Chengcheng County suddenly became lively in a way it had not been lively for a long time.
The moment the news spread, the common people all rushed toward the county yamen as if something major had dropped from the sky.
"What is going on today?"
"You don't even know? The county magistrate just sent word. Today is a festival."
"Festival? New Year is still more than ten days away. What kind of festival is this supposed to be?"
"It is the Heavenly Venerable cured meat and potato rice festival."
"…."
"What kind of strange festival name is that?"
"That name is way too long."
The common people of the county had clearly never seen much of the world. If this were Gao Village Family, they would already have guessed at least seventy percent of what was going on. But the people of the county still did not understand just how eccentric the Heavenly Venerable actually was. They would have to learn slowly through repeated exposure.
Nearly ten thousand people surged into the square almost instantly, and the rich aroma hit them like a wall.
Magistrate Liang Shixian sat at the back overseeing the entire scene just like when he used to distribute porridge to the poor. In front of him were groups of yamen runners, assistants, and hired laborers, all busy cutting apart a massive ladle filled with enormous rice clumps, huge chunks of meat, and large yellow cube-like pieces of something unknown. Everything was chopped, crushed, mixed together, and then handed to the people in line.
The first person took a bite with chopsticks, and his expression changed immediately into something extremely vivid.
"So good… this is so good…"
"So fragrant!"
"The cured meat and rice are both so fragrant. What is this yellow thing? It is too delicious."
At that moment, a voice from the crowd explained excitedly.
"The Heavenly Venerable just issued a divine decree. This yellow thing is called potato. It is a new crop. He said that if we ever obtain its seeds, we must plant it."
"Ah? Then where do we get the seeds?"
"I heard there are some in Xi'an!"
"Then next time Xing Honglang comes to collect our embroidery and takes it to Xi'an, we can buy potato seeds!"
"Good! Then I will plant some too. This thing is really delicious."
The logic of introducing new crops was actually simple. The best method was always letting people taste it directly. One bite solved all doubt.
At the same time, another group arranged by Liang Shixian had already begun preparing food for Wang Cheng'en's troops.
Wang Cheng'en's unit numbered a full fifteen hundred men. That was not a small amount of food to prepare. The county workers chopped furiously, breaking everything down into smaller pieces, turning the massive rice and meat blocks into crushed portions, stuffing them into huge barrels, and loading them onto handcarts.
The carts rolled out of the city under the push of civilians and headed toward Wang Cheng'en's camp.
Wang Cheng'en had just been wondering what was going on in the city when he suddenly heard cheers erupting from inside Chengcheng County. Before he could figure it out, he saw the city gates open and a line of carts rolling out, all carrying steaming hot food.
He let out a soft "huh."
Liang Shixian stepped forward with a polite smile.
"General, you have traveled far and still must head to Heyang County to suppress bandits. Your burden is heavy and your responsibility great. The people of this county are grateful for your efforts in suppressing bandits, so they have prepared food to reward your entire army."
Wang Cheng'en froze.
There was actually such a good thing?
Wherever imperial troops went, common people usually avoided them like the plague. That was precisely why he had ordered his troops not to enter the county, so as not to frighten the residents. Yet now, these very same people were sending food.
This was… honestly a bit touching.
Liang Shixian added calmly.
"The heavens are watching. General, you are worthy of this."
Wang Cheng'en cupped his fists.
"Then I will respectfully accept this kindness."
With a command, all fifteen hundred soldiers gathered around. They received the barrels of potato rice from the civilians. The moment they smelled it, their expressions changed.
"So fragrant!"
"There is meat mixed into the rice!"
"Look at these cured meat chunks, they smell incredible!"
"And these strange yellow pieces, what are they?"
A personal guard brought a bowl to Wang Cheng'en.
"General, please try it. This rice is unbelievably fragrant."
Wang Cheng'en was not like ordinary soldiers who often went hungry. He had eaten cured meat many times before and was already somewhat indifferent to it. Yet after one bite, even he was stunned.
The flavor was shockingly rich.
This was not simple food. It was the result of future culinary development, where seasonings had evolved to a level that ancient times simply could not replicate. Every layer of flavor exploded in his mouth in a way that felt almost unreal for this era.
Wang Cheng'en said in surprise.
"This is extremely good. This yellow ingredient should be potato. I have eaten it before in Xi'an, but only boiled in water. I never thought that crushing it and cooking it together with rice would make it this fragrant. And adding cured meat pieces on top makes it perfect."
Liang Shixian smiled.
"General, when you return to your garrison, you might encourage your soldiers to plant potatoes. If managed properly, the yield is very high. It can greatly help relieve famine."
Wang Cheng'en nodded.
"If Magistrate Liang says so, then I will certainly try it."
He turned his gaze around. His soldiers were all eating with satisfied expressions. He could not help but sigh.
"This expedition has been difficult. The soldiers were often hungry, and morale was low. I was worried about how we would fight. I did not expect that in Chengcheng County, we would eat such a meal. Morale has improved greatly. When we reach Heyang County, we will surely succeed in battle and bring that bandit leader Fan Shanyue back to Xi'an for judgment."
Liang Shixian replied.
"Then I will trouble the General."
Just as the words ended, a sudden sound of urgent hoofbeats rang out.
"Deng deng deng deng!"
A fast horse came rushing in from the southwest. The rider shouted loudly even before reaching them.
"Eight hundred li urgent dispatch! Eight hundred li urgent dispatch! Order from the Shaanxi Governor… request for General Wang to receive command!"
Wang Cheng'en's expression changed.
He raised his voice.
"I am here. What is the order? Speak clearly."
The rider galloped closer. He did not even have time for a proper dismount. He fell off the horse in a roll, hit the ground hard, then immediately struggled back up without caring about the pain.
He shouted urgently.
"On the twenty-seventh day of the tenth month, the Jianlu divided into three routes. One attacked Daan Pass. Vice Commander Zhou Zhen died in battle. One entered Longjing Pass. One attacked Hongshan Pass. Vice Commander Zhang Ande and others were defeated and fled. Zhang Wanchun surrendered. Jizhou was surrounded. In the eleventh month, the capital entered martial law."
"In the eleventh month, Huang Taiji personally led troops into Longjing Pass. He used Mongol Khorchin prince Buergetu as guide and captured Hongshan Pass. Another force captured Daan Pass, and they gathered at Zunhua. General Zhao Lvjiao of Shanhai Pass moved to reinforce but died in battle at Zunhua, his entire army destroyed. Governor Wang Yuanya, Baoding judicial officer Li Xianming, Yongping officer He Tianqiu, Zunhua magistrate Xu Ze, and former magistrate Wu Qiqian all defended their cities and died when the cities fell."
The news hit like thunder.
Wang Cheng'en's face changed dramatically.
"The capital is in danger."
The rider continued.
"The court has ordered all provinces and governors to rush to defend the capital. The Governor orders General Wang to return immediately to Xi'an and join forces with the other four generals, Wu Zimian, You Shilu, Yang Qi, and Yang Jiamo, to reinforce the capital."
The bowl in Wang Cheng'en's hand almost slipped.
"If I leave now, what happens to Fan Shanyue in Heyang? That man is still using the official army banner and committing crimes in Heyang County."
Trivia :
Why potatoes matter: In the late Ming, potatoes were not yet widely adopted in North China. They thrive on poor land and require less labor—meaning they quietly undermine famine, bandit recruitment, and tax collapse. One crop, many consequences.
Why morale wins wars: Ming armies often lost not from inferior weapons, but from hunger. A fed soldier obeys orders. A hungry one listens to rumors.
Why the capital panic matters: Once Beijing entered emergency defense, local governance everywhere suffered. Bandits flourished not because they were strong—but because the state's attention blinked.