Chapter 157: Miao Chu Chapter 156: Travel Study

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

One wonders whether it was borrowing Song Miao's auspicious words, but sure enough, Han Li and the others had smooth sailing all the way.

Taking the boat, the first leg, that boatman had his vessel poled and waiting early; once the people were aboard, he pushed off directly with his pole.

At first there were still a few drops of rain, but by the time they reached shore, the rain had stopped too.

Walking the mountain road, for the first two days Hua Prefecture and Wei Prefecture had incessant rain, yet just across the river, and another ten-odd li beyond, there was surprisingly no rain in the mountains; what little standing water there was had half-dried and did not hinder travel.

Originally the most troublesome part was a large pool of standing water at the descent, but right beside it happened to be a sparse grove, and several trees at the forest edge had been snapped by wind and rain — perfect for dragging over as stepping stones; though the stumps were not thick, piled together they were more than sufficient.

Once down the mountain, because they arrived early, they were about to wait for a boat; they expected a long wait, but that boatman's household had business today so he came early, intending to pull one last trip and leave early — and they ran right into him.

Truly, when meeting mountains they opened a path, when meeting water they got a boat.

The rest only felt the journey smooth, yet the two grannies Huang and Li knew how rare this was; one chanted "Boundless Heavenly Venerable," the other chanted "Amitabha Buddha."

And Granny Huang said loudly: "Master Han the Scholar, our family has traveled plenty, first time encountering such a coincidence — tell it and no one would believe it; I'm afraid Heaven itself wants to help you succeed! That river-digging affair of yours will definitely be dug through!"

Auspicious words everyone loves to hear; the students all puffed out their chests, and even Lu Wenming, at his age, couldn't help but feel happy hearing it.

Off the boat, not far on there were donkey carts and mule carts.

Han Li directly hailed two carts to Linghe Town.

The group had trekked mountains and forded waters for half a day; the rice eaten at noon had long since digested, and now sitting in the carts, everyone's stomachs were growling — who knows who started it, but quickly one after another they all took out their lotus leaf wraps.

Opening one, it held prepared meat and vegetables.

Start of Summer was near, so the vegetables wouldn't congeal oil even after sitting; the scent was duck meat fragrance, with faint wine aroma and young ginger fragrance mixed in; because it was cold, the aroma wasn't as fierce as when served steaming hot at noon, but in this cramped cart interior, the aromas from many lotus leaf wraps gathered together and still made one salivate uncontrollably.

The other lotus leaf wrap held a small stack of flatbreads.

Following Song Miao's instructions, everyone ate three layers of flatbread first; some couldn't be bothered to peel them out, so taking advantage of the flatbreads cushioning the bottom, they just put the small dishes on the topmost layer.

Zhi Jie flatbreads, the bread white with golden-brown baked patterns; though extremely thin, the wheat fragrance was fully given, soft yet resilient, not losing chewiness, sandwiching the duck meat inside, duck intestines, spicy-crisp young ginger, and here also crisp lightly-salted lettuce stem threads, refreshing and sweet.

Almost no one spoke, all just focused on stuffing flatbreads into their mouths and chewing heartily.

The young ginger duck, once cooled, had another flavor entirely; the gelatinous firmness of skin and meat was more pronounced, even the young ginger had gentled considerably, not so spicy, turned sweet instead, and nicely cut the slight greasiness of eating it cold.

Song Miao had deboned and shredded the duck meat into even strips; now paired with the fragrant soft flatbread skins, one bite gave first the wheat fragrance, then the meat fragrance, followed by the lettuce stem and dried tofu skin.

Because it was wine-braised and had young ginger, even cold the duck's gamy odor was still suppressed dead tight; finished eating and it never resurfaced — the whole group basically didn't register any gaminess, only fragrance.

Everyone wolfed it down, chewing vigorously; by the time they finished, bread and meat satisfied, they were slowly gathering up the lotus leaf wraps when suddenly someone tilted their head back — *hic—* a long, loud burp.

The whole group involuntarily looked toward the burper.

Someone recognized that face, couldn't help showing a disdainful expression, and sneered: "Xiao Sun, have some decorum!"

But that person hadn't even finished the word "decorum" when a stream of qi rose from his stomach, rushed up his throat fighting to be first, made his throat itch, and he too followed with a *hic~~~~* burp.

This burp went up and down, and by the end it was broken, intermittent, unable to connect.

So it fell to the one who had just finished burping, the undecorous Xiao Sun still covering his mouth, to mock: "Jiang Xiong, how come even your burp isn't clear and bright, all muffled!"

Jiang Xiong was embarrassed, and the people around were already laughing hahaha.

At first only one or two laughed; as they laughed, someone laughed halfway — the last "ha" of "hahaha" only got a "mouth," the tone shifted, pressed downward, and turned into a deep, long *hic*.

For a moment everyone stared at each other, and the whole cart interior burst into laughter.

Some held their bellies, some teared up, and some laughed while cursing: "Aiyo, can't take it, my stomach hurts!"

Only that "Jiang Xiong" was quite particular about face, couldn't quite let it go, and hurriedly said: "It's this sitting position, it's this cart seat too low, pressing on our stomachs that made us burp!"

Lu Wenming was on this mule cart; originally the closer they neared Wei Prefecture City, the more timid his heart grew, but now seeing everyone joking and bantering, his heart eased, and he couldn't help laughing along; laughing and laughing, that bit of timidity unknowingly dissipated.

Such a good atmosphere, such good companions, everyone striving toward one place, pure and hardworking day to day — in such an environment, even though his blood had cooled considerably, it was still hard not to be stirred up.

— I only do my utmost; the rest I leave to Heaven's mandate.

Thinking this, he couldn't help recalling Granny Huang's words just now — "Heaven wants to help you succeed" and so on — only hoping this village woman truly had a blessed mouth, that her words would become law this once.

After traveling another stretch, the mule cart slowly stopped — they had arrived.

The cart door opened, a student stood outside, carrying a cloth bag in to collect everyone's dried lotus leaves, and said: "Headman Han instructed everyone before getting down to check, don't dirty the cart interior."

Everyone assented in unison.

This place was already Linghe Town territory; Granny Li led a few people down first, and as the two groups parted, Han Li handed the lead man a heavy bag of coin strings, saying: "You've always been resourceful; don't take advantage of people. With locals guiding, you won't get cheated. Use money to open the way in all things; when something comes up, weigh it and decide yourself. Don't make trouble, but don't be overcautious either — as long as it's the right path, even if it brings trouble, I'll help clean it up."

That man was barely twenty; receiving the money bag, he replied excitedly: "Rest assured, Headman, I'll do it well, won't let you down!"

Han Li patted his shoulder, said nothing more, but gathered the others to the remaining few and instructed together: "Away from home, in unfamiliar lands, you must look out for each other; discuss matters properly. If this trip recruits enough people, not long after returning to Hua Prefecture, I will certainly petition Magistrate Cen to request merit for you all!"

Though the group had rushed about all day, hearing this they instantly perked up, faces full of smiles, and assented in unison again.

Han Li turned again to the side, greeted Granny Li, then said: "These few are all students, inexperienced, first time here; if their words or actions fall short, Granny please bear with them and offer guidance."

He took another string of cash from the people behind and said: "Their food and lodging these few days, plus finding oxen and horses, will all trouble you, elder."

Granny Li hurriedly waved her hands, saying: "Where would so much be needed!"

And said: "We country folk hosting guests, and they're literate scholar-officials, come to manage water; if I took money, I'd be scolded to death by the villagers when I go back!"

But Han Li forced the money into her hand, saying: "Food and lodging always cost money; we're going to recruit people, if we're too poor and shabby, who would come."

And urged her to accept.

Granny Li half-pushed half-accepted, finally took it; an old woman, who had both boated and climbed mountains for half a day, now actually walked with a few hints of light-footed vigor, like a mother hen spreading wings, leading a line of little chick students who vanished in a puff of smoke.

Meanwhile Lu Wenming watched Han Li's conduct, watched how the others grew excited, how quickly they ran off, and sighed inwardly.

Han Zhengyan is certainly capable, his conduct thorough and proper, but the most crucial thing is those few scholar-students, who don't know the difficulties of officialdom's ups and downs; a few words and they're stirred to jumping.

This is something only young people can do.

For instance, if such words were said to himself, he would still go do it, but his mind couldn't help turning over — what if the merit can't be petitioned? What if the merit gets snatched away? What if this river-digging and canal-opening ultimately fails? Then Magistrate Cen would probably be busy explaining to the Court; where would he have the energy, or the leeway, to petition for any merit?

Having truly experienced too many times before being coaxed and lured with words, it made him once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of the well rope.

Just as he was thinking, the group boarded the carriage again, and together with that Huang A'po arrived at Linghe Town, where she then led them to find a carriage shop, rent horses and a carriage, had a man guide the way, and they sped off toward Weizhou City.

Fortunately Linghe Town was not far from Weizhou City; they arrived before nightfall.

Han Li knew it was currently the flood season, so the prefectural yamen must have men on night duty, and he did not delay — he first ordered the remaining students to go to the official relay station to find lodging and settle in, while he himself took Lu Wenming and directly presented Cen Dezhang's invitation card at the prefectural yamen.

Sure enough, there were still guards on rotation at the gate.

The guard sent word inside, and before long hurried back out and ushered the two of them in.

The Weizhou Assistant Magistrate was called Lv Ping; his hair and beard were both quite sparse, and his frame was lean. Upon meeting, he said at once: "So you are Han Li? Your Assistant Magistrate Cen wants to swap corvée labor — he thinks it simple, and speaks lightly; one opening of his mouth and he asks for four thousand civilian laborers. Does only Hua Prefecture suffer disaster?"

Lu Wenming was accustomed to reading superiors' tones, and immediately understood that what followed this sentence would be a refusal.

Sure enough, Lv Ping continued: "Weizhou's flooding is severe; the Yellow River's course change just grazed half our border. Here too there are many earthworks to do — I've only just recruited laborers from two counties. Where am I to find men for you? Corvée is already too heavy; the commoners can't bear it — real trouble would break out!"

But in Han Li's ears, this sentence carried another meaning entirely.

Since he said "Where would I get men to lend you" rather than bluntly putting on a black face and saying "I won't lend," it showed there was still room for negotiation.

Han Li then said: "Separated by a single water, Weizhou naturally also suffers disaster severely. But this time the river dredging is personally supervised by Water Supervisor Wu Gong, and I have brought my late master's drawings to consult. If successful, though it may not be a once-and-for-all solution, both banks should at least gain some relief — Assistant Magistrate should have received the official documents sent from the Capital's Water Supervisor, no? Now, with some maneuvering, gritting one's teeth, who knows how many men might be freed up?"

"Two hundred men — not a single one more can be scraped up!" Lv Ping said.

They say ask sky-high, pay back sitting on the ground.

But Cen Dezhang asked for four thousand, and this Lv Ping opened his mouth and chopped straight down to the soles of the feet — a true ten-not-retaining-one, truly ruthless chopping.

Han Li did not anxiously counter-offer again, only asked: "Just don't know where the difficulty lies?"

Lv Ping listed many reasons — nothing more than Weizhou also currently repairing dikes, not enough laborers, not enough clerks, no way to free up hands to recruit, and even more inconvenient to organize.

The excuses he found were actually much the same as Qian Zhongming's.

Han Li did not argue with him, knowing both sides had their standpoints; even if he won the argument it would be meaningless.

He thought a moment, then asked: "If Weizhou doesn't help recruit and organize, just don't know how many men there could be?"

Hearing this, Lv Ping looked rather surprised, repeating: "No need for the yamen to recruit and organize — then how would you recruit men?"

From the very start when he wanted to swap corvée, Han Li knew this matter would be hard to accomplish, and had already prepared to spend much lip and tongue.

But since yesterday meeting Li A'po, today getting Huang A'po, learning some circumstances from the two women, walking and asking along the way — fellow passengers, fellow travelers, the guide, and even villagers sharing the carriage — he already had some confidence in his heart.

Compared to swapping corvée, he now leaned more toward directly recruiting with subsidies.

Swapping corvée would require waiting for Weizhou's clerks and runners, then enlisting local clerks and village heads, mobilizing layer by layer; and since it was an extra duty from the start, it would certainly not be done so carefully.

He said: "I'll recruit on the street, clearly stating the subsidy terms, hire by daily work and pay by month — at that time set up a few tables in the city and various county towns, and ask people to go to the villages to spread word. Just trouble the yamen to issue one official document as proof; if villagers come asking, just don't deny it."

That Lv Ping hurriedly asked how much subsidy.

Once he learned the specific figure, his words of refusal could no longer be spoken.

A very ordinary figure, much less than what common labor usually gets, and still having to go all the way to Hua Prefecture — in normal times who would pay attention to such recruitment?

But right now there is disaster.

Court relief arrives late, the edict doesn't say the Imperial Granary can be used, he is truly anxious now, even a bit envious of Cen Dezhang across the way — at least because the disaster is severe, silver and grain allocations will come urgently.

Looking at it now, truly the crying child gets the milk!

Hua Prefecture — what a generous hand!

Another prefecture spending money to help feed his commoners — only a fool would refuse!

Lv Ping was cautious after all; he asked Han Li about every arrangement in detail, confirmed that even if there were improprieties inside, the money was genuinely to be paid, and since it was so, there was no need to block it.

He agreed in one breath, then added: "No more than a thousand, I also must leave some margin for the prefecture."

Also said: "You'd best recruit in only one place, don't publicize everywhere, lest you stir up unrest."

Han Li only needed men as a catalyst; in the end it would still rely mainly on Hua Prefecture's corvée laborers. Hearing this figure of one thousand, he was already very satisfied in his heart. After agreeing, he first thanked him, then asked again: "This youngster is unfamiliar with the place and people, yamen manpower is tight and can't be borrowed — just don't know if a few prefectural school students could be borrowed?"

A few students — Lv Ping wasn't that stingy; he thought a moment and said: "If students volunteer, I won't stop them, and it won't count as skipping class. But whether they're willing to go with you, the yamen doesn't care."

Han Li didn't need him to care either.

With the most critical matters settled, Lv Ping excused himself on business and left first, letting the two of them find the lower yamen clerks and runners to coordinate tomorrow.

Exiting the rear yamen, Han Li said to Lu Wenming: "Jixian borders the water, and is close to Linghe — trouble Brother Lu to follow up on this matter, see if boats and boatmen can be recruited, to later help transport people and goods."

Lu Wenming agreed at once; seeing the sky not yet fully dark, he didn't return to the relay station, reported to Han Li, found a carriage shop, had a man guide him, and went to Jixian through the night.

Han Li, however, also did not return to the relay station.

He turned back to find the yamen guards, asked the location of the prefectural school, rented a horse, asked directions along the way, and soon arrived. He inquired and found a certain professor's residence — indeed very near, only a few steps. He entered, presented his visiting card, and before long was shown into the front hall.

Upon entering and seeing the person opposite, Han Li only called out "Brother Yuan," no idle words, only said: "I serve in Hua Prefecture; right now I need to buy and transport grain. Don't know if the prefectural school has any students from wealthy families who could help raise funds?"

Also said: "Whoever can finalize this matter, I am willing to recommend two quota slots to study for half a year under my Senior Brother Chen — Master Tingqing."