Chapter 88: 086: The Willing Bite the Hook

(Previous chapter, silver conversion error. Corrected to: a total of over 3,000 taels seized, 1,500 taels split to each side.)

The sixth year of Chongzhen, spring.

The roving bandits entered Northern Zhili. An Assistant Regional Commander fell in an ambush and died. Zhaozhou, Xishan, Shunde, Zhending, and other places fell.

They then drifted to the foot of Motian Ridge in Xingtai, recovered briefly, advanced on Wu'an, and defeated Zuo Liangyu. Garrison Commander Cao Ming, Registrar Wu Yingke, and others all died in battle.

The peasant army ran rampant through Hebei, shaking the capital itself.

At the same time, government forces besieged Dengzhou Water City. Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming fled.

Wang Laipin, the first-ever military Zhuangyuan since the founding of the Great Ming, was the one whom Chongzhen selected after dismissing a large number of Ministry of War officials and ordering a re-examination. After the military palace examination concluded, Wang Laipin was appointed in substantive rank as Vice Regional Commander of Shandong. Weeping with gratitude toward the Chongzhen Emperor, he always led from the front in every battle, and died fighting fiercely during the siege of Kong Youde.

Shandong was thus pacified.

With successive military campaigns, the court was again out of silver. It ordered the provinces to urgently send the salt-tax silver, which was in arrears totaling over 3.2 million taels.

In addition, the gold-flower silver was also to be delivered urgently. This order made life increasingly hard for peasants in the prefectures of Jiangnan. Because the official fields required to pay the gold-flower silver had long been seized by nobles of merit, gentry, and powerful families, once the court applied pressure, it meant the tenant farmers had to pay rent twice over.

The situation under Heaven grew ever more chaotic.

……

Zhao Han pulled out the silk clothes he had brought from Yanshan and, holding a folding fan, set off for the Huang clan's ancestral residence.

The plan had changed at the last moment.

Zhao Han disguised himself as the son of a wealthy Jishui merchant. Pang Chunlai was the accountant he had brought along, Chen Maosheng was his page boy, and Zhang Tieniu played the role of his personal bodyguard.

"Mr. Zhao... Young Master," Chen Maosheng touched the brim of his hat. "The scar on my forehead — can you really not see it?"

Zhao Han was a little impatient. "You really can't. Stop touching it."

Zhang Tieniu remained on guard at the inn. Zhao Han took only Pang Chunlai and Chen Maosheng out with him.

Huang Family Town was very small, with just a single street. Leaving the town and asking directions along the way, after walking only a short while, they could see the Huang clan's ancestral residence in the distance.

"Another spring drought this year."

Zhao Han swept his gaze over the surrounding farmland. These words were meant for Pang Chunlai; the old scholar's eyesight could only see things close up.

Pang Chunlai could only sigh. "The state is about to fall; heavenly calamities appear one after another."

It was truly absurd. For several years in a row, Jiangxi had been hit by spring droughts, summer floods, and winter snows in turn. The only thing to be thankful for was that they had never yet turned into major disasters — the drought and flood would persist for a while, then stop just short of catastrophe.

Zhao Han looked at the irrigation canal by the roadside and suddenly couldn't help laughing.

People were stationed all along the canal. Water was lifted in from the river by waterwheels and channeled to flow into certain designated paddies — all of which must belong to Old Master Huang.

As for other families' fields, even if they were right next to the canal, they still had to take the long way around to carry water from the river.

Zhao Han saw many peasants, moving in groups toward the river, carrying water back load by load. From dawn till dusk, they could not irrigate more than a few mu.

"Whoa, this ancestral hall is really something."

As Zhao Han passed the Huang clan ancestral hall, he let out a sardonic exclamation of praise.

It was mainly because the nearby peasants were so poor, and the nearby dwellings so shabby, that the Huang clan ancestral hall stood out like a crane among chickens.

Bracketed eaves and flying rafters, carved beams and painted pillars, with stone lions and stone turtles at the gate. Though compared to the Fei clan ancestral hall, it was like a country bumpkin meeting a great merchant prince, standing here it was an eyesore all the same.

A few dozen paces past the ancestral hall was the Huang family's ancestral residence.

Zhao Han had already made inquiries. The Huang family had only produced a jinshi during the Zhengde reign, and not a single juren since. Moreover, the Huangs themselves did not engage in trade; they only sold some farm produce and handicrafts to outside merchants passing through the town.

With no extra income, relying solely on exploiting the countryside, they could still maintain such an ostentatious ancestral home!

Bang, bang, bang!

The gatekeeper opened the main door. Seeing they were unfamiliar faces, he asked, "Who are you gentlemen looking for?"

Zhao Han merely waved his folding fan, the very picture of an elegant young gentleman from an established family.

Pang Chunlai stroked his beard, not even giving the man a direct glance.

Only Chen Maosheng stepped forward, handed over a name card with one hand, and said with an arrogant attitude, "My young master is Zhao Yan, a xiucai of Jishui, courtesy name Ziyue, here to see Old Master Huang. Go announce us at once. You cannot afford the consequences of delay."

These three carried themselves with such an air, they were clearly from some major place. The gatekeeper could not help feeling ashamed of his own shabbiness and hurriedly took the name card and ran to announce them.

Zhao Han secretly gave a thumbs up, praising Chen Maosheng's superb acting.

Before long, the gatekeeper came running back out, bowing and scraping. "Three honored guests, my master invites you in."

"A reward for you!" Zhao Han strode inside.

Chen Maosheng took a string of copper cash from his pouch and casually tossed it to the gatekeeper.

They had plenty of this stuff — quantity guaranteed to satisfy.

The gatekeeper caught the reward with both hands. A rough estimate told him it was at least two or three hundred wen. Instantly overjoyed, he became even more enthusiastic, treating the three as big spenders from a great city.

Zhao Han was led into a reception hall, and tea was soon served.

"Pah!"

Zhao Han lifted the cup, took a sip, and violently spat it all out. He said with disdain, "What sort of vile tea is this? Is this fit for human consumption?"

Pang Chunlai quickly tried to dissuade him. "Young Master, we are in someone else's home. Even if the tea is not good, you should still show the host some face."

"Fine, fine, I'll give him face." Zhao Han set the teacup down and did not pick it up again.

The maidservant who had served the tea withdrew with her tray and hurried off to see Old Master Huang.

After she recounted the incident, Old Master Huang felt a surge of anger, as if he had been insulted. Yet he also felt somewhat inferior; having lived most of his life in this village, he truly was not worthy to carry the shoes of great merchants.

Old Master Huang dared not be negligent any longer. He strode quickly to the hall, clasped his fist in greeting, and smiled. "I am Huang Zundao, courtesy name Chizheng. Ha ha, I have been remiss in welcoming you, remiss indeed."

Zhao Han also rose and cupped his hands, speaking humble words in an arrogant tone: "Not at all, not at all. I am newly arrived here and must rely on Old Master Huang for everything."

"I dare not be called Old Master. You may simply call me a squire," Huang Zundao said. "I have yet to ask your honored name?"

Zhao Han announced himself: "Zhao Yan of Jishui, a xiucai, courtesy name Ziyue."

Huang Zundao felt even more inferior. Though he was over sixty years old, he was still only a child student.

In the entire Great Ming, Jiangxi produced the most jinshi.

In all of Jiangxi, Ji'an produced the most jinshi.

Huang Zundao was born in a remote village in Ji'an Prefecture, where educational resources were poor but the pressure of the imperial exams was intense. Even his child-student status was bought, and continuing on to buy a xiucai degree was far too expensive, so he could only make do and put on airs before his fellow villagers.

Jishui likewise belongs to Ji'an Prefecture. Zhao Han claimed to be a xiucai of Jishui — a credential far weightier than a juren from Yunnan or Guizhou.

"So it is a senior scholar before me. Forgive my discourtesy, forgive my discourtesy." Huang Zundao hastily cupped his hands in salute.

This was a contest of examination rank, and a contest of wealth.

A child student facing a xiucai, a country moneybags facing the son of a rich merchant — Huang Zundao truly could not put on airs.

Of course, if his own interests were involved, that would be another matter entirely.

A mighty dragon does not crush the local serpent!

"Since Young Friend Huang is also a scholar, things are easier to discuss," Zhao Han said, putting on an air of importance. "I wish to build a warehouse at Huang Family Town. That stretch of rocky waste beach by the river — would you be willing to sell it to me?"

Huang Zundao said in surprise, "Senior, you want to build a warehouse here?"

Zhao Han suddenly sighed. "My Zhao clan is a great family in Jishui as well, and we used to do business in Fujian and Guangdong. Have you ever seen the sea?"

"I have been meaning to go and see it," Huang Zundao said.

Zhao Han boasted extravagantly, "My family's goods are all destined for the sea. Sold to Fujian merchants, they go overseas to Taiwan, Luzon, Ryukyu, and Japan. Sold to Guangdong merchants, they go to the lands of the Far West — there is Folangji, there is France, there is England. Have you heard of these foreign kingdoms?"

Huang Zundao felt even more inadequate and said with an ingratiating smile, "I have heard a little of them."

"Curse those rebels!" Zhao Han slammed the table, knocking the teacup lid askew.

Huang Zundao knew only of affairs in the nearby townships and quickly asked, "Where are there rebels?"

Zhao Han said, "There are rebels in both southern Jiangxi and western Fujian. When they retreat, they swarm in the mountain forests; when they advance, they raid prefectures and counties. They have completely blocked my Zhao family's trade routes. Those sons of bitches, whenever they encounter passing merchants, they forcibly take thirty percent of the goods!"

Huang Zundao nodded. "Such rebels truly deserve to die."

"The Assistant Regional Commander of Southern Jiangxi is a fool as well. He has been suppressing bandits for years, only to be so thoroughly suppressed by the rebels that he dares not leave the city. The court ought to throw him in prison!" Zhao Han cursed furiously.

The first Regional Commander of Southern Jiangxi was Yu Dayou, but as long as the bandit troubles were not rampant, ordinarily only an Assistant Regional Commander of Southern Jiangxi was posted; the Regional Commander of Southern Jiangxi was held concurrently by the Regional Commander of Jiangxi.

The same was true of the Governor of Southern Jiangxi — generally held concurrently by the Governor of Jiangxi, with a dedicated appointment made only when matters grew serious.

The current Assistant Regional Commander of Southern Jiangxi had jurisdiction precisely over western Fujian and southern Jiangxi. Everywhere he looked, there was nothing but peasant armies…

Huang Zundao said in astonishment, "The Assistant Regional Commander of Southern Jiangxi dares not even leave the city?"

"Isn't that so?" Zhao Han sneered.

Huang Zundao quickly asked, "Has the court not sent troops to suppress them?"

Zhao Han sighed. "Where would the court find troops? In recent years, there have been uprisings in Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Huguang. The Northern Metropolitan Region, Shandong, and Henan are plagued by the White Lotus sect. Shaanxi and Shanxi are overrun with roving bandits, and Liaodong has been seized by the Tartars. Tell me, where is the court supposed to send troops from?"

"Th-this… how can this be?" Huang Zundao turned pale with shock. He minded only his own tiny patch of land, knew nothing of the outside world, and never made inquiries of passing merchants.

Zhao Han continued, "Business to the south is impossible now. My Zhao family plans to take the He River and transport goods from central Jiangxi to Huguang. I was sent by the family to scout the route, and I find Huang Family Town well situated. I want to build a transit warehouse here."

"Well, as to that…"

The moment his own interests were involved, Huang Zundao grew reserved. He put on an air and began to hold back, and even his form of address changed. "I won't deceive you, Worthy Brother. This rocky waste ground by the river beach, though worth little, is the common property of all the Huang clan branches. Persuading the various branches will likely be no easy matter. This old man must consider it carefully."

Zhao Han changed his own form of address as well and said with a smile, "Since Manager Huang cannot make the decision, I shall simply choose another place to build my warehouse. Farewell!"

"Worthy Brother, don't be hasty," Huang Zundao hastily urged, stopping him. "Everything is open to discussion."

Zhao Han said with full confidence, "Huang Family Town may sit on a commercial thoroughfare, but there are towns all along the He River! My building a warehouse at Huang Family Town is a great thing for you, Manager Huang. Once the warehouse is built, more merchants will stop here, the town's business will improve, and won't Manager Huang's local products fetch a better price? Who knows, in ten or twenty years, Huang Family Town might become a great market town!"

This was a fine pie in the sky he was painting, and Huang Zundao truly believed it.

Zhao Han added, "To build my warehouse, I will need to hire workers and buy stone, timber, and mortar. Who gets hired — isn't that for Manager Huang to decide? And the stone, timber, and mortar — won't I be buying them from Manager Huang?"

Right!

Huang Zundao secretly rejoiced — here was another chance to make a tidy profit.

Zhao Han held his folding fan and smiled faintly. "That waste ground on the river beach can't grow crops. If Manager Huang is willing to give it to me free of charge, then we can continue discussing business. If not, I will go to the next town. I give you only three days to consider. Once three days are up, I leave at once!"

Huang Zundao said, "No need to consider. As long as it is waste beach that cannot be farmed, Worthy Brother, take as much as you need. However — the workers and materials for building the warehouse will all be arranged by me. How about that?"

"Ha ha, done!" Zhao Han laughed.

Hadn't he taken the bait?

(End of Chapter)