Chapter 26: The Great River

"Clear streams suit the planting of rice; by late autumn, the harvest clouds the horizon. Before the new spring even arrives, the west wind carries enough fragrance on its own."

Tang Weimin sat astride his horse, eyes half-closed, leisurely chanting the verse.

In the seventh month, the Tongcheng countryside was everywhere covered in golden rice paddies. Countless farmers labored in the fields. In some paddies harvested early, sheaves of rice straw were stacked in piles; in those not yet reaped, straw men with bamboo fences stood scattered about. Occasionally, bands of children chased moorhens through the paddies — the very picture of the farming harvest season.

Pang Yu, hearing this, hurriedly offered flattery. "I had thought you, Tang, were merely a capable official in public service. Who could have known you could also compose poetry and verse? Such literary talent — this humble one is full of admiration, full of admiration."

Runner Pang was continuing his granary inspection tour. After the Reserve Granary, he had also inspected the Fengyu Granary and the Bianmin Granary, both located in the County Seat. These two granaries were far smaller in scale, and alike in that they contained not a single grain of food.

Naturally, Pang Yu did not let the two Granary Keepers off either. Following the same pattern, he squeezed a bit of graft out of them. Having finished inspecting the three granaries in the County Seat, Tang Weimin arranged today to head to Tongcheng's other key economic center, Zongyang Town.

Because Zongyang was rather far from Tongcheng, it was not very convenient for the Female Aide to come along. Pang Yu brought only He Xianya. The group set out as soon as the gates opened in the early morning and left the city. At this moment, they had just left the Suburban Area not far behind. The surroundings were still a landscape of low hills, but between the flat basins there were already stretches of rice paddies, which put Tang Weimin the scholar in quite a pleasant mood.

Tang Weimin, after hearing Pang Yu's flattery, paused for a moment, then said modestly, "If I could truly write such verse, I would indeed be worthy of your admiration, little brother Pang. A pity this is 'Yunxiang Pavilion' by Su Zhe, written about Longmian Mountain. Both are places in our Tongcheng, but one is north and the other south. I felt it matched the scenery here, and so I casually recited it."

Pang Yu's flattery had missed the mark. He knew of Su Zhe, but how could he know such obscure poems? However, his skin was thick enough, and he felt no embarrassment. Following Tang Weimin's lead, he said, "That you, sir, have a belly full of poetry and learning is beyond doubt. It is only that this humble one is of shallow talent and limited learning, speaking recklessly from ignorance, making a fool of himself before you. With this humble one's meager insight, had you claimed to have written it yourself, I would never have known otherwise. Yet you frankly told me, absolutely refusing to claim a predecessor's work as your own. This breadth of character alone is beyond ordinary men. Just now, I merely admired your literary talent; now I admire your character even more. For literary talent can be acquired through effort, but character is innate and cannot be learned by common means."

Although Tang Weimin was a Clerk, he was after all a scholar. Having failed to advance through the imperial examinations, in the Ming dynasty's exam-obsessed social climate, he felt a certain inferiority before his superiors. Having just harvested a sense of cultural superiority over Pang Yu, he had been feeling rather pleased with himself, even looking down a little on Pang Yu as a vulgar rustic. Now, hearing Pang Yu's flattery, he instead found Pang Yu tactful and agreeable. He could not help but laugh heartily. "Brother Pang, you are a man of true nature."

"This humble one's nature is true, but it is also true that my belly holds no talent. Gazing upon this fine scenery, I have no words to say, only that our Tongcheng is a good place."

Tang Weimin's enthusiasm for conversation was also high. "To the west, mountains and waters link together; to the east, ripening rice clouds the horizon. Our Tongcheng is truly fine country. Even Zongyang Town, where we are headed today, can be called a place of outstanding people and blessed land. Not to mention the distant past, at the beginning of our dynasty, the old grandee He Ruchong, who entered the cabinet to assist in governance, was a man of Zongyang. Though he has retired, Grand Secretaries in our dynasty who are recalled to office are by no means few. Indeed, in the middle of this year, when Chief Grand Secretary Zhou retired, the court recommended Grandee He to return and serve as Chief Grand Secretary. It is said he had already traveled halfway, but in the end, for some unknown reason, he did not go. He missed it by just that much. But who is to say he might not truly go one day."

"There is such a matter? If Grandee He became Chief Grand Secretary, our Tongcheng would have great glory."

Tang Weimin spoke on, full of regret. "Who says otherwise? I hear it was an advisor named Yao Kang who persuaded him, making Grandee He change his mind. Truly a pity. To speak of a bit earlier, Zuo Guangdou of the Tianqi Emperor's reign, a Presented Scholar of the thirty-fifth year of Wanli, was also a man of Zongyang. The Fang family's Fang Guangmei and Fang Kongzhao, this year's Presented Scholar Guang Shixiang, the Ruan family's… Ruan Dacheng — hah, of that man, better not to speak — but all are Presented Scholars produced by Zongyang. That poetry and learning are passed down through the families is certainly true."

Pang Yu had never heard of any Ruan Dacheng. By now, he had been riding for over ten li. The saddle was shockingly hard, and Pang Yu, a poor rider, felt a searing pain on the insides of his thighs. His mind was entirely occupied with adjusting his seat. As a low-level government functionary, a runner was originally not qualified to ride a horse on official business. But Tang Weimin, considering him a recent favorite of the County Vice-Magistrate, had specially gone to the Fast Squad to requisition a horse for him when asking for mounts, even assigning a Groom to follow and tend the horse. It was special treatment for Pang Yu, yet it unexpectedly made Pang Yu suffer greatly.

So although he could tell Tang Weimin had more to say, Pang Yu had no mind to press further.

Along the way, he heard Tang Weimin mention that Zongyang Town indeed produced a great many scholars and officials. Zongyang's wealthy people were also the most numerous in Tongcheng. The ancients said, "the poor study letters, the rich practice martial arts," but in truth, whether letters or martial arts, without some foundation in the family, it was difficult to support either. That Zongyang produced many Presented Scholars was only to be expected.

Tang Weimin was a native of Liantan in Tongcheng and knew local history like the back of his hand. Chatting along the road, Pang Yu did not find it dull.

But Zongyang was truly rather far. Tang Weimin did not wish to rush too much. In the evening, they rested a night at a courier station halfway. The next day, Pang Yu's thighs and buttocks ached terribly, even affecting his walk. He rode a while, walked a while, and with great difficulty endured until past noon before reaching Zongyang Town.

The granaries of Zongyang Town included the Red Sand Islet Ever-Normal Granary, the Lower Zongyang Granary, the Town Granary, and others, six locations in all. Three of these were community granaries, mainly managed by the people themselves, differing in status from official granaries like the Reserve Granary. Those who could manage community granaries were all men from powerful local clans and great families.

The Lower Zongyang Granary stored Tax Grain in Kind. It was under the special jurisdiction of the Tribute Grain Office there. This place was a key inspection point. Tribute grain could not be compared to the locality's own stores; every year there was a fixed quota that had to be sent to the Capital. From what Pang Yu observed, although the management was chaotic, it was somewhat better than the other local granaries. After all, local quotas could be shorted, but the Capital's quota could not.

As soon as Tang Weimin arrived, he entered the Lower Zongyang Granary. He personally handled nearly every inspection. Whether it was because the Lower Zongyang Granary was too important, or because this was his private preserve, Pang Yu tactfully asked no questions. He merely made a cursory inspection inside the granary, then went out to stroll around the vicinity of Zongyang Town.

Because of its enormous scale, Zongyang Town was further divided into Zongyang Town and Lower Zongyang, five li apart. Calling them two separate towns would have been quite fitting.

Where Pang Yu now stood was Lower Zongyang Town. What met his eyes showed that Lower Zongyang Town was indeed a place even more prosperous than the County Seat. This place bordered the Yangtze River. Outside the town, there was a harbor with direct access to the river. On both banks, merchant warehouses and granaries stretched on unbroken, forming several bustling trading markets.

Benefiting from the prosperity of trade, Zongyang continuously attracted people to settle. Lower Zongyang centered on the "Main Street," with dwellings extending far in all four directions. By Pang Yu's observation, the number of residents was no less than in the Tongcheng County Seat. Pang Yu felt a greater affinity for this kind of lively commercial town.

He Xianya accompanied Pang Yu, providing explanations. He was also very happy to be on this assignment, having visited Zongyang twice before. At this moment, walking half a step behind, he temporarily filled the role of tour guide.

"Second Brother, look. These two little channels are drawn from Moon Lake we saw on the way here. Around Zongyang, Fish Fields are the most numerous, and the fish from Dragon Well Marsh have the most delicious flesh. The Tribute Grain Office will surely invite Second Brother to sample some this evening."

There were many ponds and lakes around Tongcheng. The fish sold in the County Seat were plentiful and cheap. Pang Yu had little interest in Zongyang's fish.

He had, however, developed considerable interest in Lower Zongyang's harbor. Zongyang Harbor was essentially a stretch of riverbank close to the town. Merchant ships and Grain Transport Ships lined the shore in rows. Boats were constantly raising sails and departing, and vessels came and went on the river channel, displaying a flourishing commercial activity.

"Third Brother, with so many boats here in Zongyang, what goods are they all carrying?"

He Xianya pointed to the merchants' warehouses beside them. "Eighty percent is grain. Our Tongcheng has ample rain and fertile soil, and the grain harvest has always been abundant. Every year, grain merchants purchase large quantities of grain from the surrounding area. In another month, when the harvest season arrives, grain boats will link stem to stern on every river channel, and from this very Lower Zongyang, they will follow the Great River to sell it all to the Jiangnan region."

Pang Yu nodded. Economically, Zongyang here probably surpassed the Tongcheng County Seat, because water transport was the cheapest and most efficient mode of transportation at this time.

In the days since Pang Yu had arrived, although he had previously been unclear about Tongcheng's exact location, he knew of Anqing Prefecture — it was right on the banks of the Yangtze River. Hearing people around him constantly speak of the "Great River," he had guessed they meant the Yangtze. He could not help but ask, "How far is it from here to the Great River?"

"Leave Lower Zongyang and go south a few li, and you will reach the banks of the Great River."

"That close to the Great River?"

Seeing He Xianya nod, Pang Yu turned around and strode quickly back toward the granary.

He Xianya chased after him, shouting, "Second Brother, where are you going?"

"To see the Great River!"

Pang Yu returned to the granary to fetch his horse, took He Xianya with him, and left Dongfengkou, where the Lower Zongyang Granary was located. They passed Red Sand Islet and reached Riverbank Street, then followed the river channel southward.

Once outside the town, large and small ponds and lakes dotted the landscape all around. Along the river stretched entire tracts of Polder Fields. Atop the polder fields were neatly constructed Embankments, lined with orderly rows of stone slabs. At their widest, they reached over a zhang across. Green willows were planted all along the roadside.

The Embankment stretched endlessly before Pang Yu's eyes. It happened to be autumn; the river and lakes were full, stone causeways shaded by willows, the scenery interlaced in dappled reflection.

On either side of the stone causeway, rice paddies and fish fields interlocked, a riot of blue-green and yellow hues. Amid the shimmering light, sky and cloud shadows played. Pang Yu felt as if he were walking through a multicolored waterside dreamland, forgetting where he was.

Even in his previous life, he had never seen such scenery. Lost in rapture, he did not notice the passage of time. Riding south, he reached a place where two rivers converged. Ahead, water and sky met. Upon the great river, currents surged, waves glittering. The majestic aura instantly jolted Pang Yu from his enchanted dream.

"The Yangtze," Pang Yu murmured.

In the river channel, two Grain Transport Ships were just then merging into the Yangtze. On the river's surface, sails dotted the shipping lanes. Pang Yu watched the river intently. Each time a ship's silhouette vanished, before long, new vessels would appear from the distance.

Pang Yu sat his horse by the riverbank, motionless, staring at the river like a stone statue. His eyes flickered unceasingly as he carefully counted the ship silhouettes on the river.

After a quarter of an hour, He Xianya finally arrived from behind, panting heavily. The moment he reached Pang Yu, he collapsed onto the ground. He gasped for a long while before saying, "Second Brother, weren't your legs rubbed raw? You rode several li just to take a look at the Great River?"

Pang Yu looked down at He Xianya and said, "I was just now counting how many ships passed on the river. This is not the Great River — this is the great business."