Chapter 394: Fine Poetry

"Vice General Pang stationed the Water Camp at Mianyang Port — is he uneasy about Old Zhang?"

At the Wharf docks of Mianyang Port, when Pang Yu saw that sallow face again, much of the strangeness had already faded.

The ceremony for handing over the official directive proceeded very quickly; it seemed neither Zhang Xianzhong nor Xiong Wencan wished to linger long at Mianyang Port. An hour later, Zhang Xianzhong had already left the main tent, having received his Vice General appointment certificate. A civil official was also dispatched as Army Supervisor, but that official did not immediately head to the Western Camp to assume his supervisory duties today.

This Eight Master's conduct greatly surprised Pang Yu. Before Xiong Wencan, he was exceedingly deferential and meek, never letting a coarse word slip from his mouth, and every point of etiquette was perfectly observed. In his dealings with other civil and military officials, he was also uniformly respectful. From Pang Yu's observing perspective, he seemed even more like a Military Officer of the Court than Zuo Liangyu did.

Pang Yu accompanied him on the return trip. Zhang Xianzhong seemed somewhat more relaxed now, no longer gripping Pang Yu's arm tightly as a hostage, though he still kept glancing restlessly in all directions.

"Absolutely not. It is simply that I am accustomed to doing business and like to think on behalf of others. Consider this, Vice Town Commander Zhang: Gucheng still has so many common folk, and the goods they require number in the hundreds and thousands. They must still rely on traveling merchants to bring them in. The Western Camp's reputation precedes it, and the traveling merchants, after all, do not know that the General has sincerely accepted pacification. If there were no government troops here, they would not dare come. With a Water Camp at the port, they can travel the water routes with peace of mind. Only when local commerce flourishes can there be adequate rations and pay to supply, is that not so?"

Zhang Xianzhong's gaze swiveled over. "Bandits pass through like a comb, soldiers pass through like a fine-toothed comb. With your Water Camp here, I fear they'd be even less likely to dare come."

Pang Yu could not suppress a laugh. "Vice Town Commander Zhang truly knows a great deal. If the traveling merchants all stay away, then I will simply have to conduct the business myself. The sums of silver involved are not small, and without troops here, I truly would not be at ease."

Zhang Xianzhong gave a dry chuckle. "Now that you've put it that way, Old Zhang actually believes you."

By now, the two men had reached the intersection on the north side. The soldiers from both sides who had been enforcing the cordon there breathed a collective sigh of relief. They had been facing off with only a single road between them, and ever since Zhang Xianzhong had entered the market town, the atmosphere here had been extremely tense.

Pang Yu gestured behind him, and Guo Fengyou immediately brought over a suit of armor. The Ming helmet sat right on top, its surface polished to a rather fine sheen, reflecting a dazzling luster under the sunlight.

"This is a welcoming gift for General Zhang, in congratulations on your promotion to the post of Vice Town Commander. Henceforth, with the General guarding Gucheng, you shall surely ensure peace on all sides."

Zhang Xianzhong took the armor with casual indifference. His arm strength was considerable; holding the full forty-jin suit of armor in his hands, he showed no sign of strain. He casually handed it off to a personal attendant beside him and let out a hearty laugh. "General Pang is a man of his word. He said he'd find a method, and he found a method. Not like some officials, who talk for ages about providing rations and pay but never deliver a single grain or a single copper coin."

Pang Yu naturally understood the implication in Zhang Xianzhong's words. Also present were the Prefect of Xiangyang and Ruan Zhitian. The civil officials wanted Zhang Xianzhong to obey orders and go to war, but this Vice Town Commander Zhang first demanded rations and pay. To get rations and pay, they first had to verify his troop numbers. Zhang Xianzhong opened his mouth and claimed twenty thousand men, demanding that Xiong Wencan first provide six months' worth of funds for settling them. Xiong Wencan, of course, would not give it, and Zhang Xianzhong would not submit to verification either. Thus, both sides had been stalling each other.

So, in reality, the only one who had actually submitted to pacification was Zhang Xianzhong himself. The men and horses in the Western Camp had no formal organization, and the various headmen, great and small, had no official status. The local authorities used the lack of a military registry as an excuse to withhold rations and pay.

The Prefect of Xiangyang could discern the meaning and turned his head aside, having no intention of picking up that thread of conversation. He looked up and saw that Ruan Zhitian was still among the Western Camp contingent. He said to Zhang Xianzhong, politely, "General Zhang is now a Court-Appointed Official. There is no need for Magistrate Ruan to accompany you any further, is there?"

Zhang Xianzhong waved a hand dismissively. "We're all heading back to Gucheng anyway. I'll give Magistrate Ruan a ride and will certainly ensure his safety."

Over on that side, Ruan Zhitian kept his head down and said nothing. Zhang Xianzhong walked over and said, with casual indifference, "Today, Old Zhang has gone and met with Grand Coordinator Xiong. I am now also a government soldier, and with Grand Coordinator Xiong's permission, I am stationed right here in Gucheng. Magistrate Ruan, you mustn't always think Old Zhang is going to rebel again. Guarding against me like this, how are we supposed to deal with each other in the future? Look at General Pang here — he understands reason far better than you do."

Ruan Zhitian suddenly raised his head and said, "That this humble official is of shallow talent and does not understand reason may well be true. But just now, General Pang gave a welcoming gift, and General Zhang did not offer one in return. Could it be that you also do not understand reason?"

The surrounding government soldiers and Western Camp men all stole glances. No one had expected this punching bag of a County Magistrate to actually dare rebuke the Eight Great Kings to his face. The Western Camp men, especially, had never dared to defy this Chief Steward.

Zhang Xianzhong's smug smile froze somewhat, a muscle in his face twitching. Then, he immediately plastered the smile back on and turned to Pang Yu.

"Old Zhang studied but never completed his learning, yet he still understands plenty of reason. It's just that today I did not have time to prepare. Another day, I must invite General Pang to come personally to my camp."

Before the words had even faded, Pang Yu waved a hand dismissively. "General Zhang, please, absolutely no need for such courtesy."

Then, under the strange gazes of everyone present, Pang Yu actually walked right past Zhang Xianzhong and headed straight for a mount at the back. "General Zhang, tell me, how is it that this horse is so exceptionally fine? I've been fighting in battles for all this time, and the one thing I lack is a good horse like this one."

……

On the official road returning to Gucheng, the mounted Western Camp contingent was rather silent. No one dared to provoke the Eight Great Kings, who had just had his horse swapped. Ruan Zhitian was still following far behind, guarded by several Post Commander, with the look of a dead pig that no longer fears boiling water.

Zhang Xianzhong, seated on horseback, suddenly spoke up. "Master Lu."

Lu Ding, who was nearby, hurriedly caught up a pace and said, "At your command, Master."

"Tell me, what exactly is that fellow Pang's reasoning?"

Lu Ding's eyes shifted, and he lowered his head. "He presented you, Master, with heavy armor, the meaning being to congratulate you on guarding a region. He asked for your horse, Master, meaning that henceforth you need not rush about in all directions."

Zhang Xianzhong said coldly, "Is that the meaning?"

Lu Ding hesitated a moment, then added, "If not, then it means that nothing he gives is ever free — he always wants something in exchange."

A voice from the other side said, "This humble one believes that Vice General Pang had no profound meaning at all. He's just a greedy, reckless grunts like Zuo Liangyu. When he sees a fine object, he simply wants to take it."

Lu Ding stole a glance at Zhang Xianzhong and, seeing his expression was normal, hurriedly echoed the other side. "What Mr. Pan says also has merit. That Pang Yu was originally just a yamen runner, with no real talent or learning. He merely stumbled upon good fortune and became a Vice General. At his core, he's still a petty clerk. Indeed, that is exactly how he acts."

"A petty clerk is a Vice General, and this old master here is also a Vice General. What flavor is there in that?" Zhang Xianzhong turned his head to look at Mr. Pan on the other side. "But Mr. Pan, do not underestimate this petty clerk. Zuo Liangyu is utterly shameless, but one understands his true nature. This petty clerk, one still cannot see through clearly."

Mr. Pan responded in acknowledgment. He was considered Zhang Xianzhong's military advisor. His real name was Pan Duao, originally a Licentiate from Sui County in Suizhou — one of those scholars with neither money nor influence. Although a Licentiate held examination status, he still belonged to the lower rungs of the scholarly class. By this late Ming period, official posts could be obtained through donation tribute, leaving very few channels of advancement for other scholars. Licentiate without connections could only attach themselves to yamen as clerks, copyists, or else work as Litigation Tricksters, at Brokerages, and the like. There were even quite a few who became yamen runners.

Pan Duao had failed to secure any prospects. He lost a lawsuit in his home region and later organized a small Local Militia force, nominally for defense against bandits. When Zhang Xianzhong came through, he neither resisted nor harassed them, but simply surrendered outright. The Western Camp had captured many Licentiate before, but those who voluntarily offered their allegiance were few, so he was quite favored by Zhang Xianzhong.

"What the Great Master says is correct. The scouts report that these past two days, the Anqing Army has set up checkpoints on the official road in River East. We do not know how long they intend to stay. What this humble one worries about most is that his Water Camp at Mianyang Port harbors ill intentions. We absolutely must dispatch reliable veteran camp troops to keep watch. If he only transports Iron Armor Soldiers over, it is no great matter. His armored soldiers would have to march sixty li to Gucheng, and we would receive word long in advance. If his Horse Soldiers want to cross the river, they will certainly be difficult to transport. As long as the watching troops are vigilant and do not let him bring horses across…"

Zhang Xianzhong listened as he rode, his eyes fixed on the west. It was already past noon, and the mountain ridges to the west were faintly visible.

Pan Duao was still speaking when Zhang Xianzhong suddenly bellowed at the top of his lungs, "High mountains have green pines…"

The surrounding bandit chiefs were all taken aback and turned their heads one after another to look west. There were indeed high mountains over there, but green pines were absolutely not visible. Pan Duao also stopped speaking. Just as everyone was utterly baffled, Zhang Xianzhong continued, "Yellow flowers grow in the valley."

"Fine poetry, fine poetry." Pan Duao was the first to react, his face full of exaggerated admiration. "The Great Master's poem has a perfectly structured form and a conception of lofty vision. It is truly a rare gem, beyond the reach of ordinary men."

The various bandit chiefs hurriedly chimed in one after another, "Fine poetry, fine poetry."

Zhang Xianzhong abruptly raised his hand. "Once the hail falls!"

Everyone gave a start, focusing their full attention on this mercurial Eight Master, wondering whom this hail was going to smash to death.

Zhang Xianzhong held his hand high in the air, but for a long while, he could not burst out with the next line. His fingers even scratched at his head, as if the next line had not yet been brewed. The waiting stretched on a bit too long, and the momentum of the just-fallen hail had unwittingly deflated considerably.

Pan Duao deeply understood the importance of rhythm in poetry recitation. The next line had already formed in his mind, but prompting him under the gaze of so many eyes was a matter of uncertain fortune, and his heart could not help but be extremely anxious.

At this critical moment, the hand Zhang Xianzhong had been scratching his head with suddenly shot high up again, and he repeated once more, "Once the hail falls."

Pan Duao's eyes lit up; he knew the next part had now arrived.

Sure enough, Zhang Xianzhong's large mouth gaped open. "Yellow flowers cannot match the pines!"

"Fine poetry, fine poetry!" Pan Duao slapped his thigh and turned to the assembled bandit chiefs. "The Eight Master, unyielding and everlasting, is that green pine standing firm on the high mountain. The yellow flowers in the valley look pretty, but they cannot withstand wind and frost. Once the hail strikes, they collapse. He speaks of that Vice General Pang from Anqing."

The crowd voiced their praise in profusion. If clapping had been a custom, the applause at this moment would have been deafening.

Zhang Xianzhong basked for a moment in the crowd's admiration of his literary talent. Once their emotions had settled a little, the Eight Great Kings pointed a finger at Liu Wenxiu. "You will be stationed at Mianyang Port. Keep a tight watch on that yellow flower. If there is any unusual movement, strike first, and make sure he does not walk out of Gucheng alive!"

……

"Liu Guoneng has disbanded his followers. Of the Fourteen Outposts, only three to four thousand men remain, to be counted, verified, and registered by personnel sent by Lord Xiong. Compared to this Eight Great Kings, Liu Guoneng seems more sincere in his submission to pacification. Our focus remains on the Eight Bandit, but we must also send men to spy on Liu Guoneng's side."

At the intersection at Mianyang Port, the soldiers were in the process of withdrawing the cannons. Pang Yu led Ruan Jin outside the market town, speaking as they walked while leisurely sizing up the Western Camp soldiers left behind.

"This humble one has noted it down. But the Western Camp is encamped at Baishazhou. If their troops and horses are rarely moved in the future, what should this humble one pay attention to?"

"The Western Camp has always lived by plundering in all four directions. Now that they are entrenched here, Gucheng cannot support all these people. You must especially investigate and ascertain the Western Camp's rations and pay situation. When their grain runs out, if the Eight Bandit does not rebel, his subordinates will rebel against him. Through their rations and pay, one can judge when he will rebel. Among the bandits, there are spies we planted long ago. One of them is the person I pointed out to you just now. You must make good use of these spies. Also, keep an eye on that Lu Ding. He is responsible for interacting with the various local officials. I want to know everywhere he goes and everyone he meets."

Ruan Jin thought for a moment and said, "He just said that soldiers pass through like a fine-toothed comb. I imagine that even after accepting pacification, they are no different from bandits. If they run short of rations and pay, they will still go around plundering everywhere, only they won't massacre cities, that's all."

"What you say is very true. The Eight Bandit was recently defeated by Zuo Liangyu and suffered heavy losses in silver and coin. Right now, he cannot plunder in all directions. Rice and beans must all be purchased. Once the initial period passes, his old ways will resurface. He will certainly forage for grain in the surrounding prefectures and counties. This official will restrict their movements on the east bank and confine their grain-purchasing channels to Mianyang Port."

"Living here at Mianyang Port mixed in with the Western Camp — I'm just afraid it'll be inconvenient for our work."

"Mixing together is a good thing. Where there's contact, there's intelligence. When dealing with the Western Camp, you must rouse your Mental Spirit. These Roving Bandits are slack at Battle, but they're quite adept at espionage and sowing discord. On no account underestimate the enemy." Pang Yu looked at him and said gently, "You've only just come to the Dark Sentinel Division, and I'm already assigning you such a thorny task. It may be a struggle at first, but that's the only way to gain a firm footing."

Ruan Jin hastily knelt. "This humble one thanks you, my lord, for your esteem."

Pang Yu waved him to his feet, his eyes fixed on the Western Camp men and horses at the intersection. "Quite a few of the civil and military grandees around here want to deal with the Eight Brigands. They're all assets to us, but our operations must stay hidden — we can't let Lord Xiong grow suspicious. So someone else has to take the lead out front. This time, both you and I must put our hearts into the task. We cannot let the Eight Brigands walk out of Gucheng."