Chapter 414

Among the ambush troops Wang Dou deployed outside Xiangyang City, Wen Fangliang was at Huangjiawan, and Gao Shiyin was west of Zhanggong Temple. Not far from the mountain forest lay the official road from Xiangyang to Yicheng. Less than one li west of the official road, there was also a water channel, with wheat fields spread across both sides.

Zhang Xianzhong led his elite cavalry toward Xiangyang, believing his movements were secret and unknown to anyone. In truth, their every move was under the eyes of the Shunxiang Army. As they passed by Huangjiawan and Zhanggong Temple, Wen Fangliang and Gao Shiyin watched their men and horses with cold sneers.

When chaos erupted in Xiangyang City, especially when the distinctive firelocks of the foreign-style troops sounded, Gao Shiyin suddenly stood up, stretched fiercely, his bones cracking all over, and a terrifying ferocity shot from his eyes: "Good, it's finally my turn to act."

The four Squad Commanders, all the officers of the Company Commander headquarters, the Disciplinary Officer, the Morale Officer, the Strategic Advisor, and others all gathered around Gao Shiyin.

Gao Shiyin pointed at the official road below the mountain and declared with soaring spirit: "See that slope? Less than a hundred paces from the official road. Our troops can deploy firelock soldiers there. When the fleeing bandits cross the water channel and reach the slope, the firelock soldiers can open fire. Several hundred firelocks firing at once — the bulk of the bandits will likely be finished off here."

channel, and reach the slope, the firelock soldiers can open fire. Several hundred firelocks firing at once — the bulk of the bandits will likely be finished off here.

At this, the flesh on Gao Shiyin's face twitched violently — a sign of his excitement — clearly picturing that scene and feeling great satisfaction in his heart.

One Squad Commander hesitated slightly: "Company Commander Gao, are all the firelock soldiers to be deployed there?"

Gao Shiyin said: "Nonsense. Firepower must be concentrated. That's what the General said. Just like the artillery company — when all the cannons are massed together, their power is immense. Don't scatter them. Concentrate the firelocks and fire together to show the true capability of firearms."

"The pikemen mount their horses and all lie in ambush by the water channel. After the firelock soldiers open fire and the bandits are thrown into chaos, they charge in and strike from both sides. The bandits won't die, but they'll lose a layer of skin!"

All the officers of the Company Commander headquarters were deep in thought, and the remaining Squad Commanders were also pondering. In each man's heart, firelock soldiers needed pikemen behind them as protection; otherwise, they could not help feeling uneasy. A cornered beast still fights. Fleeing enemies are extremely dangerous — would those bandit cavalry charge up the mountain?

Fleeing enemies are extremely dangerous — would those bandit cavalry charge up the mountain?

Although the Shunxiang Army's battle strength was unmatched, and the firelock soldiers were confident the enemy could not break through their fire net, and those roving bandits would not abandon the official road and foolishly charge up the mountain — still, in large-scale military operations, every possibility must be considered. This concerned the safety of the officers and men.

Of course, every strategy has advantages and disadvantages; nothing can be absolutely foolproof. This requires the commanding officer's decisive judgment.

Watching everyone ponder, Gao Shiyin nearly lost his temper. Fortunately, after many years in the Shunxiang Army, obeying military discipline had been ingrained into his very bones. Subordinates may put forward their views, and the commanding officer must listen — this was the army's disciplinary rule. Even Wang Dou had to follow it, let alone Gao Shiyin.

"It is decided." "Yes!" All the officers' expressions turned solemn, and together they cupped their fists: "Please give us your orders, Company Commander."

According to military discipline, the formulation and issuance of strategy was Gao Shiyin's authority. The Strategic Advisor and others could offer opinions and plan strategies, but whether to adopt them depended on the commanding officer's will. Moreover, once a superior made a decision, the military order was beyond question.

Subordinates could appeal afterward, but the military order at the time — even if wrong — had to be carried out. This was the authority of the superior.

Gao Shiyin said: "All firelock soldiers from each squad are to be selected and led by each squad's concurrent Vice Squad Commander. Four hundred firelock soldiers will form up on that slope in four ranks, under my personal command. All pikemen from each squad will be led by their respective Squad Commanders, under the overall command of the concurrent Vice Company Commander. Watch the headquarters' banners. When I signal you to charge out, you charge out."

In the Shunxiang Army, one combat company had a total of eight hundred men, with pikemen and firelock soldiers each making up half, and each squad had two teams each of pikemen and firelock soldiers.

After hearing Gao Shiyin's orders, all the officers roared together: "We strictly obey the Company Commander's strategy! Our Shunxiang Army is ever-victorious, unstoppable in attack, invincible wherever we go!"

Gao Shiyin waved his hand with satisfaction: "Gentlemen, the bandits will soon flee this way. This roving bandit is no simple figure — he burned the tomb of our Founding Emperor. Whoever speaks of it grinds their teeth in fury, and the General has it firmly in mind. Why else would he pay such attention to Xiangyang? It is for this bandit! It is also because the General is a star deity descended to earth, possessed by a divine being, that he could foresee the bandit's trail. If it were Minister Yang and the others, they'd still be foolishly wandering around in Sichuan."

Everyone's hearts burned with fervor. If they could kill the bandit Zhang Xianzhong, the merit would be immense.

Immediately the entire force sprang into motion. All the firelock soldiers, under their respective officers' command, ran to the hillside below the forest. On a gentle slope, they deployed in a four-rank formation. Each rank had one hundred men, with formation arrangements directed by the squad officers serving concurrently as Vice Squad Commanders. Their horses were concentrated at the Company Commander headquarters and guarded by personnel there.

The four ranks of firelock soldiers deployed on the hillside. Their matchlocks pointed at the official road below the slope, just a few dozen paces away — well within their fire range.

The firelock soldiers made a final check of their powder and matchcord conditions, then sat down on the slope, conserving their strength and waiting for battle. These firelock soldiers were all Class-A combat troops, battle-hardened veterans. Toward the coming battle, they showed little excitement; many sat quietly with closed eyes, resting, their expressions steady and composed.

While the firelock soldiers moved, the pikemen likewise sprang into action. Under their respective officers' command, led by the First Squad Commander serving concurrently as Vice Company Commander, they rode toward the water channel west of the official road. Then each dismounted and lay in ambush by the water channel, likewise awaiting the coming battle.

Gao Shiyin stood on the uppermost slope, near the edge of the forest. He pulled out his spyglass and looked. Seeing that his subordinates had quickly completed their deployment, he nodded with satisfaction. Everything was in place; they only awaited the bandits' arrival.

He listened carefully to the sounds from Xiangyang City and awaited reports from the Night Scouts.

It should be mentioned that Wen Daxing had dispatched a team of Night Scouts, divided into several squads, specifically to gather intelligence outside the city. At this moment, two squads were coordinating with Gao Shiyin's Ren Company for joint operations.

Every time he saw these Night Scouts, Gao Shiyin could not suppress his inner envy. His Ren Company, as well as the various cavalry and infantry units of the Shunxiang Army, each had a team of skilled riders serving concurrently as scouts. But these scouts, of course, could not compare to Wen Daxing's professional Night Scouts. On this matter, Gao Shiyin and others were quite opinionated.

Gao Shiyin thought to himself: the General should establish Night Scouts within each Squad Commander and Company Commander headquarters — even ten men per squad or twenty per company would be good.

But thinking further, it was difficult. To establish Night Scouts in every squad and company headquarters would require sixty men per company. With so many companies in the Shunxiang Army, how many men would that take in total?

At present, even Wen Daxing's Night Scout company was not at full strength. Where would the Night Scouts come from to supplement them? He could only envy them in his heart.

During the wait, at last several Night Scout riders came galloping along the official road. With masterful horsemanship, they rode straight up the hillside and reported to Gao Shiyin: "The bandits' routed troops have arrived — not far from here!"

Gao Shiyin pressed: "How many bandits, and how far from here?"

The Night Scout Squad Commander answered: "The bandits' routed troops number thirteen to fourteen hundred, fleeing in utter panic. They have already passed Guanshan!"

That meant they were not far now. Gao Shiyin hurriedly passed the order: "The entire force, lower banners and silence drums. Do not let the bandits discover our situation here, lest they flee elsewhere."

When Zhang Xianzhong burst out of Xiangyang City through the south gate, bandit troops were also routed and fleeing from the east gate. They reached the south gate and merged with Zhang Xianzhong. Zhang Xianzhong dared not linger. Hastily gathering some men, he skirted the southwest wall of Xiangyang City and led his remaining troops hurriedly toward the west side of the city. There lay the official road from Xiangyang to Yicheng. To return to Yicheng and rejoin Luo Rucai, that was the only road to take.

When they reached the west gate, a large band of routed bandit troops was also pouring out from there. Among them were his adopted son Liu Wenxiu and his military advisor Pan Duao and others. Several rescued wives and concubines were also riding on horseback in terror.

Liu Wenxiu saw Zhang Xianzhong and was about to speak in panic, but Zhang Xianzhong waved his hand: "Say nothing. Follow me and leave Xiangyang first."

His face was dark and grim. He could not even be bothered to acknowledge his rescued military advisor and wives. Leading the routed troops, as frantic as dogs who had lost their homes, as flustered as fish slipping through the net, they fled in sheer panic, utterly devoid of the swagger they had when they first set out to seize Xiangyang.

He realized that the remaining cavalry around him numbered just over a thousand. The rest had either scattered or, he feared, died inside Xiangyang City.

Even now, Zhang Xianzhong still had not recovered his wits.

He could not understand why Wang Dou had suddenly appeared, and why the battle strength of his troops was so extraordinary.

He had lost troops and officers, defeated inexplicably. Especially the death of his adopted son Ai Nengqi pained Zhang Xianzhong deeply. Fortunately, he had escaped Xiangyang, and the bulk of his forces remained. As long as he shook off the pursuers behind and returned to Yicheng, this realm would still be his to roam at will.

Ahead on the official road appeared a water channel, spanned by a broad stone bridge. The bandits spurred their horses on, each galloping across the stone bridge and onto the official road beyond.

After crossing the water channel, to the left of the official road was a large stretch of sloping land and mountain forest, while to the right were vast fields planted with wheat. The wheat fields extended past the water channel, spreading all the way to the banks of the Han River.

Zhang Xianzhong let out a breath and was about to speak when suddenly, from the hillside to the left, not far from the official road, came a sharp, piercing horn blast.

Zhang Xianzhong looked over in alarm. Battle cries rang out continuously. On the hillside rose up a dense mass of government troops, holding matchlocks, their dark muzzles all pointed at the men on the official road.

Their uniforms were no different from those of Wang Dou's troops seen in Xiangyang City.

"It's the Shunxiang Army!" "An ambush!" The bandits fell into chaos, each man shrieking in terror.

But it was too late. A series of sharp horn blasts rang out from the hill, followed by the sound of volley fire. Instantly, on the official road, men screamed and horses neighed. One by one, bandit soldiers were knocked from their horses. The horses that were hit, in their agony, bucked and bolted wildly, letting out long, piercing neighs.