Chapter 47

A cold wind blew, and the pungent stench of blood pierced their nostrils. Faced with the bodies piled up both inside and outside the city walls, someone finally couldn't take it anymore and squatted by the wall, vomiting uncontrollably. Like an epidemic, more and more young soldiers joined in, wishing they could vomit out their bile.

Zhang Ke stood in the wind, silent. The battle had only lasted two hours since noon, and over fifty bandits had been killed, with many more injured. As for the new recruits, seven soldiers had been killed, and over twenty were injured, with a few likely to be permanently disabled.

This was just the first battle, and there would be even more brutal opponents and more cruel battles to come!

"Brothers, cheer up, there's still work to be done!"

Hearing Zhang Ke's words, Qiao Fu asked in a daze, "Didn't the Downhill Tiger retreat? What else is there to do?"

"Ha ha ha, are you all content to just take the beating and not fight back?"

"Only a coward would want to take the beating!" Wu Boyan suddenly stood up, the battle giving him boundless confidence. Clenching his fists, he said, "Sir, are we going to fight our way out of the city? I'm all for it!"

Several young men agreed, but Qiao Tieshan frowned.

"I disagree with leaving the city! We may have defeated the Downhill Tiger, but mostly with the help of the city walls, giving us the high ground. But outside the city? We lose the advantage of the terrain, and we can't use the ice blocks. We don't even have swords or spears. How can we fight the bandits?"

Qiao Tieshan said to Zhang Ke with a serious face, "By right, you're the leader, and we should listen to you, but I'm straightforward. You're young, and you can't make hasty decisions. After all, the lives of over a thousand people are in your hands!"

Hearing Qiao Tieshan's words, the bloodthirsty warriors finally calmed down. Indeed, once they left the city, they would lose all their advantages. If the Downhill Tiger spotted them and attacked with cavalry, they wouldn't just fail to defeat the enemy; they might not even survive.

Qiao Fu hung his head, "Brother Ke, my father is right. Let's train for a while longer and then we'll show them!"

"Ha ha ha!" Zhang Ke suddenly burst into laughter, confusing everyone.

"Uncle Qiao, your concerns are valid. Attacking the Downhill Tiger isn't a good idea, but what if we don't attack the Downhill Tiger?"

"If not him, who else?"

"Black Mountain Pass!"

These three words stunned everyone. They couldn't follow Zhang Ke's thinking. The Downhill Tiger's forces were right outside the city, and instead of dealing with the immediate threat, he wanted to attack Black Mountain Pass, which seemed too far-fetched!

Everyone frowned, but Wu Boyan was the first to react. He slapped his thigh and gave a thumbs-up.

"Sir, your plan to strike at the heart is brilliant! I'm in awe!"

"Tell me why it's brilliant."

Everyone looked at Wu Boyan, who chuckled, "Sir, you're testing me. As you said, we don't have much chance of winning in open battle against the Downhill Tiger, but if we hold the city, the Downhill Tiger can't do much. With his best troops out, his base must be weak. If we can take it, the Downhill Tiger will be a dog on the run, and his forces will crumble without a fight!"

After Wu Boyan's analysis, everyone finally understood. Qiao Tieshan thought for a moment, his face turning red.

"Sir, I spoke rashly without understanding the situation. Please punish me!"

"Uncle Qiao, no need for formalities. Let's be open and honest. Attacking Black Mountain Pass is just an idea. We need to discuss it, as a long-standing bandit stronghold won't be easy to take."

Zhang Ke's idea was clear, but implementing it would require careful planning. They gathered to discuss.

"Uncle Qiao, are you familiar with the terrain of Black Mountain Pass?"

Qiao Tieshan scratched his head, "I've been there a few times. It's not an easy place to attack!"

Zhang Ke smiled, "Uncle Qiao, let's build a terrain model with snow to help explain."

"Good idea!"

The city had plenty of snow, and they quickly built a model. Qiao Tieshan explained, "Black Mountain Pass is forty miles away, a large valley with a river running through it. There's a lake inside with plenty of fish. On both sides of the lake are the bandit camps. The valley's exit is only about ten yards wide, with a water fort guarded day and night. As they say, 'One man can hold the pass, ten thousand cannot pass!' The imperial army has tried several times, but Black Mountain Pass is too difficult to attack, and it's outside the Great Wall. Sending a large force would attract the Mongols, so they've never succeeded."

After Qiao Tieshan's explanation, even Zhang Ke was stunned. He had a sudden idea to attack Black Mountain Pass, but now he saw how difficult it would be, even for a large army, let alone them!

Just as everyone was feeling discouraged, Qiao Fu suddenly slapped his thigh and jumped up.

"Brother, we've been to that place!"

Qiao Gui's eyes lit up, "That's right! I remember there's a small path behind Black Mountain Pass that leads into the valley."

Zhang Ke grabbed Qiao Fu, excited, "Really?"

"Brother Ke, it's true. We stumbled into the bandit's base and almost lost our lives!"

"Great! Well... not that you were chased... but still, attacking Black Mountain Pass has a chance now!" Zhang Ke was so excited he was babbling, but he quickly asked more questions, and a plan began to take shape.

"Uncle Qiao, I'll lead the attack on Black Mountain Pass, and you'll stay to guard the city."

Qiao Tieshan nodded, "Alright, with me here, no one, not even the Downhill Tiger, will get in!"

Zhang Ke immediately started selecting personnel. He needed soldiers who weren't night-blind, were physically fit, and could endure a forced march.

In the end, he chose eighty soldiers, with Qiao Gui and Qiao Fu leading the way. To support the attack, they gathered all the metal weapons in the city. Even so, over twenty soldiers had to use wooden spears. Zhang Ke also prepared a large amount of flammable material and brought the remaining two hundred pounds of gunpowder from the ice fort construction.

After everything was ready, Zhang Ke led the team, quietly leaving the city through the west gate. The bandits didn't bother to monitor them, and Zhang Ke left the village smoothly.

They walked north, crossing the Great Wall, and continued until late at night. A cold wind blew, and snow started to fall.

"Great, just what we needed, snow!" Qiao Fu grumbled.

Zhang Ke, however, smiled, "The heavens are helping us. Our only chance is a surprise attack, and this snow will make the defenses at Black Mountain Pass even laxer!"

Zhang Ke asked Qiao Fu excitedly, "How much farther?"

"About ten miles. We should arrive around the second watch."

Around two or three in the morning, it was the perfect time for a surprise attack. Zhang Ke grew more excited.

"Qiao Fu, take twenty men with flammable materials. Once you hear the explosion, shout that the Downhill Tiger has been defeated and the imperial army is attacking. Start fires everywhere to create chaos!"

"Got it!" Qiao Fu led his men into the night.

Zhang Ke and Qiao Gui continued toward Black Mountain Pass. After about an hour, they saw a range of mountains in the snow, with a river flowing from them, now frozen solid.

Following the river, they saw a wooden fort blocking the way, with two dim oil lamps hanging. The guards seemed to be asleep. The Downhill Tiger had spies everywhere, but they didn't expect an attack like this.

Zhang Ke and his men hid in the snow, observing carefully.

"Attacking from the front will alert them. Do we have any good climbers who can carry the gunpowder up and blow up the fort?"

"Sir, I'll do it!" Ma Biao volunteered.

Zhang Ke looked at his small, thin body, "The gunpowder is heavy. Can you manage?"

"Sir, I'm strong. I can do it!"

Zhang Ke nodded and found three more soldiers. Each carried fifty pounds of gunpowder and climbed the steep, snow-covered rocks. Zhang Ke was nervous as they ascended.

Ma Biao was faster than expected, climbing like a monkey. He reached the top of the three-zhang-high rock and approached the fort. After fifteen minutes, all four men arrived safely.

Ma Biao tied the gunpowder bags with ropes and carefully lowered them. He bit his lip, lit the fuse, and the four men quickly hid behind the rocks. A minute later, a loud explosion shook the valley.

Flames and debris flew, and the three-zhang-high wooden fort was blown sky-high. The explosion echoed through the valley, and the ground trembled. The gunpowder wasn't very powerful, but the quantity was enough to deafen Zhang Ke.

Without hesitation, he drew his sword and shouted, "Brothers, follow me!"

Dawn was the deepest part of the night, and the explosion startled the bandits. Some thought it was an earthquake and ran out in their underwear, freezing and screaming.

"Bad news, the chief is dead!"

"The imperial army is here!"

"Run, don't be a fool!"

...

Shouts and screams filled the air, and fires broke out everywhere. Some bandits were burned to death in their beds, while others ran out only to be cut down by Zhang Ke and his men.

The bandits, caught off guard and leaderless, ran around in chaos. The entire valley was in turmoil.

Zhang Ke, like a demon, cut down bandits left and right, leaving a trail of bodies.

"Brother Ke, over here!"

Zhang Ke heard Qiao Fu's shout and rushed over. Qiao Fu stood in front of a row of caves, grinning.

"Stop grinning. What did you find?"

"Brother Ke, come and see."

Zhang Ke entered the cave and saw racks of weapons, including a hundred or so muskets and four tiger-squat cannons.

"Richer than I am!" Zhang Ke was envious but knew he couldn't use the weapons without training.

"Leave ten men to guard this. The rest, take the weapons and help me kill the bandits!"

"Yes, sir!" The soldiers shouted excitedly.