Chapter 20

"Here's the bill."

Zhou Fengji walked over, his face ashen, though he looked much better than the mental breakdown he had yesterday. He held up a sheet of paper and said, "It was sent by Tan Zongjia today." Zhou Fengji handed the bill to Zhang Han and smiled bitterly, "The total market value is about 30,000 taels, but they are paying the official price, which is only a little over 5,000 taels. We'll lose 25,000 taels on this alone, and we'll need another 15,000 taels to bribe the battalion commander and the Qing Army Hall. We won't even get that 5,000 taels, and it will all be lost. The other shops are small, and even if we squeeze them dry, we won't get 10,000 taels. We'd need the skills to do such a thing..."

Zhou Fengji's face was a mix of tears and laughter; he had completely lost hope.

The total amount seemed to be only 30,000 taels, and the official price was only 5,000 taels, but it was the head shop that had to cover the total, which put a lot of pressure on them.

The other shops were definitely much weaker than the head shop, and even together, they couldn't come up with much silver. They would have to force them to the brink of bankruptcy, and even then, they wouldn't get the money for the forced purchase. They would also need a large sum to bribe the Qing Army Hall, or else the goods would be rejected, or they would be accused of negligence and publicly humiliated, or even beaten. Over the year, the suffering would be endless. Everyone saw this with their own eyes, and Chang's face turned pale, her eyes red, as if she was about to cry, not out of fear for her son's departure, but out of despair.

Only the two Lahu seemed indifferent. They were from poor families, possibly orphans, and not from normal families. In those days, it wasn't true that if your parents died, no one would take care of you. Strong clans would take responsibility for each member, providing food and shelter or even adopting them, ensuring they grew up. If a member was unproductive, they might be punished or even killed and thrown into a pond. One couldn't apply modern standards to the situation in the Ming Dynasty.

"Mother, I'm leaving."

Zhang Han didn't say much; this bill was expected. At the gate, he bid farewell to his mother, mounted his horse, and then bowed to Zhou Fengji, "Uncle Zhou, I'll leave the shop to you for a while."

"It's my duty," Zhou Fengji said, trying to steady himself. "Young Master, don't worry about the shop. I can guarantee there won't be any trouble for a while."

"Alright, I'm off."

Zhang Han and Liang Hong mounted their horses, and their bundles were tied to the horses. It was rare for a group to ride horses in those days. Besides Zhang Han and Liang Hong's horses, which belonged to the Zhang family, the other two were rented from a stable. The guards didn't stop them, knowing that as long as the Zhang family, their wealth, and their relationship with He Yusheng remained, Zhang Han would return.

If they really left, it would be their choice. Forced purchase wasn't a crime, and there was no reason to prevent them from leaving.

"The Lius are in trouble."

Just as they were about to leave, a cry came from the alley, followed by various shouts. Many people ran out of their homes to see what was happening.

The Lius were the head shop last year and had failed to meet the quota, suffering greatly. The head of the family, Old Liu, had committed suicide by poisoning himself last year. Now, at the end of the year, they were in trouble again.

"Let's go see."

Zhang Han rode ahead and turned to instruct, "Zhang Chun, close the door and don't go out unless necessary."

Zhang Chun agreed and quickly closed the door. Zhang Han, seeing the door securely shut, felt relieved and rode on.

The Liu family's house was already crowded with people. The chief and the hundred-house official had arrived, along with the constables and coroners. The Liu family's bodies were examined and then carried out; all seven had hanged themselves. The officials didn't know how to handle the situation and stood in front of the Liu family's door, waiting for orders. They would likely send the bodies to the cremation ground outside the fort.

"Terrible, truly terrible..."

Liang Hong's face was very grim, and even the two Lahu showed sympathy. After all, such a tragic event was hard to ignore.

"I heard the Liu family couldn't meet the quota, and the Qing Army Hall was still pressuring them. They lost everything and owed a lot of money. They had no choice but to take this path."

"Whoever this happens to, the outcome is the same."

"Ah, I heard the new head shop is the Zhang family from He Yusheng?"

"Yes, the Zhang family has been safe for decades, but now disaster has struck."

"It's one thing to run a shop, but being the head shop is..."

The speaker finally turned and saw Zhang Han on horseback.

Everyone's faces showed some awkwardness and sympathy.

Most of the people present were merchants, with official market status, and a few were original residents of the military fort, the military households. However, most of them were now involved with the merchants. Seeing the new head shop's young master, Zhang Han, a teenager, riding out in the cold of early winter, everyone knew he was going to seek help. They couldn't say much, but they all bowed to the young man, understanding the gravity of the situation.

Zhang Han and his group headed straight for the East Gate. Xinping Fort had only two gates: the North Gate, Xinyuan Gate, and the East Gate, Gonghua Gate. The fort was about three to four li in size, much larger than a typical small military fort but smaller than a county town. It could house over ten thousand people.

Exiting through Gonghua Gate, it was Zhang Han's first time leaving the fort. After riding for a while, he couldn't help but stop and look around.

The vast wilderness, Xinping Fort was in a relatively flat area, part of the Datong East Road, with several major rivers like the Yang River flowing through it. The terrain was a mix of mountains, hills, and small plains.

In the distance, Zhang Han could see the Daliang Mountains, with a small road winding into the mountains. There were a few houses scattered along the mountain streams. Zhang Han knew that there was a small military fort called Huamen Fort, which served as a barrier for Xinping Fort. The battalion commander, Lai Tongxin, was responsible for the 18-li section of the Great Wall, with 26 watchtowers and 16 beacon towers, and four military forts: Xinping Fort, Pingyuan Fort, Baoping Fort, and Huamen Fort. Huamen Fort was the smallest and most perilous, and even in modern times, it was difficult to access.

Looking northwest, he saw the continuous Great Wall, the boundary between the Ming inland and the Mongolian grasslands. Beyond the Great Wall was Mongolian territory, the dividing line between the agricultural and nomadic peoples.

This majestic, winding Great Wall protected countless lives. Not only did the Ming build it, but the Zhao, Qin, and Han dynasties also constructed it. In the early Ming, the Chengzu Emperor had a decisive battle with the Wala leader, Shun Ning Wang Mahamu, and defeated him here, achieving great military glory.

It was mid-winter, and the snow along the Great Wall was thick. The gray Great Wall, the black earth, and the remaining white snow formed solemn blocks under the blue sky. Inside the Great Wall, some Han people were walking on the small roads, their figures like tiny ants under the Great Wall.

Zhang Han felt a mix of desolation and solemnity, and a sense of pride welled up in his heart.

This land, these mountains, the swift rivers ahead, and the Great Wall protecting this land—all of it was built with immense power and determination. As a descendant of this nation, shouldn't he feel proud?

"Master, let's go."

The weather was extremely cold. Liang Hong, wearing a thick cotton jacket and a rabbit fur coat, still felt his hands and feet freezing, especially standing still in the open. He was almost numb.

Zhang Han snapped back to reality, finding his emotions somewhat ridiculous. No matter how vast the world or how great his nation, the Ming Dynasty was clearly in a dire state. The corruption in the government and the military, and the exploitation of the people, made it clear that the fall of the nation was imminent. From his perspective, the fall of the Ming Dynasty was almost a relief... It would be a miracle if this corrupt country didn't fall!

He spurred his horse and bent down to shield himself from the cold wind. The others rode in the same posture. In such cold weather, no matter how well they were dressed, it was still extremely cold.

...

That evening, they rested in Tiancheng Guard City, which was about twice the size of Xinping Fort but less densely populated. There were few shops, as it lacked the convenience of a horse market. The limited shops were mainly for transit, with people buying goods from places like Xinping Fort and selling them inland for profit.

With the small market season approaching, the number of merchants in Tiancheng Guard City had increased. The city gates and inns were crowded with people. Several large stables were filled with merchants driving large herds, making a lot of noise. Zhang Han stayed at one of these stables, which was packed with such people.

Liang Hong bought oil from the stable owner and then went to the nearby market to buy meat and flour. Using the kitchen in the inn, they made pancakes and cooked meat. After the meal was ready, the four of them ate in the inn's hall.

The hall was lit by oil lamps, and many guests cooked their own meals, rarely wasting money at restaurants or taverns. Many had traveled long distances, earning a living from transportation, and any waste on the road would reduce their profits, which was unacceptable to merchants.

Some had already eaten but stayed in the hall to warm themselves by the fire and chat.

Zhang Han and his group had been traveling all day and had only eaten dry cakes at noon. They were all very hungry and ate ravenously. Zhang Han, however, was preoccupied and ate only a little before finding a place with many merchants to chat.

Seeing his young appearance, the merchants didn't suspect him much. Some were curious about his travel at this time and in such weather, so they asked a few questions. Zhang Han smiled and made up a reason, deceiving them easily.

They chatted casually, discussing fur prices, the costs of driving mules, horses, and cattle, and other goods. The hardships and dangers of trading from places like Xinping Fort were endless.