Chapter 165: To Hell with Long-Term Deliberation — What's There to Discuss!

At dawn, Lin Qian walked out of his room feeling refreshed and took a stroll around his newly completed residence.

"Helmsman!" A personal guard standing at attention greeted Lin Qian as he approached.

The speaker was twenty years of age, wore a suit of cotton armor, was of medium build, and had sharply defined features that gave him a keen, capable air.

"Your name is Geng Wu, right?"

"Yes!" Geng Wu answered excitedly. He never imagined that a mere squad leader like himself would have his name remembered by the helmsman.

"You've been with me since the Naozhou Pearl Grounds — you were there for the raid on the Lin estate, the fight against the Jianzhou barbarians, and the battle against the red barbarians. You count as one of my veterans." Lin Qian chatted casually.

"Helmsman—you remember all that?" Geng Wu was astonished.

Lin Qian smiled: "In Shimabara Bay, you led your squad to capture Li Guozhu. Hard not to remember that."

Geng Wu scratched his head sheepishly, but his hand hit his helmet instead. He awkwardly withdrew it.

"My captain of the guard — the post is yours."

Geng Wu standing on Lin Qian's path this morning was no coincidence — Lin Qian had arranged it deliberately.

Before this, Lin Qian had already had Bailangzai investigate Geng Wu inside and out, ensuring his character, martial skill, and loyalty were all trustworthy before granting him the appointment as captain of the guard.

Geng Wu was currently a squad leader in the marine corps, commanding over three hundred men, while Lin Qian's personal guard numbered only fifty.

It might seem like he'd be commanding fewer men, but in truth he was drawing close to the center of power around Lin Qian — a leap to the heavens in one step.

Geng Wu trembled with excitement, clasped his fists, and knelt: "Thank you, Helmsman, for your patronage!"

He then moved to kowtow as well.

Lin Qian said: "Rise. I don't need people kneeling and bowing at every turn. From now on, a fist-and-palm salute is enough."

"Yes!" Geng Wu rose and acknowledged.

Speaking, Lin Qian walked toward the residence's outer gate, passing through the inner courtyard and into the guard quarters — the lodgings of the household's personal guards.

Guards who were off duty were just then eating breakfast at their tables.

Seeing Lin Qian enter, everyone set down their bowls and chopsticks, stood, and called out loudly: "Helmsman!"

"Sit." Lin Qian told everyone to sit with a smile, taking the chance to look over their breakfast.

On the tables sat large bowls of wontons still steaming with hot vapor, surrounded by five or six plates of cold dishes.

Lin Qian took a look — the wontons were filled with mutton, apparently made from the leftover leg of lamb from last night's banquet.

Though they were leftovers, in this era this counted as top-tier fare.

Even Commander Ma's household troops ate no better than this.

"The cooks here are all newly hired, so they may not have the flavors quite right. If anything doesn't suit your taste, don't hesitate to bring it up with the kitchen." Lin Qian said.

The guards hurriedly waved their hands, indicating that everything was to their liking.

Lin Qian then walked to the beds and saw the bedding neatly folded, though the beds were packed tightly together. He asked Geng Wu behind him: "How many men sleep in one room?"

"Fifteen."

"A bit cramped, isn't it?"

"It's cold out — when everyone crowds together, it's warmer." Geng Wu laughed.

"I noticed several other guard quarters sitting empty. Fill them all up — ten men per room, a bit more spacious. If it's cold, burn more charcoal. Surely my household can afford charcoal."

Lin Qian said this in a joking tone.

Then he looked at the washbasins in the room and gave orders: "Issue each man an extra washbasin — one for washing the face, one for washing the feet. Each month, issue two towels, one tooth cup, three toothbrushes, one box of tooth powder, and one bundle of soap pods."

Geng Wu said quietly: "Helmsman, isn't that a bit much? We're all rough men — we won't use all that."

Lin Qian knew he was trying to save expenses.

These items sounded like a lot, but they were all small odds and ends of little value — yet their ability to prevent injury and illness gave the troops a very real boost in combat effectiveness.

The Red Army of the future achieved the pinnacle of human light infantry precisely because it placed extreme emphasis on hygiene regulations.

Therefore, Lin Qian put on a stern face and said: "From this day forward, all household guards must wash their hands with soap pods before meals and after using the latrine, brush their teeth and wash their faces morning and night, soak their feet in hot water every evening, bathe once every seven days, and all drinking water must be boiled — no drinking raw water. These are orders.

You, as captain of the guard, will supervise enforcement. I will conduct inspections at irregular intervals. Any failure in execution will be your responsibility."

"Yes!" Geng Wu answered loudly.

At present, from soldiers to commoners on Nan'ao Island, no one had good hygiene habits.

On board ship, with limited conditions, one could let it slide — but maintaining that same filthy, slovenly standard on shore was no recipe for the long term.

Lin Qian hadn't promoted this on the island before because fresh water was scarce there. But with the completion of the Huanghuashan Reservoir in March this year, fresh water had become essentially inexhaustible.

The only obstacle to implementing the hygiene regulations was people's laziness and ingrained habits.

And Lin Qian's personal guards had the highest individual quality, obedience, and pay of all his units — they already functioned as a training cadre in nature.

Rolling out the hygiene regulations starting with the personal guards was exactly the right approach.

Lin Qian visited the other guard quarters as well, following the same routine of asking after their welfare and promulgating the hygiene regulations.

Though it was a standard tactic for winning people's hearts, it still warmed the guards' spirits.

What especially astonished the guards and Geng Wu was that Lin Qian could name nearly every single guard — and even remembered how many family members each had at home and what notable deeds they'd performed.

Such as: "I've heard tell — at the Naozhou Pearl Grounds you killed three soldiers from the patrol battalion. Fierce and brave beyond measure."

Or: "Wang Liu, good lad, you've grown so tall. How's business at your sister's stall?"

And again: "Sun Yu — you're on leave for your wedding? Such a big event, why didn't you mention it in advance. Geng Wu, take fifty taels of silver — consider it my wedding gift."

There were four guard quarters in total, and by the time he'd made the rounds, Lin Qian had personally greeted nearly every guard.

Before leaving, he would add: "All of you work hard — work well — and aside from a wife, which I can't provide, there's nothing I wouldn't give you!"

After this round of inspection, whether genuine or not, every guard was as excited as if they'd been shot full of stimulant.

Geng Wu's eyes grew brighter and brighter as well — after a whole morning of walking with Lin Qian, he felt his future looking ever more promising.

Approaching noon, Lin Qian headed toward the residence's kitchen, then suddenly asked: "By the way, how was Li Guozhu dealt with?"

"He's locked up with the other prisoners of war."

"Let the man out, find him a small courtyard, and have someone keep an eye on him."

Li Guozhu still had value to be exploited, so he couldn't be treated too harshly. If Li Dan ever learned how badly his son was being kept, he would likely turn hostile within two or three years at most.

"And find someone with some learning to teach him to read." Lin Qian added after a moment's thought. After all, if one was going to put on an act, one might as well do it properly — the better Li Guozhu was treated, the more at ease Li Dan would be.

With that, Lin Qian walked into the kitchen.

Near mealtime, a dozen or so cooks were bustling around the stoves. Steam billowed and flames leaped as Uncle Chen directed the crowd like a general.

Seeing Lin Qian appear at the kitchen door, Uncle Chen immediately came forward with a smile: "Helmsman, what brings you to the kitchen?"

Lin Qian smiled: "This is the first time this household has lit its fires, so I came to take a look. Introduce me to your staff."

In truth, breakfast had been the first time the fires were lit.

But if Lin Qian said lunch was the first time, then lunch it was.

"Right away." Uncle Chen pointed at the scene of flying spatulas by the stoves: "Over there is the hot-food station, three men total. The head chef was hired from Chaozhou Prefecture — his Cantonese cooking is extraordinary!"

"Over there are the cutting and pastry stations, six men total."

"Over there are the cold dishes and food carving. He's in charge of tending the fire, and those few are the washing and cleaning helpers."

"As for steward and purchasing duties, those fall to me and my apprentice."

Then Uncle Chen lowered his voice: "Rest assured, Helmsman — these people all have known backgrounds, and their families are on the island."

Lin Qian keenly sensed that having the head chef and the purchasing steward too close could easily breed corruption.

But as the saying went, a cook who doesn't steal means a harvest that isn't plentiful. Uncle Chen had followed Lin Qian since the days of the Qingping, and such loyalty was truly rare. A little petty pilfering here and there, Lin Qian had no intention of pursuing — so long as it didn't go too far.

What Lin Qian truly worried about was whether these cooks could be trusted — that no one might bribe or coerce them into poisoning the food.

Uncle Chen added: "Every dish is inspected before it leaves the kitchen, and before it's sent to the inner residence, young Doctor Su checks it a second time."

Only then did Lin Qian feel at ease. He asked: "Which room is Su Qingmei staying in?"

"Er—" Geng Wu was on his first day standing guard at the general's residence, and truly couldn't answer that.

Uncle Chen said: "Young Doctor Su doesn't stay at the residence."

At present, aside from the rough laborers, bookkeepers, kitchen staff, and watchmen that Lin Qian had specified be assigned, all the other rooms in the residence stood empty.

Since Lin Qian hadn't given the word, naturally no one had the authority to arrange lodging for Su Qingmei. He hurriedly had Geng Wu prepare a set of rooms for Su Qingmei to move into.

Uncle Chen seemed to want to speak but held back.

Lin Qian said: "Speak your mind."

"Helmsman, a large residence has many rules. Whether one stays in the inner or outer courtyard, in a side chamber or a main hall — all of it carries significance. It cannot be taken lightly."

Lin Qian's head began to ache. He said to Geng Wu: "Prepare a room in the outer courtyard — one that is simple and elegant."

Though the residence had been designed by Lin Qian himself, the household's rules were something he understood not at all.

Looking at it this way, the residence truly needed someone to manage the household.

According to Ming dynasty convention, the inner residence was managed by the mistress of the house — the legitimate wife — with her chief maidservant exercising the authority on her behalf, as with Wang Xifeng's maid Ping'er in *Dream of the Red Chamber*.

The outer residence was generally managed by a male steward, who oversaw the servants as well as the estates, shops, and tenant farmers.

The two seemed balanced with each having their own duties, yet in the most important matter of expenditures and purchasing, the outer residence remained constrained by the inner residence's "tally system."

To use an official analogy, the outer and inner residences of a Ming household were like the outer and inner courts of the imperial government.

The Grand Secretariat could draft rescripts, but the great power of the red endorsement and affixing the seal remained in the hands of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

The problem was that Lin Qian was not yet married and had no elder female relatives — it was as if the inner court had not a single eunuch in it. This entire system simply could not function.

Lin Qian now had only two options:

One: entrust all authority over both inner and outer residences to Geng Wu, or to Geng Wu and Uncle Chen together. But then power would lose all checks and balances, and sooner or later it would ruin both men.

Two: manage the inner residence himself. But with his daily workload already heavy, adding the trivial coordination of household affairs would leave him willing but unable.

As things stood, the best solution was to quickly find a mistress for the household.

Until then, Lin Qian would simply have to bear the burden himself.

Geng Wu guessed what was troubling Lin Qian and reminded him: "Helmsman, perhaps young Doctor Su could lend a hand."

"Su Qingmei?" Lin Qian murmured.

After lunch, Lin Qian went to the outer residence and saw Su Qingmei arranging the room, with Xiao Hei hopping and bounding around her.

Seeing Lin Qian approach, Su Qingmei smiled and waved: "Helmsman."

"Do you know how to use an abacus?" Lin Qian placed a ledger book and an abacus on the table.

Su Qingmei nodded: "Back in Guangzhou, I was the one who kept all the accounts at the medical clinic."

Lin Qian smiled: "Then here are the household expenses from the past few days. Check whether the bookkeeper's calculations are accurate."

"Yes." Though Su Qingmei found it odd, she obediently sat down at the table, one hand flipping open the ledger while the other lightly worked the abacus, her expression quite focused.

Just from the way she held herself, she was already the equal of a professional bookkeeper.

In less time than it takes to burn a stick of incense, Su Qingmei closed the ledger: "The household expenditures over these past few days come to two thousand eighty-three taels and two mace. The accounting is accurate — though the price of vegetables is a bit high. Perhaps it's because buying produce on the island is inconvenient."

The vegetable prices were high because the purchasing steward had stuffed a bit more silver into his own pocket.

Lin Qian was quite satisfied with this interview. He took out the tally and keys and handed them to her: "I'll trouble you to manage the household on my behalf for a while."

Lin Qian deliberately emphasized "on my behalf" so that Su Qingmei wouldn't overthink it.

Su Qingmei took the tally and keys, smiling: "Don't worry — I'll keep a death grip on the purse strings."

A little over ten days later, a hawk ship sailed into the Bohai Sea and docked at Tianjin Harbor.

Four young eunuchs came ashore, changed to carriages and horses, and transported Eunuch Qian's coffin to the capital.

Two days later, in the early morning at the Directorate of Ceremonial, Wei Zhongxian sat with his legs crossed high, listening to Wang Tigan read out various memorials.

"Ancestor-Master, Mao Wenlong reports a victory — killing over three hundred of the Jianzhou barbarians — and requests from the court a payment of one hundred thousand taels of silver and fifty thousand dan of grain."

Ever since Mao Wenlong had taken up garrison at Pidao, he reported victories and demanded pay with regularity. But since he was stationed deep behind enemy lines, his battle results were difficult to verify, and over time voices in the court criticizing his "exaggerated battle claims" and "arrogance beyond control" began to emerge.

Yet today Wei Zhongxian approved Mao Wenlong's request for funds without even asking a single question — a clear sign that this Ancestor-Master was in a good mood today.

Wang Tiqian picked up the next memorial: "Grand Master, Supreme Commander Sun requests five hundred thousand taels of military funds, still for the matter of repairing the city walls beyond the pass."

Since Xiong Tingbi was imprisoned, the Liaodong Military Commissioner had been replaced by Wang Zaijin, a man incompetent in Liaodong affairs who only stubbornly defended Shanhai Pass and was transferred away after a few months.

Subsequently, Imperial Tutor Sun Chengzong volunteered to go to Liaodong, adopting the strategy of "building fortifications beyond the pass, advancing step by step," promoting Yuan Chonghuan and overseeing the construction of Ningyuan city.

This proposal had already been deliberated several times by the ministries and the Grand Secretariat without reaching a conclusion. The court felt this approach was risky on one hand and costly on the other—after all, the soldiers of the Nine Border Garrisons were still owed their pay.

Thirdly, Sun Chengzong had close ties with the Donglin Faction and was deeply respected by the Emperor. Wei Zhongxian found him disagreeable and wanted to hamstring him.

Wei Zhongxian pondered for a moment, then asked: "What does the draft rescript say?"

"The Grand Secretaries believe Supreme Commander Sun's strategy is feasible. The draft rescript proposes delaying the release of military funds for Shaanxi and Xuanfu, while increasing the Liaodong levy, and permitting Supreme Commander Sun to cultivate military farmland in western Liaodong, collect commercial taxes, and open the salt monopoly to raise funds for the city construction."

"Approve it." Wei Zhongxian said.

At present, the Directorate of Ceremonial was in Wei Zhongxian's hands. Ye Xianggao had retired, and the eunuch faction's power had further expanded, essentially monopolizing control of the court.

A few days earlier, Wang An had been framed by the combined efforts of Wei Zhongxian and Madam Ke, stripped of his position by the Emperor, and later killed by Wei Zhongxian.

Wei Zhongxian had gotten what he wanted—appointed as the imperial commissioner eunuch overseeing the Eastern Depot's officers and agents.

By now, both the inner court and the depot guards were firmly in Wei Zhongxian's grasp, and the eunuch faction held a majority in the outer court as well. His power was at its zenith.

This also imposed certain restraints on his conduct. He could no longer act with reckless abandon as before—while eliminating his rivals, he also had to spare time to consider matters of state.

Though the Tianqi Emperor was obsessed with carpentry, he was not so easy to fool.

If Shanhai Pass suffered another Guangning-style defeat, he wouldn't even need the Donglin Faction to impeach him—the Tianqi Emperor himself would never forgive him.

That was why Wei Zhongxian approved Sun Chengzong's city-building project.

Wang Tiqian picked up another memorial.

At that moment, a eunuch entered from outside and reported: "Grand Master, Qian Zhong has returned."

Wei Zhongxian's gaze sharpened, and he put down his crossed leg.

Qian Zhong was his trusted confidant, previously sent to Nan'ao to oversee the troops. Why would he return without authorization? Something was amiss!

That eunuch wore a strange expression, as if he had something to say but couldn't speak openly in front of so many people.

"Everyone, leave." Wei Zhongxian waved his hand, and the other eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial filed out.

"You stay." Wei Zhongxian said to Wang Tiqian. This man was Wei Zhongxian's staunchest confidant and chief strategist—if there were any problems, he could help with counsel.

After everyone had withdrawn, the messenger eunuch's face fell, and he said in a low voice: "Reporting to Grand Master, Eunuch Qian drowned to death."

"What?" Wei Zhongxian's eyes bulged, his face full of disbelief.

The messenger eunuch kept his head lowered: "It's absolutely true. The coffin has already been shipped to the capital, and several young eunuchs under Eunuch Qian's command have also returned to the capital with it. They're waiting outside."

"Get them the hell in here!" Wei Zhongxian roared in fury.

"Yes." The messenger eunuch breathed a sigh of relief—the Grand Master's wrath hadn't fallen on his head after all.

Shortly after, Sun, Li, and two other young eunuchs entered the Directorate of Ceremonial, knelt on the ground, and paid their respects to the Grand Master.

"Where's the corpse?"

"Reporting to Grand Master, it's parked outside the imperial city."

Wei Zhongxian's tone was gloomy: "How did he die? Tell me everything from the beginning!"

The four exchanged glances. The eunuch surnamed Li took the lead in the telling, while the eunuch surnamed Sun supplemented from the side.

Starting from Sun Jin's journey to Nan'ao to deliver the message, they recounted how Eunuch Qian boarded the Changfeng, Xiao Xu falling overboard, the month-long voyage, Eunuch Qian's seasickness, several great battles, falling overboard on the return voyage, Ma Chenglie executing Bailangzai, and sending the men back by ship.

Of these, the two described the several naval battles the fleet had experienced in extremely fine detail.

After all, Bailangzai had ordered the two to keep their eyes wide open and watch carefully. On the battlefield, cannons thundered, gunsmoke filled the air, and severed limbs and broken arms covered the entire sea—that scene was hard to forget even if one wanted to.

When the eunuch surnamed Li finished speaking, his mouth dry and parched.

The Directorate of Ceremonial fell into deathly silence. For a long time, no one spoke. The eunuch surnamed Li could only hear the thumping of his own heart.

Summoning his courage, he raised his head for a look and saw Wei Zhongxian and Wang Tiqian staring at him with bulging eyes, like geese with their necks being strangled.

After a long while, Wei Zhongxian spoke in a trembling voice: "Rebellion! Rebellion! Ma Chenglie dares to murder a military supervisor! This is outright rebellion! Wang Tiqian, come with me to see His Majesty immediately. Issue a direct palace edict—dispatch troops to suppress the revolt!"

"Grand Master, this matter requires careful deliberation." Wang Tiqian blocked him.

"Deliberate my ass! Killing a military supervisor—if that's not rebellion, what is?" Wei Zhongxian said as he rose, heading straight for the door of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Wang Tiqian hastily grabbed Wei Zhongxian's arm to stop him: "Grand Master, hear me out first—I have something to say!"

Stopped by this intervention, Wei Zhongxian regained some composure and flicked his sleeve: "Speak."

Wang Tiqian said to the four young eunuchs: "You may withdraw first."

The eunuch surnamed Li took out a thick envelope from his bosom: "These are the battle reports Eunuch Qian wrote at sea. This servant will leave them here."

With that, the four withdrew.

Wang Tiqian picked up the envelope, pulled out the battle reports and flipped through them, saying: "Grand Master, Qian Zhong ostensibly died by drowning. Launching troops hastily to suppress a rebellion without proper justification would easily give the Donglin Faction in court a handle against us."

Wei Zhongxian took a deep breath, about to speak.

Wang Tiqian gestured for him to stay calm and displayed the battle reports in his hand: "Grand Master, let this servant read Ma Chenglie's battle reports.

Second year of Tianqi, tenth month, twenty-ninth day: the Nan'ao naval force destroyed thirty-six enemy vessels and captured one enemy ringleader alive.

Second year of Tianqi, winter month, first day: the Nan'ao naval vessel Changfeng sailed out alone, captured three enemy ships, and after being pursued by the enemy fleet, returned south.

Second year of Tianqi, winter month, second day: the Nan'ao naval force encountered the enemy fleet's main body—over fifty vessels of various sizes, all equipped with firearms and cannons—sank twelve enemy ships, and killed countless enemies—

Grand Master, Ma Chenglie is flaunting his military might to the court."

Wei Zhongxian felt somewhat unsettled listening to this and asked: "You mean to say, the Fujian and Guangdong naval forces can't defeat him?"

Wang Tiqian shook his head: "I'm afraid even the Denglai naval force couldn't hold against him."

Wei Zhongxian sat back down in his seat.

"Moreover, those four young eunuchs, along with Eunuch Qian's coffin, were sent by Ma Chenglie by ship via the sea route. The party departed on the first day of the twelfth month and arrived in Tianjin on the twelfth."

"So what?" Wei Zhongxian frowned.

Cold sweat seeped from Wang Tiqian's forehead: "Ma Chenglie's forces could reach the capital region in just eleven days! If this man were to rebel, the consequences would be unimaginable—"

Eleven days from Nan'ao to the capital region—fast enough to rival a three-hundred-li urgent relay.

At these words, Wei Zhongxian's cold sweat began to fall.

If Ma Chenglie rebelled and sailed his fleet to the capital region, throwing it into chaos, who would the court hold responsible first?

If the Nan'ao naval galleons were allowed to bombard the capital region at will, the consequences would be even worse than the loss of Guangning.

Moreover, if the Nan'ao fleet entered the Bohai Sea, the Denglai fleet would have no choice but to come out and engage them—and then Pidao's supply line would be cut off.

With Mao Wenlong no longer harassing them, the Jianzhou barbarians would surely launch a full-scale assault on the passes.

If Shanhai Pass fell then, the whole realm would be shaken—even nine heads wouldn't be enough for Wei Zhongxian to spare from the Emperor's blade.

Even in the most favorable scenario, suppose the Denglai fleet were capable of holding the mouth of the Bohai.

The Nan'ao fleet could still sail up the Yangtze and cut off the grain transport—the north would instantly plunge into panic and turmoil, and the impact would be no less than bombarding the capital region itself.

Wei Zhongxian couldn't understand how a Vice Regional Commander from some impoverished backwater could strike so fatally every time, as if he had his finger on Wei's own pulse.

Thinking back further, the drawings and wax models Ma Chenglie had previously presented to the Emperor had also won considerable imperial favor.

It was only after Sun Jin brought back a memorial overflowing with flattery that the Emperor lost interest.

At the time, Wei Zhongxian had preened himself, believing Ma Chenglie had finally lost imperial favor—making him easy to manipulate.

Who would have thought Ma Chenglie was waiting for him all along, having laid out an enormous trap aimed straight at Wei Zhongxian's vital point.

How could a man so far away in Nan'ao know the court's innermost workings like a roundworm in its belly?

"What about Ma Chenglie's son—that hereditary Embroidered Uniform Guard post—has he assumed it yet?" Wei Zhongxian grasped at it like a lifeline.

Wang Tiqian shook his head.

Wei Zhongxian felt a nameless dread. Sun Jin had gone to deliver the message in early October—could Ma Chenglie have already begun laying his plans back then?

He also recalled that Ma Chenglie's original way of connecting with him had been sending pearls to Lady Ke.

At that time, Lady Ke had been expelled from the palace, and everyone assumed she was about to lose her power.

Wei Zhongxian, as her companion, had likewise been forced to keep his head down and tread carefully.

And yet Ma Chenglie had chosen precisely that moment to send gifts—could this man truly possess such foresight, anticipating the enemy's moves before they happened?

Wang Tiqian thought for a moment, then said in a hoarse voice: "Ancestor, Ma Chenglie rebelling isn't even the worst outcome—if this man were to... become entangled with the Donglin Faction, that would be the real disaster."

Yahei

Fenyuan

Pen