In the tenth month of Qian Yuan Year 9, on the fourth day, Li Rubi was besieged by Wang Xuanfan and the Jiedushi of Youzhou—and soundly defeated!
Half of his thirty-thousand-strong army was killed or wounded. The rest fled in disarray all the way back to their lair in Nine Mountains Commandery.
Wang Xuanfan, however, had the bearing of a great general. He advanced steadily, reclaiming lost territory as county after county fell in line. Even former members of the Nine Mountains Army defected to him, including a Commander-in-Chief! By the middle of the month, he had already retaken most of the commandery, and his army had encircled Nine Mountains Commandery like an iron barrel.
Inside the County Town of Nine Mountains.
The place was desolate. Wine shops, teahouses, all kinds of stores, and even the common folk had shut their doors and stayed inside. The whole town had the air of a disaster looming overhead.
There were also unruly soldiers and stragglers, their discipline in tatters. Some even robbed and killed in the streets, venting their fear.
"Alas... We're no better than bandits now..."
Wu Ming rode his horse, with Niu Yong and He Zihai beside him, and suddenly sighed.
"Help!"
"Let go of me!"
A woman's cries for help came from an alley by the roadside, stirring Wu Ming. He said to Niu Yong, "Go take a look!"
"Yes, sir!"
Niu Yong answered and charged into the alley. Angry shouts and curses rang out, then two unruly soldiers came out with sabers at their waists, their faces full of defiance. "We're the personal guards of the Guard Officer..."
"You blind dogs! Our lord is a Commander-in-Chief!"
He Zihai immediately cursed at them. The two guards wilted and slunk away.
"Thank you, my lord!"
Only then did Niu Yong