Chapter 109: Recruiting Soldiers and Horses

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The Iron-Blooded Ming

Datong, the Wang family compound.

Wang Pu was discussing affairs with Zhen Youcai.

Zhen Youcai’s eye sockets were deeply sunken, his eyes webbed with blood vessels. Wrapped in a loosely fastened cotton robe, he looked altogether like a vampire.

It was all due to exhaustion. From the end of the first month of the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen reign to the beginning of April, Zhen Youcai had handled a tremendous amount of work for Wang Pu. He had taken care of nearly everything apart from leading troops into battle. He had overseen the transport of a hundred thousand dan of grain from North Tongzhou back to Datong, personally calculated and distributed the compensation for fallen soldiers, and managed the three weapons workshops and two gunpowder bureaus acquired from Zhang Zi’an.

There was simply too much for Zhen Youcai to handle. Almost every day, he worked from dawn until nightfall, with scarcely any time to rest.

Apart from military training and command, Wang Pu had also handed every matter, great or small, over to Zhen Youcai. On the one hand, this was because he trusted him—or, more precisely, because he believed that once a man was appointed, he should not be doubted. On the other hand, Wang Pu was desperately short of capable men. He had no choice but to work Zhen Youcai nearly to death.

Seeing how exhausted he was, Wang Pu’s eyes filled with guilt.

“Youcai, you have worked hard.”

“What are you saying, General?” Zhen Youcai replied solemnly. “I am honored that you thought so highly of me as to entrust me with all these affairs. I would not dare boast about anything else, but there is one thing I can assure you of: I will do everything within my ability to handle matters properly. I will ensure that you have soldiers and provisions, and that the brothers have guns and ammunition.”

As he spoke, Zhen Youcai drew a ledger from his sleeve and handed it to Wang Pu.

“General, these are the accounts I have kept. Please look them over.”

Wang Pu pushed the ledger back toward him.

“There is no need for me to read it. Just tell me about the main matters.”

Zhen Youcai respectfully acknowledged this and said, “As of the first day of the fourth month of the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, all one hundred thousand dan of grain purchased from North Tongzhou has been transported back to Datong in successive shipments. The weapons workshops have produced a total of 1,072 new-style firearms and 7,926 shafted Dragon King cannon shells.”

Wang Pu could not help asking, “And the paper cartridges? How many have been produced?”

An accidental innovation by Nian Niang had reminded Wang Pu of the paper cartridges used by the Swedes. He had immediately summoned Zhen Youcai, who was responsible for managing the weapons workshops and gunpowder bureaus. Together, they had appropriately refined Nian Niang’s idea, finalized the paper cartridge design, and ordered the two gunpowder bureaus to begin mass production.

“We have already produced more than eight thousand,” Zhen Youcai said. After a pause, he continued, “In addition, of the more than six hundred thousand cattle, sheep, and camels purchased from Zhang Zi’an, part were used to offset the cost of the refined iron and sulfur purchased from Shaanxi and the capital. Another part was used to offset the soldiers’ pay and the compensation for fallen troops. The remainder has been made into cured meat, amounting to more than eighteen million jin. Of the fifty thousand horses, more than thirty thousand have been sold, bringing in over two hundred thousand taels of silver. After all expenses have been deducted, the treasury still contains 1.52 million taels of silver.”

Wang Pu could not help but slap his hand against his thigh in delight.

“Excellent work, Youcai. You have not disappointed me.”

“You flatter me, General. I have merely done what was within my ability.”

“These matters are of great importance.” Wang Pu’s expression turned solemn. “It is already the beginning of April. The Manchu Eight Banners may descend upon Datong at any time. If we do not prepare in advance, we will suffer badly once they reach our doorstep.”

The two men were still speaking when Lü Liu suddenly entered and reported, “General, Second Master requests an audience outside.”

“My second brother?” Wang Pu scratched his head. “What does he want with me?”

As mentioned earlier, under the customary regulations of the Ming dynasty, a princess’s husband was not permitted to hold office or command troops. Once a man became a princess’s husband, the other members of his family were supposedly barred from office as well. In practice, however, this was not always the case. The Zhu Ming dynasty had never enforced that ancestral regulation completely, and many royal sons-in-law had commanded troops or served as garrison officers.

By the reign of the Chongzhen Emperor, the Ming dynasty was already tottering in the midst of wind and rain, and such cumbersome formalities were treated even more lightly. Thus, Wang Pu’s second brother, Wang Hua, had not withdrawn from public service according to custom. He still served as judicial magistrate of Datong Prefecture.

Lü Liu replied, “Second Master says he has important military intelligence.”

“Important military intelligence?” Wang Pu’s heart leapt. “Quickly, bring my second brother in.”

Lü Liu departed to carry out the order. Before long, Wang Hua entered the heated chamber, cursing under his breath.

“I say, Third Brother, it is becoming harder and harder to see you. Hah! Is this still the Wang family compound? Is it still the property of our Wang family? Why is it so difficult for the Second Master of the Wang family to see anyone he wishes?”

“Second Brother, calm down, calm down.” Wang Pu hurriedly rose and ushered Wang Hua onto the heated brick platform. With an apologetic smile, he continued, “Of course this is still the Wang family compound, and of course you may come and go as you please. But haven’t I been pretending to be ill these past few days? To keep the matter secret, I told Lü Liu and the others to guard the place more strictly. I never expected that the little bastard would even stop you from coming in. But I swear, that was not my instruction.”

“Enough, enough. Who doesn’t know what you are plotting?” Wang Hua said. “We have been brothers for more than twenty years. Third Brother, if you so much as twitch your backside, I know exactly what kind of filth you are about to release…”

He waved a hand impatiently.

“Never mind. I did not come here to trade insults. I have serious business. An official dispatch has just arrived from Shaanxi. A band of rebels has slipped back into Mizhi. Yan’an Prefecture, Qingyang Prefecture, and Pingliang Prefecture have all risen in rebellion. The dispatch further states that these rebels may next move eastward and invade Shanxi, so all the prefectures and districts of Shanxi have been ordered to prepare.”

Wang Pu was delighted.

“Second Brother, the three prefectures of Shaanxi have truly rebelled?”

“They truly have.” Wang Hua snorted. “I knew you were thinking along these lines, so I hurried over to tell you. You no longer need to pretend to be ill. With the three prefectures of Shaanxi in revolt, and speaking from my many years of experience in officialdom, I am afraid Fu Zonglong, the governor-general of the Shaanxi frontier, will not escape death this time. The wine sacks and rice bags serving in Shanxi and Shaanxi are no match for the rebels. Hong Chengchou is currently in Henan dealing with Li Zicheng, and the court has no one else suitable for the task. His Majesty will have to make use of you again, Third Brother.”

Zhen Youcai said, “Second Master’s analysis is very sound. I also believe that the General will soon be formally appointed commander-in-chief of Datong.”

“Whether I am formally appointed commander-in-chief of Datong is unimportant. What matters is that I finally will not have to return to the capital.” Wang Pu gave a sly grin. “I am not boasting, but with the power our Wang family now commands in Datong, even if I do not hold the position of commander of the Datong garrison, the troops here will still have to follow my orders.”

“Indeed,” Zhen Youcai said with deep conviction.

“Third Brother, I advise you to exercise restraint. A man should not flaunt his edge too openly,” Wang Hua warned. “Our Wang family has some influence in Datong, and ordinary people are beneath our notice. Take Wei Daben, the prefect of Datong, and Wang Qiaonian, the governor of Shanxi. Even they must treat me with respect. But that does not mean we should lose all sense of proportion. Do not forget that the Prince of Dai is also in Datong.”

“Second Brother, I understand. I will act with discretion.”

Wang Hua nodded and rose.

“Very well. I have other matters to attend to, so I shall leave.”

“Take care of your business, Second Brother.”

Wang Hua had reached the doorway when he suddenly turned back.

“Wait, Third Brother. Why do I feel that you are becoming more and more like the head of our family? Eldest Brother has scarcely done any business lately. He spends all his time running here and there for you, purchasing refined iron and sulfur and the like. And I am nearly reduced to being your informer in Datong’s official circles.”

“This is called making the best use of available talent,” Wang Pu said with an ingratiating smile. “Who told Eldest Brother to understand commerce, and you to understand official affairs?”

“At least you still possess a conscience.”

Wang Hua grunted twice before finally turning and leaving.

Only after Wang Hua had gone some distance did Wang Pu say to Lü Liu, “Sixth Brother, go to Kaolao Mountain immediately. Tell Zhao Xin, Tang Sheng, and Monk Zhang to come to Datong at once.”

“Yes.”

Lü Liu acknowledged the order and left.

Mizhi County had now become the headquarters of the rebel army.

Over the past half month, thousands upon thousands of rebels had streamed toward Mizhi every day from all directions. The rebel forces were expanding at an astonishing rate. Ma Shouying, He Yilong, He Jin, Liu Xiyao, and Lin Yangcheng were delighted, but Li Yan, the army’s commanding officer, could not share their joy.

What was there to celebrate?

Most of the rebels who had come to join them were impoverished commoners without food or clothing, dragging elderly parents and young children behind them. There were actually very few able-bodied men capable of fighting on the battlefield.

What worried Li Yan most was how to feed the rapidly growing rebel army.

The various rebel bands had arrived with almost nothing. Now that they had become Li Yan’s subordinates, he was responsible for feeding them.

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The grain seized from the official granaries of the counties in Yan’an Prefecture would not last many more days. Once it was gone, what would they do? Surely the rebel soldiers could not be expected to gnaw tree bark and eat grass roots alongside the refugees of Shaanxi.

To solve the army’s food shortage, Li Yan had spent three whole days unable to eat properly or sleep soundly.

Li Yan was sick with worry, and the Red Lady was anxious as well, but she had no solution either.

That day, the Red Lady led a dozen mounted guards to Old Crow Mountain, several dozen li away, to hunt. She had intended to kill a few pheasants and stew them into soup for Li Yan to restore his strength. Instead, they encountered bandits before they could find any game.

The party had just rounded a mountain pass when a shrill whistle suddenly rang out ahead. Hundreds of bandits immediately appeared along the ridges on both sides.

Highly skilled and fearless, the Red Lady did not take the bandits seriously. She immediately led her mounted guards in a forced breakout. The bandits naturally had no intention of letting such fat prey escape. At another whistle, they charged down from the ridges.

One bandit chief spurred his horse forward, saber raised, and charged straight at the Red Lady. She was just about to meet him with her sword when the bandit chief suddenly shouted, “Junior Sister, is that you?”

The Red Lady started, drew up her mount, and asked warily, “Who are you?”

The bandit chief rode around her twice, then cried out excitedly, “Junior Sister, you do not recognize me? I am your senior brother, Jing Maocheng!”

“What?” The Red Lady was overjoyed. “You are Senior Brother Jing?”

“It is me!” Jing Maocheng threw back his head and laughed. “Ha, ha, ha! I never imagined I would run into you here.”

He then shouted urgently toward the surrounding bandits, “Stop! Everyone stop! They are our own people!”

The Red Lady hurriedly called off her own mounted guards as well. Fortunately, they had intervened in time. No one on either side had died; only two bandits had suffered minor injuries.

The Red Lady urged her horse forward.

“Senior Brother Jing, how did you come to be here?”

“Do not ask.” Jing Maocheng smiled bitterly. “After leaving Henan, I intended to join the frontier armies. I thought that with my martial skills, I could at least become a captain of a hundred or a thousand. Even if I could not bring honor to my ancestors, I would surely be able to secure a life free from hunger and cold. Who could have imagined that only a few days after joining the army, I would offend a general and nearly lose my life?”

The Red Lady asked anxiously, “What happened afterward?”

“In a fit of rage, I killed that general and fled here to Old Crow Mountain, where I took up banditry. By now, I have gathered several hundred brothers.” Jing Maocheng looked at the Red Lady. “You and Li Yan were following the Chuang King in Henan. How did you end up in Yan’an Prefecture?”

“That is a long story. I could not finish telling it in a short while.”

The Red Lady’s eyes shifted as an idea occurred to her. If she could bring Jing Maocheng and his bandits under her husband’s command, they would become a formidable new force.

“Senior Brother, there is something I do not know whether I should say.”

“Go ahead.”

“Robbing travelers from your hideout in Old Crow Mountain is not a long-term plan. It is also a waste of your remarkable martial skills. The Ming dynasty is rotten to its core. The Chuang King possesses both talent and ambition, and one day he will surely replace the Ming. Why not join his banner and establish a great achievement?”

“I would like to, but the Chuang King is far away in Henan.”

“Why go all the way to Henan? The Chuang King has forces right here in Mizhi.”

A strange smile appeared on Jing Maocheng’s face.

“So, after all is said and done, you want me to bring my men and join your husband.”

As a matter of fact, Jing Maocheng’s departure for the frontier armies had been entirely because of Li Yan.

Back then, everyone had believed that Jing Maocheng and the Red Lady were a natural match. Jing Maocheng himself had thought so too. He had dreamed of marrying the Red Lady one day and taking over the chieftain’s seat from her father.

Reality, however, had ruthlessly shattered his dream.

Once, the Red Lady had led her men to Qixian County to raid it, only to encounter Li Yan. From that moment onward, everything changed.

The Red Lady eventually became chieftain, Li Yan became her husband and protector, while Jing Maocheng fled to the frontier.

Although more than two years had passed, Jing Maocheng still could not forget the Red Lady. Facing Li Yan and the Red Lady’s tenderness toward one another every day would clearly require more courage than he possessed.

The Red Lady made no coy gestures. She admitted frankly, “That is right. I am doing this for my husband, but I am also doing it for you, Senior Brother.”

Jing Maocheng smiled bitterly.

“Junior Sister, I must discuss this with the brothers.”

“Of course. I will wait for you at the foot of the mountain. If the brothers are willing, bring them down and return with me to the main camp. If they are unwilling, send someone down to tell me. I will not make things difficult for you.”

Datong, the Wang family compound.

Zhao Xin, Tang Sheng, and Monk Zhang had arrived at the Wang family compound from Kaolao Mountain. The Scarface and the Bearded Man had also returned from the camp at Thunder God Mountain.

For the past two months, Zhao Xin, Tang Sheng, and Monk Zhang had been hiding in Kaolao Mountain with more than 2,400 brothers, pretending to be bandits. The Bearded Man and the Scarface, meanwhile, had been training more than 2,000 newly recruited household troops at Thunder God Mountain.

The household troops at Thunder God Mountain had been recruited later. With the more than 2,000 veterans at Kaolao Mountain as his backing, and vast sums of silver at his disposal, Wang Pu had effectively become a power unto himself in Datong. He now acted with complete confidence and no longer needed to concern himself with anyone else’s expression. Naturally, there was no longer any need to recruit soldiers and purchase horses in secret.

The five men were deep in conversation in a side hall when Lü Liu’s resonant voice suddenly came from outside.

“The General has arrived!”

The Bearded Man, the Scarface, Zhao Xin, Tang Sheng, and Monk Zhang sprang to their feet. They straightened their backs, and all five pairs of eyes turned toward the doorway.

A figure flashed past outside. Wang Pu entered with Zhen Youcai, Xiao Qi, and Lü Liu surrounding him.

“We pay our respects to the General.”

The five men saluted in unison.

Wang Pu strode to the principal seat and waved a hand.

“Sit.”

“Thank you, General.”

The five men answered loudly and sat down at once. Wang Pu and Zhen Youcai followed. Xiao Qi and Lü Liu, however, took up positions behind Wang Pu, standing like guardian deities on either side.

Wang Pu’s gaze settled on the Bearded Man and the Scarface.

“How is the training of the newly recruited household troops?”

The Bearded Man rose and replied, “Reporting to the General, they look reasonably presentable now. But those little bastards have never been on a battlefield. If they truly face battle one day, they will probably soil themselves and flee.”

Wang Pu considered this.

“We do not have much time left. Let them continue their training through actual combat. Have the more than 2,000 veterans at Kaolao Mountain return to the Thunder God Mountain camp immediately and mix them with the more than 2,000 recruits. Each company of one hundred should contain half recruits and half veterans. Each veteran should take one recruit under his wing. That will improve their fighting ability more quickly.”

“Yes!”

Zhao Xin, Tang Sheng, and the others sprang to their feet and answered in unison.

Wang Pu’s words—“continue their training through actual combat”—filled them with excitement. It seemed another battle was about to begin.

It was not only the five company commanders who longed for war. The veterans who had been hidden away on Kaolao Mountain for nearly two months had been yearning to return to the battlefield. Even the newly recruited soldiers at Thunder God Mountain were eager to see combat as soon as possible.

Wang Pu’s system of lavish military rewards was beginning to show its power.

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This system had one distinctive feature: regular wages were low, essentially no different from those of the frontier troops. Only after winning a battle would the soldiers receive generous prize money. As for those who died in battle, they received compensation of the same standard regardless of whether their side had won or lost.

If a fallen soldier had made an important contribution or displayed exceptional bravery, the compensation was high enough to drive people mad.

For example, the fifty brothers who had died alongside the Bearded Man in Liaodong had each received two thousand taels of silver. What did two thousand taels mean in those days? At contemporary prices, it was enough to purchase more than a hundred mu of farmland and become a minor landowner.

Thus, while soldiers in other armies merely wanted to muddle through their days, every soldier under Wang Pu dreamed of fighting. Only victory brought generous rewards and the chance to make a fortune. Even if a man unfortunately died in battle, his family would still receive a substantial payment—enough to let them live free from worry over food and clothing for quite some time.

Wang Pu waved his hand, signaling everyone to sit down. He then continued, “The previous matter is over. From now on, none of you needs to skulk about in secret. However, to keep these overenergetic fellows from causing trouble outside, we are adding one more item to the daily training schedule: a fully equipped forced march of twenty li.”

“What?” the Bearded Man exclaimed. “Twenty li every day?”

“What is it?” Wang Pu countered. “Do you think that is too little?”

“No, no.” The Bearded Man hurriedly shook his head. “It is plenty. More than enough.”

“Then it is settled.” Wang Pu paused, then added, “The five of you company commanders do not get special treatment. You will run as well, and you must set a proper example.”

“What?”

“This…”

Zhao Xin, Tang Sheng, Monk Zhang, the Bearded Man, and the Scarface exchanged looks. Not one of them dared object. Since the General had given the order, what was there to argue about?

They would run, damn it.

Yet at the thought of running twenty li every day, looks of utter misery appeared on every face.

Mizhi, Li Yan’s command tent.

Li Hu was reporting military affairs to Li Yan. Li Hu was Li Yan’s younger kinsman. Li Yan was a frail, delicate scholar with a pale face, whereas Li Hu was as rough and formidable as his name suggested. He had learned martial arts at Shaolin Temple and was a rare and fearsome warrior.

Li Hu had always been utterly loyal to Li Yan, who regarded him as a trusted confidant.

The matter Li Hu was reporting concerned the division of able-bodied men by Ma Shouying and the others.

“Brother, the Old Huihui and those four others have gone too far. Every able-bodied man has been incorporated into their Five Camps of the Left, while they throw the old, weak, sick, and disabled at us. They are blatantly building their own faction. Do they have any regard for you at all? Before we set out, the Chuang King made it perfectly clear that you were the commander and those five were merely deputy commanders. Brother, you cannot continue to show them mercy.”

“Second Brother, I understand the situation.” Li Yan’s tone was heavy. “Ma Shouying and the others should not have done this. But they are veterans of the rebel movement. If we simply kill them, we will have no way to answer to the Chuang King, nor to the brothers in the rebel army. More importantly, if we turn against one another, the Ming forces will reap the benefits. We absolutely cannot do something that would delight our enemies while causing grief to our own people.”

“But, Brother…” Li Hu said anxiously. “If you do not discipline them properly, they will soon climb onto your head.”

“I doubt they possess that much courage.”

A faint murderous intent passed across Li Yan’s refined, handsome face. He lowered his voice.

“Second Brother, let the matter end here today. Do not mention it to anyone after you return. I know what is happening, and I know what must be done.”

Li Hu respectfully replied, “If you have no further instructions, then I shall take my leave.”

“Go.”

Li Yan watched him depart, then could not help adding, “Do not forget to restrain the brothers. Whatever happens, do not allow them to clash with the Five Camps of the Left.”

“Yes.”

Li Hu acknowledged this and turned away.

He had been gone only a short while when the Red Lady’s fiery figure swept into the command tent. She looked at Li Yan with delighted excitement.

“Husband, guess where I went today—and whom I met.”

“Do not even start.” Li Yan pursed his lips and said irritably, “You were gone all day. I did not see so much as your shadow.”

Although his words sounded reproachful, the Red Lady heard the deep concern beneath them. Her heart immediately seemed to fill with honey. She threw herself into Li Yan’s arms and twisted her waist coquettishly.

“Husband, I saw how exhausted you were. I wanted to hunt a few pheasants and stew them into soup for you.”

Li Yan was, after all, a proper Confucian scholar. Although he and the Red Lady were already husband and wife, he still could not withstand her fiery teasing. He coughed twice and turned his head aside, reminding her with a straight face, “Wife, this is the rebel camp. Do not let the brothers see us and make us a laughingstock.”

“Let whoever wants to laugh do so,” the Red Lady replied unhappily. “What is wrong with a husband and wife behaving naturally?”

Though she said this, she still stepped out of Li Yan’s embrace. Her bright red lips, however, were thrust out so far they could almost have held half a jin of oil.

Li Yan coughed once.

“Wife, whom did you say you met?”

The Red Lady twisted her waist and said petulantly, “I am not telling.”

Li Yan frowned.

“Wife, stop fooling around.”

The Red Lady spoke in a wounded tone. “I met Senior Brother Jing.”

“Senior Brother Jing?” Li Yan was stunned. “You mean Jing Maocheng?”

She nodded.

“After leaving Henan, Senior Brother Jing went to join the frontier armies. He was persecuted by someone and ended up taking refuge in Old Crow Mountain, where he became a bandit. Over the past two years, he gathered more than five hundred brothers. I have already brought them all here. They wish to join the rebel army.”

“Truly?” Li Yan was overjoyed. “That is wonderful. Since Senior Brother Jing has been the bandit king of Old Crow Mountain for more than two years, he must know many people in the underworld and have a fairly comprehensive understanding of Shaanxi and Shanxi. Perhaps he can help us find a way to obtain the grain our army desperately needs.”

Although Li Yan was a weak scholar, grandeur ran through him to the very marrow. He knew all about the history between Jing Maocheng and the Red Lady, but he did not judge Jing Maocheng because of it. Nor did he misunderstand the Red Lady simply because she had persuaded Jing Maocheng to join the army.

“Yes, Senior Brother Jing must know where we can obtain grain.”

The Red Lady nodded repeatedly in delight. Ever since she and Li Yan had become husband and wife, his happiness had been her own. Seeing him so pleased today, her joy reached from her face all the way into her heart.

Li Yan hurriedly said, “Wife, take me to welcome Senior Brother Jing.”

When the Red Lady brought Li Yan to the outer gate of the camp, Jing Maocheng and his more than five hundred followers were waiting quietly outside.

Jing Maocheng was surprised that Li Yan had personally come out to greet him. He had originally assumed that his arrival would make Li Yan unhappy, and he had already prepared himself to be unwelcome.

The reality was precisely the opposite. Li Yan greeted his arrival with immense warmth.

This gave Jing Maocheng an entirely new impression of Li Yan. It seemed that Li Yan was not merely a handsome weakling with a face women found pleasing. He must possess genuine ability; otherwise, the Chuang King, Li Zicheng, would never have sent him to Shaanxi to hold an entire region on his own.

After exchanging formal greetings, Li Yan respectfully addressed Jing Maocheng as Senior Brother and welcomed him into the main tent. He then instructed Li Hu to make suitable arrangements for Jing Maocheng’s more than five hundred followers.