Chapter 168: Grape Wine
Traveling along the river from Anding Commandery to Wuwei Commandery, crossing the river, you can see the Great Wall originally built along the northern bank abruptly shift northward, pointing straight toward the direction of Gu Zang in Wuwei Commandery.
The Great Wall’s boundary is set in the middle of the commandery, relying on rivers and mountains for its construction, representing the inevitability of its historical context. However, this doesn’t mean it’s the edge of the Han territory.
The edge of the land is still further away.
Take, for example, another famous area outside the Great Wall—Juyanze at the end of the weak river, which is part of the Zhangye territory.
Both Juyanse and Guyangse share similar border defense responsibilities.
Perhaps due to the Northern Xiongnu fleeing northward and the Silk Road having been inactive for many years, the border pressure at Juyanze is slightly less than at Guyangse. Yet, even during Emperor Ling’s reign, there are still records of Xianbei raiding Jiuquan.
After Qiao Yan’s expeditions, the situation here has notably improved compared to earlier times.
With the turmoil in Jincheng and Longyou settled, Qiao Yan looked around and saw many Han people traveling along the official roads.
This scene, though not as prosperous as “Golden Zhangye, Silver Wuwei, Jade Jiuquan” in later times, still gave her a newfound appreciation for her surroundings.
This sense of leisure could hardly exist before Han Sui’s death and Ma Teng’s surrender.
Now, she told Xu Shu this was a long journey to broaden her horizons, so it wouldn’t hurt to relax a bit.
Since departing from Liangzhou in April to this point, it’s been over three months.
Despite some delays in stockpiling provisions at Gaoping City, amidst the various orders given, there hadn’t been much chance to take a breather.
Whether to intimidate with killings or to lure in, she had to stay alert to make her judgments.
If anything went awry on her trip to Jincheng, the Bingzhou army she brought from Liangzhou could face significant losses.
Even the back-and-forth strategies between Dong Zhuo and Yuan Shao had to be handled with care and caution.
Fortunately—
All the preparations from Bingzhou allowed her to achieve the current situation, giving her some relief.
But this vacation journey isn’t exactly smooth sailing.
The entrance to the Hexi Corridor is Wuqiao Ridge, and to enter Wuwei, she must cross over it.
As she reached the mountain, Qiao Yan instinctively tightened her cloak around her.
The elevation of Wuqiao Ridge isn’t particularly high compared to the plateau, but even in late summer, the temperature on Wuqiao Ridge is shockingly low.
No wonder historical texts often mention that even in midsummer, Wuqiao Ridge frequently sees snow falling.
Today, however, there’s no snow in sight.
But by the time Qiao Yan and Xu Shu arrive at Wuqiao Ridge, it’s nearing dusk. Looking westward, the mountains rise higher, covered in snow, which obscures the evening glow and leaves only a bit of fading light reflecting on the grasslands.
The chill during this transition from day to night quietly seeps in.
Those grasslands are hardly plentiful; much of the area is starkly barren, further enhancing the sense of desolation.
But this is the norm for the borderlands.
The Great Wall of the Han, built along the mountain ridges, has suffered collapse in many places due to years of neglect. Looking out toward the towering mountains ahead, there’s a peculiar grandeur and a trace of historical evolution.
However, as the last sliver of sunlight on the mountain edge gets swallowed by the night, the biting cold wind becomes increasingly difficult to endure.
Qiao Yan decided not to travel at night but to find a resting place for merchants stationed at Wuqiao Ridge for a short break.
One of her subordinates lit the stove and brought her a bowl of hot soup.
“How does it feel coming out of Wuqiao Ridge?” Qiao Yan asked Xu Shu.
Compared to a “normal person” like Xu Shu, Qiao Yan felt a hint of cheekiness in her resilience to the cold.
She wasn’t particularly bothered by the chill; her subordinates were much less tolerant.
Though she had someone bring clothes to keep warm, the “cozy drink and still feeling chilly” situation along this steppe geography wasn’t exactly pleasant.
But after drinking some hot soup to warm up, Xu Shu simply replied, “If you insist on asking, I can only think of two lines of poetry—‘If I lose Yanzhi Mountain, it leaves my women without color. If I lose Qilian Mountain, my livestock won’t thrive.’”
Qiao Yan burst into laughter.
This is the spirit of the Han people today!
In the second year of Yuan Shou, Huo Qubing crossed Wuqiao Ridge from Longyou and launched attacks against the Xiongnu, killing and capturing countless enemies, slaying the Xiongnu kings E Lan and Lu Hou, leaving behind a poignant mourning song among the defeated Xiongnu.
Yanzhi Mountain is located within Zhangye, while Qilian Mountain borders Wuwei Commandery, offering grazing lands for the Xiongnu.
This is the true depiction of the Xiongnu who were scattered and fleeing during those years.
Under the stars and moon, the looming Great Wall ahead mistily appears in the night, prompting thoughts of what the Hexi battle truly looked like in this harsh, cold weather.
Xu Shu’s words were indeed bold.
Qiao Yan continued, “Yes, if we don’t take this trip, how can we truly see this monumental road as if made of iron?”
She downed the hot soup in her hand and stood up to gaze into the distance.
The vastness of the mountains and rivers suggests that one should possess the ambition to swallow the universe.
If one only stays within the temple and confines oneself to a mere square of land, how can they envision such beauty even in a barren land?
People need to look further.
As her gaze wandered, the northern mountains were reduced to only intertwined silhouettes in the darkness.
The next day, after crossing over the highest point of Wuqiao Ridge, the higher peaks of snowy mountains slowly emerged in the morning light.
That would be Qilian Mountain.
According to legend, six rivers flow eastward from Qilian Mountain, irrigating this area of lush greenery, which would later become known as the land of Liugu Tuba.
However, currently, this place is most famous for Lusui.
The barren surface of Wuqiao Ridge didn’t hinder the scenery. When she finally officially reached the core area of Wuwei Commandery, what caught her eye was a scene rich in flora and greenery.
This land, nourished by flowing water, shouldn’t be the sight of mulberry trees lined like roads and fields of hemp if not for the wars that resulted in vast lands with few people.
But looking from this patch of green towards the northwest, all she saw was this color. Given her prior plans for the development of agriculture in Liangzhou, she felt nothing but joy.
This truly is a piece of land especially suited for agriculture and grazing.
If there aren’t enough people, just recruit from elsewhere!
Moreover, if developed properly, she should not only attract the people originally living in Liangzhou but also those from the outskirts and the Central Plains, ensuring a sufficient population gather here.
Jia Xu had once told her that during the peak prosperity of Gu Zang in Wuwei, even night markets emerged, leading to the saying of Liangzhou being a city that never sleeps.
However, it’s a pity that nowadays, the order and authority of the Han diminish as they reach the borderlands, let alone in a place like the Four Commanderies of Hexi, which has Wuqiao Ridge offering additional separation.
Because of Wuqiao Ridge, the situation with local nobility in the Four Commanderies of Hexi is much more severe compared to Liangzhou’s numerous powerful families.
How severe, you ask?
In the Four Commanderies of Hexi, the principle of three mutuals can occasionally be ignored.
For example, the current Prefect of Jiuquan comes from the Huang Clan of Jiuquan.
The Prefect of Wuwei originally hailed from the Yan Clan of Wuwei, but unfortunately, during the turmoil between Han Sui and Ma Teng, he sought a share of the spoils and met an untimely demise, leaving the position vacant.
Because of this, Qiao Yan didn’t recklessly delve into the administration of Wuwei Commandery. Instead, she sent out troop deployment orders before she and Xu Shu set out to cross the river, allowing Zhao Yun and the others to come forward. After bringing along Lü Bu and Qu Yi, she finally concluded her visits around the area, leading her troops toward Gu Zang.
In a place like the Four Commanderies of Hexi, there are two things of value.
One is the prestige of elders.
During the Jian’an period, Prefect Zhang Meng of Wuwei thrived because his father was Zhang Huan from the three brilliant families of Liangzhou, allowing him to govern for seventeen years.
But once the shade of his father’s glory waned due to his unruly actions, he was left with a fate of demise.
The other is sheer military force.
What Qiao Yan possesses is the latter.
She can’t help but thank the Han ancestors; even though the conditions of Wuqiao Ridge are harsh, the Great Wall built there serves to impede invasions by the Hu people while providing a route for Han troops to gather and cross the mountains.
Because of this, it’s not hard for Lü Bu, Qu Yi, and Zhao Yun to cross the mountains.
Their speed isn’t slow either.
Earlier, Qiao Yan gave Lü Bu and Qu Yi the order to clean the area around the city while centering on the siege, leading to the control of Zuli south of the Yellow River during this expansion, and the second step to station troops was at the Zhan Yin crossing.
Moreover, after she sent Cheng Yu to Jincheng, Zhao Yun received Qiao Yan’s order to set out on a military expedition at any time.
Thus, he had long completed his preparations.
Zhao Yun didn’t question whether Qiao Yan’s troop deployment was a bit inappropriate.
After all, with his military force withdrawing from Gaoping City, that place, in name, had been handed over to Liu Yu and Huangfu Song.
But if Qiao Yan were to explain, this nominal transfer did not mean she had completely lost control over that area.
On the contrary, this step back, compared to her urgent military maneuvers against Liangzhou, seemed especially crucial.
This was to demonstrate that she would never rashly initiate an attack on the Three Auxiliaries.
“Ignoring your Majesty and the safety of Lu Zhi and Xun Shuang, just shows her loyalty to the Han in wanting to stabilize the border and save the Emperor.”
On the other hand, the scholars accompanying Liu Yu to Liangzhou should really be getting some real work done in such a situation to honor their host who gave up their territory. Meanwhile, Huangfu Song’s influence in the capital and around Gaoping should play some role too.
Yet, surprisingly, the very folks being exploited felt a bit sorry for Qiao Yan, who was forced to halt her offensive.
Little did they know, Qiao Yan bringing a strong army into the border of Wuwei Commandery was actually a huge pressure for the local gentry.
Some among them even started pondering if they should learn a thing or two from Yang clan of Jiuquan.
But sticking to the belief that one shouldn’t mess around with gift-giving, the representative from the Yan clan of Wuwei first brought food and drink to reward the soldiers.
Qiao Yan sat on her horse, looking toward Yan Jun who was coming to meet her.
Guzang city didn’t resemble any of the other cities she had seen in Liang and Bingzhou.
This city was originally built by the Xiongnu and was called Gaizang. Its layout didn’t follow Han standards but was instead built to fit the terrain, also known as Wolong City.
After Huo Qubing’s successful northern campaigns against the Xiongnu, the city fell into Han hands, but they didn’t demolish it entirely; rather, they repurposed it for military use. Overall, it had a unique appearance.
No wonder later on the Zhang clan, who founded the Later Liang and established their capital here, turned it into a small city following suit.
Qiao Yan brought her thoughts back to the face of the young nobleman before her, noticing a flicker of apprehension crossing his features, yet he still managed a calm, inscrutable demeanor as he said, “Wuwei commands the throat of five commanderies, and is thus built to showcase military merit. With the prefect position vacant, I’ve stationed my troops here to prevent any unrest.”
Unrest? What unrest could there possibly be in Wuwei Commandery!
The representative Yan Jun could only scratch his head, thinking the local gentry like the Duan and Zhang clans were serving under Dong Zhuo.
It’s hard to say whether that made Qiao Yan a bit disgruntled with them, which also dragged further into Wuwei Commandery’s troubles.
And considering that Qiao Yan held the title of General of the Cavalry, which echoed the origin of Wuwei Commandery, Yan Jun could only look at her with growing unease as a cold air of ferocity surrounded her.
Hearing that Qiao Yan was planning to station troops within the city and later cultivate the land by the Lu River, Yan Jun’s smile was getting a bit stiff.
This was like having a guillotine hanging over his head!
He turned and spotted several formidable generals accompanying Qiao Yan, and her army appeared to be in high spirits, as if they weren’t affected at all by the battles in Liangzhou.
This kind of display made Yan Jun doubt whether any little misstep could bring disaster to his family.
He quickly swallowed the words he’d held back about wanting her to stay outside the city.
Even after quickly conferring with his clan, he decided to up the ante on the welcome banquet they were offering to show goodwill.
But it seemed like not everyone was on board with that idea.
Lü Bu grimaced after sipping the wine that was offered.
He had once been knocked out by Qiao Yan’s celebratory liquor, but that was two years ago.
Getting used to the strong spirits in Bingzhou made him find the drinks from his youth now quite bland, let alone the one in front of him.
He muttered, “Is this wine sour or sweet? How can it compare to the flavors of the border? It’s terribly dull!”
Qiao Yan examined the jade cup before her and replied, “Don’t underestimate this wine, Fuxian. Over a decade ago, a gentleman named Meng Bolang from Fufeng gifted this wine to that Palace Attendant Zhang Rang, thus this wine became precious, earning him the title of Liangzhou Prefect. How much do you think it’s worth?”
The wine in her cup was actually grape wine.
The jade cup was made from jade found in Jiuquan and was, in a sense, a glowing gem for this night banquet.
In the context of this night banquet, it truly suited the saying about “grape wine in a luminous cup.”
Seeing Qiao Yan looking at him after she spoke, Yan Jun quickly replied, “Indeed, this is the exquisite wine bribed for the past post of Prefect Meng.”
Considering the value represented by a measure of wine, the drinks he presented at this dinner could count as quite an expense.
But to please this militarily powerful Marquis of Leping, he could only take on this financial loss to avert disaster.
He then pointed to the platter in front of Qiao Yan and said cheerfully, “M’Lord, why not try the meat?”
During their conversation, a plate of lamb, fresh off the grill and now neatly cut and served, had just been presented to them. The gamey smell had mostly been eliminated during the spicing with ginger, garlic, and sauce.
Given the superior conditions of the pastures at the foot of Qilian Mountain and the careful selection by local gentry, this lamb was much higher quality than what was raised locally in Bingzhou or what could be snatched from the Xianbei.
This was undoubtedly top-notch meat.
Qiao Yan enjoyed her meal leisurely, thinking that this trip was worth it, while also considering another issue in her mind.
She initially meant to pick out a scapegoat among the local gentry to pressure but thought better of it, which was why she had brought along Zhao Yun, who would manage the cultivation here, along with Qu Yi, another local strongman, and Lü Bu, who was perfectly suited for more aggressive tasks.
However, the banquet today reminded her of something.
In this time period, preserving grape wine was not as easy as it would be later, and making wine was not standardized.
Otherwise, during the reign of Han Lingdi, a measure of grape wine wouldn’t still fetch a position like Liangzhou Prefect.
So the wine presented by Yan Jun as a guest offering was likely not local produce but something imported from outside.
These local gentry surely had the means to access trading involving the Silk Road.
That meant—
First, she needed to dig out these merchant groups, then play the exploitative game with them.
As Qiao Yan thought about this, she raised her eyes and displayed a satisfied smile at Yan Jun.
But to Yan Jun, this change in expression undoubtedly meant that it was a pleasant banquet for both host and guest.
He felt he had survived this first crisis!
In August, in Bingzhou, Xi Zhicai received a second letter from Qiao Yan after she set the plan for “One City, Two Belts.”
With the harvest season in Bingzhou underway and not needing to prepare military rations for Liangzhou for the time being, things there were well-organized, giving him some free time.
Last August, Qiao Yan had him develop some special brews, among which one was called Songling Wine, made from pine, fungus, and cordyceps laid in white liquor, buried under ancient pines in the mountains for a year before extracting.
With Qiao Yan away, Xi Zhicai dug out a jug, chilled it for half a day, and finally placed it before him in a porcelain bowl.
“You sure know how to enjoy life,” Guo Jia remarked, pouring the wine without slowing down.
He had just returned from Yanmen after discussing with Zhang Liao about accepting the Xianbei into the territory this autumn and winter, and the heat of the autumn intersecting season had made him a bit dizzy. Finally, he got a moment of leisure, just in time for some afternoon tea.
Guo Jia glanced around the room.
If one ignored the orderly yet high stack of official documents on the other side of the table, the outside was filled with green pines and bamboo shadows, with bamboo curtains flowing, and a cool breeze entering after the rain—it was truly a prime summer retreat.
On the tea table, aside from the wine, there was also a bowl of weak branch jujubes.
As Xi Zhicai poured the wine, he replied, “There’s just a bit of work to do in two commanderies; Liangzhou still has three counties beyond the jurisdiction of the prefecture. One must find balance between work and rest—I can’t compare to Zhongde’s great stamina, so I’m just sneaking in a day of leisure.”
The Songling wine flowed into the green porcelain bowl, a clear amber color floating with a hint of coldness, blending beautifully with the cool breeze in the room. The fragrance of the wine filled the air, lifting one’s spirits.
Thinking about the several people still battling it out in Liangzhou, as the one left behind to enjoy the benefits of progress in Bingzhou, he couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of superiority.
As he enjoyed his drink, he opened the letter beside him.
It wasn’t marked as official correspondence, just casual chit-chat, so Xi Zhicai didn’t rush to open it, using the opportunist moment of drinking to take a peek.
Guo Jia glanced at him, only to see the smile on Xi Zhicai’s face freeze.
He couldn’t help but tighten his expression and asked, “What’s the matter?”
“You see for yourself.”
With a speechless gesture, Xi Zhicai handed the letter to Guo Jia, who read the contents:
【I heard there is a night market in the northwest, and Guzang set up four courtyards, filled with bright lights, bustling with Hu merchants—truly a remarkable sight. I went to check it out. However, during the festive season, no longer can one sing through the night, only to buy the Prefect’s exquisite wine 2—it’s supplied by a local noble and tastes sweet and not bitter, cool and not too cold, unmatched in flavor, far better than the herbal wine of years past. At night, with candles lit, the jade flows purple, paired with lamb soaked in sauce and grilled, seasoned with ginger and garlic—truly delicious. Too bad the wine was limited, I’ve already drank it all myself.】
“…Cough!” Guo Jia almost choked on his drink halfway through.
This letter…
This letter really is a bit cheeky!
It talks about her checking out the Guzang night market and not getting to see anything, and it’s fine that she mentioned enjoying grilled lamb, but then that line “Too bad there wasn’t enough wine, I drank it all myself” just takes the cake!
He couldn’t help but glance at Xi Zhicai, who had sneakily opened a jug of Songling wine, and it was hard not to think—
This might also mean something in the way of mutual benefit between lord and minister.
