Chapter 165: Inciting

On a gentle slope of the Huashan mountain range, some forty-plus li south of Huayin County, several thousand people were resting, some sitting, some lying down — these were the former subordinates of Tuo Yangkun, known as the Scorpion.

Ever since surrendering at Yan'an Prefecture, Tuo Yangkun and Zhang Wenyao had led more than eight thousand men south toward Xi'an, under the watch of three thousand government troops commanded by Mobile Corps Commanders Xu Zhong and Liu Yingjie.

Xu Zhong and Liu Yingjie were happy enough not to have to risk their lives in battle; compared to earning merit and promotion, the two were far more keen on money and beautiful women.

Previously, when they fought against the bandits, they were accustomed to hanging back behind the main body of government troops, charging forward only when they saw easy pickings, and being the first to retreat the moment the situation turned unfavorable.

This had happened many times, earning the two a foul reputation among government army officers — even their superior Zuo Liangyu was disgusted by their conduct.

After being kicked by Hong Chengchou into service under Sun Chuanting, the two, unable to gauge the new Governor's temperament, had restrained themselves somewhat at first.

But as time wore on, their lazy and negligent nature reasserted itself. The Qin army drilled every two days; they drilled once every five. They also frequently complained that the Qin army's discipline was too strict, and that they were not allowed to leave camp and go into town for entertainment without cause.

Because their camp was not located with the Qin army's, Sun Chuanting was unaware of the conduct of the two men's units.

It was not until one time when Sun Chuanting inspected their camp that he saw the camp gates wide open with no sentries on duty; upon entering the camp, the soldiers were gathered in groups of three or five gambling and playing dice, the whole camp in a state of utter chaos.

Upon inquiring where the commanding officers had gone, he learned that the two had taken their personal guards into Xi'an city to visit the brothels and drink wine.

Sun Chuanting flew into a rage and ordered Sun Zhi'an to take men into the city to drag the two and their several personal guards back. He then assembled the soldiers and, before several thousand onlookers, stripped the two men bare and gave them fifty heavy strokes of the military cane, and had the heads of the several personal guards chopped off. As he left, Sun Chuanting laid down the law: dare to offend again, and it would be summary execution!

The two men nursed their wounds for half a month before recovering. Having learned of Sun Chuanting's methods, they became much more obedient — though their daily drills were still going through the motions, at least they no longer dared to go into town for entertainment.

But in their hearts, Xu Zhong and Liu Yingjie harbored a bone-deep hatred for Sun Chuanting. Being caned made them feel they had lost tremendous face, and the execution of their personal guards added insult to injury. Their fury burned unquenchable, and both nursed thoughts of taking revenge when the opportunity arose.

When they received this assignment — nominally to escort, but in truth to keep watch over, the surrendered bandits — the two secretly conferred and concluded that Tuo Yangkun and Zhang Wenyao, having rebelled for so many years, must have amassed great plunder. Since the bandits had not yet formally become government troops, they should seize the chance to squeeze a hefty sum from them.

So, under the guise of casual conversation, the two hinted openly and covertly at their intentions to Zhang Wenyao and Tuo Yangkun.

Zhang Wenyao and Tuo Yangkun naturally understood what they meant. Besides, as newly surrendered men, though their ranks were equal, they inevitably lacked confidence in their hearts.

After consulting with each other, each produced a thousand taels of silver and sent men to deliver it to Xu Zhong and Liu Yingjie's tents, explaining that they truly had no surplus wealth; though they had been bandits for many years, their plundering had focused mainly on grain and fodder — after all, they each had several thousand or tens of thousands of men waiting to be fed, and gold and silver could not buy grain.

Xu Zhong and Liu Yingjie would hear none of it. In their eyes, this gang of roving bandits were certainly fat sheep worth hundreds of thousands or even millions in family wealth; offering only this pittance to honor them was a clear sign of disrespect.

So the two began openly demanding money from Zhang Wenyao and Tuo Yangkun, threatening that if they did not pay, their heads might not stay on their shoulders come nightfall.

Zhang Wenyao and Tuo Yangkun were both frightened and alarmed. Though they understood in their hearts that the two men's words were mostly bluster, they also feared that if someone truly did them in by stealth, the court certainly would not seek justice for them — after all, they had formerly been bandits.

When one is under another's roof, one must lower one's head. Helpless, Zhang Wenyao and Tuo Yangkun each brought out another five hundred taels of silver and personally delivered it to the two men's tents, complaining that they truly had little silver left, that this was their last savings — if they did not believe it, they could ask the other bandit soldiers, for their raids really had focused mainly on grain.

Xu Zhong and Liu Yingjie refused to believe a word. They accepted the silver, but their faces were very sour — the only thing stopping them from beating and cursing the two on the spot.

From then on, along the journey, Xu and Liu directed their subordinates to beat and berate the surrendered soldiers at the slightest provocation, and docking their rations became a daily occurrence.

Tuo Yangkun's confidant Huang Chao had been a bandit for many years. He had already been impatient with surrendering and being incorporated into the government army, feeling it was not as satisfying as being a bandit; combined with the conduct of Xu Zhong and Liu Yingjie, it made him long even more for the carefree days of banditry.

So he went to find Tuo Yangkun and incited him to rebel again with his men — while the main government army was all in northern Shaanxi, they could lead their followers out through Tong Pass into Henan, where the mountains were tall and the forests dense, the terrain strategically formidable — the best possible place to settle. The government army would find it hard even to locate them, let alone suppress them.

Though Tuo Yangkun was also burning with fury, when he thought of the might of the government troops he had witnessed and the fate of Gao Yingxiang, fear still gripped his heart. He dreaded that if he rebelled again and was suppressed by the government army, even surrendering would no longer be an option.

Torn with indecision, Tuo Yangkun went to consult Zhang Wenyao on what to do, and Huang Chao took the opportunity to urge Zhang Wenyao to rebel and flee Shaanxi together.

Though Zhang Wenyao was also angered by the despicable conduct of Xu and Liu, he flatly refused the proposal of Tuo Yangkun and Huang Chao.

What a joke? He had finally shed the skin of a rebel and become a senior military officer of the court, bringing glory to his family and immense pride — and he should become a bandit again over something like this?

Not this old man!

Zhang Wenyao admonished the two to be patient for now. Once they reached Xi'an Prefecture and the court issued their official appointments and documents, they would no longer need to fear extortion — if anyone still dared to come demanding bribes, they could simply punch them.

Seeing that Tuo Yangkun had taken Zhang Wenyao's words to heart, Huang Chao, in desperation, told a great lie: "Chief, the other day I happened to pass by Xu Zhong's tent and overheard him and Liu Yingjie discussing us surrendered bandits! It was after hearing that that I thought to urge you, Chief, to rebel and flee Shaanxi!"

Tuo Yangkun hastily asked: "What were they saying? Are they still wanting more silver from us?"

Huang Chao sighed and said: "If it were only silver, that would be fine! What they want is our lives!"

Tuo Yangkun leaped up in shock and asked repeatedly: "What do you mean? Who wants our lives? I and Brother Zhang are both Mobile Corps Commanders — how dare those two want our lives?"

Huang Chao sneered: "That's what Xu Zhong said! Once our eight thousand men reach Xi'an Prefecture, the rank and file will all be sent to military farmland, and all the leaders will be beheaded! Chief, it's not Xu Zhong who wants our lives — it's the court that wants our lives!"

Tuo Yangkun's face turned pale with fright, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He muttered to himself: "It can't be so! You must have misheard! The court would not break its word!"

Huang Chao continued: "Chief, I've followed you since you first rose up — when have I ever deceived you? The court did not act at Yan'an Prefecture because they feared word would leak out and they could no longer induce other rebel bands to surrender! We are not going to Xi'an Prefecture now — we are going to the Yellow Springs underworld!"

Zhang Wenyao had been about to refute Huang Chao, but seeing Tuo Yangkun in such a state, he knew the man had already believed it.

He and Tuo Yangkun had associated closely and knew his temperament well.

Tuo Yangkun had no great ambitions and was naturally suspicious by nature, with very soft ears and no firm opinions of his own. Huang Chao's startling words caused the already suspicious Tuo Yangkun to believe completely that the court had sent troops to escort them back to Xi'an Prefecture for the sole purpose of massacring them.

Very well then — since you want to go back to being a rebel, this old Zhang Wenyao apologizes, but I'll have to borrow your head, elder brother!

It took Tuo Yangkun a long while to recover his senses. He slowly turned his head to look at Zhang Wenyao: "Brother Zhang, I've just been thinking it over — Huang Chao's words are probably eighty percent true! The court has no intention of letting us go! Having opposed the court for so many years, there's a lot of blood on our hands — blood of commoners and government soldiers alike! How could the court not hold a grudge?"

Zhang Wenyao nodded gravely: "The Chief is right! Though we usually kept our men in check, taking wealth rather than lives, when push comes to shove who can hold back! The court wants to settle old scores after the fact!"

Seeing that both leaders had believed his words, Huang Chao was secretly delighted. He fanned the flames: "The court did give the two Chiefs official titles, equal in rank to those two thieves Xu and Liu — but along this whole journey, when did those two scoundrels ever treat the Chiefs as officers? They still treat the Chiefs as rebels! If they were truly fellow government troops, would those two dare extort silver from anyone?"

Tuo Yangkun slowly sat down, his expression returning to calm. He spoke: "Since we know death awaits us, we can't just die for nothing! If the court is unrighteous, they can't blame us for being unjust! I've made up my mind — we rebel!"

Huang Chao raised his thumb and laughed: "Right on! That's the Chief I know! Just give the orders, Chief — this Huang Chao will not say a word of objection!"

Zhang Wenyao, having already formed his own plan, wanted to use this opportunity to blow the matter up big, so that he could reap greater merit from it later.

He spoke: "Chief, I have no objection to fleeing Shaanxi, but right now we lack weapons and grain. Though those two thieves Xu and Liu have few men, their troops are all armored soldiers — if we rebel, we'll be wiped out in the blink of an eye! What are we to do?"

Huang Chao slapped his chest and laughed: "Both Chiefs, I have a brilliant plan! If it succeeds, we'll have weapons, armor, and grain all at once!"

Though Tuo Yangkun was short on cunning and not a brave man either, his greatest virtue was that he treated his subordinates generously and was good at listening to others' opinions — in plain words, he had no ideas of his own.

Hearing that Huang Chao had a way, he urgently pressed: "Brother Huang, what brilliant plan do you have? Let's hear it! If we succeed, your elder brother won't treat you poorly!"