Chapter 113: The Four Divisions
Jose was somewhat restrained. Lin Qian took a cigar from the drawer and handed it to him, saying: “In a few days, you will go to Macau again. This time, I am assigning you a Haicang Ship and dispatching two Cangshan Ships for escort. On the Fujian-Guangdong sea surface, there should be no more ignorant ones daring to rob the ship.”
Jose sat down at the navigation table, took the cigar, and said: “With three warships traveling together, on this route, it’s good enough that we don’t rob others.”
“This trip to Macau, help me handle three things.”
Jose straightened up and listened attentively.
“First, buy more firearms: rapid-fire cannons, matchlock guns, black powder, cannonballs, bullets, and such. Only acquire four Siren Cannons.”
This era had no standardized cannon bore classifications yet, and Western and Portuguese cannon names were heavily influenced by religion.
For example, the Siren Cannon was a large-bore ship cannon used on galleons.
During the last refit of the Santa Ana, two Siren Cannon positions were added per side, totaling exactly four.
The rapid-fire cannon was a lightweight cluster gun, rear-loading for extremely fast firing rates, capable of forming dense firepower in a short time, effectively countering the most prevalent boarding tactics along the Great Ming coast.
This rapid-fire cannon had a louder name in the Great Ming: Franchi Cannon.
During the previous Santa Ana refit, the six small cannon positions added to the upper deck were for installing Franchi Cannons.
Not only could the Santa Ana install them, but Da Fu Ships and Haicang Ships could also install them after simple modifications, with very high adaptability.
They were precisely the most suitable cannons for Lin Qian at this stage.
Jose noted it down and asked: “What’s the second thing?”
“The second thing: go to Macau to find a clockmaker. No matter how much silver it costs, invite him to the island.”
“The third thing: ask the councillor if he has coffee. It’s a beverage native to Africa, later introduced to the Ottoman Empire, and now possibly to Italy. If the councillor has a way, have him get some. If not, forget it.”
Jose: “Clockmaker and coffee, got it.”
“That’s all, you can go.” Lin Qian said, took one last puff, and extinguished the cigar.
Jose went out, but as he reached the door, Lin Qian called him back.
Lin Qian said flatly: “This time, Zhou Zhiku won’t be going with the ship. Go to Macau yourself. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Yes.”
Jose pushed the door and left.
A sea breeze blew, chilling his back.
……
After Jose left, Lin Qian got up for his daily exercise. After a simple workout, he wiped his face with a towel and had someone summon Chen Jiao and Zheng Zhilong.
Moments later, the two entered the captain’s cabin and clasped their fists together, saying: “Helmsman.”
“Sit.”
Lin Qian took out cigars and offered them to the two, but neither took one.
Lin Qian put the cigars away, sat back behind the navigation table, and said: “How has the situation been on the island lately? Any arguments, fights, thefts, or the like?”
If compared to a company.
Since establishing Nan’ao City, Lin Qian’s main efforts had been focused on financing and investment.
Nan’ao City’s internal affairs were generally handled in rotation by Chen Jiao and Zheng Zhilong.
The two exchanged glances, demurred a few times, and then Chen Jiao spoke first.
“When we first landed on the island, the main labor force was used for logging, clearing land, and constructing houses.
The islanders all had work to do and things were fairly stable.
This month, with the houses mostly built, many islanders have been idled, with no work to do and no income. Fights and thefts have gradually increased.”
Zheng Zhilong continued: “Helmsman need not worry. There is still plenty to do on the island right now, like paving roads and cultivating fields. Once things get busy, these miscellaneous issues will decrease.”
“How are these kinds of disputes handled?” Lin Qian frowned slightly and asked.
“Same as on the shore: thieves caught get beaten, ordinary arguments are settled by the crowd, and the one at fault backs down willingly.” Zheng Zhilong paused, then added: “But this method doesn’t always work perfectly. Some matters can’t be sorted out quickly, and even the mediators can’t decide.”
Lin Qian picked up the Inca gold button and toyed with it between his fingers.
Chen Jiao and Zheng Zhilong knew Lin Qian was thinking and didn’t dare interrupt.
After a long while, Lin Qian flipped his hand and clenched the gold button: “We can’t let this go on unchecked. The island needs a governing body.”
Zheng Zhilong’s eyes lit up: “Helmsman means to establish a yamen?”
“Right, a yamen.” Lin Qian’s tone was firm. “But it’s not a county yamen. Call it the Government Affairs Office, divided into four departments: Military and Guard Department, Civil Affairs Department, Construction Department, and Justice Department.”
This was an institution Lin Qian designed based on the Great Ming central six ministries, minus the Personnel Ministry and Rites Ministry.
With only three thousand people on the island, Lin Qian could still manage official appointments.
As for diplomacy and imperial examinations, the island had no immediate need. The Rites Ministry’s other miscellaneous functions could temporarily fall under the Civil Affairs Department.
Bureaucratic institutions historically expanded easily from simple to complex, but simplifying was hard. Thus, at this stage, Lin Qian preferred fewer functions in the yamen rather than adding departments that ate empty pay.
Additionally, naming it “Government Affairs Office,” “Military and Guard Department,” “Civil Affairs Department,” etc., with these odd names was to avoid Great Ming taboos.
Once a county yamen and six ministries were set up, it would be clear rebellion to the Great Ming.
These odd names made it an islanders’ self-governing body, numbing the Great Ming officials’ sensitivities.
Lin Qian detailed the functions of the four departments on the island and added: “All clerks in the four departments must be appointed through fair examinations. Before selecting talent via exams, find people to temporarily fill the positions.”
Chen Jiao was quite surprised: “Examinations? The islanders are all illiterate. What to examine?”
Lin Qian: “Good question. That’s the Civil Affairs Department’s first duty: teach the islanders to read and write. Only those who can read and write can pass the exams and become formal clerks in the four departments.”
Linking literacy to civil service exams solved both the literacy rate problem and the talent issue in one stroke.
The more Zheng Zhilong listened, the more fervent his gaze became. He thought to himself: “The helmsman truly has grand ambitions! Back home, everyone praised sea merchant Li Dan as remarkable, and I even considered defecting to him. I was truly a frog in a well, ignorant!
Compared to the helmsman, Li Dan is just a mere Japanese pirate, nothing to speak of!
Now that I have the fortune to follow the helmsman, given time, I may yet reach the pinnacle of power!”
Seeing no objections from the two, Lin Qian continued: “I have already prepared a list of temporary appointees. Among them, Elder Brother will temporarily serve as Construction Department head; Brother Yiguan as Justice Department head.”
“Yes!” The two stood and accepted the orders.
Zheng Zhilong was excited, his face flushed red.
……
After lunch, Lin Qian gathered all his brothers in the officer’s restaurant for a meeting and announced the establishment of the four departments.
Lin Qian also appointed the other two temporary department heads.
“Military and Guard Department temporary head: Lei Zhendong.”
“Yes!” Lei Sanxiang clasped his fists solemnly. Given his personality, he had no interest in the position, but since it was the helmsman’s appointment, he had no reason to refuse.
Lin Qian said: “The Military and Guard Department is mainly responsible for crew training and militia defense. In the next few months, prepare to recruit another hundred seamen and two hundred militiamen.”
“Yes!”
After instructing Lei Sanxiang, Lin Qian continued.
“Civil Affairs Department temporary head: Zhou Youcai.”
Zhou Xiucai stood and acknowledged.
“The Civil Affairs Department has only one task in the next few months: literacy for the islanders!” Lin Qian finished, then patted Zhou Xiucai’s arm. “Second Brother has a heavy burden, it will be hard work.”
There was no choice; among Lin Qian’s subordinates, Zhou Xiucai was the only one talented in internal affairs. Anything involving numbers or writing fell to him.
Dealing with merchant Hu already required Zhou Xiucai; now adding the task of raising the island’s literacy rate was truly burdensome.
Lin Qian thus added: “For literacy, Brother Yiguan must help a lot!”
Zheng Zhilong acknowledged.
Finally, Lin Qian’s gaze swept over the temporary department heads and he warned: “Brothers, you have all suffered under harsh clerks’ exploitation and know the hardships of the common people. I hope you all restrain your subordinates and avoid any misconduct!”
Everyone stood and bowed together: “Understood!”
……
Early morning.
Bookseller Wang Hao’s ship docked at Houjiang Bay.
Ever since he got into the illustrated book business, he had become the island’s only bookseller.
Plus the big coal deal last time, in just over a month on the island, the silver he earned exceeded a full year on the shore.
This trip to the island, besides bringing the latest official gazette, he also brought a large batch of new illustrated books.
Among them, 《Pan Jinlian’s Lewd Mourning of the Mandarin Duck Tower》 was the best.
Like 《The Golden Lotus》, this book borrowed from the 《Water Margin》 story, but its style was far more vulgar and direct.
With its one page of text to three pages of illustrations ratio, and the enormous explicit details, it was sure to spark another reading frenzy on the island.
Wang Hao exited the cabin, paid silver to hire help unloading goods, and surveyed the seaport ahead.
In just a few days away, Nan’ao City had changed quite a bit again.
Most eye-catching was a group of five clerks dressed as such: three clerks holding short and long sticks, two with knives, patrolling around the dock.
Wang Hao thought to himself it was bad; he knew the ways of clerks and figured since he ran into them today, he’d have to pay to avoid trouble.
Sure enough, after seeing his cargo clearly, the clerks headed straight for him.
“You sell books?” the lead clerk asked.
Wang Hao went forward, nodding and bowing with a smile: “Yes, just a small business to make a living.”
He took several books from a box and stuffed them into the clerk’s hands: “《Pan Jinlian’s Lewd Mourning of the Mandarin Duck Tower》, the latest from Jiangnan, extremely explicit content. Take it, sirs, and have a look.”
“Who wants your stuff?” The clerk pushed the books back.
Wang Hao cursed inwardly: clerks had just appeared on the island and were already exploiting like this. Truly, all crows are black the world over. He gritted his teeth, took two taels of broken silver from his waist, and handed it over.
“Forgive my ignorance. This is for drinks, sirs.”
The clerk frowned: “You’re strange. Who asked for your silver?”
Wang Hao was stunned, thinking: “This greedy? Two taels not enough?”
The clerk pointed at the books and asked: “Since you sell books, can you read?”
Wang Hao nodded.
The clerk asked again: “Can you do arithmetic?”
Wang Hao affirmed again.
The clerk then pulled a paper from his bosom and handed it to Wang Hao, saying: “Look at this, what’s the total?”
Wang Hao glanced: a simple arithmetic problem on the paper, eight or nine transactions of a certain merchant in a month, to sum them up.
Wang Hao calculated the answer at a glance, handed the paper back, and said: “Three taels five mace.”
The clerk’s face lit up: “The department head is recruiting literate arithmeticians to teach. Monthly pay five taels of silver. Interested?”
Five taels monthly was extremely high pay.
Wang Hao thought he was only semi-literate and couldn’t teach properly, plus his monthly book-selling profit on the island was no less than five taels.
Thus, he carefully declined the clerk.
He thought he’d still have to pay protection money, but unexpectedly, the clerk just left after the refusal.
This surprised Wang Hao greatly.
Feeling the two taels of silver in his hand, he felt faintly uneasy.
By now the books were unloaded. Wang Hao paid the boat fare and hired people to move them to his usual stall.
Along the way, Wang Hao saw great changes in Nan’ao City.
Vendors who used to block the roads had all retreated to the sides, leaving wide thoroughfares.
Groups drunk in the streets or fighting, once common, were now nowhere to be seen.
In a moment, the city’s atmosphere had changed from a barbaric frontier to a Jiangnan ancient town.
At the stall, Wang Hao paid the helpers and arranged the books himself.
As soon as 《Pan Jinlian’s Lewd Mourning of the Mandarin Duck Tower》 was displayed, it drew a crowd to flip through and pay satisfied.
In just one morning, Wang Hao earned five mace of silver.
While minding the stall and eating lunch, he saw two pedestrians across the street start fighting over a minor argument.
Islanders were fierce; they struck hard, and soon blood flowed from their heads.
Wang Hao watched with relish alongside his meal when suddenly a team of clerks rushed from an alley, sticks out, separated the two, took them away respectively, and dispersed the onlookers.
Wang Hao sighed bored.
Not long after, the two returned to the street, wounds simply bandaged, no resentment between them, parting like ordinary passersby.
Wang Hao clicked his tongue in wonder, unsure what means the clerks used to mediate so quickly.
After lunch, Wang Hao resumed selling. As he stood, a shout came from diagonally opposite: “Illustrated books for sale! All pictures, illiterate can enjoy! Exciting stories, can’t sleep after one look!”
Wang Hao thought bad; looking over, sure enough, a book stall diagonally opposite, owner hawking vigorously, holding 《Pan Jinlian’s Lewd Mourning of the Mandarin Duck Tower》.
That stall was much larger than Wang Hao’s, more varieties openly displayed, two apprentices helping; the crowd was drawn over.
The island had only his one book stall before; setting up opposite was clearly to compete.
Furious, Wang Hao openly displayed all his 《Pan Jinlian’s Lewd Mourning of the Mandarin Duck Tower》 and shouted sales like the rival.
Shouting all afternoon hoarse, Wang Hao finally split the business evenly.
At dusk, an apprentice from the opposite stall ran over with a teapot.
Approaching: “My owner says the scholar shouted all afternoon, throat must be tired. Sent me with tea for the scholar.”
Wang Hao didn’t look properly, waved irritably: “No need, no need.”
The apprentice stepped closer: “Scholar needn’t refuse. Where’s your cup? I’ll pour for you.”
Wang Hao angrily: “Get lost! Sending tea to book stalls, think I don’t know your dirty tricks?”
The apprentice stunned, looked back to his stall; the owner gestured urgently.
The apprentice simply tossed the teapot, landing squarely on Wang Hao’s stall, scalding tea spilling out, soaking all the books.
Wang Hao furious: “You thief! No pretense now? Come on, to the officials with me!”
In rage, he grabbed the apprentice’s arm, feeling it unusually soft.
The apprentice smirked triumphantly, swiftly unfastening her collar with the other hand, revealing slender shoulder and red bellyband.
“Ah——” the apprentice shrieked sharply.
Only then did Wang Hao realize the apprentice was a woman.
His face changed in horror, releasing her abruptly.
Too late; crowd gathered, seeing disheveled woman and flustered man standing there.
Wang Hao was speechless in defense.
Someone in the crowd: “Sis!”
Wang Hao looked closely: the other apprentice.
He ran up angrily, pointing at Wang Hao’s nose: “My sister kindly brought you tea, and you molested her? Are you human?”
Wang Hao stammered: “She, I didn’t…”
Without letting him finish, the male apprentice to the crowd: “Everyone judge! What to do with this scoundrel molesting a woman in broad daylight?”
“Drive him off the island!” someone shouted high.
Under the male apprentice’s agitation, the cries grew louder.
A voice from outside the crowd: “Disperse! Right and wrong will be handled by the Justice Department!”
The crowd quieted, making way.
Three Justice Department clerks approached, scanned those present, and asked: “What happened?”
The male and female apprentices both froze.
Justice Department? What’s that?
Island disputes weren’t always settled by crowd judgment?
Then the distant stall owner, bookseller Li Zheng from Chaoyang County Qinyou Bookshop, came over, saluted the clerks: “Sirs, this humble one is Li Zheng, bookseller. The victims are my apprentices. We must return to Chaoyang tonight, no need to trouble sirs.”
By government rules, if the victim didn’t pursue, it could be settled privately.
Unexpectedly, the clerk said: “Molesting a woman is a serious crime. Can’t drop it. Speak.”
Bookseller Li Zheng panicked, sidled closer, took a tael of silver from his belt, slipped it to the clerk, whispering: “This humble one really must return to Chaoyang tonight. Please make an exception, sir.”
The clerk took the silver, weighed it: “Fine, now you’re openly bribing. If you don’t explain properly, the crime won’t lighten. Speak quickly.”
Onlookers chimed: “Yes, with Justice Department handling, speak up.”
Li Zheng could only steel himself: “This humble one came to the island for books, saw a fellow seller, wanted to befriend, so sent apprentice with tea…”
“Bull! Tea? If I took it, it’d spill on my stall for sure. This trick’s old hat, and you dare try it?” Wang Hao yelled.
The clerk scolded Wang Hao: “Shut up.”
Then to Li Zheng: “Continue.”
Li Zheng: “He wouldn’t accept kindness, and even… lusted after my apprentice’s looks, molested her on the street.”
Looks?
The clerk eyed the female apprentice: no figure, no beauty, black as charcoal, voice coarse; only close inspection revealed she was a woman.
This counted as looks?
The clerk already had a hunch.
Li Zheng’s scheme was full of holes; his plan was to create a diversion from the spilled tea wetting books.
As long as officials didn’t interfere, bystanders usually sided with the bullied woman, making the molestation stick and forcing the rival out.
The apprentices were hired on the spot to drive Wang Hao away and monopolize the island’s bookselling.
He’d scouted the island multiple times, confirmed it workable.
Chose dusk specially to avoid eyes.
Who knew a Justice Department would intervene? Never seen such a yamen on the island before.
Now Li Zheng could only stick to claiming molestation.
As long as he and the apprentices held firm, it would fizzle out.
The clerk questioned, got no result.
Asked bystanders, no witnesses to the act.
Li Zheng relaxed; without evidence, he could wriggle free.
The clerk sternly: “I warn you all: molesting women is a serious crime on the island, lightest is five lashes with the whip. False accusers same crime. While it’s not serious yet, better confess early to avoid trouble later.”
No one spoke.
The clerk beckoned, took them away, stopped after a few steps at a house.
The house door wide open, incense smoke wafting, enshrining a Mazu statue inside.
Clerks led them to the Mazu statue, respectfully lit incense.
Then gave incense to Wang Hao, Li Zheng, and others to light.
“Good. Now repeat before Mazu.” The clerk said. “Tell the truth. Mazu knows who lies.”
Fujian-Guangdong folk revered Mazu extremely; faced with this, the female apprentice hung her head speechless.
Li Zheng steeled himself, repeated the story haltingly, heart pounding, back sweating.
“Still lying!” the clerk scolded.
Li Zheng and apprentices knelt terrified.
“Tell the truth to Mazu!” The clerk’s voice commanding, no defiance.
Li Zheng saw exposure inevitable, honestly recounted the whole matter.
“Vile thief, such a vicious scheme!” Wang Hao spat, then to the female apprentice: “Shameless!”
The clerk: “False accusation same crime: five lashes each, and compensate Wang Hao’s stall losses!”
Wang Hao: “Just give me his book stall.”
The clerk coldly: “Any objections?”
Li Zheng silent.
“Take them away, punish on the street!”
Moments later, screams from Li Zheng and apprentices echoed down the street.
Wang Hao bowed: “Thank you, master, for clearing my name.”
The clerk waved: “Just doing my duty.”
……
Several days later, Wang Hao sailed back to Chenghai County.
Just stepping on the dock, he met dock patrol Zhang.
“Yo, isn’t this Owner Wang? Back from across? Made a bundle this trip?”
Wang Hao bowed smiling: “Thanks to your blessing, sir.”
Then busied unloading.
Patrol Zhang squatted nearby: “Nan’ao Island’s garrison has been there forty years; usually people only leave, never more come. Yet these two months, a big city rose from nothing, many more islanders. Strange, no?”
Wang Hao casually: “Strange or not, as long as business can be done and rice earned.”
Patrol Zhang shook head emphatically, meaningfully: “Wrong. If islanders are garrison soldiers, it’s business. Otherwise, it’s consorting with bandits!”
Everyone in Chenghai County knew what occupied Nan’ao Island, so why bring it up today?
Wang Hao puzzled, suddenly thought of something, hurriedly took three mace of broken silver from belt, gave to patrol: “Thanks for the reminder, sir. This drink money, please accept!”
Patrol Zhang took silver, smiled: “No problem. Owner Wang busy, I’ll check elsewhere.”
Sure enough, left after silver.
Wang Hao smiled bitterly; after days on island, nearly forgot shore rules.
On way home, Wang Hao thought: trading between places earned well, but each trip squeezed by clerks.
Plus Li Zheng grabbing business on island, soon Zhang Zheng, Zhao Zheng would too.
Selling illustrated books no long-term plan.
Perhaps try teaching?
No travel hassle, net five taels monthly.
Considering island clerks’ integrity and efficiency, maybe get full five taels intact.
At this thought, Wang Hao stopped, looked back at sea.
Thought: County says island held by sea bandits, but such sea bandits?
Compared to island, Chenghai County more like a den of thieves.
