Chapter 525: Upright

"The Governor-General's Office forwarded a dispatch bulletin: several battalions including Geli Yan have left Yingshan and turned to attack Macheng; the Purple Myrtle Star Division has gone north out of Huoshan to attack Gushi. The Henan Governor says Zuo Liangyu refuses to obey orders, there are no troops available within his territory, and requests that Lord Xiong transfer troops for relief."

"Another forwarded dispatch bulletin: Chen Hongfan's scout cavalry captured a Camp Head from the old camp under Chuang Tatian, who stated that Chuang Tatian is set to rebel in Suizhou within ten days, attacking Macheng first and then Wuchang. Word from the Dark Sentinel Division via the Chief Manager's Office says Chen Hongfan volunteered to go to Suizhou to suppress it, and Lord Xiong has just approved it, ordering Chen Hongfan to dispatch a unit to Suizhou for suppression. Chen Hongfan himself set out immediately with his Household Retainers, without the slightest delay."

Inside the advisory office of the Anqing Battalion at Mianyang Port, several General Officers gathered around the desk. Half the sentries on guard outside were already in armor. Both sides at Mianyang Port were sleeping armed, on guard against each other. In this small area, the Western Camp held no advantage, but the Old Bandits among them all had horses, while the Anqing Battalion was mostly infantry — once they left the market town, they would have no advantage at all.

Inside the market town, the two sides were almost openly facing off, the atmosphere tense. Relay Horses kept dismounting before the door, bringing military intelligence from the surrounding area.

"An Order Token has come from Lord Xiong's office, ordering our battalion to transfer a thousand men to Xiangyang for defense. The Herald's Relay Horse is still waiting outside."

"Then let him wait." Xie Zhaofa, dressed in ordinary military uniform, glanced at the others. "Chuang Tatian is in Suizhou, yet Chen Hongfan caught a Camp Head outside Xiangyang city, and didn't say whether it was a spy or a scout. He left the moment he received orders — when has he ever been so eager?"

Wang Zenglu shook his head. Chen Hongfan had been transferred from his post as Dengzhou Regional Commander. When the Eastern River Garrison collapsed, he had done nothing. Afterwards, the Dengzhou Garrison's actual status declined, and he was dispatched to the Central Plains to suppress bandits. This time he wasn't even called to rally to the king. He was Xiangyang's last bit of mobile force, yet he was drawn away by an unverified piece of intelligence from Suizhou.

"Chen Hongfan must also see that the Eight Bandits are about to rebel again. He's worried about being implicated if he stays in Xiangyang, so naturally he's in a hurry to leave."

Xie Zhaofa looked at Ruan Jin. "The Eight Bandits' movements."

Ruan Jin immediately said, "The Eight Bandits have purchased a total of one thousand shi of rice and beans at Mianyang Port, and have already paid the deposit, agreeing on delivery in five days. Grain shipments to Fang County have also stopped. Scout Cavalry observing from the east bank of the Han River report that Baishazhou is being rebuilt again. Lu Ding went to Xiangyang yesterday. None of this looks like an imminent rebellion. These past few days, the personnel going from Gucheng to Fang County are all Servants. When they go, many are on foot, quite a few women and children. On the return trip, only Mules, horses, and Carriages are seen."

"They've sent all their Servants to Fang County. When they rise up, only the Old Bandit Horse Soldiers will remain. Such obvious signs have been reported, yet Lord Xiong still gives no reply. If we wait any longer, the Eight Bandits will have everything ready. How can our infantry catch horse-riding bandits?" Xie Zhaofa raised his eyes and looked at everyone. "The Huguang Standard Battalion has arrived, but Governor-General Xiong has not given the Order Token to suppress the Western Camp. Fang Military Gate's Standard Battalion will not attack. The First Unit cannot stay hidden much longer. We must attack the Western Camp as soon as possible."

The Clerk Officer attending the meeting cautiously said, "Clerk Xie, before the Eight Bandits rebel, they are still Government Troops. Last time Lord Pang sent word, the Ministry of War ultimately did not grant us the ministry dispatch for Expedient Action. Although everyone knows the Eight Bandits will rebel, if we attack them before they do, Chief Manager Xiong will pin this monumental crime on the Anqing Cavalry Camp. He will submit a memorial to the Cabinet, surely claiming he had already pacified the Western Camp, and that we provoked the rebellion… We are stationed here to secure the upper Han River. Although we are also keeping the Eight Bandits in check, we cannot bring trouble upon Lord Pang."

The Marine Corps blacksmith glared at the Clerk Officer. "Governor-General Xiong can't even go to Gucheng, and can only relay messages through Lu Ding. He's still thinking about pacifying the Western Camp — utterly fanciful."

"Chief Manager Xiong's opinion is to do everything possible to pacify the Western Camp and prevent rebellion, stalling for time until the various forces that went to rally to the king return. That way the Pacification Company remains unbroken and can hold until the next Tartar Incursion. The Eight Bandits have already proposed that he make up all their pay and provisions from the time of their pacification, calculated on a strength of thirty thousand men. Governor-General Xiong is still haggling with Lu Ding."

Xie Zhaofa looked at Wang Zenglu. "What does Battalion Commander Wang think the Eight Bandits are planning?"

"The Eight Bandits are about to rebel. All signs point to no rebellion, which means it should happen within the next few days. The informants on Chuang Tatian's side have never reported any signs of Liu Guoneng rebelling again. Why would a Camp Head suddenly appear? Yingshan moves on Macheng, Huoshan moves on Henan — all happening at the same time. The Eight Bandits must have been colluding with several stubborn bandit groups in the Yinghuo Mountain area for a long time. They're launching everywhere at once to scatter the Government Troops. We must not send troops to Xiangyang. The Eight Bandits' negotiations with Chief Manager Xiong are nothing but a feint to confuse the Government Troops. The price he's demanding is one Lord Xiong cannot pay, but Lord Xiong doesn't see it that way."

The blacksmith pointed outside. "There are still over a hundred Old Bandits here at Mianyang Port. If they pull out, it means rebellion is immediate."

Xie Zhaofa nodded. "Keep an eye on the Western Camp Old Bandits' movements inside Mianyang Port. We must force the Eight Bandits to rise up as soon as possible. How is the Dark Sentinel Division progressing?"

"The Eight Bandits have two or three informants each in the Governor-General's Office, the Prefectural Office, and other places inside Xiangyang city. Every time Lu Ding comes, he swaggers through the streets to draw off anyone tailing him, while a High Shine from the First Post of the old camp among his retinue takes attendants to meet with the informants. We've never touched these people before. Three days ago we took control of two of their Family Dependents. Yesterday, through them, we sent out false information that Xiong Wencan has agreed to send troops to exterminate the Western Camp the day after tomorrow. These two are in the Governor-General's office and the Prefectural Office respectively. At the same time, the same false information was sent out here at Mianyang Port. If the Eight Bandits believe it, they will rise up within two days."

"Has the water level in the Han River at Baishazhou been verified?"

The blacksmith replied, "Still based on reconnaissance from five days ago. The Han River water level has dropped. Three more fording points have appeared visually. It hasn't rained all year, and the Han River's water level has fallen sharply. If it continues to drop, the river channel at Baishazhou will be crossable everywhere. Five days ago, Western Camp Scout Cavalry cut off all the roads on the east bank of Baishazhou. Our roving cavalry numbers are insufficient to approach during the day. We send out one Distant Scout team every day to infiltrate at night, lying hidden for a day to observe Baishazhou, and can only send someone back with word after Nightfall in the evening. The man from last night didn't return."

Xie Zhaofa furrowed his brow. A hidden Distant Scout failing to return had happened before, and in the end it always proved to be because they got lost, fell and injured themselves, or similar reasons. But at this delicate moment, it was vastly different.

At that moment, an advisor from the Marine Corps General came in hurriedly. "The informant at Mianyang Port has sent word: the Eight Bandits' adopted son Zhang Kewang has arrived and is having the Old Bandits pack up their equipment."

Another advisor entered. "Scout Cavalry report back: several fires have broken out in Xiangyang city, and all the gates have been shut."

"The Eight Bandits couldn't hold back." Xie Zhaofa turned to the crowd. "We won't wait for the Order Token. If anything goes wrong, I'll bear the blame. Have that waiting Relay Horse send a formal dispatch bulletin to Xiangyang, stating that the Western Camp proactively attacked the Anqing garrison at Mianyang Port, and our battalion was forced to counterattack. Order the Dark Sentinel Division to arrest Lu Ding. All units are to immediately execute the plan to cut off the road from Gucheng to Fang County, relieve the Gucheng County Seat, and attack Baishazhou."

…

At the Gucheng County Seat, several columns of black smoke rose from the city. Countless figures ran through the streets and alleys, crying and fleeing toward the temples.

Before the county office, however, it was quiet. From the Eight-Character Wall to the Main Hall, there was not a soul. Some grain looted and then spilled lay scattered on the ground.

Ruan Zhitian sat blankly in the Main Hall, his eyes vacant as he watched a flock of sparrows chirping and scrambling for the grain below the hall, as if deaf to the clamor coming from the city.

After a long while, a figure appeared below the hall. Ruan Zhitian finally reacted slightly, raising his head a little to look. It was his gatekeeper from the Rear Office.

The gatekeeper was someone he had brought from his hometown of Anqing, a family servant raised in his own household since childhood. The gatekeeper ran in, his face full of panic, and hurried up to him. "Master, the Western Camp has entered the city. They've seized all four gates and are looting the great households and Grain Shops in the city. They've started killing people in the streets. The copyists, petty officials, clerks — everyone in the office has fled. The main roads are full of Bandit Spawn. If you want to run, Master, now is the time. Any later and it will be too late."

"Run?" Magistrate Ruan looked up blankly. "Where could I run to? If I lose the county seat, my fate is also to be beheaded at the West Market."

"Master, at least hide somewhere in the city for a while. Save your life first, then think of a way out. Master submitted memorials long ago, saying the Eight Bandits could never be tamed and must be exterminated as soon as possible. It was Xiong Wencan who wouldn't listen. If anyone's head should be cut, it should be his."

Ruan Zhitian shook his head, his gaze dull. "The Eight Bandits have rebelled again, broken the county seat, and killed the common people. That is a crime beyond all argument. Whether Xiong Wencan's head is cut or not, I don't know, but my head will certainly be cut. Think about it: those officials at court are just handling assignments. Each man only cares whether his own task is easy to handle. Cutting off Lord Xiong's head is too much trouble. Cutting off the head of a County Magistrate like me is the simplest thing. Once it's cut, his assignment is discharged. No one cares what memorials you submitted before. No one wants to hear you speak at all."

The gatekeeper stared dumbly at Ruan Zhitian. "Is Master not afraid of death? Surely you must preserve your life above all. Think of your family in Huaining…"

Ruan Zhitian slowly rose. "Who doesn't wish to live a few more days? It is precisely for them that I do this. Liu Ruozai staked everything to recommend me for this Virtuous and Upright Examination. He bore an immense responsibility. He trusted in my character, Ruan Zhitian's character. How could I dare Abandon the City and flee, disgracing the ancestors of the Ruan Family? Even if I kept my life, I would have no face to live the days that follow. I, this old man, have thought it through…" Ruan Zhitian waved his hand at the gatekeeper. "Go. If you can save your life and return to Huaining, do not forget to tell the family: this official sat upright in the Main Hall and died for his country. Though I could not protect the people, I also did not abandon my post and flee."

"Master, then this humble one will go save his own life first. If in the next life I can still meet you, Master, I will still guard your gate."

The gatekeeper kowtowed on the ground, then hurried toward the back. Ruan Zhitian watched him leave. The clamor outside gradually drew nearer. Ruan Zhitian suddenly burst into tears, his whole body trembling. He supported himself on the chair to stand, leaned on the edge of the desk, and with difficulty pulled over the inkstone and began to grind ink.

It took a long while to prepare the ink. Ruan Zhitian lifted his brush, dipped it in ink, and limped step by step to the side wall of the Main Hall, where he began to write with sweeping strokes. But his hand trembled too violently, and the strokes came out crooked. Ruan Zhitian grasped his left hand around his right wrist, and only then did the strokes steady somewhat.

He wrote as he wept. After a long while, he finally finished. He stepped back and looked at his own inscription, murmuring a chant under his breath: "I read the Sage Books, and forged this Noble Spirit. I strive for Sacrifice for Righteousness, to live up to Worthy and Upright."

Ruan Zhitian sobbed twice, dragged his nearly rigid legs to the end of the inscription, and wrote a small line of characters: "Your humble subject Ruan Zhitian of Valley Town bows toward the palace gates and takes respectful leave."

Having finished, Ruan Zhitian looked at the words on the wall and gave two bitter laughs. "Worthy and Upright."

The clamor outside drew closer and closer. Footsteps could already be heard entering the main gate. Ruan Zhitian suddenly brandished his brush and shouted, "Ruan Zhitian of Anqing is here! Eight Bandits, kill me if you will! Even as a ghost, this old man will cling to you and never let go…"

The words had barely faded when several figures in short red attire rushed in. Ruan Zhitian, his face streaked with tears, stood frozen in place. After staring closely for a moment longer, Ruan Zhitian collapsed to the ground with a thud and broke into loud, unrestrained weeping.