Chapter 277: Heaven Bestows, and to Refuse It Brings Calamity Upon Oneself

The fifteenth day of the twelfth month, the eleventh year of Chongzhen.

Though day had broken, the sky was still just as overcast. Snowflakes even drifted down from the heavens, growing heavier by the moment. An icy wind bit at their faces. Wen Daxing and the other Night Scouts had their heads and faces wrapped up tightly, and wore thick woolen gloves on their hands. Even so, every man was still shivering uncontrollably from the cold.

Wang Dou sat astride his horse, yet he felt not the slightest chill. On the contrary, his heart surged with hot blood.

The gloom on his face had vanished completely, revealing an expression of carefree joy. He spurred his horse faster and faster. Before his eyes, the swirling snowflakes were like shattered jade, heaven and earth a single expanse of white. A heroic sentiment welled up in his heart. He suddenly let out a great shout, and the fine steed beneath him gave a long, piercing neigh, then shot forward like a gale of wind and a flash of lightning.

Wen Daxing and the others spurred their horses in hot pursuit. Their figures were concealed within the wind and snow. The cold wind billowed their cloaks and greatcoats, revealing only faint, fleeting glimpses of vivid red.

Trampling through the wind and snow, Wang Dou returned to the military encampment. Many officers and soldiers in the camp who were accustomed to rising early were already up, gathered around campfires outside their tents, chatting and laughing. Seeing Wang Dou approach, they all rose to salute him.

Wang Dou exchanged greetings with the officers and soldiers. Seeing Wang Dou’s cheerful expression, and the strange looks on the faces of the Night Scouts behind him, the soldiers were puzzled, but their hearts were also set at ease. As long as the General maintained his fighting spirit, they had a pillar of support, a backbone to rely on.

Zhong Xiancai, the newly appointed Company Commander of the Second Division, was clad in full armor. He led several guards on a patrol through the camp. The cold wind made his cloak and greatcoat rustle loudly, and his originally fair-complexioned face was now swollen and purple from the cold. In these months of campaigning, his round face had grown much thinner, revealing a hint of resoluteness and handsome refinement.

Seeing Wang Dou return from outside the camp, Zhong Xiancai hurried forward to meet him. He took hold of Wang Dou’s horse’s reins and said softly, “If the General wishes to inspect the camp, you need only give the order. Why trouble yourself to go out personally? The weather is freezing and the ground is frozen; be careful not to let your body catch cold.”

He shot a glance at Wang Dou, then lowered his head again. His tone conveyed deep concern, and even seemed to carry a trace of heartache.

Wang Dou smiled faintly. “It’s no trouble.”

He patted Zhong Xiancai on the shoulder. “Xiancai, in this bitter cold, you must also take care to keep warm.”

He looked around the camp. “It’s time for breakfast. Go and notify the several Squad Commanders under your command to come to my tent for the meal.”

Zhong Xiancai’s body shrank back slightly. He answered in a low voice and left with hurried steps.

Among the senior officers gathered once more in Wang Dou’s tent, several new faces had replaced old ones. Han Zhong had died in battle, and Zhong Xiancai had taken his place. His promotion, combined with Yang Tong’s death in battle, had left two Squad Commander positions vacant in the Second Division, which were filled by Shen Shiqi and Yin Yijin respectively.

Yin Yijin had formerly been the leader of the First Company within Yang Tong’s command, and also served as the Assistant Regional Commander. He was a veteran of a hundred battles. When Yang Tong died in battle, he was promoted, and the position he vacated was taken by his company’s Assistant Regional Commander.

Fortunately, Wen Fangliang, the Company Commander of the Third Division, and his three Squad Commanders, including Sun Sanjie, were all still present, which spared Wang Dou from excessive grief. However, Xie Yike and Zhong Diaoyang from Wang Dou’s Central Army Division were gravely wounded. If the two of them did not pull through, Wang Dou would see several more familiar faces disappear before him. Such was the impermanence of worldly affairs; nothing surpassed this.

Wang Dou looked at each person in turn. Zhong Xiancai and the others felt a mixture of sorrow and joy. Competition within the Shunxiang Army was fierce. In this great battle, casualties among the army’s brothers had been numerous, and it was precisely because of this that they had the opportunity for promotion. The feelings that war brought to each person were truly complex and difficult to fathom.

Wang Dou looked at Shen Shiqi, seated below him with an air of pride. The fierce flesh on his face twitched constantly from excessive excitement. His eyes swept over the various Squad Commanders present, his face revealing an expression of immense satisfaction. He then glanced at Zhong Xiancai and Wen Fangliang, clearly thinking about when he himself would be able to sit in their positions.

This was a fellow even more brutal than Han Zhong and Gao Shiyin. His ruthlessness toward the enemy could rival that of Wen Daxing. He had also beaten and bullied Wu Zhengchun, the current Squad Commander of the First Division, and had emerged victorious in their romantic rivalry. However, after Wu Zhengchun had exerted himself to improve, Shen Shiqi had fallen into a period of dejection. Every time he saw Wu Zhengchun, he had to kneel and salute this person he had always looked down upon, and the frustration in his heart was beyond words. But now that was no longer necessary. One could only imagine how smug Shen Shiqi would be the next time the two met.

Wang Dou then swept his gaze over Chi Dacheng, Gao Xun, Li Guangheng, Zhao Xuan, Wen Daxing, and the others. Each of them remained silent. When Wen Daxing met Wang Dou’s gaze, his expression became even more respectful, yet also concealed a barely suppressible delight. Gao Xun was quiet and still, but when he looked over the others, his eyes emitted a sharp gleam.

These were all unruly and untamable men. Only Wang Dou could firmly keep them in check.

After a long moment, Wang Dou smiled faintly. “Let’s eat.”

He raised his chopsticks first. Seeing Wang Dou devour several bowls of rice in the blink of an eye, everyone set their minds at ease. The General had recovered his fighting spirit, and they too now had confidence. And today, Wang Dou seemed particularly cheerful. The gloom of previous days had been swept away completely, which secretly puzzled the commanders. What was the General so happy about?

…

After the meal, Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei sent men to invite Wang Dou for a council of war. Following that, the Xuan-Da Army broke camp.

According to the planned objective, the army of several thousand crossed the Lu River, first reached Longping, then turned west toward Tangshan. They then followed the Zhi River to Lincheng, and finally entered the borders of Zanhuang. The prefectures and counties along the route were devoid of people. The Xuan-Da Army did not enter the cities, but marched only through the wilderness. The journey was peaceful and uneventful.

Three days later, the entire army reached a mountainous area on the border between Zanhuang and Yuanshi, the region of what would later be North Suyang Township. They quietly set up camp along a tributary of the Huai River.

After entering the territory of Lincheng and Zanhuang, Xu Yue’e’s influence was indeed evident everywhere. The various local stockades and civilian forts, seeing the Xuan-Da government troops approach from afar, all without exception barred their gates tightly. Only when Xu Yue’e’s Slave-Killing Army went forward to parley did their expressions change, and they respectfully sent over some grain, rice, pigs, and sheep to provision the troops. Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei watched this with endless sighs of emotion.

And having entered this area of Zanhuang, traveling further up from North Suyang, there seemed to be one of Xu Yue’e’s military stockades, named Xule Stockade. Further up the river, there were numerous villages and stockades, whose inhabitants lived and farmed on both banks of the river. According to what Chi Dacheng had said, Xu Yue’e had many similar stockades, especially in the mountainous region between Zanhuang and Leping, where her lairs were densely clustered. People say a cunning rabbit has three burrows, but Xu Yue’e had who knows how many burrows in this area. In particular, Xu Yue’e’s Huwei Stockade was located in that strategically difficult place, Yangjia Ridge.

Xu Yue’e invited Wang Dou, Yang Guozhu, and Hu Dawei to enter Xule Stockade to rest and recuperate. Wang Dou and the others did not decline, and each brought some personal guards and escorts to take up residence. The remaining Xuan-Da troops set up a dense encampment on both banks of the river outside the stockade, and the entire army rested and reorganized.

Having reached Zanhuang, the entire army’s morale settled down. They focused solely on resting at ease and calming their minds.

That night, inside the stockade, Wang Dou, Yang Guozhu, and Hu Dawei also carefully discussed the issue of this army’s future path and destination.

Inside the room were only the three of them: Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, and Wang Dou. Wang Dou’s series of outstanding performances had already won the affirmation of the two old generals. Wang Dou had even subtly become the backbone and guarantor of morale for this army. Every word Wang Dou spoke caused Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei to ponder carefully. In the minds of both men, among those below the rank of Regional Commander in the entire army, only Wang Dou was qualified to have a seat at the table.

At that moment, the room was completely silent. Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei remained speechless for a long time. Both men felt lost and fearful about the future. With their Regional Commander dead in battle, where should they go from here? If they went to Baoding to seek out Liu Yuliang, Chen Xinjia, and the others, they would have a commanding officer to lead the troops. But, upon learning the news of Viceroy Lu’s death, how would the imperial court punish them? Because the future was unknown, they were afraid, and both men subconsciously avoided mentioning the matter of joining forces with Chen Xinjia.

Wang Dou was also pondering this problem. In the Battle of Julu, although the three of them held a great deal of military merit in their hands, and there was the reason of being outnumbered, the imperial court often looked only at the results, not the process. The loss of troops and generals, and the death of the commanding general in battle—these were the facts.

Moreover, Wang Dou was considering even more. Historically, after Lu Xiangsheng died in battle, Yang Sichang had also carried out a series of obstructions, preventing Lu Xiangsheng’s body from being properly buried after his martyrdom, leaving his remains exposed and decaying for as long as eighty days. Furthermore, many people had been tortured to death by Yang Sichang. For several years afterward, no posthumous honors or pensions were granted. Wang Dou wanted to avoid all of this, so that the divine order of Heaven and the gods would not wrong a loyal minister.

However, if they appeared now, crestfallen and disgraced, even with a great deal of military merit in hand, they would probably find it difficult to obtain the desired outcome.

Wang Dou pondered deeply for a long time. It was not that there was no opportunity. Now, the Xuan-Da Army was defeated, the Guan-Ning Army had collapsed, and the Qing soldiers were surely sweeping all before them, the affairs of the nation a complete mess. Amidst the gloom of national affairs, if a stirring, victorious battle were to appear, one that turned the tide, it would certainly draw the attention of the entire nation and strike terror into the hearts of the Qing!

Armed with this dazzling radiance, along with the substantial military merit they already possessed, Wang Dou and the others could then righteously and confidently re-emerge. In this way, Wang Dou could also negotiate with Yang Sichang, and restore to Lu Xiangsheng the honor and final resting place he deserved.

Thinking of this, Wang Dou’s mind gradually settled. He said, “My two honored commanders, after much thought, this humble general believes our Xuan-Da Army must fight one more victorious battle.”

Yang Guozhu looked deeply at Wang Dou. “General Wang, please elaborate in detail…”

…

How to fight another victorious battle—this required a suitable opportunity. When would such an opportunity appear? Wang Dou sank into deep contemplation.

While he was pondering, Xu Yue’e was bustling about inside the room. She personally made the bed and folded the blankets for Wang Dou, and also brought over a basin of steaming hot water for washing his face, with a snow-white, brand-new facecloth draped over the brass basin. When she was done, she said to Wang Dou, “General, it is getting late. You should retire early.”

Wang Dou nodded silently, watching as Xu Yue’e slowly withdrew.

Reaching the doorway, Xu Yue’e suddenly turned back and said to Wang Dou, “General, do you… do you look down on me very much?”

Wang Dou was taken aback, then said in a deep voice, “Lady Xu, I have never looked down on you.”

Xu Yue’e stood there for a long moment, then silently withdrew.

…

While the Xuan-Da Army rested and reorganized in Zanhuang, under the reconnaissance of the Night Scouts, intelligence from various regions flowed in continuously.

After the Battle of Julu, the news of Lu Xiangsheng’s death in battle spread like wildfire throughout the Great Ming, and the whereabouts of the entire Xuan-Da Army were unknown. Just like the Xuan-Da Army, the various Guan-Ning commanders had also seemingly vanished completely. Not a single Regional Commander sent any word, and the Chief Army Supervisor, Gao Qiqian, was utterly silent, with no news at all.

With Lu Xiangsheng dead and Gao Qiqian in hiding, all the Great Ming’s combat-effective armies were defeated and destroyed, shaking the entire realm. The Senior Grand Secretary Liu Yuliang, who had personally requested to oversee military affairs, had reached Baoding. Upon hearing of Lu Xiangsheng’s death and the collapse of the Guan-Ning Army, he was so terrified that his face lost all color. He hurriedly fled to Jinzhou for refuge, but the Department Magistrate of Jinzhou barred the city gates and refused to admit him. Liu Yuliang then hastily fled toward Tianjin.

Under these circumstances, the Qing army pressed its victory and drove straight in, dividing its forces to capture Baodi, Pinggu, Wuqing, and other places. The Ming troops fled at the mere rumor of their approach, and the capital was shaken. On the twentieth day, the Chongzhen Emperor urgently decreed that Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting lead their armies into the capital region to defend it.

Upon hearing the intelligence brought back by the Night Scouts, Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei looked at each other and sighed.

At the end of the twelfth month, as the New Year approached, Wen Daxing, who had been out on patrol, returned and brought back a crucial piece of intelligence.

“The main force of the Tartars is currently massing and moving toward Shandong. They have only left the Tartars’ Plain Red Banner to guard the population and wealth looted from Tongzhou and Zhuozhou. When this humble officer and his men reached Zhuozhou, they were still transporting looted livestock, grain, and rice to Tongzhou day and night. This humble officer and his men made a rough estimate: the Tartar soldiers left a great deal of wealth and population in Zhuozhou. We estimate there are at least over one hundred thousand captured people, several hundred thousand shi of grain and rice, over two hundred thousand head of cattle, horses, pigs, and sheep, and an incalculable amount of gold, silver, treasures, and silk, likely amounting to over a million taels.”

Wang Dou said flatly, “You are saying that now, the slave rebels in Tongzhou and Zhuozhou are left with only a portion of the forces of the slave rebels’ Plain Red Banner?”

Wen Daxing affirmed, “Reporting to the General, that is exactly the case.”

Wang Dou looked around the room at everyone. The commanders of the Shunxiang Army were all gathered inside at this moment. Every face bore an expression of delight. This news had come at the perfect time.

Wang Dou burst out laughing: "Population and wealth delivered to our doorstep — if we refuse, heaven will punish us!"

He barked: "Squad Commander Wen, immediately relay orders to Company Commander Han, who is garrisoning Baoanzhou: of the old and new armies in Baoanzhou, leave one Squad Commander with the old troops, and two Squad Commanders with the new troops. All remaining soldiers are to be mobilized, assemble at Yizhou, and await the rendezvous with our main army."

Wen Da accepted the order in a ringing voice. Wen Fangliang laughed: "With our Shunxiang Army ahead, the Tartar soldiers dare split their forces to plunder? Well then, the population and wealth they've toiled so bitterly to seize will now become a wedding dress for our Shunxiang Army."

Everyone in the room roared with laughter.