Chapter 18: Showing Mercy

Luo Fulong, the County Magistrate of Fancheng, had earned his jinshi degree in the same year as the sixth year of Chongzhen, and was later assigned by the Ministry of Personnel to serve as County Magistrate of Fancheng.

After arriving in Fancheng, he levied taxes, built water conservancy projects, encouraged farming and sericulture, and promoted education and culture—achieving no small measure of success. He was a man of great tact, knowing that to govern a county well, he first had to build good relations with the local gentry. Only with the gentry's support could he produce good governance results. So upon arriving in Fancheng, he set aside his airs and mingled freely with the great households. Whatever the gentry requested, as long as it was not excessive, he granted without exception.

The gentry repaid his kindness in kind—whenever the Magistrate encountered difficulties, so long as their own interests were not harmed, they lent their full support. Through their joint efforts, Magistrate Luo soon found himself in his element, and under his two years of governance, Fancheng took on a fresh new look.

This time, upon hearing that the official army was coming, Magistrate Luo, wanting to keep the soldiers from harassing the common folk, persuaded the great households to contribute money and grain to reward the troops. The gentry heaped praise on Magistrate Luo's idea and gladly accompanied him. Those who eat are soft-tongued, those who take are short-handed—surely these military officers, having accepted the meat and wine, would restrain their men, at least for a short while, and be too embarrassed to harass the locals. Who knew how long they would stay? Best to stabilize them first.

That day, Luo Fulong had just taken his seat at the yamen when a runner reported that a group of military officers had come to call. He felt somewhat surprised: could these rough soldiers be returning the visit because of the troop-rewarding a few days ago? No—these coarse men should know nothing of reciprocal courtesy. Could it be they had finished the wine and meat from the reward and come to demand more? That must be it! These vulgar people, truly greedy beyond measure! It had only been a few days and they were already back for more. No! He could not let them think this was something the county owed them! If they came begging every time they finished eating, wouldn't the gentry turn against him? Absolutely must not agree!

But neither could he afford to offend these military men—they held blades in their hands. Luo Fulong had long heard of the official army's discipline. If he clashed with them and they turned hostile, these rough brutes, in their fury and shame, might do heaven knows what. Let's see what they have to say this time—stall them for now. With that thought, he instructed the runner to bring the officers in, while he withdrew to the second hall to wait. After all, as a jinshi degree holder, he could not lower his own status to greet a pack of military men.

Gao Qixun and the others were led by the runner to the second hall, where they saw Magistrate Luo, dressed in his official robe and black gauze cap, seated in a chair reading through documents. The officers could not help but feel both envious and admiring—learned men were truly different! When they had leisure, they spent it boasting and swapping dirty jokes; when a learned man had leisure, he read books. No wonder he understood so many principles.

They had no idea that a county magistrate had to hold court every day; they imagined scholars simply spent their time drinking wine and composing poetry.

Seeing the officers enter, Luo Fulong set down his documents, rose to his feet, and with a beaming smile, clasped his hands in greeting: "These generals have unfamiliar faces! I thought it was Regional Commander Deng coming—I failed to greet you at the door. Please, sit. Attendant, serve tea!"

Gao Qixun and the others hurriedly returned the salute with clasped hands, their bearing extremely deferential. After taking their seats, they sat bolt upright in their chairs, like primary school students before their teacher.

What could they do? They needed something from him.

Luo Fulong was somewhat taken aback inwardly. When he had gone to reward the troops that day, Regional Commander Deng Qi had been brusque and dismissive toward him, and the eunuch army supervisor had been even more sarcastic and unpleasant. These visitors were not the Regional Commander, but judging by their uniforms, there was a Mobile Corps Commander among them—a general commanding real troops. How could such a man be so proper and deferential?

His expression betrayed nothing. After he was settled, servants served tea to each person. Smiling, he asked, "May I ask what business brings the generals here?"

The officers exchanged glances, then all eyes turned to Gao Qixun. Gao Qixun fidgeted for a long moment, then suddenly stood, stepped forward, and with a thud dropped to his knees, crying out: "Your Honor, save us!" The others followed suit, kneeling as well.

Luo Fulong was greatly startled. Although in the Great Ming civil officials had always been esteemed above military ones, in recent years of constant warfare the court had come to rely more and more on military officers, and the status between civil and military had gradually reversed. He was but a seventh-rank County Magistrate, while the other party included a general of the third rank's lower grade!

He hastily rose and helped Gao Qixun and the others to their feet, saying repeatedly: "Generals, please rise at once! This will not do, it will not do!"

Gao Qixun and the others rose accordingly. Luo Fulong invited them to sit, then asked: "Generals, why such a grand salute? And you ask me to save you—what is this all about?"

Gao Qixun recounted the events of the previous night in full detail, emphasizing how Deng Qi had long been embezzling military pay and mistreating the soldiers, and how Liu Yunzhong had been arrogant and colluded with him. After finishing his embellished account, he picked up his teacup and drained it in one gulp, then wiped the moisture from the corner of his mouth with his hand.

Luo Fulong had no thought left for despising such crude behavior—he was simply stunned. The Great Ming had seen many Regional Commanders die in battle, but this was the first to be killed by his own subordinates! Damn it, were these rough men tired of living? Truly ruthless—ruthless enough to kill even a high official of the second rank! This was a crime punishable by the extermination of one's entire clan! He could not let himself be touched by this affair—whoever got involved would be ruined.

Recovering his wits, he hastily said: "I am deeply moved by the righteous deed of the generals! But I am a civil official—governing this locality is my duty. As for military matters, I know nothing whatsoever, let alone have any schemes to offer. Gentlemen, after finishing your tea, please take your leave. Forgive me for being of no help!" With that, he made to raise his teacup in dismissal.

Gao Qixun let out a deep sigh and said: "We are men of the sword, knowing only how to wield blades and spears. This time we stumbled into such a grave crime in our confusion! But pity our Sichuan soldiers—answering the court's call to leave Sichuan for battle, they have not seen home in two years. Day to day they go hungry one meal and full the next, fighting from Shanxi to Shaanxi, from Shaanxi to Henan, from Henan to Huguang. Eight thousand brothers reduced to six thousand—how many left no bones behind! Withheld pay is a common occurrence, and worse, we got a Regional Commander who skims even from what is withheld! Alas, we are court officers, and loyalty still lives in our hearts, but the men below are already of restless mind. Without us to hold them down, they might well have turned bandit this time! Very well, we shall go back now and await the court's punishment! Only I fear the brothers below will kick up a ruckus that we cannot restrain—and then the people of Fancheng will suffer!" With that he rose and beckoned the others to return to camp.

Luo Fulong's hair stood on end. These rough men were threatening him in the barest terms! What did they mean they could not restrain their men—more like they did not want to! But one could never rule out the worst. If the situation truly spiraled out of control and these soldiers became mutineers, the consequences would be worse than the roving bandits. Then his career as County Magistrate would be over—he might even lose his head. No, he could not let these rough men return to camp. He had to find a way to stabilize them first.

Luo Fulong hastily stood and said: "Gentlemen, stay your steps—I have a solution!"

The officers were overjoyed at these words. Gao Qixun laughed heartily: "Didn't I say it? Learned men are the clever ones! What is Your Honor's excellent plan? We will follow it to the letter!"

Luo Fulong silently sneered at them, then invited everyone to sit and said: "It is no excellent plan, merely my own humble opinion. Let me speak it and see if you gentlemen find it suitable. This matter is no small thing—a great general guarding a region and an army supervisor sent by His Majesty, killed together. This is no different from rebellion! The only way now is to put forward the ringleader to the court, so that all mouths may be stopped and you gentlemen may be absolved of guilt! Say that you were bound within the tent by your subordinates, powerless to stop them, but did not participate. Now that the dead cannot testify, the court will find it hard to ascertain the truth. So long as someone takes the blame, the court will have its explanation. At worst you will be charged with lax command and failure of oversight—but your lives will be spared. What do you gentlemen think?"

Gao Qixun's heart sank. In a low voice he said: "The man who killed Regional Commander Deng is my personal guard. He saved my life twice on the battlefield, and always fought bravely against the bandits. His parents and brothers all died in the chaos of war! This time, seeing me humiliated, he was moved by righteous indignation and drew his blade. If I hand him over to the court, I, Gao, would truly become a man without honor—how could I ever show my face among the troops again!"

Luo Fulong was also filled with admiration upon hearing this. He raised his thumb in praise: "This man is truly a loyal and righteous one! That General Gao refuses to betray his own subordinate, I also deeply admire. We cannot let a loyal and righteous man die an innocent death, can we? Here is what you do: after returning to camp, dig up the corpses of last night's dead and cut off their heads. Say that after you struggled free of your bonds and rushed to the scene, you found the Regional Commander and the army supervisor already dead, and that you then beheaded the mutineers to overawe the remaining officers and men, thereby temporarily quelling the mutiny!"

The others thought it over carefully—the plan was workable. They sent a Battalion Commander back to camp to carry it out, while having Liu Erzhu and the others go into hiding and not show their faces. They also arranged for the officers' trusted men to patrol the camp, with strict orders that no soldier was to leave.

After that Battalion Commander finished his business and returned to the county seat, Luo Fulong sent runners through the streets beating gongs and proclaiming that bandits were approaching the county town—the city gates were to be closed, shops shuttered, and all common folk forbidden to leave their homes. After further discussing details with the officers, Luo Fulong planned to submit a memorial to the Governor-General reporting the matter. After all, something this big could not be hidden. Once the report was written, Gao Qixun sent a Battalion Commander back to camp to arrange for the letter's delivery, and then everyone waited in the city for the Governor-General's office to handle the matter—until Hong Chengchou arrived.

Luo Fulong roughly finished recounting the affair (of course, excluding the scheme he had suggested to the officers—people of that era valued honor and faith highly). Hong Chengchou stroked his beard and fell into thought. Subordinates killing superiors, murdering a Regional Commander and an army supervisor eunuch—this was already rebellion, a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of kin.

That a dozen or so soldiers had done this on their own, Hong Chengchou did not believe. There must be someone behind it pulling the strings. As for the cause, Hong Chengchou did believe that Deng Qi's prolonged embezzlement had caused resentment among the soldiers to suddenly erupt. He had long heard of Deng Qi's greed—he simply had not expected it would cost the man his life.

As for the army supervisor eunuch, Hong Chengchou held no fondness for him. These eunuchs were arrogant and overbearing, looking down on everyone, greedy yet cowardly, and fond of meddling in military affairs. All the Regional Commanders detested them but dared not offend them. With one eunuch dead this time, perhaps the remaining army supervisors would restrain themselves somewhat—after all, anything could happen in a military camp.

After pondering for some time, he ordered the officers in the courtyard to be brought into the main hall. Gao Qixun and the others, bare-chested, were led into the hall under the watch of several blade-wielding personal guards. The guards barked at them to kneel. After a moment, Hong Chengchou, dressed in a grand red official robe embroidered with a crane rank badge, emerged from behind the screen of the second hall, accompanied by Luo Fulong.

Hong Chengchou took his seat behind the great desk, while Luo Fulong stood respectfully at the lower position.

Hong Chengchou's gaze swept over the kneeling officers below. He spoke: "Who kneels below? State your names!"

The officers, trembling with fear, announced their names in loud voices. Hong Chengchou had begun suppressing bandits from the time he served as Grain Intendant of Shaanxi, and had risen through merit to Governor-General of the Five Provinces. His reputation among the military was formidable—even Regional Commanders had to kneel and announce their names before him, let alone lesser officers.

Upon hearing Gao Qixun's name, Hong Chengchou was slightly taken aback. He had heard of this man—among Deng Qi's subordinates, none was more capable in battle. But because he was relatively upright, Deng Qi had not favored him, and to this day he remained only a Mobile Corps Commander.

After the officers announced their names, Hong Chengchou spoke: "You are commanders of troops. In peacetime you should strictly govern your subordinates according to military law. This time, the Regional Commander and the army supervisor met their deaths—all because you were too lax in controlling your men! According to the law, for losing your superiors, you deserve beheading! But considering that the court is in need of men, I will spare your lives for now! Yet though the death penalty may be remitted, the living punishment cannot be avoided. Attendants, give each forty strokes of the military rod!"

Several personal guards came forward, pressed the kneeling men to the ground, pulled down their trousers, and took up the yamen's water-fire rods to begin the punishment. These guards showed no mercy—the forty strokes were delivered in full. The punished officers gritted their teeth and made no sound, but their buttocks were already streaming with blood.

After the rodding was done, Hong Chengchou had no mind to rest at the county yamen. He ordered the guards to drag the officers out and set them astride horses, then led his party at a gallop toward the military camp outside the city. Luo Fulong saw him off respectfully to the city gates.

In about half an hour they reached the Sichuan troops' camp, ten li outside the city. The camp was pitched in an extremely orderly fashion.

Hong Chengchou nodded in approval. A personal guard spurred toward the camp gate. The sentry squad had already spotted them—one man had run inside to report, while the rest, some drawing bows and some leveling spears, watched the cavalry with wary vigilance.

The guard reined in his horse at a bowshot's distance and shouted: "His Excellency Hong, Governor-General of Military Affairs of the Five Provinces, has arrived! Open the camp gate at once!"

The sentries were stunned. They had only heard of the Governor-General's fearsome reputation but had never seen his face. Seeing this troop of cavalry in the red armor of the official army, escorting a middle-aged official in a grand red robe and black gauze cap, they were inwardly convinced.

Gao Qixun, lying sideways across a warhorse, ignored the shame of his subordinates seeing him in such a sorry state, raised his head, and shouted: "Li Desheng, it's me! Open the gate quickly and welcome the Governor-General into camp!"

The sentry squad leader heard Gao Qixun's familiar voice, looked carefully at the face Gao Qixun raised, confirmed it beyond doubt, and hastily called out: "Open the gate quickly—it's General Gao!"

By this time the officers and men inside the camp had been roused and were assembling under the banners of their respective Company Commanders and squad leaders. Only when the sentry squad leader announced the news loudly did the troops relax.

A squad of personal guards led the way. Hong Chengchou's party entered the camp and, guided by Gao Qixun, arrived at Deng Qi's tent. The scene had been cleaned up—on a dozen or so wooden stakes outside the tent hung human heads with fierce, contorted faces.

Hong Chengchou dismounted and walked to the tent. He glanced at the heads on the stakes without a word, then entered directly, took his seat behind Deng Qi's great desk, and ordered: "Bring them in!"

The guards brought Gao Qixun and the others into the great tent. The men knelt with heads bowed, not daring to meet his gaze.

Hong Chengchou said in a gentle voice: "Rise, all of you. I have words to impart."

The men rose at the command. Hong Chengchou continued: "The Sichuan troops fight well and endure hardship. In recent years you have rendered repeated meritorious service—the court and I are well aware of this. As for the pay not being issued in time, this was not directed at the Sichuan troops alone. Since the bandits rose in rebellion, natural disasters and man-made calamities have continued unabated, and the court's tax revenues have grown ever harder to collect. Only if we work together with one heart to exterminate the bandits swiftly, so that the people may live in peace, will the court's burden be greatly lightened, taxes fully collected, and the pay owed to officers and men made up. Therefore, you must fight bravely from now on, destroy the bandits soon, and restore a bright and clear world to the Great Ming, so as to repay His Majesty's grace!"

The officers all knelt. Gao Qixun declared in a loud voice: "We subordinates will surely fight the enemy with all our hearts, to repay His Majesty's grace!"

After Hong Chengchou bade the officers rise, he continued: "As for the full circumstances of this affair, I am well aware of them, and will not interrogate the soldiers one by one!"

At this point, he suddenly slammed the desk and thundered: "Do not think I can be deceived! No matter what Deng Qi did, a subordinate striking a superior is a capital crime! It is only because I consider that you have long endured the battlefield and fought bravely that I do not pursue this matter deeply! Should you ever commit such a grave crime again, I will behead you without mercy!"

Gao Qixun and the others were drenched in sweat, murmuring assent without daring to speak.

Hong Chengchou softened his voice and said: "His Majesty, mindful of the officers and men's toil in suppressing the bandits, has specially allocated funds from the privy purse to serve as military pay. This time, on my own authority, I will first issue three months' back pay; the remaining arrears will be made up once the court allocates the funds. His Majesty, burdened with a thousand affairs of state, still thinks of you. If you do not fight bravely from now on, how can you face His Majesty's grace and virtue?"

The officers were deeply moved. They knelt in unison, crying out "Long live His Majesty!" and vowing never to disappoint His Majesty's intentions, to exterminate the roving bandits at the earliest opportunity.

Hong Chengchou nodded in satisfaction and ordered: "I hereby temporarily appoint He Renlong as Regional Commander for Relief and Suppression, to command the Sichuan troops. You must strictly obey his orders and follow his command! The corpses and heads of Deng Qi and the other dead are to be buried in fine coffins. Gao Qixun, you will select one thousand men to accompany me back to Xinyang to escort the military pay. After I leave, you will announce my military orders to the entire army!" Gao Qixun and the others acknowledged the orders and limped out of the tent to assemble the men. About an hour later, the troops were gathered. Hong Chengchou gave He Renlong his final instructions, then led the force back to Xinyang.