Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 181 The Heart of the Empire
The Qin Chuan region, known as the "Land of Abundance," is flat and expansive, but it is not a plain like Hebei.

Guanzhong has a unique landform called a plateau.

The terrain is steep on all sides and flat on top due to the erosion by flowing water, forming a terrace-like shape, making it a good area for cultivation.

Large loess plateaus are scattered across the Guanzhong Plain, such as Wulingyuan, Shaolingyuan, Zhouyuan, Bashang, and Wuzhangyuan.

Back then, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang stationed his troops at Wuzhang Plain to cultivate land, and from a height of several dozen feet, he shouted down to the old scoundrel Sima Yi below:
Come here!

Unless Sima Yi was completely out of his mind, he would never have led the Wei army up Wuzhangyuan to attack the Han army's camp.

They couldn't beat them in a fight, and they couldn't drive them away, so all they could do was wait it out!
Unfortunately, Sima Yi still managed to outlast his opponent.

However, Wuzhangyuan's strategic importance was ultimately inferior to other loess plateaus, especially those located on the south bank of the Wei River, which were crucial to the Qin and Han dynasties and even to later generations.

Longshouyuan!
Legend has it that during the Qin Dynasty, a black dragon traveled north from the southern mountains to drink water from the Wei River. The place it passed through formed a hill shaped like a dragon. The dragon's head was said to have been transformed from this dragon, hence the name.

There is even a legend that Xiao He was ordered to build Chang'an City in order to slay this black dragon and cut off the royal aura of the Qin Kingdom.

Legends aside, it is a fact that the palaces of the Qin and Han dynasties were mostly built on the northern slope of Longshouyuan.

Li Shuang stood on Longshou Plain, surveying the surrounding scenery.

As the fire gradually died down, Xianyang, north of the Wei River, and Chang'an, south of the Wei River, became like reflections of the times, telling the story of the rise and fall of history.

Although Chang'an was reduced to ruins, its basic outline remained. Furthermore, its location north of the Wei River provided convenient water transportation, making it an ideal place for storage, garrisoning troops, and agricultural settlements.

After the fire was extinguished, the original Qi army and the people of Chang'an were clearing the ruins, looking for anything that could be used.

Although Li Shuang said he wanted to rebuild Chang'an, he did not intend to build a megacity with a population of one million like the one in later generations.

His most practical need was to find a piece of land and build a city to house his seven thousand troops, serving as the foundation for long-term development.

The later Chang'an city was built as the capital of a country, and it was required to be as magnificent, spectacular, and grand as possible.

Li Shuang's requirements were much simpler: economical and practical!

When planning a city, the most important factors are water resources and terrain.

Water availability determines a city's population size, while terrain determines the comfort of living.

Like the Taiji Palace in Chang'an in later generations, it was magnificent, but it was actually a huge pit. Located in a low-lying area, it would flood and become unbearably hot and humid in the summer after it rained.

After some consideration, Li Shuang had a preliminary plan in mind. He decided to first build his own residence on the high ground of the southern slope of Longshouyuan, and then divert the Ba River to build irrigation canals to provide drinking water.

Then, with the Xingtai Prefecture as the center, development expanded to the west and south to the flat areas, where markets and wards were established and servants were settled.

As Li Shuang was thinking, Liu Sixia walked up to him.

She no longer had the excitement and exhilaration she felt when she first arrived; she appeared much calmer.

Li Shuang assumed Liu Sixia was disheartened by not seeing Chang'an City, and said:

“Actually, you don’t need to do this. Chang’an has been ravaged by wars for hundreds of years and is no longer the capital of the Han Dynasty.”

Liu Sixia shook her head.

"I've already seen Chang'an!"

Li Shuang was a little confused about the meaning behind her words, but she heard her say:
"Chang'an, situated on the Dragon Head Plain, harbors an ambition to dominate the world and protect all its people. I have already witnessed that ambition!"

The woman's eyes were like autumn water, her eyebrows like distant mountains. She gave a graceful bow and said:
"My department has many ancient books that record many lost construction methods. If the Duke needs them, I can offer them all, which may be of help to the Duke."
-
Luoyang.

"Li Shuang, that traitor, has gone too far in blaming me!"

Recently, whenever Yuan Xu received news from Guanzhong, he would become inexplicably furious. The reason was simple: the money, grain, and taxes from the entire Guanzhong region and even Hedong were no longer being transported to Luoyang, but instead were beginning to converge on Chang'an.

Li Shuang controlled all the key points of the canal transport system.

Guanzhong and Hedong were originally a single geographical unit, so there was no need to send supplies to Luoyang, which actually reduced consumption.

After Xiao Baoyin fled, a new Qi emperor was established in Guanzhong.

The rebels were still suppressed, and prisoners were still handed over. The number of refugees outside Luoyang had surged to over 20,000 in recent days.

At this point, who doesn't know what Li Shuang is up to?
He wasn't trying to quell the rebels; he was plotting a rebellion!

Most importantly, as Li Shuang gained a foothold in Guanzhong, the amount of salt he earned from operating the Hedong Salt Lake, which should have been sent to Luoyang, decreased month by month.

The taxes levied on the salt lake are crucial to the operation of the imperial court in Luoyang. Currently, the expenses of the Luoyang court have not decreased, but rather increased.

A significant portion of the increased revenue was used to support the non-Han people from Guanzhong who lived outside Luoyang.

While sending people over, Li Shuang also reduced the taxes paid to the imperial court.

The imperial court in Luoyang is now in a dilemma.

Beside him, Prince Chang Le, Yuan Ziyou, cupped his hands and said:
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Given the current situation, it is already quite generous that Li Shuang is still willing to send salt tribute!"

These words carried a hint of stirring up trouble.

Yuan Xu, upon hearing this, was indeed provoked.

"He takes 70% of my money, leaves me 30%, and I'm expected to thank him?!"

"Your Majesty, Li Shuang has now driven out Xiao Baoyin and taken control of most of Guanzhong. Many Han Chinese noble families in various prefectures and counties are also willing to submit. He has even set up military garrisons and established local militias in various prefectures, making his rebellious intentions obvious. If this continues, he may become the next Xiao Baoyin. No, he is even more terrifying than Xiao Baoyin."

Yuan Xu listened and asked:
"What about that?"

At this moment, Yuan Hui, the Prince of Chengyang, who was standing next to Yuan Ziyou, spoke up:

"I believe that we should send a senior official to Guanzhong to expose Li Shuang's crimes and announce them to the world."

"Who's going?"

Yuan Xu originally wanted to say that no one had the guts to go. Which of the high-ranking officials in the Luoyang court wasn't terrified by Li Shuang in the Taiji Hall that day?

But after thinking about it, I still felt that I had lost face by saying that.

"I believe Li Daoyuan is suitable!"

Yuan Ziyou glanced at Yuan Hui, knowing that he had a personal grudge against Li Daoyuan, but he did not expect that he would openly use such despicable means.

Li Daoyuan was strict in enforcing the law and fearless of the imperial family. Yuan Hui had once been punished by Li Daoyuan, and therefore harbored deep resentment towards him!
Yuan Xu also remembered such a person and asked:
Where is Li Daoyuan now?

"Since he left Hedong, he has stayed in Jingzhou, working with Wang Bi to subdue the barbarians of Jingzhou."

After saying that, Yuan Hui added another sentence.

"I believe that Li Daoyuan's brothers, nephews and nieces should accompany him to Guanzhong to provide assistance!"

Yuan Xu hadn't considered it a big deal, so he simply waved his sleeve and agreed without a second thought.

"That's it!"

……

(End of this chapter)