Tang Dynasty Bandits

Chapter 67 No Kneeling

"In the midst of the colorful clouds of the White Emperor, thousands of miles of rivers and mountains are returned in one day. The apes on both sides of the bank can't stop crying, and the light boat has passed the Ten Thousand Mountains."

This poem "Early Departure from Baidi City" was written by the poet Li Bai, describing the scene of sailing downstream from Baidi City in Shu, crossing the Three Gorges and reaching Jiangling.

However, weighing anchor from Jiangling and sailing downstream to the surface of Qizhou, the ship was not much slower. The northwest wind filled the sails and the ship moved like an arrow, first heading southeast to the mouth of Dongting Lake in Yuezhou, with favorable wind and water, and extremely fast.

Dongting Lake is vast and boundless with its blue waves. In early spring, a thin mist lingers on the surface of the water, making it look like a fairyland in the clouds. It seems that as long as you turn around and enter this place, you can escape from this world and ascend to the sky above the white clouds.

If the Cao army had not had to go to Qihuang area to rescue Deputy Alliance Leader Liu Yanzhang, it is very likely that they would not have risked continuing eastward, but would have taken a boat across Dongting Lake and dispersed into the Xiang, Zi, Yuan and Li rivers in Hunan, and then either entered Jiangxi or Lingnan.

But even though I knew there was a trap, I had to jump into it.

Continuing east, the Yangtze River bends northeast, requiring adjustments to the sails. However, as we remain downstream, our speed is considerable. A gentle breeze blew along the way, as if even the heavens were eager to witness the spectacular spectacle of the decisive battle between the two armies.

After arriving at Jiangxia (Note: also known as Ezhou in the Tang Dynasty, which is today's Wuhan), the river turns southeast again, with favorable current and wind.

Just as Shang Rang had expected, the number of troops that Yingzhou's governor sent to besiege Liu Yanzhang was not large, no more than 10,000.

Liu Yanzhang's troops were driven eastward to the Huangmei County area of ​​Qizhou by the Huaixi Mule Army that crossed the Dabie Mountains.

Huangmei County is located on the southern edge of the Dabie Mountains, bordering the Yangtze River to the south, and has a narrow terrain.

Upon discovering that Wang Xianzhi's main force had arrived, Governor Zang immediately abandoned the siege, set up camp on the mountain, dug trenches and built fortifications on the road, and relying on the thunder pool and several water branches, he blocked the Cao army's way forward on land.

The idea of ​​setting up camp in the mountains is quite similar to that of Ma Su in the Battle of Jieting during the Three Kingdoms period, but the biggest difference is that the foothills of the Dabie Mountains were covered with snow in the first month of the year, and it was impossible for the government troops to be cut off from water.

The blockade was not without loopholes, but to break through it, one had to risk being attacked from the mountains by the Huaixi Mule Army, which was known for its bravery.

The surface of the river was blocked by layers of iron chains and iron spikes, preventing Cao's army from going downstream to Jiangdong or crossing the river to Jiangxi.

The narrow strip of land between the Dabie Mountains and the Yangtze River, nestled in the Huainan region, has long been a graveyard for large armies. It was here that Cao Xiu, a prominent general of the Cao Wei Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period, was severely defeated by Lu Xun, a renowned general of the Eastern Wu Dynasty, and died of shame and anger soon after.

But only when I actually came here did I realize what a desolate place this was.

The Dabie Mountains extend eastward to this point, and are hundreds of miles thick from north to south. Endless mountains stretch as far as the eye can see in the north, and rolling hills extend across the plains.

The water of Lei Chi in the east is as vast as the ocean, and like the Yangtze River, it does not freeze even in winter. However, in the eyes of the Cao Army soldiers, the vast smoke and waves are like countless soul-seeking water ghosts.

On the surface of the surging Yangtze River, there are dense iron chains like a net, relying on the shallow water area and sandbanks on the river, and there are also warships of the government army patrolling back and forth.

On the edge of the sandbar, there are densely packed water forts and docks like stars.

Wang Xianzhi ordered his men to lower the raft, and the huge torch, with smoke filling the sky, drifted down the river.

The government troops quickly dispatched a large number of single-deck small boats. In the eyes of the large ships captured by the grass army, these small boats were like tall buildings overlooking low thatched houses, completely unequal.

The small boat can move flexibly between the iron chains. The sailors on the boat use hooks to hook the raft and capture it, and they can also block the torches to prevent them from getting close to the iron chains.

Cao Jun immediately ordered the newly captured Jianghan pirates and the sailors captured in the battle of Jiangling to steer the large ships and go to engage the government navy.

Among these warships were medium to large yellow dragon warships, and even towering ships like dangerous buildings, with flags fluttering, a magnificent sight. They were originally built by the imperial court and intended to be sailed downstream to the coast to quell the rebellion south of the Yangtze River.

Earlier, Cao's army had sailed eastward along the river in these warships, their ships covering the sky and their sails blotting out the sun, a scene reminiscent of Cao Cao's 830,000-strong army marching eastward to defeat Red Cliff. The sheer scale of the scene had left the people along the river stunned and terrified.

However, faced with the enemy's agile tactics of small boats that moved forward and backward like water spiders relying on iron chains, the rebel army, which lacked professional navy, quickly fell into a situation of weakness.

After arriving at the surface of Qizhou, God gave up helping the rebel army. The strong wind on the river stopped and the waves calmed down. The large ships lost the advantage of having a tailwind, and the small boats of the Tang army, which were rowing with oars, sailed more steadily in the windless environment.

It was difficult to hit the small boats that were flying by with huge poles, but the small boats could use their powerful crossbows to kill the soldiers and sailors on the large ships.

During the fierce battle, more than ten ships were hooked by the enemy and then captured using boarding tactics.

The large crossbows and catapults installed on the sandbar in the middle of the river also provided the Tang navy with extremely strong firepower support. As long as they got a little closer to the sandbar, the ships could be easily smashed to pieces by the rain of stones and crossbow arrows.

Shang Rang's brother, Shang Junchang, said gloomily, "It's just that God didn't give us what we wished for. If the northwest wind had continued, our army might have taken advantage of it and broken through the government's cross-river iron chain long ago. And if there had been a tailwind to help us, we wouldn't have been fighting so hard."

"Wang Jun was able to break the iron chain across the river because he had trained his navy for seven years, and its combat effectiveness far surpassed the navy that the Wu people were so proud of. We lack top-tier naval personnel, and the captured sailors are unwilling to fight. Even with all these large ships, it would be difficult to break through the enemy's defenses guarded by small boats."

Shang Rang observed the battle situation over the past few days and finally came to a deeply discouraging conclusion. He even vaguely saw the Nine Palaces and Eight Formations of Zhuge Liang in the arrangement of the government troops' water strongholds and iron chains. This formation was truly methodical. While the small boats lacked offensive power, their defense was more than adequate. Even if the northwest wind continued, they were likely helpless against the enemy's defenses.

As if to confirm his conclusion, the bad news came from the front that the sailors on two ships suddenly rioted, killed the officers of the Cao army, and then defected to the government army.

Most of these sailors were from Jiangling. They saw with their own eyes how the prosperous Jiangling was engulfed in flames. With hatred for the Cao army in their hearts, how could they possibly fight for it?

The Jianghan pirates were indeed very motivated, but they were seriously lacking in both quantity and quality. Even though the large ships provided them with a strong hull, making it difficult for the enemy downstream to launch a fire attack, they were still unable to break through the government army's defenses.

Wang Xianzhi, a peerless master of his generation, watched his fleet stuck in the mud and the morale in decline from the roof of the ship. He finally realized that he was in the most desperate situation he had ever encountered in his life.

Jiangling was simply a bait laid by Yan Marshal Zhen Ranyu to lure the 50,000-strong army towards the long road to hell.

Marshal Yan had fully anticipated what kind of bloodshed would ensue if the Cao army, with its complex composition and inconsistent commands, invaded Jiangling, a wealthy country with a rather unyielding people.

The huge amount of supplies that the Cao army obtained from Jiangling could only be transported by ships. Otherwise, due to insufficient cattle and horses, most of them would have to be abandoned.

But faced with such a tempting bait, who can remain rational and who can not be optimistic?

The four generals' military tactics are unmatched. Once a conspiracy is discovered, it will become an open conspiracy. Once you fall into their trap, it will be difficult to find a way out.

"Order the three armies to disembark and fight."

Wang Xianzhi finally made this decision.

Liu Yanzhang, an old friend of many years, said to Wang Xianzhi, who hadn't eaten or drunk anything for a whole day, "Alliance leader, you really shouldn't have come to save me."

Wang Xianzhi sighed.

If he didn't come to save Liu Yanzhang, he wouldn't be the righteous and righteous leader of the martial arts world, Wang Xianzhi.

However, the opponent's personality traits are always an important part of the layout of the peerless wise men at the level of the Four Marshals.

Wang Xianzhi was silent for a long time, and then slowly stroked his frosty beard with his hand.

He raised his head and looked at the river in the distance. He saw a ray of setting sun spreading across the water, and the wild grass by the river swaying in the wind, making it look even more desolate.

But among the withered and yellow grass, there are also some new green buds in early spring.

"If this is the end for me, Wang Xianzhi, I can only face it calmly." Wang Xianzhi sighed, "I am already old, but no matter what, I must try my best to keep young people alive."

"Teacher!" Shang Rang exclaimed in surprise, "The decisive battle hasn't even begun yet! How can you be so disheartened? Teacher, you are invincible and the backbone of the martial arts world. As long as you live, the Cao army still has hope."

"Disciple will protect Master and break free from the encirclement even if his blood is shed!"

Wang Xianzhi smiled faintly. "The backbone of the martial arts world? When Wang Xianzhi didn't exist, did the martial arts world have no backbone?"

Shang Rang was suddenly stunned.

"We have fought all the way here, killed corrupt officials, distributed land and grain, and made grave mistakes, causing the blood of innocent people to flow. The incident in Jiangling was the fault of my lax military management."

"Ever since our founder, Wang Bodang, founded our sect, the Zhenyi League has risen up against the Tang Dynasty more than once or twice. While there have been compromises, we have never truly cooperated with the government. This is simply because the imperial court belongs to the Li family, the aristocratic family, not to humble children like us."

"Knights of the world, we must reward good and condemn evil. We can bow to the weak, but we must never bend to the powerful. This is to hold a light of eternal light for the humble scholars who are not protected by the imperial power. My master was once trapped by his obsession and attempted to seek amnesty. If it weren't for Brother Chao's persuasion, he would have almost made a big mistake."

"Master Yan's wisdom and strategy surpass mine by a hundred times. This defeat is not your fault, Shang Rang. I take full responsibility. But she thought that by killing me, she could break the backbone of the martial arts world. She is so wrong."

"As long as I, Wang Xianzhi, die standing, the backbone of this martial arts world will forever stand tall like a mountain, piercing the sky!"

Wang Xianzhi laughed loudly in the wind, his eyes filled with the arrogance and arrogance that only a peerless master could have.

"Are you afraid of death?"

Without waiting for the generals to reply, Wang Xianzhi pointed his spear at them and said, "Whether you are afraid or not, remember these three words—'No kneeling.'"

"Whether I am alive or dead, you must keep these three words firmly in your hearts."

(End of this chapter)