Chapter 211: City Tower

Two days later, the Garrison Commander's battalion reached Taihu County, accompanied by Shi Kefa.

Shi Kefa worried that Pang Yu's single battalion was too weak; Anqing's scout cavalry had confirmed the Qianshan direction was safe, so Shi Kefa arrived at Shipai a day late — and of course his Biao General Pan Keda was with him. The prefectural city's defense was organized by Pi Yingju.

Pang Yu waited at Shipai for word from his own scout cavalry, which delayed him exactly one day, and then he joined up with Shi Kefa again. When Shi Kefa inspected Shipai, Pang Yu made a special effort, continuing to seek Shi Kefa's support for his long-term garrison at Shipai, and he also deliberately accompanied him to visit the ancestral home of Liu Ruozai.

During that single day of waiting, Pang Yu's scout cavalry rarely managed to capture a live prisoner — a servant belonging to a unit under the Sweeping King. This confirmed that this band of Roving Bandits had come out of the mountains at Taihu, that their numbers were not large, and that the Sweeping King's main camp was not among them.

This band of Roving Bandits had not passed through Taihu County Town but headed directly toward Susong, mainly to seize grain. This servant had gotten lost while foraging at Susong and was captured without resistance when he ran into the scout cavalry. They were heading toward Huangmei. From the servant's mouth they also learned that he had heard his Post Commander say more people would come out of the mountains at Taihu later, but he did not know how many.

Combining this with scattered reports from fleeing civilians, Pang Yu tentatively judged that this unit was merely passing through. Those who had gone ahead might be a small band, perhaps a Vanguard, or perhaps just one unit coming out of the mountains to seize grain.

The scale of what was behind remained unclear. If the Sweeping King's main force came out of the mountains at Taihu, the Garrison Commander's battalion could not head straight for Susong; otherwise it would expose a huge gap in the Shipai direction.

And if the Roving Bandits intended to go to Anqing, they would not circle all the way around Susong before striking Shipai. Pang Yu's thinking was to secure the prefectural city. As for the Susong direction, it was already devastated anyway — the Sweeping King could do no worse damage there. So once the intelligence was confirmed, the Garrison Commander's battalion chose to advance on Taihu, arriving at Taihu County Town in the afternoon of the second day.

The closer they got to Taihu County Town, the more ruined the surrounding villages appeared. Many hamlets were deserted, with occasional wild dogs prowling among broken walls and rubble. Fields abandoned for nearly a year were thick with weeds.

When he had gone to Susong early in the year to coerce Chen Ten Prefectures, Pang Yu had passed through here. Taihu's rammed-earth wall was still the same, with signs of collapse everywhere. Facing Roving Bandits, if no troops defended it, this earth wall was little different from having no city wall at all.

The newly appointed County Magistrate of Taihu greeted them outside the town. The ceremony was rather shabby. He had few attendants with him, and the nearby runners had not even been fully issued their Blue Battle Robes; only the Water-Fire Staffs in their hands could identify them. Behind them were several gentry representatives, and some common folk watched from a distance along the Official Road.

This County Magistrate was named Yang Zhuoran. When Shi Kefa dismounted, Yang was already waiting respectfully to the side. Once Shi Kefa turned around, Yang led the officials in kneeling to pay respects. Shi Kefa bade Yang Zhuoran rise. Pang Yu observed from the side: Yang Zhuoran looked rather haggard, probably worn out by the Roving Bandits these past two days.

Shi Kefa looked him over briefly, then said gently, "I have heard that Youxian (Yang Zhuoran's courtesy name) is a Presented Scholar of the fourth year of the Chongzhen reign."

Pang Yu, standing behind, silently curled his lip. Beside him, Pan Keda also made a subtle movement; Pang Yu knew he was not too comfortable either.

Before coming, Shi Kefa had specifically asked Pi Yingju about the officials in the four western counties. In the world of civil officials, examination status mattered above all else, so naturally he had inquired about these things. But the meaning of his words at this moment was to hint to Pang Yu and Pan Keda, those two military men, that this County Magistrate was a Presented Scholar and should be met with the ceremony due a subordinate official.

Pang Yu and Pan Keda both held ranks higher than County Magistrate, but when facing civil officials who banded together through the examination system, their ranks were as useless as Taihu's earth wall — especially against someone with Presented Scholar status, whose prospects were vast and who could soar to the top at any moment, and who was indeed not someone military men could afford to offend. Though it had always been this way, Shi Kefa's hint was a little too blatant, revealing how much he valued Presented Scholar status in his heart.

Yang Zhuoran said respectfully, "In reply to the Circuit Intendant, this humble official is a Tong Presented Scholar of the fourth year of the Chongzhen reign, ranked twenty-eighth on the third list."

Pang Yu studied Yang Zhuoran a moment longer. Shi Kefa had been twenty-sixth on the third list in the first year of the Chongzhen reign. By stating his own rank, Yang Zhuoran placed himself just two places lower — hinting at a gap with his superior Shi Kefa while also drawing closer to him. It seemed this new County Magistrate was quite seasoned.

Sure enough, Shi Kefa's smile grew warmer. Yang Zhuoran smoothly steered the conversation into examination circles. The examinations were indeed like a thousand troops and ten thousand horses crossing a single-plank bridge; those scholars who actually passed the Presented Scholar were, after all, a tiny minority. That path required many years of effort, and most shared a common journey of the heart. At the same time, it was a network of connections within officialdom, offering many topics to explore. The last time Pang Yu had accompanied Shi Kefa and Pi Yingju in Tongcheng, he had learned that Shi Kefa and Pi Yingju were of the same examination year. The warmth between those two was little short of blood brothers; once they started talking, they never stopped, and upon returning to Anqing they even visited Liu Ruozai's mansion together.

Sure enough, these two soon began talking about the same-year cohorts of their two sessions, mentioning several mutual acquaintances and exchanging what each knew of those people's promotions. In a brief moment, they grew much closer.

Pang Yu naturally knew not a single person in examination circles — he had never even heard of them. Pan Keda beside him was probably in the same boat. Out of the corner of his eye, Pang Yu noticed Pan Keda suppressing yawns several times. Neither dared disturb the two civil officials, and so the army of over a thousand men behind them simply waited on the Official Road.

It was not actually very long, but just as Pang Yu was growing drowsy listening, Shi Kefa finally began introducing the relief force's officers. Pan Keda and Pang Yu, facing a mere seventh-rank County Magistrate, performed the subordinate-official ceremony by the book. Yang Zhuoran accepted it calmly, but his manner was not haughty; his tone was very modest, which slightly improved Pang Yu's impression of him.

After helping Pang Yu rise, Yang Zhuoran looked him over a few more times, clearly having heard of Pang Yu's reputation.

Next, Yang Zhuoran introduced the Assistant Officials of the county yamen, skipping over the Six Offices Clerks behind them, and introduced a few gentry representatives who had come to greet them. Shi Kefa was quite experienced at handling such occasions, and host and guests conversed pleasantly.

After the ceremony, the two walked together into Taihu town. Although Taihu County Town had only an earth wall, its six city gates were built of brick, each with a gate tower. Judging by the gate towers alone, they were still quite imposing.

The party prepared to enter the town through the south gate. As Shi Kefa walked, he studied the nearby earth wall, his earlier ease gone. In a somber tone, he said to Yang Zhuoran, "Taihu was raided early this year, and the slaughter was brutal. Now the Roving Bandits have come out of the passes again. Seeing such a city wall today fills me with deep worry."

"Your Excellency's heart, concerned for the state and grieving for the people, moves this humble official to the core. It is exactly as Your Excellency says: without a wall, there is no defense. Since taking office, I have been able only to exhaust my mind and energy, thinking solely of how to preserve what little vitality Taihu has left. The first priority is to build a city wall. Only with a wall can we strengthen the Civilian Braves and rally the people's spirit."

Shi Kefa exclaimed "Excellent!" and stopped walking, saying with some emotion, "Youxian and I think alike without prior consultation. Look at the calamity early this year: those with walls survived, those without suffered. The lesson is not far in the past. Not only must the County Seat build a wall, but wherever people gather, they should erect stockades to defend themselves. When the Roving Bandits can plunder nothing, they will naturally retreat in the face of difficulty..."

Pang Yu knew Shi Kefa was about to launch into his grand discourse on building stockades for safety. He had expounded on it many times in Tongcheng, hoping every township and village in Tongcheng would build its own fortified stronghold. From a local official's perspective, there might be some logic to it, but for a military commander responsible for a large region, relying solely on building stockades could not achieve victory.

Pang Yu guessed that Yang Zhuoran had probably inquired about things from the prefectural city, which was why he could strike right at Shi Kefa's heart the moment he opened his mouth. Another possibility was that Yang Zhuoran genuinely wanted to build a wall — after all, he had just taken office, and during his years of tenure he could hardly guarantee he would not face a Roving Bandit incursion.

Looking at Taihu's situation, having an earth wall was better than nothing; it could reduce a great deal of earthwork. Places like Susong and Qianshan did not even have an earth wall. Raising a wall from flat ground by manpower alone would require not only massive Rations and Pay but also a very long time.

But even for Taihu, facing the earth core with brick was an enormous undertaking, absolutely not something that could be finished in the short term. With Roving Bandits liable to appear at any moment, hoping to build a city wall was like climbing a tree to catch fish. At the same time, Pang Yu did not think Taihu's current economy could support such a project.

Not wanting to rehash his own ideas about the city in the heart, Pang Yu stayed out of the two civil officials' conversation.

He only heard Yang Zhuoran continue to Shi Kefa, "Your Excellency is absolutely right. To the north of Taihu stretch vast, boundless mountains, through which bands of brigands come and go. After taking office, I made preparing against brigands my first priority: restoring cultivation, feeding the starving, deploying scouts, training Civilian Braves, and steadying the people's hearts. One could say a thousand threads and ten thousand ends, pioneering through brambles and thorns — but the foremost task is preparing to build the city wall. Early this year, the Roving Bandits arrived in a flash, and Taihu collapsed instantly because it had no wall. A few days ago, Roving Bandits emerged from Yingshan, and the whole county was once again in panic. I believed we should take the offensive as defense and resolutely led the Civilian Braves in a night raid on the bandits, sending them fleeing in terror. But to speak frankly with Your Excellency, that was merely a Feint, winning by surprise. Can such a thing be done once and then again? The art of war says there must be both orthodox and unorthodox tactics. To secure Taihu's foundation, we must still build a city wall. Fortunately, by the boundless grace of the throne, Taihu's Fu Tax arrears for the seventh and eighth years have been remitted, leaving us some spare resources for the wall's construction. Once the wall is completed, it will not only secure Taihu but also block the Yingshan brigands from invading Anqing, lending Your Excellency a modest hand. Only then will this humble official feel he has somewhat fulfilled his duty as a subordinate."

Pang Yu and Pan Keda exchanged a glance, then immediately looked away. In a few sentences, Yang Zhuoran had comprehensively touted his own merits, established an image of a decisive and dutiful official, expressed gratitude for imperial grace in the middle, and along the way continued endorsing Shi Kefa's strategy — all while striking a perfectly subordinate posture. So silver-tongued — it would be strange if Shi Kefa did not like him.

Sure enough, Shi Kefa's face was full of admiration. "With Youxian guarding Taihu, the people of Taihu are most fortunate."

Yang Zhuoran, however, was very modest at this moment. "I dare not accept Your Excellency's undue praise. I used to often wonder: did I toil over the classics until my hair turned white for more than twenty years just for a black gauze cap? In the past I was muddle-headed, but the day I arrived in Taihu, I heard of the former County Magistrate, His Excellency Jin. Knowing the Roving Bandits were coming, he still sat in the Main Hall. With no blade in hand, he still hurled stones at the bandits. The sheer brutality of his death shakes the soul. Only upon arriving here did I understand: the examinations are not for becoming an official, but for forging a useful self — to repay imperial grace above and protect the common people below. Since my first lessons, I have recited Zhang Zai's 'Hengqu Four Aims.' In the past I grasped only the form; it is only today that I truly understand them. That is all."

A glimmer of tears shone in Shi Kefa's eyes. "Good. Good. Jin Yingyuan's deeds before his end have become Youxian's heartfelt words today. This is the essence of the 'Hengqu Four Aims.' This is the deeper meaning of the examinations. I can say with certainty: once Taihu's wall is completed, it will become a strong fence on Anqing's northwest border. Not even a thousand troops or ten thousand horses will be able to do anything about it."

Pang Yu had not expected that in just this short walk, the two would already be speaking with such fervor. Listening to their words alone, they indeed possessed a heaven-supporting, earth-bearing spirit. Since coming to the Ming Dynasty, Pang Yu had heard such rhetoric often and had little interest in it. What he most wanted to know at this moment was whether, in the original history of the late Ming, Taihu's wall had ever been finished, and what its final fate had been.

By now they had reached the south gate. Pang Yu looked up and saw two large characters carved above the gate arch: "Fumin." The last time he passed through, he had only gone by outside the town. Entering through Fumin Gate, he let his gaze roam. Inside the town was a landscape of broken walls and rubble. Black scorch marks from the great fire were still visible everywhere. Only about three in ten houses had survived. The streets were sparsely populated; some people, seeing the officials, did not even kneel, just staring blankly from the roadside.

Yang Zhuoran was about to send runners to discipline them, but Shi Kefa immediately stopped him. He had been observing Taihu's devastation the whole way. Now he said to Yang Zhuoran, "The matter of building the wall must not be delayed. How are Youxian's preparations progressing?"

"This humble official has been preparing for a long time. After Taihu was ravaged, gentry from near and far have all fervently discussed the wall-building project. Besides the County Seat, there are also two stockades and five fortified strongholds. At present, over forty thousand in funds have been raised..." (Note 1)

Pang Yu had still been looking around, but at these words his gaze snapped back and fixed on the voluble Yang Zhuoran, his eyes as sharp as a Fierce Tiger spotting a fat pig.

Five days later, outside Fumin Gate, the formation was strict and orderly. The Garrison Commander's battalion deployed a two-line formation, but the open field opposite was utterly empty.

During the four intervening days, the Garrison Commander's battalion had defended along the Official Road and easily routed a band of over seventy Roving Bandits at Xiaochi Post, forty li west of the town. They captured a team leader, and interrogation revealed they were a detached unit under the Sweeping King, with no large force behind them.

Afterward, scout cavalry reconnoitered thirty li toward Yingshan and captured a few more servants on foot, confirming that one part of the Sweeping King's force had come out of the mountains to forage, while the Sweeping King's main camp and other units had already moved west, their destination the Macheng area in Huguang.

Anqing would not have to face the Roving Bandits' main force for the time being. This matched Pang Yu's judgment: the Roving Bandits would not likely repeat through the same area in the short term. First, the region was too ruined to easily obtain grain; second, the populace was so jittery that at the slightest rumor they would flee — places like Taihu and Susong offered little to plunder even if the bandits came. Huangmei and similar places were in greater danger.

With the alert lifted, Shi Kefa prepared to lead the troops back to the prefectural city, because another alarm had come from the Tongcheng direction — still from the Shucheng area. The information was vaguer than last time and its veracity could not yet be confirmed, but Anqing needed to make some preparations, and the troops also needed to return to garrison to rest and regroup.

Before the army withdrew, Pang Yu proposed holding a drill to display Anqing's military strength and boost the people's morale in Taihu.

Pang Yu naturally had the selfish motive of expanding his own credibility, but how could Shi Kefa grasp such calculations? He readily approved the operation, to be carried out jointly by the Garrison Commander's battalion and the Biao Troops.

Shi Kefa and the other officials occupied the City Tower, while the earth wall was packed with nearby common folk, everyone in high spirits.

The Garrison Commander's battalion deployed a two-line battle formation. The first line consisted of six Companies of War Soldiers; the second line was the reserve troops and the Personal Guard Unit, with cavalry on both flanks.

The six Companies of the first line formed an attack formation for the first time. Each Squad formed a two-file column: the first rank was Sword and Shield, the four ranks behind were Long Spears. Each Company was assigned ten archers, five on each side. The entire formation was five ranks deep.

Some scout cavalry fanned out ahead, simulating skirmishes with enemy scattered riders, occasionally galloping past the front of the formation and loosing Light Arrows into the open field.

After the Signal Cannon fired, Pang Yu waved the Command Flag atop the City Tower. The earth wall fell silent, waiting to watch the great show to come.

With a thunderous boom, white smoke erupted from the center of the formation. Bao Yu's Bronze Cannon fired a five-catty Iron Shot; when it struck the ground three hundred paces away, dust and smoke flew everywhere. A cheer rose from the earth wall.

After another shot, the conch horns sounded. The entire army shouted "Kill!" in unison, and a chilling, lethal aura instantly arose. The officials on the City Tower grew excited too, turning to one another and murmuring.

Then the Central Army's Step Drums beat. Each Company's Recognition Banner dipped forward. The six Companies of the first line advanced, stepping to the drumbeat. The sound of uniform footsteps thundered, and the dense Long Spears bobbed in rhythmic waves.

Shi Kefa, stirred by the spectacle, stepped forward two paces. Out of the corner of his eye, Pang Yu saw Yang Zhuoran fall behind, preparing to follow.

These past few days on alert outside Taihu's walls, Yang Zhuoran had been accompanying Shi Kefa, so Pang Yu had not yet managed to speak with him alone. Seizing this chance, Pang Yu sidestepped closer, bowed to Yang Zhuoran, and said, "Magistrate Yang."

Seeing it was Pang Yu, Yang Zhuoran immediately moved a step nearer. "Commander Pang, a man of great generalship — to forge such a wolf-and-tiger host in mere months."

Pang Yu hurried to demur. These past days the Garrison Battalion had shown strict discipline and brought its own provisions, a stark contrast to Pan Keda's unit, earning excellent repute both in the Taihu offices and among the common folk, and now they had just demonstrated superior combat strength. But he himself knew the truth: drilling was like a man shadowboxing through a solo form — it looked beautiful, but in a real fight it mostly turned into a wild brawl, nowhere near as pretty.

The onlookers had crowded close to the city wall to watch the infantry advance, paying them no attention. Pang Yu seized the moment and cut straight to the point. "Magistrate Yang, your labors to build Taihu's walls are a deed that will benefit a thousand generations. But wall-building still takes time, and in the interim, raids by roving bandits are inevitable. The rations and pay you have raised, stored in the county seat, may not be entirely secure."

Yang Zhuoran's expression grew guarded. For a military man to bring up the rations and pay in his own office — that indeed warranted caution.

"Then Commander Pang's opinion is…"

"Magistrate Yang, do not misunderstand. I have an acquaintance who runs the Great River Silver Bank in Anqing. The advance tax grain from Tongcheng, Huaining, and Wangjiang is all placed there to earn interest. Because Taihu has no walls, storing a large sum of wall-building rations and pay in the county seat is like carrying treasure on a night march. The roving bandits are most adept with spies; if they uncover this, those who might not have come may well come after all. For the sake of Taihu's people, I submit that wall-building is a long endeavor and the rations and pay will not be spent overnight. This silver could be deposited in the bank, both preventing covetous eyes and earning profit for the people."

Yang Zhuoran relaxed slightly at this, but after all, Pang Yu was a military man, and he was not entirely at ease. He still hesitated somewhat.

Pang Yu continued in a low voice, "You may rest assured, Magistrate. When the interest is set, a contract serves as proof. When the other counties signed, the Prefectural Judge, Magistrate Chen, acted as guarantor and middleman."

At the mention of Chen Ten Prefectures as guarantor, Yang Zhuoran's doubts instantly dissolved. That man was an Assistant Official of the Prefectural Office — his credibility naturally far surpassed Pang Yu's. Yet Yang Zhuoran was a seasoned operator; his eyes now shifted with a nimble glint, already weighing other considerations.

"An acquaintance introduced by Commander Pang is naturally trustworthy. Earning interest has its own rules. I myself ordinarily pay no mind to such trifling matters as interest rates, but this grain and silver was raised by the common people. I must at least ask clearly before deciding."

Pang Yu replied matter-of-factly, "Business is business. Naturally, you should ask, Magistrate. For the other counties' advance tax grain, the annual rate is one qian and eight fen, but the other interest rate is one qian."

Yang Zhuoran's expression remained impassive. A Presented Scholar of the fourth year of Chongzhen, he had spent several years in other posts. Though not a senior official, he had some understanding of office lending practices. In the late Ming, with silver growing ever scarcer, Pang Yu's one-qian interest was somewhat low.

He nodded and said, "Then I must consult with the local gentry before deciding."

Pang Yu understood that this was a refusal; there would be no follow-up. The reason was still the low interest rate. But he himself was under enormous financial pressure and could no longer use funds at such high interest in the short term.

Keeping his own expression unchanged, he said, "Other silver banks might offer a bit more interest, but there are some things they cannot offer you, Magistrate."

With that, he waved a hand behind him. The drumbeats grew denser, and from below rose wave after wave of battle cries — the combat drill had begun.

Pang Yu looked Yang Zhuoran in the eye. "Should the roving bandits invade Taihu, Magistrate, you would first need to go to Anqing to request reinforcements. A fast horse takes a day to deliver the message; Anqing would need at least three days to mobilize troops. The bandits advance with extreme speed. Several bands could simultaneously invade Susong, Taihu, Wangjiang, and Qianshan. In four days, they could do a great deal. Anqing is distant water for a nearby fire, and you, Magistrate, bear the duty of defending the territory. The predicament in between — I understand it deeply."

In this statement, the bargaining chip was Pang Yu's own Garrison Battalion. Especially after this display of combat strength, it had already become a pillar of reliance in Yang Zhuoran's mind. Regardless of whether Taihu's walls were completed, the presence or absence of military relief was what truly mattered for Taihu's safety. Yang Zhuoran's desire to build a personal bond with Shi Kefa was likewise born of the hope that in an emergency, Shi Kefa would prioritize relieving Taihu — for his own life was now bound to Taihu.

For a County Magistrate like him, the cruelest phrase was "duty of defending the territory." Under the court's current policies, abandoning the city and fleeing was a capital offense — even if the city had no walls — while staying meant being slaughtered by the bandits. From the day he arrived in Taihu, Yang Zhuoran had been trapped in this dilemma. And Pang Yu's meaning just now was clear: if the money was not deposited at the Great River Silver Bank at one qian interest, the Garrison Battalion would absolutely not come to Taihu's rescue. He had transformed a question of interest rates into a question of life and death.

Yang Zhuoran immediately showed hesitation. His predicament had been seen through completely. Across two lifetimes of experience, Pang Yu had settled on one iron rule: once you have seized your opponent's weakness, there is no need to circle around it, and absolutely no room for pity.

Outside the city, the battle cries raged on. All the spectators were brimming with enthusiasm, utterly unaware that atop this small city tower, another battle — one without smoke or fire — was being waged.

Pang Yu gave Yang Zhuoran a moment to digest this, then glanced left and right before continuing. "Today, seeing Magistrate Yang's tireless efforts for the people of Taihu, I am deeply moved with admiration. Out of respect for you, Magistrate, the Garrison Battalion could consider stationing troops near Taihu. Should Taihu face an alarm, we could arrive within two days. I wonder if this interest rate might suffice."

Yang Zhuoran now had a way to step down. At the same time, the bargaining chip Pang Yu had thrown out was a heavy one — though of course he had no idea that Pang Yu had always intended to station troops at Shipai, and was now packaging it as a concession made specifically for Taihu.

"And if all four counties face an alarm at once…"

Pang Yu said evenly, "I said just now: if Taihu faces an alarm, we will relieve Taihu. It concerns Taihu alone."

Having obtained the answer he wanted, Yang Zhuoran studied Pang Yu for a long moment. "Is Commander Pang considering stationing troops within Taihu, or in a place near Taihu?"

Pang Yu could not help but smile. This Yang Zhuoran was indeed a seasoned operator — even at a moment like this, he could grasp that the troops must not be stationed in Taihu. If they were quartered in Taihu, in the end the locality might have to supply their rations and pay, and would still have to worry about the depredations of soldiers — not necessarily beneficial to Yang Zhuoran's work as Provincial Governor.

"Not far outside Taihu, within two days' march. In ordinary times, Taihu would not need to supply rations and pay."

Yang Zhuoran's eyes shifted for a moment, then fixed on Pang Yu. "One day's march."

Pang Yu now felt a sense of ease instead. Bargaining like this was far better than beating around the bush. A gentle smile spread across his face. "Where there is a will, there is a way. If the troops march a little faster, it becomes a day's march."

After a brief consideration, Yang Zhuoran said with certainty, "I find Commander Pang's earlier words reasonable. Storing a large sum of silver in a city without walls is no long-term plan. Your esteemed friend's silver bank is a good destination. On the day the Commander stations troops near Taihu, I shall trouble you to make the introduction."

Pang Yu cupped his hands. "It is settled."

Just then, the thunder of hooves rose from outside the city. The drill had reached its final stage. The mounted units of the Garrison Battalion and the Biao Troops had been unleashed and were now pursuing the remnant enemy. The two men, hands still cupped in salute, exchanged a smile.

…

Note 1: Qianlong "Taihu County Annals": Geographical Records: "(The building of Taihu's walls) occurred just after the initial ravages of war. The people were still prosperous and willingly contributed to the public labor. Thus the expenditure exceeded sixty thousand, and no public funds were drawn." Construction began in the third or fourth month of the ninth year of Chongzhen; the fundraising would have been largely completed by the end of the eighth year.

Note from previous chapter 1: Kangxi "Anqing Prefectural Records": Markets: Shipai, one hundred li west of the city, connects the four counties of Qianshan, Taihu, Susong, and Wangjiang.