Chapter 739: Incognito Visit

Ma Guoxi fell silent. Indeed, under the Marquis of Eternal Peace's management, Xuanfu Garrison had become a colossal force. If this force were subject to the imperial court's direction, or at least loyal to the court, all would be well — but if not…

He could somewhat understand the unease of the grand ministers in the capital, and the court's cold-shouldering of the Border-Pacifying Army. Yet this was, after all, treating the symptoms without curing the root cause — like an ostrich burying its head in the sand and pretending the crisis did not exist.

The truth was, the crisis remained. Li Banghua had pressed further, and the result was his banishment to this frontier military garrison.

The two men spoke face to face, then sat in silence for a while. Li Banghua proposed going out incognito to observe the local people's conditions. He had only skimmed the surface on his journey here, getting a rough impression, and deeply wished to understand more thoroughly and closely.

Ma Guoxi granted his request. Privately, he also wanted Li Banghua to see the fruits of his own governance — to show off a little.

The two men secretly changed their clothes, took only a few personal attendants, and left through the rear courtyard of the Military Defense Circuit office, then slipped from a small alley onto the main street.

It was just as the lanterns were being lit, and the streets were bustling with crowds. Though the chill was biting and a little snow drifted down from the sky from time to time, it did nothing to dampen the lively, weaving flow of pedestrians.

It was the dinner hour. Along the city's main east, south, west, and north avenues, every restaurant was running at full steam. The sounds of cleavers and ladles, the shouts of waiters, all blended into a din. Waves of wine fragrance and meat aroma billowed out from every tavern.

Li Banghua had already eaten his fill, but catching these aromas of local specialty dishes, he could not help feeling his mouth water again.

In truth, he was a lover of fine food himself. Especially since many of the dishes at the official welcoming banquet earlier were meant more for display than for eating — though, of course, he was too embarrassed to say so.

The two men strolled along. Huailai Garrison City was a place that could be considered a major city. Its original circumference was over seven li. The Circuit Intendant's Office for the Eastern Route, the Mobile Corps Commander's headquarters, the Baoding Field Headquarters, the Defense Garrison Commander's office, the Huailai Guard Command — all these official bureaus were stationed here, making it one of the core cities of the Eastern Route.

The streets within the city were orderly, the houses neat and tidy. Of course, as any city developed over time, decay was inevitable. Pitted and rutted streets were simply the norm. Li Banghua was no stranger to the cities of the frontier garrisons.

But now, walking these streets, he was astonished to find them entirely level, and especially clean — utterly free of mud and sewage. This was no small feat.

He also noticed baskets placed along the streets, though he had no idea what they were for.

When he asked Ma Guoxi, Ma explained that the city now had a dedicated Sanitation Bureau, which specifically recruited the poor from military and civilian households — especially the elderly — to sweep regularly and collect refuse. There were also specialized refuse merchants who bought and sold the waste for profit.

Li Banghua nodded. The moment he heard "Sanitation Bureau," he knew this was something Wang Dou had devised. In fact, local governments in the Great Ming did have a dedicated post of "filth remover." Historical records said that Shi Kefa had once disguised himself as a refuse sweeper to visit his teacher Zuo Guangdou in prison.

In the capital, environmental sanitation was the responsibility of the Wucheng Military Command. But as grain and pay ran short, and personnel were cut and dismissed, sanitation matters across the regions were simply out of the question.

Moreover, as the saying goes, a crop's beauty depends entirely on night soil. Originally, every city had night-soil collectors — Xu Wenqiang, for instance, had once monopolized Shanghai's excrement trade.

All kinds of excrement were treasures not only to ordinary farming households but even to landlords and gentry. A country child's task was to go out and collect dung. But as farming fell into neglect, with civilian households fleeing or abandoning their fields, excrement everywhere had long gone uncollected.

He had not expected that here in Xuanfu Garrison, the ancestral tradition had been restored.

Ma Guoxi suddenly lowered his voice and said to Li Banghua, "There are Chengguanju people about. My lord, be careful not to spit or throw rubbish. Beware those Chengguanju personnel — that bureau is full of thugs!"

Li Banghua felt a chill. Following Ma Guoxi's gaze, he saw some men loitering on the street, wearing black fox-fur hats and short blue surcoats. Some had their hands tucked in their sleeves, others clasped behind their backs, with short clubs hanging at their waists. Every one of them puffed out their chests and bellies, their eyes sharp as hawks, sweeping over the crowd.

Ma Guoxi said in a low voice, "This Chengguanju is under Eunuch Du's management. They exist in every city, specifically in charge of city appearance and sanitation. Spitting once costs a one-copper fine. Many people have suffered at their vicious hands — the complaints are endless, and they all bitterly hate Du Xun!"

He recounted an incident: a few months ago, Wu Zhi, the Department Magistrate of Yanqing, had led several scholars in loudly cursing the Marquis of Eternal Peace, and even spat on the street with a 'pah!' to show his fury.

Unexpectedly, this act was witnessed by a group of Chengguanju officers, who immediately approached and demanded Wu Zhi pay a one-copper fine… Because Wu Zhi's attitude was egregious, they added an additional one-silver-yuan fine. This caused a huge uproar at the time, and the matter escalated all the way to Du Xun.

Li Banghua felt an even deeper chill. This was truly a degradation of scholarly dignity. He glanced subconsciously at those Chengguanju officers.

At the same time, he furrowed his brow slightly. Matters among the common people should be governed primarily by moral edification — how could punishment replace it?

In particular, Wu Zhi, the honored head of a department, had been treated this way. Where was the decorum? Wang Dou had truly succumbed to qi deviation.

Especially with Du Xun, serving as Army Supervisor, willingly acting as Wang Dou's running dog — where was the imperial court's dignity?

The two men continued walking. The streets were full of street stalls and many itinerant peddlers. Perhaps because the Chengguanju officers were patrolling, no one dared throw rubbish onto the street, keeping every avenue consistently clean. Suddenly, Li Banghua felt that the establishment of this Chengguanju was not entirely a bad thing.

Noodle stalls lined the streets, especially at the corners. According to Ma Guoxi, these small businesses were not taxed by the city. Many newcomers to Huailai City made their living this way. Li Banghua nodded slightly — Wang Dou at least showed some consideration for the common people and was not solely obsessed with squeezing money.

However, the fuel burning at many of these small food stalls caught Li Banghua's attention.

"What is this…?"

Ma Guoxi said, "Oh, this is called honeycomb briquette. I hear it was developed by the Marquis of Eternal Peace himself."

He watched Li Banghua's expression, expecting the Imperial Envoy to curse Wang Dou for neglecting his proper duties and dabbling in frivolous crafts. To his surprise, Li Banghua nodded in approval: "This is something that benefits the people's livelihood. A great good."

Li Banghua naturally had his own moral integrity and principles. One was one, two was two. Where Wang Dou's governance was good, he would not go against his own conscience.

He had noticed these coal briquettes earlier and now observed them even more carefully. Compared to firewood, this fuel indeed produced less smoke, had ample flame, and was simple and easy to transport. Seeing it used everywhere in the city, he supposed it was common throughout the garrison, and that common folk making and transporting it had gained an additional means of livelihood.

Li Banghua's thoughts were complicated. Wang Dou's skill in governance was evident from this single item.

Was Wang Dou, bestowed by Heaven, a blessing for the Great Ming, or a calamity?

He clasped his hands behind his back and gazed at the street, sensing something vaguely amiss. It was a long while before it struck him: where had all the city's soldiers gone?

He had felt this earlier upon entering Huailai City. Now he recalled: as a route city, how could it lack a defending garrison? Why was there not a single soldier in sight?

When he asked about this, Ma Guoxi could only smile bitterly. Wang Dou had expanded the Loyalty and Righteousness Battalion, and all the officers' Retainers had been selected into it. The remaining soldiers had gradually been assigned various duties and integrated into all trades and professions. It could be said that now, in the entire Eastern Route, the original army no longer existed.

Li Banghua was first shocked, then furious: "Xuanfu Garrison may be peaceful and tranquil, but a route city must always guard against bandits and outlaws. Even mob unrest requires suppression. Without soldiers, what is to be done? What is the Marquis of Eternal Peace intending?"

Ma Guoxi explained that although there was no army in the city, a Patrol House had been newly established to maintain public order. Outside the city, Tunbao fortresses were densely distributed, all filled with elite garrison militia. Moreover, in places like Eternal Peace City, the crack Border-Pacifying Army was stationed. Security was not an issue.

At the time the Marquis of Eternal Peace had dealt with these old troops, the reaction both inside and outside the city had been utterly indifferent. With duties and a place to belong, none of the old soldiers had made any noise or trouble.

He pointed to a squad of patrolmen turning onto the street — wearing red felt warm caps, half carrying bird guns on their backs, half bearing waist sabers and iron chains, dressed in short blue surcoats — and said, "Look, those are the patrolmen. When the troops were disbanded, some men entered the Patrol House."

Li Banghua's expression flickered between dark and uncertain as he watched these men approach. They carried themselves with a stern, imposing air. As they drew near, he saw that on the upper left chest of each man's uniform was pinned a small rectangular copper badge, inscribed with the two large characters: "Patrol."

Below the large characters was a line of smaller text, apparently recording each man's name and badge number — akin to a waist tally.

As these men passed, the one at the front, a hand gun at his waist and a saber hanging beside it, noticed Li Banghua staring at him with a strange gaze so intense it made one's hair stand on end. He frowned and swept a glance at Li Banghua, but seeing he looked like a law-abiding citizen, did not stop, and led his subordinates on their way.

Li Banghua watched them disappear down another street, unsure how to evaluate the matter. After a long while, it resolved into a heavy sigh.

They wandered through the various streets. Aside from all these novel vexations, the street scenes of Huailai filled Li Banghua and his attendants with keen interest.

Now it was a myriad twinkling lights. Lanterns hung densely at every street corner and alleyway, a testament to the prosperity of Huailai's common folk. The aroma of steaming hot meals grew even more tantalizing. A constant stream of people flowed in and out of the teahouses and taverns, every establishment booming with business, a cacophony of accents clamoring in the ear.

Even the small food stalls along the street were packed with customers. People of different social strata satisfied their needs according to their own means.

This place was brimming with vitality and smiles. People had no need to fear the flames of war, no need to fear roving bandits, no need to fear the Tatar slaves. They wore new clothes, enjoyed fine food, and lived their lives in peace and leisure.

Gazing at this scene of peace and prosperity — especially the many people coming and going with courteous bearing, the sounds of warm greetings and friendly hails rising and falling without end —

Li Banghua suddenly felt dazed. The common people filial to their parents, fraternal to their brothers, husband and wife in harmony, friends trusting one another, each person respectful, frugal, and self-disciplined, extending universal love to all — the scenes the sages described were, one after another, being realized everywhere in the Eastern Route and Xuanfu Garrison. Could it be that what Wang Dou was doing was right?

He sighed heavily: "The Marquis of Eternal Peace has rendered great merit in moral edification."

He said to Ma Guoxi, "The Military Intendant's merit is no less indispensable."

Li Banghua had also heard that in the Eastern Route's two locales of Yanqing Department and Huailai City, there were many literati, gentry, merchants, and officials. Many wealthy outside households also liked to relocate to Huailai City or Yanqing City. These people naturally had a higher caliber and quality.

In truth, setting aside conflicts of interest and the ideological struggles between family and state, it was undeniable that these individuals' personal cultivation and quality were higher than those of the ordinary lower classes — after all, they had studied and received an education.

And since they were under Ma Guoxi's governance, when tallying achievements, Ma Guoxi naturally deserved a share of the credit.

Having earned Li Banghua's praise, Ma Guoxi was in excellent spirits. He said cheerfully, "When clothing and food suffice, men know honor and shame; when granaries are full, they know propriety and ritual. Once the common people can eat their fill, moral instruction naturally takes root. I dare not claim credit for myself."

His face was wreathed in smiles, but then he suddenly caught himself — could it be that all this truly made him feel proud from the heart, so much so that, like a child showing off, he could not wait to boast about it to an outsider?

And yet, looking at the pedestrians on the street, though the chill of winter still lingered, these people and the scene before his eyes sent wave after wave of warmth through him.

No matter what, all of this before him was something he had to protect.

Li Banghua stayed in Huailai City for two days. Accompanied by Ma Guoxi and others, he toured several of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Huailai" with considerable interest, especially climbing Niujiao Mountain outside the East Gate to offer incense at the Taishan Temple.

He also crossed the famous Tongji stone bridge over the Guishui River and climbed to the summit of Mount Woniu, eagerly gazing out at the city not far away. It happened to be sunset, and the sight of the moon setting over the western cliffs was breathtakingly beautiful. So full of poetic charm, it stirred both men to a surge of poetic inspiration, and they "intoned" several poems in succession before they were satisfied.

Only, if the two men had known that several hundred years later, this ancient city would be submerged beneath the Guanting Reservoir, and none of this beautiful scenery would exist, who knows what they would have thought.

Li Banghua continued his journey, with Ma Guoxi accompanying him, intending to see him all the way to Jiming Post Station.

As the Military Defense Circuit of the Eastern Route, he naturally had the authority to move freely within his jurisdiction. Welcoming an imperial envoy was also part of his duties, and besides, he truly had nothing but idle time on his hands now.

Traveling onward from Huailai City, the next major city was Baoan Garrison City, also called Baoan Xincheng (its ruins lie in the later Xinchangbao Town of Huailai County). It was originally just a small post station called Leijia Station. After the "Tumu Fortress" Incident, a garrison city was built, separated from Baoanzhou City across the Yanghe River.

It also administered six thousand-household battalions — Front, Rear, Left, Right, Center, and North — and originally had over one hundred and twenty-seven Tunbao. It was considered a very important fortification within the Eastern Route.

The party traveled onward, passing along the way through major forts such as Tumu Fortress, Shacheng Fortress (later Huailai County seat), Dongbali Fortress, and Liangtian Tunbao.

The road was flat, and the official highway itself was very easy to travel. Every ten li along the way, there was a post station. Ma Guoxi took the initiative to pay out of his own pocket, and at regular intervals, he arranged for everyone to rest at a post station. Watching his practiced manner, Li Banghua could tell he was already quite accustomed to this.

The post station officials were all very enthusiastic, letting the party enjoy the highest standard of treatment. But Li Banghua reflected that these people were merely doing it for the money — the power of filthy lucre, nothing more — and not because of his own dignified status as imperial envoy, which made him feel a twinge of sorrow.

When they passed Tumu Fortress, Li Banghua stopped. He prepared sacrificial offerings and entered the Xianzhong Shrine within the fortress to pay homage to the loyal ministers who had died for the country, especially going to worship before the statue of Yu Qian.

Tumu Fortress is famous far and wide, yet its perimeter was only three hundred and fifty-seven zhang — a very small place. It was hard to imagine how an army of five hundred thousand had been crammed inside. When Emperor Xianzong ascended the throne, he ordered the Xianzhong Shrine at Tumu Fortress rebuilt, had a statue of Yu Qian erected within the shrine, personally wrote the stele inscription, and inscribed the shrine's plaque.

At this time, the Xianzhong Shrine covered a considerable area, fifteen zhang east to west and twenty-five zhang north to south. The main gate faced south, and the complex was divided into two courtyards.

When Li Banghua arrived before the main gate, he saw a wooden couplet hanging on each side of the entrance. One read: "A generation's loyalty and integrity glorifies the ancestral tablets." The other read: "A thousand autumns of moral integrity lends majesty to the mountains and rivers."

Entering the main gate, he saw a plaque hanging above inscribed with "Awe-Inspiring Integrity." On either side was another pair of wooden couplets: "Extolling a thousand autumns of exemplary deeds, honoring a generation of loyal and good men."

Passing through the second gate and following a brick-paved path over ten zhang long, the party arrived directly before the main hall of the Xianzhong Shrine. There, hanging from the pillars on both sides were two more wooden couplets. One read: "Old veterans still harbor lingering grief; the army's rout is too painful to discuss as past events." The other read: "Gentlemen, you should find solace — since the sovereign survives, why ask about your humble lives?"

On either side of the steps before the hall stood stone steles: one for the initial construction of the Xianzhong Shrine, one inscribed with the names of the fallen ministers, one for Emperor Xianzong's reconstruction, one for Emperor Xianzong's imperial brush inscription for Yu Qian, and one for Hu Sishen's reconstruction during the Wanli reign. Inside the hall, on the offering table arranged horizontally at the front, were placed the spirit tablets of the heroic martyrs.

The Xianzhong Shrine at Tumu Fortress was considered a major state shrine. Every year, the imperial court was required to perform the "Three Sacrifices at the Public Tomb" (at Qingming, the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, and the first day of the tenth lunar month). Only on those occasions was the main gate opened; at all other times, everyone had to use the side gates.

In ordinary times, the Xianzhong Shrine was maintained by the local authorities. Although the Ministry of Rites would allocate some funds, at present neither side could really speak of proper management. Sacrifices were held only sporadically, sometimes not even once in several years. Yet Li Banghua observed that both in front of and behind the shrine, there were signs of recent repairs, and the shrine keeper looked ruddy and well-fed, with no trace of decline whatsoever.

When he asked Ma Guoxi about it, Ma Guoxi lowered his voice and explained that Wang Dou considered this an important historical and cultural relic and had ordered it properly managed. A fixed annual fund was allocated specifically for it, second only to the treatment of the Baozhong Shrine at Shunxiang Fort.

Hearing this, Li Banghua did not know what to feel inside. After paying his respects, he stared blankly at the line on the couplet: "Gentlemen, you should find solace — since the sovereign survives, why ask about your humble lives?"

After a long while, he said, "Bring me brush and ink."

He left behind a poem, which read: "The army marched at sunrise in panicked haste, leaving eternal regret upon this battlefield. Loyal blood to this day sinks into the northern desert, a red heart forever guards our sovereign. Misled into danger by treacherous eunuch schemes, the distant sacrificial cauldron leaves poets grieving. In this glorious age, spring and autumn rites are grandly observed, filling the courtyard with vitality and overflowing fragrance."

Ma Guoxi read it and praised it repeatedly, then ordered the poem to be carved onto a stone stele.

……

Because they were busy with the matter of the poem stele, the party stayed another day at Tumu Fortress, then continued their journey, passing Shacheng Fortress, Dongbali Fortress, and other places. The scenes along the road ahead began to differ.

Li Banghua listened as Ma Guoxi explained that around Huailai City, besides military farms, there were many orchards and vegetable gardens, supplying the ever-growing demands of the military and civilian populations within and outside the city, as well as in Baoanzhou and Yongning City.

They also exported labor services — team after team of farming crews, quarrying crews, blacksmithing crews, mining crews, and road-building crews went exclusively to places like Baoanzhou to work.

The territory was generally tranquil, with few workshops. The people one saw were also relatively refined. Li Banghua even praised the region for evoking the mood of "picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, gazing leisurely at the southern mountains." But the closer they got to Baoan Garrison City, the more workshops there were, and many of the people walking along the road were laborers.

They moved in groups, all coarse and uncouth, and what was more, their mouths were full of foul language — "motherfucking thief," "bird-brain," "your old man here," "fuck your mother's ancestors," and so on. They joked and laughed without restraint, making Li Banghua frown deeply at the sight.

He heard that over at Baoanzhou City, there were even more workshops, with livestock yards everywhere. Li Banghua thought further: "This is the very source of disorder and chaos."

Large groups of women also passed by, laughing and chatting. Each wore a headscarf and all kinds of brightly colored clothes as they swaggered through the streets. Ma Guoxi explained that these were the famous seamstresses of Xuanfu. These women could no longer be underestimated; some of them earned more money than their own husbands.

Li Banghua frowned deeply. "Womenfolk, showing their faces in public — what a breach of decorum."

When he further heard from Ma Guoxi that some of these women earned more money than men, he thought even more: "This is truly an inversion of ethical relations, a hen crowing at dawn."

Gazing outside, Li Banghua suddenly recalled something else. Not only were there no refugees anywhere in Xuanfu — after all, he had seen the shelters upon entering the territory — but in every city and fort, he had not seen a single beggar. Even idlers and street toughs were extremely rare.

When he asked about this, Ma Guoxi said that Xuanfu Garrison had established dedicated almshouses and orphan camps. The elderly and children unable to support themselves were all taken in. Under the strict crackdown by the authorities, the Beggars' Sect within the territory had also been swept clean, and its remnants had been forced to change their trades.

Street toughs and wandering vigilantes were also severely cracked down upon. Quite a few so-called great heroes were arrested and sent to labor in the mines, while the rest flocked into the escort bureaus.

Li Banghua nodded. "Widowers, widows, orphans, the childless, and the infirm all being provided for — this is good governance."

He added, "Scholars use letters to subvert the law, and vigilantes use force to defy prohibitions! Ever since the Han dynasty, wandering vigilantes have been a scourge upon the common people. They should be arrested, they should be executed!"

Ma Guoxi also explained that in the Xuanfu Garrison region, quite a lot of various permits and documents were required. For instance, from time to time, someone would come to check your employment permit.

Generally, once you found work, the shopkeeper or boss would apply to the relevant department and issue you this permit. The same applied to those running shops, setting up stalls, or engaging in trade — it proved you were not unemployed and idle. Otherwise, you risked being locked up in a shelter and forcibly assigned work.

This also forced outsiders to keep looking for work. Fortunately, there were plenty of jobs here. As long as you were willing to work, you would not fail to find a job — it was just a question of how good or bad it was.

Li Banghua furrowed his brow slightly and said slowly: "... Entering a territory, one observes its customs: the common people are simple and honest, their music is proper and refined, their attire is plain and neat, and everyone holds the authorities in awe and obeys them, preserving the folkways of antiquity. Entering the cities and government offices, the minor officials are strict and solemn, every man respectful, frugal, sincere, and devoted, loyal and faithful in their duties, without the slightest corrupt habit, just like the good officials of old. Entering the capital Xianyang, the scholar-officials are devoted to their duties, leaving their private gates for the public gate, and leaving the public gate to return to their private gates. They do not use side doors or back channels for private business, do not form cliques or factions, do not engage in partisan collusion. They conduct themselves and handle affairs with transparency and impartiality — one could say they embody the scholar's spirit of antiquity. Observing the court of Qin, its deliberations are orderly, all matters are heard and decided without backlog, and its operations flow seamlessly as if governed by pure order — truly a court of ancient character..."

He continued, "This was the state of Qin, which Xunzi praised so highly in his writings. How remarkably similar it is to the present Xuanfu Garrison! Yet Qin fell after only two generations — precisely because it was excessively harsh, and steel cannot endure forever! The Great Han learned this lesson, eased the people's burdens and succored them, and thus enjoyed a realm lasting four hundred years. The Marquis of Yongning imitates the tyrannical Qin — he is gravely mistaken!"

Ma Guoxi clasped his hands behind his back and said nothing. He had always felt that there were still differences between Xuanfu Garrison and the tyrannical Qin. The accumulated ills of the present dynasty stemmed precisely from treating the localities too leniently. If every part of the Great Ming had the same degree of control as Xuanfu Garrison, perhaps the dynasty would not have come to this pass!

Of course, he was a man of deep cunning, an old fox. Though inwardly he disagreed with Li Banghua's view, outwardly he still said cheerfully, "What Lord Li says is most true."

……

The procession of the imperial envoy finally arrived at Baoan Garrison City. Of course, having learned their lesson, Li Banghua's party had long since stopped walking in the middle of the road. Instead, they consciously and willingly kept to the right, and thus did not cause any further traffic chaos.

Before them stood a majestic great city, over seven li in circumference, no less than Huailai Lucheng. The city leaned against Moji Mountain to the northwest, also called Jiming Mountain, with Yao'er Ridge nearby, and Zhuolu Mountain to the southwest. To the east and south lay open fields and plains, dotted with forts like Dongbali and Liangtian — it was a fine fortification that fully exploited the advantages of the terrain.

The garrison commander Xu Zucheng greeted them outside the East Gate, but Li Banghua could clearly sense that Xu Zucheng was polite on the surface but cold in reality. The welcoming banquet he laid out was also ordinary, and afterward, he did not send so much as a single silver coin as a ceremonial gift.

In fact, within the system under Wang Dou's governance, no one ever sent ceremonial gifts.

Li Banghua took it in stride, but his retinue and subordinates were all indignant. Ma Guoxi was somewhat embarrassed, yet he could not say anything to Xu Zucheng — after all, Xu had fulfilled the bare minimum of formal courtesy.

Moreover, both he and Xu Zucheng were now idle officials. The authority of the Military Defense Circuit had long since vanished completely.

Xu Zucheng was also the former superior of the Marquis of Yongning, Wang Dou, and they maintained close ties. Even if he never got promoted, he could grow old comfortably in the position of garrison commander of Baoan Garrison City. In fact, Xu Zucheng was now simply living out his retirement, leisurely and carefree every day, and had grown several circles fatter.

……

What Li Banghua did not know was that just as he was about to enter the city, from the direction of Zhenhai Bridge at the west gate, a dozen or so swift riders came galloping — every one of them a youth of seventeen or eighteen, every one dressed in close-fitting attire with a sharp sword at the waist. The one at their head had sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, his heroic bearing almost piercingly intense; beside him was a young man with a slightly rounded face and a spirited, radiant air.

In the cold wind, they watched the procession from afar, each pair of eyes seeming about to spit fire. The lead youth gave a cold snort: "So this is the man who said, 'Was Song Taizu's service to Zhou Shizong any less loyal?'"

The round-faced youth beside him said icily: "Indeed. This is that traitor Li Banghua. A venal official. I wish I could draw my sword and strike him down!"

"Loyalty or treachery lies not in the heart, but in strength! This scoundrel puts on a show of utter devotion and righteousness, yet in his eyes, whatever the Grand General does is wrong!"

Another youth sneered as well: "He's already a demoted official now, yet still puts on such insufferable airs, disturbing and harassing the people all along the way."

The round-faced youth grew angrier the more he looked at Li Banghua; his hand even moved to rest on his sword hilt.

The lead youth glanced at him: "Brother Zhong, do not act rashly."

The round-faced youth said urgently: "Brother Jinghe!"

The lead youth barked in a low voice: "My Lingyun Society is the Grand General's sword, tasked with ushering in a golden age for China. We are no reckless, hotheaded ruffians, nor may we do anything to tarnish the Grand General's reputation! Li Banghua is but a petty rat, unworthy of our drawn swords."

That youth gazed at Li Banghua for a long while, a cold gleam flickering in his eyes, and finally said: "Let us go. Back to the garrison town."

……

Li Banghua likewise stayed two days in the garrison town. Xu Zucheng introduced the scenery to him — Moshan Mountain and Yao'er Ridge were both worth a visit; Xiaowen Mountain, eight li north of the city, was also fine; and there was Jade Stone Gully, twenty-five li northeast of the city, which produced stone like jade and was even more worth a treasure hunt.

As for sightseeing, Li Banghua was indifferent. As he put it in private, the two places of Baoanzhou and the garrison had already been tainted by foul, filthy air, no longer scenes of a blissful paradise; the mood of "plucking chrysanthemums by the eastern hedge, gazing leisurely at the southern mountains" was utterly gone — there was nothing much worth seeing.

What he mainly wanted was to observe more deeply and closely what he called "the source of calamity and chaos," to understand in detail the two places where workshops and factories covered the land. In any case, Xuanfu Garrison was peaceful and secure, with nothing to worry about or fear.

So he took a few attendants, changed his clothes, and together with Ma Guoxi, secretly went out in plainclothes on an incognito visit, planning to spend two days traveling from the garrison town to the prefectural city.

The distance from Bao'an Garrison Town to the prefectural city was not very far. If one simply rode a horse, following the official road to the banks of the Yanghe, then crossed the river and traveled a short while longer, one would arrive — the total journey amounted to only a few dozen li.

Li Banghua, Ma Guoxi, and the others urged their horses on, galloping along the smooth official road. The road was dense with pedestrian and cart traffic, and they frequently saw people in bright clothes on spirited horses; many were recognizable at a glance as people from Baoanzhou.

These people all shared a distinctive air — self-assured, high-spirited, brimming with confidence, carrying a faint, implicit pride, much like how people in the capital viewed those from everywhere else.

These people were clearly well-off at a glance; every one of them had a horse, which was even more astonishing than everyone owning a car in later ages. After all, in an era when owning a donkey made one a landlord or upper-middle peasant, the value of a horse was even harder to imagine.

What they wore was all new clothing as well. With the weather turning cold, what each person donned was mostly fur-lined outer garments. They were also extremely free with their spending; sometimes a single gratuity was even a silver dollar, which, by later standards, would be like casually tipping someone three or five hundred kuai — hardly a common sight.

Li Banghua observed this and sneered inwardly. No restraint, flaunting it all on the surface — shallow. The civilizing influence here was far inferior to that of Huailai City.

He looked to both sides of the official road: dense wheat fields stretched as far as the eye could see. This was precisely the season for weeding, hoeing, loosening the soil, and preserving moisture. Though the weather was still cold, there were still hardworking common folk toiling in the fields, along with the plowing teams Ma Guoxi had mentioned. Li Banghua nodded to himself; these plowing teams were not bad.

Yet as more workshop people appeared along the road — everywhere coarse, uncultured sorts, everywhere the ear caught was garbled local patois; "conversing and laughing with great scholars, coming and going all illiterates" — Li Banghua's brow furrowed deeper and deeper.