Chapter 54: The Turning Lance

Yang Lian gazed at the banners fluttering over the canal, unable to contain his excitement as he clenched his fists; at last, he had managed to escape. Just as joy welled up within him, a commotion stirred ahead. Yang Lian looked and saw clouds of dust rising—many men seemed to be rushing forth.

This place could never be the site of Wu-Yue troops, he thought, yet he steeled himself and rode forward. As expected, they were not Wu-Yue soldiers; the military flags ahead bore the insignia of the Tang Dynasty, and upon one banner was the character “Chen.”

“Could it be Chen Keyan?” Yang Lian wondered. Indeed, moments later, Chen Keyan emerged, surrounded by a group of cavalrymen.

Covered in blood and battered from the fighting, Yang Lian’s hair hung loose and wild. If it weren’t for the Tang armor he still wore, Chen Keyan surely would have mistaken them for bandits.

Chen Keyan did not recognize Yang Lian, but Yang Lian recognized him. After all, Chen Keyan wore an iron helmet, distinct from the others and easy to identify.

“Is the person before me Commander Chen?” Yang Lian called loudly. In his memory, Chen Keyan was still the commander of Henglin Town.

Chen Keyan paused, then spurred his horse forward and inquired, “You are... you are?”

Yang Lian smiled, “It is indeed Commander Chen.” He breathed a sigh of relief and turned to his companions. “Brothers, we are safe now.” Turning back, he saw Chen Keyan’s perplexed expression and laughed, “Commander Chen, it’s been over half a year since we last met. I am Yang Lian—back then…”

Yang Lian had not finished speaking when Chen Keyan exclaimed with excitement, “You are Yang Lian?”

Stunned, Yang Lian wondered why Chen Keyan was so moved. He simply replied, “I am indeed Yang Lian, no pretense. Do you remember the matter of the Princess of Huairou?”

Chen Keyan laughed heartily. “How could I forget? My promotion this time is thanks to Brother Yang.” Chen Keyan had earned merit by rescuing the Princess of Huairou and now served as the commander of Changzhou, as well as Henglin Town.

Last time, when Li Zhenggu led the army to Changzhou, Chen Keyan did not know Yang Lian was among the ranks, so the two missed each other. Now, seeing Yang Lian in person, he was naturally overjoyed—it was Yang Lian’s heroic deeds that had enabled his rise. Though this favor was not intentional, Chen Keyan nonetheless remembered it well.

Yang Lian laughed, “Congratulations, Brother Chen, on your promotion.”

The two talked for a while longer before Chen Keyan ordered the wounded to be taken away and properly cared for.

“Brother Yang, what happened in this defeat?” Chen Keyan asked, puzzled.

Yang Lian was equally confused. Li Zhenggu, upon receiving the Emperor’s orders, withdrew silently that night. The operation was highly secretive; how did Qian Wenfeng learn of it? He even sent troops ahead to ambush the Tang army’s only route, striking lethally in the darkness.

This defeat cost at least three or four thousand men—a grave loss for an army of ten thousand. Li Zhenggu would certainly be punished, the severity depending on the Emperor’s mood.

Yang Lian closed his eyes in thought. Li Zhenggu was friendly with Feng Yansi, Feng Yanlu, and other founding elders aligned with Song Qiqiu. If Li Zhenggu were punished, it would be a blow to the Song faction. Song Qiqiu supported Prince Qi, Li Jingsui; thus, Prince Qi’s faction would suffer.

For Prince Qi, political losses mattered little compared to military losses. In the military, Li Jingsui could rely only on Gao Shensi. What had become of Gao Shensi in this battle? If he had perished, Prince Qi’s party would have no strength left in the Southern Tang court to contend with Li Hongji.

Yang Lian narrowed his eyes. If Gao Shensi died, Prince Qi would suffer while Li Hongji would profit. Could there be some conspiracy at play? He considered it, then shook his head—unlikely. No matter how dim-witted Li Hongji might be, he would never plot something harmful to the country.

Chen Keyan saw Yang Lian deep in thought and said nothing more. After a deep breath, Yang Lian asked, “Brother Chen, how many troops did you bring this time?”

“Only five hundred, of which two hundred are cavalry,” Chen Keyan replied.

Yang Lian tapped the table lightly. “They say the timid starve and the bold feast. I have a good opportunity here—do you dare take it, Brother Chen?”

“A clay pot is bound to break by the well; a general is fated to die on the battlefield. I may have little talent, but I do not fear death,” Chen Keyan answered.

Yang Lian waved his hand. “Don’t speak such ominous words.” He paused, then continued, “This time, as we head north, many Wu-Yue soldiers are moving northeast. I suspect a person of great importance is there—perhaps even Commander Li. If you’re not afraid, Brother Chen, let’s take two hundred troops and try to rescue the commander.”

“How much chance do we have?” Chen Keyan asked.

Yang Lian shook his head. “None. Because I do not know how many Wu-Yue troops there are, or how they’re deployed.”

Chen Keyan fell silent. Yang Lian did not press him; after all, it was a serious matter. After a long pause, Chen Keyan struck the table. “A true man fears neither life nor death—I will join you in the rescue!”

“Excellent!” Yang Lian stood with a smile and struck the table with his fist. “We’ll take only cavalry, bring plenty of spears and arrows, and if things go badly, we will not let our brothers die in vain.”

Chen Keyan replied and strode out quickly.

Changzhou’s troops prepared for action; uncertain how long the battle would last, they brought some flatbread and filled their water skins. Chen Tie and Lin Renzhao, upon hearing the news, rushed over despite their exhaustion. “Brother Yang, why not call for us?”

Yang Lian was surprised. “This journey is fraught with peril; I simply didn’t wish you two to risk yourselves.”

Lin Renzhao frowned. “What are you saying, Brother Yang? Though I may lack ability, I am no coward. If you ask, even if the road ahead is filled with blades and fire, I won’t flinch.”

Chen Tie added, “Brother Yang, your words are truly disheartening.”

Yang Lian clasped his hands and bowed to them. “I was at fault, my brothers. I apologize.”

Lin Renzhao waved his hand and smiled. “We’re brothers—no need for such talk. Though we’re not related by blood, our friendship is strong.”

Chen Tie laughed heartily. “That’s right! The three of us have fought together, visited brothels together—one day, recalling all this will be a true delight!”

A few black lines appeared on Yang Lian’s forehead; he thought Chen Tie spoke without any fear. He had them prepare, bringing food and drink, ready to set off. Chen Keyan worked efficiently; though short on troops, he gathered mules and horses in Henglin Town, keeping a few for carrying supplies and the rest for transporting men.

This was to conserve the warhorses’ strength—victory was everyone’s hope, and saving energy meant more enemies could be slain, or at least survival was more likely in battle. As the late afternoon approached, they set out. Chen Keyan sent a dozen scouts ahead to reconnoiter, while the remaining two hundred advanced slowly behind.

The sun sank in the west, and after traversing more than fifty miles, corpses appeared scattered on the ground—both Tang and Wu-Yue soldiers, though the Tang casualties were greater, suggesting their situation was grim.

The scouts moved cautiously, relaying news back. The further east they went, the more bodies they found, in some places blood staining the earth, evidence of fierce fighting.

Yang Lian grew anxious, unsure who was trapped, or how they fared now.

Listening to the rushing waters of the Yangtze, Li Zhenggu’s face was ashen. He never imagined that a nighttime withdrawal would be ambushed by Qian Wenfeng. He had tried to suppress the panic, but the routed troops could not be controlled. After much effort, he had no choice but to flee with his personal guards.

Beside Li Zhenggu, Gao Shensi was listless. He was wounded, his arm severed, and though bandaged, the exposed white bone was terrifying. Blood loss left him utterly weak, slumped against a crooked tree, trying to regain his strength. But he knew without timely medical attention, not only his arm but his life would be lost here. After a lifetime of warfare, to suffer defeat in old age and end up so wretched was hard to accept.

Zhu Kuangye fared a bit better, but he knew too that they were trapped, helpless. Wu-Yue troops surrounded them, at least a thousand strong, firmly blocking all exits. The Tang army lacked food and water; Wu-Yue need not attack—waiting a day or two would suffice for the Tang to collapse.

Not only Li Zhenggu and Gao Shensi, but everyone was despondent. Morale was low, and hopes for survival were slim. Fortunately, Wu-Yue did not press the attack; instead, they busied themselves building a simple defensive line to prevent the Tang from breaking out, then constructed a half-height fence.

As the sun set, the fragrance of food wafted from the Wu-Yue camp, making mouths water. They butchered dead horses, boiling meat in large pots, others skewered it to roast over the fire.

Li Zhenggu could not help but swallow—after a day’s hardship, he had barely eaten, a severe trial for a civil official like him. One of his guards produced a wrinkled piece of flatbread and handed it to him.

It reeked of sweat; normally, Li Zhenggu would toss it without a glance, but now, every morsel was precious to survival. Not wishing to die, he ate it.

Seeing Li Zhenggu eat, several starving soldiers looked up, eyes fixed on him, swallowing hard as their Adam’s apples bobbed.

“How much flatbread is left? Distribute it—let everyone eat.” Li Zhenggu said, glancing at the dying Gao Shensi. “Commander Gao, this misfortune is my fault.”

Gao Shensi, already over sixty, had several times wanted to retire, but the Emperor, remembering him as a founding elder, refused each request. Unexpectedly, this campaign might cost him his life. Li Zhenggu felt uneasy thinking of it.

“Vice Commander Li, do not blame yourself. I am a soldier; to die on the battlefield is an honor.” Gao Shensi comforted him, though inwardly he thought he could no longer aid Prince Qi. Ah, Prince Qi, be wary—Li Hongji, though young, is ruthless and must not be underestimated.