Chapter 43
So, are strategists not allowed to ascend the throne? Volume Two: At the Foot of Taihang Mountains, A Taste of Bravery, Chapter 43: The Wang Clan of Jinyang.
Bao Hong, after all, had been mingling in the capital, so even if he couldn’t quite articulate those deep and meaningful words, he certainly understood their implications.
Having listened to enough cryptic riddles, he developed what he fancied was an intuitive grasp of things.
Like now, when Qiao Yan asked him if this wine could be called Hero’s Wine, Bao Hong couldn’t help but feel she was implying that since he had already drunk from this jug, wasn’t it time for him to take action against the bandits? The saying goes that strong liquor is meant to boost courage for goodbyes.
Although this wine wasn’t particularly strong, its implications were… well, approximately along those lines.
Bao Hong’s expression froze on the spot. “Lady Qiao, please don’t jest with me…”
He had brought along just over two hundred men, and no matter how elite they were, they stood no chance against enemies that outnumbered them tenfold.
This wasn’t about becoming a hero; it was a one-way ticket to death!
As he pondered the likelihood of following in the footsteps of the previous prefect of Leping and just packing up to run, he suddenly caught sight of Qiao Yan smiling. “General Bao, where are your thoughts wandering off to? I was merely remarking that this wine is rich and robust enough to suit a hero’s taste. Why not call it Hero’s Wine?”
Bao Hong was taken aback and stammered, “…So that’s it, so that’s it.”
Thank goodness he didn’t directly say what was on his mind; otherwise, that would have been awkward.
He then heard Qiao Yan continue, “The harsh climate in Bingzhou increases the demand for wine, and the garrison soldiers at the borders face more battles than those inside. In just one day, how many heroes must there be? Since this wine originates from Bingzhou, it ought to be well-matched with this place; otherwise, wouldn’t that be a pity?”
Bao Hong didn’t quite grasp these marketing tricks, but it did sound feasible to him as he asked, “So, does Lady Qiao intend to brand this wine?”
“Not exactly.” Qiao Yan’s reply left Bao Hong somewhat stumped.
He realized he didn’t need to think he could read this lady; her calm demeanor and assured words clearly indicated she wasn’t just messing around.
Qiao Yan added, “General Bao, don’t forget I told Yang Xiu before that improving our brewing methods was primarily to establish our connection with this local winery, trading our brewed goods for their supply of rice. We shouldn’t lose sight of that.”
“First of all, we don’t have the resources for large-scale wine production yet; Leping’s tax exemptions this year won’t change the plans to develop agriculture. Secondly, even though I, Qiao Yan, am a Count, I’m still an outsider here. To rashly compete wouldn’t benefit Leping and would only create enemies.”
“Thirdly—this is merely an experiment for now. We’ll keep refining this ceramic wine vessel and we don’t know how far it can go, so why rush to showcase it?”
Bao Hong replied, “If it’s as you say, then why mention the name Hero’s Wine?”
“Just for the sake of greater profits.”
This response from Qiao Yan left Bao Hong scratching his head a bit, but he considered himself not particularly clever, and since Yang Xiu didn’t understand her reasoning either, his slightly frustrated mood vanished.
Besides, he didn’t really have a reason to be annoyed; after all, if he sent some soldiers to help load up the wine from the ceramic vessels onto carts, he’d get to enjoy some fine wine from Qiao Yan, so overall he was ahead!
Exactly!
Why bother stressing over all that nonsense?
This made him feel a little akin to the drunks who came to do menial work just for a taste of wine.
Although when he finished loading the wine and patted the drunkard on the shoulder with a look of deep understanding, he was met with a rather confused expression.
Bao Hong shrugged it off and turned to have the soldiers keep an eye on the surroundings of Leping.
Even though those bandits from the Taihang Mountains seemed to have vanished this past month, the news of Zhang Niujiao’s faction meeting with Chu Yan still kept Bao Hong on edge, fearing some unexpected turn of events.
He didn’t see that behind him, “Zhi Cai” had retracted his gaze, which had earlier appeared a bit lazy but now sparkled with curiosity.
This Qiao Yan was quite interesting…
It hadn’t been a waste for him to come here.
He was not just an ordinary worker doing odd jobs for a drink, as Yang Xiu and Bao Hong thought.
He had been intentionally invited by Yang Xiu.
Of course, the name “Zhi Cai” did feel a bit lackluster, but who could blame him for borrowing it since he was named Xi Zhicai, and there happened to be a surname “Zhi” in the Taiyuan region?
Actually, he wasn’t even from Taiyuan but from Yingchuan.
Yes, the Yingchuan known for producing scholars and strategists.
Months ago, Xi Zhicai had traveled north from Yingchuan and reached Luoyang with He Yong of Nanyang, who intended to recruit talent for the Three Duke’s residence. Most of the people he interacted with had firsthand knowledge of political affairs, and though Xi Zhicai had no immediate plans to take on any tasks, he absorbed a lot of information, which naturally piqued his interest in Qiao Yan.
In his view, while there are naturally talented individuals in this world, it was hard to believe someone could just be born with the kind of understanding Qiao Yan exhibited.
However, being interested in someone is one thing, interacting with them is another.
As a free-spirited person, Xi Zhicai didn’t pay attention to the news in Luoyang back in mid-May about the enfeoffing of a county marquis; instead, he followed his plan of traveling around and left Luoyang for Bingzhou, stopping briefly in Jinyang after visiting Yunzhong Mountain.
It was at this time that he received a letter from He Yong mentioning Qiao Yan’s strategies in the capital and Xu Shao’s views on her.
Xi Zhicai sent a reply.
“Guo Linzong considers Wang Zishi a talent to assist a King; He Yong regards Xun Wenruo the same. Now, Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi see Qiao Yan as such. Furthermore, someone mentions her as a fledgling phoenix, yet whether these three can genuinely assist a king remains to be seen, so it would be better for those critics to settle their disputes first.”
When He Yong received the letter, he nearly exploded from this cheeky guy’s antics.
Look at what he’s saying!
Guo Linzong, better known as Guo Tai, is a famous critic on par with Xu Shao, and while in Taiyuan, he said the Wang Zishi of Taiyuan’s Wang clan, Wang Yun, had the talent to assist a king.
Then there’s He Yong, also known as He Boqiu, who once saw Xun Yu in Yingchuan, saying he had the talent to assist a king.
And now, Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi claim Qiao Yan can assist a king.
But of these three “talents to assist a king,” one is in Yu Province helping to quell the Yellow Turban Rebellion, one is still at home studying, and the other is only ten years old! All in all, whether they really have the capability to assist a king needs more time to verify.
So what should be done? Should these critics just fight it out?
Not to mention letting He Yong grapple with warriors like Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi on the battlefield — that’s clearly impossible. Even Guo Linzong and Xu Shao are regularly grouped together but are currently separated by geography.
Let’s not forget, Guo Linzong has long since passed away.
Does he plan to dig him up to settle the question of who’s the more gifted critic?
Fortunately, He Yong knew Xi Zhicai’s absurd personality well enough; he merely felt speechless and struggled with the thought that this guy still hadn’t made a name for himself.
But He Yong probably hadn’t anticipated that despite Xi Zhicai’s baffling noncommittal tone in that replying letter, he wasn’t being dismissive.
After noticing that Qiao Yan’s group was taking a detour around Jinyang to avoid the Black Mountain Bandits and that Yang Xiu was somehow gathering brewers in the city, Xi Zhicai couldn’t help but blend into their ranks, adeptly borrowing the excuse of wanting some drinks without even asking for pay, and even using a lazy pseudonym.
As for the brewing theories, he casually picked up some notions here and there; there was really nothing difficult about it.
This also gave him a chance for a close-up look at Qiao Yan.
In the month prior, her statistics on the population in Leping and the one-year tax exemption policy had already revealed glimpses of her working style, and today’s discussion further convinced him he must label Qiao Yan as a “pragmatic person.”
Such self-awareness and gradual approach in a young genius already holding a marquis title was undoubtedly remarkable.
Even if he had connections with Xun Yu, Xi Zhicai had to admit that through these little details, he felt his friend might still lag behind Qiao Yan.
He began to mull over Qiao Yan’s idea for the name Hero’s Wine.
Perhaps it was due to her conversation with Bao Hong, which truly showcased a tendency to surprise people. Though Xi Zhicai had some thoughts on how to profit, he also felt Qiao Yan’s plans might differ from his guesses.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t physically able to contribute labor, so Qiao Yan had placed him outside the list of people heading to Jinyang, and he was still unwilling to reveal his true identity and stand out too much, leaving him to wait for secondhand information.
But that wasn’t a big deal.
He poured himself another small cup of wine.
This supplementary fermentation produced a unique wine flavor through nine additions, and while sipping leisurely in the yard, he thoroughly enjoyed it—Leping did live up to its name, and was indeed more comfortable than Yingchuan and Luoyang.
Yet still, trouble lurked nearby, and he had no idea when exactly this lady Qiao would launch her plans against the Black Mountain Bandits.
In his view, if Chu Yan could decisively retreat into the Taihang Mountains while the Yellow Turbans were being suppressed in Ji Province, maintaining a combat advantage and favorable position, then she was definitely someone who could assess the situation.
He wouldn’t recklessly attack Leping until he had a clearer understanding of Qiao Yan’s intentions, lest he follow in the footsteps of others.
Unless, of course…
Xi Zhicai took another swig of wine.
Unless there stood before him a massive benefit that compelled action.
And that depended on Lady Qiao’s capabilities.
At this very moment, Qiao Yan had already led her people to Jinyang.
However, the cart filled with new wine was parked outside the city of Jinyang, being carefully guarded.
“Yin only brought Yang Xiu, Dian Wei, and Zhao Yun into Jinyang City, with a couple of wine gourds on Dian Wei’s back filled with the yellow wine produced from supplementary fermentation.”
Yang Xiu was quite familiar with the situation in Jinyang City from his earlier shopping trips for ceramic wine vessels, wine yeast, and researching wineries, so naturally, he took the lead.
He also casually mentioned, “The most famous wineries in the city are backed by the noble families of Taiyuan, one being the Tang family and the other the Wang family.”
When it came to noble families, Yang Xiu, from the renowned Yang Clan of Hongnong, was even more knowledgeable. He continued, “The Wang family of Taiyuan actually splits into two branches: one is the Jinyang Wang family, and the other is the Qixian Wang family. The latter has produced more officials and talents over the generations, and it’s where Wang Yun, the Master of the Education, comes from. But the former has a promising pair of brothers, Wang Shuyou and Wang Jidao, which is quite the hopeful display.”
“As for the Tang family, if we want to trace their origin, we can go back to before the Qin Dynasty.”
“The Tang of strategist Tang Ju during the Warring States period.” Qiao Yan had a vague recollection of the phrase “Tang Ju does not disgrace his mission.”
“Exactly,” Yang Xiu replied, “However, during the Western Han Dynasty, some descendants of Tang Ju moved to Pei State, and a branch migrated to Danyang several decades ago, which has caused the Jinyang Tang family to decline in recent years.”
Just then, they passed by the Tang family’s winery, and Yang Xiu remarked, “If you want better benefits, you should choose the Tang family. They’re declining and can’t compete with the Wang family, so if there’s a unique brewing technique at this moment, they’re bound to offer a higher price.”
There was some truth to that.
But Qiao Yan didn’t show any decision on his suggestion, instead saying, “Let’s not rush; let’s check out the Wang family’s winery first.”
Just as Yang Xiou said, although the appearance of Wang Shuyou and Wang Jidao had not given the Wang family any direct support, having capable figures arise from a noble family had a definite impact on the overall atmosphere.
The Wang family’s winery looked quite grand compared to the Tang family’s. By the time they arrived in Jinyang, it was nearly dusk, the time when the taverns were the busiest, highlighting the comparison between the two families.
If we were to follow Yang Xiu’s logic, it did seem like they should choose the Tang family. It would make sense to leave something competitive in the hands of the slightly disadvantaged party that still held purchasing power to maximize profits.
But after carefully examining the two wineries, Qiao Yan decisively declared, “We’ll choose the Wang family.”
Having made her decision while still back in Leping, if not, she wouldn’t have made such bold statements about what could qualify as Hero’s Wine to Bao Hong. Arriving in Jinyang was merely for her final confirmation.
The reason for her choice of the Wang family over the Tang family…
Qiao Yan handed a visitor’s card to Dian Wei to deliver to the Wang family residence in Jinyang, and the next day, when they arrived, Yang Xiu learned the answer.
When she met with Wang Yang, the head of the Wang family, he asked with some confusion why Qiao Yan, the County Marquis of Leping, had come. She leisurely provided an unexpected response.
“I’m here for the Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu.”
Wang Yang was taken aback: “For Shuyou?”
The Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu was the Wang Shuyou mentioned earlier by Yang Xiu, who was also known as Wang Rou.
When he and his brother were no more than twelve or thirteen, they met the famous critic Guo Linzong from the same county, who predicted that they would be well-known for their official careers.
That prediction wasn’t wrong; by the age of thirty, he was already strong and capable enough to achieve the position of Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu.
What exactly is the Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu?
This is not a position requiring one to leave the Han territory, but one held in the western part of Taiyuan Commandery in Xihe Commandery.
During the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu were divided into Southern Xiongnu and Northern Xiongnu, a split that occurred in AD 48, which was the 24th year of the Jianwu era.
The Southern Xiongnu submitted to the Han court and were settled in the vicinity of Meiji City in Xihe Commandery by Emperor Guangwu of Han, and it was at this time that the position of Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu was established to supervise and manage the Southern Xiongnu tribes who pledged allegiance to the Han, now led by Wang Rou of the Jinyang Wang family.
“That’s right, I came for Wang Shuyou.”
This was a rather strange response for Wang Yang.
After all, Qiao Yan, the County Marquis of Leping, didn’t exactly have a close relationship with Wang Rou; one was in the west of Bingzhou, and the other in the east, with hardly any overlapping opportunities, let alone any personal stakes or connections.
Based on reports from the Wang family branch in Leping, Qiao Yan, busy with administration, didn’t seem the type to stretch her hand so far.
However, Wang Yang was an experienced figure; despite his internal confusion, he didn’t show any signs of it on his face, merely asking, “May I ask what message you wish to convey to Shuyou?”
Before he could comprehend, he heard Qiao Yan casually inquire, “Can the elder drink?”
This was another unexpected question for him.
It seemed somewhat unrelated to the previous mention of Wang Rou.
Still, he maintained his calm demeanor, replying, “A little drinking is fine.”
“Then please heat it up and bring it here,” Qiao Yan gestured, and Dian Wei handed over the wine jug.
Wang Yang glanced at the wine container.
No matter how he looked at it, it appeared a bit mismatched with Qiao Yan’s status.
It was fortunate it was something Qiao Yan brought out; otherwise, if someone else had presented it, he likely wouldn’t have given it a glance—and the warm wine that was soon brought over didn’t show any unique qualities in appearance either.
After all, in this day and age, high-priced wines were still distinguished by their ingredients and clarity, and with the Wang family supporting the wine business, they enjoyed showing off their elegance through wine, so they wouldn’t be ignorant of this.
But upon tasting the wine, he immediately noticed the intricacies within; its rich aroma and smoothness surprisingly exceeded the usual performance of such wine.
“This is…”
Qiao Yan replied, “The rice and wheat used in this wine come from Jinyang City, and the yeast is also sourced from merchants in Jinyang City. I’ve been brewing this since arriving in Leping, and it can be ready in a month during summer; but if aged longer, the flavor will be even better. So, I’m wondering if the elder would consider making a deal with me.”
Once Qiao Yan mentioned the ingredients and yeast were from Jinyang, Wang Yang’s attitude totally shifted from treating her as an ordinary visitor. Now hearing about this business proposition, though dealing in money was a bit crass for noble families, he couldn’t help but sit up straighter.
However, he clearly couldn’t show his interest too openly; instead, he asked, “What does this have to do with the Shuyou you mentioned earlier?”
Qiao Yan explained, “The essence of business is profit, and you, elder, know this much better than I do. If the benefits of one matter extend to multiple areas, or if one party appears more advantageous after comparison, a decision can naturally be made.”
Wang Yang nodded, then listened as Qiao Yan continued, “What I’m weighing is simply between the Wang family and the Tang family. The Wang family has branches in Leping and prominently displays its status here in Jinyang, but it cannot match the potential higher stakes of the Tang family. The reason I’ve chosen to come to the Wang family is because of Wang Shuyou.”
Wang Yang understood; it was clear that merely having a talented person like Wang Rou wasn’t enough for Qiao Yan to make such a bold decision, and there must be some other reasons involved.
Sure enough, he soon heard Qiao Yan say, “In the second year of Guanghe, Middle General Zhang Xiu murdered Chanyu Hu Zheng and supported Right Xian Wang Qiang Qu as the new Chanyu. In the fifth year of Guanghe, Wang Shuyou succeeded Zhang Xiu as the Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu.”
“However, Qiang Qu, being Right Xian Wang, disregarded the rule that the Left is superior among the Xiongnu.”
“Years ago, my grandfather served as the General of Duliang, overseeing the military in Wuyuan and paying close attention to the situation in Bingzhou. Before I came to Bingzhou, I had heard that previously Zhang Xiu killed the Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu, primarily because Hu Zheng did not maintain good relations with our Han, while Qiang Qu seemed to be more compliant. However, Qiang Qu’s rise was not legitimate, leading to grievances among many in the Southern Xiongnu, which presents a dilemma for Wang Shuyou.”
In fact, such a predicament was only exacerbated later.
After the Southern Xiongnu submitted to the Han, the Protector-General of the Southern Xiongnu often wielded authority and military power to intervene in the Chanyu appointments of the Southern Xiongnu, ensuring that their leaders were pro-Han. This way, when necessary, the Southern Xiongnu could serve as a reliable support force subdued by the Han.
Zhang Xiu’s assassination of Hu Zheng and the appointment of Qiang Qu to the position was a case in point.
In the fourth year of Zhongping, when Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju from Youzhou conspired with the Wuhuan to revolt, the provincial military force wasn’t sufficient, so they directly called upon the Southern Xiongnu under Qiang Qu.
But this mobilization caused significant trouble.
Qiang Qu’s son Yufuluo had just led troops away from the Wang Court of the Southern Xiongnu in Xihe Commandery, and disgruntled with sacrificing the lives of fellow clansmen among the Southern Xiongnu aristocracy, he immediately allied with the Xiutu tribes to slay Qiang Qu and several Bingzhou officials, thereby triggering the start of Xiongnu and Xianbei incursions and splits in Bingzhou.
Now, Wang Rou of the Jinyang Wang family faced a potentially explosive crisis, although it had not yet erupted, yet within the Xiongnu, discontent toward the Han was already brewing.
Wang Yang was well aware of the situation, but hearing Qiao Yan mention it suddenly still surprised him.
This didn’t seem like something someone her age would consider.
But Qiao Yan perceived that since she was already in Bingzhou, she needed to thoroughly contemplate her five years that didn’t require tribute.
With the nearby Black Mountain Bandits being one factor, she couldn’t afford to overlook the other potential threats to the west of Bingzhou.
From her initial thoughts about buying grains to the in-depth exploration of the supplementary fermentation technique, it wasn’t merely a test involving Yang Xiu anymore.
As she sought to purchase supplies for Leping and establish a long-term supply chain, how much profit she could derive from it, how much she needs to assert herself in the early stages of Leping’s development, how much she needed to leverage other powers, and how to balance her reputation and income—all became crucial questions she had to reconsider within this month.
Therefore, at this moment, she addressed the decision-makers of the Wang family in Jinyang, “If we select the Tang family, we’re merely scheming for small profits; but if we opt for the Wang family, we aim for great gain, both in great name and great profit.”
Qiao Yan smiled and asked, “In your view, elder, setting aside other markets for now, is this wine suitable to sell to the Southern Xiongnu?”
