Chapter 384: The New Year Threshold

"On the road we encountered a unit of Chuang Tatian. The cavalry battalion pursued and beheaded ninety-seven bandits, capturing nearly a thousand, mostly servants. Our unit lost nineteen killed, thirteen seriously wounded, and forty-one lightly wounded. A document was sent to the Suizhou government office requesting they take custody of the captives, but no response was received, so the servants were released. Scout cavalry detected that Chuang Tatian had fled north, and our unit then pursued the Eight Bandits' forces."

On the night of the twenty-eighth, Pang Yu received Chen Rulie's dispatch report at the main tent. All Central Army dispatch reports were now uniformly received and sent by the Advisory Room, and Clerk Xie Zhaofa delivered it personally.

"Chen Rulie, leading a new battalion, did well to drive off Liu Guoneng — though the attrition is too high."

Xie Zhaofa voiced his approval. "The Cavalry First Unit only reached full conscription strength three months ago, then marched a thousand li overland. Losses along the way were unavoidable. By now, casualties, illness, and battle deaths have reduced their numbers by over three hundred. They still need to leave troops behind to guard the wounded, sick, and baggage, so those able to fight are barely half. If they pursue another few hundred li and lose another half, only two or three hundred men will remain usable. The Eight Bandits have been fighting for over ten years and are most skilled at setting ambushes and encircling. This humble officer fears that if Chen Rulie pursues too rashly, disaster may strike."

Pang Yu knew Xie Zhaofa was speaking the truth. He had never marched this far overland before. After passing Huangmei, the route gradually pushed deeper north, growing farther and farther from the Great River, yet still far from the Han River — making it impossible to use the waterways.

The area from Huangmei to Macheng was a disaster zone ravaged by bandits. Government forces were weak in this region; bands of roving bandits came and went. The land along the official road was scarred as far as the eye could see, with almost no households in sight. Aside from a few large county seats, the towns and villages were little more than broken walls and ruins. Even with silver in hand, there was nothing to buy.

His main force was marching together with Xiong Wencan, so the cities they encountered dared not refuse to open their gates. They had resupplied military grain twice along the way. But the cavalry, operating so far ahead and without any civil official accompanying them, received no good face from the local officials. Closed city gates were the norm, so naturally they could not replenish rice and beans, nor find anywhere to settle the wounded and sick. If they used places like monasteries outside the city walls, they would still need to leave troops to guard them, further reducing their combat strength.

Pang Yu paused in thought for a moment, then said, "They are cavalry. The bandit spawn won't find it so easy to encircle them. War, after all, is not about who has fought longer. The Eight Bandits have fought for ten years — eight-tenths of those were defeats. Chen Rulie has only fought for three years, but all of them were victories. Cavalry must have the drive to dare to attack. Still, your reminder is also correct. Send Chen Rulie a return order token: continue pursuing the Eight Bandits, pay close attention to far and near scouting and defense, make camp securely, and if the First Division continues to lose strength, the vanguard may be reduced again. If numbers fall below two hundred, rest and regroup in place."

Xie Zhaofa noted this down, then said in a low voice, "Just now we received a dispatch report from the Infantry First Unit. Its directly subordinate scout cavalry banner team intercepted a group of constables on the road today — household retainers of Xu Mingchen of the Yunnan Army. The clerk inspected the documents they carried; among them was a detailed report addressed to Lord Xiong, mentioning the Eight Bandits' terms for negotiating pacification. The Eight Bandits claim to have seven thousand horse soldiers and three thousand infantry, and offer to suppress bandits to redeem themselves."

"If he had seven thousand horse soldiers, would Zuo Liangyu have beaten him into this state?" Pang Yu let out a snort of laughter. "The Eight Bandits took a heavy blow at Chema River. His horse soldiers cannot exceed two thousand. The infantry are just servants — even thirty thousand would be useless."

Just as Xie Zhaofa was about to reply, the deputy officer called from outside, "My lord, Guo Xiansheng from Lord Xiong's staff has arrived. He has already entered the camp gate."

Pang Yu was not surprised. This Guo Xiansheng was an advisor Lord Xiong had brought from Guangdong — a highly capable man, likely one of Xiong Wencan's trusted confidants. He County Yamen had previously been on good terms with him.

Xie Zhaofa said quietly, "This subordinate will withdraw."

Pang Yu thought for a moment. "It probably has to do with that letter that was sent. Stay for now."

With that, he went out first and waited outside the tent to receive the guest. When Guo Xiansheng arrived and saw Pang Yu, they exchanged polite pleasantries before entering the tent and taking their seats.

"To trouble Guo Xiansheng to come to the camp personally this evening — is there some important matter to dispatch?"

"Nothing of great importance." Guo Xiansheng spoke courteously. "I heard that the General has a horse unit under his command. It was present when we left Susong, but in recent days I have not seen it encamped. The roving bandits possess many horses, and pacifying the bandits cannot be done without horse troops. Supreme Commander Xiong has sent this old man to the General's place to inquire — might this horse unit have gone elsewhere? It must not delay the great task of pacifying the bandits."

"Guo Xiansheng, your insight is keen. This humble officer's Cavalry Chief-of-a-Thousand Department serves as the vanguard for the entire army, tasked with sweeping aside any roving bandits blocking the road ahead so as not to disturb Lord Xiong's journey. They are perhaps a day or two ahead of the main force, so their encampment is indeed not in the same place — but they will by no means delay the pacification of the bandits."

"Word has come from the Huguang local authorities that a Nanzhili horse unit has reached the vicinity of Macheng. Previously, we did not know whether it might be the General's horse unit. Macheng is more than a day or two's march from us, so it cannot be our troops. Perhaps the locals were mistaken."

Pang Yu detected a difference in Guo Xiansheng's tone from previous occasions and studied him carefully. Guo Xiansheng's expression was earnest, but it lacked some of the former warmth.

Pang Yu understood there was meaning behind that surface sincerity. He replied cautiously, "It must be so. With troops and horses everywhere along the road, it is common for the locals to make mistakes."

"Troops and horses everywhere — soldiers and commanders from every region hurrying on the march just like us. In a few more days it will be the New Year, yet there is no rest. Campaigning for the realm is truly arduous." Guo Xiansheng glanced beyond the tent door. "This year's snow has come at the right time — a timely snow foretells a bountiful year. In years past, if it wasn't drought, it was flood. The common folk rarely get good weather. But even with good weather, they still need a good world. Only when the bandit scourge is quelled can the people farm in peace. Only then, when the year comes full circle, can they pass the New Year threshold. Fortunately, His Majesty and the Ministry of War have set the strategy of the Ten-Sided Net. Pacifying the bandits should not be far off. I imagine that next year, the common folk of this realm will finally have a moment to catch their breath."

"What fortune for the people, to have a capable minister like Supreme Commander Xiong. There is hope for pacifying the bandits." Pang Yu glanced at Guo Xiansheng and probed, "With your great talent, sir, might you be able to predict roughly how long it will take to pacify the bandits?"

Guo Xiansheng smiled. "I will not hide it from General Pang. Last month, the Ministry of War memorialized His Majesty, ordering the Supervisor of Military Affairs, the Pacification Commissioners, and the various circuit officials to assemble their troops before the year's end, with a three-month deadline to pacify the bandits. This old man believes that is how it will be."

Several thoughts flashed through Pang Yu's mind, but he had not expected the court to actually set such a target. Although part of the Bandit Suppression Pay had arrived, many of the newly conscripted troops were not yet assembled; they were still relying mainly on the old forces. To pacify the bandits in three months meant operations had to begin now. Given the vast area involved, it was extremely rushed.

Guo Xiansheng looked at Pang Yu with a meaningful expression. "General Pang, since ancient times, suppressing bandits and quelling rebellions has always required both suppression and pacification to succeed. Relying solely on slaughter or solely on feigned surrender is inadvisable. But you should also understand — whether it is pacified by suppression or pacified by pacification, it is still pacified. Both are deeds that benefit the realm and the people."

Hearing this, Pang Yu was now certain that Xiong Wencan had received word from Huguang and knew that the cavalry was pursuing the Eight Bandits. Guo Xiansheng's purpose in coming was now very clear.

The Emperor wanted the bandits pacified in three months. Whether or not Pang Yu thought this target was reasonable, it was a concrete metric, and Xiong Wencan bore the weight of it. To quell ten years of bandit chaos within three months — one could well imagine the immense pressure on Xiong Wencan. For Xiong Wencan, time had become the primary pressure. In choosing the method of pacification, Xiong Wencan would select the one most advantageous to himself.

Xiong Wencan was desperate to break the deadlock. He must have received word that Liu Guoneng was being pursued and beaten by Chen Rulie, and he feared that Liu Guoneng and the Eight Bandits would flee in disarray, cutting off the channels of negotiation. The purpose of Guo Xiansheng's visit today was to make Pang Yu halt the pursuit, so as not to ruin his grand plan of feigned surrender.

After weighing his words for a moment, Pang Yu said, "Just now, sir, you spoke of combining suppression and pacification. This humble officer is in full agreement. But these old bandits are exceedingly cunning. They must be made to feel that escape is hopeless. Perhaps negotiating terms while simultaneously pressing the attack would yield better terms."

Guo Xiansheng's eyes flickered a few times. He chuckled dryly. "If we attack while negotiating, how can we win their trust? That naturally becomes a sole emphasis on suppression. Can General Pang guarantee that within three months, all the bandit camps can be annihilated together?"

"This humble officer has a humble opinion: if the strongest are annihilated, the rest will realize on their own that only the path of feigned surrender remains."

"First there was Wang Jiayin, then Purple Gold Beam, and after that Gao Yingxiang. All of these were the strongest. After they were killed off completely, we never saw the remaining bandits come in droves to submit. If the strongest camp head is destroyed, the former second-strongest becomes the strongest, and their momentum grows even fiercer. They absorb the troops and horses, and the blaze burns ever hotter." Guo Xiansheng paused. "Supreme Commander Xiong spent many years in Fujian and the Two Guangs. The reason he was able to restore peace to the southeast was precisely because he repeatedly gained advantage through feigned surrender. The ones he brought to surrender were the strongest bandit chieftains. Only then did the remaining bandits follow suit."

"Your insight is keen, sir, but these roving bandits are still somewhat different from sea bandits. In particular, this strongest bandit has repeatedly used feigned surrender to escape desperate straits, and has repeatedly implicated the various officials handling the pacification, causing them to be convicted. This humble officer fears this bandit is once again resorting to old tricks."

"And when bandit suppression is ineffective, have the various officials implicated and convicted been any fewer?"

Pang Yu was momentarily at a loss for words. Guo Xiansheng said calmly, "His Majesty has set a deadline of three months to pacify the bandits. If they cannot be pacified in three months, Lord Xiong will not bear this culpability alone."

Hearing this, Pang Yu understood that under the pressure of the deadline to pacify the bandits, Xiong Wencan had already made his choice. It was just that negotiations were still underway, and the roving bandits' credibility was poor. Before everything was settled, Xiong Wencan did not yet dare to explicitly order Pang Yu to stop pursuing the roving bandits. He needed Pang Yu to grasp his meaning on his own.

But Pang Yu was no longer the minor squad leader of before. The army was under his control. Even if Xiong Wencan was applying pressure on him, there was still considerable room regarding whether to actually carry out this veiled order. His desire to annihilate the Eight Bandits was not merely personal vengeance. These giant bandits wrought the most severe havoc. Huguang and Sichuan were both critical grain-producing regions and important consumer markets. If the Eight Bandits laid waste to both areas, the commercial value of the Great River's middle reaches would plummet — extremely detrimental to his overall plans. And if the Eight Bandits truly surrendered, he would lose his value in Huguang, perhaps even his reason for stationing troops there — likewise detrimental to his plans.

Pang Yu was framing his wording and about to speak when Guo Xiansheng continued, "There is one more matter to inform General Pang of. The Wuhu matter has shown some progress. Lord Xiong expended considerable effort on it. It was only because it was entrusted by General Pang that he used face and sentiment to handle it."

Pang Yu raised his eyes and looked at Guo Xiansheng. "I thank Lord Xiong for his noble righteousness. Since Your Lordship and sir have a strategy, this humble officer will comply in all things. Combining suppression and pacification is most appropriate. Your Lordship will surely be able to quell the bandit menace in one stroke. However, as this humble officer said just now, these giant bandits are extremely cunning and have repeatedly surrendered only to rebel again. Supreme Commander Yang and Supreme Commander Chen both fell from grace because of this. Even after the bandits are pacified, heavy troops will still be needed to overawe them and ensure lasting peace. We will need to garrison for some time. Rations and pay are difficult to supply by land. If the Water Camp could find a mooring place in Huguang early on, it would greatly benefit both pacifying and overawing the bandits."

Pang Yu's words had mentioned two supreme commanders — Yang He and Chen Qiyu — both of whom had been dismissed and convicted due to the failure of the Pacification Company. Guo Xiansheng seemed to take this reasoning to heart. "This matter has been discussed before. Where does the General feel a mooring would be most advantageous for pacifying the bandits?"

"Wuchang, where the rivers converge, could support operations in all four directions."

Guo Xiansheng betrayed no extra emotion. He had no interest in Pang Yu's purpose for wanting to moor the Water Army there. Having heard more or less in Anqing about Pang Yu's business dealings in Nanjing, he guessed it was nothing more than opening gambling dens and brothels or trafficking private salt in Wuchang.

"So long as it benefits the pacification of the bandits, Lord Xiong will certainly approve. But it will always require effort to arrange. Lord Xiong exhausts his mind and energy, and General Pang also toils for the realm. Whether for the realm or for oneself, what one wants is a good outcome. General Pang is a man of understanding — you should understand all of this."

"I thank you, sir, for your guidance."

The two sides had reached an agreement. Guo Xiansheng stood up and looked outside the tent. "This New Year threshold — it must be crossed every year. Every year people say it is hard, but in all these years I have never seen one that was not crossed. This year, I suppose, will be the same."

With that, he walked out of the tent. Pang Yu took a silver note from the deputy officer and quietly slipped it into Guo Xiansheng's sleeve. Guo Xiansheng did not refuse, nor did he make any further sign. Pang Yu, accompanied by Xie Zhaofa, escorted him all the way to the camp gate and watched Guo Xiansheng's carriage depart.

Pang Yu tilted his head and asked Xie Zhaofa, "Advisor Xie, what do you think Lord Xiong is planning?"

"This humble one cannot say for certain."

"You are the Clerk of the Advisory Division. Even if you cannot say for certain, you must say something."

Xie Zhaofa scratched his neck. Only after a long while did he speak. "Lord Xiong is extremely impatient. Looking at the march progress Chen Rulie reported, both the Eight Bandits and Chuang Tatian are moving very slowly — not like men fleeing for their lives. The Eight Bandits are even still heading toward Xiangyang. They must be exchanging letters with Lord Xiong to negotiate terms. Once Lord Xiong reaches Xiangyang, it will be settled. Lord Xiong, I fear, is single-mindedly set on feigned surrender. This talk of 'combining suppression and pacification' is merely something to tell the Ministry of War."

Pang Yu sighed and narrowed his eyes for a moment. "The Ten-Sided Net has come to this. So, do you think we should continue pursuing and suppressing the Eight Bandits?"

Xie Zhaofa said carefully, "That depends on why Your Lordship came to Huguang."

The lanterns of Guo Xiansheng's party gradually faded into the distance. A light snow drifted in the night sky. The yellow-paper-and-iron-wire lanterns at the camp gate cast a dim amber halo. The long, leopard-tail banner marking the no-entry zone fluttered in the wind, sweeping back and forth before the lanterns, making Pang Yu's face flicker between light and shadow.