Chapter 22: Petty Men Abound

At night, a single lamp burned like a bean.

Inside Wang Dou's room, Wang Dou summoned Han Chao, Han Zhong, Qi Tianliang, and Yang Tong to discuss matters.

Wang Dou decided to visit Shunxiang Fort the next day to ask the field officer Du Zhen for some people and plow oxen. After the example of Dongjiazhuang, he held little hope for tomorrow's trip, but it was still worth a try — getting even a little would count for something.

Tomorrow Wang Dou planned to take Han Zhong to Shunxiang Fort, while Han Chao, Qi Tianliang, and Yang Tong would be assigned other tasks.

Qi Tianliang could at least write a few characters and knew some arithmetic, so he was the most suitable to go to Baoanzhou city to buy grain, flour, plow oxen, and farm tools. Han Chao, being cautious and fairly skilled, would accompany Qi Tianliang to look after him.

Wang Dou intended to give the two of them one hundred fifty taels of silver to buy ten dan of rice and ten plow oxen, as well as plows and various farm tools — whatever was needed, they should buy, allocating the silver as they saw fit. But Wang Dou estimated that this hundred-some taels of silver would still be tight for purchasing these supplies. Although grain and flour prices had dropped somewhat compared to the past two months, they were still steep. Plow oxen and farm tools were likewise expensive.

Wang Dou had only a little over six hundred taels of silver on him, and handing out one hundred fifty taels all at once made him sigh inwardly — truly spending money like water, and these expenses were still far from enough. Plow oxen and farm tools aside, the ten dan of rice they bought would likely not last long either. Wang Dou's fort planned to recruit fifty households, and when the time came, those people would probably be like the military households outside — mostly with no surplus grain, all needing to be fed by him.

For now it was manageable; he could let everyone drink porridge. But once the heavy work of building the fort and clearing land began, each person's food consumption would increase. The old, weak, women, and children could eat less, but an able-bodied man needed at least five dan and five dou of rice a year. Moreover, under heavy physical labor, everyone needed some oil and meat every few days, or they would easily vomit blood. The best way to supplement oil and meat was to eat fatty meat, but unlike later ages, in this Great Ming dynasty, fatty meat was far more expensive than lean meat. Pork was truly expensive now, and that would be another huge expense here.

Wang Dou's expression remained calm, as if he had everything well in hand, but inwardly he was rapidly calculating how to get more money in the future. He thought of many methods but felt none would bring money quickly. His first pot of gold had come from plundering the Later Jin army; perhaps he should think more along those lines.

Qi Tianliang happily accepted Wang Dou's assignment. That Wang Dou trusted him so much, handing over a hundred-some taels of silver without a furrowed brow, moved him deeply. He thumped his chest and swore thunderously that he would complete the task perfectly, while Han Chao simply cupped his hands calmly and said no more.

As for Yang Tong, his task remained guarding the beacon tower, plus directing the newly arrived residents to continue building dugout shelters the next day. Receiving this assignment, Yang Tong was also very pleased — he finally had room to stretch his muscles.

……

Early the next morning, Wang Dou took Han Zhong and rode toward Shunxiang Fort.

The two rode southward. When they passed Chafang Beacon Tower, the garrison inside saw the two pass by, dressed as Great Ming officers, and lazily struck the gong a few times and fired a small hand cannon to notify the neighboring tower, then paid them no further mind.

Not long after passing Chafang Beacon Tower, their horses were swift, and soon Shunxiang Fort appeared before their eyes.

Shunxiang Fort was the seat of the Left Battalion of Baoan Guard. Dongjiazhuang Fort and Huiyao Fort were both under its jurisdiction. Legend had it that this was the capital of Emperor Shun. It measured two li and one hundred twenty-one paces in circumference, with walls three zhang and five chi high, brick-faced in the thirteenth year of Wanli. It was currently defended by Squad Commander Xu Zhongjun, with one hundred horses and nearly three hundred government troops. Inside the fort were several hundred military households, with a population of over a thousand.

Shunxiang Fort had two gates, the south gate and the west gate. Wang Dou and Han Zhong entered through the south gate. The Squad Commander guarding the gate checked their waist tags, and a look of surprise appeared on his face — he had clearly heard of Wang Dou's name. He looked Wang Dou up and down for a moment before waving them in.

Compared to Dongjiazhuang, Shunxiang Fort was indeed much livelier. At the very least, there were considerably more shops along the streets, and the flow of people was much denser. It was said there were over forty commercial shops across the various streets inside the fort. But the one thing unchanged was the fort's numerous temples, the same dilapidated and filthy buildings and streets, and the numb-faced, ragged soldiers and civilians coming and going.

Shunxiang Fort had three streets and twenty-one lanes inside. The battalion commander's official hall was located on East Street on the fort's eastern side.

Wang Dou found a shop and prepared a generous gift, then arrived in front of the official hall and handed his visiting card to the junior officer guarding the gate, asking him to announce to the field officer Du Zhen that Wang Dou, Squad Commander of Jingbian Beacon Tower, sought an audience.

The junior officer cast a greedy glance at the two men's horses, then lazily looked at the visiting card in his hand. His eyes lit up, and he laughed: "So you are Wang Dou? You really are fierce-looking — no wonder you can kill Tartars."

But then he resumed his dead-fish demeanor and lazily toyed with the visiting card, saying: "Lord Du is very busy, I'm afraid he has no time to receive guests. If you have any business, just tell me here, and I'll find an opportunity to report to Lord Du."

Han Zhong had long been irritated by his manner. Now he roared angrily: "Are you toying with us? Report — when exactly are you going to report?"

He lunged forward, ready to grapple with that junior officer.

The junior officer was startled and stepped back, but then felt he was showing weakness. Blustering with false bravado, he pointed at Han Zhong and shouted: "What, what thieving jailbird soldier are you, daring to run wild in front of the battalion commander's hall? Is there no military law?"

At his shout, several soldiers in front of the gate gathered around, but seeing how tall, fierce, and imposing Wang Dou and his companion were, they were all nervous — especially having just heard that the man before them was that Wang Dou who had killed ten Tartars in a row, their expressions grew even more tense.

Wang Dou held Han Zhong back and said in a low voice: "Proper business comes first. A petty man like this — we'll find a chance to deal with him later."

He coolly sized up the junior officer. From his waist tag, he saw the man was only a Platoon Leader. Wang Dou smiled faintly, stepped forward, cupped his hands to the junior officer, and said: "My brother here just has a hasty temper — please don't take offense. Wang Dou came in a hurry and didn't prepare any gift. Please take this bit of silver and buy some wine."

As he spoke, he took out a piece of broken silver weighing about one tael and smilingly placed it in the junior officer's hand. Seeing Han Zhong grudgingly back down, the junior officer inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, though his mouth still muttered: "So what if you've killed a few Tartars? Here, even if you're a tiger, you'd better crouch down obediently."

Then he saw the silver in his hand, his expression froze, and immediately his face was all smiles. He thought to himself how generous this Wang fellow was. By the time he raised his head, his expression had completely changed, his tone warm. He laughed: "Platoon Leader Wang is truly too courteous — so straightforward, worthy of a hero who dares to kill Tartars."

He paused and said: "Very well, please wait a moment, Platoon Leader Wang. I'll go in right away and report to Lord Du."

Wang Dou smiled and cupped his hands: "Much obliged."

After the junior officer went inside, Wang Dou's face darkened.

……

Very soon, the junior officer came out and said that Lord Du had asked Wang Dou to enter.

Wang Dou smiled and cupped his hands, told Han Zhong to watch the horses outside, and followed the junior officer in himself.

Vice Battalion Commander Du Zhen's duty room was on the right side of the official hall. Passing through the ceremonial gate and the main hall, they soon arrived at Du Zhen's duty hall. Du Zhen was currently bent over his desk reading some documents. The junior officer led Wang Dou there, announced him to Du Zhen, then gave Wang Dou a meaningful glance. Wang Dou smiled and nodded at him, and the junior officer left.

Wang Dou stepped forward, kowtowed, and bowed to Du Zhen. Only after Wang Dou had performed the full set of formalities did Du Zhen unhurriedly rise and gesture for Wang Dou to dispense with further ceremony.

Wang Dou presented the gift list, saying it was a token of regard from the brothers at Jingbian Beacon Tower. Du Zhen, seeing the generous gift list, nodded with satisfaction and asked Wang Dou's purpose in coming. He pondered for a long while, then said slowly: "Wang Dou, your opening up farmland within the battalion is a good thing. That day I also promised Garrison Commander Xu to give you assistance. However, at present the entire battalion is short of plow oxen and seeds, and military households are likewise lacking... Very well, I'll have someone take you to look and see what items can be spared for you."

With that, he summoned a man named Du Gong, gave a few instructions, and had him take Wang Dou out.

Wang Dou had no choice but to follow that man called Du Gong out, inwardly feeling that Du Zhen was rather bureaucratic and arrogant, hard to approach.

……

That man called Du Gong was around thirty-six or thirty-seven, short and fat. Beside Wang Dou's towering frame, he was a full head shorter, with two sallow, rat-like whiskers. He wore the uniform of a Company Commander and carried himself smugly as he spoke. He seemed to be a distant relative of Du Zhen, and thus was put in charge of some of the fort's important storehouses and supplies.

Wang Dou's first impression was that this man was frivolous and oily, a petty man who had gained power. He recalled Hong Qiu, the Platoon Leader who likewise managed grain, fodder, and supplies in Dongjiazhuang — that rough, hearty fellow formed a stark contrast with Du Gong.

Wang Dou requested that Du Gong allocate plow oxen, seeds, military households, and so on. Du Gong spoke in official tones: "Brother Wang, you're formidable in battle and killing enemies, but this farming business is completely different from fighting. Among the many forts of our battalion, nearly every fort lacks people, plow oxen, and farm tools. The supplies in the fort are just these — if everyone came asking, I would be in a very difficult position."

Wang Dou took out an ingot of about ten taels of silver and placed it in Du Gong's hand, saying: "I beg Lord Du to make things convenient."

Du Gong's eyes lit up. He unhurriedly tucked the silver into his bosom and sighed: "Very well, we're all brothers of the same battalion — I'll help where I can."

As if recalling something, he said: "After all, not many plow oxen and farm tools can be allocated — for the most part, Brother Wang will still have to think of his own solutions. I hear the ox market in our fort has fair prices; Brother Wang might consider it."

Wang Dou said: "Oh? If Lord Du recommends it, it must be good."

By now the two were on even more intimate terms. Du Gong even warmly hosted Wang Dou to a meal. During the banquet, he incessantly boasted about how highly he was regarded by the field officer Lord Du. Wang Dou chimed in from time to time, making the atmosphere even more congenial.

When the wine was warm and their ears flushed, Wang Dou seemed to casually mention: "By the way, who was that Platoon Leader guarding the gate when we came in?"

……

When Wang Dou saw that gate-guarding junior officer again, the man's face was ashen, with a vivid palm print on it. Seeing Wang Dou, he turned his head away hatefully, grinding his teeth. Wang Dou sneered a few times, didn't even look at him, and strode past him with his head high.

He called Han Zhong and had him follow himself and Du Gong to collect the supplies. Hearing that more supplies were being allocated, Han Zhong was also elated. But the final result left Wang Dou dumbstruck: what they received were only four oxen, three plows, twenty hoes, an empty promise to help publicize within the fort, and nothing else — even worse than Dongjiazhuang.

After a long moment, Wang Dou finally cursed: "Damn it!"