Chapter 325: What Will Become of Shaanxi if You Leave?
Chapter 325: What Will Become of Shaanxi if You Leave?
The cheerful mood in the camp, filled with the joy of eating cured meat and potato rice, was shattered by the urgent military news.
Wang Chengen’s face turned ashen, and the expressions of his deputy, Hundred-House leaders, and other officers around him also darkened.
“I must immediately enter the capital to serve Wang,” said Wang Chengen. Renowned for his loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, his first instinct was to depart. But the thought of the Heyang County garrison commander, Fan Shanyue, gave him pause.
Liang Shixian happened to be considering the same issue: “General Wang, if you leave, who will restrain Fan Shanyue? Won’t he run even more rampant? He might just become another Guerilla Li Ying.”
Wang Chengen: “Alas!”
Liang Shixian continued: “If all Five Troop Divisions enter the capital to serve Wang, what of the bandits infesting Shaanxi? Won’t they grow even bolder?”
Wang Chengen: “Alas!”
Besides repeated sighs of “Alas,” he seemed rendered speechless.
After standing frozen for several dozen seconds, he finally pressed Liang Shixian’s shoulder heavily. “Regardless, the capital’s defense takes precedence. This general must proceed to the capital to serve Wang. I can no longer concern myself with Fan Shanyue or the bandits of Shaanxi. In the coming days, the situation in Shaanxi will likely become exceedingly perilous. Take good care of yourself, Magistrate Liang.”
Liang Shixian: “…”
Wang Chengen: “Order the entire army: Prepare to march immediately! We travel day and night, returning to Xi’an!”
As his order was relayed, soldiers were still enjoying their fragrant cured meat and potato rice. Hearing the command to “prepare to march immediately,” few were willing to abandon their meals.
Some shoveled huge spoonfuls into their mouths as fast as they could.
Some stuffed their mouths full while grabbing handfuls to eat while walking.
Others pulled out a cloth, inverted their bowls onto it, wrapped the precious contents, and stuffed the bundle into their coats.
…
Such delicious rice, mixed with minced cured meat – they had no idea when they might taste its like again.
Amidst this flurry of activity, Wang Chengen’s division finally embarked on their journey, heavy with reluctance.
Watching them depart, Liang Shixian stood alone atop the high city wall, his gaze lifting to the sky. “Deity, what are we to do? With Fan Shanyue free of restraint, his depredations will surely escalate. With all Five Troop Divisions gone to the capital, Shaanxi has no one left to govern it. Alas…”
Li Daoxuan sighed inwardly: History records that Yang He, the Governor of Three Boundaries, initially employed simultaneous suppression and appeasement in Shaanxi’s Three Boundaries region. However, with the departure of the Five Troop Divisions to serve Wang, Yang He lost a significant military force. Unable to sustain large-scale bandit suppression, what followed was a strategic shift towards a comprehensive appeasement policy.
Just how disastrous this appeasement policy was, one only needs to recall the recent “returning bandits” and observe the current garrison commander of Heyang, Fan Shanyue.
Shaanxi was heading towards even greater chaos!
Li Daoxuan produced a large sheet of paper and held it up for Liang Shixian: “Expand the militia. Protect yourselves.”
Liang Shixian: “Understood. We can no longer rely on the authorities above. We can only rely on ourselves. Larger militias must be formed. In other counties, raising large militias would disrupt civilian life. But here in Chengcheng County, with the Celestial Food bestowed by the Deity, more men can take up arms.”
He quickly turned to his Clerk: “Where is Mr. Bai, the militia chief instructor?”
The Clerk answered: “Chief Instructor Bai has been at Gaojia Village these past few days. It’s close to Heyang County. He might be organizing the Gaojia Village Militia to guard against Fan Shanyue.”
Liang Shixian: “As expected of Mr. Bai! He has already taken preventive measures. Prepare horses! This official will go personally to Gaojia Village to discuss defense strategies with Mr. Bai.”
The Clerk smiled: “County Lord, no need for horses to get to Gaojia Village.”
Liang Shixian: “?”
The Clerk explained: “The road linking the county town to Gaojia Village is complete. There are even two routes now: one is a cement road with a public carriage; the other is a train track. After the villagers leveled the path, the Deity personally set down the Celestial small train. Traveling to Gaojia Village is most convenient now. Board the small train, and you’ll be there in the blink of an eye.”
Liang Shixian: “Eh? Is that so? Then this official must try this Celestial small train properly.”
Liang Shixian promptly gathered his Clerk and ten constables and headed for the “Chengcheng Station.” Built outside the county town’s north city gate, this station was vividly colored and flamboyantly decorated – a typical example of “Deity-style” architecture.
Chengcheng County now boasted many such “Deity-style” structures. Most residents no longer found these strange buildings surprising; instead, seeing them instilled a profound sense of security. They served as constant reminders to the people of Chengcheng: “The Deity watches over you.”
Liang Shixian felt the same comforting reassurance. The unease he’d felt moments earlier eased considerably upon seeing the colorful building.
Soon, the train arrived.
This being Liang Shixian’s first train journey, he boarded with reverence and caution. Sitting by the window, he tentatively extended one hand outside. He felt the wind – traveling at 60 li per hour – brush against his palm. Eh? This… this felt… as if he was grasping something truly incredible.
The journey of thirty-some li on the small train was indeed over in the blink of an eye.
Liang Shixian hopped off the train and immediately inquired about Bai Yuan’s whereabouts. A passerby directed him towards the Gaojia Village militia camp. He set off with his constables.
While still some distance from the camp, a loud “bang!” – the report of a firearm – reached their ears.
Liang Shixian: “Eh?”
His expression turned peculiar instantly. “Firearms?”
The Clerk beside him nodded. “Yes, the sound of a firearm.”
“Dear me!” exclaimed Liang Shixian. “Surely not? Has Bai Yuan actually produced firearms? That… that… those are prohibited!”
The Clerk murmured softly: “County Lord, no need for such alarm. Back in our Shaoxing region, during the pirate troubles years ago, wealthy families routinely possessed dozens of firearms. It’s really not such a remarkable thing.”
Liang Shixian, considering the extreme chaos now engulfing Shaanxi, sighed. “Very well.”
He walked forward a few more steps. Another “bang!” sounded from up ahead. Then, something plummeted from the sky above him, landing with a soft “plop” squarely on his official magistrate’s hat, nearly knocking it askew.
Startled, Liang Shixian quickly righted his hat and looked closely. It was a bird, fallen from the sky, landing precisely on his headgear. Blood stained its feathers; clearly dead.
Liang Shixian: “Eh? What happened?”
The Clerk: “This bird was likely shot down by that gunshot just now. Impressive skill indeed, to bring down a flying bird with a firearm.”
As he spoke, a figure robed in pristine white came running towards them from the direction of the shot. It was Bai Yuan, laughing heartily: “Hahaha! I hit a bird in flight! Hahaha! Rifling the barrel truly improves the firearm’s accuracy! Hahaha… Eh?” Bai Yuan spotted Liang Shixian’s party. The face looked somewhat familiar, though the name escaped him. The clothing, however – the unmistakable official garments of a seventh-rank County Magistrate – was easily recognized.
He swiftly stifled his laughter and offered a deep, respectful bow: “County Lord! To what do we owe this honor?”