“This was bestowed by the Taizu. Store it in the warehouse first to supplement the food shortage. Under no circumstances are the people in the city allowed to starve to death.”

He pointed at that mountain of soybeans as he spoke.

In fact, the best solution at this time would be to confiscate surplus grain from the populace and implement a rationing system. But if he did that, those gentry would abandon him without hesitation. Right now, those gentry have plenty of options; the only reason they haven’t abandoned him yet is out of inertia. He needs to wait for news of Abraham Lincoln attacking the wealthy landlords, and at the same time block the Qing army from coming through. Only then will they have no other choice but to truly tie themselves to him and make some compromises for survival.

But for now, it’s not possible.

Although he had displayed a miracle, that didn’t mean he was omnipotent. If he really angered those gentry, they wouldn’t care whether he was the manifestation of the Taizu or not. If he touched their property, they’d dare to claim he was clearly a demon causing trouble, that the emperor’s so-called Taizu possession and escape from Beijing was actually a demon’s possession, and that the possession had lasted more than a day, which is why the Ming dynasty had fallen into chaos. The Chuang King was obviously sent by Heaven to punish the demon.

Of course, if they learned that Abraham Lincoln was attacking the wealthy, then it would be clear proof of the Taizu’s spirit reviving the Ming dynasty.

“Your Majesty, the journey to Ningyuan will surely be extremely dangerous. As the sovereign, it is not fitting for you to risk yourself. I am the former commander-in-chief of Liaodong, and defending Ningyuan is my duty. I am willing to go in your stead.”

Once he realized what Henry Clark intended, William Scott immediately spoke up.

“No, no, Changbo, I am not going to Ningyuan to fight, but to personally meet with Dorgon and strive for the best possible outcome in borrowing troops. But here at Shanhaiguan, there is no choice but to fight. You are a seasoned general and pillar of the Ming. Shanhaiguan cannot do without you. I am not versed in military affairs or in commanding troops, so staying here would be of no use. But I can entrust Shanhaiguan to you. Civil affairs will be handled by the cabinet, but in military matters, you have full authority. I have already decreed that you are to assume the position of Grand Commander of the Five Armies, commanding all the troops under heaven. You must hold Shanhaiguan. I swear to Heaven, the day I return to the palace will be the day you are made a prince!”

Henry Clark declared solemnly.

If William Scott went to Ningyuan, he’d be out of the game. Besides, he was worried that old Scott might just go and become best buddies with Dorgon!

“Arthur Bailey, you will accompany me to Ningyuan.”

He immediately turned to Robert Bailey and said.

“Your subject obeys!”

Robert Bailey replied with a hint of melancholy.

Chapter 009: Killing Tartars

Henry Clark had no interest in how William Scott would defend Shanhaiguan next.

The forty thousand Guan-Ning troops had already returned with old Scott, and nearly ten thousand of the original Shanhaiguan garrison remained, meaning they could muster fifty thousand defenders here. William Scott’s military command abilities were beyond question, and for other affairs there were people like Charles Harris, all of whom were seasoned veterans of the bureaucracy. If they put their minds to it, managing the hundred thousand or so commoners at Shanhaiguan would be a piece of cake.

The day after displaying his miracle, Henry Clark led a thousand cavalry north out of Shanhaiguan.

Time was of the essence now.

It would take at least four days for the infantry to cover these two hundred li. He didn’t expect these ragtag troops to have the iron feet of the Red Army—fifty li a day would already be giving the emperor face. But he didn’t have time to dawdle. He left the infantry to Robert Bailey and Steven Bennett, and left Matthew Turner and old Harris as supervisors to keep an eye on the two...

Otherwise, it really wouldn’t be safe.

Robert Bailey was from Shaanxi, and at this point was probably desperate to see his fellow countrymen. Old Bennett was the former commander of Xuanhua, impeached for corruption by Frederick Harris and now at home, so he certainly had no real loyalty. Although he had pledged allegiance to a new lord, both sides were cut off so there was no way out, but it was still very possible he’d slack off. Even though he had just displayed a miracle, miracles couldn’t substitute for red-coated cannons. When it came down to a real fight, could the Taizu’s spirit in heaven really lead a hundred thousand heavenly soldiers down to help?

Although the Ming dynasty’s system of military supervisors was often criticized, in Henry Clark’s view, with such a group of “loyal ministers and good generals,” it really wouldn’t work without a supervisor.

Heading north out of Shanhaiguan, the thousand cavalry advanced at a normal pace. By noon, they reached Guangning’s Qiantun Garrison. After resting in this abandoned fortress, they continued in the afternoon to Zhonghou Garrison, which is modern-day Suizhong County. Before they could enter the city, Henry Clark’s keen hearing came into play.

“There’s gunfire north of the city!”

He reined in his horse and said gravely.

“Quick!”

The commanding Deputy General Brooks waved his hand and shouted.

A centurion immediately led a hundred cavalry in the direction Henry Clark indicated, while Henry Clark led the main force to speed up. The sound came from north of Zhonghou Garrison. When they entered the abandoned fortress and climbed the walls, they could already see in the distance the four scouts they had sent out earlier running at full speed toward them, with dozens of Qing cavalry in hot pursuit. The Ming troops sent out to support them had also left the city, but the Qing cavalry paid them no mind and continued to chase down the four scouts.

What left Henry Clark speechless was that his own cavalry were clearly slowing down.

“Beat the drums!”

He said, annoyed.