Chapter 570: Eyes Upon

In the Western Warm Pavilion of the Forbidden City in Jingshi, a thousand li away, a half-finished bamboo-and-rock painting lay on the table. A drop of ink fell from the brush tip, spreading into a blot on the rice paper. Wang Chengen said quietly beside him, "Your Majesty."

Chongzhen roused himself from his distraction. Seeing the ink stain, he gently laid the brush on the brush rest and walked back behind his imperial desk.

"The Ministry of War... have there been any recent memorials?"

"In reply to Your Majesty, none these past two days. Liang Tingdong did come once, saying the Liao Sea has already frozen over, and all news from Liaodong has been cut off. The Provincial Governor of Denglai's side is also completely in the dark. Over at Liaozhen, they lost over a thousand men at Xipingbao, and they say the Jianzhou Bandits' entire army of a hundred thousand has all moved toward Gaizhou."

"Gaizhou." Chongzhen recalled it in his mind, picked up the Nine Border Garrisons map compiled by the Ministry of War, and searched for a moment. He did not have the kind of detailed maps Dengzhou possessed; the Nine Border Garrisons map belonged to the impressionistic school of cartography, its proportions far from reality, but it still gave a rough idea of the location.

"Chengen, do you think... who do you think can win?"

Wang Chengen swallowed. This question was extremely difficult to answer. If Dengzhou won, it would surely monopolize Liaodong and become a second Denglai; the Jianzhou Bandits were the Great Ming's mortal enemies.

"This slave thinks that the Jianzhou Chieftain and Chen Xin will surely fight until both are wounded, perhaps even perish together. In the end, it will still fall to the imperial army to recover the rivers and mountains of Liaodong."

Chongzhen listened and sighed softly. When the Dengzhou Long Qibing withdrew from Linxian, he had thought Chen Xin was hinting he would abandon the outer strongholds and settle for being a Liaodong king like Li Chengliang. So he dispatched the Zhendingfu Mobile Corps Battalion to Linxian to take over those tunbao. Who would have thought that over a thousand mobile troops would be routed by a group of garrison households, fleeing all the way to Damingfu, raping and pillaging along the way. Chongzhen had no choice but to transfer another unit from Tongzhou to suppress them.

At the time, Chongzhen was blazing with fury. He ordered the Ministry of War to mass troops from Beizhili, Jizhen, and Shanhai Pass, preparing to besiege Linxian. Who would have thought that an army exceeding a hundred thousand on paper could not even muster ten thousand when it came time to move. Every unit demanded mobilization silver and family settlement silver from the Ministry of War, then demanded provisions and fodder. This year's grain shortage in Beizhili was even worse than last year's; both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War were unable to raise the funds.

To this day, the assembly has not been completed. Chongzhen discovered that among the more than two hundred thousand troops around Jingshi, not a single army could be sent to take those tunbao in Linxian. So when he heard the words "imperial army," he felt only a sense of helplessness.

"Liaodong. Liaodong." Chongzhen spoke softly, "Who would it be better to win?"

In the study of Wen Tiren's residence in Jingshi, charcoal fire warmed the room thoroughly, and the fragrance of sandalwood drifted gently in the air. The gaunt Wen Tiren stared intently at the floor while listening to Liang Tingdong speak before him.

"Elder Wen." Liang Tingdong said quietly, "News has come from Liaozhen: the Jianzhou Bandits have gone to Gaizhou. The Dengzhou army is at Guotoupu, south of Gaizhou. I fear a decisive outcome will be reached this winter."

"Good, the recovery of Liaodong." Wen Tiren's right fingers tapped lightly on the back of his left hand. If Chen Xin truly recovered Liaodong, it would not be a bad thing for Wen Tiren. Although the court ministers knew Dengzhou's current situation, the common people might not be so clear. Even though Chen Xin had issued that manifesto before the war, claiming most of the political gains from victory for himself, Wen Tiren as Senior Grand Secretary could still share in the credit — at the very least, the eastern problem would have been resolved during his tenure.

Liang Tingdong stole a glance at Wen Tiren's expression. Now that Dengzhou Garrison and the Jianzhou Bandits were on the verge of a decisive battle, if Chen Xin were defeated and killed, Liaodong would remain as before — though no one knew how the Emperor would deal with Denglai. If Dengzhou won, Dengzhou Garrison would take control of Liaodong. Given Liaodong's vastness, Dengzhou Garrison would grow even stronger. Would the imperial court make any preparations?

Liang Tingdong's purpose in coming today was to probe Wen Tiren's stance. Should either of these two scenarios occur, how should he respond? But it seemed Wen Tiren had no particular attitude.

Wen Tiren stroked his wispy beard. "Some days ago, His Majesty summoned me to the palace. The Emperor wants You Shiwei at Shanhai Pass and Liaozhen to make preparations. Should Dengzhou Garrison crush the Jianzhou Bandits, You Shiwei and Zu Dashou are to advance first and occupy Shenyang. In this way, the credit for the recovery can be shared with Guanning."

Liang Tingdong had not yet heard of this, which showed that Wen Tiren had kept things from him as well. He quickly asked, "And how did Guanning reply?"

Wen Tiren laughed bitterly. "You Shiwei gave the old reply: insufficient provisions and pay. He did lead his troops as far as Qiantun, then stopped, demanding the Ministry of Revenue raise funds for him. Zu Dashou replied that his men were wiped out at Xipingbao and asked the court to issue him some back pay so he could recruit anew. In the end, both Zu Dashou and You Shiwei fear Dengzhou Garrison and are unwilling to pull chestnuts out of the fire for the court."

Liang Tingdong had long expected this outcome; he had heard it countless times when the Ministry of War tried to mobilize these warlords.

Wen Tiren gently lifted his teacup. "Some matters cannot be rushed no matter how urgent. Two sides are fighting on Liaodong soil; outsiders cannot interfere. Then let us wait until they have decided a winner before speaking further. It will not be too late."

"I understand." Liang Tingdong bowed and withdrew.

Once Liang Tingdong had followed the steward far away, Wen Tiren walked out of the study. A gloomy sky was sprinkling light snow. Wen Tiren shook his head slightly. "Liaodong... whoever wins or loses, the imperial court is no victor."

At the East Parade Ground in Dengzhou City, Liu Minyou sat in the somewhat unfamiliar public affairs office of the Regional Commander's residence. This was an office Chen Xin had specially reserved for him, right next to Chen Xin's own Regional Commander's office. With Chen Xin leading the troops away this time, he had delegated full authority over Dengzhou affairs to Liu Minyou, so Liu Minyou had moved here to work.

In the room were Zhou Shifa, Song Wenxian, Mo Huaiwen, Li Donghua, Wu Youdao, Zhang Dahui, and a few others. This was Dengzhou's rear guard committee. Zhang Dahui served as the committee's executive secretary, responsible for central communication and coordination. Dengzhou's internal affairs had long had established procedures and rules. They met once every two days, and the most important agenda item was responding to surrounding threats. Today happened to be a meeting day.

Song Wenxian said to Liu Minyou, "Xu Congzhi has transferred Shandong's Wudebing to Xinchengxian. The Wudebing largely scattered and deserted along the way. Their Assistant Regional Commander sought out the Foreign Affairs Department's man in Jinanfu and begged him to pass a message to Geng Zhongming, saying the Wudebing will only go as far as Xinchengxian and will absolutely not enter Qingzhoufu one step further, pleading with Geng Zhongming not to attack him under any circumstances. Xu Congzhi also sent a verbal message to me, roughly to the same effect — he merely needs to satisfy the court."

Liu Minyou turned to Li Donghua. "It's best that Xu Congzhi thinks this way. Still, have Geng Zhongming maintain strict precautions. Any provocation from the Shandong direction is to be met with forceful retaliation without exception."

Li Donghua was the military's rear guard representative and recorded this upon hearing it. Song Wenxian continued, "Regarding Linxian... of the Beizhili troops mobilized by Jingshi, only the Changping and Tongzhou forces have reached Zhendingfu and Damingfu. They dare not enter Linxian and are in a temporary standoff."

Liu Minyou nodded. Linxian was too far away; he could not issue any directives. They could only rely on those people to hold firm on their own. Once the situation in Liaodong became clear, no one would dare set their sights on Linxian again.

Thinking of this, Liu Minyou turned to Zhou Shifa. "Shifa, regarding Liaodong..."

Zhou Shifa shook his head helplessly. "It's been three days since we last received news by fast boat. The last we knew, the entire Jianzhou Bandit army had already moved south to Gaizhou. The Military Orders Department believes the decisive battle will begin once the ice sets in."

A surge of anxiety gripped Liu Minyou's heart. Perhaps the fighting had already begun at this very moment. Waiting for the outcome was often more agonizing than experiencing it firsthand. Everyone in this room was part of Dengzhou's high command. The result of this campaign would determine their future political careers, even the status of their families for generations. In truth, every one of them was anxiously concerned about the war.

The room fell briefly silent. Song Wenxian offered encouragement: "Sir Liu, you may set your mind at ease. With fierce generals like Zhu Guobin, Wang Zhangfu, Fan Shouye, Zheng Sanhu, and Zhong Laosi, our Dengzhou Garrison will surely annihilate the Jianzhou Bandits completely."

Liu Minyou took a deep breath. "I firmly believe that."

On the gunpowder-smoke-shrouded battlefield of Yulinpu, a north wind blew, and the white smoke drifted slowly southward. A Flying Tiger Skull Banner also fluttered in the north wind — it was the Dengzhou Guards Second Battalion, standing by.

"Fan Shouye, Zheng Sanhu, you've both had your fill of fighting, damn it, while I'm about to freeze my feet stiff."

Zhong Laosi grumbled to the battalion military judge beside him. The battle had been underway for nearly a shichen, and the intense fighting had long since made Zhong Laosi unable to hold back. He had been pacing back and forth under the battalion banner, talking to that battalion military judge.

That battalion military judge said calmly, "Battalion Commander Zhong, stop pacing. It will be our turn to attack soon."

Zhong Laosi shot him a dissatisfied glance. "What does a military judge like you know."

The military judge pointed to the left. "Sir Chen is coming over."

Zhong Laosi turned his head and looked. Sure enough, it was Chen Xin and Liu Pojun approaching at speed with their guard detachment. He hurriedly straightened his polished helmet and stood properly beneath the military banner.

Zhong Laosi stood extremely straight, hands pressed to his thighs, chin slightly raised. After Chen Xin's mount stopped before him, Chen Xin shouted, "Zhong Laosi!"

"Present!"

"A mission for you!"

Zhong Laosi suppressed his excitement and bellowed, "Please give your orders, my lord!"

"Zhong Caisheng, Battalion Commander of the Guards Second Battalion, your unit is ordered to follow the breach opened by the Seventh Battalion, break through the battle line, and crush the Jianzhou Bandits' central army. The Guards Cavalry Company Commander Department and two Company Commander Departments of the Second Cavalry Battalion are attached to your unit, under your command."

"Understood! Any further instructions, my lord!"

"No fancy tricks. The simplest is the best. Rout the Later Jin center at maximum speed! We will encircle and annihilate the entire Later Jin army on the western seashore."

Zhong Laosi's eyes blazed. He howled, "Rest assured, my lord! I will personally deliver Huang Taiji before you!"

Chen Xin fixed his gaze on Zhong Laosi. "Everyone under heaven is watching us. The three million Liaodong people who perished are watching us, waiting for you to avenge them."

Zhong Laosi let out a great roar, saluted Chen Xin at attention, then leaped onto his horse. He said to the bugler beside him, "Form up, acknowledge banners!"

Then he turned to the staff officers and military judge waiting beside him. "Notify all Company Commander Departments: advance in company-front columns following the battalion banner. Move to the Seventh Battalion's position. March order: First Regiment in front, Second Regiment in the center, Third Regiment bringing up the rear. Operations staff officer, take scouts and garrison provosts and set out immediately to guide the line of march ahead."

The assembly call sounded. Tang Wei stopped stamping his feet. Liu Liu's shouts to dress ranks rang out ahead of the formation. Soldiers in the ranks lifted their flintlock muskets from the ground one after another. Tang Wei was in the Second Platoon, First Company, Second Company Commander Department, Guards Second Battalion. When advancing in company front, he was in the front rank of his regiment's column.

The Guards Second Battalion was the only flintlock musket battalion among the Dengzhou infantry, organized identically to the pike-and-shot square units. Originally, Zhong Laosi had designed a different organization, but Chen Xin believed Dengzhou already had too many types of organization. To simplify management and logistics, they kept the original square unit organization: three squads made a section, three sections made a flag team, two flag teams made a platoon, two platoons plus a skirmisher flag team made a company, four companies made a Company Commander Department, three Company Commander Departments made a battalion. Total strength was 4,200, with a combat strength of roughly 3,600 men, equipped with four eight-pounder guns and six four-pounder guns. It was the infantry battalion with the greatest firepower in Dengzhou Garrison.

The Second Battalion's banners acknowledged level by level in rapid succession. By the time the ranks were dressed, the banner acknowledgment was also complete. Over at the First Company Commander Department, the drumbeat struck up, and the ranks, layer upon layer, began advancing forward in succession.

"Pangzi." Xie Fei said beside Tang Wei, "Be careful when the fighting starts. Guan Xiaomei has already agreed to marry you. I'm still waiting for the two of us to run a small business together..."

"No, no." Tang Wei was full of high spirits, "I'm not afraid of anything now. I want my Guan Xiaomei to see that I'm no coward. I'm determined to earn a medal to bring back. When I marry her in the future, she'll have something to be proud of when she goes out, won't she."

Xie Fei was about to speak again when a bugle sounded the advance. Liu Yue, the Company Commander of the Second Company, galloped past the First Platoon on horseback. "Battalion of the Imperial Guard, advance!" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please come to Qidian to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m. to read.)

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