Huangming

Chapter 456 Ambush and Annihilation of a Powerful Army, Their Intentions Are Deserving of Punishment

The night in Zuoyun County is as black as if thick ink had been splashed on it.

The dark clouds completely enveloped the moon, preventing even a single star from shining through. Only occasionally, a cold glimmer of light flashed through the mountains and forests outside Zuoyun County.

The wind swirled withered grass and debris, howling through the forest like the wailing of ghosts or the whispers of countless people, silencing even the chirping of insects.

Five thousand refugees lay prone in the woods, their bodies pressed against the cold earth, barely daring to breathe.

Most of them were young and strong men. Some had just fled famine from Shaanxi, some were local tenant farmers from Zuoyun, and a few were soldiers from the garrison who had escaped.

Everyone was holding a weapon.

The stronger men held long spears and waist knives, old weapons that Zhang Tianlin had found in the county government's storeroom.

Those who were weaker used sharpened wooden sticks, polished kitchen knives, or even sawed-shortened hoe handles as weapons.

Only the front rank of a thousand elite soldiers held standard-issue waist knives and spears, with the words "Datong Guard" engraved on the scabbards.

Those were the equipment that Wang Wei "lent" them. Although they didn't have armor, they were much better than the gear of ordinary refugees.

Zhang Tianlin squatted under an old locust tree, wearing a captured brocade robe, with a thick hemp rope tied around his waist and a knife tucked behind his back.

He squinted, gazing in the direction of Santunbao in the distance, his ear pressed to the ground, where he could faintly hear the sound of horses' hooves.

They're getting closer and closer to Zhu Chongwei's government troops.

Just half a month ago, he was eating tree bark in a dilapidated temple outside Zuoyun County, but now he has become the "General of Zuoyun" and commands five thousand men.

This fate is truly amazing!
If we lose this battle, we'll either be beheaded by the government troops or have to flee back to Shaanxi and starve to death.

If he wins, he can not only seize the government troops' equipment, but also get the surrounding civilians to join him. Then, Zhang Tianlin will be able to have his own faction.

"General, the wind is getting stronger. Won't it blow the firewood around?"

Li Erhu, a trusted confidant standing nearby, leaned over and asked in a low voice.

Li Erhu is from Shaanxi and came here with Zhang Tianlin to escape famine. He has some strength under his command and now manages two hundred men who are ambushed near the city gate, specializing in setting fires.

Zhang Tianlin shook his head, lowering his voice even further: "Don't worry, the brothers weighed down the woodpile with stones during the day, and the oil soaked into the reeds. The stronger the wind, the brighter it burns."

“Three layers of dry firewood were piled up on both sides of the city gate, and oil barrels were buried at the street corner.”

As soon as the government troops enter the city, we'll rush out of the woods, block the city gates, and set them on fire!
"At that time, they won't be able to escape."

Li Erhu grinned, revealing two rows of yellow teeth:

"The general is indeed very thoughtful!"
Those government troops thought we were a rabble and would certainly not be prepared for a fire attack.

"Once the fire starts, let's see how they can still act so arrogantly!"

at this time.

"General, look!"

Another confidant suddenly pointed outside the forest, his voice trembling.

Zhang Tianlin looked in the direction he pointed and saw a string of torches on the dirt road in the distance, like a fiery snake, crawling towards Zuoyun County.

Those were Zhu Chongwei's government troops, and sure enough, they arrived.

"Xu~"

Zhu Chongwei reined in his horse, and the black horse snorted, its hooves digging shallow holes in the dirt road.

At this moment, they were only three miles away from Zuoyun County. There wasn't even a single lantern on the city wall for night watch, and the north gate was wide open, like a toothless mouth, waiting for people to crawl in.

"Hmph, what a rabble!"

Zhu Chongwei scoffed, his tone full of disdain.

He raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his face; the lining under his armor was already soaked with sweat.

He was worried that the refugees would ambush him when he set off from Santunbao, but now it seems that those peasants don't even know the word "defense".

He turned to Zhang Biao, the centurion behind him, and said:

"I led my troops to Santunbao for half a day, and there wasn't even a single scout in the city. That scoundrel Zhang Tianlin is probably having a good time with the ladies of the county government!"

Zhang Biao quickly chimed in, "General, you're right! These rioters are nothing but starving wild dogs. They'll be terrified when they see our swords and spears!"

Zhu Chongwei said no more, drew the iron knife from his waist, and the blade flashed a cold light in the night.

"All troops, listen up!
Anyone who enters the city through the north gate and resists with weapons shall be killed without exception!

Of the seized property, 30% will be turned over to the authorities, and the rest will belong to the individual!

"Order!"

Three thousand government troops shouted in unison, their voices shaking the distant woods.

Cavalry in front, infantry behind, like a black tide, surged toward Zuoyun County.

Just as they entered the North Gate, sporadic cries could be heard from the street.

A dozen or so refugees huddled in a corner, clutching half a moldy pancake in their hands. When they saw the government troops rushing in, they were terrified and turned to run away.

Zhu Chongwei's eyes turned cold, and he pointed his knife at the refugees:

"Kill! Leave no rioters alive!"

The cavalrymen spurred their horses to catch up, their hooves trampling over the bodies of the refugees with a dull "thud".

The infantrymen's spears pierced the backs of the refugees, and blood splattered on the bluestone slabs, quickly forming a small stream.

A woman holding a child knelt on the ground, crying and pleading, "Sir, spare us! We're not rioters, we just want some food..."

Before he could finish speaking, a soldier slashed his neck with a knife, and blood splattered on the child's face, silencing his cries.

Zhu Chongwei looked at the tragic scene before him, but his face remained completely expressionless.

In his eyes, these refugees were no different from the Mongol Tartars on the grasslands; they were all people who deserved to die.

He led his troops in a fierce charge, and the number of corpses on the streets increased. The stench of blood mixed with the smell of dust made people's throats ache.

Half an hour later, the government troops finally rushed to the entrance of the county government office.

The county government office gate was tightly closed, and dozens of refugees holding spears stood on the gate tower. The leader was a man with a full beard, who was Zhang Tianlin's confidant.

"You corrupt official! Don't even think about taking another step forward!"

Zhang Tianlin's confidant roared and threw down his spear, but it didn't even touch the hem of the government soldiers' clothes.

"Charge! Take the county government office in half an hour!"

Zhu Chongwei gave the order.

The government troops immediately rushed forward with their shields raised, some ramming doors, others climbing walls.

Despite the desperate resistance of the refugees on the gate tower, they could not withstand the superior equipment of the government troops.

Within fifteen minutes, the gates of the county government office were smashed open, and the refugees screamed and scattered in all directions. Zhang Tianlin's confidants were also slashed in the arm by the government troops and ran to the backyard in a sorry state.

Zhu Chongwei led his troops into the county government office and headed straight for the back hall.

He wanted to personally cut off Zhang Tianlin's head so he could curry favor with Wang Wei.

But when they pushed open the door to the back room, there was no one inside. There was only a half-eaten ceramic bowl on the table, and the porridge in the bowl had long since gone cold.

"Strange, where did the bandit leader go?"

Zhu Chongwei frowned, a strange unease rising in his heart.

This unease had barely begun when it was interrupted by a deafening roar of battle cries.

The shouts of battle were coming from the four gates!

Immediately afterwards, fires broke out simultaneously in the four directions of east, west, south, and north, illuminating the night sky with red flames and turning the roof of the county government office red.

"No! There's an ambush!"

Zhu Chongwei suddenly realized what was happening and ran outside.

"Quickly! Assemble the entire army and break out!"

But as soon as he reached the entrance of the county government office, he was dumbfounded.

His soldiers had long since lost their formation; some were rummaging through the people's belongings, some were dragging and shoving women, and some were even fighting each other over a silver bracelet.

motherfucker.

Are they government troops or bandits?
This is even more bandit-like than bandits!

"Stop! Gather! Break through!"

Zhu Chongwei roared and swung his knife at a soldier who was stealing something.

The soldier's head rolled to the ground, spraying blood all over the soldiers nearby. Only then did they come to their senses and hurriedly gather around Zhu Chongwei.

But it's too late.

The fire spread along the street, licking at the wooden beams of the houses with a crackling sound, and the thick smoke made it impossible for people to open their eyes.

The vagrants on the street rushed over like madmen, some carrying kitchen knives, some holding wooden sticks, and some even pushing wheelbarrows full of stones, throwing them at the government troops.

Zhu Chongwei then discovered that firewood was piled up everywhere in the city, and the piles of firewood were also doused with kerosene.

Zhang Tianlin had long since turned the entire Zuoyun County into a giant furnace!

"Break through to the north! Exit through the north gate!"

Zhu Chongwei roared and led the several hundred soldiers he had gathered toward the north gate.

Along the way, government troops were constantly engulfed by fire or cut down by refugees, and the column grew shorter and shorter.

They finally made it to the north gate, only to find that the gate had been sealed off, and behind it was a pile of firewood several meters high, with the fire burning brightly.

"Move the pile of firewood aside! Break down the city gate!"

Zhu Chongwei gave the order.

Despite the burning pain, the government troops desperately moved the burning firewood aside and used battering rams to smash the city gate.

With a loud crash, the city gate was finally smashed open, but as soon as they rushed out, they were terrified by the sight before them.

Outside the North Gate, barricades were densely packed together, and behind them stood thousands of refugees holding bows and arrows, the tips of which gleamed coldly in the firelight.

"Fire arrows!"

With a shout, a hail of arrows rained down on the government troops.

Although the refugees were not skilled archers, their sheer numbers made them a formidable force. Arrows rained down upon them, and the government troops fell to the ground, many struck by arrows.

Zhu Chongwei parried with his sword, the arrows clattering against the back of his blade, but a few still struck his arm, instantly staining his armor with blood.

"Kill out!"

Zhu Chongwei roared and spurred his horse toward the barricades.

The black horse leaped up, clearing the barricades. Zhu Chongwei swung his sword, cutting down several refugees, and dozens of cavalrymen behind him charged out.

But the refugees quickly surrounded the horse, some poking its legs with spears, others slashing its belly with knives.

"唏伦~"

The black horse neighed, and its front legs suddenly buckled.

The horse's legs were cut off!

Zhu Chongwei fell off his horse and crashed heavily to the ground, a sharp pain shooting through his chest.

He struggled to his feet and swung his knife at the refugees who surrounded him, but as soon as he felled one, more than a dozen knives struck him at the same time.

Looking at the densely packed refugees before him, and hearing their shouts, he felt a surge of unprecedented frustration.

He fought for many years, but he never expected to die at the hands of a group of refugees!
With a "thud," a kitchen knife struck Zhu Chongwei's neck, and blood spurted out.

His eyes were wide open. He took one last look in the direction of Zuoyun County before slowly collapsing.

As dawn broke, the battle finally ended.

Outside Zuoyun County, the bodies of government troops were everywhere, their blood staining the land red.

Dozens of government soldiers who managed to escape rode their horses in a disheveled state towards Datong Prefecture. Their armor was tattered, and their faces were filled with terror.

No one expected that the government troops' first battle to suppress the bandits would end in such a complete defeat.

Meanwhile, in Zuoyun County, the refugees cheered and jumped for joy around Zhang Tianlin. Some held up the captured armor of the government troops, while others held the stolen knives and guns, their faces full of the joy of victory.

Standing atop the city wall, Zhang Tianlin looked at the scene before her, a smile playing on her lips.

He won, not only against Zhu Chongwei, but also against the hope of survival.

From now on, no one will dare to treat these refugees as lambs to the slaughter.

Not far from Zuoyun County is Polubao.

now.

Liu Zhenbang was sitting in the council hall inside the fortress, with a pot of warmed yellow wine and two small dishes on the table in front of him.

He was Wang Wei's son-in-law, and it was through this connection that he became the garrison commander of Polu Fort. He frequently embezzled military pay and stole grain from the granary, living a very comfortable life. "General, a scout has returned with news from Zuoyun County!"

A guard lifted the curtain and ran in, panting, his face showing a hint of panic.

Liu Zhenbang raised his eyelids slightly and asked casually:

"What news could there be? It's nothing more than that old bastard Zhu Chongwei has dealt with the rioters and is waiting to claim credit."

He put down the bronze pendant, picked up the wine cup, took a sip, and chuckled to himself.

Wang Wei deliberately pushed the task of suppressing the rebellion onto Zhu Chongwei, hoping to use the rioters to weaken the Right Guard's forces. If Zhu Chongwei won, the credit would go to Wang Wei.

If they lose, they can use him as a scapegoat; they've got a very clever plan.

But the soldier's next words caused him to slam his wine glass on the table with a loud crash, spilling wine all over the table.

"General! No... no, General Zhu won!"

It's... it's General Zhu's entire army that has been wiped out!

Even General Zhu himself died in battle!

"What did you say?!"

Liu Zhenbang suddenly stood up.

He rushed to his personal guard, grabbed him by the collar, and stared at him with eyes as wide as saucers.

"Say it again! Zhu Chongwei's three thousand border troops were all wiped out by those rioters?!"

The guard, breathless from being gripped so tightly, his face flushed red, stammered:
"It's...it's true! The scouts who went to Zuoyun County saw it with their own eyes. The city gate was full of the corpses of government troops, and a lot of armor had been picked up by the rioters. Zhang Tianlin is now calling himself the 'General Who Pacifies Jin' and is leading his men north!"

Liu Zhenbang suddenly loosened his grip, and his personal guard knelt down with a thud.

He staggered back two steps, slumped into a chair, and his mind went blank.

Even if Zhu Chongwei was an incompetent fool, he was still a proper border army adjutant. The three thousand men under his command were regular soldiers who had been on the battlefield and fought against the Mongols. How could they lose to a group of refugees who didn't even have armor?

"Impossible...this is impossible..."

He muttered to himself.

He suddenly remembered the standard weapons that Wang Wei had "lent" to Zhang Tianlin before.

He had a waist knife, a spear, and hundreds of old bows and arrows, which he thought were useless at the time.

But now that I think about it, those weapons fell into the hands of the rioters, and with the equipment of Zhu Chongwei's defeated troops, the strength of the rioters was no longer that of a "rabble"!

A chill suddenly shot up from the soles of my feet to the top of my head.

Polu Fort is only ten miles away from Zuoyun County. If Zhang Tianlin leads the rioters to attack the fort, can his few hundred lazy soldiers hold them off?

He had previously thought Wang Wei's plan was foolproof, but now it seems they had raised a tiger that would eventually harm them!

"Quickly! Pass on my orders!"

Liu Zhenbang slammed his hand on the table, his voice trembling.

"Have everyone go up to the fortress walls and guard them!"

Seal the doors of the granary and distribute all the knives and guns from the armory!
Send ten more scouts in five groups to investigate Zhang Tianlin's movements. Report back immediately if you find anything!
Also, quickly send a message to Datong Prefecture, saying that Zhu Chongwei's entire army has been wiped out, and order the general to send reinforcements immediately!

The guards scrambled out, leaving Liu Zhenbang alone in the council hall.

He walked to the window, looking north, his palms sweating profusely.

Although the walls of Polubao were stronger than those of Zuoyun County, the soldiers were out of practice and it was uncertain whether they could hold the city if rebels came.

What worries him even more is whether Wang Wei will blame him if he finds out that Zhu Chongwei has lost.
After all, it was Wang Wei's idea that he did not send troops to support Zhu Chongwei.

Half an hour later, the scouts that had been sent out returned one after another.

The first scout knelt on the ground, his face pale:

"General! Zhang Tianlin's troops didn't come this way, nor did they go to Datong Prefecture. They... they went towards Shuozhou!"

"Shuozhou?"

Liu Zhenbang frowned, and then his expression turned even more unpleasant.

The Right Guard of Datong is located in Shuozhou. Zhu Chongwei's defeated troops have already depleted the Right Guard's forces, leaving Shuozhou vulnerable. Moreover, there are many refugees who have fled there due to the drought. Zhang Tianlin went to Shuozhou to recruit more refugees and strengthen his power!

"Anything else?" he pressed.

Another scout added, "There are now quite a few more people wearing government army armor in the rebel ranks! They're moving very fast; they should reach the Shuozhou border tonight!"

Liu Zhenbang felt a chill run down his back, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his clothes.

A single refugee from Zuoyun County could defeat three thousand border troops; if he were to absorb refugees from Shuozhou as well, along with the surrendered defeated soldiers, Zhang Tianlin's forces would likely exceed fifty thousand!

At that time, let alone Polubao, even Datong Prefecture might not be able to be defended!

"Did I...did I do something terribly wrong?"

He muttered to himself, his eyes filled with fear.

Wang Wei had initially ordered him to secretly send messages to the refugees and cut off their supplies, hoping to use the rioters to force Xiong Tingbi to send troops. However, now that the rioters have gone out of control, they have not only failed to deplete Xiong Tingbi's forces but have also created an even greater threat.

If Zhang Tianlin really gains a foothold in Shuozhou, or even builds up a larger force, the imperial court will investigate and he and Wang Wei will probably lose their heads!

The wind outside the window suddenly picked up, making the flags on the fortress wall flutter loudly, as if mocking his failed scheme.

He now realized that the chaos they thought they could control had long since spiraled out of control, and that the "tiger" they had unleashed would soon turn on them.

The next day.

News of Zhu Chongwei's defeat also reached Datong Prefecture.

Early in the morning, the city gate of Datong Prefecture had barely opened a crack when it was forced wide open by the surging crowd.

A dozen or so ebony carriages lined up one after another, their wheels creaking as they rolled over the cobblestones. Inside, the carriages were stuffed with silks, satins, gold and silver, and even a baby crying.

These were the gentry of Datong Prefecture who, upon hearing the news of Zhu Chongwei's complete annihilation, packed their belongings overnight to flee to Xuanfu.

"Make way! Make way, everyone!"

A country gentleman dressed in brocade robes stood on a carriage, waving a folding fan and shouting at the crowded people.

"The rioters from Zuoyun County are about to attack. If you block the road again, and they chop your head off, don't blame me!"

A commotion broke out in the crowd. Some people grumbled and made way, while others hurriedly ran out of the city. Chaos reigned both inside and outside the city gates.

Such commotion has continued ever since news of Zhu Chongwei's defeat reached Datong Prefecture last night.

In teahouses and taverns, the sounds of discussion were everywhere:

"I heard that General Zhu's three thousand men were all burned and killed by the rioters, and even he himself was hacked to death!"

"The rebel leader Zhang Tianlin now has more than 20,000 men and has even seized weapons from the government troops. I'm afraid their next move will be to attack Datong Prefecture!"

"With Commander Xiong in Xuanfu, it's perfectly safe. Let's hurry and escape!"

Panic spread like a plague throughout Datong Prefecture.

Inside the General's Mansion, the atmosphere was even more oppressive.

Wang Wei paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back, the official documents on his desk piled up like a mountain.

The top two letters are a letter of accusation from Zhu Naijun, the Prince of Dai, which is full of warnings:

"Quickly quell the rioters! If Datong Prefecture falls, you will be held responsible!"

The other letter was from Zhang Wei, the eunuch in charge of the garrison, and its tone was even stronger:

"Zhu Chongwei has been defeated, and the rebels are powerful. If we delay any longer, I will petition His Majesty to punish you for dereliction of duty!"

"Damn it!"

Wang Wei suddenly stopped and swept the tea on the table to the ground, shattering the celadon teacup into pieces.

"Zhang Tianlin, this country bumpkin, has really made something of himself?"

Even if Zhu Chongwei's three thousand border troops were pigs, they wouldn't have been wiped out by the rioters!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, his chest heaving violently and his breathing becoming rapid.

He originally thought that Zhang Tianlin would at most cause trouble in Zuoyun County, deplete Zhu Chongwei's troops, and then let Xiong Tingbi clean up the mess so that he could take the opportunity to ask the court for military pay to make up for the embezzled funds.

But now, the rebels have not only won, but may even attack Datong Prefecture, and the situation is completely out of his control.

This Zhang Tianlin has become powerful far too quickly.

"Where's Xiong Tingbi? That damn Xiong Tingbi hasn't made a move yet?"

"General, there's still no movement from Commander Xiong's side."

Wang Zhong, a trusted servant, cautiously entered, holding the report he had just received from the scouts. He kept his head down, not daring to look at Wang Wei's face.

He had followed Wang Wei for many years and knew that the general was currently in a very difficult situation and that he could easily get burned if he was not careful.

"No movement?!"

Wang Wei suddenly turned around, his eyes bloodshot, snatched the scout's report, glanced at it, and threw it hard to the ground.

"Is Xiong Tingbi blind or deaf?"

Zhu Chongwei's entire army was wiped out, leaving the northern part of Datong vulnerable, yet he remained in Xuanfu without moving.

"Does he expect Zhang Tianlin to reach the gates of Datong before he'll send troops?"

Wang Zhong shrank back and whispered:
"I heard that they are cultivating fertile land and building water conservancy projects in Xuanfu. It seems that Commander Xiong is more concerned about the defense of Xuanfu and doesn't take the rioters in Datong seriously."

"Didn't you take it seriously?"

Wang Wei laughed in anger.

"Once Zhang Tianlin gathers the refugees from Shuozhou and then captures Datong Prefecture, Xiong Tingbi will be a criminal! At that time, we will all be doomed!"

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

Now is not the time to criticize Xiong Tingbi. We need to find a way to control the situation quickly, otherwise we will not be able to explain ourselves to Prince Dai and Zhang Wei, and the court will punish him.

"We can't let this continue!"

Wang Wei gritted his teeth, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

"Issue my order: Sun Zhen, the military commander of Jingping Road, shall lead 3,000 troops to outflank the rebels from the west and block their way to Shuozhou."

Ma Rong, the military commander of Pinglu City, led three thousand men to launch a pincer attack from the east to prevent the rebels from advancing south to Datong Prefecture.

Liu Zhenbang of Polu Fort ordered him to lead 3,000 troops to advance from the south, coordinating with Sun Zhen and Ma Rong to trap the rebels north of Zuoyun County!

Wang Zhong quickly took out paper and pen and wrote down the orders rapidly, but he had some doubts in his heart:

"Commander, we've mobilized so many troops, if we still can't stop the rioters..."

"Zhu Chongwei was merely underestimating his enemy, which is why he was defeated just now. With three of our Datong commanders leading troops simultaneously, are we afraid of this mere refugee?"

Wang Wei interrupted him, his tone resolute.

"The rioters must be kept under control in the Zuoyun and Shuozhou areas, and must not be allowed to approach Datong Prefecture!"
It's not too late to let the situation get out of control once Xiong Tingbi can't hold back anymore.

It's too early for things to get out of control!

He paused, a calculating glint in his eyes.

"Also, tell Liu Zhenbang that the 'casualties' in this quelling of the rebellion can be inflated, especially the vacant soldiers. We can use the rioters to settle the accounts."

Wang Zhong's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly understood Wang Wei's thoughts.

Over the years, Wang Wei embezzled military funds and falsely reported nearly 10,000 unpaid vacancies, but he has never been able to find an opportunity to fill them.

Now, by having Liu Zhenbang and others overreport casualties, these vacant soldiers can be counted as "killed in action while suppressing the rebellion." This way, we don't have to pay the vacant soldiers anymore, and we can also apply for pensions from the court—a win-win situation.

"besides."

Wang Wei added: "This garrison commander personally led 5,000 troops to garrison Yanghewei as backup."

If Sun Zhen and his men can't hold out, I'll send reinforcements."

He wanted to go in person, firstly to control military power and prevent Sun Zhen and others from outwardly complying while inwardly disobeying.

Secondly, it was to personally witness the reporting of "casualties" to ensure that the vacancies could be filled smoothly.

If Zhu Chongwei's three thousand men could be wiped out by the rioters, it would be reasonable for his "five thousand reinforcements" to lose one or two thousand as well, and no one would doubt it.

Wang Zhong bowed immediately and replied, "Your subordinate will go and relay the order right away!"

Watching Wang Zhong's hurried departure, Wang Wei felt a little more at ease.

"Zhang Tianlin, I hope you won't disappoint me."

"It would be best if it were even more 'powerful,' causing Sun Zhen and his men to 'lose' more manpower, so that I could settle my score more cleanly."

"If all goes well, Datong Prefecture will then be entirely under my control!"

(End of this chapter)