Chapter 137: The Remnant Camp

In the early morning, over seventy Guards stood solemnly in the East Garden of the Ye Family Old Residence. The wounded Yao Dongshan stood in the front row, the injury on his face not yet fully healed and still wrapped in cotton cloth.

During the city defense battle, the Zhuang Squad had seventy-three killed in action. Three of the severely wounded later succumbed to their injuries one after another, bringing the total loss to seventy-six. Of the twenty-one missing, seven eventually made their way back to the unit; all had scattered into the mountains during the night raid.

The bulk of the Zhuang Squad's losses occurred during the night raid. The camp howl swallowed not only the Roving Bandits but also a great number of Guards. Because they could not control the battlefield, those wounded and unable to move were ultimately killed by the Roving Bandits.

Thus, among the Zhuang Squad's casualties, the number of severely wounded was very small. The three severe cases had all been struck in the face by arrows atop the wall; two of them were shot through the eyes and ultimately died from wound infections.

After the Roving Bandits withdrew, thirty-four men requested to return home. Pang Yu did not stop them. In the end, twenty-four left. Over ten more were injured and could not participate in training. Adding in the former Auxiliaries, what remained now were these seventy-odd Guards.

On the high platform, Pang Yu quietly surveyed the black-clad ranks below. Though they still stood in silence as before, the ranks now carried a somber, lethal air. Yet within that somber lethality, Pang Yu could still sense a dip in morale. This stemmed mainly from the twenty-four who had left. Because some were allowed to leave, every Guard had, in fact, considered the option of leaving. Unconsciously, this fractured the collective consciousness.

"Today, seven former comrades departed. I issued them their Monthly Pay up to the end of the city defense. This is the final batch. In total, twenty-four have left voluntarily."

The Guards below all raised their heads to look at him. After sweeping his gaze across them, Pang Yu continued, "According to the rules when they first entered the camp, this Monthly Pay should not have been given. But this Ben Squad Leader gave it — not to encourage the act of leaving, but as recognition of their contribution in the city defense battle. Every Guard standing here, it was you who kept tens of thousands of Roving Bandits beyond the City Wall, preserving every living soul in Tongcheng. You are all warriors of Tongcheng."

The Guards below the platform unconsciously straightened their chests. Ever since the city defense battle, the Zhuang Squad had been greeted with cheers and salutes from the common folk during every daily drill — a respect these sons of farming families had never experienced in the city.

"Those who left today mostly dwell in villages far from the Official Road, untouched by this calamity. They thought of returning home to escape disaster, believing that going home meant leaving the chaotic world behind. This Ben Squad Leader declares here and now: if everyone does the same, the Roving Bandits will one day reach their villages. When that day comes, they will have nothing left but regret beneath the butcher's blade — regret that they did not stay with the Tongcheng Zhuang Squad that dealt the Roving Bandits a crushing blow."

Pang Yu took two slow steps on the platform, his eyes looking at the Guards one by one.

"The realm is in chaos; homes and lands cannot be protected. Cowards await death at home; warriors march toward death to live. This is an era for true men. Merit, fame, and fortune are seized on horseback. The Zhuang Squad will not always be the Tongcheng Zhuang Squad, and you will not always be mere Guards. Among the families of those who left, some said the northern Roving Bandits are fierce and tough, while the people of Nanzhili are soft and gentle, incapable of producing a strong army, no match for the Roving Bandits. This Ben Squad Leader says: on this land of Lianghuai, there has been the Northern Garrison Army, the Yue Family Army, and the Huai Army. Your forebears were once mighty soldiers. This land is a place that produces strong troops."

Pang Yu had dredged up a few powerful armies from his pitiful historical knowledge. Historically, Lianghuai indeed produced strong armies generation after generation. The Northern Garrison Army shook the ages at the Battle of Fei River. But the folk customs of Lianghuai at that time were highly martial, quite different from Nanzhili in the Ming dynasty.

But Pang Yu ignored all that. He even hauled out the later Huai Army — something he only knew from a book about Li Hongzhang's emotional intelligence, vaguely recalling that the Huai Army came from the vicinity of Luzhou, though whether that included Tongcheng he had no idea. As for whether the Yue Family Army was mainly composed of sons of Lianghuai, Pang Yu was not very clear either; he just roughly guessed that the Southern Song borders probably lay around this stretch, so there must have been at least some Huai soldiers.

Yet no one below refuted Pang Yu, because this bunch of farming sons had at most heard of the Yue Family Army while listening to storytelling. How could they know anything about the Northern Garrison Army or the Huai Army? Pang Yu's tone, brooking no doubt, made their blood boil with belief that Nanzhili could certainly produce a strong army — after all, the Zhuang Squad still carried the confidence of their victory in the city defense.

"Today, the Zhuang Squad has seventy men left. Tomorrow, recruitment must resume. Some have left, but true men will come. Before long, the Tongcheng Zhuang Squad will again be one hundred and ninety-two men, and later, even more — men of one heart with us. This Ben Squad Leader can also guarantee that every one of you here will have a great future."

As Pang Yu finished speaking, the low spirits below were swept clean away. In the city defense battle, Pang Yu had already built sufficient prestige. Coupled with the miracles of his Spirit Awakening and reviving the dead, he was practically half an immortal in Tongcheng. Many believed he had obtained the divine powers of the Stick God. Thus, the Zhuang Squad believed his words without a shred of doubt, as if a broad, smooth road had already been laid out before them.

Pang Yu raised his head and looked at all the Guards. "All of you have been through the city defense battle. You should know the Roving Bandits are fierce and evil, numbering in the tens of thousands. If you wish to survive on the battlefield, you must train meticulously every day according to this Ben Squad Leader's demands. Yao Dongshan!"

"Subordinate present!" Yao Dongshan stepped forward and answered loudly.

"This Ben Squad Leader will soon travel to Jiangnan to attend to matters for our Zhuang Squad. Until this Ben Squad Leader returns, the training of the Zhuang Squad is to be supervised by you. The plan remains exactly as before — not the slightest slackening. When this Ben Squad Leader returns, I want to see a stronger Zhuang Squad."

Yao Dongshan did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Subordinate accepts the order!"

"Wang Zenglu!"

"Subordinate present."

"The camp area sentry duty and security are to be arranged by you. From this day forward, no idle or miscellaneous persons are permitted to enter the garden. Anyone with business may only wait in the gatehouse."

"Yes. Subordinate has a question."

"Speak!"

"The Bangyong of Bai Shun Tang also reside within the garden. How should this lowly one deal with them?"

"Seal off the gate to their small courtyard. Open another door on the outer wall so they cannot pass through the garden interior. You will handle this matter."

Wang Zenglu bowed and stepped back.

Pang Yu again spoke loudly, "Zhuang Chaozheng!"

Zhuang Chaozheng had been glancing sidelong at Wang Zenglu. Suddenly hearing his own name, he hurriedly stepped forward. "Subordinate present."

"If newly recruited Guards enter the camp, you will lead their training. Train them exactly as I trained you back then — not the slightest slackening."

"This lowly one understands. But where will the new recruits be recruited from?"

Pang Yu waved his hand. "That is someone else's affair. This Ben Squad Leader has his own arrangements. You are only responsible for receiving the new recruits."

"Then this lowly one has no further questions."

"Dismissed!"

……

Pang Yu left the old residence and followed Doujia Bridge Street southward. Not far ahead was Bai Shun Tang.

The street was desolate. After the Roving Bandits passed through, the population of Guanxiang had plummeted. North-south trade and travel were completely cut off, eliminating both demand and supply. Every trade in the city languished. The coffin shops, which had been booming earlier, now found their doors deserted after the peak had passed.

The sparse pedestrians mostly wore expressions of desolation. But when they saw Pang Yu in his black official uniform, they all broke into smiles, bowing in greeting. During the city defense, Pang Yu had inspected every defensive line; the Community Soldiers had all seen him. There were two to three thousand Community Soldiers along the walls, and the entire County Seat of Tongcheng had no more than twenty thousand people, so the majority recognized him.

Pang Yu politely nodded in return to each one, his face stiff from smiling by the end of the road. He used to envy celebrities; now he understood their inconveniences.

"Young Master, you still want to recruit Guards. Yesterday, Tang said the yamen can produce no more silver for the near future."

Pang Ding followed behind Pang Yu. Further back were Xu Lengzi and Guo Fengyou, serving as bodyguards. The small team was essentially fixed.

"Even if the yamen can't produce it, we must still recruit. Set up a permanent recruitment point at the head of Zilai Bridge. Send men out along the Official Road — north to Lujiang, south to Susong — posting recruitment notices for Guards and Auxiliaries all along the way. Write clearly the words 'Fight the Roving Bandits, Avenge Your Families.' Especially in towns and villages that suffered severe slaughter, make sure they are posted."

Pang Ding pointed at himself in astonishment. "Young Master, you're sending me to other places to recruit Guards? But yamen runners can only recruit within their own county. I've never heard of going elsewhere."

"By the time I return, they may no longer be yamen runners. You saw last time how your Young Master recruits people. I'm telling you, this time when your Young Master comes back from Suzhou, he will inspect. If the new recruits are not up to standard, you will answer for it. And remember to tell them — they all start as Auxiliaries."

"Young Master, didn't you say recruit Guards?"

"When your Young Master returns, I'll promote them to Guards."

Pang Ding's mouth hung open for a moment. "Then Young Master, why not have Yao Dongshan and the others go recruit soldiers? They're all from the Zhuang Squad; they know the right way to recruit. I want to go to Suzhou with you."

"They aren't suitable. You are the most suitable. There will be plenty of chances for Suzhou in the future."

After a moment, Pang Ding leaned close to Pang Yu's ear and asked, "Young Master, do you still not trust them?"

Pang Yu smiled but said nothing. Pang Ding, looking miserable, said, "Relying on me alone, I can't keep an eye on everyone else either."

Pang Yu stopped and looked at Pang Ding. After tilting his head and pondering for a long while, he said, "Go to the home of that Jiang Guoyong. If he is willing, recruit him into the Zhuang Squad. His Monthly Pay will be at the Squad Leader rate."