Taiping Dao at the end of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 26 Where did the Zhao State in Handan buy its iron armor?
"Let's go! Chengfu, Daonu, follow me south. First to Yecheng, then cross the river at Liyang Ferry."

"Yes, teacher!"

On this journey south, the Great Teacher Zhang Jiao kept a low profile, taking only two disciples, Zhang Chengfu and Gao Daonu, along with thirty or forty followers. They all traveled on foot, without riding horses, using only a few horses to carry their luggage.

There were two routes south to Yuzhou. One was to first go southwest along the Ming River and detour through Handan, and the other was to go southeast along the Zhang River and continue south along it. Both routes led to Yecheng in Weijun, and then to Liyangjin, the most important Yellow River crossing in Jizhou.

"Handan, the capital of Zhao, is an important center for iron smelting. The government is located north of the Yellow River, and the most important ironware and military equipment production is all in Handan... Master, why don't we pass through Handan? Your disciple would also like to see the iron smelting industry there."

"okay!"

Zhang Chengfu had long heard of Handan's iron smelting industry, so he asked his master to take the western route. The group, wearing yellow turbans, traveled south from Julu County, following the Ming River southwest for a hundred li, before entering the territory of the Zhao state. From then on, the scenery along the way gained a distinct sense of depth and variation.

The evening sky was long, the autumn waters were blue. The mountains stretched far and wide, the moon shone long. Entering the State of Zhao, the Taihang Mountains to the west were faintly visible. The terrain changed from boundless fertile fields to rolling hills. Standing on the banks of the Ming River, the group gazed at the upper reaches of the Taihang Mountains to the west, then turned due south. Traveling fifty li south, they arrived at the capital of Zhao, the ancient capital of Handan.

“Master! We heard that you have arrived. A local iron merchant came to greet you and invited us to his manor... His name is Zhao Ye.”

"Oh! I remember him... A few years ago, I was preaching in Zhao and healed him with talismans and medicine. He wasn't a disciple of the Way of Great Peace, he just believed in the Yellow Heaven. Hmm, the ring-pommel swords used by the Yuanyi Armed Forces disciples were also purchased from him. Let's take a break then!..."

The Way of Peace (Taiping Dao) indeed had deep roots and numerous followers throughout Ji Province. They offered medicine and healing, and also invoked supernatural powers. In this era, the Way of Peace was perhaps the "industry" with the most connections. Upon arriving in Handan, the group was immediately greeted by Zhao Ye, a wealthy local believer in the Yellow Heaven and a prominent iron merchant, who led them directly to the Zhao family's estate.

"Chengfu, I'll go and rest first. You can chat with me for a while."

"promise!"

The Great Teacher Zhang Jiao was old and tired from his journey, so he rested early. Zhang Chengfu, on the other hand, was in high spirits and chatted with the iron merchant Zhao Ye.

"...The mighty Han Dynasty had five capitals. When it comes to commercial prosperity and thriving iron smelting, none surpassed these five capitals! The five capitals are Luoyang, Handan, Linzi, Wan, and Chengdu. And my Handan is second only to Luoyang!"

Speaking of "the five capitals," Zhao Ye of the Shang Dynasty was quite proud. Zhang Cheng, dressed as a talisman master, smiled and nodded, asking for guidance.

"Lord Zhao, I have indeed heard of the name Wudu. But I have only heard that Wudu is different from other major cities, with extremely prosperous commerce and many wealthy merchants. Even having hundreds of thousands of coins does not make one a wealthy person... However, I am ignorant about the iron industry in Wudu, especially the iron industry in Handan. Could you tell me more about it?"

"Haha! Little Zhang, I'm just a merchant, how dare I call myself 'Grandpa'? We both believe in the Yellow Heaven and are close to each other, so just call me Grandpa Zhao!"

Zhao Ye, the Grand Shang general, stroked his long beard, a hint of pleasure on his face. He wore a scholar's robe and a hat, his demeanor and attire all conforming to the gentry. Even when he spoke, he quoted classical texts as if he were a scholar, striving to display his culture.

"Of the five capitals, Luoyang is undoubtedly the center of the world, dating back to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. My Handan iron smelting is known as 'Zhao Iron,' which flourished in the State of Zhao during the Warring States period. It has always been rich in minerals and has a large scale, supplying the entire area north of the Yellow River!"

"As for the iron smelting in Linzi, it was 'Qi iron,' which flourished in the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period. It has a longer history, but its iron ore is inferior. Moreover, Qi has been logging for too long, making charcoal scarce. As a result, its scale is no longer comparable to that of the Former Han Dynasty..."

"As for Wan iron, it was only during the Former Han Dynasty that the government began to vigorously manage it. Emperor Wu especially valued it and sent trusted and strict officials to oversee it. The same was true for our Central Han Dynasty, which also focused on Wan iron as a key government-managed project, making it the largest iron-producing area in the country."

"The last of the Chengdu Shu iron-making industries originated in the Former Qin Dynasty and has always been renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship. The workshops there could smelt both iron and copper... well, that is, mint coins. It's something to be truly envious of!"

Upon hearing the name "Five Capitals," Zhang Chengfu seemed to ponder. With chaos looming, resources and military strength were the most crucial foundations for establishing a regional power. In this light, Luoyang in Sili, Handan in Jizhou, Linzi in Qingzhou, Nanyang in Jingzhou, and Chengdu in Yizhou all possessed the advantages of ample resources and military strength, making them the most capable of supporting a large regional power. Therefore, these were strategically vital locations!
Zhao Ye, the great merchant, glanced at the "little Zhang Fushi" who was listening intently and deep in thought, smiled smugly, and continued.

"The Grand Historian Sima Qian of the Former Han Dynasty recorded in the 'Biographies of Merchants' in the Records of the Grand Historian that 'Guo Zong of Handan made his fortune in iron smelting and became as wealthy as a king.'... As early as the Warring States period before the Qin Dynasty, there was a wealthy iron merchant named Guo in Handan who was richer than a country! However, in the Former Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty took control of the mountains and seas and confiscated all the iron smelting, blacksmithing, and ironware trading businesses and made them all government property!"

"At that time, the government of the Former Han Dynasty not only strictly prohibited private mining but also banned the sale of ironware. The iron merchants of Handan were severely exploited by the government and almost went bankrupt..."

When the topic turned to "Emperor Wu's official position over mountains and seas," Zhao Ye, a prominent merchant from the Shang Dynasty, shook his head, his face showing clear disgust. As a major iron merchant, he naturally had a clear stance on the matter.

During Emperor Wu's reign, merchants were the very targets of the court's extortion. They had no political standing whatsoever, and cruel officials frequently visited them, often resulting in the destruction of their families. Although things were somewhat relaxed after Emperor Wu's death, the Western Han Dynasty continued the "state-run iron industry," suppressing private iron production.

It wasn't until Emperor Guangwu revived the Eastern Han Dynasty that the good days for merchants truly arrived! Not only were powerful families able to expand their businesses, but wealthy merchants also began to prosper again.

"The government of the Former Han Dynasty nationalized the iron industry and monopolized salt and iron. However, the ironware produced by the government was expensive and of poor quality, and could not compare with us private iron merchants. In the Middle Han Dynasty of our time, salt and iron were transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture of the court to the local prefectures and counties, and only then did the iron industry begin to revive!"

"Right now, the iron production in Handan alone is probably four times that of the former Han Dynasty! Whether it's recruiting miners to open mines, building smelting furnaces on-site, logging and burning charcoal to sell, building workshops to forge ironware, or transporting ironware to sell in all directions... all of these are profitable industries!"

"In Handan, the capital of Zhao, having several hundred thousand coins certainly doesn't qualify one as wealthy; one needs a million! As for me, though I'm not particularly talented, I own two mines, two forges, and three or four blacksmith workshops. In terms of wealth, I can barely be called 'wealthy.' This can be considered a reward for good deeds and a testament to the power of hard work..."

When talking about his own businesses, the wealthy merchant Zhao Ye was quite proud. Zhang Chengfu blinked, seemingly lost in thought. After a few moments of contemplation, he smiled and asked.

“Uncle Zhao, I have heard that during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Former Han Dynasty, there were 49 iron officials throughout the country, which was in accordance with the number of the Great Dao and were in charge of all iron smelting in the country. This important town of Handan must also have an iron official in charge of iron smelting in the prefectures and kingdoms?”

"Indeed! During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Former Han Dynasty, there were indeed numerous iron officials, and the government controlled iron mines throughout the land. In Ji Province at that time, there were five iron officials, with the iron mines west of Handan, in Wu'an and Shexian, being the most prosperous. Thousands of laborers and criminals worked there, and the iron produced amounted to hundreds of millions of catties, ranking among the top three in the entire country!" The wealthy merchant Zhao Ye knew a great deal about the history of the iron industry. After all, his Zhao family had been engaged in iron smelting for generations, barely surviving the harsh "government-controlled iron mines" of the Western Han Dynasty. This kind of genuine craftsmanship couldn't be built without inheritance and connections.

"When the Han Dynasty came to power, Emperor Guangwu ruled the country with 'benevolence and leniency,' and the private iron smelting was liberalized. The 49 iron bureaus in the country were reduced to 34. Only two iron bureaus remained in Ji Province, in charge of the area around Wu'an and Handan, and the ironware produced did not change much. This doubling of iron production was naturally made up by our private iron smelting."

"In reality, the cost of iron smelting for the government itself is too high. Both the State of Zhao and the southern Wei Commandery prefer the cheaper 'method.' The county and prefectural governments often collect ready-made iron from us iron merchants. Then they impose charcoal production quotas on the households. Finally, they conscript laborers from various regions to forge iron weapons and armor for the government. The people of Zhao suffer greatly!..."

At this point, the wealthy merchant Zhao Ye sighed. He wasn't lamenting the in-kind taxes and corvée labor borne by the common people in the countryside—those had little to do with him. He lamented the exploitation of his property by the government. Faced with the officials of the Han Dynasty, even a powerful merchant like himself was utterly powerless to resist!
"Heaven bears witness! If the government issues a single decree, we must provide the iron if they need it, and the craftsmen if they need them. Sometimes, when the government can't produce it in time, we have to finish it and send it to them..."

"In earlier years, the government would at least provide a token payment for the tasks. But under this emperor who sells official positions, the officials who take office are all obsessed with money. They collect iron from us, not only without paying but also extorting bribes, sometimes thousands or even tens of thousands of coins! If you don't pay, the taxes imposed will double, driving you to your death..."

"Under the exploitation of the imperial court, we common people truly suffer! Alas! The Great Teacher of Wisdom was right, Heaven is indeed dead!..."

As he spoke, Zhao Ye, the wealthy merchant, sighed, clearly revealing his true feelings. Zhang Chengfu looked around at the grand courtyard with its four courtyards, dozens of fine houses, and a group of clever servants, and was speechless for a moment.

Compared to the mansions of marquises, the only difference between this Zhao family's residence and those of a marquis was the lack of a "three-zhang-high marquis's gate tower" and a "five-bay-wide marquis's main hall." How could such a wealthy merchant family refer to themselves as "commoners"?
"This...Grandpa Zhao is too modest! You are a wealthy merchant from Handan, how can you call yourself a commoner?"

"Haha! Without being an official, one cannot become a prominent family... No matter how wealthy a merchant may be, he is no different from an ordinary citizen! For us commoners, the government is truly terrifying; only the Way of Peace is truly approachable!..."

Zhang Chengfu remained silent for a moment, observing Zhao Ye's expression and trying to discern the friendliness he was showing. After a few breaths, he finally understood the other man's thoughts.

Merchants like Zhao Ye were indeed very wealthy, able to maintain a standard of living comparable to that of aristocratic families even when exploited by the government. However, they had no political standing and no ability to protect their wealth. If the government decided to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, or if chaos ensued, these wealthy merchants would have no choice but to submit to their fate and disappear without a trace.

If they were to seek protection... then who else in this land of Jizhou would be willing and able to extend a helping hand to them, besides the Taiping Dao?

Having thought this through, Zhang Chengfu looked at Zhao Ye of the Great Shang Dynasty and suddenly felt much closer to him. Under the shared belief of the Yellow Heaven, the two sides had a clear relationship of mutual benefit. Even if the other party was not a disciple of the Way of Peace, he could still trust him to some extent. He pondered for a moment, then stopped beating around the bush and asked the question that concerned him most with a smile.

"Grandpa Zhao, you mentioned before that the iron smelting and forging in Handan were both government-run and privately-run. And sometimes the imperial court couldn't produce them in time, so you had to finish them and send them over... So what you needed to forge, besides everyday ironware... surely you weren't also making weapons and armor for the government troops?"

Upon hearing this lighthearted question, Zhao Ye of the Shang Dynasty froze, startled. He looked closely at the extremely young "Little Talisman Master Zhang," and forced a smile as he spoke.

"Haha, Master Zhang, you jest! The imperial court has explicit laws strictly prohibiting the private manufacture of weapons, let alone the forging of iron armor! My blacksmith workshop only forges commercially available ironware, especially various 'farm tools.' Hmm, the ring-pommel swords and iron staffs I sold to the Taiping Dao for self-defense are naturally not among the prohibited weapons..."

"As for other types of weapons, bows and crossbows are naturally not available! Spear blades, halberd heads, arrowheads, and iron armor are even more absurd... um..."

Just as Zhao Ye, the Grand Master of the Shang Dynasty, was about to speak, he paused, carefully observed Zhang Chengfu's expression, and then looked towards the room where the Great Teacher of Virtue was resting. He seemed to have thought of something, pondered for a moment, and paced back and forth. After a while, he took two steps forward and whispered.

"Young Master Zhang, the Great Master saved my life... If the Master needs a small number of swords and spears, I do have some means! In recent years, the world has been in turmoil, and the powerful families in various counties of Ji Province have been constantly purchasing weapons, and even armor, from Handan..."

"However, the government is too strict in its inspection of iron armor. I am just a merchant, I don't have the ability to do so, and I dare not take such a risky business... Only the powerful families in those places can get iron armor from the government army through two channels!"

"Oh? Where did they get their armor?"

Zhang Chengfu's expression turned serious as he stared intently into the eyes of Zhao Ye of the Great Shang Dynasty. Zhao Ye tilted his head slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable under the young man's gaze. He hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice.

"Heaven bears witness! The iron armor forged in Handan is all stored in the imperial armory, and it will only ever leave the armory. The armory in Ye City is under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Ji Province. Without connections from powerful families and close acquaintances among the military officials, it's impossible to get through..."

"As for the State of Zhao... King Liu Yu of Zhao is old and neglects his duties. The position of Chancellor of Zhao is vacant, and the court in Luoyang is asking for too high a price, so they haven't been able to sell the position... As long as we can get through to the armory clerk in charge, we can definitely report the loss of the armory in the State of Zhao as damage and buy it!"

"?! The armory clerk of Zhao dares to sell iron armor?"

Zhang Chengfu was greatly surprised and suspicious. Seeing his ignorant appearance, Zhao Ye of the Great Shang Dynasty smiled and shook his head.

"Of course we dare to sell! If the emperor can sell official positions in the Western Garden, and the governor dares to openly sell the positions of his subordinates, why can't the warehouse clerks sell the armor in the warehouse?"

“Every year, the Zhao state's treasury receives leather and iron armor, and every year it also reports losses. When the imperial court campaigns against the Qiang people and requisitions military equipment, it requisitions are usually from the Ye city's treasury, rarely from the Zhao state. Others may not know, but we iron merchants know it very well!”

“Normally, where would so much armor be lost? It’s just that the armory clerks who guard the armory over-collect and under-report losses, thus concealing a portion of the armor every year… Since this armor isn’t on the books, even if we sell it, there won’t be much risk!”

"However, if we want to buy the armor, we'll have to pay enough money!"

In the manor, Zhang Chengfu stood silently before the hall. The government at the end of the Han Dynasty was utterly corrupt, leaking information from top to bottom. And what about the Zhao Kingdom's armory deal? Should they proceed or not? Would his master be able to provide the funds?

(End of this chapter)