Chapter 421: Absolute Security

On the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month, inside the central army tent of the Xuan-Da Governor's Standard Battalion at Changping, two lanterns cast a cold, pale light. Lu Xiangsheng, dressed in hempen mourning clothes, stared icily at the Minister of War, Yang Sichang, seated across from him.

"Today, give me the truth, Minister: should the troops in the Capital Environs be combined or divided? And from where, exactly, should military orders be issued?"

Yang Sichang's expression was equally grim. After a moment of deliberation, he said, "At the Platform Summons, His Majesty made clear that the troops need not be divided. You, honored elder, are Regional Commander of the Relief Troops — military orders should naturally originate from here."

Lu Xiangsheng drew a sheet of paper from his sleeve and placed it on the table before Yang Sichang. "On the twelfth, I requested that the Guan-Ning forces join me in a night raid on the Qing army at Miyun. This is the Grand Supervisor's reply."

Yang Sichang picked it up and glanced over it hastily. Gao Qiqian had not simply refused; his letter was quite blunt. He first cited the historical precedent of the snowy-night capture of Caizhou to mock Lu Xiangsheng's choice of a moonlit night raid, then remarked that the Tartar cavalry shifted camp so swiftly that Lu Xiangsheng would not even be able to locate their encampment. He ended with the assessment: "A futile round trip, still just flailing in panic." Not only did he refuse to obey the order, he did not even grant Lu Xiangsheng, the Regional Commander of Relief, the slightest face. No wonder Lu Xiangsheng was seething with indignation.

"But regarding the Liaodong Garrison Army, the troops under the Grand Supervisor differ from those of other garrisons. You must be aware of this, Jiandou."

Lu Xiangsheng's voice rose. "Since I have received the Sword and Seal, why do orders still come from multiple sources? Does Chen Guowei, Regional Commander of the Ji Garrison Santun Camp, also belong to the Liao Garrison? I originally ordered him to come to Changping to combine camps and join forces for a night raid on the Qing encampment at Miyun. That unit marched to outside the Stability Gate, then received an order to halt its advance. To this day, I do not know who issued that order! The Ministry of War? The Cabinet? Yesterday, another order token arrived from the Grand Supervisor, redirecting that unit toward Tongzhou. What is the reasoning here? Over which units do my military orders actually hold sway?"

Lu Xiangsheng paused, watching him, then continued. "What garrison does Gao Qiqian actually supervise? Without receiving the Sword and Seal, on what grounds does he disperse the troops of the Ji Garrison? And today, another order comes from the Ministry of War, demanding that I go personally to Tongzhou to confer face-to-face with the Grand Supervisor. What is the reason for this? With a great enemy before us, divided authority is a soldier's worst taboo. Does the Minister not agree?"

Yang Sichang looked slightly embarrassed, but still urged, "Today's order was an Imperial Edict from His Majesty. I too felt it was open to discussion, and immediately submitted a memorial stating that you, honored elder, are leading troops in the field, and that traveling to and from Tongzhou would waste time and inevitably delay military intelligence. Fortunately, His Majesty has already rescinded that command. I came to the main camp this evening precisely to inform you of this."

Lu Xiangsheng rose to his feet. "Minister, do not evade the crucial point. From where, exactly, do military orders issue?"

Yang Sichang remained seated in his chair. "Jiandou, do not be angered. For the relief troops from other areas, military orders will certainly come from you, honored elder. As for the Liao Garrison, I too have not received a definitive order."

"Then I ask the Minister further: at the Stability Gate military council, though it was said we need not divide the troops, if the Slaves' momentum turns southward, then one force pursues south while the other remains north. As things stand, with no clear chain of command, who between the Supreme Commander and the Grand Supervisor pursues south, and who remains north? Or do both pursue south, or both remain north? Now the two enemy columns appear about to converge. Once they turn south, with everything still undecided, must we again request an Imperial decree?"

"This matter indeed requires His Majesty's decision..."

Lu Xiangsheng said angrily, "You are the Minister of War. rally to the king and exterminating the Slaves are your fundamental duties. Submitting every single matter for His Majesty's decision — memorials and replies take days. In the heat of battle, circumstances change in a single breath. How can this not jeopardize the frontier?"

Yang Sichang still did not take offense. He merely gave a bitter smile and said, "Jiandou, those words are unreasonable. I manage the affairs of the Ministry of War, but that only makes me the Minister of War. Your command over the Relief Troops is by His Majesty's explicit decree. 'The troops need not be divided' came directly from His Majesty's golden mouth. 'Supreme Commander and Grand Supervisor shall confer face-to-face and jointly exterminate' is also His Majesty's personally brushed Imperial Approval. If you and I traded places, what would you, honored elder, do? I rushed here through the night precisely to ask your opinion. The usable troops in the Capital Environs are only two forces: yours, honored elder, and the Grand Supervisor's. Ultimately, is it better to combine the troops or divide them?"

"The Grand Supervisor first wrote personally to obstruct my night raid, then transferred and scattered my forces. If this is how we cooperate, then dividing the troops is the better option. But the assignment of each unit must be clear — no ambiguity. Matters of state and war tolerate no trifling. I alone shoulder the responsibility for victory or defeat. A single day without battle, and rumors swirl on all sides. The Tartars have been inside the passes for over thirty days, and the government troops have yet to fight a single major engagement. Court and commoner criticism surges like a flood, saying the Eastern Invaders linger north of the Capital awaiting pacification terms. If we do not fight, whose fault is it? Does the Minister ultimately want war or peace? You might as well speak plainly to me. If in the end it is to be peace, then stop dragging me through this quagmire."

"It is not I who wishes to drag you, honored elder, through this quagmire. When Wu Aheng was besieged at Wall Ridge, I submitted a memorial to His Majesty, volunteering to personally command the Ji Garrison, and proposing that you, honored elder, take my place as Minister and remain at the Central Hub. His Majesty did not grant approval. Now, in order to escape this quagmire yourself, you recommend Chen Xinjia to assume the duties of Regional Commander of Relief. You and I both know — does Chen Xinjia truly understand military affairs? Jiandou, do not feign ignorance. Just to extricate yourself, you would entrust the lives and fortunes of millions of commoners in the Capital Environs to him?"

Lu Xiangsheng glared at Yang Sichang for a moment. "Chen Xinjia also advocates pacification — what need has he to understand military affairs! He will complement the Minister perfectly."

Yang Sichang's face twitched twice. "I have never advocated pacification."

Lu Xiangsheng abruptly stepped closer. "Never advocated pacification? Then who sent Zhou Yuanzhong to Shenyang!"

Yang Sichang's face reddened. He looked at Lu Xiangsheng with anger. "Zhou Yuanzhong was sent by Fang Yizao! Ignorant marketplace rumors insist on dragging my name into it. By that logic, when border trade talks opened at Xuan this spring, you forwarded a barbarian letter — is that also proof of collusion with the enemy! What Huang Daozhou said — that border officials, startled by the wind and the cranes, repeatedly mistake deer for horses — was that aimed only at Chen Xinjia? Are you not caught in the same predicament?"

Lu Xiangsheng said with stern voice and severe expression, "Whether I am caught in this predicament, the Minister knows perfectly well. A covenant beneath the city walls is the shame of the Spring and Autumn Annals — does the Minister not know this? Even more, you should know that only by being able to fight can one make peace. The Tartars have breached the border several times now, each time getting everything they sought and withdrawing unscathed. How can one speak of peace negotiations under such circumstances? I brought troops to the Capital, eager to fight on several occasions, yet you people obstructed me at every turn. What are your intentions? For the sake of a peace negotiation, you care nothing even for jeopardizing the state and the frontier!"

"Huang Daozhou and Yang Tinglin impeach me as a disloyal and unfilial scoundrel. Guo Jingchang even submitted a memorial requesting His Majesty to execute me at once to atone for my crime of endangering the state. These armchair critics in Chang'an know nothing of war — it is one thing for them to speak such words. But today, you, honored elder, also believe that I am endangering the state." Yang Sichang suddenly stood and slammed the table. "Jiandou, you need not submit a memorial to request an Imperial decree. You have the Shangfang Sword at your side — go ahead, strike off this head that endangers the state!"

Lu Xiangsheng also slammed the table fiercely. "The Shangfang Sword first passes around my own neck! If I fail to exterminate the Slaves, it is not so easily applied to others. To forsake war and speak of pacification, to nurture calamity and disgrace the nation — that is beyond my understanding!"

Both men's faces were crimson. They stood in the tent, glaring at each other like fighting cocks. The Personal Soldiers at the entrance heard the commotion and craned their necks to look. A moment later, an Advisor came over and lowered the tent flap.

Yang Sichang panted for a moment, the redness gradually fading from his face. He looked at Lu Xiangsheng twice more, then slowly sat back down in his seat. After a long while, he sighed and said, "Do you think I wished to obstruct your grand extermination? But the relief troops have gathered en masse, and the forces available to defend the Capital are only two: the Supreme Commander's and the Grand Supervisor's. These two forces alone must protect the Capital and the Imperial Mausoleum. If we meet them in open Field Battle, honorably and squarely, and are defeated and destroyed, the entire realm will be shaken — that would be playing right into their cunning scheme, gratifying their venomous hearts. At the Platform Summons, His Majesty urged you to seek absolute security in all things — that was his meaning. The only plan for now is to press their camp under cover of night. Once the Tartar troops are worn down and their soldiers weary, they will naturally withdraw beyond the border."

Lu Xiangsheng's anger had not subsided, but his tone eased slightly. "I agree with pressing the camp under cover of night. But the Minister's previous orders often used the phrase 'desperate men who have abandoned all hope' — that is entirely unreasonable. Night battles require crack, fierce troops to be effective. Moreover, if we raid tonight, they will be prepared tomorrow. How can the same tactic be used again and again? To stop the Slaves from penetrating deeper, we must still select and train elite troops to launch a grand punitive assault. We must deal the Tartars a severe defeat in one or two engagements."

Yang Sichang's tone had returned to mildness. "Jiandou, you must be prudent. The troops, rations and pay in the Capital Environs truly amount to only this much. If the Capital is shaken, the entire realm will be convulsed. You absolutely must not, driven by rumors and pressure, gamble recklessly on a single throw."

Lu Xiangsheng closed his eyes for a moment, then said, "I unworthily bear the Sword and Seal. The tongues of Chang'an are like knives. If I merely bow obsequiously to every opinion, the calamity of Yuan Chonghuan will be upon me instantly. Even if I do not lose the army, what then? At that point, I will have failed in filial piety, and failed to serve the state. To lose both loyalty and filial piety — what misery would that be?"

"The original heart of loyalty and filial piety, a lifetime's honor and integrity — does Minister Yang not understand these?"

Lu Xiangsheng, upon hearing this, let out a long, deep sigh and slowly returned to his own chair to sit. Both men had been recalled to office under the Seizing Office provision. Yang Sichang had entered the Capital the previous year, and by this year had already been impeached as a disloyal, unfilial, and inauspicious scoundrel. Talk of the original heart of loyalty and filial piety, a lifetime's honor and integrity — all of that was beyond reach. Lu Xiangsheng had refused the Seizing Office order, yet had been compelled to accept the post of Regional Commander of Relief. His circumstances were similar to Yang Sichang's the year before, but far more pressing. If the assignment of Regional Commander of Relief was mishandled, his end would only be more wretched than Yang Sichang's. Thus, he was deeply stirred by those words.

Yang Sichang was silent for a moment, then continued. "In today's court politics, advocating peace means indulging the bandits. The entire court's Pure Stream faction wishes to eat their flesh and sleep on their hides. Advocating war without winning means being branded a hypocrite. Those who know nothing of war prattle irresponsibly about matters of state and war. Above, demands for a perfect strategy; below, proposals to make terms with the invaders. At one's side, Impeachment Memorials from the Pure Stream pile up as tall as a man. Under one's command, cowardly and timid generals. Ahead, a wolf-like and tiger-like foe. We bear the earnest hopes of countless millions of living souls. The times are perilous and difficult. Within this narrow space, we must seek absolute security in all things. Setting aside you, honored elder, who else could shoulder such a great responsibility?"

Lu Xiangsheng said nothing more. In the flickering lamplight, the two men sat in silence for a long while. Finally, Yang Sichang stood. "Jiandou, last time you mentioned that the Standard Battalion is still owed sixty-nine thousand taels of back pay for this year. I will do my utmost to raise the funds. Crack troops are not easily come by — you must preserve this strong army for the sake of the state."

"It is sixty-nine thousand five hundred taels." Lu Xiangsheng's voice was bleak. He did not respond to the implicit warning against a major battle in Yang Sichang's words. "The Governor's Standard Army and the three garrisons of Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi all brought only two months' Marching Rations. Over half has already been consumed. I also ask the Minister to make plans for this soon."

Yang Sichang nodded. "Jiandou, if you are determined to recommend a worthy replacement, it would be inconvenient for me to obstruct you. But I beg you, honored elder, to think thrice before acting. Chen Xinjia is not a man who understands military affairs..."

"There is no need to speak of this matter further. Since the Ministry of War wishes to keep him at Changping to guard the Imperial Mausoleum, divide three of the Standard Battalion's five Camp Heads and give them to him. He is, after all, the newly appointed Supreme Commander of Xuan-Da — these were originally his troops. I will simply command the Central Battalion and the Left Battalion."

Yang Sichang hesitated slightly. The Governor's Standard Battalion was the directly subordinate army of the Supreme Commander of Xuan-Da, totaling five Camp Heads and roughly seven thousand men. Dividing it this way would leave the forces even more inadequate. Both Yang Sichang and Lu Xiangsheng understood that the Qing army had come to plunder Rations and Pay. The likelihood of them making a special trip to the Imperial Mausoleum was almost nonexistent. This force assigned to guard the mausoleum would be wasted. But neither dared to say it should not be guarded — just like the garrison at Fengyang. No matter how urgent the situation in Jiangbei, those troops could not be redeployed, because no one could bear the culpability. So, in the end, a force had to be detached. Chen Xinjia was Lu Xiangsheng's successor as Supreme Commander of Xuan-Da. Since it was decided he would guard the mausoleum at Changping, Lu Xiangsheng had no choice but to split the Governor's Standard Battalion and assign part to him.

"The times are turbulent and unsteady. I entrust everything here to you, honored elder. By no means engage in reckless battle."

With that, Yang Sichang walked to the entrance and lifted the tent flap. A flurry of snowflakes gusted into the tent on the wind. Just as he was about to step out, he heard Lu Xiangsheng's voice behind him: "Minister, for composing the spirit-way stele inscription for my late father, I offer you my thanks here face-to-face."

Yang Sichang turned his head, and the two men looked at each other. In the dim lamplight, their features were indistinct. Lu Xiangsheng was a high frontier official of the Nine Borders, and correspondence between him and Yang Sichang, the Minister of War, had been frequent. He had already expressed his thanks for this matter in a letter. Bringing it up again now, at this moment of parting, seemed to carry a different significance.

Inside the tent, Lu Xiangsheng sat upright and solemn, showing no intention of seeing him out. Yang Sichang fixed his gaze on him for a moment, his throat working twice. In the end, no words came out. He bowed his head slightly and walked out. The tent flap swung back and forth a few times, sealing the interior of the great tent off from the outside world once more.