Chapter 559: True and False

"Fang Kongzhao, the situation has changed. Tomorrow night's mission is canceled."

On the eastern shore of Mochou Lake in Nanjing, inside an unremarkable little courtyard, Mo Qiyun leaned by the window, gazing toward the direction of the Nanjing City Wall. Outside the window, another autumn rain was falling, and the distant city wall appeared like mist and haze.

She heard this and nodded indifferently, as if devoid of any emotion.

Beside her stood a middle-aged man in a Green Robe. He looked at Mo Qiyun and said, "The war in Huguang has deteriorated badly. The Provincial Commander's Standard Troops were routed by the Roving Bandits, losing over half their strength. Fang Kongzhao may soon be arrested. If Fang Kongzhao is no longer Grand Coordinator, then Fang Yizhi is merely a Licentiate — he will no longer hold sufficient value."

Mo Qiyun said softly, "Then where will you send me this time?"

"The original plan was always prepared for Fang Yizhi. All other targets have already been assigned. What I'm giving you now isn't exactly a target, but it remains very important."

The middle-aged man produced a register. Mo Qiyun took it and opened it; the first line on the first page bore three characters.

"Wang Calm Demeanor, thirty-seven years old, from Wuhu. Passed the Licentiate exam at twenty, then failed the Provincial Examination twice. Addicted to Gambling, he owes over three hundred taels in gambling debts at the Wuhu gambling houses and one thousand one hundred taels at Nanjing's Baisheng Hall. The Dark Sentinel Division paid off his gambling debts and arranged an Official Loan of two thousand taels at the White Gate Silver Bank, at three Mace annual interest. He has one wife and one concubine, currently no heirs."

Mo Qiyun silently leafed through the register. The middle-aged man continued, "The Dark Sentinel Division has recruited this man into the fold. Through a private recommendation from the Restoration Society, we guarantee he will pass this year's Provincial Examination. Next year's Metropolitan Exam will also be handled by us. He will obtain the Presented Scholar rank and should then be appointed in the Capital."

Mo Qiyun read as she asked, "Does he know my background?"

"He knows. He also works for the Dark Sentinel Division. You could say he is your comrade."

"This register is rather sparse. I wonder what sort of man he is?"

"That is why, before the Metropolitan Exam, you must first marry into the Wang household. Then you will naturally understand."

Mo Qiyun slowly raised her head and said, "Then... will I be his true wife?"

"It must be a true marriage. The Dark Sentinel Division has only one requirement: obtain effective intelligence. The Division has spent a great deal of silver on him and needs sufficient returns. You will enter his household under the name of a concubine and accompany him to the Capital next year. You must ensure he works for the Dark Sentinel Division. You will also use your status as an official's Family Dependent to socialize with the families of Capital Officials, gather intelligence from the Capital, and be responsible for the Watch and Control of Wang Calm Demeanor. In the Capital, you will operate on a single-line contact. Aside from the courier, no one will know your origins."

Mo Qiyun's eyes flickered slightly. She turned her head to look at the man. "Who is the courier?"

"You will know once you reach the Capital. First, let's discuss the matter of marrying into the Wang household. Everything will be conducted according to common folk marriage customs. Your personal history needs to be rewritten; memorize the new one yourself and be absolutely sure not to confuse it with the old." The man looked up at her. "For the marriage, you must use a name. Any name you have used before can no longer be used. You need a new name. Do you wish to choose it yourself, or shall we choose for you?"

Mo Qiyun hesitated a moment, then said, "Mo Yixin."

The man asked no further questions. He noted it down and walked straight out the door.

Mo Qiyun slowly turned back to the window. Nanjing's high wall stood in the Nearby Area. Beyond that wall lay the life of Jinling City, and across the river from this city was Yangzhou.

Amidst the misty rain, heaven and earth seemed somewhat somber. Yangzhou already felt distant and blurred in her memory. Mo Qiyun's eyes grew hazy, and she murmured softly, "Is Jiang Jiejie also in the Capital?"

In Ningyuan City, Liaodong, the core town of the Liaoxi defense line, the door to the Advisor's room in the Main Hall of the Liaodong Grand Coordinator Yamen creaked open. A young scholar with a worried expression hurried out. Two soldiers accompanied him as he exited through a side gate of the yamen. Not far beyond the street entrance, the young scholar walked briskly and soon turned into a three-courtyard residence.

The scholar walked straight into the Study in the rear courtyard. He paused for a moment before the screen behind the door, softening his expression slightly, then stepped around the screen.

Inside the room, a woman sat behind a desk, sorting a stack of documents. Beside her, a Maid was fanning her.

Hearing the footsteps, the seated woman looked up, revealing Jiang Shou's beautiful face.

Jiang Shou saw Fang Guangchen and immediately broke into a knowing smile. She stood up and went to greet him.

The Maid spoke from behind, "Reporting to the young master, the Doctor came to examine her and said it is a pulse of joy."

Fang Guangchen hurriedly supported Jiang Shou, a trace of a smile appearing on his face. "I came back at once when I got the news. There are many affairs at the yamen today; I must leave shortly. You needn't have stood up. Just focus on resting and nurturing the pregnancy. For now, you should also stop doing things like keeping accounts and grinding ink."

Jiang Shou held Fang Guangchen's hand. "I still wish to do the ink grinding. It is only when I watch my husband write that I feel at ease. I imagine that is also good for the pregnancy."

Fang Guangchen laughed heartily, the lingering worry on his face swept completely away. He grasped Jiang Shou's hand in return and led her to sit down. "Then I shall heed your wish. You may continue doing it."

"I truly hope to bear a son, one with your mastery of both pen and sword." Jiang Shou leaned gently against his shoulder, her face full of happiness. "Everything at home is fine. It would be even better if, once the Tartars are pacified, we no longer had to live in such fear."

Fang Guangchen still wore a smile on his face. He sighed softly and said, "The Tartars are not so easily pacified."

At that moment, the Steward's voice came from outside the door. "Reporting to the young master, Wu Regional Commander has arrived. He says he wishes to visit the old master and asks if the young master is free to accompany him."

A flash of impatience crossed Fang Guangchen's face. He immediately stood up and said, "Ask Wu Regional Commander to wait a moment."

Jiang Shou rose to help Fang Guangchen straighten his clothes. "This Wu Regional Commander is young and promising. He can fight battles and possesses his father's worldly wisdom. The old master is slightly unwell, yet he comes to visit every three to five days. He also gets along very well with my husband. You should still maintain more contact with him."

Fang Guangchen knew Jiang Shou was advising him to stay calm. The "old master" she referred to was Fang Guangchen's father, the Liaodong Grand Coordinator Fang Yizao. He had been stationed in Liaodong for several years now. The Qing army's several attacks had been deflected by the Liao Garrison, and the overall situation in Liaoxi remained relatively stable. His tenure as Liaodong Grand Coordinator was already the longest during the Chongzhen reign.

"He is indeed young, promising, and worldly-wise. But his visit to see Father today is likely still about the matter of Jin Guofeng's death in battle." Fang Guangchen's brow furrowed slightly. "That day's pursuit outside the city was a common enough sight; we did not come off worse. Jin Guofeng falling from his horse and dying in the pursuit was truly an accident. But Hong Doutang wants to pin this matter on the Liao Garrison. No one, civil or military, will escape it. A memorial must be sent to the Emperor within these two days. No one knows who will be implicated. Wu Regional Commander is probably here because of this."

Jiang Shou looked earnestly at Fang Guangchen. "Some time ago, the court executed Zu Kuan. The General Officers of the Liao Garrison must be terrified. Right now, no one can figure out to what extent Hong Doutang intends to pursue this, so they've sent Wu Regional Commander to probe the old master's stance. The old master is, after all, the Liaodong Grand Coordinator, a civil official just like Hong Doutang. He can step in to mediate; his words carry more weight than those of the General Officers."

"It's true that Father is the Grand Coordinator, but mediating with Hong Doutang is no simple matter. He came to the Liao Garrison from Shaanxi, and he's likely determined to use some harsh measures, seizing the chance to disrupt everything and rebuild it his own way. Only then can he secure his position as Supreme Commander." Fang Guangchen rubbed his forehead wearily. "But for Wu Sangui, this may not be a bad thing. When Hong Doutang took office, he brought only one battalion of Qin Army troops. After arriving at the Liao Garrison, 'Hong Supreme Commander previously fought the Roving Bandits; three parts cavalry to seven parts infantry was sufficient. In Liaodong, he copied the Qi Shaobao Military Manual, wanting to use Chariot Battalions and Infantry Firearms Battalions against the Eastern Invaders. Over the past half year, he must have realized that fighting the Eastern Invaders requires cavalry. The Qin Army's cavalry is far inferior to the Liao Garrison's. Therefore, he must both strike and co-opt the Liao Garrison. The one he's co-opting is Wu Sangui. This first batch of ten thousand Extracted Elite Troops from eight battalions, designated for reinforcement inside and outside the passes and garrisoned at Qiantun and Zhonghousuo, will be under Wu Sangui's command. Zu Dashou can hardly object, and Wu Xiang certainly won't oppose it. In the eyes of these military men, what exactly is the Grand Coordinator Yamen? Letting him wait a while is fine too."

Jiang Shou gently stroked the back of Fang Guangchen's hand to calm his anger. "Hong Doutang truly has cunning methods. His use of the Jin Guofeng incident cannot be merely to implicate some General Officer; he must have something he wants."

"Hong Doutang wants, first, to extract and drill troops, replacing commanders and men, and second, to change the Battle Command. Henceforth, whether for the Surveillance Commissioner's Circuit Guard or the various combat and garrison battalions, all Battle Commands will issue from the Regional Commander, without interference from the Grand Coordinator, Grand Supervisor, or Military Defense Circuit. He, Hong Supreme Commander, will directly control the Regional Commanders."

Jiang Shou thought for a moment and said, "That means he wants to seize the Battle Command authority from the other civil officials. Wu Regional Commander is here today not only to ask the old master to mediate, but also to mediate with the old master himself, to show that he will still follow the old master's orders, so as to avoid any ill feeling with the Grand Coordinator Yamen."

Fang Guangchen was stunned for a moment, then looked at Jiang Shou. "That is exactly it. Fortunately, you reminded me, or I would have missed that layer of meaning."

Jiang Shou gave him a gentle push. "Wu Regional Commander is waiting. You should go quickly. I will go to the Official Silver Temple to fulfill a vow and pray for the safety of the child in my womb."

Fang Guangchen reached out and patted her face, then strode out the door. Jiang Shou sat behind the desk, the smile on her face gradually fading away. She stared blankly at the desk.

After a long while, the Maid's voice softly reminded her from the side, and only then did Jiang Shou come back to her senses. The two of them went out together. The servants outside had already prepared the sedan chair, and they headed toward City East.

Ningyuan City was not large, and they soon arrived at the Official Silver Temple in City East.

A receiving nun was already waiting in front of the main hall. This nun was not old. She came over to receive Jiang Shou. As Jiang Shou was a frequent worshipper, the two were already well acquainted.

The nun exchanged a few cordial words with Jiang Shou, and the two walked together to the hall door. Jiang Shou turned her head and said softly to the Maid and the older maidservant, "You two wait outside."

Jiang Shou and the nun then entered the hall. The nun helped arrange the Incense Offerings. Jiang Shou turned to face the main door, while the nun faced the back door.

Jiang Shou said in a low voice, "Zu Dashou reports: Jinzhou's troop strength on paper is sixty-three thousand soldiers. Actual troop numbers not reported. Actual horses: four thousand. Camels: seven hundred. A seventy percent decrease compared to last year. The Liao Garrison issued one month's back Military Stipend Silver this month; five months remain unpaid. Each city received seventy-two thousand shi of Relay Grain and forty thousand shi of Fodder Beans. Military Supplies purchased: thirty-five thousand three hundred jin of Commercial Saltpeter. Ningyuan manufactured: one Red Barbarian cannon, seven Sweeping Invader Cannons, twelve Cannon Carts, seventy-nine Helmets and Neck Guards, nine newly made suits of armor, one hundred thirty altered suits of armor, and four hundred total weapons, shields, and various other items."

The nun's lips trembled slightly, as if she were repeating the words to memorize them.

Jiang Shou waited a moment for her, then continued, "In the eighth month, the Extracted Elite Troops from eight battalions totaled nine thousand seven hundred forty men. Hong Supreme Commander replaced seven General Officers above the rank of Company Commander. On the twenty-third of the eighth month, he executed one Battalion Commander under Supervisor-in-Chief Gao's command. In the ninth month, the Guanliao Garrison Garrison Garrison Garrison's troops will undergo another extraction of twelve thousand men. Supervisor-in-Chief Gao is at odds with Hong Supreme Commander and has submitted a memorial stating that the extraction of combat soldiers is excessive. He wishes to draw Fang Yizao into co-signing, but Fang Military Gate is unwilling to participate. Jin Guofeng's death in battle appears to have been an accident. Hong Doutang intends to use this to discipline the Liao Garrison, forbidding the Grand Coordinator, Grand Supervisor, and Military Defense Circuit from interfering in Battle Commands. He will submit a memorial impeaching the Liao Garrison for inadequate support. The memorial will be sent to the Capital in the coming days..."