Volume Two: With a Single Move, I Shake Heaven and Earth Chapter 29: Military and Political Affairs II

Page 1/3

Though everyone was invited to speak freely, Wen Huaguo had little to add, and Wu Henian wanted to speak but Hong Jixun did not give him the chance.

As usual, the council meeting became a one-man show led by Hong Jixun. He spoke and handled affairs with great order, always outlining the main points first. He began with a general overview to grasp the essentials, then analyzed each item in detail, presenting well-founded and eloquent arguments.

His proposals roughly divided into two categories: public security and economy. There was little about administrative construction. He explained this by saying that since the wars had not yet ceased, and it was a crucial time for expansion and progress, the priority lay in strict laws and conciliatory policies to pacify the regions, followed by encouraging farming and sericulture to fill the granaries. Other matters were minor and not worth considering.

Deng She agreed.

“Except for Shuangcheng, in all other cities, military commanders govern both military and civil affairs; there is no distinction between army and local administration. Given our current shortage of talents and the wartime situation, this arrangement is acceptable for now. However, while civil affairs can be managed by commanders, local law enforcement against thieves must not.”

The army exists to fight enemies on the battlefield, not to catch thieves. Why use a sledgehammer to kill a chicken? Overuse would blunt the edge and cause loss of effectiveness. Therefore, the first major task is to establish dedicated local police stations in each city.

Because Wen Huaguo was present, Hong Jixun did not mention another reason for establishing police stations: the troops’ harshness in law enforcement. The soldiers, often brutal, treated killing as routine and sometimes used anti-theft operations as a pretext to harass civilians.

Take Dingzhou under Chen Hu’s jurisdiction as an example. Four days ago, a beggar, driven by hunger and misfortune, mistakenly entered the home of a household of a hundred families when trying to steal from a shop next door. That household happened to be on rest duty, and the head was caught off guard late at night, allowing the beggar to escape. Chen Hu was furious, blaming the household for shamefulness and beating them severely. The next morning, he deployed two hundred soldiers to search the city all day, capturing every one of over four hundred beggars.

They asked the household to identify the culprit, but since it was late at night and a fleeting glance was all they had, the identification was impossible. Recalling the beggar was about fifty years old, over two hundred fit the description. Chen Hu’s nickname was “The Butcher” for good reason—he ordered all those caught executed, killing over two hundred people for the sake of one.

At that time, Deng She had not yet returned to Shuangcheng; Hong Jixun was the first to hear the news. He was unable to control Chen Hu, and by then it was too late. The matter ended without resolution. When Deng She returned and heard of it, what could he do? Fortunately, it only involved beggars this time—but what if next time it were something else?

“The number of police officers should vary according to city size. One officer per three hundred residents is sufficient. Besides policing, they can assist in local defense and intelligence gathering. The police stations can be directly under the Shuangcheng Governor's Office, which will set up a Police Department to dispatch officials to each city. This will also ease the burden on local commanders, allowing them to focus more on defense and military matters,” Hong Jixun explained.

Deng She nodded in agreement. One per three hundred residents might be a high ratio, but given the foreign territory and newly acquired lands, caution was wise. “Mr. Hong’s proposal is excellent. Wu Tongzhi, I will select qualified personnel from my personal guard to staff the Police Department and its stations. You will handle the official seals and paperwork promptly.”

Wu Henian took the order and carefully recorded this in his notes. He understood that though the Police Department was nominally under the Governor’s Office, Deng She intended to supervise it directly.

Deng She had no choice but to govern directly; local commanders, whether old retainers or new nobles, would not respect the Shuangcheng Governor’s Office, Yao Haogu, or Wu Henian. Only Deng She’s personal guards could somewhat restrain them.

From Chen Hu’s slaughter of over two hundred people, it was clear these commanders had already become lawless in their own cities. This momentum had to be suppressed immediately, or it might provoke rebellion.

Another reason Deng She favored the police was their intelligence-gathering capacity. As the leader of an army, he needed reliable sources of local firsthand information.

“The personnel will be assigned as Hong suggested: two-thirds from the army, one-third local Koreans. A prominent indigenous family head will serve as deputy. Salaries will come from the Shuangcheng Governor’s Office,” Deng She asked Wen Huaguo, “Uncle Wen, any objections?”

Though uninvolved in local affairs, Wen Huaguo empathized and deemed it necessary. “These petty local thieves, flea-like creatures, should not soil our hands. Having specialists handle them is best.”

Thus, the matter was settled.

Regarding public security, Hong divided it into three parts. The first was the police stations; the second was confiscation of iron rulers, slingshots, and other harmful civilian weapons. Indigenous Koreans naturally lacked military arms like swords or bows, but many nobles and ruffians had iron rulers and slingshots, which, if not confiscated, could cause trouble.

The third part had two subpoints: strict prohibition of assemblies and implementation of a curfew.

Assemblies not only meant conspiratorial gatherings; Koreans, like the Central Plains, revered Buddhism. Influenced by the Yuan practice of having lamas as imperial teachers, Korean kings also had royal priests. Almost every city under Shuangcheng had temples, with even more in nearby mountains.

The ban on assemblies included monks and nuns; gatherings of believers were limited to no more than ten people. Market fairs in villages and cities, as well as theater performances in entertainment quarters, were also banned.

The curfew forbade lighting fires or candles at night. “At the first watch, three bell strikes signal silence and no movement allowed. At the fifth watch, three drum beats signal permission to move. Exceptions included urgent official business and emergencies such as illness or childbirth. Violators faced thirty lashes; officials one lash. Those on official business carried government-issued passes.”

Hong Jixun copied these rules from Yuan precedents, which Deng She knew well. Although there were pros and cons, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks in the short term. All agreed, but Deng She suggested a slight modification: “Strict bans and curfews are necessary, but people’s lives must include some joy. Performances in entertainment quarters should be allowed with content approved by the government.”

Everyone present, except Wen Huaguo, was meticulous. Upon Deng She’s suggestion, all praised it. Wu Henian slapped his thigh and exclaimed in admiration, “My lord’s wisdom is profound; ordinary people could never think of this.” He supported Deng She while subtly disparaging Hong Jixun—killing two birds with one stone.

He volunteered, “I dare not boast, but I am somewhat familiar with scripts and folk songs. If you entrust this to me, I will carefully select appropriate works to satisfy you.”

Deng She nodded. Besides Wu Henian, he could find no better candidate. He instructed, “Remember two principles: first, highlight our Central Plains and Koreans as brothers, one family; second, include dramas like ‘The Injustice to Dou E.’”

‘The Injustice to Dou E’ was widely known throughout the Central Plains, its emotional power able to subtly guide public sentiment towards class contradictions.

Deng She added that things should not be too rigid, lest local Koreans develop resentment. “Besides these two types, occasionally include some light-hearted entertainment.”

Considering most natives did not speak Chinese, he told Luo Lilang, “Wu Tongzhi’s Korean is poor. Luo Zhizhong must exert more effort in translating Chinese scripts into Korean and teaching local storytellers and performers.”

Luo Lilang repeatedly assured him, “General, rest assured, rest assured.” Compared to Deng She’s daughter Luo Guannu, who dared to talk back, Luo Lilang was little more than a yes-man.

Deng She reminded Wu Henian, “Take this as a great matter. Within ten days, organize the scripts and songbooks and present them to me.” Wu Henian raised a concern: given wartime chaos, there were few scholars and performers in the cities. Deng She considered and said, “Among He Jiangsheng’s troops, many were low-born Koreans, including storytellers and performers. I will order him to select them and deliver them to the Governor’s Office.”

At this point, he had a sudden inspiration. Not only was local entertainment lacking, but soldiers’ leisure was even scarcer. Besides wrestling and archery, more recreational activities could be added.

After contemplation, he changed his mind: “Select these Korean soldiers to form a special regiment, the Entertainment Battalion. They will remain military personnel but can be temporarily assigned to you. You should also cultivate and supplement local artists promptly.”

Wu Henian agreed, promising, “Within a month, my lord will see the first performance.”

While they discussed, Hong Jixun sat nearby, legs crossed, sipping tea. He favored only Xiangyang Longzhong tea, which Deng She lacked, so he brought his own. When the discussion ended, he finally spoke: “If these three public security measures are firmly implemented, local peace can be maintained for now.

“Once peace is ensured, agriculture must be intensified. In Ningyuan’s cities, seven to eight tenths of fields lie fallow, and even Shuangcheng is far from fully cultivated. I propose establishing an Agricultural Promotion Office under the Shuangcheng Governor’s Office, with a dedicated Agricultural Commissioner responsible for land reclamation and sericulture in each city. Candidates for Agricultural Commissioner should be soldiers with farming backgrounds, transferred from military to civil status.”

Uncultivated land had several causes: war causing landlords to flee or die, tenants fleeing or dying leaving land unused, lack of draft animals and seeds, and most importantly, ongoing warfare and heavy taxes making people unable to focus on farming.

Even if land was planted, surviving to the harvest was uncertain; even if harvested, after paying rents to landlords and the state, how much remained for subsistence was questionable.

Thus, promoting farming and sericulture was no simple matter, nor could it be solved by appointing a single official. Hong Jixun listed detailed countermeasures for various foreseeable problems.

Page 2/3

Wu Henian and Luo Lilang also had much to say on this. One was a longtime official, the other a local native, both aware of the realities. Combining Hong’s proposals, they exchanged views.

Land abandoned for over a year, including official and school fields, would be confiscated as public property. Tenants currently farming ownerless land would be recognized as owners with Song dynasty land deeds. Lands of surrendered officials and nobles remained untouched. This policy had already been implemented shortly after the cities fell.

Public land was divided into five parts: 50% to the poor, 20% to meritorious soldiers, and 30% reserved as military farmland. Some cities lacked able-bodied men, so leftover land was given to attract refugees, who were exempt from rent for their first year. Landlords who fled but returned within a year had to resume farming promptly.

Unequal rents, sometimes up to 70-80%, left tenants with no surplus after payment, driving many to flee—better not to farm than to starve after farming.

Addressing this, Deng She ordered rents lowered to a third. Most local nobles had been killed, and the remainder were too weak to resist, allowing smooth implementation.

Seed shortages were tolerable; after the autumn harvest, officials could distribute seeds to the cities. Draft animals and tools were harder to solve. Plowing oxen were scarce, and after Hong’s previous plan, most were taken back to Shuangcheng from conquered areas, worsening conditions in places like Dechuan.

What to do?

“Returning them is impossible. This is a settled strategy,” Hong admitted, hesitant—no cook can make a meal without rice.

Luo Lilang volunteered, “I have some oxen at home willing to donate for use by those without. Many noble families in the city also have idle oxen. If my lord agrees, I can persuade them to hand over their animals for official distribution.”

Deng She praised Luo’s selflessness. Luo, humbled but pleased, stammered, “It is my duty to share the burden.”

Wu Henian said, “Even with noble oxen, I estimate there will still be more land than oxen in the cities, insufficient for use.” Experienced in local administration, he suddenly thought of an idea: “My lord, why not pool all oxen and farming tools together and distribute them by village or community units? This might ease the urgent shortage.”

Deng She’s eyes brightened. Korea’s original household head system had been roughly adapted into the Baojia system and village-community system. He agreed with Wu’s proposal: “Two communities per large community, each with fifty households, forming a cooperative under the Agricultural Commissioner’s control. Concentrate oxen, tools, and seeds for planned distribution. If insufficient, apply to Shuangcheng as needed.”

He further considered trade difficulties due to war and few merchants. Cities were better off than villages, but goods circulation was hard. “Besides oxen, officials can supply each large community with daily necessities—grain, oil, cloth, salt—to sell to villagers. Prices set uniformly by the Shuangcheng Governor’s Office, not too high.”

Most soldiers were recruited from cities and villages. Though they had land allotments, gaining their absolute loyalty was difficult. To ease this, Deng She proposed policies favoring military households: “Priority use of oxen to military families; if insufficient able-bodied men, cooperatives provide labor to assist farming. Military households receive grain, oil, cloth, and salt at half price.

“On festivals, Agricultural Commissioners must personally visit villages to present modest gifts to military households—two pounds of salt, three pounds of fruit suffice. Neighborhood leaders in cities must do likewise. Each city will establish cooperative-style shops under the Baojia system, named...” He paused, unable to decide on a name.

Wu Henian smiled, “My lord’s meaning is clear: cooperatives are government tools to stabilize prices and facilitate trade. Why not call them ‘government stores’?”

Deng She smiled and agreed. Wu Henian frowned, “Your intention is good, and such government stores are indeed needed now. But what if military households buy goods and resell them? The government would lose out.”

Deng She was caught off guard. Wu quickly added, “Even the wise err sometimes; the foolish succeed sometimes. I have an idea to plug this loophole.”

He was skilled with words. Deng She smiled and said, “Please share.”

“Set quotas. Each military household gets a fixed monthly allotment of grain, oil, cloth, and salt. Anything beyond that must be purchased at market price. That way, your goodwill is shown, and troublemakers are prevented.”

“Excellent.” Since discussing military households, Deng She returned to land distribution: “From now on, in conquered cities, those wishing to serve in the army may receive good farmland first. Military households have priority to reclaim ownerless land.”

Wen Huaguo, knowledgeable in military affairs, praised this: “General, this is an excellent method! Take good care of their families, and those bastards on the battlefield will fight for us!”

Land cultivation in localities followed this roughly. Soldiers granted land could sell it to the government or army if unwanted, or hire local poor tenants to farm it under unified management.

Military farmland was already being cultivated in Shuangcheng, but other cities lacked manpower, leaving fields idle. Although not farming season, preparation was essential.

Hong Jixun proposed: “Over six thousand able-bodied men taken from Dechuan and nearby, plus over three thousand captured Koreans, total about ten thousand. Our army’s great victories brought much grain and weapons. I suggest selecting the strongest for military service, while the rest form military farming units stationed in various cities. They farm and drill during peacetime and defend cities in wartime. One rule: soldiers cannot farm their hometown fields; cross-deployment applies, e.g., troops from Dingzhou stationed at Jiangjie, and vice versa.”

Previously recruiting seven thousand soldiers had issues due to rapid expansion, but it was necessary. With Guo Duo moving south and Koreans moving north, pressure was great; more soldiers were better than fewer.

Deng She calculated that one thousand new recruits required at least twenty-two officers above captain level and one hundred sergeants.

For the existing seven thousand recruits, officers came from veteran elites plus personal guards of captains and colonels, totaling about one thousand officers. Without proper officers, the troops would be disorganized and ineffective.

The veteran force numbered only about twelve thousand. Such large-scale movements strained them. Maintaining veteran combat power was paramount. Deng She decided to recruit only five thousand more soldiers this time, with about four to five hundred veterans moving around, acceptable.

The ratio was two thousand Han and three thousand Koreans. Due to repeated expansion and equipment shortages, priority was given to equipping Han soldiers, then Koreans. Lu Qianshi was tasked with overseeing firearms and arrows production, and establishing an Arms Production Office, which he temporarily headed.

Northern Korea’s mountains held ample copper and iron, with sufficient raw materials and craftsmen—about four to five hundred smiths among them.

The five thousand new recruits were mostly not conscripted from surrendered soldiers, who were mainly southern Koreans. Deng She trusted northern natives, who received preferential policies, more.

After recruitment, about four to five thousand remained to formally establish the military farming units. Previously, He Guangxiu and Wu Henian supervised Shuangcheng’s military farming. Responsibility transferred to He Guangxiu, freeing Wu Henian to focus on agricultural promotion and cooperatives. Former low-class Korean laborers assigned to military farming were dismissed or reassigned to these new units.

Deputy Wanhu He Guangxiu gained a new title: Supervisor of Military Farming. Besides commanding a thousand Korean soldiers, he oversaw five military farming units. Each unit’s commander and captain were veterans with farming backgrounds, like Agricultural Commissioners. Each unit had a hundred soldiers for guard and drills, selected from He Guangxiu’s main force.

He Guangxiu was loyal and had performed well in military farming. Since this was a critical matter, Deng She appointed a deputy supervisor from local commanders in each city to oversee and inspect, though they were not involved in daily details.

He Guangxiu was absent; this appointment would be addressed later.

With these actions, land cultivation policies were largely set. Deng She sighed in relief: stable land meant stable farming, which meant stable rents, stable grain supplies, and stable armies.

There is a saying: soldiers, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Once farming is stable, industry and commerce follow.

Most city craftsmen were in the craftsmen’s barracks. Those remaining in cities were few but sufficient to meet residents’ needs. No immediate action was needed.

Commerce was another key area. Hong Jixun’s proposals ranked commerce second only to agriculture. Since arriving in Shuangcheng, Deng She had occasionally managed small local projects involving politics and farming, but commerce had been neglected.

Many city shops had been destroyed during the war. Without shops, goods could not circulate; without circulation, local stability was impossible. The cooperatives and government stores were designed to address this.

Page 3/3

However, official shops were not omnipotent. After city destruction, most goods were controlled by looting soldiers and the army. Army goods could be released, and soldiers’ holdings bought at fair prices for cooperatives and government stores to sell.

This might work temporarily, but over time, if inflows ceased and outflows continued, serious problems would arise.

Hong Jixun said, “Our army is bounded to the north by the Yalu River and to the south by the Ni River. Pyongyang blocks western traffic. Shuangcheng is effectively cut off. We have salt fields by the sea, so salt is sufficient, but what about other things?

“Take cloth alone: to outfit the entire army with single-layer garments, all city stocks are exhausted and still insufficient. Seven thousand new recruits mostly wear their own clothes. Entering the barracks is like a market, lacking uniformity and discipline. Another five thousand recruits will join. Weapons manufacturing for five thousand soldiers takes time; buying weapons also takes time.

“Thus, commerce hinges on attracting foreign merchants to supply what we lack.”

“How to attract them?”

“Merchants pursue profit. If we promise high returns, they will flock here. For civilian necessities, exempt them from taxes and reward them. For military necessities, pay premium prices. Merchants are coming, but local officials must treat them as honored guests, showing respect and refraining from harassment or detention, except for undercover agents.

“However, wealth is finite. Shuangcheng and surroundings are poor. Thus, we must screen merchants carefully. Encourage necessary imports while strictly prohibiting luxury goods, non-essential items, and exports of our military and civilian necessities.”

Deng She pondered, then nodded: “We cannot wait passively. We must go out actively. Finding a reliable trade route and fixed supply channels would be ideal.”

Hong Jixun agreed: “There are two main routes: one to Liaodong, one into Korea. Korea’s wealth lies in the south. Selecting reliable Korean soldiers to disguise themselves and travel south might work. Or go down the Datong River to the sea, where merchants from Zhejiang and Shandong dock—contact and purchase there. The only problem is transporting goods back.

“Liaodong is farther but safer. Jiangjie, newly acquired, is about a hundred miles from the Yalu River, with good roads. Westward leads to Liaoyang; southward to Jin’s territories. We could even sail from southern Liaodong to Shandong to buy supplies.”

“Returning from southern Liaodong is a long and risky journey, isn’t it?” Wu Henian objected.

Hong Jixun said, “Previously, the general sent soldiers to southern Liaodong who returned with significant goods. Success there proves the route feasible.” He had reported this to Deng She. The soldiers brought back hundreds of pounds of gunpowder and more goods.

Deng She nodded, and Wu Henian ceased objections, complimenting Hong’s foresight and proposing a solution to another problem: “Money. Shuangcheng produces only a few gold ingots yearly. Looted city treasuries look plentiful but disappear quickly.

“I think opening trade routes requires both buying and selling. The region has salt, ginseng, and wild animals like sable with valuable pelts. These can be sold.” Around Shuangcheng was poor; Wu Henian racked his brain for profitable items.

Hong Jixun scoffed, “Ginseng and sable pelts are precious, but who can afford them in this chaotic time? Even if sold, proceeds would be meager. Salt is good but Liaoxi and Liannan also have salt fields; profits are less than inland.”

Wu Henian smiled and nodded, admitting his oversight. “What is your opinion, Mr. Hong?”

Hong Jixun said, “Copper, iron, coal, and timber. We must expand the Arms Production Office and accelerate mining and logging. Everyone needs these. Besides, I have another good idea—though I wonder if the general will approve.”

Having known Hong Jixun for some time, Deng She understood his straightforward nature and occasional strategic withholding. Smiling, he said, “Speak freely. If feasible, I will follow.”

“Who holds the most power in Liaodong, general?”

No hesitation from Deng She: “Guan Pingzhang, Naha Chu, and the Gao family slaves.”

“Who is next in power?”

“The army generals.”

Hong Jixun stopped questioning Deng She and turned to Wen Huaguo: “If I offer you a choice among ginseng, sable pelts, salt and iron, or beauties, which would you choose?”

Wen Huaguo, half-asleep from a late night drinking with old comrades, answered casually, “Naturally, beauties.” Upon sobering, he added, “Preferably the primary wife.”

Hong Jixun smiled and turned away: “In warfare, what men desire most are power and beauties. We have little of either at Shuangcheng, but many Korean women. The general can buy poor ones, dress them up, teach them to sing and dance, then resell them at high prices.”

Deng She was shocked. Wu Henian’s face darkened; he stood and angrily rebuked, “How dare you! As the Wanhu of the Shuangcheng Governor’s Office for the Song, how can you stoop to being a shameless trafficker in human beings?” He insinuated, “Are you trying to incite rebellion by exploiting and oppressing women?”

Hong Jixun had scolded him before on this matter, and Wu Henian had long resented it, now striking back.

Hong Jixun sneered and sipped his tea: “Human trafficking exists everywhere. Before the general took Shuangcheng, Jiang Zhongxiang, the Wanhu, engaged in much such business. It is not exploitation but fair trade at open prices—buying and selling in equal measure. Profits are made; burdens on poor families eased; women sold find a way out. A win-win situation. Why not?”

——

1. Confiscation of iron rulers and slingshots from civilians.

During the Yuan, some even proposed confiscating “two-pronged iron forks,” essential farming tools, but these were not enforced.

2. Fire and candle bans.

Implemented mainly in Jiangnan, later relaxed with longer allegiance.

3. Xiangyang tea.

Xiangyang was an early important tea-producing area in Hubei.

4. Widespread human trafficking.

The Yuan’s tribute girl system in Korea lasted nearly a century, recorded as occurring fifty times in official histories. The toll was heavy; by 1335, Koreans petitioned to end the tribute girl system. Though officially stopped due to opposition, demands and tributes persisted.

With the tribute system’s cessation, trafficking in Korean women briefly flourished, with high profits.

Page 3/3 End