Chapter 007: A Dead End

Hehe, now is precisely the time for the literary thieves to defeat themselves; how could I not be aware of this? Tan Hong chuckled, gently stroking his beard. Even if his advisor did not dissuade him, he would never take the initiative to seek trouble with Wen Anzhi. What a joke! Wen Anzhi has a large group of bold generals under his command, leading the most formidable Ming army from Sichuan and Hubei. Especially when they learn of his and Tan Yi's betrayal, they will show no mercy. Tan Hong could almost envision the furious faces of the enemy generals; he certainly does not have the habit of delivering himself to them for a beating. What a joke! Wen Anzhi has a large group of bold generals under his command, leading the most formidable Ming army from Sichuan and Hubei. Especially when they learn of his and Tan Yi's betrayal, they will show no mercy. Tan Hong could almost envision the furious faces of the enemy generals; he certainly does not have the habit of delivering himself to them for a beating.

After several battles and retreats, some of the Ming army's weapons were damaged, some were lost, and many fell into the river. Now, only about 20 to 30 percent of the soldiers possess weapons, leaving over a thousand men nearly unarmed. It is clear that such soldiers have no chance of victory against Tan Hong's several thousand main forces.

Last night, I thought carefully again. Zhou Kaihuang said to Zhao Tianba on the road: "Even if the Xinjinhou has defected, and did not go to Chongqing with Tan Yi, he will definitely place his main forces on the northern bank to block the army of the supervising general from advancing towards Chongqing"

Deng Ming's words made Zhou Kaihuang ponder for a moment. When he raised his head again, he was still discussing with Zhao Tianba: "I will lead the brothers to launch a fierce attack on Tan Hong's main camp, which might distract the hidden sentries he has in the mountains. Even if it doesn't work, there are over a thousand soldiers in the camp, and for a brief moment, they won't be able to send troops to pursue just the two of you. As long as you seize the opportunity to break through, you can safely return to Fengjie."

Deng Ming looked at Zhou Kaihuang in astonishment, fully understanding that this meant using thousands of soldiers to attract Tan Hong's attention, thereby creating conditions for his own escape. Without waiting for Zhao Tianba to respond, he jumped up in opposition: "Absolutely not! If Tan the bandit is on high alert right now, we can wait another two days; they will eventually let their guard down."

This morning's events also confirmed Tan Hong's judgment. There has yet to be any sign of the main force of the Ming army on the northern bank, while over a hundred fleeing soldiers have been captured at the southern camp in just half a day. Most of these Ming soldiers are unarmed and completely disorganized. Some, still in a state of panic, did not even notice that Tan Hong had changed his flag before being captured. Even if they realized Tan Hong's betrayal, they could not escape his net: the camp by the river housed two thousand troops, including Tan Hong's personal guards, and every sentry was on high alert, waiting to capture Ming soldiers for merit and rewards. From the camp to the mountains, Tan Hong also set up a blockade line, and any Ming soldiers attempting to break through or sneak over the mountain paths were killed by Tan Hong's subordinates.

Upon reaching this point, Zhou Kaihuang stood up to issue a command, instructing the soldiers to prepare for the breach.

"The son of a wealthy family does not sit idly in the hall." Tan Hong thought to himself that he estimated Wen Anzhi, upon learning of the naval defeat, would have no choice but to return to Fengjie. However, if the opposing side insisted on seeking revenge before leaving, then Tan Hong remaining on the northern bank would be quite unsafe. Furthermore, Tan Hong believed that having strength in hand was essential to gain sufficient benefits from the Qing court. If he stubbornly engaged in a fierce battle with the main force of the Ming army, resulting in the loss of elite troops, it would be too unwise. The forces he had stationed on the northern bank were all old, weak, and disabled soldiers under Tan Hong's command; thus, their loss would not be too painful. Additionally, setting up camp on the northern bank and displaying a posture to block the Ming army was merely to create a good impression for Li Guoying, rather than a genuine intention to exhaust all resources.

Now the literary thief is already furious with shame, and the marquis is deeply versed in military strategy. Standing beside Tan Hong is his advisor, Qin Xiucai, who continuously praises Tan Hong for the wise decision to concentrate the main forces on the southern bank, fearing that his master, eager for achievements, might rush across to the opposite bank to confront Wen An.

Do not rush to leave just yet. Zhou Kaihuang made a suggestion: "Let us first split up and chop down some trees, so that everyone at least has a stick in hand"

Although Zhao Tianba was not a member of Yuan Zongdi's faction, his words were reasonable and influential, leading the officers to unanimously agree to first carry out some reorganizations. That day, the army did not advance further but instead conducted simple armament preparations. Zhou Kaihuang also assigned personnel to gather wild vegetables, wild fruits, fish, and hunt. In his words, it was essential to eat something first, as it would provide more energy for either fighting or fleeing. In addition to rudimentary weapons, the Ming army also made several flags, so that in case of an emergency, these officers would have basic communication and command capabilities. That day, the army did not advance further but instead conducted simple armament preparations. Zhou Kaihuang also assigned personnel to gather wild vegetables, wild fruits, fish, and hunt. In his words, it was essential to eat something first, as it would provide more energy for either fighting or fleeing. In addition to rudimentary weapons, the Ming army also made several flags, so that in case of an emergency, these officers would have basic communication and command capabilities

"No!" Zhou shook his head immediately: "But if the new Jin Hou were to defect, he would certainly have to find a way to achieve merit, right? He might claim that he was the one who held back the army of the supervising general from Chongqing, right? Moreover, he would think that perhaps the supervising general received the news and turned back, no longer attacking Chongqing, and withdrew his troops. Then wouldn't he just have gained a great achievement for nothing?"

After speaking, Zhao Tianba was about to pull Deng Ming into the forest, but unexpectedly, Deng Ming, who had always unconditionally obeyed, resolutely refused.

The national government has instructed to ensure Mr. Deng's safety. Zhou Kaihuang looked at Zhao Tianba, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that the hope for a breakthrough was slim. As an officer of the Dachang Army, he was unwilling to abandon his brothers and escape alone. However, Zhao Tianba was an envoy sent by the court and Prince Jin, and Deng Ming was a significant member of the Yuan family. He still hoped that these two could escape: "If Brother Zhao can bring the angel all the way from Yunnan to Fengjie, then bringing Mr. Deng back should not be too difficult, right?"

... ...

When Tan Yi arrived at the outskirts of Chongqing, he informed Yuan Zongdi and Tan Wen that the Marquis of Xinjing, Tan Hong, had also set out, departing even earlier than the main force led by Wen An, and would reach Chongqing more quickly. However, the relationship between Tan Hong and Yuan Zongdi was very distant, and Zhou Kaikuang along with the other officers were wary of Tan Hong. If Tan Hong were to betray the Ming court like Tan Yi, then the army led by Tu Shu and Deng Ming would still be in a precarious situation. Given that Tan Yi and Tan Hong had always acted together and communicated with each other, this made the situation even more suspicious. Yet, the relationship between Tan Hong and Yuan Zongdi remained very distant, and Zhou Kaikuang and the other officers were still cautious about Tan Hong. If Tan Hong were to betray the Ming court like Tan Yi, then the army led by Tu Shu and Deng Ming would still be in a precarious situation. Considering that Tan Yi and Tan Hong had always acted together and communicated with each other, this made the situation even more suspicious.

The army has just suffered a defeat, and the morale is low; the officers are unable to effectively control the troops. Zhao Tianba expressed his opinion, stating that the current state of the soldiers is disordered. If they were to set off immediately, it is likely that they would become scattered even before encountering the enemy. In the event of a crisis, they would have no capacity to resist. Furthermore, the soldiers are already exhausted and have not eaten; if they do not have the opportunity to rest, many will likely collapse during the night.

This time it was Zhou Kaihuang's turn to silently watch him, filled with bitterness. He pondered: "Being so close to the bandit camp, how can these thousands of brothers remain hidden for long? Moreover, to stay concealed, we cannot light a fire for warmth; after just one night, who knows how many will fall. It would be better to launch a fierce attack while everyone still has the strength for one last fight; perhaps a few lucky ones might escape this calamity. In any case, the odds are grim. You, as the Duke, have repeatedly instructed us to protect those entrusted to us, and securing a few more chances for escape is merely fulfilling our duty."

Tan Hong did not remain as obediently on the northern bank to intercept Wen An as Zhou Kaihuang had hoped. He did establish a camp on the northern bank, but he also set up a camp on the southern bank, and he personally stationed a portion of his elite troops in the large camp on the southern bank

Although the situation was perilous, Zhou Kaihuang did not dare to push forward recklessly. He continuously dispatched scouts to explore the path ahead while maintaining vigilance at the rear. After reorganizing, the Ming army regained order, and the protocols for marching and reconnaissance were restored. The reconnaissance team at the front discovered the camp of Tan Hong by the river, observing and reporting back to the main force. They reported seeing many corpses in front of the camp, clearly the recently slain Ming soldiers who had fallen into misfortune. Over a thousand Ming soldiers are currently lying in ambush in the woods three miles away from Tan Hong's camp. They reported seeing many corpses in front of the camp, clearly the recently slain Ming soldiers who had fallen into misfortune. Over a thousand Ming soldiers are currently lying in ambush in the woods three miles away from Tan Hong's camp

If the Marquis of Xinjing also defects, another officer pondered, then they will most likely camp along the river, right? If the supervising general does not charge over, it is likely that we alone will not be able to break through.

"We should find a stick," Zhao Tianba, who had been listening on the side, suddenly voiced his agreement with Zhou Kaihuang's hesitant suggestion. "The New Jin Marquis may have defected, but he could also have been defeated by the supervising general. If we have a stick in hand, we can fend off the stray dogs; if we don't, we can only be bitten by them. The Tartars from Chongqing might send a few people to take advantage, or they might send their main force to pursue us. If we have a stick, we can at least defend against those trying to take advantage; if the main force comes, won't we just drop the stick and run? Moreover, having a cane would make it easier to traverse the mountain paths."

... ...

This scoundrel, he has indeed betrayed us!" Upon hearing the scout's report, Zhou Kaihuang let out a furious roar.

"Without military provisions and naval forces, can the commander continue the assault on Chongqing?" Zhao Tianba retorted

After the Qing army retreated, the Ming army gathered wood to light bonfires, coming together to dry their wet clothes. Deng Ming now somewhat regrets leaving his bundle wrapped in a down jacket at the camp, as it is likely already reduced to ashes along with the camp. Fortunately, compared to the North China where Deng Ming studied, the winter in Chongqing is much warmer, lacking the bone-chilling winds and the heavy snowfall that swirls like goose feathers.

Although it is unclear why these two individuals place such great importance on their safety, Deng Ming is equally unwilling to abandon thousands of fellow comrades to escape alone; although he is not a person of this era, Deng Ming also believes that Zhao Tianba's chances of crossing over are slim: "There is a blockade on this mountain, and both Brother Zhao and I are isolated and vulnerable. We do not know how many enemy sentries there are or where they are hidden, so how can we possibly cross over? Moreover, everyone is currently in a perilous situation; having one more person means one more strength. Although my martial skills are lacking, I still possess physical strength. I would rather stay and fight alongside everyone to carve out a path to survival than to sneak through the woods and be caught and killed by the enemy like a dog." But Deng Ming also feels that Zhao Tianba's chances of crossing over are slim: "There is a blockade on this mountain, and both Brother Zhao and I are isolated and vulnerable. We do not know how many enemy sentries there are or where they are hidden, so how can we possibly cross over? Moreover, everyone is currently in a perilous situation; having one more person means one more strength. Although my martial skills are lacking, I still possess physical strength. I would rather stay and fight alongside everyone to carve out a path to survival than to sneak through the woods and be caught and killed by the enemy like a dog."

What? Zhou Kaihuang felt completely cold inside this time. Now, there was no way forward and enemies were pursuing from behind. Could it be that even the desperate path of a surprise attack to break through was blocked?

Additionally, yesterday someone from Chongqing informed Tan Hong that a considerable number of Ming army deserters had fled to the southern bank. Tan Wen and Yuan Zongdi took with them the elite troops under their command to Chongqing, while Tan Hong estimated that after his defection, he would still be stationed in the Wanzhou area by Li Guoying to defend Chongqing against threats from the east. This was indeed a prime opportunity to "take advantage of others' misfortunes and seize their lives"; by annihilating these deserters, Tan Hong could alleviate a significant amount of pressure in the future, and also earn merit for himself. Such a matter that brings both face and substance was certainly of great concern to Tan Hong. This was indeed a prime opportunity to "take advantage of others' misfortunes and seize their lives"; by annihilating these deserters, Tan Hong could alleviate a significant amount of pressure in the future, and also earn merit for himself. Such a matter that brings both face and substance was certainly of great concern to Tan Hong.

The conclusion of the discussion is that everyone is lacking in clothing and food, and in order to survive, it is imperative to return to the base as soon as possible; therefore, immediate action is required. The mountain path ahead is rugged and sparsely populated, and everyone unanimously agrees to follow the Yangtze River, as the banks are relatively flat and easy to traverse, making it less likely to get lost. It is estimated that Wen Anzhi's main forces will advance along the Yangtze River towards Chongqing, and those individuals are remnants of the same group as Yuan Zongdi and Zhou Kaikuang; encountering the main army even a day earlier means safety a day sooner.

The more you worry about something, the more likely it is to happen

Along the riverbank ahead are the joint ventures of Tan Hong, where green flags are raised instead of red ones

After a period of reorganization, the Ming army, which had previously been disjointed, began to take on the semblance of a proper military force. Officers such as Zhou Kaihuang felt a renewed sense of confidence, knowing that even if they encountered the enemy, they would not be left defenseless or at their mercy. As night fell, the Ming army decided against risking the cold winds on a night march, and ordered the entire force to rest, conserving their strength for daytime maneuvers, while simultaneously dispatching sentries to maintain vigilance.

"We will just sit here, waiting for the thieves to fall into our trap." Although he had just surrendered, Tan Hong already took pride in considering himself a soldier of the Qing court. He firmly believed that hundreds, if not thousands, of Ming army deserters would soon follow, adding luster to his own status.

Zhou Kaihuang and several other officers gathered the scattered soldiers, counting over 1,200 troops. There were no senior generals present; the highest rank was that of a mid-level officer, such as a Qianzhong. Since Zhou Kaihuang was a trusted confidant of Yuan Zongdi, he had subtly become the leader among the officers. Some believed that Deng Ming seemed to be a newly appointed secretary for Yuan Zongdi and wanted him to participate in the decision-making process. However, Deng Ming was well aware of his ignorance regarding military operations and resolutely refused to complicate matters for everyone, preferring to be a bystander with ears but no mouth.

"This is bad! Something serious has happened." At that moment, a scout responsible for the rear rushed in to report to Zhou Kaihuang: "There is a group of pursuers behind us. We have spotted their scouts, and they should have seen us as well"

The main force of Wen'an departing from Fengjie will certainly advance along the northern bank. If Tan Hong were to defect, in order to achieve merit, he must heavily fortify the northern bank. This means that the Ming army on the southern bank would have a chance to escape. The current state of the Ming army has improved significantly and they are now capable of engaging in battle. After discussing for a while, the two young officers felt a considerable reduction in the pressure they had been feeling, and Deng Ming noticed the renewed confidence on their faces

Zhao Tianba let out a slight sigh. He indeed could bring the five eunuch envoys of the Yongli court from Kunming, but the circumstances were not comparable to today. First, the journey was not entirely through enemy territory, and second, when passing through enemy territory, the opposing side was unaware of the presence of such important figures. However, today, although the distance was short, the enemy forces were densely deployed, and their vigilance was extremely high. Nevertheless, Zhao Tianba, fully aware of the difficulties, still resolved to make an effort. In the end, he nodded towards Zhou Kaihuang and said, "Brother Zhou, rest assured, I will ensure Mr. Deng's safety."

As more reports came in, the worry on Zhou Kaihuang and Zhao Tianba's faces grew increasingly heavy. The sharp-eyed scouts noticed the presence of Tan Hong's flag in the camp, indicating that he was most likely personally stationed on the southern bank. Additionally, some newly constructed observation towers were found along the mountain road to the south of the camp, suggesting that Tan Hong had already established a blockade.

How many people are there in the camp? Zhou Kaihuang continuously dispatched several teams of scouts to observe repeatedly for any vulnerabilities that could allow the Ming army to break out, but the scouts reported that no obvious weaknesses were found. As time passed, Zhou Kaihuang could not help but entertain the thought of fighting to the death.

Early the next morning, one thousand two hundred soldiers of the Ming army set out in formation. After a night of rest, their morale had significantly improved, and the soldiers were led by their officers, marching in an orderly manner along the southern bank of the Yangtze River. Deng Ming, Zhao Tianba, and Zhou Kaihuang walked together; to be precise, Zhao Tianba stayed close to Deng Ming to protect him, while Deng Ming, not knowing the other officers, followed Zhou Kaihuang's group.

Zhou Kaihuang's analysis made Zhao Tianba nod slowly: "Indeed, it would be best if the Marquis of Xinjinhou did not collude with Tan Yi. Even if he turns traitor, if we are united, we may still carve out a bloody path.

"If the Xinjinhou also sides with the Tartars, and the commanding general fails to defeat him, then we are doomed." Some officers disagreed, stating that even with their clubs in hand, the military strength of this Ming army was quite weak in front of Tan Hong, and they should not expect to engage in direct combat: "If the Xinjinhou is still a person of the court, then we should better leave quickly, as the pursuing troops from Chongqing could arrive at any moment"

After the discussion concluded, the officers waited for Zhou Kaihuang to issue the order to depart. However, he pondered for a moment and then asked everyone’s opinion: "I wonder how things are with the new Marquis of Jin?"

Last night, Tan Hong met with the envoy sent from Chongqing to report the victory. Upon learning that the conspiracy with Tan Yi was progressing smoothly, Tan Hong did not hesitate to immediately order the entire army to shave their heads, discard the Ming army's flags, raise the green flags of the Qing army, and transform into the Han army of the Manchu Qing dynasty

However, the scout's report was like a bucket of cold water poured over them: "There are shadows of people in the camp, at least one or two thousand, with strict vigilance. Bows, arrows, and stones are all prepared, and there is a newly dug trench in front of the camp. The patrols are constantly inspecting the area in front of the camp, so we cannot approach to take a look."

The only thing that could comfort him was that Deng Ming had hung that string of beads around his neck, keeping it close to him—this was the only remaining possession he had; apart from that, he did not even have a single copper coin. Deng Ming had no idea how much this string of beads could be worth in ancient times; neither Zhao Tianba nor Zhou Kaihuang ever mentioned having seen Deng Ming's "treasure." Deng Ming only hoped that in times of peril, he might be able to exchange this string of beads for a morsel of food to save his life. Deng Ming had no idea how much this string of beads could be worth in ancient times; neither Zhao Tianba nor Zhou Kaihuang ever mentioned having seen Deng Ming's "treasure." Deng Ming only hoped that in times of peril, he might be able to exchange this string of beads for a morsel of food to save his life.

Since Wen Anzhi's main force was advancing along the northern bank, Tan Hong, eager to demonstrate loyalty to the Governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, Li Guoying, naturally had to arrange defenses on the northern bank. However, Tan Hong was well aware that what was preventing Wen Anzhi's army from continuing its advance was the reality of the Ming army's loss of supplies and the destruction of its navy. Without military provisions and a navy, what could the Ming army do even if they reached the Jialing River and gazed across to Chongqing City?

Among the more than 1,200 Ming troops, only over 400 were armed with swords and guns, while the rest were equipped with makeshift clubs. To launch an attack with such armament and troop strength against Tan Hong's well-prepared forces, which enjoyed the advantage of being rested, was something even Deng Ming understood to be no different from seeking death

Zhao Tianba stood by, watching Deng Ming in silence, thinking to himself: "Do you think I am unaware of what you are saying? However, even if it were just the two of us, or even if we added another one or two thousand soldiers, how could we possibly breach such an impregnable fortress?"