Chapter 548: Snatching People

Ni Heng's true nature has not yet shown, and Liu Biao, a gentleman who loves literature, would naturally make Ni Heng become one of Jingzhou's scholars, for example serving as Liu Biao's assistant in drafting official documents. Bai Lang looked at this Ni Heng and said, "I heard you consider all the ministers under Cao Mengde to be good‑for‑nothing?"

"Who is this?" Ni Heng rolled his eyes and said directly, unafraid of Bai Lang's exploding beard and tiger‑like eyebrows. "Left General Bai Lang," he said humorously. He wanted to hear how Ni Heng would insult, and while he sat there his joints creaked like beans in a hot pan.

Ni Heng only uttered that one line, then pretended not to have seen Bai Lang nor heard his words. Ni Heng is certainly not a coward; Bai Lang thought his behavior stemmed from the fact that Bai Lang is a first‑rate loyalist, and Ni Heng could find no flaw in him, so perhaps it wasn't because Ni Heng feared being crushed by Bai Lang.

Bai Lang returned to his manor, but a few months later he heard that Ni Heng had offended Liu Biao and was sent to Huang Zu in Jiangxia; a few months after that he heard that Huang Zu killed Ni Heng, "A reckless man who does not guard his words deserves it," Bai Lang laughed. The following year was the fifth year of the Jian'an era; on that day several worthless men in Xudu City were captured in one net by CaoCao, and at Dong Guojiu Dong Cheng's residence a belt decree and oath document were found.

CaoCao ordered someone to bring it for his inspection, and besides those five worthless men he saw the names of LiuBei, Liu Xuande, Ma Teng, Ma Shoucheng, and Bai Lang, White Yuzhu on it. CaoCao laughed heartily, "These people are truly laughable, still daring to deceive others?" ChengYu then asked, "How do they intend to deceive?"

CaoCao pointed at the names on the oath and said, "I have seen White Yuzhu's calligraphy before; it could never be written so well." He omitted some remarks, which reflected CaoCao's understanding of Bai Lang: this man would never take part in such a "boring" belt decree. If he were planning to rebel against the Chancellor CaoCao, he would charge in with a hundred cavalry to thrust a spear and kill people.

Thus CaoCao ordered his men at the four gates of Xudu to slaughter the small clans of the five families, killing over a thousand, and then forced Dong Guifei to death inside the palace; at least they had not yet reached the step of plotting usurpation or illegitimate enthronement.

They then discussed how to deal with the remaining Ma Teng, LiuBei and others. Ma Teng was far in Xiliang and indifferent; if CaoCao sent troops to attack LiuBei in Xuzhou, they would fear that Yuan Shao in the north would seize the opportunity. CaoCao said directly, "LiuBei is a man of talent; if we do not strike now, we will have to wait until his wings are fully formed. In urgent difficulty we must act. Though Yuan Shao is strong, his affairs are full of doubts and indecision, not worth worrying about!"

Guo Jia also agreed, saying, "Shao is slow and suspicious; his strategists are jealous of each other, not a cause for concern. LiuBei has just reorganized his troops, and the troops have not yet submitted. The Chancellor can lead forces eastward; a single battle will settle it." CaoCao was delighted and dispatched two hundred thousand troops, dividing them into five routes to descend on Xuzhou.

LiuBei immediately appealed to Yuan Shao for help, to no avail.

Bai Lang was still in Jingzhou at this time; he knew the belt decree had failed, and since Dong Guojiu's men had committed suicide outside his gate, there was no need to ask—their gang would certainly drag him into the water. Yet he was far in Jingzhou; even if CaoCao wanted to move against him, it was beyond his reach. But he could still help LiuBei...

Bai Lang really did consider it, but on further thought it seemed unnecessary. Liu Xuande's defeats came extremely quickly... First ZhangFei devised a plan, intending to launch a night raid while CaoCao's foothold was still unstable; such a scheme could not be used against a strategist like CaoCao.

If ZhangFei possessed Bai Lang's bravery, he could forcefully turn a trap into a bold charge, but he could not. Even so, his troop numbers far exceeded Bai Lang's. ZhangFei thought he had a good plan, led light cavalry forward, stormed CaoCao's camp, only to see scattered forces, few troops, flames rising on all sides, and shouts all around.

The troops he commanded were originally old soldiers under CaoCao; seeing the situation become critical, they all surrendered. In the end ZhangFei led a few dozen cavalry to break through the encirclement, taking the old path up the mountain and into the grasslands... Meanwhile LiuBei was cut down, his army shattered, with only a few dozen cavalry escaping; seeing the small town of Pei catch fire, he realized Xuzhou could not be held, and could only decide to defect to Yuan Shao.

On the road they met another interception; Liu Xuande ultimately fled alone, heading straight to Qingzhou. GuanYu was lured out of Xiapi, and CaoCao's generals repeatedly assaulted, surrounding him on an earthen mound; CaoCao's main force then seized Xiapi, and GuanYu eventually surrendered. In fact, this fellow got along well with CaoCao, and CaoCao truly gave the Red Hare to GuanYu.

At this moment Bai Lang heard that GuanYu had surrendered; he immediately mustered his troops and intended to go to Bingzhou, and when asked why he was going to Bingzhou, Bai Lang replied, "Snatching women." Bai Lang also asked Gao Shun about his ambitions, "After today, how do you wish to conduct yourself? If you intend to retire to the mountains and forests, then all the lands here will be given to you. If you still wish to roam the battlefield, then come with me." Bai Lang would never force Gao Shun to choose.

The taciturn Gao Shun hadn't thought about it at all; he simply donned his armor and stood properly behind Bai Lang. Bai Lang laughed, "It seems your household has no infantry, so we cannot recreate a battlefield together. In the future you may raise troops yourself; bring as many as you like. You will command infantry, I will command a hundred cavalry; the world can be taken."

Thus Bai Lang took his leave; Liu Biao also presented several basins of gold and silver as provisions, along with various silk robes, and even gave Bai Lang and his subordinates clothing, helmets, and armor. If Bai Lang were to go north to cause trouble, it would be good for Liu Biao's hold on Jingzhou. Since Bai Lang was leaving, many wandering swordsmen came to join, so Bai Lang handed them all over to Gao Shun to command.

"Why are there no strategists joining my house?" Bai Lang couldn't quite understand. Now Bai Lang has a hundred cavalry, while there are over three hundred infantry; Gao Shun's command of these three hundred is a trivial matter, and by the time they marched to the pass, he had already trained them into an elite force.

At this time Yuan Shao was also raising a great army to march south, to decide the fate of the Central Plains against CaoCao. Bai Lang's plan was to first enter Bingzhou, capture a city as a base, then look for an opportunity to storm Ye City, seize a woman and leave. He wanted to see whether Lady Zhen or Lady Zou was more beautiful; as for Diao Chan... Bai Lang had seen her several times, and her looks were indeed superior to Lady Zou's.

Intervene in the great battle between Yuan Shao and CaoCao? Bai Lang hadn't decided whom to support. Helping CaoCao? Now CaoCao had become a "Han traitor", Bai Lang could not bring himself to aid him. Helping Yuan Shao? He found that fellow beneath contempt, and his treachery was no less than CaoCao's.

When Bai Lang passed through Si Li into Bingzhou, he heard that GuanYu, at White Horse, had slain Yan Liang amid ten thousand troops, his fame shaking the four corners. GuanYu was also ennobled as Marquis of Han Shou Ting, and Wen Chou also led his forces.

Bai Lang intended to seize Xihe County. Years ago, when Bai Lang was alive, he had killed tens of thousands of Xiongnu and Qiang barbarians, driving them out of Bingzhou all the way to the northern frontier. After Yuan Shao withdrew Bai Lang and ordered Gao Gan to garrison the place, the Xiongnu and Qiang gradually returned; Gao Gan fought several battles without victory and could only follow him, merely holding the county town while the Xiongnu raided the villages.

Bai Lang led four hundred men to Xihe, climbed a height and looked afar, "The barbarian dust rises again! Today we shall kill the barbarians!"