Chapter 125: 123. For the Bastard Child

Li Banghua stood with his hands clasped behind his back beside the canal, watching the busy farming scene all around, and could not help but chant with a smile: "The creek waters are fit for fishing, the river fields endure the planting of rice. If a man's life held only this, it would still suffice to scorn the ancient sage-kings."

Pang Chunlai stroked his beard and said, "Master Meng'an, how does the spring plowing here compare with the spring plowing in Jishui?"

"Farming for oneself and farming for a landlord are naturally not the same," Li Banghua said with deep feeling.

Zhao Han, however, stood to the side gazing at the sky: "Since the start of spring, not a drop of rain has fallen. I fear we face another spring drought this year. The peasant associations must be organized — when the spring drought grows severe, have the peasants help each other carry water for irrigation. The students can also be sent home; whether they use bowls or ladles, every bit of help counts."

Pang Chunlai said, "The other villages and towns are all right, but in several villages near the mountains to the north, the only water sources are a few small streams. If the spring drought turns severe, those streams will run dry."

"We must keep extending the canals even farther," Zhao Han said. "Use waterwheels to lift river water into the canals, and the northern villages and towns will have a much shorter distance to carry water."

Ouyang Zheng suddenly appeared: "When I was surveying fields and distributing land in the north, I noticed the fields there are relatively barren. We could perhaps organize the villagers to dig out several low-yield inferior fields into water-storage ponds during the slack farming season. Store water when there is much rain, draw from them when rain is scarce, and in ordinary times they can even be used to raise fish."

"An excellent idea. I'll leave it to you," Zhao Han said, smiling.

"It is precisely what I would wish for," Ouyang Zheng said, cupping his hands.

Over these past two months, Ouyang Zheng's performance had made Zhao Han see him in a new light.

A young master raised on brocade and jade, a scholar who had been a child prodigy — yet he could mingle seamlessly with mud-caked peasants.

And he was diligent and conscientious, never complaining of hardship or fatigue, fair in all his dealings, and had won deep popular trust.

Dead tired every single day, this fellow still somehow had the energy to study — every night he would read by candlelight without fail, and every few days he would write a poem in praise of land distribution.

A truly outstanding talent for civil administration!

Ouyang Zheng spoke again: "The nearby hills abound in limestone, but only the mountain at Yongyang Town has a lime kiln. We could open another lime kiln to produce lime. This area also has plenty of dolomite clay — I have been to Jingdezhen, and they use dolomite clay to fire porcelain there too. Why don't we build a porcelain kiln?"

"We have no porcelain-firing craftsmen," Zhao Han said with a sigh.

Ouyang Zheng said, "There are potters here, but they can only fire clay jars and clay bowls. We could perhaps take a substantial sum of silver to Jingdezhen and recruit a few porcelain workers to come here, and have the local potters slowly learn and improve."

Li Banghua said, "Xianwen, you are being naive. Firing porcelain is not something that can be accomplished just by recruiting a few porcelain workers."

Zhao Han, however, praised him: "Xianwen's idea is a good one, but it must be pursued step by step. The most urgent task is the spring plowing. Once the spring plowing is done, we will establish the peasant associations. The associations will organize the villagers to join forces against the drought, and at the same time organize them to repair and dig canals. Jiangxi has suffered drought year after year, each year worse than the last — water conservancy projects are the top priority!"

"Yes, water conservancy is the foundation!" Li Banghua agreed wholeheartedly.

The nationwide drought of the Chongzhen reign was as much a man-made calamity as a natural disaster.

Ever since the middle of the Wanli reign, the central government had scarcely organized any water conservancy projects, leaving everything to the conscience and moral duty of local officials.

As local officials grew ever more worthless, water conservancy everywhere fell into ruin one after another. A minor drought became a disaster; a major drought left starving refugees everywhere. As long as Zhao Han diligently undertook water conservancy works, he could not say there would be no effects from drought, but things would certainly be far better than elsewhere.

Huang Shunfu, the town chief of Yongyang Town, said, "This town currently has two canals, both very short and long neglected. After the spring plowing ends, we can have the villagers deepen, widen, and extend them. They may not benefit the entire town, but they should at least benefit a good half of it."

A child student named Liu Fang, from the south bank of the He River, who was currently serving as a Records Clerk in the Regional Commandant's office, assisting in the performance reviews of officials at all levels — this man suddenly spoke up: "This junior comes from Silver Pit Village. Silver was once mined there, but the silver was dug out long ago, and the mountain forests and slopes were left riddled with gaping holes. During the slack farming season, we could organize the villagers to level the waste slopes and wastelands. In this way, we could gain several hundred or even a thousand mu of farmland."

Another civil staff member named Li Hongwen said, "Every year in the summer and autumn seasons, Huangba Village and Lijia Guai suffer from flooding. In the past, people kept reclaiming the river to expand their fields, causing the river channel to grow narrower and narrower and the floods to grow ever more severe. We could plant many more trees along the riverbanks, forbid the villagers from further river reclamation, and then dredge the silt from that stretch of the river. This might mitigate the annual flooding."

"Write all of this down," Zhao Han said, extremely pleased. "Many hands make light work. Whatever ideas any of you have, you may all submit them as official documents to the Regional Commandant's office. Our great enterprise is newly founded, and a hundred tasks await our efforts. I earnestly hope you gentlemen will all strive hard!"

"We shall exert ourselves to the utmost!" everyone responded.

Li Banghua could only sigh inwardly. This atmosphere was simply too refreshing.

There was none of that endless scheming and infighting. As long as one was willing to work, one would be promoted. If one worked quickly and well, one would be promoted with lightning speed. They had truly achieved the ideal of appointing men solely on merit and rewarding them according to their deeds.

Take that Records Clerk named Liu Fang, for instance. Before the new year, he had been an ordinary land-distribution worker, and now he had been promoted to a favored figure in the Regional Commandant's office. The performance review documents for all officials passed through this man's hands before being forwarded to the higher departments.

In Li Banghua's eyes, the Great Ming was the last fading glow of a setting sun, while this place was like the morning sun just beginning to rise.

"Commandant," a soldier came running at full speed, "Mr. Li's family has arrived."

Li Banghua was delighted at the news. Cupping his hands, he said, "Commandant, I take my leave first."

Zhao Han smiled and said, "Let us go together."

The group headed to the dock. But when he saw the family members who had come, Li Banghua's expression dimmed somewhat.

There was only his aging wife and an aging concubine, each bringing a single maidservant. Li Banghua's parents, his sons, and his grandchildren had all remained in Jishui and not come — clearly, they were unwilling to join the rebels.

Since they would not join the rebels, they had to sever all ties with Li Banghua. Most likely, he had already been struck from the family register, and perhaps his sons had even been formally adopted by an uncle's line — that would certainly not be safe either; if the matter blew up, the whole clan would still face execution.

"It is good that you have come. There is no need to say more," Li Banghua said, putting on a smiling face to comfort his wife and concubine.

Both wife and concubine were speechless. They were utterly bewildered — their husband had inexplicably become a rebel.

His principal wife, in particular, had been a perfectly respectable Second-Rank Mandated Lady, and now, in the blink of an eye, she had turned into a rebel's wife.

……

Let us turn now to Fei Chun. He had taken a boat straight for Yanshan, but halfway there he learned that a sectarian uprising had broken out in Yanshan.

The demon priests Ma Liaoyang and Zhang Puwei had led their sect followers in revolt, swiftly seizing Shanglu Town and the surrounding villages. Not only had they plundered one of the eunuch's customs posts, they had also blockaded the commercial waterway leading to Fujian. The eunuch, the gentry, and the merchants were now liaising to suppress the bandits.

"Madam, I have returned." Fei Chun knelt before Madam Lou, feeling somewhat awkward — it had been a full year since he had knelt to anyone.

Madam Lou could not maintain her composure. She asked anxiously, "Where is Ruhe?"

"The young master and Brother Han are away doing business in another prefecture." Fei Chun handed over two letters — one from Fei Ruhe, and one written by Zhao Han.

Madam Lou hastily tore open the letters. The contents of both were much the same: they both said they were doing business in Ji'an Prefecture, that business was booming and full of promise, and that Madam Lou should not worry or fret over them.

Now that she knew her son was not in danger, Madam Lou relaxed slightly. She asked, "Fourth Master robbed a customs post and is now wanted by the imperial court for arrest. Did you know of this?"

"We did not know. We never saw Fourth Master," Fei Chun said, telling a half-truth.

Madam Lou asked again, "What business are you doing in Ji'an?"

"Transporting and selling trade goods," Fei Chun replied.

"What goods are you selling?" Madam Lou pressed.

Fei Chun said, "Selling lacquerware."

Madam Lou gave a cold laugh. "Where do you source the goods? Where do you ship them? What is the purchase price? What is the selling price?"

Fei Chun was somewhat stunned by the barrage of questions. He wanted to keep fabricating lies, but he felt he could not deceive Madam Lou.

Seeing Fei Chun unable to answer, Madam Lou sighed and said, "Speak. What great deed are you truly engaged in? Even if it is rebellion, I can bear it."

Fei Chun could only say, "In reply to Madam, we are indeed rebelling."

Madam Lou's entire body went limp. Yingchun hurriedly caught her and supported her.

After a long while, Madam Lou said in a trembling voice, "So you have indeed done a great deed. You are truly... this is outrageous, outrageous!"

Fei Chun muttered, "Madam, the Great Ming is beyond saving. If we rise in revolt, we can succeed."

"You say you can succeed, so you can? It's you and Zhao Han who've led the young master astray!" Madam Lou clenched both fists, already furious beyond measure.

Fei Chun decided to throw caution to the wind. Kneeling upright, he said, "Madam, we already hold half a county. Even the Governor was defeated and took his own life; the Prefect and County Magistrate have all been killed. Even… even Mr. Li of Jishui is now one of us. Mr. Li served as Minister of War — if even he is willing to join the rebels, then we are no petty operation."

"That great bandit Zhao Yan of Luling — is he actually Zhao Han?" Madam Lou asked in shock. Clearly, Zhao Yan's fearsome name had already reached Yanshan.

Fei Chun said, "The Zhao Yaonian listed second on the wanted posters — that is the young master."

"Madam!"

Yingchun cried out in alarm — Madam Lou had fainted.

The inner courtyard erupted in chaos. After a great flurry of activity, Madam Lou finally came to faintly.

She ordered Yingchun to keep her mouth shut, then dismissed the other household slaves, keeping only Fei Chun and Fei Rulan.

Fei Chun said, "Madam, the deed is already done. There is no possible way to turn back now."

Madam Lou sighed. "You are going to drag the Fei clan down with you — bring the extermination of our entire family!"

"Madam, if Minister Li is willing to join the rebels, is he a fool too?" Fei Chun could not help retorting.

Madam Lou slumped in her chair, utterly drained. "Don't tell me you're aiming to change the dynasty?"

Fei Chun said, "We seek only Great Unity under Heaven."

"Great Unity under Heaven? Han-ge'er certainly has grand ambitions." Madam Lou laughed bitterly, her face filled with nothing but desolation.

Fei Chun suddenly declared with soaring bravado, "Let me tell you, Madam — if Han-ge were willing, he could take the entire Ji'an Prefecture right now. We already have several thousand crack troops. If the authorities dare turn against us, we could seize half of Jiangxi!"

"You've certainly grown capable!" Madam Lou said through gritted teeth.

Fei Chun abruptly stood up. "Madam, I now manage the funds and provisions. I count as someone of standing."

"Good. Very good." Madam Lou laughed in extreme fury. "You're all so very good — I truly misjudged you!"

Fei Chun cupped his hands in salute. "Madam, just wait a little. Within two or three years, Han-ge will surely take the whole of Jiangxi, and when that happens, the Fei clan can share in the glory. These are no empty words. Madam, you know Han-ge's character — he is no fool."

These words calmed Madam Lou somewhat. She began weighing the gains and losses.

She had only one son. Since her son had become a rebel, Madam Lou had no choice but to throw in her lot too.

Loyalty to the sovereign and love of country — all of that was nonsense, none of it mattered as much as her own son!

After long and painful thought, Madam Lou asked, "Han-ge'er is the rebel leader?"

Fei Chun knew he could not explain it clearly, so he picked only what Madam Lou could understand. "Han-ge'er is like the Hongwu Emperor, the young master is like Xu Da, Mr. Pang is Liu Bowen, and Minister Li is Li Shanchang."

Madam Lou asked again, "The authorities truly can do nothing against you?"

Fei Chun laughed. "In Ji'an Prefecture and Luling County, every last official has been killed. The Governor of Jiangxi was defeated and died. Unless the court mobilizes troops from several provinces to encircle and suppress us, no one in Jiangxi dares send soldiers out!"

This, Madam Lou believed. Jiangxi had seen unrest before, and it had always taken troops from several provinces to suppress it.

Among them, the Wolf Troops of Guangxi had struck terror throughout Jiangxi, leaving behind countless legends to this day — tales of Guangxi soldiers eating people and the like.

None of it was any good reputation. When the Guangxi Wolf Troops entered Jiangxi, they burned, killed, and looted, stopping at no evil. County after county was reduced to barren wasteland.

So much so that later, whenever rebels appeared in Jiangxi, if it could be kept from the court, it was kept from the court at all costs — for fear that troops from other provinces would come to suppress them again.

Madam Lou hesitated, still uncertain, and asked, "Minister Li has truly thrown in with you?"

"Absolutely true," Fei Chun said.

Li Banghua was very famous in Jiangxi. The Hanzhu Academy had invited him many times, but had never been able to bring him to Yanshan to teach.

Madam Lou felt that Zhao Han and Fei Ruhe were unreliable, but she felt that Li Banghua was rather reliable.

Suddenly, Madam Lou said to her daughter, "Your Han-ge'er has led your younger brother into rebellion. What do you think of this?"

Fei Rulan's mind was in turmoil. She did not even know how to begin speaking, and had only stood to the side listening the whole time.

"Are you willing to marry and go to Luling?" Madam Lou asked outright.

Fei Rulan started to speak, then stopped. Her heart was deeply torn.

Madam Lou said, "Go with Fei Chun to Luling. When Han-ge'er fights his way back to Yanshan, I will make up your dowry then."

Madam Lou made this choice purely for the sake of her son.

Since her son had become a rebel, she could only follow this path to its bitter end.

Had she even one more son, Madam Lou would never have done this — she would have simply treated it as having given birth to one wretched spawn.

Unfortunately, she had only that one wretched spawn…

(End of chapter)