11/24/22, 7:18 PM Qiang Jin Jiu – Chapter 9 : Promotion – Lianyin @ CangJi.

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Qiang Jin Jiu

QIANG JIN JIU – CHAPTER 9 :

PROMOTION
Lianyin March 4, 2020

S H ARE ON

b d

 j
Since the end of the year, many of the pedestrians on the streets of
Qudu wore “nao’e”1 made of black gold paper.2 As Zhengdan Festival3
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approached, the common folks strove to prepare pastries and cooked meat
P
at home. The palace had started procuring the ingredients for the ‘Banquet
of Ten Thousand Officials’ half a month in advance. Everyone from the
Court of Imperial Entertainments was busy running all over, yet the
eunuchs still got to line their pockets.

Xiao Chiye rustled his way through the book and said, “When those
officials on the outside enter the Capital, it is inevitable for them to have to
pay ‘ice respect’4 to the officials in the Capital. But Pan Rugui is so
impressive that he drew up such a well-organized list: only when they shell
out the money according to his list will they be left in peace.”

“And these are only just the ‘small changes’ at the beginning of the
year.” Lu Guangbai brushed aside the foam in his tea. “Let me give you an
account. The money the little eunuch under Pan Rugui receives in a year
far exceeds the two-year salary of a Battalion Commander Guard at the
frontier. Da Zhou uses the military troops every year, and each time the
Ministry of Revenue asks us to deploy the troops, they have to plead with
us and coax us to do so. But after the battle is over, we become the bastards
who demand our payments.”

“It’s the ones with the money who are the masters.” Xiao Chiye smiled
and said.

“When we came to the Emperor’s rescue before the new year, our Libei
troops braved the snow to march forward. The men and horses are tired,
and the repairs for the Armored Cavalry’s equipment need to be completed
before the start of Spring. We have owed the workshop money for too many
days. Everything requires money.” Zhao Hui carefully made the
calculations in his mind and said, “Before we entered Qudu, the Libei
troops engaged in farming duties5 converted the annual grain harvest into
money. Every day, we have to count every cent and make every cent count.
Our Hereditary Prince’s Consort does not even dare to purchase expensive
attire for the Residence during the new year and other festivals. The money
a palace eunuch like Pan Rugui has collected has already exceeded
Duanzhou’s total tax amount. The Investigating Censors throw their weight

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around when they are delegated to local governments. But so what? In

Qudu, they don’t even dare to let out a fart!”

“What to do, we are poor.” Lu Guangbai lamented, “Every year, we have

to worry about money. Jiming made a trip to the Capital this time, so the
Ministry of Revenue did not dare to delay it on his account and had long
submitted the request to the Grand Secretariat. Pan Rugui has also
behaved himself and endorsed his approval. The funds should be handed
over before he leaves the Capital.”

“We have Eldest Brother.” Xiao Chiye set aside the book and looked
towards Lu Guangbai. “But what are you going to do?”

“His Majesty wouldn’t see me.” Lu Guangbai said, “The Lu Clan is

unpopular in Qudu. The Eight Great Clans have always regarded us as
savages from the desert, and the Hua Clan wouldn’t even look us right in
the eyes. But even if you tell me to show my ‘respects’6 to Pan Rugui, I
don’t have the money to. We are so poor at home we could barely put food
on the table. Other places could cultivate lands for their troops to farm, and
that is at least an emergency measure to meet needs. But our Bianjun
Commandery has just yellow sand for miles around. Even if we want to
farm, we don’t have the fields. This time, we dispatched the troops out on a
swift expedition, and all the food for the men and horses during the journey
were paid for with Commander-in-Chief Qi’s personal savings. To put it
bluntly, it was all thanks to Commander-in-Chief Qi’s understanding and
sympathy. Otherwise, my troops would have never made it past Tianfei
Watchtower. But how much money would Commander-in-Chief Qi have?
She’s using the remnants of her own dowry that the Old Imperial Consort
has left for her! Her own private troops are almost on the verge of selling
their own pants! The Ministry of Revenue keeps playing Taiji7 with me
every day. Dereliction of duty, huh? They keep pushing my account aside
and refuse to allocate the funds to me, figuring that a country bumpkin like
me could do nothing about them.”

Lu Guangbai lost his temper in a rare display of anger. He could not

help it. The Bianjun Commandery was defending along the borders of the
desert, and they were the Garrison Troops that had the most dealings with

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the Biansha Cavalry other than Libei. They worked themselves to death all
year round, running all over the place just to eke out a living under the
blades of the machetes. They barely had sufficient sleep, and would never
get to eat their fill. Qudu was oppressing him, and the Earl of Biansha had
long become a well-known pauper among the Princes. His clan had never
even kept any of the rewards bestowed to them; all of it had been converted
into money and used to supplement military supplies.

Once Xiao Jiming was neatly dressed, the maidservants left in a single
file, leaving only the four of them in the room. Xiao Jiming held up the
teacup and took a sip of his tea. He said unhurriedly, “The timing is good
this year—Zhengdan’ Banquet of Ten Thousand Officials’. Qi Zhuyin
should be here already, right?”

Lu Guangbai said, “That’s right. I was originally worried, but on second

thought, let them do as they please and drag this matter on. If they delay it
until the Commander-in-Chief enters the Capital, well then, good luck to
them.”

Xiao Jiming said, “She is now the most popular in Qudu. Even those
local ruffians and hooligans that are the ‘loansharks’ in Qudu have to give
her face. The previous debt can be repaid, but you can’t always rely on her
alone. The Bianjun Commandery is important. From what I’ve heard of the
situation yesterday, the Ministry of Revenue will be asking you to recruit
soldiers again this year.”

Lu Guangbai caressed the rim of the teacup and said, “Recruit? Don’t
even think about it. They are all afraid of death now that something
happened to the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo. They are concerned about the
Bianjun Commandery getting stabbed by the Biansha Twelve Tribes, and
they even feel that my twenty thousand troops and horses aren’t enough.
The thing is that we can recruit the soldiers, but do we have the money to
pay them? I can’t afford to feed and train them. I will not do it even if they
hold up a blade to my neck this year.”

Xiao Chiye suddenly sat upright and said, “That’s right. In the past, the
Ministry of Revenue was the quickest when it comes to assigning military

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funds and rations to the Six Prefectures of Zhongbo. The men died this
time, so we can leave aside the issue of the money. But where are the
grains? The Biansha Cavalry can’t carry away that much grain with them
when they flee.”

The remaining three men looked at him.

Lu Guangbai said, “Silly lad, you can stop wondering about that. The
grain was recovered and used to make up for the salary arrears owed to the
Thirteen Cities of Juexi last year. Can’t you guess the reason the Ministry of
Revenue dodged the issue? In recent years, the Eight Great Clans have
become the Eight Great Training Divisions, and their equipment and
budgets are the best in Da Zhou. All this money is taken right from the tax
funds. Think about it, the sum of two million. Any human would know how
insane this account is. But both the Empress Dowager and Secretariat
Elder Hua did not pursue this matter. So who in the Ministry of Revenue
who would dare to bring it up? The State Treasury is emptied of this portion
of the money. Last year, the Thirteen Cities of Juexi were hit by a plague of
locusts, and there was truly not a single grain harvested that year. So,
where would they get the money for disaster relief? It was all thanks to the
Provincial Administration Commissioner, Jiang Qingshan, who issued a
peremptory order for all the officials of various ranks within the prefecture
to release their private stock of grains to help the disaster victims. Because
of this, Jiang Qingshan saved hundreds of thousands of commoners, but he
ended up being hated by the various officials in Juexi. Before the new year,
I heard that the debt collectors were even blocking the entrance to his
house. He is a high-ranking provincial official of the second-grade, and yet
his eighty years old mother still has to weave to pay off their debt! It would
be forcing them to their death if Qudu still did not release the money. In the
end, Secretariat Elder Hai submitted a memorial and contended with the
Grand Secretariat and Pan Rugui for half a month before they barely made
up for the shortfall.”

Zhao Hui could not help but say, “Those people say they are poor, but
the amounts of bribe money are all large sums. On the other hand, those
doing the real work are all walking on eggshells while tightening their belts.

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We might as well not come to Qudu this time. It really makes one
disheartened.”

It was snowing outside the house, but there was no festive atmosphere
within. The mess kept piling up one after another, and all the new sights in
Qudu were like mist skimming the surface. Its wound had yet to heal, and
yet they still had to cover it up even as pus dirtied its entire grounds. The
snow came at just the right time to conceal it all so beautifully that they
could pretend not to notice. Everyone could all live like a drunk in this fool’s
paradise together.

◈ ◈ ◈

In the middle of the night, Pan Rugui sat on the couch with his eyes
closed. The naturally-colored paper flower was placed by his hand so that
he could wipe his hands after meditation. Xiaofuzi did not even dare to
breathe heavily as he held a brush case in his hands and waited carefully
on the footrest.

After an hour, Pan Rugui exhaled and opened his eyes. Xiaofuzi
immediately presented the brush to him. With a frown of concentration,
Pan Rugui wrote a few words in his palm.

Xiaofuzi buttered up to him and said, “Our Forefather is becoming more

and more sagely after having recently received His Majesty’s teachings.
Earlier, this grandson even saw a faint wisp of purple cloud8 rising!”

Pang Rugui wiped his hands and asked, “Do you know why you have
never been able to join the Directorate of Ceremonial?”

Xiaofuzi replied, “Forefather dotes on me.”

“It’s one thing to dote on you.” Pan Rugui threw the paper flower into
Xiaofuzi’s bosom. “Not being able to read the situation is another. His
Majesty has been enlightened for two years, and he still doesn’t give off
purple aura. I’m merely a slave. How can I ascend first? Isn’t that
overstepping my boundaries?”
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Xiaofuzi handed the hot tea over to Pan Rugui. He smiled ingratiatingly
and said, “Forefather is my master, and so Forefather is my Heaven. Seeing
Forefather meditating is just like seeing the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord9
descending to the mortal world! How on earth would I give it that much
thought?”

“Mmm.” Pan Rugui rinsed his mouth. “This filial piety of yours could be
called a skill in itself.”

Xiaofuzi let out a “hehe” as he moved close to Pan Rugui’s leg and said,
“I have to show my filial respect to Forefather since it’s the Zhengdan
Festival. While I was procuring for the Festival before the new year, I saw a
stunning beauty in Prince Chu’s Manor! I made some inquiries around. His
Majesty can’t use her anyway, so it’s of utmost importance for me to give
her to you as a show of my filial piety instead.”

Pan Rugui said, “How stunning is she? Can she compare to Third
Missy? Furthermore, isn’t that Prince Chu’s woman? Given that overbearing
and domineering temper of his, I’m afraid he won’t let her go that easily.”

Xiaofuzi said, “No matter how noble Prince Chu is, he can’t be even
nobler than his Majesty, can he? His Majesty didn’t even say anything, so
isn’t it only right for me to present her to Forefather? Besides, you don’t
have to worry about this matter. I assure you that all the proper
arrangements will be made before the beginning of Spring. It’ll be her good
fortune when the time comes for you to lay your eyes on her regardless of
whether or not you accept her.”

Pan Rugui set aside the teacup and said, “There’s no hurry. I’m not an
avaricious or a lecherous man. Since you brought up Prince Chu, then how
is the one who has the same temper as him, Mister-Muddling-Along
Second Young Master Xiao, doing lately?”

Xiaofuzi pounded Pan Rugui’s thigh in a massage and said, “Heh!

Forefather, this Second Young Master Xiao is really a legend. From the first
night since he came to the Capital, he has been out drinking with the
others! He has never done any serious work except to drink and make

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merry. Prince Chu and that clique of his all like to have fun with him. Birds
of a feather truly flock together!”

“That’s fine… but he is still a member of the Xiao Clan after all. His
Majesty placed him in the Imperial Regalia Service, which is too close for
comfort. It makes me uneasy.” Pan Rugui thought about it for a moment,
then suddenly smiled and said, “I have thought of just the perfect place to
send him away to. Put on my shoes. I’m going to Mingli Hall to serve His
Majesty!”

It was the Zhengdan Festival’s ‘Banquet of Ten Thousand Officials’ the

next day. There was nothing much going on during the feast, and just as
the banquet was about to break up, they all heard Emperor Xiande say.

“A-Ye, has it been comfortable for you in Qudu these days?”

Xiao Chiye stopped peeling the tangerine and answered, “To reply Your
Majesty, it’s comfortable.”

Emperor Xiande turned towards Xiao Jiming and said, “I’ve been
thinking about it. Putting A-Ye in the Imperial Regalia Service is a waste of
talent. He’s a good child who has been on the battlefield. Keeping him
before me is too much of an aggrievement for him. How about this? Let A-
Ye go to the Imperial Army. The Imperial Army Viceroy10 used to be Xi
Gu’an, but he now has the Eight Great Training Divisions to manage. He is
really up to his ears in work. Let A-Ye take his place.”

Right at once, Lu Guangbai frowned.

At the very least, the Imperial Regalia Service would be on duty before
the Emperor. If anything were to happen, His Majesty could not turn a blind
eye to it. But what good was the Imperial Army? The Imperial Army was
now the errand-runners of Qudu. Was this a reward? How could this even
be considered a reward?!

Lu Guangbai was about to rise to his feet when he saw that Xiao Chiye
had already bowed his thanks.
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“A Viceroy sounds imposing, just like a Commander-in-Chief.” Xiao

Chiye smiled frivolously and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Secretariat Elder Hua laughed out loud and said, “His Majesty is wise!
Hereditary Prince, here’s a young hero in the making.”

The sounds of congratulations rose and fell like the tide during the
banquet. Xiao Jiming smiled and said nothing as he looked at Xiao Chiye.

Lu Guangbai drank the wine and lowered his head to say to Zhao Hui at
the side. “… Such an arrangement is clearly a death sentence aimed at
Jiming’s heart.”

After the banquet broke up, Xiao Chiye disappeared without a trace.

His rowdy bunch of friends wanted to congratulate him on his

promotion. So he took them drinking. When they reemerged at midnight
after drinking, they were all staggering on their feet.

Prince Chu, Li Jianheng, was a few years older than Xiao Chiye. He was
a true scoundrel. Before getting into the sedan chair, he even tugged at
Xiao Chiye’s sleeve and said in a drunken stupor, “How capable of you! The
Imperial Army, huh. You need not bother about patrols or defenses. It’s a
very idle job, and yet you still get to collect a salary. You get the money,
and you don’t have to put your life on the line. All the best things in the
world have fallen into your lap! You must be secretly smug!”

Xiao Chiye smiled too; it was even a wicked smile. He said, “That’s right.
That’s why I lose no time in inviting you for a drink. Together in the future,
we’ll run amok in Qudu!”

“Right, right!” Li Jianheng patted Xiao Chiye vigorously on his shoulder.

“That’s the spirit! Come to my residence a few days later. I’ll get them to…
celebrate for you again…”

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Xiao Chiye watched the sedan move away into the distance and flipped
atop his horse. He had personally trained and tamed his horse – the
offspring of wild horses – at the foot of the Hongyan Mountain Ranges. It
was a swift and brave divine steed that was black all over except for a patch
of white on its chest.

Xiao Chiye clapped his horse forward. The stores on both sides of the
street were about to light the lanterns to send him off. He raised his hand
and said, “Put them out. Don’t illuminate them.”

The stores’ attendants looked at each other, but they did not dare to
disobey him. The lanterns went out one by one until there was only the dim
glow of the frosty moon and icy snow on the road.

Xiao Chiye whistled, and the gyrfalcon swooped down from the
darkness of the night amid the whistling of the wind. He then hit the horse
to spur it on. The steed under his saddle snorted out a puff of hot air and
broke into a sudden dash.

The strong wind launched a frenzied assault against Xiao Chiye,

dissipating the hot flushes he had from drinking. In the darkness, he looked
like a cornered beast on a rampage. The sounds of hooves became the
massive crashes of collisions. He galloped through the deserted streets.
The darkness ripped his smiling face away until all that remained was a
cold and lonely silence.

The steed had been running for an unknown period of time when Xiao
Chiye suddenly tumbled off it. He crashed heavily into the pile of snow and
remained there with his head lowered for a moment.

The horse raised its hooves and trotted around him before it lowered its
head to nudge him. The gyrfalcon remained perched on the back of the
horse and tilted its head to look askance at him.

Xiao Chiye endured it for a moment, then propped himself up with his
arms and vomited. After a long time, he stood up and leaned against the
wall. The bone thumb ring on his thumb was a little large and had fallen off
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somewhere. He searched for it in the snow, but then he heard someone

whispering a question a short distance away. “Who’s there?”

Xiao Chiye ignored him.

The Imperial Army Squad Commander felt for his lantern to shine at
him and said, “How dare you… Your Excellency?”

Xiao Chiye turned his head and asked, “Know me?”

The Imperial Army Squad Commander shook his head honestly. “I don’t
know which of the Lords you are…”

“I’m your big brother.” Xiao Chiye cast away the dirtied cloak and
lowered his eyes to continue looking for the thumb ring. He cussed in
irritation under his breath and said, “Give me the lantern. You can scram.”

The Imperial Army Squad Commander cautiously came nearer and

said, “You are Second Young Master, right? We have just received the order.
It’s still dark, and it’s too early for an investigation. There’s still time if you
come again tomorrow…”

Xiao Chiye held out his hand, and the Imperial Army Squad
Commander handed the lantern over to him. Xiao Chiye asked, “What is this
place?”

The Imperial Army Squad Commander respectfully replied, “The

perimeter of Qudu. Zhao Zui Temple.”

Xiao Chiye said, “You may leave.”

The Squad Commander retreated and was about to leave when he

heard Xiao Chiye speak. “Shen Zechuan is here? Beyond this wall?”

“That’s right.” The Squad Commander was getting more and more
apprehensive. “He’s detained in…”

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“Get him to come out.”

The stunned Squad Commander hastened to say, “How would that do?!
Even if you are the Viceroy, you can’t do that! His Majesty the Emperor
strictly commanded…”

Xiao Chiye lifted the lantern and said, “I have the final say in the
Imperial Army.”

The Squad Commander said tentatively. “Don’t kill, kill…”

“I’m fucking telling him to come out and sing me a tune!” Xiao Chiye
flung the lantern aside suddenly. The light swiftly went out. He stood in the
darkness, his eyes malicious.

P/s: As a reminder for those who are confused about characters’ names
and titles, there’s a character glossary which will be updated as the
translation progresses to prevent spoilers.

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GLOSSARY : Characters GLOSSARY : Places

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Footnotes

1.

闹蛾 Nao’e. A head accessories in ancient times cut out of silk or ‘black

gold’ paper into the shape of flowers or insects. 

2.

乌金纸 coal or ‘black gold’ paper. 

3. 正旦节 Zhengdan Festival is also known as Spring Festival, which

celebrates the start of the new year from the first day of the first month in
the lunar calendar. 

4. 冰敬 Literally, ‘Ice Respect’ (or paying respect with ‘ice’ during summer)
is one of the objectionable practices of ‘Three Respects’ during the Qing
Dynasty, along with ‘Coal Respect’ and ‘Departure Respect’. ‘Ice Respect’
refers to the bribe money officials outside the Capital used to bribe the
officials in the Capital during summertime. 

5. 軍屯 military troops (mostly in border regions) who carry out garrison

duties as well as farm corps to supply the border garrisons with grains.


6. 孝敬 literally showing respect and filial piety to one’s parents and elders,
but it also refers to showering gifts on one’s superiors. In this context, it
refers to bribes and currying favors with gifts and money. 

7. 打太极 Taiji is an ancient Chinese exercise or form of martial art that

involves slow, circular movements. To play Taiji with someone is to keep
passing the buck around. 

8. Purple cloud is thought to be an auspicious omen in the old days. 

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9. 太上老君 Tai Shang Lao Jun or The Grand Supreme Elderly Lord is a
deity in Taoism. It’s believed that Laozi, who authored the classic Tao Te
Ching, is the incarnation of Tai Shang Lao Jun. 

10. Viceroy, also known as Governor-General. 

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