Chapter 112: Enemy Assault (Thanks to the Silver Alliance of "I Want to Live for Decades")

In the six counties of Chenzhou, five county magistrates had successively arrived in Lin’an.

Du Hui entered the government office, and the kindly Lin Ziyu greeted him warmly with a respectful bow. “Governor Du.”

“Old Lin!” Du Hui nodded in return. “Do you know what’s going on?”

Lin Ziyu’s slightly plump face showed a hint of dissatisfaction. “The main army has set out, and I’ve been assigned to protect the grain supply routes for Chenzhou.”

This man couldn’t even explain a simple matter clearly… Du Hui concealed his disdain and whispered, “Shouldn’t this be a matter for the main army?”

Lin Ziyu sighed. “Duke Xu claimed he lacked sufficient troops and left this task to the local counties.”

Shameless!

The two entered the duty room. Du Hui glanced around; out of the six county magistrates, five had arrived. Only Yang Xuan from Taiping County was missing.

Liu Qing raised his hand to quiet the room as everyone took their seats. He spoke solemnly, “You all probably know the situation. Protecting the grain routes is critical; you must not slack off. Since you’re all here today, coordinate with each other on how to patrol the borders between your counties. That’s your responsibility; I won’t interfere. But if anything goes wrong, military law will apply.”

The group discussed among themselves, soon realizing something.

“Commander, Yang Xuan from Taiping County hasn’t arrived.”

The grain route passes through Taiping County, but where was he?

Liu Qing nodded. “Yang Xuan is here. Someone, call him in.”

A junior clerk outside the door turned to comply, then stopped.

Liu Qing’s face darkened. Just as he was about to scold, Yang Xuan appeared.

“Greetings, Commander.”

Yang Xuan entered.

“Sit down and speak.” Liu Qing’s tone softened somewhat, thinking this young man had been fussing for two days over something unknown. Well, young people are thin-skinned; better not ask too much.

“Commander, does our agreement still stand?” Yang Xuan asked.

Huh?

Liu Qing’s face remained stern. “Of course it does.”

“Good. I won’t fail.”

Yang Xuan glanced at the others, thinking that with this group as witnesses, no matter how thick-skinned Liu Qing was, he couldn’t back out now. Two hundred sets of armor, three hundred longbows—enough to outfit his suicide battalion.

Liu Qing was momentarily taken aback. He exchanged a glance with Lu Qiang and said solemnly, “This is the government office. No games allowed.”

“Of course not.” Yang Xuan replied. “But let us bring in witnesses.”

The five magistrates were puzzled. Then two junior clerks entered.

They looked at Yang Xuan with such burning admiration it was almost worshipful.

Liu Qing leaned back slightly, maintaining a posture that made Yang Xuan uneasy but still authoritative. “What if it’s inappropriate?”

Lu Qiang nodded slightly, thinking it’d be good to give the young man a harsh lesson. Sometimes, beating someone is the only way to teach them limits.

“I’ll leave immediately with no further visits to the government office for charity!”

Charity?

Everyone suddenly understood. Lin Ziyu chuckled. “Commander, you’re known for fairness. Who would dare beg for charity here?”

Yang Xuan pointed at the two clerks. “Please, Commander, give them a test. Let them draft official documents publicly. If it’s not up to standard, I’ll admit defeat.”

Liu Qing said calmly, “Fine. There happens to be a matter today. Let’s have them draft an official document ordering all counties to properly guard the grain routes.”

One junior clerk stepped forward.

He began.

“Hereby…”

At first, everyone listened casually, but gradually, they sat up straighter.

The clerk finished drafting and bowed before stepping back.

The hall fell silent.

Liu Qing’s eyelid twitched. “The Ministry of Revenue orders all regions to report this year’s harvest. Chenzhou’s harvest is slightly less than last year; draft the report.”

Another clerk stepped forward and began.

Liu Qing’s eyes showed surprise, then faded.

“The Ministry of Personnel assesses Chenzhou’s officials.”

“Citizens of Xuanzhou and Chenzhou dispute farmland boundaries.”

“…”

Six consecutive assignments.

The two clerks took turns.

Of course, they paused to think, and initially, their drafts contained errors and omissions. Whenever a mistake was made, they looked down at their papers, then resumed reading smoothly.

By the sixth task, the clerks could draft documents with ease.

Liu Qing waved his hand and fixed Yang Xuan with a burning gaze. “Most of Chenzhou’s officials are mediocre, and the junior clerks are mostly just there to fill numbers.”

Several clerks grimaced but couldn’t argue… if you can’t even draft documents well, you have no right to dispute.

“Could this method be widely applied?” Lu Qiang asked for everyone.

Yang Xuan nodded. “Simple.”

Liu Qing’s eyes sparkled. “Simple?”

“Two days only.” Yang Xuan pointed at the two clerks. “These two can be taught by a teacher.”

It really wasn’t complicated. He had recited various official documents to Zhuque, who had summarized some patterns. Truly not complex!

Yang Xuan cleared his throat. “Commander…”

Liu Qing looked at the clerks. “Is that so?”

“Yes.” One clerk said, “Governor Yang’s method is a powerful tool for official documents; all troubles are solved.”

“Commander!” Yang Xuan suspected Liu Qing was trying to renege. “Our agreement…”

“A gentleman’s word is his bond…”

Everyone looked at them, thoroughly confused.

Liu Qing slammed the table. “Send someone!”

“Commander!”

Liu Qing ordered, “Provide Taiping two hundred suits of armor, three hundred longbows, and arrows in full…”

Yang Xuan was overjoyed. “Thank you, Commander!”

Liu Qing stroked his beard. “Young man, you had such a good method but didn’t say so sooner. That’s not very honest. If you have any more good ideas, just bring them forward. I will reward your merits, ha ha ha!”

Damn! When had the Commander ever been so friendly to us? The five magistrates stared at Liu Qing in disbelief.

“Commander, I also need weapons for Huilong County!”

“Commander, you can’t favor one over another.”

“Commander…”

Liu Qing slammed the table again, coldly saying, “Most of Chenzhou’s junior clerks are incompetent. Their official documents are full of errors. Chang’an has reprimanded us many times. If you can solve this, weapons will be supplied. If not, even if I broke my arms and legs, I’d still find a way to equip you. But have you solved it?”

Lu Qiang smiled. “This method can be taught to clerks everywhere. Then you won’t worry about official documents anymore.”

This was a hint: you should thank Yang Xuan.

Yang Xuan bowed and smiled. “Just lucky, just lucky.”

The five magistrates’ eyes nearly flared with envy and resentment.

Two hundred suits of armor, three hundred longbows… such weapons could equip an elite force. Who wouldn’t envy that?

…

When the weapons arrived in Taiping, the entire county was abuzz.

“How did the young lord get these?”

“The Commander is easy to talk to.”

Everyone: “…”

Liu Qing was notorious for being difficult, wasn’t he?

“Get equipped quickly.” Yang Xuan’s face darkened. “The army marches out. Grain routes come first. One grain route passes through Taiping…”

Nan He was puzzled. “Shouldn’t the army guard it?”

Yang Xuan shook his head. “It was handed over to the local counties.”

Nan He was stunned. “Is this… shirking responsibility? Duke Xu is rumored to be cruel and selfish. After marrying a woman from the Yingchuan Yang clan, he rose rapidly in the army… but this is a battlefield! How can this be taken lightly?”

“He’s treating it lightly!” Yang Xuan sneered. “Others aside, Taiping faces many foreign tribes. We must be cautious.”

…

Waxie Tribe.

In the main tent, the leaders had gathered.

Hua Zhuo sat at the head, a plate of lamb resting on the table. The meat was cold, the fat congealed. He shaved off a slice with a small knife and chewed slowly while looking at the others.

“The Northern Liao sent envoys, ordering us to strike and cut off the Tang army’s grain routes.”

When he said “order,” his tone grew heavier, a mocking expression crossing his face.

“This is like grabbing chestnuts from the fire for Northern Liao!”

“Khan, we must be cautious.”

Voices clamored all around.

Hua Zhuo tossed the knife onto the plate and said calmly, “If successful, there will be ten thousand fat sheep and three thousand fine horses.”

Instantly, the many disgruntled eyes transformed into fierce ones.

“Let’s do it!”

“Not doing it is foolish!”

“I volunteer to lead the troops!”

Hua Zhuo slicked back his oily beard, which gleamed even more. “Nayin, you go.”

A short, sturdy leader stepped forward, somewhat disrespectfully saying, “Khan, do you intend to exhaust my tribe?”

Hua Zhuo stared at him coldly. “This is a good opportunity to profit the Waxie Tribe. You used to boast of your unmatched wisdom but refused to serve the tribe. Why?”

An irrefutable argument.

Nayin suddenly laughed. “I was just joking. I accept this mission.”

Hua Zhuo nodded. “I await good news from you.”

The crowd dispersed.

In the corner, silent until now, Wahai whispered, “Nayin is ambitious, desperate to replace you. You shouldn’t give him the chance.”

Hua Zhuo smiled. “The Tang army will send troops to guard the grain routes. Those men are fearless. Even if Nayin succeeds, the casualties will be severe.”

“Good.” Wahai closed his eyes and adjusted his breath.

Hua Zhuo asked with concern, “How’s your injury?”

“Long healed.”

“Ah!” Hua Zhuo rose. “If you need anything, just say. If the tribe lacks it, I’ll have men search everywhere.”

Wahai opened his eyes, warmth shining within. “I know.”

…

Grain carts moved slowly forward, flanked by three hundred infantry guards. One hundred cavalry, led by Yang Xuan, patrolled ahead.

“Young lord, the sky looks gloomy!” The old scoundrel looked up, lips pursed.

Yang Xuan nodded and slapped Wang Lao’er, who was chewing dried meat. “Eat, eat, but you’re not gaining weight.”

Wang Lao’er swallowed hard. “I am. Yiniang said last time my clothes were tight; I must be growing.”

“Growing my foot!” The old scoundrel sneered. “Your clothes shrank.”

They bickered as Yang Xuan gazed over the grasslands, thinking of Duke Xu.

Sending troops to guard the grain routes was only natural. Using insufficient forces as an excuse seemed like a childish tantrum. Yet Duke Xu was no spring chicken!

The thought of a graying general acting like a spoiled child made Yang Xuan shudder.

Why?

He was puzzled.

Just seven or eight miles away, eight hundred riders had finished resting.

“Leader,” a rider came breathlessly, “Tang scouts have spotted us.”

“Hmm.” Nayin said coldly, “Where did they go?”

“The east route is blocked by us; the scouts took the west.”

Nayin pondered.

“West… that leads to Zhangyu County…” He smiled calmly. “The grain convoy is ahead. By the time the Tang army arrives, the place will be a field of corpses and blazing fire. Too late!”

Several riders galloped up front.

“Leader, it’s the suicide battalion from Taiping County guarding the grain carts, led by the magistrate.”

“Oh!” Nayin was startled. “Local counties guarding grain carts… those suicide squads are just convicts. Yang Xuan, that fool Hua Zhuo was tricked into giving away several carts of medicine by him last time. It’s a shame, and he even silenced people about it. I’ll capture that magistrate and bring him back to shame him.”

The crowd’s spirits lifted.

Nayin drew his sword, his eyes blazing like fire.

“Attack!”

The eight hundred riders moved forward.

…

Several Tang scouts raced desperately, with over ten riders in hot pursuit.

“Giddy-up!”

They urged their horses on.

Ahead, over a hundred riders suddenly appeared.

“Tang army!”

“Retreat!”

The pursuers withdrew. The scouts cheered wildly. Someone waved and shouted, “Which general?”

A rider was surrounded and escorted forward. It was He Zun, who asked gravely, “What did you discover?”

One scout, panting, said, “While patrolling, we found eight hundred Waxie riders moving south.”

“South…” He Zun pondered.

“That’s Taiping County, where the grain carts pass.” The scout’s face went pale, clearly aware of the consequences if the grain carts were attacked.

If the grain carts were burned, there would be a shortage of supplies. This gap could be temporarily filled, but the army’s morale would inevitably suffer.

“An army runs on its stomach. Terrible!”

He Zun’s face changed dramatically. “Taiping has only about thirty soldiers. Those suicide squads are convicts. How can they stand against tribal warriors?”

“Eight hundred riders against three to four hundred convicts…” He Zun looked back sharply and shouted, “Hurry! We’re going to reinforce Taiping!”

…

The convoy moved steadily forward.

The suicide battalion, honed over months, had shed its restlessness and grown steady.

“Still no scouts back?” Yang Xuan asked.

He had left a hundred soldiers behind, ordering Nan He to guard the main camp.

Zhao Youcai said, “They should be almost back.”

Diao She laughed. “Our scouts are newbies; mistakes are inevitable.”

Yang Xuan smiled gently.

The atmosphere was relaxed.

About five miles to the right, several riders fled for their lives.

Behind them, eight hundred riders pursued relentlessly.

“The grain carts are just ahead. Let’s catch them off guard!” Nayin shouted from his horse.

This would be a perfect ambush!

He believed it without doubt.

Suddenly, Yang Xuan’s body stiffened.

His spine tingled.

His scalp prickled!

Just like the first time he faced life-or-death danger in Dongyu Mountain.

Yang Xuan spurred his horse, looking northward, shouting:

“Form ranks around the grain carts!”

The convoy leader was startled.

“I said form ranks!”

Yang Xuan’s eyes reddened.

The leader shivered. “Form ranks!”

One cart after another lined up, forming a circle. The drivers grasped weapons and looked bewildered at the outside.

Yang Xuan’s scalp tingled like the electric shock Zhuque had described.

He shouted, “Suicide battalion… form ranks!”

The suicide battalion faced north in formation.

The formation had just taken shape.

Several riders appeared to the north.

Then, hundreds of horsemen surged forward like a tidal wave!

One rider raised a long knife.

Horses and men reared up.

“Surprise attack!”

A piercing scream came from the front of the formation.

“Enemy attack!”

…

Available for release early tomorrow morning.

Thanks to the Silver Alliance member “I Want to Live for Several Decades.”