Chapter 109: Deserter

In the second month, Chen Xin again visited the two guard battalions of Chengshan and Jinghai, building connections. Since he was from Weihaiwei, and the three guard battalions of Wendeng were originally quite close, relationships were easy to establish. Assistant Regional Commander Zhang of Chengshan Guard had even joined him in suppressing bandits, so they were already well acquainted.

Both Chengshan and Jinghai had many fine harbors that would always prove useful in the future. Additionally, Chen Xin wanted to probe the local bandits in those areas to see if they had any ties to the guards. Many government troops had connections with bandits, helping them sell stolen goods or providing information, which brought certain benefits. So Chen Xin needed to ask clearly, lest he wipe them all out and offend people for no reason.

Only at the start of the third month did he return to Wendeng Camp. Outside the camp, the scene had transformed completely, covered with all kinds of shacks. Groups of farming households, led by their tithing chiefs, were digging irrigation channels and sinking wells. There were still no schools here; the first batch of teachers trained by Liu Minyou had not yet graduated. Children played noisily in the shack area. Liu Minyou was not here, but Chen Xin did not let the older ones off — he had Xu Yuanhua organize them to work as well.

Of the twenty thousand mu of land they had claimed, three thousand mu were hastily sown last year, and the remainder had been given an initial plowing over the winter. Spring wheat could be sown right away in the third month. According to Wen Xianming's plan, they would still use wheat-soybean intercropping.

After the start of spring, more refugees arrived at Wendeng Camp in a steady stream. The number of selected local militia reached over five hundred, and they practiced formations and various weapons. The combined-action guns could now produce seventy per month; the replaced arquebuses were all given to the militia for use. Zhu Daichun's training unit no longer had new recruits. Veteran training was conducted by each company on its own — they only submitted training plans, while Zhu's unit was responsible for inspection and oversight.

Chen Xin attached great importance to the militia as a hidden army. Upon returning to Wendeng Camp, he first inspected the combat troops, then, based on intelligence from Zhu Guobin, arranged the bandit-suppression plan for the third month. A few days later, he summoned Xu Yuanhua, Zhu Daichun, and Dong Yu to discuss the militia.

"My lord, of the five hundred-plus selected militia, only one hundred eighty are suited to be killers; the rest can only serve as firearms troops." Zhu Daichun handed over a sheet of paper with some crookedly written statistics.

Chen Xin took it and glanced at it. Behind firearms drill, it listed three hundred eighty men; the various cold-weapon categories totaled over one hundred eighty. These were his reserve soldiers, training once every three days — still more practice than ordinary Ming troops got. At a critical moment, they could be pulled up to the line and used directly. Adding a few hundred more bought from Dongjiang, the total would roughly reach two thousand. Together with a hundred cavalry and a small baggage train, that would be his maximum force for dealing with the Later Jin this year, with nearly a thousand being militia.

The annual military expenses for two thousand infantry were sixty to seventy thousand taels. If the sea trade returned early, supporting even more would be no problem, but if the numbers grew too large, taking them out on campaign might invite impeachment. Moreover, he still needed to keep funds to develop new commercial networks, produce and sell new products, and add new revenue streams to make his finances more stable.

After thinking it through, he said to Dong Yu, "Raise these men's monthly pay to five qian. Train once every two days. Xu Yuanhua, make some concessions on your side and arrange as little farm work for them as possible."

Xu Yuanhua had long been dissatisfied with these men being frequently reassigned and had argued with Zhu Daichun many times. During non-training periods, he assigned them so much work that they had no strength left for training. But once Chen Xin gave the order, he had no choice but to agree.

Zhu Daichun glanced somewhat smugly at Xu Yuanhua and asked Chen Xin, "My lord, should all three hundred eighty of them train with firearms?"

Chen Xin said, "All of them will train with firearms. Take the one hundred eighty who are weaker and pair them with those hundred-plus killers to form reserve companies. The better ones will fill out the combat troop units. Have the detached squads using the banjiu guns been drawn out yet?" All of Chen Xin's combat firearms units no longer used the banjiu gun. Those in the original combat troops who had used banjiu guns were all drawn out, and additional men were selected from the second batch of recruits and the militia — all to use banjiu guns, totaling two hundred men. They were formed into two separate companies, fifty men per banner squad, with one squad leader for every ten men.

Zhu Daichun asked, "My lord, they have all been drawn out, but to fill the full two hundred, we still lack enough banjiu guns."

Chen Xin asked Dong Yu, "Dong Yu, how many banjiu guns do we have in total right now?"

Dong Yu hurriedly flipped open his ledger, looked for a moment, and said, "Including those in the storehouse, only one hundred fifty."

Chen Xin calculated briefly and ordered, "Place an additional order for one hundred with the workshop and issue them all to these two companies." Turning back to Zhu Daichun, he said, "For those still lacking, use the original arquebuses for practice for now."

"Yes, my lord. Should their banner and drum signals be the same as the firearms units?"

"Use the same style for the banners. I'll think more on the drum signals." Chen Xin had not yet decided. He intended these two pure firearms companies to serve as detached units, concentrated for use at a specific point on the battle line. The company commander would have greater autonomy in directing them, so it was best not to use the same signals as the firearms units. At present, following Qi's army's drum signals, there were six or seven types in total. Chen Xin himself had been studying them all along but found them quite a headache. When fighting bandits on a small scale, there was little time to use drum signals, but once large-scale combat occurred, they would certainly be needed. Yet learning this system was something even he found somewhat taxing, let alone those peasants who had previously done nothing but farm. Overly complex banner and drum signals were also an obstacle to the army's assembly-line training.

For now, it would have to do. Chen Xin shook his head. "Their evaluations will still be based on firing speed and standard movements. Anyone who reaches the evaluation standard of the firearms units will receive a monthly pay of one tael."

Zhu Daichun then handed over a combat troop training plan. Chen Xin took it and began reading while Zhu Daichun explained at his side, "This is next month's training plan submitted by each unit's commanding officer, as you requested, my lord. A dagger drill has been added."

The dagger was new equipment Chen Xin had issued to all combat troops, one per man. It had many uses. The dagger's lethality far exceeded that of a slashing blade — it took effect quickly and had excellent stopping power. Adding a dagger that did not get in the way as a close-combat weapon was very necessary. The firearms troops had also been issued waist sabers, and a waist saber drill had been added.

Chen Xin was not very clear on the training regulations now. His duties were so numerous that he was no longer as specialized as Zhu Daichun. He skimmed through it hastily, handed it back to Zhu Daichun, and offered a few words of encouragement.

Next, Dong Yu presented the month's payroll sheet. Chen Xin again glanced over it quickly and signed his name. Now that he had quartermasters, Chen Xin's own workload had lightened somewhat. Monthly pay distribution and equipment ordering were all handled by the several quartermasters.

Xu Yuanhua was just about to report on the progress of the military farms when there were several knocks at the door. Nie Hong entered and whispered in Chen Xin's ear, "My lord, Mr. Liu has sent word. Weihai has captured several men from Dongjiang Town who drifted across the sea. Also, Mr. Song and the others have returned. Mashan is about to set sail. Mr. Liu says you had best go there."

Chen Xin was not very concerned about the military farms. He hastily asked Xu Yuanhua a few questions, then dismissed them. Only then did he ask Nie Hong, "They could drift across the sea from that far?"

"The ice just thawed. They stole a boat and came out."

"Which island?"

"Dachangshan Island. I know no more than that."

Chen Xin very much wanted to stay in the military camp and train properly with the army. This army was his capital, and he could not hand over its command and management to anyone else. A great battle was coming again this year, and he himself had to learn as well. He even wanted to seriously practice his blade techniques and physical fitness — on the battlefield, it might save his life. Li Guozhu had given him a fine Japanese sword last year, and he had yet to take it out to practice.

But matters in Dongjiang were also very important, and Song Wenxian and the others were leaving — he ought to see them off. Left with no choice, he set off again for Mazidun. His riding had improved; with several guardsmen, each man having two horses, they reached the fortified outpost that very evening.

At Mazidun, he met Liu Minyou and Song Wenxian, who had hurried over upon hearing the news. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he asked about the men from Dongjiang. Ba Zi was also there. The harbor's defense was the naval squadron's responsibility, but he had recently been short-handed and had borrowed a killer squad to stand guard at the port and incidentally watch over these Dongjiang men. Hearing Chen Xin's inquiry, he led Chen Xin and the others to a barracks building in the naval squadron's area.

Inside were about a dozen gaunt, emaciated people huddled together, staring numbly at Chen Xin and the others entering through the doorway. There were men and women, old and young, all wearing the mandarin-duck padded coats of Chen Xin's army, so outwardly they looked somewhat better than ordinary refugees.

Ba Zi said at his side, "My lord, when they first arrived, their clothing was in disarray, and many had no trousers. I borrowed military supplies from Mr. Liu."

Chen Xin paid no mind to such trifles. He nodded and asked him, "Who among them is the leader? Bring him to the office to see me."

Ba Zi acknowledged the order. Chen Xin took Song Wenxian and Liu Minyou to the office first, with Nie Hong and another personal guard standing behind them. A moment later, Ba Zi brought in a middle-aged man. The man had an honest, simple face, with thick joints on his hands and feet — clearly someone who had done hard labor for a long time. Yet there was a coldness in the way he looked around, creating an odd temperament.

After scrutinizing him carefully, Chen Xin asked, "Since you are a man of Dongjiang, why did you flee?"

The man's eyes were indifferent as he replied, "My lord, I no longer count as a person. On the island, they have begun eating people. I have eaten too. If not for these fellow villagers, I would have lost the will to live long ago."

When Liu Minyou heard the words "eating people," he shifted slightly, placing his hands on his legs, then a moment later on the table. He had heard people say that cannibalism was no longer rare in Shaanxi and Henan, but with a living, breathing example placed before him, he still felt deeply sickened.

Song Wenxian listened with a faint smile and asked, "Wasn't the ice not yet thawed for you? How else could others deliver grain? Presumably, after some time, supplies would have arrived. Why did you have to flee?"

Chen Xin knew he was fishing for information and listened quietly. Sure enough, the man continued, "My lord, our Changshan Island is not Pi Island. The thaw comes earlier there — ships can dock as early as the second month. In past years, after the second month, military grain would arrive from Dengzhou, and merchants from Dengzhou would also come to sell grain. This year, neither came. By the first month, the island had already run out of food. In winter, we could not catch many fish, so we just had to endure bitterly. On the island, it's not like back on the mainland, where during a famine you can still go out and beg. By the end of the month, many had starved to death, and the others began eating those who had starved. Now it is already the third month, and there are not enough starved dead to eat, so they eat the women."

Song Wenxian knew all this perfectly well. Not only had the military grain from Dengzhou been stopped, but even private merchants were forbidden from going to Dongjiang, patrolled by the naval squadron. Naturally, no ships would go there.

Chen Xin remained impassive. If Changshan was like this, then the other islands of Dongjiang Town must be the same. He continued amiably, "Then where did you find a boat to put to sea? Do you know that you are already a deserter?"

The man's voice still carried no emotion whatsoever. "My lord, I was originally a fisherman. There were some fishing boats on the island. I did not want those fellow villagers from years past to be eaten, so at night I led them to steal a boat and put to sea. I am a deserter — kill me or cut me to pieces, as you will. Those villagers are not soldiers. That they have lived to reach this place is already great fortune. I only beg you, my lord, to grant them a path to live."

As he spoke, he knelt and looked at Chen Xin. Chen Xin had no intention of killing him, but this man was, after all, a deserter. Although he had a very good reason, Chen Xin still worried that the man might be a crafty old soldier.

Still, soldiers from Dongjiang all had their flaws to some degree. He now had over a thousand men and had already formed a unique system. Everyone was under separate functional management, and there was none of that retainer system stuff. When selecting soldiers, he chose the more honest and simple ones — assimilating their flaws would be no problem.

"Have you fought the Tatars?"

"I have. I went ashore seven or eight times a year. I even followed Marshal Mao to Shenyang. The year before last, at Zhenjiang, I also killed one Tatar."

"Oh." Chen Xin was equally nonchalant, but he had already taken some interest in this man. Having someone who had killed Tatars organize a few personal-account reports in the army could greatly reduce the soldiers' fear.

"What weapons are you skilled with?"

"I use whatever is available. I like the long spear and the sledgehammer best. I can also shoot a bow."

Since he was the first, he might as well serve as an example to set. Chen Xin probed first, saying amiably, "If I let you go, what do you plan to do?"

A look of bewilderment rose in the man's eyes. He had originally fished at home, then later fled to Dongjiang to become a soldier. If truly set free, he really would not know what to do.

After thinking for a long while, he finally said, "Go begging."

Chen Xin shook his head and laughed. "Honest, at least. Then would you be willing to do farm work at my fortified outpost?"

The man's blank gaze shifted to the guardsman standing ramrod-straight behind Chen Xin. The guardsman wore a red training uniform and looked exceptionally sharp. A sudden glint appeared in the man's eyes. He kowtowed and said, "I do not wish to do farm work. My hatred for the Jianzhou bandits is deeper than the sea. I live only to kill Jianzhou bandits. As long as you want to kill Tatars, my lord, I wish to be a soldier for you."

"Why?"

"I do not know why. These past few days, I have seen your soldiers, my lord. They are exactly what I want to be."

Chen Xin studied his features — at least in his thirties. He turned and asked the guardsman beside Nie Hong, "Liu Pojun, you were formerly a squad leader. What kind of soldier would someone like him be suited for?"

Liu Pojun was a Liaodong laborer bought in Dengzhou. He had loved practicing martial arts since childhood and had also learned some characters. Likewise unable to pay the silver, he had been seized by Yang Guodong as a laborer. Chen Xin's men had selected him when buying and selling people. During the bandit suppression, he had already been promoted to squad leader. After being wounded upon reaching Wendeng Camp and recovering, because he was literate and had combat experience, Chen Xin kept him at his side, intending to train him into a staff-officer type.

Because they were all Liaodong refugees, hearing the familiar accent gave him a strong sense of closeness to this simple, honest middle-aged man. After thinking it over carefully, he said to Chen Xin, "My lord, he can serve as a long-spearman. Instructor Zhu once said that the *Jixiao Xinshu* states long-spearmen should be around thirty years old, strong, and courageous."

Liu Minyou looked at the man's somewhat thin and frail appearance on the ground and said with some doubt, "He is already so thin and weak — how can he be considered strong?"

The Dongjiang soldier quietly explained, "This humble one grew thin from having nothing to eat. This humble one was originally a stout fellow. Those who were truly thin and weak have already starved to death, or else were eaten."

Chen Xin pretended to hesitate slightly. Song Wenxian chuckled and said, "Since he has killed Tatars, even if he is somewhat thin and weak, that killing aura can make up for it. Look at his large hands and feet — his foundation should be very good. If he follows the combat troops and eats meat every day, in two months at most he will be a stout fellow again."

The man gave Song Wenxian a grateful look. Chen Xin finally nodded — even if only as a model project for Dongjiang, he had to keep this man. "Very well, then you will return with me to the Wendeng camp and train with the village braves. If you can pass the assessment, I will let you become one of my combat soldiers, and I guarantee you will have Tatars to kill. What is your name?"

For the first time, emotion crept into the man's voice. Trembling slightly, he said, "This humble one is called Li Yonghua. The neighbors all call me Li Laosan."