Chapter 206

More than thirty sailing ships cruised across the sea. Atop their masts, the blue naval recognition flags fluttered and snapped in the wind. The combat troops of Wendeng Camp had embarked on their own war vessels. Chen Xin committed one full Company Headquarters to this operation, which he also regarded as an amphibious warfare exercise.

The fleet included three No. 2 Fujian junks, each carrying one platoon of combat troops, with a total of four foot-boats towed along their sides. Because they could replenish fresh water at the various islands of Dongjiang Town along the way, the weight of fresh water they had to carry was reduced, which also demonstrated the importance of Dongjiang Town. Without these coastal outposts, the warships and soldiers would lack rest and refit points, and their combat readiness would be far worse. In a large-scale operation, these islands could serve as staging areas for supplies and troops.

After Shen Shikui and the others exterminated Liu Xingzhi, they purged the rebel faction on the island while also sending picked troops to hunt down the mutinous soldiers who had escaped ashore. Huang Long, however, did not send an official report on the matter to Dengzhou until the fifteenth day of the fourth month.

The Dongjiang troops discovered the Jianzhou bandits who had come to receive them near Tieshan — only a little over two hundred men, led by Tong San, not Tong Yangxing as initially reported. Once they learned that Liu Xingzhi was dead, they did not entangle with the Dongjiang troops and retreated hastily.

Sun Yuanhua took the upheaval on Pi Island very seriously. That place also fell under his jurisdiction, and Huang Long was a man he had personally promoted; if anything went wrong, he would be held accountable. He believed that a crisis still lingered near Pi Island and that the Later Jin might very likely send a large force to attack, so he swiftly dispatched the naval fleet.

According to intelligence from Dengzhou, the vessels sent by the Dengzhou Naval Force were mainly sand ships and bird ships, with a small number of No. 2 Fujian junks. The bird ships had Hongyi cannons mounted on their prows. Accompanying the Dengzhou naval battalion on this voyage were also more than ten Portuguese instructors. The leader was Gongsha di Xilao, and they were responsible for directing the Hongyi cannons.

Sun Yuanhua had not originally arranged for Wendeng Camp to send troops, but Chen Xin hoped to use this opportunity to strengthen his influence over Dongjiang. Only after Lu Zhi lobbied several times did they get the chance. Lu Zhi even went in person and set out together with Wendeng Camp. The Jianzhou bandits had no navy. As long as he did not disembark, there would be no danger — it was precisely an opportunity to earn merit. Moreover, he boarded Chen Xin's flagship, and the ship was full of Wendeng Camp combat troops, making his safety even more assured. Because Sun Yuanhua initially did not want them to go to Pi Island, some time was lost. By the time they put to sea, it was already the sixteenth day of the fifth month, and the Dengzhou naval battalion had long since departed. The only good news was that with Lu Zhi along, they managed to get a few more ships, just enough to carry the men of one Company Headquarters.

"Lord Army Supervisor, the wind and waves at sea are treacherous and perilous. Your lordship's heart for the nation is already engraved in the minds of all officers and men, and there is none who does not feel admiration. When we reach Zhangzi Island, Your Lordship may remain on the island and quietly await our good tidings."

Chen Xin flattered him from the bow while watching Lu Zhi's expression. Lu Zhi's purpose in going to Pi Island this time was mainly to earn merit, and perhaps also to make some money.

"General Chen is too kind. I am deeply favored by the Imperial grace. What are mere perils of wind and wave? This time, I shall see with my own eyes General Chen's tiger-like might, and how it makes the Jianzhou bandits lose their nerve." Lu Zhi stood at the bow, brimming with spirit and vigor. He was a man of Hejian Prefecture. What Chen Xin found most peculiar was that he did not get seasick at all and had been in high spirits ever since they put to sea.

The personal guards all stood some distance behind. Chen Xin laid on the flattery for quite a while. This time Sun Yuanhua did not go himself, nor did he replenish Wendeng Camp's gunpowder and other supplies. Chen Xin knew that Sun Yuanhua was already beginning to be influenced by the capital, so this Army Supervisor became all the more important. Ever since Lu Zhi came aboard his ship, Chen Xin had been full of attentiveness and flattery along the way. Lu Zhi also did not wish to have anyone else share his military merit, so he traveled separately with Wendeng Camp and did not go together with the Dengzhou Naval Force.

"General Chen, now that the Sage Son of Heaven sits upon the throne, we as his subjects must exert ourselves to the utmost. This trip to Pi Island is not only to stabilize the situation in Dongjiang, but also to investigate the private goods trade there."

Chen Xin wore a respectful expression as he listened to Lu Zhi's instructions. At this moment, Lu Zhi no longer had that jovial, cheerful look he wore in front of Sun Yuanhua. His expression was calm and composed, his eyes bright and piercing.

"Ever since Dongjiang was established as a garrison, smuggling has never ceased. This time I have come to Pi Island precisely to see with my own eyes what the situation on this island really is. Lord Sun says Pi Island is barren, its people poor, with little produce, and that there is absolutely no smuggling. I still feel that seeing is believing."

Chen Xin sized Lu Zhi up for a few moments and realized that this man was also a deep and scheming character. In truth, Lu Zhi wanted a piece of the smuggling on Pi Island. Previously he had been shut out by Huang Long and others. This time was actually an opportunity for him, which was why he wanted to use the relatively independent Wendeng Camp. For Chen Xin at present, Sun Yuanhua was becoming less and less reliable, and Lu Zhi was undoubtedly someone he could lean on. As a close servant of the Emperor and the Army Supervisor of Dengzhou, Lu Zhi could certainly give him a great deal of support. Thus, winning Lu Zhi's support in Dengzhou was the strategy Chen Xin and Song Wenxian had settled on.

Chen Xin said respectfully, "Whatever orders the Lord Army Supervisor gives, this subordinate shall obey without fail."

Lu Zhi turned his head to look at Chen Xin and said in his sharp voice, "Lord Chen is indeed a pillar of the state. Regarding this rebellion on Pi Island, in Lord Chen's opinion, will the Jianzhou bandits take the opportunity to come?"

"This subordinate feels there is at least an eighty percent chance they will come. To our Great Ming, Dongjiang is a lone outpost beyond the sea, but to the Jianzhou bandits it is a thorn in their side. At present, though its ability to pin them down is weak, as long as Dongjiang Town exists, Joseon will always have something to rely on. With these islands, Dengzhou and Laizhou can reinforce and strengthen Dongjiang Town at any time, so the Jianzhou bandits can never turn their full strength westward. Given the Jianzhou Chieftain's strategic acumen, he must be constantly thinking of eliminating the threat of Dongjiang Town, and right now is undoubtedly the best opportunity."

Lu Zhi did not understand fighting battles, but he had read a few military treatises and understood some theory — otherwise he would not have been appointed Eunuch Superintendent of the Nine Gates during the Jisi crisis. He laughed in his ambiguous, neither-male-nor-female way and said, "If they really are coming, then let's not let the Pi Island troops know we've brought this many soldiers for now. That island is probably crawling with spies. Let's also not make too many stops along the way; we'll only replenish water once at Zhangzi Island."

Chen Xin flattered him, "Your Lordship is brilliant. We shall give the Jianzhou bandits a pleasant surprise."

On the twenty-eighth day of the fifth month, Pi Island came distantly into view. The Wendeng Camp naval force did not dock directly at Pi Island's harbor but instead stopped at Dahe Island to the south. Chen Xin first sent two platoons of soldiers ashore to seize control of the boats on the island. Only then did the First Company Headquarters come ashore in succession. Over twenty warships stood guard in the surrounding waters, forbidding any other vessels from approaching.

Then Lu Zhi boarded a Fujian junk and went to Pi Island, accompanied only by his most trusted men to prevent any leaks. Huang Long, Zhang Dao, and the others all received him with the utmost hospitality, fearful of offending this Lord Army Supervisor. Chen Xin did not go ashore on the island; he merely dispatched personnel from the accompanying Intelligence Bureau to locate Zhang Dong and the others and brought Zhang Dong back to Dahe Island.

"My lord, the situation on Pi Island is even more complicated than we initially understood." Zhang Dong, who had just come aboard, reported to Chen Xin with a calm yet slightly excited air. With him was also that headman from the trading company. On Chen Xin's side were the troop commanders Lu Chuanzong and Liu Pojun. Liu Pojun had someone serve them tea before letting Zhang Dong continue.

"The mutinous soldiers that night numbered over a thousand, with more than eight hundred true Jurchens. In the end, three hundred men fled across the sea. This subordinate has made inquiries through Shang Keyi and others and learned that the correspondence between Liu Xingzhi and Huang Taiji amounted to more than twenty letters. Between the seventh and eighth months of last year, Liu Xingzhi had already completed a sworn alliance with Huang Taiji, exchanging oath documents with each other and referring to himself as a tributary state."

Chen Xin's brow furrowed deeply as he listened. For Liu Xingzhi to exchange sworn oaths with Huang Taiji, there must have been multiple rounds of negotiations to finalize the terms, yet Dengzhou had not received the slightest hint of it. This showed just how thoroughly Pi Island had been infiltrated by the Later Jin.

"What terms did Huang Taiji offer him?"

"The terms Huang Taiji offered him were extremely generous. He agreed to let Liu Xingzhi's forces choose any land to settle. If they were unwilling to come ashore, they could be treated as a tributary state, as long as they provided naval assistance when the Later Jin went to war. If they were willing to submit to the Later Jin, they would retain their original official posts, their unit structures would remain unchanged, and they would be placed directly under Huang Taiji's Two Yellow Banners, so Daišan would not be allowed to take revenge on the brothers. They would also be reunited with their relatives. Huang Taiji even sent Liu Xingzhi's wife to Pi Island."

Lu Chuanzong, who was listening in, spat and cursed, "Is Pi Island Huang Taiji's private garden or what? He even delivered his wife over. What the hell was Huang Long doing?"

Zhang Dong said calmly, "Liu Xingzhi was extremely crafty. Last year, when he went to fetch his wife, in order to explain why he had gone ashore, he even reported a victory at Fenghuang City to Dengzhou, falsely claiming to have killed over thirty Jianzhou bandits. Moreover, in the victory report, he included the names of Zhang Dao, Liang Jun, and others — men who are trusted confidants of Sun Yuanhua and the Grand Coordinator. The two Lord Suns may not have believed it, but verifying it was probably difficult, and seeing their own trusted men listed in the victory report, they could not lose face by rejecting it, so they all submitted it upward. His trip to fetch his wife even became a military exploit."

Chen Xin laughed, "This shows that Liu Xingzhi was no ordinary man. When reporting a victory, if you add the names of your superiors' trusted men, your chances are much greater. We should learn from this in the future."

Zhang Dong lowered his head and said, "My lord is right. Liu Xingzhi was crafty, but Huang Taiji was even craftier. Last year, as soon as he returned to Liaodong, he sent a letter to Chen Jisheng urging him to surrender, enclosing a family letter from Liu Xingxian to Liu Xingzhi. He also sent letters to Mobile Corps Commander Li Youliang of Dazhangzi Island, Mobile Corps Commander Lin of Lu Island, Mobile Corps Commander Mao Youhou of Guanglu Island, and others, asking Chen Jisheng to forward them. This was to sow discord between Chen Jisheng and the various Dongjiang commanders. Later, when Liu Xingzhi rebelled and killed Chen Jisheng, this letter from Huang Taiji can be said to have been a major cause."

Lu Chuanzong stared blankly and said, "Such a clumsy scheme to sow discord, and it actually worked."

Chen Xin shook his head and laughed, "Clumsy it may be, but for Chen Jisheng and Liu Xingzhi, who already harbored mutual hostility, it was enough. Back then, the Liu Xingzuo brothers devised an earth-shattering, brilliant stratagem, making a fool of Huang Taiji in the palm of their hand, and after countless hardships came to Dongjiang Town. Then Huang Taiji used one clumsy scheme to sow discord, and through these few brothers, he brought Dongjiang to the brink of collapse. Truly, the heavens mock men."

Zhang Dong continued, "Liu Xingzhi's rebellion this time likely had a two-pronged plan. If the situation was favorable, he would seize Dongjiang and declare himself king, treating the Later Jin with the rites of a tributary state. If the situation turned unfavorable, he would defect to the Later Jin and become Huang Taiji's slave. But according to what this subordinate has recently investigated, Liu Xingzhi's original idea was to reap profit from both the Later Jin and the Great Ming, and he did not want to rebel and force himself into a dead end. This upheaval on Pi Island seems to have been something Huang Long and Shen Shikui had long planned. They forged an order from Dengzhou stating that the true Jurchens on the island harbored rebellious intent and ordered them to kill Liu Xingzhi and all the true Jurchens. After the two forged the document, they deliberately leaked it to Liu Xingzhi, forcing him to act."

Liu Pojun's head was spinning. On one tiny Pi Island, several factions were locked in such fierce struggle. Liu Pojun pressed, "Has the power of the Liu Xingzhi brothers been completely wiped out?"

"The Liu Xingzhi brothers numbered seven in total. Apart from Liu Xingzuo, who is already dead, Liu Xingxian was captured during the Jisi campaign. This time when Liu Xingzhi rebelled, Liu Xingji and two others did not conspire with him; instead, they assisted Huang Long in killing Liu Xingzhi and the true Jurchens."

Lu Chuanzong and Liu Pojun both exhaled in disbelief. Chen Xin nodded and said to Zhang Dong, "Disowning their own kin — none of them are easy to deal with. Tell me about the current situation on Pi Island."

"There are two remaining factions on Pi Island. One is Shen Shikui, the other is Huang Long. On Huang Long's side there is also one man — the Advisor Mobile Corps Commander Zhang Dao, who came to Wendeng last time. This man is skilled in both civil and military affairs. Huang Long listens to him in everything. At present, his words carry great weight on the island, and the island soldiers call him the 'Acting Commander.' It is said that the scheme to force Liu Xingzhi's hand was his idea."

Chen Xin had a rather deep impression of this Catholic adept in Hongyi cannons. He sighed, "So it was him. Aside from these factions on the island, is there any movement from the Jianzhou bandits?"

"There is no further news from the Jianzhou bandits for the time being. Only a Joseon official stationed on Pi Island said that the Later Jin's Ing'erdai is in the Xuanchuan area, demanding that Joseon release the captured fugitive soldiers of Liu Xingzhi."

"Xuanchuan." Chen Xin looked at the map and asked the man from the trading company, "Does the trading company have anyone who speaks Joseon?"

The trading company headman was extremely nervous in front of Chen Xin and stammered, "No, no, b-but we can f-find an interpreter, this, this..."

Zhang Dong helped him out, "All the commanders on the island who smuggle with the Later Jin dare not do it openly and must use Joseon as an intermediary. So there are plenty of interpreters on the island. Joseon also has officials stationed on the island to handle matters related to Dongjiang."

Chen Xin smiled slightly, "Then find an interpreter first."