051 Advancing by Retreating

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After hearing Wang Lanping’s strategy, Shi Kefa repeatedly nodded in approval. When Wang finished speaking, Shi Kefa leaned back against the wall, laughed heartily, said nothing more, and strode confidently out of the hall. The surrounding officials were left bewildered. Wang Lanping did not elaborate further to the officials either; he bowed slightly to the attendants and followed suit out of the hall. This scene only deepened the confusion among the Yangzhou officials. What exactly had the Marquis of Dingnan said to Commander Shi? How could Shi Kefa, who had just looked fully convinced, suddenly wear a calm and composed expression? It was truly perplexing.

Yangzhou was divided into the Old City and the New City. The Old City was mostly inhabited by common folk and modestly wealthy families, while the New City was home to Yangzhou’s salt merchants and wealthy elites. As Wang Lanping ascended the city tower and looked out afar, his understanding became clear: nearly all of Gao Jie’s artillery was pointed directly at the gates of the New City.

If Gao Jie’s intention was merely to intimidate Shi Kefa, he would have surrounded all four gates with overwhelming force and noise to pressure the city into surrendering money and supplies. Yet now, only the New City gates were being menaced. This spoke volumes: Gao Jie truly intended to fight, willing to break into Yangzhou to plunder its wealth, striking hard against the wealthy salt merchants and elite families who were the richest in the land.

From this, Wang Lanping concluded that Gao Jie was a simple-minded brute. The salt merchants were absolutely not to be plundered or harmed, for salt was essential to the common people’s livelihood. Yangzhou’s salt merchants nearly monopolized the official salt market across all the land. If they were thrown into chaos, the entire southern salt trade would collapse, sending prices soaring and provoking widespread popular anger.

As for Gao Jie’s army morale, it was less morale than banditry. Outside the New City gate, in the one-zhang-wide moat, over a thousand naked soldiers of Gao Jie’s forces were bathing to cool off, paying no heed to the city defenders on the walls nearby. Their tents were pitched right beneath the walls, from which sounds of gambling and drinking frequently rose.

Many freely brandished their weapons by the moat, shouting curses in the crudest language imaginable. Some even urinated openly at the city guards as mockery.

If these were truly Ming soldiers, Wang Lanping did not believe it for a moment. They were more akin to bandits flying the Ming banner.

If such troops entered the city, the consequences would be disastrous and predictable.

Yangzhou’s city spanned roughly ten li, with five gates: Haining Gate to the east, Yongsimen to the west, Anjiang Gate to the south, and Zhenhuai Gate to the north.

During the middle and late Ming period, due to coastal pirate raids that penetrated hundreds of miles inland, a small eastern gate was added to the eastern city wall section. Additionally, barbicans were constructed at the east and north gates, paired with arrow towers to form a strong defensive system. A moat about one zhang deep encircled the city walls, which were already filled with water.

The walls stood about three zhang high (approximately nine meters) and two zhang thick (about six meters), with tall corner towers housing archers and riflemen. Such walls were impervious even to Ming cannons; even modern howitzers would struggle to breach them with a handful of shots aimed precisely.

Compared to Huaining City, where Wang Lanping had once been stationed, Yangzhou was an impregnable fortress, rivaling even Nanjing. The only shortfall compared to Nanjing was that Nanjing’s four gates each had double barbicans.

Shi Kefa walked alongside Wang Lanping along the city walls, discussing their plan. After about an hour, they descended from the walls and headed straight toward the New City gate, where Gao Jie’s forces were concentrated. Standing on the inner barbican wall, they looked down.

Outside, Gao Jie’s army remained arrogant and disorderly. Wang Lanping glanced at Shi Kefa, who nodded slightly, signaling to begin.

Wang Lanping shouted down to the soldiers bathing in the moat, “Who is Gao Jie? Bring him here to answer!”

The soldiers looked up and saw the grand commanding flag fluttering atop the city wall. Someone immediately went to deliver the message to Gao Jie’s camp.

Soon, a shirtless man about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, surrounded by soldiers, approached the drawbridge. He was somewhat handsome and wiped sweat from his brow. “Commander Shi, have you come to your senses? Open the gates now. My patience is limited. If you don’t, don’t blame me if my blades show no mercy.”

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Shi Kefa bowed with a smile, confident and unafraid. “General Gao, wait a moment. Do you recognize this man?” He gestured toward Wang Lanping.

Wang Lanping nodded and smiled faintly at Gao Jie.

Gao Jie shaded his eyes and looked carefully a few times, then waved his hand impatiently. “I don’t know him. Open the gates quickly! My troops have been starving for two days. If they mutiny, I can’t be responsible.”

Wang Lanping waved his hand, signaling his guards to raise his large banner. Ancient military banners came in five colors, corresponding to the five elements: red, blue, black, white, and yellow. Yellow was the central color, reserved as the commander’s banner. The banner emblazoned with the character ‘Wang’ was now proudly hoisted on the city wall, fluttering in the blazing sun.

Gao Jie was momentarily stunned, then his expression hardened. He looked again at the young commander smiling atop the city wall and thought to himself: Could this be Wang Lanping, the commander who killed Liu Zeqing? The Marquis and military governor?

Gao Jie rode his horse in circles, quietly fuming. Rumors said Wang Lanping had returned to Nanjing; why was he here in Yangzhou? What was his purpose? After dealing with Liu Zeqing, was he now coming for me? Damn him, he’s here at last. Today, I shall avenge General Liu.

Gao Jie’s murderous intent surged. Wang Lanping had entered the city unnoticed by scouts outside, indicating he brought very few troops. Yangzhou was defended by only a few thousand soldiers, mostly the elderly and weak brought by Shi Kefa from Nanjing. For Gao Jie, attacking the city was not difficult.

“Is that really the Marquis of Dingnan, Commander Wang?” Gao Jie shouted.

Wang Lanping smiled and bowed slightly. “Indeed, General Gao, it’s an honor that such a hero as yourself knows me.”

Hearing it was truly that living devil, Gao Jie was furious. He whipped his horse. “Wang Lanping, you’ve taken personal revenge under the guise of public justice, framing General Liu Zeqing. You murdered the three-dynasty veteran General Li Zhi at Xiangshan on fabricated charges. Today, I, Gao Jie, shall avenge them! Men, prepare to assault the city!”

At his command, the troops erupted in excitement. They eagerly anticipated capturing Yangzhou, a veritable gold mine. Once taken, they would never need to fight again.

Wang Lanping raised his hand and shouted, “General Gao, slow down! May I ask you a question first?”

Gao Jie, about to turn his horse to prepare the assault, spun angrily. “What? You want to open the gates and surrender? Fine, since you’re so sensible, I’ll leave you with a corpse.”

Gao Jie was not feigning. He was a reckless man who once rebelled with Li Zicheng but coveted Li’s concubines, stealing them and then defecting with over ten thousand troops to the Ming. A wild man who dared anything without regard for consequences, fearing nothing but death.

Wang Lanping waved his hand. “General, you bear a grudge against me, but today I come to Yangzhou for your sake. I heard your supplies have run out, and Commander Shi refuses to recognize your reputation, fearing your fierce troops would disturb the people. He dared not invite you in for rest, so I’ve come to mediate.”

Gao Jie sneered coldly. “Is that so? I see no sign of it.”

Wang Lanping said, “General, I am young and less renowned than you and Commander Shi. How about this: let Commander Shi speak to you directly.” He nodded toward Shi Kefa.

Shi Kefa responded, “General Gao, all that Marquis Dingnan said is true. I admit my heart is narrow, and I feared your forces enough to deny a renowned Ming general entry. That is my fault. Please look upon me kindly. I have arranged one thousand civilian homes inside the city as quarters, prepared fifty thousand shi of grain, ten thousand jin of forage, and one thousand jars of fine wine, awaiting your arrival. Come, open the gates.”

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Gao Jie stared at the creaking gates slowly opening—the very gates he had dreamed of entering. Inside dwelt the wealthiest salt merchants in the world; pillaging any one of their homes could feed his army for months. Yet now, with the gates wide open, he was stunned.

Though brave, Gao Jie was not foolish. After days of siege, Shi Kefa had refused to open the gates. Why open them now at Wang Lanping’s appearance? Was there a trap? An ambush? Charging blindly in to loot and flee would be without justification.

He looked toward his generals and beckoned General Xu Dingguo close, whispering, “Tell me, should we enter or not?”

Xu Dingguo, from Henan, over fifty years old, famed for immense strength—able to lift a thousand jin bell—commanded ten thousand troops under Gao Jie. He was a seasoned and capable officer.

After pondering, Xu counseled, “General, do not trust lightly; be wary of deceit. Wang Lanping is cunning. First, he seized command of the capital army, then subdued the Huai’an troops. He harbors ambition. We must not underestimate him. I suggest a pretext to storm the city, then report to the court that Wang Lanping has rebelled, aiming to seize Yangzhou. If urgent, we should strike first and report later. Once he is dead, no proof remains.”

If Gao Jie followed Xu’s advice, Wang Lanping might not live to leave Yangzhou. However, Gao Jie was not Xu Dingguo. Gao Jie was a reckless man who would betray brothers for a woman, valuing life and fleeting pleasures above all else. He lacked long-term plans and was easily satisfied by immediate gain. Wang Lanping was certain Gao Jie would not attack the city but would enter openly, so why risk a bloody battle?

Gao Jie nodded slightly, not out of agreement with Xu’s kill-first approach, but because he too suspected a trap and would not recklessly risk himself.

He shouted to the city wall, “Commander Shi, playing the empty city trick? You’re no Zhuge Liang, and I’m no Sima Yi.”

Shi Kefa and Wang Lanping exchanged glances. Shi thought: As you predicted, Marquis Wang, he’s caught in a dilemma.

“I dare not compare myself to Zhuge Liang,” Shi Kefa replied. “This is no empty city stratagem. I sincerely invite you to enter for rest. Or shall I personally come out to greet you?”

Gao Jie was torn but finally devised a seemingly win-win plan. He summoned Xu Dingguo and ordered, “General Xu, lead five thousand troops inside the city. I will station the main army outside. We’ll support each other. They won’t dare harm us. Once we assess the situation, I will lead the main force inside.”

Xu Dingguo privately lamented. What nonsense was that? The city’s situation was unclear. If the enemy harmed me inside the city while you waited outside, what good was your support? But orders were orders, and he obeyed.

In truth, Gao Jie’s plan was entirely as Wang Lanping expected. Reckless as he was, when faced with obvious schemes, his only thought was to never fall for them, even at the cost of death.

This was exactly what Wang Lanping intended.

Gao Jie’s main army withdrew five li to camp outside the city. Xu Dingguo nervously led five thousand soldiers into Yangzhou. Shi Kefa and Wang Lanping exchanged a knowing smile.