Chapter 258: Real and Fake Escort Teams, Luring the Snake Out of Its Hole
Zhou Yan’s howl was majestic and grand, like thunder rapidly descending for several li. He had not cultivated the Buddhist “Lion’s Roar,” but now, due to his profound Internal Force, the realm he displayed had already surpassed the cultivation technique that Bao Lei had used during the battle at Shaoshi Mountain.
The sharp and high-pitched howl of Yanbo Diaosou arrived. Zhou Yan rejoiced; the arrival must be Diaosou. Zhang Wangyue was steady in character and would not howl in response.
Suddenly, a voice came, “Brother Zhou, my ears are buzzing. If you howl again, this sister won’t be able to walk.”
Zhou Yan, surprised, stopped his sound and looked, seeing Yang Miaozhen and Qiu Qianchi walking from five to six zhang away.
“Congratulations, Brother Zhou, on your cultivation breakthrough and increased realm.”
Zhou Yan smiled, “It’s mainly due to the spiritual energy of Cuya Mountain.”
“Then we’ll stay here from now on.”
“You can visit often. Come, let’s go see. It should be Brother Diaosou who has arrived.”
“Mm.”
The three of them used their agility to descend the mountain and, on the way, encountered Yanbo Diaosou, who had come from Yueyang. The old man laughed heartily, “Brother Zhou’s howl shocked a hundred li. I thought a certain expert had arrived at the mountain stronghold. That kid from Hengyang will surely be so stunned he won’t be able to close his mouth when he sees you again.”
“Brother Diaosou, you jest. How is Western Hunan now?”
Yanbo Diaosou said, “It’s a mess, like a pot of porridge. The Iron Palm Sect is desperately expanding its influence, annexing small and large gangs. There are frequent conflicts between the Beggars’ Sect, the White Lotus Sect, and Manichaeism. The clowns from the Five Venoms Sect in the Yunnan-Guizhou region have also gotten involved. I think it won’t be long before a gang and four sects are bound to clash.”
“Is it that serious?” Zhou Yan was alarmed. He had interacted with all the sects Yanbo Diaosou mentioned and had even killed the Deputy Cult Leader of the Five Venoms Sect in the Hundred Herbs Valley in Western Hunan. He wondered how Old Man Hundred Herbs was doing now.
“Naturally.”
“After clearing the bandits from Tongbai Mountain, I’ll happen to go to Xiangyang and then Hengshan to take a look.”
“Mm, I’m thinking the same.”
“Let’s go, we’ll talk at the mountain stronghold.”
The sun hung high in the sky, its rays scorching. Zhou Yan, Yang Miaozhen, and Qiu Qianchi welcomed Yanbo Diaosou, and the four headed straight for the mountain stronghold.
At dusk, over a hundred horsemen galloped from the direction of Kaifeng Prefecture.
Among those whipping their horses were over twenty people from the Fu’an Escort Agency, including Zhang Wangyue, Huyan Lei, Wang Kui, Mu Nianci, and Liang Xiaowu, as well as nearly a hundred escorts led by Lu Beihe, the young master of the Zhenwei Escort Agency.
Let alone Yang Miaozhen, even Zhou Yan was a little surprised that Fu’an and Zhenwei had sent so many people.
Yang Miaozhen, who had come down the mountain to greet them, was overjoyed. “Chief Escort Zhang, Young Master Lu, your strong support means this little sister truly doesn’t know how to express her gratitude.”
Lu Beihe politely replied, “It is Zhenwei that should thank Leader Yang. For the past year, any escort mission Zhenwei has undertaken going south of the Yangtze River has had to detour around the Huai River. We have long wanted to eliminate the bandits of Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain, but the bandits are too numerous. Now that Leader Yang is clearing the bandits, how can we not offer our full assistance?”
Zhang Wangyue laughed, “Fu’an is no different. It was precisely the harassment from the bandits of the two mountains that forced our escort teams traveling to Jingzhou to change their route to the Huai River. That’s how we became acquainted with Leader Yang after a misunderstanding.”
“I must also thank those remnants of the Great Qi,” Yang Miaozhen said heartily. Then, she took Mu Nianci’s hand, “It’s been a long time, sister. I’ve missed you terribly.”
Under everyone’s gaze, the shy Mu Nianci blushed like a peony.
“Let’s go to the mountain stronghold to talk and plan how to attack,” Zhou Yan said.
“Brother Zhou is right. The food and wine have long been prepared. Please,” Yang Miaozhen led the way, and everyone ascended the mountain with high spirits, full of momentum.
…
Tongbai Mountain has been a famous mountain in the world since ancient times. The earliest historical records, such as the *Book of Documents* (Shangshu) by Yu Gong, already recorded its affairs. It was anciently called Chu Mountain, also known as Da Fu Mountain and Yun Meng Mountain. The Thousand Li Huai River originates from the northern foot of Taibai Peak, forming a river from countless streams, flowing far and wide.
The wind blew through the mountains and fields. The afternoon sun of summer was tranquil. As the leaves rustled in the air, a group of people emerged.
Leading the way was an old man with a white beard, wearing a yellow hemp shirt, waving a large palm-leaf fan in his right hand, speaking eloquently with an imposing aura.
“In the eighth year of Jintianhui, the Jin Emperor supported the former Song official Liu Yu as emperor, establishing the state of Fuchang and creating the puppet Qi kingdom. This was to consolidate their rule south of the Yellow River, serving as a buffer between the Jin Dynasty and the Great Song. However, in the years that followed, as Song, Jin, Qi, as well as local warlords, bandits, the Demonic Cult, the White Lotus Sect, and other forces vied for power, the puppet Qi did not fulfill its role of ‘protecting the people and securing the nation.’ In the fifteenth year of Jintianhui, the Jin Emperor abolished the Qi state. Liu Yu’s descendants and many military officers later became bandits in Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain. The two mountains formed a strategic alliance, interconnected, with a combined force of over twenty thousand men. The Great Khan led his troops to fight in Hebei Province against the Jin Dynasty. Refugees fled south, and many would fall into banditry. It is estimated that the current number of men in the mountain strongholds is no less than thirty thousand.”
With his yellow hemp shirt and large palm-leaf fan, speaking eloquently, the old man with the white beard was none other than Qiu Qianzhang. He had previously used the name Qiu Qianren, the Gang Leader of the Iron Palm Sect, to deceive the bandits who had defected from the Ming Cult in Xinyang into submission. He then led the horse bandits to Cuya Mountain, where even the intelligent Yang Miaozhen was so flustered she didn’t know how to react.
Qiu Qianzhang, of course, knew the remnants of the Great Qi in Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain like the back of his hand.
Huo Du, like Yang Kang, wanted to achieve something, but his character and methods were not as good as Yang Kang’s. The grand banquet in Zhongdu was disrupted by Huang Rong, Ouyang Ke, Zhou Yan, and others, resulting in an anticlimactic end.
The battle at Shaoshi Mountain met with setbacks everywhere and ended without success.
Qiu Qianzhang went to Zhongdu and recommended himself. He then performed his unique skills of shattering “green bricks” with his hand and spitting “thick smoke.” He also used his brother Qiu Qianren’s name, stating that the Jin Dynasty was declining and its fate was unfavorable, and he wished to assist Huo Du in making a name for himself.
Huo Du had witnessed Qiu Qianren’s martial prowess at Shaoshi Mountain. His cultivation was not much inferior to his Master, Golden Wheel Law King. Upon witnessing Qiu Qianzhang’s “supernatural abilities,” he was overjoyed and regarded him as his right-hand man.
Qiu Qianzhang offered Huo Du advice, suggesting that they win over the two strongholds of Funiu Mountain and Tongbai Mountain. When the Great Khan launched another campaign, they could attack the Jin Dynasty. His merit would be no less than that of Tolay and Hua Zheng’s mission to Lin’an to persuade the Great Song to attack from the flanks. Genghis Khan would surely look upon him with new eyes.
Huo Du considered this a perfect plan. Once successful, he would gain the Great Khan’s favor and also recruit some experts to expand his strength.
Among the experts he had recruited in Zhongdu were figures from the Jianghu in the Funiu Mountain area. He arranged for his subordinates to contact them with substantial rewards and act as intermediaries. The two strongholds replied that they were willing to negotiate.
Huo Du arrived with great ambition.
He listened as Qiu Qianzhang recounted the details like a familiar story and sighed, “With you, sir, I am like a fish in water. With your and Master’s assistance, why worry about not achieving great things? I will surely unify the martial world.”
Qiu Qianzhang’s peripheral vision swept over Golden Wheel Law King. Seeing his expression of “unchanging demeanor even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, and not batting an eye even if a deer appeared to his left,” he calmly withdrew his gaze and, fanning himself, said, “The leader of Tongbai Mountain, Liu Qianfeng, is the son of Liu Yu’s son, Liu Lin, born to a concubine. His martial arts are ordinary. The leader of the Funiu Mountain stronghold is a Miao person whose ancestors were great generals under Liu Yu and fought against Yue Fei. His name is Ba Rui, and his cultivation is passable.”
Huo Du asked, “Sir, what is your confidence in recruiting the two strongholds?”
Qiu Qianzhang appeared confident, “Everything is within my grasp, Little Prince. You can rest assured.”
“I rely on you, sir.”
“Little Prince, there’s no need to be polite.” Qiu Qianzhang walked leisurely, his demeanor free and easy.
…
The setting sun cast its glow. Dozens of li northeast of Nanyang, carts rumbled and horses whinnied. The escorts wore sabers at their waists.
The escort team of over three hundred people moved forward in a grand procession.
Leading the way was Liang Xiaowu, an escort from Fu’an. The escort leaders included Zhang Wangyue, Huyan Lei, Lu Beihe, Qiu Qianchi, Mu Nianci, and Wang Kui.
The escort carts were heavy due to the stones they carried. Despite being pulled by mules and horses, the escort team still moved slowly.
More than ten li behind the escort team, Yang Miaozhen led over two thousand cavalry and infantry from the mountain stronghold, following slowly.
Zhou Yan carried no bow or arrow, nor did he hold a spear. He shouldered the Qingfeng Sword on his right shoulder, with a small bundle hanging from its tip. His demeanor was relaxed and natural.
Yanbo Diaosou, dressed similarly, walked with him through the forest parallel to the escort team.
Yanbo Diaosou asked, “Will this method of ‘luring the snake out of its hole’ be effective?”
Luring the snake out of its hole was a method Zhou Yan had easily devised when they were at Cuya Mountain.
Directly attacking the mountain stronghold would only increase casualties. The best method was to ‘lure the snake out of its hole,’ attracting the elite remnants of the Great Qi from Tongbai Mountain and Funiu Mountain.
The Zhenwei Escort Agency and the Fu’an Escort Agency, when traveling south, were forced to detour to the Huai River due to the bandits of the two strongholds plundering passing merchants. Fu’an, Zhenwei, and the people from Cuya Mountain disguised themselves as an escort team to lure the snakes out of their holes, and Yang Miaozhen would lead the army in a thunderous strike.
It was naturally the best method.
When Yanbo Diaosou asked, Zhou Yan smiled, “It’s foolproof. You don’t know what an escort team means to these unscrupulous bandits. It’s a heaven-sent fortune. Lu Beihe and the others have already scouted. In the eateries and teahouses by the roadside in the Nanyang area, there are plenty of scouts from the two strongholds. As soon as the escort team passes, the scouts will send messages by carrier pigeon. A three-hundred-plus escort team can attract the elite of at least one stronghold.”
After Zhou Yan finished speaking, he laughed heartily, “After so many years of escorting, this is the first time I’ve looked forward to bandits coming, and the more the better.”
Yanbo Diaosou cackled strangely.
