Chapter 851: Borrowing the Barbarians to Pacify the Bandits

Wu Sangui also had a residence inside the pass city. Seeing his elder brother Wu Sanfeng so weak after weeping out his grievance, he quickly had servants help him to his own mansion to rest and recuperate, and arranged for some physicians to treat him.

Then Fang Guangchen stayed behind. Because he resided in the capital and understood the bandit situation, not only Wu Sangui, but even Fan Zhiwan, Li Yutian, and others kept pressing him with questions about the roving bandits in the capital.

Fang Guangchen recounted in detail. Hearing that many scholar-officials had been cruelly subjected to the wooden cangue, and that the capital's commoners had their doors broken down house by house, the severity of the torture and plunder being too horrible to hear, Fan Zhiwan and the others all gnashed their teeth and sighed, entertaining no further thoughts but to swear irreconcilable enmity with the roving bandits.

Li Yutian sighed: "I have heard that when the roving bandits first entered the city, the common folk all welcomed them with baskets of food and jugs of drink, yet now everyone hates them to the marrow of their bones. This sudden reversal of circumstances is why, through all dynasties, roving rebels have risen with explosive vigor and perished with equal haste. With the Chuang bandits behaving like this, how could they not perish?"

Tang Tong, hearing this, also shook his head and sighed, regretting only that he himself had been blind back then. Now he had no other thoughts; he would still pledge loyalty and return to the Great Ming.

Fang Guangchen also confirmed once more the matter of the Crown Prince fleeing to Xuanfu Garrison. This matter was already known to more and more officials in the capital; perhaps before long, it would also spread among the capital's commoners.

Liu Zhaoji clapped his hands forcefully and laughed heartily: "I knew it! Marshal Yang would not deceive me."

Fan Zhiwan also stroked his beard and chuckled: "Protected by the spirits of the Great Ancestor and the Accomplished Ancestor, our Great Ming's allotted fortune is not yet exhausted."

Watching their jubilant expressions, a strange glint flickered through Fang Guangchen's eyes.

……

Wu Sangui invited Fang Guangchen back to his own mansion. He also summoned those two Wu household servants to question them in detail, his heart growing even more bitterly hateful, and then the two men went to the study to discuss matters.

The two savored fragrant tea. Both were men of outstanding bearing. Wu Sangui, needless to say, possessed an appearance that blended northern virility and southern elegance, his fair complexion not lacking a manly heroic spirit, with a naturally dignified and steady air between his brows.

He was fond of socializing and treated others with humility and prudence. Back when he traveled through the capital, he had earned the fine reputation of "the fairest, most youthful marquis," and wherever he went, his experiences were rather legendary, his graceful and handsome bearing often causing a sensation. Moreover, he was extremely adept at social climbing and currying favor, invariably able to win others' goodwill without showing the slightest trace of effort.

When Gao Qiqian served as Army Supervisor in Liaodong, Wu Sangui took him as his godfather. When Fang Yizao served as Provincial Governor of Liaodong, Wu Sangui quickly became sworn brothers with his son Fang Guangchen. When Hong Chengchou served as Grand Coordinator of Liaodong, Wu Sangui became close, intimate friends with his trusted aide Xie Sixin. If a man like this did not rise to prominence, who could?

Now at the age of thirty-four, in the most brilliant and upright prime of a man's life, he still conducted himself with steady courtesy and treated others with humble politeness, only concealing his inner pride and self-regard deeply. He had once read the annals of Emperor Guangwu, and casting the book aside, sighed: "To serve as Bearer of the Gilded Mace in office, and to take Yin Lihua as wife — I too would be content to fulfill this wish!"

And Fang Guangchen, as the son of the Minister of Rites, had received excellent upbringing from childhood and possessed rich scholarly cultivation, his every gesture displaying graceful etiquette. He had become a stipendiary licentiate at a very young age. When his father Fang Yizao served as Grand Coordinator of Liaodong, Fang Guangchen lived with his father and gained extensive knowledge and experience at the frontier passes.

He was skilled at chess, capable in poetry, and fond of discourse and debate, often comparing himself to Guan Zhong and Zhuge Liang. After Fang Yizao left his post due to illness in the thirteenth year of Chongzhen, Fang Guangchen still maintained close contact with Wu Sangui. Historically, he was also Wu Sangui's important advisor, and together with Liu Xuanchu, he had always been Wu Sangui's capable right and left hand.

Fang Guangchen drank his tea, occasionally stealing glances at Wu Sangui, who merely held his teacup, staring blankly in a daze. After a long while, Wu Sangui set down his teacup and said: "Brother Tingxian... is the Crown Prince truly with the Marquis of Yongning?"

Fang Guangchen steadied himself and affirmed: "All officials in the capital say so, and various indications suggest it cannot be wrong."

Wu Sangui said: "Indeed. And only the Marquis of Yongning could have dispatched brave warriors amid the capital's chaos to rescue the Crown Prince and the others."

He spoke flatly, his tone betraying an indescribable mix of emotions.

Fang Guangchen said: "Yes. Now the Marquis of Yongning holds the righteous cause in his hands, while the roving bandits, having seized the capital, are flush with wealth and swollen with pride, already lacking the will to fight. The Marquis of Yongning is well-versed in military affairs and will certainly not let such an excellent opportunity slip by. I expect he will dispatch his forces this month to exterminate the roving bandits. Perhaps even within this very month..."

Wu Sangui mused: "In Brother Tingxian's opinion, what are the Marquis of Yongning's odds of defeating the roving bandits?"

Fang Guangchen slowly set down his teacup: "The Marquis of Yongning's true strength has always been a mystery. However, he is a man of forbearance, and the institutions under his command resemble those of the mighty Qin. Over these years, he has accumulated a great deal. If he strikes, it will surely be with the force of a thunderbolt! Officials in the capital believe his odds of victory are six in ten, but I, Guangchen, believe the odds are at least seven or eight in ten!"

Wu Sangui abruptly raised his head: "Brother Tingxian rates the Marquis of Yongning so highly?"

Fang Guangchen smiled. With a swish, he flicked open his folding fan: "I have never been one to underestimate this man Wang Dou. Changbo, you must have also studied Wang Dou's various aspects. Do you not find this man bears a striking resemblance to certain figures of great ambition and strategic genius in the historical records?"

He continued: "Setting aside everything else — the capital fell in two days, something no one anticipated, yet he was able to time it perfectly, sending men to rescue the Crown Prince and the others, and then breaking out of the roving bandits' encirclement. What kind of ability is that! Wang Dou claims it was righteous heroes who rescued them... hah, righteous heroes. Such righteous heroes either exist within the government or were long ago exterminated. How is it that we do not possess such formidable righteous heroes? And why did these righteous heroes flee westward precisely into Xuanfu Garrison? If they are not Wang Dou's subordinates, then who are they?"

He sneered: "I even suspect he knows every single thing about the roving bandits like the back of his hand, and furthermore, to advance his grand cause, he deliberately sat back and watched the capital fall!"

Wu Sangui uttered a soft rebuke: "Brother Tingxian."

Fang Guangchen smiled and gently waved his folding fan: "Of course, this is merely Fang's personal opinion, not worth mentioning. The Marquis of Yongning now holds the righteous cause in his hands, with the hopes of tens of thousands upon him. Fang's words can ultimately only end up as unofficial historical hearsay."

He glanced at Wu Sangui: "But as for you, Changbo — do you not harbor the slightest thought or intention in your heart?"

Wu Sangui remained silent for a long time, and finally said with some dejection: "I am sworn to irreconcilable enmity with the roving bandits, and hate that I cannot devour their flesh raw. But the pass defenses cannot be lightly abandoned, and my military strength... is also insufficient for the task."

As he said this, his tone carried an indescribable anguish.

Fang Guangchen stood up with a smile: "In that case, we can only sit back and watch the Marquis of Yongning bask in the glow of success, claiming this extraordinary merit all for himself."

He spoke with a pointed undertone: "Let Guangchen guess what the Marquis of Yongning will do after he recovers the Divine Capital."

He said: "The Marquis of Yongning is not comparable to the roving bandits. The very first thing after recovering the Divine Capital will naturally be to order all officials to resume their original posts and perform their respective duties. Hmm, at most, to atone for their crimes by meritorious service. With official posts to hold, the hearts of the officials will naturally be settled. And compared to the suffering they endured at the hands of the roving bandits, they will heap even more praise upon the Marquis of Yongning. Tsk tsk, winning the hearts of the officials is all too easy."

He said: "The roving bandits tortured out tens of thousands of taels of silver. If the Marquis of Yongning defeats them and seizes that vast amount of wealth, gold, and silver, it will not only be enough to reward his officers and men, but also to relieve the common people and disburse salaries and stipends, sufficient to keep the court running for several years. The government offices and functions will be restored immediately, demonstrating the Marquis of Yongning's capability. The common folk will also have a mouthful of gruel to eat, and after suffering under the roving bandits, they will have no desire to rebel again. Tsk tsk, he also wins the hearts of the people. ...Ah, right, Wang Dou also has his newspapers, which will surely blare trumpets and beat drums in self-praise. The ignorant men and foolish women are the easiest to deceive. They were first duped by the roving bandits into running in circles, and Wang Dou — what kind of man is he? Heh."

Wu Sangui listened quietly, only his hands trembling slightly, the look of anguish in his eyes deepening.

Fang Guangchen continued: "With the Marquis of Yongning's ability, he naturally will not let Jiangnan slip by. Now, many of the capital's high officials have been tortured to death, and there is a considerable shortage of officials. Whether to co-opt them or to fill vacancies, the Marquis of Yongning will not leave the officials of Jiangnan unused. He will certainly summon and transfer them to the capital, especially those of high virtue and prestige among them, such as Shi Kefa and his ilk. ...These Nanjing officials will be able to hold positions of real power — how could they not feel gratitude and indebtedness to the Marquis of Yongning? He also wins the hearts of the officials and people of Jiangnan."

He said: "Thus, with Wang Dou's ability, perhaps within a year or half a year, the Great Ming's situation will return to peace and stability, and then..."

He smiled through gritted teeth: "The main act will begin."

Waving his fan, he paced about the study: "First, the Marquis of Yongning will certainly implement his Han registry system across Xuanfu Garrison and other places, and then entice with profit, such as supplementing it with mining and road building. The Marquis of Yongning has accumulated a great deal, and with the additional seizures from the roving bandits, he can afford not to levy corvée labor from the populace, and even pay work-and-food silver to the laborers building roads. Never mind how much popular support this wins — how much silver will this consume? How many materials will be needed? And when the official merchants and gentry see the commercial opportunities and profits within, which of them will not be like profit-chasing hounds, all falling into the trap?"

Fang Guangchen said: "Unlike the roving bandits' outright plunder, Wang Dou's implementation of the Han registry system — this kind of implicit unified tax payment by gentry and commoners alike — after the chaos of the roving bandits, I expect most officials and gentry will readily accept it. A soft knife cutting flesh — one does not feel the pain. Just as those who scraped the earth bare everywhere else, upon entering Xuanfu Garrison, each and every one turned into a great philanthropist. It makes Fang laugh to death."

He said: "And if you don't become a philanthropist, will his Wang Dou let you earn this money? To earn this money, which merchant or gentry does not need to become a philanthropist?"

He laughed: "Wang Dou loves building roads most of all. I expect wherever his roads reach, batch after batch of great philanthropists will appear, and in the end, philanthropists will gather from all under Heaven!"

Fang Guangchen said: "That is the first point."

He continued: "Second, the new imperial examinations. The Marquis of Yongning need not make any grand moves; he only needs to add the subjects of law, philology, and mathematics, while leaving the classics and metropolitan graduate subjects unchanged. This way, the old scholars' minds remain unchanged, while he effortlessly gains the hearts of a vast number of new scholars. Observe the civil service assessments in Xuanfu Garrison back then — perhaps he will add even more examination subjects. How arduous it is to become an official in our Great Ming! Ten years of bitter study often fail to yield even a minor post, yet how easy is it in Xuanfu Garrison? With official posts to hold, how many scholars will feel gratitude and indebtedness? I hear that in Xuanfu Garrison, from the section level to the ministry level, everyone can be promoted — how many hearts of clerks and functionaries has he won?"

Fang Guangchen chuckled: "As for redundant officials and superfluous clerks, the Marquis of Yongning has money and can afford to support them. No matter how many officials and clerks he has in Xuanfu Garrison, it remains prosperous and strong all the same."

He said: "I also hear that the Marquis of Yongning has a Xuanfu Garrison Civil Affairs College under his command. What is that for? It is for training officials. All officials must enter the college, under the name of training. When the time comes, all civil and military officials of the Great Ming will need to enter the college for study and assessment — again falling into the trap!"

He continued: "I hear the Marquis of Yongning also has a Xuanfu Garrison Military Academy under his command. What is that for? It is for training and assessing military officers. When the Great Ming's situation is stabilized, the Marquis of Yongning, sitting atop countless elite troops and strong generals, will summon all generals to the academy. Will the generals study or not? Undergo training or not?"

He shot a glance at Wu Sangui: "After training, they will be transferred to garrison various places, swapped between east, west, south, and north. All the military officers of the Great Ming will also fall into the trap!"

He closed his fan and paced the study, as if talking to himself: "Among the Great Ming's military officers, those who rank at the top would be men like Yang Guozhu. I expect Yang Guozhu won't care. As long as he has battles to fight and troops to lead, he is content, and it matters not to him whether the officers under his command are still the same group. They are rootless duckweed anyway. Besides, he is on good terms with Wang Dou, and his adopted daughter is even Wang Dou's wife. The Marquis of Yongning will certainly let him continue leading his original troops."

He said: "...Wang Pu — being a wealthy squire is enough for him. I hear he's recently been busy with some tobacco business? A mediocre mediocrity, not worth mentioning. Liu Zhaoji is similar to Yang Guozhu. ...As for the remaining officers, if they do not enter the academy for training, then they shall be campaigned against. Who can withstand the enemy that is the Jingbian Army? And finally, there is you, Changbo!"

Wu Sangui trembled as he heard Fang Guangchen continue: "I hear the Marquis of Yongning detests warlords the most? The death of Zuo Liangyu back then was rather suspicious... Of course, the best way to handle it would be for all officers and soldiers to enter the academy for study, and then after training, transfer one to the east, another to the west, and Guanjing will be completely dispersed. And the soldiers under their command — would they not also be absorbed into the Loyalty and Righteousness Battalions?"

He finally smiled and said: "Of course, Changbo, you could also loudly proclaim your loyalty to the Marquis of Yongning, resolutely disband all your retainers, and follow under his command. Just like Wen Fangliang back then — is he not now one of the five great generals under the Marquis of Yongning? Then lead a reorganized army, one in which perhaps not a single old officer remains. After all, the Marquis of Yongning promotes the staff officer system and does not place too much emphasis on the individual prowess of a military commander. In the end, you would campaign north and south for the Marquis of Yongning, be highly valued by him, and it would not be without its charm as a fine tale..."

"Enough!"

Wu Sangui's hands trembled violently. Hearing this, he could bear it no longer and suddenly bellowed.

He turned to Fang Guangchen and said sternly: "Brother Tingxian has said so much — what is it that you intend?"

Fang Guangchen put away his folding fan, bowed deeply to Wu Sangui, and said with a solemn expression: "The late Emperor met with misfortune; our sovereign and father perished. Every man of discernment gnashes his teeth in hatred of the bandits! Now the roving bandits have lost the people's hearts and their unity is broken. This is precisely the moment to recover the Divine Capital and render service to the altars of the state. Changbo, the opportune moment has arrived!"

Wu Sangui said coldly: "Is that all there is to it?"

Fang Guangchen said in a deep voice, "Of course not!"

He said, "How can a true man lack ambition for fame and fortune? I am but a scholar, yet I still wish to serve the country. Does Changbo not? Do you have no aspirations in your heart? Do you not wish to avenge your country and your family's hatred?"

He kept pressing with questions, his voice growing louder, and finally he roared: "The roving bandits' crimes have reached their limit; they are truly of the same ilk as the Red Eyebrows, the Greenwood Army, Huang Chao, and An Lushan, hated by both heaven and man, their defeat imminent. Why not seize such a golden opportunity? Do you truly wish for such extraordinary merit to be enjoyed by Wang Dou alone?"

He bellowed, "What Wang Dou can do, we can do as well. Changbo, you should be the one to save the Great Ming. Do you not wish to leave your name in the annals of history, praised by thousands in the records? Are you truly willing to abandon your foundation and troops, to become a mere running dog under Wang Dou's command?"

The veins on his forehead bulged; he was agitated beyond words. He roared, each sound like the bewitchment of a devil, tempting Wu Sangui's inner heart.

And Wu Sangui's heart was constantly wavering. Indeed, did he not wish to avenge his country and his family's hatred? How could he be without ambition? He was a man of immense self-regard; would he ever think that he, Wu Sangui, was inferior to Wang Dou? No, he would not admit that.

And his foundation in Liaoxi—how could he let others carve it up like fish and meat? This land was the root of his aspirations, just as Xuanfu Garrison was Wang Dou's reverse scale, which none could touch without death.

He would absolutely not permit anyone to lay hands on his foundation!

And he knew that Wang Dou, as a man, would definitely lay hands on his foundation—unrelated to sentiment, but solely for his grand path!

To promote his grand path, his orthodoxy, Wang Dou would sweep away all obstacles before him without the slightest mercy.

And Wu Sangui knew that Wang Dou was absolutely a cold and ruthless man, who would show no mercy when it was time to strike.

Thinking of this, Wu Sangui's expression turned ferocious. He shouted sternly, "Of course I want everything you speak of, but my troops are insufficient—what can be done!"

Fang Guangchen said softly, "Is there not a way?"

Wu Sangui's breathing grew heavy: "What plan do you propose?"

Fang Guangchen leaned his head over, beads of sweat densely forming on his face, finally rolling down. He said softly, "Borrow the caitiffs to pacify the bandits!"

Wu Sangui suddenly staggered, bracing himself forcefully against the desk before him. Gritting his teeth, he said, one word at a time, "Borrow the caitiffs to pacify the bandits?"