Chapter 48: Chapter Forty‑Nine

The Emperor Chongzhen's look of approval was entirely natural, because Bai Lang's appearance was truly impressive. First of all, he is a young officer; a young officer always stirs people's enthusiasm, and Chongzhen also likes such youths—Bai Lang looks to be eighteen or nineteen, with sharp, handsome features and full vigor. Though his face has not fully matured and still bears a youthful green hue, the young Xu Jinjiang already shows a hint of bearing—the two really look alike......

This model is certainly a good one; when Emperor Chongzhen saw Bai Lang, he took the report's words at face value, "Indeed a youth hero of my Ming Dynasty, is Your Excellency nineteen this year?" Bai Lang did not reveal that his true age was only sixteen. Then the emperor asked about Bai Lang's pair of water‑polished Purple Gold Halberds… Indeed, the name of Bai Lang's weapon was recorded in the report: "Your Excellency's single halberd weighs eighty‑six kilograms? Unfortunately it was taken by the Eastern barbarians… What weapon does Your Excellency use now?"

Bai Lang did not perform the triple‑kneel, nine‑knock ritual—normally one does not have to grovel before my Ming emperor, and Bai Lang never cared much for such formalities; a man's golden resolve lies in his heart, not in irrelevant etiquette. He merely bowed slightly, which was normal, because Emperor Chongzhen was shorter than Bai Lang, and Bai Lang's imposing bearing made him appear much taller than the seemingly elderly Chongzhen. "Your Majesty, I have now forged a Guan Wang Blade for you."

The Emperor Chongzhen showed genuine interest, "Oh, Your Excellency's divine strength is unmatched; can you wield this Guan Dao as well?" He then ordered a eunuch to fetch Bai Lang's Guan Dao, so Bai Lang could demonstrate it outside the hall. Two big‑man generals arrived bearing Bai Lang's new weapon, and the emperor approached, "Is this whole weapon also made of hollow iron pipe? How heavy is this Guan Dao?" The eunuch beside him answered, "The Green Dragon Crescent Blade weighs eighty‑two jin, indistinguishable from the one used by Lord Guan."

After receiving the emperor's cue, Bai Lang stepped forward, seized the Guan Dao with one hand, and began to demonstrate his skill before the hall. Whether the big‑man generals or the Imperial Stable Guard's clean troops, they all practice martial arts daily, and naturally they could see Bai Lang's foundation at a glance. "General Bai seems limited in his skill with this Guan Dao… but judging by his hand gestures and footwork, his bare‑handed technique must be superb," the emperor observed, his eyes widening. When asked about Bai Lang's martial ability, the others dared not conceal anything—after all, Bai Lang had not yet opened his joints, so they spoke frankly.

"Nevertheless, General Bai's strength is truly rare under heaven; we can train with a Guan Dao of this weight daily, but few can wield it so lightly. Such skill on the battlefield would be more than sufficient," said those who, despite never having seen combat, were able to comment on the martial prowess Bai Lang displayed at that moment.

Emperor Chongzhen indeed grew impatient; when he heard that Bai Lang's Guan Dao skill was ordinary, his face stretched a bit, his impression of Bai Lang slipping considerably, yet he soon regained interest. At that moment, Bai Lang finished a set of Guan Dao techniques he had studied and refined, breathing evenly and without flushing, and handed the blade back to the big‑man general, standing aside awaiting the emperor's words. The emperor composed himself, praised Bai Lang a few more times, and awarded him some silver, "When we go to eradicate the bandits, you all must cooperate with utmost sincerity…" At this point the emperor seemed on the verge of tears, and Governor Deng immediately went to comfort him.

Bai Lang was indifferent; in his view, with the world in such a state, Emperor Chongzhen bore half the responsibility—"lightly cunning, fickle, impatient, indecisive" was Bai Lang's assessment of Chongzhen. His current sorrow and urgency would achieve nothing, and now the Ming Dynasty was virtually beyond rescue. "Of course, now I have arrived. Let's see if a peerless warrior can turn things around, hahahaha," the fellow chuckled inwardly.

Nevertheless, outwardly he had to put on a mournful demeanor; with the emperor so sorrowful, the minister naturally had to mirror that appearance.

Although Prefect Deng transformed into a governor, his rank jumped several grades, and he took over as Governor of the Three Provinces—this time he was not appointed Governor of the Five Provinces, and the emperor split the anti‑bandit campaign between two governors. Yet Governor Deng possessed few troops—Emperor Chongzhen kept the capital garrison tightly clenched, allocating not a single soldier to him, at most the hundred or so guards Deng brought from Shandong—now he commanded a governor‑marked camp, and he would have to rally the military leaders of the three provinces and find a way to command them to eradicate the bandits…

Emperor Chongzhen could not even spare much silver for Governor Deng… "I see this situation as a dead end; no money, no men, yet still a war? I can only lead elite troops myself and charge straight into the front to behead the enemy," Bai Lang muttered inwardly. Regarding the peasant army, even now that they were becoming regularized, Bai Lang still thought they retained their bandit nature and could likely be defeated in a single battle. At present, Bai Lang was Governor Deng's greatest trump card—the most powerful asset he could control; those military leaders, such as the four towns of Jiangbei, had many troops, but whether they would obey this governor was uncertain.

It is now the twilight of the dynasty, an age where might makes right; the old civil‑official system can no longer function. As a freshly appointed governor, requesting weapons and equipment from the Ministry of War for his troops was still permissible—over a hundred men under his command, the Ministry must grant this face‑saving favor; if not to Governor Deng, then at least to the emperor. Consequently, Bai Lang obtained a set each of fine cotton armor, mountain‑pattern armor, and chain armor, as well as two exquisitely crafted goose‑feather blades that resembled snowflakes. As for the Guan Dao, since the emperor himself would inspect it, it was forged with great care.

With the military situation urgent, Governor Deng, accompanied by his ceremonial guard, swiftly departed the capital to the front lines to eradicate the bandits. Henan—this was the battlefield this time; Deng went to aid Sun Chuanting's forces, while Li Chuang was preparing in the Henan area to clash with Sun Chuanting, the Shaanxi Governor and Minister of War. Yet Governor Deng had already mustered a contingent of troops and encountered part of Li Chuang's forces. This time Bai Lang wore double armor, wielded a great sword, and rode his warhorse to lead the charge.

The logistical support this time far surpassed that of the Battle of Yanzhou; there were fewer people, after all. Governor Deng first satisfied his truly trusted troops, then the Ming soldiers he recruited along the city walls—essentially junk. The decisive battle was supposed to be between Governor Sun and Li Chuang, and neither side regarded Governor Deng highly. In total, Governor Deng had gathered just over three thousand men, boasting a fifty‑thousand‑strong army to intimidate, a fact everyone understood.

This time Bai Lang's horse was also a north‑western heavy horse, one that had fought Tartar alongside him; now the horse wore a half‑coat of armor protecting its neck and forebody, straining to carry Bai Lang as he charged at the peasant army before him, followed by about twenty cavalry from the governor‑marked camp. These riders had witnessed Bai Lang's bravery, and confronting the peasant army required more daring than fighting Tartar, so they surged forward with him.