[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-late-ming":3,"chapter-late-ming-late-ming-chapter-239":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Late Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},926599,1218,"Chapter 239: Choice","late-ming-chapter-239",239,"\u003Cp>Outside a grove three li from the Wendeng Battalion's main camp, the open sentries of the Central Guard were posted everywhere. The winter woods were bare, nothing but stark branches, and the ground lay thick with snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin brought Hai Gouzi and an Intelligence Bureau liaison officer into the grove. There he met Wu Jianzhong, who had just returned, and listened to his report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Ruer Mountain bunch numbers over three hundred. Tang Dihu has agreed to send his eldest son and principal wife as hostages. He wants to meet you, my lord. Not knowing your intentions, this humble one has not yet agreed, nor revealed your identity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jianzhong remained as composed as ever. Chen Xin greatly appreciated his conduct on this mission. It showed that Wu Jianzhong possessed the courage to overcome any obstacle. At the core of Wu Jianzhong's conviction was the imperative to carry out a superior's orders under any circumstances — just as he had once trekked across Liaoxi on foot. It seemed an innate tenacity, and any man in authority favors such a subordinate who fears no hardship or danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having heard his report, Chen Xin pondered briefly but did not answer whether he would meet Tang Dihu. \"How have you arranged things for Tang Dihu's group?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jianzhong looked up in surprise. At the time, he had only thought about subduing the bandits; he had not considered in detail what to do afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Chen Xin smiled faintly. He found a rock to sit on and pointed to another rock opposite, gesturing for Wu Jianzhong to sit as well. Having been in Wendeng for some time now, Wu Jianzhong knew that discipline was strict from top to bottom, but little store was set by empty formalities, so he sat down without standing on ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Chen Xin speak: \"The Wendeng Battalion's combat troops are my right hand, and the Intelligence Bureau is my left. At present, the combat troops have won renown across the realm and appear very glorious. The Intelligence Bureau, for now, remains obscure, but to me they are equally important. The Intelligence Bureau's value lies in its hidden power — it can control scattered forces with fewer resources. These bandits are just such a force. The greatest drawback is precisely the need for concealment. Even if you were captured, I would deny that you are a man of my Wendeng Battalion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jianzhong understood somewhat, but he did not care about his own predicament. From Chen Xin's manner, Tang Dihu was only the beginning; he wanted to control a number of covert forces. He pondered, then asked, \"My lord, the mountains are full of bandits, and some fierce outlaws cannot be subdued.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin laughed. \"Exactly. Those we can subdue will mostly not be the strongest bandits. They might be swallowed up by others any day. If we want people to do things for us, the benefits cannot be lacking. But I won't give them silver. The benefit is that we can help them wipe out the nearby fierce bandits, making them the largest bandit gang. The benefits after that, of course, they'll have to seize for themselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jianzhong cupped his hands. \"This subordinate understands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then think now about what benefit you can offer Tang Dihu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right beside Tang Dihu are three bandit strongholds: Laojun Mountain, Niutou Mountain, and Huanxi Ridge. They often clash with Tang Dihu. This subordinate requests that you, my lord, dispatch combat troops to eliminate these three bands and let Tang Dihu absorb their followers. In this way, he will become a mountain stronghold of some standing in the Daze Mountains. That is the immediate benefit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin nodded and smiled. \"Exactly so. There's no need for Tang Dihu to meet me, and don't tell him you take orders from me. Just let him know you come from the Wendeng Battalion. I will leave one combat company and one special service squad here. Tang Dihu is not permitted to take part in the fighting; let him go and absorb them only after the battle is done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After the three bandit strongholds are crushed, the combat troops are to rejoin the main army. You will remain in Pingdu Department to keep Tang Dihu under control and ensure the transmission of intelligence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jianzhong agreed to each point. In his heart, he still most preferred fighting the Jianzhou bandits on the battlefield, but since Chen Xin deemed him suited for this task, he could only do it for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These bandits will soon be of use. Once Tang Dihu's family members are in hand, send them immediately to Wendeng. You will stay at the Pingdu Department contact point and await orders. But remember, you are only to liaise with Tang Dihu. The other bandits must not know your background.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin was very satisfied with this steady and reliable subordinate. He added further instructions: \"Originally, I intended for you to take charge of Liaodong intelligence, but at present we have no foothold in Liaodong, and you are a familiar face on Pi Island, which presents many difficulties — even if you wanted to, you couldn't. So handle this matter for now. Shandong is full of greenwood heroes; this line will be extended outward in the future. For many things that are inconvenient for us to do ourselves, we need these people to act.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. Please assign the troops, my lord. This humble one will act as guide and lead them immediately to wipe out the three bandit strongholds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>News of the renewed mutiny on Pi Island soon reached Dengzhou. The imperial commissioners, including Wang Tingshi, had been preparing to leave and return to the capital to report, but upon hearing this news they lingered. Sun Yuanhua was already utterly panicked. While cursing Huang Long bitterly, he even considered ordering Kong Youde and the others to turn back and prepare to suppress the Pi Island mutiny. But by now Pi Island was frozen in, and the Dengzhou naval forces could not sail to support them. Everything could only depend on the Dongjiang Garrison itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yuanhua was already overwhelmed by the situation. Given his political record so far, even with Zhou Yanru's patronage, the best outcome would be dismissal and idle retirement. But having been an official for so long, the taste of power was also very alluring. Sun Yuanhua still clung to a last shred of hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much deliberation, he concluded that Dalinghe was the current focus of the imperial court. Even if the Dongjiang Garrison mutinied, it was far to the east beyond the Liaodong Sea. Clearly, the political impact of relieving Dalinghe was greater. Therefore, Kong Youde and his men must continue to reinforce Liaodong, and their speed must be increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His order was soon relayed by relay horses to Kong Youde's unit. By this time, Kong Youde's unit had also received the news. They were encamped south of Pingdu Department city, resting and reorganizing for two days. Originally full of hope that they could return to Dengzhou, they now received orders to speed up. These Liaodong soldiers immediately began to grumble and complain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Dengzhou force numbered 3,300 men, including nearly 900 cavalry, most of whom were the retainers of various officers. Their provisions had always been insufficient. Qixia, Laiyang, and Pingdu Department all refused to provide grain and fodder — the same treatment they gave the Wendeng Battalion. Only in Laiyang had Chen Xin been welcomed, because the officials and people there still remembered the Wendeng Battalion's rescue during the jisi year. Wherever Kong Youde's unit passed, the city gates were tightly shut, and they were not even permitted to enter the cities to purchase supplies. Marching within the borders of the Great Ming was no different from marching in foreign territory. Moreover, they carried very little military pay, so they often went hungry one meal and stuffed the next. The prospect of the thousand-li journey ahead filled Kong's men with dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the news of the Pi Island mutiny spread, it also suggested to these Liaodong soldiers that soldiers causing some trouble was a normal state of affairs. Consider the Guanning Army in Liaoxi: not to mention Zu Dashou, other mutinous troops had hounded the Provincial Governor Bi Zisu to death and seized and detained the Vice General Mao Yuanyi, yet in the end none faced severe punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When food and clothing became a problem, military discipline naturally could not be maintained. The Dengzhou soldiers stole chickens and dogs along the way and openly robbed commoners in the countryside. These Liaodong troops were only after food. They still harbored a fearful, anxious mentality as outsiders in Shandong and were not overly bold. They dared not kill or rape, nor did they dare rob the gentry and wealthy households. Kong Youde had suffered enough at the hands of the gentry in Dengzhou and could only keep them at a respectful distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus they struggled along all the way to Pingdu Department. At this time, the Wendeng Battalion was preparing to march out, leaving behind only a small force in the Daze Mountains to wipe out several bands of bandits — on the grounds that the bandits had plundered the Wendeng Battalion's military grain. Pingdu Department had no way to verify this and neither supported nor opposed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation of the Dengzhou troops was fed back to Chen Xin piece by piece through the Wendeng liaison's mounted scouts. Kong Youde's unit had seen no improvement because of Chen Xin's arrival. Now it was only a matter of where they would erupt. Chen Xin immediately dispatched scouts to the south of Pingdu Department city to invite Kong Youde to meet at the Wendeng Battalion camp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The burly Kong Youde came as invited. Chen Xin personally greeted him at the camp gate. Kong Youde's face was haggard. After dismounting from his warhorse, he bowed to Chen Xin. Although both held the rank of Assistant Regional Commander, Chen Xin's honorary rank was higher, his strength far greater, and his circumstances far more comfortable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin returned the greeting with a smile and sized up Kong Youde. This Dingdong miner had hardly changed since their meeting the previous year. In his heart, Chen Xin felt some admiration for Kong Youde and his group of Dongshan miners. At the height of Nurhaci's military might, they had dared to fight the Jianzhou bandits to the death. Later, after arriving at the Dongjiang Garrison, Kong Youde's performance had also been decent — at least he dared to penetrate deep into Liaodong to fight. After Mao Wenlong was killed, this group of Liaodong people stranded on the islands had once again come to Dengzhou, carrying with them from beginning to end the self-abasement of those who had left their homeland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the information Chen Xin had gathered over the past two years, they were nowhere near as domineering in Dengzhou as the Guanning Army. What they had to endure, besides the common practice of officers embezzling soldiers' pay in the Ming army, was even more the local people's hostility toward immigrants. This wariness was everywhere. These Liaodong people were as cautious as new brides, carefully dealing with the civil officials and the local gentry. If this endurance reached a breaking point, the fury they unleashed would make these once-timid soldiers unspeakably cruel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin invited Kong Youde into the main tent. Seeing the solemn and orderly scene of the Wendeng Battalion along the way, Kong Youde secretly envied them and sighed at the disparity in their circumstances. He had heard that this Chen Xin was also a Liaodong man. When Kong Youde was following Mao Wenlong fighting the Jianzhou bandits in Liaodong, this Chen Xin was still begging for food who knows where. In the seventh year of Tianqi, he had only become a guard battalion Company Commander. In five years, he had already amassed power far exceeding Kong Youde's. Kong Youde had heard some rumors that Chen Xin was highly regarded by the Emperor and several Grand Secretaries in the court, which was why he dared to disregard Sun Yuanhua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they set out, Sun Yuanhua had instructed him not to mingle with Chen Xin. Kong Youde had agreed readily at the time, but he had his own plans. This was, after all, a mission to reinforce Liaodong. Chen Xin's Wendeng Battalion had formidable combat strength; getting on good terms with him could save lives. So as soon as Chen Xin summoned him, Kong Youde could only hurry over eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Youde brought one man into the tent and sat on the edge of a chair. He softened his voice as much as possible and adopted a subordinate's posture. \"My lord Chen, this is Li Yingyuan, Company Commander of the Central Battalion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin smiled and nodded at Li Yingyuan. Li Yingyuan had a gloomy temperament and a wild, unruly look in his eyes. He knelt and said loudly, \"Greetings, my lord Chen. This humble one heard from my father that he met you in Wendeng and has always longed to see you. Today, this humble one's wish is fulfilled.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin said politely, \"Company Commander Li flatters me. May I ask who your honored father is?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My father is Li Jiucheng.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh.\" Chen Xin vaguely recalled the military officer who had come with Sun Yuanhua the previous year — a fierce-looking man, from what he remembered. At that time, Lu Zhi had even planned to send him to the county government office to audit tax accounts. According to the latest summary from the Intelligence Bureau, Li Jiucheng was now a Mobile Corps Commander in the personal battalion. Chen Xin slightly extended his hand. \"So you are Lord Li's son. Truly a tiger's cub from a general's family. Please, rise quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Li Yingyuan rose, Chen Xin continued, \"Is General Li also with your esteemed unit this time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A few months ago, the Provincial Governor sent my father to the frontier to buy horses. He has not yet returned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin knew about the horse-buying matter in Dengzhou. This sum of silver had been specially applied for by Sun Yuanhua at the beginning of the year. With Zhou Yanru putting in a word at the time, the Chongzhen Emperor had granted every request. The Ministry of Works provided the horse-purchasing silver, totaling 20,000 taels. Buying horses from the Mongols at the frontier generally cost around 20 taels each, enough for 1,000 horses. Factoring in losses along the journey, there should be seven or eight hundred warhorses. When Chen Xin went to Dengzhou in the third month, Sun Yuanhua had even told him that when the horses were bought, he would give a portion to the Wendeng Battalion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Both General Li and his son labor hard. Company Commander Li, a tiger's cub from a general's family, follow General Kong well. With the realm in frequent turmoil these days, this is precisely the time for men like us to establish merit and a career.\" Chen Xin offered Li Yingyuan a few words of encouragement, fulfilling the courtesies, then turned to Kong Youde.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"General Kong, yesterday a military order came from Dengzhou instructing my unit to speed up our march to Liaozhen. Did General Kong receive the same?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Youde still wore a cautious expression, a stark contrast to his burly exterior. He said softly, \"I also received it. But with this ice and snow, it's not easy to speed up. I wonder what strategy my lord Chen has. This humble officer is willing to follow your arrangements.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his tone, Chen Xin understood that he intended to follow his command for this campaign. But Chen Xin knew this was limited to this one operation. The Great Ming had always used civil officials to control military officers. After the mid-Ming period, civil officials' power comprehensively suppressed that of military officers. Even military men looked down on themselves. Even if they sought patronage, they sought it from civil officials, not from a military officer of equal rank like Chen Xin. Moreover, even if Chen Xin became the Regional Commander of Dengzhou and Laizhou, that rank was only higher than Assistant Regional Commander. In peacetime, he could only manage the main battalions; he could not control the pay and personnel of other odd, reinforcement, or mobile troops. Only during a campaign did he have command authority. Therefore, the relationships between Regional Commander, Vice Regional Commander, Assistant Regional Commander, and so on were not entirely those of superior and subordinate. In peacetime, they were more like separate departments under the unified management of the Provincial Governor's office. The Provincial Governor controlled personnel and provisions. This was the institutional and material basis for civil control over the military.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So whether Kong Youde was willing or not, he could not bring his troops and defect to Chen Xin — unless he abandoned his official post and came with nothing, which was even more impossible. Having thought through this layer, Chen Xin said to Kong Youde, \"Since the Provincial Governor has issued orders, we soldiers must naturally obey. I intend to set out tomorrow and march sixty to seventy li each day. As for the route, I would like to hear General Kong's thoughts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kong Youde was flattered. After pondering, he replied, \"I think, after passing Pingdu Department, we can go via Changyi, Shouguang, Le'an to Wuding Department, then head to Dezhou Prefecture and travel north along the Grand Canal. It will be easier to buy grain there in winter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin took out his own map and examined the route Kong Youde described. It was roughly similar to what he had planned. But he did not know exactly where Kong Youde would rebel, so he frowned and remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yingyuan interjected, \"Our personal battalion can march at most thirty or forty li a day, and our provisions are also insufficient. I fear we cannot keep up with you, my lord.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin stroked his chin. Kong Youde probably wanted to travel together with him to receive some support in provisions and pay. Kong Youde's rebellion was an opportunity Chen Xin had long awaited. But now, standing before him, Kong Youde showed no trace of arrogance or bluster. Chen Xin also knew the misery of the Liaodong people in Dengzhou. A trace of pity stirred in his heart. If he helped Kong Youde by providing some supplies, these men might not rebel, and might secretly pledge allegiance to him, without having to become traitors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this flicker of emotion lasted only an instant. He quickly overturned the impulse. How long Zu Dashou could hold out, Chen Xin did not know. But he knew very well that he could not take just these two thousand men to Liaodong. And the rest of the Wendeng troops were not registered with the imperial court, so they could not swagger openly into Liaozhen. If Kong Youde did not rebel, they would have no choice but to march all the way to Liaodong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they reached Dalinghe City and lost, his head would most likely be cut off by the Jianzhou bandits. If they won, it would not greatly benefit Chen Xin either. Sun Yuanhua might thereby retain his post, and Zhou Yanru might continue as Senior Grand Secretary. The situation in Dengzhou would still favor the local gentry. And Chen Xin, in the final analysis, was an outsider. The Wendeng Battalion was also mainly composed of refugees. Without a clean sweep, the land and resources remained in the hands of the officials and gentry, and could not be converted into strength to resist the Jianzhou bandits. The Wendeng Battalion would remain merely a bargaining chip in others' hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Kong Youde himself was merely an old-style general, not an indispensable talent for the Wendeng Battalion. From the information gathered by the Intelligence Bureau, he exploited his soldiers and embezzled their pay no less than the main battalions did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Xin raised his head and looked at Kong Youde's wrinkled yet hopeful face across from him. \"In that case, I will lead the Wendeng Battalion ahead. Our unit's provisions and pay are also insufficient, and I fear we cannot supplement your esteemed unit. I ask General Kong's forgiveness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faces of Kong Youde and Li Yingyuan immediately showed disappointment. Having made his decision, Chen Xin exchanged a few brief pleasantries, then raised his teacup to see his guests out. Before they left, he gave them a small amount of pork and mutton. Kong Youde accepted it and led his troops away. Chen Xin personally saw them out of the camp gate. The silhouettes of the group of Liaodong soldiers faded into the wind and snow, bleak and desolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(To be continued)\u003C\u002Fp>",3464,"2026-06-03T06:47:03.964Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","ee5892aa51feefcd9414783b3b41cd206dbafeec78fce7e28c9d35cf712ad2e7","late-ming-chapter-240","late-ming-chapter-238",580,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flate-ming-cover.jpg"]