At that moment, Gao Song walked in and reported, "Great General, a man named Sun Shaojian wishes to see you. He is from Lanzhou City and serves as a Deputy Officer in the Lanzhou garrison." The rank of Deputy Officer was a seventh-rank military position, the lowest among military officials.
Yuan Ying asked, "Is the General someone you can just meet whenever you want?" "At a time like this, where was there any time for their General to meet someone like Sun Shaojian?"
Gao Song replied, "This man claims to have a way to break into the city. Since he is from Lanzhou, he might indeed have a way."
Yun Qing said, "Let him in." If this person had the courage to request an audience, he must have something worthwhile to say. Although the local troops were not known for their combat prowess, that did not mean that they were all cowards.
Sun Shaojian was tall and rugged, with the typical features of a northwestern man. When he saw Yun Qing, he cupped his fists and said, "Greetings, Great General."
Yun Qing nodded and asked, "You claim to have a way to break into the city? Let's hear it." He could tell at once whether what this person said was a real strategy or just empty talk.
Sun Shaojian looked at Yun Qing and said, "Great General, I hope you will allow me to lead my brothers in storming the city." He was referring to the 3,000 captured soldiers he had commanded earlier.
Yun Qing asked, "You are here to request to fight, not to offer a plan?" He had no intention of sending the newly recruited prisoners into battle just yet. The reason was simple—if they changed sides in the middle of the battle and turned against them, it would be a disastrous loss.
Sun Shaojian said, "Great General, I have already heard the reports. When your army occupies a place, you only confiscate the wealth of corrupt officials, unscrupulous merchants, and wicked gentry. You do not harm the common people. Moreover, the seized gold and silver are not kept for personal gain but are used to pay the soldiers' long-overdue wages and pensions."
Yun Qing looked up at Sun Shaojian. "And what does that have to do with breaking into the city?" All this talk was a waste of time.
Sun Shaojian said, "Great General, I am not leading these 3,000 men to attack the city just to break in—I am doing it to clear your name."
Yun Qing was confused. "Clear my name?"
Sun Shaojian nodded. "Ji Xuan and Leng Bufeng have been spreading false rumours in Lanzhou City, claiming that the Northwest Army is slaughtering, pillaging, and committing heinous crimes wherever they go, leaving scorched earth in their wake. The people and soldiers in Lanzhou have believed these lies and are resisting with all their might. If I and my men can prove your innocence, the soldiers in the city will no longer fight for Ji Xuan."
Yun Qing looked sceptical. "And how are you planning to do that?"
Sun Shaojian smiled bitterly. "Great General, our salaries are not only often delayed, but also siphoned off by our own officers." The local officers were not only taking their own share - they were also extorting the lower-ranking soldiers.
When Cui Mo heard this, he couldn't help but ask, "I've heard that your local garrison even collaborates with bandits and marauders. Is that true?"
Yuan Ying found this question exasperating. At such a crucial moment, Cui Mo still had the mind to gossip. He truly had a relaxed attitude.
Yun Qing said, "Alright, choose your men yourself."
Sun Shaojian quickly selected 3,000 soldiers, all of whom were from Lanzhou City. In truth, the lower-ranking soldiers and officers like Sun Shaojian were all victims of exploitation and oppression. After enduring years of suffering, they had built up a deep resentment. When they learned that the Northwest Army was not the band of marauders they were rumoured to be, but was instead targeting corrupt officials, Sun Shaojian and the others truly decided to defect.
Instead of letting Sun Shaojian attack the city, Yun Qing ordered a retreat and had them stand beneath the city walls to clear the Northwest Army's name.
At the city walls, Leng Bufeng was overjoyed to see the Northwest Army retreat. He immediately turned to Ji Xuan and said, "Daren1, Yun Qing must be afraid of you!" Regardless of the reason, a retreat was a victory in their eyes.
However, Ji Xuan was not as optimistic. "Let's wait and see." From last night until now, the Northwest Army's assault had been fierce. Were it not for their strong walls, he would have been deeply worried.
After the Northwest Army pulled back, Sun Shaojian and his 3,000 men stepped forward. The front row consisted of Northwest Army soldiers holding shields to protect themselves from arrows from the wall.
Leng Bufeng looked at them standing still and muttered confusedly, "What is Yun Qing playing at?"
Ji Xuan felt an ominous sense of foreboding.
Sun Shaojian shouted towards the wall, "Er Gouzi, it's me, Sun Shaojian! You've all been deceived by that old dog Ji Xuan! The Northwest Army doesn't slaughter and pillage; that's all Ji Xuan's lies!"
Not far away, Yun Qing and Feng Dajun were listening. Feng Dajun grinned and said, "General, from the way Sun Shaojian is talking, it sounds like he has a personal grudge against Ji Xuan." He had immediately picked up on Sun Shaojian's speaking style.
Yuan Ying agreed. "He definitely has a grudge. That kid is not telling the whole story." Whatever that grudge was, they would find out after the battle.
Yun Qing remarked, "He's a useful man." Whether for revenge or not, that boy's courage was undeniable.
After hearing Sun Shaojian's words, Leng Bufeng shouted, "Release the arrows, hurry! Shoot that rebellious traitor who dared to insult Daren1!"
The arrows were released, but the distance and the shield wall rendered them ineffective.
Undeterred, Sun Shaojian shouted even louder about Ji Xuan's crimes—embezzlement, abduction of women, abuse of civilians, excessive taxation and more. His list of offences seemed endless. According to Sun Shaojian, Ji Xuan was the one who truly deserved to die.
As Ji Xuan listened to his crimes being exposed one by one, his face turned from green to white, then purple, like a dye house showing off all its colours.
Feng Dajun, usually a blunt man, suddenly felt uneasy. "General, something's wrong. How can an ordinary officer know so much about Ji Xuan's crimes?" If these accusations were true, there was no way Sun Shaojian could have uncovered them all on his own.
However, Yun Qing was not surprised. "Ji Xuan has committed so many atrocities in the northwest that countless people hate him. Having one Sun Shaojian is hardly unusual." Still, they would have to investigate his background after the battle.
Feng Dajun nodded. "That actually works in our favour." The more the soldiers on the wall despised Ji Xuan, the better their chances.
Cui Mo laughed heartily. "Ji Xuan tried to break the morale of our army, but thanks to Sun Shaojian, let's see if his own men will continue to fight for him!"
After all, the city's soldiers were also victims of Ji Xuan's exploitation.
Footnotes Full List
- title of respect toward superiors
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The Rebirth of Han Yuxi