Chapter 228: Brothers Fight Among Themselves
Night had fallen, but the Western Chu Army did not stop marching; they merely slowed their pace. Each soldier held a torch, and the endless firelight stretched as far as the eye could see, like a fire dragon swiftly winding along the riverbank.
The next day at noon, the army arrived at Guangxin County, about ten miles from the county town. From the hillside, one could see the county town.
The soldiers rested in place, drinking water and eating dry rations. The riverbank was crowded with donkeys drinking water, and the soldiers took out the hay sacks from the donkeys, letting them quietly eat grass.
At this time, Bu Zhi summoned Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci, and the three discussed the battle plan together.
“I received an urgent letter from Xu Jing. There are now about twenty thousand troops inside Guang County town, controlled separately by Zhang Jin’s two sons. Once Zhang Jin dies, the two brothers will surely fight fiercely over the position, creating our opportunity. Additionally, there are two thousand local militia soldiers inside the city, under Chief Clerk Li Jin’s control. Li Jin has already pledged loyalty to the Marquis of Chu, and these two thousand troops will be our reception force; they will control the water gate.”
Zhao Yun sighed and said, “I thought there would be a major battle, but it’s turning out to be so easy.”
Bu Zhi smiled faintly and said, “In my plan, Cangwu Commandery was always easy to capture. Zhang Jin is about to die of illness, so his troops lack the morale to resist. Thus, Zhang Jin is not difficult, nor is Wu Ju—his troop strength is too small. The difficult part is Shi Xie’s side.”
Taishi Ci nodded and said, “Do we need to proactively contact those inside the city?”
“Wait a bit longer. I think Xu Jing will contact us.”
Just as Bu Zhi finished speaking, a soldier ran up to report, “Report to the Sima, someone from inside the city has come with a message!”
Bu Zhi was overjoyed and immediately ordered, “Bring the messenger up!”
Soon, a messenger was brought forward; he was Xu Jing’s subordinate. He saluted and said, “They search people leaving the city, so I didn’t dare bring a letter—I can only relay it orally!”
“Speak!”
“Just today at noon, news spread that Zhang Jin has died of illness, but the news is still strictly sealed and the death announcement has not been released. However, something is likely to happen tonight.”
Bu Zhi thought for a moment and asked, “Is the water gate still the only way in?”
“Currently, only the water gate allows entry. Prefectural Assistant Xu is at the water gate to receive the Sima. The signal is to raise three torches at the first watch.”
Bu Zhi nodded. “I understand. Go and rest.”
Bu Zhi then ordered, “Set out after dark!”
At this time, Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci were drawing lots. Taishi Ci drew the red lot, so he would be the vanguard tonight.
Zhang Jin had already died of illness at noon. At this time, the one controlling the Governor’s Mansion was the eldest son Zhang Huan. The brothers took turns on duty guarding the Governor’s Mansion, not allowing anyone to approach. But Zhang Huan had not expected his luck to be so good—his father died during his shift.
He pretended to cry a few times and immediately ordered that no one was to leak the news of the Governor’s death, with execution for violators.
He obtained his father’s Governor’s seal and military tally, and began deploying executioners. When his brother came at dusk for the handover, he could strike and kill him.
But his brother Zhang Mao was no pushover. He had long bribed the attendants around his father, so they would notify him immediately if anything happened to his father—especially since his father was on the verge of death. How could he feel at ease leaving his elder brother alone by his father’s side?
In the afternoon, Zhang Mao finally received the news that his father had died an hour earlier. Yet his elder brother had secretly withheld the announcement and deployed executioners next to his father’s sickroom, clearly planning to strike against him.
Zhang Mao paced back and forth in the main hall, finally gritting his teeth and saying, “You’re striking first, so don’t blame me for disregarding brotherly bonds!”
He walked to the main hall and shouted, “Liao Zhong!”
“This subordinate is here!”
A great general stepped forward and saluted. This Liao Zhong was Zhang Mao’s trusted subordinate and also his brother-in-law.
Zhang Mao coldly ordered, “Assemble three thousand troops to surround the Governor’s Mansion. Do not let anyone escape!”
“This subordinate obeys!”
Liao Zhong hurriedly left.
Zhang Mao sneered to himself, “Elder brother, you never imagined that I already know the truth!”
Three thousand troops surrounded the Governor’s Mansion, and Zhang Huan was immediately shocked. The news had leaked. His brother Zhang Mao had originally been his prey, but in the blink of an eye, he had become the prey instead.
Zhang Huan realized the situation was dire. There were only three hundred guards in the mansion—how could they withstand the slaughter of three thousand troops?
The top priority now was to send someone to the barracks to summon his own troops, or he was finished.
Zhang Mao arrived at the Governor’s Mansion clad in armor; dusk was falling. He saw three thousand troops surrounding the Governor’s Mansion tightly, so airtight not even a fly could escape.
At this time, an aide ran up and said, “Second Young Master, a letter from Chief Clerk Li!”
Zhang Mao took the letter and read it carefully. Li Jin stated his willingness to support him as Governor and did not oppose his actions at the Governor’s Mansion, but begged him to act as late as possible, so as not to alarm the citizens or make them think he had killed his father.
Zhang Mao did not care about the citizens’ lives, but he also did not want the reputation of patricide. With his father’s death news not yet released, if everyone thought he had killed his father, that would be trouble.
He immediately ordered, “Act precisely at Hai Shi!”
Time gradually reached Hai Shi, or nine o’clock at night. The entire county town quieted down, with all sounds stilled. Zhang Mao gritted his teeth and ordered, “Charge in! Kill all males except women. Reward one thousand strings of cash for Zhang Huan’s head!”
The three thousand troops charged toward the Governor’s Mansion. They set up ladders and climbed over the wall one after another, rushing into the mansion. Zhang Huan ordered his three hundred guards to resist to the death. He himself hid in his father’s treasure secret room, locking the iron door from inside, waiting for his own troops to come to the rescue.
Li Jin and Xu Jing stood on the city wall at the Water City Gate. He heard shouts of killing coming from the direction of the Governor’s Mansion—Zhang Mao had begun his move.
Li Jin sighed to Xu Jing, “It’s too late. We must act ahead of schedule!”
Xu Jing also agreed to act early. Li Jin had already delayed more than an hour and could delay no longer. Once Zhang Mao killed Zhang Huan and seized the seal and military tally, he would control the military power of the twenty thousand troops in the city—that would be trouble.
Xu Jing was somewhat worried and said, “I just don’t know if they’ve arrived yet.”
“Let’s try!”
Li Jin ordered the water gate opened and lit three torches outside the water gate.
Soon, soldiers came running from outside the city. Xu Jing hurriedly went to meet them and asked, “How many troops are outside?”
“General Taishi is leading fifteen thousand troops in ambush two hundred paces away. General, should we act ahead of schedule?”
“Exactly! Tell General Taishi the situation inside the city is critical—he must enter the city immediately!”
The soldier went back. Soon, Taishi Ci led fifteen thousand troops and arrived.
A pontoon bridge into the city had been built with small boats at the Water City Gate. Taishi Ci entered the city first. Xu Jing came forward and said, “General Taishi, Zhang Mao is leading three thousand troops to attack the Governor’s Mansion. Please have General lead the army to encircle them in turn and annihilate the three thousand troops—then the city will be ours!”
Taishi Ci nodded. “Lead the way!”
