Chapter 278: Civil Governance and Martial Prowess, The Letter Brings Urgent News

During the Jingzhi era of Great Yong, the regional military governors grew immensely powerful.

Zhu Cheng, the sole son of the Prince of Changting, hid his true name and adopted the alias Zhu Yong; rising from commoner status, he consolidated the forces of the regional governors and marched south. In merely two years, he had already occupied four provinces, and those in the north who had witnessed the Xiang Army declared its discipline impeccable, possessing a momentum like a tiger devouring Shanhe.

Nowadays, Yuzhou, one of the nine key border garrisons, was also mostly under the control of the Northern Xiang Army.

The character 'Xiang' implies removing one's clothes to till the land; as stated in the *Shuowen Jiezi*: "Xiang denotes the invigorated state of removing clothes to plow, suggesting an upward surge of spirit," or it may be borrowed to mean high, remove, assist, or accomplish.

Zhu Huaian named his troops the Xiang Army to tell the world that the Northern Army fought for the sake of all common people; by adopting the alias Zhu Yong and starting from the lowest ranks of the military, it was equivalent to stripping off noble robes to join the ranks as a commoner, placing himself in the same camp as the ordinary populace.

At this time within Yuzhou, Wu Wencai, who had only just emerged from his struggles as a Hanlin Academy Shujishi two years prior to take up the post of Magistrate of Danchi County, was deeply worried.

"I endured ten years of cold window study and suffered countless hardships before finally achieving success and becoming a county magistrate, yet now, in merely two years, Yuzhou has been breached by rebel troops; once they break through the city walls, how shall I respond?"

Beside him, the county advisor offered a suggestion: "My lord, the rebel forces are overwhelming; if we abandon the city now and retreat to Jingcheng, there is still time."

"Retreat? How is abandoning the city and fleeing any different from being a deserter? Moreover, if I leave, who will care for the people of this county? If chaos erupts, how many more families will be torn apart?"

On the city wall, Wu Wencai, who had grown a short beard, no longer displayed his former high spirits but instead bore an air of hardship and steadiness; he sighed, "Nowadays, I only hope that the Northern Xiang Army is truly as rumors claim, harming not even a single dog or pig among the common people."

"Does my lord intend to surrender?" The advisor's eyes lit up, while the military officer serving as garrison commander nearby also cast a glance over.

The Northern Xiang Army was fierce and unconquerable; many counties and prefectures in Yuzhou surrendered without a fight, whereas those who insisted on opposing the Northern Xiang Army mostly met bad ends.

Compassion cannot command troops; once two armies engage in battle, many matters slip beyond control and become impossible to retrieve.

Among those present, those with the heart to fight to the death were few and far between, while the rest dared not gamble on the likes or dislikes of the Northern Xiang Army.

Wu Wencai looked around at the advisor and the garrison officers, speaking softly, "As a subject of Great Yong, I received the imperial court's favor to achieve my present standing; if I surrender without fighting, would I not become a person devoid of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness?"

"Then does my lord intend to..."

Wu Wencai reached out to rest his hand on the city wall, gazing at the dust clouds in the distance with profound eyes, and said, "Garrison Commander Zhang, bring me a bow!"

The garrison commander beside him hesitated for a moment before handing the bow to the magistrate.

Wu Wencai watched the sand and dust approaching from afar.

In the twilight, an army clad in black armor stood solemnly like a forest, the exposed edges of their blades reflecting a cold gleam; armor clashed with a ringing sound, and the posture of every officer and soldier was as steadfast as a pine or a mountain, their discipline so impeccable it could strike fear into ghosts and gods.

Below, a flag-bearer with a loud voice stepped forward, raising a golden banner while mounted on horseback, demanding that the main civil and military officials of Danchi County immediately open the gates and submit.

Wu Wencai drew his longbow, clenched his teeth, and loosed an arrow toward the military formation outside the city!

The flag-bearer below was startled, thinking that some martial expert intended to make an example of him as a warning!

The flag-bearer hid beneath his horse's belly and spurred his mount backward, yet he did not expect the arrow to lose momentum halfway and stick into the ground.

Wu Wencai dropped the longbow and said, "Firing not a single arrow would be surrendering without a fight; today, by loosing one arrow, I have declared my stance."

"However, as a county magistrate, I failed to defend our territory for the dynasty; this crime remains unforgivable. From this day forward, I am a criminal official of Great Yong and no longer your superior."

Wu Wencai raised both hands, removed his official hat with its finial, and solemnly placed it upon the city wall.

The imperial court had withheld military pay, forcing the Town-North Army to defect, and the military pay in the counties and prefectures of Yuzhou had suffered similarly; had Wu Wencai not devoted his utmost effort over these past two years to manage the administration in perfect order and provide extra care for the soldiers, those military officers would likely have already defected to the enemy in pursuit of glory!

"A single Danchi County cannot withstand the iron army of Northern Xiang; if, because of me alone, the people of the county suffer and the soldiers lose their lives in vain, that would be my sin."

"Garrison Commander Zhang, County Vice-Magistrate Li, today I alone refuse to surrender; this has nothing to do with you. If the Northern Xiang Army assigns blame, the responsibility rests solely with me."

"My lord..." The Vice-Magistrate and Garrison Commander Zhang almost spoke simultaneously, but as they watched Wu Wencai descend from the city wall, neither stepped forward to stop him.

Only the advisor jogged after him.

"Why did my lord have to loose that arrow? If it angers the Northern Xiang Army, won't disaster befall us?"

Wu Wencai did not reply; what he shot was not an arrow, but his own unwillingness!

Despite harboring lofty ambitions, he had ultimately found himself trapped in a dilemma.

On one side stood the loyalty and righteousness of a subject, on the other the safety of the common people; on one side lay the thoroughly rotten Great Yong, on the other the newly risen 'Army of Benevolence and Righteousness.'

How could this war be fought?

"Aren't you afraid of being implicated by following me?" Wu Wencai asked.

"My lord bestowed upon me the grace of recognizing my talent; without my lord, I would still be a prisoner trapped in jail, unable to wash away my injustice. If my lord truly intends to battle the Northern Xiang Army, I too shall sacrifice my life to accompany a gentleman!"

Wu Wencai smiled and said, "That is unnecessary; if the Northern Xiang Army is truly as rumors claim, you and I may not face disaster. At that time, I shall retire to the mountains and forests, never entering the official world again."

The two returned to the government office, but before Wu Wencai could finish instructing his subordinates, a contingent of the Northern Xiang Army, strictly dressed in military gear, had already surrounded the government office.

The leading officer arrived before the hall and shouted, "Where is Wu Wencai?"

The advisor's face turned ashen as he thought, "It's over!"

Wu Wencai chuckled lightly, stepped forward, and spoke without fear, "I am Wu Wencai; the arrow on the city wall was also loosed by me. Kill me or carve me, as you please!"

The visitor raised an eyebrow, looking at the unyielding Wu Wencai with a degree of appreciation in his heart, and said, "My commander has a letter and ordered me to deliver it to you personally."

Having spoken, the officer handed a letter to Wu Wencai.

"May I ask the general's name?"

"My surname is Wang, given name Liang."

Wu Wencai took the letter, opened it, and glanced through it quickly, his eyes instantly widening.

Wu Wencai took the letter, opened it, and glanced through it hastily; his eyes immediately widened.

The moment the character 'Zhu' left his lips, Wu Wencai instantly realized the implication; he hastily put away the letter and said, "Please trouble General Wang to report back that I need a day or two to consider this matter; I will give my answer tomorrow."

Wang Liang nodded and said, "Our army long ago learned that this county has abundant granaries, moderate taxes, and clear justice, truly due to Magistrate Wu's capable governance; henceforth, we ask that Magistrate Wu continue his benevolent policies for the people's welfare, so that this county may stabilize as soon as possible."

"General Wang, I am an official of Great Yong, and you are the Northern Xiang..."

Wang Liang raised his hand to interrupt, saying, "Magistrate Wu need not rush to answer; I know Magistrate Wu loves the people as his own children, so for the sake of stability within the city, what harm is there in acting as governor for a few days?"

"I have urgent matters and cannot linger; I hope Magistrate Wu understands."

"I still have urgent matters to attend to and cannot linger; I hope Magistrate Wu will understand."

Wu Wencai intended to say more, but he saw Wang Liang clasp his hands, turn, and exit the government office.

Outside the government office, Wang Liang walked toward the troops and shouted, "All armies, heed my command! We are an army of benevolence and righteousness; any soldier who violates military discipline and takes even a single coin or thread from the people shall be immediately executed! Those who abuse the common people shall be treated as rapists of the army; those who steal goods or claim others' merit shall be executed as thieves of the army!"

Wu Wencai walked out of the government office just as soldiers of the Northern Xiang Army were passing through the street in front of the building.

Wu Wencai stepped out of the government office just as soldiers of the Northern Xiang Army were passing along the street in front.