Marshal Shi Lacks Strategy

The summer heat was oppressive, and Gao Jie, lying shirtless inside his tent, was in a mood even worse than the weather outside. He had just received a report from his scouts stating that upon the city walls of Yangzhou, Xu Dingguo’s banner was fluttering proudly in the wind. That former subordinate and combat general of his was chatting and laughing cordially with Wang Lanping atop the ramparts. All these signs indicated that Xu Dingguo’s defection to Shi Kefa and Wang Lanping was an indisputable fact.

Now, what path should these tens of thousands of troops take? Gao Jie tossed and turned, unable to make up his mind. He had repeatedly sent men south to the Jiangnan region to consult Ma Shihui for a countermeasure, but all the scouts he dispatched had vanished like stones sinking into the ocean. Only then did he realize that with Wang Lanping’s force of thirty thousand stationed at Xiangshan, fifty li outside the city of Nanjing, how could any news from Nanjing possibly escape blockade? It was clear that Ma Shihui could no longer be relied upon.

Returning to the Huai River defense line was entirely out of the question. The two-hundred-thousand-strong army led by Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming had already reached the Huai River, closely followed by the Manchu Prince Yu Dodo’s hundred thousand Banner soldiers, who were rushing day and night. To return to the Fengyang encampment at this moment would be nothing less than walking straight into the jaws of death.

Gao Jie then considered leading his massive army to join Liu Liangzuo. When all was said and done, they were all Ming generals serving the same court. Now that his brothers were left with no way out, the wheel of fortune turned, and they ought to look after one another.

However, the messenger sent to Liu Liangzuo’s camp returned with the report that Liu Liangzuo had thrown the letter to the ground the moment he finished reading it, and had the messenger bring back a single message for Gao Jie: "The state has its laws, and a general has his authority. Each must guard his own post and must not lightly overstep."

This statement made it clear that Liu Liangzuo’s territory had no room for Gao Jie’s massive army. Indeed, let alone Liu Liangzuo, probably no single general would tolerate him. His reputation was utterly foul; his soldiers treated the common people like enemies and slaughtered them with the same ruthless efficiency as they did actual foes. Wherever they were stationed, they plundered. Such a man would be a plague wherever he went.

Gao Jie pondered over and over again. Suddenly, he sprang up from his bamboo couch, cast aside his cattail leaf fan, and roared toward the outside of the tent, "Damn it! I’ve had enough of this wretched life! If this place won't keep Your Lordship, Your Lordship will carve out his own path! Come here! Pass the order: gather the troops and whip the army into shape!"

A crowd of fully armored generals surged into the tent. Each of them had been harboring a pent-up fury. Out here in the desolate wilderness, the food was poor and sleep was restless—what right did they have to bar them from entering Yangzhou? Push them too far, and they would simply raise the banner of rebellion once more. It was not as though they had never rebelled before (Gao Jie’s force had originally been part of Li Zicheng’s rebel army before surrendering to the Ming).

"General, just give the word! Whatever you want to do, your brothers will follow you to the end!" the assembled generals declared in unison.

Gao Jie stretched out his arm. "Fetch my battle armor! What Shi Kefa—a hypocritical fraud who used such cunning tricks to lure away Xu Dingguo! And that Wang Lanping is no good either. Over the past few months, he has turned the entire south of the Great River upside down and made everyone fear for their lives. When a tiger doesn't roar, they really take me for a sick cat! Hear my command: the entire army shall break camp at once. With one single, vigorous push, we will take the city of Yangzhou first!"

Hearing this, the generals were overjoyed. "Wonderful! We brothers have been wanting to do this for a long time. At most, there are only about ten thousand defending troops in Yangzhou, while we command over twenty thousand fierce tigers and wolves. There is nothing to fear! Attack! At worst, we shall conquer a city and crown ourselves kings. We’ll even help Big Brother sit upon the dragon throne of this realm!"

Everyone burst into hearty, unrestrained laughter.

This played right into Gao Jie’s desires. Why hadn't he thought of this sooner? Right now, the Central Plains were embroiled in a contest for supremacy, and self-proclaimed kings and lords were everywhere. Even mountain bandits with a mere thousand followers dared to style themselves great emperors. With tens of thousands of elite troops in his hands, who would dare do anything to him if he declared himself king? Yes! Take Yangzhou, seize all the wealth within the city, recruit soldiers, and buy horses. Emperors took turns sitting on the throne, and today fortune would finally smile upon Gao Jie.

Gao Jie immediately ordered his generals to assemble in the command tent for a council of war. He commanded the entire army to rest well, eat their fill, conserve their strength, and launch a surprise attack on Yangzhou at the third watch tonight. Once Yangzhou was captured, rewards would be distributed according to merit, and he promised the generals that after the city fell, the army would be free to pillage for three consecutive days. Such a military order made the mouths of every single general water. Yangzhou was the wealthiest city for hundreds of li around; this time, they would surely harvest a massive fortune. Therefore, as soon as this command was issued, not a single person raised an objection, and all of them loudly vowed to hack Shi Kefa and Wang Lanping into a thousand pieces.

…………

Meanwhile, inside Yangzhou, Wang Lanping had not been idle during these days either. On one hand, he had to closely monitor Xu Dingguo’s movements, and on the other, he had to constantly keep abreast of news from Nanjing and his own Xiangshan garrison, keeping him spinning like a top.

Various reports flooded into Yangzhou like falling snowflakes. The Manchu Prince Ying, Ajige, leading an army of fifty thousand along with Wu Sangui’s eighty thousand Liaodong soldiers, was marching toward Xi'an; the Manchu Prince Yu, Dodo, commanding a force of one hundred thousand, intended to join forces with the two hundred thousand men of Kong and Geng in Xuzhou, with their spearheads pointing directly at the Jiangnan region. Furthermore, Li Zicheng had also set out from Shaanxi with several hundred thousand peasant soldiers; judging by his objective, he was likely planning to enter Huguang or the water towns of Jiangnan to evade Ajige’s encirclement. Rumors of battle reports coming from Sichuan suggested that the self-styled emperor Zhang Xianzhong had also dispatched his mobs of ragtag troops from all directions in an attempt to unify the realm. Additionally, the sixty thousand men under Li Laixiang (a subordinate of Li Zicheng) entrenched in Anqing Prefecture were casting covetous eyes upon Nanjing.

Wang Lanping suddenly felt that the remnant forces of the Ming dynasty were surrounded by enemies on all sides, and every single one of them harbored malicious intentions, aiming solely at seizing the empire. Even outside the city, there was Gao Jie flexing his muscles. For the Ming dynasty to have degenerated to a point where everyone shouted for its destruction, it could truly be said to be beyond saving.

Faced with such a chaotic and tangled situation, Shi Kefa was burning with anxiety. Yet, possessing neither real authority nor military power at the moment, he could only heave a long sigh and cast his gaze toward Wang Lanping.

In private, Shi Kefa personally visited Wang Lanping’s lodging, and the two of them closed the doors to discuss the great affairs of the realm. Shi Kefa lacked the capacity to untangle the present crisis, but he could tell that this top scholar Wang was extraordinary, especially given the swift and decisive methods with which he had seized control of the Nanjing garrison and the Huaian army in such a short time—a feat unmatched by anyone else.

Shi Kefa and Wang Lanping sat directly on the floor. Actually, Wang Lanping was well aware of Shi Kefa’s purpose in coming. This man worried deeply for the nation, yet he was far too benevolent and accommodating. His actions remained excessively wedded to neutrality, leaving room for every faction within the court, yet he never truly involved himself deeply with any of them. He deluded himself into thinking he could act as a peacemaker to harmonize everything and allow all parties to coexist peacefully. However, not everyone's heart was as upright as his; without extraordinary means, how could one accomplish tasks beyond the reach of ordinary men in such extraordinary times? Thus, although Shi Kefa held a supremely lofty official position, he had not achieved even the slightest tangible success.

His response to Gao Jie’s siege of the city was a case in point. He was terrified of both wolves and tigers ahead and behind: he wanted Gao Jie to contribute to the nation, yet he also expected Gao Jie to treat his soldiers like brothers, love the people like his own children, and harbor not the slightest trace of disrespect toward the imperial court. How could that ever be possible? In this world, anyone who acted with timid caution and submissive cowardice was destined to achieve nothing. Every truly talented individual possessed the confidence of holding their talent in high regard and looking down upon the world with the conviction that they were the strongest. Without such self-belief, how could great undertakings be accomplished?

Today, Wang Lanping intended to give Shi Kefa a thorough lesson and test whether this man could become his own right-hand man in the future.

Shi Kefa said, "General Wang, you must have heard the urgent reports from the various border passes?"

Wang Lanping replied, "I have caught wind of them. The future of the Ming is deeply worrisome."

Shi Kefa said with a bitter smile, "For the Ming to be reduced to such a state, what face do we ministers have to continue lingering in this world?"

"Why would Supervisor Shi utter such words?" Wang Lanping laughed instead. "It is precisely in such a critical juncture that you and I, as ministers, should ponder more on how to contribute to the country and sustain the Ming. How can you be so disheartened?"

Shi Kefa shook his head and said helplessly, "Disheartened? For the sake of the Ming, I would not hesitate to die. It is just that, as you can see, even Gao Jie outside the city is dissatisfied with me. I ask myself: I have not failed the former emperor, nor have I failed the Ming. It is merely that powerful ministers in the court collude, leaving no place for me to stand. I am loyal to the country, yet have no door through which to serve."

Wang Lanping said dismissively, "Since you harbor this sentiment, why not contend with those treacherous officials? Ma Shihui wields absolute authority in the court, yet you dare to feel angry but dare not speak out. The regional commanders of the four towns hold military power and plague the people, yet you let them be and indulge them time and time again."

Shi Kefa retorted, "Indulge them? I wanted to manage them, but I could not manage them, nor should I have managed them. The court has only just managed to settle down; it cannot afford to be thrown into chaos once more. If I were at odds with the Senior Grand Secretary, the political situation would become utterly unmanageable. As for the major regional commanders stationed abroad, every single one of them commands arrogant and unruly elite soldiers. To punish them would be to plunge our Ming realm into self-inflicted chaos. I could not do it, but you, General, have done it. That is why this old man admires you."

Wang Lanping said, "Preserving the overall situation is good, but you must realize that the overall situation is not necessarily always right. To speak somewhat disrespectfully, the Ming dynasty from top to bottom has rotted to the core at present. If you act as you do, before the Manchus even strike, we will perish by our own hands. I am not afraid of treading on taboos; today, it is just the two of us here, and I ask you this: can the Ming be saved?"

Hearing this, Shi Kefa’s expression changed drastically. He stood up in astonishment and cried, "You—what do you mean by that? What are you trying to do?"

Wang Lanping said, "Do not be alarmed, Lord Shi. Listen to me slowly. If we wish to reverse the decline of the Ming, we must shatter all of this entirely and rebuild an entirely brand-new Ming. Without destruction, there can be no construction. The likes of Ma Shihui are pests to society; keeping them is utterly useless."

Sweat beaded on Shi Kefa’s face, and he trembled as he said, "Could, could it be that you—you want to become a second Li Zicheng? Are you planning to rebel?"

Wang Lanping chuckled softly. "No, Lord Shi has misunderstood. I will never rebel against the Ming. However, under the current circumstances, the garrison troops in various regions act independently, military commands are uncoordinated, and the court’s decrees cannot mobilize them at all. Whether it is Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, or even if the Tartars arrive, the only thing on their minds is self-preservation—to preserve their own strength amidst a troubled world so they can sell themselves for a good price when the realm is eventually unified. Even worse are those ambitious scoundrels who proclaim themselves kings and emperors. If we wish to revitalize the Ming, we must cause all Ming officials, soldiers, and commoners to share a single heart and twist themselves into a single rope. Only then will there be a glimmer of vitality; this is what is meant by 'without destruction, there can be no construction.'"

Shi Kefa slowly nodded. "I understand this reasoning as well. But this old man is old and lacks the vigor of the General. Such a grand enterprise is beyond my physical capacity, and I can also see that only you can save the Ming. I cannot help you with anything; here in the city of Yangzhou, I can only guard the city and lay down my life in loyalty to the Emperor."

Wang Lanping never expected that even after laying the matter out this plainly, Shi Kefa would still maintain such a laissez-faire attitude. He hastily urged, "Lord Shi, among all the civil and military officials in the court, your reputation is the highest, and your disciples span the entire realm. If you and I join forces and raise our arms in a unified call, cleansing the universe will be within easy reach! How can you remain idle and do nothing in this tiny city of Yangzhou?"

It was not that Shi Kefa did not want to; rather, he did not dare. Wang Lanping had executed Li Zhi in Xiangshan, reorganized the Nanjing garrison, executed Liu Zeqing in Huaian, and covertly vied for power with Ma Shihui. Every single one of these actions had pushed him to the forefront of the storm, making him a target for everyone and threatening to erupt into a massive armed conflict among the Ming forces that would destroy the Great Wall from within. To do things, one still had to keep one's feet firmly on the ground and advance step by step. Wang Lanping’s resolute handling of affairs, which disregarded conventional rules, was something Shi Kefa felt he could neither learn nor accept. He was terribly afraid that he would end up creating a Cao Cao for the Ming dynasty.

Shi Kefa said, "The city of Yangzhou is the gateway to Nanjing and a vital stronghold on the northern river. How can you say I am doing nothing while guarding this place?"

Wang Lanping said, "Since the Elder Lord knows the importance of Yangzhou, pardon me for asking boldly: does Lord Shi understand military affairs?"

Shi Kefa nodded and said modestly, "I understand a thing or two."

"You understand 'a thing or two,' yet you dare to guard such a vital stronghold? There are ten thousand defending troops inside Yangzhou, thirty thousand Manchu troops are slaughtering their way down from the north, and fifty thousand Shun troops from the northwest also want to march on Nanjing. How do you plan to defend this city? Have you thought about it?"

Shi Kefa replied, "To fulfill my duty with absolute loyalty, fighting to the very last man."

Wang Lanping laughed. "And once everyone is dead, the city will be defended? Can't you think about how to bring the garrison troops outside Yangzhou under your own control to strengthen your own might?"

Shi Kefa glanced at this young man, wondering why today he felt as though he had come here merely to be lectured by him. He felt somewhat displeased. "Troops? There are plenty of them outside the city, but this old man has no authority to mobilize them."

Wang Lanping smiled faintly. "You didn't before, but after today, you will."

Shi Kefa was startled and hurriedly asked, "You—what have you done?" Wang Lanping’s killing intent was far too heavy; he himself had only wanted to preserve the peace of Yangzhou, make Gao Jie behave a little, and prevent any major disasters from erupting.

Wang Lanping smiled. "Once Gao Jie is dead, all thirty thousand of his men will fall under Supervisor Shi’s command. Doesn't that add a fresh, powerful force to Yangzhou?"

Shi Kefa cried in shock, "Gao Jie is dead? How—how is that possible? How did he die?"

Wang Lanping said, "He is not dead yet, but tonight shall be the hour of his death."

Shi Kefa panicked slightly. "You want to kill him? Didn't we agree that we would merely subvert Xu Dingguo and weaken Gao Jie’s strength? Aren't you afraid that doing this will cause Gao Jie’s army to mutiny? Can you control the situation when that happens?"

Wang Lanping said, "If he doesn't die, how can you absorb his troops? Do you honestly expect that lecturing him on grand righteousness will make him wholeheartedly follow you to jointly defend Yangzhou? That is a delusion! Speaking of chaos, in today's world, only amidst chaos can victory be seized."

Shi Kefa drew in several deep breaths. He had known from the start that this matter wouldn't be so simple; Wang Lanping had never harbored good intentions when he suddenly entered Yangzhou. It seemed his execution of Li Zhi and Liu Zeqing had been carried out through these exact same ruthless methods.

Shi Kefa flicked his sleeve. "If you want to kill Gao Jie, I neither approve nor support it. My Yangzhou garrison will never participate in the internal strife of the Ming forces, and you are not permitted to mobilize a single soldier of mine. Take care of yourself. Farewell!" In speaking thus, Shi Kefa was actually expressing another meaning as well: namely, however Wang Lanping wished to gather military power, Shi Kefa would turn a blind eye, neither opposing him nor assisting him. If he succeeded, the revitalization of the Ming would be within sight; if he failed and was killed by all the generals of the realm, Shi Kefa could still remain detached and preserve an army loyally devoted to the Ming.

With a flick of his sleeves, Shi Kefa strode away. Watching his retreating figure, Wang Lanping muttered in disappointment, "This man is not worth plotting with."

At that moment, Song Xian hurried over to report.

Speaking in a low voice, Song Xian said, "General, everything has been arranged, and the person has been brought back."

Wang Lanping nodded with a smile. "Good. Bring them here, and go invite General Xu Dingguo over."