Chapter 246: The Enemy at the Gates

On the night of the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month of the fourth year of the Chongzhen reign, the walls of Dengzhou were lined with soldiers. At intervals, soldiers lowered lanterns on ropes to illuminate the base of the wall. Beyond the moat, scattered soldiers lit bonfires at various points to serve as an outer perimeter warning.

Beneath the Chaotian Gate tower at Dengzhou's south gate, Sun Yuanhua stared blankly at the campfires of the rebel army on Mishen Shan, several li away. Wang Zheng and Zhang Dao stood beside him, both heavy-hearted.

Sun Yuanhua had strictly ordered all prefectures and counties along the route not to attack. Li Jiucheng and Kong Youde advanced unopposed, and Zhang Dao and Zhang Keda, who had already reached Huangxian, were also recalled to Dengzhou.

The three thousand three hundred men Kong Youde and the others had set out with had now swelled to nearly ten thousand. Among them were over two thousand convicts, street ruffians, and bandits—men with a ruthless streak, somewhat useful in a winning fight. The remaining several thousand were conscripted laborers and women seized along the way. They had plundered several wealthy prefectures and counties in Jinan Prefecture, and the once-destitute Liao soldiers had all become men of property overnight.

The encampment of nearly ten thousand men sprawled across a vast area. Dense points of firelight covered the northern slope of Mishen Shan, tracing a faint halo of light against the southern night sky.

"My lord, Li Jiucheng and Kong Youde have still not responded on whether they will accept pacification," the aged Wang Zheng said quietly to Sun Yuanhua. "This humble official believes we should send word to the Shandong Provincial Governor, Lord Yu, and request that he come to Dengzhou with all haste to join forces, to ensure absolute safety."

Zhang Dao said in a low voice, "Lord Wang, Kong Youde and Li Jiucheng are veterans of many campaigns. They've camped on Mishen Shan, blocking the road to Qixia. They've detached forces to camp at Wolong Ridge to the southeast and Mount Shimen to the southwest, blocking the roads to Ninghaizhou and Huangxian respectively. Even sending out mounted couriers is no easy task." Zhang Dao finished with a sigh.

After the battle at Shenmi Island, Sun Yuanhua had again wanted to relocate the Dongjiang garrison, but he was beset with troubles at the time and only ordered Zhang Dao's unit to move first. Coinciding with the outbreak of war at Dalinghe, he then ordered Zhang Dao to relieve Dalinghe. Zhang Dao demurred, saying he lacked red-barbarian cannons, and dragged his feet. His plan was to acquire the cannons, fire a few shots along the Dalinghe banks, and consider his duty done. Later, Huang Long went even further and refused to give him the red-barbarian cannons, so Zhang Dao used that as an excuse to keep stalling. After the incident on Pi Island, Sun Yuanhua transferred him to Dengzhou to serve as his own trusted force.

Wang Zheng, utterly ignorant of military affairs, said in alarm, "Is General Zhang saying that Kong Youde has assumed a posture as if he intends to attack Dengzhou?"

"Even if they don't assault the city, they are taking every precaution against us. These men, at the very least, are not wholeheartedly seeking pacification."

Sun Yuanhua felt a pang of regret in his heart. He should have blocked the mutinous army at Huangxian. Even if Li Jiucheng had other intentions, they could have been tested at Huangxian, and it would not have come to this, with the enemy at the gates of Dengzhou. He was already panicking, unable to think of any plan. The imperial commissioners like Wang Tingshi, deeply afraid of getting burned, claimed this matter fell outside their mission's scope and offered absolutely no counsel, neither supporting nor opposing the pacification effort. After the rebels reached Laizhou, they all fled to Ninghaizhou, which was very close to Wendeng. He had heard they even transferred several hundred men from the Wendeng Battalion for their protection, clearly holding no optimism for the pacification.

Wang Zheng also understood the peril of the current situation. Looking at Sun Yuanhua, he said, "Dongzhu, we should still dispatch more mounted scouts to deliver orders, asking Lord Yu to bring his troops. He still has the Wendeng Battalion there…"

Sun Yuanhua shook his head slightly. His hatred for Chen Xin had already become deep-seated, and he blamed Chen Xin entirely for his predicament. In a resolute tone, he said, "Pacification is still worth a try. Moreover, the city still holds the elite troops of the personal battalion and the regular battalions. How could Kong Youde, with a mere few thousand men, possibly take Dengzhou? I have not yet reached the point of begging that mere military brute."

He then said to Zhang Dao, "If Li Jiucheng still gives no response the day after tomorrow, you will lead your unit and join Regional Commander Zhang in marching out to strike the bandits. Let them taste some hardship; it will make pacification easier."

Zhang Dao hesitated briefly. "This…" Sun Yuanhua turned and glared at him, his expression filled with authority.

"As you command, my lord." …

South of Dengzhou city stretched a continuous range of hills. The one closest to the prefectural seat was called Mishen Shan, also known as Wenfeng, composed of a series of large and small ridges, with its highest point less than two hundred meters above sea level. The Mishui River, which ran through Dengzhou from southeast to northwest, originated here. To its east lay Kui Shan, and further south were Ma Shan, Niu Shan, Shu Shan, Chi Shan, Wanghai Ridge, and a series of other mountain systems, forming the southern barrier of Dengzhou.

At the summit of Mishen Shan stood a Taishan Traveling Palace, built in the sixteenth year of the Jiajing reign. There were five such Taishan Traveling Palaces in Dengzhou in total. Enshrined within was the Old Mother of Taishan, whose full title was "The Jade Maiden of the Eastern Peak, Taishan Celestial Immortal, the Primordial Lord of the Azure Clouds." Legend had it that a common woman attained the Dao and became an immortal, took office in the Celestial Court, and was later put in charge of overseeing childbirth among mortal women. She was a locally promoted deity, her duties somewhat overlapping with the externally appointed Child-Giving Guanyin. Generally speaking, she belonged to the Celestial Court's Women's Federation type of institution and had long enjoyed the incense offerings of the vast female comrades of the mortal realm.

However, currently seated inside the Taishan Traveling Palace was a group of foul-smelling men, all heavily bearded. They gathered around a bonfire in the main hall, right before the statue of the Old Mother of Taishan, plotting their nefarious schemes of murder and plunder.

Seated here were the leaders of the Deng-Lai rebel army. They had plundered their fill in Jinan Prefecture. After Sun Yuanhua offered pacification, they had agreed at the time and refrained from attacking any cities in Qingzhou Prefecture and Laizhou Prefecture. After passing Pingduzhou, they bypassed Laiyang and marched directly from Laizhou and Huangxian to the gates of Dengzhou's prefectural seat.

Well-fed and content, Li Yingyuan sighed with satisfaction and said to Li Jiucheng, seated at the head, "Father, Lord Sun has sent another letter, asking us to accept pacification and still command our original units."

Seated at the head were Kong Youde and Li Jiucheng. Now Li Jiucheng sat on the left, his status even higher than Kong Youde's, because along the entire journey, he had decided which cities to attack and which to spare. He had personally commanded most of the combat operations, establishing high prestige among the rank and file. The idea of using the promise of pacification in exchange for safe passage had also been his. Since the mutiny began, he had made no mistakes and had ensured everyone got silver and women. Such a leader naturally commanded respect.

Li Jiucheng's brutal face flickered indeterminately in the dancing firelight. Kong Youde spoke up and asked, "What else did the letter say?"

"Nothing else. It only said we'd keep our old posts, that we wouldn't be treated poorly, and that this mutiny would not be investigated."

Another Company Commander immediately objected, "Lord Kong, we all know Lord Sun's situation. If we accept pacification, what if the imperial court demands Lord Sun hand over the ringleaders? How would we handle ourselves then?"

A Platoon Leader also stood up and said, "I don't want to accept pacification. I don't want to live the old life anymore. This way, killing whoever we want, looting whatever we want, is the most comfortable. Those damned gentry have to kneel before us, and we can sleep with the daughters of official families just the same."

A chorus of lewd laughter rose from the assembled officers. Li Jiucheng grabbed a leg of lamb, took a bite, then gulped down some wine. He looked at Kong Youde and asked, "What does Brother Kong say?"

Kong Youde stared at the ground and said, "Brother Li, I think accepting pacification now would also work, as long as they don't confiscate our silver. Life wouldn't be hard afterward. If we don't accept pacification, we can't just stay on Mishen Shan forever as bandit kings. We're not afraid of the Shandong troops, but if the court mobilizes frontier armies from all over, we'd be in trouble."

The standing Platoon Leader laughed heartily. "Lord Kong, we are the frontier army! What's there to be afraid of? The Guan-Ning Army is called a mighty garrison, but they've been beaten by the Jianzhou bandits so badly they don't dare step outside their gates. I'm not afraid of them."

Kong Youde looked up and glared at him. "And what about the Wendeng Battalion?"

The Platoon Leader's laughter stopped abruptly. The expressions of the other officers also grew uneasy. They had all fought the Jianzhou bandits for years. A battalion that could thrash the Jianzhou bandits could certainly thrash them.

The Platoon Leader coughed dryly twice and said, "General Chen might not necessarily attack us. As long as we make a deal with him—well water not interfering with river water—why would he fight us to the death? Besides, no matter how formidable the Wendeng troops are…"

"Bullshit! If the court orders him to attack, can he refuse? When the time comes, I'll send you, Pockmarked Cheng, to the Wendeng Battalion as our envoy. If you can't persuade Chen Xin, I'll chop your head off!"

As soon as Kong Youde finished cursing, Platoon Leader Pockmarked Cheng could only respond with an ingratiating laugh and sat back down dejectedly. Seeing Kong Youde's anger, the other officers no longer dared to speak, only looking at Li Jiucheng and Li Yingyuan.

Li Yingyuan also felt considerable fear of the Wendeng Battalion in his heart. Setting aside those wooden soldiers of Wendeng, just considering Chen Xin himself—he had met him a few times and always felt he was unfathomable, never knowing what his true intentions were.

Li Yingyuan thought for a moment and spoke, "Regarding Chen Xin, we do still have some leverage. The things we looted along the way this time…"

Kong Youde and Li Jiucheng simultaneously roared, "Shut your mouth!"

Li Yingyuan jumped in fright. Li Jiucheng grabbed him by the collar, dragged him over, and cursed in his ear, "You idiot! I told you long ago not to blab about this matter. If word gets out, aren't you forcing Chen Xin to fight us to the death to clear himself of suspicion?"

Though Li Yingyuan was Li Jiucheng's son, he trembled under Li Jiucheng's ferocious glare. After a long pause, he stammered, "Didn't you say you wanted to test your skills against Chen Xin, Father?"

"What damn use is it that I want to test my skills? Look at the state of these men—they fear the Wendeng Battalion more than they fear the Jianzhou bandits. They'd lose without even fighting. If we're going to fight the Wendeng Battalion, now is not the time." Li Jiucheng finished his low cursing and shoved Li Yingyuan away. Addressing the group, he said, "The Wendeng Battalion is indeed a major foe. In this area of Dengzhou, we can't avoid them. I think we will ultimately have to accept amnesty." The officers looked somewhat deflated. After scanning the room, a sly grin crept onto Li Jiucheng's face. "But not right now."

A Company Commander said ingratiatingly, "So tomorrow morning then?"

Li Jiucheng hurled the lamb leg in his hand at him. The Company Commander hastily dodged. Li Jiucheng stood up and cursed, "When I say not right now, I mean not in the near future! Did you think I'd go find Sun Yuanhua tonight? Can't you damn well understand human speech?"

Kong Youde pursed his lips, pulled Li Jiucheng back down to sit. Li Jiucheng panted a few times before continuing, "Whether we accept amnesty or not, the goal is to live well. What's the point of going back to the old ways? After the ruckus we've caused, won't those Shandong people inside Dengzhou be even more on guard against us? Lord Sun hasn't made anything clear, and even if he had, everyone knows his current situation. Not to mention other things, who knows how many relatives of civil officials are inside the city? They will absolutely not let us live comfortably. What if the court forces him to hand us over, or transfers us back and forth—would we go then or not? In short, it's not very secure. That's why I say, if we're to accept amnesty, it can't be under these current terms."

His speech was reasonably coherent, and the group of roughnecks all listened intently, concentrating hard.

Li Jiucheng gulped down a few more mouthfuls of wine. "To live a good life, we can't let the locals push us around. But they have numbers and power. In my opinion, we should fight our way into the city and kill all those people in one sweep. Then things will be clean. We'll call our brothers from Dongjiang to come and occupy Dengzhou first. Then we can negotiate amnesty. At that point, Dengzhou will be under our control. Following the model of native chieftains or tributary states would be best. If the court wants to transfer us to fight the Jianzhou bandits, we'll go only if we want to. If not, they can't do a thing about it."

The officers responded enthusiastically. After their spree of burning, killing, and looting in Xincheng and other places, they had tasted both the thrill of murder and the sweetness of rich plunder. They had long been unwilling to return to their old lives. Carving out a territory for themselves suited them best.

Li Jiucheng had clearly analyzed the pros and cons. Kong Youde was somewhat swayed but still uneasy. "Then what about Chen Xin's side?"

Li Jiucheng said flatly, "He's still in Laizhou anyway. As long as we get inside Dengzhou city, with dozens of red-barbarian cannons defending it, his Wendeng Battalion can't exactly fly in. Then we can negotiate amnesty with Chen Xin. We can promise not to cross the Ninghaizhou border, but Dengzhou must belong to us no matter what."

The Platoon Leader from before laughed heartily. "With Dengzhou in hand, who the hell still fears the Wendeng Battalion? Once we enter Dengzhou this time, I'm going to sleep with that Second Young Lady of the Tang family. That little beauty is so fine she drips."

Li Yingyuan quickly pointed at the deity statue. "Then hurry up and pray to the Lady for her blessing, so that the Tang family's Second Young Lady bears you a son."

The officers in the hall once again burst into collective lewd laughter.