Chapter 5: Horse Trading in the Horse Market

Being well-versed in history brings advantages; it is precisely for this reason that Su Tiancheng dared to venture outside Xiangling City to sell warhorses

The court exercises strict control over horses, as a large number of military horses are required for warfare, resulting in a shortage of horses among the populace. Consequently, the horse markets are extremely vibrant. However, these markets are generally located outside the capital, prefectural, and county cities, both to evade government inspections and to maintain the officials' face, as well as to facilitate smooth transactions. The local garrisons and inspection offices are well aware of the situation but turn a blind eye; as long as the market leaders offer a tribute of silver, they remain indifferent and do not interfere.

The former Su Tiancheng, with a mind full of bookish thoughts: "Study diligently to achieve official status, bring glory to the family, and uphold male superiority over female," made him, a person of the 21st century, feel amused and even absurd. Most detestable was that he spent all day long merely studying hard, becoming a student at the age of sixteen, and experiencing such immense pressure that he became obsessed.

This must be described as a tragedy

After Su Tiancheng finished speaking, he took out a silver ingot and handed it to Su Ertong

For safety reasons, Su Tiancheng wore a bamboo hat and covered his face with a veil, making it impossible for anyone to see his features

During the years of the Tianqi and Chongzhen reigns, the disturbances from the Later Jin forced the court to implement a recruitment system specifically for enlisting soldiers. Since these recruited soldiers were to fight, funds were necessary; without money, who would fight for you? The court was unable to provide the necessary funds, and instances of unpaid wages occurred repeatedly, to the extent that in some regions, soldiers went an entire year without receiving their pay and could not afford to eat. Beginning in the first year of Chongzhen, soldiers from various garrisons started to mutiny, gradually becoming the backbone of the peasant uprising forces. As for killing the innocent and claiming credit, it was no longer considered a significant issue. The court was unable to provide the necessary funds, and instances of unpaid wages occurred repeatedly, to the extent that in some regions, soldiers went an entire year without receiving their pay and could not afford to eat. Beginning in the first year of Chongzhen, soldiers from various garrisons started to mutiny, gradually becoming the backbone of the peasant uprising forces. As for killing the innocent and claiming credit, it was no longer considered a significant issue.

Su Tiancheng had already changed his clothes. Fortunately, when Su Ertong went out, he remembered to bring two sets of clothing. What he was wearing was quite good, a brocade robe made of satin, which looked distinctly different from the ordinary.

"Er Tong, find an inn. You will wait at the inn while I ride a horse to the horse market. As for the remaining warhorses, keep a close watch on them. Do not engage with anyone. Ask the innkeeper to assist with feeding them."

After a brief moment of calm, Su Tiancheng began to slowly digest the information in his mind

The greatest difference between the Ming Dynasty and previous dynasties lies in the management of the military, which established the system of military farming. The founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang mandated that all troops under the jurisdiction of the outer garrisons must engage in farming. Most of the land surrounding the garrisons was nationalized, referred to as state-owned land, and allocated to the garrisons. In border areas, one-third of the soldiers defended the city while two-thirds engaged in farming; in the interior, two-fifths defended the city while eight-fifths farmed. Each soldier involved in farming was allocated fifty acres of land, counted as one share, along with plowing oxen and farming tools, and was subject to tax collection. Most of the land surrounding the garrisons was nationalized, referred to as state-owned land, and allocated to the garrisons. In border areas, one-third of the soldiers defended the city while two-thirds engaged in farming; in the interior, two-fifths defended the city while eight-fifths farmed. Each soldier involved in farming was allocated fifty acres of land, counted as one share, along with plowing oxen and farming tools, and was subject to tax collection

This idea was quite good, and initially, the results were very positive. Each garrison was basically self-sufficient, and some of the funds were used for the expansion and repair of the garrisons. However, over time, the military settlement system gradually collapsed.

Why say so much? Take this silver and use it as you wish

The military is overwhelmingly dominant, specifically the external guard. The external guard's military can be broadly categorized into four types: garrison troops, stationed troops, transport troops, and battalion troops. Garrison troops are responsible for guarding cities, patrolling, and coastal defense. Stationed troops engage in agricultural work for military garrisons. Transport troops are responsible for transportation and communication, while battalion troops take turns performing duties in the capital or at the borders.

The military of the Ming Dynasty was divided into two main components: the internal guard and the external guard. The internal guard was further divided into the Capital Garrison and the Imperial Bodyguard. The Capital Garrison was responsible for the defense of the capital, while the Imperial Bodyguard was tasked with guarding the palace and protecting the emperor, among other duties. The Imperial Bodyguard consisted of twelve units, with the first unit being the renowned Jinyiwei. The internal guard held a special status and was not required to engage in agricultural duties.

Seeing this, Su Tiancheng understood that trying to inquire about the price of horse trading was nothing short of a fantasy

After a period of observation, he discovered that the transactions in the horse market were markedly different from ordinary business practices. The horses brought in were all in a designated area, where numerous buyers gathered to inspect them. If a buyer found a horse to their liking, they would negotiate the price directly with the seller. These negotiations were conducted privately, and bystanders had no idea what was being discussed.

At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the total strength of the regular army reached two million, and with the addition of local militias, the total amounted to three million one hundred thousand. Such a large army, relying on the court for sustenance, was highly unlikely. Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang conceived the method of military colonization, allowing the army to sustain itself through soldier farming and tax collection, achieving self-sufficiency

Su Tiancheng quickly realized that he had made a mistake. After wandering around the horse market, he rarely saw anyone dressed like him; even if there were, they were here to purchase horses and accompanied by servants. Leading a warhorse around the market like this, people would certainly know what he was up to

After a considerable amount of time, Su Tiancheng was unable to find the prices for horse trading.

After feeling a bit disappointed, Su Tiancheng quickly adjusted his emotions, realizing that it was not a big deal. Yesterday evening, he encountered a soldier and managed to handle the situation, so selling horses at the horse market was not a significant issue. However, his time was limited, and he could not afford to delay for too long, especially since he had five warhorses in hand that needed to be traded quickly

The number of people in the horse market is truly considerable, bustling with activity. In the early winter season, the cold is biting, yet within the horse market, one can see many bare-chested men, drenched in sweat.

The people here are all shrewd individuals; they have encountered all kinds of situations. If you intend to deceive others, you might as well wait for incidents of murder and robbery to occur. Five soldiers have already been killed, and Su Tiancheng no longer wishes to continue the killings

Su Ertong hurriedly took the silver, as his young master had undergone a tremendous transformation

This ingot of silver, approximately 5 taels in weight

Su Tiancheng was extremely cautious; in such a place, with a mix of various professions and backgrounds, if one cannot ascertain the situation clearly and rashly engages in transactions, one might easily attract unwanted attention from someone.

He feels somewhat discouraged; studying to the point of obsession truly harms people

Without knowing the price, one cannot engage in a transaction. Knowing oneself and knowing the enemy ensures victory in every battle. Regardless of the task at hand, one must have a clear understanding. This is the principle by which Su Tiancheng operates; he must ascertain the price and only proceed with the transaction when his own safety is guaranteed. Otherwise, he would rather refrain from selling the warhorses for the time being

Certainly, there are some objective reasons involved, including the family's indifference, the bullying from the first wife, and the pressures of real life; however, a man must endure the pressure

After a moment of contemplation, Su Tiancheng made up his mind and prepared to commence the transaction. Since he was already here, he would accept the situation. When soldiers come, he would block them; when water comes, he would dam it. By adapting to circumstances, he would be able to handle the current predicament effectively

Children from wealthy families must learn to ride horses, including the accompanying servants, as it reflects the family's prestige. This is akin to how affluent youths in modern society are expected to drive. Su Tiancheng felt fortunate that he knew how to ride a horse

At the hour of the Tiger, Su Tiancheng and Su Ertong arrived outside Xiangling City on horseback

In light of this situation, soldiers began to flee in large numbers, and military households became the poorest group among all registered individuals. In times of poverty, one seeks change; thus, soldiers started to sell their warhorses, weapons, military uniforms, and so on, which became an open secret.

The primary reason is that the taxes imposed on military garrisons are excessively high, even far exceeding the taxes borne by farmers. Soldiers are unable to bear this burden. The military is a place of militarized management; if taxes are not paid, military law will be enforced. However, when farmers cannot pay their taxes, the authorities must take the actual situation into account, and at times, they may turn a blind eye and refrain from collection.

When the hour of the tiger has not yet arrived, the horse market is already bustling with activity. Most transactions take place in the dead of night. After dawn, the horse market becomes desolate, as everyone has their concerns. Conducting horse trades in broad daylight would be an open challenge to the authorities. Furthermore, since the beginning of the year, there have been bandits everywhere in Pingyang Prefecture. The authorities can easily fabricate a reason to label you as a bandit, confiscate your horses, leading to a situation where both your wealth and life are at stake

The trading in the horse market is quite bustling, with people everywhere holding torches. Horses are continuously being led into the market, either being walked in or ridden in. Before long, some individuals ride out on horses, clearly indicating that a transaction has been successfully completed

Young master, I do not need so much silver; one tael is sufficient

The Ming Dynasty implemented a system of professional military service. This meant that once a person served in the military, they remained a soldier for life, with the system of replacement by sons upon the father's death, a hereditary practice. Families of soldiers were referred to as military households, and their household registration was directly managed by the Ministry of War. Soldiers received different salaries and allowances based on the ranks of officers and soldiers, with higher ranks receiving higher pay. Soldiers retired at the age of sixty and enjoyed preferential treatment according to their rank, although the retirement benefits for ordinary soldiers were quite meager.