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The straight-line distance from Puzi County town to Yong'an County town wasn't actually very far, but it was mainly within the folded terrain of the Loess Highlands. "Seeing a mountain but the horse dies from running" described it perfectly, so climbing up and down was extremely difficult. Marching in the Loess Highlands was already this tough. For even higher regions, like deeper westward into the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, reaching the Western Regions, Qiuci, Dayue, etc., it would certainly be even more desolate and challenging.
Normal marching speed: forty li per day.
It wasn't that the army's individuals could only walk forty li a day maximum, but because not the entire day was used for marching. Time for dismantling camp in the morning and setting up camp in the evening had to be deducted. So actually, only the middle portion was truly for marching.
But having borrowed troops from Puzi County, how could Fei Qian have the heart to leisurely spend precious time on the road? They only camped on the first day; the second day, they intensified the march and directly reached Yong'an.
Yong'an was located with the Loess Plateau's edge to the northeast and the Lüliang Mountains to the northwest. Therefore, arable land was scarce, mostly south of the county town, while the north was largely mountainous.
"Barren mountains and treacherous waters produce unruly people." It wasn't that fertile, abundant places had no villains, but because in lands of fish and rice, people didn't need to risk their lives for a meal. In places like the northwest, picking scraps from between Heaven's teeth to fill one's belly wasn't easy. Over time, this formed a tough, fearless attitude towards life.
When people couldn't survive, all legal standards and moral constraints became empty words on paper. When such a situation emerged, many who had previously submitted to state laws and social morals suddenly discovered the colossal entity oppressing them was actually so weak. Thus, more people lifted their gaze from the yellow earth towards the once lofty ruling class, abruptly realizing that beneath the dazzlingly brilliant figure was just a small, frail body.
A feeling of being deceived, mocked, and humiliated welled up, then erupted violently. They stomped those once respected, admired, and worshipped figures into the dirt. But after venting, they were lost…
Those only knowing how to wield hoes, blades, and spears suddenly faced myriad trivial livelihood issues, even having to manage excrement, otherwise the streets would be filthy. In such circumstances, they sighed, "Conquering is easy, governing is hard." Gradually, they handed over power to the scholar-official class beside them. The Han Dynasty returned to a new round of land enclosure movements, continuing till now.
But facing such a problem, Fei Qian himself still hadn't sorted out a complete line of thought…
As for the White Wave army stationed in Yong'an County town, they had even less method or order.
Fei Qian, Huang Cheng, and Zhang Lie, with a dozen or so personal guards, first stealthily approached outside Yong'an County town, climbed a barren slope, and looked towards Yong'an City from afar.
The city gate was only opened a crack. On the gate tower, some people seemed to be stationed, not many. At the gate were some soldiers, likely checking passersby, but there were hardly any pedestrians, so they lazily lounged or squatted beside the gate.
The wealthy households within Yong'an County town had probably suffered catastrophe. The White Wave army wasn't some benevolent, faithful group. Work like confiscating property and exterminating families required little technical skill; the White Wave likely performed it quite smoothly and delightedly.
However, every county town had some commoners. In the Han Dynasty, there was no running water or natural gas. Drinking water, especially firewood, mostly needed to be fetched outside the city. So those entering and leaving the city were merely scattered old, weak commoners forced to go out for firewood and water.
It was now nearing the evening meal time, but the cooking smoke rising over Yong'an City wasn't much…
Fei Qian watched, sighing softly.
South of Yong'an County town, on both sides of the road, was originally a large area of cultivated land. At this season, it should have been green with wheat seedlings and other crops. But now, it was sparse and patchy, like torn paper, scattered pieces here and there, with no complete field in sight.
Huang Cheng and Zhang Lie also saw the scene south of the city. Huang Cheng just frowned tightly, while Zhang Lie couldn't bear it, cursing involuntarily: "Those damned bandits!"
Zhang Lie himself was from Bingzhou, knowing full well how arduous producing grain was on this not-very-fertile land. Seeing this scene now simply inflamed his anger, outraged.
Currently, the situation at Yong'an County town was partly better than Fei Qian estimated, partly worse.
Clearly, the White Wave army stationed inside Yong'an wasn't large, because the White Wave also needed to eat. It was already evening meal time, but judging by the cooking smoke rising from the city, there weren't many people inside…
Conversely, the original city dwellers and the clearly ruined, neglected farmland south of the city all told a fact: most of those farming households had likely been coerced south by the White Wave. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so few people, and entire fields wouldn't be left untended…
"Shucheng, Shuye…" Well, both were of the "Shu" generation. Fei Qian looked at Huang Cheng and Zhang Lie, pointed at Yong'an County town, and said, "…How do you think we should attack?"
Zhang Lie looked at Huang Cheng. Huang Cheng motioned for Zhang Lie to speak first.
So Zhang Lie pointed at the city gate and said, "Yong'an is laxly defended now. They haven't even raised the drawbridge. It shows the bandit troops inside have no preparedness. We can use fast horses to directly assault the gate, capturing it in one stroke."
Fei Qian nodded, then turned to look at Huang Cheng.
Huang Cheng said, "I saw people coming out of the city to gather firewood. We can send some men disguised as firewood gatherers. When nearing the gate, suddenly strike, catching them off guard, seize the gate, then the main force presses in, capturing the city."
Fei Qian pondered, then praised both: "Shucheng, Shuye, both your strategies are excellent and complement each other. If used simultaneously, the effect would be even better!"
Zhang Lie and Huang Cheng exchanged glances, smiled at each other, then asked, "Then what is the Commander's meaning?"
"Pity we arrived at Yong'an a bit late…" Fei Qian said somewhat regretfully. "Otherwise, we could have acted according to your strategies…"
Now, those gathering firewood outside had basically all entered the city. The cooking smoke from the city indicated most households had started cooking. If a large group suddenly appeared returning with firewood now, even a fool would know something was wrong.
The fast horse assault on the gate was also good, but the gate itself wasn't open wide, only a crack wide enough for two or three people abreast. If the White Wave acted quickly, they could fully close the gate by the time the fast horses reached the city walls.
Most crucially, regardless of which strategy, it could only be attempted once. If the surprise attack failed, the White Wave would certainly strengthen defenses. Then it would turn into a forced assault. And attacking a city, whether by swarming or building siege equipment, was something Fei Qian didn't want to do—wasting time and soldiers.
Fei Qian frowned, thinking: Could only attempt this strategy tomorrow?