第十八章 闻边警州官弃城走 见露布好汉结队来 (Chapter 18: Officials Flee Cities at Frontier News; Heroes Rally at Proclamation’s Call.)

Song Jiang was encamped outside the walls of Dongping, awaiting news of Lu Junyi’s victory. When none arrived after a long time, he grew anxious. Just then, Dai Zong returned to camp to report, saying, "Squire Lu has captured Yizhou. Sun Hao has withdrawn his forces from Dongping and is now stationed at the Yizhou border, yet no battle has occurred. Squire Lu is resting his troops within Yizhou and has not engaged the enemy." Hearing this, Song Jiang consulted with Wu Yong, saying, "Squire Lu holds Yizhou, intending to wait for Sun Hao to retreat of his own accord. Yet now that Sun Hao has withdrawn but remains static, he is likely awaiting reinforcements. Should troops from Daming arrive, and should Zhang Shuye’s forces from Haizhou also come, and the soldiers within Dongping city seize the moment to sally forth, we would face foes on three fronts. The best course now is for me to combine my forces with yours, Military Strategist, and advance toward Yizhou. Guan Sheng’s troops here are ample to withstand the enemy from Dongping." Wu Yong said, "Elder Brother, your words match my own thoughts precisely. However, Gao Yun and Dou Yi within Dongping, seeing we do not attack, have already issued challenges twice. After our departure, Guan Sheng’s forces will be isolated and will certainly face siege." Song Jiang replied, "Guan Sheng possesses both wisdom and courage in full measure. Faced with a formidable enemy, he will surely devise a strategy to hold firm. Let us first link up with Squire Lu’s column, ensuring our communication between north and south is unhindered and our momentum united. Then, the enemy will not dare pursue us relentlessly." Wu Yong said, "Elder Brother speaks most reasonably. I beg you give the order to strike camp and march." Thereupon, Song Jiang issued the command; the entire camp was struck, the canal was crossed, and the host marched toward Yizhou.

Here we shall set aside the tale of the Liangshan Marsh forces marching east. Let us speak solely of the powerful minister at court who, upon hearing Yizhou had fallen and that Zhang Shuye’s troops had not yet set out, feared Sun Hao’s forces were too weak to retake it. He dispatched a fast courier with an order to dispatch three thousand garrison troops from Xuzhou to assist the campaign. This force was commanded by Commander Tian Zhong. Tian Zhong, himself a seasoned and battle-hardened general, received the command and sped from Xuzhou toward Yizhou. Seeing these reinforcements, Sun Hao’s military spirit revived. He ordered Tian Zhong to take the vanguard while he followed with the main army, advancing to press upon Yizhou. Meanwhile, the Liangshan Marsh chieftains Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo, leading their own contingent of over a thousand men, attacked the territories under Xuzhou’s jurisdiction. The prefect of Xuzhou, Zhao Zhenwu, defended as best he could while sending urgent memorials for help. Upon receiving this news, the Bureau of Military Affairs swiftly ordered Tian Zhong to turn back and relieve Xuzhou. Tian Zhong had not marched a full day before receiving this countermand. He thought to himself, "I came to aid Sun Hao. If I turn back now midway, how shall I face him? Moreover, the road back to Xuzhou is the shorter; returning there first is surely the right course." Therefore, he ordered his rearguard to become the vanguard and turned his army back toward Xuzhou. When word of this reached Sun Hao’s camp, all officers and men were disheartened, lamenting, "Tian Zhong has already reached Xuzhou, close enough to strike at Yizhou, yet he does not come. We can only hold firm here and await the court’s relief forces." Sun Hao himself was deeply perplexed upon hearing this.

Song Jiang’s Liangshan Marsh contingent marched day and night, reaching Yizhou in just two days. Informed of their arrival, Lu Junyi led his men out of the city to welcome them. Song Jiang clasped Lu Junyi’s hand and said, "Brother, your journey has been most arduous. It gladdens my heart that you have seized this city, a feat sure to strike terror into our foes." Lu Junyi replied, "Following the Military Strategist’s command, I made a surprise attack and took Yizhou. Though we had a minor success, we have not yet engaged Sun Hao’s main army. Now Sun Hao is encamped outside the city, his momentum still sharp. We must combine our strength to strike him." Song Jiang said, "It is precisely for this purpose that I have come." Wu Yong then invited Song Jiang into the city to discuss military plans. In the main hall of the prefectural yamen, Song Jiang took the seat of honor, with Wu Yong and Lu Junyi seated to his left and right. The other chieftains stood in rows according to rank. Wu Yong said, "Sun Hao’s main force is now encamped at the border, intending to await reinforcements. Once the column from Daming arrives, he will surely combine his forces and attack. We should strike now, before his reinforcements come, to blunt his edge." Song Jiang said, "The Military Strategist’s words match my own thoughts. But how are we to break the enemy?" Wu Yong replied, "Sun Hao is a cautious commander and will not advance rashly. If we go forth to challenge him, he will certainly deepen his moats and heighten his ramparts, seeking to weary our troops. Our strategy now should be to render him unable to seek battle, yet also unable to retreat. Only then can we plot his defeat." Lu Junyi said, "The Military Strategist surely has a clever plan." Wu Yong then leaned in and whispered a scheme. Both Song Jiang and Lu Junyi praised it as excellent.

The next day, Wu Yong ordered Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo to lead their troops and raid Xuzhou. Meanwhile, he instructed Li Kui and Liu Tang to disguise themselves as refugees and infiltrate Sun Hao’s camp. Li Kui and Liu Tang accepted the command and went to prepare. Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo led their men to the walls of Xuzhou but did not attack the city. Instead, they set fires and raised a clamor outside. Seeing the Liangshan Marsh forces were few, Prefect Zhao Zhenwu opened the gates and charged out. Shan and Wei fought a delaying retreat, luring him into a valley where ambushers sprang forth on all sides, surrounding Zhao Zhenwu. He charged left and right but could not break free. At this critical juncture, a company of horsemen was seen charging forth, led by none other than Tian Zhong. Returning to relieve Xuzhou, Tian Zhong had come upon this scene. He led his men charging into the thick of the fray and rescued Zhao Zhenwu. Seeing that reinforcements had arrived, Shan Tinggui and Wei Dingguo gathered their men and withdrew. Tian Zhong did not pursue but returned to the city with Zhao Zhenwu.

Meanwhile, Li Kui and Liu Tang, having infiltrated Sun Hao’s camp, set fire to the piles of grain and fodder. The flames rose instantly, throwing the camp into chaos. Sun Hao urgently ordered firefighting efforts, while Li Kui and Liu Tang slipped away amidst the confusion. Enraged at the destruction of his supplies, Sun Hao ordered the entire camp to strike camp and march directly to press Yizhou. Wu Yong, having received advance intelligence, ordered Song Jiang and Lu Junyi each to lead a force in ambush on the flanks. He himself led a contingent out of the city to offer battle. Seeing Wu Yong, Sun Hao cursed him: "You grass-bandit! How dare you burn my supplies?" Wu Yong laughed and retorted, "You, a great general of the court, yet ignorant of military arts! You brought this disaster upon yourself by failing to secure your provisions. Who else is there to blame?" Sun Hao flew into a rage, swung his sword, and charged straight at Wu Yong. They fought less than three bouts before Wu Yong feigned defeat and fled. Sun Hao led his troops in pursuit when suddenly signal cannons roared to the heavens. From left and right, the forces of Song Jiang and Lu Junyi charged out, trapping Sun Hao at the center of the encirclement. Sun Hao fought desperately but could not break free. At this perilous moment, a company of troops was seen charging from the northwest corner, their leader shouting, "Fear not, General Sun! Tian Zhong is here!" Having rescued Zhao Zhenwu, Tian Zhong had led his men to reinforce Sun Hao. Now, Tian Zhong hacked his way into the thick of the fray, joined forces with Sun Hao, fought their way out of the encirclement, and retreated a dozen miles before finally pitching camp again. A tally of their forces showed losses exceeding three thousand men.

Sun Hao said to Tian Zhong, "Had you not come to our rescue, General, we would all have perished here." Tian Zhong replied, "The bandits’ strength is formidable; we must not underestimate them. For now, let us withdraw and devise a better strategy." Sun Hao agreed. They combined their forces and withdrew gradually. Seeing Sun Hao retreat, Wu Yong did not pursue but gathered his troops and returned to the city. Song Jiang said, "Though Sun Hao is defeated, his strength is not broken. We ought to pursue him." Wu Yong said, "Having suffered this defeat, Sun Hao will not dare advance again. Let us rest and recuperate our men and horses for now; we can plan our next move later." Lu Junyi said, "The Military Strategist is right." Thus, the Liangshan Marsh forces rested and regrouped within Yizhou.

Several days later, scouts reported that Sun Hao and Tian Zhong had retreated to the borders of Xuzhou. Wu Yong then ordered the camp struck and the army to march toward Xuzhou. Having retreated to Xuzhou, Sun Hao and Tian Zhong joined forces with Zhao Zhenwu to discuss plans to defeat the enemy. Zhao Zhenwu said, "The Liangshan Marsh bandits have captured prefectures and counties in succession; their momentum is at its peak. We should only defend firmly and await the court’s relief troops." Tian Zhong said, "Defense is sound in principle, but what if the bandits besiege the city and attack?" Sun Hao said, "I have a plan to defeat the bandit forces." Tian Zhong and Zhao Zhenwu asked in unison, "What plan?" Sun Hao then leaned in and whispered a scheme. Both men praised it as ingenious. Truly, within strength there is always greater strength; to employ a stratagem, one must recognize the strategist. As for what plan Sun Hao revealed, that shall be told in the next chapter.