Chapter 342: Seeking Reinforcements

Zu Zehong's roar left the people in the courtyard terrified. Zu Yong, though still harboring doubts, shouted orders to the crowd in the yard: "Stop Young Master Wu! Kill anyone else who resists!"

Zu Yong's words carried far more weight than Zu Zehong's. Because there was an unwritten rule in the Liaoxi region: no matter whose personal guards or household retainers they were, aside from obeying their own masters in peacetime, they all deferred to the commands of the head of Zu Dashou's retainers. Upon hearing Zu Yong's shout, the sound of blades being drawn rang out without end in the courtyard, and the crowd pulled out their weapons and gave chase toward the gate.

By this time, Wu Sangui had already crossed through the second courtyard gate and was sprinting toward the main gate of the Zu residence. The personal guards in the first courtyard had no idea what was happening inside; they merely watched Wu Sangui and Wu Kui, both covered in blood, with bewildered and uneasy gazes.

Wu Sangui's personal bodyguard Wu Chuang stood at the second courtyard gate with a longbow in hand. He nocked an arrow, drew, and released, then without even looking at the surging crowd, he rapidly fired arrow after arrow from the quiver at his waist.

With a continuous series of bowstring twangs, cries of pain rang out one after another within the courtyard. All eight arrows Wu Chuang loosed found their marks, and in an instant the ground was littered with the wounded. The rest of the men in the courtyard carried no bows or crossbows, and could only watch helplessly as Wu Chuang, godlike in bearing, stood at the gate with his longbow held high. For a moment, the remaining men were all struck with terror, and none dared advance.

"Get back!"

With a low shout, Zu Yong held a blade in one hand and raised a square table he had found in the hall with the other to shield everything below his chest. Crouching low so that only his head was exposed, he rushed swiftly toward Wu Chuang.

Adding the arrow that had struck Zu Zehong earlier, Wu Chuang had loosed nine arrows in a short span of time. His right arm, which had drawn the bowstring, was now numb and weak, but he still gritted his teeth, pulled the last arrow from the quiver at his waist, nocked it, and loosed it at the charging Zu Yong.

Zu Yong, a dozen paces away, advanced while watching Wu Chuang's every move with complete focus. The instant Wu Chuang's fingers left the bowstring, Zu Yong hurled the square table shielding his chest forward with all his might, then suddenly accelerated his pace and charged ahead. A dull thud sounded as the long arrow embedded itself in the tabletop, and in that same moment Zu Yong had closed the distance to Wu Chuang.

Zu Yong did not swing his blade in a chop, for that would have made it easier for his opponent to dodge. Instead, he took a quick step, leaned his body forward, and thrust his long blade at his opponent like lightning. Wu Chuang had just discarded his bow and drawn his saber, and had no time to dodge or parry—the sharp blade tip easily pierced through his cotton armor and sank deep into his belly.

Zu Yong then swept his blade sideways. Wu Chuang let out a pained howl and slowly sank to his knees, his innards shredded by the keen edge. Blood mixed with chunks of viscera poured ceaselessly from his mouth. Zu Yong pulled his blade free, kicked off his rear leg, and lunged forward to stand before him. One stroke across the neck sent blood gushing like a fountain, and Wu Chuang collapsed to the ground, dead.

Stepping over Wu Chuang's corpse, Zu Yong was the first to charge out through the second courtyard gate. He saw that the Wu family's guards had already gathered together, surrounding Wu Sangui and Wu Kui as they rushed toward the main gate. Zu Yong gave chase while shouting at the top of his lungs: "The master has ordered! Stop the Wu family men! Kill any who resist!"

The Zu family guards and retainers, who had no idea what was going on, heard the shout. Though unclear why they were being ordered to turn on their own people, they obeyed and drew their weapons, giving chase after the Wu men.

The Wu family guard who had slipped away the moment Zu Zehong burst into the second courtyard was now galloping at full speed down the broad streets of the city.

This guard, named Wu Jin, was the sharpest of the lot—quick to react, full of schemes, and one of Wu Sangui's closest personal guards, responsible for communications and liaison. He was deeply favored by Wu Sangui.

Just now, when he had seen Zu Zehong's behavior, he sensed something was terribly wrong. So while no one else had yet reacted, he quietly slipped out of the Zu residence. Without even notifying the Wu guards outside, he mounted a horse and rode for the city gates.

His instincts told him something huge was about to happen. Though Wu Sangui had brought over a hundred personal guards, if the Zu family truly intended harm to his young master as Zu Zehong's shouts suggested, that number was nowhere near enough. A large force of reinforcements would be needed.

The three thousand-plus cavalry Wu Sangui had brought from within the passes were camped south of Songshan. Wu Jin's plan was this: first ride the twenty li to Songshan and inform the government troops from within the passes that the officers in Jinzhou had fallen to internal strife and that some were plotting to defect; then go and summon his master's three thousand cavalry. Only with a large army pressing close to Jinzhou city would his young master and brothers have any chance of escape. And if the worst befell the young master, those three thousand would charge in and avenge him.

At this time, the other three gates of Jinzhou city were still half-shut; only the south gate facing Songshan stood wide open.

Wu Jin spurred his horse and quickly reached the south gate. Without waiting for the gate guards to question him, he slowed his mount slightly, reached into his breast, pulled out the Wu family's waist token, and tossed it to a squad leader who stepped forward: "Urgent military intelligence! Don't close the south gate! Reinforcements are coming! Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

Before the squad leader could even respond, Wu Jin spurred his horse straight through the gate tunnel and galloped away. The squad leader saw the Wu family insignia on the token and found it somewhat odd, but he didn't dwell on it—he merely mused to himself, didn't the Jianzhou troops already retreat? Why urgent military intelligence again?

Upon learning that the Jianzhou army had withdrawn from Jinzhou and retreated northward, Hong Chengchou was temporarily relieved. The Jurchen's great southern campaign this time had finally ended in failure.

With winter approaching, there should be no large-scale fighting in the tenth year of Chongzhen. The next step was to urgently stockpile grain and supplies, drill the troops, and await further orders from the capital.

After analyzing the situation with Shen Shiyu, Hong Chengchou decided to go into Jinzhou city to discuss the next course of action with Zu Dashou, so as to prepare a more detailed plan for the great battle to come the following year.

A hundred guards from the standard battalion cleared the way ahead, with Hong Chengchou and Shen Shiyu riding side by side in the middle, followed closely by another hundred guards behind. The two men rode at a leisurely pace, chatting about amusing anecdotes from the past, while the guards all wore relaxed expressions. The long column made its way along the official road leading to Jinzhou.

Just as Hong Chengchou's party was nearing Jinzhou city, a lone rider came galloping toward them at full speed from the direction of Jinzhou.

The guards in front all tensed with alertness. Some had already swiftly unslung their longbows and nocked arrows, aiming at the approaching rider. Hong Chengchou and Shen Shiyu, both men accustomed to great scenes, paid it no mind at all.

Seeing the banners and plaques held high by the guards from afar, the rider quickly slowed his horse. When he was still several dozen paces away, he shouted: "Is that His Excellency Supreme Commander Hong before me? I am a personal guard under Commander Zu of Ningyuan! I have urgent matters to report to the Supreme Commander!"

Shen Shiyu, having faintly heard the shouting, offered Hong Chengchou an apology and spurred his horse forward.

The guards had just finished searching Wu Jin when Shen Shiyu rode up to them.

"Master Shen! It's me, Wu Jin!"

During the two-plus years within the passes, Wu Sangui had grown quite close to Shen Shiyu, and Wu Jin had often accompanied him, so he knew Shen Shiyu very well.

"Wu Jin? Why are you here? What has happened? Where is your master?"

Shen Shiyu recognized the young but exceptionally sharp-witted Wu Jin at a glance. He was briefly startled, then quickly noticed something amiss in Wu Jin's frantic expression and fired off a series of questions.

"Reporting to you, sir! Today I accompanied my young master to the Grand Marshal's residence for a banquet. Midway through, something went wrong—the Zu family seems intent on harming my young master! Seeing the situation was dire, I slipped out first to send word. The situation in the city is still unclear! Please inform Supreme Commander Hong to enter the city at once and rescue my young master! If the gates are closed, all will be lost!"

Wu Jin, his face full of anxiety, knelt before Shen Shiyu's horse and pleaded loudly.

"Come with me!"

So saying, Shen Shiyu immediately turned his horse around and rode back to Hong Chengchou's side, briefly relaying Wu Jin's words. Hong Chengchou pondered for a moment, then immediately gave his orders: "This matter is most likely the result of a misunderstanding. Given the current situation, the Zu family would never do something so foolish! Kungang, take this man and ride at once to Songshan to inform Mao Zhisheng. Gather the troops and act according to circumstances, then report this matter to the capital in my name. I will take men and enter the city now to find out what is really going on!"