Chapter 117: Military Affairs

In the seventh month, Song Wenxian took this year's newly minted copper cash to Tianjin, then went directly to the capital. This year he would be conducting activities in the capital. As soon as he arrived, he paid visits to Qian Yuanke and Wen Tiren. Wen Tiren was already Minister of Rites, and Song Wenxian could not help but admire Chen Xin to the point of prostrating himself in admiration, because they had established contact before Wen Tiren rose to prominence. Therefore, Wen Tiren remained quite courteous to him, briefly inquired about Chen Xin's recent situation, and made no other indications. Song Wenxian, of course, would not stoop so low as to directly ask him to help with a promotion or the like; these were matters of mutual tacit understanding, not suitable to be spoken aloud. Song Wenxian also once again delivered, on Chen Xin's behalf, this year's tribute of five thousand taels of silver. Although the Minister of Rites could not directly help at the moment, Wen Tiren's prospects were very promising — at the very least, entering the Grand Secretariat was highly likely. Countless people wished to make connections but had no path to do so.

Zhang Dahui had been in the capital for over a year. The funds Chen Xin provided were not small, and Zhang Dahui himself was an extremely slick and cunning person. He had already established ties with some eunuchs and certain officers of the capital garrisons, and could gather quite a bit of intelligence every month.

At Wendeng Camp, the last batch of firelocks and iron armor arrived at the end of the seventh month. Several craftsmen from the workshop built a hydraulic barrel-drilling machine, which doubled the speed — a gun barrel could be drilled in just over ten days, and one drilling machine could drive multiple drill bits. This allowed Liu Minyou to free up a large number of hands, and they also received bonuses.

After this batch of equipment arrived, the entire army was fully equipped and at full strength. The grand training continued fervently. On the drill grounds, the sound of gunfire never ceased daily; shouts of killing and cries shook the heavens. Under Li Donghua's torment, a miasma of resentment seemed to drift over Wendeng Camp. Huang Side and his men went around daily to have heart-to-heart talks with the soldiers, doing their best to channel the resentment toward the enemy. These indoctrination officers had just been established and their techniques were not yet adept, but they were still somewhat useful, giving the soldiers an outlet to vent and pour out their feelings. At the same time, through them, the soldiers began to learn that the Jianzhou bandits might come. The indoctrination team also organized several grievance-telling sessions for the Liaodong refugees, recounting the brutality of the Jianzhou bandits, and specially commended several former Dongjiang soldiers who had killed Jianzhou bandits before, in order to dispel the soldiers' fear of the Jianzhou bandits. In truth, the people from Dongjiang feared the Tatars the least; they fought the Tatars every year, winning some and losing some, and were far better off than those inland who had only heard rumors.

Chen Xin carefully reviewed the reports fed back by the indoctrination team every month. On the whole, these soldiers were still very simple and honest. The vast majority believed their current treatment and monthly pay were very good, and they carried out military orders and discipline quite well. The current training intensity was still within the limits of their endurance. After the grievance-telling sessions by the Liaodong refugees, all the soldiers deeply hated the Later Jin, especially the Liaodong refugees from Dongjiang. Now possessing excellent equipment, with no worries about food or clothing, and bearing their own blood-deep hatred, they were extremely eager to fight the Later Jin, and their training enthusiasm was the highest.

In truth, Chen Xin's current training intensity already far exceeded that of later-era armies. The marching loads were also somewhat heavier than in later times. The firearms units all wore cotton armor, which was still acceptable, but the killer units' iron armor alone weighed over thirty jin. If the combat soldiers carried their own iron armor, the daily march was limited to under fifty li. These impoverished people of ancient times did not disappoint Chen Xin. The main composition of Wendeng Camp was trackers, fishermen, and mountain folk, plus some Dongjiang soldiers. All had undergone layer upon layer of screening and rigorous training. Without carrying iron armor, they could march eighty li a day normally in plains terrain, and could even achieve over a hundred li a day in a brief forced march, while still maintaining combat capability.

Although the route to Northern Zhili lay within Great Ming territory, he had absolutely no confidence in the civil official system of various Ming regions, nor did he expect to obtain supplies from them. He could only treat it as an exterior-line operation. He had only a small baggage train; for the rest, he relied on what the soldiers carried themselves and the cooks of each unit. A portion of the baggage train had already set out, heading to shops pre-arranged by Qin Lufang. They would prepare a portion of carts, horses, and supplies. Those shops would serve as a supplement to his logistical shortcomings.

Chen Xin reviewed the order of battle once more. Over two thousand three hundred men. The main force consisted of three infantry units and one cavalry company. His own directly commanded central force had added a fifty-man central guard unit, all selected from men with some martial skill, with no restrictions on what weapons they used. They would serve as his final reserve, similar to the retainers of the Qi family army.

Chen Xin picked up the intelligence Nie Hong had sent back from Laiyang. Zhao Xuan had already infiltrated the Wenxiang Sect in Laiyang. Because he was very familiar with the sect's teachings, he had obtained the position of Vanguard Commander. According to the information he fed back, Dong Dacheng's objective was to take Laiyang first, then join with Xu Tang to take Dengzhou. But the sudden rise of Wendeng Camp now made him somewhat hesitant — whether he should strike Wendeng first.

Chen Xin gave a cold sneer. A heretical cult organization like theirs, duping some peasants and thinking they could attack Wendeng Camp. As long as Zhao Xuan infiltrated their inner circle and grasped their activity locations, the timing of their uprising would be completely under his control. When the time came, he would only need to have Nie Hong and his men go to the Laiyang county office and lodge a report, and Dong Dacheng would be forced to rise prematurely.

He had to let these people stir up trouble. That way, he would have a reason to assemble his troops, and his civilian militia could also appear openly and honorably under this pretext. At most, he would go ask the County Magistrate for a policy, simply saying it was to protect the territory and pacify the people.

Everything was ready. Chen Xin closed his eyes and silently went over the details once more in his mind. After opening his eyes, he picked up the reports from Dong Yu and Huang Side. They had gone to Liu Minyou's place and been thoroughly rebuffed. Chen Xin had also expected their visit would be useless; it was merely a preliminary probe. He felt this matter still required him to personally discuss it with Liu Minyou. He needed to bind the soldiers more tightly together. Land was undoubtedly something the Chinese people thirsted for. But Liu Minyou's words also had some reason — distributing it all to the soldiers would affect the enthusiasm of the farming households. This required a suitable degree to strike a balance.

Finally, he picked up the court's official gazette to understand the situation in Shaanxi, which concerned him most. Multiple troop mutinies had occurred in Shaanxi, again due to unpaid wages. Small bands of roving bandits were already showing signs of a spreading prairie fire. At the beginning of the year, the Viceroy of the Three Frontiers, Wu Zhiwang, committed suicide in despair. This famous gynecologist (Note 1) had also served as the Provincial Governor of Denglai, where he quarreled incessantly with Mao Wenlong. In the end, neither met a good death — both passed away within three months of each other.

Chen Xin sighed inwardly. The root cause in Shaanxi was famine, both natural and man-made disasters. None of it was something he could solve at present. He could only watch, at most understanding the situation to be somewhat prepared. Chen Xin looked up at the sky. It had rained this year too; the drought in Wendeng was not too severe. In truth, as long as the water conservancy facilities were repaired, supporting a family would be no problem. It was just that a single farming household could not accomplish this, and no one organized it.

He thought of the great calamities soon to come, one after another, and could not help but feel a tightness in his heart. Although he had long known of them, truly experiencing them firsthand was an entirely different feeling.

On the training ground of the Second Company's Killer Squad, the combat soldiers were taking a rest. Zhou Shao'er sat on the ground, constantly wiping sweat. Guandi Miao fished a flatbread out of his bosom, broke off a piece for Zhou Shao'er, and handed another piece to Zhong Laosi. The three of them were a small clique. After Zhou Shao'er devoured his share in a flash, he asked Guandi Miao, "Where did you get this?"

"I stole it from the mess hall yesterday when I was getting my meal."

Zhong Laosi wiped his mouth and cursed, "You dog, can't you just spend your own money to buy some? Don't drag me and Zhou Shao'er into trouble."

Guandi Miao rubbed his head and chuckled foolishly. Zhou Shao'er wiped another handful of sweat from his forehead and cursed, "That bastard Li Donghua, making us wear cotton armor in this sweltering heat. My body's produced several jin of sweat."

Zhong Laosi pursed his lips and said, "Some people don't find it tiring. Look."...

Zhou Shao'er and Guandi Miao turned their heads to look. Chen Ying of their squad was wearing iron armor and practicing the standard defensive movements of the long spear. His hands were curled, one low in front and one high behind, and he still carried a foot bow and arrow quiver on his back. Their entire squad had only this one Dongjiang soldier, and only he knew how to shoot a bow. Ever since the indoctrination officer came last time and said they might have to fight the Jianzhou bandits, this Chen Ying had been acting as if injected with chicken blood.

Guandi Miao said in a low voice, "I heard the Squad Commander say this Chen Ying was originally a Squad Commander."

Zhong Laosi curled his lip and said, "In Dongjiang, Mobile Corps Commanders and Assistant Regional Commanders number in the thousands, all empty titles with no pay. What's a Squad Commander worth? He's still just serving as a combat soldier."

Zhou Shao'er advised, "You're a Squad Commander after all, can you cut down on the snide remarks? These are all your subordinates; it's not good if they hear."

Zhong Laosi snorted and said, "What's not good? I'm just like this. But I have to say, these Dongjiang soldiers are truly good soldiers."

Guandi Miao grinned foolishly, "They still just have two hands and two feet."

Zhong Laosi slapped him on the head. "Better than a butcher like you. You've practiced the long spear too — do you have even ten percent of his skill?"

Guandi Miao fell silent, grinning foolishly at Zhong Laosi. Zhong Laosi added, "Just a bit dead in the head, thinking all day about killing Tatars. I don't believe those Tatars will really come to Wendeng."

Zhou Shao'er said, "If they really come, I'll just follow Lord Chen's orders. If the Dongjiang men can kill them, I can kill them too."

Zhong Laosi suddenly asked, "Has anyone from Wendeng come to propose a match for you?"

Guandi Miao answered, "No."

"I wasn't asking you, I was asking Zhou Shao'er. Which family's daughter could take a fancy to a butcher like you?"

Zhou Shao'er shook his head and said, "I don't have one either. I heard that after we retire, we'll be allocated land. I want to wait until I get the land. All my silver is deposited at the quartermaster office; if I carry it on me, I'll just want to spend it." After speaking, he looked at Zhong Laosi. "Squad Commander, didn't someone come to propose a match for you?"

Zhong Laosi chuckled proudly, "Of course. My monthly pay is two taels now, more sought-after than you. The indoctrination officer said there'll be a matchmaking meeting next time, and older ones like me get priority."

Just as Zhou Shao'er was feeling indignant, a sudden bellow erupted nearby: "All hands, attention!!"

The three of them sprang up instantly like machines. Li Donghua strode over with two soldiers and shouted, "Lord Chen is personally inspecting military affairs today. All hands, fall in."

Zhou Shao'er greatly admired Chen Xin and often told the new recruits the story of how Chen Xin helped him carry the iron pot. The indoctrination team was even preparing to have him do a roving lecture to the other squads, which he was very willing to do. He normally never saw Chen Xin. Hearing that Lord Chen was coming, he hurriedly ordered his file to line up. The entire squad quickly formed four ranks.

A short while later, Chen Xin walked over from the First Company. At a glance, he spotted Zhong Laosi and Zhou Shao'er in the first rank. He had a deep impression of both. He came over and stood in front of Zhou Shao'er.

Zhou Shao'er excitedly rendered a military salute. Chen Xin returned one, then flipped open the waist tag on his belt. It read: "Wendeng Camp, Second Killer Squad, under Squad Commander Huang Yuan, under Squad Commander Zhong Caisheng, Soldier Zhou Shao'er, Wanli 40th year, age 19, height 5 chi 2 cun, dark face, no beard..." Chen Xin skipped the middle section and looked at the space between the characters "Xi" and "Yi," where three characters read "File Sword-Shield." He smiled and said, "Good man, Zhou Shao'er, already a File Leader. Keep up the effort."

Zhou Shao'er puffed out his chest and answered excitedly, "Yes, my lord."

Chen Xin then went before Zhong Laosi and examined his waist tag. On Zhong Laosi's tag, between "Xi" and "Yi" were the two characters for "Squad Commander." He also offered some words of encouragement.

"Squad Commander Zhong, recite the roster of your squad once."

Zhong Laosi, eyes fixed straight ahead, loudly recited it. Hai Gouzi handed over the roster. Chen Xin compared it — not a single omission or error. He nodded approvingly and picked a new recruit from this year on the roster.

"Chen Ying, step forward."

"Here!" came the answer in a Liaodong accent. The man who stepped out was a tall long-spear soldier. Chen Xin visually estimated him to be close to 1.8 meters. Shandong people in the Ming dynasty were considered tall, averaging about 1.7 meters; Liaodong was roughly the same. Chen Ying was of the tall and sturdy type....

"Military code spot-check. Inspecting officer: Wendeng Camp Picket Officer Chen Xin. Long-spear soldier Chen Ying, first recite the Gold and Drum Song."

"When the gong sounds, mountains of gold and seas of silver cannot make one pursue; when the drum sounds, mountains of blades and seas of fire cannot make one retreat."

Chen Xin stared at him. "When pursuing the enemy, what does three gong strikes mean?"

"Form small squads and withdraw!"

"During a retreat, what does two gong strikes mean?"

"Halt the retreat, turn around and face the enemy."

"What does another three gong strikes mean?"

"Again form small squads and withdraw."

"When should the Killer Squad respond to the flag?"

"Only when the Company Commander's flag of this company moves may we respond to the flag."

Chen Xin continued to ask, "What is the punishment for shrinking back before the battle line?"

"If one soldier retreats, behead that soldier. If the entire squad retreats, behead only the Squad Commander. If the Squad Commander does not retreat and dies in battle, behead the entire squad."

"What if the Squad Commander retreats?"

"If one Squad Commander retreats, behead that Squad Commander. If all squad leaders retreat, behead the Company Commander. If the Company Commander does not retreat and dies in battle, behead all squad leaders."

"What does 'retreating before battle doesn't pay' mean?"

"Once you flee from the line, the battle formation is gone. He came on horseback — how could I outrun him? Even if I escaped, I'd hardly escape the military law's blade when I returned. Better to fight him to the death, take his head and claim the reward, and get his armor and horse too. At worst it's just death — isn't that better than retreating?"

Everything he answered was organized military regulations, with some didactic material as well, all written in plain speech just like the *Jixiao Xinshu*, and all analyzed from the soldier's perspective to help soldiers understand. Seeing how fluently he recited it, Chen Xin encouraged him: "Very good. You're from Liaodong?"

"Yes, my lord. This subordinate was formerly a Squad Commander in the Right Brigade of Dongjiang Garrison."

"Have you ever cut down a Tatar?"

"I've killed them. This humble one went to Sarhu City and personally slew two true barbarians."

The people accompanying the inspection all looked at Chen Ying in surprise. Zhou Shao'er and Zhong Laosi were also hearing for the first time that he had killed Tatars. This Chen Ying was usually so taciturn — you really couldn't tell.

Chen Xin smiled as he looked at him. "Are the Tatars fearsome?"

Chen Ying raised his head and puffed out his chest, standing in standard military posture, and answered: "This humble one is not afraid. This humble one's entire family died at the Tatars' hands. I've long considered this life already forfeit."

"May I ask how they died?"

Chen Ying said loudly: "This subordinate was a civilian household of Fenghuang City. My family had eight members. My elderly parents were too old to flee, so we endured humiliation and clung to life among the Tatars. In the sixth year of Tianqi, when the old chieftain slaughtered those without grain, my humble family could only scrape together seven dou of grain. The company captain ordered..." Chen Ying's voice began to choke. Everyone listened in silence.

"... ordered our family to choose one person — that person could live... My parents, my subordinate's wife and children, two brothers, one sister-in-law — they themselves... themselves went to the Boshoku's house to receive the blade... wu... My whole family left only me. If I still didn't kill Tatars, would I even count as human..."

After he finished, Chen Ying crouched down and wept aloud, tears and mucus streaming down his face. Everyone stared blankly as this stout man cried like a small child — watching his own family walk to their deaths, all because they couldn't hand over enough grain. What kind of human tragedy was this? Zhou Shao'er thought of his own family, and his eyes grew moist. He cherished his current life — it had dignity and hope. If the Tatars came to take all this away, he would rather die fighting.

Chen Xin bent down, patted his shoulder, and said softly: "You're a good man. You cut down two Tatars, but the Tatars still owe your family five lives. Train well, and I will take you to settle this blood-deep vengeance. For now, stay in formation. Please rise and stand properly."

Chen Ying sprang to his feet, his eyes blood-red. "I've sold this life to you, my lord. As long as you take me to kill Tatars, I'll serve as your soldier even without monthly pay."

Chen Xin nodded and said loudly to the surrounding combat troops: "Remember this: if one day the Jianzhou Bandits break through the passes, the families of every one of you will end up just like Chen Ying's — not only enslaved, but killed at any moment. If you don't want such horrors to befall your own, then don't be so damn afraid of death. Kill those Jianzhou Bandits — who then can enslave you? Remember one rule: on the battlefield, the ones who die most are the cowards!"

Huang Side cleverly shouted: "Swear to follow the lord and kill Jianzhou Bandits unto death!"

The entire banner unit roared in unison: "Kill the Jianzhou Bandits!!" "Kill the Jianzhou Bandits!!"

Watching the stirred crowd, Chen Xin said quietly to Huang Side: "This Chen Ying's ordeal is deeply tragic, and he's killed Jianzhou Bandits before. Have him go speak a few more times."

Huang Side assented: "Yes, my lord. This humble one knows how to proceed."

Chen Xin nodded. "Do it well. The test is coming."

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Note 1: Wu Zhiwang was unreliable as an official, but quite accomplished as a physician. He authored *The Compendium of Aiding Women* and *The Compendium of Aiding Men*, and in the field of traditional Chinese gynecology, he was a true expert.

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