Chapter 192: Accident

Pang Yu stood on the north wall, staring dumbfounded at the tide of roving bandits swarming down the official road. The hundred-odd scout cavalry at Xiaoguanpu had completely blocked his reconnaissance, leaving him utterly ignorant of the bandits' movements from the direction of Shucheng. Some commoners had fled in via the mountain paths, but the information they provided was often contradictory, forcing him to launch a prisoner-snatching operation — but he had never expected this outcome.

Yesterday's encounter battle, the ambush laid in the market street, had somehow led the bandits to conclude they could take the pass.

The fifty men who laid that ambush were now nearly two li away, and all of them were infantry. The bandits had already entered the basin from behind Xiaoguanpu, their vanguard entirely cavalry. Even if the Hundredth Chief Company wanted to run, there was no running now.

Behind the bandit cavalry came a great mass of foot soldiers, blanketing the official road at Xiaoguanpu — no telling how many more lay beyond. Through the telescope, he could see bamboo ladders mixed among them, likely meant for assaulting the city walls, just as they had done when besieging Tongcheng. These foot soldiers were by no means well-trained; their strength lay in overwhelming numbers.

"I told you, Garrison Commander Pang, told you not to sally out. Dozens of lives thrown away for nothing."

Pan Keda's voice came from nearby, tinged with a hint of smugness. Pang Yu kept his eyes on the official road and paid him no heed.

Xu Strengthening's voice followed: "General Pang need not reproach himself. Victory and defeat are a soldier's common lot on the battlefield. It may simply be that General Pang has seen too few battles. In the future, remember to act with greater prudence, that is all. For now, let us focus on holding the pass."

The bandit cavalry were not charging at full speed, only advancing at a canter. They were now nearing the ambush site. Pang Yu felt his mouth go dry. He feared that those infantrymen, faced with so overwhelming an enemy, might suffer a collapse of spirit. The moment they fled from those ruins, they would become prey for the cavalry. Of those fifty men, not a single one would make it back to the pass.

Fortunately, there was still no movement from the ruins. But that only eased the immediate crisis. Once the bandits passed the ambush point, the Hundredth Chief Company would be cut off in the rear. Outside the city, only the official road could mass troops. If the bandits assaulted the city, the area around those ruins, rich in water and grass, would make an excellent logistics point — they could set up there to boil water and cook. The hidden troops would be discovered sooner or later.

Shi Kefa's voice sounded from behind. "Garrison Commander Pang, you had best dispatch troops to the walls quickly. Holding the pass is what matters."

Pang Yu suddenly turned to face Shi Kefa. "Your subordinate requests permission to sally forth. Smashing the bandits hinges on this one move."

Shi Kefa froze for a moment. The bandits on the official road outside stretched in an unbroken line, already well past a thousand, and the vanguard alone had at least two or three hundred cavalry — far exceeding the number of household retainers among the defenders.

In the minds of every civil and military official at times like these, only household retainers counted as fighting strength. And household retainers were mostly cavalry — first, for their shock power, and more importantly, for their mobility. Whether attacking or fleeing for their lives, they could move together with their commander. Infantry were merely synonymous with cannon fodder. So in the minds of Pan Keda and Xu Strengthening, though there were four thousand foot soldiers inside the pass, the only ones they could truly rely on were those cavalry.

And Pang Yu's twenty-odd cavalry had clearly performed poorly the day before. Now, with the mounted bandits exceeding two hundred, neither Pan Keda nor Xu Strengthening had the confidence to defeat them. If they sallied out and then retreated in defeat, the pass gates would never be opened for them. When that happened, they would all die beneath the walls.

Pan Keda absolutely could not let Pang Yu persuade Shi Kefa. He immediately stepped to Shi Kefa's side and said, "My lord, do not heed his reckless words. The bandits' momentum is overwhelming. We need only hold the pass. Once the bandits withdraw, we can pursue and cut them down."

Xu Strengthening, likewise worried that Shi Kefa might choose to sally out, spoke up in support of Pan Keda.

Shi Kefa nodded and said to Pang Yu, "As the saying goes, a true warrior will sever his own hand. General Pang, do not lose the greater for the lesser."

Pang Yu's expression soured. If he had not sent men to ambush, pursuing the bandits after they retreated would have been the best plan. But now fifty men were trapped behind enemy lines. For the Anqing Garrison Battalion's first battle, to allow an ambush force to be encircled and annihilated by the bandits before even defeating them — the army's morale would be very hard to restore, and his own reputation would suffer a severe blow. Would the various parties in Anqing withdraw their funding because of this?

He considered his wording for a moment, then said to Shi Kefa in a grave tone, "My lord, see clearly: it is not that your subordinate insists on having his own way, but that Beixia Pass here is excellent terrain for using infantry to break cavalry. From Xiaoguanpu to the pass, the official road is flanked on both sides by paddy fields. The bandit cavalry will find it hard to gallop freely. The battlefield is confined to the official road itself, where the front line of engagement is no more than seven or eight men across. Even if the bandits come with a thousand troops and ten thousand horses, it avails them nothing. Once we defeat their vanguard, the enemy will be jammed up front and rear, hemmed in left and right by the paddy fields. My lord will surely win a great victory that shakes the imperial court — precisely the chance to demonstrate my lord's peerless frontier talent!"

Pan Keda and Xu Strengthening both inwardly groaned. Shi Kefa was newly appointed. In this present age, with beacon-fires blazing everywhere, the phrase 'peerless frontier talent' was enough to stir the heart of any official.

Sure enough, hesitation flickered in Shi Kefa's eyes. Pan Keda nervously looked back and forth between Pang Yu and Shi Kefa. As a defeated commander at the hands of the bandits, he had lost even his own mount earlier that year. Only because his subordinate Liu Yinglong had yielded his own horse and fought a desperate rearguard action had Pan Keda managed to flee back to Anqing. The terror still haunted him.

Pang Yu understood Pan Keda's and Xu Strengthening's state of mind. He spoke first: "The terrain outside the pass is narrow. Your subordinate requests to lead the Anqing Garrison Battalion out alone. The two generals can hold the walls securely to ensure absolute safety."

Pan Keda's and Xu Strengthening's expressions instantly relaxed. They exchanged a glance. As long as they were not required to sally out, Pang Yu could go throw his life away if he wished. And Shi Kefa seemed to be wavering as well.

Pang Yu turned back to look at the official road. The foremost bandit scouts had already passed the ambush point. The hidden troops had not sprung the trap; the ruins lay in dead silence. Anxiety gnawed at him. Every second now was precious beyond measure, yet Shi Kefa was still hesitating. Fine beads of sweat broke out on Pang Yu's forehead.

He took a half-step closer to Shi Kefa. "Lord Circuit Intendant, if the bandits reach the gates, sallying out will easily turn to chaos. I beg my lord to permit this humble one to go forth at once and win for my lord this first merit in Jiangbei."

Shi Kefa's body gave a slight quiver. The words 'military merits' carried a weight in today's officialdom far beyond what they once had. He could not help but be moved.

"My lord, if you do not decide soon, I fear it will be too late." Even Pan Keda was growing anxious. He did not fear Pang Yu sallying out, but he feared that Shi Kefa's hesitation would delay the sally until it was too late. If Pang Yu came fleeing back in defeat and they could not close the gates in time, they would all be cooked in the same pot.

"This..." Shi Kefa's brow furrowed deeply. Pang Yu felt his heart leap into his throat; he scarcely dared to breathe.

"Then... General Pang, sally forth at once."

Everyone on the wall let out a collective breath of relief. Pang Yu did not even pause for ceremony. He bounded down the city stairs three steps at a time. Below, two Hundred-Company Commander companies were arrayed in the street. Wang Zenglu, Jiang Guoyong, Zhuang Chaozheng, and the others were all waiting by the foot of the stairs.

Before he had even stopped moving, Pang Yu said urgently to the group, "The situation is critical. We must go out the gate and meet the enemy immediately. Wang Zenglu, the Second Company takes the vanguard. The first two ranks all sword-and-shield. Behind them, armored long spearmen. Put everyone with armor up front. Advance at speed along the official road. Once you close with the bandits, the sword-and-shield men — jump into the damn paddy fields for me! Clear the path for the spear soldiers. Once the spear soldiers engage, they do not stop, they do not retreat — all the way to Xiaoguanpu. Anyone who disobeys will be beheaded on the spot! Adjust the formation now!"

Wang Zenglu turned and ran to the ranks, concentrating the sword-and-shield men from the rear squads into the front rows.

"Yang Xueshi, take the Central Army arrow squad and follow behind the Second Company. Once the vanguard engages, provide arcing supporting fire. Jiang Guoyong, take the Central Army Garrison Inspector Dui and follow behind the arrow squad. Anyone who dares retreat — behead them all!" Though pressed for time, Pang Yu deliberately raised his voice so that the men of the Second Company nearby could all hear.

Jiang Guoyong replied in a low voice, "The Garrison Inspector Dui has only seven men. Your subordinate fears we cannot stop deserters."

Pang Yu glanced around, then said quietly, "The First Company still has fifty men. You take them to hold the line. They'll be more desperate to rescue their own company comrades, and their bond with the Second Company is weaker. They'll be able to bring themselves to cut down routing soldiers."

Jiang Guoyong raised his head and looked at Pang Yu, then lowered it, acknowledged the order, and went to lead his unit. Pang Yu said to Zhuang Chaozheng, loudly and curtly, "Follow behind the Garrison Inspector Dui. Only forward, no retreat. Anyone coming toward you is an enemy. Kill them and keep attacking. This officer will be right behind you. If you fail to stop routing soldiers, this officer will kill you."

Zhuang Chaozheng offered no extra words. He saluted and ran to the rear.

With all instructions given, Pang Yu bellowed toward the gate tunnel, "Open the gates!"

The gates groaned and creaked. The gates of Beixia Pass were iron-sheathed wooden doors, heavier and thicker than the city gates of many a county seat.

Wang Zenglu was still tensely adjusting the formation. The long spearmen posed no problem — it was much the same as their daily drills. But the sword-and-shield men had never been packed this densely before. Pang Yu clearly intended to use the sword-and-shield for cover, then let the long spears do the fighting. This was a narrow-front offensive battle; everything hinged on speed.

Pang Yu watched the ranks in the street with nervous intensity. The soldiers' expressions were all a bit rigid; none of them were well-prepared for this kind of offensive battle. Many stole glances at Pang Yu. In the orders Pang Yu had just given, the thing mentioned most often was killing routing soldiers. No one doubted Lord Pang's resolve in the slightest.

"What haven't I done?" Pang Yu's mind raced. His eyes swept back and forth across the street. In the horse pen by the nearby inn, there were still cavalry, but he could not send them. Sending them would be useless — they certainly could not beat the bandit cavalry. They would only clog the road, or worse, come fleeing back and crash into the infantry.

"What else..." Pang Yu suddenly smacked his forehead, turned, and ran back up the city wall. He looked around frantically. Shi Kefa, Pan Keda, and the others watched Pang Yu in surprise, wondering what he was so busy with.

He quickly spotted his target. Bao Yu was standing there in a daze in front of that bronze cannon. That cannon had suffered one calamity after another on the road from Anqing to Tongcheng: its wheels had broken three times, its carriage had cracked. After repairs in Tongcheng, it had traveled another sixty li to Beixia Pass, where the cannon cart had broken down twice more. It had been repaired overnight just last night. Once hauled up to the city tower, they discovered the gun mount was too tall to fire through the cannon embrasure — the muzzle was blocked exactly by the wall. They had only smashed open the wall before daybreak and had just covered the gap with black cloth. Even now, they were still adjusting its position.

Pang Yu rushed over in a few strides and grabbed Bao Yu by the sleeve. "Mr. Bao, is your bronze cannon ready to fire?"

Bao Yu, startled by Pang Yu, stammered, "It can... but it hasn't been test-fired yet."

"No test. Load and aim it now. The moment my men go out the gate, you fire."

"Th-then I fear it won't hit true."

"Just fire northward! Load it now!" Pang Yu brooked no argument. At that moment, a great shout came from below — the main gate had opened.

Pang Yu turned back to look at the official road. The main body of bandit cavalry had already passed the ambush point. A red banner was halted just outside the ruins. The hidden troops should not have been discovered yet.

Pang Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead with one swipe and shouted at the drummers and signalmen on the tower, "Beat the drums!"

In the ruins where the ambush troops hid, Wu Dacai peered through a crack in the wall at the official road. Beyond the bamboo grove, an endless stream of cavalry rode past. A red banner had stopped outside the grove. A burly man was giving instructions to several bandits, but his words were lost beneath the rumbling of hooves.

Wu Dacai's face was pale, his palms slick with sweat. He gripped his spear shaft tightly. This polearm, originally ten chi long, had been deliberately cut down by three chi to make it easier for them to lie in ambush among the ruins.

Dai Han squatted on the ground, his head swiveling left and right. Wai Lian was listening intently to the sound of hooves outside, but he was not squatting.

Wu Dacai's heart pounded wildly. He could only see the sliver of view through the crack, but from the sounds alone he knew this was nothing like the scattered riders of yesterday. Amid his panic, he cursed his own fate endlessly. He had come out to snatch prisoners — who could have known he would run into thousands of troops and horses? Now he had no idea who was taking whom prisoner.

The bandits did not come toward the ruins. Their target was the pass. But if even one man came over, these few dozen men would be finished.

The corners of Wu Dacai's mouth turned downward as he breathed in rapid gasps. All the tales about the roving bandits were horrifying. The gruesome scenes from Susong had spread everywhere — and now he himself was right beside tens of thousands of bandits.

He glanced back. The squad leader's face was somewhat ashen. Further back, Dong Mingyuan had already reached the doorway. From the doorway, one could see a house across the way. Yao Dongshan was at the door, signaling to Dong Mingyuan with hand gestures.

Wu Dacai had no mind to study Yao Dongshan's gestures. From Yao Dongshan's bearing, he was clearly far from his usual imposing self.

"Forty taels, gone." Wu Dacai crouched on the ground, muttering. "Enough for the kid's ma to buy a little courtyard — no, not outside the city walls, a small one inside the city would do too. Lord Pang better not get himself killed. Dead, there'll be no one to pay the silver…"

While his thoughts ran wild, the sound of hoofbeats drew near outside the door. Everyone inside the room crouched up. The team leader pressed a hand down at them, signaling them not to move recklessly.

There came the sound of dismounting. Then two voices with a Beidi accent spoke to each other, heading toward the doorway. Wu Dacai's mind could no longer conjure any other thought; his eyes fixed deathly on the doorway.

Opposite him, Yao Dongshan's expression was ferocious. He gripped a Waist Saber in his hand, his eyes just as deathly fixed on the space between the two rooms.

Wu Dacai clenched the spear shaft with all his might, his breathing seeming to stop entirely. Outside, the hoofbeats mixed with human shouts and horse whinnies, but inside the room reigned a deathly silence.

Wai Lian arched his body and took two steps forward, his Waist Saber already drawn. Wu Dacai, who had been tensed all over, seemed not quite so afraid after seeing Wai Lian. He glanced up at the doorframe and leveled his Long Spear slightly.

The footsteps approached the main door. Wu Dacai's entire world shrank to that doorframe alone.