Chapter 51: Family Bonds

Outside the west gate of Chuzhou city, tens of thousands of roving bandits had hastily set up camps scattered across the ground. Calling them camps was generous—they looked more like refugee settlements of straw sheds and tents, since most of the bandits were peasants by origin, never trained in proper military discipline. They moved about in a loose, chaotic manner with no sense of order whatsoever. They were accustomed to roaming and destruction—breaking into cities, looting, and moving on to the next target. This locust-like mobility was devastating to the regions they passed through and posed enormous difficulties for the government forces trying to encircle and suppress them.

In a large tent at Three-Mile Bridge west of the city, Ma Shizhong, known as "Sky-Shaker," sat bare-chested, his torso covered in thick chest hair, drinking and making merry with a group of his trusted followers. A woman of delicate beauty sat beside him, attending to his needs. She had been seized from Hezhou city by Ma Shizhong's subordinates as a tribute to their leader—reportedly the principal wife of a wealthy household. Her husband had naturally already become a corpse beneath the bandits' blades.

Ma Shizhong raised the wine bowl in his left hand and took a large gulp, while his right hand reached into the beauty's garments. The woman let out a soft whimper of pain, her brows knitting slightly. Ma Shizhong set down his wine bowl and glared at her: "Donkey's balls! What the hell are you yelping about?!" He followed up with a vicious slap across the woman's face. Her body tilted sideways as she clutched her cheek and cried out in pain, her pretty face immediately swelling red. Tears welled in her eyes. Forgetting her pain, she hurriedly prostrated herself on the ground, begging for mercy without pause—for she knew well Ma Shizhong's cruelty. She had personally witnessed him cut down a woman who dared to resist him with a single stroke of his blade.

Ma Shizhong rose and kicked her over with one boot, cursing: "If you don't serve me well tonight, I'll chop you to pieces with one swing of my blade! Now crawl to the back tent and wait!" The woman scrambled on hands and knees toward the small tent in back, while the bandits in the main tent all laughed and jeered at the sight.

Ma Shizhong's trusted follower Yang Jin, known as "Ground-Roller," laughed and said: "Boss, you've got a sharp eye! I love these women from big households—soft-tempered, obedient, do whatever you tell them. Back when we were still mud-legged peasants, we wouldn't even dare dream of such women! Ever since we rose up with the Dashing King Gao, every kind of woman has to kneel obediently before us. I wake up from dreams grinning with joy!"

Another trusted follower, known as "Skin-Pricker," chimed in: "I'm of the same mind as Old Yang. The women I've had these past few years—I can't even count them all! Boss, once we take Chuzhou, I'll grab the Prefect's family and bring them to you for your enjoyment. You trade me this one for them—how about it?"

Ma Shizhong laughed heartily: "You son of a bitch, you want to drink my dishwater, is that it? Fine! If you really bring me the Prefect's family, I'll make the trade!"

Ground-Roller took a drink of wine, wiped the dregs from his mouth, and said: "I'm telling you, Boss, this time we split our forces to attack Chuzhou—the Dashing King went north. I figure the government troops aren't worth worrying about. With our thirty thousand men, even taking Nanjing would be no problem! By then, Boss, your reputation won't be a bit less than the Dashing King's! What do you say, Boss?" The other leaders, finding his words reasonable, all chimed in with agreement.

Ma Shizhong heard this, and lightning-fast thoughts raced through his mind. He looked at the assembled men and shook his head: "Old Yang, you and I grew up together since we ran around bare-assed as kids. I know what you're thinking. Ordinary government troops are no match for us, sure—but there's still that King Yama Lu. We've tasted defeat at his hands before. If we went for Nanjing, that Lu fellow would fight us to the death. No—Nanjing isn't even worth dreaming about!" His trusted followers all showed looks of disappointment upon hearing this. Nanjing was the wealthiest place under heaven—if they could take it, how much gold, silver, and beauty would there be for the taking?

Ma Shizhong laughed and cursed: "Donkey's balls! Let's take Chuzhou first! With money and grain we can recruit more men. Once we've got a hundred thousand troops, maybe then we can think about taking a trip to Nanjing!"

Ground-Roller laughed: "We'll follow your lead, Boss—take Chuzhou first! I'll go down to the city walls and take a look. Those bastards have attacked twice and still haven't breached the walls. I'll go to the front to steady the ranks—this time we'll surely break through. Boss, you wait for my good news!" With that, he drained his bowl of wine and strode quickly out of the tent, leading his personal guards toward the city walls.

Ma Shizhong, feeling the wine go to his head, laughed and cursed: "You sons of bitches! Get the hell to the front and steady the lines! Send scouts to watch our rear—don't just focus on the front and let someone cut off our retreat!" With that, Ma Shizhong rose and, reeking of alcohol, made his way to the back tent. The others exchanged glances with lewd expressions on their faces, then rose one by one and headed out of the tent toward the city walls.

In the arrow tower atop Chuzhou's city wall, Prefect Xu Zhiyuan was observing the bandit camps below through the arrow slits. Vice Prefect Wang Renyuan and Assistant Prefect Zhao Yuzhi sat silently in armchairs, their expressions wooden.

Garrison Commander Dong Qigao strode in hurriedly, the long blade in his hand still stained with blood. The defense of the city rested primarily on his thousand government troops, supplemented by yamen runners from the prefectural office, household guards from the wealthy families within the city, and able-bodied young men from the populace.

Dong Qigao reversed his long blade and clasped his hands in salute to Xu Zhiyuan: "Your Excellency, the bandits have temporarily withdrawn. This is already their second assault on the city. My men have suffered over two hundred casualties, and the civilian militia have taken even heavier losses. Morale is shaken throughout the ranks. I just executed one militiaman who fled the field, which steadied the troops somewhat. If the bandits press a few more attacks, I fear the city may not hold!"

Xu Zhiyuan slowly turned around, his expression calm as he spoke: "I am aware. The roving bandits are overwhelming in force—the fall of the city is only to be expected. Garrison Commander Dong, you have worked hard. I ought to submit a memorial to the court requesting merit for you, but alas—heh—when the city falls, that will be the moment of our deaths!"

Wang Renyuan and Zhao Yuzhi's faces turned ashen upon hearing this. Dong Qigao replied with solemn gravity: "One who eats the sovereign's grain must serve the sovereign's cause. I have already embraced the resolve to die. Yet it weighs heavily on my heart that our families must perish with the city! If I may suggest—while we still have strength remaining, let me send men to escort the family members of you gentlemen to Nanjing, so that at least some blood and bone may survive!"

Wang and Zhao both perked up at these words. Wang Renyuan rose and clasped his hands in salute: "Prefect, Garrison Commander Dong speaks sensibly. We are ministers of the Great Ming—we have a duty to defend our territory, and to lose it would leave us no face to live on. But our families are truly innocent. Your Excellency's young son is clever and well-behaved—at seven he could already compose essays, and at nine he was writing poetry. He is certain to become a great talent in the future. Would it not be a grievous loss for him to die here?"

Zhao Yuzhi also nodded in agreement. The three of them turned expectant gazes toward Xu Zhiyuan.

Xu Zhiyuan was momentarily stunned. In his mind's eye rose the adorable face of his son, Xu Wen. His wife had borne him four children—the first three were daughters. Only ten years ago, at nearly forty years of age, had Lady Xu finally given him this son. For the ancients, whose lifespans were generally short, a man of forty could already call himself old. To have a son in one's later years filled Xu Zhiyuan with boundless joy, and he had doted on the boy since infancy. The boy was exceptionally bright—he had begun his studies at age five. Xu Zhiyuan personally taught him in his spare time from official duties, and under the tutelage of his jinshi father, Xu Wen's learning far surpassed that of his peers. Everyone praised him as a child prodigy.

Seeing that his only heir was about to follow him to the Yellow Springs, Xu Zhiyuan was naturally most unwilling. He sighed: "Since the Dashing King and the other bandit chiefs rose up, countless prefectures and counties have been overrun, and countless of my fellow officials have perished with their entire households. If we were to break with precedent, I fear the court would not look kindly upon it!"

Zhao Yuzhi spoke with tears in his eyes: "Your Excellency and we subordinates have already embraced the resolve to die. But when I think of my closest kin suffering this same misfortune, my heart truly feels as though it were being twisted with knives. Your Excellency, the court has no regulation forbidding family members from fleeing disaster. I beg you to reconsider!"

Wang Renyuan continued: "Your Excellency, why not send only our children out of the city? The rest of us will die with the city as is our duty. What is Your Excellency's view?"

Dong Qigao added his agreement: "Vice Prefect Wang speaks sensibly. It is only right that we face death in the line of duty, but we must leave some bloodline behind. Your Excellency, decide quickly! The bandits will soon launch another assault!"

As if to confirm his words, the roving bandits, which had momentarily quieted, erupted in clamor once more. The men hurried to the arrow slits to look—the bandits had already gathered their forces and were surging toward the city walls with battle cries.

Dong Qigao urged urgently: "The bandits are coming with ferocious momentum—I fear we cannot hold them back. Your Excellency, please make your decision at once!"

Xu Zhiyuan let out a long sigh: "Let it be as you gentlemen have proposed. Garrison Commander Dong, I entrust our children's lives to you!"

Joy showed on the faces of Wang and Zhao. Dong Qigao clasped his hands in salute: "I will certainly arrange capable men to escort the family members of you gentlemen out of the city!" With that, he hurriedly departed the arrow tower.

Xu Zhiyuan stepped out, raising his voice: "Since matters after our deaths are settled, let us go to the walls and kill bandits!"

Wang Renyuan and Zhao Yuzhi hurriedly followed behind him. The group emerged from the arrow tower onto the broad rampart walkway. Several soldiers stationed at the door stood guard with long blades at the ready. Xu Zhiyuan halted, looked out over the assembled officers, soldiers, and militiamen on the wall, and shouted at the top of his voice: "I am the Prefect of Chuzhou! Today I stand shoulder to shoulder with you all to slay the enemy! I swear to live and die with Chuzhou!"

With that, he snatched a blade from the hands of a nearby soldier and strode boldly toward the battlements.

Wang Renyuan and Zhao Yuzhi said not a word, likewise taking blades in hand and moving to stand beside Xu Zhiyuan. Since their lingering concerns had been resolved, let them die in battle this day to repay the court's favor!

Seeing the Prefect himself take to the walls to fight, the defenders—whose morale had been utterly shattered—suddenly found their spirits greatly revived. Each took their position behind the crenellations, prepared to fight to the death. The roving bandits had already surged forward like a tide, the front ranks charging in with over a dozen crude long ladders on their shoulders, ready to raise them against the walls and swarm up like ants.