Chapter 237: Victorious Reunion

Yang Tinglin was nearly fifty. His bearing carried the aloof pride of a literatus, and a great bushy beard hung all the way down to his chest.

The moment Lu Xiangsheng saw him, he asked hopefully, “Boxiang, what news? Is the Qingyuan county magistrate willing to provide grain?”

Yang Tinglin’s face was full of indignation. He shook his head. “The Qingyuan county magistrate, Zuo Huaibi, refused to supply provisions on the grounds that the city has no grain. I presented your handwritten order and rebuked him in the sternest terms, but he ignored me completely. I was powerless.”

Lu Xiangsheng stood there blankly for a long while. In his heart he understood that Baoding Provincial Governor Zhang Qiping and Qingyuan County Magistrate Zuo Huaibi, having fathomed Grand Secretary Yang Sichang’s intent, meant to cut off his army’s rations entirely. Since receiving the imperial order to come to the Emperor’s aid, he had not feared fighting the Qing troops, but the obstruction from within the court officials exhausted his mind and spirit.

Yang Tinglin simmered with indignation for a long time, then stroked his beard and mused, “My lord, for the present, the only course is to shift the troops to the three prefectures south of the capital. You have long been stationed in Great Ming; the local people are quite loyal and righteous, and the territory there is not yet utterly ravaged, so gathering provisions should be convenient. Once our army has rested and regained its strength, we can then fight a decisive battle to the death with the eastern slaves.”

Lu Xiangsheng shook his head. He had finally made up his mind. He said to Yang Tinglin, “Boxiang, come with me to Zhending. We will beg grain from the local governor and inspector there. I shall lead every last soldier to fight to the death in service of the realm!”

Yang Tinglin said urgently, “My lord, you absolutely must not. Our troops are right now hungry and exhausted. Facing an enemy at the height of its momentum, disaster is more likely than success. It would be better to shift south of the capital.”

Seeing that Lu Xiangsheng’s expression did not waver, he was about to plead further when, at that very moment, the two of them suddenly saw dust and smoke billowing to the north of the camp. Several riders came galloping over. The two looked at each other in puzzlement — where had these few cavalrymen come from?

The camp’s picket riders also rode out to meet them. Very soon, Lu Xiangsheng’s personal general, Chen An, came hurrying over in excitement, leading several Night Scouts from Wang Dou’s army.

The squad commander at their head was Li Youde, a Night Scout from Wang Dou’s army. He tumbled from his saddle, led his several subordinates striding over to pay respects to Lu Xiangsheng, and declared in a loud voice, “Lord Viceroy, our several thousand troops from Bao’anzhou have already crossed the Bao River and will soon reach Baoding!”

“The General says he has brought a large quantity of provisions with the army. He begs the Lord Viceroy on no account to go running about, but to quietly await the General’s wagons and horses!”

Lu Xiangsheng was stunned. “Wang Dou has come? And he has brought a large quantity of provisions?”

…

Very quickly, the news that Wang Dou had arrived and brought a large quantity of provisions with his army spread, instantly causing a stir among the officers and men of the three garrisons of Xuan-Da.

Wang Dou was valiant and skilled in battle; outside the eastern suburbs of the capital he had once taken over two hundred and twenty heads — this everyone knew. They also knew that when the forces were divided, Wang Dou had been assigned to the command of the newly appointed Viceroy of Xuan-Da, Chen Xinjia. How had he come to Baoding? For the moment no one had time to worry about that; they only knew that Wang Dou had brought a large quantity of provisions, and that these ten thousand and more officers and men were saved.

As this explosive news spread, dense crowds of Xuan-Da officers and men immediately surged to the northern side of the camp palisade to gaze in that direction. The Regional Commander of Xuanfu Garrison, Yang Guozhu; the Regional Commander of Datong Garrison, Wang Pu; and the Regional Commander of Shanxi Garrison, Hu Dawei — all brought their personal generals and hurried over to Lu Xiangsheng’s side, every face brimming with excitement.

The armor of Datong Garrison Regional Commander Wang Pu — who had traveled from Changping to the eastern suburbs of the capital, and then a thousand li all the way to Baoding — had grown considerably duller, and his ordinarily handsome face was rather haggard. Clearly, following Lu Xiangsheng these past days, he had endured no small hardship.

He even found an opportunity to say politely to Li Youde, “This general…”

Li Youde had once seen Wang Pu from afar and knew he was the Regional Commander of Datong Garrison. To be treated with such courtesy by him now filled his heart with pride, yet he dared not be remiss. He hurriedly saluted and said, “I dare not trouble the Lord Regional Commander to address me so. May I ask what important matter the Lord Regional Commander has?”

Wang Pu said amiably, “General Wang has come with the wagons. May I ask how much provisions he has brought?”

Everyone around pricked up their ears to listen.

Li Youde rapidly calculated in his mind. Because they had seized many wagons and horses from Gaolizhuang, and also had four hundred captured Tartar warhorses for hauling, the provisions they carried already approached four thousand dan. Together with the processed horse meat and the like, he estimated it could feed the ten thousand and more men of the three Xuan-Da garrisons, plus his own three thousand and more troops, for half a month.

What Wang Pu and the others did not know, however, was that in a stockade within Mancheng territory not far from Baoding city, Wang Dou had also stockpiled over three thousand dan of grain and rice. Calculated that way, these thirteen thousand and more troops could easily eat for a full month.

He answered proudly, “Our Bao’an army has brought a great quantity of provisions with the wagons. Even after the General joins forces with the various Lord Regional Commanders, the provisions the army carries can supply the great host with full rations for a month.”

Exclamations of wonder rose on all sides. No one knew how Wang Dou had obtained this batch of provisions, but that did not matter — the crucial thing was that grain had come.

Wang Pu immediately said to Lu Xiangsheng, “Lord Viceroy, your subordinate is willing to lead troops at once to go meet General Wang, to guard against any mishap.”

Yang Guozhu swept a glance at Wang Pu and said, “Lord Viceroy, General Wang belongs to the Xuan Garrison troops. As Regional Commander of Xuan Garrison, your subordinate is willing to dispatch personal generals to go meet him at once.”

Lu Xiangsheng nodded repeatedly; his own mood was also extremely stirred. Wang Dou… how had he obtained this batch of provisions? And how had he come to Baoding? He questioned Li Youde, but Li Youde only said that when General Wang arrived, the matter would be known.

He laughed heartily. “Gentlemen, there is no need for any of you to contend. I shall dispatch General Chen at once to go.”

He gave a few orders, and at once his personal general Chen An, leading several hundred men from the Viceroy’s Personal Battalion, rode off northward in a billow of dust together with Li Youde and the others.

Lu Xiangsheng and the others stood before the camp tents, craning their necks in expectation. After roughly one double-hour, they saw Wang Dou’s great army approaching in perfect order, escorted by Chen An’s troops. Though on the march, their banners were bright, their ranks neat and orderly — the bearing of an elite force, imposing and formidable.

To the great delight of Lu Xiangsheng and the others, Wang Dou’s army was indeed accompanied by several hundred wagons. They were bulging full, presumably all laden with provisions and baggage.

Wang Dou had never received such a welcome. Lu Xiangsheng, the Regional Commanders of the three garrisons, and their personal generals — all came out in dense throngs to greet him, along with the dark mass of Xuan-Da officers and men crowding the camp palisade, pointing in excitement.

When Wang Dou came before the crowd, the first person he saw was Lu Xiangsheng in his hempen robe and straw sandals, and behind him the various officers in helmets and armor.

Wang Dou leaped from his horse to pay his respects. Lu Xiangsheng’s expression was somewhat moved, but then suddenly his face darkened. He barked, “Wang Dou, have you fled Lord Chen’s command without authorization?”

Wang Dou lay prostrate on the ground without uttering a word. Lu Xiangsheng’s tone was quite stern, but he simply remained motionless.

The three Regional Commanders beside him also guessed that Wang Dou had come on his own authority. They all urged, “General Wang is full of loyalty toward the Lord Viceroy. He has transported grain a thousand li, his horses and men are weary — shall we go into the camp to talk?”

Lu Xiangsheng looked at Wang Dou. The entire army had fallen into desperate straits, and only Wang Dou had led his troops a thousand li to the rescue, bringing the provisions the army urgently needed. Such devotion could only be called exceedingly rare. Moved and gratified in his heart, Lu Xiangsheng could not bear to rebuke him. He bade Wang Dou rise and said with a soft sigh, “Wang Dou, you have been far too rash. Lord Chen is now the Viceroy of Xuan-Da. When you return to Xuan Garrison in the future…”

He pondered briefly, then said, “Enough. In the future, I shall no doubt have to pay a visit to Lord Chen’s tent and offer some explanation.”

Hearing the deep concern and worry in his tone, and that he was even willing to humble himself before Chen Xinjia to plead his case, Wang Dou smiled slightly and said, “The Lord Viceroy need not worry. When your subordinate took his leave, he left Lord Viceroy Chen six hundred and fifty-seven severed heads of slave brigands. I imagine he will be too overjoyed to even think of blaming your subordinate.”

“Another six hundred and fifty-seven heads taken?”

Everyone stared at Wang Dou in astonishment. Lu Xiangsheng, too, could hardly believe it. He glared at Wang Dou. “Wang Dou, are you saying that when I led the army south, another large force of slave brigands invaded your position, and that is how you took so many heads?”

Wang Dou smiled slightly. “Not exactly. The army’s provisions were insufficient, so your subordinate led the troops to Zhangjiawan to plunder the Tartar slaves. We encountered the enemy on the way, and after a bloody battle, these heads were taken. After the slave brigands fled in rout, our great army continued on to Zhangjiawan, seized these provisions, and after presenting the heads to Lord Viceroy Chen, your subordinate led the army south.”

Lu Xiangsheng and the others looked at one another. Yang Tinglin, who had been standing beside Lu Xiangsheng stroking his long beard all this while, very nearly yanked out several strands of it. He scrutinized this young general — whom he had never met before — with an incredulous gaze, and murmured softly under his breath, “A peerless fierce general, a blessing for the Great Ming…”

Xuan Garrison Regional Commander Yang Guozhu asked in a deep voice, “General Wang, roughly how many men did the slave riders you encountered on the road number?”

Wang Dou made a rough estimate and said, “The slave brigands’ armored troops, together with those not in armor, numbered around ten thousand or so.”

A silence fell over everyone present. After a long moment, Yang Guozhu said, “General Wang’s valor…”

He shook his head, yet could not continue. If he did not believe what Wang Dou said, then where had all these provisions come from? Yang Guozhu could also see that some of the baggage soldiers in Wang Dou’s army were wearing a motley assortment of captured Tartar armor, which further proved his words were true.

Datong Garrison Regional Commander Wang Pu and Shanxi Garrison Regional Commander Hu Dawei both let out a breath and exchanged glances with the personal generals beside them, then fixed their gazes intently upon Wang Dou.

To gather provisions, Wang Dou had dared to take three thousand troops and attack a large force of slave brigands head-on, had won in open battle, and had taken so many heads — such a military exploit could not be concealed! A brilliant new general’s star was rising in the Great Ming. After this battle, Wang Dou would surely cause a sensation at court and among the people; his radiance could not be blocked. Perhaps by the time Wang Dou led his army south, the court might already be planning how to proclaim this great victory. Even if Wang Dou had acted on his own authority in leading his troops south, it would be deliberately or inadvertently overlooked by all, and all sorts of reasons would be found to explain it away.

Hu Dawei glanced at Yang Guozhu with a smile. With Wang Dou’s achievements, his old friend would naturally rise along with him. In his heart, Hu Dawei was happy for Yang Guozhu. Wang Pu, on the other hand, cast a somewhat envious glance at Yang Guozhu. To have such a fierce general within the territory of Xuan Garrison — Yang Guozhu was basking in reflected glory.

Lu Xiangsheng faced north and performed a solemn salute, murmuring a few inaudible words. Then he turned to Wang Dou, looked at him, and said gently, “Very well, Wang Dou. You have endured a hard journey. Come into the camp and rest.”

He personally took Wang Dou’s hand and had him walk at his side, while the several Regional Commanders and Assistant Regional Commanders followed behind.

…

Wang Dou’s great army surged into the camp in a mighty procession. Every man was well-nourished and full of spirit; each wore excellent armor, with bright red wool-lined coats over it. In this bitter winter weather, they were both warm and spirited. They formed a stark contrast with the officers and men of the Xuan-Da garrisons inside the camp, whose armor and clothing were tattered, whose faces were sallow, and who were weary in spirit.

Yet watching Wang Dou’s great army roll in, every face showed only excitement and gratitude, without the slightest trace of envy. Many people were pointing at the several hundred wagons that had come with the army, discussing them animatedly among themselves.

The news that Wang Dou’s army had taken another six hundred and fifty-seven heads had by now spread like wildfire throughout the camp. From somewhere a voice rang out: “General Wang is mighty!”

This voice immediately drew a wave of response. One scattered voice after another finally merged into a single roar: “Mighty! Mighty! Mighty!”

The ten thousand and more soldiers of the three Xuan-Da garrisons all cheered toward Wang Dou’s army.