Chapter 183: Torrential Rain

Net-like lightning tore open the pitch-black sky, briefly lighting the earth before it sank back into gloom. Torrential rain poured down, and the world between heaven and earth was filled with the booming roar of the downpour. (From the *Guo Que*: In the sixth month of the Chongzhen Eighth Year, Anqing suffered a great flood.)

On the Sheng-Tang Gate city tower, unbroken streams of water droplets hung like pearl curtains beneath the eaves. Pang Yu gazed through the pearl curtain at the hazy river surface under the violent rain. The river waters churned fiercely, twisting with rapid whirlpools in the torrent. The Great River's water level was rising, already nearing the upper steps.

On the docks, porters still dashed through the rain, carrying goods from the riverside shops into the city. Only a few boats remained at the docks; all the others had already entered the branching tributaries and inlets.

This sudden, torrential rain had disrupted Pang Yu's military drill plan, and even daily training could not be guaranteed.

"Second Brother, I went to ask. None of the boatmen still ashore dare take passengers. One said they would go if the silver was enough, but I am extremely worried." He Xianya faced Pang Yu and said, "This rain's intensity is rarely seen in years. The river is perilous beyond measure. Second Brother, it would be better not to go to Chizhou for now."

Pang Yu sighed softly. Paying a visit to Shi Kefa was his most urgent matter. Because of the cloud of suspicion at Yunji Temple, his relationship with Wang Gongbi had always been poor, even though Wang Gongbi knew that Zhang Guowei rather appreciated Pang Yu.

Military pay and grain tax in kind were not in arrears, but the proportion skimmed off was not small, and military equipment and weapons were replenished very little, especially the armor and qualified firearms that Pang Yu urgently needed. The military garrisons around Nanjing were massive, with many artisan households manufacturing armor and firearms. Besides armor, Pang Yu also hoped to obtain some usable bird guns. The physical requirements for musketeers did not need to be as stringent as those for archers, yet their striking power was even greater. The gunpowder industry in Jiangnan was also very developed. If he could obtain supplies from the Military Defense Circuit, Pang Yu could save a considerable amount of silver for materials, because training a firearm unit required a great deal of gunpowder.

In addition, steel, iron, saltpeter, sulfur, and copper materials were all things he needed. Finally, there were horses. For now, he relied on buying them himself, but horse prices were exorbitant, and it was not easy to buy warhorses. If this kind of thing was not obtained from the imperial court, it was very difficult to procure in Jiangbei or Jiangnan.

Therefore, Pang Yu now urgently needed to build a closer relationship with the newly appointed Military Defense Circuit. His originally scheduled departure date was today. Yesterday, looking at the water conditions, they had not been so ferocious. Pang Yu would rather take a slight risk to rush to Chizhou to pay his respects to Shi Kefa and establish a good impression. Who could have known he would encounter this rare torrential rain.

Pang Yu looked out unwillingly. The surging currents on the river surface were mixed with timber and broken furniture washed down from upstream, appearing and disappearing intermittently in the river water. There were even several corpses on the water's surface. Not far downstream from Anqing lay a patch of reefs. Now, with the water level rising and submerging some of the reefs, and with such a rare torrential rain, the boatmen might not be able to avoid those reefs. Sailing right now was a high-risk profession.

"Forget it. We'll go to Chizhou after the flood peak passes." Pang Yu felt he still could not risk his own life.

He Xianya observed Pang Yu's expression and said, "This Circuit Intendant Shi was transferred from Jiangxi. With such a great flood, he can't go to Chizhou either, so Second Brother need not rush to leave."

Pang Yu shook his head. "He came from Jiangnan. Shi Kefa's official title is Right Assistant Administration Commissioner of the Jiangxi Provincial Administration Commission, but he was not transferred from Jiangxi. He has been serving under Zhang Guowei all along."

He Xianya was stunned for a moment. Pang Yu explained, "Before being appointed to the Military Defense Circuit, one must first serve successively as an Assistant Administration Commissioner of the Provincial Administration Commission. Nanzhili has no Provincial Administration Commission, so Circuit Intendants are all nominally attached to a neighboring Provincial Administration Commission. The Anchi Military Defense Circuit is nominally attached to Jiangxi."

"So that's how it is." He Xianya still could not quite grasp it. Although he was a man of the yamen and knew of the Military Defense Circuit, the Grand Coordinator, and the like, those were all high officials. As an Auxiliary in the county yamen, He Xianya had never before understood these details.

Pang Yu, on the other hand, had no difficulty understanding nominal postings, but some matters in the Great Ming Dynasty were truly baffling. A frontier Grand Coordinator like Zhang Guowei, who oversaw military affairs, held the formal official post of Chief Investigating Censor of the Censorate—essentially a head of the Remonstrance Officials. A high-ranking frontier official and a remonstrance official should originally have been checks and balances on each other, yet now they were merged into one.

"Chizhou is off, but we can still do other things." Pang Yu turned his head to look at Guo Fengyou behind him. "Note this down for me. When the rain lets up a little, we will go to the Liu Residence."

Guo Fengyou immediately said, "Yes, my lord."

He Xianya was a little curious about Pang Yu suddenly mentioning the Liu family, but since Pang Yu did not elaborate, he could not very well ask. He just stood there accompanying Pang Yu, and for a moment there was silence.

Pang Yu looked at him and smiled. "Shi Kefa's appointment to the Anchi Military Defense Circuit was recommended to the Emperor by Liu Ruozai, so he is considered Shi Kefa's benefactor. Therefore, we must look after this Liu family."

He Xianya suddenly understood upon hearing this. Most of the Liu family had already relocated to Nanjing, but a few people remained in Anqing. Shi Kefa would certainly give them his care, and Pang Yu naturally wanted to act first.

"Speaking of which, this Military Defense Circuit Shi has deep ties to Anqing, especially to Tongcheng."

"He has ties to our Tongcheng?"

"Zuo Guangdou was his patron teacher." Pang Yu subconsciously touched the letter in his bosom. In that letter, Mr. Ma had introduced Shi Kefa's background to Pang Yu. The several payments of tribute silver had not been spent in vain.

As they spoke, Jiang Fan's figure emerged from the rain and mist. Without waiting for He Xianya to ask further, Pang Yu turned around. "Since we have some free time these two days, adjust the layout of that first issue again. Make it as refined as possible."

He Xianya knew they had matters to discuss and immediately took an umbrella and went out the door.

Jiang Fan bowed to He Xianya, and only after he had left did he come to Pang Yu's side.

"Liu Xiucai and Fang Yingqian are both in Anqing. Last night, Jiao Guozha met with them at the Ruyi Tower inside Jixian Gate. The serving maid who attended the wine was the younger sister of a brother in the Canal Gang. She overheard some things from outside the door. Liu Xiucai mentioned the Fire-Exemption Silver of Tongcheng, and also said he wanted a share in the dock brokerage. If Your Lordship does not agree... otherwise, he will report it to the Yingtian Regional Inspector."

Pang Yu nodded. Business in Tongcheng was not easy to do now; even the gambling houses were not making much money. The docks and the brokerage were considered quality assets in Anqing. It seemed quite a few people had their eyes on them.

"What did Jiao Guozha say?"

"He did not seem to dare, but from Liu Xiucai's words, one can tell he has lost a great deal of silver in recent months. Both Liu Xiucai and Fang Yingqian are convinced that he secretly divided up the Fire-Exemption Silver, which is why he had so much silver to gamble with."

Jiang Fan kept his head lowered. Pang Yu said nothing, but Jiang Fan could guess that he had certainly taken it. Otherwise, when Pang Yu was a squad leader, where would he have gotten so much silver to support the Zhuang Squad, and where did the capital for the Tongcheng Baishuntang come from?

"What else was said?"

"It was also mentioned that the Ye Family Old Residence once held a person..."

Another flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and muffled thunder rolled in right after.

Pang Yu's eyes narrowed. Jiang Fan waited quietly. Both of them were privy to this matter. The person once held at the Ye Family Old Residence involved Chen Ten Prefectures, which would implicate Pang Yu in extorting an official and aiding in the cover-up of a crime. That charge was far greater than secretly embezzling Fire-Exemption Silver.

Now, the smooth progress of Pang Yu's affairs in Anqing was closely tied to the support of Pi Yingju and Chen Ten Prefectures, especially the dock affairs, which relied entirely on Chen Ten Prefectures's efforts. Once someone began to take notice of this matter, it would be an enormous risk. And this information had undoubtedly leaked from Jiao Guozha.

After a long moment, Pang Yu said flatly, "Since Liu Xiucai and Fang Yingqian have come to Anqing, let them stay here."

"Your subordinate has already selected thirty of the bravest and fiercest among the canal workers. They are fine for brawling with the Green-Skin Ruffians in the city, but if it comes to assassination, I fear they are still insufficient."

"This time, the Canal Gang need not act. Guo Fengyou will carry it out, but Jiang Fan, you will participate in the planning."

"Then Jiao Guozha..."

"Jiao Guozha will be handled by the military."

"Although he is Your Lordship's sworn brother, keeping him will ultimately be a hidden worry."

"I have spoken. Jiao Guozha will be handled by the military."

Jiang Fan responded in a low voice and glanced up at Guo Fengyou.

"There is one more matter for which I must ask Your Lordship's help. The old-timers along the river in Anqing say this water may rise to the City Wall. The Canal Gang members basically all live on the east and west sides of the city along the river. After these two days of torrential rain, all places are waterlogged and uninhabitable. Most of the monasteries and nunneries in the city are already full. There are still over seven hundred Canal Gang followers with nowhere to stay."

Pang Yu nodded. If Jiang Fan could handle this matter well, he would quickly gain the cohesion of the Canal Gang. But the Canal Gang currently had over seven hundred people, many with families in tow, which would likely exceed two thousand in total.

"I will resolve this matter. You quickly tally up how many people need to be resettled." Pang Yu turned his head to Guo Fengyou and said, "Note this down. Have someone tidy up the buildings in the Garrison Command. Clear out as much space as possible to take in the Canal Gang."

Guo Fengyou immediately responded, "Yes, my lord... Which buildings should be tidied up?"

"Apart from the Arsenal and my bedchamber, all buildings, including the Rear Office. If that is still not enough, have the troops make room. We must resettle all the Canal Gang people inside. Grain is to be allocated from the military."

Having said this, Pang Yu looked at Jiang Fan again. "Every person must be told first that the Garrison Command is a temporary emergency shelter for them, not a place for them to live long-term."

"Your subordinate understands."

"Go back and hand this matter over to your men to handle. You come over in the afternoon to deal with the matter of Liu Xiucai and Fang Yingqian."

By the third day of the torrential rain on the upper reaches of the Great River, the river water had overflowed the docks. The riverside houses were mostly soaked in water. The river water entered the city through the city gates, and the streets began to flood.

Multi-story dwellings were packed to capacity. City residents all sought shelter in nearby tall buildings. Some commoners with nowhere to go had to drag their household belongings up onto the City Wall, building crude shacks and grass shelters, bitterly enduring the wind and rain.

At dusk, the rain lessened slightly, but as night fell, the rain intensified again, accompanied by strong winds. The wind and rain continued to rage across the land of Anqing.

Raindrops pelted thousands upon thousands of rooftops, and water splashed everywhere on the flooded streets.

Not a single Gengfu patrolled the night in the entire city. Under the curtain of night, Anqing was pitch-black, save for the Ruyi Tower inside Jixian Gate, where a few windows still leaked out some light.

On the wind-and-rain-swept street outside the Ruyi Tower, several black human silhouettes appeared.