Chapter 829: Keeping a Promise, Honoring One's Word

The gathering of merchant goods in Baoying County naturally brought considerable benefits to everyone there, high and low, so there were no complaints about a large army encamped outside the county seat. Moreover, people were worried that once fighting broke out at Qingjiangpu, the disaster of war would spill over into Baoying. Having this government force present gave them some peace of mind.

Furthermore, the two major figures of Jiangbei — Fengyang Governor Guo Shangyou and Fengyang Garrison Commander and Grand Supervisor of Grain Transport, Eunuch Cui Wensheng — both took great care in supplying this army. Provisions and pay were disbursed in a timely manner, local purchases were not forced, the burden on the region was manageable, and people could even do business with the soldiers, which helped liven up the market.

It was rare for an army not to exploit the locals, yet the locals had their own worries. Government troops were often no better than bandits; if military discipline slipped, disaster would befall the region. But what truly surprised the officials and people of Baoying County was that this force, ostensibly here to suppress the rebels yet halted at Baoying, was actually keeping itself fairly well in check.

The infantry were under strict orders to remain in camp. Even the most arrogant and domineering cavalry retainers, apart from scouting and delivering messages, stayed inside the encampment all day. It was tightly sealed off.

"Right now, the Xuzhou rebels have sent a total of eight to ten mounted scouts to reconnoiter and carry messages back and forth. That's how many riders there are. There may also be hidden agents. At night, there should be two more riders keeping watch on the road north of the camp."

Inside the government army camp, Battalion Commander Liu Meng reported in a low voice.

Brigade Commander Jiao Dayong of the Auxiliary Battalion nodded and said, "If we move during the day, the Xuzhou rebels at Qingjiangpu will immediately be on alert. We can march at night."

At these words, the several battalion commanders and the nominal overall commander, Circuit Intendant Cui Zhengxian, all turned their attention to him. Jiao Dayong continued, "The weather has been clear these past few days. Tomorrow at the second watch, we'll use night scouts to eliminate those two lookouts, then set out under cover of darkness and make a forced march toward Qingjiangpu."

Everyone's expressions grew solemn. Jiao Dayong went on, "By then, even if someone notices, they won't be able to catch up. Don't spare the horses — push them hard. Once we reach Qingjiangpu, we charge straight at the rebel camp. Break their camp, kill their leaders — that's first-class merit. Whatever we expend, we'll be compensated many times over."

These words raised morale even higher. Such a frantic, lightning raid would inevitably mean dead or injured horses — a considerable loss. But the promise of multiplied compensation put everyone at ease and made them yearn eagerly for the spoils after taking Qingjiangpu.

The reason there were scouts outside the camp was that the area around the military encampment was now where merchants stored their carts, horses, and goods. The merchants weren't particularly bold, but there was truly little open space left inside or outside Baoying County, and no one dared touch the crop fields that were nearly ready for harvest.

The land the government troops were camped on had been requisitioned by the local authorities. The merchants gathered nearby to take advantage of the situation — why not enjoy the convenience?

Outside the government army camp, goods flowed in an endless stream all day long. Carts hauled cargo, porters loaded and unloaded, and merchants even traded among themselves. It faintly resembled the great market at Qingjiang.

The officers in command initially wanted to drive them away, but the merchants were savvy and offered benefits large and small. Those in charge turned a blind eye, even fearing that if they chased the merchants off, the extra income would vanish.

That day, the camp remained tightly shut as before, and outside it was as bustling as ever. But inside, the infantry drilled while the cavalry rested and conserved their strength. The horses were fed extra rations. Some elite soldiers, disguised in civilian clothes, had already slipped out ahead to serve as guides on the road. Everything was set for the night operation.

Late at night, the commanding officers passed orders down the ranks. Dry rations had been prepared during the day, and the cavalrymen assigned to the attack ate first. Fifteen night scouts were already mounted and waiting at the camp gate — the finest elite soldiers from each unit, superb riders and fierce fighters.

"Do you see over there? Two campfires, one far, one near," someone on the wooden tower by the gate pointed out.

The night scouts all fixed their eyes on that direction. Now that it was dark, the merchant caravans near the camp also had scattered lights, but farther out it was pitch black. Those two campfires stood out clearly.

"That's where the rebel scouts are. They eat and rest there at night. It's been nearly five days — they're bound to be off guard by now. Once you've wiped them out, the main force will move out," the man giving directions said sternly.

The government night scouts grunted their assent. Battalion Commander Liu Meng then spoke: "Don't underestimate the enemy. Don't be careless. Dead or alive, it doesn't matter. Get this done tonight, and every one of you gets double reward!"

Another grunt of assent. Battalion Commander Liu Meng waved his hand. The triangular wooden barricades at the camp gate were dragged aside, and the dozen or so night scouts rode slowly out.

The hooves of the dozen-plus horses struck the ground, but the sound was muted. Every horse's hooves were wrapped in cotton cloth, and their mouths were bitted, all to ensure silence.

All the lights near the camp gate inside the encampment were extinguished, precisely to keep outsiders from seeing the movement. After the night scouts left, Liu Meng hurried up the makeshift wooden tower to get a higher vantage point. From there he could see more clearly. Once those two campfires went out, the main force would move.

The hour was already late. The lights in the merchant caravan encampment were going out one by one. The merchants themselves were off enjoying themselves in the county seat; the laborers outside all went to sleep early.

By his reckoning, the night scouts had been gone for some time. The camp lights were rekindled. In such a huge encampment, pitch darkness would easily lead to chaos.

As Liu Meng peered into the distance, he suddenly heard a sharp whistle tearing through the air — the sound of an arrow in flight. It was faint. Had the night scouts already crept up? How could anyone over there possibly hear it?

It came from here! Liu Meng only had time to realize that much before a feathered arrow pierced clean through his throat. His hands clutched at the shaft, trying to pull the arrow out. Still gripping it, he toppled from the wooden tower and crashed to the ground.

The whistle of arrows slicing through the air rose one after another. The government soldiers caught in the lamplight were like targets, shot down where they stood. But not every arrow was as deadly accurate as the one that killed Liu Meng. Wounded soldiers screamed in agony; others shouted warnings.

"We're under attack!"

"They're coming!"

The men at the camp gate either fell dead or wounded from arrows, or turned and fled into the camp at a dead run. The attackers outside did not immediately pursue. Iron hooks attached to ropes were thrown onto the wooden barricades at the gate. With a shout, the barricades were ripped aside.

"Form ranks!" "Stand fast!" "Dress the line!" The commands rang out one after another outside. In the darkness beyond the camp, points of flame suddenly flared to life.

Charcoal braziers were stirred until they glowed bright red. Torches wrapped in oil-soaked cloth were thrust into the braziers, bursting into flame, then pulled out and distributed to the retainers and militia who had finished forming up.

"Charge! As ordered, keep charging straight ahead. Don't turn back until you've punched clean through the camp!" Dong Bingfeng shouted.

The arrow that had shot Liu Meng off the wooden tower moments ago was his. But now he had cast aside his bow and held a long spear, clad head to toe in full armor.

The two companies standing before him were also in full armor, iron from head to foot. These two companies carried no torches, only long spears. Scattered around them stood thirty-odd archers.

"Five-man column! Follow me in!" With that terse command, Dong Bingfeng took his place in the front rank, leveled his spear, and strode forward, leading the troops as they charged inside.

Armor clanked and rattled. Boots struck the ground in unison. Though only two companies had charged in first, the entire government camp seemed to tremble.

The two lead companies rushed in, and the remaining companies followed in sequence. Of the eight companies behind in the Third Regiment, two more were fully armored; the rest were partially armored. But the armored retainers always stood at the outermost positions, in the front ranks. With the fully armored companies as the spearhead and the other companies on the flanks, the torch-bearing militia followed behind them. Retainers and militia split into three arrowhead formations and stormed into the encampment.

Among the militia units under Zhang Hubin, four companies were partially armored. In these four, the armored men carried no torches; the others did. They waited a moment at the rear until the distance opened up, then charged in as well.

Dong Bingfeng's vanguard advanced irresistibly. In fact, by this time most of the infantry in the camp were already asleep. Startled awake by the footsteps and commotion outside, they were momentarily unable to react.

Strict silence was enforced in the camp at night. Any hint of a night panic could easily trigger a full-scale rout. For that reason, making noise at night was a capital offense under military law.

But if they failed to react in that first moment, it was soon too late to react at all. Torches set tents ablaze, ignited stores of fodder and firewood. Soldiers stumbled out in panic, only to find themselves facing a forest of leveled spears in disciplined ranks. In their haste, they had no weapons in hand, some not even clothes on their backs. How could they dare fight? They could only turn and flee.

But the Zhao Battalion's companies were attacking in multiple arrowhead thrusts, setting fires and charging everywhere. The chaos spread from the camp gate outward in all directions. Men would flee to one spot only to see these iron-clad enemies again, forcing them to keep running. The more they ran, the greater the disorder. Some soldiers, jolted awake from deep sleep, ran out without even knowing what was happening. The only thing they could do was run with the crowd.

There were those who tried to rally and resist, especially since the first charging retainer companies did not turn back, leaving gaps behind them. But as soon as any group began to organize, Zhang Hubin's four companies came charging through.

The vast government camp held several thousand infantry — more than double the number of the Retainer Regiment and the Militia Battalion combined. But caught in a night raid, the entire camp was shattered into scattered fragments. They could not muster a force of even a hundred men. And even if they barely managed to gather one, Zhang Hubin's four hundred men were an overwhelming advantage. Every flicker of resistance was utterly crushed.

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