Chapter 119: Capturing the South Gate

Li Yi said coldly, “My troops are all infantry; we will likely be discovered by the bandits before even reaching the city gates. It’s better if Captain He leads the cavalry in the vanguard assault.”

He Renlong evaded, “My cavalry lacks fodder for the horses, and the horseshoes are badly damaged. They cannot fight for the time being.”

Gao Jie, standing behind Li Yi, shouted angrily, “Captain He, do you take us for children? The cavalry should be the first to strike in such a critical moment.”

He Renlong stepped forward, grabbing Gao Jie by the collar, glaring fiercely, “A mere squad leader dares to disrespect me?”

Then, with a sudden shove, he pushed Gao Jie aside and glared viciously at Li Yi. “Seizing Dragon Gate Crossing is the order given to you by the Councilor. I am the commanding general. If you refuse to obey, you are breaking military law. I’ll have your head chopped off right now.”

Gao Jie stared at He Renlong with fury.

They left the military tent.

Gao Jie fumed, “This He Renlong, you gave him the command, and yet he wants to harm us. Truly despicable.”

Liu Zongmin advised, “Captain, He Renlong is narrow-minded and ruthless. We cannot trust him.”

Naturally, Li Yi did not trust He Renlong.

“I have my own plan. Under no circumstances can we fight the bandits in a chaotic melee at the South Gate. Even if we win, our casualties will be too heavy. We need a perfect strategy.”

Outside Dragon Gate Town, the outer houses had been destroyed by fire and war. Only the earthen city walls enclosed the bandits inside the city, which covered less than a hundred mu, with walls just over three meters high.

Li Yi would never follow He Renlong’s order to force an assault on the South Gate and draw the bandits’ forces there.

Such a move would cause heavy casualties to the Suijin army.

He summoned Liu Zongmin, instructing him to disguise himself and two others as bandits, driving a donkey cart toward the South Gate.

Soon, the bandits noticed the donkey cart and poked their heads out, holding spears.

“Squad leader, a cart with five men is coming. They look like our own brothers. Should we check outside the city?”

“They’re only five. Let them approach the gate. No need for us to run all the way there.”

A squad leader in cotton armor peeked out. “Damn it, it’s surely the leader bringing back loot. You go to the gate and check. We must get our share.”

Liu Zongmin wore cotton armor inside, with a gray short jacket over it, driving the cart to the gate and shouting loudly.

“Open the gate! I’m under Captain Miao’s command, carrying goods into the city.”

Miao Mei was a chief under Wang Zuo, guarding the gate. The bandits quickly opened the gate.

Over twenty bandits in cotton armor, armed with spears and large blades, rushed out, surrounding the donkey cart.

If they sensed anything wrong, they would immediately slaughter the five men to pieces.

Liu Zongmin hurried forward, “Squad leader, thank you for your efforts. These are Captain Miao’s goods; please allow us passage.”

The bandit squad leader sized Liu Zongmin up and down.

Liu Zongmin felt his scalp tingle and cold sweat break out on his forehead.

Fortunately, the bandits’ discipline was lax, and due to high casualties, recognition was difficult.

The bandit squad leader coldly said, “Captain Miao’s struck it rich, but who knows if he’ll share with us.”

Liu Zongmin quickly replied, “These are worthless trinkets. Captain Miao’s silent, and I don’t have the courage to decide. Please don’t trouble me, lest Captain Miao blame me.”

“Don’t give me that. I’m a squad leader under Marshal Wang. Miao Mei can’t boss me around. Listen, we all get a share. We’re the watchdogs here. No payoff, no entry.”

Annoyed, Liu Zongmin pulled two silver ingots from his bosom. “This is Captain Miao’s reward. Take it for now.”

The squad leader snatched the silver, weighing it—about thirty taels.

Since Miao Mei held some sway under Wang Zuo, the squad leader didn’t want to offend him badly. He waved his hand, and the bandits parted to clear a path.

Having extorted a bribe, the bandits sheathed their weapons, laughing and inviting the squad leader to drink.

Amid their laughter at the gate, Liu Zongmin exchanged glances with his comrades, suddenly drawing their waist knives and stabbing the bandits around them fiercely, then hacking them down one after another.

The sudden attack shocked the bandits.

The squad leader was the first to react, shouting, “They’re government soldiers! Kill them!”

Bandits inside the gate poured out.

Liu Zongmin slashed down the bandit before him, climbed onto the cart, and pulled back the oilcloth, revealing a tiger-crouching cannon on the cart.

“Scatter, damn it!”

With a roar, Liu Zongmin lit the fuse of the tiger cannon.

Prepared government soldiers stepped back to clear the way.

Boom!

A thunderous explosion sent a spray of pellets, instantly blanketing the bandits at the gate.

Piercing screams echoed. Amidst the smoke, dozens of bandits writhed in agony on the ground, clutching bloody wounds.

The bandit squad leader, his arm broken by a pellet, tried to stand and fight, but upon seeing the rising dust and hearing hoofbeats, his expression changed drastically.

Li Yi led his cavalry, charging like a gale.

Amid the swirling dust, Li Yi pierced the squad leader’s chest with his tiger tooth spear, then swept aside the bandits in front of him.

His warhorse neighed, the spear blade flashing as he killed several more, bursting into the city.

Buyan and the Wuliangha cavalry followed, drawing bows and firing arrows at the gate tower.

Startled bandits screamed and fell from the walls.

More Suijin troops rushed into the city. Gao Jie led men up the walls to clear the bandits above.

Gao Laoshi led his men with Li Yi further into the city.

Over a hundred bandits charged, clad in cotton armor and fierce-faced.

Buyan’s Wuliangha cavalry used their mobility, keeping distance from the bandits, then turned to shoot arrows.

Except for one arrow from Buyan that struck a bandit’s head, the others were blocked by cotton armor, only causing some disorder.

Though their bows were more accurate and faster, their armor-piercing power was no match for firearms.

Gao Laoshi led the Suijin troops like a tidal wave against the bandits.

Though disciplined and orderly, the Suijin troops were still recently trained and not very strong.

The bandits initially retreated under the onslaught, suffering casualties, but quickly regrouped and counterattacked.

Their fierce combat prowess forced the Suijin troops to fall back.

Clearly, the bandits who followed Wang Zuo in pillaging and fighting were not easy opponents.

At least, the current Suijin troops could not handle them.

Seeing the bandits’ forces rapidly approaching, Li Yi knew he had to break them quickly.

He reined in his horse, hung up the tiger tooth spear, and drew his golden bow, shooting an arrow that struck a bandit in the front line.

The powerful bow, weighing over three shi, sent the arrow through the bandit’s chest, pinning him to the ground.

The bandits halted in shock, staring at their comrade carried by the arrow, mouths agape.

Li Yi exploited his sharp archery to shoot and kill several more, suppressing the bandits’ morale.

Then he seized the tiger tooth spear, riding his horse like a dagger plunging into the bandit ranks.

With exceptional strength, his sharp spear swept out, sending two bandits flying.

The surrounding bandits roared and surged forward, but Li Yi, mounted on a strong warhorse, brutally broke their formation, stabbing and slashing left and right with his spear.

In moments, more than a dozen bandit corpses lay behind him.

Though battle-hardened, the bandits had never seen such a scene.

After all, even a quarter-hour of fierce fighting exhausts most men, yet this officer wielded a heavy spear with ease, piercing flesh and knocking hundreds-of-pound men twenty meters away.

Is he even human?