Dugong

Chapter 84 Distributing Pay at the Training Ground
While Li Mancang was still on his way to the capital, Hengchang Trading Company had already begun operations.

The shop assistant bought hay from merchants in the East Market, and without even needing to rent a warehouse, sold it directly to the Imperial Stables, easily earning 50% of the silver.

This was at Li Ping'an's suggestion: "The nation is currently facing difficulties, and Your Majesty practices frugality. As servants, we must set an example!"

Otherwise, even if the price of fodder doubles, it will still be cheaper than Qing Si Trading Company.

noon.

As Li Ping'an helped Empress Dowager Zhou comb her hair, his true energy condensed into a needle-like tip, which slowly rotated and nourished itself through several acupoints on the top of her head.

"Your Highness, are you feeling better?"

Last night, after finishing my shift late at night, I learned that the Empress Dowager was experiencing anxiety and insomnia, and the medicine prescribed by the imperial physicians had not been very effective.

Li Ping'an stayed by her bedside all night, chatting and talking to ease her mind. He used his internal energy acupuncture to relieve her headache, and Empress Dowager Zhou was finally able to fall asleep just before dawn.

The former is something any eunuch could do, but the latter was Li Ping'an's unique way of gaining favor.

Rong Gonggong possessed exceptional martial arts talent and might be able to condense true qi into form, but he never demonstrated it. In the eyes of the other eunuchs, he was merely a "lackey."

Empress Dowager Zhou closed her eyes to enjoy the warmth flowing through her meridians and acupoints, infusing vitality into her aged and weakened muscles and bones. She murmured as if half asleep and half awake.

"I dreamt of my son yesterday."

Li Ping'an immediately gave a wink, and Eunuch Rong nodded in understanding. He led the eunuchs inside the room out of the palace and stood guard behind the door.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I have already sent people to set up a business dealing in cattle and horses. Yao-ge'er is the owner without a name, and the money earned will guarantee wealth."

"I trust Xiao Anzi to handle things properly!"

Empress Dowager Zhou sighed, "Thinking back carefully these past few days, I realize that I spoiled my son too much back then, raising him into a good-for-nothing who couldn't meet the late Emperor's expectations..."

Li Ping'an remained silent. Even though he had become the Empress Dowager's trusted confidant, he still had to know the rules and there were some things that should never be discussed lightly.

They are mother and son, so a few words are enough. How dare a lowly servant comment on such a noble person!

Empress Dowager Zhou sighed. After the new emperor ascended the throne, he was praised by the court and the country. His throne became more and more stable, and some of his ambitions had already faded away.

"Xiao Anzi, have you encountered any difficulties in carrying out your duties these days?"

Li Ping'an, his hands still busy serving, frowned and said, "After I was promoted to deputy commander, the Ministry of War repeatedly urged me to send the military pay to the capital garrison as soon as possible."

Empress Dowager Zhou said coldly, "It must have been that vile woman from Cining Palace who instigated this. The silver was sent to the Beijing Garrison, and who knows how much it will be distributed."

"This servant shares the same concern, but I can't figure out how to resolve it."

Li Ping'an learned from the roster sent by Prince Cheng that generals and captains with the surname "Zhang" were spread throughout the upper, middle and lower ranks, making it easy for them to embezzle military pay.

Empress Dowager Zhou said softly, "I still remember when the late emperor first ascended the throne, there were many arrogant and unruly soldiers in the army who were always clamoring for pay..."

Li Ping'an listened intently, and the more he read, the more he realized how powerful the late emperor was. The Martial Emperor, who swept across the eight wastelands and six directions, ascended the throne at a young age, yet he didn't know how to subdue his soldiers.

"The late emperor personally carried the silver to the drill ground to distribute pay."

Empress Dowager Zhou reminisced, "After the military pay was distributed, all the soldiers of the Twelve Guards of the Capital Garrison knelt down and shouted 'Long live the Emperor!' The sound of their cheers could be heard even in the inner palace!"

Li Ping'an's eyes lit up: "This servant thanks Your Highness for your guidance."

Personally distributing wages to the soldiers of the Beijing Garrison is a task that only His Majesty can do, or that can be done by the eunuchs who are extensions of His Majesty's power and will. Anyone else would be courting death.

Empress Dowager Zhou instructed, "Xiao Anzi, go and attend to your duties. State affairs are of utmost importance."

Li Ping'an bowed and took his leave. Before leaving, he whispered, "Your Majesty, the Empress's brother is in charge of the grain supply in the capital garrison. I'll take this opportunity to teach him a lesson and vent your anger."

"You're so petty!"

Empress Dowager Zhou smiled and joked, then instructed, "After all, she is the current Empress. A slight reprimand is enough; do not be too harsh."

"This servant understands." Li Ping'an would kill a few captains who embezzled grain and salary to establish his authority, then hold He Liangtai accountable, and then let him redeem himself by calculating and distributing grain and salary.

If Empress He had followed the proper etiquette and come to Cining Palace to pay her respects afterward, then He Liangtai's merits would have outweighed his faults.

Conversely, there are still ways to cause trouble in the future.

Li Ping'an bowed and left the room, instructing, "Eunuch Rong, Her Majesty is getting old. She has ordered the imperial physicians to stay at Cining Palace. We must ensure nothing goes wrong."

Rong Gonggong said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, An Gonggong, we will definitely take good care of the house."

Empress Dowager Zhou's "reputation" was the foundation of power for all the eunuchs and palace maids in Cining Palace. Once something went wrong, even the most advanced martial arts skills would become rootless and adrift.

Leaving Cining Palace.

Behind Li Ping'an were twelve eunuchs of varying ages, the older ones being former subordinates of Eunuch Chu, and the younger ones being newly recruited followers.

Keep him around for a while to observe him, assign him some miscellaneous tasks, and select the loyal and capable ones to take as adopted sons.

Only after collecting eighteen thousand coins can one gain the authority of a governor.

When young eunuchs encountered Li Ping'an and his entourage on the road, they would kowtow and kneel in worship from afar, and shout "Admiral!" as they got closer. Some ambitious ones would even kowtow repeatedly.

"Jie Jie Jie..."

Li Ping'an thoroughly enjoyed having others kowtow to him, looking down at him with an air of superiority, as if to compensate for the humility he felt when kowtowing to His Majesty, Empress Dowager, and other nobles.

They stormed into the Imperial Stables, where Eunuch Xia, Xiao Yuzi, and others had been waiting for a long time.

After Eunuch Ji was dismissed, Eunuch Qu temporarily took charge of the supervisory office, through Eunuch Xu's connections, and Li Ping'an gave him a lot of face.

The eunuchs under his command cannot be from one faction, nor can they be from two clearly defined factions. They must be from various large and small factions in order for the position of governor to be secure.

Li Ping'an took his seat, and everyone greeted him.

Eunuch Xia reported, "My lord, the required amount of provisions and pay has been collected."

Li Ping'an asked in surprise, "How could it be so fast?"

The Beijing garrison's pay consisted of two parts: a monthly salary of 500 cash (equivalent to 5 qian of silver) and a monthly grain allowance of one shi (a unit of dry measure) of coarse rice (equivalent to 6 to 8 qian of silver at market price).

The twelve guards had 120,000 registered soldiers, but the actual number was around 100,000.

Li Ping'an did not intend to expose the shortage of soldiers. Based on the calculation of half a year's military pay for 120,000 soldiers, a total of 360,000 taels of silver and 720,000 shi of coarse rice would be needed.

Five hundred thousand taels of silver was far from enough to cover the military pay of the Beijing garrison, and there was not enough unpolished rice to buy in the capital.

After consulting with His Majesty, Li Ping'an planned to make up the shortfall in six months, that is, to pay two months' worth of military pay each month, so that the full amount could be paid out after six months.

This will help avoid a surge in brown rice prices and alleviate financial pressure.

In six months, by investigating a few wealthy businessmen or corrupt officials, one can always manage to get the job done by piecing together various resources.

Eunuch Xia replied, "When Prefect Qian heard that Your Excellency was buying up coarse rice for military rations, he personally led the eunuchs to meet with several grain merchants. After friendly negotiations, they agreed to sell at a 30% discount."

Li Ping'an narrowed his eyes slightly: "Any requests?"

Eunuch Xia replied, "First, the evidence of murder and arson has been destroyed, and Prefect Qian has agreed not to pursue the matter further. Second, the provisions and pay for the Beijing Garrison will be supplied by these companies in the future."

"A mere lowly merchant dares to negotiate with this admiral..."

A ruthless glint flashed in Li Ping'an's eyes as he secretly memorized the names of several grain merchants. They must have powerful backers to be able to do grain business in the capital, so it was not appropriate to directly confiscate their property and exterminate their families.

The previous raid on Qing Si Trading Company was not because He Yong was embezzling, but because his powerful backer had disappeared.

"Send word to the Beijing garrison: collect your pay at the drill ground in three days, but do not wear armor!"

(End of this chapter)