Chapter 289: Forced Assault

The Xuan-Da army camped outside Liuhe Fort, felling trees and digging deep trenches; by sunset, a sturdy fortified camp had already been established.

Cooking smoke curled upward, and the entire Xuan-Da encampment gave off the aroma of meals and enticing meat. Within a radius of over ten li, besides many forts and villages, the open country was dotted with horse pens and cattle pens, inside which countless cattle, horses, pigs, and sheep were penned.

The Xuan-Da army unceremoniously seized several hundred head of cattle and sheep, slaughtered them as a reward, and the whole army ate meat to their hearts' content. Everyone beamed with joy, all saying that even setting aside fighting the Tatars, just coming to Zhuozhou for so much meat made this trip worthwhile.

At the same time, escorted by some combat troops, the Shunxiang Army's Supply Company Commander also drove out many carts and horses from the camp, loaded with grain, to provide relief at several civilian gathering points. Those abducted commoners had long suffered hunger and cold; the army physicians advised Wang Dou not to let them eat too much, lest some literally eat themselves to death.

Wang Dou nodded in agreement, deciding to first boil some rice porridge to let them replenish their energy.

The government troops provided relief as promised; drinking steaming hot rice porridge, combined with the joy of being rescued, every civilian gathering point boiled with excitement. Those supply troops hauling grain all enjoyed star treatment, as countless commoners kowtowed to them in gratitude. Regarding the troops' strict orders not to run around or move about, they also obediently complied.

Only some able-bodied young men, under the supervision of the Shunxiang Army's supply troops, went outside the gathering points to pick up dry firewood and dead branches, lighting bonfires one after another so the people inside could endure the freezing winter night. The supply troops' carts also brought many quilts and clothes, letting the commoners drape them on to ward off the cold.

Those murderous Tatars even robbed the commoners of every prefecture and county of their clothes, bedding, bowls, and chopsticks. Those plundered bedding and garments were piled up inside each fort, just right to haul over a big heap to help the commoners keep out the cold.

Seeing the soldiers being so considerate, the commoners were even more grateful and stirred; they all asked the Shunxiang Army supply troops which part of the government forces they belonged to, and especially inquired who their commanding general was. When they returned home, they would set up longevity tablets to honor the soldiers.

Wang Dou had already made up his mind to bring all these commoners back to Bao'an Prefecture, and had long instructed those supply troops to treat the commoners with warm expressions. Those supply troops took the hint; at this moment they boasted extravagantly, saying their general was none other than the Mobile Corps Commander of Bao'an Prefecture in Xuanfu Garrison, Wang Dou, personally enfeoffed by the Emperor and whose valor surpassed the entire army.

After his venerable self was ordered to enter the capital region for defense, he fought from the capital to Tongzhou, from Tongzhou to Dingzhou, fought a circle from north to south, then fought back to Zhuozhou. Wherever he went, the Tatars all fled at the mere rumor of his approach, not daring to offer even a slight battle. Presumably, the Tatar troops attacking Zhuozhou this time would not need much time before they could be completely annihilated in one sweep.

Regrettably, very few among the commoners had heard of any Shunxiang Army whose valor surpassed the entire army, and even fewer had heard the name Wang Dou. After being rescued, they were still inwardly anxious, worried that the government troops were no match for the Tatars. If the government troops retreated in defeat, they would be captured by the Tatars again and taken to the Tatar lair.

But hearing these soldiers speak so confidently, and seeing that they even dared to take the initiative to attack the Tatar troops at Zhuozhou, while those Tatars obediently shrank inside their camp not daring to move recklessly — they were indeed different from the worthless government troops elsewhere who fled at the mere rumor of the enemy. Drinking hot rice porridge, draped in bedding, warming themselves by blazing bonfires, although the winter night was still as bitterly cold as in days past, boundless hope ignited in everyone's hearts, and that night many people lay sleepless until dawn.

……

Wang Dou, Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, and the others had an agreement before setting out: all the abducted commoners would belong to Wang Dou. How Wang Dou provided relief and arranged for those commoners was something Yang Guozhu and the others did not participate in; only when some village elders from the various gathering points came to the camp with the supply troops to express gratitude did they courteously receive them.

That night, Wang Dou discussed military affairs with Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, and the others. The outer perimeter layout of the Plain Red Banner Qing army camp had long been thoroughly scouted and compiled into a detailed map.

Looking at this map, Wang Dou and the others all sank into contemplation. The Qing army encampment was laid out quite large, with four sides, each section of palisade wall measuring two to three hundred paces in length. The wooden wall was formed by tree trunks arranged tightly together, and the front row of trunks also formed a protective wall about half a man's height. A hundred paces in front of the camp were some low walls and trenches. When observed during the day, those low walls and trenches were not many or deep, but it was possible that tonight the Qing soldiers would work through the night to perfect their layout.

But honestly speaking, such a camp was effective for defense against cold-weapon troops. If Yang Guozhu and Hu Dawei led their forces to attack, casualties would likely be heavy and it would be difficult to take. However, if the Shunxiang Army attacked, the situation would be vastly different.

It had already been agreed before setting out that Wang Dou would lead the main assault, while Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, and the others would guard the flanks. Looking at the expressions in their eyes now, that was clearly exactly what they meant.

Wang Dou said nothing, carefully discussing the matter of attacking the camp with everyone.

"Our army will surround on three sides and leave one open; we need only besiege and attack three sides..."

Yang Guozhu set the overall strategy.

"They probably have no cannons..."

Hu Dawei mused.

During the Battle of Julu, because the Qing main force was attacking the Xuan-Da encampment, they had to bring some red-barbarian cannons captured from the Ming army from Tongzhou and other places. Now those cannons should either have gone with Dorgon's main army on their campaign into Shandong, or been abandoned on the spot.

Yoto, left to hold Zhuozhou, because they excelled at field battles, figured that even if some bold Ming troops came to attack, they could defeat them in the open field, and never imagined they would need to deploy cannons inside the camp for defense. Even less did they expect the Xuan-Da army to suddenly close in. Presumably, Yoto's army by the Liuli River now not only had no cannons, but not even trebuchets, and would have to rely solely on bows and arrows for defense.

Their bows and arrows only had killing power within fifty paces, and to penetrate the Shunxiang Army's iron armor, they would have to close to twenty or thirty paces. Meanwhile, over half of the Shunxiang Army were arquebusiers who could kill the enemy at a hundred paces, and at seventy or eighty paces could pierce heavy armor; they also had several dozen cannons. No matter how you looked at it, the odds of victory were extremely high.

Even if the Qing army had set up some low walls and trenches, the Shunxiang Army had brought two hundred and twenty single-wheel war carts on this campaign. On the front or right-side shaft bar of each cart, protective shields could be inserted, effectively preventing arrow fire.

With the fierce covering fire of cannons and arquebuses, and a forceful assault by saber-and-shield soldiers and pikemen, they could quickly break through their camp.

Hearing Wang Dou's words, Yang Guozhu, Hu Dawei, and the others were even more stirred. Wang Dou asked the Supervisor's Battalion Company Commander Yang Guodong, who was in the room: "Company Commander Yang, for the four cannons in your Supervisor's Battalion, how much longer can the ammunition be used?"

Wang Dou's army had ample ammunition for its falconet cannons; even when resting and reorganizing at Liujing Fort, the army's arquebus and cannon ammunition had been effectively replenished. Some arquebusiers, after firing their arquebuses several dozen times, had also been issued new ones. Wang Dou was only worried about the Supervisor's Battalion's remaining four red-barbarian six-pounder cannons, for which not much ammunition remained.

Yang Guodong said: "For the four cannons in my battalion, if engaged in intense battle, firing twenty shots per cannon, the ammunition can still be used for two days."

Wang Dou nodded: "Two days is sufficient."

Yang Guodong saluted Hu Dawei and Yang Guozhu, and when facing Wang Dou, his expression was even more respectful: "My two lords, General Wang, I request to fight. Tomorrow I wish to lead the brothers of the Supervisor's Battalion alongside the Shunxiang Army brothers to assault the slave camp."

Wang Dou was quite pleased. The Supervisor's Battalion had decent combat strength; although now only three hundred men remained, every one of them was a stout fellow, and the majority left were arquebusiers. The self-igniting arquebuses and Rumi arquebuses they used were all of excellent quality, capable of operating in cold and windy weather. The Rumi arquebus had an effective range of one hundred and fifty paces, high accuracy, and strong armor-piercing ability — Wang Dou had long coveted them.

The self-igniting arquebuses they used were the flintlock guns of later ages, which Wang Dou likewise coveted. Having the Supervisor's Battalion submit to him would add wings to the military strength under his command like a tiger. Yang Guodong's request to fight clearly showed his intention to present a pledge of allegiance before formally submitting to Wang Dou.

Watching Yang Guodong's conduct, Hu Dawei and Yang Guozhu had complicated expressions. They had tried every means to win over Yang Guodong, yet Yang Guodong was utterly unmoved, but now it seemed he was going to submit to Wang Dou. Wang Dou's military strength was already swelling to the extreme; with Yang Guodong's submission, his power would grow even stronger. The future situation...

Guo Yingxian, the central army personal general behind Yang Guozhu, also cracked his mouth in regret. Only Xu Yue'e, sitting quietly, shifted her gaze between Yang Guodong's and Wang Dou's faces.

……

"General, I wish to lead my unit's soldiers as the vanguard in the first wave of the assault on the bandit camp."

Inside Yang Guozhu's central army command tent, the overall strategy was already set. The result of the discussion was that Wang Dou would lead the Shunxiang Army and the Supervisor's Battalion in a main assault on the front of the Qing camp, while Hu Dawei, Yang Guozhu, and the others would encircle the two flanks, only feinting, not launching a main assault. Their role was to envelop, besiege, and simultaneously guard Wang Dou's two flanks and rear.

After setting out to battle the next day, the Liuhe Fort camp would be guarded by three hundred men left behind from Yang Guozhu's unit, three hundred supply troops left behind from the Shunxiang Army, and just over a hundred men each left behind by Hu Dawei and Xu Yue'e. Within this several-li area, even if someone raided the camp, the Xuan-Da army had numerous cavalry and could fully come to the rescue in time.

With the strategy set, Wang Dou returned to his own camp and summoned his subordinate officers to discuss matters.

Gao Shiyin was the first to stand up and request to fight, the fierce flesh on his face twitching incessantly, his eyes full of longing. Whether he could be promoted to Company Commander upon returning depended on this battle. After him, each officer also eagerly requested to fight, their fighting spirit soaring, with Han Chao's expression being the most resolute.

The army's morale was usable, and Wang Dou was also satisfied. For this battle, he would deploy a total of seven company commanders under his command; only Zhong Diaoyang's Ding Unit was left behind at Liujing Fort under Vice Company Commander Gao Gui. In the several months since he had set out on campaign, Han Chao's Jia Unit had been left behind all along to guard Bao'an Prefecture. His unit was mostly composed of veteran soldiers who had also fought bitterly against the Qing troops in the ninth year of Chongzhen. After reorganization, in terms of overall strength, Han Chao's unit was the strongest.

It was fitting to let them lead the main assault for better tempering. He wanted to elevate Gao Shiyin, so this first wave of battle naturally had to be his.

He smiled and affirmed each officer's fighting resolve, and also emphatically praised Gao Shiyin a few times.

Pointing at the map on the table, he said: "In tomorrow's battle, our army will mainly assault the camp gate and the slave camp zone within one hundred and fifty paces on either side. The Manchu Plain Red Banner slave soldiers, imitating our defense setup at Julu, have dug several trenches in front of the camp and piled up some low walls. Between the trenches, they have left three passageways, with the one at the camp gate being the widest, about twenty paces across, and the others each ten paces wide."

"Their clumsy imitation is truly laughable. When our grand army assaults the camp tomorrow, if they have no cannons, our camp's cannons will be pulled up to one hundred and fifty paces, even a hundred paces away, to bombard them, smashing all their palisade walls and camp gates... Company Commander Zhao, directing the artillerymen in battle is entrusted to you."

Zhao Xuan hurriedly stood up. This nonconformist within the Ming army declared: "General, rest assured. Tomorrow, with several dozen cannons firing in unison, I will certainly give those slave bandits a good show."

After the Battle of Julu, the entire Shunxiang Army artillery corps had only just over two hundred men left, and not many of the army's original escort soldiers remained either. After the reorganization at Liujing Fort, that unit of troops from Mancheng was also incorporated into the artillery corps escort, bringing Zhao Xuan's force up to a full three hundred men.

This time, twenty-five medium falconet cannons were brought along, with three artillerymen per cannon; the remaining artillerymen in the army were still sufficient for use. The artillerymen and escorts within the corps were all equipped with arquebuses and sabers, needing no support from other company commanders — their own escort capability was already ample.

Wang Dou nodded with satisfaction and had Zhao Xuan sit down. He continued: "After the cannons break open the slave camp's gate and wooden walls, our army's arquebusiers will then advance layer by layer under the cover of war carts, pressing all the way into the slave camp. After entering the slave camp, if they still do not collapse and rout, and still want to charge and counterattack, our army will again advance layer by layer with war carts, with arquebusiers firing from behind the carts, and saber-and-shield soldiers and pikemen guarding the two flanks and rear, ready at any moment for hand-to-hand combat!"

Everyone in the tent was elated. Under the Shunxiang Army's fierce firearms assault, each unit might only need to pay a light price to break through the camp.

Han Chao looked at the map and pondered: "The three passageways in the slave camp are narrow. For the war carts to advance layer by layer, those trenches need to be filled in."

Wen Fangliang suggested to Wang Dou: "General, for tomorrow's battle, we could select some able-bodied young men from among the commoners to dig earth and fill the trenches, saving our troops' energy."

Wang Dou slowly nodded.

……

At that moment, inside the Plain Red Banner Qing army camp, there was a pervasive gloom, and a nameless fear spread through the encampment. Some of the abducted commoner women inside the camp were surprised to find that the Tatar soldiers, originally fiendishly fierce, were much more polite to them.

Especially those turncoat Tatar servants who served as jackals, when speaking with them, unconsciously adopted an ingratiating tone, and also vigorously talked about compatriot bonds, saying that they too had no choice, with their wives and daughters held hostage in the Tatar lair, they had no option but to serve the Tatars, though in their hearts they detested it.

Those Korean laborers also quietly brought food to the captured commoners and freely spoke of the bonds between tributary states. Watching the faces of these junior Tartars change so drastically, the captured commoners and women in the camp all felt immense satisfaction.

They had already learned the designation of the Ming army outside. One told ten, ten told a hundred, and soon the camp was quietly spreading the word: "General Wang, whose valor crowns the three armies, has arrived — the Tartars' doomsday is here!"

Inside Yue Tuo's command tent at Gaocun Fort, the atmosphere was equally oppressive. Yue Tuo, his two sons, and several Plain Red Banner Jalanggin and Nirui Janggin could not devise any clever plan. Not only were the Ming army's cannons and firearms formidable, but Wang Dou's troops were also outstanding in close-quarters combat. Yue Tuo had no confidence whatsoever that they could hold the camp tomorrow.

Before sunset, as the Xuan-Da army withdrew to set camp, Yue Tuo pressed the camp laborers into digging deep trenches and piling low walls, also driving out a portion of the captured commoners inside the camp to work.

Unexpectedly, these Ming commoners, who had seemed utterly submissive, took advantage of a moment's inattention from the guards and bolted. Although the guards cut down and captured some of them, many still escaped. During the pursuit, they encountered Ming patrol cavalry roaming outside and lost some more men.

Yue Tuo was furious and ordered those captured commoners executed on the spot.

Before dying, one commoner laughed bitterly and pointed at them: "Tartars, you will come to a bad end. I'll be waiting for you underground!"

This man's words plunged the Plain Red Banner Qing troops into even deeper silence. They no longer dared to send those captured commoners out to dig trenches. All the heavy labor fell upon the army laborers, making them suffer unbearably, their hearts divided.

To boost morale and strengthen his forces, Yue Tuo promised the several thousand laborers in camp that after the battle they would all be raised to banner status. When they returned, they would no longer be bondservants but part of their Eight Banner companies. Even so, Yue Tuo could not be at all certain whether this would have any effect.

Unable to devise a countermeasure, Yue Tuo felt deeply troubled. Ignoring his grave illness, he insisted on inspecting the camp and even climbed a watchtower to gaze west toward the Xuan-Da army camp.

Over there, lights blazed brightly, like a city that never slept. Unlike previous days, the several Ming commoner gathering points to the south also glimmered with scattered lights, clearly from the many large bonfires they had lit.

The scene before him was like Julu replayed, but with the positions swapped. The feelings and taste of that day, when Lu Xiangsheng and Wang Dou gazed out at the Qing camp, were now what Yue Tuo was tasting.

The winter night was bone-chillingly cold, and the wind on the watchtower was even harsher. Accompanying Yue Tuo on his inspection was his second son, Luoluohuan. Luoluohuan urged Yue Tuo to return to his quarters and rest. After hesitating a long moment, he added: "Ama, why don't we abandon all the people and wealth, abandon the camp, and withdraw to Tongzhou tomorrow!"

Yue Tuo shook his head: "To retreat before battle would surely sap the army's will to fight. The Xuan-Da army has many cavalry. Under their pursuit, our chances would be slim."

He said: "If we withdraw to Tongzhou, Wang Dou and the others will still pursue. Moreover, once news of our army's defeat at Zhuozhou spreads, other Ming forces will also stir restlessly. It is better to hold the camp. When reinforcements from Tongzhou arrive, and with our camp's solid defenses, it is still possible to hold out until the main force of the Imperial Great General's relief army arrives."

He pondered for a long moment, then instructed Luoluohuan: "If the worst should happen, you must break out by any means necessary, preserve the seed of the Plain Red Banner. Do not think of revenge — just live quietly and peacefully..."

Luoluohuan's face streamed with tears. He clutched Yue Tuo's right leg and wept loudly: "Ama..."

The eleventh day of the first month, in the twelfth year of Chongzhen.

Early in the morning, just as the sky began to lighten, some men from the Shunxiang Army's supply battalion braved the cold wind and went to each commoner gathering point to recruit: "The great army is attacking the Tartar main camp and needs some earth-digging laborers and trench-filling heroes. Those who dig earth will eat their fill of flatbread and steamed buns, with delicious vegetable soup and meat broth. The trench-filling heroes will get to eat large cuts of pork, mutton, and beef to their hearts' content. Those who distinguish themselves may even be selected to join our Shunxiang Army — their future prospects will be limitless... Who is willing to go?"

From every gathering point rose a clamor of commoners shouting: "I'll go, I'll go, I'll go..."

Zhuozhou had abundant provisions everywhere, so the previous night the Shunxiang Army had distributed gruel every two hours. Once their stomachs had been nursed back, the commoners were even hungrier — especially the able-bodied men, whose bellies were rumbling. Digging earth only required some strength, and in return they could eat their fill of flatbread and steamed buns, with meat broth to drink. Who wouldn't be willing?

Not just the able-bodied men — even women and children scrambled to go, as if every single commoner was willing.

This posed a problem: it seemed they didn't need that many earth-diggers. In the end, the supply battalion soldiers selected five thousand earth-diggers from the various sites, mostly men, but also some sturdy women. However, not a single person was willing to be a trench-filling hero — after all, they might catch a Tartar arrow and lose their lives.

Meat was delicious, but one's own life mattered more. The commoners knew perfectly well which was lighter and which was heavier.

"How can there not be a single hero willing to fill the trench?"

At the gathering point for captured commoners at Zhongdai Village, the earth-digging laborers stood in a dense black mass, but there was not a single trench-filling laborer. A Squad Commander from the Shunxiang Army supply battalion was extremely displeased. He shouted: "Is there not a single real man among you?"

His gaze swept over them, and everyone instinctively avoided his eyes.

The Squad Commander was growing disappointed when suddenly a rough, bold northern-accented voice rang out: "I'll go!"

It was a sturdy man in his thirties, with a full beard, who stepped forward. Beside him was a man of plain appearance with a sinister look in his eyes. The two pushed through the crowd, and the sturdy man said: "I am Wu Daben. My elder brother and I are willing to serve the Royal Army by digging earth and filling trenches."

The Squad Commander eyed him sideways: "Think carefully. When filling the trench, you might catch a Tartar arrow."

Wu Daben said proudly: "Just Tartar bows and arrows? They're nothing."

The Squad Commander praised: "Good, you've got guts. Take these two heroes aside."

Spurred by these two, able-bodied men began stepping forward one after another, filled with heroic fervor: "Master Wu is right — just Tartar bows and arrows? They're nothing."

"Drinking from big bowls and eating large cuts of meat — that's living with gusto!"

"A few days ago my wife and children starved to death right here. I want to kill Tartars and avenge them!"

"I haven't eaten meat in three years. Now there's finally meat to eat — why wouldn't I eat it?"

A man in his forties stepped forward, wearing a long robe, with a refined and handsome face, speaking with a Shandong accent: "I am Chen Xu. Together with my three sons, I am willing to serve the Royal Army."

Behind him stood three men, all in their twenties, who indeed bore some resemblance to him.

The Squad Commander was even more delighted: "Good, take these four heroes aside."

Behind Chen Xu also stood a woman in her forties and a teenage girl, apparently his wife and daughter. Seeing her husband about to go fill trenches, his wife was quite worried and tugged at his clothes, saying: "Husband..."

Chen Xu gently comforted his wife: "It's nothing. My lady, do not worry."

He sighed: "Su'er has long wanted to eat meat, but since we were captured, this New Year and first month we have endured hunger and cold here every day, unable even to get coarse black steamed buns. This is a good opportunity to bring back some meat for her to eat and drink."

Hearing this, his daughter Chen Suniang could not help but weep and clutched her father's hand, refusing to let him go.

Chen Xu comforted his daughter with a few words. His gaze deepened: "My second and third brothers died under the Tartars' blades. As their elder brother, I have long wanted to avenge them."

He strode out proudly with his three sons.

Spurred by their example, quite a few able-bodied men came forward — by count, they had already reached over five hundred.

The Squad Commander had smoothly completed his task and led these earth-digging laborers and trench-filling heroes back to the Xuan-Da camp.

The Shunxiang Army supply troops recruited five thousand earth-digging laborers and one thousand trench-filling heroes from the various commoner gathering points. The six thousand men were divided into two groups and assembled outside the Xuan-Da army camp.

The recruitment had gone smoothly, and Wang Dou was pleased. He arranged for the supply battalion soldiers to let them eat and drink their fill. Just as advertised, each earth-digging laborer ate his fill of flatbread and steamed buns, plus a bowl of steaming hot meat broth. They wolfed down their food with the broth, and as they ate the delicious flatbread and meat broth, many stared blankly and tears streamed down their faces.

Some even took the chance to stuff a few steamed buns and flatbreads into their clothes to bring back to their wives and children. As for the trench-filling heroes, the Shunxiang Army supply troops brought out large barrels of meat chunks and let them eat and drink freely.

Watching those trench-filling heroes eat until their mouths dripped with grease, each one looking immensely pleased with himself, and seeing those large barrels of glistening, fatty meat chunks over there, and smelling the rich aroma of meat assailing their nostrils, many laborers who had originally only planned to dig earth drooled with envy. On the spot, a thousand of them joined the ranks of the trench-filling heroes.

At mid-morning, the Xuan-Da army finished their breakfast and assembled outside the camp to the sound of drums and gongs, forming their battle array.

The Qing camp had long been on alert. Yue Tuo, leading his two sons, stood personally on the fort wall to observe. He saw the Xuan-Da army swiftly form ranks and advance, a vast sea of red banners. As the saying goes, when men surpass ten thousand, they stretch boundless and endless. For today's battle, Yue Tuo estimated the Xuan-Da army had deployed over ten thousand men — the troops seemed a dense black mass with no end in sight.

Such a display of military might made Yue Tuo and the others' faces turn extremely grim.

The Xuan-Da army advanced to within one li of the Plain Red Banner camp, then halted. A Shunxiang Army night scout fluent in Manchu rode out on Wang Dou's orders. He galloped to a hundred paces before the stockade gate and shouted: "Qing soldiers inside the camp, hear me! I am Tian Dalong, a night scout soldier of the Great Ming Shunxiang Army. Our Great Ming celestial troops command you to lay down your weapons and surrender on the spot. If you dare resist stubbornly, when our army storms the camp, jade and stone will burn together — it will be too late for regrets!"

Yue Tuo and the others' faces turned ashen. The tables had turned — the Ming army was actually playing at persuasion and psychological warfare. In the past, this had been the Qing's specialty. It was truly infuriating. But times had changed; though they were furious, they had no choice but to endure!

Tian Dalong shouted for a long time, but Yue Tuo and the others made no movement whatsoever. Tian Dalong galloped back to the formation to report.

Wang Dou gave a cold laugh and said to Yang Guozhu beside him: "That slave chieftain Yue Tuo and his ilk truly will not shed tears until they see the coffin!"

Yang Guozhu also sneered. Originally they had never intended for Yoto to surrender — it was merely a psychological tactic.

He said, "If the slave rebels refuse to surrender, our great army will assault and take it by force!"

He shouted, "Pass the order: the army shall form ranks and advance, striking directly at the rebel camp!"