Chapter 555

"Captain Jiang, let me tell you something. When Lord Pang sent me to Shipai this time, there were rumors in the yamen that I'd been demoted — pure nonsense, all of it."

Two li west of Shipai Town, Wu Dacai walked with a cane through clusters of tile and brick buildings, surrounded everywhere by houses under construction, laborers hauling bricks and earth all around.

Captain Jiang of the Martial Academy Firearm Experimental Team walked beside him, constantly wiping sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, while Tang Sheng and Cao Shuban lagged behind.

This Captain Jiang, like Ceng Yiyun, came from the working class out of the workshops, but Ceng Yiyun had fought bravely in every campaign to rally to the king, the artillery standing firm as a pillar, earning recognition throughout the army — whereas Captain Jiang led his Arquebus Corps like a rabble, not a single person thought anything of them, and he wasn't even called to war councils.

By rights, Wu Dacai didn't think much of Captain Jiang either, but they'd crossed paths at Wangzhuang and could barely count as acquaintances. Wu Dacai had come to Shipai to take up his post at the Martial Studies Branch, and upon arrival went first to inspect the barracks and drill ground, so he called Captain Jiang along.

By now they had passed the barracks and reached the drill ground. Wu Dacai looked around, then turned back to Cao Shuban and said, "The General Command Platform is too low — you can't make out the formations. Have them raise it two feet. Tear down the western palisade and expand outward; otherwise it's too cramped to deploy properly. Don't fill in the outermost rice paddies — use them for field attack-and-defense drills. The north side of the drill ground needs a wall too. Don't think the river barrier alone will do. These soldiers all know how to swim. If you don't build a wall to block them, they'll slip out at night and commit every foul deed imaginable."

Cao Shuban silently noted it all down. Wu Dacai turned around and continued to Captain Jiang, "The Academy Director of the Martial Studies Branch — others think it's the same as Deputy Chief Clerk, both at Vice Battalion Commander rank, but in fact it's at Battalion Commander rank. Tell me that's not a promotion. This time the Martial Studies Branch has established an Instructional Qianzong Unit — that's for me to command, to drill the New Barracks. Why do you think they didn't make Zhuang Chaozheng this Academy Director?"

Captain Jiang said blankly, "Battalion Commander Zhuang didn't think much of it."

Wu Dacai stopped abruptly and glared at Captain Jiang. "What do you mean, didn't think much of it? He leads a bunch of Heavy Infantry and just crashes around relying on their armor — what does he know about new military formations? The Personal Guard Division has exactly one move in battle: fire cannons at long range, shoot arrows at close range, then hack and slash face-to-face. That's all the skill they've got. What does he know about new formations?"

"This humble one doesn't understand warfare. My lord, please don't take offense."

Wu Dacai's expression soured. He walked on a stretch before speaking again. "Warfare, to put it simply, is staking your life. But soldiers and officers are all common folk at heart — when it comes down to it, who isn't afraid to die? The ones who charge ahead with their heads down are always few. If those few fierce, charging ones die, then everyone behind them flees. That's why military strategists emphasize formations — to stop men from running wild. Not even half a step out of place is allowed. If you don't advance, you lose your head — that's forcing the cowards not to run. Lord Pang drills the ranks with extreme severity, following the Training Records, the Formation Records, and those military texts. And even drilled that way, no matter how strict the military law, when sharp blades are right before your eyes, the ones who still dare go forward are few. Every time we go into battle and have to charge a formation, after three shouts and three advances, it's only honest, sincere men like myself who charge in on the drumbeat. Only in those last two steps do you realize everyone else is lagging behind. Every time, it's the same few charging ahead, the other ninety percent all afraid to die, always falling half a step behind. The enemy always hacks at the ones in front — who hacks at the ones half a step behind? Naturally, that saves their lives."

Captain Jiang's face was drenched in sweat. He reached up and wiped again. "So that's how it is. This humble one thought I was the only one afraid to die."

"I'll tell you how battles are fought. On the Nine Borders, they rely on Household Retainers. The Tartars rely on White Armor. When it comes to the clash, the ones who dare charge through are still only those Household Retainers and White Armor. Everyone else clangs blades and spears together with a great racket, and in the end not a single man is killed, but their mouths yell more fiercely than anyone's. They're all just drawing pay and eating — everyone's faking it. Who's going to throw themselves onto a spearhead? If the fiercest ones die, whether Roving Bandits or Government Troops, their own side collapses. The Tartars, with their strict military discipline, can hold without breaking and that's already considered a strong army. Don't imagine they're so divinely mighty."

By now they had reached the southern edge of the drill ground. Wu Dacai pointed at the palisade. "What's the point of making the drill ground so flat? How many times do you fight on level ground? Have men build two rows of houses here — at least enough for one Company to drill alley battles. On the east side, build a water pool. The drill ground also needs to train infantry-cavalry combined drills. We can't keep borrowing the Cavalry Chief-of-a-Thousand Department's drill ground forever."

Cao Shuban hurriedly noted it down again. Wu Dacai clasped his hands behind his back and waited for Captain Jiang to catch up before speaking. "Our Anqing Battalion's combat soldiers fight better than other outfits, but not every single one is capable. Though we haven't formally designated Household Retainers, in practice our Non-Commissioned Officers are exactly that. From the moment of selecting soldiers, we pick and choose from thousands. Once in, brutal training. Every month there are examinations and evaluations, weeding out and replacing — all to pick out those who can fight, to have a few more who aren't afraid to die. But it costs silver."

Captain Jiang hesitated. "Fighting still comes down to silver?"

"What Lord Pang told me is this: Firearm Soldiers don't have to face the enemy eye to eye. They just operate their fire lances and shoot from a distance. When recruiting, you don't need to pick and choose from thousands. Monthly Pay can be lower too. That way, troop numbers increase. The Mixed Thousand-Command is adding fire lances to every Company — even more than in the strategy I proposed. What does that mean? It means Lord Pang values fire lances too."

Captain Jiang suddenly rubbed his hands together, a look of Excitement on his face.

Wu Dacai ignored him and continued. "Before I left, Lord Pang called me in to talk. He said that in Europe, when they fight, Firearm Soldiers outnumber the Killers. Here at Shipai, we need to drill more with fire lances. From the moment of recruiting — what kind of soldiers to pick, how much Monthly Pay to give, how many days of drill, what formations to use on the march and in battle, how much powder and shot to carry — all of it must be figured out at the Martial Academy. We also need to drill an all-firearm military unit. No armor, no helmets — only Self-Igniting Arquebuses."

The Firearms Captain stared blankly at Wu Dacai. "Then what happens when the Tartars charge right up to us?"

Wu Dacai waved a hand. "With cannons and guns both, don't you know to shoot dead the fiercest ones while they're still charging? The remaining Tartars will run."

Captain Jiang looked utterly bewildered. Wu Dacai didn't press further and said to him directly, "You used to handle fire lances exclusively at the workshop, and you've led the Firearm Team in battle. My intention is that within this Instructional Qianzong Unit, you would serve as a..."

"This humble one is not willing."

Wu Dacai froze. He had been in the army a long time. In the military unit, orders were issued and had to be carried out — it had been ages since he'd heard anyone say "not willing." For a moment he didn't know how to continue. In his original plan, this Instructional Qianzong Unit was mainly to drill an all-arquebus force. The men from the old Field Artillery Test Team would naturally be the first batch of soldiers, like seeds. Making this Captain Jiang the Vice Battalion Commander would ease the transition and management. He hadn't even gotten the words out, and Captain Jiang refused outright.

"This humble one is the Chief of the Arquebus Manufacturing Division at the workshop. Before, the whole army despised fire lances. The workshop only cared about casting cannons. Everyone from my Arquebus Division ran off to the cannon-casting side. The army wouldn't buy fire lances either. For a whole year, we just watched the cannon side collect Reward Silver while we only got our basic wages. The reason I came to this Field Artillery Test Team was to get the army using them more, to earn a bit more military stipend silver. Now that Lord Pang wants so many fire lances, this year's Reward Silver will surely be plentiful. I need to get back quickly. In the Arquebus Manufacturing Division, I'm the one who knows gun-making best. After all, without fire lances, you can't train Firearm Soldiers."

Wu Dacai came to his senses. This Captain Jiang was from the workshop, and the workshop fell directly under Pang Yu's jurisdiction. If Captain Jiang wasn't willing to come, Wu Dacai truly couldn't do much about it. He'd have to go to Pang Yu to request a transfer, but opening his mouth to Pang Yu over someone like this wasn't quite worth it. And what Captain Jiang said actually made sense — without fire lances, what Firearm Soldiers could you train?

Captain Jiang paid Wu Dacai no further mind. He went straight over and took Tang Sheng's hand. "Tang Sheng, I've never been much good with words, but since I'll be heading back to the workshop in Two Days, I'll pick out the important things and give you a few reminders. Whether it's the Firearm Team or the Arquebus Manufacturing Division, we all rely on Lord Wu to get ahead. You came out of our Firearm Team, and now you're following Lord Wu. In daily life, take good care of his lordship. Now there's drilling to be done again, and who knows, you may have to go to the battlefield. On the battlefield, you must protect his lordship's safety at all costs. Getting wounded is one thing, but whatever happens, you can't let Lord Wu get killed."

Cao Shuban gave a dry cough. Wu Dacai gripped his cane and slammed it against the ground with a thud. The captain remained utterly oblivious, still holding Tang Sheng's hand and talking. The corner of Wu Dacai's mouth twitched. He turned his head and walked on ahead.

Cao Shuban caught up and said in a low voice beside him, "My lord, these people are craftsmen and peasants by birth — their words grate on the ear. Don't take it to heart."

"I won't stoop to quibble with a craftsman." Wu Dacai spat on the ground. "Won't come? Fine. Like I'm so desperate for him. This military unit is one that suits the presiding official's wishes, and he still scorns it. He'll have his day of regret."

"It's good that he goes to make fire lances — saves him from irritating you, my lord." Cao Shuban paused, then said, "Mr. Hou has gone to the Rites Office as Clerk. No new Chief Clerk has been appointed, and you, my lord, have not been relieved of your post as Deputy Chief Clerk. For now, He County Yamen is temporarily managing things. This humble one feels that Lord Pang is still keeping it for you, my lord."

Wu Dacai grunted. Cao Shuban said quietly, "This humble one has thought it over carefully. In the Military Council, only the Chief Officials and Deputy Chief Officers are Court-Appointed Officials. The Clerk Officer, Logistics Officer, Pacification Commissioner, and Sergeant Major — none of them have names in the Ministry of War's Official Registry. Seventy to eighty percent of the Centurions aren't court-ranked officers either, let alone the Banner Commanders and Team Leaders. Only as long as Lord Pang is in Anqing are they officers. This is also what Lord Pang intends in his heart."

Wu Dacai nodded. This point was even more obvious to him. He himself was crippled — the court didn't care about him. Not to mention the Official Registry, his name wasn't even in the Military Registry. Only with Pang Yu in the Anqing Battalion was he, this Clerk Officer, an officer at all. Once the man was replaced, or the military unit transferred elsewhere, his post as Clerk Officer would come to an end, and he'd be less than a common soldier.

Cao Shuban leaned in. "My lord, the work you've done in the Document Team has always been carried out exactly this way. Lord Pang is surely satisfied. This time he specially sent you, my lord, to Shipai to train troops — he knows drilling the New Barracks is no easy task, fears the various offices and departments will make trouble, and has deliberately kept the Deputy Chief Clerk post for you, precisely to make it convenient for you, my lord, to get things done."

"Back when Lord Pang sent me to the Document Team, it was because he was dissatisfied with the Document Team, and he thought my scolding of them was right. Now that he's sent me to this Martial Academy, it's because the strategy I proposed suited Lord Pang's wishes. Lord Pang wants to increase fire lances in the military units — ideally, an all-firearm unit. That's what the presiding official wants. Of all those other officers, none are as suited as I am. This is called using the right man for the right job. We'll handle this assignment well right here in Shipai."

"To handle an assignment well, the most crucial thing is using the right man for the right job. Understand?"

Inside Pozidun, not far beyond the western palisade of the Shipai Martial Studies Branch, Tan Laizi walked along with his chin slightly raised and hands clasped behind his back, looking around as he went. Yuan Pozi and another old woman followed behind him.

Tan Laizi walked and talked. "The Rations and Pay allocated to the fortified village are meager. Some women need to ply the flesh trade, earn a bit more to supplement the household — and it doesn't harm anyone else. That's using the right person for the right job. Collect their Donation Tribute each time and it's a fine thing. Why must you block it? Sending Fierce Women to spy on them every day, and you still have to feed those Fierce Women an evening meal. You lose silver on both ends, and on top of that, those Prostitutes and their Clients all hate you. What good do you get out of it? Let resentment pile up year after year inside the Fortified Village like this — how can the village's livelihood possibly be managed well?"

Yuan Pozi, big and tall as an ox, followed behind the scrawny Tan Laizi but kept her back bent in a cautious manner. "Tan Ye, you don't understand. The women in this Fortified Village do heavy labor. Who wouldn't want to earn easy money? If we don't keep control, it'll corrupt people's hearts and no one will work. Then we won't be able to deliver the Forage..."

Tan Laizi stopped suddenly. Yuan Pozi hadn't anticipated it and nearly crashed into him. She halted hastily, stumbling, and instinctively reached out to grab Tan Laizi's arm.

"No touching." Tan Laizi smacked her hand away. He looked left and right, then jabbed a finger at Yuan Pozi. "Speaking of this Forage, I need to have a proper word with you. The Shipai Martial Academy and the New Battalion are opening one after another. Today another Several Hundred soldiers arrived. Shipai's population has grown — it's not like those broken-down places you stayed in before, like Susong. The river will have more boats, the roads more Carriages. We can't make money off the boats, but the Carriages all come by ox and horse. What do we deal in here? Forage! Shipai's cavalry have a lot of livestock. The Forage from dozens of li around all supplies this place. Have you even gone into town to look? The Food Stalls and Inns everywhere are out of fodder — they can't even find a place to buy it. We have it here. Go door to door and ask — whoever wants to buy, we'll sell. Don't price the Forage according to Tongcheng or Prefectural City rates. For dozens of li around here, the Logistics Division has bought it all up. Our price can't be low."

"Then the cavalry battalion's Forage won't be enough to supply..."

"If it's not enough, tell the Logistics Division people. It's not like we grew the Forage ourselves. We only handle drying and transport. If Forage runs short, they'll have to buy from farther away. Anyway, let the Logistics Division figure it out — they don't manage the transport themselves regardless. If you ask me, since Pozidun handles the Forage, Pozidun ought to do its own receiving and inspection — saves the Logistics Division the trouble too."

Having said his piece, Tan Laizi reached a hand back. The other old woman following immediately placed a slice of watermelon in his hand. Without even looking, Tan Laizi put it in his mouth and bit down. Chewing, he pondered a moment, then looked up at Yuan Pozi. "Shipai has a lot of people now. Don't keep treating Pozidun as just a farming village. No matter how hard a bunch of old women farm, you can't out-farm the other Fortified Villages. You need to look at your own strengths. Use the right person for the right job — understand?"

"This old body just fears that with this kind of maneuvering, when the Household Office investigates, they'll say we're not focused on handling our duties, and if we delay the cavalry's forage, we can't bear the responsibility."

"How would it delay the Forage? Those women do the flesh trade, and the silver from each Donation Tribute is used to hire Laborers to handle the Forage. Isn't that more effective than a few old women? What could it possibly delay?"

"I understand, I understand. It's just that right now, everywhere is building Camps — I'm afraid there aren't that many Laborers."

Tan Laizi continued walking, speaking to Yuan Pozi as he went. "How could there be no Laborers? All those Refugees trailing behind the cavalry — they followed all the way from Shandong. That place isn't plagued by Roving Bandits, and they've all been allowed to come to Shipai to seek a livelihood. These people just arrived with no one to rely on. The ones building barracks and Civilian Dwellings are all Old Hands, and they squeeze out these newly arrived Refugees, won't let them work. Right now these people survive on gruel from the Household Office. Can they eat their fill on that? Recruit them as Laborers and Labor Women — just don't give them too much Force Pay."

Yuan Pozi clutched the hem of her clothes. "Then that silver still gets earned away by the Laborers. The village still ends up with nothing."

"What do you mean, earned away? You've got to use your head. The Laborers come — they have to eat, right? This Pozidun is separated from town by the Camp. Now the soldiers from All Camps are back, and with their Reward Silver in hand, what do they do? Eat and drink, nothing else. The Food Stalls are packed every day. The Laborers can't even get a meal there, and couldn't afford it anyway. Men doing heavy labor get hungry — they need water and food. They can only eat near Pozidun. So you find some old women to cook rice and boil water, and you earn a meal fee off them right there."

Yuan Pozi stared blankly. Tan Laizi leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "And if he still has a bit of silver left, after he's eaten and drunk his fill, what else is he going to want to do? Hey — you set up a few rooms next to the Food Stalls, let those women do that business there. When he passes by to eat every day, he'll see it. The Laborers can't resist. The extra silver all stays in our village. Understand now?"

"This old body understands. It's just the Household Office..."

"You deliver the Forage as usual. What business is it of the Household Office?"

Tan Laizi casually tossed away the watermelon rind. Without saying more to Yuan Pozi, he continued forward. Yuan Pozi pointed ahead. "This is the last Banner Chief we need to inspect. The names aren't registered in the roster submitted to the Household Office. This old body keeps a private register here."

"What sort of people are they?" Tan Laizi took it and flipped through.

"All people who need to be kept under watch. From the silver banks, the Canal Gang, soldiers and officers who committed crimes and fled — their Family Dependents can't be killed but can't be released either, so they're all kept here under watch."

"How are they watched?"

"Three-Household Mutual Responsibility. They can only manage their livelihoods within the palisade. When a woman goes out, she must leave her children inside the house, handed over to the other families and the guards to hold. Every day we inspect their clothing — no valuables allowed. Without valuables, she can't run far."

"Watching again. It wastes manpower and wastes Rations and Pay. If any have good looks, just put them to work in the flesh..."

Tan Laizi flipped through the pages as he spoke, and when he suddenly saw the last name, his fingers froze in midair.