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Chapter 595: Tricking Open the City Gates

Days later, deep into the night, just outside the city in Hedong Circuit.

Across Xie Lake lay a desolate salt village.

Lao Nanfeng and Zao Ying, leading a small contingent of cavalry scouts, were hidden within this tiny, abandoned village. It had once been a bustling place, but ever since Gao Family Village extended its influence to Puzhou and repeatedly poached workers from the salt village, all its residents had been lured away to work as salt makers at Xiao Lake. A deserted village, it became the perfect hideout, offering a convenient vantage point to monitor Hedong City across Xie Lake.

Zao Ying whispered, "Lao Nanfeng, your troops, they're only about six hundred strong, right? With so few, can we really take Hedong City?"

Lao Nanfeng chuckled. "If this city were defended by elite soldiers and capable generals, then no, it would be impossible. But it's guarded by those useless salt tax officials. With Chen Baihu's skill, it won't take any effort at all."

Zao Ying nodded. "Alright, I'll be curious to see how he takes a city defended by a thousand garrison troops with just six hundred men. Oh, and there are Jin merchants in the city, too. They're not to be trifled with, and they might even have Manchu soldiers."

At the mention of Manchu soldiers, Lao Nanfeng's expression grew slightly serious. "Manchu soldiers aren't much stronger than Mongolian cavalry, so there's nothing to fear. This is, after all, the heartland of the central plains. Even if Manchu soldiers have infiltrated with the Jin merchants, their numbers won't be significant. We don't need to worry too much."

As the two spoke, they heard the Heavenly Lord’s voice from Lao Nanfeng's chest. "They're here! Chen Baihu and his men have arrived. He's about to attack the city."

Lao Nanfeng and Zao Ying's spirits lifted, and they quickly grabbed their binoculars.

It was too far to see clearly across Xie Lake, and the lighting was dim, but the binoculars worked well. They immediately spotted Chen Baihu and two hundred men, stumbling and dishevelled, looking like a defeated army, as they approached the base of Hedong City.

Lao Nanfeng's eyes gleamed. "I know what he's going to do."

Zao Ying replied, "Trick open the city gates?"

Lao Nanfeng grinned. "Precisely! They're already government troops; tricking open the gates will be effortless."

Just then...

A sentry on the city wall immediately spotted Chen Baihu's group. The sentry drew a large bow and shouted sternly, "Who goes there?"

Chen Baihu looked up, waved his hand, and yelled loudly, "Don't shoot arrows! We're allies... allies! This general serves General Wang Guoliang of Shanxi. My surname is Wu; you can call me Commander Wu. This general encountered bandits in Caochuan County to the east and fought a battle... We won, and now we've come here to rest and recuperate."

"Won?" The sentry knew instantly. *Damn it, they clearly lost and are being pursued by bandits, aren't they? Claiming to be a commander, but only having two hundred men under him? This clearly means his army was scattered by the bandits.* This style of forcefully claiming victory after a defeat was utterly typical of official troops.

Even bandits couldn't twist black into white with such righteous indignation.

The sentry's grip on his bowstring loosened ever so slightly.

"In the middle of the night," the sentry called out, "I can't just let you in."

Chen Baihu cursed, "Damn it! You bastard, I only have two hundred men, what are you so afraid of? Go fetch someone who *isn't* a coward! This is Hedong City, isn't it? Where's the salt tax official? Tell him to come speak!"

The sentry quickly dispatched someone to inform him. Before long, the salt tax official arrived.

However, the two Jin merchants did not accompany him. The salt tax official's robes must have been donned in a hurry, as the buttons weren't even aligned correctly. He leaned over the city wall, peering down. In the darkness, he could discern Chen Baihu wearing proper armor, though it was somewhat worn and caked with mud, giving him a bedraggled appearance. His two hundred soldiers were also clad in tattered armor and looked utterly miserable.

The salt tax official immediately concluded that this was a low-combat, marginalized garrison unit—the absolute worst kind—and that they had just suffered a devastating defeat.

But even so, the salt tax official had no intention of letting them into the city.

*Letting an unknown force into the city in the middle of the night? How dangerous!* The salt tax official wasn't stupid. He yelled down, "Commander Wu, is it? I can allow you to rest beneath the city walls. Once you're rested, please depart. I cannot simply let people into the city here."

Chen Baihu looked up, roaring, "Damn it, why are you so wary of me? Do I look like a bandit trying to trick open your city gates? I only have two hundred men; do you really need to be this cautious?"

If he had been meek and tentative, the salt tax official might have suspected him of being a fraud. But his blatant annoyance, curses, and self-aggrandizing tone made him sound even more like a genuine official.

The salt tax official pleaded, "Commander Wu, please try to understand from my perspective..."

Just then, in the distant darkness to the east, shouts of battle suddenly erupted, and torches swayed wildly. Clearly, someone was attacking, and in considerable numbers. Standing on the city wall, the salt tax official could see the flickering torches spread across a vast area, indicating at least several thousand people.

Chen Baihu glanced in that direction, his face etched with terror. "Damn it, the bandit army is here!"

The salt tax official nearly jumped out of his skin. "Oh no, they really are here!"

Chen Baihu screamed, "Quickly, let me in! Hurry, hurry! Are you trying to get me killed?"

The salt tax official panicked, a complete and utter panic. He was merely a paltry salt official, never having fought a battle in his life. His garrison soldiers were no different, having spent their entire lives guarding this dilapidated city, their greatest battle being the capture of a few dozen salt smugglers.

The last time bandits attacked, they were terrified, relying entirely on Huang Yunfa's Manchu cavalry to drive them back. But what about this time? *Right, there are two Jin merchants in the city. I wonder if their guards are strong.*

Chaos erupted on the city wall.

Chen Baihu bellowed, "Quickly, let me in! I'll help you defend the city!"

In his terror, the salt tax official's mind went blank, and he actually listened, waving his hand. "Quick, open the city gates! Let Commander Wu and his men in!"

The capstan of the city gate began to turn, and with a creaking sound, the heavy gate slowly opened outwards. Chen Baihu and his two hundred men swiftly rushed inside.

The moment they entered the city, they immediately dashed towards the city wall, heading for the capstan that controlled the gate...

The salt tax official suddenly felt a jolt of alarm and shrieked, "No, this is bad! They're here to seize control of the city gate! Quick, stop them!"

But it was already too late. Chen Baihu smoothly drew his saber, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "Hahaha, Hedong City is mine!"

He lunged towards the capstan, his saber flashing, and with a single stroke, he cut down the soldier operating it. The capstan was seized, and the two hundred men behind him surged forward, their long spears and shields forming a tight defense around the captured mechanism.

The salt tax official, jolted wide awake from his fright, screamed, "Kill them all! Close the city gates, quickly..."