Chapter 48: Capturing Yuzhang
Almost at the same moment that Nanchang City fell, Han Dang encountered the disheveled He Qi withdrawing midway. He Qi’s warhorse had its leg shot, collapsing after fleeing only a few li, so He Qi had no choice but to walk with a dozen personal guards. Midway, hunger became unbearable, so he ran to a nearby village to rob grain, only to be chased and beaten by hundreds of villagers, utterly embarrassed.
The soldiers brought He Qi before Han Dang, who said in shock: “What happened? You lost Haihun County so quickly?”
He Qi let out a long sigh. “Xu Sheng secretly surrendered to Gan Ning. They cooperated from inside and out, offering up Haihun County. My entire army was wiped out.”
“No way! Xu Sheng is a disciple of the Xu Family. How could he surrender to Gan Ning?”
“Human hearts are unpredictable. How should I know his thoughts? Perhaps he felt General Sun had treated him poorly and was dissatisfied!”
Han Dang was speechless. The private grudge between Sun Ben and the Xu Family had actually led to the loss of Haihun County. Now with Haihun County lost and no siege weapons carried, how could they retake the city?
Helpless, Han Dang could only order: “The entire army turns around and returns to Nanchang County!”
The five thousand army turned around and returned to Nanchang County. The next day at noon, the army was still twenty li from Nanchang County. If it were Cheng Pu, he would certainly stop at this point and send soldiers to scout first.
But Han Dang had responsibility weighing on his heart, making him anxious as if on fire, wishing he could grow wings and fly into Nanchang City. He kept urging the soldiers to hurry, saying they were almost at Nanchang City.
On the official road, the five thousand-man formation had gradually stretched to three li. After not sleeping all night and walking half a day, the soldiers were both sleepy and exhausted, complaining loudly, barely able to walk.
At that moment, a series of rapid clapper sounds rang out from the forest to the east: “Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!”
Immediately after, tens of thousands of arrows were loosed. Dense bolts rained down on the soldiers on the official road like raindrops. The soldiers were caught off guard, falling one after another with arrows in them, cries of agony filling the air. Those not hit shouted in fright and dropped to the ground.
“Woo—”
Horns blared as ten thousand troops charged out from the forest, led by the great general Gan Ning.
The five thousand-man formation was cut into several segments by the Chaisang Army, unable to care for head or tail, instantly collapsing into disarray. The soldiers were all exhausted, utterly unable to resist. The Chaisang Army shouted: “Those who surrender will not be killed! Those who surrender will not be killed!”
Seeing no way to escape and hearing the shouts, the soldiers immediately knelt and surrendered in droves, with almost no effective resistance organized.
Han Dang and He Qi were both at the front of the formation. Suddenly the Chaisang Army charged out. Han Dang shouted in alarm: “General He, follow me to fight back and rescue them!”
He Qi gave him a cold look, spurred his horse, and fled. Charging back now would only get himself killed too. Han Dang had gone mad, but he had not.
Han Dang cursed him furiously in rage, but helpless, he could only shout: “Brothers, follow me to fight back and rescue them!”
Han Dang led two thousand vanguard army soldiers back to rescue. Gan Ning and Xu Sheng each led three thousand troops to surround Han Dang’s forces completely. With the vast disparity in troop strength, Han Dang’s army soon could not hold out. They wanted to withdraw but were blocked front, back, left, and right with no way to retreat.
Han Dang suddenly spotted Xu Sheng and shouted: “Xu Sheng, this general’s head is here. I gift you this wealth and honor.”
Xu Sheng thought of how Han Dang had treated him well and could not help sighing. He ordered his subordinates: “Clear a path!”
The soldiers parted to open a path. Han Dang seized the chance to lead several hundred soldiers and charge out.
Seeing Han Dang gone, Xu Sheng roared at the remaining soldiers: “Won’t you surrender? Do you all want to die?”
Xu Sheng’s voice boomed like thunder, scaring the remaining thousand-plus soldiers into kneeling and surrendering.
Han Dang led several hundred remnant troops to under Nanchang City, saw the great banner had changed, and knew the cause was lost. He had no choice but to bypass Nanchang City and flee to Poyang County.
Xu Sheng was full of shame and pleaded guilty to Gan Ning. He had let Han Dang go to repay a debt of gratitude.
Gan Ning said indifferently: “Men are not plants or wood—who can be without feeling? You’ve repaid him once; you owe him nothing now.”
“I guarantee there will be no next time!”
……….
Poyang County is about 150 li from Nanchang County, with Poyang Lake flowing around the city, directly connecting to the Gan River.
Currently, Poyang County has only two thousand garrison troops, commanded by the great general Zhou Tai.
On the second day of the first lunar month, He Qi and Han Dang arrived in Poyang County one after another, bringing news of the fall of Haihun County and Nanchang County, which truly made Zhou Tai tense. The loss of the cities was minor; the unclear fate of commander Sun Fu left them at a loss for how to explain to the Marquis of Wu.
In the main hall, Han Dang glared ferociously at He Qi. He Qi said coldly: “The army was yours. The soldiers would protect you to escape—who would care about my life or death? If I didn’t flee first, would Xu Sheng spare me and let me leave?”
“Pah! You fled before battle—what explanation is there?”
“I’m not explaining to you. I will explain to the Marquis of Wu myself.”
Han Dang’s position was slightly higher than He Qi’s, but they had no subordinate relationship, so He Qi was not afraid of him.
Zhou Tai waved his hand. “Enough! You two stop arguing. Now think of how to rescue General Sun the Second, or none of us can explain to the Marquis of Wu!”
At that moment, a soldier reported from below the hall: “Report to General Zhou, County Magistrate Zhang from Nanchang has arrived!”
“Quick! Invite him in.”
Zhou Tai immediately realized that County Magistrate Zhang from Nanchang’s arrival must be related to Sun Fu.
Soon, County Magistrate Zhang Miao was brought into the main hall. The three hurried forward to greet him: “County Lord, how is General Sun?”
“General Sun is unharmed, and General Cheng is also unharmed. I saw General Sun before leaving and have two letters for the generals!”
Zhang Miao took out two letters and handed them to Zhou Tai. “One is from General Sun, one from Gan Ning. Please review them, General Zhou.”
Zhou Tai hurriedly opened Sun Fu’s letter. The content was simple: he required them to carry out Gan Ning’s conditions without fail.
Zhou Tai then opened Gan Ning’s letter. Gan Ning proposed three demands: first, they must withdraw from Yuzhang Commandery within three days, allowed to leave by ship, but the number of ships must not exceed twenty;
second, seal the government treasury; no money and grain supplies from Poyang County are to be taken;
third, send an envoy to Chaisang County for negotiation. Once terms are agreed, Sun Fu will be immediately sent back.
“These three must be fully complied with. Violate even one, and Sun Fu’s life cannot be guaranteed.”
After reading the letters, Zhou Tai paused and asked: “Any verbal messages?”
Zhang Miao nodded. “General Gan said, if you do not leave within the three-day limit, you will never leave.”
Zhou Tai handed the letters to Han Dang and He Qi. “You two take a look!”
He Qi read the letter and said without hesitation: “For General Sun’s safety, we must withdraw immediately. I fully agree to the conditions in the letter.”
Zhou Tai looked to Han Dang, who had to admit Gan Ning was absolutely right. Poyang County had only two thousand troops; if Gan Ning led a great army to attack, they truly could not escape.
But Han Dang was unwilling to stand on the same side as He Qi. After a long pause, he slowly said: “I have no objection. General Zhou decide!”
Zhou Tai nodded. “Gan Ning’s demands are not excessive. We can accept the first two. As for the envoy negotiation, it will be decided by the Marquis of Wu upon return!”
Zhou Tai immediately ordered the government treasury sealed. The over two thousand four hundred troops took only twenty days’ dry rations. That afternoon, the army boarded twenty large ships and departed Poyang County toward the Gan River.
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Wang Ping led three thousand troops to occupy Poyang County.
At this point, Sun Ben’s army had completely withdrawn from Yuzhang Commandery. Yuzhang Commandery was occupied by Gan Ning. From July to December, in less than half a year, Gan Ning’s army grew from three hundred to over thirty thousand, and his base expanded from tiny Chaisang County to the entire Yuzhang Commandery.
Of course, for now it could only be said he had seized the fat meat of Yuzhang Commandery first, but whether he could swallow it into his belly and truly turn Yuzhang Commandery into his own base was still too early to say.
Many forces were covetous of Yuzhang Commandery: Tong Zhi of Luling Commandery, Liu Xin of Changsha Commandery, Huang Zu of Jiangxia Commandery, not to mention Sun Ce’s great army that could return to kill at any time.
Fortunately, it was now winter, not the campaigning season. Gan Ning had two months to catch his breath.
He must make full use of these two months to quickly integrate resources, train the army, deploy defenses, and before spring forges an army capable of contending with other forces.
