Chapter 8, The Arrival of the Enemy (Part Two)

The inspection team unexpectedly took the official road leading to the West Gate and instead headed towards the South Gate

He raised his hand and shouted loudly: "The thieves in the city have been alerted, and we may be too late. Brothers, quickly follow me into the city to fight!"

Is it them? Ma Qianzu squinted his eyes again. Although it was hard to see clearly from such a distance, the dark silhouettes gradually extended, occupying a considerable stretch of the official road, which was an obvious fact.

Fortunately, he only had to endure for one more day, he thought. Once the leader brought reinforcements to the island, he could finally have a good sleep. By then, not only could he sleep peacefully, but he would also receive the promised rewards from Erlang. He had calculated at night, and just by following Erlang to capture the city, he would earn fifty guan. Seventy percent of the treasures found in the city would go to the public, while thirty percent would be evenly divided, which reportedly amounted to about fifty or sixty guan per person. Altogether, that would be over one hundred guan, weighing more than he did. Once he received this reward, he would buy two bolts of fine brocade and place them at the neighboring Cheng family, to see if that girl Ahua, who never even glanced at him, would come over.

Among the eight assigned personnel in the beacon tower, only seven corpses were found. The missing one is the newcomer who had only joined the tower three months ago. How can one avoid suspicion?

The bodyguard approached and said, "Captain, this fire may alarm the thieves in the city. Should we extinguish it first?"

Zhang Chengye lay quietly in a pile of dry grass, draped in a straw-colored raincoat, with a self-made grass ring on his head. Unless one approached closely, it would be impossible to discover that a living person was actually lying in the grass nest.

No need. Fei Liguo suddenly realized that his voice was so hoarse. Once that enemy is killed, and the head and heart are taken to honor my brother, it is useless to bow my head any more now

Zhao Yu looked at the two large pots boiling vigorously, emitting the aroma of blended oil. The vegetable oil, soybean oil, tea oil, and sesame oil available in the city were all contained within these pots, which were specially made. Unless these two pots could cool down immediately, there would be no opportunity for the South Gate to showcase the trick of pouring oil on the rats.

The soldiers are making preparations for the siege.

Zhao Yu sighed: "There is no oil pot at the south gate!"

Ximen City Tower

Wiping the foolish smile off his face and cleaning the drool from the corner of his mouth, Ma Qianzu awakened from his daydream.

Fei Liguo stood with his bow drawn. The local soldiers cheered in unison

Xiao Bailang wished to persuade further, but Wang Qinian raised his hand to block him: "Inspector, do not speak any more; my mind is made up. If we cannot retake the county today, I shall die here to repay the Emperor"

Zhao Wu! Fei Liguo clearly remembers that child's face. Last month, when he came to find his brother for a drink, he had seen that rascal. At that time, because the rascal was young, his brother took too much care of him, only allowing him to do light work, and he didn't even have to keep watch at night, which caused dissatisfaction among the other sentinels. Unexpectedly, that rascal was so heartless and merciless when he struck.

Zhao Yu felt a deep sense of guilt; this was his mistake. It was already a grave error to lay all his cards on the table before the enemy had even launched an attack. Moreover, his misguided belief that the enemy would only attack the west gate, while neglecting the defenses of the other gates, was an even greater blunder. The enemy is not a puppet; they have their own judgments and choices. This is merely a battle of a few hundred people; if it escalates to thousands or tens of thousands, a single mistake might leave no opportunity for remedy. The enemy is not a puppet; they have their own judgments and choices. This is merely a battle of a few hundred people; if it escalates to thousands or tens of thousands, a single mistake might leave no opportunity for remedy.

He gazed into the distance towards the south gate, where he could see some small black dots rushing towards it. There, a feigned attack had already commenced as planned, and he could not afford to delay any longer

His brother was stabbed in the back, and two other companions met the same fate. If it were not for someone familiar and close using a dagger to assassinate, how could this have been accomplished

It seems that County Lieutenant Wang was not mistaken; those bandits indeed entered the city from here. Fei Liguo thought to himself. He could already ascertain that more than one hundred, but definitely not two hundred, bandits had rested here for quite some time yesterday, and then, taking advantage of the night, they stealthily made their way into the city through the narrow paths

Zhao Yu bowed and said: "Thank you for your trouble, Third Uncle"

The path leading to the county town winds through the open space. Although this path is a shortcut, it is certainly not as smooth as the official road, and it is seldom used by people. However, Fei Liguo noticed signs of a large number of people having been active in the open area. This was not caused by his subordinates; the number of people who left these traces should be greater, at least over one hundred. Moreover, in the nearby forest, he also found a considerable amount of fresh feces—human.

Zhang Chengye is also a close aide of Zhao Yu. Although their relationship is not as intimate as that of Zhao Wen and Zhao Wu, Zhao Yu holds him in high regard. To guard against the enemy's potential surprise attack through the mountain pass, Zhao Yu assigned Zhang Chengye to watch over the beacon tower at the top of Zhen'ao Mountain. If he spots the enemy, he is to light the signal fire as a warning.

In winter, the days are short. Looking west from the south gate, the sun hangs low, not yet higher than the treetops. Judging by the time, it will soon set below the horizon in about an hour.

In the county town, apart from a darkened area at the northernmost end of the county office, other places appeared unchanged, as if they had never been attacked by pirates. However, Fei Liguo was acutely aware that the murderer of his brother was currently within the town

He gasped with every word, his throat hoarse and raspy, and said with difficulty: "I serve at the behest of the Son of Heaven, safeguarding the borders and ensuring the peace of the people. Yet I have unjustly failed the sacred trust, having allowed the city to be taken by the bandits. How can I find peace without witnessing the recovery of the city with my own eyes"

Taking a breath, he said: "As a Confucian scholar, I am unacquainted with military affairs. I can only entrust this heavy responsibility to the inspector, hoping that the inspector will strive to eliminate the bandits and not betray the emperor's grace"

County Lieutenant Wang Qinian, wrapped in a cotton coat, sat cross-legged in a small cart. His complexion was flushed, and he coughed from time to time. Wang Qinian had always been frail, but this morning he had walked two miles in the wind while completely soaked. By the time he rode the donkey he had requisitioned to arrive at Sanguzhai, he had already developed a high fever

Xiao Xun has already taken action at the South Gate, and we cannot fall behind them. Currently, the bandits in the city are all gathered at the South Gate for defense, but there won't be many people guarding this mountain pass. Brothers, follow me, let's strike them when they least expect it. Today, we will celebrate the New Year feast in the city

He waved to signal Zhao Wu to take two teams of archers to the south gate first. Zhao Yu approached Zhi Shan and respectfully said: "Third Uncle, I must trouble you again."

Fortunately, those treacherous bandits are still within the city, and that scoundrel Zhao Wu should also be in the city now

The captain, a young soldier who appeared to be only in his teens, came up from the staircase, startling Fei Liguo. He was Fei Liguo's personal guard. The guard approached and bowed, saying: "The bodies of Commander Chen Feng and several brothers have been collected and are currently in the main hall below. Would the captain like to pay his respects?"

The official from the Ministry of Revenue, Xiao Bailang, who was inspecting the San Gu Zhai, approached him respectfully and said: "It is quite windy in this open area; should we find a sheltered place to rest for a while"

Chen Wu frowned: "There is a walled city at the south gate, but there is none here. Why are they going there?"

Pirates landing for a grand plunder have always been known to seize what they can and leave, never engaging in direct confrontation with the imperial troops. However, this time, the pirates of Langgangzhai surprisingly adopted a stance of defending their stronghold. Although Xiao Bailang found this difficult to comprehend, he did not mind having more heads to adorn his achievements

The warrior beside Erlang, Wu Ge'er, truly possesses excellent archery skills, though he is somewhat foolish. Just now, Ma Qianzu was on the city wall, so he naturally understood why the scouts did not dare to approach.

He looked up at the beacon tower on the mountain top. Since the bandits were able to enter the city smoothly, the sentinels stationed along their route were surely in grave danger. The commander of that beacon tower was an old brother of Fei Liguo, hailing from the same village. They had originally planned to drink together during the Lantern Festival, but unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, they were separated by life and death.

Are you afraid that I, your third uncle, will drag you down if I go to the South Gate, is that why you are saying this?

A number of bamboo poles, each measuring three to four zhang in length, were unloaded from the ox carts accompanying the troops. The island is in dire need of wood; whether for ladders or floating bridges to cross ditches, these bamboos are essential for construction. In the most extreme cases, these bamboo poles serve as tools to send people up to the city. As long as two individuals position themselves one in front of the other and rush towards the city wall, the person at the back can exert force to lift the bamboo pole, thereby sending the person in front up.

Fei Liguo stood on the beacon tower, at the same position where Zhao Yu had stood last night, gazing down at the county town below.

At the foot of the western side of Zhen'ao Mountain, Fei Liguo, the head of the first district of the Changguo Inspection Office, bent down to pick up half a baked pancake from the ground. This pancake had only been nibbled on twice before being discarded, and it contained two pieces of dried fish, a common food among coastal fishermen. The dust on the surface of the pancake was minimal, and it had not been on the ground for long, likely just one or two days.

At the summit of Zhen'ao Mountain

Defending a city has always relied on long-range weapons, as preventing the enemy from approaching the city walls is the safest method. However, once the enemy reaches the foot of the walls, the best weapon against them is not the battering ram or the spiked club, but rather boiling oil. A pot of oil poured down, followed by a torch, can incinerate not only soldiers but also siege equipment such as ladders and siege towers. The only drawback is that oil is too precious to use in large quantities.

Xiao Bailang gazed at Mount Ao in the west, where he had already made arrangements.

I fear there are two hundred people... they have finally arrived! He tore the horn from his waist and blew it with all his might

Zhao ... ... Wu ... ... "Fei Liguo gritted his teeth as he uttered the name of his enemy

At that time, if the imperial army really sent a few scouts up here, what should he do

Zhi Shan smiled: "You really know how to talk. Just go ahead, with Uncle San here, there will definitely be no trouble at Xi Men."

Fei Liguo furrowed his brow and said, "Why are there still hidden sentinels?"

However, this time the official army consists of only about 200 men, and with just a ladle and two pots of boiling oil, they could easily cook the entire official army without using it all up. Due to their insufficient numbers, they naturally do not dare to charge recklessly.

The beginning of the Shen hour

Fei Liguo examined it carefully and then threw the sesame cake back to the ground. He looked up and surveyed his surroundings; he was in a small clearing amidst the mountains and forests. His half a battalion of soldiers was scattered around the clearing, quietly preparing for battle.

Fei Liguo raised his hand, ready to lead his troops into action. However, a gust of northern wind swept in, carrying with it a whiff of smoke and fire. He quickly looked to the north and saw a burst of flames igniting in the forest, with a figure about to depart from the edge of the fire

Six quarters past three o'clock

He adjusted the grass ring on his head and quietly lay down again. This was already the third time the same situation had occurred. Zhang Chengye sighed, "The hiding method that Erlang taught before is indeed effective, but having a fire nearby always makes one feel anxious"

A gust of wind blew by, and a strand of grass from the drooping grass ring on his head fell into the fire pit, igniting instantly. Zhang Chengye hurriedly pinched off the grass strand, allowing it to burn in the fire pit.

Zhao Yu performed another bow, leaving behind half of the troops, and took the remaining soldiers along the city wall heading south

2:30 PM

Fei Liguo looked at the black smoke rising from the bonfire and shook his head, saying, "There is no time left."

Zhao Yu said: "The government troops have gone south, and my fifth brother and I also need to guard the south gate. However, I am uneasy about leaving the west gate to someone else. After thinking it over, only Uncle San is the most suitable for the task"

Zhi Shan shook his head: "Do they not know that we can reach the South Gate from the city much faster than they can? It is impossible for them to catch us off guard."

Two mounted scouts from the patrol were running again beneath the city. He remembered these two fellows on mules, who had just come to scout earlier. After the body of the scout who had been shot was taken away, for some unknown reason, they turned back. For a full half hour, these two scouts ran back and forth from the West Gate to the South Gate, and then returned from the South Gate to the West Gate several times, refusing to come any closer to the city wall.

Zhao Yu shook his head, thinking that capturing a small county town was an easy feat, but little did he realize that while scheming in the shadows may be simple, the moment it turned into a direct confrontation, the disparity would become apparent. There is still much to learn, and the road ahead is long; caution and prudence are the true paths to follow

Xiao and Tu Book Bai Lang fell silent for a moment, clasped their fists and bowed deeply, performing a full bow to the ground. All the officials of Changguo, from Zhang Yu downwards, were thoroughly corrupt, with the exception of this county magistrate who had been in office for less than three months, who still appeared to be a good official

Fei Liguo turned and descended the stairs. Upon reaching the ground floor, he did not even glance at the row of corpses lined up in the main hall, and strode out of the beacon tower.

The pole vaulting siege method, for someone like Xiaobailang who has studied military texts, seems laughably rudimentary. However, he does not genuinely believe that such primitive siege tools could allow them to storm the city walls. The use of a pole requires a high level of skill, and the soldiers under his command have never received training in this regard

Just waiting for you to come! Zhang Chengye thought.

The pirates in the city are short-staffed, and even the walls of the southern gate's barbican cannot be fully manned. Under such circumstances, it would be safest to launch a night assault and take advantage of the enemy's weakness. However, Xiao Bailang is concerned that the bandits, seeing the situation unfavorable, might flee under the cover of night—if the bandits escape, they will surely set fire to the place, and he would be unable to both extinguish the fire and pursue the thieves at the same time—thus he is determined to attack the city before dusk.

The thief let out a cry of agony, fell straight to the ground, struggled once, and then remained completely still.

If he does not light the signal, once the scout sits atop the beacon tower, he will be unable to ignite the fire. If the imperial troops happen to split their forces and ascend the mountain to launch a surprise attack on the county town, he will be left helpless, merely staring in disbelief. In the end, his head will meet the same fate.

Suddenly, he widened his eyes as a group of cavalry emerged from the foot of the mountain in the distance to the west

His brother is the most diligent and careful person, patrolling morning and night, keeping watch throughout the night, never missing a day. If it were not for an insider, how could anyone infiltrate Taichung without being detected

He has two unruly children at home! Fei Liguo gritted his teeth, absolutely refusing to let those guys off the hook

Zhang Chengye was contemplating in his heart and soon made a decision: he could not remain in the beacon tower. He first picked up a straw-colored raincoat from the wall on the second floor, then carried a fire basin down from the top of the tower, and rummaged through the kitchen on the ground floor to find a gourd filled with oil. Finally, he found a bundle of mugwort from the pile of firewood next to the beacon tower—there was no wolf dung on the island, so he could only rely on mugwort to light a fire. He dragged and pulled these items to the upwind area on the north side of the beacon tower, found a grassy nest where he could observe the movements on the mountain road without being noticed, and lay down, waiting for the enemy to ascend the mountain.

Wang Qinian shook his head, and just as he was about to speak, he was seized by a violent cough that felt like it was tearing his heart and lungs. A soldier serving nearby hurried over to pat his back, and it took quite a while for him to catch his breath.

However, when Zhang Chengye arrived at the beacon tower, he felt that Zhao Yu's orders were somewhat lacking in consideration. If he were the commander of the official army, regardless of whether or not to launch a surprise attack from the rear mountain, he would certainly first send a few people to scout this location. If there were no enemy troops at the beacon tower, he would still need to leave some personnel to guard it. After all, this beacon tower is the closest high ground to the county town, capable of observing movements within the city, and it would be impossible to neglect it.

Zhang Chengye felt a surge of luck in his heart; had he remained inside, it would have certainly been a dead end for him

The monk Zhishan nodded and said: "I know, I remember. You can rest assured, Yuge, do not delay any further"

The Zen Master Zhishan was displeased and said: "Do not bring up old matters! Your third uncle is still quite robust! Speak plainly."

Note 1: Shaofu: An alternative title for the county magistrate. The county magistrate is referred to as Mingfu or Xianyin, while the county deputy is called Zanfufu or Erling. The county constable is subordinate to the county magistrate and the county deputy, hence the title Shaofu, which can also be referred to as Yiwai. The county clerk is simply referred to as Xianbu.

Thirty warriors stood with bows drawn, two oil cauldrons lined up in a row, and the leaders gathered atop the city wall, yet all of this turned out to be in vain

Ah... Ma Qianzu leaned against the parapet and yawned. Although he had taken turns sleeping two naps during the late night and early morning, the time was still too short, and he always felt drowsy.

The nephew does not dare. However, the southern gate has a walled city, and the area that needs to be defended is much larger than that of the western gate. All the soldiers here must be transferred, leaving only half a squad. With such a small number of personnel, without the third uncle, it is likely that we cannot suppress any dissent that may arise within the city.

It is exactly the hour of Wei

Indeed, just a short while after he hid, four scouts entered the beacon tower along the mountain path. One of them quickly came out and returned the way he came, but the remaining three stayed inside the beacon tower

He looked up, turned to leave, but suddenly remembered something: "Third Uncle, the government troops number no more than two hundred. Once the battle at the south gate begins, they will not be able to send reinforcements. The stove for the oil pot can be extinguished; it must be sent to the south gate quickly after it cools down. The number of government troops is twice mine; relying solely on bows and arrows is unlikely to hold them back from storming the city."

The north wind blew along the mountain slope, chilling his lower body through the tightly fitted pant legs. However, the upper half of Zhang Chengye's body was warm and cozy. Beside him was a brazier that had been moved from the beacon tower. Although the fire inside had already gone out, leaving only a few embers, the residual warmth was enough to ensure that he would not freeze to death on the mountain

The soldiers of the half battalion shouted in unison, their voices resounding like thunder.

He yawned again, feeling impatient. "Wasn't it said that he would arrive within an hour? Why hasn't he come yet?"

At the beacon tower, the soldiers are already fully equipped and ready to depart, awaiting orders

At the same time

He clenched his fist tightly, his nails digging into his palm, and drops of blood fell from his palm. He vowed not to be human until this grudge was avenged

At the end of the hour of the goat

Ignition? If the imperial army has no intention of dividing its forces, then it is a false report of military conditions. If Zhao Yu makes a misjudgment in deployment because of this and loses the city, Zhang Chengye's head will also be at risk.

However, he can now lie comfortably in a safe place, monitoring the movements of the enemy

Brother, may you rest in peace in the heavens, and know that I will avenge you!

Without further ado, Fei Liguo drew his beloved bow from the quiver at his waist with his left hand, while simultaneously brushing his right hand over the arrow pouch. In an instant, a steel arrow with white feathers was nocked onto the bow. He stepped forward with his left foot, pulled back with his right hand, and the powerful bow, weighing eight stones, was drawn into a full moon shape. "Fire!" Fei Liguo shouted loudly, releasing his grip, and the white-feathered arrow shot forth like lightning, piercing through the gaps between the branches in the forest, directly entering the back of the bandit.

At the top of Ximen City