Chapter 308

()ps: Requesting monthly tickets

"Smile for your father."

Late at night in the rear residence of the Regional Commander's mansion, several bright gauze lanterns were lit inside the main room. Chen Xin held his several-month-old son, utterly captivated, but the infant did not like it and wailed loudly.

"Master, give him to me, don't frighten the young master," Juxiang said worriedly from the side.

"How could he be frightened? In a few days, I'll take him to fight the Tatars. If he doesn't even have this much courage, he'll definitely wet his pants from fear when the time comes," Chen Xin said carelessly.

"Aiya, speaking of which, he's already wet himself. Quick, give him to me," Juxiang said as she came over and took the child, whose bottom was still dripping.

Chen Xin shook the urine off his hands and cursed, "Useless, wetting himself just at the mention of fighting Tatars."

Zhao Xiang said discontentedly from the side, "Who takes a child to war? Our son is going to study and become Top Graduate, to be a high official."

Chen Xin grabbed a discarded official robe, wiped his hands clean, and smiled. "Didn't Zhu Di fight wars from childhood? Who says you can't both fight and study? Wang Yangming was exactly like that — formidable in both scholarship and war."

Juxiang asked curiously, "Who is Zhu Di? Is he also a military officer?"

Zhao Xiang shot Juxiang a glare. "The Taizong Emperor's name must not be spoken carelessly. A few words at home are fine, but don't go outside and blabber nonsense."

Juxiang stuck out her tongue, lowered her head to change the baby's diaper, and once changed and held up, the child immediately stopped crying.

Chen Xin wanted to hold him again, but Juxiang turned away to block him and said, "Don't hold him, he'll start crying again soon."

Chen Xin could only reach out and touch the child's head. "Why hasn't his hair been shaved yet? Remember to shave it when the time comes. Give me the hair to make a few writing brushes."

Zhao Xiang shook her head. "Don't even think about it. Even if brushes are made, they can't be for your use. They'll be for him to use when he takes the Top Graduate exam."

Chen Xin was about to say more when a serving woman's voice came from outside the door. "Master, Sir Zhou has arrived, saying he has a matter to report."

"Understood." Chen Xin straightened his clothes, went out to the study in the second courtyard. Wang Mafu came in and lit two oil lamps. Zhou Shifa entered a moment later; the flickering flames of the oil lamps cast his figure onto the wall, forming a black shadow.

Zhou Shifa nodded to Wang Mafu. After Wang left, he reported to Chen Xin in a low voice, "Today there was a Yanggu fellow-townsmen gathering at Lu Chuanzong's new residence. Three persons of Squad Commander rank and above, one Central Army Staff Officer, two of Company Commander rank and above — namely Lu Chuanzong and Dai Zhenggang — plus three civil affairs officials, led by Xu Yuanhua."

"Let me see the record."

Zhou Shifa handed over the copied report with both hands. These were the originals transmitted by intelligence agents; the copied reports must not contain a single erroneous character and must be archived daily. Chen Xin read it with a calm expression, then said to Zhou Shifa, "Just a hometown gathering. But Yanggu has many military officers; we must still keep an eye on them in the future."

Zhou Shifa bowed in acknowledgment. Chen Xin had Zhou Shifa sit down and said with a smile, "Shifa, you've followed me for several years now. This time your acting appointment has also reached Regional Military Commissioner. When our territory expands, you'll need to put in even more care. The Intelligence Bureau's scale will certainly not remain at its current level."

"Yes, but the silver funds are still somewhat short. Even after this expansion, it's only enough for five hundred personnel."

"I will find a way to handle the silver matter for you. After this financial reform, the Regional Commander's mansion will have some reserve funds each year, all managed by the Aide-de-Camp Office. When you need it urgently, come to me." Chen Xin continued, "As I mentioned to you last time, the Intelligence Bureau will also be restructured this time, divided into internal and external sections. How do you plan to arrange the personnel?"

"Your subordinate plans to have Zhang Dong head the External Intelligence Division, Qin Rong head the Internal Intelligence Division, and Wu Jianzhong head the Counter-Espionage Division."

"Is there anything else that needs adjustment?"

Zhou Shifa said in a low voice, "Now that it's split, the operations teams also need to be divided into internal and external. Otherwise, when handling matters in other regions, operations will be quite inconvenient. Your subordinate plans to split them into two operations teams, assigned respectively to the Internal and External Intelligence Divisions."

Chen Xin frowned in thought for a moment, then said, "The Internal Intelligence Division concerns the safety of Dengzhou and Laizhou. I cannot trust others with it. You will personally take charge of the Internal Intelligence Division. Let Qin Rong handle Counter-Espionage. Wu Jianzhong's seniority is still shallow, and he previously managed bandit affairs. Make him Deputy Chief of the External Intelligence Division, responsible for the External Operations Team, continuing to manage that covert line. What do you think?"

"Yes, your subordinate will follow your lordship's instructions."

"Additionally, I trust you completely, but Zhang Dong and Wu Jianzhong have not been here long. Both divisions need additional supervisory officers to help you keep an eye on things."

Zhou Shifa paused briefly and said, "My lord, what we do is different from the military. If we are managed by military law, many things cannot be done."

Chen Xin nodded and smiled. "I naturally know that. Therefore, these supervisory officers are not under military law; they are managed by my Aide-de-Camp Office. As long as they do not commit excessively out-of-line acts, I will not pursue them. Continue doing things as you always have. They are merely there to help you watch over those subordinates. These supervisory officers' performance evaluations will also be under your authority."

Hearing Chen Xin speak thus, Zhou Shifa could hardly argue further and had no choice but to agree.

Chen Xin personally poured a cup of tea for Zhou Shifa, handed it to him, and asked casually, "I heard your second wife added a son to your family. When the full-month celebration comes, remember to invite me."

Zhou Shifa showed a rare trace of warmth. "Such a small matter, yet my lord remembers it. The first two were daughters; now I finally have an heir. When I go into life-and-death situations, I'll have no lingering attachments."

"Shifa, do not speak like that. From now on, you will mainly manage the bureau's affairs. Grasp the major matters; do not personally go on every operation. If anything should happen to you, it would be like losing one of my arms."

Zhou Shifa stood up, moved, and said, "My lord overpraises me; I am humbled and uneasy."

"With a new mouth to feed at home, your expenses will increase. Is your usual monthly salary sufficient?"

Zhou Shifa said calmly, "My lord already gives your subordinate a great deal. I usually urge my family to economize a little, thinking of buying more land and an estate in the future."

Chen Xin nodded gently. "Your monthly salary will also be increased this time. If it's still not enough in ordinary times, you may also come to me. I have some silver that sits idle anyway. In the future, once you have shares in the Four Seas Trading Company, you'll receive annual dividends, and life will improve."

"Your subordinate thanks my lord."

The two chatted about family matters and talked idly for another quarter-hour. Then the steward came to report that Song Wenxian and Yang Yunnong requested an audience. Zhou Shifa stood to take his leave. Chen Xin did not detain him, only saying, "Yang Yunnong also wishes to seek an official post, to enter my Dengzhou Garrison."

Zhou Shifa added cheerfully, "My lord has been busy enough these days. But Yang Yunnong's talent is ordinary; what could he do, I wonder?"

"He approached me earlier. I think he can still handle some matters. His status as Seal-Holding Guard Commander is also genuine. I plan to place him under Song Wenxian, to have him deal with the guard battalions of Dengzhou and Laizhou. He and Song Wenxian are old acquaintances. But whether it ultimately works out will depend on Song Wenxian's opinion. In personnel matters like this, the opinions of the department chiefs are also very important."

"My lord is wise. Then your subordinate takes his leave, not to disturb my lord's business."

Chen Xin nodded with a smile. After Zhou Shifa left, he put away his smile. As for the Intelligence Bureau, its management methods could not be the same as for combat troops. Relying entirely on Zhou Shifa's loyalty was far from sufficient. Using the opportunity of institutional restructuring to add oversight was necessary. Although the supervisory officers' performance evaluation authority rested with Zhou Shifa, their personnel authority lay with the Regional Commander's Aide-de-Camp Office, thus driving a nail into the Intelligence Bureau — at the very least, it would remind the Intelligence Bureau personnel that someone was watching them.

This was the advantage of institutional restructuring. With a necessary reason for adjustment, one could do many things within it that were normally difficult to do. For instance, the Yanggu people had previously mostly been in the First and Second Battalions; this time, some could be transferred to other battalions. And the unified standardized training would prevent such transfers from affecting combat effectiveness.

He glanced again at the intelligence record, his brow furrowing slightly. The salaries of Wendeng's military officers were high, but they lacked the power to distribute troop pay. If everyone around them were the same, they would not feel unbalanced. Now, with more time spent mingling with other battalions from Dengzhou and Dongjiang, these officers all knew that Ming army officers could embezzle soldiers' pay, and that all major authority rested in the hands of commanders. Their mindset indeed wavered somewhat, and Lu Chuanzong had more than once, on other occasions, expressed envy toward other Ming army commanders.

Fortunately, there was now the opportunity of Four Seas Trading Company shares, which could raise military compensation without affecting land resources and bind officers and soldiers more tightly into the Dengzhou system.

Chen Xin looked at the name Lu Chuanzong written on the paper, sighed softly, lit the copied report over the flame, and watched it turn to ashes.

Just as he was thinking this, Yang Yunnong's massive, rotund figure appeared at the main door. Chen Xin put on a smile and went to greet him...

On the fifteenth day of the sixth month, the main gate of the Civil Affairs Office was lined with guards, and there were also many garrison provost soldiers along the nearby roadside, from the Garrison Provost General Unit directly under the Chief Military Judge. Its authorized strength totaled one hundred men. They wore red short jackets and helmets painted with white stripes, looking exceptionally spirited.

The large courtyard was filled with officials who had rushed over from various places, standing in groups according to their own circles, chatting idly and exchanging news they knew. They naturally divided into two sides again, military and civil affairs clearly distinct. Occasionally, a few wounded veterans who had been promoted to civil posts and were familiar with both sides ran back and forth between the two groups passing messages.

Because before the formal announcement of appointments, only a few important positions remained undecided. For those agencies and chiefs already confirmed, Chen Xin and Liu Minyou had each spoken face-to-face with the relevant people and made plans for the subordinate agencies. These chiefs, upon returning, would also arrange things with their own subordinates, so most people knew the affairs of their own departments.

Now gathered together, they were interested in the personnel of other departments, especially those important positions that aroused even greater curiosity. The entire courtyard buzzed with murmuring voices.

Lao Cai, as the person who had known Chen Xin the earliest, now became the focal point on the civil affairs side. A group of Fort Chiefs about to be promoted surrounded him, listening to him share gossip.

The gaunt, thin Lao Cai, surrounded by a group of burly men, was like being at the bottom of a courtyard well. However, as someone who had been abroad, he was accustomed to grand occasions and remained perfectly composed. "In civil affairs, the most important are Finance and the Forts. The Forts are supervised by Mo Huaiwen. Finance, I reckon, will either be managed by Mr. Liu himself or by that Wang Daixi."

The group of Fort Chiefs hissed in sharp breaths. Wang Daixi, a woman, was going to manage so much money. From now on, all departmental budgets and settlements would pass through her hands; she would become a female God of Wealth. But she had managed these matters before, and the financial system had been established single-handedly by her and Liu Minyou. The various Fort Chiefs could hardly complain about anything. But that Mo Huaiwen had also been a Fort Chief before and was now already the second-in-command of civil affairs. Among the onlooking Fort Chiefs, there were also two classmates from the first literacy class, who sighed with mixed emotions upon hearing this.

Lao Cai, having been around the longest and having the widest network, added mysteriously, "Besides these two, there's also a Personnel Department. Do you know what it does?"

The Fort Chiefs shook their heads in unison. Only after whetting their appetite did Lao Cai say with satisfaction, "It's the Ministry of Personnel. From now on, it won't be just Lord Liu coming to tell you a word and that's it. You'll have to receive an appointment document issued through this Personnel Department. Only when you hold that document are you considered to have assumed office."

One Fort Chief quickly asked, "Then who is the chief of this Personnel Department?"

Old Cai stroked his beard and smiled. Only when that Tunzhang was frantic with no way out did he say, "I don't know."

The Tunzhangs all groaned, but Old Cai added, "Besides these few, the former patrol officers have now become the Inspection Office. If you've left anything undone, they'll come looking for trouble."

One Tunzhang complained, "How many superiors is that? The Tunbao Office manages the people, the Personnel Office manages official posts, the Inspection Office comes to check — and that's just the civil side. The Central Army also has the Mobilization Office. How many people does one Tunzhang have to deal with?"

Old Cai shot him a glance and cursed under his breath, "It'd be better if you didn't want the job. All ten Zongjia in your tun are eyeing your position. Besides, since you were called here to attend today, that means you're up for promotion. And you still grumble about a few superiors managing you? You manage ten Zongjia and five Company Commander under you. If you don't want the post, then trade it to me, Old Cai. You think I don't know how many perks a Tunzhang gets? If you truly don't want it, come with me right now to Mr. Liu and make it clear."

That Tunzhang pulled his head back and quickly retreated into the crowd. The others kept clamoring and pressing Old Cai with more questions. Just then, a bugle sounded at the meeting hall entrance. Mo Huaiwen and Wang Mafu arrived in the courtyard and separately called the military and civil personnel into the hall.

This newly built meeting hall was very large. Inside, giant timbers served as pillars, and the main beams spanned a great distance. It could seat over a hundred people. At the front was a podium with a long table and a row of chairs. The hall was filled with chairs, and some garrison soldiers directed everyone to find their assigned seats.

The June weather was somewhat stifling, and the seating was rather cramped. Once everyone was settled, they began to sweat. The civil officials tugged open their collars, took out folding fans to fan themselves, and constantly whispered to one another.

On the military side, they maintained a standard sitting posture. No one loosened their clothes or fanned themselves, and no one spoke in hushed tones.

A moment later, Chen Xin, Liu Minyou, and Song Wenxian stepped onto the podium, and the hall immediately fell silent.

Wang Mafu moved to the left side below the podium. Once Chen Xin and the others had taken their places, Wang Mafu shouted, "Salute!"

All the military officers rose in unison and gave a military salute. The civil officials on their side stood up in disarray, some cupping their hands in greeting, others bowing — it was utterly chaotic.

Chen Xin and the others returned the salute and sat down. Chen Xin sat in the center, Liu Minyou took the left side, and Song Wenxian sat on the right. The one presiding over this meeting was this old partner of Chen Xin's.

He was fully and neatly dressed, sweat beading on his forehead. He took out a handkerchief and wiped it, then stood up and calmly swept his gaze across the hall. Seeing that everyone was silently watching the podium, he nodded with satisfaction. Then, in a measured tone, he began: "Today, we have gathered all our colleagues here to deliberate and establish the institutional framework of our Dengzhou Garrison. That the Wendeng Battalion has grown ever stronger under Lord Chen's command is due to the meticulous planning that Lord Chen and Mr. Liu undertook back then, their tireless devotion day after day. It is also the fruit of the wholehearted cooperation of all our colleagues, which has allowed our Wendeng Battalion to transform in just a few years from a fishing village in Weihai into a powerful garrison in Dengzhou. But now, our garrison is spread across various parts of Denglai, a vast territory. Lord Chen and Mr. Liu no longer have the energy to personally oversee everything. More matters must rely on the dedication of all of you here. As the saying goes, without rules, nothing can be accomplished. The institutional framework we deliberate today is precisely to delineate duties and responsibilities. Below, please welcome Liu Pojun to first read out the organizational structure of the Regional Commander's headquarters."

As they watched Liu Pojun walk to the left side of the podium and take out a booklet, everyone in the hall held their breath, afraid of missing a single word. (To be continued.)