Chapter 360: Relationships

"The Bronze Standard Battalion's original quota came from Chizhou, with barely over a hundred usable men. Liu Ruozai and Sun Jin submitted a memorial proposing the establishment of the Bronze Standard Battalion with a troop strength of one thousand. The Emperor initially disagreed, but later He Grand Chancellor submitted a memorial, and the Emperor granted one thousand two hundred troops. However, Military Commander Zhang intended the troop quota to be used where it was truly needed, so he allocated seven hundred to the Garrison Battalion. Since both were stationed in Anqing, the Emperor and the Ministry of War did not interfere. Circuit Intendant Shi felt the quota was insufficient and merged the Circuit Guard Battalion into the Bronze Standard Battalion, bringing the total back to one thousand. The general officers hold the rank of Mobile Corps Commander with the concurrent title of Assistant Regional Commander, to facilitate commanding the Guest Army's Mobile Corps Commander in operations at Tongcheng."

On the Sheng-Tang Gate city wall, Pang Yu spoke as he walked. Reaching the gate tower, he did not enter but walked directly to the arrow crenels. Zhuang Chaozheng followed and stood beside him, while Guo Fengyou led the men to form a perimeter.

It was a rare overcast day. Beneath the low, oppressive sky, the Great River rolled mightily past the Sheng-Tang ferry crossing, dotted with white sails.

"After what you told me two days ago, I went back and thought it over. I've never managed a whole battalion before. I'd still rather help you lead the Personal Guard Division."

Pang Yu laughed heartily. "Chaozheng, you'd turn down Assistant Regional Commander just to lead my Personal Guard Division. That loyalty is commendable. But even if you command troops for me now, you'll still have to lead a battalion on your own eventually. Tongcheng isn't far. As we discussed last time, the Household Office, Military Office, Silver Bank, and Document Team will send people to assist you, just the same as in the Garrison Battalion."

"I'm used to speaking with you, sir. I hear this Bronze Standard Battalion often follows Circuit Intendant Shi around. I'm not accustomed to dealing with civil officials. I fear I might displease Circuit Intendant Shi in some way. I was recommended by you, sir, and I fear bringing trouble upon you."

Pang Yu waved his hand dismissively. "Chaozheng, not being accustomed to dealing with civil officials isn't a flaw. In my view, it's actually a virtue. The military has its own affairs. Civil officials are indeed your superiors, but drilling troops and fighting battles are matters for military officers. You must grasp the principles in between yourself. As for Circuit Intendant Shi, he isn't very familiar with military matters, but he is truly a generous and kind man. Getting along with him won't be difficult."

Zhuang Chaozheng, never a man of many words, couldn't think of anything else to say after hearing this and simply remained silent.

Pang Yu looked at him and said, "You came when we first established the Zhuang Squad. You were the first soldier recruited through selection, a founding veteran of my Garrison Battalion. Your hometown is Compound Village in East Township, locally called Zhucao Dam. You were much thinner back then than you are now."

Zhuang Chaozheng was somewhat moved upon hearing this. "I'm honored you still remember, sir. I was actually thin in the Third Division too. It was only after joining the Personal Guard Division, with the rich meal plan you provided—four meals every day—that I ate along with everyone and grew stout without realizing it."

"Iron Armor Soldiers must be broad-shouldered and thick-waisted. Otherwise, they can't exert their combat power after donning armor. So they need to eat more. Light armor troops like the Land Combat Division, who need speed, can eat a bit worse."

After laughing, Pang Yu sized up Zhuang Chaozheng. He did indeed now match the overall physique of the Personal Guard Division. Pang Yu's previous impression had been that soldiers should be lean and wiry for agility. But repeated actual combat and drills had proven that Iron Armor Soldiers had to be big and burly; only then would their explosive power and endurance meet the demands of armored combat. Many Iron Armor Soldiers appeared to have little muscle definition, yet their actual strength was immense.

"Now that you're a general officer, being a bit heavier gives you more authority." Pang Yu pointed at the gate tower and led Zhuang Chaozheng inside. "Once you independently command a unit, dealing with superiors is a minor matter. As Chaozheng surely knows, there have always been some degenerate habits in our government troops—eating empty payrolls and drinking blood money. A general officer becomes a local tyrant within his battalion, treating his soldiers like household slaves. Drilling and troop selection are utterly neglected. Take Pan Keda, for instance..."

After sitting down, Pang Yu picked up his cup and took a sip. Zhuang Chaozheng did not stand to take his leave, for in the Garrison Battalion, there was no custom of serving tea to dismiss a guest.

"Back during the Tongcheng Uprising, when Pan Keda led his troops across the river, the two prefectures of Anqing and Chizhou had barely over a hundred usable soldiers. Later, they cobbled together the Bronze Standard Battalion. Out of a quota of one thousand troops, the actual troops on hand were no more than five hundred. When superiors came to inspect, they'd grab beggars and Green-Skins in Tongcheng to fill the numbers, paying each man ten copper coins."

Pang Yu shook his head, blew on his tea cup to scatter the leaves floating on the surface, and took another shallow sip. The situation he described was much the same for all reinforcement and suppression troops, some better, some worse. Before the Tongcheng Uprising, military pay across the entire Yingtian region was very low. Ordinary soldiers received a monthly pay of five or six Mace, Household Retainers nine Mace. In the Jiangnan region, where prices were high, this income truly attracted no one. After the uprising, facing Roving Bandit incursions, Zhang Guowei raised funds through various means, gradually increasing monthly pay to nine Mace for soldiers and one tael eight Mace for Household Retainers. Though still not matching the border garrisons, it was a significant improvement.

But even this meager silver had a complex composition. Some was allocated by the Ministry of War, some by the Yingtian Grand Coordinator's Yamen, and some was calculated by local authorities as part of the grain tax in kind. Then there were the customary discounts on silver purity. For instance, part of Pang Yu's military pay had to be converted from the Anqing Guard's grain tax in kind. After passing through multiple levels of allocation, only half reached his hands. Men like Pan Keda could not support their Household Retainers without eating empty payrolls. Even if they ate half the empty payrolls, the remaining infantry still couldn't get their nine Mace.

The Anqing Garrison Battalion also drew pay according to this standard. Pang Yu was operating at a loss every month to support his troops—something officers of Zhuang Chaozheng's rank all knew.

Pang Yu paused in thought for a moment, then said, "In times of peace, it might be overlooked. But unfortunately, these are turbulent times of war. Debts incurred in peacetime must be repaid with lives on the battlefield. How many general officers lost their lives at Fengjiadu because of this? If your life is gone, what use is the silver you gained?"

"I will remember everything you've said, sir."

"But our service to the country is one side of it. We have wives and children at home; there are always household expenses to meet."

Pang Yu beckoned to Pang Ding, who was waiting at the door. Pang Ding hurried over and placed a box on the table near Zhuang Chaozheng.

"Sir, there's no need..."

Pang Yu cut him off. "My troops are all loyal and brave men. They never deserved shabby treatment to begin with. Inside here is your combat reward for the Susong Campaign: a deed to a residence, a deposit certificate from the Great River Silver Bank, and a share of equity in a shipping company. There are slight differences among the various Company Commander. The combat merit assessments for ranks below the divisions are quite complex and haven't been finalized yet, but I can decide the assessments for the Company Commander myself. This is what you've earned. You may accept it with peace of mind."

Zhuang Chaozheng hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took the box in his hands. Feeling it was somewhat improper, he was about to put it back when he heard Pang Yu say, "Chaozheng, you can take your family to see the residence now. It's over by Jixian Gate. All these years you've followed me on campaigns east and west, it's time you gave your family a stable place to live."

"I thank you for your gracious favor, sir." Zhuang Chaozheng knelt and kowtowed once on the ground, then hurried out the door clutching the box.

Pang Ding watched the wide-open door and said, "Zhuang Chaozheng truly understands how things work. But this Bronze Standard Battalion is the Circuit Guard Battalion. He'll be with the Circuit Intendant Yamen all day. Once he takes up his post, there's no guarantee he won't develop other intentions. When Yao Dongshan was garrisoned at Tongcheng, he spent all his time trailing after the Circuit Intendant Yamen."

Pang Yu rubbed his forehead. "Our military system is truly a damn mess. Every battalion is off drilling on its own in different places. Whether you're a Regional Commander or a Vice General, no one can control anyone else. Thrown together at the last minute, how can there be any coordination? It's worse than those damn Roving Bandits—even the bandits merge camps and fight a battle together every few days. If it weren't for that one-thousand-troop quota, I wouldn't give a damn who goes to the Bronze Standard Battalion."

"Banner Captain Zhuang got a promotion and a fortune. He looks overjoyed. I suppose even a Company Commander's high monthly pay isn't enough; everyone always hopes for a bit more."

Pang Yu smiled. "In this world, earning wealth is a normal part of human relations. Relying solely on sentiment won't last. When he's first posted away, he'll remember my kindness. But as time passes and he sees other general officers taking soldiers' pay for their own enjoyment, who can say where his mind will go? The same principle applies to the other officers in the battalion. Interests make for a more stable relationship. Even the Emperor doesn't send hungry soldiers into battle."

"Your servant is dull and untalented as a worn-out horse or dog, yet by grace was exceptionally promoted. On the star-hastened journey to the Capital, your servant managed his own affairs. The Ministry of War's fundamental duties are but two: securing the borders and exterminating the bandits. Heretofore, court officials have prioritized securing the borders first and exterminating the bandits second. Your servant believes times have changed; today, exterminating the bandits should take precedence."

At the rear left gate of Jianji Hall in the Forbidden City of the Capital, the Ming Dynasty's Chongzhen Emperor sat at ease in plain robes. As the weather was somewhat dry and hot, a eunuch behind him gently fanned him. Before him stood several high ministers, with guards and eunuch officials stationed around—not a large number. This rear left gate of the Cloud Terrace, commonly called the Platform, was used by the Emperor to receive a small number of ministers, known as a Platform Summons. Though few participated, the matters discussed were often of great importance. Years ago, it was here that Yuan Chonghuan was appointed Supreme Commander of Ji-Liao with his Five-Year Pacification of Liao. Today's main figure was a middle-aged man facing Chongzhen: Yang Sichang, appointed last year but only recently assumed office as Minister of War.

Chongzhen glanced at the others participating in the summons, then turned his gaze back to Yang Sichang. "The Minister of War may elaborate."

"If the Capital is likened to a person's head, then the Central Plains are the person's heart and belly, and the border fortresses are the shoulders, arms, and limbs. Only when the heart and belly are unharmed can blood be sent outward to nourish the limbs, so they may support the head and shield it from wind and cold. Now, the Roving Thieves poison the heart and belly. It is as if the organs fester with poison, the blood dries day by day, leaving only useless limbs. Thus, your humble servant says: only by pacifying the interior can we repel the exterior; only with sufficient food can we have sufficient troops; only by protecting the people can we exterminate the bandits. This is truly the fundamental, root-level strategy for governance today."

Chongzhen nodded slightly. Compared to abstract calls for radical reform, he preferred such concrete strategies.

Encouraged by the approval, Yang Sichang spoke with greater confidence. "The bandits arose in Yansui and have since rampaged through the heartland. They have spread across eight regions: Yansui, Shanxi, Shandong, Yingtian, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Fengyang, and Anqing. Though Shandong and Jiangxi have not yet been reached, they are closely adjacent and must be defended against bandit designs. The area requiring defense totals seven provinces and ten regions. Your servant proposes designating Shanxi, Henan, Huguang, and Fengyang as the Four Main Fronts. These four Grand Coordinators, with their existing troops and existing pay, shall divide the task of extermination while specializing in defense. Further, designate Yansui, Shanxi, Shandong, Yingtian, Jiangxi, and Sichuan as the Six Corners. These six Grand Coordinators, with their current troops and current pay, shall at times defend separately and at times coordinate in extermination. Thus, the Ten-Faced Net is cast. When the bandits enter one region, several adjacent fronts will coordinate in joint defense and extermination, preventing them from rampaging further, while awaiting the arrival of the Supervisor of Military Affairs' main army. There need be no worry that the bandits will not be caught in a single net."

Wen Tiren, participating in the summons, carefully noted the Minister of Revenue beside him. Last year, Hou Xun had been dismissed, and Cheng Guoxiang had become Minister of Revenue, having only recently taken office. Yang Sichang had previously submitted a memorial, which Wen Tiren had already read. It involved considerable sums of rations and pay, which was why Cheng Guoxiang had been called to participate in today's summons.

In the previous bandit-suppression system, the court had divided the realm into two large zones: outside the pass and inside the pass, roughly bounded by Tong Pass. The Supreme Commander managed inside the pass, and the Supervisor managed outside. Yang Sichang's Ten-Faced Net treated bandit extermination as a single, holistic plan. It contained some novelty, but increasing troops and increasing pay seemed unavoidable. At this moment, Cheng Guoxiang was still playing dumb, looking as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

With few participants in such summons, the Emperor's attitude was often expressed more directly, making it an excellent opportunity to discern the imperial will. So far today, Wen Tiren had already grasped Chongzhen's prioritization of pacifying the interior over repelling the exterior. In the Cabinet's future Drafting and Redacting drafts, he would need to use this as his guiding principle. This was also why the Emperor had included him in the summons.

Chongzhen's hand moved, but he did not stand. He merely tapped the armrest lightly and said, "The Roving Bandits' advantage lies in mobility. The Minister of War's Ten-Faced Net strategy can be said to strike at the vital point."

"Over the years, your servant has investigated and found that each major bandit gang claims tens of thousands, and when they fan out to coerce and abduct, each claims hundreds of thousands. Combined, they are no less than a million. However, the elite, battle-worthy bandits among them are not very numerous. The coerced poor folk, women, and children are truly not few. The troops needed to exterminate the bandits need not number in the hundreds of thousands."

Chongzhen sat up slightly straighter. "The Minister of War speaks practical truth. When the various local Grand Coordinators and Inspectors submit memorials, they invariably claim that mounted bandits numbering in the hundreds of thousands have invaded. How many bandit camps there are, how many Old Bandits, how many Horse Soldiers—they know none of this. They only know to blindly beg for troops and pay. This is truly a failure to prepare against the bandits, losing their heads in panic when they encounter them. The Minister of War may continue discussing the troops for bandit extermination."

Yang Sichang paused for a moment, then said, "Your servant humbly estimates that the two Military Commanders, the Supervisor and the Supreme Commander, should each command thirty thousand troops, specializing in pursuing the bandits for large-scale extermination. Henan and Huguang should each establish fifteen thousand troops. Shaanxi and Fengyang should each establish ten thousand troops. The two imperial tombs at Fengyang and Sizhou should each establish five thousand troops. The total comes to one hundred twenty thousand."

Hearing this, the Minister of Revenue, Cheng Guoxiang, finally stirred. He cleared his throat and said, "Across the seven provinces and ten regions, the number of troops originally exceeds one hundred twenty thousand. The one hundred twenty thousand troops the Minister of War just mentioned, to be established under the two Military Commanders and four Grand Coordinators—it is unclear whether these are newly recruited troops or existing ones."