Chapter Five

  The sunshine and scenery on the road are still so beautiful, with birds flying overhead. The sparkling waves can already be seen in the distance. The lake's surface is dotted with returning fishing boats. The bright voice of the fisherman comes from afar. Although the beautiful scenery makes us drunk, we cannot lift our heads. We have been away from base for a long time and have encountered nothing but ignorant farmers along the way. Our timid hearts have no room to maneuver. Aron has been cheering us up all the way, and the two soldiers we brought, Lei Ting and Wu Shuang, are getting along well on the road. At this moment, they too are shaking their heads in disappointment.

  Aaron said angrily: "A Xiao, look at me. Look at me with your heart. Is this what you've become? You were so spirited and proud in the base before. Now take a look at yourself, look in the mirror and see what you've become. You're the company commander, the backbone of all the soldiers. And now look at your state. First of all, you can't even face setbacks with confidence, how can they still have faith in our cause? Do they think we'll succeed?" He looked at me again, still hanging my head in shame and shouted: "Lift up your head, take out your courage! Take out the skills you used to fight against Japan back then. Tell me you're not a coward. Otherwise..." Zhou Lun paused for a moment and said: "Otherwise I'll take back my oath, I won't care about anything in the base anymore. I might as well just die here. With those weapons, I can live out the rest of my life in peace."

  I was lifted up by Aron's scolding and looked at Aron to see his determined gaze. I felt that I had really fallen too far. If I continued like this, I would regret Grandpa's career sooner or later. I couldn't go on like this. I also grasped their hands and said: "No matter what, let the four of us unite. Brothers united, their power is unbreakable."

  Those two warriors listened to our conversation as if they were in a daze, not quite understanding, but they were also infected by my strong gaze. They both stretched out their hands and nodded seriously, with a resolute glint in their eyes.

  At this time, we have all calmed down. Ah Lun controlled his emotions and smiled satisfactorily: "Since everyone still wants to continue fighting for the cause, I'll tell you about the current situation in the Ming dynasty. It should be the Yongli regime of the Guiwang now. However, this regime is full of internal contradictions, with various political forces attacking each other, and the peasant army is also being suppressed and attacked, unable to unite against the enemy. This gave the Qing army a chance to catch its breath. In 1649-1650, the peasant army leaders He Tengjiao and Qu Shiyong were captured and sacrificed in battles in Xiangtan and Guilin, and the Qing army reoccupied Hunan and Guangxi; other newly recovered lost territories also fell one after another. Soon, Li Guo died of illness, and his son Li Laiheng led his troops to leave the Southern Ming Yongli regime and independently resist the Qing. In 1652, Zhu Youlang, who had nowhere to turn, accepted Zhang Xianzhong's suggestion to unite with the remaining forces of the Daxi army, Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo, to resist the Qing together in Guizhou. At that time, Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo had already occupied all of Yunnan. That year, Li Dingguo launched a counterattack, leading an army of 80,000 out of Guangxi, taking Guilin, and then attacking Hunan and Guangdong. The Qing general Kong Youde was defeated and killed; later, he also killed the Qing commander Jing Zhenwang Ni Kuan in Hengzhou, "two kings were defeated, and the world was shocked". At the same time, Liu Wenxiu also attacked Sichuan and recovered southern Sichuan. The anti-Qing forces along the southeastern coast, led by Zhang Huangyan, also launched an attack and accepted the Yongli title. The anti-Qing struggle reappeared. Unfortunately, at this time, contradictions broke out between Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo, ruining the good situation. Sun Kewang was jealous of Li Dingguo's great achievements and secretly plotted to kill him. Li Dingguo fled to Guangdong, hoping to join forces with Zheng Chenggong to recover Guangzhou, but the battle was lost, and his strength was greatly damaged. He retreated to Guizhou and took away the Yongli Emperor who had been hijacked by Sun Kewang. In 1656, Li Dingguo led the Guiwang back to Yunnan. The next year, Sun Kewang led an army to attack Li Dingguo, and the Daxi army fought internally. Although Sun Kewang's forces were numerous, he was arrogant and jealous of others' achievements, and his soldiers were not loyal. He was defeated by Li Dingguo on the battlefield. There is also the case of Hao Yongzhong (formerly known as Hao Yaogui), a general under Li Zicheng, who in 1646 joined forces with the Ming to resist the Qing and proclaimed himself emperor, changing the year number to Dingwu. The Zhu Benyu regime relied on the support of the peasant army and successively operated in Hunan, Hubei, Guangxi, and Sichuan, fighting against the Qing army. There are also two people who should be mentioned: Huang Zongxi and Song Yingxing, one a great thinker of the Ming dynasty and the other a scientist. We must find them and rally them from an ideological perspective and from a scientific perspective, so that we can gain the greatest support on the issue of the Ming dynasty's legacy.

  I listened to Aron finish speaking, and after a moment of contemplation, I said: "So your meaning is that the place we are going to now, Hunan, is still a power vacuum for the Qing army. The force that really deserves our concern is Sun Keshuang's mobile force. At the same time, it is not necessary for us to let other Ming dynasty regimes know about the appearance of our troops, which will inevitably lead to their attack."

  Arden nodded in agreement and added, "Yes, that's what I mean. After summarizing our losses over the past period, I think the main reason is still due to the high-pressure policy of the Qing army. The people can't help but have many concerns. So, I predict that after we go to Hunan, we should have a more significant development than before." He smiled and said, "Also, what needs attention is the other small troops of the Ming dynasty and the remnants of the peasant uprising army. It's something that needs reminding you all. For those disciplined armies, we still need to try to recruit them to our side. After all, we must unite with all forces that can be united. That's what I often call 'united front'." He looked at Lei Ting and Wu Shuang.

  The weather in April is not very hot, but it's also not cold. All kinds of wild flowers are blooming everywhere. Additionally, the spring rain is continuously eroding our bodies. However, we don't have the heart to appreciate the beautiful mountains and rivers of our motherland now. The only thought in our minds is how to quickly develop our own troops.

  "Wu Shuang walked over and said: 'Captain, this afternoon we will arrive at Dongting Lake in Hunan Province.'"

  I took a look at the weather and said, "It's finally almost here, after passing through Yueyang in front of us will be the Xuefeng Mountains. Once we get there, we need to be careful. The mountains are high and steep, I estimate that something unexpected will happen. Brother, let's make an effort! Hope we can hurry up and get over with it as soon as possible. That way, we'll have won."

  The Xuefeng Mountains are the only mountain range that runs through Hunan Province. Among them, there are famous mountains such as Hengshan in Hengyang and Yuelu Mountain in Changsha. Of course, this is just a remnant of the past. Dongting Lake, with its 800 li of water, is famous for its size. The Yueyang Tower is located on the shores of Dongting Lake and, thanks to Fan Zhongyan's essay "Yueyang Tower", it is known as one of the three great towers of Jiangnan, along with the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan and the Tengwang Pavilion in Jiangxi. Many farmers living near Dongting Lake are fishermen, and few grow crops. The 800 li lake surface stretches out before one's eyes, with large and small fishing boats moored along its shores. The children of fishing families jump and play in the water. In the distance, the returning sails dot the horizon, contrasting with the peaceful and serene atmosphere of the lakeside lamps. We really didn't want to disturb this peaceful world, but we couldn't see a smile on the faces of the fishermen. I looked at a man singing on a nearby fishing boat: "The scales are in the water, oh! The home is on the shore, oh! Eight hundred li of Dongting Lake, my home!" I turned around and consulted with Zhou Lun, then called out to Lei Feng and Wu Shuang to cover me from the shore. Don't take action until the critical moment.

  I chose to walk onto this fishing boat. The singing man was sitting high at the bow, staring blankly at the distant lake surface. I walked up and said: "Brother, I see that there are so many fishermen here, and your daily catch is quite abundant, but why do you all look so worried?"

  The man turned his head and looked me up and down with a sharp gaze, then stood up and said: "Looking at this brother's appearance and listening to his accent, it seems like he's from the north?"

  I didn't expect this Hanzi's vision to be quite broad. Immediately, with the friendliest and most sincere smile I thought of myself, I nodded and said: "Brother, you're right. I'm from the North."

  That man saw my puzzled gaze, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he blew a whistle with both hands. Only to see big and small fishing boats coming over this way. He also looked at me coldly.

  My heart skipped a beat, and I continued in a calm tone: "Brother, what do you mean by this? I haven't offended you in any way, have I?"

  "What's the meaning of this. Haha, you Manchu running dogs, do you think I don't see that you're just a bunch of eagles and hounds? Humph! You still dare to come to our Dongting Lake to cause trouble, I think you've eaten bear heart and leopard gall. Come on, kids, take down this Manchu running dog for me." After saying that, he walked up to fight with me, and Zhou Lun and the others also prepared to grab their guns.

  "I drank a sound and said: 'Slow, this brother is too arbitrary. Can we talk in the cabin?' After finishing, I shook my body to show that I didn't bring any weapons."

  "I continued to say: 'Can't you see that I'm unarmed, and with so many people around, you're still afraid of me? I don't want to die yet. It's not worth it for me to trade my life for your one life when I have four brothers' lives at stake.'"

  That man seemed to be unable to bear this provocation: "Good, please." I followed the man into the cabin and sat down leisurely. The man also sat down and said, "Mr., what do you want to say?" After finishing, he still looked at me with some hostility.

  I smiled slightly and said: "Don't be so agitated, brother. I just wanted to ask you how you view today's society." After finishing, my gaze stared at him intently.

  That man gazed at me, and after a while said: "Today's weather is good, haha. I, the Ming dynasty, am incompetent, and will eventually fall into your Qing dynasty's hands. What I'm doing now is just to let our fishermen by the Dongting Lake enjoy their last moments of peace. But every time I think about the Manchu people getting closer, a sense of worry emerges." After finishing speaking, he coldly looked at me and said: "Since I've told you so much, as a Qing dynasty's dog, I won't let you leave." He sighed and looked at me again, saying: "I see that you're also a Han man. Why did you become the Qing dynasty's running dog?" After finishing speaking, he prepared to take action.

  I slowly stood up and said, "Haha, I didn't think I'd really meet someone who can be a real enemy of the Qing dynasty. Good, good, good." I said three 'goods' in a row: "Brother, look at what's in my hand. And who am I?" After finishing speaking, I took out the printed jade seal and handed it to him, and also removed the fake queue from my head, revealing the Ming dynasty clothes underneath.

  That man took the seal with a trembling hand, looked at it again and again, until he carefully confirmed it, then looked at my clothes and short hair, and trembled with his voice: "Is this really the jade seal of my great Ming? I have eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai, almost mistaken the fate of my great Ming. It's really worthy of death." The heavens are watching over my great Ming after all. He said as he stood up: "Young master, please forgive me for being unreasonable. Dare to ask, young master, what kind of person is this in my great Ming?"

  I smiled and said nothing, "With loyal people like you in the great Ming dynasty, why worry that the great Ming will not prosper? May I ask, sir, what is your surname and given name?"

  The man said: "My name is Zeng Qing, my ancestors have received many favors from the great Ming dynasty. When my father was alive, he repeatedly instructed me to be loyal to the great Ming, and I, Zeng, dare not forget it."

  I continued to probe and said: "Zeng Qing brothers, it seems that the fishermen around here are very convinced of you."

  Zeng Qing rubbed his bald head and said, "Oh no, it's nothing. I learned some boxing skills when I was young, so I also help the fishermen around here to avoid being bullied by the fishing tyrants. So the fishermen here all listen to me." Zeng Qing finished speaking and knelt on the ground, saying: "If you don't mind us tens of people from this place, we'll all follow you. Please take us in."

  I was moved to say: "Brother, what are you talking about? With a brother like this, the high righteousness is unforgettable." Zeng Qing heard that I also had the surname Zhu and said: "Could it be that the young master is the King of Yan?"

  I smiled and replied, "I am the grandson of the King of Yan. My parents died for the great cause of overthrowing the Qing dynasty. Now it's just me and my grandfather left. Luckily, I have eight sworn brothers to help us out. Otherwise, who knows where my grandfather and I would be?" (Author's note: Zhu Xiao, you little scoundrel, how can you say such things? Aren't you afraid of being cursed for having no descendants?) Zhu Xiao: "I had no choice either! You're the director, you tell us what to say and we have to say it. Blame you for making me come up with such a ridiculous lie!"

  Zeng Qing knelt down and said, "Your humble servant greets Young Master Wang." I quickly pulled Zeng Qing up and said, "Brother, there's no need for this. If you don't mind, I'd like to address each other as brothers. Alas, the country is already gone, what's the point of being called a king? Big Brother Zeng, please don't be too polite to me." Zeng Qing hastily said "I dare not, I dare not".

  I just had to say, "Then you can also call me captain like our other warriors." Zeng Qing finally agreed. The two of us walked out one after the other, and saw Zeng Qing facing the many fishermen, saying: "Brothers, this is the grandson of the King of Hubei, who has come to lead everyone in rebelling against the Qing. I hope you are not bringing your families with you, but rather strong and healthy fishermen's children following me and Young Master Wang together. Let us drive the Tartars out of the Central Plains." In the end, more than 60 people gathered, meeting our requirements. After discussing it with Zhou Lun, we decided to conduct several days of military training and ideological education here. After all, just bringing them along like this wouldn't be able to form a fighting force. It was still Zeng Qing who found a piece of land about one li in size on the shores of Dongting Lake, adding our group of 65 warriors. After arriving, we conducted a military division. We temporarily established a platoon's organizational structure. I served as platoon leader, and Zhou Lun as instructor. One squad included a squad leader and consisted of 10 people; one platoon had six squads below it, including a reconnaissance squad, a cooking squad, and four combat squads. There were also three extra personnel who we temporarily assigned to other squads. Six squads formed a platoon (62 people). Four platoons formed a company (248 people). Three companies plus a guard squad formed a battalion (806 people). Three battalions plus a guard platoon and a reconnaissance company formed a regiment (2914 people). Three regiments plus a guard company, a reconnaissance battalion, a logistics battalion, and an instructional battalion formed a division (11966 people). Two divisions plus an instructional regiment, a guard battalion, a logistics regiment, and a reconnaissance regiment formed an army (33480 people). This was just the temporary organizational structure for now; of course, later there would be artillery, field hospitals, and other new structures.

  Zhou Lun stood in front of 60 or so people and said, "Brothers, we are gathered here because of a common goal, so from now on I have decided that among us brothers, we will address each other as 'comrades'. This means that we share the same aspirations and values. From now on, instead of using titles like 'Young Master' or 'Young Lord', we will use our military ranks to address each other. Is that okay?" Suddenly, the room erupted in a commotion.

  Only a young man was seen saying: "This is interesting. Not calling the little one and Wang Ye, but calling each other comrades, what's the point of calling Wang Ye?"

  A man beside him patted the young man's back and reminded him: "Call the squad leader."

  The young man continued: "Ah, yes, yes, it's called Pai Zhang." After finishing speaking, he touched his own bald head and thought to himself, this idea is really something, not calling him an adult but calling him Pai Zhang.

  Comrades, quiet down and listen to me. This kind of address is for our future actions in military battles. Because we are not strong enough now, we can't withstand the blow, so we must be careful in our actions. The one next to me is your platoon leader, Zhu Xiao. Now he will arrange the training plan and route for you in the next few days.

  "Comrades, I'm grateful that you're standing on the same line as me for the sake of our great Ming dynasty. But I must tell you, the Ming dynasty is not just my Zhu family's dynasty, this world is not just my Zhu family's world. It belongs to all of you, it belongs to every single one of the common people. You may find these words hard to accept, but a wise man once said, 'water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.' My Zhu family is like the boat, and you are like the water. If my Zhu family doesn't treat our people well, we will soon perish. Here, I'd like to express my gratitude to those comrades who still support us. For the next few days, here's the arrangement: in the morning and evening, we'll have military training; in the afternoon, instructors will teach you how to read, write, and acquire cultural knowledge. You'll learn how to fight, how to become a general. A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier. I hope all of you comrades can become generals in the future. Do you have confidence?"

  About 60 people answered in unison: "Yes." I nodded my head in satisfaction and said, "Good. Rest first today, then prepare the necessary food and transport it here, Class Leader Zeng Qing."

  Zeng Qing replied in his loudest voice: "Yes."

  I am very satisfied with his performance. "I order you to lead 2 classes out to buy the good grains and vegetables we need and transport them here."

  Zeng Qing straightened his body and replied: "Yes."

  I took out a silver note from my bosom and said, "Here is a 500-tael silver note for you to prepare. Buy more grain with the extra money and distribute it among other fishing families." Zeng Qing looked at me with gratitude in his eyes, bowed deeply, and was about to call on the soldiers to board the ship. I suddenly spoke up, "Wait, Zeng Qing." After that, I took out another silver note from my body and said, "Take this silver note and collect as many iron tools as you can. Also, find a few blacksmiths to come here and help you make some weapons."

  Zeng Qingxue stood at attention and saluted: "Yes, I will definitely handle this matter smoothly."

  Looking at Zeng Qingyuan's departing figure, I turned my head to face the dozens of people standing upright and said: "From today on, I will give you a detailed training plan. Everyone listen carefully. Every morning when you hear the bugle call, get up and run 20 laps around the island. Then it's arm strength training. In the afternoon, Wu Shuang will teach you combat skills. At night, Instructor Zhou will give you cultural lessons. What you're waiting for is several months of hard days. If anyone doesn't want to suffer, they can leave now. I absolutely won't make things difficult for everyone. Is there anyone who wants to leave?" After a while, no one came out. I nodded my head in satisfaction and said: "Good, since no one wants to leave, then you all go back and rest well today. Starting from tomorrow morning, our several months of military training will begin. Dismissed!"