Chapter 382: Selecting a Site

A squad of riders galloped along the main road east of Dengzhou and entered the Dengzhou Garrison Civil Affairs Department on the eastern side of the Capital Garrison. After Liu Minyou and Zhou Laifu dismounted, Liu Minyou said to Xu Yuanhua, who had come to greet them, "Has the bandit unrest in Qingzhoufu greatly affected the trade routes?"

Xu Yuanhua walked alongside Liu Minyou as he spoke. "The area where the bandits are causing trouble is northwest of the Qingzhou prefectural seat. I hear they're called Tangdihu. Merchants coming from Jinanfu have all switched to the water routes. For now, the plains region of Qingzhoufu is still all right. We haven't encountered any bandits shipping goods to the Qingzhou prefectural seat. But ultimately, it has made many people wary of the journey, and traveling merchants have become considerably fewer."

"Tangdihu? That name sounds like I've heard it somewhere before." Liu Minyou scratched his head, but he received so much information every day that he truly could not recall where he had heard of Tangdihu.

Liu Minyou hurried to the east gate of the Dengzhou Garrison military camp and used his own waist token to register Xu Yuanhua and Zhou Laifu. Without Chen Xin's authorization, these two had no special permission to enter the military camp. After Liu Minyou finished registering, he led them to the Regional Commander's residence. Logically, this should have been where Chen Xin lived, but in practice, it was the command center of Dengzhou Garrison. The Aide-de-Camp Office, Military Orders Department, Military Affairs Department, Military Justice Department, and Military Supply Department were all located here. Chen Xin's residence was outside the military camp; he said it was better for the family that way.

Inside the Regional Commander's residence, military officers came and went. Liu Minyou went straight to the No. 2 small meeting room of the Military Orders Department. Wang Zhangfu and Zhou Shifa were already waiting inside, along with Zheng Sanhu, who had rushed over. His Third Battalion was garrisoned right at Pingdu Department, bordering Qingzhoufu.

As soon as Liu Minyou sat down, he said, "Everyone, let's discuss this. The Qingzhou bandit unrest has cut off the trade route from Jinan. What can we do?"

Zheng Sanhu said helplessly, "The army can't go. That area is not under the jurisdiction of the Grand Coordinator of Denglai. Without a directive from the Ministry of War, we cannot go."

Zhou Laifu thought for a moment and said to the two of them, "In the short term, it's not a hindrance, but over time it will inevitably delay sales in both Qingzhou and Jinan prefectures. What worries me most right now is the banditry spreading. If that happens, the route to Yizhou might also be cut off in the future."

Wang Zhangfu frowned and said, "But right now the garrison troops truly cannot go. Not only did the Prefect of Qingzhou's plea for help fail, even Xiong Mingyu cannot deploy us to Shandong. That area is not under his jurisdiction. Last time, we transferred one experimental company to Qingzhoufu. After changing their appearance, they attacked three small bands of bandits. However, that Tangdihu group now numbers over a thousand, with many fierce bandits among them. Their camps are spread across three to five locations, and their defenses are very tight. Sending too few troops now won't work, and sending too many is even less feasible — the Qingzhou authorities would definitely take notice."

A group of military officers here were calling the Grand Coordinator of Jiliao by name, and not a single person found it inappropriate, because that was how Chen Xin and Liu Minyou usually did things. Everyone had grown accustomed to it.

Liu Minyou also knew that sending the army in large numbers was not feasible; unauthorized entry of troops into another jurisdiction was a grave crime. Chen Xin had always wanted to help Tangdihu, but he dared not openly transfer troops. He had only taken advantage of a bandit-suppression operation to wipe out two other bands.

He turned to look at Zhou Shifa. "Zhou Shifa, your Intelligence Bureau has many covert operatives. Can you go deal with those bandits?"

Zhou Shifa hurriedly waved his hand. He was fully aware of Chen Xin's plan. Only a few people knew about this matter, and he was one of them. How could he agree to send people to deal with Tangdihu? He spoke, "My lord, there is nothing we can do right now. The bandit unrest is mainly west of the Qingzhoufu prefectural seat, and they number over a thousand. The Intelligence Bureau has only a few dozen men in Qingzhou, not enough to deal with them."

Liu Minyou said displeased, "The Intelligence Bureau has an annual budget of two to three hundred thousand taels, and Qingzhou is right at Denglai's doorstep. You're fobbing me off with just one line about having no solution?"

Zhou Shifa lowered his head slightly. In truth, the Intelligence Bureau only took one hundred thousand taels from the Finance Department each year. The rest came from Chen Xin's private treasury subsidies and from assets seized during missions. This year it had already exceeded three hundred thousand taels. Of course, he would not tell Liu Minyou this. He had known Liu Minyou for a long time and knew the man had no ill intentions. However, he was also very clear about the relationship between Liu Minyou and Chen Xin. Even if Liu Minyou's attitude was brusque, he absolutely dared not offend him. Zhou Shifa rolled his eyes, thinking for a long while, and finally said, "My lord Liu, this subordinate proposes a compromise. We contact an armed escort agency in Jinan. If there are traveling merchants from west of Qingzhoufu, the Industry and Commerce Department can get in touch, and let the escort agency guard their shipments."

"An armed escort agency?" Liu Minyou turned to look at Zhou Laifu. The two of them knew about this matter. It was something Chen Xin had the Intelligence Bureau set up to provide cover for action team personnel. Normally, it did not escort goods at all. It was now under the jurisdiction of Wu Jianzhong in the Field Operations Unit. The local trading company manager could mobilize it to deal with commercial rivals, so both Liu Minyou and Zhou Laifu were aware of it. The military personnel did not know, which was why Zhou Shifa only spoke of contacting an armed escort agency.

Zhou Laifu nodded gently, leaving Wang Zhangfu and Zheng Sanhu completely baffled. They did not understand which armed escort agency was so formidable that even over a thousand bandits would give it face.

"Can you guarantee it will be reliable?"

Zhou Shifa assured him, "That escort agency has clashed with the mountain bandits several times and won every time. Afterward, the bandits no longer dared to intercept their shipments. We happen to have some business dealings with that escort agency and can guarantee reliability."

Liu Minyou merely assumed Chen Xin had fought those bandits before, still not realizing that the bandits were also Wu Jianzhong's subordinates. He made the decision: "Fine then. Both the trading company and the Industry and Commerce Department should contact the old customers in Jinanfu, give them the name of the escort agency, and don't set the escort fees too high."

Everyone noted it down. Wang Zhangfu looked around and said to Liu Minyou, "My lord Liu, when Lord Chen left, he said you had agreed to bring one more battalion to full strength in the second half of the year. The Military Affairs Department has already put it on the schedule. The only ones not at full strength are the First and Second Battalions. The Second Battalion is currently in Lvshun. Li Donghua from the Military Affairs Department says to expand the First Battalion. This subordinate believes we should first expand the mountain troops. It would make dealing with these mountain bandits easier in the future, and there are many mountainous areas in Liaonan as well."

Liu Minyou ignored Wang Zhangfu. The factions of the former boat trackers and the Yanggu group were now clearly divided. Chen Xin was currently cultivating the Liao migrant faction and the Shandong faction, while simultaneously using the military academy to elevate a new generation of mid-level officers to dilute regional distinctions. However, at the very top, the boat trackers and the Yanggu group still held the most positions, and there was no shortage of mutual disdain between them.

Xu Yuanhua was also from Yanggu. He had no say in this matter, but he understood Wang Zhangfu's intent. He turned his head aside and spat out some tea dregs. Wang Zhangfu and Zheng Sanhu paid him no mind either.

Liu Minyou did not wish to get involved in this matter. He closed his notebook and stood up, saying, "I'm not meddling in this. Go ask Lord Chen. A relay horse at six hundred li express can make the round trip in just five or six days. Whichever unit he says to expand, we expand. Wang Zhangfu, don't you go worrying needlessly. Just manage your own Guard Battalion well."

After Liu Minyou finished speaking, he led Zhou Laifu out. The two returned to the Civil Affairs Department, and the three of them went to Liu Minyou's office. Liu Minyou wearily sat down on his long reclining chair and said to Zhou Laifu, "Laifu, regarding the matter you mentioned the day before yesterday about incorporating cotton spinning into the trading company, I also need to discuss it with Lord Chen. My own opinion is that there is no need for it in the short term. The Four Seas Trading Company is a channel for long-distance trade everywhere. The initial market for cotton cloth is in Denglai, Qingzhou, and Jinan. Only later will it expand to Shandong and the northern territories. If it truly becomes necessary, we can incorporate it then."

Zhou Laifu said quietly, "This subordinate will heed your instructions, my lord."

"However, you can rest assured. Sales can be entirely contracted to the trading company. For the trading company, the difference in profit is not that great." Liu Minyou paused after speaking to Zhou Laifu. His true thoughts on this matter also stemmed from last year's Linqing tobacco dispute. After crushing Dongyue Tobacco, some in the trading company had said there was no need to develop new varieties and that they could simply suppress the tobacco industry everywhere else. He worried that the trading company would become overly reliant on violence to create monopolies and would pay no attention at all to technological development. Therefore, he still intended to keep control of the manufacturing sector himself.

Xu Yuanhua felt somewhat uncomfortable. He was the head of the Industry and Commerce Department, but within the Dengzhou faction, there was the behemoth of the Four Seas Trading Company. The main profits all came from the trading company. The Industry and Commerce Department only had jurisdiction over the workshops. Although it later seized jurisdiction and taxation rights over the gold mines, it still could not compare to the trading company. This made his position somewhat awkward. Among the various civil affairs departments, his was not a powerful one. Now, listening to Liu Minyou's words, it was clear that Zhou Laifu was once again grabbing for territory. Fortunately, Liu Minyou had not agreed.

Liu Minyou opened his notebook and said to Zhou Laifu and Xu Yuanhua, "I have drafted a plan here. Laifu and Yuanhua, help me review it. There will be two factory areas in total: one in Dengzhou and one at Lingshan Guard. The Dengzhou one will be set up next to that private port on the west side of Dengzhou Naval Fortress. The Lingshan Guard factory area will be set up next to the guard fort. The private port there has better conditions, and it's also a route frequently used by tribute grain ships, making transportation very convenient."

Zhou Laifu thought for a moment and then said, "That private port at Lingshan Guard is very good. By land, it's only a stone's throw from Qingzhoufu. By sea, it's only a day or two's voyage to Haizhou in Nanzhili. From Haizhou, it's very close to Yanzhoufu. If we're purchasing cotton from Yanzhou and Nanzhili, this route can be considered trouble-free."

Xu Yuanhua added, "There are also quite a few cotton growers in the southern part of Qingzhoufu. Lingshan Guard is so close to Qingzhoufu that conscripting laborers would also be very cheap."

Liu Minyou smiled and said, "Then the Lingshan Guard location is settled first. Neither of you mentioned Dengzhou. Do you think the Dengzhou location is unsuitable?"

Zhou Laifu had followed Liu Minyou for a long time. They had run a clothing shop together back in Tianjin, so he spoke without reservation: "This subordinate does indeed think Dengzhou is unsuitable. Although it has a port, Dengzhou is far from everywhere by both sea and land. Moreover, Dengzhou has no major rivers, so water-powered spinning will inevitably be limited."

Xu Yuanhua also added, "Another point is that Dengzhou does not produce grain locally. Most of the tax-in-kind supplied by the imperial court has to go to supply the garrisons at Lvshun and Dengzhou. If we set up a textile factory here, all the grain would need to be shipped in from elsewhere, which would tie up quite a few ships."

Zhou Laifu sighed. "We are truly short on ships. This year we also took on the tax-in-kind transport for Dongjiang Garrison. There's practically no profit in it, but Lord Chen insisted we take it on. Now we've added three more No. 2 Fujian junks and nearly twenty more bird boats and wave-cutters, and it's still not enough. If we really set up a textile factory in Dengzhou, transportation will be a major problem."

The Dongjiang tax-in-kind was something Chen Xin was determined to take on. Originally, Dongjiang's wastage was calculated at thirty percent, which gave the Dengzhou naval squadron considerable profit, along with opportunities for some smuggling. Now Chen Xin had allied with Lu Zhi and Wang Tingshi to establish a trade monopoly in the Liao Sea, distributing dividends to the naval upper echelons by shares. Lu Zhi was also very strict in his inspections and had even executed a naval battalion officer for private smuggling. Chen Xin made an offer to Lu Zhi: the naval battalion didn't have to do anything and would directly get a ten percent rebate to Lu Zhi, plus another ten percent to the naval battalion officers. The tax-in-kind transport thus became a chicken rib for the naval battalion, and it was ultimately handed over to the trading company.

Chen Xin still calculated wastage at thirty percent. After deducting the twenty percent given away, they could barely break even. The number of ships had indeed increased considerably, but no matter how Zhou Laifu calculated it, he felt it wasn't worth it.

Liu Minyou knew what Chen Xin was aiming for. He was laying out his plans in Liaodong, and Dongjiang Garrison was extremely critical. Taking on the tax-in-kind allowed them to control Dongjiang Garrison and, when necessary, provide some support. Making money was secondary.

He returned to the topic of the textile factory and asked the two, "Then where do you think is more suitable?"

"Changyi." Xu Yuanhua spoke first. "This place is very close to Qingzhoufu and has two large rivers. We can channel water along the river courses to make canals for those waterwheels. After the waterwheels have used the water, it can still irrigate the fields of the military farms. Right now, the various military farms around Pingdu are also intercropping cotton. After harvesting, shipping it by water to Changyi would also be cheaper."

Liu Minyou looked at Zhou Laifu, who also nodded. "Changyi is more convenient by both land and water. Flat-bottomed boats can load goods on the river and sail downstream to the sea."

"Then that's the place. I'll immediately send orders to the Garrison Farm Department to have them draw labor. Xu Yuanhua, you will take charge of the factory area matters. Pay special attention to the manual spinning workshops. This work demands very high finger dexterity. Ask the garrison households more about how to ensure the workshops don't get too cold. If there's really no other way, just build large pit-houses. In any case, it must be completed before the end of September. Also, on the workshop side, immediately increase the number of carpenters. We have many things to make."

Before Liu Minyou had finished speaking, Wu Youdao's voice sounded from outside. Liu Minyou had to stop and let him in.

Wu Youdao glanced furtively at Zhou Laifu and the others, wanting to lean in close to speak to Liu Minyou. Liu Minyou could not stand this charlatan-like manner of his and said impatiently, "If you have something to say, say it out loud."

"My lord Liu, it cannot be said out loud. It's from the Military Orders Department."

Liu Minyou had to stand up and led Wu Youdao into the inner partition room.

"Speak."

Wu Youdao lowered his voice. "News just came from Liaonan. The Jianzhou bandits are stockpiling grain and fodder from Gaizhou to Fuzhou. Zhu Guobin and Liu Pojun both believe they may be about to attack Lvshun."

"Attack Lvshun!" Liu Minyou stared at Wu Youdao. "Then what are they looking for me for? Hurry and notify Lord Chen."

"The relay horse has already gone. They are asking you, my lord, to ship more grain, fodder, and military supplies. Also, they want that, what's it called, Combat Engineer Experimental Company transferred over. Cross-jurisdictional troop transfers require your signature, my lord."

"Oh, then I'll sign it." Liu Minyou took the document, signed it with a brush, and then said to Wu Youdao, "I also need to write a letter to Lord Chen. Take it to the Military Orders Department in a moment and have them send it by relay horse. If the Jianzhou bandits truly come to attack, it will certainly be no small matter. We must still ask Lord Chen to return and take command." (To be continued...)

PS: Requesting monthly tickets.