Chapter 31: Chang Ten Thousand

Ma Xun tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. It was not just the sweltering heat, but the anxiety gnawing at his heart.

There was no accurate historical record of how Chang Yuchun actually died, making it difficult to prevent. He only knew that, barring any changes, Chang would pass away during this southern retreat, most likely right here in Liuhechuan. He did not know the exact date, but it had to be within these next few days.

"Xiejiafeng"—a sudden illness caused by removing armor after heavy exertion—was ruled out, as the troops were not currently wearing heavy armor while marching. Heart attack? Stroke? Some other cardiovascular disease? There were countless ailments that could cause sudden death, and Ma Xun did not even know if Chang Yuchun was ill to begin with. He could not simply run up to the general and act like a prophet; doing so would likely earn him a beating. Even as the Empress’s brother, one could not curse a man like that; it would be utterly uncouth.

After tossing and turning until the middle of the night, Ma Xun had just drifted off when he heard movement. He immediately sat up and, while dressing, asked, "Has General Chang’s side begun to move?"

He Da chuckled. "The sun rises early; it is time for the march. If the war were desperate, we might have to march with torches at night and sleep during the day." Night marches were difficult, but in an emergency, there would be no choice.

"Logically speaking," an anxious Ma Xun said, "with General Chang leading fifty thousand men, they surely cannot all leave the camp at once, right?"

"How would I know how the General arranges things? But by standard practice, the General’s central army won't be the first to leave," He Da explained. "The General won't likely set out until around nine in the morning."

The main army began preparing to move around four in the morning, but Chang Yuchun’s central guard would not depart until nine. This was understandable; fifty thousand men could not swarm out of camp all at once. They moved in segments. Even here in Liuhechuan, the entire force was not concentrated in one spot; units were scattered, some ahead and some behind, marching in sequence.

"Have someone go to General Chang's camp," Ma Xun ordered. "We are departing late anyway; I shall go to his camp to observe."

He Da went to make the arrangements without hesitation. He did not find this strange at all. The young brother-in-law of the Emperor was eager to learn, constantly asking about military strategy and wanting to study every aspect of warfare.

Just as the sky began to gray, He Da returned. "The General is ready for you, sir."

Accompanied by Liu Jing and Mu Ying, Ma Xun arrived at Chang Yuchun’s central camp. Chang was eating meat and said, "We slaughtered a few sheep. We captured plenty of cattle and sheep after breaking Kaiping; I brought quite a lot along with the army."

"It's not realistic to send it all back," Ma Xun said with a smile. "If I ever win a battle and have spoils, I’d keep them for myself first, too."

Chang Yuchun teased, "There are still some Tatar women in Kaiping. I haven't touched the ones with status. If you don't mind, you can find women there."

Ma Xun was at a loss for words. It was common knowledge that women did not accompany the army, but military discipline was not always perfect, especially after sacking a city.

He Da, never one to stay quiet, interjected, "General, the young master is still inexperienced. His brother-in-law is right here—how can you say such things!"

Chang Yuchun looked at Liu Jing, then turned to Ma Xun. "My little brother, you are truly disciplined. It was one thing when you were suffering in the past, but now that you are the Imperial brother-in-law, you don't even have a bed-warmer?"

Such confusion was natural. When Ma Xun was wandering, his only dream was to survive and be fed. But now, he was the brother-in-law of the Emperor and Empress, showered with their constant favor. No one would bat an eye if he took a maid or even a concubine. Zhu Yuanzhang strictly forbade officials from patronizing prostitutes, yet on the banks of the Qinhuai River, "great courtyards"—state-run brothels—still existed. The service industry of pleasure houses remained a market, as it had since ancient times.

Ma Xun laughed. "Perhaps I shall visit a pleasure house when I have the chance. I’ll go listen to the music; I hear some of the dancers are quite talented."

Chang Yuchun roared with laughter, though he seemed unable to offer any real advice. Liu Jing remained silent; there was a distinction between high-end pleasure houses and common brothels. Many refined scholars frequented the former not for carnal reasons, but for the dance and song.

Chang Yuchun wiped his mouth after his hearty meal. "We shall talk more when we return to the capital. For now, military matters are paramount." He continued his arrangements: "Your men can rest today. Wait until my rear guard has passed before you set out. The path ahead is difficult; it’s a mess of trampled mud and hoofprints."

These were special times, and everything was subordinate to the military. There was no time for a proper drinking session. Chang Yuchun wore a simple Taoist robe, notable only for his leg wrappings—standard attire for the march.

It was not "Xiejiafeng." Ma Xun was certain that the historical Chang Yuchun did not die of that. Only a few sentries were wearing armor in this heat; for anyone else, it would be sheer agony, and no army, no matter how disciplined, would do such a thing.

Chang Yuchun, a man who rose from farming and banditry to become a great general, possessed not only talent but a lifelong ambition and an unrelenting drive to learn. Even after a major victory, he was not arrogant. He had won too many battles for this one to feed his vanity. He continued to arrange the march, listening closely to reports from scouts and messengers, handling his duties with practiced ease.

No one succeeds by accident. Men like Chang Yuchun had talent and worked even harder. Twenty years of bloodshed and surviving a hundred battles—this was the "Chang the Hundred Thousand" of today.

"Don't worry, little brother," Chang Yuchun said, glancing back at Ma Xun to offer comfort. "The Yuan Tatars in Kaiping basically dare not provoke us. You only need to hold the fort until September, and you will return to the capital in triumph."

Ma Xun was honest. "I won't hide it from you, Brother Chang. I know my own limits. If I die, so be it, but if tens of thousands of soldiers suffer because of me, or if the Empress and the Crown Prince are implicated, I would be unforgivable."

Chang Yuchun laughed and analyzed the situation. "The Tatars have been terrified by me; they won't dare come here." He leaned in and whispered, "There are some who still harbor malice, but they are only small tribes. Let Mu Ying and the others wipe them out, and the military credit will all be yours."

Ma Xun felt a sudden tension. "Why not clean them out now, Brother Chang?"

"Small tribes of a few dozen or hundreds don't matter. My army is here for major warfare," Chang laughed. "You handle these small matters; the Emperor and Empress will be pleased to see you earn merit."

Ma Xun finally understood. Chang Yuchun was likely leaving these small tribes behind on purpose to provide Ma Xun with military glory. To have an elite field army at his disposal just to fight village bullies—was that not overkill?

He grumbled to himself, but he understood their kindness. Everyone was building his credentials so that he might one day be granted a noble title. Even if he could receive such honors without these deeds, having a legitimate track record was never a bad thing.

Chang Yuchun wiped his sweat. "I must depart now. You should return to your camp and rest."

"I have nothing to do for the moment," Ma Xun insisted. "I shall walk a stretch with you. In the capital, your wife has always taken care of me, and I am quite fond of Chang Mao and the others."

Chang Yuchun nodded with a smile. "Very well. Though we brothers have only just met, we are of one family. My wife and the Empress are close, and the Crown Prince is fond of my daughter. We are kin."

Ma Xun joked, "The Emperor betrothed me to the daughter of the Censor-in-Chief. I know many Huai-Xi men don't like the Zhejiang faction. But your wife and Wan'er have been a great help, calling my wife out to visit me every few days."

Chang Yuchun roared with laughter; it was all written clearly in their letters home. The young brother-in-law praised the Crown Prince and Wan'er as a perfect match, and he was always playing with the three Chang brothers, showing great affection.

Otherwise, a man like Chang Yuchun, even with his loyalty to Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying, would not have been so good to Ma Xun for no reason. Because Ma Xun loved and cared for Chang Yuchun’s family, Chang Yuchun would naturally look after him a hundred times over.