CCWAD – Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Showing Off One’s Prowess

Epigraph:

“When Tong Guan’s fifty thousand troops sounded their challenge below the mountain, I ordered the Flying Phoenix Camp to take the lead. Yang Bamei, with her silver spear pointed forward, led three hundred female cavalry like a prairie fire. When the news of them routing Tong Guan’s vanguard reached us, all of Liangshan fell silent.”

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The Liangshan Marsh in autumn was clear and tranquil, its water like jade, its reeds white as snow. However, this peace was soon shattered by the thunderous beat of war drums. Tong Guan, personally leading an army of fifty thousand, had set up a sprawling encampment on the plains ten miles outside Golden Sand Port. Banners obscured the sky, and smoke from cooking fires rose like clouds.

Inside the Hall of Righteous Gathering, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like water could be wrung from it. Scouts rushed in one after another with reports:

“Report! The imperial army’s vanguard of eight thousand has reached five miles outside Golden Sand Port, all of them elite Western cavalry!”

“Report! Tong Guan’s central army of twenty thousand is stationed at Green Stone Hill, composed entirely of elite imperial guards!”

“Report! The left and right flanks, each with ten thousand men, are constructing fortifications, forming a pincer movement!”

Wu Yong pointed to the sand table, his expression grim as iron. “Tong Guan is determined to annihilate us this time. The vanguard of eight thousand are seasoned Western army elites, the central army of twenty thousand are well-equipped imperial guards, and the left and right flanks are garrison troops from Hebei and Shandong. This is a standard encirclement formation.”

Lu Junyi stroked his beard and pondered, his brow furrowed with unspoken worry. “The enemy is numerous, and we are few. The disparity in forces is immense. In my opinion, we should rely on the natural defenses of the eight-hundred-mile marsh, using our navy for guerrilla harassment to wear down the enemy’s spirit. Once they are weary and their troops are fatigued, we can seek an opportunity to defeat them.”

This had been Liangshan’s most common tactic when facing imperial encirclement for many years, and the chieftains in the hall nodded in agreement.

However, Yan Qing gently shook her head. “No, we must fight this battle, and we must fight it brilliantly on the frontal battlefield.”

She stood up and walked to the sand table. Her dark hair was tied back in a neat ponytail, and her military attire accentuated her heroic demeanor. “Tong Guan thinks we are still the same Liangshan that only knows how to hide in the marsh and conduct guerrilla warfare. This battle will show him that Liangshan is no longer what it used to be.”

“Little Yi, what brilliant plan do you have?” Wu Yong gently fanned himself, his eyes gleaming with sharp intelligence.

Yan Qing’s finger precisely landed on Golden Sand Port on the sand table. “Right here, we will annihilate the enemy’s vanguard completely!”

Dong Ping couldn’t help but slam the table. “The enemy vanguard of eight thousand are elite Western army veterans. Our entire force is no more than twelve thousand. How can we annihilate them completely? Even if we can win, it will be a pyrrhic victory!”

“That’s why we cannot engage in a head-on fight,” Yan Qing said with a slight smile, a hint of cunning in it. “I want to use the Flying Phoenix Camp to lead the charge.”

The hall erupted in an uproar.

“Impossible! Absolutely not!” Zhang Qing was so anxious his forehead broke into a sweat. “The Flying Phoenix Camp is all women. Sending them to lead the charge, isn’t that sending them to their deaths? If this gets out, everyone in the world will laugh at us, saying Liangshan men are all dead and we have to send women to die!”

Even Lu Junyi, who had always supported Yan Qing, advised, “Little Yi, isn’t this too risky? The Flying Phoenix Camp was just established not long ago and lacks sufficient training. Sending them against the Western army’s iron cavalry, I’m afraid…”

Yan Qing ignored everyone’s objections and looked directly at Yang Bamei, who stood in the corner of the hall. “Bamei, do you dare to accept this important task?”

Yang Bamei straightened her posture and stepped forward. Her fiery red battle robe was exceptionally striking in the candlelight, and she struck her silver spear against the ground with a crisp sound. “This subordinate is willing! The Flying Phoenix Camp, from top to bottom, swears to complete the mission to the death!”

“Good!” Yan Qing took out a command arrow and her voice was clear and resonant. “I will give you three hundred cavalry, but I don’t want you to engage the enemy head-on. I want you to feign a defeat.”

“Feign a defeat?” Everyone in the hall was stunned, even Wu Yong showed a look of surprise.

“Precisely,” Yan Qing walked to the sand table and her finger traced across the vast reed marsh outside Golden Sand Port. “Bamei will lead the Flying Phoenix Camp to lure the enemy. They are allowed to lose but not win. They will fight and retreat, drawing the enemy into this reed marsh. Brother Lin Chong will lead the Dragon Soaring Camp to ambush on the left, and Brother Qin Ming will lead the Tiger Wing Camp to ambush on the right. Once the enemy is completely within the ambush zone, we will attack from three sides!”

Wu Yong clapped his hands and laughed. “Brilliant! Brilliant! The reed marsh is narrow and crisscrossed with waterways. The enemy cavalry will not be able to maneuver, making it an excellent place for an ambush. If this plan succeeds, we will annihilate the enemy vanguard completely!”

With the plan settled, all camps immediately began to act. Yan Qing personally supervised, checking the preparations of each camp.

At the ambush point of the Dragon Soaring Camp, Lin Chong was giving the soldiers their final mobilization. “Remember, no action without the signal cannon! You must endure even if you see the sisters of the Flying Phoenix Camp luring the enemy!”

On the other side, Qin Ming was also giving his speech. “All of you hide well! If anyone reveals their position prematurely and ruins the strategist’s grand plan, I will be the first to chop off their head!”

Meanwhile, at the Flying Phoenix Camp’s barracks, Yang Bamei was preparing for battle. She meticulously checked the equipment of each female soldier, helped them tighten their robes, and adjusted their helmets.

“Sisters,” her voice was clear and resolute, “this battle is not only for Liangshan, but also to prove that women can also achieve great deeds! Let those who look down on us see what it means to be a heroine!”

“Heroines!” Three hundred female soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

The next morning, a thin mist shrouded Golden Sand Port. Yang Bamei led three hundred Flying Phoenix Camp cavalry, their red attire and silver spears exceptionally conspicuous in the morning light, like a moving flame.

The commander of the imperial army’s vanguard was the fierce Western army general Wang Bing. This man came from a military family and was brave in battle, but arrogant in temperament. Seeing that Liangshan had actually sent women to fight, he couldn’t help but laugh uproariously on his horse. “Liangshan has no men! They actually send women to the battlefield! Have all the men of Liangshan died?”

The副将 (fùjiàng – deputy general) cautiously advised, “General, Liangshan is full of tricks. Be careful, there might be a trap.”

Wang Bing paid no heed. He pointed his whip at the Flying Phoenix Camp. “A mere few hundred women, what can they achieve? Soldiers, pursue and capture these women, and we will feast the army tonight!”

Eight thousand Western soldiers charged like wolves and tigers. Their hooves pounded the ground, their sound like thunder.

As planned, Yang Bamei led the Flying Phoenix Camp in a brief resistance. Her silver spear danced, dispatching several enemy soldiers, but then she feigned defeat and led her troops in retreat.

Seeing this, Wang Bing became even more contemptuous and ordered a full pursuit. “Chase! Don’t let these women escape!”

The Flying Phoenix Camp fought and retreated, drawing the imperial army deeper into the reed marsh. Here, waterways crisscrossed, and the reeds were taller than a man. Once the eight thousand troops entered, their formation immediately became chaotic, and the cavalry’s speed greatly diminished.

Just as the imperial army descended into confusion, three signal cannons boomed!

Lin Chong led the Dragon Soaring Camp out from the left, and Qin Ming led the Tiger Wing Camp from the right. The Flying Phoenix Camp also turned back to join the fight.

Under the three-sided attack, the imperial army was thrown into disarray.

Wang Bing realized he had been tricked and wanted to rally his troops to retreat, but it was too late. The troops in the reed marsh could not maneuver, and countless soldiers trampled each other.

Yang Bamei, her silver spear like a dragon, charged directly at Wang Bing. The two fought fiercely in the reed marsh, spear against spear, sparks flying. After less than ten exchanges, Yang Bamei feigned a weakness. Wang Bing’s spear went wide, and she used her other hand to strike him off his horse.

With their main general dead, the imperial army completely collapsed. In this battle, the eight thousand elite Western army soldiers were annihilated, with only a few managing to escape by jumping into the water.

When the victory report reached Liangshan, the entire stronghold erupted.

“Great victory! Great victory! The Flying Phoenix Camp has achieved a great victory! Annihilated eight thousand enemy troops!”

As the news spread, those who had harbored doubts about women in the army fell silent. Soldiers training on the parade ground stopped their movements and looked towards the direction of the Flying Phoenix Camp’s barracks.

Dong Ping, Zhang Qing, and others flushed with embarrassment. They remembered their doubts towards Yan Qing and now, all of it was shattered by this great victory.

That evening, Yan Qing hosted a celebratory banquet in the Hall of Righteous Gathering. The hall was decorated with lanterns and colored streamers, filled with joyous atmosphere.

When Yang Bamei led the Flying Phoenix Camp generals into the hall, everyone stood up to greet them. This was the greatest recognition from the Liangshan soldiers.

“Bamei,” Yan Qing raised her cup, her eyes full of praise. “This cup is to the Flying Phoenix Camp’s maiden victory! You have proven yourselves with your strength!”

Yang Bamei took the wine cup, tears of emotion shimmering in her eyes. “Thank you, Brother Yan Qing, for giving us this opportunity. The Flying Phoenix Camp, from top to bottom, swears loyalty to Liangshan!”

At this moment, everyone understood that Liangshan had truly changed. From this day forward, no one would dare to underestimate these female soldiers in red attire and with silver spears.

However, halfway through the victory banquet, a scout rushed in, covered in blood.

“Report! Tong Guan personally leads an army of twenty thousand, heading straight for Golden Sand Port! He vows to avenge Wang Bing and wash Liangshan in blood!”

The hall immediately fell silent, the celebratory atmosphere instantly frozen.

Tong Guan was coming for revenge, his advance fierce.

Yan Qing slowly put down her wine cup, her expression still calm. “He is welcome. Order all camps to proceed according to the second plan.”

She looked at the generals in the hall, her gaze like lightning. “In this battle, we will make Tong Guan remember Liangshan’s might forever!”

In the night, Liangshan’s battle flags fluttered in the autumn wind. A larger battle was about to begin.

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(End of Chapter 32)