Fang Hetong called a few people into the room and ordered them to carry the three boxes of military supplies into the storeroom. He specifically instructed them to meticulously inventory and record all of the items before finally taking his seat beside Wei Yuan once more.

A moment of silence later, the scholar sighed and said, “To be honest with you, it’s my fault we’re currently in this situation. Several months ago, when the Liao barbarians invaded, I chose to cast aside my brush and took up arms in fervent devotion to my country. Yet upon arriving in Quyang County, I discovered that the staff general was embezzling funds from vacant posts with the county magistrate’s blessing. Such corruption might be tolerable during peacetime, but the foreign races are currently threatening our borders, and our garrison is understaffed. In the end, it is the people who would suffer. In a fit of rage, I wrote a letter to the commandery administrator, filing complaints not just against the staff general, but also the county magistrate. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“However, I never received a response for the letter, but the staff general and the county magistrate’s revenge kept coming in droves. That was the moment I realized that the commandery administrator is in cahoots with them. At the time, I had rallied several hundred volunteers to resist the enemy and defend their homes, but the staff general refused to acknowledge their identity as militia. The county hadn’t issued a single coin or grain either, forcing me to supply the provisions myself.

“Alas, I am terribly poor. I can sell my field and house and receive only a couple taels in exchange. The only reason I managed to hang on was thanks to the occasional donation from my brothers and sisters from the academy. Even so, we ran out of supplies in the end. If not for your timely arrival, I would truly have run out of ideas, Older Brother Wei.”

“Please, Older Brother Fang. You are my senior in age.”

“I suppose that is true. I ask that you permit this foolish older brother to address you as my Worthy Little Brother[1] then.”

“Please continue, Older Brother Fang.”

Fang Hetong let out a long sigh before saying, “Sometimes, I wonder if things would be better if it was someone else who was summoned to these villages. Perhaps my brothers would have been acknowledged as militia a long time ago, and they would not have fought the Liao barbarians to the death and still see their families starve to death in their homes.”

Wei Yuan wasn’t familiar with the politics of Western Jin. His mission was to guard the border, and the Palace of Absolute Beginning had no intentions of interfering with Western Jin’s governance either. Thus, he didn’t know how to handle such matters. That said, just because the government didn’t care didn’t mean the Palace didn’t.

There were a thousand strips of dried meat in the two boxes. It was enough to feed this army of two hundred for ten days. However, the Palace of Absolute Beginning assumed that the soldiers had all completed the flesh-tempering stage and so possessed a much greater appetite than your average mortal. The militia soldiers of Flying Sand Village had just begun tempering their flesh, so half a strip of dried meat was enough to fulfill their needs. As for the ordinary people who had never cultivated before, a single strip of dried meat could feed them for four days straight.

In the Palace of Absolute Beginning, a box of dried meat like this one was priced at one tael of immortal silver. In other words, the monthly stipend of a novice disciple of the Palace could sustain a thousand ordinary people for a month or longer—and this was based on military rations standards. If he exchanged the dried meat for coarse grains instead, then he could keep them alive for more than half a year. Long story short, Wei Yuan could support all these people just by exchanging his own monthly stipend for food supplies.

Fang Hetong pulled himself out of his funk and said, “No need to be concerned, Junior Brother. I just felt depressed and needed to complain a little. Since you have just arrived, allow me to illuminate you on the battle situation.”

The duo went over to the map, and the scholar began, “Our immediate adversary is the Agula tribe. The Agula tribe is rated as a mid-tier tribe among the Liao, but they boast over a hundred thousand archers. Several months ago, they were able to conquer the last three counties of Pingning Commandery and take over the entire region. This is why Bianning and Ganning are currently the new frontline.

“Our county, Quyang, is the poorest county of the entire commandery, so the Liao barbarians aren’t really interested in us. Their main force is mostly focused on Ganning. Only a few detachments remain here, typically arriving from the north and northwest. I suspect that their encampments are located in these regions.”

Fang Hetong marked several points of interest along the edges of the map and continued, “Judging by the earth’s veins, it is likely that these locations all have underground water sources, making them natural campsites. The Liao tribes are skilled at finding water sources, so I shouldn’t think that these locations would escape their notice.”

He added, “The Liao barbarians usually fight on horsebacks, coming and going like the wind. In order to restrict their movements, besides creating taller walls, I’ve dug up many pits that are one chi wide and two chi deep outside the walls. It prevents them from being able to charge at full force. Still, the Liao barbarians occasionally launch night raids, and that is something we are pressed to deal with. Most people couldn’t see clearly at night, so I have no choice but to keep watch myself and ensure that everything is safe.”

Fang Hetong proceeded to explain a couple more of their defensive measures, though the greatest ones were still the three powerful crossbows he borrowed from his academy. They possessed immense potency when fired within a range of a hundred zhang. Besides that, he himself owned a long bow mystic artifact that could shoot up to three hundred zhang. His archery skill was good enough to go toe-to-toe against a Liao cavalry.

Besides that, Fang Hetong had gathered every elderly and infirm, woman and child in the three villages and stationed them in the two rear villages. At first, a small detachment of Liao cavalry noticed that Flying Sand Village was well-defended and tried to circle around it. However, Fang Hetong’s long bow was capable of covering every passage leading toward the two rear villages. After losing a dozen or so cavalrymen during their failed flanking attempt, they no longer dared to circle around it.

Fang Hetong was extremely familiar with the Northern Liao and had arranged his defenses well. Everyone was giving their all to protect their families and kin as well. That was the only reason several hundred untrained peasants were able to halt the Northern Liao’s advance for three months without any pay or supplies.

Wei Yuan was deeply impressed with his fellow cultivator after listening until the end. Since Fang Hetong had formed his Dao Foundation, one might say that he had officially embarked on the path to immortality. Despite this, he willingly endured cold and hunger to lead a bunch of peasants against the invaders. He went so far as to spend all of his wealth and didn’t give up despite being hampered and suppressed by the wealthy and influential at every turn. A spine like his was rare even in the best of days.

“Now then, shall we exchange knowledge regarding our Dao Foundations and mystic expertises, Junior Brother Wei? This would allow us to coordinate with each other well on the battlefield,” Fang Hetong suggested. It was a perfectly reasonable suggestion, so Wei Yuan naturally agreed to it.

After receiving a nod, the scholar began, “My talent for cultivation is subpar, and I only managed to fully temper my body after twenty or so years of hard work. I originally stood no chance in forming a Dao Foundation until one day, I read about the Three Immortalities of the sages. Inspired, I somehow managed to form my Dao Foundation. My Dao Foundation is a book, and it contains three essays in total. One speaks of Establishing Words, and another speaks of Establishing Merits[2].”

A book appeared in front of Wei Yuan. Its design was quite antiquated; papers that were stitched with thread. The young man couldn’t help but feel a touch of surprise—it had been ages since he had encountered a book that was made of ordinary paper. In the Palace of Absolute Beginning, every book was crafted from jade paper. In fact, most of the so-called books consisted of a single sheet and were meant to be perused through spiritual perception. Even important texts consisted of three jade papers only: the cover, the content, and the back cover.

A single sheet of jade paper could accommodate a million words. A high quality jade paper could even accommodate a wisp of Dao essence. This was why every cultivation method in the Palace of Absolute Beginning was written using a jade paper. During the writing, the writer would often infuse a wisp of their insight into the paper. Naturally, this was incredibly beneficial for those who were researching the content. The highest grade jade papers could even bear the insight of a True Lord. That said, it cost ten thousand ordinary jade paper to forge a single jade paper of the highest grade. That was why not many existed even in the Palace. They were used solely to record paths of immortality that were guaranteed to reach the heavens.

Fang Hetong’s book wasn’t thick, but it still measured around a finger’s width. That was about a hundred pages or so. Although the book was a Dao Foundation, a Dao Foundation was something that came from the cultivator’s heart. This probably meant that Fang Hetong believed that books should look like this.

“Why didn’t you use a jade paper?” Wei Yuan asked, but not because he disdained ordinary papers. When it came to Dao Foundations, jade papers and ordinary papers weren’t in the same tier at all. One was a medium of many small miracles, while the other was utterly mundane. Books were bearers of the Great Dao and no ordinary vessels. Fang Hetong’s Dao Foundation could have been Earth-tier if he had forged it with a piece of jade paper.

Fang Hetong said helplessly, “The White Maple Academy is just a small sect. How can we possibly measure up to an immortal sect? Everything we use besides a couple cultivation methods are all written ordinary papers. Ever since I joined the academy, everything I read or write existed on ordinary papers. Even then, ordinary papers cannot be used lightly. Thus, my Dao Foundation looks like this.”

“I see. So, what are the uses of these three essays?” Wei Yuan subtly changed the subject. As expected, Fang Hetong perked up and started explaining his Dao Foundation in detail.

Establishing Words allowed Fang Hetong to teach with increased effectiveness and efficiency. This included both knowledge and cultivation. For the past few months, Fang Hetong had been aiding the villagers in constructing the villages’ defenses and farming during the day. During nighttime, he would teach them how to read and write, and temper their bodies for two hours before bedtime. Everyone here was originally an illiterate peasant, but now, the worst performers could recognize at least a hundred words or so, and the best performers could recognize between five and six hundred words. They had made significant progress in their body-tempering as well. This was truly an incredible accomplishment considering that they could not even enjoy a satisfying meal.

In theory, Establishing Merit meant building accomplishments. As Fang Hetong’s Dao Foundation, it could temporarily increase the abilities of those around him. When empowered, these peasants could bring forth the strength of a full flesh-tempering stage cultivator or a qualified soldier of the regular frontier army. Although the duration of the effect was very short, it could have a profound effect on the battlefield if used properly. It was thanks to this essay that he was able to turn around many sure defeats and hold back the ferocious Liao barbarians for months.

Fang Hetong didn’t explain what his third essay did, and Wei Yuan didn’t ask. This was their first meeting after all. It made sense that he would withhold some of his capabilities.

When it was Wei Yuan’s turn to speak, he admitted that he had just completed the Body-tempering stage and did not yet possess a Dao Foundation. As for what his expertise was, Wei Yuan had never considered such a thing. Despite racking his brains for an answer, he could only say that he knew a little about everything.

Right now, his physical strength was seven or eight times greater than his peers, and over ten times in terms of Dao energy reserves. At this stage, he only used a Dao art when it was convenient for him to do so. Thus, he could not say that he was particularly good at any of them.

Although Wei Yuan had not yet formed his Dao Foundation, Fang Hetong didn’t underestimate him. A disciple from a small sect and a disciple from an immortal sect lived in completely different worlds. To the latter, overcoming challenges beyond their level was just the norm. Even a mediocre disciple of an immortal sect could easily crush a small sect with their mystic artifacts and Dao arts.

However, what was truly scary about an immortal sect’s disciple wasn’t the disciple themselves, but their sect. If you defeated an immortal sect’s Dao Foundation stage disciple, you would have to fight their senior brother next. If you defeated their senior brother, then their shifu would pop up. This would continue until a World Ruler or even a True Lord appeared. On the other hand, a small sect like White Maple Academy boasted a single Avatar. It was a bottom-tier Avatar as well, so they had to make compromises in everything they did.

After they were done exchanging knowledge about their capabilities, the duo discussed the defense system next.

Fang Hetong first addressed the local defenses. The Northern Liao was launching a major southern invasion, so of course they couldn’t rely solely on auxiliary troops and militia to keep them at bay. Quyang County’s primary defense force actually consisted of fifteen hundred elite border troops stationed at a stronghold thirty li away from here. Their commander, Staff General Liao Jingwu, had become a Dao Foundation stage cultivator two decades ago. It was rumored that he still had a sliver of hope for further advancement.

A stronghold was the core of Great Tang’s frontier defense against the Northern Liao. Large armies would establish strongholds at strategic locations and equip them with powerful bed crossbows[3] that could only be operated by cultivators at the Dao Foundation stage. A single bolt from these weapons could kill another Dao Foundation stage cultivator instantly.

Each stronghold also maintained a cavalry unit. When facing large foreign armies, they would defend from within the fort. When facing smaller forces, they would ride out to eliminate them. Each fort, manned by elite troops, served as a defensive stronghold that overwatched everything within a hundred-li radius. Together with the counties and villages, they formed an interconnected defensive network.

Wei Yuan understood immediately that the key figure responsible for overseeing the local defenses was Staff General Liao Jingwu. He wielded the authority to mobilize troops, allocate military supplies, command the militia, and more.

Unfortunately, he was the same staff general Fang Hetong had written a letter to the commandery administrator to accuse of fund embezzlement.

1. It’s an appellation, so I decided to capitalize it. ☜

2. "Three Immortalities" is an ideological concept proposed by Shusun Bao, a senior official of the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn period of China, as recorded in the Zuo Zhuan, Year 24 of Duke Xiang. The Three Immortalities refer to "Establishing Virtue, Establishing Merit, and Establishing Words," which respectively signify becoming a moral exemplar, achieving meritorious deeds for society, and producing enduring words. ☜

3. Large mounted crossbows known as "bed crossbows" were used as early as the Warring States period. ☜