Volume Two: Lord and Grandson Chapter 74: Compatriots

For half a month, the Southern Sichuan Army waged a campaign against the Bo people. When the main invading force was ordered to withdraw, only the Fengli Battalion remained to assist the Shu South Military Office in continuing the suppression of the remaining Bo clans.

After half a month of fighting, over thirty thousand Bo people in southern Rongzhou were killed, more than forty thousand women and children were captured, and some Bo fled the borders of Dousha County, escaping to the Nanzhao Kingdom.

The Southern Sichuan Army suffered over five thousand casualties, while the Liao troops lost more than two thousand men. The Liao contributed the most in this battle, being well-versed in mountain warfare and almost never faltering.

With casualties came the need for compensation, especially since the Liao were brought out of Qianzhong Dao to fight.

Wei Fufeng discussed with his subordinates and proposed two options to appease the Liao: the first was to relocate them to Dousha County, granting the mountains there as new territory; the second, to compensate them with captives, salt, and porcelain. Without waiting for the Liao’s reply, Wei Fufeng departed from Ba City, leading two thousand troops to Fuzhou under the pretense of an inspection.

Upon arriving in Fuling County, he went directly to the prefectural office, having already informed the officials there that they need not receive him. Yet, outside the office, his future father-in-law and the county magistrate stood waiting to greet him.

Inside, his future father-in-law explained he was in conference with the magistrate, who tactfully excused himself.

Then Sixteen Maid entered, her smile bright as a flower, greeting Wei Fufeng. After months apart, her cheeks had grown plumper, making her delicate and lovely.

Following her were Amber, Mingyu, and Xiaoxue, who, more reserved and demure, stood quietly in the hall, unlike Sixteen Maid’s natural candor.

Wei Fufeng smiled and nodded at each, then asked them to leave so he could discuss matters with his future father-in-law.

His intended father-in-law disapproved of his departure for two reasons: first, Southern Sichuan had only just been pacified and needed Wei’s presence; second, the road was fraught with danger.

He warned Wei Fufeng not to become complacent, thinking internal strife would lessen now that Southern Sichuan seemed stable, for human nature is never satisfied—people can weather hardship together but rarely share prosperity.

In times of adversity, only unity can see one through; but once fortune is attained, ambitions and rivalries arise within.

Previously, Wei’s post as Military Governor of Southern Sichuan was not coveted by officials, as the risks far outweighed any gain. Now, with the region stabilized, the governor's seat was a true seat of wealth and power.

Wei understood the warning all too well. That was why, upon his return, he had already made many adjustments among the officials, carefully scrutinizing and weighing the candidates for the Governor’s Office.

Although the military office system separated the armed forces, some officers’ prestige could grow ever greater—most problematic of all was the solidarity of clansmen and countrymen.

Why did generals in the provinces so often kill their lords? Because of these tight-knit local bonds.

For the ancients, the ties of blood and hometown ran deep. To meet a fellow from home far away was to meet a brother.

Provincial military contingents were often made up of hometown men—such as the Qingzhou or Caizhou battalions. For instance, the Governor of Jingnan, Cheng Rui, had risen with several hundred men from Qingzhou.

Among refugees abroad, for courage and survival, such hometown associations were inevitable, and their leaders could rally them at a word.

The greatest threat to Wei’s rule in Southern Sichuan now was these hometown cliques; senior officers could easily become the invisible leaders recognized by their fellows.

Wei knew all too well the dangers of such associations, but there was no perfect way to eradicate them—he could only be cautious in his appointments, strengthening the governor’s authority and generosity.

For example, establishing the Thousand Crane Battalion was a long-term strategy against such cliques: soldiers raised from childhood under the governor’s favor would naturally see him as their closest kin.

Still, Wei intended to leave Southern Sichuan. The danger posed by these cliques would not erupt into rebellion in the short term.

Because the military office system curbed officers’ ability to amass personal followings, only those who accumulated enough prestige could break through and overturn the established order.

In truth, the best way to restrain such factions was to let the law override personal ties, to be as fair as possible, giving the ambitious no pretext to stir unrest.

Injustice breeds resentment, and resentment is fuel for those with ambition.

But true fairness is elusive; Wei could not personally supervise every matter. There would always be bias in rewards, pay, supplies, and so forth.

In fact, Wei had made up his mind: he would allow some officials to commit blatant errors, then punish them as an example, using their lives to display his wisdom.

Such devious methods, of course, could not be revealed to anyone. His future father-in-law’s warning was merely drawn from the lessons of history.

Anyone in power who could not balance uprightness with cunning would end as a failure.

After the conversation, Wei went to rest, following Amber to a private courtyard.

There stood three main rooms and six side chambers, the walls and buildings freshly renovated. Xiaoxue and Mingyu stood in the courtyard; Sixteen Maid was nowhere to be seen.

The guards remained at the gate, and Amber’s father went to rest. There was no need for constant vigilance, as all the prefecture’s security had, in fact, been taken over by Wei’s own troops.

Smiling as he entered, Wei enjoyed a rare moment as a young master; in the courtyard, the three young women were all his attendants. Though Sixteen Maid could not be his principal wife, her status was naturally higher than the other three.

They entered the main room together. Mingyu helped Wei remove his official robes and asked, “How many days will you stay, sir?”

“I leave tomorrow. I’ll take Xiaoxue back to Jinzhou with me,” Wei replied gently.

Mingyu quietly acknowledged, her tone tinged with disappointment. Wei took her fair hand and said kindly, “Now that Sichuan is stable, I must go find Sister Lin.”

“You’re going to look for our mistress?” Xiaoxue asked, her voice trembling with excitement.

Wei nodded, “It’s time. I’ve been preoccupied with restoring order to Sichuan. If I don’t seek out Sister Lin now, I’ll regret it my whole life.”

Xiaoxue nodded, her beautiful eyes welling with tears. “I always wanted to ask, sir, but didn’t dare,” she whispered.

Wei offered an apologetic smile. Suddenly, Mingyu softly pleaded, “Take us with you, sir.”

Wei looked at her kindly. “It’s not that I don’t wish to, but the road is perilous. I cannot take soldiers to Mount Wudang, and war could break out in Jinzhou at any moment. Only Sichuan is secure now. I’m taking Xiaoxue so that I might resolve the misunderstanding between Sister Lin and me.”

Mingyu nodded, “Then I won’t trouble you, sir.”

Wei gently stroked her cheek. “Wait a little longer. When the marquis’s residence is built in Ba City, you’ll go there and keep our home for me—our home.”

Mingyu blushed and nodded. Then, the three young women attended Wei as he bathed and dined, enjoying a quiet evening together.

...

By late morning the next day, a thousand troops arrived by boat in Fuling County; it was Yang Hui and his men.

A thousand soldiers had been ordered to escort him, joining the two thousand already there to accompany the imperial inspector to Jinzhou.

In the afternoon, the three thousand troops sailed down the river, under the pretext that the imperial inspector was returning to Chang’an to report to the court.

Their journey passed smoothly through the territory of the Wutai Military Governor. They landed at Kuizhou, then headed north, with Wei Fufeng concealed among the troops, safely returning to Jinzhou.

Upon arrival, it was imperative to pay respects to his grandfather and father. With ten guards, Wei quietly went to the Xicheng county office.

A detachment of soldiers escorted Yang Hui and his group to the prefectural office, while nearly three thousand troops went to Anyi County to relieve the Fufeng Army stationed there.

At the county office, Wei unexpectedly encountered his fifth uncle.

His uncle was speaking with Wei Xuan and, upon seeing Wei enter, paused in surprise, then rose and waved with a smile, “Fufeng, you’re back.”

Wei hurried forward, bowing, “Fifth Uncle, you’re here at the office.”

“I was just discussing with your father—postponing the Han River irrigation works. Now is the time to train troops, but your father is stubborn. This is my second attempt to persuade him,” his uncle said, laughing.

Wei nodded in acknowledgment. His uncle continued, “What do you think? Shouldn’t we train the troops? If we can’t defend Jinzhou, all those irrigation works will be for nothing.”

“Fifth Uncle, improving irrigation is far from useless—it wins the people’s hearts. If we focus on the people’s welfare, they’ll want us to rule long-term, and they’ll help defend the city. Training troops won’t show results so quickly,” Wei countered.

His uncle mused, “You have a point. But if the irrigation benefits someone else in the end, it seems a waste.”

“If we earn the people’s trust, momentary losses don’t matter. Just ensure the Jinzhou Army becomes a crack force—that will be enough to turn the tide,” Wei replied.

His uncle laughed. “You’re a smooth talker! Come, I have questions for you.”

He led Wei outside and asked in a low voice, “I hear that Yang Shouliang’s fifty thousand men were soundly defeated. How are things now in Southern Sichuan?”

Wei answered, and his uncle clapped him on the shoulder, sighing, “You truly are a cunning hero.”

With that, his uncle strode off. Wei went to see his father, who was noticeably darker and thinner than before, but his spirit was visibly brighter, his former scholarly gentleness replaced by vigor.

Father and son spoke warmly together. Wei Xuan did not know his son had been to Sichuan, thinking he’d come from Chang’an.

Wei could only gloss over everything, saying all was well. After a brief conversation, he left for the West Garden.

At the West Garden, Wei walked to the White Cloud Pavilion atop the hill to await his grandfather.

Before Yang Hui’s arrival, a messenger came first; his grandfather was engaged in entertaining Yang Hui’s group. Yang Hui was the adopted son of Yang Fuguang, and Wanlong and others were formerly from the Divine Strategy Army—men able to act as bait, talented and resourceful.

Even if Yang Hui and Wanlong surrendered, they would not necessarily submit to Wei because of his youth.

But Wei’s grandfather was different—elderly, with a reputation for virtue, and the brother of Grand Councilor Wei Zhaodu. Yang Hui and Wanlong could accept him psychologically.

It must be said, Wei’s ability to rule Southern Sichuan depended greatly on the halo of the Wei clan of Chang’an.

To ordinary officials, such great families inspired respect and awe, compensating for Wei’s youth; for the young are easily dismissed by their elders.