Chapter 23: Recruiting People and Occupying Cities

  The winter of Guanghe 5 (182 AD) arrived as scheduled, and the biting wind made people shiver. I don't know how many homeless refugees will pay their lives, the only thing they can pay, in this unbearable winter.

  The new Meteorological Bureau in Wozhuang Village is a scene of bustling construction activity.

  The original drying field has been leveled and expanded in all directions, directly opposite the courtyard where Zhao Xing lives, across a spacious square. A high platform is being built on it, which Zhao Xing has already named "Dianjiang Platform". In the future, this platform can be used for commanding training, mobilizing troops, and comforting performances.

  The courtyard where Zhao Xing lived now extends five times larger to the east and west, as well as to the back. The original courtyard is surrounded by a "凹" (concave) shape in the center, and opposite the concave shape is a "回" (return) shaped square. The middle part of the "口" (mouth) of the return shape will be built into a large, partitioned martial arts arena. Careful readers can use their imagination to discover that this layout resembles a famous city square in later generations!

  At least in the next three to five years, this will be the core base of Zhao Xing and his men. That's why Zhao Xing suddenly expanded his residence to six times its original size. As for the fellow villagers within the planned area, they have been given sufficient compensation and have been resettled by Zhao Xing in a new residential area behind Dianjiangtai.

  Zhao Xing's idea originated from some personal thoughts on urban construction in later generations. He planned to develop this village into a small town, with the central area being his residence and square. This expanded square will be able to accommodate 20,000 people gathering, and it will play a huge role in the future.

  What Zhao Xing had in mind was a blueprint that would surely scare Li Jin Si and the others if he were to reveal it. He wanted to build a new city around Lijiazhuang! The entire city would eventually connect Lijiazhuang with the rising Wohu Village, forming a giant "country" shape!

  The four sides of the word "国" are city walls, and the three horizontal and one vertical lines represent a wide road that can accommodate six horse-drawn carriages passing through at the same time. The four large areas divided by these roads include Li Jia Zhuang in the upper left, Wo Hu Zhuang in the lower right, Xu Jia Wine Workshop in the upper right, and the lower left will be protected as an agricultural experimental zone.

  And the dot of the word "country" is now where Zhao Xing's residence is located. In the future, after the new city is built, more and more refugees will be absorbed, and they can be settled along the four sides of the country-shaped character. When it's full inside, settle outside, and when there are enough refugees outside, expand the city and turn the new city into a city within a city!

  It has to be said that this is a thrilling blueprint, and Zhao Xing is confident that he can achieve it within ten years! Because once the Yellow Turbans rise up, any place with troops stationed and food available will be paradise. Zhao Xing is not worried about nobody coming, but rather that there won't be enough space to accommodate too many refugees.

  Just like a certain TV drama's dialogue says: Two batches of refugees come before you, and you can't judge which group is noble and which group is humble. They all have the right to survive, but those who came first may have opportunities, while those who came later can only be kept outside the city gate.

  Jia Xian returned to Liangzhou Wuwei a few days ago, he wants to move his family over. Since hearing Zhao Xing's description of the blueprint, Jia Xian has become more determined to assist Zhao Xing, settling his family in Wohu Village, showing loyalty and also being able to rest easy himself.

  Guan Yu returned to Xie County yesterday. He went east to Ji Province to engage in martial arts with others, and has been away from home for half a year. It's time for him to go back and take a look at the situation at home. In addition to moving his family here, Guan Yu also promised Zhao Xing that he would recruit some troops along the way. There were no other requests, but when he left, he brought two carts full of "Changhe Daqu".

  Zhao Xing, who had been gazing into the distance in front of his own courtyard for a while, said to Xu Wanting with a sly smile: "Wanting sister, let's go back inside and do some things we love to do!"

  "Sister-in-law, what's this 'doing something you love' thing?" asked Xu Wanlin from behind.

  "Well, this is it, let's go back home and play Go together!" Zhao Xing rubbed his nose and replied awkwardly.

  "Hmph..." On the side, Xu Wanting, who was already flushed red, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  So days passed slowly in the tediousness of Zhao Xing accompanying his nine-year-old aunt to play Go.

  Half a month later, Li Tiezhu rushed in and shouted "They're here! They're here! So many people have come!"

  The other day, Zhao Xing, who had a habit of giving people nicknames, couldn't think of anywhere to show off his skills. Just then, he saw Li Tie Niu wandering around in front of him, so he slapped his head and gave Li Tie Niu the nickname "Li Tie Zhu", meaning "a steel pillar that holds up the sky!" At the time, Li Tie Niu very seriously asked Zhao Xing to write down this phrase and give it to him as a keepsake.

  "Oh, what kind of people have arrived?" Zhao Xing put down his chess piece and asked.

  "It's Guan Big Brother who has brought back a large group of young and strong men!" Li Tiezhu excitedly replied.

  "Go, take a look!" Zhao Xing got up and walked out quickly. Behind him, Xu Wanlin's voice came, "Brother-in-law, you still owe me three games of chess! Tonight, you have to accompany me for five more games with interest!" When Zhao Xing heard this, his footsteps quickened to the point where they were almost as fast as a windmill!

  Arriving at the square, I saw Guan Yu gathering his men and addressing about three hundred young and strong men.

  "Remember, all of you - I'm the one who brought you to Guan Changsheng! You will be the first batch of house soldiers in Wotou Village! Whoever wants to be a softie and is afraid of hardship can get out now! Whoever wants to drink top-notch 'Changhe Daqu' should let loose and train hard for me! In the future, when the master uses you, you must charge forward at the front line!"

  Good fellow, it's really Guan Ge, you're so ruthless when scolding people. Zhao Xing was overjoyed and quickly walked a few steps forward to pay his respects, "Brother, you've worked hard, after traveling in the wind and dust, let's settle down first!"

  "Guo Chang, when leading troops, one cannot be overly benevolent. Benevolence does not grasp the military, first clearly explain the rules to everyone, otherwise it will be difficult to unite and cooperate in the future!" Guan Yu, however, was not convinced.

  "Alright, Training Master Ding's matter is for Big Brother to arrange. After settling the brothers, come to the living room and we'll have a chat. Wanjun has prepared some appetizers, let's drink a few cups to warm up our bodies. I've already instructed Zheng Bo to prepare the wine for the brothers!"

  "Here they come! Here they come! Another group of people!" Li Tiezhu rushed over from outside the village again.

  "Oh, I wonder where this guest came from again?" Zhao Xing asked Li Tiezhu.

  "It's Mr. Jia with his family, followed by a group of Qiang people, driving back a herd of tall horses!"

  "Big brother, let's go outside the village to welcome Mr. Wenhe!"

  What a wonderful thing, Zhao Xing was overjoyed in his heart. At first, when he let Jia Xu go back, he was really worried that he would not return and that Dong Zhuo and Cao Cao would take advantage of him. Unexpectedly, Jia Xu really came back, and even brought Qiang people and horses with him, it seems that a capable person can make a living wherever they go!

  In the distance, a group of travelers could be seen heading towards Wohu Village, with dozens of women and children in the procession. Behind them followed hundreds of Qiang people dressed in strange attire, mostly young and strong men, but also including some women and children.

  These young and robust men each led two or three horses, with their family members sitting on the horses. What a great gift! Jia Yu's meeting gift to Zhao Xing is really impressive! Just those over 300 fine horses alone would cost tens of thousands of gold coins to buy, not to mention this group of Qiang people. The strength of Wotou Village has increased by several levels at once. Looking around, there isn't a single household in the entire Shangdang County that can rival them.

  "Master, you must be exhausted from your journey! Come with me to the villa and I'll have someone prepare a meal for you and Guan Da Ge to refresh yourselves!" Zhao Xing warmly welcomed him.

  "Obedience is better than respect!" Jia Yu didn't make any excuses either, and openly led a group of people into the villa.