Chapter 118: Four Gates Seize the Five Camps

That night, in the East Warm Chamber of the Prince of Dai’s mansion.

Zhu Chuanqi leaned against a brocade cushion and asked Zhang Zi'an with a sinister tone, "Eunuch Zhang, have you heard about what happened today?"

"Answering Your Highness," Zhang Zi'an replied respectfully, "the servant has heard some rumors."

"What rumors? These are facts!" Zhu Chuanqi raged. "Wang Pu took the military grain from the regional treasury and offered it to the roving bandits outside the city. This is a capital crime—collusion with the enemy, a crime punishable by the extermination of one's nine generations! You, Eunuch Zhang, hold the dual roles of Datong Garrison Commander and Imperial Supervisor; it is your duty to monitor the regional commander."

"This..." Zhang Zi'an’s eyes darted around. He whispered, "I heard from Lord Wei that this grain was used to provide relief to the refugees outside the city. Furthermore, the hundred shi of rice thrown from the city walls were indeed boiled into porridge and given to the people outside. Your servant believes that this matter... perhaps does not yet constitute collusion with the enemy?"

"Zhang Zi'an, you have a lot of nerve!" Zhu Chuanqi exploded in anger. "Whether it is collusion or not is not for you to decide. It is for His Majesty and the censors at court to judge. You are the supervisor; your duty is to record every move Wang Pu makes and report it to the capital periodically."

"Yes, yes, yes," Zhang Zi'an replied repeatedly. "Your servant will report this matter truthfully to the capital immediately."

Only then did Chuanqi nod in satisfaction. "Eunuch Zhang, I know you have your reservations and dare not push Wang Pu too hard. After all, with the bandit army pressing on the borders, the safety of Datong currently depends on Wang Pu. But we cannot be overly accommodating to him, can we? Collusion with the enemy is no trivial matter; to conceal it is to be an accomplice. Eunuch Zhang, you had best weigh this carefully."

Zi'an bowed. "Your servant will keep your instructions in mind, Your Highness."

"Very well," Zhu Chuanqi waved his hand. "I am tired. You may go."

"Your servant withdraws."

Zhang Zi'an bowed to Zhu Chuanqi and turned to exit the chamber.

As soon as Zhang Zi'an left, Official Wang and Official Li stepped out from behind the screen. Zhu Chuanqi asked, "Gentlemen, do you believe Zhang Zi'an will report this truthfully to His Majesty?"

"It is hard to say," Official Wang shook his head. "Since the campaign against the Mongols, Zhang Zi'an's attitude toward Wang Pu has been subtle. It seems they have little interaction beyond official business. Yet whenever an issue arises, Zhang Zi'an is always submissive to Wang Pu, showing none of his usual arrogance."

Official Li nodded. "Lord Wang is right. This Zhang Zi'an has become a dog at Wang Pu's feet."

"No, you are both wrong," Zhu Chuanqi shook his head. "Zhang Zi'an may admire Wang Pu's military talent, but he is a man of the palace after all. He would never hide anything from His Majesty. He will surely report it truthfully."

***

Outside Datong, at Li Yan's command tent.

Li Yan was hunched over his desk, struggling with a strategy to break the city, when chaotic, hurried footsteps sounded outside. It seemed many people were approaching rapidly. Hong Niangzi, who stood behind Li Yan, immediately drew her sword and blocked the tent flap, demanding sharply, "Who is outside?"

"It is I, 'Old Huihui' Ma Shouying!"

Ma Shouying’s thunderous voice echoed outside the tent.

A faint smile appeared on Li Yan's face. He stood up and said, "Five generals, please enter."

Hong Niangzi sheathed her sword and stepped back behind Li Yan. As the tent flap lifted, Ma Shouying, He Yilong, He Jin, Liu Xiyao, and Lin Yangcheng strode in. They did not offer any salutations, standing straight in the center of the tent. Ma Shouying, the leader, shouted, "Brother Li Yan, is it true you took the meager grain in our camp to offer porridge to the refugees outside the West Gate?"

Li Yan replied calmly, "That is true."

"Ai-ya!" Ma Shouying fumed. "Brother Li Yan, how could you be so foolish? Our army is already low on supplies, yet you take it to feed refugees? Isn't this just inviting trouble?"

"Exactly," He Jin chimed in. "It's one thing that we aren't plundering the local people, but to give away grain to refugees? What kind of sense does that make?"

Facing the accusations of the five, Li Yan remained composed. However, Hong Niangzi behind him was so furious her brows knit together. Had Li Yan not stopped her with a look, she would have erupted on the spot. Regardless of anything else, Li Yan was the commander-in-chief of the Shaanxi rebel army appointed by the Chuang King, while these men were merely deputy generals. How could they speak to their superior in such a harsh tone?

"Five generals, please do not get excited. Hear me out first," Li Yan said with a serene expression. "I wonder if you have heard of 'encircling three sides and leaving one open'?"

"No."

"You haven't?"

"What kind of nonsense is 'encircling three sides'?"

Ma Shouying and the others were unrefined men; naturally, they did not know such tactics.

Li Yan smiled bitterly and explained, "You have heard that a cornered rabbit will bite, right?"

"I've heard that," Ma Shouying nodded. "And it makes sense. Don't look at the rabbit as usually docile; push it too far, and it will bite."

Li Yan nodded. "Our hundred thousand troops are like the hunter, and the few thousand Ming soldiers in Datong are the rabbits. These soldiers are indeed weak, but if we surround all five gates, they will have no way to escape. Like a rabbit in a cage, they will panic, and in their panic, they will bite. Even the weakest Ming soldier can cause us harm. Is that not the logic?"

Ma Shouying nodded. "That does seem to be the logic."

Li Yan smiled. "Therefore, we cannot push them too hard. We must leave them a path to escape. Only then will they not fight to the death to defend the city! I set up the porridge stall outside the West Gate specifically to leave them that path. When our main force attacks, they only need to shed their uniforms, put on civilian clothes, and slip into the refugee camp. Who would be able to distinguish them from the refugees?"

"Oh, so that is how it is," Ma Shouying nodded, half-understanding. "Brother Li Yan, why didn't you say so earlier?"

"So that's it."

"I knew Brother Li Yan wouldn't do something so brainless. There had to be a reason."

"Who says otherwise? Brother Li Yan's mind is simply sharper than ours."

The others echoed him, pretending they had understood the intent all along. If they showed ignorance now, they would be losing face. Li Yan had declared before the campaign that besides seizing grain, the goal was to choose a new commander from among the five of them. At such a critical juncture, no one was willing to appear weak.

Li Yan smiled slightly. "Five generals, you have come at the right time. I was just about to discuss the siege with you."

Ma Shouying shouted, "What is there to discuss? We agreed before we set out: our five camps will attack the five gates of Datong. Whoever enters the city first will be the commander-in-chief of the Shaanxi army."

Li Yan reminded them, "But the situation has changed. We must leave the West Gate for the Ming soldiers to flee, so there are only four gates left. How should we proceed?"

"True, I forgot about that. Only four gates now," Ma Shouying slapped his forehead and stated authoritatively, "Then it is settled: I, He Yilong, He Jin, and Liu Xiyao will attack first. Lin Yangcheng, you stay in the rear to reinforce. If anyone falters, you step in."

"Why should I stay in the rear?" Lin Yangcheng was displeased. "In terms of seniority, I joined the rebel army earlier than you. In terms of merit, I am not behind any of you. Why me?"

Ma Shouying thought about it and agreed. He changed his mind: "Then let Liu Xiyao stay in the rear."

Liu Xiyao was unhappy and retorted, "Old Huihui, you are the leader of the five camps, but so am I. What right do you have to boss me around?"

Ma Shouying was furious. "You damn dog, if I hadn't helped you back then, you would have been wiped out by Sun Chuanting's forces!"

"Let's not even bring that up; that makes me even angrier," Liu Xiyao countered. "At the Battle of Black Wind Valley, we had a chance to capture Sun Chuanting, but because you charged out without orders and exposed our ambush, a sure victory turned into a defeat! Do you have the nerve to bring up such old garbage?"

"You're spouting nonsense!" Ma Shouying roared in a rage. "It was He Jin who charged out! What does that have to do with me?"

He Jin protested, "What does that have to do with anything? It was He Yilong's brother-in-law who lost his woman. I was just chasing her; I didn't mean to expose the ambush! If you want to blame someone, blame He Yilong for not keeping his brother-in-law's woman in check!"

The five men began airing old grievances, digging up incidents from years ago. The argument grew so loud it nearly tore the roof off the tent. Finally, someone shouted, "Damn it, stop the useless talk! Let’s see who’s worth their salt on the battlefield. Whoever is a coward stays in the rear!"

"Fine, we'll see!"

"Let's compete, who's afraid of whom?"

"I’ve had enough of you; today I’ll teach you a lesson!"

"Humph, you? You’re not even close!"

This proposal was quickly agreed upon by the other four. Under the immense temptation of becoming the commander-in-chief, the five brothers-in-arms turned into enemies, drawing their weapons and eyeing each other with murderous intent. A brutal, no-holds-barred brawl seemed inevitable.

Seeing the situation spinning out of control, Hong Niangzi was terrified. Just as she was about to intervene, a warm hand grasped hers. She looked back to see Li Yan shaking his head. He pulled her out of the tent.

Outside, the trusted men of the five generals were anxious. They had heard the shouting but did not know what was happening. Seeing Li Yan and Hong Niangzi emerge, they gathered around. "Commander, what is happening inside?"

Li Yan wore a grave expression. "Generals, I said back in Mizhi that this campaign was not just to seize grain, but to select a commander-in-chief from among the five generals. You know this."

The subordinates nodded. "We know."

"Good," Li Yan said solemnly. "You will soon have a new commander."

*Clang!*

As soon as Li Yan finished speaking, the sound of weapons clashing erupted inside the tent, accompanied by angry shouts and the occasional grunt of pain. Moments later, with the sound of tearing fabric, the tent collapsed under the force of blades. The officers outside could clearly see the scene within.

Inside, Ma Shouying, He Yilong, He Jin, Liu Xiyao, and Lin Yangcheng were locked in a chaotic melee, using lethal moves without a shred of mercy.

While the five fought, in another tent in the camp, a figure wrote the words "Four Gates, Five Camps" at the end of a letter. He sealed it with wax and handed it to a guard waiting outside. "Deliver this urgent letter to Jia County immediately. Present it to the Great King in person."