Chapter Thirty-Five: Village Design

The magistrate of Xinye County was surnamed Wang, his name Wang Yi, a native of Jizhou. He was originally a descendant of the former political faction, but after the chaos caused by Dong Zhuo, the power of the party crumbled and his homeland fell into turmoil, prompting him to seek refuge in Jingzhou under Liu Biao.

Upon learning that many members of the Deng clan were returning home from abroad, and with Liu Biao’s command, Wang Yi dared not be negligent and went out of the city to welcome them.

Liu Xian led Deng Mao, Deng Hong, Deng Zhao, Shen Zhen, and others to meet Wang Yi, while the elders remained outside the city for the time being. The party entered Xinye County, heading to the magistrate's residence to discuss matters.

Shen Chen followed the elders inside. Upon arrival at the magistrate’s office, they found someone already waiting—a man who appeared to be in his fifties or sixties. Wang Yi introduced him: “This is Deng Qi, the current elder of the Xinye Deng clan.”

“I am Deng Mao,” said one.

“And I am Deng Hong.”

“I am Deng Zhao.”

The group exchanged greetings.

Deng Qi, holding several bamboo scrolls in his arms, addressed them, “Let us compare our genealogies.”

Deng Mao gestured, and Deng Zhao handed over the bamboo scrolls he carried. The two sat together and began examining each other’s records.

After a while, their genealogies matched. Deng Qi smiled, “So you are my younger cousins.”

Upon verification, it turned out Deng Qi’s grandfather and Deng Mao’s grandfather were brothers, both sons of Lord Ye Hou Deng Guangzong. When the Deng clan fell from power, Deng Mao’s grandfather moved to Xuzhou, while Deng Qi’s grandfather went south to Yicheng, and in Deng Qi’s father's generation, returned to Nanyang.

Thus, Deng Qi and the others were related as paternal cousins.

Deng Mao sighed bitterly, “The world is harsh. Xuzhou has become a wasteland, and we had no choice but to flee to Nanyang with our families. I hope my elder cousin will take us in.”

Deng Qi chuckled, “We are family, and naturally must help one another. Nanyang lacks everything but land. Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, our homeland has fallen into ruin and the population has dwindled. There are abandoned fields everywhere—if reclaimed, we can survive once more.”

“Thank you, elder brother,” Deng Mao replied, breathing a deep sigh of relief. His greatest worry had been whether the elders would accept them, but fortunately the war had left vast tracts of abandoned land, so there was no need to worry about finding a place to settle.

Wang Yi pondered, “Xinye now has wastelands everywhere. The best area is along the Sha River, which can easily accommodate over a thousand people. Let’s settle your village there.”

“Thank you, magistrate,” Deng Mao said gratefully.

With the location decided, Wang Yi and Deng Qi personally led the group there.

The elders of Huangmen Pavilion set off again. The Sha River, which runs between Yu River and Bi River, connects both regions. Besides Sha River, there were also Lih River, Tangzi River, and others.

The Nanyang basin was nearly as large as the Guanzhong basin. During the reign of Emperor He, its population reached over two million, accounting for two-fifths of Jingzhou’s total population.

But since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Nanyang basin suffered repeated disasters. Early on, Yuan Shu occupied the area, and his rule was lawless and predatory, his greed insatiable, bringing misery to the people and gradually leading Nanyang into decline.

However, in the past two years, Yuan Shu was defeated by Liu Biao and Cao Cao and forced to retreat to Huainan, so Nanyang’s situation improved considerably. Now, with a population of around one million, it was a crucial source of grain and manpower for Liu Biao.

Thus, Liu Biao stationed significant forces in Nanyang. Wen Pin guarded Wancheng, Cai Mao—Grand Administrator of Nan Commandery and General Who Guards the South—was based in Xiangyang, and Liu Biao’s nephew Zhang Yun in Fancheng.

Aside from these main armies defending the north, there were other armed groups. Gan Ning was present with eight hundred men, as was Huo Jun’s elder brother Huo Du with several hundred, and others like Shen Mi, Lou Fa, and more than ten other groups of varying sizes.

In fact, the two hundred-strong clan militia from Huangmen Pavilion could also be considered a military force.

Shen Chen arrived at the resettlement site with the elders and saw the vast expanse of the Nanyang basin, wild grass growing everywhere, distant forests blocking the sun. Sha River, though not large, was the watercourse between the future Bai River and Tang River, more than sufficient to irrigate their fields.

The elders moved in, chopping trees, building houses, reclaiming land. Amidst the bustle, Deng Mao convened a clan meeting.

After relocating to Nanyang, the first assembly of the elders of Huangmen Pavilion was held at the foot of a small hill northeast of Sha River. The area was densely wooded and overgrown, and though winter had not yet brought snow, the air was chilly.

Deng Zhao called several strong men to cut down trees and build a temporary shelter.

Deng Mao, Deng Hong, and their brothers, along with two elders from the Shen clan and Shen Chen, eight in total, sat in solemn rows.

The meeting covered several topics, chiefly three: confirming Shen Chen’s leadership status, planning the new village for Huangmen Pavilion, and discussing the clan’s future development.

Deng Mao spoke first, “Though A’Chen is of another surname, the Deng and Shen clans have always acted together. That we managed to return to our ancestral land is due to his efforts. I support A’Chen’s leadership in future clan affairs.”

Deng Hong nodded, “A’Chen is wise, and thanks to him I secured a post in Jingzhou. I agree.”

“I have no objections.”

“A’Chen may be young, but he is steady in character. With him, we should be fine.”

“Then it’s settled. A’Chen, what do you think?”

The elders had no disagreement.

Since the beginning of the year, Shen Chen had been advocating for relocation, which the villagers initially ignored, but his predictions soon came true.

After Cao Cao’s massacre in Xuzhou, the villagers were terrified. This incident increased Shen Chen’s influence within the clan, making his words respected.

He then organized the migration route, trained the clan militia, arranged land deals with the wealthy Mi Zhu of Xuzhou, and managed everything efficiently, earning the villagers’ trust.

While the villagers valued Shen Chen’s wisdom and ability to ensure their survival in turbulent times, Deng Mao, Deng Hong, and the others focused on the clan’s future.

As descendants of the Deng clan, their perspective was broader than common folk. They understood that in such times, without status or office, one’s life was as vulnerable as livestock.

Just as in Xuzhou, Cao Cao sought revenge against Governor Tao Qian, but Tao had ten thousand troops defending the city. Unable to breach it, Cao Cao vented his anger on the people of the surrounding villages and counties.

Without Shen Chen, Huangmen Pavilion might have been littered with corpses.

Thus, after the tragedy, Deng Mao and the others realized they needed power to avoid such calamity. Lacking power themselves, they chose to follow one who possessed it.

Shen Chen was the ideal candidate: a relative through marriage, with boundless prospects.

Seizing the moment, they formalized Shen Chen’s leadership, binding him to the clan.

“Thank you, uncles, for your trust. I may not feel qualified to lead, but time is short and much needs doing,” Shen Chen replied gravely. “Our immediate task is to build the village and reclaim the fields. So I’ll temporarily take charge of major clan decisions. As for farming, you elders are more experienced, so I won’t interfere. But I’ll handle the village’s planning. Is that agreeable?”

Deng Mao said, “You make the decisions, A’Chen.”

“Very well,” Shen Chen nodded, “For the next few days, everyone should cut timber and build shelters. Meanwhile, I’ll survey the surroundings and then design the construction.”

With matters settled, Shen Chen began his survey, searching several square kilometers for suitable sites.

Wang Yi’s chosen area lay north of Sha River, with the river to the south—a medium river, seventeen or eighteen zhang wide, deep enough for irrigation, flanked by vast lands.

To the northeast was a woodland—more a series of hills than true mountains, the highest just over twenty zhang, and numerous smaller slopes seven or eight zhang high, densely forested and home to many animals.

To the north, northwest, west, and southwest stretched plains with lush vegetation. It was said that further west lay a village destroyed in the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

After several days, Shen Chen decided to build the village on the north bank of Sha River, about two hundred meters from the water.

He also planned to clear large tracts of farmland on the south bank and around the village.

This layout was chosen because Shen Chen intended to dig tunnels; soil near the river was too moist for excavation, so he placed the village farther from the river.

Water needs could be met by constructing channels.

Moreover, this was the narrowest section of Sha River, only seven or eight zhang wide—perfect for building a bridge, allowing unified use of farmland on both banks.

East of the village was the hilly area, where Shen Chen planned a major project: constructing fortresses above and shelters below, with tunnels connecting directly to the village. Thus, even if attacked, people could quickly hide.

Additionally, Shen Chen instructed every household to build a latrine. Following his designs, each family would dig a square cellar in the backyard and build a rammed-earth hut above it for livestock.

Though Han households had latrines, these were usually reserved for noble families or city dwellers. Ordinary villagers were lucky to have a simple rammed-earth or wooden house, with a hall, a bedroom, perhaps a kitchen, but rarely a dedicated latrine.

Modern rural houses, as we know them, only appeared in Ming and Qing times. Composting techniques emerged in the Southern Song, became widespread in Yuan, and reached every corner by Ming and Qing; Han people did not know these methods.

Before crossing time, Shen Chen had worked in architectural design at a design institute.

His work focused on civil architecture, but during his studies he traveled the country, observing regional building styles, ancient fortresses, estates, cities, and numerous rural old homes.

Thus, he had some insight into rural construction.

Given the population of Huangmen Pavilion, building a city was impossible, but a Qionglong was feasible.

This structure, originating in the Eastern Han, was created by the Qiang people of Xiliang and used even in later times, withstanding artillery fire.

After days of surveying, Shen Chen finally mapped out areas for fields, residences, Qionglong fortifications, and some tunnels and hidden bunkers.

Qionglong tunnels and bunkers were ancient architectural features found from the Spring and Autumn period through the Eastern Han, though often poorly designed and uncommon.

Crucially, such constructions were only suited to small-scale projects.

Even in the anti-Japanese era, the famous tunnel warfare in the central Hebei plains involved connecting village tunnels rather than massive excavations.

Thus, for guerrilla warfare and small-scale conflict, they were especially useful.