Chapter 505: Civil and Military Might

In Hebei, Xindu City was a notable large city with an extremely long history. At the end of the Western Han, when Liu Xiu first entered Hebei, his circumstances were extremely dire. It was by relying on Xindu Commandery alone that he turned the tide and ultimately managed to take Hebei.

At this very moment, Su E, the Inspector of Jizhou, was standing on the city wall with a tense expression. Not far south of the moat, several scouting riders were skulking about. They seemed to see that Xindu City was large with a deep moat and difficult to deal with, so after milling around for a while, they left.

"Finally they're gone, gone."

Su E wiped the fine beads of sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, couldn't help letting out a long breath, and gripped the parapet with both hands, barely able to stand steady.

He was from Fufeng in Guanzhong, and in his day was known for his talent, studying behind closed doors at home.

Huangfu Weiming gathered talented but frustrated men from across the realm into his staff, and Su E was among them.

After serving two years as a staff member, Su E won Huangfu Weiming's appreciation and was soon sent out to Jizhou as Inspector. Of course, this inevitably involved the latter's maneuvering and recommendation behind the scenes.

Since he was an Inspector who had come from Huangfu Weiming's staff, when his own lord rose in rebellion, Su E naturally responded actively. Thus he continued to serve as Inspector of Jizhou and held Xindu City.

In the Tang dynasty, there was a custom of "changing one's name to express one's aspirations." To show a clear break from the "old court" or certain individuals, Su E changed his name to "Su Youde," implying that "the divine vessel dwells with those who possess virtue"—this was the will of Heaven.

Huangfu Weiming was very pleased by this and granted Su Youde the authority to recruit troops, appointing him "Military Governor of Jizhou." Su Youde did not disappoint either, recruiting three thousand militia troops and training them day and night under the unified command of General of Manifest Might, Li Qinchou.

"My lord, the rebel army has already wandered to Xindu. How should we decide to handle this?"

Li Qinchou walked to Su Youde's side and asked in a low voice.

He somewhat looked down on Su Youde, because this man seemed to lack the strength to truss a chicken and understood nothing of military affairs.

But there was no help for it. Su Youde came from Huangfu Weiming's Youzhou staff, and the two had considerable personal ties and a very good relationship. In other words, if Li Qinchou fought bloody battles in Jizhou, Huangfu Weiming might not necessarily hear of it, but if Su Youde whispered complaints and spoke ill of him behind his back, Huangfu Weiming would certainly hear of it.

So even though Li Qinchou looked down on Su Youde, he still had to serve submissively, with bitterness in his heart that he could not voice.

"Will the rebel army attack the city?"

Su Youde asked with a calm expression. Though he appeared fairly composed, his trembling hands had already said everything.

Li Qinchou shook his head and replied with great certainty: "They absolutely cannot attack the city. Xindu City's walls are three zhang high, its moat seven chi deep, and its circumference eighteen li. The rebel army is merely several thousand strong—how could they besiege such a large city?"

If viewed through the eyes of Fang Chongyong's previous life, the area of Xindu City was nothing worth mentioning; any random county seat's urban area would be larger than it. But by the scale of Tang dynasty cities, Xindu already counted as a notable large city.

If the city were not large, how could Huangfu Weiming have granted Su Youde the authority to recruit troops?

"It's good that they don't attack the city. Once a city is attacked, the people inevitably suffer."

Su Youde said hypocritically, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

Just then, a bodyguard stepped forward and handed Su Youde an arrow with a letter tied to it, saying: "My lord, this is a letter the rebel army just shot onto the city wall. Please read it."

When did that happen?

Su Youde was startled, but still maintained a calm expression on his face and reached out to take the letter.

Since Xindu City was very large, Su Youde could not be fully aware of everything happening on all sides. Just because he hadn't seen the enemy scouting riders shoot arrows from where he was didn't mean such things weren't happening around Xindu City.

Three thousand militia troops might seem like a lot, but Xindu City was large, and if they defended to the death, they might not be able to hold it. In fact, even if all three thousand men stood on the city wall, they could only stand in a single sparse row.

Su Youde took a deep breath, removed the letter from the arrow, read it at a glance, and couldn't help gasping sharply.

Fang Chongyong stated in the letter: To avoid the people of Jizhou suffering, three days hence he would meet Su Youde in battle at the old course of the Jiang River, Xindu's mother river. If he knew what was good for him, he would come; if he failed to appear, after taking Xindu he would slaughter every military and civil official in Jizhou.

This river was originally the old course of the Jiang River, which shifted during the Northern Wei and became a tributary of the Zhang River. "Old Course of the Jiang River" was the term used in the Commentary on the Water Classic; locally in Xindu, people called it the "Jiang River" or the "Lan River"—it went by all sorts of names.

The old course of the Jiang River was part of Xindu City's southern defenses, only a few li from Xindu's south gate. To call it far, it really wasn't very far.

To go, or not to go?

This was a question worth pondering.

Thinking of his own thin arms and legs, Su Youde instantly abandoned the thought of leading troops out of the city.

"See for yourself."

Su Youde sighed softly and handed the letter to Li Qinchou.

The latter finished reading it and looked at Su Youde with a puzzled expression, seemingly working up his emotions.

After a long while, Li Qinchou finally suggested in as calm a tone as he could manage: "My lord need not pay any mind to this fellow's threats. The Fang rebel is an isolated army deep in enemy territory; at this moment he is merely making an empty show of strength."

Su Youde shook his head in disappointment and said: "Xindu City has high walls and a deep moat, so naturally we need not fear the rebel army attacking the city. But Zaoqiang County in Jizhou has already fallen, and Wuyi, Fucheng, Wuqiang, Tangyang, Nangong, and other places all have small cities with few troops! The Military Governor of Jizhou must ensure the safety of all of Jizhou, not just the safety of Xindu City alone!"

Li Qinchou only had to command troops and be done with it, but as "Military Governor of Jizhou," Su Youde had many things to consider.

If Jizhou fell into chaos and they did nothing about it, even if they could ultimately hold Xindu, Su Youde's tenure as official would be over.

Right now the green shoots in the fields would ripen before long. If they let Fang Chongyong and the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army run rampant through Jizhou, it would throw everyone into panic.

When autumn harvest came, who would still have the heart to reap the fields? Who knew whether the harvested grain would end up benefiting someone else?

Su Youde merely didn't know how to fight; he was still very familiar with civil administration and local governance. If he hadn't had some ability, he couldn't have gotten into Huangfu Weiming's staff either.

Because Huangfu Weiming rose in rebellion very quickly and implemented relatively moderate policies, and because Hebei had not previously been a war zone—

—most of the prefectural inspectors were civil officials like Su Youde.

Many of them even did quite well.

But now that the flames of war had reached Hebei, these people could no longer quite control the situation.

"My lord, Xindu's troops are adequate for defending the city. If they went out, how could they contend with the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, selected from the border forces?"

Li Qinchou nearly dropped to his knees before Su Youde. This muddle-headed Inspector actually still wanted to lead troops out of the city to fight a field battle against the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army—what on earth was he thinking?

"We'd be separated by a river anyway, and the river water hasn't frozen. Can't we strike them mid-crossing?"

Su Youde asked quietly.

For a moment Li Qinchou was so frantic he couldn't speak!

Because Su Youde's words had so many flaws and so many holes that he no longer knew what to say.

One could only say that matters of war could only be discussed with peers in the field. Explaining to a layman was simply impossible to make clear.

"My lord, you may perhaps possess the ability of Han Xin and the might of Bai Qi, but this subordinate does not.

If you wish to face that Fang Qing in battle, my lord, go yourself. This subordinate will be in charge of defending the city."

Li Qinchou left behind these harsh words and departed, leaving Su Youde trembling with rage.

However, what no one expected was that the very next day something major happened, and Li Qinchou, who had been sulking the day before, instantly deflated.

Inside the prefectural office's study, Su Youde shoved a battle report straight into Li Qinchou's chest and roared: "Look at it yourself!"

The battle report read: Wuyi County, southeast of Xindu, had been taken by the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army under Fang Chongyong's command. The county magistrate and county defender had been "politely escorted out of the territory" and sent directly into Xindu City, where they were already imprisoned. The treasury of Wuyi County had been opened, and just as in Zaoqiang County, the rebel army distributed grain, weapons, and military uniforms to the local commoners.

Fang Chongyong also sent a letter warning Su Youde not to refuse a face-saving offer. If he would not keep the appointment, they would take one city per day and capture every county seat around Xindu.

Do not think that playing dead and sending no one to negotiate means the agreement no longer counts.

"What do we do! Tell me what we should do!"

Su Youde was so angry—no, it should be said he was so terrified that his whole body trembled, and he could only vent his fury on Li Qinchou.

Li Qinchou had also not expected Fang Chongyong to be this ferocious—one city per day, and he actually had the damn nerve to say it!

In truth, what Li Qinchou and the others did not know was that the city gates of Wuyi County had been opened by the local runners, not breached by the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army.

Because these people all knew exactly what had happened in Zaoqiang County before. The runners were numerous, closely connected to every county in the prefecture, their relationships deeply intertwined.

In their view, resistance had no positive meaning whatsoever; rather, it was hindering everyone from making a fortune. What happened to the court, what happened to the higher-ups—none of it had anything to do with them. Whoever ruled this place could not do without them.

"My lord, to go out and fight in the open would mean certain defeat."

Li Qinchou cupped his fists in salute to Su Youde, his back bent nearly to ninety degrees!

The prefectural study was dead silent. Su Youde pondered for a moment, then let out a long, helpless sigh.

To go out or not to go out—that was the question. It could not be taken lightly, could not be handled rashly, and certainly could not be pretended away.

Just then, a personal guard rushed in in a panic and shouted at Su Youde: "My lord, disaster strikes! Hengshui County has been taken by the rebel army! No—it should be said that the Hengshui County magistrate opened the city and surrendered!"

"Huh?"

Su Youde let out a cry of alarm and leapt to his feet, so frightened his eyes nearly bulged out.

Hengshui County's seat was somewhat larger than the other counties in Jizhou, and its treasury held even more.

With clearly greater resources to draw on, how could the Hengshui County magistrate have surrendered?

But recalling that earlier letter challenging him to battle, Su Youde seemed to have figured it out.

If Fang Chongyong could threaten him, making him, an Inspector, so restless he could not even eat in peace—

Then why couldn't he threaten the Hengshui County magistrate?

Su Youde somewhat understood why the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army could run rampant across Jizhou.

Hebei's field armies were not in Jizhou and could not repel the enemy at the frontier. Locals were opening granaries to distribute grain, and within each county's yamen, only a handful of officials were appointed from outside; everyone else was local.

Who could guarantee that these local clerks and runners, who had duties but no official rank, did not have other intentions?

Today one clerk would persuade the county magistrate; tomorrow some local grandee would discuss matters with the county magistrate. Who could withstand such relentless persuasion day and night?

One must remember that the Great Tang had ruled Hebei for over a hundred years. Huangfu Weiming had risen in rebellion only a few years ago—even counting his time as Jiedushi, ten years would be the absolute limit.

How much loyalty could the locals possibly have toward him?

When the flames of war had not yet reached them, it did not matter—no one wanted to stick their neck out to catch a stone and ask for trouble. But once the flames of war reached their doorstep, it was a different story entirely!

"How about we send someone to negotiate with Fang Qing and see what they want.

As long as they don't occupy Xindu City, we'll give them whatever they want. Let them go to Dezhou or Cangzhou—just don't let them come bother us. What do you think of that?"

Su Youde discussed quietly with Li Qinchou.

"My lord, this plan is excellent."

Li Qinchou nodded. He was out of ideas too—he couldn't exactly suggest leading troops to launch a 'half-crossing strike,' could he? People would die.

The county seats around Xindu were falling one after another; three cities had already been lost. Su Youde and the others all treated Fang Chongyong and the army under his command like a plague god. Fighting was out of the question—if only they could be sent away, that would be ideal.

As long as they were not in Jizhou, the other side could rampage however they pleased.

"No, no, this alone won't do."

Su Youde shook his head, pondered for a moment, and said: "We must request reinforcements from Commander Huangfu, otherwise once this matter is exposed, it will be impossible to clean up."

Requesting reinforcements from Huangfu Weiming on one hand, while compromising with Fang Chongyong on the other.

One had to admit, Su Youde played both ends to perfection as Inspector. Li Qinchou marveled inwardly—no wonder the man had gotten into the staff and earned Huangfu Weiming's regard, and even served as Inspector in Jizhou.

This deft maneuvering was something he himself could never pull off.

……

On the south bank of the old Jiangshui channel, south of Xindu City, lay the camp of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army.

It must be said that if Su Youde had been bolder and led the city's militia on a night river crossing for a surprise attack, the outcome would have been truly hard to predict.

Of course, many people who had fallen for a ruse did not know they had been tricked, and were still being led by the nose by the enemy without realizing it.

Fang Chongyong openly set up camp right beside Xindu City, planting flags everywhere and putting on a brazen 'come if you dare' posture. This was a textbook case of 'showing inability when able,' betting with certainty that Su Youde would not dare to march out for an open-field battle.

That letter 'challenging him to battle' was even more a psychological tactic, one that only a fearless warrior who did not fear death could break through.

In reality, this camp held only two hundred actual Yinqiang Xiaojie Army soldiers. The rest were all local Jizhou commoners dressed in military uniforms as impostors.

The true main force, meanwhile, was striking out in all directions, applying both soft pressure and hard intimidation to the county seats around Xindu! Though there were stubborn holdouts like the Wuqiang County magistrate who refused to open the gates and vowed to fight to the death, there were still plenty of fence-sitters who opened their gates.

In some cases, the county magistrate could not withstand the pressure and personally ordered the gates opened; in others, the locals opened them 'on his behalf.'

After nightfall, the various detachments returned to the main camp one after another, and nearly everyone wore a smug smile on their face.

"Jiedushi, your move was truly brilliant!"

The moment he entered the commander's tent, He Changqi gave Fang Chongyong a thumbs-up and said.

To subdue the enemy without fighting was the supreme achievement of the supreme!

With the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army in front and local 'costumed' able-bodied men behind, arrayed outside the county seats, the aura of coercing a surrender was achieved.

Do not blame the locals for being short-sighted. Many times, those at the bottom lived for that one meal, knowing nothing of the grand ambitions of kings and generals. Whoever gave them grain, they would follow; whoever they would help—this was a very simple truth.

Fang Chongyong's secret was mobilizing the masses. Otherwise, these locals' rations would be far too easy to collect—they had to do at least a little something, more or less.

"Wuqiang County wasn't taken?"

Fang Chongyong waved his hand dismissively, not wanting to hear He Changqi's clumsy flattery. He looked at Che Guangqian and asked.

The latter said with a face full of regret: "This subordinate feared the Wuqiang County magistrate would see through our bluff, so I led the troops back to the main camp. I beg the Jiedushi to punish me."

"Your response was not wrong. Attacking at that point would definitely have blown our cover."

But using both kindness and force is the royal way; if anyone surrenders without opening the city and ends up fine, then we wouldn't have to scramble.

Those locals who took the grain will eventually betray us.

Transmit this Jiedushi's order: from now on the whole army shall march to Wuqiang County; before nightfall tomorrow I want the head of the Wuqiang County magistrate placed on my command tent desk.

Go.

Fang Chongyong handed the fish talisman to Che Guangqian and continued, "You command this battle; this Jiedushi will guard the main camp."

"Why doesn't the Jiedushi go with us?"

Che Guangqian asked in puzzlement.

"If Su Youde's envoy comes to the main camp and doesn't see anyone stationed, they will know our true strength and weakness."

Fang Chongyong shook his head and signaled Che Guangqian to set off quickly.