Chapter 977: The Prefectural City (200 Votes Bonus Chapter)

And so, by the time the sun had slanted westward, the "main army of government troops" arrived at this village. Dust churned skyward, the display of force immense — yet every man held a bamboo branch, sweeping as they walked, each one coated head to toe in dust. To put it bluntly, it was merely eight hundred foot soldiers plus a dozen or so large carts. Branches were also dragged behind the carts, and great banners were planted on them; some of the household troops carried banners hoisted on their shoulders as well. Seen from afar, it truly looked like a vast, surging army on the march.

The refugees who had already been taken captive had no idea what was happening outside, and even if they knew, it would have caused no stir. The difference in fighting strength was far too great — against a thousand or so rabble, fifty riders of the "government cavalry" would be more than enough to sweep them flat.

"No need to beat off the dust — looking like this is just right. Xu Yong, you take fifty riders and a hundred men to stand guard here. Don't pull a long face; staying behind here counts as the same merit as entering the city. The rest of you, follow me. Remember, we are the Great Ming's government troops." Zhao Jin gave a few brief instructions. The newly arrived foot-soldier companies of household troops had no time to rest before they moved out together.

As for the line "we are the Great Ming's government troops" — it was meant as a jest, but no one laughed along. The atmosphere had already grown somewhat heavy. Zhao Jin wore the armor of a Company Commander. This time, most of the banners had been left behind at the main refugee camp. Then men were set to driving the captives to labor, and dust billowed up again. From a distance, it looked exactly like a great army making camp.

Ziyang, the prefectural seat of Yanzhou Prefecture, was already tense to the breaking point. They knew Jining City had fallen, and they knew there were many spies and hidden agents of the Smelling Incense Sect within the city. Although the main camp of the bandit refugees was far from them, they dared not easily sally forth, let alone go to the rescue of the surrounding areas. The Prince of Lu's palace had issued stern orders on one hand and offered heavy rewards on the other, restraining the government troops and civilian militia within the city from venturing out lightly. Everything was to be subordinated to the safety of Ziyang. Holding this place was more important than anything.

When they saw the cavalry charge into the main camp of the Smelling Incense Sect's rebel army, a commotion stirred atop the walls of Ziyang. No one knew what had happened. Urgent gongs were sounded in warning, and the whole city tightened its guard. Qiao Shan, the Guard Company Commander of the Prince of Lu's palace guard, had not descended from the wall for days. Upon hearing this signal, he too led the palace forces in strict vigilance.

Once the Smelling Incense Sect's rebel camp was broken and fleeing refugees were everywhere, some on the city wall began cautiously guessing whether a relief force had arrived. Though the chaos made it impossible to see clearly, and dust obscured the view, they could faintly make out the uniforms of government troops. This sent a wave of jubilation across the wall. Only Company Commander Qiao Shan's expression remained exceedingly grave. He warned everyone that until men were right before their eyes, they absolutely must not let down their guard. If the bandits tricked them into opening the city gates, all would be lost.

Company Commander Qiao had kept watch on the wall all this time. For days he had not changed his clothes, eating and drinking alongside everyone else. When the bandit refugees circled the city in a show of force, he had taken up sword and spear, ready to fight. In every respect he was seasoned, steady, and composed, and his prestige grew ever higher. When he spoke, everyone was utterly convinced.

But the rout of thousands upon thousands of men could not be concealed. As some fled past the city, they too shouted that the government troops had come. The men on the city wall grew more and more optimistic. When they saw the distant column, its government banners fluttering, enter the refugee camp, some could no longer restrain their cheers. Several government Company Commanders defending the city were especially eager to sally out and link up, to strike the enemy from both within and without.

This plan, however, was immediately blocked by the various men on the wall. Whether it was the Prince of Lu's palace or the Prefect of Yanzhou, for the sake of their own safety, none wished the government troops to leave the city, lest the city be exposed to risk.

The government troops and civilian militia on the wall grew more and more excited, watching the "relief army's" movements with eager eyes. When they saw the "main relief force" make camp and reorganize at the bandit refugee camp, then detach a flanking division to advance toward the city, some began to shout and cheer wildly. After so many tense days, they were saved at last.

When that "government flanking division" reached the foot of the wall, the ramparts seemed to boil over — a genuine thunder of exultation. Below were merely three hundred-odd riders and seven hundred-odd foot soldiers, yet a grim, fierce, and formidable aura emanated from them. A government Company Commander defending the city stepped forward to inquire, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Brothers below, which route do you belong to?"

"We are the personal encampment of Grand Commander Yang Zhaoji, the Regional Commander of Caozhou! We have come expressly to join in the defense of Ziyang City!" came the rough roar from below.

Although Ziyang City was "besieged," news had always flowed freely. They certainly knew that the imperial court had issued an edict ordering Yang Zhaoji, the former Regional Commander of Datong who had been recuperating at home, to become the Regional Commander of Caozhou and assemble government troops from all routes to suppress the rebellion. Ever since the army of Shandong Regional Commander Yang Guodong had been defeated beneath Jining City, Ziyang had been constantly hoping for the arrival of this Caozhou force.

"... Our Grand Commander led the army in a rapid advance, catching those bandit refugees completely off guard and scattering them in one blow. The Grand Commander has ordered us to enter the city and assist in its defense. Tomorrow, the Grand Commander will lead the main army on to Jining..." The men below laid out the whole sequence of events very clearly.

The city wall erupted in boundless jubilation once more. They had little doubt about the words from below. When trouble broke out in a region of the Great Ming, the greatest fear was that something might happen to the imperial princes. No matter how well you fought, if a Prince of the Blood or a Commandery Prince met death in the chaos, the Supreme Commander, the Grand Coordinator, the Regional Commander — all civil and military officials at every level — would be ruined. And it was not merely a matter of losing their posts; they might not even keep their heads. For this reason, although the heart of the Shandong rebel army lay in Zouxian and Jining, both Jinan and Caozhou thought first of rescuing Ziyang City, where the Prince of Lu's palace was located. Even the Kong Manor of the Yanshenggong, ordinarily so haughty, was reportedly planning to move inside as well, lest the rebel army, unable to take Ziyang, break through Qufu instead and send the Kong Manor down the same dead-end path as the Meng family.

Since Ziyang City had been rescued, the next step was naturally to attack Jining City and restore the flow of the Grand Canal. That was the order of priorities. Thinking of the disastrous defeat of the Shandong troops and then of the great victory just witnessed, someone on the wall could not help but sigh: "Frontier troops really are different. We're fortunate that Yang Zhaoji still has some of his old foundation left."

"... There are still bandit refugees roaming outside the city. Staying out here at night would be risky. Let us enter the city quickly to make camp. Tomorrow our Grand Commander will strike camp and march south to Jining, and we are to garrison inside the city to assist in its defense..." The prolonged exchange was making the men below somewhat impatient. To have broken the enemy and come to the rescue, yet be unable to enter the city — anyone would be angered by that.

Though ordinarily they dared not let government troops into the city for fear the soldiers would wreak havoc on the locality, at a time like this, letting these government troops in would double the strength defending Ziyang. Even if the refugees came again, the chance of holding out would be far, far greater.

"Could it possibly be a trick?" someone muttered on the wall. The jubilant, exultant ramparts quieted considerably at once. The bandit refugees were cunning — the fall of Jining City had already proved that. What if this was also a ruse? What if?

But just then, Company Commander Qiao Shan spoke impatiently: "A trick? A trick? If the bandit refugees had troops this crack and strong, how could we possibly hold out? Do the bandit refugees in your family's imagination have this many horses?"

With this irritable remark, everyone suddenly saw the light. Their worries and anxieties vanished like smoke. To say nothing else, the bandit refugees had only a dozen or so horses in total — how could they suddenly produce several hundred? The relief troops below looked filthy, covered head to toe in dust, but their armor, horse tack, and weapons were all in perfect order. How could ragged, destitute refugees possibly equip themselves like that? What's more, how could refugees have a column so disciplined and grimly formidable? The best they could field was some so-called Divine Army of the Faithful, which could barely march in a square formation. How could they compare to the troops below, who at a glance were clearly battle-hardened, perhaps even tempered on the Nine Frontiers?

What truly set everyone at ease, however, were the words of Company Commander Qiao Shan. Since he had spoken, everyone accepted it as true. Most importantly, if even the men of the Prince of Lu's palace were not worried, then there was all the more reason not to overthink it.

"Have the city prepare rewards and provisions, clear out barracks for them, and then open the north gate — there's less stuff piled up over there," Qiao Shan said in rapid succession. Though he was only a Company Commander, his title as a Guard Officer of the palace meant his standing was actually higher than that of a government Company Commander. Moreover, the prestige he had built up over these days meant that when he gave orders, everyone obeyed. Besides, his arrangements were indeed methodical and well-ordered.

The men assented with a roar. Some went to shout down to those below the wall, while others hurried down to make preparations. The north gate was the opening used for sending fast couriers out of the city. Since the bandit refugees had never come to attack, not many sandbags and earth sacks were piled there, making the gate relatively easy to open.

"Sir Qiao, the city is saved now — why are you still looking so grim?" Everyone's faces were wreathed in smiles, but Company Commander Qiao Shan's expression showed no sign of easing; instead, it grew even heavier. An acquaintance came over to tease him.

Qiao Shan started slightly, then shook his head and said, "We still don't know how the fight at Jining City will go. If there's another mishap, the bandit refugees will besiege us again. I can't set my mind at ease. The relief army entering the city is a major matter — I must go report to His Highness."

Watching Qiao Shan walk away, some behind him murmured in admiration, saying it was a real pity that such a seasoned and capable man could only serve in a prince's palace. Everyone under heaven knew that working in a palace had its perks, but there was no future in it.

In the distance, they could see what looked like some merchants coming forward to greet them. This was not unusual. This defense of the city had demanded contributions from everyone. Every shop and trading house in the city had no choice but to donate something. Money and grain were given, and the able-bodied young men from the shops were conscripted for labor. Now that government troops were entering the city, there would surely be further levies imposed on them.

The jubilation and excitement on the city wall quickly spread throughout all of Ziyang. From the outer city to the princely city, cheers rang out everywhere, and everyone was elated. Though this strong fortress had given them much confidence, with tens of thousands of bandit refugees outside, turmoil inside the city every day, and the precedent of Jining's fall before their eyes — whose heart had not been heavy with dread? But the moment this army arrived, everyone's hearts were set at ease.

The Prefectural Magistrate's yamen of Yanzhou and the County Magistrate's yamen of Ziyang both dispatched officials to offer greetings. The local gentry spontaneously gathered supplies to reward the troops. The government troops originally stationed in the city, however, kept their distance, as was customary. Relations between local troops and outside troops had to be handled with extreme care. The slightest misstep could easily lead to a clash of arms and open fighting. With so many bitter precedents before them, each kept to their own area. When matters arose, the commanders of both sides would meet to negotiate; in normal times, they kept as far apart as possible to avoid misunderstandings.

This is the bonus chapter for reaching 200 monthly votes. I've looked at the vote count — you all are truly ferocious. There are only fifty-some votes to go before another bonus chapter is due. Don't worry, I'll take it on. Since I've resolved to push hard, I won't stop.

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Thanks to the reader "The Long Road," and thank you all for your subscriptions, monthly votes, and support. This is the third update of the day.