20demayo Chapter 1075 Personally Entering Southern Sichuan
Chapter 1075 Personally Entering Southern Sichuan
The next morning, before the sky was fully bright.
Wei Xiang, leading a thin, government-owned horse, waited early outside the city gate.
The morning breeze was unusually cool, making him feel uneasy, and he subconsciously tightened his official robe.
He didn't know what had gotten into him yesterday, how he had inexplicably agreed to the emperor's request.
Shunan? He's been in charge of salt for so many years, yet he's never been to the salt wells in the mountains.
Those uncivilized places were places only minor officials and soldiers would go.
Perhaps it was the emperor's words in court yesterday that moved him?
The emperor was stubborn, and Wei Xun could sense that he genuinely wanted to see the truth and resolve the problem.
Unlike previous officials who only cared about whether the accounts looked good, he was different.
This kind of 'truth' was both unfamiliar to Wei Xiang, who had been immersed in officialdom for many years, and it also subtly shook him.
Or perhaps, it's just curiosity in my heart that's at play.
Even a brilliant and talented man like his cousin Wei Xun could only compromise to maintain stability when faced with the persistent problem of salt administration in southern Sichuan.
What does this young emperor, whose methods are incredibly ruthless, need to untie this knot?
Just as my mind was in turmoil, I heard the sound of orderly footsteps coming from inside the city gate.
A procession appeared from inside the city gate.
The number of people was exactly six hundred, neither too many nor too few.
This is what Wei Xiang told Li Che yesterday: The situation in southern Sichuan is complicated, with constant border frictions, and even the Liao people who make salt have their own armed forces.
Bringing too few people won't be enough; they might just disappear into the deep mountains.
If too many people are brought, the Qiang and Man tribes might suspect that we are here to launch a punitive expedition, and they will inevitably react excessively.
A few hundred people is just the right number.
However, the appearance of this team was completely different from the brightly armored imperial guards he had imagined.
There were no bright flags, no striking armor; they were all dressed in drab black robes, with the outlines of dark armor faintly visible beneath.
Upon closer inspection, Wei Xiang realized that they were not wearing leather armor, but rather cloth armor with iron plates tightly sewn into thick cloth.
Each soldier carried a long, narrow object wrapped in oilcloth on his back. In addition to a fine steel sword at his waist, he also carried a short-handled mace and a warhammer, and held a spear and an iron-clad shield in his hands.
Although their armor wasn't particularly striking, Wei Xiang could sense that this was the emperor's truly elite force.
At the very front of the procession, Li Che was neither wearing a dragon robe nor riding in the imperial carriage.
He rode a magnificent black horse, dressed in a dark military uniform with a black cloak over it.
He carried a hard bow on his back, a long spear hanging from a victory hook, and a pure white gyrfalcon perched on his shoulder.
Today's emperor doesn't seem like the ruthless monarch of the past; he's more like a spirited young general.
Upon seeing Wei Xiang waiting by the city gate, Li Che smiled and waved to him.
Wei Xiang hurriedly led his horse forward, bowed, and said, "Your subject Wei Xiang greets Your Majesty."
"No need for formalities." Li Che's voice was clear and gentle. "Now that you have followed me into the mountains, you are practically a member of the army."
"Someone, fetch Wei Qing a set of armor that fits him well, and also a horse with good stamina."
A guard immediately took a spare set of cloth armor and helmet from the packhorse, and led over a rather magnificent chestnut warhorse.
"Put them on. The mountain roads are dangerous, so it's always good to have extra protection."
Seeing Wei Xiang somewhat flustered as he accepted the armor, Li Che added, "You've had a hard journey. You don't need to return this armor and this horse after we return to the city. Consider it a gift from me."
Wei Xiang was startled and quickly bowed deeply again in gratitude: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your generous gift!"
The precious horses and armor bestowed by the emperor were no ordinary gifts; normally, even high-ranking officials were not entitled to possess such armor privately.
Such great favor startled Wei Xun, yet also warmed his heart.
"Get dressed, and hurry up."
With the help of his personal guards, Wei Xiang awkwardly put on the cloth-covered iron armor. The iron plates stuck to his body, bringing a strange sense of security.
He mounted the chestnut horse, which immediately snorted, much more spirited than his old government horse.
Without disturbing more people, the procession of six hundred people silently passed through the city gate and left Rongcheng with a gentle wave of Li Che's hand.
After traveling only a few miles, the official road came to an end.
Instead, there is a winding, rugged mountain road that is hidden in dense vegetation.
Without the slightest hesitation, the team plunged headlong into that vast, green ocean.
The damp, cold air instantly enveloped us, carrying the strong scents of soil, decaying leaves, and vegetation.
The towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, with only a few sparse spots of sunlight filtering through the thick canopy. Underfoot was a thick layer of fallen leaves and tangled tree roots, making the ground slippery and unstable for horses to walk on.
Vines and thorns tugged at the armor from time to time, and strange cries of unknown birds and beasts came from afar, adding to the sense of mystery and eeriness.
Wei Xiang followed closely behind Li Che, trying to adapt to the bumpy mountain road while nervously observing his surroundings.
He discovered that this Qing army unit marched in a very orderly manner.
The group was divided into several sections, with each section supporting the others, and maintained a neat formation even on such a difficult road.
The soldiers seemed quite familiar with the environment, exchanging brief gestures occasionally, and everything was so orderly.
Li Che rode on his horse, his gaze calmly sweeping over the mountains and forests, occasionally stopping to observe the surrounding terrain.
The mountain road became increasingly steep, and the fog lingered in the forest, making visibility very low.
Wei Xiang glanced back, but the path he had come from was already hidden behind the lush greenery and mist.
Ahead lay even deeper mountains.
The sudden question broke the oppressive silence in the mountains and forests.
"Is this Wei Qing's first time entering the mountains?" Li Che's voice came from ahead.
Upon hearing this, Wei Xiang quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I am ashamed."
His face flushed slightly. As an official who had been in charge of salt affairs for many years, it was simply unacceptable that he had never set foot in the salt-producing region.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of.” Li Che didn’t even turn his head, his voice devoid of reproach. “You are a civil official, your duty is to coordinate and direct operations, and it is your responsibility to be stationed in the prefectural city. If every matter requires the chief official to personally go to dangerous places, then what is the point of the court establishing officials and assigning duties?”
He paused, then continued, "This mountain road is even more difficult to traverse than I imagined. Now I understand why the Qiang and Man tribes have been able to entrenched themselves in this place, and why the court has repeatedly tried to eradicate them but has always been unable to do so."
He controlled the black wind, deftly circling around a section of exposed tree roots, and continued:
"They were born and raised here, and they know every mountain ridge and every stream well."
"Relying on natural barriers, they built strongholds to defend themselves, and could either launch attacks or retreat into the vast forest."
"The imperial army has arrived, but the supply lines are long and the terrain is unfamiliar. They can only exert 30% of their strength, and ultimately they will not be able to achieve complete success."
Wei Xiang agreed and added, "Your Majesty is wise. The salt wells are located deep within these perilous places. The salt-producing areas are the lifeblood of the region, but they have also become the source of chaos."
"The imperial court needs salt, the people need salt, and the Qiang, Man and Liao people also regard salt as the foundation of their survival and trade. For a hundred years, they have been fighting each other and resisting the imperial court in order to control the salt wells. The conflict has never truly ended."
"Difficult, really difficult..."
The column was climbing up a path almost completely submerged in weeds and vines, the horses' hooves slipping from time to time, and the soldiers had to help each other.
Li Che remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the dense, impenetrable primeval forest on both sides.
The ground beneath our feet was muddy and uneven; it could hardly be called a road, but rather a narrow path worn into shape by countless people and animals.
Suddenly, he said:
"What would happen if I were to widen and flatten the roads here, connecting them directly to the major salt wells and even the mountain strongholds of the barbarian tribes?"
Wei Xiang was concentrating on controlling his horse when he heard this and almost slipped off.
He hurriedly gripped the reins, looked up at the emperor's back in front of him, his face full of disbelief.
Building roads in the vast mountains of southern Sichuan?
It also needs to be wide and flat, leading directly to Yanjing Mountain Village.
This...this is utterly delusional!
How huge a project must this be? How many laborers will it require? How much money will it cost?
They cleaved mountains and carved through rocks, crossed deep ravines, and fought off miasma and poisonous insects...
This is something only a mountain god could accomplish!
He opened his mouth, his first thought being, "This is beyond human capability."
However, the words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back down.
The emperor's tone was too calm, too calm for it to be a sudden whim.
Wei Xiang's thoughts raced.
If, just if...
If there truly were a road leading to the heavens, traversing the mountains of southern Sichuan...
Then, the imperial army, provisions, and officials could directly enter this uncivilized land.
Control over the salt wells will become more direct and effective, making inspections, tax collection, and the dispatch of craftsmen infinitely more convenient.
For the Qiang and Man tribes who relied on the natural barriers of the mountains, the transformation of the formidable chasm into a thoroughfare meant that their greatest obstacle had disappeared.
The imperial army could arrive in a day, with supplies flowing in continuously. This kind of deterrence would far exceed any previous expedition.
With the salt routes secured, salt prices will naturally stabilize, and the imperial court's control over the border regions will be greatly enhanced.
Even the most untamed barbarians, after losing their geographical advantage, might have to consider assimilation rather than continuing to fight.
The idea is bold and amazing, but also... too tempting.
"Your Majesty," Wei Xiang's voice was somewhat hoarse, "if such a path to heaven truly exists, then the salt mines can be secured, border troubles can be quelled, and imperial decrees can reach even the deepest mountains. The barbarian tribes will surely be deeply terrified, but..."
He couldn't suppress his doubts and lowered his voice: "However, building such a road in the mountains is a massive undertaking, almost beyond human capability."
"Moreover, the wild land is rife with miasma, making it difficult for craftsmen and laborers to stay for long, and the cost of money and grain would likely be astronomical."
He put it tactfully, but his meaning was clear: the idea was good, but it was simply impossible to implement.
Li Che sensed the doubt in his words, but he was not angry; he simply chuckled softly.
"Human strength has its limits, but determination is boundless." He said calmly, "Minister Wei, you only see the difficulties. But I see the stability of the border regions after the roads are opened, the people can enjoy affordable salt, the court's annual revenue will increase significantly, and the barbarian tribes will turn harm into benefit... The benefits far outweigh the difficulties."
He paused, then glanced at Wei Xiang sideways: "As for how to repair it, and whether it can be repaired... that's a matter for the Ministry of Works."
"What I'm asking now is, do you think this strategy can completely resolve the salt and iron problems in southern Sichuan and the barbarian uprisings?"
Wei Xiang was rendered speechless by Li Che's question.
Strategically speaking, if it succeeds, it would be a catastrophic and devastating blow!
But the question is... can this really work out?