Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 22 Hiding Martial Arts Among the People
In October of the 25th year of the Tianli calendar, the elders and folks of the prefecture received some good news: Wu Fei, who was immoral and greedy, had been expelled from the central command tent and reassigned to manage provisions! Meanwhile, Wu Hengyu was reappointed by Wu Hanluan to command the vanguard. The local elders praised, "Good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished."

…The adults, those with status and influence, discuss "the well-being of the people," while the common folk are always preoccupied with the mundane details of daily life.

In Sanlong Town, Old Hetou rode in a donkey cart, watching the bustling market.

Having spent most of his life in the military, he was caught in the sudden rise of local rebels, resulting in the deaths and injuries of most of his brothers. He was also scattered, but soon the government troops (the Wu family army) arrived, and the bandits, no match for the government forces, were driven back.

As the young general recruited soldiers locally to pursue and eliminate the remaining bandits, he gritted his teeth and signed up. During those three months, he followed Wu Hengyu to "pay homage to the sect," and after witnessing Wu Hengyu kick down the gate of the Daoyi Gang, the largest bandit gang in the area, and kill two bandit leaders with three shots, he was convinced.

However, recently, Wu Hengyu's army was already fully staffed with elite troops, and he, being old and weak, was to be laid off. Just as he was wondering where to go—Wu Hengyu, being benevolent, promised to make arrangements for them, the old and weak.

Now, through the matchmaker's introduction, he has settled here with his wife and child. Having spent half his life eating military rations, he felt a sense of security the moment he saw this town.

The town is surrounded by four ponds connected by flowing water, covered with lotus leaves. The town's white walls and black tiles are reflected in the ponds, creating a picturesque scene. However! For thieves, this means wading through these ponds to reach the walls. Climbing the walls is difficult because their feet are covered in mud, and the mud on the white walls is very conspicuous, making the thieves look like lice on a bald man's head.

The town's north gate is a large stone bridge. On the bridge, which is three zhang wide, people come and go in an endless stream. After seeing Old He's bamboo token and confirming that he was a family of five, the patrolman at the town entrance dropped his harshness towards outsiders and put on a smiling face.

The patrolman said, "Sir, if you're going to settle down here, follow me and don't get lost. This town is quite winding; outsiders will get confused the first time they come, but once you've lived here a while, you'll know your way around."

Old He instructed his wife to keep an eye on his three children. After entering the town, walking along the two- or three-meter-wide stone alley, looking at the high walls on both sides, he swallowed hard—it felt like storming a fortified city. If bamboo ladders were erected on the walls as bridges, soldiers could use them to block the invaders.

So he cautiously followed the patrolman, who then explained, "Master He, look up, do you see it? There's a green dragon on the wall, and an exit at the alley ahead. There's a white tiger on the top of the wall, that's a dead end."

Old He then noticed that there was a gray stone window at intervals on both sides of the white wall, with stone carvings of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, and Hooked Chen on the windows. This reminded him of the four-directional flags he had seen in the camp.

Before long, they arrived home. The patrolman in front of the gate helped him unload the load and said, "I won't bother you and your wife any longer, but you still have to report to the Civil Affairs Bureau at the east gate of town tomorrow."

Old He thanked him profusely and then took out several dozen copper coins to buy wine for the man.

……

That evening, after the two children had fallen asleep, Old He polished his water-and-fire stick and practiced a set of stick techniques in the small courtyard. Recalling his previous worries, he shook his head with a sigh.

He had spent most of his life in the military, without any particular skill or trade. He never considered what he could do for a living after leaving the camp. Therefore, he often lived for the moment, never thinking about life outside the camp.

Ten days ago, the army suddenly began downsizing, and all the brothers panicked, including him. Some of the older soldiers even grabbed sticks and blocked the commanding officer's way, shouting, though not to start a fight.

Old He had an old comrade-in-arms who would swing his baton, take off his clothes, reveal his scars, and point at these young men, cursing them: "xxx, I'll fuck your ass! When I was getting stabbed, you were still a worm in my belly. You're trying to hit me with the baton. If I utter a sound, I'll have lost my baton back in the day when I was stabbed on the battlefield."

Of course, everyone was whipped in the end.

All the veterans who had been whipped were invited to Wu Hengyu's tent. They were first reprimanded, and then given a fresh perspective on how, even after leaving the ranks, they were still men of the Wu family army.

Old He still receives military pay in Sanlong Town, and every three days he still leads the other able-bodied men in the town in exercises.

Although we are no longer part of the main army after entering the town today, traces of the army can be found everywhere in this town.

Awakening from his reverie, Lao He looked at the bamboo armor he was wearing and the red-tasseled spear in his hand, realizing that he was still actually eating military rations.

…The perspective shifts from the individual to a broader level…

Sanlong Town was designed by Wu Fei. If viewed from above, the entire town resembles a Bagua formation, or rather, it is a fortress made entirely of walls.

This town fully conforms to the imperial court's etiquette; the walls are no more than two zhang high and no more than two chi thick. It belongs to the "residential residential area".

However, while the wall cannot be more than two feet thick, it doesn't mean you can't build several walls! There must be a wall on every street. Without ladders, going up and down seven or eight layers of walls is no easier than climbing a ten-zhang-high city wall.

So between each wall was a narrow alley. The thieves could break through one wall, but there was another wall behind it. Moreover, in the narrow alley where only two people could pass through the outer wall, they couldn't swing a sledgehammer. They could only use a chisel to pry open the whitewashed brick walls.

Moreover, apart from a few fixed main roads leading out, the entire town is surrounded by dug lotus ponds. The outermost wall is only one meter away from the lotus ponds, and this one meter of road outside the wall is not enough to allow siege vehicles to drive in!

If you try to force horses to drag heavy construction equipment onto this narrow road, there's a 99% chance they'll overturn due to roadside collapse, and end up in the lotus pond next to it, impossible to lift them out. Think of some 21st-century drivers who drive their cars into fishponds and have to wait for a crane to tow them away.

For the thieves from outside, if they didn't want to force their way through the main gate and instead crossed the lotus pond to climb the wall using ladders, they would have to fight the town's able-bodied men on the ladders hanging on the wall.

The able-bodied men defending the town would use a wall-top defense method. Since the distance between the two walls was very narrow, a ladder could be used to build a bridge. The specially made ladders in the town could be used to secure the two walls. The able-bodied men who were familiar with the town could use bamboo ladders to move across the walls and then use them to shoot and throw stones from the top of the walls.

And! There's a fatal little detail: of these seven or eight layers of walls, the top of the inner wall is always half a head higher than the top of the outer wall. This means that from the top of the inner wall, one can always see the top of the outer wall, but from the top of the outer wall, one cannot see the person crawling on the inner wall.

If attackers climb over the outer wall, they will find that as soon as they peek out, a crossbow is set up a head higher on the inner wall. Or, bamboo spears that have been prepared beforehand will suddenly be thrust into the wall.

…This is a local defense system under the “Great Yao” ritual system, well, under the restrictions of treaties. …

Xuan Chong's design concept came from the Hui-style architecture he saw during his travels in his previous life. To be precise, it was Jiangnan folk architecture. When the tour guides introduced it, they would always say that this family had produced several high-ranking officials. The pavilion over there was for young ladies, which Xuan Chong found quite boring at the time.

Compared to castles of the same period, these folk buildings lack the romantic feel of princes and princesses from Grimm's fairy tales, and have a rustic charm.

But then Xuan Chong thought about it and realized something was wrong! This place has been turbulent since modern times, especially since the Taiping Rebellion, when people from all over the country took turns killing people! — If these buildings, which have supposedly withstood hundreds of years of trials and tribulations, didn't have some practical value, why would they have survived to this day?

Later, I read a short story about General Su Yu, who, while shopping, suddenly said to his wife, "This coffee shop is nice." Just as his wife was wondering why her husband was suddenly being so romantic, General Su Yu replied, "Setting up two machine guns in this coffee shop would be enough to block off the entire street."

Oh, Xuan Chong's thoughts after reading: General Su is so romantic!
Indeed, from that time on, Xuan Chong began to view ancient architecture across the country with the "sentiment of General Su," rather than through the lens of the oppressive narratives of Chinese literature reminiscent of "Raise the Red Lantern." Frankly speaking, if we were to follow that narrative, the princesses in European castles would be quite tragic.
Only by withstanding risks can ancient buildings survive centuries and millennia of wind and rain.

…the dividing line of high walls and courtyards…

In a residence that had been secretly purchased by the Wu family, Wu Hanluan found Wu Fei at a certain post station. After Wu Hanluan sat down, he suddenly unleashed a burst of murderous aura, causing some insects on the wall to fall down as if they had been injected with insecticide. Wu Fei knew this was a precaution to prevent thieves from eavesdropping on their conversation.

Wu Hanluan: "Lord Lin (the prefect) has already reported to the court that the region is peaceful and has requested that we return to the capital immediately. However, we must abide by the laws of the court."

That's what they say, but Wu Fei knew that Wu Hanluan had no intention of going back at all.

Recently, banditry has been popping up intermittently in various places. The imperial court is still ordering the Wu family army to resolve the local bandit problem within a year. This shows that the higher-ups also know that the Wu family army cannot be eliminated in the short term.

Wu Hanluan said to Wu Fei with a stern face that he wanted to put some pressure on his nephew, because Wu Fei had been sending messages south lately, as if he wanted to return home as soon as possible. This was unacceptable.

Wu Fei: "The imperial court won't let us stay, we can't resist." Wu Fei looked at Wu Hanluan's expression and noticed his displeasure. So he changed the subject.

Wu Fei: "But we can move our troops, but we won't leave."

Wu Hanluan paused for a moment, then gestured for Wu Fei to continue.

Wu Fei took out a string of bamboo slips, which recorded the merchants he had selected here. Next to them, a silk scroll recorded the trade routes these merchants had surrendered, routes that had previously been infested with bandits.

It has to be said that, in Wu Fei's view, any bandit stronghold that could become a major force would choose to set up toll booths in a prime location. Of course, Wu Fei decided to "nationalize" these toll booths, which meant having Wu Hengyu lead troops to discuss the "acquisition." As for whether Wu Hengyu, his elder brother, would engage in a bloody battle during the "business negotiations," that remained to be seen.

Under Wu Hanluan's questioning, Wu Fei revealed his entire plan: "In other words, my Wu family has left three escort agencies here. These agencies are responsible for trade routes that go directly to the south, which is directly controlled by my Wu family. And these, um... and here too~"

Wu Fei marked several points on the map. These were once famous mountain strongholds within a hundred miles. Now, after a round of bandit suppression, they will all become branch offices funded by the Wu family.

As for the original bandits in these mountain strongholds, just like the monsters in Journey to the West, those with powerful backers—that is, those protected by local tycoons—were given official positions and recruited under Wu Hengyu's command. Those without backers, the stubborn and unyielding, were simply killed with a single blow. It's a case of "Buddha is merciful, but he applies double standards."

Wu Fei fiddled with the bamboo tally he carried, the engravings on it all being ledgers: "Southern Xinjiang is currently in dire need of manpower. Although many foreign slaves from Southern Xinjiang have been brought in through the slave trade, there is a lack of slaves belonging to the Great Yao people."

Wu Hanluan nodded while asking a crucial question: "These warehouses?"

Wu Fei counted on his fingers: "As for this warehouse, there are absolutely no crossbows with a power of more than two stones, no iron armor, and no firearms. Moreover, the fortress walls are no more than two zhang high and only one brick thick..."

Wu Fei silently recited each of the clauses in the Great Laws concerning the concealment of martial arts among the common people.

Finally, Wu Fei added a crucial sentence: "During my days of exploiting the land, I dealt with the merchants here quite a bit. Although I've stopped exploiting it now, the connections remain. I've already contacted sellers in these commercial ports, and coincidentally, Wu Hengyu also has trustworthy people there."

Wu Hanluan said sternly, "Hengyu is short-staffed, so don't pull any more people this year!"

(Wu Hanluan wasn't worried about Wu Hengyu's lack of manpower, but rather that Wu Hengyu was currently recruiting outsiders, and Wu Hanluan was uneasy about some important positions.)
Wu Fei paused for a moment: "I understand. I will select a group of people from my hometown, but..."

Wu Hanluan gestured for Wu Fei to speak directly.

Wu Fei was cautious: "If we only station locals at these warehouses, we can escape if the imperial court comes knocking. But if we station our fellow villagers, what if—I mean, what if the imperial court becomes suspicious?!"

Wu Fei looked at his uncle with a questioning gaze: "Are you really going to challenge the Great Laws of Yao?"

Having experienced the harsh realities of life in his early years, Xuan Chong, as a transmigrator, had become quite cautious. Even now, as he accompanied Wu Hanluan in laying out plans in the local area, he was also considering cutting his losses and surviving.

Wherever military fortresses, trading ports, or other establishments were set up in this new place, Wu Fei tried his best to be clean and didn't want to leave any handle against him. He was striving to survive in this era.

Although Wu Fei knew very well that even if something was hidden in these civilian strongholds of his, Da Yao, at the level of a state official, would not send "investigators" to break in, find evidence, and then seal it off. The dynasty did not have the ability to enforce this at the grassroots level. However, on another level, if there were political rivals within Da Yao who were his own faction, and if the other faction really wanted to frame someone, they would directly lead troops in and create evidence.

In Wu Fei's eyes, only the southern border was a place that Da Yao truly couldn't control.

Wu Hanluan smiled at Wu Fei: "Yuan Chang, in fact, you have the talent of a prime minister."

Wu Fei paused, not understanding what he was saying, but it seemed like a warning, so he didn't ask any further questions.

Wu Fei guessed that Wu Hanluan must have some trump card up his sleeve, such as having secured the support of a powerful figure in the imperial court. That's why he dared to allow Wu Hanluan to freely expand his territory in the provinces.

…the bullet flew for a while…

In September, the commercial district organized hunters to prepare for the autumn harvest by clearing out wild animals from the mountains. Hundreds of wild animals were found riddled with arrowheads.

The local officials pulled the arrow off the tiger skin, saw the shell-shaped arrowhead on the shaft, and scoffed that the mountain farmers didn't need iron tools.

However, inside the commercial port, veterans like Old He, holding the arrow shaft, weighing it, and examining the "internal threads" on the arrowhead, quickly noticed the trickery. —This heavy arrow shaft paired with a seashell arrowhead was simply too extravagant.

The threads on the arrow shaft indicate that it needs to be replaced with a blued steel arrowhead! — Currently, there are no matching arrowheads to be seen in the commercial port.

However, Lao He knew that the army's granaries were not short of these arrowheads; as long as they were delivered, they could be assembled overnight. At that time, all the able-bodied men in this trading port who could form ranks and fight were armed with powerful crossbows.

The same applies to crossbows. There seems to be a mounting port in front of the crossbow shaft, which allows for the addition of a crossbow arm to load a double string. Combined with the newly installed revolver-type stringing structure, it can directly achieve a "bow force" of three stones.

According to the laws and regulations of the Great Dao, the level of military preparedness among the common people cannot exceed the limit.

However, anyone who has experienced the "Arms Limitation Treaty" knows that it is possible to circumvent the treaty's limitations through design.

Old He, holding a seashell arrowhead and a bamboo bow, led the village boys in archery practice using grass targets.

In the armory of Skywing City, Wu Fei picked up his modified crossbow and muttered: "Unless the treaty is absolutely unreasonable, the initial velocity cannot exceed 16 joules." He cranked the mechanism to fully draw the bowstring.

With a thud, the heavy crossbow bolt with its steel arrowhead flew high into the sky. The wind-controlling patterns on the bolt formed streamlined wavy runes, making the arrow mark a bright blue in the sunlight.

The lead goose in a V-formation suddenly fell from the sky.

Time quickly came to November of the twenty-fifth year of the Tian calendar.

The merchants supported by the Wu family were impeached by an imperial censor recommended by the same magistrate of the prefecture for forcibly seizing houses in the countryside. However, these impeachments were ignored by the imperial court.

Because the Wu family army has already reported that they will return to Zhaoyun County in six months. Furthermore, they have already begun to move their military camps away from the two county capitals. According to the divination of the Great Divination of the Jiangshan, the Wu family army has gathered up the evil spirits.

It seems that as long as the imperial court is willing to obey orders, that's all that matters.

As for the collusion between military families and merchants to smuggle goods, this was tacitly approved by the court, as long as they didn't smuggle ironware, gunpowder, or horses to the northern frontier. Even smuggling local goods like cotton cloth, timber, and medicinal wine was not prohibited. Furthermore, even the sale of smuggled salt, since Emperor Renzong ascended the throne four hundred years ago, had been largely tolerated by the court regarding border trade with the southern frontier troops, as long as it wasn't excessive.

In December, at the Wu family army's newly established camp on the trade route, far from the prefecture, court officials arrived. They first checked the roster and then bestowed imperial rewards.

However, the reward was rather meager, consisting of only twenty jars of wine and a dozen or so cattle, sheep, and pigs.

However, the imperial envoy summoned Wu Hanluan into a secret room and they talked for a long time.

(End of this chapter)