Chapter 595: Bludgeoning Open the City Gates |
Several days later, deep into the night, outside Hedong Road.
Across Jie Pond stood an abandoned salt village.
Old Nan Feng and Zao Ying were now leading a small scout team of cavalry, hiding in this little salt village.
The salt village had once been bustling, but ever since Gaojia Village’s reach extended to Puzhou and they came to the salt village several times to poach workers, they had lured all its residents to Nitrifying Pond to work as salt craftsmen.
The deserted salt village became the perfect hiding spot, conveniently allowing them to monitor Hedong City across the water.
Zao Ying whispered, “Old Nan Feng, you only have over six hundred troops under your command, right? With such a small number, can you really take Hedong City?”
Old Nan Feng chuckled, “If this city were guarded by elite soldiers and capable generals, we’d surely fail. But it’s just those trash from the salt tax office guarding it. With Captain Chen’s skills, it’ll be effortless.”
Zao Ying nodded, “Alright, I want to see how he captures a city defended by a thousand garrison troops with just six hundred men. By the way, there are people from the Shanxi merchants inside—they’re not to be trifled with. They might even have Jurchen troops.”
At the mention of Jurchen troops, Old Nan Feng’s expression turned slightly grave. “Jurchen troops aren’t much stronger than Mongolian troops. Nothing to fear. This is the heartland of the Central Plains after all. Even if Jurchen troops slipped in with the Shanxi merchants, there wouldn’t be many of them. No need to worry too much.”
Old Nan Feng and Zao Ying rushed with pride, quickly grabbing their telescopes.
Peering across Jie Pond was challenging—the distance was great, and the light dim—but the telescopes still proved effective. Soon enough, they saw Captain Chen leading two hundred men, stumbling and disheveled, like an army defeated in battle, rushing toward the walls of Hedong City.
Old Nan Feng’s eyes lit up. “I know what he plans to do.”
Zao Ying: “Bludgeon open the city gates?”
Old Nan Feng grinned. “Exactly! They’re officials to begin with. Forcing the gates open will be all too easy.”
At that moment…
The sentinel atop the city walls immediately spotted Captain Chen’s group. Drawing his large bow, he bellowed sharply, “Who goes there?”
Captain Chen lifted his head and waved, shouting, “Don’t shoot! Friendlies… friendlies… I’m a subordinate of General Wang Guoliang of Shanxi. Surname Wu. You can call me Commander Wu… Our army encountered bandits east of Caochuan County, fought a battle… We won, and now we’ve come here to rest and regroup.”
“Won?” The sentinel knew at a glance—this was clearly a defeat. Chased here by bandits, no doubt! A man claiming to be a commander yet leading only two hundred men? This could only mean his troops had scattered after being smashed by bandits.
The brazenness of calling defeat a victory—that was the unmistakable style of officials. Even bandits couldn’t twist black into white with such shameless confidence.
The sentinel relaxed his bowstring just a fraction.
“This is the dead of night,” the sentinel said. “I dare not let you in just like that.”
Captain Chen: “Damn it! I’ve only got two hundred men! What are you afraid of? Hurry up and find someone with the guts to make the call! Isn’t this Hedong City? Where’s the salt tax office? Get him out here!”
The sentinel quickly sent someone to notify the office. Soon, the salt tax office arrived.
But neither of the two Shanxi merchants came with him. The salt tax office’s robe looked hastily thrown on—even the buttons were mismatched. He leaned over the ramparts, peering down into the darkness. He could see Captain Chen clad in proper armor, though it looked a bit worn and crusted with mud—utterly wretched…
His two hundred troops were equally ragged and battered.
The salt tax office knew instantly—this was a poorly equipped, marginalized garrison unit. Utterly worthless trash—and worst of all, just freshly beaten back, pitifully so.
But even so, the salt tax office had no intention of letting them in.
The middle of the night. An unidentified troop entering the city? The risks were immense. He wasn’t stupid. Shouting downward, he called out, “Commander Wu, is it? You can rest outside the walls! Recover your strength, then be on your way. I absolutely cannot let strangers just walk in.”
Captain Chen shouted back, “Damn it! Why are you guarding against me? Do I look like some bandit planning to force these gates? I have only two hundred men! Why are you so damned suspicious?”
If he had sounded meek or timid, the salt tax office might have doubted his identity. But Captain Chen’s irritable tone, his cursing, his rough calling himself “I”… that sounded all too familiar, like real officials.
The salt tax office said, “Commander Wu, be reasonable. Try to understand…”
Just then, from the darkness far to the east, battle cries suddenly erupted. Torches flickered wildly through the gloom. It was clear—someone was attacking. And they numbered thousands. From atop the wall, the salt tax office could see the seething torches covering a vast area—at least several thousand strong.
Captain Chen stole a glance eastward, his face twisting with fear: “Disaster… the bandit army has come!”
The salt tax office nearly jumped out of his skin: “Good heavens! They’re really here!”
Captain Chen: “Let me in, and fast! Hurry, damn it! Do you want me dead?”
Panic seized the salt tax office—more flustered than he had ever been.
He was just a minor official guarding salt. He’d never fought a war. His garrison troops were the same—lifelong guardians of this wretched city, whose greatest battle involved arresting a few dozen salt smugglers.
The last time bandits attacked, they’d been terrified. They’d only driven the rabble back thanks to Huang Yunfa’s Jurchen cavalry. What should they do now? Then he remembered—the two Shanxi merchants were in the city. He didn’t know how strong their guards were.
Chaos reigned atop the wall.
Captain Chen roared: “Let me in, damn it! I’ll help you defend the city!”
His mind muddled by panic, the salt tax office actually listened. Waving a hand, he ordered: “Quickly! Open the gates! Let Commander Wu and his men inside!”
The gate’s winch began to turn, creaking heavily as the massive gates parted outward. Captain Chen and his two hundred soldiers swiftly slipped through.
The moment they crossed the threshold, they made straight for the spot on the walls above, where the winch controlling the gate was located…
Something suddenly struck the salt tax office as wrong. He shrieked: “This is bad! They’re after the winch! Stop them! Hurry and stop them!”
But already, it was too late. Captain Chen sprang forward, drawing his saber, a vicious grin spreading across his face: “Haha! Hedong City is mine!”
He dashed over to the winch, raised his sword, and with one slash, cut down the soldier manning it. Seizing the winch, his two hundred men surged forward. Spears and shields bristled, forming an impenetrable guard around the mechanism.
Wide awake now with terror, the salt tax office screeched: “Kill them all! Close the gates! Now…”