Chapter 410: Arrival

On the fourth day of the second month of the fourteenth year of Chongzhen, in the afternoon.

Some ten-plus li southwest of Xiangyang lay a mountain called Huangjiawan; not far to the west was the elegant and lovely Mount Longzhong, said to be the reclusive dwelling of the famous Three Kingdoms chancellor Zhuge Liang.

At that moment, among the mountains of Huangjiawan, nearly a thousand soldiers of the Shunxiang Army lay quietly in ambush.

They wore armor and cloaks, each sitting motionless beside their tents, only occasionally murmuring a few quiet words. All the horses beside them were also fitted with bits, and except when feeding them fodder, those bits were never removed from the horses' mouths.

These men belonged to Wen Fangliang's Yi Division troops. Starting from the second day of the second month, braving the bitter cold and under orders from General of State Settlement Wang Dou, they had quietly crossed upstream over the Han River and silently concealed themselves in this mountain forest.

Before their departure, Wang Dou had also informed the accompanying commanders of the purpose of this expedition, which struck them like a thunderclap, leaving everyone stunned.

"The renegade Zhang Xianzhong intends to use elite cavalry as internal collaborators to seize Xiangyang by trickery. Our army can turn his own scheme against him, annihilate the bandit forces, take their heads, and achieve a merit unparalleled in our time."

Although the commanders, judging by the General of State Settlement's emphasis on Xiangyang, had sensed that something major might happen there, the sheer magnitude of this event still left them unable to believe it.

Would Zhang Xianzhong really come? Was he not in Sichuan? Grand Secretary Yang had mobilized forces in a grand campaign, leading a hundred thousand troops from Huguang straight into Sichuan in pursuit — could the renegade Zhang have already slipped out of Sichuan and run back to Huguang, intending to use internal collaborators to lightly seize the strategic stronghold of Xiangyang? If this were true, with our great army right here, would it not be like catching a turtle in a jar?

Moreover, capturing or killing the renegade Zhang — such a merit would be far too immense!

Who was Zhang Xianzhong? At this moment, he was even more hated than Li Zicheng, having surrendered and rebelled repeatedly, and even dug up the tomb of the Exalted Emperor, the Great Founder. The imperial court hated him to the bone and longed to take his head for satisfaction. In the court's decrees, Luo Rucai was permitted to surrender, but Zhang Xianzhong was not. Li Zicheng was permitted to surrender, but Zhang Xianzhong was not — showing the Son of Heaven's loathing for the renegade Zhang.

If what the General said was true... In ancient times, Kongming emerged at Xiangyang with divine foresight and ingenious calculations, borrowing the eastern wind; the General may well surpass even Kongming.

After all, it is said that when Kongming borrowed the eastern wind, he had to set up an altar, and in the end the ritual rebounded on him, causing him to spit up a full measure of blood. The General foreknows without divination, his marvelous calculations astonishing, yet shows no such artifice, nor has he spit a single drop of blood... which is superior and which inferior is plain at a glance.

After Wang Dou gave his dispositions, although the commanders still found it somewhat hard to believe, their long-standing trust in Wang Dou and the Shunxiang Army soldiers' obedience, ingrained to the marrow, led them to accept their orders one by one and depart.

At the same time, their hearts swelled with indescribable excitement: ambushing and killing the renegade Zhang, rescuing the Prince of Xiangyang, achieving a merit unparalleled in their time — coupled with the victory at Luoyang, it would be impossible for the Shunxiang Army not to become famous throughout the realm.

Wen Fangliang had led the Yi Division troops to lie in ambush in the Huangjiawan mountain forest for several days. He appeared carefree and irreverent, but in truth he was extremely shrewd, decisive, and patient. When a few Squad Commanders under him grew slightly impatient, his expression remained unchanged, and he stood seemingly nonchalant on a hillside, holding a telescope as he gazed down the mountain.

Not far below the mountain was the official road from Yicheng to Xiangyang; no matter what men or horses passed, they could not escape the observation of the men on the mountain.

The several Squad Commanders and Company Commanders of the Yi Division were all gathered around Wen Fangliang at that moment, all concentrating intently as they watched the mountain below, but there was no movement at all — only the occasional passerby or merchant, unrelated to the main force of the renegade Zhang.

One Squad Commander finally could not help but ask, "Company Commander Wen, tell us, will the renegade Zhang really come?"

Wen Fangliang waved his hand, his face bearing a trace of an inscrutable expression, something he had learned from Wang Dou. He said, "Rest assured, the General says the renegade Zhang will come, so come they will. Having followed the General this long, do you still not know his strategic calculations? Just wait to achieve great merit!"

Suddenly, everyone's expressions sharpened — there was movement below the mountain. On the southern official road, a few scout riders came galloping through billowing dust; one look at their bearing and equipment told they were Night Scout soldiers under Wen Daxing's command in the Ji Division.

Wen Fangliang's heart pounded fiercely several times: "They've come!"

Sure enough, the Yi Division's picket riders quickly made contact with a squad of Night Scouts and brought them before Wen Fangliang.

According to the Squad Commander's report, a large force of roving bandits was indeed riding at full speed, heading straight for Xiangyang. Among them was one bandit, surrounded by elite guards, tall and lean, with a sallow face and long beard, riding a sturdy horse — undoubtedly the arch-bandit Zhang Xianzhong himself.

By now, Zhang Xianzhong's physical features were known throughout the entire army: tall frame, sallow face, long beard — every soldier of the Shunxiang Army had committed them to memory.

Wen Fangliang laughed heartily: "Excellent! The renegade Zhang has indeed come!"

All the commanders were filled with admiration — once again, the General had predicted it correctly. Toward Wang Dou's far-sightedness and godlike accuracy in assessing events, everyone felt a sense of utter prostration.

At the same time, their awe toward Wang Dou deepened further. Such circumstances could only be explained by "stellar deities and divine men," and Wang Dou was increasingly shrouded in a layer of mysterious radiance. Toward mysterious powers and unknown matters, people always harbor fear.

Wen Fangliang steadied himself and asked carefully, "How many are they, and what is their armor and equipment like?"

The Night Scout Squad Commander replied, "The renegade Zhang has about two thousand men, all on fast horses, flying no banners. Their equipment consists of felt hats and sleeved jackets, carrying long spears and waist swords. The bandit old camp all have bows and arrows, but no other firearms or baggage."

Wen Fangliang asked one last question: "When will the renegade Zhang's main force reach Xiangyang?"

The Night Scout Squad Commander calculated for a moment and said, "Around the hour of the Rabbit (5–7 a.m.)... they will arrive at the outskirts of Xiangyang!"

This was calculated based on the horse power of Zhang Xianzhong's men, which could not compare with the Shunxiang Army's Night Scouts.

The Shunxiang Army's Night Scouts had three horses per man, all elite, tall, and powerful mounts. After spotting Zhang Xianzhong's traces, they had ridden back to Xiangyang just past noon to give advance notice, whereas Zhang Xianzhong and his men would need several more hours to reach Xiangyang.

That squad of Night Scouts soon departed, returning to the front to continue surveillance.

At the same time, Gao Shiyin and the others lying in ambush in the woods west of the Zhanggong Shrine were likewise informed of the military situation by a squad of Night Scouts sent to them.

Another two squads of Night Scouts took small paths, skirted the mountains, and headed straight for the vicinity of Guangde Temple, where Night Scout Company Commander Wen Daxing and others were waiting specifically for this purpose.

In the reconnaissance of Zhang Xianzhong, Night Scout Company Commander Wen Daxing had deployed one company of men, divided into ten squads, conducting uninterrupted scouting. The remaining company, following Wang Dou's instructions, had infiltrated Xiangyang city over several days in order to protect the safety of the princely mansion amid the chaos.

Upon receiving the news, Wen Daxing abruptly stood up, his eyes shooting a sharp gleam: "The renegade Zhang has indeed come."

He said, "Leave two squads to follow me across the river; the rest continue surveillance. I must relay this intelligence to the General as quickly as possible."

Near this stretch of the Han River, the Shunxiang Army had specially gathered some boats for private river crossings, to avoid leaking intelligence. Soon Wen Daxing and his men crossed the river and ascended the northern bank.

At this time, Wang Dou, leading the Central Army Division, the Guard Regiment, and Li Guangheng's Cavalry Company, was still concealed in the mountainous terrain northwest of Fancheng. Upon receiving the intelligence, like Wen Fangliang and the others, Li Guangheng and the rest were equally astonished — just as the General had said, the renegade Zhang had come.

Wang Dou, however, remained calm and said, "The renegade Zhang has come? Good! Let the soldiers conserve their strength and sharpen their edge. Once darkness falls, our army will advance toward Fancheng. At midnight, we seize the pontoon bridge. When chaos erupts in Xiangyang and the renegade Zhang enters the city, our great army will follow in and slaughter them until not a single piece of armor remains!"

The commanders roared their assent in unison, their armor plates clanging resoundingly.

That day, at the hour of the Rabbit, approaching the hour of the Dragon.

Although it was early spring, the weather was still bitterly cold, and darkness fell quickly. Not long into the hour of the Rabbit, all around was already dim and murky; the spring chill was piercing, and the official road and post route were utterly deserted.

All around was silence, not even the chirp of insects or the call of birds, only what seemed to be some lamplight coming from a distant village, flickering unsteadily like ghostly fire.

Suddenly, this silence was shattered by the sound of resounding hoofbeats, as a great dark mass of cavalry came charging forward.

As they drew near, one could see the riders on horseback, some wearing felt hats, others with heads wrapped in scarves. Their military formation might not have been as strict and orderly as the Shunxiang Army's, and their equipment and horses not as fine, but they still possessed considerable presence. Many of the men on horseback were highly skilled riders, and in their every movement they exuded a fierce and bloodthirsty air.

In the middle of the cavalry force was a big man wearing a cloak and a felt hat, with a sallow face and long beard, spurring a sturdy horse. He constantly kept an eye on the sounds and movements around him, his expression carrying the caution of a veteran soldier, yet also an indescribable air of untamed arrogance.

This man was none other than Zhang Xianzhong. Around him were a few junior commanders, and behind him the old camp guards — his adopted sons Li Dingguo, Sun Kewang, and others.

After setting out from Jingmen, Zhang Xianzhong had led his army traveling day and night, passing through places like Yicheng, and finally arrived near Xiangyang city today.

Seeing that Mount Longzhong was not far off, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Noticing the sky darkening, Zhang Xianzhong issued an order: "Light the torches, watch the road surface, don't let the horses lose their footing and ruin the army's fast mounts."

These men and horses were all elite; though weary from the long-distance dash, their spirits were not much diminished. Under Zhang Xianzhong's orders, each man lit a torch and watched his footing, yet the advance speed of the men and horses did not slow by much.

Zhang Xianzhong was quite satisfied and said with a rough laugh, "The lads are doing well. Once we take Xiangyang, this marshal will certainly reward you handsomely."

The army erupted in cheers. Zhang Xianzhong raised his eyes to survey the surroundings and said, "No picket riders, no signal fires — it seems the officials of Xiangyang city have not the slightest precaution. You ball-kicking bastards, tonight I'll give them a show to remember!"

Sun Kewang said, "Father Marshal, our great army has already reached the outskirts of Xiangyang. I wonder if Wenxiu and the others have managed to enter Xiangyang city."

Zhang Xianzhong said, "In Wenxiu's handling of matters, I have confidence. Pass the order for the army to continue forward. We'll hurry to Mount Xian to lie in ambush; it's only a few li from the Xiangyang city walls. The moment the city gates open, we charge in."

"Be careful — once we pass the Zhanggong Shrine, no more torches, lest we be discovered by government troops."

Mount Xian lay several li southwest of Xiangyang city, with dense woods, making it easy to conceal men and horses. When Zhang Xianzhong had feigned surrender, he had spent some time in Gucheng in Xiangyang Prefecture and was quite familiar with the terrain around Xiangyang city, quickly identifying an ideal hiding place.

The cavalry column continued forward. As they passed places like Huangjiawan and Zhanggong Temple, Li Dingguo felt vaguely uneasy.

He raised his eyes and looked out. In the black night, every plant and tree on the mountain resembled human shapes, like troops arrayed in orderly formation, elite soldiers. He shook his head inwardly. Whenever he read the histories and came across the phrase "every bush and tree looks like an enemy soldier," he never imagined he would one day grow so suspicious himself.

He put the thought aside and spurred his horse onward.