Chapter 156: Crowdfunding and Installments

"My father has also sent word from Dingtao. He says the Emperor is requisitioning sixty thousand shi of grain from Jiping Commandery to supply General Jing Shang."

After the Embroidered Uniform Direct Envoy departed, Commandery Adjutant Geng Chun also briefed Diwu Lun on the situation in the other commanderies, so he would know what he was up against.

"And everywhere in Ji Province — places like Huanting Commandery (Zhao Commandery), Fuchang Commandery (Guangping), Pinghe Commandery (Qinghe), and even Julu — all have to send grain to supply the main army. The amounts range from ten thousand to several tens of thousands of shi. All told, given Wei Commandery's registered households, sending twenty-one thousand shi is actually on the low side."

This was only to be expected. In a normal dynasty, the grain in the commandery granaries was naturally subject to the state's requisition. Especially when the main army was on campaign — if they didn't eat imperial grain, were they supposed to carry their own dry rations from thousands of li away, or pillage from the common folk?

But in the Xin Dynasty, a world where honest men got the short end of the stick, every commandery couldn't help but keep a little something in reserve. After all, bandits were breaking out everywhere, and with natural and man-made disasters piling up, nobody had much surplus grain left. Give too much to the army, and next year, when the new crop wasn't in yet, they'd be in for a hard time. If they couldn't even feed their own commandery troops, a major disaster would follow.

Geng Chun sighed. "Sixty thousand shi is a lot, but my father had no choice but to provide it in full, because Jing Shang's army is camped right near Dingtao. If we don't give it, they won't leave!"

That move was truly ruthless. Geng Ai had probably figured that carving off a piece of flesh to send a vicious dog packing was better than having it camp out on your doorstep.

Jing Shang had marched east in the summer, recruiting twenty thousand soldiers, plus sixty thousand troops from the commandery and kingdom forces of Yan Province, Qing Province, and Xu Province. The original plan was to launch a converging encirclement of Mount Tai from four directions — first cutting off Fan Chong's supply lines in winter, then striking together to purge the east.

But the Governor of Xu Province had been tied up by two major bandit forces — Lü Mu of Haidai and Li Zidu of Donghai — fighting a combined land-sea campaign that left him too busy to save himself, let alone come help.

The Governor of Qing Province, meanwhile, had split his forces to deal with Chi Zhaoping, a woman who had suddenly risen in revolt in the Yellow River flood zone, hoping to drive her north into Hebei. Better a fellow Daoist dies than this poor Daoist — he could only spare a little over ten thousand men for Jing Shang.

So the troops Jing Shang actually had available for combat — his own core forces plus those under the Governor of Yan Province — numbered roughly fifty thousand men, consuming fifty thousand shi of grain a month. It was a bottomless pit. Even if Dingtao was rich and prosperous, one commandery alone could never fill it. That was why the army's grain supply needed to be crowdfunded from dozens of surrounding commanderies.

Now the grain requisition order had landed on Wei Commandery's head. Since the Emperor had sent someone personally to deliver it and had even granted a slight reduction, if Diwu Lun tried the same "fire dragon burns the granary" trick he'd played with the annual accounts clerk, it would look far too fake. If Wang Mang flew into a rage and dismissed him from office, and Wei Commandery still wasn't fully under his control, with his old clan still back in the Guanzhong region — Diwu Lun would be forced to choose between defying an imperial edict in open rebellion and abandoning Wei.

Taking the long view, Diwu Lun felt he still had to lie low. Before a hidden traitor revealed himself, one had to have the resolve to play the loyal minister well. This peach — he had to hand it over!

But the grain in the commandery granary wasn't much either. They had to make it last a whole year before new income came in. Eating next year's grain this year was a recipe for disaster.

Huang Chang, who had returned from Neihuang County, suggested: why not have Weicheng Commandery do a round of crowdfunding too?

"Raise grain from the powerful families whose lands stretch across the fields?"

But Diwu Lun couldn't show his true colors just yet. If he moved against the powerful families, it would very likely drive them straight into the camp of the Li clan of Wu'an. After the Li Neng brothers suffered their setback, they had fled back to the three northwestern counties, holding them like a separatist domain, just waiting for Diwu Lun to make a mistake.

The common people were even less of an option. After the frost killed the beans, many had no clothes and no coarse cloth, not even knowing how they'd survive this winter. If they were hit with another extra tax collection now, how many would be driven to their deaths?

Geng Chun, who had spent two years as a Remonstrance Officer specifically managing grain, said: "I do have one plan that could save Boyu half the grain."

"What a coincidence. I have a plan too."

Diwu Lun smiled. "One that can save Weicheng two-thirds of the grain!"

…

As time entered the eleventh month of the second year of Dihuang, the grain collectors from Jing Shang's army came once more.

Assistant General Wang Dang, tasked by Jing Shang with pressing Weicheng Commandery for grain, arrived at the Yellow River with a full thousand soldiers, in a great show of force. It seemed Jing Shang knew all too well the Imperial Army's "sterling reputation" in the provinces, and had come well prepared — the numbers were so large that the "Yellow Marsh bandits" Diwu Lun had secretly prepared found it inconvenient to ambush and kill them.

Word was that Zhiting Commandery had been badly ravaged. Could this bunch be allowed to enter Wei territory? Fortunately, Diwu Lun was already prepared. He quickly dispatched Ma Yuan to stop them at Baima Ford, and sent Geng Chun to make another trip.

Ma Yuan commanded seven hundred Yellow Marsh troops at Baima, while the Imperial Army was at Guandu. Anyone in the know would see a local two-thousand-shi official sending men to demand grain; anyone not in the know would think two kingdoms were facing off for battle!

Although the weather was already bitterly cold, aside from one early snowfall this winter, not a single flake had fallen since. The great river had not yet frozen over. As the grain boats sailed one by one to the southern bank, after a tally, the Assistant General realized something was wrong and fixed his eyes on Geng Chun.

"Commandery Adjutant Geng, His Majesty's edict states that Weicheng Commandery is to provide twenty-one thousand shi of grain. Why is there only eight thousand shi now?"

"On this matter, the Commandery Grand Governor, the Marquis Who Quells Rebels, has already reported to His Majesty for his knowledge."

Geng Chun had dealt with generals plenty during his time at court and was thoroughly practiced in this kind of business. He explained unhurriedly: "Weicheng Commandery has its own difficulties. In the autumn, we only just put down the great treason of Li Yan. To fund his rebellion, the traitor Li used up every last bit of coin and grain in the government stores. The account books were also destroyed by the bandits."

"And with local bandits running rampant — the Yellow Marsh bandits even dared to attack the county seat, and the Qin Pass Mountain bandits robbed a full sixteen thousand shi of grain! — the autumn tax collection was incomplete. The commandery granary has barely over ten thousand shi left."

The Assistant General laughed. "In that case, does Weicheng require the Imperial Army to enter the commandery and assist in suppressing the bandits?"

The soldiers behind him began to clamor. None of them wanted to fight the tough nut of the Mount Tai bandits, but they were experts at tormenting the wealthy commanderies and counties around them. They gazed longingly at Weicheng across the river. Word was that the young women of Zhao and Wei were especially nourishing…

Geng Chun's expression turned solemn. "Weicheng's paltry bandits are a minor matter. Our commandery can handle them on its own. We absolutely cannot hold back the Imperial Army's rear before battle."

As he spoke, he actually wiped away tears. "But to scrape together grain for the Imperial Army, Lord Diwu is in such dire straits that he eats only one meal a day, just to save a little rations for the soldiers, so that the General may sooner pacify the rebels and restore peace to the lands east of the pass!"

The Assistant General had seen commandery officials cry poverty countless times. Unmoved, he sneered. "So?"

Geng Chun bowed with clasped hands. "Eight thousand shi is the absolute limit for Weicheng Commandery."

"How dare you!"

The Assistant General's hand went to his sword hilt. "If you don't provide the full amount, I fear that violates the edict, does it not?"

As violence seemed imminent, Ma Yuan and the refugee soldiers behind him rose to their feet one after another. After a month or so of full meals, they could stand steady in the cold wind, but facing the Imperial Army, they were still somewhat timid.

Geng Chun, however, was unafraid. He simply said: "His Majesty's edict only states that Weicheng is to give General Jing a total of twenty-one thousand shi of grain. Since Weicheng cannot gather the full amount at once and must slowly raise the grain, we have no choice but to pay in installments."

"Installments?"

Geng Chun had learned this term from Diwu Lun and was now using it with great proficiency. "Correct. The army grain will be delivered in three installments, one shipment every two months, seven thousand shi each time. By the time summer begins next year, it will certainly be paid in full!"

The Assistant General had seen the endless tricks of commandery clerks, but he had never seen this one before, and for a moment he couldn't react.

Geng Chun, however, leaned in and said: "The reason we shipped eight thousand shi is that one thousand of it is for the General and his Imperial Army comrades' travel expenses and losses along the way. The Grand Governor is also sending fifty bolts of cloth and a cartload of curios and ornaments as a personal gift to the Assistant General."

With the bribe in hand, the Assistant General's tone immediately softened. When you went out to war, wasn't this exactly what you were after? He coughed. "According to what Commandery Adjutant Geng says — will His Majesty agree to this?"

"A memorial has already been sent to Chang'an. The edict in response will certainly arrive after the new year!"

wωw. ttκд n. c ○

The Assistant General couldn't return empty-handed, so he said: "In that case, I shall go report back to General Jing. Commandery Adjutant Geng, in the first month, I will be the one escorting the grain again!"

The meaning was clear: don't forget to give him another cut when the time came!

Geng Chun bowed to the Assistant General with clasped hands. Upon returning to Yecheng, he told Diwu Lun that things had gone smoothly, and laughed. "Boyu, this stalling tactic of yours is quite good."

"If Jing Shang requisitions grain again next year, I'll have my father learn from it too."

Diwu Lun, however, shook his head. "Boshan, you observed their army's discipline at Baima. Does this General Jing Shang have a next year?"

"Hard to say." Geng Chun furrowed his brow. The Imperial Army's discipline was in shambles. He had heard they ran wild wherever they went — whichever commandery they passed through, the number of people joining the bandits there skyrocketed. But he didn't know about their combat strength. Perhaps what he had seen were just rabble, not the elite troops.

Diwu Lun, however, felt that Jing Shang was doomed to defeat. He was just playing the installment payment trick — drag things out until they lost a battle, their army destroyed and their general killed, and then the rest of the grain wouldn't have to be paid!

He really was a clever little devil!

Diwu Lun also praised Geng Chun. "Boshan, your method of passing off inferior goods as superior is quite good too. Four thousand shi of old rice, mixed with bran, chopped straw, even dead leaves and withered grass, then dampened a bit — and it becomes eight thousand shi. With talent like yours…"

"It's truly a shame you didn't become a grain official!"

"I am an extremely conscientious grain clerk," Geng Chun laughed heartily. "At least I didn't mix sand and gravel into Jing Shang's grain. Otherwise, three thousand shi of grain could have been padded out to eight thousand."

True enough. Diwu Lun recalled the meals the Boar-Rush Braves had eaten at Hongmen with a pang of heartache. Ah, that's right — he remembered now, it was this very fellow Geng Chun who had shipped it there.

Geng Chun said with feeling, "I never knew about these dirty tricks before. I only learned them from my seniors when I was Receiver of Words. Anyway, if you don't adulterate the grain, the generals and colonels will do it themselves, keeping all the good stuff for a small core of elite troops. The only ones I've seen who actually let the common soldiers eat their fill are that Wave-Subduing General Dou Rong, and your house, Boyu."

"In Boyu's army, I've heard that any supply officer who dares pull that gets his head chopped off."

That was true, because Diwu Lun's core troops were not limited to his hundred-odd household retainers and personal soldiers.

"The Boar-Rush Braves, the convict soldiers, the refugee soldiers."

Diwu Lun thought to himself, "So long as they gather beneath the Five Banner and want a different way to live, every last pauper is my core soldier!"

……

By late in the eleventh month, after they had driven off the vicious dogs begging for food at the gate, the Retainer sent by Diwu Lun to Wancheng to recruit scholars also returned. Of course, the one who actually did the work was Diwu Fu. He had accompanied Diwu Lun on a trip to Nanyang and had been forced to learn the local dialect, so he was fairly familiar with the place.

After taking Yecheng, Diwu Lun was past the point where help was desperately needed. Now, any old acquaintances from Nanyang coming to join him would merely be icing on the cake. Besides, with mountains and rivers blocking the way and people reluctant to leave their homes for a distant journey, Diwu Lun had not held out much hope.

Yet the result still left him utterly stunned!

First there was Cen Peng, that man from Jiyang skilled in warfare. Last time, he had ridden Diwu Lun's coattails to a promotion as County Magistrate, a full six-hundred-bushel post. Diwu Lun could hardly offer him a higher position.

So the letter Diwu Lun sent did not directly offer a post. He merely joked with Cen Peng: Nanyang lies too close to the Greenwood, hardly peaceful — would you care to switch locations and come to Hebei as a county magistrate?

Just sounding out Cen Peng's attitude — there might be a chance.

But Diwu Fu cheerfully informed Diwu Lun that Cen Peng was no longer a county magistrate. Someone else had poached him long ago!

Who? Who did it!

"It was none other than the elder our Patriarch honors as his teacher — Yan Erudite!"

The Retainer added, "Lord Yan received a decree from the Son of Heaven and was made Grand General Receiver of Words. He was conscripting troops in Yu Province, then hurried to the front, setting up his field headquarters in Wancheng to oversee the campaign against the Greenwood. He needed talented men, and hearing that Cen Peng had safely escorted the commandery governor and earned high praise, he sent men to summon him."

"Once Cen Peng arrived at the headquarters, he and Lord Yan talked with great delight. He was then appointed Protector of the Grand General Receiver of Words, at a rank of eight hundred bushels."

Diwu Lun was instantly like a mute eating goldthread root — all the bitterness with no way to voice it. Fine. He had never really counted on Cen Peng anyway. What about Ren Guang in Wancheng? Ren Guang had only been a township bailiff before — surely he was a more hopeful prospect.

"Ren Guang was summoned by Lord Yan too! He's now Chief Clerk of the field headquarters. We arrived a step too late."

Good heavens. So Yan You had reached the front, found himself short of clerks, and actually asked around about everyone Diwu Lun had visited or dealt with. He even recruited Li Zhi, the younger brother of the great Wancheng magnate Li Tong, into his headquarters, and said, "Boyu's eye for men is never wrong."

Yan You was fleecing him like the one sheep you keep shearing! No martial honor at all — utterly outrageous!

Diwu Lun could only nurse his secret grudge: "Yan Erudite, I honored you as my teacher, and you bully me like this!"

Fortunately, Ren Guang still had some integrity. Although Yan You had come to his door and summoned him before Diwu Lun's offer arrived, he said he knew a fellow townsman, a warrior of peerless talent who happened to be in Hebei, and was willing to recommend him to Lord Diwu, hoping to make up for the regret of their missed connection.

After calming down a little, Diwu Lun asked Diwu Fu and the Retainer, "Who did Ren Guang recommend?"

"A man from Wan. His name is Wu Han, courtesy name Ziyan."

Diwu Fu repeated, "Ren Guang said that Wu Han once served under him as a Precinct Chief. He is also a local knight-errant, a remarkable man with the talent of a general. When his household retainers broke the law, he fled to Hebei as a fugitive. His present whereabouts are unknown."

What use was a recommendation for someone whose whereabouts were unknown? Did this mean he would have to send men searching all over Hebei? That was like fishing for a needle in the ocean.

Diwu Lun felt disappointed. He would deal with this matter later.

"Right, what about Liu Jiao? Surely he wasn't summoned away by Yan You too?"

Only then did Diwu Lun remember there was one more person. If he had lost the watermelon, picking up a sesame seed would still be something.

On this topic, Diwu Fu had more to say. Putting on a mysterious air, he said, "Patriarch, we went to Chongling in Caiyang and did not find Liu Jiao."

"Didn't find him?"

That was strange. Even if Liu Jiao, Liu Wenshu, was not famous across the whole commandery, he was at least well-known in his county and township. And right, he had also mentioned an elder brother, Liu Bosheng — surely they couldn't have gotten the wrong man…

"But that Liu Bosheng does have a third brother, also styled Wenshu. After we visited, we discovered that he is indeed the man our Patriarch was looking for."

Diwu Lun, who had been indifferent after losing so much talent, now grew interested.

"The man apologized, saying that 'Liu Jiao' was an assumed name he had been forced to use to avoid a taboo while at the Imperial Academy in Chang'an. He had never had the chance to inform Lord Diwu — a capital offense."

Diwu Lun laughed. "Avoiding a taboo? What, is his real name Liu Mang?"

Then a familiar name exploded in his ears, and blew his mind right along with them.

"Liu Wenshu said his true name is 'Liu Xiu'!"