Chapter 435

These grain notes come in several denominations, the smallest being one ge, then one sheng (less than two of later times), then one dou, five dou, and the highest one shi. Notes above one shi are mostly used for settling accounts with military units and merchants, and do not circulate among the common people.

All these grain notes can be exchanged for rice and grain at the Civil Affairs Department grain stores. A one-dou note gets you one dou of rice. No matter how grain prices fluctuate outside, the exchange is absolutely fair and honest, so their credibility spread quickly.

Now in the Eastern Circuit, grain notes can be used to pay taxes and buy goods. More and more people are using them, and they show a strong trend of replacing silver taels and copper coins. After all, silver taels vary in purity and their value is unstable and increasingly depreciating, while grain notes are stable and easy to carry.

To move several thousand taels of silver, you need to hire an armed escort agency. Several thousand grain notes can be carried away in a small bundle. With all these conveniences, it is easy to imagine how grain notes have become so prevalent in the Eastern Circuit. In the Eastern Circuit now, many outside merchants arriving must first go to the Civil Affairs Department to exchange for grain notes, because otherwise no one wants their silver or copper coins.

In the Eastern Circuit, grain notes are already being called paper money, which reminds people of the Great Ming treasure notes. But obviously, the Eastern Circuit grain notes are far more robust than the Great Ming treasure notes. Can you pay taxes with Great Ming treasure notes? Can a one-dou note be exchanged for one dou of rice?

Of course, as grain notes become increasingly valuable, some lawless elements inevitably take desperate risks. Therefore, besides cracking down with severe laws and harsh punishments, the Eastern Circuit has also strengthened the anti-counterfeiting measures for grain notes.

Do not underestimate the technology of this era. The drafts issued by merchants in the early Qing period already had clearly visible watermarks.

Stroking this thick stack of "grain notes," Chen Sheng's eyes showed a look of satisfaction.

If all these grain notes in his hand were exchanged for rice and grain, there would be several tens of shi, enough for his wives, concubines, and children to live well for a long time.

Based on his own merits and the rewards from the campaign, he was entitled to about several tens of taels of silver. When his superior asked him whether he wanted silver or grain notes, he chose grain notes without hesitation. As far as Chen Sheng knew, almost everyone in his squad received grain notes when collecting their rewards.

Only a few fellows hesitantly chose silver and copper coins, and they were mocked by their comrades, who said that now with outside merchants coming in, the exchange gap between silver and grain notes was growing wider, and you still take silver? Fools! In the end, those fellows switched back to grain notes.

Chen Sheng put away his bundle and slung it diagonally across his chest. He looked around at his squad brothers in the room, and everyone's face showed a look of satisfaction, clearly thinking of their families' joy when they returned home.

Even his good friend Ju Yiwu was no exception. This delicate young man rarely showed a trace of gentle smile on his face.

Chen Sheng knew that Ju Yiwu was thinking of Miss Sun Pannan from the same garrison village. Her pitiful and delicate expression had instantly moved Ju Yiwu's originally icy heart.

Chen Sheng looked at Ju Yiwu and said, "Ready?"

Ju Yiwu said, "Ready."

Although the two were good friends, both were men of few words. Each said one line, and then they said no more.

At that moment, the Squad Commander strode in briskly and roared, "You little bastards all packed up? Once you're packed, go back to your own homes. This ten-day leave is neither long nor short. The sooner you leave, the sooner you get home to hug your wives."

The whole room burst into roaring laughter.

The Squad Commander roared again: "Remember, when you go home, strictly observe military discipline. Do not disturb the people. But if anyone dares to provoke you or show disrespect to our Jingbian Army, draw your blade and cut the bastard down. Cutting him down will be for nothing."

He said, "Let's go, let's go."

And he strode out, taking the lead.

The squad brothers all followed him out. Before leaving, each person checked his appearance in the large bronze mirror by the door. Chen Sheng also took a look: a crisp, stiff cotton-padded uniform, an iron helmet, and a saber at his waist — very imposing. Even Cold-Face Ju could not help but glance at himself.

The Squad Commander was rough but warm-hearted. He had led out his horse and was about to leave, but after thinking it over, he still took his squad brothers to the military camp store to shop.

In the military camp at Yongning City, each Company Commander headquarters had a two-story building. Inside were many shops with a dazzling array of goods — things to eat, wear, and use, all in a style that was plain and durable. The prices here were thirty percent cheaper than outside, as a gesture of preferential treatment for soldiers.

At this moment, there were a great many soldiers queuing to shop here. Clearly, with leave granted to go home, everyone wanted to buy things to bring back and share joy with their families. Most people bought rice, flour, tea, sugar, as well as smoked meat, ham, salted eggs, and the like. Those with a bit more heart also bought some fox-fur hats, leather coats, scarves, warm shoes, thick socks, and gloves for winter use — these counted as luxury items.

In this unit, apart from squad leaders, platoon commanders, and Company Commanders and other officers, ordinary soldiers were all Class B troops. Their families were either in garrison villages or were originally Eastern Circuit military households or commoners. In ordinary times, their families rarely got to eat meat or fish, and white flour was seldom eaten. Bringing back this rice and meat would surely delight their families.

Moreover, the goods in the military camp were cheaper than outside. If it were not for the fact that each person had a quota based on military rank, everyone would really have wanted to buy more. When it was Chen Sheng's squad's turn, the Squad Commander pulled out a stack of grain notes, slapped them on the counter, and roared: "Give me twenty jin — Shunxiang Fort brand, fat pork smoked meat! Also ham and salted eggs, twenty jin each! Remember, all must be Shunxiang Fort brand."

For a moment, everyone in the shop looked over. A Squad Commander from the same unit behind them called out, "Old Li, you've struck it rich, buying so much meat to take home? Can your wife finish it all?"

Squad Commander Li yelled, "Finish my ass!"

Then he turned around and shouted to his squad soldiers behind him: "Two of each per man — I'm splitting it all among you."

Everyone was taken aback. One man in the squad said, "Squad Commander Li, how can we let you spend so much on us?"

Squad Commander Li roared, "Cut the crap! All of you take it and be done with it!"

After roaring, he also bought cashmere scarves, felt jackets, rain capes, and the like, plus a cloak — all for his wife and children. He bought nothing else.

As a veteran soldier, Squad Commander Li had received rewards many times and had long grown accustomed to such meat and flour items.

After buying, the merchant gave him an exquisite rattan-and-leather carrying bag, into which he put the cloak and other items. Squad Commander Li carried the rattan bag in one hand and an oil-paper bag containing two jin each of smoked meat, ham, and salted eggs in the other, and roared: "You little bastards, be quick about it! I'll be waiting outside."

As he went out, the Squad Commander behind him called out again: "Old Li, you still haven't bought mine for me?"

Squad Commander Li yelled back: "Buy my ass! I'm already being generous not hitting you up for a treat, and you still have the nerve to ask me."

Everyone burst into roaring laughter again.

Chen Sheng received the meat and other items the Squad Commander gave him, feeling warmth in his heart. However, he also bought a few more smoked meats, three more meat-filled porcelain jars, and ten jin of white flour. Remembering that his two sons loved daggers most, he also bought two scalp-taking knives, one large and one small. Also two coconut ladles (the water canteens used by the Ming army at the time).

Daggers like scalp-taking knives were also sold outside, but those used in the army were far superior to those outside.

He also bought a thick scarf for his daughter for winter use, and fox-fur hats, ear warmers, and face cloths for his wives and concubines — quite a bit of spending.

Next, Ju Yiwu, besides meat and flour, also bought candy and pastries, as well as scarves, warm shoes, thick socks, and gloves — clearly, most of these were for Sun Pannan.

The whole squad bought the goods they fancied and came out carrying large and small bundles. Only Squad Commander Li had a horse, and his goods were all placed on the horse's back.

Inside the military camp, apart from scout riders and messengers, no one else was allowed to ride horses. Squad Commander Li led his horse by hand and walked briskly in front. Once out of the barracks, he could not wait to mount his horse and roared: "Brothers, I'm off first! Aha, my lady, your husband is coming!"

With a crack of his horsewhip, he vanished in a cloud of dust.

Following the crowd, Chen Sheng and the others left the military camp and walked two li south. There they saw a tall, thick signboard planted at the wide intersection. The side facing outward read: "Military Camp Restricted Area. Do Not Approach. Violators Will Be Killed Without Mercy!"

Within two li of the Shunxiang Army camp was a security zone where idlers were not allowed near. But once past this sign marker, they saw both sides of the road packed densely with porters carrying shoulder poles and loads.

Chen Sheng knew they were all from the garrison villages near Yongning City. They farmed the military fields in normal times, and during the agricultural off-season, they came out to do some odd jobs. He supposed his own family was the same.

Seeing Chen Sheng and the others approach, the porters all clamored at once: "Military masters, are you heading to the Shi warm station? It's over ten li from here. A hundred-jin load for just three sheng in grain notes."

"Military masters, pick me! I can carry all your luggage in one load."

"Pick me, pick me..."

The atmosphere was extremely heated, with everyone fiercely competing for business. Everyone in the porter team knew that the Grand General had granted the campaign soldiers ten days' leave. The soldiers were returning home in glory — how could they not have large and small bundles? They had come early to wait here, and many had already done several rounds of business.

Chen Sheng and the others chose "that fellow who charges only three sheng of grain notes for a hundred-jin load..." This man was in his fifties, his face full of wrinkles. When he smiled, he revealed a mouth missing two front teeth. He introduced himself as Uncle De, with a thick Baoding accent.

When he saw that among this group, Chen Sheng and Ju Yiwu both wore red waist tags, his expression became even more respectful. What did that represent? In the Shunxiang Army — no, it was now called the Jingbian Army — they were superior skilled soldiers, with truly extraordinary martial ability.

With such a waist tag, in normal times they could stand as equals with squad leaders, and when meeting platoon commanders, they only bowed without kneeling. Especially since they had returned from a campaign, they must have rendered meritorious service. Perhaps the next time they met, these two would be squad leaders or platoon commanders.

Uncle De enthusiastically loaded everyone's luggage onto his two carrying poles, hoisted them up in one motion, and led the group toward the "Shi" warm station.

Ten li outside the west gate of Yongning City was the "Shi" warm station; twenty li west of the city was the "Feng" warm station; forty li west of the city was the "Zhu" warm station. These post stations stretched all the way to Huailai City.

The group had no horses, so they had to first reach the various warm stations. Now the carriage business there was booming, and they could hire a horse cart to go home.

Actually, there was also a post station near the west gate of Yongning City, but Wang Dou, out of considerations of security and the environment, did not permit civilian transport teams to operate within that station; it was used only for military purposes. This had instead fostered the prevalence of porters, showing how civilian operators truly seize every opportunity.

Uncle De was quite talkative. Seeing Chen Sheng and the others marching in a column, backs straight, their armor and waist sabers radiating martial vigor, he couldn't help but sigh, "It's truly wonderful that you can join the military training corps. That boy of mine, he's been longing day and night to enlist."

Chen Sheng said, "Actually, the Eastern Circuit is already not bad. If you go to places like Henan and take a look, you'll know what hell is."

Uncle De grinned widely, "True enough. In the Eastern Circuit, as long as you dare to work, you can eat your fill. That's already heaven. If that boy of mine enlists too, I'll have no more regrets."

Yongning City had only two gates, east and west. When the group passed the west gate, the area was already very bustling. They had no mind to look around much, and Uncle De kept his head down and walked even faster.

They went straight to the "Shi" Warm Shop in one breath. The brothers in the squad vied to pay, and in the end Chen Sheng handed over three grain tickets each worth one sheng. Uncle De grinned widely, thanked them, and hurried off, clearly eager to get back and squeeze in a few more trips.