Chapter 113: That Demon Monkey

“See, I’ve always been curious,” Yang Xin continued. “This Western Shandong has always been fertile land, plus it has the convenience of the Grand Canal. Logically, it should be a prosperous region. Places like Jining really are quite bustling, so why, as soon as you move away from the canal bank, just a little inland, does it instantly turn into a backwater?

“And they love to rebel too.

“From Tang Sai’er back in the day to Xu Hongru now, this place has never been peaceful during the Great Ming Dynasty.”

They were nearing Liangjialou by then, southwest of Yuncheng. It was actually only about twenty or thirty li away. What it was called in modern times, Yang Xin didn’t know. The villages along the way were run-down, the people shabby and thin, their eyes far from friendly. Yang Xin felt like the Japanese devils walking on this same land three hundred years later. People lurked by the roadside, peering at them furtively before disappearing quickly from sight. If not for technical limitations, he had no doubt he’d step on a mine further ahead.

But this area truly was poor.

No wonder Xu Hongru was so popular!

Yet it really was rich land. Whether in much earlier ancient times or modern times, this Western Shandong area was densely populated. The famously powerful Warring States like Lu, Song, and Wei were all concentrated here.

“Both rich and poor because of the canal!” Qi Jin said with a sigh.

Because of Yang Xin’s flattering mentions of Qi Jiguang, Qi Jin felt a natural goodwill towards him. More importantly, he knew Yang Xin’s identity and how favored this man was by the Wanli Emperor. Unlike others, having served as a guerrilla in Zhending before and his companion Tong Zhongkui, the former Commander in Sichuan, they had an informational advantage.

“Why do you say that?” Yang Xin asked, puzzled.

“The wealth of places like Jining relies entirely on the convenience of the Grand Canal,” Qi Jin explained. “Along the canal route, not just the cities, even the towns are bustling. The canal is truly a heaven-sent blessing for those along its banks.

“But for those not along the banks? It’s not a blessing; it’s a curse.

“The canal is sealed by locks and dams, held as relatively still water. Its depth must ensure navigation, yet the water cannot form rapids even with increased flow, as rapids easily cause capsizing or even breach the dikes. So, during summer storms, the river must open its locks to discharge water outward. During droughts, every effort must be made to channel water into it. But what do the common people living outside the canal zone need? Their needs are actually reversed. During summer storms, they need to drain excess water towards the canal – this basin is originally the main flood channel for all of Western Shandong! During droughts when water is scarce, they need the canal to supply water. It’s also the region’s largest source for irrigation.

“But in reality, this is impossible.

“During every major drought, locks along all rivers feeding the canal are sealed shut completely. No one is allowed to release water for irrigation. That water must flow into the Grand Canal to ensure the Grain Tribute Boats can cross the Nanwang Ridge.

“During every major flood, the canal is simultaneously discharging water outward, exacerbating the flooding.

“How can this place not be poor?”

“Huh?” Yang Xin had honestly never considered this harmful aspect of the canal before.

The Grand Canal’s predecessor was the Si River. No matter how it was altered later, that core fact remained. The Shandong section of the canal was built upon it. The Si River is the heart of the entire Western Shandong river system and its irrigation network. The whole area relies on it for water during droughts and to drain floodwaters. But to maintain the canal’s navigation, everything now runs contrary to how it should be.

“Why not switch to sea transport?” he asked.

“Sea transport is feasible,” Qi Jin said with a smile. “But do you know how many people make fortunes off the canal?”

“And it’s not just about that.”

The canal connects North and South. Southern grain flows north continuously. But have you thought about what the North sends south? Do you think those ships go back empty?”

He immediately followed up.

“Cotton?” Inspiration struck Yang Xin like lightning.

“Exactly! Cotton!” Qi Jin exclaimed. “This entire Western Shandong belt is cotton country. The gentry and landlords forbid their tenant farmers from planting anything else. It’s all cotton here. Then they transport it via the canal to Jiangsu-Zhejiang. Looms there weave it into Cotton Cloth sold overseas.

“But you can’t eat cotton. Farmers growing cotton have to buy grain to eat, meaning they’re at the mercy of the grain merchants’ conscience.

“Actually, it’s not just this region; the whole Great Ming is like this. Farmlands everywhere turn into cotton fields. Don’t mistake it; even Jiangsu-Zhejiang have to buy grain from Jiangxi, Huguang, even Sichuan! Why? Because countless former rice paddies have been converted to cotton and mulberry trees! Who knows, when famine strikes someday, if Cotton Cloth or raw silk could provide sustenance.” Qi Jin rattled on like a wordy old man lecturing the young.

The “enclosures” that underpinned the Industrial Revolution in the West, forcing people off land for sheep pastures, manifested in the Ming as cotton fields or raising silkworms swallowing up farmland. Truly, East and West were the same. Before stepping from agrarian times into a new era, everyone walked much the same path. Only one kept walking steadily forward; the other was crippled by an alien invasion. When the one who walked steadily approached, shining in smart military uniform, rifle with Bayonet fixed, the crippled one still lay rotting in the mud, forgetting it had once walked alongside him. A sad state indeed.

Ahead, hundreds of cavalry suddenly appeared on the desolate plain.

“General!” One of the personal guards alerted them.

The fifty other personal guards swiftly drew their bow and arrows.

“Behind them, their main force!” Qi Jin said, looking at the dust plume rising in the distant sky.

“How effective are their siege tactics?” he asked next.

“Unless something goes wrong, basically, they can’t take any city with solid defenders,” Yang Xin stated bluntly.

“Return immediately! Report to Commander Tong!” Qi Jin drew his sword and shouted. “Tell him the rebels intend to cross the canal eastwards! We cannot stand by as they leave! Prepare to engage the enemy!”

The guard immediately wheeled his horse around and sped back towards Juye.

The remaining Household Troops urged their mounts forward. Yang Xin also hefted his Sentry Cudgel.

Qi Jin stared somewhat blankly at this comical-looking weapon.

“This thing works pretty well!” Yang Xin insisted.

Qi Jin merely gave a brief smile.

Immediately, fifty-two horsemen charged straight ahead. The opposing cavalry turned and fled. Yang Xin and Qi Jin gave chase. Soon, a village appeared ahead. Those fleeing horsemen quickly plunged into the settlement. Qi Jin exchanged a glance with one of his Household Troops beside him. The man swiftly detached a spare torch from his saddle and lit it while on horseback. The other riders also lit the torches they carried. The fifty swiftly fanned out, charging straight towards the thatch-roofed houses at the edge of the village. Without hesitation, they threw their torches onto the roofs. Soon, fanned by the wind, fire began to spread through the village. As the flames grew, large groups of Incense-Smelling Sect followers hidden in the village scrambled out in panic. Some, running blindly, even stumbled into the open ground outside the village directly facing Yang Xin and the others.

“Kill!” Qi Jin roared.

The fifty Household Troops quickly raised their bow and arrows, firing at the fleeing Sect members from their galloping horses.

Simultaneously, the cavalry that had lured them there now turned back. Yang Xin, brandishing his Sentinel Cudgel, charged straight towards them. Qi Jin, looking almost speechless, raised his sword and followed. The Household Troops also wheeled to meet the charge. The two groups of Cavalry met instantly.

Yang Xin, disliking the hindrance of his horse for his ‘performance’, stood up straight in the saddle. As he encountered an enemy rider, he leaped. The enemy’s Long Spear thrust pierced empty air. The cudgel, falling from mid-air, smashed hard onto the rider’s skull. His head shattered instantly. Man and horse collapsed together. Landing on the ground, Yang Xin spun, sweeping with the cudgel. The head of a passing cavalryman flew clean off its shoulders. Qi Jin, who had been ready to fight, watched in shock as the object flew over his own head. He looked down, deeply shaken, then saw Yang Xin leap again. His cudgel struck an oncoming rider head-on, sending him flying backward off his horse…

“Damn it! Called that ‘severely wounded but recovering’?” The old man swore behind him, his expression one of injured pride.

He couldn’t dwell on it. Thousands more horsemen appeared in the distance, and behind them, countless infantry advanced in formation.

“Brother Yang! Retreat!” He bellowed without hesitation.

Yang Xin swiftly turned, vaulting onto his horse in a few quick strides.

The other Household Troops gathered rapidly. All fifty riders were unharmed, while dozens of Incense-Smelling Sect members lay dead at their hands.

The rest had fled in utter disarray.

The main cavalry force on the other side didn’t attack. After rescuing their surviving comrades nearby, they formed up facing Yang Xin and Qi Jin, watching warily as they continued moving eastwards. Behind them, an unending stream of Incense-Smelling Sect members also marched east in formation.

“At least fifty thousand!” Qi Jin drew a deep breath.

“Twenty years of preaching! Just in Cao and Pu provinces, he gathered over fifty thousand followers willing to die for him? Tell me, have all the officials serving here over the years been eating sht?” Yang Xin spat.

“They feasted on Silver!” Qi Jin retorted coldly.

Suddenly, Yang Xin spurred his horse forward. The Household Troops looked towards Qi Jin, who shook his head. He watched as Yang Xin charged towards the throng of Incense-Smelling Sect members blanketing the plain. Yang Xin stopped about twenty zhang away. The opposing Cavalry immediately raised their bow and arrows, aiming squarely at him.

“Xu Hongru! Come out and face me like a man, Grandpa Yang!” Yang Xin howled, deliberately baiting his foe.

The opposing cavalry quickly parted. A man in his fifties emerged. He wore an Ochre Yellow Robe. A large yellow silk canopy covered him from above. A burly man beside him held aloft a banner inscribed with five large characters: “中兴福烈帝” (Zhong Xing Fu Lie Di – Revivalist, Fortunate, and Fierce Emperor). Nearby, another banner read “大成兴胜” (Da Cheng Xing Sheng – Great Success and Prosperous Victory)…

“Bestowing himself posthumous titles before he’s even dead!” Yang Xin muttered in stunned disbelief.

Clearly, Xu Hongru had declared himself emperor.

“You Demon Monkey!” A man beside Xu Hongru, dressed as a great general, roared. “His Majesty desires to grace Yanzhou with His presence! Today, he spares your wretched life!”

Yang Xin immediately feigned a charge. The opposing cavalry instantly closed ranks. A forest of arrows pointed directly at him.

Yang Xin immediately wheeled his horse around and raced back.

“Marshal Qi! I leave this to you!” he shouted to Qi Jin.

“Where are you going?” Qi Jin asked, startled.

“The rebels are crossing east at the canal, certainly heading to raid Qufu!” Yang Xin proclaimed with righteous zeal. “Yang received the Duke Yansheng’s deep kindness. I must absolutely prevent the tragedy of the Meng Mansion from repeating itself! Please tell Commander Tong: Yang Xin goes to Qufu to protect the Duke Yansheng! Also, back in Juye there remains a small amount of valuables. Consider it a parting gift from Yang!”

Finished, he urged his horse into a frenzied gallop eastward.