Chapter 563: A Wicked Hand

"That Cen Peng — truly cunning and treacherous, utterly faithless."

Though when it came to the speed of changing masters, Deng Feng was no slouch compared to Cen Peng either, yet upon the sudden news that the Wei army had turned hostile right after Deng County delivered its second batch of ten thousand dan of grain — and had even nearly infiltrated the city disguised as his own trusted men — Deng Feng still burst out cursing.

His worst fear had become reality. Though Deng Feng had indeed been feigning surrender, his chance to rise up and strike north at Nanyang vanished completely the moment Cen Peng halted his southward advance and turned to attack the three counties of Jing-Xiang instead.

Once war broke out, the Wei army used Fancheng as its base and launched an offensive against Deng County with twenty thousand troops. Every sack of grain in the Wei camp and every laborer had been procured by Deng Feng's own men — it was like lifting a rock only to smash his own foot.

Worse still, Deng Feng heard that the Embroidered Uniform Commandant Zhang Yu had gathered thousands of conscripted laborers and spread word of Wei policies, declaring that the forced levies and grain extortion were all Deng Feng's doing — that Deng County was bursting with grain, and once the city fell, the Wei army would keep only its rations and let the laborers divide the rest, to make up for the spring planting they had missed.

This ploy did indeed dupe some of the laborers into eagerly helping, probing Deng County's defenses for the Wei army and serving as ditch-fillers.

As the "Deng Forest stronghold," Deng County's defenses had been reinforced. Deng Feng had entrenched himself there for two years and stockpiled vast quantities of food. Every ward in the city had its own well dug — with food and drink assured, they could hold out against the Wei army indefinitely.

But after launching a single probing assault, Cen Peng lost all interest in this hard nut of a city. His three divisions encamped at Fancheng and simply cut off Deng Feng's contact with the outside world.

Deng Feng, himself a capable commander, was baffled by this approach: "Cen Peng is running out of time. He neither attacks nor advances nor retreats — what on earth is he playing at?"

At that thought, a possibility suddenly struck Deng Feng, and for a moment, he was seized with shock and dread!

"No!"

As the rumble of war drums beat out, a small Wei fleet arrived from the upper Han River, bearing news so splendid that the Wei camp erupted in cheers — while inside Deng County, every man feared for his life:

Shandu County had fallen!

In the second month of the third year of Wude, the banks of the Han River were ablaze with war everywhere — not just Deng County and Xiangyang, but even Ruo County two hundred li downstream on the Han's eastern side lay in shambles, having just been seized by an army that had emerged from Greenwood Mountain.

Soldiers was hardly the word — bandits was more like it. Though they flew the fiery crimson Han banners and their two leading commanders wore passable Han robes and caps, the main body of this force was the remnant of the Greenwood Army. No match for the Red Eyebrows, they had fled back into the hills after the Greenwood Han fled south. But having tasted the dazzling world of Nanyang and Luoyang, life in the mountains was simply too bitter — yet whenever they ventured out to plunder, they could not defeat the King of Chuli.

So when Wang Chang and Ma Wu, by Liu Xiu's order, came recruiting, the Greenwood bandits rose up in droves and transformed overnight into Han colonels and platoon commanders, then marched out of the mountains.

After pledging allegiance to Han, Wang Chang was no longer a Greenwood lord of old, merely a Marquis and concurrently one of the Nine Ministers. Watching nearly ten thousand old Greenwood troops run utterly amok after Ruo County fell — smashing down doors and stoves like pent-up savage tigers, burning, killing, and violating everywhere — he could not help but furrow his brow.

His colleague, Liu Xiu's elder brother-in-law Ma Wu, watched this familiar scene with cheerful relish. Wang Chang had at least been a small landlord once, but Ma Wu came from a background of bandits and wandering bravos. Loyal as he was to the Han, the rules and restrictions laid down by Liu Xiu's court chafed him sorely, and the Greenwood's wicked bandit ways were nothing new to him. He even stopped Wang Chang from interfering.

"Yanqing, you and I both roamed Greenwood Mountain — we know exactly what those scoundrels are like. When there's profit, they scramble over each other; the moment they meet a strong foe, they shove each other forward. Right now, all the Han can offer are a few empty marquis titles. Back when they retreated to Greenwood, which of those chieftains hadn't already been a Marquis? Some were even kings! Only by letting them loot their fill can we lure them to keep marching north."

"Don't I know it?" Wang Chang heaved a long sigh. "But never shedding their bandit nature — adept at abusing the people, useless at governing — that is precisely why Greenwood rose so explosively and collapsed just as fast."

"The Jianwu Son of Heaven is utterly different. He places great weight on military discipline. His Majesty has said that what he contends for with Diwu Lun is not just the realm, the land, and the walled cities, but the hearts of the people! Our generals are not poor fighters, but they love to plunder. Therefore, when campaigning abroad, unless absolutely necessary, no city is to be massacred, and officers and men must be restrained as much as possible."

"And how do you restrain this?" Ma Wu also began to lament, pointing at the Greenwood soldiers already plunged into madness. "Right now, let alone me — even their own chieftains can't stop them. Anyone who dares try will end up in a brawl, and then they'll all scatter their separate ways."

Diwu Lun's enormous advantage, once dispersed across the various fronts, was not actually overwhelming in any single theater. But the Eastern Han remained the weaker side. In this struggle for Jing-Xiang, Feng Yi's forces alone would likely not suffice — hence the need to borrow the strength of the old Greenwood troops, even if all they did was harass the Wei army.

Ma Wu watched several Greenwood soldiers chase down a household — after killing the man, they dragged his wife and daughter into the house — but he regarded it with indifference. "The people of this county will just have to suffer a bit. Consider it their contribution to the Han restoration."

"That's all we can do." Wang Chang was persuaded. "Didn't Feng Yi say it? When men have starved long enough, they are easily satisfied by a full belly and warm clothes. It took the tyranny of Jie and Zhou to make the virtue of Tang and Wu shine."

"You and I will lead the Greenwood troops in their rampage for now, and let Feng Yi, coming behind, pacify the people and proclaim His Majesty's benevolence. Feng Gongsun is a master at this — when he was ordered west on campaign, he spread authority and trust through southern Jing, and countless people surrendered along the way."

Yet Wang Chang, as if pricked by conscience, added an instruction to his trusted aides: "Tell the Greenwood chieftains to put away the Han banners..."

Those fiery Han standards that had blazed so brilliantly when the revolt began were now smeared with a layer of dark red bloodstains — much of it the blood of innocents. A single stroke writes the character "Han"; the various Han regimes had been draining that character's power all along. Waving it now could hardly stir the old sentiment of "the people's hearts long for Han." Wang Chang could only hope that this would be the last time that banner was defiled.

Once the Greenwood soldiers had vented their bestial urges sufficiently, the two generals gave the order to sheathe blades, bury the dead, and seize the grain — while also discussing the opponent they faced in this campaign.

"Zizhang, do you still recall how Cen Peng intercepted the Xiajiang troops at Lankou Ford?"

"Of course I remember." Ma Wu nodded. Back then, plague had broken out on Greenwood Mountain — two or three in every ten died. The survivors decided to flee, splitting into two groups. Wang Chang went north, while Ma Wu headed south. They had just reached the Han River crossing when Cen Peng, having force-marched a hundred li, struck them mid-crossing. The Xiajiang troops, despite their absolute numerical advantage, were routed. Too terrified to face Cen Peng again, they turned north instead — and that was how the Greenwood and Chongling forces merged.

Yet fate played a cruel joke on Cen Peng, the victor. His own losses were heavy, and plague struck again. By the time he returned to Nanyang, he found the world there had turned upside down...

Between Greenwood and Cen Peng, there was a blood feud deep as the sea: he had sent thousands of Greenwood soldiers to their graves in the Han River, and they had slain countless of his subordinates, fellow villagers, and clansmen.

And now, fate had gathered these old foes together again in this land of Jing-Xiang, like a hundred streams flowing into the Han!

Ma Wu offered this assessment of Cen Peng: "When Cen Peng surrendered, he was so taciturn and sparing of words — you'd never guess his generalship would be like a driving gale and lashing rain."

Given that style, they reckoned Cen Peng, being closer to Nanyang, might well have already forced a crossing of the Han and taken Xiangyang.

"Cen Peng is famed for speed — and then look at our General Feng." Ma Wu could not resist grumbling about the theater commander Liu Xiu had appointed. "During our flight into exile, he managed our food and drink, fretting day and night over the remaining grain. Now commanding a great army, he still hasn't changed his temperament — insists on crawling along with his fleet and baggage train. By the time we arrive, I fear Qin Feng will have surrendered to Cen Peng, and Xiangyang will be flying that five-colored Han banner long ago!"

Yet the very next day, the war took a dramatic turn.

A fleet escorted by men sent by Qin Feng came speeding south down the Han River and found Wang Chang and Ma Wu — bearing none other than Deng Chen, on a mission of grave importance!

"General Wang! General Ma!"

Deng Chen had just been released from captivity. His expression was haggard, his frame gaunt and wasted — but his face was alight with joy:

"Where is Feng Gongsun's main army? You must hurry north at once! Qin Feng is willing to submit to Han — this is a chance that may never come again!"

Wang Chang and Ma Wu's complaints about Feng Yi's slow advance were not without cause. This "Grand Tree General" was indeed as steady as an ancient tree, deeply versed in the truth that for branches and leaves to grow, the roots must sink deeper still.

On the march north, the Han army advanced along the plain road on the western bank of the Han River. Which route each regiment would take was laid out with perfect clarity a day in advance.

And alongside them on the Han River, a fleet kept pace the entire way. This fleet was composed entirely of "double boats" — two hulls lashed together. Unlike the great warships that could only sail Lake Yunmeng, their flat bottoms could navigate the inland channels. They numbered a hundred in total, and the double boats were laden with southern rice.

Though the Jiang-Han plain has little drop and the spring current is not swift, going upstream by boat still demands respect. Thus each double boat carried scores of oarsmen rowing in shifts, with trackers assisting from the bank. At every ferry or dock seized by the troops, a portion of the grain and fodder was unloaded.

Yet even with all this effort, it was far more convenient than overland transport. The banks of the Han were often flooded and mired in mud — no matter the cart, the going was hard.

"Legs on land, boats on water — that is the surest way to advance."

Step by step, footprint by footprint, Feng Yi thus arrived at Ruo County, where the embers still smoldered. Before he could even address the problem of the city's sacking, Ma Wu and the others had already seized the initiative and pressed him hard!

"Grand General Feng, why so slow! Did you not receive the dispatches we sent?"

Feng Yi waited until Ma Wu, in his impatience, had rattled off a string of questions, then slowly replied: "I am aware of the developments at Deng and Xiangyang, but..."

"But?" Ma Wu was frantic. As he saw it, the Wei army had already gotten that meaty bone, Xiangyang, into its mouth — and now it had suddenly choked and spat it back out! If they didn't rush over and snatch it now, what were they waiting for!

Feng Yi shook his head. "But this matter is riddled with suspicious points. I fear it may be a ruse!"

"When I was first brought out of prison and restored as an honored guest, I too thought it was a ruse. But the Wei army really is fighting the Chu forces, and right now they are besieging Deng County. Qin Feng has no choice but to accept our terms."

Deng Chen recounted the complex twists of his recent days to Feng Yi, and Feng Yi began to question him in minute detail about Cen Peng's troop dispositions.

When he heard that Cen Peng had divided his forces into three, separated by the Han River to the north and south, and that his main strength was tied down dealing with the entrenched Deng Feng, Feng Yi's thick brows furrowed even more deeply.

"That doesn't add up."

Feng Yi had studied this opponent extensively: "It is widely known that Yan Erudite's mastery of military strategy was outstanding, a synthesis of the ancient masters' greatest achievements. He had two disciples in succession — Diwu Lun inherited his orthodox methods, while Cen Peng inherited his unorthodox. Cen Peng's generalship is cunningly adaptable and unpredictable. When he struck south against the Xiajiang troops, he force-marched for three days and nights — like a driving gale and lashing rain."

"Or take the Battle of Yao Pass — he set up decoy troops everywhere, made a great show of strength to draw the enemy's main force, then sent a surprise column over the mountains to smash the three Greenwood kings."

"But now, campaigning in Jing-Xiang, territory he knows like his own hand, he keeps making blunders. Why?"

Ma Wu guessed instinctively: "For any commander, winning some battles and losing others is perfectly normal. In the old days, Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Chu, had his great victory at Pengcheng, and his defeat at Gaixia too."

Feng Yi, however, thought that unlikely. "Others might imagine Cen Peng's reputation outstrips his ability, but General Ma has fought him before — surely you wouldn't underestimate him?"

Ma Wu bristled. He knew Feng Yi had a good temperament and was a modest man, hardly the sort to mock him for once being beaten by Cen Peng, yet he still answered with some heat: "I underestimate him? Then what about you, General Feng — are you afraid of him?"

Feng Yi was ordinarily humble, but at critical moments he could stiffen his spine. At once he said gravely: "His Majesty often says, 'When I meet a great foe I grow bold; when I meet a small one I grow cautious.' I am the same!"

"Take weiqi. If Cen Peng played with kill-moves at every step, charging straight in, I would gladly fight him for the dragon. But now his tactics are strange, full of ugly moves — who knows whether he is planting hidden stones, waiting for me to fall into his trap? Naturally I must be careful."

Wang Chang, standing by, smoothed things over with a conjecture: "Gongsun, don't make Cen Peng out to be too brilliant. Whether a commander attacks a city, contests a piece of land, or gives battle when he meets the enemy — these things can be constrained by other factors too."

"As things stand now, Cen Peng's original plan was to advance step by step, consolidating as he moved south to force a decisive battle with us. But mutual distrust with Qin Feng led to a clash, his plan was thrown into chaos, and he could not withdraw in time — so he had no choice but to deploy like this."

He was hinting to Feng Yi: taking Xiangyang — that was an edict from Liu Xiu himself!

Wang Chang and Ma Wu were desperate to win great merit in this war. Think back: when Feng Yi was still a surrendered official of the Xin Dynasty, Wang Chang and Ma Wu already commanded troops numbering in the tens of thousands! Later, Wang Chang even became a vassal king — only for his army to be routed at Tongyuan. Because he had sided with Liu Xiu and his brother, the Gengshi Emperor stripped him of his post, and from that point he lost his military authority. Both men had also fought at Kunyang, but they joined Liu Xiu a little later than Feng Yi, and so missed out on those few meals of "Gongsun's bean rice" and "Gongsun's wheat gruel." Now they were reduced to recruiting old Greenwood remnants and bandits to help them, hoping only that this one campaign would make Liu Xiu put real trust in them again.

Feng Yi still hesitated. He called for a map and studied it over and over. The present situation was indeed a favorable turn the Han army had never dreamed of — it did not look like besieging a point to strike the relief force, nor like a deliberate ploy. Rather, as Wang Chang said, it was a hasty deployment caused by a sudden falling-out with the Chu army.

If he let such an opportunity slip by, he feared he would become a sinner against the Great Han, and would betray His Majesty's trust.

Under the repeated urgings of the other three, and with the military situation too urgent to wait for a report back to Liu Xiu, the balance in Feng Yi's heart tipped — between "acting on his own authority" and "doing his duty to the utmost," he began to lean one way.

"Then let us do this. General Ma, I will give you three thousand men. Together with Lord Deng as the vanguard, march north and probe the enemy's situation. Xiangyang is no more than a hundred and fifty li from here — you must reach it within three days! Since Qin Feng is willing to welcome the Han army, the cities in between must not obstruct us; they must also provide fodder and provisions. I myself will follow close behind with the main force of ten thousand, and arrive at Xiangyang five days from now."

Ma Wu was overjoyed. The troops Feng Yi was giving him were far more elite than those Greenwood bandits.

Feng Yi then turned to Wang Chang, who was itching for action: "General Wang has always been steady — a pillar of the state. The Wei army is fierce; the Greenwood soldiers are not fit to meet them head-on. This city of Ruo is the throat of the Han River, linking north and south. I hope General Wang can keep those men under control, guard this place for me, and watch over the reinforcements and supplies His Majesty is sending from Chaisang."

"If this campaign succeeds, the three armies will march back through here in triumph!"

Yet Feng Yi still felt a faint, nagging worry. He could not say why, but as he led his army north and looked back at the surging river, he could only feel…

"If it does not succeed…"

"Feng Yi will probably never return from here!"

…

At the same time, in Fancheng, on the opposite bank from Xiangyang, Cen Peng was sitting calmly in command. He was seated on a small folding stool — invented by Diwu Lun and called a "camp-stool" — playing weiqi with Zhang Yu.

Zhang Yu looked down at the chaotic scatter of stones on the board and shook his head. "General Cen's mind must be on the war. This game has barely opened, and you have already played several ugly moves."

Because of this, Cen Peng's opening was unfavorable, and he was already behind by several stones. In Zhang Yu's view, losing the opening made it very hard to recover later — the outcome of this game was already decided.

"Is that so?"

Cen Peng only smiled. "How do you know they are ugly moves?"

He raised a black stone between his fingers, waved it before Zhang Yu's eyes, then turned toward a spot he had studied and pondered countless times, and set it down gently.

Zhang Yu picked up a white stone to counter, but as he lifted it, he discovered with astonishment that with Cen Peng's last move, those earlier "ugly" black stones had suddenly come alive. They now held the critical choke-points, and had trapped the long dragon he had so painstakingly worked into his net.

Before Zhang Yu could think about his next move, one of Cen Peng's trusted aides hurried in. He scurried into the hall, cupped his hands, and said in a low voice: "General Who Guards the West, Commandant of the Embroidered Uniforms — Feng Yi has marched north!"

Zhang Yu immediately leapt to his feet and looked joyfully at Cen Peng.

"Seal the game. We will finish it when the fighting is over, when we have leisure."

Cen Peng merely nodded. He rose slowly, placed the black stone gently back into the stone-basket, and let his subordinates fasten a greatcloak around him. Only then did he say, light as a drifting cloud:

"I am going to play a match with another master — just a quick exchange of moves first!"