Chapter 164: Dispatching the Generals

Sun Chuanting stood with his hands clasped behind his back on a gentle slope, gazing at White Stone Plain ten li away. It was nearing noon, and the warm autumn sun on his body made him feel thoroughly comfortable.

A few paces from Sun Chuanting, Lingtai County Magistrate Fang Wen, along with officers Cao Wenzhao, Zhou Yuji, Cao Bianjiao, Luo Shifang, and others stood gathered around.

Beside the gentle slope was the only road connecting White Stone Plain to the outside world. Several deep trenches had already been dug across this none-too-wide road, completely cutting off White Stone Plain from the outside.

After Sun Chuanting led the Shaanxi army to arrive at a spot ten li from White Stone Plain at dusk that day, he immediately sent word to Lingtai County, over twenty li to the east, ordering the county office to conscript one thousand laborers and five hundred shi of grain overnight and bring them to await orders. He also stressed explicitly that the one thousand laborers must bring hoes, iron shovels, and other farming tools—anyone violating the order would be dealt with under military law.

Upon receiving the Governor's directive, County Magistrate Fang Wen dared not delay. He immediately took out all two hundred shi of grain remaining in the county granary, then gathered the gentry and wealthy households of the city together and showed them Sun Chuanting's handwritten order. He explained that tens of thousands of roving bandits had originally intended to attack Lingtai County town, but had happened to be intercepted by the Governor leading a large army, and the two sides were now locked in fierce combat around White Stone Plain. The government army was desperately short of provisions and urgently needed everyone to contribute; otherwise, once the government army retreated for lack of food, the roving bandits would take advantage of the momentum to break the county town—the consequences could well be imagined.

Under Fang Wen's combination of threats and inducements, the gentry and wealthy households, whether willing or not, all opened their purses on the spot to help. In the end, over six hundred shi of grain was raised, and Fang Wen personally led the organized laborers to deliver it to the Shaanxi army camp through the night.

Sun Chuanting was extremely satisfied with Fang Wen's performance and praised him a good deal. He had originally asked for five hundred shi of grain, yet the man had delivered eight hundred shi in one go—such capable talent deserved promotion.

Then, flattered by the attention, Fang Wen volunteered to take charge of directing the laborers in digging the trenches.

Under the bright moonlight, the one thousand laborers spent several hours digging several deep trenches roughly one zhang deep and nearly two zhang wide, completely severing the entire road.

These several deep trenches were not connected to one another—each had gaps several chi wide in the middle where people could stand. The total length of the trenches was roughly fifty-plus paces, just within the most lethal range of bows and firelocks. When the last trench on the government army's side was completed, a breastwork was deliberately piled up, and then a shed open at both front and back was built with hardwood beams to guard against plunging arrows from the roving bandits.

From the time Sun Chuanting led the army in, pitched camp, and the laborers dug the deep trenches through the night, it was now already the fifth day.

During this period, bandit chiefs on the plain such as Ma Jinzhong organized several large-scale breakout attempts every day, but in the end each time they left behind several hundred dead before retreating back onto the plain.

Zhou Yuji deployed the Shaanxi army's only five hundred firelock men and over one thousand archers in rotating shifts, using the roving bandits who charged to the edge of the first trench as target practice.

Behind the breastwork, eight firelock men could be arrayed at a time. The government troops operated in groups of six—after firing, they withdrew along both sides, and the rear ranks moved up to continue shooting.

Under such uninterrupted firepower, the roving bandits suffered heavy casualties. As for trying to exchange arrows with the government troops—the troops were shielded by the breastwork in front, sheltered overhead by the plank-covered shed, and further protected by their wide-brimmed helmets, so the roving bandits' arrows simply could not threaten them.

After several consecutive days of failed attempts to fill in the deep trenches by every conceivable method and then pour out tens of thousands of men in a breakout, the roving bandits fell into utter despair.

Sun Chuanting let out a cold laugh, descended the gentle slope, and walked toward the large tent not far away.

The Shaanxi army camp was pitched on the flat plain near White Stone River not far off. The river's waters, already reduced in volume, were clear, and many fish the length of a finger swam back and forth within, lending White Stone River an extra touch of life.

Uncle and nephew Cao Wenzhao and Cao Bianjiao had come after receiving Sun Chuanting's handwritten order. Sun Chuanting had not had them bring their main forces—the nearly ten thousand Shaanxi troops were more than sufficient.

The reason he had summoned the Cao uncle and nephew was so that after this campaign concluded, he could have them continue westward to exterminate the remaining scattered bandit troubles in Gongchang Prefecture and Lintao Prefecture. Cao Wenzhao held the title of Lintao Regional Commander, after all—surely he couldn't just never even go take a look at Lintao?

At present, Qin Liangyu was stationed in Hanzhong Prefecture, and Sun Chuanting had already sent men to deliver military orders to her, commanding her to sweep out the bandits and roving bandits within Hanzhong Prefecture's borders. Given the strength of the Sichuan army, this should not be a problem.

Once Ma Jinzhong, Hun Tianwang, and the other largest roving bandits of the northwest were dealt with, and the Cao uncle and nephew swept westward, then aside from the roving bandits in northern Shaanxi currently under attack by Hong Chengchou, essentially all of Shaanxi would be pacified. What remained was how to provide disaster relief and reassure the people—he would have fulfilled His Majesty's heavy trust.

Everyone returned to the commander's tent. Sun Chuanting sat down behind the large table, while Fang Wen and the others stood in two rows on either side. In the presence of a great frontier official like a Governor, these men had no qualification to take a seat.

Sun Chuanting looked at Fang Wen and asked, "Your county has worked very hard these past days—I have seen it all with my own eyes. Your county's name will naturally appear on the merit roll for this campaign, and the court will reward according to merit! Your county must guard against arrogance and impatience, and diligently attend to your duties!"

Joy showed on Fang Wen's face. Stepping out of the ranks, he bowed deeply to Sun Chuanting and said, "Your Excellency's kindness in promoting me, this subordinate shall never dare forget! What this subordinate did was merely his proper duty—how could I presume to trouble Your Excellency's concern? I am grateful to the depths of my being! From now on, I shall surely follow Your Excellency's lead in all things! I will never fail Your Excellency's teachings!"

Fang Wen had earned his jinshi degree in the fourth year of Chongzhen. Because he had no connections at court, he had been sent off to the remote Lingtai County, and was now in his second term there.

Based on his own analysis, barring any surprises, after this term ended he would still be assigned to another small county. If no one promoted or appreciated him, the best he could hope for in this lifetime was to climb to a Vice Prefect of the sixth rank—that would already be quite good.

Unexpectedly, an opportunity had suddenly appeared. Sun Chuanting's arrival let Fang Wen see a glimmer of hope—so long as he could attach himself to a weighty minister like the Governor, his future was sure to be bright.

And sure enough, these few days of hard work and bustle were worth several years' worth of merit.

Fang Wen knew the court valued military merit above all. As long as a civil official got a touch of military merit, his future career would go much more smoothly. Sun Chuanting's magnanimity moved Fang Wen to genuine gratitude from the bottom of his heart.

Sun Chuanting smiled slightly and said, "Your county should keep up the good work—I will naturally keep an eye on you from time to time!"

Sun Chuanting did not refuse the loyalty Fang Wen expressed.

This young county magistrate of around thirty bore none of the pedantic, musty air that Sun Chuanting hated most. Instead, he was pragmatic and hardworking, handled matters with flexibility—worth cultivating.

Although he had quite a few fellow graduates serving both at court and in the provinces, he did not yet have a truly devoted subordinate of his own.

Zhuang Yuanzhou, Xie Renxing, and the others had not yet entered officialdom. Fang Wen could be considered the first person Sun Chuanting had truly appreciated in officialdom. So long as he performed well in the future, Sun Chuanting would not stint on promoting him.

To gain a foothold at court, one could not last long without one's own faction.

Sun Chuanting's statement filled Fang Wen with extraordinary joy. Had there not been others in the tent, he would have unhesitatingly performed the great ceremonial kowtow. He had never imagined he too could find a backer—and one as towering as a mountain reaching into the clouds!

Sun Chuanting continued, "Today the roving bandits did not come to attack. Based on my assessment, the roving bandits have already run out of food. If we simply maintain the siege for a few more days, surrender will be their only option! As to how to deal with this mob of bandits, you may all speak freely now!"

Cao Wenzhao stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Reporting to Your Excellency, this subordinate believes that among these tens of thousands of roving bandits, the majority are able-bodied young men, and most were originally farmers who joined the bandits out of desperation. Those whose crimes are heinous should be executed, while the remainder should be selected and incorporated into the ranks—after training, they could yield no small number of elite soldiers for the court to employ!"

Although he bore the title of Regional Commander, he had too few soldiers under his command and often felt stretched thin when deploying troops. Thus he leaned toward selecting the good ones, so that he could take a portion into his own force.

Cao Bianjiao, who was usually taciturn, muttered under his breath, "A pack of bandits—burying them all alive is the simplest way!"

Cao Wenzhao turned his head and glared at him, then barked, "It's not your turn to speak now! Don't spout wild talk!"

Sun Chuanting laughed heartily: "Everyone says Young General Cao is brave and fierce—I never imagined his judgment would be so decisive! These words fit my own thinking quite well!"

Luo Shifang, Assistant Regional Commander of the Shaanxi army, cast a look of full approval at Cao Bianjiao. Previously he had found the arrogant, prideful Cao Bianjiao repulsive to look at, but now he suddenly found the man agreeable. Bandits ought to be killed to the last—keeping them around only wasted precious grain. Once the bandits were terrified out of their wits, let's see who would still dare to become a bandit in the future!

Zhou Yuji cupped his hands and said, "Whether to capture and execute or to select and incorporate, everything shall be decided by Your Excellency's will—this subordinate need only obey orders!"

Sun Chuanting pondered for a moment, then said, "In my view, anyone who has joined the bandits—regardless of whether they were originally good people—once they have been bandits for even a day, the bandit's evil nature attaches itself to their minds and drives their limbs, and their future conduct can hardly be the same as ordinary men! Such people ought in principle all be executed! But His Majesty is benevolent at heart, and the imperial edicts he has issued have already shown leniency. As his subjects, we must naturally obey the imperial will! Therefore, the bandits of this campaign should also be dealt with leniently, to display His Majesty's virtue! Let everything proceed according to Regional Commander Cao's words!"

Cao Wenzhao and the others stepped forward, bowed, and accepted the order. Cao Bianjiao secretly curled his lip, deeply dissatisfied with Sun Chuanting's raising the matter high only to set it down lightly.

Sun Chuanting continued, "After this campaign, the great bandit chiefs of the northwest will be nearly wiped out, but small bands of roving bandits remain rampant. They rob homes and plunder travelers, causing local officials and people alike to lose all heart for production and trade. If not checked in time, I fear they will gradually grow in strength by taking advantage of the natural disasters! I have received the imperial commission to govern Shaanxi as Governor—I absolutely cannot sit by and do nothing! Therefore, I have decided to dispatch one force westward to pacify Gongchang and Lintao Prefectures, and another force northward to pacify Pingliang and Qingyang Prefectures, while I myself will personally lead a column far off to Ningxia Garrison! All officers, hear my orders!"

Cao Wenzhao, Zhou Yuji, and the others stepped forward, cupped their hands in salute, and answered loudly, "Your subordinates are here!"

Sun Chuanting said in a deep voice, "Once the selection of the bandit masses is complete, Cao Wenzhao will lead his own troops plus the newly incorporated forces westward to pacify the region, sweeping out all bandits great and small within its borders, and clearing the two prefectures of the bandit scourge as early as possible! Provisions may be requisitioned locally, and matters may be decided at your own discretion—I will not interfere!"

Cao Wenzhao was overjoyed inwardly. With tens of thousands of roving bandits on the plain, he could surely pick out five thousand men. Added to his original three thousand soldiers, that would make eight thousand—he would finally become a true great general guarding a region in his own right! Moreover, the implication of Sun Chuanting's words was that he would have discretionary authority and would not be hampered by local officials, which would allow him to deploy troops and sweep the bandits with even greater ease.

He answered loudly, "This subordinate obeys the order!"

"Luo Shifang will lead three thousand men plus the newly incorporated forces to pacify Pingliang and Qingyang, coordinating with Cao Wenzhao's force. Once your own territory is cleared, await further orders!"

Luo Shifang answered in a deep voice, "This subordinate obeys the order!"

Along his route, the bandit troubles were comparatively lighter. The most important task was to train and discipline the newly incorporated troops well, to prepare them for future use.

"Zhou Yuji will lead one thousand men back to Xi'an Prefecture to train and reorganize the forces of Zhang Wenyao, Tuo Yangkun, and others—results must be seen as soon as possible!" Sun Chuanting continued issuing orders.

Zhang Wenyao and Tuo Yangkun's surrendered followers numbered eight thousand—a heavyweight general was needed to keep them in check, and Zhou Yuji was the most suitable choice.

After the assignments were complete, the officers dispersed. Sun Chuanting prepared to personally lead five thousand Shaanxi troops to Ningxia Garrison.

Ningxia Garrison was a military garrison bordering the Tatar tribes, bearing the heavy responsibility of defending the frontier. The border troops had long been short of military pay and provisions, and pay mutinies broke out from time to time. Sending anyone else simply could not suppress the situation—only going himself would be appropriate.

He was just about to arrange for Xie Renxing to return to Xi'an to transport military pay and provisions and then rejoin him, when Sun Zhian outside the tent hurriedly burst in. With a grave expression, he came before Sun Chuanting and whispered in his ear: "Zhang Wenyao has sent word—Tuo Yangkun's force has rebelled! They are now dragging their followers toward Tong Pass, intending to seize an opportunity to enter Henan!"