Chapter 55: Suppressing the Unrest

"Were any of those heads Wang Guohua's?"

"Replying to the master, that Wang Guohua was not among them, nor was Huang Wending seen. The foremost head was Zhu Zong's. That Pang Yu did not enter the yamen at all, but spoke with Yang Fangzao right in front of the Eight-Character Wall. According to him, he was dispatched by Yang Fangzao to suppress the unrest, and now the whole city knows he is credited with the chief merit for quelling it."

In the Fang family study at Fengyi Ward, Fang Kongzhao's face was dark as he waved away the household servant who had brought the report. Two others were in the room: Fang Zhongjia, his face deathly pale, and Fang Kongzhao's son-in-law, Sun Lin.

The previous night, a batch of servants had first fled back claiming Fang Zhongjia had been killed by the rioters, plunging Fang Kongzhao into bitter regret. Then he had worried that word of the suppression plan had leaked because of it, allowing Huang Wending to escape, or even that Huang Wending would launch a surprise attack on Fengyi Ward.

The Fang residence fell into chaos. The Da Hang were roused to readiness, and servants were constantly dispatched in every direction to gather intelligence. In the end, Fang Zhongjia returned wounded before daybreak, and only then did the great stone lift from Fang Kongzhao's heart.

Fang Zhongjia had suffered two wounds. After fleeing the main hall, he had entered the mountain forest. Fortunately, the ridge at Yunji Temple was not high. He found a gentle slope and slowly made his way down. The chain mail, being too heavy, he had abandoned in the woods. The clothes on his body were torn to shreds by shrub branches and leaves. By the time he reached the main road, the Chizhou troops had still not arrived. By sheer luck, he found the horse he had ridden in on, and thus saved his own life.

Neither of his two wounds was fatal, but he had lost a great deal of blood and was extremely weak. Fang Kongzhao had originally intended for Fang Zhongjia to command those Da Hang men; now he could only switch to Sun Lin, with Sun Lin's elder brother Sun Yi (Note 1) assisting.

Sun Lin's second elder brother, Sun Jin, was a Censor in the Censorate, and a Capital Official at that. The Sun family therefore held considerable status in Tongcheng as well. With the Fang family plus the Sun family, their leadership position among the gentry could also gain recognition.

Sun Lin himself ordinarily practiced martial arts and archery, and was also skilled in horsemanship. Compared to Fang Zhongjia, he merely lacked practical combat experience, making him a qualified candidate nonetheless.

Fang Zhongjia gave a rough account of the previous night's events. He was not very clear on Pang Yu's detailed identity, only telling Fang Kongzhao that it seemed to be a runner surnamed Pang, who had originally thrown in his lot with the rioters and had an internal falling-out with Wang Guohua's faction the night before.

In truth, all three of them had met Pang Yu before, but such a low-ranking runner could not draw their notice; they had not the slightest impression of this Pang fellow. So they all assumed he was one of those Xuli who had attached themselves to the rioters. Such men were numerous during the civil unrest and were the most adept at shifting with the wind. Once the bandits' power waned, they would be moved by the sight of wealth.

They had just called for a bonesetter doctor to extract the arrowhead not long ago. The three had barely exchanged a few words when word arrived that Pang Yu had entered the city with the heads.

Fang Zhongjia leaned weakly against the back of his chair and said to Fang Kongzhao, "If it was Yang Fangzao who dispatched him to suppress the unrest, then the matter becomes difficult."

"This affair is probably somewhat suspicious." Sun Lin frowned. "The civil uprising has lasted nearly a month. The Tongcheng county yamen was helpless, insisting on nothing but feigned surrender, solely out of fear that failing to quell the unrest would instead provoke the rioters into a desperate fight to the death, thereby bringing criminal charges upon the Mushou and the County Magistrate. With the situation unchanged now, why would Yang Fangzao suddenly send a single runner alone to suppress the unrest? It is nothing short of a farce."

Fang Kongzhao said coldly, "If one intended to suppress the unrest, then Huang Wending should have been suppressed along with them. Knowing full well that Huang Wending was not there, yet going to kill dozens of rioters at Yunji Temple — is that not forcing Huang Wending to stake his life in a fight? From this, one can see that what Heavy Armor first said is the truth. This Runner Pang was merely moved by the sight of wealth. Because Heavy Armor escaped, he feared the information would leak, and so had no choice but to use the County Magistrate as a pretext."

Sun Lin turned to look at the sky and said, "What is most critical now is that Huang Wending's gang is gradually gathering outside Wuyin Temple, already numbering three to five hundred men. Just now a household servant reported back that the rioters seem to have learned of the attack on Yunji Temple and are moving toward the south gate. If by chance Huang Wending and his men attack the county yamen, should we still follow the original plan and launch a surprise assault on the rioters?"

The disastrous defeat Fang Zhongjia suffered the previous night had placed Fang Kongzhao in an enormously passive position. Somewhat ashamed, Fang Zhongjia lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "What if Huang Wending and his men do not go to rescue Zhang Ru, but instead flee back to Yunji Temple? It is all my fault for being too careless. Had I brought two bows, or properly shielded that torch, it would not have come to this."

Fang Kongzhao, however, showed not the slightest reproach. "In a life-and-death struggle, how can one attend to every detail? Heavy Armor, do not be too hard on yourself. As for Huang Wending fleeing back to Yunji Temple, I think it is not necessarily possible for him. Heavy Armor, when you were coming down the mountain, did you already see the torches of the Chizhou troops?"

"That is indeed the case. It was precisely when the Chizhou troops arrived. Unable to move the silver away, Runner Pang and a few others were arguing, and I seized that moment of chaos to escape."

Sun Lin stood up and said, "Yunji Temple should already have been captured by the Chizhou troops. It would be useless for Huang Wending to go back. This man lacks planning. With Wang Guohua absent, he will surely be at a loss whether to advance or retreat. Striking him unprepared is precisely the right moment."

Fang Zhongjia suddenly raised his head and said, "Otherwise, why not simply let Huang Wending overrun the county yamen, let him kill that Runner Pang and his lot in one fell swoop, and then we can take advantage of the chaos to raid and kill the rioters."

Sun Lin looked at Fang Zhongjia and said, "That would no longer be civil unrest, but outright rebellion. Once chaos erupts, I fear it will be difficult to contain. That Runner Pang was able to snatch a prize from the flames last night; he must be a cunning and treacherous sort. Even if Huang Wending took the county yamen, he would have trouble catching this man, who would most likely slip away. And Wang Guohua is still in that runner's hands. If, after the great chaos, he were handed over to the imperial court, it would inevitably implicate the Fang family even further."

Fang Kongzhao nodded and said, "If Huang Wending takes the county yamen, the Chizhou troops will certainly have to enter the County Seat. When that time comes, Tongcheng will not only suffer a bandit calamity, but also a military calamity on top of it."

The three men in the room fell silent for a moment. Compared to those common folk, the great aristocratic clans had even less confidence when facing a military calamity.

Fang Kongzhao paced back and forth twice before his desk, stopped, and said to Sun Lin, "Inform County Magistrate Yang: the Tongcheng gentry will suppress the unrest today."

Sun Lin acknowledged the order, went out, and immediately began mustering the Da Hang and household servants. The Fang family courtyard was suddenly filled with clamor.

Listening to the sounds outside, Fang Kongzhao remained silent for a moment, then asked Fang Zhongjia, "When you left, did Wang Guohua still have a breath of life left in him?"

"He seemed to have been poisoned. In the main hall, he repeatedly cursed and shouted, asking who had administered the poison. But he appeared to be the one least affected by the poison, and was the last to collapse. As for whether that poison could be remedied, I dare not say for certain."

"Since that Runner Pang had the time to hack off over twenty heads, he had the time to confirm whether Wang Guohua was dead or alive. If dead, then he would certainly have cut off his head and brought it. That is to say, Wang Guohua may not be dead. This man is a Bandit Leader, and Runner Pang not handing him over, leaving such great merit unclaimed — there is some significance in that."

Fang Zhongjia cursed through gritted teeth, "In that hall, he must have overheard my conversation with Wang Guohua and learned of our family's entanglement with Wang Guohua. Unable to confirm whether I survived, he kept Wang Guohua in hand to act according to circumstances. This man is ruthless and merciless. Not only did he administer poison, he also personally killed at least three or four men in close combat. Whenever he could use a crossbow, he definitely used a crossbow, never giving his opponent the slightest chance."

"But in the end, he is merely a runner, afraid that you will seek revenge against him, and so wishes to use Wang Guohua as a bargaining chip." Fang Kongzhao paused in strategic patience, then said, "Detestable that this runner has ruined my great plan. It was all for some silver, and all to make a wedding dress for those Chizhou troops. In the end, the silver was surely seized by the Chizhou troops."

"Should we send someone to speak with him first?"

"Unnecessary. Even if he holds Wang Guohua, he is still just a lowly, base runner. What qualification does he have to sit and speak with us as an equal?" Fang Kongzhao said coldly. "After we have exterminated Huang Wending, you go show your face at the county yamen. Let that runner know you are still alive, and let him come begging to us."

……

Beneath the south gate City Tower, heads surged and voices clamored. All manner of weapons and farming tools swayed back and forth above their heads.

The rioters who had converged from the surrounding countryside were mustering here. All of them were people who had attached themselves last time, and this time, hearing that the Chizhou troops had withdrawn, they had been summoned again by the core rioters.

They rather missed the feeling of plundering the great households last time, so their numbers were quite considerable. Early in the morning, over five hundred had already gathered, and people were still continuously rushing over from every direction.

Originally, their muster point was at Wuyin Temple, but in the morning, an absurd rumor spread that a single runner had single-handedly wiped out Yunji Temple. At first, no one believed it. Then, as more and more rumors came from within the city, the rioters left Wuyin Temple in droves to gather at the south gate entrance to seek news. Some, afraid, had already left; others remained skeptical.

The street outside the south gate was not wide. Several hundred rioters gathered there could only scatter among the streets and alleys, whispering to one another, discussing that bizarre morning report, and asking familiar core rioters about the situation at Yunji Temple.

"Out of the way! What the hell are you all blocking the road for?"

Huang Wending strode over, grabbed a rioter blocking the way, and casually flung him aside. Those scrawny Green-Skins looked like mere children next to the brawny Huang Wending.

Ahead was the south gate tunnel. Ever since Pang Yu had paraded the heads through the city, the yamen, fearing retaliation from the bandits, had immediately shut all the city gates. At this moment, the south gate was tightly closed. Word from the various gates said that all six gates of Tongcheng had been shut. The south gate was the one closest to Wuyin Temple; if the rioters wanted to break in, this was the best gate to choose.

Huang Wending held a great blade in his hand. He looked up at the tall gate tower and shouted, "You all say that fool Pang wiped out Yunji Temple and killed twenty or thirty of our brothers. I've lived in Tongcheng for decades and never seen a man that fierce. Do you lot think that fool Pang fits the bill?"

Some of the surrounding rioters shook their heads; some remained silent. A rioter nearby said cautiously, "But this morning, I and Li Ban saw with our own eyes: the heads of Zhu Zong, Gu Xiaowu, and Zhang Ying were all on that cart. Gu Xiaowu's face was smashed to pieces."

"What about Wang Guohua?"

"Didn't see him." The rioter shook his head. "But this morning, there were rumors over in Guanxiang saying that Chizhou troops have arrived at Guache River market town, moving back and forth at the foot of Yunji Temple. The womenfolk of Guache River households are all fleeing toward the county city."

"They say the main force of the Chizhou troops has reached Jieting Pavilion, and the vanguard is at Wulipu — two or three thousand men strong."

"Huang Alliance Master, should we hide for a while?"

The corner of Huang Wending's mouth twitched. Although he was a Military Examination Candidate, he knew nothing of warfare. The Ming dynasty Military Examination Candidate examination did not test military strategy or tactics. By the mid-Ming period, civil officials were deliberately steering military officers toward illiteracy. Military officers grew increasingly crude and vulgar; many Military Examination Candidate were often completely illiterate, possessing nothing but brute strength.

Huang Wending was now utterly without method. He neither verified intelligence nor maneuvered his men to steady morale. The mass of rioters buzzed about like headless flies. All manner of doubt fermented and spread through the crowd. Many of those who had attached themselves, seeing the situation turning sour, slipped away one after another.

In front of him was an old man with graying hair, carrying a basket on his back and holding a hoe, a somewhat worried look on his face. Judging by this getup, he was one of those nearby peasants who had come along just to swell the numbers and plunder things — utterly useless once anything happened.

Huang Wending was already somewhat agitated. With this fellow still bobbing around before his eyes, rage surged in his heart. He swung his hand and slapped him, sending the white-haired peasant staggering.

The old peasant jumped in fright and hastily stepped aside. Huang Wending's anger subsided slightly. He looked up at the tall city tower. Since the rebellion began, this was the first time he had felt powerless before Tongcheng's city defenses, all because of the bizarre rumors that Runner Pang had stirred up.

That Pang Yu was someone many rioters had seen. They even knew his nickname, Pang the Second Fool. How could anyone imagine that such a dog official constable could single-handedly wipe out Yunji Temple and make them lose their nest? This had to be some trick played by the yamen.

A sense of indignation at having his intelligence insulted welled up in his heart. Huang Wending steeled himself and raised his great blade high.

"I just don't believe it! Today I'm going to take that dog constable's head and see what the yamen has to stop us! We'll trample that county yamen flat! Go make a battering ram!"

Huang Wending finished his shout, then suddenly felt that no one around him responded. He turned his head to look: the rioters were in a noisy uproar; no one paid any attention to his order.

For a moment, he did not know what to do, and only then did he feel a twinge of longing for Wang Guohua. Wang Guohua seemed to know what was in those people's hearts; a few words from him could stir the rioters into action.

At this thought, another surge of fury came over Huang Wending. He rushed into the crowd, punching and kicking. The rioters scrambled to dodge, and the street outside the south gate descended into chaos.

Just as he was hitting his stride, suddenly the surrounding crowd cried out in alarm. Huang Wending stopped and looked around, only to see everyone pointing their fingers at the city gate tunnel.

The city gate opened with a creaking groan. The gate tunnel was packed with brawny men gripping long spears and great blades — powerfully built and fierce-looking, they were nothing like common rioters. They did not rush out in haste, waiting for the gate to fully open.

The rioters fell back one after another. Huang Wending stared blankly for a moment, unable to understand where in Tongcheng these men had come from. But as his brute stubbornness surged up, he called to the trusted men around him, brandished his great blade, and prepared to meet the attack.

Suddenly, two bowstrings thrummed. Screams rang out from the crowd, and the street instantly descended into chaos.

Huang Wending looked up. Two archers had appeared atop the city tower. Both shot at extreme speed, and the dense mass of rioters below the wall exploded like a nest kicked open, scattering in panic like headless flies.

"You dogs, stop running wild! Fall back farther and form up — there aren't many of them!"

Rioters darted back and forth around Huang Wending. As he retreated, he bellowed curses, ordering them to fall back and regroup. Otherwise, once the men inside the gate tunnel charged out, they would have no chance to fight back at all.

A figure flickered past in front of him. Huang Wending grabbed hold — it was the old farmer with graying hair. Once seized, the man stared at Huang Wending in panic.

Huang Wending roared in fury, "Useless cur, stop running wild and getting in the way…"

Before the words were finished, the old farmer's left hand shot out like lightning. A long steel spike drove instantly into Huang Wending's throat. Amid the surrounding chaos, not a single person noticed that Huang Wending had been struck down in secret.

It all happened in an instant. Huang Wending, caught completely off guard, suddenly could not breathe. He dropped his great blade, both hands clutching at his throat, his mouth gaping wide as he stared at the old farmer in terror, stumbling backward several steps.

The old farmer still wore that same mournful, careworn expression, as if nothing had happened at all. He slipped back into the chaotic crowd and vanished from sight within moments.

Only then did a few core rioters realize something was terribly wrong with Huang Wending. They rushed over to support their Alliance Leader. By now, Huang Wending's eyes were bulging wide, the long spike embedded in his throat, his face swollen crimson, his mouth emitting a constant gurgling sound.

The city gate fully opened. The Da Hang inside the gate tunnel swarmed out. A few trusted men dragged Huang Wending with all their might and fled toward the east side.

Leaderless and utterly devoid of fighting spirit, the rioters collapsed. The forty-odd Da Hang were like tigers among sheep, slaughtering freely through the crowd. Several hundred rioters scattered in a single rout toward the outskirts in every direction.

……

Note 1: Sun Yi was Sun Lin's eldest brother, a Presented Scholar of the fifth year of the Tianqi reign, who later resigned from office and returned home. In Jiang Chen's diary, this man played a key role in quelling the rebellion: "He returned and secretly recruited several dozen death-warriors, plotting daily against the bandits… The death-warriors he recruited fired a single arrow from the city wall; the arrow carried a powder that killed on contact… All then sortied from the city to slay the bandits, and the bandits fled and collapsed." These so-called death-warriors were likely the recruited Da Hang. In other records, both Sun Yi and Jiang Zhihuai took orders from Fang Kongzhao — Fang Kongzhao was the one truly in charge.