Chapter 54: Section Two

"My lords, your discernment is clear. Regional Commander Chen Qu of Guangning Garrison and Vice Regional Commander Luo Yiguan died for the realm at Xiping. Now within Guangning Garrison, Vice Regional Commander Mao Wenlong holds the highest rank. As a humble Army Supervisor of the Guangning force, I am duty-bound to go to General Mao's command and await his orders."

"But Assistant Regional Commander Mao is far away in Korea!" Gao Bangzuo and Fang Zhenru exclaimed in unison.

"The Guangning garrison reports from days ago stated that Regional Commander Mao has already recovered Lüshun. I intend to take my own troops and proceed to Lüshun."

Gao Bangzuo did not wish Huang Shi's unit to leave, yet Huang Shi, as a Guangning officer returning to his proper command under Mao Wenlong, had a perfectly justifiable reason. Gao Bangzuo was merely the Prefect of Guangning, a local official with no binding authority over Huang Shi, and for the moment could only stand by and listen.

Fang Zhenru likewise did not want Huang Shi to go. With Guangning lost and a hundred and thirty thousand troops destroyed in a matter of days, the imperial court was bound to be furious. Fang Zhenru had gathered the scattered remnants and shielded the common people as they fled south — a merit that far exceeded his official duties. In his eyes, Huang Shi was a rare prize worth holding onto. As long as this man, the foremost hero who had quelled the rebellion, spoke well of him, his own prospects would be exceedingly bright. These past days he had been deliberately cultivating Huang Shi's favor.

Moreover, Fang Zhenru reckoned he would certainly be kept on in Liaodong. A "fierce general" like Huang Shi was not only a powerful ally within the army but also a guarantee of his own survival. If Huang Shi left, he could no longer submit memorials in Huang Shi's name, nor could he count on this "fierce general's" "valor and might."

As the Supervising Censor of Liaodong, Fang Zhenru held absolute authority over the Guangning army. He decided to reason with him: "Does Commander Huang realize that the overland route to Lüshun stretches a thousand li, and what is more, must pass through Haizhou and Fuzhou, which the Jian slaves occupy?"

"I seek only to slay slaves and serve the realm; I dare not cling to life and fear death." Huang Shi knew that Liaoxi faced no immediate threat of war, so he spoke these words offhandedly. But he instantly realized his blunder — the Ming court could not foresee history, and the officials were naturally far more focused on Shanhai Pass.

As expected.

"You spurn the ready-made bell and go off smelting copper instead? This argument is unsound. This official cannot agree. That is all. You are dismissed."

"My lord, your discernment is clear." The final reason Huang Shi offered was feeble: "Many of my subordinates are men of Liaodong. The moment the Grand Coordinator issued the order to burn the city, there was an uproar. Their parents and families are all in Liaodong. If I force them to march inside the Pass, I fear the troops' morale will not hold."

"Specious reasoning! Then you should suppress them, not indulge them." Fang Zhenru flew into a rage at these words and was about to deliver a stern rebuke when Gao Bangzuo suddenly tugged at his sleeve.

Fang Zhenru paused, then suddenly understood. His tone at once became exceedingly gentle: "Does Commander Huang have some personal reason? Is there family of yours in Liaodong? Speak freely. This official will certainly not hold it against you."

Huang Shi then recounted how Old Zhang had saved his life. He said that whenever he thought of his lifesaver still in peril, he could not set his mind at ease and leave, no matter what.

Fang Zhenru listened, dumbfounded, and for a moment had nothing to say. To abandon one's lifesaver in danger was a grave breach of righteousness. Though he felt that Huang Shi going to Liuhe might well be useless and that he most likely would not be able to reach the man, Fang Zhenru could not bring himself to urge a course of unrighteousness.

Fortunately, Gao Bangzuo came to his rescue, interjecting in a dismissive tone: "Commander Huang, they indeed showed you great kindness, but you now bear an official rank from the court. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety cannot both be fulfilled; loyalty and personal bonds... at certain times, loyalty and personal bonds likewise cannot both be fulfilled. Moreover, serving the court is the greater righteousness, while the grace of a life saved is a lesser — no, it too is a great righteousness, but still somewhat lesser. In sum, one must first repay the grace of sovereign and father, and only afterward speak of private friendship."

Fang Zhenru nodded hastily: "Prefect Gao speaks the correct doctrine, the correct doctrine."

Seeing that Huang Shi still wished to argue, Fang Zhenru's expression hardened: "Insolence! Withdraw at once and reflect carefully on Prefect Gao's words."

To defy a civil official and be dragged out and beaten to death was simply one's own fault. Huang Shi silently recited the maxim that a hero avoids immediate disadvantage, withdrew, and pondered what other means there might be to avoid going to Liaoxi.

Huang Shi could not think of anything alone, so he pulled in Jin Qiude, Yang Luhuo, and Zhao Manxiong to devise a plan together. Huang Shi first laid out his own thinking: there would likely be no military merits to be won in Liaoxi, so it would be best for everyone to go to Lüshun and develop there.

"Is my lord certain that Liaoxi will see no major battles?" Jin Qiude was the first to object. "Your subordinate, on the contrary, believes Liaoxi will bear the brunt of the attack."

"With Mao Wenlong there, the Jian slaves cannot move west in force." Huang Shi was somewhat impatient. This question was both irrelevant and difficult to explain clearly; he had no intention of wasting time on it.

Zhao Manxiong also voiced opposition: "Is my lord not overestimating Mao Wenlong? Your subordinate has heard that his army collapsed in Korea and is in complete disarray."

"If you want to earn merit, you must go to Liaodong. That is how it is. No more need be said." Liaoxi had civil officials; the military merits would not all belong to Huang Shi alone.

Yang Luhuo had a selfish concern of his own: "The journey to Liaodong is a thousand li; I fear it will be a brush with death."

"Without piercing cold to the bone, how can the plum blossom yield its fragrance?" Huang Shi stood with his hands clasped behind his back, no longer inclined to persuade or educate. "What do you say?"

The three men exchanged glances, then together bowed low: "Since my lord possesses such resolve, your subordinates will surely follow."

"Good. But for now, Prefect Fang and Prefect Gao will not release me. Offer some ideas, and let me hear them."

Jin Qiude's proposal was rejected at once — kill the officials and rebel? He actually had the nerve to say it. Yang Luhuo suggested deserting in secret, but that too was unsuitable, for not only could they not pull the troops out, they would easily be seized as rebels. Huang Shi had never thought Yang Luhuo so foolish before. He looked at Zhao Manxiong, who had been deep in thought all the while, and told him to speak his view.

Zhao Manxiong shook his head: "My lord, it is not that your subordinate does not exert himself. The Great Ming military system places civil authority over military command. Officers and soldiers alike are accustomed to obeying the orders of civil officials. Without the consent of the civil officials, we can accomplish nothing at all."

"Is there truly no way?" Huang Shi asked, frantic and exasperated.

Under his fierce stare, Zhao Manxiong still shook his head: "There is no way, my lord."

Were these three truly of one heart with him? Just as Huang Shi was at a loss and utterly without recourse, word suddenly came that Gao Bangzuo and Fang Zhenru were summoning him again.

When they met, Gao Bangzuo sat to one side with a solemn expression. Fang Zhenru opened his mouth and launched into a long, elaborate torrent of rhetoric about loyalty to the sovereign and love of country. Then he asked Huang Shi whether he understood.

"I understand." Huang Shi answered sullenly, his tone not particularly respectful.

Fang Zhenru did not take offense, and continued with a straight face: "Therefore, if someone were to request leave in order to repay a private debt of gratitude, this official could not agree under any circumstances. Commander Huang, do you truly understand?"

These words sounded as though they carried a hidden meaning. Huang Shi did not answer at once but fell into deep thought.

Seeing that Huang Shi did not respond, Fang Zhenru adopted an official bureaucratic tone: "Commander Huang is utterly loyal and devoted. Such a reason — not only could this official not agree to it, but even if it were reported upward, the court would not believe it. Did Commander Huang not once say, 'If I cannot hold Guangning, I have no face to enter the Pass'? If you were requesting to leave for that reason, then perhaps this official might grant it."

Huang Shi's mouth fell open in disbelief. Fang Zhenru's deathly face still showed not the slightest expression. He turned his head to glance at Gao Bangzuo beside him; the latter gave him an encouraging smile.

"I... I..." Huang Shi was somewhat at a loss for words.

"Commander Huang, these past days you have done a great deal for the nation." Fang Zhenru suddenly curved the corner of his mouth. A trace of human warmth showed through that corpse-like face, and his expression grew rich: "Commander Huang and the Guangning army are so loyal and brave, yet the Liaodong situation remains ruined — it is truly our dereliction of duty."

Gao Bangzuo also joined in: "Commander Huang, you military officers need only know how to slay the enemy. But we must consider the realm's altars and the people's welfare. That is why we sometimes appear indifferent to human feeling. Do not take offense. To speak honestly, this official rather envies you. As a military officer, you need not think too much."

"I thank you, my two lords."

Fang Zhenru drew his face taut once more, took out a document, and read aloud:

"Your servant Fang Zhenru, Supervising Censor of Liaodong, memorializes: ... Your servant has heard that the fierce wind reveals the sturdy grass, and the tempest reveals the loyal and good. Having observed the Guangning Army Supervisor Huang Shi, his loyalty and valor are commendable; he possesses the resolve that until the Jian slaves are crushed, he will not enter the Pass. Your servant deeply approves and, having consulted with colleague Gao Bangzuo, Prefect of Guangning, holds that in this time of peril, morale must be roused and not allowed to flag. Therefore, your servant appoints the said man as Supplemental Mobile Corps Commander of Guangning, assigns him two hundred picked troops, and dispatches him to Liuhe and other guard battalions to gather scattered soldiers, with authority to act at his discretion..."

Gao Bangzuo said to Huang Shi: "This prefecture and Prefect Fang must still escort a great number of refugees back, and so we cannot give you too many soldiers. But you may take all the horses. Commander Huang, take care on your journey."

"What 'Commander Huang'? Clearly it is General Huang now." Fang Zhenru gave a snort. "General Huang, by rights, given your merits, it would not be excessive to grant you the rank of Assistant Regional Commander. But this official's authority is limited, so I can only give you Supplemental Mobile Corps Commander for now."

"I thank Prefect Fang."

"You need not thank me. If you must thank someone, go thank Prefect Gao." Fang Zhenru and Gao Bangzuo had just held a long private discussion. The two men had searched their hearts — everyone has private concerns. Huang Shi, heedless of his own life and safety, had turned his troops back to quell the rebellion and saved the entire city's populace. They both felt that Huang Shi ought to repay his private debt of gratitude as well. Both men were disciples of Wang Yangming, and what they stressed was the unity of knowledge and action.

Fang Zhenru reflected that his own motive for keeping Huang Shi was largely selfish as well, and he felt even more ashamed. He thought to himself that he, a Confucian scholar, could not set aside private interest for the public good — how then could he berate a military man for failing to grasp the greater picture? Huang Shi had left a very deep impression on both men. Fang Zhenru faintly sensed that Huang Shi was even more "public-spirited and devoted to the state" than himself. The thought that he was "oppressing" a man of loyalty and righteousness made his heart all the more uneasy.

"I thank Prefect Gao."

"General Huang, when the nation is in peril, every common man has a duty. This is the great righteousness of our Huaxia. At parting, this official has a few words to offer..." What Gao Bangzuo called a few words in fact numbered over a hundred. Toward the end, he even found several Confucian classics and presented them to Huang Shi, telling him to find a private secretary later to read them.

"General Huang is literate — that is even better." Gao Bangzuo quickly opened those books and pointed out some key passages for Huang Shi to see: "These books are all from this official's personal collection. General Huang is by nature loyal and righteous, so there is no need to say much, but you should still read more of the sages' teachings. And these annotations — they are all insights this official recorded while studying. I hope they may be of some help to the General."

Huang Shi could see that Gao Bangzuo had already cast himself as a man bearing the guilt of a capital offense, worried that he would have few chances in the future to lecture others.

Although Huang Shi held no favorable impression of Confucianism, it was, after all, a faith, and deep in his heart Huang Shi always retained a measure of respect for those who truly held a faith.

Out of that respect, Huang Shi listened very attentively and from time to time even asked questions. The time he had whiled away on forums in later ages had given him a rough understanding of Confucianism, and modern people, with their broad perspectives, had a strong capacity to absorb new ideas.

Gao Bangzuo could not help but be overjoyed, and a feeling arose in him that here was a youth worth teaching. But then it struck him that he was a local official who had abandoned his land and lost his city, while Huang Shi was about to embark on a thousand-li expedition. The two were on the verge of parting, and a wave of desolation suddenly filled his heart.

At their parting, Gao Bangzuo expounded Confucian thought over and over, tirelessly. The gaze he turned upon this young man, Huang Shi, was filled with both delight and admiration, and no less with regret and melancholy.