Chapter 1247: A Mantis Trying to Stop a Chariot

But Yang Zhaoji shouted, "No matter who sent us, we are all here to serve the nation with loyalty. Yet even loyalty has its methods — we cannot foolishly throw our lives away like this. Anyone who does not wish to go may leave now. Lead your troops to Tianjin and say we were defeated by the Xuzhou rebel army and that you fled there seeking shelter. You are all fine men. Reuniting with the main army, you will be useful talents — far better than being wasted here in vain."

"Those willing to leave, go now. Old Master and I ask only that you do not scatter and turn to banditry, nor throw in your lot with the Xuzhou rebels, but instead go to Tianjin and reunite with the main army!" Yang Zhaoji said in a rough voice. The scene fell deathly silent. With words spoken to this point, who could still hold their spirits high? The Military Defense Circuit and the Prefect seated to the side exchanged bewildered glances — this was hardly the development they had anticipated.

By this point, some cavalrymen were already shouting as they turned their horses, gathering beyond the main force and departing. Voices in the ranks cursed those leaving, but since it was the commanders' will, open infighting was out of the question. Standing on the platform, Yang Guodong saw it clearly and muttered under his breath, "All men from Liaodong. If they could flee here from there, they can flee again from here!"

Yang Zhaoji gave a scornful smile. Just then, someone below the platform shouted, "Commander, what will you do? Take us with you!"

The scene grew very quiet. Yang Zhaoji laughed, fastened his helmet onto his head, took two steps forward, and said, "The court has issued its orders. I naturally must obey and act. Old Master and Commander Yang intend to lead the troops south and fight the Xuzhou rebels to the death!"

Deathly silence fell again below the platform. First dismissing the troops, then still going to fight the Xuzhou rebel army to the death — was this not simply marching to one's doom? That earlier instruction had still left room for speculation. Now, with the death wish made explicit, the decision became far easier. Someone below wept and shouted, "Commander, this humble one will repay your kindness in the next life!"

More and more cavalrymen wheeled their horses and left. The dense mass of mounted troops below the platform began to thin. The same happened with the forces of Shandong Regional Commander Yang Guodong. They had assumed Yang Zhaoji's words applied only to his own men; only after Yang Guodong confirmed it was meant for everyone did they understand. With that, even more departed. By the time no one else stirred, barely over eight hundred riders remained scattered below the platform.

Seeing this, Yang Zhaoji and Yang Guodong exchanged a smile. Someone below also shouted, "Commander, through life and death, I'll follow you, old sir. All these years have been worth it!"

Yang Zhaoji nodded and walked down the earthen platform side by side with Yang Guodong. Before descending, however, he paused and turned back, looking at the several civil officials whose expressions were frozen in bewilderment. Shaking his head, he said in a muffled voice, "Eunuch faction or Donglin, we are all subjects of the Great Ming. Whatever the matter, set faction aside and first ask whether it is good for our Great Ming. Without Old Master and Commander Yang's several thousand cavalry, what are those few thousand infantry here even worth!"

After Sun Chengzong had come here to deliver the imperial decree recalling Wei Zhongxian, Hejian Prefecture had a total of six thousand infantry. These troops were considered to be under the control of Donglin-aligned figures. For this sortie to intercept the enemy, Yang Zhaoji and Yang Guodong's cavalry had been urged into action, yet this infantry force had been ordered to hold the city and await further commands.

Infantry and cavalry combined meant greater strength and greater odds of success. But at this point, nothing more needed to be said. The Military Defense Circuit, Zhang Zaixin, had half a mind to rebuke them, yet seeing the expressions and bearing of Yang Zhaoji and Yang Guodong, the words simply would not come. Only the Prefect beside him muttered, "They're nothing but a rabble. Putting on such a tragic, heroic display — is this meant to air grievances against the court ministers?" Hearing this, Zhang Zaixin thought it reasonable, yet something still felt off. He could only watch helplessly as Yang Zhaoji and Yang Guodong's few hundred riders left the camp and rode into the distance.

That day, the seat of Hejian Prefecture seemed almost festive. Gentry and commoners alike were celebrating. Sales of wine and meat soared, and some even set off firecrackers in the streets. Amid this jubilant atmosphere, Tianjin Military Defense Circuit Zhang Zaixin departed in haste, hurrying back to his post.

A mounted force of fewer than nine hundred riders, amply supplied with fodder and provisions, could move swiftly enough across the flat terrain of Hejian Prefecture. Moreover, large numbers of scouts and reconnaissance riders had been dispatched beforehand, so former Daming Regional Commander Yang Zhaoji was well informed of the Zhao Family Army's movements. But of the scouts and reconnaissance riders sent out, many went and few returned. Some cavalrymen had fled and scattered; even more had died under the screening and hunting operations of the Zhao Family Army's cavalry.

Early in the morning on the thirteenth day of the fourth month, after Yang Zhaoji's troops had lit their fires and cooked their meal, they piled their provisions and baggage in the camp. The entire force of over eight hundred riders sallied forth. According to reports from ahead, the Xuzhou Zhao Family Army was about to arrive.

"I had hoped to draw out the rebel army's cavalry, but I didn't expect them to advance so steadily, heading north without deviation. We can only go ahead and block them." Yang Zhaoji spoke with a smile from horseback. The mood among the cavalry ranks behind him was heavy, but Yang Zhaoji and Yang Guodong remained relatively relaxed, chatting and laughing as they rode.

Former Shandong Regional Commander Yang Guodong rubbed his helmet and said with a rueful, apologetic smile, "Brother Taichu, it is I who have dragged you into this. This label of 'Eunuch faction' truly fits only me. I've implicated you and made you suffer along with me."

Yang Zhaoji, however, pulled a coarse-grain flatbread from his saddlebag, leaned forward, and extended his arm to his horse's mouth. Only after his mount had eaten did he sit upright again. Gazing into the distance, he said slowly, "In truth, Eunuch Wei did want what was best for this realm..."

After saying this, Yang Zhaoji laughed and shook his head, mocking himself. "I suppose I am Eunuch faction too. The year we put down the Smelling Incense Sect rebels, someone wrote me a letter saying that was no time to serve the eunuchs — that I should use the opportunity to topple them before striking, and that would be a great deed for the country and the people. I felt the situation was critical, that if we kept dithering like that, all six prefectures of Shandong and the surrounding areas would be stirred into revolt. As it turned out, after that campaign, I was branded Eunuch faction."

"Absurd! Does that mean a man cannot serve the country? As if those they call Eunuch faction have not served the country!" Yang Guodong said with some indignation.

"Worthy brother, our families have received the dynasty's grace for generations. We ought to fight to the death for the nation. As for those tangled intrigues at court, best not to dwell on them. Dwelling on them does no good anyway."

"Truly... I had thought that by attaching ourselves to Eunuch Wei, we might at least win titles and generalships, earn wealth and rank for ourselves and our descendants. I never imagined it would come to this. Brother Taichu, after this is over... will we be deemed loyal martyrs?"

At this, former Shandong Regional Commander Yang Guodong let out a rueful laugh and mocked himself. "Ah, still Eunuch faction. Loyal martyrdom is not our fate..."

Even as they spoke, dust could be seen rising skyward to the south. The scouts and reconnaissance riders they had sent out were already skirmishing with the enemy, shooting and slashing at one another from horseback, men falling from their mounts without pause.

"Pass the word — have the lads pull back. We can see them with our own eyes now." Yang Zhaoji gave the order with steady composure. The government army's light cavalry scouts began returning to the main body, while the Zhao Family Army's light cavalry did not press their pursuit too closely. Upon sighting this government force, they hastily wheeled their horses and retreated.

At this juncture, the relaxed expressions on Yang Zhaoji and Yang Guodong's faces had vanished. Yang Guodong said in a muffled voice, "All these years we've been preoccupied with the Tartars and the rebels — how did these Xuzhou rebels suddenly spring up? And they're no rabble. Brother Taichu, do you recall the great battles to retake Jining City and sweep away the Incense Sect rebels?"

Seeing Yang Zhaoji nod, Yang Guodong lowered his voice and said, "It's said the Smelling Incense Sect's main force was crushed by the Xuzhou rebels. We merely picked up the bargain!"

Yang Zhaoji's face showed no discomfort. He merely chuckled and said, "Do you still remember Xuzhou Adjutant Zhou Baolu? He and I served together for a few months. According to Zhou Baolu, that Zhao Jin understood business — he amassed great profits from liquor and illicit salt. And he also knew how to train troops, forging the able-bodied young men of a backwater like Xuzhou into a powerful army. Think carefully — isn't the Xuzhou rebel army we've seen exactly like what's described in Marshal Qi's military manuals?"

Even as they spoke, the main body of the Zhao Family Army could be seen slowly halting up ahead. Yang Zhaoji waved his hand and shouted, "No charging now! Keep advancing, do not stop!"

He made several hand signals, which the troops behind him naturally understood. They began slowly shifting formation. Yang Guodong muttered something under his breath. Yang Zhaoji's hand signals changed again, and the government cavalry's formation grew even more dispersed.

Just at that moment, angry curses rang out from behind. Yang Zhaoji and Yang Guodong turned to look and saw cavalrymen preparing to break away from the column, only to be overtaken by their comrades and now fighting on horseback. Yang Zhaoji shook his head and shouted loudly, "Do not stop them! Let any who wish to leave go freely. But I'll say this now — once we advance further, leaving will no longer be possible!"

The few who had broken away wept as they clasped fists in salute from horseback, then spurred their horses and left. The others, however, hardly stirred. Though some wore hesitant expressions, they remained with the column. Yang Guodong added a shout, "Raise the banners! We are honorable and upright government troops of the imperial establishment — we must have some dignity!"

Acknowledging shouts came from behind as the banners were hoisted. Ahead, they could see shifts in the Zhao Family Army's battle formation, but overall there was no major movement. Many units still maintained a posture of advancing at any moment, clearly not taking this force of nearly a thousand cavalry seriously at all.

They advanced a stretch further and saw a lone rider with a banner on his back galloping toward them from the front of the Zhao Family Army's formation. The government cavalry did not attack — anyone could see this was a messenger sent to parley. Sure enough, the Zhao Family Army cavalryman reined in his horse a hundred paces away and shouted his message.

"Are the commanders opposite Yang Zhaoji and Yang Guodong?"

"Our general originally sent you a letter, but unfortunately, it reached Hejian just after you had left. Mr. Zhou Baolu has written to you both, saying the greater situation is already settled. Why not follow the will of Heaven and spare some bloodshed and slaughter?"

"Our general promises that if you two lead your troops to surrender, your entire families will be properly settled, with no purges or settling of accounts. All troops willing to serve in the army will be given priority consideration; those unwilling will also receive appropriate arrangements. We are all children of the Huaxia people — why slaughter one another? Save your strength to fight the Tartars together, fight the Japanese pirates, fight the foreign devils!"

"If you have a reply now, there is still time. If you refuse, then we shall meet on the battlefield shortly!"

After shouting his message, the Zhao Family Army cavalryman wheeled his horse around and withdrew a hundred paces, waiting there.

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