Chapter 862: Astonishment

(First-place brother, old General You is Han Chinese. And thanks again to brother cd — personnel assignments really are a headache.)

Wang Dou arrived at the main hall and saw a great crowd of civil officials standing there — county magistrates, prefects, military defense intendants, provincial surveillance commissioners, administration vice commissioners, and other officials packed in tight. Among them were major civil dignitaries such as Shaanxi Viceroy Hou Xun, Shaanxi Provincial Governor Feng Shikong, Gansu Provincial Governor Lin Rirui, and Ningxia Provincial Governor Li Yukui.

As soon as the Crown Prince reached Xuanfu Garrison, Wang Dou had dispatched orders everywhere, commanding the regional civil dignitaries to come at once and have an audience with the Crown Prince. Now this group from Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, and elsewhere had arrived.

Wang Dou received them first; after this meeting, they would go on to pay their respects to the Crown Prince Regent, Zhu Cilang.

When Wang Dou arrived, he saw a dazzling array of official robes and rank badges in the hall, along with blue robes and red robes everywhere he looked. In particular, the major dignitaries like Hou Xun, Feng Shikong, and Lin Rirui all wore red robes adorned with peacock and golden pheasant rank badges.

Seeing Wang Dou emerge, all the officials looked at him with complicated expressions. They already knew that Wang Dou had been appointed Duke Who Pacifies the Realm and Grand Regional Commander, and that henceforth military affairs in every province and circuit might well have nothing to do with these civil officials anymore.

They watched Wang Dou wearing a python robe with five-clawed dragon patterns, a jade belt at his waist, and hanging from it the highest-grade fine-jade waist token of the Ren designation, decorated with a single coiled dragon among clouds. As he walked with the powerful stride of a dragon or tiger, his bearing was extraordinary, and inwardly every one of them marveled in secret.

They more or less knew Wang Dou's background and experience — they knew he had started as a mere common watchtower soldier and climbed step by step to his present high position, wielding such immense power. He could truly be called a legendary figure.

Henceforth in the Great Ming he would summon wind and rain, holding sway for a time.

After entering Xuanfu Garrison, the sights had been vivid before their eyes, and the mobilized military might was even more terrifying. For a military man to achieve so much — in both civil governance and martial accomplishment — made them feel utterly ashamed of themselves. They truly did not know how he had managed and accomplished it all.

At this moment, some of them hesitated briefly. Although Wang Dou was a Duke, a transcendent existence above rank, still he...

They were still hesitating over how to perform the salute when Shaanxi Viceroy Hou Xun had already dropped to his knees. He kowtowed and said, "Your subordinate, Viceroy of the Three-Border Military Affairs of Shaanxi, Hou Xun, pays respects to the Grand Regional Commander."

He performed the three-kowtow salute with the utmost reverence — kneeling, rising, kneeling again, rising again, and kneeling once more.

Earlier, when Wang Dou had been the Earl of Loyalty and Valor, first-rank officials meeting him had to perform a two-kowtow salute. Now that Wang Dou was a Duke, Hou Xun held the concurrent title of Vice Minister of War as Viceroy of Shaanxi, but was only a third-rank official. Even if the civil officials were still somewhat confused about what protocol to use when meeting the Grand Regional Commander, Wang Dou's status as a Duke was transcendent above rank, so for Hou Xun to perform the three-kowtow salute when meeting him was the bare minimum.

Seeing Hou Xun kneel and kowtow, the various officials woke as if from a dream and hurriedly followed him in performing the kneeling salute.

After they had kowtowed sufficiently, Wang Dou smiled and returned the courtesy. He said, "You gentlemen have come from afar, hastening to have an audience with the Regent. This fully demonstrates your commendable loyalty. Now that the roving bandits are wreaking havoc in the capital region and the various ministries are severely short-staffed, if you can perform well, entering the Grand Secretariat and the Six Ministries is not without opportunity."

Hou Xun hurriedly knelt again. With tears streaming down, he choked out, "These words from the Grand Regional Commander make us subordinates feel warmth in our hearts. That our Great Ming has the Grand Regional Commander to support and assist it is truly a great blessing for the nation."

Seeing Hou Xun kneel again, Feng Shikong, Lin Rirui, and the others had no choice but to kneel once more as well. None of them knew what to say, and could only sigh.

Wang Dou dismissed these civil officials, and then he received the military officers and commanders from various regions who had come to pay their respects.

Soon, Regional Commanders You Shiwei, You Shilu, Li Changling, Gao Jie, Zheng Jiadong, Niu Chenghu, Ma Kuang, Guan Fumin, Wang Ding, Gao Ruli, Chen Yongfu, and others entered, along with a colorful assortment of Vice Regional Commanders, Assistant Regional Commanders, and Mobile Corps Commanders.

Clad in full armor, they strode up before Wang Dou. Led by You Shiwei, each of them toppled like mountains and fell like jade pillars, all prostrating themselves before Wang Dou. They dropped to one knee, clasped their fists, and shouted in unison, "Your subordinate You Shiwei (Gao Jie, Zheng Jiadong, Niu Chenghu, Ma Kuang, Guan Fumin...), pays respects to the Marshal!"

Their rough, bold voices reverberated, and iron armor clanked and clattered. Before Wang Dou knelt a vast swath of the Great Ming's military officers and commanders. Most were men of Regional Commander rank, powerful figures who could shake the ground three times just by stamping their feet in their own territories — unruly and untamable men — yet now every one of them knelt reverently before Wang Dou.

Wang Dou laughed heartily and said, "That you generals can come to lend your aid gives this marshal wings like a tiger's. Please, rise quickly."

He personally helped old General You to his feet, then bade everyone rise, and chatted and laughed with them all.

Looking at Chen Yongfu, he reminisced, "Since we parted at Luoyang, it was the fourteenth year of Chongzhen. In the blink of an eye, General Chen and I have not seen each other for many years. I recall you have a son, Chen De. He achieved outstanding results in our military academy, and now he is even a key general in the Third-Rank Army, commanding an entire battalion."

As he spoke, he laughed heartily. Chen Yongfu felt deeply gratified inside — Wang Dou had deliberately brought up this past connection, giving him enormous face before everyone. He joined in with sighs and emotion, saying, "Indeed, three years have passed in the blink of an eye."

He added, "My unworthy son has caused the Marshal much trouble and concern."

Wang Dou walked over to Shaanxi Regional Commander Gao Jie and said thoughtfully, "You are Gao Jie?"

Gao Jie hurriedly clasped his fists and said, "Your subordinate is indeed he. In the twelfth year of Chongzhen, when your subordinate was still a Mobile Corps Commander, I met the Marshal once."

On his unruly face, he strained to show a respectful expression, and his gaze toward Wang Dou carried a fawning look. "At that time, your subordinate and the Marshal were both Mobile Corps Commanders, but this humble one's meager achievements, compared to the Marshal's, are like a firefly vying with the sun and moon."

Wang Dou nodded and said, "How time flies."

Lintao Regional Commander Niu Chenghu, Guyuan Regional Commander Zheng Jiadong, and others also came over to curry favor, deliberately bringing up events from that year, as well as their recent experience fighting side by side with the Pacification Border Army at Tongguan.

In the twelfth year of Chongzhen, they too had met Wang Dou, but at that time Wang Dou was a Mobile Corps Commander and they had not paid him much attention. They never imagined that afterward Wang Dou would become unstoppable, and his present achievements were far beyond anything they could compare to.

They had been Regional Commanders then, and five years later they were still Regional Commanders — and still without an official seal of command.

You Shiwei, with the heart of a senior looking after juniors, introduced to Wang Dou one by one the Assistant Regional Commanders, Mobile Corps Commanders, and other officers from the various garrisons, hoping they might have a chance to show their faces and become familiar in the Marshal's eyes.

Wang Dou committed each of these men's names to memory and said, "Good, good."

At that moment, Datong Regional Commander Wang Pu and Chief of Staff Tian arrived in haste. Wang Pu had grown two small mustaches, glossy and shining, and wore a suit of brilliantly gorgeous armor with a vivid scarlet cape. Three or four bright plume feathers were stuck into the top of his helmet — he was dressed extremely flamboyantly.

Beside him, Chief of Staff Tian wore a half-sleeved coat over a blue inner robe, a wrapped headscarf, and a treasured sword at his waist — the very image of an advisor. His attire was likewise brand-new and eye-catching.

In fact, when Wang Pu led his troops here, although his main-force battalion had been taken by his trusted general Wang Zheng to aid Shanxi, he still had a personal guard battalion of five hundred men. After the battle beyond the frontier back then, he had imitated Wang Dou's Feathered Cavalry and formed Dragon Cavalry, equipping every new army soldier with a horse. Not counting the battalion headquarters, his combat troops numbered thirty-five hundred.

Thus Wang Pu had come with four thousand cavalry. His family was wealthy, and like their commander, the officers and soldiers under him were all dressed extremely flamboyantly.

They hurried over, and Wang Pu prostrated himself cleanly and crisply, saying, "Your subordinate, Datong Regional Commander Wang Pu, pays respects to the Marshal!"

Wang Dou smiled as he helped Wang Pu up and said, "Brother Wang Pu, why have you come so tardily?"

Wang Pu's face was all smiles as he said, "This little brother deserves death, deserves death. Please, elder brother, punish me."

Wang Dou patted his shoulder. "Be more mindful next time."

Wang Pu's face blossomed with laughter as he nodded and bowed. "I will certainly be mindful, certainly be mindful."

Seeing how close the Marshal was with him, everyone in the hall showed envious expressions. Wang Pu secretly felt very pleased with himself.

After talking a while longer and seeing that most people had arrived, Wang Dou had everyone move to the operations hall. Soon they entered the vast operations hall.

As they stepped into the hall, gasps of astonishment and sharp intakes of breath rippled through the crowd. A stir ran through the assembled officers and officials — what met their eyes left them utterly shocked.

The hall was immensely spacious, bustling with people coming and going. On the walls hung enormous operational maps marked with arrow after arrow indicating movements. The different colors showed the situation of friend and foe. In the center of the hall stood a massive sand table, so detailed that it seemed the geography and terrain of every part of the Great Ming were contained and distilled within this small space.

Not only that, but men who looked like advisors kept pushing four-wheeled tabletop boards over, bearing even more detailed sand-table terrain maps.

Everyone looked around in all directions, exclaiming in wonder from time to time, like country bumpkins entering a city.

What they saw before them truly opened their eyes.

You Shiwei also felt it was an astonishing sight. When they military officers fought campaigns, either the civil officials monopolized the strategy, or sometimes they discussed it among themselves. But often they did not even have a decent operational map. The few they managed to have were those highly abstract maps that basically differed from the real terrain and geography by a hundred thousand li.

If men of Regional Commander rank were like this, the rest went without saying. There was rarely any strategy beforehand; anyway, when battle came, they all swarmed forward in a mass, and when defeated, they all fled in a mass.

Only today, seeing this, did everyone realize that this was how military operations and warfare were conducted. It was truly a whole new world.

At this moment, the operations hall was already crowded with many people — all wearing three-peaked hats and pleated riding robes, with capes fastened and swords at their sides, exuding a fierce and ruthless beauty. They were gathered in large groups around the maps and sand tables, talking confidently about something.

Then a shout rang out, and everyone in the hall turned their heads in unison and saluted Wang Dou neatly, saying, "We pay respects to the Grand General."

They shouted in unison, their tone brimming with vigorous, dynamic energy.

That kind of high-spirited confidence left an unforgettable impression at first sight. You Shiwei and the others sighed inwardly once more — this was the Jingbian Army, from the common soldiers to the officers and generals, all so outstanding.

Wang Dou smiled and waved a hand. His subordinates were basically all here: the Biaoji General, Black Tortoise Army Commander Han Chao. Under him were the five battalion commanders of the vanguard, rear, left, right, and center — respectively, the Center Army and Center Battalion Commander Lei Xianbin, Left Battalion Commander Xie Shangbiao, and Right Battalion Commander Tian Qiming.

The Inner Center Battalion was a First-Class Battalion, and the Left and Right Battalions were Second-Class Battalions, though after the battle they should all be upgraded to First-Class Battalions. After reorganizing the Third-Class troops, two more Third-Class battalions were incorporated for the vanguard and rear — respectively, Vanguard Battalion Commander Zhang Tanggong and Rear Battalion Commander Xu Youyu. After the battle, they should become Second-Class Battalions.

The entire army comprised five battalions, plus one unit of Biaoji cavalry, a mounted force specializing in sabers and hand cannons.

One unit of Lieqi cavalry, specializing in cavalry arquebuses — they fired from horseback and withdrew immediately after shooting, many of them being marksmen within the army.

There were also the Logistics Department, Engineer Corps, Guard Corps, Medical Corps, Relay Cavalry Squad, and so on. The entire army numbered roughly twenty-five thousand men.

Moreover, after the battle at Jingcheng, each army would also incorporate directly subordinate Cannon Company Commanders and Rocket Company Commanders; at present, cannons and rockets were still employed in concentrated formations.

The Huben General, White Tiger Army Commander Zhong Susu. Under her were the five battalion commanders of the vanguard, rear, left, right, and center. The Inner Center Battalion Commander was Yang Guodong, the Left Battalion Commander was Gao Gui, and the Right Battalion Commander was Tian Zhijue. Among them, Yang Guodong commanded a First-Class Battalion, while Tian Zhijue and Gao Gui commanded Second-Class Battalions.

Two more Third-Class battalions were added for the vanguard and rear: Vanguard Battalion Huang Wei, and Rear Battalion Chen De, son of Chen Yongfu.

Originally, Yin Yijin served as the White Tiger Army's Center Army officer, but he did not lead battalion troops. Now he had been transferred to Wen Fangliang's army to take an actual command. At this moment, Zhong Susu was not here either; she had long since led the Center Battalion and Right Battalion — one First-Class Battalion and one Second-Class Battalion, both with warhorses — south toward Zhending.

The remaining units of the White Tiger Army were temporarily under the authority of Left Battalion Commander Gao Gui.

There was also the Baotao General, Vermilion Bird Army Commander Gao Shiyin. He originally had the Center Battalion and Left Battalion, one a First-Class Battalion and the other a Second-Class Battalion. Now, Wu Zhengchun served as Center Army officer and concurrently Center Battalion Commander, and Gao Xun served as Left Battalion Commander. Three Third-Class battalions were also transferred in: Right Battalion Commander Yang Hu, Vanguard Battalion Commander Li Zhengjing, and Rear Battalion Commander Zhang Wenru.

The Yingyang General, Azure Dragon Army Commander Wen Fangliang, likewise originally had the Center Battalion and Left Battalion, one a First-Class Battalion and the other a Second-Class Battalion. Now, Yin Yijin served as Center Army officer and concurrently Center Battalion Commander, and Jie Yifeng served as Left Battalion Commander. Three Third-Class battalions were transferred in: Right Battalion Commander Zhao Rongcheng, Vanguard Battalion Commander Deng Yibiao, and Rear Battalion Commander Sun Daguan.

On the central army side, the Hulie General, Cavalry Battalion Commander Li Guangheng, originally had the Center Battalion of lance cavalry and the Left Battalion of saber cavalry, with Battalion Commanders Liu Cang and Zhuang Huizu. One more battalion was formed, the Right Battalion under Battalion Commander Lin****, also saber cavalry of the same type.

Sun Sanjie's Logistics Battalion had already been organized into five battalions, including one Engineer Battalion, with Battalion Commanders Tian Wenliang, Ma Gui, Zhang Wenjian, Zhang Rengang, and Wang Mingzun.

Zhao Xuan's Cannon Battalion had already been renamed the Arrow-and-Cannon Battalion, with an enormously bloated establishment. The cannons were organized into ten battalions, including the Red Barbarian Heavy Cannon Battalion, Red Barbarian Cannon Battalion, Mortar Battalion, Frankish Heavy Cannon Battalion, and Frankish Light Cannon Battalion, among others. There were also ten specialized rocket battalions, including four heavy rocket battalions and six light rocket battalions.

The Loyalty Battalion Commander was Shen Shiqi, with Center Army officer Yang Dongmin.

The New Auxiliary Battalion Commander was Zeng Jiuyi, with Center Army officer Shi Datai.

The Vanguard Scout Battalion Commander was Xie Yike, with Center Army officer Long Er.

Also present were Intelligence Department Head Wen Daxing, Zhenfusi Chief Superintendent Huang Shibian, Fuwusi Chief Comforter Li Jinpei, Surveillance Department Head Chi Dacheng, and Senior Advisors Qin Yi, Wen Shiyan, and others — a grand assembly of talent, a gathering of elites.

Not only that, the advisors of every battalion were all in attendance.

Battalion commanders and advisors not yet assigned to any army were also in attendance.

The various generals from Shaanxi and Gansu who were about to enter briefly introduced their own commands, and then Wang Dou had the Chief of Staff Wen Fangliang explain the current situation and the operational strategy.

The group stood before the sand table; not far away on the wall hung a large operational diagram. You Shiwei and the others stood somewhat ill at ease. Beside Wang Pu, Staff Officer Tian gazed at the sand table before him, a look of hunger in his eyes. Compared to the Jingbian Army, the sand tables and maps in his own army were simply too crude.

Chen Yongfu looked around in every direction, full of amazement and curiosity. Suddenly he spotted his own son, Chen De, standing beside a rather prosperous-looking officer. That officer's three-strand beard was meticulously trimmed, his bearing exceptional, giving him the appearance of someone from an old and distinguished family.

Chen Yongfu secretly speculated and marveled at who this man could be, to be so outstanding, never realizing that he was originally Gao Gui, the White Tiger Army's Left Battalion Commander, who once sold tofu on the street.

He saw his son standing beside him, waving a hand at himself, then remaining silent, displaying a strict and disciplined bearing.

Chen Yongfu felt gratified in his heart and thought, "That little brat has finally grown up." (~^~)