Chapter Twenty-Four: Qin Liangyu

The coordination training among the various units of the Capital Garrison was still in the exploratory stage. Zhu Youxiao told them that unless the horses' eyes were covered, if the soldiers formed a bayonet phalanx with their flintlock muskets, leaving gaps between the formations, the warhorses would not charge into the lines but instead run through the openings. He had seen this in a documentary from his previous life. Yang Guangkui and the others were skeptical, so they conducted an experiment. When the cavalry forced their horses toward the phalanx, the animals instinctively avoided the lines. After much flattery, they immediately revised the infantry drill manual to account for this, distinguishing it from the six-rank dense formation used against enemy infantry. Against cavalry, each company was to form a square of twelve files wide and nine ranks deep, with ten cooks assigned to deliver finishing blows. Gaps were deliberately left between the squares, wide enough for horses to pass through.

With such a variety of troop types at their disposal, combined drills between infantry and artillery or infantry and cavalry were easily arranged. At first, a few accidents occurred, but fortunately, none were life-threatening. Once the training requirements were refined in the drill manual, injuries became rare and were only minor when they did occur.

When assembled, the formations appeared quite proper, but Lu Qin, Zhou Yujie, and others believed that training and actual combat were entirely different matters. In practice, everything was remembered, but in the heat of battle, nerves caused men to forget their training. They proposed that real combat experience was necessary. But where could such combat be found? Should they be sent to Liaodong? Would that not be offering themselves to the Manchus like vegetables to a boar?

But lately, there had been no uprisings by the likes of Li Zicheng—no, no rebellions at all. Unlike the Song dynasty, the Ming’s mountains harbored no great bandit bands like those of Liangshan Marsh. This was a problem: there were no suitable opponents for training. If Emperor Chongzhen of later years knew that he was troubled by such a thing, he would likely be furious.

Lu Qin said, “General Qin Liangyu has just received an imperial command to lead her White-Pole Troops to aid Liaodong. Why not invite her to review our Capital Garrison and offer her insights?”

The name sounded familiar; Zhu Youxiao recalled reading it in a memorial. He asked, “Who exactly is this General Qin Liangyu? Tell me in detail.”

Lu Qin replied, “Your Majesty, General Qin Liangyu was originally the wife of Ma Qiancheng, the Pacification Commissioner of Shizhu. She possesses great courage and intelligence, excels at horsemanship and archery, and is also skilled in literature. Her demeanor is serene and elegant, and her command is strict and effective.

“In the twenty-seventh year of the Wanli reign, when Yang Yinglong rebelled in Bozhou, the two of them led troops under Li Hualong to suppress the revolt. In the twenty-eighth year, they broke eight enemy strongholds and slew Yang Yinglong, earning the highest merit in the Battle of Nanchuan Road.

“In the forty-first year of Wanli, Ma Qiancheng was falsely accused by the eunuch Qiu Chengyun and died in prison at Yunyang. Qin Liangyu then succeeded his position. Last year, the court ordered her to dispatch troops in support. She sent her elder brother Qin Bangping and younger brother Qin Minping with four thousand men ahead. It was her brother who perished in the Battle of Hun River this year.

“The troops under her command are called the White-Pole Troops. They are renowned for their strict discipline and extraordinary bravery, especially in mountain warfare. In the Hun River battle, it was the White-Pole Troops who killed several thousand Manchu soldiers. If General Qin were to review our Capital Garrison and point out our shortcomings, it would be of great benefit.”

“Oh, I see—a woman general, and a formidable one at that!” Lu Qin’s words reminded Zhu Youxiao of tales from his previous life about such a heroine, and now he realized she lived in this very era. He was eager to see what she was like.

“Where is General Qin now?”

“She sent Qin Bangping and the others ahead, while she remained behind to prepare supplies. She is currently near Tongzhou and will soon pass through Shanhai Pass. Your Majesty could summon her for an audience, which would be an excellent opportunity for her to inspect our troops.”

Lu Qin’s tone of admiration piqued Zhu Youxiao’s interest in Qin Liangyu even more. He recalled that in a book from his former life, this general was said to be the only woman in Chinese history to be granted a biography among the empire’s great commanders, rather than being relegated to the annals of virtuous women. Such a heroine was certainly worth meeting. He immediately issued an edict, summoning Qin Liangyu to court.

That evening, as he chatted with the empress in the palace, he mentioned the matter. Zhang Yan said, “Your Majesty, I too would like to meet this woman general. I suspect Consort Duan is eager as well—she’s mentioned her several times already.”

Duan Ying came from a military family and was skilled in the martial arts herself, so her admiration for Qin Liangyu was unsurprising. Zhu Youxiao promised that after he met Qin Liangyu, he would arrange for them to meet as well.

The next morning, after court, Zhu Youxiao received Qin Liangyu. Though she was in her forties, she appeared barely past thirty, tall and possessed of a refined beauty.

After the formalities, Wang Tiqian stepped forward with the imperial edict. Qin Liangyu knelt to receive the decree: she was named Lady of the Third Rank, entitled to wear the third-rank court robes as Pacification Commissioner of Shizhu. Her late husband Ma Qiancheng was posthumously granted the rank of Assistant Commander, her son Ma Xianglin was made a Commander, and Qin Bangping, having died in loyal service to the state, was also posthumously named Assistant Commander, with hereditary succession for his descendants. Qin Minping, for his bravery in battle, was promoted to Assistant Director of the Command. Thirty thousand taels of silver and five thousand bolts of cloth were bestowed upon the White-Pole Troops.

Kneeling in gratitude, Qin Liangyu could not help but weep as she thanked the emperor. Her husband had died in prison due to a eunuch’s false accusation, her brother had fallen in the Hun River campaign; though she bore no grudge against the court, her heart was heavy. Now, with such imperial recognition, she finally felt her efforts—and those of her kin—had not been forgotten, and that their sacrifices were not meaningless.

After seating her, Zhu Youxiao hesitated for a moment before saying, “General Qin, I will never forget the contributions you and your family have made to the Ming dynasty. The state is in dire straits, and it pains me to send you on such arduous campaigns.”

Qin Liangyu immediately knelt again. “Your Majesty’s grace to my family is as high as a mountain. Though I am but a woman, I know to repay such kindness. Please, Your Majesty, do not blame yourself. My brothers and I failed to fully suppress the bandits and caused Your Majesty concern—the shame is truly ours.”

Zhu Youxiao hurriedly descended from the Dragon Throne to lift her up himself. “General Qin, your family’s loyalty and courage are well known to me. Today, I summoned you for three reasons: first, to honor General Qin Bangping and your kin; second, to ask for your guidance in identifying and correcting the flaws in our army, and to instruct my guards; and third, because the empress and consorts have long admired you and wish to become acquainted. In the battles of Liaodong and Shenyang, the Ming army suffered grievous losses, yet the heroism of General Qin Bangping and his men, who slew over two thousand Manchu soldiers, moved me deeply. The military has become deeply flawed—may I ask you, General, how can these flaws be rectified so that all Ming soldiers may become as brave and skilled as your White-Pole Troops?”