Rushing through the night, Zhu Ping’an led the Zhejiang army back to Shaoxing in the middle of the night. Though he longed to return home and see Li Shu and the two little ones, it was too late, and he was covered in the smoke and dust of battle, stained with blood and grime. Fearing he might bring illness home, he did not return to the residence and stayed instead in the Zhejiang army’s main camp in Shaoxing.
I want to go home myself, Zhu Ping’an thought, putting himself in their shoes. The soldiers must have been missing home even longer.
Without even removing his armour, Zhu Ping’an ordered all the Zhejiang troops assembled.
The cooks sprang into action, setting up huge cauldrons filled with chicken, duck, mutton, and pork.
The meat stewed with Sichuan peppercorns and star anise, white scallions and fresh ginger, seasoned with salt. As the chunks bobbed up and down, the aroma filled the air.
Soon every man held a large sea-bowl brimming with stew, thick with meat, scant vegetables, and rich broth, accompanied by two flatbreads. One mouthful sent waves of satisfaction through them.
The Zhejiang soldiers slurped the broth, tore into great chunks of meat, and soaked their breads in the stew. Nothing could have warmed them more.
“Brothers, we have marched from south to north, fighting for over a month. You have all endured great hardship. Tonight we boil water for proper baths. From tomorrow, the entire army will take leave in two rotations. Each man gets ten days to return to wife, children, and warm bed, to enjoy family happiness.”
Zhu Ping’an held a bowl of stew, took a sip, set it down, picked up a tin megaphone, and addressed the crowd, announcing the leave.
“Wonderful. Leave at last.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
The Zhejiang soldiers roared with excitement, beside themselves with joy. They set down bowls and embraced in celebration.
After so long campaigning, body and spirit exhausted, ten days off was sheer bliss.
“My lord, what about those of us without wife or children?” one soldier called out jokingly.
“Hahaha, you old bachelor.”
“You have wives all right. Five of them. No, ten. Hahaha…”
The men burst into laughter.
“If you have no wife, go home, find a matchmaker, get yourself a woman, work hard, and soon you will have wife, children, and warm bed too.”
Zhu Ping’an chuckled.
“Old bachelor, you handle finding the wife. If she cannot bear children, we will gladly lend a hand.”
The soldiers roared with laughter again.
“Each camp will decide its own rotation order. The first batch may go home tomorrow. Before leaving, there is one important matter…”
Zhu Ping’an rose and clapped his hands.
The soldiers looked up wide-eyed, curious what the important matter could be.
Amid eager anticipation, heavy footsteps approached. Zhejiang troops carried in weighty chests.
Four men bore each iron-bound chest. Sixteen soldiers in all hauled four great boxes.
The chests were so heavy that when set down they thudded against the ground, making the earth tremble.
Four half-man-high iron chests were placed one by one, the ground shaking four times.
“What is in the chests? So heavy.”
“Weapons? Armour?”
The soldiers speculated, unsure what Zhu Ping’an had ordered brought forward.
“Could it be…”
Some began to guess and grew excited.
“Could it be what?” others pressed. Why the excitement? What is inside?
Zhu Ping’an wasted no time. He gestured upward, signalling the chests be opened.
Clang, clang, clang, clang. Almost simultaneously the four locks snapped open and lids were raised.
“Oh…”
“My eyes…”
Under torchlight the opened chests gleamed golden, nearly blinding everyone.
“All silver. So much…” Seeing the chests packed full, the men breathed heavily like bellows.
No one needed to guess why Zhu Ping’an had the four chests of silver brought out. Excitement surged.
“These are the merit rewards based on your performance assessments. Daily drills, battlefield conduct, and enemies slain have all been recorded. Now, according to your scores, rewards are distributed. When your name is called, step forward to receive your silver.”
Zhu Ping’an held the merit register and addressed the crowd.
“Leave and reward silver both. Truly… we would die for my lord.”
“We would die for my lord.”
“We would die for my lord.”
A soldier dies for one who knows him. The Zhejiang troops below surged with passion. Eyes burned with fervent admiration for Zhu Ping’an. They thumped chests and roared a single vow that shook the heavens: we would die for my lord.
Zhu Ping’an raised his hands for quiet. The troops fell instantly silent. Satisfied, he nodded, opened the register, and through the megaphone read the awards.
“Wang Hubo, reward fifty-seven taels.”
“Zhang Tiedan, reward twenty-six taels.”
“Hu Erniu, reward thirty-seven taels.”
“Zhang Suo, reward ninety-two taels.”
“Wang Tiechui, reward two hundred thirty-three taels.”
…
Each time a name and its thrilling sum were called, the named soldier whooped in delight.
When amounts topped a hundred taels, or even reached two hundred, the crowd bellowed approval.
“Damn, I got eighty-three taels. Hahaha. When I get home that woman will finally know who rules the house. Let us see if she dares call me useless again. She will bow and obey.”
“Tiechui, incredible. Two hundred thirty taels. Richest man in the village now. Even the clan head cannot match you. Build a big house, let uncle and auntie find you a wife. Warm bed at home. Life will be sweet.”
“Erniu, no need to envy Tiechui. He earned it, killing three wokou and saving the corporal. Of course you did well too, thirty-seven taels.”
“Perfect. Home at last, I will be the big man. Buy a calf, two pigs, three bolts of cloth. New clothes for the wife and children.”
“Erhei, why so smug? This time I fell short, but next campaign I will take a wokou head and surpass you.”
The Zhejiang soldiers below buzzed with energy. Those with high rewards beamed, imagining placing their silver at home to universal awe. Those with less vowed silently to redouble efforts next time. Everywhere morale soared, vitality thrived.
