Sweep Yuan

Chapter 185 Former Comrades-in-Arms Ask About Us

About half an hour later, dust rose from the northwest horizon. A Yuan cavalry force of over a hundred men galloped towards them along the route Li Xixi and the others had taken to escape. The sound of their hooves was like muffled thunder, approaching with the leisurely ease of a cat hunting a mouse.

“Yu—!”

The leading cavalryman reined in his horse, glancing suspiciously across the empty field; the fleeing soldiers had vanished.

"Damn it! A hundred or so defeated soldiers, do you think they can sprout wings and fly away? They must be hiding in the riverbanks, ditches, or tall grass around here! Spread out and search! Kill one if you find one! Cut off their ears and take them back for the reward!"

The cavalry general brandished his sword and gave the order, a cruel excitement on his face. He was certain that the routed soldiers were like frightened birds, only concerned with escaping for their lives and would never dare to retaliate.

The cavalrymen reined in their horses, preparing to dismount or disperse to search.

The moment they stopped and their formation crumbled!

"Kill!" Li Xixi's thunderous roar suddenly rang out from the riverbank.

"Kill them!!!" More than three hundred Red Turban Army remnants, who could no longer contain their anger, leaped out like lurking tigers from the inside of the riverbank, from the grass, and from the ditches!

What burned in their eyes was no longer the despair of the city's fall and the fear of escape, but the madness and flames of revenge after being driven to the brink!

"Oh no! We've been ambushed! Run!"

The Yuan cavalry general was terrified. He never expected that this defeated army would not only not try to escape, but would actually dare to set up an ambush. In his haste, he tried to mount his horse and run away.

But how could the Yuan army easily escape the trap that Li Xixi had meticulously set up?
Li Xixi divided the more than 300 people into three groups.

Da Dao Ao led a force of fierce soldiers, like a sharp knife, straight into the center of the Yuan cavalry, disrupting their formation and aiming directly at the panicked cavalry general! Another force, led by another centurion Bai Buxin, quickly flanked the left flank; while Li Xixi personally led the main force to launch a fierce attack on the right flank.

The objective was clear—to take advantage of the chaos and confusion among the Yuan cavalry as they reined in their horses, and to divide and surround them in one fell swoop.

This was a desperate battle between infantry and cavalry.

The Red Turban soldiers completely abandoned their defenses, throwing themselves at the tall warhorses, stabbing their bellies with spears, chopping off the cavalrymen's legs with knives and axes, and even using their bodies to block the frightened horses that were trying to speed away.

The fallen Yuan soldier was instantly tackled by several red-eyed Red Turban soldiers and hacked to pieces.

Screams, the neighing of warhorses, the clash of weapons, and dying curses echoed across the riverbank wilderness.

The battle was fierce but brief.

The Yuan cavalry, who had already halted, were stunned by the Red Turban Army's ambush and then divided and surrounded. Coupled with their weak fighting spirit, they quickly collapsed. The cavalry general attempted to break through the encirclement but was also cleaved from his horse by Ao's broadsword and then stabbed by several spears before being quickly swallowed up by the crowd.

The dust has settled.

More than ninety Yuan soldiers' corpses were left on the riverbank, and fewer than twenty Yuan soldiers eventually escaped.

The Red Turban Army also suffered heavy casualties, with nearly eighty casualties. Most of the dead were already wounded, but fought bravely to kill the cavalry and were trampled or hacked to death.

But their victory was also brilliant: they captured fifty-six intact warhorses and routed the pursuing troops.

After this defeat, the Yuan army, whose fighting spirit was already weak, should not send troops to pursue Li Xixi and his group again; they are safe for the time being.

More importantly, the resounding counterattack completely dispelled the despondency of fleeing after the city's fall and reignited their indomitable fighting spirit.

Li Xixi had several wounds on his body, blood soaking half of his armor, but he stood ramrod straight, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. He looked at the bodies of his comrades on the ground, a flash of pain crossing his eyes, which was quickly replaced by a deeper resolve.

"Collect the belongings of our fallen comrades (there's no time to bury them, we'll have to build cenotaphs later)! All wounded brothers who can't walk, mount up! Give the captured warhorses to the seriously wounded first!"

His voice was still hoarse, but it carried a convincing authority.

Taking this opportunity, Li Xixi's team was reorganized once again.

The two hundred or so survivors of the great battle were divided by Li Xixi into three groups: the front, the middle, and the rear. Scouts were sent out from the front and the rear to scout the roads and gather intelligence on the enemy, in order to prevent them from being pursued or ambushed by the enemy during the retreat.

With the captured warhorses, the seriously wounded soldiers no longer had to worry about being abandoned and could still make their way to Suzhou despite the bumpy journey.

The team did not become complacent because of the victory; on the contrary, they became more solemn and cohesive, silently continuing their advance towards Suzhou along the shadows under the river embankment.

Thus, although his troops lost Yongcheng, and most of his comrades were either killed in battle or trapped in the city, the survivors had even more awe and trust in Li Xixi.

Three days later, before sunset, the exhausted but determined team finally caught sight of the familiar outline of Suzhou City.

On the city wall, the Red Turban Army flags still fluttered, but in Li Xixi's eyes, they seemed to have lost their former vigor, appearing gloomy and dejected under the setting sun.

The group did not enter the city directly, but stopped at the edge of a small grove of trees several miles away from the city.

After days of travel and the brutal ambush, everyone was exhausted and in dire need of rest.

The wounded are in particularly dire condition. Their wounds have become inflamed and ulcerated from the erosion of sweat and dust. They have a persistent high fever and are unconscious and delirious while strapped to their horses. They urgently need medication and a stable environment for treatment.

"Commander, should we... still enter the city?"

The one who asked the question was Centurion Ao Saburo, who leaned on his blood-stained broadsword, his dark face filled with doubt. His nickname was "Great Sword Ao," and his reputation for bravery was known throughout the army, yet he appeared unusually hesitant at this moment.

Li Xixi understood the deeper meaning in Da Dao Ao's words—Yongcheng was a cautionary tale!
Peng Erlang and Zhao Junyong abandoned them in Yongcheng to cover the retreat. If it weren't for Li Xixi's composure in the face of danger, his foresight in preparing rations in advance, planning an escape route, and even daring to ambush the pursuers, these three hundred-odd men would have long since become skeletons in the ruins of Yongcheng.

Upon their return, what will Peng and Zhao's attitude be towards these routed soldiers who lost cities but did not "die in battle"? Suspicion? Neglect? Or will they see them as a reserve force to be sacrificed next time?
More importantly, the future of the entire Xuzhou Red Turban Army has become bleak.

Peng Erlang and Zhao Junyong preferred to retreat to Suzhou, where supplies were running low, and wait for their deaths, rather than go north to Xuzhou to join forces with Zhima Li and fight against the main force of the Yuan army.

This is clearly a case of each person having their own agenda, and the two sides being divided and disloyal!
Sesame Li was left to fend for himself in Xuzhou, while Peng and Zhao were holed up in Suzhou, barely clinging to life. This dilapidated ship was about to sink.

"What if we don't go into the city?"

Li Xixi countered with a question, her gaze sweeping over the wounded men on horseback behind her, who were barely breathing.

A young soldier was convulsing in pain, his high fever caused by festering wounds, and unconsciously calling out "Mother..."

Li Xixi's heart clenched. So many wounded soldiers might not all survive, but the reason he had the unwavering support of his troops was precisely because of their loyalty and steadfast devotion in dire straits.

“Our brothers urgently need treatment; we can’t delay any longer.” His voice was deep, carrying an undeniable sense of responsibility.

"Saving our brothers is the right thing to do!"

The one who spoke was another centurion, Bai Buxin, a lean man with exceptionally bright and sharp eyes. He was a trusted confidant of Li Xixi, whom Li had promoted since the Battle of Suzhou. He had followed Li Xixi all the way and was the most loyal and understood Li Xixi's thoughts best.

Bai Buxin stepped forward, exchanged a glance with Da Dao Ao, then looked at Li Xixi, lowered his voice, and spoke with unusual calmness.

“Chief, it’s only right for you to come into the city to save your brothers. But if Lao Peng can betray us once, he can betray us a second time, a hundred times! Our brothers have just escaped with their lives, are we going to send them back to the tiger’s den? Shouldn’t we… leave a real way out for our brothers, and for yourselves?”

“A way out…” Li Xixi pondered these two words, his eyes becoming deep. He did indeed have a way out, a way that had been lingering in his mind for a long time, but which he had never taken due to various concerns.

Last autumn, Shi Shan personally visited Fu Youde, a newly promoted centurion of the Red Turban Army, in order to recruit one of his new recruits.

At that time, Shishan was just a deputy commander of the Red Turban Army in Haozhou, but the vision, knowledge, and respect for his soldiers that he showed in his words and deeds had already left a deep impression on Li Xixi.

The two enjoyed drinks and conversation that evening, discussing military matters and showing a mutual respect for each other.

More than half a year has passed, and the situation has changed dramatically.

Shi, who was once ostracized in Xuzhou, is now a powerful figure in the Jianghuai region, commanding tens of thousands of soldiers and controlling parts of the cities of Huai'an, Anfeng, Luzhou, and Yangzhou. His territory far exceeds that of the Red Turban Army in Xuzhou. He has even established his own government and is revered as "Marshal Shi," a local hero!
Fu Youde, the soldier who was initially chosen by Marshal Shi and transferred from Li Xixi's unit, is said to have already become a capable commander, overseeing several cities and becoming a renowned general in the Red Flag Battalion.

Li Xixi, under Peng Erlang's command, always fought first in battles and his merits far exceeded those of his direct subordinates, yet he remains a mere cannon fodder commander.

Bai Buxin was Fu Youde's boss at the time, and he still remembers this incident vividly.

He witnessed firsthand Fu Youde's rise to power in the Red Flag Battalion and could imagine its vibrant, progressive, and disciplined atmosphere. This stood in stark contrast to the declining, infighting, food shortages, and lax discipline of the Xuzhou Red Turban Army!

Li Xixi's gaze slowly swept over the generals around him: Da Dao Ao gripped his sword hilt tightly, his eyes filled with arrogance and uncertainty about the future; Bai Buxin's eyes burned with longing for the Red Flag Battalion; the rest of his personal guards looked at him with exhaustion but absolute trust.

Looking back at the wounded soldiers struggling on the brink of death, those soldiers whose eyes held the joy of surviving a catastrophe yet were filled with worry about the future... their fates all rested on Li Xixi's decision.

The vibrant Red Flag Battalion was like the rising sun; the listless Red Turban Army of Xuzhou was like the setting sun.

Anyone would know how to choose!

The last trace of hesitation towards his former master and concern about the unknown vanished in the expectant gazes of his subordinates.

Li Xixi took a deep breath, turned to look at Bai Buxin, and said in a resolute voice:
"I don't believe it!"

Bai Buxin's eyes flashed with a sharp light, knowing that the commander had finally made up his mind. He suddenly clasped his hands in a fist, knelt on one knee, and his voice trembled slightly with excitement:
"The general is here!"

"I heard that the Red Turban Army and the Red Flag Battalion of Xuzhou once made a pact to watch out for each other and share military intelligence. Now that Xiayi and Yongcheng have fallen one after another, Xuzhou is isolated and has become a dead end. Suzhou is also under the iron hooves of the Yuan army, and is in imminent danger of collapse."

As they spoke, Li Xixi took a small, exquisite gold pendant from around her neck. This was one of the many valuables that Shishan had given to Fu Youde in order to "redeem" him.

The others, having endured so much hardship and danger, would have been used up long ago. Only this item, because of its exquisite craftsmanship, was always worn close to Li Xixi's body. He solemnly handed this small gold ornament to Bai Buxin and said:
"This item was given to you by Marshal Shi. Take ten brothers with you, along with this token and the warhorses we captured, as a gift for your audience. Travel day and night to Haozhou and report the situation there to Marshal Shi in person! Ask him to make preparations as soon as possible."

Li Xixi paused, then emphasized her words, emphasizing each one.

“Just say that we are all willing to serve the Marshal.”

Li Xixi is currently still a general under Marshal Li, yet he says he is "willing to serve Marshal (Shi)," revealing his true intentions. Bai Buxin's trip is not only to deliver military intelligence, but also to defect to the Red Flag Camp on Li Xixi's behalf, seeking Shi Shan's protection, and he is willing to offer his pledge of allegiance!
The task of representing Li Xixi to meet with the powerful Marshal Shi, who was renowned throughout the Jianghuai region, was itself a tremendous opportunity for rapid advancement.

Bai Buxin felt a surge of heat rush to his head, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. He quickly suppressed his overwhelming joy, respectfully accepting the gold pendant, still warm from Li Xixi's body, with both hands. He held it tightly in his palms, straightened his back, and replied loudly:
"Understood! Commander, rest assured, Bai Buxin will risk his life to deliver the message to Marshal Shi!"

Bai Buxin suddenly stood up, glanced at Ao Dadao and the others, nodded heavily, and turned to select his entourage and warhorses.

Li Xixi stood there, his gaze fixed on Bai Buxin and the others as they left, remaining silent for a long time. The evening wind whipped his blood-stained battle robe, making it flutter loudly. He knew that once he took this step, there was no turning back.

He slowly raised his head and looked towards the distant city walls of Suzhou. The red battle flag, symbolizing the Red Turban Army, was still fluttering in the wind, but in the vast twilight and the desperate situation surrounded on all sides, it appeared so lonely and frail, as if it could be torn apart by the gale at any moment.

Li Xixi's eyes held a complex and indescribable expression. There was guilt towards his comrades who were still struggling in the city, and unease about joining the Red Flag Battalion. But more than anything, there was a resolute determination to finally break free from his shackles and to desperately grasp at a glimmer of hope in the face of despair.

"whole team!"

Li Xixi withdrew his gaze, his voice regaining its usual composure. He surveyed his wounded but resolute brothers around him and gave the order:
"Get into town! Save our brothers!"

Bai Buxin and his eleven companions, each with five horses, galloped south day and night without rest. Along the way, they saw only barren fields and abandoned villages. Occasionally, they encountered refugees, who were emaciated and had blank stares. Upon seeing them, who were armed with knives and on horseback, they would flee in terror from afar.

When he finally arrived in Haozhou, the sight before him invigorated his weary spirit.

Although it was still a chaotic world, the atmosphere was noticeably different. On the official road, patrol squads of the Red Flag Battalion vigilantly patrolled; in the fields, farmers were working in an orderly manner. Although their clothes were still tattered, their eyes showed less numbness and despair, and more focus on the land and hope for the future.

Although the villages along the way were dilapidated, there were signs of repair, and wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, revealing a tenacious vitality.

This starkly contrasted with the desolation and decay he had witnessed along the way, further solidifying Bai Buxin's determination to join Shishan—perhaps only a powerful ruler like Marshal Shi could end this chaotic world and bring great wealth to his many followers.

Upon entering Haozhou City, Bai Buxin keenly sensed an unusual level of bustling activity.

On the streets, carriages and horses rumbled, laden with boxes and bags; at the gates of many government offices bearing plaques bearing the words "Marshal's Office" or "Department of the Marshal," people came and went, carrying documents and items; the air was filled with a restless and noisy atmosphere before departure.

Bai Buxin's heart skipped a beat: Had he arrived too late? Was Marshal Shi not in Haozhou?
Sure enough, after announcing his name as Li Xixi of Xuzhou outside the Haozhou garrison headquarters and requesting an audience, he was led into the headquarters.

The furnishings inside the garrison's residence were simple, yet they exuded the competence of a military man. Sun Xun, the commander of the Loyal Guard of the Red Flag Battalion and the garrison commander of Haozhou, sat in the main seat. He was about thirty years old, with a resolute face and a calm and dignified demeanor.

After listening to Bai Buxin's urgent military report, Sun Xun frowned slightly. The dire situation in Xuzhou far exceeded his expectations. He remained silent for a moment, then looked up at the exhausted man before him, whose eyes still shone with a sharp and hopeful light, and said in a deep voice:

"Brother Bai, you must be tired from your journey. But..."

He paused and said:

"The Marshal has already moved to Hefei. You have come from afar and are not familiar with the local routes and the regulations of our army's outposts. You must not ride your horses at high speed within the territory of the Red Flag Camp to avoid causing misunderstandings. Please rest at the guesthouse for today and do not wander around."

Bai Buxin's heart leaped into his throat. The exhaustion from the journey felt like a cold, leaden weight pressing down on his chest. He wouldn't see Marshal Shi in person? Wouldn't the trust placed in him by the commander, his own arduous journey, and those fifty-odd warhorses meant as a stepping stone all be for naught?

He suppressed his inner anxiety, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said urgently:
"Commander Sun! Besides what I just mentioned, I have come here with some other matters concerning the Red Turban Army in Xuzhou, including some old stories and hidden secrets about Commander Li. I need to explain these to Marshal Shi in person so that they can be clearly explained! These matters are of great importance, and I implore you, Commander Sun, to do me the favor!"

His tone was almost pleading, and his eyes were fixed on Sun Xun.

Shishan attaches great importance to preventing theft and espionage. Although the Red Flag Battalion is not yet in a position to rebuild grassroots organizations in the countryside, the monitoring of outside troops is already extremely strict. It is a requirement of the system that Bai Buxin and others are not allowed to enter the territory at will.

As the general who stayed behind, Sun Xun strictly enforced the rules and prevented Bai Buxin and others from going deep into enemy territory on their own, which was his duty.

However, as the garrison commander of Haozhou, he also had a very important responsibility: to distinguish between the forces that had collapsed or voluntarily surrendered to the Red Turban Army in Xuzhou. He had just met with the Marshal in Hefei a few days ago and received clear instructions from Shishan.

The man before him, Bai Buxin, had clear and honest eyes and spoke logically and clearly; he was obviously a trusted confidant carefully selected by Li Xixi. The military intelligence he brought was urgent, and Li Xixi's intention to pledge allegiance was quite clear, as he had also presented a substantial token and generous gifts.

More importantly, Sun Xun saw in Bai Buxin's eager eyes, which he tried to suppress but still revealed, a strong desire of a low-ranking officer to seize opportunities and change his fate—this was precisely one of the important reasons why the Red Flag Battalion was able to grow rapidly.

Sun Xun was silent for a moment, then smiled and said:

"Brother Bai, you misunderstand. It was not that I intended to obstruct you. It is simply that military regulations are strict and cannot be easily disregarded."

Immediately, he changed the subject and said:
"However, your timing is quite good. Tomorrow morning, the Bashan Guard will be escorting some personnel and supplies to Hefei to return to their posts. You can accompany General Hu. With a large contingent of our troops escorting you, the journey will be safe and sound, and you won't be unfamiliar with the route."

(End of this chapter)