Chapter 838: Strategy

On the sixth day of the third month, at the garrison city of Xuanfu.

Inside the Provincial Governor’s office, Zhu Zhifeng, Provincial Governor of Xuanfu; Wei Jingyuan, Provincial Governor of Datong; and Cai Maode, Provincial Governor of Shanxi, sat solemnly in their places.

Also present were Ma Guoxi, the Military Defense Circuit Intendant of the Eastern Route of Xuanfu Garrison; Wu Zhi, the Department Magistrate of Yanqing; and many other gentlemen gathered in full assembly. Presiding over them, of course, was Li Banghua, Vice Protector-General of the Anbei Protectorate, Professor of the Confucian Academy, Director of the Environmental Protection Bureau, and still Left Chief Censor of the Great Ming’s Chief Surveillance Bureau.

On the first day of the third month, the roving bandits had poured northward with their full force, claiming a million men and bearing straight down on the capital. Yet the gentlemen at court remained indifferent. Li Banghua and Zhu Zhifeng had waited on tiptoe in the garrison city, but still saw no imperial edict summoning the Marquis of Yongning to relieve the throne, nor any directive from the Ministry of War. So they could bear it no longer and urgently consulted Wei Jingyuan and Cai Maode, requesting them to come and discuss this great matter.

They had also invited Ji Shiwei, Viceroy of Xuan–Da, but he declined on the grounds of pressing military duties — though he did not obstruct their deliberations.

The atmosphere in the hall was stifling. Suddenly a loud crash rang out as a teacup jumped and clattered noisily — it was Zhu Zhifeng slamming his palm onto the side table beside him, rising in fury.

This stubborn old man, wearing an official robe with golden-pheasant rank insignia, roared: “What are all you gentlemen thinking? How many memorials have I submitted? Every one like a stone sinking into the sea… Do they not see a million roving bandits? Or are they confident they can keep the bandits at bay beneath the city walls forever?”

“Do they truly not care about the life or death of our Great Ming?”

He bellowed loudly, his voice harrowing, his indignation spilling from his bearing, his words brimming with fury, despair, helplessness, and every such emotion. As he shouted, his face flushed crimson from rage and agitation, his gaunt frame drawn taut, trembling constantly with the force of his speech.

Cai Maode, Provincial Governor of Shanxi, was a modest gentleman. Now he too spoke with a sigh, his tone full of bewilderment and anger: “This humble officer once fought beside the Marquis of Yongning at Jinzhou and knows the strength of the Border-Pacifying Army. This is the perfect moment — the roving bandits are marching north, and we could net them all in one sweep at the capital, thoroughly resolving this affliction at the heart of our Great Ming… Such a golden opportunity — are the gentlemen’s eyes all blind?”

Ma Guoxi, the Military Defense Circuit Intendant of the Eastern Route of Xuanfu Garrison, chuckled and said: “The gentlemen likely have other thoughts in mind, and so they shun the Marquis of Yongning as if desperate to avoid him.”

Though his face bore a smile, his words were laced with icy coldness. Having served long in Xuanfu Garrison, Ma Guoxi knew full well what Wang Dou was doing, and he also knew what the various figures in the capital feared.

Wei Jingyuan, Provincial Governor of Datong, said nothing; he merely frowned in deep thought.

Li Banghua, who had been sitting and drinking tea all the while, let out a long sigh. He set down his teacup and addressed Wu Zhi, the Department Magistrate of Yanqing, below him: “Magistrate Wu, how goes the matter of coordinating the joint petition?”

Wu Zhi sighed and said: “The gentry are not enthusiastic; they all look around and wait to see what others do. This humble officer is powerless.”

His expression was haggard, and his tone was filled even more with grief, indignation, and helplessness.

Li Banghua sighed deeply again and intoned slowly: “‘When slander and praise contend, the ruler becomes confused.’ This humble officer has long been in Xuanfu and knows that the Marquis of Yongning is not in the wrong. Yet do the gentlemen at court understand this — or do they deliberately choose not to?”

He sighed: “The dynasty treats officials and gentry far too indulgently. The Marquis of Yongning has merely corrected it slightly — why must the gentlemen be so fearful and anxious? Or do they imagine the roving bandits will be better than the Marquis of Yongning?”

In truth, he knew exactly what the court gentlemen were thinking, because he himself had once thought the same way.

Wang Dou had, in effect, implemented unified tax payment for both officials and merchants in Xuanfu Garrison and the Protectorate. Although his methods were rather subtle — not as blatantly conspicuous as Sun Chuanting’s, and certainly not as nakedly rapacious as the roving bandits’ — anyone with clear eyes could discern his approach.

Apart from the military households under his governance, Wang Dou had not coerced anyone.

However, those who did not pay grain taxes would be marginalized — not only could they not enter the core of power, but they were also shut out from every profitable industry. Though many local figures with hideouts in multiple places sent large numbers of family members and relatives into Xuanfu and the Anbei Protectorate, they donated vast sums of silver in order to obtain Han registry and various titles.

Many people obtained titles such as “Benefactor” and were granted entry into various trades, but in their hearts they were still resentful, because everywhere else in the Great Ming, they did not need to pay this money at all.

That was one point: all manner of preferential privileges were gone, and the same applied even to the families of court ministers. Wang Dou did not care in the slightest about their standing, which made everyone burn with shame and fury.

Furthermore, many people inside and outside the court considered Wang Dou to be, in truth, very “treacherous.” Take Li Banghua, Zhu Zhifeng, and the like — men of such lofty character and repute — yet they had been assigned by Wang Dou to work in the Environmental Protection Bureau, doing nothing but thankless, unrewarding tasks.

Now, from their former image as pure-minded Confucian scholars, they had been transformed into utterly despicable villains, and were already being cursed to the heavens by the gentry and merchants throughout Xuanfu Garrison, the Protectorate, and various parts of Shanxi.

And then there was Du Xun — he was a eunuch, a servant of the imperial household, yet Wang Dou had assigned him to be Director of the Urban Management Bureau, doing nothing but playing the role of a claw-and-fang enforcer, a chamber-pot man.

And the result? They bore all the infamy, while Wang Dou reaped all the glory.

Whenever people spoke of the pristine landscapes throughout Xuanfu Garrison and the Protectorate, the common folk all praised the Marquis of Yongning’s achievements.

Whenever people spoke of the cleanliness throughout Xuanfu Garrison and the Protectorate, the immaculate beauty of every city and every fort, the common folk all praised the Marquis of Yongning’s achievements.

The dirty work and the bitter toil were done by Li Banghua and his colleagues; the good name and the pure reputation were won by Wang Dou and his people. A man so “treacherous” — if he were to enter the capital…

Consider the roving bandits by contrast: though they are evil, they are evil openly and honorably, evil in broad daylight, evil without concealment — not hypocritical like Wang Dou.

Better a true scoundrel than a false gentleman.

Moreover, if the roving bandits truly gained the realm, they would naturally change. A new dynasty, a new atmosphere — if they really meant to govern the country, could they possibly dispense with these officials and gentry?

Thus, what the court gentlemen and the capital officials were thinking became abundantly clear.

The final point: Wang Dou’s power and military strength sent chills through many a clear-sighted person, and particularly aroused the anxieties of the old ministers at court.

Li Banghua himself had once said: “The issue lies not in his intent, but in his power.”

Now he believed he had been much mistaken in his words. It was true that the Marquis of Yongning possessed strength, but possessing strength was not his fault. Though a weak sovereign and a strong subject will always invite suspicion and fear, such matters could be dealt with gradually. The urgent task at hand was to deal with the roving bandits; the affairs of state must take precedence.

How could the gentlemen not understand this?

Or perhaps they understood all too well — understood that the Great Ming’s accumulated ills were beyond remedy and its demise was in sight, so each of them sought to welcome a new master, viewing the Marquis of Yongning as an even greater obstacle than the roving bandits.

He sighed: “If the gentlemen act thus, how can it not chill the heart? Yet we who eat the sovereign’s grain must be loyal in the sovereign’s service. As subjects of the Great Ming, we must at least do something, so as not to betray this boundless imperial grace.”

“There is one method.”

Wei Jingyuan, Provincial Governor of Datong, spoke at this moment. He enunciated each word slowly and deliberately: “In truth, the Marquis of Yongning, in his capacity as General Who Subdues the Caitiffs, may — when the situation is urgent — dispatch troops without the Emperor’s consent or the Ministry of War’s authorization, and may also requisition the realm’s forces. His authority is weighty enough to execute ranked officials up to the third grade, and even the Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet must kneel before him!”

He looked at everyone in the hall and said in a deep voice: “This humble officer has pondered it over and over, and perhaps this is the only way.”

Silence fell over the hall as everyone weighed the pros and cons of this course.

In fact, the General Who Subdues the Caitiffs did indeed possess this authority, but like nuclear force in later ages, it was not something to be used lightly, lest it deepen the suspicion between sovereign and subject. It was best for the Emperor to issue the edict and the Ministry of War to send the directive — then all would be well and everyone happy.

That was one point. Another point was whether the Marquis of Yongning would even be willing to do it when the time came. If his concern for his reputation was too great, or if he harbored disloyal intent, he could simply sit back and watch the roving bandits sack the capital — and no one could find a stain on his record, since the Emperor had not issued an edict and the Ministry of War had not sent a directive.

Li Banghua declared resolutely: “In the affairs of the realm, there are those that permit expediency. The Great Ming’s altars of state take precedence! Though the capital is strong, it can hold out for no more than three to five months. If matters become urgent, this old man will kneel to death before his hall if need be, begging the Marquis of Yongning to dispatch his troops!”

Zhu Zhifeng abruptly stood up: “Count this humble officer in.”

Wei Jingyuan rose with a slight smile.

Cai Maode did not hesitate either.

Ma Guoxi also stood, his face full of resolve. Though his factional allegiance differed from the others in the hall, his loyal and righteous heart remained unchanged.

Wu Zhi sighed once and also rose. He had layer upon layer of conflicts with Wang Dou, but this was not the time to dwell on personal grievances.

Their expressions were resolute; they looked at one another, and tears welled up in their eyes.

…

On the seventh day of the third month, at the office of the Grand Protectorate.

The stars of generalship shone brilliantly; civil and military officials sat in solemn array.

Han Chao’s clear, resonant voice echoed through the hall.

“…The replacement with self-igniting firelocks was completed as early as last year. Even the reserve garrison troops in every fort have been issued flintlock muskets and are drilling intensively. …The army now possesses four hundred and thirty large and small red-barbarian cannons, and one hundred and fifty heavy mortars. The numbers of large and small Frankish cannons remain unchanged: still one hundred large general-grade Frankish cannons, and five hundred medium and small Frankish cannons.”

“As of the beginning of this month, the rocket inventory holds eleven thousand light rockets and one thousand two hundred heavy rockets. This is the inventory, not counting the daily training consumption of the rocket troops…”

"The troops have trained hard in horsemanship and feathered cavalry tactics, and the results have been quite effective…"

Listening to Han Chao's report, everyone in the hall showed smiles, and Gao Shiyin's breathing even grew heavier and heavier.

Wang Dou sat upright in his seat, his expression satisfied. The production capacity of the Protectorate's military factory was astonishing — monthly firearm output had reached eight thousand guns, and the logistics stockpile of firearms had reached two hundred thousand guns, the majority of which were flintlock rifles.

And under his governance, every able-bodied man in every garrison village was a reservist. For their weapon use, half used bird guns, and the remaining half used sabers, shields, and spears.

Wang Dou decided to mobilize one hundred fifty thousand garrison troops. Their firearm count was seventy-five thousand guns. Now that conditions allowed, all matchlocks would be replaced with flintlock rifles, and all would be fitted with bayonets — this combat power would be greatly enhanced.

In Wang Dou's decision, these one hundred fifty thousand garrison troops would also become full-time soldiers. Henceforth, together with the regular troops, they would pursue and exterminate remnant bandits, punish the disloyal, and campaign south and north.

After Han Chao withdrew, Wen Daxing reported the latest intelligence obtained by the Intelligence Department. After the roving bandits established their state in Shandong, on the first day of this month they mobilized their entire force northward. They advanced in three routes — left, center, and right. The left wing, led by Liu Fangliang, mainly attacked Zhending Prefecture and Baoding Prefecture at various points.

The right wing, led by Liu Xiyao, mainly attacked Cangzhou, Jinghai, Tianjin, Tongzhou, and other places.

The central route and vanguard were Liu Zongmin, Yuan Zongdi, Li Guo, and others, mainly attacking Hejian Prefecture, Bazhou, Gu'an, and other places.

As for their progress, it could be described as sweeping all before them. It was estimated that before the twentieth, they could reach the very feet of the capital.

The Intelligence Department also received word that the common people of the capital actually fervently longed for the roving bandits' arrival. They were saying everywhere in the streets that if the roving bandits came, they would open the gates. He took out a slip of paper and read: "Word in the streets goes: 'When the roving bandits reach the gate, we shall open the city and invite them in.' Not only do they hold this thought privately, but they speak it publicly as well. The situation has already become one of collapse."

After Wen Daxing finished reading, he sighed: "I fear the capital's final defense is truly worrisome."

Silence filled the hall. Every officer's face showed an expression of sorrow and desolation. Gao Shiyin suddenly slammed the table heavily: "They actually side with the roving bandits — are such people truly worth sending troops to rescue?"

He even stood up and roared: "They think the roving bandits are a kingly army that saves the people from dire straits, one to be greeted with baskets of food and jugs of drink, with incense burning and crowds lining the roads? … We simply shouldn't save them. Let them fall into the roving bandits' hands, let them taste what that's like."

Advisor Qin Yi sighed: "The bandits falsely proclaim prohibitions against killing, and they use bandit agents disguised as traveling merchants to spread word everywhere, saying the bandits do not kill, do not covet wealth, do not commit rape, do not loot or pillage, buy and sell fairly, and remit taxes and grain levies. Moreover, they distribute the silver and money of wealthy households to relieve the poor. Ignorant villagers all hope to receive money, and those in arrears on taxes all hope for remission."

He said: "Especially the folk songs being sung everywhere — 'Open the great gate to welcome the Dashing King, when the Dashing King comes, no grain tax to bring.' Foolish men and ignorant women know no better; it is only natural they are beguiled by this."

Wang Dou said impassively: "Minister Wen, continue."

Gao Shiyin hurriedly sat down, though his rugged face was still full of frustration.

Wen Daxing said: "Yes."

He continued his report, but what he spoke of now was another piece of intelligence: "The Intelligence Department has obtained definite news. As expected, just as the General of the Swift Cavalry predicted, the slave bandits seized the chance to strike, dispatching troops on the twentieth of last month. They have emptied their state to come — Manchu, Mongol, Han, Korean, and Japanese forces of forty banners, plus the various Tatar tribes of the outer domains. The estimated banner combat troops are about one hundred eighty thousand men. There are also tens of thousands of bondservants, making the total number around two hundred fifty thousand. They are divided into two routes. One route, personally led by the slave chieftain Dorgon, about one hundred fifty thousand men, drives straight for Ningyuan and Shanhai Pass. The other route, led mainly by Abatai and Jirgalang, about one hundred thousand men, drives straight for Ji Garrison."

He said: "The Intelligence Department has word that although Abatai's route drives straight for Ji Garrison, they have spread patrol riders all over Hongyazi Mountain and along the Yixun River. Clearly, the last battle at Jinzhou, where our army attacked from beyond the frontier, left them with lingering fear. This time they are cautious, especially watching our movements, to prevent our forces from striking them again from the flank."

He said: "Intelligence Department news — Yang Guozhu, Regional Commander of Ji Garrison and Marquis of Jibei, has personally led the main army to the border wall…"

His expression grew somewhat complicated. The Great Ming's last usable strong army had been tied down again.

He finally said: "There is also intelligence that the slave bandits' Grand Beile Daišan remains behind to guard their state."

After he finished, silence once again filled the hall. This news was another great shock, making everyone in the hall ponder and reflect deeply.

Gao Shiyin spoke up, saying again with hatred: "Tsk tsk… the roving bandits go north, the Tatars go south — one south, one north. Their coordination is truly flawless!"

Wen Fangliang laughed: "Isn't that perfect? Just the right chance to wipe out the Tatars and the roving bandits all in one net."

He stood up to report: "The Staff Department has already drawn up detailed operational rules. As the Intelligence Department estimated, the roving bandits have indeed gone north. And as the General of the Swift Cavalry predicted, the northern barbarians have indeed dispatched troops. Therefore, when our Border-Pacifying Army dispatches troops at that time, it will be on a scale of two hundred thousand men!"

He said: "Of course, at that time the Protectorate will certainly issue proclamations to Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, and the various Mongol tribes that have submitted, ordering them to also dispatch troops. But the main force will still be our Border-Pacifying Army."

He walked to the sand table. Wang Dou rose, and everyone followed him.

Pointing at the location of the capital, Wen Fangliang said: "The roving bandits have gone north from Shandong, claiming a force of one million. According to the Intelligence Department's assessment, it is five hundred thousand. Though their troops and horses are numerous, their core is merely sixty thousand from the old camp. The rest are all a disorderly mob. With the strength of our troops, the roving bandits can be eliminated in a single battle!"

He said: "However, the bandits have many mules and horses, especially in the old camp — every man has a horse, and some even have two or three horses. Traveling day and night, they can cover two to three hundred li. The only concern is that after defeat they will flee, escaping across a thousand li. Therefore, we cannot give them any chance to catch their breath. We must immediately send elite cavalry to pursue and exterminate them!"

He said: "To completely annihilate the roving bandits and not let a single one escape, we need to cut off their retreat. The Staff Department's plan is to position one army here to intercept them."

His finger stabbed fiercely at a spot on the sand table. Everyone looked — it was at Zhending Prefecture.

Wen Fangliang said: "In this way, even if some remnants of the roving bandits remain, they will certainly be few. Then our forces will press closely in pursuit into Shandong, then south into Henan, Huguang, and other places, killing the roving bandits cleanly and thoroughly. All kinds of civil administration will follow in step, denying the roving bandits any chance to rise from the ashes. At the same time, we will issue proclamations across the realm, calling on all to rise together and attack them!"

Wang Dou nodded. There was no problem with this plan.

The generals beside him also whispered among themselves, all feeling that the Staff Department's strategy had considered every aspect and was a sound and reliable proposal.

"As for troop strength, Zhending Prefecture requires seven thousand to ten thousand regular troops to be left behind. For the remaining forces, there are two options."

Wen Fangliang said: "The optimal scenario is for all fifty thousand regular troops to deal with the roving bandits together, and then, after eliminating the roving bandits, concentrate forces to deal with the Tatar slaves. However, this is only the optimal scenario. We must also consider the possibility of the slave bandits breaking through the passes."

Han Chao said somewhat hesitantly: "Brother Wen means the Marquis of Jibei, or the Count of Pingxi, or perhaps the Count of Dongping?"

Wen Fangliang said unhurriedly: "I have never doubted Old General Yang's heart of loyalty and service to the nation. However, his troops are too few, and the remaining Ji Garrison troops are also useless. If the slave bandits are truly willing to pay the price, they can still fight their way into the passes. Especially since they have plenty of cannon fodder — they have troops and horses to spare."

"The same goes for Old General Liu Zhaoji, the Count of Dongping. As for the Count of Pingxi, Wu Sangui, and the others…"

Wen Fangliang said flatly: "As Chief of the Staff Department, I must take every possibility into account."

Everyone nodded. This was sound reasoning. When the Staff Department drafted operational plans, a single error could lead to unimaginable consequences. Not the slightest oversight or omission could be tolerated. In particular, one must not be swayed by emotion — as the saying goes, mercy does not command troops.

Wen Fangliang said: "Therefore, the worst-case scenario is that our Border-Pacifying Army faces the roving bandits and the Tatars simultaneously — one against two. In that case, we must divide our forces. My strategy is: twenty thousand regular troops to deal with the roving bandits, and thirty thousand regular troops to deal with the Tatar slaves!"

"And in terms of equipment allocation, use more rockets against the Tatar slaves, and more cannons against the roving bandits! A ratio of thirty to seventy."

Everyone fell into deep thought. This scenario Wen Fangliang spoke of…

Then confidence surged on every face. The roving bandits' core was sixty thousand from the old camp. The Eight Banners' core was sixty thousand Manchu soldiers. The Border-Pacifying Army's main force was also fifty to sixty thousand.

Yet one of their own elites could fight five or ten of the enemy's elites. Not to mention they also possessed large-scale destructive weapons! So what if it was one against two? Let them come before the Border-Pacifying Army, and they would annihilate them all — until their states were destroyed!

Wen Fangliang finally said: "According to the Intelligence Department's classified intelligence, their final assessment is that the capital can only hold out for about two months, not as optimistic as outside talk suggests. Therefore, the Staff Department has drawn up various detailed rules. By the thirteenth of April, all preparations will be in place. At that time, we can mobilize troops at any moment. With full military and civilian mobilization, it can be done in a matter of days!"

Wen Daxing lowered his eyelids slightly, yet still stood quietly.

Gao Shiyin muttered: "Isn't the Intelligence Department being too pessimistic? Never mind a year or half a year — the capital should at least be able to hold out for three months, right? Should we prepare a bit more?"

This time, the Border-Pacifying Army's troop deployment was vast. It was not simply a matter of defeating the roving bandits and Tatar slaves — there was also a whole series of military reorganizations, civil relief efforts, and so on. The follow-up was complex, and more preparation was always good.

Everyone in the hall also whispered among themselves, wondering if the Staff Department's plan was a bit too rushed.

Even if the roving bandits reached the capital sometime between the seventeenth and the twentieth, by the thirteenth of April that was at most a month or so. Even deploying according to the Intelligence Department's assessment, there was no need to be this hasty, was there?

Zhong Susu listened to everyone's discussions. She pondered, but suddenly another matter came to mind: "Strange. Sister Yunluo is already with child — how is it that I still have no sign? This time the number of times was not few either."

Wen Fangliang stood smiling. As Chief of the Staff Department, he had his own calm persistence.

He merely bowed his head to Wang Dou and saluted: "Grand General."

With both hands, he presented his strategic document.

Wang Dou took it. He was silent for a moment, then returned to his seat.

He leafed through it for a long time, and finally signed his name on the spot and stamped his great seal upon it.

He said, "So be it. We march on the thirteenth day of the fourth month!"