Chapter 284: Reorganization

In the early morning at Zilai Bridge in Tongcheng County, the April weather was gradually warming. With the retreat of the Roving Thieves' high tide in the Chongzhen Ninth Year, except for border passes like Beixia Pass, the martial law on roads throughout Tongcheng was lifted, land routes resumed passage, the market showed slight vitality, and the number of people crossing Zilai Bridge increased.

Before the new year, Pang Yu had dug a trench outside Zilai Bridge. City residents entering Tongcheng still had to cross via the wooden bridge over the trench. An earthen fortress was built inside the trench to cut off the Official Road and serve as a buffer outside the city, preventing another surprise attack like the one in the Chongzhen Eighth Year. It was still preserved, and inside the earthen rampart were many crude structures, all built from materials scavenged from the ruins of Zilai Street, used for soldiers stationed there during winter.

Pang Yu stood waiting outside a slightly larger house, with Pang Ding standing behind him to the side. After a moment, the door curtain lifted, and Shi Kefa, fully clad in military attire, emerged from within.

"Your subordinate pays respects to the Circuit Intendant."

Shi Kefa's face was ashen, his expression unable to conceal his exhaustion. Seeing Pang Yu, he paused briefly, then with a hint of surprise helped Pang Yu up and asked, "When did General Pang arrive in Tongcheng?"

"Your subordinate arrived last night. The night drum had already sounded by then. I waited for the garrison to verify my identity before entering the city through Nanxun Gate. I had intended to pay my respects to you overnight, but it was already the second watch. I also heard that you were at Zilai Fort, so I waited until daybreak to come see you."

"General Pang rushed here through the night — is there military intelligence of Roving Thieves in Qianshan or Taihu?"

"In reply to you, sir, this subordinate has stationed Scout Cavalry on the mountain pass roads of Qianshan and Taihu. The Second Division is garrisoned at Shipai. Anqing is as steady as Mount Tai."

Shi Kefa visibly breathed a sigh of relief. He then looked Pang Yu up and down. Because he was not tall, his posture was somewhat looking upward, so Pang Yu hurriedly hunched his back a little.

"Then why did General Pang travel through the night? You must know that although the Roving Thieves have retreated, the Rogue Marauders still spread unchecked, and the roads are not peaceful. Do not let minor matters harm my great general."

Pang Yu said respectfully, "Thank you for your concern, sir. It was also this humble one's miscalculation of the journey that caused me to arrive a bit late. But you, sir, stationed in Tongcheng, have a comfortable residence and large compound within the city, yet you lead by example and garrison yourself in this crude military camp, sleeping in your armor with your spear as a pillow, waiting for dawn. This subordinate naturally ought to take you as a model."

"Eating the sovereign's salary, it is originally one's duty — not worth mentioning." Shi Kefa waved his hands repeatedly and led the way toward Zilai Bridge. "Then what urgent matter brings General Pang hurrying to Tongcheng?"

Pang Yu waited for him to walk ahead before following to the side and rear and saying, "After the relief of Jiangnan, Military Commissioner Zhang ordered the Garrison Battalion to station at Wangjiang, Shipai, and Zongyang. Wangjiang has the old Water Camp Garrison headquarters; with slight repairs it is already usable. Currently three hundred Water Camp soldiers are stationed there, but they only have three Small Patrol Boats and two Grain Transport Ships. The Shipai camp is still under construction, planned to station five hundred cavalry and the Infantry Second Division. They are currently in temporary camp at Shipai. Additionally, there is Zongyang, where the camp is still very crude."

He paused here. Shi Kefa walked slowly ahead, wearing a suit of Chain Mail that made a faint rustling sound as he moved.

"Could it be that the Battalion soldiers and the Native Folk are somewhat at odds."

"There have been no major conflicts, only some common disputes between natives and newcomers. However, this general believes that Anqing is the Huai-Chu Throat, and the troops stationed everywhere will likely grow more and more numerous. Newly stationed troops dealing with the localities will inevitably encounter some entanglements, which more or less delays military affairs. Therefore, I boldly wish to request that the Circuit Intendant inspect the new camps everywhere, so as to bring peace and order to the localities."

Shi Kefa gave a soft "oh." He did not answer immediately but slowed his pace slightly, as if pondering how to reply to Pang Yu. He walked all the way outside Dongzuo Gate before stopping.

"What General Pang says is not without reason. However, the bandit situation in places like Shucheng and Luzhou still rages fiercely. As the general rightly said, Anqing is the Huai-Chu Throat, and Tongcheng is Anqing's strategic point. This official bears heavy responsibility for the frontier and truly should not leave his post at this time. Inspecting the new camps can be discussed later."

Pang Yu did not argue. "Your considerations are indeed thorough."

Shi Kefa seemed to feel he had rebuffed Pang Yu's Face and Sentiment, so he smiled again and said, "In this incursion of the Roving Thieves, General Pang defended Tongcheng and relieved Jiangnan, achieving many Victories for all to see. Having General Pang garrison Anqing gives this official great comfort."

"That is your praise, sir. Without your patronage, the Anqing Garrison Battalion would be a tree without roots."

Shi Kefa lowered his voice and said, "General Pang must not belittle himself. This official may as well inform you of something in advance. According to information I have received, the general is to be substantively appointed as Mobile Corps Commander. However, because the Rogue Marauders still rage fiercely, you need not go to the Capital to receive the Appointment Certificate. When the time comes, the Ministry of War will send someone to deliver it to Anqing."

Pang Yu's face showed sudden realization. Just as he was about to bow in thanks, Shi Kefa hurriedly waved his hand. "This matter was learned by an old associate of mine in the Capital. You must not speak of it to outsiders. Young men must steady their nature, otherwise my goodwill will have been wasted."

"This subordinate understands."

Shi Kefa was silent for another moment, then said, "This official must now return to the Branch Office to attend to governance. At noon, I will supervise the construction of the Enemy Platform north of the city with Jinxian. General Pang may accompany me then, and also gain a clear understanding of the terrain."

Pang Yu immediately agreed, then respectfully saw Shi Kefa off as he entered Dongzuo Gate. He and Pang Ding remained outside the city, with Guo Fengyou and a few Personal Soldiers waiting to the side.

Dongzuo Gate was the place he knew best, because during the first defense against the Roving Bandits, the eastern wall was the main direction of the Roving Thieves' assault. Pang Yu had set his command post on the City Tower, and his impression of it was even deeper than that of suitable for the people Gate where his residence was.

This time, Dongzuo Gate had been sealed before the new year and only reopened in the third month. Outside the gate, stones and wooden Horse Rejecting barriers were piled everywhere. Even without a battle, it still presented a scene of aftermath.

Some of the Zhuang Squad personnel on gate duty recognized Pang Yu. After a moment's hesitation, they came over one after another to salute and greet him. Pang Yu once again enjoyed the treatment of a trending celebrity.

Once the fans had dispersed, Pang Ding came close and said, "The Circuit Intendant refuses to go inspect the Garrison Battalion's new camps. That is still a slap in the face to our Garrison Battalion."

Pang Yu turned and walked south, inspecting the condition of Zilai Street along the way. "The last thing this young master cares about is face. But if he doesn't make a trip to the new camps, our newly stationed troops will never be quite so convenient. Right now, Shucheng and Luzhou only have scattered remnants of Roving Thieves — where is this 'raging fiercely'? What do you think the Circuit Intendant's real reason for not going is?"

Although he asked aloud, Pang Yu had always known that Shi Kefa was displeased with him for leading troops without authorization to relieve Jiangnan, even though Zhang Guowei had given prior orders. Though events later proved Pang Yu's judgment of the Roving Thieves' movements had been accurate, in the chaos of information at the time, Shi Kefa could have believed that Pang Yu had placed Anqing in a Danger Zone and led his troops away to curry favor with Zhang Guowei.

Now Pang Yu was encountering some difficulties stationing troops everywhere. Shipai and Wangjiang were still manageable, as they faced greater threats from the Roving Thieves. The slowest progress was in Zongyang. Xiazongyang had many great families, but not much land available for stationing troops, and it had almost never faced threats from Roving Thieves, so the resistance was strong. Some of the shops Pang Yu had purchased in advance were unsuitable for stationing troops. For now, they could only temporarily station in the granaries of the Red Sand Islet warehouse, with fewer than two hundred men. At the same time, the Great River Shipping Company and the silver bank had both opened branches there, along with the Canal Gang's business, leading to increasing conflicts with the locals. Facing those great families, even Yang Erming's role was limited. Pang Yu urgently needed Shi Kefa's help to lend his support. Inspecting the military camps was merely a pretext; the main point was to demonstrate the support of the highest local official and stabilize the situation first.

Under these circumstances, Shi Kefa naturally would not offer support so readily. Even for Zongyang, which was so close at hand, he was unwilling to go and lend Pang Yu his support.

"When you went to relieve Jiangnan, young master, you didn't heed the Circuit Intendant either and just took the troops away. I heard that afterward, the Circuit Intendant nearly abandoned all decorum."

Pang Yu chuckled. "Just a few curses, wasn't it? You've learned to talk in such roundabout ways too."

"The Circuit Intendant is a man of refinement after all. What he said just now about young men needing to steady their nature and not wasting his goodwill — that was practically his way of scolding you."

Pang Yu habitually reached out to pat Pang Ding's head, but suddenly looked up and saw Garrison Battalion soldiers on the City Wall. He hurriedly turned the gesture into a wave toward the soldiers, then lowered his hand.

Pang Ding remained oblivious and lowered his voice. "I heard from colleagues in the army that this Circuit Intendant stays in the camp every night. In Tongcheng, it's Zilai Fort; at Beixia Pass, it's the north gate tower; in Qianshan, it's Tianning Fortress. And every night he wears his armor. When the bandit situation is slightly urgent, he even sleeps sitting up. If there's no chair, he has two soldiers brace his back from behind."

"His Mental Spirit is commendable, but it's of no use." Pang Yu laughed in spite of himself. "Leading troops into battle, sleeping with spear as pillow and waiting for dawn — that should be the business of Pan Keda, Xu Strengthening, and me. Circuit Intendant Shi is the Military Defense Circuit Intendant. Inspecting garrisons, managing the prefectural and county offices, and supplying military resources — that is where he should spend his energy. Can his office think of some ways, find someone to beat the drum from the sidelines?"

"The connections have been made, but this Circuit Intendant may not necessarily listen to his Advisors. This Circuit Intendant, though... I hear he only takes the Regular Silver provided by the Prefectural Office, and even pays out of his own pocket for greeting and sending-off matters. His household in the Capital is short of funds, and he only takes a few dozen taels back at a time. I don't know if he truly has no silver, or if it's just posturing."

They walked past Xiangyang Gate and reached the southeast corner of the City Wall. Outside Nanxun Gate, troops were drilling, their chants shaking the heavens, audible from far away.

Pang Yu rubbed his forehead. "Then he is indeed a model of Virtue, a little bit higher than this young master. But what use is that to my Garrison Battalion? Someone like Lord Pi, on the other hand, can get things done, let us settle down in Zongyang. Spending a bit of silver would be the minor matter by comparison."

At that moment, they rounded the southeast corner of the City Wall. Outside the south gate were the military banners of the Personal Guard Division, which had arrived with Pang Yu the previous day. The division's four hundred soldiers were running and shouting chants as they went. All around, weapons were arrayed in racks of five, drawing many commoners to watch from a distance.

Some soldiers were also coming out of Nanxun Gate, carrying Iron Armor on their shoulders and placing it near the Personal Guard Division's banners.

"Young master, are you really giving all the Iron Armor to the Personal Guard Division?"

Pang Yu nodded affirmatively, brimming with confidence. "After several great battles in Jiangnan this time, this young master is now a veteran of the battlefield. Defeating the Roving Thieves is not difficult; what's difficult is catching up to them. Therefore, the army must be reorganized. From now on, Heavy Infantry will only be organized in the Personal Guard. Ordinary Infantry Divisions will only be equipped with light armor — Cotton Armor, Cloth Armor, Leather Armor, and the like. The Land Battalion and the naval landing troops will all be Light Infantry. They must move fast, paired with a small number of light cavalry and Artillery. Every division must be able to independently defeat small bands of Roving Thieves, and to defend against and delay large bands. When a major battle occurs, quickly concentrate forces, use Artillery and Heavy Infantry to decide the outcome, then pursue with light cavalry. I've seen Twenty Wan Roving Thieves, and they were nothing more than that. Let's see who can still beat me now."