Chapter 104: Forming a Militia...
The others were still eating heartily.
Liu, the wet nurse, wasn't used to this scene. She kept her head down and ate the whole roasted lamb, only taking a small bite of one plate before putting it down. She asked a palace maid to serve her a bowl of lamb soup, which she ate with soft flatbread, as this was better for her teeth.
The wet nurse chewed slowly, thinking contentedly.
Wang Shou returned after cleaning up his son. He had recently become able to eat some spicy food, so he ate the dishes covered in all the seasonings with Qi Chengming. The eunuch brought him several plates, and he ate them politely, taking a few bites of tea and vegetables along the way, ensuring that the balance of the meat, vegetables, and soup was just right.
"Hmm! That's great, but it's still a bit lacking..." Commander Mao, no longer hesitant, picked up a large piece of roasted mutton and ate it in big bites. He couldn't wait for the eunuch to use a knife to shovel the meat between his teeth and eat it. He finished off the large piece of meat in no time.
He ate heartily, yet his movements were not rude or impolite, which made one's appetite improve. In his other hand, the man held the largest kind of wrap, which he devoured in a few bites, barely chewing, before grabbing a new one.
Wang Shou stared at him calmly, his gaze slightly shocked.
Although Wang Shou was a martial artist, and his entire family practiced martial arts, and he had a large appetite, he had never seen anyone eat as much as Commander Mao—finishing a normal person's meal in just a few bites. This unrestrained eating...! No wonder he was worried about whether there was enough food on the table!
Qi Chengming found it quite amusing, much like watching mukbang videos of big eaters before he transmigrated into the book. Watching Commander Mao eat made him enjoy his own meal even more, and he chuckled as he replied, "Still feeling like you're missing some wine, aren't you?"
Those martial arts novels all depict how heroes and heroines of the martial world find joy in eating meat and drinking wine to their heart's content, giving these soldiers this impression. Qi Chengming actually agreed; nothing could be better than having a little wine with friends while eating.
But today is not the time.
"Let's drink another day. I have something important to ask you all today." Qi Chengming glanced at his cousin, not bothering to hide the fact that his family was present, then looked at Commander Mao, Lu Yu, and Qin Liusong. He waited until they had eaten more than half the meal before asking for details.
"Besides the yamen runners and the government troops, what else does our place have on a regular basis..." He paused, wanting to say "armed forces," but then thought the word was too modern, and was pondering it with his head down.
Lu Yu hurriedly swallowed the roasted green pepper in his mouth and replied knowingly, "Does Your Highness mean the militia or military officers?"
Qi Chengming nodded.
He remembered that after the hurricane, he led a group of local gentry, wealthy families, scholars, and commoners who had spontaneously organized themselves to assign tasks. At that time, there were no military camps, officers, or militia stationed nearby to help.
As the local prefect, Lu Yu knew all about these matters, and this was finally his moment to shine. He put down his greasy hands, and a servant who had come with him quickly brought him a handkerchief to wipe them. Lu Yu didn't even bother to continue eating; he counted:
“Don’t we see military officers every day? The county yamen’s patrol inspector is one of them, the one who leads a lot of patrol inspectors and yamen runners to do their work. And the garrison that I and the prefect are guarding are also military officers. As for military camps—there aren’t any here, but there is a garrison in the prefectures under my and Prefect Mu’s jurisdiction, on the border of Liuzhou and Guizhou, so you don’t usually encounter people like centurions or chiliarchs.”
As Qi Chengming listened, he thought of a familiar face in the county government office, someone who would inconspicuously attend meetings and quietly lead the yamen runners in their work. He also remembered that when he went to rescue Mr. Qin, he had sent Commander Mao to arrest the local centurions and others who had colluded with him before entering the county town.
Mao Zedong added, "We see local militias everywhere. They are the gentry, wealthy families, and neighborhood groups who organize themselves to build houses, as well as—people who usually go to the city to gather information."
This refers to the hundreds of checkpoints scattered throughout Liuzhou City, where ordinary people secretly gather intelligence.
The "tuanlian" were actually the militia units that came out of the city. Qi Chengming suddenly realized that the men who usually followed Mr. Huang around were the ones who helped with everything from infrastructure projects, building houses, digging ditches, and drilling wells. When factories and shops were recruiting and bustling with activity, they were the ones who helped maintain order, spread notices for the county government, and arrest vagrant criminals.
...This group of people who obey orders has always existed.
However, their affiliation came from local gentry and wealthy families, and their salaries and grain were also collected locally.
They were not under Qi Chengming's command, nor were they part of Qi Chengming's private army, nor were they under the jurisdiction of the county or government offices. They simply obeyed the orders and commands of the government and Qi Chengming on a daily basis.
Qi Chengming had an idea in mind and finally voiced his thoughts: "There's something I think I should say. Our Liuzhou city has grown from a low-ranking county in terms of population, and everything is changing rapidly lately, but management is struggling to keep up. We can't always rely on my Imperial Guards and your prefectural troops to help, can we?"
Strictly speaking, they're not meant for that kind of work.
Although Lu Yu thought both were fine, he quickly agreed, "Your Highness is right, so this is a plan...?"
Qin Liusong took a breath upon hearing this, his heart calming. He couldn't help but glance at Lu Yu, that good-for-nothing, and spoke first:
"The patrol inspectors and local militia are usually responsible for a lot of complicated tasks, which must be why Your Highness finds it difficult to manage. Recently, there have been more and more refugees fleeing from other places. This month alone, there have been two cases of people being killed on the road after encountering bandits or wild animals. I think it would be good to form a special team from the local militia to do training and patrols?"
Qi Chengming cast an admiring yet surprised glance his way, then realized what he meant.
Mr. Qin, as if he could read his mind, spoke first. This was correct; as long as this prince still had some standing, it was best for his subordinates to deliver the message when the true intentions were revealed.
Mr. Qin was just like any other Xiao Dezi or Xiao Chengzi, trying to save face.
Lu Yu understood, but pretended not to notice without blinking: "That's good! The patrol inspectors are already too busy... There are only so many positions available, and the constables can't be used to help every day. It would be better to recruit more people specifically to strengthen our military capabilities."
“I’ll discuss it with the prefect later.” Lu Yu readily took the blame, clearing Qi Chengming of any wrongdoing. “There are more and more rare factories and shops in our city; we can’t just leave them unprotected. I’m sure those local ‘big shots’ will agree…”
Qi Chengming smiled knowingly, his expression softening further. He raised his teacup and offered a toast from afar: "Thank you for your trouble, Prefect. The sooner this militia is established, the better."
Chairman Mao understood why he had been summoned today.
He and the young prince exchanged a glance, the unspoken meaning in that look like a thousand words.
I understand. The militia will definitely be under his command.
Thinking this, Commander Mao took another big bite of mutton, as if he were trying to swallow a lot of energy.
Yang Tianniang, Zhong'er, Xiao Dezi, and Xiao Chengzi didn't understand a word they were saying. The former wasn't bothered; Tianniang was focused solely on her, her husband's, and Zhong'er's food and drink. Xiao Dezi was completely absorbed in his master, occasionally offering a helping hand and eagerly trying to impress, oblivious to everything else. Only the more perceptive Xiao Chengzi was troubled.
He seemed to understand but not quite, his brow furrowed deeply. What he didn't understand was—what were they all arguing about regarding something as simple as forming a militia? Wasn't it just a matter of saying it and agreeing to it?
As a result, the roasted whole lamb was surrounded by a flurry of glances and knowing looks. The prince and the others exchanged knowing glances, and even Chief Steward Song understood, nodding thoughtfully. Those who didn't care didn't dwell on these things at all.
...Xiao Chengzi felt that he was quite stupid.
He can't just become an ordinary eunuch who only knows how to eat and drink and serves His Highness by following Xiao Dezi around, just because he likes to eat and drink.
This matter troubled Xiao Chengzi until everyone had eaten until only scraps remained on the table. Commander Mao looked around again, then devoured the remaining flatbread, dipped it in mutton soup, and stuffed it with the last bit of leftover vegetables into his mouth. Only after emptying the plate did he finally breathe a satisfied sigh of relief, and his muscular arms relaxed.
"We're heading back now." After enjoying a delicious meal, the cousin led his wife and children away, completely satisfied.
Song Gu and Qin Liusong exchanged a glance. He was also preoccupied with the militia's accounts and grain, so he called Bi Shu and they took their leave to get on with their work.
When only Qi Chengming, Xiao Dezi, and Xiao Chengzi remained in the main courtyard, Xiao Chengzi finally voiced his concerns.
"Let's go inside and talk slowly." After a hearty meal, Qi Chengming was feeling drowsy, and he planned to lie on the couch in the main room to talk.
The head palace maid, Gan Tang, who hadn't been of much use, happened to bring in a pot of tea at just the right temperature and then left. Xiao Dezi sat comfortably to the side and poured a cup of tea for His Highness and Xiao Chengzi.
He doesn't need it anymore; he was quite full from the meal he just had.
Qi Chengming was also struggling. He forced his eyelids open and looked at Xiao Chengzi: "Do you think I can just set up the militia team and propose it? Liuzhou is my territory now, and all the people are my people. This matter cannot be handled like this."
Even if Qi Chengming had absolute power, he still needed to find an excuse to cover up his blatant actions. This was the beginning of something that a prince—or rather, a regional vassal king—should never have touched: military power and the most sensitive matters.
Originally, the patrol inspectors in the government were there for training and to maintain order in various places. This responsibility already existed, and because such positions were hard to come by and salaries were strictly controlled, the number of inspectors could not be increased at will according to Qi Chengming's wishes.
Therefore, it's impossible to operate under the name of an official inspection team.
The number of local militia recruited was unlimited; as long as there was enough food, the number of units could be increased at will. The downside was that they had to obey the wealthy families' wishes regarding when to come and when to leave. Although they usually acted according to the orders of the government and the prince's mansion, they were essentially uncontrollable, which was unacceptable.
“So we are—” Xiao Chengzi realized, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
Big spender?
—Since the militia were organized by local gentry and wealthy families, then putting aside the facts, how could Qi Chengming not be considered a wealthy local family in Liuzhou? It's not unreasonable for him to want a militia force whose grain and rice are secretly provided by him, is it?
This fig leaf doesn't really serve much purpose, but it's enough.
Qi Chengming nodded, lay down on the couch, and rested his hands behind his head as he pondered.
He didn't think that building his own power now was a matter for the future. It was simply that the situation was chaotic, and without his own force—relying only on the Imperial Guard and the retired veterans of the Marquis of Weiyong's mansion—Qi Chengming felt uneasy.
The next day, the village elders were gathered together again and efficiently spread the word, recruiting members for the militia...
A month has flown by in the blink of an eye, and spring is in full bloom.
—The time for Qi Chengming and Hu Hong's spring outing, which they had agreed upon, was approaching.
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