Late Han Zhao Tang

Chapter 105: Opening the Salt Pond to Recruit Soldiers

AD 187, the fourth year of Zhongping.

In February, the snow on Chanhe Pond gradually withered, the grass and trees turned greener, and on the shore of the lake, Zhang Yu led the cavalry on horseback riding across the wilderness.

Looking at the vast lake, Zhang Yu stopped his horse and said with a smile: "The lake is vast. We can make salt here and sell it to Yandai and the desert. We will have endless money and food!"

In order to develop the benefits of the salt lake as quickly as possible, Zhang Yu led 500 cavalrymen when his troops were reorganized, and joined forces with 500 cavalrymen from Zuo Nanbu. The two cavalrymen, with more than a thousand cavalrymen, swept through the Hu tribe near Chanhebi. The tribes either surrendered or fled, and Chanhebi was soon controlled by Zhang Yu.

The southern part of the left, led by their leader Hu Yanhe, migrated northward to Chanhebi to live as a nomad, and was responsible for protecting the border and participating in salt production.

"Bosong, when can salt be produced from Chanhebi?" Zhang Yu asked.

Li Song pondered for a moment and said, "The beach salt needs to be dried when the weather is hot. Although the sun is rising in February, it will take until March to dry the lake salt. However, if we dry the salt, we can get salt this month."

"How many stones of salt can be produced each year?" Zhang Yu asked.

"Based on human efforts, if we take the peak production of this dynasty as an example, we can produce more than 500 stones a year. Now the price of salt is between 800 and 1,000 coins per stone. If we calculate it at 900 coins per stone, we can earn about 450,000 coins a year." Li Song said.

The price of salt varied in different regions during different periods of the Han Dynasty. Before the state-run salt and iron industries were implemented in the Western Han Dynasty, the price of salt was less than three hundred coins. After the state-run salt and iron industries were implemented, the price of salt rose to nearly four hundred coins. During turbulent periods, the price of salt could reach a thousand coins.

The overall price of salt in the Eastern Han Dynasty was higher than that in the Western Han Dynasty. When the price was low, it was about 300 to 400 coins. Now the price of salt in the Eastern Han Dynasty is 800 coins per stone. The price of salt in mountainous areas on the border will be even higher.

The lake salt produced by Chanhebi can actually be exchanged for furs, cattle, sheep and horses through trade with the grassland. These commodities can be transported to the inner counties and sold, which can also make a profit.

Therefore, Yanmen County attached great importance to the Canhebi Salt Pond, but because it was close to the border, it was easily plundered by the Hu people, so it had to be abandoned. Now the salt pond is in the hands of Zhang Yu, who uses the troops at hand to temporarily preserve the salt pond. If the salt pond is to be stably produced in the long term, other means are still needed.

"More than 400,000 yuan!"

Zhang Yu muttered to himself, and said, "Excluding consumption and cost, the salt output is still too little!"

Zhang Yu pointed to the vast tidal flats and asked, "The tidal flats are so vast, is the annual output of more than 500 shi too little? Can we open more salt fields?"

Li Song hesitated for a moment and said, "In theory, it should be feasible. It's just that our dynasty is unable to invest in large-scale steaming and drying of lake salt due to border troubles. If the border troubles are eliminated and there is sufficient manpower, the lake salt produced by the ponds and swamps should be far more than 500 stones."

The history of salt production in Chanhebi is very long. After the Qing Dynasty took control of Chanhebi, its annual output of lake salt was more than 50,000 kilograms, which is equivalent to about 835 stones in the Eastern Han Dynasty. This was using the ancient salt-drying technology from thousands of years ago.

"If we are short of manpower, we can recruit from the Zuonan region and Pingcheng." Zhang Yu said, "As for the troubles caused by the Hu people on the border, Budugen will soon send troops to attack Qianman. I will lead my troops to sweep the border and intimidate the Hu people near the border."

"Bosong, Hedong has been producing salt for hundreds of years. I guess there are many people with advanced salt-making skills. Do you think you can send people to Hedong to hire salt craftsmen and try your best to increase the output of lake salt!" Zhang Yu said.

"Yes!" Li Song replied.

After discussing the salt field planning, Zhang Yu looked at Hu Yanhe and said with a smile: "The Chanhebei Salt Field needs your attention!"

"It's natural!"

Hu Yanhe smiled and said, "I, Zuo Nanbu, am here, please rest assured, son-in-law."

According to the agreement between Zhang Yu and Hu Yanhe, in addition to the cost of salt production, Zhang Yu would give one-fifth of the income from lake salt to Zuo Nanbu every year. Therefore, if the production plan was based on 500 dan, Zhang Yu could only get more than 300,000 coins every year, which was really too little.

Soon after inspecting Chanhebi, Zhang Yu learned that envoys sent by the imperial court had come to confer official titles, and he happily led his entourage south.

Because it was an official title, the envoy sent by the court was only responsible for conferring awards, and his position was not high. However, to show respect, Zhang Yu secretly sent some money, which made the envoy very happy. In the subsequent enthronement ceremony, the envoy was particularly kind and addressed Zhang Yu as a lord.

According to Liu Hong's reply, Zhang Yu's position remained unchanged except for his official title and rank. He was appointed as the Cavalry Commander, granted the title of Marquis of Zhishuiting, and granted a fief of 300 households, and resumed his old position.

Although the salary of the Cavalry Commander was equivalent to that of a 2,000-stone official and he had the power to lead troops to war, he had no specific duties, but was instead assigned to the needs of the emperor. Therefore, the Cavalry Commander could be responsible for suppressing bandits, as well as for the affairs of the Western Regions, and for repairing riverbanks on behalf of the emperor.

Therefore, Liu Hong gave Zhang Yu his old post concurrently, still serving as the Protector General of Dingxiang and Yan counties. However, despite this, the number of troops under Zhang Yu's command increased from 700 cavalry to 1,000 cavalry, greatly expanding Zhang Yu's military power.

The messenger handed the seal of marquis to Zhang Yu and said, "Sir, Yuan Henan sent me to tell you that it was not that he was unwilling to ask for the title of Marquis of Duting for you, but that Zhang Rang was interfering and refused to grant you the title of marquis on the grounds that too many soldiers and horses under your command were killed. Fortunately, Lord Yuan and other gentlemen submitted a petition, and Your Majesty conferred the titles of Marquis of Zhishuiting and you."

Hearing that Zhang Rang was making trouble, Zhang Yu sneered in his heart. If his memory served him correctly, Zhang Rang was like a grasshopper in autumn who could not jump for a few days.

"Thank you, Lord Yuan, for your help. I will remember it in my heart!" Although he has been conferred the title of a noble, Zhang Yu remains humble, without any arrogance on his face.

The messenger smiled and said, "Mrs. Cheng has entrusted me with a trust to you, Your Excellency."

After delivering the letter, the envoy felt that it was unnecessary for him to stay in the house, so he took the initiative to say goodbye and leave. Zhang Yu pretended to keep him and asked someone to entertain the envoy well.

After the messenger left, Zhang Liao, Hao Zhao and Zhang Feng rushed forward and peeked at the glittering golden seal of marquis.

"Is this the Tinghou Seal?" Zhang Liao asked curiously.

Seeing everyone's eyes full of desire for the Marquis' Seal, Zhang Yu handed it to Zhang Liao and said with a smile: "This Marquis' Seal is a credit to you all. Let me show you, brothers!"

Zhang Liao held the marquis seal carefully, fearing that it might be damaged!
"Is the marquis' seal made of gold?" asked Hao Zhao.

"It shouldn't be, maybe it's copper!" Zhang Liao said, touching the turtle button.

While everyone was carefully playing with the marquis seal, Zhang Yu opened Madam Cheng's letter. In the letter, Madam Cheng first congratulated Zhang Yu on being made a marquis, and then proudly stated that with her help in lobbying and Emperor Ling of Han being satisfied with Zhang Yu's military achievements, Zhang Yu did not need to pay any money for the title.

Upon seeing the letter, Zhang Yu smiled helplessly. Emperor Ling of Han did not accept money for the promotion of frontier generals, but accepted money for titles, prefects of inner counties, and ministers in the court.

According to the rules set by Emperor Ling of Han, Zhang Yu needs to pay three million coins. Fortunately, Mrs. Cheng lobbied, otherwise Zhang Yu's salt pond would have to pay nearly ten years of lake salt profits before it started to produce, which is too frustrating!

Perhaps this was a disguised way for Emperor Ling of Han to curb warlords like him, Zhang Yu speculated maliciously.

After everyone satisfied their curiosity, Zhang Liao handed over the seal of marquis and asked, "Your Majesty has approved your command of a thousand cavalrymen, but now there are only more than 600 cavalrymen in the camp, which is less than the number approved by Your Majesty. So should each general recruit brave warriors to join the army?"

Zhang Yu nodded and said, "The cavalry in the camp is insufficient. We need to recruit brave warriors to fill the thousand cavalry!"

As he spoke, Zhang Yu stood up and paced, thinking, "Pingcheng is close to Dai and Zhongshan counties. The two counties have a rich population and are brave and valiant. So we can go to Yinguan, Mayi, Daixian, Guangchang and other counties to recruit 500 warriors!"

Zhang Yu looked at everyone in the hall and said, "Wenyuan can go to Yinguan and Mayi counties to recruit soldiers, and Bodao can go to the junction of Zhongshan and Dai County to recruit soldiers, each recruiting 200 warriors. In addition, I will recruit Wuhuan cavalry in Yandai to serve as cavalry!"

"No!" Everyone responded with their hands raised.

After everyone dispersed, Zhang Yu wrote letters to Yuan Shu and Mrs. Cheng respectively, and sent furs and money to express his gratitude.

At the same time, Zhang Yu did not forget the promise he had made to Yuan Shu, and asked someone to select a good horse and send it to Luoyang along with letters and money.

After the messenger was sent away the next day, the news of Zhang Yu's title of marquis spread. Yang Zan was the first to come and congratulate him, and then the brothers Wang Rou and Wang Ze wrote letters to celebrate.

After that, Wang Hong and Wang Yun, who lived even further away, wrote letters praising Zhang Yu's heroic feat of going out to the border. In addition to praising him, they also expressed their concerns and asked Zhang Yu to be more careful when fighting outside the border.

After receiving the letters from the two, Zhang Yu not only expressed his gratitude in his reply, but also expressed his situation in Wang Yun's letter that he had no one available, and hoped that Wang Yun could recommend a literati official for him.

The Yanbei area has more warriors than scholars. Since Zhang Yu handed over Chanhebi to Li Song, he has been responsible for all military affairs. Thinking that the number of soldiers under his command will be doubled, Zhang Yu can't help feeling overwhelmed.

In order to recruit subordinates, Zhang Yu had to turn to Wang Yun, hoping that Wang Yun could recommend some clerks to help him take charge of military affairs.

As for Zhong Yao and Guo Tu, Zhang Yu had no such idea at all. Although the two were good friends of Zhang Yu, given their current circumstances, it was highly likely that they would not be recruited by Zhang Yu.

Unless there is a chaotic era and Zhang Yu has established a foundation, the two will only join him when they see that Zhang Yu has great potential. But now, being a clerk with a salary of several hundred shi is obviously not attractive to them.

After a few days, when the news of being conferred the title of marquis reached Chanhewu, the whole village was jubilant. Zhang Ji called it a manifestation of his ancestors. He told the news to other nobles on the border and held a two-day banquet.

When the frontier heroes such as Lu Bu, Geng Kuan, and Wei Xu heard that Zhang Yu was made a marquis, they all sent people to congratulate him. Some of his good friends even came to his house in person to express their congratulations, which made Zhang Ji gain a lot of face!

Knowing that Pingcheng was peaceful, Wang Ji and Li Suyi, who had been missing their husbands for a long time, wanted to visit Zhang Yu. Upon receiving the news that the two women were coming to visit, Zhang Yu sent Shi Yi to lead a hundred cavalry to Chanhewu to escort the two to Pingcheng.

At the same time, Hao Zhao, who went to Dai County to recruit soldiers, sent back a message that Yan Rou, a native of Youzhou, hoped to be responsible for the sale of lake salt in Youzhou.

"Book of Tang: Chronicle of Taizu" records: "Within ten years, the three generals Xia Yu, Tian Yan and Zang Min were defeated in the desert, and the Xianbei plundered the nine borders. Taizu appointed him as the deputy commander of the Xiongnu, made great efforts to improve military preparations, selected officers and recruited brave men from all over the country, calling himself 'Yunzhong Yicong', and the military reputation began to rise."

(End of this chapter)