Chapter 105: The Bandits of Sizhou

At dawn the next day, an official from the Yangzhou Governor’s Office came to see Li Qing’an. Although the Yangzhou Governor’s Office did not have actual authority to deploy troops, it was still the highest military governing body in the Jianghuai region. Matters such as appointing officials like Li Qing’an as military trainers were handled by this office.

The position of Governor of Yangzhou was concurrently held by Li Linfu, but the actual head of the office was the Chief Secretary, who held a third-rank official position and was usually occupied by a highly respected official. Sometimes, it was also a prime minister who was temporarily assigned to this role or returned to the capital to serve as prime minister after completing his term. Thus, to some extent, the Chief Secretary was the third most powerful figure in Yangzhou, after the governor and the transport commissioner.

The current Chief Secretary was Wei Tao, the Tutor to the Crown Prince. Wei Tao was a key figure in the prestigious Wei family of the Tang Dynasty, and his daughter was married into the royal family, becoming the principal wife of Prince Li Yan.

At that time, Wei Tao was already in his office, as he had an important task to carry out today: to arrange for Li Qing’an to serve as a military trainer. An official order from the Ministry of War had already arrived, clearly stating that the specific methods and number of troops to train were to be determined by the military trainer. During the training period, the trainer had the authority to deploy up to 500 troops. The role of the Governor’s Office was to formalize the trainer’s requests and issue them to various military units.

Wei Tao felt quite frustrated. Despite his high status, his actual power was less than that of a mid-level general like Li Qing’an.

“Chief Secretary, General Li has arrived,” came a report from the door.
“Let him in!”

Wei Tao tidied up the documents on his desk and sat upright formally. As the Tutor to the Crown Prince with a second-rank position, he was far above Li Qing’an in status.

The door opened, and Li Qing’an stepped in quickly, bowing and saying, “I am Li Qing’an, at your service, Chief Secretary Wei.”

Seeing his humble attitude, Wei Tao’s expression improved slightly. “General Li, let’s skip the pleasantries. First, I want to ask you how you plan to conduct the training. I assume you have already thought this through on the way here.”

Li Qing’an took out a booklet and handed it to Wei Tao, smiling. “I indeed have already planned it. Please take a look, Chief Secretary Wei.”

Wei Tao flipped through it and frowned. “You only plan to train a portion of the troops?”
“That’s right. There are five military units in Jiangdu, with over 5,000 troops. It’s impossible to train them all, especially with only half a year available. So, I plan to select 500 elite soldiers from each unit to form a training camp. These 500 men should be around 25 years old, over seven feet tall, able to draw bows weighing more than three stones, and skilled in horseback riding. It would be best if they are all new recruits, so I can manage them more effectively.”

Wei Tao pondered for a moment. He understood Li Qingan’s intentions—by doing this, a powerful force would emerge in the Yangzhou region, free from the constraints of military commanders. Initially, he didn’t want Li Qingan to have his own army, but he had no choice; the orders from the Ministry of War were clear, and he had no authority to interfere.
“Very well! When do you need it?”
“Secretary Wei, I need it now. I’ve brought five attendants, who will go to the five military camps to select soldiers. Additionally, I hope the Grand Commander’s office can provide five hundred strong bows weighing over three stones each, along with five arrows per bow. I also need five hundred horses and a camp that can accommodate five hundred people. Please arrange these as soon as possible, Secretary Wei.”
Wei Tao frowned unhappily and said, “General Li, I’m aware of this. I’ll arrange it and ensure it won’t delay your training.”
“Thank you, Secretary Wei. There’s no time to lose. I’ll go to the military camps to select soldiers right away.”
…
Although the five military camps in Jiangdu were all first-class, the military conscription system gradually declined after the Tianbao era, with severe desertion in various camps, and few camps having full strength. The five camps in Jiangdu were no exception. When Li Qingan selected soldiers from the first camp, only over six hundred men were present on the parade ground, with another hundred sent to the capital for defense. In reality, there was a 30% shortage—already quite good.
These conscripts were farmers in peacetime and soldiers in wartime, undergoing regular training. The military camps provided food and lodging during training. Today, Li Qingan was lucky; it happened to be training time.
General Zhao Xu cleared his throat and announced loudly, “Everyone, listen up! The Ministry of War has sent trainers to Jianghuai to train troops. The one assigned to our five camps in Jiangdu is General Li, a lieutenant general from the Anxi Army, known as the best archer in Anxi. General Li will select one hundred men from each of the five camps to form a training unit that will train for half a year. Those selected will not only become part of Jiangdu’s elite troops but will also receive a monthly subsidy of two thousand coins and meat every day. Brothers, this is a great opportunity—seize it!”
The soldiers grew slightly agitated. A monthly subsidy of two thousand coins was equivalent to the price of four stones of rice—a huge temptation for soldiers who usually received no pay. After half a year of training, they could earn twelve strings of coins, plus meat every day, which was far more than farming could yield.
Despite the busy spring plowing season, many soldiers showed longing in their eyes. Zhao Xu nodded and smiled at Li Qingan, saying, “General Li, you may begin selecting soldiers now.”
Li Qingan looked at the soldiers below and asked doubtfully, “Captain Zhao, is that all?”

Captain Zhao Xu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “There really are only this many people. That’s not bad. In Suzhou and Huzhou, some military camps have only 30% of their troops left—everyone else has fled.”
“But according to my troop register, your camp should be fully staffed.”
Li Qing’an waved the troop register in his hand and gave Captain Zhao a cold glance.
Zhao Xu’s back was drenched in sweat. He had thought that after drinking last night, Li Qing’an would turn a blind eye, but he didn’t intend to let it go at all.
The imperial troops of the Tang Dynasty received no pay—only food—yet even just the three hundred rations of grain, vegetables, and other expenses per day amounted to nearly a thousand guan in additional costs over a year. This was an unspoken rule known to all military camps, with only differences in how much they exploited it.
“Well… General Li, could we talk somewhere private?”
“No need. I don’t want to know anything. I just want to select a hundred men. And Captain Zhao, don’t forget to provide me with enough food and meat.”
“General Li, go ahead and select the men you want. As long as it’s someone you like, I’ll definitely let them go.” Zhao Xu heaved a secret sigh of relief—he understood Li Qing’an’s intentions.
He quickly stepped forward and waved, “Guys, line up! One by one.”
The soldiers quickly formed a long line, waiting to be selected. Li Qing’an sat on a large square rock, with a diligent captain calling out names beside him.
“Liu Zhiyun, 20 years old.”
It was a burly young man, full of energy. Li Qing’an nodded. “Take him!”
“Wu Ming, 30 years old, second battalion commander.”
This man was also tall, but his gaze carried a hint of cunning—clearly an experienced soldier. Li Qing’an waved his hand; he wasn’t interested in this man.
Then another soldier came forward—seven feet tall, with a strong build and sharp eyes. Though his uniform was tattered, it couldn’t hide the heroic aura in his features.
“Nan Jiyun, 30 years old, second battalion fire officer.”
“Wait!” Li Qing’an stopped the captain from calling out the name.
He stepped forward and examined this young and heroic officer carefully. Was Nan Jiyun the famous general known as the “Zhao Zilong of the Tang Dynasty”?
Nan Jiyun had only become famous after joining Zhang Xun during the An Lushan Rebellion. Before that, he had struggled to make a living due to poverty. Who would have thought he would end up as a fire officer in the Jiangdu military camp?
“General Li, do you know this man?” Captain Zhao Xu was puzzled. Nan Jiyun was just an ordinary fire officer. He seemed good with bows and horses, but not enough to surprise Li Qing’an so much.
“Nothing!” Li Qing’an laughed. “I found it strange that such a distinguished-looking man is just a fire officer.”

He asked Nan Jiyun again, “Where are you from?”
“In reply to the general, I am from Dunqiu County, Weizhou,” he said.
“A man from Weizhou?” Li Qing’an asked with a puzzled smile, “Then why did you come to Jiangdu to serve in the army?”
“I rented ten acres of land in Jiangdu. Since my landlord was unwell, I took his place in the army.”
Although Nan Jiyun held a low rank, his response was neither humble nor arrogant, earning him goodwill.
Li Qing’an waved his hand. “Good! Count you in.”
“Next!”
…
By afternoon, the five hundred men selected from various military units had all been stationed in the camp. The camp was located outside the north gate of Jiangdu, right next to the canal transportation warehouses. From afar, the hundreds of large warehouses stretched as far as the eye could see. Their camp served as the residence for the soldiers guarding those warehouses. At the end of last year, some soldiers from one of the camps were transferred to Jiangyang County, leaving the camp vacant—perfect for Li Qing’an’s training unit.
The camp covered a large area, with three rows of long brick-and-tile bungalows as sleeping quarters, followed by stables, and a large training ground large enough for thousands of people to practice, surrounded by earthen walls two people tall.
The five hundred strong soldiers stood in ten rows, backs straight, listening to their young commander give orders.
Li Qing’an wore black Mingguang armor and an iron helmet, riding a majestic horse. He carried a crossbow at his waist and a huge black longbow slung diagonally.
“I am Li Qing’an of Anxi, known as the best archer in Anxi.”
With that, he drew his longbow, nocked an arrow, and suddenly turned to shoot at the watchtower at the entrance, eighty steps away. Two birds were perched on the tower’s roof, ready to fly. The arrow shot out like lightning, piercing one of the birds. As the other bird just took off, Li Qing’an swiftly turned, drew the bow with his left hand, and shot another arrow, hitting the bird mid-flight. With two shots in quick succession, both birds fell from the tall tower.
Everyone gasped in astonishment, then fell silent once more, their eyes filled with awe. Such skillful archery had never been seen in the Jianghuai military camps. Even Nan Jiyun, who prided himself on his archery skills, was deeply impressed—far inferior to Li Qing’an’s extraordinary prowess.
A soldier rushed on horseback to retrieve the arrow. Li Qing’an, who had pierced the bird with a single shot, said proudly, “This is why I’m here. In half a year, each of you must be able to pierce a flying bird from a hundred steps away.”
…
Though the prospects were bright, the process was dull and arduous. The soldiers practiced archery from dawn till dusk, their fingers swollen and painful, their arms weak. Yet the five Anxi instructors were fierce and cruel, striking them with sticks at the slightest sign of slacking off.

Only one thing brought comfort to the soldiers: the archery competitions held every evening, with ten arrows per person, shot from fifty paces away. The top twenty and bottom ten performers were selected, with the top twenty each rewarded with 100 to 500 coins, while the bottom ten received ten military whips each. The list of rewards and punishments was hung high on a board at the entrance of the camp, detailing each score, which would later serve as a basis for promotions. Every soldier knew these scores clearly, which earned their respect. Five days passed in the blink of an eye. At dawn each day, the 500 cavalrymen of the training camp set out, beginning horseback archery training outside the camp. Their training area was mainly in the Jianghuai region, stopping at mountains and setting up camps by water, with horseback archery becoming their entire way of life. That noon, the training camp arrived in Xuyi County. To the north of Xuyi County lay the Huai River, a key transit point for water transport, making it strategically important. To the southwest of the county town stood a towering mountain called Duliang Mountain, with steep and rugged terrain stretching for dozens of miles, covered in dense forests. During the late Sui Dynasty, several rebel forces had camped there. Xuyi County was also the northernmost point of their training. Coincidentally, Cui Ping, recommended by Li Qingan, was the county magistrate there. Meeting an old friend in a foreign land was a great joy, so he decided to train there for two days before leading his troops back to Yangzhou. The 500 cavalrymen marched in formation on the official road, orderly and silent, advancing steadily. After more than half a month of hard training, everyone had made significant progress in horsemanship and archery. Though they had become darker and thinner, they were full of energy and agile. The strict military discipline had given them the appearance of a formidable army. At that moment, the dark silhouette of Duliang Mountain could already be seen in the distance. Another ten miles ahead lay Xuyi County town. Suddenly, the sound of rapid horse hooves came from the distant official road. A cloud of yellow dust rose as three riders rushed towards them at full speed. As they drew closer, it turned out to be a low-ranking official in front, followed by two clerks in gray robes. They looked panicked, urging their horses frantically, as if there was some urgent matter. When they suddenly saw the army on the road, they were initially shocked and stopped their horses, then their eyes lit up with surprise. The official rushed forward and bowed, saying, “I am Fang Lin, the county magistrate of Xuyi County. May I ask who the commander of this army is?” Li Qingan dismounted from his horse and said, “I am. What brings you here?” The county magistrate dismounted and bowed repeatedly, saying, “I implore the general to save the 30,000 people of Xuyi County. The situation is extremely urgent.”

“Explain clearly—what exactly happened?”
“General, King Jin Wei of Du Liangshan intends to massacre our Xuyi County, probably tomorrow!”
“King Jin Wei? Are there bandits on Du Liangshan?”
“Reporting to you, General, there is a bandit group of three thousand on Du Liangshan. Five days ago, our county magistrate accidentally killed the leader of these bandits, King Jin Wei’s son, while capturing thieves. This morning, the bandits sent a battle challenge, threatening to slaughter the entire city of Xuyi by early tomorrow.”
Li Qingan was surprised—there were still bandits in the heartland of the Central Plains, and even in Sizhou, a key area for grain transport. What were the local military forces doing?
Suspecting something was amiss, Li Qingan waved his whip and said, “Go to the county town first, and then explain everything to me slowly.”
The county magistrate was overjoyed and quickly ordered a clerk, “Go and inform County Magistrate Cui right away. Tell him a savior has arrived and ask him to come out to welcome us.”
…
“General Li, I never expected we would meet here!”
At the entrance of the county town, Cui Ping, dressed in official robes, rushed forward excitedly. Behind him, the deputy county magistrate, the clerk, and other officials also stepped forward to greet him.
Li Qingan took a look at him. He seemed much darker and thinner than when he was in the capital, but he looked energetic, clearly enjoying his life here.
“Where in life can one not meet again? County Magistrate Cui, it seems you’re doing well! How are your wife and child?”
“They’re all fine. My wife even mentioned you yesterday! She wanted me to visit you in Yangzhou. I wanted to too, but alas!”
Cui Ping bowed again. “General Li, I’ve only been in office for over a month, and now I’ve encountered bandits. You must save me!”
“Don’t worry, County Magistrate Cui. Even if we’re not old friends, I would still help you. Don’t worry! Now that I’m here, the bandits’ good days are over.”
He whispered, “Who knows? Maybe you’ll be promoted to governor of Sizhou next year for your efforts in suppressing the bandits!”
Cui Ping was overjoyed. He knew Li Qingan was a fierce general from Anxi. With him around, not only would he keep his position, but he might even receive special recognition and be promoted beyond normal procedures.
Thinking this, he was overjoyed and quickly bowed to Li Qingan again. “General Li, please come to the county office to rest. I’ll explain the situation to you.”
Li Qingan entered the office and sat down. Cui Ping personally brought him a cup of fragrant tea and asked, “General Li, how did you end up in Xuyi County?”
“We were out training and passed by here. We wanted to see you. Coincidentally, the county magistrate asked for help. But I’m puzzled—County Magistrate Fang said there are three thousand bandits on Du Liangshan. That’s no small number, and it’s in a key area for grain transport. Hasn’t the imperial court sent troops to suppress them?”
“Alas!”

Cui Ping let out a long sigh. “General Li, you may not be aware of this—these bandits only appeared two months ago. When they first entered the mountains, there were only a thousand of them, including their families. But due to the severe drought in Henan, many farmers fled across the Huai River in search of livelihood. King Jin Wei recruited them, and within a month, there were already three thousand men at his disposal.”
“Who is this King Jin Wei? How can he command such loyalty?”
“General, this King Jin Wei’s surname is Du; his name is Du Yun.”
“Wait a moment!”
Li Qing’an suddenly thought of the salt smuggler Du Bosheng. One was named Du Boyun, the other Du Bosheng—what could be their relationship?
“Is he Du Bosheng’s brother?”
Cui Ping smiled bitterly. “Everyone in Xuyi County knows that the leader of Du Liangshan is called Jin Wei, the second master of the Jin family in Sizhou. But it was only by偶然 examining some documents left by the previous county magistrate examining some documents left by the previous county magistrate that I learned the true master of Du Liangshan isn’t surnamed Jin at all—he’s named Du Boyun. I heard he’s an elder brother to the salt smuggler Du Bosheng, with Du Bosheng being the elder brother and Du Boyun the younger one. There’s also a third brother, Du Boyuan. After researching Du Boyun further, I found out he used to be the major owner of several grain transport fleets and had two docks, employing tens of thousands of people. But a few months ago, Governor Lu of Yangzhou and Transport Commissioner Liu had a dispute. Commissioner Liu began seizing the Du family’s businesses and arresting their key members. Seeing no other way out, Du Boyun gathered over a thousand men and hid in Du Liangshan. He neither robs nor provokes the authorities, which is why my predecessor didn’t report him to the imperial court.”
“If he doesn’t rob, then how does he make a living? Even growing crops would take months.”