Chapter 67: The New Year Has Arrived
With this matter resolved, Li Yi inquired about the situation with the farmers.
Great-grandfather let out a sigh. “That night, when they came seeking refuge, I had Li Guo hide them in the ancestral hall. The Ai family came looking several times, but with the militia in Lijiazhuang, they didn’t dare act recklessly. Fortunately, it’s all settled for now.”
Li Yi nodded. “I’ve heard that the Peasants’ Association has handled many such cases recently?”
Great-grandfather nodded as well. “Currently, old Gao and I are in charge of the Peasants’ Association; the other village and clan heads assist us. As per your instructions, for any villagers who join the Association, the taxes and usurious loans are all negotiated and reduced by us. If any villager suffers oppression, the Association provides them protection and justice.”
Li Yi nodded again.
Though it was his idea to establish the Peasants’ Association, the matter was too complex, so he had left it to Great-grandfather and old Gao. His own focus lay on organizing the militia and supplying funds and provisions.
From the looks of it now, with two esteemed elders at the helm and the support of armed force, the Association was more than capable of standing up to the powerful landlords in Ganquan.
Li Yi looked at his great-grandfather, whose hair had grown noticeably whiter, and offered heartfelt thanks. “It’s been a trying time for you, Great-grandfather.”
Great-grandfather chuckled warmly, gazing at Li Yi with affection. “Yi, I know you have great ambitions, and everything you do is for the sake of our people. Luckily, these old bones of mine are still sturdy—I can help you for a few more years yet.”
At this, he added with concern, “But the Ai family is not so easily dealt with. You must be careful.”
Li Yi nodded, “Thank you for the warning. I understand.”
He wanted to ask more about the wedding arrangements, but his modern opinions clashed with the old customs, and after a few exchanges, he found the traditions too tedious. The elders, unable to bear his meddling, shooed him out and forbade him from causing any more trouble.
Li Yi left the ancestral hall, smiling ruefully to himself.
It was clear the elders placed great importance on his wedding.
But he understood as well—marriage meant establishing a family and career, becoming a true man. The elders all wished to elevate their own standing through this event.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Li Yi turned and headed to the threshing ground.
Though the new year was approaching, the militia’s training had not ceased.
After over a month of drilling, the hundred-odd young men were transformed. With ample meals, soup every third day, meat every seventh, their vigor and spirit were wholly renewed. Banners fluttered as they moved in unison to drums and gongs, their shouts echoing, faces resolute and coordination strong—indeed, they now had the bearing of well-trained troops.
Yet Li Yi knew they had yet to experience real battle.
The brutality and terror of life-and-death struggle on the field could crush the resolve and courage of any recruit.
He would have to find a way for them to see blood.
Li Yi pondered as he walked.
Gao Laoshi and Liu Zongmin came forward to greet him.
Liu Zongmin was now not just the village blacksmith, but also a member of the militia. Strong and burly, quick-witted too, he had earned the title of Vanguard in the tests. Few could rival him among the trainees—only Li Goudan could match his strength for half an hour.
“How is the militia training lately?” Li Yi asked.
Gao Laoshi replied solemnly, “They’re well-drilled in marching and signals; lately we’ve focused on martial skills and organizing squad competitions. Everyone is highly motivated.”
“Highly motivated?”
“Of course. The captain makes sure they eat and drink well, pays them, teaches them martial arts and literacy. If they didn’t give their all in training, wouldn’t they be heartless? They’d be scorned by all.”
Li Yi burst into laughter at this—he hadn’t thought of it that way.
“Captain, everyone wants to know—when will they get leave to go home for New Year?” Gao Laoshi added honestly.
Li Yi smiled. “It’s only a couple of days till New Year’s Eve; it’s time they had a break.”
Gao Laoshi scratched his head. “Since training began, everyone’s been so busy they haven’t had time to go home—they really miss their families.”
Li Yi understood, but he had something to do before letting them go home.
“I’ve decided to disband the militia.”
“Disband the militia?” Gao Laoshi and Liu Zongmin were shocked.
Li Yi smiled. “I’m now the constable of Sui Jin Town, and will likely be stationed there long-term. The town constabulary is short of archers and guards. I plan to integrate our militia into the constabulary—they’ll become recognized officers.”
This decision had taken Li Yi some time. Most recruits had joined simply because there was no work in winter. Come spring, they’d be needed for fieldwork and couldn’t continue training. But official status would free them for training during slack seasons, and deploy them for action when needed.
If he could take control of the constabulary and have Sun Kewang deliver enough salt, he could expand the private salt trade next year and secure a source of income.
Moreover, after squeezing the Ai family so hard, they would surely bear him a grudge. He needed to hold this armed force tightly, in case of retaliation.
When Li Yi shared this with the trainees, they were overjoyed.
Becoming officers—something they’d never dreamed possible.
All the young men were eager to join and serve under him.
On the spot, Li Yi distributed New Year’s red envelopes—a hundred coins for each, sending them home for the festival, with orders to return on the third day as official constables.
In two days, it would be New Year’s Eve.
Li Zijin made several red lanterns as gifts for Li Yi.
The two families shared a lively meal.
Afterward, the women tidied up while Li Yi, Li Zijin, Li Zicheng, and Liu Zongmin sat together chatting.
Li Zicheng had been extremely busy—after leading the villagers to reclaim wasteland, he’d composted fertilizer for the next year. He wanted to improve the irrigation canals, but the people barely had enough to eat, so such a large project was out of reach.
He had done all he could to prepare for a good harvest, hoping to repay the debts and see everyone with full bellies.
But Li Yi knew another disaster year was coming—both natural and man-made.
He quietly warned Li Zicheng, but the latter, in high spirits, paid no heed.
He even waved his hand, full of confidence: “A timely snow foretells a good harvest—next year will be bountiful, surely.”
Li Yi could only smile wryly at the side.
He didn’t know about good omens, but he did know that in this Little Ice Age, each year would be colder than the last.
The next day, everywhere he went, he was greeted with New Year’s wishes.
Li Yi carried two bags of wild goods to Mizhi County.
He first called on Shi Kefa.
Shi Kefa was spending the holiday alone, the house cold and quiet.
When he saw Li Yi, he was delighted and pulled him in to sit.
A servant brought hot tea.
Shi Kefa teased him, “What brings you here, bearing gifts? Trying to bribe your superior?”
Li Yi opened the bags, showing the wild produce within.
“These things were foraged by the villagers—freshness is their only merit. I couldn’t come empty-handed on New Year’s, could I?”
Shi Kefa laughed heartily.
“Have you paid your respects to Lord Hong yet?”
Li Yi shook his head. “Not yet.”
Shi Kefa stood and said, smiling, “It’s the New Year—I ought to visit as well. Let’s go together.”
He had a servant prepare the carriage.
The two left and rode to Hong Chengchou’s residence.
On the way, Shi Kefa spoke, “I hear Lord Hong has allowed you to expand the constabulary. If I’m not mistaken, you’ll likely transfer your militia to fill those posts.”
“My lord is astute—that is indeed my plan.”
“Is that all there is to it?” Shi Kefa smiled knowingly.
Li Yi, of course, did not mention his plans for the salt trade or precautions against the Ai family. He said with a smile, “Recently, I spoke with a merchant at a checkpoint. Only then did I learn how many barriers and bribes a trader must endure—so many hurdles, they are worn down, many caravans ruined. If this continues, commerce will wither, and tax revenues will dry up. With this expansion, I intend to sweep the roads of bandits, unify the tax system, and root out corruption.”
Shi Kefa nodded gravely.
“Though merchants are ranked lowest in our society, North-South trade cannot do without them. If local officials keep squeezing, it will breed disaster. Since you have a plan, you may try it. If, in the process, you place your own men and gain control of the constabulary, I will not object.”
That single “will not object” was a tacit warning: filling the ranks with his own men was allowed, but he must not abuse his power for personal gain.
Li Yi broke out in a cold sweat and nodded in agreement.
By then, the carriage had reached the Hong residence, and the two entered.
Many had come to pay their respects; Li Yi and Shi Kefa waited half an hour before being received by Hong Chengchou.
“Many matters today—I kept you waiting,” Hong said, inviting them to sit.
With a serious expression, he spoke, “Xianzhi, the government forces have yet to defeat Wang Jiayin and his bandits. Meanwhile, mutinies have broken out: in Guyuan, soldiers looted the state treasury; in Gansu, they killed the adjutant general; in Ningxia, the governor was slain. The situation in Shaanxi worsens daily—this war will not end soon.”
Shi Kefa voiced his concern: “If so, the military supply burden will be immense. My lord, the weight on your shoulders grows heavier.”
Hong Chengchou sighed. “I once thought, with the arrival of government troops, the outlaws would be crushed. Who could have foreseen this wildfire? The Ai family and other gentry refuse to contribute grain or funds. I intend to have you oversee a land survey, divide out the military fields, and force them to yield.”
Shaanxi was a border province, with many military garrisons since the Hongwu era. In wartime, soldiers served; in peacetime, they farmed—hence the many military fields. But these lands had long been seized by the gentry. Hong wished to use the survey to bring them to heel.
This would certainly meet fierce resistance and be fraught with difficulties.
Shi Kefa nonetheless agreed to take it on.
Hong Chengchou then turned to Li Yi. “Among the great families of northern Shaanxi, the Ai family is preeminent. Li Yi, I hope you can deal with them and find their weaknesses.”
Li Yi readily agreed.
With these instructions given, Hong Chengchou offered them tea and saw them out.
Li Yi and Shi Kefa boarded the carriage.
After a moment’s thought, Shi Kefa suddenly asked, “Li Yi, you’ve done Lord Hong a great service, yet you have not been promoted—do you know why?”
“If I am fortunate, so be it; if not, so be it. I have yet to fully understand the constabulary, and promotion is far from my mind.”
“You are hopelessly stubborn,” Shi Kefa said, uncharacteristically vexed. “You are talented, skilled, and at this moment, Lord Hong needs good men. Why would he not wish to promote you? But you keep declining his overtures, headstrong and willful. How can he want to advance you? You squander your abilities and waste a chance to serve the state.”
Li Yi only smiled and shook his head.
He knew well the advantage of sheltering under a great tree—following Hong Chengchou would mean a smooth official career. Yet he would become nothing more than Hong’s blade, with no autonomy, just another retainer, doomed to watch the world fall and the strong prey on the weak.
But Shi Kefa’s next words gave him pause for thought.