Chapter 90

"Forty-four, forty-five. Lord Chen, your head count is forty-five. If there is no objection, I shall begin compiling the register." A book clerk in his thirties, looking like a down-and-out scholar, spoke respectfully to Chen Xin.

This clerk sent by Yang Yunnong was also surnamed Yang, named Yang Qianwei, though he had no familial relation to Yang Yunnong. He too was merely a military householder who had studied as a child to sit the imperial examinations, but unfortunately his talent was mediocre and he never passed.

Bandit heads carried no reward; even for beheading a bandit chief, promotion depended entirely on one's superior. Chen Xin, however, treated this man with great courtesy, having several meat dishes prepared to entertain him. After a few cups of wine, Zhang Dahui slipped him another two taels of silver. Yang Qianwei, who lived a frugal life on a monthly ration of only three dou of grain, found two taels of silver an unquestionably huge sum. His attitude toward Chen Xin changed immediately. Chen Xin seized the opportunity to inquire about the situation at Wendeng Camp.

Yang Qianwei's face was slightly flushed; the silver had left him somewhat exhilarated. A native of Weihai Guard who also managed many documents, he was fairly well-versed in these historical matters. Stroking his beard, he said, "Wendeng Camp was established during the Xuande era. Shandong faces the sea on three sides, so the Japanese pirates could come from anywhere. A single guard battalion found it taxing, so the imperial court established three camps in Shandong: Wendeng Camp, Dengzhou Camp, and Jimo Camp. Each camp was responsible for coastal defense against the Japanese in its vicinity. Wendeng was assigned a Squad Commander. During the Wanli era, it was changed to a Garrison Commander, but the troop quota remained the same."

"What is the troop quota of Wendeng Camp? Does Mr. Yang know?"

"It seems to be over eleven hundred."

Chen Xin was startled. Wendeng County actually had so many combat soldiers. "With so many troops, why did Wendeng Camp not send soldiers to attack Tongtian Liang last time?"

"Lord Chen does not know, but that is merely the quota on paper. Wendeng Camp likely does not have even a hundred actual soldiers. Before the Garrison Commander post was established, it was just a Squad Commander position, concurrently held by the Guard Commander or Vice Guard Commander of the three nearby guard battalions. The guard battalions' funds, grain, and performance evaluations had nothing to do with this Garrison Commander, so in practice he could not control the other guards. In the old days, when fighting Japanese pirates, everyone's interests were directly involved, and I heard they could still transfer troops from the guard battalions. Now, Wendeng is at peace. Dengzhou's funds and grain are all allocated to the Personal Battalion and Dongjiang. This Garrison Commander is an outsider from Shanxi. At present, neither the Wendeng County Magistrate nor the three guard battalions pay any attention to that powerless Garrison Commander. When this humble one last visited Wendeng County and took a look, it was no different from an ordinary watchtower fort, with only a few old and weak soldiers left, even worse off than our own guard battalion. It can be considered abandoned."

"Oh, abandoned." Chen Xin wore a look of pity, but inwardly he was delighted. He only needed the troop quota; as long as it existed in name, that was enough.

"Then who is the current Garrison Commander of Wendeng Camp?"

"It is an Assistant Guard Commander from the Wanquan Regional Military Commission, Zhou Hongmo (Note 1), holding the concurrent rank of Regional Military Commissioner in charge of Wendeng Camp affairs. To this humble one's knowledge, only a few old and weak soldiers remain at the main Wendeng Camp. Commander Yang is nominally still a Picket Officer of Wendeng Camp, but I have never seen him go there."

"Mr. Yang, where is the main camp of Wendeng Camp located?"

"Ten li east of Wendeng County."

Chen Xin recalled the map. Dengzhou, Wendeng, and Jimo were positioned in the north, east, and south of Shandong respectively. The locations of the camps showed that each defended one direction, likely serving as rapid-response units to reinforce the guard battalions or departments and counties within their respective defense zones, thereby addressing the shortcomings of guard battalions being understrength or only looking after their own sectors.

Yang Qianwei, showing off, continued, "Originally, our Weihai Guard was supposed to provide troops for Wendeng Camp's quota, called the Pirate-Catching Army, totaling one hundred fifty-nine men. Additionally, we originally had to provide troops for Dengzhou Camp's quota, over one hundred twenty men. Since the establishment of the Deng-Lai Provincial Governor in the first year of the Tianqi era, Dengzhou has had the Provincial Governor's Personal Battalion, and Dengzhou Camp's troop quota was also abolished."

Chen Xin secretly rejoiced. This Wendeng Camp, loved by neither grandmother nor uncle, was perfect for his own quiet development. Still, it would require considerable maneuvering. The most pressing matter now was to secure Weihai Guard's troop quota. The Pirate-Catching Army was now only a name. If he gave Yang Yunnong some benefits, there was no reason for Yang not to grant it.

After seeing Yang Qianwei off, Chen Xin picked up his brush and wrote a letter to Song Wenxian, recounting the extermination of Tongtian Liang. He expressed his hope to promote a few more Squad Leaders and Platoon Leaders. When Weihai Guard's merit report was submitted, he hoped Song Wenxian would lobby on his behalf. He also informed Song that he would be going to Tianjin in the second month and requested that Song meet him in Tianjin on his way back from the capital.

After writing, Chen Xin calculated to himself, "Should I also make a trip to the capital, to see if that Wen Tiren has arrived or not? Damn, being a high official is great, just waiting for silver to come knocking."

Liu Minyou sat in the heated workshop, inspecting two Banjiu Foot Gun barrels. Chen Xin was busy with social engagements every day, and military matters were numerous, so he had simply handed the workshop over to Liu Minyou to manage. "Mr. Tang, why are these two gun barrels different lengths? Their thickness is also different."

Tang Zuoxiang was somewhat nervous. This Mr. Liu lacked Chen Xin's approachability. He was fine normally, but the moment he sat down to discuss business, he became utterly serious.

"Mr. Liu does not know, but last time Lord Chen instructed us to let the apprentices do more hands-on work. One of these gun barrels was forged by an apprentice. It is just that the workman's rulers we use are not uniform, so the lengths differ slightly."

As he spoke, Tang Zuoxiang handed over two workman's rulers. Liu Minyou glanced at them briefly. These tools were all rust-stained. The Ming dynasty had regulations requiring periodic calibration of scales and balances, and the same applied to measures, but none of it was enforced. Chen Xin's requirement for the workshop was to produce things as quickly as possible, to produce more things, but he never carefully inspected the process. Liu Minyou had always described Chen Xin's style as simplified management. He himself was completely different from Chen Xin, preferring to understand the process in detail himself before making improvements, just as he had done when making dresses, personally performing every step.

"Let me see the large hammers and iron rods you use to forge the gun barrels." Liu Minyou, holding the register kept by Zhang Erhui, began inspecting the next set of tools. Tang Zuoxiang had no choice but to bring the hammers. The three hammers were also of different weights, and the diameters of the iron mandrels were different too. The bore diameters of gun barrels forged this way would certainly not be uniform. Liu Minyou compared them using one of the rulers from earlier, marking the position with his fingers to show Tang Zuoxiang.

Tang Zuoxiang wiped the sweat from his forehead. Chen Xin's energy was all focused on the military; he had made the military regulations very thorough, but had not yet gotten around to the workshop, because the workshop only had a few people. A few had been weeded out from the sailors and sent over as apprentices, making a total of only ten people.

"Mr. Liu, sir, please allow me to explain this matter."

"No, Craftsman Head Tang, allow me to explain this matter. In the consolidated feedback from the combat troops this time, the firearms unit raised one point: the three newly forged arquebuses have different bore diameters. After making bullets, the soldiers still have to individually grind their ammunition, spending a great deal of extra time just to ensure the lead balls fit the muzzle."

Sweat poured down Tang Zuoxiang's forehead. Wang Huzi, standing nearby, gloated over his misfortune. He now independently led three men forging armor plates, while the weaving work had been given to the newly arrived women. Wang Huzi was now something of a leader himself, and Tang Zuoxiang was his only competitor, so he was very pleased to see Tang Zuoxiang humbled.

"Yes, yes, Mr. Liu's instruction is correct." The evidence was irrefutable, so Tang Zuoxiang could only nod and accept the lesson.

Liu Minyou then inspected their other tools one by one. After finishing, he moved over to Wang Huzi's side. All the weights and measures were still in chaos, and the dimensions of the armor plates also varied greatly. The problems on both sides were similar, though the armor was slightly better; since it did not need to be operated during combat, slight discrepancies had little impact. For firearms, however, it was a major problem.

Liu Minyou called over the two men and Zhang Erhui, and said to them, "Both of you craftsman heads are veteran masters. I was impatient just now; I hope you will not take offense. But when it comes to things used on the battlefield, not the slightest carelessness is permissible. I too once thought there would be no more fighting, but this time we lost one Tang Haoliang and five were wounded. If we have to go on campaign again, the quality of the things we make will determine whether others live or die."

Tang Zuoxiang and the other man knelt down and said, "Mr. Liu's instruction is correct, but this humble one has always done things this way. If Lord Liu has a better method, please just tell this humble one, and this humble one will obey without fail."

Liu Minyou dreaded people kneeling to him and hurriedly helped them up. "How to forge, I do not understand. But there is an old saying: 'A craftsman who wishes to do his work well must first sharpen his tools.' Today, do not busy yourselves with forging weapons. First, standardize all the workman's rulers and weighing systems you use. If new purchases are needed, you may inform me."

Wang Huzi said, "But Lord Chen is pressing us urgently, asking about the armor every few days. If we stop..."

"Since Lord Chen has entrusted me with managing the workshop affairs, I will be the one to explain to Lord Chen. You two need not worry about this. Is there anything else you need my assistance with? You may tell me all at once."

Wang Huzi and Tang Zuoxiang exchanged a glance, then Tang Zuoxiang spoke, "This humble one has one matter. Forging and boring the gun barrels is not easy, and Lord Chen's requirements are strict. This humble one wishes to switch to Fujian iron for forging, but the material cost will increase by another several tenths."

Liu Minyou asked, "How much silver per catty is Fujian iron?"

"Fujian iron is one fen and five li per catty. Ordinary refined iron is under one fen. Wang Huzi here also wishes to use Fujian iron. After the last battle, many spearheads and blades were damaged. Those made with Fujian iron are sharper and sturdier."

"Oh." Liu Minyou did not understand this very well either, but now procurement was separate from the workshop, so their desire to use Fujian iron should not be for kickbacks. He still asked one more question, "Why use Fujian iron? Is the iron from the north not good?"

Wang Huzi added, "The northern mountains and forests have been excessively logged, so charcoal is expensive. Nowadays, iron smelting uses coal, which makes the iron brittle. Fujian and Guangdong still use charcoal for iron smelting, so the iron quality is better."

"So that is how it is. Since the quality is better, then use Fujian iron." Liu Minyou turned to the logistics squad leader beside him and said, "Xu Yuanhua, tomorrow take some men to the guard city and inquire about the price of Fujian iron. Find two or three suppliers, tell them we are buying in bulk, and have them compete on price."

Xu Yuanhua was also from Yanggu, assigned to the logistics squad. He was fairly quick-witted, had learned some characters, and had now become Liu Minyou's deputy. After the last battle, Chen Xin had again taken a few men from the logistics squad, leaving six, and they urgently needed more hands. Thinking of this, Liu Minyou asked Tang Zuoxiang, "Do you have enough manpower?"

Tang Zuoxiang said, "It is precisely manpower that we lack. Five men were assigned from the ships, so now we only have ten. Lord Chen has arranged for a new type of firearm, heavier than an arquebus but lighter than a Banjiu Foot Gun. Trial production will require a lot of manpower. Mr. Liu, yesterday you also instructed us to make that, what was it, the Archimedes screw. Tomorrow we must begin felling timber, and the carpenters will have to focus solely on that task. We are truly short of hands."

Liu Minyou nodded. "I will discuss this matter with Lord Chen and will certainly get you some more hands."

Liu Minyou then left the workshop and went to Chen Xin's office, where he found Chen Xin still tearing his hair out.

Chen Xin attentively brought a stool for Liu Minyou. After hearing about the workshop issues, he laughed and said, "Brother Liu is indeed a great talent. You've found so many problems in the workshop as soon as you arrived. As for manpower, just recruit refugees. A few days ago, I already saw many refugees outside the guard city. After spring begins, there will be even more beggars. Go to the guard city or Wendeng and recruit people."

"If we recruit too many people, you being just a Company Commander, won't others say something?"

"I am a Battalion Commander. These people are workers, not combat soldiers. Besides, I am currently thinking of ways to get troop quotas. Recruiting must be done ahead of time; don't let the quota wait for the men."

Upon hearing this, Liu Minyou asked, "You mean you're going out again to chase after official posts?"

Chen Xin chuckled, "Exactly. I'll leave right after the combat review meeting. There are many matters outside. First, purchasing goods. This is our first time doing maritime trade on our own, and all our capital is in it. I must personally go to Tianjin."

"Mm, about that, I also want to make a trip to Tianjin. Mm."

"No, you help me keep an eye on things here. I'll go see Pan Jinlian for you."

Liu Minyou stared blankly and said, "You promised to let me go back once spring came. How can a leader go back on his word?"

Chen Xin said with a cheeky grin, "That's precisely why they call me the leader. Besides, what would you do even if you went to see her?"

Liu Minyou glared, then deflated and said, "I just want to go see the clothing shop."

"Alright, if I get the chance, I'll help you abduct Pan Jinlian and bring her here. I also have to go to sea this year. If you're not here, I won't be at ease. This matter is settled. Back to the workshop, how do you plan to reform it? Do you have a plan? I'm about to expand the troops. At Wang Huzi's current production rate, it'll be the year of the monkey and month of the horse before we're fully equipped with armor."

"She's part of a family, after all; don't you go causing trouble." Liu Minyou sat down somewhat unwillingly, snorted twice, and then said, "The plan is divided into short, medium, and long term. In the near term, the workshop will first rush to produce the tools needed for spring plowing, while simultaneously standardizing weights and measures and establishing a quality inspection system. In the medium term, we need to increase manpower, preferably young craftsmen. I plan to give them literacy lessons. Tang Zuoxiang and Wang Huzi both rely on experience to forge, following set procedures without any research capability. For the long-term plan, after these young craftsmen arrive, we will establish a rudimentary Taylorist management system in production, and introduce experimentation and summary in research..."

Before he could finish, Chen Xin dramatically slapped the table. "Taylorism! Minyou, your words have awakened me. Piece-rate wages, departments divided by function, standardized operations — Brother Liu is one step ahead of my military. Under Brother Liu's leadership, this workshop will absolutely become the most successful sweatshop of our time."

Liu Minyou said, somewhat annoyed, "I said long-term. What sweatshop? Taylorism isn't just about piece-rate wages and standardization. Don't just see it as some kind of Foxconn."

Chen Xin chuckled and said, "Comrade Taylor indeed had fine ideas, but his book contains no means to ensure workers can negotiate and dialogue with the capital side. That is a matter at the legal level. As a representative of the capital side, I sincerely express: I have no energy for that stuff. I only need piece-rate wages and standardization. When I return to Tianjin this time, I'll take Tang Zuoxiang back with me and poach some more people. As for the craftsmen from the other nearby guard battalions, you poach them too. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility."

Liu Minyou was a bit puzzled. "You even got Tang Zuoxiang transferred away? I'm only doing long-term planning. Bringing in too many craftsmen now, when we can't make money from them — what would they do here?"

"Get the people here first, then we'll talk. Better to have people waiting on tasks than tasks waiting on people. Once the silver from this year's sea trade comes back, we'll develop new products. No more small-time tinkering like the dresses. This time we'll prepare properly and go big."

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Note 1: Zhou Hongmo — in the third year of the Tianqi reign, fourth month, he was appointed Garrison Commander of Wendeng Battalion with the concurrent title of Regional Military Commissioner, holding the rank of Assistant Regional Military Commissioner of the Wanshan Regional Military Commission. There was also a civil official named Zhou Hongmo who served as Supervising Secretary in various offices; he is not the same person.