Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 675 Information Exchange
With the assistance of Zhang Wan and others, Yuan Jin's fleet successfully docked.

However, the ferry crossing was far too small. Although the Korean side only kept one pier to continue loading and unloading the gifts and silver that the Crown Prince had given to Shim Yoo-yong's tribe, two 200-ton warships still floated quietly on the river.

"It wasn't convenient to bow on the boat earlier, so I'll give you a proper bow now." Yuan Jin leaped and landed steadily on the shore. Zhang Wan and the others were nearby, so he readily gave them a proper bow.

"General Yuan, you're too kind," Zhang Wan quickly returned the greeting.

"May I ask, Zhang?" Yuan Jin paused for a moment. "...Counselor, what rank do you hold, and what are your responsibilities within the Military Affairs Department?"

When Zhang Wan was young, he had accompanied a delegation to the capital and had carefully studied the official system of the Ming Dynasty. He could guess the rank and status of an official with a high degree of accuracy simply by hearing their name. However, Yuan Jin, a former pirate, knew very little about this. His only understanding of Korean official positions was that the Six Ministries corresponded to the Six Offices.

Zhang Wan smiled and said, "In our country, a judge is a third-rank official, and every department has one. In terms of duties, it is almost the same as a vice minister in the Celestial Empire. But a minor official from a vassal state dares not compare himself to a minister in the Celestial Empire. General Yuan, just treat him as such."

"So you are an official of the court." Yuan Jin bowed again. "I apologize for my rudeness."

"No, no, not at all," Zhang Wan returned the greeting.

As they were talking, Cai Sance, the deputy commander of the left flank of the central navy, who had been recruited by Shen Yourong, also disembarked and came over.

Shen Yourong did not separate the two, but instead put them in the same unit and appointed them together, to demonstrate his attitude of "trusting people without reservation". However, Shen Yourong was not worried that Yuan Jin and Cai Sance would rebel again after surrendering, because the army they commanded was not the old pirates who had been recruited with them, but a real Shandong coastal defense battalion.

This coastal defense battalion, from officers to soldiers, consisted of respectable men from Shandong with families, jobs, and land. Even if Yuan Jin and Cai Sance had other wicked intentions, it was impossible for them to command these men to turn their guns against the imperial court.

"Commander Yuan, who are these gentlemen?" After Yuan Jin corrected him several times, Cai Sance had gotten used to calling Yuan Jin by his official title rather than the slang used in the underworld.

"This is Zhang, the military advisor. You can think of him as the vice minister of the Ministry of War." Yuan Jin himself was also disciplined by the system. Even though a minor official from a vassal state was naturally inferior to the officials of the Ming Dynasty, and Zhang Wan himself said so, he still dared not speak arrogantly to this high-ranking official who was comparable to the "vice minister of the Ministry of War".

"Greetings, Judge Zhang." Cai Sance observed Yuan Jin's expression and finally chose to bow respectfully.

"I wouldn't dare. I'm just a minor official from a vassal state," Zhang Wan quickly declined. "May I ask your honorable name and current position?"

"I am Cai Sance, the deputy captain of the left detachment of the central navy under Admiral Shen Yourong," Cai Sance said, puffing out his chest.

"So it's Deputy Commander Cai. My apologies for not recognizing you." Zhang Wan bowed.

"You're too kind, Judge Zhang," Cai Sance returned the greeting.

"Who are these two?" Yuan Jin then turned his gaze to the two people behind Zhang Wan.

Although Zhang Wan was very dissatisfied with Zheng Douyuan's previous arrogant and domineering behavior, as the saying goes, "family scandals should not be aired in public." To avoid making a fool of himself in front of outsiders, he still put on a smile and introduced him politely: "This is Zheng Douyuan, the Deputy Envoy of the Imperial Army and the Inspector General of the Uijeongbu."

"I am Zheng Douyuan, and I greet General Yuan and General Cai." Facing these Ming military officers who looked imposing and valiant at first glance, Zheng Douyuan had a completely different demeanor. He tried his best to smile, his face practically beaming.

"So it's Zheng." Yuan Jin didn't know what the State Council was, nor did he know what an inspector was. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to address Zheng Douyuan as Vice Envoy. "Vice Envoy. My apologies for the rudeness."

"I wouldn't dare," Zheng Douyuan quickly returned the greeting, his posture extremely obsequious.

"This is the scribe of the mission, Gao Yonghou, Assistant Director of the Court of Rites." Turning around, Zhang Wan introduced the scribe Gao Yonghou.

"I am Gao Yonghou, and I greet General Yuan and General Cai." Gao Yonghou was neither humble nor arrogant, and he simply bowed twice politely before straightening up.

“So it’s Takasaro. My apologies.” Yuan bowed, and Cai Sance immediately followed suit.

"I wouldn't dare," Gao Yonghou replied with a smile.

After the necessary pleasantries and small talk from "Counselor Zhang," Yuan Jin immediately wanted to get to the point. However, Zhang Wan interrupted him with a smile, saying, "General Yuan, General Cai, it's so hot under the sun, let's go sit over there and talk."

Following the directions, Yuan Jin saw the very pavilion that Zhang Wan had used to tease Zheng Douyuan.

“Alright.” Yuan Jin nodded and gestured for him to proceed.

Upon arriving at the pavilion, Zhang Wan first took out a handful of loose change and handed it to the squad leader in charge of the troops. Then, he pointed to a tea shop by the ferry that catered to laborers and said, "There's a tea shop over there. Go and get a few pots of cold tea and some snacks. Go and come back quickly."

After taking the money, the sergeant said, "Sir, those teahouses probably don't sell snacks, do they?"

"Buy whatever you can get, and if you don't have enough money, you can pay for it first," Zhang Wan said.

"Yes. I'll go right away." The sergeant weighed the money in his hand, not at all worried that he wouldn't have enough.

Zhang Wan sat down, and Yuan Jin immediately asked, "Judge Zhang, I would like to ask, when did you receive the news from our army?"

“Around... the day before yesterday?” Zhang Wan thought for a moment. “That’s right, it was the day before yesterday, the morning before yesterday.”

Compared to ordinary days when nothing happens, these past two days have been far more unpleasant than ever before, making Zhang Wan feel as if each day is an eternity. If the sun hadn't continued to rise regardless of human affairs, he wouldn't have been able to pinpoint exactly when all this trouble started.

"The morning before yesterday?" Yuan Jin looked puzzled.

"Is something wrong?" Zhang Wan asked.

Yuan Jin was silent for a moment, then asked in return, "The information you received shouldn't be the same as the information we received along the way, right?"

Zhang Wan's eyebrows twitched, and after a moment's thought, he said, "May I ask General Yuan, which general is flying the 'Yang' flag?"

“A flag with the character ‘Yang’ on it?” Yuan Jin turned to the side, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Could it be Deputy General Yang’s men?”

"May I ask which Deputy General Yang you are?" A dim light flashed in Zhang Wan's eyes.

He keenly realized that the Ming army might be advancing on three fronts, not two. The Ming army that had cut off communication between Ping'an Road and Huanghai Road might very well be under the command of this "Deputy General Yang." And the fleet led by the commander Yuan Jin before him was the naval detachment he had previously guessed had been sent by Admiral Shen Yourong to cut off the waterway and control Hanyang to the south. "Right Deputy General of Shenshu Camp, Yang Gongyingchun," Yuan Jin said.

Zhang Wan pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered a gazette she had read last year. "Isn't that the one who once served as the deputy commander of Langshan? The one who was transferred last year?"

"Probably, yes." Although Yuan Jin had been recruited by Shen Yourong as early as two years ago, in the 47th year of the Wanli reign, his enthusiasm for the official gazette was far less than that of high-ranking Korean officials, and his understanding of Yang Yingchun was limited to the latter's current position.

Zhang Wan didn't think too much about it, nodded slightly, and then asked, "This Vice General Yang isn't traveling with Admiral Shen?"

Yuan Jin thought for a moment and decided that since the Koreans had shown such a submissive attitude, there was no need to be too wary: "Deputy General Yang is not with us; he is with General Li."

"And who is this General Li?"

“It’s Li Gongrubai,” Yuan Jin said. “You Koreans should be very familiar with him.”

"Is he the younger brother of Admiral Li?" Zhang Wan leaned forward slightly.

"If the Li you are referring to is the late Earl of Ningyuan, Li Rusong, then that is it."

"Wasn't General Li dismissed from his post because of the failed raid on the enemy's stronghold? Has the Emperor reinstated him?" Zhang Wan pressed.

Yuan Jin nodded in affirmation. "You have a relationship with him?"

“I wouldn’t presume to have any connection with General Li. I met him a few times during the Imjin War. I still remember his imposing and proud figure.” Memories surfaced, and a knowing smile quickly crossed Zhang Wan’s face. However, this smile was soon replaced by worry. “And what about Minister Yang? Did the Emperor pardon him as well?”

"Which Master Yang?" Yuan Jin asked, puzzled.

"It's Yang Hao, the Grand Marshal who was replaced by General Xiong," Zhang Wan said eagerly. "Since General Li was able to be reinstated by the Emperor, then Grand Marshal Yang should also be able to receive the Emperor's forgiveness, right?"

The Korean monarch and his officials held Yang Hao, who had served as the Korean governor, in extremely high regard, regarding him as a benefactor who saved the nation. In the autumn of the 25th year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, the Japanese army captured Jeolla Province and then advanced northwards, their forces pointing directly at Hanyang. At that time, the atmosphere in the capital was tense, with both officials and commoners harboring thoughts of fleeing north. To stabilize public sentiment, Governor Yang Hao and General Ma Gui organized a grand joint military parade between China and Korea on both banks of the Han River.

According to Korean historical records, Yang Hao "rode alone at breakneck speed into the besieged city. He comforted the remaining people and reprimanded the soldiers. He instilled trust in the people and demoralized the enemy, thus repelling them with ease and command."

Later, after the defeat at Ulsan, Yang Hao was impeached by Ding Yingtai and resigned. The Koreans even submitted a memorial to defend Yang Hao, saying: "The capital has been saved to this day, all thanks to his efforts. In the Battle of Dosan, Hao, as a high-ranking civil official, went into battle in full armor, exposed himself to the enemy's lair, and together with the admiral and other generals, encouraged and supervised the battle. This was the situation from beginning to end. As for the actual achievements in the campaign, the officials and generals all saw it with their own eyes. The merits and demerits will be investigated and judged by the public. Heaven and earth are above, how can we allow falsehoods?"

Even though Yang Hao suffered a crushing defeat at Sarhu two years ago, which "buried" 10,000 elite troops of Joseon, Joseon officials, especially the ministers in charge of military affairs, generally believed that the Ming army's defeat should be attributed to other reasons, rather than the fault of the commander-in-chief.

"This..." Yuan Jin chuckled and scratched his head. "I don't know. You should ask General Li and Admiral Shen."

"Thank you for informing me." Zhang Wan's eyes dimmed. He knew very well that for an official of Yang Hao's rank, the so-called "not knowing" was almost equivalent to "not being exempt from punishment."

"You're too kind, Judge Zhang." Yuan Jin waved his hand, then asked, "I'd like to ask Judge Zhang, where are Vice General Yang and the others now?"

Zhang Wan was taken aback. "Didn't General Yuan encounter Deputy General Yang's men?"

"No." Yuan Jin was also taken aback. "Why does Judge Zhang ask such a question?"

“General Yuan and General Cai traveled westward up the Han River, they must have passed through Jianghua, right?” Zhang Wan said.

"They passed by, but didn't stop." Yuan Jin asked, "From what you're saying, Vice General Yang's troops have already reached Jianghua?"

"They should have arrived. The day before yesterday morning, it was the Jianghua Defense Commissioner who came to Hanyang with the imperial edict from Yuan Qinchai. He said he saw heavenly soldiers carrying flags with the character 'Yang' spreading the edict near Jianghua Prefecture." At this point, Zhang Wan inexplicably recalled the pillow that had hit her. She sighed again.

"So, you haven't had any contact with Deputy General Yang yet?" Yuan Jin asked.

Zhang Wan did not answer directly, but said, "His Highness the Crown Prince has already sent a delegation to welcome Imperial Envoy Yuan. The Muhua Pavilion is also ready to welcome the Imperial Envoy and listen to His Majesty's instructions."

Although Yuan Jin was not stupid, he did not understand this kind of convoluted political rhetoric.

He nodded blankly, about to press the matter further. The sergeant, however, led his soldiers, along with the tea shop owner and his two children who were helping out, trembling as they arrived at the pavilion.

“My lord, this fellow is quite sensible. He said he would treat us to tea. Here is your money.” The sergeant presented the loose change to Zhang Wan, while his soldiers filed into the pavilion to set up the tables and teaware brought from the teahouse.

Zhang Wan ignored the sergeant and stood up. Under the watchful eyes of Yuan Jin and Cai Sance, she walked up to the shopkeeper and said in Chinese, "What are you asking for? Just pay the price. I won't take advantage of you."

"Huh?" The shopkeeper shrank back, completely unaware of what Zhang Wan was saying.

Zhang Wan was clearly taken aback for a moment before switching to Korean as if she had suddenly realized something, and asked, "How much do these things cost?"

"Sir, it's just some herbal tea and salt-roasted beans, nothing much." The shopkeeper shook his head repeatedly, a fearful yet restrained smile on his face. "It's a great honor for me to be able to serve you gentlemen tea today."

“What good fortune?” Zhang Wan said sternly, pointing at the corporal, “Did he threaten you?”

"Where would I find that!" Upon hearing this, the sergeant's smile immediately froze. "He said he wanted to buy tea himself. Didn't he?!" The sergeant glared at the shopkeeper.

"Yes, yes, yes!" The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly, almost paralyzed with fear. "It was I who wanted to invite you gentlemen for this tea!"

Zhang Wan snatched the money from the sergeant's hands and handed it to the shopkeeper. "Hurry up, what's the price? I'm busy with other customers, I don't have time to waste with you."

“Then,” the shopkeeper said, hunching over and looking up to observe Zhang Wan’s expression. Seeing the seriousness on his face, he timidly counted out a dozen or so coins for the tea from Zhang Wan’s hand. “Thank you, sir!”

Zhang Wan didn't pretend to be generous by stuffing the remaining money into the shopkeeper's hand. She didn't take all the money.

He carefully collected the remaining money, even putting away the copper coins left in the corporal's hand, before sitting back down in his original seat.

(End of this chapter)