Chapter 493: Flying Across the Lu County Bridge

Lu County was the seat of Jizhou, situated right between the Yellow River and the Ji River, with the Ji River to the south and the Yellow River to the north, making its water transport highly developed.

During the Northern Qi, Lu County was one of the major strongholds on the south bank of the Yellow River, but by the Sui and Tang dynasties, due to the Yellow River's flooding, Lu County's economy suffered tremendous damage and was supplanted by Licheng in Qizhou further to the east.

Lu County gradually declined, was once abolished as a county, and was re-established as a county after the Tang dynasty, though its status was far from what it once had been.

After Fang Chongyong led his troops north from Liangshan and entered Jizhou, he promptly surrounded Lu County, putting on the appearance of laying siege to it.

Not only that, he also ordered the soldiers under his command to build siege engines, genuinely poised to strike. No matter how one looked at it, this was no joke.

The common people around Lu County all fled in all directions, not wanting to be swept up in the flames of war. For a time, Yunzhou, Jizhou, Qizhou, and other places were gripped by panic, and rumors spread that the Xuanwu Army was attacking the Tianping Army Jiedushi (namely, Li Lin the Prince of Yong).

Early that morning, a messenger wearing a brocade robe was lowered down from the walls of Lu County, swaggered over to the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army camp, and was led by sentries into Fang Chongyong's command tent.

As soon as this person saw Fang Chongyong, he bowed to him in a very casual manner. Fang Chongyong did not take it to heart either, simply pointing at the cushion before his desk and gesturing for the other party to sit.

This person was Li Xian, the Military Deputy of the Tianping Army Jiedushi, the man under Li Lin the Prince of Yong specifically responsible for military affairs, and also the one who commanded the Prince of Yong's troops.

Of course, he also had an identity unknown to outsiders: he was the son of Li Yi the Prince of Xin'an, and the half-brother of Ana Ye sharing the same father.

"Brother-in-law, this campaign against Hebei carries considerable risk. Even I break a sweat just watching."

Barely seated, Li Xian could not help but sigh and say.

He had volunteered to come this time, and of course he had his own selfish motives. The world had already fallen into chaos, and only with military power in hand did one have a voice. Li Xian was no fool; he knew very well what kind of character Li Lin the Prince of Yong was.

For now, it was merely a case of "riding a donkey while looking for a horse." Li Lin was not someone he had actively sought to serve under, but rather someone whom Brother Ji had "assigned" him to. The helplessness in this was truly hard to put into words.

"It is precisely because the risk is great that we can catch them off guard and attack where they are unprepared, leaving the Hebei rebel army with no way to defend.

Many of the things I did before that seemed like futile efforts were in fact sleight of hand, meant to confuse Huangfu Weiming."

Fang Chongyong said in a deep voice, his expression calm, bearing himself with the composure of one who remains unfazed even with Mount Tai crashing down upon him.

Li Xian nodded slightly, not knowing what to say.

After all, he was not his father Li Yi the Prince of Xin'an, not a grand master well-versed in the art of war; he could only be considered roughly familiar with military strategy. His expertise lay in organizing troops, recruiting and managing soldiers, daily training, and such matters, having learned from the experience passed down by the Prince of Xin'an.

He was the kind of man who could lead troops but not command them in battle.

Li Xian knew that Fang Chongyong's upcoming battle was extremely dangerous, yet he could not propose any good strategy, so he could only ask with a face full of regret: "There are only five hundred old and weak soldiers in Lu County. Can they be of any help? The Prince of Yong has ordered that these five hundred men must not leave the city."

"They need only watch the show from the city walls."

Fang Chongyong said with an indifferent expression. He extended one hand, turned his palm over, and said: "The Shaolin warrior monks have a concept called internal boxing, which emphasizes striking the enemy with inch power. Within three to five inches, the fist shoots forth like wind, its force erupting like a river overturning and seas pouring. Tonight, I will let the rebel army across the river in Liaocheng know what it feels like when this inch power strikes the body."

These words left Li Xian completely bewildered. He asked curiously: "What do you mean, a river overturning and seas pouring?"

Li Xian knew Fang Chongyong's plan: to cross the Yellow River from Lu County and directly attack Liaocheng on the opposite bank.

The relationship between Liaocheng and Lu County was like that between the southern city and northern city of Ye during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, with just a river between them. It would not even be excessive to call them one city; geographically they could be viewed as a single entity, unnecessary only in economic and political terms.

It was precisely because of the latter reason that the two places remained unmerged even a thousand years later.

They were as close as could possibly be!

Yet precisely because of this, there was a fatal flaw in Fang Chongyong's plan.

Seeing the other party not answering, Li Xian pressed further: "When a large army crosses the river, they must also bring horses, and there are no large boats at the riverbank. How can this be done without anyone knowing? Although Liaocheng's walls are a few li from the north bank of the Yellow River, with boats going back and forth, if the army starts crossing at nightfall, I fear they still won't all be across by daybreak. And by daybreak, the rebel troops on the walls will see everything."

Li Xian asked with deep concern.

His hope that Fang Chongyong would defeat the Hebei rebels was absolutely genuine, both publicly and privately.

Unfortunately, reality would not necessarily match expectations. One had to admit that Fang Chongyong's plan was sound; it just contained some fatal uncertainties.

"Rest assured, the city will be taken."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand lightly, looking as though he had everything well in hand. Yet when Li Xian pressed him for more, he refused to say another word.

In the blink of an eye, it grew dark.

Fang Chongyong led He Changqi and others to the bank of the Yellow River, where they saw the ferry crossing outside Lu County ablaze with lights, a scene of bustling activity.

Duan Xiushi was busy organizing the troops under his command without pause.

"What is the situation on the other side of the river?"

Fang Chongyong asked the sweat-drenched Duan Xiushi.

"To reply to the Jiedushi, General Che has already led a detachment with signal flags to sweep the north bank, ensuring there are no rebel scouts. If all is clear, the fishing boats in the middle of the river will light their lanterns and send us a signal."

Duan Xiushi cupped his fists in salute and said.

"Very well, proceed according to plan."

Fang Chongyong nodded calmly.

Seeing this, Li Xian could not help but step forward and ask: "Brother-in-law, you're crossing the river just like this? So... hasty?"

Li Xian had not seen any of the large tower ships here that could carry horses. In fact, if such large vessels appeared on the south bank of the Yellow River, the Hebei rebel scouts would surely report it to the garrison commander of Liaocheng upon discovery!

In that case, the other side would be prepared in advance, and the river crossing would fail.

On the battlefield, everyone talks about catching the enemy off guard and attacking where they are unprepared; anyone can say the fine words.

But boasting is one thing; putting it into practice is quite another.

Li Xian very much wanted to see how the world-renowned Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, with spears thrusting like dragons, could achieve what others could not.

Just then, several fishing boats in the middle of the Yellow River, almost at the same moment, lit their lanterns in the darkness! They were like fireflies in the grass on a midsummer night, shining brightly, shining distinctively.

Everyone at the Lu County ferry could see it with perfect clarity.

Seeing this, Duan Xiushi was overjoyed and quickly trotted over to Fang Chongyong, cupping his fists in salute: "Jiedushi, it's done! We can build the bridge!"

"Mm, begin building the bridge. It must be completed within one shichen!"

Fang Chongyong swept his hand and said to Duan Xiushi.

"Orders received!"

After Duan Xiushi left, he immediately pulled out a bamboo whistle and blew it hard! The shrill whistling sound made one's heart race!

Hearing this, Li Xian wore a strange expression, not knowing what to say. Building a pontoon bridge in one shichen, on the surface of the Yellow River no less—he did not even know whether he should curse Fang Chongyong as an ignorant child.

Yet the scene that followed left Li Xian dumbfounded!

He watched as one small boat after another, like stacking building blocks, spread out toward the north. Every single boat had already been secured with ropes, one after another, bow lashed to stern!

Those fishing boats originally in the middle of the Yellow River rowed over to handle pulling ropes to the opposite bank for driving piles, everything coordinated like a precision machine, orderly and highly practiced.

So you could prepare in advance at the ferry crossing, lashing the small boats moored there with ropes beforehand!

How the hell did I not think of that!

Li Xian scratched his head in great frustration; these small boats had sat by the plank bridge, utterly inconspicuous. No one had expected that before this bridge-building operation, they had already been "processed."

When it came time to actually build the bridge, all you needed to do was tighten the ropes and pull them out—no effort required at all!

And this situation could only be detected if a Hebei rebel scout from the north bank personally came to the Lu County shore's plank bridge and carefully reconnoitered to tell the difference.

Given the current circumstances, such an operation was virtually impossible to carry out.

In other words, the Hebei rebels taking this loss was inevitable—they could not have detected it beforehand.

Li Xian could not help but smile bitterly; even if he had been the garrison commander in Liaocheng, he would not have been able to defend against it either.

Very quickly, these small boats had been laid across to the far bank of the Yellow River through the rope connections, and people on the opposite bank secured the ropes to sturdy piles!

A pontoon bridge was already taking shape!

Seeing this, Fang Chongyong could not help but chuckle coldly, thinking to himself:

Huangfu Weiming, you'd never have guessed it—I built a pontoon bridge back at Wulan Pass in Longyou! The current there was fierce! Far more difficult than building a bridge today, who knows how many times harder!

"Jiedushi, the bridge piles are all laid!"

Duan Xiushi ran over and clasped his fists in salute to Fang Chongyong.

"Lay the bridge planks!"

Fang Chongyong ordered steadily, his heart also pounding violently, though his face still looked composed, maintaining that impassive, unruffled demeanor.

He had used this bridge-building method at Wulan Pass; precisely because the river current was rapid and inconvenient for laying planks, you had to build "modules" in advance to reduce the number of laying operations!

Using this method, a bridge could be built quickly.

But the Yellow River here was wider, and it was unclear whether it would work well. Extraordinary times called for extraordinary measures—even if it did not work well, they had to force it.

"Yes, sir!"

Duan Xiushi received the order and departed, appearing full of confidence.

Soon, soldiers of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, several men to a group, hoisted large rectangular planks assembled from joined sections onto their shoulders and ran toward the small boats linked by ropes.

These soldiers used large iron nails prepared in advance to nail them onto the small boats; from a distance, it looked like a flat wooden bridge surface.

They worked like a relay race—the first group finished nailing and withdrew, the second group laid the second plank and continued nailing, going back and forth ceaselessly.

Li Xian carefully examined those large planks reinforced with wooden strips underneath as stiffeners and bordered with edging around the perimeter, and suddenly recalled how the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army had gone through the motions of besieging Lu County, seemingly building a kind of "siege engine," the camp bustling with activity.

Only now did it dawn on him in hindsight—these men were not building siege ladders at all; they were building pontoon bridge planks!

Fang Chongyong and his soldiers under his command had been busy for days on end, all for this moment!

Li Xian could not help but glance at Fang Chongyong, who maintained a poker face the whole time, arms folded, who knows what he was thinking, and felt a wave of palpitations.

Even an indescribable fear.

The Yinqiang Xiaojie Army was presumably quite formidable in battle, but Fang Chongyong did not grow arrogant or complacent about it, thinking himself invincible.

On the contrary, he paid great attention to combat details and logistical support, and was very fond of using stratagems.

Even for laying a pontoon bridge, he had made thorough preparations days in advance, including no shortage of strategic deceptions large and small.

In Li Xian's view, the Liaocheng garrison commander might not have paid attention to these things at all, yet Fang Chongyong still executed his tricks meticulously! Even building river-crossing planks had to be disguised as preparing siege engines to attack Lu County, so the enemy would think otherwise.

Not using large tower ships was also to lull the defending troops on the opposite bank, making them think the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army had no intention of crossing the river.

The meticulousness of his thinking was truly not to be underestimated!

Li Xian was beginning to understand how Fang Chongyong had won those great and vicious battles when he previously campaigned in the Western Regions and fought head-on against the Tibetans.

Compared to the tight deployment and step-by-step advance of Fang Chongyong and his Yinqiang Xiaojie Army.

Li Xian felt that he himself, and those soldiers under the Prince of Yong, were truly a bunch of feeble fish and stupid chickens!

Not only incompetent, but also blissfully ignorant.

How could useless people like them possibly defeat a tiger-and-wolf force like the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army?

Li Xian could not help but begin to worry about the fate of Li Lin, the Prince of Yong.

Just as Li Xian's thoughts were wandering, Duan Xiushi walked up to Fang Chongyong, clasped his fists in salute, and said: "Jiedushi, the pontoon bridge has been completed! In less than one shichen! Your subordinate comes to report the order fulfilled."

"Prepare several fishing boats to patrol back and forth along the pontoon bridge and fish out any brothers who accidentally fall into the water.

Everyone else, cross the river on horseback!"

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and immediately said to He Changqi beside him: "You lead the personal guard unit as the vanguard! Go now!"

After speaking, He Changqi received the order and departed, and the personal guards behind Fang Chongyong left in a swarm, not one remaining.

Li Xian stood there like a fool, not knowing whether to follow Fang Chongyong across the river or go back to Lu County city to sleep!

As if suddenly remembering Li Xian, Fang Chongyong turned and waved his hand at him, smiling as he said: "For provisions and baggage, the Xuanwu Army will have dedicated personnel to handle the transport. Thank the Prince of Yong for me. As for subjugating the Hebei rebel army, there is no need for the Prince of Yong to trouble himself."

After speaking, he rode his horse onto the pontoon bridge, his figure disappearing into the night.

"The dragon's den and tiger's lair of Hebei—you really dare to charge in! I thought you were just feinting."

Li Xian watched the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army soldiers crossing the river in orderly fashion and disappearing into the night, and could not help but sigh with emotion, murmuring to himself.

People are vastly different from one another; some just go through fire and water, killing whoever stands in their way and striking down even Buddhas who block them.

This truly cannot be compared.

Li Xian could not help but break a sweat for Li Lin, the Prince of Yong.

This imperial prince truly did not understand how perilous the situation in the realm was.

A dragon and fierce tiger like Fang Chongyong had already emerged to stir up storms and waves!

How was Li Lin supposed to deal with people like that?

……

Atop the city wall of Liaocheng, the prefectural seat of Bo Prefecture, a squad leader on garrison duty climbed onto the parapet and pissed down the wall.

After he finished peeing, he tugged his trousers, a look of satisfaction on his face.

Suddenly, he, standing high up, seemed to see a figure flickering below the city!

The fire chief looked again, and those figures disappeared.

He rubbed his eyes, leapt down the wall in a hurry, and ordered the nearby soldier: "It looks like there's a figure below the city; why don't you take the basket down to have a look?"

"It shouldn't be a problem, it's just dark and blind out there."

The soldier inwardly cursed his fire chief as good‑for‑nothing, thinking the chief wouldn't go down to look while making him do it; therefore he never would agree to descend the city tower.

"Very well, go inspect over there."

The fire chief pointed to the other side of the city wall. Standing on the wall, he whispered toward the city below; military law requires at least ten soldiers to start, so this matter would be hard to explain if pursued.