of these Ba-Shu vessels urgently needed to rest and drink some local rice wine to steady their nerves.

On his way back to the county office, Heifu passed the dock and happened to see the Governor's Chief Clerk, Teng, sitting there with a few attendants, apparently waiting for someone.

The Chief Clerk's name was Lu Dang. Upon seeing Heifu, Lu Dang rose on his own initiative and cupped his hands in salute. A Chief Clerk was a five-hundred-bushel official, so Heifu could not dispense with bowing deeply with clasped hands in return, and he exchanged a few words with him.

"Has the Left Military Clerk managed to see the sights of Western Gorge?"

Ever since they had set out from Zhijiang, Lu Dang's attitude toward Heifu had suddenly become warm.

Heifu did not dare be remiss: "I have seen them. They truly live up to their reputation."

Lu Dang smiled. "Actually, Western Gorge is not the most beautiful or the most treacherous. The last time the Governor toured the counties, he took us all the way west, to Zigui, through Wu Gorge, and on to Wu County, where we glimpsed Qutang Gorge. Those are the truly wondrous mountains and extraordinary waters, unparalleled under heaven!"

Heifu smiled. "I wonder if I will be fortunate enough to see such marvelous sights this time."

"I'm afraid not."

Lu Dang revealed, "This tour, the Governor will only go as far west as Yiling. The day after tomorrow, he will board a boat and sail east down the river, perhaps to Yidao, or back to Jiangling to rest. Then we'll take the water route directly to Jingling and Zhouling, and after that, it will be the turn of the Left Military Clerk's hometown, Anlu County..."

"Compared to marvelous sights, I would rather return home."

Heifu said, "When we reach Anlu, I shall be the one to guide the Governor and Chief Clerk."

The two then fell silent for a moment. Soon after, Lu Dang gestured toward the city of Yiling and began to speak of military matters, a subject that interested Heifu.

"As the Left Military Clerk must have seen, coming east down through the Three Gorges from Ba territory, the mountains are continuous and layered until one reaches this place, where the water current gradually calms and the mountain terrain gradually gentles. Thus, Yiling is the western gateway to Jianghan. Back then, the state of Chu built a city and established operations here, even designating this area as the Western Royal Tombs. It is said that many Chu kings and high ministers are buried among these tiered peaks and layered mountains..."

Heifu nodded. "Two years ago, when I was a precinct chief in Anlu County, I arrested a gang of grave robbers. The bandit chieftain leading them had been digging up Chu tombs right here in Yiling."

"I remember that case as well."

Lu Dang said, "However, those tombs of the former Chu kings built on the city outskirts were burned over fifty years ago by Lord Wu'an and General Sima Cuo."

It turned out that over fifty years ago, when Qin attacked Chu, it first seized the lands of Shangyong and Hanbei. Then it split its forces into two routes. One route, which Heifu was more familiar with, was Lord Wu'an, Bai Qi, leading tens of thousands of troops to strike directly at Yan City, a lone force driving deep. The reason the King of Chu at the time could not muster enough troops to resist Bai Qi was precisely because Qin's other large army, led by Sima Cuo, had set out from Ba-Shu, advancing east with its navy and drawing off the main force of the Chu army...

Lu Dang said, "I have heard that at the time, General Sima Cuo led thirty thousand men from Ba-Shu, with scores of large ships and hundreds of small boats, setting out from Mount Wen and sailing down the river. From Jiangzhou, the seat of Ba Commandery, to the Chu capital of Ying, which is today's Jiangling, is over thirteen hundred li. Though the distance in li is great, the current is swift, allowing one to travel over three hundred li a day without expending the strength of oxen or horses."

"The great army set out from Ba Commandery's seat, and in less than two days reached Han Pass on Chu's western border. Once Han Pass was breached, Wu County and Zigui to the east all surrendered without a fight. Chu's Qianzhong and Wu Commanderies fell entirely to Qin, and this Yiling could no longer hold out either."

"It happened that just then, Lord Wu'an had broken through Yan City, so he crossed Jingmen and came to Yiling to rendezvous with General Sima Cuo. Using the grain from Ba-Shu, they gave the soldiers who had pierced through Chu a hearty meal, then set fire to Yiling to intimidate the King of Chu. Afterward, the navy also pushed east to Jingling, the sound of their gongs and war drums reaching the Orchid Terrace Palace. That King Xiang of Chu, indeed like a startled bird, took his royal clan and noble relatives and fled east, abandoning Ying."

At this point, Lu Dang could not help but mock King Xiang of Chu's cowardice and incompetence. The Goddess of Wu Mountain, who haunted King Xiang's dreams, was thus lost and defiled beneath the great ships and powerful crossbows of the Qin army, while he could only look west in panic.

Heifu suddenly felt that Chu's history during the Warring States period was actually somewhat similar to the Song dynasty of later ages. Perhaps in the eyes of men like Xiang Yan, Dou Ran, and Zhongli Mei, the humiliation of Yan and Ying was roughly akin to the shame of Jingkang in the eyes of the Song people.

At the same time, Heifu could not help but admire Sima Cuo. He said, "I have heard that as early as the time of King Huiwen, General Sima Cuo strongly advocated attacking Ba-Shu. Once Qin held Ba-Shu, it could use its upstream position to threaten Chu. Truly great foresight!"

Although this general had the misfortune of being born at the wrong time, his brilliance overshadowed by the glorious achievements of his junior Bai Qi, and his fame was not as great, if one said Bai Qi excelled in tactics and military momentum, then Sima Cuo excelled in strategy. Whether it was his forceful advocacy for annexing Ba-Shu or his launching of attacks on Chu from Ba-Shu, both demonstrated his unique vision.

If Ba-Shu were not Qin territory, Heifu felt that he would not be able to sleep a single night peacefully in Jiangling City.

"Thus, Yiling is a strategic point, a barrier and gateway for the state. To lose it is not merely to lose one city; the entire commandery would be in peril."

Lu Dang still wore that look of deep concern. Heifu knew that, as Chief Clerk, he bore the responsibility of checking for omissions and filling gaps for the Governor. His repeated emphasis on Yiling's importance now surely had a reason for his worry.

So Heifu deliberately said in a relaxed manner, "Nowadays, Ba-Shu are already commanderies and counties of Qin. Although I have heard of a few rebellions by the Marquis of Shu, ever since Governor Li Bing took charge, the region has been peaceful, and with irrigation, there is surplus grain shipped out every year. Yiling's military preparedness is also complete. Is the Chief Clerk perhaps overthinking this?"

"Though external threats are quelled, internal troubles are not few..."

Lu Dang stopped there. He indeed had something on his mind.

Before Heifu could ask, the minor clerk beside them, who had been gazing out at the river, suddenly called out, "Chief Clerk, the boat is coming!"

Heifu and Lu Dang looked out over the river together and saw a large wooden boat with a deep draft slowly emerging from the distant Western Gorge Mouth. The oarsmen were rowing furiously in the opposite direction, gradually slowing the boat until it finally docked at Yiling pier where the river bent. The sailors on board let out a cheer.

Heifu could tell: Chief Clerk Lu Dang was waiting for someone! That person must be on this boat.

"What kind of personage would warrant the Chief Clerk of Nan Commandery's Governor coming to wait in person?" Heifu could not help but grow curious.

By now, he could also see clearly that the large wooden boat was painted with the design of a white tiger in lacquer. The crew members disembarking from the boat were also distinct in their hairstyles and clothing. Most were barbarians with animal skins wrapped around their waists and bare torsos. Their hair was either done up in a mallet-shaped bun or shaved clean, leaving only a tuft on the crown of the head...

As they drew nearer, Heifu also saw the willow-leaf-shaped swords hanging at their waists.

The identity of this group was immediately obvious: Ba people!

This was an ancient tribe. Besides Ba Commandery, many Ba people were now also distributed in Yidao, Yiling, Zigui, and Wu County in the western part of Nan Commandery. Heifu had occasionally seen a few in Jiangling City. The Ba people were fierce and brave, often serving as loyal warriors, guarding the homes and courtyards of local powerful families.

However, the person being escorted this way, surrounded by a crowd of Ba people like stars clustering around the moon, was a young man dressed in Qin attire. He looked to be about Heifu's age, yet he already wore a single-board cap, clearly indicating the rank of Grand Master!

Could it be that this was the person Lu Dang was waiting for?

Heifu's question was soon answered. Lu Dang explained to him in a low voice, "This man is called Ba Zhong. He is the son of the Ba Widow Qing. At noon today, he sent a small boat ahead to inform us that he has an important matter and needs to request an audience with the Governor. Therefore, the Governor had me wait for him here..."

As they spoke, the young man, who seemed well-versed in Qin's ritual system, bowed with clasped hands toward Lu Dang and Heifu from afar.

"I am but a barbarian. How dare I trouble a superior official to wait?"

Lu Dang immediately cupped his hands and returned the salute to the young man. "This is the Governor's order. You, sir, are also a Grand Master personally enfeoffed by the Great King. It is only proper."

"The son of the Widow Qing?"

By now, Heifu had also caught on. He sized up the young man, and a sudden realization dawned on him, understanding why this son was treated with such importance.

"So you're the son of Qin's biggest mining boss!"

PS: I owed 9 chapters total last month. I'll start making them up from the 13th — been busy the past few days.

(End of chapter)