Chapter 4, The Siege (Part 2)

Zhao Yu introduced himself, and upon hearing this, Zhang Yu's expression changed several times. Gritting his teeth, he pointed his sword at Zhao Yu and shouted, "You scoundrel, leading a group to attack my county office with weapons, do you intend to rebel? Do you not know that in our court, there are wise rulers and virtuous ministers, and among our troops, there are elite soldiers and renowned generals? You sea bandits, though you may be rampant for a time, once the heavenly troops arrive, you will surely be reduced to dust. If you know what is good for you, quickly retreat, and I will protect you with my life and family." His words were delivered with righteous indignation, but perhaps if he had not been trembling while speaking, it might have had a greater effect

It was Zhao Yu who first broke the silence, looking up to the sky and laughing heartily: "I intended to catch a rabbit, but unexpectedly, the rabbit came crashing into me." After a bout of laughter, he lowered his head, clasped his hands in greeting, and said in a clear voice: "I, the commoner Zhao Er from Langgang, have come to pay my respects to Governor Zhang. Today, I come uninvited to wish the Governor a prosperous New Year. May the Governor have great fortune and may the New Year bring you all your wishes!"

Zhao Yu and everyone else looked at him in unison, puzzled by Zhao Wu's intentions

Zhao Yu chuckled softly, the flickering firelight casting the smile lines at the corners of his mouth into dark ravines. In Zhang Yu's eyes, it appeared utterly grotesque: "We are all loyal subjects of the Song Dynasty, how could we dare to rebel? However, having been thieves for so long, we do wish to obtain an official position. Yet, we can barely recognize a few characters and cannot pass the imperial examination. After much contemplation, we have only come up with one solution..."

Xiao Wu! Zhao Yu exclaimed, "Do not speak such words again; if this gets out and is heard by others, they will say that I lack shame"

Having slain several people with his axe, Zhao Wufang felt a sense of satisfaction. He licked the blood that had splattered onto the corner of his mouth and left the door room with his axe in hand. Upon exiting, he saw Zhao Yu and Chen Wuyi both gazing towards the north. Zhao Wu felt puzzled and turned to look, only to see flames shooting up into the sky from the backyard of the county office. Zhishan and Zhao Wen could no longer hold back and had already taken action behind him.

With a chuckle, Zhao Yu quickened her pace, and a voice came from ahead: "Do not delay any further; we have exerted so much effort, and we must not let Third Uncle and the others take advantage of it."

A leader with the surname Li, upon hearing this, stroked his beard and sighed: "If we are to speak of foolishness, this County Magistrate Zhang is truly the most foolish. I have never fought such an easy battle! We have already taken the county town, and my brothers haven't even torn a piece of skin. Even when we attacked the foreign bandit stronghold last year, it wasn't this effortless!"

Not noticing is just right, " Chen Wu said coldly to the book: "It saves unnecessary effort

Zhao Yu raised an eyebrow and turned his face, exuding an overwhelming aura of menace: "To hold an official position, one must be prepared to kill and set fire, accepting the consequences!"

Zhao Yu had just seen clearly from the Bell and Drum Tower that, in addition to the lanterns in front of the door, there was also light coming from behind the ceremonial gate, indicating that someone was on duty in the gatehouse. However, this time he could not employ the same trick of using drum sounds to lure someone out. Zhao Yu looked at the three doors in front of him; the dead door was too ominous and could not be touched, while the ceremonial gate, reinforced with iron nails, was not a suitable target for an axe. He raised his hand and pointed to the right, and several henchmen rushed forward with axes, swinging their arms and wielding their weapons to chop at the living door.

Zhao Wu scratched his head and said with a smile: "Last year, I went to Mingzhou and happened to meet a disciple of Master Huo from the capital in a tavern, who spoke of the events at Chibi. He was recounting how Zhou Gongjin and Zhuge Kongming employed various strategies, such as the bitter meat stratagem, the linked stratagem, the counterintelligence stratagem, and the false surrender letter. They truly spent several months on this, but in the end, with the help of the east wind, they burned down 830,000 troops in just one night. This time, Er Lang's efforts are not much inferior to Zhou Lang's; it's just that our troops in Langgang are few. If we had 30,000 to 50,000 men, wouldn't we be able to seize these two provinces?"

In a moment, the small door behind the drum creaked open, and an old soldier poked his head out, grumbling. He merely glanced up and was so startled that he shivered all over, letting out a loud cry of "Ah!" as he attempted to retreat behind the door. However, his reaction was a bit slow; a heavy axe whistled through the air and embedded itself in the top of his head. Zhao Yu turned around to see Chen Wu standing calmly behind him, the axe having been thrown from his hand.

Let us go, so as not to keep Uncle San waiting too long. Zhao Yu said this and led a few people down the stairs, gathering the group and heading towards the county office's main gate

Suddenly, the screen door ahead opened. A dozen or so men and women rushed out in a state of panic. In the center was a short, stout man with a round face and big ears. At this moment, there was no need for further guessing; it was undoubtedly the county magistrate, Zhang Yu. As this group emerged, they saw a crowd of men in black blocking their way, and they were all taken aback, not daring to move an inch.

As soon as the door opened, Zhao Wu led his men into the room. Once inside, he looked around, and the only place nearby that emitted a bright light was the door room. Zhao Wu took a few steps forward to the door room, raised his left leg, and kicked the door open.

"How easy it is!" Zhao Yu chuckled, "Brother Li, you only see me effortlessly seizing the city, but you do not see how much effort I put in beforehand, how much gold and silver I spent. Three years of planning, half a year of preparation, and the half month of hard work on Qushan Island—have you forgotten? I did so much groundwork in advance, and if I still couldn't achieve it in one go, then I would be the biggest fool!"

Note 3: This post does not guard the main entrance of the county office, but rather the screen door between the main hall and the second hall, and is privately hired by the county magistrate. To meet with the county magistrate privately, one must go through them. As for the main gate and the ceremonial gate, they are guarded by the official attendants.

Behind the main gate lies a stone path several dozen steps long, leading directly to the ceremonial gate. On the left side of the path is the Southern Monitoring Office, while on the right side are the Yin Guesthouse and the Third Class Courtyard, both shrouded in darkness. However, between the Yin Guesthouse and the Third Class Courtyard, there are still a few incense offerings in the dual shrine courtyard dedicated to the Earth God and the official spirit Xiao He.

A long time.

This building is the tallest structure in the county town. Occupying this vantage point, all activities within the county can be observed in their entirety. Currently, Zhao Yu, Chen Wu, and other leaders are standing on the top floor, carefully observing the situation in the county office not far to the west.

In contrast, Zhao Yu, as a庶子 (illegitimate son), although he relied on his inherent advantages to control the financial power of Langgang Zhai, ultimately, power comes from the barrel of a gun; without troops, everything is in vain. Due to his young age, he had only participated in naval battles under Zhao Lu's command twice before, which did not amount to much in the eyes of the pirates. To gain military power and win people's hearts, Zhao Yu planned this surprise attack six months ago and went to great lengths to obtain Zhao Lu's consent to lead the team personally. The surprise team consisted of the elite within the Langgang army; if he could gain the trust of even a portion of them, combined with his financial power, Zhao Yu would naturally have the strength to stand on equal footing with Zhao Jin. To gain military power and win people's hearts, Zhao Yu planned this surprise attack six months ago and went to great lengths to obtain Zhao Lu's consent to lead the team personally. The surprise team consisted of the elite within the Langgang army; if he could gain the trust of even a portion of them, combined with his financial power, Zhao Yu would naturally have the strength to stand on equal footing with Zhao Jin.

Just after rounding the hall, Zhao Yu suddenly came to a halt. Everyone else also stopped in unison and looked ahead.

I see! Zhao Wu suddenly slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "No wonder it felt so familiar!"

After dragging away the corpse of the veteran, Zhao Wu led a few henchmen to charge in first. The group turned to the main entrance of the library, removed the door bolt, moved aside the stone blocking the door, and opened the main door. Everyone then rushed in.

Most of the county office in the fourth courtyard was shrouded in darkness, with only a few lanterns flickering. Only the last courtyard, where the county magistrate Zhang Yu resided, was brightly lit. The men from the sea generally had excellent eyesight, sharp as that of eagles and hawks, and could clearly see the activities within the courtyard. From a distance, the atmosphere in the courtyard appeared calm, and there was no one running about in a panic, suggesting that the people inside had not yet noticed anything unusual

As for the notion of 'three years of planning,' it was indeed something that Zhao Yu fabricated. Initially, when he assisted Zhi Shan in entering the Guanyin Temple to retire, it was merely a fleeting idea; the actual plan was solidified only six months ago. However, if it could enhance his own image, Zhao Yu would not hesitate to tell a harmless lie. Zhao Wu's metaphor, although somewhat inappropriate, was nonetheless aptly delivered, which made Zhao Yu appear more esteemed. It remains unclear whether Zhao Wu was genuinely inspired or had suddenly become clever. Zhao Wu's metaphor, although somewhat inappropriate, was nonetheless aptly delivered, which made Zhao Yu appear more esteemed. It remains unclear whether Zhao Wu was genuinely inspired or had suddenly become clever.

They have arrived! Zhao Wu shouted loudly, pointing towards the northwest. Several points of fire lined up neatly, streaming out from the location of the Guanyin Temple, heading towards the northernmost end of the county office, which was the back door

Note 4: Mingfu: An abbreviation for "Mingfu Jun." It is a respectful title used by the Han people for the governor. In the "Book of Han, Biography of Gong Sui": "Mingfu, please stay; I wish to speak with you." In the "Book of the Later Han, Biography of Zhang Zhan": "Mingfu holds a position of high respect and virtue, and should not belittle himself." The commentary by Li Xian from the Tang Dynasty states: "The residence of the county governor is called 'fu,' which is a term of respect and importance." After the Tang Dynasty, it was often used to refer to county magistrates.

Everyone responded in unison, quickly catching up and closely following behind Zhao Yu

Note 1: Huo Sijiu: According to Volume 5 of Meng Yuanlao's "Dreams of the Eastern Capital," during the Chong and Guan years, the most famous figure in Bianliang City who spoke of the Three Kingdoms ("Records of the Three Kingdoms") was this person

Zhao Yu's half-brother Zhao Jin, who shares the same father, is twenty years old this year, five years older than Zhao Yu. Zhao Jin is brave and decisive, possessing both strength and charisma. In recent years, during the expansion of the pirate forces in Langgang, he has led the charge and achieved remarkable military accomplishments, thus winning the hearts of the people. Moreover, he is the legitimate son of Zhao Lu, and his maternal uncle is also a powerful figure, making his influence far greater than that of Zhao Yu. However, Zhao Jin is not without flaws; due to his early success, he tends to be somewhat arrogant and is particularly intolerant of disrespect from those beneath him. For instance, Zhao Wu was severely punished and had his pants pulled down for merely saying the wrong thing. Zhao Yu chose to send Zhao Wu, rather than the more composed Zhao Wen, to infiltrate the beacon tower as an insider, which may have been a way to avoid Zhao Jin.

Note 2: The structure of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" had already taken shape during the Song Dynasty. For instance, Hong Mai recorded in Volume 11 of "Rongzhai Xubi": "Guan Yu personally killed Yuan Shao's two generals, Yan Liang and Wen Chou, in front of the multitude. When attacking Cao Ren at Fan, the seven armies led by Yu Jin were all defeated, and Guan Yu's might shook the land of Huaxia. Cao Cao considered relocating to Xuchang to avoid his sharpness; his achievements and fame were indeed remarkable." The first sentence in this passage is clearly not from official history, but rather from the narrative.

Walking along the stone path, I arrived at the ceremonial gate. This gate serves as the entrance for formal ceremonies and is also the main entrance to the county office's grand hall, only opened for significant matters. Typically, the small door on the east side of the ceremonial gate, also known as the living gate, is used. The dead gate on the west side is only utilized when dragging out a condemned prisoner.

A few people were engaged in idle chatter, yet they were all waiting for news from the Guanyin Temple regarding Zhishan and Zhao Wen. The contacts within the temple had already been dispatched, and once they received the information and came out to guard the back door of the county office, Zhao Yu would be able to take action.

Changguo is a small town, with a radius of no more than two miles. The county office covers only three to four acres, and its surrounding walls are merely eight feet high, which is less than that of a typical large household in a village. However, if there are sufficient guards within the county office, it would still pose some difficulty to launch an attack. But on this night, this issue does not exist

Since the known yamen was unguarded, Zhao Yu acted without much concern. Arriving at the wide three-bay entrance of the county yamen, he did not knock on the door but ordered Zhao Wu to take up the drumstick and strike the grievance drum in front of the door more than ten times. The sound of the drum reverberated, echoing throughout the yamen inside and out.

Separated by about five or six zhang, the two groups stared at each other with wide eyes, only hearing the crackling sound of the burning wood in the backyard, yet no one here made a sound

After observing for a while, Zhao Wu suddenly spoke: "Look at that corrupt official's ability to embezzle money; he doesn't seem like a fool. How come he hasn't realized it until now? There isn't even the sound of firecrackers in this city!"

Zhao Yu's words plunged the building into a moment of silence

Zhao Yu smiled and said, "What Fifth Brother said is indeed the truth. When it comes to fighting, the more foolish the opponent, the better."

Zhao Wu was not merely playing the drum. This drum of grievance should only be struck in the presence of significant injustices. However, once it is sounded, the guards at the gate must immediately come out to receive the complaint and promptly report it to the county magistrate for a hearing. Zhao and Tu Shuyu were calculating their strategy; if they could deceive the gate open with the sound of the drum, that would be ideal. If not, they would not hesitate to break down the door with an axe.

In the square in front of the Bell and Drum Towers, the teams led by Zhao Yu and Chen Wu have converged. Similar to Zhao Yu's team, Chen Wu's unit launched a surprise attack on the West Gate and South Gate without encountering any obstacles. Aside from an unfortunate individual who accidentally sprained his ankle, it can be said that there were zero casualties. Approximately seventy people remain gathered under this three-story pavilion, which stands over six zhang high, looking up and awaiting orders from above

Zhao Yu spoke, yet the corner of her eye glanced towards Chen Wu. Seeing her brother's trusted aide lost in thought, a hint of a triumphant smile appeared at the corner of Zhao Yu's mouth

With a swift swing of the axe, a gash was quickly made in the wooden door, revealing the bolt. One of the henchmen drew a dagger from his waist to pry at the bolt. After a few attempts, with one push and then another, the pried bolt knocked down the door brace with a loud clatter. Zhao Wu stepped forward and with a single push, the door swung open

In that room, a dim oil lamp flickered, and five or six individuals dressed in archer attire were present. A few of them were thoroughly intoxicated, gathered around a square table, shouting and laughing. The dice in the large bowl on the table were still rolling, indicating they were gambling. These individuals were so engrossed in their game that they were oblivious to the sound of an axe breaking down the door. When Zhao Wu and the others rushed in, the archers stood up in confusion, completely unaware of what was happening. Zhao Wu, disinterested in conversation, raised his axe and struck. The archers, already inebriated, had no strength to resist. All that could be heard were a few screams accompanied by the sound of the axe hitting flesh, and soon it fell silent.

Zhao Yu and others had already seen clearly from the Bell and Drum Tower. In the front courtyard of the county office, apart from the main gate and the ceremonial gate, there were lights, while even the South Jail and the servant quarters were dark, indicating a noticeable shortage of personnel on duty. This was largely thanks to County Magistrate Zhang, who feared that the hired gatekeepers might embezzle money behind his back. He had always employed his personal attendants to double as gatekeepers, and the collected fees were split in an 80-20 ratio, naturally allowing him to take the larger share. As for the prisoners in the South Jail, those with money could pay to return home for the New Year, while those without money were sent far away to serve in the military, as this jail never kept anyone overnight.

On the Bell and Drum Tower, the wooden arrow in the hourglass has long descended below the midnight mark, yet the bell ringer who should strike the bell has been killed on the second floor. Tonight, the New Year’s bell toll from the third floor’s heavy iron bell will not echo the New Year of the third year of the Daguang era.