Chapter 157: Fancheng Intelligence
Time gradually reached June, and the weather grew hotter day by day.
Fancheng is a military city on the north bank of the Han River and also the gateway to Xiangyang. To attack Xiangyang, Fancheng must be taken first. Thus, although Fancheng is nominally part of Nanyang Commandery, it is actually firmly controlled by Liu Biao’s Army. Under normal circumstances, the garrison in Fancheng is around 5,000 soldiers, currently led by Cai Mao’s son Cai Huan.
Fancheng is actually also a county town, with over 10,000 citizens living inside the city. The barracks are located in the northwest corner of the city, occupying a very large area, and it is a large-scale barracks that can accommodate 20,000 soldiers.
Many restaurants and brothels have opened near the barracks, all doing business with the soldiers. Among them is a small tavern called Xiao Yang Tavern, with average business. It recently changed shopkeepers, but after the change, business improved because the wine is of good quality and inexpensive. Every day, the tavern is filled with soldiers.
The shopkeeper is also surnamed Yang, a middle-aged man. In his words, he is the uncle of little Yang the shopkeeper, managing the tavern for his nephew. The soldiers all call him Old Yang.
“Old Yang, the wine is good. Where did you get it?”
“Hehe! A relative’s family opened a brewery and promised to supply me with some good wine.”
“Then why couldn’t little Yang get it before?”
“Young people, of course, have little face and can’t get good wine.”
Old Yang is always smiling amiably, and the soldiers all like him very much. They discuss military affairs without restraint in front of him. Who would think that this harmless shopkeeper is actually an intelligence scout for the Yuzhang Army.
Old Yang’s real name is Yang Ming, a native of Xiangyang. His son serves as a battalion commander in the Yuzhang Army. He and his wife opened a small tavern in Chaisang, and the intelligence camp took notice of him and persuaded the couple to join the intelligence camp.
After ten days of training, Old Yang and his wife were assigned to Fancheng to keep an eye on Liu Biao’s Army.
“I heard that 20,000 troops are coming. Our good days are coming to an end,” a soldier sighed.
“Real or fake?”
“Of course it’s real. I heard it from General Qin. The governor has already issued the order. Zhang Yun is personally leading 20,000 troops to garrison Fancheng. Our three-person rooms are going to turn into ten-person rooms again.”
Everyone sighed and shook their heads. Old Yang heard it clearly. He carried a wine pot, toasting everyone with a smile: “Thank you, brothers, for telling me the news of getting rich! With more troops, my little shop’s business will be even better.”
“Old Yang, your shop is too small. We can’t even all sit down when we come. Increasing troops won’t benefit you at all.”
“I can sell wine to go! Everyone can take wine and food back to the barracks. Won’t business be just as good?”
The soldiers burst out laughing. “Old Yang thinks beautifully, but unfortunately, things don’t go as planned!”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you know the rules in the army? Once there is a large reinforcement of troops, it will inevitably enter wartime status, and drinking will be prohibited then.”
“Ah! Won’t I lose all my business?”
“Don’t worry! If there’s a chance, we’ll definitely come take care of your business.”
Yang Ming took note. That day, business was exceptionally good; from morning to night, the tavern was packed with soldiers, each one getting drunk.
They also told Yang Ming the most important intelligence: 20,000 troops had entered the barracks before dawn. Starting tomorrow, the entire army would enter wartime status, soldiers would not be allowed out of the barracks, and drinking would be prohibited. So today, the soldiers all drank to their hearts’ content, downing over 100 jars of wine in one day.
The next morning, the barracks gates were tightly closed, and indeed soldiers were not allowed out. The alert level was strengthened, and the sounds of training inside the barracks could be heard. From the sounds, there were no fewer than 10,000 men.
Yang Ming hurriedly closed the tavern and rushed back to the temporary rented house where he and his wife lived. In the backyard, they kept two carrier pigeons.
Yang Ming hurriedly wrote two carrier pigeon letters, put them into letter tubes, and tied them to the carrier pigeons’ legs.
This was also a key point in Pang Tong’s training: major intelligence must be sent via two carrier pigeon letters to avoid mistakes or failure to receive the message.
He and his wife opened the cage, and the two carrier pigeons flapped their wings and took to the air, circling toward Chaisang in the south.
Gan Ning received the intelligence that very evening: Liu Biao had reinforced Fancheng with 20,000 troops, which meant Liu Biao was about to launch an offensive against Jiangxia Commandery.
This is the power of intelligence. Although Liu Biao’s mobilization was very secretive and scouts in Xiangyang could not obtain definite intelligence, Liu Biao’s heavy deployment of troops in Fancheng had leaked his battle plans.
In the guest hall, Gan Ning paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. He asked Pang Tong, “Any news from Xiangyang?”
Pang Tong shook his head. “No news from Xiangyang at all. This subordinate estimates that Liu Biao wants to launch a sneak attack, so he deployed the army along the Han River long ago. Once preparations are complete, he will suddenly strike into Jiangxia Commandery.”
Gan Ning asked Lu Su again, “How much stock is in the salt warehouse in Anlu County?”
Lu Su stood and replied, “Reporting to the general, about 300,000 shi, all already transferred inside the county town.”
Gan Ning nodded. “The key is to hold Anlu County. Send orders to Huang Zhong: absolutely do not allow the enemy army to approach the salt mine.”
Lu Su acknowledged and asked again, “Should we still proceed according to the original plan?”
Gan Ning thought for a moment and said to Xu Shu, “Deputy Strategist Xu, you can immediately head to Jiangxia Commandery to coordinate the operations of the three armies. I’ll give you the military tally. The three armies must obey your arrangements!”
Xu Shu stood and saluted. “This subordinate will set out overnight tonight!”
Gan Ning immediately took the military tally and command arrow and handed them to Xu Shu. Xu Shu saluted, then took his leave and left.
That evening, Gan Ning issued orders to the relevant armies. Wei Yan, stationed at Xiakou, was to mobilize after the enemy army crossed the Han River, seal off the Han River, and cut off the enemy army’s retreat.
At the same time, Gan Ning sent someone to notify Jiangxia’s army commander Huang Zhong, and sent Zhao Yun with his unit to cross the river from E County to support Huang Zu. He also required the three main commanders and colonels to obey the strategist Xu Shu’s commands without defiance.
Gan Ning had laid a dragnet, awaiting the arrival of Liu Biao’s Army.
Liu Biao could not have dreamed that his layout in Fancheng had leaked his military secret.
In fact, Liu Biao wanted to sneak attack Jiangxia Commandery. According to Cai Mao’s deployment, 30,000 Jingzhou troops had already dispersed into small units and quietly deployed near the three river-crossing points of Jingling County, Juzhen Town, and Lankou Town. The three armies were each 30 li apart and would rapidly assemble after crossing the river.
But to prevent Liu Bei’s risky moves, Liu Biao followed Cai Mao’s suggestion and reinforced Fancheng with 20,000 troops.
In the official residence, Cai Mao reported, “Reporting to my lord, the entire army is ready and can strike at any time.”
“Is the logistical grain and fodder prepared?”
“We used over 500 cargo ships to transport grain and fodder across the Han River. It is already prepared.”
Liu Biao nodded and asked again, “Any news from Chaisang?”
“No new news. Please rest assured, my lord. Once the enemy army mobilizes, our scouts will immediately send carrier pigeon letters to notify this subordinate. The enemy should not be prepared.”
Hesitating a moment, Cai Mao added, “Yesterday we did receive a message, but it has nothing to do with the army. Pang Tong has been appointed as Gan Ning’s deputy strategist.”
Liu Biao’s face immediately turned very ugly, but he was somewhat helpless. These noble families all hedge their bets.
On one hand, Pang Shanmin serves as magistrate under him; on the other, Pang Tong serves as deputy strategist under Gan Ning. The Ma family is the same, and even the Cai Mao before him is hedging bets. The Cai Family has people in the Imperial Court! Nominally loyal to the Imperial Court, actually loyal to Cao Cao. And Huang Chengyan’s son-in-law Zhuge Liang has actually pledged loyalty to Liu Bei.
Liu Biao had long known the ways of these noble families, but he had no choice. Having lost Jiangxia Commandery, many noble families wanted to keep a back door.
Liu Biao nodded and immediately ordered, “Order the three-pronged army to cross the river and attack!”
