Chapter 866: Vanguard

(Dear readers, Wang Dou's given name is pronounced as in "struggle," not as in "a peck of rice." Also, for the brother who returned south, Wang Dou's activities are mostly in the north, with little overlap with the White Rod Army and Qin Liangyu, so there are no related plots in the book.)

On the afternoon of April 15th, the entire Jingbian Army arrived at Juyong Pass.

In truth, the cavalry of each unit had already reached the pass city half a day earlier, and the Night Scouts of the Vanguard Reconnaissance Battalion had arrived the day before that. Moreover, as early as the mobilization order, they had already been dispatched in waves to scout out of Xuanfu Garrison, and now the bulk of them were out in full force, operating at maximum capacity.

As for the remaining infantry and logistics troops, since most of the artillery and heavy baggage had been transported to Juyong Pass in advance, they were cared for in their eating, drinking, and sleeping all along the march, allowing them to focus solely on the journey. Thus, by the afternoon of the fifteenth, all 230,000 men — cavalry, infantry, artillery, and archers alike — had arrived at Juyong Pass.

Like Shanhai Pass, Juyong Pass is in fact a systematic defense project. The entire pass is built upon the Guan'gou Valley and consists of four gate checkpoints. The northernmost is Badaling Pass, also called the North Mouth. Then, a little to the south, is the Upper Pass. Next comes the main Juyong Pass fortress, and finally the South Mouth Pass.

From north to south, the four passes are arrayed in a line within a great canyon, each separated from the next by ten to twenty li.

The Juyong Pass fortress itself is built in the middle of this nearly forty-li-long valley, guarding the gateway into the capital from the north, possessing the imposing aura of "one man holding the pass, ten thousand unable to break through." In particular, the mountains on both sides are majestic and strange, with emerald peaks overlapping, accompanied by clear streams, flowers, and trees, and it has always been one of the Eight Great Sights of Yanjing, known as "Juyong's Layered Green."

Juyong Pass fortress has two gates, north and south, both built with barbicans. The entire fortification is an enclosed oval shape, with a perimeter of about eight li. Half of the fortress lies majestically upon Mount Jingui to the west, while the other part winds along Mount Cuiping to the east. The north and south city gates then sit upon the flat, broad terrace in the valley, the two gates roughly two li apart.

In addition, the pass fortress has nearly thirty ancillary structures, including enemy watchtowers, east and west mountain corner towers, water-gate sluice towers, supply rooms, artillery platforms, and beacon towers. On the eastern side of the fortification, in the Yong'an River valley, there are also two sluice gates each for the north and south water gates.

In later ages, Wang Dou once passed over this area by plane. What he saw then were vast, boundless, rolling great mountains, and then a canyon cutting through the stretching ridges, as if hewn by divine axe. This canyon, a hundred li from the capital, was called Juyong Fortress or Jundou Defile — it is the Juyong Pass Great Wall of this time.

Also because it chokes such a strategic throat, and because Juyong Pass's terrain is so perilous, it has been a place fiercely contested by armies since ancient times.

Of course, even the most dangerous place under heaven requires capable men to defend it. Historically, when Li Zicheng pressed straight toward Juyong Pass, the defending general Tang Tong, the eunuch Du Zhizhi, and others surrendered to welcome him, while the Provincial Governor He Qian feigned death and fled in secret. Such a mighty pass fell into Li Zicheng's hands without the slightest effort.

After the Jingbian Army arrived at Juyong Pass, they encamped densely along the Guan'gou river valley, from Badaling in the north to the South Mouth Pass in the south, their army and horses stretching for several tens of li.

Wang Dou and his party went directly into the pass fortress. Juyong Pass fortress was akin to a military garrison town, containing granaries, armories, government offices, a Confucian school, a military drill ground, and other structures of considerable scale. There were also temporary imperial palaces, dense clusters of memorial archways, and numerous temples — the inner City God Temple, the Guan Wang Temple, and the Guan Di Temple were absolutely indispensable.

When Wang Dou and his party entered through the north gate barbican, they saw a Zhenwu Temple inside the barbican, along with a reconstructed stone stele: "Record of the Reconstruction of the Zhenwu Temple at Juyong Pass."

"When our Great Ancestor, the Exalted Emperor, soared like a dragon from the Huai River marshes, he rose to rescue the Central Plains, driving out the barbarian yoke of a hundred years and restoring the eternal principles of the ages. He commanded the Grand General, the Duke of Wei, Xu Da, to march north, and many times the divine aid of Zhenwu was manifest... Thus a pass was established and a temple built, and so the god was enshrined within the vital ground of the north barbican. With efficacious incense and fire, he safeguards and protects, guarding the northern desert and linking Xuan and Da to control the three frontiers, while shielding the capital and imperial tombs in the south to secure the supreme kingdom."

Juyong Pass had its defile defenses built and rebuilt through successive dynasties, but the present pass fortress was planned and founded in the first year of the Hongwu era by Grand General Xu Da and Vice General Chang Yuchun. It was then continuously repaired by later generations; this stele record, however, was from a reconstruction during the Wanli era.

Wang Dou and his party offered incense, recalling the ancient worthies, then entered the fortress to make an inspection tour, even following the walls up onto Mount Jingui and Mount Cuiping. The fortress platforms and walls were all faced with granite stone and thick city bricks, some stone slabs even weighing over a ton, the joints filled with mortar and bitten together into a single mass, exceptionally solid.

Wang Dou stood upon an enemy watchtower on Mount Jingui and gazed out. Willow mist wove emerald hues, green waves surged like billows, and the Guan'gou Valley lay clearly before his eyes. At this moment, banners covered the riverbanks and waterside, and dense clusters of tents snaked southward, disappearing beyond the mountains, stretching all the way to the South Mouth Pass over a dozen li away.

The shouts of men and neighs of horses mingled with the clashing sounds of metal and blade. Looking again at the mottled, ancient foundation stones of the fortress platform before him, the sense of time and history surged abruptly. This great battle concerned the rise and fall of history itself; he wondered how later ages would judge this fight. And would the very spot where he now stood one day have a memorial stele erected, becoming a famous tourist attraction?

The Crown Prince and the accompanying civil officials were arranged to rest in the temporary palace, the government offices, and the Confucian school. Wang Dou set the south gate tower of Juyong Pass fortress as his field headquarters, summoning all officers and generals to deliberate here.

In truth, besides the government offices, not far from the gate tower and right against the city wall there was also a Revenue Department field office — a spacious, broad siheyuan courtyard with red pillars, blue tiles, and wide eaves, of no small scale. But Wang Dou preferred to stay in the gate tower; he liked the feeling of climbing high and gazing far.

On the second floor of the gate tower, a massive battle map was hung, and a detailed terrain sand table of the capital region was rolled out. The officers and generals of each army, the commanders from Shaanxi and Gansu, and the Mongol tribal chieftains who had come to join the battle crowded together in a great circle. Also, youths like Wang Zheng, Wang Ying, Wang Xiong, Wang Hao, Zhong Yiyuan, Han Hou, Han Si, Wen Wentao, and Gao Dexiang stood to one side observing.

For this campaign, the students of the military academy had all accompanied the army on the march, to experience firsthand the stories of military life. They naturally had no right to speak, merely standing to the side in quiet observation, carefully absorbing it all.

"Our army has reached Juyong Pass. The next step is to seize Changping, control the Chaozong Bridge, Gonghua Fortress, the Anji Bridge, and Dang'er Ridge..."

Chief of Staff Wen Fangliang said, pointing at the sand table: "The Sha River originates from the Guan'gou waters, twenty li from Changping city. During the Zhengtong era, the Chaozong Bridge was built, spanning the North Sha River. Beside it is Gonghua Fortress, two li in perimeter, with four gates, which has always served as the resting place for the Emperor during northern campaigns and imperial tomb inspection tours. Then, five li south, is the South Sha River, upon which is the Anji Bridge, also a stone arch bridge built during the Zhengtong era."

He continued: "About another ten li south from the Anji Bridge is Dang'er Ridge, upon which is the Tangjialing Post Station. Historically, whenever a great army marched north, it always encamped at the Tangjialing Post Station. For example, when Emperor Chengzu personally campaigned against Arutai, he camped at Tangjialing. When Emperor Yingzong personally campaigned against the Oirats, he also rested at Tangjialing. This location is also the primary area for our army's battle formation."

Wen Fangliang said: "About ten li south of the Tangjialing Post Station is Qinghe Station, which also has a post station. Not far south of Qinghe Station, there is also a stone arch bridge, named the Guangji Bridge, about thirty paces long, and it is also a necessary bridge on the route from the capital to the northwest and the imperial tombs. This will be the main area where the roving bandits deploy their battle formation."

Wen Fangliang said: "Compared to Dang'er Ridge, taking early control of the Chaozong Bridge and the Anji Bridge is even more critical, because this concerns the movement of our great army, as well as drinking water. According to intelligence gathered from all sides, from Changping southward all the way to Dang'er Ridge, there are twenty-three larger fortified towns in all directions, containing ninety-seven sizable pools and wells. These include the Willow Pool and Kunhua Pool of Shike Village; the First Master Pool, Second Master Pool, and Third Master Pool of Wujia Village; the..."

He listed them one by one, the wells and pools of every village and every fortress, as if enumerating his own family treasures.

You Shiwei and the others stood to the side, and every man listened with heartfelt admiration. This was how one went out to war.

Wang Dou also nodded. To be able to consider every detail of the battle layout — the General Staff Department had truly been forged into shape. In particular, they had even considered the detailed water usage of the great army, which was extremely commendable; after all, this was no small matter.

From what Wang Dou knew, during the Ming and Qing periods, the climate of the capital region was parched and dry, with scarce rainfall, and water supply had always been a major problem.

According to historical estimates, in the late Ming period, the urban population of Beijing was around 800,000 to 1,000,000, with over 1,200 wells. On average, there was one well every li within the city, but due to the dense population, each well had to supply dozens or even over a Company Commander. Water for the residents was not an easy matter.

At that time, because there were many wealthy households and officials in the capital, a huge class of water carriers emerged, mostly men from Shanxi. In this period, the capital's wells were mostly public, and residents drew water relatively freely. By the Qing dynasty, the various wells were monopolized by Shandong fire-tenders who followed the Eight Banners camps, selling water by the well and keeping count with bamboo tallies.

Generally, a single load of water cost eighty copper cash — this referred to sweet water; bitter water was half price. During droughts, a single load could cost as much as one hundred sixty cash, and the buckets were still absurdly small.

Thus, at that time, water usage in the capital was very difficult. In particular, water was divided into sweet and bitter; bitter water could not be drunk and could only be used for washing.

And in the near suburbs of the capital, people said, "For twenty li around the outskirts, there is no river to irrigate or moisten." The moat water was filthy and utterly unusable; all water for eating and drinking depended entirely on earthen wells.

However, in this region of North China, rivers were few after all. Even when wells were dug, the water was often bitter and brackish. Not only in the capital region, but also in Shandong and Henan, well water was mostly bitter and salty, and drinking it over time caused distension — that is, people became dull-witted and stupid, with illnesses breaking out everywhere.

And being able to dig a well at all was considered good. The northern land had thick soil and deep water tables, or thin soil and thick rock, making well-digging extremely difficult. South of the Yangtze, digging five chi into the earth would reveal spring water. North of the Huai River, digging a well often required going down twenty or thirty zhang. In those loess plateau regions, such as southwestern Shanxi and the Guanzhong area of Shaanxi, the groundwater was buried even deeper.

People of the time said: "North of Chang'an city there is a plain, where wells are fifty zhang deep." "At Biyuan, wells are fifty zhang deep." "In Chengcheng, Shaanxi, wells are thirty zhang deep." "In Wanquan County, Shanxi, the deepest wells in the county reach eighty or ninety zhang, and even the shallow ones are fifty to sixty zhang deep."

Why are there so many beauties south of the Yangtze? It is simply because of water. In the early Qing, Pu Songling told a story about a town called Yetao in Henan. The innkeeper's wife was in her twenties, yet her face was as dirty as if painted by a ghost, and the grime on the back of her hands was over an inch thick.

It turned out the place had no water. Ordinarily, the residents relied entirely on rainwater to get by, and the water they used was extremely expensive; her husband was unwilling to spend that money. It was only when a guest spent two fen of silver to buy a basin of water that the innkeeper's wife washed her hands and face, whereupon her face became like a lotus and her arms like lotus roots — truly a beauty of unadorned elegance, without fine clothes or makeup.

Without water to wash their faces or clean their bodies, even the most beautiful people become ugly.

Thus, on the North China Plain, in the vicinity of the capital region, where well water was bitter and salty, or in villages without rivers or springs where wells could not be dug, people mostly stored rainwater for eating and drinking. Generally, each village would have one or two pools to solve the daily water needs of both people and livestock.

In fact, even if a village was near a river, pools were still an essential water source for every village and fortress; after all, going to the river to carry water was far too troublesome. No matter how great the expense or how long it took, every village had to dig pools and build channels, collecting rainwater in summer and autumn, and sweeping in snow in winter, to store rainwater and spring water.

Some refined scholars and gentlemen even liked to store "plum rain water," preparing several hundred large urns. After collecting the water, they would heat it with coal, seal the mouths of the urns tightly, and then draw from it to brew tea or make wine, drinking without worry for an entire year. Residents of Jinan liked to cellar snow water, similarly disinfecting it with charcoal fire to prepare it for use the following year.

In short, all these aspects of the northern land at this time were extremely inconvenient and unimaginable to people of later ages accustomed to tap water, but the great army had to have water. Therefore, besides controlling the Sha River, the pools and wells of nearby villages were also within the General Staff's considerations.

Storing water was not easy for the villagers, so what compensation should be given at that time also had to be taken into account.

In truth, it would be best to control Fuhai and Kunming Lake; the waters of those two lakes were broad and sufficient to supply the great army. But that area was the battle line left for the roving bandits, and they could not lose the greater for the lesser.

The General Staff Department arranged meticulous logistics issues, taking every aspect into consideration, sufficient to place the great army in an invincible position. There were also detailed personnel assignments for the officers and generals: who would meet the roving bandits in battle, and which armies; who would meet the slave bandits in battle, and which armies.

And who would lead the grand flanking assault, the disposition of forces, the placement of equipment, and so on — the plan was enormously vast, and was finally reported to Wang Dou for approval.

You Shiwei and the others stood to the side, and seeing that they themselves were also included in the assignments, they were very pleased. However, regarding these preliminary objectives — Changping, Chaozong Bridge, Gonghua Fortress, Dang'er Ridge...

You Shiwei suddenly stepped forward, cupped his fist to Wang Dou, and said: "Marshal, this old general is willing to serve as the vanguard, to lead troops and seize Changping city, to bolster our great army's momentum!"

The moment he spoke, it was as if a hornet's nest had been poked. The commanders from Shaanxi and Gansu, as well as those Mongols, all began shouting loudly, each hoping to go forth and earn merit in battle.

They said one after another: "Marshal, this general is also willing to go."

"Marshal, this general is willing to assist General You in going."

"Marshal, grant this general this opportunity."

"Marshal, this general will go and seize Shunyi city."

"Marshal, this general and the lads under his command can certainly seize Gonghua Fortress."

Among them, Chen Yongfu and Gao Jie shouted the loudest, clearly thirsting to earn merit.

Everyone was shouting, many arguing until their faces were red and ears flushed, nearly coming to blows.

Wang Dou watched the crowd, nodding with a smile — such high morale was commendable, a good thing.

He pondered briefly. Letting them fight first was acceptable. Compared to the Jingbian Army, their military strength would not be too great, but neither would it be too weak. They were uniformly elite cavalry of household retainers, considered crack troops even within the Ming army. This way, when the roving bandits encountered them, they would feel their ferocity, yet not be left with the helpless despair of a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

In particular, whoever seized Changping City made no difference to the overall situation, so sending them into battle was indeed feasible.

Of course, the various submitted Mongol tribes among them were first excluded. Wang Dou mainly intended to use them against the Manchus and the Eight Banners Mongols.

He looked toward You Shiwei and said, "Very well. General You, General Chen, General Gao — you shall all go into battle, under the overall command of Elder General You."

He drew a command arrow and handed it to You Shiwei, instructing him: "Although we have arranged agents inside Changping City, it is best not to assault the city directly. Lure the bandit troops outside the city to do battle. After the bandit commanders Liu Zeqing, Qiu Lei, and the others are defeated, drive them all the way toward the capital. Furthermore, after Changping City is recovered, position troops at the White Spring on East Dragon Mountain east of the city to guard against any roving bandit reinforcements that may come from Shunyi and other places. If they come to reinforce, likewise smash them and drive them toward the capital, but do not seize the cities of Shunyi and Huairou."

He pondered for a long moment, then said: "As for the captured roving bandit officers and soldiers, leave them all to the disposal of the local commoners."

You Shiwei loudly acknowledged the order, taking the command arrow with fervent passion. The faces of Chen Yongfu, Gao Jie, and the others all showed delight.

Wang Dou further arranged for the Center Battalion, Left Battalion, and Right Battalion of the Xuanwu Army to provide support, under the command of Lei Xianbin, officer of the Central Army and Center Battalion. Once the main army controlled Changping City, they were to immediately carry out various deployments.

Finally, Wang Dou said to You Shiwei: "Your troops are to concentrate entirely at the Nankou Pass today. Tomorrow, as soon as day breaks, strike immediately and seize Changping City!"

You Shiwei abruptly knelt before Wang Dou. Dropping to one knee and clasping his fists, he bellowed: "Rest assured, Marshal! This general will strictly urge the troops to capture Changping City smoothly."

Wang Dou helped You Shiwei to his feet and said with a slight smile: "This marshal has no doubt whatsoever."