Chapter 219: Deceiving the Enemy

The walls of Tongcheng bristled with dense hanging curtains. Ant-like crowds hauled supplies, and small iron guns had been placed at many of the arrow crenels. Outside the city, the Zilai Bridge was packed with horse-rejecting barriers and stones, leaving only a winding passage barely wide enough for one person to squeeze through. On the trees beside the official road beyond Zilai Bridge hung several human heads, with two Runners and five soldiers standing guard nearby.

Many civilian laborers bustled along Zilai Street, scattering bricks, timber, and chunks of mud from the ruins everywhere, doing their best to make the areas near the city difficult to traverse. If the Roving Bandits still imagined they could sneak-attack the city gates the way they had at the start of the year, it was no longer very likely.

The only gates still open now were South Fumigate Gate and Chaoyang Gate. Outside the gate tunnels, stones and horse-rejecting barriers were likewise piled high. An endless stream of refugees came from all directions, waiting outside the city to enter. At the gates, the Zhuang Squad checked accents one by one — after asking where they originally lived, they would also question them about nearby place names to verify.

This was Tongcheng's third time preparing against the bandits. Pang Yu was no longer very worried about the city's defenses. Mobilizing the Community Soldiers inside the city was now a smooth routine, and evacuating the countryside was far easier than the first time, because no matter how numb people were, they all knew the horrors of the beginning of the year by now.

But the best outcome was still to stop the Roving Bandits beyond the borders. It was not that Pang Yu was arrogant enough to think he could defeat a hundred thousand Roving Bandits — he simply hoped to make Anqing a worse choice.

"Those two spies passed through Liantan and Guache River on their way to Tongcheng. They lingered briefly outside South Fumigate Gate, but because the gate was under martial law and checking accents, they did not enter the city and instead headed north. At Zilai Bridge, they saw those several human heads. After that, they reached the pass fortifications at Beixia Pass. Company Commander Wang, following the General's instructions, mustered all the Garrison Battalion troops stationed in Tongcheng — including the Water Camp soldiers — as well as the local commoner men. At that time, they were all deployed onto the pass walls and streets. The spies saw it all. The last trace of them was outside Shucheng's walls. They did not go toward Lu'an Prefecture; they indeed went to Luzhou Prefecture."

After hearing Yang Erming out, Pang Yu said respectfully, "It all relied on Your Excellency's appropriate deployment. Only thus could this deception of the enemy be accomplished."

Yang Erming waved his hand. "If not for General Pang's funding of Tongcheng's two squads, we would likely have struggled to capture the spies in Tongcheng — how then could we speak of deceiving the enemy? Besides, those mighty troops and horses could not have been faked. In the final analysis, it is still the General's superior military acumen."

Pang Yu exchanged a few polite words, then, seeing that the others on the City Tower were standing at a distance, said quietly to Yang Erming, "I hope this arrangement proves useful. Judging by the route the spies took back, the Roving Bandits will likely come via Shucheng, because Lujiang to the northeast is already ruined. They won't be able to plunder enough supplies there. Best if, after seeing Beixia Pass on alert, they decide not to come toward Tongcheng."

Yang Erming agreed. If they intended to attack Anqing, the only route where they could still obtain supplies was the three cities of Lu'an, Shucheng, and Tongcheng. In the bitter cold, the likelihood of them making a detour from Lujiang was slim. Beixia Pass was a necessary point of passage.

The Roving Bandits were different from regular armies. Their main goal was to obtain supplies; they had no other strategic purpose. So the strategic stronghold of Anqing held no additional benefit for the Roving Bandits. As long as they were given the impression that Beixia Pass was impregnably fortified, the risk could be greatly reduced.

Yet his brow remained tightly furrowed. As a young County Magistrate, he was a winner in life, but his luck was truly poor. In one year since taking office, he had already encountered the Roving Bandits three times, whereas in the previous hundred years, Tongcheng had never seen so many. He felt that the County Magistrate's main task was now preparing against bandits, and he did not know when it would ever end.

After a moment of silence, he asked, "May I ask General Pang, how many troops does His Excellency the Circuit Intendant plan to deploy in Tongcheng this time?"

Pang Yu understood Yang Erming's worry. The success rate of this kind of counter-espionage operation was not high, and it was hard to determine whether the Roving Bandits would come or not. If the Roving Bandits merely postponed their arrival, the heightened alert would have to continue even longer, and Tongcheng's economy might again be unable to bear it.

"Pan Keda will remain to guard the Prefectural City. If it is confirmed that the Roving Bandits have entered Nanzhili, Circuit Intendant Shi will personally lead the Wusong Troops to garrison Tongcheng."

Yang Erming sighed softly. He would have preferred Pan Keda to come. After all, he only had five or six hundred troops, but at least there were a few dozen Household Retainers among them. Xu Strengthening's force had large numbers, but their combat strength was low, and even their Household Retainers were not particularly formidable. Or better yet, neither of them needed to come at all — as long as the Garrison Battalion was here, the city could certainly be held.

"I have heard that the Wusong Troops refuse to mobilize. Why go to the trouble of transferring them to Tongcheng?"

"It is merely a matter of Mobilization Silver. His Excellency the Circuit Intendant crossed the river to deal with it. Magistrate Yang need not be troubled — I have already advised His Excellency that this time, only the elite troops from Wusong Camp will be transferred across the river, likely fewer than five hundred men."

Yang Erming was slightly relieved. Shi Kefa's arrangement this time was also correct. The Wusong Troops were Guest Troops, and when facing the Roving Bandits, they might cause trouble. Keeping them by his side made them relatively easier to manage. The so-called elite in the camp were merely the sturdier soldiers. The Household Retainers only received nine Mace of silver a month, and their training was insufficient — one could not expect too much, but at least they could fight.

"To be frank with General Pang, the county yamen has very little Rations and Pay available. This year, Qianshan, Susong, and Wangjiang all had their two Fu Taxes waived. Tongcheng, because the county seat was not breached, was not granted any reduction. Yet the four townships of Tongcheng are ruined, the fields and lands along the official roads lie barren, and the yamen's expenditures are exceedingly difficult."

Pang Yu did not think Yang Erming was trying to take back the pre-collected silver, because now Bai Shun Tang's profits were being given to Tongcheng as interest — it was also a source of income for the yamen. He was just venting his frustrations, easing his mood.

So he consoled Yang Erming: "Your Excellency need not worry overly. We have all seen the Roving Bandits — they are just here to plunder. This time we received intelligence earlier than at the start of the year. If they truly come toward Tongcheng, we can have the commoners flee to the mountains and the riverside. Once the Roving Bandits pass through, they can return."

"But the houses cannot flee. If the Roving Bandits simply burn the homes, these commoners will again have no choice but to beg for a living. Since the bandit attack at the start of the year, the city has been full of beggars. In the blink of an eye, it is year's end again. Look outside the city gates — those selling their sons and daughters are many times more numerous than in past years. You can buy a child servant for less than three taels of silver. The commoners should be at home reuniting with their families, yet now it is like this." Yang Erming's eyes reddened a little. "This official feels sorrow seeing it. As one unworthily serving as the Provincial Governor of this region, I am truly ashamed in my heart."

"Your Excellency…"

Yang Erming wiped his eyes. "Fortunately, we have General Pang here. The commoners have one more pillar to lean on. I beg the General, please do not withdraw to the Prefectural City. The people of Tongcheng are counting on the Garrison Battalion."

Pang Yu was momentarily speechless. He had not told Yang Erming about the matter of going to the aid of Jiangnan. Right now, Yang Erming still thought the Garrison Battalion would remain stationed here the entire time this time.

Yang Erming noticed the several officers standing behind and cupped his hands to Pang Yu. "I shall not disturb the General's planning."

Watching Yang Erming's back disappear down the City Stairs, Pang Yu pushed aside his stray thoughts, opened his simple map and laid it on the battlements, then beckoned to the several Company Commander, signaling them to gather around.

"Our current preparations are all based on the Roving Bandits coming from Luzhou. But intelligence from Henan is unclear — the Roving Bandits may also have widely deployed scouts. If the Roving Bandits truly appear in Luzhou, their options include heading west to Huguang, north to Henan, or east to Xuzhou. To the south, there is due south and southeast. Southeast is the direction of Yangzhou; due south is Anqing. Both these directions concern our Garrison Battalion. Our unit is defending Tongcheng. The primary task is to block the Roving Bandits' incursion. If the Roving Bandits choose another direction, it naturally has nothing to do with our Anqing Garrison Battalion. If it is due south or southeast, we have different plans depending on the Roving Bandits' scale."

The several Company Commander were all a bit tense. This time the Roving Bandits were gathering in force, and among them were the elite Roving Thieves who had killed Cao Wenzhao and Ai Wannian. Cao and Ai had each had over a thousand men; the Garrison Battalion also had over a thousand men. No one felt they were stronger than Cao Wenzhao.

"The first scenario is the Roving Bandits coming toward Anqing. This official will not only defend Tongcheng this time, but the main force will be stationed here. For the two directions of Beixia Pass and Lujiang — Beixia Pass has defensible terrain. Deploy one Company of the Second Division there first. For the ferry crossings and bridges on the Lujiang side, deploy two Companies of the First Division. We absolutely must not, as last time, allow the Roving Bandits to drive straight in." Pang Yu looked at Guo Fengyou. "The Relay Horses of the Personal Guard Unit will coordinate with the county yamen's mounted Runners, responsible for transmitting military orders. From Tongcheng to the border, set up a horse station every ten li. Put all the previously abandoned Stores and Societies to use. Ensure that intelligence and military orders flow without obstruction."

Guo Fengyou said quietly, "Some of the Stores and Societies have already been occupied by clerks and local gentry."

"Drive them all out. Explain to them that we will not stay long — once the Roving Bandits retreat, they will be returned. If they still refuse to listen, throw the people out. Before Yang Xueshi returns, the Cavalry Division is also under your temporary command. Maintain reconnaissance toward Shucheng and Lujiang. If traces of the Roving Bandits are discovered, first send cavalry to block their Forward Scouts, then infantry will follow up to reinforce the corresponding direction."

The several Company Commander nodded together. Tongcheng had many rivers. Positioning men at the ferry crossings and bridges could effectively slow the enemy's speed. If it was a small-scale bandit force, they could be completely blocked beyond the borders.

"The second scenario: the Roving Bandits head from Luzhou Prefecture toward Yangzhou. Jiangpu and Lu'an fall under the jurisdiction of the Yingtian Grand Coordinator and could be attacked by them. Once the Roving Bandits' direction of advance is confirmed, we will move by water to provide relief."

Wang Zenglu looked at the map and said, "What if the Roving Bandits make a feint — for example, going to Hanshan and Hezhou, then doubling back toward Wuwei Prefecture? At that point, our troops would be sailing downstream and could only disembark where there is a dock. Instead, we would end up chasing from behind, and I fear we would be besieged by the Roving Bandits' main army in open country."

Pang Yu rubbed his chin, looked for a moment, and said, "Therefore, intelligence on the Roving Bandits must be firmly grasped. As soon as they set out from Luzhou, our cavalry must tail them and scout the two places of Wuwei Prefecture and Chao County. By my estimation, they will split their forces to move, otherwise a single road cannot accommodate their hundred-thousand-plus men, and the supplies they plunder along the way won't be enough to feed them. The intelligence at that time will be chaotic and contradictory. The cavalry must make scouting their top priority."

Zhuang Chaozheng, who had been silent all along, suddenly said, "If the Roving Bandits cut the roads, their column may be very long. The Scout Cavalry can only see the tail of the column and may not necessarily know where they have gone. Could we arrange some Sitting Spies in places like Chao County, Hezhou, Hanshan, and Quanjiao? If the Roving Bandits press close, they can cross the river and travel upstream, returning to Jiangbei after reaching the opposite shore of Anqing. The entire journey would be through Jiangnan. In this way, we can know the direction of the Roving Bandits' attack."

"That is a good idea. This official will arrange for people." Pang Yu looked at Zhuang Chaozheng. Crossing the river and then traveling by land through Jiangnan — if fast, it would take about a day to reach the opposite shore of Anqing. For the intelligence to reach Pang Yu's hands would take at least two days, or three to four days if slow — roughly the time it takes for the Roving Bandits to besiege a city. This method's efficiency was not very high, but it was still a way to verify intelligence. After pondering a moment, he said, "This official will have the Canal Gang prepare provisions and fodder in Dangtu and Nanjing, and have them leave men in Jiangbei when they go."

At that moment, a Personal Soldier came over from the City Stairs entrance and said quietly to Pang Yu, "Sir, the several mounted Runners Tongcheng sent to Henan have returned. They say the Roving Bandits have gone toward Kaifeng, and His Excellency Lu is leading troops in pursuit."

Pang Yu glanced at the map. "Is this intelligence reliable?"

"Those several mounted Runners went over from Gushi and scouted around the Xinyang area. There were commoners who had fled back from among the bandits, saying the Roving Bandit king had declared they were going to Kaifeng. The mounted Runners followed for a stretch and saw the campsites the Roving Bandits had left behind — they indeed went north."

The several Company Commander all murmured in low discussion. Everyone was somewhat puzzled, and at the same time, all breathed a sigh of relief. Only Yao Dongshan cursed under his breath, seeming very disappointed that the Roving Bandits were not coming. Pang Yu was also somewhat disappointed. All current preparations had revolved around the Roving Bandits reaching Luzhou on the fifteenth. Now that they had moved off like this, the initiative was lost again instead. One could tell just by looking at Yang Erming's expression — if the heightened alert continued too long, the local area would soon be unable to sustain it.

Guo Fengyou said respectfully to Pang Yu, "It must be that Your Excellency's feint troops and enemy deception succeeded. The Roving Bandits were frightened away."

"The timing doesn't match. The spies were heading to Luzhou to rejoin the main force. The bandit chieftains have not yet received the intelligence from Anqing, so it has nothing to do with the deception." Pang Yu rubbed his chin and said doubtfully, "They had the spies wait in Luzhou, yet now they are heading toward Kaifeng. Where exactly are you fine heroes going? Could it be that you are also deceiving the enemy?"