Volume Three: The Hero Falls Silent, The World Grows Old - 10: Liaonan I

Waking from a dream, the sky in the east had not yet turned pale.

The night slowly receded. In the dim, hazy light, heavy shadows of trees stretched across the courtyard and onto the window sill, motionless like pond weeds in water, so silent that one might suspect it was still a dream. From outside the chamber door came the occasional sound of scattered footsteps and the soft yawns of the guards on duty—human noises that lent a touch of vitality to the approaching dawn.

The latter half of the night had turned unexpectedly hot and stifling. Deng She had not slept well, waking several times as a procession of dreams played out: now Hong Jixun’s letter, now the fires of the battle to attack Shuangcheng, now a conversation with Guan Duo.

Most vexing of all, the bizarre and inexplicable nightmare from a few days ago returned to haunt him again, unvarying in its cycle: people were betraying him. The only difference was the hand that struck him down—sometimes it was Chen Hu, sometimes it was Wen Huaguo.

He lay with his eyes open, staring blankly for a while, trying his best to banish the nightmare from his mind. He watched the light slowly crawl up the window lattice as the early-rising servants began their work. The courtyard grew lively; the tree shadows shifted, birds began to call, guards exchanged shifts in hushed whispers, and the faint fragrance of dew-kissed flowers drifted on the cool morning breeze, stirring the blue curtains.

He surrendered himself to listening to the sounds of nature and the stirrings of men. Another clean, bright morning had arrived. He had witnessed and listened to the entire process, and although he could not truly forget the nightmare, he felt calm at this moment.

Peace, however, is always fleeting. Though he wished otherwise, he was like a spinning top struck by a whip—or rather, he had always been a top. First, he struggled to survive, then he contended with the Goryeo people, and now, facing Guan Duo, he had to struggle bitterly just to stay alive. Such days had lasted too long. "I am a little tired," he thought.

He was dancing on a tightrope, treading on thin ice.

His body was slick with sweat, half from the stifling heat and half from the maid curled against him. She was a gift from Guan Duo; since the banquet, Deng She had summoned her to sleep with him every night—partly to set Guan Duo’s mind at ease, and partly because he needed to relieve his own stress. She was clearly a sleepy creature, and Deng She almost always woke before her.

Deng She turned his head to look at her for a moment. She was young, and when awake, she spoke little, merely staring at you with wide, vacant eyes like a frightened little beast. When she slept, she was docile, and even when her arms or legs draped over him in her sleep, she moved with the lightness of a curled-up kitten.

She slept soundly, biting her finger in her slumber, her brow furrowed—perhaps, like Deng She, she was caught in some dream that denied her peace even in sleep. Her lips were beautiful, like orange segments, and they were delicious to suck on, carrying a faint, sweet taste.

She was a sleepy, rather incompetent maid, though this was understandable, for according to Guan Duo, she had once been the legitimate daughter of a high-ranking Han official in Shangdu. Yet, no one could deny that she was an excellent tool for stress relief, for she was willing to do whatever you asked of her. You could be as wanton as you pleased, teasing and playing with her, and she would accept any novelty.

She could tremble while offering no resistance; she accepted everything without reservation and provided responses that exceeded your expectations. She possessed a fresh, tender body, and she was like a human tool—yes, she could bring you immense satisfaction.

But Deng She felt no affection for her, for she was too much like a tool—devoid of hobbies, entirely closed off, with no way to truly reach her. The guards had reported more than once that Fang Buzhen had made contact with her many times. The contents of their conversations were unknown, but every time they met, Fang Buzhen would invariably head to the provincial government office afterward.

There was Fang Buzhen by day, and this maid by night. The omnipresent surveillance, the blatant surveillance, the inescapable surveillance—even if he did nothing, the pressure was real. Deng She wanted to kick her out, but thinking of Guan Duo, he forced himself to endure.

Deng She looked at her with a complex expression for a moment, carefully moved her smooth, bare legs aside, and rose, throwing on a robe. Today was his first day in office as the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Route Army besieging Shenyang; he could not be late.

His office was located in the provincial government building, adjacent to Guan Duo’s own.

Stepping into the morning light, Deng She left early and arrived at the provincial office. First, he paid his respects to Guan Duo, then was led to the office assigned to him. A number of subordinates had been allocated to him, including not only military officers but also civil officials from the Left and Right Bureaus. They had been waiting in the courtyard for a long time. Seeing their commander arrive, they scrambled into formation and knelt to pay their respects, addressing him no longer as "Superintendent" but as "Commander Deng."

Deng She returned the salute modestly and helped them up one by one.

He knew perfectly well that this "Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Route Army" was a load of nonsense. He was also very sensible and had long decided not to ask about public affairs, intending to be a nodding figurehead. But Guan Duo did not see it that way; even a facade had its degrees of authenticity. Not long after Deng She sat down in his inner chamber, two of Guan Duo’s advisors came in, carrying a thick stack of documents.

"What is this?"

"In reply to Commander Deng, this is intelligence regarding the Tatars in Shenyang. It includes the total number of garrison troops, grain reserves, cavalry and infantry counts, armaments, the population of the city, and the situation of the various Mongol tribes to the north. By order of Chief Administrator Guan, we ask Commander Deng to review these."

Guan Duo played the part well. Deng She learned a lesson: those who do great things, even when acting, do so with the utmost solemnity.

He nodded with a smile, accepted the documents, and said, "Thank you both for your hard work. Does the Chief Administrator have any other instructions?"

The advisors shook their heads and said, "That is all regarding the military situation in Shenyang. However, when Commander Deng paid his respects to Chief Administrator Guan earlier, you mentioned that the orders to mobilize the troops from Shuangcheng were already written. The Chief Administrator forgot to mention it at the time and asked us to tell you that there is no need to wait for Commander Zheng Sanbao; you may send the orders back to Shuangcheng first. If you feel that mobilizing ten thousand men at once is too strenuous, you may start with five thousand."

Deng She said, "In that case, I will dispatch the orders now." He smiled and added, "Attacking Liaonan is a duty to the sovereign. Even if we in Shuangcheng are short on men, we will never shirk our responsibility. Please assure the Chief Administrator that ten thousand men will be sent, not one fewer."

In the presence of the two advisors, he summoned Bi Qianniu, handed him the written mobilization orders, and instructed, "Send capable brothers to deliver this to Shuangcheng immediately." Bi Qianniu acknowledged the order and left. With nothing else to do, the advisors bowed and followed him out.

Guan Duo was quite generous; during the military council, in front of all the generals, he had proposed that the grain, rations, and equipment wear for these ten thousand men during the campaign would not need to be provided by Shuangcheng, but would be supplied by Liaoyang.

Deng She had generously declined, citing his desire to save the lord and his reluctance to increase the burden on Liaoyang. One had to know that Shenyang was not far from Liaoyang; even if Guan Duo’s words were sincere, the grain could not be transported to the banks of the Yalu River. No one was foolish enough to expose their supply lines under the eyes of the enemy.

With nothing else to occupy him, Deng She opened the files. A better understanding of Shenyang could only be beneficial; if not useful now, it might be later.

Like Liaoyang, Shenyang had a long history. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, because it was located in the east of the Nine Provinces, it was called Liaodong. During the Warring States period, it belonged to the State of Yan. When the Yan capital was captured by Qin, the King of Yan and Crown Prince Dan retreated to Liaodong and perished there. During the Qin and Han dynasties, it was part of the Liaodong Commandery.

Its military status was also significant, known as the "head of Liaoyang and the lips and teeth of Guangning." During the Tang Dynasty, the campaigns against Goguryeo repeatedly passed through this place.

However, it was situated in the desolate frontier, surrounded by barbarians, and did not develop rapidly. The original city walls were made of earth and wooden palisades. Later, the Liao dynasty relocated people there, and by the Jin dynasty, it was promoted to a major prefecture governing five counties. In the early Yuan period, under the ravages of years of war, the city walls were reduced to ruins. Most of the current fortifications were recent repairs.

Even so, it could not be underestimated. The importance of Shenyang lay not so much in the city itself, but in the Mongol tribes to its north. The Ningchang, Taining, Kaiyuan, and other routes north of Shenyang were all fiefs of the Mongol princes.

For example, the lord of the Ningchang route was of the Ikhires tribe; his descendant became a son-in-law of the imperial house and was enfeoffed as the Prince of Chang. Near the Taining route was the fief of Prince Ochigin, the youngest brother of Genghis Khan. During the rebellion of Nayan in the era of Kublai Khan, Nayan was the great-grandson of Ochigin. His brother, Tödö, did not join the rebellion and stayed in Taining with the remaining tribes, being enfeoffed as the Prince of Liao. Furthermore, the fiefs of the Uruut and Manghud tribes were also nearby. With so many tribes, one could see the sheer number of Mongols scattered throughout the region.

The current Prince of Liao was named Ajashiri, who, along with Naghachu, was garrisoned in Shenyang. Naghachu had originally been stationed in the south; several years ago, he was captured by Zhu Yuanzhang, who did not kill him but released him to return north. He was a grandson of Muqali, and since there were also fiefs for Muqali’s descendants in Liaodong, the Yuan court sent him there, finding a use for him.

Although he had been defeated by Zhu Yuanzhang, victory and defeat were common in war, and this did not mean he could not fight. As a descendant of a family that had served for generations, he commanded great prestige. Guan Duo had clashed with him once; it was not a large-scale engagement, and while Guan Duo had not suffered, he had not gained the upper hand either.

There were many troops in Shenyang. In that single city, there were two "Ten-Thousand Household" garrisons: one was the Eastern Route Mongol Ten-Thousand Household Office, and the other was the Goryeo-Jurchen-Han Ten-Thousand Household Office. The former was effectively the Tamachi army, under the direct control of the Secretariat and the Bureau of Military Affairs, while the latter was a local garrison under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Secretariat, though its administrative role outweighed its military one.

As for the combat effectiveness of the Tamachi army, it was generally not as high as the armies of Chaghan Temür or Bolod Temür, but it was not entirely weak either. Most troublesome was the fact that the Eastern Route Mongol Ten-Thousand Household Office included an artillery garrison, which possessed significant firepower.

Beyond these two offices, many private armies without official military registration had gathered in Shenyang. Some were local "Green Armies," and others were temporarily recruited "Qian-Tulu" (Pillage-Seeking) armies. The term "Qian-Tulu" meant exactly that: seeking loot. The government provided no rations, but allowed them to plunder; spurred on by the prospect of spoils, their combat power was quite formidable.

Added together, there were no fewer than thirty or forty thousand troops in and around Shenyang. If they truly poured out in full force to rescue Liaoxi, it would not be easy for the Red Turbans to block them. However, regardless of Hong Jixun’s conjectures or the countermeasures displayed by Guan Duo, no one, including Deng She, believed there was a high probability of a large-scale military mobilization.

He hoped their judgment was accurate.

Deng She spent the better part of the day reviewing the files. Seeing the day was still early, he felt it inappropriate to return to his residence. Having nothing else to do, he simply drew a topographical map, sketched out routes, and speculated on the tactics Guan Duo might employ, and how he should respond if Shenyang were to send out its army.

Just as he was deep in concentration, light footsteps sounded at the door. He looked up and saw Bi Qianniu walk in.

"What is it?"

"A messenger from General He Guangxiu, who is stationed outside the city, has arrived with something to report. He should have waited at the residence, but with the city gates closing early and the day turning late, he feared he wouldn't make it back, so he came here." Bi Qianniu replied.

He Guangxiu and Yang Wanhu were both illiterate. For minor matters, they could have a military scribe write on their behalf, but for important matters, they could only report orally. Deng She understood and ordered him to be brought in. Bi Qianniu was a man of middling ability, but he was diligent and conscientious; he never forgot any instruction, was loyal to his duty, and acted with caution. After bringing the messenger in, he tactfully exited to stand guard outside.

The messenger kowtowed and, with keen eyes, glanced left and right. Seeing that there was no one else in the hall, he spoke: "Reporting to the Great General, General He ordered me to convey this message: In strict accordance with your orders, the rotating troops have already entered the city and made contact with the Goryeo residents. In Liaoyang, the Goryeo residents are mostly Northerners, and our army is also largely composed of Northerners, many of whom are fellow countrymen.

"As for those we have made contact with, following your instructions, we have focused on the poor and the refugees. Your various acts of benevolence in Goryeo—the distribution of land, the recruitment of refugees and natives to return home with the promise of their original lands, aid in farming, and tax exemptions for a year—as well as the fact that the King of Goryeo has been forced to sue for peace under your military might—these things have all reached their ears, and everyone who hears them is moved."

"How many Goryeo people are in the city?"

"No fewer than ten thousand, with the poor and refugees making up the majority."

Ten thousand was not a massive number, and they certainly could not be relied upon in a critical moment, but they were better than nothing. Deng She said, "Very well. Tell He Guangxiu to give the rotating Goryeo soldiers more silver and continue the contacts... and, hmm, don't make it too obvious. Don't be hasty; take it slow."

The messenger said, "Please rest assured, Great General. The Goryeo people have no status in the city, and few understand the Han language. General He sends at most twenty or thirty men into the city at a time; it will not arouse Guan Duo’s suspicion." Deng She nodded. While He Guangxiu might fail at grand matters, he was capable of such trivial tasks.

The messenger paused and added, "There is one more thing General Yang ordered me to convey."

"Oh? Speak."

"Yesterday evening, there was a mobilization of troops at the camp outside the city. Several units left the city, heading toward Liaoxi and Guangning. I heard it said that some troops from Guangning will also return to the city. It seems that adjustments have been made on the Liaoxi and Guangning fronts for the Liaonan campaign."

Deng She was aware of this. Those mobilized were reserve and rotating troops, and those being recalled were the elites under Pan Cheng and Sha Liuer, preparing to participate in the Liaonan battle. He said, "This is part of the pre-war preparation; there is no need for alarm. This battle does not require us. Tell Yang Wanhu not to slacken because of this. Remember the four words: 'External ease, internal tension.'"

The messenger respectfully acknowledged the order. Having reported the two matters, he needed to rush out of the city to return to the camp. Deng She stopped him and said, "If there are any further matters, go wait at my residence. If it is urgent, it is inappropriate for you to come to the provincial office; you may tell my personal guards to come and find me."

The messenger remembered, and left. At the door of the hall, he brushed past a man of about twenty, burly and upright, with the aura of a military officer. The man was dressed in civilian silk robes and stood at the door, smiling at Deng She, refusing to enter. He signaled to Bi Qianniu, saying, "Pardon the intrusion, Pan Mei requests an audience with Commander Deng."

He was Pan Cheng’s adopted son.

Bi Qianniu glanced into the hall, and Deng She hurried down from his seat to welcome him in. Pan Mei hitched up his robes and prepared to kneel. Deng She quickly held him back, laughing, "General Pan, what are you doing?"

Pan Mei said, "Commander Deng is the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Route Army, and I, Pan Mei, hold the position of Superintendent of the Liaoyang Wing Military Commandery, which is under your jurisdiction. How can I not pay my respects to my superior?" He was strong, and despite Deng She’s attempts to stop him, he leaned forward, still trying to kneel. Deng She held him firmly and laughed, "You are a Superintendent, and I am a Superintendent. Why the need for such formalities? I have long admired your martial prowess, General Pan, and I am delighted to finally meet you. Do not slight me so; please take a seat... Brother Qianniu, bring tea."

Pan Mei rose and laughed heartily. He found it strange that Deng She called a personal guard "brother." He didn’t know the origin of the "Brotherhood Troops," so he suppressed his curiosity and caught sight of the sketch on Deng She’s desk. Without standing on ceremony, he walked over and picked it up. Having been adopted by Pan Cheng since childhood, he was well-versed in military affairs and immediately knew what it was. He smiled, "Naghachu of Shenyang is a formidable opponent. Commander Deng, your burden is not light."

Deng She smiled, "Chief Administrator Guan’s misplaced favor. I will not lie to you, General Pan; in my heart, I am quite apprehensive. Fortunately, there are the three Chief Administrators to devise strategy; you and I simply need to do our duty and kill the enemy in battle."

Pan Mei glanced at the sketch, tossed it aside, and smiled, "Commander Deng, you are young and promising; why be apprehensive? As far as I can see, there is no one more suitable for this position of Eastern Route Commander than you. Chief Administrator Guan is right; you are 'knowledgeable in military affairs, skilled in their use, patient, and brave.' Leading eight hundred remnants into Goryeo and capturing such a vast territory in a few months has made your name shake Liaodong. The only flaw is that I have a piece of advice, though I do not know if you are willing to hear it?"

He put on a critical air, half-joking and half-serious. Deng She laughed, "General Pan, please speak. I am all ears."

"You are a bit too arrogant, relying on your talent."

"How so?"

"I have admired your reputation and invited you to banquets time and again, yet you have declined every single one. I know you are busy with official business and have many old friends in the city, but you can feast and make merry with others every night, yet you refuse to give me the time of day?"

Deng She had not expected him to be so direct, coming straight at him with a reprimand. The reason he had repeatedly declined was known to everyone, though it could not be spoken aloud. He explained, "General Pan, you speak too harshly. I, myself..."

Pan Mei laughed heartily, "I am only joking. How could I not know your difficulties? Now that I am your subordinate, it is only right and proper..." He bowed low and said, "I have gathered a group of Ten-Thousand Household Officers and Superintendents stationed in Liaoyang who are under your command, and we have pooled our resources to host a banquet at the Louwailou. I formally invite you to attend."

Without waiting for Deng She to speak, he winked suggestively, "I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the head of the Louwailou, a woman named Zhu Lianxiu, has spent her whole life perfecting the art of the flute. Tsk tsk, the music is truly something heard only in heaven, rarely found in the world of men." The Louwailou was the largest brothel in Liaoyang, and this Zhu Lianxiu was its most famous courtesan.

Deng She was left speechless, caught between laughter and tears, "General Pan, I appreciate your kindness. But I have just taken on this new position, and there are a thousand things to sort out. I simply cannot get away. How about this: after we capture Liaonan, I will host the banquet, how about that?"

Pan Mei smiled, "Why must you keep declining, Commander Deng? Do not worry about tonight’s banquet; besides us, some of General Mao Jujing’s men will also be attending."