Chapter 729: The Trouble of Takigawa

Chapter 722: The Trouble in Longchuan

With that, he turned, took a brocade box from the shelf, and handed it to He Lingchuan.

Inside were an official document and a token.

“Congratulations! From now on, you are Commander He.”

He Lingchuan thanked him as he took the box, turning the token over and over in his hands. Zhong Shengguang and General Hong had left Panlong City the day after he arrived, leaving only orders for him to take up a new post in Yuheng City.

Receiving the token meant he was now on equal footing with Xiao Maoliang. Even in Panlong City, such rapid promotions were rare.

Seeing his unbridled joy, Wen Daolun couldn't help but temper it. “Don't celebrate too soon. Exceptional promotions often come with difficult tasks.”

He Lingchuan dismissed it. “If it were an easy job, would it be my turn?”

In just one year, he had risen from a mere patrol guard to a commander of the Great Wind Army. Wasn't that enough for him to be proud of?

However, he also understood that once he was promoted and commanded troops, his duties would involve more than just simple fighting. A new trial had begun.

Wen Daolun smiled. “Commander Xiao has done an excellent job, but Commander Zhong said the northern front urgently needs personnel. This place is left for you to gain experience, which is just right.”

He Lingchuan humbly replied, “Please guide me, Lord Wen.”

As deputy commander, Wen Daolun would henceforth oversee the planning, finance, trade, culture, and education of Yuheng City and its subordinate towns. He would manage almost everything, except for military and political affairs, which would be in He Lingchuan’s hands.

Indeed, from recruitment to training, patrols, and combat, the garrison of Yuheng City would henceforth be entirely under He Lingchuan’s control!

In such chaotic times, military power superseded all else.

This clearly demonstrated Zhong Shengguang’s trust in He Lingchuan.

Such an honor and favor were almost unattainable for ordinary Great Wind Army soldiers.

Wen Daolun led him to the adjacent guard camp to view a sand table, explaining as they went:

“Our Yuheng City is in the easternmost part of Xiji, a crucial border town across the Yin River from Jinshou. Since Xiji was incorporated into Panlong City, Jinshou has been very nervous, deploying troops along the border without ever withdrawing them. Our people often encounter shouts and arrow attacks when they go to the Yin River to fetch water or fish.”

He Lingchuan nodded.

Small states like Jinshou and Xiji had originally relied on the backing of Baling and Beijia, making all sorts of difficulties and accusations against Panlong City. When Xiji was suddenly annihilated by Panlong City, Jinshou was terrified, and it was hard to avoid some overreactions.

“If it were only to defend against Jinshou, we wouldn't need to go to such great lengths to build Yuheng City,” Wen Daolun said, getting straight to the point. “Commander Zhong is concerned about the Xiji trade route—which has now been renamed the Longchuan Trade Route.”

Zhong Shengguang wished for the name “Xiji” to completely vanish from history, hence the decision to change even place names and trade route names.

He Lingchuan remarked, “I heard that the southern part of Xiji is overrun with bandits?”

Before Zhong Shengguang took office, the Panlong Wasteland itself was a haven for bandits. Later, this formidable man single-handedly established the Great Wind Army and swept across the entire Panlong Wasteland in less than two years.

After defeating Zhu Erniang, the Panlong Wasteland was largely under the firm control of Panlong City, and news of bandits had been scarce for a long time.

“Exactly. Xiji originally only had superficial prosperity. Although the southern land was more fertile, it couldn't be reclaimed, nor could taxes be collected. Therefore, the former Xiji Kingdom focused its efforts on the central and northern regions, turning a blind eye to the southern bandits. Over time, the bandit problem worsened, even threatening the trade route between Xiji and Baishawan.”

It's not uncommon to find bandits along trade routes. Light and shadow coexist, and every merchant understands the risks of travel.

But when bandits are eagerly waiting to take a large bite out of your profits, and when the risks outweigh the rewards, merchants naturally consider rerouting or abandoning the trade.

In such cases, the revenue that trade route brings to the host would significantly decrease. Not only would commercial goods be affected, but the towns along the route would also lose their source of vitality.

This was originally Xiji's problem; after conquering Xiji, it became Panlong City's problem.

“There must be a reason why Xiji's government troops couldn't defeat the bandits, right?”

“The root of the problem lies in Longchuan,” Wen Daolun said, pointing to the southeast on the sand table. “The bandits you captured indeed came from Longchuan.”

He magnified the sand table, and He Lingchuan saw a large expanse of marshland in the southeastern corner of Xiji, specifically east of the trade route.

“Is this... a lake?” He exclaimed. “My goodness, there must be one or two hundred lakes here! Large and small, they're scattered like stars.”

The southeastern part of Xiji was, surprisingly, an absolute water country.

“Yes, this was originally a land of fish and rice, roughly half the size of the Chiba Plateau, equally rich in resources, and even boasting salt wells. After several disturbances, Xiji failed to manage it properly, leading to its current state,” Wen Daolun said with a bitter smile. “Longchuan has 176 lakes, and there are over fifty bandit gangs holed up within them. It's truly a chaotic mess!”

He Lingchuan didn't even flinch. “They all live by robbing trade routes?”

“Are they just preying on a single source?”

“They live in Longchuan. They farm and fish normally, but when they mount their horses and ride out, they become bandits. Of course, they don't just rob the southern trade route; they also raid villages in the central and northern regions, sometimes even sweeping through Jinshou for plunder,” Wen Daolun shook his head. “The difficulty in suppressing them lies in the fact that civilians and bandits are intertwined. The Xiji Kingdom tried many times, but they always returned defeated. It's said that two of the Huyan family's great generals even perished in Longchuan. Eventually, they simply gave up and left them alone.”

These bandits were quite formidable in combat, as He Lingchuan had personally experienced in a recent skirmish on his way here.

Although the Great Wind Army was victorious... well, of course. The Great Wind Army was battle-hardened and didn't fear even the regular joint forces of Baling and Xianyou. If the original Xiji army had been sent to suppress them, their chances of winning against the bandits would have been about six to four—the bandits having four, due to their inferior equipment and weapons.

However, if a battle were to occur in Longchuan, the bandits' home ground, the situation could easily reverse.

“These bandit gangs must also have a hierarchy, with bigger and smaller ones, and those with more or less power, right?” He Lingchuan had no doubt that wherever there were people, there would be distinctions of rank, status, and wealth.

“Of course,” Wen Daolun nodded. “There are several large gangs within Longchuan, and it's said that other bandit dens pay tribute to them, whether in looted goods or fish.”

He Lingchuan scoffed, “They really think they're local emperors.”

“But Xiji has ignored them for a long time, and we're new here, so we don't have a thorough understanding of the internal situation in Longchuan.”

He Lingchuan understood. “Then this is my responsibility.”

Wen Daolun added, “Oh, and since the fall of the Xiji Kingdom, several new bandit gangs have appeared in Longchuan.”

He Lingchuan reacted quickly. “Those who refused to surrender led their remnants into Longchuan?”

“Yes. We captured the Xiji royal palace too quickly; some Xiji generals didn't even have time to react before the kingdom fell, and they refused to surrender. For the past few months, Commander Xiao has been busy leading troops to suppress rebellions, defeating several forces. But these remnants regrouped and hid in Longchuan.”

“It seems everyone ends up in Longchuan,” He Lingchuan mused, stroking his chin. “Interesting.”