Chapter 1317: Borrowing Troops

From the eastern bank of the Yalu River to Pi Island, unless one takes the sea route, the only way is to follow the flat terrain along the coastline straight east. From Tieshan County to Pi Island, the sea route is less than five li — a distance easily crossed by raft. From Yizhou to Pi Island, the route passes through several Korean counties and districts. Though the city walls and stockades are not densely packed, they stand wherever they ought to.

The ten-thousand-strong Jurchen Jin army from Jianzhou paid absolutely no heed to the Korean defenses along the way. Despite the dozen or so stockades, the several thousand Korean officers and soldiers, and the private troops that nobles and gentry could mobilize — enough to scrape together over ten thousand men, which would certainly take effort to fight head-on — the Jianzhou Jurchen Jin army did not care in the slightest. Their marching momentum made it seem as if no fortifications or troops existed here at all.

One must understand that Korea is a vassal state of the Great Ming. When the Great Ming went to war with Jianzhou Jurchen, Korea also sent troops to assist. At the Battle of Sarhu, they even dispatched twenty thousand soldiers. Even now, they have allowed the remnants of the Liaodong forces to form the Dongjiang Garrison and fight the Jianzhou Jurchen. The two sides were originally enemy states, yet the Jianzhou Jurchen Jin army treated the border as nothing, and treated the Korean troops as nothing, charging straight for Pi Island just like that.

But Korea's reaction matched the Jianzhou Jurchen's judgment exactly — they shrank back and dared not come out to block them. They were thanking heaven and earth just to avoid contact. The few who tried to send warning to Pi Island were intercepted and killed halfway under the screening of the Jianzhou Jurchen iron cavalry. Korea had few horses to begin with, and few men who could ride them. After this, they dared move even less.

On the third day after the Jianzhou Jurchen troops crossed the river, the forward scouts sent by Pi Island finally spotted the surging Jurchen army rolling toward them. They fled back in panic to report, and only then did the Pi Island Dongjiang Garrison learn the news. Almost at the same moment, an urgent plea for help from Jinzhou also arrived by boat at Pi Island. Jinzhou had come under siege in the sixth month — a very sudden siege. It began with nearby Jurchen garrison troops attacking; once they had encircled the place, the main army appeared. This news had been sent at the risk of death by Zhang Pan's personal guards.

When the news reached Pi Island, the entire island's soldiers and civilians were shaken. Dongjiang Garrison Commander Mao Wenlong racked his brains in bewilderment. At this time of year, it should have been impossible for the Jianzhou Jurchen to launch such a large offensive — one force attacking Jinzhou, another attacking Dongjiang. This would require roughly sixteen thousand troops, marching long distances, needing vast amounts of grain, fodder, and livestock, and also requiring the conscription of laborers in the middle of the busy farming season. The Jianzhou Jurchen had never been able to do this in past years. How could they manage it this time?

The Dongjiang Garrison had clearly been sharpening its weapons and feeding its horses, preparing to deal the Jianzhou Jurchen a heavy blow — yet they had never imagined the enemy would move even faster. Only now did the Dongjiang Garrison's commanders realize just how powerless they truly were. Although they had been constantly harassing and attacking, their operations were confined to the Yalu River and the Liaodong coastal strip. They were helpless against the core territories controlled by the Jianzhou Jurchen. When the Han people there rose in revolt, the garrison could do nothing but take in the refugees after their failure. And once the Jurchen launched their offensive, every hidden agent and inside contact was completely wiped out.

Lamentations aside, everyone still could not understand how the Jianzhou Jurchen could undertake an action so damaging to their own vitality. Nurhaci was fierce, savage, and recklessly brave, but his strategic judgment was also extremely sharp. He would certainly never go to such great lengths just for the Dongjiang Garrison, which was nothing more than a minor skin irritation. Thinking along these lines, the Dongjiang Garrison commanders did manage to grasp some threads of the truth. Ever since maritime trade with Xuzhou had begun, Pi Island Dongjiang Garrison's strength had been steadily increasing — enough to make the Jianzhou Jurchen feel threatened.

In the past, the entire Dongjiang Garrison would have rejoiced at such a thing. But now, with the enemy nearly at their doorstep, they truly could not feel happy about it.

Their battles against the Jianzhou Jurchen had also begun to occasionally gain the upper hand. Under such circumstances, it was only natural that they attracted the Jianzhou Jurchen's attention and provoked a massive punitive expedition. This truly was a case of fortune and misfortune riding together.

"... Our Master Jin's northern campaign against the capital prompted the imperial court to draw troops from across the realm. The Ji-Liao region was left empty as well. As a result, the Jianzhou forces seized the opportunity to raise troops in western Liaoning and captured several cities and towns. Although they withdrew not long after, the grain, fodder, and other supplies inside the cities all became their spoils. Moreover, at this time, the Liao River, the Ling River, and several other waterways were navigable, so the spoils were transported back to the Shenyang and Liaoyang area..."

"... Because of these spoils, the Tatars had surplus grain. Coupled with the fact that the Dongjiang Garrison men, fattened up by us, now had the strength to fight several battles in eastern and southern Liaoning, this stirred up unrest in the various places already occupied by the Jianzhou forces. That was what made Nurhaci resolve himself — regardless of whether the timing was suitable for military action, the Dongjiang Garrison had to be crushed..."

"... The world's affairs are interconnected — a single hair pulled affects the whole body. Who could have imagined that Master Jin's great offensive in Shandong and Northern Zhili would be linked to the Liao Garrison? Sun Chengzong taking the Ji-Liao elite cavalry back to the capital allowed the Jianzhou Jurchen troops around Guangning to relax considerably, and they took the opportunity to draw troops and head east..."

Unlike the shock felt by the Dongjiang Garrison, Cloud Mountain Trading Company's intelligence was far more comprehensive. Although they learned of the Jianzhou Jurchen army's attack slightly later than the Dongjiang Garrison, they were quickly able to analyze the entire sequence of events. Of course, this information was not shared with the Dongjiang Garrison — it was only recounted to Luo Chen, Zhao Song, and the several company commanders who had landed on the island.

The company commanders all nodded as they listened. Luo Chen's analysis not only let everyone know the ins and outs of the matter, but also the reasons behind it — they all felt their understanding had broadened. Zhao Song, however, saw deeper than the rest. Within the sphere of Xuzhou and the Zhao Family Army, there were not many people who could see matters so clearly and also provide such analysis. This Luo Chen had once been one of Ma Chonghao's trusted confidants. When Ma Chonghao defected to Xuzhou, many of his former close followers scattered, but Luo Chen followed him over and was then assigned to this Pi Island.

When someone comes to offer allegiance and you station them in such a bitterly cold, perilous, and isolated place beyond the sea — in the context of the imperial court or officialdom, that would be standard cold treatment, a standard dismissal. But in the Zhao Family Army, if a person not of Xuzhou origin is assigned to a harsh and dangerous place, it instead signifies trust, and indicates that they will be heavily employed in the future — because the Zhao Family Army and Xuzhou's own backbone and elite are also in such places.

Luo Chen had done very well on the island. Pi Island's Dongjiang Garrison was made up of Liaodong soldiers and civilians who had fled there seeking revenge and survival, united in purpose. Yet after Luo Chen arrived, he somehow managed to establish eyes and ears everywhere, which made things much more convenient for the Xuzhou Zhao Family Army's operations.

By this point, looking out from the trading company building, the entire Pi Island had begun to boil with activity. Every man, woman, and child was mobilized for battle. Some were building fortifications and setting up obstacles at suitable landing sites. Others were heading to various key points to stand guard. Still others were sorting through the people — women and children who were truly useless for the fight were sent to hide in the mountains. Pi Island is predominantly mountainous, with many places to conceal people.

"Company Commander Zhao, Mao Wenlong has always had schemes targeting our Xuzhou, so we must be extremely careful." Seeing someone approaching the trading company building, Luo Chen added a word of caution.

The visitor was Pi Island Dongjiang Garrison Vice General Chen Jisheng. He brought a few personal soldiers and requested an audience outside. Ever since the Xuzhou Pi Island soldier company had landed on the island, despite being in daily close contact with the island's soldiers and civilians and being allies and partners — a situation where the garrison's daily posture should have been very relaxed — Zhao Song and the company commanders below him had not slackened in the slightest. They treated the Dongjiang Garrison entirely as an enemy state. When there was no movement of goods or personnel, the trading company's gates here were kept tightly shut, and soldiers stood guard at key points.

The gates were opened to let Chen Jisheng in. Zhao Song and Luo Chen received him together. Chen Jisheng had a relatively generous and kind temperament and was also a literate man. Both Xuzhou and Korea had a good impression of him. Given the current situation, Chen Jisheng dispensed with pleasantries and said in a somber tone, "This official has noticed that one of the seagoing vessels usually anchored at the harbor is missing. Is your esteemed side preparing to request reinforcements and hold out, or arranging ships to evacuate?"

The military officers of the Pi Island Dongjiang Garrison, regardless of their personality or style, always made a point of emphasizing their official rank when dealing with others, even when it came across as very stiff. When Cloud Mountain Trading Company was on Pi Island, there were always three ships anchored at the harbor. After these five companies arrived, the number of ships permanently anchored at the harbor became six. The people of Pi Island understood in their hearts — this was a means to ensure withdrawal at any time. Comparisons between people truly were odious.

Luo Chen glanced at Zhao Song. Zhao Family Army officers were generally poor with words, and Luo Chen had already prepared to step in and take over. However, the brothers Zhao Song and Zhao Wan were exceptions among Zhao Family Army officers. Zhao Song spoke in a low voice: "Since we came here, we are prepared to stay permanently. Sending a ship back is merely routine communication."

The words were faultless but carried no practical meaning. Chen Jisheng furrowed his brow and said bluntly, "If Leader Zhao is prepared to stay permanently, then you intend to share life and death with the Pi Island Dongjiang Garrison. The Dongjiang Garrison's soldiers and civilians are united in purpose, but we have suffered poverty for too long. Our equipment is insufficient, our trained soldiers are insufficient, and we especially lack long-range firearms. Might I ask Leader Zhao to provide righteous support?"

"The orders I received are to garrison Cloud Mountain Trading Company and protect the safety of commercial goods. Other matters are not within my mission. I cannot agree." Zhao Song refused crisply and decisively.

Chen Jisheng's face darkened. Then, with the utmost earnestness, he pleaded, "Leader Zhao, the Tatar slaves are launching a massive assault on Pi Island. If the Tatars succeed, these tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians will sink into utter misery, becoming the Tatars' draft oxen and horses — worse than livestock. Will Leader Zhao truly sit by and watch his compatriots fall into such a wretched plight?"

"General Chen, my side has only five hundred men. Pi Island likely has over ten thousand who can wield a blade. The Dongjiang Garrison does not rely on itself, yet treats my five hundred men as a lifesaving straw — this is far too strange. General Chen, do not try to goad me with words. Military orders are as immovable as mountains. I am sure General Chen understands this principle." Zhao Song spoke in a deep voice. Beside him, Luo Chen nodded approvingly, but inwardly he was astonished — fortune truly did favor the Zhao family. A mere collateral branch descendant could be this perceptive.

The conversation had grown somewhat awkward and strained. Chen Jisheng was silent for a moment. The sorrow and earnestness on his face faded away, and he said in a muffled voice, "The Dongjiang Garrison has weapons, but they are not as fine as your Xuzhou equipment. A few days ago, when the ships were unloading cargo, I saw quite a few backup supplies in storage. Could some be allocated to the Dongjiang Garrison? Aid given at this moment — we will never forget this great kindness."

Zhao Song and Luo Chen exchanged a glance. Zhao Song nodded and said, "We can give some. Two hundred each of blades and spears, and five sets of armor."

"Firearms and cannons?"

"Those cannot be given!"

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