Xiao Li collected himself, lifted the tent flap, and stepped outside, asking the personal guard: “How many troops?”
The guard answered: “It’s too dark to see clearly. The horses’ hooves were wrapped, so we couldn’t distinguish the hoof sounds either, but the army took over two quarters of an hour to pass through Wuli Bay—there must be at least ten thousand men.”
Xiao Li frowned: “At least ten thousand? The Southern Liang allied forces have already besieged Jinzhou for many days. Are they planning a night raid?”
After pondering for a moment, he said: “Send orders to Song Qin and Zheng Hu. Muster three thousand troops to accompany me on a night march.”
—
An hour later, Xiao Li led his men following the tracks left by the Wei army at Wuli Bay, pursuing them all the way to Wushao Ridge.
To avoid being detected, when they discovered Wei army scouts ten li away, Xiao Li led his soldiers through the dense forest instead.
Dark clouds obscured the moonlight. Tree shadows and thick night nearly merged into one.
At a gentle slope on the mountain ridge, Xiao Li reined in his horse to survey the terrain below. Below Wushao Ridge lay a basin flat as far as the eye could see. Looking down from above, it rather resembled a gourd-shaped canyon entrance.
Song Qin pushed through branches and hurried over. Upon seeing Xiao Li, he said: “According to the latest intelligence from scouts, that Wei army force is lying in ambush ahead at Guanmen Gorge. Fifteen li away, they’ve spotted Pei army grain transport columns. They came here tonight most likely to raid the Pei army’s provisions.”
Xiao Li continued gazing at the basin below without responding.
Song Qin sighed to himself: “Earlier when we escaped from Yongzhou, I thought Zhou Sui had returned to the Liang camp and would discuss with the Liang generals how to cut off Pei Song’s grain supply on the waterways. Who knew they’d directly sabotage the cargo ships, causing most of Pei Song’s grain vessels to sink in the river. Now Pei Song can only continue supplying Jinzhou through overland routes.”
Most of the cargo ships Pei Song used to transport grain had been requisitioned from the Xu family. For the Xu family to tamper with their own ships was all too easy.
Perhaps because he’d had that dream before setting out, listening to Song Qin speak of these matters, Xiao Li somehow thought of that snowy day in Yong City, when he’d stood at the street corner watching Wen Yu and Madam Xu enter Fengqing Tower.
That the Xu family later achieved such ascendant momentum among merchants in Yongzhou and even along the Huai River was hard to say hadn’t come from her guidance and direction.
That this hidden chess piece could ultimately deal Pei Song a heavy blow on the grain ships, avenging Zhou Sui’s slaughtered household, was eight or nine parts likely also the result of her planning.
The arrow scar on his shoulder throbbed faintly with pain again. Xiao Li lightly rubbed that arm, cutting off his train of thought.
She’d always been one to look a hundred steps ahead when taking ten. That she would scheme to this extent was hardly surprising.
Only the methods she would employ once she deemed a minister disloyal to her—he’d already experienced those firsthand.
Seeing Xiao Li’s small motion of rubbing his shoulder, Song Qin thought of what Zhang Huai had mentioned earlier about how he’d been hit by a poisoned arrow in his left shoulder at Jinzhou and hadn’t recovered properly. He asked: “Old injury acting up?”
Xiao Li lowered his hand: “It’s nothing.”
He continued: “This place is less than fifty li from Jinzhou City. If the Wei army wants to seize the grain and leave, even if the Pei army summons reinforcements from Jinzhou, they could still catch up.”
Song Qin said: “You mean the Wei army lying in ambush at Guanmen Gorge might be planning to burn the grain? Cut off Jinzhou’s retreat?”
Xiao Li didn’t give a definitive answer, but instead said: “Perhaps there’s another possibility. We’ll know when we see.”
The three thousand troops concealed themselves in the mountain ridges. After waiting roughly another half hour, scouts brought back news again. The Wei army force lying in ambush at Guanmen Gorge had indeed engaged the Pei army, seized the provisions, and was now rushing back. From the looks of it, they planned to return to the Liang-Chen-Wei allied forces’ encampment via the Wuli Bay route.
Song Qin thought of Xiao Li’s earlier words. After the scout withdrew, he turned to look at him: “The Wei army raiding the grain… is trying to lure the Pei army out from Jinzhou City?”
Xiao Li raised his chin slightly, gesturing for Song Qin to look at the pitch-black basin below: “Wushao Ridge and Majia Ridge opposite form this gourd-shaped valley floor between two mountain ridges. Guanmen Gorge is the gourd’s mouth, Wuli Bay behind is the gourd’s bottom. Lure the Pei army into this valley, then with ambush forces on both mountain sides—it’s like closing the door to beat the dog.”
Night wind swept across the mountain ridges. The forest rustled in response.
Looking again at the valley floor below, Song Qin felt a chill suddenly rise through his body from that night breeze. He said: “That Pei army force left to guard Tong City went up the mountain to win over Liu Biao, having him hold us back, saying Jinzhou would certainly win in half a month. After we wiped out that nest of Pei army at Tong City, we didn’t pry any useful information from their mouths—they only said they’d received hints from Jinzhou. Looking at it now, Jinzhou must have feared we’d also join Southern Liang, and after using Southern Liang’s strength to pacify those bandit counties in Tongzhou, would then attack Jinzhou together?”
Xiao Li said: “Not impossible. Notify Tiger—have him lead the brothers to hide more carefully. Since the Wei army wants to lure the Pei army into this trap here, Wushao Ridge and Majia Ridge opposite will certainly have ambush forces deployed.”
After Song Qin went to find Zheng Hu, Xiao Li looked back once more at the valley floor below, his brow slightly furrowed.
—
Ten li away on the official road, the Northern Wei commanding general for this expedition, Yuan Fang, was leisurely leading troops back with the raided provisions.
His deputy general, riding half a step behind him, laughed: “After we destroyed Jinzhou’s old Great Wall defensive line, we’ve besieged Jin City for over a month. If this batch of provisions can’t be delivered on schedule, we won’t even need to attack Jin City next—just surrounding them will starve them to death. With Fan Yuan leading Liang troops in a feint attack on Jin City’s south gate tonight and news of our grain raid spreading back, that youngster Han Qi surely won’t suspect anything. He’ll probably think Fan Yuan is providing cover for us. Once his main force pursues us, you and I will have this great achievement in the southern territories secured.”
Yuan Fang and his deputy were friends of many years and spoke without reservation. Hearing this, he also laughed: “It’s still Li Zhongqing whose mind works well. When I was desperate for grain and borrowing failed, he could still turn it into a scheme to lure Han Qi into a trap! That such a strategist doesn’t serve under the Marquis—I feel sorry for the Marquis!”
Li Zhongqing was Li Xun’s courtesy name.
After Yi Province was subjected to Pei’s scorched earth policy, only Xinzhou in Northern Wei’s southern territories could still squeeze out surplus grain to supply the army. But after also yielding Xinzhou to form an alliance with Wen Yu, their remaining provisions couldn’t sustain them much longer. With Great Liang’s heartland blocked by Pei Song’s forces, Wei Qishan had no way to transport grain from the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.
Yuan Fang had truly been critically short of provisions recently and had no choice but to first approach the Liang camp to discuss borrowing grain.
But the Liang camp had also just expanded its army this year. If not for Wen Yu first securing betrothal gifts of one million one hundred fifty thousand shi of grain from Southern Chen, before the autumn harvest, the Liang army would also have struggled.
Currently, though provisions were sufficient, the Chen army watched closely, declaring that Wen Yu had promised the grain Southern Chen delivered to the Liang army would ultimately be used for their Chen army.
The Liang camp using some for their own troops first, then replenishing it after autumn harvest—they could turn a blind eye to that. But if Northern Wei wanted to borrow grain, new terms would need to be negotiated, with compounding interest.
After all, Southern Chen and Northern Wei would eventually have to fight. With Jinzhou currently in peril, the Southern Chen commanding generals’ arrogance had already risen. Daily, there were many frictions between Chen, Wei, and Liang forces—sometimes over a camping ground, sometimes over a water source…
The commanding generals of both sides regarded each other with mutual disdain. Even during strategy meetings in the central command tent, they often struck tables and rose in anger over disagreements, all relying on Fan Yuan, Li Xun, and other Liang ministers and generals to mediate.
This grain raid was also a brilliant stratagem Li Xun had devised after the Southern Chen general refused to easily yield on the grain-borrowing matter.
He deliberately leaked intelligence, letting Jinzhou’s defending general Han Qi also learn of their Wei army’s grain shortage. Then focusing their efforts on raiding the Pei army’s provisions made everything fall naturally into place.
If Han Qi didn’t dare send troops to reclaim the grain, their Wei camp, having obtained this batch of provisions, would have resolved their urgent crisis.
If Han Qi sent troops in pursuit—that suited them even better. Tonight within Guanmen Gorge would be the Pei army’s death ground.
The deputy said: “That the Prince sought Princess Hanyang’s hand in marriage for the Young Master—he still sought it too late. Otherwise, those capable ministers and valiant generals in the Liang camp could all now serve the Marquis.”
Yuan Fang didn’t take up this topic. If Wen Yu hadn’t achieved momentum with the Liang ministers at Pingzhou, already threatening the Xin and Yi provinces they’d just conquered, Wei Qishan wouldn’t have proactively lowered his stance to curry favor with Southern Liang.
Those who wielded power took every step pursuing profit—only sometimes due to providence and timing, they misjudged certain benefits.
He said: “Princess Hanyang has already married into Southern Chen. Let’s speak no more of this. Tell everyone below to stay alert. Once the Pei army passes through the gorge entrance, kill the enemy with everything you’ve got—absolutely cannot let those Southern Chen bastards steal the primary achievement!”
Thinking of how the ambush force in the rear consisted of Southern Chen troops, the deputy also felt somewhat displeased: “Why didn’t Marshal Fan have Liang troops assist us in this siege?”
Yuan Fang let out a cold snort from his nose: “You think he didn’t want to? But would those Southern Chen bastards willingly accept the thankless task of feinting an attack on Jin City and yield the opportunity to raid grain for glory?”
With this explanation, the deputy understood everything.
If they couldn’t take the city, there would be no military merit—it was hard, thankless work.
But tonight’s ambush could both seize grain and massacre Pei troops—all genuine military achievements upon return. Raiding grain had to be assigned to their Wei army, so wouldn’t Southern Chen fight tooth and nail to grab the hidden ambush assignment?
The deputy cursed, then ordered his accompanying personal guards to relay the military command.
The group escorted grain carts slowly forward through the night. Just as they reached the gorge’s interior, faint tremors came from the ground. Yuan Fang raised a hand at the front, signaling the army to halt. After listening intently to the movements in the night for a moment, he said: “They’re here.”
At the same time, scouts from the rear came galloping urgently: “General! Pei army attack!”
Yuan Fang turned his horse around and shouted to the soldiers below: “Abandon the grain carts! Follow me to kill the enemy!”
—
Wushao Ridge’s terrain was extremely high. The observation point Xiao Li had chosen offered a perfect panoramic view of everything below.
When the Pei army reinforcements collided with the Wei army, the shrieking sounds of slaughter shot across the wilds. Even the Tongzhou troops concealed with Xiao Li on the mountain felt sweat soaking their palms.
Having lain in the grass all night, Zheng Hu inevitably felt somewhat restless now. He asked Xiao Li: “Second Brother, should we go help?”
In the darkness, the two clashing armies couldn’t be seen clearly—one could only discern the general situation from the sounds of weapons and killing.
Xiao Li gazed at the distant battlefield, saying: “Wait a bit longer.”
Zheng Hu didn’t understand: “At this point, military achievements won’t wait for anyone…”
Song Qin cut off his complaint: “Scouts discovered ambush forces on Wushao Ridge’s east side and opposite at Majia Ridge. Northern Wei must have prepared in advance this time. If we rashly charge out, we might well be mistaken for bandit troops trying to steal grain in the chaos and wiped out together with them.”
Hearing this, Zheng Hu felt somewhat discouraged. Looking toward Xiao Li, he asked: “Second Brother, so we ran here in the middle of the night just to watch?”
His words had barely fallen when another scout rushed back to report: “Lord Governor, the ambush forces on Wushao Ridge’s east side and opposite at Majia Ridge still haven’t moved.”
Xiao Li turned his head to ask: “The ones engaging the Jinzhou Pei army below—it’s still that earlier Wei army force?”
The scout nodded.
Song Qin and Zheng Hu both looked toward Xiao Li, both sensing something amiss.
Xiao Li decisively instructed the scout: “Continue watching the ambush forces on the mountain and the battle below. Report every quarter hour.”
After the scout withdrew, Zheng Hu, who could never hold back his words, asked first: “Second Brother, what are Northern Wei and their ambush forces playing at?”
After pondering for a moment, Xiao Li said: “Perhaps planning to profit as the fisherman.”
Song Qin and Zheng Hu exchanged glances, both alarmed. But thinking how Southern Chen and Northern Wei were already at odds within the allied forces attacking Southern Liang, without Xiao Li needing to explain further, they already grasped the general situation.
A quarter hour later, the scout reported again: “The Wei army raiding grain has been completely surrounded by the Pei army. The ambush forces on the mountain still haven’t moved.”
This time Zheng Hu didn’t dare act rashly. Earlier scouts had estimated the Wei army passing through Wuli Bay numbered at least ten thousand. Now they were entangled with the Pei army, and another ambush force hiding on the mountain waited for them to fight to mutual exhaustion before cleaning up the remnants. Their three thousand men charging in would merely be enough to stuff between teeth.
He looked toward Xiao Li: “Second Brother, what do we do?”
Xiao Li didn’t answer him, but continued questioning the scout: “How many Pei army troops passed through Guanmen Gorge?”
The scout answered: “The night is too dark to see clearly, but the Pei army column extends all the way outside the gorge entrance—there must be forty to fifty thousand men.”
Forty to fifty thousand?
Hearing this number, Song Qin couldn’t help but feel secretly alarmed, thinking the Wei army force raiding grain tonight was likely beyond salvation.
Yet Xiao Li continued asking: “Are the forces ambushed on the mountain Chen army or Liang army?”
“This subordinate doesn’t know. The mountain is too dark, and that ambush force hasn’t raised banners. The scouts feared discovery and didn’t dare approach too closely.”
Seeing nothing more could be learned, Xiao Li waved a hand, signaling that scout to withdraw.
Song Qin perceived something and asked Xiao Li: “You want to save them?”
Xiao Li stared at the firelight from the battle in the valley floor below, saying: “Whoever wants to place the southern Wei army in a death ground must include Southern Chen people. I want a favor from Wei Qishan.”
—
Firelight from burning grain carts dispelled the darkness within a hundred meters, also illuminating the corpses sprawled across the field and viscous pools of blood.
Yuan Fang’s helmet had been lost somewhere in the earlier fierce battle. His face was smeared with blood and dust. Leaning on his spear beside his already-deceased deputy, he roared with each word like spitting blood: “Where are the reinforcements? Dou Jianliang! You bastard worse than pigs and dogs!”
Dou Jianliang was precisely the Chen army commanding general responsible for this ambush.
Accompanying Yuan Fang’s hoarse roar, several more Wei soldiers were stabbed to the ground by long spears.
A Pei army foot soldier tried to sneak attack the unguarded Yuan Fang but was cut down in time by a personal guard nearest to Yuan Fang. However, these Pei army foot soldiers were like swarming black ants—impossible to kill them all, impossible to exterminate them.
By this point in the fierce battle, the Wei army from top to bottom was utterly exhausted. After that personal guard saved Yuan Fang and just managed to say “General, be careful,” he was forced backward several steps by the long spears of several charging Pei army soldiers stabbing his chest and abdomen, until the spear points finally pierced bloodily through his entire back. He died with eyes open, vomiting fresh blood.
Another personal guard who witnessed his comrade’s death was so exhausted he lacked even the strength to swing his blade in revenge for his companion. He only wept toward Yuan Fang: “General, we can’t break through.”
Yuan Fang, grief-stricken to the extreme, tore apart the precariously balanced general’s topknot atop his head. Gripping his long spear with both hands, eyes bloodshot, he let out a mournful howl and charged directly for those several soldiers’ heads.