Chapter 269: The Market

Outside the main gate of the Chuzhou Court of the Imperial Stud, a sea of heads surged and swelled. Everywhere was the shouting of hawkers haggling over prices and the wailing cries of captives. Because the Court of the Imperial Stud was badly damaged and still held a large number of captives, Li Juesi had temporarily not returned. The area around the main gate had already become the most bustling part of the flea market. People left behind from all camps came here to trade — people, goods, horses, everything was available.

The supplies that two hundred thousand Roving Bandits had plundered across a thousand li were all here. Not only were all the camps trading, but those keen-nosed merchants from Chuzhou had also caught the scent and moved with the wind, and prices were steadily rising.

The Anqing Garrison Battalion's stall was to the right of the main gate. Because they traded in ready silver, over the past two days they had become the most favored trading party. The garrison battalion's stall was packed full of people, almost blocking traffic on the street. A dozen or so soldiers were keeping order, preventing the crowd from collapsing the thatched shed. In the middle, Mr. Hou was drenched in sweat, ceaselessly haggling with the people who came to trade.

"Sir, is someone here selling horses?" A soldier from the Personal Guard Unit squeezed through the crowd and whispered into Mr. Hou's ear.

Mr. Hou wiped the sweat from his forehead. "What kind of horses?"

The soldier lowered his voice. "That man says they are warhorses!"

"Have him lead the way to see the horses first."

"Sir, follow me." The soldier then pushed his way out. Mr. Hou handed the stall over to his subordinates, called for Chen Rulie, and brought three soldiers along as they squeezed out of the crowd. Once out, the air felt a bit fresher. All around, the wailing of captives from various family stalls filled the air.

The soldier found the horse seller across the street. Neither side delayed excessively, for trading warhorses counted as military supplies. The black market mostly sold one's own camp's horses, which was openly forbidden by all camps, making it a rather sensitive transaction.

Mr. Hou and the others followed behind, heading toward an alley opposite the Court of the Imperial Stud.

Along the way, there were headless corpses at intervals. The roadside was packed with captured Roving Bandit prisoners of war. Those who could be brought here for trade were considered young and able-bodied. The Auxiliaries from the various camps, carrying waist sabers and clubs, were keeping watch and control. Whenever someone wailed or made a fuss, an Auxiliary would go over and beat them indiscriminately. These captives had no sleeping sheds. Men and women alike were confined and guarded in these streets and alleys, given one meal of thin congee a day. Eating, drinking, shitting, and pissing all happened within this cramped space, and a thick stench of feces and urine filled the alleyways.

These crowds were like penned livestock. As Mr. Hou and the others passed by, those Roving Bandit Servants were all startled and shrank back toward the walls. Mr. Hou did not linger. This area had already been traded through, and those with skills had already been picked out, so he merely carefully avoided the excrement on the ground. He was used to such sights. In the past, seeing a scene like this, a person might have felt some compassion, but having experienced the departure of his family and witnessed the horrors inflicted by the bandits all along the way, he could hardly muster any sympathy anymore.

It was such chaos all along the way. They finally stopped when they reached the riverside. Along the bank squatted groups of Roving Bandit captives, but not the kind that were young and strong; the majority were women, children, the elderly, and the weak. They huddled together on the ground. Behind them, in a spot sheltered by trees, there were indeed seven or eight horses tethered.

This place was rather secluded, precisely a place for trading warhorses. Several officers and soldiers from another camp were the sellers. They cautiously checked behind them, and after confirming no one had followed, they let Mr. Hou and his men inspect the horses.

Chen Rulie carefully examined the horses and also checked the brands and saddle gear on them. Afterward, he came back and said to Mr. Hou in a low voice, "These are horses from Lei Shisheng's camp."

Mr. Hou was not surprised. He had seen many strange things over the past few days, and the stealing and selling of one's own military horses could no longer astonish him.

"Are they warhorses?"

"Five are fit for proper use. The other two are a bit old; bought back, they could be used for one more year at most. And one is a packhorse."

Mr. Hou now had a clear idea in his mind. He turned around, intending to negotiate the price with the several officers and soldiers, but before he could speak, he glanced again at the group of captives on the ground and walked straight to a corner, to avoid those captives.

Chen Rulie also followed over. He understood Mr. Hou's meaning. The officers, soldiers, and Auxiliaries from various camps selling horses were selling both Roving Bandit horses and their own camp's horses. It was hard to say what their future plans were. This place was close to Jiangnan. For soldiers from the north, leaving the army here might allow them to quickly reach the safety of Jiangnan — a good opportunity. But some people were just exchanging for silver. If they still intended to return to the army, they would not let news of the horse sale leak out and would likely kill the captives who knew about it. Avoiding them a little could save quite a few lives.

The several officers and soldiers, however, did not care. The big man at their head gave a hearty laugh and said, "This sir need not avoid them. When you lead the horses away later, they will still see it."

Chen Rulie and Mr. Hou exchanged a glance. There seemed to be truth in that — meaning the several officers and soldiers had already planned to kill people. In peacetime, a murder case would be a major matter alarming the Prefectural Office, but in Chuzhou lately, no one would spare an extra glance at a hundred corpses.

Mr. Hou said to the several officers and soldiers, "What price do you fellow comrades wish to sell for?"

"One hundred taels per horse. Eight horses are eight hundred taels."

Mr. Hou said calmly, "Since you fellow comrades have sought us out, you must have heard of the Garrison Battalion's reputation. First, our prices are fair, and our silver purity and weight are both sufficient. We do wish to buy horses, but we have nearly bought enough these past few days. If you are sincere in doing business, do not ask for sky-high prices. Let us all speak a fair price. Three of these horses are over seven years old, and one is a packhorse. We shall calculate each horse individually."

The several officers and soldiers, seeing Mr. Hou's manner, knew he was an expert, and since he had brought several sturdy soldiers, intimidation tactics might not work. After exchanging glances, they began haggling with Mr. Hou in low voices.

Chen Rulie did not go over to listen. He knew the general prices. Here in Chuzhou, silk and cotton cloth were worthless. Most of the various camps were Guest Armies, all anxious to offload goods for ready silver. Only warhorses were an exception. The price for a warhorse of suitable age ranged from fifty to eighty taels, double the price in the northern border regions. The best had even sold for a hundred taels.

His gaze roamed over the group of captives on the ground. Everyone's clothes were disheveled, their faces covered in filthy grime, making it hard to tell male from female. Only from their body shapes could he see they were all rather thin and weak. Many had graying hair and were certainly not part of the Roving Bandits' fighting force. Most likely, they were the family dependents of the Servants, among the less desirable captives, perhaps even just used to screen the horses on the road. They all kept their heads buried. Occasionally, someone would look up to steal a glance, but upon meeting Chen Rulie's eyes, they would hurriedly lower their heads again.

Mr. Hou's voice came from behind. They had negotiated a price, totaling three hundred and ninety taels. Chen Rulie actually felt a bit envious. Each of the four officers and soldiers here could get nearly a hundred taels of silver. These men had surely resold other supplies as well. If they deserted and went to Jiangnan, they could live quite well. But this group of people likely would not survive.

"Deliver to White Armor Bridge, then pay the silver."

The leading burly man turned his head and looked coldly at Chen Rulie. "A deal struck here means money and goods clear here. If I go to White Armor Bridge, where it's all your Garrison Battalion's troops and horses, and you don't give the silver, I won't be able to do anything to you."

Chen Rulie, without backing down, said, "What you're leading are military horses from Assistant Regional Commander Lei's unit. If we encounter Huguang troops on the road and they forcibly claim we stole the horses, what then?"

The burly man was taken aback. What Chen Rulie said was also the truth. They had been sneaky even when bringing the horses over.

An officer and soldier beside him briefly conferred with him in a low voice. The big man turned back to Chen Rulie and said, "To be honest with you, we don't dare take the horses toward White Armor Bridge either. But Assistant Regional Commander Lei went to Yedu Bridge today and won't be back before nightfall. You won't run into him on the road. You take the horses yourselves, and we'll knock off another forty taels of silver. Payment at the Court of the Imperial Stud gate. If you still don't want them, we'll sell to the Chuzhou locals."

"Give me these people here, to help screen us on the road."

The big man frowned. Before he could speak, Mr. Hou had already opened his mouth. "What use are these people? Sir Pang made it clear — only bring useful ones back to camp."

Chen Rulie was about to argue further, but Mr. Hou was subtly shaking his head at him, signaling him not to jeopardize the important matter of buying the horses.

"Then, sir, ask if there are any usable ones."

The leading big man said, "If you want the people, we won't reduce the forty taels of silver."

Mr. Hou looked at Chen Rulie for a moment, sighed, and said, "This old man will take a look and see if any suitable ones can be picked out."

The captives on the ground, hearing this, suddenly raised their heads one after another, shouting and kowtowing toward Mr. Hou.

The several officers and soldiers, carrying waist sabers, beat them indiscriminately with the scabbards, barely managing to suppress the chaos.

Mr. Hou walked past them one by one. "Tell me where you were from before, and what trade you plied."

"This old fellow was a farmer."

"This humble one can raise pigs and sheep, and also rear silkworms."

"This slave woman can weave cloth."

"This humble one can tap tree lacquer."

"This small one can forge copperware."

Mr. Hou stopped and pointed at those two men. "The tree lacquer tapper and the copper forger, step out."

The two men quickly kowtowed and then ran out. Mr. Hou asked them a few technical questions in a low voice, confirmed they had relevant work experience, and told them to wait behind. The two men sobbed behind Mr. Hou. Here, they had been close to despair, with only two outcomes: freezing to death or starving to death. Yet now, they had suddenly been given a path to live.

Mr. Hou continued pacing. Some people anxiously tugged at his trouser legs, forcing Chen Rulie and the others to resort to punches and kicks just to allow the selection to continue.

When he reached an old man, the gray-haired old fellow spoke up. "This old fellow can tend horses and can care for these eight horses on the road."

Mr. Hou stopped and said, "Tell me, how much water does a military horse need daily, how much forage and fodder beans, and how is it normally cared for?"

"Prepare twenty jin of water daily. Brushing once a day, the water amount for that is uncertain. Give six or seven jin of wheat mixed with some dry forage. On long journeys, give one or two jin of beans. When salt is available, give half a tael daily. Wild grass in the field must be inspected; things like balloon flower are not eaten. The primary daily care is for the hooves — wash and clean them often. All four hooves must be level; if uneven, it injures the horse…"

Mr. Hou looked back at Chen Rulie. Chen Rulie nodded.

"Which Roving Thief camp were you in before?"

"The Eight Old… Eight Bandits Camp. I helped the camp's horse team tend the horses and mules."

Mr. Hou stared at him for a moment. The old man's face was full of wrinkles, with a somewhat worried and gloomy look.

"Go wait."

The old man bowed slightly and slowly walked to the back.

Mr. Hou continued pacing. Everyone had been heard once. This group was indeed mostly old, weak, sick, or disabled, the majority from rural villages. The kind of skilled labor Pang Yu needed was scarce, and in the end only these three were picked.

Seeing the selection end, the crowd suddenly stirred. People all around rushed over, grabbing Mr. Hou's clothes and pleading. A few soldiers, eager to complete the transaction, slapped at them several times but could not break free. The lead big man drew his sword and began hacking.

After two miserable screams, the crowd instantly scattered like birds and beasts, yet one hand still clung tightly to Mr. Hou's trouser leg.

Mr. Hou lowered his head to look. It was a thin, frail youth, gaunt to the bone. A gash had opened on his arm, and blood was dripping down in a steady trickle.

"This lowly one is called Yang Guangdi. I can also raise livestock, and I can farm and carry water. Whatever the master tells me to do, I will do. I beg the master to take me and my mother."

A woman was crying and wailing on the ground nearby but was too weak to crawl over. She seemed to be ill. The big man raised his sword toward that thin arm. The youth showed no intention of letting go at all, his eyes fixed dead on Mr. Hou.

Mr. Hou shook his head and made to pull his leg free.

"I beg you, grandfather, save my mother. Grandfather."

Hearing this, Mr. Hou suddenly stopped. He paused for a moment, then raised a hand to stop the big man about to swing the sword.

He stayed where he was, looking into those eyes brimming with desperate longing.

After a moment, Mr. Hou asked in a low voice, "Can you ride a horse?"

The youth shook his head. "No."

Chen Rulie's heart leaped into his throat. He winked frantically at the youth, but the youth did not look his way.

Mr. Hou bent forward. "I ask you one last time. Can you ride a mule?"

The youth's mouth hung open. As he stared into Mr. Hou's eyes, a sudden flash of spirit lit his gaze. "Yes!"