Chapter 416: Tile-Roofed House

"Wu Jiazi of the Third Banner Second Squad and Feng Shu of the Fourth Banner Tenth Squad got into a fight. The root cause is that Wu Jiazi's newly raised ducks ate the field snails in Feng Shu's field. Feng Shu said he should get a duck leg as compensation. Wu Jiazi refused, and so they started fighting. Wu Jiazi got his head bashed open. Since they belong to different Banner Chiefs, we still need the Fort Chief to pass judgment."

Inside Qianshan No. 2 Dun Fort, Vice Fort Chief Jiang Guan was reporting on work to the Fort Chief. Fort Chief Tan Laizi reclined on a deck chair, rocking comfortably. After a year of labor by these captives, the fort had greatly changed. Over nine hundred people lived clustered by banner, erecting various temporary structures on the sites of previously destroyed villages. The more industrious ones had already begun building houses.

The fort lacked everything except labor, and to Tan Laizi's surprise, these dun households contained all sorts of people—not just farmers, but also cooks, house builders, lacquerware makers, and those who had done business. Talent could be found for every daily need.

Because of this talent, Tan Laizi's public house had become a brick-and-tile building. The neighboring instructor's public house was only half the size of his. Tan Laizi was a local emperor here, a world apart from his former life at the brokerage. But the matters he had to handle daily also grew more numerous. Fortunately, Jiang Guan was diligent, so Tan Laizi managed to cope.

He fished out a few soybeans and popped them into his mouth. After crunching on them for a moment, Tan Laizi said, "Hmm, since the field snails belonged to Feng Shu's family, if Wu Jiazi's ducks hadn't eaten them, Feng Shu could have gathered and eaten them himself. Snail meat is still meat. Since Wu Jiazi ate the Feng family's meat, sharing some duck meat with Feng Shu is only right."

Jiang Guan said quietly, "Sir Tan, that Wu Jiazi is the best at raising ducks. Last time the Household Office came for performance evaluations, the ducks used to entertain the clerk and the scribe came from his household. And many of the chickens and ducks you eat daily, sir, are also tributes from this Wu Jiazi."

Tan Laizi gulped and swallowed the remaining soybeans in his mouth. "In that case, it shows this Wu Jiazi understands reason. Since he understands reason, it goes without saying that Feng Shu is in the wrong. There's no name written on the field snails—what proof does Feng Shu have that they're his? To catch a thief you need the stolen goods, and he never caught the duck in the act. Without evidence or proof, and moreover, this Feng Shu didn't first report to his Banner Chief but went privately to demand things from someone. What do you call that? Extortion!"

"The Fort Chief is wise. So how should this be judged?"

"Feng Shu is undoubtedly guilty of extortion, and Wu Jiazi got his head bashed open. Let Wu Jiazi bash Feng Shu's head open as well. That way both sides are even, and no more brawling is permitted. However, since that duck has gotten into the habit of going out to eat other people's field snails, it will likely do so again. Constant bickering is no good. Tell Wu Jiazi he must properly educate that duck and make sure it understands clearly."

"Your judgment is fair, sir. This humble one is in awe." Jiang Guan flipped through the ledger in his hand. "Here is another fight. Guo Tangyuan of the First Banner Tenth Squad had his chicken lay an egg outside the shack of Yang Bi of the Second Banner Second Squad. The Yang family picked it up and ate it but refuses to compensate. So Guo Tangyuan dug up their field ridge, draining half the water. Since they belong to different Banner Chiefs, we also request the Fort Chief's judgment."

"Has this Guo Tangyuan ever offered tribute chickens?"

"This Guo Tangyuan only raises laying hens. It seems he has never offered tribute chickens... nor eggs."

Tan Laizi pondered for a moment. "Oh, so he doesn't understand reason. In that case, he is in the wrong. A chicken laying eggs wherever it pleases is already wrong—how could he then go and dig up someone's field ridge? Can a field ridge be dug up casually? A family's entire yearly livelihood depends on that field. Order Guo Tangyuan to repair the ridge and replenish the water in the field. If he cannot replenish it fully, then Yang Bi may dig up Guo's field ridge until the water levels on both sides are equal. That way both sides are even. But Lord Pang once said that when managing affairs, one must manage from the root. If the root cause is not removed, the matters will never be finished. So we must find this root."

Tan Laizi stood up. Mimicking the bearing of those Boat Dock Masters he had seen before, he furrowed his brow, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced two circles inside the public house. Every time he passed in front of Jiang Guan, Jiang Guan would respectfully bow his head and stoop, which filled Tan Laizi with considerable self-satisfaction.

After a moment, Fort Chief Tan stopped and said to Jiang Guan with certainty, "The root cause of this case is... that the chicken can walk."

Jiang Guan replied without the slightest hesitation, "Sir is correct."

"It doesn't understand reason. Going around laying eggs everywhere like this—today at the Yang house, tomorrow at the Zhang house, the day after perhaps at the Wang house—will inevitably cause entanglements throughout the fort. It will surely corrupt public morals. Most improper. I, Tan Ye, have pondered this repeatedly." Tan Laizi hesitated for a moment, as if handling an extremely complex major case. After a while, he finally said, "That troublesome chicken would be safest placed here with me. That way, many disputes among the dun households will be reduced."

"Sir sympathizes with the common people. This humble one is in awe. The next dispute in the fort is a mass brawl between the Fifth Banner and the Fourth Banner. It concerns a dilapidated brick house between the two banners. Both sides are building brick houses for their Banner Commanders and fought over those bricks."

"How can a few hundred people have so many issues? What are Banner Commanders doing building brick houses? The newly arrived scribe is still living in a mud-brick house... What was that scribe's name again?"

"Xu Youyuan. They say he was originally a Clerk Officer assigned to some company in the cavalry. On the Huguang road, he was always falling ill and couldn't keep up with the unit. His work was ineffective, and his performance evaluation at the Document Team was poor. This time upon returning, he was dispatched here to the fort."

"This isn't called being dispatched. Coming to our fort is a promotion. Let's get back to those bricks. Since that dilapidated brick house lies between the Fifth and Fourth Banners, it belongs to neither. It belongs to the fort. What do they have to fight over?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Guan immediately said, "The root lies in those bricks. To avoid conflict between the two banners, it would be safest to move them here to you, sir. Coincidentally, your residence has yet to be built, and living permanently in the Direct Office is not proper. The Fort Chief will surely be promoted in the future, and the wife you marry will certainly be a daughter of a distinguished family. Your residence absolutely cannot be done carelessly."

"Vice Fort Chief Jiang's skill in speaking and handling affairs is indeed higher than the other Banner Commanders. Speaking of which, living in this place is inherently improper, with people coming and going, right? You just said it yourself—what will happen when this Fort Chief marries? Will my wife live right here in this public house? Once this tile-roofed house is built, this official plans to bring my mother to stay for a while and properly show her filial respect." Tan Laizi returned to his deck chair, his face full of longing. After a moment, he added, "I'll bring my father too. If my elder brother wants to come visit, that's also fine. And those colleagues from the Canal Gang will come too. If we don't even have a brick-and-tile house, people will say our No. 2 Dun Fort is shabby."

"The Fort Chief's residence absolutely cannot be shabby. This humble one will ensure those dun households build it meticulously. The walls must be brick, topped with grey tiles, and an outer courtyard wall is also necessary."

Tan Laizi laughed heartily for a good while. When he stopped, he looked at Jiang Guan again. "You were the most suitable choice for this Vice Fort Chief position. Are there no other disputes in the fort?"

"These are the only disputes in the fort. The next matter is still the land distribution. The Household Office says all fields must be distributed to each household this year. It is Lord Pang's order—it must be completed before year's end. Excluding what has already been distributed, our fort still has over four thousand mu of fields. Of those four thousand-plus mu, there are still one thousand three hundred mu of upper fields, one thousand nine hundred mu of middle fields, and three hundred seventy mu of fish fields. The rest are all lower fields, and those lower fields are all concentrated in a few locations. If we distribute by household, some households will get only lower fields. If we mix them during distribution, the plots will be too scattered and difficult to farm. We still need the Fort Chief to provide a framework."

Tan Laizi knew nothing about farming, but he did know the different types of fields. After thinking, he said, "When this Fort Chief worked at the brokerage, I knew one thing: those who understand rice and beans sell more when they work at the rice and bean brokerage. Those who understand bamboo and timber can't sell lacquerware. And those who sell people are even worse at selling bamboo and timber. You have to see what they're good at. Dun households that know how to raise fish should be given fish fields. If they want ten mu of fish fields, let them have it."

"But then when it's time to pay the grain tax, they'll have no rice or beans to hand over..."

"Those dun households who want to eat fish will naturally trade grain with him. If he has too much fish, he'll need to find a place to sell it. And there are plenty of outsiders who want to come collect rice and beans and sell general goods. We'll find a spot inside the fort to build a market and collect brokerage fees from all of them." Tan Laizi grew excited for a moment and stood up, pacing around. "I, Tan Ye, used to manage buying and selling at the brokerage. Go ask around all of Anqing—who dares to provoke Tan the Broker at Sheng-Tang Crossing? Lord Pang also heard of my reputation and insisted I join the Canal Gang, saying it was the only way to gain a foothold at Sheng-Tang Crossing. I, Tan Ye, thought I'd help if I could. Later, when the Roving Bandits came and Lord Pang needed scouts in Hezhou, no one in the Canal Gang dared to go. I, Tan Ye, said I wasn't afraid—if my head falls, it's just a bowl-sized scar. So I went and performed great merit, saving countless lives. That's why Lord Pang put me in charge of this fort. He knew my ability. Once the market is built, we'll do the trading for No. 1 Dun Fort too. Remember this... the brokerage fees do not go to the Household Office."

Jiang Guan froze for a moment before finally reacting. "This humble one understands. When the time comes, it will all belong to you, sir."

Tan Laizi coughed once. "Can't quite put it that way. As long as you understand. Don't agree to any outsiders wanting to trade rice and beans just yet. See which family offers suitable terms, then we'll let them come. That grain shop from the Prefectural City last time—they understood reason well enough. But how come the Shopkeeper is a Beidi man?"

Jiang Guan lowered his head and said, "The shop master is from Anqing."

Tan Laizi thought for a moment and said, "That's acceptable then. Let him come do some trading first. You go handle the land distribution. Those who understand reason get more upper fields. Make it clear to those Banner Chiefs—don't just focus on building your own houses. I, the Fort Chief, don't even have a residence. Now that it's cold and there's no farm work, send more people to build the fort's residences. Those households that contribute more labor are the ones who understand reason. They'll get more upper fields, and first use of the plow oxen and heavy plows."

"This humble one has noted it down."

Jiang Guan crouched down to finish his notes. Tan Laizi propped up his feet and tilted his head back to look at the grey tiles overhead, savoring the exquisite taste of a Fort Chief's authority. After last year's Battle of Chemah, the Roving Bandits had yet to enter Anqing territory. At most, a small band would raid along the mountainous areas and flee immediately—mere petty thievery compared to before. This year, Qianshan raised a Local Militia force, also under the Anqing Battalion's command. Some days ago, Tianning Fortress added several hundred more men, called some kind of Mountain Troops. The Native Folk who used to cause trouble in the surrounding areas no longer came. He, the Fort Chief, had far fewer worries. Seeing the fort beginning to take shape, the quality of his life as Fort Chief was slowly improving. Next year, when the land was distributed and grain taxes collected, there would be even more profit to skim.

Just as he was immersed in visions of the future, the sound of horse hooves suddenly came from outside. Jiang Guan ran to the doorway to look. It was two Relay Horses from the Anqing Cavalry Camp. The lead rider reached the door and dismounted.

"Fort Chief and Instructor of Qianshan No. 2 Dun Fort, receive your orders!"

Tan Laizi hurried outside. Seeing the Instructor already waiting, he quickly said to the relay rider, "Tan... this humble one is the Fort Chief."

The relay rider offered no pleasantries and said to him directly, "The Advisor-Strategist Command Token and order token are here. You are ordered to assemble your fort's logistics squad according to the contingency plan. By noon on the fifth day of the tenth month, deliver ox and horse carriages, forage, and rice and beans according to the ledger to the Bronze Standard Battalion Camp at Tongcheng County Seat. You must arrive by the deadline. Violators will be executed."

Tan Laizi shuddered all over when he heard "violators will be executed." He had never received such an order in all his time as Fort Chief. "This... this humble officer will certainly, certainly deliver it."

The relay rider handed over the command token and order token. Tan Laizi took them in a daze. The relay rider turned his horse and left, disappearing in a cloud of dust toward Taihu.

Jiang Guan took the order token and examined it for a moment. He looked up and said to Tan Laizi, "Fort Chief, the Tartars have invaded. The Anqing Cavalry Camp is preparing for rally to the king. They are to assemble at Tongcheng and form up to await orders."

"Tartars!" Tan Laizi's lips trembled uncontrollably. The Tartars had risen in Liaodong and were absolutely notorious for their ferocity. He had heard of them back at Sheng-Tang Crossing, a place with good information, but after all, they were thousands of li away. Tan Laizi had never imagined he would one day have to fight the Tartars.

He hurriedly said to Jiang Guan, "This business of fighting—doesn't it say to let the Instructor lead the men? Look carefully. If it doesn't specify who is to lead the men, then let the Instructor go."

In his urgency, Tan Laizi completely failed to notice the Instructor standing right beside him. That Instructor was a squad leader wounded in the Battle of Chemah. Upon hearing this, he glared at Tan Laizi with a dark expression.

"Orders the Instructor to remain behind on garrison duty. The Fort Chief is to personally lead the logistics squad..."

Jiang Guan finished speaking, looked up, and gaped at Tan Laizi. Tan Laizi collapsed to the ground in a sitting position. The Instructor let out two loud laughs and cursed, "The trash who got chased into the river by a woman."

With that, he returned to his own public house. Tan Laizi sat on the ground for a while, then turned his head and slowly looked up at the waiting Jiang Guan. "This Fort Chief is going to fight the Tartars. While I'm gone, you make sure you build that tile-roofed house of mine properly. I'm not dying—I'm coming back to live in it."

At the Cavalry Battalion Commander headquarters in Shipai Town, Anqing, the sound of bugles summoning the General Officers echoed throughout the camp. Heralds on relay horses shuttled back and forth. The Stable Office, Forage Office, and other areas were packed with carts and carriages. Civilian laborers were loading rice and beans onto them.

Yang Guangdi hurried past the west end of the market town and arrived at a cluster of houses not far from Matang Lake. Construction was underway everywhere here. Most were brick-and-tile houses, but some previously built mud-brick houses were still mixed in.

After last year's Battle of Chemah, the army had distributed combat rewards. The soldiers had savings, and those with families all began building houses. Brick and tile prices in Anqing had soared, and construction craftsmen were in severe shortage. The cavalry's base monthly pay was one tael higher than the infantry's, so Shipai attracted those craftsmen even more, but supply still could not meet demand.

Yang Guangdi had been a mere civilian laborer during the Battle of Chemah. Returning from Huguang, he had at least managed to save a bit of monthly pay. Only then did he start looking for craftsmen, but for a time, he simply couldn't find any. It wasn't until mid-September that he finally found a foreman, who said he would finish several other houses in November and then build the Yang family's house next. Yang Guangdi had paid for the bricks and tiles, but they hadn't even been delivered yet.

Arriving in front of a thatched hut, Yang Guangdi's mother was already at the door, peering out anxiously.

"Mother, I have to go out again. Our Scout Cavalry Squad is leaving immediately. I just came back to tell you."

His mother's eyes were red. Her lips quivered twice as she handed over a large cloth bundle. "With gongs and drums beating everywhere, Mother knew you would be leaving. These are for you to eat on the road. If your superior wants some, give him some too. Don't let him hold a grudge against you."

"Mother, what are you saying? My Banner Commander doesn't like eating fish. He thinks highly of me. This time we're going to fight the Tartars. I missed the last one at Chemah, but this time I'm definitely bringing back a combat reward."

"Where do these Tartars come from? Are they another bunch of Roving Bandits?" His mother's face was full of worry. "Those Roving Bandits are all just miserable souls too. We've stayed among them ourselves. Don't mistreat them, with all this shouting about killing."

"I never stayed among the Roving Bandits!" Yang Guangdi said loudly. "We were coerced by them! I want to kill every last Roving Bandit! And besides, the Tartars are Tartars—even more deserving of death."

His mother sighed. "Don't try to be a hero in battle. You're Mother's only hope now. Let others charge ahead. We'll just follow behind, that's enough."

Yang Guangdi grunted twice, took the cloth bundle and found it a bit heavy. He set it on the ground and opened it to look inside — there was still white flour. He quickly lifted that packet out.

His mother immediately tried to pack it back in. Yang Guangdi said impatiently, "Mother, we are mounted scouts. The things we bring ourselves can't exceed two catties. I'll just take these little oil-fried fish."

"Other people all bring five or six catties. How come this army shortchanges you so much?"

A roll of drums came from the direction of the camp — the signal to muster the troops. Yang Guangdi had no time to explain. He hurriedly wrapped the bundle back up and ran swiftly toward the camp, turning his head back to shout at his mother, "Mother, wait till I kill some Tartars and come back with a reward — our family will build a couple more tile-roofed rooms, so you can live a bit better!"

Watching Yang Guangdi disappear at the intersection, the distant drums sounding wave after wave, his mother slumped weakly against the wooden door of the mud-brick house.