noveltune Chapter 3, Year 2 of Qizhou
Chapter 3, Year 2 of Qizhou
After the military meeting at Mengjin, Ji Fa and Jiang Shang ordered their troops to return to the capital, citing that the time was not yet ripe to attack the Shang state.
After leaving Mengjin, Zhang Zhao accepted Ji Fa's invitation to ride in the same carriage with him. After discussing the future development of Qizhou, Zhang Zhao returned to the carriage of Zhang clan members.
The ancestor of the Zhang family to which he belongs is unknown. In the original owner's memories, the Zhang family settled in Chaoge during the reign of King Wu Ding, and he is the current head of the Zhang family.
Unlike Zhang Zhao, who was beaming with joy, his wife Si Hao, who was sitting in the same carriage with him, looked sorrowful.
"Does Madam miss Chaoge?" Zhang Zhao scratched his head and asked.
Si Hao lowered her head and sighed, "If I go now, I'm afraid I'll never have the chance to see my parents and relatives again in this lifetime."
Si Hao was the wife he married when he was still in charge of the rites and music of the Shang Dynasty in Chaoge. She was the daughter of a descendant of the Xia Dynasty and had a gentle and kind nature. She has been with him ever since, managing the household affairs without ever complaining.
Zhang Zhao grasped her hand and said gently, "Madam, rest assured, within three years, the royal army will surely conquer Chaoge. His Majesty is a benevolent ruler and will not make things difficult for my father-in-law."
Hearing his words, Si Hao's worried expression lessened considerably. She nestled in his arms and softly asked, "Husband, what kind of place is Qizhou?"
Zhang Zhao thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "It may not be as prosperous as Chaoge, but it will definitely be a good place."
Si Hao looked up at him with a smile on her face and didn't ask any more questions.
……
They traveled westward along the Wei River, covered in dust and grime. After the army set off to return to the capital, Zhang Ke rode his horse back and forth in front of and behind the caravan, occasionally running to report to Zhang Zhao on the situation of his clansmen.
"Brother, everyone is in good spirits. It's just that some of the elders from the other branches are grumbling that the road is getting more and more desolate, and they are worried that the Prince of Qizhou will not have a good time when he arrives."
Zhang Zhao nodded: "Go and tell them that with me here, the Zhang family will not suffer any losses." He said this with confidence.
……
The caravan did not travel fast, firstly because there were many people in the tribe, including the elderly, the weak, women and children; secondly, Ji Fa had specifically instructed that there was no need to rush, but to rest along the way, so that the army and the feudal lords could return west at a leisurely pace.
On the fourth day of their return journey, the caravan passed a high point. Zhang Ke rode back from the front, excitedly shouting, "Brother, look! We've reached Qishan!"
Zhang Zhao lifted the carriage curtain and looked westward.
In the distance, a continuous mountain range stretches across the horizon, its peaks layered upon each other, shimmering with a bluish-gray halo under the autumn sun.
At the foot of the mountain lies a vast expanse of flat plains, with the Wei River flowing like a silver ribbon, meandering across the plains before merging into a wider river in the distance.
Qishan is the place where the Zhou people rose to power.
"The Phoenix Sings in Qishan"
The legends of the impending rise of the Zhou dynasty in later generations began from here.
Upon entering the territory of Qizhou, Zhang Zhao witnessed the Zhou people's appearance for the first time.
Although the villages along the way were simple, every household kept their front door clean and tidy, and the crops in the fields were harvested neatly.
When pedestrians on the road saw the Zhou king's banner, they all stopped and bowed, their faces filled with sincere admiration, unlike the fear and trepidation that the people of Chaoge felt when they saw the Shang king's chariot.
"The Zhou king holds a much heavier place in the hearts of his people than the Shang king," Zhang Ke said to Zhang Zhao in a low voice, his tone tinged with surprise.
Zhang Zhao nodded in agreement.
The convoy met up outside Fengyi city.
Fengyi was the capital city built during the reign of King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang. Although it was not as large as Chaoge, its city walls were high and thick, its city gates were majestic, and its palaces were well-arranged, showing the grandeur of a great state.
Previously, the capital of Qizhou was located at the southern foot of Qishan Mountain. Later, after Ji Chang destroyed the state of Chong, he built Fengyi on the west bank of the Feng River and moved the capital there.
Over the years, Qi Zhou attacked the Quanrong and Mixu, destroyed the Chong state, established Fengyi, and moved the capital there; then it attacked the Yu state and destroyed the Li state. More and more feudal lords submitted to it, and the country's strength grew day by day.
Looking at the city walls of Fengyi, Zhang Zhao couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
This was the capital of the Zhou people. In a few hundred years, it would be called Fengjing, and together with Haojing on the other side of the river, it would be called Fenghao.
After Ji Fa settled the Zhang clan members, he also bestowed a residence near the palace upon Zhang Zhao.
In the alley near the palace, Zhang Zhao's residence is a three-courtyard complex. Although not large, it is one of the best residences in Fengyi.
That night, after settling in, Zhang Zhao stood in the courtyard, looking at the stars in the sky.
The night sky in Fengyi was much clearer than that in Chaoge. The Milky Way stretched across the sky, and the stars were densely packed, like a handful of broken silver.
"Husband, it's time to rest." Si Hao held an oil lamp and stood under the eaves, calling to him softly.
"it is good."
Zhang Zhao turned and walked up the steps, took the lamp from his wife's hand, and led her back into the house.
Behind me, the night breeze rustled the newly planted locust tree in the courtyard.
……
On the second day after arriving in Fengyi, Zhang Zhao was summoned to the royal palace to participate in court discussions.
It turned out that as the population of Fengyi grew increasingly prosperous, the city was becoming too crowded, so Ji Fa wanted to build a new capital on the east bank of the Feng River.
Zhang Zhao knew that this was the later Haojing. The Book of Songs, Greater Odes, "King Wen You Sheng" records: "He consulted the oracle and settled in Haojing," which refers to this place.
The court decided that the construction of the new capital would be overseen by the fourth prince, Ji Dan.
Zhang Zhao didn't assign him any tasks; he was only called in to make an appearance.
After the meeting, Zhang Zhao returned home. He had barely sat down when a servant came to announce that the Fourth Young Master had come to visit.
Zhang Zhao stood up, straightened his clothes, and quickly walked to the courtyard gate to greet them.
"The presence of the Fourth Young Master is an honor to our humble abode."
Ji Dan smiled and cupped his hands in greeting: "Duke Zhao, I have come uninvited and have disturbed you."
"Fourth Young Master, what are you saying? Please come in."
Zhang Zhao led Ji Dan into the main hall and ordered someone to serve him tea.
The two sat facing each other. Ji Dan looked around and nodded, saying, "This residence of Duke Zhao is quite spacious. If you need anything, please feel free to ask."
"Your Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated. Everything here is complete; nothing is lacking." Zhang Zhao paused, then asked, "Fourth Prince, is there something you wish to discuss with me today?"
Ji Dan picked up the earthenware bowl, took a sip of tea, pondered for a moment, and said, "His Majesty has ordered me to oversee the construction of the new capital. There are some things I am unsure about, and I would like to ask Duke Zhao to help me with his consideration."
Zhang Zhao's heart stirred. The construction of Haojing was indeed a major event. He hadn't mentioned it at all in court because he felt it inappropriate to take the initiative since he was new to the capital. Now that Ji Dan had personally come to seek his advice, he couldn't betray that trust.
"Please speak, Fourth Prince. I will answer everything."
Ji Dan said, "I plan to choose a site on the east bank of the Feng River, facing Fengyi across the water. I intend to model the city's layout after Fengyi, but make it slightly larger. Duke Zhao has seen the grandeur of a large state in Chaoge; do you have any suggestions?"
After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Zhao decided to describe the layout of Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, to Ji Dan. Although the current Qi Zhou was not capable of building a city like Chang'an, building a smaller version should not be a problem.
"Fourth Young Master, the problem with Chaoge City is not its size, but its overall strategy."
"pattern?"
"That's right," Zhang Zhao said. "Chaoge City was expanded by the Shang people over the past few hundred years. Palaces, ancestral temples, noble residences, and commoners' dwellings are all mixed together without a unified plan. The streets are narrow and the drainage is poor. When it rains heavily, the city becomes muddy. The place where the Shang king lived was magnificent, but not far outside the palace were slums and alleys, and the filth wafted straight to the palace gates."
Ji Dan nodded thoughtfully.
Zhang Zhao continued, "The new capital is built from the ground up, so it should be clearly planned from the beginning. I suggest that the royal palace be located to the north, the ancestral temple to the left, and the altar of the land and grain to the right. The offices of all officials should surround the royal palace for easy access by the king. The residences of nobles should be concentrated to the south of the royal palace, and the residences of commoners should be further south. Craftsmen and merchants should be housed in separate areas, each with their own place, so that they do not mix with each other."
Ji Dan's eyes lit up. "The royal palace is in the north, with the ancestral temple on the left and the altar of the land and grain on the right... and then what?"
"The streets," Zhang Zhao continued, "the main roads must be wide, at least wide enough for three chariots to travel abreast. The secondary roads cannot be too narrow either; two chariots abreast is the bare minimum. With wide streets, troop movements and supply transport will not be blocked."
"And then there's drainage." Zhang Zhao thought of the sewer systems of later cities. Although they couldn't be copied exactly, the basic principles were the same. After all, ancient cities also had drainage systems.
"Chaoge lacks proper drainage systems, and during the rainy season, sewage overflows everywhere. Xindu needs to plan drainage ditches in advance, with some on both sides of the main road, leading to the river outside the city. As long as the water can flow out, the city will not be polluted."
After listening to this, Ji Dan pondered for a moment, then looked at Zhang Zhao with admiration in his eyes: "Your words, Duke Zhao, truly impress me greatly."
"Fourth Young Master is too kind."
"Then, what about the city walls?" Ji Dan pressed.
"We must have city walls, and they must be high and thick," Zhang Zhao said firmly. "The city walls of the new capital must be built of rammed earth, with a base three zhang wide, a top width of one zhang, and a height of over two zhang. Horses must be able to run on the walls, and a watchtower must be set up every hundred paces. The city gates must have barbicans, so that even if the enemy breaches the outer gate, the inner gate can still be defended."
Ji Dan listened intently, memorizing every word Zhang Zhao said. He let out a long breath and said solemnly, "Lord Zhao, now that you've said this, I would like to ask for your assistance in building the new capital."
"Since the Fourth Young Master trusts me so much, how could I not do my best?" Zhang Zhao said, cupping his hands in greeting.
Ji Dan smiled with satisfaction.
The two chatted for a long time, from the city walls of Xindu to the street layout, from the drainage ditches to the orientation of the city gates.
Zhang Zhao recounted his memory of the layout of Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty, bit by bit. As the sun gradually began to set, Ji Dan rose to take his leave, and Zhang Zhao rose to see him off.
News of the construction of Haojing quickly spread throughout Qizhou. Some applauded it, while others complained, feeling it was a waste of resources and manpower, and an unnecessary undertaking.
But Ji Fa was adamant, and Jiang Shang also expressed his support, so the dissenting voices gradually faded away.
At the same time, the three things Zhang Zhao proposed in Mengjin began to be implemented one by one.
The first thing is to win people's hearts.
Ji Fa issued the "Decree on Reducing Punishments and Taxes," releasing Zhou people who had been sold into slavery due to famine, war, or injustice, and strictly forbidding nobles from arbitrarily enslaving free people. At the same time, he established "alcoholics" in Fengyi and the newly built Haojing to take in widows, orphans, the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled.
These measures initially encountered considerable resistance. Some nobles privately complained, "If we free the slaves, who will cultivate our fields?"
Zhang Zhao was prepared for this.
He suggested that Ji Fa begin by freeing the royal family's slaves as an example, and then gradually extend this practice to nobles at all levels. At the same time, a decree was issued allowing freed slaves to rent land from nobles, paying a fixed amount of grain as rent annually. This solved the labor problem while also protecting the interests of the nobles.
In this way, resistance gradually turned into support.
When this news reached the surrounding states, the people praised him, saying, "King Zhou of Qizhou is benevolent, releasing slaves and helping the orphans and widows. He is truly a wise and virtuous ruler!"
As a result, people kept fleeing from the territory of the Shang state to Qizhou seeking refuge. Ji Fa welcomed all who came and made proper arrangements for them.
The population of Qizhou increased by 20% in just six months.
The second thing was to establish rites and music.
Although matters concerning rites and music were not carried out on a large scale, the groundwork had already begun.
In the midst of his busy schedule, Ji Dan organized a team to collect the etiquette norms and music and dance rules of the Shang and Zhou tribes, classify and archive them as materials for future rites and music creation.
Zhang Zhao served as an advisor, occasionally offering ideas that impressed Ji Dan.
The third thing is to compile historical records.
This matter was spearheaded by the Grand Historian Xin Jia, with Zhang Zhao assisting him. Xin Jia had served as the Grand Historian in the Shang Dynasty for many years and was proficient in oracle bone divination and the collation of classical texts. However, as he himself said, the Shang people's divination inscriptions were "recorded today as one event, and tomorrow as another, with no one to organize or compile them."
Zhang Zhao offered him a new approach: to compile the deeds of past kings in chronological order, starting with Hou Ji, then Gong Liu, Gu Gong Danfu, and finally King Wen, with each generation forming its own volume. Major events should be recorded, minor events included, the deeds of wise rulers and virtuous ministers should be celebrated, and the lessons of foolish rulers and rebellious ministers should also be recorded as a warning to future generations.
Upon hearing this, Xin Jia slapped the table in admiration: "Duke Zhao's method is excellent! How come I, an old minister, never thought of this in all my years in Shang?"
Zhang Zhao dared not admit that this was his own idea.
With all three lines of development proceeding simultaneously, Qizhou is showing unprecedented vitality.
Ji Fa was busy with state affairs every day, but he was noticeably more energetic than when he attended the alliance meeting. He often said to his ministers in court, "With Duke Zhao, I am like a fish in water."
Zhang Zhao always humbly declined such praise, and his reputation for virtue gradually spread far and wide, earning him the admiration of the people of the surrounding states.
"Duke Zhao of Qizhou was a humble, benevolent, and wise sage!"
"How foolish the Shang king was to dismiss such a wise man!"
Such praise spread from Qizhou to all corners of the world, including Chaoge.
At that time, Emperor Zhou had just returned to Chaoge from the southeast with his troops and had caught a cold, having been bedridden for many days. It is said that upon hearing this remark, he was immediately enraged, and his cold was cured instantly...
……
Ji Dan and Zhang Zhao built Haojing, which took a year and a half to complete. It was a grand and well-organized city. After its completion, Ji Fa made it the center of his residence and administration. Previously, Fengjing was the location of ancestral temples and gardens.
Because of his merit in building Haojing, and because the three proposals he put forward were all genuinely beneficial to Qizhou, Zhang Zhao was promoted to Sima by Ji Fa. At the same time, he discovered that at the moment of his promotion to Sima, his clan's reputation also increased by one thousand points.
The family's second legacy—"Abundant Harvests"—has also been successfully illuminated.
The effect of "Abundant Harvest" is a 15% increase in fertility, allowing family members to thrive and multiply.
However, what made Zhang Zhao feel the most about the change in his life was neither the rise of Qizhou nor his promotion to Sima, but something else entirely.
He became a father.
Fortunately, Si became pregnant in the second month after arriving in Qizhou.
When Zhang Zhao first heard the news, he was stunned for a while, then suddenly stood up and walked around the room several times, startling his cousin Zhang Ke.
"Brother? What's wrong?"
"No, it's nothing." Zhang Zhao took a deep breath, trying to make his expression return to normal. "Send someone to invite the best midwives, no, invite several more. You personally oversee the lady's daily life, and there can be no mistakes."
Zhang Ke looked at him suspiciously, but still accepted the order and went.
Zhang Zhao sat alone in the room, rubbing his forehead and smiling bitterly.
Before he transmigrated, he was an office worker who had never even been in a relationship; but now, he has his own child, a real person connected by blood.
He will have a life in this world that is connected to his own flesh and blood.
This feeling is both exhilarating and terrifying.
Si Hao's pregnancy was relatively stable. She was a quiet woman who didn't like to talk much, but she was very thoughtful. When Zhang Zhao was busy with government affairs, she never disturbed him. She would just have someone bring him a bowl of hot soup every evening, along with the words, "Husband, please rest early."
Every time Zhang Zhao finished drinking the soup, he would secretly sigh to himself: I married a good wife.
Pregnant in October and giving birth once.
On the night Si Hao was about to give birth, Zhang Zhao paced back and forth outside the delivery room, anxious and restless.
The elders of the clan all came to comfort him: "Master, don't worry, the lady is in good health and will be fine."
Zhang Zhao agreed verbally, but his steps never faltered.
The cries of pain from Si Shi echoed from the delivery room, one after another, piercing his heart like needles.
Zhang Da Sima, known throughout the court for his composure, was now so nervous that his palms were sweating.
"Wow--"
A loud cry came from the delivery room.
Zhang Zhao suddenly stopped.
The curtain was lifted, and a midwife emerged, carrying a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, her face beaming: "Congratulations, sir, it's a boy!"
Zhang Zhao reached out his hand, only to find his body trembling slightly.
He carefully took the baby and looked down at it. The baby's small face was wrinkled, its eyes were closed, and its mouth was opening and closing as it cried loudly and energetically.
"Like your mother," Zhang Zhao muttered to himself, his eyes suddenly welling up with tears.
"Master, shall we name the child?" an elder from the clan suggested from the side.
Zhang Zhao thought for a moment and said, "Let's call him Chengsi. Cheng means to continue. May he inherit the virtues of his ancestors, carry on the family business, and live a fulfilling life."
Si Hao was weak after childbirth and lay on the delivery bed. When she heard this name, she nodded slightly.
Zhang Zhao sat down on the edge of the bed with his son in his arms and whispered to Si Shi, "You've worked hard."
Si shook her head, reached out and touched the baby's face, her voice weak but full of joy: "He looks like you."
"No, you're prettier."
A blush rose on Si's pale face, and she spat lightly, "Glib tongue."
Zhang Zhao smiled, a very happy smile.
This was the first time in his life that he truly felt he belonged here.
……
The birth of Zhang Chengsi brought jubilation to the entire Zhang family.
When the news reached the palace, Ji Fa specially sent someone to deliver congratulatory gifts: a fine jade disc, a bolt of brocade, and a live sheep.
"His Majesty says that Sima has worked hard for Qizhou and is now blessed with a son, which should be congratulated," the messenger relayed.
Zhang Zhao bowed towards the direction of the palace and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."
Ji Dan also personally came to offer his congratulations, and brought a wooden plaque he had carved himself, inscribed with the four characters "麟趾呈祥" (Lin Zhi Cheng Xiang, meaning "Auspiciousness Abounds"), the characters being upright and dignified, displaying a strong sense of style.
"Fourth Young Master, these four characters are written so well," Zhang Zhao exclaimed sincerely.
Ji Dan smiled and said, "It's not well written, but the intention is good. Duke Zhao, this child was born to you in Qizhou."
Zhang Zhao was slightly taken aback, but then he understood the deeper meaning behind Ji Dan's words.
Yes, Chengsi was born and raised in Qizhou. He was a Zhou person, not a Yin person.
What does this mean for the Zhang family?
It means a complete transformation.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
"In the tenth year of the king's reign, his second ancestor, Si, was born in Fengyi." — Records of the Grand Historian, Zhang Liang Family
"In the tenth year of the king's reign, Emperor Wenzhao and the Duke of Zhou built Luoyi." — Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Zhou
"When Wen Zhao oversaw the completion of Luoyi, the king said, 'Having Wen Zhao is like a fish finding water!'" — Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Zhou
"The virtue of Emperor Wenzhao spread throughout the world, and the world praised him, saying: 'Emperor Wenzhao was humble and modest, truly a wise man! Emperor Zhou ignored him and was foolish!'" — Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Zhou