Chapter 245: War Report

"Great victory at Puzikou! On the first day of the new year, a great victory at Puzikou — the Anqing Garrison Battalion struck the bandits from a thousand li away, and Nanjing is saved! Come buy the War Report Extra and read the latest bandit news!"

On the second day of the new year, on Shicheng Gate Inner Street in Nanjing, a Green-Skin clutched a stack of extras and hawked them with all his might.

Nanjing was in a state of panic; everyone in the city was worried about the hundreds of thousands of Roving Bandits just across the river, and all sorts of rumors were circulating. Hearing that there was the latest bandit intelligence, a crowd quickly gathered, hands reaching out to the Green-Skin for a paper — some even lunging to grab one.

"Hey, hey, what're you doing — two coppers a sheet."

The man at the front cursed, "This newspaper gets delivered free in the city every month — what gives you the right to charge two coppers?"

"That was before. This War Report Extra is a hot item — two coppers. If you're not buying, step aside." The Green-Skin moved to push the man out of the way without another word.

The man brushed his hand aside and asked, "Then how do we know it's true?"

"How could it not be true? The newspaper's chief... right, the chief writer is from Anqing, knows that Garrison Commander personally, crossed the river himself to see the great battle — how could there be any falsehood? Let me tell you, the victory dispatch from Pukou is about to cross the river. Hurry up and buy a copy."

The man turned and walked off. "If I already know it's a great victory, why would I buy one?"

The Green-Skin spat, then called out to the others around him, "There's more in this war report — the Roving Bandits broke through Hezhou and massacred the city! A Restoration Society Licentiate named Liu lost his family and home, then had a stroke of fortune crossing the river and came into great wealth. Anyone who wants to read it, come buy!"

He had learned his lesson this time, leaving a hook in his pitch. A sizable crowd had gathered — many in Nanjing could read — and they jostled and shoved, trying to see what exactly had happened to that Liu Licentiate in the war report. The Green-Skin shielded the papers and refused to let them look.

At last, one man fished out two coppers and thrust them at him. "Take your two coppers — give me a sheet, damn it."

The man got the war report in hand, and a knot of people followed him over to read, shoving and clamoring in a tight scrum.

The rest still surrounded the Green-Skin. An old man squeezed to the front and said, "The Newspaper Office clearly gave those to you for free. Selling them for one copper would be one thing."

The others chimed in, "At one copper, we'd all buy."

The Green-Skin lowered his head and thought it over. They'd been free anyway — whatever he sold them for was pure profit. He waved a hand. "One copper it is. Pay up."

The scene immediately turned lively. The papers sold fast, the Green-Skin taking coins and handing out papers nonstop.

"How come you charged me two coppers and them one!" The first man who had bought one came charging back, grabbing the Green-Skin by the collar. "Give me my money back!"

"You've already read it — what refund? Let go... hey! You think you can just hit people?"

As they argued, it came to blows. The Green-Skin flailed wildly, losing his grip on the war reports, which scattered everywhere. The people around snatched them up.

One stray war report drifted along Shicheng Gate Inner Street, coming to a stop only when it struck a pair of Songjiang square-toed shoes.

Fang Yizhi bent down, picked up the war report from beside his foot, skimmed it, then turned and hurried home. At his own gate, he pounded on the door. The gatekeeper opened the small viewing window, took a look, and quickly pulled the gate open. Once Fang Yizhi was inside, he hastily shut it again.

Fang Yizhi rushed to his father's Study in the rear courtyard. The Study door was open. Fang Yizhi stood before it and said respectfully, "Father, there is new intelligence from Jiangbei."

Fang Kongzhao's steady voice came from within. "Come in."

Entering the Study, he saw Fang Kongzhao seated composedly behind his writing desk, holding an identical copy of the newspaper in his hand. Fang Yizhi stood there, stunned.

Fang Kongzhao waved a hand. "The streets are full of people selling this newspaper now. I had someone buy a copy when they passed the gate."

Fang Yizhi gave an "oh," slightly embarrassed.

Fang Kongzhao looked at him with mild puzzlement. "Doesn't the Restoration Society run this newspaper together with Garrison Commander Pang? Whatever gets printed on it — does your Restoration Society not know?"

"To answer Father... it was originally so. The Restoration Society wanted to publish Current Affairs Essays, and I would decide on them together with Wu Yingji and the others. If there was anything we were unsure of, we would send it to the Two Zhangs for a final decision. But lately, with the Roving Bandits at the river, we've had no time to attend to it."

Fang Kongzhao looked at the newspaper in his hand. "The Restoration Society only decides on the Restoration Society's own submissions. Those supernatural tales, the North Gorge Pass Great Victory, the Roving Bandits' movements — those are things Garrison Commander Pang puts in himself. Now look at this issue. Though it's called a war report, it actually contains other writing as well."

Fang Yizhi picked it up and examined it closely. This extra was only half the usual size. The upper half was all battle reports of the Garrison Battalion's rout of the enemy at Pukou; the lower half was a strategic account of the Hezhou Massacre, which included that Liu Licentiate's experience.

"Is this Liu Licentiate truly a member of the Restoration Society?"

"I have indeed never heard of him. But the Restoration Society's members have spread across the realm in recent years — it is not unusual that I would not have heard of him."

Fang Kongzhao smiled faintly. "The scholars of the realm flock to the Restoration Society like ducks to water, but most join with an eye on the imperial examinations, simply seeking the shortcut of the Two Zhangs' recommendation. A fine literary society has acquired a mercenary tinge. I hear that Jiang Chen, relying on Zhang Pu's petition, has entered the court's Virtuous and Upright Examination?"

Fang Yizhi kept his head lowered at this. His father's words carried a veiled admonishment for him. Since arriving in Nanjing, he truly had not prepared for the examinations with much diligence, spending most of his time instead on society activities. His father was hinting that it was not worth devoting so much time to society affairs. He could only reply, "I have also heard of this matter. I hear he is about to enter the capital."

Fang Kongzhao rose to his feet and walked slowly to his son's side. "This dynasty places the utmost weight on the imperial examinations. They are a vital instrument of the court and will never be controlled by others. Some may take shortcuts and pull ahead for a time, but the ground beneath their feet is empty. My son, you must walk the open, proper path. Make every step firm and solid. No matter the ups and downs, the day will come when you soar to the heavens."

"Thank you for your instruction, Father." Fang Yizhi answered quietly. He knew his father spoke from heartfelt experience. He looked up at Fang Kongzhao. "I have not yet congratulated Father on your imminent reinstatement."

"Keep that knowledge in your heart. The reinstatement will likely be in Nanjing — at any rate, it is a solid step. But do not speak of it to anyone before it is settled." Fang Kongzhao picked up the newspaper in his hand. "It is one thing for scholars to draw close to the Restoration Society for the examinations. But what is this Pang Squad Leader's purpose in publishing this Liu Licentiate's story?"

"Garrison Commander Pang is well-versed in Western learning, and quite adept at drilling troops and fighting battles. If the Pukou Great Victory is real, then he has lifted the threat to Nanjing. Today, word is spreading everywhere in the city. On my way back just now, I heard the name of Anqing's Garrison Commander Pang several times."

Fang Kongzhao looked up at Fang Yizhi. "Garrison Commander Pang does have some ability in warfare — that much was evident from last year's defense of Tongcheng. But in this war report, after reading his strategic account of Hezhou, what part do you remember most?"

"The Great River Silver Bank." The words left Fang Yizhi's mouth before he could think. "The original owner was dead, yet they still sought out his descendants. Not only did they return the deposited silver, they also paid three years' interest. For five hundred taels over three years, that came to one hundred taels in interest, and they paid it in full. The interest was not great, but its value lay in its reliability. They also sent Liu Licentiate to Nanjing, preserving the Liu family bloodline — that cannot be measured merely by the amount of interest. It all rests on the bank's good faith."

Fang Kongzhao laughed in spite of himself. "When I first read it, my impression was the same. But think on it more carefully — this Anqing Great River Silver Bank must be Garrison Commander Pang's own enterprise. This is his scheme, and it is nothing more than a silver bank."

Fang Yizhi hesitated, then said, "I imagine he wants to lend Capital Debt. That is why he wrote it specifically for the Restoration Society members to read — for those short of silver when entering the capital, or for after they pass the examinations, to borrow Capital Debt from that Great River Silver Bank."

Fang Kongzhao set the war report down on the desk and sighed. "There is nothing more to it than that. This is what comes of a minor squad leader not studying the classics. Even if he becomes an official and defeats bandits, all he knows are these unorthodox tricks — a laughingstock before the truly learned."

"These Roving Bandit corpses — have the Small Patrol Boats take them across the river. If they can't enter the city, then carry the corpses on a circuit around the city walls. And fly this banner of mine."

In the boudoir of the West Wing of a large mansion outside Wanfeng Gate, Pang Yu spoke while turning over a banner in his hands. Embroidered on it were the five large characters "Anqing Garrison Commander Pang." It had been rush-made for propaganda purposes. Truth be told, Pang Yu loved commercial market towns like Pukou — give them silver, and they'd have a banner ready overnight.

Pang Ding, the executor of this propaganda operation, looked up after hearing this. "Should we drag those captives over too? Let the common folk see them — they'd believe it more."

"What do you know?" Pang Yu tossed the banner aside. "People's memories are very short. We have to make them hear the words 'Anqing Garrison Battalion' over and over..."

Pang Ding raised a hand and added, "Anqing Garrison Commander Pang."

Pang Yu pointed a finger at him. "Exactly — Garrison Commander Pang. That means issuing war reports repeatedly. When Nanjing is in chaos and everyone's life is at stake, they all want to know the battle situation in Jiangbei. If Nanjing pays attention, then all of Jiangnan pays attention. We need to make good use of their focus. First we send over ordinary Roving Bandit corpses, then the captives, then only after that, Yao Tiandong's corpse and banners. Raise the stakes bit by bit, each time different — that's the only way they'll remember. If you report everything at once, they'll forget in a few days. Who'd know anything about the Anqing Garrison Battalion?"

"What the young master says is true, but... are you really not going to pursue and strike Gao Bazi?"

Pang Yu shook his head. "We came to relieve Jiangpu. The Roving Bandits are withdrawing now — Jiangpu is out of danger. Why would we go after them?"

"There's plenty of silver in those bandit camps." Pang Ding leaned in and lowered his voice. "We found thirty-two thousand taels of silver at Silver Ingot Bridge alone, and over a thousand taels of gold. Silver Ingot Bridge really was where they kept the silver ingots. And that was just Ma Shouying's one small camp. If we could break Gao Yingxiang, it'd have to be a million taels of silver."

"The young master wants silver too, but you have to be alive to spend it. You think Gao Bazi is so easy to hit? We barely have any cavalry left. What if hundreds of thousands of Roving Bandits surround us? That Cao Wenzhao, Ai Wannian, and the rest — I hear they were all cavalry troops, and they still got killed. We're not at the point of fighting the Roving Bandits to the death. Once Gao Bazi leaves, we'll make an appearance at the walls of Jiangpu — that counts as lifting the siege. Then we'll issue another war report about lifting the siege." So saying, he flopped onto the bed beside him. The whole bed was fragrant.

"Young master, a wealthy family's boudoir really is something else." Pang Ding came over and felt the bronze bed-hook, from which a Sachet still hung, his face full of envy. "Fragrant spices everywhere. Let's grab more silver and buy ourselves one of these beds. Why print all those newspapers and give them away to those people for free?"

Pang Yu kicked Pang Ding in the leg. "Go muster the boats. Select a Banner Team with high Military Merits from the Second Division to take the corpses across the river. Everyone is to be dressed neatly for me — let the common folk of Nanjing see that our Anqing Garrison Battalion is different from the officers and soldiers of other battalions. And remember to tell He County Yamen not to publish any news of the Roving Bandits withdrawing. Keep Nanjing on edge a while longer."

Pang Ding muttered a couple of words under his breath. Lately, he had strongly disapproved of Pang Yu's spending. They had seized thirty thousand taels at Silver Ingot Bridge, and Pang Yu had immediately handed three thousand taels to He County Yamen — not only distributing newspapers for free in Nanjing, but also having them delivered to every point along the river. Today, he had also paid commissions to the Sailors on those requisitioned boats.

For the Garrison Battalion's own troops, Pang Yu had also promised combat rewards, varying according to merit and performance. At the current rate, these thirty thousand taels would all be handed out by Pang Yu before long.

Pang Ding dusted off his trousers, tidied the things on the table, and prepared brush and ink. He needed to write out Pang Yu's military order — otherwise, Pang Yu could not mobilize the Second Division's men.

He had just ground it a few times when Guo Fengyou's voice came from outside the door. "Da, Mr. Ma has crossed the river and is already at the gate."