Chapter 231: Shaking the World
Chapter 231: Shaking the World
The capital was abuzz.
The thirty shi yield per mu of land surpassed all expectations, overturning the limits of imagination.
For a time, everyone was talking. Plenty refused to believe it.
But then the Tuntian Hundred-Household Office was upgraded to a Thousand-Household Office. Fang Jifan became the Qianhu Officer. The Emperor personally bestowed a stone memorial arch. Deputy hundred-commander Zhang Xin was enfeoffed as an Earl and promoted to Qianhu. Others were granted hereditary positions: commanders of a thousand households, commanders of a hundred households. At that point, disbelief was no longer an option.
It was real. Undoubtable.
The Ministry of Revenue sought out the new Military Farming Thousand-Household Office, clearly to discuss promoting sweet potato farming. Within the Thousand-Household Office, even the smallest commandant or enlisted soldier had become a hot commodity.
The entire capital had gone mad.
Within just two or three days, Fang Jifan had received dozens of name cards. There were numerous Marquis and Earl’s residences in the capital, as well as several imperial officials.
People know how to spot an opportunity.
These nobles all had sons. Not every son was destined for outstanding achievements. Wherever merit could be earned, naturally, they would push their children. The Military Farming Thousand-Household Office was part of the Imperial Guard; now, it was at the height of its influence. By following Fang Jifan in farming and promoting the sweet potato, and with some skillful maneuvering later, could merit and seniority really be lacking?
This place had become a destination for many scions of official families.
Thus, suddenly, the Fang family found itself linked to numerous long-standing relationships.
Some claimed to be old comrades of Fang Jinglong.
Others said that during the Tumu Fortress Crisis, when Fang Jifan’s grandfather had sprained his ankle during the army’s rout, he had carried him back to the capital.
Then there were the truly shameless ones, perhaps younger, though still older than Fang Jifan, whose letters boldly addressed him as “Brother Fang”.
Well… very… very close, are we?
Fang Jifan fell ill…
His brain illness had flared up. He just couldn’t take it anymore. Though Fang Jifan feared nothing, facing an onslaught of nobles stuffing their heirs everywhere was too much. Since he couldn’t play that game, faking death… ah, no, faking illness was his only option.
With the Hundred-Household Office upgrading to a Thousand-Household Office, besides promoting existing personnel, guards also needed to be drawn from various guard stations. Each new position needed filling. Once sweet potato farming spread, grain yields soared, and the imperial coffers swelled, major achievements would be theirs for the taking.
Moreover, this wouldn’t require combat bloodshed, just some hard work and sweat. Such an easy path to merit had everyone covetous.
Even the capital’s most powerful families were no exception.
Since Fang Jifan was ill, the recruitment task fell to Zhang Xin.
But in practice, it landed on the shoulders of the Duke of Yingguo, Zhang Mao.
Hearing Fang Jifan was ill, Zhang Mao came calling. Sitting by the bedside, he gazed worryingly at Fang Jifan lying there. “My worthy nephew…” He even solicitously tucked the blanket corner tighter for Fang Jifan.
Noticing Fang Jifan didn’t look particularly bad, Zhang Mao chuckled, “Brain illness requires laying in bed, just like a fever or chill?”
“…” Fang Jifan felt no shame but still pretended to be weakly gasping. “Pretty much. They’re all illnesses, pretty much the same.”
Zhang Mao’s eyes flickered with shrewdness. Then, he addressed Fang Jifan.
“Your father isn’t in the capital. Right now, the whole city’s looking for you. You must feel tremendous pressure, hm? I understand; it’s anxiety overwork causing your brain illness relapse. Don’t you worry. Leave the recruitment to Zhang Xin… that means leave it to me! What kind of man am I? You must know. I will handle this test. I’ll gain their goodwill and shield you from criticism. The recruits must be carefully chosen; don’t let just any riffraff inside to ruin things.”
“And any troublemakers? They’ll deal with me. I’ll tear them apart.”
Zhang Mao said this with well-grounded confidence. Outside the capital stood the Duke of Wei and the Duke of Qian, guarding Yunnan and Nanjing. Within the capital, besides the Duke of Ding and the Duke of Cheng, he, the Duke of Yingguo, was supreme. Once he decided on the candidates, no one would dare cause trouble.
But the recruits would invariably remember Fang Jifan’s contribution. After all, wasn’t Fang Jifan the one bringing everyone promotions and fortune?
Fang Jifan flipped over and sat straight up on the bed.
“With Uncle handling this, the problem resolves itself.”
“Nonsense!” Zhang Mao laughed heartily, waving a hand grandly. “Our families are bonded! With your father absent, I have to act on your behalf. If I stood by watching those hounds sizing you up greedily, would Zhang Mao deserve to be called a man?”
“Just be at ease. There’s nothing this old man can’t settle! With me sheltering you from wind and rain, focus on your farming with peace of mind. My deep fairness, you don’t even know! You only know I’m an old brother to your father. Many things I’ve not told you; you’re a child, and it wouldn’t mean anything.”
“What?” Fang Jifan’s bright eyes widened abruptly as he stared at Zhang Mao seated before his bed. He was utterly bewildered. Did this imply some further hidden affair?
“Not telling, not telling. Nothing worth saying. All it was… didn’t I save your grandfather at Tumu Fortress? What’s there to tell? Our families share bonds forged in peril. Trivial matters, not worth mentioning. Don’t mind it, don’t put it to heart…”
Fang Jifan shuddered. Grandfather meant Fang Jifan’s own grandfather. Damn! Fang Jifan grew even more confused.
That Tumu Fortress Crisis really seemed like a meeting spot forging noble friendships! His grandfather had been saved an untold number of times by myriad people! Apparently, his grandfather accompanied Emperor Yingzong to Tumu Fortress, gasping for breath the entire way, carried on various backs, fleeing desperately across mountains and fields… hence leading to his father, and himself!
Thinking carefully, it was somewhat understandable. At the time of the Tumu Fortress Crisis, though it was the Great Ming’s most humiliating battle, the very collapse meant utter chaos; nobody could mind anyone else. Numerous instances of mutual rescue occurring then? Proof without witnesses? Essentially unverifiable beyond all doubt? Naturally, people were free to make up tales. After all, tall tales don’t carry taxes.
Fang Jifan’s face flushed crimson. Ultimately, he decided. Fine. Consider my grandfather saved yet again. Thanks.
Zhang Mao offered Fang Jifan some comfort before finally leaving.
Fang Jifan sighed in relief. There was no peace left in the city; his only escape was the Western Hills.
The Western Hills Thousand-Household Office, just like its Hundred-Household predecessor, still only boasted its grandest feature: its signboard. The golden characters “Military Farming Thousand-Household Office” shone brightly, especially the words “Military Farming.” They seemed fundamentally distinct, marking the office as different from other Imperial Guard units.
The commandants and enlisted soldiers dared not remain idle. Early mornings sent them off to farm plots across the hills, supervising the sweet potato harvest. Cartload after cartload piled mountains high, promptly transported into the city.
Zhu Houzhao himself had come.
Seizing Fang Jifan’s “illness,” he arrived at the Western Hills Academy with a few guards, Liu Jin, and others.
He also brought over seventy small ponies. These tiny horses were meticulously selected, saddled, their coats glossy.
The students, initially distant seeing the crown prince, immediately erupted in cheers upon learning he’d brought ponies for them to ride. Joy overwhelmed them.
Zhu Houzhao, clad in military regalia, cut an imposing figure. He loudly shouted instructions, letting the students climb onto their horses independently using the stirrups and pommels for support.
The teachers responsible for their early education dared not defy the Dean or His Highness the Crown Prince. They watched from afar as Zhu Houzhao squandered this precious lesson time on a dangerous activity. Heartbroken, tears welled in their eyes.
“Careful now! Don’t get kicked by a hoof…” they anxiously called distantly.
Zhu Houzhao pursed his lips dismissively. “Getting kicked is good for them! It’ll make them smarter, teach them a lesson.” He held a riding crop, exuding authority.
Seeing several students hesitating to mount, Zhu Houzhao rode closer, dismounted, and lifted each one up. The children sat crookedly on the ponies: some thrilled, some scared, some clinging white-knuckled to the pommels, trembling.
“Men!” Zhu Houzhao shouted. “Follow this palace to slay the Tartars! Charge! Five hundred paces straight ahead!”
With that, he took the lead. His horse galloped proudly into position at the front.
Remember, these young ponies were like the children: unfamiliar and prone to following. The lead horse Zhu Houzhao rode was steadier. Seeing it move, the little ponies carrying their riders followed frantically.
One sturdy, large-headed student shrieked with excitement, “Haha! Xu Jie can ride! Haha!”
“Haha! So fun!” were the delighted cries of the few.
Far more audible were cries shrieking for parents and mothers.
Fang Jifan stood on a distant ridge between fields. He had just arrived. Watching Zhu Houzhao recklessly unleash horses trampling his sweet potato plots, he felt a twinge of pain. Wang Jinyuan behind him didn’t care. Plots of sweet potatoes were abundant. So what if His Highness the Crown Prince stepped on some? When he came to the Western Hills for food and drink, he never paid either.
“Young Earl,” Wang Jinyuan remarked, “His Highness the Crown Prince truly is mischievous.”
Fang Jifan, however, reflexively murmured, “I just hope he doesn’t break them. If there’s an accident, it’s over.”
Wang Jinyuan nodded deeply in understanding. “True. If something happens… While His Highness the Crown Prince might not be implicated… how would we explain things to the children’s parents, sir?”
Fang Jifan strongly disagreed. He turned around, looked at Wang Jinyuan, and chuckled. “Do you know what pen pals are?”
“What?” Wang Jinyuan stared, utterly baffled, his eyes wide open.
Fang Jifan merely smiled without answering.
If something happened, the first one ripped apart would be the Prince himself. Emperor Huīzōng knew every one of those seventy-six students by heart! They were pen pals to the emperor! If anything happened? The Crown Prince would likely be assigned a lengthy three-month purification tour of the Ancestral Tombs!
As for horseback riding…
Fang Jifan was never particular about what exactly the students learned. He never intended for them to become bookworms spouting literary terms all day alongside dullards like Ouyang Zhi. How boring would that be?