Chapter 48: Heading North or Heading South (Part Two)

“In theory, it should be possible,” Zhao Liang said after some thought. He approached the map but soon noticed there was no indication of any land further north. Frustrated, he withdrew his hand and muttered, “Actually, the north shouldn’t be like this…”

“How so?” the Empress asked, curious.

“I heard from others that if you follow the waterways northward, you can travel around to a place even farther than the northern desert and beyond the northern sea. That area isn’t barren like the desert but instead boasts vast forests and rivers. Merchants go there to trade with the local tribes who survive by hunting, buying furs from them and selling daily necessities. Back in the day, when Genghis Khan ordered Jochi to lead the army northward to conquer the ‘forest dwellers,’ he was probably referring to one of these tribes.”

“At that time, traveling north from the capital, you would pass through Shangdu and Yingchang, then continue north along the border where the Jurchens and Mongols met, thus bypassing the desert. But nowadays, that path is chaotic, as it’s a contested zone for various powers, making it practically unusable.”

“However, going north from Liaoyang into the territories of the ‘Raw Jurchens,’ then northwest into the forest lands, you can still reach the area around the northern sea, even circumvent it. This route is rich in waterways, allowing travel along rivers all the way to Qianqian Prefecture. Beyond that, heading west, you enter the domain of the Golden Horde.”

“This route was used during the Yuan Dynasty,” Cao Jian added. “Historical records show that during the reigns of Emperor Shizu and Emperor Chengzong, because the Khans of Ögedei and Chagatai opposed the Yuan, and the Mongols in the northern desert frequently rebelled, the western passage was often blocked. As a result, Yuan envoys frequently took a detour through the far north, attempting to reach the Golden Horde, likely following this very path.”

“How many troops can this route accommodate?” Tuotu Buhan asked directly, cutting to the heart of the matter.

“That depends on the segment,” Zhao Liang hesitated briefly, then glanced at Guo Kang and answered straightforwardly, “From Qianqian Prefecture westward, that section can handle a full army. During Batu Khan’s western expedition, they traveled part of this route.”

“The local geography is quite unusual,” he reflected, trying to explain more intuitively. “When I was young, I always thought the world revolved around the Central Plains—the center was the wealthiest, and the farther you went out, the poorer it got. But I’ve come to realize that’s not the case.”

“For example, in the north, there’s no wealthy center, only a ‘barren center,’ which is the desert itself. It’s the harshest environment, while everything around it is better off, including the area north of the desert.”

“Beyond the desert lies a grassland region where some ‘felt tent people’ herd their livestock. Further north is an endless forest. The border between forest and grassland seems to me the most fertile area around here. In some places, farming is even possible. Qianqian Prefecture, I believe, is a typical example.”

“What kind of place is that?” the Empress asked.

“Qianqian Prefecture is north of the Danu Mountains, at the upper reaches of the Qian River—which is peculiar because it flows north rather than east,” Zhao Liang explained. “Though it’s northwest of the desert, this area is actually quite prosperous. The soil is fertile; locals sow crops in summer and harvest in autumn, often without needing to till the land. There are iron and salt mines, providing raw materials.”

The Empress looked to Guo Kang and Cao Jian for their opinions. Guo Kang nodded, approving Zhao Liang’s assessment.

The Qian River is what later became known as the Yenisei River, which indeed flows northward into the Arctic Ocean. Zhao Liang’s account was accurate.

“This place used to belong to Western Liao and the Kyrgyz people, who were the Tang Dynasty’s Xiakjas,” Zhao Liang continued, encouraged by their approval. “The locals claim descent from Li Ling and identify themselves as the ancient Jiankun from the Han Dynasty. This connection might explain why the area isn’t very… Mongol, but rather resembles our Han lands.”

“In the past, Genghis Khan gave this region to Tore’s wife, Sorho Tienbige. They often relocated Han settlers unaccustomed to the Mongolian climate here to cultivate millet and wheat, improving local agriculture. There were also workshops producing various goods. As a result, the region developed rapidly, even establishing arms and armor factories, and producing fine silks and brocades.”

“The area always had Han officials managing it. Later, during Emperor Shizu’s reign, it was expanded into Yilan Prefecture, appointing Liu Haoli as the Five Departments Commissioner, overseeing the Qian and Angula Rivers and similar regions. Liu Haoli codified the tax system, built government offices, warehouses, and post stations—many of these systems are still used locally. Overall, it’s quite distinct from Mongol lands.”

“We have records for the former territory of the Golden Horde as well,” Cao Jian nodded. “Starting from Saray or Kazan, you can follow the route Timur took northward from the river. This path can definitely accommodate large armies; it’s been tested multiple times. We won’t go into the river’s interior but will divert eastward midway to Qianqian Prefecture to establish a base. Theoretically, this is feasible.”

“Qianqian Prefecture…” Borjian flipped through his notes. “Records say that during the Tang Dynasty, locals paid tribute to the imperial government and requested the establishment of Tang officials. Thus, the court set up the Jiankun Military Commission here. So this area was already considered part of the Peach Blossom Stone domain.”

“Suddenly, it feels not so distant after all,” he said with a smile.

“The grassland trade route is indeed much closer than the one through Central Asia and Persia,” Cao Jian agreed. “My father once considered this and consulted scholars who calculated it. They concluded our world is a sphere, not flat, so the route through Persia is indeed longer. Caravans took that path mainly because Persia was more prosperous, allowing continuous trade along the way. But if the goal is just to travel quickly from here to the East, the northern route is definitely the shortest.”

“But I must warn everyone, reaching Qianqian Prefecture is only the first step,” he shifted the conversation. “Regardless of whether the tribes along the way are cooperative, how to proceed from there remains a challenge.”

“From Qianqian Prefecture, you can go directly south to Guting Prefecture, then follow the ancient Silk Road eastward into Hexi. This was the oldest route, used by locals paying tribute in the past. But now, it’s occupied by the Oirats, and we don’t know their stance. Moreover, East Chagatai remains unstable; the previous turmoil lasted so long no one can feel secure.”

“If we don’t head south but continue eastward, passing north of the northern sea and circumventing the felt-tent peoples, we should reach Liaoyang Province. But that brings us back to the earlier question—how many troops can this route support? Do we have sufficient information and experience to rely on it?” he questioned.