Chapter Ninety-Five: Crowdfunding

With Tang Tian's support, the issue of horses was easily resolved; the next challenge was manpower and funding. How could they recruit five hundred sturdy men? And how would they prepare military supplies?

The Tang Dynasty's militia system was advanced in some aspects and backward in others. After its establishment, it stipulated that every three years, new recruits would be selected to fill vacancies, with the service period spanning from twenty-one to fifty-nine years of age. During their service, militia members were exempt from taxes and corvée labor, but had to provide their own military equipment, clothing, light weapons (bows, arrows, sabers), and food for the journey to their posts. Each squad of ten was also required to collectively supply six horses for transport (or donkeys), known as "six pack horses." Providing these supplies was a heavy burden for farmers, but for those with the means to recruit from Luoyang, it posed no difficulty.

He summoned the Yang brothers, Yang Chengxian and Cheng Boxi, and sent invitations to affluent acquaintances in Luoyang: Boss Huang, Gao Balian, three major pharmacy merchants—Hu Merchant Momoye, Wang Yanliang the trader, Fang Shuozhi—the renowned slave master Minimi, and the great Qirite merchant Kongcaien. He hoped to crowdfund their support.

To his surprise, all those invited showed up. Did they really have so much spare time? To have such esteemed guests attend for his sake left him both honored and astonished.

Among the merchants, Boss Huang and Gao Balian were close to Feng Xiaobao and supported him wholeheartedly. Minimi and Kongcaien, though mere acquaintances, unexpectedly came as soon as they received his invitation.

It was clear that the success of such tycoons was never accidental; recognizing talent was a skill they had mastered. Here was a young man who started from nothing, whose business was modest yet never lacked for cash, whose abilities grew rapidly, and whose reputation soared. Even his extraordinary friendship with the Princess had become public knowledge—truly impressive!

Not just anyone could win the favor of a Tang Princess!

Though currently his rank was no more than a lowly "Assistant Scholar," the lowest of titles, he was appointed by the Empress herself. How many could claim such a distinction?

Though Feng Xiaobao was but a minor figure, the gathering of these magnates was like giving him coal in the snow, far more precious than a future celebration.

That day, as snowflakes drifted, the great merchants arrived one after another at the meeting venue—Yunfeng Grand Restaurant, the Princess's own property.

Yunfeng Grand Restaurant was three stories high: the first floor for casual guests, the second for private rooms, and the third reserved for high-status meetings. Here, everyone assembled to discuss matters.

Feng Xiaobao waited at the staircase on the third floor, greeting his guests. He was not surprised to see the tycoons arrive; he had already received word of their acceptance.

Most were acquaintances of Feng Xiaobao; those brought by Yang Chengxian and Cheng Boxi were few in number and quickly relegated to supporting roles.

The Yang family, lacking in resources, could not summon much help—another reason why Yang Chengxian's father, Yang Deqing, treated Feng Xiaobao so warmly; he needed to bolster his own family's position.

As for Cheng Boxi, being of illegitimate birth, he could not garner much support.

It was simply the way of things: the main branch and the secondary, if all went to the latter, what would be left for the former?

...

In the spacious hall of Yunfeng Grand Restaurant, everyone gathered together. Besides Feng Xiaobao and his two companions, the guests included the merchants, the chief steward of the Princess's residence, and the manager of the Gold Blade King (Marquis of Hexi County).

Feng Xiaobao greeted everyone with a clasped hands, saying, "Welcome, and thank you all for your support and attendance!"

Everyone responded politely, "It's our duty, it's our duty!"

"I, along with Yang Chengxian and Cheng Boxi, wish to respond to the court's call and recruit brave men to fight on the frontlines against Tibet."

"I have already received the Ministry of War's order, permitting me to form three militia regiments, each of two hundred men. The official approval is pending." At once, one of Feng Xiaobao's men stepped forward to display the document, bearing the government seal—unmistakably genuine.

"This is Tang Shiyi Niang from the Tang family of Liangzhou! She represents the Tang family in sponsoring eight hundred Hexi horses for my three regiments!" Feng Xiaobao introduced Tang Tian.

At his words, a buzz swept through the crowd.

Everyone knew that Hexi horses, compared to steppe horses, were taller, more powerful, and could bear greater loads, though they were harder to care for and posed greater logistical challenges.

Eight hundred Hexi horses—a remarkable gesture!

Valued at a hundred strings of cash each, that amounted to eighty thousand strings! (Ordinary steppe horses ranged from twenty-five to fifty strings, with even cheaper ones unsuitable for military use.)

"Many here know me, so I'll spare you the unnecessary words!" Tang Tian stood, speaking briskly. "On behalf of the Tang family, I am sponsoring eight hundred Hexi horses for Master Feng!"

She displayed the stamped certificate of donation.

Her bold move set the tone. The offer of eight hundred Hexi horses stirred the crowd; no man wished to let a woman outshine them.

"Very well! Those with money, give money; those with men, provide men. Please!" Feng Xiaobao called out.

Boss Huang, closest to Feng Xiaobao, stood first. "Everyone, Tang Shiyi Niang has set an example. We cannot fall behind. I donate ten thousand strings!"

Ten thousand strings!

Though Tang Tian's eight hundred horses were impressive, they were tangible assets. Boss Huang's ten thousand strings were hard cash—a significant sum.

Gao Balian followed immediately. "I also donate ten thousand strings!"

The three major pharmacy merchants—Hu Merchant Momoye, Wang Yanliang, and Fang Shuozhi—each generously donated ten thousand strings.

Minimi, the slave master, and Kongcaien, the Qirite merchant, exchanged glances and smiled. Kongcaien stood and declared, "Each of us will donate fifteen thousand strings!"

Their declaration drew attention. Though not particularly close to Feng Xiaobao, their support was unexpectedly strong!

The two foreign merchants remained composed; they knew far more than most, such as how Feng Xiaobao achieved the rank of Assistant Scholar.

Feng Xiaobao had established ties with the Empress, and even the powerful Pei family had been humbled by him. Such a formidable youth deserved their wholehearted support.

The Qirite people were skilled at making money, but they claimed to be even better at recognizing talent!

Spotting a promising prospect, they invested heavily—anything less would be unworthy of their reputation.

With eighty thousand strings as a foundation, contributions from the Yang and Cheng families, as well as Feng Xiaobao's neighbors, followed. For example, an elderly man named "Cao Sanlang," who owned three rental shops in the South Market, usually kept a low profile and dressed plainly but donated three thousand strings—on the condition that his grandson, Cao Ba, be included among the recruits.

Thus, donations kept rising, finally reaching one hundred and one thousand strings.

It was a substantial sum; only by drawing on the resources of Luoyang could such wealth be assembled!

With the funds secured, the next step was to gather manpower.

Feng Xiaobao himself recruited fifty men, his own loyal followers from the Luoyang area, many of whose families had ties to him, such as Cao Ba and Zong Jiu (sons of old neighbors from the Lao Jun Temple).

The Princess's residence provided Feng Xiaobao with one hundred strong men!

These hundred were extraordinary—eighty were fierce warriors, nothing like ordinary militia.

As they were deployed, their ease in mounting horses and handling weapons revealed their experience; those in the know whispered, "These are battle-hardened veterans!"

They were the most capable group among all, especially their leader Fan Wushang, whose broad face and fierce gaze, coupled with a murderous aura, marked him as a formidable and powerful man—surely of general rank in the army. Yet he had joined Feng Xiaobao's small force?

Where on earth had Feng Xiaobao found such treasures?!