Volume Two: Lords and Kin Chapter 58: News of Victory

The guards at the city gate tunnel were caught off guard. Amidst screams of agony, more than half perished on the spot, while the rest retreated from the gate. The surrendered soldiers pursued them through the tunnel, crossed the barbican, and entered the main city, then turned to attack along the ramparts.

On the city tower, the commanding officer shouted harshly, ordering the archers to repel the attack. Yet the uprising inside had happened so suddenly; outside, the drawbridge was still crowded with rebel soldiers, and even more troops were approaching from afar. Some archers managed to withdraw, while others remained at the battlements, loosing arrows.

Dozens of fierce, surrendered soldiers quickly scaled the city wall. The eight defending soldiers were utterly incapable of resisting. A dozen archers hastily shot their arrows, but the attackers pressed forward, cutting them down. Lacking close-combat weapons, the archers either fled or knelt, abandoning their bows in surrender.

All the surrendered troops surged into the city, soon joined by the main force of the Fufeng Army, who crossed the drawbridge in single file. They stormed toward the prefectural and county offices, but not one man diverted to loot the residences of commoners.

Wei Fufeng strode through the blood-soaked gate tunnel, bodies strewn about. He first ascended the tower to comfort the surrendered soldiers, again promising generous rewards: extra compensation for the wounded and, for the dead, the same as the wounded—a pension to be delivered by their comrades to their families.

Lishi County had only five hundred defenders, half of whom were poorly equipped. With the gate lost, their advantage was gone. The main force of the Fufeng Army rushed to the prefectural office, but the Prefect of Shizhou, having been alerted, had already fled on horseback with nine subordinates.

The Fufeng Army, having seized Lishi County, claimed five hundred stone of grain as spoils, nearly five hundred bows, over three hundred sabers, and more than a thousand spears. After all, this was a military stronghold, not to be compared with Xixian.

After taking Lishi, Staff Officer Wang Ze advised again: since they could not hold Shizhou for long, he suggested Wei Fufeng send word of their victory to the imperial army, thereby confirming their participation in the Hedong campaign and inviting the court’s forces to take over the defense.

Wei Fufeng found this reasonable. He immediately drafted a military dispatch, affixed the Fufeng Army seal, and entrusted it to a scout to deliver on horseback to Jinzhou.

The letter served two purposes: to report the victory, and to state that their forces were too limited to continue capturing other counties, requesting the general-in-command to send troops to take over Shizhou.

Once the messenger departed, Wei Fufeng ordered the grain to be distributed. Of the five hundred stone in the Shizhou granary, three hundred were given to the townspeople, while the bows and sabers were divided among the soldiers. Only two hundred stone of grain and the spears were left for those who would come later.

After inventorying the stores, Wei Fufeng fulfilled his promise of rich rewards to the surrendered soldiers. Most of the wealth taken from the prefectural and county offices was used as reward, and the surrendered soldiers were allowed to leave at once.

As a result, half departed, but eighty-four chose to remain with the Fufeng Army. Wei Fufeng wanted only those willing to follow. He would rather forgo unstable troops. He personally assessed those who stayed, issuing bows or sabers according to their skills.

With the matter of the surrendered soldiers settled, Wei Fufeng turned to the more than two hundred prisoners from Shizhou. Those willing were absorbed into the Fufeng Army—thirty-three in all. The unwilling were given grain and some silver, then released, told only to avoid fighting the Fufeng Army again in the near future.

...

Two couriers rode swiftly through the night and reached Linfen County in Jinzhou before noon the next day. Outside the city, they saw the vast, disorderly camps of the punitive expedition, stretching for dozens of miles. Shouting that they bore urgent military news, they gained entry and were brought to the general-in-command’s headquarters.

The two messengers were thoroughly searched before being led into the heavily guarded prefectural hall. The general-in-command, Zhang Jun, clad in a purple robe and jade belt, sat behind his desk, his expression cold as ice. Since the campaign began, he had borne much anger: his troops moved sluggishly, and the various commanders constantly complained that their men were hungry and exhausted.

Zhang Jun was seething, knowing full well the commanders were deliberately dragging their feet, and he resented Yang Fugong even more for obstructing the supply of provisions.

The preparations before the army’s departure had focused on gathering food and arms—without enough grain, the imperial forces would never have left Chang’an.

The two couriers entered the hall and bowed respectfully. One presented the letter with both hands, proclaiming, “The Fufeng Army reports victory. Please, my lord, inspect the document.”

Zhang Jun was taken aback, recognizing the Fufeng Army’s insignia. He had meant to rebuke them, but held back, affecting a stern demeanor. A guard received the letter and handed it to the general.

Zhang Jun opened it and read with a grave face. The dispatch made no excuses about losing their way. Wei Fufeng stated directly that he set out from Lantian County, learned en route that the imperial army, which had departed earlier, had not reached Jinzhou, and, not wishing to draw suspicion with his small force, took the indirect route and captured Shizhou.

Shizhou lay to the west of Taiyuan Prefecture, a position threatening the heart of Taiyuan. Now, with the easily defended Lishi County in hand, he requested the general to send troops to take over Lishi, forming a two-pronged offensive.

Zhang Jun was stunned. He knew of the Fufeng Army but had never considered them significant, thinking them little more than local militia. What he needed most was grain and weaponry—not more men.

Soon, Zhang Jun regained his composure, his expression softening. He calmly questioned the messengers, and after learning all, ordered them to rest.

Once the messengers left, Zhang Jun immediately summoned Deputy General-in-command Sun Kui.

Sun Kui had served as the Prefect of Jingzhao in Chang'an, as well as a Ministry of Revenue inspector and Vice Minister of Justice. He was now deputy in the Hedong campaign. After reading the dispatch and hearing the account, Sun Kui was surprised.

“This is good news. Taking Shizhou will boost morale, and indeed, its position threatens Taiyuan directly. We must send troops quickly to hold it,” Sun Kui said.

“But which troops are suitable?” Zhang Jun asked.

“Naturally, the imperial army—Shizhou must not fall under the control of the local warlords,” Sun Kui replied without hesitation.

“If the imperial army goes, who should command? The Fufeng Army’s commander is a Military Commissioner.”

“A Military Commissioner?” Sun Kui was surprised, then frowned.

A Military Commissioner wielded the highest military authority, with banners and standards, and six flags at his headquarters. If the force sent was led by an officer of lower rank, he would be hamstrung by the Commissioner’s presence.

“Lord Sun, perhaps you should go. If you can secure Shizhou, then return. I am concerned that the Fufeng Army’s commander harbors ulterior motives—outwardly inviting the imperial army, but in truth seeking an opportunity to seize command,” Zhang Jun said.

Sun Kui nodded. “I will go. How many men should I take?”

“Will five thousand suffice?” Zhang Jun asked.

“Yes, I will depart at once,” Sun Kui replied, saluting.

...

The two messengers received the reply and set out that afternoon, returning to Shizhou. Wei Fufeng received the response the next day and discussed it with his staff.

Wang Ze observed that in war, it was vital to know both oneself and the enemy. The movements of the imperial army would surely be observed by the Hedong forces, who, seeking to retake Shizhou, would almost certainly ambush the five thousand reinforcements.

Wei Fufeng agreed, for the cost of taking a city was high. He summoned the surrendered leaders familiar with the terrain to ask which routes between Jinzhou and Shizhou were suitable for ambushes.

After gathering intelligence, Wei Fufeng appointed the surrendered leaders as scouts, pairing them with the Fufeng Army’s own scouts to reconnoiter all likely ambush sites.

Wei Fufeng then led a hundred sword-and-shield soldiers and five hundred archers and crossbowmen, leaving Lishi County under Gan Fengchi’s command.

Proceeding with caution, they left Shizhou and entered Xizhou. Wei Fufeng’s proactive move served two purposes: to seize the strategic initiative, and, if things went badly, to retreat from Hedong entirely.

The soldiers, ignorant of their commander’s less noble intentions, were nonetheless in high spirits, whether garrisoned or on the march. Victory had come easily, casualties were few, supplies were ample, and they had even feasted on beef.

By dusk, they had reached the region of Shilou County in Xizhou and made camp for the night.

The next day, a pair of scouts returned with urgent news: they had seen several hundred Hedong cavalry in the area of Shilou Mountain. The scouts had not dared approach, so they could not tell if these were troops from Taiyuan Prefecture, nor if they were merely an advance guard or the vanguard of a larger force.

Wei Fufeng immediately rewarded the scouts with gold and conferred with his staff.

Most believed the cavalry were Taiyuan’s advance guard, for several hundred horsemen could not hope to stand against five thousand imperial troops.

A few, however, argued that Hedong cavalry were renowned for their ferocity, while the imperial soldiers were recently recruited rabble. If caught off guard by a sudden assault, they might well break and run.

Wei Fufeng ordered his staff and the knowledgeable local leaders to work together, planning how best to use the terrain for an ambush—at the very least, to ensure a means of escape from pursuing cavalry.

Hedong’s cavalry were famously bold and deadly; to be overtaken by them in the open was almost certain death.

Seeking relief from his worries, Wei Fufeng strolled outside his tent. Amber’s father, serving as his chief bodyguard, followed silently.

Beneath the bright sun and gazing at the distant mountains, Wei Fufeng’s mood lightened a little. He remarked casually to Amber’s father, “This place is actually quite good.”

Amber’s father nodded. “Though the climate is dry, the land near the river yields many fertile fields.”

Wei Fufeng smiled and asked, “If peace prevailed, what would you want to do?”

Amber’s father was caught off guard, thought for a moment, and replied, “I can forge farm tools. Perhaps I could open a smithy.”

Wei Fufeng nodded warmly. “If the south does not fall, you may find it hard to return to blacksmithing. But you could open a weapons shop and sell farm tools as well.”

Amber’s father hesitated. “Do you mean I will become an official?”

“You are already a military officer. What I mean is, as my future father-in-law, and with me as Marquis of Fufeng, I will see that Amber receives the title of Lady in due course. You will not need to be a simple blacksmith anymore. If you must forge, it will be weapons, not farm tools—otherwise, Amber would be laughed at.”

Amber’s father was silent, the veins in his left hand gripping the hilt of his sword standing out.

Wei Fufeng, understanding his honest and taciturn nature, said nothing more and continued his inspection, Amber’s father ever at his side.

After a circuit of the camp, Amber’s father suddenly bowed and said, “Thank you for your kindness to Amber.”

Wei Fufeng was taken aback, then replied gently, “Amber is a good daughter. When we had porridge, she offered me half without hesitation. That warmed my heart. It is not a matter of favor—merely mutual willingness.”

Amber’s father murmured assent. Wei Fufeng smiled, “Don’t overthink. Ordinary matters are never so complicated.”

Amber’s father nodded. Wei Fufeng smiled again and returned to his tent.