Chapter 307: The Uncrowned Military Authority

The fourteenth year of Emperor Jia Zhao, the fifteenth day of the fifth month.

Liaodong, Yafu Pass.

Hundreds of Fifth Army Corps musketeers on rotation packed their tents, inspected gunpowder, and gathered their firearms.

These musketeers were preparing their battle gear to depart with Jia Congchengsi, returning to the Five Army Corps in the Love Shenjing for routine rotation.

Firearms had proven devastatingly effective in the Liaodong campaigns, and Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao grew even more reliant on them.

He expanded and renamed the Love Shenjing's Fifth Army Musketeer Corps as the Divine Mechanism Corps, increasing its roster to three thousand musketeers.

Upon Jia Congchengsi's recommendation, these musketeers would rotate regularly to frontier garrisons such as Datong, Qiu Xuanfu, and Liaodong for practical combat training, forging a disciplined, battle-hardened firearms force.

Before leaving the Love Shenjing, Jia Congchengsi had left Liu Liu Shizhen sketches of the later-era Hongyi cannons; rumors said breakthroughs had been made in modifying the Franks cannons at the firearms workshop.

Soon, based on hard-won artillery experience from the Battle of Yafu Pass, a dedicated artillery unit would be formed within the Divine Mechanism Corps.

Currently, pirate raids ravaged coastal prefectures in the southeast, and frequent friction occurred along the southern Guangdong and western seas with foreign states.

With the eradication of the Jurchen forces, Liaodong now held a temporary but vast vacuum.

Liu Yong, Assistant Regional Commander of Yafu Pass, led a thousand cavalry in repeated charges during the great victory at Yafu Pass, demonstrating exceptional command ability and earning the second-highest merit after Jia Congchengsi.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao was already planning to establish a Southern Branch of the Firearms Office to build firearms workshops in the south, preparing defenses for the Jiangnan coastline.

…

Having already achieved extraordinary feats in Liaodong, he had no need to push further—such excess would invite backlash.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao had issued an edict permitting imperial merchants of the Neiwu Prefecture to open shops and workshops in Liaodong, stimulating civilian prosperity across the frontier.

By then, Madelen, who preferred warm climates, would likely fulfill her wish to reside in a milder land.

This Liaodong campaign against the Jurchens, destined to be recorded in the annals of the Great Zhou, would one day be recognized as the moment a latent new force first stirred.

He was merely a fifth-rank civil official, a civilian with a military title, under twenty years old, and had served in military affairs for less than half a year—yet he had risen to the post of Deputy Regional Commander of a critical frontier garrison. Once the glory of the Qingyuanji victory faded,

…

After the Qingyuanji victory, someone in the Ministry of War had recommended Jia Congchengsi for the post of Deputy Regional Commander of Liaodong, and the matter had been mentioned in official correspondence between the Ministry and Liaodong.

Leading the Left Army on a thousand-li pursuit of Jurchen remnants, though lacking Jia Congchengsi's dazzling triumphs, he advanced steadily, accomplished his mission without fault, bold yet composed.

Dozens of wounded soldiers with stable conditions also returned to the capital, some too injured to continue serving.

Jia Congchengsi had become the brightest star of this campaign, yet he was not the only one whose star rose through it.

Thus, at Jia Congchengsi's earnest invitation, the artillery instructor Madelen altered her return itinerary and would accompany Jia Congchengsi to the Love Shenjing's Firearms Office.

Before returning to the Love Shenjing, Jia Congchengsi and Zhou Zhou Guangcheng meticulously planned the details of expanding trade routes and establishing workshops across the frontier.

This was a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for Xinchun Company; Jia Congchengsi believed that within two years, Xinchun would take firm root in Liaodong.

Qu Qu Hongxiu and Qin Qin Keqing, upon receiving Jia Congchengsi's letter, dispatched Zhou Zhou Guangcheng with a contingent of recruits from Jin Ling to launch Xinchun's Liaodong branch and workshops.

Upon learning this, Jia Congchengsi promptly submitted a memorial to the Ministry of War, firmly declining the appointment.

The ashes of fallen firearms corps soldiers from this Liaodong campaign were also transported back to their hometowns.

It was foreseeable he would become a target.

So many veteran generals, spent half their lives in arms, languished in low ranks—he, in one battle, gained fame and tangible rewards, then seized a position under everyone's gaze; it was no wonder he drew envy.

Moreover, the Liaodong campaign had ended; there was little room left for further action. He had no reason to take on such a burden.

In his memorial, he strongly recommended Assistant Regional Commander Liu Yong for his loyalty, bravery, and proven command, declaring him worthy of great responsibility.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao greatly approved of Jia Congchengsi's wisdom in stepping back from military power at the height of his achievement.

After consulting Regional Commander Liang Liang Chengzong, the Ministry of War recommended Liu Yong as Deputy Regional Commander of the Liaodong Garrison.

Upon learning Jia Congchengsi had yielded the position and championed him, Liu Yong grew even more reverent and grateful toward Jia Congchengsi, and now intended to accompany him to the capital for an audience with the Emperor.

Deng Hui, Mobile Corps Commander of the Yonglan Pass leading the central army, capitalized on Jia Congchengsi's diversion of the main Jurchen force, breaking through multiple Jurchen fortresses along the way and slaying over two hundred enemies.

Deng Hui was promoted by Liang Liang Chengzong to Assistant Regional Commander of Yonglan Pass, becoming a commander in charge of an entire pass—a crucial step forward in his military career.

Under Jia Congchengsi's leadership and the firearms corps' string of victories, Battalion Commander Wei Yongzhou was promoted to Battalion Commander, assuming command of the Liaodong firearms corps.

Guo Zhi was promoted from Squad Leader to Battalion Commander; Jiang Xiao replaced Guo Zhi as Squad Leader; both would become core figures of the Liaodong firearms force.

All these men had risen through merit in the Liaodong Jurchen campaign, their promotions directly tied to Jia Congchengsi.

Jia Congchengsi had become the implicit center binding them together.

Once Jia Congchengsi returned to the capital and received honors and promotion, this latent cohesion would gradually solidify into a lasting force.

Not to mention the unparalleled prestige Jia Congchengsi had earned among the Liaodong troops—this reputation would endure for years.

Throughout history, civil officials controlling military commanders had always been deliberate policy.

Civil officials rotated every three years in office; few ever served more than three years in one location.

Military commanders spent their lives in service; ten years stationed on the frontier was common, due to the need for generals to know their troops and terrain.

Thus, the fluid civil officials, wielding authority over entrenched military commanders, became the standard method of balance for those in power.

Fortunately, though Jia Congchengsi now commanded troops and earned merit, he bore the halo of dual imperial examination success, his literary reputation shielding him, and his official rank remained within the civil cadre.

He had entered the game, cultivated an undeniable latent influence, yet still, in some measure, remained outside it…

…

In a small courtyard east of Yafu Pass's hamlet stood three single-story rooms.

Liaodong was now desolate and bitterly cold, devoid of the floral splendor of Jiangnan; around the courtyard, Zhi had planted grasses and leafy plants—no bright blooms or fragrance, yet thriving.

A shaded pergola had been built against the wall, shielding from summer sun and winter snow.

Beneath the pergola stood three wooden cages, each lined with thick dry straw.

Every corner of the courtyard radiated unusual cleanliness and order—the owner must be meticulous and disciplined; such tidiness was rare in this military outpost.

As Jia Congchengsi and Ai Li arrived at the courtyard gate, the hawk perched on Ai Li's shoulder spread its wings and flew into one of the cages.

Two trunks stood in the courtyard, filled with packed belongings.

A woman with a composed, delicate face stepped out of the house; she appeared no more than thirty, yet her temples were streaked with gray, her eyes bearing the marks of hardship.

After returning to Yafu Pass with the army, Jia Congchengsi had enjoyed a relatively quiet period.

This courtyard was Ai Li's home; he had often accompanied her here during this time, and it was now deeply familiar to him.

Today was the day he departed for the Love Shenjing; Ai Li would accompany him, taking her mother along.

Ai Li not only wished to return her mother to her homeland, she also longed to see the grand landscapes Jia Congchengsi had described across the rivers and mountains of the south and north.

She was still young, full of curiosity and longing for the world.

The woman said to Jia Congchengsi: "Young Master Jia, I beg you to look after us on our journey south."

Jia Congchengsi smiled: "Madam Xu, you're too kind. When I came to Liaodong, I could not have accomplished much without Ai Li's help; escorting you south is but a small favor."

Beside him, Ai Li blinked her luminous eyes, pleased—his praise always brought her joy.

In truth, since first meeting Ai Li's mother, Jia Congchengsi had sensed she was no ordinary frontier woman.

From Xu's gaze and bearing, it was clear she had received fine upbringing and refinement in her youth.

Ai Li had once told him her mother was from Jiangnan, having married years ago to her father, a Cossack falconer captured by wild Jurchens.

At the time, Jia Congchengsi had suspected her mother was the daughter of a disgraced official; how else could a Jiangnan woman end up in this remote northern land, marrying a foreigner?

After seeing her refined appearance and demeanor, he became certain of his guess.

Yet, after spending much time with Ai Li, he noticed her own knowledge of her mother's origins seemed vague.

Jia Congchengsi naturally did not press—such private matters were none of his business.

Outside the courtyard stood a prepared carriage; Jia Congchengsi had Guo Zhi and Jiang Xiao help load Xu's belongings onto it.

He and Ai Li each carried one of the two wooden cages containing the hawks, securing them firmly atop the carriage.

Jia Congchengsi had already planned that upon returning to the Love Shenjing, he would have Ai Li use her bird-training skills to establish message relay stations where needed.

In this age, even swift horses could not overcome the delays in communication; speed in information meant precious advantage.

Jia Congchengsi noticed Xu lingered for a moment in the courtyard as she left, as if remembering something, and before departing, she locked the gate behind her.

For every person, every ending carries a new beginning.

Whether Jia Congchengsi, Ai Li, or even the unusual Xu, the end of the Liaodong Jurchen campaign had altered their paths, permanently diverting them from their former trajectories.

(End of Chapter)