Volume One: Southern River Command Chapter Sixteen: Leading the Army

In just four days, Wei Fufeng gathered nearly thirty thousand troops, half of whom came bearing long spears and other weapons. Wei Fufeng was perfectly aware of the intentions of the powerful clans—they supported his bid for autonomy, swiftly offering aid and assembling a heavy force to vie for control.

With Wei Fufeng taking the lead, the great families of Luzhou secured themselves a position of flexibility. Should Wei Fufeng fail, they could disassociate, sacrificing a portion of their wealth to placate the Eastern Sichuan Army and let the matter drop. Should Wei Fufeng triumph, their victory would be his own; they would render the military governor a mere figurehead, seize control of Luzhou, and perhaps even slay Wei Fufeng to take his place.

The great families likely believed that, even in supporting Wei Fufeng’s amassing of troops, their influence over the army would far surpass his own. Wei Fufeng, lacking any trusted foundation of his own, could only depend on the powerful clans in Luzhou. Fully cognizant of their aims, this was precisely why he had conceived the thought of purging them.

Old Feng arrived, assuming the post of Commandant and taking charge of the White Tiger Hall. Wei Fufeng, meanwhile, held the title of Chief Defender, directly commanding the Governor’s Office and the Transport Bureau. Within these offices were installed chief clerks, judges, record officers, and legal officers, all able to handle routine affairs and endorsements.

Wei Fufeng's appointments were made in haste, essentially selecting names from the registry; whether they were suitable or not, they had to be tried first and replaced if found wanting. The selection process in the military offices yielded over five hundred martial talents. Most of these selected became squad leaders, more than a hundred became company commanders, and ten were promoted to the rank of military adjutant.

Wei Fufeng decreed that each squad leader from the military offices would, in rotation, serve as his personal guard in the Governor’s Office, forming his protective force. Conversely, the soldiers brought by Old Feng were to be assigned as substitutes for squad leaders in the military offices.

In truth, this approach was ill-advised and endangered Wei Fufeng’s personal safety. Personal guards should undoubtedly be composed of those he could trust, but this arrangement was suitable for the present, allowing Wei Fufeng to forge close ties with grassroots commanders.

With Old Feng and his subordinates at his side, Wei Fufeng’s tension eased somewhat; most affairs no longer required his direct intervention, and his attention turned to military supplies and training.

Regarding training, Wei Fufeng decided that the officers of White Tiger Hall should also serve as instructors. Those willing to teach soldiers tactics and martial skills could voluntarily assume the dual post of military office attendant, earning an additional salary alongside their main post.

The newly recruited soldiers came from complex backgrounds, with strong tendencies to form cliques based on their native regions, and there were many from minority groups as well. For the time being, Wei Fufeng did not address the issue of clannishness, instead issuing an egalitarian order: “All who join my army are brothers-in-arms,” and strictly punishing any cultural oppression.

In terms of supplies, Prefect An Ran provided as much support as possible; there was ample grain, though weapons were scarce. Yet with sufficient grain, morale could be stabilized.

Wei Fufeng personally oversaw the distribution of grain at the Transport Bureau, ensuring his subordinates handed it out in full measure. Grain also served as military pay; Wei Fufeng allowed the soldiers to collect it and have their families come to claim it as well.

For a time, crowds thronged near the camp, all coming to receive their portion of grain—meager though it was, enough to fill their bellies with porridge for a month.

In a flash, Wei Fufeng had been in Luzhou for ten days. He knew he could not delay; if An Ran received an accusatory report from the Military Governor of Eastern Sichuan, Wei Fufeng might not be able to keep his thirty thousand troops under control.

Thus, Wei Fufeng gave the order to march.

The thirty thousand, a hastily assembled and unruly mob, were divided into twenty detachments following a cascade of orders from the White Tiger Hall, and set off overland toward Yuzhou.

Prefect An Ran accompanied the army, as did Lin Qingxue and Xiaoxue, leaving their residence to join the campaign.

The day before the march, Wei Fufeng penned two letters, dispatching couriers to Xuyong and Xingwen counties, to deliver them to the respective garrison commanders. The letters read: “I, newly appointed Chief Defender of Southern Sichuan, Wei Zheng, by order of the Eastern Sichuan Military Governor Lord Gu, shall eradicate the powerful Luzhou clans Zhao and Luo, quelling the latent threat of rebellion.

I entreat you both to muster your forces and join mine, launching a surprise attack on the Zhao clan in Naxi County and the Luo clan in Hejiang County; all city spoils shall be yours for the taking. When I have accomplished my task, I will lead ten thousand Luzhou troops to Western Sichuan, to serve under Deputy Commander Gu Yanhui in the campaign against the rebels.”

The letter bore the great seal of the Southern Sichuan Military Governor, and the courier was instructed to inform the garrison commanders that he commanded thirty thousand troops, but, wary of mutiny, needed their forces to enter Naxi and Hejiang counties to provide inside support for Lord Gu.

By midday, as Wei Fufeng’s army advanced, the courier returned with news that both garrison commanders agreed to muster their forces, marching to the two county seats, ready to seize the gates as soon as the main army arrived.

Wei Fufeng was elated; commanding thirty thousand men, ambition surged within him. But soon, reason reined in his wild hopes. He looked back and saw the surging masses, the disorderly ranks, the majority of faces numb and gloomy, morale clearly flagging.

“It’s all but momentary show of force. In a real confrontation with the Eastern Sichuan Army, a crushing defeat is certain. Even attacking Naxi County will be nigh impossible for this motley crowd.” Wei Fufeng judged coolly.

He knew there would be no time to reform the army.

...

Naxi and Hejiang counties lay south of the great river; Luzhou city was north of it. Thus, Wei Fufeng’s thirty thousand marched north of the river, advancing toward Yuzhou.

After receiving the garrison commanders’ replies, Wei Fufeng secretly ordered ten thousand troops to cross the river at the rear.

This rearguard of ten thousand was largely composed of refugees, led by adjutants and company commanders hailing from Jingnan and Huainan. The commanding officer was Li Chengang, one of Wei Fufeng’s original five personal guards.

As dusk approached, Wei Fufeng received word that the ten thousand had successfully crossed the great river. With relief, he ordered three thousand troops, together with Prefect An Ran’s close associates, to return to Luzhou city and take control, strictly forbidding any harm to the powerful Gao clan.

The main army encamped on the road, drawing near Jiangjin county, close to Yuzhou.

In truth, Luzhou and Yuzhou were neighbors; from Luzhou to Bazhou, the seat of Yuzhou, only Jiangjin lay between them, a distance of a few hundred li, a five or six day march.

Within the command tent, Wei Fufeng conversed with Old Feng.

Old Feng said, “Young master, you ordered the Gao clan to be spared—do you have some purpose?”

Wei Fufeng nodded. “The Gao clan is unlike the Zhao. The Zhaos are outsiders; the Gaos are a long-standing official family of Luzhou. To destroy them would provoke the people’s resentment.”

“Yet, young master, the Gao clan wields great influence. If we spare them, they may turn on us,” Old Feng cautioned.

“We’ll spare the family, not their retainers. I’ll confiscate the Gao lands and distribute them to the soldiers,” Wei Fufeng replied.

Old Feng nodded, “You mean to win their loyalty by rewarding military service with land.”

“Without tangible reward, how could their hearts be mine? After exterminating the Zhao and Luo clans, the land will be divided at once,” Wei Fufeng murmured.

Old Feng nodded again. “Those who crossed the river should succeed.”

Wei Fufeng shook his head. “Let’s hope Li Chengang can strike first. The two garrison commanders are unpredictable; they might turn on us at the last moment.”

“Would they dare defy the authority of the Eastern Sichuan Military Governor?” Old Feng whispered doubtfully.

“They’ve long been courted by the clans of Luzhou, perhaps very close indeed; we can only hope their greed for spoils outweighs any loyalty to the clans,” Wei Fufeng said quietly.

Old Feng nodded. “Our troops are unreliable; to take the cities, we must rely on the two garrison commanders.”

Wei Fufeng agreed, then asked, “Old Feng, do you think our ten thousand could defeat the two thousand garrison troops?”

Old Feng shook his head. “Defeat is more likely. Our force lacks cohesion, and is poorly equipped. The border garrisons are mostly seasoned and valiant.”

“If we lose, we’ll leave Luzhou at once,” Wei Fufeng decided.

Old Feng was taken aback. “Does your preemptive strike mean you’ve ordered them killed?”

Wei Fufeng nodded. “If those two thousand cannot be eliminated quickly, they’ll become our nightmare.”

...

Crossing the great river at Luzhou was no easy task—only by ferrying boatloads could it be done. Before the army set out, Prefect An Ran had, under the pretext of a waterborne campaign, gathered dozens of boats large and small.

Once Wei Fufeng’s order arrived, Commander Li Chengang gave the command to cross. The vanguard, upon landing south of the river, fanned out along the border, detaining and bringing back everyone they encountered.

The ten thousand crossed smoothly, and, according to the distance, Li Chengang led his troops to strike at Naxi County.

He did not split his forces, but followed Wei Fufeng’s instructions: deal with each target one by one, the most important being the garrison troops.

At dusk, with lanterns just lit, Li Chengang arrived before Naxi County. From afar, under the cover of night, he saw at once that the city would be difficult to take—five-meter-high stone walls, a moat ten meters wide, and many armored soldiers visible atop the battlements.

Just then, a subordinate brought forth an armored officer. The man, with a bristling beard, leopard eyes, and a hooked nose, strode forward with arrogant confidence, and when he came near, boldly looked Li Chengang up and down.

“May I ask if the Chief Defender of Southern Sichuan is here?” the officer asked, arching a brow.

“The Chief Defender has led the main force to Hejiang; I am here by his command to attack Naxi. Are you General Tong?” Li Chengang replied amiably.

“Oh, I am a company commander, sent to liaise with you. My commanding officer is already within the city, waiting for your arrival,” the officer said, raising his brows.

Li Chengang nodded. “Very well. The Chief Defender has ordered that upon entering the city, only grain is to be collected, after which the troops will withdraw and leave the city to General Tong. General Tong must await the orders of the Eastern Sichuan Military Governor.”

The officer hesitated, then nodded. “All right, I’ll seize the gate. You prepare to enter.”

“Thank you,” Li Chengang said, bowing. The officer turned and strode off toward the gate.

Li Chengang’s gaze grew cold as he watched the officer’s back, then he turned and instructed, “As soon as the gate opens, shoot him dead.”

“Why not wait until we’re inside?” asked Wang Dahai beside him.

“This is Tong Ge, the garrison commander of Xingwen County. The lord especially told me to confirm his identity with the courier, and I’ve checked his appearance,” Li Chengang replied.

“He’s bold indeed,” Wang Dahai remarked in surprise, then went to gather four other stout men, each armed with a military crossbow.

Li Chengang led his troops after the officer, step by step approaching the city. As they reached the moat, the officer shouted up, “Open the gate!”

The soldiers atop the wall obediently lowered the drawbridge and swung open the city gates.