Chapter 288: The Bond Between Comrades

"Zhou Guniang, please wait a moment. My military badge has been sent up; they must verify it before letting us through. This is a rule set by Lord Pang himself when he was still in Tongcheng. Opening the city gates at night is extremely difficult — all because of those roving bandits causing trouble. I must ask Zhou Guniang to bear with it."

Outside Tongcheng's Nanxun Gate, night shrouded the surrounding fields. Two horse-drawn carts and five figures still waited at the gate — it was Zhou Yueru and her escort. They had set out before dawn and only now reached Tongcheng, covering two days' journey in a single day.

"Banner Commander Wu has toiled all day; I can wait a while, it's nothing." Zhou Yueru spoke softly to the Banner Commander. This time, he and another soldier were escorting her. Banner Commander Wu had brought his family dependents along. While chatting with his woman on the road, she learned they were from Lujiang. After last year's bandit calamity, they came to Tongcheng and joined the Zhuang Squad, and he was already a Banner Commander before the Jiangnan relief campaign.

At the time, Zhou Yueru was on the south bank of the Great River. On the day the Garrison Battalion landed at Puzikou, all sorts of news spread outside Nanjing — word that a force of government troops from upstream had defeated the roving thieves. Later, she learned it was the Garrison Battalion's victory, which stirred Zhou Yueru deeply. So she asked him a few more questions and found out this Banner Commander Wu had also earned military merits. Now the Garrison Battalion was on rest and recuperation, and he was returning to Lujiang to visit family, so they arranged for him and another Tongcheng soldier to escort Zhou Yueru along the way.

Because small bands of roving thieves still appeared in the Dabie Mountains, even soldiers on leave had to carry their waist sabers. In the morning at Anqing, they used the military badge to leave the city early. On the road, refugees were everywhere, and incidents of robbery occurred from time to time, but mostly among the refugees themselves. At the sight of armed soldiers, those people kept far away, and the journey to Tongcheng was fairly peaceful.

In the pitch-black wilderness outside Nanxun Gate, insects chirped in waves. To the southwest drifted faint, ghostly flames. Two years ago, Zhou Yueru would have collapsed in terror, but after two bandit calamities, she had long grown inured to such sights. Instead, she fixed her gaze on the direction where those ghostly flames drifted.

During the bandit calamity of the Chongzhen Eighth Year, that was where the roving thieves buried severed heads upside down. Later, most of the roving thieves killed in the night raid were also buried in a great pit over there. What mattered most to Zhou Yueru was that Shopkeeper Zhou was buried in that direction too.

Waves of grief welled up in her heart. She felt no nostalgic attachment to Tongcheng as a homeland — rather, she held considerable disgust for it. Yet because of that grave, this place was also her tie, mingling into an inexpressible sorrow.

Banner Commander Wu seemed to notice. On the road, he had heard Zhou Yueru say she was coming to Tongcheng to tend a grave. He said to her in a low voice, "Zhou Guniang, do not grieve too deeply. I and my comrades in the Garrison Battalion will surely slaughter every last one of those heaven-cursed roving thieves and avenge you."

Zhou Yueru gave a soft "Mm," and said, "The Garrison Battalion has already saved many common folk. The people of Nanjing now all know there is a Garrison Battalion in Anqing. During the Qingming Festival Festival Festival Festival Festival Festival, many commoners even crossed the river to pay respects to the fallen Anqing soldiers."

"In my Banner Team, half died outside Puzikou. They're buried right there."

"Ah, so that is how it is."

Banner Commander Wu choked out in a deep, somber voice, "Every time I think of those comrades, I can't stomach my food. I'm always thinking of when I can go pay my respects. At least the common folk haven't forgotten them. But that still can't replace the bond between comrades. When I get the free time, I will certainly make a special trip."

In the darkness, Banner Commander Wu's voice was somewhat hoarse. Zhou Yueru originally had no particular impression of the man, but these few words suddenly struck a chord in her. This tall, burly Banner Commander Wu was no mere brute. She quickly offered him a few words of comfort.

At that moment, a creaking sound came from atop the wall. Soon, a man from the Zhuang Squad was lowered in a basket, followed by another soldier — one from the First Division of the Garrison Battalion stationed in Tongcheng. He approached with a torch. Having seen the military badge and knowing this was a Banner Commander, he saluted first, then carefully scrutinized Wu Dacai with a strange, disdainful look. Wu Dacai knew his reputation in the First Division, and it was not a good one. He usually avoided dealing with First Division men as much as possible, enduring what he could. But this soldier was too blatant. Wu Dacai couldn't help but glare fiercely back at him. The soldier curled his lip and signaled "all clear" toward the top of the wall.

A password call came from inside. The city gate slowly opened, and the group finally entered the city. When they were stationed in Tongcheng the year before to prepare against bandits, Wu Dacai had been quite familiar with Nanxun Gate. But the defensive works inside had increased. Outside the inner gate exit, another wall had been added, slightly lower than the city wall. It had not only arrow crenels but also small round holes. Wu Dacai knew those were for dropping Fire Thunder — it was like a small barbican. The inner and outer walls formed a corridor. The group followed the corridor sixty feet to the right before reaching the inner gate.

The inner gate opened only after the outer gate closed. Though the procedure was cumbersome, it made one feel much safer. This simple inner wall was easy to build but highly effective against the roving thieves' tricks for deceiving city gates. Even if they tricked open the outer gate, they still couldn't storm directly into the city.

By this hour, all the inns were already closed. Wu Dacai escorted Zhou Yueru to the former Ye Family Old Residence. The First Division was now also stationed there. A dedicated guesthouse served the lodging needs of Garrison Battalion personnel coming and going. Staying inside the military camp was naturally safer than outside.

The two sentries at the camp gate stood ramrod straight. The sentry on the right inspected Wu Dacai's and the other soldier's soldier tags, saluted Wu Dacai, then led the group to the Direct Office and handed them over to the duty Team Leader. The Team Leader called another soldier, who helped carry the luggage toward the guesthouse.

This camp area was originally where the Zhuang Squad trained. Though it had been burned, it was still Ye Family property. Through Ruan Dacheng's mediation, the Zhuang Squad had been allowed temporary use at the time. Later, Pang Yu went to Anqing, but the Ye Family never undertook reconstruction.

Pang Yu initially had no plans to station troops permanently in Tongcheng. But after word of the Bronze Standard Battalion came out, Pang Yu had someone contact the Ye Family and bought this plot of land to garrison troops. This conflicted with court regulations. In the Ministry of War's military registry, the Garrison Battalion's land-based permanent station was in Anqing, with Shipai Market only added this year. For defense purposes, Shi Kefa tacitly approved this as one of the permanent stations. With the First Division garrisoned here, the impetus of the Tongcheng gentry to push for the Bronze Standard Battalion greatly diminished.

The camp was utterly quiet at night. Some new barracks had been built, the roads widened. The flagstone paths were laid straight as an arrow, the surroundings neat and tidy — completely unlike the days when the Zhuang Squad drilled here. Zhou Yueru had once lived in the silver shop building beside the camp and saw the drill ground every day, but she had never entered the camp itself. Now, stepping inside for the first time, she felt the solemn, orderly atmosphere and walked cautiously the whole way, afraid to make a sound.

The guesthouse was in the southwest corner of the camp. It had originally been an inn on Dongzuo Gate Street, not within the Ye Family Residence, and not far from Zhou Yueru's old paper shop. It had escaped the fires during the civil unrest. The former owner had mortgaged it to Bai Shun Tang, and the redemption period had passed. After Pang Yu bought the Ye Family land, he incorporated it into the camp to serve as the guesthouse.

The one managing the guesthouse was not a soldier but a hired old woman from outside. She had already been asleep and was roused from bed. Initially somewhat displeased, she saw the insignia on Wu Dacai's arm, realized he was an officer, and became respectful again, leading each person to their room.

Because she was a woman, Zhou Yueru was arranged on the second floor. Wu Dacai's family stayed on the first floor. After a full day jolting in the horse-drawn cart, the woman and son, unaccustomed to riding, had vomited until they were dizzy and disoriented. Before Wu Dacai could even set up the lantern properly, the child collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.

The woman was about to collapse onto the bed as well when Wu Dacai grabbed her arm. "I'm telling you, go boil some hot water for Zhou Guniang first."

"Why should I boil water for her?" The woman's tired face was full of bewilderment.

"You think sitting in a cart all day isn't dirty and exhausting? Boil some water so she can wash her face and feet."

"Tell that old woman to boil it."

"I told you to go, so go!"

"Then why doesn't she boil water for me?" The woman looked down at her own bare feet and made to lift them onto the bed. "I haven't been working in the lower fields. Anyway, these are the guesthouse's beddings — why bother washing feet?"

Wu Dacai put strength into his grip and forcibly dragged the woman to her feet, cursing, "You think everyone's like you? Still going on about lower fields — are you going or not?"

The woman's hand hurt from his grip. She shook it but couldn't break free. Staring at Wu Dacai, she said, "The boy's father, are you eyeing that pretty young woman, got designs on her? Let me tell you, don't even think about taking a concubine this year. You've only saved a bit of silver and already you're getting ideas above yourself... Ow!"

Wu Dacai gave her no chance to argue, pressing her onto the bed and hitting her wildly until the woman shrieked.

"You still dare scream, huh? Can't even order you to boil water, huh? Scream again! Afraid no one can hear, are you? I'll make you scream." Wu Dacai cursed as he hit, his hands never stopping. The woman twisted and writhed, the bed creaking and groaning. Beside them, the son still lay snoring loudly.

He hit her for a long while, only stopping when his own hands hurt. The woman lay prone, sobbing, "You've clearly taken a fancy to that woman."

Wu Dacai opened the door, stuck his head out and looked left and right. Seeing no one in the corridor, he stepped back, shut the door, grabbed the woman, and cursed in a low voice, "You want me dead so you can remarry, is that it? How many guts do you think I have, daring to fancy her? Let me tell you, this Zhou Guniang is from the money house. In the army, everyone says she helps Lord Pang manage the silver."

The woman stared blankly. "Then why do I have to boil water for her?"

"Think about it — what kind of woman helps a man manage his silver?"

The woman's face lit up with sudden understanding. "A female accountant!"

Wu Dacai suppressed the urge to hit her and said patiently, "She's Lord Pang's woman. Let me tell you, first go boil the water, then go upstairs and help swat the mosquitoes inside her bed canopy."

The woman still looked baffled. "Lord Pang's woman — why do I have to swat mosquitoes for her?"

Wu Dacai desperately wanted to slap her again, but he thought about how he still needed this woman to do things. Five palm prints on her face wouldn't look good. He couldn't very well run into Zhou Guniang's room and swat mosquitoes himself. He swallowed his anger and said, "Mr. Hou told me: whoever the yamen belongs to, that's the Hall Officer. Understand the Hall Officer, and you understand officialdom. Our Garrison Battalion is expanding. I earned merit at Puzikou, but I didn't take part in that great battle at Chuzhou. What rank I get promoted to is still uncertain. Escorting Zhou Guniang is practically a gift from heaven. If someday she says a word or two on the pillow, and Lord Pang is pleased and promotes me one extra grade, my monthly pay will be much more than now."

The moment the woman heard the words "monthly pay," she flung Wu Dacai's hand off with a whoosh. "Husband, tell me — how much more silver is one extra grade?"

Wu Dacai gave a snort. "At least twelve taels more per year."

The woman lowered her head and calculated. "Twelve taels more a year, that's twenty-two taels more in two years, thirty-two taels more in three years..."

Wu Dacai smacked her on the head. "If you can't do sums, don't embarrass me."

"Husband, think about it — if our family earns this much silver in a year, what big talk could your brother and sister-in-law still put on in front of us?"

Wu Dacai, imitating Lord Pang's manner, clasped his hands behind his back. "So tell me, should this water be boiled or not?"

"It should! No wonder when we saw us off this morning, that fat woman from the gambling den acted that way — she practically wanted to worship Zhou Guniang like an ancestor. She even paid our head money for us. So that's the reason! Boil water! I'll wash her feet for her too!" The woman was brimming with energy. She nimbly rummaged through the bundle and pulled out a pair of blue cloth trousers. "And I've got to dry her feet properly. Tomorrow she's going to tend a grave, isn't she? I'll go buy her some paper candles..."

Wu Dacai said impatiently, "Who the hell lets someone else pay for grave-tending? If you want to buy her something, buy her other things — always things a woman needs."

His wife said painedly, "But jewelry and such are so expensive."

"What's a bit of silver for jewelry? Our family still has a big sum of silver." Wu Dacai lowered his voice to the barest whisper. "That stash I told you about, hidden at Beixia Pass — this time we'll go retrieve it."

The woman grew tense. "If you're caught, it's beheading. Didn't that Garrison Inspector Jiang just execute three men for hiding silver at Pukou? You were so scared you chopped up that Huali Wood bed and burned it. How come you're not afraid now?"

Wu Dacai gritted his teeth. "Without silver, how do you get things done? What do I have to fear? Just keep your mouth shut tight. Remember, even if your own mother came back to life, you're not to tell her."

The woman nodded fiercely, then blinked and said, "But we're going home via Kongcheng Town. What do we say when we pass the checkpoint at Beixia Pass?"

"So the stupid woman isn't stupid this time — even thought of that." Wu Dacai looked at her in surprise, then leaned in and said smugly, "Your lord here already figured it out long ago. The gate guards will never suspect a thing. We're going outside Beixia Pass to pay respects to the comrades who fell last year."