Chapter 168: Seeking Patronage

A searing pain burned across his face. Wu Dacai clutched his cheek, sitting on the steps outside the barracks. The teammates passing by paid him no attention. This was the rest period before dinner, one of the rare moments when no officers were around to supervise.

Half his face was slightly swollen, still smeared with traces of white ash. Sword-and-shield sparring was supposed to target the armor, but that Wai Lian ignored the rules and smacked him square in the face with the blade. The rule was that a touch from the sword and shield counted as a win — a light tap would have sufficed. There was no need to use such force.

That sword-and-shield fighter had advanced too fast earlier, charging the moment the drum sounded. Wu Dacai hadn't even thought to step back; otherwise, he wouldn't have lost so quickly and might even have won. A long spear had the advantage over sword and shield, and in recent army competitions, spear wielders had won seven out of ten bouts.

After losing the first match, Wu Dacai was pulled from the lineup and not allowed back on. He didn't even get a chance to redeem his pride. Losing face was secondary; now he would certainly be rated as inferior, and if he got eliminated, it would be a disaster.

Someone sat down beside him. Wu Dacai looked over — it was Dong Mingyuan. He didn't really feel like talking to him, but he still forced a smile.

"We've really got to train harder," Dong Mingyuan said, helping Wu Dacai brush the white ash off the back of his collar. "Lord Pang put it well: refusing to practice martial skills is holding a grudge against your own life."

"What martial skills?" Wu Dacai clutched his face. "Every day it's just that one thrust, hundreds of times. While you were up there competing, some carpenters delivered a Wooden Man with five holes in it. That Jiang Guoyong was talking to Yao Dongshan — from now on, the long spear drill has to hit all five holes in a row."

"Hit them in a row?"

"That's right, and not just hit them. They put a Wooden Ball inside each hole. You have to pierce the ball and pull it out. Retrieve five balls in a row and you're rated top-tier. I heard it all."

Dong Mingyuan froze, speechless for a moment.

Wu Dacai grabbed at his topknot. "My family's house burned down, and all the fields in the village went barren. My whole family is counting on this soldier's pay of mine. If I get dismissed, it's over."

"My family's not much better off. We've still got a few mu of land, my wife works it, but you can't scrape much money out of the dirt in a year. If I'm not a soldier, the kids at home won't have enough to eat. I was even thinking of saving up a few years' pay and bringing them here to the Prefectural City so they can live like city folk."

Dong Mingyuan slapped his thigh. "Why talk about all that? If you're afraid of being dismissed, then train like your life depends on it. We've all got two arms — I don't believe we can't beat the others."

Wu Dacai sighed, preparing to go wash his clothes. They'd been issued three sets of White Coats, called something like Training Uniforms, and they were required to keep them neat, with no stains. After a day's training, they basically needed changing. Wu Dacai didn't understand the point of keeping them so clean. Back when he was in the village, he'd wear a jacket for a month straight and never found it hindered his work.

As the two were talking, Wu Dacai suddenly froze, his gaze fixed to the right. Dong Mingyuan followed his eyes and saw that detestable Wai Lian, and then he spotted Yao Dongshan.

The two men hurriedly stood and shouted, "Greetings, Lord Yao!"

Yao Dongshan waved a hand and pointed at the barracks, saying to Wai Lian, "You'll be in this Team. Do you need to go home and get your luggage?"

Wai Lian took a small bundle off his shoulder. "This is the only luggage I have."

"Do you need to settle things at home? Once you enter the camp, it's hard to get leave."

Wai Lian shook his head. "I have no home. I'm alone."

"Go pick a bunk for yourself. You fight fiercely — my Bureau wants men like you." Yao Dongshan glanced at Wu Dacai and Dong Mingyuan. He was about to speak again when someone outside called for him; the voice sounded urgent.

"What the hell is it now?" Yao Dongshan put his hands behind his back and headed out.

Wu Dacai and the other man watched Wai Lian. Wai Lian ignored them, slung his bundle over his shoulder, and walked straight into the barracks.

Dong Mingyuan stared at Wai Lian's retreating figure. "What did I tell you?"

The two were about to follow inside when a sudden clang of a bronze gong rang out. Wu Dacai jumped. Yao Dongshan's voice bellowed, "First Bureau, fall in!"

Wu Dacai had no time to put on his clothes and sprinted out. The barracks of the First Bureau were all nearby. The bronze gong kept sounding, and soon most of the First Bureau's men had assembled.

"Team leaders, mark down anyone who's not here! I'll deal with them later." Yao Dongshan's booming voice shouted at the formation. "Another bunch is causing trouble at the Garrison Command gate. Lord Pang is calling for men. When you get there, beat them for me — just don't aim for the head."

Everyone shouted their assent. Wu Dacai knew it was those men from the old Garrison Battalion again. Over the years, the Garrison Battalion had accumulated some soldiers, and Pan Keda naturally hadn't taken them with him when he left. When Lord Pang arrived, he'd held a fitness test. Only a handful of those soldiers could run five li; the rest, over a hundred men, were all expelled from the camp. They'd already come to cause trouble at the Garrison Command twice, but this was the first time troops were being deployed to drive them off.

Yao Dongshan offered no further words and led the way toward the camp gate. The men followed in no particular formation. They grabbed Whistle Staffs from the armory; those who didn't get one took the Short Sticks used to simulate Waist Sabers and swarmed out of the gate.

Their camp was the old small drill ground of the Garrison Command, and the camp gate opened onto Zongyang Gate Street. The pedestrians outside, seeing this mob of grunts charging out, scattered in fright.

The camp gate was only a few dozen paces from the Garrison Command. A large crowd had gathered there, many still wearing the red Padded Jackets. Wu Dacai ran amid the group. Once they were running, an irrepressible urge to hit someone suddenly surged in his chest, and his feet quickened involuntarily.

The front of the Garrison Command was a scene of chaos, with some people even shoving the two soldiers on sentry duty.

"They're hitting our men! Beat them for me!"

Yao Dongshan roared and charged to the very front. The men shouted in unison and plunged into the crowd, swinging their clubs wildly at people. The street descended into pandemonium, and the mob scattered with a roar.

Before Wu Dacai's eyes, clubs danced chaotically; everywhere were people screaming and fleeing. He paid no heed, chasing down anyone he could and striking. One blow slashed across a man's shoulder, and the man sprawled to the ground with a loud, miserable cry.

That miserable cry reached his ears, yet it brought a feeling of exhilaration. He didn't need to know who this man was; as long as the officer ordered him to fight, he would fight. If he fought hard and Yao Dongshan saw it, he might even raise his rating. But he at least remembered not to hit the head, so he struck viciously at the man's legs. The man curled up into a ball, and Wu Dacai put all his strength into a savage downward blow.

With a crack, the Whistle Staff broke in two. The front half flew off and clattered against the stone slabs of the street. The man let out a piercing howl and rolled half a turn on the ground.

Wu Dacai panted heavily, holding the broken half of the Whistle Staff, unsure what to do.

The man propped himself up in agony. Wu Dacai looked at his twisted face and felt he should let this one go. Before he could leave, a Short Stick from beside him lashed out like lightning and smashed into the man's face. The man's head snapped to the side; several teeth and a spray of blood flew out. The screaming stopped abruptly, and the man collapsed to the ground, motionless.

A figure darted past and delivered another vicious blow to the head — it was that Wai Lian.

"They said no hitting the head..."

The scene was utter chaos; no one heard him speak. Wai Lian had already charged on, Short Stick in hand, and in a moment had clubbed down two more. He didn't even spare the ones on the ground, beating them until blood splattered.

The area in front of the Prefecture gate was littered with bodies lying every which way. The First Team was still chasing and beating people all around; the street was a wreck.

Clang, clang, clang — three strikes of the bronze gong, then another round. They had only learned two signals: one was the drumbeat, and the other was this gong, which meant to withdraw.

Wu Dacai hurried back to the front of the Prefecture gate. Yao Dongshan was already standing there. Soldiers were still fighting in the street, but the rest halted their Pursuit and slowly regrouped toward the gate.

Beside Yao Dongshan stood a man in black, who let out two hearty laughs. "Satisfying! Truly satisfying! Beat these dogs to death, daring to stir up trouble at my second brother's gate."

Wu Dacai was startled. Second brother's gate? Could this be Lord Pang's older brother?

He heard Yao Dongshan reply, "Brother Jiao, did any of them hurt you?"

The man in black spat. "I was a Runner for years — a few rowdy soldiers can't hurt me."

"Brother Jiao, you're with the Central Army now, busy as can be. If you ever need anything from old Yao, just say the word."

The man in black clapped Yao Dongshan on the shoulder. "Good, good, haha. Being a grunts suits me just fine. Perfect timing — my second brother said that since I'm handling affairs in the Central Army, he'd assign me a soldier as an aide. Got anyone suitable?"

"What would Brother Jiao be using him for?"

"Just helping me with some Central Army business, accompanying me when I go out. Simple enough."

Yao Dongshan waved his hand. "Someone serving Brother Jiao needs to be sharp. My Bureau is full of brutes, no use to you — they'd mess up your work. The Second Bureau has sharper men."

With that, Yao Dongshan cupped his hands in salute and went into the street to call over his Team leaders.

The man in black remained standing at the gate. Wu Dacai was right beside him. His eyes darted a few times, and then he leaned in. "Officer Jiao... sir, I am willing to serve you as an attendant."

The man in black turned his head in surprise. Seeing the ingratiating look in Wu Dacai's eyes, he let out a snort of laughter.

Inside the Second Hall of the Garrison Command, the clamor from outside gradually subsided.

Pang Yu reached out and picked up his teacup. With his right hand holding the lid, he waved at the person below the hall. "I'm not seeing you out — just drinking some water. From now on, when we discuss matters, drinking water is just drinking water. When I want to see you out, I'll say so."

Liu Ruogu and Jiang Fan, already on their feet, had no choice but to sit back down.

"Some useless rules, we don't need to be so particular about." Pang Yu set down his teacup and continued, "These old battalion soldiers come in greater numbers each time. I dismissed a hundred men, yet today a hundred seventy or eighty showed up. Even Green-Skin Ruffians dare come make trouble at my camp gate."

Jiang Fan sat angled toward Pang Yu. He looked a bit thinner, but his bearing was more composed than before. Ever since Pang Yu left the city, he had been active in Anqing, keeping a grasp on the situation at the docks and in the marketplace.

He cupped his hands and said, "These people are naturally being put up to it by someone behind the scenes."

Pang Yu grunted. "You mean Chen Bazong of the Water Camp."

Jiang Fan nodded. Pang Yu let out a soft breath and said, "The Water Camp is called a water camp, but it's more like a boat society."

"By regulation, the Water Camp should have twenty sand ships and thirty small patrol boats. After the Tribute Transport Opening, most are used as grain transport ships. The rest rarely patrol the river — they're all used for hauling goods."

Liu Ruogu waited for Jiang Fan to finish, then added, "Chen Bazong is behind the scenes, stirring up the Land Battalion men to cause trouble. It's meant to give you, sir, a show of force to put you in your place. In truth, he sees the Land Division dismissing soldiers and fears you will move against the Water Camp. He's prodding the Land Division to make trouble, hoping a bigger ruckus will make you back off. That way he can keep his grip on the Water Army."

"A show of force." Pang Yu smiled faintly. "Originally, the Water Camp was the proper post of the Anqing Garrison Commander. The Water Camp Bazong is this officer's direct subordinate. Pan Keda brought the Land Division, and together with the old hands in the Garrison Command, that's how the Land Division came to be. The Water Camp — this officer must deal with it. But the Tribute Transport Opening is imminent. This matter implicates Anqing Prefecture's tribute grain transport. We'll set it aside until this juncture is past."

"I hear Chen Bazong has made quite a bit of money and has gotten on very well with Wang Gongbi." Jiang Fan hesitated a moment, then said, "And there are also those porters and the Canal Gang at the docks…"

"Leave them all untouched for now. We'll wait until the tribute grain is aboard the ships. When the grain transport ships set out, Chen Ten Prefectures should also be returning to the prefectural city. Then we'll deal first with the Porter Gang at the docks. You continue identifying their headmen."

Liu Ruogu said with some concern, "The porters number in the thousands, mixed in with sects like the Luo Sect and the White Lotus Sect. I'm afraid they won't be easy to deal with."

Pang Yu waved a hand. "Porters are not an army. They join this sect or that sect just to have a faction to lean on for a meal. We don't need to defeat every single porter — we only need to break up their organization. In fact, against any opponent, our target is always their degree of organization. There's no need to strike every individual. From now on, on Anqing's waters and shores, only this officer's faction shall exist."

Hearing Pang Yu say this, Liu Ruogu did not press the question further.

Jiang Fan glanced outside and said, "With the fighting out there today, the prefectural city was thrown into chaos for a while. I fear Pi Daren will come to demand an explanation."

"That is a matter for this officer to handle. You two continue with the tasks at hand."

Pang Yu rose to his feet. The other two hurriedly stood as well.

"Jiang Fan, you continue operating at the docks. Use the shop fronts Shopkeeper Liu purchased to recruit some hands among the porters. They'll be useful later. If there's nothing else, go attend to your own affairs first."

Jiang Fan said no more. He saluted Pang Yu and withdrew.

Only Liu Ruogu remained in the hall. Pang Yu frowned in thought for a moment, then asked him, "How is the Anqing Bai Shun Tang faring?"