After Exile, I Married the Amnesiac General [Rebirth] Chapter 94

After Li Chanxiu finished speaking, the black-clad guard beside him could not help nodding.

Although Li Xuan had rejected Cai Shu’s proposal to attack Liangzhou’s prefectural city while in Pingcheng, he had also said earlier in Qinzhou that before the imperial army arrived, the prefectural city must be taken.

In fact, Li Xuan rejected Cai Shu’s proposal not because he did not want to fight, but because there were two other important cities near the prefectural city. If they attacked only the prefectural city, the other two would certainly come to its aid; even if they took the city temporarily, it would soon be retaken. Such an attack would bring nothing but increased casualties and consumption, with no real benefit.

But dividing the troops to attack was also unwise. The rebel army’s strength was limited; although they claimed seventy to eighty thousand men, thirty thousand of them were scattered refugees and routed troops recruited by Cai Shu after the uprising. Having suffered repeated defeats, these people were accustomed to fleeing and had limited combat effectiveness, they still required training.

If they were to divide into three forces and attack now, either all three would be defeated, or two would feign attack while one launched the main assault and eventually took the prefectural city, but the result would be the same as before: the other two cities would quickly counterattack, and the newly captured city would be taken back.

Moreover, because they had absorbed these routed troops, the rebel army had expanded rapidly, and the provisions they had previously brought were gradually becoming insufficient; they needed to wait for supplies to be transported from the rear.

Li Xuan had originally planned to wait for provisions to arrive and then take the prefectural city with a foolproof strategy. But he had not expected Luoyang to be relieved so quickly, the imperial army was coming far faster than anticipated.

This was also why Li Xuan had not planned to raise troops earlier. First, he did not want to exploit the chaos to engage in internal strife and let outsiders benefit; second, the timing was not yet right. Although uprisings by refugees were occurring across Great Zhou, the court still had the capacity to deal with them and had not yet reached the point of total collapse. Their own strength was weak, if they rose too early, it would only draw the court’s full attention and effort against them. It would be better to develop secretly in the southwest, gradually grow stronger, and wait until the timing was ripe.

But Cai Shu had forcibly brought along his entire former force and, under Li Xuan’s name, hastily launched the uprising. Since things had come to this, they could only continue forward.

Now not only had the imperial army come swiftly, but its commander was also the grandson of the old Yan Wang, Pei Zhen.

Just as Li Chanxiu had expected, this news forced Li Xuan to change his plans and begin plotting to take the prefectural city ahead of time.

“…So at present, among these three cities, if we take any one alone, it will be difficult to hold. But if we want to take them all at once, our forces are insufficient.” Inside the Pingcheng prefectural office, a general pointed at the sand table as he spoke.

After giving his analysis, he stepped back and respectfully glanced at Li Xuan seated at the head.

Li Xuan was still dressed in a black robe, holding Buddhist prayer beads in one hand, his fingertips resting against his temple, his eyes slightly closed.

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, the other strategists and generals could not help stealing glances at him.

At this moment, Li Xuan suddenly opened his eyes, his calm, pool-like gaze falling upon the sand table.

Everyone quickly withdrew their gazes. After a moment, they heard him slowly say the two words, “Ningcheng,” and looked up again, seeing that his gaze was fixed on a city marked with a small flag on the sand table, Ningcheng, located to the northwest of Liangzhou’s prefectural city, and one of the three key cities they had just been discussing.

Could it be… that the lord intended to attack Ningcheng?

***

“Attack Ningcheng?”

In a farmhouse courtyard in the mountainous region of Qinzhou, the black-clad guard exclaimed in surprise after hearing Li Chanxiu’s words.

“Correct.” Li Chanxiu nodded and continued, pointing at the map, “Among the three cities, they seem to form a mutual defensive triangle, easy to defend and hard to attack, but in reality, Ningcheng is the easiest to strike. Previously, when Chang’an was besieged by rebel forces, Liangzhou was affected, and Ningcheng was once taken by those rebels. At the time, the city’s defending official panicked and abandoned the city, fleeing without regard for the lives of the people. Only after the other two cities sent reinforcements was the city retaken.

“That official has quite a bit of influence. Afterward, he falsely claimed that he had not fled but had gone to seek reinforcements, and now he has brazenly returned to continue serving as Ningcheng’s defending official. After returning, under the pretext of ‘purging rebels,’ he claimed that after the rebels entered the city, some people showed no integrity and surrendered to them, even assisting them in attacking Chang’an. Using this as an excuse, he arrested many wealthy households, when in fact he wanted to seize their wealth for himself. The city is likely now in a state of panic, with the people’s support steadily eroding.”

After arriving in the southwest in his dream, Li Chanxiu had heard remnants of the old forces recount his father’s deeds and vaguely learned of this incident. However, in the dream, the court had not gathered its army so quickly to deal with them, so his father’s attack on Ningcheng had occurred much later than now. By then, the city’s people could no longer endure the oppression and exploitation of the defending official; as soon as the rebel army reached the city gates, they killed the official and opened the gates to surrender.

Of course, this was also related to the good reputation of the rebel army led by his father at the time, the people within the city greatly admired them.

Now that the old forces had just risen in rebellion, although their reputation had not yet spread, it was a fact that Ningcheng was strong on the outside but weak within, and its defending official had no support from the people.

“What a dog official!” After hearing this, Xuanping couldn’t help but curse angrily, deeply able to relate.

Li Chansiu nodded in agreement, then continued, “In addition, the roads and waterways around Ningcheng are well developed. When the rebel forces previously occupied Ningcheng, they once used it as a grain transport hub and stored a large amount of provisions in the city. Taking Ningcheng first can also replenish our army’s supplies.”

After hearing this, both Xuanping and Zhou Kai nodded one after another.

“But,” Li Chansiu’s tone shifted, becoming serious again, “Pei Zhen will certainly see all this as well. From my understanding of him, although his main force will stay in Chang’an for a day, he will definitely have already sent a small detachment to ride ahead quickly, intending to take over Ningcheng in advance.”

“So we must be even faster than him! There’s no time to lose, we should set out for Ningcheng immediately.” At this point, Li Chansiu’s expression was completely solemn, his gaze firm.

After hearing this, Zhou Kai and the black-clothed guard both nodded in agreement. Xuanping, however, was taken aback and asked curiously, “You understand Pei Shizi?”

Li Chansiu: “……” Uh.

He quickly came back to himself and coughed lightly. “When I was in Yongfeng Town, I read the campaign notes collected by General Chen on Pei Zhen, so I know some of his tactics and strategies.”

“Oh, so that’s it.” Xuanping suddenly understood, thinking to himself that Pei Er must have shown them to him.

Zhou Kai wasn’t curious about that, only asking, “Then how should we attack?”

The black-clothed guard beside them couldn’t help but glance at him.

As a military general, Zhou Kai naturally had a rough idea in mind, but over the past few days, he had already gotten used to asking Li Chansiu for his opinion first whenever something arose.

Li Chansiu didn’t hesitate and directly began assigning roles: “Commander Zhou, you will take two hundred men to feign an attack on the north gate. Xuanping and this Yu…”

“Your subordinate Yu Xingfan,” the black-clothed guard quickly cupped his fists.

Li Chansiu nodded and continued, “…and Guard Yu will take a thousand men to make the main assault on the west gate. The remaining two hundred will be led by Yi Xun and me to feign an attack on the south gate.”

Ningcheng had four gates. Attack three and leave one, the east gate, which faced toward Liangzhou’s prefectural city, would be left open. Given that defending official’s character, there was a high chance he would once again abandon the city and flee.

But taking Ningcheng was not the most important thing. The real objective was to use Ningcheng’s provisions and supplies, along with the discontented populace within the city, to rapidly expand their forces and swiftly capture the other two cities.

All of this had to be done quickly, ideally, Ningcheng would be taken tonight, and by dawn they would move on the prefectural city and the other city. Otherwise, once the other two cities reacted and sent reinforcements, the effort to take Ningcheng would be wasted.

Thus, attacking Ningcheng was actually the simplest step; the subsequent plan was the true priority. However, before Li Chansiu could continue, the others, having just heard his arrangements, cried out in shock one after another.

“What?”

“What?!”

“Ah?”

“Little Highness, absolutely not! You are of noble status, how can you lead only two hundred men to attack the south gate? Let us handle the attack, you should remain behind and wait for news,” Zhou Kai said urgently.

“Wait, I’m the main attacker?” Xuanping pointed at himself, unable to believe it.

He had just joined, was he really being trusted this much?

“But Little Highness, this subordinate was ordered by the master to escort you to Pingcheng to reunite with him. If I go to attack a city and something happens to you, I cannot answer to the master,” Yu Xingfan said hesitantly.

“I, I can also lead troops?” Yi Xun’s confused voice came last.

“Why not?” Li Chansiu encouraged her first. “I can see that you have great talent, you are a natural general, well suited to command troops.”

Yi Xun was immediately embarrassed by the praise, yet her eyes couldn’t help but brighten, and an indescribable longing rose in her heart. But… she hadn’t really done anything, how could His Highness see that she was suited to lead troops? And she was a woman…

Li Chansiu: Naturally, he had seen it in the dream.

But seeing that this future female general and his future capable subordinate still looked somewhat lost, he gently encouraged her again, “Yi Xun, I think highly of you. When we feign the attack on the south gate later, I can only direct as best I can, the charge will depend on you.”

Then he said to Zhou Kai, “Commander Zhou, rest assured, with Yi Xun protecting me, I will certainly be safe.”

Next, he said to Yu Xingfan, “Guard Yu has a point. You can send several men on fast horses to Pingcheng to deliver a message to my father. If he also happens to be planning to attack Ningcheng, we can coordinate and support each other.”

Finally, he looked at Xuanping, his gaze gentle as he smiled, “To employ someone is to trust them; to doubt them is not to use them. Since I invited you and Young Master Lu to join us, how could I be suspicious? Besides, our acquaintance is not just for a day or two, I have great confidence in Young Master Xuan’s ability to command troops.”

The future great general Xuan, the right-hand man of Lu Zhi, one of Great Zhou’s pillars, how could he not trust him?

Although the other party was still inexperienced, he had already led troops in the north, then served in the army for a year after fleeing south to Qingzhou, and in the past month, aside from trading salt, had also been training troops.

Most importantly, their current main force was the thousand-plus troops brought by Xuanping, and these men had also been trained by him. If others led the main assault, they would need time to coordinate; having Xuanping lead was the best choice.

It would have been even better to wait for Lu Zhi to arrive, but what they lacked most was time. If they were even a step too late and Pei Zhen took over Ningcheng first, they would lose the opportunity, so they could not wait.

Still, counting it up, this force already had two future renowned generals, making for quite a formidable lineup. Well, if he added himself, it could barely be counted as three.

Li Chansiu felt fairly confident in this plan.

After he finished speaking, both Xuanping and Yi Xun couldn’t help but have their eyes light up, a sense of recognition and anticipation of earning merit rising in their hearts.

Zhou Kai glanced at Yi Xun, and thinking of her skills, felt somewhat reassured. The only one still uneasy was Yu Xingfan, now isolated, who could only accept his fate and go arrange for his men to quickly send the message to Li Xuan in Pingcheng.

“Since everyone agrees, we’ll set off now. We should be able to reach Ningcheng before dark and launch a surprise attack under the cover of night.” After arranging everything, Li Chansiu swung onto his horse and, gripping the whip, emphasized once more, “Remember, we must be fast, absolutely cannot let Pei Zhen get there first!”

“Yes!” Zhou Kai and the others clasped their fists, their voices ringing loud and firm.

Immediately, the group spurred their horses and galloped straight toward Ningcheng.

***

In the marketplace wards of Chang’an City.

Yang Yuanyi finally figured out why his friend was in a bad mood and couldn’t help but say helplessly, “I used to quite understand you. After all, you didn’t really grow up around your parents, so some distance is only natural, and you really aren’t very good with words…”

Before he could finish, he received a rather unfriendly look from Pei Zhen.

Yang Yuanyi coughed and quickly changed his tone. “But, from what I saw when you were in Yongfeng Town, when you talked to your wife, weren’t you quite sweet-tongued?”

Pei Zhen stiffened and denied it while holding his wine cup. “Nonsense.”

How could he not remember? That never happened at all.

Yang Yuanyi said, “Fine, even if not sweet-tongued, you still showed plenty of concern in your actions, right? You kept saying that the woman’s identity was suspicious, but that little cloak, you just swooshed it right over her shoulders.”

Pei Zhen: “…”

His expression stiffened slightly as he turned his head and frowned. “Did you come today just to make fun of me?”

After saying that, he made to stand up, already somewhat regretting coming out to drink with this fellow.

“Don’t, don’t, it’s just a joke.” Yang Yuanyi hurriedly pulled him back. Only after he sat down again did he continue, “What I mean is, you haven’t spent that long with your wife either, right? But when you talk to her, you’re not distant or stiff. So why not use the same attitude and tone you use with your wife when speaking to your parents?”

Pei Zhen remained expressionless, thinking, how could that be the same?

He had interacted with his wife while he had amnesia. And although the time was short, they had long been of one mind, even done the most intimate things. Though he had forgotten some of it after regaining his memory, his instincts still remembered…

Forget it. Better not think about that for now.

“How is the matter I told you about, sending people ahead to take over Ningcheng?” he suddenly changed the subject and asked.

Yang Yuanyi said, “Don’t worry. I already sent people before we even entered Chang’an. They should arrive in Ningcheng tonight.”

Pei Zhen rotated his wine cup and nodded at that. “Send a message urging them again. They must be fast. That defending official in Ningcheng…”

He suddenly let out a cold laugh. After draining his wine, he said, “Every moment Ningcheng remains in his hands is one more chance for it to fall to the rebels.”

Yang Yuanyi also thought that Ningcheng’s defending official was no good, but the man had been appointed by the Liangzhou governor. Previously, all military affairs in Liangzhou had been directed by that very governor.

Although the Emperor had ordered their Bingzhou army to suppress the rebellion, he hadn’t specified whether, upon arrival, the Bingzhou army or the Liangzhou forces would take precedence.

Perhaps the Emperor’s intention was precisely to have them check and balance each other, so that neither could use the rebellion as an excuse to strengthen their own power.

Especially since they still had to stay in Chang’an for a day, yet couldn’t command the Liangzhou governor. The only option was to act first, sending people to bypass the governor and forcibly take control of Ningcheng.

Moreover, Ningcheng still held grain supplies previously stockpiled by refugee rebel forces. If it were captured by the southwestern rebels, it would surely bolster their strength.

Thinking of this, Yang Yuanyi also grew serious and nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll send someone to urge them right away.”

He stepped out to make arrangements. When he returned, he saw Pei Zhen still frowning, seemingly uneasy, so he tried to reassure him. “Don’t worry too much. I’ve read the previous Liangzhou reports, this Cai Shu who started the uprising among the rebels seems like nothing more than a brute with no real brains. Being able to take over most of Liangzhou is probably just luck, plus the fact that there are indeed a few capable people in his ranks. But this Cai Shu is headstrong and self-opinionated. With consecutive victories, he’ll surely be blinded by success and won’t listen to advice. I doubt he’d think to attack Ningcheng first, he’ll probably just recklessly assault the Liangzhou prefectural city.”

This was likely also why the Emperor still had the leisure to summon them to Chang’an under the guise of reward, while actually giving Pei Zhen a subtle warning.

After all, although the southwestern rebels were using Crown Prince Li Xuan’s name, it was said that when they first rose up, the Crown Prince was still in Luoyang, so he might not be involved at all. And their current leader, Cai Shu, truly wasn’t much to worry about.

Pei Zhen shook his head at that, his expression turning slightly grave. “He’s not the one I’m worried about.”

“Hm?” Yang Yuanyi was puzzled.

Pei Zhen suddenly glanced at him and said, “After we lifted the siege of Luoyang, reports came from below, the one in the Crown Prince’s residence wasn’t there.”

Yang Yuanyi froze for a moment, then lowered his voice, speaking seriously. “You mean… that person might be in Liangzhou?”

Pei Zhen turned his wine cup, his gaze deep. “Not certain. But it’s not impossible.”

Yang Yuanyi: “…”

He fell silent for a long time before finally saying, “If that’s the case, they really might attack Ningcheng first. In that situation, the southwestern rebels won’t be so easy to deal with…”

After that, neither of them spoke again.

After a while, perhaps feeling the atmosphere was too heavy, Yang Yuanyi suddenly said jokingly, “Come to think of it, you and that person… you almost became relatives back then.”

Pei Zhen didn’t quite understand and frowned. “What do you mean?”

Yang Yuanyi immediately perked up, lowering his voice as he continued, “You know that person has a daughter, right? She was sent in right after birth and confined together with him. The current Emperor even said it was out of consideration for the Crown Prince, unwilling to let father and daughter be separated.”

At this point, Yang Yuanyi sighed. “That daughter is pitiful too, just a tiny infant, and I heard she was born prematurely. After giving birth to her, the Crown Princess died that very night. They say the child was a bloody little lump when she was carried to the north courtyard of the Crown Prince’s residence. Just think, how hard would that be to raise? And if she died, wouldn’t that hurt the Crown Prince even more?”

In his view, the Emperor’s method was truly cruel, yet he wrapped it in the name of consideration and compassion, making it all the more unsettling. A slow knife carving flesh, tormenting people.

“But you know the rest, that child was tough and survived after all. But two years ago, our Emperor again…”

Yang Yuanyi paused, not daring to say “stir trouble again,” and instead vaguely continued, “The Emperor suddenly conferred the title of princess on that daughter. You weren’t in Luoyang at the time, so you probably don’t know, there were rumors then that the Emperor intended to have this princess enter a political marriage…”

Pei Zhen frowned, somewhat displeased. “Married off to the northern lands?”

Yang Yuanyi shook his head. “Not sure, but probably not. It seemed like she was to be married into a noble family…”

At this point, he turned to look at Pei Zhen.

Pei Zhen’s hand, which had been turning the wine cup, paused. He finally remembered Yang Yuanyi’s earlier remark about “almost becoming relatives,” his face darkening at once as he immediately guessed something.

But before he could stop him, he heard Yang Yuanyi say vaguely, “I heard that at the time, you were also one of the candidates His Majesty considered.”

Pei Zhen’s face turned completely black as he rebuked, “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Yang Yuanyi quickly nodded. “Yes, yes, I know. It’s all hearsay, baseless rumors. Especially now that that person might be among the rebels, and His Majesty already isn’t too pleased with you. If such talk spreads, it would be bad for you.”

“That’s secondary,” Pei Zhen said with a dark expression. “My wife is in poor health and has a gentle temperament. If she were to hear this, I’m afraid she would misunderstand and feel hurt and upset.”

Yang Yuanyi: “……”

“I’ll head back first. Report to me immediately if there’s any military news.” Pei Zhen stood up and this time left in large strides.

***

Under the night sky, Li Chansiu, clad in armor and mounted on a fine steed, was like a streak of a flood dragon’s shadow, swift and gallant as a shooting star.

After riding with Yi Xun and the others for less than half a quarter-hour more, they suddenly heard faint shouting coming from the nearby forest. Li Chansiu quickly reined in his horse.

The others also stopped at once. Yi Xun stepped forward and asked, “Your Highness?”

Li Chansiu raised his whip to silence her and said, “It sounds like someone is calling out.”

Yi Xun and the others listened closely as well. Soon, clearer cries came from within the forest.

Li Chansiu frowned. Someone beside him advised, “Your Highness, time is tight, we likely cannot afford to delay.”

Li Chansiu nodded and was about to lead the group onward when suddenly, a staggering figure ran out from the forest, it appeared to be a woman.

Yi Xun said, “She may be a commoner abducted by bandits.”

Without hesitation, Li Chansiu said, “Save her first.”

With that, he led the group charging over.

Soon, more people rushed out from the forest. The situation was indeed as Yi Xun had predicted, a group of roaming bandits robbing passing civilians. The men had been killed after being robbed of their money, while the women had all been kept behind.

Fortunately, the bandits were few in number and were quickly dealt with. The woman who had run out first was also caught by Yi Xun with a whip looped around her waist and pulled directly onto the horse.

Seeing that the woman was extremely frightened and her clothes somewhat disheveled, Li Chansiu frowned, removed his cloak, and threw it over her.

Covered by the cloak, the woman hurriedly wrapped it tightly around herself. Just as she raised her head to thank him, she saw Li Chansiu’s face, froze, and said in shock, “Sister Shen?”

Li Chansiu stiffened, turned to look, and only then recognized her, it was Chen Lingwan, the unfortunate fiancée of Shen Xiu’s cousin.

Li Chansiu paused, then asked, “Miss Chen, why are you here?”

Wasn’t she supposed to have left Yongfeng with Gu Heng?

At the mention of this, Chen Lingwan’s tears immediately began falling like broken pearls, pattering down without stop.

Li Chansiu was instantly alarmed, he was worst at comforting crying people, and hurriedly said, “Don’t cry for now. We, we still have other matters. How about you go with the others…”

Upon hearing this, Yi Xun immediately moved to set her down.

Chen Lingwan, clearly terrified, quickly turned and clung tightly to Yi Xun, sniffling as she said, “S-Sister Shen, my father is in nearby Ningcheng. Where are you going? If you’re heading to Ningcheng, c-could you take me along?”

Li Chansiu: “……” What a coincidence.

“Then come along,” he said after thinking it over.

Once they set off again, he suddenly thought: Chen Lingwan’s father is in Ningcheng?

He remembered that later, that Master Chen avenged his daughter and joined a refugee militia, quickly demonstrating astonishing business talent and being especially skilled at securing grain supplies for the militia. Because he managed logistics and the livelihood of the city’s people, that militia never lacked provisions until the very moment it was defeated.

The key point was that Master Chen himself was a wealthy man, rich in both money and grain.

Back when he learned of Gu Heng’s identity, Li Chansiu had already entertained the idea of recruiting Master Chen, removing this wealthy backer from behind Gu Heng.

But at the time, he thought Master Chen was in Wuyang City, far from here, and that he would have to find an opportunity later. Yet Chen Lingwan said her father was now in Ningcheng…

Mm, better capture Ningcheng first.

Li Chansiu steadied himself and suppressed the corners of his lips.

***

Under the cover of night, more than two hundred men moved like shadows, silently approaching the south gate of Ningcheng.

The soldiers guarding the city were yawning, already drowsy. At another post, two or three soldiers were gambling with dice, completely unguarded.

Suddenly, a flaming arrow soaked in oil shot toward the city tower with the night wind. The flames, aided by the wind, instantly caught onto the wooden beams.

Immediately after, shouts of battle rose outside the gate, with layered silhouettes of banners, under the night, it was impossible to tell how many had arrived.

The defending soldiers were startled and hurriedly shouted, “Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”

Chaos broke out at once. The soldiers gambling quickly turned to grab their weapons; some who had been asleep couldn’t even find their helmets in time.

Almost simultaneously, flames also rose at the west and north gates, accompanied by waves of battle cries.

Inside his residence, Ningcheng’s defending official Fan Hong was shaken awake from his sleep. Hearing that the rebels had arrived, he was so startled he nearly fell off the bed, the fat on his body jiggling.

“Quick, bring my sword, and go fetch my horse,” he shouted hastily.

Outside the south gate, Chen Lingwan, now riding her own horse, watched as Yi Xun led troops charging through a rain of arrows, her gaze calm and fearless of death. She couldn’t help but stare in shock. “Y-you… you’ve come to attack the city?”

Li Chansiu nodded. “Yes.”

“Th-that sister, is she a woman?” Chen Lingwan continued, still shocked.

Li Chansiu nodded. “Yes.”

Chen Lingwan murmured, “So impressive.”

“Also, this ‘sister’ of yours is a man,” Li Chansiu added, then reminded her faintly, “Don’t call me ‘Sister Shen’ anymore.”

“Ah?” Chen Lingwan was stunned.

She even felt that tonight, all she had left was shock.

Just then, flames suddenly shot up within the city. From the south city tower, the defending soldiers cried out in panic, “The city’s been breached, the west gate has been broken through, ”

Li Chansiu’s eyes lit up. “Xuanping and the others have entered the city.”

As he spoke, he clamped his legs against the horse’s belly and spurred it forward.