Chapter 359: The Army Approaches Zhongzhou

On the fourth day of the tenth month of the thirteenth year of Chongzhen, within the borders of Zhending Prefecture.

"Jin xi, jin xi, jin xi jin xi jin jin xi, yellow sands for ten thousand li, a single sound of battle, one two three four..."

Amidst the stirring melody, to the cadence of marching drums, a vast iron-clad army advanced southward with high spirits. Half of them were cavalry, or mounted infantry; all the soldiers were fully armed, clad in armor, singing military songs along the way, their morale soaring.

"Gentlemen, put in a little more effort. Before sunset, we shall reach Zanhuang and can set up camp to rest."

A morale officer in the central army loudly exhorted.

"Hu!"

The explosive shout first rose from those around him, and then the answering calls echoed one after another along the long iron dragon, full of vigor.

"The soldiers are in fine condition."

Glancing back at the column behind him, Wang Dou's face showed a satisfied expression. He had led the grand army out from Yongning City, maintaining a daily march of sixty to seventy li. In just over ten days, they had covered over a thousand li, and no one had fallen behind.

For this kind of marching efficiency, if Wang Dou claimed second place, no one would dare claim first.

The grand army accompanying him on this campaign, including Wang Dou's own guard unit, also included Class-A soldiers under Wen Fangliang, Gao Shiyin, Li Guangheng, Wen Daxing, Zhao Xuan, and others. There were also Class-B soldiers from three units under Sun Sanjie's logistics company, Wu Zhengchun, Shen Shiqi, Gao Xun, and others, totaling seven thousand men.

Within these several thousand troops, apart from Sun Sanjie's logistics company, every Class-A soldier had a horse, but the Class-B soldiers had none. They also wore either cotton armor or iron armor, and with the rest of their weapons and equipment, their burden likely weighed several tens of jin.

Having walked over a thousand li entirely on foot, the hardship was imaginable.

Fortunately, the armor's weight was distributed across the whole body, largely offsetting its heaviness. Moreover, those selected for the New Army were all robust young men of excellent physical quality. After several months of grueling military training and with good nutritional supplementation, each man's physique had undergone a qualitative leap, so the long-distance march did not greatly affect them.

These several units of the New Army felt deeply honored to be able to accompany the army on campaign. Marching, singing, and beating drums the whole way, their morale was consistently maintained.

"The Garrison Commander of Zanhuang is Young Lady Xu, an old acquaintance. Once we arrive there, our grand army should be able to replenish several days' worth of provisions and fodder."

Wen Fangliang beside Wang Dou jested, drawing a round of laughter from everyone. Wang Dou also smiled faintly.

The grand army advanced in a single-line marching formation, but Wen Fangliang, Gao Shiyin, Sun Sanjie, and others all gathered around him, with their respective units led forward by their central officers. For this campaign, Wang Dou had brought out seven thousand soldiers, and including warhorses and mules, there were over five thousand horses.

Calculated by the Great Ming's ration standards, a man eats one sheng per day, a horse eats three sheng per day. Thus, seven thousand soldiers required 74 dan of grain daily, the warhorses and mules required about 165 dan, and combined, men and horses needed 240 dan of grain and fodder per day, which meant 7,200 dan per month.

Sun Sanjie's logistics company had four hundred wagons, capable of transporting only two thousand dan of grain and fodder at a time, enough to feed the grand army for a few days. Therefore, for this campaign, Wang Dou mobilized one thousand two hundred wagons. Besides the logistics company, two additional Class-B units were assigned to escort them, carrying a total of six thousand dan of grain and fodder with the army, equivalent to three logistics companies.

Even so, the grain and fodder accompanying the army would not last a month, not to mention that the horses' consumption rate was only a minimal estimate. With various hidden consumptions, the number of days the accompanying supplies could sustain the army was even fewer. Thus, Wang Dou's principle was: first, present the Ministry of War's directive to have prefectures and counties along the route supply at least a few days' provisions; if they truly had none, purchase locally; only as a last resort consume the army's own supplies.

Things were fine in Baoding Prefecture and Zhending Prefecture. Han Chao was in Laishui, and Hu Dawei had now been transferred to Baoding as Regional Commander. Han Chao was Wang Dou's subordinate, needless to say, and Hu Dawei was acquainted with Wang Dou, so the provisions consumed en route could be quickly replenished.

Even in places like Dingzhou in Zhending Prefecture, where Wang Dou had once saved the lives of local gentry and commoners, the Shunxiang Army received a warm welcome when passing through. Without exaggerating, three to five days' supply of provisions was no problem. Now they were about to enter Zanhuang, and replenishing provisions there was fine too. What worried Wang Dou was after entering Zhongzhou...

"Has the Intelligence Division's stockpiling of grain in Zhongzhou and various places in Huguang been completed?"

Wang Dou, riding on horseback, slowly spoke.

Wen Daxing hurriedly said: "Reporting to the General, since last year, our Intelligence Division, in conjunction with a large number of merchants from the Eastern Route, following the cities and towns designated by the General, has been spying on the enemy situation of the roving bandits and vigorously purchasing grain and fodder for military use. According to the statistics in my subordinate's hands, in places like Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Luoyang, Suizhou, and Xiangyang, our Intelligence Division's various agents have stockpiled enough grain and fodder to supply the grand army for anywhere from several days to a month."

"However..."

Wen Daxing continued: "At present, there is a great drought everywhere in the Great Ming, especially in the region of Zhongzhou, where a dou of rice costs a thousand coins, or even ten thousand coins. Wealthy households mostly hoard their grain, making the purchase of provisions increasingly difficult. In recent months, Huguang and the prefectures of Suzhou and Songjiang suffered great floods, with a dou of rice costing seven to eight hundred coins; marketplaces shut down, and villages closed their doors. Although with much mental effort, grain and fodder can still be bought, the expense has multiplied several times over."

Wang Dou said flatly, "Silver is not an issue. As long as grain and fodder can be bought with silver, it does not matter even if the cost is many times higher."

He sighed inwardly. In the mid-Ming period, one tael of silver could buy two dan of rice. Now, ten or even twenty taels of silver could not buy a single dan of grain. How were the common people supposed to survive?

Hearing Wen Daxing's words, everyone around him whispered excitedly among themselves. According to Wang Dou's plan, the Staff Division had formulated a strategy: to operate in the Henan and Huguang areas and observe how those roving bandits fought. Based on this strategy, Wang Dou had already begun laying out plans in Henan and Huguang as early as last year.

Most of the merchants on the Eastern Route were now tied to Wang Dou like leeches on a rope. Many, after being selected, served as agents for the Shunxiang Army, acting on the Shogunate's orders to conduct trade and business in those two regions. Those with insufficient funds were subsidized by the Shogunate.

Wang Dou's requirement for them was to continuously gather intelligence from various places, consolidate it in the hands of the Intelligence Division's agents in each city, and also to stockpile grain for the grand army's current military needs. As escorts and for surveillance, squads and companies of Shunxiang troops accompanied them, disguised in plain clothes, dispersing throughout these two provinces.

Gao Shiyin loudly declared, "With grain and fodder secured, and the soldiers well-fed and watered, who under Heaven can be a match for our Shunxiang Army?"

Wen Fangliang laughed playfully, "As the General predicted, the roving bandits are stirring up trouble in Zhongzhou again. Once our Shunxiang Army arrives, we'll slaughter them until they can't even recognize their own mothers."

Another round of raucous laughter erupted around them.

Now within the Shunxiang Army, it was widely rumored that State-Founding General Wang Dou possessed the ability of foresight, could communicate with the gods, and predict future events—the campaign of the eleventh year of Chongzhen was proof. Sure enough, the roving bandits had now begun causing havoc in Henan again. For the coming months, the Shunxiang Army would be fighting here, and Wang Dou's prior arrangements in Zhongzhou became a crucial guarantee for the Shunxiang Army's victory.

"Alright."

The night scouts had already found a place ahead for the grand army to set up camp. Wang Dou glanced at the sky and issued the order: "Company Commander Li's cavalry and the various units' field kitchen wagons are to proceed ahead at speed. The mounted infantry are to follow. The remaining soldiers must also quicken their pace. Within half a shichen, we shall arrive beneath the walls of Zanhuang City, where the entire army will eat and rest."

According to Shunxiang Army regulations, each time they neared a campsite, the cavalry and the field kitchen wagons of each unit and company were sent ahead. This allowed the horses to rest earlier, and when the infantry arrived, ready-cooked meals would be waiting for them, sparing the soldiers the unbearable hardship of waiting for food.

"Quicken the pace."

"Strike up a song!"

After Wang Dou issued his orders, the grand army noticeably quickened its pace. Amidst the rousing songs, this army rolled forward.

At the mid-hour of Shenshi, the Shunxiang Army arrived at Zanhuang. Xu Yue'e had long received the news and, bringing the various officials and officers within the city, came out several li from the city to welcome them.

After the campaign of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, Xu Yue'e had been appointed Garrison Commander of Zanhuang. According to the intelligence in Wang Dou's hands, she effectively controlled Zanhuang, Lincheng, Yuanshi, Gaoyi, and the surrounding areas. The forces she now commanded consisted of about a thousand cavalry, all armored, and three to four thousand infantry, partially armored. Compared to the nearby government forces, her troops were robust and her horses strong, making her courted by all sides.

She had originally slain over two hundred Qing soldiers in Zanhuang and other places, earning great renown far and wide. After the Battle of Julu, her troops' combat strength grew even stronger. In particular, she was the adopted daughter of Yang Guozhu, Regional Commander of Xuanfu Garrison, and Hu Dawei, Regional Commander of Zhenbao Garrison, was also acquainted with her. For these various reasons, Xu Yue'e's prestige in Zanhuang and the surrounding areas was unmatched.

In Zanhuang and other places, she collected protection fees and apportioned troop-support costs. Each city, each town, and passing merchants had to pay a fixed annual amount. She was quite ruthless toward those who refused to comply.

Under her management, the Zanhuang region was like a small kingdom. However, the local officials dared not say anything. Setting aside Xu Yue'e's connections, if they pushed her too far and she ran off in anger to become a bandit, and the higher authorities and the imperial court pursued the matter, the ones to suffer would be these local officials.

However, apart from the fixed quotas, Xu Yue'e did not levy other fees. Moreover, under her strict control, horse bandits and roving bandits vanished from the territory, and those rowdy soldiers dared not act too brazenly. She also frequently provided relief to disaster victims and encouraged agriculture and sericulture. Compared to lands outside her territory, the common people here lived in relative stability.

The local gentry praised her as a second Qin Liangyu or Lady Xian. Yang Wenyue, the Viceroy of Baoding, praised her as a heroine among women, vigorously courted her favor, and promised to soon recommend her promotion to Mobile Corps Commander.

In Yang Wenyue's view, the combat strength of the troops under Xu Yue'e's command very likely surpassed his own Viceroy's Personal Battalion, and certainly surpassed the ordinary garrison troops within the garrison. Her unit even dared to fight the Eastern Slaves. If he didn't court someone like this, who should he court?

Wang Dou also paid attention to Xu Yue'e's development, but after the Staff Division and Intelligence Division studied the combat strength under her command, Wang Dou no longer took it seriously. The combat strength of Xu Yue'e's troops was decent compared to the local government forces and nearby roving bandits, but of course, it was not on the same level as the Shunxiang Army.

According to the Staff Division's assessment, Xu Yue'e's thousand cavalry were more aptly described as a mounted troop. The Shunxiang Army only needed to dispatch one company of two hundred cavalry to rout her thousand "cavalry." Sending a few hundred more Shunxiang troops would be enough to send her several thousand men fleeing in utter disarray.

Back then, a lapse in the Shunxiang Army's military regulations had led to the emergence of a figure like Xu Yue'e. Regarding her development, Wang Dou merely observed silently. Whether her operations in Zanhuang and the surrounding areas would be good or bad for the Eastern Route in the future was something Wang Dou was still pondering.

"From Zanhuang to Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, and other places, there are still over a thousand li. I estimate we can arrive by late in the tenth month. After arriving there, how should I explain to the Ministry of War and Yang Sichang, and find an excuse to remain in Henan, Huguang, and other places?"

The directive the Ministry of War had given Wang Dou required him to reach Sichuan within three months and place himself under Yang Sichang's command and dispatch.

Wang Dou certainly would not foolishly rush all the way to Sichuan. However, how to find a way to remain in the Henan region was a problem Wang Dou needed to consider. The Staff Division had no solution for this problem, but Wang Dou, knowing the course of history, had plenty of excuses to find.

While Wang Dou was pondering, Xu Yue'e was busy inside the room, making the bed and folding the blankets for Wang Dou.

After Wang Dou's grand army arrived at Zanhuang, Xu Yue'e hosted a banquet for the Shunxiang Army's officers in the Garrison Commander's official hall and prepared comfortable rooms for each officer within the city. Wang Dou, however, rested within the Garrison Commander's residence. Watching Xu Yue'e bustling about, Wang Dou merely observed her in silence.

This scene was familiar — back in the Zanhuang mountain stronghold that year, Xu Yue’e had been the same way.

When busy, Xu Yue’e was still just as silent. After nearly two years without seeing her, her features had grown even more resolute. She wore a tight combat jacket, her hair wrapped in a silk kerchief, but that dashing, heroic air about her had not changed.

After making the bed, she walked out and soon returned carrying a basin of steaming hot wash water. Seeing her take over his work, Xie Yike and the guards outside the courtyard all looked at each other, peeking and craning their necks from a distance. Xu Yue’e wrung out the face cloth and handed it to Wang Dou.

Wang Dou wiped his face, exhaled comfortably, and handed the cloth back to Xu Yue’e. “Lady Xu, after all these years, why haven’t you started a family?”

Wang Dou remembered that Xu Yue’e was a few years younger than him, already twenty-four or twenty-five — an old maid by Great Ming standards — yet he had never heard any news of her marrying. Out of regard for their shared hometown, Wang Dou felt he ought to show some concern.

Xu Yue’e’s expression changed. “A body of withered flowers and broken willows — how would I dare hope for such a thing?”

She seemed somewhat angry. Carrying the wash water out, she left a remark at the door: “All I want is to kill every last Tartar someday. I want nothing else.”

With a splash, Xu Yue’e flung the wash water heavily out, startling Xie Yike and the others in the courtyard so badly they hastily scattered.

Wang Dou sat in his chair, pondering for a long moment, then took out Marshal Qi’s *Practical Record of Troop Training* and began reading.

Footsteps sounded — Xu Yue’e had returned. She carried another basin of hot water and walked straight up to Wang Dou. Then she pulled over a small stool, sat down, and gently removed Wang Dou’s shoes and stockings. Wang Dou glanced at her with some surprise, then went on reading his book.

Xu Yue’e tested the water temperature with her hand, then gently placed Wang Dou’s feet into the foot basin and carefully began washing them.

Xu Yue’e’s hands were very rough, her palms even had some calluses. The skin on her face was also somewhat dark, with a few freckles seeming to appear. Her skin quality could not compare with Ji Junjiao’s, nor even with Xie Xiuniang’s. Perhaps it was the result of sun and rain, of brandishing blades and spears — only the skin on her neck was still white and smooth as jade.

Wang Dou remained silent, and Xu Yue’e made not a sound either. As she washed Wang Dou’s feet, her hands seemed to tremble slightly.

After finishing washing Wang Dou’s feet, a look of joy and contentment appeared on Xu Yue’e’s face. She said to Wang Dou, “General, you have marched hard. Rest early.”

She carried the foot-washing water out and closed the door behind her for Wang Dou.

After a long while, Wang Dou shook his head and returned to his book.

……

The next day, the Shunxiang Army broke camp. Xu Yue’e saw them off ten li beyond the border and also provided the army with five days’ worth of grain and fodder, just enough to replenish what the Shunxiang Army had consumed since leaving Dingzhou.

When the army entered Neiqiu County in Shunde Prefecture, Wang Dou gazed eastward. Over a hundred li east of Neiqiu County was Julu, where Wang Dou had fought a bloody battle in the eleventh year of Chongzhen. Many had died there back then. The fallen Shunxiang soldiers — the retreat had been so hasty that only some personal effects and clothing could be brought back to serve as cenotaphs.

In the twelfth year of Chongzhen, after Wang Dou returned to Bao’anzhou, he sent men to Julu one after another to bring the soldiers’ remains back to Shunxiang Fort for burial.

He had heard that by the Haoshui River, the battlefield of that year, many temples had now been built, their incense burning vigorously every year. The local people of Julu all prayed that the heroic spirits of Viceroy Lu and the Shunxiang Army in heaven would bless their homes with peace and joy. The local government offices also held memorial rites every year.

Seeing Wang Dou rein in his horse and gaze into the distance, Wen Fangliang said softly, “General, shall we make a trip to Julu?”

Wang Dou sighed lightly. “When we return from this campaign, then we shall go.”

On the eighth day of the tenth month, Wang Dou led his troops into Zhangde Prefecture — already the territory of the Henan Provincial Administration Commission.

Riding his chestnut-red fine steed, Wang Dou looked around, his heart twitching again and again.

The scene before his eyes was like hell. All around was a yellow blur, a vast expanse of white — no tree leaves to be seen, no tree bark, no blades of grass, because everything had been eaten bare. Barkless, stark-naked trees shivered in the yellow earth; whenever a gust of wind swept through, dust struck the face.

No rivers could be seen on the ground either, for they had all dried up. Fields, rivers — all were covered with ghastly cracks. Across the sky, one “black cloud” after another passed by — an effect produced only by sky-blotting swarms of locusts flying over.

The towns and cities they passed were mostly empty. Starving corpses littered the wilderness, skeletons lay strewn everywhere, and people who had collapsed dead were everywhere to be seen. Those who remained stared with eerie, strange eyes — the look of those dazed from hunger. What Wang Dou could not bear was that crowds of people, in droves, were cutting flesh from the fallen dead to eat. Abandoned dead infants could be seen everywhere.

At first Wang Dou was extremely furious. He ordered the cannibals driven away, the bones and corpses collected, and some army rations distributed as relief.

But such scenes were far too numerous along the way. If the army rations were all given out, what would the Shunxiang Army itself eat? Wang Dou knew that the entire northern Great Ming had suffered severe drought these past two years. Although the scenes along the Eastern Route had been too painful to behold, Baoding Prefecture and Zhending Prefecture had still been somewhat better. After entering Shunde Prefecture, what he saw and heard…

Wang Dou heaved a long sigh. Qin Yi, serving as a staff clerk in the headquarters and accompanying the army on this campaign, was streaming with tears. Abruptly he raised his head to the sky and cried out, “Old Heaven, open your eyes!”

Everyone around him stood in a daze. The soldiers could no longer sing their army songs. An eerie silence hung all around.

By now the army had already crossed the Shahe River. Ahead was a town. Though it was high noon, not a wisp of cooking smoke could be seen — the people inside had probably long since died or fled. Suddenly, from the other side of the road came a shrill, wretched wail, seemingly a woman’s voice. Wang Dou’s face darkened. Wen Daxing shouted, “Go and see.”

At once several night scouts broke from the ranks and galloped swiftly in that direction.

Before they had even reached it, several women appeared before everyone’s eyes, weeping and wailing. Their steps staggered, and behind them pursued several men, each holding a wooden club. At the sight of the night scout cavalry, some of the women screamed and fled to the side, their voices despairing and bitter.

Only one woman came running forward, crying out loudly in the local accent: “Soldier lords, soldier lords, they want to eat me…!”