Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 645 - 0600: Killing One to Warn a Hundred (Part 1)
Prefect Lou slightly furrowed his brows, "This time when I presented my duties to the Emperor, the Emperor also mentioned the matter of the Southern Yue people. He even said that if there were more raids by the Southern Yue people, he would hold me accountable. Just as I left, another incident occurred."
"Make the Southern Yue people stop causing trouble? How is that possible?" Mr. Lou sighed, "They are all savages over there, not engaging in farming, and relying entirely on plunder to survive. To make them stop causing trouble would be like the sun rising from the west!"
The severe questioning by the Emperor escalated the seriousness of the matter, causing all the Lou sons to worry.
"Father, I have an idea," Fourth Young Master Lou said.
"Speak quickly!" Prefect Lou turned and looked at his fourth son.
"Why don’t we deploy more troops? Surely, we need not fear the Southern Yue people? We can station a contingent every mile along the border. If any place is attacked by the Southern Yue, ignite a signal fire immediately, and have reinforcements come swiftly to ensure the Southern Yue are vanquished," Fourth Young Master Lou suggested.
Prefect Lou waved his hand, "The territory bordering Nanyue Country and Zhen An Prefecture is a thousand miles long. Except for a small amount of mountainous terrain, it’s mainly dense forest. Stationing people there for a few days is fine, but over the years, few would survive, not to mention attacks by wild beasts and poisonous insects that are lethal! Besides, for an entire thousand-mile border, at least a hundred thousand are required, but Zhen An Prefecture only has thirty thousand soldiers!"
Similarly on the border, the cities bordering Beiyang Country each have twenty to thirty thousand troops, yet Zhen An Prefecture only has thirty thousand!
Moreover, without the permission from the court, no state mansion is allowed to expand its military privately.
Disobedience is punishable by death!
On one hand, the court is not increasing the troops, and on the other hand, it forbids private military expansion.
However, the Southern Yue people coming to harass have been increasing year by year, getting more frequent each year.
The border residents close to Nanyue Country suffer bitterly. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
The number of villagers is dwindling, and those with ability flee north.
The whole village moves north, and the Southern Yue people follow and loot northward.
The cycle goes on endlessly.
"Father, why don’t we just fight them directly!" Third Young Master Lou said with hatred, "It’s better to give a strong punch now than endure a hundred punches later! Beat them until they behave and see if they dare to come again!"
"Father, Third Brother’s idea is not bad," Mr. Lou said, "Additionally, we should extensively select skilled fighters in the city to serve as soldiers. If the Southern Yue people come again, we’ll ensure they won’t return!"
"We keep enduring and enduring, those border residents who have been harassed have started to express their resentment, saying our Lou Family is a turtle hiding its head," Fourth Young Master Lou said indignantly.
"It’s because we’ve been enduring that the Southern Yue people act without fear," Second Young Master Lou sighed and shook his head.
Though the sons were scholars, they were brimming with passion like military officers at that moment.
The scholars were determined to protect the country, which was a good thing, but Prefect Lou denied their suggestions.
Prefect Lou waved his hand and said, "The Emperor only asked Zhen An Prefecture to guard the country’s door, not to start a war! No matter how much trouble the Southern Yue people cause, we can only expel them, not engage in battle with them. This spring, we just reconciled with Beiyang on the other side, and if turmoil arises here in the Northern Land, the court will definitely send reinforcements, focusing on the Southern Land. If the Beiyang people in the Northern Land suddenly attack, Zhao Country would fall under a two-front siege."
These words awakened the Lou sons to the reality.
Yes, although the Nanyue people are barbaric and occasionally harass, they at most burn a few houses, kill a couple of people, steal some cattle, grain, and women. Each raid covers at most half a village’s assets, and Nanyue only harasses seven or eight times a year.
But with the Beiyang Country’s one million cavalry eagerly eyeing the three cities in the Northern Land of Zhao Country, it’s a significant threat.
The Northern Land is vast, and the combined land of those three cities equals twenty times the size of Zhen An Prefecture.
What’s more, if those three cities fall, the shield of the Northern Land would be lost, allowing the Beiyang cavalry to march in and easily capture the entire northern part of Zhao Country.
The importance of this, whether the current little Emperor of Zhao or past Emperors, is well understood by all.
Throughout history, all Emperors valued the Northern Land, with almost no one prioritizing the Southern Land.
The Southern Land, filled with mountains and forests, is not suitable for major warfare, and it’s unsure if a single city could be captured or a mountain top taken even after a year of fighting.
Exhausting manpower and resources here is not worthwhile.
"But... father, can we just let it go at that?" Fourth Young Master Lou was dissatisfied.
"What did you just say? Feihu Village and the Southern Yue people are in cahoots?" Prefect Lou asked his son again.
Mr. Lou replied, "Yes, Father. The people of Feihu Village led the Southern Yue to a village that has never been robbed before. That village, because of more fields, was wealthier than those nearby. Unexpectedly, half of it was burnt by the Southern Yue people, and the unburnt households mostly fled. That village probably won’t prosper again."
After speaking, he shook his head sorrowfully.
"Feihu Village..." Prefect Lou sneered, "We may not be able to deal with the Southern Yue, but can’t we deal with Feihu Village? Let’s discuss Feihu Village after dinner!"
.
Li Xingsheng was also invited to Lou Mansion’s dinner.
However, due to the renewed harassment by the Southern Yue, coupled with the arrogant Feihu Village that has long occupied a mountain stronghold, the Lou family father and sons had no heart for wine, making the dinner a bit cold.
This made the meticulous Li Xingsheng sense something amiss.
He asked Prefect Lou why he looked so worried. Prefect Lou forced a smile and claimed that it was just fatigue from the journey.
His response was dismissive.
Pressing further would have seemed impolite, so Li Xingsheng didn’t ask any more.
After dinner, Li Xingsheng returned to the rented house to rest.
Lou Chengye and Li Yu En accompanied him.
The house was opposite Lou Mansion, and it only took a few moments to walk there.
The young couple escorted Li Xingsheng all the way inside.
Second Lady Liu and Liu Er had already set up a tea set and were waiting for Li Xingsheng.
Lou Chengye and Li Yu En joined him for casual tea conversation.
Liu Er was also sitting in to accompany them.
As they chatted, they discussed the latest events in the city.
Liu Er, who didn’t follow them back to the village and was used to being busy, went out to find work. While mingling with the commoners, Liu Er learned that a group of wildlings from the south had arrived in a distant mountain, colluding with local bandits to raid people and grains, and even set numerous buildings on fire.
The people in that village dared not stay any longer, abandoning their lands and fleeing with their families and possessions to distant places.
Families with some wealth moved to the Prefecture to start small businesses.
Those without money went to neighboring counties to beg or came to the Prefecture to work as servants.
Li Xingsheng’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Wildlings from the south? Nanyue people?"
Liu Er nodded, "Yes, exactly what they say."
"Hmph! It’s them again!" Li Xingsheng sneered.
Lou Chengye asked, "Second brother, have you heard of the Nanyue people?"
"I have! They’re the most cunning people!" Li Xingsheng placed the teacup on the table, "Chengye, how has Lord Prefect handled this matter?"
Lou Chengye shook his head embarrassedly, "I don’t know yet, he hasn’t told me."
"Go and ask, let me know when you find out." Li Xingsheng patted his shoulder.
Lou Chengye nodded, "Alright."
.
Lou Chengye and Li Yu En returned to the mansion. As soon as they entered the gates, they saw Prefect Lou’s assistant standing by, smiling as he called out to Lou Chengye, "Fifth Young Master, the master says to go to his study as soon as you return."
Lou Chengye asked in surprise, "Did he say what it’s about?"
"He didn’t say. Oh, Fifth Young Master, all the other Young Masters are there, and Mr. Zhan and Mr. Hao too," said Prefect Lou’s assistant.
"Chengye, with all the brothers and guests there, it must be something important. You should go to father’s study, I’ll return to the garden myself," Li Yu En said to Lou Chengye.
"I can’t let you go alone, it’s already dark. A few moments won’t make a difference." Lou Chengye insisted on escorting Li Yu En back to their quarters and personally closed the garden gate before he ran to Prefect Lou’s study.
Earlier, when Prefect Lou and the Young Masters were meeting, Lou Chengye and Li Yu En had gone to see the elderly lady and did not participate in the discussion.
He entered the study to find a solemn atmosphere, and his father, Prefect Lou, was standing by the table examining a map.
"Father, you called for me?" Lou Chengye stepped forward.
Prefect Lou glanced at him and said to Mr. Lou, "Eldest, tell the Fifth about the Nanyue people."
The Nanyue people? Lou Chengye recalled what he just heard at Li Xingsheng’s about the situation, and his expression turned serious.
"Elder brother, are the Nanyue people causing trouble again?" Lou Chengye asked.
Mr. Lou nodded, "Fifth brother, you’ve heard about it?"
He recounted how the Nanyue people had colluded with border bandits to commit crimes, describing everything to Lou Chengye.
Lou Chengye immediately said, "Elder brother, in the end, the Nanyue people’s arrogance is not just their doing but rather because our people have not taken action. What about Feihu Village? Destroying their stronghold and giving them a severe lesson will show them who’s boss."
"But I’m afraid that after dealing with Feihu Village, there will be another Flying Leopard Village," a guest shook his head.
Lou Chengye said, "Let it serve as a warning, beat one to death so the other bandits recognize the official’s resolve. Let’s see who dares to collude with the Nanyue people then."
"Chengye, that’s also father’s thinking, but that Feihu Village is built at One-Line Sky, easy to defend and hard to attack," Mr. Lou frowned.
