Chapter 450: Personnel Selection, Fine Tidings

On the day the entire army was on grand leave, in the great barracks camp west of Yongning City, inside the commander’s tent, officers thronged in full attendance. Wang Dou was to decide today which battalions and officers would march on the Liaodong campaign.

When it came to going out to battle, whether in the former Shunxiang Army or the present Jingbian Army, everyone vied for the chance with tremendous eagerness.

Gao Shiyin shouted and yelled, still wanting to accompany the army into battle, drawing all manner of scornful looks. This fellow — last year he already followed the Grand General on the campaign against the roving bandits, and now he still wants to march on Liaodong? Isn’t this just snatching everyone else’s chance to earn merit?

Faced with the unanimous scorn of the crowd, Gao Shiyin, thick-skinned as ever, listed all sorts of reasons why he should accompany the army — for instance, with the slave-bandits massing at Jinzhou, how could the Vanguard Battalion, as the unit with the most outstanding combat strength, not campaign in Liaodong? If the Vanguard Battalion did not go forth, it would be a great loss and waste for the Jingbian Army.

His words stirred a clamor throughout the tent. If Gao Shiyin put it that way, did it mean the combat strength of the other units was not outstanding?

Facing everyone’s accusations, Gao Shiyin still wore a cheeky grin, yet his determination to insist on going to battle did not waver in the slightest.

In the end Wang Dou declared: “The entire Central Battalion will go to battle. Of the four great cavalry-infantry battalions, the Right Guard White Tiger Battalion and the Rear Guard Black Tortoise Battalion will follow this general on campaign. The Vanguard Vermilion Bird Battalion, the Left Guard Azure Dragon Battalion, and the Loyalty Battalion will remain to guard the Eastern Route.”

The moment Wang Dou spoke these words, Gao Shiyin instantly looked half-dead, his expression one of deep chagrin.

Shen Shiqi bared his teeth — he commanded the Loyalty Battalion and was just itching to display his prowess on the Liaodong battlefield; he never imagined he would not be allowed to go to battle.

The Right Battalion’s senior general Zhong Xiancai, the Rear Battalion’s senior general Han Chao, and others showed delighted smiles on their faces.

Only the Left Battalion’s senior general Wen Fangliang wore a faint smile, clearly having anticipated this outcome long before.

He and Gao Shiyin were now both Assistant Regional Commanders. Yet the senior generals of the Right and Rear Battalions, Han Chao and Zhong Xiancai, were still only Mobile Corps Commanders. For the sake of balance, the Grand General would certainly take those two on campaign — especially Han Chao. Back in the day, he was one of the old hands from the Grand General’s own fire beacon tower; to let his merits and rank rise, he would definitely get his turn in this campaign.

As for the various units of the Central Battalion, they were either cavalry, or artillery, or Night Scouts and supply troops — their situation was clearly different.

Looking at Gao Shiyin, Wen Fangliang, and Shen Shiqi, Wang Dou said with solemn gravity: “Brother Gao, Brother Wen, Brother Shen — you remain to guard the Eastern Route. In truth, the burden on your shoulders is not light. According to the Staff Division’s strategy, in late seventh month, you are to march beyond the frontier, coordinating with the great army on the Songshan-Jinzhou front!”

“Whether we can throw the Tartar bandits’ rear into chaos and shake the slaves at Jinzhou — your part is absolutely critical. You must not treat it lightly!”

Wen Fangliang’s expression turned equally solemn, his usual cheeky grin gone. He clasped his fists and said with grave respect: “Grand General, set your mind at ease. We shall certainly guard the home gates well and campaign beyond the frontier properly. We will coordinate with the great army at Jinzhou and deliver a thunderous blow to the Tartar caitiffs in the rear!”

Gao Shiyin rubbed his head and thought it over. Those two fellows, Han Chao and Zhong Xiancai — it was about time they got their military merits promoted. Besides, campaigning beyond the frontier was unprecedented; the experience might be intensely thrilling. Thinking it over, it wasn’t bad at all.

Shen Shiqi, for his part, knew the old soldiers of his Loyalty Battalion — they might be a little afraid of fighting genuine Manchu Tartars, but when it came to fighting Mongols, everyone had solid confidence. Going beyond the frontier to drill the troops was good too; if the Loyalty Battalion wanted to grow, its opponents needed to be chosen well, from weak to strong.

The two of them clasped their fists and roared: “We respectfully obey the Grand General’s command!”

The battalion and unit arrangements were settled one by one. Among them, under Wen Fangliang and Gao Shiyin’s current commands, Garrison Commander Wu Zhengchun was stationed at Bao’an Department, and Garrison Commander Gao Xun was stationed at Laishui. When Wen Fangliang and the others later campaigned beyond the frontier, those two units would rotate with the remaining units on guard duty and likewise go beyond the frontier to fight.

Finally, Wang Dou delivered a round of encouragement. When the officers emerged, every face was wreathed in smiles, brimming with confidence for the battles to come.

When Advisor Wen came out, he cast an approving glance at his nephew Wen Fangliang, satisfied with his performance inside the tent.

Knowing his limits, understanding when to advance and when to step back — his nephew was growing ever more seasoned.

Thereafter the entire army went on grand leave. Officers and soldiers alike, apart from those on rotating guard and alert duty, all returned home to reunite with their families. …

……

“Clop-clop-clop…”

The sound of hoofbeats rang out in bursts. On the country road from Fanshan Fort to Fansan Fort, two swift horses came galloping, kicking up dust all along the way and drawing envious gazes from passersby of every sort.

Riding on horseback were none other than Chen Sheng and Ju Yiwu.

After the battalion reorganization, both of them, in accordance with their military merits, had been promoted to Grade-A soldiers.

Now both were marksmen in the Forward Unit of the Rear Battalion, under Company Commander Lei Xianbin. Of the Rear Battalion’s four units, the Forward Unit and the Left Unit were both Grade-A troops, so Chen Sheng and Ju Yiwu not only had their own horses, but even their armor differed from that of the Grade-B troops.

At this moment, the armor both men wore consisted of deep-red, long-bodied surcoats, front-opening, fastened with brass buttons — exceedingly heroic and dashing.

The collar, shoulders, front opening, and hem of the surcoats were all edged in black velvet — the insignia of the Jingbian Army’s Rear Guard Black Tortoise Battalion.

Because Chen Sheng and the other man were Grade-A soldiers, their collars were square. Along the collar to both shoulders, there was also a strip of red velvet; near the shoulder blades, a small velvet ball was raised on each side — these were the marks of Grade-A soldiers. Since the army had many soldiers of superior skill, red waist tags were also commonly seen among the Grade-A troops.

After Wang Dou established the camp regulations, not long before, everyone’s clothing and armor had been fully refitted. It happened to coincide with the leave to return home, so the soldiers were allowed to wear them back.

The troops of every battalion were extremely satisfied with the new-style armor. Not only was it imposing and lightweight, its protective power was equally outstanding.

Especially around the chest and abdomen, it was no worse than the iron armor the former pikemen wore. Where protection was needed, it protected; in unnecessary places, no armor plates were attached inside, reducing the overall weight. Compared to the old cumbersome gear, everyone could move far more nimbly.

Having horses, compared to the past when they rode wagons back to Fansan Fort, Chen Sheng and Ju Yiwu were far more at ease this time. Both had practiced horsemanship before; once the horses were issued, they could mount and ride, without the awkwardness of owning a horse yet not knowing what to do.

At this moment the two men rode on horseback, still wearing their helmet-caps and carrying waist sabers, but without arm-guards. The Jingbian Army had added a new regulation: except on the battlefield, all troops and officers could forgo wearing arm-guards. In peacetime, however, soldiers were encouraged to wear their armor to grow accustomed to its weight and freedom of movement.

Now the harvesting of the fields in every garrison fort was drawing to a close. Moreover, with the official dispatches issued by the field headquarters, everyone across the Eastern Route knew the great army was about to march, and all the forts of the Eastern Route had sprung into operation. Under the Intelligence Division, Xie Youcheng’s theatrical troupes went deep into every fort and locality to spread propaganda, building momentum for this campaign.

By the time Chen Sheng and his companion arrived before Fansan Fort, the area in front of the fort was already a sea of people. Nearly all the fort’s residents had gathered there.

The moment the two men were spotted, gongs and drums resounded to the heavens, and firecrackers burst forth.

The Garrison Commander, Garrison Commander, pacification officer, consolation officer, and drill instructors of Fansan Fort, leading the fort residents, all came forward to welcome them.

Amid the welcoming crowd pressing around them, Chen Sheng joyfully saw the proud and self-satisfied gazes of his family.

A smile appeared on Ju Yiwu’s face; he too spotted the figure of Sun Pannan among the crowd.

After a long round of pleasantries with the fort officers, the two men, guided by specially assigned personnel, were ushered into the fort together with their families.

A running banquet had already been laid out inside the fort, specifically to toast the campaigning soldiers and bid them farewell with wine. The celebrations would continue for several days. This time the Finance Division had allocated a good deal of grain and meat, so the fort residents could just have a hearty feast.

Watching the two men enter, the remaining onlookers still discussed them enviously: “Those two great gentlemen are both Grade-A soldiers now. Look at that armor — how imposing.”

“Indeed, and they each have their own horse. When they retire in the future, those horses will belong to their own households.”

“I wonder if that brat of mine, going out to battle this time, will be able to earn any military merit.”

Many of those discussing were the families of former garrison conscripts. Their men, this time conscripted into the Grade-B troops, would all have to follow the army to battle, and they could not help feeling both hope and worry in their hearts.

People craned their necks and peered ahead, still gazing down the country road.

For this grand army-wide leave, the Logistics Division had mobilized large numbers of wagons and horses from the supply battalions, and had also contracted every cart service on the Eastern Route to transport those Grade-B soldiers. But their return home was not as swift as that of Chen Sheng and his companion. …

Still, by today, they would all be able to reach home.

Sure enough, a little over two hours later, a great number of wagons arrived before Fansan Fort. Leaping down from the wagons were Grade-B soldiers, all wearing helmets and clad in armor.

They were precisely the men of Fansan Fort who, not long before, had been selected from the fort’s guard conscripts to become soldiers.

Instantly, inside and outside Fansan Fort, a great stir arose once more.

……

When soldiers returned home, the time for true reunion was only two or three days.

On the eighteenth day of the sixth month of the fourteenth year of Chongzhen, the soldiers who lived farther from Yongning City mostly set out on their return journey, transported back to camp by the Logistics Division or by wagons contracted from the cart services.

Chen Sheng also decided to set out today. The house he lived in was a large communal courtyard, laid out in the siheyuan style. Besides his own household, there were nine other households in the courtyard. The barracks housing in every fort on the Eastern Route was like this — each squad of ten men shared one courtyard. However, the more well-to-do garrison residents could buy land inside the fort and build their own compounds.

Chen Sheng had originally planned to do so, but his wife and concubine got along amiably with the neighbors and were unwilling to move away, so he let the matter drop.

Chen Sheng came to the main hall; his wife, concubine, and children were waiting for him to have lunch.

Although there was a communal feast in the fort, Chen Sheng still decided to eat with his family today.

On the table were fish and meat, white steamed buns, and egg soup. The reward money and silks Chen Sheng had brought back had greatly improved his family's livelihood.

Seeing his family all seated waiting for him — his two sons and his darling little daughter, playing with the gifts he had bought them while eyeing the fragrant fish and meat on the table with eager anticipation.

Chen Sheng felt warmth in his heart. For the sake of his family, his hard campaigning was all worthwhile.

Chen Sheng was taciturn by nature, and having studied books, he observed the rule of not speaking while eating. The family ate in silence. Afterward, his concubine, Madam Sun, handed him a wrapped bundle and said softly, "Husband, yesterday my sister and I went to the temple together to pray for safety talismans. You must remember to wear them on your person."

Chen Sheng's wife, Madam Zhao, suddenly burst into tears and said between sobs, "Husband, on the battlefield, blades and arrows have no eyes. You must remember to protect yourself. Military merit is important, but..."

Chen Sheng abruptly turned to his wife, his gaze turning stern. "On the battlefield, blades and arrows indeed have no eyes, but how can one shrink from battle because of that? If officers and soldiers do not fight fiercely to kill the rebels, how can you and others live peaceful lives on the Eastern Route? My father and my younger brother both died under the Tartars' blades. I have long wanted to fight them!"

Madam Zhao lowered her brows and said, "Yes, I spoke out of turn."

Chen Sheng's expression softened. He looked at his wife, then at his children, and sighed. "My lady, while I am away, everything at home will depend on you."

He took the bundle, led his horse out, and did not look back again. Behind him came his daughter's wails: "Papa, I want Papa."

His eldest son gently comforted her: "Darling, be good. Papa has gone to fight the Tartars. He will come back."

Hearing his daughter's cries, Chen Sheng felt as if a knife were twisting in his heart, but he steeled himself and did not look back.

He went out of the courtyard and saw Ju Yiwu leading his horse over. The two nodded to each other and both mounted their horses.

Along the streets and alleys, family members were constantly sending off the men who had enlisted. Seeing the two of them, they all called out greetings in succession and also entreated the two to look after their men.

Chen Sheng and Ju Yiwu were considered veteran soldiers. The newly enlisted garrison men, though they had trained for a long time, had never been on a battlefield. Amid the excitement and anticipation, their families could not help but feel nervous and worried.

Therefore, in recent days at Fanshan Fort, many had come to visit Chen Sheng and Ju Yiwu at their homes. Besides inquiring about battlefield matters and things to be careful of, they asked Chen Sheng and Ju Yiwu, for the sake of being fellow villagers, to look after their men more.

The closer they got to the fort gate, the thicker the crowd became. The soldiers of Fanshan Fort were all setting out to return to camp today, so all their families had come out to see them off.

There were also the send-off teams organized within the fort, and so on. The square in front of the fort was packed to the brim.

Once the soldiers had assembled, the fort officers delivered impassioned speeches, and then the B-grade soldiers each boarded the wagons.

Pop, pop, pop, pop! A string of large red firecrackers went off, followed by a deafening clamor of gongs and drums. Amid the tearful farewells of their families, the wagons slowly began to move.

Chen Sheng spurred his horse forward a few steps, then turned his head back to look. He saw his wife and children gathered among the farewell crowd, and his daughter was desperately waving the scarf he had bought her.

Chen Sheng sighed. He saw Ju Yiwu beside him also halt his horse and look back. Following his gaze, Chen Sheng saw in the crowd a timid young woman with a pair of dark, deep eyes.

This young woman, despite the sweltering heat, wore warm shoes and a thick scarf wrapped tightly around her, staring intently at Ju Yiwu. Her eyes were full of mist, but she forcibly held back her tears.

Chen Sheng felt a pang in his heart. He knew that this woman, Sun Pannan, had been violated by the Tartars back in Zhuozhou, so her family treated her coldly, and many among the fort's garrison folk criticized her. Her experience was exactly the same as that of the legendary figure of the Eastern Route, the current Baoding Mobile Corps Commander Lady Xu, but her nature was weak, and she lacked Lady Xu's courage and opportunities.

In the fort, only Ju Yiwu truly cared for her, did not disdain her, and wanted to marry her. But Sun Pannan had her own inner knot and shied away, not daring to accept Ju Yiwu's true feelings.

Many in the fort had proposed matches for Ju Yiwu, but Ju Yiwu had always waited in silence. Chen Sheng could only feel anxious for his good friend but was unable to help.

Now Sun Pannan was wearing the clothes Ju Yiwu had bought her. Could it be...

Looking again at his good friend's expression, the look on his face was very strange, as if he were making a momentous decision.

Suddenly, Ju Yiwu bellowed, "Pannan, wait for me to come back. I will definitely marry you!"

After shouting, his face turned bright red. Not daring to look at anyone, he spurred his horse and hurriedly rode off.

The crowd burst into an uproar, and then countless people raised a clamor, especially those B-grade soldiers in the wagons.

Sun Pannan instantly shrank back into the crowd, then stealthily poked her head out again to watch the direction Ju Yiwu had gone. Her vision blurred, and tears fell drop by drop.

This sudden episode made the fort officers and defense officers look at each other in dismay. The drill instructor, however, was a forthright fellow. He had injured one leg and so had retired to serve as the fort's drill instructor.

He laughed heartily. "A true man dares to love and dare to hate. Good! Since Lady Xu on the Eastern Route, our Fanshan Fort should also produce a fine tale to be told."

Chen Sheng likewise broke into a smile and spurred his horse to catch up with his good friend.

The soldiers returned home in a steady stream, and the officers of each battalion also happened to reunite with their families in Yongning City.

After the military conference, Xie Yike swaggered home like a crab. When he had served as the main general of the guard, he had to mind his dignity, so he had reined himself in somewhat.

Now that he was transferred back to the Vanguard Scout Battalion, his true colors were revealed again.

Xie Yike's residence was also in the Cheng'en Ward in the southeastern corner of the city, not far from Zhong Rong's home.

As soon as he returned to his residence, his son Xie Tiandi threw himself at him and called out sweetly, "Papa, Papa."

Xie Yike picked up his son and gave him several fierce kisses, praising him, "My precious son, you're looking more and more like your father."

Tickled by Xie Yike's kisses, Xie Tiandi giggled and reached out to tug at Xie Yike's two dashing little mustaches.

Xie Yike said hastily, "Precious son, you mustn't tug at these. Your mother loves these two little mustaches of your father's the most."

"Nonsense."

At that moment, his wife, Young Madam Chu, came out from inside the house. Hearing Xie Yike's words, she couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.

Young Madam Chu was the daughter of Chu Qinmeng, the Garrison Commander of Mashuikou (the elder brother of the young madam of the former provincial city). She had married Xie Yike in the eleventh year of Chongzhen. Several years had passed, and she was now just twenty years old, at the age when a young wife's charm was most alluring.

Xie Yike couldn't help but whistle. "Where does this young lady come from, so ravishingly beautiful? This humble student, Xie Yike, dares to ask the lady's honored name and from which immortal village she hails?"

Hearing her husband's praise, Young Madam Chu was delighted in her heart, but on the surface she covered her mouth and laughed, scolding him, "Look at you, with our son already so big, and you still have no proper form."

The two chatted and laughed for a while, and it was just time for lunch. Because of the constant campaigning with the army and the large amounts of reward distributions, Xie Yike's household was quite well-off. Even without relying on his elder sister Xie Xiuniang, they lived a comfortable and pleasant life.

Xie Yike originally had eight siblings, but in past years several younger brothers had starved to death, one elder brother and two elder sisters had been given away, and only Xie Xiuniang and he remained in the Xie family.

Over the years, as the status of Xie Xiuniang and Xie Yike as brother and sister had continuously risen, the Xie family's circumstances had become increasingly prosperous.

Xie Yike's parents had also long since been living a life of plenty, but the two elders were unwilling to come to Yongning City, saying that leaving one's hometown made one lowly, and they had always stayed within the bounds of Shunxiang Fort. The brother and sister also regularly aided the families of the elder brother and sisters who had been given away.

The food on the table was sumptuous, and Young Madam Chu was content. She was a traditional woman who believed that the man took charge of external affairs and the woman took charge of the home, and she was gentle and obedient to her husband.

However, when she occasionally put on a stern face, Xie Yike was quite afraid of her too.

The two had a tacit understanding: Xie Yike made the decisions on major family matters, and Young Madam Chu made the decisions on minor ones. Regrettably, however, major family matters were truly too few.

Young Madam Chu preferred quiet over activity and often worried about her husband meeting with mishaps, so she was dissatisfied with Xie Yike resigning from the post of main general of the guard. Now she brought up the old topic again and complained, "I just can't understand. My husband was doing perfectly well in the Guard Battalion. Why did you have to go to the Vanguard Scout Battalion? Isn't it dangerous?"

Listening to his wife's words, Xie Yike instead recalled that day when he went to the Vanguard Scout Battalion and bellowed, "Brothers, I'm back again! Do you still remember me?"

The cheers of his old friend's subordinates back then had made his blood boil.

Ah, this was the life he liked—tense and thrilling. Back when he was a hunter, he had always loved that feeling of the chase and kill.

The Guard Battalion was safe, certainly, but it was idle, not to his liking.

On the surface, however, he gave a snort: "A woman's way—long on hair, short on sense!"

He said, "You know my sister is the principal wife of a Grand General, and I serve as the Regional Commander of the Guard Battalion. If this goes on, what will others think, what gossip will they spread?"

Young Lady Chu suddenly saw the light: "It is my dullness. My husband's thoughts are indeed far-reaching!"

Seeing her husband's stern face, she grew uneasy and said pitifully, "Husband, I was wrong. Please forgive me."

Seeing her like this, Xie Yike's heart stirred greatly. With a dignified air, he said, "Hmph, you know you were wrong? That's not enough. Just wait and see how your husband punishes you."

In the deep quiet of the night, Xie Yike coughed once: "Wife, let's do the rear-entry style."

Young Lady Chu's cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She scolded, "You're awful."

Xie Yike said with dignity, "Disobedient again."

Young Lady Chu, bashful and shy, still obeyed her husband.

After they finished, Xie Yike was satisfied, but thought to himself that his lady only allowed the rear-entry style when he was departing for war or returning—how unsatisfactory.

Young Lady Chu, her face streaming with tears, held Xie Yike tightly and wept, "Husband, you must come back alive. Di'er and I cannot do without you."

Watching his wife weep like a pear blossom bathed in rain, Xie Yike sighed and comforted her: "Don't worry, nothing will happen."

In the days that followed, Young Lady Chu was extremely accommodating to her husband.

Xie Yike took the chance to try out, one by one, all the techniques he had learned from spring palace paintings. He felt refreshed inside and out, his heart already flown far away to the distant Liaodong battlefield. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to come to (.) to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)