Chapter 59: Sangui, Let Uncle Take You to See the Goldfish

In reality, it was not until the third day, which was the eighth day since departing from the Capital City, that the Capital Garrison cavalrymen gradually arrived at Shanhai Pass…

And they were completely disorganized.

It was just like herding sheep. The generals did not know where their officers were, and the officers likewise did not know where their soldiers were. The three thousand cavalry stretched along the official road from Funing all the way to Shanhai Pass. Deputy General Jiang Yingzhao himself, along with over three hundred elite Household Servants, also arrived on the same day. Although they arrived in the morning, they were clearly far beyond the deadline. However, he probably did this on purpose. After all, even if he arrived early, he would still have to endure Xiong Tingbi’s humiliation. So, he might as well come together with his subordinates. Xiong Tingbi couldn’t possibly wield the Imperial Sword over this…

He was, after all, a Deputy General of the Capital Garrison.

“Deputy General Jiang, are these your elite troops? Even local volunteers could manage it, yet the elite cavalry of the Capital Garrison cannot?”

Xiong Tingbi said with a half-smile.

They were standing atop the Shanhai Pass wall, looking at the Capital Garrison cavalry scattered outside in twos and threes, like routed soldiers. Those who had already arrived were settled inside the city’s training ground, scrambling for food and drink without any order.

Jiang Yingzhao lowered his head in silence.

“Military Commissioner Xiong, we each had several horses, so naturally we were much faster. If you had given the Capital Garrison brothers three horses each, they probably would have arrived in four days!”

Yang Xin said.

“How dare you interrupt when I am speaking!”

Xiong Tingbi’s face darkened as he shouted.

“Military Commissioner Xiong, I am not under your command. Although I have received the imperial decree to go to Liaodong to fight the enemy, we are not official imperial troops. You, as the Liaodong Military Commissioner, cannot impose military law on a Commoner from Hejian like me. I, Yang Xin, do not like to beat around the bush. I say what I mean. Your test here was somewhat unfair. There is a standard daily distance for cavalry. Even Xiahou Yuan only covered a thousand li in eight days, and the Han dynasty li was shorter. Converted to our Great Ming li, that’s only a little over seven hundred. The Capital Garrison brothers covered nearly seven hundred li in eight days, already comparable to the elite cavalry of Emperor Wu of Wei. Isn’t that enough? If you want them to advance two hundred li per day on average, like the Mongols did on their western expeditions, then first give each of them four horses.”

Yang Xin spoke very bluntly.

Jiang Yingzhao looked at him in surprise, clearly not expecting Yang Xin to speak up for them. There had been no friendship between them before, and in fact, no interaction at all.

“So, it is my fault then?”

Xiong Tingbi said with a cold laugh.

He seemed somewhat wary of Yang Xin.

“Commissioner, it is this subordinate’s failure in managing the troops. Please punish me!”

Jiang Yingzhao quickly said.

“Forget it. We’ll keep this account for later. That way, no one can say that I, Xiong, know nothing and deliberately make things difficult!”

Xiong Tingbi glanced at Yang Xin, stood up, and said with a cold laugh.

With that, he left in a huff.

Jiang Yingzhao wiped the cold sweat from his brow and then cupped his hands toward Yang Xin. “Brother Yang, thank you!”

“It’s nothing. I’ve also spent quite some time in the Capital City. After all, the Capital Garrison brothers are like our own brothers. Although Military Commissioner Xiong’s discipline is strict, it is ultimately for your own good. We are heading to the battlefield. With the current state of the Capital Garrison, what do you think would happen if we met the Jiannu? Military Commissioner Xiong would at most reprimand you or give a few strokes of the cane at worst. But the Jiannu would take our lives.”

Yang Xin said.

“Brother Yang, don’t I know that? But the Capital Garrison is hard to manage. I am just a Deputy General. What is a Deputy General compared to the relatives of these soldiers? There are Commanders-in-Chief, Dukes, and Marquises aplenty. That’s how the Capital Garrison has been since Emperor Chengzu’s time. All those noble families stuff their people in here. In the Capital City, they are just soldiers drawing provisions. But outside, who dares to manage them? They can really make trouble behind your back. Unless His Majesty sends a Duke, Marquis, or Earl to command, someone like me really can’t manage them. But at this time, which of those Dukes, Marquises, or Earls in the Capital City would risk their lives to go to Liaodong?”

Jiang Yingzhao complained.

“Hard to manage or not, you still have to manage. Military Commissioner Xiong has remembered this incident. Although he didn’t do anything this time, if you fall into his hands again next time, he will surely settle the total score. That Imperial Sword of his is not to be trifled with.”

Yang Xin said.

Jiang Yingzhao nodded with a worried look.

“Brother Yang, I will remember this favor!”

He then said.

He did not know that Yang Xin immediately went to Xiong Tingbi to make fun of him. It was simply two unscrupulous fellows putting on an act to scare him. Xiong Tingbi really did not want this Capital Garrison unit and wanted to use this as an excuse to send them back and keep their horses. However, after persuasion from Yang Xin and Chen Yujie, he gave up on this idea. After all, he also knew his own credentials were insufficient. He lacked deterrence against military leaders in Liaodong like the Li Family. Having these three thousand Capital Garrison troops with him would undoubtedly allow him to arrest or execute anyone with just a word. Especially with the internal rectification Yang Xin mentioned. Once large-scale rectification began, it would inevitably lead to resistance from the powerful families in Liaodong. At such times, the Liaodong generals were clearly not as reliable as these Capital Garrison troops, who could be called the imperial guard.

But scaring them a bit was still necessary.

Although he did not really want to offend people, Jiang Yingzhao knew he had to put on a show. That very night, he had the fifty-some soldiers who arrived last tied up outside the camp, whipped, and then sent back.

The remaining cavalry’s demeanor changed drastically, becoming completely solemn at once.

The next day, they continued northward.

Xiong Tingbi still ordered the Capital Garrison to reach Zhonghousuo before dark, and then he left directly with his Personal Guards. Yang Xin stayed with the Capital Garrison, including Chen Yujie, who also continued to travel with them.

But this time, the Capital Garrison clearly began to push themselves hard.

They galloped all the way to Qiantunwei, only took a brief rest to feed the horses, and then hurriedly set off again under Jiang Yingzhao’s urging. They gritted their teeth and persevered, finally completing this 120-li forced march as the sun was setting, catching sight of Zhonghousuo in the distance. By then, some soldiers were already swaying on their horseback, looking as if they might fall off at any moment…

“See, a man’s endurance is like a woman’s cleavage. If you squeeze, there’s always some.”

Yang Xin said with a laugh.

“I’ve heard the Missionaries chatting. They said that women in the West consider exposed cleavage beautiful. They use clothes similar to our women’s waist-cinchers to tighten their waists until they can hardly breathe, while pushing up the top half. Their skirts below are spread out as much as possible with hoops, like overturned teacups. Their hats are also decorated with bright feathers. Even men are like that. Both men and women like to cover themselves with a kind of ornament. They call it…”

Chen Yujie appeared thoughtful.

This guy clearly wasn’t tired yet. Although he often claimed to be too weak to truss a chicken, given his glorious history of leading mercenaries to chase down his enemies, he was hardly truly weak.

“Lace?”

Yang Xin prompted him.

“Yes, that’s it, lace. Why are you smiling so strangely?”

Chen Yujie said.

Clearly, he did not know the special meaning this word would have in the future.

Yang Xin maintained that smile as he looked by the roadside. The area looked like fertile fields, with thriving crops everywhere. Many commoners by the roadside were watching the army pass. The residents here were all Military Households, but they didn’t seem to be living very well. Rice could not be grown in this area at present, and the yield of wheat and other grains was limited.

Liaodong actually relied entirely on grain from inside the Pass.

The situation here was similar to the Xuan-Da Region. There was some local grain production, but it was far from meeting the demand. They had to rely on supplies from inside the Pass, which meant transport by grain merchants. Thus, when the harvest was bad, grain prices could soar to staggering levels. During the Jiajing era, the highest record was eight taels per dan, which was truly shocking. Yet, it was also this very region that, before the salt system collapsed, relied on those Merchant Military Colonies to keep grain prices so low they were half the state’s legal tax silver converted to grain.

What exactly happened in between was worth pondering.

“Little friend, why are you looking at me like that?”

Yang Xin looked puzzledly at the roadside, speaking to a little boy who was silently staring at him.

The boy was about seven or eight years old, with several Household Servants following behind him.

He stepped forward like a little adult, then bowed with cupped hands and said, “This junior is Wu Sangui. I have been ordered by my father to wait here to welcome Academician Chen and Righteous Yang from Hejian. May I ask if you are the two gentlemen?”

“Huh?”

Yang Xin stared at him in astonishment.

“I am Chen Yujie, Court of Imperial Sacrifices Academician. This is Righteous Yang Xin from Hejian. Who is your father?”

Chen Yujie said.

“My father is Wu Xiang, a Provincial Scholar from Zhonghousuo. He has prepared a banquet at home to welcome you all. However, he is currently attending to Military Commissioner Xiong and cannot leave. Therefore, he sent my brother and me to wait here to welcome you two and General Jiang. Just now, my elder brother accompanied General Jiang into the city. Please, come with Sangui and honor us with your presence!”

Wu Sangui said.

“This child is quite clever!”

Chen Yujie said with a smile.

Beside him, Yang Xin’s smile grew even more peculiar.

Indeed clever. Too clever!

But this was also quite normal. Wu Xiang was already considered a local strongman at this time. The Wu family were originally horse traders who later settled in Zhonghousuo and had close ties with the Li Family. Wu Xiang made his fortune by currying favor with Li Chengliang. Zhonghousuo was just a small military colony. Someone of his standing counted as a powerful figure. When the new Liaodong Military Commissioner arrived, passing through and staying here, he would certainly host a banquet. And not just him. At the next stop, Ningyuan, there was another famous person of the same kind. Zu Dashou was a local strongman in Ningyuan, and an established one at that.

This was the so-called Guanning Army, the confidants of Yuan Dudu.

Speaking of which, where was Yuan Dudu?

“Among this year’s Jinshi, is there one named Yuan Chonghuan?”

Yang Xin asked Chen Yujie.

“Yes, from Guangdong. Appointed as the County Magistrate of Shaowu in Fujian. He should have already gone to assume his post.”

Chen Yujie thought for a moment and said.

So, Yuan Dudu was still in hiding. It must be said that this year’s Jinshi class produced many notable figures. Sun Chuanting had already gone to Yongcheng as County Magistrate. Before leaving, he even went to the Xu Mansion to have a long talk with Yang Xin and Chen Yujie, showing great interest in sweet potatoes and corn.

“Sangui, later, Uncle will take you to see the goldfish!”

Yang Xin said to the little boy ahead.

The latter turned around in surprise, completely baffled…