Chapter 180: The Great Retreat

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Ma Maoguan's men broke through the Golden Lock Pass, brought out their families, and fled north all the way.

He was quite the shrewd calculator — Liu Chengzong had stirred up too much trouble by seizing the official silver, and he dared not stay with the Lion Battalion in Yan'an.

So after taking the silver, he announced he was heading to Qingyang Prefecture.

Liu Chengzong was fretting over grain himself and was happy to see others split off from him; anyway, Ma Maoguan's group, with families attached, numbered over a thousand — the Lion Battalion couldn't afford to feed them either.

Never would he have imagined that Ma Maoguan, barely a day on the road toward Qingyang, would be forced back.

"General Liu, Li — Old Jackal Li couldn't take Heshui. Guyuan is sending He Huchen to suppress us."

"He Huchen? He Huchen is coming too?"

Liu Chengzong had just reached Yanchuan to pick up his wealth-scattering boys when he suddenly heard this news. He murmured He Huchen's name, sensing something off.

The flavor in northern Shaanxi was off.

Liu Chengzong knew He Huchen. The year he and his elder brother first joined the army, the Supreme Commander of Yansui Garrison was still Yang Zhaoji, who had pacified the White Lotus Sect in Shandong; He Huchen was the Vice Supreme Commander of Yansui Garrison.

Last year, after Liu Chengzong left the army, He Huchen was promoted to Supreme Commander of Ningxia Garrison for his merit in pursuing the deserter Zhou Dawang, who had raised troops in Wudu.

This was a Ningxia Supreme Commander extremely familiar to Yan'an Prefecture and Yansui Garrison.

Yan'an Prefecture had two main official roads: one ran east from Heshui County in Qingyang Prefecture to Zhiluo Town in Fuzhou; the other went north from Yanchuan through Suide Department to Yulin City.

Now Old Jackal Li was besieging Heshui County in the west. Upon receiving word that He Huchen was about to suppress him, Old Jackal Li would retreat east, and He Huchen would lead his troops into Yan'an Prefecture.

To the north, Du Wenhuan had his troops stationed at Suide Department.

Those were the only two major official roads in Yan'an Prefecture.

Liu Chengzong was thoroughly familiar with this situation — it was almost identical to last year's, merely with Regional Commander Li Bei swapped for Supreme Commander Du Wenhuan, and Mobile Corps Commander Wu Weifan swapped for Ningxia Supreme Commander He Huchen.

"Damn it all!"

Cao Yao was so frantic he paced in circles, scratching his head. "I was hoping to go back to Black Dragon Mountain for a few days! Of all times, they had to come now!"

"Go back, go back fast — we leave tonight, overnight." Liu Chengzong called Fan Sanlang to fetch the horses and said to Cao Yao, "We head back immediately. Have my father and my brother quietly withdraw from Zuantianmao and Xingzi River into Lion Bay on Yunyan River."

Cao Yao's face went blank. "What do you mean? You think Yan'an Prefecture city isn't safe anymore?"

"I don't know, but the officials aren't fools — someone capable surely knows there's a problem with Yan'an Prefecture city."

Liu Chengzong shook his head. Yan'an Prefecture city had been beyond court control for a year now. Ever since Zhang Yundeng split the silver transport convoy days ago, he'd felt the officials already knew something was wrong with Yan'an Prefecture city.

Whatever Zhang Yundeng's suspicions were, he absolutely believed Yan'an Prefecture city was inextricably tied to Liu the Lion.

Of course, Liu Chengzong could never have dreamed that Zhang Yundeng thought Prefect Zhang Nian was deliberately fostering bandits to inflate his own importance.

Fan Sanlang brought the red banner horse. Liu Chengzong and Cao Yao immediately rushed to the prefectural city. That very night, they met with his father and Mister Yang, laid out the intelligence they had received, and had them quietly relocate to Lion Bay under the escort of household guards.

Truth be told, the two were somewhat reluctant, but they knew full well: once the government troops grew suspicious, they could not hold Yan'an.

Even putting aside that Liu Chengzu's elite forces had all gone with Yang Yanchang on the royal relief expedition — had they not gone, the Liu family's two battalions still couldn't take on two Supreme Commanders in Yan'an Prefecture city, which was accessible from all sides.

That night, from Xingzi River to Zuantianmao, the entire area was in mass migration. Important figures were brought out from their homes and moved along mountain paths toward Lion Bay in the Laoshan range.

As for money and grain — since the mountain paths couldn't take large carts — Liu Chengzong took them along the main road and transported them east.

Some money and grain that was hard to move was simply handled by mobilizing Yan'an Guard.

Over by Xingzi River, Chiliarch Ren Quan'er of Fortress Gate hauled it into the Fortress Gate Chiliarchy Station.

Near the prefectural city, Shi Wanzhong, Chen Ruji, Lu Bin, and the others hauled it into Yan'an Guard.

At Yan'an Guard's South Gate siege wall, they dug pits through the night and buried that fifteen-hundred-catty iron Red Barbarian Cannon underground.

Old Master Liu sent runners to every village, spreading the word that this year's summer grain tax should be delayed as long as possible — push it back as far as it would go.

A great retreat on a scale never seen before.

Yet they did not fret over whether they would ever return — that was not something fretting could decide.

It would be decided by victory or defeat.

If they won, or if the government troops withdrew, Yan'an Prefecture would return to how it was before; Yan'an Guard and Fortress Gate Chiliarchy Station would still answer to the Liu family.

If they lost, or if government troops garrisoned Yan'an Prefecture permanently, then naturally everyone would be the officials' people and do whatever the court ordered.

The entire night surged with hidden currents. As the saying goes, when spring river waters warm, the duck is first to know. The very first to sense that things had changed was none other than Yan'an Prefect Zhang Nian.

The next day, Zhang Nian went to work as usual, walking from the prefect's residence behind the yamen, and discovered that all his trusted men were sporting dark circles, each more haggard than the last.

Then, over the next two full days, the thing Zhang Nian heard mentioned most was people asking him when the court's back pay would be issued.

Very strange.

Zhang Nian had always prided himself on the fact that the prefectural city's officials were forged of iron.

Salary arrears were nothing to speak of. Last winter, the prefectural city collected seventy taels in taxes; he withheld fifty taels to distribute as salaries, handing it out to everyone — less than a quarter of their pay — and the officials were still quite energized.

What was going on this year?

Zhang Nian felt that everyone seemed a bit listless.

Later, he heard from someone that the grain shops inside the city had shut down.

Only, when he received this news, he still did not quite grasp what it meant.

"General, Old Jackal Li has sent someone."

At the Yanchuan camp, Han Shipan came to report, and Ma Maoguan arrived bringing Old Jackal Li's subordinate.

This petty bandit leader looked utterly exhausted. After entering the camp and resting a while, he still couldn't stop panting heavily. He stepped forward and prostrated himself. "General Liu, this humble one is Mountain-Drilling Tiger, under Old Jackal Li. We are withdrawing from Heshui. Our chief sent me to seek aid, knowing the General's troops are crack forces, and hopes you can provide support at Zhiluo Town."

"Support?"

Liu Chengzong glanced back at the map. From Heshui County, crossing the Ziwu Ridge to reach Zhiluo Town in Fuzhou was only two hundred li.

From Yanchuan to Zhiluo Town, however, was over four hundred li.

Seeing him deep in thought, Mountain-Drilling Tiger said, "Our chief is willing to offer three thousand shi of grain to request the General dispatch troops."

Three thousand shi of grain was no small sum, but Liu Chengzong still shook his head. He pointed at the map. "If my troops set out now, racing two hundred li at top speed, they'd only reach Yichuan. You run two hundred li and you're already at Zhiluo Town."

If the Lion Battalion went over, it wouldn't be support — they'd arrive exhausted like dead dogs, stretching their necks out for He Huchen to slaughter.

Zuan Shanhu hastily shook his head. "Not the general — He Huchen isn't pressing hard. Our grain convoy is in front, the troops behind, and he's just hanging back far off. We won't reach Zhiluo Town for another five days."

"Hanging back far off?"

Zuan Shanhu explained, "The Ziwu Ridge mountain roads are narrow; he can't spread his cavalry out, so he just hangs behind. There's a Zhangjiawan in between where the terrain opens up — our chief plans to hold them off there for a while. But by the time we flee to Zhiluo Town, we'll be completely spent."

"How many men does He Huchen have?"

Zuan Shanhu said, "Over a thousand cavalry."

Liu Chengzong did not believe it.

A Regional Commander leading a thousand riders out on campaign wasn't strange — it was perfectly reasonable.

But leading a thousand riders into Yan'an was not reasonable.

Coming to Yan'an Prefecture meant dealing with him, Liu the Lion, and to deal with Liu the Lion using only a thousand-odd riders — that didn't add up.

Unless Yang He had urgently summoned him and He Huchen had set out first with only a thousand riders — then slowing his pace while pursuing Li Laochai would be easy to understand.

Very likely he was currently mustering his forces.

Or was He Huchen not coming for him at all?

It was possible, but Liu Chengzong could not afford to believe it.

Four days of marching with their main force — even taking the official road to Zhiluo Town — would still leave them fairly exhausted.

Liu Chengzong had some grasp of Li Laochai's troop strength. Ma Maoguan had told him: when Li Laochai went to Heshui County, he had around three thousand men.

"Where do you plan to go?"

Seeing that he still hadn't agreed, Zuan Shanhu looked slightly disheartened. He sighed, then lifted his head again. "Panshan in Yichuan. We have a camp there. If we truly can't hold, we'll retreat through Hukou into Shanxi."

Liu Chengzong's eyes lit up. Only now did he truly make up his mind to help Li Laochai.

If Li Laochai's plan had been to find a place to dig in and hold, he would not have helped.

But knowing to leave himself a retreat route — Liu Chengzong felt Li Laochai's head was on straight enough. At the very least, he wouldn't be a dead weight.

Although... talking about entering Shanxi at this moment wasn't really all that appropriate either.

The Later Jin forces had already completely withdrawn from the capital region. The king-returning armies would be back soon, and Shanxi would bear the brunt of it.

"Go back and tell Li Laochai: Lion Camp will help you, but we may not reach Zhiluo Town on time. If we can't make it, don't fight there — just put up a little resistance to keep them from shedding their armor. I'll send word telling you where to run, and you run there."

Liu Chengzong looked at Zuan Shanhu. "Can you do that?"

Zuan Shanhu was overjoyed at these words. A grin spreading across his face, he moved to kowtow again, but Liu Chengzong stopped him. Zuan Shanhu said hastily, "This humble one will certainly deliver the general's words to the chief!"

After Zuan Shanhu left to relay the message, the seven sentry commanders all gathered in the central army tent. Some were willing to help, some were unwilling, and others were indifferent, concerned only with the military situation. Everyone began talking at once.

Liu Chengzong sighed. "This is a good opportunity. Right now, two columns of Regional Commanders are about to converge on Yansui. All the rebel kings of northern Shaanxi are in Shanxi — they are the shield against the returning king-returning armies."

"These are the only people left in northern Shaanxi. If we don't help Li Laochai, once he's defeated, Lion Camp will face two columns of Regional Commanders alone. Who will help us then?"

Cao Yao nodded in agreement, but then sighed and said, "Zhiluo Town is too far. I think the battlefield should be at Yanchuan — we march two hundred li, and make He Huchen march four hundred."

"I thought the same, but circumstances force us to rendezvous with Li Laochai. Fu Prefecture, caught between Ziwu Ridge and Yellow Dragon Mountain, has a great tableland — that's the most dangerous place for him."

Liu Chengzong continued by way of explanation, "Once He Huchen spreads his forces out, even with only a thousand riders, Li Laochai won't be able to hold."

"Pass the word for every sentry to prepare. Zhong Hu, your Center Sentry will stay behind to guard Yanchuan."

Zhong Hu had just risen to his feet. Hearing this, he froze, then sat back down and asked, "General, why must we stay and guard Yanchuan?"

"Rest and wait for the exhausted. Guard against Du Wenhuan moving south. North of Yanchuan is a single road, but southward there are several. Have your men carefully keep watch to the north. The moment Suide government troops move south, send someone immediately to Yichuan with word."

Zhong Hu nodded to show he understood, then asked, "Should I block them?"

"You'll have to judge that yourself. If you can hold them, block them just enough to make them put on their armor. If you can't hold, that's fine too — just withdraw south. But be sure to set up some decoy troops heading east into Shanxi."

This was something Liu Chengzong had learned after fighting Li Bei.

At the time, he hadn't had that awareness — it was just Fu Renxi's false report stumbling into the truth, making Li Bei think he was in Shanxi and creating the appearance of a threat to his rear.

But now that he had experience, he could deliberately create that kind of situation.

Whether the enemy would fall for it, and what effect it would have if they did, was not something he could control, however.

At this point, Liu Chengzong suddenly raised a hand. "Remember to tell Fu Renxi — don't have him transport gunpowder west for now."

Ever since Fu Renxi had learned he could sell gunpowder to Liu Chengzong, the man had practically launched a startup, finding every possible way to collect gunpowder.

First he sold Liu Chengzong the entire gunpowder stockpile from Yonghe Pass, then he bought gunpowder from nearby government troop garrisons, and even tried to buy from saltpeter-producing areas nearby — keeping the Yonghe Pass garrison plump and well-fed.

Only, Liu Chengzong felt that while this had certainly improved their meals, it might actually run counter to Fu Renxi's original purpose. His men were living the good life now — when real fighting came, it was doubtful their will to fight would still be that strong.

Of course, if it were about helping Lion Camp ambush someone else, the Yonghe Pass garrison could probably still fight pretty well.

Even Fu Renxi himself might not have realized it — their fundamental interests had changed.

Leaving Zhong Hu to guard the rear, Liu Chengzong also sent word to Gao Yingxiang in Shanxi to notify him, and sent word west to Prince Qin's Manor to notify Zhang Tianlin, inviting him to meet in Fu Prefecture.

Zhang Tianlin's troops were still quite capable fighters. Liu Chengzong was willing to combine forces with Zhang Tianlin.

As for whether Zhang Tianlin was willing to join the battle — that was another matter entirely.

Then he led six sentries, over three thousand combat and support troops, deploying along the official road, advancing sentry by sentry through Yanchang County toward Yichuan.

Along the way, he kept calculating: exactly how many troops would He Huchen have, and where would it be most advantageous to fight?

If He Huchen's force numbered fewer than three thousand, they were likely well-supplied — especially after reaching Fu Prefecture, where the bandit presence was somewhat weaker.

They could choose to drag them into Yan'an Prefecture. Unless He Huchen's troops resorted to plunder, they would absolutely get no supplies at Yan'an Prefectural City — and even if they did plunder, they wouldn't get much.

But the drawback of the Yan'an Prefectural City area was that the Yan River allowed him to deploy several thousand men anywhere; and there was also the risk of being pincered by Du Wenhuan from the north.

Dragging them further into Yichuan, the long mountain roads through Yellow Dragon Mountain could further delay and exhaust He Huchen's forces.

And it would require posting more garrisons along the way.

The next evening, they reached Yunyan Town. On the third day, nearing Yichuan County seat, Liu Chengzong began seriously surveying the terrain, searching for ground suitable as a battlefield.

At the same time, he dispatched Vanguard Sentry's Yang Yao to race west at full speed, cut through Yellow Dragon Mountain, and scout the situation on the other side of the pass.

On the fourth day, the main force remained at the eastern exit of Yellow Dragon Mountain, constructing a camp and resting.

Soon, Vanguard Sentry Yang Yao sent men back to report: Li Laochai's grain transport convoy had already reached Fu Prefecture with their carts. The number of government troops He Huchen had hanging behind had grown to over twenty-four hundred, and that number was still gradually increasing.

Liu Chengzong was right — He Huchen was indeed mustering his forces, which was why they were advancing at such a slow pace.

"Send word to the forward scouts. Have Scout Leader Yang delay the enemy for a spell, then withdraw into Yellow Dragon Mountain. The battlefield will be here."