Chapter 281: Sealing the Trade Routes, Decoupling the Economy

A few days later, news of the complete annihilation of the Zhejiang naval forces arrived at Nanchang by fast horse.

Inside the study of the Governor-General's yamen, Yuan Chonghuan startled up directly from his grand master's chair.

"What? Say that again?"

The staff advisor Cheng Benzhi read the military dispatch once more, and at the end, the words "complete annihilation of the Zhejiang naval forces" rang especially harsh in the ears.

"Dinghai, Linshan, Guanhai, Haimen, Songmen... Within Zhejiang's borders, there are over a dozen naval guard stations of all sizes!

Even if the rebels went by boat to attack them one by one, it would take three or four months to finish them all!

How dare they treat this Governor's standing order to hold fast as wind past the ears, and sally forth rashly, leading to the complete annihilation of the entire force! Everyone below the Zhejiang Governor deserves death!" Yuan Chonghuan roared.

"This Governor will write a memorial impeaching these useless parasites who occupy their posts without doing their duty! Prepare brush and ink!"

Cheng Benzhi put away the military dispatch, clasped his hands, and said: "At this time, Your Excellency should not submit an impeachment memorial — on the contrary, you should submit one taking blame."

"Preposterous!" Yuan Chonghuan rebuked.

Cheng Benzhi said: "When Your Excellency was summoned to court earlier, you requested authority to command four provinces. Had the Emperor granted it, Your Excellency's command over Zhejiang would have been proper and justified, and today's affair likely would not have occurred."

The staff advisor and Bureau Secretary Mao Yuanyi exclaimed in alarm: "Mind your words!"

Yuan Chonghuan also looked at his aide with shock and uncertainty.

Cheng Benzhi, however, calmly advised: "Your Excellency, I have recently been studying the Capital Gazette, and corresponding with old friends in the capital, and I have discerned that our current sovereign has his own method of judging and employing men.

Your Majesty most favors officials who take responsibility for their tasks, and deeply detests those who shift blame and gloss over faults.

Now that Zhejiang's east has lost this battle, if you hastily impeach the Governor, I fear the Emperor may suspect you of shifting blame onto your sovereign, which would displease His Majesty.

If Your Excellency advances by retreating — submitting a memorial of self-blame, impeaching yourself, shouldering the perilous situation with resolve, and swearing to recover the lost territory — then the Emperor surely will not reproach you, but will instead commend Your Excellency's sincere devotion in taking responsibility."

Yuan Chonghuan said somewhat deflated: "If the Zhejiang naval forces still existed, recovering Zhoushan would still hold some hope. But now that the navy is utterly destroyed, recovering Zhoushan is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

Of course, Yuan Chonghuan had also amassed a large naval force on Poyang Lake, but those ships were his foundation for defending the Yangtze, crucial to the entire southeastern situation. To dispatch them rashly to rescue Zhoushan would be to sacrifice the root for the branch, and would plunge him into strategic passivity.

Cheng Benzhi said: "Your Excellency, this 'recovery of lost territory' need not be confined to the single corner of Zhoushan. Would not the lost lands of Fujian and Guangdong serve just as well?

As I see it, those vermin in Zhejiang have likely already submitted memorials impeaching Your Excellency. Your Excellency should do the opposite — show the sincerity of one shouldering a perilous situation — and this will instead let the sovereign see Your Excellency's breadth of mind. Yet although Your Excellency takes blame, you cannot let the Emperor truly believe the fault lies with you, so the wording of the memorial must be weighed with the utmost care. I am willing to draft it for Your Excellency." Yuan Chonghuan paced back and forth in the room, then suddenly stopped short, made up his mind, and looked at Cheng Benzhi: "Yuandao (Cheng Benzhi's courtesy name), I must trouble you again."

Cheng Benzhi was a native of Changzhou, a commoner without rank, who, out of admiration for Yuan Chonghuan's loyalty and valor, had personally traveled to Liaodong, volunteered himself, and joined under his banner.

Thereafter he specialized in drafting documents and managing public opinion. His writing was sharp and incisive, his logic rigorous, and his understanding of officialdom's rules extremely deep — he could well be called Yuan Chonghuan's iron "pen."

During the Jisi Incident, when Yuan Chonghuan drove off Hong Taiji but was thrown into prison by Wei Zhongxian on trumped-up charges, it was Cheng Benzhi who campaigned on his behalf, writing such powerful essays as *Record of Quelling the Bandits* and *Record of the Royal Rescue* to plead Yuan Chonghuan's innocence. These circulated widely among the people and stirred great response.

Had Emperor Tianqi not been critically ill at the time, with Wei Zhongxian unable to protect himself, Cheng Benzhi would likely have long been minced into filling and thrown into the river by the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard.

With Cheng Benzhi now responsible for drafting the self-blame memorial, Yuan Chonghuan could rest easy.

After handling the matter of the Zhoushan disaster, Yuan Chonghuan turned to asking about military affairs.

Early on, when Lin Qian had first invaded Zhoushan, Yuan Chonghuan had already mobilized troops to attack Iron Ox Pass in response.

This was a pass within Shaowu, Fujian. Yuan Chonghuan had served as County Magistrate in Shaowu and knew the terrain there very well. It was a medium-sized pass, not a main thoroughfare like Shan Pass or Mei Pass with heavy garrisons.

Moreover, this campaign used his personal troops — the Guanning Army — as the vanguard, so surely nothing could go wrong.

As long as Iron Ox Pass could be taken, the self-blame memorial would be much easier to write.

Mao Yuanyi brought over the map of Iron Ox Pass and said: "Your Excellency, this battle is led by Battalion Commander Li of the personal troops battalion. He commands two thousand Guanning soldiers and six red barbarian cannons. They arrived three days ago...

This road is the narrow mountain path Your Excellency mentioned. The Night Scouts have already reconnoitered it — one can bypass the pass and strike from the rear. The pass should fall within days..."

Looking at the map, Iron Ox Pass sat in a V-shaped gorge formed by two mountains with a gully between them. Both sides of the gorge were sheer cliffs thirty to forty zhang high, and the valley floor was less than two zhang wide — at most room for two horses abreast.

Iron Ox Pass blocked the throat of the gorge. Attacking from the Jiangxi direction meant climbing uphill the entire way, with an elevation difference of over ten zhang — truly terrain of "one man holding the pass, ten thousand cannot break through."

Attacking from the front, let alone the Guanning Army which was unaccustomed to mountain warfare, even the White Pole Army could not fight their way in.

But this mighty pass had one weakness: hidden among the dense forests and cliffs on both sides of the gorge was a small trail used by hunters, which could cut straight through to Guangze County in Fujian. This trail was extremely concealed, hidden among broken stone and thick woods. An ordinary person could not discover it — even if told where it was and how to walk it, they would still fail to find it. When Yuan Chonghuan was County Magistrate, he had worried about the great affairs of Liaodong and accordingly taken strong interest in military strategy. While inspecting Iron Ox Pass, he had, by fortunate coincidence, had hunters lead him to discover this path.

Afterwards, Yuan Chonghuan ordered men to seal the path with great boulders, and commanded the hunters never to mention the path again, nor to use it themselves.

Who would have thought that an offhand act from those years would become today's opportunity to invade Fujian.

Mao Yuanyi continued: "Once Iron Ox Pass is taken, our army will have a route into Fujian. We can press toward the prefectures of Shaowu, Jianning, and Yanping, seize control of the Min River, and fight our way straight into Fuzhou.

We can also force the Nan'ao naval forces to turn back in relief, reducing the threat to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and regain the initiative..."

Another aide said: "Your Excellency has taken up position in Jiangxi and amassed heavy troops in southern Jiangxi. Nan'ao will surely believe Your Excellency plans to attack southern Fujian and northern Guangdong, never suspecting that Your Excellency will strike from northern Fujian. This combination of feint and real attack will surely catch the rebels off guard!"

Yuan Chonghuan revealed a faint smile, then quickly suppressed it, and asked: "Have messengers been sent to the She and Yao chieftains of northern Fujian with the imperial decree?"

Mao Yuanyi said: "Lama Wang has already sent people. Per Your Excellency's instructions, they promised hereditary native official posts, exemption from taxes for three years, and gifts of salt, iron, cloth, and the like. No reply has come yet, but the northern Fujian chieftains are far weaker than those of the southwest — with such terms, they cannot fail to be tempted."

"Mm." Yuan Chonghuan stared at the map, pondered for a moment, then said: "Send orders to Battalion Commander Li — after taking Iron Ox Pass, garrison in place, build artillery positions, and guard against a rebel counterattack.

Have the Huguang camp soldiers and Zhenhuang chieftain troops assemble at Luxi County, enter Fujian through Iron Ox Pass, and rapidly seize Guangze County!"

"Yes!" Mao Yuanyi acknowledged.

"Report!" At that very moment, the voice of a dispatch rider suddenly rang out from the courtyard.

Yuan Chonghuan and Mao Yuanyi exchanged a glance, thinking: "That was fast!"

Mao Yuanyi went out to receive the military dispatch, came back inside, opened it and read. The smile on his face grew wider, then gradually froze, then his brows knit tightly, and finally his face was full of utter disbelief.

"How is it?" Yuan Chonghuan, seeing his expression, hurriedly asked. "They didn't find the small path I spoke of? Didn't I send guides?"

Mao Yuanyi was silent for a moment, then said: "Your Excellency, our army has been defeated... Battalion Commander Li was driven back by the rebels and has taken position at Luxi."

"What? This... defeated?" Yuan Chonghuan exclaimed. "Didn't Iron Ox Pass have only some two hundred defenders?"

Before the battle, Yuan Chonghuan had ordered detailed reconnaissance of Iron Ox Pass.

Though the pass was perilous, it was small, its roads narrow, and it was not a strategic location — hence only two hundred men garrisoned it.

The Guanning Army had two thousand men. Though the terrain limited them — no cavalry, no artillery — even if the attack failed, it should have been merely a case of not taking the pass. How could they have been driven back in defeat?

Two thousand elite soldiers chased by two hundred ragtag troops — was that possible?

Mao Yuanyi's tone was bitter: "The dispatch says the rebels have fortified Iron Ox Pass extremely solidly. Their gun towers can fire in all directions, and every defender holds a firearm — their firepower is ferocious.

The Guanning Army had just circled behind the rebels along Your Excellency's route when they came under repeated volleys of cannon and musket fire. The hundred-plus soldiers who circled around were all killed. And such small paths were not the only ones — the rebels also followed one to circle behind our army, firing guns and setting fires, quickly filling the mountain forests with billowing smoke, choking many of our men to death. Battalion Commander Li saw the situation was hopeless and led the Guanning Army out of the valley...

Our army suffered over two hundred dead and wounded..."

Casualties were light, but the defeat was humiliating...

It was only because these were elite Guanning troops that they could retreat in an orderly fashion even when their rear was attacked with fire. Had they been guard station soldiers, the entire force would have been annihilated. Yuan Chonghuan muttered, "There's another path?"

He had served three years as County Magistrate of Shaowu and knew of only one path—how could the rebels know this terrain so thoroughly?

Mao Yuanyi placed the military dispatch on Yuan Chonghuan's desk and said, "Battalion Commander Li says the rebels are deeply beloved by the mountain folk.

When our army entered the valley, whether we asked for directions, or tried to buy grain, buy meat, or beg for water, the mountain folk ignored us entirely and instead kept their distance.

But when the rebels attacked our rear, the local mountain folk actually competed to serve as guides..."

Yuan Chonghuan slammed his fist on the table, rattling the four treasures of the study.

"Bought with a few favors and they call bandits their fathers—a pack of ignorant fools!"

As he spoke, someone pushed open the door and entered, cupping his hands in greeting: "Your Excellency, gentlemen..."

The newcomer wore a dark red monk's robe with narrow sleeves and a cinched waist, his head shaven clean, dressed as a lama. He was one of Yuan Chonghuan's staff officers, Wang Sanji Bacang. This man was a Mongol lama, fluent in the Mongol, Jurchen, and Ü-Tsang languages. In Yuan Chonghuan's camp, everyone called him Lama Wang.

Lama Wang understood both military affairs and diplomacy. In Liaodong, Yuan Chonghuan had him deal with the Mongols and Jurchens; after arriving in Jiangxi, he was also tasked with pacifying and recruiting the She and Yao chieftains.

Yuan Chonghuan glanced at Lama Wang and saw his grim expression—clearly he had brought bad news.

"What, are those She and Yao chieftains still obstinate?" Yuan Chonghuan asked.

Lama Wang said, "Your Excellency sees clearly. Of the envoys this humble monk sent to negotiate with the various chieftains, eight out of ten were rejected."

"Border chieftains, daring to support the rebels—they truly don't know what it means to live or die!" Yuan Chonghuan ground his teeth.

Mao Yuanyi tried to smooth things over: "Fujian is Lin the Rebel's home base. He has operated here for a long time, with deep roots that are hard to shake—it's only to be expected. At least two in ten chieftains are willing to submit to the court; that's already not bad."

"Ahem..." Lama Wang coughed awkwardly. "The remaining two envoys have not yet returned. In this humble monk's view, they have likely met with misfortune..." So that meant none of the chieftains were willing to submit?

Even Mao Yuanyi was deeply shocked. These chieftains dwelt deep in the mountains, untouched by civilization, extremely difficult to control—loyalty or rebellion hung on a single thought. In two hundred years, the court had used conciliation and compromise, yet chieftains still rose in revolt from time to time.

How was it that after submitting to Nan'ao, they had all become so fiercely loyal?

Mao Yuanyi remarked with emotion: "What kind of bewitching potion has Lin the Rebel fed these mountain folk, chieftains, and barbarian tribes?"

Lama Wang said, "This humble monk does know a little about that. The camphor, nanmu, and fir wood of Fujian, along with indigo, ramie, tung oil, Chinese medicinal herbs, and so on—the vast majority are distributed in the mountains of northern Fujian, mostly on chieftain territory.

Nan'ao's maritime trade is thriving, and they trade extensively with the chieftains at frontier trade markets. Not only do the chieftains rake in money hand over fist, even the common tribesmen live considerably better.

According to the envoy who returned from Mount Wuyi, the helmsman developed a new tea there called 'Lapsang Souchong,' which is quite popular.

Several She tribes made a fortune producing this tea. Deep in the mountain tribes, every household now has iron pots, machetes, hoes, and the like—they can even afford to put salt in every meal!"

"Salt in every meal?" Yuan Chonghuan confirmed.

"Yes, salt in every meal. Though they still use far less than in the coastal provinces, every household has a store of salt."

"Good heavens, no wonder these mountain barbarians are so devoted!" Mao Yuanyi exclaimed.

Solar salt production and salt refining were not difficult tasks. The Ming dynasty's salt-making technology was quite mature; even accounting for transport losses, total output was enough for the entire nation's population to eat their fill.

Yet the common people still couldn't afford salt. One important reason was that the court wanted to use salt to control and exploit the regions.

For example, the salt certificate system artificially designated sales zones for each salt works, forbidding sales across regional boundaries.

Zhangzhou and Quanzhou in Fujian had produced salt since ancient times, with salt piling up like mountains, yet Shaowu, Jianning, and other places in Fujian were designated sales zones for the Lianghuai salt works. Because the revenue from Lianghuai salt went into the Prince of Fu's pockets, and the Prince of Fu was born of Noble Consort Wan, the favorite son of the Wanli Emperor—the Emperor would have gladly enfeoffed all of Huguang to him. Compared to that, what did it matter if mountain folk couldn't afford salt?

Salt was shipped from afar instead of nearby, transported a thousand li from Lianghuai, with prices multiplied dozens of times over—naturally the mountain folk couldn't afford it.

Beyond the salt certificate system, the court also had the open-purchase method, salt levies, and other means of extortion through salt—in essence, heavy taxes that exploited the people through salt. With layer upon layer of surcharges, the common people could afford salt even less.

On top of all these exactions, the court also used salt to control the She and Yao chieftains, adding heavier taxes, and even deliberately refusing to sell to them.

This forced the mountain folk of Wuyi to subsist on "bland fare"—that is, eating no salt at all, using wood-ash water, pickling brine, sour bamboo shoots, and the like as substitutes for salt with their meals. This was why Yuan Chonghuan and the others were so astonished to hear that the mountain barbarians salted every meal.

Nan'ao also had a salt monopoly, but without the salt certificate system, and they certainly didn't use salt to exploit or control the region. Salt was purchased and sold uniformly, priced uniformly, and supplied from the nearest source.

So after taking control of Fujian, salt prices plummeted, and the problem of people unable to afford salt ceased to exist.

The room full of staff officers listened silently to what Lama Wang had learned, and for a long while no one spoke, unsure what to make of it.

To say Lin Qian was buying people's hearts was old hat—the ultimate platitude.

Lin Qian's talent for winning people over was already well known throughout Jiangnan officialdom, as universally acknowledged as the invincibility of the Nan'ao navy. Accuse him of harboring ill intentions?

Lin Qian had made it so everyone could afford salt—no matter how you looked at it, it was a great boon to the people.

If anyone's interests were harmed, it was the Prince of Fu, the powerful nobles, and the salt merchants. These people must hate Lin Qian to the bone—but could Yuan Chonghuan ask such men for troops or grain?

He could not...

At this point, the matter had become unsolvable?

Yuan Chonghuan suddenly felt greatly troubled. When he had been summoned to the audience, he had thought that wiping out Lin the Rebel in the southeast was merely a military problem.

With elite troops and ample provisions, advancing overland, relying on strong fortifications, using cannons, advancing step by step while avoiding the rebel navy's strength—exterminating them wouldn't be difficult.

Only now did he realize this was a political problem.

Every move Lin Qian made was interlocking, forging Min and Yue into a single block of iron—truly a hard bone to chew!

Though the Jianzhou barbarians' iron cavalry was formidable, they lacked popular support. Dealing with them only required considering how to deploy troops.

But against Lin the Rebel, there was simply no way to use military force. Even if these prefectures and counties of Fujian and Guangdong could be taken, they would be impossible to hold. The people, accustomed to all the benefits Lin the Rebel had given them—how could they bear paying the Liaodong levy again? Paying high prices for salt again?

The people would certainly find every way to help Lin the Rebel, sending the rebels food, drink, and intelligence, helping the rebels drive the Ming army out of Fujian as soon as possible. Truly, difficult, difficult, difficult!

Mao Yuanyi's military abilities were strong, but his political acumen was somewhat weaker. Not yet understanding the full picture, he confirmed: "Lama Wang, you say Lin the Rebel wins people's hearts by abolishing the Liaodong levy and the salt certificates—is that right?"

Lama Wang nodded: "More or less."

"Lin the Rebel can keep taxes light and corvée minimal in Min and Yue because of the profits from maritime trade—is that right?"

At this, Lama Wang could not answer.

Han Runchang, the staff officer in charge of provisions and military supplies, said, "Correct. Even if Lin the Rebel's subordinates were the most incorruptible, after successive major campaigns, they couldn't possibly keep the rear so stable.

Throughout history, southeastern regimes either had wealth like the Southern Song—rich but weak—or strength like Sun Wu—strong but lacking funds. Never had one possessed both, which is why every dynasty ruled the south from the north.

Now Lin Qian uses overseas profits to transfuse blood into the southeast, actually achieving both—taking the fish and the bear's paw alike... Truly... truly a man of extraordinary talent!" Han Runchang, who managed money and grain, naturally understood how difficult it was for Lin Qian to have reached his current position. Thus, even as one of Yuan Chonghuan's staff officers, he felt genuine admiration from the bottom of his heart. But these words only stoked the flames of Yuan Chonghuan's jealousy, as if that night beneath Shanhai Pass were replaying before his eyes.

Mao Yuanyi frowned and said, "If we want to cut off Lin Qian's maritime trade, we're no match for his navy."

Analyzing the enemy's and our own situation was his specialty, so these words were spoken in a tone of plain statement.

"It's too late to build ships now..." Mao Yuanyi kept stroking his beard, sinking into deep thought. He now understood just where the difficulty lay. The strategy of "controlling the sea from the land" was probably impossible to achieve—if they wanted to defeat Lin Qian, they would have to defeat him at sea!

And the Nan'ao naval force was unmatched in the world—if this wasn't a dead end, what was?

Han Runchang suggested: "What about inciting defection among his naval commanders?"

Lama Wang shook his head helplessly: "The majority of his navy are of Tanka descent, who harbor deep hatred for the Great Ming and are utterly loyal to the rebel Lin. The rest were trained by Lin's naval academy, regarding Lin Qian as both sovereign and teacher—extremely difficult to turn."

Mao Yuanyi refused to believe it, saying: "Even Liu Xingzuo of the Jianzhou barbarians was turned by the Great Ming. Could Lin's men be even more loyal than the Jianzhou barbarians?" Lama Wang said: "Hard to say..."

Just as everyone was at their wit's end, Yuan Chonghuan said leisurely: "We should start a newspaper too."

The assembled advisors looked toward him, seeing that Yuan Chonghuan held a copy of the Nan'ao Times in his hand.

"Lin Qian used this very thing to bewitch people's hearts. The common folk follow the crowd, swayed by petty gains, and so they aid the tyrant.

We'll start our own newspaper too—explain clearly who is the rebel and who is the legitimate authority, lay out the Jianzhou border threat and the court's peril, and make the reasoning plain to the people. Yuandao (Cheng Benzhi's courtesy name), I'll trouble you with this task. Write some articles—first persuade the scholars, then convince the common folk."

Cheng Benzhi accepted the charge.

Then Yuan Chonghuan continued: "Furthermore, Zhisheng (Mao Yuanyi's courtesy name) speaks sense. If we want to win this war, we must cut off his maritime trade profits. But since we won't fight at sea, we'll cut off his overland trade routes instead.

I've already issued warrants to the various provinces, but merchants in southern Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Huguang and elsewhere have traded with Nan'ao for a long time—they're bound to comply in name only. Boqing (Han Runchang's courtesy name), go keep watch over them. Don't let a single bale of raw silk or a single piece of porcelain flow into Fujian or Guangdong."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

The blanket policy gave Han Runchang some private misgivings, but since Yuan Chonghuan had already decided, it couldn't be changed at a moment's notice—he could only accept and carry it out. "Zhisheng (Mao Yuanyi's courtesy name), the military affairs of southern Jiangxi are yours. Before we can shatter Lin's morale among troops and people, first build fortifications and hold fast. We have five years—no need to rush.

Additionally, station ambush troops along the Xianxia Road, Fu-Wen Road, and other necessary routes between Zhejiang and Fujian. Since the rebel Lin has taken Zhoushan, he surely has designs on Zhejiang. If he comes, lure him in and annihilate him."

Mao Yuanyi also cupped his hands in assent.

Having arranged each advisor's tasks, Yuan Chonghuan gradually relaxed. Compared with the seven southern provinces, the gain or loss of Zhoushan in the short term meant little—the real confrontation between the two armies was only just beginning.

He looked forward to the moment when Nan'ao's financial lifeline was severed, when Lin Qian's sea-bandit nature would be exposed, and he would bare his fangs at the people under his rule.

Strictly speaking, Yuan Chonghuan only had concurrent jurisdiction over military affairs in Zhejiang, Huguang and elsewhere, with no authority over trade at the passes. But he had always wielded power arbitrarily—relying on the imperial sword and His Majesty's trust, he overstepped his authority to direct trade, and the Governors of the two provinces dared not say a word.

As Yuan Chonghuan's orders reached every prefecture and county, the trade routes through the passes were successively closed.

From this moment on, the Great Ming and Nan'ao were formally decoupled economically!

Merchants from Jiangxi, Zhejiang and elsewhere had yet to react strongly, but the Fujian and Guangdong sea merchants were the first to lose their composure.

It was now November. The sea merchants had long since stocked their goods in full—their fleets were either at sea bound for Hoi An, Palembang, Manila, and other places, or on the return voyage from Hirado.

Yuan Chonghuan's blockade of the trade routes wouldn't affect trade at the present stage, but by next summer, the goods destined for trade at Hirado would have no source.

At most half a year—once the summer monsoon arrived, the sea merchants would have no goods to ship, their fleets would sit idle, and the costs of keeping sailors, repairing ships, and berthing in port were all very high.

That would be losing money every single moment.

So the sea merchants immediately came to seek redress from Lin Qian, hoping to ask the Helmsman to mediate with the Great Ming. Unfortunately, they couldn't even get an audience with the Helmsman.

Only Wang Hao of the Civil Household Bureau comforted them, saying that back when the Great Ming had the sea ban, trade with Hirado hadn't stopped either—there was no reason a land blockade would leave merchants without a livelihood.

The sea merchants found this reasonable, and since there was still half a year before the summer monsoon arrived, they returned half-convinced.

As for Lin Qian at this moment, he was actually in Zhangzhou, at a restaurant called the Nine Dragon River House.

Lin Qian sat in the main hall, having ordered four cold dishes, four hot dishes, two soups, and one dessert.

The main courses included red-fermented braised eel, lychee pork, dried-bamboo-shoot braised old duck, and steamed yellow-winged fish, paired with Lapsang Souchong black tea.

This table of dishes was all mid-range fare, totaling one tael and nine mace of silver.

Zhangzhou was where Yuegang was located—since the Longqing era, it had been a gathering place for sea merchants with extremely high consumption, and it had every kind of restaurant. The Nine Dragon River House ranked only mid-tier among Zhangzhou's establishments.

Mid-tier restaurant, mid-tier seating, mid-tier dishes.

This couldn't help but make the companions seated at the table marvel in wonder.

While no one was watching, Su Qingmei swiftly tested the dishes for poison with a silver needle, then took a bit of each, mixed them together, and secretly fed them to Xiaohei. Ranqiu said in a low voice: "Helmsman, these dishes—Uncle Chen could make them too, and make them better. Why come all the way here to eat?"

Not many people in Zhangzhou knew Lin Qian, which was why Ranqiu was extremely careful in using the words "Helmsman."

He Kai said: "Helmsman, there are too many eyes and ears here. If you must eat, we could have the waiter pack it up to take away—the bank isn't far from here." Scholar Zhou said: "Helmsman, the barbarian Yuan has cut off the trade routes, and the Administration Hall has a mountain of work. I'm worried Director Wang can't handle it all himself." Geng Wu said: "Helmsman..."

"Stop!" Lin Qian raised his hand to halt them. "Calling me 'Helmsman' one after another—are you afraid no one will hear? When we're outside, use the rank-order title." "Sixth Master, the food is safe." Su Qingmei said as she stroked Xiaohei.

Lin Qian picked up his chopsticks: "Eat!"

Scholar Zhou's mind was on affairs of state. After two sips of soup he set down his spoon and said with worry: "Helm—Sixth Master, Director Wang's line of talk probably won't placate the sea merchants for long.

Goods shipped by the main roads and goods smuggled in—there's no comparison in either price or quantity. In a few more months, when they see the trade routes remain blocked, they'll likely make trouble again."

Lin Qian said: "Then just raise the prices when selling to Hirado. Passing the cost on to the consumer is only natural."

Scholar Zhou's mouth fell open—he'd never imagined there was such a solution.

Lin Qian took a few bites of fish, his gaze constantly sweeping the room, and said: "This blockade of the trade routes by the barbarian Yuan is a challenge, but also an opportunity. There happens to be a major matter we can take care of while we're at it."

The companions at the table exchanged glances, not understanding what Lin Qian had up his sleeve. Just as they were about to ask, Lin Qian pointed at a table off to the side and said in a low voice: "Quick, look—that table's about to pay!"

Yahei

Fenyuan

Pen