Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

The news of the irrigation canal project's rapid progress, transforming the once impassable rocky beach into a thoroughfare, along with the tale of Guo San's generous reward, spread like wildfire throughout Xinghuo Fortress, even threatening to reach further afield. The morale of the soldiers and civilians within the fortress soared. The previous atmosphere of simply striving for survival and focusing only on immediate needs was replaced by a more vibrant, hopeful, and proactive spirit. In the fields during spring planting, people discussed, "What can we plant on those slopes when the water comes?" In the workshops, the clanging of tools was mixed with discussions about "Can we make the plowshare even sharper?" Even the children of the Murong tribe at the western camp would ask in broken Mandarin, "Is the water coming soon?"

However, Chen Xing's gaze had already crossed the fortress walls and field ridges, and was now fixed on the vast and unknown surrounding area.

The rise of Xinghuo Fortress, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, is bound to cause ripples. The threat from the Black Mountain Commander to the north hangs like a dark cloud, not yet pressing down, but its very existence is immense pressure. To the east and west, scattered Hu tribes, Han refugee groups, and fortified villages of varying sizes loom like shadowy figures in the night, their attitudes unclear and intentions unpredictable. To blindly focus on development would be to close one's eyes and ears, entrusting one's safety to the whims of others.

"It's time to let the outside world know about Starfire Fortress's existence." Inside the council hall, Chen Xing's finger slowly traced across the map. "Not only do we need to let them know, but we also need to let them know what kind of existence we are."

"Does the lord of the fortress intend to send envoys to establish friendly relations, declare his presence, and probe the surrounding area?" Wu Xuejiu stroked his beard and pondered.

"Exactly." Chen Xing nodded. "'Build high walls, store up grain, and delay declaring yourself king.' Of these nine characters, 'delay declaring yourself king' does not mean hiding away, but rather not rushing to dominate and become the hegemon. Instead, it means cultivating goodwill and creating favorable circumstances. Now that our fortress is initially stable, the irrigation canal is nearing completion, spring planting is in sight, and with the assistance of the Murong tribe's cavalry commander, we have some confidence in protecting ourselves and projecting an image to others. We should take the initiative to send people to contact the surrounding forces. Firstly, to understand their situation; secondly, to spread our reputation; and thirdly... perhaps to find potential allies, or at least reduce unknown enemies."

"However, the choice of envoy, the gifts he carries, and the appropriateness of his words all need to be carefully considered," Chen Wei reminded him. "In chaotic times, people's hearts are unpredictable, and bandits roam freely. The safety of the envoy is also a major concern."

"Commander Chen's concerns are quite valid." Chen Xing looked at everyone in the hall. "This is not a military campaign, but a diplomatic negotiation. Mr. Wu is mature, prudent, knowledgeable, and understanding, making him suitable as the chief envoy. We also need a capable bodyguard, skilled in martial arts for safety, as well as composed, resourceful, and authoritative without being angry. Commander Chen needs to remain in the fortress, and Tie Zhu is busy with spring plowing..." His gaze fell on Murong Mingyue, who had been listening silently. "General Murong, Elder Helan of your tribe is experienced, familiar with the affairs of the Han and non-Han peoples, and of advanced age and high moral character, making it easier for people to lower their guard. He is suitable as the deputy envoy. In addition, we will select five capable and brave men each from your tribe and the elite troops to serve as bodyguards. What do you think?"

After a moment's thought, Murong Mingyue concluded that Elder Helan was indeed the best candidate. He was not only the tribe's strategist, but also a former caravan leader who traveled between the Han and non-Han peoples, making him quite familiar with the various factions, customs, languages, and even some unspoken rules. "Mingyue has no objection; Elder Helan will certainly not fail in his mission."

"Alright," Chen Xing continued, "As for the gifts, they shouldn't be too extravagant to attract covetousness, nor too meager to appear stingy and impolite. Take twenty catties of the finest refined salt, ten bolts of fine linen, five fine iron daggers, and one hundred newly made, durable grain cakes mixed with bean flour from my fortress. Salt, cloth, and iron are all hard currency, sufficient to demonstrate sincerity and strength. The grain cakes are a gesture of goodwill, indicating that my fortress has grain and is willing to share."

Li Shu quickly took notes.

"The key points of the speech," Chen Xing paced back and forth, slowly revealing his thoughts, "First, to show that Xinghuo Fort is a place that shelters refugees and protects the people, and has no intention of actively harassing others. Second, to promote the 'Order of Merit' and the 'Military Regulations,' especially emphasizing 'no robbing civilians, no mistreatment of prisoners,' thus shaping the image of our fort as a 'benevolent army' and a 'land of rules,' distinguishing it from ordinary bandits and tyrannical warlords. Third, to reveal that our fort has allied with the Murong tribe to jointly resist foreign aggression, demonstrating our strength and also implying our fort's attitude of treating both Han and non-Han peoples equally. Fourth, to express the desire for mutual exchange and peaceful relations, especially trade, where salt, cloth, and ironware can be exchanged for grain, livestock, leather, and medicinal herbs. Fifth, to cautiously probe the movements of the Black Mountain Commander and other surrounding forces, without showing any eagerness."

He paused and looked at Wu Xuejiu and He Lansou: "The specific words are for you two to decide on as the situation unfolds. The general principle is to be neither humble nor arrogant, to show sincerity, to lure people with benefits, and to intimidate them. If you encounter obvious hostility or danger, prioritize your own safety and retreat quickly."

Wu Xuejiu and Helan Sou exchanged a glance and bowed in unison, saying, "We will obey the Lord's command."

Preparations were underway at a rapid pace. Li Shu prepared the gifts and wrapped them carefully. Chen Wei and Murong Mingyue each selected guards, all of whom were experienced, taciturn, but highly observant. Wu Xuejiu and Helan Sou secluded themselves for half a day, carefully considering various possible scenarios and countermeasures.

Three days later, a small delegation quietly set off from the west gate of Xinghuo Fortress. Wu Xuejiu and Helan Sou each rode a docile packhorse, while ten guards, all dressed in neat leather armor, with sharp blades at their waists and crossbows on their backs, rode sturdy horses, surrounding two donkey carts loaded with gifts. Although the delegation was small, it exuded an air of competence and solemnity.

Their targets were five potential contact points marked on the map, ranging from thirty to eighty li away from Xinghuo Fortress: "Panshiwu" fifty li to the east; "Wulolan Tribe" seventy li to the west, on the edge of Yehuyuan; "Qingfengzhai" forty li to the south in the mountains; "Lijiaji" sixty li to the northeast; and "Woniugang" eighty li to the northwest, which had already clearly pledged allegiance to the Black Mountain Commander.

Chen Xing, Murong Mingyue, and the others stood on the fortress wall, watching the delegation disappear behind the hills.

"The outcome of this journey is uncertain. I hope Mr. Wu and Elder Helan will have a smooth journey," Murong Mingyue said softly.

"Man proposes, God disposes." Chen Xing's gaze was far-reaching. "Whether it succeeds or fails, it will bring back the information we need. We must take this first step."

After the mission left, everything in the fortress returned to normal, but the core members couldn't help but spare some attention for news from afar.

The first message to arrive was about the route to Lijiaji. Five days later, a guard returned ahead of schedule, bringing back a brief message from Wu Xuejiu. The message stated that Lijiaji was quite large, with over a thousand inhabitants, mainly refugees. It was a spontaneously formed market, a melting pot of people, without a unified leader, and poorly managed. They were both curious and wary of the Xinghuobao delegation's arrival. Wu Xuejiu and Helan Sou displayed their gifts, promoted Xinghuobao's "benevolence" and "rules," and expressed their intention to trade. Several influential figures in the market had differing attitudes: some were very interested in salt, iron, and cloth, willing to exchange them for grain and mountain products; others were suspicious, fearing that Xinghuobao would grow stronger and swallow them up; still others simply wanted to extract information about the fortress's secrets. Wu Xuejiu and his group stabilized the situation, initially reaching an agreement with two interested traders for irregular barter, and exchanging contact information. Overall, it can be considered that a breakthrough has been made, but Lijiaji itself is loose and cannot be expected to be successful.

Three days later, the guards who had gone to Panshiwu returned with news. The lord of Panshiwu, surnamed Han, was originally a low-ranking officer in the county army. After the city fell, he led some of his men and refugees to occupy a strategically important mountain pass. He was quite cautious, even somewhat paranoid. He personally received Wu Xuejiu and his party, accepting all the gifts politely, but his words were full of probing, especially regarding Xinghuo Fort's troop strength, food reserves, and relationship with the Murong tribe. Wu Xuejiu responded according to the plan, displaying both military might and emphasizing his desire for peace. Lord Han finally stated that he was willing to "guard each other's borders and not invade each other," and that they could "exchange information" if necessary. However, he remained evasive and noncommittal regarding a deeper alliance or regular trade. Clearly, he was observing the situation.

They found nothing at Qingfeng Village. The village gates were tightly closed, and the scouts found that there seemed to be few people inside. Wu Xuejiu judged that they might have moved away or broken up, so he did not venture in rashly. He left behind gifts and letters and then withdrew.

The most attention-grabbing news came from the Ulolan tribe in the west and the Woniugang area in the northwest.

The delegation heading to the Ulolan tribe encountered the expected cold reception and wariness. They were kept several miles outside the tribal camp, with only a minor chieftain who understood Chinese coming to negotiate. Helan Sou communicated with him using steppe etiquette and the local language, presenting gifts, explaining Xinghuobao's interpretation of the Balut tribe's demise, and tentatively proposing to exchange salt, iron, and cloth for the Ulolan tribe's cattle, sheep, horses, and furs. The chieftain was arrogant, accepting the gifts but remaining noncommittal about the trade proposal, only vaguely stating that he would report to the leader and warning Xinghuobao not to cross the border. Clearly, the Ulolan tribe coveted the power vacuum left by the Wild Fox Plains and was wary of the suddenly appearing Xinghuobao, making communication difficult in the short term.

The route to Woniugang brought back the most direct signs of danger. They didn't approach the stronghold, but observed from the distant mountains and forests, trying to gather information from the scattered merchants and woodcutters passing by below. The information they gathered indicated that Woniugang had completely sided with the Black Mountain Commander, the commander was extremely subservient to him, and about two hundred Black Mountain soldiers were stationed there, relatively well-equipped, seemingly acting as supervisors. The stronghold had recently increased patrols and checks, being particularly wary of unfamiliar faces. A woodcutter vaguely overheard soldiers on the stronghold boasting while drinking, saying that "Grandpa Black Mountain" would sooner or later "deal with" Xinghuobao, this arrogant and rebellious "troublemaker."

When the information was presented to Chen Xing, the situation became much clearer.

To the east, Lijiaji can be a trading partner, but it cannot be relied upon; Panshiwu's attitude is ambiguous, so the focus should be on prevention; Qingfengzhai poses no threat for the time being; the Wuluolan tribe to the west is clearly hostile and needs to be closely guarded; while Woniugang in the northwest has been clearly identified as the tentacles and outposts extended by the Black Mountain Commander, posing the highest risk of war.

"The Ulolan tribe is wary of our fortress's alliance with the Murong tribe, and also covets Wild Fox Plain. Their stance is wavering; they want to advance eastward, but are afraid of suffering a crushing defeat. We can strengthen patrols on the west side and display our military strength appropriately, but avoid proactive provocation, using delaying tactics to wait for a change in circumstances," Chen Xing analyzed. "Wo Niu Gang... is no longer a friend. We need to be doubly vigilant and begin planning how to remove this thorn in our side. But not now."

He looked at Wu Xuejiu and Helan Sou, who had returned weary from their journey, and solemnly said, "You two gentlemen have worked hard this time, overcoming numerous dangers, yet you brought back crucial intelligence. This has freed our fort from the blind and the grove. This is a great achievement, and you should be richly rewarded as ordered."

Wu Xuejiu and He Lansou quickly declined.

"The essence of diplomacy lies in perseverance," Chen Xing concluded. "This is merely an initial exploration. Trade with Lijiaji must be maintained, ties with Panshiwu must not be severed, and surveillance of the Wuluolan tribe and Woniugang must continue. We must let our neighbors know that Xinghuobao is not a fleeting band of outlaws, but a force that values ​​rules, possesses strength, is willing to trade, and is capable of fighting tough battles. In time, people's hearts will naturally be revealed."

This first proactive diplomatic action was like casting several torches into the darkness; though it couldn't illuminate every corner, it at least revealed the nearby terrain and hidden outlines. The name Starfire Fortress began to quietly enter the field of vision of surrounding powers.

In the chaotic game of chess, a new piece, no longer content with remaining in a corner, begins to cautiously extend its tentacles and attempt to make its move.