Chapter 1264: The Belated Routed Troops

The night was still. Ji Xiang's loud proclamation carried far. When they heard his words, an uproar erupted both on land and on the river. Though the Zhao Family Army cavalry had long known, the repeated declaration of this victory still stirred their spirits. As for those on the ships, even the Zhao Family Army's own sailors and crew were ecstatic, and the other two groups were even more shaken.

The original agreement was that the Zhao Family Army would send troops to Tianjin, where a fleet would meet them. Though the men in charge from the Yu and Zheng families remained skeptical, they were willing to offer support for the sake of the goods and trade at Haizhou Port and Xuzhou. At worst, they would have made this trip for nothing—they were all prepared for that. The seagoing ships had sailed with favorable winds and currents to Tianjin Port, unloading and loading cargo while dawdling here. All they heard was how mighty the government troops were, how the Xuzhou rebels would be wiped out any day now. Hearing such news day after day, they could not help but grow agitated and disheartened.

Fortunately, these Xuzhou rebels who were supposedly about to be wiped out kept advancing north step by step, which set everyone's minds at ease again. Yet everyone also knew that without a decisive battle against the imperial court's grand army, no amount of northward advance counted for anything. No matter how strong the Zhao Family Army was, fighting a decisive battle against court forces three times their size—and a grand army amply supplied, with border troops making up the majority—their odds of victory were truly slim.

Even when they received the secret signal that the Zhao Family Army would send a flanking force to the port, instructing the fleet to act according to the prior agreement, no one was particularly optimistic. This Tianjin canal dock had no city walls or fortifications to shelter it; it lay exposed. A flanking raid could certainly reach it, but the court's grand army could calmly converge and wipe them out. In other words, even if they managed to link up at the dock, it might not affect the overall situation.

Yet no one could have imagined that the court's grand army—which had assembled three columns of border troops and was nearly four times the size of the Zhao Family Army—would actually be defeated just like that. The news had not yet reached Tianjin, and the men on the ships had even less chance of knowing. They could scarcely believe it. By their reckoning of time, battle had only been joined today—how could anyone speak of a "great rout"?

But with Ji Xiang saying so, and even giving a specific time, they had no choice but to believe. There was no point whatsoever in putting on a false show here. If nothing arrived by tomorrow afternoon or the morning after, then everything would naturally be over.

"Does this mean they're going to seize the realm?"

"Does this mean he's going to become emperor?"

A buzz of murmuring spread through the crowd. Everyone on the dock and on the ships was discussing it, each person unable to suppress their excitement. No matter how close or distant their ties to Xuzhou, they were still closer to it than most. If Zhao Jin truly won the realm and became emperor, then everyone here would surely benefit.

Ji Xiang took in everyone's reactions. He waited a moment, then raised his voice: "Though the greater situation is settled, we can't yet say our side is completely secure. Once day breaks tomorrow, Tianjin city may send men out to seize the dock or even burn the stores. By our reckoning, the routed government troops falling back from Jinghai County will also arrive. Whether they'll be rallied to attack here, no one can say. We must hold out against this wave before the situation can be considered settled."

"Fifth Master, set your mind at ease. Across our dozen-plus ships, we've got several hundred men who can wield a blade. And besides, aren't the big fellows still loaded on the ships?" someone from the Yu family called out. The men of the Zheng Family gang all voiced their agreement.

Ji Xiang nodded, then turned and shouted, "Light the bonfires on the dock! It's time we put our backs into it!"

The soldiers behind him roared their assent, though they were still somewhat bewildered, unsure what Ji Xiang was really talking about. But once the order was given, everyone immediately began working in an orderly, methodical fashion.

Supplies were abundant at this canal dock, and firewood and straw were in no short supply. Soon several great bonfires were blazing, illuminating the surrounding area so brightly that even the walls of Tianjin city not far away were startled. The Zhao Family Army cavalry keeping watch there immediately reported back that there was movement atop the Tianjin city walls—the government troops inside were likely reacting.

The government troops never dared to leave the city. Meanwhile, the dock became a hive of feverish activity. Gun carriages were unloaded from the Zhao Family Army's own seagoing ships, while from the Yu family's ships came the gun barrels alone, and from the Zheng Family gang's ships came powder and shot. Seeing this, the Zhao Family Army soldiers could no longer hold back their cheers. All the way from Xuzhou, at Linqing, at Jinghai, and in those even earlier battles, everyone had witnessed the power of cannon. Raiding Tianjin, they would have to face a counterattack from within the city and routed troops from outside—the pressure was considerable. Suddenly seeing such a state-level weapon of war as the cannon, their cheers came from the heart.

In all, ten cannons were unloaded from the ships: two six-pounders, four three-pounders, and four one-pounder light guns. There were also a dozen or so gunners aboard the Zhao Family Army ships, and they disembarked as well. Under their direction, soldiers and sailors placed the gun barrels onto the carriages and limbers, then hitched horses to haul them away.

"All these days at sea, I reckon we've puked up even the sour water. On the return trip, I'll follow the army on land if it kills me." The gunners were all grumbling after disembarking, drawing a round of laughter from those around them.

Ji Xiang stood on high ground watching it all. He naturally knew about this operation to ship cannons north from Haizhou Port, and he knew the risks involved. The power of the Zhao Family Army's cannons lay not only in the casting but also in the gun carriages and limbers, which transformed the cannon from a fortress weapon into a field battle asset. Such secrets naturally could not be allowed to be stolen by others. Yet when transporting cannons by sea, they could not be left behind; the only option was to ship them in separate parts.

The Zhao Family Army's own ships carried the most critical but not the heaviest component—the gun carriages. The Yu family fleet carried the cannon barrels. The Zheng Family gang, for their part, carried the shot and powder. The Zhao Family Army had its own informants and eyes within the Yu family fleet, giving them a measure of control. As for the shot and powder placed on the Zheng Family gang's ships, those were the least critical of all.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong en route, and they successfully made contact here at Tianjin Port. After unloading the cannons, the fleet's men did not idle. They began loading the dock's stored grain onto the ships. Should the army encounter any setbacks at Tianjin, the grain aboard could serve as military rations. Though it now seemed like an unnecessary effort, on the battlefield, making one extra preparation was always worthwhile.

The bustle on the dock continued into the early morning hours. By the time the sky began to pale, everything that needed doing was finally done. The cargo yard area near the walls of Tianjin city had been cleared into a sufficiently large open space, while the area near the dock was piled high with grain.

The Zhao Family Army's positions were more or less set. At a time like this, there was no thought of conserving grain. Sack after sack of grain was stacked up, serving either as cover for the cannons or as makeshift fortifications for a temporary camp. The horses that had traveled so far were all eating processed grain. The supplies at the Tianjin dock were simply too plentiful, for this place did not merely supply the government troops—it was the final canal node supplying the capital. Most of the supplies traveling north were gathered here.

The gates of Tianjin remained tightly shut. All the forward cavalry companies of the Zhao Family Army had finished their breakfast, yet there was still no reaction from Tianjin city. Ji Xiang divided the forward cavalry into seventeen companies. The men of the Guard Brigade dismounted and were mixed with the men from the ships, stationed at key points centered around the cannons, arrayed in strict readiness.

They had exerted all their strength here, but there was not the slightest reaction from within Tianjin city. It was only half a shichen after breakfast that the light cavalry monitoring the city reported back: the north gate of Tianjin had opened, and several fast riders had departed. Not long after, more word came that half of these riders had gone west, while the other half had gone south. Everyone could guess their destinations—one group was likely heading for the capital, the other to the government army's main camp at Jinghai County to seek reinforcements. By any reckoning, the city of Tianjin still did not know of the great defeat at Jinghai County.

Perhaps because the Zhao Family Army's cavalry had arrived here first, the routed soldiers all veered away to avoid them, while the government cavalry fled even farther afield. Although Ji Xiang had deployed light cavalry to keep watch in the surrounding area the night before, they had not encountered any government routed troops. But one shichen after breakfast, the light cavalry sent out reported back: ahead, a force of several thousand government troops was approaching.

It was several dozen li from Jinghai County to Tianjin. The Zhao Family Army's main force had not pursued, and the forward cavalry's passage had not inflicted great slaughter, so the routed troops falling back toward Tianjin could certainly be rallied together.

"All units, stand ready. The moment we can see them from here, open fire. Aim the cannons at the direction of the Tianjin city gates. Once they see a large force of troops arriving, they're bound to come out and try something." Ji Xiang gave the order. There were also several thousand government troops garrisoned in Tianjin. Seeing a large army arrive outside the city, they would inevitably make a move.

When dust clouds appeared in the distance, many of the Zhao Family Army cavalrymen stood up to look. It was not battlefield jitters—rather, the dust clouds seemed far too large. They did not look like those raised by just a few thousand men. Even Ji Xiang sent out riders one after another to investigate.

When the reports came back, Ji Xiang let out a rueful laugh. The enemy's numbers had not changed; it was just that their formation was so utterly scattered that they had kicked up this sky-filling dust. But this show of force gave confidence to those inside Tianjin city. The number of lookouts on the city walls had visibly increased, and they could even see signal flags waving at the gate. The government troops inside were surely mustering in the barbican.

The flags flying at the dock were all government army banners. Though tattered and stained with blood, they still looked as though government troops were stationed here. After all, when Ji Xiang had led the cavalry on their rapid advance the day before, the government troops along the way had merely fled and scattered—no one knew where they had gone. The only oddity was the several large ships on the river. Men had already climbed the masts and were observing the battlefield from on high.

Since these were routed and scattered troops who had been rallied together, and in such disarray at that, they naturally had no forward scouts. Judging by their marching manner, the riders who had left Tianjin probably had not passed the news to them—in the chaos, it was only natural that no one had bothered. They had no idea at all that Ji Xiang was right beneath the city walls.

"Leave one company of mounted soldiers. The rest, mount up!" Ji Xiang called out. His personal guards relayed the order. Ji Xiang raised his long blade high and traced a circle from left to right. As he did so, he spurred his horse outward.

Following his motion, the various cavalry companies converged forward from their positions. They began forming ranks even as they advanced at a slow pace—three companies in the front rank, six companies making up a battalion. Once the formation took shape, they began increasing their speed and moving forward.

Brothers of Qidian and Chuangshi, your monthly tickets have been strong these past two days. All I can say is that I'm gritting my teeth and updating. My spirit and body are both taut—I'm holding on! Great Ming Wufu needs more monthly tickets, subscriptions, and tips!

Thanks to "Qi Sanwen, Duan Yichen, User Xinxin, Yuan Heng Li Zhen, Tianyou Xing, Yun Quan, Hua Ji, Dahan Caomin, Guai Hun You, Guang Tianshi de Zhufu, Feng Zhong Longwang" and other old and new friends for their tips. Thank you all for your subscriptions and monthly tickets. Thank you, everyone.