Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Mobilizing the Troops (Part 2)
The Nanyang Army Camp was located dozens of miles outside Xi’e County.
Qin Hu and Grandmaster Tang’s party rode swiftly, reaching the Nanyang Army Camp in less than two hours, where they met the Commander of the Nanyang Army, Yu Chong.
Yu Chong had already donned his soft armor, his resolute and dark face filled with a murderous aura. Around him, his trusted military generals were all exuding fierce energy.
Grandmaster Tang, usually confident, felt his heart pounding with fear in the presence of these ferocious military officers, his legs involuntarily weakening.
Qin Hu, on the other hand, remained calm, even breaking into a grin: "Haven’t seen you for months, General Yu, you’ve become even more imposing!"
A few months ago, the Commandery Princess had inspected the camp. Qin Hu was with her and stayed at the Nanyang Army Camp for almost half a month. During leisure time, he "sparred" with the various military generals.
Yu Chong was well aware of the importance of Qin Hu, the personal soldier of the Commandery Princess, and he dared not be neglectful. He responded, "I have received the Commandery Princess’s letter in her own handwriting and have already ordered the troops to be assembled. We will set out tomorrow."
Qin Hu curbed his smile, his expression turning serious: "This group of bandits dare to rob food on the road, killing two Tang family members and over a dozen of their servants. The Commandery Princess is enraged and demands blood for blood. This action also aims to send a message to all bandits outside Nanyang County not to eye Nanyang County."
"Therefore, this deployment must be swift, decisive, and ruthless. The Commandery Princess specifically asked me to convey to General Yu that even an eagle uses all its strength to hunt a rabbit. The Nanyang Army is now strong and well-equipped and surely does not fear bandits. However, we cannot be careless to avoid capsizing in a ditch."
Yu Chong nodded: "Thank you for the advice, Commandery Princess. I understand the severity and will not be negligent."
Grandmaster Tang steadied himself and stepped forward, cupping his fists: "The people who went to buy grain from the Tang family were all killed by the bandits, with only one barely escaping to deliver the message. This group of bandits struck at the Jingzhou border, likely fleeing here from Su Fang County, numbering around eight hundred to a thousand."
"Among them, some wore armor, with horses and weapons, likely deserters from the stationed troops, but their exact number is unknown. The rest of the bandits were poorly equipped, mostly with wooden sticks. After robbing the grain, their whereabouts are unknown. However, I speculate they are still outside Jingzhou. With the severe drought in the north, Jingzhou is relatively peaceful. If they are after grain, they shouldn’t have gone too far..."
Grandmaster Tang laid out everything he knew.
Yu Chong listened intently, then turned to give orders: "Relay my command to assemble an additional five hundred men, totaling one thousand. Each person shall carry ten days of rations and water, and we set out at dawn tomorrow."
Deploying troops is no minor matter; sufficient supplies and provisions must be taken, which will substantially slow marching speed. Yu Chong’s plan was to first lead troops to scout and confirm the bandits’ position before rendezvousing with the logistics and supply units.
Such matters were not for Qin Hu to interfere in.
Qin Hu simply said, "The Commandery Princess commands me to follow General Yu. In matters of marching and fighting bandits, General Yu is an expert, and the Commandery Princess wants me to learn diligently from you."
Firstly, to learn, but also, to supervise.
Yu Chong was unconcerned, nodding slightly.
Troops are raised for a thousand days to be used in a moment. For the past two years, the Commandery Princess has invested effort and resources into the Nanyang Army, ensuring ample money, provisions, and equipment. Now, the soldiers who have lived well under her care must serve her purpose.
At the fifth hour the next day, after the war drums sounded thrice, one thousand elite Nanyang soldiers gathered at the Martial Arts Training Ground.
Yu Chong stood on the stage, his voice deep and commanding: "Soldiers, we eat well, and have warm clothes, paid from the army’s coffers. All of this is thanks to the Commandery Princess. Now, there are bandits stealing the princess’s grain and killing Nanyang people. What should we do?"
"Slaughter the bandits!"
The soldiers roared fiercely in unison!
Yu Chong nodded in satisfaction, raising his long knife high: "Move out now!"
...
"To report to the Commandery Princess, the Nanyang army has already set out."
Ma Yaosong reported with a grave expression: "Guard Qin has also departed with the Nanyang army, and Grandmaster Tang is personally leading the way."
A few days ago, Jiang Shaohua received a letter from the Tang family, infuriating her so much that she slapped an ebony table into two pieces.
Since that day, Ma, the housekeeper, had been more cautious when reporting messages.
Jiang Shaohua hummed in acknowledgment, then turned to Song Yuan: "I have reported the deployment to the court and sent a letter to the Inspector Mansion to inform Governor Xue."
Song Yuan replied indifferently: "With such a band of bandits roaming outside Jingzhou, Governor Xue couldn’t possibly rest easy. The Commandery Princess deploying the Nanyang army to eradicate the bandits should be met with gratitude from Governor Xue."
After all, within Jingzhou, only the Nanyang army was stationed as a garrison.
In fact, there was also a more elite Nanyang Personal Guard, which had been quietly expanding over the past two years to nearly three thousand men. However, for dealing with a bandit group, the Personal Guard was not yet needed. The Nanyang army, having trained for two years, was at a point to test its strength.
Jiang Shaohua gave a slight smirk: "Whether Governor Xue is grateful or not does not concern me."
"The people pay taxes to the Prince Mansion, so I must ensure their safety. Whoever dares to target the people of Nanyang County will pay the price!"
"A price in blood!"
The last four words were icy and murderous.
Song Yuan nodded: "General Yu will not disappoint the Commandery Princess. Just await the good news quietly."
Jiang Shaohua exhaled a breath, instructing someone to invite Chief Historian Feng over.
Deploying troops to quell chaos is no trivial matter. There will inevitably be casualties in battle. After a victory, rewards must be given to distinguished soldiers, compensation to the fallen, and treatment to the injured.
In summary, a substantial military expenditure is foreseeable.
One cannot expect the soldiers to risk their lives on empty promises, nor can their morale be shattered.
Chief Historian Feng, already prepared, brought out an account book: "This year’s autumn taxes have just been collected, and both silver and food are sufficient. With a thousand Nanyang soldiers dispatched to fight bandits, rewards and pension silver must be prepared. I’ve calculated it; after deducting necessary expenses from the Prince Mansion, there are still twenty thousand taels of silver remaining."
He paused, then lowered his voice: "However, that means the Empress Dowager’s birthday gift will have to be more modest."
Jiang Shaohua instructed: "No, the Empress Dowager’s birthday gift cannot be skimmed; it must be more generous than last year."
Chief Historian Feng remained silent, quietly observing the Commandery Princess.
The Prince Mansion’s gold and silver mountains cannot withstand such spending!
Jiang Shaohua coughed lightly, her voice softening: "Let’s reduce the Prince Mansion’s expenses by thirty percent."
Chief Historian Feng sighed helplessly: "The Commandery Princess’s personal expenses are already simple enough. The grand Prince Mansion cannot economize to the point where the Commandery Princess is reluctant to wear new clothes or adorn with jewelry."
Jiang Shaohua laughed lightly: "No harm, I am not fond of such things anyway."
Just then, Chen Jinyu hurriedly entered: "Commandery Princess, Governor Xue has sent a message."