Chapter 606: The Inevitable Appointment |
Publish Time: 2026-06-30 09:26:54
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Xing Honglang set up for receiving the Provincial Governor at the city gates of the east wall.
Cheng Xu, Zao Ying, Gao Chuwu, Zheng Daniu, and others all hid away and did not attend. They disliked overly-complicated court formalities. Old Nan Feng was currently in Puzhou, not in Hedong Road, so he wasn’t present either.
Xing Honglang didn’t care for such ceremonies either, but she couldn’t avoid them. As the nominal leader, she had to brace herself and go out to greet him, accompanied by a group of ordinary Militia Soldiers.
The carriage of the new Provincial Governor Xu Dingchen arrived very soon.
There were many people—a grand procession of two thousand.
It turned out that General Wang Guoliang of Shanxi had also received news that Hedong Road had fallen to the bandits. Startled, and knowing the imperial salt warehouse must not be lost, he quickly mustered fifteen hundred soldiers to rush to the rescue.
On the way, he encountered the newly appointed Provincial Governor Xu Dingchen, who had just entered Shanxi to take up his post. So they traveled together.
When the three met, the elaborate courtesies and polite but pointless pleasantries couldn’t be avoided. We’ll skip over a hundred million words of that and cut straight to the important matter.
Xu Dingchen said, “On my way to take up my post, just after entering Shanxi territory, I heard that Hedong Road had fallen to the bandits. It truly frightened me. Still, in less than three days, news followed that General Xing had recaptured Hedong Road. That greatly relieved this official.”
Xing Honglang replied, “This lowly general’s duty is as the Puzhou Defender. She originally should not have come to Hedong, abandoning her post…”
“No matter, no matter,” Xu Dingchen immediately cut in. “Puzhou and Hedong are barely seventy li apart. With bandits wreaking havoc in Hedong, you, as Puzhou’s defending general, flexibly launched an attack. What could be the crime in that? Had you waited until I took office and sent an official transfer order, decisive military opportunities would certainly have been lost.”
He sighed deeply here, then continued, “Had the bandits occupied Hedong city for one more day, its common people would have suffered one more day of misery. General Xing recapturing the city at the first opportunity is truly a great contribution.”
Xing Honglang secretly rejoiced: It’s best if you think that way.
Xing Honglang deliberately said, “Since the Provincial Governor and the General are both here, this lowly general should return to Puzhou.”
Xu Dingchen turned to General Wang Guoliang of Shanxi and asked, “The salt tax office commissioner is dead, and the thousand guardhouse soldiers under his command have suffered devastating losses—almost completely wiped out. How should Hedong city be garrisoned from now on?”
Wang Guoliang wore an awkward expression, inwardly cursing: How the hell should I arrange that?
Shanxi was already devastated by bandit activity. The previous Provincial Governor Song Tongyin, due to insufficient forces, could only retreat to defend Taiyuan. While Taiyuan was successfully held, other cities suffered greatly, eventually costing him his official post.
The forces under Wang Guoliang’s command were also stretched thin. Most were deployed to northern Shanxi, battling tangled mess with the groups of Zijin Liang, the King of Disruption, the Disruption Commander, Xi Ying Eighth Great King, and others.
White pole troops from the river region in Sichuan had also come to reinforce Shanxi’s forces. Over there, it was like a pot of boiling porridge, with soldiers and bandits scattering everywhere.
How could Wang Guoliang possibly spare anyone now to garrison Hedong Road?
Should he chop himself into three thousand pieces and turn himself into three soldiers to guard it?
Wang Guoliang leaned closer to Xu Dingchen, lowering his voice. “Superintendent Xu, this lowly general truly lacks the personnel to garrison Hedong Road.”
Xu Dingchen: “What, then, are we to do?”
Wang Guoliang subtly gestured towards Xing Honglang: “Perhaps this person is available.”
Xu Dingchen frowned: “This person is, after all, an appeasement bandit… What if she rebels again…?”
Wang Guoliang: “She was originally a salt smuggler who could read, write, keep accounts, and conduct business. I hear she’s already established several industries in Puzhou, built workshops, and carries out textile work, pig farming, chicken raising, cotton cultivation… she does a bit of everything.”
Hearing this, Xu Dingchen couldn’t help but utter a surprised “Oh?”
Wang Guoliang added, “Since she’s already building a business in Puzhou, the likelihood of her rebelling again is very small.”
Xu Dingchen nodded. That made sense. The wealthier someone was, the less likely they were to commit rebellion or chaos—there was nothing to gain from it. Wasn’t that the meaning behind the phrase “The barefooted are unafraid of the shod”?
He also recalled what the emperor said before his appointment: Puzhou Defender Xing Honglang had performed meritorious service suppressing bandits and deserved a reward. Lower officials should think of ways to reward her appropriately.
Now, upon reflection, it seemed good to promote her.
In turbulent times, decisive actions were necessary—talented people should be employed without rigid adherence to convention.
Xu Dingchen clapped a hand to his forehead, reaching a decision. He issued the order: “General Xing, you have earned merit for your contribution to bandit suppression and recapturing Hedong Road. Seeing how well you pacified the people right here in Hedong city, managing Hedong optimally this past period; how clearly you reported the amount of salt craftsmen losses and ensured subsequent salt supply shipments… I will promote you exceptionally to the rank of Troop Commander of Hedong Road, simultaneously serving the role of Salt Tax Office Ambassador.”
Xing Honglang was overjoyed inside, yet feigned another question: “Then, what about Puzhou? This lowly general has several industries back in Puzhou…”
Xu Dingchen replied, “I reviewed your prior battle report. Reportedly, under your command is a major general bearing the nickname Old Nan Feng. He once served as deputy Hundred-House in the rebel band in Guyuan. Due to unpaid wages, he joined your forces. Now he has turned over a new leaf along with you and returned to our officials after appeasement procedure. He has since performed meritoriously in several recent campaigns. Such talent should not go to waste. I appoint him to replace you as Puzhou Defender.”
Xing Honglang inwardly smiled: Done! The ‘best outcome’ in the Deity’s plan has emerged.
Really, more than a ‘best outcome’, it was an inevitable outcome.
The entire Shanxi territory was already thoroughly disrupted, its inmates badly misdirected, with inmates rampaging everywhere. Facing that situation, what other option did Xu Dingchen have besides this arrangement?
How could he not appoint a commander with a record of effectiveness against bandits? To appoint someone connected purely through relations, lacking combat achievements?
Xu Dingchen, once the assignments were announced, wished to linger no longer. He, a newly appointed official, was snowed under with matters requiring urgent attention. He had to head north to Shanxi soon to mount bandit suppression efforts.
The Governor Zhang Zongheng of Xuanda recently found cause to impeach Shanxi officials incessantly: one day impeaching them for failing to deliver supplies to the border towns of Xuanda, another day denouncing them for indulging bandits whose actions ruined frontier security.
These impeachment memorials accumulated into a mountain before the throne. The emperor, in a panic, urged Xu Dingchen to hurry up, enter Shanxi, and handle this mess properly.
Thus, immediately after assigning Xing Honglang her new post, Xu Dingchen bolted forth: “General Xing, I’m counting on you to handle this place. Defend it well, that I might proceed north with peace of heart conducting bandit suppression.”
Xing Honglang clasped her fists. “This lowly general pledges life and limb.”
Xu Dingchen made a prompt departure alongside Shanxi’s General Wang Guoliang, heading north in great hurry.
Xing Honglang thus transformed before her very eyes into Troop Commander, assuming garrison over the imperial salt warehouse.
Plans arranged earlier by Zhao Sheng could now take effect. Report upwards: due to bandit rebellion, half the salt craftsmen died. Salt supply to the court could only reach half its prior quantity. As for the surplus… my apologies, Gaojia Village graciously accepted it all.
…
The primary duty of the troop commander was stabilizing local security. At the same time, they were required to assist provincial governors with handling military affairs. Their military powers included taking partial responsibility for armed affairs, training guardhouse soldiers and local militia, apprehending thieves, suppressing popular uprisings, managing guardhouse soldiers and equipment, monetary funds and food supplies, handling farmlands colonies, while patrolling waterways and shores for defense.
The troop commander’s duties overlapped at times with responsibilites partially held by officials in the Provincial Administration Commission and Provincial Judicial Commission’s other circuits—powers, jurisdiction areas, and other functions. To prevent redundant staffing, situations arose where the troop commander took on additional responsibilities concurrently or managed other matters additionally. These included cultivating culture and education, developing irrigation, building city walls, administering the salt system, managing imperial stables post stations, among others.
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