Chapter 436: Combat Hero

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In the rumbling marching infantry column, the propaganda team was somewhat disorganized; their stamina was poorer, and everyone was panting as they walked. When the order to rest was given, many immediately sat down on the ground. Once seated, they regained some energy, and several women started chattering again, constantly pointing in Xu Pingjie's direction.

Tang Wei slipped out of the column, and Kaijuanzi squeezed over next to Guan Xiaomei. Juanzi was bumped, turned her head and raised an eyebrow. Tang Wei hurriedly offered a flatbread. Juanzi's brow slowly smoothed, and with a pursed-lip smile she took it.

Only then did Tang Wei say to Guan Xiaomei, "Guan Xiaomei, let me carry your things for you."

"Get lost." Guan Xiaomei's eyes were a little red. She turned her head and said fiercely in a low voice, "You damn fatty have a wicked heart. Everyone's watching Xu Pingjie make a fool of himself right now. If you're going to catch a petty thief, just catch him — why make such a huge scene?"

"How was I supposed to know Xu Pingjie was inside? It was all coincidence."

"Nonsense. That quilt wasn't stolen by the petty thief. For you to find that den, you must have followed Xu Pingjie there."

Tang Wei looked a bit dumbfounded. Guan Xiaomei was usually so scatterbrained; he hadn't realized she could be this logical. He mumbled, "Someone told me there were quilts in that room, so I..."

Guan Xiaomei turned around and started smacking Tang Wei on the head. "Who's 'someone'? You call him out here. The whole army has the same quilts — how would they know it was from the place where you, Fatty Tang, lost yours? You're still lying!"

Tang Wei hastily dodged a few steps back. Looking up, he saw a garrison provost soldier approaching ahead and quickly ducked back into the column, using it to block Guan Xiaomei's attacks as he begged for mercy, "Alright, alright, Guan Xiaomei, you're sharp. I was just afraid you'd be fooled. That Xu Pingjie has no good intentions — you can't marry someone like that."

In his urgency, his voice rose a little. Juanzi up ahead heard and burst out laughing. Guan Xiaomei lost face, and kicked Tang Wei hard in the shin. "Who said I was going to marry him? I'll only marry a combat hero like my brother — so brave and gallant."

Tang Wei hopped twice, clutching his foot. "Really?"

"Of course it's true. I never said I'd marry Xu Pingjie. At first he looked alright, but now he doesn't. If you were a combat hero, I'd marry you too."

A surge of hot blood rushed to Tang Wei's head. He thumped his chest and declared, "I'll go submit my application right now. I want to join a combat unit, become one of those combat... whatever heroes. You have to keep your word."

Guan Xiaomei stared blankly at Tang Wei for a moment, then burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. Tang Wei's face reddened. He glanced left and right and said hastily, "What are you laughing at? Stand up straight. I'm not joking with you."

Guan Xiaomei laughed even harder, pointing a finger at Tang Wei. "Hahaha, Fatty Tang, you, a combat hero? Stop trying to make me laugh — my stomach hurts like hell."

"Hmph, who's trying to make you laugh? If I become a combat hero, you marry me."

Guan Xiaomei stifled her laughter. She blinked and looked at Tang Wei. Seeing his earnest expression, she nearly burst out laughing again but finally bit her lip and held it in. She nodded to Tang Wei and said, "If you really earn a First-Class Medal, I'll marry you. The wound medals don't count."

"Then what if your mother doesn't agree?"

Guan Xiaomei tossed her head. "Who can meddle in my affairs?"

"Fine then. I'll let you see, Guan Xiaomei, that a fatty can be an indomitable hero too... Aiya!" Tang Wei had just raised his hand when a broom came swinging down on his head from behind. The team leader beat him while cursing, "You damn Fatty Tang, stole three more flatbreads! Don't you dodge — get back here!"

Tang Wei dodged left and right, slipping to the back. Guan Xiaomei rolled her eyes. "First-Class Evasion Medal."

A group of officers gathered together, and Liu Minyou stood among them. He had run into this matter as soon as he arrived in Henan. At first he didn't quite understand, but later when Zhu Daichun explained, he learned that the roving bandits had broken through the government troops' heavy encirclement and burst into the Central Plains.

The southern crossing at Mianchi marked the true beginning of the late Ming roving bandits' scourge upon the realm. After breaking through Mount Taixing and the Yellow River, the vast lands of Henan and Huguang had no more natural barriers. The terrain was far more conducive to marauding than the mountainous Shanxi, allowing the bandits' mobility and advantage of foraging on the move to be fully exploited.

Henan, likewise plagued by annual drought and locusts, now welcomed a group of organized career criminals. The refugees everywhere would soon coalesce into torrents of roving bandits. So Liu Minyou was anxious at heart. Fortunately, the trading company had established presences in Luoyang, Kaifeng, and Nanyang, with sufficient grain stored at each location. But fodder was severely lacking. According to reports from Henan, many areas there were so parched from drought that not a blade of grass grew. Coupled with winter ice and snow, the horses could not find enough forage. Whatever fodder peasant households had would be looted by the bandits ahead, and the baggage train could at most carry some concentrated feed.

Each soldier's daily grain ration was one sheng and five ge. Made into dried rice, it could reduce weight by seventy percent. Horses on long-distance winter marches required three sheng of concentrated feed daily, plus large amounts of collected hay. The time available for marching each day was very limited, and Henan's territory was vast while the bandits ran fast. Therefore, under current operational conditions, if they had to secure their own logistics, cavalry's long-range mobility was actually inferior to infantry's.

Of course, the roving bandits didn't have this problem. They looted everything along the way, turning the route into a desert. The common people were swept away entirely, and those who remained would also be scattered. This way, the government troops coming behind would spend even more time solving their logistics.

The two logistics staff officers calculated once more and handed the result to Zhu Daichun. Zhu Daichun said to Liu Minyou, "My lord Liu, the Long Qibing can only be sent back. How far the cavalry can go is also hard to say."

Liu Minyou frowned and said, "Why not first request the trading company to purchase more concentrated feed?"

The several staff officers all lowered their heads. Wang Mafu stepped forward and said, "It is this subordinate's fault. We believed the roving bandits would be eliminated in the near term, so we made no logistical preparations for operations in southern Henan."

Liu Minyou stared at him. "Then why did we not concentrate forces to strike the roving bandits' main force in September and October?"

Zhu Daichun gave a dry cough and leaned in. "It was the Provincial Governor of Henan, Xuan Mo. In October, we prepared to join forces with the Sichuan Army to attack southwest of Huaiqing. Both he and Wang Pu sent consecutive letters ordering us not to move without authorization. We are guest troops, constrained by the imperial court's system, and could only obey the local Provincial Governor's orders."

Liu Minyou let out a long sigh. When they were in Linxian, the Intelligence Bureau and the Foreign Affairs Department had also confirmed this news, along with Xuan Mo's handwritten letter at the time. It was indeed so. They all believed the roving bandits were about to surrender. The Capital Training Corps, Henan Mao troops, Sichuan Army, Zuo Liangyu's forces, and others all ceased operations.

Wang Pu had also sent a batch of silver taels and jewels. According to regulations, Zhu Daichun could not meet alone with envoys from other garrisons; he was accompanied by a military judge. With personnel from various departments watching, Zhu Daichun did not dare accept anything privately. Everything was inventoried and crated after inspection by the military judge and quartermaster.

Liu Minyou could well imagine that all the other armies had accepted silver. Wang Pu was merely a middleman, likely just taking a slightly larger cut. Whether Xuan Mo took any was unknown, but since all the commanders below him had taken bribes, he, as a mere Provincial Governor of Henan, could no longer command these guest armies.

Zhu Daichun said to Liu Minyou, "My lord Liu, you should see us off only to here. The snow is getting heavier, and the return journey is over a hundred li." Zhu Daichun turned to the guards beside him. "You must escort Lord Liu safely back to the Huixian camp. No mishaps are permitted."

The guard acknowledged. Liu Minyou didn't really understand military matters. Generally, whatever Zhu Daichun and Wang Mafu said, he could raise no objections, and he sensed that these two were usually not very willing to discuss things in depth with him. He could only nod and say, "Very well then. I will return to Huixian first and arrange matters with the trading company and the Civil Affairs Department. Luoyang has ready grain stores. If resupply becomes difficult, send someone immediately to Weihuifu with an urgent report. The roving bandits are numerous; you must also be cautious. Don't fall for their tricks."

Zhu Daichun and Wang Mafu both saluted. Zhu Daichun said, "Please rest assured, my lord Liu. The roving bandits are already terrified. But our Dengzhou garrison has complete regulations; in war there aren't that many stratagems. For the bandits to try any underhanded schemes against us would be harder than climbing to heaven."

After Liu Minyou left, Zhu Daichun and Wang Mafu both breathed a sigh of relief. The two exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

Zhu Daichun said in a low voice, "You lead the forward element, I'll lead the rear. Remember those key points — we must secure our footing at all of them. At Nanyang and Xiangyang, don't occupy the strategic chokepoints. The most critical place further back is Wuchang."

"Understood. Lord Chen sent a secret letter. Once the roving bandits flee into the Central Plains, the Fifth Battalion will be elevated to brigade level. Officers, indoctrination officers, and non-commissioned officers are currently undergoing accelerated training at the winter military academy, and will deploy to the Central Plains in the spring. The Fifth Battalion will expand into the Central Plains Brigade, with three battalions under it, including one cadre battalion. Besides our Central Plains Brigade, there's Lord Zhu's Liaonan Brigade, also with three battalions. This subordinate congratulates Lord Zhu."

Zhu Daichun clapped Wang Mafu on the shoulder and laughed heartily. "Much thanks to Mafu's help. Otherwise, how could we have established roots so quickly in Henan? This official's life was given by Lord Chen. Whatever Lord Chen appoints me to do, I must do it well. I can't be like some people who, with a little battle record, forget their origins and truly believe it's their own ability. Without Lord Chen, they'd still be working as hired hands somewhere."

Wang Mafu, having been Chen Xin's adjutant, stood entirely on Chen Xin's side at all times. He agreed in a low voice, "Those people are short-sighted, thinking that becoming an official means they should get rich. They can't keep pace with Lord Chen's steps; it's only a matter of time before they're swept aside. When the army internally communicated about 'recognizing the general trend,' that's exactly what it meant. Our Dengzhou garrison values seniority, but it also values perceptiveness."

Zhu Daichun shook his head with a sigh. "I must say, Mafu, as someone who came from Lord Chen's side, you explain things so clearly. You're bound for promotion sooner or later. In the future, if this official does anything improper, you must speak up and help enlighten me."

"My lord is too kind."

Liu Minyou headed back through the wind and snow, escorted by twenty cavalrymen. They had only gone a few dozen paces when a sudden shout rang out from the side. "Lord Liu!"

Liu Minyou looked over curiously. Military discipline was strict. Although during long marches soldiers were allowed to speak in low voices to alleviate fatigue, such loud shouting was absolutely forbidden.

A fat man appeared before him. Two guards dismounted to block him. Liu Minyou reined in his horse and stopped. The man seemed somewhat familiar, so he pointed at the fat man and said, "You are..."

Tang Wei anxiously pulled off his hat and pointed at his own nose. "My lord, this humble one is Tang Wei from the propaganda team — the one who played Huang Taiji."

Liu Minyou immediately recalled. He waved his hand to let the guards allow Tang Wei through. Seeing his expression, Tang Wei quickly smiled and said, "Lord Liu met this humble one back in Pingdu Department. At that time, no one was willing to play Huang Taiji. Lord Liu personally said to let me try the role first, and later you could help me switch to something else."

Liu Minyou searched his memory. It seemed there really was such an incident. At the time, seeing how badly Tang Wei was beaten by the crowd, he had casually said that to console him. This fat man actually still remembered. He had no choice but to steel himself and say, "Mm. First tell me what you want to do. This... in military matters, this official cannot always make the decisions."

"This humble one wants to become a combat soldier!"

From the propaganda team nearby came a burst of suppressed female laughter. Several women covered their mouths and turned aside.

Liu Minyou was also somewhat surprised. He looked Tang Wei up and down. He seemed sturdier than before, but he was still a fat man.

Liu Minyou thought for a moment and said, "Tang Wei, the combat troops aren't something you just walk into. It requires physical fitness, strength, and also the ability to endure hardship. Even your appearance is considered. You... your appearance is a bit too slick. Your family is most likely in business; generally, such people aren't accepted. And your stamina — if it's insufficient, that won't do either. Otherwise, even if I send you in, you'll be eliminated in recruit training."

"That's why this humble one begs you, my lord. I can endure hardship. I've read the military gazettes — those Jianzhou Bandits are truly despicable. I want to avenge the Han people. Please, my lord, seeing this humble one's sincere heart devoted to the nation, put in a good word for me."

Tang Wei raised his head, smiling ingratiatingly. Liu Minyou shook his head with a rueful laugh. "Isn't being a propaganda team member good enough? Back in my day, everyone fought to get in."

A woman's voice called out from behind, "He wants to earn a medal to marry Guan Xiaomei!"

That side immediately erupted in laughter, and the escort guards accompanying Liu Minyou also tilted their heads and laughed.

Tang Wei was furious and flustered, his face flushing bright red. He was not familiar with Liu Minyou, but the layers of the power structure often added a halo to superior officers, always making people feel they would be very imposing, so he now feared Liu Minyou would punish him.

Liu Minyou, however, smiled and said, "Having a goal is a good thing, but you still have to rely on your own efforts. If you truly want to be a combat soldier, then train your physical fitness. When you are ready, you can write me a letter. The only thing I, as an official, can do is give you priority under equal conditions."

"Thank you, my lord Liu!" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to Qidian to vote and give monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at.)