Chapter 128: Susong

On the third day of the second month, the Sweeping King's servant troops stepped onto the official road one after another. The tail of the column gradually receded into the distance on the road. About two hundred cavalry, holding torches, set the houses in the South Suburb ablaze one by one.

Some of the Community Soldiers on the wall had come into the city from the South Suburb. Seeing their own homes on fire, they all broke down in loud wails. After all the houses were burning, the cavalry regrouped and slowly departed, leaving the camp ground in complete disarray.

Yang Erming beside him let out a long breath. All the County Office officials were here today, along with a crowd of gentry and Village Elders. Outside the city lay a scene of desolation, the fields strewn with corpses left over from the past several days.

With the Roving Bandits now retreating, the crowd was no longer in mortal danger, but every face was filled with worry. The bandits had swept through like locusts, leaving only devastation in their wake. The common people of Tongcheng had grown up here; though they had kept their lives, they still had to consider how they would survive from now on.

The areas along the official road and around the County Office had suffered the worst damage. The thousand lights of homes outside the city were now ruins, and the losses in the surrounding villages were surely just as severe. After the refugees who had sheltered inside the city returned home, their first problem would be having no place to stay. Without shelter, there was no way to resume production.

What Pang Yu could foresee was that, with the massive loss of population and wealth, Tongcheng would inevitably face a long period of economic depression. His own gambling den included — business would be slack everywhere. The Roving Bandits had not looted much, but what they destroyed was the very foundation upon which society functioned.

Fortunately, the county seat had been held. Had they taken the county town, it would likely have taken decades to prosper again.

Yang Erming could not cheer up either. He asked Pang Yu, "Pang Squad Leader, what is the next step? Is the city defense now over?"

Mr. Sun immediately said, "Your Excellency should swiftly draft a document, submitting a Detailed Report to Anqing Prefecture on the great victory in defending the city. After that, let the villagers return home, and do not let them miss the spring plowing and the Spring Tax."

Yang Erming nodded, but his eyes still looked to Pang Yu. The surrounding gentry did the same. In this defense of the city, although the Zhuang Squad Pang Yu led was green, it had still been the pillar of stability for Tongcheng. The Fast Squad had also been quite effective in maintaining order within the city. Everyone had developed a sense of reliance on Pang Squad Leader.

"Your Excellency, do not be impatient. Although the Roving Bandits have left the county town, they have not left Tongcheng. The first priority is to dispatch mounted scouts to pursue and confirm that they have truly departed. Only then can we open the city gates. What is most urgent: the corpses outside the city have been lying there for days, and those in the river channels rot even faster. They should be buried and cleaned up as soon as possible. Otherwise, an epidemic will break out, and Tongcheng will suffer a second calamity."

The people around all nodded together. They had all heard of epidemics, but none took it as seriously as Pang Yu. When Pang Yu studied economic history, he had learned of the devastating blows several great plagues dealt to the world. The period after a war was precisely when epidemics were most likely to break out. If this demon was not prevented, it could be even more savage than the Roving Bandits.

"After that, your subordinate suggests posting notices, telling the scattered commoners to return home. The County Office should petition the imperial court to reduce or waive this year's Grain Tax, raise funds for Comfort Compensation for the Community Soldiers and constables killed or wounded defending the city, and help the people rebuild their homes. Only with shelter can they farm and restart their livelihoods. This matter requires the joint effort of the government office and the gentry. Otherwise, I fear it will drag on for a long time."

The gentry now wore various expressions. With the Roving Bandits gone, the threat they faced had vanished. Moreover, each family had originally owned shops and villas outside the city. They had contributed Rations and Pay for the city defense and their losses were not small. To be asked for money again now was not something they would accept so readily.

Pang Yu did not look at them either. He turned directly to Yang Erming with a solemn expression and said, "There is one final matter, and it is also the most critical."

Yang Erming immediately said, "Pang Squad Leader, please speak."

"Please, Your Excellency, petition the Yingtian Grand Coordinator, Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhang, to establish a Ying and drill troops in Tongcheng."

A murmur of discussion broke out on the city wall. Wang Wenyao hesitated and said, "Everything said before is reasonable, but regarding the matter of requesting troops, I fear that in the end, we will suffer a soldier calamity on top of the bandit calamity..."

"Mr. Wang need not worry. What I mean is to recruit the sons of Tongcheng to drill troops, stationed to defend Tongcheng."

Mr. Sun stared at the ground and spoke, "Then where will the Rations and Pay come from?"

"We will discuss this matter later," Yang Erming waved his hand, turned around to look at the thick smoke outside the city, closed his eyes, and sighed. "The bandit disaster was brutal. The Roving Bandits have gone south. The various counties have no city walls. I wonder if they have evacuated their commoners."

……

In Taihu County, Anqing Prefecture, the County Front Street of Taihu bustled with people coming and going, a scene of perfect peace. There was no sign whatsoever of a threat from the Roving Bandits.

Jiang Fan sat in a tea shop across from the County Office, with two mounted scouts he had found beside him. At the time, Pang Yu had considered Qianjiang the main threat direction and had sent out nine mounted scouts in total, some to Qianjiang and Taihu, and some to Susong, because they also had to guard against the Roving Bandits coming from Huguang.

On this trip, Jiang Fan had already gathered five men. One group each in Taihu and Susong had yet to be found, so Jiang Fan stayed in Taihu. Fortunately, when Pang Yu sent them out, he had inquired beforehand and designated specific inns for them to stay at. Jiang Fan thus waited at the inn, but those two men had never returned. He did not know if they had gone to Yingshan.

For the past Two Days, Jiang Fan had been drinking tea at this tea shop near the inn, waiting for those two to return.

"Team Leader, if we can't find the other two, just let it be. Perhaps they've already gone to Anqing Prefecture."

"I came out here to find my mounted scout brothers. If I don't find them, how will I explain it when the Squad Leader asks upon my return?" Jiang Fan picked up his tea bowl and took a sip. "With Xu Da'er and the others keeping watch at the Qianjiang County Boundary, if the Roving Bandits come, they will naturally come and inform us."

The speaking mounted scout asked worriedly, "Then what if they suddenly come like they did in Luzhou?"

"In Luzhou, I was outside the city. When the bandits laid siege, naturally I couldn't escape. On the way fleeing all the way back from Luzhou, I encountered the bandits besieging Lujiang again. But because of that, I also discovered one thing."

The mounted scout asked curiously, "What did the Team Leader discover?"

"Their light cavalry generally does not leave the camp ground beyond thirty or forty li." Jiang Fan put down his tea bowl. "So I had Xu Da'er and the others keep watch at the Qianjiang County Boundary. If the bandits besiege Qianjiang, they can at most cut off an area of forty li. Beyond forty li, someone will always manage to escape. Xu Da'er and the others will naturally get the news."

The two mounted scouts looked at each other, their faces still full of worry. Jiang Fan turned his head to look at the street. The pedestrians all had relaxed expressions, and the shops were doing brisk business. In front of the County Office across the way, there were a few people in Standing Cages, most likely those who owed the grain tax in kind portion of the autumn grain. That should have been paid in full before the Spring Festival. It was not good to arrest people during the festival, so bringing them in for Tax Grain Comparison after the festival was only to be expected.

"When I left, the Roving Bandits were still at Lujiang. I don't know if they returned to Henan from Shucheng or came toward Tongcheng." Jiang Fan frowned and said, "Luzhou is two hundred li from Tongcheng. Pang Squad Leader received the news in just a few days. If the Roving Bandits really attacked Tongcheng, Taihu should have received the news by now too. Seeing how completely unalarmed they are, the bandits might have already gone back to Henan."

Only then did the two mounted scouts breathe a sigh of relief. Each picked up his tea bowl and took a sip. One of them said, "Yesterday, there were also rumors in the Taihu market that the Roving Bandits were coming toward Taihu, but the people in the county heard it and didn't believe it. Because last year, there were two alerts, and both turned out to be false alarms. Those who fled the city that day were mocked when they returned."

"No wonder." Jiang Fan patted the table. "It's still better for us to be prepared. In a moment, go check on that boatman again. The deposit can't be too much, nor too little. We must keep him waiting for us at all times. In case the bandits come too fast, we can still take the water route."

"I understand." The mounted scout responded, feeling a bit more assured in his heart. This was because the location of Taihu County Town was situated between two rivers. Not far outside the county town was Xi Lake. The Malu River was one li west of the city. During the Wanli era, due to rising water, the river channel shifted to the City East. The two river channels sandwiched the county town, with water on all four sides, relying entirely on bridges for contact with the outside.

If the Roving Bandits came too swiftly and cut off the bridges, Jiang Fan and his men would have difficulty escaping. So they had also engaged a boatman. The water volume of the Malu River had greatly decreased, but boats could still travel on it at this time. Even if the bandits cut off the main road to Fengxiang Courier Station, as long as they had a boat to cross the river, they could choose their landing point, greatly increasing their chances of saving their lives.

The mounted scout drank some water and prepared to set out. Just as he stood up and looked across the way, a look of surprise appeared on his face.

Jiang Fan turned his head to look. It was actually Xu Da'er on the street, anxiously looking around, clearly searching for them.

The few of them quickly called out to him. Xu Da'er hurried in, sat down drenched in sweat, and without pausing to rest, said in a low voice, "The Roving Bandits have reached Qianshan!"

Jiang Fan urgently asked, "Which way did they come from? Is there any news of Tongcheng?"

Xu Da'er shook his head. "I did as you said, Team Leader, and kept watch at the County Boundary. Two days ago, people came fleeing, saying there were Roving Bandits killing people along the official road, dressed in red and on horseback."

Jiang Fan drew a sharp breath and asked, "How many people came fleeing?"

"At least over ten people. I questioned them one by one. Three of them definitely saw it."

"Then that must be it." Jiang Fan pondered for a moment and said, "The Bandit Cavalry is extremely fast. We cannot delay. The three of you, take the horses immediately and head to Wangjiang. Hire a boat there and just live on the boat. If the bandits reach Wangjiang, abandon the horses. You take the boat across the river. Wait until the bandits retreat before returning to Jiangbei."

The three mounted scouts looked at each other, and then Xu Da'er asked Jiang Fan, "Then where are you going, Team Leader?"

"I must go to Susong immediately. Liu Mazi is still in Susong waiting for those two. I have to go and take him away." Jiang Fan rubbed his chin for a moment. "And while I'm at it, inform the Susong County Office so they can evacuate the commoners early."

One of the mounted scouts, who had spent more time scouting in Susong, said to Jiang Fan, "Team Leader, you can also take a boat across the river at Susong. Since the Roving Bandits are coming from the direction of Tongcheng, Susong should have news by now. Ever since Yang Fangzao left this place, no new County Magistrate has taken office. The current Acting Hall Officer is Chen Ten Prefectures, the Tongpan of Anqing. He's an Assistant Official from Anqing. If there's any news, he has trusted confidants in Anqing, so he would definitely know first thing."

"Even better." Jiang Fan stood up. "That saves us the breath."

On the fifth day of the second month, Jiang Fan, dressed in a Constable Uniform, stood dumbfounded on Susong's County Front Street.

He had just arrived in Susong today and did not find Liu Mazi at the inn. The innkeeper said he had already checked out and left, without leaving word of where he had gone.

What surprised him was that Susong was even more relaxed than Taihu. There was not a single person even discussing the Roving Bandits. The entire county town was exactly the same as usual. All shops were operating normally. Merchant boats came and went at the Wharf outside the city. The commoners were all busy with their own affairs. In front of the County Office, it was also completely calm.

And Susong did not even have a City Wall. Facing the Roving Bandits, it could be said to have no power to resist at all. He truly could not understand how the entire city's populace could face the Roving Bandits with such composure. The only explanation was that Susong had not received any warning at all.

After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Fan lifted his foot and walked toward the County Office. The other three mounted scouts knew he had come to Susong. If he did not deliver the news to the County Office here, it would likely be hard to explain upon his return.

The Auxiliary at the gate looked at him with a puzzled expression. This constable looked unfamiliar; he wondered if he was new.

The layout of County Offices everywhere was largely the same. Jiang Fan went directly into the Main Hall, found the Document Receiving Office, and directly requested an audience with the Acting Magistrate, Chen Ten Prefectures.

When he set out, the Tongcheng County Office had given him an Official Dispatch to prove his identity. When he submitted the dispatch, fearing the Document Receiving Office would delay, he specifically added the phrase "reporting bandit intelligence."

In the end, he waited in the Document Receiving Office for a full half a shichen. Jiang Fan waited until his anger flared. Just as he was about to leave, the clerical official of the Document Receiving Office finally directed him to the Advisor's room on the left side of the hall.

The Advisor leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, not even glancing at Jiang Fan, and spoke faintly, "The Tongcheng County yamen's dispatch said nothing at all. What exactly is it you've come seeking an audience for?"

Jiang Fan laid out the matter. The Advisor actually gave a lazy yawn and said, "Last year, someone from Qianjiang came saying the same thing. In the end, not a single roving bandit was seen. Today, you come running from Tongcheng, claiming you saw bandits in Qianshan. Qianshan itself hasn't come to report it — on what grounds do you expect this old man to believe you?"

Jiang Fan was taken aback, but still politely said, "This humble one personally witnessed roving bandits besieging Luzhou. My subordinate saw commoners fleeing for their lives at the Qianshan County Boundary..."

At this, the Advisor opened his eyes, sat up straight, and asked with a stern face, "You say you personally saw roving bandits coming this way?"

"This humble one saw it with his own eyes in Luzhou. Afterward, the roving bandits laid siege to Lujiang, and now they have already reached Qianshan — only a hundred li from Susong. If we do not prepare now, I fear it will be too late."

The Advisor stood up, frowned, and paced two circles. Stopping, he said to Jiang Fan, "This is a matter of grave importance. Come with me to see His Excellency. But this affair must not be divulged to others, lest it cause panic among the common folk. Did any other companions come with you? They may come along to see him as well, so it can be explained more clearly."

Jiang Fan let out a breath of relief and said, "This humble one parted ways with them at Taihu. Only I came here. One person can explain it clearly enough."

The Advisor nodded. "Then come with me."

He led Jiang Fan into the Second Hall, but instead of heading toward the County Magistrate's residence in the rear, he turned right and entered a covered corridor.

Jiang Fan asked, puzzled, "Does the Prefectural Judge not reside in the rear compound?"

"His Excellency Chen is serving as Acting Magistrate. He has no family with him here, and said that since he is alone, he would not take up someone else's large residence. He stays in the Guesthouse."

Jiang Fan gave an "Oh" and followed the Advisor around two turns. The Advisor entered a room with a single-panel gate leaf ahead of him and gestured for Jiang Fan to come inside.

Jiang Fan followed him in. The room was completely empty. He looked at the Advisor in surprise and was just about to ask a question when suddenly a rope flashed before his eyes. In an instant, it had pulled tight around Jiang Fan's neck.