Chapter 468: Yunyang

In the fourth year of Chongzhen, the fourth month, in Yunyang Prefecture, Huguang, a military encampment stood among the surrounding mountains, numbering over two thousand men. The First Company of the Fifth Battalion and a portion of cavalry had just routed Ge Liyan and He Yilong here, and were now scouting the movements of Zhang Xianzhong's forces.

Since the third year of Chongzhen, Henan had suffered four consecutive years of drought and locust plagues. The Central Plains turned into a thousand li of barren land; production was abandoned, nine out of ten houses stood empty, and the region was already overrun with refugees and bandits, like a pile of dry kindling sprinkled with gunpowder.

After the Shanxi roving bandits broke through the Yellow River, they swelled rapidly in the Central Plains like a rolling snowball. After rampaging through Henan, roving bandits such as Hengxinglang, Yidougou, Saodiwang, and Mantianxing entered Wu Pass westward. The Shaanxi border army, under the command of Hong Chengchou, hurried back to rescue Shaanxi. By coincidence, the Later Jin invaded the interior at this time, and the strongest fighting forces, the units under Cao Zhao and Ai Wannian, were redeployed back to Shanxi to reinforce Xuan-Da. The western bandit group passed through Shanyang, Zhen'an, and Shangnan in succession. After rampaging through Shaanxi, Hong Chengchou hastily mobilized garrisons from Heyang and other areas to intercept them, while Cao Zhao and Ai Wannian's units crossed the Yellow River from Hejin in Shanxi to reinforce Xi'an.

The group led by Gao Yingxiang, Li Zicheng, and Zhang Xianzhong roamed the mountainous region of Lushi, eventually scattering under the pursuit of Dengzhou Garrison. Gao Yingxiang moved toward Xiangyang, while Zhang Xianzhong, leading several bands, arrived among the great mountains of Yunyang. Dengzhou Garrison and Zuo Liangyu split up to pursue them. Zhu Daichun followed Gao Yingxiang straight toward Xiangyang, while Liu Pojun led the First Battalion headquarters and a portion of cavalry to pursue Zhang Xianzhong, having just routed He Yilong the day before.

Inside the central army tent, Liu Pojun's adjutant was reporting to him: "According to intelligence obtained yesterday, Zhang Xianzhong and Hun Tianwang have joined forces and are heading toward Junzhou. Lord Zhu's unit was in Zaoyang when they last sent word, and according to plan they should have already passed Xiangyang."

Liu Pojun tapped the map and said, "Break camp tomorrow. We'll move along the Han River toward Xiangyang and rendezvous with Zhu Daichun first."

"Additionally, we received a secret letter forwarded by the Trading Company from the Military Orders Department. The Long Qibing originally scheduled to be transferred here in the spring will no longer be assigned to the Central Plains Brigade. Their unit designation has been changed to the Linxian Independent Long Qibing Battalion. The Battalion Commander will be the former Vice Battalion Commander of the Long Qibing. The former Vice Battalion Commander of the Fifth Battalion, Zhong Caisheng, is being transferred back to the Cavalry Section of the Dengzhou Military Academy. The Fifth Battalion's Long Qibing will retain only the Fourth Company, which is already en route to Henan, where it will be expanded into a battalion by the Personnel Department's branch agency in Huguang."

"Staying in Linxian?" Liu Pojun frowned. This Long Qibing unit was the one he had been waiting for all along. As the elite force that had executed a thousand-li raid to kill Manggūltai, it possessed extremely high mobility and striking power, yet now only a single company remained.

He looked at the map and suddenly chuckled. "It seems Lord Chen needs the Long Qibing to intimidate the Grand Canal. One company it is, then. We've captured plenty of horses anyway; we'll just build a cavalry unit in Huguang. Anything else?"

"There's also the matter of the propaganda teams. The Training Directorate has confirmed that all propaganda teams are to be transferred to the Propaganda and Education Directorate, and will no longer hold military status. The official document is jointly issued by the Training Directorate and the Personnel Department, and has reached the Training Directorate's branch agency. Some personnel from the propaganda teams are to return to Qingzhoufu to form new sub-teams."

"Has Huang Side lost his mind, transferring people from Huguang to Qingzhoufu?" Liu Pojun took the document from his adjutant. It was indeed clearly written: transfer fifty percent of the personnel back to Qingzhoufu, three of whom were specifically named.

Liu Pojun couldn't help cursing, "Where am I supposed to find men to escort them? Huang Side makes it sound so easy."

The adjutant lowered his voice and said, "My lord, look at the three people. One is the deputy team leader, another is Xu Pingjie, and the other is Guan Xiaomei. Xu Pingjie is Xu Yuanhua's nephew. All the Yanggu people have now returned to Dengzhou; Xu Pingjie was probably missed last time."

Liu Pojun nodded. All Yanggu people stationed elsewhere had been transferred back to Dengzhou without exception. The implication was self-evident: to keep them under close surveillance. "Then what's the meaning of this Guan Xiaomei?"

"I made some inquiries. Guan Xiaomei's younger brother became Zhou Laifu's son-in-law. Perhaps Zhou Laifu approached Huang Side to have this woman return to the safety of Denglai. You know the face of the Trading Company; the various departments generally have to give it consideration."

Liu Pojun's mouth twisted. "Giving face to the Trading Company is fine, but where am I supposed to find men to escort them? Henan is in chaos with war and famine. Isn't he afraid these people will be captured by roving bandits on the road?"

The adjutant ventured, "Perhaps, once we reach Xiangyang, we could have them take a boat down the Han River into the Yangtze. The Trading Company has already stockpiled supplies in Wuchang and established a branch there. From there, they can follow the Yangtze downstream to Yangzhou and enter the Grand Canal."

Liu Pojun thought for a long time and finally cursed, "Fine, let it be so. Damn trivial matters. We'll decide once we reach Wuchang. If other departments want to transfer people away, we'll send them all together then. I've long found these propaganda soldiers an eyesore; they should have been separated from military status long ago. Make it clear to the quartermaster: the cost of chartering boats can only be charged to the Training Directorate's account."

。。。

"Pangzi, Pang… Pangzi, can we rest a bit?" Xie Fei, the Tatar-player, was bent over, hands propped against a withered tree by the roadside, panting heavily.

"You, you think I want to run? If I can't pass the running test, when will I ever become a combat soldier?" Tang Wei was drenched in sweat and plopped down under the tree trunk.

"Pangzi, do you really believe Guan Xiaomei will marry you just because of a medal? Her family background is different now, you know…"

"I know. Isn't it just that her younger brother married Zhou Laifu's youngest daughter? I heard about it."

"It's more than that. I heard her younger brother no longer works at the workshop; he opened his own woodworking factory. The location is in Qingzhoufu. They say he sells some kind of spinning machine. Lord Liu even specifically encouraged the common people to start their own factories in the military bulletin. Think about who Zhou Laifu is — the head of the Trading Company. What kind of man do you think Guan Xiaomei will end up marrying?"

Tang Wei gasped for breath, staring blankly at the military camp below the mountain. They had been stationed here for three days already. It was a rare opportunity for rest and reorganization. After traveling all the way from Henan and witnessing the horrors of human misery there, Tang Wei's

"I have to try. I… I just like Guan Xiaomei." Pangzi gazed somewhat vacantly down the mountain.

"Are you stupid or what? Isn't Juanzi pretty? You're in charge of money, grain, clothing, and cosmetics in the team; you can earn some silver every year. Plenty of women would be willing to marry you."

"What use is that? I don't like Juanzi." Tang Wei tilted his head back against the tree trunk. "Besides, soon there won't even be a propaganda team. What money, grain, clothes, cosmetics will there be to manage…"

"What do you mean, 'won't be'? The team leader said it's just a transfer from the Training Directorate to the Propaganda and Education Bureau; we just won't count as military personnel anymore. Our pay won't be reduced by a single cent. In the future, we can even stage other plays to earn money ourselves. Pangzi, listen to me: staying here, you can earn quite a bit. With your build, if you join the combat troops as a common soldier, how many years will it take to earn a medal? By then, Guan Xiaomei will have long been married. Besides, do you think a medal is so easy to get? Look at Guan Xiaomei's brother — two scars on his face, earned by risking life and limb."

Tang Wei was about to speak when a fine horse galloped up the official road below, stopping at the entrance of the propaganda team's quarters. An officer dismounted and entered the courtyard.

"It's that cavalry Company Commander again." Xie Fei craned his neck to look and said, "Coming to see Guan Xiaomei. Pangzi, can you compare to him? He fought in the Battle of Fuzhou, and he's only twenty-one. He's no less literate or skilled at accounting than you."

"Bah. He's come several times already, and Guan Xiaomei hasn't paid him any attention."

As soon as Tang Wei finished speaking, he saw Guan Xiaomei and Juanzi leaving with that Company Commander, carrying baskets and chatting and laughing as they headed toward the open fields, apparently to gather wild vegetables.

"Hey, you said Guan Xiaomei ignores him. What's this about?"

Tang Wei stood up angrily. "Let's go, let's head down the mountain. We'll join them; I'm determined to spoil things for him. Take this small path."

The two ran down the mountain. This small path showed signs of regular foot traffic, surrounded by withered trees and dry weeds. Tang Wei had been persistently training his stamina these past few months. Though his build was still fat, he had become much sturdier, and his speed was roughly on par with Xie Fei's. He followed behind Xie Fei, racing downhill.

A startled cry came from ahead. Xie Fei suddenly slowed down. Tang Wei, caught off guard, crashed into him, and the two tumbled into the dry underbrush beside the path.

Tang Wei was thrown head over heels, rolling several times before sitting up and cursing, "Xie Fei, you dog, why did you stop…"

Xie Fei's panicked voice came through, "Pangzi, look, look."

"Look at what? On this desolate mountain…" Tang Wei swept his gaze halfway around. Several pairs of dangling human feet suddenly appeared before his eyes, and his voice abruptly ceased.

On several withered trees nearby, five or six corpses hung starkly — old and young alike. Most had their tongues protruding and eyes open, their faces utterly horrifying. Their skin had already turned black, clearly having been there for some time. The corpses swayed slightly in the mountain breeze, creating a hair-raising sensation on the quiet hillside.

Tang Wei clasped his hands to his chest. Stories of ghosts and monsters circulated privately among the troops. Although the training officer always punished those who spread them, Tang Wei had still heard them. Even though it was broad daylight, he was so frightened he couldn't speak.

As he trembled all over, a hand suddenly reached out from beside him. Tang Wei let out a shriek and scrambled backward several steps, only to turn and see it was Xie Fei.

"Pang, Pangzi, let's go take a look. The training officer said we're soldiers, we have yang energy; ghosts are afraid of us. Don't disgrace Dengzhou Garrison. Weren't you going to be a combat soldier? We can't be too cowardly."

"N-no, not afraid. Let's go take a look."

The two Tatar-players supported each other and edged closer to those hanging figures. As they drew near, they saw there were also some smaller corpses under the trees, curled up beside the trunks.

Tang Wei suppressed his pounding heart and leaned in to look. They were three children, likely starved to death.

At that moment, Xie Fei called out from nearby, "Come here, there's a piece of cloth. It has writing on it. I can't read it; you come look."

"Let me see."

Tang Wei took it and looked. It seemed to be written in blood, now turned black. It read: "The Wang family of Yunyang, who moved from Jingzhou to Liugezhuang in Yunyang during the Chenghua era, produced one Metropolitan Graduate and two Licentiates. During the Wanli period, the family fortunes declined. Then came the natural disasters of the Chongzhen years. At home, we had food enough to eat, yet outside there were taxes already owed. Old quotas were not yet fulfilled when new levies were already being pressed. In the village, even barking dogs were met with tax collectors pounding at the door; in the trees, crying cuckoos were drenched in the blood of the lash. Now, wherever the roving bandits pass, yellow dust covers barren earth; every village is nearly devoid of human habitation. White bones and ghostly fires haunt the nights, where the wails of spirits are ever heard. The ear catches the sound of wind and cranes; the eye sees only the color of desolation and misery. Though we were fortunate to escape calamity in the mountain forests, our home and all our money and grain were reduced to ashes by the roving bandits. Our entire family had no means of livelihood. The Wang family, a scholarly line for generations, would rather die than commit bestial acts. With no alternative, we brought our entire family, old and young, ten souls in all, to hang ourselves in this empty forest. Here the Wang family line is severed. Alas, alas…"

Tang Wei shook his head and said to Xie Fei, "Another family that hanged themselves."

By now, the two were no longer afraid. They looked around. There were indeed ten people in total. The children were all under the trees; the adults had hanged themselves.

Xie Fei said to Tang Wei, "The training officer said that only in Denglai, under Lord Chen's governance, can people live and work in peace. If the Jianzhou Bandits or roving bandits come, we'll all end up like this."

The two gazed silently for a while. Tang Wei spoke, "Let's go find two hoes and bury them."

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