Chapter 42: Entreating Your Excellency to Write and Open the Passes

Eleventh year of Chongzhen in the Great Ming dynasty, the fifth day of the tenth month, at the start of the noon hour, in the eastern suburbs of Changping, at the encampment of the Xuanfu garrison forces dispatched to relieve the capital.

Zhang Cheng sat upon a makeshift wooden stool. Before him, the Tatar bondservant, the *aha*, remained stretched out upon a cot. Zhang Cheng inquired, "What is your name, and where is your native place?"

The captive *aha* stared with one visible eye, the other being wrapped in bandages, while strips of cloth were wound tightly around his head, giving him the appearance of a ghastly corpse.

Hearing the voice, he strained his single eye, struggling to catch sight of the man before him, but his vision remained blurred. In his helplessness, he stammered in reply, "Ah, are the Tatars dead? ... Are they dead or not..."

"They are dead. You bit through one's throat to kill him," Zhang Cheng replied, then continued his questioning, "Where is your native place? In which year were you captured by the Tatars?"

Suddenly, the fierce light blazed in the bondservant's sole remaining left eye as he glared at Zhang Cheng and cried, "I am from Tongzhou! When the Tatars came that year, they carried me off. What choice did I have? Those heaven-damned Tatars!

I was merely tending my fields and doing my honest work, motherfuckers! Is it my fault? That godforsaken patch of land could not even grow enough grain—is that my fault? Oh, pity my wife, my father, my mother, and my little child... barely two years old... waah..."

His speech dissolved into incoherent rambling. With only that single eye left, he stared blankly at the tent's canopy, muttering wildly to himself.

Upon stepping outside the tent, Chen Zhong leaned close to Zhang Cheng's ear and whispered, "Commander, this wretch has lost his mind. We might as well dispose of him sooner rather than later."

"Not yet. Keep him alive for now; he may yet prove immensely useful!"

Having spoken these words, Zhang Cheng raised his head to gaze at the blinding sun, feeling its fierce glare, too dazzling to look upon directly.

As Zhang Cheng was making his rounds to visit the wounded soldiers, a messenger from Zhang Yan's personal guard arrived suddenly with orders: Viceroy Lu was coming to the camp in person to inspect the captives.

***

By the time Zhang Cheng hurried to the encampment of his uncle, Zhang Yan, Lu Xiangsheng had not yet arrived. Three large wagons had already been brought back, piled high with the preserved heads of the Tatars.

Zhang Cheng hurried forward and asked, "Uncle, this is..."

Before Zhang Cheng could finish, Zhang Yan stopped him with a gesture and said, "By the Viceroy's command, the generals of all the relieving garrisons are summoned to assemble and inspect the heads and captives together. Do you understand his intent?"

A trace of bewilderment crossed Zhang Cheng's face as he replied, "Is it the Viceroy's intention to use this opportunity to urge all garrisons to press forward resolutely in the coming battles and fight fiercely against the enemy cavalry?"

"It is to be expected that this is the Viceroy's meaning. Yet, Cheng'er, because of this you will become the focal point of all the garrisons. Whether this brings blessing or disaster is hard to tell," Zhang Yan said with a slight sigh.

From the direction of the camp gates, a troop of elite cavalry came galloping across the snow. The flying hooves churned up flurries of white, mirroring a patch of red clouds above the snowfield—a truly striking sight.

Lu Xiangsheng rode at the very front, arriving before Zhang Cheng and the others.

"The Viceroy labors tirelessly for affairs of state. For us to burden your excellency's grand presence is something this subordinate truly does not deserve," Zhang Yan said, bowing deeply with clasped hands.

Lu Xiangsheng, however, was in high spirits and waved it off indifferently, calling out, "Zhang Cheng, step forward."

Zhang Cheng hurried forward two steps and said respectfully, "This subordinate, Zhang Cheng, pays his respects to the Viceroy."

Lu Xiangsheng leaped down from his saddle, approached Zhang Cheng, and said in a ringing voice, "Zhang Cheng, well done!"

Seeing that Viceroy Lu was clad in coarse hemp mourning garb, with heavy traces of exhaustion etched across his brow, Zhang Cheng felt a surge of sorrow. He hastily cupped his fists in salute and replied warmly, "The Jiannu repeatedly violate the capital's environs; slaying them for the country is merely Zhang Cheng's bounden duty. I scarcely dare trouble the Viceroy nor merit such high praise from your excellency."

Viceroy Lu gazed at Zhang Cheng, nodding his approval repeatedly. "That you understand loyalty to the country brings me profound gratification."

***

Turning around, he surveyed the three large wagons and asked Zhang Cheng, "Are all of these your trophies?"

"Reporting to the Viceroy, there are still thirty Jiannu captives bound in the rear, along with one captured *poshiku* back-flag, a black-tasseled helmet and suit of armor belonging to him, and four Jiannu infantry back-flags. It is entirely thanks to the fortune of the Viceroy and the military authority of your excellency that Zhang Cheng was able to secure these victories."

Displeasure flickered across Lu Xiangsheng's face, and he said in a deep voice, "Your trophies belong to you alone. The rest of us were a hundred miles away; what merit could we claim?"

At this moment, Yang Guozhu and the other generals behind him had all dismounted. Following them were the regional commanders, assistant regional commanders, brigade commanders, and thousand-man garrison leaders from the Datong and Shanxi forces. They gathered around Lu Xiangsheng, staring at the Tatar heads nearby and whispering among themselves.

While the Xuanfu generals had learned of the affair last night, the officers from Datong and Shanxi were only now discovering the truth. Gazing at the three massive carts laden with Tatar heads, they stepped forward one by one, picking them up to inspect them over and over.

"True barbarians, these are undoubtedly the heads of true barbarians..." murmured an officer of major rank, clutching a severed head as he spoke softly to Hu Dawei, the regional commander of Shanxi province. Though his tone was low, it could not conceal his intense agitation.

An assistant commander edged closer to Hu Dawei and whispered, "Your Excellency, I have made inquiries. That Zhang Cheng is the blood nephew of Zhang Yan, the assistant regional commander of the Xuanfu garrison. Yesterday, this fellow led his troops out on a scouting mission and happened upon the Tatars, whom he completely annihilated in a single charge, securing such vast trophies."

After a brief pause, he continued, "I hear that back in the Xuanfu garrison, Zhang Cheng was exceedingly fond of drink, often styling himself the 'Courageous Drinker of Xuanfu.' He frequently caused trouble by brawling in taverns while intoxicated, to the point where his uncle had him beaten with military staves until he was half-dead. Who could have imagined that after entering the capital's defense force to render aid, he would display such ferocious valor?"

Hu Dawei slowly nodded and addressed the Shanxi officers around him, "With our entry to defend the capital, the Xuanfu garrison has already seized first honors. Our Shanxi forces must also fight with utmost valor and must not lag behind others. You generals must exert yourselves to avoid becoming the laughingstock of others."

The generals murmured their assent.

To the right of Shanxi Regional Commander Hu Dawei and the others stood several officers from the Datong garrison, who were likewise engaged in murmuring amongst themselves.

Attired in ornate armor, tall and striking, with a scarlet military cloak draped over his shoulders, Wang Pu, the regional commander of Datong, stared at the cart of Tatar heads before him. He asked his personal guard in a deep voice, "Have you verified whether this is true?"

The guard slapped his chest and assured Wang Pu, "This subordinate heard it with his own ears from Wen Hui, a major of the Xuanfu garrison. Every word is true; I would not dare deceive your excellency in the slightest."

Wang Pu nonchalantly flicked the red tassel on his helmet, pondering inwardly, "I never imagined Zhang Yan had such a formidable nephew. It seems I must pay closer attention to him in the future."

He turned to the officers of the Datong garrison and commanded gravely, "In this campaign to defend the capital, the Xuan府 garrison has already captured the vanguard and secured such immense spoils. You must all risk your lives on the field; on no account shall you allow others to look down upon our Datong forces."

The officers all answered in subdued tones.

Meanwhile, while the officers from the Shanxi and Datong garrisons inspected the Tatar heads and captives—accompanied by other Xuanfu majors—Yang Guozhu and Zhang Yan remained at Lu Xiangsheng's side.

Zhang Cheng intended to withdraw, but Viceroy Lu called him to his side.

Lu Xiangsheng asked warmly, "What post does Zhang Cheng currently hold, and what is your age?"

"Reporting to the Viceroy, Zhang Cheng currently serves as a thousand-man cavalry commander in the Right Wing Camp of the Xuanfu Garrison Vanguard, and I am twenty-two years of age."

"Splendid! So young, yet so fiercely valiant. Truly, the younger generation is formidable indeed!" Lu Xiangsheng looked upon Zhang Cheng with considerable admiration and could not help exclaiming in praise.

Seeing his opportunity, Zhang Cheng took a step forward and said, "Reporting to the Viceroy, Zhang Cheng has a request to make. I know not whether it is proper to speak of it."

Viceroy Lu gazed intently at Zhang Cheng and replied, "Whatever your matter may be, so long as it is for the loyal service of the country, speak freely."

Hesitating slightly, Zhang Cheng gathered his thoughts before beginning, "Reporting to the Viceroy, this time at Mafang, Zhang Cheng rescued over eight hundred commoners of the capital's environs. Yet with the Jiannu infesting the land, these people have homes to which they cannot return. This subordinate wishes to escort these civilians, along with the remains of our fallen soldiers and the wounded, out through the Juyong Pass to keep them safe from the Jiannu. I earnestly petition the Viceroy to issue a written pass so the gates may be opened."

Lu Xiangsheng fixed his piercing gaze upon Zhang Cheng and said, "Since you possess such a heart to protect the people, how could this viceroy sit idly by?"

Yang Guozhu stepped forward and interjected, "Viceroy, since our Xuanfu and Datong imperial forces have established such military merit, a grand report of victory should be dispatched with flying urgency so that His Majesty may hear of it."

Lu Xiangsheng smiled immediately and raised his hands in a salute toward the direction of the imperial palace in the capital, saying, "His Majesty's heart is heavy with anxiety for affairs of state, giving him no peace day or night. Hearing of this great victory, he will surely rejoice."

He gazed toward the imperial palace in the capital, his spirit soaring as he imagined the expression of delight the Emperor would wear upon hearing the joyous news of our army's great triumph over the Jiannu.

After a long moment, Viceroy Lu turned back, his face beaming with high spirits, and said to Yang Guozhu, Zhang Yan, and Zhang Cheng, "I shall host a banquet, summoning all the generals of Xuanfu and Datong to celebrate this great victory with Zhang Cheng together!"

Without delay, Lu Xiangsheng summoned his personal guard, Major Chen An, instructing him to transmit orders to the generals of the three garrisons to assemble at the Viceroy's temporary headquarters in Changping by the hour of *wei* (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM), where he would host a banquet to celebrate Zhang Cheng's triumph.

***

Following this, Viceroy Lu bade Zhang Cheng lead him to inspect the soldiers wounded in the battle of Mafang, with Yang Guozhu and Zhang Yan accompanying them at his side.

Along the way to the wounded soldiers' tents, Viceroy Lu inquired about the course of the battle, saying, "Zhang Cheng, recount the process of this engagement for this viceroy to hear."

Walking beside Lu Xiangsheng, Zhang Cheng faithfully detailed how they discovered the enemy cavalry's tracks, how he deployed various scouting units, how he seized the initiative to rout the enemy, and how they surrounded and fought at Mafang.

The account of the ambush at the Willow Forest proved particularly heart-pounding, causing Lu Xiangsheng and Yang Guozhu to sigh repeatedly in suspense. Even Zhang Yan, though he had heard Zhang Cheng recount the battle several times already, still found it perilous upon hearing it anew.

In particular, when Lu Xiangsheng heard that Zhang Cheng had ordered the commanders of every scouting unit to have every single detail of the battle meticulously recorded in writing by scribes—utilizing the lessons of today to serve as the teachers of tomorrow—he was struck with profound astonishment.

He could not help asking, "Did you devise this method yourself?"

"Reporting to the Viceroy, Zhang Cheng has often pondered that since ancient times, no one has ever been able to predict victory or defeat in matters of warfare and defense. Yet regardless of whether today ends in victory or defeat, one must carefully study precisely where the victory was won and where the defeat was suffered.

Only by doing so can one grow ever more astute in battle. Only when we secure more victories will our brothers and comrades in arms suffer fewer casualties. It is precisely for this reason that ever since entering the capital's defense, whenever I march or halt at any place, Zhang Cheng has had scribes record the duration of the march, the location of the encampment, and the time consumed in making camp.

This time, upon going out to scout and encountering the slaves, the course of every engagement was recorded so that we might study and refine our methods afterward, examining the gains and losses therein," Zhang Cheng replied in a calm and steady tone.

Lu Xiangsheng remarked with deep emotion, "The famous generals of antiquity frequently practiced this method. For a youth to possess such a mind is indeed most commendable."

As Yang Guozhu listened to their exchange from the side, a thoughtful expression settled over him.

Zhang Yan gazed at Zhang Cheng with a look of utter perplexity, his astonishment no less than Yang Guozhu's. He understood Zhang Cheng less and less; perhaps this nephew of his had truly been enlightened at last?

Along their journey, they first visited the wounded troops. Lu Xiangsheng offered words of warm comfort to those severely injured and words of spirited encouragement to those lightly wounded, giving Zhang Cheng a profound realization that there were indeed many qualities in Lu Xiangsheng truly worthy of his emulation.

Having visited the wounded, Lu Xiangsheng proceeded on his way to check upon the rescued civilians. Though he did not approach them closely for a detailed inspection, from afar they appeared neatly clothed, high-spirited, and orderly, completely devoid of any chaotic or dejected demeanor.

A few more traces of commendation welled up in Lu Xiangsheng's heart for Zhang Cheng, prompting him to ask of his own accord, "Zhang Cheng, how is it that you managed to keep these commoners in such orderly fashion?"

Zhang Cheng replied respectfully, "Reporting to the Viceroy, in truth there is no secret to it—merely ensuring they are well-fed and granting them the hope of survival. When people are thus provided for, they can be managed, and they can be put to use."