Chapter 20: A Thorough Encirclement—Eradicating the Bandits to the Last Man

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Jiang Bai’s brows knitted tightly as he heard this, his fists clenched, and a trace of complex emotion flickered across his face.

“The rules of the previous dynasty apply to the Chenyun Army as well?”

“Commander Jiang, new ruler, new ministers. Every rule passes from generation to generation. Maybe not a hundred percent, but at least ninety percent of the Chenyun Army follows them, except for the First Division directly under the Marshal—the rest are all cut from the same cloth.”

“Nonsense! Utter nonsense!” Jiang Bai’s lips twitched as he spoke, his dissatisfaction and rejection of the practice clear.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.

The army, the weight of the dynasty, is sustained by the people—their food, clothing, and supplies drawn from the masses. This mighty force should serve the people, protect their land and peace. Yet, it has become another parasite feeding on the people’s lifeblood.

If this continues, what fighting strength can a parasitic army possess, what loyalty from the people can it earn?

Seeing Jiang Bai’s anger, Wang Xiao offered a bitter smile in response: “Commander Jiang, I see you as a good officer. To speak boldly, my family has been in the military for generations. My ancestor served with the emperor Taiji when entering the pass, rose to the rank of Green Standard Army Inspector—an important figure. Yet, he could not bear to compete with the people for profit or join corrupt officials in greed, and so the family declined.”

“My father often complains my ancestor acted wrongly, but I don’t see it that way.”

“Our Chenyun Army is well-equipped from top to bottom, every division armed with foreign weapons, guns aplenty. But why is it a dragon outside the pass and a worm within? Because our commanders brought the old rules inside, repelled by the common folk, unable to buy grain even with money, causing logistics to falter and battles to be lost.”

“Now, with the Qing Emperor abdicated, the Northern Expedition underway, the world in chaos—a mere army without the people’s support is useless. If the army mattered, would the Qing Emperor have been ousted by Yuan? So I say, the people’s heart is mightier than a million troops!”

Wang Xiao’s words sent Jiang Bai’s thoughts drifting far. Jiang Bai turned his back to Wang Xiao, gazing at the distant mountains and drifting clouds beyond the camp.

Yes, without the people’s support, even a million troops are nothing but chickens and dogs.

After a moment, Commander Jiang turned to face Wang Xiao, his expression calm, but in the depths of his eyes burned an unwavering light. His voice was steady and powerful, every word weighed with deliberation.

“Wang Xiao, you’re right—those who win the people’s heart win the world. But have you considered, how does one gain the people’s heart? Is it enough merely to eradicate bandits to win their favor?”

“Only land—only when the farmers have their own land, when every bowl is filled, when no one must degrade themselves for a mouthful of food…”

“Commander Jiang!” Wang Xiao exclaimed, a little surprised.

“Haha, lost myself there. Don’t take those words to heart,” Jiang Bai waved his hand quickly, trying to ease the ‘ambition’ he’d just revealed.

“Wang Xiao, your ancestor—he’d rather see his family decline than compete with the people. What noble character! That is precisely the example you and I should follow.”

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“Bandit suppression must be true eradication—not just for the sake of victory, but to purge every bandit in the Chenyun Mountains, leaving not a single one alive.”

“But Commander Jiang, it seems these mountain bandits have support from the Japanese.”

“If the crackdown is so broad, would it not intensify the conflict between the Japanese and our Chenyun Army? Should we report to the Army Headquarters or the Marshal? If the bandit suppression fails and becomes a drawn-out struggle, with logistics failing, the Seventh Division could face defeat!”

Faced with Wang Xiao’s concerns, Jiang Bai appeared quite relaxed this time:

“What’s the big deal? I’ve killed plenty of Japanese diplomats before, and they didn’t do anything to me. This is just a purge of genuine local bandits. Whether overt or covert, it stands on solid ground.”

“As for whether we’ll be drawn into a protracted struggle, my Seventh Division is strong and well-armed, all German-made guns and cannons. If we can’t eradicate the bandits in three months, you and I shouldn’t wear this uniform.”

“This battle must not only be won, but won swiftly and decisively.”

Jiang Bai turned to his desk, picked up his pen, and wrote a Chenyun Army order, handing it to Wang Xiao.

“This order, you must deliver personally to the Marshal and announce it to the entire division.”

With that, he wrote his name, Jiang Bai, in bold, vigorous characters.

“Orderly!”

“Here!” The orderly entered, saluted sharply, his posture straight and strong.

“Convey my order: immediately recall all officers and soldiers of the Seventh Division. The Chenyun Camp will rest in place for one day. At eight tomorrow morning, we march out to suppress the bandits in the mountains!”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good, hahaha!”

“Damn it, that kid always brings me surprises!” Marshal Wang exclaimed repeatedly in his office after receiving Jiang Bai’s handwritten order.

This piqued Yang Ting’s curiosity. Ever since Jiang Bai burst onto the scene in the Chenyun Army, the Marshal had kept a close eye on him, sensing that the young man might soon eclipse his own status as a leader of the reformist faction.

That was not a good omen.

“Marshal, what has you so pleased? Tell me, let me share in your joy!”

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“Fine, take a look!” Yang Ting took the Chenyun Army order from the old Marshal’s hand.

“Yang Ting, you and I are getting old, no longer as bold as we once were! Look at these young officers—so fierce, daring to say anything and do everything. Haha!”

Though the old Marshal’s words teased Jiang Bai, there was genuine admiration behind them.

For self-made men, he cared nothing for talented youths unless they were cut from the same mold as he was in his younger days. Jiang Bai fit this exactly, reminiscent of the Marshal’s own youthful self.

Army Order

Our division shall mobilize at eight tomorrow morning, launching a full-scale assault to eradicate the mountain bandits. This campaign aims to eliminate the bandit threat with lightning speed, securing the people’s peace and restoring the prestige of our town.

From this day forward, the Seventh Division shall enter a state of alert; every camp and unit shall hold their positions, repair weapons, and prepare for battle. The entire division is equipped with German-made firearms and artillery, striving to complete the purge within three months. Any delay in combat or neglect of duty will be subject to military law.

This campaign will not only test our division’s courage, but also its loyalty and efficiency. We must achieve swift victory to showcase the might of the Chenyun Army and establish its reputation. This order must be strictly followed by all officers and soldiers without error.

Jiang Bai Date

“Marshal, Commander Jiang is bold indeed.”

“Yet, I believe that relying solely on the Seventh Division to eliminate the mountain bandits in three months may be difficult. I suggest that Chenyun Military Governor Wu Sheng and Jidi Military Governor Wang Zuo each dispatch a division to establish military checkpoints at the border between Chenyun and Jidi provinces, strictly preventing bandit escape and assisting Commander Jiang in the comprehensive encirclement.”

“Good, carry out your plan!”

“Yes, Marshal.” Yang Ting immediately sat at the Marshal’s desk to draft the orders.

Since Jiang Bai wanted to stage a grand campaign, Yang Ting would help set the stage.

The audience and spectators had all entered the arena; if Jiang Bai performed well in this drama of bandit suppression, Yang Ting would have warmed up the crowd for him. If he failed, whether Jiang Bai could continue to eat from the Chenyun Army’s bowl would become a difficult question.