Main City: BeiyangType: Fortified frontier city.
Estimated population: 30,000 to 40,000 inhabitants.
Of these, approximately 6,000 to 8,000 are refugees from villages destroyed during the Chu wars.
Around 10–15% of the population are artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters, or military support personnel.
Defenses:
Double walls
Watchtowers with catapults
Medium river port (if a river is present)
Civil officials: 1 chief magistrate, 3 assistants, several clerks.
🏘️ Villages within his domainNumber of villages: Between 8 and 12 rural villages (depending on the map used).
Each village has between 1,200 and 2,500 inhabitants.
Total population of the territory (Beiyang + villages): 70,000 to 85,000 people.
This makes it an important domain for a Count, though still below that of a Marquis or Duke.
Examples of village names:
Xianli – Agricultural village specializing in rice and sorghum.
Qingshu – Area known for lumber and charcoal production.
Baofu – Livestock village, famous for its warhorses.
Shiyan – Center for pottery and local trade.
Langzhai – Bordering Chu, has suffered multiple attacks; now a secondary military base.
Heitou – Fishing village along the river.
Yulin – Refugee settlement rebuilt under direct orders from Li Wei.
Muxiang – Territory rich in medicinal herbs and small game.
👥 Social and Military Structure
Peasants and laborers: ~80% of total population.
Professional soldiers (5,000 veterans): Stationed in Beiyang and bases in Langzhai, Xianli, and Baofu.
Reservists or militia farmers: ~2,000 men trained for local defense.
Minor noble families (rural barons): Governing 2 or 3 small villages under Li Wei's authority.
Administrative AutonomyLi Wei holds full civil, military, and fiscal authority, though he must send annual tribute and reports to the imperial court.
He may:
Establish local laws (as long as they do not contradict imperial law)
Collect taxes on agriculture and trade
Recruit local troops
Strategic ImplicationsLi Wei's domain acts as a natural buffer between the empire's heartland and the Ye and Chu clans.
His population base allows him to sustain armies without direct support from the central government.
However, prolonged war or drought could destabilize this balance.