Chapter 61

Zhao Gou found a report from a cabinet beside him and smiled at everyone, saying, "This is the result of the martial arts entrance examination. The one who ranked first is Chen Qing. At that time, I even said, 'Why does this name sound familiar?'"

Zhang Jun hurriedly smiled and said, "Your Majesty, since he can slay Wanyan Lou, who is known as the first brave general of the Jin State, his martial arts can certainly rank first."

"Indeed! It seems he deserves the title. Where is he now? I want to meet this brave general."

Li Hui, the Chief of the Military Council, laughed and said, "Your Majesty, I just remembered that Chen Qing has taken the lead in the military list and should be leading the troops to Muzhou to suppress the fierce bandit Zhang Kui."

One thing led to another, and not only did Emperor Zhao Gou become more interested in Chen Qing, but several prime ministers also wanted to meet this legendary brave general of the Western Army.

......

Muzhou is in the area of Chun'an County in western Zhejiang, today's Thousand Island Lake region. Of course, during the Song Dynasty, there was no Thousand Island Lake. The seat of Muzhou was precisely Chun'an County.

Chen Qing led his troops on a two-day march. By noon, they were about ten miles away from Chun'an County. Chen Qing ordered the soldiers to rest on the spot and sent Zhao Xiaoyi with a team of scouts to check the situation.

Since Han Shizhong had told him that Governor He had requested aid from the court, it was likely that Zhang Kui had come down from the mountain, so he could not be careless.

In the pine forest, the soldiers were so exhausted that they collapsed on the ground, and many were snoring loudly. In fact, they had already been given rest on the road, and they had slept all night the previous night, but the soldiers were still exhausted and could hardly walk.

Chen Qing shook his head inwardly. This army was severely undertrained and in poor physical condition. With such a state, they would surely lose in battle.

One must be strong to forge iron. To suppress the bandits, one must first have an army capable of fighting.

Soon, Zhao Xiaoyi returned with his men, shouting, "The bandits are attacking the county, with about four to five thousand men!"

The faces of the surrounding soldiers turned pale. With four to five thousand bandits and only two thousand of their own, how could they fight?

Chen Qing did not hesitate. He had a plan for this situation. Chen Qing immediately ordered Hu Yan Tong and Liu Qiong, "Implement the plan we discussed earlier!"

"Understood!"

Hu Yan Tong and Liu Qiong shouted to the soldiers, "Get up, follow me to cut branches!"

Soon, the soldiers cut countless pine branches. Chen Qing had the cart drivers unhitch the mules, tying several branches to each mule. He ordered three hundred cart drivers to change into cloth armor, hold long spears, and ride the mules to pretend to be cavalry.

Chen Qing also had a thousand soldiers each hold two large flags. The leading flag had a large 'Han' character, with a golden border, and the other flag read 'Commander-in-Chief.'

This was a flag that Chen Qing had specially asked Han Shizhong for, to implement his feint strategy. He had already thought of this plan and had specifically asked the Military Council for two thousand large flags.

"Everyone, blow the horns!"

Chen Qing made a gesture to fifty soldiers, "Follow my command, one, two, three, blow!"

Fifty soldiers blew the horns together, "Woo—woo—"

The horn sounds were deep and far-reaching, clearly audible from the county.

"Set out!"

The two thousand troops set out, with banners fluttering. Two thousand large flags waved in the wind, forming a flag cloud. Three hundred mules followed behind, the branches sweeping the ground, raising dust, creating a spectacular scene of rolling yellow dust.

The sound of the huge war drums, "Boom! Boom! Boom!" echoed loudly.

From a distance, it looked like not two thousand but ten thousand men.

Zhang Kui, who was attacking the county, suddenly heard the horn sounds, indicating that an army was approaching. He was greatly alarmed and urgently ordered his men to investigate.

Soon, a scout reported, "General, a government army has been spotted from the northeast, about ten thousand men, heading towards the county, about seven to eight miles away."

"Did you see which army it is?"

"It seems to be Han Shizhong's army. I saw his flag!"

"Are you sure it's his flag?"

"Absolutely sure!"

Zhang Kui was indeed reluctant to retreat. The county was almost captured, and at this critical moment, reinforcements arrived, and it was Han Shizhong.

After all, his superiors, Miao Fu and Liu Zhengyan, were killed by Han Shizhong. He hated Han Shizhong but was also deeply afraid of him.

"Pass my order, form the army, prepare for battle!"

The four thousand bandits abandoned the attack on the county and quickly gathered. Zhang Kui was extremely suspicious and wanted to see for himself if it was really Han Shizhong.

At this time, Chen Qing had already led his troops to within six miles of the county, where he could see the county and the gathered army.

Zhao Xiaoyi ran over and shouted, "Commander, the enemy has formed an array and is preparing to engage us in battle!"

Several leaders were so frightened that they trembled all over and whispered to Chen Qing, "Commander, the enemy must have seen through our disguise. We should stop!"

Chen Qing coldly ordered, "Do not stop! The mules and cart drivers move to the front, and accelerate!"

The soldiers were so frightened that their faces turned ashen, and they were all thinking about how to escape in battle.

Soon, the government troops had advanced to within five miles. In front were cavalry with long spears, followed by rolling yellow dust, and behind were countless battle flags, creating a formidable momentum.

Zhang Kui saw the flags clearly; it was indeed Han Shizhong's flag, and he was in the formation.

The bandits were also intimidated by the momentum and shouted, "General, retreat quickly! We can't outrun the cavalry."

"Retreat!"

Zhang Kui ordered, and the four thousand bandits, already terrified, fled south towards Qili Ridge. Soon, they were out of sight.

The thousand defending soldiers on the city walls burst into cheers.

The two thousand soldiers had run to within three miles and finally stopped. Each was so frightened that their legs trembled, and they were so exhausted that they could hardly move.

The three hundred cart drivers were even more frightened, their faces ashen, unable to hold their spears steady, and their bodies shaking like sieves. Fortunately, the dust raised by the branches obscured the mules and cart drivers, and the enemy could not see clearly.

If Zhang Kui later learned that the so-called cavalry was riding mules, he would probably be so angry that he would spit blood.

Hu Yan Tong laughed and gave a thumbs up, "Commander, this move is truly brilliant. A few hundred mules actually scared away four thousand bandits."

Chen Qing smiled, "The key to this feint strategy is not to show any weakness. Since we have already put our chips on the table, we might as well go all in. In the end, whoever can't hold on will lose."

"Indeed! Indeed! No wonder our General Han praised your courage and wisdom, but what does 'all in' mean?"

Chen Qing said calmly, "All in means putting all your assets, including your wife and children, on the line. In more elegant terms, it means burning the boats and fighting with one's back against the wall, to fight to the death and then live!"

......

The walls of Chun'an County had been rebuilt by Fang La and were very high and sturdy. Governor He Jian mobilized a thousand local soldiers and all the citizens to defend the city, successfully holding it.

He Jian accompanied Chen Qing to inspect the city walls, saying as they walked, "Zhang Kui is extremely brutal. Many civilians refused to rebel with him, so he exterminated their families. In Muzhou, hundreds of families were exterminated. As for those with some wealth, he looted them completely, and their women were taken to the mountains as concubines, to be ransomed. If they couldn't be ransomed, they were sold to brothels in other places after being abused."

Chen Qing nodded, "It is precisely because of his ruthless plundering and killing that his men are willing to fight for him."

"Indeed, his men are very fierce. When attacking the city, none of them feared death. Fortunately, they didn't have many ladders. If they had been fully prepared, the county would have fallen long ago."

At this, He Jian said to Chen Qing with some concern, "To be frank, your troops are too few, and your training seems insufficient. You might really not be a match for Zhang Kui!"

He Jian was being very polite. When the two thousand soldiers entered the city, they were so exhausted that they could hardly walk, supporting each other, tongues hanging out, dragging their legs, and their armor was thrown on the ground. They looked like soldiers who just ate and loafed around, greatly disappointing the entire city's military and civilians.

Chen Qing smiled slightly, "So I am not in a hurry to suppress the bandits. Sharpening the axe does not delay the chopping of wood. I will sharpen the axe first before dealing with Zhang Kui."

He Jian sighed, "Commander, if you need anything, just say it!"