Chapter 53: Schemes Upon Schemes

On the twenty-fourth day of the third month of the seventeenth year of Chongzhen, an army from Datong arrived at Ningwu Pass.

Ningwu Pass lies in central Shanxi; legend holds that it was born of a phoenix, hence its name, "Phoenix City."

Ningwu was the vital thoroughfare leading north from Taiyuan to Datong, and thus an inevitable route for the Dashun army advancing north toward the capital region. During the Jingtai era, a walled fortress was built at Ningwu, and during the Wanli era an outer barbican was added. Together with Pianguan and Yanmen Pass, it formed one of Shanxi's three great passes defending against Tatar cavalry, making its strategic position extremely important.

Zhou Yuji had not expected the Chongzhen Emperor to adopt his recommendation. Upon hearing that Bai Guangen had already been elevated to Regional Commander of Datong and had even received the Seal of the Town-Suppressing General, he had long been eagerly awaiting the relief forces.

When word came from the soldiers atop Ningwu's walls, Zhou Yuji was overjoyed. He personally opened the gate and descended from the walls to welcome Bai Guangen, riding side by side with him into the city, chatting and laughing all the way.

As the saying goes, "In war, father and son fight together; on the battlefield, brothers stand shoulder to shoulder." Though not entirely apt here, it nonetheless expressed how Zhou Yuji felt toward Bai Guangen at that moment.

During the breakout battle at Daizhou, Bai Guangen had done far more than simply rescue him. Zhou Yuji and Bai Guangen had been on the field together, and Zhou Yuji had witnessed Bai Guangen's valor in combat with his own eyes—that was why he had recommended him to the Chongzhen Emperor.

Events proved that Bai Guangen had indeed truly sided with the court. He had not even been in office as Regional Commander of Datong for ten days before leading tens of thousands of troops to relieve Ningwu.

The two men each harbored their own thoughts, but their aims were the same, and neither would speak of it openly. They talked as if they were blood brothers. After entering the city, Bai Guangen publicly bowed to Zhou Yuji with the rites of a subordinate officer and said:

"Your subordinate Bai Guangen pays respects to General Zhou!"

"Hahaha." Zhou Yuji had not expected Bai Guangen to pull such a move. He quickly helped him upright and said happily:

"Why must Commander Bai stand on ceremony? We are both ministers of the Great Ming, both fighting for Your Majesty—no need to make such distinctions."

Though he said this, Zhou Yuji understood perfectly well what Bai Guangen's intent was. Naturally, he quietly took command into his own hands and led Bai Guangen up to the city walls.

"Dong—dong—dong—"

After three rolls of the drum, the chief commanders of the Datong garrison and the Ningwu army all assembled below. Bai Guangen stood to Zhou Yuji's left, while on the right stood Wang Yunmao, the former Prefect of Taiyuan who had been transferred to Ningwu as Vice Military Commissioner.

This arrangement of positions made clear that all the generals regarded Zhou Yuji, Regional Commander of Shanxi, as their leader.

The Chongzhen Emperor's imperial decree had stated that Zhou Yuji and his Ningwu army formed an independent system under the direct command of the Ministry of War, not subject to the control of local governors or grand coordinators. Bai Guangen's subordinate salute precisely demonstrated his intention to yield precedence.

If Bai Guangen acted thus, then the Assistant Regional Commanders and roaming generals of Datong naturally had to honor Zhou Yuji as their chief as well. Seeing the linked camps of the Dashun army in the distance, the joyful expression on Zhou Yuji's face vanished, and he asked seriously:

"Guangen, what do you make of this?"

"Your subordinate once served in the rebel camp and knows well that although the rebels are powerful, they are not a monolithic block. Most of them are refugee battalions independently managed by the original bandit chieftains—low in fighting ability. On the surface they obey the bandit Li, but in secret each has his own schemes."

Bai Guangen also knew that time was of the essence. If he wanted to hold Ningwu, he could only speak without reservation. As for face or pride, none of that mattered anymore.

After all, even the Chongzhen Emperor trusted him—what could those civil officials do?

Zhou Yuji had been probing indirectly for exactly this information. Bai Guangen stating it outright made things easier. He did not interrupt, only nodding to signal him to continue.

"The rebel troops are divided into two forces. The bandit Li leads his personally, claiming a million men, but the actual number is under four hundred thousand. After General Zhou's interception at Daizhou, I estimate there should now be only around three hundred thousand."

"As for the other route, it is led by the rebel general Liu Fangliang, numbering at most two hundred thousand or so."

Vice Military Commissioner Wang Yunmao asked: "Even so, the Ningwu and Datong armies combined number barely over sixty thousand. How can we withstand the roving bandits, five times our number, attacking day and night?"

"We can't hold them off." Bai Guangen laughed lightly. Ignoring the astonished gazes of the crowd, he shook his head and said to himself:

"These rebel troops are at the peak of their momentum. To make them turn on each other, you and I would have to hold Ningwu for over a month. The roving bandits have no logistical reserves whatsoever, and each battalion was cobbled together on the spot. By that time, disputes are bound to break out over shortages of silver and grain—only then might the war take a turn."

Bai Guangen had spent time among the Dashun army and naturally had Li Zicheng's methods figured out completely. The Dashun army claimed to act in Heaven's stead, but they were nothing more than locusts after the harvest.

"Well said!" Wang Yunmao saw hope and immediately nodded in approval.

Zhou Yuji had originally felt that Ningwu was in crisis, but now, having gained the support of the Datong garrison and the court, and hearing the unexpected good news Bai Guangen brought, he no longer had the slightest worry.

Ningwu Pass had its back to Xuanfu and Datong—what it lacked least was time.

If things truly went as Bai Guangen had said, he might actually be able to block Li Zicheng completely outside Ningwu Pass and prevent him from advancing a single step!

"You've only just arrived; there are some things you don't know yet. Pass this around and take a look."

As he spoke, Zhou Yuji signaled a Ningwu soldier to hand a letter first to Bai Guangen.

Bai Guangen took it and looked it over, noticing a sizable hole in the middle of the letter—it appeared to have been shot onto the wall by a powerful bow.

Thinking of this, Bai Guangen instinctively turned his head to look and indeed found a deep mark on the beam behind him. Before he could say anything, he heard Zhou Yuji snort coldly and say:

"Hmph, this letter of surrender was shot up from below the walls by that Li Guo using a three-dan bow. Utterly insolent!"

Only then did Bai Guangen turn to examine it closely. His hand holding the letter began to tremble—whether from anger or fear, he said not a word, only turning to pass the letter to an Assistant Regional Commander.

After all the generals had read it in turn, they were all deeply indignant, each vowing to fight to the death.

This letter of surrender revealed Li Zicheng's arrogance and his extreme contempt for all the Ming troops at Ningwu Pass, containing even such chilling words as "If you do not surrender within five days, I will slaughter your city."

At this moment, Vice Military Commissioner Wang Yunmao had an idea and said:

"General, why not circulate this letter throughout the city?"

Indeed, Li Zicheng's words seemed immensely powerful, but they gave Zhou Yuji and his men far too many weaknesses to exploit. To utter such a phrase as "If you do not surrender within five days, I will slaughter your city"—whether he was truly foolish or simply overconfident was hard to say.

Seeing everyone look toward him, Bai Guangen smiled and said:

"Commissioner Wang's plan is excellent. Guangen admires it."

Since all three leaders agreed, Zhou Yuji directly ordered it done. Before long, a flash of inspiration crossed Zhou Yuji's eyes, and he smiled:

"Since Li Zicheng is so arrogant and pleased with himself, why not turn his own trick against him?"

"Oh? Pray tell!" Bai Guangen and Wang Yunmao both leaned in as if listening intently, awaiting what came next.

Zhou Yuji pointed at the barbican below the pass and said with great vigor:

"Gentlemen, look—is this barbican sturdy?"

An Assistant Regional Commander of the Ningwu army said: "After years of repairs, it is naturally sturdy!"

Another Datong roaming general said: "If the roving bandits attack the city, we'll make sure they never return!"

"Good." Zhou Yuji continued: "On the bandit Li's march north to Ningwu, every place he passed surrendered at the sight of him. Our army has just been defeated at Daizhou, and word of Guangen leading the Datong garrison to our relief has not leaked out—so why not stage a feigned surrender!"

"Feigned surrender?"

At these words, the faces of all the generals lit up, and they began discussing among themselves.