Chapter 205: Variables

"Zhang Dong has returned to the island. Liu Xingzhi is already dead. Shen Shikui and Huang Long have seized control of the situation on the island and are now executing Liu Xingzhi's remaining followers. They have captured many rebel soldiers and officers. Interrogation has revealed that Liu Xingzhi had been in secret contact with Huang Taiji all along. Huang Taiji's terms for him were to retain his original post, keep command of his own troops, and be reunited with his family who remained in Later Jin. Among those who followed Liu Xingzhi in the rebellion were Li Dengke, Cui Yaozu, Ma Liang, Li Shian, Guo Tiansheng, Wang Cai, Wang Chenggong, and over ten other officers. The highest-ranking was Assistant Regional Commander Li Dengke."

In the military camp at Weihai, Liu Pojun stood before a wall map and briefed the officers. "According to reports coming back from Pi Island, the situation there is chaotic. The Pi Island troops are still slaughtering the rebels, and the scope has widened—even their families are not being spared. Furthermore, several hundred Jianzhou Bandits have been spotted near Tieshan, including over seventy Fish-Skin Tatars. The commanding officer is Tong Yangxing, and they are likely there to receive Liu Xingzhi ashore."

Zhu Guobin asked, "Several hundred Jianzhou Bandits, with over seventy Fish-Skin Tatars, are not enough to attack Pi Island. Besides, the Jianzhou Bandits have no navy. It seems we need not mobilize everyone."

Liu Pojun did not answer. He looked at Chen Xin. Chen Xin smiled faintly. "If it were only Tong Yangxing, we indeed wouldn't need to go to such lengths. But many of Liu Xingzhi's men have fled ashore. Huang Taiji will easily learn what happened on the island and may well take advantage of Pi Island's internal strife to send reinforcements, aiming to capture it in one stroke. Pi Island is too far from Weihai. If we wait for word before mobilizing, we might miss our chance. More importantly…" Chen Xin stood, walked to the map, and pointed at Jinzhou. "According to the last intelligence report, the imperial court is determined to build Dalinghe Fortress. Grand Coordinator Sun Chengzong has ordered Dengzhou and Laizhou to be ready at all times to aid Liaoxi, and if necessary, to cross the sea and strike the Four Southern Garrisons to tie down Jianzhou Bandit forces. Sun Yuanhua also holds our Wendeng Battalion in high regard and has instructed me to prepare between two and three thousand combat troops. We need a contingency plan."

Chen Xin then used his bamboo pointer to indicate Shenyang. "Last year, the Jianzhou Bandits seized tens of thousands—perhaps over a hundred thousand—people, all able-bodied laborers. This has greatly supplemented their manpower. Barring the unexpected, their mobilization capacity will increase significantly this year, and they will be able to sustain combat operations longer. Under these circumstances, even though Dongjiang Garrison's ability to tie them down is not what it once was, Pi Island's position remains vital. It absolutely must not be lost."

The assembled officers nodded in agreement. Lu Chuanzong turned to Ba Zi and asked, "Master Jiang, our land forces have transferred two Company Commander headquarters here. The navy has only a few ships. How many men can they transport?"

Ba Zi replied, somewhat sheepishly, "The navy has six large ships, seventeen small war junks, and over thirty merchant vessels. Each large ship can carry about a hundred troops; the small war junks and merchant ships can carry thirty to fifty. But three of the large ships are assigned to maritime trade, and eight small war junks are being used for freight in Jiangnan. Currently available are three large ships and twenty small junks and merchant ships, capable of transporting just over eleven hundred men. However, the merchant ships are slow and would hold us back. If we use only the war junks, we can transport just over six hundred men."

"

Maritime trade was his primary source of income. Developing the canal commercial network and the factories had already left Chen Xin extremely short of funds. The trading company's capital was needed for turnover, so Chen Xin naturally could not halt the maritime trade. The ships for the Jiangnan freight had already been dispatched and could not be recalled in time.

"The ships and crews for maritime trade cannot be reassigned. They will proceed as usual. We'll load as many men as the ships we have on hand can carry. Zhu Daichun, report on the farmer-soldier mobilization."

Zhu Daichun quickly stood and read from the register in his hand. "The first batch of farmer-soldiers has been mobilized from six fortified villages, combined into three Divisions, and has begun intensive training at Wendeng Camp. The second batch will mobilize the remaining six fortified villages, also training at Wendeng Camp. Total strength is three thousand men, organized into six Divisions and three Company Commander headquarters. All combat troops will gradually assemble at the old Weihai barracks. The third batch will not begin until after the sixth month, mobilizing the refugees who were organized during last year's road construction. They number two thousand men. These men completed basic training over the winter and will be used as logistics troops and replacements after this mobilization."...

Dong Yu added, "My lord, after these three batches are mobilized, the monthly payroll expenditure will increase by nearly two thousand taels, and grain consumption by over two thousand shi. The farmer-soldiers also need uniforms and flintlock conversions, which will require an increased budget from the civil administration."

Everyone turned to look at Liu Minyou. Liu Minyou nodded confidently. "What's there to say about fighting a war? The civil administration will do its utmost to ensure supply. There's no problem with the silver we have on hand right now."

He did not elaborate further. The specific financial figures were known only to him and Chen Xin. The situation was actually very tight, but he would not say so in a military meeting.

Chen Xin rapped the table. "Headquarters staff, distribute maps of Pi Island and the surrounding area before nightfall tomorrow and prepare operational plans. We set out the moment we receive orders from Dengzhou."

After the officers left, Chen Xin detained Liu Minyou and also called in Song Wenxian. Only the three of them remained in the meeting room. They had more confidential matters to discuss.

Liu Minyou now looked somewhat listless. "The maritime trade goods will all arrive by the fifth month. The total value is roughly one hundred forty thousand taels. This silver does not need to be paid to Xu Xinsu, but it must be transported to the money shop in Linqing for purchasing northern goods and cotton. That is the single largest expenditure. If we maintain the current mobilization, our silver will only last until the ninth month. A batch of silver from the cigarettes will come back in the fourth month. We can temporarily divert Xu Xinsu's silver for three months."

Chen Xin rubbed his forehead and cursed. "If only we'd looted more last year. I went into Yongping and never even thought to confiscate property. Intelligence from Guanning says He Kegang seized goods worth nearly half a million taels from Bai Yangcui's house. I'm kicking myself."

Song Wenxian shook his head. "My lord, at the time you must have assumed that since Bai Yangcui had been killed, Amin would have already looted everything from his house. Who knew Bai Yangcui had hidden things so well? In the end, He Kegang got the bargain. It's said that Zu Dashou also confiscated many Han officials' homes in Luanzhou, and his haul was no less than He Kegang's."

Liu Minyou listened, grinding his teeth. He had been there too. Everyone had assumed the Jianzhou Bandits had taken the most. Who knew these surrendered Han officials had actually seized even more? Especially in Yongping—there were corpses everywhere, and no one thought of confiscating property. Even He Kegang probably never imagined Bai Yangcui's house still held treasure; he was solely focused on taking heads. If they had seized that illicit fortune back then, why would they be so worried about silver now?

Liu Minyou thought for a long while, then asked Chen Xin, "Isn't it time to collect our summer payroll? Can we get Sun Yuanhua to allocate more grain to us?"

Chen Xin looked at Song Wenxian with a hint of helplessness. Song Wenxian explained, "Mr. Liu, getting supplies from Sun Yuanhua may become difficult from now on. Zhang Dagang just sent word that Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren have begun open and covert struggle. Sun Yuanhua is Zhou Yanru's man. In the second month, someone impeached Sun Yuanhua for believing in foreign religions and using foreign troops. Wen Tiren was behind it. We have always been on Wen Tiren's side. The factional struggles at court will soon affect things here in Dengzhou and Laizhou."

Liu Minyou said in surprise, "Weren't those two on the same side? Why have they fallen out?"

Song Wenxian smiled. "They've already eliminated all the other powerful Grand Secretaries. Naturally, it's time for them to fight each other viciously. It's just beginning now. Both sides are testing each other. It may not be a fight to the death yet; it depends on timing. Zhou Yanru is now the Senior Grand Secretary and deeply trusted by His Majesty. If Wen Tiren wants to move against Zhou Yanru, he must find a target and then implicate Zhou Yanru through it. Among the current high-ranking provincial officials, the best target is Sun Yuanhua. He is universally acknowledged as Zhou Yanru's man. He has achieved no particular merit in his post in Dengzhou and Laizhou, yet costs hundreds of thousands in military payroll. Now, with this chaos on Pi Island, I estimate that Wen Tiren is about to make his move."

"

Chen Xin continued, "If Wen Tiren makes things difficult for Sun Yuanhua, it goes without saying that Sun Yuanhua will make things difficult for me. So we must prepare on two fronts. First, try to get as many supplies as possible before they openly fall out. Second, we must be frugal with our silver and buy more grain to store. With grain in hand, the heart is at ease."...

Liu Minyou had no idea what major events would occur this year. Hearing this, he grew very worried. Over the past year, Sun Yuanhua had provided Wendeng Battalion with a great deal of materiel. Although he took a cut from the payroll, he never paid late. Last time, he requested twenty thousand taels from the court to buy horses and even promised to give Chen Xin one hundred horses after the purchase. Relations between the two sides had always been very good, yet now they were to become enemies because of the struggles of Grand Secretaries like Wen Tiren.

Liu Minyou said to Chen Xin, "Can we talk to Lord Sun? We in Dengzhou and Laizhou can't influence major court affairs. Can't we privately maintain our previous relationship?"

Song Wenxian and Chen Xin both gave him an odd look. Chen Xin blinked. "Minyou, in officialdom, that's called trimming one's sails to the wind. Once those Grand Secretaries find out, neither side will treat you well. Neither Sun Yuanhua nor we can do that. Lord Wen will soon send someone to make us pick a side. Most likely, he'll also ask us to collect dirt on Sun Yuanhua. If we refuse, we can only defect to Zhou Yanru. Staying neutral yields the lowest returns, and in the end, you may not come out well either."

To Liu Minyou, the thought of one's direct superior becoming an adversary was truly a headache. Although Song Wenxian and Chen Xin did not consider it a good thing, they did not find it overly troublesome either. Both had seen plenty of officialdom's ways. Song Wenxian lowered his head, his hand tracing the table as he pondered. "Our top priority now is not to leave any handles for others to grab. Late last year, a censor impeached Lord Chen for allowing his troops to run amok in Wendeng, oppressing the villagers, seizing land, and trafficking in illicit salt, among other things. At that time, the two sides had not yet fallen out, so it caused no stir. If such charges come again now, we'll be in serious trouble. As long as Zhou Yanru drafts an order for a thorough investigation, the Directorate of Ceremonial approves it, and a censor is dispatched to investigate, with Sun Yuanhua's cooperation, we'll be crippled."

Chen Xin smiled faintly. "So this year, we won't send silver to Zhou Yanru. We'll send it to the Directorate of Ceremonial instead. It should be of some use."

Liu Minyou suddenly said, "Since Zhou Yanru is the Senior Grand Secretary, why don't we just switch to his side? Then we wouldn't have to fall out with Sun Yuanhua."

Chen Xin suppressed a laugh. "If only it were that simple. Leave this matter alone. The sky won't fall. Just remember to economize this year. Also, stop occupying private farmland. Take more unclaimed land near the hills."

Liu Minyou asked uneasily, "What if Sun Yuanhua deliberately makes trouble for us?"

Song Wenxian chuckled. "Since we are Wen Tiren's men, how could he allow Sun Yuanhua to do as he pleases? If he did, who else would follow him? If Sun Yuanhua truly dares to go too far, we can naturally provide Wen Tiren with ammunition to impeach him. Sun Yuanhua, like us, will tread carefully, especially regarding our Wendeng Battalion. His Majesty frequently inquires about us. I expect he wouldn't dare withhold our military pay. Grain and other supplies will be more difficult, since they all must pass through his hands. What worries me most is that when troops are dispatched, he'll send us on a suicide mission."

Liu Minyou narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment. He realized these two could handle Sun Yuanhua without trouble, and he could offer no useful advice, so he stopped asking questions.

Chen Xin tapped the table edge with his fingers, unconcerned. "Among the Grand Secretaries, Wu Zongda stands with Wen Tiren. Two are on Zhou Yanru's side. Liang Tingdong now seems to support Wen Tiren more."

Song Wenxian said, "In the third month, Liang Tingdong had a vicious struggle with Wang Yongguang and drove Wang Yongguang home. I hear he wants to become Minister of Personnel and then enter the Grand Secretariat. But his timing is poor. Given the current situation in the Grand Secretariat, it will be difficult for him to get in. If he sides with either faction, the other will move against him quickly and won't let him enter the Grand Secretariat to add another variable."

Chen Xin smiled faintly. "The affairs of these great lords—we can only watch. If Wen Tiren sends someone, give him the figures on the phantom payroll in Dengzhou. This matter is neither big nor small; as long as we can fulfill our duty, it's fine. Mr. Song, you will go to Jingshi again in a while. Remember one thing: no matter what happens, we remain firmly on Wen Tiren's side. If there is any urgent matter, send word back as quickly as possible. Most importantly, we must keep our eyes fixed on the Jianzhou Bandits. No matter how Sun Yuanhua deploys troops, we must find our own ways to kill more Jianzhou Bandits. With heads in hand, whether we are supporting Sun Yuanhua or impeaching him, we will have greater confidence."

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