Chapter Forty: The Matchmaker
Jining had now become the stronghold of the White Lotus Sect.
The White Lotus Sect had a long history. The founding emperor of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, had himself come from this sect. Yet, after seizing the throne, he deemed the White Lotus too dangerous and sought to suppress it. However, the sect never truly died out; instead, it persisted tenaciously, surviving under various guises.
No matter how its name changed, the White Lotus Sect remained ever the same.
At the top, it was led by the Sect Leader, always a woman, addressed as the Holy Mother of the White Lotus or the Eternal Mother. Beneath her were the White Lotus Maidens, the Left and Right Envoys. Below them were the incense masters of the thirty-six incense halls, and at the bottom, the ordinary followers.
Inside the Jining Prefectural Office.
The Left Envoy of the White Lotus, Li Qingshan, entered Yaxuan, guided by two attendant girls. Yaxuan was divided into inner and outer chambers by pearl curtains. Behind the shimmering curtain sat a slender, graceful figure. Li Qingshan immediately knelt and bowed deeply, reverently proclaiming, “Your subordinate, the Left Envoy of the White Lotus, pays homage to the Sect Leader, wishing you eternal fortune and a life as boundless as the heavens.”
“Rise,” came a languid yet alluring voice from behind the curtain.
“Thank you, Sect Leader.” Only then did Li Qingshan dare to stand, respectfully waiting at the side, hardly daring to breathe.
The languid, soft voice asked, “Left Envoy, I hear a man named Liu the Broadsword wishes to join us?”
“Your subordinate was just about to report this to you,” Li Qingshan answered hurriedly. “There is more, Sect Leader. This Liu the Broadsword brings with him most excellent news.”
“Oh? And what news is that?”
“Liu the Broadsword says a contingent of government troops is escorting a great quantity of ginseng, Eastern pearls, gold, and silver, and they have already reached Luqiao Town. They will arrive at Jining any time now.”
“So it is true,” the Sect Leader mused. “I received word from Nanjing two days ago: General Wang Pu of Datong is escorting a vast treasure of ginseng, Eastern pearls, gold, and silver northward, and will arrive at Jining soon. I was told to make preparations.”
Li Qingshan said, “Sect Leader, Wang Pu plundered much gold and jewels from Liaodong; we must not let this opportunity slip.”
“Certainly not, but Wang Pu is no easy foe,” the Sect Leader replied. “Someone, summon the Right Envoy and General Li and his wife for council.”
“At your command,” the two attendants responded, departing immediately.
Within the time it took to finish a cup of tea, the Right Envoy Yuan Shizhong and a young couple were ushered into Yaxuan. Yuan Shizhong was short and stout, of little note. The couple, however, were strikingly handsome and beautiful.
Especially the young woman—her features were lovely, her figure captivating. Every curve and contour was accentuated, the fiery red martial attire hugging her form as if tailored for her alone, outlining her perfect silhouette. Her large, sparkling eyes seemed almost to speak, enchanting enough to steal one’s very soul.
This couple was none other than Li Yan and Lady Hong, dispatched by the rebel King Li Zicheng to assist the White Lotus. They had brought with them three thousand elite troops.
“Your subordinate, the Right Envoy Yuan Shizhong, pays homage to the Sect Leader.”
“Greetings, Sect Leader.”
Yuan Shizhong knelt in the customary, formal salute. Li Yan and Lady Hong simply cupped their fists and bowed.
“General Li and wife, you are excused from ceremony. Right Envoy, you as well,” the languid, alluring voice of the Sect Leader sounded from behind the curtain. “I summoned you all here today to discuss a matter of great import.”
“Please speak, Sect Leader,” Li Yan replied.
The Sect Leader said, “I have learned the Datong General Wang Pu is arriving by water at Luqiao Town with a large force. On their warships is a great fortune in ginseng, pearls, gold, and silver. I wish to seize this treasure, to recruit and arm new soldiers. What say you all?”
Li Qingshan and Yuan Shizhong replied in unison, “We await your orders, Sect Leader.”
Li Yan pondered a moment, then asked, “Sect Leader, do you know how many government troops Wang Pu brings?”
“Not many, only two thousand,” came the seductive reply.
“And what method does the Sect Leader propose?”
“I believe the government forces will camp at Luqiao Town tonight. To forestall mishap, I wish you and your wife to lead your troops in a night raid. Of course, I shall send the Left Envoy with five thousand picked men to assist you.”
Li Yan frowned in silence. He understood the true fighting strength of the White Lotus army better than anyone. The five thousand men under Li Qingshan were more rabble than soldiers. Indeed, the capture of Jining owed everything to the three thousand elite troops under himself and Lady Hong.
With his own force, defeating two thousand government troops would normally pose no difficulty—except that their commander was none other than General Wang Pu of the Ming.
Wang Pu had led an isolated army deep into Liaodong, destroyed the Manchu stronghold at Shengjing, and captured the chieftain, Huang Taiji. His exploits were now renowned throughout the land. Li Yan and Lady Hong had heard the tales well and knew to treat such a formidable opponent with utmost caution.
What’s more, Wang Pu’s men had come by water—their warships’ cannons were not to be underestimated.
The Sect Leader, seeing Li Yan hesitate, asked in her soft, seductive voice, “What troubles you, General Li?”
Li Yan replied, “Sect Leader, Wang Pu is a formidable adversary, and the cannons on their warships are lethal. If we attack rashly, I fear we will not succeed. In my opinion, to seize such a fortune from Wang Pu, we must rely on cunning, not brute force.”
“And what cunning plan does General Li suggest?” asked the Sect Leader.
“You might secretly lay iron chains across the river at the north and south water gates of Jining. Once the government troops enter the city, raise the chains, and Wang Pu, along with his treasure, will be trapped like birds in a cage.”
“Indeed, your reputation is well-deserved, General Li,” the Sect Leader said in her enchanting voice. “Left and Right Envoys, you heard General Li. Arrange for iron chains to be set at both water gates at once!”
“At your command, Sect Leader.”
Li Qingshan and Yuan Shizhong bowed and departed to carry out the order.
The next day.
As Li Qingshan and Yuan Shizhong were overseeing the laying of the chains, a scout arrived with urgent news: Wang Pu’s troops had disembarked at Luqiao Town and were marching overland toward Qingzhou. Alarmed, Li Qingshan and Yuan Shizhong rushed to inform the Sect Leader, who quickly summoned Li Yan and Lady Hong.
Li Yan asked, “Sect Leader, have you summoned us because something has happened?”
The Sect Leader said, “General Li, word just arrived: Wang Pu and his troops have abandoned the river route and are marching overland toward Qingzhou.”
“What?” Li Yan exclaimed. “The government troops switched to land?”
“It seems news of our capture of Jining has reached Wang Pu,” the Sect Leader said. “He must have abandoned his ships and taken to the road to avoid our forces.”
“Is this information reliable?” Li Yan pressed.
“Absolutely,” Li Qingshan replied, thumping his chest. “Our men in Luqiao saw the troops unloading dozens of heavy chests. Two even fell open, spilling out gold and silver. There’s no mistake.”
Still uneasy, Li Yan asked, “What of Wang Pu’s naval escort?”
“After unloading the prisoners and treasure, the ships returned to Jiangsu,” Li Qingshan answered.
“So the government troops truly intend to change their route?” Li Yan mused.
“We cannot let this prize slip away,” the Sect Leader declared. “I order the entire army to pursue at once, and ask General Li to lead your troops in support.”
Li Yan bowed. “I was sent here by the Great King to aid you; it is my duty.”
“Then I shall wait here in Jining for news of your victory,” the Sect Leader said in her mellifluous voice.