Chapter 34: Intimidation

Qi Yuantai and the others had long since learned of the grain contribution from Lu Changyuan, and they too suspected the true identity of the Ming soldiers who had entered the city.

It was not that they had never considered acting, but under Lu Changyuan's persuasion and threats, after much deliberation they abandoned any thought of rash action.

With Kong Guoliang's fate as a warning, they could not afford to ignore the consequences — if they struck at the snake and failed to kill it, their troubles would be enormous.

Judging purely by their stance, Qi Yuantai, Wu Qingde, and Zhang Changquan were inwardly loyal to the Ming dynasty, for all three had once held office under the Ming. Yet the present situation gave little cause for optimism.

The previous year, when Li Dingguo launched his eastern campaign, the three had indeed stirred with the urge to raise a righteous army in response, but before they could make up their minds, Li Dingguo was defeated at Xinhui and withdrew to Guangxi.

And so, even with their hearts inclined toward the Southern Ming, the three dared not harbor disloyal thoughts again. Who among them did not have a large family behind him?

Could they truly stake the lives of their entire households on a gamble that the Yongli court might yet revive, might yet march north to recover the Central Plains and restore the altars of the state?

Ah, if even Li Dingguo, so formidable in battle, could not retake Guangdong, then the Great Ming truly seems beyond hope — its mandate is exhausted!

As for integrity, one could not say these three lacked it entirely. After the Qing army occupied Luoding, although Qi Yuantai and the others were forced to shave their heads, they did not take office under the Qing.

In private they styled themselves "leftover subjects" of the Great Ming, adopting an attitude of neither resistance nor cooperation toward the Manchu Qing — an approach commonly taken by Ming-loyal gentry in areas under Qing control at the time.

But to borrow the words of Zhou Shixiang's previous life, these so-called "leftover subjects" were simply men who could not win in battle and did not wish to die as martyrs, yet still fancied themselves possessed of national integrity and the moral backbone of scholars.

So they erected a spiritual memorial arch of "leftover subject" for their own consolation, lest posterity condemn them as cowards clinging to life and fame-mongers.

If those who entered the city truly were Ming soldiers, then Qi Yuantai and the others, styling themselves "leftover subjects" of the Great Ming, would naturally be willing to raise some provisions for them. But whether these were soldiers or bandits, no one could say for certain.

So when Lu Changyuan approached them, the three conferred privately and reached a unanimous conclusion: whether the city was entered by Ming troops or bandits, blood would have to be paid — but not too much.

For one thing, each family's money and grain was each family's own; who would willingly hand it over for nothing? For another, they had to guard against the Qing army returning to levy grain after an attack, so they had to leave themselves a way out.

If they truly gave all their grain to these bandits, how would they get through the year?

The Yang family, in the cloth trade, had some bolts of fabric in their storehouse but not much grain. Privately they reasoned that if those men truly demanded blood from them, they would offer cloth instead.

These fabrics could not be sold anyway; better to trade them for their lives than let them rot in storage. Soldiers or bandits, those gleaming blades could not be faked — they were no decorations, they truly could kill!

Besides, the Yang family was not like the Qi or Wu families; they had a solid hundred-odd members. If they truly provoked the bandits into murderous intent, the calamity would be immense!

The Zhao family, with the most land, could not compare to the Lin family in the grain trade. Because of years of warfare, most of their tenant farmers had died in the fighting, and more than half of the rest had fled.

Only a dozen or so households still rented their land. With so few people, how much grain could they produce?

If grain was demanded, fine — one or two dan was acceptable, but anything more was out of the question.

Lin Wanfu's timid nature destined him to be a fence-sitter. The banners atop the city walls changed hands, and whichever lord came, he served them all — and feared he did not serve them well enough.

His sole aim was that these blade-wielders would not slaughter his family to the last, but leave the Lin household a path to survival.

Early that year, when the Ming army withdrew and the Qing army attacked, Lin Wanfu, to protect his family property, had even gritted his teeth and given his daughter to Kong Guoliang.

Over this matter, his wife quarreled with him endlessly, and those outside who knew of it ridiculed him without mercy. Qi Yuantai and the others had mocked him several times as well.

But what of it? After the daughter was sent over, had not Battalion Commander Kong ceased making trouble for the Lin family?

Could a daughter, sent off with a dowry at a loss, compare to the Lin family's property? Could she compare to the lives of the entire household, young and old?

A merchant cannot speak of integrity. When Ming gives way to Qing, people must still live, and business must still go on. As long as one's own family meets no disaster, let outside matters be; why fret over such idle concerns? Are the affairs of the realm for the likes of us to meddle in?

Lin Wanfu calculated inwardly: his family could still produce some grain. Better to offer it up directly than have these bandits seize it openly — his household was not large anyway.

Besides, having too much grain was itself dangerous. After last night's great fire, how many eyes were fixed on the Lin family?

Even if these bandits did not come demanding, would those refugees not come to rob? In times like these, to stay alive, people would do anything!

Open the history books — since ancient times, have grain shops ever been spared from looting? At this critical juncture, the more grain one had, the greater the danger.

There was a saying — ah, yes: a child carrying gold through the marketplace is bound to be robbed!

His calculations done, Lin Wanfu was again the first to rush forward and declare his loyalty, saying with great earnestness: "My lord, whatever you require, only command me, and this humble subject will surely share your burdens!"

Seeing Lin Wanfu so tactful, Song Xianggong was inwardly pleased. He let out a hearty laugh and said: "It is no great matter.

The troops in the city are short of grain, and Gaozhou cannot send relief for the time being. So I would ask you gentlemen to lend a hand, lest the soldiers go hungry.

As for the grain you lend, once supplies arrive from Gaozhou, this official will repay every measure in full." Even as he spoke, he again hauled out Li Dingguo's banner to frighten them.

Lin Wanfu, upon hearing this, said offhandedly: "Since the army is short of grain, we naturally..."

"But may I ask, my lord, how much grain you require us to raise?" Seeing that Lin Wanfu was about to sell out all the families, Qi Yuantai, inwardly groaning, hastily cut in.

To be interrupted mid-sentence — Lin Wanfu dared not show anger, and not even a trace of displeasure could be seen on his face. It seemed that before men like Qi Yuantai, who held examination degrees and had once served in office, his confidence as a merchant was sorely lacking.

Song Xianggong was also displeased inwardly, but he did not show it. He turned to Qi Yuantai and said: "Not much — one hundred and fifty dan."

"One hundred and fifty dan!"

At this figure, Qi Yuantai was startled, Wu Qingde's face turned bitter, and Lin Wanfu was also shocked: Good heavens, so much!

One dan was one hundred and twenty jin, so one hundred and fifty dan was a full eighteen thousand jin. It was not that the families lacked this much grain, but if they truly gave according to this figure, their granaries would be largely emptied. How would they live afterward?

— it was easy enough to pull some tricks.

Qi Yuantai and Wu Qingde exchanged a private glance, then steeled themselves and said: "Lord Song, one hundred and fifty dan is truly too much. Although our families have some surplus grain, we would find it difficult to gather such a large amount.

We beg Lord Song to show mercy and reduce the figure somewhat."

Song Xianggong let out an "Oh," the smile still on his face, and asked amiably: "Then how much can you provide?"

Qi Yuantai whispered briefly with Wu Qingde and Zhang Changquan, then gritted his teeth and reported a figure: "Fifty dan!"

"Fifty dan?"

The smile vanished from Song Xianggong's face in an instant, replaced by an exceedingly grim expression. "So you are unwilling to share this official's burdens!"

"You goddamn bastards, we're only borrowing a bit of grain from you — why so stingy? It's not as if we won't pay you back later!"

At a glance from Zhou Shixiang, Ge Wu sprang out cursing, planted himself in front of Qi Yuantai, and bellowed: "I'll ask you one thing — are you giving the grain or not!"

"Sir soldier, I..."

Qi Yuantai, terrified by Ge Wu's brutish face, trembled with fear and stammered, about to speak — when he heard something behind him fall to the floor. Then came a shriek of "Ah!" from Lin Wanfu and Zhang Changquan.

Lu Changyuan and the others leapt aside as if they had seen a ghost. The men stared at one another, gazing at the object on the floor, holding their breath, not daring to draw a single breath.

What was it?

Qi Yuantai, frightened by the expressions of the others until his back ran cold, his legs trembling, slowly turned around. One look, and his vision went black. His whole body gave way, and he collapsed unsteadily onto the floor.

What Qi Yuantai saw were a dozen-odd human heads strung together with hemp rope. The one at the very top, eyes glaring in fury — who was it but Battalion Commander Kong Guoliang!

"This grain — will you lend it or not!"

With a ferocious look, Ge Liu lifted the hemp rope, and the string of heads rose into the air.

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