Chapter 625: Luring Them into the Trap

Winter in the Jiangnan region was less harsh than in the north, with a touch more warmth. The rivers remained unfrozen, flowing steadily, and it was not a world of endless ice and snow. A snowfall a month earlier had already melted, leaving only piles of dirty snow frozen in shaded areas. The willows by the rivers hung bare, but their branches were showing signs of green, and the wind no longer felt so cold, carrying a hint of fresh spring air.

Today was the last day of the first year of the Qingping era; the new year would arrive soon. Although the war in Jiangnan had not yet ended, the people there could hardly contain their longing for the new year. Families slaughtered chickens and sheep, cleaned their homes, hung peach talismans, and welcomed the new year with great enthusiasm.

After four days of marching, Li Yi’s army of 60,000 soldiers from Jiangnan had reached east of Zixi County, at the southernmost tip of Hangzhou. The Lingnan army, moving more slowly, was still in Xinchang County, Hongzhou. The two armies were separated by about 300 miles. Li Yi received intelligence that the Lingnan army’s slow progress was due to the soldiers’ inability to adapt to the cold climate, with many falling ill.

This news filled Li Yi with even greater excitement. He longed to spread his wings and fly to Hongzhou at once to strike down the Lingnan army, which could barely keep marching. He imagined himself as a heroic general, leading an attack that would result in bloodshed for miles, making him a famous general in the Tang Dynasty. His desire for such glory drove him almost to madness. He ordered his soldiers to march day and night. His army of 60,000 included only 5,000 cavalry; the rest were infantry. Yet they still marched 180 miles in a day and night, leaving even the cavalry exhausted to the point of collapse, not to mention the soldiers.

As a result, Li Chengshi repeatedly tried to persuade Li Yi to stop. When his efforts failed, conflict between them finally erupted. At lunchtime, Li Chengshi rushed into Li Yi’s camp with a sword.

“Young prince! This is my final warning!” Li Chengshi pointed the sword at Li Yi, his eyes blazing with anger. He said slowly and clearly, “If you dare to continue marching recklessly, ignoring the lives of your soldiers, I will immediately lead my troops north. You can fight the Lingnan army by yourself!”

Li Yi seemed to hear nothing, continuing to eat his lunch leisurely. His meal consisted of twelve dishes and a pot of wine. Since it was New Year’s Eve, he had eaten lightly at noon. He downed the wine in his cup in one gulp. Although drinking was forbidden during battles, he knew this but refused to obey. Didn’t the Anxi army also require soldiers to carry wine in winter?

“General Li, have you drunk too much? How dare you point a sword at me?” Li Yi said coldly.
“I haven’t drunk at all, nor am I dizzy. It’s you who’s blinded by greed, ignoring the lives of your soldiers and the supply of provisions. Young prince, you’re young and don’t understand military strategy—that’s fine. But you must listen to my advice. What you’re doing is a grave violation of military principles. You underestimate Li Qing’an greatly; you’re stepping right into his trap.”
Li Yi burst into loud laughter. Once his laughter subsided, he said coldly, “So you don’t understand military strategy? So it’s a grave violation? Where are the troops? They’re in Xinchang County, Hongzhou. They no longer have the strength to advance eastward. If they don’t move forward, they’ll have to retreat. If we don’t seize this opportunity to chase after them, they’ll withdraw to Lingnan. This is delaying a critical opportunity—do you understand? You keep saying I don’t care about my soldiers, but don’t you understand the principle that a kind ruler shouldn’t handle military affairs? You do understand, but you’re just unhappy that I’m your superior, so you’re looking for excuses to cause trouble. Now you’re pointing a sword at me—disobeying your superior. General Li, I’m sorry, but I must kill you!”
At that moment, Li Yi smashed his wine cup on the ground and shouted, “Someone, tie him up!”
Dozens of his personal guards rushed forward. Li Chengshi was also prepared. He swung his sword left and right and shouted, “Who dares touch me?”
Li Yi’s guards stopped. At that moment, dozens of Li Chengshi’s guards also rushed in from outside the tent, protecting him as he stepped back slowly and soon left the tent.
Although Li Yi set up a tent, the army did not camp. The soldiers sat on the ground by the roadside, eating simple rations and drinking water. Li Yi gave them only half an hour. Despite the short time, many soldiers fell asleep with fried noodles still in their mouths. Days of marching day and night had left the soldiers utterly exhausted.
Li Chengshi rushed out of the tent, filled with anger and frustration. He felt that the Lingnan army’s march north was very suspicious. If it really were the Lingnan army, they could have taken a sea ship north and landed in Hangzhou Bay, avoiding such a long journey that would drain their strength and supplies. Moreover, the journey was difficult, and supplies might not keep up. He suspected it wasn’t the Lingnan army but Li Qing’an’s Anxi Army pretending to be them, but he thought it unlikely—the Anxi Army had no reason to take such a long detour to Hongzhou.
His anger subsided slightly, but his doubts grew stronger. At that moment, one of his guards advised, “Deputy commander, with your authority, why not take the entire army away and leave this little bastard in Hongzhou by himself?”
Li Chengshi shook his head. “He may be heartless, but I cannot be unjust. After all, he’s the heir to the King of Wu. Enough. I’ve done my best. I’ll just leave on my own.”

He whipped his warhorse fiercely and headed north.
Li Chengshi caused a disturbance in the camp, and Li Yi no longer had the appetite to eat. Holding his sword in hand, he stared angrily into the distance. His personal guards had already set out to capture Li Chengshi.
A moment later, one of the guards rushed back to report to Li Yi, “Reporting to the commander, Li Chengshi has gone north with over a hundred of his loyal men.”
“He’s escaped! We’ve been too lenient with him.”
Filled with rage, Li Yi swung his sword at the horse stake. But then he thought better of it—this was actually for the best, as now the entire army was under his control.
However, Li Chengshi’s attempt to remonstrate with the army did calm him slightly. Today was New Year’s Eve, and the soldiers could rest for one night before working harder for him the next day. He immediately ordered, “The entire army shall set out immediately and camp thirty li away in Zixi County.”
Military orders were absolute, and the 60,000-strong army set off once again, marching in great numbers toward Zixi County thirty li away.
…
Just as Li Yi’s 60,000 troops prepared to spend New Year’s Eve in Zixi County, they had no idea that Li Qing’an’s trap was already closing in. The previous night, a massive fleet of 300 large ships, each carrying 5,000 dan of cargo, entered Hangzhou Bay and anchored in Qiantang County. The ships were loaded with 30,000 elite cavalry soldiers from Anxi, who disembarked silently in Qiantang County, keeping the news strictly secret—even the local officials there were unaware of the arrival of such a large force.
Leading this cavalry force were General Li Baozhen and Deputy General Zhao Chongjie. This was Zhao Chongjie’s strategy: to lure the southern army north by sending the Lingnan forces northward, then launch a surprise attack from Hangzhou Bay to cut off the southern army’s retreat.
It was similar to how the U.S. forces landed at Incheon during the Korean War to cut off the Korean army’s supply lines—a highly ingenious tactic.
The 30,000 cavalry soldiers each carried only three days’ worth of rations and fodder, traveling lightly. By afternoon, the southern army had reached the east of Zixi County, while the Northern Tang cavalry had occupied Yuqian County. There, the Northern Tang forces intercepted Li Yi’s supply convoy, which consisted of over a thousand flat wagons carrying food and supplies.
By seizing the supply convoy, they had already achieved 80% success in their plan. All that remained was to annihilate Li Yi’s 60,000 troops.

Li Baozhen was discussing the route for the invasion with Zhao Chongjie. The distance from Yuqian County to Zixi County was only about fifty li, and the cavalry could reach there in just over an hour. Yet the commander-in-chief, Li Qing’an, had given them five words of advice: “Plan thoroughly before acting.” In other words, they needed sufficient intelligence support—a practice typical of the Anxi Army. Ten scouting teams were sent out as soon as they landed. Li Baozhen and Zhao Chongjie agreed to wait for the scouts’ reports before deciding on a specific action plan.

At that moment, a slight commotion could be heard from the camp in the distance. Li Baozhen stood up and asked, “What happened?”

After a while, a soldier rushed back and reported, “General Su Yu has captured a group of a hundred enemy soldiers. The enemy commander seems to be a high-ranking officer.”

Surprised, Li Baozhen immediately ordered, “Bring the captured enemy commander here.”

Su Yu was the general of the Hanzhong Army whom Zhao Chongjie had subdued in the battle of Hanzhong by archery competition. He had always followed Zhao Chongjie and also joined Li Qing’an in the campaign to recapture the Jiangnan region. Now a lieutenant general, he was skilled in scouting and patrol duties, so Li Baozhen appointed him as the leader of the patrol force, commanding a thousand cavalry to guard the perimeter. Half an hour earlier, one of Su Yu’s subordinates spotted a group of over a hundred cavalry from the Jiangnan Army approaching from the south. Su Yu set an ambush and captured their leader. Upon interrogation, it turned out that the captured man was actually Li Chengshi, the deputy commander of the Jiangnan Army.

Su Yu was overjoyed and quickly brought Li Chengshi before Li Baozhen. With his hands tied behind his back, Li Chengshi stood upright, head held high, refusing to kneel. But inside, he was utterly despondent. Seeing thirty thousand Northern Tang cavalry, he understood Li Qing’an’s plan—the Northern invasion of the Lingnan Army was nothing but a trap meant to lure fools like Li Yi southward, cut off their retreat, and annihilate their sixty thousand troops. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: The Jiangnan Army was doomed!

Li Baozhen studied him for a while. He knew that Li Chengshi had originally been the commander of the Tang Dynasty’s naval forces and later appointed as the chief secretary of the Yangzhou Governor’s Office. He was a military leader with a background in civil service, especially skilled in training naval forces—the Jiangnan naval forces had been trained by him. He was also a key target of Li Qing’an. It was unexpected that he would be captured here.

Li Baozhen waved his hand, ordering that the ropes be untied. With a bow, he said smilingly, “So you are Secretary Li. I’ve long heard of you.”

Li Chengshi moved his wrists silently without saying a word. Li Baozhen didn’t mind and smiled again, “We appeared here suddenly. Secretary Li must be surprised!”

Li Chengshi shook his head and said, “I thought the Lingnan army was a ruse by you. I never expected you to land in Hangzhou Bay—it’s truly surprising. You’re indeed very clever. But where did your large ships come from?”
Li Baozhen waved at General Tian Jianming beside him. Tian Jianming stepped forward and bowed, asking, “General Li, what is it?”
“Nothing much. I’d like you to meet this former commander of the Tang Dynasty’s navy.”
Li Baozhen pointed at Tian Jianming and said to Li Chengshi, “General Tian was stationed in Xinde half a year ago. Four months ago, he set sail from the Anxi naval port in southern Xinde, leading 300 large ships carrying two million bushels of grain. After a journey of tens of thousands of miles, he arrived in Guangzhou over a month ago. Then he led his fleet northward and finally reached Yanport. Our 30,000 troops boarded ships at Yanport and headed south, landing in Hangzhou Bay. We waited for your troops to come south to confront the Lingnan army before launching our attack. Now you understand the whole story, right, Chief Clerk Li?”
Li Chengshi was deeply moved. He had once been the commander of the Tang Dynasty’s navy, but after the Tang army defeated the Japanese navy in the Battle of Baishui River at the beginning of the Tang dynasty, it never achieved any further great feats, let alone made long voyages to Xinde in Persia. He felt great respect for Tian Jianming and even bowed to him, saying slowly, “General Tian is someone I admire greatly.”
Li Chengshi then turned to Li Baozhen and said, “But your 30,000 troops may not be able to stop our 60,000-strong army.”
Zhao Chongjie beside him smiled slightly and said, “It seems Chief Clerk Li underestimates our general. For this battle in the south, our general began preparing half a year ago. Moreover, our Internal Security Intelligence Bureau has already gathered detailed information about the King of Wu and his heir—their personality traits, their weaknesses. Let me put it this way: Li Yi has the habit of wetting the bed at dawn. He gets up before dawn to urinate and then can’t fall back asleep. He’s impatient and selfish, never considering the fatigue of his soldiers. He will surely order an advance before the fifth watch. From the age of 16 to now, there has never been an exception. So tomorrow morning, he will also set out before the fifth watch. Am I wrong?”
Li Chengshi was stunned. It was exactly true—Li Yi did have that habit. He had only realized it now, but he didn’t know it was because of bedwetting, while the other party knew it clearly.
“How… how do you know that?”
“That’s the skill of our Internal Security Intelligence Bureau.”

Zhao Chongjie smiled again and said, “I might as well tell you more. Li Taiqing, the king of Wu’s advisor, surrendered to us at the beginning of the year. So we know exactly how many troops, provisions, and horses you sent, as well as your route of march. Although we only have 30,000 soldiers, they are all cavalry—some of the finest in Anxi, each experienced in countless battles. May I ask, Chief Li, can you really stop our 60,000 troops?”
Li Chengshi was speechless. Even Li Taiqing, Li Lin’s most trusted advisor, had surrendered to Li Qingan. What was the point of this battle anymore? He couldn’t help but think of the saying: “Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.”
Li Chengshi sighed deeply and said, “You’ve won.”
Li Baozhen stepped forward slowly and said earnestly, “It was inevitable for us to win. But Prince Zhao doesn’t want the people of Jiangnan to leave their homes and follow Li Lin to Bashu. That’s why he wants to keep these soldiers in their hometowns to prevent Jiangnan from being devastated by war. Only then can the Tang Dynasty revive and enjoy another golden age. Prince Zhao cares about the common people of the land. You, Chief Li, were once an official in charge of your region. Why can’t you serve the court instead of rebelling with Li Lin?”
Li Chengshi sighed and lowered his head in silence. Zhao Chongjie persuaded him further, “Your personal guards also say you’ve fallen out with Li Yi. Think about it—between his son and his general, who will Li Lin choose? He would rather trust his son than you. If you go back, you’re certain to die. Our general once told us that if he could get Li Chengshi, he would assign him to lead the Tang Dynasty’s navy to explore the seas and expand its territorial waters. Those were his exact words.”
Li Chengshi’s eyes gradually lit up. He stared at Zhao Chongjie in awe. Leading the Tang Dynasty’s navy to explore the seas and expand its territories had been his dream since youth. Now, his heart was filled with excitement. Suddenly, he knelt on one knee and bowed to Li Baozhen, saying, “Li Chengshi is willing to return to the court and serve Prince Zhao wholeheartedly, dedicating himself to the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty’s navy until his death.”
Li Baozhen quickly helped him up and nodded, “Good! I’ll send someone to take you north to see Prince Zhao right away.”
But Li Chengshi firmly shook his head. “I want to go south with you. I don’t want 60,000 men to die following that fool Li Yi.”
……
In the evening, scouts brought news. It was New Year’s Eve. Li Yi’s 60,000 troops were camped outside Zixi County, resting. But there was no noise of celebration inside the camp—everything was very quiet, likely because all the soldiers were asleep.
“And where is Li Yi?” Li Baozhen asked in a deep voice.

“He led a thousand personal guards into the city to spend New Year’s Eve, and ordered the thirty wealthiest families in Zixi County to each give him a woman.”
“Damn bastard!” Li Chengshi cursed in a low voice.
Li Baozhen replied without hesitation, “This is a great opportunity! Let’s set off now!”
At Li Baozhen’s command, thirty thousand cavalry mounted their horses and sped forward at full speed. With unstoppable momentum, they rushed toward Zixi County, fifty li away.
It was gradually getting dark, and darkness covered Zixi County. It was a small county with only a thousand households; its town was too small to accommodate sixty thousand troops. Li Yi himself also wanted to spend New Year’s Eve, so he refused to let the army enter the city and instead had them camp outside. He had intended to let the soldiers have a good meal so they could fight for him the next day, but his logistics failed—no food or provisions arrived, and no news came from those sent to urge delivery. Zixi County couldn’t supply sixty thousand troops either. With no other choice, Li Yi ordered the soldiers to drink water and eat dry rations, then go to bed early.
Grumbling filled the camp, but there was nothing they could do. Everyone was extremely tired. After eating a little dry ration, the soldiers fell into deep sleep.
Dozens of officers, however, stayed awake. They gathered to discuss their options. When the highly respected Li Chengshi left, the officers no longer wanted to fight for Li Yi in Hongzhou.
“Damn it! We’re drinking water and eating fried rice, while this guy goes into the city to sleep with women and feast! I quit!” one officer shouted angrily. His outburst resonated, and dozens of officers joined in cursing. One officer said, “I heard there’s an epidemic in the Lingnan army. If we go there, won’t we get infected and die?”
Another sneered, “Dying from an epidemic is still better. I think we’ll die of exhaustion along the way. My horse is already almost dead—tomorrow I’ll have to carry it while marching.”
“Hey! Hey! Stop cursing and let’s discuss this! While that guy isn’t in the camp tonight, let’s leave!”
“Where can we go?”
“Anywhere—home or across the river to join the Northern Tang army. Just don’t die from exhaustion for him and end up accused of rebellion.”
As they argued, suddenly the tent trembled slightly, and the oil lamp fell to the ground and went out. They looked at each other in confusion. “Was it an earthquake?”
“It doesn’t seem so. Why would the ground keep shaking?”
At that moment, the shaking intensified, accompanied by a dull thunderous sound. An experienced officer suddenly shouted, “Bad news! It’s cavalry!”

The tent was in chaos as dozens of officers stumbled out in panic. Once outside, they were stunned to see countless cavalry figures speeding around the camp in the darkness. Many soldiers were also awakened and fled from their tents, at a loss as to what to do.

Thirty thousand cavalry charged forward with thunderous hoofbeats. Moments later, they surrounded the entire camp. Gradually, the cavalry quieted down, and silence fell over the camp. Then, Li Chengshi rode up to the camp gate, his deep, slightly hoarse voice echoing through the night air.

“Brothers, I’m Li Chengshi. I’m here to save you. You’re surrounded by thirty thousand of Anxi’s finest cavalry. You’re just infantry—under their swords, you’re nothing but lambs to be slaughtered. Li Yi is foolish and selfish; he doesn’t care for his soldiers. Tonight is New Year’s Eve, a day for families to reunite. Yet here you are, drinking water and eating dry rations, while Li Yi goes into the city to feast and indulge. How unjust is that? Brothers, lay down your weapons. You can go home or surrender to the imperial court. Do you hear me? It’s the imperial army. You’re all rebelling now. Lay down your weapons, and I, Li Chengshi, promise you’ll live to welcome the New Year!”

Li Chengshi enjoyed high prestige among the troops. Coupled with the terrifying presence of the thirty thousand Anxi cavalry and Li Yi’s cruelty, many soldiers had already quietly laid down their weapons. At that moment, the officers who had been in the meeting earlier shouted, “We’ll follow General Li Chengshi’s orders! We’ll lay down our weapons and not die for that bastard!”

Led by these officers, more and more soldiers began to lay down their weapons. By now, everyone knew that surrendering was the only way to survive. The officers spontaneously organized themselves and led their men out of the camp one battalion at a time to surrender. Li Yi’s personal guards had gone with him to the city to indulge, so no one tried to stop them or cause trouble.

Li Baozhen narrowed his eyes. The outcome was somewhat beyond his expectations—no single soldier was hurt, and the six hundred thousand troops from the south surrendered. They captured Li Chengshi in exchange for those six hundred thousand soldiers. What a good deal!

Half an hour later, all six hundred thousand southern soldiers had left the camp and gathered densely in the northwest part of it. Then Li Baozhen ordered Zhao Chongjie, “Take your men in and clean up the camp. Anyone who hides or resists will be executed without mercy!”

“On it!”

Zhao Chongjie waved his hand and led his five thousand cavalry into the empty camp…

Li Yi learned of the arrival of the Anxi army half an hour later. Outside Zixi County, countless torches surrounded the county town, and 20,000 cavalrymen holding torches created a sea of fire. Without launching an attack, they used a powerful, silent pressure to intimidate Li Yi inside the city.

At this moment, Li Yi’s arrogance and ignorance were fully exposed. The north gate was thrown open. Fully armored, riding his warhorse at full speed and wielding a large iron spear, he led 1,000 elite soldiers in a loud charge at the Anxi cavalry. As the most fierce general in the Jiangnan region, with immense strength in his arms, couldn’t he break through?

At that moment, Zhao Chongjie from the Anxi army slowly drew an arrow, nocked it on his bow, drawing it back until it was full moon-shaped. The arrowhead glowed with a deadly light. He was the fifth best archer in the Anxi army, second only to Li Qing’an, Nan Jiyun, Li Fei Shouyu, and Li Sheng. This arrow was meant to serve as a lesson from the Anxi army to Li Yi.

With a snap of the string, the arrow shot out like lightning, swift and powerful. In the darkness, as Li Yi opened his mouth to shout, there was a “thwack!” The powerful arrow pierced his mouth, with the arrowhead emerging from the back of his head. Li Yi’s eyes bulged violently as he dropped his iron spear, raised his hands high, and slowly fell from his galloping horse.

…
(In history, Li Yi died in the chaos after his defeat!)