Qing Yao

Chapter 357 Lord Zhao, the Soldier

Anqing was bustling in October, not because a group of wealthy merchants had suddenly arrived, nor because the industrial park in the east of Anqing had been officially opened, but because the city's officials and gentry had been invited by the acting governor, Lord Zhao, to "observe the ceremony" at the governor's vanguard camp.

Zhao An was qualified to inspect the Green Standard Army garrison within his jurisdiction. The full title of the governor was "Governor of Anhui and other places, in charge of military affairs and concurrently in charge of provisions and pay." He was usually given the additional title of "Concurrently Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate." This title granted the governor the power to be in overall charge of military affairs within his jurisdiction.

Thus, as the acting governor, Zhao An naturally had the right to inspect the Green Standard Army garrison in Anhui, which was also a way for him to be responsible to the imperial court.

When the decision was made to inspect the Anhui Provincial Governor's Battalion, Zhao An's "political" partner, Provincial Judge Zhang Chengji, offered some advice. He meant that although two-thirds of the officers in the Provincial Governor's Battalion had been arrested and these people had completely lost control of the battalion, or rather, the influence of the former Governor Zhu Gui in the battalion had been basically eliminated, no one could guarantee that there wouldn't be soldiers loyal to these officers who would take the risk of assassinating the Provincial Governor during the inspection.

If such a thing were to actually happen, it would be a huge loss not only for the people of Anhui, but also for the officialdom of Anhui, and even more so for the Qing Dynasty.

"Assassinating Ma is acceptable, but assassinating Zhao is not."

Zhao An insisted on inspecting the troops; he couldn't let the fear of assassination prevent him from going to the governor's guard. After all, the governor's guard was the most elite armed force of the Green Standard Army in the province, and he had to keep this force firmly under his control.

At the same time, we also want to further understand the combat effectiveness of the Fubiao unit, and address the problems found during the inspection in a targeted manner to ensure that this unit can be deployed to the battlefield at any time.

The inspection notice was sent to Fu Biao by Zheng Fuyang, an official in the governor's office. This person had previously served as a grain management assistant in the Jiang'an grain garrison. The assistant was a second-ranking official, and his prospects for promotion and opportunities were not as good as those of a senior official.

The clerk was actually a junior official, but the clerks in the governor's office and the provincial administration office were all trusted confidants of the governor, and their promotion opportunities were much higher than those of junior officials in other "department" level units.

A posting to a remote area starts as a fifth-rank prefectural assistant prefect, and with strong enough connections, it's not uncommon to rise to the fourth-rank prefect.

Therefore, Zheng Fuyang's transfer from the Grain Transport Commissioner to the Governor's Office was definitely a promotion!

This person's experience also fully demonstrates that Zhao An spared no effort in promoting his trusted subordinates.

Due to the large-scale arrests of the Fu Biao generals by the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office in the early stages, the highest-ranking general in the Fu Biao is now Du Man, a fourth-rank military officer. His performance at the scene of the arrest by the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office can be described with an idiom.

That means they are utterly vulnerable.

Or, to put it another way, they are as timid as mice and as fearful of the enemy as tigers.

The other officers who weren't arrested were basically the same as Du Man; they were practically scared to death.

As for whether Du Man and others killed innocent people to claim credit, or whether they oppressed the people, these things are not important anymore. Even if they did, Zhao An would suppress them.

The reason was that he planned to recommend Du Man to serve as the deputy general of the Anhui Provincial Governor's Model Army, which was the highest commander of the most elite troops of the Anhui Green Standard Army.

The more Du Man feared death, the more it suited Zhao An's interests. To put it bluntly, what he needed was a transitional puppet.

Unfortunately, Xu Lin, Ye Zhigui, and others from the Cao Gang had too low a starting point. Even if they were rewarded for their great victory in Suzhou, they would at most be granted the rank of sixth-grade captain, and it would be impossible for them to become high-ranking generals of the third or fourth grade.

Thus, Zhao An could only win over a group of generals within the "system" in the army, and Du Man, this coward, was undoubtedly a good choice.

As long as Du Man cooperates obediently, Zhao An can achieve the "complete Zhao-ization" of Fubiao by arranging middle and lower-level officers in Fubiao.

Three years later, we can use a recommendation system to transfer Du Man and his bunch of good-for-nothings out of Anhui under the pretext of promotion.

Upon receiving the notification, Du Dusi, who had narrowly escaped being imprisoned by the Provincial Surveillance Commission, dared not delay. He quickly summoned the remaining officers of the Fu Biao Army, and after a long discussion, they reached two conclusions.

The first conclusion is that we must fully cooperate with Lord Zhao!
The second conclusion is that we must fully support Lord Zhao!
Being timid doesn't mean being stupid. These "survivors" are all very shrewd and know exactly which side to choose. Otherwise, they would be the next ones invited to the provincial judicial office for a chat.

Mutiny, rebellion?
Who dares?

Is it necessary?

The fact that they weren't arrested and taken to the provincial judicial office already speaks volumes, so if they don't cooperate, they'll truly be in deep trouble.

Lord Zhao is no pushover!
As the acting governor, he held a money bag in his hand and a sword, and even the most clueless person would know what to do.

Otherwise, their colleagues imprisoned in the provincial judicial office would suffer the same fate.

Aren't the lessons of Ding Yousan, the garrison commander of Huaibei, and Li Zhong, the deputy commander of Fubiao, bloody enough?

Therefore, under the organization of Du Man and several "survivors", all officers and soldiers of the Fubiao Army made preparations to welcome the inspection of the Provincial Governor.

All the prominent figures in Anqing, including government officials, gentry, and wealthy merchants, received invitations from the provincial governor's office. In addition to them, more than a thousand ordinary people were invited to attend the ceremony, making it a grand and sensational event.

As the time for the review approached, the gate of the Fubiao (prefectural governor's) compound was filled with sedan chairs and vehicles of all kinds. Officials, gentry, and wealthy merchants who had received invitations entered the field one after another, while the common people were arranged in the southeast corner of the parade ground under the guidance of the staff of the Anqing Prefectural Government.

The last time the governor's banner was inspected was in the thirty-fifth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, a full twenty-one years ago. Therefore, to ensure that no mistakes were made, not only did the governor's office send people to coordinate, but the provincial governor's office and the provincial judicial commissioner's office also sent relevant working groups to liaise with the governor's banner.

During the waiting period, Du Man, as the chief inspector, led his men to check the soldiers' equipment more than once. As instructed, the officers lined up their strong and well-equipped soldiers at the front of the formation, giving the impression of an extremely elite force at first glance.

Du Man then instructed Qian Qianzong, one of the "survivors": "If Lord Zhao wants to demonstrate martial arts when he arrives, have your men practice the Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Spear technique. The movements don't have to be perfectly synchronized, but the shouts must be loud!"

He then turned to another officer and ordered, "Your battalion's firearms are just for show, absolutely no loading or testing! Damn it, some of those things are older than ours, if they explode, it'll be incredibly embarrassing!"

The two captains nodded repeatedly. Captain Qian glanced at the group of civil officials who were already seated and chuckled, "Don't worry, sir. I think Lord Zhao is just going through the motions and watching the show. If we put on a good show, there won't be any problems."

"Let's hope so." Du Man didn't think that Lord Zhao was serious. His main purpose in coming to inspect the area was simply to establish his absolute authority as the acting governor, Yu Fubiao, and to demonstrate his "power" to the Anhui officialdom, thus deterring potential opposition forces within the province.

Therefore, as long as he represents all the officers and soldiers of the Fubiao Army in giving absolute support to Lord Zhao, Lord Zhao will certainly not make things difficult for them.

As they spoke, officials from various government offices in Anqing arrived one after another. Song Jiawen, the prefect of Anqing, who arrived first, came over to greet Du Dusi, saying that this was the first time the newly appointed provincial governor had inspected the military corps, and he hoped that all officers and soldiers of the corps would take it seriously and show their best side.

Du Man accompanied Song Jiawen intermittently. Song Jiawen was the prefect of the provincial capital and had influence over the garrison. The generals of the garrison needed Anqing Prefecture to take care of their private matters, such as some business transactions. Therefore, although Du Man was also a fourth-rank military officer, he was very self-conscious in front of Anqing Prefecture, which was also a fourth-rank official.

Moreover, just like the late Ming dynasty, the Qing dynasty at this time valued civil officials and despised military officials.

As the two were chatting, a large procession approached from afar, with a large sedan chair carried by one or eight bearers prominently displayed in the center.

"Lord Zhao has arrived!"

As the personal guards sang in response, the eight-bearer sedan chair slowly descended. Zhao An, dressed in the official robes of a second-rank official, stepped out of the sedan chair, a smile on his face, and nodded to the group of officials and gentry who were either waiting at the door or running quickly from not far away.

Upon spotting the elderly Mr. Chen, Anqing's largest cloth merchant with his white braid, in the crowd, Zhao An couldn't help but step forward, taking his hand without any airs, his smile becoming even more amiable: "Grandpa, you're in good health! A few days ago, I heard from Prefect Song that you invested 30,000 taels in the industrial park in the east of the city, rented several acres of land, and are even planning to introduce looms from Suzhou to expand your business? Excellent, excellent! You've set a great example for all the gentry and merchants in the city! The revitalization of industry and commerce in Anhui needs the strong support of experienced elders like you!"

Old Master Chen was taken aback by the way Zhao An, the acting governor, treated him with such courtesy in front of so many people. His beard trembled with excitement as he repeatedly said, "I dare not accept such praise! I am but a humble merchant, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity bestowed upon me by Your Excellency. How could I not do my utmost? Besides, Your Excellency's establishment of this industrial park is a benevolent policy that benefits the country and its people. I am merely doing my small part to benefit from Your Excellency's success and seek some wealth and status."

"Oh, you're too modest, sir,"

Zhao An gripped Old Master Chen's hand tightly, raising his voice so that everyone around could hear, "Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—all are the foundation of the nation. Without industry, there is no wealth; without commerce, there is no life! If you all could support the development of industry and commerce in our province as Old Master Chen does, how could Anhui not be prosperous? How could our people not have a livelihood? Today, I would like to make it clear to you all again: for anyone who invests and starts a business in the industrial park, the Governor's Office, the Provincial Governor's Office, and the Provincial Judicial Commissioner's Office will provide full support and will never allow law-abiding businesses to suffer losses!"

These words were not only addressed to Old Master Chen, but also to all the officials, gentry, and wealthy merchants present. They not only praised Old Master Chen for his exemplary conduct, but also reiterated the province's policy of encouraging industry and commerce.

Everyone readily agreed and praised it, creating a lively scene.

Zhao An maintained an approachable demeanor throughout, even picking up and playing with a merchant's young son, which made the officials and gentry exclaim that Anhui had truly received a rare and excellent official!
After exchanging brief pleasantries with several important officials and local gentry, Zhao An, surrounded by officials from the governor's office and the provincial governor's office, as well as military officers such as Du Man, walked toward the reviewing platform that had been erected.

"Du Man, the Left Battalion Commander of the Anhui Provincial Governor's Army, and his troops respectfully welcome Your Excellency for inspection. Please give your instructions!"

Dudusi's voice sounded very loud and full of energy.

"Alright, let the proofreading begin!"

Zhao An smiled and nodded, then raised his right hand. The officers and soldiers of the Fu Biao, who had been prepared in advance, immediately demonstrated their skills in battalions. The officials, gentry, and common people watching the ceremony cheered and praised the Fu Biao as the elite Green Standard Army of the entire province.

What are Zhao An's impressions?

It's a mess.

He admitted that the overall appearance of the provincial governor's model soldiers was better than that of the local garrison Green Standard Army, but only by a tiny margin, and they were no different from the security forces.

The main reasons, besides the corruption within the pro-independence camp itself, lie in the military uniforms and equipment.

The Green Standard Army's uniforms were just like the Qing army uniforms in the TV dramas Zhao An had watched in his previous life—rustic and ugly. Objectively speaking, the Eight Banners' armor was much more pleasing to the eye and much more imposing.

The Green Standard Army actually had quite a few firearms, with more muskets than the Eight Banners. They mainly had single-person matchlock muskets and two-person muskets, but in Zhao An's eyes, these old-fashioned items were also considered junk.

In terms of artillery, the Green Standard Army was far inferior to the Eight Banners. Not to mention the elite troops of the Governor's Standard Army, the entire Anhui Green Standard Army could not even muster twenty cannons, and they were all outdated light iron cannons.

Simply put, the fundamental reason why the Green Standard Army was so inferior was the Qing government's anti-Han policy, which resulted in a very low rate of armor-wearing and extremely poor equipment, making it incomparable to the Eight Banners.

The layman looks at the excitement and the insider looks at the doorway.

The officials, gentry, and common people had no idea what combat effectiveness meant. They just thought the officers and soldiers of the governor's garrison were putting on a good show and cheered them on. Little did they know that the governor was secretly full of complaints.

The only thing Zhao An thought was decent was the cavalry force of less than two hundred men under Fu Biao. Perhaps he thought the warhorses were good, rather than the soldiers on horseback.

However, Zhao An clearly wouldn't lash out on the spot or show his dissatisfaction on his face, because he invited so many officials, gentry, wealthy merchants, and ordinary people to witness the ceremony in order to create a harmonious atmosphere in Anhui's officialdom, demonstrate unity among officials and gentry, and at the same time, serve as a warning to the "opposition" in the province.

If this objective is achieved, then half the significance of this review will have been accomplished.

As the officers and soldiers of the governor's garrison walked past the high platform, the hundreds of personal guards led by Ye Zhigui, who were from the canal gang, were very nervous, fearing that someone from the governor's garrison might suddenly appear with audacity.

Zhao An's bodyguards kept their hands firmly on the swords at their waists, not missing any blind spots.

Fortunately, the proofreading was completed smoothly without any unexpected incidents.

The officials, gentry, and civilians who had come to observe the ceremony left in an orderly manner under the organization of the staff. However, Zhao An did not leave. Only after there were no outsiders left did he walk down from the high platform and walk in front of a group of standard soldiers holding firearms. After looking at the tall and strong soldiers in the first few rows, he clearly showed a very satisfied expression. This made the officers, including Du Dusi, very happy. However, what happened next was unexpected!

The dignified provincial governor walked straight through the crowd without saying hello and stopped in front of a young soldier with a sallow complexion and slightly purple lips.

"Little Tong, young man, what's your name? Where are you from?"

The governor's tone was extremely gentle, and his young face, which was not much more mature than the soldier's, seemed to be filled with the words "Working Committee for the Care of the Next Generation".

(End of this chapter)