Chapter 316: Mocking the Tatar

For two consecutive days, Dengzhou Garrison cleared out Zhaoyuan's Luoshan. All major mines — Jinhuashan, Linglong Mine, Wang'ershan, and others — were brought under control, and most mining areas were occupied smoothly. Only at Wang'ershan did fierce armed fighting erupt. The force attacking Wang'ershan was composed of captured personnel, poorly organized and slow to move. The local gentry and their henchmen had learned of the operation in advance and mobilized the miners to fight the prisoner camp. Though the miners were tough, the gap in equipment was too great, and they were ultimately defeated. Over seventy were beheaded, while the prisoner-soldiers suffered twenty-some fatalities.

In several mining areas, over two thousand taels of gold that had not yet been transported away were seized, along with more than two hundred thousand jin of unprocessed ore. For the Civil Affairs Department, the top priority was to resume mining operations as quickly as possible.

Around Linglong Mine, combat troops were posted everywhere. Officials from the Industry and Commerce Bureau and propaganda instructors were explaining the wage scales to the miners at various sites. The miners all wore expressions of longing.

This time, Liu Minyou intended to establish a separate mining company, but one not directly subordinate to the Industry and Commerce Bureau — independently operated, just like the cigarette factory. After investigating the miners' income, he set new wages. Except for members of the former gentry's clans and their close neighbors, all other miners were retained. The propaganda instructors were highly practiced in their methods, swiftly winning over a group of miners, granting them some benefits, and then using these men to manage the other miners. With these examples set, the rest of the miners settled down. Upon hearing their income would double, no one paid any more attention to Zheng Hegui and his ilk.

Liu Minyou and Xu Yuanhua, accompanied by several bodyguards, arrived at a riverside ore-washing site. Also with them were a few workshop technicians newly transferred from Dengzhou. The appointed mine supervisor was Huang Anshou. This man had previously been a shopkeeper at a dumping shop; after arriving in Wendeng, he had been making counterfeit copper coins in the coin workshop. Although he produced fakes every day, he was a fairly honest person and possessed decent managerial talent — the counterfeit coin factory had never had a serious problem, which saved Liu Minyou a great deal of worry.

Huang Anshou looked the same as ever. Because he worked in a high-temperature environment every day, his eyebrows and hair were all a scorched yellow. He followed Liu Minyou to the ore-washing area, where piles of ore were heaped and countless crushed stones littered the ground.

"My lord, please look. After the ore is dug out, miners first carry it here. Those with great strength smash it with hammers into small pieces two or three inches across, then use stone mills or rollers to crush it into powder." Huang Anshou pointed to the river ahead. "Then wooden sluices or winnowing baskets are used to wash out the gold grains. Finally, the gold grains are smelted into ingots. Those are roughly the steps. I am currently setting the work procedures according to the model of the coin workshop."

Liu Minyou walked a circuit around those tools and asked the several workshop technicians beside him, "Which of these can be mechanized?"

The men conferred briefly. One of them, a fairly young technician, stepped forward and replied, "My lord, a chute can be used to send ore from the mountain down to the base, saving a great deal of manpower. However, this method can only be tried first, since the rocks are too heavy and the chute is extremely prone to damage. For crushing stone, water-powered hammers can be used. Large mills can be replaced by water mills. The rolling mill that Wendeng began using can also serve. For the final washing, a dedicated water channel can be built so that all washing is done within the channel. Multi-layered winnowing baskets can be set at the tail end of the channel, thus preventing fine gold grains from being washed away by the river."

Liu Minyou recognized that young man — he came from the science and technology class. He could not help nodding in praise. "Little Brother Guan thinks very meticulously. You few will stay here and teach them to make these things. Train more carpenters and men who can maintain the machinery. Also, the safety of the mine tunnels must be improved. Do not skimp on effort where wooden supports should be used. You must think often of these miners. They all have families. If the tunnels are made more secure, many fewer people will die."

The technicians all bowed to receive his instruction. Xu Yuanhua quietly sidled over and said in a low voice, "My lord, if hydraulic machinery is used everywhere, many of the people here who previously carried and smashed ore will become redundant. If these people lose their rice bowls, I fear they will make trouble."

Huang Anshou, standing nearby, also heard this. He said to Xu Yuanhua, "There are combat troops here. Why fear trouble?"

Liu Minyou said hurriedly, "Anshou, you must not think that way. For the surplus people, ask them — if they are willing to go to the fortified villages, settle them there. If they are unwilling, have them open more tunnels. That way, output can also be increased."

Huang Anshou responded flatly. Liu Minyou pointed toward Wang'ershan. "Zhaoyuan has over a dozen mining areas, large and small. You will oversee all of them. Do not use only the original miners for all positions. Recruit another batch from Dengzhou and locally in Zhaoyuan. Appoint more people from Dengzhou as foremen."

"I understand."

Xu Yuanhua stole a glance at Liu Minyou. In the past, Liu Minyou had not had so many twists and turns in his thinking. Now, he had to put a bit of thought into everything.

Liu Minyou finally said to Mo Huaiwen, "From that batch of prisoners, those who performed well this time can have a portion selected and settled in the fortified villages near Laizhou Prefecture. After one year, if they have no record of misdeeds, they can be conscripted into the reserve troops. As for the remaining portion who performed well, have them help manage this prisoner unit and issue them some monthly pay. The overall situation here is settled. Tomorrow I will go to Pingdu to inspect the fortified villages. I leave this place in your hands. Supervisor Huang, year-end output must exceed twenty thousand taels. If it falls short, both the mine and the Industry and Commerce Bureau will have their bonuses docked."

After speaking, Liu Minyou left the area, calling the silly monk to accompany him toward the miners' gathering place. From time to time, he crouched down to talk with the miners. Xu Yuanhua watched his retreating figure and murmured, "Lord Liu has learned statecraft too."...

The next day, Liu Minyou set out early, passing through Yexian and hurrying toward Pingdu Department. As soon as he entered Pingdu's territory, the fortified villages of Dengzhou Garrison were visible everywhere along the official road. Countless garrison households labored on the land, and large numbers of them were organized to collectively dig irrigation canals. In some places, tall windmills and waterwheels had already been erected — a scene brimming with vitality, incomparable to the desolate, drought-stricken landscape along the road through Yexian.

Pingdu had suffered heavy losses in last year's military chaos, leaving many vacant areas within the city. Yet Mo Huaiwen had discreetly set up his office in a fortified village outside the East Gate. From the outside, this fortified village looked like civilian dwellings, but in fact, it housed few garrison households and mostly contained the local offices of various departments.

Liu Minyou did not notify Mo Huaiwen to receive him but went directly to Mo Huaiwen's fortified village. By then, the sky had darkened. Mo Huaiwen hosted him for a simple evening meal — only two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes. A single reception not exceeding two qian of silver was also a rule Liu Minyou had demanded.

The next day, Mo Huaiwen gave Liu Minyou a brief report on the situation in Pingdu. Currently, they occupied three hundred thousand mu of land, had established sixty fortified villages, and had a population of one hundred ten thousand. The land problem that had plagued Wendeng for years was temporarily resolved. However, relying on these meager resources to realize Chen Xin's grand dream was still far from enough.

Liu Minyou was very satisfied with Mo Huaiwen's work. Seeing the numerous documents on Mo Huaiwen's desk, he picked up a volume and looked at it. It turned out to be land statistics for various parts of Shandong. Liu Minyou could not help smiling. "How do you even have this sort of thing? Where did you get these statistics?"

Mo Huaiwen said respectfully, "They came from the clerks in Pingdu. One of them obtained it from the Shandong Provincial Administration Commission. However, the data is rather old — perhaps the acreage survey from the Wanli era."

Liu Minyou flipped through it. Inside was a total figure: Shandong's total arable land was fifty-seven million mu. This number included Dengzhou and Laizhou. That meant even if Dengzhou Garrison acquired all five hundred thousand mu, it would only be one percent of Shandong's arable land. If managed well, Shandong alone could defeat the Jianzhou Bandits.

Liu Minyou set down the booklet. He randomly chose one of Pingdu's fortified villages. This was his method of preventing subordinates from putting on a show — before an inspection, he never fixed the specific location or agenda in advance, deciding only upon arrival.

Mo Huaiwen, having followed him for a long time, was well acquainted with Liu Minyou's style and agreed readily. Glancing at that fortified village, he could not help smiling. "This particular fortified village is quite a coincidence. Today, the cultural troupe has come to perform a play. I hear it's their first performance in Pingdu. The people from the Propaganda Bureau originally invited me to watch with them, and as it happens, Mr. Liu has also chosen that place."

Liu Minyou had nearly forgotten about this cultural troupe lately. Hearing this, he asked with some surprise, "What play are they performing?"

"It seems to be 'Lovers in a Chaotic World.' Yes."...

Beside the Xianshui River flowing out of Daze Mountain stood Pingdu Fortified Village No. 3. It was close to Daze Mountain, where some bandits still remained in the hills. Therefore, although combat troops were stationed nearby, the fortified village had still specially built an outer wall.

Inside the fortified village was still a cross-shaped street. Although most buildings were still thatched huts, temples of brick and tile had already been erected — for the City God, Guanyin, the Three Officials, and others. At the center of the cross street was what most distinguished Dengzhou's fortified villages from other places: a broad open space. This space was not for exercise — these working people would certainly think anyone who spent money specifically to work out was ill. In this small square stood a stage, where the village head usually assembled everyone to give speeches. Today, the small square was packed with people, a sea of heads, voices boiling. Kerchiefs of every color bobbed about as people peered through gaps in the front rows at the performance on stage.

"Dear villagers, please stop talking! Please remember the discipline you had when building the roads, otherwise no one can hear what's being said..."

The female host's voice came from in front of the curtain, nearly drowned out by the cacophony of noise. The fat cultural soldier Tang Wei was sitting backstage, trembling. He had already had two performance experiences — once at the Laiyang training base, once at a Laiyang fortified village.

The scene of being cursed at by the audience was still vivid in his mind. Performing for new recruits had been slightly better — as soon as the drill instructor roared, those soldiers fell silent. The garrison households at the Laiyang fortified village were not nearly so disciplined. The memory of the seething crowd below the stage made him quiver with fear.

Listening to the garrison households outside making a ruckus, Tang Wei wished they would make even more trouble — ideally so the performance would be canceled. Just as he was praying, a furious shout rang out from the stage outside: "You dog things, if you keep yapping, I'll dock your performance evaluation scores! This host lady has been talking for ages — have you not grown ears?!"

Then another voice appeared on stage: "Anyone who keeps making noise will be dragged to the drill ground to run ten laps. If you really fancy a taste of the stick, just keep it up."

The venue instantly fell silent. Tang Wei was immediately plunged into despair. The cultural troupe leader chuckled: "When the village head and the drill instructor step in, they're way more effective than us."

"Wish they weren't," Tang Wei muttered under his breath. The troupe leader had no time to notice him and hurriedly called to the actors: "Quick, take advantage of the quiet and get on stage! First scene, begin."

A small boy, barefoot, came on stage from the side. In his hand he carried a lantern. In a child's voice, he loudly sang: "Fireflies, mother's coming, father's coming, twist a hemp rope to tie them up. With Granny Wind, hide in the grass, shout once and off they go."

The clear, crisp child's voice was very endearing, and the boy was adorable. Cheers immediately erupted from the audience, and some people were even clapping. Backstage, Tang Wei was not listening at all. He had been slanting his eyes, stealing glances at Miss Guan, who was preparing to go on stage. The more he looked, the more exquisitely beautiful she seemed. Miss Guan also looked somewhat nervous — after all, this crowd was far larger than the one in Laiyang.

Tang Wei licked his plump lips and stood up, preparing to go over and stay close to Miss Guan. But a tall figure flashed in front of him — it was the male lead, Xu Pingjie. He heard him say quietly to Miss Guan, "Peipei, don't panic. We did well the first two times; this time will be the same."

Miss Guan gave a soft "mm" in reply. When she looked up at Xu Pingjie, a sparkle flickered in her eyes.

Tang Wei immediately deflated. This Xu Pingjie was Xu Yuanhua's cousin's son. It was said that his family had gone into business with Xu Yuanhua's support and would certainly be very wealthy in the future. Xu Pingjie was also tall and handsome. Compared to him, Tang Wei was so far behind it couldn't be measured in miles. And now, even a fool could see that those two were exchanging glances and had mutual feelings for each other. Tang Wei only later understood — back when they were conscripted, Miss Guan had been looking at him and smiling because she was treating him as a joke.

"Bah, a big fellow like that doesn't go off to war, but comes running to some cultural troupe — clearly afraid to die," Tang Wei cursed in his heart.

On stage, the little boy had only one melody, singing an adapted Wu-dialect nursery rhyme. After finishing, he shouted, "It's dark now, Mama says come home," and exited from the other side.

The troupe leader directed: "Miss Guan... Guan Peipei, on stage. Those after her, remember your order yourselves."

Miss Guan stepped out lightly, singing as she walked: "The moon rises — I bid my love meet me when the moon rises. But how is it the moon has risen above the hilltop and I still do not see him? Alas, I know not if my hill is low and the moon rises early here; alas, I know not if his hill is high and the moon rises late there."

Tang Wei hurried forward a few steps, preparing to seize the chance to ogle. Suddenly, his collar tightened, and someone yanked him backward several steps. He nearly stumbled and fell to the ground.

"Which dog..." Tang Wei burned with rage. Before the curse fully left his mouth, he saw Xu Pingjie glaring at him and hastily swallowed the second half. He heard Xu Pingjie say, "Do you understand the rules or not? Your turn on stage isn't until much later — after the wedding scene. Don't get in the way here, blocking others from going on. Got it memorized, you Play-Acting Tatar?"

"What did you call me?!" Tang Wei shot to his feet.

Xu Pingjie glanced left and right, saw the troupe leader was busy adjusting costumes, and leaned in, looming over Tang Wei. "I called you a Play-Acting Tatar! What are you going to do about it?"

The plump Tang Wei, under the oppressive presence of the tall, imposing Xu Pingjie, showed not the slightest fear. His teeth clenched tightly, his eyes equally wide, the two stared at each other like fighting cocks. Xu Pingjie slowly pressed closer. Tang Wei's body suddenly went limp. He lowered his head and said, "I just didn't hear clearly what you called me, so I asked again."

"Play-Acting Tatar, Play-Acting Tatar, Play-Acting Tatar!" Xu Pingjie called out three times in a row. "Did you hear it clearly this time?"

"Heard... heard it clearly. But... you've missed your entrance," Tang Wei said with a sly grin.

"Ah!" Xu Pingjie shouted, whipping his head around. He saw Guan Peipei standing dryly on stage, already frantic. Her singing lines were finished, and the troupe leader happened to be absent.

"Xu Pingjie, you dog thing, what are you doing?!" The troupe leader rushed over in exasperation.

Xu Pingjie scrambled onto the stage to perform the moonlit betrothal scene with Miss Guan. Tang Wei laughed to himself smugly. "Mess with me, will you."

With his nemesis gone, Tang Wei squeezed to the front of the stage and stared dazedly at Miss Guan's retreating figure.

He kept watching like this until the two were married. The leadership had demanded this scene be lively, so even the troupe's odd-job men and cooks all went on stage, playing friends and family. Only the three actors playing Tatars remained, with Tang Wei as their leader.

"Fatty, the fire pan's out. We're about to go on," a man beside him named Xie Fei reminded.

Tang Wei shuddered all over, grimaced as he touched the queue at the back of his head, snatched up the silver-foil-wrapped wooden broadsword, and said dejectedly, "Let's go."

The three rushed onto the stage together. Tang Wei bellowed, "What a beautiful Nikan woman — I, Huang Taiji, claim her! Ha ha ha!"

A wave of curses rose from below the stage: "Dog Tatar, dog Tatar…"

Soon it was time for the male lead Yang Gang to rescue Tang Xiaoxiao. Tang Wei was already sweating all over from the abuse. Guan Peipei sat right in front of him, but he was in no mood to look at her. Staring at the surging, waving arms below the stage, Tang Wei opened his mouth several times but no sound came out. He knew the next line would definitely enrage those people down there who got too immersed.

The troupe leader, anxious beneath the stage, urged him: "Say your lines! If you don't speak up, I'll dock your monthly pay and make you empty everyone's chamber pots."

Docking pay was one thing, but emptying chamber pots was too miserable. Tang Wei shut his eyes. "Nikan women are truly beautiful. I hear the women of Pingdu are even more beautiful. I will soon conquer Shandong, fight my way to Pingdu, and seize all the wealth and women there. The land will be taken for our Eight Banners, the women too will serve the Eight Banners. The Nikan men who remain shall be slaves for generation after generation — even their descendants shall be slaves."

Tang Wei finished in one breath. Below the stage, silence suddenly fell. Tang Wei knew this was the calm before the storm and quickly ducked behind Guan Peipei, in case of hidden weapons.

Guan Peipei swiftly grabbed a pair of scissors and killed herself. The crowd below remained silent, as if still stunned by the tragedy. Tang Wei was so tense he was drenched in sweat. Fortunately, Xu Pingjie, playing Yang Gang, appeared just in time. Weeping loudly, he threw himself beside Young Lady Guan, even stroking her hair while cursing at Tang Wei: "Play-Tatar… play… dog Tatar."

Tang Wei's eyes bulged. There had been no hair-stroking at all during rehearsal. How could he still remember his lines? He roared, "Xu Pingjie, you dog, die!!!"

The broadsword whooshed through the air and smacked onto Xu Pingjie's head with a crack. The wooden blade broke. Xu Pingjie froze for a moment, then collapsed.

Tang Wei grinned smugly. Below the stage, a hysterical roar suddenly erupted: "Kill the Tatar!!"

Countless people vaulted onto the stage at once. Tang Wei hastily threw down the wooden sword and fled toward the backstage. (To be continued.)

PS: Requesting monthly tickets.