Tianshan Snow, Kunlun Jade

Chapter 119 Tianshan Snow, Kunlun Jade

Inside the storefront of Kunlun Huizhan, Young Master Chen, who had come to confront them, was now sitting in a chair drinking tea.

He glanced with a smile at Rena, who was sitting on the chair next to him. She was dressed in a uniquely styled Persian outfit and possessed a rare and alluring beauty. His heart couldn't help but burn even hotter.

Fortunately, he was a well-traveled man. Although he coveted Rena's beauty, he didn't do anything inappropriate. However, his gaze still revealed an undisguised burning desire.

However, even though he was captivated by her beauty, it did not cloud his judgment.

Chen Yinjie was well aware that such a young and beautiful Hu woman would have a hard time running a large warehouse in a foreign country, let alone living alone in the city.

There must be a real backer behind her, but it's unclear which powerful figure it is. However, it's unlikely to be as powerful as her own backing.

Once he had made up his mind, Chen Yinjie said with a smile, "Miss Rena, my Xichi Huizhan has been established in Tianshui City for over a hundred years. Since my great-grandfather's generation, we have been traveling all over the country."

"Now, my Chen family is considered a prominent figure among the merchants in Tianshui City. Merchants from all over the country give our Chen family some respect."

One of the servants boasted, "My master's little cousin is now the concubine of the second master of the Suo family!"

Have you heard of the second master of the Suo family?
"Hey, you're a woman from out of town, you probably wouldn't know this."

Rena was taken aback at first, then sighed inwardly.

Master Suo is already over sixty years old, while Young Master Chen's little cousin is probably in the prime of her life.
Such relatives might be considered a blessing to others, but for that little cousin, they were a great misfortune.

In this light, although he had been kidnapped from a caravan and sold into slavery, he was fortunate to have fallen into Yang Can's hands.

Even the worst possible outcome for him seems better than that of his poor little cousin.

"Insolence! No manners whatsoever!"

After Chen Yinjie and the other servants revealed his identity as a "relative of the Suo family," they pretended to be angry and scolded him.

Then he turned to Rena, his smile now tinged with a hint of probing:

"Young lady, at your age, you can't possibly be running this business in Tianshui City all by yourself, can you?"

Little did they know who the benefactor behind the girl was.

Perhaps Mr. Chen recognizes him too; we might as well catch up.

To avoid misunderstandings and conflicts arising later, since we're all friends.

Rena now understood that Chen Yinjie had come today because he was relying on his power in Tianshui City to carry out bullying and market manipulation.

However, he is currently unaware of his own background, which is why he needs to ask for clarification.

The person behind Rena was, of course, Yang Can; there was no need to hide it.

Yang Can recruited so many people to join him, wasn't it all to take advantage of each other's strengths?

If the background is completely hidden at this point, then what is the point of its existence?
However, since Chen Yinjie has mentioned the Suo family, simply bringing up Yang Can might not be enough to intimidate him.

Rena smiled slightly and said, "That's quite a coincidence. It seems our two families have a deep connection."

Chen Yinjie was taken aback, leaned forward slightly, and asked curiously, "Oh? I wonder who the important person behind you is...?"

Rena smiled and said, "It's also from the Suo family!"

……

In the backyard of Kunlun Huizhan, Qian Yuan held his breath, shrinking himself among abandoned wooden cabinets and mud bricks.

They had barely hidden themselves for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea when they heard a soft sound coming from outside the courtyard wall.

Several men, each carrying a gleaming blade, leaped inside.

They weren't wearing night clothes or shorts, yet they moved as swiftly as cats, landing without making a sound.

The man at the head of the group had sharp, eagle-like eyes. He quickly scanned the scene in the courtyard and then waved his hand.

The rest of the group immediately scattered and searched each empty house.

These houses were originally intended to be converted into warehouses to store goods traveling to and from the Western Regions, but most of them are now empty.

There were only a few remaining items inside the house, and with little to conceal it, it was easy to tell whether someone was hiding there.

As for the pile of junk in the yard, there were rotten supports, chipped cabinets, scattered adobe bricks and protruding wooden planks, all piled up haphazardly, making it difficult even for cats and dogs to squeeze in, so they didn't pay much attention to it.

The men quickly searched the empty house, but finding nothing, they sneaked towards the front of the shop.

Inside the shop, Chen Yinjie, after hearing Rena's words, had lost all his previous arrogance.

He slowly turned the teacup, secretly making plans in his mind.

Behind Rena was actually a noblewoman from the Suo family. She was not only the young mistress of the Yu family, but also the niece of the second master of the Suo family. In terms of kinship, she was much closer than her own "brother-in-law".

It's impossible to make things difficult for her. If he offends that noble lady from the Suo family, he might not be able to get past her because of their relationship.

However, just because we can't make things difficult for Kunlun Huizhan doesn't mean we can't come up with other ideas.

As Chen Yinjie gazed at Rena's captivating profile, another thought arose in his mind.

This Hu woman is beautiful and charming, and also knows how to do business. If we could take her as a concubine, we could not only win the heart of a beauty, but also gain an ally. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
My eldest son, Chen, is handsome and wealthy. If I were to give him the status of a concubine, she would surely be more than willing to accept it.

With this in mind, Chen Yinjie's previous intention to confront and punish had vanished. Instead, he began to boast endlessly about the Chen family's vast assets, highlighting his own abilities in every word.

The men who had quietly sneaked into the front shop frowned as they saw that there were many people inside.

If an injured person had actually broken in, the store would not be in the state it is in now.

The leader made a gesture, and they quietly retreated.

……

Amidst the pile of junk, Qian Yuan peered through the gaps in the wooden planks at several mysterious figures hurrying past and then leaping over the wall, causing him to shudder involuntarily.

The tense body suddenly relaxed, and the piercing pain returned.

He waited a few more moments to make sure no one was around before enduring the sharp pain in his shoulder and slowly crawling out of the pile of debris.

The broken knife was still stuck in his shoulder, and he dared not pull it out.

If it is pulled out hastily, and the wound is not bandaged and the bleeding is not stopped in time, then there is no chance of escape.

Qian Yuan crawled out of the pile of debris, and just as he caught his breath, before he could even get up, his face suddenly turned pale.

He saw a pair of feet!

Qian Yuan slowly raised his head and saw that those mysterious people had actually returned!
They were standing around him, staring coldly at him, forming a swarm that seemed to be closing in.

Qian Yuan's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground. He broke down completely.

Qian Yuan was on the verge of tears, and cried out in despair, "It's not that I don't want to talk! What do you want me to say? You won't even tell me your names or identities, how can I possibly say anything..."

……

As soon as Yang Can stepped back onto the land of Feng'an Fort, he put the resettlement of the Bali tribe on the top priority.

He didn't stay idle during his stay at Phoenix Villa.

During the day, he frequently questioned Elder Bali, gaining a thorough understanding of the tribe's population, livestock, customs, and even its hidden difficulties.

After nightfall, he pondered alone under the lamp, sorting out the details of the arrangement;
When faced with critical junctures, he would make a special trip to meet with the lord of the vassal state to repeatedly consider his ideas and the lord's considerations, and finalize several core resettlement measures.

Therefore, on his return journey to Feng'an Fort, as soon as he arrived, he instructed the elders of the Bali tribe who were traveling down the mountain with him to immediately set off to invite Chief Balimo and the other elders of the tribe to Feng'an Fort for a meeting.

The day after Yang Can returned to Feng'an Fort, just as dawn was breaking, the sound of horses' hooves could be heard outside the fort. Ba Limo had arrived with a group of elders.

As they dismounted, the hem of their robes was still damp with morning dew, and their faces betrayed their anxiety. Clearly, they were more eager than Yang Can to find a stable home for their tribe as soon as possible.

Upon hearing the report, Yang Can immediately went out of the fortress to greet them.

"Yang...Deacon Yang..." Ba Limo couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed when he spoke. He still remembered the last time they met, when he still carried the arrogance of a tribal chief and would often reach for the sword at his waist when talking to Yang Can. His imperious manner was still vivid in his mind.

But now that the Bali tribe has submitted to the clan, he is basically still under Yang Can's control, and it is inevitable that he feels somewhat awkward when facing Yang Can.

Yang Can seemed to have completely forgotten his past unpleasantness, and his hearty laughter instantly dispelled his awkwardness: "Lord Bali, please come in! Elders, you must be tired from your journey."

Yang Can said in a warm tone, "You've arrived so early, you must not have had breakfast yet, right? Come on, let's go into the fort and get something to eat first."

After saying that, Yang Can enthusiastically led Ba Limo and the elders into the fortress.

Most of the elders of the Bali tribe had never seen such a magnificent fortified village in their lives.

As soon as they reached the gate of the fort, the two-zhang-high rammed earth and brick city wall made them gasp in shock.

The walls were topped with crenellations, and the city gate was a heavy iron and wood structure with a dense array of copper nails on the lintel.

The suspension bridge stands steadily over the moat, the water shimmering with a clear, cool light.

Stepping inside the castle opened their eyes to even more wonders.

The wide main road is paved with bluestone slabs, and the houses on both sides are neatly arranged with the roof tiles stacked tightly together.

Every few steps along the road there is a craft workshop, covering various aspects of craftsmanship.

The blacksmith's shop echoed with the clanging of hammers, while the carpenter's shop displayed freshly painted tables and chairs, and brightly colored fabrics hung out to dry by weavers...

The dazzling array of goods left them speechless.

Yang Can walked ahead and introduced, "As you can see, this fort not only has a moat for water supply, but also three deep wells."

The granaries to the east can store enough food to feed the people in the fort for half a year, and the workshops can make farm tools and repair clothes at any time.

Therefore, living in this fort means you don't need to go outside for food, clothing, or other necessities.

These elders grew up on the grasslands and spent their lives living a nomadic life, constantly moving from place to place, often enduring wind and rain. When heavy snow blocked the mountains, they also had to worry about livestock freezing to death and food shortages.

Looking at this sturdy yet comfortable fortified village, a longing ignited in everyone's eyes.

In the past, they might have just thought it was something Han Chinese.

But now that the tribe has submitted to the brigade, a thought couldn't help but pop into their minds: Could our Bali tribe build such a castle in the future?
Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Yang Can suddenly turned to look at Ba Limo and said with a smile, "As Lord Ba Limo knows, I am also currently holding the position of Master of Feng'an Manor."

Once I've sorted out the resettlement matters for your tribe, I'll return to Phoenix Manor to report back.

I have obtained the clan leader's consent; this fortified village will then be handed over to Lord Bali and the elders for their residence.

"Wha...what?"

Ba Limo suddenly stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide, his voice trembling: "Deacon Yang, what you're saying...is it true?"

"How could I dare to joke about something so important?"

Yang Can's smile remained unchanged, and his tone was very firm: "Moreover, the clan leader also said that Feng'an Manor will be handed over to Lord Bali for management from now on."

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the ears of Ba Limo and the elders.

They originally thought that the fact that the tribe was willing to accept them was already a great favor, but they never expected that the chieftain would value them so much.

Not only should they be given a stable place to live, but the entire Feng'an Village should also be handed over to them for management!

Ba Limo felt a surge of heat rush from the bottom of his heart to the top of his head, and his lips trembled, unable to speak.

The elders nearby were also overjoyed, exchanging glances with unbelievable elation in their eyes.

Yang Can took in their reactions, a subtle smile curving his lips. It seemed they really liked this "sugar-coated bullet."

Clearly, Ba Limo only saw the fortifications and grandeur of the fortified village, but failed to notice the layout of Feng'an Village.

The fortified village is located at the center of the entire village, and all the craftsmen inside are Han Chinese. Surrounding the fort are villages inhabited by Han Chinese farmers. Beyond that, there are endless fields.

Once Balim and the elders moved into the fortress, it meant they were completely separated from their followers.

While they enjoy comfort and dignity, their control over their tribes will only gradually weaken.

Moreover, the middle and lower-level managers are Han Chinese from Feng'an Village, and the craftsmen in the workshops and the farmers on the outskirts are also Han Chinese. How much power will this "manor lord" Ba Limo actually have?

After having a quick breakfast, Yang Can settled Ba Limo and the elders in the guesthouse.

Now that everyone knew that this fortified village would belong to them in the future, they looked at the tables and chairs in the guesthouse, the courtyard outside the window, and even a blue brick in the corner of the wall and a tile under the eaves. They found everything to be particularly pleasing to the eye, and their state of mind had changed.

Baluehe paced back and forth in the guesthouse twice, his face beaming with joy, and then approached Balimo and said:

"My lord, look at this place! Even the Great Chanyu's headquarters in our Xianbei tribe back then probably wasn't this grand!"

Upon hearing this, Ba Limo laughed heartily, patted Ba Luehe on the shoulder, and had only one thought in his mind: This magnificent fortified village will be mine from now on!

After breakfast, Yang Can had Leopard Head lead everyone on a thorough tour of the fortified village, even opening his residence, Yang Mansion, to them without reservation.

As Ba Limo and the elders walked through the courtyard of the Yang residence, their eyes kept darting between the pavilions and pillars. They even exchanged glances, pondering which courtyard they would feel most comfortable living in in the future.

Before the formal meeting, Yang Can met with Ba Limo separately to discuss some of the subsequent arrangements in advance.

As for Balimo, before even arriving at Feng'an Fort, he had already sent people through Canglang Gorge back to the grasslands outside the pass.

On one hand, they went to find the nomadic tribes scattered across the grasslands; on the other hand, they also spread a message:
The bald tribe has acquired several hundred sets of armor by trading mountain goods.

Once this news spreads across the grasslands, the bald tribe will inevitably become the target of public criticism.

It's important to understand that the Bald Hair tribe had just annexed the territory of the Bald Hair tribe, forcing them to migrate eastward and seek refuge with the Yu clan.

Is it because they acquired a large number of armors that they began to annex the weak, first becoming strong and then unifying the grasslands?
If other tribes become suspicious of each other, they will inevitably launch a joint attack on the Bald Tribe. At that time, the Bald Tribe will be too busy to take care of itself to have any strength left to cause trouble for the Yu Fa.
After the private conversation ended, Yang Can summoned all the elders of the Bali tribe to the banquet hall to formally discuss the resettlement arrangements.

He stood in the hall, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and spoke in a clear and resonant voice, stating his purpose clearly: "Gentlemen, the most important thing for the Bali tribe right now is to make proper arrangements as soon as possible."

Winter will arrive in the blink of an eye. Even in late autumn, the winds on the grasslands are biting cold. We must secure our lodging and livelihood before it gets too chilly; time waits for no one!

Everyone nodded, their smiles fading and replaced by serious expressions.

They knew better than anyone that if they couldn't settle down before the cold winter, many of the elderly and children in the tribe might not survive.

Seeing this, Yang Can gestured for Wangcai to push a wooden screen with a map drawn on it to the center of the hall and point to the markings on it.

“There is plenty of vacant land in Longshang, but we can’t just look at the word ‘vacant’ when settling tribes. We have to consider whether the land is easy to cultivate, whether it is fertile enough, whether the water source is nearby, and whether it is suitable for the population size of our tribes.”

Therefore, after repeated discussions with Elder Baluehe and consulting with the clan leader, we finally decided on three resettlement locations.

He picked up a boxwood pointer and marked three areas on the map: "These three places each have their own uses. I've come up with a way to divide them."

The first place is a grassland, reserved specifically for the tribesmen who wish to continue their nomadic lifestyle.

However, we must also be honest, the grasslands in Longshang are not comparable to those outside the Great Wall. The grasslands are not large, and if there are too many nomads, disputes among the same tribes are inevitable over the grass.

So I figured we should only house one-third of the tribe here, that way everyone's life would be a little easier.”

He paused here, looking at everyone's reaction. The elders showed no objection, clearly agreeing with the consideration of "avoiding conflict."

Yang Can continued, "The other two places will be reserved for clansmen who want to abandon herding and turn to farming, with half of them settled in each place."

I sent people to inspect both locations. The land is flat and easy to cultivate, and there are streams nearby for convenient irrigation, making them ideal for growing crops.

The elders nodded in agreement, thinking that Yang Can and the clan leader had thought things through very thoroughly.

This arrangement takes into account both those who wish to retain their nomadic habits and those who want to switch to farming, finding suitable places for them.

They were grateful that even potential troubles had been avoided in advance.

However, they were completely unaware that this "three-way resettlement" concealed the profound meaning of "divide and rule".

(End of this chapter)