Chapter 51: Deng Yijiao

After emerging from the department offices, Wang Dou exhaled. "That took quite some effort, but Uncle's matter is finally settled."

Just now, Wang Dou and his group had been led by Clerk Qi into the department offices, where they found the granary commissioner Li Ju, who managed the famine-relief granary. Hearing that Wang Dou wished to make a charitable contribution, Li Ju naturally heaped praise upon him. With the famine worsening by the year, fewer and fewer people made donations. The amount of grain stored in this famine-relief granary reflected directly on the department magistrate's administrative record; his superiors pressed him constantly, and Li Ju was under great pressure.

This time, after Wang Dou donated thirty taels of silver and gave Li Ju some personal benefits, Li Ju immediately issued the official receipt and eagerly led Wang Dou to find the Security Department jail warden, Chen Yuwen. Chen Yuwen also swiftly processed the transfer and promotion documents for Zhong Zhengxian, and at that point the matter was essentially done.

Once Chen Yuwen submitted the final report to Department Magistrate Li Zhen, presumably the letter of appointment for Zhong Zhengxian from the document-issuing office would arrive before long.

At that moment, Zhong Diaoyang was still outside the department government office watching the horses. Hearing Wang Dou's words, a look of shame appeared on his face. He made a deep bow and said to Wang Dou, "My father's affair has truly caused you much trouble, my lord. My father, he... ah..."

At this point, Zhong Diaoyang shook his head and sighed.

Zhong Diaoyang was steady by nature, proficient in boxing, staff, spear, and cudgel, and also an excellent archer. The squad of troops he led was quite effective, and since he was Wang Dou's own cousin, Wang Dou found him very easy to employ.

Now, Wang Dou looked at Zhong Diaoyang's rough, dark face. Since his father's incident, his demeanor had grown even more taciturn. Wang Dou said, "Cousin, why treat me like an outsider? We are all one family. Is Uncle's affair not my affair, Wang Dou's? Do not bring this up again."

Zhong Diaoyang nodded silently, his expression even more grateful.

As the two of them spoke of private family matters, Han Chao, Han Zhong, and Gao Shiyin all consciously walked a little farther away.

Of the three matters Wang Dou had come to Security Department city to handle, two were now settled. The last was to go to the Medical Division and request a few physicians to return to the fort. However, he had no acquaintances within the Medical Division, and the only person he knew in Security Department was Clerk Qi. Unfortunately, Clerk Qi had no personal connections with anyone in the Medical Division. He would have to figure this matter out on his own.

Seeing that it was approaching noon, Wang Dou felt some hunger in his belly. He recalled Gao Shiyin mentioning that a new restaurant had opened inside the drum tower, where the food was quite good, and the commanding view from the tower would surely provide a fine atmosphere. He said, "It looks like midday. Let's find a place to eat. Brother Gao, is the food at that restaurant in the drum tower truly good?"

Gao Shiyin said, "Rest assured, my lord, this humble one would certainly not deceive you."

Han Zhong was very pleased and shouted, "Gao Manzi, you said you were treating."

Gao Shiyin glared and said, "Han Er-leng, don't you go eating Old Gao here into poverty."

The group chatted and laughed as they led their horses westward from the department government office.

The Security Department's granary, Yongxing Granary, was located not far west of the department government office. It had one commissioner, one vice commissioner, and one storehouse clerk, and was established in the fifth year of the Jingtai reign.

Although grain levies across the Great Ming were now mostly commuted to silver, the grain shortage had grown so severe in recent years that many places still collected both in-kind and commuted taxes simultaneously, and Security Department was no exception. However, paying the in-kind grain tax was somewhat more burdensome than paying the commuted silver tax.

Still, many commoners, seeking convenience, continued to come and pay their taxes in kind.

At this moment, before the main gate of Yongxing Granary, many grain-laden carts and horses were halted—all commoners who had come to pay the summer tax.

There, several measuring hu-dou were set out, far larger than those used in ordinary households.

Wang Dou glanced over briefly. A commoner household was currently paying its tax grain. The wheat on the measuring dou had already been heaped high into a sharp peak, yet a man who appeared to be the granary commissioner was still directing a clerk-like underling beside him to carefully and cautiously keep adding more.

Finally, when no more could be added, the granary commissioner shouted to someone nearby: "Deng Yijiao, it's up to you now!"

A gaunt, middle-aged man sitting in a chair nearby had been resting with his eyes closed. Hearing this, he rose. Without a word, he walked before the measuring dou, held his breath and composed himself for a long moment, then suddenly let out a great shout and delivered a heavy kick squarely to the measuring dou. Instantly, a large portion of the wheat on top scattered and fell to the ground.

The granary commissioner and the storehouse clerk praised in unison: "What strength! Truly worthy of the name 'One-Kick.'"

After delivering his kick, Deng Yijiao returned to his chair and resumed resting with his eyes closed. The commoner householder wore a pained expression. The storehouse clerk, grinning broadly, directed a stout laborer to sweep up the wheat scattered on the ground. By the unwritten rules of the Great Ming, all grain that scattered to the ground in this manner became their lawful property.

Next, the storehouse clerk directed the commoner to continue piling wheat onto the measuring dou. Only when it was heaped into a peak once more was that household's tax payment for the day considered complete.

Wang Dou could not help but shake his head. The ingenuity of these petty clerks was entirely devoted to such crooked practices. He had read some historical materials: to obtain this "spillage surplus," granary clerks throughout the Great Ming, from the early dynasty onward, had mostly practiced kicking techniques assiduously. Some could even train to the point of snapping a small tree with a single kick.

Beyond this "spillage surplus," the various wastage fees and surcharges imposed on tax-paying commoners were not even included in the calculation. The surcharges levied by departments and counties across the Great Ming were often several times the amount of the principal tax. Thus, how could the common people of the late Ming not suffer?

Having witnessed that kick just now, both Han Zhong and Gao Shiyin were amazed. Han Zhong said, "That fellow could probably kick an ox to death with one blow."

Gao Shiyin also said, "Given the chance, I would certainly like to seek some pointers from him."

The two of them discussed this callously, while Han Chao and Zhong Diaoyang wore grave expressions—especially Zhong Diaoyang, who had likely experienced such scenes many times back in Weizhou.

The five men continued westward along East Street. Along the way, the street was filled everywhere with commoners transporting grain to pay their taxes.

The rice shops lining the street were also mostly thronged with streams of people coming to sell grain for silver.

Many emerged with pained faces; clearly, the low grain price far exceeded their expectations. The previous year, the price of one shi of rice in Security Department had soared to five taels of silver. Now, when people tried to sell their grain, not a single shop was willing to buy at even one tael. They had scoured the entire city, and every rice shop was the same.

Clearly, the rice shops within the city had reached a consensus and unified their prices.

Amidst a chorus of sighs and lamentations, a voice suddenly rang out: "The Wanshenghe Rice Shop on West Street is willing to buy our grain at one tael per shi! Everyone, hurry over!"

Immediately, a flurry of voices: "Young brother, is what you say true?"

"Is this real? You're not tricking us, are you?"

The man said, "Heaven and earth bear witness, how could I deceive you? I just came from selling my grain at that shop. Thinking to let everyone share in the benefit, I came to tell you. Why don't you believe me?"

A chorus of voices: "In that case, let's hurry over."

At once, a great crowd of people shouldered their carrying poles and drove their carts, all heading in that direction.

Wang Dou and his companions found this very strange. Wang Dou mused, "Wanshenghe? When our fort bought grain, it was at this very rice shop. I heard the shopkeeper is a woman, and her prices are very fair."

Han Chao's eyes also flickered. He said, "Indeed. When she sold us rice back then, the price in her shop was two fen cheaper than the other rice shops. That shop owner is truly a kind-hearted person."

Zhong Diaoyang suddenly remarked, "The rice guilds in the city have clearly unified the grain price. For Wanshenghe to buy grain at a price higher than the other rice shops, I fear it will anger the other merchants."

Everyone was taken aback. Hearing Zhong Diaoyang's words, Han Chao seemed to lose his usual composure. He said to Wang Dou, "My lord, shall we go over and take a look?"

Wang Dou glanced at Han Chao and smiled. "Very well. Eating can wait a moment. Let us go and see."

Han Zhong and Gao Shiyin also gave Han Chao odd looks, as if he seemed somewhat peculiar today.

Within Baoan city, there were three main streets: East, West, and South. West Street was largely occupied by shops for sundry goods, cooked foods, pawnshops, and rice shops. The Wanshenghe Rice Shop was located in the middle section of West Street.

At this moment, the front of the Wanshenghe Rice Shop was surging with crowds, packed with commoners who had come to sell grain. Several shop assistants were working without pause. Off at a distance, some idle onlookers were watching the excitement. Among them, some people were clearly the owners and assistants of other rice shops, watching the scene inside this shop with furious eyes.

Inside the rice shop, two women were bustling about nonstop, constantly directing the assistants to do this and that. The two women were one older and one younger. The older one was dressed as a young married woman, around twenty-four or twenty-five years of age, wearing a bijia vest, and her manner was quite capable and efficient. The younger one was a maiden of about seventeen or eighteen, wearing a ruqun dress.

Seeing Wang Dou and his group enter, the two women paused briefly. Then the young married woman spotted Han Chao among them, and her eyes immediately could not leave him. She said with delighted surprise, "Han... Squad Commander Han, what brings you to our humble shop today? Do you wish to buy rice?"

Han Chao's eyes were fixed on the empty air. His face was somewhat red, and he stammered, "I, I am... I, this..."

Wang Dou watched Han Chao with amusement, never expecting that the usually calm and composed man could have such a bashful moment.

Han Zhong also gave his elder brother an odd look, not understanding what was wrong with him.

The young maiden whispered beside the young married woman, "Sister, is this the Squad Commander Han you often speak of? He truly is an honest man, hee hee."

The young married woman's face reddened slightly. She stole a glance at Han Chao, then reached out and lightly swatted the maiden, scolding, "Go on, pour water for our guests. You've forgotten your manners."

That young girl giggled and went off.

Behind Wang Dou, Gao Shiyin had been staring blankly ever since he saw that young girl, just gazing fixedly at her.

Only then did Han Chao recall the topic at hand. Pointing at Wang Dou, he said to the young married woman, “Madam Zheng, this is our Jingbian Fort’s Lord Wang Dou, Wang my lord. This time coming to the prefectural city, I, Han, have come accompanying His Lordship.”

That young married woman, Madam Zheng, was startled. She hurried forward and curtsied deeply to Wang Dou, saying, “So it is Lord Wang. This humble woman has been remiss and discourteous.”

Wang Dou smiled faintly. “Madam, there is no need for such ceremony. Wang came on short notice; it is we who have been discourteous.”

Madam Zheng invited Wang Dou and the others to sit. Zhong Diaoyang remained by the street, watching over everyone’s horses.

Madam Zheng exchanged pleasantries with Wang Dou, glancing from time to time at Han Chao, while Han Chao, like a bashful young girl, simply lowered his head and studied the surface of his shoes. That young girl came forward to pour water for everyone. When Gao Shiyin took the cup, he just stared blankly at her. The girl’s face reddened, and she ran off somewhat shyly.

Wang Dou looked at Han Chao, then at Gao Shiyin, and inwardly found it amusing: “These two fellows — both have collectively begun to yearn for spring.”

After talking for a while, Madam Zheng urged Wang Dou and his party to stay and eat in the shop. Wang Dou smiled faintly. “In that case, we shall trouble you, Madam.”

Just at that moment, a middle-aged man suddenly rushed hurriedly into the shop from outside. From a distance he cried out, “My niece, you handle matters far too carelessly — you’ve gotten yourself into serious trouble!”