Volume Three: Silent Heroes, Timeless World Chapter 33: Gaizhou VI

Days ago, Deng She’s command ability in defeating the superior Yuan army despite adverse circumstances had long been deeply impressed upon Xu Ren and Li Jing. Both were staunch loyalists of Guan Duo, and as military men, they respected who was capable in battle and who was not.

Seeing Fang Buzhen at a loss for words, Xu Ren wished to speak on his behalf but found no words. Li Jing was even less suited—his stutter made him ill-equipped for argument or debate.

The two men stood silently as they approached Deng She. Deng She smiled and stepped forward to smooth things over, pretending not to notice Fang Buzhen’s veiled accusations. Calmly, he said, “Commander Guan Pingzhang appointed me as the East Route Army’s commander with full discretion to act. The decision to move troops to fight at Gaizhou was unanimously agreed upon. General Zheng is far from us, so misunderstandings are natural. That said, General Chen’s actions were impulsive and improper. Lord Fang, there’s no need to be angry. How about this: we all go together now, and I will personally apologize to General Zheng. What do you say?”

His words subtly implied that despite Zheng Sanbao’s high rank, he was not the supreme commander of the East Route Army, tactfully rebutting Fang Buzhen’s charge of insubordination. He then balanced the criticism and offered to make a personal apology, thus preserving the dignity of both Fang Buzhen and Zheng Sanbao.

In this way, even though everyone knew Deng She favored Chen Hu, no one could argue further. Fang Buzhen spat angrily and said sullenly, “General, please proceed.”

Deng She chuckled, “Lord Fang, you first.”

The group entered the dungeon. Chen Hu disdainfully refused to go in but had no choice but to accompany Deng She and fulfill his duty. Inside, the dungeon was damp and dark; rats and insects scurried about. Dim oil lamps cast flickering shadows, as if entering the underworld.

After passing several cells, they reached the one holding Zheng Sanbao. Fortunately, though Chen Hu was strict, he understood moderation and had only detained Zheng without binding him. From a distance, Deng She heard Zheng shouting loudly. A guard whispered, “Since being locked up, the general has been like this every day... he shouts so much his throat is dry; he’s already drunk several large basins of water.”

Many accompanying officers chuckled softly. Xu Ren and Li Jing looked awkward; Fang Buzhen cleared his throat heavily. Deng She said, “Enough idle gossip. Hurry and open the cell door for the general.”

Zheng Sanbao cursed incessantly, hurling insults at Chen Hu and Deng She alike. Suddenly, he noticed Deng She approaching unexpectedly and fell silent for a moment, lowering his voice.

Deng She seized the opportunity and bowed deeply, “General, you have suffered.”

Zheng Sanbao snapped back, seeing Fang Buzhen, Xu Ren, and Li Jing gaining courage and feeling deep shame, “Screw you!”

Xu Ren’s heart skipped a beat; he quickly glanced at Deng She. Deng She’s expression remained unchanged as he grasped the angry Chen Hu’s arm and said with a smile, “General Chen has already explained the circumstances. He admits fault. General, please show magnanimity and pardon him for my sake.”

“Pardon your mother!” Zheng Sanbao waved his hands wildly, cursing nonstop.

Unlike Fang Buzhen’s more refined insults, Zheng Sanbao’s were coarse and vulgar, making everyone’s eyelids twitch. Xu Ren feared Deng She couldn’t take it; if things escalated, his small force could never save Zheng Sanbao. He stepped forward and grabbed Zheng’s hand, “Commander Zheng, please don’t be angry!”

“Get lost!” Zheng Sanbao jerked his hand away.

Xu Ren hurriedly reminded him, “General Deng was appointed by Commander Guan Pingzhang as East Route Army commander with authority to act as he sees fit. You defying orders is your own fault.” As commander, with such authority, killing half the troops would be effortless.

Furious, Zheng Sanbao shouted, “Screw you! I have Commander Guan Pingzhang, …” Fang Buzhen suddenly started coughing uncontrollably like an illness. Zheng Sanbao realized some things were better left unsaid. His face reddened and he faltered.

He shot a glance at Fang Buzhen. Guan Duo’s secret orders were clear for the two of them: watch over Deng She and Chen Hu; without military orders, do not act rashly.

“Well then, if you, Fang Buzhen, do not obey orders, why accompany Deng She to Gaizhou?” His glare implied as much.

Fang Buzhen understood perfectly and bitterly smiled, signaling Zheng Sanbao, “With chaos in Liaoyang, who knew Naha would plot so cunningly? The entire situation is a deadlock. Without Deng She, would we just watch Commander Guan Pingzhang fall into crisis?”

Zheng Sanbao was not ignorant of this logic; yet imprisoned and resentful, his eyes rolled back as if to say, “I am innocent in my duties. Fang, you can explain your actions to Commander Guan another day.”

Fang Buzhen mouthed silently to Xu Ren, “Leave future matters for later. Face saved, brother, just hold your tongue for now! Don’t end up like Xu Ren says—angered little Deng, and your head won’t be safe.”

Zheng Sanbao took a heavy breath, eyes blazing as he looked at Chen Hu. “If I don’t vent now, how will I have the face to lead troops into battle later?” A grand commander held captive by a minor officer, locked away in a dungeon for days. If word spread, who in the army would still respect him?

Exchange of glances made Deng She understand the situation fully. Feigning ignorance, he called to his guards, “Why stand there idle? Light the candles and bring General Zheng out.”

Zheng Sanbao collapsed onto the floor, eyes bloodshot, grumbling, “Little Deng from Shuangcheng, your tolerance I admire. For your sake, I’ll bite my tongue and swallow my pride, but whose face is there for Commander Guan Pingzhang? You have to respect your master even when beating a dog!”

Invoking Guan Duo complicated matters. Deng She frowned and pondered, “That’s true… well, I’ll write to Commander Guan explaining my lax discipline and accept any punishment he deems fit. How about that?”

Zheng Sanbao was no fool. Deng She’s words implied he was willing to take the blame for Chen Hu, but with his current status, Guan Duo would hardly punish him seriously.

“Trying to flatter me into submission?” Zheng Sanbao sneered, “Every injustice has a culprit and debtor. This has nothing to do with you, little Deng. Hmph! General Chen, who killed my personal guards and locked me in this dungeon—where is your might now? If you’re a real man, kneel and kowtow three times, call me grandfather, and I might forgive your foolishness this once.”

Chen Hu was a ruthless man, a seasoned horse thief and leader of eight brigands. He valued honor above all and would never kneel. Coldly, he said, “My grandfather died long ago.”

Zheng Sanbao jumped up, furious, “You!”

Deng She’s face darkened. He disapproved of Zheng Sanbao’s demand. Chen Hu was his uncle; to make Chen his grandfather was too insulting. He shouted, “Chen Hu, show respect! Guards…”

Bi Qianniu stepped forward promptly. Deng She continued, “What does military law say about disrespecting a superior?”

“Beheading!”

Deng She clenched his fists until his fingertips whitened. “Take him out and execute him.”

At once, everyone present paled. He Guangxiu, Yang Wanhu, and others fell to their knees pleading. Deng She remained unmoved, only glancing briefly at Xu Ren, Li Jing, and Fang Buzhen. Fang Buzhen was stunned, then sneered. Chen Hu held his head high, escorted by Bi Qianniu out of the dungeon. Li Jing knelt, begging, “General, please calm your anger. Executing a general before the battle at Gaizhou would be… inappropriate!”

Xu Ren joined, also kneeling, “Why cause such strife? Better to give General Chen a chance to atone through service.”

Deng She’s expression softened. “Lord Fang, what do you think?”

It was impossible to truly order Chen Hu’s execution. Fang Buzhen glanced at Zheng Sanbao and said, “Not yet time to break ranks. I think this is appropriate.”

“And what does General Zheng think?”

“Hmph!”

“Death is avoidable; life sentence is not. Take him away and give him seventeen strokes with a baton.”

…

Deng She released Zheng Sanbao. The banquet intended to welcome Chen Hu turned into an apology feast. Chen Hu did not attend, and all the generals of Shuangcheng wore grim faces.

After the banquet, Deng She returned to headquarters. Bi Qianniu mustered courage and, while Deng She was washing, said, “General, I have something to say, though I’m not sure if I should.”

Deng She dropped the towel, “Is it about General Chen?”

“General Chen is not greatly at fault; even if there is fault, it was out of loyalty to you and Shuangcheng. Are you not afraid your actions today will wound General Chen’s heart and the morale of the Manchu troops?”

Deng She spread his hands, showing his bloodied fingernail wounds. “The death of Pan Mei on Dongmou Mountain… do you know what it reminds me of?”

“What?”

“An abandoned pawn.”

Deng She dared not confirm if Guan Duo and Naha had secret dealings, but after days of reflection, Pan Mei had become, beyond doubt, a pawn discarded by Guan Duo. “To avoid splitting Liaodong, I entered Liaoyang alone. When they trapped and sidelined me, I accepted it without complaint. When ordered to send Shuangcheng troops to aid Pan Mei, I obeyed fully. Everyone in Liaoyang, even Xu Ren and Li Jing, saw this clearly.

“My conduct has been sufficient, right? Who knew that though my heart aimed for the bright moon, the moon only shines on a ditch. Guan Pingzhang suspects me so deeply, controls Shuangcheng so tightly. So sooner or later, you, I, and Shuangcheng will all be abandoned pawns.”

“And General?”

“General Chen won’t blame me…” Deng She smiled faintly. Entering the Bosa Patrol Division, Chen Hu’s secret words came to mind: “If I take Gaizhou, Guan Duo is inevitable. Why not give it? Have you thought about that, General?”

“That’s what troubles me.”

“He has a just cause. The lord’s decree can summon you to Liaoyang or dismiss you to Gaizhou. Sha and Liu await to rescue the lord in Gaizhou. Judging now, if we handle this well, all sides will be bloodied, and I will reap great benefit alone. But with this justification, General, you must consider carefully. Don’t let the world’s heroes find fault with you.”

“Your advice, uncle?”

“General, you may be Zhou Yu; I can be Huang Gai.”

…

Though stern, Chen Hu was a capable warrior and fiercely protective of his men. The news of him receiving seventeen strikes with the military baton soon spread throughout the camp.

“Did you hear? General Chen was beaten.”

“Why?”

“Hmph, don’t say. Liaoyang is in peril. General Deng raised all my Pyongyang troops to relieve Commander Guan, traveling a thousand miles. Yet Zheng Sanbao came to contest power with General Chen, insulted General Deng to his face. What could he bear?”

“Zheng is bullying by force. A pity for General Deng’s loyalty.”

“Speaking of loyalty, rumor has it that Commander Guan Pingzhang actually…” The voice lowered; listeners’ expressions turned shocked and stunned.

The weak often earn sympathy and trust. Spread by those with intent, this news surged like an undercurrent, spreading not only through the Shuangcheng camps but vividly even to Xu Ren and Li Jing’s units.