Chapter 71: Magnanimity and Assuming Office

Jia Duonan, Lu Xianyang, Zhang Shutang, and several others came to request an audience. Wang Dou smiled faintly; from the day he became the Garrison Commander of Shunxiang Fort, he had expected this day would come.

However, Wang Dou no longer had any interest in directing anger at these men. As his status and position changed, so too did his state of mind. If he were still that minor tun chief back then, faced with others' scorn and private grievances, he would of course have tried every means to retaliate. That is the tragedy of a small man — if you do not struggle fiercely, others will push further and bully you even more, leaving you no chance to survive in this world.

But when you hold the power over others' life and death, you stand higher and see farther. Your mind no longer dwells on this tiny patch of land. The petty grudges your subordinates once held against you can be dismissed with a smile. Dignity need not be displayed through personal vengeance; that would only make you seem small-minded. Forbearance at such a time better demonstrates your magnanimity and allows your subordinates to feel your authority and virtue.

Back when Yang Tong and Zhong Dayong showed him disrespect, after he rose to high position, he let those past grievances pass with a smile, which only made the two men respect him more.

Of course, if these men, after being treated with forbearance, still went behind his back to do him wrong, Wang Dou would not hesitate to employ thunderous measures and impose severe punishment, lest everyone mistake him for someone indiscriminately merciful. Wang Dou would never tolerate anyone betraying him.

Wang Dou summoned Jia Duonan, Lu Xianyang, and Zhang Shutang inside and merely comforted them with gentle words.

Amid the pleasant talk and smiles, the three men felt both relieved and overwhelmed with gratitude, and they could only weep bitterly.

Finally, the three men set their hearts at ease and left with profuse thanks.

Wang Dou's uncle, Zhong Xian, had been very happy these days. Because of the ostracism he faced from the clerks of Shunxiang Fort, he had been on leave and staying inside Jingbian Fort all this time.

But Zhong Xian was a man of restless temperament; how could he bear staying inside the fort? Every day he was on edge, and thinking of past events made him grind his teeth with fury.

Yet from the day of Wang Dou's wedding, things underwent an earth-shaking change. His former colleagues all came beaming, bearing lavish gifts. When they saw Zhong Xian, each one was exceedingly respectful, incessantly calling him "Mr. Zhong, Clerk Zhong." Their tone was so warm that Zhong Xian almost believed he had once been their brother-in-arms through life and death, their good colleague, their honored friend.

After being addressed like that, how could Zhong Xian still harbor any anger? Thinking of the bustle and prosperity of Shunxiang Fort, he wished he could resume his post immediately.

Still, he maintained some reserve, until Feng Dachang, the head clerk of Shunxiang Fort, came beaming with all the clerks in tow, lamenting that the affairs of Shunxiang Fort were so busy he was stretched too thin, and without a talent like Clerk Zhong, the fort's affairs could not run smoothly. Finally, everyone declared in unison: "If Mr. Zhong does not come forth, what will become of the common people?"

After being addressed like that, every bone in Zhong Xian's body went loose. On the fourteenth, he cheerfully packed his luggage and went to resume his post.

Seeing his uncle like this, Wang Dou was also very pleased. Only Zhong Diaoyang, mindful of Wang Dou's labors, felt gratitude in his heart. Though he remained taciturn as ever, he applied himself even more diligently to the tasks assigned to him, striving to do his very best.

After Zhong Xian left, Wang Dou formally summoned all the military officers in the fort to discuss affairs. These days he had been at home accompanying his new bride; fortunately, everyone in the fort attended to their own duties, so everything remained in good order and no trouble arose.

However, as the newly appointed Garrison Commander, his duties were numerous, and with the chaotic times of the late Ming, how could he have so much leisure? It was time to begin making arrangements.

Looking at the men in the hall — Han Chao, Han Zhong, Qi Tianliang, Yang Tong, Zhong Diaoyang, Gao Shiyin, Zhong Rong, and the others — every face was brimming with joy and high spirits. With Wang Dou's promotion, they too rose accordingly. As Wang Dou's direct subordinates, needless to say, the tide of flatterers and sycophants was overwhelming.

Gazing at the assembled men, Wang Dou sighed inwardly. The high-ranking officers and scholars under his command were still too few — they were either Squad Leaders or Platoon Leaders, or minor clerks. Even if they had rendered meritorious service in this bandit-suppression campaign, the promotions and rewards for those few would be limited; their official ranks were not high enough, making their posts difficult to arrange. To casually assign someone as a tun chief at an outer fort required at least the rank of Platoon Leader. Without that rank, sending a Squad Leader to serve as tun chief obviously would not command obedience.

Wang Dou said in a deep voice: "After I go to take up my post at Shunxiang Fort, Zhong Diaoyang will serve as tun chief of Jingbian Fort, and Qi Tianliang will continue to manage the farming affairs!"

The Han Chao and Han Zhong brothers would certainly follow him, but Jingbian Fort was the foundation of his power and required the most trusted person to remain in charge. Zhong Diaoyang was steady and reliable in handling affairs and was also his cousin. Having him serve as tun chief of Jingbian Fort, overseeing training and management, could not be better.

In the last bandit-suppression campaign, Zhong Diaoyang had also rendered military merit. Once the promotion and reward came down from above, an acting Platoon Leader rank was guaranteed. Appointing him as tun chief of Jingbian Fort was perfectly justified.

As for Qi Tianliang, although he had accompanied the army on the last campaign, unfortunately he had led the support troops and remained in the rear wing of the central army the entire time, achieving no merit whatsoever. He was still a Squad Leader now, and there was no hope of promotion or reward. However, he was one of Wang Dou's close men, so he would stay at Jingbian Fort to manage the farming. Wang Dou had seen his efforts and results over this period; he was a man of solid work.

Upon hearing Wang Dou's appointment, both Zhong Diaoyang and Qi Tianliang rose to their feet. Zhong Diaoyang simply clasped his fist and said: "Rest assured, my lord, this humble officer will manage the fort's affairs well!"

Qi Tianliang was somewhat more talkative. He exclaimed: "My lord, just set your mind at ease. Old Qi here won't boast about anything else, but leading the military households in farming is my strong suit. Just wait for the granaries to be filled to the brim with grain!"

Wang Dou nodded slowly. During the farming off-season, Qi Tianliang would lead the fort's military households to continue opening up farmland, repair the fields and crops that had been trampled and ruined by the roving bandits, rebuild the Lanzhou waterwheel that had been dismantled and smashed, and also reconstruct the livestock farm that had been burned down. The parapets on the fort walls, the training grounds inside and outside the fort, and so on — all likewise needed to be built.

Wang Dou had a schedule for all these matters. Zhong Diaoyang, Qi Tianliang, and the others just needed to follow it. To be honest, Qi Tianliang was also very passionate about this farming work.

Wang Dou then said to Zhong Rong: "Mr. Zhong will remain in the fort to assist Zhong Diaoyang and Qi Tianliang in handling clerical and documentary affairs."

Zhong Rong rose to his feet and bowed deeply: "This student respectfully obeys your command, my lord!"

Zhong Rong was currently only a Zandian, the lowest rank of clerk. Under the Great Ming's system of official assessment, there were three evaluations over nine years, with ratings of Competent, Average, and Incompetent. After three evaluations, two Competent and one Average allowed promotion by one grade. Three Competent ratings allowed promotion by two grades.

Although the evaluation comments for guard battalion clerks were determined by the seal-holding officer of the guard battalion, promotions had to be reported by the guard battalion's experience office to the Ministry of Personnel for approval. For Zhong Rong to rise in rank within a few years was far too difficult. Moreover, the culture of seniority-based ranking among civil officials in the Great Ming was far too entrenched. Zhong Rong clearly fell far short of the qualifications to serve as a senior clerk in Shunxiang Fort. In the future, if Wang Dou wanted to employ scholars, he would have to seek clerks from places like Shunxiang Fort or Dongjiazhuang, hoping to gather some useful talents.

Wang Dou continued: "Gao Shiyin will serve as the unit commander at Dongjiazhuang, Yang Tong as the deputy unit commander, and the Han brothers will accompany me into Shunxiang Fort."

Gao Shiyin was originally a Squad Leader, and Yang Tong an ordinary soldier. Both Gao Shiyin and Yang Tong had rendered military merit in this campaign. Regardless of their future promotion ranks, Wang Dou was determined to hold onto the important location of Dongjiazhuang. However, he could only arrange his direct subordinates this way; when he ate the meat, he had to let others have some soup too, right?

Hearing Wang Dou's words, both Gao Shiyin and Yang Tong grinned broadly. They were finally promoted, and even posted out to a fort — this was truly wonderful.

The Han Chao and Han Zhong brothers also grinned. Compared to the others, they preferred to stay by Wang Dou's side, for in that way their future prospects would be even more limitless.

Besides the Han Chao and Han Zhong brothers, this time Wang Dou also decided to bring Xie Yike along. That fellow — with some good tempering, he might well become another Zhong Diaoyang. In addition, Wang Tianxue, Tao Shi, Li Maosen, and the others would continue to stay in Jingbian Fort to forge weapons and research medicine.

Jingbian Fort would serve as his rear base camp.

After arranging everyone's duties, Wang Dou's thoughts drifted to Shunxiang Fort. He had been promoted, and his territory and influence had expanded, but the number of military household dependents he had to support had also grown. The poverty of the late Ming guard battalions was notorious. A battalion of a Battalion Commander, several thousand people, would all depend on him for their livelihood in the future — the pressure was imaginable. And to win the hearts of the soldiers and civilians of the entire battalion, he had to let them live the same good days as in Jingbian Fort. Only then could he rally the strength of the entire battalion and gain the upper hand in the coming crises.

Perhaps his current confidence rested on the support of the military households of one fort and the united morale of Jingbian Fort from top to bottom.

Also, some time ago, when he led his men in a night raid on the bandit camp, they had seized a large amount of gold, silver, grain, and fodder. Due to the urgency of time, he had only let his subordinates hide a little over three thousand taels of silver. The remaining three thousand-plus taels of silver, along with the horses, grain, fodder, and other goods, all had to be handed over in full.

Fortunately, the Integrity Officer Xu Zu was decent enough. Afterward, he gave Wang Dou another five hundred taels of silver, along with one hundred and forty-three warhorses, over four hundred dan of grain, and more than two hundred swords, spears, and other weapons. These supplies might slightly ease his pressing needs.

Regarding Wang Dou's departure to take up his post at Shunxiang Fort, the military households of Jingbian Fort felt both joy and sorrow. They had grown accustomed to Wang Dou's presence in the fort, and with him leaving, they truly would not be used to it. Fortunately, Jingbian Fort was the foundation of his lordship's power, and Shunxiang Fort was not far from Jingbian Fort, so his lordship would still return home often.

On the sixteenth day of the tenth month of the eighth year of Chongzhen, before Wang Dou's wedding leave was even over, he led his men and left Jingbian Fort.

This time, Wang Dou decided to bring five squads of battle troops and one squad of night scouts to Shunxiang Fort.

Jingbian Fort originally had seven squads of battle troops, two squads of support troops, and one squad of night scouts. He left one squad of battle troops and the two squads of support troops in Jingbian Fort. One squad of battle troops went with Gao Shiyin and the others to Dongjiazhuang. Those soldiers would all become officer seeds, branching out locally. According to Wang Dou's training system, they could soon raise several times the number of fierce warriors in the two forts.

The remaining troops were all taken by Wang Dou. He needed these soldiers, whose combat strength rivaled that of retainers, to ensure his authority within Shunxiang Fort.

Garrison Commander was equivalent to a Squad Commander in the field army, so when Wang Dou traveled, he brought a set of five-directional flags with a large banner bearing the character "Wang," a high-summoning banner, four patrol banners, and also some signal gongs, drums, and flag bearers. The banners were bright, the soldiers strong, and the horses sturdy.

The captured warhorses also ensured that Wang Dou's seventy-odd soldiers could each have two horses. Every man on horseback was also clad in iron armor. This kind of military display firmly ranked first within Shunxiang Fort. It proved that Wang Dou's strength made him the undisputed choice for Garrison Commander in Shunxiang Fort.

With banners and pennants clearing the way, Wang Dou led his iron-clad army out of Jingbian Fort. The iron hooves tramped upon the cobblestone streets of Jingbian Fort in a uniform, rumbling roar.

The military households of Jingbian Fort turned out in full force, all standing by the roadside, seeing Wang Dou and his men off with proud gazes.