Chapter 54

As Zhang Han and his companions entered the East Gate, many ruffians still stood outside the branch, shouting curses, but they were not very enthusiastic. The atmosphere had been off for the past two days, and these ruffians had the sharpest senses. The soldiers and the commander's servants who had been standing behind them had vanished without a trace. The ruffians felt something was amiss, but they had been entrusted with a task and had to fulfill it, even if it meant losing their teeth. After all, who would take the silver if not them? They were listless, but the small merchants and farmers were still very enthusiastic. Many farmers from outside the city walls pushed carts over, having picked up vegetable leaves in the city for several days, their faces yellow from hunger. They were not doing it for anything else but to sell a few stones of grain for an extra tael of silver. To the rich, a tael of silver was just the cost of a meal, but to them, it was at least three months' worth of food. No one would give up easily.

Because of these people, the area outside the store was still packed, with curses flying back and forth. Many residents of the city had come to treat this place like a temple fair or a tourist attraction. Some idle men even climbed onto their rooftops, holding blue-and-white porcelain bowls, eating and watching the commotion, taking a bite of scallions and then a bite of millet bread, feeling quite comfortable.

Zhang Han saw Li Yuchun at the branch's entrance. He looked much thinner and paler than when he was in the fort, his eyes lifeless. This incident had hit him hard.

"The soldiers are here, no, the commander is here."

At this moment, the onlookers let out exclamations of surprise. Some were quick to realize that the matter was about to be resolved.

If there were no resolution, why would the commander of the garrison come in person?

The border garrison was not like those in Shandong or Henan. The city was small and desolate. For the commander to open a store was already considered high-class. The commander of Tiancheng Garrison was responsible for the food and drink of over ten thousand people. In peacetime, he managed the garrison's military farms, drills, weapons, patrols, inspections, and defense. Under him were a fourth-rank vice-commander and a fifth-rank assistant. The garrison was supposed to have 5,600 men, divided into five thousand-households. Zhang Wuchang, the commander, also served as the city's garrison commander, under the jurisdiction of the military commissioner in Yanghe. In reality, the garrison had far more than 5,600 men, and with over ten thousand civilians, the tax and military farm system provided considerable benefits. Zhang Wuchang's actual power far exceeded that of a regular garrison commander.

In the Ming Dynasty, border military officials were always one rank higher than those in the interior. For example, a deputy general in the interior was a third-rank official, while a deputy general on the border was a second-rank official. The positions of garrison commanders and fort commanders were also higher. Moreover, Zhang Wuchang was a direct descendant of the Zhang family, a military family in Yulin, and no one dared to provoke him in Tiancheng.

"These scoundrels dare to cause trouble in my city. Take them down!"

The commander was about the same height and width, with no excess fat, looking like a square block. His face was covered in a beard, and when he opened his round eyes in anger, he was quite intimidating. From a distance, he pointed and shouted. The ruffians just realized something was wrong when about twenty servants and over a hundred soldiers from the commander's residence emerged from the opposite street. Together with the people accompanying the commander, they surrounded the ruffians. After a commotion, the ruffians were taken down on the spot.

"Ten lashes each, and then get out."

Although Zhang Wuchang's voice was loud, the punishment was not severe. The soldiers and ruffians were familiar with each other, and some might have been drinking together the night before. They did not hit hard, but even so, there were cries of pain. Zhang Wuchang ignored them, dismounted his horse with great authority, and the small merchants and farmers, who were already scared, quickly made way for him.

Approaching the branch, Zhang Wuchang looked at Li Yuchun and pointed with his whip. "You are Li Yuchun?"

Li Yuchun was flustered, swallowing hard. "Yes, sir."

"The grain collection has had some setbacks, but it's not your fault, and it's not about your integrity..." Zhang Wuchang waved his hand grandly. "You can continue to collect grain. In this city, I have the final say, and that's the law."

Li Yuchun felt a surge of excitement, his body trembling slightly.

"Thank you, Commander..."

After a long pause, the usually eloquent manager could only manage this one sentence.

"You seem like an honest man." Zhang Wuchang did not mind Li Yuchun's stiffness, nodding. "When your boss returns, please ask him to visit my residence."

With that, Zhang Wuchang turned and walked away, mounting his horse with great authority and leaving with his subordinates, leaving thousands of people staring in amazement at the dust he left behind.

"Did you hear that?" Li Yuchun shouted at the crowd. "Whether we can collect grain or not is not up to me. Now we can, so you scoundrels, line up and wait for your grain to be weighed!"

The crowd cheered, and those who had been cursing moments ago now began to flatter Li Yuchun, their familiar, ingratiating smiles reappearing. Li Yuchun ignored them, seeing Zhang Han smiling and approaching from the other side of the crowd.

"Boss..."

Li Yuchun's throat tightened, his eyes stinging. He felt ashamed, a grown man on the verge of tears.

"These past few days, you've been through a lot, Second Manager..."

Zhang Han patted Li Yuchun's arm, his demeanor that of a superior. No one found it strange, as just over half a year ago, Zhang Han was a young man in the eyes of the three managers. In the past half year, the tide had turned. The branch manager, Qian Nengwen, was originally a senior clerk in the store, and he had witnessed the internal changes of Heyusheng. At this moment, he was also in tears, feeling as if he were witnessing history.

"Boss, no need to say more," Li Yuchun said. "The commander must have been invited by you. We should go and see him quickly. These officials should not be kept waiting."

"Alright, I'll leave this to you, Second Manager."

The grain sellers had already gathered, forming a long line to be weighed and paid. Everyone was happy, and the order was good, thanks to the presence of the bodyguards, unlike other places where chaos often ensued.

Zhang Han was very satisfied. Li Yuchun and the branch managers he had brought in were experienced, and the grain collection points and the newly built store were well-chosen. He had a good reserve of commercial talent, which was crucial. Otherwise, even with good ideas and resources, he would be at a loss without capable subordinates. These talents did not appear out of nowhere; it took years of cultivation to develop both loyalty and ability. Additionally, supervision was necessary, and he currently relied on the accounting team set up by Li Yujing, which was still weak. However, the structure was relatively simple, and it was manageable.

The next step was to expand the literacy classes, especially for the younger ones. More people should be enrolled, and they could help in the store while learning to read and write, like junior clerks. In a few years, a new batch of senior clerks would be ready, and in ten years, the number of managers would multiply, creating a virtuous cycle.

The commander's residence was in the south of the city, slightly to the west. Compared to the deputy general's residence, the garrison commander's residence was slightly smaller in scale but more luxurious inside. Zhang Wuchang, the commander, could not inherit his position, but his role as the commander of Tiancheng Garrison was hereditary. With the support of the Zhang family of Yulin, he might be able to inherit the position of commander, even if not the garrison commander. The residence was not a place where officials came and went, but a permanent home, and the interior was extravagantly decorated. When Zhang Han passed through the screen wall, he noticed the intricate murals, the freshly painted moon gates, and the blooming flowers and trees. Along the path, various rocks were placed, showing the owner's refined taste, though perhaps a bit excessive, indicating that Zhang Wuchang was a man who accepted everything, big or small.

Upon entering, Zhang Han knelt and bowed. Zhang Wuchang, sitting in the center of the hall, accepted the bow with a casual wave of his hand. "You're not bad, young boss. My brother sent word that you've been very helpful in his affairs, and General Ma also spoke highly of you. For a commoner and not a major merchant, to achieve this is truly impressive."

Zhang Han bowed and smiled. "Thanks to General Ma and Deputy Commissioner Zheng."

Zhang Han had received news the previous night that Wu Youxian, the military commissioner of Yanghe, had submitted a resignation request due to his age and poor health. This was expected, and the court would likely not try to retain him. After the mid-Wanli period, the emperor had become negligent in state affairs, and many positions were left unfilled. Even resignation requests were often ignored. For lower-ranking officials, the cabinet and various departments could make decisions, but for positions like the military commissioner, the emperor's decree was required. Wu Youxian had resigned, but it was uncertain whether the emperor had seen the request or would issue a decree to replace him.

In the past, it was not uncommon for the emperor to delay a resignation for three to five years. Ming officials were quite relaxed; if the emperor did not approve their resignation, they could simply leave, placing the official seal on the main hall and walking away. In the Hongwu era, this would have been a capital offense, and even in the Jiajing era, it would not have been tolerated. However, under Emperor Wanli, officials were free to leave as they pleased, and the positions were often left vacant, causing frustration in the central government, but the emperor simply ignored it.

According to Zhang Han's insider information, Wu Youxian was seriously ill and feared he might die away from home. He had decided to leave within a month if he did not receive a response. Deputy Commissioner Zheng Guochang would likely take over the position... For Zhang Han, this was very good news.