novelSusiti Chapter 60 Taking Haizhou City by Clever Means
Chapter 60 Taking Haizhou City by Clever Means
"Who's down below the city walls?"
"It's me, don't you recognize me? Open the gates immediately, there's an emergency!"
"It's the commander! Open the door quickly! Open the door quickly!"
The city gates of Haizhou were originally open, but the soldiers on the city wall, who were far away, saw several hundred people who appeared to be armed running back. They immediately drove away the people entering the city, put away the drawbridge, closed the city gates, and stood ready for battle.
Fortunately, the Left Army Commander was quite famous in the Haizhou army. Although he was currently in a sorry state, his officers and soldiers did not dare to offend him.
Li Chang led five hundred Huai Army soldiers, disguised as defeated troops, wearing armor recently removed from the battlefield, realistically exuding the stench of blood. It was clear they had just experienced a major battle.
Haizhou was a small town, and the military governor, who also served as the commander of the right army, had a personal guard of five hundred men, barely able to suppress the left army. If the military governor could only barely suppress them, the others in Haizhou were naturally even more sensible.
Just as they entered the city, Zuo Wanjun, the military governor of Haizhou, rushed over with his personal guards. Upon seeing them, he exclaimed in alarm, "Old He, what happened? Where are our troops?"
Old He was the commander of the Left Army. He shook his head with a very grim expression.
Zuo Wanjun was greatly shocked. Old He was usually arrogant and had almost never looked so dejected. The street was crowded and no one could stay for long.
Arriving at the Jiedushi's Office
The Left Army Commander sighed and said, "Governor, please do me a favor. I have fought my way here, and I have relied on these brothers to protect me. Now they are all my personal guards."
Zuo Wanjun nodded knowingly: "I understand, but you must not complain about whatever the court does next." In the eyes of the military governor Zuo Wanjun, these soldiers were able to protect Lao He and break through the encirclement to return because Lao He must have promised a lot of benefits.
For example, there were rewards and the establishment of the Imperial Guard. Because the Imperial Guard received twice the pay of the regular soldiers, and their rewards were also more generous, the Imperial Guard was less dangerous if the officer wasn't one to charge into battle. Therefore, most soldiers hoped to infiltrate the Imperial Guard camp.
Since Lao He wanted to keep his promise, the military governor was unwilling to be the villain for the sake of a few lowly soldiers. Generals like them, who could maintain their positions, all had powerful backers.
Even if Lao He suffers a defeat, as long as the person behind him doesn't fall, what does it matter if he makes a comeback? To put it bluntly, what military general can be victorious forever? The military generals who are always victorious all end up becoming emperors.
The Left Army Commander said with a wry smile, "At worst, I'll take them home and raise them. My family has enough resources to support several hundred personal guards. It's just a pity that we suffered such a sudden defeat; the situation in Haizhou is probably not good."
The military governor hurriedly inquired about the battle situation: "What exactly happened? Our 20,000 troops were only out for four or five days, how could they have suddenly been defeated?"
The Left Army Commander had no choice but to recount the events of the Longwangtan ambush: "That's how it happened. Our main force at Longwangtan was wiped out. Zhou's army got stuck at the bridgehead, and not a single one escaped. The navy and civilian boats were mixed together, and the river was narrow and difficult to maneuver, so they probably couldn't escape either. Fortunately, I was in the rear guard. The enemy army had fought a major battle with the central army and was exhausted. We fought desperately, retreating as we went, and that's how we escaped."
The military governor looked at the commander of the left army with a playful expression. What talk of fighting to the death and retreating while fighting—it sounded nice. Didn't the rear guard still have three thousand Fuhai Longxiang soldiers? They must have sold them out to escape with only a few hundred survivors. Otherwise, how come not a single Fuhai Longxiang soldier escaped alive?
However, in chaotic times, betraying allies is common. The Left Army Commander belonged to the Haizhou Army, while the Fuhai Longxiang Army was stationed in Jiangyin. So what if he was betrayed? At least he brought some people back, which was a supplement to the Haizhou Army. Therefore, the military governor did not blame him at all.
Commander Lao He of the Left Army looked calmly at the Jiedushi. "Yes, I am a man who betrays his teammates. What do you want to do to me? If it were you, wouldn't you betray them too? I not only betrayed Fu Hailongxiang Army, but I will also betray you tonight."
The military governor might not mind Lao He betraying his comrades, but he couldn't ignore the strength of Zhou's army. He eagerly asked, "Lao He, do you know how many men Zhou's army has, which force it is, and what kind of troops they have?"
The Left Army Commander smiled bitterly: "There are at least 20,000 men, all elite armored soldiers. Don't forget, they launched an attack on the rear and central armies simultaneously. There's no reason for them to let the vanguard go. I guess it's a three-pronged attack. There should also be an unknown number of cavalrymen among them. I've encountered several hundred of them, and there should be others."
Perhaps two or three thousand cavalry, or even more. It's truly unexpected that they would choose Dragon King Beach. That's within Haizhou territory, not even reaching Chuzhou yet. How did so many troops get here? It seems Chuzhou has completely lost control of the situation outside the city.
The military governor's face was grim. Such a large enemy force had appeared within Haizhou's borders, and they were likely to attack Haizhou itself. Of the 20,000 elite armored troops, he only had 4,000 left, plus about 500 remnants. Even conscripting all the able-bodied men in the city wouldn't be enough.
What's even more frustrating is that there's nowhere left in the city to find able-bodied men. In order to support the westward advance of Fu Hailong's army, more than 12,000 able-bodied men from Haizhou had already been conscripted to pull ropes. Now, whether in Haizhou city or the countryside, able-bodied men have become a rare breed.
Stuck in a manpower shortage, the military governor stood up and paced back and forth, finally deciding, "Old He, you must redeem yourself through meritorious service. Those few hundred men, hurry up and eat and wash up, then go and guard the East Water Gate."
The Left Army Commander sighed and suggested, "Even with our few hundred men, it won't be enough. We need to mobilize all the men in the city."
The military governor said irritably, "You've all been sent to pull ropes. Are you going to conscript the local earth god or the city god?"
The Left Army Commander said fiercely, "Aren't there still merchant caravans in the city? The shopkeepers and shop assistants there are all men. The household guards and servants are also men. The situation is urgent, so the military governor shouldn't worry about these things. Defending Haizhou is the most important thing."
The military governor sighed, "This is the only way. Heavens, what kind of mess is this?"
Not long after, the Left Army Commander left the military governor's office. He glanced back and sneered inwardly:
Dongshuimen? The waterway at Dongshuimen leads to the sea. This military governor doesn't seem to trust me that much. Could the Zhou army really come from the sea? It seems their forces are truly stretched thin, hence their politeness towards me. I need to find a way to send the message out. There are also a fleet of cargo ships outside Dongshuimen; the army could easily take them across the waterway directly into the city.
Soon, chaos erupted in Haizhou City. Large groups of soldiers stormed into hotels and inns, searching every single one of the outsiders. Batch after batch of unfortunate merchants and their assistants were captured and sent to the army camp.
Taking advantage of the soaring prices due to the war, Zheng Hui, a man from Danyang, led several brothers and a group of accomplices across the border checkpoint of the Yu Kingdom in Jiangnan and secretly traveled by sea to Haizhou to smuggle some northern goods that were scarce in Jiangnan back to make a profit.
Others fear the chaos of war, but these businessmen are not. Fortune favors the bold, and the more turbulent the times, the more worthwhile the risks. Success means huge profits. If they fail, well, it's just bad luck; they might not die.
Now their situation is dire. They just bought the goods, and they've just been detained. They're trapped in the city and can't escape; they were caught red-handed by the army and sent to the military camp.
"Brother Zheng, what are we going to do? Being conscripted into the army is no good. I heard a bunch of defeated soldiers came back today, and maybe the front lines have already collapsed. We can't really risk our lives fighting the Northern Army." In the camp, a comrade said in a panic.
Zheng Hui lay on the large communal bed and sighed, "Let's take it one step at a time. We're merchants; we've never received military pay from Jinling, so we don't need to risk our lives. You should all be careful. If the Northern army really comes up, kneel down and surrender immediately. There's no need to risk your lives for the Jinling emperor. I've heard that the Northern emperor is a benevolent and trustworthy ruler. They've released slaves and made them free citizens, and every household is distributing land equally. It's clear they're not unreasonable."
When the army stormed in, Zheng Hui thought he had encountered unreasonable officials who had taken bribes and were cracking down on smuggling. Only after entering the camp and receiving his weapons did he realize he was to be stationed in the city to assist in the defense of Haizhou. Unless he was killed on the spot, he would struggle like a weed to find a place to take root and sprout.
It's just a matter of mutual defense, right? Haizhou is so big, they might not even attack the wall he's on. Even if the Northern army does attack, we can just let them come up. After all, they were conscripted, so what's so strange about their fighting strength?
Although the city was cracking down on men, there were differences among them. Outsiders like Zheng Hui, especially merchants who were clearly from out of town, were easily arrested by the local army. But men entertained by military officers in their own homes were naturally spared the army's harassment.
Even before the Left Army Commander returned to the city, the local wealthy landowner, Tian, had swaggered into Haizhou with dozens of his men. He dared to boast to Li Xuan because his clansmen were among the Haizhou army.
The clansman's position was neither high nor low; he was a battalion commander in charge of five hundred men. Given the foundation of the Tian family of Haizhou, this was the most he could hope for. To advance further, he would need a stroke of good fortune.
Previously, they weren't particularly noticeable, but now that there are only four thousand regular soldiers in the city, this clansman has suddenly become important.
After an unknown amount of time, Commander Tian rushed back. His first words to the village head were, "What do we do? Everyone says the Northern army is attacking! The 20,000 reinforcements couldn't hold them off for even a day. Clan chief, what do you know from your trip to the front lines? Do you think we can stop them?"
The manor lord calmly corrected, "It wasn't that they couldn't hold out for a whole day. They couldn't even hold out for half an hour before 20,000 men were gone. The remaining half hour was spent by the Zhou army cleaning up the battlefield and taking in prisoners. What came was a large army from the Bianliang court, a full 15,000 men plus 3,000 iron cavalry. With their sudden attack, the 20,000 reinforcements who were marching and not yet wearing armor naturally vanished into thin air."
Commander Tian was so frightened that he plopped down in his chair. "Good heavens! This is a huge scene! So many troops, they must be heading for Haizhou!"
The estate owner nodded and said, "Otherwise, in this freezing weather, why would so many people rush across Chuzhou and storm into Haizhou? Are they just here to plunder the villages? Don't they have anything better to do?"
Commander Tian thought for a moment, then got up, closed the door, and turned to the head of the Tian Manor, saying, "The clan leader is quite different today; he must have received some instruction. Fifteen thousand men, three thousand iron cavalry. Such confidential information wouldn't be leaked easily; someone must have told the clan leader. The clan leader's visit must have a purpose."
The manor lord smiled and said, "You've been clever since you were little. Indeed, I've already joined the Zhou Kingdom, boasting that I'd offer Haizhou as a gift for our Haizhou Tian clan's submission. In the Yu Kingdom, with our Tian clan's capabilities, supporting you to the position of battalion commander, leading a few hundred soldiers, is already our limit. If you want to advance further, you have no choice but to find another patron. What do you say, lad?"
How so? What can be said? All the key personnel in Commander Tian's army are surnamed Tian; officers with other surnames simply cannot survive. Similarly, in order to ensure this commander serves the interests of the Tian family, Master Tian invests heavily every year.
Therefore, Commander Tian cannot do without the Tian family, and these Tian family officers cannot do without their family either. This is the source of Master Tian's confidence to speak so boldly, and it is also the reliance of the Tian family of Haizhou as a powerful local clan.
Commander Tian gritted his teeth and said, "Since the clan chief has made his decision, I have no objections. I'm tired of being the commander of this bird camp. If the Yu Kingdom won't promote me, we can just find another employer and live the same life. But, what benefits will the Zhou Kingdom offer me? Clan chief, we can't get nothing at all, can we?"
The estate owner laughed, "How could there be no benefits? You'll be promoted one rank, appointed as the commander of the Xiang Army in Qingzhou, leading 1,500 soldiers, and rewarded with 2,000 strings of cash and 1,000 bolts of silk. Furthermore, both of your sons will be granted ninth-rank official positions through hereditary privilege. I remember they're eight and five years old respectively, receiving stipends from such a young age. Don't you think it's worth it?"
Commander Tian was overjoyed and said, "Oh, this is good, this is good! The Zhou court is truly generous. I just don't know when the Great Zhou army will arrive, and how I should cooperate."
The estate owner clapped his hands with a smile: "Brother Ji, it's your turn."
A strong and robust young man emerged from a side room. He bowed and said, "It's been a long time, Commander Tian."
Li Xuan and Li Ji had been in the salt trade for many years and were old acquaintances of the Tian family of Haizhou. Naturally, they had also dealt with Commander Tian several times.
Commander Tian exclaimed in surprise, "Aren't you...that...that Li Ji of Guangling?"
Li Ji admitted, "That's right, I am Li Ji of Guangling. I am currently the First Commander of the Right Wing First Army of the Black Spear Dragon Cavalry of the Imperial Guard of the Great Zhou Dynasty. I am a nominal army commander, but after this battle, I will be a real army commander. Brother Tian, you see, my abilities are not particularly outstanding."
In Zhou, through sheer daring and ruthlessness, he rose to his current position in less than a year, unknowingly surpassing you. Yu is nothing special; their high-ranking positions are all filled, leaving no opportunity for someone like you from a humble background. The Emperor of Great Zhou is ambitious and invincible; this time, he is determined to conquer Jianghuai. You must seize this opportunity!
The reality was cruel: Li Xuan and Li Ji had found a good employer. Since enlisting, they had improved every day. After two or three major battles, they had not only received ample training but also received rapid promotions. With such obvious facts before his eyes, Commander Tian could not help but be tempted.
In one year, or even less, he had achieved more than he had in seven or eight years of hard work. Commander Tian's eyes were red with anger, and he hissed, "Let's do it, clan chief! If the Yu Kingdom won't give us a chance, we'll find one ourselves. Tell me, what should I do?"
Li Ji stepped forward and pulled Commander Tian aside to explain the attack plan for tonight, while also placing Master Tian and dozens of "clan members" into the military camp.
Night fell, and the chaotic city of Haizhou fell silent. Zheng Hui and his companions, each clutching a spear and a broadsword, huddled together behind the city wall, shivering. The garrison had taken advantage of them, having been forcibly conscripted. On nights when the ground was frozen and frost covered the earth, no one wanted to stand guard, so they sent these new recruits to the city walls.
Fortunately, Zheng Hui had previously thought the officer in charge of them was rather humane and hadn't given them a hard time upon entering the camp. It turned out they didn't bother with the lower ranks; if they were going to give, they'd give them a truly unforgettable experience. And sure enough, now the whole group was freezing to the bone.
They couldn't even warm themselves by the fire on the city wall, because all the fuel had been confiscated and used centrally. They could only enter the watchtower to have a cup of tea to warm themselves up when the shift changed. A dozen or so grown men were crammed together, their eyebrows, beards, and snot frozen solid.
Soon, a series of sobs quietly filled the night air. Zheng Hui didn't scold the person crying. "Cry, cry," he thought. "Having the chance to cry at least means they're still alive. If crying can help them get home, I'm willing to cry every day." Thinking this, Zheng Hui's eyes also welled up with tears.
These once-roaming heroes, so valiant and fearless, huddled together for warmth on a desolate city wall on a night unknown to anyone. Had it not been for the witness of the bright stars and moon, who could have imagined such a sight? Cry, for even heroes have their moments of sorrow. They were simply struggling to make a living, to support their families, unfortunate souls who had ventured out to earn a living. In the past, fate had been kind to them, and they had always succeeded. But in this line of work, setbacks are inevitable, and perhaps today was one of them.
A series of creaking and groaning sounds rang out, and the west and east water gates of Haizhou City slowly opened simultaneously. There was no reaction within the city, as if it were deserted. In a city emptied of its men, what else could the women and children do after nightfall but hide at home praying to the gods for their husbands' safe return?
Suddenly, several lamps were lit atop the city wall, and in the darkness not far below, two torches were waved towards the wall. Li Ji personally raised a torch on the wall, signaling to those below that everything was going well. Upon receiving the signal, the torches outside disappeared, and the pitch-black environment returned to a deathly silence.
The silence was not eternal; gradually, the sound of armor plates colliding became clearer and clearer.
A large group of dark figures approached from outside the West Gate. Actually, it wasn't very dark, because under the moonlight, their bodies always reflected a cold glint.
Those were the armor plates of the armor calling for the protection of the moon goddess, like a layer of silver gauze on the ships of soldiers marching in the night.
Soldiers without night blindness walked in front, always with a hand draped over their shoulders—the hand of their comrades who entrusted their lives to them when they couldn't see the road at night.
Fortunately, things wouldn't be so awkward once they entered the city. Commander Tian had prepared a large number of torches, enough for almost every two soldiers entering the city to receive one. Li Ji and Master Tian celebrated: It's a success!
The West Gate has been breached by two thousand Black Spear Dragon Cavalry!
Inside the East Water Gate, the Left Army Commander looked in surprise at the "Zhou Army" soldiers who hurriedly disembarked from the ship, dressed in Yu army armor and with white cloth strips tied around their foreheads and arms.
These were not the main force of the Black Spear Dragon Cavalry, but rather the "local troops" incorporated by Han Kun. Although they had suffered heavy casualties on the front lines, their morale had been preserved due to their glorious victory. Coupled with Han Kun's excellent mobilization abilities, the task of rowing in through the East Water Gate tonight would be undertaken by them.
Even more remarkably, after Li Xuan left, the ship owners who had surrendered were persuaded by Han Kun's promises of easy money, and they all brought their trusted followers and sons to join the operation, adding a thousand soldiers to their ranks after donning the captured Yu army armor.
To capture Haizhou, Han Kun racked his brains, using up all one hundred blank official documents. He was doing his best and leaving the rest to fate; whether he could win the final round depended entirely on divine intervention.
The more he looked, the more something seemed amiss. After questioning the "officer" who had entered the city, the Left Army Commander realized that Li Xuan and Han Kun were exceptionally shrewd strategists, and that the Zhou army had clearly not placed all its bets on one person.
He looked at Li Chang with pleading eyes, a feeling of being deceived, cheated, and distrusted welling up inside him. Li Chang was also aggrieved; he hadn't known any of these details of the operation!
But in the next instant, the Left Army Commander discovered a blind spot: there were still people in Haizhou City vying with him for the credit of surrendering the city!
Greatly alarmed, the Left Army Commander gritted his teeth, stamping his foot in a gesture of utter disregard for decorum, and roared, "Let's go! We're going to the military governor's office. Kidnapping the military governor would be a great achievement! Hurry, don't let someone else steal it! I am the greatest hero of the Great Zhou's conquest of the city!"
On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, when the sun rose again, Zheng Hui and the others who had fallen asleep from the cold on the city wall sensed movement around them. They opened their eyes and were surprised to find a group of unfamiliar soldiers working on the city wall, ignoring them, who were frozen and numb.
Zheng Hui struggled to his feet and looked around. On the walls of Haizhou, the flags of the Yu Kingdom were being taken down one by one. The Great Zhou royal flag fluttered in the biting wind. Haizhou, a vital town on the Huai River, had fallen!