Chapter 417: War Council

Outside Tongcheng's Southern Lavender Gate was a chaos of noise. Donkey and horse carriages coming down the official road clogged the roadway, while civilian laborers bearing heavy loads streamed back and forth in an endless flow.

Inside the city tower of Southern Lavender Gate, the clamor outside was faintly audible. Pang Yu leaned steadily over his desk, where a map from Nanzhili to the Capital lay spread out. Beside him was Jiang Fan, who had rushed over from the prefectural city, and around them were He County Yamen, Yang Xueshi, Zhuang Chaozheng, Chen Rulie, and Mister Yu.

Yang Xueshi looked somewhat nervous. He raised his head to glance at Pang Yu. "Reporting to Your Excellency: before noon, all logistics teams arrived on schedule. In total, there are two hundred and thirteen four-hitch carriages, each carrying roughly three dan, and one hundred and thirty-four two-hitch carriages, carrying between one and two dan each — sufficient to load the rice, beans, salt, and meat needed for the troops and horses on the march. The Logistics Division will complete organization before dark tomorrow."

"Cavalry forage."

"The logistics advance teams have purchased sufficient forage at every intact county and prefecture along the route to Xuzhou. The rice harvest was recent, so rice stalks are very easy to buy. Rice stalks are soft by nature and can be fed to horses without milling — very convenient all along the way. Past Xuzhou, wheat stalks become more common and must be kneaded by hand daily before they can be given to the horses."

"Rice and bean reserves en route."

"The carriages carry a one-month supply of rice and beans for the troops, officers, and laborers. As for the reserve provisions Your Excellency instructed, the Chuan She shipped a twenty-day supply from Anqing to Chaohu by boat yesterday. If there are delays on the road, we will reroute via Chao County to replenish. Additionally, there are ten-day grain reserves each in Luzhou and Fengyang."

"Threats along the march route."

"This year, the Ministry of War has dispatched two Capital Battalion units to Jiangbei. One of them, under Huang Degong, is still suppressing bandits in Lu'an Prefecture. Combined with existing and newly recruited troops, the Roving Bandits in the Fengyang Governor's Jurisdiction have mostly been driven into Henan. The only major camp currently active along our route is the Purple Tenuity Star. The latest intelligence reports they have just breached Wuhe County and are now likely near Suzhou. This unit did not take part in last year's great battle at the Chariot and Horse River. Estimates put their mounted troops at nearly a thousand, with their veteran camp around three hundred strong."

"Order of battle for the various units of the King's Relief Army."

"The Personal Guard Thousand-Leader Headquarters' directly subordinate troops: under it, the Personal Guard First Division, plus two Companies from the Bronze Standard Battalion's Personal Guard Second Division. The Cavalry Thousand-Leader Headquarters' directly subordinate personnel: the Cavalry First Division and one Company of the Cavalry Second Division. The Central Army's directly subordinate Logistics Division, the Martial Academy Distant Scout Experimental Team, and the Martial Academy Firearm Experimental Team will accompany the march. Additionally, one sentry of the Water Army is preparing to move north via the Grand Canal and await orders at Xuzhou."

"Mm. The Water Army will always be needed — only then can we be prepared on both water and land." Pang Yu said with satisfaction. "Confirm the Anqing defense arrangements once more."

"The remaining troops of the Bronze Standard Battalion will take over the Personal Guard Division's garrison at Shijingpu. Tongcheng, Taihu, Qianshan, and Susong will be defended by newly formed local militias. Wangjiang will be jointly defended by the Leigang Water Camp. The Canal Gang and the Water Army will assist in defending the prefectural city. The Mountain Infantry Thousand-Leader Headquarters has only one division's worth of men, and their training is not yet complete; they will remain garrisoned at Tianning Fortress to control the post road. As for Zhou Er's New Courage Battalion — whether it is to be drawn out for the expedition or left to guard Anqing — that awaits Your Excellency's decision."

This New Courage Battalion of Zhou Er's was in fact the former Third Division, which had been registered under the New Courage Battalion's military rolls. It had suffered grievous losses last year holding the line at Erlang Town, so it had remained in Anqing all this year to recover its strength. Pang Yu closed his eyes and thought for a moment before saying, "Anqing is our foundation. The New Courage Battalion will take over the Cavalry Thousand-Leader Headquarters' garrison at Shipai Town and serve as the Anqing Defense Reserve Team."

Yang Xueshi immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Pang Yu was about to go to war on multiple fronts and had assigned him to stay behind and oversee Anqing's defense, but the troops given to him were either new battalions or local militias, and he could not mobilize the other battalions under Shi Kefa's command. Now that Pang Yu was leaving the New Courage Battalion behind, Anqing's defense could finally be considered secure.

Pang Yu looked at Yang Xueshi. "Has Fang Kongzhao's man arrived?"

"He has reached Susong. It is Fang Yizhi. He has designated a concealed position near the Han River. The troops under Yao Dongshan are already waiting at Susong for Your Excellency's order."

Pang Yu touched his forehead. "The Tatars entered the border from two points directly north of the Capital on the twenty-second day of the ninth month. This time, they are coming straight for Northern Zhili. The first wave of King's Relief forces will be from the Liao Garrison, Shanxi, and Xuan-Da. The area around the Capital is flat open country — naturally, it cannot be held. The camps near Xiangyang will also be obliged to send King's Relief forces. Zhang Xianzhong must have received word by now as well. He, too, is waiting for these troops to leave."

He County Yamen interjected at this point, "We have received a field report from Xie Zhaofa, sent from Gucheng. On the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, the Second Chiliarch Headquarters, under the command of Supreme Commander Xiong, joined forces with Zuo Liangyu and Chen Hongfan to strike the bandits at Nanyang. Over three thousand bandits were killed, and all nine camps of the Roving Bandits were routed. Luo Rucai's force has fled into Qishan to hide and is now seeking amnesty from Mr. Xiong. Over in Shaanxi, Supreme Commander Hong also reports that the bandit suppression is nearly complete. Just as peace seemed within sight, these Tatars really know how to pick their moment."

Pang Yu smiled. Whether the amnesty was genuine or feigned, at least these Roving Bandits were not out marauding everywhere for now, and the north could catch a breath amid the devastation. But even this sliver of hope was about to be shattered by the Tatars. From the court's perspective, it truly seemed like a cruel trick of fate — as if the Roving Bandits and the Tatars understood coordination. Had they come a year or two later, the court might have caught this breath and recovered.

"Gucheng cannot sustain the Western Camp, much less these bandit chieftains. Unless the Government Troops remain at their side constantly, they will inevitably rebel again." Pang Yu turned to Yang Xueshi. "Order Yao Dongshan's unit to enter Huguang and follow Military Commander Fang's command. Send an order to Xie Zhaofa to likewise follow Military Commander Fang's command. The Eight Brigands must be annihilated at Gucheng."

Having said this, Pang Yu turned to He County Yamen. "The Document Receiving Office is to send dispatches to the Canal Gang, the Household Office, the workshops, the Shipping Company, and the Silver Bank. Begin issuing banknotes at all points along the river. For those who do not use banknotes, the brokers' guilds are forbidden to act as intermediaries, and the Canal Gang is likewise forbidden to permit them to load or unload at the docks. Any vessel trading with banknotes is to be issued a passage flag. The Adviser Division is to send an order to the Water Camps: the water camps at Huguang, Jiujiang, Leigang, Huaining, and Zongyang are to clear the river and apprehend bandits. Any vessel not displaying a passage flag is to be seized and brought back to port for thorough interrogation."

He County Yamen had long been prepared for this; even the official documents were already drafted. What Pang Yu had been waiting for was precisely this moment — when the Tatars invaded and the realm descended into chaos. Issuing banknotes now would attract the least attention. Even if someone reported it, the court would have no mind to concern itself with such matters.

Among the several people in the city tower, only He County Yamen and Jiang Fan had heard Pang Yu discuss the banknote scheme in detail. The others were all military officers and felt nothing upon hearing about banknotes now. But when they heard that the Canal Gang and the Water Army would be operating jointly along the river, in a manner entirely resembling a military formation, they all stole glances at Pang Yu.

He County Yamen said in a low voice, "Your Excellency, there is one more matter. The Army Supervisor has already reached Xiangyang. He is from the Directorate of Palace Attendants and is named Deng Chaoqin. He seems unaware that Your Excellency has returned to Anqing. He has sent to inquire when Your Excellency will return to Xiangyang. How should your subordinate reply to him?"

Pang Yu felt a slight headache at the words "Army Supervisor." At present, all his troops were registered under the court's military quotas. Even the local militias had local military quotas — it was just that the authority over pay and personnel remained in his control, though this did not conform to the court's military system. Whether it was Zhang Guowei or Shi Kefa, both needed to rely on the Cavalry Camp to guard against bandits and had always pretended not to notice. Now an Army Supervisor had arrived — one who represented imperial authority. It was hard to say whether he would be easy to handle.

Especially at this critical juncture of rendering service to the King, Pang Yu only intended to gain a bit of reputation, not to go and fight the Tatars to the death. He needed flexibility in his operations and absolutely could not bring a eunuch along to be watched.

This could be considered a side effect of the great victory at Susong. After thinking it over, Pang Yu said, "Reply to him after we have set out. Simply say that this official has received orders to render service to the King and has departed. Ask him to rest in Xiangyang for the time being."

Everyone present was an old hand who had followed Pang Yu. Back in the days of the Garrison Commander's camp, the troop quota had been too small to warrant the assignment of an Army Supervisor, so none of them understood the Supervisor's function and all listened to this as mere idle talk.

Once Pang Yu had finished making arrangements, everyone gathered their things and left. Jiang Fan stood up but did not move from his spot. Seeing this, Pang Yu knew he still had something to say. He County Yamen glanced back, then closed the door from the outside.

"Your subordinate has several important matters to report to Your Excellency. The foremost is a report received yesterday from Ruan Jin in Gucheng. Investigation via informants within the Roving Bandits' camps has confirmed that the General Officer secretly colluding with the Eight Brigands is most likely Chen Hongfan. Before Yu Yinggui was dismissed from office, Lu Ding traveled to and from Xiangyang several times, and each time he entered Chen Hongfan's camp. In recent months, he has made two round trips every month, each time carrying gold, silver, and valuables."

Pang Yu furrowed his brow and said, "I will have He County Yamen relay this matter to Fang Kongzhao. As for Xie Zhaofa's side, have him hint to Dai Dongmin that any matter involving the Eight Brigands must not be discussed with Chen Hongfan."

"Your subordinate has a suggestion. When the Eight Brigands rebel again, this Lu Ding need not necessarily be killed. It would be best to capture him alive."

Pang Yu pondered for a moment, then smiled. "The living are better than the dead. The army, in the thick of battle, cannot attend to such individuals and will not dispatch men specifically to seize him. The Dark Sentinel Division will handle this matter."

"Your subordinate accepts the order." Jiang Fan paused, then continued, "Wu Changshi has sent a letter from the Capital to Ruan Dacheng, saying that he has already discussed a candidate with Feng Quan. Ruan Dacheng only said it is a retired grand minister but has not yet revealed the name. He is waiting for agreement from Qian Qianyi and Zhang Pu's side."

"A retired grand minister?" Pang Yu rose to his feet. According to the previous discussions with Wu Changshi, this candidate needed to satisfy several conditions simultaneously: his identity must be of the Solitary Faction, his status must be sufficient to enter the cabinet, and he must be acceptable to the Eunuch Faction, the Restoration Society, and the Donglin alike. Pang Yu's understanding of the court was limited; he truly could not think of anyone.

A candidate had now been tentatively chosen, but Pang Yu's side had not been informed — meaning they had no intention of soliciting Pang Yu's opinion. They would inform him only after the major power-brokers had decided. This showed that within this political alliance, Pang Yu was still the weakest party. Yet Pang Yu was not angered; this, after all, matched his current political standing.

"Since Ruan Dacheng is not speaking of this matter, we shall quietly await the outcome. Last time, it was said that some in the Restoration Society wanted to attack Ruan Dacheng. Has there been any conclusion now?"

"It is Wu Yingji and a few others. The one directing them from behind is Zhou Biao. They are currently in the Southern Capital, rallying Restoration Society scholars to sign a joint petition. It seems to have gained some momentum, but I hear that Yang Tingshu does not approve. Ruan Dacheng is also seeking people to intercede on his behalf. It likely will not cause any major disturbance, which is why he has not sought our help."

"Since there is no major issue, still ask Ruan Dacheng to go north to Fengyang. This time, when we go to Xuzhou to render service to the King, there will be many occasions where we need Zhu Dadian's help. Ruan Dacheng's presence there will bring us considerable convenience."

"Your subordinate will send a letter to Ruan Dacheng immediately." Jiang Fan hesitated for a moment, then said, "There is also the matter of Ren Dalang of the Water Camp. He has been using military boats in Anqing and Jiujiang to smuggle private salt into Jiangxi and Huguang. It has likely been going on for nearly a year now. This matter involves a General Officer. Your subordinate has kept only one copy and did not include it in the reports submitted by the Dark Sentinel Division…"

Pang Yu understood Jiang Fan's meaning. The Dark Sentinel Division submitted reports to the Central Army every day. Although they did not pass through the Document Receiving Office, many hands still handled them. If the information leaked, the General Officer involved might take desperate measures — unlike in the old yamen days, when those involved were merely clerks and functionaries.

"This official is aware of this matter." Pang Yu paced a few steps before his desk, then raised his head and said to Jiang Fan, "At present, the Dark Sentinel Division's top priority remains the banknotes. Go to Huguang personally. We are newly established in Wuchang, which is also the place with the greatest grain trade on the Great River. Huguang still has hidden dangers like the Eight Brigands in several locations. Right now, Fang Kongzhao needs something from us, and the court is preoccupied only with the King's Relief — this is the very best moment. We must secure control of the key docks where rice and beans are shipped out onto the river everywhere. The Canal Gang is more useful than the Water Army in this."

"Your subordinate understands." Jiang Fan looked up at Pang Yu. "When does Your Excellency plan to set out?"

Pang Yu smiled. "I am just about to go and discuss that with Circuit Intendant Shi."