Chapter 141: Water System

"Look, Dongjia — this is the Anqing dock. In the old days they called it the Sheng-Tang Ferry."

Pang Yu rubbed his forehead as he walked slowly along the Great River. Behind him, Liu Ruogu kept pace, explaining as they went.

The previous day they had drunk themselves dizzy in Zhongjiang Tower, then the whole party had stayed at Ruan Dacheng's riverside villa. After daybreak Pang Yu still had business at the Prefectural Office. He rose, ate a little breakfast, and prepared to enter the city through Sheng-Tang Gate.

Anqing's South City Wall stood very close to the river — Zhongjiang Tower was practically on the bank. If you climbed it in the daytime to gaze into the distance, you could take in twenty or thirty li at a glance.

"No wonder Pi Daren didn't build an enemy platform at the south gate." Pang Yu looked out along the river and said to Liu Ruogu, "The South Wall is too close to the river. The Roving Bandits can't deploy their troops here. Whether they approach the South Wall from the east or the west, they'd take fire from the entire wall face. They'd probably break before they even arrived."

"This humble one doesn't understand such things, but I do know that here in Anqing, this Sheng-Tang Ferry has always mattered more than the land routes. The South City Wall was specially opened with two gates — Sheng-Tang Gate here, and Kangji Gate over to the east."

Pang Yu walked to the outer edge and looked around. Along the river at Sheng-Tang Gate there were many steps leading all the way down to the water. Those wooden boats loaded and unloaded their cargo from these steps.

When they had drunk the night before, the sky had already darkened, so Pang Yu had not looked closely. Now, as he gazed along the way, the shipping lane on the river was an unbroken stream of vessels. The riverbank was packed with moored wooden boats, many with sailors sprawled on their backs aboard. The shops near the river dock stood row upon row. Every kind of person jostled shoulder to shoulder — the most numerous were men who looked like porters, crowding the dock area. Whenever a boat came in, they swarmed forward to see if there was work.

In just this short walk, he spotted several brawls among the porters. The fighting was not particularly fierce, because one side always backed down quickly. The winners were mostly men with red ropes tied around their waists.

Others, you could tell at a glance, were from the brokerages. They guided traveling merchants from shop to shop. It seemed there were too many monks and too little gruel — three or four brokers would tail a single merchant.

Pang Yu observed the bustle of the marketplace and asked casually, "Is it always this lively?"

"A little quieter than usual, actually. The current is smooth along this stretch of river. It's been a famous ferry crossing since ancient times. Boats traveling the Great River often stop here to rest. Silk and cotton cloth from Jiangnan, grain boats from Huguang and Jiangxi, salt from Lianghuai — all manner of trade goods pass along this stretch of river. It has always been bustling. But after the Roving Bandits came through, it still can't compare to normal times."

"I can see the impact too." Pang Yu pointed at the throngs of porters on the dock. "It looks like a lot of people, but there are few traveling merchants. Most are just waiting around hoping to earn a meal. Lately, many common folk must have fled here from every direction. These people have no way to make a living — only the docks offer a chance to scrape by. But fewer outside merchants are coming. Everyone along the river knows the Roving Bandits entered Anqing. The merchants naturally steer clear of the risk for now. They'll only return once Anqing is at peace again."

Liu Ruogu chimed in, "Dongjia speaks reason. But the river is still better than the land. All the way from Tongcheng, we barely saw a single traveling merchant. On the river, the worst you run into are some River Bandits. Those men are moving goods themselves — at most they'll snatch some cargo. They rarely take lives. Nothing like those Roving Bandits."

"Maintaining security on land carries the highest cost." Pang Yu gazed at the river. "Water transport is inherently far more efficient than land transport. It opens up markets and promotes trade. Trade promotes specialization. Specialization raises efficiency and drives improvement. That's why, under normal conditions, regions along rivers and coasts are wealthier than the interior — it all comes from water transport. And now, with the Roving Bandits running rampant, the cost and risk of land transport are even higher. If you want to earn silver, you can't separate yourself from water transport. Liu Shopkeeper, look out at that river — what do you see?"

Liu Ruogu studied the river for a long while. Only a few boats passed. He stared blankly for a moment, then said, "They're all boats… and silver too?"

"Exactly. Silver. The Great River, together with its tributaries and lakes, forms a water system that connects tens of millions of people. It is the largest economic region in the world today — the greatest concentration of wealth anywhere. Even the Mediterranean coast may not compare to the Great River. Every year, the trade goods moving up and down this river are beyond counting. When it comes to earning silver, no other place can match this river."

Liu Ruogu grew more and more confused. In his mind, the world was the Ming Dynasty, plus those rumored Tartars to the north. He had never even heard of some "Mediterranean." He had seen this Great River since he was a child — it had never seemed as extraordinary as Pang Yu made it sound.

"Then Dongjia's opinion is…"

"Before we came, I said we'd do business in Anqing. The Roving Bandits have just passed through. Many of the gentry want to head downstream. With so many people selling off property, prices will hit a low point. But Anqing's city defenses are solid, and it has the advantage of water transport — prices won't drop too far. We need to act in time. If any shop fronts on the dock are for sale and the price is right, buy two or three. Residences and commercial properties near Sheng-Tang Gate and Kangji Gate — we can pick up a few of those as well."

These few sentences Liu Ruogu understood. He immediately agreed, "Dongjia, rest assured. This humble one will attend to it today. I'll start by finding a housing broker to look at a few."

Pang Yu cast another glance at the busy brokers on the dock, smiled, then turned and entered Sheng-Tang Gate. He followed Four Archway Street toward the Prefectural Office.

……

"Pang Xiaoyou has dealt the Roving Bandits a great defeat this time — nearly two thousand heads taken, over seven hundred of them able-bodied adult bandits. Mr. Ma has already confirmed the military merits on behalf of the Grand Coordinator Yamen. Today the clerks from the Circuit Inspector Yamen also arrived. I expect there will be no obstacles."

Pi Yingju received Pang Yu in the Second Hall. This was normally a place for private discussions and meeting superiors. Allowing Pang Yu here was a considerable courtesy. Although Pang Yu's status was still that of a runner, the Emperor had heard his name during the Civil Unrest, and now he had routed the Roving Bandits. In this Roving Bandit incursion into Nanzhili, Tongcheng had taken the most heads. Everywhere else had merely succeeded in defending their cities.

Given Pang Yu's reputation from the last pacification, this great victory was also highly credible. The Emperor would not be overly suspicious. This would allow Zhang Guowei to widen the gap between himself and Yang Yipeng, reducing the risk of severe punishment should the Emperor fly into a rage.

The same was true for Pi Yingju, who had lost three counties. Last time he had accompanied Mr. Ma to Tongcheng, and then on to Qianshan. The road had been a scene of devastation. Mr. Ma had only seen Qianshan — not Taihu or Susong — but the misery there was likely much the same.

He had just seen Mr. Ma off after returning to Anqing. With Tongcheng's so-called great victory, Pi Yingju felt far more secure. That was why, lately, anyone from Tongcheng was a welcome sight. In ordinary times, he would not have received Pang Yu in person.

Even so, he did not offer Pang Yu a seat. Pang Yu not only had to kowtow, but also had to stand in the middle of the hall to answer questions.

Still, as Pi Yingju now looked at Pang Yu, his eyes were smiling and his manner was exceedingly genial. "As the local Mushou of Anqing, this official hopes to see more loyal and courageous men like Pang Squad Leader. Then the destruction of the Roving Bandits would be within sight."

"Killing bandits for the country is this humble one's duty." Pang Yu spoke with deference. "In the end, this humble one is merely a bailiff from Tongcheng. That day, my only thought was to slay the enemy. My only regret was that I had only a handful of Guards in my hands — my will was strong but my strength fell short. I could not wipe out that band of Roving Bandits in one stroke. Later, when I saw and heard of the horrors in the countryside around Tongcheng, this humble one's heart was often filled with grief and regret."

Pi Yingju sighed softly. "Pang Squad Leader did all he could. That band of Roving Bandits numbered a hundred thousand. The Roving Bandits under heaven number far more than a million. Even the imperial court, mobilizing the troops of the entire realm, has yet to achieve complete victory. How could our single Anqing Prefecture wipe them out? To hold the city, to protect the majority of the common people — that is already a rare achievement."

Pang Yu bowed, his eyes on the floor. "What Daren says is true. But this humble one keeps thinking — if we could stop the Roving Bandits outside Anqing, then the common folk of the Anqing countryside would no longer have to suffer bandit chaos."

Pi Yingju made a sound of acknowledgment. He was not entirely clear on Pang Yu's intent, so he did not speak carelessly.

"When Mr. Ma came this time, he spoke of how Anqing's military preparedness is feeble and the Guard Posts are in decay." Pang Yu raised his head slightly to glance at Pi Yingju. "This humble one has heard that in the Ying of Anqing Garrison Commander Pan Keda, empty payrolls and corvee evasion account for the greater part. Today is not like the past. In the past, his eating of empty payrolls and drinking of blood money did not harm others. But now is the time to use troops — how can this go on? When this humble one defended Tongcheng, my heart kept thinking: if only a force of imperial troops had come to our aid from Anqing, striking from within and without, the heads taken would have been three times the number. Perhaps the three counties of Qianshan could have been saved."

Pi Yingju nodded slightly but still said nothing. He now had a rough idea that Pang Yu's target was Pan Keda.

But this was not a matter he could address. The Prefect had no authority over the Garrison Commander. The power of appointment and dismissal lay entirely in the hands of the Military Defense Circuit and the Grand Coordinator Yamen.

Pang Yu paused briefly, then continued. "Pan Keda pockets the military stipend silver himself. His Ying is full of beggars and Green-Skins, and they rarely drill. Such a force is bound to collapse at the first blow. When they meet the enemy, they can only lose their division and flee. Pi Daren, you bear the responsibility of Defending the Territory, yet these are the only troops you have to use. Are you not being dragged down by this man? Every time this humble one thinks of this, I grow extremely anxious. When Mr. Ma came, this humble one could not contain the worry in my heart. I have already taken the initiative to volunteer to Mr. Ma — I wish to enter service under Grand Coordinator Zhang's command, to use this useful body of mine to safeguard the peace of our Anqing common folk."

Pi Yingju stared at Pang Yu in surprise for a moment. He could not help but stand up. "Pang Squad Leader wants to take up a Military Appointment? Then… then who will defend Tongcheng?"

Pang Yu kept his head lowered respectfully. "Daren, rest assured. Both the Tongcheng Militia and the runners know how to defend a city. If this humble one takes up a Military Appointment, I will certainly be stationed in Huaining. I would still be able to coordinate with Tongcheng. If the Roving Bandits come again, it is not certain they won't attack Huaining…"

Pang Yu paused. Pi Yingju followed this line of thought. He too feared the Roving Bandits' return. If Huaining were taken, his problem would no longer be severe punishment from the court — his very life would be at stake. Having Pang Yu on guard would naturally be far more reliable than Pan Keda, who had fled in disarray this time. Compared to Huaining, Tongcheng was not so critical.

By now, Pi Yingju understood: Pang Yu had his eye on Pan Keda's post. This visit was to ask the Prefectural Office to kick a man when he was down. Pang Yu had come to the Prefectural Office not because Pi Yingju could appoint or dismiss Pan Keda, but because, in the Ming Dynasty, the verification of military merits and the assignment of blame both required confirmation from the local Mushou. If the Prefectural Office sent a document to the Grand Coordinator Yamen impeaching Pan Keda for losing his division and indulging the bandits, that would be a heavy cannonball. Pan Keda's situation would become extremely dire.

Pi Yingju sat back down in his grand tutor's chair. He did not care whether Pan Keda lived or died. But in officialdom, every action required considering the return. One could not casually and without cause offend another man — even if that man was merely a Military Officer.

He closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then opened them and looked at Pang Yu. "It is rare to find such patriotic zeal as Pang Squad Leader's. However, as the local Mushou, there are some areas even the Prefectural City cannot control. I am helpless — my will is there, but my strength is not."

Pang Yu naturally understood. He said in a low voice, "This humble one came out of the Tongcheng yamen, and Daren has always shown me care. If this humble one comes to lead troops, then in some areas of the Prefectural City, Daren will also be able to exert control. And if this humble one is fortunate enough to achieve military merit, then Daren's painstaking effort will surely be a part of it."

Pi Yingju studied Pang Yu carefully, then narrowed his eyes and smiled.