xymnovel Chapter 29: Heading to Kuanzhou to Build a New City
Chapter 29: Heading to Kuanzhou to Build a New City
After seeing off Zhe Yang and the other man, Gao Xingzhou began to arrange the construction of Kuanzhou City, first summoning Gao Yunquan, the magistrate of Fushi County, to discuss the matter.
The expenditure of government funds and provisions, the guarding and protection of troops, and the trivial matters required for city construction, such as on-site surveying, measurement and marking, drawing maps, and design planning, were all not things that could be accomplished overnight.
Moreover, it is the spring planting season, and forcibly requisitioning people will inevitably earn a bad reputation for disregarding people's livelihoods, so proper coordination and arrangements are necessary.
Gao Yunquan was familiar with the situation in the prefecture. After some calculations, he estimated that within two weeks, with more than 10,000 households in the ten counties under his jurisdiction, one out of every ten able-bodied men could be conscripted, with more than 300 in large counties and more than 200 in small counties, for a total of 3,000 laborers.
Manpower and supplies can be prepared, but Gao Yunquan doesn't quite understand why a city should be built on the border so close to Suizhou. Could it be that they intend to use it as a bridgehead to launch an attack on the Dingnan Army?
His heart skipped a beat, and he looked at his newly recognized uncle, hoping to get an answer.
"Don't worry, a fight won't break out anytime soon."
Gao Xingzhou remained calm and reassured Gao Yunquan, saying that since the court had previously sent troops to conquer Xia Prefecture and the two towns were already at odds, it was better to be prepared.
Although this nephew came from a military family, he took the civil service route and was not very knowledgeable in military affairs. (Note 1)
At this point, rashly engaging in battle with the Dingnan Army would give them less than a 30% chance of winning; they should proceed with a strategy and plan carefully.
After seeing Gao Yunquan off, Gao Xingzhou summoned Gao Huaiyuan, who had been reassigned as a military commander.
The construction of the city is a matter of great importance, and it is hard to guarantee that the Dingnan army will not send troops to interfere. A reliable and capable general is needed to command it. Gao Xingzhou intends to entrust this important task to his nephew.
Geographically speaking, the possibility of Xia Prefecture sending troops to attack is extremely low. The main concern is that the neighboring prefectures of Sui and Yin are both controlled by the Dangxiang Li clan.
"The two states mobilized their entire forces, totaling approximately four thousand troops. Even if half of them were mobilized, there would still be two thousand soldiers."
Gao Xingzhou asked, "Huaiyuan, how many soldiers do you have to hold out for five days?"
Kuanzhou is more than 200 li away from the city. If the enemy attacks, it will take no more than five days from the time the news is sent to the arrival of reinforcements.
"Uncle, five hundred soldiers are enough for me. If water and food supplies are plentiful, we can hold out for ten days."
"Alright, once the money, grain, stone, and timber are all ready, I will allocate you eight squads of state soldiers and two squads of local soldiers. I will also order Li Jidu, the garrison commander of Jinming, to lead three hundred garrison soldiers, for a total of eight hundred soldiers to supervise the construction of the city."
Gao Xingzhou paused for a moment, then said, "Huai De will go with you too."
During the last trip to Bao'an Town, Gao Huaide accompanied the army, and Gao Huaiyuan understood that his uncle intended for his cousin to gradually become involved in military affairs. This time, for the construction of the border city, an additional three hundred soldiers from the town were assigned. Although there were risks, he thought they could be handled, so he agreed.
Gao Huaiyuan vaguely felt that the construction of Kuanzhou was not a solitary plan. Since his uncle did not reveal it, he guessed that the time was not yet right. As a general, he obeyed orders and went to receive military command.
……
Gao Huaide was unaware that his father had already made arrangements for him to accompany his cousin to supervise the construction.
He had been listless these past two days, showing little interest in any form of entertainment or amusement. Lu Qian and Fu An were puzzled, assuming that the young master had been reprimanded by the military governor again.
With the sun high in the sky, Gao Huaide lazily leaned on the city gate tower, idly watching the crowds coming and going, lost in thought.
At this moment, several guards escorted a person out of the city, whose figure seemed vaguely familiar.
The crowd on the roadside pointed and whispered, and several people cursed and threw dirty vegetable leaves and rotten eggs at them.
"Bai Wen confessed to his crime. Such important criminals need to be escorted to the capital for investigation and interrogation by the Ministry of Justice. Today is the day for their escort." (Note 2)
Gao Huaide had little interest in this plague god who had been easily dealt with by his father. He glanced at the odds and ends hanging on his body: a wooden yoke shaped like a disc around his neck, as wide as his shoulders, with two crescent-shaped halves sealed together, but his wrists and feet were not restricted.
"Why is such a vicious death row inmate wearing a light cangue? Did he bribe the warden to be lenient with him?"
"Young master, you may not know this. Serious criminals in prison wear six-foot-long cangues, weighing over twenty pounds, with a wooden yoke nailing their wrists so they can't move. Sometimes they also have to be put in a foot box. Let alone escaping, they'll get so tired from standing for too long that they can only lie on their side."
Lu Qian explained, "When it comes to exile, they will switch to this kind of seven-and-a-half-pound shackle, otherwise they won't be able to walk at all."
"Seven and a half pounds isn't heavy at all. This thief thinks himself so brave and strong. Aren't you afraid he'll break his shackles on the way, knock down the guards, and escape?"
"Young master, don't underestimate this cangue."
Fu An interjected, "The outer ring is reinforced with iron plates, hence the name 'Iron Leaf Head-Wrapping Protective Shackle.' Unless you're a hero strong enough to fight a tiger, ordinary people can't break free from it."
"Really? You talk as if you've ever worn it."
"Young master is absolutely right. How could I, in my humble state, possibly deserve such a position?"
Fu An quickly put on a forced smile, reverting to his sleazy demeanor.
"During the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, the cruel official Lai Junchen created ten kinds of shackles: the first was to fix all the meridians, the second was to make it impossible to breathe, the third was to make one roar suddenly, the fourth was to make one suffer immediately, the fifth was to make one lose one's soul and courage, the sixth was to be the same as rebellion, the seventh was to make rebellion the reality, the eighth was to make a dead pig worry, the ninth was to die upon seeking, and the tenth was to ruin one's family upon seeking."
Lu Qian rattled off the names as if they were his own treasures: "Young Master, listen to these names. Is anyone supposed to bear them?"
"Since Bai Wenshen has confessed to his crimes, he must be someone who values his life. Even living one more day would be good. Going to the capital to be questioned might offer a chance of survival if he is pardoned. But if he tries to escape en route and is killed on the spot by the guards, wouldn't that be a truly unjust death?"
"Such scum deserves to die several times over, how can he be pardoned?"
After Zhao Siwan took the lead in reporting Bai Wenshen that day, the people of Bao'an Town, seeing that someone had taken the lead, mustered their courage and began to vie to recount Bai Wenshen's crimes, describing him as utterly despicable and utterly wicked. The young man was filled with indignation upon hearing this.
Gao Huaide then raised another question: "What if he bribed the guards to release them midway?"
"In cases personally handled by the military governor, who would dare to be lenient! According to the law of arresting fugitives, if a criminal is released and the arresting officers are able to fight back with their weapons, the criminal's punishment will be reduced by one degree."
"Bai Wenshen's crimes are punishable by death according to the law, and the punishment is reduced by hanging. It's not worth risking one's life for a little money."
Below the city, Bai Wenshen walked a short distance, turned his head to look up at the city wall, and his eyes met Gao Huaide's before he quickly looked away.
Gao Huaide could see clearly that the former Bao'an Town general had a dejected expression: "This guy was so arrogant before, but he's only been out of power for a few days, how come he's become so discouraged?"
"People's hearts are as hard as iron, and the law is as storied as a furnace. No matter how valiant or violent you are, once you become a prisoner, with instruments of torture on your body, a beating and a few bowls of half-cooked rice, you will have no choice but to bow your head and admit defeat."
The fierceness in Bai Wenshen's eyes had completely vanished. Gao Huaide couldn't help but marvel at the power of the imperial court's laws to transform human nature. To resist the powerful authority of the government, one must have an incredibly strong heart.
In a teenager's mind, his father is like an insurmountable mountain, and his little bit of rebellion is probably not worth mentioning.
Gao Huaide couldn't help but ask himself: If one day in the future he had to become an enemy of a powerful leader, could he still maintain his original intentions?
Thinking of this, the boy felt a little downcast, walked down from the city wall, and headed home.
……
As soon as he stepped into the mansion, he immediately put on a bright and cheerful expression and called out, "Brother Liang, have you been studying hard? Today, shall we play Cuju (ancient Chinese football) or Chuiwan (another ancient Chinese football game), or go out to play? If neither of you are interested, then go find Sister Xuan to play cards."
Gao Huailiang shook his head repeatedly: "Since that day, Mother has been doting on me even more, granting my every wish. You and Sister Xuan are also very polite and courteous. I really don't feel used to it, so let's just forget about it."
Gao Huaide chuckled twice: "I don't feel that way at all. Aren't we still getting along the same way as always?"
Gao Huailiang bluntly exposed him: "Take playing cards for example, how can I win every hand? You guys are all playing cards randomly."
"It's not that we're bad at cards, it's just that you're lucky."
"You're playing ball, and the goal is right there, but you still can't get the ball in. What do you say about that?"
"Haha, I just accidentally slipped up once in a while."
"Brother."
Gao Huailiang asked sternly, "If the two armies were fighting on the battlefield, would you still go easy on them like this?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? We're brothers from the same mother..."
After being provoked by his younger brother's words, Gao Huaide knew that his answer lacked confidence.
In these chaotic times, everything is unpredictable, and fate plays tricks on people. There are countless instances of brothers and even fathers and sons killing each other.
Liu Rengong, Zhu Quanzhong, as well as Emperor Li Conghou and Prince Li Congke of Lu, were all like this.
"Oh? So you two are brothers. Why are your personalities so different?"
Gao Xingzhou strolled over from the front hall; his sarcasm, though ineffective, actually saved Gao Huaide.
After hiding his feelings from his younger brother for several days in a row, the boy, who was not yet ten years old, was exhausted.
"Your son greets his father."
"You went to Bao'an Town, but you showed no remorse or improvement. I think it's probably because the trip was too short and you didn't gain enough experience."
Gao Xingzhou was talking about Gao Huaide, but his gaze lingered on his second son.
"Your cousin is about to lead soldiers and laborers to Kuanzhou to build a city. You should go with him this time."