Chapter 66: Organizational Structure

In the shantytown by the canal, Chen Xin stood once more inside the original shack that had belonged to Dai Zhenggang and the others. Before him stood over twenty men. All were Dai Zhenggang's fellow villagers from Yanggu; they had arrived some ten days ago and had been waiting here for Chen Xin's return.

"My lord Battalion Commander, twenty-one came from Yanggu. Only two brought their families; the rest are all bachelors. Every bachelor from the nearby villages is here."

Chen Xin spotted the tenant farmer Huang Yuan and many other familiar faces among the former trackers. He nodded and smiled at them. Huang Yuan and the others were at a loss, unsure whether they should kneel. They could no longer call him Brother Chen; they had heard he was no longer a bookkeeper but now held some rank as a Battalion Commander.

Chen Xin asked Huang Yuan, "Huang Yuan, didn't your wife have a baby? Did you bring the child?"

Huang Yuan replied, somewhat dejected, "The child didn't survive. Died of illness along with its mother."

Chen Xin said nothing more, merely patting Huang Yuan on the shoulder. The mortality rate in this era was far too high. A single winter could carry off many lives—frozen, starved, or sick to death. The value of human life was plummeting sharply.

"You've come all this way and are willing to follow me, Chen Xin. I will certainly not mistreat you in the future. But let's be clear about the good and the bad upfront. Where I'm taking you, you may have to fight bandits, fight Japanese pirates, and possibly even fight the Tatars. Monthly pay is one tael and five mace of silver. If you're wounded, you get thirty taels and will be reassigned to other duties, with meals still provided. If you die, it's also thirty taels, sent to your family. If you have children, I will raise them until they are sixteen and ensure they get an education. If any of you are afraid to die, step forward now. I will give you two taels of silver for travel expenses, and you can return to Yanggu right now."

The group exchanged glances. Not a single person stepped forward; all stared eagerly at Chen Xin.

Chen Xin nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Since you've come all this way, I won't be selective. I'll take you all. Those fit to be combat soldiers will be combat soldiers. Those truly unfit will serve as supply soldiers or cooks."

Dai Zhenggang, standing to the side, acknowledged this with a pleased response. He had originally worried some might not be selected and would be sent back. In these times, one tael and five mace, if not embezzled, was enough to support a family. In truth, Dai Zhenggang could see that these fellow villagers were inferior to the fifty carefully chosen trackers, but Chen Xin's acceptance of them was a way of showing him face.

"Why aren't you thanking the lord Battalion Commander?" Dai Zhenggang hastily reminded his dazed fellow villagers. Having spent time with Song Wenxian and traveled to the capital, he had learned a fair number of formalities.

The group hurriedly knelt. "Many thanks, my lord Battalion Commander!"

After Chen Xin told them to rise, he added to Dai Zhenggang, "We set out in two days at most. In these two days, compile the personnel roster, buy two large wooden tubs, and have them bathe one by one. Get rid of all the lice and fleas on their bodies. I will inspect them before boarding the ship. Anyone not cleaned properly will walk to Weihai on their own. As for those bedding rolls and such, don't bring them aboard; I've already ordered new ones."

Dai Zhenggang nodded. "Understood, my lord. Same as with the trackers from Zhangjiawan; I know what to do. But if the new clothes aren't ready in time, we'll never catch all the lice."

"I'll go hurry Liu Minyou about the clothes. What's going on with that clothing shop of his? It's been two days and a few dozen garments still aren't finished. If this keeps up, I'll give the order to another shop." Chen Xin spoke with displeasure.

Having made the arrangements here, Chen Xin headed back into the city. Dai Zhenggang took a few men to find a carpentry shop outside the city to buy the large wooden tubs. Chen Xin, with Hai Gouzi in tow, went straight into the city. After arriving in Tianjin, Hai Gouzi no longer led the trackers; after all, he was young and couldn't match those men in strength or build. Chen Xin worried they couldn't command respect, so for the time being, Zhu Guobin and Lu Chuanzong were in charge. Zhang Da, being a smooth talker, helped with purchasing goods in the city and running the occasional errand. Hai Gouzi had thus become Chen Xin's personal bodyguard.

Following behind Chen Xin, Hai Gouzi asked, "Big Brother, are we all going with you to Weihai?"

"Do you want to go?"

Hai Gouzi scratched his head. "Of course I do. If I'm not following you, I don't even know what to do all day. I don't want to spend every day making clothes either. Sticking with you, Big Brother, is more fun."

Chen Xin laughed. "From now on, we'll be in the killing business—not like the old days of swindling and cheating. It's time to put real skills to use. Following me might cost you your life. If you want a safer life, I'll leave you in Tianjin; the shop here needs hands too."

"No. Either way, I'm sticking with you, Big Brother. My life was saved by you anyway; if I lose it, so be it."

"Ah." Chen Xin sighed, putting an arm around Hai Gouzi's shoulder as they walked together.

"Is Brother Liu going to Weihai or not?"

"I still have to ask him. Depends on whether he wants to go himself."

Hai Gouzi suddenly grew animated. "Big Brother, I heard from the neighbors that Brother Liu and that Pan Jinlian are involved in something shady. Shen Lou curses outside the door every day, and even so, Brother Liu hasn't dismissed the Shen family's wife. Do you think Brother Liu has really taken a fancy to that jinx?"

"What nonsense are you spouting, kid? What jinx? Shen Lou brought trouble on himself by stealing; what does that have to do with her? Whoever your Brother Liu fancies is his business. If you keep talking nonsense and your Brother Liu actually ends up marrying this Pan Jinlian, won't she make life difficult for you?"

Hai Gouzi scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "Then I'll keep my mouth shut."

－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

Liu Minyou returned to the courtyard after work. This time, Xiao Jiahua did not call him Steward, because Chen Xin had told her they would soon be leaving for Dengzhou. She thus no longer took this courtyard seriously and abandoned any plans for renovation. The two current shop-front rooms were not used as commercial storefronts; one was converted into a parlor, the other into a bedroom. Chen Xin had arranged for Xiao Jiahua to stay in one of the shop-front rooms. Though unwilling, Xiao Jiahua dared not defy the Master's wishes. She more or less guessed that Liu Minyou did not welcome her, and she gave him no good face in return. Seeing him enter, she snorted and retreated to her room.

Liu Minyou had been fuming for the past two days. He walked straight into Chen Xin's room and, seeing him packing, asked, "Are you really leaving for Weihai so soon?"

"Tomorrow. The Wei River hasn't frozen over completely yet; I have to make this window of time. Otherwise, we'll have to travel by land. Brother, you're coming with me."

Liu Minyou was still hesitating. Ever since Chen Xin had obtained that Company Commander post, he had been mulling over whether to go or not. He was a homebody who sought a peaceful life and was most reluctant to leave familiar surroundings. He had now spent several months in Tianjin, got along well with the neighbors, and the business was on the right track. He truly couldn't bear to give it up.

"Mm. I still haven't decided."

Chen Xin urged, "The canal is frozen in winter, so your clothing business is slow anyway. You might as well come to Weihai with me. There's bound to be a ton of work at first; I can't handle it all alone."

Liu Minyou replied, "You've got so many people going; what's there that you can't handle?"

"They're all new. None of them are as formidable as a seasoned workplace veteran like you. They basically have no management experience; they'll just be doing odd jobs once we're there."

"Actually, there are still plenty of talented people. That Shen Lishi, for instance..." Liu Minyou suddenly stopped himself, lest Chen Xin seize on the topic.

As expected: "Oh, right. Is there something going on between you and that Shen Lishi? Why not just run off with her?"

Liu Minyou said irritably, "You think everyone's like you, trafficking in people? She's genuinely good at management. She learns fast, thinks very clearly and methodically, and can offer excellent suggestions on clothing styles."

Chen Xin shrugged. "So what if she's capable? At most, she could be your secretary. Don't even think about putting her in management. Do you think people like Lao Cai and Lu You would listen to her? Simply because she's a woman, they wouldn't pay her any mind."

Liu Minyou knew this was the truth. If Shen Lishi were really put in charge, Lao Cai and the others would absolutely gang up to make things difficult for her, and in the end, she'd still have to be replaced.

Chen Xin continued to persuade him. "Just treat that woman as a worker. From the look of you now, you probably do have a bit of a soft spot for her. Don't get entangled with her in any other way; after all, she's a married woman. We don't have time to deal with that Shen Lou. Forget about her. Back to what I was saying—come with me to Weihai. Help me get a firm footing there first."

Liu Minyou hesitated. "Then... what about the clothing shop?"

"Let Lao Cai manage it. The staff stays the same. These people all have families in tow, so I don't plan to take them along. Leave the clothing shop here as a liaison office."

"I wouldn't trust Lao Cai to manage it. He's a bit greedy for petty gains, and Lu You doesn't dare contradict him. Zhou Laifu would be more reliable."

Chen Xin said, "Zhou Laifu it is, then. That clothing shop can still turn a small profit. Besides, I'll still need to come to Tianjin to procure goods for my sea trade. When spring comes next year, if you find yourself missing this Pan Jinlian, you can just come back to Tianjin and help me buy some goods while you're at it."

Liu Minyou said angrily, "Director Chen really does treat me like a universal brick, moved wherever there's a need. You know I hate changing locations the most, yet you always have to put me through this."

Chen Xin grinned cheekily. "How would I dare? When has this Director ever contradicted Boss Liu? It's just that Boss Liu is the most capable. As they say, the able ones do more work."

Liu Minyou also wasn't entirely at ease letting Chen Xin go to Weihai alone. It was, after all, a completely unfamiliar place. No matter what, he ought to go help this friend, with whom he depended on for survival. "Fine. Then I'll go with you first. Nothing much to pack, just bring some clothes." Liu Minyou then recalled something else. "Oh, right. That Zhou Shifa—formerly Vice General Qian's man, who went to the Five Armies Camp—heard you've become a Battalion Commander and wants to follow you."

"Zhou Shifa?" Chen Xin remembered this retainer of Qian Zhongxuan. "But his elderly mother is in Tianjin. How can he leave? Besides, wouldn't following Qian Zhongxuan to the capital garrison be more promising? Why come follow me?"

"His mother passed away last month. He doesn't want to follow Vice General Qian anymore either. He probably admires your character greatly and asked me to put in a word for him."

Chen Xin chuckled. "Mocking me again. Fine, I'll take him. Someone who's been a retainer should still have some real skill."

Having persuaded Liu Minyou, Chen Xin was very pleased. Liu Minyou was meticulous in his work and had management experience. Though a bit long-winded, he could still be of immense help. And he was the only person Chen Xin could trust completely.

"Boss Liu, it's settled then. Tomorrow, you'll arrange the shop's affairs. But Zhou Laifu and the others are all outsiders. I suggest you give Lu You some perks. That man is fairly loyal to his friends. Consider it planting a mole among them."

"I don't have as many cunning schemes as you, planting a mole among just a few people. I'll raise Zhou Laifu's wages a bit. Lao Cai and Lu You aren't familiar with him, and Shen Lishi also knows accounting. He won't have much room to exploit."

Chen Xin looked at him with an expression of profound admiration. "Brother Liu, this arrangement deeply grasps the way of checks and balances. I'm impressed, truly impressed."

Liu Minyou shook his head. "Spare me. I don't have the mind to study checks and balances. Are you just going to leave like this, without going to say anything to the Zhao family's mother-in-law?"

"Of course I have to tell them. I'll go first thing tomorrow morning. I also need to say goodbye to Zhao Xiang. Anyway, the engagement is set; I'll just come back next year to marry her." Chen Xin let out a long breath as he spoke. He was still quite fond of Zhao Xiang. Though she was a bit young, girls of marriageable age in this era were all around that age; those in their twenties were already mothers to several children.

Liu Minyou nodded. "Miss Zhao seems gentle and virtuous. Treat her well in the future, and don't let that Xiao Jiahua bully her."

Chen Xin burst out laughing. This Miss Zhao was not so easily bullied; Xiao Jiahua's level of skill was probably not up to the task. Still, he agreed. Then, pulling a sheet of paper from under his pillow, he said to Liu Minyou, "This is my personnel arrangement. Take a look, Boss Liu, and offer your thoughts."

Liu Minyou took it and looked — on the paper, a list of names had been written with a brush.

Jingshi: Zhang Dahui

Tianjin Procurement: Lao Cai…

Security: Hai Gouzi, select two trackers

Combat Squad: sixty-five men

Organized into five jia, each jia twelve men, with one jia leader, one cook, and two combat squads, each squad with one squad leader.

Combat Squad Leader: Zhu Guobin, one standard-bearer, one security guard

Combat Squad Vice Leaders: Dai Zhenggang, Lu Chuanzong

Sailor Squad: forty men

Sailor Squad Leader: Jiang Jisheng (Ba Zi)

Sailor Squad Vice Leader: Qin Lufang

Artisan Jia Leader: Tang Zuoxiang

Civil Affairs: Liu Minyou

Foreign Affairs: Song Wenxian

Liu Minyou said in astonishment, "You've even worked out the organizational structure. You plan to put Zhang Dahui in Jingshi all by himself — can he manage alone?"

"He can. That kid is very slick. This time in Jingshi, thanks to him, we got wind of an important piece of news. We won't send him for now; we'll wait until spring, and we can adjust things then. As for daily life, just have him buy a maid to cook and do laundry."

"Then I'm in charge of civil affairs — do I get a maid?"

"No. At most, we'll find a middle-aged woman from among the trackers' families to clean and cook."

Liu Minyou rubbed his nose. The Jingshi office perks really were better than the local ones. "What exactly does this civil affairs of mine cover?"

"Everything except the military."

"For example."

"For example, building houses, farming, buying grain, purchasing supplies, receiving guests, bearing and raising children, birth, old age, sickness and death, recreation and leisure, women's work…"

Liu Minyou broke out in a sweat like rain.