Chapter 118: Volume 3: Shunxiang Fortress Garrison Commander, Chapter 118: The Huailong Military Defense Circuit

Wang Dou warmly welcomed Yang Dongmin and his party. This burly, solidly built middle-aged military officer could not help exclaiming in repeated astonishment when he saw the brutal traces of war inside and outside the city.

Regarding the fighting of the past few days, Wang Dou said little, only briefly remarking that the Tatar grand army had besieged the fortress, the troops and civilians within had fought bitterly before finally beating back their assault, but that his own losses had been severe, with the trained militia within the fortress suffering heavy casualties.

Yang Dongmin expressed his understanding. He saw the fortress packed with people, teams of able-bodied men busy in the streets — Wang Dou had actually moved all the military households from every garrison village in his territory into Shunxiang Fortress, completely abandoning the outer villages. No wonder he had seen not a single soul in the villages along his way here. Such an act was not something an ordinary man could accomplish; he was deeply astonished by Wang Dou's boldness — a classic case of killing a thousand of the enemy while losing eight hundred of your own.

After a few words of pleasantries, Yang Dongmin conveyed the condolences of Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng to Wang Dou, and then, without even waiting for supper, he could not wait to see the fruits of Wang Dou's decapitations.

Wang Dou led him to the storehouse, where one area was piled high with Qing soldier heads preserved in lime, every one of them baring teeth and grimacing, their faces hideously fierce.

Yang Dongmin personally inspected the heads. He painstakingly examined them one by one, meticulously studying the facial features, queue hairstyle, teeth, and other characteristics of each head. Once he confirmed one, he set it aside, while the several retainers beside him kept count aloud in detail.

Before he knew it, all the heads had been fully inspected and were piled into a tall heap. His face and those of his retainers all showed expressions of shock and awe — it was indeed two hundred and forty-three heads decapitated, without the slightest adulteration, and not a single head was from killing civilians to pass off as merit. Genuine, every one of them, all true Tatar heads.

Yang Dongmin stared at Wang Dou, speechless: "Brother... brother, you..."

After a long while, he let out a breath, his face showing an expression of envy: "To have taken so many heads, brother, your merit is no small thing."

Wang Dou smiled faintly: "Was it not thanks to the Garrison Commander's steady command, plus Brother Yang's coordinated and valiant fighting, that this little brother achieved such merit?"

He pointed at the heads over there and said: "Brother Yang, you personally led your troops to cut down twenty of those thieving slave heads, were wounded in several places, yet still fought to the death without retreating — such martial valor and loyalty truly compel admiration..."

Yang Dongmin stared blankly at Wang Dou. After a long moment, hot tears welled up in his eyes. He stepped forward and gave Wang Dou a fierce bear hug, choking with emotion: "Brother, the way you conduct yourself... truly beyond words. Tell me, whatever you need your elder brother to help with, speak freely. If I fail to do it, may heaven strike me down with thunder!"

Yang Dongmin had never imagined Wang Dou would yield twenty of those precious heads to him. He was now a Battalion Commander; with these heads, promotion was just a matter of time.

Wang Dou sighed: "The thieving slave grand army besieged the city; our Shunxiang Fortress suffered grievous losses, the militia nearly wiped out. In the fighting days ago, the fortress lacked sufficient cannon fire, so we had to let the brothers fill the gap with their lives..."

At this point, he shook his head and continued: "This little brother asks for nothing else, only hopes that Brother Yang, upon returning, will speak with the Garrison Commander and have him transfer a batch of cannon and equipment to me."

Yang Dongmin beat his chest so hard it thundered: "Brother, you treat your elder brother so generously — if I cannot handle even such a trifling matter, would I still be a man?"

That evening Wang Dou hosted a banquet for Yang Dongmin and his party; host and guests parted only after thoroughly enjoying themselves. Early the next morning, Yang Dongmin set off back to the prefectural city. At his departure, beaming with joy, he took twenty Qing soldier heads with him. The remaining heads were still kept at Shunxiang Fortress. With the Qing grand army now massed and the roads everywhere impassable, they would have to wait until the Qing troops withdrew before the prefectural city could report the victory to the Huailai Military Defense Circuit and the Provincial Governor at the garrison city.

Wang Dou had Lin Daofu lead three hundred able-bodied men from the military households, and also had Han Chao lead a troop of soldiers as escort, to accompany Yang Dongmin and the others to the prefectural city. To say nothing of the uproar the news of Wang Dou's great victory caused within the prefectural city, or how Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng beamed with delight.

By evening, Lin Daofu, Han Chao, and the others returned to Shunxiang Fortress, and they brought back with them a large batch of cannon and equipment.

Within Bao'an Prefectural City there were five Divine Might Invincible Grand General iron cannons, twenty sets of bronze Frankish breech-loaders, thirty sets of iron Frankish breech-loaders, twenty-five small bronze cannons, eighty small iron cannons. In addition, there were several dozen to over a hundred each of Three Generals cherry- ball cannons, cup-mouth cannons, mother-and-son cannons, and small grip cannons.

With Wang Dou's military merit heads verified as genuine, Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng was in excellent spirits. Moreover, with Yang Dongmin vigorously lobbying at his side, Xu Zucheng generously allocated a batch of cannon and equipment to Wang Dou.

It comprised: ten sets of bronze and iron Frankish breech-loaders, twenty small bronze and small iron cannons, plus fifteen Three Generals cherry-ball cannons — that is, Crouching Tiger cannons. In addition, there were eighty-eight large rocket arrows of the three types — flying spears, flying knives, and flying swords — as well as several large bundles of single rocket arrows.

Besides these cannons and rockets, Lin Daofu and the others also carried back several large vats of refined fierce fire oil from the prefectural city. This "fierce fire oil" was specially processed and manufactured by the Great Ming Armory Bureau and distributed down to the various garrison commands and guard battalions across the realm. With this "fierce fire oil," they could fill it into jars, ignite it, and hurl it out to burn the enemy's siege equipment and roast those dog-spawned bastards alive.

After the cannon and equipment were transported to Shunxiang Fortress, Wang Dou and the others were overjoyed beyond measure. With these newly added weapons, even if the Qing masses came again, they would have nothing to fear.

On the thirteenth day of the seventh month of the ninth year of the Chongzhen reign, at Huailai Guard City.

Huailai City fell under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Route of the Huailong Circuit of Xuanfu Garrison. The cities belonging to this route included several major ones: Bao'an Prefectural City, Bao'an Guard City, Huailai City, Yongning City, and Yanqing Prefectural City.

Apart from the Yongning Assistant Regional Commander of the Eastern Route, who was stationed at Yongning City, the Military Defense Circuit Intendant, the Mobile Corps Commander, the Grain Supply Assistant Prefect, and the Huailai Guard City Garrison Commander of the Huailong Circuit's Eastern Route were all stationed within Huailai City. Within the city were established the Military Defense Circuit Tribunal, the Mobile Corps Command Headquarters, the Baoding Provisional Prefecture, the Garrison Commander's Official Hall, the Huailai Guard Command Headquarters, and other government offices.

In later ages, most of Huailai City would lie submerged beneath the Guanting Reservoir, but in the Great Ming of this time, the city was a critical military stronghold. The Xuanfu Garrison Gazetteer once stated: "Though Huailai is but a hundred li in circuit, it screens Xuan Garrison to the west and shields Juyong Pass to the east. To the north it confronts the thrusts of Qianggan and Dishuiya, to the south it protects the perilous points of Baiyang and Zhenbiancheng. In former dynasties, garrisons were arrayed and troops stationed here, regarding it as a vital strategic town." It also said: "The critical strategic zone of Xuan Garrison lies not in the garrison city, but in Huailai."

A place of such importance naturally had high and thick city walls. Huailai City had a circumference of seven li and two hundred twenty-two paces, with walls three zhang and four chi high. Atop the ramparts were built three gate towers and three corner towers. Three city gates opened to the east, south, and west, each protected by a barbican. In the fourteenth year of the Wanli reign, the entire city was faced with brick, and a moat was built outside the walls, one zhang deep and one zhang wide.

Not only that, but the city walls were densely lined with cannons: nearly seventy sets of large and small bronze and iron Frankish breech-loaders, nearly one hundred fifty small bronze and small iron cannons, one hundred fifty Crouching Tiger cannons, twenty-four mother-and-son cannons, and one thousand two hundred small grip cannons. There were also multiple Invincible General large iron cannons.

Beyond this, within the city were nearly five thousand troops — mobile troops and circuit-standard garrison troops led by the Huailai Garrison Commander and the Eastern Route Mobile Corps Commander. Huailai Guard had over six thousand seven hundred military households, most of them gathered within this guard city, so there were multitudes of able-bodied militiamen available for defense. Yet all of this could not erase the inner fear and unease of Ji Shiwei, the Huailong Military Defense Circuit Intendant.

The setting sun at dusk, the scenery was very beautiful.

"On the Kaiping road at sunset, the ancient county town of Huailai; a few households with only earthen huts, yet a traveling palace for the sovereign's ten thousand chariots. Snow heaps the mountain passes in grandeur, dust follows the post-horses lightly; people stand side by side on the long bridge, still loving this river's clarity." In the poet's brush, Huailai City was so full of poetic charm. Huailai City leaned against Mount Woniu to the north and faced the Guishui River to the south. In days past, the clearing after rain in the eastern suburbs, the moon setting over the western crags, and the clouds soaring above the northern ridge were all among Huailai's beautiful scenes, places where scholars and maidens came for leisure.

But all this beauty before their eyes was now ruined by the dense mass of Qing military tents outside the city. Over there, the banners were all of one color — white bordered with red — precisely the troops of the Qing Bordered White Banner.

"The thieving slaves' power is immense."

Gazing at the great Qing encampment outside the city, Ji Shiwei, the Huailong Military Defense Circuit Intendant, let out a long sigh after a long while.

Ji Shiwei was forty-seven this year. He held the post of Xuanfu Garrison Huailong Circuit Military Defense Intendant in the capacity of Vice Commissioner of the Shandong Provincial Surveillance Commission, supervising the troops, horses, funds, and grain of the region, and concurrently managing military farmlands and horse administration. He had a refined, scholarly appearance, with three long tufts of beard flowing gracefully. By the aesthetic standards of the Great Ming officialdom, he was a handsome man, quite in keeping with the official bearing and decorum expected in bureaucratic circles. His steady rise through the ranks had much to do with his appearance as well.

After assuming his post, Ji Shiwei had once been full of grand ambitions, but faced with reality, he discovered his own powerlessness. In just a few years in the Huailong Circuit, he had already twice experienced Qing armies besieging the city — he could only cry out in helpless frustration.

At this moment, standing beside Ji Shiwei were also Feng Shilei, the Assistant Prefect of Baoding Prefecture; Mao Bin, the Eastern Route Mobile Corps Commander; and Huang Changyi, the Huailai Garrison Commander. Except for Feng Shilei, the military officers all treated Ji Shiwei with the utmost deference.

Strictly speaking, Ji Shiwei, the Military Defense Circuit Intendant, held a rank of only Principal Fourth Grade, whereas Mao Bin, the Eastern Route Mobile Corps Commander, held a rank of Principal Third Grade, serving as Mobile Corps Commander in the capacity of Assistant Regional Military Commissioner of the Wanshan Regional Military Commission. And Huang Changyi, the Huailai Garrison Commander, served as Garrison Commander in the capacity of Huailai Guard Commander, likewise holding a rank of Principal Third Grade.

However, in the Great Ming, civil officials were esteemed above military ones. Ji Shiwei's status as Military Defense Circuit Intendant allowed him to deal with the Xuanfu Garrison Vice Regional Commander as an equal, to say nothing of the Mobile Corps Commander — even the Yongning Assistant Regional Commander of the Eastern Route was likewise subject to his oversight and direction. Thus, the two men's utterly deferential demeanor before Ji Shiwei was understandable.

Not only that, but the two men were equally deferential before Feng Shilei, even though Feng Shilei was merely a minor official of Principal Sixth Grade.

The Great Ming implemented a multi-tiered civil official management system of Supreme Commanders, Provincial Governors, and Military Defense Circuit Intendants across the various frontier garrisons, responsible for the military and administrative affairs of an entire garrison or a single circuit. Similarly, in each garrison, each circuit, and each prefecture, officials of the Ministry of Revenue — such as Ministry of Revenue Bureau Directors, Prefectural Vice Prefects, and Assistant Prefects — were appointed to oversee the receipt and disbursement of an entire circuit's military provisions and pay.

Though the Vice Prefect and Assistant Prefect were minor officials, they controlled the provision of grain, fodder, and supplies to the armies of the various circuits. They were the very lifeline of the circuit's commanding officers — who would dare offend them? In many places across the Great Ming, even Assistant Regional Commanders with official ranks of Deputy Second Grade had to submit to the supervision and direction of these Principal Sixth Grade Assistant Prefects.

"Yes, yes, the thieving slaves' power is immense, the thieving slaves' power is immense indeed."

Upon hearing Ji Shiwei's words, Mao Bin and Huang Changyi hurriedly echoed in agreement, making Ji Shiwei sigh even more.

Unexpectedly, at that moment a voice rang out: "The military men of Xuan Garrison are all worthless drunkards and gluttons, letting the slave bandits run rampant."

It was Feng Shilei, the Assistant Prefect of Baoding Prefecture, who had spoken as if to himself, utterly disregarding the strange looks cast at him by Mao Bin and Huang Changyi.

Feng Shilei was forty-three this year. In his capacity as Baoding Prefecture Assistant Prefect, he was responsible for the grain and pay affairs of the Huailong Circuit's Eastern Route. Within Huailai City there was a Baoding Provisional Prefecture for him to reside in. Although the Eastern Route of Xuanfu Garrison had several prefectures, there was only one Grain Supply Assistant Prefect — him. Because he controlled the grain and pay for the entire circuit's army, no one inside or outside Huailai City dared show him disrespect, which had given him quite a temper.

Ji Shiwei frowned slightly and said, "Sir Feng, guard your words."

As for Feng Shilei, Ji Shiwei could not say much. Feng Shilei was an official of the Ministry of Revenue, belonging to a different system. Although he was subject to Ji Shiwei's oversight, his direct superior was the Ministry of Revenue Bureau Director at the garrison city. Yet with a great enemy before them, especially with several military men at his side, if Feng Shilei's words caused discord between the civil and military officials, that would be a grave taboo. Thus, his words carried a note of reproach.

Feng Shilei cupped his hands toward Ji Shiwei, then looked outside the city and frowned: "More commoners have been seized and dragged into the bandit camp. Alas."

Ji Shiwei gazed outside the city and also shook his head with a sigh: "In times of national crisis, one longs for good generals. This official sits by and watches the people being plundered and suffering, yet is utterly helpless — truly shameful."

He abruptly turned to the Eastern Route Mobile Corps Commander Mao Bin and Huailai Garrison Commander Huang Changyi beside him and said: "General Mao, Garrison Commander Huang, do you two dare to sally forth and recapture the seized commoners?"

Mao Bin was taken aback. His face turned pale, then flushed. He said in a low voice: "Military Defense Intendant, the slave bandits' power is immense, likely close to ten thousand strong. If our troops sally forth, I fear the odds are grim. It would be better to defend rigorously to the death. Huailai's walls are high and its moats deep; the slave soldiers surely cannot break in."

Huailai Garrison Commander Huang Changyi also earnestly pleaded, repeatedly saying that sallying forth would undoubtedly be like striking a rock with an egg. If the Qing troops seized the momentum to attack and enter, the commoners, troops, and civilians of the entire Huailai City would find it hard to escape — it was better to guard the city cautiously.

Hearing these two speak thus, Ji Shiwei could only heave a long sigh and abandon the thought of sending the army out of the city to fight.

He gazed at the great Qing encampment outside the city for a while, then looked far off toward the northwest of the city. A matter had been weighing on his mind all along, yet it was not something he could easily speak of to others. He sighed, instructed Mao Bin and the others to maintain the strictest vigilance, and then, under the protection of his personal guards, headed back into the city.

Inside Huailai City, the streets were orderly and the houses neatly arranged. The city had four main thoroughfares — East, South, West, and North Streets — originally a bustling and prosperous place. But with the outbreak of war, every household kept its gates tightly shut, and the streets were desolate and silent, like a ghost town. The occasional pedestrians who passed by all wore expressions of panic and confusion, while only squads of soldiers patrolled back and forth along the streets.

When Ji Shiwei returned to the Military Defense Commissioner's office in the city and reached the rear courtyard of the residence, his wife came out to greet him and asked urgently, "My lord, is there still no news of Jiao'er?"

Ji Shiwei sighed and only shook his head.

His wife grew even more frantic and said rapidly, "This, what is to be done? Ever since the Tartar soldiers came, no word has come back from Jiao'er in Bao'an Prefecture..."

She suddenly shrieked, "She... she couldn't have come to harm?"

Ji Shiwei suddenly erupted in fury: "It's all your fault! You've spoiled her since she was little — look what you've let her become! A young girl, running about everywhere showing her face in public. Well now, her fate is unknown — are you happy now!"

Seeing her husband in such a rage, his wife was stunned. In her memory, her husband had always been gentle and refined, and had never lost his temper at her like this.

She burst into loud weeping, turned and rushed into the rear courtyard, crying out, "I have no wish to live."

The maidservants beside her hurried after her, calling repeatedly, "Madam, Madam..."

Ji Shiwei sat down in vexation, and finally let out a long sigh.

The Qing army's main camp outside Huailai City.

Amid the sprawling rows of tents, before one grand, luxurious tent with a flame-and-silver top stood a massive woven-gold dragon banner. All around were solid white banners with red borders, making that dragon banner stand out as conspicuously as a crane among chickens. In front of the great tent, White Armor Soldiers and Kabsah guards were densely packed.

But from within that great tent at this moment came wave after wave of furious roars and bellows.