Chapter 168

Chapter 168

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 6: The Two Provinces’ Tiger’s Roar, the Silk Road Reopens Chapter 168: Grape Wine

From Anding Commandery along the river into Wuwei Commandery, crossing the river, one can see that the Great Wall, originally built along the north bank of the river, turns northward, pointing directly towards the direction of Guzang, the seat of Wuwei Commandery.

The boundary of the Great Wall is set in the middle of the commandery, built along rivers and mountains, mostly due to historical necessity during its construction. However, this does not mean that this is the boundary of the Han Dynasty’s territory.

The territorial boundary is still further away.

For example, another famous Han territory outside the Great Wall is Juyan Lake at the end of the Ruo River, which is the Juyan Dependency of Zhangye.

The border defense responsibilities of Juyan Fort and Guyang Fort are quite similar.

Probably because the Northern Xiongnu fled northward and the Silk Road has not been prosperous for many years, the border defense pressure in Juyan is less than that in Guyang. However, during the reign of Emperor Ling, there are still records of Xianbei invading Jiuquan for plunder.

In the past two years, after Qiao Yan’s expedition, the situation here has improved significantly compared to earlier years.

Now that the chaos in Jincheng and Longxi has been quelled, Qiao Yan looks around and sees many Han people traveling on the official roads.

Although this scene is far from the prosperity described in later generations as “Golden Zhangye, Silver Wuwei, Jade Jiuquan,” it still gives her a bit of appreciation for the surroundings.

This somewhat leisurely mood was probably impossible before Han Sui’s death and Ma Teng’s surrender.

Now… she told Xu Shu that this is a journey of ten thousand miles to broaden her horizons, and it’s also a good time to relax.

It has been more than three months since the troops were sent out in Liangzhou in April.

Although there was a brief pause in stockpiling grain in Gaoping City, the various orders issued still left little time for rest.

Whether to intimidate with killing or to win over with surrender, she always had to stay alert to make judgments.

Any misstep in the Longxi and Jincheng area could have resulted in significant losses for the Bingzhou army she brought to Liangzhou.

Even the tug-of-war with Dong Zhuo and Yuan Shao had to be handled with caution and adaptability.

Fortunately—

The preparations made in Bingzhou in advance allowed her to achieve the current situation, and she can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

However, this vacation journey is not exactly smooth.

The entrance to the Hexi Corridor is Wushaoling. To enter Wuwei, one must cross Wushaoling.

As they reached the mountains, Qiao Yan instinctively tightened her cloak.

The altitude of Wushaoling is not particularly high on this plateau, but even in late summer, the temperature on Wushaoling is still frighteningly low.

No wonder the records often mention that even in midsummer, Wushaoling is often covered in snow.

Today, however, there was no snow.

But when Qiao Yan and Xu Shu arrived at Wushaoling, it was nearly dusk. Looking west from here, the mountains were still high, with snow almost reaching the clouds, which also obscured the sunset and left only a few remnants of the afterglow reflecting on the meadows.

The coldness of the transition between day and night silently permeated the air.

The meadows were only sparsely distributed, with more areas being completely bare, enhancing the sense of desolation.

But this is the norm in the frontier.

The Great Wall of the Han Dynasty, built along the mountain ranges, has collapsed in many places due to recent neglect. Looking along this line towards the high mountains ahead, there is a peculiar sense of grandeur and the trajectory of historical evolution.

However, when the last trace of sunlight at the edge of the mountain was swallowed by the night, the cold wind became even more biting, making it somewhat unbearable.

Qiao Yan did not plan to travel at night but found a merchant camp on Wushaoling to rest.

The subordinates accompanying her lit the stove and handed her a bowl of hot soup.

“How does it feel to leave Wushaoling?” Qiao Yan asked Xu Shu.

Compared to Xu Shu, a “normal person,” Qiao Yan felt that her constitution was somewhat unfair.

She is not afraid of the cold, but her subordinates are not as resistant to the cold.

Although they had brought warm clothes, the “wearing furs and drinking wine, still shivering” at the geographical boundary was not exactly fun.

But after drinking some hot soup to recover, Xu Shu only replied, “If my lord insists on hearing it, I can only say that I thought of two lines of poetry—’Losing my Yanzhi Mountain, my women lose their beauty. Losing my Qilian Mountain, my livestock cannot thrive.'”

Qiao Yan immediately laughed.

This is the spirit of the Han people today!

In the second year of Yuanshou, Huo Qubing crossed Wushaoling from Longyou to attack the Xiongnu, capturing and beheading tens of thousands, killing the Xiongnu kings Zhelan and Luhou, leaving the Xiongnu with a lament of unknown origin.

Yanzhi Mountain is located in Zhangye, and Qilian Mountain is at the border of Wuwei Commandery, which are the grazing lands of the Xiongnu.

This is the true portrayal of the Xiongnu who were scattered and fled.

Under the stars and moon at this moment, the Great Wall ahead faintly appears in the night, making people imagine what the Hexi battles were like in such harsh weather.

Xu Shu’s response was quite bold.

Qiao Yan continued, “Yes, if we don’t take this journey, how can we witness such a grand and iron-like scene of the Great Wall?”

She drank the hot soup in one gulp and stood up to look into the distance.

The mountains and rivers are vast, and people should have the ambition to conquer the world.

If one only stays in the court, confined to a small place, how can one imagine that even barren lands have such charm.

People need to look further.

As she looked around, the northern mountains were only silhouettes in the night.

The next day, after crossing the highest point of Wushaoling, the snow-capped mountains behind those silhouettes appeared in her sight under the sunlight.

That is Qilian Mountain.

It is said that six rivers flow eastward from the valleys of Qilian Mountain, irrigating this lush land, which later became the Six Valleys of Tubo.

But now, the most famous here is the Lu River.

The barren surface of Wushaoling did not affect the lush vegetation when she led the group to the core area of Wuwei Commandery.

This land, irrigated by flowing water, should not only have mulberry trees and sesame seeds along the roads if not for the sparse population caused by war.

But looking northwest from this green ground, all is this color. After she had previously planned one of the “belts” for the development of Liangzhou’s farmland here, it only made her feel extremely pleased.

This is indeed a land particularly suitable for planting and grazing.

If there are not enough people, just recruit from other places!

Moreover, if this place is developed properly, it should attract not only the original residents of Liangzhou but also those from beyond the frontier and the Central Plains, forming a sufficient population.

Jia Xu once mentioned to her that during the most prosperous times of Guzang in Wuwei, there were even night markets, earning it the name “Liangzhou, the City That Never Sleeps.”

Unfortunately, now, the authority of the Han Dynasty is less and less as it reaches the frontier, let alone the Four Commanderies of Hexi, which are isolated by Wushaoling.

It is precisely because of Wushaoling that the situation of powerful families in the Four Commanderies of Hexi is even more severe than in Liangzhou.

How severe is it?

The principle of the Three Mutual Laws can occasionally be ignored in the Four Commanderies of Hexi.

For example, the current Prefect of Jiuquan is from the Huang Clan of Jiuquan.

The Prefect of Wuwei was originally from the Yan Clan of Wuwei, but unfortunately, during the chaos of Han Sui and Ma Teng, he wanted a share of the spoils and ended up dying a violent death, leaving the position vacant.

Because of this, Qiao Yan did not rashly enter the seat of Wuwei Commandery but waited until the troop deployment order she sent before crossing the river with Xu Shu was in place. She had Zhao Yun lead the troops, crossing the Zhanyin Ferry with Lü Bu and Qu Yi, who were already there, before ending her tour of the surrounding areas and leading the troops towards Guzang.

In the Four Commanderies of Hexi, two things are useful.

One is the prestige of elders.

Zhang Meng, the Prefect of Wuwei during the Jian’an period, relied on his father, Zhang Huan, one of the Three Bright Stars of Liangzhou, to govern Liangzhou for seventeen years.

But after his father’s legacy was exhausted by his dissolute behavior, he only had death as his end.

The other is real military strength.

What Qiao Yan possesses is the latter.

We have to thank the ancestors of the Han Dynasty. The conditions of Wushaoling are indeed harsh, but the Great Wall built on it not only serves to block the invasion of the Hu people but also guides the Han army to cross the mountains.

Because of this, it is not difficult for Lü Bu, Qu Yi, and Zhao Yun to lead the troops across the mountains.

They arrived quickly.

Earlier, Qiao Yan had given Lü Bu and Qu Yi the order to clear the area around Aowei City. Zuli, south of the Yellow River in Wuwei Commandery, fell under their control during this expansion, and the second step was to station troops at Zhanyin Ferry.

In addition, while Cheng Yu was sent to Jincheng earlier, Zhao Yun received Qiao Yan’s order to be ready to lead the troops at any time.

So he had already completed the troop assembly.

Zhao Yun did not ask whether Qiao Yan’s troop deployment was inappropriate.

After all, as the troops he commanded withdrew from Gaoping City, the place was nominally handed over to Liu Yu and Huangfu Song.

But if Qiao Yan were to explain, this nominal transfer does not mean that she has completely lost control of the place.

On the contrary, this step back, compared to her urgent actions in attacking Liangzhou, is particularly important.

This is to show that she will not rashly launch an attack on the Three Adjuncts.








Ignoring the safety of Your Majesty, Lu Zhi, Xun Shuang, and others, she, as a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty, is solely focused on pacifying the frontier and rescuing the Son of Heaven.

Secondly, the scholars accompanying Liu Yu to Liangzhou should contribute practically in such an environment to justify her yielding territory. Meanwhile, Huangfu Song and his family’s influence in Chaona and Gaoping should also play a role.

Ironically, those exploited feel pity for Qiao Yan, who was forced to halt her offensive.

However, they are unaware of the immense pressure Qiao Yan’s strong army exerts on the powerful families in Wuwei Commandery as she leads her troops northward.

Some even contemplate emulating the Yang family of Jiuquan.

But adhering to the principle that gifts should not be given recklessly, the Yan family of Wuwei, as representatives, first brought food and wine to reward the army.

Qiao Yan, mounted on her horse, looked beyond Yan Jun approaching her.

The city of Guzang did not resemble any she had seen in Liang or Bing provinces.

Originally built by the Xiongnu and named Gaizang, the city was constructed in a long shape following the terrain, also known as Wolong City.

After Huo Qubing’s northern campaign against the Xiongnu, the city fell into Han hands and was modified to meet the defense needs of the Han garrison, retaining its unique form.

It’s no wonder the Zhang family, who established the Former Liang and made it their capital, expanded it into a small city with seven sections.

Qiao Yan refocused on the noble’s face, noting his unease but maintaining an inscrutable calm, stating, “Wuwei, the throat of five commanderies, was built to showcase military achievements. With the prefect position vacant, my troops stationed here can prevent any unrest.”

Unrest? What unrest could there be in Wuwei Commandery?

Yan Jun, the representative, could only think of Duan Wei of the Duan family and Zhang Ji of the Zhang family serving under Dong Zhuo.

Perhaps Qiao Yan’s dissatisfaction with them extended to other parts of Wuwei.

Considering Qiao Yan’s unaccepted yet undeniable title of General of Agile Cavalry, resonating with Wuwei’s origins, Yan Jun sensed a hidden severity beneath her calm demeanor.

Hearing Qiao Yan planned to station troops in the city and later cultivate land along the Lu River, Yan Jun’s smile stiffened.

Was this akin to a guillotine hanging overhead?

Noticing Qiao Yan’s formidable generals and her energetic troops, seemingly unaffected by the Liangzhou campaign, Yan Jun feared any misstep could bring disaster to his family.

He quickly retracted his suggestion to station troops outside the city and, after consulting his clan, decided to enhance the welcoming feast to show goodwill.

However, not everyone appreciated the gesture.

Lü Bu frowned after a sip of the offered wine.

Having been overwhelmed by Qiao Yan’s strong celebratory wine two years prior, he found the current wine bland compared to the potent brews of Bingzhou.

He muttered, “This wine is neither sour nor sweet, lacking the frontier’s bold flavor. Quite dull!”

Qiao Yan, examining her jade cup, replied, “Don’t underestimate this wine. Over a decade ago, Meng Bolang of Fufeng gifted a jar to the Palace Attendant Zhang Rang, earning the title of Governor of Liangzhou due to its rarity. What do you think it’s worth?”

The wine was grape wine, served in a jade cup from Jiuquan, fitting the saying “grape wine in a luminous cup” at the night banquet.

Yan Jun, the host, quickly added, “Indeed, this is the rare wine used by Governor Meng to buy his position.”

Considering the value of a jar of wine, the feast was a significant expense, but necessary to appease the powerful Marquis of Leping.

He pointed to Qiao Yan’s plate, suggesting, “My Lord, try the meat as well.”

The lamb, roasted and seasoned with scallions, ginger, garlic, and fermented bean sauce, was of superior quality, raised in the lush pastures at the foot of the Qilian Mountains.

It was indeed top-notch meat.

Qiao Yan enjoyed the meal, feeling the trip was worthwhile, while pondering another issue.

She initially intended to suppress the powerful families in Wuwei, hence bringing Zhao Yun for managing the land, Qu Yi from a powerful family, and Lü Bu as her enforcer.

But the feast reminded her of something.

In this era, preserving grape wine was difficult, and its production was not systematic.

Otherwise, a jar of grape wine wouldn’t have been worth a governor’s position during Emperor Ling’s reign.

Thus, the grape wine Yan Jun served was likely imported, indicating the local families might have connections along the Silk Road.

She needed to uncover these trade routes before playing her cards.

Qiao Yan smiled at Yan Jun, who interpreted it as a sign of a successful banquet.

He had survived the first crisis!

In August, Xi Zhicai in Bingzhou received Qiao Yan’s second letter outlining the “one city, two belts” strategy for Liangzhou.

With the farming season over and no need to prepare military provisions for Liangzhou, Xi Zhicai had some leisure.

Last August, Qiao Yan had Wu Pu develop special medicinal wines, including one buried under ancient pines with pine fungus and cordyceps, aged for a year.

With Qiao Yan away, Xi Zhicai unearthed a jar, chilled it, and served it in porcelain cups.

“You sure know how to enjoy,” Guo Jia muttered, pouring the wine.

Having just returned from Yanmen to discuss admitting the Xianbei, Guo Jia was relieved to relax with an afternoon tea.

Ignoring the piled documents, the study was a cool retreat with bamboo shadows and a breeze over an ice basin.

The tea table held a pot of weak-branched jujubes.

Xi Zhicai poured the wine, saying, “With only two provinces to manage and three commanderies in Liangzhou outside our control, it’s essential to balance work and rest. I can’t match Zhongde’s stamina, so I sneak a day off.”

The pine fungus wine, clear and amber-colored, complemented the cool setting, its aroma refreshing.

Thinking of those campaigning in Liangzhou, Xi Zhicai felt a sense of superiority.

He opened the letter, not marked as official, and read it leisurely.

Guo Jia noticed Xi Zhicai’s frozen smile and asked, “What’s the matter?”

“See for yourself.”

Xi Zhicai handed the letter to Guo Jia, who read:

“Heard of the night market in the northwest, added four sections in Guzang, bustling with foreign merchants, a spectacle of trade. However, the chaos during the New Year disrupted the festivities. Bought the governor’s fine wine, offered by a powerful family, sweet yet not cloying, cool yet not cold, unmatched, far surpassing the wine brewed from wild grapes in the mountains. Lit candles at night, illuminating the purple jade stream, and roasted fresh lamb marinated in fermented bean sauce, seasoned with scallions, ginger, and garlic, delicious. Pity the wine was scarce, I drank it all.”

“…Cough!” Guo Jia nearly choked on his wine.

This letter… was quite cheeky!

Mentioning her visit to the Guzang night market, enjoying roasted lamb, and then adding “pity the wine was scarce, I drank it all” was quite something!

Glancing at Xi Zhicai, who had opened a jar of pine fungus wine, Guo Jia couldn’t help but think—

This was a peculiar form of ruler-subject rapport.