Chapter 131: Guard City

After Wang Dou returned to the fortress, he took out thirty percent of the captured goods to reward the troops, making the soldiers who had gone out to battle overjoyed.

Wang Dou instructed Lin Daofu to store the remaining silver, grain, livestock, and supplies in the warehouse, and to settle the soldiers and civilians who had either volunteered or been lured away, registering them all into the military household rolls of Shunxiang Fort, bringing the fort's population to over twelve thousand.

After arranging all this, Wang Dou ordered the clerk Feng Dachang to write a victory report to the Department City Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng, reporting the triumph. The twenty Qing prisoner heads and the eighteen newly taken heads were all included. Even though twenty heads had been given to Yang Dongmin a few days earlier, Shunxiang Fort's headcount still reached two hundred and sixty-one.

In the victory report, Wang Dou also mentioned leading troops to seize a large amount of population and supplies. Such a major event could not be concealed, but Wang Dou was somewhat vague, glossing over it with the single phrase "countless spoils captured."

Wang Dou had sent the victory report to the Department City yesterday afternoon. Upon receiving it, Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng was dumbfounded. Ten days ago, when Wang Dou reported a total of two hundred and forty-three heads, he was already shocked. He never expected that ten days later, Wang Dou's headcount would increase to two hundred and eighty-one. Xu Zucheng knew Wang Dou had given twenty heads to Yang Dongmin, but even so, counting solely for Shunxiang Fort, the headcount was still two hundred and sixty-one.

Such immense merit made Xu Zucheng's hands and feet tremble slightly, especially since Wang Dou was audacious to the extreme, daring to lead troops to rob the population and wealth being escorted by the Qing soldiers, and he succeeded! Although he did not know how much population and wealth Wang Dou had seized, this level of daring was probably unique in the entire Xuanfu Garrison.

Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng and his trusted general Yang Dongmin sat staring at each other for half an hour. After Yang Dongmin reminded him, Xu Zucheng suddenly jumped up and told Yang Dongmin to invite the Department City Clerk Chen Yuwen over. Based on the experience of the previous days, Xu Zucheng judged that Wang Dou's victory report must be true. He invited Chen Yuwen only to polish the report slightly.

After Chen Yuwen polished the victory report from Shunxiang Fort, Xu Zucheng impatiently dispatched several of his most elite retainers to deliver the report by fast horse to Baoan Guard City.

When the victory report reached Baoan Guard City, it was already evening. Garrison Commander Li Yi was having his dinner. At first, when he took the report, he was somewhat casual, but after clearly seeing the contents, he immediately stood up. His movement was so violent and forceful that he nearly knocked the rice bowl in front of him flying.

But he seemed oblivious, only urgently summoning Xu Zucheng's several retainers to his study for detailed questioning. After questioning them for a long time, he was still uneasy and summoned the officials of the Guard City to the Garrison Commander's hall for discussion.

Unbelievable, incredible—this was the view of the major officials and officers in the Guard City. Finally, Li Yi's trusted aide, the Guard Assistant Regional Commander, Chief Clerk, and overall manager of Baoan Guard's training affairs, Guard City Central Battalion Commander Wang Captain, proposed a prudent method: summon both the Department City Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng and the Garrison Commander of Shunxiang Fort, Wang Dou, to the Guard City for detailed questioning, and then send someone to the Department City to verify the heads before making a decision.

His prudent method received unanimous approval from the officials of the Guard City. After the discussion, it was already dark, but Garrison Commander Li Yi, unable to contain his excitement, still dispatched several of his most elite retainers that night to accompany Xu Zucheng's men back, informing Department City Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng of the Garrison Commander's decision.

Upon learning that the Garrison Commander wished to see him, Xu Zucheng was also very excited, which led to his trusted general Yang Dongmin rushing to Shunxiang Fort early this morning.

Yang Dongmin sighed to Wang Dou, "Brother, I truly admire you. A few days ago, when you took two hundred and forty-three heads, Officer Xu and I were already shocked. I never expected the headcount to now reach two hundred and eighty-one. This, tsk tsk..."

Wang Dou smiled slightly, "It is two hundred and sixty-one heads. The other twenty were earned by you, Brother Yang, through bitter fighting."

"Without the Garrison Commander's steady command and your kind words, Brother, which brought those cannons and equipment from the Department City, whether my Shunxiang Fort could have held out this time would be questionable, let alone those headcounts."

Yang Dongmin patted Wang Dou's shoulder, shaking his head and sighing. He said, "On my way here, I saw that the three forts—Dongjiazhuang, Xinzhuang, and Jingbian Fort—have been destroyed again. Brother, your losses this time are not small."

Yang Dongmin knew Wang Dou had burned three more forts. On one hand, he was shocked by Wang Dou's ruthlessness and decisiveness; on the other hand, he knew Wang Dou's vitality was severely damaged this time. All the forts under his jurisdiction were destroyed, and Shunxiang Fort was so heavily damaged that it might not recover for several years.

Wang Dou said dejectedly, "I had no choice. To resist the war and kill the enemy, it had to be so."

Yang Dongmin comforted Wang Dou, "Don't worry, brother. The Garrison Commander and the Garrison Commander are benevolent. They will surely replenish the population and wealth lost within your territory."

He opened his mouth but did not ask Wang Dou how much population and wealth he had seized from the Qing soldiers during this raid. According to his and Xu Zucheng's estimation, Wang Dou's act of snatching food from a tiger's mouth, even if he could seize some wealth and population, the amount of plundered supplies must be limited. They would just consider these supplies as compensation for Shunxiang Fort's losses this time; after all, the benefits they had reaped from Wang Dou were not few.

Of course, it would be even better if Wang Dou was tactful and offered some tribute afterward.

He only said to Wang Dou, "Brother, the Garrison Commander has urgently sent an order, specifically requesting to see..."

Yang Dongmin urged him urgently. Wang Dou quickly made arrangements. Besides his own several guards, he also brought Han Chao along.

Apart from that, he also brought some silver.

Before leaving, Wang Dou took out one hundred taels of silver for Yang Dongmin, smiling slightly, "Brother Yang, you have worked hard. This silver is a small token of my regard; please do not think it too little."

Yang Dongmin looked at the silver in Wang Dou's hand, his large eyes widening. He quickly accepted it, laughing heartily, "Brother, you are too polite. Well, if I don't accept your regard, it would be disrespectful to you instead."

He beamingly put the silver away. Additionally, Wang Dou had two hundred taels of silver as tribute for Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng. All that silver had been processed, the inscriptions and stamps on it all disappeared, so it could be used openly.

Wang Dou rode swiftly, following Yang Dongmin to the Department City. He saw that the area inside and outside the Department City was still on full alert, the city gates tightly shut, and soldiers patrolling the walls continuously. Seeing Yang Dongmin return, the soldiers on the wall quickly opened the gate. When they saw Wang Dou and his men beside Yang Dongmin, and the banners unfurled by his guards, astonished murmurs continuously arose. It was likely that many in the city already knew about the events at Shunxiang Fort.

Amidst gazes as if watching mythical beasts, Wang Dou, Han Chao, and the others entered the city. Compared to the previously bustling Department City, the vast Baoan Department City was now desolate, with few people seen on the streets, only patrolling soldiers constantly moving. Seeing Wang Dou and his group approach, they similarly cast astonished and admiring glances, whispering incessantly, making the guards beside Wang Dou proudly puff out their chests.

Yang Dongmin observed this and said with emotion, "Brother, you are truly a hero. Taking two hundred and eighty-one heads—I fear no officer in the entire Eastern Route has such merit. I truly hope that someday I can also fight a real battle against the Tatars and genuinely cut off some Tatar heads."

Yang Dongmin considered himself brave, leading the most elite officers and soldiers in the Department City and the Garrison Commander's over one hundred retainers, yet he could only shrink within the Department City all day, relying on the heads Wang Dou gave him to count as military merit. For a hereditary Ming officer with pride in his bones like him, this was a regret. Along the way, the respect those Department City soldiers showed Wang Dou came from the heart. This kind of respect was something even Yang Dongmin, as the Garrison Commander's trusted general, could not obtain. Hence his heartfelt sentiment. Wang Dou was about to say something, but Yang Dongmin waved his hand and said, "Brother, hurry and see the Garrison Commander."

Arriving in front of the Garrison Commander's residence in the corner of the city, after announcing themselves, Wang Dou was surprised to see Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng come out to greet them with a smile. Beside him was the Agricultural Officer of Baoan Department City, Zhang Gui.

"Wang Dou, after crossing Zhenhai Bridge, the Guard City is just ahead. When you meet the Garrison Commander later, you must be cautious in your words and actions, and just do as I tell you."

Beside Wang Dou, Xu Zucheng pointed at the large city ahead and solemnly instructed Wang Dou.

After meeting Garrison Commander Xu Zucheng in the Department City, following some praise and another round of whispered conversation, Xu Zucheng impatiently led Wang Dou and his men out of the city, heading to Baoan Guard City.

The group exited the Department City, crossed the Yanghe River, then the Qingshui River, and traveled twenty li north. They soon arrived outside the west gate of Baoan Guard City, at a place called Zhenhai Bridge. Zhenhai Bridge was not far from the west gate, reportedly built by a man from Baoan Guard named Song Hu during the Jiajing era. Another li ahead, and they would be at the foot of the Guard City.

The current Baoan Guard City was located within the boundaries of later Huailai County. Before the city was built, it was called Leijia Station, just a small post station. During the "Tumu Incident" that year, after the Ming Yingzong Emperor was captured, he was escorted to Leijia Station to meet the Oirat Grand Preceptor Esen. In view of this, to screen the capital, during the Jingtai era, the Great Ming changed the situation where Baoan Department and Guard shared the same city, moving Baoan Guard City to Leijia Station and beginning to build a new city. After completion, the Guard City was called Baoan New City, and the original Baoan Department City was called Baoan Old City.

After Baoan Guard City was established, its jurisdiction was vast, encompassing six Battalion Commander garrisons: Front, Rear, Left, Right, Center, and North, with a total of one hundred and twenty-seven forts within its territory. The land was fertile, making it an important grain storage area for the Eastern Route of Xuanfu Garrison.

Inside the Guard City were the Baoan Guard Regional Military Commission and the Baoan New City Garrison Commander's Hall, and even a Confucian Temple, something not even found in Baoan Department City.

Now before Wang Dou's eyes was the majestic form of Baoan Guard City. The city wall was over seven li in circumference and three zhang five chi high—a colossal entity, almost twice the size of Baoan Department City.

Old White Bull: Sorry, something happened at my shop these past few days, nearly causing my storefront to close. I've been dealing with it these days, expending a great deal of energy and money, and even using up all the favors accumulated over the past two years in one go.

These past few years have been a bit rough. The bookstore and clothing store closed one after another, leaving only the restaurant. My current monthly income: over a thousand comes from royalties, over eight thousand from the storefront. If the store is gone, I'm finished too. My writing relies on passion, and my speed is unstable. Relying solely on those royalties cannot support myself and my family.

Since it concerned my most important livelihood, once I got busy, I had no energy to go online or post a notice to tell everyone. Sorry, sorry.

Tonight I still have to go out for an engagement, hosting a group of influential people. The matter should be resolved.