Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 1168 Cooperation with Shuoyang County
North of Shuoyang County,
At the crossroads of the canal,
now,

Niu Jizong, along with a group of his personal guards, was already anxiously waiting on the road.
"General, the warships are here!"

Hou Jun, the deputy general of the Shuoyang County General's Office, came over, his forehead covered in sweat.

Niu Jizong and his group, dressed in ordinary clothes, looked at the lone, scattered escort ship docked at the pier. Their faces darkened, and they cursed.

"Damn it, you found a ship like this, utterly dilapidated, making us lose face for no reason,"

Lieutenant Hou Jun shrank back, his expression unnatural, before switching to a wry smile.

“General, it’s not that I didn’t want to go and look for them, but in the entire Grand Canal, this is the only warship we have in Shuoyang. The rest have all been transferred to the Governor’s Office for their use. Besides, we’ve misappropriated so much of their subsidies for the warships. Giving us this one is already a favor.”

It's more than just saving face. If I hadn't led the troops there myself, I wouldn't have had a single warship, let alone this one. And if I didn't have a ship, I couldn't possibly have taken those merchant ships to make contact with Marquis Luo Yun's fleet.

Niu Jizong's face flushed red, then darkened.
"What do you know? Our Shuoyang border army is training a new army and is short of money. The northern passes seem to be safe now, but Liu Fang and others wrote that the border army is in dire need of troops. If we need to replenish our forces, we will be needed."

Thinking of this, Niu Jizong sighed. The northern prefectures were also training their own armies, but unfortunately, the armies' combat strength was worrying. They were only good at defending cities, but they would definitely lose in open field battles. Fortunately, Zhongshan Prefecture had already gathered several surrounding prefectures to train 100,000 armies. Most of the money and food was spent on this, so there was no extra money to supply them.

"What the general says is true. As for the training of the government troops, our Shuoyang County still has 30,000 men. If we need to go north to reinforce, could the general borrow the new troops from Zhongshan County?"

Vice Admiral Hou Jun had already led his men onto the ship. Niu Jizong stood on the deck, looking at the wide canal, his heart filled with longing.
“We can think about it, but we can’t mobilize them. These troops are the garrison troops of various counties in the north. All the vacancies are in them. They are supplied by the Ministry of War of the Imperial Court and take up the quota of the garrison troops of various counties in the north. If we ask for help, what do you think the Imperial Court and those prefects will think of us?”

It looks tempting, but if one doesn't know the rules and the capital sees it, it will be more of a disaster than a blessing. Deputy General Hou Jun's face tightened, and he quickly nodded.

"General, you are right. I was overthinking it."

Just as everyone was feeling uneasy, the ship slowly sailed south. At that moment, Niu Jizong suddenly asked a question.
"Stop talking nonsense, but is there any news from the border in northern Shanxi?"

"General, our scouts have reported that the elite Hulan tribe of the Right Wise King of the Donghu people has been stationed outside the pass for three months. Furthermore, scouts from the grasslands have reported that the Donghu royal court and the Yuezhi people have reached a reconciliation. This time, the Right Wise King and the Left Wise King are leading a large army towards the border. It seems that they are preparing for an autumn offensive."

It is said that the autumn season, when the horses are fat and the grasslands are at their strongest, is when the Hu people are at their most powerful. Now, the border soldiers are exhausted. Although they are waiting in comfort, those Hu people are not made of clay.

"Yes, when we get back, we must instruct the brothers to send 10,000 infantrymen from the Imperial Guard to support Jinbei Pass. The court has already issued a document to send 10,000 new soldiers over first."

In the end, Niu Jizong was still reluctant to abandon his old guard, and Hou Jun immediately nodded in agreement.

"Yes, General, I understand. But this time the Jurchens from beyond the Great Wall have made a comeback. I don't know if Marquis Luoyun can withstand them."

There is still some concern about the area outside the pass. After all, the trade route has been opened this time, and the benefits received by the counties along the way are countless. If the area outside the pass suffers a disaster, this source of wealth will be lost.

"Why do you care so much? The reputation of Marquis Luo Yun and his strength outside the pass are probably underestimated by the people inside the pass. Hey, look ahead, that's Marquis Luo Yun's fleet."

Niu Jizong pointed to the vast fleet of ships not far away and was immediately shocked. Hou Jun looked up and saw the flag on the first ship and agreed repeatedly.

"General, it is Marquis Luoyun's fleet."

On the canal, the blue waves ripple.

Zhang Jinyu stood at the bow of the majestic ship, the river wind ruffling the hem of his black brocade robe. His gaze was fixed on the distant Yunyang County, which was faintly visible. At this moment, the mountains and rivers of Shuoyang County had been quickly left behind by the fleet, leaving a trail of surging white waves.

"My lord, there are people who want to see us on that warship. They're flying the banner of the Shuoyang County General's Mansion!"

The captain of the guards' booming voice cut through the wind as he pointed to the center of the waterway ahead on the starboard side.

Following the direction pointed, Zhang Jinyu saw a small, somewhat dilapidated, and peeling-painted ship clumsily trying to approach. A group of burly men on the deck were anxiously waving their hands.

"The General's Residence of Shuoyang County?"

Looking at the flag, Zhang Jinyu recognized it at a glance, her eyebrows slightly raised, and she immediately understood.

"It's Niu Jizong. What's he doing here? His arrival is quite coincidental."

"My lord, you must have something to ask of me. This waterway is of utmost importance."

Ningbian was nearby, so he casually mentioned it.

"Pass on the order,"

Zhang Jinyu stroked his chin. Since they were going to meet, then they might as well.
"The convoy continues forward, let's move closer."

"Yes, Lord Marquis."

The order was quickly relayed, and the massive fleet continued its journey. Only Marquis Luo Yun's flagship began to break away from the fleet and approach the small multi-story ship. A moment later, the gangplank was lowered, and Niu Jizong, along with his deputy Hou Jun and two personal guards, boarded Marquis Luo Yun's multi-story ship in a somewhat disheveled manner.

When Niu Jizong and his men stepped onto the astonishingly spacious deck of Marquis Luoyun's flagship, even those accustomed to extravagant scenes couldn't help but gasp in surprise. The deck was smooth and spotless, with gleaming crossbows lined up along the ship's sides, and a large number of soldiers stood solemnly, clearly elite troops.

Zhang Jinyu did not immediately come down to greet them, but instead looked down at Niu Jizong and his group who had climbed up with a calm gaze.

Niu Jizong took a deep breath, his heart slightly clenched, and bowed with clasped hands in a loud voice:

"General Niu Jizong, the garrison commander of Shuoyang County, pays his respects to Marquis Luoyun! Your Excellency has come to see an old friend. Why are you leaving in such a hurry?"

They adopted a very humble attitude and gave him plenty of face.

Seeing this, Zhang Jinyu naturally dared not be negligent. Since the other party was being reasonable, she couldn't lose face. So she slowly walked down from the high command platform, a perfectly measured smile on her face, and returned the greeting with clasped hands.
"General Niu, you flatter me. I was just passing through your territory and have not yet paid my respects. I am truly sorry to have troubled you to personally stop me at the river to invite me. Please, General."

He gestured and pointed to the table and chairs temporarily set up in the center of the deck, where tea had already been prepared.

Niu Jizong repeatedly said "I dare not," and sat down with the Marquis. A guard served hot tea, and after the two had taken a sip, Niu Jizong couldn't help but get straight to the point:

"My lord, you have had a long and arduous journey. I have come here without warning because the military situation beyond the Great Wall is dire, and I am deeply worried! If the Jurchens make any move, it will surely attract the attention of the Donghu people. If war breaks out again, what do you think, my lord?"

Niu Jizong's eyes were burning with urgency. Shuoyang County was still alright, but Jinbei Pass was the largest pass in the north. If the pass was breached, how could the entire northern border hold back?

Zhang Jinyu was taken aback upon hearing this. How could there be any unusual activity from the Donghu people? The secret guards hadn't sent any information about this when they arrived. He picked up his teacup, gently blowing on the rising steam, his expression calm.
"General Niu is well-informed. The Jurchens outside the pass are besieging my city of Pingliao, but I don't know what the Donghu people are up to now. I did see that the training of a new army in Zhongshan County is in full swing."

He put down his teacup, his gaze sharpening.
"I heard that the elite Hulan cavalry of the Right Wise King of the Donghu people has indeed been stationed outside the Jinbei Pass for more than three months. It is not just empty talk. But didn't the Right Wise King, Qie Tihou, lead his army back to the royal court and confront the Yuezhi people?"

Since the Yuezhi people posed a threat, they would at least tie up most of the Donghu people's attention. Niu Jizong, however, put down his teacup with a wry smile.
"My lord, you may not know this, but according to our scouts, the Donghu royal court and the Yuezhi people have long since reached a reconciliation, and the Left Wise King Yizhihuye has also gone south!"

Ning Bian and the others immediately changed their expressions; they had not received this information.

"Not only that,"

Niu Jizong's voice turned cold.
"It's just the beginning of autumn now. It's still sweltering in the capital, but there's already a hint of coolness in the north. This time, the timing, location, and popular support are all in their favor. If war breaks out, I'm afraid the border troops won't have enough supplies."

Niu Jizong's face darkened, and he clenched his fists.

"So, what does the general mean?"

Zhang Jinyu was somewhat puzzled. Since there weren't enough troops, either a new army needed to be trained or the local militia needed to be mobilized. The imperial court had previously issued orders to mobilize troops, and the local militia from various prefectures were all assembled at the border and hadn't been withdrawn yet. Even though they suffered heavy losses last time, those who remained had survived and wouldn't be sent back. Otherwise, where would Zhongshan Prefecture get the task of training a new army, especially one led by the cabinet? A barely perceptible hint of embarrassment and frustration flashed across Niu Jizong's face, and he sighed heavily.

"My lord, you are wise! The 40,000 troops of Shuoyang County seem like a lot, but they have to defend the city, send troops to support Jinbei Pass, and train new troops... Even a clever cook can't cook without rice! To be honest, the Shuoyang County treasury is empty, and it is common for military pay to be delayed. Although the court has issued a document to send 20,000 border troops into the pass, the provisions and pay for their deployment can be provided... Alas!"

He then pointed in the direction of the canal and said self-deprecatingly:

"As you can see, even the garrison ships on the canal have been confiscated by the Governor-General's Office, leaving only one dilapidated boat to maintain appearances. This is all because some of the garrison's pay was misappropriated to subsidize the border troops, leaving them in dire straits. They have offended the Transport Commissioner's Office, and life is... tough!"

Hou Jun nodded repeatedly, looking worried, and said:
"My lord, the general's words are heartfelt. The training of the new army has been extremely costly, and General Liu Fang's troops in the north are also frequently requesting supplies. But there are no wealthy places in the north. Just being able to provide food for the army is already a blessing."

Zhang Jinyu listened quietly, her fingers unconsciously stroking the teacup in her hand, her eyes looking somewhat strange. Niu Jizong's words were half true and half false. It was true that he had embezzled military funds, and it was also true that he was in dire straits, but there was also a lot of complaining about it. Thinking of the prefect who had been escorted to the capital before, whose family was still in the brothel, it would be a lie to say that nothing had happened there.

Besides, the imperial army naturally receives its own pay from the imperial court, and no one would dare to overstep the limit. However, the local militia in the north has no fixed quota, which is said to be a loophole, but everyone knows that in such a poor place, there is no money to support the army.

He took a sip of tea and said slowly:

"I have heard about General Niu's difficulties. The hardships in the border regions are not new."

First, try to calm them down with words, then cut to the chase with sharp, incisive language:
"However, General, do you know that right now, only food and pay can be guaranteed outside the pass? Everything else is just wishful thinking. If you really want to, one option is to request food and pay from the Ministry of War, another is to ask the Cabinet for it, and there is another one."

Zhang Jinyu kept everyone in suspense.
Niu Jizong and Hou Jun immediately perked up their ears; this was precisely the information they most wanted to know on this trip.

"Please enlighten me, Your Excellency!"

Niu Jizong leaned forward slightly.

"If you want to make money, it's all about increasing revenue."

Zhang Jinyu uttered two words, but as for why he didn't say "cut costs," judging from the expressions of the others, the new army would not cut back on expenses for food, supplies, and weapons.

"As the saying goes, an army marches on its stomach. Even the most elite soldiers will rust if they are not fed. The four prefectures outside the pass are located in remote and dangerous areas, and the imperial court has difficulty transporting supplies. If we want to protect ourselves, we must strengthen ourselves. The way to strengthen ourselves is twofold: first, to train our troops, and second, to promote trade!"

"Business?"

Niu Jizong's eyes lit up. When it came to training troops, which general in the north didn't organize and train new troops? Everyone was afraid that if there weren't enough men, they wouldn't be able to hold the passes, which would be a matter of losing their heads. But then he had some doubts. What did the so-called trade mean?

"Does Your Excellency mean to establish trade with the grasslands? But with a great war imminent and the barbarians so ruthless, how can we conduct trade? Moreover, the imperial court..."

He was quite suspicious of this, as being caught smuggling would be considered treason. However, thinking about how much money those smuggling merchants were making, he hesitated for a moment.

"No."

Zhang Jinyu interrupted him, wondering why he was so preoccupied with such thoughts. Shuoyang County was located in the northern interior; even if they wanted to trade, they would need to resort to smuggling. It would be strange if problems didn't arise. She stretched out her hand, pointing to the rushing canal waterway beneath her feet.
"General Niu, this is the Grand Canal! This is the key passage. Although there are dangers outside the pass, there are also treasures. Although Shuoyang County is small, there are many treasures here, including various medicinal herbs, as well as ores and coal, all of which are sought after by wealthy merchants inside the pass."

He paused, his voice carrying an invisible allure.
"General Niu commands Shuoyang County, guarding a crucial point on the Grand Canal, a vital passage for goods from beyond the Great Wall to enter the Central Plains! Just think how many merchant ships laden with rare treasures from both inside and outside the Great Wall pass through your territory every day? With just a little guidance, a few conveniences, and protection..."

Zhang Jinyu had long harbored these thoughts: "Isn't this a way to make a fortune every day?" However, the borderlands were the domain of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes. If he wanted to interfere, he feared it would cause misunderstandings. Since he had been given this opportunity, he should seize it or risk trouble.

Upon hearing these words, Niu Jizong's heart pounded wildly! He wasn't unaware of the canal's potential benefits, but previously he'd only considered it passing merchants, mostly caravans of powerful families from within the Great Wall, making it difficult to target. Now, with Luo Yunhou's words pointing it out, he suddenly realized the immense wealth it contained! This wasn't just a river; it was practically flowing silver! Niu Jizong abruptly picked up his teacup, took a swig, and forcefully suppressed his excitement:
"Does the Marquis mean... that our Shuoyang County can get a share of the pie here? But those people and caravans in the capital are quite involved."

Considering the power and influence of the various families in the capital, even the direct descendants of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion hesitated. Seeing this, Zhang Jinyu smiled slightly.
"General, it's more than just a cup of soup."

Leaning slightly forward, he lowered his voice:
"To be honest, General, I also have some personal motives this time. As you and I both know, it is not easy to raise troops in the North. Every year we have to fight to the death with the Hu people. If we don't have money, how can we defend it? So, setting up checkpoints to collect taxes is also to relieve the burden on the court. Of course, it won't work if the number of people is too small."

After a brief explanation, Niu Jizong suddenly realized what the Marquis meant. This business was viable, and all that was needed was to recruit people and share the profits equally. Wasn't this person in front of him one of them?

"Your Excellency is indeed a man of great talent. In that case, why don't you and I each take a share, and we split it equally?"

Niu Jizong also knew that without the trade routes outside the Great Wall, the canal would not be so bustling, so he had to bring the Marquis along.

But Zhang Jinyu shook her head, seemingly wanting to say something but stopping herself.

“General, our two families are not enough. Not to mention that the destination here is the dock of Yunyang County, there are also Shanyang County and Zhongshan County along the way. There are many who are envious if we want to take it all for ourselves.”

Leaving aside the two generals guarding the northern region, even the civil officials in charge of transportation at various levels in Zhongshan Commandery could easily expose this matter to the highest authorities.

"By the way, General Niu, when I left the capital, there were rumors that the Vice Minister of War, Wei Zhanying, was sent to Zhongshan County to inspect the training of 100,000 troops. Do you know the inside story?"

If they really come, those military commanders who profit from the soldiers' blood will have no income.

really,

Niu Jizong's excited expression vanished instantly. Wei Zhanying, the Vice Minister of War, was extremely difficult to deal with. The imperial guards were now under the command of the Ministry of War in the cabinet. If he offended him, things would really get out of hand.

"My lord, so you mean to bring all these people in? What about General Yang Baoqing, the Mingwei General, and General Hou Nianqing, they are..."

In the end, Niu Jizong stammered and dared not say it. One was a man of the Prince of Beijing, and the other was a man of the Eastern Prince's Mansion. How could he explain it?

“General Niu, no matter what it is, we can’t turn down money, can we? My idea is that the garrison commander of Luoyue Pass will receive half of the profits, and the two generals will each receive one percent. We’ll also take 15 percent to bribe the people in Zhongshan County. That way, we’ll have 60 percent left. One percent will be used for the checkpoint’s operating costs, and the remaining 10 percent will be used by the generals to bribe the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner’s Office. The last 40 percent can be split 50/50 between our two families. How does that sound?”

In this way, all the counties along the way heading north would share the profits, plus the share from the canal transport authorities. It was a sure thing that they would make a profit. Even if it was a wealthy family or a merchant caravan that came here, they would still have to pay their dues.

After hearing these distribution methods, Niu Jizong felt a surge of heat rush to his head! He never expected to receive 20%. Just imagining the endless stream of merchant ships passing through every day and the sight of silver flowing into the treasury made him almost unable to contain himself. This was a hundred or a thousand times better than misappropriating that pitiful amount of military pay, and it was perfectly legitimate!
"Is Your Excellency truly telling the truth?!"

Niu Jizong's voice trembled slightly. If it succeeded, the border army of Shuoyang County would surely shine.

"There is no joke in the army."

Zhang Jinyu made a firm decision, his expression turning serious. This was a rare opportunity; how could he refuse business that had been delivered to his door?

"General Niu, the reputations of our two families are well-established; how can we break our word?"

"Great! That's satisfying!"

Niu Jizong had no more worries, slapped his thigh, and stood up excitedly.

"Since you are so righteous, I won't say anything more. From now on, the river transport in the northern border will be decided by the two of us when we get home. No matter who comes, they will have to leave a toll."

Lieutenant Hou Jun also rubbed his hands excitedly, standing aside and echoing:
"General, rest assured, I will personally arrange for people to patrol the canal day and night. There will be no mistakes. Those merchant ships passing through, no matter which caravan they belong to, will be allowed to pass if they follow the rules and pay the money. Those who do not follow the rules will not be allowed to travel at all. Of course, I will strictly discipline my men. Any constable who dares to shirk his duties will be dealt with according to military law!"

Zhang Jinyu nodded with a smile, very satisfied with the result. This way, the border troops outside the pass and the northern border army could be connected. Not to mention that the two generals were the men of the Prince of Beijing and the Prince of Dongping, who could remain calm if they had money in their hands? People know etiquette when they have food in the granary. So he picked up his teacup and said.

"General Niu is so generous! In that case, let's have tea instead of wine and cooperate happily!"

"Great cooperation! Let's do it!"

(End of this chapter)