Chapter 123

At the midnight hour, the walltops of Tongcheng blazed with light once more; lanterns were rehung on the high lamps damaged during the day. Outside the city, the campfires of the Roving Bandits spread across the fields on a scale even greater than the night before, but after a day of city defense, the Community Soldiers on the wall no longer trembled with the same terror as yesterday.

During the day, the Roving Bandits had several thousand men at the East Wall as well, but their offensive there was not fierce and they never scaled the wall. Their main direction of attack was the South Wall, where they seized a section of the walltop, but were ultimately driven back down by a Corvee Soldier counterattack.

This counterattack dealt a heavy blow to the Roving Bandits' morale, and afterward they were unable to organize any further assaults.

At the arrow crenels of the South Wall and East Wall, defenders with pots on their heads still poked out from time to time to check the base of the wall, guarding against Roving Bandits secretly digging at the fortifications.

Below the wall lay a scene of utter chaos, strewn with broken bamboo ladders and tables, surrounded by countless stones and several hundred Roving Bandit corpses. Among them were the severely wounded who could not move, writhing and moaning.

The Community Soldiers on the wall followed the sounds and occasionally hurled stones down, but in the pitch-black night their aim was poor, and the moaning continued. Their efforts futile, they simply let the wounded wail beneath the city.

Near the West Gate City Tower, there was a stretch of pitch darkness within Tongcheng's bright necklace of lights.

From atop the city tower came a creaking and grinding sound. Six Community Soldiers controlled the speed of a windlass while two Runners sat in a hanging basket, slowly descending toward the base of the wall.

Once they reached the ground, the two Runners split up in the darkness. Three more Runners were then lowered, heading toward the Official Road and the northwest. These five locations were places where troops could mass, and the Runners needed to confirm they were safe.

A moment later, the sparking flash of tinder pouches being struck appeared at several points. After carefully counting them, Pang Yu signaled a Community Soldier beside him to raise a lantern and swing it twice.

Pang Yu turned around and said to Yang Erming beside him, "Sir, there are no Roving Bandit ambushers outside the city. Your subordinate will now lead the Guards out on the sortie."

Before Yang Erming could speak, Mr. Sun to the side addressed Yang Erming first. "Sir, think thrice. We need only ensure the safety of Tongcheng and make the Roving Bandits withdraw. If we launch a night raid and enrage that bandit chief, the whole horde may attack the city with desperate fury. I fear unforeseen calamity may follow."

Yang Erming kept his head down and said nothing. Pang Yu spoke politely to Mr. Sun. "We in the city have the City Wall to protect us, and the Community Soldiers can rotate and rest. The Roving Bandits outside have no wall to shield them. Their camp ground stretches for several li; it is absolutely impossible for their defenses to be tight everywhere. If we break through at just one point in their camp, not one of those tens of thousands of Roving Bandits will be able to rest easy. Tomorrow their mental spirit will be low, making a large-scale city assault difficult. In this way, we buy another day."

Pang Yu turned back to Yang Erming. "According to the confessions of several Roving Bandits captured on the walltop today, the Eight Brigands' forces attacked Shouzhou for only one day, withdrawing immediately when they saw the city defenses were solid. They attacked Shucheng for two days and withdrew when they failed to take it. Chao County fell in two days. They were preparing to withdraw from Lujiang after two days as well, only breaking through thanks to a sneak attack under heavy fog. Only Luzhou was attacked for four days, and that was solely because they were waiting for the detached force that had attacked Chao County to return. From this, it is clear the Roving Bandits are bullies who fear the strong and prey on the weak, unable to bear heavy casualties. The Eight Brigands generally withdraw after two days of failing to take a city. This is already their second day at Tongcheng. If they cannot mount an offensive tomorrow, they will certainly pull out."

Mr. Sun spoke again. "If they will withdraw after three days anyway, why provoke the bandit horde? Wouldn't it be far better simply to defend for one more day tomorrow and let them leave on their own?"

"Mr. Sun, with respect, you are mistaken. If we do not harass and disrupt them with a night raid, tomorrow's assault may be even fiercer. Today they already gained the walltop. How can you guarantee they will not achieve a breakthrough tomorrow?"

Mr. Sun was momentarily at a loss for words. Pang Yu continued, "The Roving Bandits are vicious. Only by inflicting real pain can we make them withdraw quickly, but we cannot let them leave in peace. They have burned and plundered all along their path, harming our common folk. From Lujiang to Tongcheng, every Village along the way has been reduced to ashes. Your subordinate is merely a Squad Leader, but even I know that the common people are the very foundation of our livelihood. The Roving Bandits are killing and burning outside the city. How could your subordinate think only of holding the wall and saving his own life? Leading a mere hundred men out of the city to raid the bandits—do you think your subordinate does not know he is walking into a danger zone? But to fight bandits for the people, though they be thousands, I shall go."

"Well said!" Yang Erming exclaimed, stirred. "In the past, the people only spoke of Pang Squad Leader's fierce courage in putting down unrest and killing bandits. Only today do I recognize that Pang Squad Leader's courage lies not above his blade, but in a heart devoted to the people. This official seldom drinks wine, but today I shall down a bowl in honor of the night raid warriors of our Tongcheng Zhuang Squad."

Mr. Sun shook his head and stepped aside. Young men with passionate hearts are easily stirred when goaded, he thought, which also made him rather displeased with Pang Yu.

Yang Erming led the way downstairs. The gate tunnel was brightly lit, where a group of Community Soldiers was removing the stone blocks bracing the gate.

The two men stood at the exit inside the gate tunnel. West Gate Street was filled with Guards sitting in orderly ranks, their faces betraying some tension. Seeing the two men descend, they all rose and stood at attention.

Ruan Jin, Wang Zenglu, Zhuang Chaozheng, and He Xianya gathered around the two.

Pang Yu addressed them. "I will take five Runners ahead as guides. Ruan Jin will bring five Runners to cover the rear. After the night raid, if any Roving Bandits pursue, no one is to return to the West Wall. Make your own way west into the mountains. The mountain rendezvous point is the Fang Family's Ze Garden. If you cannot find it in the dark of night, hide in the mountains for a few days and come out after the Roving Bandits have withdrawn." He looked at the four men. "He Xianya will hold the West Gate. No matter who returns, the City Gate is not to be opened casually. Runners must be lowered to identify each person one by one and confirm there are no Roving Bandits tailing them before the gate can be opened. If only a few return, haul them up in the hanging basket. The walltop must remain on high alert."

He Xianya said in a low voice, "Your subordinate wishes to go with the Squad Leader as well."

Pang Yu shook his head. "Captain He, your loyalty and courage are commendable, but the West Gate needs a reliable man to hold it. The line of retreat is even more critical than killing the enemy."

He Xianya gave a slight bow and withdrew.

Pang Yu turned to the others. "I will repeat the night raid route one last time. After exiting the gate, we assemble on the Official Road. The Guards will form a column of pairs in Squads of ten. Each Squad leader at the front, one Squad-of-Five leader at the rear. On the sortie, we follow the West Gate Official Road, pass Lienü Shrine, and turn south at West Lotus Pond. On the withdrawal, we pass Wuyin Temple and cut through the small path between the Tong Stream Canal waterways. If Roving Bandits pursue, we counterattack on that small path between the Tong Stream Canal waterways."

The several captains all nodded. Pang Yu could see they were also very tense. After all, tens of thousands of Roving Bandits were outside the city. Leaving the City Wall meant losing all cover. Once a mere hundred men were surrounded, it was a dead end.

At that moment, a group of Community Soldiers carried over wine jars and bowls, handing a bowl to each Guard on the sortie. Men behind them poured the wine. Yang Erming also took a bowl.

Once all the Guards held their wine, Yang Erming raised his wine bowl. "Brave men of Tongcheng, a small force of a hundred soldiers about to face a formation of tens of thousands of Roving Bandits. This official offers you all a bowl of wine as a token of his respect."

With that, Yang Erming tilted his head back and drained it in one gulp. The Guards were somewhat stirred. In their previous lives, the County Magistrate was a figure far above them, a high official rarely seen. That he would toast them today made them all raise their bowls and drink deeply.

The scene before him reminded Pang Yu of the Great Blade Teams of the War of Resistance. Though he had never understood why they smashed their wine bowls, being in this moment himself, it seemed impossible to express the surging emotion in his heart without hearing that crash after drinking.

"Kill the bandits!" Pang Yu smashed his wine bowl against the bluestone slab. With a sharp crack, the bowl shattered into pieces on the stone.

"Kill the bandits!" The Zhuang Squad followed suit. Over a hundred bowls shattered on the stone slabs. With that sound, the Zhuang Squad seemed filled with an unstoppable, indomitable spirit.

Yang Erming froze for a moment, then fiercely swung his right arm and hurled his bowl to the ground.

All the lanterns around the West Gate were extinguished. In the pitch darkness, the left gate leaf groaned as it swung open, creating a gap just wide enough for two men to pass through. The black-clad Guards filed out in silence. Once the hundred-odd Corvee Soldiers had exited, the West Gate immediately shut again.

Thirty zhang from the city gate, the Corvee Soldiers assembled there. Each Squad leader issued low commands, and all Squad personnel were accounted for.

At Pang Yu's order from the head of the column, the hundred-odd Corvee Soldiers advanced toward the South Suburb in the dark.

Two Runners walked at the front. Both were men from the South Gate and were extremely familiar with this area. Even in the dark of night, they could identify their position by a few earthen mounds along the road.

The hundred-odd men marched in sequence, advancing toward the sea of lights spread across the wilderness. The column was filled with the sound of heavy breathing. From time to time, a Guard would stumble, causing a brief moment of chaos in the ranks before they pressed on.

After passing Lienü Shrine, the column turned toward the South Suburb. The campfires dotted the open fields like stars, growing closer and closer.

From the darkness ahead came the sound of a cat's meow. Pang Yu stopped immediately and replied with a low, guttural meow of his own.

One of the Runners scouting ahead emerged from the darkness and said in a low voice to Pang Yu, "Reporting to the Squad Leader, there are fire beacons everywhere up ahead. Passing through there will definitely expose us to the men behind them."

Pang Yu said, stunned, "Aren't the campsites right beside the fire beacons?"

"Still far from the camp ground. The fire beacons start about half a li out. One man tends over ten fires, coming out to add firewood at intervals."

Pang Yu was dumbfounded for a moment. In his mind, a camp was a cluster of tents with some wooden palisades outside. But looking at the Roving Bandit camp during the day, there seemed to be no palisades. Behind were colorful things that looked like tents. The fire beacons should have been in the tent area; why were they placed outside the camp?

Yet this tactic did seem genuinely effective. Historically, Zhang Xianzhong had set up extensive campfires outside his camp precisely to guard against surprise attacks by government troops. Pang Yu was now at his wit's end. If they charged in forcefully, the Roving Bandits, aided by the surrounding campfires, would clearly see the scale and direction of the attack. Pang Yu's advantage of a night raid would be lost.

The column halted in place. Some Guards were whispering among themselves. Pang Yu could not think of a solution for the moment. Keeping the column here too long also carried risks, and a sense of urgency began to rise in his heart.

Wang Zenglu, walking right beside Pang Yu, was silent for a moment before speaking. "Squad Leader, can one walk along the river channel of the Tong Stream River?"

Pang Yu's eyes lit up. The Roving Bandits were encamped in the South Suburb, with their camp ground on the east side of the Tong Stream River channel, convenient for watering their horses and fetching water. Following the Tong Stream river channel would lead directly into the Roving Bandits' camp ground.

Naturally, no torches could be lit in the river channel, and since the riverbed was lower than the ground, the glow of the campfires could not reach it. These hundred-odd Guards could penetrate straight into the enemy camp.

The Runner immediately said, "On the east side of the river channel, there's a path for herding cattle. It's exposed in winter when the water is low and shouldn't be submerged yet now. Most people don't know about it."

After a moment of silence, Pang Yu said to Wang Zenglu, "Count the men. We'll go via the river channel."

Wang Zenglu acknowledged the order and walked back down the line to count heads, while the Runner went to notify his other companion up ahead.

As he waited, Pang Yu realized his back was already soaked with sweat. He glanced back but could only see the dozen or so Guards at the very front. These sons of farmers had never had nighttime training, and they lacked combat skills, yet they followed him without hesitation to attack the main camp of tens of thousands of Roving Bandits. A sudden wave of emotion stirred in his heart.

Quite a while later, Wang Zenglu returned. "Reporting to the Squad Leader, the Third Squadron is missing one Squad of Five, the Second Squadron is missing one man, and the Sixth Squadron is missing two men. No one knows where they went."

Pang Yu shook his head. Getting separated in the dark was normal, but an entire Squad of Five vanishing still angered him. This considerably weakened his assault force.

"Lead the way."

The Runner nodded and took the lead, heading in the direction of the river channel.

…

The sky was starless and moonless. Countless campfires flickered on the bank, casting the riverbank's shadow onto the opposite shore. Clad in black, the Tongcheng Zhuang Squad vanished into the shadows of the river channel, silently and slowly advancing forward.

The small path along the river channel was thick with weeds. Legs parted the weeds, producing soft rustling sounds. The gurgling flow of Tong Stream masked those faint rustles.

Pang Yu stared wide-eyed at the Runner ahead. Although his eyes had adjusted to the darkness of the channel, he could still only make out a blurry silhouette. At the same time, he tried his best to memorize where the man placed his feet, so he would be less likely to miss his step.

The Runner paused briefly, poked his head out for a look, likely gauging how far they still were from the camp. The squad moved very slowly. Although they had been in the channel for nearly half a shichen, they might not yet have passed through that campfire-lit zone.

Pang Yu used the pause to move up right behind him, but then saw the man suddenly pull back and crouch down.

Pang Yu hurriedly crouched as well. Footsteps sounded on the bank. A long shadow was cast onto the opposite shore. A splashing rustle came from the bank — the man added some firewood to the nearest campfire but did not leave immediately.

The footsteps approached the river channel. Pang Yu's heart pounded fiercely. He gently gripped the hilt of his sword.

A figure appeared at the spot above the Runner's head. The man was somewhat hunched and coughed violently toward the river channel several times.

Pang Yu lay hidden in the shadow of the riverbank. Behind him, Wang Zenglu's breathing was somewhat heavy, but Pang Yu knew that the Roving Bandit, standing in the light, could not see the Zhuang Squad in the shadows.

What he feared most now was that someone in the Zhuang Squad would lose their nerve. If they were exposed here, the effect of the surprise attack would be more than half ruined.

Pang Yu controlled the sound of his own breathing. Fortunately, the man did not stand there long. He spat a mouthful of phlegm toward the river channel, then slowly turned and walked away.

The Runner ahead stood up in the darkness and continued forward.

Pang Yu reached the Runner's position and cautiously poked his head out to look. They were at the edge of the camp area. By the firelight, he could see a trench. Behind it were rows of tents — though they differed from the tents he had imagined. Most were just tattered blankets, used only to block the wind and cold.

They still had to continue forward from here. He needed to bring all hundred men into the channel within the camp area and commit them all to the attack at once, causing maximum chaos among the Roving Bandits. But right now, he had no idea whether the rear of the squad was keeping up, nor the time to count heads. He could only wait until they reached the position.

The Runner ahead advanced, one step deep, one step shallow. Pang Yu followed behind him. The ground underfoot was very soft, and water had already seeped into his shoes. In the icy cold of an early spring night, this feeling was extremely unpleasant.

The water grew deeper where they stepped, until they were practically wading in the river. Pang Yu's calves were submerged, and they began to feel slightly numb.

Fortunately, they soon stepped back onto solid ground. The slippery, slimy feeling underfoot was awful. He followed the Runner for another stretch. There was much less firelight on the bank, but some sounds began to emerge.

The Runner stopped and said in a low voice, "Squad Leader, we've already passed that trench."

Pang Yu climbed up a step. Rows of tents lined the bank. Some lingering campfires still gave off light. A few figures were pacing around. Although they had entered the camp area, they were still not far from the trench and remained at the camp's edge.

"Keep moving forward."

The Runner, likely somewhat timid, paused for a moment before saying, "Then should we wait for the ones behind?"

Pang Yu glanced back again. He could only make out the figures of five or six Guards. The path along the channel was too narrow, and it was impossible to send someone to count.

Only now did Pang Yu realize he should have taught them to count off and relay orders. He had absolutely no idea how many had kept up.

But since things had come this far, Pang Yu gritted his teeth and said, "No waiting. Keep moving forward."

Just then, the sound of voices talking came from the bank. The Runner hurriedly crouched down again.

The voices drew near. It seemed there were both men and women, urging them to do something.

Pang Yu dared not make a sound, hoping they would leave after a moment.

Just as he was praying, a sudden loud splash erupted from the river channel behind him, followed by someone's startled cry.

An angry shout came from the bank: "Who's there?"