Chapter 80: A Busy Holiday

On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, firecrackers thundered through Chen Xin's fortified village. Only the newly arrived twenty military households' shacks were relatively quiet. Every doorway had posted peach-wood charms and spring couplets, and inside the houses hung portraits of the Fortune God and Zhong Kui. That evening, everyone in the village bid farewell to the old year. Except for one squad of soldiers on duty, all ate and drank heartily. Around the hour of Zi, Chen Xin had four personal guards relieve the duty squad as well, and everyone joyfully celebrated New Year's Eve.

On the morning of the first day of the first lunar month, just at the fifth watch, everywhere bustled with activity again. Chen Xin and Liu Minyou also rose early. Wang Daixi and the others helped burn incense and spirit money. On the table were laid the three sacrificial animals, fruits, and offerings to honor the ancestors and the Kitchen God, and another string of firecrackers was set off.

Chen Xin took his door bar and tossed it three times in front of the doorway, a custom called "Striking a Thousand Gold," to bring good fortune for the new year.

Then all the personal guards and attendants went together to the barracks mess hall. Everyone pitched in to boil water snacks (dumplings) and ate breakfast together. After the meal, Chen Xin held a collective New Year's greeting right there in the mess hall. Military households with families all sent their children to kowtow to Chen Xin and Liu Minyou, and the two men gave the children candy. Once this was done, Chen Xin and Liu Minyou took their personal guards and went out, heading to the garrison town to pay New Year's respects to their superiors.

Because he had heard that day about the bandit raid, Chen Xin changed Yang Yun's gift to twenty taels of silver, and ten taels for the Vice Prefect. The two men wrapped the silver separately and traveled all the way to the garrison town. First, they went to the gold-foil shop on North Street to pick up their New Year's greeting cards, which bore congratulatory phrases made of gold foil. They looked, indeed, very high-class.

By the time the two entered the town, the streets of Weihai were already crowded with people, all bringing their families out. When they met on the road, they exchanged New Year's greetings, and the air was filled with the sound of congratulations. The two first went to the guard command office. The Seal-holding Guard Commander normally lived in the rear hall of the command office. Ming dynasty officials often served in posts far from home, so the rear halls of government offices generally had residences, solving their housing problem.

Arriving at the main gate of the guard command office, they saw Yang Yun's steward had set up a table at the entrance, with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone laid out on it. "Greetings, my lord Chen," Yang Yun's steward said politely as soon as he saw Chen Xin. He had met Chen Xin before and knew this man had some backing.

"Happy New Year, Steward Yang. I, your humble subordinate, have come to pay New Year's respects to my lord Yang." After exchanging courtesies, Chen Xin spoke while producing the greeting card and the silver wrapped in red silk.

Steward Yang was an old family servant of Yang Yun and had also taken the surname Yang. Likely aware of the robbery, his face carried a look of worry. He forced a smile, bowed as he accepted the items, and said to Chen Xin, "My lord Chen, the Guard Commander has gone to Dengzhou to pay New Year's respects to the various lords and has not yet returned. As you know, he must also go to Ninghai Department and Wendeng County. He has been gone for quite a few days, and I estimate it will be several more before he can return. My lord Chen, you are most thoughtful. This humble servant thanks you on behalf of the master."

As Steward Yang spoke, he used a paperweight to press down a thin sheet of white paper on the table beside him, then breathed on the inkstone, ground the ink vigorously a few times, and handed the brush to Chen Xin.

Chen Xin skillfully wrote his name on the white paper. He had been prepared for the principal person's absence. These superiors also had their own superiors to whom they had to pay New Year's visits. A Seal-holding Guard Commander like Yang Yun had his superiors all in Dengzhou and Wendeng, and he had to wait until the first day of the year to visit them, so even New Year's Day had to be spent away from home. It was quite a hardship.

Steward Yang did not mention the bandits, and naturally, Chen Xin could not spoil the festive mood on the first day of the year. After a hasty farewell, he went to Vice Prefect Jiang's home. This Vice Prefect Jiang was in charge of garrison registration, rotational troops, and the armory, so he was someone worth currying favor with. He was also not at home. They left the congratulatory gift in the same manner and headed toward Wang Yuanzheng's house.

Wang Yuanzheng was still at home. When Chen Xin arrived, he happened to run into him just as he was about to go out. After Chen Xin presented the gift, Wang Yuanzheng invited the two into the main hall to sit. Seeing Wang Yuanzheng's brow still tightly furrowed, Chen Xin consoled him, "My lord, you need not worry overmuch about the bandits. When Guard Commander Yang returns, we shall lead troops and wipe out that damned Tongtian Liang."

Wang Yuanzheng's expression eased slightly, but he still sighed and said, "The autumn rotational troops have not returned, and the guard battalion is short on manpower. I made some inquiries yesterday and heard that Tongtian Liang already has over three hundred men under him, many of them former government troops and rebels who scattered during Xu Hongru's rebellion. Once the New Year festivities are over, even if we do wipe them out, those goods will likely have all been ruined."

Liu Minyou interjected, "Since my lord Yang is not here, my lord Wang, could you first mobilize troops to strike them?"

Wang Yuanzheng shook his head. "I have only six or seven retainers and just over fifty military households under my direct command. Without my lord Yang's orders, those other Vice Prefects, Assistant Commanders, and Battalion Commanders will not heed my command. If I cannot even muster the troops, how can I go suppress them?"

Chen Xin was quite enthusiastic about suppressing the bandits. His own unit had trained for two months and ought to see some blood. These bandits would be perfect for practice. He said to Wang Yuanzheng, "Your humble subordinate has over sixty combat soldiers under his command. Although they came for coastal patrol, since that Tongtian Liang dared to offend my lord Wang, this is intolerable. Whenever my lord Wang gives the word, I am ready to follow your orders at any time."

Wang Yuanzheng's eyes brightened, then dimmed again. He shook his head. "Even combined, we would only have a hundred men. How could we defeat Tongtian Liang's three hundred fierce bandits? If we fail, we would further incur the Guard Commander Yang's punishment. I appreciate your kind intentions, Company Commander Chen, but let us wait for my lord Yang's return. Then we can muster the guard battalion's troops, smash that bandit lair in one vigorous assault, and rid Wendeng County of this scourge as well."

Chen Xin was actually quite uneasy himself. His earlier words were merely to express loyalty and earn some goodwill. After all, there were several hundred bandits, and his own small force had never seen battle. He had no idea how they would perform against them. Seeing that Wang Yuanzheng dared not go, he gladly took the graceful exit, merely requesting that Wang Yuanzheng call on him to join the expedition when the time came.

After leaving, Chen Xin said to Liu Minyou, "Give them one more day of leave tomorrow. Training resumes the day after. The logistics squad will halt all civilian labor and practice forced marches with full packs. Also, buy some more mules."

Liu Minyou knew they were going to war and had no choice but to agree. After thinking a moment, he added, "Mules are terribly expensive. One costs five or six taels, and a sturdy mule for long hauls costs nearly ten taels. They can't plow fields either, so we should buy fewer."

Chen Xin was somewhat surprised that mules were so expensive. Horses later on would be even more costly, then. After considering it, he still said, "Buy five. Tell Tang Zuoxiang and the others to think of a way to see if they can improve some plows."

Liu Minyou said, "I also asked about the price of oxen. Around seven or eight taels each. We'll need at least several head. Those military households gave it a try and can now manage to plow the land. I plan to buy the oxen in a few days."

"Mm, civilian affairs are your responsibility. Arrange it as you see fit."

Chen Xin called over several personal guards and said to them, "Dahui and Shifa, starting the day after tomorrow, begin gathering information around the garrison town about that Tongtian Liang. His numbers, weapons, the location of his stronghold. Report back within three days. Gouzi and Nie Hong, you two dress in civilian clothes. Travel from the garrison town to Zhuqi Mountain and survey the terrain along the route. No need to enter the mountains. Also start the day after tomorrow, report back within five days."

Everyone answered in unison. Although their leave was canceled, knowing they might be going to war stirred a hint of anticipation in their hearts. Chen Xin had no confidence in the guard battalion troops, so he still arranged for his own men to gather intelligence, to have a clear picture in mind and avoid being used as cannon fodder without even knowing it.

The group continued to pay New Year's visits to the homes of several Assistant Commanders, the Guard Judge, and the Registrar. Finally, they went to the Left Battalion Commander's headquarters. Both the Left and Forward Battalion headquarters of Weihai were in the garrison town; only the Rear Battalion was at the Baishiya Defense Battalion. Battalion Commander Zeng had already returned home and warmly received Chen Xin and the other man. He did not shy away from the matter of the Guard Commander being robbed. He even asked Chen Xin if he would be willing to join the expedition when the time came. Chen Xin, of course, repeated what he had said earlier, and took the opportunity to ask about Tongtian Liang's situation.

"That Tongtian Liang was originally a civilian householder. He served as a combat soldier in Dengzhou and took quite a few heads during the campaign against the Wenxiang Sect. Later, he thought the pay was too low and turned bandit. He first operated in the Kunlun Mountains (the ones in Wendeng). Dengzhou suppressed him once, and he fled to Zhuqi Mountain. This area is not a major thoroughfare. Aside from Weihai and Chengshan, no other merchants pass through here. He himself is also cautious and rarely kills during robberies, so he was never dealt with."

"So that's how it is. Then why did he rob my lord Yang's goods?"

Battalion Commander Zeng shook his head. "That I do not know. I heard he absorbed two small bands of bandits this year. Perhaps there wasn't enough food to go around." He lowered his voice and said with feigned secrecy, "I heard that several of my lord Yang's retainers were killed. This time, my lord Yang probably won't let it go. Sooner or later, he will send troops to suppress him. Since my lord Chen is willing, you should make preparations early. Tongtian Liang has some truly fierce bandits under his command."

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By the time the group returned to the fortified village, it was nearly supper time. Lanterns hung in front of every household. Most people were beneath the wooden platform in the northeast corner, watching a hired theater troupe perform. Even people from Mazidun had come in considerable numbers to join the fun, while children ran about through the crowd.

Chen Xin summoned all officers from squad leader up, plus Liu Minyou. They all entered the barracks and held a meeting in the battalion headquarters office.

After all the officers saluted Chen Xin, he sat down and briefly explained the situation regarding Tongtian Liang. Then he said directly, "We may soon accompany the Guard Commander on a campaign to suppress bandits. All previously granted leave is hereby canceled. The training schedule is also adjusted. Starting the third day, the firearms squad and the killer squad will begin joint training, with an additional hour of small-unit confrontation drills each day. The logistics squad will conduct two twenty-li forced marches with full packs daily."

All the squad leaders were only now learning of this. Having finally gotten some leave only to have it canceled left them somewhat dejected, but thinking that after all their training they could finally see what they were really made of, their hearts stirred with eagerness.

"Minyou, organize the other military households, women, and children to prepare sun-dried rice and dried meat. The quantity should be enough for each soldier to carry five days' rations, and the logistics squad to carry ten days' rations for the entire force."

Liu Minyou took notes as he asked, "Sun-dried rice needs to be dried in the sun. The sun isn't strong right now; I'm afraid there won't be enough time."

"If sun-drying won't work, use fire to dry it. Have it all ready within five days."

Liu Minyou's entire farming plan was thrown into disarray, but war was a major matter, so he nodded in agreement. The sun-dried rice they spoke of was made by husking rice, soaking it in water, and repeatedly steaming and drying it ten times, reducing its weight to one-fifth of the original, with each dan weighing only about thirty jin. When eating, it was soaked in boiling water. It was a field ration used by the Song dynasty army, and the Ming army also used it extensively. This item was easy to carry and effectively replenished calories. The dried meat supplemented protein. Although they were accompanying the guard battalion on campaign and there should be auxiliary troops transporting army provisions, Chen Xin held no expectations whatsoever for what a late-Ming guard battalion could deliver.

"Zhou Shifa will be responsible for leading the personal guards to gather intelligence on Tongtian Liang, as well as water sources, terrain, and campsite conditions along the route."

"Yes, my lord." Zhou Shifa had performed well in Dengzhou. Chen Xin assigning him this task carried the intent of giving him greater responsibility. Lu Chuanzong had now returned to the combat squad. Zhou Shifa's only competitors were Zhang Dahui and Nie Hong. Zhang Dahui would likely soon leave for Jingshi. Zhou Shifa began calculating in his mind how to excel at this task and outshine Nie Hong.

The information on Tongtian Liang was very sketchy, and the others could not ask any more questions. Chen Xin concluded, "Starting tomorrow, all combat soldiers are forbidden from leaving the barracks. Tell the soldiers that battle is imminent. If they want to stay alive, they'd better train like their lives depend on it. The specific combat objective is not to be disclosed, or it will be treated as a violation of military law. Once intelligence gathering is complete, distribute it to all squad leaders. Every squad leader must submit their own combat recommendations. Now, dismissed."

"Yes, my lord."