Chapter 43: Complete Army Reorganization

At the Xiangshan Grand Camp, inside Wang Lanping's tent, three days after the execution of Li Zhi.

Wang Lanping, who had just lain down for a brief nap, was awakened by Song Dali and Song Xian, who rushed in after lifting the tent curtain.

Initially, upon lifting the curtain and seeing Governor Wang resting, Song Dali hurriedly gestured for Song Xian to tread lightly, signaling him to let Wang sleep a bit longer. There had been too many matters to handle these past few days. Executing Li Zhi served as a warning to the others, completely subjugating the Three Thousand Elite Camp and deterring the commanders of the other thirteen camps from harboring any rebellious intentions. It made them understand clearly: they could either submit to the unified command of the Governor, or be executed and branded as rebels. In any case, nominal submission while secretly retaining independent military power would no longer be tolerated.

Naturally, the thirteen camps were not so foolish as to openly defy this. Yet, lamentably, these men lacked unity. Some knew that handing over their military power might result in a fate worse than Li Zhi's, but they were utterly helpless. No one knew who among the thirteen camps was secretly colluding with Governor Wang. In particular, the Regional Commander of the Zhenjiang Naval Fleet, Zheng Hongkui, was the first to step forward after Li Zhi's death, declaring that the naval fleet's command was being returned to the Nanjing Defense Directorate. Ma Cheng of the Five-Army Camp followed suit immediately afterward, throwing the hesitant others into deep panic.

Having secured the full support of Zheng Hongkui, Ma Cheng, and the Three Thousand Elite Camp, Wang Lanping's confidence soared. Over the past few days, he had devoted himself entirely to absorbing the remaining camps. His attitude was unambiguous: as long as the commanders of various units obeyed the dispatches of the Nanjing Defense Directorate, their status and positions would remain completely unchanged, and actual tactical command would still rest in their own hands; however, the authority to mobilize troops would now belong to the Nanjing Defense Headquarters. Under this arrangement, bloodshed akin to Li Zhi's would never happen again.

The commanders placed almost no trust in such guarantees and promises. To hold a nominal general's title without the power to mobilize troops was tantamount to being a commander in name only—Governor Wang could have them killed whenever he pleased. Yet, for the present, no alternative course of action existed.

Ever since Li Zhi's execution, all the commanders had been invited by Wang Lanping into the central command tent. Under the guise of consultation, they were effectively placed under house arrest and coerced. Outside the central command tent, the Five-Army Camp was positioned to the right, the Three Thousand Elite Camp to the left, and Zheng Hongkui's five hundred warships had turned their cannons to aim directly at the Xiangshan Grand Camp. Two hundred of Wang Lanping's most loyal elite soldiers from the Vanguard Camp surrounded the central command tent impenetrably, blades unsheathed and arrows nocked on bowstrings. Until a formal resolution was reached, not a single person was permitted to leave the tent.

Meanwhile, the troops under these commanders were stationed in their respective camps, completely unaware of the drama unfolding within the central command tent. They only sensed that a major event was underway, but in the absence of their commanding officers, no one dared to act without authorization, leaving them to wait in anxious suspense. Some pondered leading troops to storm the central tent, but the cautionary tale of the Three Thousand Elite Camp quickly extinguished such thoughts.

For three days and three nights, eating, drinking, relieving themselves, and sleeping right where they sat, the commanders endured an ordeal akin to imprisonment. They were starved, exhausted, and terrified. Eventually, some began to compromise. Continuing this stalemate was pointless; this fellow Wang Lanping was staking his life on the matter, and they saw no reason to throw away their own lives for it. Besides, tactical command still remained in their own hands, meaning they could mutiny again at any moment. The bond with their subordinates had been forged through years of life-and-death struggle, far surpassing the value of a mere paper decree of military authority. Consequently, one after another, the commanders handed over their tally tallies in exchange for their freedom.

Hearing footsteps, Wang Lanping hurriedly rose from the couch. Song Dali walked over with a cheerful smile, helped him adjust his robes, and said, "My Lord, wonderful news!"

Wang Lanping could read it right off his face. For three days, everyone had been walking on thin ice, and not a single brow had been unfurled until now.

Holding a brocade box, Song Xian approached Wang Lanping and smiled, "Congratulations, Governor! The remaining twelve tally tokens are all right here. Please inspect them, General."

Wang Lanping yawned and glanced casually at them. This outcome had been expected sooner or later. If these commanders had wanted to rebel, they would have seized the moment when Li Zhi died; dragging their feet until now was merely a sign of their reluctance.

"Hmph, a bunch of stubborn fools who won't shed tears until they see their own coffins. If they knew it would come to this, why put themselves through this suffering? Dali, fetch my battle armor; I'm going to meet with them." The heavy stone in Wang Lanping's heart finally fell to the ground. For these past few days, he had been unable to eat or sleep in peace, faring no better than those trapped in the central command tent.

Song Dali fetched the armor, dressing him while saying, "My Lord, now that we've collected the military authority from these commanders, what is our next step? Are we heading up the river to join forces with the Hezong Regional Commander to launch a pincer attack against Li Laiheng's rebel forces and retake Anqing?"

Wang Lanping stretched out his arms and replied, "It's not that simple. These are the garrison forces of the capital; without an imperial edict from the Emperor, we cannot go anywhere. Furthermore, collecting their military authority does not mean the combat effectiveness of these troops will instantly skyrocket. Our previous minor victory beneath the walls of Huaining was a matter of luck and the courage born of standing on the brink of death—our numbers were small, but our hearts were united. These sixty thousand troops were at each other's throats just days ago, each harboring their own agendas. Once they hit the battlefield, the moment they suffer a minor defeat, the entire army will collapse like a crumbling mountain. By then, all the effort we've put in today will have been in vain."

Song Dali secured the armor on Wang Lanping's body, stepped back to take a look, and said, "Quite right, quite right! My Lord has always been meticulous and never fights an unprepared battle."

Wang Lanping turned his head to look at him and chuckled, "Well, look at you! You've even learned how to flatter people now?"

Song Dali flushed with embarrassment and gave an awkward laugh.

Wang Lanping let out a soft hum, turned to Song Xian, and asked, "Song Xian, does this dragon robe suit you?"

Not only had Song Xian survived a brush with death, but he had also received such immense grace and been promoted to deputy commander of the Three Thousand Elite Camp. This act of patronage was something he would engrave in his heart for the rest of his life. He bowed low at the waist and said, "This subordinate will never dare forget the Governor's grace of recognizing and employing talent."

Wang Lanping nodded and said, "That Li Zhi was once your commander. Do you feel his death was unjust? Rest assured, speak the honest truth; I will not blame you."

Song Xian hesitated for a moment, then spoke with a solemn expression, "Replying to the Governor, if this subordinate may be so bold: although General Li's crimes were unpardonable, I followed him for over a decade, and he treated me well. If this subordinate claimed to feel no gratitude toward him at all, that would be the behavior of a petty person."

Hearing this, Song Dali's face darkened. Lowering his voice, he snapped, "Song Xian, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Wang Lanping, however, burst into laughter and tapped the back of his hand against Song Dali's chest. "What's this? Come now, Song Dali, listen to that! That is what you call true honesty; learn a lesson from him." He then placed a hand on Song Xian's shoulder and continued, "Well spoken, Song Xian. To completely forget Li Zhi would make you devoid of conscience, but wishing to return to Li Zhi's era would be irrational."

Song Xian hastily dropped to his knees. "No, Governor! This subordinate has no such intention. From this day forth, Song Xian will follow wherever the Governor's horse leads, with absolute loyalty and no second thoughts."

Moved by Song Xian's integrity and candor, Wang Lanping firmly believed in his loyalty. Reaching out, he helped him up and said gently, "I believe you. Although the Three Thousand Elite Camp is nominally under Song Dali's jurisdiction, it ultimately relies on you. You and I both know that you share years of bonds with them, and you alone understand best how to train cavalry. Work hard and forge an iron-willed army for me that moves like the wind. Do a good job, and in the future, I will place all the cavalry of the entire army under your command."

Song Xian nodded with deep gratitude, resembling the aging veteran Huang Zhong who finally met an enlightened master in his twilight years, and earnestly vowed, "This subordinate obeys your command!"

"Very well. Issue my military order: beat the drums and summon the commanders to the tent."

After Song Xian departed, Song Dali retrieved Wang Lanping's sword and fastened it around his waist. "My Lord, do you truly trust Song Xian so completely?"

"He is a man of honor and loyalty. Every thought he has is written plain as day across his face—unlike you, who picked up flattery in just a few days. You need to break that habit."

Song Dali flashed a wide grin. "Well... that's only because it's you, My Lord. I wouldn't even bother with anyone else."

"You glib talker!" Wang Lanping straightened his attire, preparing to step out of the tent, but paused after a few steps and asked, "By the way, have the people I sent to Anqing to inquire about my mother, Yunniang's family, and that Li Dingguo returned with any news?"

Song Dali shook his head with a troubled expression. "Several parties have returned empty-handed. But My Lord, rest assured—the Grand Lady is blessed with great fortune and will be protected by the heavens; she will come to no harm. In a few more days, there will surely be news."

Wang Lanping nodded, as if comforting himself. His mother had played the roles of both father and mother all her life, raising him through countless hardships without ever enjoying a single day of comfort, only to be separated from him amid the chaos of war. Now that he was a marquess, his mother was nowhere to be found just as he wished to care for her in her old age. Wang Lanping felt a deep sense of self-reproach. And then there was Yunniang, his childhood sweetheart who harbored a steadfast devotion to him, serving his mother like a daughter all these years—how could he ever repay such profound debt?

Song Dali added, "My Lord, in my view, rather than searching like finding a needle in a haystack, it would be better to issue a proclamation in your name as a marquess, notifying all prefectures across the realm. Once the old lady sees it, she will surely come forward, and local officials will undoubtedly provide respectful escort all along the way."

Wang Lanping shook his head. "I currently have too many enemies, particularly the Four镇 of Jiangbei, Ma Shiying, and these camp commanders, who are just aching to find my weakness. Making such a public spectacle would only put her in greater danger. Keep searching in secret for now, and don't draw attention to yourself. Oh, and the task I gave you last time to inquire about the family of Liu Zeqing, the Regional Commander of Huai'an—have you figured out their whereabouts?"

"That has already been ascertained. When major generals are away garrisoning the borders, their families are typically kept in the interior under constant imperial surveillance. I spent some silver to find out from a palace eunuch that the twenty-eight members of the Liu family were relocated from Shandong to Hangzhou city late last year. We've had brothers stationed there keeping watch ever since."

Wang Lanping smiled knowingly. "Good. Secretly dispatch men to escort his entire family to a location near the Huai'an Regional Commander's residence. This must be handled with the utmost secrecy so that Liu Zeqing remains unaware. Bring them over in the... in the name of the Emperor. This matter must be completed within ten days."

"Understood, I shall issue the instructions immediately."

"Good. Accompany me to the command tent now. This time, we will bring the entire capital garrison under our complete control, leaving them no room for maneuver."

The commanding general ascended the tent, gathering supreme power over life and death into his own hands. His military orders were as lofty and absolute as the decrees of the Emperor.

As soon as Wang Lanping strode into the central command tent, the commanders hastily stood up. Terrified of what might happen next, they stood with cupped hands, trembling with anxiety.

Amid the rolling, stirring rhythm of the war drums, Wang Lanping strode toward the commander's desk. Sweeping his gaze across the commanders, he stood with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, an air of supreme arrogance radiating from his features.

"Greetings, Governor!" The commanders stood and knelt in reluctant obeisance.

"Be seated, gentlemen. As this is my first time presiding over the camp assembly, I have only one matter to discuss." Wang Lanping seated himself with steady composure. He no longer needed to maintain a benevolent facade toward these men. The Qing forces were currently regrouping in Beijing and could march south to invade the south at any moment, while the Southern Ming regime remained scattered like loose sand, each faction pursuing its own agenda. To pacify all directions in a short period, thunderous methods were imperative.

Wang Lanping continued, "Since you all trust this governor enough to surrender your military tallies to me, I shall act in accordance with my position and do my utmost to secure a bright future for everyone."

The commanders thought to themselves: *Who trusts you? Weren't you the one who forced our hands? If we didn't want to become outlaws, we would have hacked you to pieces long ago, and you wouldn't be standing here issuing commands.* A bright future? With the realm of the Great Ming reduced to its current state, what future was there to speak of? They were merely drifting along day by day. Very well, since they had surrendered their military power, at least they were free of official burdens and spared from daily terror.

Wang Lanping went on, "I know you must assume that my actions stem from selfish motives and a lust for power. But today I tell you—whether you believe it or not—I have no selfish ambitions. With the realm fallen to such a state, soldiers should have long since fallen upon their own swords to atone before the nation. You are all veteran commanders of many years, and may even be deemed loyal pillars of the Great Ming. Witnessing the nation reduced to this, do you feel no shame? Look across the prefectures of the realm: corrupt officials run rampant, the common people are driven to rebellion, and flocks of people surrender to the rebels and pledge allegiance to usurpers. Since the Tianqi reign, endless factional strife and power-hungry ministers have ruined the country and harmed the people. Now the Great Ming is reduced to merely this southern half, yet you gentlemen give no thought to serving the country, preferring instead to squabble like a heap of loose sand for petty gains. Most of you are generals deeply trusted by the late Emperor; looking at the state of affairs today, do you truly feel not a shred of shame?"

The commanders had not expected that the aggressive Governor would utter words of such profound emotional depth. Reflecting on their paths, they sighed with deep regret. Who wouldn't want to achieve great merit, be ennobled as a marquess, and become a general? Yet when the Chongzhen Emperor was on the throne, regional commanders with massive armies stood by watching powerlessly, and junior generals like themselves could do nothing to turn the tide. Now, with Ma Shiying monopolizing power in the Nanjing court and constantly scheming to annex the various units of the capital garrison, they had no choice but to build defenses everywhere just to preserve their own strength and secure their safety. Without these troops, they were nothing.

Wang Lanping stood up and pressed his hands downward, signaling the men to sit. "Among you are many descendants of loyal heroes. Think of what great men your ancestors were—to ensure the lasting peace and stability of the Great Ming, they did not hesitate to die on the battlefield. Cao Dingjiao, your uncle Cao Wenzhao was the premier warrior of the Great Ming, rendering monumental meritorious service through his campaigns across the east and west. Do you not wish to revive the former glory of your ancestors?"

Seated in the back row, Cao Dingjiao blushed and lowered his head.

Wang Lanping gave a light laugh, pacing back and forth. "I have no desire to waste breath on idle talk. I will simply tell you that I have only one objective: to recover our lost territories, down to our very last drop of blood. Whether we can achieve this, I ask you gentlemen to witness with your own eyes."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Cao Dingjiao sprang to his feet, dropped to his knees before the commander's desk, and, despite being a towering hero of seven feet, wept tears as he cupped his fists fiercely and declared, "Governor! This subordinate Cao Dingjiao, commander of the Iron Cavalry Camp, is willing to follow the General to the death. For the Great Ming, and for the former glory of our ancestors, I would die without regret!"

"This subordinate Fang Guo'an is ready at all times to obey the General's dispatches!"

"This subordinate Chen Wanliang is willing to slay the enemy, serve the country, and follow the Governor with absolute loyalty!"

As several hot-blooded young commanders were coaxed by Wang Lanping into pledging their allegiance, the remaining generals, realizing they were about to be isolated, hastily chimed in with their agreement.

Taking advantage of the moment everyone was bowing, Regional Commander of the Zhenjiang Naval Fleet Zheng Hongkui exchanged a knowing smile with Wang Lanping. The grand undertaking was accomplished.

Naturally, Wang Lanping could not completely trust that these men had all submitted out of sincere hearts. To prevent any commanders from maintaining illicit ties with their former subordinates, he spent five days completely reorganizing the entire sixty-thousand-strong army, leaving only three special units—the Three Thousand Light Cavalry Camp, the Naval Fleet, and the Iron Cavalry Camp—largely intact while restructuring all the rest.

He weeded out the old, weak, sick, and disabled from the army—numbering over eight thousand men—and transferred all of them to Taiping Prefecture, located seven hundred li away from Nanjing, separated from Huang Degong's Hezong defense line by only a single river. There, they were ordered to reclaim wasteland and farm the land to produce military provisions, laying the foundation for the future defense line along the Yangtze River.

He then completely intermixed approximately thirty thousand soldiers from the various units, reforming them into three major camps: the Dingyuan Camp commanded by Cao Dingjiao, the Huaiyuan Camp commanded by Fang Guo'an, and the Anyuan Camp commanded by Chen Wanliang. Each camp consisted of ten thousand men, subdivided into six primary branches: infantry, archers, cavalry, firearms units, engineering units, and reconnaissance units.

Zheng Hongkui's naval fleet remained untouched, while the Iron Cavalry Camp and the Three Thousand Elite Camp were merged into a single unit named the Vanguard Camp. Song Xian was placed in command of the light cavalry, and Song Dali commanded the heavy cavalry. Song Dali exercised supervisory authority over Song Xian, reporting directly to Wang Lanping. The original two hundred men of the Vanguard Camp continued to serve as the Governor's personal bodyguard unit.

From then on, the reorganization of the entire army was complete, collectively designated as the Great Ming Top Scholar Army. Fifty thousand troops gathered at the foot of Xiangshan Mountain, vastly boosting military might. The various camps stepped up their drills, whetting their blades for the impending trials ahead.

Gazing at the 'Wang' banner fluttering proudly in the wind before the central command tent, the commanders suppressed their surging elation and excitement. Such arrangements by Governor Wang, bypassing both the Cabinet and the Ministry of War, meant far more than merely reviving the Great Ming; the generals gathered here at Xiangshan today might well become the marquesses and prime ministers of tomorrow.