Chapter 54: Prelude

Province of Xinghua.
Huang Zuo Yan preferred to stay in Shanxi. He had a deep affection for the scenic Xiangshan Temple and Huangchi there. However, ever since he entered Shanxi through the Xiliu Camp, he began to favor the scenery of the Province of Xinghua and tried to avoid Shanxi as much as possible.
His current residence was borrowed by a kind Chinese merchant. It was spacious and bright, with carved windows and lattice doors. Several landscape paintings hung on the walls, and the room was filled with rosewood furniture. Two teapots of green tea were on the coffee table. Huang Zuo Yan gently raised his cup, savoring the aroma of the tea. After a while, he said, “Yunping, what have you gained from this trip to Thanh Hóa?”
Yunping, seated across from him, always carried a sinister look in his eyes. In Vietnam, the surname “Zunshi” was highly respected as it denoted the royal family. Only emperors were allowed to bear the Nguyen Phuc surname; all other members of the royal family had to adopt the surname Zunshi.
It had been nearly eighty years since Emperor Nguyen Minh Mang, and the royal family had produced countless descendants. Though not to the extent that even rickshaw pullers were considered royal relatives, there were still many who felt frustrated.
Yunping was one such frustrated member of the royal family. He could only secure a minor position under Huang Zuo Yan, acting as his messenger. Returning from Thanh Hóa this time, he had gained a lot, so his first words were, “Our emperor’s days are numbered. His death is just a few years away. I urge the governor to make plans ahead of time.”
Emperor Tự Đức’s poor health was already a well-known secret. So Huang Zuo Yan simply asked a factual question, “Before his death, could an heir be born?”
Tự Đức had reigned for thirty-two years and had hundreds of concubines, but like Emperor Chính Đức before him, he still hadn’t produced a son. “This is a great concern for our dynasty, Yunping. Tell me the truth.”
Yunping replied cruelly, “Our emperor has ruled for thirty-two years without success. Can we really expect him to produce an heir now? It’s better to make plans early.”
Since Tự Đức had no heirs, he would have to choose one of his three nephews as his successor. But rivalries among heirs were inherently full of hidden dangers. Huang Zuo Yan mused, “The struggle for the throne in the Tang dynasty was extremely dangerous. I’ll wait and see for now.”
Yunping said, “I’m afraid that by then, the Zunshi might manipulate things in their favor. If you don’t act decisively, chaos will ensue.”
“Using the emperor to control the lords…” Huang Zuo Yan was skilled in politics. “I certainly won’t let the Zunshi reap all the benefits. What does the emperor think of me?”
“The emperor is dissatisfied with you, but he also knows how hard you’ve worked to maintain stability in the northern regions. He told me he hopes to quell the rebellion led by Li Yangcai soon, so that he can promote you to a higher rank.”
Huang Zuo Yan sneered. “At my position, what’s the point of promotions? Yunping, capturing that traitor Li has exhausted me. He’s cunning as a ghost and has many skilled soldiers at his disposal. Although he was defeated by the Liu Camp in Shanxi last time, he managed to escape. Now he’s retreated to Zheyan, a place that has never submitted to imperial rule, making it difficult to deal with.”
Yunping hurriedly advised, “Sir, you need to act quickly. Otherwise, someone might whisper in our emperor’s ear that you’re harboring rebels, leading to endless troubles.”

Huang Zuo Yan sneered again. “Feeding bandits to protect oneself? If it weren’t for my painstaking efforts to maintain order in Northern Vietnam, it would have long since fallen into utter chaos. I have already requested General Feng to send Qing troops to suppress Ye Chenglin.” He paused briefly before adding, “In addition, I dispatched a large force along with Colonel Liu to crush Ye Chenglin in the Ten Provinces. Five to six thousand soldiers were sent, and all supplies were arranged by me alone. How could the lords of Thanh Hóa possibly fail to see the hardships I’ve endured?” His tone was filled with dissatisfaction. Zun Shi Yunping hurriedly interceded, “Ye Chenglin has controlled the Ten Provinces for ten years, causing great harm to the region. It’s a great achievement to lead troops to pacify him!” His gaze grew even more fierce. “Lord Commander, Yunping dares to say one more thing—this scoundrel must be executed!” “How so?” “Our emperor is diligent in state affairs, rising early at dawn and working late into the night. For thirty years, he has remained steadfast, surpassing even past emperors. Though he maintains strict control over everything, he harbors deep hatred for the rebels who plague Northern Vietnam—hating them so much he wishes to devour their flesh alive.” “Even if our Đại Việt captures Li Yangcai, he must still be handed over to the Qing for trial, following the precedents set by Huang Chongying and Wu Lingyun. But if this scoundrel is executed and sacrificed in the grand temple, that would indeed be a remarkable achievement.” Huang Zuo Yan showed a hint of satisfaction. “Indeed, it’s a remarkable feat. I hadn’t considered that aspect.” “Ye Chenglin has caused chaos in the Ten Provinces for ten years; his influence is deeply rooted. Our Đại Việt forces have launched seven campaigns, engaging in nearly a hundred battles, losing over a thousand soldiers each time. This time, I’ve gathered the best troops from Northern Vietnam to crush him once and for all—but I don’t intend to spare his life.” “Remember, as long as Ye Chenglin is alive, the Ten Provinces will remain in turmoil. He is extremely cunning, and the region can’t tolerate him. He must not be spared. But I didn’t expect you to think so far ahead.” Sparks flashed in Huang Zuo Yan’s eyes as he slammed his sleeve onto the coffee table. “Ye Chenglin must be executed!” Shanxi. Everything was ready. This time, 170 elite soldiers from the Black Flag Army were to be sent to the Ten Provinces, leaving the governor of Shanxi particularly troubled. It turned out that when the Vietnamese government called upon the Black Flag Army to fight, they had to pay soldiers according to their numbers—four Mexican silver pesos (piastres) per person per month, which was equivalent to about 2.8 taels of silver per month. With 170 soldiers sent, Shanxi would need to provide as much as 476 taels of silver per month. Last time, when Liu Chengyun led troops to Heyang, it was an independent action by the Black Flag Army, and the government didn’t have to cover the costs. But this time, since it was Huang Zuo Yan who called them in, Shanxi had to bear this heavy burden. Ye Mengyan, representing the governor of Shanxi, spoke carefully to Liu Yu, “Your camp is concerned about national affairs and is willing to send brave soldiers to the Ten Provinces to suppress the rebels. That’s a great thing. But Shanxi’s defenses are strained. Could your camp follow the example of Heyang last time?” Liu Yu wasn’t polite at all. “Ye Chenglin has plagued the Ten Provinces for years; he’s extremely cunning. Our troops have suffered heavy defeats in several attacks. If we lose again because of this, do you dare take responsibility?” Ye Mengyan found himself in a difficult position. No one knew that this time, with Huang Zuo Yan assembling elite troops from Northern Vietnam, victory was almost certain. But who would dare take that responsibility? “It’s really because Shanxi’s defenses are strained. The French have troops stationed in Hanoi, just seventy li away from Shanxi—reachable in a day.”

Liu Yu’s next words nearly pushed Ye Mengyan into a corner: “If that’s the case, I can raise another batch of troops. Please, Mengyan, do your best to provide the necessary funds and equipment.” Hearing this, Ye Mengyan had no choice but to bow repeatedly, almost kneeling before Liu Yu: “Commander, it’s not that I refuse to cooperate—it’s simply that there’s no way to raise the funds. Even the governor is in a difficult position.” Liu Yu then came up with an idea and said, “Since our Xiliu Camp is concerned about national affairs, we can cover the expenses temporarily, but…” “But what?” As long as Liu Yu could cover the military funds, Ye Mengyan was eager beyond measure: “Everything can be arranged.” It should be noted that a general rule among officials is not to settle old debts, but Liu Yu chose to follow this rule: “I still need your guarantee. Please have the governor stamp the document, and have the provincial officials co-sign it, issuing me an IOU. Once I have that, I’ll immediately send troops. Well, this expedition to the Ten Provinces will likely take some time, so why not issue an IOU for April? We can settle it slowly once my camp returns to Shanxi.” “Good! Let’s do as the commander suggests,” Ye Mengyan said happily. “I’ll go back to Shanxi and have the governor stamp it.” Just as he left, Liu Yu smiled triumphantly. Meanwhile, Jiang Ningxue had already grabbed his hand: “Still smiling? After gaining such a huge advantage, you can still smile?” Liu Yu replied, “Suffering losses is actually an advantage. I’ll use this IOU for important purposes.” Just then, Cai Yunnan rushed in with people: “Commander, this is Shen Sheng, a member of the Heaven and Earth Society from my days there.” Shen Sheng felt extremely frustrated—one wrong move and everything was lost. It was only now that he found a way to meet Liu Yu: “I am Shen Sheng. I was somewhat famous among the members in Beiqi, so I was elected as the leader, in charge of the society’s affairs.” Initially, it was Liu Yu who sought cooperation with the Heaven and Earth Society, but now the situation had reversed. Countless cult groups flocked to Liu Yu to flatter him, so Shen Sheng could only squeeze in through a crack: “Meeting you today, Commander, proves that the young are truly capable. I’m truly honored.” Cai Yunnan added, “Leader Shen is the top figure in the Heaven and Earth Society in Beiqi. In the past, he led thousands of troops in the Flower Flag Army.” Jiang Ningxue had already greeted them and retreated to the back room. Now Liu Yu said to Shen Sheng, “Great! Great! You truly are a heroic figure.” Although Shen Sheng had once led thousands of troops, he knew well that a group like the Flower Flag Army, made up of refugees, might not even match the combat strength of Xiliu Camp—let alone be a second-rate direct unit within it. With this in mind, he immediately offered his services: “I heard that the commander is preparing to march on the Ten Provinces. We in the Heaven and Earth Society are familiar with the situation there, and we also have several members there.” With someone offering what he wanted, Liu Yu was delighted: “That’s perfect. Leader Shen, just state your demands directly.” Shen Sheng licked his lips and, encouraged by Cai Yunnan’s gaze, spoke up bravely: “Commander, I wish to leave the Heaven and Earth Society and seek a position in your camp.” “Leave the Heaven and Earth Society?” Liu Yu was actually shocked by Shen Sheng’s request: “Why?”

He did know a bit about Shen Sheng—knowing that he was a top leader in the Tiandihui in Tonkin, in charge of its operations in several provinces, and claimed to have thousands of members under his command.
Cai Yunnan chimed in, “Commander, he could seek a position as platoon leader for himself. If that doesn’t work, a deputy platoon leader or squad leader would also suffice.”
Shen Sheng patted his chest and said, “Commander, I admire the Xiliu Camp greatly. It’s only now that I have the chance to join you. It’s too late to meet, but even if I can’t get a formal position, being assigned personal guards would be fine.”
He specifically assured, “I still hold some status within the Tiandihui. I can raise my own troops, pay them, and provide weapons.”
This was joining with armed forces! But Liu Yu wouldn’t let a group operate outside his command. “Don’t rush. Let me think. Platoon Leader Shen, how many men do you have?”
Shen Sheng honestly assessed his strength. “I tell others I have thousands of members, but in reality, there are just over six hundred. A few hundred more are peripheral members. Among them, only about two hundred can command themselves independently, and perhaps thirty to forty can be brought into the team.”
Among those who could command themselves independently in the Tiandihui, many had family responsibilities, so only these thirty to forty could fully dedicate themselves to the team. “I also have two revolvers and one Remington rifle.”
Liu Yu estimated, “Alright then. I’ll form a search platoon for you. My battalion also needs such a unit. It will be structured like regular platoons, but with three squads, which can be strengthened further if needed.”
Apart from the artillery, each regular platoon had two squads of twelve men each, equipped with half backloading weapons. This outcome exceeded Shen Sheng’s expectations. He quickly bowed deeply to Liu Yu. “Thank you, Commander, for your recognition!”
Liu Yu said, “But you can form the unit only after I’ve dealt with the Ten Provinces.”
Shen Sheng quickly brought good news to Liu Yu. “Of course, Commander. I’m friends with Ye Chenglin—we both joined the Tiandihui together. I’ve helped him many times and am willing to persuade Ye Chenglin on your behalf.”
“That’s great! How many people did you bring?”
“Six! All of them are trustworthy.”
Shen Sheng said to Cai Yunnan, “Yunnan, find Ningxue and get the Spencer rifles from the warehouse. Equip their guns.”
“Commander, five rifles are enough. I have two revolvers, and my brother also brought a Remington.”
For such an external armed group joining with guns, giving them five Spencer rifles at once was quite generous. Shen Sheng grew proud. “When the time comes, I’ll gather my members and surely won’t disappoint you, Commander.”
But Liu Yu emphasized, “Although it’s a search platoon and its core isn’t like other units, I still advise you to recruit veterans first. Then, after a month or two of intensive training, they’ll become combat-ready.”
Other platoons consisted of one-third veterans and two-thirds captives, with all officers being experienced. For a search platoon, this wasn’t practical. But in any case, they needed to mix in new members and undergo training before becoming a full-fledged unit.

Armed forces composed of such defected relatives pose serious problems in terms of combat effectiveness and loyalty. Liu Yu, having studied the history of the People’s Liberation Army, knew of many instances where such forces caused trouble. Such units must be brought under control quickly to ensure peace of mind.

Shen Sheng, on the other hand, showed little interest in taking command of troops. What mattered to him was holding the title of platoon leader of the Xiliu Camp—with that title, no one in Northern Vietnam would dare look down on him. “Everything is the responsibility of the commander; I’ll follow orders strictly,” he said.

Liu Yu glanced at Cai Yunnan. “Then leave this task to you.”

With everything prepared, there was only one thing left to do: march toward the Ten Provinces!

Vietnamese village girls wearing conical hats and white clothes were playing by the river, their laughter ringing like silver bells as they splashed water at each other. Suddenly, they all fell silent, curiously watching the passing army, before disappearing into the distance with laughter.

It was the first time they had seen such Black Flag troops—young and full of vigor, carrying a flag with twin willow leaves, along with the symbols of the Big Dipper and the words “Xiliu Camp” written in large letters. These officers and soldiers looked more modern and handsome than ordinary Black Flag troops. They dragged artillery, brought many mules and horses, and marched in neat columns.

They were so impressive! Hiding in a small grove, the village girls didn’t flee but watched this unique group of Black Flag troops with half-smiles. They wore standardized new uniforms, carried sleek foreign-style rifles, had newly issued backpacks, carried pickaxes and water bottles at their waists, and wore new shoes. Each one was full of energy. The rhythmic clinking of water bottles, pickaxes, and weapons, along with their steady marching steps, was truly magnificent.

The village girls whispered among themselves, but the army didn’t stop because of their laughter.

The young man riding a mule, looking like an angel, ordered them to keep moving. “Keep marching! Take a short break in five minutes, then another in twenty minutes.”

Even while marching, the Xiliu Camp far surpassed the feudal armies of East Asia of that era. The Xianghuai Army would march at most thirty li a day before setting up fortified camps, and even then, they moved slowly within their own controlled areas.

But the Xiliu Camp was different. They could march fifty li a day—what was considered an extreme pace even among the Qing army. Unless there was a critical situation like restoring the emperor, they would never subject themselves to such hardship.

Even many soldiers in the Xiliu Camp found such marching intensity too much. They hardly glanced at the village girls along the way. As for Shen Sheng and the newly captured prisoners, they could barely keep up with the column.

Shen Sheng hadn’t marched like this in many years. The last time he had done so was when he led several hundred Red Flag troops.

“Is this normal marching?”

He simply couldn’t understand it.

Liu Yu, still on his mule, held a map and replied, “It’s just average marching. We estimate we won’t cover sixty li today; we’ll be late.”

On this map, the key points the troops would pass through, the times for passing, as well as the times for long and short breaks, were all marked.

According to the regulations, the normal marching speed of an army is roughly between 25 and 35 kilometers per day; 50 kilometers, or 25 kilometers, is indeed a typical speed for regular marches. Shen Sheng glanced at the officers and soldiers around him. Veteran officers like Cai Yunnan took this as something ordinary, but he still had to step aside and pull Cai Yunnan aside to complain, “50 kilometers a day? How is that possible?” Cai Yunnan replied proudly, “You need to be more careful during training. Right now, you can’t even handle two revolvers. In our Xiliu Camp, marching 10 kilometers fully equipped is routine.” What Cai Yunnan didn’t mention was that this was the first time Xiliu Camp had undertaken such a long-distance march; before this, they had only marched up to 100 kilometers. “A short break!” The order was excellent, but Shen Sheng had already sat down on the ground. Pulling someone over, he asked, “Fei Lilun, do you train like this all the time?” “This is nothing!” Fei Lilun, Cai Yunnan’s deputy and also from the Haiyang Tiandihui, replied, “We’ve all marched 100 kilometers in a day!” Shen Sheng remained skeptical. The five-minute break ended quickly, and he had no choice but to continue on with his tired legs. He noticed that veterans like Cai Yunnan were already accustomed to this marching speed. They moved steadily, speaking little. Meanwhile, Liu Yu rode up on a mule and jumped off neatly. “Can you still go on? Let me walk a few steps.” “Thank you, Commander!” Without waiting to express further gratitude, Shen Sheng got on the mule. But with the young Liu Yu leading the mule ahead, he felt a bit guilty. “Is this marching intensity too much? Should we slow down?” Marching capacity is the best indicator of an army’s strength. Only the Red Army, which had gone through the 25,000-li Long March, was a truly tempered and invincible force. Listening to the rhythmic sound, Liu Yu led the mule forward. “This is just regular marching. With some practice, it won’t be a problem. It’s quite easy. During actual forced marches, even Yunnan and the others get exhausted—worse than you.” As a young commander, Liu Yu now had his own two mules, a privilege reserved for him. Yet he still preferred to get off occasionally and walk for an hour. “It’s fine! Just some practice will do.” Sitting on the mule, Shen Sheng could see more clearly the movement of his group. It advanced like a giant dragon, from its head to its tail, all moving toward their set goal. But he also knew that every part of this dragon was made of flesh and blood, just like him, with legs made of flesh. Yet the dragon continued to move at high speed. He had a feeling that this dragon could be defeated, but no one could stop its progress. Joining this group would be his wisest choice.