Chapter 17: Building Villages (Part 1)

  Cao Guangyi's one shot and one arrow established his prestige, and the Jurchen people no longer dared to underestimate the Han department. At this time, the Jurchen were actively absorbing various forces to strengthen their own strength, and Zhenhuan felt that these people could be used as a helper, but he couldn't make decisions on his own, so he had to bring them back to meet with Wuya Bundle and other leaders before making any further moves.

  He listened to Aru's request and vowed in the direction of Changbai Mountain: "From now on, I will not harm Han friends with treacherous means. If they are not willing to accept them, I will personally send them out of the border. If I violate my oath, heaven will punish me!"

  From the two's meeting place to the heart of the female Zhen, it is not a one-day journey. On the way, Zuo Yan-chong and others discussed the situation with Zhang Heng, admiring each other's martial arts skills. But Yang Ying-qi was the most astonishing to Zhang Heng, who did not expect that a thirteen-year-old child would have such knowledge, and he believed in Ouyang Xiu's words "Everyone knows characters, and there are also three or five people with university questions".

  As they approached the village of the female Di tribe, they saw many villages but had not yet seen Wuya's tent. Before that, Zhan Yan led Xie Yun and others to meet his father, Sajia, the prime minister of the female Di country. Sajia was a wise and knowledgeable person, and when he met them, he said: "You are Di Yu, I have heard your name." He also said: "A few days ago, I heard that there is a group of people with a strange origin in the northwest border who beat many thieves and gave food to some poor people. Is it you? You have such kindness, and the gods will surely bless you."

  After staying in the tribe of Sai Gai for a day, and walking for another day, they finally saw the main camp of the female realists' city, Hui Ning City. In the eyes of Cao Guangyi and others, it was not even a city, but only a fortress - or even a village stronghold.

  Before entering the city, a team of people came to greet us outside. The leader was a burly man with robust muscles, probably in his 40s. He shouted loudly before approaching: "Zhan Han! I heard you've recruited many talented Han Chinese!"

  "Exactly, some literary and martial Han brothers!" Then he introduced Zhe Yan Chong and others: "This is my cousin, the younger brother of Wu Ya Shu Duo Boji Le, the greatest hero in our department - A Gu Da."

  Yang Yingqi was so startled by the mention of Aguda's name that he almost fell over, but fortunately he was relatively short and was walking behind Cao Guangyin, so he wasn't seen.

  Zhe Yan rushed forward, clasped his fists in greeting and said: "The people I respect most in my life are heroes! I heard that you all are not only good at literature and martial arts, but also brought many books!"

  Zhe Yan Chong said: "We don't have books on hand, but we know how to print them."

  "Ah, that's even better! With this kind of horse around, how could we not have a good time? Come on, my brother is waiting for you inside!"

  The meeting with Wuya was just a formality, as A'ga's brother had been seriously ill and recently all the major and minor affairs of the tribe were handled by A'ga.

  At night, Ah Gu Da set up a banquet of cattle and sheep to entertain them. Zhe Yan Chong said: "Zhe Yan Chong is an honest man with straightforward words. Before drinking, I'd like to ask how General Bo Ji Lie plans to settle us? My troops have been wandering for a long time, this matter is not settled, we can't enjoy food and drink at ease."

  "What do you want to do?"

  Zhe Yan Chong said: "My troops are only over three hundred people, and there is enough space for ten miles to rest."

  "Agu Da said: 'A land of ten miles, how can it last long? My intention is to let the Han department merge with our department. Firstly, there will be no distinction between us, and secondly, it will also be easier to teach the children in the tribe to recognize characters and understand literature.'"

  Yang Yingqi had adjusted his mentality at this time, and upon hearing the words, he stepped forward and said: "Agu Da uncle, I have a good idea." His face was full of innocence, no different from an ordinary thirteen-year-old child.

  "Alright, go ahead and speak."

  This banquet was seated on the ground, without even a carpet, let alone a wooden floor. Yang Yingqi knelt down and said: "Being able to integrate with the Wanyan clan as one, without distinction, is our greatest hope. However, our customs are not quite the same as those of the Jurchen people, and living together might be somewhat inconvenient. Moreover, this city is too small, and there are already households within the city walls; if we were to move in with hundreds of people, it would likely cause a great deal of disturbance. Before I entered the city, I saw a piece of wasteland by the riverbank that was just the right size for us to build a small village. It's only ten miles from the city, and traveling back and forth is very convenient; if we were to live there, we could hunt, herd livestock, farm, and study together with the Wanyan clan without any issues."

  "Agu Da said: 'This is very good, but that riverbank is quite barren, I'm afraid it can't support so many people.'"

  Yang Yingqi said: "Don't worry, as long as Uncle Aguda doesn't forbid us from trading with others, we will have a way to make a living."

  "Is there anything you can sell?" Ah Gu asked.

  Yang Yingqi said: "Among us there are many skilled craftsmen who can make pottery, make paper and smelt iron."

  Aguda laughed and said, "I hope you can make good paper, but as for ironwork, since my tribe conquered the Wuchun tribe, Jurchen weapons have been famous far and wide. As for pottery, that's something we've been skilled at for a long time. I'm not mocking you, I just fear your things won't sell."

  Yang Yingqi said: "We have 160 hunters, dozens of good horse breeders, as long as Uncle Aguoda is willing to share the benefits of the mountain forest and grassland with us, even if our goods are not sold out, we can rely on them to make a living."

  "A'gu Da said: 'You teach our children to read books, we let you hunt and herd sheep on our territory, that's what should be. However, if you just guard the riverbank, I'm afraid you will be very poor.' He said so, and it was considered as consent."

  "Nothing to worry about! As long as we have a place to settle down, we can be self-sufficient."

  That night, people of both tribes drank fine wine and were very happy. During the banquet, A'gu Da asked A'lu Man: "I heard that you are also a Jurchen."

  "Yes, I am Hushu Gallery's Zhen!"

  "Are there any heroes among our ancestors?"

  Arumba said, "I only heard from the older generation in our tribe that our ancestor was named Agunai. At first, he and his two younger brothers lived in Goryeo. Later, the second and third ancestors decided to move north, but the ancestor was already old and couldn't go with them, so they stayed in Goryeo. Later, they gradually moved north and came to this area north of the Yalu River. Our ancestor treated people kindly, while his two younger brothers were very heroic."

  "Ah Gu asked hastily: "What are the names of those two younger brothers?"

  "Second brother's name is Huanpu, third brother's name is Baohuali."

  "Ah, so you're a descendant of the Great Ancestor! Our clan is just the descendants of Hanpu Zu!"

  Counting the generations, Aru should recognize A'ga as his uncle.

  Wuya Shu heard about this matter and came out to support, saying to Aruban: "I heard from my ancestors that our great ancestor once said to his two younger brothers: 'Although I cannot go with you, our descendants will meet in the future!' Who would have thought that it would come true today?" To celebrate, Wuya Shu ordered the best wine and meat to be brought out, and the whole tribe had a wild celebration.