Chapter 210: Shipai

Pang Yu stood on the bank of the Wan River at Shipai Mouth. Before him was a wharf, with several grain boats and passenger boats moored at the water's edge. Ferries came and went constantly at the Reverse Case Yu Tou Ferry Crossing. The shore was lined with shops, their scale far exceeding that of an ordinary small town, giving one the feel of Lower Zongyang Town — only slightly smaller in size.

The army was currently passing through the streets of Shipai Market. The market was very deserted; most shops were already shuttered. A few shop doors had been broken open, and people were still going in and out carrying things, fleeing hastily at the sight of the approaching troops. Many common folk stood watching from the surrounding area, most carrying luggage. They were likely refugees from nearby, as this place was a transportation hub, and most people fleeing toward the Prefectural City had to pass through here.

Shipai Market was today's encampment site. The garrison battalion marched through the streets in neat formation. The Scout Cavalry had chosen a camp ground outside the town near Matang Lake. They could have bypassed the town, but Pang Yu deliberately had the troops pass through it, especially this Nianyu Ferry. To Pang Yu's surprise, the garrison battalion received an enthusiastic welcome, completely unlike the way people used to flee in panic from government troops.

Despite the crowd's enthusiasm, Guo Fengyou grew even more tense, standing guard nearby with his Personal Soldiers. The veterans of the Zhuang Squad had all lived through the defense of Tongcheng and knew the Roving Bandits' tactic of sending spies ahead. Not daring to be careless in the slightest, their eyes ceaselessly scanned the crowd.

Pang Yu strolled leisurely along the riverbank. Pointing at the ferry crossing, he said to Jiang Fan, "You have a good eye. The garrison site I chose is precisely Shipai Mouth."

Jiang Fan hurriedly made a few modest remarks. When he had been handling Chen Ten Prefectures, he had passed through this place twice, and it happened to lie on the route of this current march, so he had guessed this location as well.

The Shipai Market of this time was a market town, also called Shipai Mouth — the later Shipai Town. It was situated at the very center of the entire Anqing territory, where the Qianshui, Changshui, and Wan Rivers converged and flowed past. The surrounding land was fertile, making it a grain-producing region for Anqing. Crossing the river northward from the Reverse Case Yu Tou Ferry Crossing before Pang Yu led to the road to Susong; heading west, three separate roads led to Susong and other places. Because it controlled both water and land transport, like many Ming dynasty market towns that grew up around ferries and bridges, a commercial town had naturally formed here over a long period.

The route the Roving Bandits had taken early in the year followed the Official Road through Tongcheng, Qianshan, Taihu, and Susong. Shipai Market was not in the direction of their march, so it had escaped that calamity. Although there was now news of Roving Bandits, because it was the peak season for the autumn grain purchase, many grain boats were still moored. On the bows of most boats sat boatmen gripping axes, looking ready to cut the mooring lines at any moment.

Some shops were still open. Two merchants on the riverbank were negotiating a price. As Pang Yu passed by them, he overheard a grain merchant pressing a Sitting Merchant to lower his price.

He heard one man say, "To be honest with you, Shopkeeper Yang, I have no need for grain right now. The granaries over in Anqing are all full. If you insist on selling to me — look at the season we're in. The Roving Bandits could arrive any moment. I am staying here waiting to load cargo, and that means risking my life. The few boatmen on this vessel must also be paid life-risking wages. One Mace and five fen per dan is already a fair price. And even after I take the goods, it won't be easy for me to handle."

That Shopkeeper Yang was presumably the Sitting Merchant of the grain shop on the shore. Hearing this, his face was full of distress. He had likely purchased the grain at close to five Mace, and now he would have to take a loss of half that outright.

The Hangshang glanced at Shopkeeper Yang and sighed. "Ah, forget it then. I am a timid man who values his life, afraid of having my flesh sliced off by the Roving Bandits. I'll be leaving now. A word of advice, Brother Yang: money and goods are things external to one's person. Don't stake your life guarding this shop. There aren't many boats left at the wharf now. When the Roving Bandits arrive, Brother Yang, don't throw your life away for a bit of grain and goods. It doesn't matter if you don't sell the goods to me. Come back to Anqing with my boat. The Prefectural City has that Stick God guarding it and doesn't fear the Roving Bandits. I am mindful of our dealings and friendship over the years. Brother Yang, do listen to my advice: as long as the green hills remain, there's no worry about firewood. Get on the boat quickly and secure your safety. I truly mean well."

Shopkeeper Yang stamped his feet anxiously on the spot, unable to make up his mind for the moment. The man waved his hand and turned to board the boat. Shopkeeper Yang hurriedly grabbed him and, in a low voice, begged him to yield a little more.

Pang Yu found the mention of the Stick God somewhat amusing, and he grew more interested in this Hangshang. To even use the Roving Bandits as a bargaining chip — that grain merchant was thoroughly black-hearted. In these times of panic, the reason a Sitting Merchant had not yet fled was surely that his goods could not be moved. Once the Sitting Merchant fled for his life, even before the Roving Bandits arrived, these fleeing refugees would be the first to loot all the grain. The several broken shop doors nearby were ready examples. Naturally, he wouldn't get a single fen of silver for them.

The grain merchant, however, had a boat. He could ship the grain away and, at the same time, settle with the Sitting Merchant in portable silver. That way, the Sitting Merchant could recoup some of his costs and also follow the grain boat to Anqing, avoiding further risk. But two Mace per dan was truly too ruthless. Pang Yu couldn't help but take a couple more glances at the grain merchant. He turned out to be a young man with a gentle and refined appearance. Had it not been for that performance just now, one would have taken him for a young master from some literary family. Still, Pang Yu thought it more likely the Sitting Merchant would compromise, for his options were few. If he stayed, he would have to endure the fear of the Roving Bandits. Many surrounding shops had already fled, and the roads were full of refugees. His fear must have already reached a considerable level.

Sure enough, not long after, the young man waved toward the boat, and several boatmen disembarked and began moving the goods.

Jiang Fan had not been paying close attention to the conversation. After looking around, he said, "Your subordinate could guess this place because of the convergence of water and land routes, and also because many grain boats at the Sheng-Tang Ferry came from this area. I knew the grain at Shipai Mouth was both plentiful and cheap."

Pang Yu stopped watching those two men. Nodding at Jiang Fan's words, he said, "Stationing troops in two separate places makes management difficult. But the Anqing Prefectural City lies in the southeastern corner of the entire territory. If all troops were stationed in the Prefectural City, the defensive line's center of gravity would lean too heavily to the east. Then, relieving Tongcheng would be easy, but relieving the four counties like Susong would be hard. To restore balance to Anqing's defenses, troops must be stationed in the west. But that presents another difficulty: Anqing's military strength is only two thousand, while the Roving Bandits often number in the tens of thousands. Dispersing our troops means we are divided while the enemy is concentrated. Therefore, the garrison site must effectively control the roads of western Anqing, be within two days' march of Susong and the other counties, check the enemy's advance routes, and prevent damage to the grain-producing region. At the same time, it must not be too far from the Prefectural City, to allow mutual support. Secondly, the grain supply must be assured, without adding extra logistical burdens. Thirdly, it must be easy to defend. Shipai Mouth happens to satisfy all three of these conditions." (Note 1)

Having traveled through Jiangnan, Pang Yu had gained a preliminary understanding of the commercial division of labor along the Great River in the Ming dynasty. Generally speaking, the goods exported from the upper reaches were mainly grain and beans, supplying food to the Jiangnan region. Jiangnan, in turn, primarily provided high-value-added products like handicrafts and textiles, with much of its land planted with cash crops. These were then marketed nationwide via the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal. The entire Yangtze River line was a complete economic ecosystem.

If the Roving Bandits destroyed agricultural production in Huguang and Jiangbei, Jiangnan would lose both its food supply and a vital sales market — a devastating blow to this economic ecosystem. Anqing was close to Jiangnan and had abundant grain output. After the incursion early in the year, grain prices this year had already begun to rise. The Roving Bandits' route at that time had followed the Official Road along the mountains to the north, so the blow to Anqing's main grain-producing areas in the south was not yet severe. At the same time, prices were currently being stabilized by grain from Jiangxi coming out of Jiujiang and grain from southern Huguang. Prices had not yet surged dramatically. However, with the Roving Bandits moving out of the passes, northern Huguang might be devastated again, and the overall trend for grain prices remained upward. Grain and beans were Anqing's main export commodities and the centerpiece of trade at Sheng-Tang Wharf. If the production region were lost, Sheng-Tang Wharf in Pang Yu's hands would lose its value. Therefore, from an economic perspective, protecting Anqing's grain-producing region was also extremely important to Pang Yu.

The area around Shipai Mouth was Anqing's main grain-producing region, and it simultaneously controlled the major roads. Looking at Shipai itself, to the east and north lay three major rivers — the Wan River, the Qianshui, and the Changshui — and to the west lay Matang Lake. The Roving Bandits' attack routes were thus heavily constrained. With grain from the surrounding area converging here, the difficulty of stationing troops for defense was lower compared to places like Susong.

Although there were other roads from Taihu, Qianshan, and Wangjiang that could lead to Anqing, Anqing was bordered by the river on two sides. As long as troops were stationed at Shipai, the Roving Bandits' line of retreat could be cut off at any time, leaving them caught in a pincer attack. The Roving Bandits' method of warfare lacked any strategic sense, but they still considered risks. The area around Anqing was crisscrossed with mountains and rivers, leaving little room for army maneuver, and marching speed was constrained by ferries and bridges.

By this time, the two men had walked past the area of the passenger boats. Many common folk were crowded there, haggling noisily with the boat owners. Pang Yu heard that the price for passage to Anqing had already been bid up to three Mace per person.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that the banner on a mast looked somewhat familiar. He turned his head to look — it was the same boat prow as that of the grain-buying young master from earlier. He wondered if it belonged to that young man's family.

The riverbank ahead was somewhat congested. Guo Fengyou led a horse over. Pang Yu went to take the reins and said to Jiang Fan, who was following him, "Shipai Market has accessible roads and also controls the channel of the Wan River. It is sixty li to Qianshan, seventy li to Taihu, seventy li to Wangjiang, and a hundred li to Susong. Cavalry can reach all four counties in a single day; infantry traveling downstream by boat can relieve the Prefectural City within a day. This place is a grain boat wharf, a distribution center for the grain and bean trade of three counties, where grain prices are even cheaper than in Anqing. As long as troops are stationed at Shipai, the risk of the Roving Bandits attacking Anqing will increase enormously. Not only can I threaten their line of retreat, but I can also ship troops via the Wan River to relieve Anqing within a single day — able to advance and attack, or retreat and defend. There is no better garrison site than Shipai. From whatever angle, this official must station troops at Shipai. We only await Commandant Zhang's approval, and then we will proceed immediately. The Canal Gang must make preparations. Not only must this become my garrison site, but the Canal Gang must also establish a foothold here."

"Your subordinate understands. I will immediately set about handling this matter. First, establish a foothold in Shipai, then use it as a base to spread our people into the four counties."

Pang Yu nodded, then pointed toward the passenger boat over there. "When you are in Anqing, keep an eye out for that boat's banner and find out which family it belongs to."

Jiang Fan had not been paying attention and did not know why Pang Yu had suddenly taken an interest in the owner of a passenger boat. But Pang Yu had already mounted his horse, so he had to set the question aside.

Standing beside the horse, he said to Pang Yu, "With the Roving Bandits invading these past few days, more people will be selling shop fronts. This humble one would like to stay here and see if there are any suitable ones."

Pang Yu hesitated briefly. Jiang Fan certainly had the will to take on responsibilities, but the Roving Bandits' current whereabouts were unknown. If the main army had guessed the wrong direction, the possibility of the Roving Bandits appearing at Shipai was not small.

"The Roving Bandits' whereabouts are unknown. Do not wound my great general just to save a bit of money on buying a shop." Having said this, Pang Yu pulled on the horse's head. "Today, several Licentiate and Village Elders of Shipai have arranged a welcoming feast. I have long heard that the crucian carp from Matang Lake are exceptionally delicious. Come with this official and have a taste."

Jiang Fan stood stunned on the spot for a moment. Seeing that Pang Yu had already spurred his horse forward, he hurriedly mounted his horse and followed.