Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Here is the translation:

Dai Zong and Shi Xiu saw that the man was dressed like a government official and appeared flustered and anxious. Dai Zong asked, "What official business is it exactly?" The man set down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said to Dai Zong, "Do you know about Tian Hu's rebellion in Hebei?" Dai Zong replied, "We know a little about it." The man said, "That scoundrel Tian Hu has been seizing prefectures and counties, and the government troops cannot oppose him. Recently he captured Gaizhou, and sooner or later he will attack Weizhou. The people in the city are terrified day and night, and the residents outside the city are scattering and fleeing in all directions. For this reason, our prefecture sent me to the provincial office to deliver an urgent appeal for aid." With that, he rose, shouldered his bundle, took up his staff, hastily paid his bill, and went out the door with a sigh, saying, "Truly, one is not free when on official business—my family are all in the city. Heaven above, may relief troops be sent soon!" He strode off toward the capital in haste.

Dai Zong and Shi Xiu, having obtained this intelligence, also paid their bill, left the inn, and returned to camp, where they reported the matter to Vanguard Commander Song Jiang. Song Jiang discussed it with Wu Yong, saying, "It is most improper for all our generals to remain idle here. We should report to the Emperor and volunteer our forces to march out and campaign." Wu Yong said, "This matter requires the recommendation of Grand Marshal Su before it can proceed." At that time, they assembled all the generals to discuss it, and everyone was overjoyed. The next day, Song Jiang put on his official robes and led a dozen riders into the city, dismounting before the Grand Marshal's residence. It happened that the Grand Marshal was in his hall, and he was informed of Song Jiang's arrival. The Grand Marshal, learning of it, immediately ordered him to be invited in. Song Jiang came to the hall and paid his respects with a double bow. Grand Marshal Su said, "What brings the general here?" Song Jiang said, "Your Excellency, I have heard that Tian Hu in Hebei has rebelled, occupying prefectures and counties, arbitrarily changing the reign era name, and has invaded as far as Gaizhou, from where he will soon attack Weizhou. Song Jiang and his men have been idle for too long, and we volunteer to lead our troops to campaign and exterminate the rebels, to repay our loyalty to the country. We humbly request Your Excellency's recommendation." Grand Marshal Su was greatly pleased and said, "Such loyalty and righteousness on the part of the general and his men, willing to exert themselves for the country—I will recommend you with all my strength." Song Jiang thanked him, saying, "We have repeatedly received Your Excellency's great kindness, and though we engrave it upon our hearts and bones, we cannot adequately repay it." Grand Marshal Su also ordered wine to be served. That evening, Song Jiang returned to camp and informed the other leaders.

Now it must be told that the next day, Grand Marshal Su went to court early and found the Emperor in the Fragrant Robe Hall. The provincial officials were just reporting that Tian Hu in Hebei had rebelled, occupying five prefectures and fifty-six counties, changing the reign era and declaring himself king. He had already taken Lingzhou, Huaizhou, and Zhenlin, and urgent appeals for aid had been received. The Emperor was greatly alarmed and asked all the civil and military officials, "Who among you will exert himself for Us and exterminate this bandit?" From among the ranks of officials stepped Grand Marshal Su, holding his tablet before his chest, prostrating himself and memorializing, "Your servant has heard that Tian Hu's uprising, like chopping wood and raising poles, has already spread like a prairie fire—it cannot be exterminated without fierce heroes and mighty troops. There is now Vanguard Commander Song Jiang, who achieved victory against the Khitan and is encamped outside the city. May Your Majesty issue an imperial edict to dispatch this army to campaign and exterminate the rebels, and great merit will surely be accomplished." The Emperor was greatly pleased and ordered the provincial officials to carry the imperial edict out of the city to summon Song Jiang and Lu Junyi. They were brought directly to the Fragrant Robe Hall to have an audience with the Emperor. After they had finished their obeisances, the Imperial Voice said, "We know you heroes are loyal and righteous. We now command you to campaign against Hebei. Do not shrink from toil and hardship. Return soon with songs of victory, and We will promote you handsomely." Song Jiang and Lu Junyi kowtowed and memorialized, "Your servants, entrusted by the Imperial Grace, dare not fail to exhaust our strength and persevere unto death!" The Emperor's countenance was pleased, and he issued an edict appointing Song Jiang as "Vanguard Commander of the Northern Pacification" and Lu Junyi as Vice Vanguard Commander. Each was granted imperial wine, a golden belt, a brocade robe, golden armor, and colored silks. The other regular and auxiliary officers were each granted bolts of silk and silver. Once the rebellion was pacified, rewards and official titles would be bestowed according to merit. The rank-and-file soldiers were also granted silver, all to be drawn from the imperial treasury. A date was set for the army to depart. Song Jiang and Lu Junyi bowed twice in gratitude, received the edict, took leave of the court, mounted their horses and returned to camp, where they ascended the command tent and sat in council. They then assembled all the generals and ordered them to prepare their saddles, horses, and armor, and to make ready to set out and campaign against Tian Hu.

The next day, the granted bolts of silk and silver arrived from the imperial treasury and were distributed to the generals and the rank-and-file soldiers. Song Jiang and Wu Yong deliberated and ordered the naval commanders to prepare the warships to advance first, proceeding from the Bian River into the Yellow River, reaching the border of Yuanwu County, where they would await the arrival of the main army to assist in crossing the river. Orders were also transmitted to the cavalry commanders to prepare their horses, with the army advancing by both land and water, boats and cavalry moving together, making ready for the campaign.

Now this Tian Hu of Hebei was originally a hunter from Qinyuan County in Weishengzhou. He possessed great strength, was skilled in martial arts, and made it his business to associate with young ruffians. The region was surrounded by mountains on all sides, which made it easy for bandits to gather. Moreover, floods and droughts had struck frequently, the people were destitute, and their hearts were ripe for rebellion. Seizing the opportunity, Tian Hu gathered outlaws around him, fabricated heretical teachings, and deluded the common folk. At first he plundered goods and wealth, but later he invaded prefectures and seized counties, and no government troops could withstand his force.

You may ask—Tian Hu was merely a hunter, so how could he have become so rampant? Hearken well, good reader: it was because at that time civil officials were greedy for money and military officers feared death. Although each prefecture and county had soldiers for defense, they were all old, weak, or fictitious names on the rolls. One soldier might draw the pay of two or three, or a powerful family's idle retainers would pay a dozen-odd taels to buy a place on the roster, merely to collect some grain and rations. When the time came for roll call and drills, they would hire substitutes to answer for them. Those above and those below deceived one another, and the practice was firmly entrenched. The state spent its gold and silver in vain, and not a single coin served any real purpose. When it came time for battle, they knew nothing of fighting—standing or lying down, at the first sign of dust rising and cannon fire ahead, they only wished their parents had given them two more legs. There were indeed a few officers who led some troops to pursue and suppress Tian Hu, but how dare they advance? They merely trailed behind him, chasing him this way and that, making empty shows of force, even going so far as to kill innocent people and claim it as merit against the enemy. The common folk grew all the more resentful and actually joined the rebels to escape the government troops. Thus he seized five prefectures and fifty-six counties. The five prefectures were: first, Weisheng, present-day Qinzhou; second, Fenyang, present-day Fenzhou; third, Zhaode, present-day Lu'an; fourth, Jinning, present-day Pingyang; and fifth, Gaizhou, present-day Zezhou. The fifty-six counties were all subordinate to these five prefectures. Tian Hu built palaces in Fenyang, established a puppet civil and military bureaucracy, with inner ministers and outer generals, and dominated an entire region on his own, styling himself the Prince of Jin. His soldiers were elite, his generals fierce, and his mountain passes were rugged and hard to traverse. At present he had divided his forces into two armies and was advancing to invade.

Now as for Song Jiang, he chose a day to set out with his army and took leave of the various officials of the provincial and censorate offices. Grand Marshal Su came in person to see them off, and Prefect Zhao Anfu, following the imperial decree, went to the camp to reward the troops. Song Jiang and Lu Junyi thanked Grand Marshal Su and Military Affairs Commissioner Zhao, then divided their forces into three columns to advance, with the Five Tiger Generals and Eight Swift Cavalry Commanders forming the vanguard.

The Five Tiger Generals were five in number: "Great Blade" Guan Sheng; "Leopard Head" Lin Chong; "Thunderbolt" Qin Ming; "Double-Whiskered General" Huyan Zhuo; and "Double-Spears General" Dong Ping.

The Eight Swift Cavalry Commanders were eight in number: "Little Li Guang" Hua Rong; "Gold-Spear Hand" Xu Ning; "Blue-Faced Beast" Yang Zhi; "Urgent Vanguard" Suo Chao; "Featherless Arrow" Zhang Qing; "Beautiful Beard" Zhu Tong; "Nine-Dragon" Shi Jin; and "Unstoppable" Mu Hong.

He ordered the Sixteen Biao Generals to form the rear guard.

The Sixteen Lesser Biao Generals were sixteen in number: "Suppressing Three Mountains" Huang Xin; "Sick Yuchi" Sun Li; "Ugly Son-in-Law" Xuan Zan; "Well-Wood Hound" Haowen Si; "Ever-Victorious General" Han Tao; "Heavenly-Eyed General" Peng Qi; "Sacred Water General" Shan Tinggui; "Divine Fire General" Wei Dingguo; "Golden-Winged Cloud-Grasper" Ou Peng; "Fire-Eyed Lion" Deng Fei; "Brocade Tiger" Yan Shun; "Iron Flute Immortal" Ma Lin; "Grove-Leaping Tiger" Chen Da; "White-Flower Snake" Yang Chun; "Brocade Leopard" Yang Lin; "Little Tyrant" Zhou Tong.

Song Jiang, Lu Junyi, Wu Yong, Gongsun Sheng, and the remaining officers and cavalry and infantry leaders commanded the central army. On that day, three signal cannons were fired, drums and musical instruments sounded together, and they departed from the Chenqiao post station, marching northeast.

Song Jiang's orders were strict and clear, his formations disciplined and orderly, and wherever they passed they committed not the slightest offense against the people—this goes without saying. When the army reached the border of Yuanwu County, the county magistrate came out to the suburbs to meet them. The vanguard scouts reported that the boats for the army's commanders were already waiting by the riverbank to ferry them across. Song Jiang ordered Li Jun and others to lead six hundred sailors in two flanks, one on each side. They also commandeered local boats to carry horses, carts, and equipment. Song Jiang and the main army crossed the Yellow River to the north bank in order, then commanded Li Jun and the others to lead the warboats forward to the Wei River in Weizhou to rendezvous.

When the vanguard of Song Jiang's army reached Weizhou and encamped, the officials of Weizhou prepared a feast and waited to welcome Vanguard Commander Song Jiang. They invited him into the city and hosted him, saying: "Tian Hu's rebel forces are vast and must not be taken lightly. Gaizhou is garrisoned by Niu Wenzhong, a puppet Military Affairs Commissioner under Tian Hu. He has dispatched his subordinates Zhang Xiang and Wang Zhi with ten thousand troops to attack Huixian County, which belongs to our prefecture; and Shen An and Qin Sheng with ten thousand troops to attack Wuxie County, which belongs to Huaizhou. We beg the Vanguard Commander to send troops quickly to relieve us!" When Song Jiang heard this, he returned to camp to discuss with Wu Yong and dispatch troops to the rescue. Wu Yong said: "Lingchuan is a vital point of Gaizhou. It would be better to lead our forces to attack Lingchuan directly—then the siege of both counties will be lifted of its own accord." Lu Junyi at once said: "This younger brother is untalented, but I am willing to lead troops to take Lingchuan." Song Jiang was greatly pleased and assigned Lu Junyi ten thousand cavalry and five hundred infantry. The cavalry commanders were Hua Rong, Qin Ming, Dong Ping, Suo Chao, Huang Xin, Sun Li, Yang Zhi, Shi Jin, Zhu Tong, and Mu Hong. The infantry commanders were Li Kui, Bao Xu, Xiang Chong, Li Gun, Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, Liu Tang, Yang Xiong, and Shi Xiu.

The next day, Lu Junyi led his troops away. In his tent, Song Jiang discussed further with Wu Yong their strategy for advancing. Wu Yong said, "The enemy troops have grown arrogant through their long success. With Lu as vanguard, success is assured. However, the mountains and rivers of the Three Jin region are rugged and perilous. We need two chiefs to go ahead as spies to scout the terrain and passes before we can advance." He had barely finished speaking when Yan Qing stepped forward from before the tent and reported, "The Strategist need not trouble himself—a map of the terrain is already here." At once, Yan Qing produced a hand scroll and spread it on the table. Song Jiang and Wu Yong examined it carefully from beginning to end. It was a map of the mountains, rivers, cities, passes, and strongholds of the Three Jin region. Every place suitable for encampment, every place suitable for ambush, every place suitable for battle—all was marked in meticulous detail. Wu Yong asked in astonishment, "Where did you obtain this map?" Yan Qing replied to Song Jiang, "When we returned triumphant from defeating the Liao and reached Shuanglin Town, I met a man named Xu Guanzhong. He invited me to his home, and when we parted, he gave me this map. He said it was a few crude sketches. I brought it back to camp and happened to unroll it one idle moment, only then realizing it was a map of the Three Jin region." Song Jiang said, "When you returned the other day, we were busy preparing to go to court, and I did not have time to ask you the details. I can see this man is a true hero. You have often spoken well of him to me. What is he doing now?" Yan Qing said, "Guanzhong is broadly learned and talented, skilled in martial arts, and has a loyal heart. As for lesser arts—qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting—he is versed in them all." He then gave a full account of Guanzhong's refusal to serve in office, his reclusion in the mountains, and the conversation they had shared. Wu Yong said, "Truly a man of purpose in this world." Song Jiang and Wu Yong sighed and praised him without end.

Meanwhile, Lu Junyi had received his orders and dispatched troops. He first sent Huang Sun and Sun Li with three thousand soldiers to ambush five li east of Lingchuan city, and Shi Jin and Yang Zhi with three thousand soldiers to ambush five li west of Lingchuan city. "Tonight, at the fifth watch, you are to move in silence, with bits in your horses' mouths and bells removed. Tomorrow when we advance, if the enemy is unprepared and we have already taken the city, watch for the signal flag at the south gate, and all the chiefs will lead their troops into the city at a leisurely pace. If the enemy is prepared, cannon fire will be the signal, and both ambush forces will rush out to support us." The four chiefs received their orders and departed. Lu Junyi had breakfast prepared before dawn at the fifth watch the next morning, and by daylight his army advanced directly to the walls of Lingchuan. The troops were divided into three contingents, spread out in a line, waving banners and beating drums to challenge the enemy.

The defending soldiers rushed in alarm to report to the garrison commander Dong Cheng and his lieutenants Shen Ji and Geng Gong. This Dong Cheng was the vanguard commander under Niu Wenzhong, nine feet tall, of extraordinary strength, wielding a thirty-catty Wind-Sweeping saber. Upon hearing the report that Song Jiang had dispatched Liangshan forces who had already encamped beneath the walls and were preparing to attack, Dong Cheng hastily assembled his troops and rode out to meet the enemy. Geng Gong remonstrated, "I have heard that these men under Song Jiang are heroes not to be taken lightly. We should hold fast to our defenses and send for reinforcements from Gaizhou. Only by attacking from within and without can we prevail." Dong Cheng flew into a rage. "How dare those scoundrels look down upon us and dare to attack! They must be exhausted from their long march. I will go out and leave not a single one of them alive!" Geng Gong pleaded earnestly but to no avail. Dong Cheng said, "Very well. I will leave a thousand men with you to defend the city. Sit on the city tower and watch me slaughter that scoundrel." He donned his armor in haste, took up his saber, and led his troops out with Shen Ji to meet the enemy.

The city gates opened, the drawbridge was lowered, and two or three thousand soldiers surged across. In the Song army ranks, powerful crossbows and stiff bows held the line. Then to the thunderous beating of war drums, a general emerged from the Lingchuan formation. How was he arrayed?

He wore an iron helmet bound with gold at the crown, from which sprouted red plumes the size of a dipper. He wore a suit of interlocking chain-link armor, a battle robe embroidered with rosy clouds and floral patterns, a pair of cloud-heeled boots stitched with slanted leather seams, and a belt studded with red nails. He carried a bow and a quiver of arrows. He rode a silver-maned horse and wielded a Wind-Sweeping saber.

Dong Cheng sat astride his horse with his saber held across and bellowed, "Marsh bandits, you have come here to die!" Zhu Tong spurred his horse forward and shouted, "The army of Heaven is here! Dismount and surrender at once, lest you defile our blades!" Both armies raised a great shout. Zhu Tong and Dong Cheng charged to the center of the battlefield. Their horses met, their weapons clashed. After barely ten exchanges, Zhu Tong wheeled his horse and fled to the east. Dong Cheng gave chase. From the eastern contingent, Hua Rong leveled his spear and rode out to engage. They fought for over thirty exchanges with neither gaining the advantage. By the drawbridge, Shen Ji saw that Dong Cheng could not prevail. He raised his white-speckled steel spear, spurred his horse forward, and joined the battle. Hua Rong, seeing two opponents attacking him, wheeled his horse and fled to the east. Dong Cheng and Shen Ji pressed hard in pursuit. Hua Rong turned his horse and fought again.

From the city wall, Geng Gong saw Dong Cheng and Shen Ji in pursuit and feared they might come to harm. He was about to order the drums sounded to recall the troops. Suddenly from the Song army a column of soldiers burst forth—Kui, Lu Zhishen, Bao Xu, Xiang Chuan, and a dozen other chiefs—who flew across the drawbridge like lightning. The northern soldiers could not withstand such ferocity and were powerless to stop them. Geng Gong shouted urgently to close the gates. But slow as his words were, Lu Zhishen and Kui had already stormed into the city. The gate guards rushed forward, but with a great roar, Lu Zhishen brought down two of them with a single stroke of his iron staff. Kui swung his axes and hacked down five or six more. Bao Xu and the others poured in. They seized the city gate and cut down the soldiers. Seeing the tide had turned against him, Geng Gong scrambled down from the wall and fled north, but the foot soldiers overtook him and took him alive.

Dong Cheng and Shen Ji were battling Hua Rong when they heard the cries from the drawbridge. They hastily turned their horses and rode back. Hua Rong did not pursue them. Instead, he secured his steel spear in the loop of his belt, took up his bow, and fitted an arrow. Taking careful aim at Dong Cheng, he loosed a shaft at his back. Dong Cheng's feet left the stirrups and he tumbled from his horse with a crash. Lu Junyi and the others signaled the troops to advance, and they swept forward in a general charge. Shen Ji was speared through by Dong Ping. More than half of Lingchuan's soldiers were slain, and the remainder scattered in all directions. The officers led their troops into the city together. The Black Whirlwind Li Kui was still slashing about furiously. Lu Junyi called out repeatedly, "Brother, do not harm the common people!" Only then did Li Kui desist.

Lu Junyi ordered his men to quickly raise identifying military banners at the south gate, so that the two detachments of ambush troops would know the city had fallen. He then assigned soldiers to guard each gate. Before long, Huang Xin, Sun Li, Shi Jin, and Yang Zhi arrived with the two columns of ambush troops from both directions. Hua Rong presented Dong Cheng's severed head. Yang Ping presented Shen Ji's severed head. Bao Xu and others brought in Geng Gong, whom they had captured alive, along with several of his subordinate chieftains. Commander Lu had them all untied, seated Geng Gong in the guest's place, and they took their seats as host and guest. Geng Gong bowed and said in gratitude, "A captured general, yet treated with such generous courtesy!" Junyi raised him and said, "That you did not come out of the city to meet the enemy shows your deep foresight. How could you be compared to the likes of Dong Cheng? Commander Song is eager to welcome worthy men. If you are willing to submit to the imperial court, Commander Song will certainly recommend you for high office." Geng Gong kowtowed in thanks and said, "Having received the grace of not being put to death, I am willing to serve as a humble soldier under your banner." Lu Junyi was greatly pleased. He spoke reassuringly to the other chieftains as well, then posted notices to pacify the people, prepared food and wine to reward the troops, and held a banquet for Geng Gong and the other officers.

Lu Junyi asked Geng Gong about the number of troops and officers in Gaizhou. Geng Gong replied, "Gaizhou is heavily garrisoned by Marshal Niu. Yangcheng and Shenshui are both to the west of Gaizhou. Only Gaoping County is near, about sixty li from here. The city lies beside Hanwang Mountain, guarded by the officers Zhang Li and Zhao Neng, who command twenty thousand troops." Having heard this, Commander Lu raised his cup to Geng Gong and said, "General, drain this cup. Tonight I will need you to accomplish a great deed. Please do not refuse." Geng Gong said, "Having received such kindness from you, Commander, how could I do anything but give my all?" Junyi said happily, "Since you are willing, I will assign several brothers of mine, along with your subordinate chieftains. Do exactly as I instruct, and set out at once." He then called over the six or seven newly surrendered chieftains, rewarded each with food, wine, and silver, and promised further generous rewards upon the success of the mission. After the wine was finished, Lu Junyi issued orders: Li Kui, Bao Xu, and six other infantry chieftains, along with one hundred foot soldiers, were to change into the armor and banners of Lingchuan troops. He then ordered Shi Jin and Yang Zhi to lead five hundred cavalry, with bits in their mouths and bells removed, to follow at a distance behind Geng Gong's force. He ordered Hua Rong and the other officers to defend the city, while he himself led three thousand troops as a reserve.

The dispositions having been made, Geng Gong and the others left the city as planned. The sun was already low. By the time they reached the south gate of Gaoping, it was dusk. In the starlight, they could see the dense array of banners on the walls and hear the clear striking of the night watch drums within the city. Geng Gong called up to the wall, "I am Geng Gong, the garrison commander of Lingchuan. Because the two officers Dong and Shen would not listen to me, they opened the gate and took the enemy lightly, and so the city fell. I have hastily led this hundred-plus men out through the north gate and made my way here by a side road. Quickly let me in!" The soldiers on the wall held torches up to identify him, then hurried to report to Zhang Li and Zhao Neng. Zhang Li and Zhao Neng personally ascended the wall. The soldiers held up several torches, lighting the scene from all sides. Zhang Li called down to Geng Gong, "Even though you are one of our own, we must be certain." He looked down and examined them carefully. It was indeed Geng Gong of Lingchuan, leading about a hundred soldiers. Their uniforms and banners were without the slightest irregularity. Many soldiers on the wall recognized the subordinate chieftains and pointed, saying, "That one is Sun Ruhu." And, "That one is Li Qulong." Zhang Li laughed and said, "Let them in!" The city gate was opened, the drawbridge was lowered, and thirty or forty soldiers were posted on either side of the bridge. Only then was Geng Gong allowed to enter. The soldiers behind them rushed forward in a crowd, shouting, "Get in! Get in! Pursuers are behind us!" Paying no heed to the general, the gate guards shouted, "What kind of place is this, to rush about so wildly?" While they were still arguing, a fire flared up at the foot of Hanwang Mountain, and a column of cavalry charged out, with two officers in the lead, shouting, "Stop, you rebel generals!" Among Geng Gong's soldiers were already mixed Li Kui, Bao Xu, Xiang Cong, Li Gun, Liu Tang, Yang Xiong, and Shi Xiu—those seven fierce tigers. They each drew their weapons, raised a shout, and all hundred-plus men acted at once, storming into the city. The defenders were caught off guard and had no time to close the gate. The soldiers inside and outside the gate were already cut down by the dozens, and the gate was seized. Zhang Li cried out in despair, hastily lowered his spear, and descended the wall to find Geng Gong, only to run straight into Shi Xiu. After three or five exchanges, Zhang Li had no heart for battle and fled with his spear. Li Kui caught up with him and swung his axe in a flash, cleaving him in two. Meanwhile, the cavalry that had charged from the foot of Hanwang Mountain reached the city and poured in. They were Shi Jin and Yang Zhi, who spread out and cut down the northern troops. Zhao Neng was killed in the chaos. Most of Gaoping's soldiers were slain, and Zhang Li's entire family was put to death. The common people were awakened from their sleep and their wailing shook the heavens. Before long, Commander Lu arrived with his troops. He ordered the gates guarded and sent a dozen soldiers to shout at every quarter that no harm was to come to the people. At dawn, he posted notices to pacify the populace, rewarded the troops, and sent a messenger to fly with the news to Commander Song.

Why was it that Lu Junyi captured two cities with such ease and such astonishing speed? It was because the forces under Tian Hu had long roamed unchecked, encountering no worthy opponent, and held the imperial troops in contempt—never imagining that Jiang Song and his generals were heroes of such caliber. Lu Junyi seized upon this advantage, striking when least expected, and took two cities in succession. This was why Wu Yong had said, "Lu our Vanguard Commander will certainly succeed on this mission."

But enough of this. Let us return to our tale. Jiang Song's army was encamped outside the walls of Weizhou. As Commander Jiang was deliberating in his tent, a messenger arrived in haste from Lu the Vanguard Commander bearing news of victory and requesting that Commander Jiang discuss further plans for the advance. Jiang Song was overjoyed and said to Wu Yong, "In two days Lu our Vanguard Commander has taken two cities—the rebels have lost their nerve." Even as he spoke, scouts from two directions reported: "The troops besieging Huixian and Wuxie have heard that Lingchuan has fallen and have all abandoned their sieges and withdrawn." Jiang Song said to Wu Yong, "The Military Adviser's divine calculations are without parallel in all of history!" He wished to break camp and march west to join forces with Lu the Vanguard Commander and plan their next move. Wu Yong said, "Weizhou is flanked by Mengmen to the north, the Taihang Mountains to the east, the great Yellow River to the south, and sits astride Shangdang to the west—a place of vital strategic importance. Should the rebels learn that our main force has marched west and send troops south from Zhaode, our forces east and west would be unable to support each other. What then?" Jiang Song said, "The Military Adviser's words are most sound!" He ordered Guan Sheng, Hu Yanzhu, and Gongsun Sheng to take five thousand troops and hold Weizhou. He further ordered the naval commanders Li Jun, the two Zhangs, the three Ruan brothers, and the two Tong brothers to take command of the fleet and anchor it on the Wei River, to form a pincer with the city's defenders. Once the dispositions were made, the generals departed to carry out their orders.

Jiang Song and his generals led the main army and broke camp that very day. The journey was uneventful. Upon reaching Gaoping, Lu Junyi and the others came out of the city to welcome them. Jiang Song said, "Brothers, you have taken two cities in succession—no small feat. All has been duly recorded in the book of merits." Lu Junyi presented the newly surrendered general Geng Gong. Jiang Song said, "General, you have forsaken evil and returned to the righteous path. Joining your strength with ours in service to the nation, the court will surely employ you with honor." Geng Gong bowed in thanks and stood in attendance. Jiang Song, finding his force too large to enter the city, made camp outside the walls. That very day he conferred with Wu Yong and Lu Junyi on which prefecture they should attack next. Wu Yong said, "Gaizhou is a land of lofty mountains and deep ravines, with treacherous roads. Now that two of its subordinate counties have been taken, the city stands isolated. We should capture Gaizhou first to divide the enemy's strength, then send two columns to attack from both sides—and Weisheng will fall." Jiang Song said, "The Adviser's words accord perfectly with my own thinking." He issued orders for Chai Jin and Li Ying to go and hold Lingchuan, recalling Hua Rong and the other five generals for reassignment, and for Shi Jin and Mu Hong to hold Gaozhou. Chai Jin and the others departed to carry out their orders. At this time, the "Featherless Arrow" Zhang Qing reported, "This officer has been suffering from a cold for two days and wishes to remain temporarily in Gaoping to recuperate before rejoining the camp for duty." Jiang Song therefore ordered the "Divine Physician" An Daoquan to accompany Zhang Qing to Gaoping for treatment.

The following day, Hua Rong and the others had arrived. Jiang Song ordered Hua Rong, Qin Ming, Suo Chao, and Sun Li to lead five thousand troops as the vanguard; Dong Ping, Yang Zhi, Zhu Tong, Shi Jin, Mu Hong, Han Tao, and Peng Qi to lead ten thousand troops as the left wing; Huang Xin, Lin Chong, Xuan Zan, Hao Siwen, Ouyang, and Deng Fei to lead ten thousand troops as the right wing; and Xu Ning, Yan Shun, Ma Lin, Chen Da, Yang Chun, Yang Lin, Zhou Tong, and Li Zhong to form the rear guard. Jiang Song, Lu Junyi, and the remaining officers led the main army as the central force. These five mighty columns advanced upon Gaizhou—like dragons leaving the great sea, like tigers emerging from deep forests. Truly, each man sought to earn the merit of a marquis, each aspired to achieve the glory of quelling the rebels. But how exactly did Jiang Song's forces attack Gaizhou? Listen to the next chapter.