Huangming

Chapter 436 Reaching the Counterattack Camp, Going to the Bone for the Enemy
Before the morning mist had completely dissipated, a somber atmosphere had already permeated the official road outside the new city of Bao'an Prefecture.

Black Cloud Dragon's army set up camp five miles from the city, with layers of deer antlers and barricades. The sentries at the camp gate held bows with no bows drawn, their eyes scanning the city walls warily.

Although Black Cloud Dragon was arrogant, he did not forget the fundamentals of military operations. After arriving last night, he built camps overnight and even sent out three groups of scouts to explore the new and old cities of Baoan Prefecture and even the surrounding Jiming Mountain.

now.

Inside the Chinese army's tent.

Hei Yunlong held several neatly folded letters in his hand, a smug smile playing on his lips.

The secret letter was delivered this morning from different directions.

Some of the letters came from junior officers of the Yanqing Guard under Ma Shilong, while others were written by former subordinates of the Wanquan Left Guard. The letters were filled with dissatisfaction with Ma Shilong, the "outsider."

More importantly, one of the letters even contained a detailed drawing of Ma Shilong's plans:

The new city was garrisoned by Zhou Tong with 3,000 men, while the old city was guarded by Xue Yuan with 2,000 men. Zhao Chengye stayed with Ma Shilong in the military camp outside the city, and even the locations of the musketeers and granaries in each camp were clearly marked.

"Hmph, does Ma Shilong, this outsider, really think he can hold down Xuanfu?"

Hei Yunlong slammed the letter on the table, his voice full of disdain.

“Which of the soldiers and officers in Xuanfu isn’t related to us?”
He thinks he can seize military power in just a few months? He's dreaming!

The guards outside the tent came in to report:
"General, the people on Xue Youji's side are still waiting for a reply."

"Send a message to Xue Yuan."

Black Cloud Dragon raised his hand to straighten his armor and slowly said:
"Just tell him that I will attack the city at dawn tomorrow, and let him wait and see what happens in the old city."

"As long as you help me defeat Ma Shilong, I'll send him ten thousand taels of silver first. I'll guarantee he'll be promoted to brigadier general, and if he can establish a firm foothold in Xuanfu, I'll even reserve the position of deputy commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen for him!"

"Yes!"

The guards withdrew, and Hei Yunlong walked outside the tent. Looking at the densely packed tents in the camp, his eyes suddenly turned cold.

He beckoned to the commander of the supervisory team and pointed to the area at the rear of the camp where the new recruits were stationed:
"Tomorrow we will attack the city. Let three thousand new soldiers lead the charge, carrying ladders and shields, and first wear down the rolling logs and stones in the city."

"Commander, those new recruits have only been in the camp for a few days, they can't even hold a sword properly, this..."

The commander of the supervisory team hesitated for a moment.

"We have to go, even if it means dying!"

Hei Yunlong interrupted him, his tone fierce.

"They were just refugees and farmers trying to make a living; it's no loss if they die."

If we can wear down the city's defensive equipment through them, we can reduce the number of our elite troops killed.

Remember, anyone who dares to retreat will be killed on the spot!

The commander of the supervisory team felt a little fearful, but he still nodded emphatically.

The next day at dawn.

The fog has just dissipated.

The horns of siege sounded over the battlefield.

Three thousand new recruits were driven to the front lines by the supervisory team. Most of them were dressed in tattered short clothes, and in their hands were either rusty kitchen knives or hastily made wooden spears. A few carried cracked shields, and the siege ladders were simply tied together with rough wood, looking shaky and about to collapse.

"Move forward! All of you, move forward!"

The glint of swords from the supervising squad flashed behind the new recruits, and a servant kicked a tall, thin recruit in the lower back.

"If you dawdle any longer, I'll chop you up first!"

The tall, thin new recruit stumbled forward, dropping his wooden spear to the ground. He frantically tried to pick it up, crying out:

"I'm a farmer, and my mother is waiting for me to come back! I don't know how to attack cities!"

"I was forced into this! I joined the army to get a full meal, not to die!"

A dark-skinned man next to him also shouted, his feet involuntarily taking a step back.

"retreat?"

The leader of the supervisory team sneered, swung his knife, and blood splattered onto the man's face instantly.

The man fell to the ground, blood bubbles still rising from his throat. He twitched twice and then fell still.

"Those who don't attack the city are deserters! This is their fate!"

The leader, brandishing a blood-dripping knife, roared at the new recruits.

The new recruits trembled with fear, looking at the corpses on the ground and then at the cold glint of blades behind them, and finally dared not retreat any further.

They picked up their weapons, grumbling and cursing, and carried ladders toward the city wall of Bao'an New City.

Rather than be killed by our own people, we might as well take a gamble; there might still be a way to survive.

On top of the city.

Zhou Tong looked down at the dense mass of new recruits below, his brows furrowed tightly.

"These are all ordinary people..."

He murmured softly, knowing he couldn't be soft-hearted, and raised his hand to give the order:
"Fire arrows! Throw logs! Don't let them get close to the city walls!"

Arrows rained down, and the new recruits fell to the ground one after another. Some were shot in the chest by arrows, and some were hit in the legs by rolling logs. Screams and cries echoed across the battlefield.

But the supervisory team was still pressing from behind. One batch fell, and another batch was overtaken. Finally, the siege ladder was leaning against the city wall. Several brave new recruits grabbed the ladder and climbed up, but they were hit by stones from the city wall halfway up and were smashed to pieces.

Hei Yunlong stood on a high slope in the distance, looking at the devastation below, his face expressionless.

He raised his hand and said to the captain and lieutenant beside him:
"Wait another half hour, until the logs and boulders in the city are almost exhausted, then our elite troops will move in."

Ma Shilong will definitely send troops to rescue Xincheng. At that time, you will lead 5,000 men to flank him and intercept his reinforcements!

The officers and captains around him immediately nodded and accepted the order.

"I will obey your orders!"

And the other side.

The Ming army camp at the foot of Jiming Mountain.

Ma Shilong stood on the high platform outside the central command tent, looking towards the direction of the new city of Bao'an Prefecture in the southeast.

He could faintly hear the sound of a muffled horn from there, and without the scouts reporting it, he knew that Black Cloud Dragon's siege was about to begin.

Hurried footsteps sounded behind him. Lieutenant General Zhao Chengye, gripping the ring-pommel sword at his waist, his face showing anxiety, quickly walked to Ma Shilong's side.

"Commander! Scouts report that the traitor Hei Yunlong has led his troops to attack Xincheng. Although General Zhou Tong is putting up a resistance, there are too many new soldiers, and he probably won't be able to hold out for long!"
Should we immediately send troops to their aid?

Ma Shilong did not turn around.

"Not urgent."

His voice was calm, but his gaze remained fixed on the distant horizon.

"Hei Yunlong came on a forced march. When you went to investigate, you should have seen that his troops didn't even have a single cannon."

Although the new city of Bao'an Prefecture is small, its city walls were repaired three years ago, constructed of rammed earth and blue bricks. Zhou Tong can hold them up for a while.

"But we can't just stand by and watch, can we?"

Zhao Chengye hurriedly took half a step forward, his tone filled with confusion.

"If the new city falls, Black Cloud Dragon will attack our military camp next, and then things will get complicated!"

"No, we're not waiting for news from the new city."

Ma Shilong finally turned around, his eyes gleaming.

"What we need to wait for is Xue Yuan's move."

"Xue Yuan?"

Zhao Chengye was stunned for a moment, then his expression changed drastically.

"Xie Zhen means... Xue Youji?"

"good."

Ma Shilong took out a folded piece of paper from his sleeve, with some residue of sealing wax still clinging to the edges, and handed it to Zhao Chengye.

"Last night, Hei Yunlong sent someone to deliver a message to Xue Yuan. The contents of the message have already been enlarged and printed by spies from the Western Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

look"

Zhao Chengye hurriedly took it and examined it closely in the morning light.

"We will attack the city at dawn tomorrow. You will provide support from the old city. Afterwards, you will receive 10,000 taels of silver, and I guarantee you will be promoted to lieutenant general, or even deputy commander-in-chief!"

These few lines of text sent a chill down his spine, and his hands began to tremble slightly.
"This...this Xue Yuan actually dares to treason?"
He has three thousand men under his command. If he were to launch a surprise attack on our rear from the old city while we are rushing to the aid of the new city, then…”

That's why we have to wait.

Ma Shilong took back the letter, his tone tinged with coldness.

"Let's see if he knows what's good for him, whether he'll follow Hei Yunlong in rebellion or obediently turn back and accept the court's rules."

Zhao Chengye swallowed hard, looking at Ma Shilong's calm demeanor, then suddenly remembered something, his expression changed again, and he stepped forward, lowering his voice:
"Commander Xie, there's something I need to tell you..."

Your subordinate forgot to report this last night.

Hei Yunlong also sent a letter to his subordinates, saying something like "People from Xuanfu don't fight people from Xuanfu," and inviting them to rebel together. His subordinates didn't even read it; they just burned it with a tinderbox.

As he spoke, he subconsciously wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes showing a hint of nervousness.

He hadn't realized it before, but now that he knew the Western Depot could even intercept Hei Yunlong's secret letters, he began to feel fear.

Ma Shilong probably already knew that he had received the letter.

Will it?
Is he now being categorized as a "rebel"?

Looking at him like this, Ma Shilong suddenly laughed, patted him on the shoulder, but there was a hint of something deeper in his smile:

"General Zhao's decisive action in burning the traitor's letter demonstrates his loyalty to the country, which greatly pleases this town."

When Zhao Chengye heard the words "loyal to the country," he finally felt a little relieved.

Yet he felt uneasy, as if Ma Shilong's gaze behind his smile could see right through him.

He did indeed have some ulterior motives.

If the Black Cloud Dragon gains momentum, we should wait and see for now.

If the imperial army has the upper hand, and one is loyal to the emperor with all one's might, one will benefit from both sides.

But now that he knows the court has planted such a dense network of spies in Xuanfu that they can even intercept private correspondence between generals, his hopes of "playing both sides" were instantly dashed.

"Don't worry, Xiezhen!"

Zhao Chengye straightened up abruptly, his tone resolute.

"Your subordinate has absolutely no disloyalty to the court or to Your Majesty!"
If Xue Yuan truly dares to rebel, I am willing to lead my troops to capture him first!

His voice sounded somewhat anxious as he said this.

It's as if they're trying to cover up their impure thoughts from before.

Ma Shilong nodded and said nothing more.

People seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.

Although Zhao Chengye had some ideas before, they were still just thoughts and had not yet been put into action.

Now that I've practiced it, I don't even dare to think about it anymore, so it's naturally usable.

Seeing that Ma Shilong didn't speak, Zhao Chengye thought Ma Shilong hadn't heard him clearly, so he repeated himself:
"Commander, this humble general is willing to go and capture Xue Yuan!"

"hold on."

Ma Shilong finally spoke.

“The people from the Western Depot are already watching Xue Yuan’s military camp. As soon as he makes any unusual moves, we will know immediately.”

Sending troops now would only fall into Black Cloud Dragon's trap.

Zhao Chengye feigned a look of sudden realization, then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Ma Shilong and said:

"The commander is wise!"
It turns out that Commander Xie had foreseen everything; I was just being reckless.

He composed himself, said no more, and simply stood beside Ma Shilong, gazing together at the distant battlefield.

A few hours later.

The old town of Baoan Prefecture.

"General, a letter has arrived."

The trusted servant tiptoed in, carrying sealed letters wrapped in wax in both hands. The envelopes were unsigned, with only a small black character drawn in the corner.

This is the mark that Hei Yunlong made an agreement with him.

Xue Yuan suddenly stopped in his tracks, his right hand tightly gripping the secret letter.

He waved for the servants to leave, then walked alone to the table, used a knife to pry open the wax seal, and pulled out the letter inside.

Under the candlelight, the words "ten thousand taels of silver" and "promoted to lieutenant general and deputy commander-in-chief" were like red-hot branding irons, burning fiercely into his eyes.

His breathing suddenly became rapid, his chest heaving, and the letter in his hand trembled slightly.

Ten thousand taels of silver would be enough for him to buy hundreds of acres of fertile land in Xuanfu and donate money to get his son a degree in the Imperial Academy. The position of Assistant Commander was a whole rank higher than the current Guerrilla General. He had worked hard for ten years, from a centurion to a guerrilla, but he still hadn't even gotten close to the position of Assistant Commander. With just one sentence from Hei Yunlong, he had put what he had always dreamed of right in front of him.

"Well... well, Black Cloud Dragon."

He murmured softly, a smile on his face.

But then he frowned and pressed the letter down on the table.

He remembered the kindness Hei Yunlong had shown him by taking an arrow from the Tartars years ago, leaving a scar the size of a bowl on his left shoulder.

To help Black Cloud Dragon is treason.

If Wang Guoliang wins, he will be a great hero and can become a local tyrant in Xuanfu.

But if the imperial court quells the rebellion, he will be an accomplice, and he can imagine the consequences of being executed by slow slicing and having his entire clan exterminated.

"General, should we send troops?"

The servant came in again, his voice extremely low.

"General Hei is still waiting for a reply. If it's any later, we might miss the appointed time."

Xue Yuan took a deep breath, and the rise and fall of his chest gradually subsided.

He turned around abruptly and slammed his hand on the table. The teacup on the table shook, and a few drops of tea splashed out and landed on the secret letter.

He needed to find a reason for himself, a reason that could fool himself.

After a moment, his eyes lit up, and he said:

"My brothers have risked their lives for me, how can I not repay their kindness!"

The highest level of lying is to deceive yourself.

In truth, Xue Yuan knew better than anyone that the allure of the position of military commander had long surpassed the so-called "repaying kindness."

"Give me the order!"

Xue Yuan raised his voice.

"All troops assemble! Half an hour later, exit through the north gate and head towards the Jiming Mountain military camp."

Ma Shilong must have gone to reinforce Xincheng. Let's take out his stronghold first, then help General Hei break through the city!

The servant obeyed and left.

soon.

The sound of urgent wooden clappers echoed through the streets and alleys of the old town.

Soldiers rushed out of the barracks, clutching their swords and spears; the clanging of armor and the neighing of warhorses were particularly jarring.

Xue Yuan donned his leather armor, the secret letter tucked into his waistband, and as he mounted his horse, a glint of greed flashed in his eyes.

He could almost see himself wearing the robes of a military officer, advancing further in Xuanfu.

If what Hei Yunlong said is true, then Xuanfu people govern Xuanfu.

Then
In the future, he will be the local tyrant of Xuanfu!
Those carefree days were so wonderful.

An hour later.

The three thousand men, having been properly organized, galloped towards Jiming Mountain as dusk fell.

the other side.

Inside the Jimingshan military camp, Ma Shilong stood in front of the central command tent, holding a piece of paper he had just untied from a carrier pigeon's leg.

After opening the note and reading its contents, Ma Shilong sighed softly.

"Hey~"

"He chooses not the path to heaven, but barges into the gates of hell."

"Xue Yuan, Xue Yuan, this is your own choice."

He turned to his personal guards behind him and said:

"Order Zhao Chengye to extinguish ninety percent of the lights in the camp, leaving only a few in the main camp, to make it appear as if only a thousand men are stationed there."

"Then have the five thousand men lying in ambush in the woods outside the camp prepare. Once Xue Yuan's men enter the encirclement, fire the signal cannon to launch a pincer attack!"

"As ordered!"

The guards quickly retreated, and the camp soon darkened, leaving only a few lonely lamps flickering in front of the main camp, like lost will-o'-the-wisps.

Night had fallen completely.

At the foot of Jiming Mountain, all was dark.

Xue Yuan's men finally arrived outside the Jiming Mountain military camp.

He reined in his horse, gazing at the dim lights of the camp, a smug smile playing on his lips.

"Ma Shilong has indeed fallen for the trap; there really aren't many people left in the camp."

He sent a servant to the camp gate to negotiate, pretending to "support Ma Xie Town," but actually to find out the truth.

A short while later, the servant ran back, his face beaming with excitement:

"General! The men in the camp say that Ma Xiezhen has led the main force to Xincheng, leaving only General Zhao Chengye with a thousand men to guard the camp. They even asked if we wanted to come into the camp to rest!"

"A thousand people?"

Xue Yuan's eyes lit up, and he gripped the knife at his waist tightly.

"Good! Pass down the order to take the military camp immediately! Seize the camp first, then proceed to the new city!"

As soon as these words came out.

His troops immediately charged toward the camp gate, shouting battle cries.

"Come on!"

"Kill!"

But just as these people approached the camp gate, they heard a signal cannon fire from inside the camp.

With a loud "bang!", the ground trembled slightly.

Immediately afterwards, the previously dim military camp was suddenly illuminated by a burst of lights, and countless soldiers rushed out from the corner towers and tents of the camp, aiming their muskets at the rebels.

"No! There's an ambush!"

Xue Yuan's heart sank. Just as he was about to order a retreat, the camp gates burst open, and Zhao Chengye rode out on a black horse, his spear sending a rebel soldier flying. His voice boomed like thunder:

"Xue Yuan! You traitorous villain, surrender now!"

The rebel army was thrown into chaos. The soldiers huddled together, some turning and running away, while others looked around in bewilderment.

Xue Yuan swung his sword and cut down a government soldier who was charging at him. Just as he was about to organize a counterattack, a burst of fire suddenly appeared behind him.

Like a fiery dragon blocking their retreat, Ma Shilong's voice came from the firelight, tinged with mockery:

"Guerrilla Commander Xue, is this ambush set up in this town to your liking?"

Xue Yuan looked back and saw Ma Shilong riding a white horse, holding a sword in his hand, followed by a dense multitude of soldiers.

Xue Yuan was filled with despair and deep regret.

His sudden defection was thought to be a surprise attack, but the enemy was well-prepared.

Call ~
He exhaled a breath of stale air, but he did not give up.

"Retreat! Head to the new city and rendezvous with Black Cloud Dragon!"

"Retreat? Where to retreat to!"

Ma Shilong's voice came from the firelight. He reined in his white horse, looked down at the panicked soldiers within the encirclement, and shouted:
"Listen up, brothers of Yanqing Guard!"

Xue Yuan colluded with traitors and plotted rebellion against the country, a crime punishable by death that would involve the extermination of nine generations of his family!
But you are different.

"You were coerced by him. If you lay down your weapons and surrender, this town guarantees that only Xue Yuan will be executed, and the rest will be spared!"

As soon as he finished speaking, more than ten of his personal guards immediately shouted the words out repeatedly at the top of their lungs:
"Lay down your weapons! Only the ringleader will be executed! All past transgressions will be forgiven!"

The shouts echoed in the night sky, drowning out the crisp sounds of clashing weapons and crushing the already terrified garrison soldiers.

in the crowd.

A garrison soldier with a dark complexion was stunned for a moment, then threw his knife to the ground with a clang.

"I surrender! I was forced to come by General Xue!"

He fell to his knees with a thud, raising his hands high, his palms covered in cold sweat.

With the first, there is the second.

First, small groups of soldiers threw down their weapons, then large groups of people knelt down. Some trembled as they took off their armor, some kept muttering "I didn't rebel," and some even cried, afraid of being labeled as mutinous soldiers.

"No! You cannot surrender!"

Xue Yuan's eyes widened in horror.

As he watched the garrison soldiers who had once obeyed his orders lay down their weapons one by one, a wave of fear surged through him.

Finished!

Finished!

He now only has two hundred retainers left, all of whom are his private soldiers whom he has raised for many years. But this number is not even enough to fill a gap in the government army's encirclement.

Gollum~
He swallowed hard.

Yet they still refused to surrender.

"Let's go! Head quickly to the new city! Join up with General Black!"

Xue Yuan roared, pushed aside the servants beside him, and mounted a relatively calm warhorse.

Two hundred servants quickly followed, brandishing their knives, trying to tear a gap in the encirclement.

"Want to leave? It's too late!"

Zhao Chengye's voice suddenly rang out. He turned his horse around, and the spear in his hand gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

The cavalrymen behind them followed closely, their hooves thundering as they charged toward Xue Yuan.

"Xue Yuan! Prepare to die!"

Xue Yuan was already terrified and dared not turn around.
He clenched his flanks and galloped desperately toward the new city, the only sounds in his ears being the wind and the approaching hoofbeats behind him.

He could even feel the shadow of death creeping down on him little by little.

That was the sound of Zhao Chengye drawing back the bowstring, sharp and rapid.

"call out!"

The arrow pierced through the air with a whistling sound, precisely striking Xue Yuan in the back.

He felt a sharp pain in his back, as if he had been branded with a red-hot iron, and immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the horse's mane.

"what!!"

Before he could finish screaming, his body went limp, and he fell off the horse, crashing heavily to the ground and raising a cloud of dust.

Zhao Chengye spurred his horse forward, and with a "whoosh," his spear was pressed against Xue Yuan's neck. The cold touch of the spear tip made Xue Yuan freeze instantly, not daring to move.

"If you move, I'll slit your throat!"

Zhao Chengye's voice was icy, and his eyes were full of murderous intent.

Several soldiers immediately stepped forward and bound Xue Yuan tightly with thick hemp ropes. The ropes tightened so much that his bones ached, but he didn't even have the strength to struggle.

He lay on the ground, looking at the stars in the night sky, his vision gradually blurring.

Ha ha.

Ten thousand taels of silver and the position of a military commander.
And his wife and children were waiting for him to come home...

All those hopes have now vanished.

He's completely finished.

far away.

The last few remaining servants who put up a stubborn resistance were also subdued by the government troops. Some were slashed in the legs with knives, and others were hit in the shoulder by muskets. None of them were able to escape.

This "surprise attack by an inside agent," spearheaded by Xue Yuan, lasted only an hour from start to finish. The city was completely destroyed before they even reached the outskirts of Xincheng.

Ma Shilong slowly rode over, looking down at Xue Yuan, who was tied to the ground, his tone completely calm:

"Take him away and keep him under strict guard. After the rebellion in Xuanfu is quelled, escort him back to the capital and hand him over to His Majesty for judgment."

Two soldiers stepped forward, grabbed Xue Yuan, and dragged him into the military camp.

Xue Yuan tilted his head, looking towards the increasingly distant new city, muttering to himself, it was unclear whether he was cursing Hei Yunlong or cursing his own greed.

Ma Shilong watched Xue Yuan's retreating figure, his eyes flickering.

Xue Yuan's internal troubles have been eliminated.
Then.

The time has come to deal with Black Cloud Dragon and cripple Wang Guoliang!

(End of this chapter)