Chapter 141: 139 Trifles

Zhao Han's residence had changed again — now it was the Ji'an prefectural yamen.

There had been no time to carve a new plaque for the lintel, so they simply flipped the prefectural yamen's signboard over and wrote three large characters on the back in red ink: "Regional Commander Headquarters."

At first glance it looked rather comical, but no one would question the authority of the lord inside just because of that sign!

"Sir, please have some tea!"

Xi Yue brought the tea things, and Fei Rulan personally poured a cup for Pang Chunlai.

"Good, good." Pang Chunlai beamed.

In the entire rear courtyard of the Regional Commander Headquarters, aside from Zhao Han and his wife, only Pang Chunlai had moved in with them.

This old gentleman, childless and alone, was not only Zhao Han's teacher but more like a foster father to him; ever since the uprising began, they had lived under the same roof.

Zhao Han blew at the tea froth, leaned back comfortably in his chair, and savored the late-autumn sunset as he drank.

Fei Rulan suddenly said, "Sir, you are barely past fifty, with only a maidservant at your side. Why not take a wife again, to have someone to look after you?"

Pang Chunlai shook his head. "A decrepit old body like mine — I'd best not burden anyone else."

Zhao Han abruptly set down his teacup. "There are those stubborn landlords who insist on raising troops to resist land distribution. After their households are confiscated, some young children remain. Why not choose a small child, two or three years old, for you to adopt and continue your family line?"

"Well, as to that…" Pang Chunlai was somewhat moved.

Before this, he had thought only of rebellion, with no other distractions. Now that the rebel enterprise was on the right track, though he had no desire to marry and start a family, he did wish for an heir — the Tartars had slaughtered Pang Chunlai's entire family.

Zhao Han smiled. "Then it's settled. We'll select a bright, clever young child and hire a wet nurse to care for him."

"That… would be fine." Pang Chunlai was inwardly delighted, already turning over names for the child in his mind.

Once Pang Chunlai's joy had settled, Zhao Han suddenly asked, "Regarding the urban drifters, many of our advisors have written to discuss the matter. Each argues his own view, with no consensus. What is your opinion, sir?"

"What opinion can there be? There is simply no land to give them," Pang Chunlai said. "And many of these drifters have lived in the county towns for generations, long since forgetting how to farm. I agree with Xiao Huan's proposal: we can establish two types of household registration — one for rural households, one for urban households."

This issue gave Zhao Han a headache. He truly could not think of any good solution, and neither could the advisors under his command.

Fortunately, there was no need to rush. The urban drifters of Ji'an prefectural city had enlisted in large numbers the previous winter and followed Zhao Han into the countryside to distribute land. This had led to a shortage of urban labor — not only was work easier to find, but wages had also risen. Even street peddlers, with fewer competitors, found business easier than before.

Many of the drifters in Jishui county town had been recruited by the local gentry to defend the city walls. When Zhao Han attacked, he had already promised that any soldiers who switched sides would receive land. The remaining drifters, with competitors gone, could likewise increase their earnings.

As for Anfu County, its county town was less prosperous; conscripting two hundred drifters into the army could similarly ease tensions among them.

These were all temporary measures — the best they could do was try to guarantee employment.

The reason so many southern cities in the Ming dynasty were riddled with street-gang organizations was, at root, that unemployment was too high, sending large numbers of idle young men into the gangs.

During the struggle for supremacy within the realm, drifters could be recruited as soldiers — even street toughs could be recruited. But not too many at once; they had to be dispersed among the various units, a few mixed into every two or three hundred men, and gradually the toughs would be assimilated.

As for after the realm was unified, the urban toughs could simply be shipped off as colonists.

Weren't they so good at fighting?

Send them first to Qiongzhou (Hainan) and Dongfan (Taiwan) to fight the natives on those islands — those two islands alone could resettle several million people.

Not to mention the boundless lands beyond the seas!

After idly chatting for a while, Pang Chunlai suddenly asked, "Any news of Zhongcong?"

Zhongcong was Xu Ying — the courtesy name Pang Chunlai had chosen for him, the one Pang truly regarded as a son in his heart.

"Not yet. Nanchang is not an easy place to get established; I only gave him a few hundred taels of silver. He can probably buy a shopfront, but it depends on whether there's an opening." Zhao Han smiled.

Pang Chunlai was somewhat displeased. "In truth, Zhongcong could be transferred back. If not as a county magistrate, then a civil post at the Regional Commander Headquarters would do."

Zhao Han shook his head. "I have important use for Brother Xu."

Important use, my foot — nothing more than being a spymaster.

Pang Chunlai was especially protective of Xu Ying, and even more afraid that someday, after the founding of a state, a spymaster was all too easily eliminated by the emperor.

At the same time, Pang Chunlai also wanted to cultivate Xu Ying as a major source of support among his subordinates.

Though they held only three counties now, the seeds of factions were already sprouting within.

The first was the Old Guard faction — the men Zhao Han had brought from Yanshan, plus officials from Huangjia Town and the surrounding area.

The second was the Surrender faction — the landlords east of Yongyang Town who had voluntarily offered up their lands, plus the local militia Zhao Han had captured (Xie Xuelong's unit). During the second large-scale land distribution, many of these men had become grassroots officials.

The third was the Jishui faction — led by Li Banghua, a large number of scholars who had recently "turned bandit."

Of course, no conflicts had yet arisen, nor was there any factional infighting; people merely gravitated toward their own circles.

This was an inevitable trend. To root out factions entirely, Zhao Han's subordinates would have to be robots.

No regime, ancient or modern, Chinese or foreign, had ever been an exception.

After seeing Pang Chunlai back to his quarters to rest, Zhao Han strolled leisurely back.

Xi Yue was scolding a newly hired servant — apparently some rule had been broken. The household staff in Zhao Han's courtyard had now grown to six, which also set a sort of standard for the officials.

Officials who came from the countryside, once they entered the city, could hardly avoid putting on airs.

Take Zhao Han's military secretary Huang Shunde, for instance: his household now had five servants, not daring to hire more than Zhao Han had.

"Commander, the investigation is complete." Xiao Huan came in to report.

Zhao Han asked, "What did you find?"

"It's enough to make a man laugh." Xiao Huan was already chuckling as he spoke.

Xiao Huan was now not only an advisor but also headed the Integrity Office of the Regional Commander Headquarters, specifically tasked with keeping an eye on corruption now that they had entered the city.

Huang Shunde had merely brought his wife and children to join him, yet his household had hired five servants — and was quickly reported. Xiao Huan had not dared to investigate immediately; after all, the man was Zhao Han's secretary, so he had made a special trip to request instructions.

"Speak plainly." Zhao Han gestured for Xiao Huan to sit and have tea.

Xiao Huan gulped down a mouthful of tea. "That fellow Huang Shunde is desperately concerned with face. But his salary is modest, and he dares not embezzle, so he can't afford that many servants. So he hired day laborers to come to his house, each doing only an hour or two of odd jobs a day, and then boasted to outsiders that he had five servants."

Damn — hourly workers count as servants now?

Zhao Han shook his head and sighed. Useless mud that won't stick to a wall. The man would need a good rapping; otherwise, once their territory expanded, Huang Shunde was sure to become a major embezzler.

And if he still didn't rein himself in after the rapping, then they would simply have to change secretaries.

Zhao Han asked, "Over this past month, how many have been investigated and punished?"

Xiao Huan said, "Seven. Five here in the prefectural city, two in Jishui county town. In the countryside there's not much money to embezzle, but in the city the silver is everywhere. The most anyone embezzled was just over sixty taels; the least was eight taels."

"Notify all three counties. Let everyone know," Zhao Han instructed. "Anyone who embezzles or takes bribes of twenty taels or more — confiscate the land belonging to both husband and wife. The embezzler shall be sent into the mountains to burn lime and charcoal, and his wife shall be ordered to remarry as soon as possible!"

Extremely inhumane — not only punishing the man himself, but also forcing his wife to remarry.

Yet at the same time, exceedingly merciful, for it did not pursue the parents, brothers, or children. One must understand that in ancient times, collective punishment was the norm; not only would the family suffer, but even the neighbors would be dragged into disaster.

Zhao Han continued, "Those who embezzle less than ten taels: confiscate one mu of land and demote them. Those who embezzle between ten and twenty taels: confiscate two mu of land and demote them."

Zhao Han was not short of talent now — literate scholars were everywhere. What he lacked were people truly willing to obey.

Xiao Huan said, "Once this is announced across the three counties, it will surely frighten off the trend of corruption."

Fei Rulan came out carrying dried fruit. "Mr. Xiao, have some snacks."

"Many thanks, madam!" Xiao Huan hurriedly rose to his feet.

"Please, sit," Fei Rulan said with a smile.

The high-ranking civil and military officials held this lady in great respect. Not only did Zhao Han carry himself without the slightest official airs, but even his wife was gracious and poised.

Fei Rulan was also in contact with Xiaohong and Xiaocui, busying herself with finding suitable matches for the unmarried senior personnel.

Fei Rulan smiled and said, "I hear that Magistrate Huang — Huang Shunfu — has taken on a divorce case?"

"It is not exactly a mutual separation," Xiao Huan explained. "A concubine of a wealthy household, who was frequently abused by the principal wife, fled two days ago. She ran to the county yamen to cry out her grievance, and also said she wished to join the propaganda corps."

Fei Rulan asked, "How did Magistrate Huang rule?"

Xiao Huan said, "For keeping household slaves in violation of the order, the wealthy household was fined five taels of silver. Not only was the concubine permitted to establish her own independent household, but the wealthy household was also ordered to compensate her with ten taels of silver."

The Great Ming Code had long stipulated that commoners were forbidden to take concubines. Only a man who had reached the age of forty and remained without a son, in order to continue the family line, could lawfully take one concubine.

Even the imperial clan had regulations: a Prince of the Commandery — or his heir apparent — who had reached twenty-five without a son could lawfully take two concubines. If he still had no son by thirty, he could take four. For a Prince of the Commandery, four concubines was the absolute limit.

In truth, Zhao Han did not need to devise many new rules; governing strictly according to the Great Ming Code would suffice.

There were no imperial clansmen in his territory, and he did not recognize Ming official ranks. Therefore, any concubine who was willing had only to bring a suit to the authorities, and she would win every time. Every single concubinage was surely illegal!

Once one woman won her case, there would inevitably be a second, and a third. Now, every wealthy household in the city forbade their concubines from going out alone.

After Xiao Huan left, Fei Rulan settled herself into Zhao Han's lap and asked with a smile, "You won't take a concubine either?"

"How could I be the one to lead the way in breaking the rules?" Zhao Han countered.

"And what if you become Emperor?" Fei Rulan asked.

Zhao Han could not answer. "We'll talk about it when the time comes."

Setting aside the Emperor's personal preferences, the business of the Three Palaces and Six Courts was more akin to a political task. It was simply a matter of casting the seed widely to ensure an heir, which could greatly enhance the stability of the state.

To the point that if an Emperor remained sonless yet devoted his favor exclusively to a single consort, he would be remonstrated by his officials.

Fei Rulan touched her belly and murmured, "We've shared a bed for nearly half a year now. Why haven't I conceived yet?"

"Wife, do not be anxious," Zhao Han said with a sly grin. "Tonight, I shall certainly put in the effort…"

"Commandant!"

Someone suddenly announced from outside the courtyard.

Fei Rulan hastily stood up, and Zhao Han could only sigh.

He had mandated a five-day rest cycle for his officials, yet he himself could not rest. In a single afternoon, he had already received quite a number of subordinates.

"Come in."

"Commandant, merchants have brought word from the south. The righteous army of Ruijin has stormed the county seat of Huichang. They have beheaded the Huichang County Magistrate and the Southern Jiangxi Assistant Regional Commander and displayed their heads to the public!"

Zhao Han sprang to his feet and clapped his hands in applause. "Well done!"

The Ruijin peasant army was truly delivering results. Driven into the mountains by Xie Xuelong last year, this year they had actually seized both Ruijin and Huichang counties. And they had killed the Southern Jiangxi Assistant Regional Commander — the highest-ranking military officer bearing troops in Jiangxi. In the early years of Chongzhen, the post of Jiangxi Regional Commander had not yet been established.

(Refresh after reading; a map of Jiangxi will be appended at the end of the chapter.)

(End of chapter)