Chapter 40: The Resentful Army

  "What's the '怨军'?" A few people in the carriage exchanged a glance. They had been in Youzhou for so long, and naturally knew the story of this "怨军". In the sixth year of Liao Tianqing (1116), due to the continuous defeats of the Liao dynasty against the Jin dynasty, Gao Yongchang, a Bohai person, killed Xiao Baoshen, the defender of Dongjing, and declared himself Emperor of the Great Bohai State, changing the era name to Ying Shun. He occupied more than 50 states in eastern Liao. Emperor Tianzuo sent Prime Minister Zhang Lin to conquer him, but was defeated by the Jurchen army supporting Gao Yongchang at Shen State. Emperor Tianzuo appointed Qin Wang Yelü Chong as the commander-in-chief, recruiting refugees from eastern Liao to take revenge on the Jurchens, and named them "怨军" (Army of Resentment). However, this "怨军" not only failed to avenge themselves against the Jurchens but also fled at the sight of the Jin army. Yelü Chong returned to Yanjing and reorganized the "怨军" into the Changsheng Army. This army, mostly composed of refugees from eastern Liao, was prone to rebellion and surrender, causing headaches for Ye Lüchun, the defender of Nanjing at that time. As a traveler through time and space, Zhou Ping knew more about this "怨军". They were a disaster star, first betraying the Liao dynasty and surrendering to the Song dynasty, then betraying the Song dynasty and surrendering to the Jin dynasty, and finally being disbanded and killed by the Jin army. This army was a microcosm of the chaotic era, selling out others and being sold out themselves, like a carriage driven by a blind man rushing down a mountain road, leaving behind a trail of corpses and bloodstains, ultimately crashing and shattering to pieces.

  "Then you go and bandage your wound first, take a good rest, and wait until the injury heals before making plans!" Han Xiaoqiu said with a smile.

  "Thank you, sir!" The young man bowed his head several times to the crowd before being led into the ambassador's carriage. Wen Cheng smiled and said, "I didn't expect that we would be leaving Liaodong with such a fine young man. It seems that this diplomatic mission will bring great fortune to our lord!"

  The next day, the envoy crossed Baigou and entered Song territory, heading east to the capital. Li Bao couldn't go to the capital because of his case, so he planned to flee to Xuejia Village in Anyang. Before parting ways, Li Bao suddenly said to Zhou Ping, "Zhou brother, I have something to tell you - that Luo Shu'er you picked up is a bit suspicious."

  "What's so strange? How can you say that?"

  Li Bao sighed and said, "This kid is very diligent and hardworking. Even though he's not fully recovered from his injuries, he still gets off the horse carriage to help with chopping grass and gathering firewood. Everyone likes him, but there's something strange about the way he talks and does things. For example, one evening when we were camping, I took off my sword before going to sleep, and he asked me why I didn't put it inside my clothes instead. I told him that no one puts their sword like that. He said that in cold weather, if you leave your sword outside, the blade and scabbard might stick together at night, and you won't be able to draw it out quickly, which could cost you your life; they always put their swords inside their clothes when camping at night. Another time, we were eating together, and he only ate one bowl of food before stopping. I asked him if he was full, but he said that as a half-grown kid who wasn't even a regular soldier, it was enough for him to eat just half a bellyful, and the millet should be left for the real soldiers to eat their fill so they'd have the strength to fight; yesterday, when we passed by a village, he asked me why there were no moats or watchtowers outside the village, no stone walls or shooting towers inside, and the road led straight to the village entrance without any twists or turns. Wouldn't bandits be able to rush in easily? I was at a loss for how to answer him."

  Zhou Ping recalled that during this trip to Youzhou, although he saw some signs of war on the road, overall it was still peaceful. However, everything Luo She'er said and saw was about battles and killings, clearly his experiences were not learned in Youzhou, but from the escaped Liao army in Liaodong and Liaoxi. From this, it can be seen that it is a human hell, where even a half-grown child's life is filled with war. The troops who emerged from this human hell and entered the Song Dynasty, which had been peaceful for over a hundred years and whose people did not know the sound of gunfire, would be a terrifying sight. Thinking of this, Zhou Ping couldn't help but shudder.

  "Do you understand what I mean?" Li Bao said in a low voice: "When I think of the Daisho-ji Temple, the thorny basin, and the Pusa Society in Tokyo, and then think about where this Luo She'er came from, how people live there, I get chills. If we let them come in, everything will be over, the entire city of Tokyo will be wiped off the face of the earth!"

  "I understand!" Zhou Ping nodded: "In any case, we can't let them in!"

  "Whatever it takes!" Li Bao nodded heavily: "As long as they don't get in, I'll do anything!" With that, he stretched out his right hand and tightly grasped Zhou Ping's arm, shaking it forcefully twice before turning to leave.

  "I'm willing to do anything!" Zhou Ping looked at Li Bao's departing back and a resolute expression appeared on his face.

  When the envoy returned to Dongjing, it was already the third month of the second year of Xuanhe (1119). The breath of spring had appeared in this peaceful city. The people of Dongjing were arguing as usual about which teahouse on both banks of the Bian River was the most unique, which famous garden had newly opened its peach blossoms, and what new tricks had been invented by the performers to pass their leisure time. At that time, the Song Dynasty was so prosperous that such a large class of citizens appeared in Dongjing City, they were like flies buzzing around the big honey pot, licking up the scattered honey droplets splashed out when the officials and nobles devoured it with big mouths. These lucky flies fluttered their wings, showing off their good fortune, but did not notice that as the fragrance spread, a pair of greedy eyes had gathered in the darkness around the honey pot.

  "Are the two of you returning to your hometown?" Han Xiaoqiu asked with a hint of pride, ever since the envoy returned to Tokyo, no, it should be said that after arriving at Baigou and returning to Song territory. Han Xiaoqiu's attitude towards Zhou and Xue had undergone a subtle change, from the familiarity of treating close subordinates to the pride and arrogance hidden behind the pride that was unique to scholars at that time.

  As for this change, Zhou Ping seemed to be completely unaware of it all, always maintaining a respectful and diligent attitude, which made Han Xiaoqiu very satisfied, even praising Zhou Ping in conversation with his wife, saying that although he came from a rural area, he was well-behaved and dignified, which was rare among military men.

  "Exactly!" Zhou Ping bowed and said, "It's almost spring now, we two still have some fields in our hometown that can't be neglected. Please allow us to return home and come back to serve you after the autumn harvest!"

  "Ah, I see!" Han Xiaoqu stroked his chin whiskers and chuckled: "I was going to find you two a job in the capital, but since you miss your home so much, I'll let you go back. Before you leave, take 30 taels of silver from the accountant's room each, that should be enough for traveling expenses!"

  "Thank you, sir! I don't dare stay in Tokyo, but if I can find a job in Soshu, that would be great."

  "That's easy! I've mentioned your contributions in the memorial, nothing else can be said, at least a county magistrate and a battalion commander are not a problem!"

  "Thank you, sir, for your cultivation!" Zhou Ping bowed and said: "I have one more thing to ask of you, I hope you will agree!"

  "Oh? What brings you here?"

  "I have been fascinated with craftsmanship since I was a child, and for a long time, I've heard that the best craftsmen in the world are all gathered at the 51 workshops of East and West in the capital (the Northern Song Dynasty's military equipment workshop). I'm eager to go there to broaden my horizons, and I'd like to ask you to speak up and help me!"

  "What's with the workshop? The military equipment depot?" Han Xiao's eyebrows furrowed, and he fell silent. Zhou Ping saw this and hastily explained: "My wife's family is a blacksmith, I'm afraid I'll be doing this for a living in the future too. As the saying goes, it's better to have a skill by your side than a fortune at home. Please help me, sir!"

  "Ah, I see!" Han Xiaoqu smiled: "You're now a low-ranking officer, but still an official military officer. Why are you still thinking about that blacksmith's shop? Never mind, since you're also a government military officer, it doesn't matter. As it happens, I owe the Military Equipment Supervisor Autumn two bottles of good wine. You two can deliver them and take a look around while you're at it."

  "Thank you, sir!"

  Zhou Ping and Xue Liangyu had just withdrawn from the hall when Xue Liangyu asked in a low voice, "Big Brother Zhou, why didn't you stay at Duke Han's mansion? Wouldn't it be better to return to Anyang?"

  "Stay here?" Zhou Ping sneered and asked: "Don't you feel that after returning to Tokyo, Han Xiānggōng's attitude towards us has been somewhat different?"

  "Is that so?" Xue Liangyu was taken aback, scratched his head and said: "It seems to be true, not as close as when we were in Liao Guo."

  "That's natural, you and I are just rough men who only know how to wield a sword, in Liao State we were useful to him, but what use are we here in Tokyo? Even if he helps us find employment, that's the extent of his obligation. You and I, two rough men, in this city of Tokyo, everywhere you look are high officials and nobles, even if there is a job, how can it compare to going back home to be a local official or magistrate?"

  "What Big Brother said is true!"

  "This time you went to Liao, didn't you realize that the peaceful days are coming to an end and it's going to be the era of warriors? We two staying in Tokyo will just become like Ryōjun or Kintetsu, flattering and bootlicking for the nobles. It's better to go back to Anyang and train our own local militia properly, that's the real deal, they are our roots!"

  "That's right, that's our root!" Xue Liangyu nodded heavily: "So big brother wants to go to the Military Equipment Bureau for this too?"

  "That's natural!" Zhou Ping laughed: "How can we practice soldiers without strong armor and sharp weapons? We can't make iron armor and powerful crossbows now, but let's take a look at how to manufacture them. Tomorrow, we'll take a good look, and after returning, I'll expand Chen Ironsmith's shop by several times, my 5,000 taels of silver are prepared for this."

  "Alright, Brother Zhou is still thinking ahead of you!" Xue Liangyu burst out laughing with a wide open mouth.

  The next day, Zhou and Xue brought two bottles of good wine and a name card from Han Xiao to the Military Equipment Bureau, handed over the name card, and soon someone led them to the main hall. In the main hall, a white-faced fat man in his 40s sat at the top, with a smile on his face. After Zhou and Xue paid their respects, he raised his hand and said in a sharp voice: "It's rare for Left Historian Han to remember this matter, my family has benefited from it. It's been many days since we last met, I don't know if he went to Liao State, is his body healthy?"

  "Thank you for your concern, my husband is doing well."