I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 260 Fang La is captured, the dust has settled.

...

When Song Jiang returned from his audience with the emperor, he brought with him the rewards and promotions that Zhao Yu had given to his officers and soldiers, which made the original Song Jiang rebel army, now known as the Tiger Army, even more powerful.

With such high morale, the Tiger Army advanced westward along the Yangtze River, successively capturing Fuyang, Xincheng, Tonglu, Jiande... all the way to Qingxi County in Muzhou, Fang La's hometown.

At the same time, Liu Fa also led his men to conquer Shezhou. Currently, he is recovering Wuyuan, Qimen, Jixi, Yixian and other places under Shezhou, driving all of Fang La's rebel army back to Muzhou, and preparing to join forces with the Tiger Army to encircle Fang La's rebel army.

As an aside, the reason why Liu Fa's progress was not as fast as Song Jiang's was not because the Western Army led by Liu Fa was less powerful than the Tiger Army led by Song Jiang, but because the strategy devised by Zhao Yu, Tong Guan and Liu Fa was to use Song Jiang's rebel army to wear down Fang La's rebel army. This is why the Tiger Army became the main force in suppressing Fang La's rebel army.

Upon arriving in Qingxi County, Song Jiang ordered men to scout out the terrain of Bangyuan Cave, where Fang La's rebel army was hiding.

As a result, we learned that the mountain was like a natural inverted bowl-shaped white pagoda, with its main peak, Gechuanjian, reaching an altitude of several hundred feet. It was praised as the ancestor of all mountains in Southeast China and possessed the most mysterious siliceous rock peak wall landform, with craggy rocks and numerous strange peaks forming a complex mountainous terrain.

There is also the unique terrain of "Nine Unlocked Stone Gates". Some of the ten natural stone gates are formed by the convergence of the mountain to resemble natural city gates, while others were carved out of the rocks by the ancestors of the original inhabitants of the mountains, forming a terrain that is easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Its mountainous area is located at the junction of Shezhou, Hangzhou and Muzhou, bordering Lin'an and Chun'an counties. To the northeast is Qianmutian Qijian, to the west is Zhangshan Qingliangfeng, to the south is Baijishan Mountain Range, to the southeast is Jinzifeng, and to the north are the two Tianmu Mountains and Yuling Mountain Range.

In short, this place is both extremely dangerous and well-connected, making it difficult to attack. Not only would it be difficult to conquer, but it could also cause heavy casualties to one's own side, and it could also allow Fang La's rebel army to take advantage of the complex terrain to escape and rise again.

Song Jiang knew that this battle was related to the peace and stability of the Zhao Song Dynasty, as well as the honor and disgrace of himself and his Tiger Warriors, so he dared not be the slightest bit rash.

Song Jiang summoned his generals, strategists, and advisors to sit around in a makeshift military tent to discuss strategies for suppressing Fang La.

“The terrain of Bangyuan Cave is extremely dangerous. If we force our way through, we will suffer heavy losses and it will be difficult to achieve anything. If Fang La manages to escape through a side path, all our previous efforts will be wasted, leaving a great threat to the court. Please speak freely, what should we do?” Song Jiang asked.

"The best course of action now is to offer a large reward to find someone familiar with the terrain of Bangyuan Cave. Only then can they guide our army around the treacherous terrain, strike the enemy's lair directly, and decide the outcome of the battle in one fell swoop," Zhang suggested.

"Excellent." Song Jiang said, "Issue my military order: from this day forward, anyone who can provide a detailed map of Bangyuan Cave or lead our army to the hidden path will be rewarded with a thousand taels of gold. If they make a great contribution, the imperial court will bestow further rewards, with no upper limit. At the same time, send spies deep into the surrounding villages to secretly investigate and find people familiar with the terrain of Bangyuan Cave."

Just then, someone came to report: "Reporting to the sir, there is a cooper outside requesting an audience."

Song Jiang was somewhat taken aback. 'What? Even a cooper dares to come and see me?'

Unexpectedly, Yuwen Xuzhong suddenly stood up and exclaimed with delight, "Chen the Bucket Keeper!"

Only after Yuwen Xuzhong's prompting did Song Jiang realize that the visitor was Chen Gutong, an important strategist of Fang La.

Song Jiang pondered to himself, 'Since Chen the Cooper is Fang La's trusted strategist, he must know the terrain of Bangyuan Cave like the back of his hand. Could his arrival be a divine intervention?'

Song Jiang hurriedly said, "Please come in!"

After a moment's thought, he realized that this wasn't enough to show his sincerity. The key point was that at this critical juncture, if Chen Gutong really came to surrender to the imperial court, it would be equivalent to Xu You switching allegiance to Cao Cao during the Battle of Guandu due to Yuan Shao's suspicion.

Therefore, even if Song Jiang did not follow Cao Cao's example and greet the emperor barefoot before putting on his shoes, he still had to personally go out to greet him in order to show the sincerity of the imperial court.

Thinking of this, Song Jiang didn't even bother to fasten his outer robe before rushing out of the tent.

Upon seeing this, Yuwen Xuzhong and the others also went out to greet Chen Gutong.

In the morning light, Chen Gutong was seen wearing a tattered felt hat, and his short shirt and straw sandals were covered in mud and dust. He looked like an ordinary old farmer, but upon closer inspection, he had a calm and confident demeanor, giving people the feeling that he was extraordinary.

Song Jiang straightened his clothes, quickly stepped forward, and bowed deeply: "I have long admired your name, sir. It is my great honor to meet you today!"

Chen the cooper smiled and returned the greeting: "Sir, you flatter me. I am but a humble cooper from the mountains. How could I possibly accept such a great gift?"

Song Jiang said, "Sir, you are too modest! Not only have I long admired your profound knowledge, but Your Majesty has also heard of your great name."

This time, Chen Gutong was genuinely surprised!
Song Jiang had always been in Jiangnan and was a mortal enemy of Fang La, so it was normal for him to know the name Chen Gutong.

Zhao Yu was in the imperial palace in Bianliang, the capital of the Eastern Capital. How could he not be surprised that Zhao Yu knew the name of this lowly cooper?
Chen Gutong secretly pondered the truth or falsehood of Song Jiang's words, but his face remained impassive, maintaining his calm and composed smile: "It is truly an honor for me that Your Majesty knows of me."

Song Jiang knew Chen Gutong didn't believe him, so he didn't explain immediately. Instead, he stepped aside and said, "We have prepared some coarse tea in the tent. Please come in and have a chat, sir."

Inside the military tent, Song Jiang personally poured Chen Gutong a cup of tea before saying, "A few days ago, when I returned to the capital to attend the imperial audience, His Majesty mentioned Fang La. He said that Fang La's three subordinates were the most regrettable: Bao Kang, General Lü, and Chen Gutong. Bao Kang was the descendant of a loyal minister, yet he abandoned the court to join the rebels, which was a loss for the court. General Lü's plan to 'lead the army straight to Jinling and guard the natural barrier of the Yangtze River' was a good strategy for taking over Jiangnan. Your Majesty praised your plan to 'kill Hui and Yan to demonstrate your power, drive across the river, and win the hearts of the people to enter Chang'an,' saying that it was the strategy of a king. How could ordinary bandits dare to use such a kingly strategy?"

Song Jiang's words—no, Zhao Yu's comment—hit Chen the Cooper's heart. If Fang La had adopted his strategy, he certainly wouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat. Therefore, a barely perceptible excitement flashed in his eyes, but he remained calm and reserved, and slowly said, "Your Majesty flatters me. I am but a humble cooper, and all my actions are out of necessity. I have no kingly strategies, only a few petty tricks in this chaotic world."

Song Jiang could tell that Chen the Bucket Keeper had been persuaded, but it wasn't quite enough. So, he pressed on: "His Majesty once said that your saying, 'The world is like a bucket; if it can be bound together, it will be united; if it cannot, it will fall apart,' is truly a golden rule that understands the ways of the world. The thousands of prefectures and counties, and the common people of this world, are just like the planks of the bucket. They may seem independent, but they are actually closely connected. If the court can use benevolence as the rope and decrees as the nails to firmly unite the hearts of the people, just like a strong binding force, then our Great Song Dynasty will be indestructible and as stable as Mount Tai, no matter how fierce the storms may be."

Upon hearing Song Jiang relay Zhao Yu's words, Chen the Cooper was deeply moved. In his view, the rampant corruption in the government, the rampant greed of officials, and the ruthless plundering of land by gentry and landlords, leaving the common people no way to survive, were like a rusted and broken barrel hoop, gradually losing its strength to bind the planks. Fang La's uprising was precisely because he seized upon this loosening of the barrel hoop, thus stirring up a storm across the land. If a wise ruler and virtuous minister had understood this earlier and used swift and decisive measures to repair the broken barrel hoop, how could the likes of Fang La have had the opportunity to take advantage of the situation?

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yu grasped the essence of the problem immediately and fully understood the crux of the Zhao Song Dynasty's problems.

Chen the Cooper was deeply moved and couldn't help but exclaim, "If the hoops on the bucket are loose, the water will leak; if the hearts of the people are scattered, the country will be in danger. Your Majesty's ability to use this analogy to govern the country shows that you have the world in your heart and care for the common people. This is truly a blessing for our Great Song Dynasty and a good fortune for our people!"

"It's done!"

Song Jiang was overjoyed and then asked bluntly, "I have heard that Bangyuan Cave is a strategically important location with nine out of ten gates locked, making it difficult to attack. If you can offer some guidance and solve the court's urgent problem, I am willing to reward you with the greatest merit in suppressing the bandits. I will also truthfully report to His Majesty to ensure that your talents are not buried, and that you bring glory to your ancestors and secure a title for your wife and children."

Chen Gutong came here to surrender to the Zhao Song Dynasty. He also learned that Zhao Yu had taken notice of him. How could he not take the opportunity to help the Zhao Song Dynasty deal with Fang La and get himself out of the water?
Chen Gutong didn't waste any words, but said directly: "Bangyuan Cave is located in a deep valley with a dangerous terrain. The terrain is complex and varied, and there are many dangerous passes. It is difficult for non-locals who do not often run in the mountains to find a convenient place. Moreover, the people here have either been killed by Fang La or have already joined the bandits. I am not a local either, and I need the guidance of locals to go up and down the mountain. I am unable to help in this matter."

As he said this, Chen Gutong subtly observed the changes in the expressions of those around him.

Indeed, many people showed disappointment after hearing what Chen Gutong said, and some even seemed angry, but Song Jiang and the other key members remained calm.

Chen Gutong nodded to himself and said, "Although I am not familiar with the terrain of Bangyuan Cave, I know that there is someone who knows Bangyuan Cave like the back of his hand and is willing to lend a helping hand to our Great Song Dynasty."

Song Jiang asked, "Who is it?" Chen Gutong replied, "Fang Geng."

Without Song Jiang asking any further questions, Chen Gutong volunteered, "Fang La led a rebellion and killed 42 members of Fang Youchang's family. Only Fang Geng escaped. I have a disciple who knows where Fang Geng is and can surely persuade him to come and join us."

Hearing Chen Gutong say this, Song Jiang and the others were overjoyed and urged Chen Gutong to quickly send someone to persuade Fang Geng to join the army.

Chen Gutong nodded in agreement and asked Song Jiang to send someone to find his apprentice.

After instructing his apprentice to find Fang Geng, Chen Gutong said to Song Jiang, "Fang La's nephew, Fang Qiong, has the look of an eagle and the glint of a wolf; he is born to betray his master and should be able to turn him against his master..."

With Chen Gutong, who was familiar with Fang La's rebel army, offering advice to Song Jiang, Song Jiang rearranged his troops, effectively blocking any possibility of Fang La's rebel army escaping.

However, taking advantage of the complex and treacherous terrain near Bangyuan Cave, Fang La's rebel army managed to hold off the Song army for more than a month.

Chen Gutong told Song Jiang and the others that Fang La's rebel army in Bangyuan Cave numbered about 200,000, and that many of them were elite troops commanded by core members of Manichaeism.

What's more troublesome is that if Fang La is left alive, given the speed at which he and the Manichaeism are developing their rebel army, it won't be long before they can make a comeback.

In order to prevent Fang La's rebel army from having a chance to rise again, Liu Fa personally led more than 100,000 Western Army soldiers to garrison in front of Bangyuan Cave, while Song Jiang personally led more than 100,000 Tiger Warriors to garrison behind Bangyuan Cave, blocking all the escape routes of Fang La's rebel army.

Once everything was ready, the Tiger Army launched its first attack on Jianmen Ridge in Bangyuan Cave.

Jianmenling is the western gateway to Bangyuan Cave. Once it is opened by the Song army, it will only be a matter of time before Fang La's rebel army is wiped out.

Therefore, Fang La personally led tens of thousands of Manichaean elites to block the Song army here.

Relying on the fact that Jianmenling was easy to defend and difficult to attack, Fang La's rebel army repelled more than a hundred attacks by the Song army in more than ten days.

Hidden on the southern mountainside of Jianmen Ridge is a small path, the main route in and out of Bangyuan Cave, called Nanshankou.

Nanshankou is covered by dense bamboo forests and is very hidden. People who are not familiar with the terrain here will never be able to find it.

After Fang Geng joined the army, he immediately told Song Jiang about this path.

Unable to capture Jianmen Ridge from the front, the Tiger Army chose to take a detour through a side path to Nanshankou, where they set up iron cannons overnight and launched an attack.

One cannon shot after another blasted into Nanshankou, sending dust and stones flying and filling the air with smoke.

Under the cover of fire cannons, Lu Junyi, Lin Chong, Xu Ning, and Yang Zhi each led their elite troops in a fierce attack.

When Fang La deployed his troops, he believed that the South Pass was well-hidden and that the Song army would not attack from there, so he only sent a small number of troops to guard it. As a result, the Song army attacked and entered through the South Pass.

Faced with the bombardment of Song army's iron cannons and the advance of tens of thousands of elite troops from behind, Fang La's rebel army did not back down. They chanted sacred songs and resisted from their advantageous positions, engaging in a fierce battle with the Song army.

The two sides fought fiercely here until late at night. Fang La's chief strategist, Wang Gong Laofo, was killed in this battle, and Fang La himself lost his horse and his sword.

Countless elite troops of Fang La's rebel army were killed or wounded in this battle.

Similarly, the Song army, mainly the Tiger Warriors, also suffered heavy casualties in this battle.

The blood of both sides stained Arrow Gate Ridge crimson.

Later, the Song army continued to reinforce, and Fang La's rebel army had no choice but to abandon Jianmenling.

The Song army advanced while fighting, setting fires and scattering arrows, desperately squeezing the living space of Fang La's rebel army.

At the same time, Liu Fa defeated the defenses of Bao Kang, Fang Qifo, and others from the front, and led his army to attack Bangyuan Cave from the east.

The Fang La rebels, trapped in Bangyuan Cave, had no choice but to fight a desperate battle against the Song army.

Seeing that Fang La's rebel army was too tenacious and had killed a large number of their soldiers, Liu Fa also set fires all over the mountains and fields while killing, thus compressing Fang La's rebel army's strategic space.

The two sides fought from dawn until nightfall, and from nightfall until daybreak.

After several days of fierce fighting, Fang La's rebel army was reduced to just over 70,000 men.

These more than 70,000 men, led by Bao Kang, Fang Qifo, Lü Jiang, Guan Sunzhong, Fang Shizong, and others, continued to fight and retreat with the Song army, looking for an opportunity to break out.

Fang La's family and a small number of Fang La's rebels lost contact with the main force due to the chaos and hid in a very secluded mountain cave.

Fang Geng, who had a blood feud with Fang La, bribed Fang Jing through acquaintances.

Fang Jing confessed that Fang La's family and more than two hundred key members of Fang La's rebel army were hiding in a cave in Bangyuan Cave.

Fang Geng quickly reported to Song Jiang.

Song Jiang immediately dispatched Lu Zhishen and Wu Song to lead three thousand elite infantrymen to capture Fang La.

Led by Fang Jing, Lu Zhishen and Wu Song found the cave where Fang La was located.

After a fierce battle, Fang La, along with his two sons Fang Ding and Fang Bo, Prime Minister Fang Fei, and more than thirty others, were captured after exhausting themselves. As for the others, they were all killed by Lu Zhishen and Wu Song...

……

(End of this chapter)