Chapter 79: Section Seven

"Marshal Mao has appointed me Dongjiang Mobile Corps Commander, commanding the Changsheng Regional Military Commission, returning my old unit and granting me one thousand able-bodied men." Huang Shi proudly briefed his subordinates on the situation.

Originally, under the orders of Liaodong Provincial Governor Wang Zaijin, Huang Shi was required to proceed immediately to Shanhai Pass, which had cost him a sleepless night. This morning, Mao Wenlong showed Huang Shi a letter: "This is a letter I wrote to the Liaodong Grand Coordinator. I am asking him for you."

The letter first claimed that the Liaodong war situation was extremely tense, with Mao Wenlong pouring out a litany of hardships, then declared that an immediate counteroffensive was necessary, and therefore a fierce general like Huang Shi was exactly what he needed.

Then came the complaints. Mao Wenlong pointed out that since the first year of the Tianqi reign, apart from the fifty thousand taels of inner treasury funds bestowed by the Son of Heaven, Dongjiang had not received a single grain of rice, a single bean, or a single qian of silver. He very tactfully pointed out that since the Liaodong Grand Coordinator was demanding men in the tone of a superior, he should promptly disburse the back pay owed.

Mao Wenlong even named a price: one hundred fifty thousand taels of silver and one hundred twenty thousand shi of grain — a full year's pay and rations for ten thousand soldiers, plus weapons and cloth.

"If the Liaodong Grand Coordinator actually pays up…" Mao Wenlong said with a smile, "then this general will have no choice but to sell Mobile Corps Commander Huang."

Huang Shi returned the letter, barely restraining the gratitude in his heart: "My lord's great kindness is more than I, your humble officer, can ever repay even with death."

"Good. I hereby formally appoint Mobile Corps Commander Huang as Dongjiang Mobile Corps Commander, to be reported to the Ministry of War for the record as of today." Mao Wenlong was generous enough not to lower his rank, which surprised Huang Shi somewhat, but the answer came immediately.

Mao Wenlong tapped Wang Zaijin's letter: "Mobile Corps Commander Huang is already an Assistant Guard Commander. From what Grand Coordinator Wang implies, once you reach Liaozhen you could at least get Assistant Regional Commander. Yet I can only give you Mobile Corps Commander. General Huang, do not think it too little."

"I have just arrived at Dongjiang and have yet to achieve any merit. I never dared to ask for too much in the first place."

If Huang Shi were granted Assistant Regional Commander all at once, Mao Wenlong feared his own trusted subordinates would grumble. Seeing Huang Shi so reasonable, he was quite satisfied: "It is good that General Huang understands my difficulties. Now let me explain General Huang's assignment."

Mao Wenlong's intention was for Huang Shi to remain with the central army on Pi Island, to be used as part of the Dongjiang main force. Although being close to Mao Wenlong's headquarters would mean more secure supplies and manpower, Huang Shi hesitated repeatedly and finally requested a posting away from the main base.

"Changsheng Island?" None of the Company Commanders had ever heard of this place, and they asked in unison: "Where is it?"

"Northwest of Lüshun, a very large island. Our Greater Changsheng Island goes without saying, but even Lesser Changsheng Island is larger than this Dongjiang." Huang Shi casually briefed them on the situation, having Zhang Pan spread out the map and point to a location in the inner curve of the Bohai Sea, just south of Fuzhou and not far from Jinzhou either.

"That good?" Jin Qiude first showed delight, but then immediately a cloud of suspicion arose: "Then how could it fall to us?"

"A barren island, uninhabited. Moreover, here are the South and North Xin Estuaries." Huang Shi pointed to the narrow straits between the island and the mainland: "In winter it freezes over for anywhere from ten to several dozen days. The ice surface is solid enough for cavalry to cross."

Huang Shi believed that since he was not of Mao Wenlong's trusted inner circle, staying at the Dongjiang headquarters might not offer much of a future. Better to go out and develop an independent island. However, this dangerous location was one Huang Shi had chosen himself. An island too small would be overly dependent on Dongjiang headquarters for support, which would be unfavorable for expanding an army.

In Huang Shi's original timeline, Changsheng Island was renamed Changxing Island after the founding of the Republic. It is the largest island north of the Yangtze River in China, covering over three hundred thousand mu. During the Republic era, the island was not known for agriculture, but primarily relied on aquaculture, tourism, and shipbuilding as its economic pillars, developing many fish farms and natural hot springs.

Unfortunately, Huang Shi knew none of this. The moment he first saw the island's striking size on the map, he fell deeply in love with it and immediately requested Mao Wenlong to let him garrison there.

This choice also surprised Mao Wenlong. At this time, the island was still sparsely populated, and since the rise of the Later Jin, Fuzhou and Jinzhou had fallen. The island was too close to the mainland, and the people had long since been relocated inland under the sea ban. The annual freeze-over period was even more dangerous.

"A gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall," Mao Wenlong even tried to dissuade Huang Shi, pointing out that Haiyang Island, Zhangshan Island, and Guanglu Island were all fine garrisons.

"I seek only to kill the enemy and earn merit. To be far from enemy territory would go against my wishes." Huang Shi was single-mindedly looking for a large island where he could expand his forces and train troops. Seeing his resolve so firm, Mao Wenlong said no more, only instructing him to be cautious and not to cling too stubbornly to one place. If winter defense proved too difficult, he could always take the entire island's soldiers and civilians out to sea.

Huang Shi's heart was set on sinking deep roots and building a solid foundation. Mao Wenlong's words of advice naturally went in one ear and out the other.

The two also took the opportunity to discuss strategic planning, which was only to be expected. Mao Wenlong naturally hoped Huang Shi would succeed. Once Changsheng Island became a fortress, not only would Lüshun have reliable flank support, but Jinzhou would be right under the Ming army's nose, and they could even spy on Fuzhou, or strike directly toward Niangniang Temple and threaten Haizhou.

But hope was one thing; reality had to be faced squarely. Since the odds of success for this military gamble were extremely low, Mao Wenlong did not want to invest too much in it. In the end, Huang Shi got his wish and received the Changsheng Regional Military Commission, along with one thousand able-bodied men and a few fishing boats. Mao Wenlong also allocated some grain seeds and axe tools. More than that, Mao indicated, was unavailable for the time being.

On the sixteenth day of the fourth month of the second year of the Tianqi reign, Assistant Guard Commander, Dongjiang Mobile Corps Commander, and Changsheng Regional Military Commissioner Huang Shi returned to Zhang Pan's camp, collected his trusted subordinates, and then set out on campaign to Changsheng Island.

The tiny fleet sailed across boundless waves, like a single black ant on a smooth mirror's surface, advancing slowly yet unwaveringly toward the northwest. Sunlight poured down, and the sea wind rushed against their faces. Huang Shi stood at the prow, the red tassel on his helmet burning like a blaze, dancing joyfully together with the fiery red military banner. Yang Zhiyuan, Zhao Manxiong, Jin Qiude, and He Baodao stood close behind him. The endless expanse of azure stirred every heart, and their souls and spirits merged into this magnificent scene.

The ships sailed across the vast Liao Sea, like goshawks sweeping across the sky. The rich black land hid behind the great sea, silently watching this flock of joyful fledgling eagles. As if witnessing eaglets spread their wings and attempt their first soaring, the earth would forever watch them thus, recording the footprints of warriors in Liaodong, and every step of the dominion they would forge.

On the twentieth day of the fourth month, Huang Shi's force reached Changsheng Island.

"Truly a desolate island." Yang Zhiyuan could not help but sigh. The other officers all wore expressions of shared dismay.

The entire island was covered in dense forest. Along the coast there were a few clearings, with some houses abandoned by fishermen, but all were utterly dilapidated. Huang Shi made a patrol along the island's shore and found the situation even worse than anticipated. The whole large island had no cultivated land yet, and the island's eastern shore was only three to four hundred meters from the South Xin Estuary on the mainland.

"Fortunately the Later Jin enforces a sea ban, so both the South and North Xin Estuaries are uninhabited. Otherwise, with mainland fishermen coming and going, we wouldn't be safe even in summer." After this sigh, Huang Shi clapped his hands together, drawing the officers' attention: "This is our domain now. Gentlemen, share your thoughts."