Destroy Jin and conquer Song, and carry the Northern Expedition through to the end

Chapter 1014 The Enfeoffment of Feudal Lords and the Renewal of Expansion (Two Chapters Combined into One)

"First of all, I want to say that I want to become the Marquis of Taiwan and build a legacy for my descendants. Who agrees and who disagrees?"

He Zizhen was the first to speak, his imposing manner suggesting a domineering and earth-shattering presence.

The reactions of the people sitting cross-legged in a circle varied.

Song Yunlu covered her face with one hand, looking helplessly like she was thinking, "How the hell did I end up on the same side as this kind of person?"

Li Bao, holding his sword, stared at He Zizhen for a moment, then shook his head helplessly.

Li Gongzuo and Lin Zongchen, who were sitting on either side of Li Bao, had different expressions.

Li Gongzuo winked at He Zizhen, but maintained a solemn expression when his father glanced over.

Lin Zongchen, however, had a playful expression, but his attention was not on He Zizhen; instead, he kept looking at Song Yunlu.

Lu Jiuyuan and Qian Duanli were breathing heavily. This was a secret deal between a powerful general of the Song Kingdom and a general of the Han Dynasty, in the middle of nowhere. Wouldn't they be silenced?
As for the headman of the village, who was theoretically a landlord, he remained expressionless.

It wasn't that Ah Bang was calm despite his inner turmoil; it was simply that he didn't understand what these people were talking about.

After waiting for a while, He Zizhen nodded slightly: "Since no one objects, I..."

Seeing that Qian Duanli was unreliable, Lu Jiuyuan could only stand up helplessly: "General He, this island is in the sea off Fujian, directly opposite Quanzhou. No matter how you look at it, it should be part of the Song Dynasty. Even if the Han emperor wanted to grant you a title, he shouldn't be on this island."

He Zizhen was surprised that someone would dare to disagree on the first issue, and he glared at her with his knife in hand.

Lu Jiuyuan remained calm and fearless, seemingly the last vestige of conscience in the Song Dynasty.

However, Li Bao, the maritime shield of the Song Dynasty, spoke first, advising, "Young Master Lu, this matter is no longer up to the Song Dynasty to decide; there is no room for maneuver."

Lu Jiuyuan turned his head in astonishment, first looking at Li Bao, and then staring intently at Lin Zongchen.

He still remembered that this guy claimed to be one of the founders of Beigang. Now that Beigang on the island is so prosperous, doesn't he have a say?
The Song Dynasty has granted the Lin family such immense power—they are the Lin family's Nine Governors! How could Lin Zongchen not advocate for the Song Dynasty in such a situation?!
If the Han dynasty were to actually establish a Marquis of Taiwan on the island, Quanzhou would immediately have to defect to the Han.

Lin Zongchen sighed helplessly and bowed, saying, "Master Qian, Lu Liulang, do you know when someone first set foot on the island?"

Lu Jiuyuan shook his head in response.

"It was during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period that Sun Quan, the Great Emperor of Eastern Wu, sent people here. This is recorded in historical books. In other words, nearly a thousand years ago, our ancestors discovered this large island. But why has no one settled here on a large scale for so long?"

Lin Zongchen didn't keep them in suspense and gave the answer directly: "Of course, there are reasons such as navigation technology, miasma, acclimatization issues, and the large number of wild people, but ultimately it comes down to the lack of profit."

"Goods from Southeast Asia were gathered and distributed in Quanzhou, then transported to Hangzhou... also known as Lin'an, and then transported via the Grand Canal to the north and south of the Yangtze River and the banks of the Yellow River. This route did not pass through Taiwan, so it has always been a deserted island, with at most a few small fishing villages."

Lu Jiuyuan shook his head slightly: "No, no, there are many fields on the island, and Fujian has a large population but little land, so there will always be people who come to cultivate them."

He Zizhen then interjected with a half-smile, "Young Master Lu looks like a pampered rich man who never lifts a finger. How could he know how difficult it is to reclaim wasteland?"

"My Lu family is a family of scholars and farmers..."

Lin Zongchen's face suddenly looked tired. He waved his hand and said, "It's different. Clearing wasteland and cultivating arable land are two completely different things. Lu Liulang, have you ever dug up tree roots? I have! For a tree as thick as a head, it takes three days to dig up just one root."

This is just the work of uprooting big trees, digging ditches, removing shrubs, building houses, and constructing city walls. Where is manpower and money and food not needed?
Even though Fujian has a large population and limited land, if people could go to Jiangnan, Huguang, or the Central Plains, why would they bother coming to this beautiful island?

Lu Jiuyuan was speechless.

Lin Zongchen continued speaking: "The reason why the gentry of Jiangnan and the powerful families of the North were willing to spend a lot of money and bring in so many people to develop the island is ultimately because of the opening of the north-south shipping route."

Now, spices and giant trees from Southeast Asia can be shipped directly from Lin'an to Haizhou, Dengzhou, Liaodong, Goryeo, and Japan; while Japanese calligraphy, paintings, swords, warhorses and furs from beyond the Great Wall, and refined salt, books, porcelain, and ironware from Shandong can also be shipped south via this route. Taiwan has thus become a transit hub for transportation between the north and south, which is why we have the situation we have today.

"Lu Liulang, don't be fooled by Taiwan's location in the south. Without a northerner to lead it, much of Taiwan would be abandoned immediately."

Lu Jiuyuan shook his head repeatedly: "Since it's a north-south route, why can only northerners be used as leaders, and not southerners?"

Lin Zongchen pointed at He Zizhen, who had a sneer on his face: "Because they control most of the northern air routes."

Although Lu Jiuyuan's family did not engage in business, he immediately understood.

This raises the issue of sunk costs.

Now that north-south air routes are open and Taiwan has been developed to a considerable scale, the north needs the cooperation of the south to succeed. However, it is too easy for either side to cause trouble.

If the island, into which a great deal of manpower and resources has been invested, is left to fall into disrepair again, many powerful families in Jiangnan, including the Lin family, will lose everything.

However, Lu Jiuyuan already had some doubts.

"Hmm? I don't believe that merchants from the Song Dynasty would leave money unearned and not go north to find sea routes."

Li Bao shook his head with a wry smile: "Lu Liulang, Liu Dalang is an open-minded man and will not stop Song merchants from going north, but the Song capital is in Lin'an. As the commander-in-chief of the Liangzhe Navy, I naturally cannot allow the Han navy to infiltrate. Under such circumstances, how could the northerners give the shipping routes to Jiangnan? In the end, the Song Dynasty is in the wrong."

Lu Jiuyuan was speechless once again.

After a moment, Lu Jiuyuan turned to look at He Zizhen: "Then who is he? Can he command respect? Will he attack Lin'an? And what is the Marquis of Treasure Island? Is it a fiefdom with real land? Neither the Song nor the Han would agree to that!"

A series of questions were asked, and everyone fell silent.

It wasn't that they didn't know, or that they didn't want to answer, but rather that they hadn't organized their thoughts and didn't know how to respond.

A moment later, just as He Zizhen began to grow somewhat agitated, Lin Zongchen sighed and said, "Since we're speaking privately, there's no need to worry about our words being leaked, so I won't try to hide anything."

Lin Zongchen pointed to He Zizhen: "This man is He Zizhen, the second son of He Boqiu, the Grand Chancellor of the Great Han Dynasty. He was once the Grand Shipping Admiral of the Great Han Dynasty and a formidable rival of Li Bao, the Chief Steward."

"Two years ago, he committed a major offense by embezzling money and distributing it to ordinary sailors. As a result, he was demoted from his position as shipping admiral to a mere captain."

"Although this is in accordance with the law, everyone in the Han Navy and merchant ships knows that He Zizhen took the blame for them. Therefore, many officials and even local powerful families are very grateful to him."

"This fellow is quite clever. He knows that favors will eventually fade, and if he wants to use this favor, he can only do so within these three years. Therefore, he has been working hard to make deals in Taiwan. Lu Liulang, do you remember the time I mentioned before when the savages attacked the city? This was the fellow who commanded the battle."

"Therefore, if we prevent He Zizhen from becoming the Marquis of Taiwan, the navy, merchants, and powerful families in the north will all cause trouble."

"Secondly, He Zizhen's third brother, He Zizheng, was then the commander-in-chief of the Liaodong army. Together with Zheng Fasan, the Liaodong military commissioner, he managed Liaodong, subdued Goryeo, and looked towards Japan."

With He Zizhen stationed on the island, trade routes between Korea and Japan will be much smoother.

"As for the actual conferment of marquis titles." At this point, Lin Zongchen couldn't help but show a look of disbelief: "The Han emperor wanted to follow the Zhou emperor's precedent of enfeoffing feudal lords and establish a system of enfeoffment in overseas territories."

Lu Jiuyuan was stunned again.

Seeing this, Lin Zongchen waved his hand and said, "Don't look at me like that. I was also shocked when I heard the news."

He Zizhen immediately chimed in, "Old Lin doesn't know all the details of this matter either, so let me give a brief explanation."

His Majesty has offered two paths for meritorious officials. One is to follow the system established since the Han and Tang dynasties, granting them nominal fiefdoms within Han territory and allowing them to serve in Han posts. The other is to establish institutions overseas, with the Han Dynasty assisting in expansion based on their merits, but they will have to find their own ways to relocate people and build infrastructure.

Lu Jiuyuan thought about it and realized that this was indeed the method used by the Zhou emperor when he enfeoffed people.

Don't assume that the lands the feudal lords went to back then were all good and fertile lands; their living space was all carved out with knives.

For example, in the State of Lu, after the death of the ruler, the first few generations only dared to bury him on the west side of the capital, because the land to the east of the city was the territory of the Dongyi people. If the ruler was buried on the east side, the Dongyi people would really dig up his grave.

Take the State of Wei, for example. It was located near Henan. Its ruler, Duke Yi of Wei, was still defeated by the Hongdi people and was reduced to a mere liver. If it weren't for Duke Huan of Qi's intervention, Wei would have been destroyed before the Warring States period even began.

Not to mention the epically unlucky Yan Kingdom.

The Tang Dynasty had already tested the limits of expansion in Han territory. If they went any further, they simply couldn't deploy large armies. They really had to resort to enfeoffment, just like the Zhou Dynasty.

Of course, this is a battle for living space, and even a fool knows it's a fight to the death.

I'm doing a good job as king/chieftain/khan/headman, and you suddenly say this is the territory of some marquis or earl of the Han Dynasty, and I have to abdicate? Dream on!

Coupled with factors such as disease, food shortages, enemies, and environmental challenges, the second wave of land distribution and expansion inevitably resulted in heavy casualties among the pioneers. Furthermore, due to the changing times, this expansion was even more brutal and bloody than the first.

But... but I still have to say "but".

This is about enfeoffing feudal lords!
Since Emperor Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang), which emperor in the world has ever been so generous?!
The saying goes, "Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox." Is there any greater fortune in the world than having a piece of land where you can rule as king and have the power to decide your own destiny, and pass on your people to your descendants?

Moreover, according to the Zhou Dynasty's enfeoffment system, the lands outside the designated boundaries were not given official boundaries, and the extent of your territory depended entirely on your abilities.

If you're really capable, you could extend your territory to Dongsheng Shenzhou and no one would care.

At that time, all they need to do is continue to submit to the Central Plains.

This naturally prompted the Han emperor and his ministers to participate enthusiastically.

Of course, most people can only gather their own manpower and find their own way to pull off a big heist, like Cheng Feng, who has his eyes on Japan.

However, those meritorious officials would naturally receive some high-level treatment; Liu Huai would grant them certain troop deployment authority. This didn't mean the troops would belong to them; after the battle was over and the situation stabilized, the soldiers would still have to return.

The most exciting kind of person is someone like He Boqiu. He has two successful sons, one of whom serves as a high-ranking official in China, while the other expands overseas and becomes a powerful figure. Just thinking about it is thrilling.

At the very least, Xin Qiji greatly envied this fellow. Although he had sought a future for his offspring early on, his two sons, Tiezhu and Tieniu, were too young and ultimately could not, like He Zizhen, personally wield a sword and forge ahead.

Hearing this, Lu Jiuyuan had completely figured out what He Zizhen was planning, but there was still one question that remained unresolved.

He looked directly at Li Bao, waiting for the commander of the Liangzhe naval forces to give him an explanation.

Li Bao sighed and asked, "Lu Liulang, what do you think of the current situation of the Song Dynasty?"

Lu Jiuyuan remained silent for a long time before saying, "The situation is like a pile of eggs, and we are in grave danger."

"You still have a few things to say," Li Bao retorted through gritted teeth. "You are neither a ruler nor a subject; you have abandoned your destiny and will become a laughingstock for all time!"

Lu Jiuyuan opened his mouth, but couldn't refute it. He could only say dejectedly, "Steward Li, do you want to pledge allegiance to the Han Dynasty?"

Li Bao shook his head: "I am old, destined to be like Wei Dadao and Zhang Diwan, figures of the past. I have been a Song subject my whole life, and even though I know the Prince of Han is right, it is impossible for me to switch sides."

My son, Li Gongzuo, has become a great general of the Han Dynasty, and has at least done his part for the unification of the world. As for me, all I can do is try to maintain the dignity of the Song Dynasty.”

Lu Jiuyuan found it strange and was about to ask for details when Li Bao continued, "However, Lu Liulang need not worry. The essence of Taiwan lies in the trade between merchants in Beigang. He Erlang will not easily send troops from Taiwan."

But that doesn't mean Lin'an is impregnable. The other generals of the Han navy are also extremely fierce, and then…

At this point, Li Bao looked dejected and shook his head repeatedly.

This is also why Li Bao didn't do everything in his power to stop He Zizhen from taking over.

Given the current situation in the Song Dynasty, how could the appointment of a mere Marquis of Treasure Island possibly change it?!

Moreover, if they fall out with He Zizhen, people like Lin Zongchen might cause trouble. If the Song Dynasty's front line is crushed by the Han army and a fire breaks out in the rear, then it will truly be a catastrophe.

Lu Jiuyuan felt as if he had vented all the anger of his life today.

He did not expect that after the Huai River army was wiped out, the second section of the Song Dynasty's defense system to collapse would be the coast.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed Privy Councilor, Qian Duanli, had already begun to cover his face in embarrassment.

Seeing that the biggest opponent, Lu Jiuyuan, had given up, He Zizhen nodded in satisfaction: "Then I shall be the Marquis of Treasure Island, holding all military and political power over Treasure Island. Old Lin, you shall be my Chief Secretary, how about that?"

Lin Zongchen cupped his hands in response: "I would be more respectful than to comply."

He Zizhen burst into laughter: "Then I will immediately write a document, report to the Emperor, and present a congratulatory letter and tribute to acknowledge him as a vassal!"

Ignoring Li Bao's presence, Li Gongzuo loudly cheered.

Li Bao glared at Li Gongzuo, then waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Let's continue talking about something else. It wasn't easy for this old man to come out here."

He Zizhen continued, leaning on his sword, "I will petition the Emperor to establish a branch of the Medical School and the Academy of Sciences on the island of Taiwan. Does anyone have any objections?"

"I intend to establish academies as the Emperor has instructed, to provide education for all without discrimination. Does anyone have any objections?"

"I want to send people to treat diseases in the savage tribe, teach them how to prevent and control plagues, dig wells and dig ditches, and cultivate crops. Does anyone have any objections?"

"I……"

He Zizhen seemed to have prepared his speech in advance, recounting each point in detail without giving the others any time to react, as if everything was perfectly natural.

These issues seemed to have been discussed beforehand, and now it was just a matter of making political promises, so the expressions of the others did not change at all.

Only Lu Jiuyuan listened to He Zizhen's measures one by one and fell into deep thought.

Measures to stimulate commerce and encourage agriculture are commonplace, but policies concerning the wild man are refreshing.

To be honest, if it weren't for the great battle two years ago, Lu Jiuyuan would probably have objected and wouldn't have been so lenient towards the mountain tribes. However, now that he has established military and disciplinary authority, he should be more lenient in the future.

To put it in an old saying: to educate and civilize the barbarians.

Even without using fancy words, from the most realistic perspective, Taiwan is so big that the manpower shortage is obvious. We can't keep relying on bringing people from Fujian. Even a naturalized wild man could contribute to the development of Taiwan.

Even if you have to carry heavy loads at the port, you can still contribute some labor.

"There is one last thing." After a short while, He Zizhen finished explaining his policies and pointed to Lu Jiuyuan and Qian Duanli: "These two must come with me back to the north to meet the Emperor!"

Li Bao immediately stood up and narrowed his eyes: "He Erlang, have I been too lenient with you! You actually dared to take away my Great Song Privy Councilor. I'd like to see who can stop us from returning to Lin'an!"

Qian Duanli had been covering his face and remaining silent from the beginning, but at this moment he finally couldn't hold back any longer: "I am willing to go to Yanjing to meet the Emperor!"

"Huh?" Li Bao's momentum vanished, and he turned to look at Qian Duanli in disbelief.

Qian Duanli stroked his magnificent beard and said with righteous indignation, "Chief Steward Li, the Huai River region is now vulnerable, and the Han Dynasty is pressing down on us like Mount Tai. I am willing to venture into this dangerous place alone. If I can use my silver tongue to relieve the war between the two countries, I can restore peace to the nation from danger and bring light back to the sun and moon."

Don't you dare embarrass Jiang Wei.

Li Bao was so angry he almost twisted his nose. He immediately turned away, cursing himself inwardly for probably being so bored as to advocate for money and gifts.

When Lu Jiuyuan saw Qian Duanli turn around and look at him with pitiful pleading eyes, he couldn't help but sigh. He touched the "Barefoot Measuring the Sky Manual" in his arms, cupped his hands to He Zizhen who had a strange look on his face, and said, "I am willing to go north with General He, but not to see the Han emperor, but to discuss the Confucian orthodoxy with Master Zhu."

He Zizhen was finally satisfied.

After that, everything went much more smoothly. However, after everyone left Yunshan tribe, He Zizhen left several dozen large coins as a venue fee in accordance with Han army law. The chieftain Dabang's face clearly showed a struggle.

Beigang has been developed for so long that even the mountain tribes know that big money is a good thing, and can be exchanged with the Han people for rice and salt.

The man with the big stick held the dozens of coins in his hands, hesitated for a long time, and then shouted a couple of words to those behind him.

Several twelve or thirteen-year-old boys with short hair and tattoos seemed to have been impatient for a long time. They immediately ran over, knelt down in front of Song Yunlu, and kowtowed repeatedly.

The big-headed man clutched his chest, bowed, and pleaded in full view of everyone, "Great Shaman, these children all have... all of them have."

Big Stick seemed unable to think of how to say it in Chinese, so he could only point to his head: "There's plenty here. I beg the Great Shaman to teach them... how to stay healthy..."

Song Yunlu stepped forward and patted Dabang's sweaty shoulder: "I know, I know, they will follow me to learn and become my disciples."

Big Stick was overjoyed that things would be so simple, and the other boys cheered and howled along with him.

Qian Duanli, who had just been criticized for his wavering political stance, was suddenly struck by this scene and stroked his beard, shaking his head and chuckling: "Is the Han Dynasty truly destined to unify the four seas and be ordained by Heaven?"

Lu Jiuyuan tilted his head and thought for a moment, but surprisingly, he couldn't refute it.

(End of this chapter)