Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 223 Struggle

The charred ruins of the Hu court were long gone, and the massive Han army camp, like a migrating steel behemoth, silently advanced northward.

Black-armored heavy infantry, white-clad light cavalry, and gray-yellow wolf riders advanced methodically across the vast grasslands, their target the long-dormant former Han capital.

Wuyuan.

In the biting morning wind of the north, Zhang Xian stood on a high slope, his dark shadow impatiently pawing at the still-frozen ground beneath his hooves.

He was not wearing armor, but only a close-fitting outfit covered by a thick wolf-fur cloak, his gaze calm.

Lead-gray clouds hung low over the undulating hills, and at the edge of the horizon, the outline of a desolate earthen city was faintly visible in the thin mist, the broken rammed earth walls silently telling the story of the years buried by the dust of war.

That place was the seat of Wuyuan County.

Jiuyuan Ancient City.

"My lord." Huang Zhong rode closer, his beard and hair covered with tiny ice crystals.

"The scouts reported that Jiuyuan City is now an empty shell. The barbarians, along with the surrounding Han people, have already fled north. Within a radius of a hundred miles, there are only a few small groups of bandits and scattered herds, which the Youyi Army has already divided into several groups to wipe out."

The situation was largely the same in counties such as Chengyi, Yiliang, and Linwo: ruins and empty houses.

Zhang Xian nodded slightly, showing no surprise on his face.

The destruction of the Qiangqu royal court was enough to terrify any remaining barbarian tribes.

What he needed was not a bloody battle to conquer cities and seize strongholds, but to drive the Han Dynasty's boundary markers back onto this land as quickly as possible and at the lowest cost.

"Pass the order."

"Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao will lead the guerrilla army forward to sweep through the area within fifty li around Jiuyuan City, eliminate the remaining bandits, and search for any Han civilians who may be hiding! The wolf cavalry will be divided into three groups, each led by Lü Bu, Wei Xu, and Song Xian."

"Hold my command flag and proceed to Yiliang, Chengyi, and Linwo! If you encounter any small tribes of barbarians along the way, slaughter them all! If you encounter any surviving Han Chinese, take them in and bring them back! The primary task is to ensure that the Han banners are once again raised atop the city walls!"

"Understood!" A fierce glint flashed in Lu Bu's eyes as he licked his chapped lips.

"General, rest assured! The men of Jiuyuan will let those barbarian dogs know that this land has returned to Han territory!"

With a wave of his hand, he led his wolf-riding guards down the high slope, their shouts and the sound of hooves tearing apart the silence of the wasteland.

"Hansheng." Zhang Xian turned to Huang Zhong.

"The main force of the Jiaqi Army has entered the ruined city of Jiuyuan, and is using the remaining walls to set up camp and build fortifications! The engineering battalion is working hard to repair the walls and must clear a place suitable for stationing troops and storing grain within ten days! This place will be our army's outpost for conquering Wuyuan and deterring the Yinshan Mountains!"

"promise!"

The military order spread like an invisible ripple, quickly reaching every rank and file.

The massive army was immediately and efficiently dispersed.

The white-clad cavalry, like arrows released from a bow, split into several groups and disappeared into the hills and wild grass, startling flocks of birds into flight.

The gray-yellow wolf riders transformed into three galloping streams, raising clouds of snow dust as they raced toward their respective target counties.

The heavily armored heavy infantrymen marched in orderly steps, slowly entering the vast ruins.

Bingzhou, Taiyuan Commandery.

While the winds of the northern frontier still carry ice shards, the spring breezes of the Taiyuan Basin have already quietly swept across the vast expanse of Zhaoyuze Lake, bringing a moist warmth.

The vast fields have shed their winter's withered yellow and bleakness, revealing their fertile nature.

Sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, illuminating the winding ditches and field ridges.

On the banks of Zhaoyu Lake, the newly planned reclamation area is no longer the same as the refugee camp of last year.

Rows of neat adobe houses have replaced the messy shacks, and the thatched roofs gleam golden in the sunlight.

Melted snow and fresh water from the Wen River flow swiftly through the crisscrossing ditches, nourishing the freshly plowed fields.

The air was filled with the earthy smell, the fresh scent of sprouting plants, and the faint aroma of composted livestock manure.

"Giddy up! Whoa!"

On the ridge of the field, Qian Zhong cracked his whip and steadily guided two robust oxen.

The scar on his face seemed softer in the sunlight; it was an injury he sustained at the foot of Guangzong City.

His eyes were fixed intently on the uniquely shaped iron plow behind him. Listening to the farmers' instructions, he learned that this thing was called a curved plow!
The sharp iron plowshare cut deep into the fertile lakeside soil, easily turning over strips of soil more than a foot deep, completely crushing and turning over last year's withered grass roots and hardened clods of soil.

The woman following behind held a wooden rake and deftly broke up and leveled the turned-up clods of earth.

"Hey! Brother Zhong! This divine ox paired with a curved plow could probably plow ten acres of good land a day!"

Qian Zhong grinned and wiped his sweat: "That's right! How could the treasures produced by the former general be of poor quality? Taiyuan County has been using these for several years now, so we should just listen humbly!"

In the distance, an even louder commotion arose.

That was a large-scale land reclamation team organized by the county government's Ministry of Works.

Hundreds of oxen pulled huge multi-furrow plows, advancing side by side across the open wasteland! Wherever the iron plow passed, it turned up shiny new soil.

Wearing uniform uniforms, the migrant laborers followed behind, wielding shovels and rakes to further break up and level the large clods of earth.

"Quick! The water inlet of the ditch in Zone 3 is blocked! Send a few people!"

The official in charge of this reclamation area stood on a high point on the field ridge, waving a small red and green flag and speaking loudly.

Several able-bodied young men immediately put down their tools, shouldered shovels, and rushed to the ditch where the problem had occurred.

The water flow quickly returned to normal, gurgling into the parched fields.

The spring breeze not only turned the fields green, but also warmed the workshop area.

On the outskirts of Jinyang, the furnaces in the huge workshops burned day and night.

"Dang! Dang! Dang!"

The powerful impact of the water-powered forging hammer, like a war drum, rhythmically struck the red-hot iron billet, sending sparks flying with each strike, forging the hard iron block into the prototype of plowshares, hoes, and sickles.

Bare-chested, muscular craftsmen toiled amidst the billowing steam and scorching heat, skillfully manipulating iron blanks with tongs, precisely controlling the forging points and pressure.

"Official duties! Pay attention to official duties!" Han Ji personally inspected the forging area, his voice booming.

He picked up a plowshare blank that had just been forged and was still warm, and carefully measured the thickness and curvature of each part with a precision caliper made of brass.

"It's much thicker here! Back to the furnace! The mold must be calibrated with calipers before the next batch of blanks are put into the mold!"

Han Ji pointed at the markings on the calipers and sternly reprimanded them.

The craftsman whose work was called blushed deeply, not daring to utter a single complaint, and quickly took away the substandard piece.

The surrounding craftsmen also subconsciously became more focused, and their hammering movements became more precise.

The concept of standardized production has been deeply ingrained in the bones of these craftsmen through their daily hammering and scolding.

The assembly area next door presents a completely different scene.

On the flowing woodworking line, craftsmen work together, dividing tasks and cooperating.

Some people were responsible for planing the plowshare wood, some for drilling holes and tenons, and some for assembling the iron plowshare and plowshare.

One by one, exquisitely crafted, smooth-polished curved plows were formed at a speed visible to the naked eye. They were coated with tung oil to prevent insects, affixed with nameplates indicating they were made by craftsmen from Jinyang, and neatly stacked in the warehouse, awaiting shipment to various counties and prefectures.

"Chief Clerk Han!" A minor official came running up, panting, carrying an account book.

"The agricultural officials from Taiyuan and Xihe prefectures have sent people again to urge us! There are still 3,000 curved plows needed! They're asking when they can be delivered." "Hurry, hurry, hurry! All they know is to urge!" Han Ji waved his hand impatiently.

"Tell those agricultural clerks that the men in the craftsmen's camp are already working in three shifts, non-stop! Two of the steam hammer's condenser tubes have burst! Tell them to wait! Spring planting won't be delayed! Instead of rushing them, you should send more people to teach them how to use the new plow!"

He turned and walked toward the area where the roaring was more intense.

That was a newly built lathe workshop.

Several simple woodworking lathes and turners, with more complex structures and driven by small steam engines via pulleys, were in operation.

The hard wood made a screeching cutting sound on the high-speed rotating chuck, and wood chips flew like snowflakes.

Wearing special protective goggles, the craftsmen carefully manipulated their knives, turning thick logs into standardized spindles, gears, and even... the prototype of a gun barrel!
Han Ji watched as the perfectly round, straight, and precisely sized gun barrel blanks were removed, a glint of fanaticism flashing in his eyes.

These are the real treasures! When our lord returns from the north and sees these…

“Brother Gongzhi!” A clear voice rang out.

Xun Yu, dressed in casual clothes, led several officials from the prefecture through the bustling workshop area.

Although he was not wearing official robes, his composed demeanor still made the busy craftsmen subconsciously slow down their movements.

"Brother Wenruo." Han Ji wiped the sweat and grease from his face.

"What are you doing here? It's smoky here, don't get smoked."

"It's alright." Xun Yu waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the bustling workshop, nodding repeatedly.

"With spring planting just around the corner, the demand for agricultural tools in various counties is enormous, so I came to see if the Ministry of Works is facing any difficulties. If so, the county government will do its utmost to coordinate."

"Difficulties?" Han Ji pointed to the spinning lathes and forging hammers.

"The biggest challenge is manpower! There are still too few skilled craftsmen! In the past two years, we have recruited more apprentices than required, but it is still not enough. It is as if people from all over the world are flocking to Bingzhou."

This time, a large number of apprentices were recruited, but it will probably take them a year or two to get into key positions!
This steam engine is great, but it's incredibly delicate! The gas pressure is constantly unstable, the condenser pipes often burst, the gears wear out… every single one of these requires a master craftsman to keep an eye on it! And the ordnance orders from the Anbei army have also piled up…”

Xun Yu nodded slightly, signaling his subordinates to record the message.

"There are still a group of artisans registered in the migrant household register. I've had them prioritized for your area. Iron, charcoal, oil, and coking coal are all stocked in the county granary and can be mobilized at any time. As for more manpower..."

He pondered for a moment: "Our lord has won a great victory in the northern frontier and captured many prisoners. I have already sent a letter requesting permission to transfer some of the tamed barbarian youths to serve as laborers, specializing in heavy work such as logging, transporting materials, and making charcoal, so as to free up the labor force."

Han Ji's eyes lit up: "This is a brilliant plan! As long as you have some strength and are willing to listen, you can always help out with some lifting and carrying!"

"In addition," Xun Yu changed the subject, taking out a document from his sleeve, his expression slightly solemn.

"I came to you because I wanted to discuss something with you."

"This is a copy of the secret letter sent back by our lord from Wuyuan, saying that our army has made rapid progress and has recovered Jiuyuan, Yiliang, Chengyi, Linwo and other cities. Our troops have reached the foot of Yinshan Mountain!"
However, securing the new territory requires more than just warfare. Therefore, our lord commands the swift dispatch of skilled officials proficient in water conservancy and construction, along with skilled farmers and artisans, carrying grain, seeds, oxen, curved plows, and various workshop implements, to march north to Wuyuan in batches! We must establish the eternal foundation of our Han dynasty on the southern slopes of the Yin Mountains!

Do you think now is a good time for migrants?

He looked at Han Ji, who was the person in Taiyuan who understood his lord best. At present, apart from Xiahou Lan, who was guarding his wife at the mansion, only his brother Gongzhi was the only one.

Han Ji took the document, quickly scanned it, and a solemn expression appeared on his face.

"Rebuilding Wuyuan...this is a momentous undertaking! My lord...what a grand vision!"

He suddenly looked up: "Wenruo, don't worry for now! Since the lord's order is so, there must be a plan. We can just follow orders without worry."

"At the craftsmanship camp, I will personally select a group of the best master craftsmen, along with their capable apprentices and essential tools, to go there!"

"As for the migrants, the initial number doesn't need to be too large, just 20,000 to 30,000. We'll start by recruiting from Luqi County. I can't guarantee other counties, but nine and a half out of ten migrants from Luqi County will agree. They know all too well that each of our Lord's migrations is a great opportunity for ordinary people to double their wealth."

Xun Yu looked at Han Ji and revealed a knowing smile.

So he nodded: "Then we will do as you say, Brother Gongzhi."

Luoyang, Southern Palace, Main Hall.

The huge gilded bronze animal-shaped charcoal brazier was still burning red-hot, dispelling the last trace of chill in the Early Spring Palace.

However, the atmosphere in the hall today was somewhat eerie.

"...Former General Zhang Xian, Marquis of Jinxiang, is arrogant and domineering, relying on his military strength. He disobeys the central government's orders, arbitrarily provoked border conflicts, and led tens of thousands of troops deep into the barren lands! Now he falsely claims to be recovering the ruined city of Wuyuan and has stationed his troops at the foot of Yinshan Mountain! This is not guarding the border, but rather using his military strength to enhance his own power and plotting rebellion! His heart is deserving of punishment! His actions deserve to be punished!"

Situ Yuanwei had white hair and beard, and a gaunt face, but at this moment his face was slightly flushed with anger.

He held a tablet in his hand, standing beneath the steps of the imperial palace, his voice aged yet remarkably penetrating.

"I have heard that Zhang Xian has built a mound of skulls numbering in the tens of thousands on the former site of the Hu court! The skulls face north, and their appearance is horrific! This is not the work of a royal army, but the cruelty of a butcher! Moreover, he has been enforcing the law in Bingzhou, issuing grain coupons instead of five-zhu coins and establishing work points to disrupt the social order!"

"By taking in displaced people and privately amassing armor and weapons, how could his ambitions extend to the mere Wuyuan? Your Majesty, I implore you to consider this matter! Immediately issue an edict stripping Zhang Xian of his titles of General and Marquis of Jinxiang, and bring him to the capital for questioning! Furthermore, dispatch a high-ranking general to take command of the military forces in the three prefectures to prevent any potential internal strife!"

After Yuan Wei finished speaking, a large number of his accomplices immediately offered their opinions!

There is no right or wrong in the struggle for power; there is only attacking the strong and kicking the weak when they are down.

"What Lord Yuan said is absolutely right! Zhang Xian is arrogant and disrespectful to his sovereign and father! Wuyuan is abandoned, and the army has gone on a long expedition, wasting the country's strength! His intentions are unfathomable!"

"Building roads with mounds of Jingguan is against the will of Heaven! It may invite even greater retaliation from the barbarians! The border troubles will never be peaceful!"

"Grain coupons and work points are the root of political chaos! If this continues, the country will cease to exist!"

Civil officials, led by Yuan's protégés and former subordinates, stepped forward to second the motion, their words vehement, as if Zhang Xian were already a treacherous villain who had brought disaster to the country and its people.

General He Jin's face was ashen, and his obese body trembled slightly with anger.

He was a little confused. At first, he disliked Zhang Xian, and Yuan Wei even spoke up for Zhang Xian, but now the situation had reversed.

Zhang Xian has become one of his men. After the secret order was issued to Bingzhou, Zhang Xian swiftly captured Guangzong. Now, both inside and outside the court, everyone regards him as their most powerful arm in the outer towns!

However, if Wuyuan can be recovered, the biggest beneficiary of this tremendous achievement in expanding territory will still be General He!

He took a sudden step forward, his voice booming: "Absurd! Utter nonsense!"

He glanced around at the ministers who were attacking him, and finally fixed his gaze on Yuan Wei.

"The Marquis of Jinxiang has penetrated deep into the northern frontier, repeatedly defeating powerful barbarians, beheading Qiang Qu in battle, and building a Jingguan (a mound of skulls) to intimidate the hordes of villains! This is the achievement of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing! Wuyuan was originally Han territory, but it has been subjugated by barbarians for a century! Now the royal army is pointing north, recovering our lost lands, and displaying our national prestige beyond the borders! Such unparalleled achievements, yet you do not congratulate us but instead slander us. What are your intentions?!"

He turned to Liu Hong on the throne, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed, his tone impassioned.

"Your Majesty! The grain coupons and work points issued by the Marquis of Jinxiang are merely a temporary measure during wartime, intended only to resettle refugees and restore production! Bingzhou had a bumper harvest last year, with full granaries and taxes paid in full, and refugees returned home. This is all thanks to the Marquis of Jinxiang!"
How can we cling to old ways and slander such a valiant general with the views of a pedantic scholar! Your Majesty, I implore you to generously reward the Marquis of Jinxiang and the soldiers of the northern expedition! Furthermore, grant them full authority to govern Wuyuan, establish prefectures and counties, and permanently guard the northern frontier!

“General, you are mistaken!” Cui Lie, the Minister of Justice, stepped forward to refute.

"Zhang Xian's merits are undeniable, but his actions have far exceeded the bounds of a border general's duty! The Jingguan (a mound of corpses) is appalling and damages His Majesty's benevolence! He has privately implemented new laws and overstepped his authority over the central government! Moreover, as the military governor of You, Bing, and Liang prefectures, he holds considerable military power and is far away on the frontier. If he harbors rebellious intentions, what can be done? At this time, not only should he not be richly rewarded, but he should also be restrained and have some of his military power revoked to stabilize the court!"

"Take back military power? Cui Tingwei makes it sound so easy!" He Jin sneered.

"The nomadic tribes on the grasslands are not yet pacified, and the northern frontier is in dire need of reconstruction! To replace a general and strip him of his military power at this critical moment is as if Bingzhou is too peaceful? If the nomadic tribes seize the opportunity to counterattack and war breaks out again, who will bear the responsibility?!"

“General, this is alarmist talk! Does the Han Dynasty have no generals left to use without Zhang Xian?” Yuan Wei coldly retorted.

"Ha, Minister Yuan is trying to force the Marquis of Jinxiang to rebel at every turn. What are your Yuan family's intentions?!" He Jin's eyes widened in anger, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"enough!"

Emperor Liu Hong of Han, who had been sitting on his throne with his eyes half-closed as if he were lost in thought, finally spoke lazily. His voice was not loud, but it instantly suppressed the noise in the hall.

The ministers in the hall all straightened up and focused their attention on the throne.

(End of this chapter)