Chapter 1986: Observations

As they chatted, they advanced another three to five li, and even on this plain of the capital suburbs, there was a sense of sudden openness and fresh revelation. On both sides of the several-zhang-wide road were dense rows of shops and stores, with continuous buildings and houses spreading outward on both sides, stretching beyond the horizon—but of course, the most eye-catching sight was that enormous stone archway.

Four pillars and three gates, with pillars soaring skyward, at least three zhang tall by visual estimate, standing imposingly right in the middle of the road, bearing three gilded characters: Chenqiao Town. The central gate below was very wide, enough for four carriages to pass abreast, so the imperial procession could pass through with absolutely no difficulty.

The road was crowded with traffic, streams of people flowing like threads—though not enough to block the road, that thriving, vibrant, ever-renewing scene could infect one straight to the heart.

Liu Wenyuan reined in his horse at the front, looked up at this truly magnificent archway, and even a hint of daze showed in his eyes as he sighed: "In all my past trips to and from the capital, I've passed through here several times, yet I've never examined this town with such patience and care. Even in Andong—in Suihua city itself—there's no archway of this scale, is there?"

Hearing this, Bai Yonglin immediately slipped into his role and introduced to Liu Wenyuan: "Your Highness, as your servant understands it, this archway was first built in the seventh year of Qianyou. At that time, because officials and travelers of Chenqiao passed through so frequently that it had already become a town, the archway was erected—originally with just two pillars and one gate. Later, due to age, it was torn down and rebuilt in the twelfth year of Kaibao, resulting in the archway before us. It's said that the calligraphy was written at the invitation of Academician Li when he passed through."

"Academician Li?" Seeing Bai Yonglin's admiring expression, Liu Wenyuan was puzzled and asked curiously: "Who is this person? Is he very famous?"

Bai Yonglin said: "To answer Your Highness, this Academician Li is Li Jianzhong, Academician of the Jixian Hall—another great master after Lord Yang (Ningshi). Your Highness must have heard of Lord Yang; in his early years he even served as His Majesty's calligraphy teacher."

"Academician Li's calligraphy style is elegant and full-bodied, gathering the strengths of many schools, blending a hundred marvels, and serving as a model for the present age. He already has a reputation as the finest of the era, and scholars in the capital vie to copy his script."

"To be honest with Your Highness, your servant has also practiced Academician Li's handwriting!"

Bai Yonglin was full of praise for Li Jianzhong, but Liu Wenyuan, upon hearing it, curled the corner of his mouth and said: "From the sound of it, he's just a scholar who writes characters a bit prettily. Aside from that, there's nothing remarkable about him!"

"When I enter the capital to meet His Majesty, I'll ask the Emperor to give me this man, to bring him back to Andong to handle documents and write official dispatches—I just wonder if His Majesty will agree?"

Seeing that Liu Wenyuan had actually conceived such a notion, Bai Yonglin was visibly stunned, his eyes widening, and he muttered inwardly—this young King of Andong was truly no ordinary man.

The esteemed Academician Li, a great calligraphy master of his generation, and he was thinking of using him for the work of a mere clerk! If His Majesty granted his request, that would truly be casting pearls before swine! Such a thought floated up in Bai Yonglin's mind.

Before he could respond, Liu Wenyuan had already let out a hearty laugh and spurred his horse forward, calling out in a booming voice: "Come, let's go see this Chenqiao Post Town famed throughout the realm!"

Because they were hurrying on their way, there was no adequate time for sightseeing, and their impressions were only cursory glances in passing—but even so, they gained much.

Guided by the Chenqiao post station master, the party entered the official post station to rest, where ample reception preparations had already been made. Upon learning that the King of Andong was passing through on his way to the capital, everyone up and down had mobilized, even giving advance notice to the officials lodging and dining in the station, insisting that they must leave a good impression on the great King of Andong.

Due to Chenqiao's special economic and transportation position, the Chenqiao Post Station, as the town's only official post house, had received no small number of high officials and nobles—dukes and ministers, governors of frontier provinces were all commonplace—truly a station of vast experience.

But members of the imperial clan were truly rare. And now they were receiving the King of Andong, who was entering the capital to receive his enfeoffment—a guest of no small weight. The Emperor's regard and trust for the family of the late Prince of Xianqin had long been rumored in the streets, and these people who made their living receiving and seeing off guests had naturally "high awareness"—they felt they must serve attentively; whether or not they could catch the king's eye, at the very least they must not slight such an honored guest.

The Chenqiao Post Station had no pressure at all hosting these few dozen people. The accompanying guards sat at shared tables, quickly settling their meals and rest, while the horses also received careful and patient care, with the finest fodder.

Liu Wenyuan and Bai Yonglin, attended personally by the station master, entered a private room where steaming beef and mutton and fragrant wine and dishes whetted the appetite at first sight.

Liu Wenyuan didn't rush to pick up his chopsticks. Instead, after clinking a cup with Bai Yonglin, he took another bowl, filled it himself, pushed it across the table, and gestured to the obsequious station master: "Please!"

Watching Liu Wenyuan's actions with wide eyes, the station master was visibly taken aback before recovering, wearing an expression of flattered surprise as he hastily said: "This lowly one wouldn't dare!"

"It's just a bowl of wine—what's there to dare or not dare about? A real man, be forthright!" Liu Wenyuan said with a light laugh: "However, after drinking this cup, I'll trouble you to answer a few of my questions!"

Hearing this, the station master seemed thoughtful but reacted quickly, bowing with clasped hands: "If Your Highness has questions, so long as this lowly one knows the answers, I will conceal nothing!"

So saying, he raised the wine bowl and drained it in one go. Drinking too hastily, quite a bit spilled out, wetting the front of his clothes.

"Forthright!" Seeing this, Liu Wenyuan laughed heartily, put a piece of beef in his mouth, chewed once or twice, and before even swallowing, casually asked: "How long have you served in this post?"

"To answer Your Highness!" The station master replied crisply: "My parents were among the first batch to move to this town. This lowly one grew up here, studied here, and entered official service here. As for serving as station master, it's been two years—my term is nearly up, and I'll soon be stepping down."

"Only two years, and then you step down?" Liu Wenyuan couldn't help but be surprised.

The station master said: "Your Highness may not know, but in Chenqiao Town, many positions are rotated every two years. Not to mention this humble station master post—even the town head is the same!"

"Why so frequent?" Liu Wenyuan frowned slightly.

The station master: "This is a rule formed over the town's decades of development!"

"I'm growing more curious by the moment—would you care to explain?" Liu Wenyuan looked at him.

The station master hesitated, then said with a hint of pride: "Your Highness, Chenqiao has its own special circumstances. The town's geographic and transportation advantages are not comparable to the vast majority of towns in the realm. Not to mention this lowly station master post—even a constable or patrol inspector is fought over tooth and nail. Previously, many fierce conflicts arose over this. Later, in the tenth year of Kaibao, the then town head and the various subordinate officials agreed that all positions would be rotated every two years, which calmed many of the conflicts, and the town has been able to maintain stability."

Hearing this, Liu Wenyuan looked at the man with interest. He was not one to be easily deceived—in this man's words, he had glossed over the important points and concealed much. After pondering for a moment, he said to Bai Yonglin beside him: "I recall that before the great reorganization in Andong last year, there were plenty of county magistrates and town commanders under our jurisdiction who had served for several years or even more than a decade!"

Bai Yonglin took a sip of wine and said with a light smile: "Andong naturally cannot compare to Chenqiao. As he said, this is the first great town east of Kaifeng. Where people gather but don't form a county, a town is established. The court's main purpose in establishing towns is also to strengthen management of these populated areas on the outskirts of prefectures and counties. Besides patrol inspection, firefighting, and bandit-catching, the town government's most important duty is tax collection."

"Chenqiao is truly extraordinary! As the largest market around the Eastern Capital, with dense population, gathered merchants, and frequent trade, the tax revenue here is no small sum!"

"Your Highness should know that the Eastern Capital has over a hundred thousand households within the city. The three city markets alone are far from sufficient to meet the daily needs of the capital's scholars and commoners. Therefore, market trade has developed extensively outside the city walls, gradually forming market towns centered on the three great post towns."

"Chenqiao Town, as the largest trade market town east of Kaifeng, has the produce of surrounding counties, townships, and villages concentrated here in great quantities, then transported by merchants to the Eastern Capital. Over the years, it has become an important transit hub supplying the Eastern Capital with goods."

As he spoke, Bai Yonglin glanced at the station master and said leisurely: "Under such circumstances, one can imagine how enormous the tax revenue and various benefits Chenqiao Town generates each year. It's no wonder the positions here are so sought after and provoke such fierce competition!"

"In the end, it all comes down to the word 'profit'!" Glancing at the somewhat embarrassed station master, Liu Wenyuan asked: "How much tax revenue does Chenqiao Town generate in a year?"

"That, this lowly one is afraid he cannot know—only the town head and the tax officials know!" said the station master.

"How many people are in Chenqiao Town now?"

"As far as this lowly one knows, over two thousand households—the whole town should have over ten thousand people. If you add the transient population, it would be even more!"

"If that's the case, then this Chenqiao town head probably lives more comfortably than most county magistrates in the realm."

"More than that!" Bai Yonglin interjected: "With two thousand households gathered together, that already rivals the population of many prefectural cities. This Chenqiao town head is also of the seventh rank—quite a high level within the county-town establishment."

After hearing this, Liu Wenyuan was silent for a good while before saying with some melancholy: "Just this one Chenqiao Town surpasses Suihua in every respect—and that's the capital of my Andong!"

Hearing this, Bai Yonglin offered words of comfort: "Your Highness need not be discouraged—how many towns like Chenqiao are there in all the realm?"

That was the way he said it, but across the whole realm, towns with Chenqiao's population and economic scale probably numbered fewer than twenty. However, those of the next tier, and the tier below that, were too many to count.

As the capital of the state of Andong, the city of Suihua, placed against the whole realm, truly was just an ordinary, remote, bitter-cold town. This was both frustrating and inevitably gave rise to a sense of unwillingness and grievance.

Quickly adjusting his mindset, a smile appearing on his face, Liu Wenyuan said to the station master: "I'm going to enjoy my food and drink now. You may withdraw—I don't need your attendance here!"

"Yes! This lowly one takes his leave—please enjoy your meal, Your Highness!" Though somewhat reluctant, he truly didn't dare linger or speak further.

After he left, Liu Wenyuan slowly savored the dishes a while longer before looking up and saying with great interest to Bai Yonglin: "Brother Lin, I've discovered I underestimated you before—you're actually so knowledgeable about this Chenqiao Town. With such erudition, few of your peers could match you!"

"Your Highness flatters me!" Bai Yonglin said modestly: "Your servant grew up in Kaifeng, and my family once engaged in trade. Having seen much, I naturally came to understand these things. It was also fortunate that it happened to be Chenqiao Town—had it been any other, it would be beyond your servant's knowledge."

Giving Bai Yonglin a careful once-over, then burying his head and taking a fierce bite of the roasted lamb leg, Liu Wenyuan said: "Eat quickly—once we're done, we set out immediately for the Eastern Capital!"

Hearing this, Bai Yonglin couldn't help but be astonished: "Your Highness was so interested in this Chenqiao Town that your servant thought you would be lodging here tonight!"

"No need!" Liu Wenyuan said.

Like going into battle, he quickly finished his food and drink, and when he was about eighty percent full, he set down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth clean, and went downstairs to gather his attendants, preparing to depart. This brisk, decisive manner left the entire station staff at a loss, not even daring to utter words of retention. And when the town head, hearing the news, cut short his outing and hurried back, he only received word that the King of Andong had already left—he couldn't even catch a glimpse of his back, and could only beat his chest and stamp his feet before the station...

On the road to Kaifeng, Liu Wenyuan's expression remained grave the whole way. When the walls of Kaifeng came into distant view, he suddenly spoke, asking Bai Yonglin: "If the population all concentrates in the prefectures, counties, and market towns—if everyone rushes about trading for profit—then how many people will be left to work the land and produce in peace? And if natural disasters or man-made calamities strike, wouldn't famine easily break out?"

To this, Bai Yonglin didn't know how to answer either. After thinking it over, he said: "Those who toil and scratch a living from the land should still far outnumber the population of the prefectures, counties, and towns. And trade and commerce aren't things just anyone can do. As for famine—in recent years the Great Han has suffered no shortage of disasters great and small, and many have died, but I haven't heard of any great famine occurring..."

Liu Wenyuan fell into contemplation once more. He felt that there was something in all this that he couldn't quite grasp...