Chapter 486: Entrustment

"Why doesn't General Pang speak directly to Sun Doutang about this?"

"Of course I intend to speak to him. But though there are many armies rallying to the king, those one can truly trust are few. Even if I go to Sun Doutang, the matter will still ultimately fall to General Cao here. So there are some things better discussed with you first, General."

Along the banks of the Yongding River, Cao Bianjiao was surrounded by over two Company Commander Retainers. These Qin Army cavalrymen had been fighting Roving Bandits all along, and their equipment likewise emphasized high mobility. Almost the entire force wore no armor, and they were five months in arrears on pay. Hastily pulled into the king's service, their morale was low after a thousand-li march, and upon first arrival they possessed no combat capability.

Sun Chuanting had obtained ready silver from Liu Yuliang and first steadied the morale of the Lintao Camp. While directing these military chiefs, he also searched everywhere for military equipment. When setting out from Dacheng, he had finally managed to piece together cotton armor for the Lintao Household Retainers. Now, facing the Qing army, they had the strength to fight. Having never previously engaged the Qing army, this force's morale was the highest among the king's armies.

Cao Bianjiao spoke with a trace of wariness. "General Pang, speak plainly."

"That large mass of Tartars ahead is currently in the Xianghe area. This Jinan column continues north. Once they pass Wuqing, they will join camps with them. The Yongding River is about to thaw. I wish to cut off the main road near the southern bank and pin down the Eastern Invaders at the rear. With their multitude of people and carts, their camp will certainly be vast. The ground is hard, making it impossible to dig trenches, so their camp will be full of gaps. I wish to request that Cao Regional Commander's cavalry raid and harass their camp, tying down the Eastern Invaders' troops and preventing them from massing forces to attack our camp. As long as we can hold out until the Yongding River thaws, we can at least force these Tartars to abandon their baggage and captives."

Cao Bianjiao was clearly not yet swayed by Pang Yu. Pang Yu knew that what he was saying held little direct benefit for Cao Bianjiao. After a pause, he continued, "My camp will hold the very front. Lord Cao's cavalry will have support here. Should the Eastern Invaders attack, my camp will handle the defense. And regardless of whether battle is joined, I guarantee that Cao Regional Commander will receive Decapitation Merits. I only ask that you, my lord, raid the Eastern Invaders' camp and prevent this group of Eastern Invaders from moving."

"How can General Pang guarantee this?"

"My camp already possesses Eastern Invader heads. I can give General Cao at least fifty heads of True Yi, thirty horses, thirty sets of horse tack, thirty sets of armor, all weapons bearing Eastern Invader markings, and five Banner Back-Flags..."

Cao Bianjiao stared at Pang Yu for a moment. "How long does General Pang intend to hold up the Jurchen Slaves?"

"Three days. After three days, the river's center will thaw, making it impassable for carts. At the very least, this column of Eastern Invaders will be forced to abandon their baggage and carts to cross the river. Cao Regional Commander will take sixty percent of all spoils. If there are no spoils, I can compensate Cao Regional Commander with twenty thousand taels of ready silver. If there are captured armor and weapons, the Anqing Battalion will transfer all of them to the Lintao Camp."

"And what if the ice does not thaw after three days, and there is nothing gained at all?"

"The agreed-upon heads, rations, and pay will still be delivered."

The look in Cao Bianjiao's eyes finally shifted slightly. "I have only seven Company Commander Retainers. I fear I cannot tie down the Eastern Invaders. Who else do you plan to seek out?"

"Li Zhongzhen."

Cao Bianjiao thought for only a moment and understood Pang Yu's line of thinking. He nodded at once. "As long as you give him heads, he should agree. But he has few troops; you'll still need more men."

"Zhou Yuji."

"Seek out Zhou Yuji privately. Don't let that man surnamed Liu find out. Anything he meddles in is no blessing for the nation." Cao Bianjiao spat, then said, "The Shaanxi Provincial Commander's Standard Troops can be used. Use Li Guozheng."

"I don't know how to deal with him."

Cao Bianjiao said simply, "You ask Sun Doutang to assign him. I will go speak with Li Guozheng myself. If you still have silver, give him ten thousand taels. Li Guozheng can fight; if he takes the silver, he'll get the job done."

Pang Yu nodded. In Dezhou, he had raised another thirty thousand taels through the Boat Dock Master. Dezhou had ample supplies, and Pang Yu had not used much. But after passing Dezhou, the Boat Dock Master was no longer useful. The next step would be to contact the Capital after reaching Tongzhou and find a way to raise funds from there.

For now, he would just agree first. Cao Bianjiao added, "The forward scouts report that Wuqing County town has an Eastern Invader vanguard. They have already crossed the river today. This large group coming from Jinan is using every road and path, stretched out no less than thirty li from front to back. Less than half will cross today. If you want to cut them off, cut off half of them — that's what will hurt the Tartars most. On this matter of fighting, you must explain it clearly to Sun Doutang. That vanguard unit at Wuqing must also be tied down. Otherwise, they will circle around from Ci Prefecture and cut off our line of retreat."

From the implication in his words, Cao Bianjiao had already agreed. Pang Yu was not at all concerned about being encircled by the Qing army. Even if the Qing army took Ci Prefecture, Pang Yu would not be without a retreat, because the Qing army could not afford to drag things out. But with Cao Bianjiao's agreement, he breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Then, General Cao, do you think we should attack across the southern bank today, or go over tomorrow?"

"The way the Tartars are skirmishing with us today, they'll treat it the same as before — withdraw to camp at nightfall and still head for Wuqing to cross the river tomorrow. If you go over this evening and alert them, the Tartars will have a whole night to move troops and assign commanders. If we wait until dawn tomorrow to attack across the river, the Tartars won't expect us to suddenly fight so hard. By the time they redeploy their forces, we'll have delayed them an extra half day."

Pang Yu thought it over. "Let's do it that way. Tonight, my camp will garrison Ci Islet."

Cao Bianjiao gritted his teeth. "This evening, the two of us will go together to Sun Doutang. We must ask Lord Sun to dispatch other troops. Even if they just make a pass in front of the Tartars, that would be a great help. That Li Zhongzhen is just up ahead. General Pang, you go explain things to him first."

"Li Fuzhen, you need military merits."

About one li away from Cao Bianjiao, Li Zhongzhen was not on horseback. He stood with Pang Yu on the empty ice surface, both men's Personal Soldiers standing far away on the bank.

On the eastern side of the southern bank, there were a few Qing cavalrymen, watching the movements here from a distance.

Li Zhongzhen stared coldly at Pang Yu before him. "Deputy Regional Commander Pang came all the way here just to state the obvious."

Pang Yu was not the least bit discomfited. His tone was calm as he said, "In this king's army, there are two people who are least welcome. One is myself, and the other is Li Fuzhen. The reasons for my being disliked need no elaboration. Li Fuzhen's reason is also simple. Lu Doutang was lost in the battle line, and the Central Battalion was his personal army, yet they abandoned their commander and fled for their lives. Li Fuzhen should understand well: all other battalions of the Supervisor Battalion can be pardoned, but the Central Battalion alone cannot. Not to mention outside garrisons, even your colleagues in Xuanfu likely think the same in their hearts. This time, the Tartars have breached dozens of cities, and no less than a million people have died. The court will certainly pursue accountability. For Li Fuzhen to avoid the executioner's blade at Caishikou, you must produce undeniable military merits. But no one in the king's army is willing to put in real effort to fight. Li Fuzhen, though you have strength, you have no way to use it."

Li Zhongzhen's face was full of wrinkles, making him look extremely old, though whether this was caused by recent fear and worry was unclear. He chuckled dryly. "So you, surnamed Pang, came all the way here just to mock me to my face? Where Lu Doutang is concerned, reputation matters more than life. The men in my camp are all common soldiers; no one is willing to throw their life away for nothing. Don't spin these nonsensical tales. If you have something to say, say it plainly."

"Fifty True Yi heads, plus Banner Back-Flags. Is that enough to save Li Fuzhen's life?"

Li Zhongzhen's pupils contracted, and the whiskers on his chin quivered a few times. He looked at Pang Yu with some suspicion. "Real heads or fake heads?"

"You can submit fakes to the court, but for a deal, they must be real. Same as the ones I previously delivered to the Ministry of War for merit verification — complete with horses, weapons, flags, and markings, only without captives. But Li Fuzhen is more than welcome to capture some yourself." Pang Yu stamped his foot hard on the ice surface twice. "This ice will thaw within a few days. I intend to attack across the southern bank and pin down the Tartars' rear column to prevent them from crossing the river. Once the ice melts, the Tartars will have no choice but to abandon their baggage and flee. But I have no cavalry and cannot hold them. This is a fine opportunity for both merit and fortune. I do not intend to keep it all for myself. Cao Regional Commander is already willing to go. I came specifically to ask Li Fuzhen: are you willing to join us?"

Li Zhongzhen's eyes shifted a few times. In truth, the plan Pang Yu described had already been advertised earlier by Liu Yuliang. The General Officers in the camp all knew of it, and Li Zhongzhen had perhaps already considered it. He was silent for a moment, then said, "The Tartars are the hardest to fight. Even with our three forces combined, cutting down fifty heads is easier said than done."

"Naturally, it won't be just three forces. Moreover, my camp already has the heads ready. As long as Li Fuzhen fights hard, regardless of whether you actually kill any Tartars, I guarantee Li Fuzhen will receive fifty True Yi heads. If Li Fuzhen does not believe me, you can come with me to inspect them first."

Li Zhongzhen stared fixedly at Pang Yu, as if judging his words. Pang Yu had previously reported a major victory with over a hundred decapitations, and notably, there had been captives. So the king's armies all believed him, lending Pang Yu's words considerable credibility.

"The Tartars are getting closer and closer to the Border Wall. Once they pass Xianghe, no one can stop them from exiting the border. The moment the Tartars cross out of the border is the moment Li Fuzhen is thrown in prison." Pang Yu ground his foot hard against the ice a few times. "This Yongding River is the last chance to intercept the Tartars, and Li Fuzhen's last chance to redeem himself through merit."

Li Zhongzhen's chin moved a few times. "Has General Pang thought this through? Once across the river, it's flat open ground. Your camp is mostly infantry; retreat will be impossible. And what if the ice doesn't melt for several days? What will you do then?"

"It's true my camp is mostly infantry, but this infantry is not so easy to swallow. Nor do I think the Tartars have the time to stop and besiege me."

"If I may be so bold as to ask, I've heard that General Pang led his troops here on his own and has already achieved great merit. Why then would you still take such a great risk?"

Pang Yu smiled. "First, I want to vent this frustration — this anger I've been holding in ever since heading north. I cannot just watch the Tartars march out of the border like this. Second, I want all you generals of the Border Army to know that the Vice Regional Commander of the Anqing Cavalry Camp is named Pang Yu. He can get things done and knows how to get things done. He doesn't exploit people for nothing, and he's certainly not some soft persimmon to be squeezed at will."

The corner of Li Zhongzhen's mouth twitched twice. After a moment, he finally said, "When do we cross the river?"

"Before dawn tomorrow. This evening, my advisor will come to Li Fuzhen's camp to coordinate."

With that, Pang Yu turned and walked toward the bank. After a few steps, he stopped and turned his head. "I'll also tell Li Fuzhen this: all the heads and equipment are with me, in my camp, crossing the river. If Li Fuzhen wishes to receive those heads smoothly, you must do your utmost to tie down the Eastern Invaders. Do not let my Anqing Battalion be annihilated on the southern bank. I earnestly entrust this to you, Li Fuzhen."