Chapter 89: Wendeng Camp

In the barracks of the First Killer Squad, a circle of small stools had been set out. This time none of them had died in battle, and the two with light injuries were already out of danger — the whole squad was present.

Wang Zhangfu started with the man beside him: "Fan Shouye, you go first."

"I won't mention anything else, just one thing. What I fear most is other people screaming wildly, especially the wounded ones. At the start it scared me so much my hands got a bit, well, you know." Wang Zhangfu listened and jotted it down at the same time. He didn't know many characters, so he crookedly wrote two words: fear screaming.

"Huang Yuan!"

"I'll say two things. First, if we all had a suit of armor like Lord Dai's, there'd be far fewer wounded. This cotton armor isn't bad either, but it can't stop heavy weapons. Second, we fight in the front row, so when bonuses are handed out we ought to get more than the two squads in the second row."

Wang Zhangfu noted that down too — wrote the character for "armor" in front, and drew a sycee behind it.

The others spoke up one after another, and Wang Zhangfu recorded each in turn. He was not practiced at writing; his wrist ached with soreness, worse than fighting a battle.

"Zhou Shao'er!"

Every face in the squad showed displeasure. This fire soldier Zhou Shao'er had performed very poorly this time. Not fighting in the front row was required by regulation, so they'd let that pass, but he hadn't even done his own duty properly. Specifically, he'd cut far too few heads. Their small squad alone had killed over ten right in front of the formation, and even more during the pursuit. This Zhou Shao'er, on the other hand, had cut only four heads in total. The fire soldiers in several other squads had all cut over ten heads.

Although Chen Xin did not judge each squad's performance by head count, there was still a procedure for handing in heads, because heads were needed when reporting merit up the chain. The squads also had a competitive mindset among themselves, and the head count was an important benchmark in that rivalry.

Long-blade man Zhong Laosi cut in: "Squad leader, I left one thing out. This fire soldier doesn't go to the front row either, yet he usually draws the same monthly pay as us. If the combat bonus this time is still the same, I won't accept it in my heart."

Zhou Shao'er's face went bright red. He stood up stammering, not knowing what to say. When he'd been cutting heads, looking at the corpses and blood covering the ground, both his hands had gone weak. He hacked away for ages without taking a single one. Later the guard-battalion troops also ran over and scrambled wildly for heads, so he hadn't managed to cut many.

What Zhong Laosi had said was too complicated; Wang Zhangfu couldn't get it down. He looked at what he'd written earlier and suddenly burst out cursing: "Damn your mother, I told you to give combat opinions, and what kind of farts are you all letting out? Nothing but silver or clothes. Every one of you, say it again for me, and only about combat — and you'd better offer suggestions for improvement."

He looked up and saw that Zhou Shao'er had already stood up and was standing there awkwardly. Although he was also somewhat dissatisfied with Zhou Shao'er, he was after all the commanding officer and could not show his feelings as freely as an ordinary soldier. He softened his expression and said gently to Zhou Shao'er: "Zhou Shao'er, since you're already standing, you go first."

Zhou Shao'er's face grew even redder. He glanced cautiously at everyone and stammered without getting anything out. Zhong Laosi gave two cold snorts of laughter off to the side.

Wang Zhangfu shot Zhong Laosi two hard looks and said to Zhou Shao'er: "If you don't have any opinion, you don't need to speak. I'll make one up for you when the time comes, and we'll count it as you having spoken."

"No, I — I have an opinion."

"Oh, then say it."

"Our Mandarin Duck Formation has five types of weapons, and with my carrying pole that makes six…"

Zhong Laosi burst out laughing: "That carrying pole of yours counts as a weapon?!"

A wave of laughter rose around them, though not all of it was malicious. Wang Zhangfu, wearing a hint of a smile himself, said to Zhong Laosi: "Shut your dog mouth. If you spout any more nonsense, I'm docking your discipline points."

Only then did Zhong Laosi hold in his laughter and stop talking.

Zhou Shao'er continued, his voice even quieter: "I'm a fire soldier. A fire soldier ought to learn weapons too, and ought to learn every weapon. If someone gets wounded, the fire soldier can step up and take over."

Having said this, he suddenly seemed to become a different person. His eyes fixed steadily on Wang Zhangfu. "I can train on my own. Whatever I don't know, I'll ask the squad leader to teach me."…

Wang Zhangfu looked Zhou Shao'er over with some surprise. It seemed that in this timid Zhou Shao'er, a manner he had never shown before had suddenly appeared. The comrades around him felt the same. Wang Zhangfu thought the opinion Zhou Shao'er had raised was also very pertinent. The Mandarin Duck Formation, plus the squad leader's banner-spear, indeed made five types of weapons in total, each requiring different skills. This time, after two men were wounded, the rear formation had become incomplete. If the fire soldier could fill in, it would indeed strengthen combat power at critical moments. However, he very much doubted whether Zhou Shao'er could learn so many weapons.

Zhou Shao'er saw everyone looking at him and shrank back a little, but then immediately puffed out his chest again and said: "I also draw a combat soldier's silver. Today I watched Lord Chen see off Tang Haoliang at his funeral. I'm not afraid of fighting in the front row. I only ask everyone to keep me."

Zhong Laosi still looked somewhat disdainful. He had always looked down on this timid fire soldier and had many times forced Zhou Shao'er to wash his clothes and socks for him. Wang Zhangfu had only told him not to go too far and had never seriously reined him in. Zhong Laosi had bullied Zhou Shao'er many times, and in his heart he did not believe this man could become a real combat soldier. He had seen it when they recruited him — not because he had passed Zhu Guobin's preliminary selection, but only because he had honestly stayed put without moving, and Lord Chen had picked him directly. Although Zhong Laosi greatly respected Chen Xin, he still did not think this Zhou Shao'er had been chosen correctly.

Wang Zhangfu fixed his gaze on Zhou Shao'er for a moment, then nodded and said: "Very well. I will raise this opinion at Lord Chen's summary meeting. If Lord Chen agrees, you may train in skills with the squad. If he does not agree, you will have to practice on your own."

"Many thanks, squad leader."

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

In his official business room, Chen Xin held two pages of a letter and read slowly. His reading speed was not fast; he was still somewhat unaccustomed to the vertical arrangement of lines. Wang Yong sat respectfully on the lower seat. He had brought a letter from Song Wenxian in Dengzhou. Also standing in the room were Zhou Shifa and Hai Gouzi.

In the letter, Song Wenxian began by complaining at length about the matter of Xiao Jiahua. That young mistress had made his rear courtyard so noisy every day that he could get no peace. He had already rented a separate courtyard for Xiao Jiahua to live in. Then he got down to business. Chen Xin's reputation as an anti-eunuch-faction man had finally reached Dengzhou before the New Year. Circuit Intendant Zhong and Provincial Governor Sun had both summoned Song Wenxian to ask about the situation. Song Wenxian had decided on his own to set out for Jingshi on the twenty-fifth of the first month, and had sent Wang Yong with a letter to ask whether Chen Xin had any other matters that needed handling.

After reading it, Chen Xin put the letter away and said amiably to Wang Yong: "Did Brother Wang come by the overland route?"

"Yes. I walk fast; it took me only five days. Mr. Song is busy preparing to leave. If there is nothing else, I will return to Dengzhou tomorrow."

"Brother Wang has worked hard. In a moment, Shifa, go draw five taels of silver for Brother Wang."

Wang Yong hurriedly rose to give thanks. He was not short of money, but Lord Chen always treated people very courteously, even servants the same way, and Wang Yong felt quite gratified in his heart.

"I must still trouble Brother Wang to stay one more day. Tomorrow, after I have written my reply, I will ask Brother Wang to take it back."

"Yes, I shall follow Lord Chen's arrangements."

After saying this, Wang Yong shot Chen Xin a meaningful glance. Chen Xin hesitated a moment, then dismissed his two personal guards and said with a smile: "Does Mr. Song have other verbal messages?"

Wang Yong said respectfully: "There are some matters concerning the various lords that Mr. Song found inconvenient to put in writing. Lord Sun has been rather anxious and flustered of late. He has repeatedly pressed Dongjiang Garrison to attack the Jianzhou bandits, hoping to gain more military merit, and has also sent people to Jingshi one after another to work connections. The situation does not seem good. According to what Mr. Song has heard in Dengzhou, most of Wei Zhongxian's faction members in Jingshi have already been dismissed and imprisoned. Various powers in Jingshi are all eyeing the substantive local official posts. There should still be a round of contention. Mr. Song estimates that Sun Guozhen's crimes will not be decided for a while yet."…

Chen Xin nodded repeatedly as he listened. The eunuch faction had originally occupied key posts in the provinces. Now the imperially decreed purge had not yet begun; every power would be scrambling, and much compromise and deal-making would still be needed. The original incumbents would also be working their connections, at the very least to secure a retirement with body intact. Sun Guozhen was a clear-cut member of the eunuch faction, and this time he was certain to have to cough up blood and capital.

Matters concerning Circuit Intendant Zhong were things Song Wenxian would not discuss with Wang Yong, so the verbal message had only conveyed the situation regarding Sun Guozhen. Chen Xin was not qualified to take part in these power struggles in Jingshi; the most he could do was perhaps drag Circuit Intendant Zhong into the water. He merely listened with a faint smile.

"Sun Guozhen urgently needs silver for his activities in Jingshi. He has summoned Mr. Song several times and hinted that this year's maritime trade should begin preparations earlier. Mr. Song's meaning is still to ask Lord Chen."

Chen Xin pondered briefly, then said: "I will return to Tianjin in the second month to arrange the purchase of goods. This time I plan to send two ships. My own capital is insufficient. If Lord Zhong and Lord Sun both wish to take shares in both ships, their capital — I would ask Mr. Song to bring it to Tianjin. As for Mr. Song's own share, I can give him ten percent; it just depends on how much he is willing to invest."

Wang Yong listened and said with some hesitation: "It's very hard to say how much longer Sun Guozhen can remain Provincial Governor, and this is a time when he urgently needs silver. I fear it will be difficult for him to produce any."

Chen Xin said impassively: "If the principal is too little, then we'll send one ship. However, I believe Sun Guozhen can scrape together the silver. You need not find it awkward; just tell Mr. Song my words directly."

Sun Guozhen's official position was unstable. To rake in a profit before leaving, and with returns this high — it was very hard for an ordinary person to resist that temptation. It all depended on whether he had the guts to take the gamble. Chen Xin's aim was precisely to draw this lord's money out. If he did invest the silver, whether or not he got it back in the end would depend on how long he could hold onto his post. The most worrisome possibility at the moment was that he might use his official rank to press down directly and force Chen Xin to put up the capital for him. But the reputation Chen Xin had earned in Jingshi was now proving useful. Presumably Sun Guozhen would also have to consider whether, at this critical juncture, if he still tried to coerce a hero who had opposed the eunuch faction, he could ever hope to shed the label of eunuch partisan.

Thinking of this, Chen Xin felt quietly pleased with himself. Who said the trip to Jingshi had brought no tangible benefit?

"Brother Wang, there is one more message. Please be sure to deliver it to Mr. Song. If we want the two lords to put out more silver, a certain woman is very important. It will just require putting Mr. Song out a little — spend more time teaching that woman the rules, so that she more closely resembles a young lady from a wealthy family."

Wang Yong's expression was somewhat puzzled. Chen Xin guessed that Song Wenxian had not told him about the matter of Xiao Jiahua. When Song Wenxian had left, he had agreed to go back and properly train Xiao Jiahua, tell her some things about Chen Xin, and fabricate for her the background of a young lady from Zhangjiawan, so as to make the two lords in Dengzhou believe it.

Wang Yong could not keep up with Chen Xin's leaping train of thought, so he could only commit these words firmly to memory and recite them back to Song Wenxian when he returned.

After memorizing it, Wang Yong added: "Mr. Song also mentioned one last matter. If the Battalion Commander wishes to raise more troops, he could indeed contend for the troop quota of Wendeng Camp."

"Wendeng Camp? Is that the combat troops of Wendeng County?" Chen Xin had not been here long and had never heard of this camp unit.

"It seems not exactly. I can't explain it clearly in a moment either. After Mr. Song returned and heard about it from other colleagues, he checked the troop registers. It existed in the past during the preparations against the Japanese pirates. Later, as the Japanese pirates gradually died out, Wendeng Camp also slowly declined, but the troop quota still exists. He said that the quota of over a hundred pirate-hunting troops in Weihai is part of Wendeng Camp. If you can obtain this troop quota, you can raise more soldiers. Lord Chen may first make inquiries within the guard."

"Wendeng Camp." Chen Xin stroked his chin and murmured the words to himself.