Shezhou's shadows and sparks
The imperial edict ordering Tong Guan to lead the main force of Liangshan to march south was like a thunderclap, completely breaking the short-lived balance.
Zhang Qing received the transfer order, knowing his "peaceful" days in Jinghu were over. He had to quickly extricate himself from the conflict with Zhong Xiang and Yang Yao, lead his army eastward, and join the campaign against Fang La. This was both a military order and a tremendous crisis—and...an opportunity.
Following his original strategy, he adopted a more proactive "appeasement" approach to the rebels in the Dongting Lake area, dispatching eloquent envoys, bearing generous rewards and promises, to persuade several smaller groups. At the same time, he deliberately spread word of the impending eastward transfer of the main army and ceded some unimportant territory under his control. Although Zhong Xiang and Yang Yao suspected a plot, seeing that the government troops (Zhang Qing's forces) were indeed intent on leaving, and given the internal turmoil, several small groups persuaded by the offer accepted the offer, while the rest adopted a wait-and-see approach. Zhang Qing seized the opportunity to quickly gather his forces, pack his bags, and prepare for his departure.
At the same time, Qiongying, who received the news in advance, also issued the highest-level order to Yan Qing in Jiangnan: at all costs, establish a deeper intelligence network in Fang La’s core ruling area, especially in its capital Muzhou (later renamed Huizhou, with its seat in She County), and focus on investigating Fang La’s military deployment, core generals’ intelligence, food storage points, and... clues to its national treasury treasures!
The latter is an extension of Qiongying's "dangerous idea" - if they can obtain the huge wealth accumulated by Fang La during the war, their overseas colonization plan will achieve a leap forward.
Upon receiving the order, Yan Qing felt an unprecedented pressure. Deep within Huxue, probing Fang La's core secrets, was far more dangerous than gathering tidbits from the streets of Hangzhou. Yet, he refused to retreat. He handed over the management of the Hangzhou "Si Hai Warehouse" to his deputy, and led several of his most capable men, disguised as merchants selling inkstones and Huizhou ink, and ventured into Fang La's Shezhou territory.
By this time, Shezhou was completely under the rule of the "Sage Duke" (as Fang La called himself). Banners flew from the city walls, Manichaeans were everywhere, and the atmosphere was filled with a strange frenzy and the tension of troubled times. Inspections were extremely strict, and unfamiliar faces easily attracted attention.
Yan Qing, relying on his exceptional adaptability and the few connections Shen San had established, rented a small courtyard in Shezhou City and set up a signboard reading "Wen Bao Zhai" to serve as his base. He didn't dare act rashly, but diligently plowed through the day, chatting with neighbors and visiting merchants, gradually familiarizing himself with the area. He also discreetly identified lower-level officials within Fang La's regime who could be bribed or exploited, as well as local scholars who didn't fully agree with Fang La's rule.
The process was slow and dangerous. Once, one of his servants was nearly captured by patrolling Christians because he asked a few more questions about the city's defense in a tavern. Fortunately, Yan Qing spent a large sum of money and used his connections to redeem the man.
Just when Yan Qing was struggling in Shezhou, Zhang Qing had already led his troops out of the Jinghu battlefield, marching day and night, heading east to the south of the Yangtze River, and joined the main force of Liangshan led by Song Jiang.
Inside the main camp, the atmosphere was heavy. Although Song Jiang continued to bolster morale, emphasizing the importance of serving the country and achieving great things, many of the leaders wore worried expressions. The humid, hot weather of Jiangnan, the unfamiliar surroundings, and the infamous reputation of Fang La's "Eight Heavenly Kings" and "Twenty-Four Generals" weighed heavily on their hearts.
Zhang Qing met secretly with Lu Junyi, Zhu Wu, and the others to exchange information. He shared with them the latest briefing on Fang La's internal situation and geographical situation, which Qiongying had relayed through Yan Qing. This information, far more detailed and accurate than the intelligence provided by the imperial court, energized Lu Junyi and the others and further strengthened their resolve to act in secret.
"Tong Guan, the old villain, clearly wants us to lead the charge and serve as cannon fodder." Lu Junyi sneered, "We must not let him manipulate us."
"Brother, what you said is absolutely right." Zhang Qing nodded. "I have already made an agreement with Taoist priest 'Qingshizi' in the rear. His people in Jiangnan will do their best to provide us with intelligence support. Our army's actions should prioritize preserving our strength and act according to the situation. If we can find the place where Fang La's treasure is hidden..." He did not continue, but everyone understood the meaning.
The war was about to break out. Tong Guan ordered the Liangshan army to serve as the vanguard and split into several groups to attack the prefecture occupied by Fang La.
The battlefield was bloody and brutal. Leveraging their advantageous terrain and fervent faith, Fang La's army put up an extremely tenacious resistance. While the Liangshan army was valiant, fighting in unfamiliar conditions also cost them a heavy price. Zhang Qing, Lu Junyi, and the others meticulously observed the strategy, completing their mission while striving to avoid a decisive, attritional engagement with the enemy's main forces. They also quietly used intelligence from Qiongying regarding secret Fang La army food routes and small storage points, using it to launch small-scale raids, using battle to sustain the enemy.
Far away in Shezhou, Yan Qing, after months of lurking and maneuvering, finally achieved a breakthrough. By paying a large sum of money to a frustrated scholar working as a minor official in Fang La's "national treasury" and a retired veteran instructor dissatisfied with Fang La's harsh policies, he pieced together fragmentary information about the possible burial sites of Fang La's treasure—pointing to several hidden locations in the mountains outside Shezhou and a possible secret vault in Fang La's old lair, Bangyuan Cave.
He sent this extremely valuable information out of Shezhou through the secret channel he established at great risk of his life, and it was finally delivered to Zhang Qing at the front line. He also sent a copy back to Yuncheng to Qiongying.
Upon receiving the intelligence, Qiongying knew the crucial moment might be approaching. She ordered Boss Zheng of Dengzhou to expedite the construction of the "Breaking Waves" and the training of the crew, while also secretly stockpiling the necessary supplies for the voyage. She had to ensure they were ready to depart immediately should any gains be made or the situation suddenly change.
War rages across the land, blood staining the southern part of the Yangtze River. Amidst this chaotic battlefield, a force intent on stealing victory and securing a path for the future quietly moves in the shadows. Though a tiny spark, it persistently seeks any opportunity to ignite a prairie fire.
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