Entrepreneurship in the Late Tang Dynasty

Chapter 256 Loyalty
That night, Wang Yanzhang and Zhao Wenzhong sat cross-legged in the tent, inspecting bowstrings and swords. These were all from the Deceitful Insects' camp, and they were all good items. It was just a pity that they didn't have iron armor, otherwise this operation would have been more secure.

Footsteps sounded outside, and then the little child who had brought them earlier poked his head in and said to them:

"Guo Tou is calling you to the tent."

Wang Yanzhang got up, then led Zhao Wenzhong and the others out of the tent. After walking a few steps, they arrived at the outside of a large tent and went inside.

Inside, the one called Mantianchong was scratching his head in frustration, while Guo Shaobin, upon seeing Wang Yanzhang and the others arrive, immediately stood up and pulled Mantianchong out.

The moon was obscured by dark clouds, and the campsite was pitch black.

Led by the elusive insects, the group could only make their way to a tent by the dim light of the campfire.

There were several armored soldiers lying on a haystack, fast asleep. Wang Yanzhang and his men went up to them, covered their mouths and noses, and then killed them with short daggers.

Finally, Guo Shaobin led Wang Yanzhang and Zhao Wenzhong inside, while the "Deceitful Insect" was left behind.

Hearing the muffled groans and sounds of fists and feet inside, the Sky-Deceiving Insect grew restless; this time, he couldn't escape responsibility.

Although they didn't run into anyone along the way, the camp was crowded and noisy, so someone might have spotted them.

If tomorrow we find out that the messenger has been killed or kidnapped, then I must, no, he has to go with these people.

But just thinking about this caused the Deceitful Insect excruciating pain. All his accumulated wealth was stored in the main tent. He could let go of the two maids, but how could he just give up the money and cloth?

The envoy inside was no tough guy. Soon, Guo Shaobin came out with Wang Yanzhang and Zhao Wenzhong. Only Guo Shaobin had blood on his hands, and he wiped his hands with a rag as he came out.

Upon seeing the pale-faced Deceitful Insect, Guo Shaobin's first words were:

"I never expected the envoy to be so easy to kill! I'm almost tempted to cut off Liu Yanzhang's head."

Upon hearing this, the Deceitful Insect's face turned even paler, and he hurriedly whispered in a mournful tone:
“My goodness, it’s only because no one in the camp was on guard against this. The envoy came alone with just a few people, and Liu Yanzhang didn’t send any guards for him. But which of those other commanders doesn’t have a dozen or so people lying in their tents? Even my shabby tent has seven or eight people lying in it.”

After saying that, the sly insect peeked through the gap in the tent, but he was so frightened by that one glance that he withdrew his eyes.

Despite the strong stench of blood, the Deceitful Insect spoke even more softly, stammering:
"Guo Tou, I want to go back to the Baoyi Army! I feel I have accomplished my mission!"

But Guo Shaobin laughed, patted the deceiving insect, and said with a smile:
"Old Zhao, you can't back out yet. Our Black Clothes Society is counting on you! Are you worried this will implicate you?"

The cunning insect nodded subconsciously, then shook its head sharply, and finally pleaded again with a bitter face:
"I really can't continue doing this, just let me go back!"

Guo Shaobin ignored it and instead said:
"Don't worry, you have to trust our Baoyi Army. You'll be perfectly safe here!"

After saying that, he put his arm around the Sky-Deceiving Insect, then gave the others a wink, and finally returned the way he came.

Yes, they came swaggering in, and they left swaggering back; that's the bandit army's camp.

……

The following day, the ferry crossing north of Zhongdu City was bustling with noise and excitement.

On the Wen River, nearly a hundred giant boats lay across the water. Because the ferry crossing was relatively small, a large number of boats could only be moored in a row in the center, and then small boats would row to transport supplies to the large boats.

Zhao Huai'an, accompanied by a group of soldiers, stood under the makeshift reed shed, personally overseeing the situation.

He reiterated his instructions to Du Zongqi, who was in charge of the finance department:

"Space on the ship is limited, so we can only carry seven days' worth of rations. We also need to make room for our warhorses."

"And everything must be done quickly! Armor, weapons, rations, medicine, arrows—all of these must be loaded onto the ships first. Once the bandit leader's position is confirmed, the entire army must board the ships immediately."

Du Zongqi noted all of this down, then turned and ran outside. Time was tight and the task was heavy, so he wanted to do it all himself.

Then Zhao Huai'an looked at one of the captains leading the fleet, a man named Li Wengui.

He was a boat captain found by Dong Gongsu during the Xichuan period, and afterwards he followed Zhao Huai'an and helped build a trading fleet.

Having spent over a year honing his skills in the military, this man has lost much of his awkwardness and now possesses the demeanor of a soldier.

"Has Old Wang set off yet?"

Li Wengui quickly replied:
"Commander Wang has already led 500 armored soldiers, 600 mules and horses, and 2,000 auxiliary troops back by boat."

Zhao Huai'an nodded, relieved.
"Yuncheng already has the loyal followers of our army, and with the addition of Wang Jin's men, even if Huang Cun expands his power in Qizhou, I don't think he can break through Yuncheng. So brothers, don't worry!"

The generals present waved their hands, showing that they didn't care about the matter at all and only wanted to work with their lord to build a career.

After saying all that, Zhao Huai'an said something more realistic:

"Our army decisively defeated the enemy forces yesterday morning. Now that a day has passed, the retreating enemy forces must have reached their strongholds nearby. Therefore, both the main forces of the enemy forces in the southwest and the east should know the situation here. So our army must set off before these two enemy forces make contact and begin subsequent mobilization."

After speaking, Zhao Huai'an pointed at Zhang Guinian and asked:
"Old Zhang, tell us about the plans for the future, and how each department should cooperate with you."

Zhang Guinian nodded, then picked up a piece of paper for the first time and began to make arrangements:
"Let me first talk about the guide. Since the location of the old camp of the Grass Army is still uncertain, I have gathered a group of mountain people in that area, a total of fifty people, all of whom are trustworthy."

"The next thing to confirm is the precise location of Wang Xianzhi's old camp, including the valleys around it, the surrounding military outposts, the camp's defensive deployment, including the number of patrols on the perimeter, the location of the sentry posts, and the military strength of the core camp. These have already been taken care of by the Black-Clad Society. How long will it take to get the results?"

After speaking, Zhang Guinian looked at He Weidao, who was present at the meeting.

He Weidao pursed his lips. Although he wasn't sure for a moment, he couldn't show any hesitation at this time, so he clasped his hands in a fist salute and replied:

“My Black Clothes Society has gone all out. All the elite forces have been mobilized from their previous secret spies. The Grass Army has always been a mobile force, so the secrecy of their camps is not very tight. Those with some status in the Grass Army should know the location of the main camp. So I expect there will be results in the next two days.”

But Zhang Guinian was very serious and asked in a deep voice:
So, is it today or tomorrow?

He Weidao's back was soaked with sweat, and he gritted his teeth as he replied:
"today!"

After receiving the result, Zhang Guinian made a note on the paper, and then, ignoring He Weidao's reaction, continued speaking:

"Yesterday, the headquarters ordered the naval forces and patrol boats to scout along the upper reaches of the Wen River, marking shoals, reefs, and landing sites. Li Wengui and Ding Huaiyi, how is the reconnaissance going?"

Ding Huaiyi and Li Wengui stepped forward, clasped their hands, and then Li Wengui spoke first:
"Since receiving the order yesterday, I have selected a fast sailboat and thirty skilled sailors to set sail. After arriving at Zhongdu, I took sixteen men and set sail upstream. The fast sailboat has not returned yet."

Meanwhile, Ding Huaiyi continued to report:
"After receiving the order, I selected sixteen elite officers and soldiers from the Tabai and divided them into eight shifts. I ordered them to scout and mark the shallows, reefs, and large forests along the route where our cavalry could ambush. These men are the most elite Tabai soldiers in our army and will surely be able to complete the mission!"

Zhang Guinian was unusually stern today, and he spoke directly to Ding Huaiyi:
"I don't want to hear any of this nonsense. How long have you given Ta Bai to return?"

Ding Huaiyi, with a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead, replied:

"I'm giving them three days!"

After saying that, he explained:
"Even if it's just a reconnaissance trip to Laiwu by water, it will take our army two days to go and another day to return. Three days is the shortest time, and that's assuming the fast sails are fast enough when they're empty."

Zhang Guinian didn't say whether it was okay or not, but instead wrote down Ding Huaiyi's numbers on the paper.

After two consecutive questions, the atmosphere under the reed awning had become very heavy. This time, Zhao Huai'an remained silent, sitting on a stool and leaving the situation entirely to Zhang Guinian.

Zhang Guinian then began to appoint the other generals:
"Guo Congyun!"

Guo Congyun, dressed in a martial arts robe, stepped forward and clasped his hands in a fist salute:
"exist!"

"Your Flying Dragon Army will be the first to board the ships as the vanguard of the entire army. Once your 300 elite cavalry arrive at the landing point, immediately abandon ship and advance lightly, following the route provided by the Black Clothes Society directly into the core area of ​​Wang Xianzhi's old camp. There's no need to find out where Wang Xianzhi is; the point is to create chaos."

After some thought, Guo Congyun sang without hesitation about this crucial mission:

"Order!"

Then Zhang Guinian continued to select his generals:
Where is Kang Huaizhen?

Already caught up in the atmosphere, Kang Huaizhen held his breath and paused for a moment after hearing that he had a task, then stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting:

"The general is here!"

"Your 300 Taining troops will board the ship as the second batch, carrying armor, weapons, bows and crossbows, and provisions from each unit. Once there, they will advance diagonally from another direction to the outer lines of the Grass Army, responsible for clearing out the outer outposts and cutting off the Grass Army's old camp from the Yishui front."

This mission wasn't as dangerous as the previous one, so Kang Huaizhen answered loudly without hesitation:
"Order!"

Then Zhang Guinian looked at Liu Xin and Geng Xiaojie, and said in a deep voice:
"You two will be combined into the third squad, with your 400 elite cavalrymen, carrying provisions, medical officers, and the remaining auxiliary troops. Once you reach the landing point, immediately set up camp on the riverbank, then rest and await further orders."

Upon hearing that they were not part of the main attack mission, Generals Liu Xin and Geng Xiaojie were visibly disappointed, but they still clasped their hands in greeting and loudly proclaimed their respects.

Then Zhang Guinian shouted to the remaining Bubadu Gao Qinde and Bashandu Han Qiong:

"Gao Qinde, Han Qiong!" The two generals stepped forward. Gao Qinde had been left to defend the water fortress due to a "fair" draw, but now that all forces needed to be concentrated for a life-or-death struggle, he was naturally transferred over with the fleet.

Therefore, Gao Qinde, who was holding back his emotions, was extremely excited, just like Han Qiong next to him, eager for battle.

And Zhang Guinian's task this time did not disappoint the two generals; they heard:

"You two generals will lead your mule-equipped infantry to accompany the first fleet, serving as the two flanks of Guo Congyun's spearhead!"

This mission is excellent; it's practically the main offensive mission. Therefore, the two generals immediately clasped their hands and chanted:
"Order!"

Finally, Zhang Guinian bowed and cupped his hands to Zhao Huai'an beside him, and said:

"Finally, the commander took the initiative to lead our staff, officers, and Yan Bao's three hundred Taining soldiers, along with all the army's medicine, spare warhorses, armor, and weapons, to the landing camp, where they coordinated and deployed the various armies and provided support at any time."

Zhao Huai'an nodded. This meant he was being placed in the general reserve team, which he didn't object to. Instead, he said to Zhang Guinian:
"You staff officers can stay here. If things don't go well, go back first. There's no need for you to risk your lives with me!"

But Zhang Guinian shook his head:
"My lord, this troop deployment was planned by our staff in the camp. How can we let the soldiers risk their lives while we remain in the rear? Besides, Your Excellency is personally leading the troops on the front lines. What do we have to fear? Victory is our only option, death is inevitable!"

Then Yuan Xi, Pei Desheng, Zhao Juntian, He Weidao, Dong Guangdi, and Du Zongqi behind him all bowed down:

"Victory is the only option; death is inevitable!"

Zhao Huai'an looked at these people, nodded, and then let Zhang Guinian continue.

Zhang Guinian calmed himself down, then said in a still cold voice:
"In this battle, our army's primary targets were the core commanders of the rebel army, including Wang Xianzhi himself, his staff and old comrades, as well as other targets that displayed the banner of the rebel commander. The second priority was the rebel army's grain and fodder depots, and the last priority was the families of the rebel army's veterans."

Although Zhang Guinian placed the families of the old camp third, everyone present knew the cruel meaning behind those words.

At this point, no one will think that anyone is innocent or pitiful. On the battlefield, a place of life and death, all means must be used, and everything must be won first!

And again, Zhao Huai'an remained silent.

Just as he learned from Gao Pian, "A kind heart cannot command an army!"
After confirming the order of attack and objectives of each unit, Zhang Guinian began to instruct everyone on the details of the operation:
"Whether Wang Xianzhi is in Xintai or Laiwu, we are going upstream from Zhongdu by boat. Generally speaking, we need to be pulled by boatmen, but the route is full of bandits, and boatmen cannot and dare not pass through this area. So our army needs to row all the way. After our army arrives, we need to be deployed to the battlefield, so we need to conscript prisoners of war as boatmen."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Du Zongqi:

"How many prisoners have our army captured so far?"

Du Zongqi had already memorized these numbers and, without thinking, recited them out:

"Eight thousand six hundred and seventy-two people!"

The number of people defeated by the Baoyi Army was far greater than these, but the pursuit time was too short to continue expanding the gains.

And most of these prisoners were those who stayed behind voluntarily. It wasn't that they didn't want to escape, but that they would die if they ran away without food.

From Zhongdu County to the other strongholds of the Grass Army, the road was basically looted by the Grass Army, and it was no different from a no-man's land.

Of course, the reputation of the Righteous Army for benevolence and righteousness also played an important role in this.

The news of the Baoyi Army's vigorous efforts to gather and provide relief to disaster victims in the Caozhou area had already spread along both banks of the Baigou River.

In the hearts of these bandits, no one in the imperial court was any good, except for this Prefect Zhao of the Righteous Army, who still had some humanity.

After Du Zongqi finished speaking, Zhang Guinian turned to Li Wengui, who was in charge of the naval forces, and asked:
"How many oarsmen do we need to keep the fleet moving quickly?"

Li Wengui did a quick mental calculation and replied:

"To mobilize such troops, supplies, and baggage, our army needs 250 ships with a capacity of 500 shi each. If the fleet is to sail upstream continuously, each ship will need 20 oarsmen, including punters, helmsmen, and oarsmen, rotating twice. This would require 5,000 men!"

Of all the captains who sailed east with Zhao Huai'an, Li Wengui was the only one who rose to the top. There was a reason for this. He was experienced in navigation, having sailed not only rivers and lakes but also sea routes, and had long since developed excellent arithmetic skills.

As the leader of the fleet, he not only needed to be good at mathematics, but he also had some knowledge of astrology and astronomy, making him a truly high-caliber talent at that time.

Back then, Dong Gongsu offered him an astronomical price of 300 guan per year to poach him.

With the figures provided by Li Wengui, Zhang Guinian gave an order to Du Zongqi, the Revenue Minister standing beside him:
“We only need five thousand men. You can pick from these prisoners first. Choose those with calloused hands and dull eyes. If that's not enough, then find the rest!”

At this moment, Zhao Huai'an interjected, speaking directly to Du Zongqi:
"Old Du, tell these people that I, Zhao Da, will give them a chance to turn over a new leaf. As long as they row well on the fleet this time, not only will their past thievery be wiped clean, but I will even take them back to Guangzhou and let them continue farming!"

Du Zongqi had just thought of this after hearing Zhang Guinian's words. After all, if you want these prisoners to obey, you have to give them some benefits, right?
However, only Zhao Huai'an could say such things, and Zhang Guinian knew it too, which is why he didn't say it.

After hearing the treatment the magistrate had given him, Du Zongqi felt that things were much easier to handle, and then clasped his hands in a fist and said:
"This subordinate will certainly complete the task!"

Suddenly, Zhang Guinian held up two fingers and said:
"Two days, including today. I'm giving you two days. After two days, I need you to bring five thousand people onto the ship!"

For the first time, Du Zongqi felt that Zhang Guinian's face was so deserving of a beating, but at this moment, he could only grit his teeth and withstand the pressure, nodding forcefully.

At that moment, Yuan Xi added:
"To prevent these oarsmen from causing trouble, once they boarded the boat, they were kept in the cabin and not allowed to come up. We didn't want them to know where we were going."

"And the ships loaded with armor and weapons should be driven by our husbands who came from Gwangju, so that the prisoners do not come into contact with the weapons."

Zhao Huai'an nodded and told Li Wengui to write this down.

Seeing that no one else wanted to add anything, Zhang Guinian began to explain the final marching arrangements:

"Two days later, when the people who tread on white are heading back, we need to go upstream from here, and then travel at least forty miles a day. At night, we must turn off the lights and hide our boats. All boats must be under curfew and remain silent."

"Then two days later, the fleet arrived at the confluence of the Muwen River and the Yingwen River. From here, heading north leads to Laiwu, and heading south leads to Xintai. So the approximate landing point was set here. The remaining journey was then undertaken by cavalry on a rapid march. At dawn, they launched an attack on the Cao army."

"Whether the attack succeeds or fails, all units must regroup at the old camp, then burn the grass army's provisions, return along the route, and then leave by boat."

"If the situation worsens and the retreat is cut off, the raiding troops will immediately head north, enter Zizhou through the Changshao Mountain Road, and rest in Ziqing."

"Therefore, the operation will only take one day. If you do not arrive within one day, it means that you have already broken through to the north. At that time, our fleet will retreat downstream."

"Can you accept this timeframe?"

The generals present were all pondering this, and then they all nodded in agreement.

Zhang Guinian nodded, then marked this line on the paper with a pen, and then continued to add:
"Because you are launching three attacks in succession, with sharp blades, support, and preparations, and you are fighting at dawn, identification is of utmost importance. I have confirmed the horn order with the lord for that day, and I will inform you on the day of your departure."

At this point, Zhang Guinian finally finished explaining the battle plan that he and Zhao Huai'an had discussed together, and then walked to the side, handing the task over to Zhao Huai'an.

Zhao Huai'an stood up abruptly and looked at everyone present:

"In conclusion, I have nothing more to say than to reiterate one point: discipline in this battle."

"Gentlemen, I have said countless times that in large-scale military operations, military discipline must be strict! And this time, our elite troops have been dispatched in full force, with 1,300 elite cavalry and 1,000 mule-drawn infantry rushing to the brink of death and fighting for our lives. Therefore, discipline must be emphasized even more."

"Therefore, I hereby order you to strictly prohibit private looting that could delay the battle, prioritize the killing of enemy generals to dismantle their organization, and strictly prohibit any unit from fighting over the heads of enemy generals! I want you to do these three things! Do you understand?"

The generals loudly sang "Yes, sir!"

Then, Zhao Huai'an scanned everyone present, including the generals of the Taining Army, before slamming his weight onto the table like a tiger emerging from its lair and growling:
"I, Zhao Da, am confident that I can lead you to victory this time, and I tell you all here! The night of victory will be short, but this glory will last a lifetime, and I, Zhao Huai'an, will not keep this glory to myself!"

In an instant, everyone straightened their chests, slammed their hands on their chests, and roared:

"loyalty!"

This slogan started circulating in the army after the Baoyi Army captured Caozhou, and it's unclear when it began. Obviously, the magistrate liked it.

At this moment, everyone looked at Zhao Huai'an with intense admiration, for his entire life of honor, wealth, and power depended on the magistrate.

It was in this enthusiastic atmosphere that Sun Tai outside suddenly shouted:

"My lord, they're back!"

Zhao Huai'an suddenly looked up and saw Guo Shaobin, Wang Yanzhang, Zhao Wenzhong and four others galloping towards him on horseback, passing without any obstruction.

Then Guo Shaobin kicked off his horse and rushed in like lightning, shouting:

"My lord, it's confirmed. Wang Xianzhi is indeed in Tiger Wolf Valley!"

In an instant, everyone inside the tent stopped breathing. Then Zhao Huai'an rushed to the screen, his eyes fixed on the three words "Tiger and Wolf Valley" written on it.

This place is located precisely between Laiwu and Xintai, and just southwest of their designated landing point. To the north is the Muwen River, to the east is the Yingwen River, to the west is the Wen River, and to the south are Mount Culai and Mount Liangfu.

It's a true dead end!
Upon seeing that Wang Xianzhi had actually ended up in the old camp here, Zhao Huai'an couldn't help but burst into laughter, and then punched the screen!
Alright, this time you won't be able to escape!
(End of this chapter)