Chapter 58: “Don’t Tear It!”

Chapter 58 "Don't Tear It!"

Tuo Baxiao knew how soft-hearted she was. Whenever someone fell ill along the way, she would have her physicians treat them and even provide extra provisions. He knew all this.

She treated her servants well, even to the point of indulgence. They didn't have to kneel in respect, and sometimes she even had to coax them. Their food, clothing, and daily necessities matched those of his elite cavalry.

And that time she was abducted by Wudati Hou, it was because she was in a hurry to treat the wounded that she momentarily let her guard down.

Now, she claims it's for herself, but it doesn't evoke any resentment. Instead, it makes people feel that she is saying this for the sake of those farmers.

At that moment, Wen Yu arrived at the west side of the royal tent with a dozen farmers.

Upon seeing Tuo Baxiao, he hurriedly bowed and apologized, "Prince of Mobei, please pardon my earlier misstep."

Tuo Baxiao turned around, looking down at him from above.

Wen Yu continued to apologize, "At that time, I only thought that these farmers were the Khatun's dowry and outright refused that official. I forgot that now that you're married to the Khatun, you're one. Naturally, the Khatun would not disagree with your arrangements."

"Realizing this, I knew my earlier actions were improper, so I immediately brought those skilled in agriculture here, at your command, Prince of Mobei."

The farmers knelt on the ground, trembling with fear upon hearing Wen Yu say they were to be handed over to the Xianbei people.

The barbarians are cruel and savage, and there's a significant language barrier. How could they fare well in the hands of the barbarians?

They didn't dare look up, but everyone could feel their tension. These humble farmers had placed all their hopes on their Khatun.

Seeing this, Tuo Bahuai approached and said to Tuo Baxiao, "Prince, since Wen Yu has said so, let's put the earlier matter behind us. The situation is urgent, and I will take people to Tumochuan immediately."

Then he turned to Jiang Congyan and said, "Khatun, I once lived in Liang State and consider myself fluent in the Central Plains language. You needn't worry about language barriers, and I won't mistreat these farmers. Please rest assured."

Jiang Congyan's gaze settled on him with newfound seriousness. This was Tuo Bahuai.

He was a pure-blooded Xianbei, with deep-set eyes, a high nose, and dark brown hair. Yet, his demeanor was gentle, and with his silver crown tying his hair, he appeared more like the Han people than Tuo Baxiao, who was of mixed Han and barbarian heritage.

Having lived in the Central Plains for so many years, his every move was imbued with Han characteristics.

Tuo Bahuai was indeed clever, adept at seizing opportunities and subtly interrupting her. But she was not fighting alone.

Jiang Congyan lowered her gaze slightly, glancing at the farmers kneeling on the ground.

Hearing this, the farmers, fearing that the Prince of Mobei would agree immediately, could no longer hold back their tears and pleaded, "Prince of Mobei, please let us follow the Khatun! We will do whatever the Khatun asks. We only wish to work under the Khatun."

"We want to follow the Khatun..."

"I only want to follow the Khatun. Khatun, please."

Having traveled this far, they had already regarded the Khatun as their sole pillar of support. They were of low status, in a foreign land, where anyone could bully them. Only under the Khatun's protection could they live peacefully, not to mention the occasional gifts of rice and grain from the Khatun, which were things they never dared to dream of in their lives.

On one side were the cruel barbarians, and on the other, the Khatun who protected her people. Even a fool would know which to choose.

A dozen farmers cried out in unison, creating a scene of utter despair. They looked up at the Prince of Mobei and the Khatun with hope, as if their fate hung in the balance at that very moment.

Seeing this, Tuo Bahuai couldn't help but grit his teeth. These Han people were truly stubborn.

Jiang Congyan, seeing the situation, took the initiative to speak to Tuo Baxiao, "Prince, they trust me so much. I don't want to let them down. Would you let me try?"

"Try what?"

"Try to see if I can successfully revive the wheat and harvest the grain."

"Do you have the confidence?"

"Yes," Jiang Congyan lifted her chin, nodding.

She was glowing with confidence and pride. Tuo Baxiao suddenly recalled the first time he saw her.

She had been so special back then, leaving such a strong impression that he remembered her instantly. After arriving in Chang'an, he was disappointed and uninterested in the so-called noble ladies of the royal court. Fortunately, he still managed to meet her.

At that time, he thought, even if she wasn't a princess of Liang State, he would still choose her. To his surprise, she wasn’t a princess, but she was a descendant of the founding emperor.

"Alright, then I'll leave this matter to you to handle," Tuo Baxiao made the decision immediately.

He wasn’t one to be petty. Since the state document stated that the craftsmen were her dowry, and he had once promised her that she could manage her dowry herself, he agreed without hesitation.

She was merely overseeing these people. If he needed to do anything, he could still command them.

Moreover, he had a gut feeling that she was so intelligent, courageous, and strategic. Putting her in charge would lead to some pleasant surprises.

Then he informed the others in the Xianbei language. As soon as he announced it, the Xianbei people exploded like water hitting a hot pan.

"My King, this is unacceptable!"

"My King, how can you entrust such important matters to a woman, especially a Han woman?"

"My King, don't let this Han woman deceive you."

...

They all rushed to dissuade him, as if Tuo Baxiao had done something unforgivable.

Tuo Baxiao was already impatient with them, and hearing these words made his face darken completely, his sharp features radiating a cold intensity.

Just as he was about to snap, Jiang Congyan quickly grabbed his arm and shook her head.

If Tuo Baxiao punished them in anger, it would only widen the gap between her and the Xianbei people.

Once she had calmed him down, she turned to the Xianbei ministers.

"Do you all believe that I, as a Han, have no place in Xianbei affairs? Or do you think I’m not capable of handling this matter?"

They were about to reply, "Both reasons," but Jiang Congyan didn’t stop and continued, "If you think I shouldn’t be involved because I’m Han, I disagree. The King has already allowed it, and now that I’ve married the King, I am the Khatun of the Xianbei, a member of the royal court. Why shouldn’t I be involved in tribal affairs?"

"If you're worried that I won't do well, then I can make a deal with you all."

"What deal?"

"If I successfully revive the wheat and bring in a harvest by autumn, it will prove that I can guide the craftsmen to benefit the Xianbei. From that point on, the craftsmen will be entirely under my control, and you won’t raise any further objections."

"And if you fail?"

"Then, of course, I’ll hand the craftsmen back to the King. He can do with them as he pleases. I won’t interfere again."

"So, do you agree?"

Hearing this, several of them frowned.

It seemed fair.

If she succeeded, the Xianbei would have more grain, which would be a good thing. If she failed, it would be a good opportunity to persuade the King to convert the farmland back to grassland and restrict this Han Princess from interfering in tribal affairs again. Either way, they had nothing to lose.

Fine, I agree.

Once Ke Diyanxun spoke, the others went along, though in their hearts, they wished for her failure.

Everyone assumed the matter was settled, but then she pulled out a book.

"Do you know why the King insisted on planting wheat in Tumochuan even though you all objected?"

Duan Muqi and He Rangan were confused by her sudden question, eyeing her suspiciously, wondering what she was getting at.

Seeing this, Jiang Congyan continued, "Tell me, how much grassland is needed to graze one sheep?"

He Rangan frowned, unsure why she was asking this, but still answered, "Twenty acres of pasture."

"And how many sheep does a family of five need to sustain themselves?" she asked again.

He Rangan replied, "At least a hundred."

"So, a family of five requires at least two thousand acres of grassland to live comfortably."

This was an unthinkable figure for the Central Plains dynasties. In the Central Plains, owning two thousand acres of land would qualify someone as a major landowner, while on the grasslands, it was just the land an ordinary family needed.

He Rangan still didn’t see anything wrong with this yet. It was true—each family needed vast grasslands for grazing, and they had to continuously expand their territory to support a growing population. But then he heard the frail Han Princess say, "But in the Central Plains, only fifty acres of land are needed to support a family of five."

"How is that possible?" He Rangan couldn't believe it.

The gap was enormous.

At this point, Tuo Baxiao's gaze on her flickered, not in surprise but in a kind of pleasure.

He couldn’t be bothered to explain this to his subordinates. Whether they truly didn’t understand or simply refused to agree, he didn’t care. He only did what he needed to do.

Jiang Congyan leafed through the book in her hand and showed it to them. "This is an agricultural manual from our Liang State, recording the yields of farmland."

They glanced at it but couldn’t read Chinese.

Jiang Congyan continued calmly, "For one acre of wheat field, yielding one harvest annually, fertile land can produce one and a half dan of wheat, while even poor land can yield one dan. Fifty acres of land can produce fifty to seventy dan of wheat. A family of five needs roughly three dan of wheat per month to survive, which amounts to thirty-six dan a year. After taxes, it’s just enough to make ends meet."

"If all the land in Tumochuan were turned into pasture, it could sustain at most fifty thousand people. But if it were converted to farmland for wheat, it could sustain at least a million people."

"More people translate to more soldiers. The King insists on planting wheat in Tumochuan to strengthen the Xianbei's power. Yet, not only do you fail to understand his intentions and efforts, but you also actively hinder him. Why is that?" Her last sentence carried a particularly heavy tone.

Her logic left them speechless, and before they could recover, she loudly questioned them, leaving them without words.

Of course, they knew farming could sustain more people than herding, but they were so accustomed to herding that they had never calculated the difference so precisely. Was the difference really that vast?

"Not every place is suitable for farming. What's happening now is that half of the wheat planted this year has already died. You talk about sustaining a million people, but right now, we can't even sustain ten thousand. What's the use of all this big talk?" Ke Diyanxun said coldly.

While the others were swayed by her eloquent arguments, he remained unmoved. This middle-aged man, long accustomed to high positions, maintained his cold demeanor.

Jiang Congyan raised her chin and looked directly into his eyes. "That’s precisely what I aim to fix."

"Nothing goes smoothly from the start, especially in the first year. Problems are normal. As long as we solve the current difficulties, the harvest will naturally follow."

"Even if half of the wheat seedlings have died, as long as I can save the other half, the wheat harvested this year will sustain no fewer people than herding would."

Ke Diyanxun's brow furrowed deeply, creating deep furrows between his eyebrows.

He found this Han woman to be quite shrewd. Her earlier argument was unassailable from every angle, especially the fact that farming could support dozens of times more people than herding. Dozens of times! Any tribe aiming for supremacy would need a substantial population.

Once these words spread, those in the tribe who had opposed the king's farming initiative would no longer have any grounds for objection.

This should have been a good thing for the Xianbei, but for some reason, Ke Diyanxun felt there was some hidden intention he couldn't quite grasp.

Seeing his silence, Jiang Congyan chose not to press further and instead turned to Tuo Baxiao to inquire in detail about the situation in Tumochuan.

Just then, Tuo Bahuai spoke up again, "My Lord, I request to accompany them."

"This matter has already been handed over to the Khatun," Tuo Baxiao replied.

Tuo Bahuai said, "I know, but I fear the Khatun's people may not fully understand the local situation. If I go along, I might be able to assist."

His logic was flawless.

Tuo Baxiao considered for a moment.

"Then I thank you, sir," Jiang Congyan hesitated only briefly before making her decision.

Tuo Bahuai was an astute man. His earlier enthusiasm for handling the wheat seedlings suggested he supported the shift from herding to farming. He might have ulterior motives, but the likelihood of him deliberately causing trouble at this time was slim, especially since he urgently needed to achieve something to elevate his status.

He was also right—her people knew too little about the Xianbei people. Having someone well-versed in the situation would simplify matters.

Seeing her agreement, Tuo Baxiao said nothing more.

He assigned those who had recently returned from Tumochuan to her side to provide detailed information about the situation there.

Besides the wheat issue, other tribal matters required his attention. Jiang Congyan did not disturb him further and allowed him to continue his discussions. She returned to her tent and instructed Si Zi to summon Ruo Lan, A Mao, and Zhang Zheng.

Once everyone had assembled, she recounted the day's events.

"...This wheat seedling matter is the first major task I've undertaken since arriving at the royal court. Its outcome will directly shape whether our path ahead is smooth or fraught with difficulties. Therefore, we must succeed."

At her words, everyone's expressions turned serious, and they listened intently to her instructions.

"We already have seasoned farmers, and the craftsmen's team also includes farmers. Once we pinpoint the cause, resolving the issue shouldn't be a problem. What worries me more is that we are newcomers and Han people. The local Xianbei might resist cooperating with us, necessitating some diplomacy. Ruo Lan, I want you to go personally, and Zhang Zheng, you as well."

Upon hearing this, neither of them responded immediately.

Especially Zhang Zheng, whose expression even showed a hint of fear. The last time he had been away from the lady for just a short while, something terrible had happened. He had regretted it every day since, swearing never to let the lady fall into danger again.

Now, he was being sent away again, and Zhang Zheng feared something might happen to the lady.

"My lady..." Ruo Lan looked at her, though she didn't outright refuse, her eyes conveyed everything.

Jiang Congyan knew they were uneasy about leaving her side but simply said, "I don't have many capable people around me. Gan Luo is busy preparing for the workshop, and the others still lack the necessary skills. Only you, Ruo Lan, can I trust with this task. As I said earlier, this is the first major task I've undertaken since coming to the Xianbei. It must be handled flawlessly; only then can I establish myself here."

"I have people looking after me in the royal court, and the Prince of Mobei won't let me suffer. There's nothing to worry about."

"And Zhang Zheng, you go with Ruo Lan. If any conflicts arise, ensure the safety of our people."

"My lady—" Zhang Zheng still had reservations and opened his mouth to speak.

But Jiang Congyan raised her hand to stop him, "Zhang Zheng, what are you worried about?"

Zhang Zheng couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Are you worried about my safety? This is the royal court, not the open road. With the Prince of Mobei's current authority, no one would dare to openly harm me."

"You actually know it too, but you just can't get over that emotional barrier."

Zhang Zheng weakly lowered his eyes, his deepest thoughts laid bare. Indeed, insisting on staying by the lady's side was more for his own peace of mind. If he truly wanted to serve the lady, he should do as she said.

"Enough, I've explained the reasoning to you all in detail. Don't act like children throwing fits. Our days in Xianbei have only just begun."

With the lady saying this, the two could no longer refuse and had to agree.

A Mao stood to the side. When the lady glanced at her, she couldn't help but feel nervous. "Lady, do I... have to go too?"

She also didn't want to leave the lady's side.

A Mao tugged at the corner of her clothes, her big eyes looking pleadingly at the lady, hoping she wouldn't say those words.

But the lady was about to disappoint her. Jiang Congyan nodded, "Yes, you're going too."

A Mao's face fell, nearly in tears.

"They're not yet proficient in the Xianbei language; they'll rely on you."

There are others in the royal court who can speak Chinese, like Tuo Bahuai, but she doesn't fully trust them.

A Mao's face soured, yet she dared not refuse the lady's command.

Jiang Congyan saw her small face almost wrinkling like a bitter melon, shook her head and laughed, "Why are you all so 'lacking drive'? I'm sending you out to do important work, yet you all just want to stay by my side running errands."

Ruo Lan, Zhang Zheng, and A Mao remained silent.

Seeing the three with stern faces, Jiang Congyan also felt a bit helpless.

Putting away the jokes, she said to A Mao, "This time I'm sending you out, not just to help them with translation, but also to help you gain experience. You have a talent for languages; don't let it go to waste. You've already learned quite a few characters, and when you've read more books and gained more knowledge, I'll make you a manager."

"Haven't you always wanted to help me out? Follow Aunt Ruo Lan and learn well. In the future, helping me with more tasks will be sharing my burdens."

With the lady saying this, A Mao immediately brightened. She wanted to become useful, to help the lady well.

Still, reading and writing is really hard.

Having convinced the three, they immediately set about preparing for the journey tomorrow.

Ruo Lan brought about ten people from her own team and included all those skilled in farming from the craftsmen's team, plus the twenty Imperial Guards led by Zhang Zheng, making a group of about sixty people.

Sixty people, with twenty elite armored soldiers—ordinary folk wouldn't dare provoke them, and they would have a strong presence in any confrontation.

Tumochuan is to the west of the royal court, not too distant—less than three hundred miles, a day's ride on a fast horse, or two days for a normal light cavalry journey.

Tuo Baxiao chose Tumochuan over the more developed Houtao mainly because Tumochuan is closer, allowing him to respond swiftly to any issues, and it's completely under Xianbei control, safer than Houtao, with no worries about Xiongnu invasions.

The Dugu Tribe and the Yuwen Tribe are the main groups residing in Tumochuan.

The structural form of the grassland tribes is quite different from the Han dynasty of the Central Plains. They are more like a tribal alliance, with the strongest tribe leading all the others, unified only in political and military management and mobilization, without a more top-down system.

When Tuo Bata passed away, Tuo Baxiao ascended to the throne, and naturally, the other tribes were not convinced by this newly appointed Xianbei King. Many even united to rebel, all of whom were suppressed by Tuo Baxiao's iron-fisted methods. He killed those leaders and installed obedient ones in their place, thus, the tribes settled down.

Now he is trying to change from herding to farming in Tumochuan. The Dugu and Yuwen tribes might obey on the surface, but what they actually think is hard to say.

In any case, Jiang Congyan told them to be very careful, and if the situation takes a turn for the worse, to send word back immediately.

Tuo Baxiao said he would have lunch with her, but they ended up having dinner together instead.

After riding horses all morning and dealing with numerous tasks in the afternoon, Jiang Congyan was already exhausted. As soon as she finished eating, drowsiness overtook her. She mustered the energy to wash up, then closed her eyes and lay down on the bed. Her consciousness began to blur until warmth enveloped her and tingling spread across her lips.

Tuo Baxiao was gently biting her.

Jiang Congyan instantly became a bit more alert. She opened her eyes and saw Tuo Baxiao's intense, close-up gaze.

She paused briefly, then tilted her head slightly, allowing his lips to land on her fair earlobe.

He kept kissing her—her eyes, cheeks, lips, and neck—he couldn't get enough. Of course, as he moved further down, he was especially drawn to the jade-like bud.

At that moment, he truly wished he could lose control like an animal and devour her.

His kisses and breath on her neck tickled her, like a scorching hand brushing her skin. Unable to help herself, she pulled away a little, raising her hand to gently press against his shoulder.

"I'm tired; maybe we should sleep," she pleaded softly.

But Tuo Baxiao suddenly raised his eyebrows, his handsome face showing a hint of sharpness, clearly displeased.

"You rested all day yesterday; you're fine now."

With that, his lips pressed insistently again, grinding against her soft flesh.

Jiang Congyan felt both pain and tingling from his actions, but she couldn't stop him.

She had actually guessed that Tuo Baxiao wouldn't let her off so easily tonight. Earlier, as she drifted off, she had hoped that if she fell asleep, he might leave her alone. Now, it seemed she had underestimated this brute. Even if she were sound asleep, he would still wake her up.

But she really didn't enjoy the experience—it was tiring and painful. Kissing was fine, but anything more was unbearable. When Tuo Baxiao lost control, no matter how many times she asked him to be gentler or slower, he wouldn't listen. His strength was so great it felt like he was trying to break her, leaving her sore all over the next day. Who could enjoy that?

The thin silk nightgown was as fragile as paper under Tuo Baxiao's large hands. As he reached to tear it again, Jiang Congyan grabbed his hand and whispered sharply, "Don't!"

Tearing clothes every day was absurd. She wasn't short on silk, but she couldn't bear the shame.

Tuo Baxiao paused, loosening his grip, and instead moved to the ties, hastily undoing them. Then, like a blooming magnolia, she was fully revealed before him.

The man's emerald eyes deepened.

He drew her close, feeling her body stiffen.

...

"Relax a little..."

Their builds were already vastly different, and with her so tense, it was difficult for him too.

Jiang Congyan glared at him resentfully, "Who made me like this?"

She had been perfectly relaxed earlier, almost asleep, but it was all his fault.

Before experiencing it, she had been nervous and anxious; after experiencing it, it turned into tension and fear. This brute was truly not gentle at all.

Tuo Baxiao was already at his limit, wishing he could release himself immediately, but with her like this, he had to suppress his desire. He leaned down to kiss and coax her, "I'll be gentler this time, don't resist so much."

Jiang Congyan also knew that if she kept resisting, she would only suffer more. She tried to relax and accept him, but still furrowed her brows. When he finally pushed in regardless, she gasped in pain, her nails digging into the muscles of his arm.

"No!"

"Maybe... the ointment..."