Chapter 668: Auspicious Land

Black Dragon King Temple Mountain.

Drums and music clamored; host and guests alike reveled in delight.

Liu Chengzong had originally intended to hold himself a little aloof, but returning to his hometown after so many years away, the joy in his heart simply could not be contained.

In the end he lost all self-restraint — not only did he touch wine, a rare thing for him, but he also accepted every toast from the village elders without refusal.

Even the mightiest tolerance for drink cannot withstand that, so he simply slipped away from the feast halfway through.

Groping through the dark on horseback, he rode all the way to the ancestral shrine — the very place where he had been punished back then in Plunder King Village and made to read the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government.

When he had led his troops away from home that year, this place had been vandalized, but when Zhang Zhen entered Yan'an Prefecture, he had put great effort into restoring it, so that now it looked even somewhat better than before.

In a dazed stupor, Lion Liu shooed all his bodyguards outside the shrine, shut the doors, and spent half the night thrashing about, now weeping, now laughing.

When he woke the next day wrapped in a fur robe, his back ached, his sides ached, his whole body hurt — he himself had no idea why he had carried on like that.

But his mood had indeed improved enormously, and the pressure had lessened greatly, as if some long-accumulated filth inside him had been expelled.

He rested for three days at his old home on Black Dragon Mountain, figuring that his parents and brothers would surely return when the time came, so he had the house tidied up, and took the opportunity to meet with Yan'an's Prefect Zhang Yungong and Fushi County Magistrate Zhang Pan.

This world is truly bizarre — even Zhang Pan the clerk had been pushed forward to become county magistrate, and was actually quite popular.

Zhang Pan dared not take credit for this, however, and hastily waved his hands, saying outright: "I tell everyone I meet that I am an old acquaintance of Marshal Liu — with that, it would be hard not to win people's hearts."

Zhang Pan's words were not the slightest exaggeration.

Back when Lion Liu attacked the county yamen, shot dead the Fushi County magistrate, spared the life of Assistant Magistrate Meng and made him acting magistrate, Clerk Zhang Pan had been standing right there at the side and had even tried to dissuade Liu Chengzong with a few words.

Later, Assistant Magistrate Meng became acting magistrate and directly made Zhang Pan acting assistant magistrate.

Not a single person in the entire county objected.

Who would dare object? No one knew how close or distant Zhang Pan's relationship with Lion Liu really was — what if your objection brought Lion Liu down on them and the county yamen got purged all over again?

After a few more years of enduring, Magistrate Meng died of illness, and Zhang Pan became county magistrate.

To Zhang Pan, in truth, his whole life was a complete muddled mess.

He had originally been a hereditary petty functionary, one of the lowly yet actual power-holders within the county yamen.

Looked at in a small way, he was a grassroots errand-runner; looked at in a big way, he could overstep his authority, steal power, and manipulate power across an entire county, hollowing out the chief official and summoning wind and rain at will.

Petty functionaries basically had no possibility of becoming proper officials.

Yet precisely because of his acquaintance with Liu Chengzong, he had defied fate and altered his destiny to become the chief official of a county.

But Liu Chengzong had brought him not only favor, but also grievance.

The postmaster of Jinming Post Station was his relative, and Zhang Pan had once relied on that connection to intercept the court's arrest warrant for Cai Zhongpan.

Yet when Liu Chengzong broke open the county yamen prison and rose in rebellion under his true name, the first thing he destroyed was Jinming Post Station, and that relative of his family had been bludgeoned to death by Wei Qian'er and that gang of post station runners.

And now, the Marshal's headquarters' first proper count was Wei Qian'er, whose title of nobility was precisely Count of Jinming.

Zhang Pan, however, harbored no thoughts of revenge in his heart — he was even somewhat afraid that Lion Liu might decide to finish the job with him once and for all.

So the very year he became county magistrate, Zhang Pan struck that dead-ghost relative from the family genealogy.

Keeping him there was just a disaster waiting to bring confiscation of the family property and extermination of the clan!

Apart from meeting with local officials, Liu Chengzong also sent men to a village called Luping in Heshui County west of the Ziwu Ridge, to seek out an auspicious omen.

That auspicious omen was not some object, but a person — called Old Man Xu.

Back when he had defeated He Huchen at Ziwu Ridge and led his army westward, he had passed through Luping in Heshui County and had a single encounter with the seventy-eight-year-old Old Man Xu.

At that time, everyone in Luping Village had died off, leaving only five households waiting for death. Old Man Xu was like an auspicious omen — whether soldiers came or bandits passed through, seeing his advanced age, they would all leave him a little grain.

Liu Chengzong was no exception; he had even said at the time that Old Man Xu should hold on a few more years, saying that he would make it so people could eat their fill.

That was the seventh month of the third year of the Chongzhen reign; now five years had passed, as if a lifetime ago, and across the vast northwest, it was his turn, Lion Liu, to call the shots.

If Old Man Xu was still in this world, he would be eighty-three.

Liu Chengzong thought to himself, if he could bring over this old auspicious omen who had outlasted several emperors — that would actually be rather amusing.

A pity he could not be found.

The Feathered Forest riders sent to find the auspicious omen reported back that Luping had likely been uninhabited for a long time. When they followed the terrain map and found the village ruins, there was no trace of human presence in the ravines for thirty li in any direction — only four tigers roaming about.

Liu Chengzong had no real bond with Old Man Xu, but hearing this news still left him with a sense of melancholy loss.

At this moment, the sycophant jumped out on his own.

President of the Liu Chengzong Research Association and Minister of Rites of the Grand Marshal's Headquarters, Zhang Xianzhong, having read the mood and pondered deeply, resolutely offered his counsel:

"Grand Marshal, eighty-something isn't really that old. Why don't we just issue an order for every province, prefecture, subprefecture, and county to send their oldest old men as tribute!"

Lion Liu shot him a sidelong glance, thinking, Are you worried the average human lifespan is too long or something?

"Just rest yourself. You'd end up tormenting all the venerable elders to death. Didn't you hear what the man said? On the roads, tigers are roaming around in goddamn packs."

In truth, to Liu Chengzong, no other centenarian old man counted as an auspicious omen — only that Old Man Xu he had met back then was the auspicious omen.

What was more, even if he truly wanted to get a couple of old men to serve as auspicious omens, he would have no way of confirming whether they were genuine.

In this age, it was not at all strange for a fifty-year-old to look a hundred.

"The venerable elders can be left alone, but this tiger scourge — that is truly a problem."

The tiger is the supreme land predator; as the saying goes, one mountain cannot hold two tigers.

It is not that tigers will fight to the death on sight; in reality, when two powerful creatures meet, they will usually each withdraw to avoid a fight.

Tigers do not live in groups mainly because the prey on a single mountain can only sustain one tiger.

Any more, and none of them could survive.

In this era, tigers were not so scarce in number; at least in Shaanxi, their range of activity overlapped with that of humans to a great extent.

And over the long course of coexistence, tigers feared humans, and humans feared tigers, so on those roads that ran in all directions, humans controlled the daylight, and tigers ruled the night.

But now, this situation — where time, place, number, and behavior were all utterly abnormal — made it clear that this was no ordinary wild beast sighting, but a tiger scourge.

Just like the roving bandits, natural disasters and war had disrupted the normal state of human survival; people met and banded together as they fled, moving in pursuit of food, and by force of arms became powerful violent gangs.

Tigers were no exception. In years rampant with the chaos of war and the scourges of flood and drought, their living environment was even worse than that of humans.

When tigers leave the forests they depend on for survival and roam in packs without fear, in a Shaanxi year like this, their main food source goes without saying.

Simply put, they've lost their fear of humans, and through long-term hunting have even honed a set of highly efficient techniques for preying on people.

Because in this world, tigers only need to form packs when hunting humans as prey.

And tigers that have formed packs are already beyond what ordinary commoners or powerful clans can handle; three to five tigers roaming together can easily kill or injure a hundred people in a matter of months.

Zhang Xianzhong, standing in attendance nearby, paid the tiger scourge no mind — he'd seen plenty of tigers while on the run.

In truth, tigers were rare in northern Shaanxi; in Shaanxi, tigers were mainly concentrated in the south, around the Qinling range.

But the tigers he'd encountered were all very clever, knowing to steer clear of him.

Liu Chengzong, however, clearly didn't see it that way. Tigers, never mind an army — even when they run into ordinary commoners banging gongs and drums, they'll take a detour.

But a lone commoner facing a great beast has no power to fight back.

The commoners under his, Liu Chengzong's, rule had been gathered one person at a time — how could he let tigers devour them like this?

With people comes an army, with an army comes territory, with territory comes grain, with grain comes a larger army, and with that, even greater territory!

Liu Shizi promptly summoned the Feathered Forest Cavalry attending him and said, "Record this matter. When we return to Xi'an, circulate word to all areas: any prefecture or county that discovers a tiger scourge is to report it. If the problem is widespread, recruit tiger-hunting champions and tiger-slayers from among the common folk."

Zhang Xianzhong asked, puzzled, "Commander, are you planning to form a Tiger-Slaying Battalion to respond to alerts?"

"Huh?"

Liu Shizi quickly shook his head. "Why would I form that? If the tiger scourge is severe, I intend to recruit some tiger-slayers and compile a Complete Book of Tiger Hunting, to be published for the world, so each prefecture and county can form its own tiger-hunting teams according to local conditions."

On the matter of hunting, Grand Marshal Liu did have some experience.

Though he had never hunted tigers, he knew very well that hunting was a highly specialized skill — brute force alone was useless.

In fact, in the vast majority of cases, brute force was completely useless.

A person born with such a large brain — if they can't catch prey without matching it in brute force, they've basically lived their life in vain.

As for how to kill tigers, Liu Shizi believed professional hunters certainly knew more than he did.

When the time came, prefectures and counties plagued by tigers would be permitted to recruit Tiger-Hunting Champions; for each tiger killed, the government would reward one hundred taels of silver.

Coupled with compiling a book to establish an effective set of tiger-capturing and tiger-killing methods, then with rich rewards spurring bold men, the localities could resolve this trouble on their own.

"In short, under the Marshal's Manor's rule, for every child who dies in a village, a heap of tigers will die in the mountains."

As Liu Chengzong spoke these words, his face still carried regret over not finding Old Man Xu.

Fortunately, though, this world always had new things to occupy one — a mood of wistful loss could not trouble Liu Shizi for long.

Because very soon, Tian Shoujing's side sent men back from Ningzhou bearing letters and verbal messages.

Tian Shoujing's own official post was Battalion Commander of the Tiger Guard Battalion, and his personal guards, by military structure, were also soldiers of the Tiger Guard Battalion — they were quite familiar with Liu Chengzong.

"Commander, He Renlong's side has halted their advance and is encamped just outside Ningzhou city. Here is General Tian's letter."

"Present it."

A Feathered Forest Cavalryman naturally brought the letter over. Liu Chengzong took it and asked while opening it, "How is General He's battalion of troops?"

"Commander, after He's force fled the battlefield, he led his subordinate officers, men like Ding Mingtai, to garrison at Zhenning, then recruited two more forces of over a thousand roving bandits. He sent men to Yan'an Prefecture to bring over the soldiers' families from various places. With government troops, militia, and their coerced women and children, the numbers exceed ten thousand."

Liu Chengzong, reading the letter, raised an eyebrow dismissively and turned to Zhang Xianzhong. "No wonder he can't feed them all."

On this point, he and Zhang Xianzhong had much in common.

From the very start of their uprising, both had followed the elite-troop path — eat only as much as your strength allows, and never drag along useless people.

Liu Chengzong read halfway through the letter. Seeing that He Renlong still showed no intention of directly surrendering, he asked the returning guard, "General He didn't give you any trouble?"

The guard quickly shook his head at this. "None at all. Without attacking Qingyang, they're at the end of their rope, clinging to the Marshal's Manor as their only lifeline. Rest assured, Commander, they absolutely would not dare cause trouble."

"Good."

Liu Chengzong straightened up, pondered briefly, then turned to the Feathered Forest Cavalryman beside him. "Is Ding Guodong besieging the southern-gate fort?"

This "fort" referred to the Yan'an Garrison's satellite fort at the prefectural seat's southern gate.

Once he received the guard's affirmative answer, Liu Shizi said, "Have Ding Guodong assemble his troops and prepare to march. Fly the banner of a relief force, advance via Huachi straight to Qingyang Prefecture seat, take control of the city defenses, and assist in holding the city."

Tian Shoujing's guard looked utterly baffled.

Hadn't He Renlong's force already obediently halted?

Zhang Xianzhong narrowed his eyes and frowned. "Commander, the Marshal's Manor is applying pressure, yet He Renlong still won't surrender. Are we going to fight?"

In his mind, a very comprehensive defensive map had already formed: Yan'an to the east, Pingliang to the west, Guanzhong to the south, Qingyang to the north.

Right now, three sides already had newly organized garrison brigades. As soon as Ding Guodong's force entered Qingyang, it would be tantamount to bottling up He's troops in Ningzhou.

"Huh? It won't come to a fight. I know General He — even if he's unwilling to surrender, he won't oppose me. He's a wily old campaigner."

Liu Chengzong waved his hand and explained, "Advancing on Qingyang has nothing to do with He's force."

He wasn't crazy in the slightest.

Although recommending court officials for outstanding service might look a bit unhinged, it was merely a means of softening the enemy's will — the highest art of war is to foil the enemy's plans.

The Marshal's Manor's outstanding-service recommendations came with real rewards; when he ran into trouble and asked for aid, the relief troops were real too.

But where in the world is there a free lunch?

Liu Chengzong gave a soft laugh. "Once the relief troops enter the city, if Qingyang Prefecture doesn't switch banners and submit, then He Renlong's problem will never be resolved."

"Look how slippery he is. I had Tian Shoujing bring word — let him name his terms, approval rests with me — and he simply refused to meet with Tian Shoujing at all."

Liu Shizi pointed at the letter and said to Zhang Xianzhong, "He only had He Yong sound things out indirectly, putting forward something vague and ambiguous, just to send word back and gauge my intentions."

As he spoke, Liu Chengzong furrowed his brows again, his face showing an expression caught between tears and laughter. He simply handed the letter to Zhang Xianzhong. "Take a look. It's rather interesting."

Zhang Xianzhong took the letter, skimmed past the earlier parts at a glance, and only carefully read the conditions He Yong had relayed. Then his face, too, showed a strange look. "This... Commander, this He Renlong — he's asking to be sent to some bitterly cold, remote place with few people and many enemies."

The Eighth Great King looked utterly puzzled. "Does he have some misunderstanding about the Marshal's Manor, or is he just being polite to you, Commander?"

"No matter how I look at it, the meaning behind his words is 'assign me wherever you see fit.'"

Liu Chengzong couldn't help but nod, spreading his hands. "He talks as if, aside from bitterly cold, remote, few-people-many-enemies, send-a-man-out-and-not-see-him-for-half-a-year godforsaken places, I actually have some kind of treasured land on hand."

It wasn't false modesty — if he wanted to go somewhere nice, well, the Marshal's Manor truly had none.

But a godforsaken place fit for livestock and unfit for people — isn't that everywhere?

"Grand Marshal, I say if it won't work, we surround them on all four sides, force them down, and break up his men and horses!"

The Eighth Great King thought to himself, my Western Camp has already been broken up — what virtue or ability does He Renlong have to still want to keep his troops and their families, and still want to be a Regional Commander?

"I also think we should break them up, but breaking them up outright would be a bit of a pity. These people of his really can accomplish things."

As Liu Chengzong spoke, he unconsciously glanced at Zhang Xianzhong.

He knew He Renlong well — a military jinshi by background, he should have become a great general who devises strategies within the command tent, but instead he wasted ten years at Yuhe Fort and became a super-sized soldier-chief who holds his army together with brotherly loyalty and walks the grassroots path.

Send him out with men to some bitterly cold, barren wasteland, and his fighting strength would be no problem, nor would his cohesion.

He could definitely accomplish 'some' things.

You, Eighth Great King, are different — tied to my side, you are very capable; it's best this way. If I let you loose, I wouldn't dare imagine how great the things you could accomplish might be.

"First find a place to settle the women and children. The remaining five or six thousand men, put them anywhere and they can do something. General He also once showed me the kindness of two pots of arrows."

As Liu Chengzong said this, an expression of keen interest suddenly surfaced on his face.

From what Zhang Xianzhong knew of him, this Grand Marshal had definitely thought of something peculiar.

Liu the Lion was just then pondering where to toss He the Madman.

Southwest — the organizational form of the Ü-Tsang feudal lords was too weak; any random Assistant Regional Commander would do. Sending He Renlong there would be wasting his talent.

Northwest — assign him to Taimeng Garrison as Zhou Riqiang's right-hand man. He'd be a fine hand at carving out territory, and it just so happens that Khungtaiji recognizes neither kin nor kith. He Renlong's three thousand border troops and two thousand roving bandits could go over and firmly keep him in check.

It was just that over there would satisfy He Renlong's demands a little too well.

His brother was still fairly comfortable in the Tianshan Mountains, but He Renlong certainly wouldn't like working under his brother.

Further north, Taimeng Garrison was truly too much suffering, and the border army brothers hadn't committed any heavenly offenses. Comparatively, Liu Chengzong was more inclined to torment Ming imperial clansmen by sending them to guard the national gate.

Due west, however — Yarkand was still unresolved.

He could appoint He Renlong as a Chief Commissioner, release him from the territory of Chijin Garrison beyond Jiayu Pass, give him an oasis map, and once he entered the desert, let go and pay no more mind.

I'll also outfit your armor and weapons, and fill your arrow pots to the brim!

If they go over and can carve out a few garrisons, appointing a few commanders as military aristocrats would be best; a few difficulties would be no harm either.

As for being cut down by some petty oasis lord, Liu Chengzong wasn't worried... it wasn't that he overestimated He Renlong or underestimated Yarkand.

If those begs of Yarkand had that kind of ability, they'd have taken Gansu long ago.

Thinking to this point, Liu the Lion revealed a satisfied smile and said to Tian Shoujing's guard soldier: "I'll write a letter. Take it to Qianzhou, have Mi Layin deliver four thousand troops' worth of half-month rations to Zhenning County. You take it over and have Tian Shoujing first stabilize He Renlong."

"Once the dust settles in Qingyang Prefecture, we'll handle the matter of He's unit."

Having said this, Liu Chengzong turned his head to look at Zhang Xianzhong: "We'll also set out and return — enter Xi'an!"