第二十三回 施小计雪夜袭金兵 泄众忿公堂咬水贼 (Chapter 23: A Cunning Scheme in a Snowy Night Assault on the Jin Troops, and the Venting of Public Wrath by Biting the Water Bandit in Court)

Now, Lu Junyi led his own troops and pitched camp outside the city of Yizhou. For several days in succession, there was no sign of Sun Hao coming to assault the city. Lu Junyi consulted with Wu Yong, saying, "Sun Hao holds his forces stationary, surely out of fear for our army and concern for harming the families within the city. Since we have already seized the city, we must devise a means to lure him into battle." Wu Yong laughed and replied, "Sir, set your heart at ease. I have a stratagem of my own. Tonight, with heavy snow, it is the perfect time to act."

That night, dark clouds gathered, and a bitter north wind blew fiercely. True enough, a heavy snow began to fall. The snowflakes drifted down like goose feathers, and in less than an hour, the ground was covered over a foot deep. Wu Yong summoned Shi Qian and Bai Sheng, instructing them, "Each of you take fifty skilled underlings, bring ample sulfur and saltpeter, sneak into Sun Hao's main camp, and set fire to the fodder piles. When his camp is thrown into chaos, I shall lead the troops in a charge." He also ordered Hua Rong and Xu Ning to each lead five hundred cavalry and lie in ambush on the left and right flanks of the camp, rushing out to attack as soon as they saw the flames.

Shi Qian and Bai Sheng received the orders, changed into tight-fitting garments, and set out through the snow. The snow was falling thick and fast, all around a vast white expanse where not a soul could be seen even face to face. The two stealthily crept to the front of Sun Hao's camp. They saw the camp guards huddled in their tents to escape the cold, with only a few sentries pacing back and forth at the camp entrance. Shi Qian signaled to Bai Sheng, and the two split up to act. Shi Qian circled to the rear of the camp and saw a row of fodder piled high like a mountain. He took out a fire starter, lit a sulfur pack, and tossed it into the haystack. Instantly, flames shot skyward, crackling loudly.

Bai Sheng also set fires on the other side. The officers and soldiers in the camp, seeing the provisions ablaze, rushed out in panic to fight the fire. For a moment, men and horses were in disarray, creating utter chaos. Sun Hao was startled awake in his tent and urgently ordered each camp to form ranks and prepare against a raid. Before his words had fully left his mouth, sudden shouts and killing cries arose from the left camp as Hua Rong led his troops in an attack; from the right camp, drums and clamor shook the heavens as Xu Ning led his charge. Sun Hao hastily commanded Dou Yi and Yin Luo to separately engage the enemies.

Lu Junyi, seeing the enemy camp on fire, knew the plan had succeeded. He then led a large force with Wu Yong and charged straight into Sun Hao's central army. Sun Hao hastily engaged in battle and was stabbed in the shoulder blade by Lu Junyi's spear, nearly tumbling from his horse. Fortunately, his personal guards desperately rescued him, and he retreated backward. The officers and soldiers, seeing their commander wounded, lost all will to fight and scattered in disarray. The Liangshan Marsh troops took advantage of the situation to pursue and slaughter, beheading over a thousand and seizing countless horses and weapons. Sun Hao retreated over twenty li before he could gather his remaining troops. Counting his men, he found he had lost a third. He had no choice but to retreat overnight to Xuzhou.

Lu Junyi achieved a great victory and withdrew his army back to Yizhou city. Wu Yong said, "Although Sun Hao is defeated, the Eastern Capital will surely dispatch another large army to attack. If we remain here long, I fear our mountain stronghold may be imperiled. It would be better to abandon Yizhou and return to the mountain to fortify our defense." Lu Junyi replied, "The words of the Military Strategist are most reasonable. Yet, if we retreat in this manner, the people in the city will inevitably suffer from the officers and soldiers' cruelty." Wu Yong said, "No matter. We can distribute the treasury's money and grain to the people, instructing them to each flee for their lives. By the time the officers and soldiers arrive, it will be an empty city."

The next day, Lu Junyi posted proclamations to reassure the people and distributed all the treasures stored in the treasury to the poor. He also opened the granaries to dispense grain. The people were endlessly grateful. Lu Junyi then issued orders to break camp and set out, slowly retreating back to Liangshan Marsh. Along the way, they committed no offenses, and the people burned incense to see them off.

Meanwhile, Sun Hao retreated to Xuzhou and drafted an urgent report, sending it day and night to the Eastern Capital. Cai You and Gao Qiu, upon seeing the report, turned pale with shock and urgently summoned Wang Fu for discussion. Wang Fu said, "The bandits of Liangshan Marsh are so rampant that only Zhang Shuye can suppress them. We should quickly transfer Zhang Shuye from Haizhou to lead troops in a campaign to exterminate them." Gao Qiu said, "Although Zhang Shuye is capable, he is far away in Haizhou, and it would be too slow to meet the urgency. Now, the troops from both Daming and Qingzhou have not yet assembled. It would be better to mobilize the military forces from various prefectures in the Jingdong Circuit to surround Liangshan Marsh together."

The three of them finalized their plan and had the Bureau of Military Affairs issue documents to gather troops from all places. They also secretly ordered each prefecture and county to strictly investigate. Any spy from Liangshan Marsh was to be beheaded without mercy.

Meanwhile, the scout Dai Zong of Liangshan Marsh had already reported the news up the mountain. Song Jiang, upon hearing the report, gathered the Chieftains for discussion. Wu Yong said, "The officers and soldiers are being mobilized from four directions, and their momentum is not small. But our marsh is perilous and strong, sufficient to hold firm. We just need to guard against them cutting off our supply route." Song Jiang said, "We can order the naval Chieftains to strengthen patrols and send another force to station at Lijia Daokou to protect the supply route."

While they were discussing, suddenly, it was reported that an urgent document had arrived from Dengzhou. Song Jiang opened it and saw that it was sent by the prefect of Dengzhou, Sun Li. The letter wrote: "Recently, the sea bandits Guo Jing and Wang Jin have colluded with the Jin State and intend to invade Dengzhou. Hearing that the righteous warriors of Liangshan Marsh are loyal and brave, I specially request to send troops to assist." Song Jiang read it and passed it to Wu Yong. Wu Yong said, "This is Sun Li seeking help, and it is also an opportunity for us to make external allies. We can send a naval force there."

Song Jiang then ordered the six naval Chieftains, Ruan Xiao'er, Ruan Xiaowu, Ruan Xiaoqi, Li Jun, Zhang Heng, and Zhang Shun, to lead fifty warships and two thousand naval troops to set out for Dengzhou that very day. He also ordered Hua Rong and Qin Ming to lead a thousand cavalry to follow as reinforcement.

The Chieftains received the orders and descended the mountain. In a few days, they arrived at the seaport of Dengzhou. Sun Li came out of the city to welcome them and held a banquet to entertain them. During the feast, Sun Li said, "That Guo Jing and Wang Jin are entrenched on Shamendao Island. They often have sea ships coming and going to the Jin State. Recently, they have gathered several thousand bandits and boasted that they will break into Dengzhou. My humble official's military strength is weak, so I specially request the righteous warriors' assistance." Ruan Xiao'er said, "Prefect, rest assured. Since we have come, we will certainly make sure those fellows come without returning."

The next day, scouts reported that Guo Jing and Wang Jin were leading over a hundred ships, heading straight for Dengzhou. Ruan Xiao'er allocated the ships, ordering Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun to each lead ten fast boats and ambush on both sides of the seaport. He himself, along with Ruan Xiaowu, Ruan Xiaoqi, and Li Jun, led the main force to confront the enemy.

The two armies met at sea. Guo Jing stood at the bow of his ship and shouted loudly, "You bandits from Liangshan Marsh, dare to meddle in others' affairs!" Ruan Xiao'er did not answer but directed his ship straight forward. Li Jun bent his bow and set an arrow, shooting Guo Jing in the left arm. Guo Jing, bearing the pain, urgently ordered the ships to retreat. Zhang Heng and Zhang Shun rushed out from both sides, cutting off the escape route. Wang Jin, seeing the situation turn sour, hastily turned his ship's head to flee, but Ruan Xiaowu hooked the ship's side with a grappling hook, jumped over, and cut him down with one stroke of his blade.

The bandit soldiers, seeing their leader killed, surrendered one after another. Ruan Xiao'er subdued the remaining crowd, bound Guo Jing, and brought him back to Dengzhou. Sun Li was overjoyed and held a banquet to celebrate the victory. During the feast, Guo Jing kowtowed and begged for mercy. Sun Li said, "You scoundrel, colluding with the Jin people, your crime deserves death!" He ordered him to be taken to the market for public execution and display.

Ruan Xiao'er and the others stayed in Dengzhou for a few days. Seeing the sea borders pacified, they bid farewell to Sun Li and led the army back to the mountain. Sun Li generously gifted gold and silk and personally saw them off to the seaport.

The Liangshan Marsh forces returned to the mountain stronghold, and Song Jiang again held a banquet to welcome them back. While drinking, suddenly, it was reported that a messenger had come from Jizhou Prefecture with a letter. Song Jiang called him in, and the messenger presented the letter. Song Jiang read it and suddenly changed color with anger. Wu Yong asked, "Brother, why are you angry?" Song Jiang passed the letter over. Wu Yong saw that it was a letter from the prefect of Jizhou, Zhang Shuye, with sincere words, urging Song Jiang to lead the crowd to submit to the court and jointly resist foreign aggression.

Wu Yong said, "Zhang Shuye is a loyal and righteous man, and this letter comes from utmost sincerity. But we are irreconcilably opposed to Cai Jing and Gao Qiu. Even if we are willing to submit, we will surely meet with foul play." Song Jiang sighed and said, "How could I not know? But now, the world is in turmoil, and the Jin people are watching covetously. We, fighting here, is ultimately not a solution." The Chieftains, hearing this, all fell silent.

That night, Song Jiang paced alone in his room, thinking of the words of Hou Meng and Zhang Shuye, and could not help but shed tears. Truly: With a heart to serve the country but no door to enter, Vainly making the hero's tears soak his lapels.

To know what happens next, listen to the explanations in the next chapter.