The navy, or rather, the naval forces!
Simply put, they are legions that operate in inland rivers, coastal waters, oceans, and deep-sea areas. It is said that China possesses a long coastline and vast maritime territory, with a relatively early history of navigation.
However, because China has historically been a major agricultural nation with a vast landmass, successive dynasties focused their military efforts on land forces and border defense, completely neglecting the navy and coastal defense. Therefore, its development speed lagged behind that of neighboring empires.
Tracing back to China's earliest navy, it was established by the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.
It was in the spring of 485 BC, when King Fuchai of Wu dispatched the main fleet of his navy to bypass the rear of the State of Qi by sea, launching a long-range surprise attack on Qi.
A naval battle occurred between the two sides in the Yellow Sea, and the Qi navy ultimately emerged victorious.
This is the first large-scale naval battle with definite documentary records in history. Following this, during the Han Dynasty, warships like *lou chuan* (tower ships), *meng chong* (armored ships), and *dou jian* (warships with raised decks) appeared.
The Western Han Dynasty even established a navy. With its national strength, Emperor Wu of Han initiated the "Maritime Silk Road" during his reign. Departing from "Xuwen" and "Hepu," it passed through the South China Sea into the Malay Peninsula, the Gulf of Thailand, the Bay of Bengal, and reached "Huangzhi Kingdom" and "Yichengbuguo" in the southern part of the Indian peninsula!
The goods sold included silk and porcelain, while the procured items were spices, dyes... and even some pearls, rhinoceros horns (from cattle), and tortoise shells from the Southern Yue Kingdom! Da Feng Novel
According to historical records, in the Maritime Silk Road, the silk and porcelain sold by the Great Han to the Flying Feather Kingdom were then transported via the Red Sea to the "Port of Cairo" in Egypt or entered the Tigris-Euphrates region through the Persian Gulf to reach "Antioch." From there, Greek and Roman merchants transported them from Egyptian ports like "Alexandria" and "Gaza" through the Mediterranean Sea to the various city-states of Greece and Rome.
It can be said that during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the entire maritime expanse of Asia, Africa, and Europe was connected as a whole.
And within this lay immense wealth and countless food supplies...
Lu Yu keenly sensed this.
Unfortunately, the world fell into chaos at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and no feudal lords could afford to continue developing the "Maritime Silk Road" and maintaining trade between the Great Han and the empires of Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Perhaps the shipbuilding standards of the Sun clan in Jiangdong still maintained considerable skill!
Unfortunately, the vessels built in Jiangdong were all warships, not merchant ships!
Lu Yu needed coastal routes, merchant ships, the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, a way to export surplus goods and import materials urgently needed by the Great Han, including grain.
"Young Master seems very interested in this Yamatai Kingdom."
Seeing Lu Yu lost in thought, Dian Wei asked appropriately...
Lu Yu took a deep breath and retorted, "Captain Dian? Do you know why Chinese dynasties are always replaced every three hundred years?"
Uh...
Dian Wei scratched his head. As a rough man, how would he know such things?
"Isn't this making things difficult for me, Young Master?"
"Haha!" Lu Yu said with a smile. "You asked why I'm interested in this Yamatai Kingdom; there's a great deal of significance to it, and it's closely related to the dynastic changes in the Central Plains."
Ah...
Dian Wei felt that Lu Yu's explanation had suddenly elevated the scope of the discussion.
And Lu Yu's voice continued.
"It seems that the end of Central Plains dynasties is always related to peasant uprisings and invasions by nomadic peoples, and these are linked to the emperor's incompetence and misrule. But in reality... by the end of each dynasty, there's a phenomenon where large numbers of refugees are unable to get enough food. This might be due to locust plagues, heavy taxes, or wars!"
"Logically, since a method has been found, applying the right remedy could extend the dynasty's life. But in reality, this is all fate! Because what truly determines a dynasty's fate is not those internal and external troubles, but climatic changes!"
Lu Yu did not go into too many specific arguments.
Explaining to Dian Wei... whatever he said was fine, simplicity was key.
But in reality, it was indeed so. Looking back through China's five thousand years of history, the prosperity of dynasties often coincided with rising temperatures, while the demise of dynasties often followed the arrival of cold periods. For instance, the Little Ice Age ruined countless dynasties!
And scientific data indicates that a decrease of one degree Celsius in annual average temperature leads to a drop of 100 millimeters in average annual precipitation, with the decline being more pronounced further north.
In ancient times, a reduction of 100 millimeters in precipitation would lead to a 10% decrease in grain yield. This caused frequent southward invasions by nomadic peoples, leading to wars, heavy taxes, and ultimately, dynastic collapse!
Despite the unwillingness to believe it, this was indeed the way of fate...
Even in the year 2022, the United Nations issued a food warning, stating that 1.7 billion people would go hungry!
Let alone in ancient times with low productivity...
To put it bluntly, the fall of dynasties was all a matter of fate!
The way to change this fate, in later generations, was often through international cooperation. Simply put, some empires had astonishing grain production. If twenty trillion tons of grain could not be exported, global food supply would become tight.
In the context of the ancient Han Dynasty, it meant finding some grain-rich empires and introducing grain or cold-resistant crops that could be widely cultivated, such as sweet potatoes and potatoes. These... would be enough to alter the fate of dynastic collapse.
To achieve this, the first priority was to restart the Silk Road and establish a fleet capable of long-distance voyages.
This point was extremely important!
And the ship blueprints in Lu Yu's memory, the tower ships several stories high, were clearly not suitable.
From this perspective, the shipbuilding technology of the Yamatai Empire seemed crucially important!
"Enough... let's not talk about this anymore!" Lu Yu waved his hand. "I'll go to Donghai Commandery in Xuzhou directly..."
Uh...
Dian Wei was surprised. He hadn't expected that a few large ships from the Yamatai Empire would prompt Young Master Lu to go personally.
"Reports of victory from the northern frontier are frequent. It seems that slaughtering the Wuhuan is only a matter of time, and there's no need for me to continue orchestrating the overall situation here..."
"So, Captain Dian, prepare yourself now. We'll depart tomorrow morning!"
"Yes!" Dian Wei agreed...
Despite some surprise, he always regarded Lu Yu's orders as divine!
As for Lu Yu... he raised his head and gazed at the sky!
— Yamatai Kingdom!
— Ocean-going warships!
These filled him with boundless imagination...
No one could estimate how much wealth and resources restarting the "Silk Road" would bring?
...
...
Outside Kuaiji City, the Lu Family Army encampment was quite lively. Dusk was approaching, and it was time to prepare dinner.
Some soldiers carried baskets filled with fish, while others poured large bags of rice into boiling water. This area below Kuaiji Mountain had a somewhat reflected image of Jiangdong!
It gave the impression of a prosperous land of fish and rice.
Sima Yi and Zhang Chunhua sat in their tent. A cook, holding a large raw fish, expertly sliced it into paper-thin slivers with his knife, finally plating two dishes and presenting them to Sima Yi and Zhang Chunhua.
"The clan leader has instructed, please, the two of you!"
Sima Yi and Zhang Chunhua hesitantly picked up their chopsticks, unsure how to handle the raw fish slices. The cook smiled and reminded them, "Please don't worry, we southerners eat it this way. Try it, it's so fresh it'll make your tongue drop off!"
Hearing this...
Sima Yi took a bite and immediately felt its exquisite freshness, raising his eyebrows in delight.
Just then.
The sound of footsteps approached the great tent from outside.
Following closely, there was the sound of applause.
The cook tactfully withdrew... Afterward, Lu Xun entered with light steps. "Young Master Sima, traveling south with your wife, truly demonstrates a free and unrestrained spirit, a true gentleman's elegance!"
Seeing that it was Lu Xun, Sima Yi was not surprised and invited him to sit.
"To be honest, my wife's martial arts are ten times superior to mine. It is by her protection that I can ensure Master Lu's words are conveyed safely."
Lu Xun was taken aback, and the two of them burst into laughter.
Zhang Chunhua, knowing that they were about to discuss important matters, wisely excused herself. The great tent was now left with only Sima Yi and Lu Xun.
"As soon as Young Master Sima arrived at this humble place, he proposed four methods for strengthening, training, and governing troops. However... I am currently ordered to suppress the Shanyue, which is crucial for the Lu family and for my elder brother. What do you think, Young Master Sima? Which of these four methods should I employ?"
— Yu Jin's strict military discipline!
— Sun Ce's absolute non-aggression!
— Lu Meng's care for his soldiers!
— Liu Bei's establishment of faith!
Integrating them would take time...
And the quickest method was imitation... Lu Xun silently reviewed these points mentioned by Sima Yi in his mind, but how to make a choice became a new dilemma!
Given the urgency of the military situation, Lu Xun decided to get straight to the point.
Sima Yi smiled, "In terms of strategy, Mister Chen is a hundred times superior to me. If Young Master Boyan is unable to achieve victory, there must be difficulties? I don't know how to resolve these difficulties for Young Master Boyan?"
This...
Lu Xun indeed had difficulties.
These Shanyue people, relying on their familiarity with the terrain, were entrenched in the mountains and refused to come out. How could this battle be fought?
Even with a thousand plans, Chen Gong's efforts were like punching cotton, unable to find purchase.
Lu Xun opened his mouth, intending to explain all this to Sima Yi.
Unexpectedly, Sima Yi raised his hand. "Young Master Lu, please do not speak first. Do you not wonder? Why... did the Master specifically send me?"
This...
Lu Xun naturally had this question in his heart.
"Haha..." Sima Yi said with a smile. "I have a word, I don't know if I should say it."
"Please speak freely, Young Master Sima..."
"The Master has numerous generals skilled in governing and leading troops. If he wanted to govern troops for Young Master Boyan? Why send me? Wouldn't it be better to send General Yu Jin in disguise? Or directly send Commander Dian with the Dragon Cloud Cavalry, using absolute military force, wouldn't that make suppressing the rebels easier? At the very least, mobilize Zang Ba to bring the Taishan Army. The Shanyue are adept at mountain warfare, and the Taishan Army is also adept at mountain warfare. Head-on confrontation, which of them wouldn't be more effective than me, Sima Yi?"
Uh...
Sima Yi's words stunned Lu Xun.
He raised his head, and numerous question marks flashed in his eyes.
"Then? What is the purpose of my elder brother sending Young Master Sima?" Lu Xun asked anxiously.
Sima Yi shook his head. "The Master sent me to tell Young Master Boyan these methods of 'governing troops' and 'strengthening troops' from ancient times to the present because the Master is convinced that Boyan can extract the useful, discard the impure and retain the pure, discard the false and retain the true, and establish his own theory of military governance!"
"The Master values Young Master Boyan greatly, and given this relationship between Young Master Boyan and the Master, the Master hopes you will become a renowned commander in the world, someone who inspires awe!"
Ho...
This...
"Young Master Sima..."
Lu Xun wanted to say something more, but the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. He didn't know what to say?
He himself had never imagined that his elder brother valued him so highly?
"Young Master Boyan..." Sima Yi interrupted Lu Xun. "In this world, only family ties and the affection of master and disciple can build a unified destiny! Suppressing the Shanyue... Young Master Boyan should not only think about how to suppress them, but also consider what you can bring to your Lu family and to the Master!"
Speaking of which...
Sima Yi waved his hand. "Young Master Boyan is an intelligent person. If you think about many things carefully, you might grasp a different kind of profound meaning! I have said all I have to say!"
Lu Xun pondered for a moment and replied with a smile, "Understood!"
The moon had just risen, and the night in Kuaiji Mountain was somewhat cold, but the great tent was filled with warmth and the aroma of fish...
...
An hour later.
A sliver of moonlight from a new moon leaked through the tent opening of Lu Xun's great tent.
Lu Xun slowly sat down, clearly still not fully comprehending, his expression still somewhat pensive.
"Discard the impure and retain the pure, discard the false and retain the true, is it?"
He murmured a sentence...
Beside him, Chen Gong's eyes narrowed. "If you are talking about Lu Ziyu, his greatest strength is psychological warfare!"
Chen Gong said this casually...
But Lu Xun suddenly looked up, his gaze sharp. A moment later, he calmed himself, his tone resolute. "Psychological warfare, yes, how... how did I forget about psychological warfare!"
"In the past... in the past, when elder brother broke through the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Yan Province, didn't he use the so-called sixteen-character mantra to defeat the enemy and attack their minds?"
Suddenly, Lu Xun's remark sent Chen Gong into a reverie.
He said softly, "If the enemy advances, we retreat; if the enemy retreats, we pursue; if the enemy is tired, we attack; if the enemy is stationary, we harass? But... these Shanyue people are not like the Yellow Turban rebels!"
"No!" Rarely, Lu Xun refuted Chen Gong. "They are essentially the same! The Yellow Turbans are people, and the Shanyue are also people. The Yellow Turbans cannot fight on an empty stomach. Similarly... the Shanyue's grain supply is their only weakness!"
Thinking of this...
Lu Xun suddenly stood up, his eyes narrowed, and a sharpness like a awl piercing a bag suddenly appeared!
...
...
Jingzhou, Xinye City.
Outside the window of the yamen, heavy rain was pouring down.
"Kong Ming, according to intelligence... Lu Ziyu feigned an attack to the east and advanced north to White Wolf Mountain, destroying the Wuhuan cavalry... eliminating future troubles. It seems that pacifying the northern frontier is only a matter of time."
Liu Bei's low voice was heard, carrying both pain and despair!
Zhuge Liang closed his eyes, as if in meditation. After a moment, he finally opened his eyes and looked at the somewhat agitated Liu Bei before him.
"As expected, the northern expedition against the Wuhuan was also a scheme laid out by Lu Ziyu!"
"After a brief period of rest, Cao's army will inevitably plot to march south and seize Jingzhou. It seems our time is running out!"
Having said this, Zhuge Liang paused...
He continued, "My Lord, the most terrifying thing is not the Dragon Cloud Camp pacifying the northern frontier!"
"What is that?"
"It's the Dragon Cloud Camp bringing the Wuhuan women and children into the interior, and then dispatching a large number of soldiers and armor to reclaim wasteland and cultivate grain in the Wuhuan territory. The original commerce, blacksmithing, and animal husbandry of the Wuhuan tribes are all now under the Dragon Cloud Camp! From now on, Cao's camp will have a formidable rear area!"
Speaking of this... Zhuge Liang's expression was not pleasant.
He had special channels to obtain some additional intelligence.
And precisely...
In Zhuge Liang's view, Lu Ziyu's series of strategies after conquering the Wuhuan were more terrifying and more perilous by tenfold!
Let alone grain and blacksmithing, just the countless Wuhuan warhorses that Cao's camp had gained out of nowhere was enough to instill fear. Xinye City... could not be defended!
"Alas..."
Liu Bei sighed, pondered for a moment, and continued, "There is also a piece of news, I can't say if it's good or bad?"
"What news?"
"Huang Zu, the governor of Jiangxia under Liu Jingsheng, has died!"
Hmm...
Upon hearing this news, Zhuge Liang was taken aback and then asked, "Was he killed by that second son of the Sun family, Sun Zhongmou?"
"Yes! And no!" Liu Bei explained in detail. "Sun Quan received an imperial order to lead troops to attack Huang Zu in Jiangxia. Jiangxia City was as solid as gold. So, he dispatched Zhou Yu himself to lead a suicide squad to charge towards Jiangxia City. Under countless arrows, they managed to capture the city gate. During the street fighting... Huang Zu was shot and killed! However, Jiangxia did not fall. The Huang family army was numerous and resisted desperately, repelling Zhou Yu's suicide squad. Jiangxia did not change hands, but with Huang Zu dead, it was leaderless!"
"Zhou Yu..." Zhuge Liang murmured this name.
He felt a sense of admiration, even though the Jiangdong region was split into two factions, under such division of forces, Zhou Yu could still kill Huang Zu. Impressive!
Of course...
After such fierce fighting, outsiders saw the excitement, but Zhuge Liang saw the hidden implications!
"My Lord, an opportunity has arrived!" Zhuge Liang's feather fan fluttered, and his eyes suddenly opened. "A fleeting opportunity has arrived! My Lord, please lean in."
"Ah... ah..."
Liu Bei seemed not to understand...
But Zhuge Liang's mind had already formulated a chess game.
In this game, the players were Liu Biao's two sons – Liu Qi and Liu Cong!
And the one holding the chess pieces was none other than his Wolong – Zhuge Liang!
...
...
In the morning light, the faint sunbeams illuminated a wine shop in Xinye City.
Inside the wine shop, a storyteller was already hawking his wares early in the morning, hoping to earn more tips to supplement his family's income!
At this moment, a man in white robes was kneeling on a bamboo mat in a secluded corner of the wine shop.
Facing him, back to back, was a young scholar.
The former was Zhao Yun...
The latter was Yang Xiu!
Or rather, the former was "Candle Dragon," and the latter was "Chicken Ribs"... Since the establishment of the Intelligence Division within the Dragon Cloud Camp, this was the first meeting between "Candle Dragon" and "Chicken Ribs" in the southern region!
"Candle Dragon? How?"
A faint voice was heard...
"Lady Gan informed me of an important piece of intelligence. This is the content of the conversation she overheard between Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang at the residence... Zhuge Liang is taking action. It seems he intends to help Liu Bei seize Jingzhou in a gentle manner?"
This...
Yang Xiu was taken aback, "Did Liu Bei agree?"
"Naturally, he wouldn't agree on the surface!" Zhao Yun said truthfully. "But I am certain that Liu Bei will take this step! Besides, Zhuge Liang also mentioned to Liu Bei that he holds a handle on the Cai family, the head of the Jingzhou clans! This handle is enough to overturn Jingzhou..."
Cai family? A handle?
This...
"What is the handle?" Yang Xiu asked urgently.
Zhao Yun took a sip of tea... his expression solemn, his eyes containing immeasurable composure. "Zhuge Liang did not say, but I will find out!"
...
...