Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 205 That man was the bandit general Gao Yan
During the height of summer, heading upstream from Chaozhou along the Han River, although the heat is not as unbearable as outside the mountains, the mountains still feel humid and stuffy.

Every morning, a thin mist rises from the Han River Valley.

Spring fog brings wind, summer fog brings sunshine, autumn fog brings overcast skies, and winter fog brings snow.

Summer is hot and humid. Fog during this season usually indicates high humidity in the air, making it difficult for rain to form. As the sun rises, the fog will be quickly dispersed by the sunlight.

But early morning is a relatively cool time of day in summer. Zhu Wen could only order his army to march as far as possible between dawn and sunrise.

To conserve the infantry's energy, Zhu Wen positioned them on the left and right flanks during the march. The infantry on the right, along with the supply train, advanced northward along the west bank of the Han River, avoiding enemy ambushes, and therefore were not armored.

The infantry on the left marched in light armor to cover the cavalry in the center. Venturing deep into the mountains in such heat, heavy armor would inevitably pose a risk of heatstroke.

The archers are positioned on the outermost layer of the left-hand infantry column, allowing them to exchange fire when the enemy launches ranged attacks from higher ground. If the enemy charges in, they can immediately retreat into the ranks of armored infantry.

The infantry on both sides were not static, but rotated regularly. Zhu Wen ensured that his infantry always had ample physical strength and morale by rotating them in two waves.

Although he had no shortage of animal power, Zhu Wen still adopted a slow pace of advance, marching twenty li each day. After the sun rose high, he had his soldiers set up camp in the shade, using tents to escape the scorching sun.

During the march, they were harassed by the barbarian tribes several times, but the grass army soldiers easily repelled them.

When they reached a relatively open mountain basin, Zhu Wen discovered that the barbarians had all fled, leaving behind large fields of barnyard grass.

Although it was still summer, the barnyard grass was already ripe. The barbarian chieftains rejected Gao Yanqingye's suggestion and failed to destroy their farmland, allowing the barnyard grass army to harvest the barnyard grass on the spot.

Although this crop had a terrible taste and was as coarse as gravel, it greatly alleviated the food shortage for the rebel soldiers. In addition, barnyard grass was also an excellent feed for cattle and horses, and it was better able to maintain their physical strength than letting them graze on their own.

Zhu Cun didn't frown, wolfed down a large bowl of millet porridge, and glanced at the soldiers.

The meaning is quite clear: anyone who complains about how bad this tastes and is picky will be in for a world of trouble.

He then said to Zhu Wen, "San'er, since the scoundrel Gao Yan has burned and killed people in Chaozhou and Xunzhou, forcing us to go north to punish him, we can also conduct more reconnaissance of the surrounding area. If we find any barbarian strongholds, we should burn and kill them all, forcing Gao Yan to fight a decisive battle."

"Continuing to drag this out is not a solution."

Zhu Wen clapped his hands and said, "What my second brother said is truly a brilliant plan!"

Heading north, they would only venture deeper into the Manliao region. The grain they captured could not meet their needs, and they would have to transport grain from Chao and Xun prefectures.

However, once the grain is being transported, there is a risk of it being attacked and seized.

It would be better to take advantage of the fact that the military rations we brought with us when we set out have not yet run out, and force Gao Yan to fight a decisive battle with our side as soon as possible.

Among the bandits were many skilled at traversing mountains and valleys, and even some barbarian tribesmen who had joined from Fujian.

They split into small teams and explored the mountains. Once they found a small, easily breached barbarian stronghold, they would call upon a portion of their troops to launch a swift attack, set fire to the stronghold with pine branches, storm in, kill all the inhabitants, and seize the grain reserves.

This tactic of "using their own methods against them" not only relieved the supply pressure on the rebel army and greatly relieved the anger of the bandit soldiers, but also shifted the pressure of the decisive battle to Gao Yan's side.

The barbarian settlements are scattered throughout the mountains, and he cannot possibly protect them all. But if he allows the barbarian army to raid and burn like this, over time, Gao Yan's prestige among the barbarians will surely vanish.

Another foggy morning.

Sunlight filtered through the mist, casting a soft glow down.

It seems that before long, Xihe's heat will completely dispel the morning mist.

But Zhu Wen soon discovered something strange.

As the sun rose higher, the fog grew hotter and hotter, yet it showed no sign of dissipating, like flowing milk enveloping the roads in the valley.

Zhu Wen had no idea that this unusual weather would occur.

Gao Yan has been active in this area for a long time, and he has probably figured out the pattern of abnormal weather.

"Brothers, prepare for battle!"

Zhu Wen gave the order in a loud voice. Since his voice might not reach the front and rear ranks, the messenger ran to deliver his instructions.

In the narrow river valley, the dense fog obscured visibility, making it difficult for the front and rear teams to coordinate reliably, and they would probably have to fight their own battles.

At dawn, the grass army marched at a relatively faster pace, making it easier for Gao Yan to seize upon any weaknesses.

The barbarian tribesmen, having completed their ambush, patted the colorful beast patterns on their chests and let out earth-shattering battle roars.

They had already heard firsthand the heart-wrenching accusations made by dozens of Fujian barbarians around Gao Yan against the Cao army.

These people overlooked the fact that Huang Chao ultimately released the surviving barbarians after completing the Xianxia Road project, and even promoted some of the more enthusiastic ones to become official soldiers in his army. They unanimously declared that Huang Jutian harbored extreme hatred for foreign races, and that if he were to take control of Lingnan, he would undoubtedly spare no expense to exterminate the barbarians in Guangdong.

The Manliao people of Yue and the Manliao people of Fujian are not necessarily the same ethnic group, because "Manliao" is just a general term. Their languages, cultures, and customs vary greatly. However, since they are collectively referred to as "Manliao" by the Han people, it is easier to believe the words of fellow Manliao people.

Fueled by the fear that they would be killed if they didn't kill, and fueled by the ferocity aroused by the previous massacres of Han Chinese in the two prefectures under Gao Yan, the barbarian tribesmen and Gao Yan's Han troops charged down the steep hillside in stages to attack the long, grassy army column.

Gao Yan, wielding a lance and wearing a Lanling King ghost mask, rode ahead on horseback.

Zhu Zhen quickly formed an infantry formation to block Gao Yan's charge.

The Changwu Cavalry were lightly armed lancers specializing in charging, capable of charging into battle even in mountainous terrain.

They came rushing down from their high vantage point, immediately putting considerable pressure on Zhu Zhen's team.

The formation began to tremble under the relentless onslaught of waves, like a tide crashing against a lonely city.

Through the fog, Zhu Zhen could also vaguely see a group of barbarian infantry rushing towards his army from another direction.

Gao Yan's ambush with the entire army meant that every section of the grass-fed troops was attacked. Adding to the difficulty was the dense fog, making coordinated attacks extremely challenging; each unit had to rely on itself.

But Zhu Zhen remained completely calm.

He watched as Gao Yan charged forward again, spear in hand, and suddenly opened his mouth wide, letting out a roar: "That man is the bandit general Gao Yan!"

Suddenly, a gap appeared in Zhu Zhen's infantry formation, and Dong Hou and Ge Congzhou led more than thirty Ming Cult cavalrymen to fight their way out.

Back then, Gao Yan persuaded Ming Shiyin to betray Pang Xun, which made Dong Hou and others hate him to the bone.

They weren't the only ones who hated Gao Yan to the core.

The people of Chaozhou and Xunzhou are known for their fierce and warlike nature. Although horses are not easy to raise here and have a high mortality rate, many wealthy young men still learn riding and archery to demonstrate their martial prowess.

This time, Zhu Zhen invited many members of such families to join the cavalry he had newly trained for Zhu Wen.

Many of their relatives and friends had died at the hands of Gao Yan during his raids on the two prefectures, and each of them only wanted to devour Gao Yan's flesh and sleep on his skin. In their eyes, calling Gao Yan a "bandit general" was perfectly justified.

Zhu Zhen, an excellent cavalry general, had already trained two hundred knights for Zhu Wen, modeled after Dong Hou's Mingjiao armored cavalry. However, this time he did not personally command the cavalry, but instead commanded the infantry square formation, because on treacherous roads, the infantry needed a prudent leader to guide them.

As for the cavalry unit trained by Zhu Zhen, it was handed over to the brave and invincible Tian Jun to lead.

Zhu Zhen waved his command flag, and the fully drawn steel crossbows all pointed at the Lanling King's mask, which was faintly visible in the mist, and fired a barrage of arrows at Gao Yan.

Gao Yan wielded his long spear, sweeping left and right, deflecting the crossbow bolts one by one.

Dong Hou, Ge Congzhou, and others, filled with murderous intent, pushed aside the cavalrymen around Gao Yan and charged towards him. Although they were charging uphill from low ground, their murderous aura made them even more spirited than the Changwu cavalry who were on higher ground.

Chen Liqing and Bo Chulong charged out on horseback, barely managing to hold off Dong Hou and Ge Congzhou, whose eyes were blazing with fury.

But then Tian Jun shouted angrily, "Gao Yan, you little dog, where do you think you're going?"

Having just been called a traitorous general, and now being called a "little dog," Gao Yan was furious and wanted to go up and fight this female general.

However, they discovered that Zhu Wen's cavalry, led by Tian Jun, were extremely adept at splitting and regrouping. Wielding sabers, they approached the Changwu cavalry, using the rugged terrain to suppress their charge and accelerate, dragging the Changwu cavalry into a melee.

As a type of charging cavalry, the Changwu Cavalry also had shortcomings in adaptability to mountainous terrain. Because in mountainous areas, there are often dense trees and rocks, making it difficult to wield a long lance.

This was something Gao Yan should have expected.

But Gao Yan never expected that the cavalry under Zhu Wen's command would improve so quickly, and in such a short time, they would be able to stand on equal footing with one of Lei Shuai's elite troops, the "Changwu Tuqi".

Gao Yan knew that the female general in green opposite him was skilled at throwing spears to injure people, so he hesitated for a moment and spurred his horse to retreat.

Zhu Zhen, however, brought out several heavy crossbows from somewhere. They must have been on the supply wagon but were already assembled and ready to be fired.

"That man is the bandit general Gao Yan!"

Zhu Zhen shouted again.

The crossbow bolts, as thick as a child's arm, flew through the air, one of them piercing Gao Yan's thigh.

Gao Yan cried out in pain, gritted his teeth, grabbed the horse's neck, and spurred the horse to gallop forward with the crossbow bolts in hand.

Tian Jun let out a loud, boastful laugh and led his cavalry in pursuit of Gao Yan.

Gao Yan had the advantage of timing and location, and had set up a full ambush, but unexpectedly, he was defeated and suffered a crushing defeat in the cavalry battle right from the start.

(End of this chapter)