Chapter 72

Volume Three: Garrison Commander of Shunxiang Fortress, Chapter Seventy-Two: Poverty

It was the sixteenth day of the tenth month in the eighth year of Chongzhen — already the twenty-fifth day of the eleventh month by the later solar calendar.

The Minor Snow solar term had long passed, and the weather grew ever colder. The biting north wind blew, and the iron armor they wore felt like frozen metal, the chill piercing straight to the heart.

Despite the raging cold wind, Wang Dou and his party simply controlled their horses and advanced at a steady pace.

Several banner-bearers rode ahead at the front, followed by the spear banners of each squad, plus Wang Dou’s five-directional great banners — a dozen or more vivid red and yellow flags snapping and streaming in the cold wind.

Some of the night scouts had already fanned out far ahead. Beside Wang Dou, Han Chao led the remaining night scouts, controlling his horse at Wang Dou’s side. Xie Yike was also positioned in the central army; he sat astride a horse, his body constantly twisting left and right.

Xie Yike originally could not ride, but ever since entering Jingbian Fort, he had quickly gotten to know Han Zhong and pestered Han Zhong to teach him horsemanship for a few days. Now when he rode, at least he would not fall off the horse, though his movements were still clumsy.

Seeing his manner, Han Zhong could not help calling out: “Little Ke’er, you’re still not there yet. You’re still too timid!”

Xie Yike said defiantly: “How much older are you than me, that you call me Little Ke’er?”

The two began bickering. Han Chao watched them and said to Wang Dou with a smile: “Brother Xie Yike’s skills are still quite good. He just needs a bit of tempering, and he’ll make a fine officer candidate.”

Wang Dou smiled faintly: “He is still young and has not yet earned any military merit. Promoting him now, I fear he could not command respect!”

In Jingbian Fort, military merit and ability came first. After the previous extermination of the bandits, several squad leaders had been promoted within the squads, just filling the gaps left by Gao Shiyin and the others’ departure. But Xie Yike had not participated in any battle. Although he was Wang Dou’s own brother-in-law, Wang Dou would not promote him because of that and break Jingbian Fort’s rules.

Han Chao nodded. He looked at Xie Yike with an appreciative gaze and said: “I’ve tested him — his fistwork, footwork, and archery are all good. He has the ability to be a squad leader. I also see he’s clever, good raw material for a night scout. Why not transfer him to my squad?”

Wang Dou slowly nodded and said: “Very well, then let you properly discipline him!”

At present he was short of men. Since Xie Yike had ability, letting him run errands at his side all day was indeed a waste; it would be good to place him in Han Chao’s squad. Han Chao was calm by nature; with him managing Xie Yike, Wang Dou could also be fully at ease.

…

Each man had two horses. Their pace was fast, and after traveling on the road for a short while, Shunxiang Fort already appeared before everyone’s eyes.

Shunxiang Fort was located at the foot of Mount Fushan, west of the ancient Meiyu Pass road. Tradition held that the city was first established as early as the era of the Yellow Emperor. To the west lay the ruins of Han Dynasty Pan County, and to the east was the present Shunxiang Fort. At present the fort’s perimeter was over 1,200 meters, the walls 11 meters high, not counting the height of the parapets and gate towers. The outer walls were faced with grey bricks. As the seat of the Left Battalion of Baoan Guard, this fortress city could be considered extremely sturdy.

When Wang Dou and his party reached the south gate of Shunxiang Fort, the main road was already crowded with fort officials who had come to welcome them.

The fort’s battalion commanders and company commanders, the several squad-leading officers, and the various clerks and functionaries — all were now standing in the cold wind to welcome him. At the very front of the crowd was Shunxiang Fort’s Assistant Administrator, Vice Battalion Commander Lin Daofu, his expression somewhat dejected. Beside him stood the Fort Supervisor Chi Dacheng.

As for why Lin Daofu was still at Shunxiang Fort, this was an accident. Originally Lin Daofu had been the number three man at Shunxiang Fort for many years. After losing hope of becoming Garrison Commander, good news suddenly arrived — he had hopes of being transferred to a post in the departmental city. Like an iron tree blooming after a thousand years, Lin Daofu was beside himself with joy.

Unexpectedly, before he had been happy for more than a few days, bad news came: his position in the departmental city had apparently been taken by someone else through the back door, and this transfer to the departmental city was again hopeless. With the Garrison Commander post also not his share, Lin Daofu was empty on both ends. According to people from his household, Lin Daofu was so angry he had not eaten for days.

Under this double blow, Lin Daofu’s dejection was easy to imagine.

He kept a stiff face and did not speak. The Fort Supervisor Chi Dacheng beside him was also not a man of many words. The two of them just stood there woodenly, waiting in silence.

That the two in front had nothing to say did not mean the people behind did not speak. Behind them, several squad-leading officers and clerks stamped their feet and blew on their hands, conversing in low voices as they awaited the arrival of the new Garrison Commander Wang Dou.

Xu Lu, formerly Xu Zhongjun’s personal attendant, chatted with those nearby. Wang Dou’s maternal uncle Zhong Zhengxian also stood in the crowd, his face full of pride, whispering softly with the beaming Clerk Feng Dachang. It was plainly evident that everyone around treated Zhong Zhengxian very politely. Clearly, Zhong Zhengxian the big mouth had long ago spread word of his relationship with Wang Dou through every street and alley. Considering Wang Dou’s standing, who would dare be impolite?

The crowd waited. Suddenly there was a stir among them, and everyone craned their necks, calling out: “Garrison Commander Lord Wang has arrived!”

Sure enough, dust rolled in, banners and pennants appeared, and Wang Dou’s party could be seen approaching from afar. Led by Lin Daofu, the crowd all came forward to meet them.

When Wang Dou’s party reached the crowd, everyone was taken aback, especially the several squad-leading officers within the fort.

Wang Dou’s nearly one hundred men were all clad in iron armor, each man with two horses, every one of them brimming with keen spirit. They exhaled white plumes of breath and sat proudly upon their horses; even the warhorses beneath them constantly snorted. Any one of these soldiers, taken at random, could match the retainers under Xu Lu’s command. Seeing this military bearing, many people drew a cold breath. With such assets, no wonder Wang Dou could serve as Garrison Commander of Shunxiang Fort.

Only, no one could figure out how Wang Dou, originally a mere hamlet chief at Jingbian Fort, had produced these strong soldiers and horses.

Lin Daofu also stared intently at Wang Dou’s troops, a complicated expression appearing on his face. Perhaps the reason he could not serve as Garrison Commander was precisely because he did not have such soldiers and horses at his disposal.

Wang Dou dismounted, and surrounded by Han Chao, Han Zhong, and a few others, strode toward the crowd.

Led by Lin Daofu, everyone rushed forward in a body to welcome him.

Lin Daofu stepped forward and saluted: “My lord has come from afar and endured hardship. Your subordinates await you here, my lord!”

He performed two bows to Wang Dou. Wang Dou returned the courtesy slightly.

Looking at Wang Dou, Lin Daofu felt very uncomfortable inside. Once upon a time, Wang Dou had to perform subordinate’s salutes to him. Who would have thought that not long after, he himself would have to salute Wang Dou. Truly, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west.

Looking at Wang Dou’s young and spirited face, Lin Daofu felt even more ill at ease. Once upon a time, this position of Garrison Commander had originally been his. Just as it was about to be within his grasp, it was lost again. Fate made fools of men, to have come to this. To think he was already forty-six this year, soon to be fifty. For so many years he had always been the deputy — was there no chance to become the principal?

Watching this officer nearing fifty, dressed in the uniform of a Vice Battalion Commander, salute him, Wang Dou also felt some sympathy. Perhaps because he had suffered a double blow, Lin Daofu’s originally tall and burly frame had already bent somewhat; the weathering on his face was deeper, the hair at his temples more grey, and his originally sharp eyes had dimmed considerably.

But sympathy was sympathy. Wang Dou would certainly not give his own official post away, so he could only sympathize in spirit.

After Lin Daofu stepped forward and saluted, next the Fort Supervisor Chi Dacheng came forward to pay his respects to Wang Dou, performing three bows to Wang Dou. Chi Dacheng was a rigid man by nature, and this was reflected in his salutes, which were also strictly proper. His face showed no particular expression, yet in etiquette one could find not the slightest fault.

Next, Lin Daofu introduced the various fort personnel to Wang Dou — the several squad-leading officers and clerks. The six squad-leading officers all held the rank of Company Commander. Among them, Xu Lu was of course an old acquaintance. He came forward all smiles to pay his respects, and Wang Dou spoke a few words with him cordially. Xu Lu sensed Wang Dou’s regard for him and was overjoyed, feeling he had gained great face before everyone.

There was also a squad-leading officer named Sun Sanjie, who also left a deep impression on Wang Dou. This man was in his thirties, rough-hewn in appearance, yet his voice was soft and spongy. In particular, he had a large tumor growing on his forehead, making him unforgettable at a glance. Hearing Lin Daofu introduce him as skilled with the bird-beak arquebus, Wang Dou took note.

Besides these were the several clerks from the clerical office.

Clerk Feng Dachang, about forty-five or forty-six years old, courtesy name Jingxing, managed all documentary affairs inside and outside the fort.

Assistant Clerk Han Yu, about thirty-some years old.

Secretary Guo Zhongju, about forty-some years old.

Storekeeper Wang Zhong and Storekeeper Ma Zhong, both in their forties, were responsible for managing the fort’s grain depot and fodder yard.

Wang Dou smiled and exchanged pleasantries with each of them. These military officers and clerks in the fort were all people he could make use of; he would win them over as much as possible. Seeing Wang Dou’s amiable expression, everyone set their minds at ease. It seemed this new Garrison Commander was easy to get along with.

Among the various clerks, Wang Dou saw his maternal uncle Zhong Zhengxian. He smiled and said: “Uncle, are you well in the fort?”

Zhong Zhengxian, looking immensely pleased with himself, said in a voice loud enough for the whole crowd to hear: “Dou’er, your uncle is very well. In this freezing weather, was the journey here arduous?”

His words drew a field of gazes full of both envy and jealousy.

…

Lin Daofu glanced at Zhong Zhengxian and said to Wang Dou: “My lord, the wind outside the fort is cold. Let us enter the fort!”

Wang Dou nodded, and thereupon everyone entered the fort together.

Shunxiang Fort had two gates. The south gate was also called Pingdingmen, and atop the wall was built a gate tower.

The crowd entered the fort through Pingdingmen. As Wang Dou rode his horse along the street, he sighed inwardly with emotion. This was the first time he surveyed everything inside the fort with the eyes of its master — the feeling was indeed different.

Compared to Jingbian Fort, Shunxiang Fort was indeed much livelier. At least there were considerably more shops and buildings along the streets, and the flow of people was somewhat greater. But there was one thing Jingbian Fort had that Shunxiang Fort lacked: that sense of tidiness and vitality.

Although the military households of Jingbian Fort were also generally poor, everyone was brimming with vigor, their eyes possessing a lively spirit full of hope for the future. Each person had their own goal in life, and every part of the fort was clean and neat. Living inside was enough to lift one’s mood.

In contrast, looking at Shunxiang Fort, the streets were dilapidated and filthy, the houses low, shabby, and broken. Everywhere was garbage, and half-naked children ran all about. The adults, men and women alike, were all in tattered clothes, their expressions numb, as if utterly crushed by poverty and having lost all faith in life.

Looking at these military-household commoners, Wang Dou felt a heavy heart. In the past, when he came to Shunxiang Fort, he had merely passed through as a transient, never taking many things to heart. Now that he had become the Garrison Commander of Shunxiang Fort, these people had all become soldiers and civilians under his rule — could he change their lives, win their hearts, and turn them to his own use?

The group spurred their horses onward, heading only inward.

The Battalion Commander's official hall was located on East Main Street on the eastern side. The several main thoroughfares were all paved with bluestone slabs, but they had long fallen into disrepair and were pitted and rutted everywhere.

As they went along, side alleys and lanes kept appearing on both sides of the street. Seeing Wang Dou's iron-armored army approach, many soldiers and civilians stood to the side, alarmed and fearful, merely fixing their eyes on Wang Dou and his men. Some merchants also pushed open their doors one after another to come out and watch this unusual troop on the street.

Seeing those awed and fearful looks in their eyes, Han Zhong, Xie Yike, and the others were all immensely pleased with themselves — from now on, they would be the masters inside the fort. The soldiers from Jingbian Fort were also proud; coming from Jingbian Fort to Shunxiang Fort counted as arriving at a major place. Every man sat ramrod-straight in the saddle, and their iron-shod hooves merely rumbled past, leaving a wake of astonished exclamations and discussion behind them.

Lin Daofu rode his horse beside Wang Dou, from time to time pointing out buildings within the fort to him. Wang Dou nodded repeatedly.

Very soon, the group arrived in front of the Battalion Commander's official hall on East Main Street.