Chapter 170

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Song Miao

The matter of recruiting corvée laborers to dig canals and dredge waterways was not originally under Song Miao's purview, so naturally she could not speak lightly.

At this moment Han Li was absent; after a brief consideration, she said, "No rush for now, wait for my word."

Having spoken, she first called Dabing and Ma Shenzǐ inside and assigned all the tasks within the official relay station.

With these extra thirty-odd people, just handling the midday meal would take considerable effort, and the rear kitchen's ingredients certainly would not suffice, so she instructed what dishes to make and how to make them, and then told Dabing, "I am going to the yamen; I may not make it back by the lunch hour. You take Si Niang along, and Ma Shenzǐ will help. If it is not enough, you may call more people to lend a hand, only be careful not to clash with Zhang Gongchu's schedule, affecting the other officials and guests' meals."

She also had him watch the time and go do the marketing.

Dabing had followed Song Miao these many days and had already been specially trained by her a few times; now he finally had the chance to take charge of preparing meals for twenty or thirty people on his own, and with Ma Shenzǐ and Zhang Siniang assisting, his fighting spirit surged at once, and he agreed readily.

Song Miao was not in a hurry to leave just then; she took up paper and brush and carefully questioned Zhang Siniang about Wang Sanlang's conduct and the labor situation in the city.

Although what Zhang Siniang spoke of was only matters of those around her, as long as one properly sifted the information within, it was sufficient as reference — certainly more useful than what that Head Clerk Qian Zhongming said.

Ma Shenzǐ listened from the side, yet held back again and again, and only with difficulty found a gap to interject, saying, "Aiyo, if Young Lady had said so earlier, not to mention Xiao Wang, even my household's man could have come to lend a hand!!!"

She hurriedly added, "Even without extra pay, this is proper corvée labor; once conscripted one must go. If the river is truly dredged and there are fewer floods and waterlogging in the future, we all live by the water; it is called service, but it is actually for our own livelihoods! A bit more money, a bit less money, what does it matter!"

Song Miao naturally knew these were mostly fine words, but there might not be a few parts of genuine feeling within.

Who does not need to support a family? Willing to come help for a few coins less — such sincerity is already exceedingly rare.

She questioned Ma Shenzǐ and Zhang Siniang, and knowing that the circumstances of the many young wives and aunties who had come from outside were similar, she went out again to ask everyone whether they had such laborers at hand.

Once these words were out, though she did not directly state the intention, who on the entire drying yard could fail to guess that perhaps there were recruitment quotas here again? At once they threw down the spades and small knives in their hands, each standing up, fearing Song Miao might not see them.

This one spoke of her own family's men — not only her husband, but even younger uncles and elder cousins wanted to come; that one spoke of nephews and nieces; another spoke of elder and younger brothers; still another said her father, though a bit advanced in years, had forged iron for several years and had ample strength, compared to those youngsters only stronger, not weaker, and so on — truly almost everyone responded.

Song Miao ascertained everyone's specific circumstances, and also where those laborers each lived, recording it all properly, and made clear it was not an urgent recruitment, only a preliminary inquiry, telling them not to rush back and spread word.

Having roughly grasped the details here, Song Miao folded the paper full of records, took it with her, and headed straight for the Hua Prefecture Government Office.

Arriving there, she first asked the guards to go inside and report, only saying she was looking for someone.

After a moment Kong Fuyang hurried out; seeing Song Miao, he hastily asked, "Song Xiaoniangzi, what brings you here? Is there some urgent matter?"

Song Miao led him aside; seeing no one on either side, she then briefly related the situation she had learned today, and handed over the recorded pages, saying in a low voice, "I know Young Master Han is currently recruiting laborers in Weizhou, but the mountains are high and roads far, and one must travel by water route then switch to land route — it is very arduous. The people recruited can only serve as supplements, not the main force. The purpose is merely to pressure the prefectural yamen into conscripting corvée laborers."

"If we ourselves can, without relying on yamen clerks, gather the manpower of the prefecture, is that not also a form of pressure? When the time comes, the prefecture itself will have recruited people, and Young Master Han's side will also bring people — walking on two legs, is that not more convenient than hopping on a single leg?"

Kong Fuyang had originally only been listening; as he listened, he unconsciously straightened his back, and even his expression became solemn. When he finished reading what Song Miao had written, his heart pounded wildly, and he thought secretly: Zheng Yan is not here; Wu Gong is a technical official. These two days, although the roads are not fully open, some people and goods from the capital have already arrived in succession. He is already overwhelmed just arranging so many people, materials, the digging direction, and the water gates — where would he have attention for anything else?

— Right now is truly the moment for me to step forward and take charge. Such a good opportunity, Song Xiaoniangzi has fed the rice right to my mouth; if I do not open my mouth and eat, I fear for the rest of my life I will regret it even in midnight dreams!

Thinking to this point, he immediately said, "What Stall Owner Song says is extremely right! You sit for a moment; I will go report to Vice Commissioner Cen right away, secure a proper recruitment decree, and request some men to set up recruitment stalls in the major streets and alleys!"

Speaking, he indeed brought Song Miao into the rear yamen, had her sit, and left in high spirits.

Seeing his three-steps-at-a-time manner, Song Miao felt somewhat uneasy.

Having traveled together and interacted these many days, she felt this Young Master Kong, though very intelligent, still had some scholar's naive pride — perhaps because he had fewer opportunities to deal with miscellaneous affairs, his conduct was ultimately somewhat crude.

Before, what he led was always breaking matters down, staring only at the small picture, and with Young Master Han beside him to remind him, even if a slight omission occurred, it could be plugged at once.

But now he has suddenly unfolded such a large operation; from his meaning, he wants to set up many points. That Vice Commissioner Cen is not someone who can keep control. Thinking of those twelve kitchen laborers of unknown origin selected yesterday, one knows that getting men from his hand yields only bad, no good.

She secretly sweated for him, and taking advantage of the free moment, also mentally helped organize the personnel recruitment matters a little.

After waiting a long while, Kong Fuyang finally walked out with wind beneath his feet; seeing Song Miao, he waved a document in his hand and said happily, "Vice Commissioner Cen agreed. That Qian Zhongming actually did not make trouble, only said he would immediately arrange for each street and alley to help recruit. Six points in the prefecture, each assigned two patrol constables. Presumably because of yesterday's kitchen laborer incident, he also feels in the wrong and fears trouble!"

Seeing his reaction, Song Miao could not help saying, "That Qian Zhongming is a veteran clerk of many years; normally he manipulates Vice Commissioner Cen like kneading dough balls. Before he dragged his feet and refused to arrange conscription for us; yesterday he even found those rascals to fob us off. Suddenly he is so agreeable — Young Master must still be more on guard."

Kong Fuyang smiled, "Stall Owner Song, rest assured! I am not a fool; I have long had precautions. Conveniently, this time Zheng Yan left me some men. I plan to assign one student to each stall, go watch the largest stall myself, and also patrol the various points, with other arrangements besides — in short, to make them not dare play any tricks!"

He added, "This matter cannot be early enough. In a moment I will urge them to erect the stalls. You may freely spread the word widely, so that those willing to enlist can register with the nearby village head, or ask clearly the location and register at the stall!"

Seeing him so confident, Song Miao no longer nagged, but when she returned to the official relay station, a thread of vigilance remained in her heart.

She called Zhang Siniang and Ma Shenzǐ aside, first told them the yamen had agreed to recruit civilian laborers, then said, "I cannot say too much to others. You two know about yesterday's kitchen laborer affair. Inside the prefectural yamen, each person has their own thoughts. Though they agreed, it may not be reliable."

"We are not in a rush either. Better to first send one of you to help inquire, see if there are any problems inside. Do not let what was meant for mutual benefit end up dragging you down — that would be trouble!"

Speaking to this point, Song Miao glanced at Zhang Siniang, then looked at Ma Shenzǐ, and finally said to both, "To say an unpleasant truth: in the end, whether I and the other Du Shui Jian officials, or the students, are just passing through. When the matter is done, no matter with whom we fall out, returning to the capital is just returning to the capital. But Auntie and Si Niang have lived here for generations. If you offend some powerful figure, and in the end cannot resolve the person…"

These words laid everything out in the open and analyzed the pros and cons clearly, making Ma Shenzǐ listen with a somewhat nervous look. She said, "Many thanks for Young Lady's reminder. Now the one whose word counts in the yamen is a senior clerk surnamed Qian. He has seen off several prefectural officials in succession. I will find someone to ask — conveniently, that Xia Jiezi's maternal cousin is a village head, one of our own, easy to talk to."

But she immediately reassured, "Young Lady, rest assured. Normally it would be fine, but right now everyone is precisely at a time when making a living is hard. No matter how powerful, they still have to leave us a mouthful of rice, right? If pushed too hard, even a rabbit has two teeth!"

Having spoken, Ma Shenzǐ did not dare delay, went to the drying yard and called out that eldest Xia Jiezi, and took her along hurriedly away.

Let us speak of here: Ma and Xia, the two aunties, were gone for a good half day. In the Hua Prefecture Government Office, several clerks stood outside Head Clerk Qian Zhongming's room, and also a full half day passed, yet they had not managed to enter.

Inside the room, Qian Zhongming's expression was visibly ugly.

Standing at the lower end were three people. The leftmost one, reading the situation, hurriedly said, "Head Clerk, rest assured. It has already been passed down. Each village head knows how to handle it. No need for us to worry."

This time, Qian Zhongming did not do the usual wave-of-the-hand routine, but pressed, "How do they plan to handle it?"

That clerk said, "The small one asked each in turn. They all know this time it is not good to suppress with words, lest later it be found out and implicate the officials."

"Those village heads are all sharp operators. One or two don't need teaching — they have already thought of the same proper method: whoever registers, say their name is already on the corvée roster. Wait until all are gathered and then report upward."

"If one truly encounters a single-male household not due for service this round, then create another corvée category, create a few more, say it a few more times. Everyone is not stupid; they will know not to come provoke trouble on their own."

Qian Zhongming pondered slightly, then nodded, and instructed the middle clerk, "They naturally must speak nicely first. But if they encounter some blind fool who insists on going to dig the river, they cannot be entirely allowed to make a scene. You find a way, devise a method to lock them up first. In any case, no one must be allowed to cause trouble at this critical juncture!"

That clerk hastily agreed, "Head Clerk, rest assured. This time the small one will certainly handle the task well!"

Qian Zhongming looked at him expressionlessly, "If not for the stupid goods you brought in causing so much trouble, where would there be need for today's remedial action!"

He asked further, "You had best really handle it well — those people from yesterday, how were they dealt with?"

"The two troublemakers were beaten with fifty Sha Wanzhi, the rest were also properly taught a lesson…"

He was still speaking when Qian Zhongming's eyes narrowed, and he suddenly cut in, "What do you mean 'properly taught a lesson'? You let the people go?"

That clerk froze, but in the end hardened his scalp and said, "Truly this time there was no handle left. Besides, there were many people. Surely we cannot lock them all up…"

However, before these words were finished, he saw something unknown flying rapidly toward his face.

At this moment his reaction was not in time; he fundamentally could not dodge. Although he tilted his head to the side, he was still heavily smashed on half his face. The unknown thing was both heavy and hot, followed by a crisp "pa" sound.

This person's miserable "ah" cry and that crisp sound rang out almost simultaneously. He was in such pain he crouched on the ground, raising his hand to cover his face, yet could not even cry out in pain, only calling "Kongmu," and then saying: "This lowly one knows his wrong! This lowly one knows his wrong!"

As he spoke, he raised his head and saw that the Kongmu opposite had a pair of eyes staring at him like a venomous snake. He suddenly felt a chill on his back, and the last half-sentence of apology was actually stuck in his throat, unable to be spoken again.

Qian Zhongming was already stepping forward on the hot tea and shards scattered on the ground. With one hand he seized the person on the ground by the hair, pulled his face up, and said: "Your gall is quite large. You took fifty strings of cash from someone, yet dared to secretly release them behind my back. Do you think because I burn incense on the first and fifteenth, I am truly a vegetarian-eating Bodhisattva??"

Finished speaking, he heavily slammed that person's head onto the ground.

The other party was slammed until gold stars flared before his eyes, yet he could not attend to all that. He hurriedly begged for mercy: "Kongmu, Kongmu, this lowly one was just about to offer that money to you... This time was truly an accident. You, sir, have great magnanimity..."

Qian Zhongming did not pay him any heed, but instead addressed the clerk on the right: "You go clean up the matter. Find a pretext, imprison them all, do not leave any loose ends."

This person hurriedly assented, not daring to stay further, and hastily retreated out.

The person on the ground was still begging for mercy, saying: "Kongmu, this lowly one knows his wrong. This lowly one was momentarily confused, lost his mind..."

Qian Zhongming, however, pulled him up, used a handkerchief to wipe the bloodstains from this person's face, and said: "What lowly one, not lowly one. You and I are both court clerks. Doing business for the country and the court, how can one conduct oneself so without dignity."

That clerk was intimidated into not daring to move a muscle.

Qian Zhongming added: "My temper is big, comes fast, goes fast too — you first follow along out to clean up the matter properly. Return the person's money as well, lest you be caught and not released."

That clerk could not gauge him, was dismissed by his words, and just now left in panic and haste.

Once this person left, Qian Zhongming's face sank down. Addressing the sole remaining clerk in the room, he said: "This recruitment matter, you watch it tightly. There must not be the slightest mishap again!"

The subordinate clerk replied: "Rest assured, sir. Everything has been instructed. Just now I even personally went to look at that stall once. Every position was chosen very well. Although a few students followed along, they haven't even grown all their hair yet — all greenhorns, very easy to handle — wait until they guard empty stalls for two days, swat flies for several more days, they'll know to beat the retreat drum on their own!"

Qian Zhongming nodded, saying: "Your work, I have always been at ease with. Only that Fang Da cannot be used again. After this matter passes the limelight, send him off to guard the mine at Pingding Mountain. Find some opportunity, settle it once and for all."

In the official relay station, seeing it was about to reach Shen Hour, only then did Ma Shenzǐ and Xia Shenzi rush back.

The two together sought out Song Miao.

"Gou'er says this matter is hard to handle. He received instructions from above, telling him not to bother with this recruitment labor matter, and not to publicize it to people in the streets and alleys. Even if someone truly takes the initiative to come ask, he must find a passable excuse to fob them off."

Song Miao heard this and immediately said: "After all he is the Village Head, and also a relative. Don't make things difficult for him. We'll think of another way..."

Her words not yet finished, that Ma Shenzǐ across from her suddenly revealed a crafty smile, saying: "Young Lady, don't be anxious. He has to do kitchen duty; we can't make things difficult for him. But we also have to eat!"

She added: "Can't go register at the Village Head's, can't go register at the stall either. There's always some other place to register, right — Young Lady, are you short of people here? Either way it's recruiting people to work. Working for you, working for the yamen, it's just a different name. The money can still be paid the same, right?"

Song Miao instantly understood perfectly.

She raised her voice and said: "Auntie speaks correctly. I am going to City West to build sheds. This project is huge. At least two thousand small workers are needed. Trouble you to help set up ten tables outside, right outside this official relay station's door, set up a stall!"

?? Thank you Rang Xiang Bu Dao for personally gifting me a Peach Blossom Fan, Book Friend, Book Friend two friends for personally gifting me a Peace Talisman each:)

? Thank you Book City Feng Ma for personally gifting me four Small Gifts, my family's cat Egg Egg for personally gifting me three Small Gifts, Ao Te Man Xiao Jie for personally gifting me two Small Gifts, Murong Xi 686 for personally gifting me one Small Gift=3=

? Thank you everyone^_^