Chapter 39

"Rise."

After standing up, Huang Shi cautiously studied the man before him — the Liaodong Grand Coordinator whom the Wanli Emperor had personally promoted against all opposition. Xiong Tingbi, still wearing his scarlet official robes even inside the military tent, was not tall and had a dark complexion. The Grand Coordinator now regarded Huang Shi with equal gravity.

After reading the letter from Wang Huazhen that Huang Shi had handed over, Xiong Tingbi's face remained as still as an ancient well, and he merely gave a soft snort, as if to say it was exactly as he had expected.

Xiong Tingbi sneered and said to Huang Shi, "The Provincial Governor speaks in grand, ringing words — today he asks for funds, tomorrow he asks for troops. What is this? He dares not even go to the rescue of Xiping? Now that the Jianzhou slaves have delivered themselves to our doorstep, where have all his boasts gone?"

After saying this, Xiong Tingbi swept a glance over the terrified Huang Shi, then relaxed his tone and said, "This Grand Coordinator expects that a minor Regional Military Commissioner like you would not dare answer back like this. I will give you a written reply."

Just as Xiong Tingbi was writing the reply, Huang Shi went over his prepared words one last time in his mind, then abruptly knelt down again: "My lord, your subordinate has confidential intelligence to report."

Xiong Tingbi stopped his brush, raised his head to glance at him, then lowered his head again to continue writing, and said in a tone utterly devoid of emotion, "Speak."

"Your subordinate presumes greatly, and asks my lord to dismiss all attendants."

"All of you, withdraw." Once every single Guanning Army officer had left the tent, Xiong Tingbi, without raising his head, continued writing: "You may speak now."

"Your subordinate knows that according to Great Ming military law, a subordinate officer who slanders his superior is to be executed. What your subordinate reports is not certain, and your subordinate fears death..."

"Stop!" Xiong Tingbi let out a low bark as he kept writing: "Just say what you wish to say."

"Your subordinate believes that Lord Wang's spies among the Later Jin are not reliable." In Huang Shi's memory, Xiong Tingbi had always been suspicious of Li Yongfang, and when Sun Degong's rebellion occurred, Huang Shi hoped to clear himself of any involvement, so he resolved to use this to gain Xiong Tingbi's trust: "Your subordinate believes Li Yongfang is highly suspect."

Xiong Tingbi snorted again, said nothing, and continued writing furiously. Huang Shi knelt on the ground until he had finished the reply and sealed it. Xiong Tingbi tossed the reply onto the ground in front of him, and only then said coldly, "Have you reported this matter to the Provincial Governor?"

"No." Huang Shi answered loudly, but Xiong Tingbi merely grunted in acknowledgment, then gestured that he could withdraw.

"My lord, your subordinate dared not report to Lord Wang. First, there is no evidence. Second," Huang Shi did not understand why Xiong Tingbi was so utterly indifferent to this, but he had made up his mind when he came to seize this chance to clear his name. Gritting his teeth, he cried out, "Your subordinate suspects that Assistant Regional Commander Sun also has problems. Your subordinate has no solid proof — a capital offense, a capital offense."

After saying this, Huang Shi pressed his head desperately to the ground, and at last heard Xiong Tingbi let out a surprised "Oh?", followed by the words: "Raise your head and answer."

"Yes, my lord." When Huang Shi raised his head, he found that Xiong Tingbi's expression had loosened, now filled with a look of suspicion.

"It does not matter if you have no solid proof. Tell me why you are suspicious."

Huang Shi silently organized his words, but that moment's hesitation drew encouragement from Xiong Tingbi: "No matter how ridiculous what you say may be, this Grand Coordinator will not take offense. So you need not fear any crime — speak freely."

"Lord Wang ordered your subordinate to contact the spies among the Jianzhou slaves, but for some time now, Lord Sun has no longer allowed your subordinate to involve himself in this matter, instead ordering your subordinate to inspect city defenses and count troop numbers. Moreover..." Huang Shi raised several points of suspicion, while shifting all responsibility onto Sun Degong.

Xiong Tingbi remained utterly silent throughout, and as he listened, he began to nod continuously, the look of suspicion on his face gradually fading.

"...Before the new year, Lord Sun suddenly wanted to arrange a marriage alliance for your subordinate. Though your subordinate was overwhelmed with fear and gratitude, the more I thought about it, the more uneasy I became..."

"Say no more." Xiong Tingbi let out a long sigh. "Sun Degong has shown you great kindness — very deep kindness, is that not so?"

"Yes."

"So it is no wonder you hesitated. And Sun Degong is Provincial Governor Wang's trusted man — even if you had spoken, you would not have been believed." Xiong Tingbi regarded Huang Shi for a moment, then nodded. "Though you had selfish motives, you are still loyal."

"My lord's reproach is just. Your subordinate deserves death."

"This Grand Coordinator has never demanded perfection. Rise."

After Huang Shi stood up, Xiong Tingbi turned, walked back to his desk, and sat down. "I have investigated your circumstances. Originally, I had some suspicions about you, but now that you have spoken thus, I am instead reassured. You may also be at ease — General Sun is loyal to the sovereign and loves his country."

Seeing Huang Shi's hesitant expression, Xiong Tingbi smiled warmly. "You truly are worthy of being General Sun's son-in-law. Indeed, if not of the same family, one does not enter the same door. General Sun has already reported to me, saying that Li Yongfang is unreliable..."

Xiong Tingbi seemed to want to say more, but after a moment's hesitation, he stopped. "In any case, a great battle is imminent. Do not harbor suspicions against General Sun. Go in peace — in time, you will understand for yourself."

Huang Shi was already drenched in cold sweat. Xiong Tingbi had misunderstood his worry, and added with a smile, "Naturally, I will not damage the bond between father-in-law and son-in-law. But that you can set aside private ties for the public good — that too makes a fine story."

Huang Shi withdrew with mumbled assent. Why did Xiong Tingbi trust Sun Degong? What he had said alone was not enough to win such trust. It was a pity Xiong Tingbi had not finished what he meant to say. Huang Shi racked his brains but still could not figure out what was going on. Still, for now, he had a mission to carry out.

After leaving Guangning's Right Garrison, Huang Shi recounted the meeting to Jin Qiude and voiced his doubts. Jin Qiude listened until his head spun: "Is my lord suggesting that Sun Degong intends to rebel? This subordinate does not understand my lord's meaning at all."

Huang Shi smiled. His own impatience had clouded his judgment — he had completely forgotten that Jin Qiude was merely a minor spy who had no knowledge of the core secrets. He said to Jin Qiude, "Listen carefully to what I am about to say. Do not be too astonished, and above all, do not repeat it to anyone."

Huang Shi then gave a rough account of Sun Degong's betrayal, telling Jin Qiude everything he could be allowed to know. Since Jin Qiude had already demonstrated a certain loyalty, Huang Shi had to repay him with corresponding trust. Loyalty cannot go unrewarded — must not go unrewarded.

Jin Qiude took a very long time to digest the intelligence he had just received. This shocking information made his heart pound again and again, and these secrets further revealed Huang Shi's faint ambition — the audacity to betray both the Great Ming and the Later Jin at once. This revelation made him fall to his knees in admiration: "Indeed, only such a man is worthy of my, Jin Qiude's, loyalty."

Once he had digested it sufficiently, Huang Shi asked, "Where do you think the problem lies?"

"Grand Coordinator Xiong is not the problem." Jin Qiude spoke at once — if Xiong Tingbi were the problem, Huang Shi would have died in there just now.

"That goes without saying. I know that."

Jin Qiude nodded. If Huang Shi had not been certain, he would never have dared say what he had just said. Though Jin Qiude did not understand why Huang Shi was so certain, he also knew that the right to know rested in Huang Shi's hands, and if Huang Shi did not volunteer it, he would not ask.

"There must be a problem by Xiong Tingbi's side. A Jianzhou spy — either someone of high rank and great authority, or someone Grand Coordinator Xiong trusts."

"Well said." Huang Shi clapped his hands in approval. Jin Qiude's judgment was very close to his own. There had to be a Later Jin spy who was shielding Sun Degong in some way. Since this spy knew Sun Degong's identity, he too had to be a key figure.

Huang Shi took the reply and hurried back to Zhenwu Fortress. After reading the letter, Wang Huazhen was so furious that he burst into curses and immediately ordered the army to march — to go at once to the relief of Xiping Fortress.

As the Liaodong Provincial Governor, Wang Huazhen naturally refused to risk himself, so he promptly led his personal guard back to the safety of Guangning. He delegated military authority to the Guangning Regional Commander Chen Qu, while ordering Sun Degong to assist from the side.

Chen Qu had long been as frantic as an ant on a hot pan. The moment he received military authority, he immediately ordered the entire army to march for Xiping Fortress. Since Wang Huazhen had made no preparations whatsoever beforehand, Chen Qu decisively ordered that the artillery and logistics troops be left behind, and that the combat troops advance at full speed.

This decision met with opposition from Sun Degong, who argued that the rear supply train could not be left without cover. Chen Qu thought it over and agreed. The Guangning Army divided its forces once more — aside from the fifteen thousand troops Wang Huazhen used to protect himself, over ten thousand soldiers were also left at Zhenwu to guard against the Later Jin raiding their base and cutting off their rear.

The Guangning Garrison commanded one hundred thirty thousand troops. Not counting the river defense forces and the garrisons of the various fortresses, the field army in Guangning city alone numbered over sixty thousand. Yet in the end, only thirty-four thousand combat troops marched for Xiping Fortress. Against the Later Jin's thirty thousand combat troops, the Ming army no longer held a clear numerical advantage.

"The essence of tactics is to concentrate the maximum force at the decisive point — Napoleon said that, I think." As Huang Shi rode his horse out of the camp gate, he realized that military thought was universal to all mankind. "Chairman Mao also seems to have said something about concentrating superior forces."

Since Wang Huazhen was determined to rescue Xiping Fortress, even a fool could see that this would inevitably lead to a strategic decisive battle between the Ming army and the Later Jin.

"If I were Wang Huazhen, I would certainly draw troops from every fortress, even if it meant stripping them completely bare."

Huang Shi believed that if this field battle were won, the fortresses would not need defending at all. Yet Wang Huazhen had instead dispersed his one hundred thirty thousand troops across dozens of fortresses to strengthen their defenses.

"In history, after the crushing defeat at Shaling, the assembled Ming army was annihilated. Then the command center of Guangning fell, Wang Huazhen fled, and the remaining hundred thousand troops could not even regroup to fight again." A cold sneer flickered across Huang Shi's face as he thought to himself, "But since I have crossed over, things will be entirely different."

The vanguard commander of the Guangning Army was Sun Degong, and he immediately ordered Huang Shi to go forth as the forward scout. Alongside Huang Shi at the front was Fei Liguo. Fei Liguo had been Sun Degong's personal guard captain, and after Sun Degong expanded his forces, the fellow had also become a Company Commander.

Although Huang Shi was a Regional Military Commissioner, he had only two hundred men under his command, while Fei Liguo's over-strength company still numbered one hundred twenty men. Since Huang Shi already knew through Guai Baobao that Sun Degong did not yet fully trust him, for now Fei Liguo was still his equal.

Before departure, Sun Degong carefully instructed Huang Shi that he must act according to his deployments. With a big nail like Fei Liguo planted there, Huang Shi knew he had no chance to pull any tricks, so he simply surrendered his command authority and deferred entirely to Fei Liguo.

They had marched for less than half a shichen when Fei Liguo ran over and said in a low voice to Huang Shi, "We have arrived."