Chapter 36: Fallen Brothers, All My Own Kin

Page 1 of 3

On the fourth day of the tenth month in the eleventh year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming dynasty, at the beginning of the Hour of Shen, the cold winds of late autumn whipped through the air, carrying silver-white snowflakes that filled the sky.

At Mafang Village, a dirt road from the western entrance ran southwest along a slope, stretching for a hundred yards to an abandoned stable. Beside the stable lay a broad, open patch of ground.

A dark mass of people knelt in the snow—nearly fifteen hundred of them, it seemed. There were old and young, sturdy men and women, and even ranks of armored soldiers kneeling on one knee. Their cloaks billowed in the falling snow, like a red dragon twisting through the storm.

Zhang Cheng no longer looked toward the sky. His gentle gaze swept over the people kneeling before him. What kind souls they were. Why had fate forced them to endure such suffering?

“Everyone, rise.”

Zhang Cheng slowly waved his right hand and spoke in a deep voice.

The burly man lifted his head and met Zhang Cheng’s gentle gaze. He could not help but bow his head and bang it against the ground three more times before standing up.

In a muffled voice, he said, “This life of mine, Shizhuzhi’s life, belongs to the General.”

“Good heavens, he’s half a head taller than I am!” Zhang Cheng thought as he studied the man.

Chen Zhong, commander of his personal guards, also rose. Nearby, Chen Zheng, Hu Dake, Zhang Guangda, Wu Zhizhong, and the others stood one after another, followed by all the soldiers under their command.

Yet the three groups of refugees remained kneeling, their eyes still fixed piteously upon Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng walked over and stopped three paces before an old man.

“Elder, please rise,” he said solemnly.

A somewhat burly old man stood up. His dark red-black hands, stained with blood, were clasped before his chest. In a weathered voice, he said, “This old man is Shitiegen, that fellow Shizhuzhi’s father. I am the horseshoe smith of Mafang—”

Zhang Cheng raised a hand to stop him from continuing, then called loudly to the refugees, “Everyone, rise. I will find a way to protect you all.”

The refugees turned to look at one another. Again, it was the old man Shitiegen who turned around and shouted, “Fellow villagers, get up! The General has given us his word. All of you, get up!”

At his urging, the refugees helped one another to their feet. Once standing, they pressed closer together to resist the icy wind and snow.

Zhang Cheng said to the old man, “Elder, wait here for me a moment.”

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and instructed Chen Zhong, “Gather every officer of company commander or higher rank. Find a larger building near the western entrance of the village. I have something to say.”

Chen Zhong answered and hurried off with several guards to deliver the order.

Zhang Cheng glanced at the refugees gathered in three separate groups, then turned to the guards beside him.

“Take some men to tear down wooden stakes and build fires. Give our fellow villagers some warmth.”

Once he had made these arrangements, Zhang Cheng turned and headed straight for the western entrance of Mafang Village. The officers under his command followed one after another, while the soldiers ahead quickly parted to make way for him.

…

More than twenty paces south of Mafang Village’s western entrance stood a dilapidated courtyard house. Though spacious, it could barely keep out the wind and snow. A group of military officers had gathered inside.

“In this campaign, after several fierce clashes and ambushes along the main road, at Liulin, the western entrance of the village, the stable, and the southern and northern parts of the village, we took one hundred and thirty-one Tartar heads and captured forty-two living Tartars. Many of the prisoners are wounded.”

Chen Zhong loudly announced the tally of their gains.

Page 2 of 3

A broken chair had been placed against the wall in the center of the ruined house, with a cloak spread over it. Zhang Cheng sat upon it, while Chen Zhong stood at his side one step away.

When Chen Zhong announced that the number of Tartars killed and captured exceeded one hundred and seventy, Chen Zheng and the other three company commanders, along with their junior officers, began whispering among themselves.

“Continue,” Zhang Cheng said quietly.

“In this battle, our forces seized a total of two hundred and thirty-five horses and mules: eighty-nine warhorses, one hundred and forty-six pack animals, and eleven wounded horses. Some wounded horses also remain in the northern willow grove and along the main road.”

Chen Zhong continued his report.

When Zhang Cheng said nothing, Chen Zhong went on.

“We also captured sixteen carts. After inspection, they appear to contain more than three thousand two hundred taels of silver, over two hundred taels of gold, and nearly one hundred and twenty shi of rice, flour, beans, and fodder. There are also bolts of cloth, tents, and various other goods. In addition, we rescued eight hundred and seventy-three refugees who had been carried off by the Tartars.”

Chen Zheng and the others were shaken once more. This time, however, their astonishment showed only in their expressions and exchanged glances; none of them whispered among themselves.

Zhang Cheng surveyed everyone present. He approved of the performance of his company commanders, junior officers, and squad leaders in today’s battle. Yet what he needed even more now was their loyalty. That would be crucial to everything he intended to accomplish in the future.

He coughed once. When all eyes had turned toward him, he began.

“Today’s great victory was achieved entirely through your courage. I am deeply gratified.”

After speaking, Zhang Cheng looked around at the officers in the room. Seeing the delight on many of their faces, he asked Chen Zhong, “What are the casualties among our men?”

Chen Zhong hesitated briefly before replying, his voice touched with sorrow.

“Twelve soldiers were killed in action today, and thirty-four were wounded. Several are seriously injured, including Liu Quan, company commander of the Left Wing, and the squad leaders Baishanzi and Sun Dashan, along with several other officers.”

Everyone in the room fell silent. Zhang Guangda even shed several tears, for most of the lower-ranking officers among the casualties belonged to his own command.

Zhang Cheng looked over them all. After a long while, he finally spoke in a voice heavy with grief.

“Though our gains are considerable, we too have suffered losses. It is said that war is a deadly business and the battlefield a perilous place. How could there be no casualties? Yet every soldier under my command is my brother. I grieve for them from the depths of my heart.”

When he finished speaking, Zhang Cheng truly let several tears fall. His words moved the officers in the room. Even those whose own units had suffered few or no casualties could not help but feel sorrow; after all, they had shared the same ranks and worn the same uniform. Several men who had been close to the fighting began to sob softly.

Zhang Cheng wiped away the tears in his eyes, then continued in a quiet yet commanding voice.

“The brothers who fell today were our brothers in truth. Their parents are our parents; their brothers and sisters are our brothers and sisters. From this day onward, whenever one of our brothers falls in battle, his family shall be treated as our own.”

Every officer in the room dropped to one knee, clasped his hands in salute, and cried out in unison, “Well said!”

Zhang Cheng waved for them to rise, then continued.

“What I have just said must be conveyed to every soldier, so that all may know it.”

Once again, everyone clasped his hands and answered together, “Yes!”

Zhang Cheng nodded before continuing.

“After returning to camp today, each of you must find a clerk and have him record everything that happened in this battle. It must be detailed, with nothing concealed, so that we may later identify our shortcomings and correct them. We must learn from today’s mistakes and make them lessons for the future.”

Some of the officers seemed to understand him, while others appeared only half-aware of his meaning. A few lowered their heads in thought; others turned aside and glanced at their companions.

Zhang Cheng knew that some matters could not be understood at once. After all, they had never experienced such things before. In the past, victory meant celebrating and receiving rewards. Why should they now write reports and speak of using today’s mistakes as lessons for the future?

He coughed twice more, gathering everyone’s attention again before speaking.

“Battles are bound to have winners and losers. Whether today brought victory or defeat, we must know where we won and where we lost. Only then can we grow wiser with every battle. The more victories we win, the fewer of our brothers will die.”

Zhang Cheng looked at the men before him. He needed them to mature. Regardless of who among them would still be following him after the coming battle at Julu, there were certain things he had to begin doing now—for there was not much time left.

These simpler words were understood by nearly everyone. Most lowered their heads in thought. Only a few men with strong limbs and simple minds still failed to grasp the point.

Perhaps because he was older and had seen more of the world, Wu Zhizhong, commander of the Right Wing, was the first to speak.

“General, now that you put it that way, I understand. I’ll find the clerk as soon as we return to camp.”

Page 3 of 3

So it was with everything: the power of example was forever immense.

Once someone had taken the lead, everyone in the room eagerly agreed, afraid of falling behind. Even those who plainly had not yet fully understood were quick to echo the others.

Whatever the case, accomplishing this much today was no easy matter. The limitations of the age had to be taken into account; everything would require time.

And if there truly was not enough time, then they would borrow another five hundred years from Heaven!

Zhang Cheng spoke again in a deep voice.

“That concludes today’s business. Now I will assign our next actions.”

Everyone gathered their full attention, preparing to receive their orders.

“Left Wing company commander Huang Daguang, take two carts to Liulin. After joining Yang Chun, you will assume command and return to camp at once. Left Wing company commander Yu Jin, take one cart directly to the main road. Join the second squad of the First Company at the forward post, then return to camp together.”

“Yes!”

The two men dropped to one knee, clasped their hands, and loudly acknowledged the orders.

Zhang Cheng turned his gaze toward the several wing commanders and spoke solemnly.

“Wu Zhizhong of the Right Wing, take your men to the pontoon bridge. Watch closely for movement across the Yu River. Await my orders before taking further action.

“Zhang Guangda of the Left Wing, once the men here at Mafang have completed their work and set out, send someone to the southern pontoon bridge and inform Wu Zhizhong of the Right Wing. Your two units will cover the retreat. Remember, do not spread the mounted scouts too thin. Take care in everything.

“Chen Zheng of the Forward Wing and Hu Dake of the Rear Wing, your two units will be responsible for guarding the captured supplies and prisoners, as well as establishing an outer perimeter around the refugee columns. Spread your men out and deploy them by squad, forming a defensive cordon around the refugees.”

The four wing commanders remained where they stood, clasping their hands as they accepted the orders.

Zhang Cheng nodded, then continued.

“First Company commander Fang Han, your unit will escort the carts. Rear Wing company commander Li Damu, your unit will escort the horses and mules. Rear Wing company commander He Kuan, your unit will guard the refugees.

“Transfer as many of the captured supplies as possible onto the spare pack animals. Use the freed carts to transport the Tartar heads, the wounded, and the elderly and infirm among the refugees.”

“Yes!”

The three men likewise dropped to one knee, clasped their hands, and accepted the orders.

After watching them rise, Zhang Cheng continued.

“One more matter. Apart from the Right Wing and the two units commanded by Huang Daguang and Yu Jin, all remaining units are to sort the captured supplies immediately. Strip the Tartars of their armor, load it onto the carts, and bring it back. Distribute their clothing among the elderly, infirm, and women among the refugees to protect them from the cold. Move the Tartar corpses to the western entrance of Mafang and arrange them in neat rows.”

At this, Zhang Cheng paused briefly. His stern gaze swept across everyone present. Only after a long moment did he continue.

“As for the captured Tartars, if any are grievously wounded, take only their heads and dispose of the bodies as ordered before. Keep only those with minor wounds alive. Once we return to camp, hand them over to Yang, the Military Commissioner, who will petition the Governor-General for a decision.”

All the officers in the room replied in ringing voices, “We shall obey the General’s command!”

Mafang Village suddenly sprang into a frenzy of activity. People hurried about everywhere, and blood stained the western entrance red. A crimson stream wound through the ruts in the road and flowed toward the low ground.

Zhang Cheng stood atop a mound of earth and watched it all—watched the heads of the invaders tumble one after another onto the ground.

He felt an incomparable rush of satisfaction, a wild and unrestrained exhilaration.