Chapter 7: The Surprise Troops Ambush Baiyun

Du Fuwei and Fu Gongtuo exited the western gate of Zhangqiu, leading five hundred provincial soldiers in a bloody struggle. They fought fiercely, breaking through layers of ambush set by Zhi Shilang, and raced their horses ahead. Their familiarity with the local terrain allowed them to quickly lose the pursuing rebel army without a trace.

As dawn approached, they stopped to rest and counted their men, finding only a hundred or so left, all exhausted and their armor askew. After a brief respite, they mounted their horses again and sped westward.

When they reached Qi Commandery, the city gates had not yet opened. The soldiers guarding the gate did not recognize them, and no matter how persuasively they pleaded, extolling their cause with flowery words, the guards refused to let them in.

Du Fuwei, furious, cursed loudly and led his horse in circles before the gate. Impulsive by nature, he grew so enraged that he pulled out his hard bow, intending to shoot at the gate's sentries, but Fu Gongtuo seized his arm and stopped him.

Fu Gongtuo, being older, understood the gravity of military affairs and the necessity for caution among the defenders. He calmed Du Fuwei and then shouted to the soldiers atop the gate, “There is enemy activity at Zhangqiu! The bandit Wang Bo, calling himself ‘Zhi Shilang,’ leads a hundred thousand men to attack Zhangqiu. The city is in imminent danger; the Prefect has dispatched us to seek assistance from Commander Zhang!”

The gate soldiers burst into laughter, telling them that Commander Zhang had led his troops to escort General Lai Hu’er and was not presently in the city. Lai Hu’er was part of one of the twenty-four armies sent by Emperor Yang of Sui to attack Goguryeo, journeying by sea from the East Sea. Zhang Xuduo had taken a small detachment to supervise the shipbuilders and had not yet returned.

Without an imperial order, none of the provincial soldiers in Qi Commandery dared to deploy their forces lightly, unless it was a man like Zhang Xuduo, who was willing to risk his neck for the greater good.

Last year, a great flood struck Shandong and Henan, leaving the people starving and forced to survive on tree roots, bark, and leaves. Zhang Xuduo, seeing the severity of the disaster, disregarded repeated advice from his subordinates and secretly opened the granaries to relieve the famine, saving countless lives. The death toll in Shandong was several times less than in Henan.

According to the laws of the Sui, opening the granaries without permission was a capital offense. Zhang Xuduo, unafraid for his own safety, reasoned that sending messengers from Qi Commandery to the emperor at Goguryeo’s front lines and awaiting a decree would take more than a year, even if the journey was uneventful. By then, the people would be long buried, reduced to bleached bones in ditches, and imperial permission would be useless. On one side were the starving masses; on the other, grain left to rot. He ignored all objections, opened the granaries, and thought that even if he were punished, saving so many was worth it.

Eventually, someone did petition the emperor to punish Zhang Xuduo, but Yang Guang was not yet as hopelessly incompetent as he would become. He assessed the situation, not only sparing Zhang Xuduo but praising him highly, appointing him Prefect of Qi Commandery, commanding thirty thousand troops, and supervising the progress of the warships for the Goguryeo campaign.

In May, Lai Hu’er departed from Qi Commandery, leading his troops to the sea; thousands of tower ships were ready. There were more ships than soldiers, so a few could not be launched. He asked Zhang Xuduo to conscript additional provincial soldiers from around Qi Commandery to fill the ranks. Zhang Xuduo had gone to other cities to recruit.

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Hundreds of provincial soldiers had died in vain, and Commander Zhang was not in the city. The mission was doomed to fail. Du Fuwei looked up and sighed, “Born at the wrong time, how unfair Heaven is to me!” Du Fuwei had great ambition but, being a commoner, had no chance to enter the Sui military, which favored noble lineage as the main route for advancement.

Now, with Wang Bo attacking Zhangqiu, he had finally encountered a rare opportunity. If he could achieve something now, it would be an excellent chance to enter officialdom. Seeing Li Dong, a minor official of similar age, already commanding troops, his blood boiled—opportunity seemed within reach, just a stretch away.

Now, returning empty-handed, even making it back to Zhangqiu was uncertain.

Fu Gongtuo consoled him kindly, saying, “When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a road; when the boat reaches the bridgehead, it will go straight.” He urged Du Fuwei to keep an open mind and not torment himself.

They lingered under the city walls for a long time, finally telling the gate soldiers to inform Commander Zhang upon his return that Zhangqiu was facing enemy threats and needed aid. The sentries agreed.

Du Fuwei and his men could only lead their wounded and weary soldiers slowly back to Zhangqiu.

…

Li Dong led a thousand men out of the city quietly, hiding them among the thick reeds by Baiyun Lake, with swords sheathed and arrows concealed, waiting to ambush the army of Zhi Shilang when it attacked the city. As for whether Du Fuwei could bring reinforcements, Li Dong did not hold out much hope.

Baiyun Lake encompassed several hundred acres of rice fields, its banks winding and irregular. It was early morning; birds emerged from their nests to feed, their calls bright and pleasant. The slanting morning light reflected off the water in a spectrum of colors, creating a scene of ethereal beauty, making one forget the blood and chaos of war.

The reed beds along the banks were tall and thick, rising nearly ten feet. Soldiers and horses hid within, silent, appearing as ordinary as ever. The spot was several miles from Zhangqiu city; Zhi Shilang’s army, intent on seizing the city, paid no heed to it.

By mid-morning, the heat rose, and insects began to stir in the reeds. Some loaches burrowed through the mud between the soldiers’ feet, making their soles itch unbearably. Mosquitoes emerged, buzzing incessantly and biting the hidden troops.

Glancing at the sun’s position, Li Dong judged the time was near and ordered the soldiers to endure a little longer. They must not let impatience ruin the plan. The soldiers suffered from itching and hunger, worn out from the night battle.

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Li Dong’s stomach protested with hunger. To calm his men and himself, he promised, “Once we defeat Zhi Shilang’s army and return to Zhangqiu, I will host a grand feast for everyone, making up for all the hardship and hunger.”

This tactic worked wonders; everyone seemed to see chicken, duck, fish, sheep—delicious golden dishes, their fragrant aroma so vivid that spirits lifted instantly.

Li Dong thought to himself: these provincial soldiers were hastily gathered, yet if they successfully defended Zhangqiu, it would be a great achievement, both for the magistrate and the townspeople. Rewarding them with a feast would be well deserved.

After the time it took for a pipe of tobacco, thunderous shouts and the blaze of fire erupted from Zhangqiu’s direction, with thick smoke rising to the sky. Strangely, only the north gate was aflame; the other three gates remained quiet.

Li Dong cursed inwardly. Zhi Shilang had abandoned the other gates and focused his assault on one. With a hundred thousand troops, the force was overwhelming. Zhangqiu’s defenders were already few, and Li Dong had taken some out, leaving only ordinary townsfolk with no battle experience. The danger chilled him like cold water poured over his heart.

“A thousand days raising troops, used in a single moment!” Li Dong stood tall and shouted to his men, “Drive back the enemy, defend Zhangqiu!” He charged out of the reeds, leading the way.

Hiding among the reeds was miserable; the soldiers, hearing the command, threw themselves out, following Li Dong in a rush. Thousands of provincial soldiers rolled out of Baiyun Lake like a dark cloud.

Ranked thirteenth, just one more step to make the list. Readers, please lend your support. I beg you!

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