Chapter 411: Raid on the City

Wang Dou led the cavalry, traveling under cover of night, slowly arriving at the bank of the Han River southwest of Fancheng.

At this moment, all was utterly silent; only the distant movements of some patrols atop the walls of Fancheng could be seen. Looking across the Han River toward Xiangyang on the opposite bank, the river surged, and the city walls loomed faintly in the mist, while the lanterns on the various gate towers and battlements flickered erratically, dim and indistinct.

The spring night was cold, especially by the riverside where the wind cut sharply. Wang Dou was entirely wrapped in a red cotton cloak, simply gazing motionless at Xiangyang across the river. The officers and soldiers behind him had likewise dismounted and stood in silence, utterly still in the biting wind.

Time passed moment by moment. No one knew how long it had been when the surroundings grew even quieter. In the silent black night, only the "bang-bang" of the night watchman's clappers in Fancheng could be heard.

Finally, the midnight hours passed, and the time reached the fifth day of the second month. Wang Dou thought to himself, "According to history, those twenty-eight riders who entered the city and the collaborators within should be making their move by now?"

At the fourth watch of the night, a sudden uproar erupted within Xiangyang. Countless people were shouting, faintly mixed with the sounds of killing. Then fires blazed up everywhere inside the city, causing utter chaos. The flames within the city grew more and more numerous, until finally they seemed to light up the sky like fireworks, clearly visible even from over ten li away.

At this, the defending troops of Fancheng were also alarmed. Many people shouted wildly as they rushed up onto the city walls, pointing and gesturing toward Xiangyang.

As the sky began to brighten slightly, a sudden cry rang out across Xiangyang: "The bandits have entered the city!"

Immediately afterward, the various city gates were seen opening, and throngs of officers, soldiers, and civilians fled out in utter panic, heedless of their path.

Even at Linhanmen, the gate was thrown wide open, and many civilians, following the pontoon bridge, came crying and shouting straight toward Fancheng.

At the sight before them, the officers and men of the Shunxiang Army shook their heads. Qin Yi said bitterly, "Again, it's bandit collaborators within! Otherwise, with Xiangyang's walls so tall and mighty, how could it be taken so easily!"

Wang Dou watched quietly, a sense of witnessing history rising within him. He let out a breath: "Good. The moment has come. The entire army, move out!"

Now, the defenders of Fancheng were in a state of terror. Bandits had suddenly entered Xiangyang, and it was said the city was full of them. Should they cut the pontoon bridge between Xiangyang and Fancheng, lest the bandits cross the Han River via the bridge and come right to the foot of Fancheng?

Just as several subordinate officers were arguing endlessly and the Garrison Commander of Fancheng hesitated, undecided, they suddenly saw a cavalry unit rushing over beneath the southwestern wall. Every rider was fully armored, every man on an elite warhorse, their presence overwhelming. All were startled.

Then they heard the commanding officer of that unit shout: "What is happening in Xiangyang?"

A Company Commander hesitantly called down from the wall: "Who are you?"

That officer said proudly: "I serve under the General Who Pacifies the Realm, the Assistant Regional Commander of the East Route of Xuanfu Garrison! Our army won a great victory at Luoyang, routing a hundred thousand of the Chuang bandits. By order of the Ministry of War, we have ridden day and night, racing into Sichuan, traveling without rest, and have arrived at Xiangyang today. What is going on across the river?"

The men on the city wall were stunned. General Who Pacifies the Realm? A great victory at Luoyang? Racing to bring reinforcements?

This barrage of news struck them speechless. Before anyone on the Fancheng wall could answer, the thunder of hooves arose, and from beneath the western wall, a massive force of cavalry surged forward, dark and dense. Every man in fine armor, on tall, sturdy horses, with long spears and gleaming blades, their momentum soaring to the heavens. In particular, beneath a great banner bearing the character "Wang," a great general swept his cold gaze toward them.

Scanned by that great general's gaze, every man on the wall felt a chill in his heart, and the words they wanted to say became even harder to utter.

Then they saw that great general scrutinize the opposite bank for a moment, then wave his hand: "Hmph! Mere petty bandits think they can seize Xiangyang? Follow me into the city to suppress the rebels!"

With that, the sound of hooves rose, and this cavalry force, coming from who knew where, followed the pontoon bridge spanning the river from Fancheng to Xiangyang, thundering across. Amidst shouts of "Ten thousand victories!" they charged straight through Linhanmen, leaving behind the Fancheng defenders and officers staring at each other in bewilderment, along with the Xiangyang civilians who, astonished and terrified at the army's arrival, had fearfully dodged aside.

After a long while, the Garrison Commander of Fancheng finally asked a Company Commander beside him: "Old Zuo, tell me, was that really Wang Dou, the General Who Pacifies the Realm, who just crossed the pontoon bridge? It couldn't be bandits in disguise?"

That Company Commander replied: "It should indeed be that General Who Pacifies the Realm. Wang Dou is famed as the bravest of the three armies. Back then at Julu and Pinggu, he killed quite a few Tartars. Who would dare impersonate him? Besides, look at their armor, their horses, their bearing—what government troops, or what bandits, could possibly fake that?"

Everyone nodded. Just now, when Wang Dou swept his gaze over them, cold sweat had instantly broken out on everyone. That kind of presence truly could not be faked. Another Company Commander said: "Just now they said Wang Dou won a great victory at Luoyang and the Chuang bandits were routed. Is that true or false?"

The earlier Company Commander said: "It should be true. News of this will come soon, and then there will be the court gazettes and such. We'll see then."

For a moment, everyone's hearts stirred. Wang Dou's great name was known far and wide to them. They had also heard that Minister Yang valued Wang Dou greatly and had repeatedly urged Wang Dou's army to come. With such a powerful army ahead, if they followed behind to help rescue Xiangyang from its crisis and turn the tide, that would be a great deed of merit.

Yet everyone still hesitated inwardly. They did not know how many bandits had entered Xiangyang. They feared that instead of gaining an advantage, they might get themselves caught. Better to hold the city securely; that would still count as a merit.

Looking at Xiangyang across the river, the Garrison Commander of Fancheng sighed: "Soldiers descending from heaven! They came at just the right moment!"

At this time, Xiangyang was in utter chaos, like a pot of boiling porridge. Bandits on horseback continuously charged in through the Xicheng Gate, while officers, soldiers, and civilians ran everywhere in confusion, utterly incapable of resistance.

The common people of Xiangyang either fled the city with their families, or bolted their doors and huddled together, trembling. A sudden calamity from the sky! How had the bandits suddenly entered the city? It was even said to be the Xian bandits—truly beyond anyone's expectation.

There was also a portion of local ruffians and scoundrels, or those discontented with the authorities who had long wanted to join the bandits, who now grew excited. They added fuel to the flames, stirring up trouble within the city.

That Xiangyang had suddenly been infiltrated by bandits and thrown into such chaos was something no one could have foreseen.

It turned out that that very night, after Liu Wenxiu led twenty-eight elite riders of the Old Camp to the rear of the West City Gate, he presented the captured dispatch tokens and orders of Yang Sichang for the officers and soldiers to examine. The Vice Regional Military Commissioner Zhang Kejian was present at the time... Seeing the tokens verified without issue, he ordered the gate opened, allowing Liu Wenxiu and his men into the city.

After Liu Wenxiu led the twenty-eight riders into the city, they quickly found their collaborators. At the fourth watch of that night, they created chaos, setting fires everywhere and attacking the defending government troops. At the same time, Pan Duao and others within the city rose up in response.

Not long after Zhang Xianzhong rose up at Gucheng, he suffered a great defeat at Manao Mountain. His military advisor Pan Duao and others, along with Zhang Xianzhong's wives and concubines, Lady Jiao and Lady Gao, were captured and imprisoned in the Xiangyang city jail. Unexpectedly, the Prefect of Xiangyang, Wang Chengceng, was a lecher. Seeing that Lady Jiao and the others were beautiful, his desires were stirred. Pan Duao acted as a go-between, facilitating the affair. Because Pan Duao had rendered this service, his supervision became lax, and he could move freely in and out of the prison. When internal chaos erupted in the city, he seized the opportunity to respond.

Amidst the chaos, Liu Wenxiu and his men opened the Xicheng Gate on the west side of Xiangyang. Zhang Xianzhong, who had long been watching for activity in Xiangyang, immediately dispatched his main army to charge into the city. This threw Xiangyang into even greater panic and turmoil. The four city gates were flung open, and civilians scrambled over each other to flee.

Inside the city was the Prince of Xiang's mansion, located in the southern part of Xiangyang. At this moment, the entire mansion was in an uproar. Prince Xiang, Zhu Xuming, hastily rose and brought Prince Guiyang, Zhu Changfa, and Prince Fuqing, Zhu Changcheng, up onto the Duanli Gate to observe. Seeing the city in complete chaos and hearing the shouts that bandits had entered everywhere, each of them turned pale with terror.

In their panic, they saw Vice Regional Military Commissioner Zhang Kejian, Prefect of Xiangyang Wang Chengceng, Acting Administrator of Xiangyang Li Tianjue, and the Judge Jiang Yueguang, escorted by some soldiers, fleeing in terror toward the princely mansion. Prince Xiang felt as if he were seeing his saviors. He hurriedly had them enter the mansion, closed the main gate securely, and grasped Zhang Kejian's hand, asking in alarm: "My beloved ministers, what is happening?"

Prefect of Xiangyang Wang Chengceng wept bitterly: "Your Highness, the Xian bandits have entered the city! The city is now full of bandits. We must flee quickly!"

Prince Xiang said in horror: "The Xian bandits... have entered the city? Weren't they in Sichuan? How did they get into the city?"

Prince Guiyang, Zhu Changfa, said angrily: "There are defending officers at all four gates. Where are they?"

Acting Administrator of Xiangyang Li Tianjue said bitterly: "Fled! All have vanished without a trace. These scoundrels—what use is it for the state to maintain troops!"

Prince Fuqing, Zhu Changcheng, said urgently: "We must flee too! Staying in the city is waiting for death. Yes, we can follow the pontoon bridge north and enter Fancheng."

The Judge Jiang Yueguang shook his head: "We cannot escape. The city is now full of bandits, and the government troops have all scattered. The moment we go out, we will be captured. We can only hold fast to the princely mansion."

Everyone's hearts grew even more panicked. The several thousand officers and soldiers of Xiangyang had all dispersed. Would the few hundred guardsmen of the mansion be of any use?

Prince Xiang's old tears streamed down: "Heaven has doomed me."

Seeing His Highness like this, all the officials wept together.

Suddenly, from the direction of the Gongchen Gate and Linhan Gate near the Han River to the north, a sound like the roaring of mountains and seas arose: "Ten thousand victories!"

The sound was powerful and heroic, filled with boundless might and pride.

For a moment, the entire city fell silent. Everyone's gaze turned in that direction: "What is that sound?"

Prince Fuqing, Zhu Changcheng, trembled all over: "Have bandits also entered the north?"

Dozens, then hundreds of bandit cavalry continuously poured into the city. They shrieked and howled, galloping through the streets and alleys. Guided by their collaborators, they seized the various gates and key points.

From time to time, they would slash down some unlucky officer, soldier, or civilian beside them. Seeing these fierce bandits, the common people either screamed and ran, hurriedly hid inside their houses, or quickly knelt by the roadside, hoping these bandits would show great mercy and spare their lives.

Zhang Xianzhong first sent his subordinate generals Bai Wenxuan, Ma Wu, and Wang Xingguo into the city. Seeing the entry was smooth, he then sent his adopted son Ai Nengqi in. Finally, surrounded by Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo, he led his most elite Old Camp warriors, galloping swiftly into Xiangyang.

Looking at the soldiers and civilians within the mighty, sturdy city walls, panicked and chaotic, Zhang Xianzhong was immensely pleased. He threw his head back and laughed: "Ha! You donkey-balls! Xiangyang has finally fallen into my hands! I took this city with just twenty-eight riders—this brilliant scheme is no worse than that of Zhuge Kongming!"

He recalled that the most important thing was to control the Prince of Xiang's mansion. Although his adopted son Ai Nengqi had already led several hundred men rushing there, Zhang Xianzhong was still uneasy. If the Prince of Xiang's family escaped, half his scheme would be wasted.

He led his Old Camp, spurring their horses toward the princely mansion. Just then, a wave of roaring shouts came from the north side of Xiangyang.

Zhang Xianzhong frowned: "Your mother! Who's making all that racket over there?"

Li Dingguo, riding beside Zhang Xianzhong, suddenly felt a surge of foreboding in his heart.

A neigh rang out, and the sound of hoofbeats rose from the north gate. A voice shouted: "Let the soldiers and civilians of Xiangyang City hear this: Wang Dou, Assistant Regional Commander of the East Route of Xuanfu Garrison and General Who Stabilizes the State, has led his army to the rescue. The entire city is hereby notified: the great army will exterminate the bandits. All commoners are to return home at once, shut your doors, and not linger in the streets and markets. Violators will be regarded as roving bandits and killed without mercy!"

"The Shunxiang Army is a righteous force. We come only to suppress the Xian bandits and will commit no acts of harassment. The common people need not panic — wait calmly and at ease for the chaos to be quelled!"

As these words spread, all the common folk were momentarily stunned.

Just then, the sound of hoofbeats dense as a sudden downpour erupted north of the city, as if the very ground of the entire city were trembling. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to come.)