Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 792 Inspecting River Works
"Dead but not really dead?" Xu Fang raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

“Shen Caiyu and several other high-ranking guards have been sentenced to death, but they haven’t been executed yet. Isn’t that a case of being dead but not really dead?” Chu Xianzhang said. “As long as they’re not dead, the storm won’t be over, and those who want to buy their assets will start to have doubts.”

"Oh, what kind of wording is that?" Xu Fang muttered, then asked, "By the way, if all the remaining assets were cashed out, how much silver would they be worth?"

"How much is it worth? Hmm, roughly," Chu Xianzhang frowned and pondered for a while, "it should be worth about twenty or thirty thousand taels of silver."

"Is it only worth this much? That can't be right. Didn't the Embroidered Uniform Guard estimate that these convicted officials have several thousand hectares of fertile land? Even if each hectare of land only sells for one tael of silver, the estimated value should be hundreds of thousands of taels, right? How could it only be twenty or thirty thousand taels?" Xu Fang's tone gradually became subtle.

Chu Xianzhang spread his hands and said frankly, "If it were sold directly, it would indeed be worth this price, but the governor's office has no intention of selling it at all."

Xu Fang was taken aback: "You didn't plan to sell?"

"Yes," Chu Xianzhang explained, "After the governor's office confiscated this batch of land, it directly distributed most of the land to the displaced military households who were currently farming on the land, as well as those who were willing to settle in the garrison and return to the army. Each household received thirty mu of existing land and fifty mu of wasteland, which was distributed to several thousand households at once."

"They just divided it up directly?" Xu Fang pondered. "Does the governor's office still have enough funds to widen the river?"

"I don't know about that," Chu Xianzhang shook his head. "Sun Zhongcheng has never mentioned to us whether the funds are sufficient. Of course, we haven't asked him either."

“Alright,” Xu Fang pulled her thoughts back and looked at Chu Xianzhang again. “Let’s not talk about those assets. How’s your bank’s daily business? I went to your bank just now and saw quite a few people queuing at the counter. It seems like your business is pretty good.”

"No, no, no," Chu Xiandian leaned back in his chair and shook his head repeatedly. "To be honest, our business isn't doing very well. After all, we're outsiders."

"Then what are those people I'm looking at here for?"

“Most of those people are merchants who come to exchange banknotes to pay taxes,” Chu Xiandian said. “There are very few people who come to properly deposit, withdraw, borrow, or conduct intermediary business.”

"Pay taxes by exchanging invoices?" Xu Fang raised an eyebrow and sat up straighter. "Has Tianjin already started implementing tax invoice reform?"

"It hasn't been officially implemented yet, but the government offices are already preparing, and the announcement has been issued. It will start next month," Chu Xianzhang said. "A few days ago, Vice Minister Sun submitted a memorial requesting that the reform of the ticket be piloted within the jurisdiction of the Tianjin Governor. The Emperor has approved it, and the Ministry of Revenue has issued the document. Commander Xu should know about this, right?"

Xu Fang thought for a moment, but had no recollection of it: "When did this happen?"

“Uh,” Chu Xiandian raised his hand and scratched his temple, “I can’t say exactly which day, but it will be sometime this month.”

Xu Fang wasn't particularly interested in the specific date, so she shook her head and continued, "What's the local people's reaction to this? Has anyone objected?"

"Objection? There's really nothing to object to about this," Chu Xiandian chuckled. "After all, it doesn't increase taxes for anyone; it just adds the hassle of going to the bank to cash checks." Chu Xiandian seemed to suddenly remember something, paused abruptly, and then added, "But it's hard to say. A few days ago, shortly after the policy was announced, the merchants in Tianjin, led by Scholar Liu, invited Vice Minister Sun and us to a banquet at the Jinmen Tower to discuss this matter, saying they wanted to talk about the details of the policy. Perhaps they will offer some opinions then."

"Judging from what Director Chu is saying," Xu Fang asked, "haven't you had your meal yet?"

"We haven't eaten yet, but it'll be soon. Judging by the days, it should be in the next few days." Chu Xianzhang looked at Cao Jiemin, "What day was it again?"

Cao Jiemin was startled and quickly recalled, "It seems to be two days later. If my son remembers correctly."

“Yes! That’s right, it’s two days from now.” Chu Xiandian remembered and nodded immediately: “I had calculated it before, and that day is ‘suitable for banquets and prayers, but inauspicious for consecration and planting.’ It’s a good day for a big feast.”

"Hehe," Xu Fang chuckled lightly, teasingly asking, "President Chu even knows physiognomy?"

"Oh dear, what physiognomy?" Chu Xianzhang quickly waved his hand, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "It's just some trivial, unorthodox practice. I only look at it when I have some free time, just for peace of mind. Don't take it seriously." At this point, Chu Xianzhang's brows suddenly furrowed, and he changed the subject: "By the way, Commander Xu! When do you imperial envoys plan to leave Zhongwei? If you're not in a hurry, why don't you join us at the Jinmenlou Banquet in two days? Jinmenlou is right next to the Bell Tower, the best restaurant in all of Zhongwei, with authentic dishes and a very nice view."

"Forget it." Xu Fang didn't detect any probing. "Those merchants invited Sun Zhongcheng and you, they didn't send us any invitations."

"They can go even without a permit," Chu Xiandian said confidently. "You are all imperial envoys on behalf of Heaven, so it is their right to attend the banquet."

Before she could even utter the word "honor," the courier who had greeted Xu Fang at the post station entrance suddenly came running over with brisk steps.

"Master Xu, Master Chu, Master Cao!" The courier hurriedly bowed to the three people inside the room.

"What are you doing?" Xu Fang frowned slightly. "Can't you see we're talking properly?"

"Please forgive us, gentlemen!" The courier hurriedly bowed and apologized. "Someone from the governor's office has come and said that Vice Minister Sun has hosted a banquet at the office and has specially invited Bank Manager Chu and Vice Bank Manager Cao to attend."

"Huh? This..." Chu Xianzhang was taken aback upon hearing this and subconsciously looked at Xu Fang.

Xu Fang quickly grasped the crux of the matter: "President Chu and Vice President Cao are, after all, prominent figures sent to Tianjin by the palace. It's only proper for Vice Minister Sun to invite Director Gao and the others to the banquet at the yamen, and also to include the two of you." "Just the two of us?" Chu Xianzhang looked at the courier.

The courier's eye twitched, and he nodded sheepishly.

"Commander Xu, why don't you come with us?" Chu Xianzhang turned and invited.

"Me?" Xu Fang smiled. "Minister Sun didn't invite me. If I just go there, wouldn't I become an uninvited guest? You two go to the banquet and don't need to worry about me."

“Commander Xu, you’re being too polite!” Chu Xianzhang quickly replied, “Minister Sun simply didn’t know you were with us. If he had known, he would have sent someone to invite you again. Besides, we wouldn’t feel at ease if you didn’t go.”

“Yes, yes,” Cao Jiemin chimed in. “Please, Commander Xu, come with us.”

Xu Fang didn't want to go, lest she awkwardly explain to Sun Chengzong why she hadn't gone to the yamen to visit him with Gao Shiming and the others; but then she thought that after Chu Xianzhang and the others went, they would most likely mention what happened at the post station. If Sun Chengzong knew about it but didn't see her, it would make her seem presumptuous.

The thought of "giving Chu Xianzhang a gag order" even flashed through his mind, but upon further reflection, he realized it was a very inappropriate idea. These kinds of rumors were difficult to suppress, and Sun Chengzong was among the most favored civil officials in the emperor's inner circle; it wasn't impossible for him to be promoted to Grand Secretary in the cabinet someday. If he gave him a bad impression today and offended the old man terribly, who knew what kind of trouble it might cause in the future?

“Alright, I’ll just come uninvited,” Xu Fang pondered for a moment, then finally sighed and stood up from her chair. “I hope he won’t kick me out, this ‘uninvited guest’.”

--------

Of course, Sun Chengzong wouldn't kick Xu Fang out. On the contrary, during the banquet, he warmly invited Xu Fang to go with them to the construction site of the canal widening project.

The next morning, as the morning light broke through the thin mist, Sun Chengzong led his entourage out of the north gate of the city.

The carriage rolled along the official road, the sound of its wheels mingling with the distant murmur of the canal, bringing a refreshing coolness to the summer day in the morning light. Shen Zhengping, dressed in a scarlet tiger and leopard-patterned robe with a sword at his waist, rode beside Sun Chengzong, occasionally pulling on the reins and gazing northwest, towards the direction of the Triangle Lake.

Sanjiaodian, also known as Xidian or Weidian, is a famous depression in the western part of Tianjin since the Song and Liao dynasties. It is also a vital waterway connecting Tianjin to Bazhou, Xiongzhou, and Baoding. This lake connects to the North Canal in the north and the Wei Canal in the south, and is also fed by several natural rivers.

Despite enduring centuries of erosion and siltation from several major rivers, including the Yongding and Chaobai Rivers, Sanjiaodian remains a large lake with a circumference of over two hundred li (approximately 100 kilometers). It continuously resists silt from the Yongding River and provides a relatively stable water flow for the northern section of the Grand Canal and the Weiyun River.

As the car approached the riverbank, a commotion arose. After parting the waist-high reeds, the scene before us suddenly opened up: a continuous stretch of river workers, their backs bare, their bronze skin glistening with sweat under the sun, their shovels rising and falling, slathering dark brown river mud onto the bank, piling up into mounds half a person high.

Several old oxen harnessed to wooden plows were dragging long wooden rakes, slowly clearing the silted-up riverbed. Where the rakes passed, the turbid water rippled with fine foam. Not far away, under a willow tree, several men in gray-blue official robes were holding account books, pointing at the number of river workers, occasionally waving their hands and shouting to adjust their work positions.

"Minister Sun is here!" Someone caught a glimpse of Sun Chengzong's scarlet official robe and hurriedly announced it loudly. The noisy construction site instantly fell silent. The river workers nearby stopped what they were doing and turned to look, taking a short break from their busy work. Several minor officials hurriedly straightened their clothes and rushed forward to greet him.

The officials quickly gathered together, with a man in his forties leading the way. He was thin with dark skin, wearing a blue seventh-rank official robe with mandarin duck patterns, a plain silver leather belt around his waist, and an account book in his hand.

The official jogged over, raising his hands from a distance: "Your humble servant Guan Guang greets Vice Minister Sun, the Imperial Envoy, and all the esteemed officials." Guan Guang's gaze swept over Gao Shiming and the others, a barely perceptible hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He knew that Sun Chengzong had postponed his inspection of the river works by a day because of the arrival of the imperial envoy, but he hadn't expected Sun Chengzong to bring these people along.

"Alright, Long Zhang." Sun Chengzong raised his hand to help him up, his smile gentle. "Come, let's get acquainted. This is Gao Shiming, the newly appointed Director General of the Customs Administration, Eunuch Gao."

Guan Guang hurriedly bowed again: "Guan Guang, the Prefectural Magistrate of Hejian, pays his respects to Eunuch Gao."

Gao Shiming returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Prefect Guan, you are too kind."

Then, Sun Chengzong introduced Pang Tianshou, Fang Zhenghua, Xu Fang, and others to Guan Guang in the same manner.

After exchanging greetings, Sun Chengzong walked towards the riverbank and pointed to the construction site before him, saying to Gao Shiming and the others, "Director Gao, gentlemen. Tianjin Sanwei is bordered by Cangzhou to the south, Tongzhou to the north, and Tanggu to the east. Therefore, I have divided the river projects within my jurisdiction into three sections: the North Canal section from Hexiwu to Tianjin, the Wei Canal section from Cangzhou to Tianjin, and the Haihe River section from Tianjin to the Tanggu estuary."

Gao Shiming looked in the direction he was pointing and saw several river workers standing on a raft, holding long poles and dipping them into the water, seemingly measuring the depth. "So, the place we're standing here now should be the construction site for the North Canal section?"

“That’s right.” Sun Chengzong nodded with a smile: “The section of the North Canal is the most important of the three projects, so dredging and widening are currently being carried out simultaneously.”

“Minister Sun, you just mentioned that dredging and widening are being carried out simultaneously here.” Gao Shiming was very perceptive. “In other words, the other two sections of the project only involve dredging, or only widening?”

“Director Gao’s idea is good.” Sun Chengzong nodded and explained, “River engineering can be divided into two independent parts: dredging and widening. Compared to dredging, widening requires a much larger amount of earthwork and more manpower; but conversely, dredging is underwater work, which is more difficult, especially now that it is the flood season and the underwater conditions are complex, making it even more difficult.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the laborers working on the riverbank. Several workers were using wooden frames and long-handled iron rakes to clear silt from the water, while someone else was turning a waterwheel to try and drain the overflowing water back into the canal. Sun Chengzong sighed softly and continued, “Right now, our biggest problem is the shortage of manpower. We can't start construction on all three canals at once, so we can only prioritize key projects based on the actual situation. Therefore, we've adopted a strategy of ‘parallel dredging and segmented widening.’ To put it bluntly, currently only the North Canal section is undergoing widening work. As for the Haihe and Weihe sections, we can only focus on dredging those sections that are particularly congested and have already affected navigation.”

"Shortage of manpower? How could that be?" Gao Shiming asked doubtfully. "If I remember correctly, didn't Beijing send a lot of people to Tianjin in February and March?"

(End of this chapter)