Chapter 885: Mind Your Character
Bai Yuan hesitated slightly upon hearing this.
Logically, as an instructor for the Gao Family Village Militia, it was perfectly reasonable to lend such valuable assets to the relief general. In fact, refusing to do so would seem rather odd.
However, these items weren't Bai Yuan's personal possessions. They were public assets belonging to Gao Family Village, and he couldn't make such a decision on a whim.
Just then, the golden-threaded image of the Heavenly Lord embroidered on Bai Yuan's chest emitted a faint cough, barely audible to anyone but him.
Knowing the Heavenly Lord had a directive, Bai Yuan quickly turned to Cao Wenzhao and Cao Bianjiao. "Pardon my rudeness," he said, "but I'm suddenly in need of a private moment."
After excusing himself and stepping aside to a secluded spot, the golden-threaded Heavenly Lord spoke again: "Gao Family Village has transported three reconnaissance hot air balloons. It's perfectly acceptable to lend one to Cao Wenzhao. However, we must first assess his character. If he proves worthy, he may have it. If not, then he shall not."
Bai Yuan gasped. "A weapon of war such as this? If loaned to the imperial forces, who knows if in the future..."
He clearly left the rest unsaid: "...they might turn it against us."
The Heavenly Lord chuckled. "It's of no consequence! The technical complexity of these hot air balloons isn't high. Any skilled individual within the imperial administration could quickly replicate them after a few observations. There's no sense in jealously guarding such a device. In fact, allowing Cao Wenzhao to use it for battlefield testing would be beneficial, far more cost-effective than our own people risking their lives for such trials. Naturally, the absolute prerequisite remains: his character must be beyond reproach."
Armed with this supreme directive, Bai Yuan's course of action became remarkably straightforward. Free from hesitation, he returned to the two generals, a faint smile playing on his lips. "General Cao," he began, "I pondered the matter while I was away. We shall indeed lend you this reconnaissance hot air balloon."
Cao Wenzhao beamed with delight. "This is excellent news!"
Bai Yuan, however, quickly added, "But this item isn't cheap, General. Consider this: when we rented it out for entertainment in Luoyang, a single ascent cost thirty taels of silver. Simply displaying it here for a day could easily earn us three to five hundred taels."
Cao Wenzhao fell silent.
"If the General intends to use it for ten days, or even half a month," Bai Yuan continued, "then the rental fee would certainly..."
Had this been an unscrupulous imperial general, like Zuo Liangyu, they might have simply turned hostile and seized it outright. But Cao Wenzhao was genuinely not that kind of man. He hesitated for a few seconds, then sighed, "This general possesses no such wealth; I cannot afford the rent."
Bai Yuan's expression turned peculiar. "General, you've fought campaigns across the land, how could you possibly be short on funds? Simply presenting the heads of a few elderly, weak, women, and children would surely secure military accolades, and the rewards would hardly be meager, wouldn't they?"
The moment these words left Bai Yuan's lips, Cao Wenzhao erupted in fury. "What did you just utter?" he demanded.
Cao Bianjiao, too, stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his saber. "Master Bai," he pressed, "what is the meaning behind your words?"
With a swift flick, Bai Yuan unfurled the fan in his hand, obscuring half his face, and spoke with a sneer. "What I spoke of," he drawled, "is merely the established custom of the imperial forces, is it not?"
Cao Bianjiao seethed, "You—"
Cao Wenzhao, however, abruptly extended a hand and pressed firmly on Cao Bianjiao's shoulder, restraining him. His face grim, he addressed Bai Yuan. "Master Bai," he stated, "it is true that the discipline among imperial troops is often deplorable, and it's hardly surprising that such opinions circulate among the populace. Yet, I, Cao, am not that sort of general, nor are the Guanning Iron Cavalry under my command that sort of soldier. I have no funds, and even if I did, they would first be allocated to my troops' wages. I, Cao, shall not rent this reconnaissance hot air balloon. It is not as if this is the only means of reconnaissance; I am not without my scouts, and for many years, I have waged war successfully employing them."
With that, he swiftly turned and commanded Cao Bianjiao, "Bianjiao, we depart."
Cao Bianjiao protested, "Uncle! How can we simply leave when this man speaks to us with such disrespect? He ought to be thrashed!"
Cao Wenzhao countered, "Whose fault is it that he perceives the imperial forces in such a manner? Is it not our own failure to maintain integrity? Instead of striking him, we should rather strike down the scoundrels who slaughter innocent civilians for false accolades, thereby tarnishing the good name of our imperial army."
Cao Bianjiao could only sigh.
Just as the two began to walk away, Bai Yuan called out, "Generals, a moment, if you please."
Cao Bianjiao spun around, his eyes blazing. "What is your intention now?" he snarled. "Do you truly wish to provoke a beating?"
Bai Yuan stated, "I have decided to lend you the hot air balloon. There will be no rental fee."
"What?" Cao Bianjiao exclaimed, convinced he had misheard.
Cao Wenzhao turned back as well, fixing Bai Yuan with a curious gaze.
Bai Yuan then elaborated, "I have long heard tales of General Cao. You served successively under Xiong Tingbi and Sun Chengzong, fiercely resisting the Manchu invaders in Liaodong, renowned for your ferocity, cunning, and courage, achieving great merit. In the seventh year of Chongzhen, General Cao again stood against the Manchu forces in Xuanfu and Datong. While other commanders cowered within their city walls, General Cao alone bravely challenged the vast Manchu army from within the garrison town. It was regrettable that, being severely outnumbered, you could not secure a victory..."
With a snap, Bai Yuan closed his fan and bowed, cupping his hands in a respectful salute. "I salute General Cao as a true man of honor. Therefore, this reconnaissance hot air balloon shall be loaned to you, General, free of charge."
"Oh?" Cao Wenzhao muttered, quite surprised. "So that's the meaning behind it."
He couldn't help but return the gesture, cupping his hands. "So, Master Bai, your fan has writing on the reverse side as well. I noticed it when you folded it; 'Six Arts' was inscribed there."
Cao Bianjiao's brow furrowed in exasperation. "Uncle," he spluttered, "were you truly surprised by the writing on his fan, rather than by the words he just spoke?"
Cao Wenzhao paused. "Hmm? Now that you put it that way, I suppose you're right."
The following morning, Cao Wenzhao led his army out of Luoyang, heading eastward toward Xingyang. He had specifically assigned a squad of soldiers to carry the various components of the reconnaissance hot air balloon: a large wicker basket for its occupants, a brazier for heating the air, the necessary fuel, and the enormous, deflated balloon itself, folded neatly.
With Cao Wenzhao's military provisions secured and his departure overseen, Fan Shangzheng, the Governor of Henan, also began preparations for his own campaign.
"Master Bai," Fan Shangzheng declared, "I, too, must join the bandit suppression efforts. The Emperor has decreed that all rebel forces must be eradicated within six months. I must participate in the encirclement..."
Bai Yuan understood at once. Fan Shangzheng clearly lacked confidence in his own garrison troops and had come, once again, to seek Bai Yuan's assistance.
Such a request, of course, warranted no hesitation. Bai Yuan cupped his hands. "Very well!"
The Gao Family Village Militia mobilized. One thousand seasoned veterans and four thousand new recruits remained behind to garrison Luoyang and Xiaolangdi. Meanwhile, Bai Yuan led two thousand veterans and three thousand new recruits out of Luoyang, setting off eastward as well.
Departing Luoyang and heading east, the grim urgency of the situation immediately became apparent.
Henan, at this juncture, was a land utterly ravaged.
A massive rebel army, three hundred thousand strong, rampaged across Henan. Wherever they passed, they left nothing but desolation, akin to a plague of locusts devouring all in their path.
In the summer of the fifth year of Chongzhen, the Yellow River had burst its banks, transforming vast stretches of Henan into a desolate flood plain. Astonishingly, a severe drought followed directly on the heels of the deluge, tormenting the region from the fifth year of Chongzhen all the way to the seventh. And now, the arrival of the colossal rebel army...
Natural calamities and man-made disasters had converged upon them all at once!
The common people of Henan had not known a single day of peace. East of Luoyang, the land lay utterly barren.
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