Chapter 770: Repression, Deception, and Survivors of the Disaster
Although Zhang Chao had more experience fighting Japanese pirates in the Jiangnan region and later suppressing them at sea compared to his younger brother Zhang Qi, he, unlike Zhang Yue, had not traveled around the country holding various official positions. This time, he had come thousands of miles from the capital to Jiaozhou Prefecture, and as soon as he met his father, he was sent away. Though filled with sorrow, he dared not disobey his father’s orders. As he rode out of the alley in front of the general’s residence, he saw groups of defeated soldiers sitting at street corners or wandering around. His brows furrowed unconsciously, and he quickly whipped his horse, rushing off like the wind.
Like Huang Fu, Chen Qia had also served as an advisor in the army since the military campaigns in Annam began. He entered service during the Hongwu era, and in terms of seniority, he was second only to Jian Xia in the court. Yet even with Huang Fu in charge, he still relied on Zhang You to control those arrogant and violent generals. No matter how talented he was, he could do nothing against those officers. Yesterday, when he brought troops back from the general’s residence, although Peng Shisan and other former comrades tried to stop them, and he personally supervised their withdrawal, twenty or thirty officers such as hundred-household and thousand-household leaders still gathered in front of the administrative office.
At this moment, Chen Qia was infuriated by these people. He shouted sternly, “The court has already sent a large army on campaign, which will arrive in Jiaozhou Prefecture soon. By then, the army will surely bring enough food and supplies! You want to get ten days’ worth of rations in advance. What will happen to all the officials and civilians in the city if enemy troops attack? Lord Yangwu has ordered all officers to go back and gather the defeated soldiers in the western city. Anyone who causes trouble will be dealt with according to military law!”
Though his words were harsh, these officers refused to listen. One officer, whose left arm hung limp, pushed through the crowd and insisted, “Lord Chen keeps talking about defeated soldiers, but it wasn’t our choice to suffer these defeats! If it weren’t for Lord Rongchang’s recklessness in ignoring his subordinates’ advice, we wouldn’t be in this mess! Along the way, we lacked medicine and food supplies. Some died from serious injuries, some from illnesses, and some from starvation!”
“That’s right! We left our homes and stayed in this hellish place for ten or eight years, and now we’re still starving. How can this be acceptable?”
“Normally, we’re told to farm, but when war breaks out, we’re forced to put down our hoes and fight to the death. On top of that, we have to deal with such incompetent commanders. We’re already unlucky enough! Better to face military punishment than die of starvation!”
“Minister Chen said it was an order from Lord Yangwu, but as far as we know, Lord Yangwu himself is too seriously injured to give such orders! Even our men can no longer bear it; if this continues, we won’t be able to suppress them either!”
Although there were dozens of clerks and servants from the yamen around him, plus a dozen bodyguards sent by Zhang You, seeing the crowd’s agitation, Chen Qia understood that if things escalated, it could involve all the defeated soldiers in the city. His forehead immediately became sweaty. As the crowd continued to clamor loudly and his attempts to calm them with a hoarse voice proved ineffective, a loud shout suddenly came from behind.
“Do you still have any regard for military law?”
All the officers turned around and were stunned to see a young man in a bright red official robe leap off his horse. Just as someone was about to speak, Zhang Chao pushed through the crowd and stepped forward. He first bowed to Chen Qia, then turned to look at these officers, who now appeared disheveled but had earlier been full of confidence. Although he had never fought in a major battle, he had spent many years in local military units and the imperial guards. His father often wrote to him about military affairs and strategies, so he understood these men’s thoughts better than Chen Qia.
“Being defeated in battle is not a shameful thing; it’s the fault of the commanding general, not yours! Moreover, since you were able to gather your troops and bring them safely to Jiaozhou Prefecture despite the defeat, you’re not only not at fault but also deserve credit!”
Though they didn’t know who this suddenly appeared young man was, his words were undoubtedly more persuasive than those of Chen Qia and the other advisors. Gradually, the officers quieted down. Chen Qia and the others no longer cared whether Zhang Chao was just talking nonsense; in their eyes, as long as they could suppress these people, any empty promises made didn’t matter.
“It’s right that you plead for your troops who have no food, but it’s wrong that you cause trouble at this time! What situation are we in? Due to the defeat, Jiaozhou Prefecture now only has routes to the northwest and northeast that remain open. The situation in the south is uncertain, and if the food runs out and we can’t defend the city, where else can you go once you leave Jiaozhou Prefecture? If you encounter the imperial army, just the label of ‘defeated soldiers’ will mean you’ll end up serving in border garrisons, ten times harder than now! At this moment, rations are only issued once a day. What’s important is to work together to keep Jiaozhou Prefecture safe. Once reinforcements arrive, then you’ll truly be heroes, not defeated soldiers!”
Chen Qia had said something similar before, but as a civil official, he naturally wouldn’t call those defeated soldiers heroes. Zhang Chao had also encountered defeated soldiers during his campaigns against the Japanese pirates, and it was his familiar colleague who taught him how to handle such situations. Thus, this time he moved so swiftly that he didn’t even take a break. His earnest words finally persuaded some people, but the officer with the broken arm took a step forward instead of retreating.
“Your words are indeed persuasive, but what if things don’t go as planned later? You seem unfamiliar—likely not an officer from our Jiaozhi Garrison. Are you an officer sent from the capital?”
“My father is the Marquis of Yangwu; every word I speak comes from him!”
The others were unaware that Zhang Chao had arrived and were stunned upon hearing this. Seeing this, Chen Qia quickly stepped forward to clarify Zhang Chao’s identity. Upon learning he was the eldest son of the Marquis of Yangwu, the officers finally believed him. After Zhang Chao encouraged and advised them further, promising to send people to treat the wounded and sick, they dispersed to oversee their troops, vowing to assist in defending the city with their own forces. Watching those who had surrounded the government office for two or three days leave one after another, the officials wiped the sweat from their foreheads and sighed in relief. Exhausted to the point of barely being able to stand, Chen Qia could barely keep himself upright.
“Thankfully, the eldest son came—this has solved a major problem!”
In response to their praise and gratitude, Zhang Chao forced a smile and mentioned that he had been entrusted by his father to meet Huang Fu. Though Chen Qia was also worried about his old superior’s illness, he had countless tasks to attend to. So he asked one of the officials to accompany Zhang Chao inside, while he returned to the court with the others. The clerks and servants, who had been working round the clock for days, also breathed a sigh of relief and, under their leader’s direction, went off to rest in shifts.
Kunming County, Yunnan Prefecture, the Mu Family Palace by Cui Lake.
When Mu Ying was guarding Yunnan, he admired the beauty of Cui Lake and wanted to raise horses there, imitating Zhou Yabo’s Camp of Fine Willows. Yet throughout his life, the palace complex remained just four courtyards with a small garden. After his death, he was granted the title of King of Qianning, and the place became known as the Mu Family Palace. Mu Chun and Mu Sheng, his sons, lived more extravagantly than their father—building small buildings one day and main halls the next. Over twenty years, it grew into a small palace, fitting the Mu family’s title as Kings of Yunnan. Now, with military duties at hand, the Mu Family Palace was bustling. Mu Sheng spent his days meeting with soldiers, while Lady Cheng took care of the family members and children.
A secluded courtyard to the west of the mansion had been occupied by two outsiders three months ago. Lady Cheng ordered her concubines not to approach that area, selecting only four reliable maids and two nurses to serve there. Some strong servants were also stationed outside the courtyard, and she herself would only go there in extreme necessity. That day, hearing from Nurse Le that it was quiet there, she breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness she’s causing no trouble!” she said, placing a hand on her chest before instructing Nurse Le again, “Keep a close eye on everything. Under no circumstances must anything about Lord Yangwu be revealed, or else family discipline will be applied!” After they left, Lady Cheng rubbed her temples and took a sip of tea offered by a maid, though her brows remained furrowed. Mu Sheng had told her that Fang Shuixin was the only daughter of the former Tusi of Mangshi. But since someone else had already taken over the Tusi position, letting this woman return to her tribe would bring endless troubles. Moreover, she had even brought along one of Lord Yangwu, Zhang You’s sons! If it weren’t for the uncertain fate of Zhang You and Fang Shuixin’s cold statement that she and her son would die if sent back, Mu Sheng wouldn’t have ordered her to watch over such a troublesome person. “Madam, this is a birthday gift from the Fourth Lord of Nanjing.” Startled by these words, she saw the housekeeper open a brocade box, revealing a beautifully crafted blue-and-white porcelain plum vase with intertwined peony patterns. Only then did Lady Cheng remember that her birthday was approaching soon. Smiling, she said, “It’s fortunate my fourth brother remembers every year. Put it in the storage first, then have someone select a few gifts to send back to him. His expenses in Nanjing are much higher after all. By the way, pass the word that with the army setting out now, although my husband is in the rear guard, it’s still a time of war. There will be no birthday celebrations this year.” Hearing this, the housekeeper replied and left promptly. As soon as she left, someone reported that Mu Sheng had arrived. Lady Cheng quickly got up to greet him. She personally removed his bright red silk robe embroidered with qilin patterns and replaced it with a simple light-blue silk shirt. Then she asked, “My husband mentioned leaving in a few days. Has a specific date been set?” “The army of Marquis Anyuan is already not far from Jiaozhou Prefecture. Although I’m here only to support them, we can’t delay any longer. If things go poorly in battle, we might even have to advance to Jiaozhi. Everything is ready; we’ll set off tomorrow.”
Hearing it was tomorrow, Lady Cheng was immediately startled and hurriedly reminded, “But the person who went to the Duke of Britain’s residence in the capital to deliver the letter has been away for a month and a half. He should be returning soon. What if there’s any news and it gets delayed? Also, as the end of the year approaches, we need to prepare gifts for various places in the capital. Based on last year’s harvests from each family’s estates, it might be quite difficult.”
“A month and a half… At the very most, another half month, and he should be back. As for that woman, I only heard about it. I personally wrote a letter to apologize and promised to help find someone. The Duke of Britain isn’t petty; I doubt he’ll hold it against us. Wait for his reply and then decide what to do. I took bribes to secure that land and personally arranged the marriage of Fang Shuixin. I never expected this woman to cause so much trouble—she keeps causing issues over and over again!”
After venting his anger for a while, seeing that Lady Cheng didn’t respond, Mu Sheng stopped bringing up the matter and simply instructed, “From last year to this year, we’ve added nineteen new estates. With favorable weather, the harvest should increase by at least 30%. That should be enough to prepare those gifts. Remember, double the amount of gifts for the Duke of Britain; for Jian Xia and the others, no need for extravagant gifts—just a few good pieces of paper and pens will suffice. For Yang Shiqi, Du Zhen, Jin Youzi, and Yang Pu, send the four essential items for writing, and don’t forget to include a Duan inkstone. As for Yang Rong, in addition to those, see if there are any good furs when the goods arrive in Beijing, and buy four fine horses—he always loves fine furs and horses. As for the others, follow last year’s routine.”
Though Lady Cheng agreed to everything, hearing such a large expenditure, she couldn’t help feeling worried. Seeing her state, Mu Sheng sent the maids out of the room before whispering to his wife, “You know my skills in warfare. My title as Duke of Qian comes partly from my father and partly from the Duke of Britain’s support. The Mu family has ruled Yunnan for generations—unique in the whole world. With just an order from me, none of those tribal chiefs dare to disobey, which is why I’m called the King of Yunnan. Only by winning over everyone in the capital can those powerful figures speak up for us in case of emergencies. I only need to keep control of Yunnan—let chaos reign outside! You’re well aware of our family’s situation. Aside from what’s reserved for my third and fourth brothers, we still have over two hundred estates. Don’t worry about spending money!”
“Since Master says so, I understand. But that Fang Shuixin has run away from the Zhang family twice. Although I’ve assigned reliable people to watch over her, what if…”
“It’s time to deal with her, but if done poorly, it will only bring criticism. Besides, the Tusi of Mangshi has already sent generous gifts—she’s his cousin who just ascended to power. He doesn’t want her, the daughter of the former Tusi, to return… Earlier, didn’t I tell you not to hide the news of Jiaozhou from her? I reckon Lord Yangwu Zhang You won’t last long. Once that day comes, have someone casually let her know. Though she now pretends to cut ties with Zhang You, upon hearing such tragic news, that fierce woman might behave very differently! Remember, children will always find a way out, but as for her… she has nowhere left to go.”
Although she was a Bai woman she disdained, hearing Mu Sheng’s words still made Lady Cheng feel uneasy. She forced a forced smile in agreement. But when her husband spoke of the benefits they had gained from the current Tusi of Mangshi, she gradually set aside her concerns and nodded firmly.
Just from this marriage and retention, the Mu family acquired two hundred hectares of fertile land and also gained influence over Mangshi!
As Zhang You had predicted, as soon as Zhang Chao helped Chen Qia gather the defeated troops, many Jiaozhou people began to appear around the region. At first, they were a ragtag crowd, but gradually they became well-equipped soldiers, forcing the city gates to be closed immediately. Governor Fang Zheng, who had seen some improvement, stepped in to oversee defense and assigned Zhang Chao to guard one of the city walls. Though the attacks over the next few days weren’t too difficult to withstand, seeing that the Jiaozhou forces had complete siege engines, ladders, and even war elephants, everyone grew deeply worried.
It was because most officials in Jiaonan were exiled, and those from Yunnan and Guangxi could only be promoted every nine years, making it harder to deploy resources further south. But it shouldn’t have reached such a critical point!
In General Zhang You’s bedroom, since Zhang You insisted on sending Zhang Chao away, Zhang Zhuo had to stay by his side day and night, while Physician He also cared for him wholeheartedly. At this moment, looking at the bloodstained will he had written for Zhang You earlier, his heart was in his throat. Seeing Physician He apply bandages to the wounds and diagnose him for a long time, with Zhang You’s breathing seemingly barely audible, he anxiously asked, “It’s already been five days—what’s the situation?”
Physician He wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed in relief. “Congratulations, my lord. He’s finally made it through!”
Hearing these words, Zhang Zhuo suddenly sat down on the brocade stool in front of the bed, his eyes stinging painfully. Having never believed in gods or Buddhas in his life, he clasped his hands and recited “Amitabha” several times before managing to force a smile at Doctor He.
“My brother was able to survive thanks to Doctor He!”