Chapter 299: Recapturing Yu County
Jiang Ying was still the County Chief of Yu County. Over these two months, he made every effort to cooperate with all of Pan Zhang’s requirements. At Pan Zhang’s repeated urging, Jiang Ying racked his brains and recruited two thousand able-bodied young men for him. He also recommended a general named Guo Chuan to him—a local man with strong martial arts skills, steady character, and good leadership ability. Pan Zhang was very satisfied and appointed Guo Chuan as the commander of the new soldiers, responsible for training them.
At noon this day, a merchant requested to see County Chief Jiang Ying, saying he was his fellow townsman and had brought a family letter for him.
Jiang Ying knew exactly what was going on. He had his subordinate bring the merchant to the inner hall. “Where is my family’s letter?”
Seeing no one around, the merchant took out a letter and handed it to Jiang Ying. This was of course not a family letter, but one written by Strategist Pang Tong to Jiang Ying.
After reading the letter, Jiang Ying said to the merchant, “I understand. Please tell Strategist Pang that I will execute according to the plan.”
After seeing off the messenger disguised as a merchant, Jiang Ying immediately found Guo Chuan. Guo Chuan was indeed a local, but his true identity was a commandant under Wang Ping.
And the two thousand soldiers were all selected from the Western Chu Army. Their common trait was that they were from Yu County or the surrounding areas. They were recruited and gathered by Jiang Ying in various ways, recommended to Pan Zhang, and became new soldiers.
There was actually a loophole here. If Pan Zhang seriously investigated Guo Chuan and the new soldiers’ backgrounds, he would discover some clues—these soldiers had joined the Western Chu Army several years ago.
However, Pan Zhang was an outsider after all. He had few channels to inquire and did not think that deeply.
“County Chief Jiang, action tonight?”
Guo Chuan was somewhat stunned. “I’m not on duty tonight!”
Jiang Ying smiled. “I have a way to make them hand over tonight’s duty to you.”
That afternoon, Jiang Ying collected all the wine in the city and drove several hundred fat pigs and more than a thousand sheep to the barracks. His excuse was a good one: today was the local custom of the winter sacrifice day, when meat and wine were needed to sacrifice to the God of Wealth and pray for smooth affairs next year.
Pan Zhang was delighted. He immediately went along with it and ordered pigs to be slaughtered and sheep killed to reward the three armies well tonight.
The third camp was on duty defending the city tonight. At the strong request of the officers and soldiers, the third camp’s commandant handed the city defense over to the new soldier camp. The new soldier camp was just a rag to wipe feet with—good things like drinking and eating meat naturally would not fall to them.
Night fell, and more than a dozen bonfires were lit in the barracks. The officers and soldiers gathered around the bonfires drinking and eating meat, extremely lively.
On the city wall, soldiers from the new soldier camp paced back and forth. Guo Chuan stood on the West City Gate, gazing at the large forest on the south side of the official road to the west. Zhao Yun’s army should be ambushed in the forest. According to the agreement, at the first watch, he would open the city gate.
The time was approaching the first watch. Just then, a soldier shouted loudly, “General Pan is here!”
Guo Chuan was startled and hurried forward to greet him, cupping his fists in salute. “Why has the general come?”
Pan Zhang reeked of alcohol. He was the commander after all and, after eating and drinking his fill, still came to inspect the city wall.
“Anything unusual?”
“Reporting to the general, nothing unusual at all!”
Guo Chuan was very nervous in his heart. It was already the first watch. If Pan Zhang discovered anything, he would have no choice but to act.
Pan Zhang nodded. Feeling somewhat apologetic, he patted Guo Chuan’s shoulder. “You’ve had a hard time tonight. Next time we reward the soldiers, you’ll get your share!”
“Reporting to the general, this is our duty!”
Pan Zhang was very satisfied. He turned to leave but suddenly caught a glint of light from the corner of his eye. He was stunned and turned toward the city wall. He was not mistaken—three torches were flickering not far away.
“What’s going on?” Pan Zhang asked in shock.
Guo Chuan knew they were discovered. He gave a look, and several soldiers stepped forward and shoved hard, directly pushing Pan Zhang off the city wall. With a ‘thud!’, Pan Zhang fell into the moat, water splashing everywhere.
Pan Zhang’s more than a dozen guards were also successively pushed off the city wall. Some fell into the moat, others crashed heavily onto the muddy ground in front of the moat.
“Light the fires! Open the city gate.”
Three torches were lit on the city wall. The city gate slowly opened, and the drawbridge was lowered. In just a moment, Zhao Yun took the lead on horseback, leading thirty thousand troops charging into the city.
Most of the soldiers were drunk and muddled, with no resistance ability at all, and all became Western Chu Army prisoners of war. Pan Zhang led a few soldiers trying to flee but was captured by Zhao Yun’s subordinates. No one in the entire city escaped.
To prevent accidents, Pang Tong had also sent Wang Ping ahead with five thousand soldiers to set up a checkpoint to the east, to catch any fish that slipped through the net.
The next morning, Strategist Pang Tong entered Yu County.
Jiang Ying stepped forward and saluted. “This subordinate pays respects to the strategist!”
Pang Tong smiled and said, “County Chief Jiang has achieved the first merit this time. The Marquis of Chu is extremely appreciative—your future is boundless!”
Jiang Ying was overjoyed and hurriedly said modestly, “This subordinate only did his duty.”
Pang Tong nodded and asked again, “How does Pan Zhang contact Sun Ben? Does County Chief Jiang know?”
“This subordinate knows. According to their strategist Wei Jing’s deployment, Pan Zhang must send a messenger every three days to deliver letters to Damo County. Today is the delivery day.”
Pang Tong immediately prepared a letter using Pan Zhang’s method and ordered a subordinate to pretend to be the messenger soldier, taking the command arrow to head to Damo County.
The large net was already spread, just waiting for Sun Ben’s army to arrive.
Gan Ning did not stay in the government office or the barracks. He spent most of his time in his villa—this villa was the house he had lived in during Nanchang and had not been repurposed; it was still their house.
The front hall of the villa was his temporary official residence. Messengers continuously brought Strategist Pang Tong’s reports and the latest intelligence. Gan Ning just silently looked them over, occasionally marking spots on the sand table with small flags. He could understand every step of Pang Tong’s.
Gan Ning did not interfere with Pang Tong’s command and deployment—that was the power he had granted to his strategist. He only quietly watched everything Pang Tong did from the side. Unless Gan Ning discovered a major mistake or major disagreement, he would not interfere.
In fact, they had formulated the plan several months ago, but it was only a broad framework. The specific actions had to be adjusted in real time and change according to the situation, so Gan Ning had given Pang Tong the decision-making power over these details.
Gan Ning only managed the broad framework—that was the concern of one in a high position. As long as Pang Tong’s actions did not deviate from the broad framework, he let Pang Tong freely exercise his intelligence.
There was no one in the main hall, only Gan Ning alone. The guards stood vigilantly on watch in the courtyard outside, observing everything around.
At this moment, the back door opened, and Xiao Qiao came in carrying ginseng tea. “Husband, have some tea first!”
Gan Ning took the tea and drank a sip, smiling as he asked, “What time is it?”
“Almost noon. I came to find you for lunch.”
Gan Ning drained the ginseng tea and laughed, “I am really hungry. Let’s go!”
