Chapter 107: Song Jiang Wins a Great Victory over the Jishan Army; Zhu Wu Breaks the Six-Flower Formation

CHAPTER 107

Song Jiang Wins a Great Victory over the Ji Mountain Army; Zhu Wu Breaks the Six-Flower Formation

As the story goes, Song Jiang led his generals and troops, marching toward Jingnan, halting and setting up camp every sixty li. Wherever the army passed, they did not harm the common people in the slightest. The men and horses had already arrived and camped at the Ji Mountain region. That Ji Mountain, north of Jingnan, was a key stronghold for Jingnan. On the mountain, the rebel general Li Rang commanded thirty thousand troops in defense. This Li Rang was the nephew of Li Zhu; Wang Qing had appointed him Pacification Commissioner. When he heard that Song Jiang and his men had broken through the Shannan Army and captured Duan Er, he sent men posthaste to Nanfeng to urgently report to Wang Qing and Li Zhu, saying: "The Song troops are formidable; they have already taken two major commanderies. Now they come to attack Jingnan, and they have also dispatched Lu Junyi’s forces to seize Xijing." Upon hearing this report, Li Zhu was greatly alarmed and immediately entered the palace to inform Wang Qing. The eunuch announced the audience and entered the inner palace, then came out with an edict saying: "Let the military advisor wait; the king will soon appear in the hall." Li Zhu waited for two hours, but there was no movement from the inner palace. He quietly asked a favored attendant, saying: "The king and Lady Duan are in the midst of a heated quarrel!" Li Zhu asked: "Why are the king and the lady quarreling?" The attendant whispered in Li Zhu’s ear: "Because of Lady Duan’s demeanor, the king has not visited her palace for a long time, and Lady Duan is furious about it." Li Zhu waited a while longer, then an eunuch came out and said: "The king has decreed: Is the military advisor still here?" Li Zhu replied: "I am waiting here!" The eunuch reported this inside, and before long, many eunuchs and palace maids surrounded Wang Qing as he came out to the front hall and ascended the throne. Li Zhu prostrated himself, performed the ceremonial bow, and then memorialized: "Your servant’s nephew Li Rang reports that Song Jiang and his men, with their brave generals and strong troops, have captured the two cities of Wanzhou and Shannan. Now Song Jiang has divided his forces: one route to take Xijing, another to attack Jingnan. I humbly beg Your Majesty to dispatch troops for relief." Upon hearing this, Wang Qing was enraged and said: "These Song Jiang fellows are mere marsh grass bandits; how dare they be so rampant!" He then issued a decree, ordering Governor Du Xue to command twelve generals and twenty thousand troops to relieve Xijing; and also ordering the grand commander Xie Yu to lead twelve generals and twenty thousand troops to relieve Jingnan. The two commanders received the military tally and decree, selected their troops, and readied their weapons. The pseudo Privy Council allocated the generals, and the pseudo Transport Commissioner Gong Zheng handled the grain and fodder supply to support the two commanders. They took leave of Wang Qing, each leading their troops and generals, and set off separately to relieve the two places. That is a story for another time.

Meanwhile, Song Jiang and his troops camped ten li north of Ji Mountain, preparing to launch an assault. Scouts confirmed the enemy’s movements. Song Jiang, after consulting with Wu Yong, said to the generals: "I have heard that Li Rang’s subordinates are all fierce warriors. Ji Mountain is the key stronghold of Jingnan. Although our troops outnumber the rebels by twofold, they occupy a strategic defensive position, and our army is encamped at the northern foot, at a disadvantage. Li Rang is cunning and treacherous; when you brothers engage in battle, you must assess the situation and not treat it as ordinary." He then issued orders: "When the generals enter the camp, immediately close the gates and clear the paths. Anyone who walks about shall be executed; anyone who speaks loudly shall be executed. In the army, there will be no second command; anyone who disobeys orders shall be executed. Anyone who delays orders shall be executed." As soon as the orders were given, the army became silent and orderly. Song Jiang instructed Dai Zong to convey orders to the naval commanders, Li Jun and the others, to guard the grain boats carefully and have them gradually transported to the front for supply. He sent a challenge letter to Li Rang, agreeing to fight the next day. The Song vanguard commander ordered Qin Ming, Dong Ping, Huyan Zhuo, Xu Ning, Zhang Qing, Qiong Ying, Jin Ding, and Huang Yue to lead twenty thousand troops into battle; and commanded Jiao Ting, Yu Baosi, Duan Jingzhu, and Shi Yong to lead two thousand infantry to fell trees and widen the army’s path to create a suitable battlefield. After these deployments, Song Jiang and the remaining generals all guarded their camps.

The next day, they prepared meals at the fifth watch. The soldiers ate their fill, and the horses were fed fodder; at dawn, the battle began. Li Rang led the associate generals Ma Qiang, Ma Jin, Yuan Lang, Teng Gui, and Teng Kan, with twenty thousand troops, charging down the mountain. These five men were the most valiant among the rebels; Wang Qing had appointed them Tiger-Might Generals. At that moment, the rebel troops and Qin Ming’s forces faced each other. The rebels arrayed on the flat ground at the northern foot of the mountain, with many more troops on the mountain to support them. The two sides unfurled their banners, formed battle formations, and used strong bows and hard crossbows to hold their positions. Alligator-skin drums thundered, and colorful flags dazzled the eyes. From the rebel formation, the gate banners parted, and the rebel general Yuan Lang charged forward on his horse, wearing a bronze helmet, a robe embroidered with floral patterns, and black lacquered armor inlaid with plates. He rode a curly-haired black steed, had a red face and yellow beard, stood about nine feet tall, and wielded two water-polished steel maces—the left weighing fifteen jin, the right sixteen jin. He shouted loudly: "Marsh grass bandits, which one of you dares to come forward and die?" From the Song formation, the Hebei surrendered generals Jin Ding and Huang Yue, eager to claim the first merit, galloped out together on their horses, cursing: "Rebel traitors, not worth mentioning!" Jin Ding brandished a big wave-cutting broadsword, and Huang Yue twirled a fine steel spear; they charged straight at Yuan Lang. Yuan Lang countered with his two steel maces. The three horses formed a T-shape as they fought. After thirty exchanges, Yuan Lang parried with his mace, turned his horse, and fled. Jin Ding and Huang Yue gave chase. Yuan Lang suddenly wheeled his horse around; Jin Ding’s horse was slightly ahead. Just as Jin Ding swung his sword to strike, Yuan Lang raised his left mace to meet it. With a clang, the sword blade was chipped. Jin Ding could not withdraw his sword in time, and Yuan Lang’s right mace struck him, shattering his helmet and skull, sending him crashing to the ground. Huang Yue arrived, his spear thrusting toward Yuan Lang’s chest. Quick-eyed and nimble-handed, Yuan Lang dodged; Huang Yue’s spear missed, sliding under his right armpit. Yuan Lang tucked his left mace under his arm, clamped his right hand on the spear shaft, and pulled it backward, causing Huang Yue to fall forward into his embrace. Yuan Lang seized him around the waist with his right hand, lifted him off his horse, and threw him to the ground. The troops shouted, hastily rushed out, and captured him, taking him into the formation. Huang Yue’s horse galloped back to its own lines. In the Song formation, Thunderclap Qin Ming, enraged at the loss of two generals, spurred his horse forward, whirled his wolf-tooth club, and charged straight at Yuan Lang. Yuan Lang wielded his maces to meet him. The two fought for over fifty rounds. From the Song formation, the female general Qiong Ying, mounted on her silver-maned horse and wielding a halberd, wearing a purple-gold phoenix crown adorned with emeralds and a red embroidered battle robe over silver armor inlaid with gold, rode out to assist Qin Ming. The rebel general Teng Gui, seeing it was a woman, urged his horse forward and laughed loudly: "Song Jiang and his ilk are truly grass bandits—how can they send a woman into battle?" Teng Gui brandished a three-point double-edged sword and engaged Qiong Ying. After more than ten exchanges, Qiong Ying used her halberd to separate Teng Gui’s sword, turned her horse, and fled toward her formation. Teng Gui gave a great shout and chased after her. Qiong Ying secretly took a stone from the embroidered pouch by her saddle, twisted her willow-like waist, aimed at Teng Gui, and let fly a stone. It struck him square in the face, tearing skin and flesh, blood gushing out, and he fell from his horse. Qiong Ying swiftly turned her horse back, raised her halberd, and finished Teng Gui off. When Teng Kan saw the female general kill his brother, he was furious, spurred his horse out of the formation, and wielded a tiger’s-eye bamboo-jointed steel whip to strike at Qiong Ying. At this, Double-Whip General Huyan Zhuo rode forward, brandishing his whip to engage him. The generals watching saw that their skills were evenly matched, and their appearances were similar. Huyan Zhuo wore a horned iron headcloth, a golden silk headband, a black robe with seven-star studs, black lacquered armor inlaid with plates, and rode a snow-treading black steed. Teng Kan wore a cross-horned iron headcloth, a large red silk headband, a black robe with embroidered flowers and emerald dots, black lacquered armor with gold inlay, and rode a yellow-maned horse. Huyan Zhuo had only one additional water-polished eight-edged steel whip. The two circled left and right on the battlefield, back and forth, fighting for over fifty rounds with no clear victor. Meanwhile, Qin Ming and Yuan Lang had already fought over 150 rounds. The rebel commander Li Rang, observing from a height and seeing the female general’s deadly stone-throwing and the loss of Teng Gui, ordered the gongs to signal retreat. Seeing the rebel generals’ ferocity, Qin Ming and Huyan Zhuo did not pursue. Yuan Lang and Qin Ming each returned to their formations, and the rebel troops retreated up the mountain.

Qin Ming and the others withdrew their troops and returned to the main camp, reporting that the enemy generals were fierce and skilled in battle, and that Jin Ding and Huang Yue had been lost. Had it not been for General Zhang’s wife, our army’s morale would have been broken. Song Jiang was deeply troubled and discussed with Wu Xuejiu, saying, “If things go on like this, how can we capture Jingnan?” Wu Yong raised two fingers and devised a plan, saying, “We need only do thus and so.” Song Jiang agreed. He then summoned Lu Zhishen, Wu Song, Jiao Ting, Li Kui, Fan Rui, Bao Xu, Xiang Chong, Li Gun, Zheng Tianshou, Song Wan, Du Qian, Gong Wang, Ding Desun, and Shi Yong—fourteen chieftains—along with Ling Zhen, leading five thousand agile and brave infantry. Taking advantage of the moonless night, they each donned light armor, used short weapons, round shields, javelins, and flying knives, and took a small path to the rear of the mountain to carry out the mission. The generals obeyed the orders and departed.

The next morning, Li Rang sent soldiers with a challenge letter. Song Jiang discussed it with Wu Yong. Wu Yong said, “The enemy surely has some cunning scheme. Lu Zhishen and the others have already penetrated deep into their territory, so we must prepare for battle quickly.” Song Jiang approved a battle for that very day, and the soldiers took the letter back up the mountain. Song Jiang then ordered Qin Ming, Dong Ping, Huyan Zhuo, Xu Ning, Zhang Qing, and Qiong Ying to lead the vanguard, commanding twenty thousand troops, with archers and crossbowmen on the flanks, shields and halberds in the center, war chariots in front, and cavalry as support, to charge forward. He instructed Huang Xin, Sun Li, Wang Ying, and Hu Sanniang to muster ten thousand troops and wait in the camp; Li Ying, Chai Jin, Han Tao, and Peng Qi to muster another ten thousand troops and also wait in the camp, saying, “When you hear the signal cannon from my front force, you will advance from the east and west roads to the front of the army.” He further ordered Guan Sheng, Zhu Tong, Lei Heng, Sun Xin, Gu Dasao, Zhang Qing, and Sun Erniang to lead twenty thousand cavalry and infantry and station them behind the main camp, to guard against any enemy reinforcements. With the assignments settled, Song Jiang, along with Wu Yong and Gongsun Sheng, personally directed the battle, while the remaining officers guarded the camp.

That day, during the Chen hour, Wu Yong ascended a scaling ladder to observe. The mountain terrain was steep and dangerous, so he quickly ordered the army to withdraw two li and form ranks, to allow the two flanking forces room to maneuver. Just as the formation was completed, the Jishan bandit general Li Rang, leading Yuan Lang, Teng Kan, Ma Qiang, and Ma Jin—four tiger-like generals—along with twenty-five thousand troops, arrived. Teng Kan had soldiers use bamboo poles to hoist Huang Yue’s head, while pressing forward with five thousand ironclad cavalry for the charge. The soldiers wore deep helmets and iron armor, leaving only their eyes exposed; the horses were heavily armored with face masks, leaving only their four hooves touching the ground. This was because Li Rang, after seeing the female general’s flying stones wound one of his officers the previous day, had adopted this gear. Though arrows and stones might fly, the armor protected them. The five thousand cavalry, with two archers supporting each spearman, charged down. Behind them, the troops split into two wings to attack from both sides. Song Jiang could not hold his ground and hastily retreated. He quickly ordered the signal cannon fired. But the enemy had already shot down several hundred soldiers pushing the chariots; fortunately, the chariots blocked the ironclad cavalry from advancing further. Although there were cavalry behind the chariots, they could not engage effectively. In the midst of this crisis, a series of cannon blasts echoed from behind the mountain, as Lu Zhishen and his band of officers climbed over the ridges and attacked the mountain stronghold. The bandit troops in the stronghold, only five thousand old and weak soldiers with one deputy general, were completely wiped out by Lu Zhishen’s men, who seized the stronghold.

When Li Rang and the others saw the unfolding behind the mountain, they hastily withdrew their troops, but were then attacked from both sides by the four generals under Huang Xin and the four under Li Ying, who converged upon them. Song Jiang also ordered gunners to fire on the ironclad cavalry, and the bandit army was utterly routed. Lu Zhishen, Li Kui, and the other fourteen chieftains, leading the infantry, charged down from the mountain, scattering the bandit soldiers like rain, who fled in panic. It was a pity that such a fierce general as Yuan Lang was killed by cannon fire. Li Rang, at the rear, was killed by Lu Zhishen. Ma Jin and Teng Kan were slain by the chaotic troops, and only Ma Qiang escaped. Countless armor, helmets, drums, and horses were captured. Of the thirty thousand troops, more than half were killed. The mountain above and below was covered with corpses. Song Jiang gathered his troops and, upon counting, found they had lost over a thousand men as well. As it was getting dark, they camped again north of Jishan.

The next day, Song Jiang led his generals and troops up the mountain, collected gold, silver, and grain, set fire to the bandit camp, and generously rewarded the entire army. He recorded the merits of Lu Zhishen and the other fifteen, including Qiong Ying, and then advanced with the army. After crossing Jishan, the main force camped fifteen li outside Jingnan. Song Jiang discussed with Military Advisor Wu Yong the deployment of troops to attack the city, but we will not dwell on that.

Let us turn to another matter. Returning to Lu Junyi’s army, they advanced toward Xijing, cutting roads through mountains and bridging rivers wherever they went. In the places they passed, such as Baofeng, the bandit generals like Wu Shun greeted them with incense, flowers, lamps, and candles, surrendered their cities, and submitted to the Heavenly Court. Lu Junyi comforted and encouraged them, and ordered Wu Shun to guard the city. This moved the bandit generals to tears of gratitude; they poured out their hearts, abandoned evil, and turned to righteousness. From then on, Lu Junyi and his men had no worries to the south, and the army drove straight ahead. In less than a day, they arrived thirty li south of Xijing city, at a place called Yique Mountain, where they camped. They learned through reconnaissance that the city’s commander was the puppet Pacification Commissioner Gong Duan and the Military Commander Xi Sheng, along with several fierce generals, who were defending it. Xi Sheng, the military commander, had studied military formations and was deeply versed in their mysteries. Lu Junyi then consulted with Zhu Wu on the best strategy to take the city. Zhu Wu said, “I hear that Xi Sheng is quite knowledgeable in the art of war and will certainly come to fight. Let us first set up a formation, and when the enemy troops arrive, we will slowly challenge them.” Lu Junyi replied, “Your strategy is most clear and sound.” He then deployed his troops and arranged the “Cyclic Eight Trigrams Formation” on the flat ground south of the mountain.

As they waited, they saw the enemy troops approach in three columns: the center column with red flags, the left with green flags, and the right with red flags. The three armies arrived together. When Xi Sheng saw the Song army arrayed in formation, he ordered the green and red flag troops to separate left and right and set up camp. Ascending a scaling ladder, he observed that the Song troops were in the “Cyclic Eight Trigrams Formation.” Xi Sheng said, “Who doesn’t know this formation? Let me set up a formation to startle them.” He ordered his troops to beat the war drums three times, raised a command platform, and used two signal flags to direct the troops as they formed their ranks left and right. When the formation was complete, he descended from the platform, mounted his horse, and ordered the lead general to open the formation and ride to the front to speak with Lu Junyi. What was Xi Sheng’s attire? Behold: a golden helmet shining with clouds of sunrise light, silver armor spreading frost to swallow the moon’s shadow. A crimson battle robe embroidered with brocade, a yellow leather belt studded with pearls. Green boots stepping on jeweled stirrups, a gilded whip following a silk cord. Before the formation, his horse was like a dragon; in his hand, a sword crossed like three feet of water.

Xi Sheng reined in his horse and rode directly to the front, shouting loudly, “You set up the ‘Cyclic Eight Trigrams Formation’—who do you think you’re fooling? Do you recognize my formation?” When Lu Junyi heard that Xi Sheng wanted to compete in formation tactics, he ascended the scaling ladder with Zhu Wu to observe. The enemy formation tied three men into a small squad, combined three small squads into a medium squad, and combined five medium squads into a large squad. It was square on the outside and round on the inside, with large formations enveloping small ones, all interconnected. Zhu Wu said to Lu Junyi, “This is Li Jing’s ‘Six Flower Formation.’ Li Jing based it on Zhuge Liang’s Eight Formations, reducing it to the Six Flower Formation. The enemy general thinks we don’t recognize it; he doesn’t know that from my Eight Trigrams Formation, I can transform it into the eight-by-sixty-four method, which is Zhuge Liang’s Eight Formations Chart method, and that can break his Six Flower Formation.” Lu Junyi rode out to the front and shouted, “Do you think this ‘Six Flower Formation’ of yours is anything special?” Xi Sheng replied, “Do you dare to attack it?” Lu Junyi laughed heartily and said, “Such a petty formation—what difficulty is there!” Lu Junyi entered the formation, and Zhu Wu, on the command platform, waved the signal flags left and right, transforming it into the Eight Formations Chart method. Zhu Wu ordered Lu Junyi to command Yang Zhi, Sun An, and Bian Xiang to lead a thousand armored cavalry to attack the formation. The day’s element was metal, so they were to charge from the south—the Li position—of our formation, all advancing together to smash the enemy. Yang Zhi and the others obeyed the order and beat the drums three times. The generals advanced, broke through the enemy’s western gate flag, and charged inside. At that moment, Lu Junyi, leading Ma Ling and other officers and troops, launched a full assault, and the enemy army was heavily defeated.

Now, as Yang Zhi and the others charged into the enemy ranks, they ran straight into Xi Sheng, who was leading several fierce generals and fleeing north. Sun An and Bian Xiang, eager to achieve merit, led their troops in pursuit, but they did not realize they had penetrated deep into enemy territory. Suddenly, they heard the sound of a gong from behind the mountain slope, and a band of troops emerged. Yang Zhi, Sun An, and the others tried to retreat but could not. Truly: The horses charging the formation perished beneath the green cliffs; the boats playing on the waves sank among the green rushes.

After all, where did these troops come from, and how would Sun An and the others confront them? Listen to the next chapter for the explanation.