Chapter Twenty-Three: The Long Wind of the Northern Frontier
Time flies, the grasslands of the northern frontier flourish and wither, and in the blink of an eye, the Seventh Prince, Yunji, has been here for three years. The north wind and scorching sun have completely washed away the frail air of the Central Plains royal family that once characterized him. Now, Yunji's figure is even more upright and robust, his skin bearing the robust luster unique to the sons of the grasslands. The eyes that once held a hint of forbearance and worry in the palace now hold more determination and composure. When he gallops across the boundless green fields on horseback, or draws his bow to aim at the eagles soaring in the sky, he no longer displays restraint and constraint, but rather a free and unrestrained expression, a sense of ease and freedom. This land seems to have truly awakened the dormant heroism within his blood.
Peace and prosperity on the border are not solely maintained by swords. Under the strict enforcement of General Qi Yu and his troops, the planned border trade market is being constructed in an orderly manner. The Guo family, a family of military leaders for generations, has shown extraordinary openness and pragmatism upon arriving in the northern border. They not only shoulder the heavy responsibility of maintaining border order and deterring troublemakers, but also brought advanced agricultural and animal husbandry techniques from the Central Plains to this land.
Near the military camp, flocks of chickens, ducks, geese, and other domesticated birds common in the Central Plains were kept in enclosures, their calls adding vitality to the vast grasslands. Skilled craftsmen were organized to guide the border people in mining ore, forging more durable ironware, and improving agricultural tools and cooking utensils. The sandy soil, once considered barren, was being cultivated with drought-resistant jujubes, sand onions, resilient sea buckthorn, and precious black moss. Guo's subordinates even sent people to the Western Regions to introduce novel and suitable fruit and vegetable plants for border areas, such as tomatoes, watermelons, and cantaloupes, carefully nurturing them in this new home. After each rainy season, the desert plants turned green, and nourishing substances like Cynomorium songaricum became treasures for strengthening the soldiers' physique. All these products were harvested, dried, and stored in an organized manner, establishing a preliminary material reserve system to cope with potential food shortages or long, harsh winters.
Transportation and communication were vital. Camel caravans, horse caravans, and chariot caravans were effectively organized, shuttling between the grasslands and the Central Plains along planned routes. Post stations sprang up at key nodes, and although they were still in their early stages, they were already able to undertake the important functions of transmitting information, receiving envoys, and replenishing supplies, like blood vessels, closely connecting the border with the interior.
However, Yunji knew that true stability lay in winning the hearts and minds of the people. He abandoned his usual quiet demeanor in the palace and took the initiative to draft invitations, inviting tribal leaders and their capable generals from across the grasslands to a banquet. What he hosted was not merely a banquet, but a unique "Grassland Naadam"—a grand celebration featuring horse racing, archery, wrestling, drinking, meat feasting, Cuju (ancient Chinese football), polo, falconry… and even games brought from the Central Plains such as pitch-pot and rock-paper-scissors. The venue was filled with singing and dancing, a truly lively scene. Yunji even specially sourced various exquisite pastries, fine wines, and delicate silks and porcelains from the Central Plains, showcasing these treasures of the Central Plains to the grassland nobles.
Initially, upon hearing that the emperor had sent a prince to oversee the army, the various tribes of the grasslands were all wary, on high alert, and prepared for possible military suppression. Unexpectedly, what they received was an invitation brimming with friendliness and invitation. From initial silence and suspicion, to tentatively sending low-ranking envoys to spy, and finally, the tribal chiefs themselves unable to contain their curiosity and feeling "too embarrassed not to go," they gladly accepted. After several exchanges, the prince's sincerity and generosity gradually dispelled their concerns. At the banquet, Yunji drank and chatted with the princes and chiefs, discussing local customs and traditions without mentioning military or political matters. A sense of mutual appreciation arose, and they gradually became sworn brothers, drinking until they were thoroughly drunk. Later, many chiefs even brought their families to "broaden their horizons" and see what rare things the prince had brought.
Seeing that the young prince was so "sensible," understanding the rules of the grasslands, respecting tribal customs, and bringing tangible benefits, the various tribes on the grasslands secretly lowered their guard considerably. The sporadic border disturbances, previously driven by survival needs, decreased sharply. Some tribes, to express goodwill, even offered talented grassland dancers to add color to the grand event.
In the capital city, thousands of miles away, Huairou painstakingly pieced together a picture of Yunji's life on the grasslands through letters delivered intermittently. Even though travel was slow and letters could only convey a fraction of what was needed, the growth of Yunji, the stability of the border, and his gradually emerging strength and methods revealed between the lines brought her deep comfort. Her anxious heart could finally find some relief. At least she knew that, given the current situation, she wasn't pushing her "son" to the brink of destruction, but rather paving a broad road for him towards strength and independence.
Though confined to her chambers, her thoughts constantly lingered on the northern frontier. A series of ingenious strategies, embodying her wisdom and keen insight across two lifetimes, were delivered to the Seventh Prince, Yunji, through secret and reliable channels. These suggestions—on how to balance the power of various tribes, how to use economic means to solidify relationships, and how to subtly spread Central Plains culture—became an unspoken secret between them, and a crucial asset for his foothold on the grasslands.
On this day, the most powerful tribe on the grasslands, the Sutan, celebrated their traditional "Selban Festival," a major festival celebrating the birth of many lambs, praying for abundant pastures, and the prosperity of the tribe. The Sutan king's tent was already a sea of jubilation.
The air was filled with the rich aroma of food. In a huge iron pot, clear mutton soup simmered with milky white waves, exuding its original, delicious flavor; mellow and sweet mare's milk wine was served in large leather bags, available for everyone to help themselves; steaming hot hand-pulled mutton was piled up like a small mountain, glistening with tempting fat; freshly baked barley cakes smelled wonderfully of wheat, and rich yak butter tea warmed everyone's stomach.
The children of royalty and nobility presented various performances, ranging from soaring, melodious long songs to passionate, unrestrained dances. According to festival tradition, after each performance, the honored guests were served a horn-shaped cup of mare's milk wine. This horn-shaped cup was long and slender with a natural curve; once filled with wine, it couldn't be placed stably until it was completely drunk—truly, "the cup cannot stop flowing until it touches the ground," a gesture of hospitality that was impossible to refuse.
As a guest of honor of King Sutan, the Seventh Prince Yunji was naturally the focus of attention. However, he had come prepared for this trip.
The banquet atmosphere gradually reached its climax. A bonfire, half a person's height, was lit, its leaping flames illuminating the slightly tipsy and excited faces of the guests. Several princes, already quite intoxicated, sang ancient pastoral songs, their arms around each other's shoulders. Yunji felt the time was right. He smiled, stood up, and bowed to King Sutan and the other leaders. His clear voice drowned out the noise of the crowd.
"King Tan is mighty, and all the leaders are well! I have been invited to participate in this grand event on the grasslands, and I am deeply moved by the bountiful scene of the grass bending low to reveal cattle and sheep, and by your warm hospitality. I am overjoyed. To express my gratitude for the long-standing hospitality of King Tan and all the leaders, I have prepared a few small gifts today as a token of my appreciation."
With a gentle wave of his hand, his waiting subordinates responded and presented the gifts one by one.
The first gift consisted of dozens of exquisitely crafted silver objects. Bathed in the firelight, the silver shimmered, revealing lifelike carvings: a fierce tiger poised to pounce, a lithe eagle spreading its wings, every feather and mane clearly visible. Even more ingeniously, each beast's claw was delicately held intricately by a long, thin silver chain. The steppe princes gathered around, marveling at the exquisite craftsmanship of these silver objects. They stroked the smooth, lustrous surface, captivated by their beauty, yet exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what purpose these magnificent objects were intended for.
Yunji smiled without speaking, signaling his men to distribute the silverware to the princes. After each prince had a piece, he calmly and deliberately lifted the ox-horn cup in front of him, which was filled with wine and could not be placed down. He then steadily embedded its bottom into the silver chain bracket formed between the silver beast's claws—a perfect fit, as if they were made from the same material! Afterward, he gently placed the silverware with the ox-horn cup on the table, and the ox-horn cup stood firmly, no longer in danger of tipping over.
"Brilliant!" A burst of exclamations and cheers of sudden realization erupted from the tent. The princes followed suit, inlaying their horn cups with silverware. The horn cups, originally mere practical objects, instantly transformed into exquisite works of art, solving a major unspoken problem at the banquet. Applause and gasps of wonder filled the air, praising the Central Plains prince's ingenuity and thoughtfulness.
The second gift was several plates of a peculiarly fragrant powder, served in delicate porcelain dishes. While everyone was still wondering what it was, Yunji ordered someone to bring fresh mutton and roast it on an iron rack beside the campfire. At the same time, someone evenly sprinkled the powder onto the sizzling, oily mutton, then brushed it with a layer of glistening mutton fat. In less than half an incense stick's time, a strange aroma—a blend of smoky, spicy, and meaty fragrance—that had never been smelled before, spread rapidly, making everyone's mouths water.
Yunji personally cut off a large piece of roasted mutton with a dagger, and devoured it without a care for appearances, a satisfied expression on his face. Only then did he instruct his men to distribute the roasted mutton to the princes while it was still hot.
The princes looked at the piece of roasted meat in their hands with suspicion, its aroma emanating a strange fragrance, and cautiously took a bite. Instantly, a hot and spicy flavor shot to their heads, as if a ball of fire exploded in their mouths, followed by the extreme freshness of the lamb itself, mixed with an indescribable complex aroma. They couldn't help but gasp to relieve the stimulation, yet they couldn't stop chewing, finding it more and more delicious with each bite, unable to stop eating. Soon, the plate of roasted meat was devoured in a whirlwind. The princes' gazes once again turned to Yunji, their eyes filled with inquiry and longing.
Upon seeing this, Yunji laughed loudly and explained, “My lords, please don’t be impatient. This may look ordinary, but it is extraordinary. It comes from Persia, which is further west, and is highly regarded in our Central Plains. It is called ‘cumin’ and ‘chili.’ With the right amount of salt, brushed with mutton fat and roasted, it can transform ordinary mutton into a delicacy!”
The grassland princes tasted this spicy and stimulating yet irresistible flavor for the first time. They ate until their foreheads were sweating and their faces were flushed. While fanning themselves with their hands, they repeatedly shouted, "Delicious! So satisfying! This is a delicacy bestowed by the gods!"
The third gift, a magnificent lacquer box, immediately drew everyone's attention when it was presented. The moment the lid was lifted, the entire royal tent seemed to light up. Inside lay a crown, its splendor and exquisite detail exceeding the imagination of any of the nomadic nobles. The crown, with its gold frame, employed intricate cloisonné techniques to depict abstract patterns of the eagle and wolf totems revered on the grasslands. It was inlaid with large, clear turquoise stones, their color as pure as a highland lake; full, round, crimson coral beads symbolizing life and vitality; and shimmering agate, vibrant jade, and various other sparkling pearls were skillfully interspersed throughout. Even disregarding the incredibly precious materials, the design alone, blending the exquisite craftsmanship of the Central Plains with elements of grassland culture, was enough to dazzle and amaze the assembled royalty. The value of this object was self-evident.
King Sutan personally accepted the crown, examining it from all angles, clearly delighted, his face beaming with undisguised joy and pride. For Yunji to present such a lavish gift before the leaders of the various tribes of the grasslands was an immense honor. He thanked Yunji profusely, and in his excitement, toasted him with three large cups of mare's milk wine.
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. The guests and hosts were all enjoying themselves, and amidst the toasts and conversation, Yunji, seemingly casual yet with a hint of mystery, surveyed the assembled princes and asked, "Silver cup holders, cumin chili sauce, and such exquisite crowns and lacquerware are countless in my Central Plains, each with its own unique characteristics. I wonder if any of you princes... would like to possess them often?"
These words immediately drew enthusiastic responses from the crowd. Some expressed envy at Yunji's exquisitely embroidered casual clothes, while others took a keen interest in the warm, smooth jade pendant at his waist. Taking advantage of this strong interest in the products of the Central Plains, the idea of large-scale, standardized trade between the Central Plains and the grasslands was cleverly brought up in this seemingly casual conversation, quickly resonating strongly with the various leaders.
In the months that followed, Yunji's officials, along with the tribal chiefs who gradually embraced the concept of trade, began to actively transform their businesses. They regularly held various themed markets and festivals, much like temple fairs in the Central Plains. Each official or chief was responsible for three to five specific categories of goods, handling everything from receiving orders from various tribes (quantity and quality requirements) to organizing inland supplies, arranging transportation, determining trading times and locations, and planning storage space—no detail was too small, and everything was carried out systematically.
Border trade thus gradually permeated and unfolded among the various tribes in a gentle yet unstoppable manner. From its initial scattered, small-scale bartering, it gradually developed into fixed market days, establishing rudimentary trading rules and a credit system. Ultimately, fixed and prosperous border markets formed in several geographically advantageous and mutually acceptable locations. Silk, tea, porcelain, ironware, medicinal herbs, and exquisite handicrafts from the Central Plains were frequently and systematically exchanged with the grasslands' cattle, sheep, horses, furs, cheese, medicinal herbs, and other specialties. This economic interdependence, like the strongest bond, increasingly closely connected the once tense border regions.
Nearly two years later, a memorial detailing the changes in the situation in the northern border, the results of the trade, and their enormous benefits to border stability and increased national revenue was finally delivered to the capital by fast horse.
The entire court was overjoyed. The border tensions that had plagued the empire for years had been eased, the continuous pressure of military expenditures had been effectively relieved, and even considerable taxes could be collected from the increasingly prosperous border trade to replenish the national treasury. This was undoubtedly fantastic news.
However, Yunji was unaware that during the two years he had been diligently developing the grasslands, the imperial court in the capital was far from peaceful. As a young prince, having been away from the capital for so long, engaging in "unorthodox" trade on the border and "brotherly" with the grassland tribes, he inevitably attracted criticism and questioning from many conservative officials. Memorials impeaching him for "lacking the decorum of a prince," "unauthorizedly provoking border conflicts," "competing with the people for profit," and even "harboring ulterior motives" once piled up on the emperor's desk.
Most of these open and covert attacks were skillfully defused by his father, Emperor Zhen Jiancheng, and Huairou, who was far away from the palace but constantly monitoring the political climate. The Emperor, with his absolute authority and far-sighted planning, suppressed those untimely accusations, giving Yunji the utmost trust and support. Huairou, through his father, Minister Guo, and other covert channels, foresaw the situation and, through various means—creating momentum, guiding the flow, or using a carrier pigeon—promptly relayed the dynamics of the capital and corresponding suggestions to Yunji.
It was this tacit approval and protection from his father, along with the gentle, long-distance support, that allowed Yunji to focus wholeheartedly on his career on the grasslands. This shared commitment and understanding in supporting Yunji's growth and success fostered a bond of trust and connection between Emperor Zhenjiancheng and Huairou that transcended ordinary ruler-subject relations, even reaching the level of close friends. Though they rarely met, they communicated through a pigeon that traveled between the palace and their residences, relaying information about the front lines and discussing strategies to appease the grasslands. In this turbulent world, they became each other's most trusted allies and…confidants.
The winds of the North still blow across the boundless grasslands, stirring the banners fluttering in the border markets, and carrying a story of growth, wisdom, and peace to faraway places.
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