Chapter 256: Faces

On the low hill west of the official road, Luo Rucai had just reined in his horse and steadied himself.

In truth, he had already made preparations before daybreak. Lu Xiangsheng's forces had reached West of the City yesterday, but the West Stream area was close to Langya Mountain, crisscrossed by slopes that made it unsuitable for an attack, so the Government Troops had promptly shifted to City East.

Lu Xiangsheng's troop numbers exceeded Luo Rucai's estimate, roughly ten thousand men. Among them, the ones Luo Rucai feared most were the Liao Army under Zu Kuan and Li Chongzhen — both cavalry units. There were also large numbers of infantry, old acquaintances of his. Confirmed by their recognition banners, the Government Troops included Yang Shien's and Lei Shisheng's forces, each with their own Household Retainers who were cavalry.

Like Pang Yu, Luo Rucai had kept sending scouts throughout the night, but the Scout Cavalry had all gone from White Armor Bridge toward Physics Bridge, because the current below White Armor Bridge flowed down from Langya Mountain into the Pure Stream River. That stretch of the Pure Stream River was deeper than at Physics Bridge, and no one was willing to cross a river in this weather.

Luo Rucai turned to look back. Below the hill behind him were over five hundred Horse Soldiers and more than two hundred from the Old Camp — the backbone on which he rode roughshod over the realm, and which had played a decisive role yesterday, trapping the Government Troops from Jiangpu here.

Before dawn, the Forward Scouts had observed these Government Troops cooking. Luo Rucai guessed they would move out after daybreak, so he had hidden his Horse Soldiers behind the hill early, sending out only a few roving riders to confuse the enemy.

Luo Rucai had been a bandit for eight years. Against Government Troop infantry like this, he had accumulated considerable insight. The slight complication was that this unit had quite a lot of armor, and their willpower was stronger than the average Government Troops; they had kept advancing for three days under harassment. Other Government Troops would likely have turned back to Jiangpu long ago.

He understood the structure of the Government Troops very well. The ones who could fight were the Household Retainers — generally speaking, the several dozen mounted men from yesterday. Had it been an ordinary Military Camp unit, the infantry should have collapsed when ambushed on the march yesterday. So this Government Troop unit still exceeded his expectations.

If this unit stayed put, he was loath to spend his cavalry to attack. Their camp ground relied on the official road and ponds, with trenches dug elsewhere. Cavalry was useless there. Sending in those Servant foot soldiers would be no match for the Iron Armor infantry either, so he preferred to wait.

This morning, the Government Troops had cooked early, but had still made no move by now, which also surprised him somewhat.

At this moment, smoke and cooking fires still rose in waves from the camp over there, and the surrounding area was thick with haze, blurring visibility badly. Luo Rucai could only keep sending roving riders close to scout.

From the north came the clatter of hooves. Luo Rucai spotted several riders approaching from that direction. One figure was very familiar — he knew from a distance it was You Lihua.

You Lihua spurred his horse up to the hilltop, came before Luo Rucai, and said, "Just as you guessed, Brother Luo, Lu Xiangsheng has come in person. That Liao Army has Chuang Wang pinned down. They just smashed through Sweeping King's formation once. Old Eight and Old Ma moved together to reinforce before they steadied the line. The foot soldiers haven't engaged yet."

Luo Rucai pressed his lips together and thought for a moment. "The Family Dependents in the Old Camp are all left south of White Armor Bridge. Lu Yanwang himself has arrived. This battle won't be easy to fight."

You Lihua leaned in and said in a low voice, "All Camps are afraid of the Liao Army. No one reinforces each other. I don't think things are secure over at Physics Bridge."

"Then we still have to keep an eye on this Government Troop unit. If we let them slip past, later every camp will say you and I didn't do our part. Who'd be willing to form a Combined Camp with us after that?"

Having said this, he glanced again at the haze-shrouded camp. There was still no movement inside for the moment. As soon as the Government Troops moved, gaps would appear everywhere. Luo Rucai was also prepared to pay a bloody price to strike — he could not let the other Headmen scorn him and damage the fine reputation he held among the Roving Thieves.

You Lihua did not say much more. He knew Luo Rucai had always cared about his reputation. Sometimes when a certain Headman fell on hard times, he would take them into his camp and entertain them generously, even giving grain and horses. His name was indeed very good, and his personal ties with the Headmen of all camps were excellent. Many small camp heads were willing to join him, so his strength had never been lacking.

Scattered popping sounds came from the northeast. That was where the main force of the Government Troops in the Central Plains was. You Lihua would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid. In truth, everyone felt much the same. They talked about a decisive battle with Lu Xiangsheng, but the reality was they couldn't run — somehow, Lu Xiangsheng had blocked them from the front.

Just as he was brooding, a cavalry unit burst out of the camp opposite, the same number as yesterday. They moved toward White Armor Bridge, driving off the Horse Soldiers in that direction.

You Lihua said decisively, "They're heading for White Armor Bridge."

Luo Rucai narrowed his eyes and watched for a moment. "The Old Camp goes north behind the slope. Send out a hundred Horse Soldiers. Follow on three sides and tie them down."

The smoke in the Government Troops' camp thickened further, the line of sight growing ever more blurred.

……

"All the carriages have been burned." On the other side of the smoke, Pang Yu finished instructing his Personal Soldiers. He turned to Yao Dongshan. "The First Division moves out. Remember: the Second Company forms up on the west bank of the ferry crossing. After crossing the river, the remaining two companies continue east another hundred paces, then form ranks. They must leave room for the troops coming behind."

Yao Dongshan nodded, then waved a hand. The First Division began to march in succession.

This time, the First Division's responsibility in the river-crossing mission was also very heavy. They were to reach the west bank of the ferry crossing first. The Second Company was to cover the entire army's crossing before crossing itself. Only after that would the Seventh Company hold the east bank as the Rear Guard for the whole camp.

The Garrison Commander's camp would first march toward the riverbank, then cross at the ferry, and afterward proceed to Physics Bridge. The terrain along this route was simple — only field ridges and ponds. For a single person, it was not complicated, but for over a thousand men to complete a river crossing in the face of the enemy, it became a considerably complex military operation, fraught with many steps and grave dangers.

Burning smoke and sending the cavalry to strike toward White Armor Bridge were meant to confuse Luo Rucai, delaying his deployment of Horse Soldiers as much as possible, and to position his main cavalry force in the direction of White Armor Bridge.

After leaving camp, the First Division first moved toward the riverbank. Luo Rucai's line of sight would still be blocked by the camp's smoke. Once they began marching north along the riverbank, Luo Rucai would quickly spot them.

But Luo Rucai might not immediately judge the Garrison Commander's camp's objective. Pang Yu hoped he would think they were moving along the river toward White Armor Bridge, thus avoiding a sudden cavalry raid like yesterday's.

Pang Yu rode to the edge of the smoke. Some Horse Soldiers had appeared below that hill, spreading out their formation on three sides, ready to play that hundred-rider encirclement trick again.

Chen Yuwang's and Chen Rulie's cavalry had just driven off the roving riders to the north and were now promptly falling back toward the camp to protect its western section. Since all the infantry were already in assembly formation, that side was undefended and closest to the Roving Thieves — they had to prevent the Horse Soldiers from crossing the official road.

The Roving Thieves had not sent out many Horse Soldiers. Luo Rucai probably had not yet detected the Garrison Commander's camp's movement. These Horse Soldiers were here to reconnoiter. The earlier deception was working.

It was only a little over one li from here to the ferry crossing. After scouting, the Horse Soldiers still had to report back, and only then could Luo Rucai make adjustments. The Garrison Commander's camp needed to make full use of the time in between.

By now, the Third Division had completely left the camp. Pang Yu rode to the south side of the camp and said to Wang Zenglu, who was fully equipped and ready to move, "The Second Division moves out."

The Second Division's column began to move. Pang Yu rode to the rear, gave brief instructions to the Personal Guard Unit, then came directly to the Third Division.

Zhuang Chaozheng wore a suit of Chain Mail, a Ming Helmet on his head, and held a Waist Saber in his hand, the blade already drawn — the very picture of a man ready to join the fray in person.

"Have you spoken with all the Squad leaders?"

Zhuang Chaozheng nodded. "Every Squad in the Seventh Company — this subordinate went and spoke with them. Everyone understands the situation now. After Your Excellency's mobilization speech, morale is quite high at present."

He glanced back at the formation behind him. Behind Zhuang Chaozheng was the Seventh Company. Whether morale was quite high was debatable, but the column was very quiet. Some were eating grains of rice from their hands, minding their own business.

During his mobilization, Pang Yu had told them their situation. Now there was only one road — to attack Physics Bridge. He had also guaranteed Comfort Compensation for the dead and wounded. These soldiers had no other choice.

"This official will crush the Roving Thieves as swiftly as possible, then return to rescue you."

Zhuang Chaozheng bowed to Pang Yu. "This subordinate will hold the ferry crossing to the death. Your Excellency, take care."

Pang Yu touched his nose. By now, the Personal Guard Unit had also all set out. Pang Yu drew a breath on horseback, leaned down, and patted Zhuang Chaozheng on the shoulder. "Move out."

The soldiers of the Seventh Company walked past Pang Yu, all lifting their heads to look at him, their faces smudged black, their simple gazes betraying tension.

Pang Yu sat his horse, watching those faces intently. After leaving here, the Seventh Company, as the rearguard at the ferry crossing, was certain to face bitter fighting. Pang Yu knew that many in this formation would not survive the day. Many faces were unfamiliar, all seeming much the same, but Pang Yu still watched earnestly, hoping to fix them in his mind like photographs.

"Your Excellency, this is the last group of troops."

Pang Yu turned to look. Guo Fengyou was still at his side. Yesterday, one company of the Personal Guard Unit had lost its combat effectiveness. The remaining men could only be used to carry the wounded, even having to borrow a Banner Team from another company. After crossing the river today, they would take the wounded and head south. The entire Personal Guard Unit had only two Banner Teams left for combat. Command had been handed to that Centurion. Guo Fengyou still stayed by Pang Yu's side.

"Where are the Marine Corps?"

"They've already carried the cannons toward the riverbank."

Pang Yu pulled his horse's head around. "We're going too. Sound the horn, notify the cavalry."

……

A conch horn blast carried far and wide.

Tang Ershuan, drenched in sweat, turned his head hastily to look back. Thick smoke billowed in the camp; all the carriages were burning.

"Move faster, the Roving Thief Horse Soldiers will be here soon."

The Squad leader ahead said this, then started shouting work chants again.

That seven- or eight-hundred-jin Bronze Cannon barrel was dead weight, impossibly heavy. Eight Marine Corps soldiers were carrying it. They had all sold their strength at Wharf and knew that wanting to go faster wouldn't make it much faster.

The Marine Corps had originally been scheduled to move after the Second Division, but the Artillery couldn't carry the cannons by themselves, so the jack-of-all-trades Marine Corps had come to do the heavy labor again, even leaving before the First Division. They disassembled the cannons. Fifty Marine Corps soldiers plus twenty Artillery soldiers had to transport two cannons, thirty solid shot, and forty powder charges across the river.

The other parts could go via the ferry, but the cannon barrels simply could not be carried to the ferry crossing. After reaching the riverbank, they planned to use reinforced rafts to tow them upstream, then cross at the ferry. By now, they had already fallen behind the main column.

At last they reached the riverbank. Several men waded into the water, carefully lifting the gun barrel onto the raft. The wooden raft rocked on the surface, and it took several men holding it steady to keep it from capsizing.

From the south came the sound of hoofbeats. Five or six Horse Soldiers appeared in view.

The rest of the infantry had already turned north and were moving along the riverbank. Nearby there were only the Marine Corps soldiers carrying the two cannons. The Garrison Commander's cavalry were screening the infantry — no one could come to support them.

"Cross the river now!" the Team leader bellowed. "Move!"

Tang Ershuan had no time to care about anything else. He pushed the raft toward the middle of the river. This was not a suitable ford. The icy river water grew deeper and deeper. Rolling his cotton trousers up to the thigh was useless — they were completely soaked through.

The sound of hoofbeats on the bank drew close. Tang Ershuan turned to look back. The Horse Soldiers had halted on the bank. Several Roving Thieves dismounted and drew their bows. Arrows came whistling their way — swish, swish.

He ducked down at once. Ahead came a muffled thud — the Team leader had taken an arrow in the back. The arrow's force did not seem very strong, but it pierced the padded coat, and bloodstains quickly spread around it. The other Marine Corps soldiers all cried out in alarm.

Tang Ershuan felt a surge of panic too. Pushing the raft so slowly, they were being used as target practice by the Roving Thieves. An impulse to abandon everything and flee across the river rose in his heart.

"Can't even scratch this old man's hide. No one abandons the cannon — all of you, put your backs into it!"

The Team leader shouted, straining with all his might to drag the raft forward from the front. The arrow was still lodged in his back, the bloodstain still spreading.

Tang Ershuan froze for an instant, then suddenly let out a furious roar and pushed the raft with desperate, death-defying strength. The other Marine Corps soldiers howled together. The raft gradually picked up speed, drawing closer and closer to the opposite bank.