Chapter 119: Feint

In the center of the Wendeng Battalion war room stood a crude sand table, made from a Nine-Border map that Zhang Dahui had obtained by bribing a Ministry of War clerk in the capital. The Wendeng Battalion's analysis meeting was underway here.

A circle of officers stood around the sand table, wearing soft military caps with brims — flat-topped in style, the brims edged with rattan strips and stitched with oilcloth. Ming soldiers all kept their hair long, coiled on top of the head and sticking up a section, so the crown of each cap bulged somewhat. Chen Xin had not made them cut it short, because hair in this era touched on ideology, and it was also one of the public-opinion weapons he planned to use later to attack the Jianzhou bandits.

Liu Pojun pointed at the Liaoxi position on the sand table and said, "Here is this month's intelligence. In the ninth month, several thousand Jianzhou bandits attacked Jinzhou and Ningyuan. The Later Jin Eight Banners known to have taken the field are the Plain White Banner, Plain Blue Banner, and Bordered Red Banner, whose Banner Lords are Ajige, Manggūltai, and Yoto respectively. There were also some Mongol left and right wings, plus tribal forces such as the Kalaqin's Subudi and others. After passing Jinzhou they moved in the direction of Kalaqin. For a time there were rumors the Jianzhou bandits would attack Jizhen. The Guanning Army dispatched Vice General Xie Shangzheng with several thousand Guanning troops to rush to Zunhua's aid, but because the border wall showed no alarm, they were sent back by Provincial Governor Wang Yuanya. It was later confirmed that the Jianzhou bandit incursion was indeed a false alarm."

Throughout the year, Huang Taiji had been exchanging letters and negotiating with Lord Yuan on one hand while actively preparing on the other. Starting in the ninth month, the situation abruptly changed. He declared that the Great Ming had no sincerity for peace talks and sent several thousand troops to strike Jinzhou and Ningyuan, seizing the autumn wheat from the fields. Tens of thousands of Guanning troops played turtle as usual. Later Jin did not attack the cities either, simply plundering in the open countryside.

Chen Xin calmly watched the position of Jinzhou. Late last year Yuan Chonghuan had rebuilt this fortress and proclaimed the recovery of two hundred li of territory, giving no thought whatsoever to the lesson of the Ning-Jin campaign, when "a single corner of Jinzhou nearly shook half the realm." In his memorial to Chongzhen evaluating the defense line he himself had established, he wrote: "Strict in garrison, offense and defense sustain each other, the unorthodox and orthodox give rise to one another, taking form from the celestial bodies of heaven and earth, taking number from the River Diagram and Luo Script, just as form and number proceed from the One to generate odd and even..." He brought out the River Diagram and Luo Script — it had quite a whiff of the Eight Trigrams Formation. But judging from the present situation, he may have applied it to the wrong target. The Jianzhou bandits understood not a shred of the Eight Trigrams. They came over without even needing to fight, and the two hundred li that had been recovered were gone. Probably only that bit of ground inside the walls of Jinzhou had been recovered.

After Liu Pojun finished outlining the general situation, the officers in the room, from Squad Commander up, all turned to look at Chen Xin. They all suspected the Jianzhou bandits might not go to Jizhen after all. Chen Xin himself was also slightly uneasy, wondering whether his own butterfly effect had influenced Later Jin. He silently thought it over — it probably did not have that great an effect. His Wendeng Battalion was merely stirring things up in Wendeng County; how could it influence Later Jin?

Could Later Jin really not be coming? Though Chen Xin was also doubtful in his heart, his expression was composed as he looked at the sand table and said, "You all think the Jianzhou bandits are not coming?"

Dai Zhenggang, Lu Chuanzong, and the others exchanged glances and nodded.

"This is precisely the Jianzhou bandits' objective." Chen Xin asked Zhu Guobin, "What does Guobin think?"

Zhu Guobin said coolly, "This subordinate believes the Jianzhou bandits' attack on Ningyuan and Jinzhou has two purposes. First, to confuse the many officials of our Great Ming. According to the old chieftain's consistent practice, the Jianzhou bandits should have spies in both Guanning and Jizhen. With Later Jin sending troops this time, these spies will observe the reaction of our Great Ming's forces and report back to the Jianzhou chieftain for reference. Second, to test the reaction of the Guanning Army and the Dongjiang Garrison. Dongjiang is now a sheet of loose sand. If the Guanning Army still dares not come out to fight, he can break through the pass with confidence."

Liu Pojun also said, "This subordinate feels there is another reason for the Jianzhou bandits to send troops this time: to see whether tribes like Subudi have truly committed to submitting to Later Jin. This subordinate has reviewed some materials sent back from the capital. Kalaqin is caught between the Great Ming and Later Jin and has always been a fence-sitter, fearing Later Jin but also fearing our Great Ming to some degree. This time, after joining in the plunder, they have no way back."...

Chen Xin smiled approvingly and said, "Very insightful. Do you still believe the Jianzhou bandits will come?"

Zhu Guobin nodded firmly and said, "This subordinate believes there is an eighty percent chance they will come. News brought by people from Dongjiang says Liaodong has suffered another severe drought this year, and grain prices have soared. In past years, right after harvesting the autumn wheat and paying the banner taxes, they had little left. Some people had to use silver to exchange for grain to store away early. If they do not come out to plunder, how will they survive until next year?"

Chen Xin greatly valued Zhu Guobin's recent performance. In several situation analyses, his vision had been broader than the others', and his thinking more meticulous than someone like Dai Zhenggang's. He thought it over carefully — Later Jin's troop movement this time was a feint to the east while striking west. As a transmigrator, he knew Later Jin would come, but people living in this moment were often misled by the situation before their eyes and thought Later Jin had merely come to Liaoxi to plunder once this year. Zhu Guobin's firmness thus showed that he perceived the situation more clearly.

The surrounding officers buzzed with low discussion upon hearing this — sand table meetings were not strict and allowed quiet conversation. Chen Xin saw Wang Zhangfu keeping his head down in silence and called on him: "Wang Zhangfu, speak."

Wang Zhangfu was now also a Company Commander of one unit. Over two years his temperament had grown much calmer. The daily tempering of military camp life had made his spirit and bearing entirely different from that former head of the trackers.

"My lord, I think that if the Jianzhou bandits break through at Lengkou and Xifengkou, as Company Commander Zhu said last time, they will certainly be near the Luan River or a tributary of the Luan. They will follow the Luan River valley into the border wall. Besides the two banks of the river valley, the Luan freezes in winter, which can support baggage and horses, saving them far more effort than crossing the mountains."

Chen Xin pointed at the sand table and said, "Point as you speak."

Wang Zhangfu picked up a bamboo stick and pointed west of Xifengkou: "Besides the Luan, there is also the Che River, a tributary of the Luan, which serves the same function. Longjing Pass is the key border pass controlling the Che River valley passage, so Longjing Pass is also a possibility."

Chen Xin clapped his hands and praised, "Very good indeed. I can see Company Commander Wang has studied this many times."

"Thank you for your undue praise, my lord. It is all because you had your subordinate learn to read, helped by the several training officers in the unit. I have finally managed to read some military texts. Your subordinate was originally a boat tracker, so I place more weight on rivers. After you mentioned last time that the Jianzhou bandits might break through the pass, your subordinate has often come here to study."

Chen Xin nodded and said, "Exactly — study more and examine more. If you do not understand the terrain of mountains and rivers, it becomes an obstacle; if you do understand it, it becomes an aid. Think often in peacetime, and when you reach the battlefield you will have a plan in mind. Company Commander Wang has done well."

Dai Zhenggang and Lu Chuanzong, standing nearby, both felt a bit embarrassed when they heard this. The two of them usually focused tightly on training, but they had studied very little of these matters. Both edged slightly backward, lest Chen Xin notice them and call their names.

Fortunately, Chen Xin did not continue calling on people. Instead, he picked up the bamboo stick himself and pointed at Shenyang: "Synthesizing everyone's previous opinions, I believe that if the Jianzhou chieftain dispatches troops, it will roughly be in the first or second ten days of the tenth month. That way, by the time they reach the border wall, the river surfaces will already be frozen, making their movements even more convenient. As for the line of advance, to ensure the news does not leak too early, they will not take their most commonly used route from Huangniwa to Xiping and then to Guangning. Instead, they may go from the Liao River bend into the area near the Khorchin Mongols."

His bamboo stick started from Shenyang, crossed the Liao River, and reached the Khorchin area to the northwest. "Then they will turn south into Kalaqin Mongol territory, absorbing the forces of various submitted Mongol tribes along the way, such as the Naiman, Aohan, and the like. Although this means traveling much farther, it provides greater surprise. Their feint in the ninth month may have yet another purpose: to draw the forces of the Ji and Liao garrisons to the Ning-Jin line, leaving the Ji Garrison depleted and creating convenience for their breakthrough. When they reach Subudi's territory beyond the Ji Garrison passes, they may break through the border wall near Xifengkou or Lengkou and converge at Santunying or Zunhua. If they are bold, they may break through the border wall from Gubeikou along the Chao River valley, or from near Qiangziling along the Ru River valley, and converge at Miyun and Huairou, which would allow them to advance on the capital even faster."...

Dai Zhenggang and the others all looked at Chen Xin with admiration. Hearing him put it this way, they instead felt the likelihood of the Jianzhou bandits coming was even greater. In truth, Chen Xin had already roughly known it would be near Zunhua; he was merely using this method to stimulate the officers' thinking.

Chen Xin pointed at the cloth strip representing the Luan River and continued, "Take Xifengkou as an example. If the Jianzhou bandits number in the tens of thousands, to speed up the incursion they may split into several routes. The main route, besides the Luan River valley, also includes the Che River, a tributary of the Luan near Xifengkou. The Che River enters the pass via Longjing Pass, passes Han'erzhuang, and can follow the Che straight to the vicinity of Santunying, where they will rendezvous with the Jianzhou bandits who entered along the Luan."

Zhu Daichun finally found an opportunity to speak. "My lord, Zunhua and Miyun are both key border garrisons — they are not so easily breached. The Jianzhou bandits come from afar and certainly cannot carry engineering equipment. If they cannot break through these cities for a time, our Great Ming's great armies will mass, and they will have no choice but to turn back. Moreover, between Santunying at Zunhua and the capital, there are still Jizhou, Sanhe, and Tongzhou — all strong cities."

Zhou Shifa was also attending the meeting. He said upon hearing this, "Even the strongest city requires resolute soldiers to defend it. The Ji Garrison has not seen battle for a long time. During the last Ning-Jin campaign, I also saw the Ji Garrison's troops — they do not compare to the Guanning troops. Last year there was also the pay riot, and at year's end more troops were dismissed. With military morale unsettled, how long they can hold is truly hard to say." He simply shook his head after speaking.

Huang Side agreed, "The Chief Military Judge speaks reason. In the Nine Border Garrisons, pay is often embezzled, and soldiers often receive only a pittance. How can that compare to Lord Chen, who pays in full? Everyone should bear in mind Lord Chen's benevolence."

At his words, all the officers rushed to echo him. Lu Chuanzong, who had been unable to think of anything to say all along, hurriedly came up and offered a round of flattery. Chen Xin waved his hand and said, "Soldiers serve and eat — that is only right. But when we fight the Tatars, there is also the great righteousness of the realm. Just look at what the old chieftain has done in Liaodong — no different from wild beasts. We men of the Han, descendants of the Flame and Yellow Emperors, how can we tolerate Tatar slaves capering about?"

Liu Pojun was the only one among the later-arriving Liao refugees to attend the meeting. He said with emotion, "That Chen Ying put it well — as long as it's following you, my lord, to fight the Jianzhou bandits, this humble one would go even without monthly pay."

Zhu Guobin sighed and said, "If all the officers of the Great Ming were like you, my lord, why would we need to travel a thousand li to fight the Jianzhou bandits?" His face then showed an expression of hatred: "The Jianzhou bandits have done every evil deed. If they dare come, we will certainly make them pay blood with blood."

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On the twenty-ninth day of the ninth month, at the village entrance of the Plain Blue Banner's fortified settlement, there was singing and dancing everywhere. Crowds seeing off the troops filled the scene. The soldiers setting out on campaign were about to depart to muster at Shenyang. Their families, cherishing fine hopes for the spoils of plunder, encouraged them one after another. Some who had not been chosen stood to the side watching with a touch of envy. In nearly every war against the Ming, Later Jin's losses had been small but the gains many. This was practically a vital source of income for their livelihood — not only things to plunder but also military merit. So they all eagerly looked forward to such opportunities.

Listening to the clamor outside, Taketan rose from his stool and wrapped his clothes tightly around his body. He wore only a smooth saber at his side. His mail armor and provisions were packed in the saddlebags on his horse. He also hung two arrow cases and two bow cases on the horse's back, then placed a large blade into the weapon sheath.

With these preparations done, he pulled open the wicker gate, ready to set out. Their niru was sending twenty men, with over thirty more following on their own. These men could not share in what the banner seized, but they could do some plundering themselves. Most were armored soldiers. Taketan was one of the few yuding, because his ama had once saved the current niru ejen, so he more or less counted as a turnip in a hole.

Zhang Zhongqi had rarely been given a complete set of old clothes. He carried a sack on his back. After Taketan had loaded all his equipment onto the horse, Zhang Zhongqi eagerly led the horse and followed behind Taketan. Taketan reached the doorway, paused, then turned back and said to his ama, "Ama, how about letting Zhang Zhongqi stay after all? Your hands and feet are both impaired — I would worry about you alone."

His ama's usual fierce expression was nowhere to be seen. His wind-chapped face was full of kindness. He waved his hand and said, "Go. Let him follow you. Hailan has said she will come often to help. Taking Zhang Zhongqi means you can bring back more things."

Taketan still urged, "It's such a long road, with heavy snow stretching to the sky. He's so thin and weak — he might freeze to death. Better to leave him to look after you."

"It's fine. As long as we reach the border wall, there are plenty of Ming people. He can follow you and help feed your horse. You conserve your strength, earn more battle merit, and plunder more things. Ama is fine here. I still have one hand and one foot — how could I starve?"

Unable to win the argument, Taketan had no choice but to bow once more to his ama and leave through the door. His ama called from behind, "Remember to go tell Hailan."

"I know." Taketan answered from the doorway, glanced once at his ama, turned, and went out. Zhang Zhongqi kowtowed to his old master, then led the horse and followed. The street was an unending stream of people leading horses. Those setting out on campaign were all bidding farewell to acquaintances they ran into. The two men threaded through the crowd and arrived at Uncle Ilantai's house.

Taketan peered inside from the gate. Uncle Ilantai was in the courtyard, and Hailan was helping him put on his armor. Taketan entered and said, "Uncle Ilantai, how about I travel together with you?"

Seeing Taketan, Ilantai laughed heartily and said, "Taketan, good lad! Our niru only has a few yuding going along, and you were chosen. Hailan, bring that spare cotton armor." Hailan happily went into the house and brought out a cotton armor.

"Taketan, add this cotton armor underneath — warm and arrow-proof. Just think of it as Uncle lending it to you."

Taketan was also very pleased. He had a sort of obsession with weapons and armor. Hailan came over and helped him change into it, and indeed it was warmer. Taketan now found Hailan much more agreeable and said politely, "Hailan, I'm taking my family's bondservant with me. My ama — please look after him more."

"Don't worry. My family still has several bondservants. I'll go check on your ama every day. If it's not working out, I'll lend him one of my bondservants."

While the masters talked, Zhang Zhongqi stood at the doorway watching with an ingratiating smile. Suddenly he felt someone tug his sleeve. He turned to look — it was exactly that mute girl who had been sold over. The mute girl grinned at Zhang Zhongqi. Zhang Zhongqi swiftly pulled half a flatbread from his bosom and stuffed it into the mute girl's filthy sleeve.

Zhang Zhongqi said quietly to the mute girl, "Mute girl, I'm going with my master to raid the west. You'll be here in Master Ilantai's house. When you get a chance to eat, eat more. Don't just stand there dumbly."

The mute girl nodded as if she half-understood. Hearing that Zhang Zhongqi was leaving, her eyes reddened, and she made a few mumbling sounds. Zhang Zhongqi said mysteriously, "You can't talk, so I don't know what you're saying either. Master Taketan gave me a smooth saber. He said if I can earn some battle merit, I might even be raised into the banner. If I'm raised into the banner, I'll buy you over and give you flatbread every day."

The mute girl nodded vigorously, then suddenly remembered something. She reached into her bosom, pulled out the sedge grass inside, and tried to stuff it into Zhang Zhongqi's clothes. Zhang Zhongqi pushed her away and said, "I have new clothes. You keep it to stay warm yourself."

At that moment, the masters finished talking. Taketan called Zhang Zhongqi to leave. Zhang Zhongqi had no choice but to stop speaking with the mute girl. Master Ilantai also brought two bondservants. Together they headed toward the village entrance. Zhang Zhongqi fell to the very back. After a few steps he would turn back to look at Ilantai's gate. The mute girl stood at the doorway watching him the whole time, making mumbling sounds.

Zhang Zhongqi dared not speak. He waved at the mute girl without stopping, signaling her to go back. When they turned the corner and could see each other no more, Zhang Zhongqi finally turned his head and looked seriously at the road. He touched the smooth saber at his waist and thought to himself, "Earn some battle merit, get raised into the banner, and everything will be fine."

They reached the village entrance. The niru mustered its men and led them onto the official road. A dozen or so who had no bondservants walked leading their own horses. Across the land of Liaodong, countless small contingents like this were likewise converging on Shenyang at the same time.