Chapter 40: Ragtag Crew

Li Mu, who had been planning how to select men at the Chengnan Battalion Command, realized he had overthought it.

Noble youths with connections had all received notice and arrived on the drill field with well-trained retainers.

Just by their bearing, it was clear these armored retainers were far more capable than the temporary conscripts in the yamen.

Going to the salt merchants’ stronghold would inevitably involve fighting.

These armed forces must all be taken along.

Add a few officers with extensive investigative experience, and a force of four hundred would be complete.

“Battalion Commander, have a safe journey!”

Deputy Battalion Commander Yuan Yangming said with obvious reluctance.

The capital’s security must not be disrupted; someone must remain behind.

Since Li Mu, the official commander, was leading the troops away, he, as deputy, had to stay.

The wealth of the salt merchants was known to all.

Just a fraction of it would be enough to feed everyone.

Moreover, reforming the salt monopoly was a major imperial policy, closely watched by the court—easiest of all to achieve political merit.

“I don’t know when I’ll return from the southeast; I entrust the Battalion Command’s affairs to Brother Yuan!”

Li Mu replied politely.

His intuition told him that after this southern mission, he would never return to the Chengnan Battalion Command.

Though his tenure had lasted only a few months, he truly had feelings for the command.

High pay, little work, low pressure—after transferring to another yamen, such treatment would be hard to find again.

After bidding farewell to his colleagues and leading his troops to the Five City Military Command headquarters, Li Mu, feeling self-satisfied, immediately sensed the gap.

The disparity among the five battalion commands was laid bare here.

The Dongcheng Battalion Command sent eight hundred men; the Xicheng Battalion Command sent seven hundred—all mostly retainers.

From the numbers alone, it was clear these two commands had noble youths with deeper family resources.

The Beicheng Battalion Command fared worst; among its two hundred men, many were just fillers.

The Zhongcheng Battalion Command fared slightly better, barely assembling three hundred.

In addition, there was another chaotic group, the largest in size.

These men were merely listed in the Five City Military Command’s rolls; they never showed up for duty during peacetime, yet now came to join the spectacle.

“It takes wisdom to know one’s limits. This mission to the Two Huai regions to reform the salt monopoly is no walk in the park like the capital.

Those ruthless salt smugglers will do anything—there’s even a chance bandits from Japan might appear.

If you lack real ability, better go home now—no shame in that.”

You should all know how vital the salt monopoly is.

If you botch the court’s mission, losing your own life is one thing—but dragging your family down with you is not worth it!”

Marquis Wuyang’s words were too pointed.

Active noble youths had all led troops; their intelligence was normal, and the retainers they brought were at least trained young men.

Those merely listed were different—they were a mix of all kinds, united only by their incompetence.

Had he not feared their status, he would have driven them all back immediately.

“Commander, rest assured!

We’ve all prepared—we won’t let…”

Before he finished speaking, Marquis Wuyang’s whip lashed out.

“Uncle, why did you whip me?”

The young man asked, aggrieved.

He had shown such support—no promotion or favor was fine, but why whip him?

This was his own uncle—simply…

“Get out!

Get out right now!

If I see you again, I’ll break your dog legs!”

Facing the enraged Marquis Wuyang, the young man knew reasoning was useless; he left the drill field, sullen and defeated, with his men.

Seeing this, other young relatives of Marquis Wuyang quickly led their men away.

Coming to join the spectacle had been a passing whim—they had no desire to be whipped.

The drill field entered a dissuasion mode; officers urged their own relatives to leave, and even Li Mu persuaded several friends and kin to go.

The stubborn few who remained were simply ignored.

Nobles seeking to profit from this mission must pay a price.

Without some dying, how could the Emperor see their sacrifice?

It was best if some volunteered to be cannon fodder.

Had he not feared the backlash, sending all those fools ahead as bait would have been ideal.

Not only would the capital’s people cheer, but it would also lighten the court’s burden.

“If no one leaves, begin counting and registering names.

I warn you now: once your name is on the roster, leaving midway is desertion.

Issue this military order immediately: any deserter from the Five City Military Command shall be executed on the spot by all units!”

Marquis Wuyang said, exhausted.

He truly did not want this southern mission.

As an imperial relative, his status had already peaked; no matter how many merits he earned, he could not advance further.

Better to stay in the capital and enjoy comfort than to run back and forth.

Unfortunately, Emperor Tianyuan was resolute in reforming the salt monopoly and had staked heavily on it.

The Emperor’s nephew had firmly decided to drag the imperial relatives into battle; Marquis Wuyang could not refuse.

Among the court officials, he was nothing—but among imperial relatives, he was among the best.

This heavy responsibility had to be borne.

Already irritated, now with added provocation, his temper flared hotter.

…

The large-scale troop movements in the capital could not escape the notice of the Grand Secretaries.

“A secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard from the southeast says the salt merchants are plotting rebellion—the situation there is about to collapse.

The Emperor, bypassing the Ministry of War, directly ordered the deployment of the Two Elite Camps and the Five City Military Command south to suppress the rebellion.”

Song Haidong said, helpless.

Emperor Tianyuan had grown ever more dominant, making his role as Grand Secretary extremely difficult.

The Emperor thought he couldn’t control his subordinates; court officials thought he flattered the Emperor and dared not argue with him.

On his honor, he had truly tried.

Theoretically, the Six Boards could indeed reject imperial edicts—but that didn’t mean the Emperor’s direct orders were invalid.

Great Yu had no law requiring the Grand Secretariat’s seal on the Emperor’s edicts.

The first few emperors of the dynasty issued edicts directly; only after imperial power declined did the Grand Secretariat’s seal become customary.

Previously, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War could constrain military action by controlling grain and pay.

This time was different: the confiscated illicit funds were ready cash for the army.

The nobles and the Emperor had struck a political deal; they acted on the edict without even consulting the Ministry of War.

“I’ve never heard of merchants successfully rebelling—yet salt merchants, rich beyond measure, are plotting rebellion? What a bizarre tale!”

As soon as Wang Anfu made this remark, everyone realized something was wrong.

The phrase “rich beyond measure” belonged exclusively to the Emperor and court—using it for merchants could cost one’s head.

This man is also eyeing the salt merchants!

Upon realizing this, no one found it strange.

No matter how wealthy the salt merchants were, they remained merchants—still politically lowly.

Great Yu’s treasury was depleted; there were only a few ways to raise money.

The scholar-gentry’s wealth couldn’t be touched; neither could the nobles or imperial relatives. The only ones left were the common people and merchants.

In past years, the court had already imposed multiple new taxes on the people.

The wise had long realized: if taxes kept rising, unrest would surely erupt.

“Grand Secretary Wang, you mustn’t speak so recklessly!”

Pang Hengsheng said, displeased.

If the Emperor is going to act foolishly, not opposing him is one thing—but joining in is another.

In today’s Great Yu, there are no pure merchants.

The salt merchants of the Two Huai have long been major financial backers of the Pure Stream Faction.

(End of Chapter)