Chapter 377: Finding the Right Method

"My lord, wherever you command, I would go through fire and water without hesitation." Pang Yu stood up and finished with fervor, then lowered his voice. "But Anqing is a critical water and land junction, and it is my homeland. Since the Yingtian troops suffered heavy losses at Fengjiadu, the safety of this place rests entirely on the Garrison Battalion. It also bears the responsibility of river defense and reinforcing Jiangnan. If we go to aid elsewhere, the roving bandits could arrive in an instant. I fear the situation in Jiangbei will boil over, perhaps even endangering Jiangnan. Yingtian is the source of half the court's rations and pay, and across from Puliu lies the Southern Capital. If trouble breaks out, it will be beyond remedy."

Xiong Wencan listened with a calm expression and said, "General Pang, though young, has fought bloody battles against the bandits for years and can already be called a veteran commander. I wonder if you have a strategy that can satisfy both needs in this situation."

"Since Lord Xiong asks, I will speak freely. Anqing and Puliu both fall under Yingtian's jurisdiction, both in Jiangbei yet a thousand li apart. The Garrison Battalion defends Anqing, leveraging the advantage of upstream water transport, and has twice reinforced Puliu. At those times, Anqing was practically an empty city. Fortunately, it did not encounter a large force of roving bandits, but we cannot rely on such luck every time. If I draw out elite troops to suppress bandits elsewhere, Anqing cannot remain without soldiers for long. If it is ravaged by roving bandits, the morale of the troops out on campaign will also waver. I believe that after local troops are drawn away, they should be replenished. Furthermore, Anqing still has the duty to provide reinforcement along the river. The reality is that Yingtian's forces are limited, concentrated heavily at the two ends while the midsection is hollow. When Anqing is in crisis, Jiangnan troops must travel a thousand li; when Puliu is in crisis, Anqing troops must do the same. This is no long-term solution. Previously, I proposed establishing a new battalion at Wuhu, which could support both Anqing and Puliu to the east and west, defend the river in the middle section, and even cross the river to assist in pacifying Jiangbei. This would secure both river and land defenses without exhausting the troops at both ends. I submitted this request to Military Commander Zhang, but it could not be implemented due to issues like troop quotas and pay. It remains a lingering worry."

"This is entirely reasonable. Anqing is also one of the Six Corners, a critical point between east and west that cannot be without a strong army to hold it." Xiong Wencan gently stroked his beard. "As for troops at Wuhu, they are not within the Six Corners, but they do seem genuinely necessary for river defense. I will discuss this with the Ministry of War and handle it as appropriate."

Pang Yu glanced up to observe Xiong Wencan's expression. Seeing that Xiong Wencan still looked mild-mannered, he felt the man was indeed easier to talk to than Zhang Guowei, so he continued. "My lord governs five provinces, all adjacent to the Great River except Henan. The Garrison Battalion has strong infantry but weak cavalry. On land, pursuing bandits leaves us with more will than means, but the Water Camp is quite elite. Every major victory in bandit suppression has relied on water transport. In the recent battle at Susong, we also depended on the Water Army to ferry the Land Battalion ashore at Chang'an Port, evading the roving bandits' horse-bandit scouts, which allowed us to launch a surprise attack on Erlang Town. I volunteer to advance with both water and land forces alongside the Supreme Commander, to bring our battalion's combat strength into full play. Secondly, the roving bandits move unpredictably in dozens of groups. If our main force is in Huguang and the roving bandits suddenly appear in Jiangbei, we can also use the advantage of water transport to provide relief within a day."

With this speech, Pang Yu tied water and land together, subtly hinting he was unwilling to go to Henan, but he also left room for compromise by not saying he absolutely could not go. Xiong Wencan naturally understood. He narrowed his eyes and said, "General Pang's words all strike at the critical points of bandit suppression. I have held frontier posts in Fujian and Guangxi, where water forces are always more important than land forces. Though suppressing roving bandits relies more on land than water, advancing with both water and land is always better than relying solely on land forces."

"My lord sees clearly. Though the Water Camp is advantageous, its boats require mooring areas on the water for repair and maintenance, and long-distance transport requires transit and assembly points. On this journey upriver, having a station would better facilitate bandit suppression. The Jiujiang Guard Post should originally fall under the Anqing Garrison Commander's jurisdiction, but years of accumulated abuses have left its affiliation unclear. I request that command of the Jiujiang Guard Post be unified, to strengthen river defense both upstream and downstream."

Pang Yu did not mention stations beyond Jiujiang, but since he was bringing the Water Army, that issue would have to be resolved eventually. The most crucial point was whether he could become a trusted force in Xiong Wencan's inner circle.

Xiong Wencan listened quietly. Pang Yu's requests all seemed to consider the greater cause of bandit suppression, but they certainly concealed his own private interests. However, Xiong Wencan had just arrived and could not yet fully grasp everything. Jiujiang was undoubtedly a land grab, but such a Guard Post held no value whatsoever to Xiong Wencan. Trading it away carried not the slightest burden.

"What General Pang has said today all strikes at the key points of suppressing the bandits. You may write it up as a memorial of suggestions and submit it to me."

Having said this, Xiong Wencan moved the small blanket keeping his legs warm aside and made to rise. The Advisor beside him immediately came over to assist him. Pang Yu also made a gesture of support. Xiong Wencan waved his hand and slowly stood up, facing Pang Yu. "The soldiers I saw at the ferry crossing today are all brave and fit for service, which shows the Garrison Battalion lives up to its name. The realm is now in turmoil, precisely the time for a man of both civil and martial talent like General Pang to fully display his abilities. Quelling the bandits and repelling the barbarians is the Emperor's weighty charge; a prosperous nation and a peaceful people is the fervent hope of all. General Pang, you must exert your utmost effort and not let your considerable skills go to waste."

Pang Yu cupped his hands solemnly and said, "I respectfully heed my lord's instruction. I am willing to follow in your wake and aid my lord in suppressing the roving bandits."

……

After the Advisor led Pang Yu away, the Steward immediately brought a maidservant into the room to stir the brazier, making the room a bit warmer. Xiong Wencan returned to his seat and adjusted the small blanket draped over his legs.

Once the maidservant had left, the Steward said in a low voice, "Your lordship's chambers have been properly arranged. If you are tired, you may retire early."

Xiong Wencan shook his head and sighed softly. "I am still accustomed to the south. Only now arriving in Anqing, I already feel the cold."

"Originally, your lordship was long accustomed to the south. Blame it on those roving thieves." The Steward said worriedly, "All the way north, we kept adding clothes, yet it only grew colder. The Minister of War's intention is for your lordship to set up headquarters at Nanyang, and it will be even colder there."

"It's not for Yang Sichang to decide where I set up headquarters. When I passed the Presented Scholar examination, where was he?" Xiong Wencan opened his eyes, picked up his tea, and took a sip. "Nanyang is a thoroughfare connecting three provinces, a place surrounded by battlefields on all sides. Yang Sichang naturally has his eye on it, wanting to place this old man there with just a flick of his lips. Yet this place has already been trampled back and forth by roving bandits for years. An old acquaintance in the Ministry of War wrote to me: from Xiangyang past Nanyang, for hundreds of li into Henan, there is not a single green sprout, not a single person tilling the fields. If I set up headquarters at Nanyang, the troops will certainly not be few, and rations and pay can only come via the Han River through Huguang. Naturally, Xiangyang is more suitable. If Yang Sichang insists this old man set up headquarters at Nanyang, then let him come escort the grain shipments himself."

The Steward agreed, "They say those roving thieves are all mounted. If rations and pay come via the Han River, there's no fear of them being plundered. This Vice General Pang wants to bring the Water Army, likely with the same calculation. From the Great River into the Han River, the Water Army can reach Xiangyang."

"This Vice General Pang does not yet know where I will set up headquarters, but as for this Water Army, whether for offense or defense, it will be useful."

"Your lordship served as Governor of Fujian and Supreme Commander of Guangxi, always finding things smoother with water. This General Pang has inadvertently aligned with your lordship's preference. In both speech and conduct, he can be considered a man of propriety."

Having said this, the Steward placed the gifts Pang Yu had brought onto the tea table for his master to inspect. Several treasures sparkled translucently under the lamplight, clearly top-grade items. Xiong Wencan picked up the crystal brush pot with keen interest and examined it against the lamplight. The Advisor trimmed the lamp wick to let Xiong Wencan see more clearly.

The brush pot was made from a large piece of rock crystal. Its body was smooth and rounded, remarkable for being polished without a single flaw. Held against the lamplight, it showed not a trace of impurity, its quality far surpassing ordinary crystal wares. When Pang Yu selected it, he suddenly felt it resembled a high-end glass cup from later ages, a testament to its superb material and exquisite craftsmanship.

Xiong Wencan was quite reluctant to put it down, turning it over repeatedly before setting it aside. He then handled the white jade double-crane brush rest and the green jade auspicious beast paperweight one by one, similarly rare pieces of fine workmanship. The two large pearls were also exceptionally uncommon — large in size and nearly identical. To be matched as a pair in such specifications made them doubly precious. The jade knife, though simple in design, had a jade of emerald green quality. By any reckoning, every item on the table was worth a considerable sum.

As for that silver note, Xiong Wencan picked it up and glanced at it. Its format differed somewhat from those of other firms. Surrounding the edge of the note were complex patterns. In the upper center were written the four large characters "Great River Silver Bank," flanked by "Interest on Deposits" and "Credit Everlasting." The note was for five thousand taels of pure silver, not a small sum even in the Capital. Considering this was merely a greeting gift from Pang Yu's visit, it appeared especially generous.

Below the five thousand taels were two more columns of small characters: "Redeemable at Nanjing, Anqing, and Yangzhou. Annual interest for the deposit term: five hundred taels." Xiong Wencan had spent time in both the north and the south, but he had never seen a bank that paid interest on deposits. He examined it a moment longer before having the Steward put it away.

Finally, he picked up the collapsible telescope. Fujian and Guangdong had many seagoing vessels, and the Red Barbarians had brought quite a few of these telescopes. To Xiong Wencan, it was not a rare object, but the one Pang Yu sent was more finely crafted, with a few characters engraved on it. Xiong Wencan looked closely: "Bulwark of the Nation."

He could not help but reveal a slight smile. The Steward chimed in to amuse him, "This Vice General Pang is a man of propriety. Not only did he send men to welcome you, he also understands proper conduct — unlike the likes of Zuo Liangyu and Luo Dai, who neither came to Anqing nor sent any word."

Xiong Wencan casually set down the telescope, gazed at the crystal brush pot a moment longer, then narrowed his eyes to rest. "Coming or not coming to Anqing is secondary. What matters is whether they have the will, and even more, whether they can fight. The few things he just mentioned — as long as he applies his heart to handling the bandits, to the court they are but trivial matters."

"But I have heard people say that the old bandits all lead mounted thieves. This Vice General Pang only has a few horse soldiers. Zuo Liangyu, on the other hand, has always been suppressing bandits in the north. Didn't Shi Kefa say he just won another battle against the Eight Bandits near Nanyang? The Eight Bandits are said to be the most ferocious, yet they simply cannot defeat Zuo Liangyu. Clearly, Zuo Liangyu is still the most capable in battle."

Xiong Wencan sighed softly. "Zuo Liangyu came out of the Liao Garrison. If we speak of battle prowess, countless men in the Liao Garrison surpass him, let alone the Nine Borders. It is only that the troops of the interior are ineffective, making him seem capable. He himself thinks he is extraordinary, which has only increased his arrogance. The number of impeachments he has faced this year is probably exceeded only by the former Grand Secretary. Such character means he can only be used with caution. Pang Yu also won a battle against the Eight Bandits. In the interior, he counts as a usable force, but compared to the elite soldiers of the Nine Borders, the gap is still immeasurable. He may be somewhat inferior to Zuo Liangyu, but he excels in knowing his place and obeying orders. Whether the Governor, the Ministry of War, or the Cabinet, all value him. In employing men, it is always best to have both virtue and ability."

"In that case, your lordship has a quota of thirty thousand troops under your command. You could easily transfer more elite soldiers in, and then there would be no fear of those roving thieves running rampant."

"Where am I to find so many elite soldiers? Supreme Commander Hong Chengchou still has the Three Frontier Armies, but the Regional Commanders under him are merely Zuo Guangxian, Cao Bianjiao, Zu Dabi, and Sun Xianzu, with the Vice Generals Ma Ke, He Renlong, and Zhang Ling — in total, just over ten thousand. Under this old man, the Five-Province Supreme Commander, there are only Zuo Liangyu, Kong Daoxing, Luo Dai, and others, not even ten thousand in full, and that includes the Henan Governor's troops. Now the Supreme Commander does not concurrently serve as Governor, so at least one contingent must be left for the Governor. In Huguang, Qin Yiming has already been sent back. Yang Shien's force of under five thousand men defends Huguang. The eight thousand Yunnan Reinforcement Army troops currently have no regular pay and are naturally unusable. Sichuan troops have been drawn away in great numbers to various places. Sun Chuanting even says the Sichuan troops waste rations and are useless. In Zhili, Zhu Dadian has only Mou Wenshou and Liu Liangzuo's two forces. Zhang Guowei is left with only this Garrison Battalion. Where else are there elite soldiers to speak of?"

"Didn't the Emperor say he would dispatch the Capital Battalion's crack troops..."

"Setting aside whether the Capital Battalion counts as crack troops, they are led by the eunuch of the Imperial Stables Directorate. Could this old man possibly deploy them?" Xiong Wencan opened his eyes and looked at the Steward. "Using troops to kill bandits is ultimately the lowest strategy. It has been over ten years since the roving bandits arose. Suppressing and killing back and forth has shown no results; on the contrary, the more we suppress, the more they multiply. This is ample proof that the strategy is flawed."

"Your lordship's approach of simultaneous suppression and pacification is still the best. Otherwise, how could the seas be as peaceful as they are now? Men like Zheng Zhilong and Zhong Bin were all great pirates, yet in the end they submitted to your lordship's command. These roving bandits are surely no different."

Xiong Wencan fell silent. Outside, there were still some noises of bustle; the servants had not finished tidying up. Though the brazier kept the room from being icy cold, it still could not compare to the warm moisture of the southern lands.

After another moment, Xiong Wencan spoke with confidence. "Sea bandits and roving bandits are all bandits. If they are bandits, they are all the same, and the strategy to suppress them is naturally also the same. As long as one finds the right method, there is no worry that the roving bandits cannot be pacified."