Chapter 18: Sharing Weal and Woe

Horses are the most sensitive to the scent of danger. Facing the neatly arranged ranks and the rows of upright wooden spears, the mounts shifted restlessly, stamping their hooves and snorting.

Ma Yunjiu had to stroke his horse’s mane to soothe the agitated beast beneath him. Once the animal was calm, he spoke: "Chief Shi is concerned for the safety of the Archer Battalion and sent me with the cavalry to check on you, just in case. Now that I see everyone is safe, I can return to report."

Li Shuheng smiled and said, "My thanks to you and your men, Headman Ma. If you don't mind, please dismount and rest for a moment; I shall have someone prepare a meal."

"No need," Ma Yunjiu replied. "Chief Shi is waiting for my report, so I won't impose any further."

With that, Ma Yunjiu pulled on the reins, turned his mount, and departed with his cavalrymen.

Once they were out of sight, Li Shuheng turned to Liu Heng and Chen Xunping. "Let's go back as well."

Liu Heng spoke to Yang Yuan, who was nearby: "Pass the word: everyone is to return to rest, except for those on patrol."

Yang Yuan left to relay the order, while Liu Heng, Li Shuheng, and the others headed straight for the command tent. Once inside, the three took their seats.

Li Shuheng looked at Liu Heng and asked, "What do you make of what just happened?"

Liu Heng laughed. "When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, earth covers it. We stick to our plan: train the new recruits and strengthen our force. I will take men to seize control of the rear camp tomorrow."

Chen Xunping added, "I will go with you."

Li Shuheng felt a twinge of unease. "Shi Yunhu hasn't ordered us to take over the rear camp. If you do it directly, won't it provoke him? He is, after all, the Chief, the nominal supreme leader."

Chen Xunping retorted, "What is there to fear? We've already had a falling out; why care if he’s pleased or not? Besides, that rear camp position should have been Liu Heng's to begin with."

Liu Heng, sitting behind a low desk, chimed in: "Whether Shi Yunhu likes it or not is irrelevant. While he lacks the energy to deal with us now, we must seize the opportunity to grow stronger. If we wait until he has absolute control of the main camp, we will be the ones who suffer."

"Then we shall do as you say," Li Shuheng said. "We have something else to discuss with you. Xunping and I have limited capabilities, and the talent you have displayed far exceeds our own. We have discussed it: from now on, the Archer Battalion shall be under your command, and we will serve as your subordinates."

"This..." Liu Heng hesitated.

Though he longed to control the entire battalion, he worried that swallowing it whole might incite discontent among the other leaders, leading to infighting that would drain the battalion's strength and distract him. If that were to happen, he might as well just focus on training the new refugee recruits, which would be far less trouble.

"Just agree to it!" Chen Xunping urged. "The Archer Battalion is better off with you than with Brother Shuheng and me. As for the other leaders, don't worry—after the grain raid at Zheng Family Village and tonight's battle, everyone is truly convinced by your ability."

Seeing them both insistent, Liu Heng nodded. "Very well. However, Brother Shuheng, you will need to continue leading the battalion for the time being. I am currently occupied with incorporating the rear camp and training the new recruits; I simply lack the energy to manage the archers as well."

Li Shuheng nodded. "Rest assured. Xunping and I are your subordinates now. Give whatever orders you must, and don't worry about our status."

Liu Heng nodded, offering no further protest. He had long coveted these archers, knowing they would be vital to his future, but he had been reluctant to seize them while they were under Li Shuheng's authority. Now that they were offering, it saved him a great deal of trouble.

"It is getting late," Liu Heng said. "Let us all return to rest; there is much to be done tomorrow."

"I have already had a tent prepared for you; let me show you the way," Li Shuheng said, rising from his desk.

"No need for such trouble," Liu Heng waved him off. "I will sleep with the new recruits tonight."

"They say that great generals always sleep and eat alongside their men, sharing in both the sweetness and the bitterness," Chen Xunping said with a grin. "One day, Liu Heng, you will surely be a great general yourself."

Li Shuheng laughed and chided him, "Don't speak if you don't know the proper terms; it’s called 'sharing joys and sorrows,' not 'eating sweet and bitter.'"

Liu Heng chuckled along. "I won't keep you two brothers any longer. I am going to check on the new recruits."

Li Shuheng and Chen Xunping saw Liu Heng out, only returning to the tent once he was well away.

Sitting back down, Li Shuheng sighed. "If Commander Du had been like Liu Heng back then, we would never have been defeated by those Tatars in Liaodong."

Chen Xunping spread a curtain on the ground, lay down, and rested his head on his hands. "How many good officials are there in our Great Ming? I’ve never seen one. Back when we were in the army, we never had a full meal, yet we did the hardest work and were constantly bullied by the officers' personal guards. Though we are bandits now, at least we don't have to suffer that kind of indignity anymore."

Li Shuheng’s lips moved, but he only sighed. "Sleep."

Upon arriving where the new recruits were resting, Liu Heng laid down some hay and slept in his clothes. Many of the refugees, seeing their great leader sleeping on the same straw as they were, felt their eyes grow moist.

Liu Heng never forgot to remind himself not to grow arrogant. Though he now had a force of three hundred refugees and a hundred archers, he knew this strength was nothing in such chaotic times; a single wave could easily crush him against the shore.

After an exhausting day of struggle and a fierce battle, the weary Liu Heng soon drifted into a deep sleep.

When he awoke, it was already bright. Yang Yuan had brought his food. Liu Heng took the flatbread and wild vegetable porridge Yang Yuan offered. With grain now abundant, the thin vegetable soup had been replaced by hearty porridge, and the bread contained far less filler.

After finishing his meal, Liu Heng patted his stomach and said, "Take some men and meet me at the rear camp. We are going to take control."

"Right away," Yang Yuan agreed. "I'll arrange for several squads of new recruits to come with us."

"And bring a squad of archers," Liu Heng added.

Yang Yuan hesitated. "Should we check with Chief Li before mobilizing the archers?"

Liu Heng waved his hand. "No need. Just go. Tell them it is my order; if anyone refuses, tell them to come see me."

After the night and morning that had passed, he was certain Li Shuheng and Chen Xunping had already informed the other leaders of his new authority. If anyone dared to defy him now, he would not hesitate to be ruthless.

"I'll go make the arrangements," Yang Yuan said, turning to assemble the men.

Just as Liu Heng picked up his bowl to leave, he saw Chen Xunping running toward him. Reaching him, Chen Xunping said urgently, "I was looking for you—Shi Yunhu has sent men."