Chapter 132: Upheaval In Bo Prefecture
At the end of July, Zhao Cheng glanced at the Bo Prefecture battle situation and fell silent. Facing the Emperor Shu Group whose retreat he had blocked, he snapped the bamboo slip in his hand.
Nowadays, he originally only needed to sit and wait for Emperor Shu to withdraw south, with the Hao Army building a fortress on flat ground along their retreat route, leaving Da Yao’s 100,000-strong army behind to become dry bones. But Zhao Cheng had to abandon this strategy, letting out a long sigh, like “Zhuge Liang after the failure of the Northern Expeditions.”
Strategic time was tight, not allowing him to devour the current huge victory; Bo Prefecture’s collapse was already all-encompassing. Although Zhao Cheng knew that the eastern warfare had little impact on his western warfare, the situation here in the west caused intense psychological shaking among the various forces that had already submitted within Hao State.
The morale factor in eastern warfare was very metaphysical; Zhang Fei could stand with the gate wide open at Dangyang Bridge waiting for Cao Cao to charge, even though defeated troops were behind him, and Cao’s army still dared not advance; but when Song Huizong opened the city gates, chaos erupted inside with just a clamor.
Zhao Cheng: If he did not lead the corps back to Sha Prefecture to stabilize morale, even if he blocked Da Yao’s main force, the entire army could not fight wholeheartedly.
Zhao Cheng: If that guy in the east (Wu Xiao Que) continued, the dynasty would be done.
…The long August began…
Perspective back to Bo Prefecture, the Da Yao corps under Wu Fei’s command was filled with the strongest ambition and fighting spirit in ten years.
Speaking of which, since engaging the False Hao, the north had for the first time tasted the flavor of pressing the False Hao.
For those Eastern Market Army dandy non-commissioned officers who came from the capital, they could now hold their heads higher; these dandies’ disciples could boast openly when returning to the capital.
Of course, Wu Fei was very politically astute, strictly forbidding his officers and soldiers from provoking friendly forces, and was quite courteous to the several camps sent by Zhu Liqiang to assist.
The reason for his modesty was that Wu Fei knew he was actually still growing. If previous maneuver warfare experience was limited to the southern border and Zhenzhou, those two were just testing the waters; now was true battlefield combat.
Wu Fei: “The southern border side were completely barbarians, I was purely drilling. On the Zhenzhou side, Prince Lelang was a fool, I only handled maneuvers, without decisive battle annihilation.”
Only today did he truly gain combat experience.
Wu Fei now assessed the gap between his battle tactics and the Hao Heaven military strategists here as akin to the generational advantage of 21st-century fighter jets.
First was range; third-generation machines like flankers and pomegranates over MiG-21 second-generation machines, in large airspace, the former could take off from various airports, quickly assemble formations, and strike the second-generation groups that lacked range and struggled to form large groups.
Wu Fei’s marching was now like this; facing the opponent’s cumbersome and sluggish assembly speed, as long as he mushroomed them, pulling them apart, with his own troops’ marching speed, he could quickly concentrate superior forces to defeat a part of the enemy. That is, Wu Fei only had 5,000 troops, but each time it was many against few; while once the Hao Army scattered, they would inevitably be caught by him.
Then there were radar and stealth, these two allowing priority detection of the opponent and seizing initiative positions. Wu Fei led the army, monitoring the opponent omnidirectionally on the battlefield; when the opponent’s dragging marching columns reached a key ferry, he immediately raised the flag to launch the attack.
As for sustained combat duration, no need to mention it. The opponent’s tens of thousands were continuously pulled and mobilized, while here only 5,000, these 5,000 in the rear main camp were constantly rotated, and of the 30,000 able-bodied men recruited, already a small half had been to the battlefield.
…Attack-defense posture had shifted…
On August 2, Wu Fei directly approached Huangyu City, but ignored Huangyu City, instead marching immediately to a spot 10 kilometers outside the city, taking a small city north called Hezhu Village.
This small city’s gates were still opened through deception; it could only be said that Bo Prefecture’s governor was already very cautious.
The governor required all city garrisons to be extra careful, but Wu Family Army’s movement range was too large, and Hao Army lacked those “capable and reliable” personnel.
Hao Army commanders could not dispatch capable confidants to all cities to control the gates. Especially these small fortresses, which were originally placements for Hao Army colleagues dissatisfied internally.
When Wu Family Army deceived Hezhu Village, they used highly realistic Hao Army seal documents, wore Hao Army armor, and even found locals who swore at the gate that there was no mistake.
After the gates were deceived open, Eastern Market Army cavalry charged in, seizing this crucial strategic location. And below this hill, 5 kilometers away was the Sha River ferry, the key route for Huangyu City’s northern water transport of food and grass.
It needed emphasis that this was the transportation point between Huangyu City and Gu Shou Pass; as for why Wu Fei did not take it at the campaign’s start!? That would be explained later.
…Settling scores in progress…
After Eastern Market Army seized this fortress called Hezhu Village, the insiders who seized the gates continued to play a role in purging the city.
Eastern Market’s large forces, under insiders’ guidance, went door-to-door searching for Dragon Descendants. In this search, insiders acted like judges pronouncing life and death for every household. Those attached to Hao State bureaucrats who had gained power were harshly retaliated against.
“Military Master, here, this house, they’re not human!”
The local insider gritted his teeth, pointing at a tightly shut mansion with a face full of bitter hatred.
As the gate was smashed open, a clearly “upstart” figure inside knelt begging: “Gentlemen Military Masters, easy does it!”
But the leading local did not hesitate, “Huang San, you bastard, your backer is gone! I’ll settle accounts with you properly for these years!” With that, he exposed his years of currying favor with Hao State nobles, bullying men and women.
Note: When Hao State forcibly incorporated this area’s rule, to establish rule centered on themselves, they supported local forces that submitted, disrupting the original hierarchy and accumulating massive contradictions.
These in large mansions were not traditional noble families, but some “poor family” sorts who rose by clinging to thighs.
Poor family members might generally have stronger local execution ability than noble family disciples, but poor family quality was very worrying; lacking collectivism indoctrination, once in power, most “unavoidably” turned into harsh officials.
For example, this Huang Qian, these years in Hezhu Village calling himself Huang San Ye. On one hand tightly hugging Hao State occupying army’s thigh, on the other fully flaunting this “speculation-obtained” class leap. Abusing power, suppressing fellow villagers within a 10-li radius, attempting to build a village community centered on himself through intense “obedience tests.”
This was like the historical microcosm of Hu captives entering Xia, with a series of brutal massacres of opposition to seek legitimacy.
…History notebook…
Xuan Chong: If in a great social reshuffle, the newly risen stratum did not rise by “pushing productivity change” or “blood labor defending family and collective,” this was virtue not matching position. Their rise represented accumulated social contradictions.
At present, if Hao State’s military strength was strong, it could suppress all contradictions, but local contradictions would not disappear. And these lackeys who easily “class leaped” would intensify contradictions.
Because the lackeys themselves were full of anxiety and insecurity about their leaped “class,” under inner inferiority, each would wield power to test their stratum’s stability, craving confidence from others’ fear; this was “acting out.”
Worth mentioning, if Eastern Market Army had not come north to fight, the whole army’s dandies would also gradually feel “empty” and restless from the sudden class elevation, then court death probing the world’s tolerance boundary for themselves, to confirm how much their “confident” level had leaped.
Now following Wu Fei in Bo Prefecture, after gaining solid merits recognized by all sides in Da Yao, upon return they would absolutely politely cherish their stratum.
Xuan Chong: That is, truly stably powerful strata are more stable in emotional release.
…Back to the city now…
In Hezhu Village, the great purge continued, a very cruel revenge action began; all families deemed unreliable had their males completely slaughtered, while women were sold into slavery.
Wu Fei specially permitted the insiders’ brutal revenge, because Hezhu Village this point was too important; having used “insiders” to deceive open the fortress gates, he absolutely would not allow others the same. So those remaining in the fortress must be absolutely reliable. A head allegedly of a Dragon Descendant was hung high on the fortress flagpole. No chance left for this point to flip again.
Wu Fei dispatched 500 soldiers to garrison this point.
In the next actions, Wu Fei had to guard against Hao State military forces from north Gu Shou Pass coming south. Even if they came south, he needed such a fortress as buffer.
…Blood was flowing…
On August 4, while Zhao Cheng hurried to adjust the decisive battle layout with Emperor Shu’s great army, Wu Fei here surrounded Huangyu City, over 10,000 dense troops around Huangyu City building earth ditches and fences.
Master Wu Fei had no plan for direct ant climb attack; even if Marshal Zhu’s son and his several camps sent, plus the just-armed local militia had the heart, Wu Fei made them stand by temporarily.
Regarding this siege process, due to good local work coordination, Wu Fei gathered sufficient military grain.
Under Wu Fei’s guarantee, local big households enlisting directly bet on it, lending this year’s winter grain to Wu Fei after recording accounts, enough for the army to besiege two months. As long as Huangyu City was taken, the food and grass inside could be seized, settling all accounts.
As for after two months, if not taken down, Eastern Market Army would collapse!
Wu Fei: Waging war means overloading. Either you die, or the enemy dies.
In Huangyu City, the governor watched the besieging army, panicking greatly, because main troops had been sent out by him. If really sieged, it might be taken in one battle.
His advisor beside glanced at the township soldiers gathered outside, confirming these outside troops were armorless laborers, amenable to raiding camps; the desperate governor thus shouted to his palace attendant: Who dares go out for a battle.
Minutes later, a team of armored cavalry charged out of Huangyu City, pushing toward the Da Yao laborer teams. These Bo Prefecture youths digging trenches outside heard the drums, following their recognized flags, withdrawing from the tripwire arrays via pre-reserved safe passages. These safe passages had signs, with “green paint” brushing a running little figure.
The Yao Army laborers’ chaotic appearance clearly showed little training, but at least they recognized their queue numbers, withdrawing separately along ground-marked passages, without swarming one spot.
While the Hao Army Jade Braves raiding out of Huangyu City clearly did not expect these Yao Army laborers to “rout” so disciplined.
What surprised them more next was regular army formations of 200 rapidly arriving from the enemy rear, then deploying firearm formations.
Just as Hao Army Jade Brave lance cavalry crossed the ditches, Yao Army rear positions pulled out ballistae, lobbing dozens of lime bags, massive white lime engulfing these assault teams. As Jade Brave soldiers coughed covering mouths and noses, neglecting shields over vitals, firearms fired.
On the city wall, the Hao Army crowd personally witnessed this “devious” tactic.
Among the over 10,000 besieging Yao Army, four groups of 500-man firearm queues, like a precise firepower release machine, advanced to optimal positions to fire.
At 150 paces distance, caplock guns fired continuously, shooting 2,000 bullets in ten minutes, like wave after wave of sickles, laying down these city sortie Hao Army batch by batch.
As these sortie armored soldiers discarded helmets and armor fleeing back, a 50-man Yao Army cavalry team tailed them.
This was led by Zhu Liqiang’s son Zhu Chong’s assault cavalry; these house retainers tagging for merits were extremely excited, chasing and hacking all these Hao Army to death. Quite like the cool trope of “thirty years east of the river, thirty years west, don’t bully the poor youth.”
Hao Army governor shouted: “Close the city gates!”
As gates slammed shut, Wu Fei side dispatched grenade cavalry to suppress the city battlement, Zhu Chong’s cavalry hacking all the routed cavalry outside the city.
The city battlement fell silent.
No one on Hao Army side wanted to proactively raid out again. Not even nighttime raids were arranged. They were terrified.
Huangyu City hurriedly sent aid requests, to outside armies and even Gu Shou Pass.
Almost simultaneously, Wu Fei intercepted the city’s messenger falcon, confirming the Hao State bureaucrats inside were panicked and sending the corps back for aid, so he nodded: “Good if they return, good if they return.” Then dispatched non-commissioned officers with military tallies accompanying the communications officer, mobilizing all the Dong Lei laborers there to continue the siege. He himself mustered 3,000 troops here, preparing to hit the relief force.
…Two days later…
After Gu Shou Pass and Hu City both promised to send reinforcements.
Wu Fei pointed at the map: “Devour Hu City Group, not one to escape! Must clear the battlefield before northern enemy reinforcements arrive!”
On August 5, at Dakan Village, Wu Fei commanded 7,000 troops arriving. Almost committing all combat-ready soldiers except necessary defenses for those main camps and the 4,000 needed to besiege Huangyu City.
While the Hu City Hao Army receiving return-aid orders was still slow, because beaten fearful this past month. Just like northern fiefdoms like Zhu Liqiang feared Zhao Cheng.
Hu City general Sun Yong was now cautious, bunching his army together, ignoring Huangyu City governor’s urgings, bringing 1,000 elites and 6,000 laborers in a tight group. Preferring to consume Hu City’s scant food and grass for stability.
However, Sun Yong did not know that when he stopped at Dakan Village, surrounding Yao Army were gathering toward his position.
Sun Yong was woken by camp horns this morning, then saw surrounding dust billowing and the high “Wu” flag, hurriedly hanging “no battle” signs.
No battle sign logic: “I have numbers, I know you can’t break in, I won’t respond to your provocations, go cool off wherever.”
However, dust did not dissipate; by noon, more and more gathered outside camp, he felt something major wrong.
Now his command including able-bodied men only 8,000, but likely outnumbered already. This past month, desertions were routine in his army. Now his camp could hold against 4-5,000 Yao Army by defending. But now, from peripheral dust, it was over 10,000.
Actually, the Eastern Market Army surrounding Sun Yong was not over 10,000; Wu Fei used horses to raise dust creating all-sides enemy illusion during march; Sun Yong still had breakout chance now, but alas chose to wait.
In the half shichen Sun Yong played turtle, Yao Army 20 cannons were dragged out, a small half supported by Zhu Liqiang; after loading ammunition, one cannon shattered Sun Yong camp gate’s “no battle” sign.
Cannons continued firing, while arrayed Da Yao armored soldiers launched assault under overhead cannonball cover, and at the queue rear, three iron lions advanced accompanying, targeting camp towers.
As cannonballs blasted open camp tents, Sun Yong’s camp suddenly chaotic; his camp civilians suddenly turned, heads wrapped in red cloth, shouting loudly: “Slaughter dragon, slaughter dragon!”
These 50 were few in the camp, but caused massive chaos. Sun Yong originally assembling formations to meet Yao Army impact, turned to see fires blazing; not only that. Just as he turned, suddenly heard shouts everywhere in camp “Defeated, defeated.”
Sun Yong’s corps morale plummeted; he hurriedly hacked several turning commanders, then heard wingbeats from sky, followed by shouts: “The one with tall helmet is the enemy general.” Then a volley of rockets.
Sun Yong greatly alarmed, hurriedly gathered personal guards around him; but just as assembling, suddenly heard approaching shrill roars, then realized these dragon horses were not charging but scouting vision for rear artillery.
Then, as he prepared to dodge shells, felt head dizzy like drunk, but his tolerance good not passing out directly, still saw next one, no, three shells smashing indiscriminately like aimed at him, extremely accurate.
Sun Yong despite full killing intent, facing oncoming shells still felt organs displaced, spat blood with organ fragments. Before falling, he saw sky dragon horses charging down.
Facing this blade and sword glare, Sun Yong took wine gourd from waist, arduously gulping, murmuring: “Drunk on battlefield, how many return.”
While he drank, dragon horse knight already struck with lance, piercing his chest; he spat blood and unswallowed wine, then was saber-hacked down.
As Sun Yong fell, camp instantly disintegrated; facing slaughter, surviving Hao Army began fighting individually, but invading Wu Family Army unhurried; facing Hao Heaven remnants’ cornered beast fighting in clusters, directly called firearm soldiers; those still wielding blades and swords in defiance, seeing Yao Army queues part revealing batch after batch dark gun muzzles, cornered beast madness turned to furious curses of “no martial virtue.”
Hao Army remnant leader: “If you’re men, real blades and guns fight!”
Hong Qiang: “All present, three-stage fire preparation.”
Back-against-wall 40-pace Hao Army: “Fuck %&*”
“Bang!” Gunpowder smoke filled as executions began, blades and swords clattering to ground.
Hao Army remnants’ courage crumbled under Yao Army push to 50 paces shooting.
Wu Fei tallied captured flags and captive Hao Army senior generals, standing on pile of military strategist flags captured: “Such battles, at most two more times, then no need for siege; Bo Prefecture can be taken by proclamation.”
