Chapter 515: Eggs

Hearing the grumbling of his subordinates, Zu Dashou swept his stern gaze over them and roared, "All of you, shut your mouths!"

His authority in the Liaodong army was long established; at his shout, the personal officers around him involuntarily shuddered, one after another ceasing their complaints and looking over with apprehension.

Zu Dashou said coldly, "War is perilous; one misstep and we repeat the disaster of Dalinghe. How could Viceroy Hong and the Loyal and Brave Count not be cautious? In matters of state and war, they are seasoned campaigners and have their own considerations. Reinforcements are not absent, merely delayed by a few days."

He swept a cold glance over everyone: "In particular, the Loyal and Brave Count is surpassingly loyal and righteous, first slaying Yoto, then Ajige. With such martial valor and ferocity, how many in our Great Ming can match that? If your backbiting behind his back reaches the Count's ears, will it not sour our relations with the Jingbian Army?"

The foremost reason Zu Dashou had stood firm for decades was that he understood the importance of personal connections — whom to offend and whom not to offend, he made his own judgments.

After Wang Dou's rise, he had paid close attention to this rising star commander. When Wu Sangui went to the Eastern Route to observe troop training, it was not without the shadow of Zu Dashou's tacit approval.

To him, Wang Dou was an ideal ally: his army was exceedingly strong, and his network of connections extensive. Better still, the two had no conflicting interests — one stationed in Liaozhen, the other in Xuanzhen — they could serve as mutual support, complementing each other's strengths.

He knew his own affairs best: although the Guanning Army appeared glorious on the surface, how many behind the scenes resented and envied them? The court and the provinces were full of suspicion toward the Liaoxi army; it was only because all parties feared them that they dared not move against him.

Therefore, when Wang Dou led his troops here this time, Zu Dashou was determined to cultivate good relations. Even if they could not become allies, he must not offend him and sour their relationship — especially after the news of Wang Dou's great victory at Huangtuling arrived, Zu Dashou became even more resolute on this point.

Under the weight of Zu Dashou's accumulated authority, the officers beside him could only murmur assent, leaning in to listen obediently.

In truth, when the news of the Jingbian Army's victory at Huangtuling had reached them, they too had been deeply shocked. Each of them had fought the Qing troops for many years and knew how terribly difficult it was to take the heads of the enemy slaves, let alone slay a Tatar prince or commandery prince.

They knew well that the Qing state had twelve ranks of nobility: Heshuo Prince, Duoluo Commandery Prince, Duoluo Beile, Duoluo Beizi, and so on. Princes and commandery princes were among the highest ranks. Even Abatai, whom they all deeply dreaded, was merely a Beile.

To them, killing a Tatar Niru Zhangjing was already an unprecedented great victory. So toward the Jingbian Army, toward Wang Dou, though they felt curiosity, jealousy, and fear, they had no choice but to concede. Even in private discussions, they were cautious and guarded, lest their words reach Wang Dou's ears and bring unnecessary trouble.

Especially since the Liaodong crisis began, how many Ming armies had been buried in this land of Liaodong? Many officers and soldiers from other frontier garrisons regarded the Liaodong troops with deep wariness, seeing them as bearers of doom, the source of calamity. And who was Wang Dou? Would he care about their opinions? Even if he held his troops back and refused to relieve them, what could the Jinzhou commanders do about it?

Thinking of this, the officers on the tower could not help but feel disheartened. One personal officer said, "Master Zu, do you think the Loyal and Brave Count's reinforcements will come? The Tatars are pressing their assault so fiercely right now..."

The other officers also spoke up, their words laden with worry.

Zu Dashou gazed out beyond the city walls for a long while, then said in a low voice, "They will come, though the manner of relief may differ. Although I have never met Wang Dou in person, I know this man is prudent and never advances rashly. The government troops at Songshanbao may strike the Tatars' Rufengshan or Mount Shimen as a diversion, forcing the Tatar banners to hold back from committing fully to the assault."

"You all saw a few days ago: many Tatar troops from those two mountains were redeployed outside Jinzhou city — precisely the moment government troops can exploit. Hong Chengchou and the Loyal and Brave Count are veterans of many battles; they cannot fail to see this... Of course, with the government troops' battle lines stretched, the Tatars likewise have opportunities to exploit..."

The officers on the tower all felt a glimmer of hope. Whether the relief troops might be exploited by the Tatars, none of them cared. But if reinforcements would not come quickly, then Jinzhou city still faced bitter fighting. In the bloody battle of Dalinghe years ago, Jinzhou had been reduced to cannibalism — would it come to that again this time?

Although Zu Dashou did his utmost to encourage them and boost their morale, when the men descended from the ancient tower, each still harbored his own concerns.

Before the great Ming-Qing war, Jinzhou had been commercially prosperous, with jade workshops lining the South Street and fur shops clustered along the North Street. Furs, jade, and pickled vegetables were Jinzhou's three famous products. Merchants from north and south traded goods each region lacked — lacquer, paper, sugar, ginseng, bean cakes — and merchants gathered in throngs.

But after the Tianqi era, as battle after battle was fought, the city's merchants moved south one after another. Even the famed furrier, the Fu Family's Purple Sable Fur Shop, relocated. This shop produced exceptionally fine sable garments and had once gifted sable coats to Liaodong Provincial Governor Yuan Chonghuan, Liaodong Regional Commander Zu Dashou, and others, causing a sensation at the time.

Now, with Qing troops besieging the city for months, commercial activity in the city had withered even further. Walking the streets, all was desolate and quiet; the only occasional sights were frightened soldiers and civilians hurrying past.

Those walking the streets with Zu Dabi at this moment were mostly officers of the Zu clan. Under Zu Dashou's arrangements, they defended the various gates and served as the decisive support force for each sector. The Qing troops were assaulting the city again, and soon each of them would face a bloody battle.

They walked in silence, or exchanged meaningful glances. Finally, an Assistant Regional Commander with close ties to Zu Dabi ventured, "Second Master, must we keep defending Jinzhou? Let's not repeat Dalinghe, where we all lost troops and officers. Without soldiers, what is our Zu family in Liaodong worth?"

As soon as this officer spoke, the men around Zu Dabi erupted in chatter: "Exactly! Without soldiers, what are we? That Wang Dou is so arrogant — isn't it because he has tens of thousands of Jingbian troops in hand? Our Zu family can live high in Liaodong — isn't that because of our several thousand fierce retainers?"

"Right! Though Jinzhou is said to have over twenty thousand government troops, the only ones who can fight are our few thousand Zu family soldiers. If the Tatars don't leave for a long time, Second Master, once the clan's sons are all spent, our Zu family is finished too."

"Yes, Second Master, raising troops is not easy, the Zu family enterprise is not easy. You must advise the First Master to make plans early."

...Everyone present spoke at once, all pessimistic about holding the city, especially worried about losing the troops under their command.

Indeed, they had every reason to worry. Like Wu Xiang and his son Wu Sangui, the Zu family's retainers were all composed of the Zu clan's sons, their brothers, and their relatives.

Each of these retainers owned fields and estates in Liaoxi, like so many landlords great and small. Those with property have constancy of purpose; coupled with defending their homeland, this was why they dared to fight.

Moreover, they were treated extremely well. Wu Xiang had once said that he himself ate only coarse fare, while his three thousand sons and brothers dined on fine wine and fattened lamb. He wore rough hemp and coarse cloth, while his three thousand sons and brothers wore silks and fine fabrics. Even when the court failed to issue pay and provisions for long periods, they continued to live very well.

The Zu family was the same. The several thousand retainers under Zu Dashou were all brave and skilled in battle. Compared to the Jingbian Army, they merely lacked organization and superior systems. This was also why Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, and others trained new armies and distributed land to them, while the Liaoxi commanders remained unmoved.

They and their subordinates had long possessed land and property, living without want. And in peacetime, apart from training, they had no need to worry about farming their fields, because nearly all the military households in Liaoxi were their tenant farmers, laboring and toiling for them.

Like the Wu family army, the Zu family's several thousand retainers were purely the private armed force of the Zu clan. They relied on the Zu family's power and were all wealthy. But just as the Zu family relied on its retainers to maintain its standing, they were likewise deeply worried about any erosion of the forces under their command. This was the common failing of warlords in every era, past and future alike.

One officer even suddenly said, "I hear that Zhang Cunren and the others who surrendered to the Tatars are all living quite well now?"

The street suddenly fell silent. Everyone there, including Zu Dabi, looked around nervously, fearful that walls had ears.

After a long pause, a few men said in low voices, "Indeed quite well. As early as the ninth year of Chongzhen — the year Huang Taiji ascended the throne — Zhang Cunren was appointed President of the Censorate in the Tatar state, Han Daxun was appointed President of the Ministry of Revenue, Jiang Xin was appointed President of the Ministry of Rites, Li Yun was appointed President of the Ministry of Justice, and Pei Guozhen was appointed President of the Ministry of Works."

"Even the two young masters — Zu Zehong was appointed President of the Ministry of Personnel, and Zu Zerun was appointed President of the Ministry of War. Most notably, by now, the eldest young master has even been appointed Gushan Ezhen of the Han Army Plain Blue Banner. If we went over, our official positions would surely be no small matter either."

For a moment, the breathing of these Zu clan officers grew heavy. One officer said in a low voice, "In the months since the siege began, the Tatars have shot over a hundred letters urging surrender into the city. Second Master, why not seize this opportunity to advise the First Master to simply... surrender?"

Regarding the Qing state, Zu Dashou's stance was very clear: he would not surrender. Within this lay thoughts of loyalty to the Great Ming, considerations for the family, and likewise, the attitudes of his mother and wife, which also made Zu Dashou hesitate.

Like the old mother of Hong Chengchou in history, Zu Dashou's old mother was also quite loyal and righteous, unwilling even in death to betray the imperial court.

In particular, Zu Dashou's wife, Lady Zu, though fifteen years younger than Zu Dashou, was beautiful, virtuous, and quite talented. She had borne him three sons and often offered counsel and stratagems, helping Zu Dashou avoid many difficulties. Thus Zu Dashou held her in the highest respect.

However, Lady Zu had grown up in a scholarly family, raised on biographies of exemplary women, and she deeply despised the frontier barbarians, viewing their state as a stinking realm of Hu captives. She and his mother were currently in Ningyuan. If Zu Dashou surrendered, they would very likely take their own lives. Zu Dashou was filial to his mother and respectful to his wife — how could he bear to see that?

So whenever his subordinates obliquely raised the matter of surrendering to the Qing state, Zu Dashou flew into a rage. Unable to sway him, they could only approach Zu Dabi instead.

Watching everyone clamoring to persuade him, Zu Dabi merely sneered. His gaze was deep and brooding, seemingly at odds with his usual image of a brute who knew only how to roar and kill. Suddenly he slammed down his wolf-tooth club and bellowed, "All of you, shut your mouths!"

Startled, the men heard Zu Dabi point at them and curse: "You're too stupid to even know it. Have any of you read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms? Zhuge Kongming — everyone knows he placed clan brothers in the service of Wei, Shu, and Wu, not putting all his eggs in one basket. And you lot want every son of the Zu family to submit to the Tatars..."

He roared, "What are the Tatars? Even if they run rampant now, they are still nothing but a petty, insignificant state..."

He extended a little finger.

"The Great Ming may be weakened, but a starved camel is still bigger than a horse."

He extended a large fist.

"The Great Ming may be in dire straits, often losing battles, but who knows what the future holds? Perhaps it will grow strong again. Three hundred years of rule have their own deep foundations. Look at Wang Dou, look at Yang Guozhu and the others — strong armies are emerging one after another... Zerun and the others surrendering is fine; like the Zhuge family, splitting service among several states, no matter which state prospers, at least one bloodline survives. If our Zu family declines, if trouble comes, we will have somewhere to turn..."

He glared at them furiously: "But what you propose — that would be utter ruin! If all the sons of the Zu clan go over, we would have no choice but to serve the Tatars wholeheartedly. Once we have no more use, who knows whether Huang Taiji will burn the bridge after crossing the river?"

He continued, "Also, if we surrender to the Tatars, what becomes of the Zu family's properties? They will certainly be either seized by the Great Ming or abandoned. Even if the Tatars win this war, do you think they will occupy Jinzhou and let us defend it? They will surely set it ablaze and then withdraw. And without land and property, what are we? How do we support our troops? Then we will be in Huang Taiji's hands, to be molded as he pleases. Provisions, weapons — all dependent on others' whims. How could that compare to the comfort we have now?"

Everyone suddenly saw the light and nodded repeatedly, all saying, "Second Master is brilliant. We were dull and foolish."

For warlords, power, land, and soldiers were everything. It was obvious that on the Qing side, all of this would cease to exist.

And these Zu family commanders had all acquired vast estates in Liaoxi, privately exploiting garrison troops for labor, each possessing enormous family fortunes. To abandon all that — they were truly unwilling.

Moreover, being so close to Liaodong, news from the Qing state naturally kept coming. Those who had surrendered, though they held important posts, were constrained at every turn. How could that compare to their freedom in the Great Ming, where from the Emperor down to every civil official and grand minister, all had to defer to their wishes?

Especially now, with the situation between Ming and Qing still unclear, this was not the time to make a decision. Just like Wu Sangui in history, who remained isolated in Liaodong and refused to surrender until the Chongzhen Emperor died and the situation was settled, only then making his final choice.

As for the matter of Chen Yuanyuan, it was pure nonsense. To a warlord, what did a mere woman count for?

As things stood, the Great Ming had not yet reached the end of its rope. For the powerful Zu clan, surrendering now was clearly not a wise choice.

So once they came to their senses, they all fell over themselves in self-reproach.

Seeing that he had swayed the crowd, Zu Dabi nodded with satisfaction and bellowed, “This time even Ajige was slain — seems the Tatars aren’t much after all. Right now the Great Ming holds the advantage… In this fight, as long as we can hold out, the Zu clan’s prestige will only grow. The troops we lose can be replenished afterward. In the end, this patch of Liaoxi will still answer to us…”

He hefted his wolf-tooth club with one hand and roared, “Brothers, the Tatars are storming the city again! We march to the front right now and slaughter them until not a scrap of armor remains — let them have a good look at the might of our Zu clan sons!”

“Kill the slaves!”

“Fight the Tatars to the death!”

“Right — fight the Tatars to the death!”

The commanders around him were all stirred up by Zu Dabi; each raised his weapon and bellowed with fury.

A few, however, watched Zu Dabi thoughtfully. They had not expected the Second Master to think so far ahead — they had never seen it before.

In the past, everyone had taken Zu Dabi for a man of mere brute courage. Now their estimation of him rose a notch. It seemed that those who sat in high places were never muddle-headed fools.