Chinese New Year

Chapter 1492 The Life of Lying Flat (Part 1)
Guanfeng Hall, Lichun Terrace, Longlin Hall, Luhua Pavilion...

Each building was gradually built up during his reign. Shao Xun looked at them with great interest, often stopping to admire them as if he were appreciating his own great achievements.

Yang Xianrong followed quietly behind him, watching with a bored expression, as if she had lived in the palace for most of her life and was already tired of seeing all this.

"Where's Yi Nan?" Shao Xun stopped and asked.

Yang Xianrong glared at him, his chest heaving twice, but he ultimately remained silent.

Shao Xun chuckled, took Yang Xianrong's hand, and walked along the forest path.

"It must be because you appeared too frequently when I was in my most dangerous time that I had to tolerate you like this." Yang Xianrong struggled for a moment but failed to break free, so she followed closely behind, muttering to herself.

Shao Xun seemed not to hear him and continued walking.

Yang Xianrong gradually calmed down, and slowly took Shao Xun's arm. Without saying a word, they just walked like that.

"You seem to be in good health," Shao Xun said again, making a reckless remark.

Surprisingly, Yang Xianrong wasn't angry. Instead, she glanced at him, sneered twice, and still held onto Shao Xun's arm, saying, "What good will it do you to make me angry?"

A pavilion appeared ahead, and Shao Xun pulled Yang Xianrong inside. They enjoyed the mountain breeze and the sound of cicadas, finding it quite pleasant.

“After the drought that year, I had several pavilions built in Guangchengze, which are very close to the farm, so that one day I could sit here and enjoy the rural scenery,” Shao Xun said. “At that time, I was not sure that I could defeat everyone, so I always thought that if the war went badly, I would retreat to Xiangcheng and Guangchengze to wait for the right time.”

"What about Guangcheng Palace?" Yang Xianrong suddenly asked.

Huh? Shao Xun was initially puzzled, then realized what he meant and laughed, "You're not even asking about Green Willow Garden?"

Yang Xianrong finally relaxed her tense expression and said, "Green Willow Garden cannot be destroyed either."

Shao Xun laughed even harder.

"Aren't you very proud of yourself, Shao Quanzhong?" Yang Xianrong said angrily.

Shao Xun was surprised; it had been a long time since anyone had called him by that name, let alone from a woman's mouth.

“If I had known, I wouldn’t have spoken up for you back in the Taiji Hall,” Yang Xianrong said. “I would have made you kneel before me until you died.”

"Anyway, I've knelt down many times already," Shao Xun said nonchalantly.

Yang Xianrong was getting a little impatient, but she was still observing Shao Xun out of the corner of her eye.

Shao Xun grasped her hand tightly and said, "Thank you."

Yang Xianrong didn't ask why she was thanking her, but just smiled slightly, her mood seemed to have improved a lot.

"Have you recently become a Buddhist?" Shao Xun asked after a moment of silence.

"Hmm. I've had some contact with the new Bai family member in the palace, and I think it might be useful," Yang Xianrong said.

"What's the use?" Shao Xun said helplessly, "Doesn't your family believe in the Celestial Masters sect?"

Yang Xianrong did not answer, and her mood sank again.

Shao Xun patted Yang Xianrong's hand and said, "Perhaps I am just wandering the world, summoned by the Jade Emperor to do some things. Don't forget that I am the spirit of Venus descended to earth."

“I know who you are,” Yang Xianrong said softly.

Shao Xun was taken aback. What was going on?
"What do you know?" Shao Xun glanced at her and asked.

“You wrote a lot of poems, but you later crumpled them up and threw them away,” Yang Xianrong said. “When I went to look for them again, I found that you had burned them.”

"Which time?" Shao Xun asked in surprise.

Yang Xianrong gave an irrelevant answer: "The rhymes in those poems are a bit strange."

Shao Xun was speechless.

Yang Xianrong stared at him for a while, and seeing that Shao Xun had nothing to say, she lowered her head and said, "Actually, I'm not very interested in Buddhism. Perhaps it would be better if I didn't cultivate it well. If I cultivate it well, I can escape the cycle of reincarnation."

Shao Xun remained silent, like a statue. His simple, understated words were the most poignant.

"After arriving in Bianliang, will the troops still be trained in the autumn?" Yang Xianrong asked, raising her head.

"Practice," Shao Xun said immediately. "Do you really think I can't draw a hard bow? I was letting those brats win last year."

Yang Xianrong covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "What are you arguing with them about? Or are you trying to impress someone? Just now you asked about Yinan, but how long has it been since you last visited her? You spend all your time lingering around the Zhuge sisters."

Shao Xun stood up with a smile and said, "Let's go back to Lichun Terrace. We'll live there from now on."

Yang Xianrong got up to accompany him.

At that time, the sun was setting, and the sky was filled with red clouds.

Shao Xun looked up for a long time, then smiled and said, "I didn't expect the sunset to be so magnificent."

"Didn't you notice it just now?" Yang Xianrong asked.

Shao Xun stroked Yang Xianrong's face and said, "I need your reminder."

Yang Xianrong sneered and turned her head away.

“Actually—” Shao Xun said softly. Yang Xianrong’s ears perked up.

"Actually, I am truly a spirit descended from the planet Taibai," Shao Xun laughed and said.

Yang Xianrong was stunned for a moment.

Shao Xun joked, "Actually, those who attain enlightenment and ascend to heaven reside in the Western Paradise. After having children, many of them lack talent and can only live like ordinary people, farming and weaving. I am one of those ordinary people."

Having said that, he drifted away.

******
In late June, Shao Xun received Li Huai, a literary figure from the Chu Prince's residence, at Lichun Terrace.

"In the past, when the Prince's Mansion was in turmoil, many officials resigned, yet you remained loyal and steadfast. Why is that?" Shao Xun asked slowly, holding a piece of fruit in his hand.

“A loyal minister does not serve two masters,” Li Huai replied.

Shao Xun pondered for a moment and said, "Let's just consider that reason for now."

After saying that, he turned around and sat down, saying, "Speak, what is it?"

"Your Majesty recently traveled south from Jianwei, visiting various prefectures. There were many who outwardly obeyed but inwardly defied you, so I request an additional two thousand soldiers." Li Huai spoke eloquently: "The barbarians have always feared power but not virtue. If we do not punish them according to Heaven's will, I fear they will be difficult to obey."

Shao Xun did not answer his question first, but asked, "Where will my son settle these soldiers? Will it be Wanshou County (near present-day Weng'an)?"

"We haven't reached the Wanshou era yet," Li Huai replied. "We are planning to find land in the San Tan region to distribute to the soldiers. However, the lands are not contiguous, so we may have to resort to some means."

The so-called "Three Talks Land" refers to the three counties of Tanzhi, Tanle, and Guangtan. Among them, Tanzhi and Guangtan existed in ancient times and were located along the line of present-day Luodian, Ziyun, and Ceheng, as well as Guiyang, Anshun, and Puding, respectively. All of them had relatively large areas.

Tanle County was newly established during the Great Liang Dynasty, and it was roughly located in the present-day Zhenning and parts of Liupanshui.

However, the seat of Zangke Commandery was located in Wanshou (Weng'an) to the east, making it inconvenient to manage.

Upon hearing this, Shao Xun thought to himself that Badger Lang wasn't without insight. During a break from road construction, he had actually noticed the land of San Tan—in fact, there was also Yelang County (present-day Guanling and Puan area) sandwiched in between—it seemed that he had grasped the key to Zangke.

"Two thousand soldiers are not difficult to recruit," Shao Xun said. "When the road was being built, were the Zangke barbarians considered compliant?"

“They are quite obedient; most of the local barbarians submit to Zhuge Liang,” Li Huai replied. “There are even some ignorant fools who ask whether Zhuge Liang is still alive.”

He sighed as he said this.

So many years have passed, yet the name of Zhuge Liang, who resolutely "crossed the Lu River in May and ventured deep into the barren lands," is still sung among the local people—and of course, the name of Ma Zhong, the commander of the Eastern Route Army.

How long can this legacy last? Like the Western Regions, the once-domesticated wild beasts are gradually being pushed into the abyss of rewilding.

"Very well, I agree. The Ministry of War and the Imperial Household Department will provide the funds, provisions, and equipment; you can recruit the personnel yourselves," Shao Xun said. "Be sure to be careful."

"Yes, sir." Li Huai was overjoyed.

Shao Xun couldn't help but glance at him again and asked, "How well have you adapted to Zhuti and Zangke?"

Li Huai thought for a moment and said, "When I arrived in Zangke, I was fine at first and there was nothing unusual. But one day I suddenly fell ill and lay in bed for several days before I recovered." Li Huai continued, "Later, when I went to Santan for an inspection, I found that the weather was cool at higher altitudes and it was quite comfortable to stay there. However, it was a bit chilly in the mornings and evenings in spring, so we had to light a brazier to keep warm."

He didn't dare say that the King of Chu had actually been ill once before. He, who seemed to have been driven by a single, overwhelming force since his southward journey, finally succumbed to his weakness, his forehead burning, and only began to recover slightly two days later.

Northerners risk their lives going there. If we ever formally establish a feudal system, the capital must be built in a relatively cool, high place, otherwise it will be really uncomfortable.

"You've had it tough too," Shao Xun sighed, and said, "Let's do it this way. Tell my son not to overthink it. Getting the road repaired and establishing prestige is more important than anything else."

Li Huai responded with a "yes".

After a short while, seeing that Shao Xun had nothing more to say, he took his leave.

After Shao Xun sat back down at his desk, he took out Li Huai's memorial and read it again.

All four councilors have added their annotations, indicating a near-unanimous approval, but there are subtle differences in their attitudes.

Liang Fen suggested "recruiting local braves," that is, recruiting strong and capable men of both Han and Yi ethnicity who were familiar with the local conditions and environment within the territory of Zangke, with their provisions and pay provided by Yizhou.

Wang Que'er believed that the remaining soldiers of the government could be recruited, and additional money, silk, agricultural tools, and medicine could be allocated to help the King of Chu pacify the barbarians and the Chinese.

Wen Qiao suggested granting two thousand households of the Shaofu Garden to “allow them to move with their families to Zangke for garrison duty, so that they could serve as personal guards and also strengthen the frontier.”

Wang Feng believed that prisoners could be sent to the army, and their families could be sent to Zangke. At the same time, he could "send good officials, transport salt and iron, open trade routes, and befriend the Xie and Zhao families. With the support of both the barbarians and the civilized people, what worries would there be about not being able to govern?"

They all basically represent their respective positions and attitudes, but the final decision still rests with Shao Xun.

Shao Xun did not hesitate. His approach was to use multiple methods, including recruiting surplus soldiers from the garrison, sons of the imperial guards, residents of the treasury, soldiers from the Three Ba ​​barbarians, and even the natives of Zangke, with a limit of two thousand. Once that was achieved, that would be enough.

In any case, it's really difficult to use the money and grain from Shu (Sichuan) outside the region, as the costs on the road are enormous. Considering that Shu has been at peace for many years since Li Cheng's death, and tax grain is piling up—at least that's how it appears on paper—why not just let it sit there and rot?
Money and provisions were not a problem; the real time and effort required was recruiting soldiers.

If only it were the Tang Dynasty, warriors would go anywhere as long as they were given money and rewards. The Qianzhong Road was controlled by the Caizhou troops in Henan, so they didn't think it was far at all.

Unfortunately, the atmosphere is different now.

Shao Xun sighed, closed the memorial, and set it aside. An official would take it and send it to the Secretariat, and then give Li Huai a temporary post so that he could legitimately recruit soldiers.

After doing all this, he left Lichun Terrace and went to Cuiwei Hall.

(End of this chapter)