Chapter 336: Feelers

In the main hall of the hillside courtyard, the group took their seats as host and guests. There were no attendants here, so Chen Xin's guards brewed tea for everyone.

Mao Chenglu and Shang Kexi both wore respectful expressions. Mao Chenglu was rough and large-boned, about the same height as Chen Xin but a full size bulkier, considered stout even among the Liaodong men. He was the foremost of Mao Wenlong's adopted sons, responsible for leading Mao Wenlong's retainer corps, and had always regarded himself as the legitimate heir of Dongjiang Town. He could not stand the turncoat faction like Liu Xingzhi, nor the outsider appointee Huang Long, and he was unwilling to serve even Mao Wenlong's nominal father-in-law, Shen Shikui.

Relatively speaking, he preferred the adopted-son clique of Geng Zhongming, Kong Youde, Li Jiucheng, and Shang Kexi. These men had followed Mao Wenlong through life and death during the Tianqi era, raiding everywhere, and their mutual recognition was strong enough — this was also the basis for his historical defection to the Dengzhou rebel army.

Now the Wendeng faction had suddenly risen in Deng-Lai and seized the most powerful force in Dengzhou. Mao Chenglu had no chance to rebel, but the resentment toward the imperial court that had built up in his heart over the years had not dissipated. After Yuan Chonghuan's death, Mao Chenglu had once ordered his subordinate Mobile Corps Commander Zhou Wenhuang to petition the court, demanding Mao Wenlong's exoneration and posthumous compensation. To preserve the court's dignity, Chongzhen had not granted this request, only agreeing to let Mao Wenlong's remains return to his hometown. That was how Mao Wenlong came to be buried by West Lake.

But this decision clearly lacked practical significance — the resentment in Dongjiang Town had not diminished in the slightest. From this perspective, Chongzhen's handling of the matter appeared somewhat immature. Chen Xin felt the best political solution would have been to shift the blame onto the then-Minister of War, making the minister bear the crime of deception, and then exonerate Mao Wenlong. That would have won the hearts of Dongjiang Town without much loss to the emperor's dignity.

Later, as disturbances in Dongjiang followed one after another, Mao Chenglu's resentment deepened. He particularly loathed the outsiders like Liu Xingzhi and Huang Long, believing the court had used these men to destroy Dongjiang Town. These rebellions also gave him considerable inspiration; later, when Li Jiucheng revolted, he thought it entirely justified. Unfortunately, Chen Xin quickly crushed Li Jiucheng and then seized Lushun. Chen Youshi was also captured, and at the time Mao Chenglu had been deeply apprehensive — until Lu Zhi in Dengzhou sent someone to reassure him, and only after being placated did his mind settle somewhat. When he came to Lushun early that year, Chen Xin had not seen him; only Song Wenxian received him. Later, Geng Zhongming also sent a letter, and at least he no longer feared the court would move against him.

Chen Xin gathered his thoughts and smiled at the two men before him. "I hear both generals achieved considerable success in your recent raids into Liaodong. I was very pleased to learn of it. I trust the raids went smoothly?"

Mao Chenglu rushed to answer in his brash manner. "Thank you for your concern, my lord. It was all thanks to Dengzhou Garrison attacking Fuzhou — most of the Jianzhou bandits in southern Liaodong went to Fuzhou. Along the way, the bandits barely came out to fight. I broke two fortified posts and killed over forty true barbarians. It's been a long time since I've had such a satisfying time chopping Tatar heads."

Chen Xin raised his brows in an expression of amazement. Mao Chenglu had a few thousand men under him, but those capable of hard fighting probably numbered only a few hundred. Killing over forty was passable, but Chen Xin estimated that most of his "true barbarians" were likely the old and weak, with few armored soldiers among them.

Mao Chenglu looked immensely pleased with himself, then after a moment felt it improper and quickly switched back to a respectful expression, adding, "But compared to your lordship killing nearly a thousand of the enemy, it's truly not worth mentioning. When I heard of the great victory at Fuzhou on Guanglu Island, I was so overjoyed I couldn't sleep all night. The next day I sent a boat to contact Vice General Shang to travel together — first to congratulate your lordship, and second to pay respects at my foster father's grave. I must also thank your lordship for your noble sense of honor, giving us old Dongjiang men something to hold onto. So many officials have come and gone across Liaodong and Liaoxi, but only Marshal Mao and your lordship have been single-mindedly devoted to killing Tatars. I submit to you. Next time Marshal Chen wants to kill Tatars, I'll follow you. If a civil official leads the army, I won't go."

Chen Xin smiled and waved his hand in a show of modesty. Mao Chenglu's speech was crude, but his meaning was agreeable — though his words betrayed his resentment toward civil officials. But that was understandable. Mao Wenlong had treated him the best; when someone so close was suddenly killed for no apparent reason, anyone's heart would blaze with fury. Among Mao's adopted sons who became generals, most reverted to their original surnames after Mao Wenlong's death, but Mao Chenglu had never changed his, a testament to the depth of his feelings for Mao Wenlong. (Note 1) Chen Xin turned to look at Shang Kexi. Shang Kexi hurriedly said, "I broke three fortified posts and captured the military fort at Huanggudao Fort, killing a total of over fifty true barbarians — twenty of them armored soldiers, the rest youths and the elderly. I also rescued over seventy bondservants and over one hundred ninety Han women and children. This too was largely thanks to your lordship's army threatening Fuzhou, leaving the bandit positions across southern Liaodong empty, which made things much smoother."

Shang Kexi's answer was far more honest, even distinguishing between types of true barbarians. From this first round of conversation, Chen Xin mentally labeled Mao Chenglu an old fox. Shang Kexi was indeed more straightforward — at least during the Dengzhou Mutiny, he had not joined the adopted-son clique in their rebellion.

Most of the men Mao Wenlong had originally led harbored a deep distrust of the court. Once this resentment erupted, there was no room for reconciliation with the court, which was why so many eventually defected to their former mortal enemy, the Later Jin. If Mao Chenglu had not been captured by Huang Long off the coast of Lushun, he too would very likely have defected to the Later Jin alongside Kong Youde. The first batch — Kong Youde and the others — received favorable treatment, and with that precedent, the later defectors like Shang Kexi and Shen Zhixiang were willing to submit. Chen Xin had no intention of letting Dongjiang Town disintegrate, much less letting them defect to the Jianzhou bandits.

Chen Xin patted his thigh in admiration. "I have heard something of the hardships on the Dongjiang islands. For you two to lead starving troops on a raid into Liaodong and achieve such great merit is already remarkable. As for the lower kill count compared to the Fuzhou battle, I attribute it to your lack of arms and armor. Hearing of your great achievements today truly gladdens my heart. As it happens, I also captured a batch this time. I shall gift each of you three hundred swords and spears, twenty suits of iron armor, fifty suits of cotton armor, and one hundred bird guns. The iron armor is still being repaired these two days; when you return, you can take them back to your islands."

Mao Chenglu's and Shang Kexi's mouths immediately fell open. These weapons were worth two to three thousand taels of silver. They had no particular interest in the bird guns, but the great blades and iron armor were extremely valuable. The high-quality great blades used by the Jianzhou bandits could fetch seven or eight taels of silver apiece, and iron armor was over thirty taels. Chen Xin's opening gesture was a grand gift package; the two men, astonished and delighted, hurriedly expressed their thanks.

Both men voiced their agreement profusely. As Chen Xin smiled, he observed them. Shang Kexi's expression held more admiration and pleasant surprise; Mao Chenglu's was more one of ingratiation.

After this round of dollar diplomacy from Chen Xin, the relationship between the two sides immediately drew much closer. Chen Xin smiled again. "You two need not stand on ceremony. Dengzhou Garrison and Dongjiang Garrison both fall under Deng-Lai jurisdiction. Though called two garrisons, they are in truth one body. Moreover, I too hail from Liaodong. I hope you two will cooperate wholeheartedly with me to recover Liaodong at an early date. If Marshal Mao's spirit in heaven is watching, he too should feel comforted, and his painstaking efforts in founding Dongjiang Garrison will not have been in vain."

Only now did Mao Chenglu show some grief, nodding silently. Shang Kexi said respectfully to Chen Xin, "Your lordship has repeatedly dealt heavy blows to the Jianzhou bandits. Now the soldiers and civilians of Liaodong are stirred and heartened. I firmly believe the bandits cannot escape defeat and destruction this time."

Mao Chenglu snorted. "That still depends on those civil officials not dragging us down. My lord, in Dengzhou you must also guard against those civil officials and army supervisors. If one day they suddenly summon you, you must keep your retainers close and never let them leave your side — even when you go to the latrine, they should stand guard at the door."

Shang Kexi cleared his throat twice. Mao Chenglu turned his head away coldly, refusing to look at him. Shang Kexi could only say to Chen Xin, "My lord, please do not take offense. Old Mao has always been like this; it is not disrespect toward any superior."

"General Mao is a man of deep feeling, which I have always appreciated," Chen Xin said without the slightest concern. He had originally assumed Mao Chenglu was a man of considerable cunning, but it turned out he truly was a man of deep feeling. The last time Mao Chenglu came to Lushun, Chen Xin had thought he would simultaneously curry favor with Lu Zhi, himself, and Wang Tingshi, and might even contact Kong Youde and the others. Instead, he had not sought out Lu Zhi or Wang Tingshi at all, staying in Lushun only a few days before returning to Guanglu Island. Lu Zhi later sent someone to recruit him as a trusted subordinate, but Mao Chenglu dismissed the young eunuch with cold words. For the preceding months, Lu Zhi had been withholding his grain rations, only making up a batch at the end of the seventh month. Had Wang Tingshi not needed to conduct this autumn offensive this year, Mao Chenglu would certainly have been doomed to starve.

Shang Kexi was slightly better off than Mao Chenglu. He was also poor at socializing, but at least he had saved Huang Long's life, so Huang Long gave him some assistance in grain and pay. Moreover, Shang Kexi did not offend those civil officials, so although he was stationed further north, his circumstances were somewhat better than Mao Chenglu's.

At the time, Chen Xin had instructed the Foreign Affairs Department to contact the trading company and sell two batches of grain and fodder to Guanglu Island at low prices, lest Mao Chenglu defect to Kong Youde in a fit of rage. Looking at it now, that had indeed produced results.

Thinking of this, Chen Xin spoke to the two men in a calm tone. "I also hold General Shang in great respect. Back then, you two did not fear the ferocity of the Jianzhou bandits and followed Marshal Mao in sweeping across Liaodong. That courage alone is worthy of admiration. This time, with so many kills, I imagine Marshal Mao would be proud of you both. However…"

He paused. The two men below had been listening with considerable satisfaction, but at this turn, they immediately focused their attention, waiting for Chen Xin's next words. Chen Xin let the smile fade from his face and said flatly, "Yet some, who were once heroes resisting the Jianzhou bandits, have become disloyal, unrighteous, and unfilial wretches. This time at Fuzhou, I encountered Kong Youde and Li Jiucheng, who once acknowledged Marshal Mao as their foster father. These two have shaved their heads, changed their clothes, and become jackals aiding the tiger — they are now running dogs of the Jianzhou bandits. I routed them in one blow south of Fuzhou City, killing over half their force. Against these two, my Dengzhou Garrison will never relent; we will take their heads."

Chen Xin swept his gaze over the two men. "Should you two generals encounter the Tianyou Army on the battlefield, you must do the same — take their heads to sacrifice before Marshal Mao's heroic spirit."

Shang Kexi sprang to his feet, his rough face full of resolve. He declared loudly, "Rest assured, my lord. This is a matter of fundamental right and wrong. I will not let old ties sway me."

Mao Chenglu furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before rising. He seemed somewhat reluctant as he said, "I too will heed your lordship's words. But Brother Kong and the others were driven to it by those civil officials. Not one of those civil officials is any good. When I see their faces, I always feel they're even more hateful than the Tatars. Otherwise, given Kong Youde's blood feud with the Jianzhou bandits, who the hell would willingly go over to the Tatars?"

No one was willing to pick up his topic, and the hall fell momentarily cold. Chen Xin was about to change the subject when he noticed Mao Chenglu signaling Shang Kexi with his eyes. An awkward look appeared on Shang Kexi's face. He hesitated, ignored Mao Chenglu, and turned to pick up his tea and drink.

Chen Xin looked at Mao Chenglu curiously. Mao Chenglu's lips moved twice, as if cursing Shang Kexi. Then Mao Chenglu turned his head, raised his eyes to look at Chen Xin, and as if steeling his resolve, said, "My lord, there is one more matter for the two of us this time. We wish to… well, trouble your lordship with it."

"General Mao, please speak."

"Well… some days ago, Vice General Shang and I scraped together a boatload of ginseng and sable pelts to ship to Dengzhou to trade for some provisions. It was seized by your lordship's naval camp at Qianniu Island, and the goods were impounded. I wish to ask your lordship to make an exception."

Chen Xin gave an "oh" and then asked, "What were you two planning to trade for? In the fifth month, Lord Lu issued a general order to all islands: to prevent spy infiltration and the smuggling of saltpeter, sulfur, and military supplies, all commercial trade in the Liao Sea is to be conducted at Nancheng Island. Any vessel that ships goods to Dengzhou without obtaining a trading flag and permit is to be confiscated as a penalty. Were you two unaware of this?"

"Of course, to trade for silver and provisions. What the court allocates is never enough. Those rank-and-file soldiers have no silver and can't eat their fill, so they refuse to go kill Tatars," Mao Chenglu said as if it were obvious. "I know Lord Lu's strict order, but the prices at Nancheng Island are a bit low. I was thinking of earning a bit more to give the islanders more food."

Chen Xin shook his head. He did not believe Mao Chenglu's nonsense for a moment. Wanting to earn a bit more was true, but Mao Chenglu was also lining his own pockets. The strict inspection of Liao Sea trade had been his idea, with shares held by the Four Seas Trading Company, Wang Tingshi, and Lu Zhi respectively. The Dengzhou and Wendeng naval camps patrolled the seas to catch smugglers, and a trading post was set up on Nancheng Island. Not only were taxes collected, but all transactions had to be settled using Four Seas Bank drafts. The strict inspections prevented grain and materials like saltpeter and sulfur from flowing into the Later Jin, while also ensuring that the various powers in Dengzhou made their silver. And through the bank, Chen Xin could establish credit and usage habits, gradually controlling the economic lifelines of the various powers in the Liao Sea. Naturally, Chen Xin did not want anyone snatching benefits from his own pocket.

"General Mao, this matter is difficult. All captured vessels are reported to Supervisor Lu the same day. That boat has likely already passed into Lord Lu's hands. Though I am willing to help you two, this is truly awkward." Chen Xin's lies came as easily as breathing. In truth, neither the Dengzhou naval camp nor the Wendeng naval camp would honestly hand over the goods and property they seized.

Mao Chenglu's mouth gaped wide. Though his boat was small, the cargo was worth several thousand taels of silver. He had assumed Chen Xin would readily return it to him, but now his hopes were dashed.

Shang Kexi, who owned half the cargo, was also pained at this moment. Still, he said to Chen Xin, "It was my fault for forgetting this matter. Since it is awkward for your lordship, we shall consider the goods lost to wind and waves. If not for your lordship smashing the Jianzhou bandits along the Jinzhou coast, my men would not have been able to go ashore so smoothly to gather ginseng."

The two men hung their heads dejectedly. Chen Xin waited until their frustration had peaked, then suddenly spoke. "I only said it was awkward, not that there is no hope. And I have some additional benefits I can offer you two."

Shang Kexi and Mao Chenglu looked up in delighted surprise. Chen Xin said evenly, "I can go plead with Lord Lu on your behalf for your goods. At worst, I'll concede some credit for enemy heads. I might be able to get them back for you by trading on my reputation. But you two must not act so rashly again in the future. Trading at Nancheng Island is Lord Lu's strict order and cannot be altered in the slightest. If it happens again, it will be hard for me to speak on your behalf. However, since I truly felt an instant kinship with you two, I've thought of a solution. You would not need to send your own boats to brave the wind and waves, yet could conveniently collect money and buy goods — goods that would be even more ample than those in Dengzhou."

Mao Chenglu and Shang Kexi hurriedly said, "Please tell us, my lord."

"I shall set up a branch office on Guanglu Island and another on Shicheng Island. You two can hand your goods to my branch offices right on the islands and receive banknotes the same day. You can also use those banknotes to exchange for goods at my branch offices, which will absolutely be more ample than any grain shop in Dengzhou. Any surplus silver is useless on the islands; you can withdraw it with the notes at banks in Deng-Lai, Tianjin, Jingshi, Linqing, Yangzhou, and elsewhere. Would that not be far more convenient than lugging around a pile of hard silver?"

Mao Chenglu and Shang Kexi exchanged glances. Both worried that Chen Xin might cheat them of their silver. Finally, Mao Chenglu asked, "But what if I urgently need hard silver on the island…"

"Inform the branch office a few days in advance, and the branch office on your island will have hard silver shipped from the Lushun branch office. It will only take a few days."

"And what if it capsizes at sea… well…"

Chen Xin laughed heartily. "Naturally, that would be my loss. Since I operate a bank, I am not afraid of bearing risk. You two need have no other worries. The backing of this bank is well-known even in Jingshi. Originally, I did not wish to engage in the banknote business in Liaodong, but since this matter concerns smuggling in the Liao Sea, I reluctantly agreed to Lord Lu's request. If you two have doubts, you need not use the method I've proposed. I will not take offense in the slightest."

Although Chen Xin said this, Mao and Shang dared not believe it. With their boat still in the other party's hands, how could they dare voice suspicion? If it came to it, Chen Xin could simply say Lu Zhi refused, and they would lose their entire investment.

After a long exchange of glances, the two finally agreed to this method. Agreeing this time would do no harm; they could simply treat that boatload of goods as an experiment.

Chen Xin quickly summoned the accompanying personnel from the trading company and the bank, and on the spot they settled the terms with Mao and Shang: two or three general stores would be set up on each island, with the stores handling bank matters on their behalf, and all silver transactions would be processed through the Qiangzhuang Lushun branch office. Mao and Shang, for their part, pledged never to send private boats to trade with Dengzhou.

As they departed from Shuang Island, a smug smile appeared on Chen Xin's face. Wang Mafu asked Chen Xin curiously, "My lord, we've only opened a few stores. What use are they?"

"Once the stores are in, we can use low prices to drive away those smuggling boats. Half the grain supply routes for the two islands will then be in my hands. When the trading company goes to take over the seaborne grain ration business next year, Wang Tingshi will have no reason to refuse. By then, all the grain routes to Dongjiang will be in our hands. With the banks and stores in place, matters in Dongjiang will be much simpler from now on…"

Note 1: Mao Chenglu was Mao Wenlong's adopted son, not his nephew as some claim. See the excerpt from "Dongjiang Memorials and Reports," compiled by Mao Wenlong's son Mao Chengdou — in a memorial dated the tenth day of the fifth month of the first year of the Chongzhen reign, Mao Wenlong stated: "My adopted son Chenglu has been ill for a long time. Seeing me in such a wretched state, he grows even more distressed."

(To be continued)