Chapter 328: Assembly

Beside the official road outside the south gate of Susong County Town, the long column of infantry sat resting on the roadway. Some sailors who had been carrying heavy armor collapsed to the ground, gasping violently. To conserve the heavy armor soldiers' stamina, Pang Yu had drafted some of the ship's sailors and civilian laborers, making them do the coolie work of transporting the armor, in order to increase the odds of victory.

This was brutal on those sailors, but Pang Yu had no time to worry about that. The psychological pressure he felt now surpassed even the most intense deal he had ever experienced. Even that night at Cloud Gathering Temple he had not been this tense, because back then he at least had an intelligence advantage, and by the Pure Stream River he had Lu Xiangsheng as a psychological anchor.

"Sir, the cavalry has arrived."

Pang Yu strode onto the official road at these words, took the telescope Guo Fengyou handed him, and looked east. In the lens he could already make out the cavalry's recognition banner, and he let out a long breath of relief.

The cavalry had arrived an hour later than expected. The entire journey from Chang'an Wharf to Susong, Pang Yu had been in a state of agitation. The Garrison Command battalion's forces were split into three parts: the Marine Corps and First Division were en route to Erlang Town; the main force Pang Yu led included the heavy-armored Personal Guard Division, and although he had mobilized some sailors to carry the armor suits, it still greatly slowed the marching speed; the third part was the cavalry. He lacked sufficient outriders and relay horses, and could not even ascertain the positions of his vanguard and cavalry. If the cavalry could not arrive in time, his means of attacking the roving bandits would be extremely limited.

Although Susong County Town was not on the roving bandits' main line of advance, there were still many plundering parties. As the Garrison Command battalion pushed deeper inland, contact between the two sides gradually increased, and intelligence reports kept coming in. Pang Yu could now confirm that Cheng Long's position was at Fengjiadu, only twenty li from Erlang Town. Pang Yu could not leisurely wait for his forces to fully assemble, thereby giving the bandits time to react; he could only dispatch his vanguard to attack Erlang Town without knowing the cavalry's position.

Carrying out a divided advance and converging attack in this era without radio, Pang Yu experienced a commander's difficulties for the first time. In his agitation, all sorts of possibilities involuntarily came to mind, most of them bad — for instance, a bandit force heading to raid Shipai might encounter the cavalry on the road, blocking their advance so that cavalry could not be used for the entire campaign; or the cavalry might even be defeated by the bandits, and right now the bandits could be attacking an undefended Shipai, and from there striking the Prefectural City, in which case the whole Anqing region would fall into chaos, and there would be no victory to speak of for him.

Fortunately, the cavalry had finally arrived. All those worries could be laid to rest. Now the army was in two parts. The initial phase of the surprise attack plan had basically succeeded; the next step was the most critical one — Erlang Town.

It was approaching noon. Pang Yu planned to march to Erlang Town within two hours. If the vanguard failed to seize the objective, the main force would launch a second assault. As long as they controlled Erlang Town before nightfall, given the scale and organizational level of the roving bandits, Pang Yu believed they lacked the ability to mount an effective offensive or adjustment during the night. But this was only the backup plan; the best outcome was still to take Erlang Town in a single stroke.

"Have the infantry clear the road," Pang Yu instructed Xie Zhaofa. Xie Zhaofa immediately went to find a herald. He had been formally appointed as the Section Clerk of the Advisory Room.

With no relay horses at the moment, the few heralds could only sprint off on foot to the various infantry divisions. The infantry rose one after another. Those sailors and civilian laborers sprawled flat on the ground struggled to their feet and cleared the roadway.

Taking advantage of this brief lull, Pang Yu gathered a few stones himself and arranged them on the ground, then used his waist saber to scratch out routes between the stones. As he looked up, Chen Rulie rode up in the lead and arrived before Pang Yu. He dismounted and said to Pang Yu, "We ran into a few bands of plundering mounted bandits on the road, which delayed us for a while..."

"We'll talk about what happened earlier after the battle." Pang Yu pointed at the large stone on the ground with his waist saber. "We are currently at Susong County Town. The Land Combat Division and the First Division are serving as the vanguard to attack Erlang Town. The cavalry may not rest; they are to immediately catch up with the vanguard. After linking up, follow Yao Dongshan's command and jointly seize Erlang Town."

"Sir, for your consideration, the Cavalry Division set out before dawn and has already marched seventy li today. They still have to attack at Erlang Town. I'm just afraid of injuring the horses."

"Don't talk to me about injuring horses. Even if you ride them to death, you cannot stop." Pang Yu traced his waist saber north along the river, pointing at the largest stone, which represented Erlang Town. "When our battalion landed this morning, nearby mounted bandits saw us. If they went back to report, and the message was delivered in time, several bandit chieftains already know the news. Though they don't know where I intend to strike, they will certainly contract their defensive lines and concentrate their elite troops. If Erlang Town is not taken in one assault, they will confirm my objective and will surely commit everything to its relief. Therefore, Erlang Town must be taken in one vigorous push. The vanguard's strength must be reinforced."

Pang Yu's waist saber tapped once on the west side and once on the north side of Erlang Town. "The sooner we seize Erlang Town, the more favorable the situation. I will strive to gain control of Ink Smoke Shop before nightfall, to compress the bandits' area of operations and increase their confusion. The Cavalry Division must strive to launch a surprise attack on the enemy at the west bank of Erlang River or at the Mountain Pass before nightfall, to reduce the defensive pressure on Erlang Town tomorrow. Today is a day of desperate fighting. You may only rest after nightfall."

Chen Rulie studied the terrain again. Seeing Pang Yu's resolute attitude, he nodded and said, "Yes, sir."

He then took two order tokens from his bosom and presented them with both hands. "Two order tokens from Circuit Intendant Shi arrived at Shipai. The Circuit Intendant is still at Taihu, accompanied only by the Wusong troops under Regional Commander Xu. He orders our battalion to reach Taihu within a two-day deadline and join forces with Regional Commander Xu to coordinate with Deputy Regional Commander Cheng."

Pang Yu hastily pulled them out and read them. "His letter is from the day before yesterday. The roving thieves are now engaged in battle with Deputy Regional Commander Cheng at Fengjiadian. I don't know if he is still at Taihu, but the Old County area should still be passable. Northeast of Susong County Town there is a pedestrian road to Old County. I have no relay horses. Send five cavalrymen that way to Taihu County. When they find Circuit Intendant Shi, tell him Shipai was attacked, and that I am pursuing the remnant enemy to Susong. I am now preparing to encircle the roving thieves from Erlang. Tell Regional Commander Xu to block the bridges over the Old County River by any means necessary, and join me in annihilating the bandit horde."

Thinking of Xu Strengthening, Pang Yu felt a hollow sensation in his heart. He was extremely doubtful whether this elder brother could hold Old County. But right now, he was the only one he could rely on. He could only pray that Big Brother Xu would display divine might.

At that moment, the main cavalry force arrived. Pang Yu saw that both men and horses showed slight signs of fatigue, but this was no time to worry about such things. Chen Rulie said nothing more. After briefly deploying with a few centurions, he left the wagon train behind, and the cavalry rolled northward once more.

Dust rose everywhere on the official road. The infantry waiting by the roadside all turned their heads aside. The four hundred-odd cavalrymen quickly passed, leaving horse droppings scattered on the road.

The sound of hooves had not yet faded when the Central Army's position also erupted in clamor. The Military Office ordered the wagon train to free up carriages, assigning one wagon to each squad of the Personal Guard Division to transport the heavy armor. The grooms bustled about for a while, but then Pang Yu canceled the order. This section of the official road was not wide enough; wagons had to travel in the ruts, and once they occupied the road surface, the infantry could not march alongside them. This would mix the wagons and soldiers in a chaotic jumble front to back, requiring time to adjust the formation. Moreover, the Personal Guard Division was in the middle of the marching sequence; if they were not ready, the other two divisions could not advance either. Pang Yu could not afford the delay. He still ordered the sailors and civilian laborers to carry the armor, so they could also assist in donning it when the time came.

Some wagons that had already unloaded fodder were reloaded, creating chaos everywhere. The logistics side could not be sorted out for the moment, but Pang Yu could not be bothered. The infantry's marching rations were loaded onto three grain transport ships, which would be towed upriver to Erlang Town — a very efficient transport method. But the cavalry's marching rations had not been well thought out at the time and were carried by wagons. This was also because the plan had changed too quickly; if he had intended to attack Erlang Town from the start, he would have loaded those cavalry supplies onto the boats, and the cavalry could have traveled light and arrived much faster.

Because Wu Dacai's company was tasked with blocking the pedestrian road from the Chema River direction, it was still stationed in the county town. Pang Yu only left one additional company from the Third Division as an escort for the supply train.

The Garrison Command infantry then returned to the main road. After a signal cannon shot, the infantry of the three divisions resumed their march toward Erlang Town.

The logistics detachment left behind was in utter chaos, with shouting everywhere. Because the logistics plan was not thorough, the infantry had also brought some of their marching rations when they landed. Several clerks from the Military Office were frantically busy, trying to distribute them onto the various wagons.

Wu Dacai threaded his way through the crowd, following closely behind a clerk from the Military Office, trying to say something in the gaps. Amid the din, the clerk did not listen at all. Wu Dacai dared not get angry. He both detested these people's racket and somewhat wished they would not leave so quickly, because once this wagon train departed, Susong County Town would be left with only his company of a hundred or so men.

There might be a hundred thousand roving bandits on the post road just twenty li away, while he was thirty li from the main force. He was not at Chang'an Wharf by the lakeside, nor did he have sturdy city walls. Any random bandit camp head that came along could make short work of him. According to Wu Dacai's calculations, mounted bandits had learned of their presence at the landing that morning. If they had gone to report to Chema River, the message would have arrived by now. The bandits did not know the Garrison Command battalion was going to strike Erlang Town; they might very well send cavalry from Chema River, and he might even see combat before Erlang Town did.

He had just now confirmed the direction of the Chema River pedestrian road. He had to get to that road as fast as possible, find favorable terrain to set up a defensive position, and improve his chances of survival.

But only now did he remember he had not brought hoes or shovels, and his marching rations were only dry rice. He had not had a chance to speak to Wang Zenglu before this superior hurried off. There was still one hope now: these wagons on the road. The cavalry's various companies had Fire Soldier Squads, and the division headquarters had a Fire Soldier Banner Team; they all had items like hoes and shovels, as well as javelins and poisonous caltrops for setting up defenses — things that would greatly help him hold the road. The wagons also had smoked meat and rice and beans, all of which he needed. But he could not directly take the Cavalry Division's property; he could only appeal to this clerk from the Military Office ahead of him and ask him to mediate.

That clerk was originally from the Military Office and normally only dealt with Central Army personnel. Now he had his own tasks to attend to and had no patience for this minor Company Commander. He walked briskly along, loudly shouting to arrange his own affairs. It seemed the carriage for one cannon had broken, and he was busy finding someone to help replace it.

When he finally finished dealing with that matter, Wu Dacai seized the opportunity to catch up and, with an ingratiating look, stated his request.

"Stop, stop!" The clerk frowned and glared at Wu Dacai. "I don't care which road you're defending. You're a man from the Second Division — what right do you have to demand the Cavalry Division's equipment? And you want me to go ask for it? Why didn't you speak up when Chen Company Commander was here just now? Why didn't you speak up when Wang Company Commander was here? Now you come asking for things. If I give them to you, the Cavalry Division will blame me when we reach Erlang Town. You've got a fine scheme, treating me like a fool?"

Wu Dacai was tongue-tied by this torrent of rebuke. The clerk, having said his piece, flicked his sleeve. Suddenly remembering something else, he turned to a groom and said, "Go to that courtyard on the left inside the city gate and ask the tailor if those Left Character Banners are finished. If they are, bring them to me."

Without paying any further attention to Wu Dacai, he hurried off. Just then, someone from the wagon train shouted to move out. The groom hesitated for a moment, then, ignoring the task the clerk had assigned him, followed the wagon train and left.

Wu Dacai cursed the clerk a couple of times, then returned to the city gate seething with indignation. His banner team was waiting there. His three subordinate banner commanders, seeing that he had failed to obtain anything, all wore grim expressions.

Wu Dacai offered no explanation. He himself was in a foul mood. Events that morning had happened too fast, and he had not reacted in time. The more he thought about it on the road, the worse it tasted. This direction, detached from the main force, was the most dangerous. Why, of the four companies in the Second Division, had his been singled out? Mr. Hou's attitude made him even more anxious. Last time he had been too rash and had probably offended the entire clerk officer system. Perhaps Wang Zenglu, wary of the clerk officers, no longer considered him a trusted confidant, and so had assigned this dangerous task to him.

His heart filled with regret and some fear. After fuming for a moment, Wu Dacai raised his head. The most urgent thing now was still to get to the pedestrian road and find a favorable position. Just as he was about to give the order to move out, he suddenly recalled what that clerk had said.

"Making Left Character Banners..." Wu Dacai's eyes lit up. He remembered the Left Family Army that had passed through last month. "Zuo Liangyu! Use them to scare the roving thieves."

Wu Dacai turned around, wanting to go find that clerk again, hoping to get a banner for himself. But he stopped again, then turned and strode quickly toward the city gate. Spotting the courtyard on the left, he walked straight in. Inside, three worktables had been set up using bed planks, and seven or eight tailors were busily at work.

He said brashly, "Are the banners finished?"

One tailor turned and saw it was a military officer. Without giving it much thought, he immediately replied, "We just finished one. Sir, are you..."

Wu Dacai said angrily, "It's just a few banners. Why is it so slow!"

"Sir, it was truly too rushed. We couldn't find any red cloth for a while, so we had to piece together several Company Commander flags to make this."

"Enough. Lord Pang needs them urgently. Give me the finished one first."

The tailor dared not delay and immediately presented it with both hands. "It just hasn't been fitted with a flagpole yet."

Wu Dacai waved his hand dismissively, grabbed a handful of needles and thread from the table, took the banner, and strode out the door. When he returned to his company, Wu Dacai glanced at the official road to the north. The Second Division's column was nearly out of sight, and the wagon train had also begun departing in succession. Soon, only his lone company would remain around Susong County Town.

As he turned back, he saw that clerk walking this way. Wu Dacai hurriedly waved his hand. "Move out."

The three banner commanders issued orders to form ranks. Over one hundred thirty infantrymen advanced at a quick march toward the Chema River pedestrian road.