Chapter 256: The Meeting

"Changbo, why must you be so formal with me? The Junior Tutor worries overmuch—the court has no suspicions toward the officers and men of Liaoxi. His Majesty is eager for Duke Hong to achieve something at Ning-Jin, so Duke Hong and I discussed the matter and resolved to take Yizhou, to remove the threat at Jinzhou's doorstep and further reassure His Majesty's concerns over the border. Considering that the Ning-Jin officers and troops have long been without battle experience and might lack fighting spirit when facing the enemy, Duke Hong memorialized the court to request that the Yongwei Camp be sent through the pass to assist. Duke Hong is now on his way to Jinzhou to discuss with the Junior Tutor the matter of the Ning-Jin regulars observing the battle. Changbo, you had best return and report to the Junior Tutor—if all is well, it would be best for him to meet with Duke Hong, lest unfavorable rumors about the Junior Tutor spread!"

Shen Shiyu glanced at the box of red sandalwood that Wu Sangui had brought—the open box emanated a faint golden glow, and within lay five hundred taels of gold.

What he had said about inviting the Ning-Jin regulars to observe the battle was merely official rhetoric; the true meaning was naturally that Jinzhou should commit troops. Otherwise, could the Yongwei Camp, as guest troops, truly fight the Jianzhou barbarians while the Ning-Jin army simply watched from the sidelines?

"Lord Shen has always treated Sangui like a nephew. Please accept this small token of my regard. Sangui will now hurry back to Jinzhou to report to my uncle, lest the men of Jinzhou misjudge the situation! Lord Shen, Sangui takes his leave!"

Wu Sangui clasped his fists in salute, then went out, mounted his horse with his personal guards, and departed in haste—the chest of gold ingots he had deliberately left behind in Shen Shiyu's room.

Now that he knew the objective of this court expedition, he had to hurry back and persuade Zu Dashou to cooperate. Otherwise, the rumors that the men of Jinzhou were colluding with the Jianzhou barbarians would truly be confirmed. If that came to pass, once the court used it as a pretext afterward, the Zu family would have no choice but to rebel against the Great Ming—or sit and wait for death.

Jinzhou was only some forty li from Songshan, and Wu Sangui's fast ride round-trip took just over an hour. When he returned to Jinzhou, he saw large bodies of cavalry galloping back and forth outside the city walls, while the ramparts were crowded with armored soldiers and officers. The city gate was only half open, and a squad on sentry duty was strictly interrogating the commoners and merchants passing through.

Seeing this scene, Wu Sangui found it both amusing and exasperating: his uncle by marriage had truly been scared out of his wits by the court, putting on such a grand display to bolster his own courage—it was utterly useless and only gave people ammunition for gossip.

"So that Mr. Shen truly said such things? Changbo, you're a man of the world—do you really think this court expedition isn't aimed at us?"

Zu Dashou, who had been waiting in his study for Wu Sangui's return, still wore a half-doubtful expression after hearing Wu Sangui relay Shen Shiyu's words, but his body, which had been tense the whole time, had relaxed.

"Uncle, Mr. Shen is the man Supreme Commander Hong trusts most. He and I are the closest of friends—he would never deceive me! I believe you should meet with Supreme Commander Hong and plan how to take Yizhou. I think the men of Ning-Jin should obey Supreme Commander Hong's deployment, cooperate fully with the guest troops, and use this battle to make the rumors about Ning-Jin collapse on their own, thereby regaining the trust of His Majesty and the court!"

Wu Sangui said frankly.

"Uncle, Third Brother is absolutely right! We've fought the Jianzhou slaves for decades, retreating all the way from Liaodong to Jinzhou—how many of our own soldiers have died at their hands? This is a blood debt! This time the court has sent troops that can actually fight, so we should let the guest troops see that the Jinzhou army isn't just eating the court's pay and provisions for nothing! This time I'll lead my men into battle!"

Zu Kuan stood up and shouted loudly.

"You worthless brat! Do you think the Jianzhou slaves are as easy to deal with as the roving bandits? Don't you dare get cocky just because you won a few battles suppressing bandits inside the pass! War means death—we've spent a fortune raising these soldiers, and every one who dies is like throwing away silver! If they all die, what does the Zu family have left to rely on? Your uncle has his own ideas on how to handle this—open your mouth again and I'll beat you to death!"

Zu Dale's brows shot up as he pointed at Zu Kuan's nose and cursed angrily.

Seeing his father enraged, Zu Kuan could only sit back down with great reluctance, still muttering under his breath.

"Changbo says Hong Hengjiu is coming to Jinzhou—will you meet him or not, Elder Brother? The court army wanting to take Yizhou is clearly about showing its might! Should we send someone to secretly tip off Yizhou and let them have some warning?"

Seeing Zu Dashou sitting there silent for a long while, Zu Dabi couldn't help asking.

"Second Uncle, that hardly seems appropriate, does it? Don't forget we are still ministers of the Great Ming. Even if we've had some dealings with Jianzhou in peacetime, that was only for profit. But this concerns matters of state and military—such an act would be tantamount to communicating with the enemy, a crime punishable by extermination of one's clan, just like treason! Uncle, think carefully!"

Zu Dabi's words filled Wu Sangui with disgust. Doing shady business with Jianzhou in peacetime to earn silver was one thing—that was also for the benefit of many people in Liaoxi—but to put private gain first at a moment that determined life and death for so many was truly not knowing how to stay alive.

If you want to die yourself, don't drag others down with you! Not satisfied with all the silver you've earned over the years? If the court learned you were communicating with the slave rebels on the eve of battle, how many people would be buried with you! Wu Sangui cursed inwardly.

"I suppose I'll meet Hong Hengjiu after all. Changbo speaks sense—we've accumulated considerable family wealth over the years, but you need to live to spend it! The Emperor seems to be showing signs of a wise ruler, and the Great Ming is turning around—we can't fail to read the times! This time we'll put up some capital and let the court see the might of our cavalry! However formidable the court's regulars may be, they're only infantry—if it comes to open field battle with the Jianzhou slaves, without our cavalry holding the line, no matter how well the infantry fights, they can't withstand the cavalry charges of the Jianzhou slaves and Tartars!"

Zu Dashou, who had been pondering for some time, finally spoke and made his decision.

His nephew's words were right—no matter what, Liaoxi was still land of the Great Ming, and those present were all ministers of the Great Ming. At a critical moment, one couldn't very well turn one's elbow outward, could one? Over the years each of them had amassed substantial family fortunes, enough to last several lifetimes. What needed considering now was how to protect that wealth. Taking Yizhou was precisely the opportunity to demonstrate loyalty to the court. As long as one adopted a soft posture, had sufficient achievements in hand, and had powerful ministers in the capital speaking for Liaoxi, the Emperor couldn't very well strike without cause, could he?

That afternoon around the hour of wei, when Hong Chengchou arrived under the escort of his personal guards at a point five li from Jinzhou, Wu Sangui, entrusted by Zu Dashou, was there specially to welcome him. To display Jinzhou's strength to Hong Chengchou, Zu Dashou had dispatched all the household retainers of his own family and those of his subordinate officers. Along both sides of the official road, armored riders all faced their horses' heads toward the road, forming an impenetrable corridor. The soldiers on horseback wore varied expressions—some arrogant, some humble, some curious, some admiring—and silently watched Hong Chengchou's party pass through their midst. Banners of every size snapped in the wind, and the long column stretched all the way to the gates of Jinzhou.

"Junior Tutor Zu has laid out quite the display—this official feels rather overwhelmed by the honor! Hahahaha! Changbo, how does this host compare in strength to your own troops? I've heard the Jianzhou barbarians' armor and weapons are exceedingly sharp—how do your men measure against them?"

Hong Chengchou, accustomed to grand occasions, sat his horse with perfect composure, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the Ning-Jin cavalry on both sides. Inwardly he held Zu Dashou's childish theatrics in considerable contempt, and it further lowered his estimation of the men of Liaoxi.

"Reporting to the Supreme Commander, these are all elite troops of Ning-Jin, roughly comparable to my own command, slightly inferior to the Jianzhou slaves' armored soldiers! Somewhat stronger than the Tartars!"

Wu Sangui, riding half a horse-length behind Hong Chengchou, answered honestly.

"The armored soldiers of the Eight Banners may be formidable, but in this official's eyes they are nothing to fear! For their numbers are few, and every one lost cannot be replaced. Moreover, they cower in the bitter cold of Liaodong, lacking supplies—if not for the Han artisans they've plundered from within the pass over the years to labor for them, their downfall would come in an instant! Just watch this battle for the city—His Majesty has sent elite troops, so he must have abilities to rely upon. As long as we can heavily deplete the Jianzhou barbarians' effective strength, even somewhat heavier losses among the regulars would not be excessive!"

Wu Sangui dared not respond, and could only feign an attentive listening posture. Beside him, Shen Shiyu smiled and changed the subject: "Duke Hong, I wonder how much cavalry the Junior Tutor can field this time. With twenty thousand Yongwei Camp infantry, supplemented by several thousand cavalry, how could the fifteen hundred barbarian rebels at Yizhou be our match! My only worry is that when the Jianzhou barbarians see the size of our force, they'll hole up in the city and not dare come out to fight. I've heard every Jianzhou barbarian shoots heavy arrows—if our troops swarm the walls, our losses could be considerable. I just fear His Majesty will blame us for losing men and generals!"

Hong Chengchou laughed: "As long as we can wipe out the Jianzhou barbarians of Liaodong, no sacrifice is too great! We'll discuss how to deploy once I meet the Junior Tutor—I expect he will have sound counsel to offer me!"

Amid their conversation, the towering walls of Jinzhou loomed before them. A large crowd of civil and military officials stood in the open ground outside the south gate. When Hong Chengchou drew near, the assembled military officers knelt on one knee in the military salute, announcing their names in homage, while the civil officials of the Liaodong Governor's yamen bowed with clasped hands.

After the salutations were complete, Hong Chengchou dismounted. Fang Yizao, the Governor of Liaodong, clasped his hands with a ceremonial smile: "I've had a touch of cold these past few days and was unable to accompany Duke Hong on his inspection of the region—my apologies! The Junior Tutor's back and legs trouble him and make walking difficult; he asked me to convey his apologies to Duke Hong. The Junior Tutor is now waiting at the Governor's yamen for Duke Hong's arrival! Duke Hong, please!"

Hong Chengchou returned a half-salute with a slight clasp of his hands: "No matter! The Junior Tutor has spent many years in this bitter cold land—it's inevitable he has lingering ailments. I shall go pay him a visit at once. Ziyuan, please lead the way!"