Chapter 206: Water Camp

In the night-shrouded Garrison Command, lanterns had been lit beneath the portico, swaying gently in the autumn wind.

Before the main gate, a figure stood by the horse-hitching abatis — a man in his forties, with the pampered look of a wealthy merchant. He waited with a respectful posture, occasionally tapping his thigh with one hand. The two polearm-wielding guards at the gate stared straight ahead in rigid silence, as if the man did not exist. The sword-bearing officer, however, stood facing him to one side, which made him somewhat uneasy.

The side door creaked open. The waiting man hurried onto the platform and took two quick steps forward. "I've troubled you, sir. Might I ask if Lord Pang is free?"

Mr. Hou bowed and said, "Chen Company Commander, you have waited long. Lord Pang has just finished discussing matters with the Land Battalion officers. Please come in to speak with him."

Chen Company Commander hastily followed Mr. Hou through the side door. They passed all the way into the Main Hall. Two rooms on the right still had lights on, with voices inside — it didn't sound like a discussion of business, but Chen Company Commander's mind was preoccupied, and he had no leisure to make out exactly what was being said.

As they passed through the left corridor of the Main Hall, Chen Company Commander saw the lamplight was dim and no one else was around. He quickly grabbed Mr. Hou's sleeve and pressed a silver ingot into his hand. Mr. Hou said nothing and directly pocketed the silver. This was merely a greeting gift, in the hope that Mr. Hou might put in a good word for him now and then — the meaning was self-evident. In the dead silence of the night, too many words might be overheard by the soldiers nearby, so the two exchanged no further talk and continued forward.

They passed the Second Hall, where two more guards stood — just as rigidly erect. Chen Company Commander couldn't help but glance at them a couple of times as he walked by. Earlier, he had waited outside the gate for a full two-hour watch, and those two guards at the entrance had not budged an inch; only the officer had taken a few steps. Chen Company Commander had never seen soldiers like these. He wondered if their legs ever got sore.

Outside the study in the Rear Office, there were two more soldiers. The entire way had been charged with an inexplicable, deadly solemnity, and Chen Company Commander's mood grew increasingly tense.

Mr. Hou announced him at the door. Chen Company Commander entered the study and at last saw his young superior.

"Your subordinate pays respects to the Garrison Commander."

"Rise, Chen Company Commander." Pang Yu did not stand. His eyes remained on the military text in his hands.

Chen Company Commander stood up, still keeping his head lowered to show deference to his superior. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his own gift list lying on the desk, and his heart eased slightly.

In the past, Chen Company Commander had not greatly feared Pang Yu, because Pang Yu did not have the authority to appoint or dismiss him — that power rested with Wang Gongbi. Anqing's forces had previously been centered on the Water Camp, used to defend the Great River, and the Garrison Commander had always come from the Water Camp. After the Tongcheng Uprising, Zhang Guowei, seeing the weakness of Anqing's land defenses, increased the Army's troop quota and had Pan Keda take over as Garrison Commander. Then, when the Roving Bandits invaded at the start of the year, Anqing's defense shifted more and more toward land. Pang Yu's leap from Tongcheng Zhuang Squad Leader to Garrison Commander had also seized on this moment when Anqing's military focus turned from the river to the land.

But even so, when Wang Gongbi was still in office, Chen Company Commander had not feared Pang Yu. Now Shi Kefa had taken over, and before Chen Company Commander could even work his connections, the Beixia Pass Great Victory had happened.

Because of this great victory, the Yingtian Grand Coordinator's jurisdiction had achieved a dazzling success amid the recent slump of the Government Troops. Zhang Guowei had sent Shi Kefa a reply letter, heaping praise on both Shi Kefa and Pang Yu. Shi Kefa clearly was not going to make trouble for Pang Yu over the paltry silver Chen Company Commander could offer.

With Wang Gongbi gone from his post, Chen Company Commander had no one to look after him. Although he had also sent silver to Shi Kefa, Pang Yu now clearly held the overwhelming advantage. Chen Company Commander had some contacts in the Military Defense Circuit yamen, and some information had leaked out — all of it saying that Pang Yu was going to make an example of the Water Camp, and that Shi Kefa had already agreed. That was the reason for his current panic.

Even if Shi Kefa let Chen Company Commander off, if Pang Yu simply lodged a malicious complaint with Zhang Guowei, given the present threat from the Roving Bandits, Zhang Guowei would not even blink before using Chen Company Commander to do Pang Yu a favor.

Over the past few days, Chen Company Commander had repeatedly requested an audience but had been unable to see Pang Yu. Only this afternoon had he been notified to come in the evening. He had arrived early to wait, and as a result had stood outside the gate for a full two-hour watch.

The room was utterly silent. Pang Yu was still reading the book in his hands. Chen Company Commander's heart was filled with dread, but he dared not interrupt. The scene was rather awkward. Even Mr. Hou did not know whether to stay or leave, unsure if Pang Yu wanted him to listen in. He could only leave the door slightly ajar and wait for Pang Yu's instructions.

After a long while, Pang Yu finally looked up at Chen Company Commander standing before him. "The military texts say: 'Of ten soldiers, execute three, and your might will shake the enemy's land; execute one in ten, and your orders will be carried out throughout the three armies.' I wonder if Chen Company Commander agrees?"

Chen Company Commander was stunned for a moment. The tone was somewhat ominous. His heart lurched again, and he hurriedly replied, "This... since it is a military text that you, my lord, are reading, there can be no error in its reasoning."

Pang Yu set down the military text. "This official finds the reasoning sound. At the very least, after this official executed a few men, the Garrison Battalion at Beixia Pass could be said to have orders carried out throughout the three armies."

"My lord is benevolent and generous — treating soldiers like sons, as they say. One imagines those soldiers and officers are also willing to die in your service."

Pang Yu's expression remained stern. The opening remarks were now finished. He had not invited Chen Company Commander to sit, leaving him still standing before the desk.

After waiting a moment, Pang Yu spoke flatly. "Chen Company Commander is an old hand in the Anqing Water Camp. There's no need to beat around the bush on certain matters. Let us speak plainly. According to the customary practice of past years, the Water Camp ran its own business to make money. The higher-ups took a cut, you kept some for yourself, and left a bit for your subordinates — enough for each family to support itself. Transporting Tribute Grain was also a good business for the Water Camp. From the various Secondary Water Granaries to the Wanyi Granary, and from the Wanyi Granary to the Capital, the boat captains could squeeze the grain supervisors and Granary Keepers. Over the course of a year, the boatmen from Military Households could scrape by, and the officers could even become men of some wealth. If those were still the times, this official would say nothing. Everything would be handled according to the old rules."

Chen Company Commander opened his mouth as if to defend himself. Pang Yu waved a hand, signaling him not to interrupt.

"But these are not the old days. The Roving Bandits rampage across the Central Plains. Anqing sits at a strategic chokepoint. Once the alarm sounds, they can be at the city walls within days. When that time comes, Chen Company Commander can board a boat and cross the river. My Land Battalion cannot leave. Circuit Intendant Shi cannot leave. The hundreds of thousands of common people of Anqing cannot leave."

Though his tone was mild, it concealed a murderous edge. A fine sheen of sweat began to appear on Chen Company Commander's forehead. "Your subordinate would not dare be perfunctory with you, my lord. It is only that the Water Camp has always focused primarily on transporting Tribute Grain. As for the... business you mentioned, this humble man dares not hide anything, but will certainly handle it according to the rules. Your subordinate is not one who cannot recognize what's good for him. Whatever my lord commands, this humble man will do his utmost."

Having spoken, Chen Company Commander slightly raised his eyes to glance. Pang Yu's face was stern. It seemed the hinted profit-sharing had not moved him.

He only heard Pang Yu continue, "The Water Camp is a Battalion of the imperial court. The court's rules are the only rules. A battalion's purpose is to fight wars, not to do business."

The sweat on Chen Company Commander's forehead grew heavier. Behind him, Mr. Hou dared not make a sound. He had previously worked in the county yamen, where he had seen officials clash — quarrels and even brawls. But ever since entering this Garrison Command, where the threat of beheading was brandished at the slightest provocation, Mr. Hou listened with his heart pounding in terror. By all reason, if Pang Yu was threatening Chen Company Commander, it was not convenient for others to hear. Yet Pang Yu had not told him to leave, and he dared not go, so he could only stand motionless at the back.

Silence settled in the room for a moment before Pang Yu's voice was heard again. "Some things do not require this official's specific instructions. That a battalion must fight — these are all matters within a General Officer's proper duties. Chen Company Commander, return to camp and reorganize your troops. Tomorrow, this official will conduct a roll-call inspection. I want to see every man, every weapon, and every war boat listed in the Military Registry. After the inspection, the Water Army will conduct maneuvers on the river — signal flags, boat formations, weapons deployment — not a single item shall be omitted or reduced."

"My subordinate's Water Camp..." Chen Company Commander raised a sleeve, preparing to wipe the sweat from his forehead, but in his haste remembered he was in the Garrison Command and quickly lowered it again. Stammering, he said, "To be honest with you, my lord, the Water Camp has been mired in abuses for many years. Every year is spent transporting grain to support families. We truly have no capacity for drill. Moreover... moreover, some of the Grain Transport Ships have not yet returned."

Pang Yu stood up and walked to Chen Company Commander's side, looking at his tense face. "Chen Company Commander commands the Water Camp, yet tells this official you have no capacity for drill. You should know that for a commander, gathering the masses of the three armies and casting them into peril — the use of troops is a matter of life and death. How can there be the slightest room for perfunctory measures? In the end, it is your own life you are trifling with."

Chen Company Commander panted heavily and hurriedly added, "Once the boat fleet returns, this humble man will certainly intensify the drills."

"The military situation is urgent. We cannot afford to slowly drill at our leisure. By order of the Circuit Intendant, the Roving Bandits are active in the vicinity of Anqing. To strengthen Anqing's land defenses, all Water Camp personnel currently in camp will assemble on the parade ground tomorrow for inspection. Plans are to redeploy to places like Susong and Tongcheng to intercept and strike the Roving Bandits."

Chen Company Commander abandoned all pretense of deference and looked up at Pang Yu in terror. "How can this humble man's Water Camp possibly fight on land?"

Pang Yu stared straight into his eyes. "Which imperial regulation states that the Water Camp is only for naval battle? Anqing established the Garrison Commander post to guard against River Bandits and Mine Bandits along the river. Are those Mine Bandits on the river too? If the River Bandits come ashore, does your Water Camp just turn around and go back?"

"This... this humble man did not mean that, but this, this..."

Pang Yu loudly cut him off. "So long as it is an alarm along the river, whether Land Battalion or Water Camp, all shall fight as one. If water bandits come, the Land Battalion will fight on water. If land bandits come, the Water Camp will also come ashore."

Chen Company Commander's eyes flickered. But despite his fear, Tongcheng was absolutely somewhere he would not go. The Water Camp was permanently stationed at Anqing, and Huaining was right by the river. Just as Pang Yu had said, if the Roving Bandits came, they could board the boats and leave — there would certainly be no danger to their lives. For years, the Anqing Water Camp had been nothing more than a shipping company, and he had made quite a bit of silver. He would absolutely not go to a place like Tongcheng or Susong to throw his life away.

He lowered his head, his body trembling slightly. Only after a moment did he speak. "It is not that this humble man is unwilling. The Water Camp is full of impoverished Military Households who have never drilled for land combat. If the Roving Bandits come by water, the Water Camp will naturally go and fight to the death. But this order of yours, my lord, to have the Water Camp fight the Roving Bandits to the death on land — that is asking boatmen to throw their lives away. This humble man might be willing, but he would certainly be unable to muster those boatmen. This humble man is incapable."

Mr. Hou held his breath. Chen Company Commander was resorting to outright obstinacy, while using the boatmen to coerce Pang Yu, hinting that those boatmen only listened to him.

Pang Yu, however, did not get angry. He leaned against the desk and said, "According to Chen Company Commander's meaning, if the Roving Bandits come to Huaining in the future, even if they slaughter every last commoner in the Prefectural City, the Water Camp will only stay on the water — because you cannot fight to the death on land."

"This humble man would not dare. Defending the Prefectural City might perhaps be possible."

"If you can defend the Prefectural City, why can you not defend Tongcheng? Does Chen Company Commander think that when this official deploys troops for battle, he can allow his subordinates to haggle and pick and choose?"

Chen Company Commander decided he might as well go all the way. "My lord, you see clearly. The Water Camp has truly never drilled. It cannot fight."

"Chen Company Commander just said the Water Camp cannot fight?" Pang Yu looked at Chen Company Commander coldly. "This official sympathizes with Chen Company Commander's difficulties. But verbal statements are no proof. Chen Company Commander, write down what you just said. Write that the Water Camp under your command is utterly unfit for battle and dares not engage the Roving Bandits. Have the Water Camp deliver it to the Document Receiving Office of the Garrison Headquarters by tomorrow. Then this official will not redeploy the Water Camp for combat."

Chen Company Commander froze. "Your subordinate... your subordinate..."

Mr. Hou secretly glanced at Chen Company Commander's back. He seemed to be on the verge of losing his footing. Naturally, Chen Company Commander dared not write such a document. Some things could be said in private, but once put into an official document, they became deadly. If Pang Yu sent it to Shi Kefa, it was entirely possible his head would be chopped off in strict enforcement of military law.

Seeing that Chen Company Commander dared not speak, his spirit thoroughly crushed, Pang Yu slowly walked behind him. "This official knows you once had dealings with Jiao Guozha. You should naturally also know that Jiao Guozha is this official's sworn elder brother. He serves in the Central Army of my battalion. I hadn't thought of it before, but as it happens, he is also a Company Commander. One might call it executing one in ten. But whether it must be three in ten seems open to discussion — and that also depends on Chen Company Commander's own opinion."

The fine beads of sweat on Chen Company Commander's forehead finally coalesced into a single drop, slowly sliding down his brow, absorbing other small droplets along the way, tracing a crooked trail of sweat at the corner of his eyebrow.

Although he was a military officer, he had spent years doing business on the Great River and the Grand Canal. The boats were the Water Camp's own, and those River Bandits ordinarily did not dare oppose the authorities. So he had virtually no experience of this kind of life on the knife's edge. Now, whether it was the Roving Bandits or Pang Yu before him, both seemed to be figures who wanted his life.

"Now, Chen Company Commander, give this official one answer. Can the Water Camp fight, or can it not?"

Chen Company Commander was drenched in sweat. If they could fight, they would have to go fight the Roving Bandits. If they could not, Pang Yu would find an excuse to chop his head off. Both paths seemed to lead to death.

At this thought, Chen Company Commander dropped to his knees with a thud. "This humble man begs my lord to show him a path to survival."

Pang Yu nodded. "Now that is the way of flexibility. Chen Company Commander need not worry. This official does not ordinarily kill people. Go back and inform the Water Camp: this official is redeploying the Water Camp to garrison Tongcheng to resist the Roving Bandits. This official gives you one chance. All personnel, officers and soldiers alike, may voluntarily withdraw from the camp. This official will not pursue the matter. Those who remain will march to Tongcheng. I give you three days. In three days, this official will inspect the Water Camp. However many men remain, that is how many there will be."