Chapter 382: Military Expedition

"Sir Wu, that Yang Zhujie — Yang Zhujie is dead."

In the document office of the Garrison Commander's headquarters, Wu Dacai turned to look at the rushing Xu Youyuan. His eyebrows twitched a few times before he said, "Just a clerk officer. Thousands died at Cart Horse River and it was nothing. Take your time — when did he die?"

"He, he was beaten yesterday. After they sent him to the Medical Officer, they said he probably couldn't be saved. They treated him and had his family watch over him. He stopped breathing in the middle of the night. The family says they're going to carry the body to the yamen."

Wu Dacai picked up the teacup beside him, held it at his lips a moment, then took a sip. "The sentence was decided jointly by the Garrison Inspector officers. The beating was carried out by the Garrison Inspector Dui. When a man dies, the Garrison Inspector Dui submits the Detailed Report. What are you panicking about?"

Xu Youyuan wiped the sweat from his forehead. "The various offices are talking. This, this — they're all saying..."

Wu Dacai set down the teacup. "They're all saying that since this officer came and set up the Document Team, people have died, and if they send clerk officers to every office in the future, they'll have no way to survive either. Hah. I already knew what they'd say."

"That Yang Zhujie taught many officers in the night school in the past — even taught you, sir. Some in the army are saying you've betrayed your teacher and destroyed your ancestors. They fear it will damage your reputation..."

"What kind of teacher, what kind of ancestor is he?" Wu Dacai slammed the table. "He was an old hand in the Document Team. He failed the examination and evaluation — that was that. No one said he'd be denied a way to survive. He put on the airs of a teacher and cursed me out on the drill ground. If I didn't beat him, who would I beat? What do I need reputation for?"

Xu Youyuan glanced back, saw the door was still open, hurriedly went to close it, and returned. "The clerks in every office are all scholars. They care about these bonds of teacher and student. I'm just afraid the clerk officers sent out later won't be well received, and it'll end up like it was in the battalions."

"With a man dead, they're scared now — they won't dare." Wu Dacai leaned back in his chair. "Little Xu, you don't understand this. This officer has been through it."

Xu Youyuan looked at Wu Dacai in surprise. Seeing that Wu Dacai truly showed no sign of worry, he quickly lowered his gaze. "What I mean is, those offices never had clerk officers before. After all, they're being newly assigned. I'm just afraid they'll say nothing openly but do everything they can to sabotage things in secret."

Wu Dacai grunted, raised his head, and looked at Xu Youyuan for a moment. "Though the various offices belong to the yamen, you must remember — our Garrison... Cavalry Camp is not the same as a civil office. What matters is still the army. Yesterday you heard the Zong Garrison Inspector Guan say it too: capable men are to be sent to the army first. Future promotions will still depend on talent and virtue in the army. This time Lord Pang is accompanying Supreme Commander Xiong in the reinforcement and suppression of Huguang. This is an excellent opportunity."

Xu Youyuan quickly lifted his head. He had mentioned the clerk officers being assigned to the various offices many times. Wu Dacai had hinted before that he might let him go to one of the offices — perhaps the Household Office or the Works Office. Those places were safer than the army, and the rank was very high. Xu Youyuan truly wished for that. What he had just said was actually also a reminder to Wu Dacai. Now, hearing Wu Dacai's tone, it seemed not to be the direction he hoped for. Just as he was about to speak, Wu Dacai raised a hand, signaling him to hold his tongue.

"Youyuan, among all the many people in the Document Team, this officer thinks most highly of you. You handle matters diligently and capably. Although your examination results were a bit lacking, they can still be considered a pass. Originally, this officer intended to keep you at the yamen. But this trip to Huguang is by Lord Pang's side. Everything you do will be seen by Lord Pang. Future promotions will be far more convenient. I can't bear to let you go, but I must."

"I wish to remain at your side, sir. There are too many affairs in the team — I can help you."

"The affairs are all routine. Don't let them delay your future."

"But, but the fighting and killing — I still have family at home..."

"Lord Pang is ever-victorious. You, a clerk officer, won't need to go into battle. Following in the Cavalry Camp, you needn't worry about fighting and killing. Do you think the Cavalry Camp could ever lose to Roving Bandits?"

Wu Dacai's tone shifted slightly. Xu Youyuan caught the implication, froze for a moment, and dared not continue.

"This is your appointment certificate. Clerk Officer, First Division Second Company, Cavalry Battalion Commander Department."

He handed over the appointment certificate as he spoke. Xu Youyuan's hands trembled as he took it.

"The main army moves out tomorrow. You are the last accompanying clerk officer appointed. In the army it's not like the yamen — don't disgrace the Document Team. No need to be on duty today. Go back, pack your gear, and report to the First Cavalry Division at noon."

Xu Youyuan heard it was still the Cavalry Battalion Commander Department — he couldn't even ride a horse properly yet. With a mournful face, he knelt and saluted, then withdrew without a word. Wu Dacai looked down at his broken leg and snorted softly. "Shameless thing. Still wanted to stay at the yamen."

This direct office was now his alone. Space in the yamen's main hall was very tight — originally none could be freed up. In the end, the Works Office said they needed to assign personnel to stand duty at the workshop, and forcibly vacated a direct office. Wu Dacai became the only deputy in the main hall with his own private direct office.

There was some noise outside. Because Lord Pang was going on campaign tomorrow, although every office had long been prepared, there were still quite a few last-minute added tasks that needed to be finished today. On the contrary, Wu Dacai, who was staying behind, was relatively idle.

Wu Dacai held the warm teacup, but the room in the twelfth month was still freezing cold. His broken leg throbbed with stabbing pain. Wu Dacai bared his teeth and cursed under his breath, "Betrayed my teacher and destroyed my ancestors — what reputation of mine could that ruin? When you all treated me shabbily, what reputation did you ruin then?"

After a long while, Wu Dacai released the teacup, shifted his body, and pulled a cord. A bell rang several times outside, and a clerk walked in.

"On that merit evaluation announcement — at Xu Youyuan's entry, add one more line. State clearly that he submitted a memorial of suggestions proposing centralized training and examination for clerk officers, and for this he is rated Merit Evaluation First Class."

The clerk stole a glance at Wu Dacai, then quickly lowered his head. "I understand. I'll go add it now."

"Post it on the Eight-Character Wall tomorrow." Wu Dacai straightened his back and said with authority, "There have been some non-combat deaths and injuries in the army this time. Originally these were just routine army punishments — the Garrison Inspector Dui carried out the sentence according to regulations, and there was no real error. But this officer still finds it regrettable. After thinking it over, the deficiency lies in medical skill. Previously, Lord Pang also instructed that this military trauma medicine must be properly established. This officer will now undertake this matter, to prevent such deaths and injuries in the future. Write an announcement of what I've said, post it on the Eight-Character Wall as well, and send a copy to every division and company in the army."

"Then... should this be posted tomorrow or today?"

"Today, of course. This officer came from the army — I don't like to delay anything. Why should an announcement wait a day? Also, have the team send someone to Yang Zhujie's home today with some consolation silver. After all, he was a man of our Document Team."

"I understand."

"Also, go to the Stable Office and have a horse ready. This officer will need it tomorrow — to see Lord Pang off on campaign."

Rongzhen Year 10, twelfth month, thirteenth day. Susong Stronghold Front Post. The army stretched out far along the post road.

The troops on campaign had assembled here from every garrison in the Anqing region. Mounted Garrison Inspector soldiers rode back and forth, setting up marker flags at every position, using different colors to mark the locations of different Military Camp units so they could set camp according to plan.

Pang Yu stood before the Stronghold Front Post, bidding farewell one by one to the Chief Officials of every office and division who had come to see him off. He could not avoid giving each a few words of advice.

The Stronghold Front Post was near Tongling Fort. This was the border between Susong and Huangmei, and also the border between Nanzhili and Huguang. He had campaigned many times before, but never left Nanzhili — always within Zhang Guowei's jurisdiction. Relying on his relationship with Zhang Guowei, every locality had to give some consideration. Once he left the Stronghold Front Post, he would formally enter Huguang, and Pang Yu would become a true Guest Army.

Xiong Wencan had made a brief two-month stop in Anqing and issued the first batch of orders to the various Pacification commissioners. As the Bandit Suppression Pay arrived, newly recruited troops began to increase, and officers and soldiers transferred from various regions were assembling.

Yang Sichang's Ten-Sided Net was essentially using local forces to block the Roving Bandits' movement, while the Supreme Commander and the Supreme Commander led elite troops to exterminate them. What differed from before was that responsibilities were clearly defined, and the critical issue of rations and pay was resolved. Pang Yu could well imagine that the various bandit bands, after their crushing defeat at Susong and now facing such a powerful encirclement and suppression, must already be feeling the pressure.

Accompanying Pang Yu on this campaign were one division from each of the two Battalion Commander Departments of the Cavalry Camp, one Land Combat Division, and the Cavalry Battalion Commander Department, along with three Companies drawn from each of the remaining units.

For this Ten-Sided Net, the Anqing Garrison Battalion was renamed the Cavalry Camp, with a troop strength of 3,500 men. The Water Camp remained unchanged at 1,000 men. Wang Zenglu, Chen Rulie, and Yao Dongshan were all Camp Mobile Corps Commanders, subordinate to the Cavalry Camp's establishment, each leading one division on this campaign. Zhuang Chaozheng, following Pan Keda's old precedent, was appointed Mobile Corps Commander of the Bronze Standard Battalion with the concurrent rank of Vice General.

The original New Courage Battalion was expanded by 1,000 men to the scale of a Mobile Troop Battalion, though its name remained New Courage Battalion, with Zhou Ershi as Mobile Corps Commander. The Army Courage Battalion used the 1,100-man quota newly added by Zhang Guowei, with Chen Yuwang as Mobile Corps Commander. Pang Yu drew one Company each from the Bronze Standard Battalion, the New Courage Battalion, and the Army Courage Battalion, so that each unit could gain combat experience.

Due to the victory in the great battle at Susong, the situation around Anqing had greatly improved. Shi Kefa no longer needed to be permanently stationed at Tongcheng. He moved his station to Taihu. The Bronze Standard Battalion remained at Tongcheng, while Chen Yuwang's Army Courage Battalion was instead transferred to Taihu. Pang Yu estimated that Chen Yuwang might actually be used as a Path Biao Battalion in practice.

After the Susong battle, every side gained something, but Pang Yu was still the one who reaped the greatest rewards. Xiong Wencan was indeed more capable of getting things done than Zhang Guowei. The Jiujiang Guard matter was handled very quickly. There was an old precedent for the Anqing Garrison Commander to have jurisdiction over the Jiujiang Guard — it had simply never been implemented due to administrative chaos. Whether the Cabinet or the Ministry of War, now as long as Xiong Wencan was going to suppress the bandits, never mind one Jiujiang Guard — no one would frown at ten Guard Posts. This change also required no additional allocation of rations and pay. Pang Yu smoothly obtained the authority over performance evaluations and command.

At this moment, Ren Dalang had already gone ahead to Jiujiang to verify the number of ships at the Jiujiang Guard. Once Jiujiang and Wuhu were secured, the greater part of Pang Yu's deployment along the river would take shape. Jiangpu and Yangzhou also had foundations. This southern economic artery would be under his control, and the next step would be to launch his grand settlement scheme.

The Bandit Suppression Pay was arriving in succession. According to the agreement between Xiong Wencan and Pang Yu, the Reinforcement and Suppression Troops were counted among the troops directly under the Supreme Commander and did not occupy Anqing's troop quota. During this period, the Anqing Cavalry Camp would continue recruiting to fill its ranks. As for whether this was a permanent or temporary establishment, no one could figure it out. When the reinforcement and suppression campaign ended, how these troop quotas would be handled — the Ministry of War said nothing, and naturally no official from Xiong Wencan on down would say anything either. It wasn't just Anqing; the several provinces involved in bandit suppression were all a mess of muddled accounts. But in any case, the Bandit Suppression Pay had arrived, and the Cavalry Camp was essentially using one set of personnel to draw nearly two portions of military stipend silver.

Although not all of the Bandit Suppression Pay could actually be collected, it was still a vast improvement over the previous financial situation. With money and grain, everything went much more smoothly. Although the Anqing region's army still had many different components — Xu Strengthening's Wusong Camp was also present — military discipline had recently improved considerably. So what Pang Yu instructed the various staying Chief Officials was relatively simple, mainly internal affairs. Even so, it took an hour. But at last everything was explained. By then the army had also finished setting camp. Pang Yu's main tent was placed within the Stronghold Front Post.

"Second Brother, word has come back about Supreme Commander Xiong's side. The man in contact with the Eight Bandits is called Lu Ding — a Government Student. Nothing else is known."

Pang Yu grunted. "How far has the contact progressed?"

"They're already negotiating troop numbers and rank. I hear Sir Xiong's intention is to give him a Vice General's rank, but he must kill Ma Shouying and Li Bandit Chuang to redeem himself."

"Vice General's rank? I killed that many bandit spawn and got a Vice General's rank. He killed that many common people and he gets a Vice General's rank too." Pang Yu shook his head. "Can you confirm the Eight Bandits' current location?"

"Defeated by Zuo Liangyu at Nanyang. They say he's reached the Macheng area. Yesterday I heard he's moved north again. If the pursuit is pressing, I'm afraid he really might want to surrender." He County Yamen sighed. "I just don't know what Sir Xiong is in such a hurry about."

"Whatever he's in a hurry about, I'll fight my own fight."

Pang Yu beckoned to Chen Rulie, who was waiting to the left. Chen Rulie hurried over before him.

"Your orders, sir."

"According to the original plan, after we cross the border tomorrow, the cavalry will not wait for the main force. Advance toward Macheng, pursuing and shadowing the Eight Bandits along the way. You may decide on engagement or defense at your own discretion. You need only report back once every three days. If you can fight, fight. If you cannot, pin him down and wait for the main force to converge for a joint suppression. This time, this officer will definitely take the Eight Bandits' head."