Chapter 318: Backing

Susong County Town, once a bustling market center, had lost its former prosperity ever since the roving bandits passed through in the Chongzhen Eighth Year. Vast tracts of fertile land around it lay untended, overgrown with wild grass, and along the official road, where cart and horse traffic had dwindled sharply, small weeds now sprouted between the stone slabs.

An unbroken column of infantry was stepping onto the official road, heading toward Old County. There they would re-enter the post road.

Anqing's post road entered the territory from Huangmei via Tongling Fort, following the edge of the Dabie Mountains and cutting straight across the entire region from southwest to northeast — virtually a straight line. The road surface was rammed earth topped with stone slabs, and bridges spanned most of the rivers along the way, allowing carriages to pass without obstruction. Its capacity far exceeded that of ordinary pedestrian roads, making it the critical eastward artery for Jiangxi and Huguang. The towns along it — Erlang Town, Chema River, Old County, Fengxiang Courier Station — were all thriving market centers; Susong County Town itself, oddly enough, did not lie on the post road.

Zuo Liangyu indeed withdrew the next day. The official pretext was an urgent bandit threat at Shucheng; what the truth was, only Heaven knew. When he had come to Susong, he brought his household retainers and roughly three thousand servants, along with over a hundred carriages — a rather mobile force. Probably because Anqing no longer offered any profit, the Henan troops did not linger much after returning to Tongcheng either. After a final round of plundering, they withdrew from Anqing via North Gorge Pass.

The infantry before Pang Yu's eyes were all Jiangnan reinforcement troops. Zuo Liangyu's departure had dealt a severe blow to the army's morale. The remaining main troops and Jiangnan troops pushed forward a little farther, and Chen Yuwang's cavalry even reached Tongling Fort on the Susong border.

Continuing along the post road would lead to Huangmei; heading west was the direction of Chenhan Mountain, where Geli Yan had retreated, a path through the dense mountains leading to Guangji County. Huangmei was unfamiliar territory for the army, and the local county yamen had no reliable intelligence — going there would likely be worse than the situation in Susong, let alone entering the mountain region of Chenhan Mountain. Shi Kefa had never intended to attack across the border in the first place, but the army had already reached this point and could not simply turn around at once. Several thousand troops were thus encamped at Susong, and within just a few days, problems arose one after another.

In the Chongzhen Eighth Year, Susong's county town had been massacred, and the roving bandits had stayed there the longest. Of the three counties in Anqing that suffered calamity, Susong was the most devastated. Although the court had remitted taxes for two years, the county yamen still struggled to make ends meet. The following two years brought no major disasters, but because it lay on the vital route at the Wu-Chu border, small bands of roving bandits were a constant presence. The common people had to flee bandits every few days, and agricultural production had long been abandoned. This year, even if the bandits did not come, the people could only go out begging. Fortunately, the city wall construction had begun the previous year, which at least helped sustain some of the population.

Yet the Susong city wall's outer rammed-earth perimeter was still unfinished. After Geli Yan emerged from the mountains this time, people everywhere in Susong fled their homes to escape the bandits. Even County Magistrate Gou Tianqi had no choice but to hide in Dragon Lake. The lake was filled with boats packed with people and supplies — earlier they had fled the bandits, now they were fleeing the army. Around the county town, not a single soul could be seen.

Under these conditions, Susong simply could not supply the army. Though County Magistrate Gou Tianqi did his utmost, provisions remained intermittent. Most camp heads could not even guarantee one meal a day. The Jiangnan reinforcement troops had been in Anqing for over a month and had received only a few Mace of Mobilization Silver. Now, on top of that, they were not getting enough to eat, and they began clamoring for pay one after another. It looked as though staying any longer would lead to mutiny.

An even more serious problem was that all of Anqing's mobile forces were concentrated in Susong. A band of over a hundred mounted bandits burst out from Qianshan. Instead of taking the Shijingpu direction, they chose the route through Shipai. Although they failed to cross the Wan River, they moved along the north bank toward the prefectural city. Pi Yingju was thrown into a panic and sent urgent appeals for help several times in a single day. Pang Yu could only dispatch the Garrison Battalion's cavalry back to the rescue.

Shi Kefa had no better solution. While pressing Anqing and Chizhou to first deliver some relief in rations and pay, he simultaneously pulled the army back. The pursuit operation, which had begun with such soaring momentum, now turned into a retreat that fizzled out anticlimactically.

Most of the Garrison Battalion's infantry had reached Susong. Pang Yu was equally short of grain. He had replenished a batch of provisions from Shipai and chose Susong County Town as his encampment. Here, at least there were city walls and ruins to provide shelter from the wind — slightly better than camping in the open.

Because his provisions were more ample than those of the other camp heads, Shi Kefa arranged for Pang Yu to be the last to withdraw. Pang Yu was helpless. He had lost count of how many such futile maneuvers he had endured. In this single deployment alone, the Garrison Battalion had lost seventy-three men to injury and illness. Most of them could return to the unit after recovery, but eleven had died of disease. Thirty-three horses had died of sickness, and over a hundred were too debilitated to move. The remaining warhorses were universally weak and emaciated; the fat they had put on the previous autumn had been almost entirely consumed. Among his large technical weapons, the march had caused damage to three cannon carts and carriages. One cannon barrel had shattered from a fall without ever firing a shot. The Water Army had wrecked two grain transport ships each at Leigang and Susong in collisions. The loss of other provision carts, carriages, and equipment was beyond counting.

Since the autumn of the previous year, when they began preparing against the bandits, the Garrison Battalion's non-combat attrition from illness had exceeded two hundred. The army was utterly exhausted and its morale low. Now the main force of the roving bandits was entirely in the Susong direction — precisely the time to garrison Susong and gain a defensive advantage — yet they were retreating from Susong because of logistics problems. If this happened twice more, Pang Yu could forget about fighting any battles this year.

Beneath the unfinished north gate tower of Susong, Pang Yu accompanied Shi Kefa. Not far away, Mr. Ma was speaking with Jiang Ruolai about something. The troops now marching out were Jiang Ruolai's unit. Most of the reinforcement troops had already withdrawn. Cheng Long was leading the way at the front, while Pan Keda and Chen Yuwang's household retainers brought up the rear. The Garrison Battalion's withdrawal route was to head directly to Shipai via the pedestrian road — a different direction from theirs. That was why Shi Kefa had kept the strongest fighting force as the rearguard, which also showed that Shi Kefa's handling of troops had become more adept than before.

Pang Yu gave a light cough and said, "Circuit Intendant, my lord, this withdrawal is a matter of necessity. But you yourself have said that without Susong, there is no Anqing. The roving thieves are massed between Huangmei and Guangji. If we leave only the Jinshan Battalion to guard Erlang Town, I fear it will be insufficient to hold off the roving thieves, who number in the hundreds of thousands."

Shi Kefa's dark, thin face was full of exhaustion. He raised his head to look at Pang Yu. "What Garrison Commander Pang says, this official knows full well. However, leading troops into battle involves a myriad of complexities. You are also aware of the circumstances in each camp. Even if we are to station troops here, we must wait until rations and pay are in order."

"This humble officer's suggestion is precisely for that purpose. Once the troops' morale is somewhat settled, my lord could transport grain from Leigang — far more convenient than requisitioning grain here in Susong. Via the Lei River to Dragon Lake, it can reach a point just three li south of Susong's city wall, and from there proceed via the Erlang River, Chema River, and Old County River to the key points along the post road. Leigang is backed by the Great River, so grain will never run short. The entire route uses waterways, so there is no fear of the roving thieves intercepting it. With no worries about provisions, my lord could then dispatch men and horses to these three locations."

Shi Kefa pondered for a moment. "That is indeed a method. However, transporting grain from Leigang requires purchasing it all with ready silver. The small amount originally provided as relief from Anqing and Chizhou was entirely used this time for Marshal Zuo's guest troops. We will still need Military Commissioner Zhang to arrange further funds."

Seeing Shi Kefa hesitate, Pang Yu knew this matter would be delayed again for who knew how long. Given the current state of provisions, they would likely have to disperse to various locations again, with each county bearing an equal share — thus forfeiting the defensive advantage of concentrating forces at Susong.

Noticing that Pang Yu still wanted to press his case, Shi Kefa first raised a hand slightly. "Furthermore, although the roving thieves are currently in Huangmei and Guangji, it is not certain they are not also moving through the mountains. That rogue Ge moves through the Yinghuo Mountain region, appearing now west, now east in the blink of an eye. If we mass our troops at Susong, but other bandits break out from Qianshan, would not the prefectural city be ravaged? That band of roving bandits at Shipai a few days ago was exactly such a case. Fortunately, their numbers were still small, but it is enough to serve as a warning to us!"

What he said was also the truth. The terrain of the Dabie mountain region blocked intelligence. Many roving bandits were active within it. This year, the Anqing government troops had done fairly well, especially in the Taihu direction, where the local militia could basically grasp intelligence within a fifty-li range into the mountains, providing the troops with ample early warning time. That was why Shi Kefa had been able to hold out for so long. But as more roving bandits entered the mountain region, no one could say for sure whether another camp head would suddenly emerge from the Taihu or Qianshan direction. Concentrating the main army at Susong did not align with Shi Kefa's strategy.

"Then, my lord, could you keep the main army from moving too far from Susong? This humble officer has been thinking: that Eight Bandit is right at Huangmei, and his numbers are huge. The paths through the mountains are limited, after all. We still need to guard against him coming via the post road. I am willing to garrison Susong County Town. When the Eight Bandit enters the territory, I will lead my troops to pin him down, and you, my lord, can lead the army via the post road to strike together..."

"Garrison Commander Pang, you must not be overly eager for battle. The Garrison Battalion is the pillar of Anqing and must not be tied down in one corner." Shi Kefa thought for a moment, then added, "If Garrison Commander Pang is determined to garrison Susong, you could dispatch a detachment to assist in defending Erlang Town. That place commands the main roads from both Huangmei and Guangji, and with the Erlang River as a supply line, it is fully capable of blocking the enemy from entering Anqing."

Pang Yu was momentarily stunned. His original intent had been to get Shi Kefa to concentrate forces together. He had not expected Shi Kefa to instead demand that he split his forces — and with considerable reason. From a defensive standpoint, Erlang Town was Susong's most important strategic point. Stationing heavy troops there could simultaneously defend against roving bandits coming from both Huangmei and Guangji.

From the perspective of Shi Kefa's strategy, this was an excellent disposition of forces. But he lacked sufficient troops and logistics for Erlang Town. Pang Yu had a certain capacity, but splitting his forces was not the right choice for him. There could be over a hundred thousand roving thieves in this direction. Erlang Town itself had no superior defensive conditions. Too few troops and they would be surrounded and annihilated by the roving bandits; if he split off too many, Pang Yu would lose his mobile forces and could at most provide relief in areas like Taihu and Qianshan — a major victory would vanish like a mirage.

If the entire battalion were deployed at Susong, Pang Yu could attempt to attack a single column of roving bandits, but Shi Kefa would not agree. At its root, Pang Yu's and Shi Kefa's objectives were entirely different; coordination on force allocation was impossible.

"If this humble officer splits his forces here, the transport of rations and pay will also be inconvenient..."

"That is precisely why we must deploy troops according to the enemy and must not act with undue haste. But Garrison Commander Pang has spared no effort in preparing Anqing against the bandits — this official has seen it all." Shi Kefa raised a hand to cut Pang Yu off, then lowered his voice. "A few days ago, the Yingtian Regional Inspector, His Excellency Zhang, forwarded two impeachment memorials concerning Garrison Commander Pang... They also implicate Mr. Yushan, and may even drag in Military Commissioner Zhang. For this reason, the Regional Inspector has instructed this official to investigate and submit a reply."

Pang Yu listened in silence. Fortunately, he had long since detected the moves of Junior Supervisor Zhou and his faction; otherwise, in his current foul mood, hearing this suddenly would have thrown him into who knew what kind of panic.

"These matters were originally not to be disclosed to Garrison Commander Pang. But this official knows they are all false accusations. If I were to investigate privately, it would instead sow distrust between superior and subordinate, harming the great cause of defending Anqing against the bandits. Therefore, I am telling you first so that you may be mentally prepared, and also to assure General Pang: this official swears to ensure that no harm comes to the general."

Hearing these words, Pang Yu felt some genuine emotion. Shi Kefa was a man of the Donglin faction; he could not be unaware of the perilous nature of Wen Tiren's attack this time. If Shi Kefa truly acted as he said, he would be taking an enormous risk on Pang Yu's behalf.

Shi Kefa then added, somewhat awkwardly, "But men are not sages. When investigating an impeachment memorial, while the major principles must remain unblemished, one must always report back on some minor particulars — otherwise the Emperor and those Grand Secretaries would never believe it upon reading. I must also tell General Pang this in advance: this official bears absolutely no ill will."

"This humble officer would not dare presume so."

Shi Kefa wearily closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he suddenly reached out and patted Pang Yu's armguard, then turned and walked toward his own mount.

Over on the other side, Mr. Ma had also finished his talk with Jiang Ruolai. Seeing Shi Kefa leave, he slowly walked over to Pang Yu.

"Did Circuit Intendant Shi speak of the impeachment memorials?"

Pang Yu did not stand on ceremony with him and simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Mr. Ma sighed. "Military Commissioner Zhang is leaving."

"Why is that..." Pang Yu was startled. When Zhang Guowei had arrived, he had clearly spoken of winning a major victory. Why would he leave after just one small engagement? (Note 1)

Mr. Ma said calmly, "At the end of the third month, Jiangnan needs to begin flood control preparations. That is also a major matter."

Pang Yu studied Mr. Ma's face, trying to glean some information from it. Zhang Guowei's departure at this moment could mean many things. Perhaps there had been a turn in Qian Qianyi's situation, perhaps a turn in Zhang Guowei's own circumstances. It was also possible that, with Zuo Liangyu gone, he had lost confidence in winning a major victory and instead feared a defeat. If he remained in Anqing and a battle was lost, he would be directly responsible. Leaving now would restore the original administrative hierarchy, with Shi Kefa as Anqing's highest military and civil official, giving Zhang Guowei room to maneuver.

Judging by the timing, Pang Yu guessed the latter was more likely. Compared to the hundreds of thousands of roving bandits bearing down on the city, Jiangnan's flood control was merely a routine matter. It was something handled every year; even without Zhang Guowei, a host of seasoned old clerks could manage it on their own.

"Then what of the defense against bandits here in Anqing..."

"The Military Commander has left me, this old man, behind to urge the general officers not to slack or delay."

Pang Yu looked at Mr. Ma. "Does Mr. Ma have any guidance for me?"

"Such impeachment memorials are merely someone trying to borrow momentum. Pang Xiaoyou was never Wen Tiren's true adversary to begin with — you must not let this throw you into disarray." Mr. Ma paused a moment, then looked at Pang Yu. "Pang Xiaoyou, you can now only rely on yourself — and that is the most reliable thing. The realm is in turmoil; what the Emperor lacks are fierce generals and mighty armies. As long as the Emperor considers you a usable talent for command, let alone two impeachment memorials — two hundred would be useless. How to make the Emperor certain? You must achieve a great merit like the one at Chuzhou. Then no one will dare call for your punishment. That is what the Emperor lacks most. Whoever tries to call for your punishment would be going against the Emperor himself. Pang Xiaoyou was originally a man without guilt. Look at someone like Zuo Liangyu, a man truly guilty — yet those who wish to call for his punishment cannot even manage it. Why do you think that is? If you have such great merit, you need not explain it to anyone; everyone will understand. Whatever Shi Kefa writes in his reply will not be worth a single copper coin."

Having said this, Mr. Ma nodded to Pang Yu, mounted his own horse directly, and set off down the official road behind Jiang Ruolai's column.

Pang Yu remained where he was for a moment. At that point, Yang Xueshi and Xie Zhaofa came up from behind. Pang Yu turned his head and said to Yang Xueshi, "Send word: the entire Water Camp is to remain stationed at Leigang. The Land Battalion is to withdraw to Shipai. Not a single soldier stays."

Note 1: Zhang Guowei returned to Jiangnan from Anqing in the third month. The reason reported in his memorial to the throne was flood control preparations.