Chapter 31 Prestige

That brother Dao and Zhu Zhongba returned safely immensely raised the spirits of everyone in the farmstead. They left with 40 people and returned with 48. The original 40 men had also only received light injuries, not even any serious wounds. Even Lin Yuan is surprised.

“It scared me to death!” Brother Dao reveals his true nature now that he is safe. As he drinks Lin Yuan’s stash of rice wine he tells how they found the coal:”Too many guards at the iron mine and we are just 40 people. It would be like hitting a rock with an egg.”

Saying so he asks Lin Yuan:”Did I say ‘hitting a rock with an egg’ correctly?”

Lin Yuan grins:”It’s right, brother Dao said it correctly.”

Brother Dao becomes pleased with himself:”So we didn’t dare go over, but we remember the location. Zhongba also drew that picture thingy.”

Zhu Zhongba is only concerned with stuffing his face with meat. Only now does he look up:”A map.”

“A map?” Lin Yuan and Yang Zi’an says at the same time.

Maps are very important in any era. The map must draw out and label the mountains and rivers, and other important geographical locations. Not just anyone can create maps.

Zhu Zhongba licks the oil from his lips, and says:”It’s drawn a bit crudely.”

Lin Yuan:”Let me see ”

Zhu Zhongba hands the map drawn on a piece of cloth over to Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan examines it for a bit——

“What is this dot?”

Zhu Zhongba explains:”That is a mountain.”

Lin Yuan:”What about this bigger dot?”

Zhu Zhongba explains again:”A bigger mountain.”

Lin Yuan:”Is this a river? It looks like it.”

Zhu Zhongba:”…….that area has a lot of snakes.”

It looks like this map only Zhu Zhongba can make any sense of. Lin Yuan says:”Let me draw a new one, Zhongba you explain it to me.”

Without Zhu Zhongba explaining his map on the side he truly can’t make any sense of it.

Lin Yuan says suddenly:”Zhongba, I have an idea.”

The room falls quiet, everyone knows Lin Yuan is about to say something important. His expression is especially serious, something that isn’t common for him.

Zhu Zhongba also puts down his chopsticks and stands up, standing in front of Lin Yuan:”Boss, do not hesitate on your orders.”

“I plan to take out 100 men.” Lin Yuan says, “for army training.”

Everyone fell silent. Jiang Gui says softly:”A private army…..this……if the imperial court…….”

But Lin Yuan says:”Our place here is removed and desolate. The imperial court does not have the energy to pay attention to us. Besides, we now have vine armors and weapons. It’s time to train our own private army.”

Zhu Zhongba is the first to react. He clasps his fists:”What Boss entrusts me with, I dare not disobey.”

Lin Yuan supports him up with a hand:”It will be called the Tigers and Panthers battalion (TN: from the idiom ‘jackals, wolves, tigers and panthers’ which refer to not just animals who are dangerous to man and cattle but also fierce and cruel people), and you will be the leader.”

Yang Zi’an suddenly coughs lightly.

Lin Yuan understands his meaning but he still says to Zhu Zhongba:”Zhongba, what do you think of changing your name?”

Zhu Zhongba look at him strangely.

But Lin Yuan says:”I have a name to grant you.”

“What do you think of ‘Zhu Yuangzhang’?”

Zhu Zhongba for some reason suddenly falls silent. But soon he looks up at Lin Yuan. His eyes have completely changed, the gaze filled with a penetrating killing intent, but this killing intent is not directed at Lin Yuan.

“Boss’ meaning, I understand. There will be a day when I will kill every one of those brigands (TN: by brigands he is referring to those Mongolian officials that rule Yuan China)!”

Other than Yang Zi’an everyone else is rather confused.

Brother Dao asks Yang Zi’an quietly:”Second brother, what does the name mean?”

Yang Zi’an replies softly:”Zhu Yuanzhang, it is taken from the homonym ‘Zhu Yuan Zhi Zhang’ (TN: meaning to put to death every Yuan).”

But just why does fourth brother have such high hopes for Zhu Yuanzhang?

Yang Zi’an can not make sense of it. That evening he stands outside Lin Yuan’s room, unsure whether to knock on the door. “What is second brother Yang doing standing out here?” Er Liang coincidentally appears carrying a basin of washing water. He pushes the door open and calls out, “young master, second brother Yang is looking for you.”

So the currently hesitant Yang Zi’an could only go inside. The room is warm from the burning firewood, the window only opened a crack. After entering winter, the charcoal burned during the fall came to be of use. Lin Yuan made sure to get across that when burning charcoal the window must be open, otherwise people could die from breathing in the fumes.

The people in the farmstead for some reason listens to Lin Yuan’s words blindly. They do whatever he asks of them and never have second thoughts on it.

Lin Yuan sometimes thinks, they live their lives without any complications, not thinking of anything. Boss tells them to do something they will do it. As long as they don’t need to worry about what they will eat tomorrow.

The need to ponder on things settles only on his shoulders.

Ai.

“Fourth brother.” Yang Zi’an waits until Er Liang leaves before asking, “I understand the importance of training private soldiers, but why do you have Zhu Zhongba take on such responsibility. This person has only just arrived not long ago. I have yet to fully see what kind of person he is. What about having brother Dao be the leader and he can be the deputy?”

Lin Yuan sighs again, in truth did he not have the same worries as Yang Zi’an?

But the problem is, before Zhu Yuangzhang became the emperor he was an excellent and unparalleled military general.

The only one to even be on the same level is Chen Youliang.

Only, Zhu Yuanzhang was luckier than Chen Youliang.

Compared to being an emperor, he was much more effective in the area of military and warcraft. Some people say that the truth is only held by a small group of people, but in fact, it is even rarer. But Zhu Yuanzhang just so happens to be one of the rare few who can percieve the truth.

In all of the important battles he participated in, his decisions had all been practically the opposite of everyone else’s. But the result proves that he is always in the right.

Lin Yuan is concerned, if brother Dao is the leader, then at critical moments he will reject Zhu Yuangzhang’s advice in favor of the majority opinion. Then the consequences could be unthinkable.

Now he can only watch each step he takes.

He doesn’t know if Zhu Yuanzhang will be like in history and become one of Guo Zixing’s subordinate. But currently he does not have a better option.

If Zhu Yuanzhang does leave, he doesn’t know what he would do.

Lin Yuan says to Yang Zi’an:”Take the steps one at a time.”

Yang Zi’an may not know what Lin Yuan is thinking but he can make out the determination in the other’s eyes.

“Fourth brother.” Yang Zi’an sits on the side and sighs helplessly, “why are you so anxious.”

Lin Yuan looks surprised.

What should he say? It is already the 9th year of emperor Yuan Shun’s reign. Only 2 years remain until Liu Futong leads an uprising. Fang Guozhen is also waiting for a chance to rebel once again and Xu Shouhui will also rebel 2 years later.

The time does not wait for anyone, the turmoil and chaos of war is just around the corner.

If they don’t have armed power, how can they retain their footing in such turbulent times?

“The issue with Fang Guozhen, I’m afraid second brother has yet to know.” Lin Yuan says, “last year, a person named Cai Luantou rebelled and someone accused Fang Guozhen of colluding with this person. Fang Guozhen killed the accuser and escaped to the sea, gathering a thousand or so of people in a revolt, seizing the shipping canals and the food supply being transported.”

Yang Zi’an narurally does not know this news, he stares fixatedly at Lin Yuan:”What happens next.”

Lin Yuan says:”He took prisoner of the provincial government and requested for a surrender.”

“Nowadays there is a widespread folk song, has second brother heard of it?” Lin Yuan suddenly changes the subject.

Yang Zi’an:”What is it?”

Lin Yuan:”The sky is high the emperor is far, the common people are few the lord masters are many, 1 day 3 beatings, if you don’t rebel what else can you do?”

Yang Zi’an repeats the folk song and then sighs in the end:”Yuan dynasty, its luck has dried, its course has run.”

“Those who revolt, will be more and more.” Lin Yuan looks at Yang Zi’an seriously, “we will inevitably do the same.”

Yang Zi’an:”Fourth brother, if you have orders and yet I hesitate, then I will not be called Yang Zi’an.”

Since they have made the decision to train an armed force then they must put in all their efforts.

Lin Yuan does not place all his hopes that a 100 man army can do much.

Recruiting talents and inviting the valorous is something that he must do, but not now. What they must do now is to elevate their military power.

The number of people will be the most critical element.

Currently the farmstead has a total of 140 grown men, but the farmstead still requires farmers.

Lin Yuan increasingly feels that there is too little people.

He says to Yang Zi’an:”Second brother, I must have people make another trip outside.”

He must go find people.

Yang Zi’an:”To where?”

Lin Yuan stands with one hand placed behind his back and looks out the window to the far off distance.

“Xing Hua city, Taizhou.”

He must find Zhang Shicheng and the ’18 Poles’ recorded in history.

The Zhang Shicheng of now should currently be at the saltpan.

Lin Yuan wants to build up his strength and when the time is right, attack and capture Xing Hua.

And Zhang Shicheng and the other salt miners will be the ones who will lead their way.

Zhang Shicheng and the others are currently still living under oppression. There is large possibility of taking them into his ranks.

“Who will go?” Yang Zi’an says suddenly, “you cannot go.”

Lin Yuan also knows he can not leave now. If he does then the farmstead will be thrown into a panic.

After all, for some reason the people in the farmstead only listens to him.

“I will go.” Yang Zi’an stands, “although I don’t know why you have such high expectations of Zhu Zhongba but I will let you know, I, Yang Zi’an is also not just a rice bucket.”

Lin Yuan is just having a headache over who to send but now that Yang Zi’an willingly steps forward he thinks it over and feels that Yang Zi’an is indeed the best choice.

Not mentioning anything else, Yang Zi’an is cultured at least!

And he is not just a man who goes by the book, most importantly Yang Zi’an knows how to be flexible and adapt to the situation.

Lin Yuan:”Second brother, I will leave it to you.”

“At that time, remember to go to Bai Ju saltpan and find a person named Zhang Shicheng. If you can bring him back it would be the best.”

Yang Zi’an:”What is so special about this person?”

Lin Yuan does not know how to explain so he can only say:”A few years ago we met, he is likely not living very well.”

Yang Zi’an understands.

He thinks Lin Yuan is once again overtaken by kindness and sympathy but he is already used to it.

In any case, the answer manages to trick Yang Zi’an from asking anymore.

After having made the decision, it was time to begin the training and 100 men were picked. Although they have yet to melt metal and make more weapons but the blades taken from the bandits and the soldiers are enough to arm 100 men.

Training soldiers is not a simple thing. Lin Yuan does not understand much, only knowing that back in the modern times the soldiers had physical training and trained also in discipline and obeying orders.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang is a military genius but he has only just started with experience in just managing the oxen belonging to the landowners. It is his first time managing people and while he may have ambitions, but not much changed after several days.

After all these people were either porters or farmers, not soldiers. They don’t understand the army’s discipline.

So Lin Yuan can only take on the responsibility. In any case he can just go by the books. If it works great, if not he’ll just think of another solution.

The first thing they must practice is obeying orders, only after this step will the rest follow.

Lin Yuan stands on a raised platform and says to the people below him:”When I yell charge you will charge in the direction I point to, understood?!”

The men shouts:”Understood!”

Fine…..whether they truly understand or not, in any case they just have to understand the hand signals.

Lin Yuan during the past few days only had them charge in different directions.

After the session, the men sprawl exhausted on the ground but are again called to continue by Yang Zi’an and brother Dao.

It remained the same for a whole week.

By the second week, whenever Lin Yuan raises his hand everyone immediately pays attention. Even before he even shouts an order, just pointing in a certain direction, they have already charged in that direction.

In actuality, training obedience is a rather difficult matter. What Lin Yuan is currently doing is to have them develop automatic responses.

The body acts before the brain even sends down orders.

Only then does he have them pick up weapons, their opponents being immobile wooden stakes.

Lin Yuan points in one direction and they will slash in that direction, until the stakes are all fallen.

Everyday passed with mechanical training and these people’s obedience increased.

Zhu Yuangzhang sits with Lin Yuan and they chat under the stars. He asks:”Boss, how did you come up with such a method?”

How come he didn’t think of it?

Lin Yuan thinks a bit and says:”I saw it in the books.”

Zhu Yuanzhang widens his eyes:”The books even has information on this?”

Lin Yuan smiles:”Sunzi’s Art of War.”

Zhu Yuanzhang sighs:”I hear it often from others but have never seen it.”

In this era, books are luxury items, monopolized by the upper class. The lower class don’t even recognize words, let alone read books.

Zhu Yuanzhang may be literate, but he learned words in Huang Jue temple, the temple’s books of course cannot have anything regarding military topics.

There’s no need to mention the importance of military books. Every ruling class of every dynasty and kingdom would not allow such books to be made public.

Lin Yuan says:”Everyone has his own position. That the inperial court controls this is very normal.”

Zhu Yuanzhang doesn’t understand:”Why?”

Lin Yuan:”In every dynasty there is more importance placed on literary pursuits than in military pursuits. Why?”

Zhu Yuanzhang thinks it over seriously:”If you pursue military career and there is no war then it would be difficult to advance.”

Lin Yuan smiles:”During peaceful times, those with military talent or strength is of the few. Most emperors came into power on the battlefield and will naturally fear that someone will do the same as him and overthrow the previous dynasty.”

“However, like Song dynasty which is well known to be rich and prosperous at its height but with a weak military, you would only be like a lamb for slaughter without military power to guard your riches.”

“With more scholars, the dynasty will remain at peace.”

Zhu Yuanzhang is confused:”A lot of scholars are useless and only rely on their family wealth for a living. Even if all the family wealth is invested in one person he may not even be able to pass the examinations and become an official. What is the point?”

Lin Yuan remembers coming across this question and knows the answer given so repeats it:”Scholars are physically weak and cannot tell apart the different grains. They even have difficulty lifting a hoe. What can they use to revolt? They don’t need to be productive. As long as scholars continue scholarly pursuits, farmers continue farming the land, and merchants continue commerce, the world will be at peace.”

“If you are the emperor, can you tolerate talents and geniuses in your rule?” Lin Yuan asks, “if you are the emperor, you won’t be afraid these talented people gather and overthrow you?”

“The people in power, they see the people as oxen and sheep.”

“The officials as dogs that herd the ox or sheep.”

“The emperor is the owner of the sheep pen.”

Lin Yuan smiles at Zhu Yuanzhang:”In truth, this is an apt discription.”

Zhu Yuanzhang looks at Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan says:”The benevolence of those in power can sometimes be a form of cruelty. The nation is just a large sheep pen. As long as everyone do what they should, naturally the world will be at peace.”

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asks:”Boss, do you also see the farmstead as a sheep pen?”

Lin Yuan pauses, he looks up at the night sky, shaking his head he sighs:”If that day truly does arrive, then I will no longer be myself.”

The emperor is a tiger and a mountain cannot fit two tigers. So quite a lot of emperors killed their subordinates after gaining imperial power.

“Go sleep.” Lin Yuan stands up.

Zhu Yuanzhang also stands:”Boss, I have a last question.”

Lin Yuan:”Ask.”

Zhu Yuanzhang:”Why do you have me be the leader of the Tiger and Panther battalion? Isn’t brother Dao more suitable?”

Lin Yuan says:”Brother Dao has his own role, as for you, you will understand in the future. I only hope that the day when you do understand will not be the day you will take your leave.”

Zhu Yuanzhang is even more confused:”Leave?”

Lin Yuan smiles:”It is too early to speak of this.”

Saying so, Lin Yuan pats Zhu Yuanzhang’s shoulder and heads toward his house.

Leaving Zhu Yuanzhang standing alone under the night sky.

TN: There is actually a bit more from the prespective of the farmstead men and some conflict with Lin Yuan but I’m too tired tonight. Check back tomorrow if you’re interested, I will edit this chapter tomorrow.