Chapter 713: Rewards

The grassland was a scene of utter devastation — grass fragments, mud mixed with flesh and blood, deeply soaked into the soil beneath, dyeing this patch of grass a dark, swamp-like blackish red.

The cruelty of the horse-trampling execution left the captives of the three Khalkha tribes watching in sheer terror, their souls barely clinging to their bodies; they all knelt on the ground, howling desperately for mercy, from the taiji down to the common soldiers, and in this moment, they were equal, their appearances identical.

On the platform, Omubu watched with satisfaction at the vengeance, yet his face was equally pale; the several lamas beside him could only murmur their Buddhist chants.

When Wang Dou's gaze fell upon him, the assistant taiji of the Khalkha Tüsheet tribe wailed, struggling forward with all his might and kowtowing forcefully to Wang Dou: "I beg the Marquis of the Upper Nation to spare my life; this slave will certainly return to report to the Khan and have my Tüsheet tribe abandon darkness for the light, to serve the Grand General and the Great Ming loyally for generations to come."

He cried out desperately; the several tabunang, banner commanders, and other chieftains of the Chechen and Jasaghtu tribes, unwilling to be outdone, likewise advanced on their knees, wailing loudly.

They only hoped Wang Dou would spare their lives; the higher their status and position, the more accustomed they were to enjoying glory, wealth, children, and riches, the less they wanted to die — what did servile groveling matter? Preserving their lives was the most important thing.

They struggled and wept for mercy, yet some of the mid- and low-ranking officers and soldiers remained silent, and when they looked at these chieftains, their eyes were filled with disappointment.

The Mongol soldiers of the New Auxiliary Battalion standing guard nearby wore expressions of utter contempt; in their view, it was forgivable for common soldiers to weep and beg for their lives, but tribal chieftains ought to rather die than submit — yet reality made their jaws drop.

A strange feeling surged in many hearts: it seemed these chieftains were not the reincarnations of gods they proclaimed themselves to be, so high and mighty after all.

Wang Dou gave a cold snort inwardly — these steppe barbarians only remembered the stick and forgot the carrot. When Emperor Taizu, Emperor Chengzu, and Lan Yu campaigned north of the desert, every tribe scrambled to submit; by the late Ming, the court offered gentle pacification and scattered vast amounts of grain, silver, and coin, only to be met with a rush to betray.

At last, he spoke: "In truth, after this marquis's punitive expedition against Monan and the punishment of Gulu Ge and others for their unforgivable crimes, I have no ambitions toward Mobei. After all, north of the Yin Mountains lies nothing but barren desert and gobi. Han people cannot farm there — what use would taking it be? Not only that, this marquis also hopes to establish friendly relations with all the Mobei tribes. After all, Han and Mongol each have their strengths and weaknesses; it is not impossible to exchange what we have and coexist peacefully. The Great Ancestor, Emperor Gao, once said that between Chinese and barbarians, though surnames differ, care should be given as one — this marquis holds the same attitude. Han and Mongol are one family."

Like taking a cold bath on a sweltering day or eating an ice stick in the dog days of summer, the assistant taiji of the Tüsheet tribe and the others were first stunned, then overjoyed. The Marquis Yongning of the Ming Nation meant not only to let them go, but also to engage in mutual trade with the tribes in the future? This was something they had dreamed of.

Wang Dou's words also convinced them deeply; indeed, Han armies throughout the dynasties had rarely ever directly crossed beyond Monan, and even if they had, it was only nominal rule — was it not just declaring oneself a vassal and paying tribute, offering some horses, sheep, and cattle each year? What did that matter? Had they not previously declared themselves vassals to the Qing state just the same? Now it was merely a change of recipient — what difference did it make to whom they declared vassalage?

But before they could speak, Wang Dou continued: "However..."

A chilling look appeared in his eyes as he said: "It cannot be helped — you have aided the tyrant in his evils. If transgressions go unpunished, how can Wang Mou stand between heaven and earth? And how could there be such a cheap bargain in this world? Therefore, some among you must die! As the price for aiding the tyrant!"

His gaze slowly swept over the assistant taiji of the Tüsheet tribe and the others, and he said: "Of course, I am a fair man. Although some among you must die, I permit you to discuss among yourselves and select who shall be the objects of punishment. The principle is one drawn from every three."

Having spoken, he leaned back comfortably in his large tiger-skin chair.

Below, among the captives of the three Khalkha tribes, some understood Chinese and some did not. Ceng Youyi, as the commander of the New Auxiliary Battalion, was naturally fluent in Mongolian, and he served as interpreter, translating Wang Dou's words one by one.

The Khalkha men below looked at one another; Wang Dou's words made their hearts rise and fall like fifteen buckets hanging from a well — one moment soaring to the clouds, the next plunging to the earth. Given the choice, they certainly did not want to die, but who was to be sent to their death?

They looked at each other, countless glances silently communicating, and as if by unspoken agreement, the assistant taiji of the Tüsheet tribe and the others retreated to the side, leaving behind several hundred men from the three tribes in the middle. Among these men were either the stubborn and unrepentant of each tribe, or those who fought fiercely and had received many rewards in peacetime, arousing the envy of others.

These men, who ordinarily commanded wind and rain within their tribes, were now reduced to a vulnerable group, selected to be sent to their deaths.

To the surprise of the men of the Border Pacification Army, the assistant taiji of the Tüsheet tribe and many other chieftains were not selected. Evidently, the men of the three tribes understood that they would have to rely on these chieftains to survive after returning, and after today's ordeal, becoming trusted confidants was only a matter of time.

Among those in the middle was a banner commander of the Tüsheet tribe. He looked at the assistant taiji, at the chieftains of the three tribes, then at the men beside him, and after a stunned moment, laughed bitterly to the heavens: "I never imagined that I, Ulianghe, having fought half my life for the tribe, would meet such an end today, betrayed by my own people. Hatred! Hatred!"

He suddenly charged toward the platform, but bound as he was, his movements were clumsy, and he was quickly seized by several Mongol soldiers of the New Auxiliary Battalion nearby, who then rained down a vicious flogging with whips upon his head and face. He screamed in agony and cursed at Wang Dou: "Han dog, you seize our land, you occupy our Mongol homeland! If the spirit of Genghis Khan watches from heaven, he will surely send his iron cavalry to slay you!"

The several hundred captives of the three Khalkha tribes who had been selected, knowing they could not escape, also steeled their hearts and broke into furious curses, consumed with bone-deep hatred for Wang Dou's seizure of Monan lands and his intent to exterminate them.

Wang Dou listened with a smile, thinking to himself that the Chinese language was indeed profound and extensive — several hundred Khalkha Mongols had cursed for half the day but could produce no variety, merely repeating the same few phrases over and over.

The generals of the Border Pacification Army on the platform, along with Wang Pu and the others, burst into laughter. Advisor Qin Yi also let out a hearty laugh and said: "What a joke — since when did the lands of Monan become yours? When Huo Qubing sealed Langjuxu and the Great Tang established the Anbei Protectorate, Genghis Khan was nowhere to be found."

Seeing that the banner commander Ulianghe of the Tüsheet tribe still refused to submit, Wang Dou stood up with a smile and said: "In truth, there is really no need to argue over these historical legacy issues. If we speak of the original ownership rights of the grasslands, perhaps only the Xiongnu have that qualification — but they have already been driven by the Han armies to flee thousands of li westward, and who knows if any remnants of their line still exist in this world."

"Thereafter, the Xianbei, Rouran, Turks, Khitans, Jurchens, and Mongols all came after the Han people in time. The Mongols' current lands were also seized from the hands of the Jurchens, and the Jurchens, in turn, seized them from the Khitans. Seizing back and forth, it has always been the strong who are honored. What matters most now is that I, Wang Dou, want this land, and so I raise troops to take it. Do any of you have objections?"

The generals of the Border Pacification Army on the platform all revealed expressions of pride. The Grand General had spoken well — everything else was empty. If one could conquer it, this land was one's own. The tens of thousands of Border Pacification Army soldiers below the platform likewise burst into laughter, each filled with pride for their great undertaking.

The assistant taiji of the Tüsheet tribe was frantic with anxiety, thinking that if this Ulianghe was going to die, he should just die — why all this fuss? He could not help but cry out: "Ulianghe, go in peace. You die for the tribe; the Khan and I will surely take good care of your wife, children, and family. You..."

Suddenly, Ulianghe broke free from the dragging grip of several New Auxiliary soldiers and lunged fiercely at the assistant taiji, biting him wildly. By the time the New Auxiliary soldiers pulled the two apart, the assistant taiji had been bitten bloody all over, shrieking in terror.

Then Ulianghe glared furiously at Wang Dou and the others on the platform, his mouth still cursing without cease.

Wang Dou praised: "A true warrior!"

Han Chao said from the side: "Among the Han there are cowards and warriors; the same holds true for the barbarians of the steppe."

Wang Dou said flatly: "A warrior should have a warrior's noble death; his status must not be buried. To show the highest respect for this man, let him undergo the horse-trampling execution. The rest shall be beheaded."

Swiftly, the still-cursing Ulianghe had a hemp sack pulled over his head, and then, amid his screams, he was trampled into bloody pulp by the stampeding horses.

After dealing with the matters of the three Khalkha tribes, Wang Dou ordered the assistant taiji of the Tüsheet tribe to be untied, invited him onto the platform, and granted him a chair — though not a large tiger-skin one.

This taiji was overwhelmed with gratitude, repeatedly kowtowing to give thanks. Although Wang Dou's terms stipulated that if they wished to return to Mobei, their tribal families would have to ransom them, with the cattle, sheep, and horses for each person's ransom varying according to their status and rank, this taiji, having escaped with his life, was already fully content.

He mused that the Khan and his family would surely ransom him; as for whether the remaining soldiers had the means to be ransomed, or whether the tribe would ransom them — that was not his concern.

Next, under the watchful eyes of all the chieftains of Monan and Mobei, Wang Dou conducted a grand reward ceremony for the officers and soldiers of the Border Pacification Army. Military merits were tallied once more, and from each battalion, ten soldiers and officers who had performed outstandingly and fought valiantly were selected to receive rewards. Wang Dou personally awarded them silver taels and merit points.

Accompanying this was a certifying merit medal, its material ranging from bronze to gold. Under the gaze of tens of thousands, this was a rare honor; those on the platform were all overwhelmed with emotion, and the troops below the platform were filled with envy.

Beyond the glory, some of these soldiers were those who had recently advanced from B-Class to A-Class troops; they were still delighted to receive silver rewards, but the veteran A-Class troops valued the merit point rewards and the honor of receiving the merit medal even more.

Yang Dongmin, the former personal guard of Xu Zucheng — Wang Dou's old superior — who had now been selected into the Central Army's Cavalry Right Battalion, and Li Zhongguo, son of Li Shouqin, the current Internal Affairs Section Ambassador of the Intelligence Division, both came onto the platform to receive rewards for their outstanding performance in battle.

Amid the gaze of tens of thousands, Yang Dongmin strode onto the platform. Wang Dou watched him with a smile, recalling that when the two first met, it had been during the conflict at the Wanshenghe Rice Shop all those years ago. So many years had passed, and Yang Dongmin had been completely transformed, becoming a qualified soldier of the Border Pacification Army, stern and heroic.

Handing over a tray bearing one hundred taels of silver and a beautifully crafted, solid and weighty silver merit medal engraved with one hundred merit points, Wang Dou smiled and said: "Brother Yang, congratulations — this is what you deserve!"

Yang Dongmin choked with emotion: "Many thanks, Grand General!"

He received it with both hands and roared at the top of his lungs: "Loyalty! Dedication! Honor!"

Li Guangheng watched cheerfully; Yang Dongmin's receiving of the award was also his glory.

The military newspaper reporters below the platform craned their necks to watch while furiously scribbling away. Rewarding soldiers on the frontier battlefield — what an exciting topic! They imagined that upon their return, this issue of the newspaper would sell like mad.

As they scribbled furiously, they unanimously used pencils and cardboard. There was nothing strange about the pencil; as early as the time of Emperor Ming of Han, there were records of Cao Bao sleeping with a pencil in his bosom and reciting texts while walking. Sometimes, using a pencil was more convenient than a brush.

Of course, when writing at length about the preceding events, they likewise employed the "Spring and Autumn brush technique." Although Wang Dou did not mind, they took it upon themselves to safeguard the image of the Grand General and the Border Pacification Army. Besides, the newspaper still had editors.

Handing over fifty taels of silver and a bronze medal of fifty merit points into the hands of Li Zhongguo, Wang Dou looked at this sturdy, honest-looking young man and laughed: "Your father has a rather sinister look, yet you are completely different. How can father and son be so unalike?"

The crowd on the platform roared with laughter; Li Zhongguo just grinned foolishly, mouth agape.

Below the platform, within the Loyalty Battalion, Xu Lu and Liu Wei watched from afar. Unable to endure the discipline, they had not entered the cavalry battalions, but many of their subordinates had already been transferred away, and then a steady stream of new old troops entered the Loyalty Battalion to become their subordinates — truly, the camp is iron, the soldiers are water.

Looking at Wang Dou, Wen Fangliang, and the others on the platform — men who had once been from the same fort — the disparity in their status was now as distant as heaven from earth. Yet none of them harbored any thoughts about it anymore; after all, the gap between them had grown ever wider, and they had long ceased to be on the same level. They only hated that they had not persevered back then — one misstep had become an eternal regret.

Zhang Wenru, the former Garrison Commander of Sihaiye Fort, likewise remained in the Loyalty Battalion. He too could not endure the discipline and instead found life more pleasant within this battalion. Still, seeing one of his former subordinates ascend the platform to receive an award, Madman Zhang cracked his wide mouth into a grin.

The deposed Tumed Khan, Omubu, watched all this and found it very interesting. The assistant taiji of the Khalkha Tüsheet tribe, however, was inwardly solemn.

He pondered that this ceremony conducted by the Ming Marquis Yongning had clearly and greatly boosted the morale and fighting spirit of the army — no wonder the Border Pacification Army was so invincibly fierce. It seemed that from now on, Monan would certainly be Wang Dou's domain; he must persuade the Khan to cultivate good relations with Wang Dou.

Wang Pu watched his subordinates’ envious expressions — clearly they too longed for such rewards and honors. He silently noted it in his heart: once he returned, he ought to stage this kind of ceremony himself.

Among the Mongols of the New Auxiliary Battalion, Tabunang and Galede stood nervously, watching the great banners surging like waves over by the central army’s high platform. Below the platform, the ranks of soldiers were arrayed in martial majesty. They watched batch after batch of men ascend the platform to receive their rewards, and before and after each reward, the tens of thousands of soldiers below roared “Mighty and Majestic!” The two men felt both excitement and anticipation, their hearts practically leaping into their throats.

At last, it was their formation’s turn. Under the gaze of the multitude, the two of them and the other eight stepped out from the ranks. They were met at once by a heaven-covering, earth-sweeping roar of might, along with the wild howls and shouts of the several thousand Mongol troops of the New Auxiliary Battalion. Both men’s faces flushed deep red; they felt that such glory alone, even without any reward, would have been satisfaction enough.

The ten men ascended the high platform, every one of them head high and chest out, standing rigid with excitement. Wang Dou called out their names one by one, while Ceng Youyi stood to the side interpreting. When the Grand General’s gaze fell upon him, Galede felt it was as deep and unfathomable as the great sea. A steady man by nature, and rather quick-witted besides, he shouted loudly: “To wage war for the Grand General — I dare not ask for reward.”

Wang Dou declared: “In my Jingbian Army, merit is always rewarded!”

His gaze shifted between Tabunang and Galede several times, and he said: “The Chengzu Emperor once proclaimed: ‘Those barbarians who enter China and become Chinese shall be treated as Chinese. Under Heaven’s canopy, we do not divide Hua from Yi; wherever there is worthy talent, we employ it without casting it aside.’ You are all heroes of the New Auxiliary Battalion. This Marquis hopes your martial valor will endure undiminished, and that like the generals Man Gui and Ma Gui, you will fight to the death for the nation and leave your names in the annals of history!”

The ten Tatar soldiers of the New Auxiliary Battalion roared at the top of their lungs, some in Chinese, some in Mongolian: “We are willing to die for the Grand General!”

Wang Dou bestowed the rewards one by one. Tabunang, the fiercest and most valiant, had taken a total of nine heads. He was awarded one merit plaque worth one hundred merit points, and also received one hundred taels of silver.

What was more, his entire family’s status was changed from Temporary Residence to Naturalized, skipping directly over the Barbarian registry. From now on, they could move freely in and out of Xuanfu Town. If they developed a sense of identification with Han culture, they could later be granted a Han surname, adopt a Han given name, and become Han-registered.

Looking at the merit plaque in his hand, Tabunang trembled with excitement from head to toe. He knew well how precious merit was in the Jingbian Army — a single merit point could be exchanged for one mu of good farmland or five mu of pastureland. There it was: five hundred mu of pastureland, just like that. In the future, he could build himself a great big ranch.

Not to mention him — down below, the Mongol soldiers of the New Auxiliary Battalion were all staring with reddened eyes. Even Company Commander Lemoge was burning with envy.

Galede also received fifty taels of silver and fifty merit points. After the ten of them descended the platform, Tabunang’s example in particular would greatly ignite the determination of the New Auxiliary Battalion’s warriors to fight fiercely on the battlefield.

The grand reward ceremony concluded, and the entire army rejoiced and leapt with elation. Wang Dou turned his head toward Ombu, Khan of the Tumed, who had been watching with keen interest, and said: “Ombu.”

Having suffered prolonged abuse at the hands of Gulu Ge and others, Ombu’s reactions had grown somewhat dull. He stood stunned for half a beat before it registered, and he hurriedly said: “This little prince is here…”

Wang Dou looked at him and said: “In the fifth year of the Longqing reign, the Great Ming invested Anda Khan as the Obedient and Righteous Prince. Thereafter, Han and Mongol enjoyed amicable relations. When the First-Rank Loyal and Compliant Consort held her position, she repeatedly overrode all dissent to bring Han and Mongol to cease arms and sheathe swords, preventing the spread of war’s flames and sparing the common people from misery. This merit and this virtue — my Great Ming bears them firmly in mind. The sufferings you endured after being abducted to Liaodong by that slave chieftain — this Marquis feels them as his own. I shall submit a memorial to the imperial court to restore your title of Obedient and Righteous Prince…”

Wang Dou cupped his hands in salute toward the direction of the capital, then continued: “Not only that — from among the surrendered Tumed people, five thousand shall be allocated to you as population, and you shall possess a guard force not exceeding one thousand men.”

Joy descended upon Ombu as if from heaven. He wept bitterly, fell to his knees, and kowtowed to Wang Dou repeatedly: “The Grand General is as the parents who gave this little prince a second life! This little prince shall, for generation after generation, be loyal unto death to the Grand General, and loyal unto death to the Great Ming!”

Wang Dou said: “Please rise.”

He walked to the edge of the platform, one hand resting on his sword, and slowly gazed out over this land beyond the frontier — from south to north, from east to west — his eyes deep and unfathomable as the sea.

……

On the sixteenth day of the ninth month of the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, Wang Dou led his army back to Guihua. En route, he heeded the advice of his Staff Advisor Qin Yi, and in emulation of the Huo Cavalry General Huo Qubing, he held a grand Heaven-worshipping ceremony and an Earth-sacrificing ritual on the Great Qingshan Mountains.

At the same time, Wang Dou ordered that the victory report of this campaign be dispatched at flying speed to the capital, and that public opinion in Xuanfu be set in motion as well.

The officers were all exultant. Though this punitive expedition beyond the frontier might not match the Huo Cavalry General’s in everlasting fame, it was still a tremendous achievement not seen since the mid-Ming. Every man fortunate enough to take part in this campaign would leave his name in the annals of history.

It was just that, not long after, a piece of intelligence from the Central Plains utterly shattered the good mood of Wang Dou and his men. (To be continued...)