Chapter 898: Yang Sichang Visits Daizhou
Yang Sichang and Tie Niaofei departed from Datong Prefecture, heading south towards Daizhou.
Datong was still in upheaval, overrun by rebels, making travel highly perilous. Yang Sichang, accompanied by his household guards and a small military detachment, joined Tie Niaofei's caravan. Together, they formed a formidable procession.
Continuing south, they passed through Yanmen Pass and entered the Daizhou region.
The moment they crossed the border, Yang Sichang sensed something was off.
Beyond Yanmen Pass, roads were actively under construction.
“Building roads?” Yang Sichang uttered, a frown creasing his brow. “Here?”
“Indeed,” Tie Niaofei replied. “Come to think of it, they were already working on it when I traveled north.”
Yang Sichang was about to hail a worker to inquire about the sudden construction when one of them looked up, spotted him, and gasped in alarm: “It’s Commander Yang Sichang of the Xuan-Da Command!”
The other workers instantly lifted their heads. The sight of Yang Sichang made them all blanch. “Damn it, it really is Yang Sichang.”
“Everyone, run!”
With a sudden clamor, the entire crew scattered like frightened birds.
Yang Sichang was incensed. “I am no villainous official! What reason would I have to indiscriminately slay road workers? Why are they fleeing with such urgency?”
A military officer from his escort rode up, saluting Yang Sichang from atop his horse. “Commander, I recognize them. These road builders are the very rebels who caused disturbances in Datantou Village not long ago. I personally led the pursuit, driving them into the mountains. I never imagined they would cross over and start building roads here in Daizhou. I shall pursue them immediately and bring them all to justice.”
“What?” Yang Sichang exclaimed. “Datong rebels?”
“Yes, sir! No mistake,” the officer affirmed. “I recognized their chieftain instantly. He’s dressed in respectable clothes, posing as a foreman. I will apprehend him at once.”
He spurred his horse, ready to give chase.
“Wait!” Yang Sichang suddenly commanded.
The officer halted.
“He’s already engaged in road construction,” Yang Sichang reasoned. “If you arrest him now, and word gets out, what kind of cruel tyrant will the world think I am? Let him go for the moment. Once we understand the situation, then we can seek him out.”
The officer reined in his horse, falling in alongside them.
Tie Niaofei feigned astonishment. “How utterly bizarre! Datong rebels, constructing roads in Daizhou? That’s truly perplexing. I am eager to understand why.”
“I, too, wish to unravel this mystery,” Yang Sichang stated. “Let us proceed swiftly to Daizhou city.”
The party pressed on, and everywhere they looked, roads were being built. On the open ground bordering the main thoroughfare, people were erecting curious, grayish-white ‘stone’ structures.
Yang Sichang observed, bewildered. Daizhou was undergoing a massive construction boom. How many common laborers had been enlisted?
“Such a massive conscription of corvée labor,” Yang Sichang mused aloud, “yet the people of Daizhou aren’t revolting? They even seem quite content. And now, even Datong’s rebels are coming here to work?”
The more he witnessed, the less Yang Sichang comprehended.
Tie Niaofei lowered his voice. “On our journey here, I overheard local villagers remarking that they receive three catties of flour as daily wages for their labor.”
“What?” Yang Sichang exclaimed, taken aback. “So it’s not corvée labor, but paid work? No wonder, no wonder... no wonder even the Datong rebels have come to build roads.”
At this point, a glimmer of understanding began to form in Yang Sichang’s mind.
The group continued their journey. After a considerable distance, Daizhou city appeared before them, its tallest structure, the Bianjing Tower, visible in the distance, standing majestically.
The previous Prefect, it was said, had thrown himself from that very Bianjing Tower, his head striking the ground first, his soul cast to the underworld.
Now, however, that same tower, once steeped in tragedy, was adorned with festive red and colorful banners, exuding a vibrant new energy. Below, countless laborers bustled to and fro, happily engaged in their tasks. They were clearly repairing the city walls, reinforcing the towers, and enhancing Daizhou’s defenses against Manchu raiders.
The newly appointed Prefect, Chen Yuanbo, was already on the tower. Spotting Yang Sichang’s entourage in the distance, he came out to greet them. “Commander, I apologize for failing to meet you sooner. My sincerest apologies.”
Yang Sichang skipped the usual polite pleasantries, getting straight to the point. “Prefect Chen, your administration of Daizhou is quite commendable. Throughout my journey, I observed fervent activity everywhere.”
Chen Yuanbo chuckled. “It is merely the goodwill of the local populace.”
“You’re undertaking such extensive construction, building everywhere, even repairing the city walls and towers. Isn’t that a bit excessive?” Yang Sichang pressed. “With me overseeing the Xuan-Da Command, it’s highly improbable the Manchus will ever again cause unrest in Daizhou. Why such urgency in reinforcing your defenses?”
“Your subordinate understands that reinforcing the city walls and towers right now isn’t strictly necessary,” Chen Yuanbo explained. “The Manchus won’t return in the short term. However, idle hands lead to mischief. We must give the common people something to do. If they have work, they earn wages. With wages, they won’t turn to rebellion.”
This was the first time Yang Sichang had encountered the concept of “work relief.” Pondering it deeply, his eyes widened in realization. “Indeed?” he mused. “What you say is exceedingly logical.”
He quickly inquired, “On my way here, I noticed a group of Datong rebels constructing roads outside the South Gate of Yanmen Pass. Was that also your arrangement?”
“Yes, sir!” Chen Yuanbo confirmed. “They came from Datong, harboring rebellious intentions. Your subordinate offered them three catties of flour per day as wages, and they immediately dropped their weapons, transforming into eager laborers.”
Yang Sichang felt his entire body stiffen. After several silent seconds, he managed to speak with effort. “And Hu Teng? He was one of the first rebel leaders you pacified. How fares he now? Has he perhaps rebelled again?”
Chen Yuanbo chuckled. “Hu Teng? He’s performing admirably now. If the Commander is interested, perhaps you might accompany your subordinate to inspect the Daimei No. 1 Factory?”
“Daimei No. 1 Mine?” Yang Sichang echoed, a hint of confusion in his voice.
“Precisely,” Chen Yuanbo affirmed. “It’s short for ‘Daizhou First Coal Mine Factory.’ Hu Teng is currently managing it, and he’s doing an excellent job, I assure you.”
Yang Sichang felt a prickle of intense curiosity, like a kitten’s playful claws on his heart. “To the mine, swiftly,” he declared. “I must see for myself what has become of the supposedly ruthless Hu Teng.”
When Yang Sichang arrived at the Daimei No. 1 Mine, he found the ‘fierce and evil’ Hu Teng, not in the ragged attire of a bandit, but impeccably dressed in clean, neat clothes, a white hat perched on his head. Hu Teng was loudly lecturing a group of miners at the pit entrance: “You lot, over here! Have you already forgotten the safety protocols? A Yellow Hat is mandatory for entering the mine shaft!”
“Boss,” one worker complained, “it’s terribly hot in there.”
“Wear it even if it’s hot!” Hu Teng retorted, emphatically slapping his own hat. “Look at me; I’m wearing mine, sweating profusely, yet I haven’t removed it. I’ve led by example, so what further complaints could you possibly have?”
The workers, seeing their boss’s strictness, meekly conceded. If their foreman wore it, how could they dare defy the rules? They obediently donned their Yellow Hats and descended into the mine shaft.
Witnessing this, Yang Sichang involuntarily gasped, as if a chill had run down his spine. “This is not the Hu Teng I encountered before,” he murmured. “The last time, he gripped a pot lid in his left hand and a mining pick in his right, his face a ferocious mask, looking as though he might devour anyone who crossed him.”
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