After taking over Cui Weihua's naval base, Lian Guoshi immediately began implementing his plan to attract merchants and investment.
This method was something he had learned from Dao Xuan Tianzun. When Dao Xuan Tianzun developed the suburban market outside Xi'an's East Gate, he first built rows of simple houses, then invited merchants to settle there. Once the shops opened, the entire area quickly flourished.
Now Lian Guoshi intended to follow the same approach.
He personally went to the riverside to wait for a cargo ship traveling from Gao Family Village to Anqing Prefecture. After meeting the crew, he explained his ideas in detail and asked them to relay a message back to the village, requesting materials and personnel to support the construction of a new port.
Gao Family Village responded without hesitation.
The new harbor would greatly benefit their shipping routes and help advance Dao Xuan Tianzun's maritime strategy. Full support was the only reasonable choice.
Not long afterward, a large shipment of supplies, disguised as Lian Guoshi's "family property," arrived in Nanjing and was delivered to him. Several middle school graduates came as well, along with a team of Blue Hats to assist with organization and construction.
Thus, the initial construction of Shanghai Harbor officially began.
---
The arrival of the logistics team also energized Cheng Xu.
With supplies secured, his forces could continue advancing deeper into Sichuan.
Led by the White Pole Soldiers, Cheng Xu's thousand men sailed upstream along the Yangtze River. After passing Wanzhou, they learned that rebels had caused trouble in the region. However, as a prefectural city, Wanzhou's defenses were far stronger than those of an ordinary county, and it had not fallen.
The prefect stood on the city walls with garrison troops and militia.
When he saw a large fleet approaching, filled with soldiers carrying flintlock rifles, he was startled. He immediately ordered the gates closed and the alarm bells rung.
The White Pole Soldiers rode forward to the base of the wall.
"Prefect, do not panic. We are the Shizhu White Pole Soldiers."
Only then did the prefect relax.
"So it is you. But where are your white pole spears? Why have you switched to firearms?"
"Times have changed."
Perhaps that was true.
The prefect did not question further.
Cheng Xu's forces passed through Wanzhou without incident and continued upstream to Zhongzhou. There they disembarked and proceeded south on foot, trekking through dense mountain forests for many days.
Eventually, a strange and magnificent sight appeared before them. A single massive stone pillar rose straight into the sky, towering like a spear piercing the clouds.
They had reached the Stone Pillar.
At the foot of Wan Shou Zhai, Qin Liangyu and Zhao Sheng, also known as Dian Dengzi, were already waiting.
Zhao Sheng stepped forward enthusiastically.
"General Qin, this is the chief instructor of Gao Family Village's militia. His name is He Jiu."
Qin Liangyu clasped her fist in greeting and carefully observed him. Although part of his face was concealed by a black scarf, his bearing was composed and disciplined. He clearly was not a common bandit. His movements suggested someone who had once served in official circles.
She quickly guessed that he was likely a former military officer using an assumed name.
Her gaze shifted to the thousand soldiers behind him.
She drew a quiet breath.
Each man stood upright and steady, radiating discipline and confidence. Every soldier carried a long, unusually shaped flintlock rifle. Armor could be glimpsed beneath their simple cloth robes. They wore the robes to avoid drawing too much attention, but the protection underneath was obvious.
After a single glance, Qin Liangyu understood their strength.
"Instructor He, your militia is formidable."
"You flatter us. We only serve the common people."
"I heard five thousand of your men entered Sichuan. You brought only one thousand here. The other four thousand are stationed in Northern Sichuan?"
"Yes. The rebels split their forces, so we must do the same. Four commanders each lead a thousand men. They defend key counties and prefectures while protecting the surrounding areas."
Qin Liangyu nodded, though she sighed softly.
"Sichuan is vast. A dozen cities are not enough."
"We know. Our goal now is to gain local support and mobilize the tribal levies. If the native forces rise, resisting the rebels will be far easier."
Qin Liangyu looked thoughtful but did not argue further.
---
At the same time, in the Baren Stockade within the Bashan Grand Canyon, a grand welcoming ceremony was being held.
This was the ancestral home of Ran Ke, Pacification Commissioner of Kaixian.
Young Tujia men and women formed a large circle and performed a lively hand-in-hand dance. Their movements were full of mountain spirit and vitality.
Flat Rabbit stood at the center.
One by one, beautiful Tujia maidens danced before him and offered him cups of wine.
Unfortunately, the wine was far too mild.
Flat Rabbit was accustomed to drinking strong fifty-two-proof Wuliangye bestowed by Dao Xuan Tianzun. Compared to that fiery liquor, the wine of this era tasted almost like lightly boiled water.
The ceremony continued for half an hour. Cup after cup was drained.
When it finally ended, Flat Rabbit remained perfectly sober.
The Tujia people were astonished.
What astonishing capacity. A thousand cups without getting drunk.
Ran Ke stepped forward, laughing.
"Rabbit Lord, you are truly a hero. I have never seen such drinking ability."
Flat Rabbit burst into hearty laughter.
"I have tasted celestial wine. Mortal liquor cannot shake me. Your Baren Stockade is an excellent place, General Ran."
Ran Ke smiled proudly.
"This stockade is easy to defend and difficult to attack. In Northern Sichuan, only Qin Liangyu's Wan Shou Zhai can compare."
Flat Rabbit surveyed the surrounding land carefully.
"This terrain is perfect for growing potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes. I can see it clearly. If you plant our new crops, next year no one in your stockade will go hungry."
Ran Ke's face lit up with joy.
"If that is so, when we harvest next year, I will select beautiful women and send them to your residence in gratitude."
Flat Rabbit's expression immediately turned serious.
"What are you saying? Women are not gifts to be traded. I do not want beauties. If you insist on giving something, just offer a local specialty as a souvenir."
He laughed loudly.
Ran Ke fell into deep thought.
Local specialty? What could this poor mountain region possibly offer?
Suddenly, he seemed to recall something and beckoned to a nearby young woman.
"You are skilled at weaving Xilankapu brocade, are you not?"
She nodded shyly.
"Bring the finest piece from your household and present it to Rabbit Lord."
The woman hurried away and soon returned carrying a beautifully woven coverlet. Holding it respectfully with both hands, she stepped forward.
"Rabbit Lord, this is a specialty of our region, called Xilankapu. In the words of the Han people, it is known as the Tujia People's Flowery Coverlet."