Entrepreneurship in the Late Tang Dynasty

Chapter 243 Fool
That night, near Zhongdu.

Wang Chongyin, the leader of the bandit army, was sitting cross-legged on a wool blanket, eating meat.

Lamb fat kept dripping onto the expensive wool blanket, but nobody cared.

He, Liu Hanhong, and his younger brother Wang Chongba have been lying in wait here for two or three days with about 30,000 rebel troops.

But to be honest, with so many of them, it was impossible to hide them. All their food and supplies had to be transported from Zhongdu City.

Yes, Zhongdu was indeed the location of the Cao army's provisions, but that was before. In fact, as the Cao army in Caozhou retreated to the rear, Wang Xianzhi had already ordered his men to transport provisions to Gongqiu and Sishui further east.

However, Zhongdu still had a large amount of grain and fodder left to supply the army that besieged Xiaqiu at that time.

According to Liu Yanzhang's plan, Wang Chongyin led a portion of the army to be stationed on the outskirts of Xiaqiu, leaving only the western entrance to the city open.

Then just wait quietly for your prey to walk right into your trap.

Several days passed, but the so-called Righteous Army had not appeared at all. Wang Chongyin was getting impatient, but without Liu Yanzhang's orders, he could only wait there.

However, he still cared a lot about the Baoyi Army.

After all, this man's recent military achievements are not fake. Now the Grass Army is being attacked from both the east and the west, and most of the credit is due to that Righteous Army.

However, good news has also come from the east these days, saying that the Cao army has finally broken through the Yimeng Mountains, entered the Yishui River Valley, and, in coordination with the local Langya bandits, defeated a local Yanzhou navy.

Oh, by the way, they're called the Taining Army now.

Heh heh, ptooey! Taining? We don't even have Taiping, and your imperial court wants peace?

Although the situation is good, one thing has been bothering me.

That is, it seems that Commander Wang and Deputy Commander Huang have different ideas.

Commander Wang felt that his brothers had come out to seek a way to survive, so if the imperial court could provide them with a way to live, Commander Wang was willing to cooperate with the court.

In fact, Commander Wang's side did try to find someone to convey this message to the imperial court, but every time a city fell, the officials would run away, so Commander Wang's side couldn't find a way to communicate with them.

However, Deputy Commander Huang had even bigger ideas. He told his brothers more than once that the Tang Dynasty was about to perish, and this was the time for heroes to show their strength. He said that if they fought hard today, they could be made kings and prime ministers tomorrow.

Therefore, they not only wanted to fight their way south to strengthen themselves, but also to fight back, to fight their way back to Luoyang, and then to fight their way back to Chang'an.

Although Deputy Commander Huang's words were indeed very inspiring, few of his brothers supported him.

In Wang Chongyin's own opinion, most people probably didn't think they could really overthrow the court, and these bandit leaders weren't exactly penniless; they all had their own families.

If they could settle down safely, accept the imperial pardon, and become governors or magistrates in various places, who would want to continue rebelling!
Let's see if Commander Wang can find someone to pass on a message to the higher-ups, and then we'll see what the conditions the court offers.

As for now? Let's beat up these Tang soldiers first. The more they kill, the more the court will know how powerful they are, and then we can sell them for a good price.

Thinking it over, Wang Chongyin finished the rest of the mutton and prepared to send someone to call his foolish younger brother over.

When he felt frustrated, he would call his younger brother over and scold him, and then he would feel refreshed.

Just then, about ten riders galloped in from outside the camp. When they reached the perimeter of the tents, they quickly shouted to the sentries on the outside before safely entering the camp.

Upon arriving, the man hurried to the central tent and was about to lift the curtain to go inside.

Suddenly, he looked suspiciously into the shadows beside the tent and called out:
"Who's there?"

Upon hearing this, two dark-skinned warriors rushed out from the shadows and were about to bow to the man.

Then the man suddenly realized that his elder brother was also good at using people, letting the two captured Kunlun slave warriors hide in the shadows, so who could see them?
Great, he should do the same when he gets back. Even if he can't stop any enemies, he'll scare them to death.

After casually dismissing the two men, the man lifted the curtain and went inside. As soon as he entered, he saw his elder brother wiping his greasy hands on the blanket, which was now shiny with oil.

As soon as he entered, Wang Chongyin, who was sitting cross-legged, was taken aback for a moment, and then asked:

"Chongba, why are you back? Weren't you supposed to be patrolling the camp?"

After saying that, he shifted his position slightly, indicating that Wang Chongba should sit next to him.

It turns out that this person was Wang Chongba, Wang Chongyin's "foolish" younger brother.

Wang Chongba didn't dare sit on the wool blanket. He moved a small stool to the side and sat down, then leaned over and said to his brother:
"Brother, something's happened. There's a faint light coming from the west."

Wang Chongyin was taken aback and asked in confusion:

"Which battalion is on fire?"

Wang Chongba shook his head, also unsure, and said:

"We've already sent people to check, but I don't think it's a fire; it looks more like an attack."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chongyin's eyes narrowed, and he suddenly shouted outwards:
"Someone come in!"

A dozen or so armored bandits rushed in, ready to seize Wang Chongba. Wang Chongyin coughed awkwardly and gave the order:
"Go to each battalion and tell the brothers to get ready, to gather their troops, and not to fucking sleep!"

Upon hearing the order, the soldiers rushed out to relay it to their respective camps.

After these people left, Wang Chongyin gave an awkward smile and forced a smile at his already angry younger brother:
"Hey, the guys down there are just being silly and messing around!"

Wang Chongba pursed his lips, not dwelling on that, and instead suggested:
"Let's gather all the cavalry together first. If something really happens, these are the ones who will be most useful."

Wang Chongyin nodded, then stood up from the wool blanket and paced back and forth:

"Now that you say it, I'm increasingly convinced that this is the Baoyi Army attacking. Amazing! Commander Liu's plans are flawless; these people are indeed walking right into our trap!"

After saying that, Wang Chongyin slammed his fist into his palm and said fiercely:

"Have all the cavalry gather in my camp first. You take a detachment and hide south of Zhongdu City. If it really is the Baoyi Army that attacks, then these people will definitely know that Zhongdu City is our grain supply point, and we can catch them like turtles in a jar!"

Wang Chongba nodded excitedly. The feeling was just like fishing. After waiting for a long time, the excitement was indescribable when the fishing line swayed.

The big shipment has finally arrived!
So Wang Chongba clasped his hands in a fist and nodded, and then went out to prepare.

Soon, torches were lit at Wang Chongyin's camp, and straw soldiers wearing yellow turbans were everywhere, their countless swords and spears gleaming brighter than the moon.

……

When the two messengers delivered Zhao Huai'an's latest military order, along with the jar of fish and mutton soup, to Geng Xiaojie and Liu Xin, their gratitude was beyond words. The messengers gave a detailed account of what they had heard in the main tent, revealing that the city of Zhongdu ahead might be a trap, but Geng and Liu remained fearless.

The two of them each had a bowl, and they also shared a bowl with the generals in the army. After finishing the soup, everyone felt warm.

Because the "death trap" was given to Liu Xin, this operation was led by Geng Xiaojie.

At this moment, with the torches casting a dim glow, Geng Xiaojie loudly gave the order:
"Raise two torches for the entire army! Burn everything in the camp that can be burned!"

Then, ignoring the bandits and prisoners in the wilderness, the two groups of about five hundred cavalrymen marched in a mighty procession straight towards Zhongdu City in the northeast.

Five hundred elite cavalry may not sound like much, but visually they are an imposing force.

Led by several guides from the captured soldiers, they advanced in two columns.

About two hundred riders were in the front, and three hundred riders spread out on both flanks. However, because it was dark, the formations were very rough, and they were only roughly divided into two parts.

Even so, the level of organization required for a night march is already quite remarkable.

The moonlight was indeed bright tonight, its silvery glow flowing across the wilderness like water, and the cavalry of the Baoyi Army marched through the night carrying torches.

During this process, they encountered several enemy camps, but without these cavalry attacks, these camps collapsed simply upon hearing the thunderous sound of their hooves.

The more this was the case, the more certain Liu Xin and Geng Xiaojie became that Zhongdu was a trap.

They had fought against both Caozhou and the Cao army, and were very familiar with the internal structure of the Cao army.

The combat capabilities of the various factions vary, but they are mainly divided into core and peripheral factions.

The most elite unit in the bandit army was the cavalry, and those who could join were either old comrades or brave warriors among the refugees. Slightly less elite than the cavalry were the bandit army's armored soldiers, who were veterans of various battles, but who were not good at riding horses, so they were incorporated into the infantry.

However, these two types of troops account for a very small proportion of the army's strength; a 10,000-strong army might only have two or three thousand such troops.

Now, the rebel forces they encountered along the way neither retaliated nor sent their own cavalry to probe, indicating that these troops were all peripheral forces of the rebel army.

If Zhongdu City was truly the source of the Cao army's provisions, why would such an important location be left to be defended by a few Cao troops on the outskirts?
The cavalry quickly reached the edge of a small hill. Just as they turned out, they saw a small group of cavalry also turning out from the same direction. In an instant, the two sides collided.

Without exception, the opposing army was completely wiped out.

The leader of this Flying Leopard Cavalry unit is Xu Yao, one of the eight generals from the Zhongwu Army who defected to Zhao Huai'an in Xichuan.

At this moment, Xu Yao touched the corpses of these people and found a secret letter. It was written by a bandit leader named Gao Ya to a small bandit group under his command, instructing them to go to the west to check the situation.

Xu Yao understood that the nearby rebel army had already noticed something was wrong and was obviously gathering forces to probe this area.

Thinking of this, Xu Yao asked one of the captured soldiers next to her:
How far is it from Zhongdu?

The captured soldier stammered a few words, sweat beading on his forehead, then suddenly pointed in another direction and shouted:
"Over there, almost there."

Xu Yao grinned, pulled the soldier off his horse, drew her sword, and plunged it into the man's chest, cursing:

"Damn it, you still want to lie to me at a time like this?"

After dealing with this captured soldier who had turned into a bandit halfway through the journey, Xu Yao shouted to all the cavalry present:
"We are the vanguard of the entire army, only allowed to advance, not retreat! I will go first in this battle. If I die, the deputy will go. If the deputy is killed, the platoon leader will go. In short, I am invincible in this battle!"

The knights roared in unison:
"I am invincible!"

Xu Yao could already hear clusters of torches flickering in the distance, indicating that an enemy force of unknown size was emerging. He immediately mounted his horse and shouted to the group:
"Put out the torches!"

"Ignore the two sides and only take the middle."

"Brothers, follow me and kill!"

After saying that, Xu Yao charged towards the ball of torches ahead, wielding her lance.

In the darkness, dozens of cavalrymen accelerated, and wherever there were potholes or uneven terrain, men and horses would fall. But it was precisely this great risk that caused their adrenaline to surge, making these Flying Leopard Cavalrymen's veins bulge as they charged into the grass army from all directions with their spears raised.

In the darkness, the terrifying sound of galloping hooves could be heard. The grass army infantrymen on the outer perimeter, holding long spears, were terrified and then knocked to the ground by the approaching warhorses, and trampled to death by the warhorses behind them.

Darkness provides an extra layer of protection for everyone, yet it is also the dividing line between the brave and the cowardly; it can amplify both courage and fear.

With just one attack, this small, unspecified band of soldiers was completely routed.

However, at the same time, Xu Yao's cavalry were scattered. Now, none of the fifty riders knew where the others were, and they could only continue to gallop westward in the moonlight.

Before they set off, Liu Xin, the deputy commander of Feihudu, told them that they only needed to follow the direction of the moon to reach Zhongdu County, and when they saw a huge peach forest, they would have arrived at Zhongdu County.

It was because Liu Xin, a man from Zhongdu, had spoken up beforehand that Xu Yao killed the prisoner immediately when he suddenly pointed in another direction.

If you're going to surrender, then surrender completely. Jumping between sides is just asking for your own demise!
So at this moment, these Flying Leopard Cavalry scattered, but still remembered Liu Xin's words and continued to gallop towards the moon.

Before they had run for long, a series of rapid copper whistles suddenly came from the darkness; they were the copper whistles that the officers carried with them.

Without hesitation, the Flying Leopard Riders rushed toward the sound, and there they found Xu Yao waiting there, holding a severed head in her hand.

Seeing the group continuously gathering, Xu Yao tied the severed head to the horse's head, then said to the remaining people:

"Quickly count the number of people."

They began counting in the darkness, and when they reached thirty-eight people, suddenly no one responded.

Xu Yao was stunned for a moment, her heart ached, then she put down the iron mask, turned her horse around again, and galloped wildly towards the moon.

The cavalrymen behind them followed one after another, their horses treading in the moonlight, their anger gradually rising within them.

Until they finally saw a forest, dappled with darkness under the moonlight, its countless branches stretching out like demons waving their claws.

Ahead of them, a dark, imposing earthen city stood alone.

Upon arriving here, Xu Yao's heart pounded wildly. She then took the last two torches from the side of her horse and addressed the group:
"Light the torches, let's run around the city!"

The riders responded, and then two fire dragons appeared out of nowhere and began to circle the city, like fish and dragons dancing.

This scene was witnessed by the cavalrymen who were lying in ambush nearby, and they all turned their horses around and rushed back to report the news.

Haha, those big idiots from the Baoyi Army have finally jumped in.

(End of this chapter)