Chapter 669: A Win-Win

When Liu Chengzong returned to Xi'an Prefecture, only four words could describe this land.

Vast and boundless.

Liu Shizi had just led his troops to the north bank when he saw the Wei River's two shores, densely packed everywhere with people.

It happened that Gao Yingdeng and Ren Quan'er were leading two cavalry companies forward to greet him, so Liu Chengzong raised his whip and asked, "Where have all these people come from?"

Gao Yingdeng glanced at Ren Quan'er, and the latter stepped forward and said, "Commander, they're all from inside Xi'an city — surrendered troops, Qin princely estate clansmen, and servants. The Second Brigade is overseeing them building the main camp."

After he finished, Gao Yingdeng followed up: "Marshal, at present the First Brigade main camp and the Guard Battalion have ascended the Xi'an city walls and taken over the passes and defenses. Additionally, two reinforcement and patrol battalions are stationed outside the city to guard against any contingency."

Liu Chengzong slowly nodded, then asked, "Chen Qiyu — did he get everything done?"

"Done... halfway, you could say. As soon as the Marshal left, he requested reinforcements."

Gao Yingdeng smiled. "The Guard Commander stationed south of the city, surnamed Cui — he couldn't handle him. General Ren sent five hundred veterans from the Second Brigade on a night raid, originally thinking that assassinating Commander Cui would settle it."

"They couldn't keep control. The defending troops surrendered before any clash, collapsing at the first touch. The garrison on all four walls was thrown into such chaos that they had no choice but to open the city gates and send troops in to maintain order — otherwise they would've surely burned the city down."

"Commander, forgive my offense. This humble officer also..."

Liu Chengzong waved his hand, signaling Ren Quan'er not to elaborate, and said, "It's fine. It's about the same either way."

This Xi'an Prefecture had been besieged since early summer, and now it was already winter. Outside, no relief came; inside, no grain remained — and they had just weathered the chaos of grain seizures and property confiscations.

Had he not been unwilling to spend grain to sustain troops, it would have collapsed on its own long ago.

In such circumstances, never mind five hundred soldiers on a night raid — Liu Shizi even felt that if just one man climbed the city wall and shouted, the defenders might very well collapse upon themselves.

What's more, Liu Chengzong also understood the Second Brigade's situation. This brigade's core soldiers were his Yan'an Guard Banner troops, whose ability to fight hard battles was somewhat weaker than the First Brigade's.

Now, having vaulted to become the elite of the elite in the Marshal's Mansion, they were all pent up with drive after reorganization. Those five hundred men scaled the wall, saw the enemy flee at the mere rumor of their approach and trample each other in chaos — there was no way they'd just hold steady on the wall.

They were bound to chase on the momentum, to make a show of might.

That was only natural.

All in all, Chen Qiyu had done well in confiscating the wealthy households and capturing the imperial clansmen. By Liu Shizi's original estimate, it was time to enter the city of Xi'an Prefecture anyway.

It was merely a matter of a few days sooner or later.

In this situation, no one was to blame.

Besides, the two brigades had indeed done a fine job with the aftermath.

With these surrendered troops and imperial clansmen working hard, the two great camps of Xi'an Prefecture, north and south of the Wei River, could be completed ahead of schedule before the freeze — which also settled a major matter on Liu Shizi's mind.

Crossing the Wei River pontoon bridge, Chen Qiyu was already waiting on the south bank.

The once Governor-General of Five Provinces, defeated and surrendered, saw himself as a prisoner. Not a trace of arrogance showed on his face. Seeing Liu Chengzong approach, he was led forward by soldiers, holding up his letter of surrender, and stepped forward to bow.

"This guilty general, Chen Qiyu, kowtows to the Grand Marshal."

Liu Chengzong did not stand on ceremony. He walked forward at ease, even greeting Chen Qihuang, who was prostrated behind Chen Qiyu.

He took the surrender letter, glanced at it, and handed it to an attendant. Then he looked at Chen Qiyu. "Before, each of us merely held our own positions. Now that the Military Governor has surrendered, sparing Xi'an city the scourge of war, that too is a good deed. Please rise."

Chen Qiyu, for his part, did not perform any of the surrender rituals like plain carts and white horses, baring the shoulder and binding oneself, or holding jade and leading a sheep.

Those were ancient rites for a conquered kingdom — he, a scholar-official, was not worthy of them.

Yet even so, Chen Qiyu's heart was full of apprehension at meeting Liu Chengzong face to face.

After all, judging by Liu Chengzong's earlier actions toward him, no matter how you looked at it, he was due for a harsh humiliation today.

He never expected that Liu Chengzong would simply say a few light words and tell him to rise.

Liu Shizi had no time to humiliate him. He merely glanced at Chen Qiyu, who still looked a bit dazed, and asked, "The Military Governor once held office in Shaanxi?"

Chen Qiyu had intended to request retirement — even if he were relocated to Suide, just being a commoner would be good enough.

But hearing these words from Liu Chengzong, that thought naturally died.

Clearly, the man already had plans for his placement.

Then there was no need for him to say more. In any case, even if he spoke, Liu Chengzong surely would not agree — he might as well not invite that unpleasantness.

He answered, "Yes. In the sixth year of Tianqi, I served as Shaanxi Vice Commissioner, in charge of the Guannei Circuit."

"A good post."

This Vice Commissioner Circuit Intendant was a provincial deputy, assisting the Administration Commissioner in supervising the prefectures, subprefectures, and counties within a circuit.

Broadly speaking, he managed everything — taxes and grain, farming and sericulture, examining officials, commanding troops, defending territory — but basically bore no blame for anything. It was indeed a good post.

Liu Chengzong casually praised it, then continued, "How deep is this stretch of the Wei River?"

Chen Qiyu did not understand the question, but he knew the answer, and it came out at once: "Reporting to the Marshal, in this stretch of the Wei River at Xi'an Prefecture, it is generally five zhang deep in summer and autumn, and four zhang deep in winter and spring."

Liu Chengzong was very satisfied with this answer. He turned his head to look at the exposed riverbed on both banks of the Wei and said, "Just now I had someone measure it. The water is two zhang deep."

This was not Chen Qiyu being wrong, but rather that this summer, Guanzhong had no rain.

The Wei River's water had been drawn in great quantities to irrigate the farmland across the Guanzhong plain, but received no replenishment.

"Next spring, the situation may improve a little — or it may get worse."

"I intend to appoint you as River Channel Governor-General, with your yamen established right here in Xi'an, drawing a second-rank salary, overseeing river channels and water conservancy repairs."

Having said this, Liu Chengzong looked at Chen Qiyu and asked, "What do you say?"

As for Chen Qiyu, Liu Chengzong held no real grudge in his heart. The fighting was over anyway, and the man had done a fine job of disciplining himself — so since he surrendered, use him.

The work Liu Chengzong arranged for him was to undertake water conservancy projects.

Hearing this mission, Chen Qiyu not only felt no displeasure, but the worried look between his brows even lessened somewhat. Overjoyed, he prostrated himself. "This guilty general thanks the Marshal for his great generosity!"

Having expressed his stance, Chen Qiyu immediately and very cautiously asked Liu Chengzong, "May this humble officer ask the Grand Marshal: to what standard does Your Excellency wish the river channels and canals to be regulated and repaired?"

Hearing this, Liu Shizi turned his head to look at Chen Qiyu, a hint of surprise in his eyes: You got into character fast!

What he did not know was that Chen Qiyu was utterly, completely satisfied with this arrangement.

In surrendering to the Marshal's Mansion, Chen Qiyu had never expected to be granted high office, nor to receive any real authority.

Had they really made him Governor-General of Five Provinces and told him to lead troops against Shanxi or attack Henan, even if he abandoned his entire clan, he would have found a way to flee.

After all, everyone has their pursuits — love what you do. Before surrendering to the Marshal's Mansion, his thoughts were one thing; once he had truly surrendered and kept his life, what he had to consider was another matter entirely.

Professional matters should be left to professionals.

If Liu Chengzong gave him a Governor of Five Provinces post, it would most likely be meant to get him killed.

If it were genuinely offered, that would be even more absurd — it would only show that the Grand Marshal Liu Chengzong is a fine hand at war, but has no eye for talent.

All the more reason to run.

Because a Governor governs both civil-military affairs and military operations.

Although Chen Qiyu did not perform brilliantly in the Shaanxi campaign, he had this confidence: when it came to commanding Ming armies, there were few under heaven who could do it better than him.

But when it came to commanding the Grand Marshal's army, who could command it better than Liu Chengzong himself?

What's more, even setting aside Liu Chengzong, the army's founder, Chen Qiyu still could not command the Grand Marshal's army.

If you sent him to lead troops into battle, it would be a miracle if he won.

So in Chen Qiyu's eyes, managing the river channels was a fine posting among fine postings.

Second only to compiling the Imperial Diaries for Liu Chengzong.

"To what extent should the repairs and renovations be carried out?"

Liu Chengzong gave a soft laugh, thinking Chen Qiyu's question was rather interesting, and said teasingly: "No drop in Guanzhong's harvest next year — can you do that?"

Chen Qiyu froze for a moment, then decisively shook his head.

This Grand Marshal was just making wishes here.

From the start of spring this year until now, not a single drop of rain had fallen in Guanzhong, and the Wei River was half as shallow as in previous years.

If it snowed this winter, the situation might improve somewhat; if it didn't, a drop in Guanzhong's harvest next year was inevitable.

Never mind appointing him River Channel Governor — even if he were appointed Governor of the Universe, the fields that had to lie fallow would still lie fallow, and the harvest that had to drop would still drop.

This had nothing to do with ability.

But seeing him shake his head, Liu the Lion was not anxious — on the contrary, he was amused.

He had only asked casually. As long as Chen Qiyu did not run his mouth off guaranteeing no harvest drop, it showed the man was genuinely thinking about getting things done.

To be honest, just now crossing the river on the pontoon bridge and having men measure the water depth, Liu the Lion had been on the verge of cursing heaven and earth.

The pontoon bridge over the Wei River north of Xi'an was a seasonal bridge. In spring and summer it was usually a ferry crossing; only when autumn arrived would the pontoon bridge be assembled.

This was mainly because of irrigation on the Guanzhong Plain. Spring and summer were peak water-use seasons, and the Wei River would periodically run dry, so when there was water they used boats, and when there was none they didn't need to bother.

As it turned out, this year they could barely assemble the pontoon bridge even in winter.

Liu the Lion had no idea how it had come to this.

Last year Guanzhong was fine, while his Hehuang and Lanzhou suffered drought. This year he came out and took Guanzhong, and Guanzhong stopped getting rain.

It was a perfect case of one place dying of drought while another drowned in floods.

Hanzhong and Guanzhong were only a few hundred li apart, yet over there torrential rain had poured for forty days straight, flooding so badly that fellow Gao Yingxiang dared not come down from the mountains.

And here, not a single drop of water had fallen from the sky.

If not for the Wei River being here, Guanzhong would have suffered disaster this year too.

Yet even so, judging by the Wei River's depth, Liu the Lion estimated it would run dry next spring and summer.

The Wei River running dry was not a problem in itself — because of irrigation, it ran dry even without drought.

It was just that in times like these, whether it could replenish itself after running dry was another matter entirely, and that was where the danger lay.

Liu Chengzong said: "Since a harvest drop is inevitable, your job is to do what man can. Those dilapidated irrigation canals — clear what needs clearing, repair what needs repairing. Plant trees to fix the soil and conserve water. At the same time, handle water distribution properly, and do your best to ensure the water flows where it ought to go."

"As for other matters, others will take care of them."

Chen Qiyu nodded in assent, inwardly aware that the difficulty of this task was probably no less than that of Governor of Five Provinces.

Because repairing canals and clearing river channels — as long as you had the men, the money, and a plan, getting things on track was simple.

The hard part was water distribution — that is, water-use regulations and zoned management.

Managing rivers is easy; managing people is hard.

Still, from what Liu Chengzong was implying, aside from doing what man could, the Grand Marshal's headquarters seemed to have other methods.

He too had been a military affairs officer during droughts and knew how hard these times were. For the Grand Marshal's headquarters to stand out at such a moment, they must have some secret formula.

At this thought, Chen Qiyu could not suppress his curiosity and asked cautiously: "The Grand Marshal, I presume, has other methods?"

"Ha, what methods could I have."

Liu the Lion thought to himself: the broader environment is just this rotten. The natural disasters the northwest has suffered these past few years — drop them onto any golden age of antiquity, and they'd have been knocked flat, never to recover.

It was simply that a small regime like their Grand Marshal's headquarters, born amidst disaster, had officers, clerks, soldiers, and civilians who were more optimistic and more resilient.

Liu Chengzong smiled and said: "You do what man can. I'll think of something for the side of Heaven's mandate."

Chen Qiyu was suddenly enlightened: "Praying for rain and sacrificing to Heaven?"

That was serious business.

If no rain came, it meant the officials' hearts were not sincere.

If rain did come, it would greatly boost the people's morale and stability.

But what Liu Chengzong was thinking was clearly not the same thing as what Chen Qiyu was thinking.

He slowly shook his head and said: "Rain is very hard to pray for. My plan is to first replace the ones in charge with our own people."

"The Grand Marshal wants to replace the ones in charge... with our own people?"

Chen Qiyu did not understand.

Or perhaps he did understand, but it was too shocking to contemplate.

"I've seen it clearly now. Wherever I go, the rain stops. It must be that these fellows in office are working against me — they take the incense offerings but do no work. Of course they must be replaced."

"Whether Earl of Wind, Master of Rain, River Earl, Rain God, Dragon King, Lake Lord, Mountain God, or City God — if they send no rain, cut off their incense offerings and dismiss them all. Enfeoff the heroic spirits of the Grand Marshal's army's fallen officers and soldiers and install them in office."

Liu Chengzong spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Chen Qiyu, Chen Qihuang, and the others listened as though they were hearing a revelation from heaven.

The two brothers exchanged a glance, each seeing the shock in the other's eyes — had Liu Chengzong gone mad?

You say he's superstitious, yet he wants to tear down all the gods.

You say he doesn't believe in gods, yet he actually plans to enfeoff a whole host of gods himself.

Liu Chengzong ignored their looks and waved a hand. "You needn't worry about so much — just do your own jobs well. Stay with the army for now and draw up a charter for the River Circuit Office."

As for replacing the gods with his own people — the direction of Liu Chengzong's thinking actually had nothing to do with superstition at all.

The moment he crossed the Wei River on the pontoon bridge, he had already realized that next year's harvest would probably not be very good.

Normally, a worse harvest wouldn't have much impact, but this year was a critical moment for the Marshal's Manor.

Entering Xi'an City meant this eastern campaign was a success and they were about to enter the stage of postwar rewards and enfeoffment.

It also meant that he had to declare himself king.

Although he himself was twelve-tenths unwilling about this, even somewhat resistant, the titles of the many meritorious officers in the Marshal's Manor truly ought to be raised.

Having fought back to his homeland, there was no reason to keep holding this matter back any longer.

At the critical moment of declaring kingship and establishing a regime, if drought caused local grain supplies to fall short next year, the impact on army morale and popular sentiment would be too great.

That was why Liu Chengzong had conceived the idea of abolishing the gods.

At first, his idea had also been to pray for rain.

When the seasonal node for rain approached, sending officials out to offer sacrifices to Heaven and pray for rain — that sort of thing was very useful for popular morale and troop spirit.

After all, when the overwhelming majority of people believe in something, to the ruler it is no longer superstition, but a political tool that can be exploited.

If rain came, it was Heaven responding to human virtue — popular sentiment would soar, and it might even add a touch of divinity.

If no rain came, that didn't matter either; it just meant the person praying hadn't been sincere enough.

And Liu Chengzong, clearly, was not satisfied with this state of affairs.

Why should you lot do no work, and yet I'm the one to be blamed for lacking sincerity?

First, I'll tear you all down — let the common people realize that I, Liu Chengzong, fear neither Heaven nor Earth, and fear no gods either.

Even if the people think I'm acting perversely, I don't care.

Then I'll enfeoff all my fallen soldiers as gods, and reap a huge wave of army loyalty.

Even if no rain falls, with a hundred thousand troops in hand, at worst I'll lead the soldiers to keep fighting next year and march right into lands where it does rain.

But what if it does rain?

I, Liu Chengzong, have carved out a domain and declared myself king — and even the gods I enfeoff are more effective than the Great Ming's!

Army loyalty and popular sentiment — a win on both fronts!