Chapter 52

The next day, around noon.

Xianglai, a village known for its remote location and sparse visitors, was bustling with activity. One after another, small sedan chairs were carried over the wooden bridge from the village road, stopping only at the Shen Shi Pavilion. Since horse-drawn carriages couldn't pass, about seven of them were parked at the village entrance, and their owners and attendants walked over.

Ma Chaoren's face was ashen. This time, his only son, who was just six years old, had been kidnapped. He had one wife and five concubines, and after they had given him six daughters, this son was finally born. He cherished him like a precious gem. Yesterday evening, someone jumped over the wall of his courtyard, went straight to the back garden, and found his way to the separate courtyard where his son lived. They chased away the maids and servants, kidnapped the child, and left in less than a quarter of an hour. By the time the family reported it to him and he sent his servants to search, there was no trace to be found.

Considering the experiences of the other families, it was clear that the kidnapper was He Yusheng. The timing of the letters sent also matched perfectly. No one dared to delay, and they all set out early in the morning to head for Liazhuang.

Liang Xing and Yang Qiu, along with others, had mobilized the Tiancheng Guard and personnel from nearby branches overnight. When Ma Chaoren and the others arrived, the village road leading to the Shen Shi Pavilion was lined with guards, most of whom held iron spears and long knives, standing solemnly by the roadside. Some had their hands on their waist knives or held short axes, all of them short and sturdy, their muscles bulging. The guards' eyes were cold and stern, and when they looked at Ma Chaoren and the others, there was a chilling aura of menace.

These guards were either tough porters or former bandits. They had been involved in several group fights over the past few months, each time using weapons, and with the training from Wang Changfu, they had developed a formidable aura.

Ma Chaoren, Jiang Daling, and Zhang Yanhong also brought many people, totaling nearly a hundred, all of whom were armed. But seeing the scene before them, all their thoughts vanished. The numbers seemed about equal, but there were also many villagers hiding with pitchforks and rakes. Even without these villagers, the nearly a hundred guards alone were enough to make them realize that their own people were no match.

"Commander Zhang is despicable," Jiang Daling whispered. "He wouldn't lend us a hundred soldiers or ten attendants."

Ma Chaoren smiled bitterly. "There must be a reason. Didn't you notice that the soldiers at the East Gate and the He Yusheng branch were withdrawn, leaving only the hired ruffians?"

Zhang Yanhong said, "Something must have changed."

"Isn't that obvious!" Ma Chaoren sneered. "But he thinks he can control us with this? No way." He clenched his jaw and said, "Even if my son dies, we still have to fight for what we deserve!"

Ma Chaoren's resolve was strong, but the others were reluctant, their faces contorted, unable to speak.

"Mr. Ma, Mr. Jiang, Mr. Zhang, it is an honor for you to grace us with your presence. I apologize for not welcoming you earlier. Please come into the village. I have prepared some light wine for us to drink and talk."

Zhang Han smiled calmly, but his satisfaction was evident. The grain merchants, being the leaders, walked over with straight backs.

"Mr. Zhang," Ma Chaoren stared at Zhang Han, his voice heavy. "Let's be clear. I won't drink the wine; who knows what might be in it."

Jiang Daling said, "What about my two concubines? Do you really think you can get away with breaking the law?"

Zhang Han smiled slightly and looked at Jiang Daling. "Whether I can get away with it, Mr. Jiang can try to report it to the garrison, Yanghe Dao, Datong, Xuanfu, or even the capital. See if you can win the case and get your concubines back."

Zhang Han's smile had been friendly, but his words were sharp. Jiang Daling's face turned red with anger, but he dared not argue.

Zhang Han then turned to Ma Chaoren and smiled. "Mr. Ma, I know you have a juren degree, though you haven't taken office. Your family has a tradition of farming and reading, and some of your relatives are officials. But if you choose to resist me, your son will surely be among the new eunuchs in the palace by the end of the year."

"What are you saying? You scoundrel, I'll fight you to the death!" Ma Chaoren was shocked at first, then he spread his arms, ready to charge at Zhang Han.

Zhang Han's eyes turned cold. "Mr. Ma, please be reasonable."

Everyone around them was intimidated, and no one dared to act recklessly.

Ma Chaoren, frightened by Zhang Han, covered his face with his hands, unable to speak, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Zhang Han felt guilty about his actions, but he knew that if he didn't do this, the matter would drag on for a long time, and he couldn't afford the time and effort.

Even if Zhang Han had threatened to kill his son, Ma Chaoren wouldn't have broken down, but the idea of his son being castrated and made a eunuch was devastating. It would destroy the Ma family's reputation and make them a laughingstock in Datong. The family's 200-year legacy would be ruined, and Ma Chaoren couldn't bear the responsibility.

"Alright, are everyone's spirits calmer now?" Zhang Han felt a sense of relief. He had been forced to pause his grain collection and travel back and forth between Datong and Yanghe, spending a lot of money to influence officials in Shanxi and the capital, and even the Three Borders Governor. He estimated it would cost at least 5,000 taels. Of course, he also had to influence his own family, and even so, his losses were significant.

The benefit was that he could consolidate his influence in the Datong official circles, deepen his relationship with Ma Cheng'en and Zheng Guochang, and connect with the Three Borders and Xuanfu governors. Initially, he had no idea how to navigate the political landscape, but now he could influence the appointment of a general, which was a source of pride.

Pride aside, he needed to teach these people a lesson, or he would have pent-up anger. Now, he felt much better.

"Please, everyone."

Zhang Han smiled warmly, his youth making him seem approachable, but everyone knew his true nature and followed him nervously.

The banquet was indeed set up, with a small table, a pot of wine, and a few dishes in front of each person. Zhang Han sat at the head of the table and said, "I apologize, but this village has no market, so we couldn't get better dishes. We have some mountain vegetables, chicken, and pork from the village. Please make do."

After the long journey, everyone was hungry, but the tension made it hard to eat. No one picked up their chopsticks.

"I was just joking," Zhang Han said, taking a bite of food and smiling. "I'm not a bandit leader. No matter what, everyone will leave with their families."

With this promise, everyone, including Ma Chaoren, breathed a sigh of relief. The sound of cups and plates clinking could be heard as they began to eat, though the atmosphere was still awkward. It felt like the strangest meal of their lives.

Zhang Han even toasted Ma Chaoren and Jiang Daling, and then the other grain merchants, showing no lack of courtesy.

"Ah," the atmosphere was still strange. Ma Chaoren sighed and finally spoke to Zhang Han. "Mr. Zhang, I admit defeat. Please lay out your terms, and we will listen."

Jiang Daling also conceded. "I agree. As long as Mr. Zhang can still provide us with a living."

Zhang Yanhong added, "We didn't mean to oppose Mr. Zhang's He Yusheng. It's just that your grain prices are too low for us to sustain. To be honest, if we didn't band together, we would have been wiped out long ago. We have large landholdings and heavy burdens, with no hidden fields or tax exemptions. Life is already hard, and now with additional taxes, we can't survive without making some money through business."

"We can't even lend money at high interest."

"To open a pawnshop or moneylender, one needs at least a juren degree. Mr. Ma doesn't want to make money that way, or he wouldn't be doing this business with us."

Zhang Han listened with a smile. When they finished, he said, "I understand your concerns. I have a proposal to discuss with you."

Everyone knew this was the crucial moment, and the room fell silent. Outside, the sounds of villagers and children could be heard, and many people peeked in. The villagers, including Li Xiangfu, realized the power of their landlord. A single letter had brought these important gentry and merchants from the city to Liazhuang, and the young landlord had control of the situation. Of course, few knew that many people were being held hostage, which was why these gentry and merchants were so compliant. Zhang Han's presence alone was intimidating.

Zhang Han looked at everyone and said, "We will continue to collect grain at He Yusheng."

These words made everyone's hearts sink. Zhang Han's determination was clear. He had run back and forth between Datong and Yanghe, and both Ma Cheng'en and Zheng Guochang had advised him. While grain was a major trade, it was hard to make a profit without a certain scale. Since the accountancy and mule trade were highly profitable, it seemed unnecessary to focus on grain.

Zhang Han didn't say much to Zheng Guochang but hinted at the Eastern Tartars to Ma Cheng'en.

As a general, Ma Cheng'en immediately understood that if the Eastern situation worsened, the court would ban grain trade or control it. Both the Eastern Tartars and the Mongols would be in dire need of grain, making the grain trade unfeasible for ordinary people but highly profitable for those with connections.

Ma Cheng'en was convinced and agreed to help Zhang Han connect with the military families in Xuanfu, including the Yang, Lai, and Liaoxi families, and most importantly, the Li and Zu families, with whom the Ma family could also connect.

With potential profits and connections, how could they not continue the business?

Zhang Han looked at everyone and said, "We will continue to collect grain at He Yusheng."