plumnovel Chapter 35 A cornered beast fights on.
Chapter 35 A cornered beast fights on.
Late April of the twelfth year of the Chongzhen reign.
On the Jianghan Plain, the wheat seedlings in the fields have already sprouted ears and blossomed, and the fields are all a ripe green and yellow color. In just over a month, the summer harvest will arrive.
Agricultural activities in northern Hubei and Hunan and the Luoyang Basin in northwestern Henan are now nearing completion.
After a month of digging wells and repairing canals, dividing the land into groups and distributing it to the ground, the tens of thousands of refugees who had gathered around Luoyang finally settled down.
In the fields outside Luoyang, the sounds of labor never ceased. With the guarantee of irrigation water, life once again descended upon this fertile land in the Central Plains.
However, outside Xiangyang City, apart from the joy of an impending harvest, a chilling atmosphere lingered over the city walls for a long time.
The human heads displayed on the city walls seemed to be silently proclaiming that Xiangyang City was no longer what it used to be.
This is a key location on the Jianghan Plain, a major commercial town, and now a military fortress where a large number of troops are stationed.
All spies who dared to spy on the number of troops and military deployment in Xiangyang were beheaded and their heads displayed to the public by Sun Chuanting.
Most of the unfortunate victims came from Gucheng County, which is still under surveillance and blockade.
The former Gucheng County government office had long been converted into Zhang Xianzhong's headquarters. In recent days, he has stopped going out and has been sitting there almost every day, discussing countermeasures with his trusted subordinates.
But the unfavorable results he obtained in each calculation made his face gloomy, and his brows were filled with murderous intent. In the past few days, he had vented his anger by killing more than ten dancers and servants. His eyes were bloodshot and his chest was full of resentment.
Since he raised his army, he has fought across the north and south for more than a decade, from Qin to Huguang. He has been defeated and scattered, but he has always managed to escape death by taking advantage of the mountains and rivers. He has never been trapped in such a small area as he is now, unable to move.
Inside the main hall of the military headquarters, candles burned continuously, and the table was piled high with intelligence reports from various scouts, a chaotic mess.
Zhang Xianzhong was dressed in coarse cloth and short clothes, with a curved knife hanging at his waist. He stood on a wooden stool and would occasionally raise his hand to slam the table hard, his tone full of resentment and impatience.
"I've been a ruthless slayer for over a decade, living a life of constant danger. What kind of battles haven't I faced?"
Zhang Xianzhong ripped open his shirt, his heavy breathing filled with anger, and his gaze swept over the group of leaders bowing and waiting below.
"In the past, when government troops came, if they couldn't win, they would retreat. When they got tired, they would find a hilltop to lie in wait. When have we ever been trapped like this, without even a chance to breathe? That corrupt official Sun Chuanting is truly going too far!"
The people below were all old thieves who had followed him for many years, and their faces were solemn, with no one daring to speak easily.
Everyone knew that with the enemy surrounded on all sides and the future uncertain, it was understandable that the king was anxious.
Just wait for him to unleash his fury and vent his anger. Don't say anything that might offend him, or you'll be killed in the process.
Zhang Xianzhong cursed a few more times, his anger subsided slightly, and then he composed himself and said in a deep voice.
"We've sent out several scouts to gather intelligence; they should have some news by now. Keep a close eye on them, and report back immediately if there's even the slightest hint of trouble!"
He was not one to sit idly by and wait for death. As soon as the Ming army's encirclement was formed, he successively dispatched his elite cavalry into dozens of small teams, disguised as refugees, merchants, and woodcutters, to sneak out of Gucheng in batches to explore a way out.
Knowing that the outer perimeter was heavily fortified, he specifically instructed the scouts to only observe and scout from a distance, not to clash with the Ming scouts, and to turn back once they had ascertained the situation. If their whereabouts were exposed, they were to abandon their mission and save their lives immediately.
However, the Ming army outside the city did not exterminate them completely. Although the defenses seemed tight, there were loopholes in the defenses, so the spies sent out by the rebels were always able to gain something.
The first to send back crucial information were several reconnaissance cavalry teams ordered to explore Yunyang to the west, in the direction of eastern Sichuan.
The group of scouts stealthily traversed the continuous mountains, dodging the Ming army's open and hidden sentries, and spent several days maneuvering outside before finally figuring out the approximate defense situation of Yunyang Prefecture.
They then rushed back as fast as they could, bringing back bad news to Zhang Xianzhong.
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! All nine passes in Yunyang are now guarded by the White-Spear Soldiers from eastern Sichuan!"
"That old woman Qin Liangyu has personally led several thousand troops to garrison Yunyang. Now, she has heavily fortified all the mountain passes and treacherous valleys. We have no way to enter Sichuan from Yunyang!"
The scout lay prone on the ground, his voice filled with barely concealed fear.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xianzhong's tense body suddenly trembled, and the anger on his face instantly faded, replaced by deep fear.
Ordinary bandits might only have heard of the White-Spear Army's name but not know its strength, but he had been causing trouble on the Sichuan-Hubei border for many years and knew all too well the ferocity of this army.
The White-Spear Soldiers are mostly Tujia people who have lived in the deep mountains for generations. They can climb mountains and cross ridges as if walking on flat ground. They are skilled in mountain offense and defense and are fearless of death.
In the past, his troops had encountered small groups of White Banner soldiers several times in eastern Sichuan. However, despite having a force several times larger than the enemy, they not only failed to gain any advantage, but were also repeatedly killed and suffered heavy losses, fleeing in disarray.
"Is it really those White-Spear Soldiers?! Those bastards! We're in deep trouble now!"
Zhang Xianzhong spat fiercely, his eyes flashing with malice, and then questioned his men.
After receiving the same answer, he cursed inwardly, his face turning ashen.
Gucheng has been besieged for over a month, and its food supplies are running low, so the morale of the army is already unstable. If they were to force their way west and confront the fierce White Spear Army head-on, they would likely suffer a complete defeat.
He originally regarded the deep mountains of Yunyang as a place to hide and recuperate after the defeat, thinking that if the situation deteriorated, he would lead his troops into the mountains and rely on the natural defenses to recuperate.
But now it seems that this way out has been completely blocked.
"The White-Clad Soldiers are blocking Yunyang. We can't go there; it would be a pointless death, utterly useless! We need to think of another way!"
After abandoning his plan to advance westward, Zhang Xianzhong meticulously analyzed the situation in all directions, but the more he thought about it, the heavier his heart became.
He had previously discovered that there were as many as 50,000 Qin troops stationed along the Shaanxi-Guanzhong line, with camps connected between the Qinling and Bashan Mountains, and the passes and key roads almost all occupied by government troops.
This defense line against their entry into Shaanxi was airtight and watertight.
Hong Chengchou had been suppressing bandits for many years. He was shrewd and ruthless. His Qin army consisted of elite soldiers who had fought countless battles. Last year, he and Sun Chuanting chased Li Zicheng's 100,000-strong army down to only a few scattered men who fled into the Shangluo Mountains.
Although Zhang Xianzhong was tenacious and confident, he did not believe that his remaining troops could contend with Hong Chengchou's Qin army.
With the limited forces currently trapped in this isolated city, heading north into Shaanxi would be tantamount to walking into a trap, and we cannot go!
As for heading south...
The thought of Xiangyang City today sent a chill down Zhang Xianzhong's spine.
The 10,000 elite Qin soldiers, combined with the newly reorganized imperial army, now appeared at a glance to be well-armored and disciplined.
Tens of thousands of troops guarded the heart of the Han River Plain, with outposts densely distributed within a hundred miles around, and cavalry patrolling everywhere. The supply of goods was strictly controlled to the extreme.
Launching a full-scale attack on Xiangyang would be suicidal, but without capturing Xiangyang, they would be unable to penetrate the heart of Hubei and Hunan, which would also be a dead end.
The areas to the west, north, and south, which should have been his domain, were now completely blocked by the Ming army, like three high walls, trapping him within Gucheng.
Under immense pressure, Zhang Xianzhong's anger surged again. He slammed his fist on the solid wood table, scattering the papers on it.
"Those damn government troops are determined to trap us here and kill us!"
He roared, his voice filled with resentment, but after the initial rage, reason prevailed over impulse. He forcibly suppressed the anger in his chest and gave a stern order to the officers below.
"Pass down my orders: all troops must strictly guard their respective camps outside the city, and the main camp must stay in the city obediently. No one is allowed to leave the camp without permission, and no one is allowed to cause trouble in private!"
We're surrounded by strongholds on three sides now; going out means certain death. Everyone, be patient and hold Gucheng first.
At this critical juncture, anyone who dares to rebel, undermine morale, or jeopardize my grand plan will face the ruthless consequences of my blade!
Once the military order was issued, the city of Gu became even more silent. The bandits, who had been itching to make a move, lost all interest in acting after learning that all three of their escape routes had been blocked.
All the bandits in this small town in northwestern Hubei were waiting anxiously for a turning point.
Zhang Xianzhong continued to sit in his headquarters every day, waiting for news from scouts, analyzing the situation day and night, and racking his brains for a way to break through the encirclement.
He knew that the Ming army was blocking the supply lines and the city's food supplies were running low. They couldn't hold out for long, so he had to find a new way out as soon as possible. Otherwise, the day the food ran out would be the day the entire army collapsed.
Time passed day by day, and several more days went by in the blink of an eye. The reconnaissance cavalry teams that Zhang Xianzhong had previously sent to the east to investigate the deployment of the Ming army returned one after another.
The intelligence they brought back was like a timely rain, instantly dispelling the gloom that had lingered in Zhang Xianzhong's heart for many days, and bringing a look of wild joy to his face.
The group of scouts who had gone east quickly entered the main hall, knelt down and reported in detail the movements in the direction of Nanyang that they had gathered along the way.
"Your Majesty, we have gone deep into Nanyang to investigate and have learned that the imperial court has decided to fully implement the civilian settlement program in Luoyang and the entire hinterland of Henan to resettle displaced people."
The imperial court is currently mobilizing grain and agricultural tools from various regions, and it is said that a large number of grain carts are being transported to the official granary in Luoyang day and night.
Nanyang Prefecture also received a lot of grain and fodder. Local officials traveled around, posting notices to appease the displaced people and encourage them to return to their hometowns to reclaim wasteland.
Rumors circulated among the people that all this grain would be used for the reclamation of farms and settlements, and that even if the entire province of Henan suffered a complete crop failure this year, the imperial court would have ways to provide relief to the millions of disaster victims!
As soon as the scout finished speaking, a commotion broke out in the main hall of the headquarters. The bandit leaders whispered among themselves, their eyes revealing a hint of unease.
Zhang Xianzhong took two steps forward, hurriedly inquired about the details, repeatedly verified the source of the information, and after confirming that it was not just a rumor, he laughed heartily.
The oppressive feeling of being surrounded by dead ends on three sides was swept away at this moment, and Zhang Xianzhong's rough laughter echoed incessantly in the hall.
"Hahahaha! There's always a way out! I told you, God wouldn't completely block the road! Look, our way out has arrived!"
He had not considered entering Henan again in the past few days because the bandits had already invaded Henan several times before, and the Luoyang Basin and the surrounding Nanyang Plain had been burned, killed and looted more than once.
They've basically looted all the easy places, and Henan, which suffers from disasters every year, is now sparsely populated and devastated.
Entering Nanyang again would mean personally walking into a dead end. Apart from risking lives to fight against the fortified villages and earthen walls built by local gentry, there was no other way to seize grain and survive.
But now the situation is different. The imperial court is actually foolish enough to transport a large amount of grain into Henan, this bottomless pit, to fill the hole.
Zhang Xianzhong didn't care whether the disaster victims received relief or not; what he cared about was that his bandits finally had targets to plunder and an opportunity to coerce refugees into rising up again!
With the threat of food shortages eliminated, the heartland of Henan was practically paradise for these bandits.
The vast plains stretch as far as the eye can see, with open and flat terrain, free from high mountains and dangerous passes, making it an ideal battlefield for cavalry warfare.
His core fighting force consisted of seasoned veterans who had fought for many years, including many surrendered soldiers from the border army, and his veteran cavalry was considered an elite force in battle.
Once they set foot on the Henan plain, they can take advantage of their rapid advance and mobile warfare capabilities, easily escaping the Ming army's encirclement and pursuit.
In addition, around the time of the summer harvest, the government will inevitably focus all its attention on farming and resettling displaced people, and defenses in various places will be relaxed accordingly.
At that time, he could lead his troops in a surprise attack, which would not only allow him to seize the grain and fodder stockpiled by the imperial court to replenish his military supplies, but also take advantage of the widespread refugees to recruit young men and expand his army. It would be a win-win situation.
"Henan is great! It's even better that the government is bringing in grain; it suits my heart perfectly! Hahahaha!"
With grain in Nanyang and a large influx of displaced people, this is practically a piece of fat meat delivered right to our doorstep!
A glint flashed in Zhang Xianzhong's eyes; he had made up his mind.
"Huguang has become our death zone. There are too many government troops, and Sun Chuanting is a troublesome fellow. If we continue to defend it, we will be trapped and die sooner or later."
I've made up my mind. Taking advantage of this summer harvest, the entire army will break camp and head east, abandoning excess baggage and heading straight for Nanyang Prefecture!
"I'm going to get away from those corrupt officials and their troops in northern Hubei and Hunan, and go to Henan to start afresh!"
The group of trusted bandit leaders below cheered enthusiastically, their faces once again displaying savage grins.
After pondering for a moment, Zhang Xianzhong solemnly issued a secret order to his generals.
"Listen up, everyone! Immediately and secretly take stock of the weapons and provisions, repair the weapons and armor, and conserve your strength for the summer harvest."
When the wheat ripens, we will immediately break camp and set up camp, avoid the government troops' patrols at night, abandon Gucheng, and rush to Nanyang with all our might!
Once we enter Henan, it'll be our territory! We'll seize grain, take in refugees, and in less than six months, we'll be able to raise a large army again and have a good fight with those corrupt officials of the imperial court!
Upon hearing this, the leaders bowed and accepted the order. After receiving the secret command, they dispersed and secretly began preparations for the eastward advance.
The scouts and scouts dispatched outside Gucheng also retreated to their reconnaissance areas, almost all of them gathering around the outskirts of Gucheng, no longer paying much attention to the movements of the Ming army to the south and west.
Strange rumors began to circulate in Gucheng, but when the winds passed into Xiangyang, the situation remained calm.