Just Wait for Zhenjiang City to Fall into Chaos

Zhang Shi finally got to see Lu Chaosheng, and he was very happy.

Lu Chaosheng finally got to see Zhang Shi, and he was just as happy.

But some people were not happy.

At the Iron Gate Pass, the few guards were deeply displeased.

Even after Lu Chaosheng had been gone for quite some time, their gloom still lingered in their hearts, leaving them unable to enjoy themselves.

“Ah, we were that close.”

“If we’d known this would happen, we wouldn’t have told Lu Chaosheng that General Wang was inside Iron Gate Pass. Then Lu Chaosheng could have joined General Wang’s side.”

“Our General Wang doesn’t seem to care much about it, though. General Wang has always seemed intent on yielding to General Zhang Shi.”

“What kind of talk is that? If General Wang doesn’t care, does that mean we don’t care either? Don’t you want to earn promotions through military merit? Wasn’t your dream to become a garrison commander? If you keep yielding, will you ever get promoted?”

“That makes sense. General Zhang Shi has already swept through and exterminated the enemy, yet he still steals our credit whenever he gets the chance. That’s not right. If there’s credit to be taken, we ought to take it.”

“We absolutely must!”

…

The guards at the gate were still discussing their regrets when they suddenly spotted a horse racing toward them.

One of them immediately jolted upright.

“Could it be General Lu Chaosheng coming back?”

Everyone hurriedly looked over, but someone immediately objected. “Are you daft?”

“What direction did General Lu Chaosheng leave in? That horse is coming from Zhenjiang City. Clearly, it’s someone else…”

“Hmm? Judging by his appearance, he’s either a soldier or a general!”

“Form ranks! Prepare for battle!”

…

Once again, the guards at the gate drew their blades and nocked their arrows.

When the rider came closer, they shouted, “Halt! Who goes there, and what business brings you here?”

The rider pulled hard on the reins, bringing his fine horse to a steady stop.

He dismounted, clasped his hands, and said, “I am Chen Song, deputy general under Marquis Jingyi, Pei Wugou!”

“Unable to endure Pei Wugou’s perverse conduct and his tendency to sacrifice the greater good for trivial matters, I have come to offer my allegiance to Lord Duke. I ask that you report my arrival!”

The guards’ eyes immediately lit up.

They lit up frighteningly brightly!

Someone else was here to defect?

And this man was deputy general Chen Song?

The guards were not unfamiliar with the name Chen Song. They often heard it from General Wang, and even from General Wang’s personal guards.

So…

The guards exchanged glances, and instantly came to a decision.

“Are you really Chen Song?”

“Of course!” Chen Song took out his seal of office and handed it to the guard.

After examining it, the guard became even more certain. He immediately said, “General Chen Song, Iron Gate Pass welcomes you. Go on in.”

“Go in?”

Chen Song was taken aback.

Wasn’t the procedure to report his arrival first? Why were they letting him in directly?

“Hurry, General Chen Song. If you delay any longer, Lord Duke will already be asleep.”

Chen Song was startled. “What? Lord Duke is inside the pass?”

“Then we’d better hurry.”

Chen Song had given the matter some thought before coming.

He believed that, as befitted Lord Duke’s exalted status, the duke would not personally enter a dangerous place except at a critical moment. He had also made inquiries and learned that Lord Duke had sent two great generals ahead of him this time:

General Wang and General Zhang Shi.

In his heart, he had been more inclined to submit to General Zhang Shi.

After all, General Zhang Shi had swept through and purged the northern frontier. He was a truly formidable commander, fully capable of contending with Pei Wugou.

But now…

If Lord Duke was inside the city, what else was there to say?

No matter whom he submitted to, it would be inferior to pledging allegiance directly to Lord Duke!

With that, Chen Song quickened his pace. He hurried inside and was soon led to the General’s Residence, where a man came out to greet him.

“General Chen Song, welcome!”

By the light of the torches, Chen Song took one look and froze.

The man looked exactly like General Wang in the portrait he had seen.

This must be General Wang. The general had probably been sent by Lord Duke to welcome him.

Chen Song was instantly moved.

He had never received such treatment from Pei Wugou!

He hurried forward and bowed. “Chen Song pays his respects to General Wang.”

“There’s no need for such ceremony.” General Wang helped Chen Song to his feet. “Come, enter with me.”

“All right.”

Chen Song entered the General’s Residence, but unfortunately, he did not see Lord Duke. He asked regretfully, “Has Lord Duke already retired for the night?”

“What?” General Wang looked puzzled. “Lord Duke isn’t in Iron Gate Pass at all. Why would you ask that?”

“Wasn’t it said that…” Chen Song stopped halfway through his sentence, realizing that the guards at the gate must have tricked him. He quickly changed course. “It’s nothing!”

“By the way, General Wang, are you the only one here?”

“What about General Zhang Shi?”

General Wang shook his head. “General Zhang Shi is stationed outside the city.”

Chen Song’s disappointment deepened.

Why had General Zhang Shi gone outside Iron Gate Pass?

How was he supposed to join General Zhang Shi if he was stationed beyond the pass?

For now… he had no choice but to pledge allegiance to General Wang.

“General Wang, I have something to report.”

General Wang’s spirits rose. “Please, go on!”

Suppressing his other feelings, Chen Song immediately began his denunciation. “That bastard Pei Wugou is utterly absurd…”

As Chen Song recounted everything that had happened in Zhenjiang City in detail, General Wang was left dumbfounded.

Who would have thought Pei Wugou could be such a fool? Normally, he looked dignified and proper, with the bearing of a general. Yet the moment he encountered Wen He, he seemed to lose all reason.

Fortunately, General Wang had seen plenty and remained relatively calm.

At the same time, a trace of delight rose in his heart. Given Pei Wugou’s current behavior, capturing Zhenjiang City—and even the entire cluster of strongholds north of the Yangtze—would be much easier than expected.

His expression turned solemn. “General Chen Song, Zhenjiang City has been ruined by Pei Wugou to such an extent that the soldiers are alienated and the people have lost faith. In your opinion, should I launch an immediate attack on Zhenjiang City?”

“Take Zhenjiang City in one stroke?”

…

In Zhang Shi’s camp, Zhang Shi was asking almost the exact same questions.

“General Lu, Zhenjiang City is the heart of the entire cluster of strongholds north of the Yangtze. From its terrain, one can even overlook the Langyan Fort, Suojiang Bastion, Hengjiang Camp, and Linjiang Ferry.”

“It is a position we must take!”

“Given that Zhenjiang City is currently unstable, may I lead our forces in a direct assault and seize the city?”

“Wipe out the entire cluster of strongholds north of the Yangtze in one stroke?”

Lu Chaosheng first acknowledged Zhang Shi’s idea. “General Zhang Shi has a keen eye. If we can take Zhenjiang City in one stroke, then the Langyan Fort, Suojiang Bastion, Hengjiang Camp, and Linjiang Ferry will indeed be far easier to capture.”

“However…”

“Forgive my frankness, but Zhenjiang City will not be easy to take.”

“Although Pei Wugou seems to lose his mind whenever he sees Wen He, he is otherwise perfectly rational. His military discipline and strategic ability are both considerable.”

“More importantly, this man’s martial prowess is simply too great!”

“He is also clamping down on unrest and enforcing military discipline with an iron hand.”

“Given my position in Zhenjiang City, I’m afraid I won’t be able to find a suitable inside agent anytime soon.”

“Even if I do, Pei Wugou has become so cautious that it may still be difficult for such a plan to succeed.”

“After all, Pei Wugou alone is capable of matching an entire army!”

…

Inside the General’s Residence at Iron Gate Pass, Chen Song’s answer was much the same, though he provided more details and possessed a fuller understanding of the situation.

“General Wang, I’m afraid Zhenjiang City will be difficult to take for the time being.”

“Pei Wugou has been strictly enforcing military discipline.”

"Everything is enforced through iron-blooded orders that demand every soldier abide by military discipline. Anyone who violates it will be given a beating with the wooden staff for minor offenses, and be beheaded on the spot for serious ones."

"For a time, the heavy pressure made all the soldiers dare not act recklessly."

"With methods like his, Zhenjiang City will undoubtedly become as solid as a cast-iron plate in a short period, impossible to shake easily."

"But..."

After a pause, Chen Song shifted his tone and said, "How long can such days really last?"

"At the shortest, three months. At the longest, half a year."

"Sooner or later, all the officers and soldiers will be completely unable to endure it any longer. When that internal unrest breaks out inside Zhenjiang City, that will be the perfect moment!"

Chen Song spoke with firm resolve, and Wang Ming largely agreed with his judgment.

He said, "If that's the case, then we really can't launch an immediate attack on Zhenjiang City. Otherwise, it will turn into a brutal, do-or-die battle!"

"Countless lives will surely be lost."

As he spoke, Wang Ming stood up and paced back and forth in the hall, then said, "Then we shall wait."

"We will wait until something goes wrong within Zhenjiang City, and only then will this general lead the troops to strike!"

Chen Song quite approved of, and even admired, Wang Ming's refusal to act rashly. Nodding his head, he said, "General, you are wise. That is exactly the right course of action."

"Moreover..."

"I came to pledge my service to you in complete secrecy."

"Pei Wugou has no idea about this, and neither do the people in the army. I can return to Zhenjiang City right away to act as your insider."

"As soon as any unrest arises within Zhenjiang, I will send word to you immediately."

"Then you can lead your army to march in."

Wang Ming was overjoyed. "In that case, General Chen Song, I will have to trouble you with this matter."

Chen Song waved his hand. "It's no trouble at all."

"It's nothing more than enduring a bit more time. I only hope that you will remain patient, General, and never act impetuously."

Wang Ming smiled faintly.

Holding back from rash moves was exactly what he was best at!

After finalizing the entire plan with Chen Song, he personally escorted Chen Song back out to see him off.

……