Chapter One

After a brutal and harrowing war, the northeastern region of the Chinese mainland barely managed to recover a semblance of peace. Under the relentless military campaign led by Lin Feng and his Han Imperial Army, the Manchu regime’s power east of Shanhai Pass was utterly eradicated. Not only were their Eight Banner armies—composed of Manchu, Han, and Mongol forces—completely annihilated, but the aristocratic class that upheld their rule was also executed to the last. The very foundation of this feudal, militaristic regime with its pronounced colonial character—the Eight Banners—was ordered to disband. In Liaoyang, tens of thousands of Banner civilians were massacred by Han troops, and those scattered across Shenyang, Xingjing, Dandong, and other regions were taken captive. After heated debate and rebuttal among the Han military high command, nearly two hundred thousand civilians were stripped of all property, political, and personal rights. Of these, sixty thousand were reduced to slavery and distributed as spoils of war to the army, while the remaining one hundred forty thousand were exiled and relocated to the Liaodong area. In the frozen north, amidst blizzards and endless snow, these war-ravaged Banner women and children, driven by the army, trudged through the snow, leaving a trail of death and suffering. Yet their ordeal did not end there. As vanquished foes, even upon reaching their new settlements, they were to be closely monitored by local Han authorities, living for three generations as “outcasts.” Besides suffering onerous taxes, they were forbidden from holding office, participating in the imperial examinations, leaving their place of residence, or gathering in groups of ten or more families—in fact, they were not even permitted to associate with one another if living in groups exceeding ten households.

Since the establishment of the Han regime, the military had always been its cornerstone. Following the formation of the General Staff, the Han Army’s military system was gradually refined through sustained revision and supplementation. According to regulations, the formation, recruitment, and supply of armaments for all Han units were managed directly by the General Staff. Any conscription or mobilization orders required the explicit approval of the King of Han; unauthorized recruitment was deemed treason. Even newly recruited soldiers, whether conscripted or enlisted, were required to undergo four months of standardized training and “loyalty education” at military bases such as Fengtai and Mazhuang near Beijing before they could join any unit. Thus, when the administrative headquarters at Nurgan was finally established, although civil officials gradually arrived from Beijing to assume their posts, the garrison troops and commanding officers for the region remained undecided for some time.

In theory, the vast territory governed by the Han government beyond the pass—stretching west from Shanhai Pass, east to the Yalu River, north to Harbin, and south including the Liaodong Peninsula—was defended by only the Han Second Infantry Corps under General Wang Dahai and two musket regiments under the direct command of the Ningjin Garrison, amounting to just over thirteen thousand men. For such an expanse, the military presence was woefully inadequate.

“Oh, get up, get up—sit down, sit down!” Lin Feng personally helped him up, took his hand, and sat together at one side of the hall, smiling. “General Ma, do you know why I summoned you here today?”

“This subordinate does not know. I await your instructions, my lord!”

Lin Feng gently shook his head and laughed. “Come now, Little Ma, we’ve charged into battle together and faced death more than once in these past months. Do you really not know what sort of man I am? Let’s not be so formal. We’re all fighting men here; there’s no need for all this pushing and deflecting.”

Ma Ying’s expression shifted; he raised his head slightly, gazing forward for a long while, his lips moving, but in the end, he said nothing.

“Very well, I’ll just come out and say it.” Lin Feng sighed with a wry smile. “This time, after we crushed the Shengjing Banners and set up the Nurgan Commandery, the post of garrison general naturally should have been yours—” He glanced at Ma Ying, smiling, “But everyone’s afraid you might rebel, so none would support the appointment…”

“I am loyal and true, heaven and earth bear witness. My lord, I beg you—” Ma Ying suddenly fell to his knees, his voice thunderous with indignation.

“And what of Sabu Su?” Lin Feng pressed on.

“A real man—formidable in battle. If he’d lived, I’d have made him my friend!” Ma Ying replied.

“And Peng Chun?” Lin Feng continued with a smile.

“A hero among men!” Ma Ying was beginning to sense where this was going. He looked at Lin Feng with suspicion, hesitating before saying, “Peng Chun may have been our enemy, but he was indeed a true hero. I respect him greatly.”

“Exactly! Those three Tartar generals, along with Cai Yurong, Yao Qisheng, and the others, were all renowned heroes—yet even joined together, they were no match for me.” He cast a proud look at Ma Ying. “So, General, do you think you’re more formidable than all of them?”

Ma Ying suddenly understood and said sincerely, “My lord’s power is unrivaled. I am in awe.”

“Then why should I fear you would rebel?” Lin Feng grinned, raising a finger. “First, your soldiers were given to you by me; your officers were trained at Mazhuang Military Academy, your troops drilled at the barracks—they are all loyal to their king. Second, all officials here in Nurgan are my loyal subjects, selected by the Han court. Third, this land of Nurgan was won by my own blade, at the head of my troops. In this region, among Manchu, Mongol, and Han alike, who does not know my name?” He lowered his hand, smiling at Ma Ying. “Even if there were a rebellion, a single imperial edict from me would settle it. In Liaodong and beyond, who would dare oppose me?”

“I… Your servant…,” Ma Ying’s face flushed red, and he was left speechless.

“I, Lin Feng, have never liked boasting or empty talk. Let me be clear with you, Little Ma: I have never doubted your loyalty, not for any other reason but because I know you could never be my match!” Lin Feng’s gaze was meaningful as he looked at the young general. “Whether in the Han court or in the world at large, it is always the strong who command respect. You, General, have struggled through hardship and seen the ways of the world—surely you understand this truth?”

Ma Ying fell to his knees once more, bowing low. “My lord, you speak plainly. In my days as a roving bandit across Liaodong, I knew nothing of loyalty or righteousness—only the authority of true heroes. When the Ming ruled the land, they fought the Tartars for decades, only to be destroyed in the end. Yet you, my lord, subdued them in mere months. Every man in the ranks is convinced. I am no fool who fails to recognize the times.”

“Good,” Lin Feng nodded. “You are not like those civil officials, so I won’t talk circles around you. We’re all men who live by the sword—no need for empty words. I brought you here today to tell you personally: I have decided to appoint you as garrison general of Nurgan, promoting you to the rank of Lieutenant General and bestowing the title General Who Defeats Invaders. From today on, the Han Sixth Cavalry Corps will be restored under your command. Lead your troops to guard Nurgan—first pacify the remaining Qing loyalists and bandits, then advance eastward toward Korea, northward to the Mongols and Russians, opening new frontiers for the Han!”

Ma Ying bowed low in gratitude. “I will not fail your trust, my lord!” He raised his head, saluting. “My lord, presently my corps is battered—Han cavalry numbers just over four thousand, and with two thousand surrendered Qing troops, only six thousand in total. Nurgan is vast, and our forces are insufficient. I beg you to send reinforcements!”

“Those surrendered Banner cavalry cannot be stationed in Nurgan,” Lin Feng mused. “I intend to transfer those two thousand surrendered men to Wang Dahai’s command to garrison Chengde and Rehe against the Kharchin Mongols. Buriyat Gama has a deep grudge against them, and fine steel should be used where it’s needed most. As for you, I’ll transfer two companies—over a thousand cavalry—from Wang Dahai’s forces to your command.”

Ma Ying frowned. “The situation in Nurgan is unsettled. Besides the remaining Qing loyalists, the mountain tribes may also be restless. Even with another thousand cavalry, I’ll have just over five thousand—still not enough.”

“Don’t worry,” Lin Feng laughed heartily, seeing Ma Ying’s anxiety. “Since I’m restoring the Sixth Corps, I’ll see to it that you’re fully reinforced. The Ningjin Garrison still has two regiments of musketeers; I’ll transfer one to Nurgan under your command. I’ll also assign you two companies of artillery and a battalion of adjutants from the Imperial Guard, so your corps will have the strength to take fortified cities.”

Ma Ying quickly calculated—the Sixth Cavalry would have nearly ten thousand troops, a complete structure, and formidable strength. He bowed, “Thank you for your trust, my lord. I will serve with all my heart! But, my lord, you mentioned ‘taking cities’… With the Qing destroyed and all towns in Nurgan now under Han control, what other city do you mean to conquer?”

“Ah, but there’s still the Yalu River, isn’t there?” Lin Feng gave Ma Ying a look of surprise, wondering how this man could be so insular. Did he not understand national and international affairs? Could he think of nothing but internal war? Adopting a serious tone, Lin Feng said, “General Ma, we’ve mobilized massive forces and the court has spent a fortune—we must seek compensation. My intent is to send men across the Yalu to inform the King of Korea that there’s a new order here, and to ask what he intends to do.”

Ma Ying was stunned, silent for a long time before hesitantly asking, “My lord, if our troops cross the river, won’t that provoke a war between the two countries?”

“Nonsense, General! We’re merely going over to take a look, nothing more. The King of Korea is a sovereign in his own right—surely he won't be so petty?”

Ma Ying swallowed nervously. “If the King of Korea sends envoys to inquire, how should I respond, my lord?”

“That’s simple enough. Tell him the Han are in some difficulty, but the friendship between our nations is long and deep—he must lend us his support. Tell him I wish to borrow one million shi of grain and one million taels of silver, to be repaid when we are able,” Lin Feng answered with a mischievous smile.

“And if they refuse?” Ma Ying asked.

“Then take it yourself, General!” Lin Feng replied nonchalantly, patting the arm of his chair. “Nurgan is vast and sparsely populated; we lack manpower for farming and mining—this is crucial. If you cross the river, General, don’t forget what I’ve said.”