Volume 6, Chapter 11: Setting Fire to the Yangzhou Road (1/2)
Volume 6, 1
General Luo, responsible for Huaidong, dispatched Colonel Sun Ding at the head of five thousand troops to reinforce Sikou. When Sun Ding’s force arrived, Sikou had already fallen. At this time, Yong’s main force had not yet arrived. Ding ordered his infantry to attack, but it bore no fruit. The Yong army had arrived. Sikou was then occupied by the Yong army. Sun Ding was stranded and encircled, his soldiers all begging to surrender. Sun Ding could not stop them, and the Yong army took them all prisoner.
—Zizhi Tongjian, Yong Records Volume Three
In the Chuzhou Barracks, Luo Louzhen sat in the commander’s tent with a scowl. He wasted an entire morning before he reluctantly completed the preparations for war for the Chuzhou Barracks. This made him more worried. How could he meet the enemy like this? If he had three to five days, he would be ready. However, he didn’t know when the Yong armies would come. Fortunately, both Prime Minister Shang and Grand General Lu were worrywarts. But when he thought things through, Huaidong had always been a place of strategic importance. When the Yong army attacked Huainan, they would take Yangzhou in Huaidong if they did not take Shouchun in Huaixi. And if they wanted to take Yangzhou, the Yong army would have to capture Chuzhou, Sizhou, and Guangling. If the Yong army intended to take Huaidong, he was sure to be the first to bear the brunt.
Luo Louzhen glanced at Adjunct Huang. He impatiently asked, “How about now? Have the messengers sent to Sizhou and Guangling returned?”
“They still have not, but the two regions are distant,” said Adjunct Huang, looking uneasy. “One round trip takes until night before they’ll be back.”
Luo Louzhen angrily said, “They’re all useless. Grand General Lu’s messengers can go from Jiangxia to Chuzhou within in a few days. Sizhou and Guangling are right next to us and it still takes that long! There’s also that Sun Ding fellow. I had him go to Sikou and take control of the defenses. Why hasn’t he sent a messenger back to clarify the situation in all this time?”
Adjunct Huang saw his anger erupt and nervously said, “Perhaps he is busy with military affairs. There will presumably be news by the afternoon.”
Luo Louzhen was mollified. “Transmit orders down the chain that all deputy generals and other officers are not to be remiss in their duties. If Chuzhou is lost, and I cannot save my life, don’t think you’ll have it easy.”
Adjunct Huang shuddered and said, “General, should we inform the Chuzhou garrison? They have five thousand troops there. Although they don’t have much combat strength, it’s still good to take precautions.”
Luo Louzhen furrowed his brows. The Chuzhou garrison and he didn’t get along. He didn’t have much standing, so he didn’t want to offend them. However, he finally understood the truth in “without lips, the teeth feel cold.” His base in southwest Chuzhou was isolated, and he couldn’t defend the barracks if the Yong armies came attacking. He could only withdraw to Chuzhou and garrison the city. If he didn’t seize the moment to improve relations, he might not even have an escape route. A moment of consideration later, he scoffed and decided, “Dispatch someone to inform Gu Yuanyong to close the city gates within the next few days and await the enemy army.”
Adjunct Huang hastily complied. Luo Louzhen and Gu Yuanyong were on bad terms, mostly because the Chuzhou Barracks’ soldiers ran riot in Chuzhou. Luo Louzhen didn’t restrain them either, and because his backing was too powerful, Gu Yuanyong had no choice but to think of ways to please him. Although Luo Louzhen didn’t appreciate the effort, Adjunct Huang and others benefited from association. They felt a mild affection for Gu Yuanyong, so Adjunct Huang would think of a way to notify the Chuzhou military intelligence in a timely manner.
Right after Adjunct Huang departed, a bodyguard entered and reported, “General, Colonel Sun’s bodyguards have returned.”
Luo Louzhen rejoiced. “Have them enter.”
Soon, two soldiers walked in. Luo Louzhen recognized the one in front: Sun Fang, a relative of Sun Ding. He was the leader of Sun Ding’s bodyguard. The one in the back was trembling a little, however, and was too scared to lift his head after entering the tent. He was clearly fearful. Luo Louzhen only knew the man was another of Sun Ding’s bodyguards and ignored him, asking Sun Fang, “Colonel Sun has already arrived at Sikou, right? What’s the situation there? The Yong armies have acted.”
Sun Fang looked a little nervous. He replied, “General, the Colonel daren ordered us to report back that the Yong army hasn’t moved yet. However, the Colonel daren has dispatched scouts upstream along the river. They’re reconnoitering, and if there is any news, they will swiftly report to the barracks.”
Luo Louzhen was put at ease. He looked at the man beside Sun Fang and asked, “Who is this? Why did you bring him into the tent?”
Sun Fang said in disquiet, “He is one of the best experts in our force. The Colonel daren worried the Yong scouts had already sneaked into Huaisi,2 so he ordered him and this subordinate to come together.”
“Rightly so,” Luo Louzhen laughed. “Colonel Sun is indeed careful. What’s your name? Since Sun Ding said your martial arts are pretty good, I presume you are a one in a thousand warrior. Why are you like a timid woman? Someone, give him a goblet of wine. Don’t be so nervous. This general is no murderous tyrant.”
The soldier seemed relieved to hear this. He relaxed quite a bit and lifted his head, taking the goblet with both hands. He stepped forward and declared, “Many thanks to the General for the wine.” Then he downed it all in a single gulp.
Luo Louzhen inspected the soldier, seeing he was around twenty-nine years old with sharp features, handsome and valiant. He looked calm and indifferent, his ramrod straight posture resembling a tall, striking white poplar. Between blinks, a gleam flashed in the soldier’s eyes. Luo Louzhen was aghast. This bearing was similar to Grand General Lu Can’s. If he had seen this man before, how could he have no memory or impression of him? Luo Louzhen stood to his feet, yelling, “You certainly aren’t a soldier of the Chuzhou Barracks. Who are you?”
With him shouting, his bodyguards outside the tent stampeded in, forming a protective barrier around Luo Louzhen.
Luo Louzhen was about to order people to take Sun Fang and the other soldier away when a clamor rose outside the tent. The noise grew louder, and a scout soaked in blood staggered his way in. Collapsing, he screamed in a hoarse and exhausted voice, “General, things have gone poorly. The Yong armies captured Sikou, and their vanguard has already reached the barracks.”
Luo Louzhen looked up from the scout, despair written all over his face. He glared daggers at Sun Fang and the other soldier. He furiously said, “The two of you are spies for the Yong army. Behead them for me.”
Sun Fang was scared out of his wits, but the other soldier didn’t look any different. He offered a brief smile and said, “General Luo, this one is Military Commission of Huainan, Pei Yun. I made the trip with the express purpose of giving the General my regards.”
Everyone in the tent felt their ears pop. How could this be? How could Pei Yun, a commander of a Yong army, in control of the Xuzhou Barracks with a fifteen thousand-strong army, appear at this location? Sun Fang, who had brought Pei Yun in, even felt his teeth chattering. After he had been taken prisoner, he obeyed orders to bring this man into the Chuzhou Barracks and fit in. The whole time, he thought this man was an expert from the White Clothed Camp. How could he knew it was actually Pei Yun? After all, Pei Yun was around thirty-six. How could he have expected him to look so young? No wonder nobody had thought of this soldier’s true identity. Now, the life of Pei Yun emerged in everyone’s mind. He was a distinguished disciple of Shaolin with sophisticated martial arts. They had heard that Buddhist meditation improved one’s mind and body. Today they saw it was indeed so.
While everyone was dealing with turbulent emotions, Pei Yun bolted away and threw himself at Luo Louzhen. A deadly thought popped into Luo Louzhen’s mind. If he captured this man, the Yong army might descend into turmoil. When Huaidong was secured, his contribution wouldn’t be small. He snapped, “Shooting arrows is not allowed. Capture that man for me!” He didn’t permit his subordinates to loose arrows, because he was afraid that if they killed Pei Yun it would anger the Yong army, and they would ravage Huaidong. His guilt wouldn’t be insignificant, possibly even spelling the end for the troops under his command.
Before he could finish speaking, the tent rang out with wretched cries. A dozen bodyguards who had rushed at Pei Yun were rolling in a heap on the ground. Both of Pei Yun’s hands glowed with a steady golden light. His unrivaled Divine Diamond Force had been perfected,3 each palm strike deadly. In the blink of an eye, he broke through the bodyguards’ barrier to face Luo Louzhen. Luo Louzhen drew his sword and thrust forward, the sound of a tempest erupting from it. The average person would dodge, but Pei Yun greeted the attack with a palm strike. As the sword and palm crossed, they created a metallic clang. Luo Louzhen was jarred back a step by the force of the palm strike. Pei Yun threw another palm strike, the power behind it overwhelming.4 Luo Louzhen was again driven back a step. The wind created by the palm strike surged through the tent, the gale roaring. Pei Yun slowly and calmly forced his way to Luo Louzhen, step by step. He turned a set of the Shaolin Temple’s ordinary fist techniques into an awe-inspiring display. The bodyguards couldn’t even intervene, let alone mob Pei Yun.
Luo Louzhen’s swordsmanship was originally fairly outstanding, but he had indulged in women and wine, which greatly impacted his internal energy. Seeing Pei Yun force his way closer, Luo Louzhen couldn’t even slash a blow to counterattack. He had wanted to call out for his bodyguards to shoot arrows, but he was worried he would get entangled in the volley, so he lost all strength to speak. Though the Chuzhou Barracks currently lodged thirty thousand troops, Luo Louzhen felt all alone.
Bang! Luo Louzhen crashed his back into the back wall of the tent. By this time, all the soldiers in the barracks had charged to the flap of the tent. Adjunct Huang snarled, “Shoot him dead! Don’t harm the General.”
Luo Louzhen rejoiced. He gave a savage smile. As long as he could ward off a few strikes, he could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. He didn’t believe that flesh and blood could resist a volley of arrows. He just had to wait for Pei Yun to block the arrows and take the opportunity to cut through the tent and escape. Adjunct Huang was bound to have reinforcements ready to come up.
Luo Louzhen saw the hint of a sneer appear on Pei Yun’s calm face at this moment. He was shocked. Luo Louzhen suddenly slashed his sword at Pei Yun, exhausting all his strength in the blow. The blade glinted like a foaming waterfall and blasted away everything in its path. Admiration shone in Pei Yun’s eyes for a second, and he unsheathed his saber to meet the attack. The blades clashed, screaming and screeching. Luo Louzhen couldn’t avoid being rammed into the back wall of the tent again. Then, a long saber cut through the wall, slicing right into Luo Louzhen’s body. Blood sprayed, and Luo Louzhen gave an ear-piercing shriek as Pei Yun beheaded him, his head flying into the air.
Adjunct Huang sounded like he was about to break into tears. “Loose!” he roared.
Watching their commander die horribly struck terror into the hearts of these soldiers. When they heard Adjunct Huang’s order, they unconsciously drew and loosed arrows. Their thoughts were running wild, though, so the first volley had no power behind it. However, Sun Fang, who had shrank away into a corner of the tent once fighting began, was still caught in the crossfire. He died taking many arrows to his body.
Pei Yun kicked aside Luo Louzhen’s corpse and picked up his head. He then sliced the tent open with his saber, a Southern Chu soldier wielding a long saber appearing in the perforation. All around him on the ground were corpses, the reinforcements Adjunct Huang had sent for. Pei Yun cut through the tent and exited, the second volley of arrows merely chasing after him. However, that soldier slashed his saber in the arc of a rainbow and blocked every single one of the arrows. By the time the third volley of arrows were shot, Pei Yun and the soldier had ran a dozen zhang5 away without heading into the center of the Southern Chu barracks. Two people shouted from within the camp, “Luo Louzhen has died, Luo Louzhen has died.”