xymnovel Chapter 26 Cloud Peak Years
Chapter 26 Cloud Peak Years
In March of the second year of the Shunzhi reign (1645), the snow on Yundingping had not yet melted, and icicles hung on the cliffs.
But on the sunny slopes, scattered patches of green can already be seen—those are winter wheat planted last autumn, which survived the harsh winter and stubbornly sprouted.
Ma Changsheng stood by the newly reclaimed terraced fields, holding a handful of soil in his hands.
The soil was black and had a fishy smell of humus.
This is fertile soil that they transported up from the foot of the mountain over the course of a winter—the original soil in Yundingping was barren and unsuitable for cultivation.
"Chief, all two hundred mu of terraced fields have been planted," Xu Guangqi reported from the side. "One hundred mu of wheat, fifty mu of potatoes, thirty mu of corn, and twenty mu of vegetables. As long as the weather is favorable this year, it should be enough to feed seven thousand people for half a year."
Half a year. Ma Changsheng calculated in his mind.
There are still six months left, from March to September.
Six months later, in the autumn harvest, if the harvest is good, they can continue working; if not...
"We need to find another way," he said. "We need to organize hunting and gathering teams to supplement our meat and wild vegetable supplies. In addition, we need to send people down the mountain to exchange mountain products for food."
"Going down the mountain is dangerous," Instructor Sun warned. "Although the Qing army has withdrawn, they still have outposts down the mountain."
"Then let's take the dangerous route." Ma Changsheng pointed to a route marked "Bird Trail" on the map. "Here, there are cliffs and precipices, only herb gatherers can walk. The Qing army won't set up defenses."
"How can we transport the grain? The road is so steep, we can't carry much."
"Carry less each time, and make more trips," Ma Changsheng said. "It's better than starving to death."
This is the reality of Yundingping: safe, but arduous. The high altitude slows crop growth; the treacherous terrain makes transportation difficult.
But they had no choice—the Qing army ruled the area down the mountain, and only here could they keep their hair, speak Chinese, and still be "human."
Back in the council hall, Ma Changsheng convened a meeting of the heads of each hall.
Huang Zongxi, Xu Guangqi, Instructor Sun, Fang Yizhi, Aunt Chen, and several newly promoted young people.
"Everyone, we've lived in Yundingping for half a year and have finally established a foothold," Ma Changsheng began. "But there are still many difficulties: food is scarce, supplies are lacking, and the population is increasing—in the last three months, more than three hundred refugees have come to join us."
"Chief, having more people is a good thing, but it's also a burden," Huang Zongxi said. "Our grain reserves are for 7,000 people, but now we have 7,300, so the shortage is even greater."
"So we need to find ways to open up new sources of income," Ma Changsheng said. "I have an idea: develop handicrafts."
He proposed several directions:
Medicine making. The Dabie Mountains are rich in medicinal herbs, and Aunt Chen and several old doctors can process some prepared medicines, such as hemostatic powder, antipyretic pills, and anthelmintics. These medicines can fetch a good price down the mountain.
Tool making. The mountains are rich in bamboo and wood, which can be used to weave bamboo and wooden utensils; there are also iron mines, which can be used to forge farm tools and knives. Although crude, they are practical.
Textiles. Women could spin thread and weave cloth, which was inefficient but allowed them to be self-sufficient, and they could even trade any surplus.
"The key is to create something unique," Ma Changsheng said. "Our products from Yundingping have to be better or more special than others. That's how you attract buyers."
Fang Yizhi nodded: "The chieftain is right. I have done some research, and there are several unique medicinal herbs in our mountains with distinctive effects. If they were made into medicine, they should be very popular."
"Let's start with medicine making then," Ma Changsheng decided. "Aunt Chen, you'll be in charge; Mr. Fang, you'll assist. Just let us know if you need anything."
The meeting ended, and everyone left to carry out their orders.
Ma Changsheng remained alone, staring at the simple map on the wall.
Gentingping is only a temporary refuge, not a permanent home.
This place is too high, too dangerous, and has too few resources to support a large population in the long term.
We must find a better place.
But right now, the priority is to survive.
In early April, the first "pharmacy workshop" in Genting Highlands was completed.
It was actually just a large thatched shed, inside which were dozens of pottery jars, stone mortars, and steamers.
But Aunt Chen was very satisfied: "It's enough, it's enough."
She took five apprentices and began developing the first medicine: "Jin Chuang San" (Golden Wound Powder).
This is a hemostatic medicine improved based on an ancient prescription. Its main ingredients are Panax notoginseng, Bletilla striata, and dragon's blood, plus a hemostatic herb unique to Yundingping.
When Ma Changsheng went to inspect, Aunt Chen was showing him a small porcelain bottle: "Chief, please try this. It's freshly made, and its hemostatic effect is 30% faster than ordinary wound medicine."
Ma Changsheng took it, opened it, and smelled the fragrant medicine: "Good. Let the local militia try it first. If it works well, we'll mass-produce it."
"I've already tried it," said Aunt Chen. "Tiezhu cut his hand during training the day before yesterday, and after using this, it scabbed over in half a day."
"That's good," Ma Changsheng said. "Besides Jin Chuang San, we can also develop other medicines: fever-reducing pills, diarrhea-stopping powder, insect repellent ointment... These are the common diseases in the mountains, so we can treat them accordingly."
"Chief, you also know medicine?" Aunt Chen asked in surprise.
"I know a little bit," Ma Changsheng replied vaguely.
In fact, his medical knowledge came from a database of consciousness, far beyond the reach of this era.
While Granny Chen was making medicine, other handicrafts were also developing.
The woodworking workshop produced folding tables and chairs, and portable beds; the bamboo workshop wove exquisite bamboo baskets and mats; and the blacksmith shop, despite having limited raw materials, forged more durable farm tools.
By the end of April, the first batch of "Genting Specialty Products" was ready: one hundred bottles of wound powder, fifty bamboo ware items, and twenty sets of folding tables and chairs.
Ma Changsheng sent Tiezhu to lead a team of twenty strong villagers, carrying half of the goods, down the mountain via a "bird path" to trade in the nearest market town.
"Remember, safety first," he instructed. "If you can replace it, then replace it; if you can't, then come back. Don't force it."
"Don't worry, Chieftain," Tie Zhu patted his chest. "I've walked this road three times already, I know it well."
The team sets off.
Ma Changsheng stood on the edge of the cliff, watching them slowly descend the narrow path along the precipice like ants, his heart filled with trepidation.
This is the first time that Yundingping has taken the initiative to contact the outside world.
Success or failure is related to one's future livelihood.
Five days later, Tiezhu returned.
Twenty people went, and eighteen returned—two of them fell off a cliff and were never found.
"Chieftain..." Tie Zhu's face was pale, his voice choked with emotion, "I'm so sorry, brothers..."
Ma Changsheng's heart sank, but he forced himself to remain calm: "How did you slip and fall?"
"We encountered a downpour on the road, and the road was slippery... Wang Er slipped, and Li Si went to pull him up, but both of them..." Tie Zhu couldn't continue.
"A proper funeral, compensation for the family," Ma Changsheng said in a low voice. "This is our price. Continue, what's the deal?"
Tie Zhu wiped his face and perked up: "The deal... is done. The Golden Wound Powder was the most sought-after, one bottle for a peck of rice; bamboo utensils were next, a bamboo basket for half a peck of rice; tables and chairs were hard to carry, so only three sets were sold, for a bushel of grain."
In total, they received: 15 shi of grain, 3 dan of salt, 5 bolts of cloth, and some miscellaneous items such as needles, thread, and nails.
"In addition," Tie Zhu lowered his voice, "I've heard some news."
"explain."
"The main force of the Qing army has moved south to fight Zuo Menggeng. Huangzhou Prefecture is now sparsely defended, with only a few hundred soldiers. Also... there is a Ming general named Jin Shenghuan in Jiangxi who is resisting the Qing and is gaining considerable momentum."
Jin Shenghuan? Ma Changsheng searched the consciousness database: This person was originally a general under Zuo Liangyu. After surrendering to the Qing, he rebelled against the Qing and persisted in resisting the Qing in Jiangxi for several years.
"Is there anything else?"
"Furthermore... in Nanjing, the Qing army is implementing the 'land enclosure order,' forcibly seizing Han Chinese land, causing widespread resentment. Rebellions are ongoing throughout Jiangnan."
The chaos continues, but the landscape is changing.
Although the Qing army was powerful, its battle lines were too long and its forces were scattered.
This gave the resistance forces an opportunity.
Perhaps, Yundingping doesn't have to hide in the mountains forever.
"You've worked hard." Ma Changsheng patted Tiezhu on the shoulder. "Go and rest first. I will personally visit the families of the fallen brothers to offer my condolences."
After Tie Zhu left, Ma Changsheng fell into deep thought.
Jin Shenghuan's rebellion, the resistance in Jiangnan, and the Qing army's forces being dispersed... this is an opportunity.
However, Yundingping is too weak; to rashly descend the mountain would be suicidal.
We must continue to build up our strength.
In May, the population of Yundingping exceeded 8,000.
The more than 300 newly arrived refugees were mostly from Jiangxi Province. After Jin Shenghuan's rebellion, the Qing army retaliated by burning, killing, and looting, causing the people to flee south.
With more people, there are more problems.
The first problem is the housing shortage.
The original wooden houses were only enough for 7,000 people, but now there are 300 more people, so they have to squeeze in or build temporary thatched huts.
Secondly, there is the pressure of food security.
Although 200 mu of land were planted in the spring, there are still four months until the autumn harvest. The grain reserves were already tight, and now they are even more strained.
The most troublesome thing is that suspicious individuals have infiltrated the newcomers.
"Chief, we've caught three spies," Instructor Sun reported. "They're all newly arrived refugees who were secretly drawing maps at night when the patrol discovered them."
"Has it been reviewed?"
"They've interrogated him. He's a Qing army spy, tasked with ascertaining the terrain and troop strength of Yundingping."
Ma Changsheng sneered inwardly.
The Qing army did not give up.
They openly withdrew, but secretly continued to probe.
"According to the rules, how should a spy be dealt with?"
"Beheading and displaying the head to the public."
"Then execute him." Ma Changsheng said without hesitation, "But execute him in front of the newcomers, so they know: Yundingping has its own rules."
At the public trial, the three spies were beheaded in front of everyone.
The bloody human head hanging at the entrance of the village shocked everyone.
But Ma Changsheng knew that killing people alone wouldn't work.
We must help newcomers integrate and truly make them feel at home here.
He instructed Huang Zongxi to organize a "welcome party" to tell the newcomers about the history, rules, and spirit of Yundingping; he instructed Aunt Chen to arrange medical checkups to prevent the introduction of the plague; and he instructed Xu Guangqi to assign labor tasks so that they could participate in the construction as soon as possible.
At the same time, the review process has been strengthened: newcomers must be guaranteed by two long-time villagers and observed for a month without any problems before they can be officially registered as citizens.
"Trust is hard to come by in times of chaos," Ma Changsheng said at the welcome party. "But now that we're here, we're all family. As long as we follow the rules and work hard, Yundingping will not treat anyone unfairly."
These words reassured people.
The newcomers gradually integrated and became a new force in Yundingping.
In June, Ma Changsheng began to have frequent dreams.
It wasn't an ordinary dream; it was a terrifyingly clear fragment of memory.
Sometimes it's the cold corridor of Europa's base, sometimes it's the twinkling starlight of the black hole network, and sometimes it's the resonance of the consciousness of hundreds of billions of clones.
When he wakes up, he often can't tell who he is: is he the sixteen-year-old Ma Changsheng, or is he the collective consciousness from the future?
Even stranger, he began to "predict" things.
On the eighth day of the sixth lunar month, he suddenly said to Tiezhu, "There will be a heavy rain tomorrow, so let those who are going down the mountain postpone their trip."
Tie Zhu asked, puzzled, "Chief, the weather is perfectly fine today..."
"Listen to me."
The next day, as expected, a torrential downpour began, and the mountain roads became muddy. Going down the mountain could very well lead to an accident.
In mid-June, he said to Fang Yizhi, "Add one ingredient, Coptis chinensis, to your prescription."
"Why? Coptis chinensis is bitter and cold, and may damage the spleen and stomach..."
"Just add it."
Fang Yizhi added Coptis chinensis with some skepticism.
As a result, the newly formulated "antipyretic pills" were much more effective, working twice as fast as before.
These "predictions" are actually knowledge stored in his consciousness database: meteorological data, pharmacological analysis, etc. But now, they are starting to surface "automatically" without him having to actively retrieve them.
Consciousness Awareness Level: 75%
The integration is accelerating, and memory penetration and knowledge overflow are beginning to occur.
Expected time to full awakening: 1-3 months
almost.
Ma Changsheng felt both anticipation and unease.
After awakening, will he become a "god"? Will he lose his humanity? Will he forget everything from the past five years?
He doesn't know. He can only wait.
In July, the wheat in the terraced fields of Yundingping turned yellow, the potatoes blossomed, and the corn tasseled.
Although the crops are not growing as well as they have on the plains, at least there is hope for a harvest.
Ma Changsheng goes to the fields every day to check on things.
This was the first time in five years that he had seen the crops he had planted with his own hands about to be harvested.
"Chief, look at these ears of wheat, they're so heavy!" An old farmer grinned. "This year is going to be a good year."
"Yes," Ma Changsheng smiled, "After the autumn harvest, everyone will be able to have enough to eat."
But the joy was soon shattered.
On July 15th, a scout brought back bad news: the main force of the Qing army had returned.
It wasn't a return to Huangzhou Prefecture, but a return to the capital—Emperor Shunzhi was about to assume personal rule, and Dorgon summoned all the generals back to the capital.
But before the Qing army left, they ordered a "pacification campaign": to suppress all resistance forces in various places.
"The Qing army in Huangzhou Prefecture has increased to two thousand men, commanded by a newly arrived general surnamed Li, who is said to be very capable in battle," the scout said. "They have already begun searching the mountains."
"Search the mountain?" Ma Changsheng frowned. "Which direction?"
"It's still unclear. But our Gentingping will be discovered sooner or later."
When the news spread, the joy that had just risen at Genting Highlands was replaced by worry.
"Chief, what should we do?" Instructor Sun asked. "The Qing army has two thousand men. Although we have two thousand who can fight, their equipment is inferior, and we can't win in a direct confrontation."
"We can't fight head-on," Ma Changsheng said, "but we can't just sit and wait to die either."
He analyzed that the Qing army's search of the mountains must have been along the main roads.
Yundingping is located deep in the mountains, with treacherous and difficult roads, so the Qing army might not have been able to find it.
But what if we find it...?
"Strengthen vigilance and conceal all traces," he ordered. "Set up hidden sentries on all routes up and down the mountain; reduce the use of fire within the village; and minimize activity during the day."
At the same time, we must accelerate preparations for the autumn harvest: in case of any changes, we must immediately harvest the grain and move it to deeper mountains.
Gentingping has once again entered a state of war.
This time, people are not as panicked as they were last year.
Five years of training taught them to be calm.
In late July, the Qing army indeed entered the mountains.
The leader of the team was the newly arrived General Li, who was in his forties, a native of Liaodong, and originally a border general of the Ming Dynasty. He was promoted for his merits after surrendering to the Qing Dynasty.
This man is cautious in his military tactics and does not act rashly.
He adopted a "step-by-step" tactic: he would build an outpost every ten miles; when encountering dangerous terrain, he would first send out scouts to investigate; he would not easily divide his troops, and would keep his main force intact.
This tactic, though slow, is reliable.
The harassment squad sent out by Yundingping failed to find an opportunity several times.
"This General Li is more difficult to deal with than Ye Chen," Instructor Sun said at the military conference. "He's calm and methodical, taking steady steps. If he continues like this, he'll find us sooner or later."
Ma Changsheng looked at the map and pondered for a long time: "Then let him find it."
"What?" Everyone was stunned.
"But it's not about finding Yundingping, it's about finding a 'false target'," Ma Changsheng said. "We find a place in the mountains, build a fake village, set up some traces, and lure them to attack. When they attack and find it empty, they will suspect that the intelligence is wrong and may withdraw their troops."
This is a feint, but it requires meticulous planning.
Ma Changsheng chose a place called "Ghost's Sorrow"—the place where they had fought against the Qing army the previous year. The terrain was complex and easy to defend but difficult to attack.
Dozens of thatched huts were built there, some flags were planted, and some traces of daily life were set up.
They even deliberately left some "clues" pointing to the deeper mountains.
At the same time, small detachments were sent to operate around the outskirts of Guijianchou, so that they could be discovered by Qing scouts.
Sure enough, General Li fell for it.
In August, he personally led a thousand men to besiege Guijianchou.
The battle lasted all day.
When the Qing army stormed into the "village", they found it deserted, with only some dilapidated belongings.
Meanwhile, the local militia of Yundingping, who were lying in ambush nearby, launched a surprise attack when the Qing army was off guard, and then fled.
General Li was furious after suffering heavy losses and failing to even catch a glimpse of the enemy.
To make matters worse, he got lost in Ghost's Sorrow—the terrain there was too complicated; it was easy to get in but difficult to get out. He wandered around for two days before finally finding his way out.
When they returned to the camp, the morale of the Qing army was low, and General Li himself was also dejected.
"General, this mountain... is strange," the lieutenant advised. "Let's retreat. Anyway, the court only ordered a 'purge,' not the extermination of all the bandits."
General Li looked at the vast Dabie Mountains on the map and sighed, "That's it, let's retreat."
In August, the Qing army withdrew from the Dabie Mountains.
Yundingping escaped disaster once again.
September marks the start of the autumn harvest.
This is the first bumper harvest since Yundingping Village was built.
Although the yield per mu was not high, the 200 mu of terraced fields still yielded 100 shi of wheat, 50 shi of potatoes, 30 shi of corn, and various vegetables.
"Enough to eat! Enough to eat!" The elderly people were so moved that tears streamed down their faces. "At least we won't go hungry for at least six months!"
Ma Changsheng ordered: The whole village shall celebrate for three days.
Although there was no wine or meat, everyone was given a pound of wheat flour, enough to make dumplings; each child was given a piece of malt candy; and in the evening, a bonfire was lit in an open space in the village, where everyone sang and danced.
Ma Changsheng sat by the campfire, watching the jubilant crowd, and felt a surge of emotion.
Five years have passed, from Majia Village to Yundingping, from age eleven to sixteen.
He led these people to struggle for survival in the chaos of the world, and finally they had their first bumper harvest.
Although the future remains difficult, at least they survived.
And they live with dignity.
"Chief, come, have some dumplings." Li brought over a bowl of dumplings, her face beaming with a smile. This simple peasant woman had experienced so much in the past five years, yet her smile remained warm.
"Mother, you eat too." Ma Changsheng took the food and picked one up for his mother.
"Chang Sheng, I never imagined we'd survive to this day," Madam Li said, wiping her eyes. "And still be alive and well."
"Things will get better in the future," Ma Changsheng said. "Once the world is at peace, we'll go down the mountain and rebuild our homes."
"Mother believes in you." Madam Li looked at her son with affection. "You've always been different from other children. Mother knows you're destined for great things."
Doing great things? Ma Changsheng smiled bitterly.
He just wanted to survive and protect the people around him.
But perhaps, surviving and protecting those who deserve protection is the most important thing.
Around the campfire, Huang Zongxi, Xu Guangqi, Fang Yizhi, and others were also celebrating.
These scholars could have enjoyed a life of luxury in Jiangnan, but they chose this arduous path instead.
"Brother Huang, do you regret it?" Ma Changsheng asked.
"Regret?" Huang Zongxi laughed loudly. "Brother Changsheng, do you know what I did every day when I was in Jiangnan? Drinking wine, composing poems, and engaging in empty talk that harmed the country! That's what regret is! Here, although it's tough, I'm doing real work and saving genuine people. That's what a scholar should do!"
Xu Guangqi nodded: "Yes. Here, we can study agricultural policies and really increase grain production; we can study medicine and really save lives; we can study scholarship and really pass it on to future generations. This is much better than being an empty official in the court."
Fang Yizhi then said, "Chief, I am writing a book called 'Miscellaneous Records of Yunding,' which records everything we have here: how we built the village, how we farmed, how we treated illnesses, how we fought off enemies... If it gets out in the future, it may help more people."
Ma Changsheng was deeply moved.
These scholars regarded Yundingping as their ideal world and a stage for putting their ideals into practice.
Perhaps, Genting Ping is more than just a refuge.
In October, when the first snow fell, Ma Changsheng's level of consciousness reached 85%.
Memory fragments are becoming more frequent, and knowledge overflow is becoming more and more obvious.
Sometimes when he speaks, he unconsciously uses words from the future; sometimes when he thinks, he uses logic from the future.
But he tried hard to control himself and act like a "normal person".
Only when the night is deep and quiet will he let his consciousness wander and feel the "self" that is about to fully awaken.
That "self" has witnessed the annihilation of stars, the struggle for control of black holes, and the resonance of consciousness among billions of clones. That "self's" perspective is cosmic, transcending time and space.
Ma Changsheng is now just a sixteen-year-old boy leading eight thousand people to survive in the deep mountains.
How can the two be integrated? After integration, will he still be himself?
he does not know.
But he knew that no matter what, he had to protect Yundingping and these people.
This is his responsibility, and also his... anchor.
Without this anchor, that grand consciousness from the future might get lost in the torrent of time and space.
In November, on a snowy night, Ma Changsheng had a dream.
In his dream, he was both Ma Changsheng and Ma Yongsheng. He saw two timelines:
One version is the original history: the Qing army unified the country, acted perversely, and civilization stagnated...
One possible historical narrative: Yundingping grew and expanded, influencing the surrounding area and ultimately changing some things...
Two lines intertwine, shimmer, and finally...
He woke up.
Outside the window, the snow is still falling.
Yundingping sleeps peacefully in the night.
Ma Changsheng put on his coat, got up, and walked to the observatory.
The night sky was clear and the Milky Way stretched across the sky.
He suddenly realized: he was not there to change history, nor was he there to conform to it.
He came to bear witness.
Witness this era, witness the struggles and hopes of these people.
Then, take these testimonies back to the future—if you can go back.
Or, stay here and become a part of this era.
Either way, it's his path.
The snow fell silently.
Ma Changsheng stood on the star-gazing platform, his figure appearing somewhat lonely in the night.
But his heart had never been so steadfast.
Let it awaken.
He is ready.