Chapter 489: September

Entering the ninth month, Liaodong began its autumn harvest, and Dengzhou's economic war also drew to a close. The entire Northern Zhili and Grand Canal regions had been thoroughly plundered. Some merchants made fortunes, while others suffered heavy losses. Dengzhou had invested a total of 2.4 million taels of silver to speculate on grain prices. The average purchase price was just over two taels, and the final selling price averaged around four taels. The last remaining 100,000 shi of grain would likely sell below the purchase price, but overall, nearly two million taels of silver had been made.

The grain price in Ningyuan was suddenly crushed down to two taels. Wu Xiang and Zu Dashou lost five or six hundred thousand taels of silver, though they had already profited during the earlier grain shortage. In the end, those who suffered the worst losses were the soldiers and their dependents in the Guan-Ning region; their hard-earned military pay was once again carved up by the various families.

Another group that suffered major losses were the traveling merchants who traded grain with Guan-Ning, including many shops owned by mid-level capital officials. They had hoarded large quantities of grain, but in the early stages they hadn't profited as much as people like Wu Xiang, and their overall strength was far inferior to the Zu family army, so they suffered a fatal blow.

After the mutinies in Qingzhou Prefecture and Jinan Prefecture, many supervising censors in the capital came to view Chen Xin as a warlord on par with Zu Dashou. During this grain shortage, some impoverished censors were deeply harmed. The capital officials had also heard rumors about the background of the Four Seas Trading Company. Although they could not see the full scope of Chen Xin's grand strategy, they could discern the involvement of the capital's powerful figures in driving up grain prices there.

Therefore, after this economic war ended, the censors launched another wave of impeachments against Chen Xin, which naturally included Zu Dashou and others, along with the capital's powerful figures who had participated in grain speculation. The impeachment memorials flew into the palace like snowflakes, but the Emperor mostly kept them at court without issuing a response.

The unrest in Dengzhou caused by the Eastern Depot's eavesdropping gradually subsided. Wang Tingshi submitted a memorial impeaching the Eastern Depot's chief agent Jiang Yuegui for bullying military officers and causing the mutiny. The Chongzhen Emperor issued an edict reprimanding Jiang Yuegui's actions and stripped his family of the hereditary Embroidered Uniform Guard company commander title, which was seen as yielding to Dengzhou's soft power. Subsequently, another imperial edict was issued to pacify the mutinous troops, stating that all participants in the mutiny would not be held accountable, and only the commanding officers Geng Zhongming, Fan Shouye, Dai Zhenggang, and others were punished with fines.

After the pacification edict arrived, Chen Xin quit while he was ahead. The two battalions of combat troops quickly returned to their garrisons, and Geng Zhongming also came back from Jinan Prefecture. Dengzhou and Laizhou returned to a superficial calm.

Chen Xin did not continue to pursue the matter of Lu Chuanzong. As far as the imperial court was concerned, he let the affair remain murky. Internally, the message conveyed to Dengzhou Garrison was that Lu Chuanzong had attempted to defect to the Jianzhou bandits. The reason given was that the Eastern Depot's Jiang Yuegui had molested his family, leaving Lu Chuanzong with no way out and preparing to flee to Liaodong to join the Jianzhou bandits. Although there was a cause, the crime was unforgivable. The official narrative pinned the blame on the court's mistakes, but defection was still punishable by death. The truth was known only to the upper echelons of Dengzhou, with higher-ranking officers more or less aware, which also served as a warning to the entire army.

Politically, it was a mix of gains and losses. This time, Dengzhou Garrison purged the internal thorn Liu Zeqing from Dengzhou and Laizhou and threatened Jinan Prefecture with force, giving the court a real display of military might. This forced both the Emperor and the court to make concessions, and they would not dare to use petty maneuvers to provoke Dengzhou again.

The downside was that the Emperor's wariness toward Dengzhou greatly increased. According to palace news, the Emperor smashed some more porcelain. Although he approved the punishment of Jiang Yuegui in front of his ministers, he still believed in his heart that Chen Xin was the mastermind behind it. In the future, it would be difficult to obtain official policies. However, Chen Xin also believed that the Chongzhen Emperor would not dare to cut off his Liaodong military tax.

There were additional benefits as well. Chen Xin had removed Wang Tingshi's trusted aide Liu Zeqing, and that special forces battalion was also disarmed. Within Dengzhou Garrison, only the three battalions of the Provincial Governor's personal troops remained outside its control. Chen Xin used this to stabilize the situation in Dengzhou and Laizhou. The court's power was completely expelled from the countryside of Dengzhou and Laizhou, leaving only the forces of Wang Tingshi and Lu Zhi within Dengzhou city itself.

Seizing this opportunity, the action teams eliminated many of the gentry in Qingzhou Prefecture. The "Ground-Crawling Tigers" also made several appearances, sweeping away a few areas that had been difficult to handle. The clan forces in the Qingzhou countryside that dared to oppose Dengzhou fell silent, and Dengzhou's fortified villages were accelerating their expansion.

The total cultivated land area occupied by Dengzhou Garrison's fortified villages reached 2.4 million mu, a figure comparable to the nominal fiefdoms of those princes. They held complete dominance in the countryside belonging to Dengzhou and Laizhou. Among this, Pingdu Department accounted for 1.5 million mu, occupying sixty percent of Pingdu's arable land. The occupied area in Qingzhou Prefecture reached 400,000 mu, with over eighty fortified villages established, and the pace accelerated after the mutiny. The semi-independent Liaonan region developed 70,000 mu of arable land. Because it was on the front line, the density of fortified villages was greater, reaching twenty, to form a defensive depth reliant on these villages.

The total number of fortified villages in Dengzhou was 493, with a population of 1.05 million people. Besides these village households, large numbers of refugees holding village household registrations entered various factories in Dengzhou and Laizhou. Some communities also formed on the peripheries of the fortified villages. These people made a living through temporary labor like transportation, and some engaged in service industries around the villages. The prosperous commerce and ample population throughout Dengzhou created many jobs for them.

The total population under Dengzhou Garrison had reached over 1.4 million people, with a steady stream of refugees still arriving every day. Dengzhou still needed more land to settle the population.

The cotton cloth war, a byproduct of the economic war, also ended. Cotton prices had been crushed to their lowest in late August, causing heavy losses for cotton merchants. Cotton farmers who harvested late were left holding the bag. To avoid affecting the next year's planting area, Liu Minyou began increasing purchase quantities in September to prevent cotton farmers from going bankrupt en masse, which would cause a sharp decline in Shandong's cotton production the following year. If that happened, Dengzhou Garrison would lose its source of raw materials.

Cotton cloth prices were slowly recovering, giving cotton farmers a chance to catch their breath. But not every region was recovering. The southern part of Qingzhou Prefecture also planted large amounts of cotton. This area was farther from the Grand Canal, separated by Yanzhou Prefecture, but close to Lingshan Guard in Laizhou Prefecture. In previous years, merchants from Jiangnan came to purchase, as did cotton buyers from the Grand Canal. Last year, the Dengzhou cotton cloth factory at Lingshan Guard also began purchasing, so there was no worry about sales channels.

But this year, the market was different. The fluctuation of cotton cloth prices on the Grand Canal affected the Jiangnan and canal merchants, who were all cautiously watching. The journey from Qingzhou Prefecture to the Grand Canal was long, and the cost was already higher. Cotton merchants were unwilling to take too great a risk, and the Dengzhou cotton factory also stopped purchasing. Liu Minyou deliberately reduced the purchase price of cotton in Qingzhou Prefecture, causing some independent cotton farmers to go bankrupt and be forced to become refugees who joined Dengzhou's fortified villages. On the other hand, he wanted to reduce the cotton planting area in Qingzhou Prefecture. With natural disasters worsening year by year, Liu Minyou needed to expand grain planting areas across the three prefectures of Dengzhou, Laizhou, and Qingzhou, relying on external purchases for cash crops.

Throughout Dengzhou and Laizhou, winter wheat planting began in September, another period of intense activity. Liu Minyou's Civil Affairs Department was busy with this most important task. Song Wenxian's Foreign Affairs Office dispatched clerks to visit local officials across Shandong to dispel any doubts about Dengzhou Garrison after the mutiny. Special personnel were also sent to the various islands of Dongjiang Garrison.

Chen Xin was busy mending relations with Wang Tingshi and Lu Zhi, and then continuously inspecting the military system, including reserve troops, centralized training bases, and the four combat battalions stationed in Dengzhou and Laizhou. After the training of 3,000 new recruits was completed, the two previously understrength battalions were brought to full strength. The last company commander's unit, which had been lingering in Tianjin for three months, also arrived in Dengzhou and returned entirely to its garrison. These combat troops were usually dispersed in their garrisons, with the various fortified villages providing logistical support by sector, which reduced transportation losses and logistical difficulties. Large-scale assembly only occurred during combined training and combat operations.

Including Zhu Daichun's Fifth Battalion, Dengzhou's regular army now numbered 36,000 men, of whom fewer than 5,000 were new recruits. The entire army was well-trained, with nearly 30,000 men having combat experience. Although the Nine Border Garrisons were said to have hundreds of thousands of troops, not a single garrison could compare to these 30,000 men of Dengzhou. After all of Dengzhou Garrison's troops returned to their garrisons, Dengzhou and Laizhou were as stable as Mount Tai. Chen Xin breathed a sigh of relief; the chaotic and messy greater half of the year was finally coming to an end.

Liaonan, however, did not quiet down. Dengzhou Garrison's autumn harvest offensive had begun at the end of August. The cavalry and dragoons stationed in Fuzhou sortied in force, engaging in skirmishes with the Jianzhou bandits near Gaizhou. Between Fuzhou and Gaizhou, there had originally been over ten fortresses and post stations. The Later Jin troops abandoned most of them, pulling back to Yulinpu to set up defenses and shorten their own supply lines. After Dengzhou Garrison occupied these abandoned fortresses, they made slight modifications, turning them into temporary bases for the cavalry, which also served as beacon towers.

With these temporary bases, the Dengzhou cavalry gained simple support points, making their combat methods more flexible. Scout cavalry continuously bypassed Gaizhou to raid areas south of Yaozhou Fortress, already threatening the grain-producing regions of central Liaodong under Later Jin. At the same time, Yaozhou was also the Jianzhou bandits' salt supply area. If this place were lost, the Jianzhou bandits would even have to rely on smuggling for salt.

Apart from Gaizhou, Zhu Guobin dispatched an infantry company commander's unit to coordinate with Dongjiang Garrison. Setting out from Xiuyan, they advanced north along the Caohe River valley, attacking all the way to the vicinity of Lianshan Pass. Dongjiang Garrison reoccupied Tieshan and the areas like Kuandian that the Jianzhou bandits had abandoned, and continuously dispatched detachments north to raid the line toward Hetu Ala.

The full-scale harassment on both the Liaonan and eastern fronts forced the Jianzhou bandits to mobilize. The Plain Yellow Banner, Plain White Banner, Bordered Red Banner, and Plain Blue Banner dispatched 5,000 armored soldiers to set up defenses at the most critical point, Gaizhou. The other four banners defended the long eastern front line. The total mobilized troops exceeded 10,000, with over 15,000 bondservants. Both the armored soldiers and bondservants had to bring their own rations and horses, exacerbating the Later Jin's grain consumption.

The two sides repeatedly seesawed in the no-man's-land between Gaizhou and Fuzhou, with casualties on both sides. After the Jianzhou bandits reinforced their troops to 5,000, the two sides were temporarily in a standoff. The Guan-Ning army in Liaoxi had an ambiguous attitude. Zu Dashou sent Zu Dale with 1,000 cavalry to make a circuit near the original Dalinghe area and then returned. No one knew what they intended to do.

On the nineteenth day of the ninth month, Chen Xin returned to Dengzhou from inspecting the winter defense deployments in Liaonan. As soon as he arrived at the Regional Commander's residence, his adjutant delivered a letter. After reading it, Chen Xin summoned the adjutant and told him to invite Dai Zhenggang for a meeting.

Dai Zhenggang was in Dengzhou. After this handling of Lu Chuanzong and the other Yanggu faction members, the Aide-de-Camp Office and the Military Affairs Office had taken over the Second Battalion. Dai Zhenggang remained the battalion commander, but he had been temporarily transferred back to Dengzhou. Chen Xin had left him waiting for a while, until this letter of resignation arrived.

Dai Zhenggang soon arrived at Chen Xin's office. Upon meeting him, Chen Xin said, "Zhenggang, I have read your resignation. It is denied."

Dai Zhenggang immediately stood up. Chen Xin waved him to sit down. "I know what you are worried about. The matter of Lu Chuanzong was stirred up by the Eastern Depot. The man is dead now, and Jiang Yuegui is also dead. Whatever schemes lay behind them, I do not wish to inquire further. Lu Chuanzong is Lu Chuanzong, and you, Dai Zhenggang, are Dai Zhenggang. Do not label yourself as part of the Yanggu faction. Xu Yuanhua also came from Yanggu and had an even closer relationship with Lu Chuanzong, yet I still intend to employ him. We do not engage in purges here."

Dai Zhenggang was silent for a moment before saying, "My lord, this matter was indeed connected to the Eastern Depot, but ultimately, it was Lu Lvzi himself who failed to stand firm. Lu Chuanzong was brought up under my command. His temperament has always been arrogant; he could not bear the slightest grievance. Regardless of the cause of death this time, it all stemmed from his private contact with the Eastern Depot agents. I cannot shirk my responsibility. I beg you, my lord, to relieve me of my military post. I am willing to go to the Civil Affairs Department, or let me serve as an instructor."

Chen Xin waved his hand. "Lu Chuanzong is Lu Chuanzong, and you, Dai Zhenggang, are Dai Zhenggang. Do not label yourself as part of the Yanggu faction. Xu Yuanhua also came from Yanggu and had an even closer relationship with Lu Chuanzong, but he realized his error and returned, and he has the ability to manage the Civil Affairs Department, so I still intend to employ him. We do not engage in purges here."

Dai Zhenggang kept his head lowered, and it was unclear whether he had taken it to heart. Chen Xin also knew he would have some misgivings, but Dai Zhenggang was different from Lu Chuanzong. The Intelligence Bureau's analysis of his character was that he was quite steady and extremely devoted to his family. Now he had a home and family in Dengzhou, with four children. Long ago, he had deliberately distanced himself from Lu Chuanzong and the others, rarely attending gatherings of the Yanggu faction, only visiting these fellow townsmen during the New Year and festivals.

Chen Xin walked over to Dai Zhenggang, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "You and Chuanzong were among the earliest to follow me. The days in Weihai were so difficult, yet we pulled through. I am not one to forget old ties; you should understand the meaning in that. Lu Chuanzong failed to stand firm himself; it has nothing to do with you. I trust you, but I also know the misgivings in your heart. If you truly do not wish to lead troops, then go to the Military Academy and switch places with Shi Pingli. You have fought quite a few battles, and the Military Academy happens to lack an officer like you."

Dai Zhenggang saluted gratefully and said, "Thank you, my lord, for your understanding. I will go to Wendeng tomorrow. I have always remembered the days when I followed you to Weihai. Though life was hard, my heart was full of joy. I have always remembered your kindness. Back when you were still a commoner, you saved this humble one's life by the river in Tianjin. If not for you taking me in, I would likely have died somewhere unknown long ago. This resignation is not out of fear that you would implicate me, my lord. It is just that Lu Chuanzong and I have known each other since childhood, a fact known to all. There will inevitably be talk in the army. If I continue to command the Second Battalion, and my colleagues in the army become guarded against me, it would be tedious and could also hinder your important affairs. The Military Academy is more secure. Please rest assured, my lord, I will certainly help you manage the Military Academy well."

Chen Xin nodded slightly. "Help me manage the Military Academy well. If you come to an understanding in your heart later, come find me again. Leading troops again is not out of the question."

Dai Zhenggang saluted once more and strode out the door. Chen Xin looked at the closed door, sighed, and said, "This is for the best. I hope we can see this through to a good end." (To be continued...)