Chapter 89

Night fell.

In the Five Cities Military Command camp, lanterns blazed brightly; though only seven thousand men were present, they had erected a fortress large enough to house ten thousand.

From afar, the formation looked terrifyingly imposing.

“The enemy has halted outside Yangzhou City—clearly, our Grand Secretary Xu still has some ability.”

“He wasn’t fooled by the rebels, and it’s no wonder we marched here at breakneck speed!”

Marquis Wuyang said with a chuckle.

They hadn’t marched at breakneck speed just to rescue Grand Secretary Xu.

Given their relationship, not stabbing him in the back was already considered upholding the greater good.

From the perspective of the Five Cities Military Command, Yangzhou City could fall to the rebels—but it absolutely could not fall because of Commander Rong and his party.

They rushed here precisely to clean house.

Now that they learned the rebels’ ruse had failed, everyone’s spirits were high.

Had they not marched at breakneck speed, the soldiers would have been exhausted, their combat effectiveness crippled.

Those few thousand rebels outside the city? They probably wouldn’t even need this meeting—they’d just charge straight in.

After seeing how incompetent the rebels were, he no longer feared enemies of equal strength.

“Commander, Grand Secretary Xu got lucky by accident.”

The rebels’ disguise was so obvious, yet he didn’t notice a thing.”

“If we told him the truth, I wonder if he’d even sleep soundly tonight!”

As Zhao Yawei spoke, the room erupted in laughter.

Mocking a Grand Secretary was no small matter.

If word reached Grand Secretary Xu, even though civil and military paths diverged, he could still easily punish a mere Battalion Commander.

But everyone here was one of us—Zhao’s words were clearly meant to flatter Marquis Wuyang, so the news wouldn’t leak.

“Zhao, your idea’s good.”

“Yangzhou’s safety is of utmost importance. To ensure absolute security, we must inform Grand Secretary Xu of the truth immediately so he can reinforce the city defenses!”

Tang Battalion Commander chimed in beside him.

What had been a joke instantly became a mandatory mission after his embellishment.

Once the bad precedent was set, the officers present scrambled to find reasons, leaving Li Mu dumbfounded.

From their eyes, it was clear everyone craved military merit.

To seize the main assault role, they were willing to abandon all dignity and lavish praise on Marquis Wuyang.

Li Mu didn’t join in—he’d already claimed the top merit several times; taking it again would draw resentment.

The rebels’ main force was still on the march; even if those few thousand outside the city were all slaughtered, the merit would be negligible.

“Fine, since everyone agrees, send word to Grand Secretary Xu.”

“But for secrecy’s sake, don’t tell him anything about our presence nearby!”

Inside, Marquis Wuyang was overjoyed, yet his face remained composed.

As long as Yangzhou hadn’t fallen now, it wouldn’t fall later.

Facing the rebel main force with our own troops might still carry some uncertainty.

But the situation is different now—the capital garrison’s cavalry has marched south and will arrive tomorrow, by our calculations.

With cavalry support, our army’s ten points of combat power can be amplified to twelve.

With the cavalry unit’s support, the army’s combat effectiveness could be multiplied to twelvefold.

Rebel camp.

Upon hearing the terrible news, Huang Renliang immediately wanted to flee with his troops.

After verifying the information, his desire to flee grew even stronger.

Had it not been dark, and had his rebels lacked night-marching capability, he would have ordered an immediate retreat.

No matter how much he scorned the imperial troops in speech, he had to admit: in equal numbers, rebel elites couldn’t defeat imperial elites.

Morale and training weren’t the biggest issues—the real disparity lay in equipment.

One side wore full armor; the other wore only hemp robes.

In direct combat, they’d suffer catastrophic losses.

The rebels’ most effective way to win was sheer numbers: overwhelm the enemy with manpower.

“Are you certain the enemy has over ten thousand men?”

Huang Renliang asked, unwilling to give up hope.

Even with equal numbers, he wanted to run.

If outnumbered absolutely, fighting would be impossible.

“General, we’ve observed the enemy camp—it can easily hold over ten thousand.

Squeeze them in, and it might fit twenty thousand.

The enemy’s guard is extremely tight; our scouts couldn’t get close enough to verify their true strength.”

The young officer’s words shattered Huang Renliang’s last hope.

His own small force wasn’t worth the enemy’s bluff.

The imperial troops built such a large camp either because they truly had that many soldiers—or because reinforcements were coming.

Either way, the coming military pressure would be immense.

“Order the entire army to prepare for departure—we retreat at first light tomorrow!”

Huang Renliang issued the command decisively.

Years as a smuggler had taught him one truth: if you can’t win, run fast.

As long as you live, there’s still hope.

Years of smuggling salt had taught him one lesson: if you can’t win, run fast.

Prefectural Office.

“What? The imperial troops outside the city are rebels in disguise?”

Xu Wenyue asked in horror.

Yangzhou City had no troops now—only temporary yamen runners, barely enough to maintain order.

If the rebels launched an assault, the city’s weakness would be exposed instantly.

“Yes, Grand Secretary!”

“The city guards noticed several wanted fugitives among the enemy soldiers. Even if Commander Rong were utterly reckless, he’d never recruit such men.”

“To verify the truth, I sent men to riskily approach the enemy camp—and we found inconsistencies.

Commander Rong, the army’s Regional Commander, has become a prisoner.

Several other high-ranking officials are imprisoned with him.”

Hou Huaichang replied firmly.

Matters of life and death were no time for carelessness.

If the rebels breached Yangzhou, his tenure as Grand Secretary’s private secretary would be over.

“What are you waiting for? Summon the local gentry immediately—we must plan the city’s defense!”

Xu Wenyue frowned.

Had he known Yangzhou would be this troublesome, he wouldn’t have rushed here so urgently.

Since seizing power, he’d seen none of the expected benefits—only endless troubles.

“Grand Secretary, absolutely not!”

“Yangzhou has always been a hub for salt merchants. This rebellion in the Two Huai regions was led by the Seven Great Families—there are surely countless their agents inside the city.

Things go smoothly until battle turns dire—then these gentry become utterly unreliable.

Right now, we must seal off the news and strengthen defenses, doing everything possible to prevent the enemy from coordinating from within.

Simultaneously, request aid from the Five Cities Military Command, the Capital Garrison, and the Nanjing Ministry of War.

If all else fails and Yangzhou cannot be held, Grand Secretary, retreat to Zhenjiang to avoid the rebels' sharp edge!

Hou Huaichang urged urgently.

He didn’t know how to wage war, but he knew how to learn from experience.

During the last Yangzhou defense, the Five Cities Military Command had operated entirely alone, excluding all local officials and gentry.

They refused help because they knew these people couldn’t be trusted.

If there was risk, it must be avoided.

Otherwise, betrayal from within would leave no chance to flee.

“No talk of retreating to Zhenjiang.”

“I am not one of those imperial in-laws who have no shame whatsoever.

The court has supported them for years—yet they show no gratitude.

Even collaborating with rebels, a disgrace to their ancestors, they dare to do—how utterly shameless!”

“Issue orders: seal every city gate. I will perish with Yangzhou.”

“In my name as Imperial Envoy, issue a public proclamation.”

Issue orders to seal all city gates; I will perish with Yangzhou.

Issue a public proclamation in my name as Imperial Commissioner.

All scholars, students, merchants, and officials who fled from Yangzhou shall be treated as traitors.

Anyone who dares to plead their case or seek to overturn their verdict shall be deemed remnants of rebels.

Send this official document together with the request for aid—old man intends to tell the whole world that those who side with the rebels will meet no good end!

Xu Wenyue’s order chilled the hearts of all.

Their senior minister was simply too ruthless—he not only vowed to perish with the city but also cut off any chance for others to flee.

If he truly died defending Yangzhou, this minister who perished for his country would surely be honored by the court.

His final memorial would become a legendary final cry, revered by court and populace alike.

As the unfortunate souls bound by this document, anyone who dared flee Yangzhou would become the infamous counterexample to that legendary last cry.

Even if not executed along with nine clans, at minimum their entire family would be beheaded.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, everyone instantly understood.

Cutting off retreat seemed dangerously reckless, yet it was in fact the best way to find life amid certain death.

Prestigious status brought not only high rank and power, but also the corresponding responsibilities one must bear.

If Yangzhou fell, others could flee—but Xu Wenyue could not.

Retreating to Zhenjiang meant the end of his political life.

The good reputation he had built over half a lifetime would be destroyed in an instant.

Rather than wait passively for death, he would forcibly drag others into the fray and make one final desperate gamble.

If he succeeded, his reputation as leader of the pure stream would grow even louder.

If he perished defending the country, he would take many with him—and still earn a posthumous name.

The ones most harmed were the Yangzhou gentry, forcibly strapped to the war chariot, forced to stake their entire families’ lives on this gamble.

…

The next day, dawn.

As the first light of day broke, the drumbeats rang out from the Five Cities Military Command’s encampment.

Soldiers, fully armed and ready, marched steadily forward, pressing toward the enemy camp.

At nearly the same moment, the rebel camp also sounded its horns.

But these were not horns of attack—they were horns of retreat.

The two armies had deployed one after the other, their distance less than ten li apart.

Yet precisely those ten li became the final barrier.

“Disband the formation! Chase them down!”

Zhao Yawei barked the order in fury.

Military merit had nearly been within reach—how could they still slip away? It was maddening.

(End of Chapter)