A World Without War
A heavy silence fell over the assembly. Even the ever-bold Hualian and the smooth-tongued Gao Yanyu were struck speechless. The proposal Gongsun Zan had just laid before them was that shocking.
“Uh… hold on a second, little brother Zan? So… you’re saying… you want us to submit and become your vassals?”
“No, that’s not it at all. We will form a confederation of states. As the first step, anyone from a nation that joins this alliance will be able to cross borders freely into allied territory. If they wish, they will be permitted to sell goods anywhere they like.”
“That’s basically the same thing. Your land is currently the most prosperous place to live, so you’re just trying to lure our people away… isn’t that it?”
“It’s a perfectly understandable misunderstanding. However, I believe I can clear it up by citing the example of Duke Jo, who was among the very first to join. Duke Jo, have I ever once demanded that your people submit and become subjects of Yan?”
“…You have not. You have given them money and encouraged them to farm empty lands and settle there, but you never demanded submission.”
“Of course, we cannot send the people of the Three Han states, Goguryeo, or the great northern plains to Yan’s lands because our cultures differ too greatly. But merchants will be able to sell their goods. And if merchants can sell, the circumstances in each region will improve. If every product grown across the vast lands of the Hanza Alliance can be obtained anywhere, the world will have fewer reasons to fall into chaos. And even if chaos does come, there will be no need to flee to neighboring countries.”
“…Little brother Zan, so what you’re saying is… you’ll come all the way to our lands to sell the things you sell in your own territory? What do you want in return?”
“In your lands, sister, fine warhorses are raised, high-quality furs are abundant, and bronze is plentiful, yet you lack grain and salt. Conversely, Yan produces abundant grain and salt, as well as iron, but we are short on quality horses. The merchant ships of Mokji are light and swift, the handicrafts made in Silla are unmatched anywhere in the world, and the musical instruments of Goguryeo produce tones that are simply exquisite. Of course, private trade already occurs to some degree… but wouldn’t it be possible to attempt something more active and vigorous—trade at the official, governmental level?”
Gongsun Zan listed off the special products of each region one after another—the very goods each faction had been using as weapons in private-level exchanges.
“I will provide the waterways and roads necessary to transport those specialty goods. Naturally, I will not charge any construction or labor fees. In return, I only ask that you maintain the roads properly when the time comes.”
“…You’re saying you’ll lay roads for free? Those carriage roads?”
The Roman-style paved roads, learned from engineers brought over from Rome, had not yet covered all of Yan’s territory. While they required a great deal of labor, the technology itself held no particularly great secrets. According to Gongsun Zan’s standards, one simply dug about five cheok (roughly two meters) deep, layered gravel, stones, and clay to create a flat, solid foundation, then tightly packed cut stones on top. Using a mixture of commonly available lime and sand to create concrete blocks—paving stones—one could drastically reduce the cost of finding and shaping suitable stones.
It was true that costs were still incurred, and even if roads were laid for free across the territories of those joining this alliance, immediate benefits would be difficult to see. Declaring that no tolls would be charged either was a gesture of goodwill that the various warlords found hard to comprehend.
“Let me speak plainly. In the current world, is there any nation stronger than my Yan?”
“Ahem…”
“Well, that’s…”
“Of course, sister’s Xianbei Empire is powerful as well. But do you have the confidence to survive after crossing the Great Wall and crashing into our border fortresses?”
“No. That would be suicide. And if those eyes of yours go crazy, even I wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“Exactly. That is why this Gongsun Zan is willing to take the loss. As I said earlier, my dream is to create a world where everyone can live like one family. The eldest brother of a household should be the one buying snacks for his younger siblings, not the one snatching away their snot-covered coins. Moreover… if we place heavy obligations on the position of alliance leader, won’t that prevent future descendants from starting wars just to claim the seat for themselves?”
Despite all the twists and turns he had experienced, Gongsun Zan’s one hope had remained the same since the beginning. It would be good if there were no wars. It would be good if a world without monsters like himself could arrive. He had been living with his family, improving little by little, but as someone who still suffered nightmares every time he went to bed, he wished for even one fewer victim like himself.
Holding this hope, Gongsun Zan had easily absorbed the philosophy of Mozi, which emphasized universal love and community—an ideology strangely similar to Catholic doctrine. At the same time, it became the catalyst for him to dream of a federal system like that of the United States or Europe. The United States had united dozens of states, each larger than most countries, and ruled over a vast territory with almost no major internal wars. Europe had enjoyed long periods of peace whenever it united into a single great federation—whether under Richelieu’s system or the European Union. A federation lowers the necessity of war. If the entire world became one loose federation, war would become unnecessary.
Of course, if a mad leader appeared, they might break away from the loose union and start a war. But in this era when the very concept of nationalism was still faint, Gongsun Zan hoped it was worth the risk to form one vast, universal culture.
“First, I will establish a nationwide institution that will organize and compile the farming experience and techniques accumulated through simple trial and error in each region, improve them according to the environment of each district, and conduct research.”
“You’re back? Did everything go well?”
“They’d have to be idiots to refuse when I’m offering to help them prosper even if it means I take a loss. Of course it went well.”
“…Will this really be alright? I’m worried we might be raising future enemies.”
“As Confucius said, people possess a heart that cannot bear to see the suffering of others, and a heart of compassion. As Mozi said, if the great do not attack the small, and the strong do not despise the weak, then there will be no reason for people to harm one another. If we go beyond loving our own countries and truly come to love this world, if we see everyone as our neighbor, our brother, our family, then I believe we will choose to share what we have rather than fight.”
Even in this present hell, curdled with ideology, religion, and long-held hatred, people still lived by helping one another. Even while denouncing each other as imperialistic vanguard troops or fanatic terrorists, people would still wrap bandages around the wounded. Even if there might be a bomb vest hidden beneath someone’s clothes, people would still feed a starving child a meal.
“Since state affairs are something my husband handles far better than I ever could, I’m sure you’ll manage. A lot of good things have come in today, so let’s eat first.”
“Let’s do that.”
Even though he was a duke of a nation and frequently had to entertain guests, the dining hall was quite large. The table alone measured twenty-five cheok (ten meters) in length and about three cheok (1.2 meters) in width. It was absurdly long and large for just three people to use. For now, the three of them were using it as if they had rented out the entire place, but when officials were summoned or banquets held, hundreds of people would gather, so it couldn’t be helped.
“I sometimes think it wouldn’t be bad to buy a small table just for when the three of us eat together.”
“I’ll consider it. What do you think, Un?”
“I… I’m fine with whatever.”
“Un, have you been seeing any men lately?”
The girl who had been nothing but a snot-nosed brat when they first met in Sangshan had now become a beautiful twenty-year-old in the prime of her youth. Because she had stayed in Liaodong for the past year, their once awkward relationship had recovered considerably. Yet he had never once heard her talk about meeting anyone.
In this era, the proper age for marriage was from the late teens to early twenties. As his adopted daughter and sole heir, her value was extremely high. He had no desire to openly oppose her choices like some overprotective father from a drama, and as long as the man wasn’t a scoundrel like Yuan Shu, he was willing to give his blessing. Quite a few marriage proposals had come in from various places, but…
Since he himself had essentially had a love marriage, and there was no political advantage to be gained through arranged marriages, he had rejected most proposals.
“Wha—?! Cough! Hack! A man?”
“Aren’t you already at the age where you should be thinking about marriage? I’ve left you alone to date as you please until now, but you can’t miss your chance at a proper marriage, can you?”
“Husband, didn’t you say you would let her date however she wants? Let’s just watch over her. That’s what parents are supposed to do.”
“It’s not that I’m telling her not to meet men… It’s just that refusing all these incoming proposals is starting to feel strange. It’s also my job to prevent any ugly rumors from spreading.”
“You don’t say anything to General Liu, yet you’re only scolding Un?”
“…Hm? Hasn’t that Liu Bei girl gotten married yet either?”
Did she? Or hadn’t she? He wasn’t sure.
“You even became sworn siblings, yet you don’t care what kind of man your little sister is meeting? General Liu would be sad if she heard that.”
“Ahem… I’ll look for a decent groom for her.”
“No need. She’s getting married next month, so just give her a generous gift of money… Uwegh… Blegh! Bleh!”
“Mother!?”
“Wife! Darling! Someone call the physician!”
“I-I’m fine. Uwegh! Water… please…”
“Here! Here it is! Slowly now… Is there some big problem?”
“…Haa… I was planning to tell you after the meal, but the plan’s completely ruined now.”
After retching for a long while, Jinjeong looked up at him with slightly teary eyes.
“Thank you, my love. You’ve fulfilled my hope.”
“…Uh… um…”
“It means congratulations on becoming a father.”
In his previous life, he had remained single until death. In this life, he had raised Un as his daughter. This was the first time someone had conceived his child.
Uh… so… should he smile?
Would this child inherit a constitution similar to his? He hoped not… He really wasn’t sure.
“Darling, am I smiling or crying right now?”
“…You’re making a very stupid face.”
“Is it a son or a daughter?”
“Not only is your face stupid… Darling, how would I know that? Only the heavens know.”
Ah… that’s right. There was no such thing as ultrasound examinations in this era. It seemed the muscles responsible for making facial expressions had completely broken down. No, it felt like his entire system was badly malfunctioning.
“Thank you.”
“Father, I’m really sorry, but there are other people here? Can’t you two save the lovey-dovey stuff for later?”