Blood Road Returns East, Sparks Lead
Every step on the road to Dengzhou was soaked in blood.
After Zhang Qing joined forces with Hu Sanniang, Zhu Wu, and others, their force grew to nearly 5,000, making them the largest and most dangerous bandit group in the eyes of the government troops. Tong Guan ordered all surrounding troops to close in and eliminate Liangshan's last organized fighting force inland.
Fighting raged almost daily. With the county troops entrenched in the city in front, the elite imperial guards in pursuit from behind, and local militiamen constantly harassing them from both sides, Zhang Qing's troops were like a lone army stuck in a quagmire, each step incredibly difficult.
Zhang Qing, nicknamed "The Featherless Arrow," now became a nightmare for the government troops. His flying stones, elusive amidst the chaotic enemy, targeted enemy standard-bearers, buglers, and the lower-ranking officers at the forefront, significantly slowing the government's offensive and buying precious time for the troops' shift. Hu Sanniang wielded her twin swords like wheels, while Wang Ying, Sun Erniang, and others also bravely led their troops in a desperate fight to cover the rear.
However, the disparity in strength could not be made up by individual prowess. The troops suffered heavy casualties, the number of wounded increased daily, and food and fodder supplies had long been cut off. They barely survived by "taking food from the enemy" along the way and robbing government granaries. Morale was eroded by the bloody battles and the constant travel, and despair spread like a plague.
"Brother Zhang Qing, if this continues, all of us brothers will be killed before we reach Dengzhou!" During a short rest, Zhu Wu looked at the wounded soldiers stumbling around the campfire and said to Zhang Qing with concern.
Zhang Qing's face was stained with blood and dust, but his eyes remained sharp as an eagle's. He gazed into the darkening night to the east, his voice hoarse but resolute: "We have no way out, Brother Zhu Wu. Stopping means death, turning back also means death. Only by moving forward, rushing to the seashore, can we have a glimmer of hope! The Taoist priest... must be waiting for us!"
He had an almost blind trust in Qiongying. The woman who had saved his life on a rainy night, the Taoist who had orchestrated his plans in Yuncheng, the "military advisor" who had planned a way for them to escape overseas... Since she had asked them to come east, she must have a way to help them!
At the same time, in Dengzhou, Qiongying was on the verge of exhaustion.
Yan Qing mobilized the full power of the "Si Hai Warehouse" and the "Tong Xin Hui," even exposing the strongholds he had built over the years, and frantically sought news about Zhang Qing's troops. Every piece of news about their breakthroughs at a dangerous pass or the repulse of pursuing troops brought a sigh of relief to Qiong Ying, but the subsequent casualties brought a wave of anxiety.
She had limited direct forces at her disposal. General Zhao's "Rock Guard" consisted of only a few hundred men. Though rigorously trained, they lacked combat experience. Her only real resources were the dozens of large and small ships assembled and controlled by Boss Zheng and his men, and a "merchant protection convoy" of over a thousand desperadoes and down-and-out sailors that Yan Qing, with his vast financial resources (using some of the remaining naval funds), had temporarily recruited and armed.
"We can't wait any longer!" Qiongying looked at the increasingly tight encirclement of government troops marked on the map and said resolutely to Yan Qing and Boss Zheng, "We must take the initiative to respond!"
She devised a daring plan: Yan Qing would lead the merchant escort team and some of the elite "Panshi" troops, sailing upstream along the river in fast boats, as far inland as possible to pick up Zhang Qing. Meanwhile, Boss Zheng would lead the main fleet, waiting at several secluded islands off the coast of Dengzhou. Once they found their target, they would immediately set sail!
"Master Taoist, this is too dangerous! If we go deep inland and get entangled by the government army and navy..." Yan Qing looked worried.
"We can't worry about that!" Qiongying interrupted him, her eyes burning. "This is the only thing we can do! Are we going to watch them being consumed on the shore? Follow orders!"
Yan Qing looked at the unquestionable determination in Qiongying's eyes and nodded heavily: "Yes!"
On the eve of Yan Qing's departure, a bloodied and nearly exhausted scout was brought to Qiongying by members of the Tongxinhui. He was one of the last three messengers sent by Zhang Qing, and he was the only one who made it to the destination.
"General... General and his men are surrounded in the Black Wind Gorge on the west side of Laizhou Bay... There are at least 20,000 government troops..." The scout fainted after saying the last sentence.
Black Wind Gorge! It's less than 200 miles from Dengzhou! But the terrain there is difficult and difficult to defend, and it's also easy to be besieged!
Qiongying's heart nearly stopped. She immediately revised her plan, ordering Yanqing to abandon their original route and rush directly to Black Wind Gorge! At the same time, she ordered Boss Zheng's fleet to wait no longer and immediately advance to the outer reaches of Laizhou Bay, ready to forcibly assist!
Life or death depends on this move!
Within Black Wind Gorge, the nearly 3,000 remaining Liangshan soldiers had been surrounded for days. With their arrows and fodder exhausted, the soldiers could only slaughter wounded horses and dig up grass roots and tree bark to satisfy their hunger. The government troops repeatedly urged Zhang Qing to surrender, but each time he sternly refused.
"Brothers!" Zhang Qing stood on a towering rock, his voice hoarse from lack of water, but it carried throughout the valley. "We, the heroes of Liangshan, stand tall and proud! We would rather die standing than live on our knees! The sea is just ahead! Our way out lies there! Pick up your weapons and follow me... for one last fight!"
There were no grandiose words, only the instinct for survival and a final trust in the leader. The remaining soldiers struggled to their feet, gripping their blades tightly, their eyes burning with a mixture of despair and madness.
Just when the commander of the government army thought the time had come and ordered a general attack, something strange happened!
Suddenly, chaos broke out in the rear of the government army! A force of over a thousand men, under a chaotic banner, but well-equipped and fiercely fighting, struck the government army's weak spot like a sharp knife! Leading the charge was a handsome general, a white horse and a silver spear, and he was extraordinary. It was none other than the prodigal Yan Qing!
"Brother Zhang Qing! Yan Qing is here! Surround them!" Yan Qing's roar pierced the battlefield.
The Liangshan soldiers, in dire straits, were overcome with hope when they saw the reinforcements. They summoned their last bit of strength. With red eyes, Zhang Qing, Hu Sanniang, and the others led their men in a desperate charge toward the eastern coast.
Under attack from both inside and outside, the government troops were thrown into disarray. They had not expected that this "bandit" would have external support and be so brave.
The bloody battle lasted from dawn to dusk. Zhang Qing and Yan Qing's forces finally joined forces, fought their way through the encirclement, and rushed out of the Black Wind Gorge. Before their eyes lay a vast expanse of mudflats and the boundless sea!
However, more government troops were swarming in pursuit from behind. At sea, although Zheng Laoda's fleet appeared, it could not get too close due to the shallow water and the interception of small government warships.
There is a sea in front and pursuers behind!
"Get on board! Take as many as you can!" Zhang Qing roared, ordering his men to rush to the sampans and small boats on the beach for pick-up.
The scene was chaotic. People rushed to the sea, scrambling to grab the limited boats. The government troops' arrows rained down like locusts, leaving men stumbling to the ground, and the sea was dyed a pale red.
Leaders such as Zhang Qing, Hu Sanniang, Zhu Wu, and Yan Qing fought hard to cover the rear, fighting and retreating.
At this moment, a cold arrow shot like a venomous snake towards Zhu Wu, who was directing the boarding! Zhang Qing was quick-witted and swift-handed, and suddenly pushed Zhu Wu away, but he was unable to avoid it, and the arrow fiercely pierced his left shoulder!
"General!"
"Brother Zhang Qing!"
Everyone exclaimed.
Zhang Qing groaned, broke the arrow shaft with his backhand, and his face turned pale instantly, but he still stood upright and shouted sternly: "Leave me alone! Go!"
Finally, after paying a heavy price, about 1,500 to 1,600 wounded Liangshan soldiers successfully boarded the ships that came to pick them up. Zhang Qing, supported by Hu Sanniang and Yan Qing, was the last to board a larger ship.
The ships struggled to sail into the deep sea, leaving the roars and arrows of the government troops on the shore far behind.
The setting sun was as red as blood, reflecting the vast sea, and also reflecting the confusion and sorrow on the faces of every survivor on the ship.
Qiongying stood at the bow of the leading ship, the "Breaking Waves", and looked at the gradually approaching ship full of wounded and exhausted soldiers. She looked at the figure who was being supported, with blood on his shoulders but still trying to stand upright. Her tense heartstrings finally relaxed, but her eyes became moist involuntarily.
She walked forward and their eyes met in the air.
A thousand words can express everything in silence.
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