Chapter 51: The Malice of the Later Jin

Lu Xiangsheng smiled and said, "Commander Du, do you have any idea how much the equipment for a single division costs? Our division consists of three brigades and nine battalions, totaling over fifteen thousand men. If we only count firearms, a musket originally cost thirty taels of silver, which translates to sixty dollars. Now, thanks to the transition to modern mechanical manufacturing, the price has dropped, but it still costs thirty dollars per piece. This item alone amounts to over four-hundred and fifty thousand dollars. As for gunpowder and lead bullets, the current rate is one dollar for ten portions. In a single battle, each soldier needs to carry fifty portions; even if we calculate for just twenty portions, that's thirty thousand dollars. And this is just accounting for normal operational expenses."

Taking a sip of water, he continued, "A set of scale armor costs one hundred dollars, and the plate armor currently being tested by the Armament Bureau is reportedly two hundred dollars a set. Considering the scale armor alone, that's one million five hundred thousand dollars."

"The artillery battalion's cannons are priced at one hundred dollars per three-pounder, three hundred dollars for a six-pounder, and six hundred dollars for a nine-pounder, not even including gunpowder and shells. Cavalry is even more expensive; the consumption of a single cavalryman is at least equivalent to that of ten infantrymen. Furthermore, our division's monthly payroll alone comes to sixty thousand dollars. Recruiting men is simple—we have plenty of those. But it takes more than just having people; it takes money. His Majesty once said that waging war is fundamentally waging financial strength. His Majesty is currently racking his brains to raise funds. The money confiscated from the recent household seizures is almost exhausted, yet His Majesty holds a magnificent vision in his heart, and it will all require capital to bring to reality."

Wang Chengmin chimed in, "Indeed. I heard someone mention recently that Her Majesty the Empress has cut back on her own food and clothing, purely to redirect those funds toward essential matters. It is infuriating that there are still corrupt officials in the imperial court who accuse His Majesty of subverting ancestral laws and constantly thwart him at every turn. I truly wish I could shoot them dead with a musket."

Lu Xiangsheng scolded him with a smile, "Do not speak such nonsense. We are military men. His Majesty has stated that everyone has their own duties. For now, soldiers are only to concern themselves with combat and must not interfere in politics. I trust that His Majesty has the means to deal with those individuals."

Du Guangting carefully pondered Lu Xiangsheng's words. If they must not interfere in politics *now*, did that imply they might be allowed to do so in the future? A surge of heat ignited in his heart. Born into a military household, he had long scoffed at the dogma that ancestral laws were immutable. Must the son of a soldier remain forever a soldier? There was no such rule. He gave his wholehearted support to the Emperor's desire to reform the ancestral laws.

Lu Xiangsheng resumed, "Given the current situation, if we hold the city, the Later Jin forces are very likely to reinforce their troops, which would create complications. Therefore, we must accelerate the evacuation of the Liaodong civilians, getting the people out first. As for belongings, if there is not enough time to transport them later, we will simply put them to the torch. While it is somewhat regrettable, there is no alternative."

When the meeting concluded, Lu Xiangsheng and the others personally visited the Haizhou Garrison to inspect the wounded soldiers. The Haizhou Garrison yamen had been temporarily requisitioned as a hospital, inside which medical officers and apprentices bustled about. Shrill, agonizing screams echoed periodically as medics used heated irons to cauterize the wounds of severely injured men.

Because the combat had consistently been ranged warfare, the critical casualties were soldiers struck by arrows in vital areas such the head and neck. Having seen what the plate armor looked like, Lu Xiangsheng now fervently hoped that Master Physician Sun could finalize the plate armor soon, rendering the arrows of the Later Jin completely useless.

He walked from bed to bed, checking on the wounded soldiers, inquiring about their condition, and offering words of comfort. It was late into the night before he finished speaking with every single casualty. Chen Liyuan, following closely behind, felt even more certain that his decision to follow the Imperial Guard was exceptionally wise.

The next day, Aibato launched no assaults. Wang Chengmin led the cavalry battalion to secure a twenty-li perimeter outside the southern gate to prevent any surprise attacks by the Later Jin army on the evacuating Liaodong civilians. Upon seeing that the Later Jin forces had reached the northern part of the city, the civilians panicked even more; those who had previously been reluctant to leave were now desperate to reach Gaizhou or even Fuzhou in a single stride.

On the third morning, reinforcements from the Later Jin arrived. Through his telescope, Lu Xiangsheng estimated their number at around three thousand, all fully armored Later Jin troops. By this time, most of the Liaodong civilians had already departed, leaving behind a remaining population of roughly two thousand, all of whom were able-bodied young men.

Lu Xiangsheng ordered the halt of the southern migration of civilians. Sure enough, by that afternoon, the Later Jin army had completely surrounded Haizhou. Lu Xiangsheng calculated that the Later Jin forces likely dared not dispatch troops to pursue the escaping civilians, but as a precaution, he still ordered Du Guangting to lead an infantry battalion out of the southern gate, forming a battle array within artillery range to project a stance ready to strike the Later Jin at any moment.

The Later Jin army fell right into the trap, marshaling their ranks and waiting in strict battle formation, prepared for a fierce clash with the Imperial Guard. To their surprise, the Imperial Guard merely formed ranks without initiating any attack, and knowing the terrifying power of the artillery, the enemy did not dare to strike the Imperial Guard either.

The two sides maintained a standoff separated by a distance of roughly three paces. By nightfall, the Imperial Guard unhurriedly retreated back into the city, leaving the Later Jin forces consumed with rage.

Xu Dajin had already departed, but Xu Mingsheng had not yet managed to leave. He sought out Lu Xiangsheng to express that the able-bodied young men could also contribute to the city's defense, requesting the general's permission for them to go up the walls and assist.

Looking at him with an amused expression, Lu Xiangsheng thought for a moment and said, "How about Scholar Xu takes charge of managing these young men?"

Xu Mingsheng readily agreed. "I thank General Lu for your trust. May I ask where we might find weapons for the young men?"

Lu Xiangsheng summoned a messenger, instructing him to escort Xu Mingsheng to the armory to retrieve weapons and armor, and said to Xu Mingsheng, "I trust Scholar Xu will manage these men well. Should you render meritorious service in the future, the imperial court will not treat you unfairly."

Xu Mingsheng replied with a solemn expression, "The reason we are willing to defend the city is because the Later Jin seized our lands, slaughtered our border people, and treated us like pigs and dogs—it is not out of greed for the court's rewards. General Lu, farewell."

Wang Chengmin said uneasily, "Division Commander, is it appropriate to let him lead the young men? I feel that man's words did not sound entirely pleasant."

Lu Xiangsheng smiled and said, "Listen to his words, watch his actions, and judge him afterward."

The Later Jin army launched a probing assault on the second morning—a customary tactic of theirs to test the waters, identify weak points, and then concentrate their strength for a fierce breakthrough. Lu Xiangsheng intentionally suppressed the counterattack intensity on the western wall, wishing to let them mistakenly believe this sector was vulnerable, only to teach them a harsh lesson when the time came.

The following day, the Later Jin army suspended their offensive and began dispatching cavalry in all directions. Lu Xiangsheng initially assumed they were felling timber to construct siege engines, but he quickly realized his error when he saw columns of Han civilians being driven under guard into the enemy camp outside the city.

The other Imperial Guard soldiers also grasped the malicious intent of the Later Jin and broke into fierce curses, while secretly harboring deep anxiety: how on earth were they supposed to handle the enemy driving Han civilians to storm the city?

Lu Xiangsheng urgently summoned all officers of battalion commander rank and above to deliberate on countermeasures. Since virtually none of the Liaodong troops had yet been promoted to such ranks, these officers were all veterans from the former Capital Garrison, which paradoxically made consensus difficult. If you argued that they should fire regardless, the subordinate Liaodong soldiers would harbor grievances; if you argued they should hold fire, were they simply supposed to let the Later Jin breach Haizhou City and perish together?