Chapter 41 Wang Bing

Jin Yingkui uncomfortably pulled back his hand, shook it subconsciously, and said, "Most of the people in Liaoning still consider themselves Han Chinese. We have been eagerly waiting for the heavenly troops to come and rescue us from the fire and water. Whatever the Qianhu orders, this student will not refuse."

Yang San cupped his fists and said, "Since Scholar Jin has put it this way, I will not stand on ceremony. We need all kinds of intelligence on the four prefectures of Jin, Fu, Gai, and Hai—such as the distribution of city garrisons and the defense status of grain depots everywhere. All these must be thoroughly investigated in preparation for the arrival of our grand army. If there are other loyal and righteous men who are familiar to you and whose hearts remain with the old country, we must also contact them. As for those scoundrels who have surrendered to the Jiannu and disgraced their ancestors, we must find out who they are so we can use them as sacrifices to the heroic souls of the people of Liaoning who died in battle."

Jin Yingkui said, "I have many friends in Fuzhou, and I am willing to go there to establish contacts and gather intelligence."

Yang San said, "Just right then. Jinqing and Scholar Jin will head to Fuzhou together, while the rest of us will head to the prefectures of Gai, Hai, and Jin. Jinqing's home will serve as a temporary contact point. If anything happens, go there; we will have people stationed there."

After giving a few more instructions to the two men, Yang San bade them farewell and returned to Liu Family Village. Liu Yidao would stay behind to act as a liaison, while Yang San took a few men toward Gaizhou, and Zhang Zhaoyun led several others toward Jinzhou.

Liu Yidao asked, "Third Brother, can we really trust those two going to Fuzhou?"

Yang San laughed and said, "Both of them are scholars, so naturally they have ways we cannot find. Generally speaking, the possibility of trouble is low. The places where the Vanguard Army is likely to attack are either Gaizhou or Jinzhou; Fuzhou is the least likely target. Let them go and make contact with some people first. Escaping to Jinzhou when the time comes will also be good."

Yang San led a few men northward, hugging the coastline until they reached Xiong Yue Station to see his friend Zheng Chengyi.

Zheng Chengyi was a butcher with some wealth at home, always fond of making friends, and quite famous in the area. However, when Yang San saw him, he almost failed to recognize him. Zheng had a limp in his leg and a terrifying scar across his face.

Yang San tentatively called out, "Brother Chengyi?"

Zheng Chengyi opened his eyes with great effort, looked at Yang San for a long time, and finally managed to speak: "Is that Hero Yang?"

Yang San’s eyes turned red as he said, "Brother Chengyi, how did you end up like this? Where are your wife and little Ya?"

Tears streamed down Zheng Chengyi's face. Limping, he led the group into the house behind them, carefully checked the surroundings, closed the door securely, and walked into the main hall.

As soon as he entered, he dropped to his knees and kowtowed to Yang San: "Third Brother, you must help me avenge this! Little Ya was snatched away by that bastard Wang Bing, and they killed my wife and beat me into this state."

Yang San raged, "Damn it, Wang Bing again! Who on earth is this guy?"

Zheng Chengyi replied, "He is a guerrilla commander under the Jiannu Han Army General Liu Aita. This man is extremely depraved and vicious, habitually seizing women and insanely greedy for wealth. The Han people hate him to the bone, yet they can do nothing against him."

Yang San said, "Since this man has aroused such great public indignation, we will find an opportunity to finish him off, vent some of our Han people's pent-up fury, and eliminate an enemy for the imperial court ahead of its recovery of the four prefectures."

Startled and overjoyed, Zheng Chengyi asked, "Is the court going to recover the four prefectures? That's wonderful, simply wonderful! Between the Jiannu seizing grain and abducting people, we can barely survive anymore. Third Brother, I know where Wang Bing lives, and I am willing to lead you there to kill him."

Yang San comforted him: "Don't rush. He is a guerrilla general of some rank with many subordinates, and his residence must be heavily guarded. Let's find out all his details first before we go and finish him off."

Over the next few days, Zheng Chengyi led Yang San to thoroughly investigate the situation in Xiong Yue Station and roughly mapped out Wang Bing's routine. That evening, Yang San said to Zheng Chengyi, "We will slaughter Wang Bing tonight, and then we will head straight for Gaizhou. Since your mobility is impaired, stay here and contact some Han people whose hearts are with the imperial court. When we return next time, it will be time to settle accounts with the Jiannu once and for all."

Zheng Chengyi thumped his leg and said, "Very well, Third Brother. I will do as you say here. You must return quickly and kill the Jiannu soon!"

Yang San, along with Zhang Zhaoyun and four others—totaling six men—arrived outside Wang Bing's house in Xiong Yue Station. Since Wang Bing was currently in charge of the Xiong Yue garrison, he had chosen the largest estate. Both the front and back doors were guarded by a squad of sentries, but this naturally posed no obstacle to experts like Yang San who could vault over walls effortlessly.

As the hour of the rat approached, confirming that the sentries at both front and back had fallen asleep, Yang San waved his hand, and the group moved together toward the side courtyard wall. Yang San gave a light leap, hooked his hands over the top of the wall, and vaulted over. Zhang Zhaoyun and the others, all practiced in martial arts, also entered the courtyard with ease.

Once everyone was inside, Yang San said softly, "Be careful. It seems there are a few people here. Stay here while I go take a look alone."

The group could hear voices coming from a brightly lit room. Possessing the best lightness skill, Yang San approached slowly until he reached just below the windowsill, where he could hear the conversation inside clearly.

A gloomy voice spoke: "Wangyi, you will go to Liaoyang tomorrow and deliver a message to the Grand Prince, saying that Liu Aita is preparing to organize the residents of Fuzhou to flee and asking the Great Jin troops to come and suppress them. Wangliu, you will continue to mingle among Liu Xingren's people tomorrow and find out who they are contacting—the more the better, so he won't be able to talk his way out of it when the time comes."

Hearing this, Yang San was startled. Liu Aita, whose original name was Liu Xingzuo, was a native of Kaiyuan in Liaodong. In the thirty-third year of the Wanli reign, he fled to Jianzhou. Because of his outstanding talent, cleverness, and empathetic nature, he won the deep respect and appreciation of Nurhaci and was assigned to the Plain Red Banner of the Grand Prince Daišan. He had participated in Later Jin's campaigns attacking the Ming dynasty and advancing into Liaoning and Shenyang. For merits such as defeating the enemy and pursuing fleeing forces, he was awarded the title of garrison commander and quickly rose through the ranks to become a deputy general. Currently, he served as a Later Jin general governing the southern four garrison territories of Jinzhou, Fuzhou, Haizhou, and Gaizhou, making him a prominent Han official within the Later Jin state. For such a man to actually want to return to the south was massive intelligence indeed.

Judging from the discussion inside, it was evident that Liu Xingzuo's plan to defect southward had been exposed, meaning these men absolutely could not be spared. Treading softly, he walked back and whispered to Zhang Zhaoyun, "There should be three people inside. Mind you, not a single one can be allowed to escape. Hide by the door and deal with anyone who comes out; I'll go inside to kill them. Be quick to prevent them from shouting for help."

The men nodded and slowly crept toward the doorway. At that moment, the door swung open and two figures stepped out. Yang San swept past them and charged straight into the room. Taken by surprise, the two men about to step out tried to shout, but Zhang Zhaoyun and Li Shuqi each struck, driving their daggers into the men's ribs while simultaneously clamping their hands over their mouths. After convulsing a few times, the two men stopped struggling. Zhang Zhaoyun and his companion gently lowered the bodies to the ground and rushed into the room.