Chapter 194: Mashuikou Garrison Commander, an Opportunity to Get Rich

In mid‑February of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, just as spring plowing was at its busiest, the Shunxiang Fort wood workshop was also bustling with activity. The many craftsmen were hard at work, fully absorbed in the tasks at hand.

Wang Dou’s battalion‑level baggage train and the baggage trains of each company commander needed a great many wheelbarrows and horse‑drawn carts to be built — enough to keep the workshop’s one hundred and forty‑odd craftsmen busy for several months. Although there were plenty of wheelbarrows and carts throughout Bao’an Prefecture, by military standards many were still substandard and had to be manufactured in‑house.

The wheelbarrows now being built at the wood workshop were slightly lighter than the light war‑carts used in the Ming army, weighing less than three hundred jin, and were similar to the single‑wheel war‑carts used by Yu Dayou. Zhao Xuan considered the originally used protective wooden side‑panels cumbersome and suggested that Wang Dou adopt removable shields or folding cart‑shields, like the “hawk‑soaring carts” of Zhao Shizhen.

Wang Dou readily accepted good advice and adopted his suggestion. Therefore, the single‑wheel war‑carts and horse‑drawn carts manufactured at the Shunxiang Fort wood workshop all had pre‑drilled holes on the front and right‑side shafts, into which protective shields could be inserted during battle. These shields were made of light but hard woods such as white poplar, pine, and paulownia. Each shield was five chi long and one chi five cun wide, with the top slightly narrower than the bottom by four or five fen; this gap was used for fighting in battle. On the shields were painted flying dragons, lion heads, and other designs to frighten enemy horses.

Zhao Xuan also suggested that Wang Dou cover the shields with iron plates and leather to strengthen their protection. The war‑carts of the capital training divisions were made that way; their lion‑and‑tiger cart shields were fully three‑dimensional representations of fierce beasts, which were quite effective at frightening enemy horses. Moreover, the shields were covered with thick iron plates, giving them outstanding protective power. But Wang Dou, considering the cost, decided against it.

In the Ming army, building one light cart cost about ten taels of silver, and it could be pulled by one or two men. With the working methods of the Shunxiang Fort craftsmen, this cost was reduced several times over. Even so, Wang Dou had only a single prefecture to his name — his household was small and his resources meager — so he economized wherever he could. Wang Dou simply did not believe that Qing archers could shoot through these thick wooden shields.

“In the cart battalion where I formerly served, we originally used heavy side‑panel carts weighing over six hundred jin. Each cart required two mules to pull and could be equipped with two Frankish breech‑loading cannon. However, those carts were too heavy, required too many men and horses, were ill‑suited for hazardous terrain, and were not suitable for offensive operations, so they are rarely used now. Mostly we use light carts weighing three hundred jin, each carrying one Frankish cannon.”

Inside the Shunxiang Fort wood workshop, Zhao Xuan accompanied Wang Dou on an inspection tour, all the while introducing things to Wang Dou in an unceasing torrent of words.

Wang Dou nodded from time to time as he watched the scene of feverish activity before him.

Every craftsman in the wood workshop was fully concentrated, fabricating the various parts of the carts — shafts, crossbars, upright posts, square lugs, wheels, wheel rims, and so on. There were also craftsmen who specialized in making shields. The parts were then assembled into carts and inspected for approval.

Every part made by a craftsman had to be engraved with his name, the year and season of manufacture, and the name of the inspector. That way, if a cart had a problem, the person responsible could be easily traced. Quality problems were very hard to find in Wang Dou’s artisan workshops.

In the various artisan workshops of Shunxiang Fort, the craftsmen’s monthly grain ration was actually not large. As long as a craftsman came to work, he was given meals to eat his fill, and each month he received a few dou of grain to support his family. The bulk of his income came from the year‑end bonus: if he worked well and produced a lot, the tally at year’s end would yield a large bonus, paid out in a lump sum before the New Year.

A skilled craftsman, apart from his monthly grain, could sometimes earn a bonus of one tael of silver a month — twelve taels a year. Master craftsmen like Li Maosen earned even more.

Over the past few years, the craftsmen of Shunxiang Fort, like the soldiers of Shunxiang Fort, had become one of the first groups to grow prosperous. For the New Year of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, virtually every craftsman household in Shunxiang Fort had sewn new clothes for their families and bought large quantities of New Year’s goods, joyfully celebrating a grand New Year.

Moreover, Shunxiang Fort had many incentive mechanisms. The previous year, Lai Yuanlong and Li Maosen had developed the touch‑hole device and received a steady stream of technical dividends. Inspired by this, craftsmen came forward one after another to contribute techniques they had previously kept secret. Just before the New Year, a craftsman in Shunxiang Fort solved the speed‑regulation problem of the hydraulic drilling machine and also received a reward. His idea was actually very simple: he proposed building a dam on the river. Once the water flow was stabilized, the speed‑regulation problem of the hydraulic drilling machine was solved.

With the example of these people before them, the craftsmen’s work enthusiasm rose even more sharply. Many civilian craftsmen from the original prefectural city, seeing the prosperous lives of the military craftsmen, were also tempted and came to Shunxiang Fort to register as military artisan households.

Although establishing the incentive system meant spending several thousand taels of silver more each year, Wang Dou believed it was worth it, since it could mobilize the craftsmen’s initiative and ensure that the military equipment produced was of superior quality.

“My lord, I still propose that our division be employed as a cart battalion. Our Bao’an Prefecture has built as many as five hundred war‑carts, enough to form several cart battalions.”

Not counting the artillery unit, each company‑level baggage train under Wang Dou’s command was budgeted fifty wheelbarrows and forty horse‑drawn carts. Every cart could be regarded as a war‑cart. The battalion‑level baggage train directly under headquarters had an additional one hundred and twenty wheelbarrows and eighty horse‑drawn carts, bringing the total number of vehicles to four hundred and seventy. In Zhao Xuan’s view, this was already enough to form two battalions of cart soldiers.

Zhao Xuan had once proposed fitting the wheelbarrows and horse‑drawn carts with rocket boxes, cheval‑de‑frise lances, bamboo shields, horse‑cutting sabers, and the like. When encountering the enemy in the field, a large number of abatis and chevaux‑de‑frise would also be placed between every two carts. That way, all the soldiers could take cover inside the cart camp, increasing their sense of security and their defensive strength.

Wang Dou considered that this would increase the carts’ load capacity while reducing the amount of grain, fodder, and supplies they could carry, and would also affect the soldiers’ offensive spirit, so he refused. He set up the various supply vehicles mainly for the purpose of transporting grain and fodder, not so that the entire force could huddle inside a cart camp.

When the baggage train accompanied the battalion, the four hundred and seventy wheelbarrows and horse‑drawn carts could conservatively carry one thousand five hundred dan of grain and fodder — enough to feed the entire battalion’s soldiers for over twenty days — and could also carry large quantities of gunpowder and equipment, greatly enhancing his army’s ability to sustain operations. With his previous experience of field battle against the Qing troops, Wang Dou was confident that he no longer needed to use abatis, chevaux‑de‑frise, bamboo shields, and the like.

Wang Dou’s refusal pained Zhao Xuan deeply, but he did not give up. He used every opportunity to chatter away in front of Wang Dou, making Wang Dou feel that he was truly a chatterbox.

Wang Dou casually asked him about the organization of his former cart battalion.

Zhao Xuan said, “My lord, the cart battalion where I formerly served had three thousand men and a total of two hundred and fifty‑six war‑carts. It was divided into six levels: battalion, division, company, platoon, pair, and single cart. Each battalion was commanded by one battalion commander, under whom were a left and a right company commander and one central army officer. The left and right company commanders each commanded a division, and each division was allocated sixty‑four war‑carts. Each division under the left and right company commanders was further divided into four companies, each led by a squad commander with sixteen war‑carts. Each company was further divided into four platoons, each led by a Squad Commander with four war‑carts. Every two war‑carts was called a pair. The central army was responsible for commanding the remaining carts.”

Zhao Xuan said, “In the cart battalion where I served, each cart was called a squad. It had one Frankish cannon and was assigned twelve soldiers: one cart leader, six arquebusiers, two Frankish cannon gunners, two rocket handlers, and one cook.”

“When encountering the enemy in open country, we would form a square camp. On each side there were fifty‑four war‑carts, with a number of abatis and chevaux‑de‑frise added between every two carts. In this way, the spacing was appropriate, and not only infantry but even cavalry could all be housed within the cart camp.”

Wang Dou pondered for a long while. The Ming army’s cart battalion organization was already very complete and could be adopted for use directly. However, he had his own circumstances, and after thinking it over he decided against it. Even if improvements were to be made, they could wait until later.

Seeing that despite his earnest advice, the Garrison Commander still refused, Zhao Xuan grew even more pained. Nevertheless, Wang Dou did adopt a few of his suggestions, such as setting up a command cart and an observation‑pole cart.

The command cart was the command vehicle for the cart battalion’s commanding officer. Its construction was similar to that of a light cart, with protective installations at the front and a command platform on the cart body, allowing the battalion commander to direct operations from an elevated position. In field battles, such a vehicle was of course extremely important.

There was also the observation‑pole cart, a vehicle used during the cart battalion’s routine drills. One would be deployed when setting out on campaign. Its pole was over ten meters high, with a watchtower on top. A soldier standing in the watchtower could observe activity for several li around; it was ideal for observing enemy movements.

…

In late February of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, just as spring was radiant and beautiful, outside the gate of the Bao’an Prefecture Garrison Commander’s residence, Wang Dou warmly welcomed the visiting party led by Chu Qinmeng, the Garrison Commander of Mashuikou.

Wang Dou was now the Garrison Commander of Bao’an Prefecture. His former Defense Commander’s residence had naturally been upgraded to a Garrison Commander’s residence. Even the official uniform on Wang Dou’s body had been changed to the bright red uniform of a Guard Commander of the upper third rank, with a rank badge bearing the pattern of a tiger and leopard, and a gold‑and‑silver waist tally carved with a crouching tiger amid clouds, threaded on a red silk cord, hanging at his waist.

Now Wang Dou could independently manage the defense affairs of Bao’an Prefecture. Only the matter of garrison farmland within the prefecture still required consultation with Xu Zucheng, the newly appointed Garrison Commander of the Bao’an Guard city — after all, the official post Wang Dou held was still that of Acting Guard Commander of the Bao’an Guard.

Chu Qinmeng was in his thirties, considered very young among local garrison commanders. He was rather fair‑skinned, his manner somewhat shy, and his brows and eyes somewhat resembled those of his younger sister, the young madam of the department magistrate’s residence.

Chu Qinmeng’s visit was the result of the young madam’s efforts. Wang Dou had helped Department Magistrate Li Zhenping through a difficult time, and the entire magistrate’s household was grateful. When Wang Dou revealed to Xie Xiuniang his wish to befriend Chu Qinmeng, the Garrison Commander of Mashuikou, Xie Xiuniang naturally hurried to tell the young madam.

The young madam then hastily sent someone with a letter to her elder brother Chu Qinmeng. Chu Qinmeng had long since noticed Wang Dou, that dazzling new star on the political stage, and wondered how he had risen so quickly. Moreover, Wang Dou had helped his uncle‑by‑marriage. After his younger sister sent him the letter, Chu Qinmeng, who was inclined to make Wang Dou’s acquaintance, secretly set off on a journey, bringing a few of his retainers, and traveled to the city of Bao’an Prefecture.

Unlike Wang Dou, who belonged to the Xuanfu Garrison District, Chu Qinmeng belonged to the Zhenbao Garrison District. The Zhenbao Garrison District stretched from Yanhekou in the north to Lululingkou in the south, spanning four hundred kilometers. Under it were four routes: the Mashuikou Route, the Zijing Pass Route, the Daoma Pass Route, and the Longquan Pass Route.

Although both Mashuikou and Zijing Pass had Assistant Regional Commanders assigned to them, guarding the passes was a hard and austere life. In ordinary times when there was no alert, the Assistant Regional Commanders of both places were stationed inside Zijing Pass or Yizhou. Therefore, the day‑to‑day administrative authority at Mashuikou rested in Chu Qinmeng’s hands. If he secretly slipped away for a few days, what would his subordinates say?

On his journey there, the scenery of the prefectural city made Chu Qinmeng sigh with emotion. Compared to when he had come to Bao’an Prefecture a few years earlier, the place was far more prosperous and wealthy, which filled Chu Qinmeng with admiration for Wang Dou’s governing ability. And that Wang Dou was stationed to guard Bao’an Prefecture also made Chu Qinmeng rather envious. Compared to his own Mashuikou, where apart from a few traveling merchants one might not see a new face all year, guarding the city of Bao’an Prefecture was truly far more pleasant.

…

The two men exchanged pleasantries. Wang Dou welcomed Chu Qinmeng into his residence and also instructed Xie Yike to properly entertain the several retainers Chu Qinmeng had brought.

Chu Qinmeng’s eyes darted around as he sighed, “Garrison Commander Wang, your residence is truly luxurious. Compared to my official quarters…”

At this point, he shook his head and sighed again.

Wang Dou observed that although the man looked refined and shy, his mind was actually quite eager, which pleased Wang Dou even more. He warmly ushered Chu Qinmeng into the banquet hall, and the two drank together. Wang Dou had inquired and learned that Chu Qinmeng liked dog‑meat hotpot, so he even had a fat dog slaughtered to entertain him.

Sure enough, Chu Qinmeng was delighted and ate the dog meat voraciously. When he grew hot from eating, he even took off his outer garment.

As Chu Qinmeng ate, he also poured out his grievances to Wang Dou. The officers and soldiers at his Mashuikou had no land to farm, but they did all receive pay and rations. However, as soon as the pay and rations for over a thousand men were drawn, the higher‑ups first deducted more than half, so that very little actually reached their hands.

On top of that, for more than half the year no pay was issued at all. The officers and soldiers of Mashuikou, from top to bottom, all lived in great hardship. Even he, the Garrison Commander, could not eat meat more than a few times a year. Chu Qinmeng expressed great envy that Wang Dou could eat meat every day.

Hearing Chu Qinmeng’s complaints, Wang Dou merely smiled faintly.

Afterwards, Chu Qinmeng also expressed his gratitude for the great help Wang Dou had given his uncle‑by‑marriage. Wang Dou smiled and said, “Magistrate Li and I are colleagues working together. When Lord Li was in difficulty, how could I, Wang Dou, stand by and do nothing? This matter is not worth mentioning.”

He looked at Chu Qinmeng and said, “Brother Chu, actually your Mashuikou is not bad either. It lies on the vital route connecting Bao’an Prefecture and Yizhou. If properly managed, it would not be difficult for the brothers at Mashuikou to become prosperous.”

Chu Qinmeng sighed, “In these chaotic times, the number of traveling merchants has greatly decreased. Even if we collect some tax silver, over a whole year there is not much. Besides, which of the merchants traveling outside nowadays does not have the backing of some wealthy household or the sons and nephews of some official or general? How would I dare collect tax silver from them?”

He looked at Wang Dou with considerable anticipation. “From what Brother Wang says, it seems you have some path in mind. Why not tell me, so that I, your brother, may also share in the benefit?”

Chu Qinmeng had inquired about some of Wang Dou’s affairs and knew that Wang Dou relied on the local military households. As far as he knew, military households everywhere in the Great Ming were extremely impoverished, even far worse off than salaried officers and soldiers like themselves. The reason Wang Dou had succeeded was that he vigorously opened up wasteland and built irrigation wells and waterwheels. But Chu Qinmeng did not know where Wang Dou’s start‑up capital had come from, so he guessed that Wang Dou had other sources of wealth. He seized the opportunity to probe.

The image of Chu Qinmeng as a refined and shy man crumbled even further in Wang Dou’s mind. It seemed this man was also quite fond of wealth — which was just as well.

Wang Dou smiled and said, “I do happen to engage in some trade…”

He pondered briefly, then said, “I plan to open a trade route from Bao’an Prefecture to Baoding Prefecture. If Brother Chu is interested, you may join in, and I will certainly not let Brother Chu go without benefit.”

He held up one finger.

Chu Qinmeng’s face lit up with joy. “One hundred taels of silver?”

Wang Dou smiled faintly. "One thousand taels a year."

Chu Qinmeng said urgently, "Fine, I'll join. Brother Wang, don't you cheat me."

Wang Dou feigned anger. "Does Brother Chu take Wang Mou for that kind of man?"

Chu Qinmeng said, "It is your elder brother who misspoke — I deserve a beating, I deserve a beating…"

……

After the two agreed to maintain close contact, Chu Qinmeng took his leave. As he departed, Wang Dou presented him with a gift box containing fifty taels of silver, along with various silks and satins, which made Chu Qinmeng beam with delight.

For the several retainers Chu Qinmeng had brought, Wang Dou also gave each man five taels of silver, five dou of rice, five jin of meat, and two bolts of cloth. They all said joyfully, "We have long heard that Garrison Commander Wang is generous and righteous — his reputation is truly well-deserved."

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