Chapter 378: Pacification

At Shimen Lake in Anqing, on the drill ground of the Garrison Commander's Marine Corps camp, a Ju-level tactical assessment was underway, and the air was filled with a cacophony of bugle calls.

Inside the Thousand-Leader Headquarters, however, it was utterly quiet. Pang Yu sat composed behind his desk, watching several men in military uniforms walk into the room.

"My lord, the English Barbarian envoy has arrived."

Pang Yu gave Zhang Shuangwei an encouraging nod, then looked at the man behind him, who removed his military cap to reveal tawny hair. A pair of green eyes swept around the room, leaving the two guards inside staring in a daze.

This was an Englishman who had come from Macau. Pang Yu had deliberately avoided the Anqing Prefectural City and had him disguised as a soldier to meet in the military camp.

Zhang Shuangwei said in a low voice, "This English Barbarian envoy's surname is Wei, called Weili. The one behind him is his interpreter."

Ignoring the interpreter, Pang Yu remained seated and said in English, "Welcome to Anqing, Mr. Weili."

Everyone in the room froze for another moment. Though the guards dared not look directly at Pang Yu, they kept stealing glances at him. None of them had ever imagined that Lord Pang could actually speak English. It seemed the legends of the Stick God were true after all.

Weili had clearly seen Pang Yu's handwritten letter before, so he was only slightly surprised that Pang Yu could speak English. He quickly responded, "A pleasure to meet you, honorable Mr. Pang, especially since you can speak English, though your accent is somewhat… like an Irishman's. May I ask where Mr. Pang learned it?"

Pang Yu did not gesture for him to sit, merely smiling as he said, "That is not important. Mr. Weili has come to China from tens of thousands of miles away, surely for matters of greater importance."

"As you say, we have come for trade." Weili paused, then added, "The Courtin United Association has obtained the King's authorization for trade with China. I can represent the King in negotiating matters of trade between our two nations."

"Then how are your trade negotiations proceeding in Guangzhou?"

Weili coughed once and said, "The officials in Guangzhou are unreasonable. They have no interest in trade whatsoever, so I spent two extra months traveling here to Anqing, to negotiate with Mr. Pang as Captain Weddell's plenipotentiary representative."

"The officials in Guangzhou are certainly interested in trade, but only in trade with the Portuguese. I trust Mr. Weili understands that Portugal and the Netherlands control all of China's trade goods and have no wish to see the English appear along the Chinese coast."

Pang Yu extended a hand after speaking. Weili understood, bowed, and sat down, saying, "That is indeed the case. Then what assistance can Mr. Pang offer us?"

"Within ten years, I can grant you the right to freely enter and leave coastal ports for trade, and protect the safety of your voyages. This official can also establish a company jointly with you to conduct maritime trade, distributing profits according to shares."

Weili fixed his eyes on Pang Yu. "But this place is far too distant from Guangzhou. How can Mr. Pang decide the port trade rights along the coast? Your ships are all on the river — how can you protect the safety of our voyages?"

"Because I possess the most powerful army on this land." As Pang Yu spoke, several cannon blasts sounded from the drill ground outside, followed by battle cries that shook the heavens.

Pang Yu looked at Weili with confidence. The ten years he mentioned was a rough estimate of his own. The only thing he could be certain of was that Li Inner City would take the Capital, and after the collapse of the Ming central regime, trade rights would be decided by new powers.

"This great river that flows past Anqing cuts across the land of China. Everything your trade requires lies upon this river — these are the goods you need, and I am about to control this most vital waterway." Pang Yu extended one hand. "Beyond the goods, there are the ports for trade. China's land is vast, and the ports are only a very small part of it. But the power to decide the ports comes from the land, not from the sea. Therefore, trade rights do not rest with the coastal officials, but with whoever controls the broader land."

Weili's eyes flickered. When he arrived, he had seen the army on the drill ground, and it was indeed entirely different from what he had witnessed at the Yanliang Shoe Fort in Guangzhou. Pang Yu's words carried a certain persuasive power. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Lord Pang means that when the time comes, neither the Portuguese nor the Dutch will be able to trade in the ports — only we will."

"That will depend on what assistance you can provide me." Pang Yu leaned back comfortably. "We are discussing business, and what we emphasize is fair dealing."

"But at present, Mr. Pang can give us nothing."

"If Mr. Weili only looks at what is before his eyes, he will encounter the same outcome as in Guangzhou."

Weili lowered his head in thought for a moment, then looked up at Pang Yu. "What kind of assistance does Mr. Pang need?"

"Cannons, ships, muskets, mercenaries — everything related to war." Pang Yu paused. "And of course, most importantly, money. Whether it is the Courtin United Association, the East India Company, or even your European banks, whoever provides me with this assistance will receive corresponding returns."

"From what we know, your country must deal with the Tartars in the north while also facing internal rebellion. And we do not yet understand Mr. Pang's army. How can we guarantee against the risk of investment?"

"If there were no risk, it would not be called investment. No business yields higher returns than war. As this official understands it, European banks provide loans to various states, enabling them to recruit armies far exceeding their fiscal capacity, and in the end, the banks reap bountiful rewards. I welcome Mr. Weili to stay in Anqing for a while longer, to carefully study my army, and to carefully study my enemies, so as to decide whether to invest. Of course, Mr. Weili could also return to Macau, seize the Portuguese fortress and make it your own, but that likewise carries enormous risk — you might even fail to return home." Pang Yu stood up. "On the eastern seas, the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the Spanish all arrived a step ahead of you. The pattern of interests is already set. If you wish to break this pattern, you must strike where they have been negligent. Ten years from now, you will know that this investment is the method with the smallest cost and the highest return — and it is your only choice."

……

In Susong County Town, Xiong Wencan's Minister banner fluttered outside the county yamen. Lord Xiong had been in office for a month and had finally decided to inspect the Anqing defenses, choosing Susong, the lock and key of Anqing, both because of its importance and because of the earlier Susong Great Victory, which held great symbolic significance.

The journey took two days. Upon reaching the county town, Lord Xiong needed half a day's rest and would only go to Chemah River the next day. Since there were no bandit alerts in the vicinity, Pang Yu arranged the yamen's defenses, then went to the West Gate to inspect the army's encampment.

The escort accompanying them this time was the Infantry Third Brigade Headquarters and the First Cavalry Division, which also served to demonstrate their strength to Lord Xiong. By now, the army had already set up camp. The Central Army raised several signal flags, releasing soldiers to go out, draw water, and feed the horses.

Pang Yu took a brief look at the camp gate. The soldiers moved in and out in good order, and he saw no one shouting or causing a disturbance, so he did not enter the camp for a detailed inspection.

"Lord Gou, let us walk a ways to the north."

Gou Tianqi, who was beside him, replied politely, "I could ask for nothing better."

Gou County Magistrate was here to supply rations and pay. With Xiong Wencan and Shi Kefa traveling together this time, Gou County Magistrate showed not the slightest equivocation, nor did he quibble over the custom that rations and pay could only be supplied one day after encampment. He promptly delivered two days' worth.

Pang Yu led his guard detachment north for a stretch. White smoke wreathed the ruins on either side of the Official Road, and scattered across the fields were people clad in rags. These were all captives taken during the Susong Campaign. They had initially been concentrated and detained around Erlang Town, but as time passed, all the nearby firewood had been gathered, and the grain supplies sometimes failed to arrive in time. As the weather grew colder and colder, some had dispersed toward the county town, sheltering from the cold among these ruins. Several large relief porridge stations had formed outside the county town.

Pang Yu looked around. Within his field of view were a dozen or so fresh graves, all presumably belonging to those refugees. Only one had a wooden tablet erected in front of it; the rest were solitary grave mounds. In the surrounding fields, people were swinging hoes. Pang Yu knew nothing of crops and had no idea what they were busying themselves with in the winter.

The two men stopped at one of the relief porridge stations. Two Garrison Inspector soldiers stood guard. Fires were burning beneath a dozen or so large cauldrons, and some refugees nearby were hauling dry grass. Around the porridge shed, quite a few elderly refugees were squatting or lying down, waiting to receive their porridge. When they saw the officials approaching, they rose one after another to avoid them.

The ones distributing the porridge were men from the Canal Gang. When they saw Pang Yu, they immediately came over and knelt in obeisance. When the refugees heard that this was a superior officer from the Garrison Commander's camp, they all dropped to their knees with a great rustle, shouting incessantly at the two men, "May the honored lords prosper for ten thousand generations!"

Pang Yu waved his hand out of habit and walked up to the nearest old man to help him up, putting on his common-touch manner. The filthy old man clutched Pang Yu's sleeve with both hands. "This old man is from Huguang, captured by the Roving Bandits. It is all thanks to the lord's daily porridge that my grandson has a path to live. It is all the lord's grace and virtue. Later, I will have him repay the lord's kindness."

As he spoke, tears streamed down his face. Guo Fengyou and the others nearby came over and pulled the old man away. When Pang Yu raised his head, all around him were refugees kneeling and kowtowing. Pang Yu cupped his hands toward these people and withdrew to the outside.

"Lord Gou, these refugees have already begun clearing wasteland and farming on their own. This land has only been abandoned for a short time. Let them settle down and put down roots, and in the future, they will be the common people of Susong. They will still be able to pay rations and pay to the county yamen."

Gou County Magistrate replied unhurriedly, "General Pang, you see clearly. For these strangers to settle down and put down roots is easier said than done. The land they are now opening is not ownerless land; it has merely been abandoned. Whether the original owners are still here or not, there will certainly be disputes among relatives and friends in the future. Not to mention that these people were previously Roving Bandits — the conflict between natives and outsiders will be even fiercer. Having over ten thousand of them here, even though the Garrison Commander's camp supplies the grain, leaves me utterly exhausted every day, no less burdened than the General."

Pang Yu knew that Gou Tianqi was a slippery eel who would not resolve things smoothly without suitable terms of exchange. He continued politely, "I also know that Lord Gou faces difficulties. The Circuit Intendant set the policy that day for each county to take in and support a share. If this drags on unresolved, the matter will ultimately fall on the two of us. My opinion is, can Susong take the lead in setting the number for its share first? Then Taihu, Qianshan, and Tongcheng can follow suit accordingly. Only in this way can we sooner hand off the duties that rest on you and me."

Gou Tianqi sighed. "So the General stopped the grain for the refugees a few days ago in order to settle the matter of dividing them up for support."

Pang Yu smiled but said nothing. Xiong Wencan would soon be leaving for Huguang, and he himself would have to follow. Before leaving, he needed to tie up these loose ends. A few days ago, he had halted the grain for the refugee porridge in Susong, and Gou Tianqi had immediately complained to Shi Kefa.

"The grain in this official's hands is meant to supply the officers and soldiers defending Anqing. If it is supplied here, the officers and soldiers will lack food and clothing."

Gou Tianqi said calmly, "But the Susong region is already ruined. Where can it support so many people?"

Pang Yu knew this matter could not be resolved without offering some benefit. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Since Susong is about to restart the city wall project, it happens to need labor. If you recruit locals to build the city, you must provide food and also cannot avoid paying force pay. But using these people, you only need to provide meals. Work relief for the people's benefit."

Gou Tianqi said impassively, "Restarting the city wall project is no easy matter either. Most of the silver for building the city is still in the Great River Silver Bank."

Pang Yu showed no embarrassment. "In the end, it is still Susong's silver, originally meant for building the city. Whenever Lord Gou wants it, it will be delivered."

Gou Tianqi's eyes shifted. In the past, this Pang Yu had firmly opposed building the city, using the Garrison Commander's camp's rescue as a bargaining chip to delay access to the city-building silver. Even Shi Kefa had been helpless. Now he had finally relented. In this struggle over the captives, the ever-victorious General Pang had been defeated.

"Lord Pang is compassionate toward the people. I will also do my utmost to start the city wall project as soon as possible. I will first draw half of the city-building silver; the rest will remain in the Great River Silver Bank at the original interest."

"Last time, I proposed slightly reducing the size of the city walls and instead building a fortress at Erlang Town. Can Lord Gou show some flexibility on this?"

Gou Tianqi shook his head repeatedly. "It is not that I am unwilling, but that I truly cannot. This city-building silver was donated by the gentry and people of the entire county, and it was explicitly stated to be for building the county town. It can only be used for the county town. If I take it to build a fortress at Erlang Town, I will be unable to give an account of myself when the time comes."

Pang Yu said in a low voice, "My opinion is that no matter where it is built, it is all for the defense of Susong. The Garrison Commander's camp will establish a fortified village at Erlang Town and send men to garrison it. You only need to build the fort walls. As long as Erlang Town does not fall, Susong will not be broken, and it will also protect the nearby villages. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone."

"Circuit Intendant Shi gave me an explicit order to complete the Susong County Town walls within two years, with no mention of other places. If General Pang wishes to build a fortress at Erlang Town, I have no objection. But this silver for building the city can only be used on the county town. If you wish to build elsewhere, the General must first reach an agreement with Circuit Intendant Shi. Only then can I proceed with the matter."

A wave of irritation surged in Pang Yu's heart, but he did not know what to say. After the Susong campaign, Gou Tianqi had agreed to establish a fort at Erlang Town, but who would build it had never been settled. He was not going to go to Xiong Wencan over a mere stockade wall, nor did he want to seek out Shi Kefa again, because Circuit Intendant Shi would most likely still tell him to discuss it with Gou Tianqi on his own, and in the end, nothing would come of it.

Not wanting to waste any more time with this companycratic oil-slick, he said to him directly, "Then let us set aside Erlang Town for now. Regarding these ten thousand-plus people before us, Lord Gou wants to start the city wall project — how many refugees will you take in and support?"

"Two thousand men for two years."

"Two thousand won't do. Four thousand, no set term."

No sooner had he spoken than Gou Tianqi was shaking his head again. Pang Yu said with a Cold Expression, "Then keep all fourteen thousand, Sir Gou. Tomorrow this official will cut off the grain supply, and we'll see who they come begging for congee."

Gou Tianqi's face shifted slightly. He turned back with an ingratiating smile. "It is also that this county is truly barren and its people poor. If I were to agree to General Pang's four thousand, then the Local Militia's annual three thousand taels in Rations and Pay…"

"If the Rations and Pay for the Local Militia are to be provided by this official, then you will also refrain from meddling in the Local Militia's orders."

"This humble official will absolutely not meddle."

Pang Yu nodded. This Gou Tianqi was slippery as an eel. He had to nail things down here before he could negotiate with the other counties. "Tomorrow, once Yang Zhuoran and the others arrive, this official will raise the matter before Circuit Intendant Shi. At that time, I will also ask Sir Gou to help bring about this shared-support arrangement."

"This humble official will certainly do his utmost to assist." Gou Tianqi cupped his hands politely and, taking his attendants, returned inside the city.

Behind him, He County Yamen drew close to Pang Yu. Pang Yu let out a long breath. "Tomorrow, as long as Gou Tianqi nods, and we get Zhu Jiaxiang to chime in, Yang Erming won't oppose it, and Yang Zhuoran will be hard-pressed to stand alone. Then this shared-support matter will be settled."

He County Yamen watched Gou Tianqi's Departure and shook his head. "My lord, at Susong you routed dozens of Ying of Roving Bandits and sent them fleeing in disarray, yet you can do nothing about this county magistrate hiding out on the lake."

"These civil officials are far harder to deal with than the Eight Brigands. Before I go with Lord Xiong on the Bandit Suppression campaign, I must first settle these matters." Pang Yu laughed ruefully. "Compared to Gou Tianqi and his sort, I'd much rather deal with people like Lord Xiong and Weili."

He County Yamen knew what Pang Yu was alluding to — it actually also included superiors like Shi Kefa and Zhang Guowei, who were equally difficult to deal with. He did not say so outright, but picked up the thread and continued, "Lord Xiong's garrison has been confirmed for Xiangyang. I heard from that Advisor that the Minister of War is pressing urgently for Lord Xiong to take up his post as soon as possible, and that starting from the twelfth month, a deadline will be set to exterminate the bandits."

"Has Lord Xiong formulated any defense or suppression strategy? We should prepare early."

"It seems he intends to offer Pacification. He has already sent men to Huguang, asking Yu Yinggui to find someone to make contact with the Eight Brigands. My lord, tell me — the Eight Brigands have committed every evil deed imaginable. If they can still be pacified and walk away safe, wouldn't that betray the countless common folk who have died?"

Pang Yu smiled with confidence and shook his head. "Lord Xiong's Pacification is merely a stratagem to divide them. Empty talk of Pacification like this — the Eight Brigands are certain not to trust him. Most importantly, the Emperor and the Minister of War have decreed the Ten-Sided Net and the dedicated Bandit Suppression Pay precisely to wipe out the bandits. Having set up such a grand posture, having put in such enormous effort — can the Eight Brigands really gain safety just by saying the word Surrender? Where under heaven is there such a bargain? Do the Eight Brigands think the Emperor is so easily fooled? You may rest assured — this Pacification will absolutely never succeed."