Chapter 295: Spirit and Bearing

"Pang Xiaoyou, look — the soul of this garden scene lies in those few Taihu stones."

Pang Yu followed the direction of Ruan Dacheng's pointing finger, his face full of envy. Ruan Dacheng's Shichao Garden consisted of one main hall, two side wings, and a courtyard, complete with a small bridge over flowing water and a clear pond. In the pond stood a rockery, and along its banks Taihu stones were scattered as accents, complemented by the scenic grasses and trees visible everywhere in the yard — it possessed a distinct Jinling charm. Those few bizarrely shaped Taihu stones in particular had been transported from faraway places at enormous cost, and Ruan Dacheng made no effort to hide his show of pride.

Having endured the information bombardment of his previous life, Pang Yu was no longer astonished by most of the scenery of this era. The expression on his face was largely exaggerated, but to possess such a landscaped garden here within the city of Nanjing truly did make him envious.

Ruan Dacheng had been in Nanjing for over a year and had grown fair-skinned and plump. Paired with his large beard, he resembled a disrobed Maitreya Buddha. He thoroughly enjoyed Pang Yu's amazement, though in Nanjing's late-July climate, even under the shade of the garden trees it was exceptionally stifling. The heavyset Ruan Dacheng could hardly bear it — beads of sweat hung from his beard and eyebrows. He promptly beckoned Pang Yu into the study, where a maid brought in two blocks of ice while two other maids fanned them from either side. Once the windows were shut, conditions improved slightly.

Pang Yu glanced around the study. It was much like Ruan Dacheng's study in Tongcheng, but the lighting here was better. Several window leaves gleamed with a crystalline sheen, and when the sunlight outside streamed through, it revealed faint, iridescent hues.

These were the shell windows used by wealthy Jiangnan households. The "shell" was moon shell, painstakingly ground thin by hand and pieced together onto the wooden window frames. In terms of light transmission and heat insulation, they were superior to both ox-hide paper and white cotton paper, but the cost was also far higher. Because they consumed so much labor, the price was exorbitant, and only the great houses of Jiangnan could afford them. To maintain his persona of sharing the soldiers' lot, Pang Yu's Garrison Command still used paper windows; he had never even inquired about the price of shell windows.

Ruan Dacheng wiped his face with a silk handkerchief. Seeing Pang Yu examining the shell windows, he smiled and said, "Here at the White Gate, I have yet to see anyone use glass for windows. The pieces you sent this time, Pang Xiaoyou, are square, even, broad, and large — you have been most thoughtful."

By the late Ming, Jiangnan already had large numbers of glass-making artisans producing all kinds of lenses, spectacles, lantern shells, prisms, and other goods, but glass windows had never been seen before. Pang Yu had asked Bao Yu to try making a batch. Though their size and light transmission fell far short of later eras, they were still better than the shells Ruan Dacheng used. A single pane could cover the area of four shells — already described by Ruan Dacheng as "broad and large" — and their novelty was an even greater triumph. The ground floor of the Great River Silver Bank would be fitted entirely with glass. Pang Yu had diverted a batch this time to give Ruan Dacheng a taste of something new.

"A trifling token, not worth mentioning. But if you use them in the bedchamber, sir, it would be best to add a curtain inside."

Ruan Dacheng inquired in detail about how to make the curtain, then thanked Pang Yu again.

Pang Yu replied courteously, "Ever since the Great River Silver Bank opened, you have shown it repeated favor, sir, and introduced friends and relatives to deposit silver. I should have visited long ago to express my thanks, but military duties kept me busy, and every trip to Nanjing was a hurried one. I was unable to offer my congratulations in person when Shichao Garden was completed, and I beg your forgiveness."

Ruan Dacheng knew Pang Yu had been avoiding him, but naturally he would not expose that now. Shaking his head, he said, "Though this Shichao Garden is called a garden, it is in truth merely a place to shelter. Every inch of land in Treasury Department is worth its weight in gold. There is no wild scenery, nor can one create grand garden views. At best it qualifies as a modest, charming dwelling. I never intended to hold any grand celebration — just invited a few close friends like yourself, Pang Xiaoyou, to share the joy. And once summer arrives, the place turns as hot as an oven. When my retreat at Niushou Mountain is finished, I shall go there to pass the summer in this season. How unlike here in Jinling, where even the wind from the fan is hot."

With that, he waved away the two fanning maids, then lowered his voice and said, "I share a friendship with you, Pang Xiaoyou, that disregards the gap in years, so I will not beat around the bush. Some time ago, I heard that certain people in this city of Nanjing were harboring ill intentions, and I have been constantly worried on your behalf. That is why I went again to the Silver Bank to leave word with Liu Ruogu. Though I did not think those villains could succeed, I feared you might be distracted by this and fail in the Emperor's great plan to exterminate the bandits."

"You are quite right, sir. There are indeed some petty men scheming. My stay in Nanjing this time is partly for that reason."

"Some days ago, someone told me that Liu Ruogu had been in contact with brokers in various quarters, and I grew even more worried. You are newly entered into officialdom, Pang Xiaoyou, and the arena of politics is, after all, somewhat different from the battlefield." Ruan Dacheng paused, then continued, "In truth, I have recently formed a new poetry society, named Qun She. Its members are all old acquaintances from official circles. If you were to associate with them regularly, Pang Xiaoyou, you could truly learn things that ordinary people can hardly come by. They also often ask me about you."

Pang Yu understood Ruan Dacheng's meaning perfectly: he wanted Pang Yu to join his Qun She before he would offer any help.

"Your poetry society, sir — I naturally yearn for it in my heart. But the Emperor dislikes nothing more than people forming cliques. I am but a military man. If I were to join the Qun She, and someone with intent mentioned it before the Emperor, it would instead implicate you with the ill repute of privately befriending a military officer."

Ruan Dacheng waved his hand dismissively. "What you say is reasonable, Pang Xiaoyou, but there is no harm in discussing military strategy and swordsmanship. I have long navigated the official world and can still keep my footing steady in such matters."

Pang Yu knew Ruan Dacheng needed some form of return and was still banking on reviving his career through frontier talent. From what he could see so far, both Zhang Guowei and the Restoration Society were crucial to the Silver Bank's expansion in Jiangnan, but their influence in Nanjing was very limited. Moreover, the Restoration Society might well collapse now. He urgently needed a new backer in Nanjing. If Ruan Dacheng could help him connect with the Seal-holding Inner Garrison Commander, and if it only involved participating in Qun She activities without formally joining the society, he would not gravely offend Zhang Guowei and the Restoration Society. It should be worth a try.

"You honor me, sir, and I shall naturally comply. Furthermore, I can promise this: should the day come when you are entrusted with a frontier command, I will certainly dispatch capable subordinates to assist you in drilling the troops. They will be elite soldiers, just like those of the Garrison Battalion."

At the words "frontier command," Ruan Dacheng immediately rose to his feet in excitement and paced a few quick steps in place, as if he had already returned to officialdom. A moment later, he declared indignantly, "The General sheds blood in Jiangbei, yet there are those in Jiangnan scheming against a meritorious official. How can I sit by and watch?"

Ruan Dacheng's demeanor steadied again. "This city is full of countless brokers, but those who can speak effectively before the Garrison Commander are exceedingly few. It is easy to hand silver over; getting it back is a thousand, ten thousand times harder."

Pang Yu silently agreed. This was precisely why he had never sought out brokers — they worked only for money, and Nanjing's political forces were complex. Once that door was opened, all manner of people would swarm in like sharks scenting blood. If every one of them had to be paid off, the income from Bai Shun Tang would not even cover the bribes.

He sat up straight and said respectfully, "In officialdom, I am but a raw recruit. The only person I can truly trust in these circles is you, sir. Please, I beg you, do not stint your guidance."

"You are merely trapped inside the game, my young friend. The marketplace often describes officialdom as if it were a vegetable market, thinking everything is decided by silver and coin — that is the view of peddlers and lackeys. The most crucial thing in official service is to borrow momentum and apply force. General Pang, you are a rising star in the military. The momentum you can borrow with a mere touch of your hand — how is that not a hundred times stronger than those brokers?" Ruan Dacheng paced slowly about the room with his hands behind his back, his glossy face brimming with confidence. "When dealing with the yamen, seek out only the one person who matters. Avoid splitting your efforts down multiple paths at all costs. The man who calls the shots in Nanjing is the Inner Garrison Commander, Liang Hongtai. In this city, everyone else reads his face. If you want to find someone, find him. I will not hide from you, my young friend, that I can also exchange words with him. The silver that needs spending must be spent, but if you enter the yamen knowing only how to spend silver, you fall into vulgar convention, and in the end it may not even turn out well. You must appeal to what he likes."

Hearing this, Pang Yu nearly wanted to pull out a notebook and take notes. He listened intently.

"The appointment and dismissal of inner eunuch supervisors is decided by a single word from the Emperor. Outside officials cannot get in a single word — even the Chief Grand Secretary is useless to him. What does Liang Hongtai care about most?" Ruan Dacheng's eyes gleamed, and he did not even notice the sweat dripping down his beard. "The Emperor. The only person Liang Honglie needs to please is the Emperor alone. What matters to the Emperor matters to him. At this critical juncture, what is the matter of greatest urgency to the Emperor?"

"The roving thieves..." Pang Yu's eyes suddenly lit up. "It is the Tartar incursion."

Stroking his beard, Ruan Dacheng beamed and pointed at Pang Yu. "Let me tell the General one more thing. The Viceroy of Water Transport has already transferred Vice Regional Commander Liu Liangzuo north to prepare to march to the Capital for rally to the king. As a fellow Grand Coordinator of Nanzhili, how anxious do you think Zhang Guowei is in his heart, my young friend?"

Pang Yu said in surprise, "Three days ago I was in Jiangpu. Why did I not hear Governor Zhang mention the matter of Liu Liangzuo? If that is so, Governor Zhang is likely very anxious indeed."

"This news came the day before yesterday." Ruan Dacheng was immensely pleased with himself, thoroughly proud of his well-informed sources. "Zhang Guowei's jurisdiction in Jiangbei covers Anqing, Jiangpu, and Liuhe — two ends separated by a thousand li, with troops unable to support each other. Now that roving thieves are appearing between Chao Feng, wherever he transfers troops from is inconvenient. Governor Zhu's side, because Zhongdu Fengyang is located there, has not only locally conscripted troops but also three thousand Zhejiang Troops, and furthermore has the forces of Mou Wenshou and Liu Liangzuo specifically designated for deployment. Transferring out one Liu Liangzuo does not affect the overall situation. Zhang Guowei is naturally anxious. He is preparing to have Right Consultant Feng Yuanbiao lead over a thousand troops to go to rally to the king. The soldiers will be drawn from various Camp Heads, including several hundred from your camp, Pang Xiaoyou. Not only will assembling them take time, but there is no source at all for rations and pay. Tell me, is he not even more anxious?" (Note 1)

"Your insight is clear, Ruan Xiansheng. Transferring troops from Jiangnan to the Capital takes a very long time. By the time they reach Beidi, the Tartars will likely have already withdrawn beyond the passes. What use is it to waste provisions and pay in vain?"

"General Pang need not concern yourself with what use it is. Leading troops north is itself the use — it demonstrates the heart of a subject. Even if Zhu Dadian does not go to rally to the king, you should still go. Feng Yuanbiao's troops come from five Camp Heads and are merely a patchwork rabble. How can they compare to the General's battle-hardened soldiers? A patchwork force of a thousand, compared to Liu Liangzuo's Cavalry Camp, still falls to the inferior position. When it comes to agility in officialdom, Zhang Guowei is still a shade short of Zhu Dadian."

Pang Yu calculated briefly in his mind. That day, Zhang Guowei's intention had been to wait until the rally to the king order arrived before deciding, and he had also prepared to deploy Pang Yu. He had not expected Zhu Dadian to disregard martial ethics and go to rally to the king even without a military order. With this sudden turn of events, Pang Yu had already left Jiangpu, and Zhang Guowei could not find him for the moment. But the more important reason was probably that Zhang Guowei was still worried about the Rogue Marauders around Anqing. Roving thieves were frequently appearing around Anqing, and a rally to the king deployment lasting half a year could very well lead to problems. The Garrison Battalion had suffered heavy losses in Jiangnan, and Zhang Guowei did not know its actual troop strength. With the priority on securing Anqing, he also could not surpass Zhu Dadian's numbers. Zhang Guowei was caught in a dilemma.

Pang Yu, however, had studied the Court Gazette over the years. Judging from their patterns of activity, the roving thieves rarely undertook large-scale operations in the hot summer climate. Before the autumn harvest, they often chose to lie low in various mountain regions to pass the summer. At least until September, the Garrison Battalion should have some troops available for mobile operations. As for after September, Pang Yu could continue expanding the army — at worst, he would spend more silver. Holding a few cities was within his grasp.

"I can tell you frankly, sir: the Garrison Battalion can transfer troops without compromising the Anqing Defense."

"That would be excellent. As long as General Pang can get Liang Hongtai's name mentioned in this affair, it will be more useful than a hundred brokers. When that time comes, who would dare touch your enterprises?"

Pang Yu suddenly felt the whole situation open up before him. Ever since arriving in Nanjing, he had been trapped inside the game, thinking only of how to find a path, never realizing the path was right in front of him. As long as this matter succeeded, he would naturally establish a connection with Liang Hongtai.

And this matter was not only advantageous for Liang Hongtai, but equally so for Zhang Guowei. Although Zhu Dadian was marching north without orders, under the great moral cause of rally to the king, no one dared question it. Zhang Guowei had instantly been shown up. The troops currently stationed in Jiangpu and Liuhe were mostly new conscripts — the two thousand infantry in Liuhe, not to mention the empty rolls, were all raw recruits even among those present, utterly incapable of long-range maneuver. The patchwork force Feng Yuanbiao was leading was truly too shabby. If the Anqing Garrison Battalion moved out, it would be an entirely different matter.

A single rally to the king operation like this could simultaneously benefit Pang Yu, Zhang Guowei, and Liang Hongtai. Ruan Dacheng went without saying — he was well-informed, had keenly spotted the opportunity within, and possessed the connections and resources to communicate. Not only could he collect silver from Pang Yu, but he would also earn favors from both Pang Yu and Liang Hongtai. Quite possibly, he too wanted his name mentioned.

"I understand. Once I have reported to Governor Zhang, I will immediately send someone back to Anqing to draw troops."

"How many men can General Pang mobilize immediately?"

"Eight hundred..." Pang Yu blurted out. This was the force he could mobilize the fastest, mainly the Marine Corps and the Iron Armor Soldiers recalled to Anqing City. They could board ships at once. The other units, though all assembled in their camp areas, could not be drawn away without affecting the Anqing Defense.

"Liu Liangzuo is a Vice Regional Commander with over two thousand troops, but those who can be called elite number only a few hundred. No matter how General Pang scrapes them together, you must reach a thousand, and preferably even more." Ruan Dacheng blinked. "The men on those troop-transport grain ships are all Water Troops — they are soldiers too. Recruit some more along the way, and Zhang Guowei's memorial will look much better. By my reckoning here, Jiangpu and Liuhe can surely select a few hundred usable men. As long as the General's troops arrive, you can advance north immediately without having to wait for those patchwork troops from Jiangnan."

Pang Yu knew that the "recruiting along the way" Ruan Dacheng spoke of meant press-ganging men to fill the numbers. Though he did not intend to do so, he still took the hint and said, "Understood. I will transfer two thousand five hundred naval and land troops. I can also find a way to raise the rations and pay myself."

Ruan Dacheng clapped his hands together. "Under the Yingtian Grand Coordinator, over three thousand naval and land elite troops loyally and wholeheartedly march to rally to the king."

"But that only resolves Governor Zhang's urgency. How can we count Liang Hongtai among this?"

"Leave that to me. Someone has designs on Bai Shun Tang? Not only will Liang Hongtai not take your silver, he may even receive you personally at the Inner Guard Office. And with just that one meeting, from then on, no one in the city of Nanjing will dare harbor designs against you."

Pang Yu looked at the beaming Ruan Dacheng. In the past, Ruan Dacheng had always carried a hint of desolation and disappointment, but today he was brimming with confidence, his spirit soaring. It seemed this was the true form of that old bird of officialdom — a real broker ought to look exactly like this.

Note 1: See Zhang Guowei, "Draft Memorials on Pacifying Wu," Chongzhen 9th Year, "Second Memorial on Reinforcements": "Again selected two hundred strong and able-bodied men from the guard, totaling one thousand seven hundred officers and men... At this moment of urgency, when one would tie up one's hair and don armor, I sought to manage the situation, but suffer from an empty treasury. With no alternative, I issued orders to the Ten Prefectures, regardless of old Liao or other categories, to swiftly deliver relief funds."