Late Yuan Dynasty: I am the true emperor

Chapter 397 Fang offers her daughter and Shen asks for an official position
Because Zhan Ding had promised to help Fang Guozhen take care of his son, he now lives with Fang Guozhen's wife and children. Of course, although they live in the same house, they are not in the same courtyard.

Fang Guozhen was rich, so even though he sent his wife and children as hostages, his quality of life was not bad. As soon as he arrived in Jiankang, he bought a large house with two entrances and more than 20 rooms. He also brought maids and servants. Fang Guozhen's wife and three sons lived in the inner courtyard, while Zhan Ding, two male servants and a housekeeper lived in the outer courtyard.

Just a few days after the family arrived, Qiu Nan was directly appointed as the prefect of Xuzhou by Lu Jin and sent to Xuzhou to take up the post. Zhan Ding was left in the military academy of the Marshal's Mansion and worked as a Langguan in the Attendant's Department, which was actually a military adviser and secretary. Fang Guozhen's two nephews, Fang Mingshan and Fang Mingqian, were called by Lu Jin to learn navigation knowledge after they arrived. Now they live in the imperial army camp and have not returned.

Lu Jin did not pay special attention to Fang Guozhen's three sons. He just let them go to Meng Zhifang's school and study with the nephews and nieces of the generals of the Shengwu Army, such as Zhu Xian, Song Sheng, Liao Sheng, Zhu Yan and others all day long. They could go home every day, but Fang Guozhen's wife was still not at ease. After all, they were hostages. If they angered the commander-in-chief, he would kill their entire family. Therefore, she had been worried these days.

So that day I waited for Zhan Ding to come back from get off work and called him at the second courtyard gate.

Zhan Ding quickly bowed in return and then asked, "Madam, what do you want to ask?"

Fang Guozhen's wife was named Dai Mingchun. Although Fang Guozhen himself was illiterate and could not read a single word, his wife was no ordinary person. She was from the Dai family of Nantang, Taizhou. The Dai family had been officials for generations, so his wife was a well-educated and well-mannered lady from an official family.

Dai Mingchun hesitated for a moment, but still asked, "Sir, do you know the current situation of my two nephews? They have come to Jiankang and have not come home to see us mother and son. I am a little worried."

Zhan Ding thought it was something else, and upon hearing that, he quickly said, "Oh, Madam, don't worry. The Marshal thinks highly of the two nephews and wants to use them. He is now teaching the two nephews skills. The two nephews have to attend classes and study every day, and have been living in the Imperial Army camp, so they have no time to come and see you."

"So that's how it is." Dai Mingchun suddenly realized and breathed a sigh of relief. Then he asked, "I wonder if you are being used in the Marshal's Mansion now, what position you hold, and whether you have met Marshal Gongshu?"

Zhan Ding added, "The Marshal knows how to use people well. He originally wanted to send me out to serve as an official, but he also knew that I promised General Fang to look after the three young masters, so he tested me. Now he lets me serve as an official in the military academy of the Marshal's mansion, so that I can meet the Marshal often."

Dai Mingchun frowned when she heard that, but before she could say anything, a beautiful figure flashed behind her. It turned out to be Dai Mingchun's cousin, a famous woman in Taizhou who was both talented and beautiful, Fan Qiuchan, who was proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and was especially good at writing poetry and was also proficient in music.

Fang Guozhen was very brave when fighting, but he became very cowardly when he couldn't win. Lu Jin only asked him to hand over half of his ships and send his wife and children as hostages. Fang Guozhen, on the other hand, was worried that Lu Jin would take revenge on him later, so he simply became very cowardly and wanted to send a beautiful woman to Lu Jin. This time, he not only sent his wife and children as hostages, but also brought his wife's cousin, hoping to find an opportunity to present her to Lu Jin. Zhan Ding naturally knew Fang Guozhen's plan, but now he was Lu Jin's subject, so it was not easy for him to interfere in the matter.

At this time, Fan Qiuchan asked, "Sir, what is the position of the Langguan in the Martial Academy? Why does it sound like an official title from the Qin and Han dynasties?"

Zhan Ding did not dare to underestimate this extraordinary woman, and hurriedly replied, "Miss Fan, you don't know that the official system of the Marshal's Office actually dates back to the Song Dynasty. It consists of the East and West Offices, and the Central Secretariat. However, the Marshal changed the names to avoid being noticed and become the target of public criticism. The East and West Offices are called the Civil and Military Courts. The Civil Court is like the Shangshu Province, in charge of the six ministries, and the Military Court is like the Privy Council, in charge of military affairs. The Central Secretariat is called the Secretariat, with several secretaries, like the prime minister, assisting in military affairs. I, the Langguan of the Military Court, actually only assist in military affairs."

"Oh, so that's how it is. He is the strategist and military advisor. Haha, this Marshal Gongshu is quite interesting. He can now lead an army of 300,000 and capture most of eastern Zhejiang in one fell swoop, but he still wants to avoid being noticed. Isn't he deceiving himself?" Fan Qiuchan immediately teased with a smile.

Zhan Ding didn't dare to discuss this behind his back, and quickly said, "This is the official system in Luzhou. Maybe the commander hasn't adjusted it yet after crossing the river."

Fan Qiuchan nodded, "That makes sense."

"Little sister, don't interrupt me. Let me ask the gentleman some serious questions first." Dai Mingchun, who was still worried, interrupted their conversation quickly.

"Oh, then sister asks first."

Dai Mingchun then asked, "Sir, since you can often see the Marshal, you must know how he treats my family. My mother and I, four children, are now held hostage here. Our lives depend on his will. If we offend him in any way, we may lose our lives."

Zhan Ding was stunned when he heard this, and then he realized that Dai was worried about this, so he quickly comforted her, "Since you are here, you should make the best of it. Madam, just relax. Marshal Gongshu is well-versed in history and the present, and has great ambitions. He only wants to rule the country, and he has no intention of targeting you and the three young masters. As long as General Fang does not disobey the Marshal's orders, you and the three young masters will be safe here."

"So that's how it is. With what you said, I feel relieved. But my husband is your old master after all. Please consider that I have never treated you badly. If that commander wants to kill my husband, please try to persuade him. And please inform me in time so that I can write a letter to persuade him. Only in this way can we save the lives of mother and son. I hope you can agree." Dai Mingchun bowed and asked.

Zhan Ding hurriedly avoided him upon seeing this, but after a moment's hesitation he finally agreed. "Since Madam has entrusted me with her life, I will not refuse. But Madam, there is no need to worry. The Marshal is not intolerant. As long as his subordinates are loyal and serve him, they will be valued. Based on my past observations of the other general, he will not do anything unwise in the current situation, and the Marshal will definitely kill him."

Dai Mingchun heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this, but Fan Qiuchan on the side asked again.

"Mr. Zhan is also a man of great talent and learning. How could he have such high regard for this Marshal Gongshu?"

Zhan Ding immediately said seriously, "In my opinion, this man is indeed a wise leader of the time. Although many rebel armies have risen up, the one who can pacify the world must be this man."

"Oh? Sir, you are so sure?" Fan Qiuchan was a little surprised. She knew Zhan Ding's abilities. He was the chief strategist under her cousin's husband. She didn't expect Zhan Ding to have such a high opinion of Lu Jin.

Zhan Ding nodded immediately and said, "Of course I am sure. Since ancient times, most leaders of righteous armies have found it difficult to accomplish anything, because most of them come from humble backgrounds, have little knowledge, and do not understand the general situation of the world. They also have troops at their disposal, are stubborn and self-willed, and are reluctant to listen to advice. They also do not pay much attention to scholars. Although they can grow rapidly at the beginning, it is difficult for them to establish a system, and without a system, nothing can be accomplished.

"But Jiankang is different. He has a mysterious background, is well-educated, and has far-sighted vision. His army always makes plans before taking action. His politics also show his talent for managing the world. He himself has no shortcomings.

"He is broad-minded, willing to accept surrenders, able to unite the civil and military, not greedy for money or lustful, lives frugally, does not build palaces, has only one wife and one child in his house, and is neither arrogant nor impatient. Now he has hundreds of thousands of soldiers and a territory of thousands of miles, but he does not use ceremonial guards when traveling, and has never taken the initiative to claim the throne. He only wants to rule the world and benefit the people. He can be regarded as a model of a wise ruler, and there is almost no flaw in him.

"If a man like this can't conquer the world, I really can't think of anyone else who can."

The two women were stunned. They didn't expect that Lu Jin was such a perfect person in Zhan Ding's eyes. Fan Qiuchan then said, "He is worthy of such an evaluation from you, sir. He is really a rare man in the world. So what has this commander been doing these days?"

Zhan Ding hesitated for a moment, then said, "I am giving lectures and writing books."

Fan Qiuchan was stunned when he heard this. "Teaching? Writing books? Could it be that he is a great scholar of the time? Shouldn't a general think about how to govern the people and fight wars? What kind of knowledge is he teaching? What book is he writing?"

"Miss Fan is right. The Marshal teaches about state governance and writes books about practical affairs. He also writes books for the purpose of better governing the country," Zhan Ding explained.

"Haha, this is really interesting."

Dai Mingchun knocked on the girl, rolled his eyes at her and said, "Since my sister is so interested, why don't I marry you to her tomorrow?"

"Hmph, my sister always uses this to bully me." Fan Qiuchan snorted shyly and returned to the inner courtyard.

Dai Mingchun said seriously, "Sir, you just said that the commander-in-chief has only one wife and one son. Doesn't he have any concubines?"

Zhan Ding shook his head, "I've never heard of it."

"Then if I go directly to visit his wife, would that be too presumptuous?"

Zhan Ding thought for a moment before saying, "If Madam wants to make friends with the Marshal's wife, it shouldn't be difficult. The women of other generals' families have also visited the Marshal's residence, so I think there's nothing wrong. Moreover, General Fang has secretly surrendered to the Marshal now. Since he is a subordinate, it is his duty to pay respects to the mistress. If you are afraid of being presumptuous, you might as well send someone to deliver a visiting card first. After you are summoned, you can go there with gifts."

Dai Mingchun then nodded and said, "Thank you for clearing up my doubts, sir. I will send someone to deliver the visiting card tomorrow. If you have any more questions in the future, please come back and clear them up."

Zhan Ding said quickly, "It's okay. Since I promised General Fang to take care of the three young masters, it is my duty to help Madam solve her doubts."

"Thank you sir."

Dai Mingchun also bowed again and then retreated into the inner courtyard. Not long after, he asked the maids in the inner courtyard to bring him a few plates of snacks as a token of his gratitude.

Zhan Ding was also organizing his lecture notes, writing down all the economic knowledge that Lu Jin had talked about. He also held the official position of a Langguan in the Imperial Household Department, and was Lu Jin's military adviser. During this period, he was also familiarizing himself with the system of the Shengwu Army, and learning to read maps, so as to help Lu Jin formulate military plans.

Now Zhan Ding is studying the Central Plains direction. In the past few days, he has heard Lu Jin and Xia Yu discuss the march to Nanyang this year. This route can be said to be the most difficult one to fight. It's not because the enemy is so powerful, but because the Shengwu Army does not have an advantage in geographical location.

Liu Futong now occupies Yingzhou Prefecture and the southern part of Bianliang Road. There is only a very narrow passage between the southern part of Yingzhou and the Dabie Mountains. This road is vast and sparsely populated. Not only are there few cities, making it inconvenient for garrisoning, but there are also no large east-west rivers, making it very inconvenient to transport military supplies and logistics.

If attacking the south, grain can be transported along the Yangtze River and Ganjiang River. If attacking Shandong, grain can be transported by sea and the Grand Canal. However, if attacking the Central Plains, all grain has to be transported by land, which puts enormous logistical pressure.

So Zhan Ding has been thinking these past two days, since there are many soldiers now and it is time for reorganization, can he transfer two or three divisions to build two or three small cities along the northern foothills of Dabie Mountains between Lu'an and Xinyang? This will not only consolidate the food route to the Central Plains, but also facilitate the subsequent occupation and garrison, and send a few garrison divisions and immigrants to settle there.

At the same time, just as everyone in the Marshal's Mansion was doing their own job and busy with this year's military and political affairs, Shen Rong and his party, who had come from Suzhou to seek an official position, also arrived. He first found an inn to stay in Jiankang, and then hurriedly handed the letter of introduction written by Yu Yunzhou to the Marshal's Mansion. The guards at the gate did not make things difficult for them and handed the letter in honestly.

Lu Jin looked at the letter sent by Li Dingbang and asked in surprise, "Shen Wansan, the richest man in Jiangdong? He's not dead yet?"

"Um, I don't know either. The man claimed to be the current head of the Shen family, named Shen Rong. Who is this Shen Wansan that the commander-in-chief mentioned?" Li Dingbang asked curiously.

"Oh, no one. Let me take a look at the letter first." Lu Jin said perfunctorily before opening the letter.

Yu Yunzhou was honest and told Shen's situation in detail in the letter. He also said that he agreed to write the letter to Shen in order to set an example for the powerful people in Suzhou. Shen was also willing to cooperate in the division of households and land, but their family was determined to get an official position. When he heard that the commander-in-chief had recruited talents who could cross the sea and communicate with foreigners, he volunteered to recommend himself. As for whether to meet him or not, it all depended on Lu Jin's mind. It was up to Lu Jin to meet him or not.

After reading it, Lu Jin became interested in this Shen family. The Qing Dynasty's Ming History said that Shen Wansan's family had a lot of money and could even take out one million taels of silver to reward Zhu Yuanzhang's army. Although he didn't know whether it was reliable, he could be called the richest man and was engaged in maritime trade. Maybe he could really come up with that much money?

He is now short of capital for issuing new banknotes. If he can extort some money from the Shen family, it would not be impossible to give him a small official position.

Not to mention that they are maritime merchants who travel across the seas and rivers. Now the Marshal's Mansion is lacking talents familiar with northern affairs to build intelligence channels. I wonder if the Shen family's maritime trade business has ever been to Shandong, Hebei, Liaodong, Goryeo, or Japan. If so, he can use the Shen family's channels to establish an intelligence network in the north.

Thinking of this, he nodded and agreed, "This man should still be of some use, so let's meet him and bring him in."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)