The Sizhou military officer leading the three thousand troops on the side was named Xin He. This man was originally a captain and was not considered particularly valued under Li Xiaotian's command. Upon receiving the task of leading troops independently, he was initially overjoyed.
Li Sizhou finally values him!
However, as the days passed and scouts continuously reported that the Youzhou army's activities of burning corpses and digging earth were escalating, Captain Xin suddenly realized.
Something's wrong. The Youzhou army is unusual. This looks like—
They've contracted the plague!
Anxious and frantic, he hurriedly sent a letter to his superior, Li Sizhou. The small detachment of three thousand men was not far from the main army, allowing the letter to be delivered and a reply received the same day.
Upon reading the reply later, Xin He nearly choked on a mouthful of blood.
The Youzhou army had indeed contracted the plague.
That was the plague, ferocious as a tiger. A single misstep could send one to meet the King of Hell.
Xin He urgently ordered his three thousand men to break camp and retreat several miles, putting distance between themselves and Youzhou, but that was all he could do.
Military orders are as weighty as mountains. Li Sizhou had commanded him to lead his troops and station them beside the Youzhou army, monitoring their movements at all times, and not to return without a recall order. If he dared lead his men back, he was guaranteed to face military punishment the moment he returned to the main army camp.
But over in Youzhou, people were dying daily. Later, it seemed they no longer had the strength to dig pits for burial and had to resort to burning to dispose of the bodies. This change filled Xin He with dread.
Was the epidemic over there really that severe?
If the Youzhou army felt hopeless, would they, upon regaining their senses, turn and try to perish together with this Sizhou detachment?
After all, Li Sizhou and Huo Youzhou had had their disagreements before.
The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. Xin He felt like an ant on a hot oil pan, powerless to climb out, forced to watch himself slowly slide deeper into the oil.
This cannot go on!
"Brother Lin, regarding the Youzhou army, I have an idea." Xin He called for his fellow townsman and long-time friend.
Lin Hong was equally anxious. Li Sizhou had now shown his hand clearly, determined to treat their three thousand men as sacrificial pawns. "Does what you speak of, Brother, relate to medicinal herbs? Yesterday, the scouts returned and said that recently, herbs like patchouli and atractylodes have become increasingly difficult to find. Often, they have to cross mountains and ridges to find just a little. Some even had to go all the way to small town clinics. Brother, continuing like this is not a solution. The day we cannot find herbs and cannot burn them for fumigation will be the day our camp contracts the disease!"
"How could I not know all this?" Xin He said helplessly. "If things go on like this, death is certain either way. We might as well gamble. Perhaps we can find a sliver of hope."
Seeing Xin He's resolute, almost frantic expression, Lin Hong was startled. "Brother, surely you don't mean to lead the troops in desertion?"
He then shook his head on his own. "That method is not sound. We are too close to the main army. Once you lead the troops in desertion, it's hard to guarantee that some deserters within the ranks won't go back to inform on us, seeking Li Sizhou's pardon."
Deserters during wartime are executed without exception.
Xin He denied his guess. "No, I know escape is hopeless. I won't do something that seeks my own death. I want to use Li Sizhou's name to send a letter to Commander Fang of Jingzhou, informing him that the remaining Youzhou troops are few, nearly wiped out, and also tell them..."
Xin He suddenly gave a cold laugh. "...that during our reconnaissance, we discovered several merchant caravans suspected of detouring south, possibly from Jingzhou. The caravans came from east to west. It's unclear if they passed through the Youzhou army's activity zone. We request that Jingzhou quickly send troops to join forces with us Sizhou troops to eliminate the Youzhou sick soldiers. Do they in Jingzhou think they can stay completely untouched within the pass and just reap the fisherman's profit? Wishful thinking."
When two armies go to war, commoners automatically avoid the area. But how large the epidemic zone is, that's hard to say.
If merchants truly passed through the epidemic zone and then detoured into Jingzhou, the epidemic would surely spread there like wildfire.
Lin Hong's heart shook. "Brother, this plan is brilliant!"
Shenyuan Pass, inside the pass.
Fang Gang folded the letter in his hand, his expression grave. He paced back and forth in his study. Seeing his deep concern, a subordinate proactively inquired, wishing to share his burden.
Fang Gang handed over the letter.
That person quickly read it, his brow tightly furrowed. Coincidentally, Situ Shen had been sent by Governor Cong of Jingzhou along with Fang Gang to garrison Shenyuan Pass. He had previously met the strategist Zhou Du. "Advisor Zhou also instructed that when necessary, we must send troops with torches to clear obstacles, to ward off evil and avoid misfortune. Commander Fang, this matter brooks no delay."
Fang Gang remained silent.
Situ Shen continued, "Youzhou originally had a hundred and fifty thousand troops. Even if a hundred or a hundred and twenty thousand have died of illness, tens of thousands remain. If we send five thousand troops and coordinate a pincer attack with the Sizhou forces behind them, we could likely clean up the remaining Youzhou sick soldiers in one day... no, half a day."
"Five thousand is too many. To deal with some remnants and weak soldiers, three thousand is sufficient." Fang Gang couldn't bear to sacrifice five thousand men.
Situ Shen knew the other had agreed.
Both sides were in accord. Through the exchange of letters, the forces of the two provinces secretly arranged to meet on a clear, bright day.
Yes, they would act in broad daylight.
Both sides believed the Youzhou army was already a flock of diseased chickens. Slaughtering such diseased chickens, of course, should be chosen for a day with ample light. Otherwise, what if they escaped?
"Screech—"
The heavy pass gate opened, and the troops from inside the pass poured out like a tide.
The trend of cavalry being heavily utilized had formed last year. To achieve a swift resolution, the Jingzhou side sent out all three thousand men as cavalry. These three thousand cavalrymen all wore a small piece of hemp cloth over their mouths and noses. They rode the leanest horses and held rusty weapons.
On a distant hill, Sha Ying held a hastily made, low-spec telescope, observing the movements at the distant pass gate.
He was experienced and could roughly estimate the size of the dark mass. "All cavalry, looks like no more than three thousand."
Putting down the telescope, Sha Ying whistled. The gyrfalcon circling in the sky tilted its wings and spiraled down.
Sha Ying took a piece of teng paper from his pocket, then pulled out a charcoal pencil and swiftly wrote a line. Finished, he rolled up the teng paper and placed it into the small bamboo tube attached to the gyrfalcon's leg.
"Go find the General." Sha Ying released the gyrfalcon.
...
Pei Ying sat by the small desk next to the tent window. On the desk lay a large stack of account books—this month's statements for the "Pei Clan" trading house. All expenses and profits were handled by her, not going through Huo Tingshan's hands.
"Whoosh—"
A huge shadow suddenly descended, wings spread wide, eyes sharp.
Pei Ying couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
"Wuzhi (Black Pheasant)!" came a stern shout from nearby.
The gyrfalcon, which had been about to nudge forward, obediently folded its wings. After crouching slightly, its feathers covered its sharp talons, appearing less fierce than a moment ago.
Pei Ying was still somewhat shaken.
"Did it startle you, my lady?" A broad palm rested on her shoulder. The man who had been working at a distance had come to Pei Ying's side.
Pei Ying let out a long breath. "It's nothing, just a bit sudden. Huo Tingshan, why do you call it Wuzhi (Black Pheasant)? That name has no imposing aura at all."
Zhi, pheasant, a black pheasant.
For the mighty god of eagles, and one adorned with beautiful white feathers at that, the name was far inferior to 'Dark Cloud' or 'Black Night'.
Huo Tingshan untied the bamboo tube tied to Wuzhi's (Black Pheasant) leg. "When I found it, it was already on the brink of death. I heard that lowly creatures are easier to keep alive, so I gave it the name Wuzhi (Black Pheasant)."
The small bamboo tube was opened, and a slip of paper slid out.
Huo Tingshan took out the paper and unfurled it, his eyebrows raising high. "After waiting so many days, the Jingzhou army has finally come out."
Pei Ying was taken aback. "But it's broad daylight."
"Broad daylight is perfect. Fewer will slip through the net." Huo Tingshan put down the paper and strode out. "Please wait in the camp, my lady. Before noon tomorrow, I will take you into Chenyuan Pass."
Time was pressing. Having said his piece, he headed out.
But just as he was about to leave the tent, the man seemed to remember something and turned back. Under Pei Ying's puzzled gaze, he reached out a long arm and snatched the gyrfalcon from the table.
The news of the Jingzhou army leaving the pass sent a jolt through the Youzhou generals. Every single one present thought: They're finally here.
If they hadn't come soon, they would have died of boredom.
The troops and horses were already prepared, waiting only for the assignments and the order to move.
"Huo Er, Xiong Mao, I'm giving you fifty thousand men. You two handle those three thousand or so Sizhou soldiers." After assigning the task to his younger son and Xiong Mao, Huo Tingshan looked at Chen Yuan. "Chen Yuan, you take another two thousand men and quietly circle around behind this Sizhou detachment. If you find any soldiers trying to escape and report back to the main Sizhou force behind them, kill them swiftly."
Glancing at the gyrfalcon by the window, Huo Tingshan added, "Also watch for birds in the sky. Report any unusual movement immediately."
Now that the Jingzhou army was out, there was no need to tolerate the Sizhou detachment on their flank any longer.
Wipe them out cleanly. If anyone asks, the Jingzhou troops did it.
After dispatching the task concerning the Sizhou forces, Huo Tingshan continued, "Qin Yang, Lan Zimu, you two will join me in facing the Jingzhou army. Chen Wei, Chen Yang, you brothers each take a thousand infantry. After these three thousand Jingzhou troops pass the main road, stretch tripwire chains from the east and west. Don't let a single man, nor even a single horse, return to the pass."
"Yes, sir."
"Yes, sir."
The officers acknowledged their orders.
Different from past campaigns, this time there was no thunderous sound of hooves. The Youzhou soldiers, armed with bows and quivers of arrows on their backs, followed orders and melted into the dense forest.
The Jingzhou general leading this expedition was named Wan Yuanzhong. Like Xin He from Sizhou, he was also someone who hadn't been given much importance. Being promoted for this mission filled Wan Yuanzhong with immense joy.
Although they were heading into a plague area, Wan Yuanzhong believed that with cloth covering his face and a swift strike-and-withdraw, the risk of infection wasn't great. If he could sever Huo Tingshan's head, his name would surely resound across the land.
Then not only would his superior, Commander Fang, value him, but Governor Cong of Jingzhou—no, he should be called Emperor Zhaoyuan now—His Majesty would certainly look upon him favorably. Promotions and titles would be assured.
Wan Yuanzhong's spirits soared, until a scream shattered his beautiful dream.
Along with the scream came a sky-darkening, terrifyingly dense rain of arrows, shooting from the dense forests on both sides. Unprepared soldiers and horses fell where they stood or bolted wildly out of control.
"Ambush!" Wan Yuanzhong was horrified.
After the arrow volley, soldiers clad in black armor charged from the forests on both sides. Each was powerfully built, fierce as tigers, a world apart from the emaciated Jingzhou troops.
Wan Yuanzhong's pupils contracted to pinpricks. As another Jingzhou soldier was struck by an arrow and fell from his horse, he understood everything.
It was a trap!
There was no plague within the Youzhou army. They had been pretending.
"Quick, go back and inform…"
Thwip. An arrow flew, its force so great it pierced a hole through the armor on Wan Yuanzhong's chest.
His sentence unfinished, he had no strength for the rest.
Wan Yuanzhong looked up in disbelief. From the forest ahead emerged a man on horseback. The man's figure was imposing, he wore a helmet shaped like a tiger's head, and on horseback he held a heavy bow, its string now slack.
"Huo… Huo…" Before Wan Yuanzhong could finish his sentence, he fell backward, lifeless.
Fierce soldiers and valiant generals against skeletal frames, twenty thousand against three thousand—the battle was over in less than an hour.
Huo Tingshan shook his ring-pommeled saber, droplets of blood from its tip marking the earth. "Gather their horses."
This detachment was likely also Jingzhou's cast-offs. Both their horses and soldiers were terribly thin. If they didn't use these horses, there was a risk of being discovered.
At the same time.
"Finally!" Huo Zhizhang shouted to the sky. "We've been quails for so many days, today we finally breathe freely!"
Fifty thousand surrounding three thousand, and a surprise attack at that—the cleanup happened suddenly and ended quickly. So quickly that Xin He didn't even have time to send a message to Li Sizhou before Huo Zhizhang took his head.
Coincidentally, Li Sizhou, fearing the plague would spread to his own army, had withdrawn his main force again and again, putting a great distance between them. As a result, when Xin He's side was attacked, the main camp heard not a whisper of the slaughter.
Night fell, the heavy dusk like a spread black veil covering the freshly bloodied earth.
Huo Tingshan selected nearly three thousand soldiers. The horses were all the skinny ones from Jingzhou. The original Jingzhou soldiers' uniforms and the cloth masks on their faces were stripped and replaced thoroughly.
The Jingzhou army had left the pass at noon. Huo Tingshan deliberately calculated the time, waiting until near Hai hour, when the moon was high in the midnight sky, before leading his men onto the road into the pass.
The sound of hooves was not concealed in the slightest, twisting into a whip-like cord in the darkness that lashed at the nerves of the guards on the wall, startling their drowsiness away.
A soldier yawning halfway stopped and hurriedly looked down below the gate. In the darkness, he could vaguely make out an army.
The moonlight tonight was bright. In its glow, he could see the yellowish-white color on their faces.
The color of cloth masks.
"Open the gate!" someone shouted from below.
The guard captain on the wall heard the voice but didn't immediately order the gate opened. He had spoken with Wan Yuanzhong a few times and remembered his voice didn't sound quite like this.
So he asked, "Where is Commandant Wan?"
Hearing this from below, Huo Tingshan knew the guard likely knew the commanding officer. He shouted back, "Commandant Wan was unfortunately struck by an arrow. He needs to enter the pass to find a medic. Please open the gate quickly!"
Hearing this, the guard captain didn't think much of it and immediately ordered the gate opened. The heavy gate's hinges turned, emitting a deep, solid creak in the night.
Beneath the cloth mask, Huo Tingshan's lips curved. "Follow me into the pass."
The gate was open; they could enter directly. But after the initial vanguard entered, a minor mishap occurred.
One of the Youzhou soldier's horses collapsed.
The horses Jingzhou had sent out were either skinny or old, of poor quality. They had already endured a day of running and fright, and now the horses were exhausted. Moreover, the Youzhou soldiers were physically robust, each heavy, and the horses couldn't bear it.
The soldier was agile. As the horse went down, he slapped a hand down and immediately flipped off its back.
Everything went smoothly, except for the cloth covering his face, which fell off.
And it just so happened that he was at the point closest to the city gate when the guarding soldier glanced down and saw him.
The man's face was ruddy, his movements agile, and his physique robust—he looked nothing like the elderly, discarded soldiers who had left the city during the day.
The guard captain on the wall was jolted fully awake: "Youzhou troops?!"
A stir rippled through the ranks below.
Huo Tingshan had already entered the pass. Hearing the shout of "Youzhou troops!" from the battlements, he knew they were exposed. He simply declared, "Men of Youzhou, follow me to win glory and build your careers!"
The roar of battle erupted instantly.
Huo Tingshan drew his ring-pommeled sword and beheaded a Jingzhou soldier who rushed forward, trying to shut the gate again.
"Loose arrows!" someone shouted from the wall.
Huo Tingshan swiftly ordered, "Qin Yang, take one squad and clear the soldiers from the battlements. Lan Zimu, take the second squad to cover Qin Yang."
Seeing Huo Tingshan seem ready to charge on horseback, Lan Zimu hurriedly asked, "Great General, where are you going?"
Huo Tingshan gave a cold laugh. "To catch the ringleader, first capture the chief. I'll take the third squad to go cut down that Fang Gang first."
With these words, Huo Tingshan raised his voice and led a squad away. He personally acted as the vanguard, tearing open a path to lead his men deep into the city, the sound of hooves swallowed by the clamor of battle.
Lan Zimu watched the direction Huo Tingshan had gone, full of worry. "The Jingzhou forces inside the pass are still an unknown. Isn't the Great General being too reckless?"
Qin Yang called out Lan Zimu's style name: "Miefa, you came later, so you might not fully understand the Great General's capabilities. He started as a scout. In his youth, he dared to ride alone for a thousand li to take the head of a Xiongnu commander from amidst the enemy army. Now, in the prime of his life, and with men at his back, rest assured, nothing will happen to the Great General."
...
Fang Gang had not been asleep long after drinking when he was startled awake by hurried footsteps. He was about to berate the careless servant outside when he heard the shout: "Commander Fang, a disaster! Youzhou troops have entered the pass!"
Groggy from wine, Fang Gang thought he was hearing things for a moment. "What did you say?"
The servant hastily repeated it.
This time Fang Gang heard clearly. Utterly horrified, he rose from his bed, asking, "How did the Youzhou troops get in? Is Li Shanjia, the guard commander, a dead man?"
The servant didn't know either and dared not speak, stammering.
Fang Gang had no time to dress properly, only throwing on a robe before rushing out. Just beyond the main courtyard, he saw the courtyard brightly lit with torches, the scene already one of chaos.
His own guards and a group of men wearing Jingzhou army uniforms were locked in combat, blades clashing. His guards, panicked, were being forced back step by step under the others' pressure.
Among the crowd, Fang Gang's gaze was instinctively drawn to a tall figure who, with a backhanded pull of his blade, felled one of his guards.
A guard spotted Fang Gang and, seeing hope, cried out, "Commander Fang!"
The leader of the "Jingzhou soldiers," who had just killed a man, slowly raised his eyes. They were narrow and deep as an abyss, his gaze calm and unrippled, yet cold as if looking at a corpse.
"How considerate. You came out yourself, saving me the trouble of searching." Huo Tingshan advanced, sword in hand.
Fang Gang noticed that as this man approached, the few guards blocking his way actually took an involuntary step back. He didn't know what this man had done earlier to inspire such fear.
Fang Gang tightened his grip on his sword. "Who are you? State your name!"
"Your father wants you to ask the King of Hell." Huo Tingshan sneered, closing the distance rapidly, his ring-pommeled sword aimed straight for the other man's head.
Fang Gang hurriedly raised his sword to block. With a loud clang, a terrifying numbness shot through his wrist. Just one blow had nearly sent his sword flying—this man possessed monstrous strength.
Fang Gang immediately sought to avoid direct confrontation. Dodging sideways, he snatched a halberd from a guard and hurled it at Huo Tingshan, while simultaneously shrinking to the other side and thrusting his sword at a vital spot.
Huo Tingshan caught the halberd with his left hand, spinning it in his palm with a single-handed grip until the blade faced Fang Gang again. With his right hand, he used his ring-pommeled sword to deflect the incoming thrust, while his left hand drove the halberd forward in a powerful lunge.
It all happened in the blink of an eye—
Thwack. Before Fang Gang, who hadn't had time to don his armor, could react, the halberd pierced through the clothing on his chest, impaling him sideways.
They had exchanged barely two moves, and Fang Gang was already defeated. The Jingzhou troops were thrown into disarray, their morale collapsing like a landslide.
In disbelief, Fang Gang looked down. Blood gushed from his mouth. As his consciousness faded, he heard the man who killed him say to someone beside him, "Find that place called the Crimson Phoenix Pavilion and burn it to the ground for me. Disgusting."
Fang Gang's eyes widened in a final stare.
Huo Tingshan... So this man was Huo Tingshan...
