Cheng Xu held the small slip of paper written by the scout and looked up at Gao Chuwu, Zheng Daniu, and the gathered company and platoon commanders in the tent.
"The Shanxi merchants are providing aid to the rebels," he said evenly. "Our scout observed a large number of cannons being delivered into the Eight Great Kings' camp. It seems the first battle we fight will be an artillery engagement."
The officers immediately broke into grins.
"We are First Regiment of the Village," one battalion commander laughed. "An artillery duel is no pressure at all. Let them experience the kind of fire coverage those bandits at Tieshanping once enjoyed."
Cheng Xu snorted.
"So now you remember you are First Regiment."
The tent filled with laughter. Confidence, when backed by iron and powder, had weight.
Before the mood could settle, another scout rushed in from outside, breathing hard.
"Something strange. The rebels have broken camp. They are not advancing on Wuchang. They are moving east."
The artillery battalion commander was the first to jump to his feet.
"What? How can they do that? Do they know how hard it is for our artillery to finally get a chance to fire? Don't run. Stay and let us bombard you."
Even Cheng Xu felt his brow tighten for a brief moment, but the irritation faded as quickly as it came, replaced by clarity.
"They know Wuchang is too difficult to take," he said slowly. "They have decided to break east. And to the east is the weakest segment of our encirclement. Only Shi Kefa and his one thousand militia are holding that line. That is dangerous."
Gao Chuwu showed his teeth in a grin.
"Then we hurry up and chase them."
Zheng Daniu nodded vigorously.
"If we catch up, we can sandwich them with Shi Kefa from both sides."
Cheng Xu glanced at him in mild surprise.
"Daniu, you even understand a pincer attack now?"
Zheng Daniu scratched his head and laughed.
"Like roujiamo. Meat pressed between bread. Talking about it makes me hungry."
The room fell briefly silent before someone muttered that of course he understood once it involved food.
Cheng Xu issued his orders at once.
"Leave a message for Flat Rabbit's overland column. We pursue the Eight Great Kings immediately."
…
After Zuo Liangyu suffered his defeat at Baimao Town, his scattered forces had dissolved in chaos. Several thousand had been lured away by Chuang Wang, but others drifted back in small groups to Yingshan County, seeking familiar banners and a commander who, however unreliable, was still theirs.
Following a short period of reorganization, Zuo Liangyu managed to gather more than eight thousand men once again. Shi Kefa was not someone he could afford to offend further. Failing to silence him meant future memorials to the court accusing him of misconduct. In response, Zuo Liangyu had begun drafting his own accusations. If both of them were technically violating orders, then neither stood on perfectly clean ground.
He was in the middle of urging his son, Zuo Menggeng, to write faster when scouts arrived with fresh news.
"Shi Kefa has left Baimao Town and is advancing west."
Zuo Liangyu's expression darkened immediately.
"Stop writing. We move."
He assembled his troops and withdrew westward from Yingshan County, hoping to avoid being pinned between forces. The common people of the county breathed a collective sigh of relief as his banners disappeared over the hills, for his presence had been more burden than protection.
Yet he had marched less than ten li when another scout galloped back in alarm.
"General, the Eight Great Kings' army is heading straight for us."
Zuo Liangyu froze.
"Heading for us? Weren't they near Wuchang? That is still far from here."
"They are clearly targeting us," the scout insisted. "Their formation is aggressive. They look ready to fight."
Anger flared in Zuo Liangyu's chest.
"So even bandits think they can bully me now? I may not match their numbers, but I will not fear a rabble of over a hundred thousand."
Normally he preferred to avoid the main strength of rebel forces, but with Shi Kefa pressing from behind, retreat was no longer a comfortable option. Compared to Gao Family Village's militia, rebels at least felt like familiar opponents.
"Advance."
His army surged forward to meet the Eight Great Kings.
The clash came swiftly, and almost immediately something felt wrong.
The rebels' lines shifted with surprising order. Then, in one coordinated motion, ten cannons were rolled into position and fired. The thunder of artillery split the air as iron shot screamed toward Zuo Liangyu's ranks. Before the smoke cleared, volleys of matchlocks, three eyed fire guns, and ambush crossbows followed, washing over his troops in relentless succession.
Zuo Liangyu felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"This is not right."
These were not the disorganized brigands he was accustomed to harrying. Weapons he did not fully understand were appearing not only in militia hands but now among rebels as well. The world seemed to be changing faster than he could grasp.
It did not take long.
His army broke.
Standards toppled, formations dissolved, men fled in all directions. Zuo Liangyu himself escaped with only a few dozen cavalry, riding north in humiliation as the battlefield dissolved behind him.
…
News of the battle between Zuo Liangyu and the Eight Great Kings spread rapidly through the various forces of Gao Family Village. Their intelligence network was operating at full speed, messages relayed by runners and bamboo tubes dropped from drifting Kongming lanterns overhead.
"Report. The Eight Great Kings have engaged Zuo Liangyu."
"Report. The Eight Great Kings hold the advantage."
"Report. They possess ten cannons. Zuo Liangyu is stunned."
"Zuo Liangyu's forces have collapsed. He is fleeing north with a handful of riders."
Cheng Xu and Shi Kefa received nearly identical reports, yet their positions on opposite sides of the battlefield demanded very different responses.
Shi Kefa raised his hand without hesitation.
"Entire army halt. Construct defensive positions immediately and prepare to withstand the impact of the Eight Great Kings' forces. It is clear they intend to break east. Their clash with Zuo Liangyu was incidental. Soon they will strike our line."
The militia felt tension tighten in their chests. Defeating Zuo Liangyu at Baimao Town had been manageable. Facing the full strength of the Eight Great Kings, with cavalry and sheer numbers, was another matter entirely. Fifteen thousand or one hundred fifty thousand, rumor inflated figures easily, but even the lower estimate represented a formidable mass. Carelessness here could overturn everything.
On the western side, Cheng Xu's expression grew grave as he finished reading the reports.
"It is obvious the rebel army intends to punch through the eastern edge of our encirclement. Shi Kefa's position is our only thin point."
He looked up sharply.
"Accelerate the march. We must reinforce him as quickly as possible. Maintain caution along the route. Given the size of the Eight Great Kings' forces, they may leave rear guards to ambush pursuing troops."
Orders were relayed at once. Columns tightened, pace quickened, scouts spread farther ahead.
Cheng Xu lifted his gaze toward the north.
"Main force, hurry."
The main force had already divided into multiple advancing columns. Bai Yuan led one. Wang Er and Bai Mao another. Old Nanfeng commanded his own route. Xing Honglang marched separately. Fan Shangjing and Gao Jie advanced together, while Ma Shouying brought up the heavy cavalry.
Thirty five thousand troops swept southward along several critical corridors, combing through Henan like a great sieve. In the past, scattered deployments had allowed rebels and criminals to roam freely across the Central Plains. This time, Gao Family Village moved as one coordinated machine. Wherever the army passed, disorder either fled or surrendered itself to labor camps without resistance.
As the various columns marched at full speed, something happened almost simultaneously across them.
The small statues of Dao Xuan Tianzun hanging upon the chests of each commanding officer opened their mouths in unison.
"Reinforce Shi Kefa immediately."