Chapter 649: Farm Owners

Very soon, the group halted before a residence. The residence leaned against a mountain, its slopes covered with large patches of white birch — the scenery was truly excellent.

The residence before them had a small gatehouse built straddling the wall; above the lintel was a ruyi-shaped floral ornament. Once inside the gate, there was also an exquisitely laid spirit screen. This was Zhao Rongcheng’s newly purchased home — spacious and imposing. From this day forward, Zhao Rongcheng could be counted among the great households.

Although Zhao Rongcheng was young, only in his twenties, he already had one son and two daughters. His wife, née Yang, had been a child bride raised in his household since she was small. Zhao Rongcheng had lost both parents in childhood; he and Yang were both raised single-handedly by his grandfather. Life had been hard in the past, and they had not even had the money for a wedding.

Not long after Zhao Rongcheng joined the army, however, he and Yang were married. Looking across the veteran soldiers of the Jingbian Army, most were like this. Only that batch of five thousand second-class troops from years past had been slightly more relaxed about marriage, but by now, nearly all of them had started families too.

Yang was two years older than Zhao Rongcheng — as was common with child brides. She was a virtuous woman, and with well-behaved children, she was very satisfied with their current life. Yet like every wife, she always worried whether her husband would return from campaign.

Upon meeting Yang, the men dared not be remiss. Luo Liangzuo and Lai Dexiang addressed her as “sister-in-law.” Han Kaihui and the others hurriedly called her “Madam” and presented the small gifts they had brought. Yang accepted the gifts very happily, exchanged a few polite words, spoke briefly with Zhao Rongcheng, and then withdrew to the rear courtyard, leaving the parlor for her husband to entertain his guests.

Luo Liangzuo and Lai Dexiang had been quite restrained in front of Yang, but the moment the woman left, they instantly reverted to form, full of swagger and spirit. Luo Liangzuo crossed one leg over the other, surveyed the main hall of the residence, and said enviously, “Old Zhao, this residence of yours is really fine. It must be second-class grade, right?”

Lai Dexiang said, “It certainly is. The price is no small sum. Only Old Zhao would be willing to spend on it.”

Zhao Rongcheng leaned back comfortably in his chair and said, “That wife of mine has suffered alongside me since we were children. Now that we have money, I want to let her enjoy life a little.”

Luo Liangzuo slapped his thigh and said, “True enough. I bought a third-class residence. Damn it, after my wife arrived, she cried for three whole days. What’s there to wail about? Anyone who didn’t know better would think my household was holding a funeral.”

Everyone burst out laughing and began discussing and exchanging views. Not just Zhao Rongcheng — men of squad-commander rank like Luo Liangzuo, Lai Dexiang, Mou Dachang, and Han Kaihui, after buying their residences, had without prior agreement all hired servants. Hiring coachmen, grooms, and stewards in the future was also under consideration by all of them.

Men of squad-leader rank like Wu Dingguo and Liu Lie, after buying houses, had likewise hired servants; as for stewards and the like, they were still considering.

Everyone was in high spirits, full of hope for the future. Suddenly Luo Liangzuo slapped his thigh again: “This is bad. I’ve been so caught up in the joy, but my Old Luo family is short on hands. With these several hundred mu of good land allotted to me, how am I to farm it? Am I to just watch good land lie fallow?”

Lai Dexiang, shrewd by nature, had long considered this matter. He said, “No need to worry. At present, the Eastern Route is full of plowing teams, mining teams, smithing teams… everywhere. The Logistics Division has also taken this into account and will arrange plowing teams and herding teams for us. We’ll pay some wages and fees each year; we need not toil ourselves — just sit back and collect the grain.”

Luo Liangzuo set his mind at ease: “That would be wonderful. Only, are these wages expensive? If they’re too dear, I’d rather find people to farm it myself.”

Just as the discussion was heating up, a dark, stocky woman came in. She was a distant relative of Zhao Rongcheng, separated by who knew how many generations. Seeing that she was honest, he had kept her on as a household helper.

Ever since Zhao Rongcheng became a Squad Commander, and especially now as a squad commander, relatives he could not have reached with an eight-span pole had all come knocking. Zhao Rongcheng had never imagined he originally had so many relatives — only, why had he never seen any of them from childhood to adulthood?

Zhao Rongcheng called this woman “aunt,” her surname being Sun. She knew the proper rules, however. Holding a visiting card in her hand, she entered and said, “Master, there is a merchant named Zheng outside requesting an audience. This is his visiting card.”

Zhao Rongcheng took it and looked. Before him was a rectangular “visiting card,” about seven cun long and three cun wide, in a bright red card style, inscribed with the large characters “Zheng Family Farm Firm, Zheng Chen.”

On the “visiting card,” the two characters for Zheng Chen were especially large — this was the custom of the time, expressing humility. If the name characters were small, one would be regarded as arrogant. Visiting cards were in widespread use during the Ming, from Grand Secretaries in the cabinet down to women of the pleasure quarters; practically everyone, everywhere, used them.

“Zheng Family Farm Firm?”

Zhao Rongcheng mused; he seemed to have heard of it. He instructed, “Let this man Zheng come in.”

Very soon, a merchant in his forties entered — a small tuft of beard on his chin, of medium build, his expression shrewd yet amiable. Seeing so many military officers in the hall, a flash of pleased surprise crossed his eyes. With polished courtesy, he saluted Zhao Rongcheng: “This humble one is Zheng Chen of the Zheng Family Farm Firm. I pay my respects to the Left Captain, and to all you Captains.”

It turned out this Zheng Chen was a manager of the Zheng Family Farm Firm. The Zheng Family Farm Firm was a newly established farm commercial enterprise, and Zheng Chen, as one of its managers, had come specifically to solicit clients.

Land transactions on the Eastern Route were now strictly restricted; trying to annex one another’s land was exceedingly difficult. Wang Dou also offered many preferential conditions for agriculture. At present, the production of commercial grain and the operation of livestock farms were reliably profitable ventures.

Moreover, for merchants, unless they had rendered meritorious service, obtaining land or pastureland beyond the frontier was no easy matter. So many merchants, seeing the business opportunity, devised another approach: they flocked to rent land from Jingbian Army soldiers in places like Bao’an Prefecture to operate, to the mutual benefit of both sides.

In particular, Zheng Jinglun, the president of the Sanjin Commercial Guild, was the first to establish a large-scale commercial firm specializing in farm operations, renting land and pastureland from Jingbian Army officers of all ranks who had been allotted large tracts of land but lacked surplus labor to farm them.

Many merchants of means followed suit. Like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, farm firms, livestock firms, and agricultural enterprises sprang up one after another across the Eastern Route and Xuanfu Garrison.

“The proprietor of our firm is none other than President Zheng Jinglun of the Sanjin Commercial Guild. Under our firm are several dozen plowing teams, herding teams, and mining teams — our strength is substantial… Over the past two months, Senior Captain Han Chao, Senior Captain Gao Shiyin, Left Captain Zhong Diaoyang, Right Captain Xie Shangbiao, and others… have all granted their consent and are willing to entrust the land, pastureland, and mines under their names to our firm for management…”

“Our firm puts good faith first and solemnly promises that the dividends received will certainly be twenty percent higher than renting to ordinary plowing teams…”

Zheng Chen’s eloquence flowed like a river. He even drew a delicate little abacus from his bosom and clicked the beads rapidly as he pitched with great zeal: if everyone in the hall rented their land and pastureland to their farm firm, the annual profits would certainly be far higher than farming it themselves or handing it over to plowing teams — and they would not need to toil or worry.

Furthermore, their farm firm had filed records with both the Pacification Commission and the Civil Affairs Bureau, and would absolutely cheat no one, old or young, and dared not deceive any of them.

Under his zealous pitch, Zhao Rongcheng and the others were all tempted. This was indeed excellent — no need to labor themselves, just sit and collect grain every year. At most, they would send a steward to make a few inspection tours each year.

Lai Dexiang, being shrewd, shot Zhao Rongcheng a look. Zhao Rongcheng understood and said, “How about this: allow me to consider it further.”

Zheng Chen smiled: “Of course. This humble one will pay another visit another day.”

Not long after Zheng Chen departed, the men in the hall were still debating whether to entrust their land to the Zheng Family Farm Firm for management when Aunt Sun entered again and handed another visiting card to Zhao Rongcheng: “Master, there is a merchant named Lai outside requesting an audience. This is his visiting card.”

Very soon, a richly dressed, smiling, chubby man entered — a manager under the Lai Family Estate.

“This humble one is Lai Manjiu of the Lai Family Estate. I pay my respects to the Left Captain, and to all you Captains.”

“The proprietor of our firm is none other than Vice President Lai Mancheng of the Sanjin Commercial Guild — our strength is substantial…”

“Our firm solemnly promises that the dividends received…”

That day, Zhao Rongcheng and the others received a total of six waves of farm and livestock merchants.

This scene was also playing out in the residences of many Jingbian Army officers who had been granted land. Capitalist farm owners were quietly being born on the Eastern Route…

…

The vast North China Plain.

Summer was approaching, yet as far as the eye could see, desolation still filled the view. In the farthest distance, there seemed to be no sign of life. The towns along the way were each utterly lifeless. This fertile land had lost its vitality.

In Baoding Prefecture, not far from the Yishui River, a group of refugees came walking, bringing their families with them. Every one of them was in tattered clothes, disheveled and grimy. Yet as they gazed toward Yizhou ahead, their eyes all held hope.

Among the crowd was one household, about seven or eight people in all. The eldest was past sixty, his tangled hair completely white, his face covered in wrinkles, the padded jacket on his body riddled with holes. The youngest was not yet ten.

A sallow, thin little girl was held in a woman’s arms, her limbs curled up weakly. She stirred and said softly, “Mother, Yaya is so hungry!”

The woman comforted her: “Yaya, be good. Once we reach Yizhou and pass through Zijing Pass, we won’t be far from the Eastern Route of Xuanfu Garrison. Then Yaya can eat her fill.”

The little girl Yaya gave a quiet, obedient “mm.”

Gazing ahead, the several middle-aged or young men in the group who carried clubs also showed anticipation in their eyes. They only hoped to reach the Eastern Route of Xuanfu Garrison quickly, so that their families could survive.

At the same time, they were afraid — afraid that the Eastern Route of Xuanfu Garrison might not be as the legends said. If so, their family of several would have reached a dead end.

“We’re almost there at last. I wonder how Baobao is doing in Xuanfu Garrison.”

Among the crowd were some carts and horses that drew considerable attention. On one large cart sat a middle-aged woman and three younger married women, each holding a child in her arms. Their features all bore a strong resemblance to Han Kaihui.

Walking around the large cart were some men — Han Kaihui’s family from Zhending Prefecture, along with several brothers-in-law, as well as their father, sisters, and others.

After receiving Han Kaihui’s letter, and in view of the ever-worsening conditions around them — with hungry refugees stirring restlessly, everywhere intent on raiding the wealthy households — Han’s father had made a prompt decision. He sold the fields, gardens, and residence passed down through generations and moved the entire family to the Eastern Route.

This truly required great boldness. After all, the Han family had a hundred mu of good land locally and some loyal servants and household guards. When the master left, they all moved with him, so there were quite a few able-bodied men in the party. Traveling this long distance, they had some measure of self-defense. (To be continued.)