Chapter 107: Old Master

On the twenty-sixth day of the first month of the Chongzhen Eighth Year, in Lujiang County, Luzhou Prefecture, a great fog blanketed the entire city, and from within the dense mist came wave after wave of harrowing cries.

Inside and outside the county yamen, swords and spears stood thick as a forest. Yellow-faced Zhang Xianzhong, wearing a black gauze cap, sat high upon the Main Hall dais. Below him in the hall stood several dozen fierce, burly men, most clad in Arrow Coats of various colors. In the center of the hall knelt over a dozen people.

"A Tailor, once kept, always has a use," Zhang Xianzhong said expressionlessly. "Whichever family brought them, the Camp Chief takes them back as Servants."

The two Tailors, trembling with fear, stammered, "We thank the Thousand-Year Lord for sparing our lives."

A Team leader nearby stepped forward with an acknowledgment and led the two Tailors away.

"Reporting to the Old Master for his awareness: the next is the Chief Clerk of this place. Wounded, he hid in the Cook's room and was captured by the Lower Third Post."

Zhang Xianzhong's gaze shifted to the Chief Clerk in a short jacket kneeling in the hall. He raised the Alarm Wood and slammed it down, pointing at the Chief Clerk in fury. "You are the Chief Clerk of Lujiang. You accepted the Emperor's office, so you bear the duty of Defending the Territory. In ordinary times you made no preparations. Now that I have breached the city, you ought to be sitting in the yamen in your official robes, dying for your principles. What reasoning is there in hiding in the Cook's room?"

The words were spoken with righteous solemnity; anyone who did not know better would have thought it was a Censor delivering an impeachment. The Chief Clerk kept his head down in silence, merely trembling where he knelt.

Zhang Xianzhong slammed the Alarm Wood again. "Where did that County Magistrate, Wu Guanglong, flee to? If you can tell me, I may yet spare you."

"This lowly one does not know." The Chief Clerk finally mustered his courage and raised his head. "Before the city fell, he was drinking in a local gentry's home. After the chaos broke out, I lost all knowledge of his destination."

"Look at what sort of affairs you Mushou busy yourselves with! Two Days ago, your defense still had some semblance of order. I was about to recall my troops and leave, when a timely fog arose. Did you think that just because it rains and fogs, there is no Battle? I was in the middle of a City Assault, and you, heedless of an entire city's lives, dared to go off drinking and making merry. You deserve this end!"

The Chief Clerk had no words to reply and shrank into a ball on the ground.

"Since you have nothing to say, kill him." Zhang Xianzhong reached out, picked up an Order Arrow, and hurled it forcefully into the center of the hall.

Several fierce Roving Bandits came forward and dragged the Chief Clerk out. Only then did the Chief Clerk burst into loud, wailing sobs.

Zhang Xianzhong turned to the other side. "What sort of people did the Upper Third Post keep this time?"

The Post Commander of the Upper Third Post said cautiously, "In reply to the Old Camp Chief, all were captured here in Lujiang. We thought to keep one Xianggong and seven or eight children."

"What use is there in keeping a Xianggong?"

"There are always times when something needs to be written. The Xianggong from some time ago fell ill and died. Now, if we need to write a Fake Official Document, we cannot even find a person."

Zhang Xianzhong glanced twice at the kneeling Xiucai. The Xiucai, terrified out of his wits, could not even keep kneeling and collapsed limply onto the ground.

"Cannot even kneel steady. What use is there in keeping him? Kill him."

Another Order Arrow flew out. The Post Commander dared not speak, and allowed several Roving Bandits to drag the Xianggong out.

Zhang Xianzhong then asked, "These children — are they meant to be Servants?"

"When we struck Shouzhou, the Child Army lost many. We need to replenish some, to some extent."

Zhang Xianzhong looked at the seven youths and asked, "Do you wish to go home?"

The youths huddled together, watching Zhang Xianzhong cautiously, none of them speaking. The Roving Bandit leaders nearby all watched the youths with keen interest, awaiting their answers.

"Those who miss home, step forward. Tomorrow I will have men send you back."

The youths exchanged glances among themselves. Finally, one stepped forward, and then five more followed one after another.

Zhang Xianzhong waved a hand. "Send them all away."

Someone led the six youths out the door. Zhang Xianzhong asked the last remaining youth, "Why do you not miss home?"

"I have no home to return to," the youth said sullenly. "A Household-born Slave sold to another family. The master's household was not good. I am willing to follow the Old Master."

Zhang Xianzhong waved his hand again. "Good. Brought by the Upper Third Post — the Camp Chief takes him to raise."

The Post Commander of the Upper Third Post did not leave immediately, and none of the Roving Bandits in the hall urged him on. Everyone seemed to be waiting for something. The youth looked around in confusion.

In a brief moment, several Roving Bandits entered the hall, each carrying several heads in their hands. They were unmistakably the heads of the Xiucai and the six youths. The youth was so frightened that he stumbled backward several steps.

"Donkey Balls! Don't you know to find a tray to hold them?" Zhang Xianzhong suddenly flew into a violent rage. He grabbed a handful of Order Arrows from the desk and hurled them at those men. "The hall is covered in blood — how is the Old Master supposed to adjudicate cases!"

Those Roving Bandits covered their heads and fled like rats, bolting out of the hall. Only then did the Post Commander of the Upper Third Post lead the youth away.

Only three people remained kneeling in the hall. Zhang Xianzhong sat down in a huff, not looking at the three in the hall, but instead at a standing Post Commander. "Your Upper Fifth Post has always been effective with Inner Responders. Why, after entering Tongcheng, did only these few return?"

The Post Commander kept his head low and said quietly, "Originally thirteen went in. Tongcheng caught wind of it, and on the sixteenth of the new year they began a city-wide search. One of the Child Army was killed by constables at the city gate. Tongcheng's searches grew tighter and tighter. The constables there are formidable. The old Team leader felt we could not stay in the city, feared someone would be captured and questioned into talking, so he led the men out of the city and dispatched them toward Huaining and Qianshan. Only two lost contact. These three, when heading toward Qianshan, encountered Tongcheng's mounted constables conducting searches on the road, so they turned back and waited at Lujiang for the main Ying to arrive."

Zhang Xianzhong stood up and walked before the three kneeling figures. Two of them wore Daoist Robes. He tilted his head to glance at them. "Were the two old ones recruited in Shanxi?"

"The Old Master remembers very correctly. Recruited in Yangcheng. They have always been reliable as Spies. This time, it was simply that Tongcheng's constables were truly too numerous. We heard that the head constable has some skill — last year during the pacification campaign, he alone cut down over thirty heads. Now he leads two squads..."

Zhang Xianzhong cut him off. "Since entering this Nanzhili, I have taken Gushi, Huoqiu, Yingzhou, Fengyang, Chao County, and Lujiang in succession — taken them all the way. The advance parties from every Post have coordinated and supported well. A few days ago, Wuwei Prefecture lost contact. Yesterday, Shucheng's men were captured. Today, Tongcheng's men are said to have been killed by constables. The Old Master is displeased. What use is there in keeping and feeding you for years? Kill them."

The two Daoists, upon hearing this, kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy, their mouths crying out, "Old Master, spare our lives!"

Zhang Xianzhong ignored those two. He bent at the waist to examine the last kneeling person — a youth, wearing a Daoist Robe that was slightly too large for him.

The Post Commander said in a low voice, "This is a Child Army soldier brought from the old home. The one killed in Tongcheng was his elder brother."

"What is your name?"

The youth's tone was remarkably steady. "Reporting to the Old Master, I have no name. They call me Xiao Wazi."

Zhang Xianzhong said coldly, "The Old Master has always told you: Spies must not draw attention. How did you let your tracks be exposed?"

"That day we were resting in the horse stables, thinking the beggars had all gone to the Relief Porridge. When the Team leader was discussing matters, we discovered someone hidden in the Forage. We had no choice but to kill him, which drew the Dog Official's constables to investigate."

"The dog constables killed your brother. How is it that you fled by yourself? Could it be that you Fear Death?"

"I do not fear death. It was precisely because my brother wanted me to flee that he was killed by the constables. If I had not fled, his death would have been in vain."

A trace of a smile actually appeared on Zhang Xianzhong's face. "Do you hate those people in Tongcheng?"

Xiao Wazi slowly raised his head. On his dirty face, a pair of eyes were dark and lively, yet brimming with hatred. "Before my brother died, he told me to slaughter all of Tongcheng. If the Old Master permits it, I will kill."

Zhang Xianzhong narrowed his eyes, watching Xiao Wazi. The Post Commander of the Upper Fifth Post dared not speak. Everyone in the hall waited silently for Zhang Xianzhong's decision.

"The Upper Fifth Post takes him back to raise."

The Post Commander let out a soft breath of relief. Zhang Xianzhong shifted his gaze away from Xiao Wazi, took a few steps across the hall, and swept his eyes over the Roving Bandit leaders.

"Shucheng says it cannot be taken. Wuwei Prefecture has lost contact with its Inner Responders. I am somewhat displeased. Since we are heading toward Anqing anyway, the old camp will send a few old Team leaders. The Upper Fifth Post, Upper Third Post, and Upper Sixth Post will go first to Tongcheng. I want to see for myself just how formidable those Tongcheng constables are."

"Everyone says it, that our Tongcheng constables are formidable. But in truth, how is it the constables who are formidable? It is simply that the Dongjia is formidable. People from all four townships are fleeing to Tongcheng. Just on the way here, this slave girl encountered several who came from Chao County. They said they had heard of the Dongjia's reputation, and that Tongcheng was certain to hold out." Jiang Shuqiong shook out a quilt as she spoke. "But no matter how formidable the Dongjia is, he must always look after himself. This room is far too damp. This quilt feels as if it were fished out of water. You all tell me — the Dongjia exhausts his mind and spirit, all to ensure everyone's Safety, and he has grown thin from it. How can we let this great benefactor cover himself with such a quilt? What if he catches a chill? Who then will protect our Tongcheng? Sister Yueru, come lend a hand and shake this."

Chattering away, Jiang Shuqiong called over Zhou Yueru, who had come with her, and together they spread a brand-new quilt over the bed in Pang Yu's command room.

"This quilt cover is all new. This slave girl was not at ease, so she washed it once more and dried it thoroughly in the sun. It is guaranteed to be comfortable." After speaking, Jiang Shuqiong called for someone to carry in a reclining chair, upon which she carefully laid a cotton cushion.

"Sometimes when you do not wish to sleep in the bed, just lie on this reclining chair for a while. It is also good to switch and sit for a bit."

Pang Yu smiled. "Squad Leader Jiang, you've gone to a lot of trouble."

"I wouldn't dare accept such words." Jiang Shuqiong took an exaggerated step back, her mouth twisting as if she were about to cry. "Dongjia, how can you say this slave has gone to trouble? Dongjia does this for all the people of the city. This slave's family has lived here for generations; now there are several dozen of us across a few generations in the household, and that's considered small. The lives of tens of thousands in this city all rest on Dongjia alone. Dongjia has been on the city wall for three days without returning home. Others don't feel the strain — that's because they don't know. This slave knows perfectly well, and for doing a few small things to still earn a word of trouble from Dongjia — that would cut short this slave's allotted years."

As Jiang Shuqiong spoke, she scrunched up her plump face. No tears came out, but she still raised a hand and pretended to wipe them away. Behind her, Zhou Yueru quietly tidied a pillow, taking no part in Jiang Shuqiong's solo performance.

"Liu Shopkeeper said it: our birth-parents are at home, our food-and-clothing parents are in the city, and our second-life parents are on the city wall. Everyone at our Bai Shun Tang has a share — those with money give money, those with strength give strength, and no one is to say a word otherwise. If the stones run out, just throw this slave's hundred-plus catties down. This slave guarantees she can crush a few roving bandits to death."

Pang Yu suddenly recalled that Jiang Shuqiong had once worked as a dishwashing woman. He quickly nodded in approval. "Squad Leader Jiang, your wholehearted fervor truly makes you a model for Tongcheng. This place happens to lack a great talent like Squad Leader Jiang. The city gate is the distribution hub for defense supplies. I'll ask Squad Leader Jiang to take charge of organizing the meal provisions. The requirements are safety and order: no fires, no blocking the road passage, no disruption of order, and guaranteed on-time delivery to the city wall."

"Dongjia, set your mind at ease! This slave will certainly do it well." Jiang Shuqiong finished, then turned toward Zhou Yueru and said gently, "Then here at Dongjia's side, Sister Yueru, please look after things."

Pang Yu beckoned over his henchman Pang Ding and told him to take Jiang Shuqiong to take over the whole pile of cooking matters.

A moment after Jiang Shuqiong went out, a clamor rose from outside. All that could be heard was Jiang Shuqiong once again leading the Bai Shun Tang helpers in shouting slogans.

"Be careful up on the wall," Zhou Yueru's voice said softly.

Pang Yu glanced at her and grinned. "If I get shot dead, wouldn't that be perfect — no more mortgage to repay."

Zhou Yueru spat lightly. "Don't say such things. It's unlucky. Besides, you never collected it in the first place."

"A debt is a debt. It will be collected eventually." Pang Yu lay down on the reclining chair. It was indeed very comfortable. He narrowed his eyes. "Pound this young master's legs."

Zhou Yueru's voice answered, "In your dreams."

Pang Yu chuckled but said nothing. He had overworked himself these past two days. Lying like this for just a moment, he actually felt himself drifting off to sleep.

Suddenly he heard Zhou Yueru ask, "Has Sun Tianxiu entered the city?"

Still in a daze, Pang Yu replied, "Forgot."

"How could you forget that?" Zhou Yueru glared at Pang Yu angrily. "Her family's place isn't far from the official road. If anything happens to her when the roving bandits come, what will you do then?"

Pang Yu opened his eyes and replied, "When we notified the Zhuang Squad's family dependents earlier, someone was sent to tell them. Sun Tianxiu said her father is gravely ill and doesn't dare move him. Her uncle said if the roving bandits come, they'll flee into the mountains. Later I figured the village chief was spreading the alarm, so if they headed for the city, they'd naturally come find me."

"How can you be at ease letting her family go into the mountains? How can the mountains compare to the county seat? What if those roving bandits go there — trapped on the mountain, there'd be nowhere to flee."

"The roving bandits don't have time to go into the mountains. They march at least fifty or sixty li every day; it's impossible for them to leave the official road and search the hills. The city is where wealth and people are concentrated. The roving bandits have their minds set on assaulting the city. The city is the real danger zone. If I called the little girl here and the city fell instead, then I'd have done her harm."

Zhou Yueru started to speak, then stopped. Finally, unable to hold back, she said, "With you defending the city, everyone is at ease. But with Sun Tianxiu's father in that condition — spend a few days living in the mountains, and his life will be spent too. Coming into the city, food and shelter would be more convenient, and there'd be no shortage of medicinal powder. I've heard from people entering the city that many in the countryside are unwilling to leave home to avoid disaster. What if Sun Tianxiu and her family end up not leaving…"

Pang Yu opened his eyes. "Word of the roving bandits has already spread across the entire territory. They should have left by now."

Zhou Yueru furrowed her brow, pressed her lips together, and said nothing.

At that moment, someone outside the door said, "Reporting to the squad leader, the resettlement point at Official Silver Temple is full. Inside there are about fifty able-bodied young men. According to the plan, we can form one community soldier unit. Squad Leader Zhuang is there. He asks whether the squad leader can go first and give those people a talk."

"I can." Pang Yu rubbed his eyes and propped himself up. "Ready the horse first. I'll come at once."

A moment later, Pang Yu stepped out the door. Zhou Yueru followed him out as well.

This command post was right on Scarlet Blossom Gate Street. Dongzuo Gate and Nanxun Gate had already been sealed with brick and stone, so both the east side and the south side could only be entered or exited through Scarlet Blossom Gate.

Because Scarlet Blossom Gate lay within the city moat and had no bridge leading directly outside the moat, roving bandits attacking Scarlet Blossom Gate would first have to pass Nanxun Gate or Dongzuo Gate, then follow the city wall to Scarlet Blossom Gate. The entire route lay within the surveillance and attack range of the city wall. The Dongzuo Gate direction required crossing the Zilai Bridge, the sole passage; the Nanxun Gate direction required crossing the small bridge outside Zhidu Nunnery. Both were narrow, unavoidable choke points. It would be very difficult for roving bandits to launch a surprise assault on Scarlet Blossom Gate.

The street was bustling with people coming and going. Commoners carrying luggage kept entering through the city gate. Some had queued too long, their hearts gripped by fear the whole time, and the moment they entered the city they collapsed on the ground.

At the gateway, yin-yang students were registering the refugees entering the city. Those without relatives or friends to turn to were advised to head to a certain resettlement point. Most of these resettlement points were monasteries within the city; a few were residential compounds burned down during the civil unrest.

Many thick ropes hung down from the inner side of the city wall, hoisting up all kinds of supplies. Below the wall, some women were shouting toward the city wall, calling their men to receive things. The community soldiers had already assigned personnel to every arrow crenel, and the women had learned the positions too. Unable to get up onto the wall, they shouted from below.

Community soldiers in groups and columns were climbing onto the wall, their ranks noisy and chaotic. On the wall, the black-clad Zhuang Squad members shouted loudly, telling the community soldiers to quiet down, but the community soldiers paid them little heed. Below the wall, Jiang Shuqiong's voice was earth-shaking as she gesticulated, directing a crowd of cooks and women doing the cooking.

Amid the din, Pang Yu mounted his horse and set off for Official Silver Temple.

Zhou Yueru remained where she was for a moment, then slowly began walking toward Jiang Shuqiong. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped, turned around, and entered the gate passage. She squeezed out past the crowd waiting to enter the city outside the gate and headed in the direction of South Pond Neighborhood.