Chapter 49 Strategy for Pacifying the Frontier

The three-step strategy for subduing the Western Rong was originally a brilliant and ruthless maneuver employed by Cao Wei's renowned late-Han general, Tian Yu, against the Xianbei and Xiongnu.

Now, the crucial first step of precision strikes had been accomplished with the annexation of the Yuan Rong.

All that remained was to sow division among the remaining three tribes of the Rong and the smaller Western Rong factions, followed by cultural penetration.

Shanggui was accelerating its transformation into a border trade hub, and the commercial official personally appointed by Ying Liangliang had already arrived.

The official was named Meng Ming, and he was the younger brother of Meng Yun.

The faction of the old aristocracy had previously attempted to meddle in this appointment to expand their own power. How could Ying Liangliang possibly have agreed to that?

After careful selection, Meng Ming, who managed the Meng family's trade routes, emerged as the ideal candidate.

"However..." Meng Ming furrowed his brows deeply, "Will this bunch of Western Rong people really agree?"

Meng Ming felt the plan was flawed because these Western Rong barbarians understood nothing about commerce.

Moreover, there were no shortage of precedents where Qin merchants had ventured deep into Western Rong territory only to be murdered and robbed.

Zhao Zheng had already anticipated this and replied indifferently, "Is that so difficult to solve? The reason they won't agree is simply because their upper-tier nobility hasn't tasted the sweetness of profit yet."

"Once the high-ranking nobles get a taste of the benefits, just watch whether they trade with us or not."

"After all, salt is nothing less than a precious treasure to them!"

As a trusted confidant of Ying Liangliang, Meng Ming naturally knew of Zhao Zheng's strategy.

He also knew about fine salt—an item capable of causing a sensation across the entire realm.

Yet, making the upper-tier nobility of the Western Rong taste the sweetness of profit? How could that possibly be achieved?

Did this mean sending Qin merchants to their deaths all over again?

"Leave this to me. In less than three days, traders from the Western Rong will come knocking on our doors."

Zhao Zheng smiled mysteriously. Without thorough consideration, how could he dare propose such a tactic?

Having concluded their discussion, Zhao Zheng departed Shanggui accompanied by Jian Ping, Yuan Long, three hundred Yuan Rong cavalry, and two hundred Qin cavalry.

"Can you find the encampments of the Di Rong or the Wushi?" Zhao Zheng glanced at his newly acquired lackey, Yuan Long.

There were three main reasons why Yuan Long had become Zhao Zheng's subordinate and taken charge of the Yuan Rong cavalry.

First, he could speak the Qin language.

Second, as the son of a Yuan Rong aristocrat, he had been responsible for liaising with other tribes back in the Yuan Rong days, making him a living map who knew the other tribes inside and out.

Third... he had simply been beaten into submission by Zhao Zheng twice in a row. The Western Rong valued martial prowess and revered the strong.

Thus, he "willingly" became Zhao Zheng's chief Yuan Rong henchman.

Yuan Long nodded and said, "The Wushi have not entered Qin territory, so finding them would be a bit far. However, the Di Rong and Yiqu are very easy to locate."

"The Yiqu have a garrison stationed in Chencang, and the Di Rong have a garrison in Xiqi."

Xiqi?

Zhao Zheng furrowed his brows slightly. Xiqi was at least two hundred li away from Shanggui, meaning a round trip would take a minimum of six days.

Although Chencang was quite close to Shanggui, the Yiqu possessed formidable strength; taking his current meager force there would be no different from throwing meat to a pack of dogs—he would never return alive.

As for the Wushi, while they had nominally submitted to Qin, they had also developed ambitions of their own following the rise of the Yiqu.

He would need to find time to teach them a lesson.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhao Zheng decided to try his luck in the direction of Xiqi.

The five hundred cavalry pressed on day and night. However, before reaching Xiqi, they stumbled upon a vast expanse of encampments.

"Those are Di Rong people. Judging by the scale of the camp, at the very least, it belongs to a Di Rong aristocrat," Yuan Long identified the camp at a single glance.

Yet, the camp held at least seven or eight thousand men, while their own side mustered only five hundred cavalry...

Yuan Long looked at Zhao Zheng, awaiting his decision.

"Can we sneak in and snatch someone away?" Zhao Zheng asked, looking at Yuan Long.

It wasn't that he hadn't considered simply charging in, grabbing a target, and leaving.

But... the layout of the Di Rong camp was exceedingly tricky. Not to mention the heavy patrols, the entire interior was bristling with chevaux-de-frise designed specifically to counter cavalry.

If they recklessly charged straight in, they would likely be finished long before ever reaching the commander's headquarters.

Yuan Long pondered for a moment and nodded, "That strategy is feasible, but if too many Qin people go in, it will be easy to expose ourselves."

Since the news of the Yuan Rong's destruction had not yet reached the other Western Rong tribes, it was entirely possible to infiltrate under the guise of Yuan Rong identity to cause trouble.

"Just me alone is enough to go in," Zhao Zheng said after some thought.

"No!" Jian Ping immediately intervened, "Great General, that is an enemy camp, and furthermore..."

Jian Ping wanted to say that the Yuan Rong people might not be trustworthy, but a single glance from Zhao Zheng forced him to swallow his words.

Zhao Zheng snorted coldly, "I burned six armies of Wei and still dared to enter Wei territory to rescue Wei Yang; what is there to fear from mere Di Rong?"

"Jian Ping, command the troops outside and be ready to provide backup at any time."

With those words, Zhao Zheng vaulted off his horse.

Yuan Long muttered a string of strange words to a Yuan Rong soldier nearby before dismounting as well.

He had Zhao Zheng change into a set of Yuan Rong attire and, taking a dozen Yuan Rong soldiers with him, led Zhao Zheng toward the Di Rong main camp.

As expected... adopting nomadic clothing and mounted archery was an absolute necessity!

After changing into the Yuan Rong garments, Zhao Zheng felt a wave of realization.

The wide-sleeved, flowing robes of the Central Plains were unsuited for mounted combat, whereas the nomadic people's short jackets and tight trousers were exceptionally well-suited for riding.

With this thought, Zhao Zheng resolved to implement the reforms of nomadic clothing and mounted archery even before the State of Zhao could do so.

However, until the reign of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, neither Qin nor Zhao would engage in any major warfare.

Under Yuan Long's lead, the Di Rong sentries offered no obstruction, and the group successfully infiltrated the Di Rong camp.

"That largest tent is their council chamber. It's heavily guarded right now, so we certainly can't go over there. Let's try our luck in the rear," Yuan Long said, glancing at Zhao Zheng.

Zhao Zheng nodded; on enemy turf, it was best to proceed with caution.

Inside the Di Rong camp, the soldiers were currently guarding the perimeter or had gone to the council chamber, leaving the interior largely unguarded and open to free movement.

Led by Yuan Long, the group arrived before a remarkably luxurious tent.

Ah, excellent—there were definitely big fish here.

With that thought, Zhao Zheng immediately issued an order:

"Go straight in, grab the people, and pull back."

Yuan Long nodded and immediately directed his soldiers to follow him inside to seize their targets.

Within moments, Yuan Long emerged with his subordinates.

"Done. One old man, one middle-aged man," Yuan Long gestured behind him as two men carried figures wrapped in cloth.

They had simply knocked the two targets unconscious, wrapped them in cloth, and hauled them away.

Zhao Zheng's mouth twitched slightly. He briefly suspected that the Yuan Rong people were born kidnappers.

They performed such tasks without the slightest hesitation or drag, completing the whole operation in one fluid motion.

Choosing a spot with light defenses, the group incapacitated the sentries with a volley of crossbow bolts and fled the area at top speed.

"Run!"

Zhao Zheng leaped onto his horse, and at his command, the troops galloped back at breakneck speed.

After charging for a while, Zhao Zheng suddenly reined in his horse, turned to look at Yuan Long and Jian Ping who had caught up, and asked with some embarrassment,

"Is this the right way?"

After a mad dash, he suddenly realized he had no idea where they were.

Yuan Long and Jian Ping stared blankly. You didn't know the way, yet you ran so fast?

"This... I don't know this way either," Yuan Long said speechlessly. He had been shouting at the top of his lungs from behind, but Zhao Zheng had completely ignored him.

Looking at the surrounding expanse of forest, Zhao Zheng felt a headache coming on.

Oh no, they were lost.

This region was part of the Di Rong sphere of influence, and even Yuan Long had never ventured this deep into it.

Surely he couldn't wake up the two old geezers and force them to lead the way out, could he?

Zhao Zheng felt a bit conflicted, but doing that carried far too much risk.

Just as he was pondering this, a troop of riders suddenly appeared ahead, all dressed in standard Di Rong attire.

At their head was a young maiden. Riding her horse up to the group, she looked them over before frowning at Zhao Zheng in the lead and demanding,

"What are you Yuan Rong people doing wandering around our Di Rong territory?"