Chapter 190: Hesitation

"The stream road will soon end; I've just passed North Gorge Pass. A few lines of red-leafed trees, countless mountains under the setting sun."

Shi Kefa halted his horse atop a hill southwest of North Gorge Pass town. Dusk was near; the mountain ridges surrounding North Gorge Pass rolled like a sea, and under the glow of the fading sun they held a majestic, graceful air of their own.

Pang Yu had no heart to appreciate poetic scenery. After a few low words with his companion Tang Weimin, he came to Shi Kefa's side. "My lord, please look — below the hill is North Gorge Pass town. This place is also called Quanshui Pu, or Xiashi. Three li north lies Xiaoguanpu, and further north is Shucheng territory."

Shi Kefa looked down from above. Two rivers came from the north, threading through the basin in the valley. North Gorge Pass town sat right between the two rivers; both channels wrapped around the whole town and merged at its tail. Seen from the hilltop, it looked like a great boat made of earth and stone, moored in the river.

North Gorge Pass lay sixty li from the Tongcheng County Seat. Since ancient times it had been a strategic point in Jianghuai, the most convenient passage from Henan to Anqing. The famous Battle of Jiashi during the Sanguo era was fought right here.

In the Ming dynasty a township was built here, one of the Tongcheng Five Towns. An Inspection Office was specially established. Not only did the land route control the north-south passage, but the river channel beside the town led straight to Zongyang and out to the river. The long, narrow town held many shops — a classic trading-route small town.

On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, an alarm came from Luzhou: the Roving Bandit force under Ma Shouying was marauding through Yingzhou. Fengyang Prefecture had suffered a great calamity early that year, and with the court still fixing blame, the various Government Troops dared not slacken, keeping strict guard on the Fengyang side. Seeing the odds turn against him, Ma Shouying shifted toward Shucheng. This was the first bandit force out of Tong Pass to appear near Nanzhili.

Shi Kefa had just taken up his new post. As a rising star of the Donglin Party, he received ample support from fellow Donglin man Zhang Guowei. This time the intelligence was timely, and he was determined to defend all of Anqing.

After receiving the alarm, Shi Kefa led Pang Yu's Anqing Army, Pan Keda's Chizhou Troops, and Xu Ziqiang's Wusong Troops — over five thousand men in all — to set up defenses on the Lujiang border. Yang Erming stayed behind in Tongcheng to arrange provisions, but dispatched Tang Weimin, who held considerable local authority, as a guide to help coordinate with the region.

When a subsequent alarm arrived from Shucheng, Shi Kefa led the troops to North Gorge Pass to stop Ma Shouying's force from entering Tongcheng.

The largest contingent in the garrison was the Wusong Camp under Xu Ziqiang, with a paper strength of three thousand men and an actual count of just over two thousand, similar to Pan Keda's unit. It was packed with beggars and Green-Skins making up the numbers; only a hundred or so Household Retainers could actually fight. But the Wusong Troops had long been stationed in peaceful Jiangnan, and Pang Yu had his doubts about even those retainers' combat ability.

The main army had only just reached North Gorge Pass today. North of the pass, many common folk were already fleeing south. Word was that near Xiaoguan some had encountered stray riders of the Roving Bandits. Though they saw Government Troops arriving, the people inside the pass still streamed south in an endless line, their destination the Tongcheng County Seat. Clearly they had little faith in the Government Troops' ability — less even than in Tongcheng's Community Soldiers.

Shi Kefa had hurried up this hill to survey the terrain, which was in keeping with sound military principles.

"With mountains and rivers as its defense, it is truly an ancient gorge and mighty pass." Shi Kefa pointed at the pass fortifications. "I shall set up defenses right here. As long as we hold this pass securely, those Roving Bandits can forget about setting foot in Tongcheng."

Shi Kefa spoke with soaring spirit, gazing around at the sunset over the wilds as if entranced again. Pang Yu glanced back at the Official Road — the army was still waiting below. The sun was sinking west; this hardly seemed the time for admiring scenery. The first priority was to set up temporary camp and arrange today's defenses.

Xu Ziqiang and Pan Keda were also standing nearby. The highest-ranking was Xu Ziqiang, who held the title of Assistant Regional Commander and commanded the largest force. Pang Yu signaled Xu Ziqiang with his eyes, hoping he would remind Shi Kefa.

Xu Ziqiang was a bit stout and looked more like a wealthy country gentry. Seeing Pang Yu's look, he showed a face of bafflement, having no idea what Pang Yu meant. Pang Yu could not very well speak out, so he had to look toward Pan Keda.

Pan Keda held the same rank as Pang Yu — both were Commandants — but Pan Keda nursed a deep grudge against Pang Yu. Though he understood Pang Yu's meaning, he had no intention of helping and turned his head away.

With no one else to rely on, Pang Yu had to draw near Shi Kefa. "North Gorge Pass is indeed the lock and key to Tongcheng. With your lordship's masterful planning and proper deployment, Tongcheng will surely be kept safe. But the hour grows late — perhaps we should first have the main army set up temporary camp, and tomorrow assign the troops to their separate posts."

Shi Kefa nodded. "General Pang speaks reason. Then let the army enter the pass."

"This…" Pang Yu hesitated a moment. "My lord Circuit Intendant, you see the pass town is long and narrow, with few actual buildings. It absolutely cannot house these several thousand troops. And with night falling, displacing the common folk would cause considerable trouble. Might we first send one unit inside to hold it firmly, and station the rest outside the town?"

Shi Kefa frowned and studied the scene carefully. The basin where North Gorge Pass lay had two rivers, so water sources were abundant nearby. Stretches of rice paddies lined both sides of the Official Road through the basin. The pass town had walls; the north- and south-facing sections were brick-faced. But the town was long and narrow, making it awkward to garrison troops. Neither inside nor outside the pass could the basin hold a large army. The only place to station troops in the near outskirts was on the uncultivated southern hills — but conditions there were far worse.

"Then General Pang shall lead his unit…"

Before Shi Kefa could finish his sentence, Pan Keda suddenly spoke up from behind. "Reporting to my lord Circuit Intendant, your subordinate volunteers to lead troops and hold the pass town."

Pang Yu's expression did not change. Pan Keda had likely also figured out that the best lodging around North Gorge Pass was only inside the pass town itself. The next large village further on was Xiali Bridge Pu, ten li to the south. Staying inside meant protection from the pass walls and the river, and it was safer than outside the town. Moreover, since this was a key trade route, the town held many shops. Once quartered inside, one could also squeeze some benefits out of those wealthy merchants.

Shi Kefa immediately showed a troubled look, as if it had never occurred to him that anyone would fight over this.

Before he could decide, Xu Ziqiang stepped forward as well. "Reporting to my lord, this humble one also volunteers to garrison North Gorge Pass."

Pan Keda said politely, "Sir Xu, you are Guest Troops come from afar. How can we of the Anchi Army let guest troops labor so? Please, Sir Xu, remain stationed in the rear. For the rough work of holding the pass, we Chizhou men shall not decline the duty."

Pang Yu kept his eyes lowered, listening to the two argue beside him, stealing an occasional glance at Shi Kefa. The Circuit Intendant's face was full of distress, hesitating and unable to decide.

Judging by his behavior at this moment, Shi Kefa lacked a leader's decisiveness. The stationing of troops was no great matter, but the longer the decision dragged on, the less these military chiefs before him would obey him.

"Precisely because I am a Guest Army, having come a thousand li from Wusong under Lord Zhang's orders to defend Tongcheng with all our strength — we did not come all this way to hide in the rear and enjoy ourselves. We came to blunt the enemy's sharpest edge. Otherwise, why come a thousand li? Therefore, for the heavy responsibility of holding the pass, my Wusong Camp shall not decline the duty."

Xu Ziqiang at this moment was exactly like a rich merchant haggling over a price; once he got into an argument, he seemed to glow with vigor.

Pan Keda unhurriedly said, "Sir Xu is most noble-minded. However, this pass town is cramped and small. The Wusong force numbers over two thousand — it simply cannot fit."

"Squeeze a little and it will fit."

Pan Keda gave a cold chuckle. "There are still original residents inside the pass, each family with its own dependents. With Sir Xu's 'squeezing a little,' who knows what troubles might be squeezed out? Better my nine hundred Chizhou Troops — that should be just right for inside the pass."

Xu Ziqiang's face changed and he turned on Pan Keda. "Your nine hundred Chizhou Troops — on what grounds are they 'just right' to fit? Then tell me, how many households are inside the pass? How many rooms? How many stables?"

Pan Keda had not expected Xu Ziqiang to turn hostile. His face went cold as well. "If even my Chizhou Troops cannot all fit, then Sir Xu's two-thousand-plus men certainly cannot."

"Then I shall take a picked force to guard the pass, and leave the rest of the men at Xiali Bridge Pu." Xu Ziqiang ignored Pan Keda and turned to Shi Kefa. "My lord Circuit Intendant, I am a guest commander come from afar, wholeheartedly wishing to contribute to Tongcheng. I beg my lord's understanding."

Shi Kefa now looked even more troubled. He was the Anchi Military Defense Circuit, stationed at Chizhou. Pan Keda was his directly subordinate officer — sentiment dictated he should look after him. Pang Yu was the local Anqing force, seemingly more suited to hold the pass. And Xu Ziqiang was a guest commander, dispatched under Zhang Guowei's orders specifically to reinforce Anqing, and seemed also deserving of consideration. Each had his own reasons.

He looked over all of them and said, "Commander Xu, your devotion is noted and I shall naturally take it into account. However, the Wusong force numbers two thousand. If split between two locations, I fear they will be hard to watch and control. Perhaps, Commander Xu, it would be better…"

"My troops are all easy to watch and control. But soldiers are rough men after all. If they are all quartered at Xiali Bridge Pu, once we face off against the Roving Bandits, they will have to march twenty li back and forth every day — then trouble might truly arise. I shall lead the picked troops and station them at North Gorge Pass, and send another officer to lead the remaining men. Those men will not need to go into battle, so they won't have to march back and forth daily; they need only help transport provisions. That is the most appropriate arrangement."

Shi Kefa was stunned. Xu Ziqiang and Pan Keda had interrupted him twice now, and both seemed to speak some sense, leaving him unable even to assert his official authority. Moreover, Xu Ziqiang, as a guest commander normally outside the Anchi Military Defense Circuit's jurisdiction, took an even stiffer tone with him, with a faint hint of threat.

Seeing Shi Kefa hesitating again, Pang Yu felt a twinge of unease. A civil official commanding this mixed army — the three forces were unfamiliar with each other in peacetime and had never trained together. If Shi Kefa lacked authority, they would only drag each other down in battle, worse than using a single force alone.

If he stayed silent now, Shi Kefa would surely only consider the guest troops. Faced with this kind of leader, one had to voice one's own opinion promptly. Seizing the moment while Shi Kefa hesitated, Pang Yu quickly spoke up.

"My lord, holding a pass depends above all on unity of purpose. Most of my unit comes from the Tongcheng Zhuang Squad, well-practiced in city defense methods — the most suitable for holding a pass. Moreover, my unit is local Tongcheng troops. If stationed inside the town, the common folk will not worry about soldiers disturbing them. Thus soldiers and people will be of one heart, and defending the town will yield twice the result with half the effort."

Pan Keda said coldly, "So Sir Pang means to say that my unit and Sir Xu's unit would disturb the people?"

Pang Yu smiled and looked at Pan Keda. "Sir Pan's and Sir Xu's units would naturally not disturb the people. But the people of Tongcheng do not know that. What I said was merely that the common folk have such worries — not that your honored units would actually disturb them. Besides, I truly do feel that Sir Pan's unit is probably adept at field battles, but indeed not very versed in city defense."

Pan Keda snorted through his nose. Pang Yu's words were a veiled jab at his field battle defeat earlier that year, but for the moment he could not easily retort. Shi Kefa originally did not know the details of his defeat early that year; if they quarreled now, it would only dredge up old accounts and leave a bad impression.

"Enough. Let none of you argue further." Shi Kefa stepped closer and looked at them mildly. "Each of you generals wishes to shoulder this heavy duty, and I am deeply comforted. I cannot bear to refuse any of you this eagerness for battle. But the pass town cannot quarter so many troops. I shall compromise here: each of the three camps shall send three hundred men into the pass to hold it. The remaining troops shall be stationed south of the pass town, at the furthest Xiali Bridge Pu. As for the exact locations outside the town, you may discuss among yourselves."

The three exchanged glances. Shi Kefa had smoothed things over with this muddling compromise. At least all three officers could stay inside the pass and enjoy safe, comfortable conditions, temporarily resolving the point of contention on this hilltop. As for the troops below, which ones would be left outside — that was now the three officers' problem to worry about.

Pang Yu stole a glance at the formations below the hill. The ones at the very front were his own men.

"Your subordinate obeys. I shall immediately dispatch men to set up defenses, lest the Roving Bandits launch a night raid." Pang Yu bowed in salute, then leaped onto his horse and raced downhill. Xu Ziqiang and Pan Keda were stunned for a moment, then realized Pang Yu was rushing to seize the best spots in town. They hastily offered their apologies and hurried downhill as well.

Shi Kefa watched the three officers scrambling away, their backs receding. He shook his head and turned his gaze north. The Official Road of North Gorge Pass cut through the basin and vanished among those mountain ridges. Under the setting sun, the range upon range of hills were half green, half yellow. Were those Roving Bandits somewhere within these very mountains?

After gazing for a long while, Shi Kefa was startled by the tramp of marching feet from the army below. The Anqing Garrison Battalion at the front was already advancing at a run. Even while running, their formation remained quite orderly. The Chizhou Troops behind them had not even finished straightening their ranks, and the Wusong Camp further back was too indistinct to make out.

Shi Kefa sighed and slowly rode his horse downhill.