Chapter 532: Page Layout

"Lord Pang's silver wasn't easy to come by — you think it just fell from the sky? Every last bit was earned the hard way by Tan Ye here, from fortified villages like these, penny by penny. You think you can just snatch it away so easily? Surname Luo, let Tan Ye tell you straight: in all the world of business, I've never seen anyone do business the way you do. On this whole campaign, our Anqing Battalion fought and bled, protected your Xuzhou, protected your Shandong, and you followed along the whole way selling grain at jacked-up prices — and on top of that, you charged two mace of interest per month. How thick is your skin, that you have the nerve to squeeze so much interest out of our Anqing Battalion?"

In another compound not far from the Central Army, this was the Anqing Battalion Pacification Squad's station. In a rear wing room, Tan Laizi was glaring furiously at the Boat Dock Master before him, his face brimming with indignation.

The Boat Dock Master shook his head. "Brother Tan, those words of yours aren't fair. What do you mean 'protect my Xuzhou'? All of that belongs to His Majesty. The Anqing Battalion fights its battles, and if they win, it's General Pang who gets promoted — how does that become protecting my Shandong? That two-mace monthly interest was set by Lord Pang himself. And you think this was some ordinary loan? That was at Tongcheng Post, with the Tartars laying siege!"

Tan Laizi slashed his hand through the air. "No matter how you spin it, you already made a killing in silver, and now you still come to Tan Ye talking about refunding the Banknote? Refund what Banknote? How can you even open your mouth!"

"Tan Laizi, what's this about refunding the Banknote? Back at Chujiaquan, when we supplied grain to the cavalry, the two of us agreed on five hundred shi from the rear at Shandong. Price was settled, then you said add two taels — one tael each for us. I, Luo, am a man of my word. I gave you a two-hundred-tael Banknote right then on the spot, said we'd write up the contract when we got back. Then you got yourself captured the moment you turned around. Your brother here is a man of principle — I even burned spirit money for you. Did you receive it... pah, pah, good thing you didn't. Brother Tan, I'm happy you're back, but this account still needs to be settled clearly. All the way retreating to Tongcheng Post, the Logistics Division insisted on renegotiating the price with me — four taels less per shi. I was already taking a loss. There's no reason you shouldn't return me those two hundred taels."

"If that's how you want to reckon it, then let me first ask you about that delivery at the old street entrance of Weijiawan. We clearly agreed on one hundred fifty shi, but before the Tartars attacked, you only delivered fifty shi. Why did you settle with the Logistics Division for the full one hundred fifty?"

The Boat Dock Master froze. "How do you know about that?"

"Tan Ye went back to Weijiawan later. Even though the Tartars took that grain, Tan Ye still did a rough count. You thought you could fool Tan Ye? Lord Pang is generous — as long as the goods were delivered, he counts it as the Anqing Battalion's — but they still have to actually arrive to count. The Logistics Division's account books were all passed to Tan Ye for review. Without Tan Ye's approval, you think they could balance those books? Why do you think General Pang sent me to handle this? It's because of Tan Ye's righteous integrity, and his full measure of ability. If you want to settle that two hundred taels with me, first explain clearly about that one hundred fifty shi."

"Brother Tan, how about this — let's drop the two hundred taels. Let's just settle that Chujiaquan transaction..."

"Why drop it? The rice at Weijiawan was six taels per shi — that's nine hundred taels. If you want Tan Ye to stay quiet, first make up the seven hundred to me. Otherwise, let's get it all out in the open."

The Boat Dock Master's face flushed crimson. He stepped back two paces, then suddenly jabbed a finger at Tan Laizi. "With that many Tartars pouring into Weijiawan, how is it that you were the one who found the grain? Tell me — did you lead the Tartars to find it? Out of all those hundreds of thousands of Tartars, how did it just happen to fall into your hands? You explain that to me clearly."

Tan Laizi stared blankly for a moment, glanced left and right, then said, "Brother Luo, how about this — let's drop the one hundred fifty shi."

The Boat Dock Master pressed his advantage fiercely. "Why drop it? Whatever silver I earn, I earn it fair and square! When I was besieged by Tartars at Tongcheng Post, I didn't get myself captured by Tartars like you did. When the Tartars stormed the wall, I grabbed a long spear and used the Luo Family Spear passed down from my ancestors. I skewered a dozen or so Tartars, not one left standing — saved the lives of an entire city! So what if I earned a bit of your silver? It was well deserved! Hand over that two hundred taels!"

"Brother Luo, spare Tan Ye these tall tales. Tan Ye has personally killed eleven Roving Bandits — I can tell real from fake the moment I hear it. If not for tens of thousands of Tartars coming this time, you think they could have trapped Tan Ye? Enough of this idle chatter. Let's talk about the grain supplied to the Distant Scouts. You said the Distant Scouts didn't bring a scale, so it was just right to split the grain supply. Tan Ye figured the Distant Scouts were operating separately, so I agreed. The very first day, you shorted them by thirty percent. Let's go through it item by item, starting from when we left Xuzhou..."

"Brother Tan, how about this — let's drop everything before. For that two-hundred Banknote, you return one hundred to me, and we two brothers are still good brothers."

"Tan Ye already told you, there is no Banknote — not a single one." Tan Laizi tilted his head and gazed outside for a moment, then turned back. "Stop your hollering. If the Logistics Division people hear, they'll be on guard against you from now on, and you won't come out well either. Forget the two hundred for now. Tan Ye isn't saying he won't repay — let's just count it as me owing you one hundred. When Tan Ye is put in charge of grain and fodder again, I'll return it to you."

"Brother Tan, haven't you heard what the Logistics Division soldiers said? The others who made it back have all been questioned. Even though they can't rejoin their units, they've all been released to travel with the Logistics Team. But you — you..." He paused. "The Document Team won't sign off, so you can't return to the fortified village. You're still under Pacification Squad watch. What this means is, your Fort Chief post is gone — and you're still talking about managing grain supply?"

Tan Laizi listened, stunned for a moment, then suddenly erupted in rage. "That's Wu Dacai screwing me over! Back at the fortified village, I knew what a worthless coward he was. He was an Instructor who didn't handle his duties — when Dun Household members got captured, he didn't even dare go rescue them. Tan Ye couldn't stand watching it, so I went and rescued them myself. When I got back, I couldn't help but scold him a few times, and he's held that grudge ever since. He's a petty man! He's just a deputy Clerk Officer — Lord Pang values me, Tan Ye. Does that cripple Wu dare cross me?"

The Boat Dock Master waved his hand in front of his face. "Brother Tan, give your elder brother an honest answer — do you still have that Banknote or not? You told the Pacification Squad you used the Banknote to burn the Tartars' grain and fodder. Would you really use a Banknote to start a fire? A man who'd try to welch on two hundred taels, burning grain with a Banknote — never mind the Clerk Officer not believing it, even I don't believe it."

Tan Laizi's melancholy gaze drifted toward the tent ceiling, the rims of his eyes reddening slightly. "Believe it or not, I don't care. Anyway, I burned the Tartar camp and rescued all those people. The Banknote is burned to nothing either way. If you insist I produce it, there's nothing to give. Just consider it me playing the Passing Wealth God for once. No one would know anyway."

"Chief Editor Liu, this piece was transmitted from Xuzhou by the Document Team last December — a draft about a Fort Chief buying and selling Banknotes. When it was sent, they requested it be published as soon as possible, to let people know how convenient Banknotes are for circulation. It's already been delayed for several issues. Now that the Tartars have withdrawn beyond the pass and Lord Pang and the others are about to return, it truly cannot be postponed any longer."

Inside the Jiangnan Times newspaper office in Nanjing, a bookhand in his forties stood in the room. After finishing his report to Liu Shensi behind the desk, he lifted his eyes to look at him.

Liu Shensi set down the manuscript in his hand and looked at the bookhand. "The Times is jointly run by Lord Pang and the Restoration Society. The Jiangnan Times is distributed widely along the Great River and bears the responsibility of civilizing the realm. The Fort Chief depicted in this draft is purely a speculator and opportunist — he's no good man. Relying on this kind of swindling and fraud to earn over four hundred taels, cheating people out of Banknotes — that's one thing. But to publish it in the Jiangnan Times? People will think the entire Anqing Battalion is full of such swindlers and cheats. What kind of impression will that leave on the realm!"

"The writing in this draft is rather stiff, making this Fort Chief seem utterly detestable. Word sent back says the draft was compiled by the Document Team — perhaps that Clerk Officer is merely literate." The bookhand kept his head down for a moment, then added, "It is indeed somewhat inappropriate. But it is said that Lord Pang personally gave instructions that it must be published. If the wording is somewhat unsuitable, this humble one can polish it a bit, so it appears in print before Lord Pang returns to Nanjing."

Liu Shensi's right cheek twitched twice. He picked up the manuscript and stared at it for a moment, then suddenly crumpled it in his fist and said angrily, "Go typeset it. Publish it all."

The bookhand paused, then said carefully, "Then this humble one will place it in the second page of this issue, together with the piece on the opening of the Xuzhou Silver Bank. That way, if Lord Pang ever asks why it wasn't published sooner, we can say we were waiting for the Xuzhou Silver Bank opening. Also — that piece from back when the Roving Bandits massacred Hezhou, about the Great River Silver Bank seeking out the gentleman to return his deposited silver — the bank's female manager, surnamed Zhou, has requested it be published once more, to help with the Banknote issuance. This humble one also plans to place it on the second page."

Liu Shensi's expression was dark. After a long while, he finally said, "Since every party has already dictated what is to be published, you needn't ask me, the Chief Editor. Just tell me which page it's going on."

"This... these are unavoidable. Ultimately, it is still for you, sir, to decide." The bookhand swallowed, then continued, "The entire front page of this issue will be used to publish the piece on Lord Pang slaying Yoto with his own hands. The layout is currently only missing the illustration. The day before yesterday, they said the illustration made Yoto look too tall and imposing — it needs to be re-engraved. It should be finished tomorrow. Also, the third page, originally the Current Affairs Essays section, has been changed to the latest Heroes' Biographies brought back. The fourth page will carry half Current Affairs Essays and half tales of the strange and supernatural."

Liu Shensi said coldly, "The Provincial Examination is imminent. The Current Affairs Essays in this issue were all meticulously selected by Wu Yingji — some might even match the exam topics. There are also pieces written by leading literary figures like the Two Zhangs and Mr. Yushan. Countless scholars are waiting to read them. You must understand, this newspaper is for the literate. Why are you cutting the Current Affairs Essays by so much? Aren't you afraid the scholars will curse us?"

"Then... but these are the only pages left. If we don't touch the Current Affairs Essays, we can only cancel all the strange and supernatural serials. But all the supernatural serials are ongoing — tea houses all along the river are waiting to perform the storytelling. In particular, this issue's supernatural serial also includes an advertisement for the Silver Coins. Shopkeeper Liu of the Silver Bank says from now on, they all must carry it. If we cut it, I fear offending Shopkeeper Liu..."

"The monsters on Lion Camel Ridge are already using Great River Silver Bank Silver Coins for their business — what more does he want? Page layout is decided by me, the Chief Editor. I'm not afraid of offending him. The third page will still carry Current Affairs Essays. The Heroes' Biographies isn't urgent — it can be split across several issues. For this issue, use half of the fourth page for the Heroes' Biographies. Whatever space is left, fill it with as much of the supernatural serial as will fit. After the Provincial Examination, when we have more pages, we'll make up the rest. That's the final layout."

The bookhand wanted to say more, but Liu Shensi waved him away impatiently. The bookhand gathered up the manuscripts and withdrew.

A personal attendant at the door poked his head in and said, "Mr. Liu, Mr. Zhou Biao of the Restoration Society has arrived. He's been waiting a while."

Liu Shensi slumped back against his chair and sighed. "Invite them in."

He stood and went to the door to greet them. A moment later, Zhou Biao arrived at the door. This Zhou Biao was from Jintan, from a deeply rooted scholarly family. His uncle Zhou Yingqiu had risen to Minister of Personnel during the Tianqi reign, and his other uncle Zhou Weichi had also become a Censor. But Zhou Biao had drawn a clear line between himself and these two men early on, earning himself a rather good reputation instead. He had passed the Presented Scholar examination in the first year of Chongzhen, but later offended someone and was dismissed from office. Still, he held considerable standing within the Restoration Society, and was a cousin of Zhou Zhong, also a Restoration Society member.

Liu Shensi was also a Restoration Society associate. He greeted this prominent figure Zhou Biao with great courtesy and ushered him to the guest seat while he took the host's.

After the attendant served tea and closed the door, Zhou Biao said to Liu Shensi, "Regarding the matter I discussed with you last time — is there any definite news?"

Liu Shensi coughed once and said, "I won't deceive you, Mr. Zhou. Page space has been extremely tight lately. Wu Yingji knows this. Even the Current Affairs Essays nearly had their space cut this issue — it was only through my vigorous advocacy that they were preserved. Next issue, we also have to add commercial goods advertisements from the workshops, with the third and fourth pages each giving up twenty percent of their space. Everything from Anqing waiting to be published has to be pushed back two issues. I'm afraid I simply cannot free up space for you, sir. Truly, I am not in a position to decide..."

Zhou Biao forced a thin smile and said, "Since you bear the responsibility of Chief Editor, page layout is naturally decided by your word alone. Moreover, regarding this essay itself — it is because the Eunuch Faction is gathering and clamoring in the Southern Capital, scheming to stage a comeback under the pretext of frontier talent, filling the Southern Capital with foul miasma. We Restoration Society scholars, sharing the same convictions, are seizing this occasion of the Provincial Examination to strike together. This is an act of upholding righteousness. Although it has not yet been posted, over a hundred have signed, and the momentum already has Eunuch Ruan terrified. But if it is merely posted as a Public Denunciation within the city, only the Southern Capital will know of it. If it can be published in the Times, it will instantly spread across several provinces along the river, and no one in the realm will be ignorant of it. Eunuch Ruan will have nowhere to hide and will surely lose all face to gather factions and form societies that harm the people. Only thus can we achieve the effect of radically reforming and purifying the source." (Note 1)

Liu Shensi said with difficulty, "This... I won't hide it from you, sir. Ruan Dacheng and my master share a very close personal friendship. Since this essay attacks Ruan Dacheng, it is inappropriate for the Times to publish it."

Zhou Biao waited a moment, then said unhurriedly, "Mr. Liu is the Chief Editor of the newspaper office and also a Restoration Society associate. These past years managing the Times, your talent is widely recognized. That the Times is distributed across the Great River is entirely thanks to your diligent labor."

Liu Shensi said hurriedly, "I dare not accept such a form of address from you, sir."

Zhou Biao waved his hand. "But Mr. Liu must also consider his own future prospects. I hear that you are still a Licentiate and will be taking the Southern Metropolitan Examination this time as well..."

At these words, Liu Shensi unconsciously straightened his back. Zhou Biao said evenly, "Regarding the Southern Metropolitan Examination, some always say that Restoration Society recommendations are favoritism. But I say: if recommending talent for the state is favoritism, then so be it. Whether public recommendation or private, in the end, it is useful."

Liu Shensi stared at the floor, his eyes darting restlessly.

Zhou Biao's voice continued beside him. "Though the Times wields public opinion, we who study and pursue learning must still seek a proper career path. One cannot spend a lifetime subordinated to a military master. Official rank and scholarly honor — that is the proper path for a scholar."

Liu Shensi narrowed his eyes and slowly raised his head to look at Zhou Biao.

Note 1: The proposal for the "Public Denunciation to Guard the Auxiliary Capital Against Disorder" was initiated in the sixth month of the Chongzhen 11th Year. The draft was completed in the twelfth month, after which the chain signing campaign began. Around the time of the Chongzhen 12th Year Provincial Examination, the Restoration Society members, taking advantage of Ruan Dacheng's presence in Nanjing, formally issued the Public Denunciation after a covenant assembly at the river houses of Taoye Ferry. Wu Yingji and Chen Zhenhui were the primary drafters. Opinions vary on who was behind the push, with the Zhou Biao brothers being the most frequently mentioned.