Chapter 530: VIP

On the eastern bank of Zhangjiawan in Tongzhou, a squad of riders in short coats of various colors halted at the dock. Pang Yu reined in his horse with practiced ease; beside him, a pockmarked face urged his mount closer and said in a low voice, "Sir, this is the place we agreed on."

Pang Yu nodded and immediately dismounted. The riders around him all got off their horses and set up a security perimeter around the dock.

At present, the Liao Garrison had withdrawn beyond Shanhai Pass, and the various "Rally to the King" armies from different regions were stranded in Ji Garrison. Ji Garrison's grain reserves were insufficient, so out of logistical supply concerns, some military units were transferred to Tongzhou — among them the Anqing Battalion.

After the border incursion campaign ended, the soldiers from the various garrisons, freed from the fear of dying in battle, began plundering and causing trouble everywhere again. If they only stole a bit of food, they'd be considered civilized. The Ministry of War naturally knew the character of the garrison armies and, fearing these soldiers would disrupt the Grand Canal's recovery, had arranged their encampments away from Zhangjiawan.

So Pang Yu's guard detail all had to wear civilian clothes to avoid drawing attention.

Zhang Mazi raised his telescope and looked toward the opposite dock. Over a dozen boats were moored on the river there, but none had come ashore. People on the decks were peering this way, shouting to alert the others. Clearly these boatmen also knew the area was still unsafe and were all on guard against the soldiers on the bank.

Zhangjiawan was the passenger terminal on the Grand Canal; ordinary cargo ships also docked here. Only official tribute grain could continue by water into the Capital. As the passenger and cargo terminus on the canal, it had always been an exceptionally prosperous place and especially attractive to bandits. In the first year of the Chongzhen reign, when the Later Jin first invaded the border, Zhangjiawan was looted once, and years of prosperity vanished like smoke.

Over the years, with the canal's constant replenishment, Zhangjiawan had gradually recovered. But then the Later Jin army, now renamed the Qing army, came again. The Left Wing Army that entered through Qingshan Pass headed straight for Tongzhou and camped in the surrounding area for over ten days. The Tongzhou Regional Commander was Liu Zeqing; he could only hold the city and had no means to worry about the places outside the walls. Zhangjiawan suffered another calamity.

On the eastern dock, only a few scattered boats were moored, likewise not daring to come ashore. When the people on deck saw Pang Yu's group, they all pushed off with their punt poles to get away. Pang Yu walked down a few steps alone and tried to speak with the boatmen. Seeing that Pang Yu was refined, some of them answered him a few words. They all said they had come from Tianjin, and not a single boat was from the south. It looked like the Grand Canal would need at least two more months to resume operations. One could see that the resources the Qing army seized during their invasion were only a tiny fraction; the destruction they wrought on the north was all-encompassing.

Pang Yu made a circuit along the eastern bank of Zhangjiawan. The doors and windows of the shopfronts he saw along the street were almost all empty, only brick and tile remaining. The thatched roofs were also basically bare. Pang Yu, having followed behind the Qing army, had seen this kind of scene many times. When the Qing army invaded the border, they numbered tens of thousands. When these troops concentrated in one place, the amount of fuel they needed was staggering. All kinds of wood and dry grass were fuel. The Qing army camped near Tongzhou for over ten days; surely everything that could be burned had been looted. If the Ming army followed behind, it would be scraped clean all over again. After two such passes, even the rats would starve to death.

Under such circumstances, naturally no shops were open. Most of the figures moving through the streets and alleys were soldiers from the various battalions. When these men saw Pang Yu's party, though they did not know who they were, they could tell from their movements that they were Household Retainers — and quite a few of them at that. The soldiers steered clear on their own.

"Sir, that grain transport ship with the blue flag — that's the one."

Pang Yu looked toward the opposite bank. A grain transport ship flying a blue flag on the river was moving toward the eastern bank. On the deck, besides the boatmen, there was only one man dressed like a scholar.

As it neared the shore, that scholar shouted a couple of words toward Zhang Mazi. Only after the two confirmed each other's identity did the boat come ashore.

A gangplank was extended from the boat. Zhang Mazi went aboard first, entered the cabin with the scholar for a moment, then came out and nodded toward the shore.

Pang Yu, bringing Pang Ding, crossed the gangplank. Zhang Mazi stood at the cabin entrance and pulled aside the curtain over the cabin door.

A man of thin build sat composedly inside the cabin. He wore a red padded jacket, with a sachet and a dragon-pattern white jade pendant hanging from his belt. His face was clean-shaven but covered with a layer of powder and rouge. The lines of his eyebrows were clear, delicate, and beautiful — obviously drawn on. His cheeks even had blush. If not for the scholar's cap on his head, he would have been utterly indistinguishable from a woman of peerless beauty. In a later era, he would be a super-pretty flower boy.

Pang Yu gave a light cough and said respectfully, "Latecomer Student Pang Yu pays his respects to Old Sir Feng."

The man in the cabin laughed softly, then came over smiling and lifted Pang Yu's arm. When he spoke, his tone was also very gentle. "Before coming, I heard Laizhi mention you. General Pang is an Guozijian Student who cast aside the brush to take up arms — a young talent of rare excellence, like Wei Qing or Huo Qubing. But seeing you in person, I still cannot help but marvel. Who would have thought that General Pang, who swept through the Roving Bandits and slew the Eastern Invaders' grand commander in battle, would still be such a handsome young scholar."

Pang Yu repeatedly protested that he dared not accept such praise. He blinked and looked carefully. The flower boy before him was Feng Quan, the notorious Eunuch Faction grandee of Ming political circles. Although his name had been listed in the Reverse Case for years, his influence in politics had not waned because of it. On the contrary, last year, because he had assisted Qian Qianyi in overturning his fortunes, he had become even more prominent.

But his disadvantage was still the Reverse Case. Not only could he never truly engage in politics, his reputation was also quite poor. Although many people sought his help, they all had to act in secret. Including Pang Yu coming today — he dared not meet in Tongzhou and had specially arranged it at Zhangjiawan, boarding the boat from different spots on the two banks. This way, someone following from only one side could not know whom he was meeting. Even a single meeting took an exhausting amount of effort.

The Dark Sentinel Division had sent over materials before, so Pang Yu had some mental preparation for Feng Quan's style. But when he first saw him just now, he still felt this person was even more beautiful than a great beauty. Now, up close, he could also smell a rich fragrance of flower pollen. He couldn't help looking carefully. Just then, the light from the window slanted in from the side. In the interplay of light and shadow, the lines of Feng Quan's face were soft and distinct, making his brows and eyes look even more like a painting. He seemed even more handsome than a Handsome Youth.

But on closer inspection, probably due to his age, although Feng Quan had put on makeup and powder, one could still see the looseness of his skin. Pang Yu's own assessment: Feng Quan's facial appeal was high, but time still defeated beauty. Compared to his own — a Handsome Youth's — facial appeal, he was still slightly, just a tiny bit, inferior. Having clarified this point, Pang Yu let out a huge sigh of relief.

This Eunuch Faction grandee had always maintained very close relations with the eunuch officials in the palace. Even after being listed in the Reverse Case, those ties had never been severed — and they were all with the major eunuchs. He was particularly favored in the palace. His way of handling people and affairs was the main factor, but this personal style of his perhaps held a unique appeal for eunuchs as well. Being branded a member of the Eunuch Faction was actually well-deserved; at the very least, he was more authentic than Ruan Dacheng.

Because Feng Quan currently held no official post but had the status of a Presented Scholar, Pang Yu, as an Guozijian Student, could call himself "Latecomer Student" or "Disciple Awaiting Instruction," treating Feng Quan as a teacher's generation. Addressing him as "Old Sir" was because Feng Quan had once been a Grand Secretary. "Old Sir" could carry a double meaning. From Feng Quan's words just now, one could tell that his first impression of Pang Yu was quite good.

"I dare not accept Old Sir's praise. It was all thanks to the Emperor's great fortune and protection, and the Central Hub's masterful planning. Any Camp Head could have achieved great merit in my place. This latecomer merely caught a bit of Fortune, and only with Old Sir Feng and Laizhi's painstaking efforts did I luckily obtain this Strike General Merit. This latecomer engraves it in my heart."

Feng Quan laughed heartily twice and gestured for Pang Yu to sit. A servant brought over something resembling a basket, removed the thick cloth covering it to reveal an exquisite food box lid, and opened the lid to expose the delicate pastries inside, still steaming hot.

After having witnessed Ruan Dacheng's assets, Pang Yu was not the least bit surprised by the extravagance of these Eunuch Faction tycoons. Ruan Dacheng, just working as a fixer in Nanjing, was already that wealthy. Feng Quan's connections in the palace were deep-rooted. Among Capital Officials who wanted to hook into the Twenty-Four Yamen, many ultimately ended up seeking Feng Quan's patronage. His per-transaction value and business volume were several times higher than Ruan Dacheng's.

"General Pang, you must not be overly modest. The Eastern Invaders are vicious, cruel, and tyrannical. A few months ago, I went to Zhending Prefecture to pay respects to Governor-General Lu. The misery I saw along the way was truly unbearable to hear of. The chief villain was the invading Bandit Slave chieftain Yoto. Hearing that the General slew him in battle, I could not sleep day or night. Today, on behalf of the thousands upon thousands of suffering common folk, I must thank the General for his lofty righteousness."

Feng Quan solemnly bowed to Pang Yu with clasped hands. Pang Yu hurriedly moved aside to evade it. After the two had finished flattering each other and exchanged another round of courtesies, they finally took their seats as host and guest.

Just now, Feng Quan had deliberately or otherwise mentioned Lu Xiangsheng. After the scholar served tea, Pang Yu said to Feng Quan, "Sir mentioned just now that you also went to Zhending to pay respects to Lu Doutang. This latecomer once fought shoulder to shoulder with Doutang against the Roving Bandits at Chuzhou. Although we met only once, it was like being close friends for many years. I never imagined that one parting would separate us by heaven."

Feng Quan sighed and turned his head to glance out the window. "At that time, his Advisor Xu Deshi fell ill at Zhuozhou. Because I had previously led the gentry and commoners in donating military provisions, we had become acquainted, so he sought refuge in my residence. That was how I learned that Jiandou had died for the country and his body lay in state at Zhending Prefecture. I immediately rushed there to pay my respects. At that time, his remains were placed at the eastern gate of the prefectural city. The Pacification Commissioner and the Regional Inspector of Zhending were both present, yet they all said they could not confirm whether it was Jiandou. Because his identity was not verified, the body could never be properly encoffined..." (Note 1)

At this point, Feng Quan shook his head and fell silent. According to the time he mentioned, it was probably around the twentieth-something of the twelfth month. The Qing army had swept eastward across Shandong with its entire force. Pang Yu was besieged at Tongcheng Post. The Ministry of War was overwhelmed. The Emperor was brimming with fury toward Lu Xiangsheng. In the court, surely no one was willing to bother with this matter. Zhang Qiping and the Regional Inspector, unsure how the court would ultimately characterize Lu Xiangsheng, delayed confirming his death in battle to avoid drawing fire onto themselves. Thus, the body could not be encoffined.

During his time in Tongzhou, the Ministry of War's dispatch officers had been questioning the various battalions about the merits and faults of each military operation. Pang Yu had also learned some information and gained a comprehensive understanding of the situation at that time. He knew Lu Xiangsheng's predicament, but truly hearing it from Feng Quan, a firsthand witness, still felt somewhat bleak.

"Afterward, I went to Gaoyang to pay respects to Sun Gebu. To speak of it, when I first entered the Hanlin Academy, I became acquainted with Sun Gebu. I never imagined our final meeting would be like this."

Feng Quan's tone was desolate. Since entering Shandong last year, most of the regions Pang Yu had passed through had been ravaged by the Qing army. The scenes of misery he had witnessed were far more numerous than what Feng Quan had seen. Recently, the local gentry he encountered in Tongzhou all had relatives or friends who had perished in the invasion. A dispirited atmosphere pervaded society.

In just these two short passages, Pang Yu's impression of Feng Quan immediately became three-dimensional. It seemed Feng Quan was a man of considerable honor and deeply attached to old ties. Pang Yu did not know if this was an image Feng Quan had constructed, but it did not appear particularly forced.

"This time, with the two Supreme Commanders, Sun Gebu, and so many other ministers dying for the country, the common people of Zhili who perished are countless. In the capital, nearly every household has relatives or friends among them — and even more so in the palace."

Hearing this, Pang Yu knew Feng Quan was steering toward the main topic. He quickly gathered his focus and said to Feng Quan with concern, "The various esteemed gentlemen bear heavy responsibilities and cannot leave the capital to search for relatives and friends. At the time, they were terrified yet powerless. Now, having received the news, one can imagine their state of mind."

Feng Quan sighed. "The Roving Bandits have rebelled again in Huguang. The entire Central Plains region is once more in turmoil. The Capital was originally said to be a place of supreme safety, but the Jurchen Slaves have ravaged it repeatedly. Most of the esteemed gentlemen in the city hail from Hejian, Baoding, Zhending, and other places. This time, over fifty cities were breached. The entire north is unstable. What worries the various esteemed gentlemen is that, after years of modest savings, they also want a safe Destination."

"This latecomer has already made preparations. Previously, I mentioned the Great River Silver Bank to Old Sir. It was originally supposed to open in the Capital at the start of the year, but when the Jurchen Slaves came, everything fell into chaos — not a suitable time. But since the esteemed gentlemen have this worry, it will definitely open in the fifth month."

"Can General Pang now set the interest rate?"

"The interest on deposits is uniformly five percent. For all those who deposit silver through Old Sir, for amounts over ten thousand taels with a three-year Silver Note, Old Sir will receive two hundred taels per ten thousand as a token of regard. For five-year notes, three hundred taels. Whether you prefer cash or a Silver Note is entirely up to you, Sir."

Feng Quan listened attentively, his expression very calm, showing no particular reaction to the figures Pang Yu mentioned. In reality, Pang Yu was talking about a very large sum of money. His gut feeling was that Feng Quan was even wealthier than Ruan Dacheng.

"Previously, someone in Nanjing said that rates as high as fifteen percent had been offered. Why has it become five percent when it comes to the Capital?"

"Silver in Nanjing is deposited in Nanjing and withdrawn in Nanjing. The Capital Officials' silver, however, is deposited in the Capital and withdrawn elsewhere because they worry about the north's instability. I must bear the risk of loss en route, deploy corresponding personnel to escort it, and use our own boats. These are all costs." Pang Yu paused, then continued, "Besides the interest, my Silver Bank has another advantage. For all those who deposit ten thousand taels or more, we provide VIP Service."

Feng Quan looked baffled. "What VIP Service?"

"For VIPs who deposit over ten thousand taels, should anything happen in the Capital, my Silver Bank will reserve boat seats for them in Tianjin to travel south. For those who deposit over fifty thousand taels, I will take responsibility for escorting them from the Capital to Tianjin to board the ships, traveling by sea to Jiangnan to disembark, and arranging for them to settle securely." Pang Yu looked at Feng Quan. "For VIPs who deposit over one hundred thousand taels, their relatives and friends will also be received by my subordinates. Whether they are in Baoding, Zhending, Hejian, or Daming, whether by land or sea, my subordinates will take responsibility for escorting them to Jiangnan and guaranteeing they can withdraw their silver and establish themselves there. As long as they have deposits, I guarantee their safety. In chaotic times, the greatest need is safety. This is my Silver Bank's VIP Service — and it also comes at a cost."

Note 1: According to Xu Deshi's records, he injured his leg passing through Zhuozhou and stayed at Feng Quan's home to recover, bringing news of Lu Xiangsheng's death in battle. Feng Quan subsequently traveled south on the twenty-first day of the twelfth month to Zhending Prefecture to pay respects to Lu Xiangsheng. At that time, Lu Xiangsheng's remains lay in state at the eastern gate of the prefectural city. Because his identity had not been confirmed, the body could not be placed in a coffin and was merely wrapped in a straw mat. Only fifty-seven days after his death was the body formally encoffined. The person who handled this was Xu Deshi.