Chapter 154: Aita (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

On the second day of the sixth month, on the official road fifteen li outside Shenyang, the Later Jin army returning from inside the passes was marching slowly. Their rear echelon had been routed inside the passes, but in the end they had relied on Šoto's several counter-charges to protect the forward formation, so most of the forward echelon's supplies were still there. Besides all kinds of valuables among the things they carried, some of the horses also bore Han women on their backs.

Zhang Zhongqi wore a smooth saber at his waist and used a stick to drive a dozen or so Han commoners to the roadside. He had finally made it back to Liaodong alive. He had passed through Shenyang when they set out; half a year had gone by, and it felt like a whole other lifetime.

He and Taketan had escorted the Niru Ejen to Yongping. On the way they encountered several armored soldiers from their own Niru. That very day they fled to Yongping. Of the over four hundred men of the Plain Blue Banner at Luanzhou, only seventy-odd escaped, but the Plain Blue Banner's commanding officer did not die — his courage had been shattered by the Ming army. By the time Amin reached Yongping and began massacring the city, he had already led his unit in retreating first, leaving a day ahead of the main force. Looting all the way, they also seized some more Han commoners. Relying on that one day's head start, they ran ahead of the main force and passed safely out of the passes without being pursued and slaughtered.

The Niru Ejen whom Zhang Zhongqi had rescued lay in the cart behind. That sturdy Jurchen hunter had a remarkably tenacious vitality; his wounds had basically healed, though he was still somewhat weak.

The Niru Ejen sat up, looked around at the surrounding fields, and cursed, "This damned sky still won't rain. Good thing we brought back some silver in the second month, or we'd have nothing to eat. Zhang Zhongqi, keep a close watch on those Han people. When we get back, put them to farming."

"Yes, Master, rest assured." Zhang Zhongqi nodded and bowed as he answered.

Having spoken, the Niru Ejen frowned and looked toward Shenyang. His Niru had set out with over sixty men; in all, only a dozen or so had returned. He still did not know how Mangγūltai would punish him.

Taketan said to Zhang Zhongqi in a low voice, "Are you really going to buy back that mute girl? You've already been raised to banner status — you're not a household retainer anymore. Buying any random woman would be better than that mute. What if she bears you a child later and it's also mute?"

Zhang Zhongqi gave a foolish grin and said, "This slave hasn't had those kinds of thoughts yet. I just want to let her eat better."

During this campaign, Zhang Zhongqi had been utterly loyal, and Taketan's attitude toward this bondservant had grown even better, almost treating him as if he were a Jurchen.

Zhang Zhongqi stealthily touched the saddlebag on the horse beside him. Inside lay heavy silver — he did not know exactly how much. He estimated there must be at least a hundred taels. These were the unburdened horses they had led from Yongping, all bestowed upon him by the Niru Ejen. With so many dead in the fortified village this time, someone would surely be selling a house. He planned to buy one and formally establish his own household.

Just then, the men and horses ahead suddenly halted. Several Plain Yellow Banner Bayara rode swiftly past, calling for everyone to stop. The Later Jin soldiers in the marching column all began murmuring among themselves.

The next moment, the sound of hoofbeats like thunder came from the direction of Shenyang. Banners of every color led a large body of cavalry as they arrived. They came around the unit Zhang Zhongqi was with, faintly forming an encircling posture.

In the blink of an eye, the situation had abruptly changed. Zhang Zhongqi swallowed hard; he had no idea what was about to happen. Then the great banners of each banner's lord arrived in succession, stopping at the place where Amin was.

A group of Plain Yellow Banner Bayara came over and disarmed all the soldiers of a Bordered Blue Banner Niru ahead of them, then confiscated all their gold, silver, silks, and satins.

A Juwan Da came over, cast a cold glance at Taketan and the others, then looked at their Niru banner and asked, "Plain Blue Banner? Which city did you come out of?"

Taketan answered with some fear, "Yes. We came out of Luanzhou."

Hearing this, the Juwan Da did not order their belongings searched, but simply waved a hand and said, "All common soldiers enter the city. Everyone from Beiguwan rank and above stays here."

The Niru Ejen, hearing this, said anxiously, "Brother, what is this about?"

The Juwan Da did not answer and walked on toward the rear. Immediately, two Plain Yellow Banner armored soldiers came up to drive them away.

Taketan and the others had no choice but to bid farewell to the Niru Ejen and walk forward past the place where the banner lords stood. Both lowered their heads and hurried through. Taketan stole a glance. The Bordered Red Banner Lord Yoto sat high on his horse, holding a written directive and loudly addressing Amin: "... The loss of Luanzhou through hard fighting may yet be excused. But the Beile Amin, Taiji Šoto, and the various high officials stationed at Yongping — before the Ming soldiers had even attacked the city, before they had even seen the enemy's battle lines and great banners, you fled back without drawing a single bow or firing a single arrow against the enemy troops, without gathering up the army's rear, so that you were raided by the Ming men. You prized the Ming men's gold, silver, glittering satin, dragon-embroidered satin, and lame-footed women and carried them off; you treated our own soldiers as worthless and abandoned them. The Great Khan has sent us, the high officials of all Eight Banners, to come together and ask the Grand Beile what the reason for this is..."

The Wendeng Battalion's encampment was a scene of chaos. The two companies that had been reorganized last time had received urgent orders to move out, requiring them to pack their gear within a single day and set off tomorrow. They were to hurry back to Wendeng at once.

Inside Chen Xin's command tent, the principal officers were gathered around a map, listening to Chen Xin's briefing.

"On the tenth day of the fifth month, Liu Xingzhi mutinied on Pi Island. Using the pretext of holding a memorial for his elder brother, he invited Chen Jisheng and the others, then suddenly seized them. Under the false pretense of orders from the central command, he beheaded Chen Jisheng and ten others. The troops on Pi Island lost their backbone, and since Liu Xingzhi is quite skilled at deceiving people, they now all follow this man's orders. He has already attacked and occupied as far as Changshan Island, and his current movements are unclear. People from every island in Dongjiang have been to Weihai and know it is far wealthier than the other islands. If they learn Weihai is undefended, it is hard to guarantee they won't get ideas. I have already requested the Honorable Minister of War Liang to mobilize the Tianjin naval battalion to assist with transport. The two companies will be under Dai Zhenggang as commanding officer and Wang Zhangfu as deputy. The training corps, chief military judge, and quartermaster will each detach personnel to accompany them."

Dai Zhenggang looked at the position of Changshan and said worriedly, "Changshan is already not far from Weihai. Both of our warships have gone to Tianjin to load cargo. Will we make it back in time?"

Chen Xin waved a hand and said, "If we can't make it in time, we still have to make it. Any rebel troops who dare to land near Weihai are to be executed without exception."

"If the Honorable Wang in Denglai has other orders..."

"There is no need to obey him on this matter. Remember what I have said."

Wang Zhangfu, his forehead still wrapped in cotton cloth, asked, "What does this Liu Xingzhi do? I don't recall ever hearing of such a figure in Dongjiang."

"Liu Xingzuo's younger brother." The several men around him all showed expressions of sudden understanding.

This Liu Xingzuo could be considered a legendary figure. He was originally from Kaiyuan. Before the old chieftain had even concocted the Seven Grievances, he had been abducted to Jianzhou and even given a Jurchen name, Aita. Because he was quite talented, he gradually gained the old chieftain's esteem and was promoted all the way to Vice General, in charge of the four garrisons of Jinzhou, Gaizhou, and the surrounding areas.

This man still retained some conscience. Nurhaci's actions in Liaodong slowly aroused Liu Xingzuo's revulsion. More importantly, he believed that the way Nurhaci was doing things, he was bound to collapse sooner or later. So he secretly communicated with the Great Ming. In the eighth year of Tianming, he planned a mass escape of the populace of Fuzhou. Because a diehard Han traitor informed on him, he was arrested by Nurhaci, and the people of Fuzhou were massacred to the last. But Liu Xingzuo had always performed well and was well-liked. Many Later Jin nobles spoke on his behalf, and his own defense was very composed. The old chieftain did not believe he would rebel and instead had that diehard Han traitor executed.

But after this incident, the old chieftain never fully trusted Han officials or Liu Xingzuo again. By the late Tianming period, Nurhaci was slaughtering Han commoners and Han officials with near-madness. Daishan and other Later Jin nobles also bullied and oppressed him in every way. Liu Xingzuo increasingly felt that his life hung by a thread. He was cautious in his daily conduct, but in his heart he yearned ever more for the Great Ming. During this time, he established contact with both Yuan Chonghuan and Mao Wenlong.

The Later Jin had never been entirely at ease about Liu Xingzuo and had detected some clues, but without any proof, they merely kept him under strict watch and moved him from outside Shenyang city into the city itself.

Under such harsh conditions, escaping this den of demons was extremely difficult. Yet Liu Xingzuo indeed lived up to the old chieftain's regard. A classic masterpiece of the covert front was thus born.

Liu Xingzuo began straightaway with a bitter-flesh ruse: he directly attempted suicide by hanging. It was, of course, a sham, and he was immediately rescued by his wife. After word spread, Hong Taiji, out of a desire to placate other Han officials, felt it would be unwise to treat this earliest Han defector too shabbily, so he allowed Liu Aita to return to his old residence outside the city to recuperate properly.

Who could have known that not long after, Liu Xingzuo's younger brother Liu Xingxian would suddenly defect and flee? Before Hong Taiji's decision on how to handle it had even come out, Liu Xingzuo began wailing to heaven and earth. This time he was resolute in committing suicide. He also wrote a farewell letter to Sahaliyan and others he was close to, stating that his younger brother had committed a grave wrong, that he himself had failed the care and trust of the Later Jin leaders, and that only death could settle it. His sole request was to be buried at a place he himself had chosen, Jamu Valley, near the border of Dongjiang Town.

After receiving the farewell letter, Sahaliyan and the others hurried out of the city, all rushing to save him. When they reached Liu Xingzuo's dwelling, all they saw was a fiercely blazing fire. After Liu Xingzuo's house was reduced to ashes, they found a charred corpse inside, still wearing on its hand the white jade thumb ring that Aita never took off. Already predisposed by the farewell letter, and then seeing the thumb ring, how could they have any doubt? After a cursory examination, they returned grief-stricken to report to Hong Taiji that Liu Xingzuo was dead.

Hong Taiji, after all, was not afflicted with the same deranged madness as Nurhaci. He still felt regret over Liu Xingzuo's death. So he treated Liu Xingzuo's family well, allowed his son to inherit his official post, and, in accordance with Liu Xingzuo's last wish, had his younger brother Liu Xingzhi take Liu Xingzuo's remains to Jamu Valley for burial.

Because Liu Xingzuo was dead, Hong Taiji no longer sent anyone to keep watch. How could he have known that the dead man was actually a captured drunkard? Liu Xingzuo himself had taken advantage of the gap in surveillance after his faked death to escape. And his younger brother Liu Xingzhi, under the pretext of escorting the funeral, safely reached Jamu Valley near Dongjiang Town and easily slipped away. Afterward, the two of them fled together to Dongjiang Town.

The entire escape plan was a chain of interlocking stratagems. The three brothers, in three separate stages, all safely reached Dongjiang Town. Every stratagem was designed by Liu Xingzuo. Whether in his grasp of the enemy's psychology, the ingenuity of the design, or the execution, it was all near-perfect, making fools of the Later Jin nobles who prided themselves on their grand vision and great talent.

Apart from his two younger brothers, Liu Xingzuo left behind all his family members — including his mother, wife, and son — in the Later Jin, showing a truly bachelor-like spirit. Moreover, once he arrived in Dongjiang, he did not keep a low profile in the slightest and very quickly did something that made Hong Taiji even more furious.

It was only after Liu Xingzhi fled that Hong Taiji sensed something was amiss, but without definite news to confirm it, he could only place the remaining family members under stricter guard. Not long after, Liu Xingzuo could not wait to settle scores with his old master. At his suggestion and under his planning, the Dongjiang army suddenly launched a surprise raid on Sarhū City. The collaborators inside the city were Liu Xingzuo's former trusted followers. They secretly opened the city gates, and the Dongjiang army thereby slaughtered the Jianzhou bandits at Sarhū to the last man, delivering a stinging slap to Hong Taiji's face.

Only then did Hong Taiji learn the truth. Even in his towering rage, he still displayed his exceptional depth. He did not massacre Liu Xingzuo's family, but merely tightened the guard on them, leaving himself some room for maneuver.

For his merit at Sarhū, Liu Xingzuo was promoted to Vice General of Dongjiang Town. Yuan Chonghuan thought very highly of him and repeatedly asked Mao Wenlong to transfer him, but Mao Wenlong simply would not give him up. After Mao Wenlong's death, Liu Xingzuo took command of one of Dongjiang's four divisions and began to build his own power base.

During this Later Jin incursion, Liu Xingzuo, by sheer ill luck, happened to be at the Guanning line paying a visit to Yuan Chonghuan. He had brought no troops with him, so Yuan Chonghuan did not take him along on the relief expedition. As a result, the Later Jin soon returned to the vicinity of Yongping. Liu Xingzuo still did not understand that a man should keep a low profile. He took the initiative to request a detachment of troops and, relying on his familiarity with the Later Jin army, launched raids everywhere and actually managed to kill quite a number. When Hong Taiji learned of this, he strictly ordered all units to pursue him and finally tracked Liu Xingzuo down. This time, Liu Xingzuo truly died. He fell fighting to the end. After his body was brought before Hong Taiji, Hong Taiji ordered it dismembered.

Liu Xingzuo could be considered a Han man who still possessed a conscience, and his ability was also extremely strong. When Chen Xin heard of his story, he felt deep regret and also sighed that times of war indeed produce heroes in droves. He thought that if Liu Xingzuo had worked on the covert front, he probably would not have been inferior to Dai Li.

But Liu Xingzuo had deceived people too many times, and there is always a price to pay. The last time he faked his death, people believed it. This time he truly died, yet no one believed it. Because the corpse was not found, many Great Ming officials believed he had surrendered and gone back again, so his posthumous honors were long left unconfirmed.

His younger brother Liu Xingzhi therefore nursed a bitter grudge. Moreover, he heard that the Later Jin had swept through the passes with irresistible force, which gave him a new assessment of the balance of power between the Later Jin and the Great Ming. After Hong Taiji returned in the second month, he began trying to win over Liu Xingzhi. The bargaining chips were naturally the family members of the Liu brothers, and an official post was also promised. In the end, that reckless fool Liu Xingzhi actually dared to strike and kill Chen Jisheng, and in one stroke seized control of Pi Island.

Since the Wendeng Battalion had gone on the relief expedition, they had often been stationed together with relief armies from various places, so all kinds of news were plentiful. Everyone had heard something of Liu Aita's story. They felt considerable respect for this Aita who had abandoned the darkness for the light and showed no fear whatsoever of the Jianzhou bandits, and also some regret.

Lu Chuanzong ventured, "This Aita can still be counted a true man. The court treating him like this — even I find it somewhat unjust. His brother is naturally even more indignant and hard to pacify, and rather pitiable too. Do we really have to kill his brother?"

Dai Zhenggang, hearing this, cursed, "Aita was a true man — what does that have to do with his brother?"

Wang Zhangfu also said, "If he doesn't come to rob us, we won't bother with him. If he dares to come, no matter whose brother he is, we'll kill him all the same."

Chen Xin clapped his hands and smiled. "Exactly so. No matter who it is, no one may come to Weihai to steal our things. You two will handle this matter with that as the guiding principle."

Dai Zhenggang and Wang Zhangfu both assented. Chen Xin said no more and sent them back to their respective units to arrange the departure. He himself stayed in the command tent, resting with his eyes closed, while pondering the organization of the naval battalion.

It was not until Hai Gouzi reported from outside that someone had come seeking an audience that Chen Xin, eyes still closed, asked, "Which government office?"

Hai Gouzi replied, "Not from a Jingshi government office. He says he was sent by a Mobile Corps Commander from Fujian. That Mobile Corps Commander seems to be surnamed Xu. He brought word saying he was introduced by a young master surnamed Li."

Chen Xin's eyes snapped open. "Xu Xinsu!"

Begging for monthly tickets