Chapter 554: Inside and Outside

In the rear office of the Regional Commander's compound late at night, lamplight still spilled from the window lattice of the Central Army Secretariat. With a sharp slap, a palm smacked against a forehead. Pang Yu looked at the bloody smear on his palm and flicked the mosquito away.

Pang Ding, who had been dozing, lifted his head and looked around blearily, then shuffled over sluggishly to fan Pang Yu. For a moment he stood in the wrong direction, making the lamp flame flicker unsteadily instead.

Pang Yu glanced up at him. "If you can't keep your eyes open, go back and sleep. Send Yan Guan in."

Pang Ding yawned and shifted his angle of fanning. "I can hold out. Mr. Yu can't hold out because he's old. I'm even younger than you, young master, so naturally I can hold out too."

Pang Yu set down the petition paper in his hand. "You listened to Mr. Yu and He County Yamen talking. In this garrison reorganization, who do you think has the better argument — Zhuang Chaozheng or Wu Dacai?"

"I can't say who really has the better argument. But if you can't make up your mind, young master, why not let Zhuang Chaozheng and Wu Dacai present their cases in person?"

"You think I can't make up my mind? I decided long ago. If I don't intend to accept someone's opinion, I won't grant them a face-to-face meeting."

Pang Ding craned his head over. "They'll have to be told sooner or later."

"Orders delivered in person breed resentment. Words written on an order token — those they can accept more readily."

Pang Ding stared blankly for a moment, then tilted his head to look at Pang Yu. "I reckon the whole army must side with Zhuang Chaozheng. When we fought at Wangzhuang, I was wishing for more heavy infantry. Standing next to them puts your mind at ease. Standing next to those firearm soldiers, you're always afraid his barrel will burst."

Pang Yu reached out and smacked the fan against Pang Ding's head. "Since when have Anqing's fire lances ever burst a barrel?"

"They have burst a few times." Pang Ding retreated two steps. "Anyway, that's what everyone says. Look at the other garrison towns — those infantry firearms battalions have lots of firearms, but they're useless in a fight. The Border Army men all say that when they were at the Nine Borders, they never saw a fire lance kill more than a few Tartars. Wu Dacai himself claims he killed six or seven Tartars at Wangzhuang, but no one in the army believes him."

"Didn't Xu Lengzi and the men from the firearm team all vouch for him?"

"Xu Lengzi's brain has always had problems. He took a heavy blow to the head at Wangzhuang, and now he's often drooling, his speech is even more incoherent, and sometimes he just stands there grinning to himself. Who'd still believe a word he says? And the one from the firearm team who vouched for him is Wu Dacai's own personal soldier. If Wu Dacai said he killed a hundred, that personal soldier would have to say it was more than a hundred."

Pang Yu waved his hand dismissively and thought for a moment. "Saying he killed six or seven — I think that's somewhat exaggerated too. But when the situation at Wangzhuang was desperate, Wu Dacai led a squad of men to reinforce the Central Army. That kind of nerve is no less than any general officer's."

"Having nerve doesn't necessarily mean you can kill anyone. Just like me." Pang Ding took another precautionary step back, then continued, "There were so many Tartar corpses laid out on the east side. When the adjutants did the post-battle tally, they couldn't tell whether the wounds were from lead balls or canister shot. Everyone trusts the artillery. No one trusts those firearm soldiers."

Pang Yu nodded. "The army doesn't like Wu Dacai — mainly because he's offended too many people. But when it comes to fighting, he worked his way up from infantry all the way to centurion. Whether he killed six or seven at Wangzhuang, two or three is still likely. Don't forget, Wu Dacai is a cripple. Without a fire lance, all he could do is let the Tartars kill him."

"So what you mean, young master, is that you're going with Wu Dacai's proposal."

Pang Yu picked up the petition Wu Dacai had submitted. He had already read through its contents. He flipped through it. "When we trained troops in Tongcheng, we relied on a few military texts. To form the army quickly and save costs, I simplified everything as much as possible. Looking back in practice, as long as you have sufficient rations and pay and train the troops solidly, how you organize them is secondary when fighting roving bandits. It was all just chasing back and forth anyway — the bandits themselves were no good at formation battles. Later, after we were called to rally to the king twice, we started thinking about fighting the Tartars. That's when we equipped the Personal Guard Division with weapons for both formation battles and alley battles. This time we really did rally to the king, but we could still only fight defensively. First, we had too few men. Second, we still didn't know how to fight a formation battle. The Tartars, on the other hand, have fought many large-scale formation battles. If we hadn't taken Wangzhuang, we couldn't have beaten the Tartars."

Pang Ding edged a little closer. "Then how did you make up your mind, young master?"

"Right now, the garrisons on the Nine Borders rely on household retainers to fight — a few hundred elite cavalry. All their fighting is just cavalry battles. It's the same with the roving bandits. But the Eastern Invaders are different. Their formation battles have discipline and method. We can't learn from the Nine Borders. We still have to follow the military classics, and also study the Red Barbarians' methods of war. And there's one last thing — I know some things that you all don't."

At that moment, someone knocked on the door. Pang Yu said offhandedly, "Come in."

Yan Guan opened the door and entered. "Sir, Clerk He requests an audience. He's waiting outside."

"Let him in."

Pang Ding immediately went to prepare the tea set. Before he could even finish pouring, He County Yamen had already entered. He County Yamen first saluted Pang Yu, then after accepting a teacup, greeted Pang Ding as well.

Pang Yu waved him to a seat. As soon as He County Yamen sat down, he said, "There were some matters this afternoon I didn't report in full. I heard from the guards that you were still up late reviewing documents, so I came specially to request an audience."

Pang Yu knew He County Yamen had some matters he preferred Mr. Yu not know about. He smiled. "Here, Third Brother can come whenever he wishes. There's no need to speak of requesting an audience. Please, go ahead."

"As I last reported to you, according to what the English negotiated with Zhang Shuangwei, the mercenaries who have fought in the European wars total one hundred men: thirty sailors, one armed merchant ship, forty infantry — half spear-and-shield men and half firearm hands — twenty cannoneers, and ten cavalry. They come from seven European nations. It's said that before joining the Red Barbarian company, they all fought for many years in Europe. They also brought with the ship a total of thirty cannons of various sizes, seventy fire lances, and among them five self-igniting arquebuses. The East India Company has already paid their wages and provisions."

Pang Yu nodded. This matter had been communicated in secret phrases while he was on the road; he knew the gist of it.

"When these men reached Macau, the Portuguese wouldn't let the ship dock and again lodged a complaint with the Guangzhou yamen. Zhang Shuangwei had to rent fishing boats to board the ship. By the time he finished negotiating with the English, you were already rallying to the king in Shandong. The English East India Company's position is that they are willing to cooperate with you — mercenaries, cannons, fire lances, all can be provided — but they're unwilling to give much silver. They say it will be increased later. This subordinate feels these English Red Barbarians still don't fully trust us."

"That's perfectly normal. So far only Weili has been to Anqing. The East India Company has its own men in charge, and those men in charge still have to answer to their shareholders. They won't throw large sums of silver out just on Weili's word. This is what's called an initial round of financing. The stronger our power, the more they'll invest. These English don't have much silver, but we can still earn silver from them. Where are those mercenaries now?"

"You instructed at the time not to be conspicuous. If they landed in Guangdong and traveled overland through several provinces, they certainly couldn't bring the guns and cannons. And since they're Red Barbarians, the various local yamens would send reports up the chain — too much potential trouble. Zhang Shuangwei arranged for them to go first to Zhoushan. They didn't use the Red Barbarians' own ship. At Zhoushan they switched to grain transport ships. After making arrangements at Wusong Town, they entered the river smoothly. Once past the Southern Capital, they claimed to be missionaries recruited in Jiangnan. They should arrive in Anqing in batches around the end of the month."

"Zhang Shuangwei handled this matter very well."

"It's just that those sailors, I hear, are all from seagoing ships. Once they come to Anqing, I fear they'll be of little use."

Pang Yu waved his hand. "These aren't just sailors. These are sailors who have made transoceanic voyages. They'll be of great use in the future. The Great River waterway concentrates the greatest wealth of the Ming Dynasty. The ocean gathers the wealth of the world. Even if we don't use them now, we will in the future."

He County Yamen hurriedly spread open his notebook. Pang Ding pushed the inkstone over. He County Yamen dipped his brush and noted it down.

Pang Yu pondered in silence for another moment. "Once these men reach Anqing, publicly say they are missionaries from the Society of Jesus. The prefectural city has too many eyes and ears — don't station them there. Shipai has many newly built barracks; put them all in Shipai. The Martial Academy will also be temporarily placed in Shipai. Arrange interpreters properly. Europe is full of small states; they're constantly at war there year-round. We need to understand how they fight and use that to improve our own army. But the matter of the Red Barbarians must not be flaunted — especially with the Army Supervisor and the new Circuit Intendant about to arrive in Anqing."

He County Yamen understood Pang Yu's meaning and quickly lowered his voice. "We previously submitted a petition in the name of the Anqing Guard to Circuit Intendant Shi, stating that the prefectural city was newly establishing garrison troops and that the guard post barracks had all been given over to reinforcement troops and garrison troops, so we moved the guard post barracks to Shipai. Over there, those are the Anqing Guard barracks."

According to Pang Yu's thinking, Zongyang was more remote and not a strategic military location — it would be hard for the Circuit Intendant and Army Supervisor to go there, and supplying provisions would be convenient. But the terrain was narrow, crisscrossed with ponds and rivers, lacking large areas of flat ground, and unsuitable for drilling. Shipai had excellent basic conditions: convenient transport, abundant grain. It was just slightly too conspicuous. After weighing everything, he could only choose this place.

He County Yamen had found a pretext through the Anqing Guard, which could resolve the issue of official legitimacy.

"Third Brother, you've handled this matter very well." Pang Yu felt much more at ease. He County Yamen had managed the Anqing affairs very steadily, saving him a great deal of energy.

He County Yamen raised his eyes to look at Pang Yu. "Second Brother, this subordinate has one more matter to report."

"Third Brother, please speak freely."

"This subordinate wishes to discuss the situation of the Canal Gang. From the Upper River to the Lower River, all the key docks along the river are under the control of the Anqing Tribute Grain Gang. This Canal Gang is part laborer, part soldier, part merchant. The Canal Gang has always been managed by the Dark Sentinel Division, so the yamen is one layer removed. After you left to rally to the king, the Dark Sentinel Division stopped reporting on the Canal Gang's situation entirely. The annual income and expenditure of silver, how many businesses have been opened, how many people are drawing wages and provisions — none of this is known."

Pang Yu's fingers tapped slowly on the armrest, but he said nothing.

"Guo Fengyou sent a private report from Wuhu, saying that after the Wuhu Canal Gang took control of the docks, they opened gambling dens and brothels, and the silver earned was divided up privately by a few cudgel gang leaders."

Pang Yu grunted in acknowledgment. He County Yamen studied Pang Yu's expression, then continued, "Hangshang who haven't exchanged their banknotes, after paying donation tribute to the cudgel gang leaders, can still have their goods loaded onto ships and dispatched, and are issued passage banners."

Pang Yu's fingers, which had been slowly tapping the armrest, paused.

"Ren Dalang in Jiujiang uses the Water Camp to control the docks. Because he relied on the Water Camp when seizing control of the docks, the local Canal Gang also obeys Ren Dalang. They're not diligent about using banknotes on the docks. As long as donation tribute based on cargo value is paid to the Water Camp, they issue passage command flags to the boats. This time the silver houses reported it. The Water Camp is also running a private salt operation locally, and in the name of Qingjiang, forcibly demanding donation tribute of twenty percent of cargo value from other merchant goods. The Jiangxi yamen has impeached our Anqing Battalion several times, mostly because of this. None of this donation tribute has ever been reported to the Household Office, much less handed over. Information from outside mostly comes through the Dark Sentinel Division, so intelligence involving the Canal Gang never makes it back to Anqing..."

He County Yamen saluted and withdrew from the Central Army Secretariat. Pang Yu saw him to the door.

As he turned back, Pang Yu furrowed his brow. Jiujiang — years ago, because of the Prince Qing rebellion, the local guard post there had been placed under the jurisdiction of the Anqing Garrison Battalion. But with the passage of time, the Anqing Garrison Battalion's oversight had gradually become a mere formality. The guard post had fallen into neglect like all the others and was completely disregarded by the local officials. Pang Yu had regained control of the Jiujiang Guard through Xiong Wencan, with the aim of acquiring the guard post's assets and gaining legal standing to establish a foothold in Jiujiang. Ren Dalang had been stationed in Jiujiang ever since. The task Pang Yu gave him was to control the docks and promote the banknotes in the name of Qingjiang.

Pang Yu had been busy fighting in various places and could not attend to the specific affairs of Jiujiang, much less manage the Canal Gang on the other docks.

Pang Ding said in a low voice, "He wants to wrest the Canal Gang out of Jiang Fan's hands."

"Wrest it out for what?"

"To let Ruan Jin take control. He didn't say it outright, but this time Ruan Jin arrested Lu Ding, and he's not one of Jiang Fan's men — he's the most suitable to take over the Canal Gang. Ruan Jin was introduced by him. He wants Ruan Jin to manage the Canal Gang, to keep Jiang Fan from becoming too dominant. In a way, it's about spreading branches and leaves."

Pang Yu smiled. "Spreading branches and leaves for one's own side is only natural. The Canal Gang is scattered across different regions — originally it was to make things convenient for the Dark Sentinel Division's operations, so it was placed under Jiang Fan's jurisdiction. If Jiang Fan truly cannot manage the Canal Gang well, then of course it should be adjusted. And what about Ren Dalang? Why haven't I heard a single good word about him since I returned to the yamen?"

"Ren Dalang is an old hand from the Water Camp. He sided with you the earliest, but he's been useless in fighting the roving bandits and the Eastern Invaders. He has no real ties with the officers of any division, yet he occupies the Water Camp, that cushy post. Naturally, everyone finds him an eyesore." Pang Ding paused for a moment, then looked at Pang Yu. "Here, both inside and outside, everyone has their own calculations. On the outside, the court system's military units don't move, but the household retainers follow their general officers. Fighting all depends on the household retainers. Now with roving bandits rampaging everywhere, our Anqing Battalion has made a name for itself. What every higher-up in every region is thinking is to have Anqing's general officers transferred over so their own jurisdictions will have someone to rely on. Xiong Wencan is asking the Ministry of War for Gucheng troops. Dai Dongmin wants to transfer Wang Zenglu away. Circuit Intendant Shi wants to transfer Zhuang Chaozheng away. It's all the same thinking. The general officers of every division and company naturally know this too, and eventually they'll have their own calculations. The only reason they haven't brought it up to you yet is that they know, given the rations and pay currently provided, they couldn't raise the funds themselves. Even the various military commanders couldn't raise them. The soldiers and officers wouldn't follow them. It's not necessarily that they themselves want to stay in the Anqing Battalion."

"Everyone has their own calculations. Among them, some are also beneficial to the Anqing Battalion. Our job is to pick those out." Pang Yu returned to his seat and sat down. After a long while, he looked up. "Draft tomorrow's order tokens."

"A document forwarded from the Document Receiving Office: the First Thousand-Leader Headquarters and Land Combat Division stationed at Gucheng are rotating back to Anqing. Xie Zhaofa, Wang Zenglu, and the blacksmiths are all to return. Yao Dongshan will take the Second Battalion Commander Headquarters and remain on garrison duty. The managers of the Water Camps at Huguang, Jiujiang, Zongyang, and Leigang are also to return and report. Let the Document Team have Awareness of this."

In the Document Team's Direct Office at the Rear Office, Wu Dacai looked over the copied document and then passed it to Cao Shuban. Today the Central Army Secretariat had begun issuing Order Tokens, and every office in the entire yamen as well as every military unit was waiting.

A clerk came hurriedly to the door. Cao Shuban rose and went to the doorway. The clerk whispered a few words and then swiftly left. Cao Shuban came back over and said to Wu Dacai, "The Clerks of the Rites Office, Works Office, and Household Office have all collected their head-money and have already handed over their Seals. For now, the clerical officers appointed by His Excellency Pang are holding the seals."

Wu Dacai gave an "Oh." The current yamen had been handed over and received back when it was still the Defense Officer's battalion, and the setup of each office was identical to that of a county yamen, so as to interface properly with superior and equivalent-level yamens.

The heads of each office were all Clerks, who were formal clerical personnel. Pang Yu was unable to replace them, so they had been retained all along.

But clerical personnel could make Donation Tributes. Over these years, Pang Yu had made Donation Tributes for many Clerks and clerical officers, and through Ruan Dacheng's maneuvering, he had already replaced half of the Clerks. The remaining three offices had this time collected their head-money.

"They all collected it?"

Cao Shuban said, "He County Yamen had spoken with them before. If they did not yield the Clerk positions, their Performance Evaluation comments would all be graded as inferior. It had been made clear to the Circuit Inspector Yamen that they would not be granted Examination Complete. The head-money was given at triple the rate, so they had no choice but to yield. Three Clerks and four clerical officers all collected it. All have been replaced by our own people paying head-money."

Wu Dacai nodded. Those "own people" mostly came from the silver shops, gambling dens, Fortified Villages, and workshops — formerly copyists, Account Office staff, shopkeepers, and the like, all cultivated by Pang Yu himself. Inside the yamen, the original system of Mutual Checks Between Major and Minor, with separate tracks for clerks and officials, was now entirely under Pang Yu's control.

Soon another copyist arrived and handed over a Petition Paper that the Document Receiving Office had just copied and sent to the Document Team. Cao Shuban said in a low voice, "One Logistics Officer is to be added to each battalion. Following Huguang custom, a Military Council is to be established in each company and each battalion. Except for Battle Command tokens, all affairs of each division and each company are to be decided by the Public Discussion of the Military Council."

Wu Dacai took it and glanced over it hastily. His literacy had improved considerably, and he could now generally understand the meaning, but to be safe he still needed Cao Shuban to explain. This Military Council was essentially dividing the authority of the Chief Officials. The status of the Clerk Officers was relatively elevated, but that was not what Wu Dacai cared about most.

"Is there anyone surnamed Hou…"

Cao Shuban shook his head. In truth, the two of them had been together all day, so Cao Shuban naturally could not know more than he did.

Because he had participated fully in the rally to the king, while Mr. Hou had achieved nothing in recent years, if there were any change regarding Mr. Hou, then Wu Dacai could be promoted to Deputy Chief Clerk. This was practically the consensus within the yamen.

At that moment, Tang Sheng came running in hurriedly holding a Petition Paper. "My lord, your Order Token."

Cao Shuban quickly took it. Wu Dacai watched Cao Shuban nervously. Cao Shuban read it very carefully. After a long while, Cao Shuban raised his head and looked at Wu Dacai. "Deputy Chief Clerk Wu is ordered to proceed to Shipai, to temporarily assume the post of Academy Director of the Shipai Martial Studies Branch. He is to report for duty by the twenty-sixth day of the eighth month."