Scout again

Reverence rose on Lu Xiangsheng's face. He nodded. "Yes. When I heard His Majesty's plan that day, I found it just as unbelievable as you did. Thinking back now, I realize how much His Majesty had prepared."

"His Majesty is wise indeed!" At those words, Chen Guowei bowed toward Beijing City. "That day, I even..." Recalling the words "foolish tyrant" that he had never voiced, Chen Guowei suddenly felt as stupid as a pig.

"We cannot pass judgment without knowing the whole picture." Lu Xiangsheng was filled with relief, but then his expression turned stern. "This time, we must fight a fine battle and show those Tatars!"

"Yes!" All three cupped their hands and accepted the order, their blood surging uncontrollably.

The court had suffered so many attacks from the Jurchens, and every time it could only endure them. So much wealth and grain, so many of the Great Ming's people, had been carried away. This time, they could not let it happen again!

As they were thinking this, a Night Patrol scout emerged from the woods. "Governor-general, Tatar scouts have appeared outside Jinan!"

"They're here!" Hu Dawei said excitedly.

Lu Xiangsheng waved him down. "Be patient. Dorgon is not a rash man. He will make certain nothing can go wrong before entering the city. We must wait a little longer! Pass down my orders: the entire army is to remain silent. No fires. Report any unusual movement immediately!"

"Yes!"

Outside Jinan, a dozen or so Tatar scouts paced their horses beneath the walls. The city before them was many times larger than Gaoyang. They listened carefully to their surroundings, then urged their horses forward and slowly entered the city, splitting up to inspect different areas.

There was not a soul in the city either. One Tatar entered a residence and suddenly spotted a silver ingot lying on the ground. His eyes lit up, and he hurriedly picked it up and tucked it into his robe.

In a city as vast as Jinan, who knew how many treasures he might find if he searched every house? But he had not come to pick up valuables; he had come to inspect the city. After checking his assigned area, he turned his horse around and rode out through Jinan's gate.

Another scout was already waiting at the gate, his chest bulging with who knew what treasures.

"Keep it discreet. Plenty of men envy us already. If you go back looking like that, they'll stir up trouble again!"

The man thought that made sense. He pulled a porcelain vase from his robe, tipped several silver ingots out of it, then smashed the vase on the ground with a crash.

Only after all the scouts returned did the party head back to camp.

After hearing their report, Yoto walked toward the camp's watchtower. Dorgon stood atop it, gazing toward Jinan.

"Uncle Wang, the scouts have returned. Jinan is an empty city, just like Gaoyang!"

Dorgon descended from the tower and ordered, "Scout again. Around Jinan, in the wooded hills. Scout again!"

Yoto frowned in puzzlement. "Uncle Wang, do you think something is wrong?"

Dorgon neither shook his head nor nodded. "Caution comes first!"

"Very well-"

"What do you mean, very well?" Hao Ge strode over and complained, "Haven't the scouts already returned? What else is there to scout? We've eaten all the grain we found in Gaoyang, and Lu Xiangsheng has been hauled back under arrest. What the hell are you afraid of?"

"If the grain is gone, raid the nearby county towns!" After saluting Dorgon, Yoto pulled Hao Ge aside. "Don't be so hotheaded. Whatever else, His Majesty appointed our Uncle Wang commander this time. He isn't stooping to argue with you, so quit while you're ahead!"

"Hmph! I am His Majesty's eldest son. What is he? Won't he have to kneel at my feet someday?"

"Keep those words to yourself!" Yoto sighed. "I must arrange the scouts. Shall I take men from your banner this time?"

"Hmph! You won't use my men to scout the city, but you want them to scout wasteland and woods? Who would want to go?" Hao Ge gave Yoto a displeased sidelong look. "Once we enter the city, I want Prince De's Residence. Nobody had better fight me for it!"

"Fine, fine. You can stay at Prince De's Residence!" Yoto nodded perfunctorily.

Hao Ge snorted again at Dorgon's retreating back, then spotted Oboi nearby. He beckoned to him. "Oboi... Baturu, you go, then. If there's nothing wrong, hurry back. Don't delay my entry into the city!"

Oboi glanced at Yoto. Seeing this, Hao Ge snapped, "What, can't I give you orders anymore?"

Worried that the two would start arguing again, Yoto quickly said, "Oboi, go and return swiftly!"

Only then did Oboi accept the order. He selected a hundred or so men and rode out of camp with them, then split them up to head in different directions.

The light was already fading, and the setting sun dyed the sky blood-red. Oboi was angry too. Hao Ge might be His Majesty's eldest son, but who in the army respected him?

Just a greenhorn, and he really thinks he's somebody?

Someday... Oboi snorted. His Majesty had so many women, and they had no Han custom of installing the eldest son as heir. Besides, His Majesty doted on Consort Chen so much. If she bore a son, Hao Ge would have to step aside.

While these thoughts occupied him, the party Oboi personally led had reached the wooded hills. Branches swayed in the mountain wind. Oboi took his bow and loosed several arrows into the woods. Suddenly, the trees shook violently. He focused his gaze, only to see a flock of birds burst from the forest and take to the sky.

"Go. Look for traces of men or horses!" Oboi waved behind him. A dozen or so men dismounted, drew their blades, and headed into the woods.

Oboi did not enter the forest. He looked around. There were many mountains outside Jinan. If they truly searched them one by one, even if they only went halfway up each mountain, they would still be searching next year.

Checking for tracks at the foot of the mountains will do!

The dozen or so men entering the hills hacked at the brambles underfoot while looking around. "They won't let us scout the city, but they send us to this place where even birds won't shit."

"What can we do? There are two princes and a beile in the army. What does a general count for?"

"Ah, true. Even if we enter the city, we won't get much of a share!"

"Not necessarily." One man looked back as he spoke. "Look how big Jinan is. We'll get more here than we did in Gaoyang!"

"True... Ah, why would Ming troops hide in the mountains? Look, there isn't even a footprint here!"

"Come on. Once we've done enough, let's head back!"

Higher in the wooded hills, the Heavenly Hero Army lay prone, holding their breath and not daring to make a sound. As the Tatars drew closer and closer, cold sweat broke out on their foreheads.

A young soldier lay beside Hu Dawei, so nervous that his heart nearly leaped into his throat. His foot itched, and he did not know what sort of insect was crawling over it. He dared not move, closing his eyes and enduring it.

Snick! Suddenly, a severed branch flew toward him as a saber chopped it loose. Its sharp tip plunged into the young soldier's cheek.

"Ah-" The brief cry was smothered in his mouth. Hu Dawei clapped a hand over it, his eyes watching warily beyond their hiding place.

"What was that?" A scout stopped and looked around.

"What sound? I didn't hear anything." A man beside him also stopped, listening intently.

Lu Xiangsheng's hand was already on his saber hilt. Sweat trickled into his eyes. He closed them briefly, and when he opened them again, his gaze was utterly resolute.

There was no movement anywhere around them. The doubt in the two Tatars' eyes deepened. Just as they were about to turn and call for the others, another cry came from the woods.

"Caw-caw-"

"Oh, a crow." Hearing the crow's call from the woods, the scout hacked a few more times around him. "Let's go. It's almost dark. Who knows whether there are man-eating beasts in these woods?"

The dozen or so men left the woods one after another and gathered at the foot of the mountain.