Chapter 42: Night Visit to the Cottage of the Remnant Sage (Part 2)

"May I ask if Scholar Han is here? I am Wang Hou from De'an, and I have come to pay my respects at night. I hope you will not refuse to see me!"

A sudden knock on the door interrupted the lively atmosphere in the room. Wang Shunmin shook his heavy head, feeling that the voice from outside was somewhat strange: "Wasn't that the young official who came to see the scholar earlier? Why does he have a southern accent? Where is De'an in the south?"

"De'an? It must be in Jiangxi, right?" Han Gang had traveled across the Yangtze River and visited Lushan and Jiujiang, and was familiar with De'an. In the 21st century, De'an belongs to Jiangxi Province, but he wasn't sure if De'an in the Northern Song Dynasty also belonged to Jiangnan West Road.

"From Jiangxi?" Zhao Long, who had been startled awake, relaxed after hearing it was someone from Jiangxi: "Then it's not him."

"Not who?" Wang Shunmin asked.

Zhao Long smiled: "Qiangcheng rarely sees people from the south. I thought it might be someone from Wang Jiyi's family who has been running in and out of Qiangcheng these days. But Wang Jiyi is from Jiangzhou, which is in Jiangdong."

"Jiangzhou?" Han Gang was completely sober. Jiujiang was anciently known as Jiangzhou, and how could he not know this after reading "Water Margin"? "De'an is in Jiangzhou!"

The alcohol in Zhao Long's stomach turned into sweat: "Is it really Wang Jiyi?"

"Wang Jiyi?" Han Gang asked urgently. He had never heard of Wang Jiyi, and he hadn't heard the name from Wu Yan, the section judge, either.

"It's the Wang Jiyi who submitted a memorial to the emperor to annex Qingtang and expand the borders of the Hehuang region!" Wang Shunmin, who had only been in Qinzhou for a little over half a year, was more familiar with the area than the native Han Gang: "He gained the emperor's favor and was sent to Qinzhou. His official title is the Chief of the Military Council's Office, but he actually manages all matters related to the tribal regions. This responsibility originally belonged to the governor and the military command, but now it has been taken over by Wang Jiyi, and both sides are unhappy."

Han Gang compared the two sets of memories in his mind and quickly determined the location of Qingtang. It was roughly the eastern part of Qinghai Lake in the future. Hehuang, on the other hand, referred to the regions of Hezhou and Huangshui, located in the Linxia and Hezheng areas at the border of Gansu and Qinghai. During the Tang Dynasty, these areas were on the front lines of the conflict with the Tibetan Kingdom. After Emperor Xuanzong, they were gradually occupied by the Tibetans. After the Tibetan Kingdom split, they were still controlled by the Tibetan remnants. At this time, they generally referred to a large area in northeastern Qinghai and southeastern Gansu, also known as the Xihedao region, with Xizhou and Hezhou as the main areas.

Since this Wang Jiyi was eager to expand the borders for the Song Dynasty, he would naturally be eager for talent. If he could gain his favor and be recommended for an official position, it would not be difficult. Such a good opportunity, Han Gang would not let it slip by.

"What is Wang Jiyi's name?" Han Gang asked urgently.

"Wang Shao!"

"Wang Shao?" Han Gang felt somewhat familiar with the name but couldn't remember which of his two sets of memories made it familiar.

"May I ask if Scholar Han is here?" The voice from outside the door was louder, indicating that Wang Hou was getting impatient.

"I'm coming!" Han Gang stood up, straightened his wrinkled clothes, and opened the door. A young man in his twenties, handsome and slender, appeared before him.

"Scholar Han?" Wang Hou's eyes widened. If it weren't for the same tall stature, he would have been unable to associate the drunkard before him with the righteous Scholar Han he had seen on the street in the evening. Even the prominent eyebrows and beautiful eyes that left a deep impression on Wang Hou were now dull and lifeless due to the alcohol.

"It's me, Han Gang!" Han Gang half-closed his eyes, and his previously dull gaze became sharp again. He bowed and said, "Since you have something to discuss with me, why don't you come in and talk?"

Wang Hou glanced around the room, hesitating to enter. He had made two trips and waited outside for a long time, using the story of Liu Bei's three visits to Zhuge Liang's cottage to comfort himself. Now, seeing the smoky and messy side room, with the table cluttered with cups and plates, and the two soldiers with red faces, he was extremely disappointed and unwilling to go in.

"Can you drink?" Han Gang suddenly asked, noticing Wang Hou's hesitation.

Wang Hou was taken aback, unsure how to respond. He thought Han Gang might be inviting him to drink. In such a dirty and filthy place, Wang Hou was unwilling to do so and was looking for an excuse to decline.

Han Gang smiled: "Although the water in Qinzhou is not as sweet as in the south, the wine has a unique flavor. Different regions have different customs, and the taste of the wine is also different. Without experiencing it firsthand, one cannot judge which is better. What do you think, Sir Wang?"

Han Gang's words seemed to have a deeper meaning to Wang Hou. After much hesitation, he finally stepped into the room.

By this time, Wang Shunmin and Zhao Long had already cleaned the table. Seeing Wang Hou enter, they were about to leave.

Han Gang stopped them, making them sit down and continue drinking: "How can we drive away two guests just because one new guest arrives? Military Commander Wang and Zhao Ganyong, please sit down and talk. I'm sure Sir Wang won't mind."

Han Gang acted on impulse without asking if Wang Hou agreed. Wang Shunmin and Zhao Long now followed Han Gang's lead, knowing he wouldn't harm them, and sat down without a word.

Wang Hou stood in the room, unsure whether to stay or leave. Finally, he pulled over a chair and sat down, thinking: "Since I'm already here, it's fine to sit for a while. If we don't get along, I can leave early. At least now, Han Gang's unique hospitality makes me think he has some ability, otherwise he wouldn't have such a temper."

Wang Hou sat down, and Han Gang followed, smiling inwardly. Based on his past experience, the hardest part is getting someone to come, but keeping them is much easier.

Han Gang deliberately treated Wang Hou coldly. Instead of being overly respectful, he was aloof, at least making Wang Hou not dare to be disrespectful and showing more reverence. According to the world's perception, the more talented a person is, the more arrogant they are, and Wang Hou should be able to adapt. Anyway, from the look on Wang Hou's face when he saw him, his evaluation of him must have hit rock bottom. As long as he performed well, any improvement would be a net gain.

Without asking about Wang Hou's purpose, Han Gang found a clean wine bowl, filled it for Wang Hou, and said: "Lushan is perilous and beautiful, and it is close to Jiangzhou. Being from De'an, you are truly fortunate. 'The sun shines on the incense burner, producing purple smoke; from afar, the waterfall hangs before the river. The water flows down three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way has fallen from the sky.' Li Bai's poetic talent is remarkable, and every time I read this poem, I am captivated by Lushan."

Han Gang paused, and Wang Hou was about to speak, but Han Gang quickly continued: "De'an is close to Lushan and also neighbors the vast Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River. The lake reflects the mountains, and the river flows endlessly. Such a scenic place is rare in the world. If I have the opportunity, I would really like to visit."

"Jiangnan is indeed more prosperous than Guanxi." Wang Shunmin added casually, his alcohol making him forget Wang Hou's status: "The water and soil in Jiangzhou are good, and it is said that the girls there are more beautiful than those in Guanxi."

"Jiangnan is known for its beautiful women!" Han Gang laughed, following the drunkard's tone, then changed the subject: "However, Jiangzhou is a beautiful place, but not a place to achieve great things!"

Han Gang's words stirred Wang Hou's thoughts, and he nodded heavily, wanting to speak. But Wang Shunmin, inspired by Han Gang's last words, said: "The scholar is right! To achieve great things, we must look to Guanxi!"

Han Gang shook his head: "To govern the army, one must first ensure sufficient food, and to ensure sufficient food, one must first nourish the people. The water and soil in Guanxi are far less fertile than in the Han and Tang dynasties. A major battle can deplete the grain reserves of the entire region. Without grain and pay, relying solely on supplies from outside the pass, it would exhaust the people and be difficult for the court to support."

"The scholar is right," Wang Shunmin immediately agreed, "When I was in Yanzhou, I ate wheat from Guandong and rice from Shu, but the millet from Guanzhong was the best."

The conversation almost turned into a duet between Han Gang and Wang Shunmin, and Wang Hou couldn't find a chance to speak.

Han Gang then said: "So there is only one way to solve this problem!"

"What?" Wang and Zhao asked.

"Land reclamation..."

"And trade!" Wang Hou finally got a chance to speak, speaking hurriedly as if the words were bursting out of his mouth: "Opening a market in Weiyuan not only generates tax revenue but also collects some rent. It doesn't require the state to transport goods, and it can make the various tribes of Qingtang more loyal to the Song Dynasty. It is a win-win situation."

Hearing this, Han Gang was delighted: 'Finally, I've got the bottom line.'

By deliberately not letting others speak, he kept them suppressed. When the right moment came, he slightly relaxed, and Wang Hou involuntarily revealed his thoughts. Han Gang used some common knowledge and added a bit of not particularly outstanding insight, and through the organization of his words, he easily extracted Wang Shao's plan.

Weiyuan is the source of the Wei River, about three hundred miles upstream from Qiangcheng, deep in the territory occupied by the Qingtang Tibetans. It seems that opening a market for Han