Chapter 240: Corpse Mountain

An arrow was lodged in Wu Dacai's right shoulder, blood still streaming ceaselessly. He panted like an ox. The shattered Banner Team stumbled forward along the Official Road. The outer Rattan Shields bristled with arrows of every kind, and the formation was already broken beyond recognition — but Fierce Tiger Bridge lay just ahead. Over a mile and a half of the three-mile march they had been besieged by Horse Soldiers. Of the original thirty-one men in the team, only sixteen remained. But now the pressure had greatly eased. Most of the attacking Horse Soldiers nearby had already left; only a few stubborn ones remained, among them the Headman carrying the Recognition Banner, and arrows still came flying from time to time.

"Rattan Shields... close in!" Wu Dacai forced out four words. The soldiers around him drew a little closer, but the column had to keep running — it could not be as watertight as a stationary defense.

Ahead were countless Horse Soldiers. When Wu Dacai had set out, he had been crystal clear that the objective was to seize Fierce Tiger Bridge. Now his mind was somewhat muddled. The Horse Soldiers had already run ahead, and there were several hundred of them. Whether his dozen or so men would be of any use once they got there, he could not figure out. He could only keep running forward mechanically.

He stole a glance behind him. Of the ten attached archers, only five remained, two of them wounded, struggling to catch up from the rear. The follow-up Banner Team had also been reduced to about twenty men, roughly fifty paces back. There were no Horse Soldiers around them anymore.

Wu Dacai inwardly counted his blessings. Without the follow-up Banner Team drawing off the enemy, his Vanguard would have been completely wiped out long ago.

The Horse Soldiers around them whipped their mounts, racing past Wu Dacai's position and fleeing in panic toward Fierce Tiger Bridge. The wilderness ahead was strewn with horses — these clever but timid creatures each bolting toward the distance.

At the Bridge Head, the din of slaughter shook the heavens. A great mass of Roving Bandits, infantry and cavalry tangled together, clogged the street entrance. That meant the Roving Bandits had not broken through. They were jammed at the street entrance. Once his own half Banner Team charged in, those Roving Bandits would be finished if they tried to counterattack.

Not far behind was Wang Zenglu. During the battle at North Gorge Pass, most of those who retreated had been cut down by the rear team. Wang Zenglu himself had personally killed two. The few who survived were all beheaded after the battle during the cleanup. No one had a path of retreat.

As for how to fight once they arrived, Wu Dacai had no idea. One of his subordinate squad leaders was dead, another had been wounded and fallen behind, and the remaining one was running up ahead. There was no one to confer with. He could only crash straight in.

A shriek rang out behind him. Wu Dacai hurriedly swung his Rattan Shield across his back and twisted his head to look. A young Roving Bandit had just charged onto the Official Road. One of the Spear Soldiers at the rear lay on the ground, a Bone Mace still rolling beside him.

By now only a few Roving Bandits were still attacking the infantry. Wu Dacai had a deep impression of this young bandit. He rode a nag, constantly circling the infantry and looking for openings. All the other Horse Soldiers had fled, but he still had not left, always following that Recognition Banner.

"Dog-spawned bandit scum." Wu Dacai cursed viciously. He badly wanted to stop and save the man, but when they set out, Wang Zenglu had said: no halting for any reason whatsoever. He could only watch helplessly as that bandit dismounted and used his Waist Saber to hack at the Spear Soldier on the ground. The Spear Soldier had been struck by the Bone Mace but still had some fight left in him, propping up his Long Spear from the ground.

The three archers at the rear stopped to shoot. The bandit found no chance to finish off the Spear Soldier. He vaulted onto his horse in a flash and bolted off the Official Road. But his mount had also taken an arrow — though it had not penetrated deep. It seemed the archers had no strength left either, and their aim was badly off.

That bandit whipped his horse and galloped past nearby. It looked like he had no intention of hindering them further and was busy fleeing. Wu Dacai glared fiercely at the man's back. Red coat, but a blue sash. Riding a yellow horse. He burned that image into his memory. He would seek revenge when they reached the Bridge Head.

Just then, an arrow flew in from behind and struck that bandit in the back. Wu Dacai, panting like an ox, cheered inwardly. The bandit swayed on his horse, then steadied himself in the saddle again. Abandoning the infantry, he fled toward Fierce Tiger Bridge.

Pain shot through his back. Xiao Wazi held his breath, his right hand gripping the saddle tightly. Once steady, he lashed the horse's rump fiercely. The arrow had not gone deep. It bobbed up and down with the horse's gait, making Xiao Wazi grimace in agony, but it would not fall out.

Liu Wenxiu's Recognition Banner was up ahead, nearing the street entrance. The area was swarming with horses milling about in chaos. Liu Wenxiu's figure flickered in and out of sight among them.

The street entrance was packed solid with people. The front seemed to have already jammed up. Those behind were skirting the street entrance through the open fields, squeezing in through the outward-facing windows. Others were hacking at the wooden walls with axes. A cacophony of panicked shouts merged into one din.

Horses were everywhere. His packhorse could run no more. The Recognition Banner ahead had vanished from sight; Liu Wenxiu was nowhere to be found either. Xiao Wazi immediately turned his horse's head south, riding along the edge of the market street. From a dry field he reached the riverbank. Over a dozen horses were swimming in the river, some men clinging to saddles, slowly swimming toward the opposite bank.

Xiao Wazi could not swim. Although some Horse Soldiers crossed rivers on their mounts, Xiao Wazi dared not try. The moment he entered water he panicked. So Fierce Tiger Bridge was the only path he could take.

This was the spot closest to the bridge, separated from the Bridge Head by just a single shop. There were already quite a few people there. They had smashed a hole through the back of a shop and were fighting to squeeze inside.

Xiao Wazi dismounted. Reaching his hand over his head, he yanked out that accursed arrow in one motion, then looked at his mount.

This packhorse could not be saved. Even if the bridge was forced open, the horse could never pass through this hole. Xiao Wazi led it to the riverbank, drew his Waist Saber, and stabbed at the packhorse's neck.

The packhorse screamed. Blood gushed from the wound. In its panic, the packhorse bolted forward and tumbled, rolling straight down into the riverbed.

Xiao Wazi turned and ran toward that hole. At that moment, many people came bursting out from the direction of the street entrance. They had thrown away their weapons and were fleeing for their lives toward the river. Some even snatched horses and fled south. Xiao Wazi knew the government infantry was closing in. He had seen this scene many times before. Every time they were routed by Government Troops, this was exactly how it looked when they fled for their lives.

In such an urgent moment, several Roving Bandits at the hole were still grappling with each other, fighting for a chance to escape. Xiao Wazi stabbed viciously at the back of the man in front of him. Before the man could even cry out, Xiao Wazi had already grabbed him by the collar and flung him aside. Two more men were stuck in the hole. Without a word, Xiao Wazi kicked one of them inward. A section of the wall panel beside them collapsed. With a shriek, both men toppled inside at once.

The moment he entered the shop, the stench of blood filled his nostrils. The street rang with savage howls. Several corpses lay on the shop floor. The door planks had all been smashed through; the windows had vanished. Outside, the street was packed solid with people. Clearly, the ground was littered with bodies of every kind. The Roving Bandits still standing were at varying heights. Every so often someone stumbled and fell; the person behind immediately filled the gap. He never saw any of those who fell get back up.

People were constantly being shoved into the shop, only to fight their way back out again moments later. All manner of weapons swayed above their heads. Curses in every regional accent rose in a deafening clamor. Some Roving Bandits were even stepping on other men's shoulders, trying to push ahead, only to be dragged down and end up piled on top of the crowd, grappling with others.

The horses among the crowd were squeezed so tight they could not move. Now and then a nearby Roving Bandit would slash at them with a blade, and they could only twist their heads and whinny in distress.

Just outside the shop was the bridge surface. From there came the unceasing sounds of battle cries and clashing weapons, a frenzy of mad shouting merging into one roar.

Once across the bridge, he would be safe. Unable to contain his burning anxiety, Xiao Wazi gripped his saber and rushed to the doorway, squeezing into the street. The bloody water underfoot nearly submerged his feet. Surrounded by a crush of people and afraid of stabbing himself with his own blade, he hurriedly raised his Waist Saber high.

A few horses were still whinnying among the crowd, squeezed so tight they could not turn around. At the Bridge Head, blades and spears flailed. The backs of several comrades stood tall. Shrieking hysterically, they hacked and slashed at the opposing side. When one was killed by the enemy and a gap opened, another immediately stepped up from behind to take his place.

Peering through a gap in the crowd, Xiao Wazi saw that those Roving Bandits at the front were standing on a mound of corpses. Among them, a horse's leg still twitched. As the two sides fought, the pile of bodies grew higher and higher. The newly fallen toppled forward, widening the base of the corpse heap further and further.

A comrade standing on the left edge was speared to death by a Line Spear from the opposite side. Someone from the doorway immediately lunged forward to take the spot. Xiao Wazi turned sideways, intending to claim that position, but then suddenly stopped. He let the man behind him step up. That man swung his blade a few times, then was also skewered by the other side.

The direction of the street entrance erupted like a nest exploding. A heaven-shaking scream rose — audible even in the chaotic street. Waves of people surged forward, even more frenzied than before.

Xiao Wazi knew the Government Troops' infantry had arrived. But he was well aware that the infantry vanguard was not large — far fewer than the comrades in the street. Yet at this moment, not a single man had any will to fight. Every man thought only of fleeing for his life.

The men at the rear had completely collapsed. Xiao Wazi stood on tiptoe and saw those behind him fleeing into the shops one after another. Some even turned around and fled into the open fields before the government infantry sealed off the street entrance.

Xiao Wazi was drenched in sweat. The collapse at the rear was spreading toward the Bridge Head. Panicked screams shook heaven and earth. The front still had not broken through. Xiao Wazi had been holding up the rear the whole time and knew those Government Troops well. In just a short while longer, those armored infantrymen would arrive. Xiao Wazi knew the terror of Heavy Armor Soldiers. They would effortlessly slaughter every last Horse Soldier in the street.

Before his eyes were all those Horse Soldiers driven into a frenzy. Xiao Wazi took several heaving breaths. Just then, the pressure on his side eased — someone up front must have died again. He immediately turned and squeezed forward a step, climbing onto the corpse pile. Someone beneath him was still squirming. Unable to stand steady, Xiao Wazi scrambled upward on all fours. Others pressed in around him, all manner of weapons in their hands swaying wildly as they clambered. Something scraped across Xiao Wazi's right hand and right cheek, but he had no time to care.

The stench of blood surged skyward from the corpse pile. Dying men howled loudly, their hands and feet clawing wildly at Xiao Wazi's body. Xiao Wazi could not swing his saber. He stabbed blindly downward several times, but the blade caught on something. The men behind were already pressing in. Xiao Wazi dared not linger. The slightest delay and a blade would surely come chopping from behind. He immediately abandoned the saber hilt and scrambled to the top of the corpse pile. The men behind pressed up right after him. He had no path of retreat left.

The men in front stood on the northern slope of the corpse pile, hacking away at the Government Troops opposite. Peering through the gaps, Xiao Wazi saw that the government side was also littered with corpses. Only about ten men remained. But the bridge surface was just this narrow. These ten men had single-handedly blocked the escape route of hundreds.

With a shriek, the man in front dropped his Waist Saber, clutched his throat, and began to topple. Xiao Wazi was about to face those Government Troops holding the bridge.

At that very instant, Xiao Wazi suddenly lunged forward. With a loud cry, he wrapped his arms around that man's waist. They spun once and crashed down at the edge of the corpse pile, Xiao Wazi landing squarely underneath the man. He lay there motionless.

His back was quickly soaked through by the blood on the road surface. Feet tramped around him; splashing blood spattered his face. Xiao Wazi shut his eyes and held his breath. If the Government Troops discovered him, some weapon could come stabbing down from above at any moment.

He waited in terror for what felt like an eternity. No blade fell. He finally confirmed that those Government Troops had paid him no attention. This was the fiercest moment of the battle — who would notice a man playing dead?

But the danger was not over. Feet kept stepping on Xiao Wazi's body now and then. Xiao Wazi lay utterly still, eyes shut, but his heart felt ready to leap out of his throat.

"This is the bridge! If we can't hold it, we're dead! Fight these bandit spawn to the death!"

A Government Troop soldier's voice shouted from above. Xiao Wazi could understand it. The accent sounded like something he had heard somewhere before. But in this moment of terror, he had no leisure to ponder it.

Finally, a burst of shrieks came from the market street. Then the Government Troops above howled madly, their footsteps moving forward. After stepping over Xiao Wazi's calf, they seemed to head up onto the corpse pile.

This was the moment Xiao Wazi had been waiting for. The moment all the Horse Soldiers collapsed. These Government Troops would instinctively push forward to pursue and kill — even if only for a very short distance, it would be enough for him to escape, because the government defense line was already very thin.

He cracked his eyes open and saw the backs of several Government Troops. Xiao Wazi summoned all his strength and shoved the corpse off him. There truly were no other Government Troops nearby. He leaped up and ran toward the other end of the bridge.

At this moment, Xiao Wazi was extraordinarily nimble. His feet landed precisely and swiftly in the gaps between the Government Troop corpses. Soon the bridge surface became empty. The flagstone-paved road stretched ahead. Xiao Wazi sprinted with all his might toward the opposite bank of the river.

"Order the Third Division to detach two Companies to reinforce Wanfeng Gate. Bring some provisions along as well." At the west end of the street outside Wanfeng Gate, Pang Yu had just lowered his Telescope. Fierce Tiger Bridge had descended into a chaotic melee. Though the outcome was not yet visible, the main force of the Second Division on the main road was about to arrive.

What could be confirmed was that the command structure of the Mounted Bandits no longer existed. They could no longer mount an effective attack southward to threaten the safety of Wharf. Therefore, part of the Third Division guarding Wharf could now be redeployed to join the upcoming encirclement and suppression operation.

"My lord, there are no Relay Horses left."

Pang Yu turned to look. Sure enough, there was not a single Relay Horse around — only Jiang Guoyong, a man on horseback.

"Take my horse." Pang Yu dismounted and handed the reins to a Personal Soldier behind him. This was the last Personal Soldier here who could ride. His own mount had fallen ill during the boat transport, so he had come on foot and had not participated in the assault on Fierce Tiger Bridge.

Seeing this, how could Jiang Guoyong dare remain mounted? He hurriedly dismounted and came over. "My lord, you direct the entire situation — how can you be without a horse? Use your subordinate's horse instead."

That personal soldier took Jiang Guoyong's horse and sped off toward the docks, vanishing in a cloud of dust.

Pang Yu said nothing more. The light was dimming now, and one could look directly at the setting sun. Today's battle was still at its most critical moment. After disembarking, the various units had eaten only dry rations. Combined with the exhaustion of the river transport, the entire army was weary and the horses spent. Still, he could not let them rest. But over at the docks, the cooked rations should be ready by now.

Jiang Guoyong had no telescope. From the direction of Fierce Tiger Bridge came sky-shaking shouts of slaughter. Waiting here only deepened his anxiety.

He lowered his voice to Pang Yu. "My lord, the mounted bandits are desperate to seize a path of escape. Those cavalrymen will likely suffer grievous casualties."

"The roving bandits' casualties will be no less. The corpses of men and horses will clog the road." Pang Yu's tone was calm. He looked at Jiang Guoyong. "War is like a trade. A commander can only calculate whether it is worth the cost, not how much he himself will pay."

Jiang Guoyong was momentarily speechless. Pang Yu raised his telescope and cast another glance westward. A group of Marine Corps soldiers and artillerymen were straining together, pushing a cannon cart with all their might as they hurried toward Silver Ingot Bridge.

"Yao Dongshan has sent word back that several roving bandit recognition banners have been sighted. This official will go there personally. You will remain here to hold this position. Once the Third Division arrives, deploy them along the main road on the western side. The Personal Guard Unit will continue to hold Wanfeng Gate."

Jiang Guoyong said urgently, "There is no cavalry escort here, and scattered roving bandits still roam along the way. My lord going alone, I fear, is not secure."

Pang Yu swept his right hand through the air and declared boldly, "A general is the army's courage. How can one who leads soldiers into battle fear a dangerous path? This official must naturally set the example. Here, only this official has a mount. Though thousands bar the way, I shall go forth!"

At this moment, on the official road heading west, horse soldiers still occasionally galloped past — all roving bandits who had ridden too far and failed to notice the main battlefield. The journey to Silver Ingot Bridge was not entirely without danger, and yet Pang Yu, as the army's commander-in-chief, was knowingly advancing into difficulty and venturing alone into peril.

Pang Yu's face was resolute. The army banner fluttered behind him. The surrounding personal soldiers all cast reverent gazes his way. In Jiang Guoyong's eyes, it was as if he were seeing once more the Runner Pang who had spoken out for justice at the yamen gate — still bearing that same aura of righteous integrity.

Jiang Guoyong said with fervor, "Silver Ingot Bridge's defense is secure, but Fierce Tiger Bridge is locked in fierce combat. The great army is spread across four positions, with Wanfeng Gate as the central hub. It is all the more essential that you, my lord, hold this ground to steady the troops' morale... This humble one is willing to go to Silver Ingot Bridge and relay the orders."

"Very well, then."

Jiang Guoyong could not help but be taken aback. Beyond all his expectations, Pang Yu agreed at once without even a polite demurral. Shaking his head, Pang Yu patted Jiang Guoyong on the shoulder and faced the surrounding personal soldiers. "When the seas run rough, the hero's true colors show. Guoyong is indeed a pillar of my Garrison Commander battalion. All officers and men of the Personal Guard Unit should learn from Garrison Inspector Jiang. Then this official shall reluctantly accept the burden of holding Wanfeng Gate."

Having said this, Pang Yu placed the horse's reins into Jiang Guoyong's hands and then gave him a series of instructions. By the time Jiang Guoyong mounted the horse, his head was still spinning.

Pang Yu exhorted him with concern, "Remember what I just said. Yao Dongshan must first pin down those bandit chieftains and delay them until the artillery arrives."

Jiang Guoyong hurriedly nodded. He swept a dazed glance around. All the personal soldiers were looking at him with admiration. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, then lashed the horse's rump with his whip and raced after the artillerymen in the direction of Silver Ingot Bridge.