Chapter 89: I Am a Man of Principle
Chapter 89: I Am a Man of Principle
“Who will go to guard it?”
Xiong Tingbi asked bluntly.
It was already the second day after Wild Boar Skin withdrew his troops. He Shixian had arrived yesterday afternoon. He had previously been in the area around Changyong Fort, tangling with the five thousand Jiannu cavalry led by Daišan. This guy was indeed a fierce warrior. His more than a thousand Household Troops were not even afraid of fighting the Jiannu in open battle. It was precisely because of this trait that, in the original history, he was lured out by Wild Boar Skin, ambushed and surrounded, and died fighting in the field. He was not a particularly cunning or smart commander, but he was very capable in battle. Of course, he also engaged in massive ghost soldier fraud; otherwise, how could he afford to raise over a thousand elite Household Troops?
Daišan was never able to break through his attacks to capture Changyong Fort and obtain supplies.
This very point ensured that Wild Boar Skin could not sustain his continued offensive. Otherwise, the grain left behind in Changyong Fort, which could not be evacuated in time, would have fallen into Wild Boar Skin’s hands.
Xiong Tingbi arrived this morning.
He had previously been at Hupi Post.
He Shixian crossed the Hun River to rescue Changyong Fort. Hurhan led five thousand Jiannu to cross the river upstream and attack Fengji Fort. Zhao Shuaijiao went to rescue but was defeated and captured. Fearing that the Jiannu would break through Fengji Fort, Xiong Tingbi had to personally lead the Ming Army to station at Hupi Post, serving as backup for Fengji Fort and He Shixian on the west bank.
Upon learning that Wild Boar Skin had withdrawn, he rushed over immediately.
“I have a candidate in mind!”
Yang Xin said.
At this point, the relationship between him and Xiong Tingbi had eased somewhat. After all, he had helped Xiong Tingbi truly end this year’s war with a victory. Wild Boar Skin would certainly not attack again. One could say that Xiong Tingbi had finally stabilized the Liaodong situation following the Battle of Sarhu. Of course, the more important point was that Yang Xin, this troublemaker, was soon going to leave his sight. He wouldn’t have to watch this guy and get angry anymore. But it wasn’t him driving Yang Xin away, nor was Yang Xin leaving of his own accord. It was the Wanli Emperor who summoned Yang Xin back with an Imperial Edict, even though Wanli didn’t actually know about the battles of Kaiyuan-Tieling and Shenyang when he issued the edict.
He was recalling Yang Xin because of E Yi Dou’s head.
Of course, that was the official reason.
In reality, after the Imperial Eldest Grandson, Tianqi, learned this news, he couldn’t wait to go to his grandfather. Using this as a reason, he pleaded for Yang Xin’s crimes to be pardoned, and then quickly recalled this guy. This was to prevent this treasure, who could bring him many good things, from accidentally dying in Liaodong.
For Tianqi, whether Liaodong needed Yang Xin was utterly unimportant.
What mattered most was that he needed Yang Xin.
The notes Yang Xin left for him before departing had completely ignited the Imperial Eldest Grandson’s desires. He was now like an elementary school student who had just learned to play a video game, eagerly awaiting the return of this guy who had led him astray, hoping he would come back and help him continue clearing levels.
And of course, Wanli was happy to satisfy his grandson’s small request.
Moreover, after the two devastating defeats at Sarhu and Kaiyuan-Tieling, a heroic model like Yang Xin, who rose so suddenly, was perfect for some publicity. For example, when E Yi Dou’s head arrived at the Capital City, Yang Xin could appear in the sight of the Capital City’s commoners, wearing his helmet and armor and carrying the Green Dragon Crescent Blade. This wouldn’t be a waste of Wanli protecting him once from the censors’ attacks. Speaking of which, Wanli never expected Yang Xin to give him such a huge surprise. This was a model of loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country! Let the whole world see, this is the kind of loyal and righteous man we have in the Great Ming…
Of course, Wanli might not have actually thought that much.
He was just trying to make his grandson happy.
“Who?”
Xiong Tingbi said.
“There’s a man named Mao Wenlong, do you know him?”
Yang Xin said.
He hadn’t actually inquired about Mao Wenlong before.
“The garrison commander of Aiyang. He cannot be moved!”
Xiong Tingbi said bluntly.
Aiyang City was very important. Even during the Jiawu period, our Great Qing had to rely on it to block the Japanese army.
“Then it should be Zhao Shuaijiao. Then assign him two subordinates: Huang Degong is a local of Kaiyuan and familiar with the situation there. Zhou Yuji is good at defense and has good relations with the Yehe Tribe. Make Zhao Shuaijiao the Regional Military Commander, with Huang Degong and the other as his deputies. Let them defend Kaiyuan and rely on each other with the Yehe Tribe.”
Yang Xin said.
Zhao Shuaijiao had suffered only flesh wounds all over his body. His broken leg wasn’t a fracture, at most a bone crack. Resting for three months would leave him mostly fine. For this kind of injury, the main thing was to avoid infection. Fortunately, the weather was cold now, which naturally helped. Plus, the disinfection was done well, so he had already passed the initial dangerous period. Zhou Yuji had previously accompanied Dergele south, then left alone to find Xiong Tingbi. The latter had heard about him from Yang Xin before and directly incorporated him into his Personal Guards, even giving him the position of a battalion commander. Zhou Yuji had helped Jin Taiji defend Yehe City, fully demonstrating his military talent. Everyone in the Yehe Tribe was grateful to him, so he could act as a liaison between the two sides.
As for Huang Degong, up to now, he had taken over thirty heads. Such battle achievements were quite remarkable in the Ming Army.
Promoting him further was inevitable.
Actually, Xiong Tingbi was also very surprised by the fierce generals Yang Xin had unearthed for him.
Yang Xin wasn’t a fierce general; he was simply a freak. But Cao Wenzhao, Huang Degong, and Zhou Yuji truly delighted him.
“But the Military Households north of Shenyang have been utterly wiped out. If the garrison at Kaiyuan is fewer than ten thousand, it’s useless. The grain and ammunition needed for ten thousand garrison troops all have to be transported north by land. How do we solve the manpower problem? Moreover, the Jiannu cavalry are right outside the frontier wall and can enter at any time to raid. To ensure the transportation route, we’d have to station troops along the line again. Where would I get so many soldiers?”
Xiong Tingbi said.
The key problem in rebuilding Kaiyuan was that the previous Military Households were gone.
From Shenyang northward, they were all gone.
Even if we drove the Military Households from Puhe and Yilu back, the area from Yilu to Kaiyuan would still be empty. Previously, these Military Households guarded the Liaodong Frontier Wall, blocking Jiannu cavalry from entering, while also being responsible for military supply transportation, ensuring the material supply for the Kaiyuan garrison. But now they were all gone.
Some died, some fled, and a large number were captured by Wild Boar Skin to be slaves.
Rebuilding Kaiyuan was not difficult.
Sending ten thousand troops there would do. But then, this ten thousand-strong army would need people to transport supplies and people to protect the supply line. That wouldn’t be something just ten thousand troops could solve; even twenty thousand might not be enough. This was a two-hundred-mile land transportation route. Similarly, if these people protecting the supply line weren’t Military Households doing garrison farming, they would also need someone to transport supplies for them. Rebuilding Kaiyuan City wasn’t just rebuilding Kaiyuan City; it was rebuilding this defense system centered on Kaiyuan, a two-hundred-mile salient.
“Why not try water transport?”
Yang Xin said.
“Using boats to transport supplies north from Sancha River could easily reach the north of Tieling. Then, transferring into the Qinghe River could go directly to the foot of Kaiyuan City. Even going upstream, the Liao River is calm and easy to navigate. Even small boats with poles could pole all the way to Kaiyuan. How much couldn’t this transportation line ship?”
He continued.
“Right! Why not water transport? Back when Taizu pacified Liaodong, army provisions could be transported along the line you mentioned to the foot of Kaiyuan City.”
Xiong Tingbi said with displeasure.
Yang Xin waited with an innocent expression.
“Look at the map. Is the Liao River inside or outside the frontier wall? Boats indeed can go from Sancha River directly to Kaiyuan City. They could over two hundred years ago. There’s even a backup pier at Laomi Bay west of Kaiyuan. But the Liaodong Frontier Wall was built with the Liao River outside. From Sancha River northward, for six to seven hundred miles of river sections, it all passes through the grazing lands of the Western Barbarians. Do you think they would obediently let these things pass without looting?”
Xiong Tingbi said.
“The court’s transport ships indeed cannot. But my transport ships can!”
Yang Xin said.
Xiong Tingbi was taken aback.
“Military Commissioner Xiong, this problem has a simple solution. I will take charge of establishing a transport team. The court entrusts me with the military supply transportation for Kaiyuan. Pay me a certain amount for each shipload of supplies delivered. If it doesn’t arrive, I’ll compensate. If the Mongols dare to rob it, they’re robbing my money. I’ll go find Chahua and demand an explanation from him. If he doesn’t give me an explanation, then I’ll give him one. In short, the court pays, and I take responsibility for ensuring Kaiyuan’s supplies are plentiful. If you want to do it this way, I’ll go find Aobadaiqing right now and tell him I’ve taken on this business. If they dare to rob my goods in the future…”
Yang Xin paused.
“He has seen how I killed Abatai. Don’t think I won’t slip into his tent in the middle of the night and let him experience what ‘entering quietly with the night breeze’ means.”
He continued.
Xiong Tingbi suddenly laughed.
“This way, you can get rich!”
He said.
“Military Commissioner Xiong, we’re both sensible people. I risked my life to protect Shenyang; I should get some reward. I’m a man from Hejian, why should I come here and risk my life to protect Liaodong? Speaking of which, at most, over fifty arrows were pulled from my body at one time. What was I fighting for? If you say it was to atone for my crimes, then E Yi Dou’s one head was enough. The later Abatai and the Jiannu corpses under Shenyang’s walls were all extras. His Majesty said I only needed to chop off ten Jiannu heads to be enough, but I chopped off hundreds. Those extra ones were free labor for you.
I have to gain some benefit.
This way is so much better.
Kaiyuan City is rebuilt, the horse market reopens, and the Yehe Tribe has to continue relying on the Great Ming. Otherwise, if the horse market is cut off, what will they eat? The barrier for Liaoyang and Shenyang is also established. A large army stationed there means whenever Wild Boar Skin dares to enter Fushun Pass, Zhao Shuaijiao on the other side can exit Guangshun Pass and ally with the Yehe Tribe to raid his homeland.
Of course, I also incidentally earn a bit of hard-earned money.
It’s good for both public and private interests, a perfect win-win!”
Yang Xin said with an air of righteousness.
“I’m afraid by then, what you transport won’t just be Kaiyuan’s military supplies. Couldn’t your ships carry other goods? What the Yehe Tribe needs, what the Western Barbarians need, couldn’t your ships carry them? Even some contraband probably would be hidden in the grain shipped to Kaiyuan. Under the banner of transporting military supplies, just like those Grain Tribute Boats on the Grand Canal that smuggle goods, you’d ship everything the Western Barbarians and Jurchens need into their hands. Your calculation is quite shrewd!”
Xiong Tingbi said with a cold laugh.
“Military Commissioner Xiong, I am a man of principle. I would absolutely never do such a thing!”
Yang Xin patted his chest and said.
Such petty money was beneath him!
He had bigger business.
“I, Xiong, don’t really care. I don’t rely on Liaodong’s border trade for a living. But have you considered the powerful families and influential gentry of Liaodong? You’re taking food right out of their mouths.”
Xiong Tingbi said noncommittally.