Chapter Thirty-Nine: Luring the Snake from Its Lair

Before Wang Pu could respond, the shifty man had already stepped forward, bowing deeply before Wang Pu and prostrating himself on the ground. He sang out, “Deputy Prefect Huang Xiyong of Jining presents himself to the general.”

Wang Pu frowned and asked, “Are you truly the Deputy Prefect of Jining?”

Huang Xiyong replied respectfully, “I am.”

“Why are you in this state?”

“Sir, I had no choice. Three days ago, the White Lotus rebels captured Jining—officials died or fled, and I barely escaped by hiding in an outhouse behind the yamen. Later, I disguised myself as a refugee and slipped out of the city. Fortunately, I encountered your troops here, General Wang. Otherwise, I doubt I’d have survived much longer, alas.”

“What did you say?” Wang Pu’s expression changed as he pressed, “The White Lotus rebels have already taken Jining?”

“That can’t be!”

“Could such a motley crew really capture Jining?”

Standing beside Wang Pu, Huang Degong and Li Zushu also turned pale. The Grand Canal connecting the southern and northern capitals passes right through Jining. If the rebels have taken the city, the canal will be severed. Without removing this thorn, Wang Pu cannot reach the capital by water, and the southern grain shipments cannot be sent north!

If word of this reached the capital, wouldn’t the entire city of Beijing be thrown into chaos?

Huang Xiyong explained, “Generals, you may not know that the White Lotus in Shandong have allied with the bandits from Henan. The bandit chief has even sent elite troops to Shandong, which is how the White Lotus rebels have grown so strong!”

“The bandit chief sent elite troops?” Li Zushu nodded, “That explains it. The bandit chief isn’t what he used to be. Before, he was merely a roving outlaw, but since last year, he’s recruited talented men and changed his tactics—no longer rampaging and slaughtering indiscriminately.”

Chang Yanling asked Wang Pu, “General, if Jining has truly fallen, the waterway is blocked. Should we disembark here and detour through Qingzhou to reach the capital?”

Huang Degong, the Deputy General from Nanjing, suddenly said, “General, I wonder if I should speak?”

Wang Pu replied, “Speak.”

Huang Degong said, “If we don’t retake Jining, the canal will be cut off and the southern grain shipments can’t reach the north. The north has been plagued with drought for years, and millions of people and soldiers in the capital and along the border rely on southern grain to survive. If the grain can’t be delivered, the consequences are unimaginable!”

Wang Pu nodded inwardly. Huang Degong’s insight proved he was no mere soldier.

Huang Degong continued, “Moreover, I believe now is the best time to recapture Jining. The rebels have just taken the city and haven’t established themselves. If we wait a few months for the court to send reinforcements, the rebels will be entrenched and it’ll be much harder.”

Wang Pu pondered and then asked Huang Xiyong, “Lord Huang, roughly how many rebels are in Jining?”

Huang Xiyong replied, “There are at least tens of thousands of White Lotus followers attacking Jining.”

“Tens of thousands?” Wang Pu hesitated.

From behind, Zhen Youcai, who had been silent, lowered his voice and said, “Most rebel forces bring along their families—the old and young. Among their numbers, only three to five thousand are truly capable of fighting. If you can retake Jining and restore the grain route, it will be a great merit.”

Wang Pu’s heart stirred. If, on the way to the capital, he could win even greater merit, why not?

He fixed his gaze on Huang Degong and asked in a deep voice, “Deputy General Huang, how confident are you in recapturing Jining?”

Huang Degong was overjoyed. “General, you really intend to retake Jining?”

Wang Pu declared, “I serve the Emperor loyally. The rebels have captured Jining and disrupted the grain supply, endangering the people and soldiers of the capital and the border. How can I stand idly by?”

Huang Degong clasped his fists and bowed solemnly, “Even if the White Lotus rebels number in the tens of thousands, I need only my three thousand elite troops to reclaim Jining!”

Wang Pu replied gravely, “There is no jest in the army.”

Huang Degong answered, “I am willing to submit a military pledge!”

Wang Pu waved his hand and said to Zhen Youcai, “Youcai, bring the map.”

Zhen Youcai stepped forward, drew the map from his breast, and spread it on the deck. The group gathered around, and Huang Xiyong pointed at the map, saying, “Generals, look—this is our current location. Three li north is Luqiao Town, and fifty li further north lies Jining City.”

Huang Degong said, “It’s only fifty li from here to Jining. If we march swiftly, we’ll arrive in two hours!”

Zhen Youcai said, “The key question is whether the rebels in Jining know we’ve arrived at Luqiao Town.”

Wang Pu asked, “Youcai, what do you think?”

Zhen Youcai replied, “Among these refugees, there must be rebel spies. I believe the rebels will soon learn of our arrival and prepare to trap us in Jining.”

Huang Degong declared, “Even if the rebels set a net, I’ll pierce it through!”

Wang Pu nodded, “It’s good that Deputy General Huang is confident, but we still don’t know the rebels’ strength. We can’t act recklessly—we need a foolproof plan.”

Zhen Youcai’s eyes gleamed. “General, I have a strategy.”

Wang Pu was delighted. “What strategy?”

Wang Pu had grown increasingly fond of Zhen Youcai. Thanks to him, Wang Pu and his two hundred retainers returned alive to Ming, and even managed to amass vast riches from Korea—Zhen Youcai deserved credit.

Zhen Youcai said, “Entice the snake from its hole!”

“Entice the snake from its hole?” Huang Degong nodded, “If we don’t need to storm the city and can destroy the rebels in the field, that would be best. But I fear the rebels in Jining won’t easily leave their city.”

Zhen Youcai grinned slyly, “It all depends on whether our bait is tempting enough.”

Li Zushu, impatient, cried out, “Master Zhen, stop keeping us in suspense—just say it! You’re killing me with anxiety.”

Zhen Youcai explained, “My plan is this: tonight, the main force will camp at Luqiao Town. At dawn, we split into three groups. General Chang and General Li will lead two thousand Jinyi Guards escorting prisoner wagons and silver wagons along Route 6, appearing to detour through Qingzhou to the capital. Deputy General Huang will lead two thousand elite troops to hide near Luqiao Town. The general will lead the remaining thousand elite troops south by boat, to mislead the rebels in Jining into thinking Deputy General Huang’s three thousand men have returned south.”

“Brilliant!” Huang Degong slapped his thigh, “This way, the rebels in Jining will be forced to leave the city, unless they’re indifferent to the vast treasures the general carries! If they dare come out to rob us, they’ll fall into our ambush and be attacked from front and rear. Ha ha ha!”

Chang Yanling said, “But isn’t it risky to truly send the prisoners and silver wagons along Route 6?”

“That’s merely a ruse,” Zhen Youcai laughed. “No need to risk the real prisoners and wagons. The rebels don’t know the captive leaders—any soldier can pose as one in the wagon. As for the silver wagons, just prepare two boxes of gold and silver, and tomorrow, have the porters ‘accidentally’ spill them. The rest can be filled with stones.”

Wang Pu’s eyes burned as he swept his gaze over the group. He barked, “You all heard? We’ll do as Master Zhen says!”