Chapter 108: Scout Cavalry

"Ah—choo!"

On the ridge between fields in South Pond Neighborhood, Zhou Yueru sneezed and pulled her clothes tighter.

Though spring had already begun, the air was still sharp with lingering cold, seemingly a bit harsher than in years past. Farmers still busied themselves in the surrounding fields, as if the approaching Roving Bandits had not affected their lives at all.

"Why are so many people still here?" Zhou Yueru suppressed the question in her heart, identified the road, and headed toward the Sun family home.

Passing through the village was quiet; she saw hardly anyone, and the front doors of many homes were tightly shut. When she reached the middle of the village, several dogs burst out and barked furiously at Zhou Yueru. She picked up a long branch from the roadside and held it to bolster her courage, walking cautiously along the courtyard walls. An old woman came out from beside her and shooed the dogs away for a stretch, allowing Zhou Yueru to break through the Chinese Rural Dog blockade. The barking had not yet subsided when Zhou Yueru found Sun Tianxiu's house.

Seeing the Sun family's courtyard gate, Zhou Yueru breathed a sigh of relief. Though she had only been here once, the scene of that small courtyard seemed to have always stayed in her heart.

The gate leaf in front of the courtyard had been replaced. Though still made of branches, it was bound neatly and properly, far better than the ragged mess it had been before. On the right gate leaf, a small bundle of wildflowers was tied, swaying gently in the breeze.

The courtyard was very quiet. Bundles of rice straw were tied neatly to the grass trees, looking from a distance like a thatched hut. Beneath the grass trees were a few chickens and ducks, and some droppings on the ground. In front of the main house door, a hen was clucking away, as if she had just laid an egg. Someone was speaking inside the house — a woman's voice.

Zhou Yueru called toward the house, "Sun Tianxiu."

Someone answered immediately from within. Sun Tianxiu's small figure appeared at the door, her face full of exhaustion. The moment she saw Zhou Yueru, a sweet smile broke out on her face.

Sun Tianxiu ran over in big strides, stopped in front of Zhou Yueru, tugged at the hem of her clothes, and called out, "Sister Zhou."

"Why aren't you wearing shoes again? Come, let Sister have a look at you." Zhou Yueru crouched down and looked her over from head to toe, stroking her hair affectionately. Sun Tianxiu had tied her hair into a braid with red string — far prettier than the filthy, explosive afro she'd had when they first met.

Sun Tianxiu looked at Zhou Yueru with bright eyes. "They say the Roving Bandits are coming. Why is Sister still going out?"

"Sister was worried about you, so I came to bring you into the city."

Sun Tianxiu's eyes dropped to the ground as she shook her head. "I'm not going into the city."

"Then you can go up the mountain. Just don't stay at home."

"I have to stay at home."

Zhou Yueru asked anxiously, "Why?"

Sun Tianxiu clutched the hem of her clothes and said nothing. Zhou Yueru tilted her head to look, and saw large teardrops streaming from Sun Tianxiu's eyes.

"What's the matter?"

"Father is coughing up so much blood. The doctor says it may only be a matter of days." Sun Tianxiu wiped her tears and said between sobs, "He can't get out of bed. The slightest movement makes him cough up blood. He can't go anywhere."

"But you still can't stay at home. What if the Roving Bandits come…" Zhou Yueru began to weep as she spoke.

"My uncle already took my little brother away into the mountains. Father says if he's to die, he'll die at home, so his soul can return to its place. Father can't be left without someone to tend to him. I have to stay with Father." Sun Tianxiu dried her tears and stopped sobbing. She reached out and wiped the tears from Zhou Yueru's face. "Mother said to remember kindness. The kindness of one's parents is the greatest. Uncle's kindness and Sister Zhou's kindness are also great. I'll repay them slowly, in time."

For a moment, Zhou Yueru could not speak. Just as she was about to persuade her further, the sound of retching came from inside. Sun Tianxiu turned and dashed back into the house. With a creak, the front door was shut tight, and the bolt was drawn.

Zhou Yueru went up and pounded on the door.

"Sister Zhou, hurry back to the city." Sun Tianxiu's voice came from behind the door. "Our family has only these bits of furniture. If the Roving Bandits come and want things, let them take them. Plenty of people in the village haven't left either."

"How about Sister finds someone to carry your father into the city?" Zhou Yueru beat on the door, but there was no further response from within.

Zhou Yueru stood frozen before the door for a moment, then slowly turned and walked back the way she had come.

……

On the Official Road northeast of Tongcheng, common folk streamed in an endless line. Possessions on oxcarts were piled into small mountains, and those on foot carried huge bundles of luggage on their backs, all fleeing toward Tongcheng.

On a hill beside the road, two figures sat among the wild grass at the top of the slope. Beside them stood a long iron tube on a handle, pointed in the direction of Tongcheng. Both men were barefoot, wearing short jackets with short cotton-padded coats over them, their faces rough-skinned.

Both were villagers from Zhang Family Village beside the Official Road and knew the local terrain well. The county office paid them two mace of silver a day to keep watch by the Official Road and fire the cannon if they saw Roving Bandits approaching.

"Say, Old Zhou, if the Roving Bandits come and we fire this cannon — all that noise and smoke — they'll know for sure we're up here. Have you scouted out an escape route?"

"I've looked. Just follow me when we run. Down the slope and make for the field embankments."

"Field my ass, the water's all been drained."

"There'll still be field ridges. I don't believe Roving Bandit horses can outrun us on field ridges."

"Those are northern horses. What if they can run on field ridges?"

"Pang Squad Leader said it himself — Roving Bandit horses are only so high, about the same as the ones around here. They're bound to tumble if they run on field ridges."

"But the Roving Bandits have legs too. Who's to say they can't run fast even without horses?"

"They ride horses every day, so they're all bowlegged. They can't open their stride when they run. Look at Zhang Mazi — he got that way from riding an ox, and he can't run fast."

"So what do Roving Bandits actually look like?"

"Who cares what they look like? The order says fire the cannon if you see a large mounted group. Hey, riders coming."

The sound of hoofbeats came from the Official Road. Riders were approaching from the Lujiang direction. The common folk on the road panicked and fled to the roadside.

"Fire the cannon! Fire it! Quick, strike the tinder pouch!"

"Wait, it's only six men. Hey, look, those are government soldier uniforms."

The two craned their necks to look. Sure enough, among the six riders were the red padded coats of government troops. Their homes were right by the road, and they often saw official courier riders, many dressed exactly like this. The six men paid no attention to the common folk and rode straight toward Tongcheng. Seeing there was no danger, the common folk all returned to the road.

"So do we fire or not?"

"Don't fire, don't fire. No one up ahead fired. Six men isn't a large group. They're definitely courier soldiers."

The two stopped what they were doing and watched the six riders depart. They resumed their chatter. No more riders passed on the Official Road below the hill, but every so often a horse-drawn cart rolled by, interspersed among the fleeing common folk. Dozens of carts in succession drew no attention from the two men whatsoever. These carts passed the foot of the hill where the two were posted and streamed steadily toward Tongcheng.

The six riders galloped along as if no one else were present, pedestrians on the road scrambling out of their way in alarm. Half a quarter-hour later, they arrived outside Tongcheng. The shops outside the city were all shuttered, presenting a desolate scene.

There were many fleeing common folk ahead, and Purple Come Bridge was extremely crowded. The six slowed their pace and stopped beyond the crowd. On the bridge ahead were some bailiffs holding swords and polearms. Rough wooden barricades were set up at both ends of the bridge, leaving only a single gap for people to pass through. Several bailiffs stood in the middle of the bridge, searching the common folk entering and checking their accents. Only those who passed inspection could cross.

Hearing the hoofbeats, the common folk parted to make way for them. The six riders arrived before the barricade, where several black-uniformed bailiffs with the character "Militia" embroidered on their sleeves stood guard behind it.

The rider in the center shouted, "We are scouts of the Ministry of War. We must enter the city to deliver military intelligence. Make way at once."

The bailiffs were stunned. The highest official they had ever seen was the County Magistrate. Hearing the words "Ministry of War" so suddenly terrified them all. The men also had fierce, aggressive faces. The bailiffs dared not delay and hurriedly moved the barricade aside, letting the six riders pass through.

After the six crossed the bridge, the lead rider said to the bailiffs, "Do not block the road. We will return shortly. Any delay will cost you your miserable lives."

The bailiffs answered obsequiously. The lead rider looked back and saw that Dongzuo Gate was closed, so he turned along Purple Come Street and headed toward Sunward Gate. He surveyed the City Wall as he rode. On the parapet stretched an unbroken line of Hanging Curtains, interspersed with many wooden frames and High Lamps, and among the gaps, shadows of people moved in throngs.

They soon reached Sunward Gate. Because common folk were still continuously fleeing here, the city gate remained open. Many people waiting to be inspected stood at the entrance, and some bailiffs were nearby. Seeing the riders approach, one of them extended a Short Spear to block their way.

"We are Ministry of War Scout Cavalry. We must report military intelligence to Anqing Prefecture. Clear the road at once. We need to enter the city and change horses."

The accent was thickly northern. That bailiff, too, was intimidated by the name of the Ministry of War and dared not question the men. He quickly replied, "This lowly one must first report to His Honor."

The rider who had spoken leaned forward and brought his horsewhip cracking down on the bailiff's head. The surrounding common folk cried out in alarm. Caught off guard, the bailiff raised his arm to block, but the whip curled around his arm and still lashed across his face with a sharp crack, instantly raising a bloody welt.

The yamen runner screamed, clutching his face, and crouched on the ground in pain. The surrounding commoners hastily backed away, clearing a path to the city gate. Soldiers had always given people this sort of impression — hitting someone with a whip was considered mild — and no one dared provoke them.

Who knew that from behind came a shout, and a group of yamen runners wielding waist sabers and short spears rushed forward, completely surrounding the six men. The riders' mounts, perhaps sensing danger, pawed restlessly in place; the men had to keep reining them in just to hold position.

A brawny yamen runner at the front strode over and cursed, "Where the hell did you grunts come from? Tongcheng is not a place for you to run wild."

The rider who had struck the man pointed his whip at him and cursed back, "Dog runner, if you delay military intelligence, can you bear the consequences?"

"Dog soldier! I can bear anything! What of it if I hit you!" The brawny yamen runner finished cursing, grabbed a shao bang, and was about to strike, but a runner beside him hurriedly held him back.

"Ministry of War men — Constable Yao, you can't hit them!"

The brawny man struggled, and another runner beside him grabbed hold. The scene descended into chaos. Two of the riders drew their swords and watched the surrounding runners warily.

The man in the middle of the rider group shouted his companions down, dismounted, and helped up the runner who had been struck on the ground.

He addressed the runner and the brawny man politely, "My apologies to you two constable brothers. We truly must report military intelligence to Anqing Prefecture, and our haste got the better of us. I beg your forgiveness for any offense."

Seeing this soldier was amiable, someone among the crowd mustered the courage to ask, "Sirs, do you know where the Roving Bandits have gone?"

The amiable rider remained courteous. "Everyone need not worry. Troops from Nanjing have crossed the river and joined forces with the Fengyang Governor. After breaching Lujiang, the bandits dared not linger and have already moved toward Shucheng and Lu'an Prefecture."

The commoners immediately burst into cheers. Some could no longer contain themselves and went off to discuss returning home with friends and relatives.

The rider continued, "We are on our way to Anqing to report to Army Defense Circuit Wang and request that he dispatch troops to pursue the Roving Bandits. We must pin the bandits down in Lu'an Prefecture until the main army arrives to annihilate them."

The commoners cheered one after another. Some even took dry rations from their bundles and shared them with the riders. The rider who had struck the man also sheathed his sword and repeatedly thanked the commoners.

The brawny man still nursed his grievance and said to them angrily, "That still doesn't give you the right to hit people. You think the Tongcheng Zhuang Squad is so easy to strike!"

"Please understand, Constable. Military intelligence is urgent as fire — we dare not delay." The lead rider glanced at the gate arch. Inside the gate on the main street, there were more yamen runners, as well as many commoners holding short spears — a scene of blades and drawn swords.

He turned back to the crowd at the gate and said, "We need to enter the city to change horses, rest briefly, then head to Anqing to deliver our message. Who here can make that decision?"

The runner replied, "Changing horses requires His Honor His Honor's approval. You gentlemen may enter the city first and wait; we can discuss it once His Honor is found."

"Then I must trouble you, Constable, to go find him. The city is in chaos; we will wait right here." The rider cupped his hands in salute, then said to those around him, "Everyone can go home now. We saw it with our own eyes — the main Roving Bandit force moved north long ago. In this cold weather, don't go rushing about everywhere. Better to be at home."

Several commoners holding short spears shouted, "Quickly, send someone to report to His Honor! No one needs to defend the city anymore!"

The surrounding commoners discussed the matter in high spirits. Some had already picked up their luggage and were heading out of the city, preparing to return home.

The news spread inward from the city gate, and cheers rang out now and then around Xiangyang Gate.

The surrounding yamen runners all put away their blades and spears. The brawny runner spat in the riders' direction and headed inside the city gate.

The riders did not argue with the brawny runner. They all dismounted, ate some dry rations on the spot, and during the lulls kept surveying their surroundings.

Suddenly a voice behind the riders said, "You claim to be Ministry of War Scout Cavalry — do you have Ministry of War verification papers?"

The men turned to look and saw a mild-mannered yamen runner in a constable uniform standing behind them. His head was bare of any hat and wrapped in layers of white cloth stained with blood. Behind him followed several runners carrying waist sabers.

The scout who had struck the man cursed, "What standing do you have to inspect our verification papers?"

"I am He Xianya of the Tongcheng Fast Squad. By His Honor's order, I am patrolling Xiangyang Gate and Zilai Street. I have not heard of any Ministry of War verification papers being issued to Tongcheng."

The lead rider raised a hand to restrain his companion again, then unhurriedly drew a document from inside his robes and handed it over.

He Xianya reached out and took it, examining it carefully. The seals were all complete. The heading on the right read: "Ministry of War, on urgent official business: It is hereby decreed to all yamens in Henan that Capital Battalion Mobile Corps Commander Tang Guanghong and Bazong Liu Suoneng, Deputy, are ordered to reconnoiter bandit conditions. This matter is of critical importance and must be conveyed by immediate mounted dispatch. For this purpose, this service ticket is issued to relay stations, counties, and prefectures along the route…"

"The verification papers only specify yamens in Henan. Tongcheng is under the jurisdiction of Nanzhili. How can you gentlemen use Henan verification papers to requisition Tongcheng's horses?"

The lead rider smiled faintly and took back the papers. "These verification papers were originally for use in Henan, but the Roving Bandits have already entered Nanzhili, so we can only act as circumstances permit. If Tongcheng refuses to lend horses and thereby allows the Roving Bandits to escape, that would be delaying military operations. I fear none of you could bear that responsibility."

He Xianya was also uncertain. He stared at the man for a moment, then returned to the gate arch and said to the fuming Yao Dongshan, "Keep an eye on those men. I'll go report to the squad leader."

Beside the two of them, the commoners were buzzing with discussion. The news that the Roving Bandits had already withdrawn was spreading through the city. (Note 1)

……

"The Roving Bandits have gone north?" Pang Yu looked at He Xianya from atop the Bell Tower and asked in surprise, "Where are these Ministry of War Scout Cavalry?"

"Still at Xiangyang Gate. They have verification documents in hand." He Xianya finished speaking and stole a glance at Pang Yu. "But I cannot tell if they are genuine, as I have never seen Ministry of War verification papers before."

Pang Yu was on the top floor of the Bell Tower, surrounded by several flag bearers. Today he was here coordinating flag signals with every gate across the city.

After listening, he dismissed the flag bearers downstairs, paced two circles, and asked He Xianya, "Since yesterday, our mounted couriers have been unable to cross the Lujiang County Boundary. Of the three mounted couriers sent out today, not one has returned. We have absolutely no idea what the situation in Lujiang truly is."

He Xianya said in a low voice, "Is the squad leader saying they are impostors?"

Pang Yu shook his head. "I wouldn't dare say for certain. But I have a habit — with anything, I first consider whether it might be fake. Since we cannot get through to Lujiang, how did they get here?"

"Could it be that the Roving Bandits have already left Lujiang, so the Official Road is clear again?"

Pang Yu nodded. "That is possible. But Anqing Prefecture has no troops. The Roving Bandits march at least fifty or sixty li a day. Lujiang is two to three hundred li from Anqing. If these scouts have been in Henan for a long time, they would know that even if Anqing had troops, it would be impossible to catch up to the Roving Bandits. If the Fengyang Governor truly is bringing troops up from behind, then the Ministry of War Scout Cavalry should be contacting the Fengyang Governor instead. They don't track the Roving Bandits' movements, yet they bypass the near for the far and head to Anqing — isn't that suspicious?"

He Xianya's expression changed slightly. If Pang Yu's analysis was correct, then those six men were the Roving Bandits' vanguard.

He murmured, "Then right now they are still waiting at Xiangyang Gate…"

The two exchanged a look for a moment. Pang Yu suddenly said, "Go back immediately! Seize those six men and shut Xiangyang Gate!"

"What about those commoners outside the gate?"

"Ignore them! Take my horse and go, now!"

He Xianya turned and left, practically leaping down the Bell Tower stairs.

Pang Yu jumped to the next floor and roared at the waiting flag bearers, "East-side flag bearer, go up! Wave the Red Banner toward Xiangyang Gate! Bell Tower, sound the bell!"

Before the flag bearer could even begin waving, Pang Yu was already racing downstairs. The Bell Tower happened to be directly opposite the county yamen. Pang Yu sprinted inside. In the Fast Squad Room and the Yamen Runner Room, there was one squadron of the Zhuang Squad, which according to the plan was to serve as the city's reserve force.

Zhou County Deputy was at the entrance. Seeing Pang Yu dashing toward him, he raised a sleeve, preparing to speak. But Pang Yu acted as if he hadn't seen him, flashing past him in an instant. The moment he entered the main gate, he roared, "First Squadron, with me!"

Zhuang Chaozheng had been sitting inside the room. Hearing this, he hurriedly stood and said, "First Squadron, fall in."

"No falling in! Grab blades and spears and run with me — to Xiangyang Gate!"

Pang Yu finished roaring, turned, and headed back toward County Front Street at a run. Zhuang Chaozheng and the others were momentarily stunned, then shouted in response. Thirty-five guards swarmed out of the duty rooms on both sides of the corridor, and the whole group sprinted toward Xiangyang Gate.

"Clang!" The clear, resonant sound of the bell rang out from the Bell Tower at just the right moment, carrying across the entire city.

……

Note 1: The Roving Bandits possessed an extremely strong capacity for espionage and were skilled at forging documents, using official papers to trick their way into opening city gates. During the assault on Hezhou, they sent men disguised as Ministry of War scouts into the city to change horses, telling the city defenders that the Roving Bandits were still in Henan, lulling the defenders into relaxing their vigilance — when in fact the main army was already within two days' march.