Chapter 300

Inside the Viceroy’s Personal Battalion tent, the military officers who had been feasting took their leave first, and the civil officials who had no part in the matter withdrew one after another, leaving Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting in the tent drinking with Yang Sichang, Chen Xinjia, and the others.

The drinking lasted from afternoon until dusk before Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting finally excused themselves and returned to their own camps to rest. Downstream along the North Yishui River, the newly arrived Shaanxi government troops had already pitched a vast expanse of tents.

Hong Chengchou urged his horse forward, unable to hide the delight in his eyes. Just now at the banquet, Grand Secretary Yang had hinted to him that he would be recommended as Viceroy of Jiliao. From Viceroy of the Three Frontiers to Viceroy of Jiliao — the post carried greater weight and heavier responsibility. If he performed well, entering the cabinet and becoming a Grand Secretary in the future would not be difficult.

Hong Chengchou was inwardly overjoyed, but he was a man of deep cunning who never let pleasure or anger show on his face; he maintained a refined and composed expression.

By contrast, Sun Chuanting beside him looked sullen and thoroughly displeased. Hearing Hong Chengchou speak, Sun Chuanting said, “Teacher, Grand Secretary Yang intends to keep all the Qin troops for the defense of Jiliao. Teacher knows as well as I do that the Chuang rebels have not been wiped out. If the Qin troops stay, the rebel momentum will swell. It does no good for the frontier — it is withdrawing troops on the rebels’ behalf.”

Hong Chengchou stroked his beard and said, “Though your words have merit, you should not have spoken so bluntly. Grand Secretary Yang is deeply trusted by His Majesty. If you have offended him, I fear the consequences are hard to predict.”

Sun Chuanting said stubbornly, “This student is simply that kind of temperament — I speak what is on my mind and scorn to go currying favor with powerful ministers.”

Hong Chengchou was displeased, as if Sun Chuanting were obliquely accusing him of currying favor with powerful ministers. Still, he kept a refined look on his face and laughed heartily: “Ah, you have always had this straightforward nature.”

He did not bring up the earlier matter again.

Hong Chengchou said nothing, but Sun Chuanting sought to continue the conversation: “Teacher, regarding the great victory at Zhuozhou, this student has also discerned some clues. It seems that in this battle, the Xuanzhen Mobile Corps Commander Wang Dou was the principal figure, while Regional Commanders Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei merely followed behind and reaped the benefits — which greatly surprised this student.”

He shook his head deeply: “Wang Dou is but a mere Mobile Corps Commander, yet he possesses such battle strength — truly inconceivable.”

Hong Chengchou also sighed: “This Wang Dou — your teacher has made inquiries about him. His Majesty personally bestowed on him the title ‘Courage Crowns the Three Armies.’ He went south generously to face death, not hesitating to plunge into the heavy encirclement of the slave troops, all to follow the Xuan-Da Viceroy Lu Jiandou. A man of such loyalty and valor — it is a pity he cannot enter your or my command.”

Sun Chuanting felt the same: “To have such a brave general following him, and to be able to escort his coffin into the capital — presumably even if Lu Jiandou is dead, he can smile in the netherworld.”

His tone was both envious and jealous: “Setting Lu Jiandou aside, what virtue or ability does that Chen Fangyuan possess?”

When Wang Dou was in his tent discussing military affairs with his officers and heard that Sun Chuanting had come to visit, it rather surprised him.

Wang Dou was mainly arranging various matters for entering the capital. When they had come to Yizhou to pitch camp, he had left Zhong Diaoyang’s Ding Division and Zhong Xiancai’s Yi Division behind at Liujing Stockade to guard the large stores of grain, rice, cattle, and sheep in the warehouses there, while continuing to transport large quantities of wealth, goods, and people to Baoanzhou. The accompanying military Judge’s Office had dispatched some personnel to supervise the escort.

The Battle of Zhuozhou had caused over three hundred casualties in the Shunxiang Army, the majority occurring within Zhong Xiancai’s long-spear troops, precisely because of the deathbed counterattack by Yoto and the others. Leaving Zhong Xiancai to hold Liujing Stockade conveniently allowed the wounded and fallen soldiers in his unit to recuperate.

Therefore, the troops that accompanied Wang Dou to Yizhou at this time were Han Chao’s Jia Division, Wen Fangliang’s Bing Division, Sun Sanjie’s Wu Division, Wen Daxing’s Ji Division, Li Guangheng’s Geng Division, Zhao Shan’s Xin Division, and others — fewer than five thousand men in total.

Among them, Sun Sanjie’s Wu Division numbered about thirteen hundred men, all of whom were accompanying supply porters who generally did not fight on the battlefield. Even after entering the capital, these soldiers would remain behind to guard the camp and probably could not enjoy the glory of parading through the streets. This naturally left Sun Sanjie rather regretful, but Sun Sanjie was ordinarily cautious and low-key, obeying Wang Dou’s orders without question, and he said nothing.

While they were in discussion, word came that Sun Chuanting had arrived. Wang Dou was somewhat puzzled — what did this Shaanxi Provincial Governor want with a mere Mobile Corps Commander like himself at such a late hour?

Sun Chuanting came under the banner of paying respects to Lu Xiangsheng. The camp of Yang Guodong, Company Commander of the Viceroy’s Personal Battalion, was situated right next to the Shunxiang Army, and Lu Xiangsheng’s mourning hall was set up within their camp. Sun Chuanting brought only a few personal guards. After offering incense before Lu Xiangsheng’s spirit tablet, he gazed silently at Lu Xiangsheng’s coffin for a long time, no one knowing what he was thinking.

Seeing him remain silent, Wang Dou and the others also kept completely quiet. After Sun Chuanting had paid his respects at Lu Xiangsheng’s mourning hall, he turned and walked away, with Wang Dou escorting him the whole way.

The party passed through tent after tent; all around was silent and still. Only occasionally on the path did they encounter patrolling soldiers, and the sound of lanterns on their poles fluttering and shaking in the cold wind. In ancient times, to prevent camp panics, armies forbade soldiers from making noise or moving about freely at night after pitching camp, and the Shunxiang Army was no different.

The weather remained cold. Although the deep-winter bitter cold had eased somewhat compared to the previous year, in this first month of the year, the northern winter nights were still piercingly icy to the bone.

Walking out past the camp gate, Sun Chuanting again stood still, merely gazing ahead.

Along both banks of the North Yishui River stretched an unbroken line of tents, and the lanterns or watch-fires throughout the camp merged into a long sea of lights. Looking at the lights before him, Sun Chuanting suddenly sighed: “I have long drunk in Lord Lu’s fragrant name; lamentable that I never got to meet him, and when we meet again, heaven and man are forever parted.”

His words carried a sense of melancholy and loss. When he spoke, he had a slight Shanxi accent — he was originally from Daixian in Shanxi, so it was not strange that his speech carried the accent of the Jin region.

After his lament, Sun Chuanting looked at Wang Dou: “General Wang, this governor has a matter on which I wish to seek your guidance.”

Wang Dou knew that historically Sun Chuanting was proud and haughty by nature; for him to speak to Wang Dou in such a tone was truly rare, let alone given his honored status as a Provincial Governor. Even so, his words still carried a flavor of arbitrariness and brooked no contradiction — a style quite different from Lu Xiangsheng’s gentleness.

By the lantern light, Wang Dou saw the pride and eagerness in his eyes. What Sun Chuanting wanted to ask, Wang Dou already understood, and he thought to himself: “Here it comes again.”

He saluted and said: “My lord Provincial Governor, please speak. This humble general will tell all he knows, holding nothing back.”

Wang Dou’s bearing and choice of words gave Sun Chuanting a slight pause. He said: “This governor knows that in the Battle of Julu and the Battle of Zhuozhou, the soldiers under your command contributed the greatest effort. You are but a Mobile Corps Commander — why are your troops so fierce and formidable? Can General Wang dispel this governor’s confusion?”

From Lu Xiangsheng to Yang Guozhu, no one knew how many people had already asked Wang Dou this question.

Wang Dou pondered briefly, then said: “In former days, my lord trained troops in Shaanxi, using Qin soldiers to defend Qin land and using Qin land to support Qin soldiers, opening military farms to solve the difficulty of troop pay and provisions. In a short time, he recruited and trained a crack brigade, routed the roving bandits, and captured the bandit chief Gao —”

“This humble general’s method shares a similar principle with my lord’s, though compared to my lord, this humble general is merely displaying his meager skill before an expert. I dare not speak of ‘seeking guidance.’”

Sun Chuanting looked at Wang Dou in astonishment. Wang Dou was a military officer, and stationed far away in Xuanfu Garrison at that. How could he know of his concept of “Qin soldiers defending Qin land, Qin land supporting Qin soldiers”? Watching Wang Dou speak with ease and assurance, his words seasoned and incisive — was this still a military man? In Sun Chuanting’s mind, Wang Dou grew profound and unfathomable.

He scrutinized Wang Dou anew for a long moment and said: “General Wang, speak in detail — don’t hold anything back.”

Wang Dou smiled faintly and said: “My lord’s opening of military farms and training of troops in Shaanxi is naturally excellent. However, one must also guard against the good and the bad intermingling in the army. Once the soldiers are organized and trained, send them into battle to kill the enemy, using veterans to lead new recruits — and a strong army will emerge.”

After Sun Chuanting left, Wang Dou gazed for a long time at the receding figure of this tragic hero who came after Lu Xiangsheng, and let out a long sigh.

The nineteenth day of the first month, the twelfth year of Chongzhen.

The Xuan-Da army and Yang Sichang set out for the capital. Accompanying them were some troops of Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting. By now it was permissible to openly mourn Lu Xiangsheng, and they escorted the hearse carrying Lu Xiangsheng’s coffin. The entire Xuan-Da army wore plain white mourning dress; every man was clad in hemp and bore mourning bands, and white spirit-summoning banners rose like a forest.

All along the way, spirit paper money was scattered, filling the sky and falling in white drifts across the ground. Officials and commoners who came to pay their respects lined the route without end. When the Xuan-Da army reached Fangshan, Yang Tinglin, who had formerly been an advisor at Lu Xiangsheng’s side, rushed over from the capital and threw himself upon the coffin, wailing in grief.

On the twenty-first day, the Xuan-Da army crossed the Lugou Bridge and arrived outside Zhengyang Gate. Officials from the Ministry of Rites came in close succession, lavishly expressing solicitude and commendation to this victorious army. At the same time, documents detailing the various points of attention for the triumphal celebration banquet, prepared by the Ministries of Rites, Personnel, and War, were also delivered into the Xuan-Da army camp so that the officers could make thorough preparations.

That day, outside the Xuan-Da army encampment, the commoners of the capital who gathered to watch and offer their congratulations surged like a tide.

On that day, the Shaanxi relief army that had reached the capital was likewise feted in the outskirts of the capital. Viceroy of the Three Frontiers Hong Chengchou received an imperial decree to enter the palace and have an audience with the Chongzhen Emperor. As for Sun Chuanting, the Chongzhen Emperor issued a decree forbidding him from entering the capital for an audience. Sun Chuanting was extremely displeased.

The twenty-second day, early in the morning.

Inside and outside Zhengyang Gate was already packed with crowds of onlookers, along with dense ranks of capital garrison soldiers maintaining order. On this day, the entire city was deserted — the news of the Xuan-Da army’s great victory had long since spread throughout the city and beyond, and everyone knew that the victorious government troops were about to enter the city to announce their triumph.

Therefore, from early morning, even from the middle of the night, in order to grab a good spot, the commoners had already risen and queued up. Even the eaves along the streets were densely packed with standing people. Everyone laughed and cheered with festive jubilation.

At this moment outside the city, the troops of Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, Wang Dou, and the others had long since assembled in formation. Every face was glowing; they had tidied their armor and weapons over and over again, each man thrusting out his chest as high as he could and striving to stand ramrod straight.

Wang Dou donned the imperial-bestowed armor; the gleaming steel plates shone with dazzling brilliance under the sunlight. He rode upon that jujube-red warhorse, as majestic as a heavenly god. Yang Guozhu, unwilling to be outdone, likewise mounted his imperial-bestowed warhorse — the fiery steed blazed like a ball of flame under the sun.

When the auspicious hour arrived, the officials from the Ministry of Rites signaled that it was time to set out.

Wang Dou and the other two laughed heartily. Yang Guozhu said: “Enter the city! Let the commoners of the capital have a good look at the splendor of our Xuan-Da army!”

A tidal wave of cheers erupted as the Xuan-Da army surged mightily through Zhengyang Gate into the capital. Leading the way was Yoto’s corpse clearing the path — he was bound high atop a large cart, clad in his gilt armor, his unseeing eyes, dead but unclosed, staring at the commoners of the Great Ming’s capital.

On the cart were also arrayed the various dragon-emblazoned banners of his Plain Red Banner. Following closely behind Yoto’s corpse cart were cart after cart piled high with Qing soldiers’ heads, and then a hundred captured Plain Red Banner bannermen and three hundred captured army laborers who had accompanied the campaign.

“Wah! Wah!”

“Look, that’s a barbarian head!”

“Look, look — cart after cart of barbarian heads!”

“Look, those are captured barbarian soldiers!”

“Wah —”

As the corpses and heads of Yoto and the others entered, waves of earth-shaking exclamations rang out. The commoners of the capital had their eyes opened wide — probably in several hundred years, the capital had never seen such a spectacle, never seen so many barbarian heads. In particular, the dense bullet holes and gun shafts on Yoto’s high-hung corpse brought the greatest shock of all.

Wave after wave of astonished cries rose, followed by heaven-shaking cheers, as the Xuan–Da Army surged in behind the heads and captives. Yang Guozhu and the troops under Hu Dawei were all mounted, and behind the two main-battalion warriors, Wang Dou’s Shunxiang Army also advanced in perfect order — their cavalry in front, their infantry behind, moving company by company in neat formation.

As the Xuan–Da Army entered, the common people of the capital called out their names: “True heroes! True heroes!”

“Lord Yang!” “Lord Hu!”

Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei, long since flushed with excitement, kept clasping their hands in salute to the surrounding people.

When Wang Dou came past, the people’s cheers merged into a single roar: “Bravest of the Three Armies! Bravest of the Three Armies!”

Wang Dou, his face likewise wreathed in smiles, sat on horseback and repeatedly clasped his hands to the people.

Among the cheering crowd, there were also some voices that sounded familiar to Wang Dou: “General! General!”

Wang Dou looked over — it was the several dozen Shunxiang Army wounded who had been sent into the capital to recover. They kept leaping and shouting toward the great army. Then, under the people’s reverent gazes, they merged into the marching column, every one of them holding his head high and chest out, immeasurably proud.

Behind the Shunxiang Army came the soldiers of the Viceroy’s Personal Battalion, escorting Lu Xiangsheng’s coffin. Countless commoners knelt and kowtowed to him: “Lord Viceroy Lu! A great loyal minister!”

The Xuan–Da Army assembled before the Great Ming Gate. Here, the Imperial Guard stood in dense, layered ranks, and the Chongzhen Emperor, leading his assembled ministers, had long been waiting on the plaza.

When Lu Xiangsheng’s coffin was brought forward, the Chongzhen Emperor leaned on the coffin and wept bitterly, so choked he could not form words. The ministers beside him murmured their quiet consolation, urging His Majesty to preserve his dragon body. Wang Dou also saw Yang Sichang standing behind the Chongzhen Emperor, weeping until tears streamed down like rain.

Watching all this, Wang Dou gazed quietly at the sky: “Lord Viceroy, do you see this? All of this — you deserved it!”

After the grand victory ceremony, that very day, the captured Manchu Plain Red Banner bayara janggin, Luoluohong, son of Yoto, was sliced to death in the marketplace; one hundred Plain Red Banner soldiers were all beheaded. The captured Han civilian laborers who had accompanied the army, and the rescued commoners, were assigned to the proper offices for resettlement.

That day, the capital erupted in wild celebration!