[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-40":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364309,4623,"Chapter 40: Ragtag Crew","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-40",40,"\u003Cp>Li Mu, who had been planning how to select men at the Chengnan Battalion Command, realized he had overthought it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noble youths with connections had all received notice and arrived on the drill field with well-trained retainers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just by their bearing, it was clear these armored retainers were far more capable than the temporary conscripts in the yamen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going to the salt merchants’ stronghold would inevitably involve fighting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These armed forces must all be taken along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Add a few officers with extensive investigative experience, and a force of four hundred would be complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Battalion Commander, have a safe journey!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deputy Battalion Commander Yuan Yangming said with obvious reluctance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The capital’s security must not be disrupted; someone must remain behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Li Mu, the official commander, was leading the troops away, he, as deputy, had to stay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wealth of the salt merchants was known to all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a fraction of it would be enough to feed everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, reforming the salt monopoly was a major imperial policy, closely watched by the court—easiest of all to achieve political merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know when I’ll return from the southeast; I entrust the Battalion Command’s affairs to Brother Yuan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu replied politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His intuition told him that after this southern mission, he would never return to the Chengnan Battalion Command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his tenure had lasted only a few months, he truly had feelings for the command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High pay, little work, low pressure—after transferring to another yamen, such treatment would be hard to find again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disparity among the five battalion commands was laid bare here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dongcheng Battalion Command sent eight hundred men; the Xicheng Battalion Command sent seven hundred—all mostly retainers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the numbers alone, it was clear these two commands had noble youths with deeper family resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Beicheng Battalion Command fared worst; among its two hundred men, many were just fillers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhongcheng Battalion Command fared slightly better, barely assembling three hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition, there was another chaotic group, the largest in size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those ruthless salt smugglers will do anything—there’s even a chance bandits from Japan might appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you lack real ability, better go home now—no shame in that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You should all know how vital the salt monopoly is.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang’s words were too pointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Active noble youths had all led troops; their intelligence was normal, and the retainers they brought were at least trained young men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those merely listed were different—they were a mix of all kinds, united only by their incompetence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not feared their status, he would have driven them all back immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander, rest assured!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’ve all prepared—we won’t let…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished speaking, Marquis Wuyang’s whip lashed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, why did you whip me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man asked, aggrieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had shown such support—no promotion or favor was fine, but why whip him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his own uncle—simply…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Get out right now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I see you again, I’ll break your dog legs!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the enraged Marquis Wuyang, the young man knew reasoning was useless; he left the drill field, sullen and defeated, with his men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, other young relatives of Marquis Wuyang quickly led their men away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming to join the spectacle had been a passing whim—they had no desire to be whipped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stubborn few who remained were simply ignored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobles seeking to profit from this mission must pay a price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without some dying, how could the Emperor see their sacrifice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was best if some volunteered to be cannon fodder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not feared the backlash, sending all those fools ahead as bait would have been ideal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only would the capital’s people cheer, but it would also lighten the court’s burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If no one leaves, begin counting and registering names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I warn you now: once your name is on the roster, leaving midway is desertion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Issue this military order immediately: any deserter from the Five City Military Command shall be executed on the spot by all units!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquis Wuyang said, exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly did not want this southern mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an imperial relative, his status had already peaked; no matter how many merits he earned, he could not advance further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to stay in the capital and enjoy comfort than to run back and forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Emperor Tianyuan was resolute in reforming the salt monopoly and had staked heavily on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor’s nephew had firmly decided to drag the imperial relatives into battle; Marquis Wuyang could not refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the court officials, he was nothing—but among imperial relatives, he was among the best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This heavy responsibility had to be borne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already irritated, now with added provocation, his temper flared hotter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The large-scale troop movements in the capital could not escape the notice of the Grand Secretaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Haidong said, helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emperor Tianyuan had grown ever more dominant, making his role as Grand Secretary extremely difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor thought he couldn’t control his subordinates; court officials thought he flattered the Emperor and dared not argue with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his honor, he had truly tried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theoretically, the Six Boards could indeed reject imperial edicts—but that didn’t mean the Emperor’s direct orders were invalid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great Yu had no law requiring the Grand Secretariat’s seal on the Emperor’s edicts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first few emperors of the dynasty issued edicts directly; only after imperial power declined did the Grand Secretariat’s seal become customary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War could constrain military action by controlling grain and pay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time was different: the confiscated illicit funds were ready cash for the army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nobles and the Emperor had struck a political deal; they acted on the edict without even consulting the Ministry of War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never heard of merchants successfully rebelling—yet salt merchants, rich beyond measure, are plotting rebellion? What a bizarre tale!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Wang Anfu made this remark, everyone realized something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phrase “rich beyond measure” belonged exclusively to the Emperor and court—using it for merchants could cost one’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man is also eyeing the salt merchants!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon realizing this, no one found it strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how wealthy the salt merchants were, they remained merchants—still politically lowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great Yu’s treasury was depleted; there were only a few ways to raise money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In past years, the court had already imposed multiple new taxes on the people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wise had long realized: if taxes kept rising, unrest would surely erupt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Secretary Wang, you mustn’t speak so recklessly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pang Hengsheng said, displeased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Emperor is going to act foolishly, not opposing him is one thing—but joining in is another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In today’s Great Yu, there are no pure merchants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The salt merchants of the Two Huai have long been major financial backers of the Pure Stream Faction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1331,"2026-06-21T08:09:02.410Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","c848b3298b62b28791b6e2d8c1094cf78cc1fdf67f0b9449823e2752aaea3c4f","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-41","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-39",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]