MLMD – Chapter 28 Seeking Aid from Yingzhou

On the afternoon of the eighth day of the ninth month in the fifth year of Chongzhen (1632), at the hour of You.

Yue Yang was walking along the narrow field paths of Wuli Village with Yue Laifu, Shunbao, and a group of household retainers.

After several months of hard work, Yue Yang had used drilling machines to bore nearly two hundred irrigation wells. As a result, even though the Sanggan River remained dried up, Wuli Village’s planting was not affected in the least. Within just two months, the village had completed harvesting, transplanting, and sowing across its fields. Along the way, Yue Yang saw many farmers inspecting their plots, their faces filled with satisfied smiles.

The crisp breeze of late autumn swept across the fields, carrying with it a pleasant grassy fragrance. The air between the fields felt fresh and invigorating. Looking out over the endless expanse of lush green rice paddies, Yue Yang felt a surge of joy. Two months earlier, he had issued mandatory orders forcing all his tenant farmers to plant the super hybrid rice and wheat seeds he had brought from the modern era. Although he still dared not introduce chemical fertilizers—such a devastating trump card—Yue Yang was confident that even relying solely on traditional farm manure, he could push yields beyond one thousand jin per mu. By early next year, his family’s more than twelve thousand mu of farmland would produce at least twelve million jin of grain. Calculated at a fifty-percent rent from the tenants, Yue Family Manor alone would reap no less than six million jin. Just thinking of this made Yue Yang’s blood run hot with excitement.

It wasn’t only Yue Yang who felt pleased. Yue Laifu clicked his tongue in amazement. “Young Master, these crops are growing incredibly well. They’re far better than the seeds we used before. I’ve walked all the way here and hardly seen any pests or disease—that’s really rare!”

“Exactly,” Shunbao chimed in beside him, equally astonished. “I’ve been puzzled too. In past years, once we planted, pests would start wreaking havoc almost immediately, and the farmers had to watch the fields day and night. But now, just look at these seedlings—the growth is unbelievably good. It’s hard to believe with your own eyes. The seeds you brought back, Young Master, are truly amazing.”

There was pride in Shunbao’s voice. Just a month earlier, when Yue Yang distributed these seeds to the tenant farmers, most of them had been deeply suspicious of the unknown origin of the seeds and were unwilling to plant them. In the end, Yue Yang had issued a compulsory order, declaring that if there were any problems with the seeds, he would waive this year’s rent entirely. Only then did the tenants reluctantly comply. Now it was clear that the seeds Yue Yang had brought were of exceptionally high quality—fast-growing and highly resistant to pests and disease. All that remained to be seen was the final yield.

Just as Yue Yang was admiring the fields, a shout came from the distance.

“Young Master! Young Master!”

Turning around, he saw a household servant running toward them while calling out.

The servant quickly reached Yue Yang, panting heavily. “Young Master, someone from Yingzhou Prefecture has arrived. They’re waiting for you at the manor!”

“Someone from Yingzhou Prefecture?” Yue Yang felt a sudden sense of foreboding. “Did something happen in Yingzhou?”

The servant shook his head. “I don’t know the details. I only heard the yamen runner say it’s extremely urgent and asked that you go at once.”

“Let’s go!”

Without another word, Yue Yang broke into a run toward the manor. Yue Laifu and Shunbao exchanged a glance and hurried after him.

Before long, Yue Yang reached the manor hall. There he saw a yamen runner dressed in a red-and-black official robe, pacing back and forth anxiously. The moment he spotted Yue Yang, the man rushed forward as if he had found a savior, dropped to one knee, and shouted loudly:

“I am Lu Lin, squad leader of the Yingzhou Prefecture yamen, here to pay respects to Young Master Yue! Young Master, disaster has struck! Early this morning, countless bandits surrounded Yingzhou City and launched a fierce assault without warning. The city is now on the brink of collapse! The Prefect has specially ordered me to come and seek your aid. Please, send troops to save Yingzhou City!”

“What? The bandits have already surrounded Yingzhou City? They came this fast?” Although Yue Yang had long been mentally prepared for the possibility that the bandits might strike from Daning at any moment, hearing the news still shocked him deeply. War had already, without warning, come to their very doorstep.

“Squad Leader Lu, what exactly is going on? Why would Lord Zheng send you to seek help from me? Explain everything clearly!” After the initial shock, Yue Yang frowned, took his seat at the head of the hall, and questioned the runner in a deep voice.

“Milord, it’s like this…” Lu Lin dared not delay and hurriedly recounted the whole story.

It turned out that Zheng Fakui had long anticipated a possible bandit attack and had made preparations in advance. He had mobilized household retainers and guards from the homes of local gentry within Yingzhou City to help defend the walls. Combined with the original garrison troops, the defending force totaled more than two thousand men. Zheng Fakui had optimistically believed that with the city walls and two thousand defenders, he could hold out for ten days or even half a month against tens of thousands of bandits.

But unexpectedly, before dawn this morning, the bandits had already crept to the city gates. If not for a sentry who had gotten up to relieve himself and happened to discover the bandits sneaking toward the city, raising the alarm in time—and because the gates had not yet been opened—it was likely Yingzhou City would have already fallen.

Even so, after their surprise attack failed, the bandits did not retreat. Instead, they immediately launched a full-scale assault, catching the city completely off guard. The poorly trained and ill-prepared defenders, along with the hastily assembled household retainers, suffered heavy casualties under the bandits’ ferocious attacks. In less than half a day, three to four hundred men were killed or wounded. When Zheng Fakui received the news, he was nearly scared out of his wits. At this rate, by tomorrow afternoon at the latest, Yingzhou City would fall into bandit hands.

Just as Zheng Fakui was beside himself with fear, someone offered a suggestion: hadn’t Yue Family Manor organized a militia a few months ago? Then why not immediately send someone to Yue Family Manor for help? No matter how many men they could send, even a few hundred would be better than nothing in the current situation.

Already shaken to the core by the heavy losses, Zheng Fakui didn’t think it through at all and immediately agreed, dispatching Lu Lin to rush to Wuli Village to seek aid.

After listening, Yue Yang asked, “Tell me honestly—how many bandits are outside Yingzhou City right now?”

Lu Lin thought for a moment before replying, “I don’t know the exact number, but I estimate there are at least ten thousand. And the bandit commander seems completely mad, driving those rabble to attack the city without any regard for casualties. The brothers in the city are already struggling to hold on.”

“And one more thing,” Yue Yang asked coldly, hatred filling his heart. “Whose idea was it to have Yue Family Manor send troops to reinforce Yingzhou City?”

Lu Lin hesitated before stammering, “It… it was proposed by the Wang family’s head to Lord Zheng.”

“That bastard!” Yue Yang exploded in anger. Wang Shoucheng really was like a lingering ghost—still trying to drag him into the fire even at a time like this. Truly a classic case of harming others without benefiting himself.

At that moment, footsteps sounded outside as Yue Laifu and Shunbao rushed in. When Shunbao entered the hall and saw Lu Lin, he exclaimed in surprise, “Young Master, isn’t this the same yamen runner we met last time at the Prefect’s office?”

Only then did Yue Yang recall that Lu Lin was indeed the arrogant yamen runner stationed at the Prefect’s gate when he had gone to meet Zheng Fakui months earlier. No wonder he had found the man familiar.

Seeing the dark expression on Yue Yang’s face, Lu Lin thought Yue Yang was still holding a grudge over that incident. With a thud, he dropped to his knees, crying out:

“Young Master, last time this lowly one was blind as a dog! Please be magnanimous and let it go. But right now Yingzhou City is in mortal danger—you must not hesitate! Please send troops! If you do, I, Lu Lin, will repay your great kindness even if I must become an ox or a horse!”

Yue Yang helped him up and said solemnly, “Get up first. Mobilizing troops concerns the very survival of Yue Family Manor. I must discuss this with my people. Shunbao, take this officer to the side hall and see that he’s fed. Uncle Laifu… send someone to call Hu Laosan immediately. We need to talk this over.”

“Yes!”

A quarter of an hour later, Hu Laosan, Yue Laifu, and Shunbao were all seated below Yue Yang. Each wore an expression of fear and unease.

After a long silence, Yue Yang finally spoke in a deep voice, “Alright, you all know what’s going on. What are your thoughts?”

“Young Master, the bandits are too strong. We only have a little over five hundred soldiers. Even if we go to reinforce Yingzhou City, it won’t change anything. We should forget it.” The first to speak was Yue Laifu, the old man who had served Yue Family Manor his entire life, firmly raising the banner of opposition.

“Shunbao, what do you think? Same as your father?” Yue Yang asked, glancing at his book attendant.

Shunbao hesitated, sneaked a look at his father’s expression, and then said, “Uh… Young Master, I don’t really understand this kind of thing. Whatever you decide, I’ll do.”

“And you, Hu Laosan?” Yue Yang looked at him with a gaze filled with disappointment.

“Young Master, whatever you say goes. I’ll do whatever you tell me.” Hu Laosan’s answer, delivered with his usual bluntness, was exactly what Yue Yang had expected.

“Sigh…” Yue Yang let out a soft sigh and shook his head slightly. Right now, he truly had no capable people to rely on. These men were fine for managing the manor or guarding the gates, but when it came to matters of war, they were clearly inadequate. It seemed he would have to make the decision himself.

Taking a deep breath, Yue Yang said, “Alright. I’ve made my decision. Yingzhou City must be saved—and we will save it…”