Chapter 465: Volunteers

"We also need people to sew Fire Thunder casings — men, women, young, old, all can do it. We need to refit all the firecrackers into Fire Thunders: wrap them in cloth with nails, then bind them tight on the outside. Any takers? The military hospital needs twenty Volunteers to care for the wounded — is anyone willing to go?"

By evening, the outer courtyard of the City God Temple in Tongcheng Post's North City was packed with people lying down.

Wu Dacai leaned on his crutch, walking from the outer courtyard into the inner courtyard, shouting as he went. Most of those lying there gave no response, their heads drooping to one side. Wu Dacai spotted quite a few able-bodied young men and women among them, and even some of the old men and women still had the strength to work — yet no one answered.

The inner courtyard of the City God Temple served as the military hospital's station; the outer courtyard housed commoners who had fled from South City. Two rounds of mobilization had already been attempted — some willing to become Community Soldiers had gone the first time — but new commoners kept arriving from South City. The Logistics Division still needed fifty people to make Fire Thunders. Manpower was tight everywhere, so Wu Dacai had come out personally to recruit, hoping to produce more Fire Thunders.

This type of Fire Thunder was certainly less powerful than the bamboo tube version, but its advantage lay in simple manufacture. Tongcheng Post had a large population, and with the New Year approaching, they had stockpiled firecrackers in enormous quantities. There was also some standalone gunpowder, originally meant for sale to nearby firecracker workshops, but the amount was very small and had been used up quickly. Now most of the gunpowder had to be extracted from the firecrackers, which was extremely labor-intensive.

The Qing army was already outside the city. The Anqing Battalion was racing against time to prepare — the more hands, the better.

These commoners had fled from South City, still in shock and not yet recovered from their fright. Hardly anyone volunteered.

Wu Dacai shouted again, "Anyone for defending the city walls? Guarding your own homes, and none of you want to lift a finger? Once the Tartars break in, you'll have nothing left."

A young man stood up. A look of delight crossed Wu Dacai's face — then the woman beside the man reached out and grabbed him tightly, and the man sat back down.

Wu Dacai's anger flared. He adjusted the Waist Saber at his hip and started toward the young couple — when suddenly he heard a woman's voice behind him: "Lord Wu, I hear more Tartars have arrived."

Wu Dacai hurriedly wiped the fierce look from his face and turned around with refined courtesy. There stood the female doctor Shen Honeymoon, her hands still stained with blood.

"Shen Dafu, you've been working hard. I heard you've been busy since noon and didn't dare disturb you."

Shen Honeymoon shook her head and sat down right at the courtyard gate. "They're all wounded from Instruction Ground. Seven critically injured were brought in; four have already died. If two of the remaining three can survive, it won't have been a wasted effort. But I heard new Tartars have arrived. If there's battle tomorrow, there will certainly be more dead and wounded — the military hospital needs to prepare more supplies."

"The lookout just reported — around five hundred, currently outside North City. Shen Dafu can rest assured: they're all Tartar Mounted Armor, without any siege equipment whatsoever. They can't take the city walls. If battle comes tomorrow, the Tartars are fierce, so there will definitely be many wounded in the battalion. We've bought up all the medicinal supplies from several raw medicine shops, and we'll prepare extra cotton cloth and the like tonight. Lord Pang requires everything to be boiled in water first."

Shen Honeymoon turned toward Wu Dacai. "Deputy Chief Clerk, tell this humble woman an honest truth — can we hold out or not?"

The moment the female doctor's gaze turned his way, Wu Dacai instinctively puffed out his chest, trying to look as imposing as possible. "Just now I accompanied Lord Pang on an inspection of every part of the city. The officers and soldiers' morale is high, and there are plenty of Volunteers. We will certainly hold out — even if ten thousand Tartars came, we would still hold out."

Shen Honeymoon smiled, then looked out at the people in the courtyard. "The Volunteers may be a bit too few. The helpers from the Logistics Division have all been reassigned, and the military hospital is also short-handed. I hear the wall crenels can't even be fully manned. With all these people outside, yet none volunteer — this humble woman is somewhat worried. But I still believe what you said, Daren: we can hold out."

For a moment, Wu Dacai didn't know what to say. He sat down at the courtyard gate as well, watching from the corner of his eye as the bloodstains on Shen Honeymoon's hands slowly dried.

It seemed like only a moment, yet to Wu Dacai it also felt like a very long time — until a subordinate from the Document Team ran up from the outer courtyard gate and stopped before him. "Lord Pang is here."

Wu Dacai's whole body jolted. Without pausing to say more to Shen Honeymoon, he hurried to the temple gate to receive him. Pang Yu had just reached the temple gate, flanked by Jiang Guoyong, the Boat Dock Master, and the Logistics Mobile Corps Commander, who was in the middle of saying something.

Pang Yu spotted Wu Dacai and beckoned him over. Wu Dacai rushed forward, and Pang Yu signaled for the Logistics Mobile Corps Commander to continue.

"Most of the South City commoners have moved to the north side. Aside from those who fled to the countryside, a rough estimate puts about three to four thousand commoners still in the city. Two hundred have volunteered as Community Soldiers — all young men trained in martial arts. Another three hundred or so have volunteered for labor. In truth, many of them are able-bodied adults who could also serve as Community Soldiers. Right now we're short-handed everywhere. If the Logistics Division has to lead Community Soldiers to defend the city walls, that's only one man for every three arrow crenels. It would be best to recruit more Community Soldiers. Once the street barricades are finished, they can go guard the walls, and the Battalion soldiers can focus entirely on dealing with Tartars attacking from inside the city."

This time Jiang Guoyong spoke directly: "It doesn't necessarily have to be one man per crenel. When the Roving Bandits came, there were many bandits. Right now the Tartars number only about a thousand, and they have no equipment at all. With so few Tartars, they can't assault the city walls from three sides at once."

"We don't know how many Tartars will arrive tomorrow. Those Xuan-Da soldiers said that during the battle at Jiazhuang, the Tartars brought up twenty thousand men in a single night — and that was with only four banners. If eight banners and forty thousand men come, we'll need to hold the walls first. Daren said to plan for the enemy at his strongest — we still need to recruit more Community Soldiers."

The Logistics Mobile Corps Commander looked at Wu Dacai. "We've already recruited from every group willing to go. Plenty of people remain, but they just won't volunteer. I wonder how things stand on Deputy Chief Clerk Wu's side."

Wu Dacai shook his head. "This is about defending their own lives and property, yet these people simply don't understand reason. But I also think — fearing the Tartars is only human. You try to explain some principle to them, and they don't understand. We need to use a different kind of reasoning."

Wu Dacai turned to Pang Yu and said respectfully, "Daren, we should do it the way we handled Tan Laizi — spend silver to recruit them."

Pang Yu nodded. "People always hope someone else will do the defending, so they themselves can stay safe without taking risks. That yields the highest return — naturally some will think that way. But great rewards produce brave men. So we'll pay them silver to defend the city."

The Logistics Mobile Corps Commander said, "But empty words won't convince them, and they don't understand Banknotes. If we pay in cash, we don't have much left."

Pang Yu said, as if it were obvious, "If it's not enough, we'll raise funds."

Jiang Guoyong and the others looked at each other. The Boat Dock Master also looked somewhat bewildered; facing a mortal threat these past few days, he appeared considerably more haggard.

Pang Yu addressed the Boat Dock Master politely: "Mr. Luo, do you know any major merchants well here in Tongcheng Post? This official would like to ask Mr. Luo to help me borrow some ready silver."

The Boat Dock Master glanced around. "Right now the Tartars have the city under siege. Daren has a sword in hand — why not just seize it from those merchants? Why insist that this humble one go borrow it?"

Pang Yu smiled. "This official values his credit more than his life. I'm not afraid of those few Tartars outside the city — they can't take Tongcheng Post. So not only will I not seize anything, I'll even pay interest on what I borrow. Whatever interest rate you borrow at is your business; between us, we'll settle at whatever we agree on."

Hearing this, the Boat Dock Master instantly forgot all about the Tartars and immediately perked up. "What interest rate will Daren pay?"

Pang Yu continued, "This official didn't anticipate the fighting would last this long and didn't bring enough ready silver. If you trust this official, I'll first write you a promissory note, to be repaid once the ice thaws and the silver arrives."

"This humble one trusts Daren. Whenever we've agreed on a price, Daren has never shorted a single tael of silver. But what worries this humble one is this: even if Tongcheng Post holds out, this war isn't over. Daren may well have to keep fighting all the way north. In battle, nothing is certain — like Tan Fort Chief, gone in an instant. This humble one fears that when the time comes, I'll hold a promissory note with no one to redeem it from — drawing water with a bamboo basket, all for nothing. And those merchants will all come after me for payment."

Wu Dacai said angrily, "When has our Anqing Battalion ever been defeated? Do you even know how to speak?"

The Boat Dock Master bowed repeatedly but showed no sign of retracting his words. Pang Yu looked at him with interest. "What you say is reasonable. If it were me, I would worry about the same problem. So you are indeed bearing a risk, and the return must match it. Would one Mace of monthly interest be appropriate?"

The Boat Dock Master drew in a sharp breath. One Mace monthly interest — that would double in a year. But if Pang Yu was willing to offer such high interest, the borrowing period would certainly not be long.

He waited a long moment, then said, "Daren — two Mace."

Wu Dacai couldn't suppress the fury in his heart. This Boat Dock Master was just another version of Tan Laizi — equally detestable, the kind of man who made you want to hack him down with one stroke.

Pang Yu, however, showed not the slightest anger. Almost without hesitation, he said, "Total amount: thirty thousand taels. Can you assemble that?"

The Boat Dock Master raised his eyes slightly to study Pang Yu. "Daren, for all future procurement in Shandong, don't go to anyone else."

Pang Yu shook his head. "This official can only promise you this one rally to the king expedition. Future procurement will be at market price — whoever has the best goods at the best price gets the business. At equal prices, I'll use yours."

The Boat Dock Master instead seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "This humble one agrees."

Pang Yu said at once, "Monthly interest will be set at two Mace. You will not only be responsible for borrowing the money, but also for helping recruit Volunteers. This is about saving all our lives — this silver is for the Volunteers."

The Logistics Mobile Corps Commander probed cautiously, "How much pay will Daren offer them?"

"The price must be enough to make them forget their fear." Pang Yu thought for a moment, then said, "For those who fight: one tael per day. For those who provide labor: five Mace per day. Three meals provided daily."

Everyone present drew a sharp breath simultaneously. One tael of silver per day in wages was utterly unheard of. Even five Mace per day for laborers was an astronomical price. This Lord Pang was borrowing silver at high interest, only to spend it like this — no one had ever seen Volunteers recruited this way.

Even Wu Dacai felt his mind go blank. Pang Yu continued, "Once the Tartars are driven off, Community Soldiers who took to the walls will receive an additional ten taels of silver; laborers will receive three taels each."

Silence fell over the group again for a moment. Finally Jiang Guoyong spoke: "If we pay them daily at this rate, it's higher than what our own Anqing Battalion soldiers receive. And they can't match the Battalion soldiers in battle. Giving them such high pay alone while the Battalion soldiers get nothing — I fear it will damage the troops' morale."

Wu Dacai, after gauging Pang Yu's expression, said, "The Battalion soldiers get paid every month. These Community Soldiers are only for a few days — it's not comparable."

Pang Yu thought for a moment, then said, "Wu Dacai has a point. But as you also just said, sometimes reasoning doesn't get through. We must consider the soldiers' feelings. On the battlefield, no issue is small — what Jiang Guoyong raised cannot be taken lightly."

The Logistics Mobile Corps Commander said, "If we issue an extra tael per day, then in the future the Battalion soldiers will expect to be paid before every battle. If we don't give it, morale drops. If we keep giving it, military rules fall into chaos — do we still pay Mobilization Silver and Settlement Pay or not?"

The group was all somewhat stumped. At that moment, the Boat Dock Master said cautiously, "This humble one has an idea. Say that a righteous merchant made a donation, to thank everyone for defending the city — everyone who fights gets a share. In future battles, if there's no righteous merchant, then naturally there's no extra silver to hand out. If the soldiers want to blame someone, let them blame the righteous merchant — it won't fall on the heads of you Darens."

"We'll do it that way." Pang Yu clapped his hands and looked at the Boat Dock Master. "I'll trouble you with this, Mr. Luo. Be sure to recruit enough manpower before the zi hour."

The Boat Dock Master heroically thumped his chest. "I've been in business for many years, and I live by one word: righteousness. Leave it to this humble one!"

……

"Defend the home, serve the nation — paid daily, settled daily!"

Outside the City God Temple in the night, Boat Dock Master Mr. Luo carried a wooden megaphone, walking along the post road inside Tongcheng Post and shouting as he went, "By order of Vice Regional Commander Pang of the Anqing Cavalry Camp, all Community Soldiers who go into battle, regardless of native place, shall receive one tael of silver per day; Civilian Laborers providing manpower shall receive three mace per day. Protect home, serve the country, settled daily and cleared daily! Those who go into battle and drive off the Tartars shall each receive an additional ten taels; those providing manpower shall each receive an additional three taels. Those who die in battle shall be given fifty taels in Comfort Compensation by the Anqing Battalion; the wounded shall receive thirty taels in a lump sum! Spending other people's money to protect your own life and property — what a bargain! Protect home, serve the country, settled daily and cleared daily!"

Inside the City God Temple, the clamor of voices was already boiling over. Wu Dacai sat behind a desk set up in the open air, a silver chest placed beside him, piled full of silver ingots that glittered brilliantly in the firelight.

Crowds of common folk pressed around the desk, and the Garrison Inspector soldiers maintaining order were jostled and shoved off balance.

Wu Dacai, drenched in sweat, raised his voice to the person in front of him. "Auntie, you're already seventy — you're not suited to go into battle and kill Tartars."

The old woman cocked her head and glared fiercely in anger. "So what if I'm seventy? Mu Guiying was still killing Tartars at eighty. You won't let her earn this silver?"

"Even if she were eighty, she'd still have to follow camp rules. Go to the Fire Thunder sewing section — cooking or boiling water is fine too, and you'll still get three mace of silver. Once the spots are full, they're gone. Someone come quickly and take her there. Next... Auntie, you're pregnant, so maybe don't go killing Tartars."

"So what if I'm pregnant? When I had my last one, I was still digging in the fields — gave birth right there in the dirt, and after the birth I finished digging before I went home. Is killing Tartars harder than farming? I've trained in martial arts since I was a girl. I beat up every one of my husband's brothers one by one — they even dared to fight me over land. Let me tell you, killing however many Tartars is nothing to me."

"Tartars are far fiercer than your husband's brothers. Take her to the Fire Thunder sewing section. Next... Sir, please move your crutch aside a bit. If your legs aren't good, don't join the excitement. This is killing Tartars, not going to market. Go find somewhere to lie down and rest, and don't block me from doing my work."

The old man leaning on his crutch headed straight for that basket of silver, and was escorted away, flanked by two soldiers.

The outer courtyard was a seething uproar, and the noise carried into the Military Medic station in the inner courtyard. Shen Dafu, who had just finished his busy work, heard the commotion and came to the courtyard gate. Seeing the scene outside, he slowly let out a breath. "So many Volunteers. We'll surely hold out."