Chapter 511: The Magic Box Opens (Part 1)

On the day the Ming and Qing armies were locked in brutal combat on the Song-Jin front line, the fourteenth year of Chongzhen, eighth month, third day, inside the garrison commander’s hall of New Yongning City.

The hall was packed with people; the broad chamber was now darkly crammed with merchants who had come from every city on the Eastern Route. Even from the various circuits of Xuanfu Garrison, the garrison city, Datong, Taiyuan, and other places — outside merchants who had guarantors on the Eastern Route and had shown goodwill and friendship over the years — large numbers of them had also come to New Yongning City.

The merchants from every region, who in the past carried only abacuses, were skilled at calculation, and made their fortune through harmony, today displayed a rare ferocity. Many were dressed entirely in sturdy attire, wearing futou caps, with swords and sabers at their waists, and standing in attendance beside them were all tough and capable household retainers and estate guards.

Among these guards, many were also swordsmen who had passed the assessment in the newly established “Grandmaster Hall” on the Eastern Route. Every one of them was brimming with keen spirit, and at their waists hung finely patterned waist-tags, on which were written in seal script the two large characters for “Swordsman,” along with the serial number and seal of the Swordsman Hall, conspicuously displaying their status.

Although there was a one-year probationary period and most of these swordsmen held provisional status, carrying such a waist-tag earned one respect wherever one went. They were also extremely welcomed by merchants everywhere; many security firms, merchant caravans, and expedition teams beyond the frontier were willing to hire them, their value second only to retired soldiers of the Shunxiang Army or the Jingbian Army.

Of course, their remuneration was also very high; ordinary people could not afford to hire them. Being able to bring a few swordsmen to one’s side was also a symbol of status, just like the legendary Kunlun slaves told of in history.

These swordsmen originally came mostly from “folk heroes” from all over the Great Ming, each possessing extraordinary martial prowess. After passing the assessment, they also obtained armor similar to that of the Eastern Route’s B-grade troops; of course, most chose chain mail.

There were also all kinds of weapons that each person was skilled in using. These weapons were all produced by the department within the Eastern Route Army Arsenal that specially forged weapons for the Night Scouts of the Jingbian Army. The craftsmanship was the most exquisite. The fine armor and weapons made them like tigers given wings.

Of course, although they were called swordsmen, the weapons each person used actually differed — swords, sabers, spears, halberds, powerful bows, and strong crossbows were all present. At this moment, the weapons held by the various swordsmen in the hall resembled an exhibition of all eighteen categories of arms.

Besides the swordsmen, there were also in the hall some even rarer musketeers hired by the merchants, who carried and used bird guns or hand cannons.

The Great Ming was currently in an era of transition between cold and hot weapons. Although the rate of firearm use among civilians was higher than in the military, the various former “folk heroes” were still accustomed to using cold weapons; the musketeers who passed the “Grandmaster Hall” assessment were far fewer than the swordsmen.

As more and more merchants gathered, the hall grew even more uproarious. Those who were acquainted inevitably greeted each other, and also inquired of one another what the purpose of this trip was. Many anticipated that a major event was about to occur; everyone was both excited and uneasy.

In the great hall, Lai Mancheng, the vice-chairman of the Zhendong Trading Company, was the focus of everyone’s attention.

After Wang Dou’s bloody suppression of the powerful families and merchants on the Eastern Route in the twelfth year of Chongzhen, the local great powers were nearly swept away entirely. Lai Mancheng and others seized the opportunity to rise to prominence. On the present Eastern Route, he, together with Chairman Zheng Jinglun and others, was among the few major merchants, with interests in many industries.

Moreover, Lai Mancheng’s network of connections was also extremely strong. His maternal uncle was none other than Xu Zucheng, the garrison commander of Baoan Guard at the time. He himself was also on good terms with Loyal and Brave Count Wang Dou, and mingled freely with several senior generals of the Jingbian Army. Especially when Wang Dou was at Shunxiang Fort, he had already clung to Wang Dou’s coattails; as Wang Dou’s status rose, this friendship between the two sides grew ever deeper.

At many critical junctures, Lai Mancheng had also chosen the right side. As his industrial power grew, his eminence went without saying. Among the outside merchants who arrived on the Eastern Route, one of the first people they had to pay a visit to was Lai Mancheng.

So when Lai Mancheng entered the great hall leading his enormous retinue of estate guards, nearly all the merchants rose to greet him, while also expressing astonishment at the change in his appearance — a suit of heavy iron armor, and hefting a Green Dragon Crescent Blade; could his slight frame really bear it?

It could be seen that after Lai Mancheng took his seat, he also heaved a great sigh of relief. At this moment, he was chatting and laughing merrily with Tian Changguo, the director of the Commerce Section of the Shogunate, about who knew what amusing matters. But clearly, Lai Mancheng also did not know the purpose of this gathering. Although he was on good terms with Tian Changguo, Tian Changguo could not risk violating the confidentiality regulations to inform him of the matter.

At the hour of Wei, the three senior generals Wen Fangliang, Gao Shiyin, and Shen Shiqi, along with some staff officers of the Jingbian Army, strode with heads high into the garrison commander’s hall.

For a moment, the entire hall was in an uproar. All the merchants rose to salute. Wen Fangliang grinned and nodded from time to time toward the crowd, while Gao Shiyin and Shen Shiqi held their heads high and swaggered in, utterly indifferent to these merchants.

Tian Changguo, still gaunt as a rail, came forward to greet them, smilingly inviting the various senior generals to take their seats. The liaison between the Jingbian Army and the Eastern Route merchants this time was his responsibility as director of the Commerce Section.

Wen Fangliang sat in the seat of honor. Although both he and Gao Shiyin were Assistant Regional Commanders, he was the chief of the Staff Department, and in official rank was a notch above Gao Shiyin. This operation beyond the frontier was to be conducted under his leadership.

Looking at the assembled merchants below in the hall, Wen Fangliang’s expression slowly grew solemn. He said: “As you all know, at the end of the sixth month, the Grand General led the army on campaign to Liaodong, and fought a bloody battle with the Tartar Emperor in the Song-Jin area. In this war, the merchants of our Eastern Route were still loyal and righteous. Chairman Zheng of the Zhendong Trading Company led many proprietors and shopkeepers to go and provide support, diligently transporting provisions and pay. This is very good. It proves that on our Eastern Route, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants are all for the country, understanding the vital link between family and state, uniting their hearts as one. The same is true of everyone here today!”

Seeing the utter silence below, Wen Fangliang continued: “According to the strategy set by the Grand General and the Staff Department before the expedition, our Jingbian Army is divided into two routes. One route is personally led by the Grand General, fighting in Liaodong. The other route is us, striking out from beyond the frontier here, a two-pronged encirclement, attacking the Tartars at Jinzhou from both sides!”