Chapter Twelve: Ambush on the Night Road

“Quick, quick, get ready immediately! A cavalry unit is approaching!” Chen Xunping shouted loudly.

Liu Heng and Li Shuheng beside him were startled.

“Do we know who they are?” Liu Heng asked anxiously.

“It’s too dark to see clearly. All I can make out are numerous torches coming our way, accompanied by the sound of hooves. There must be no fewer than forty or fifty horses,” Chen Xunping reported what he had observed and inferred.

Liu Heng exhaled slightly in relief. A cavalry force of forty or fifty was not very large. As long as they remained cautious and responded appropriately, a few dozen horsemen and several dozen men could not break through his supply convoy. Besides, it was still unclear whether they were friend or foe.

To ensure the safety of the grain convoy, he prepared for the worst and instructed Yang Yuan nearby, “Tell everyone to stay alert. Immediately form the supply wagons into a circle. Leave a squad of new militia soldiers to watch the livestock, and send another squad to light several fires between fifteen and thirty paces around the wagons. The remaining squads should take positions behind the wagons to guard.”

Without a word, Yang Yuan turned and left.

Liu Heng scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes and noticed a low embankment to the left, sparsely dotted with small trees.

Such small mounds were common near roadsides, appearing every few miles. During the day, one could see to the end easily, but at night, hiding a hundred or two hundred men there at a distance made them difficult to detect.

Liu Heng looked at Li Shuheng and said, “Brother Shuheng, please take the archers to the back of that slope on the left. If the cavalry charges the convoy and enters the archers’ range, you can shoot without hesitation, even if it means accidentally hitting some of our own men behind the wagons.”

“And what about your side?” Li Shuheng replied. “With so many torches, it seems the cavalry is accompanied by infantry. Without archers to support you, your side will be at a disadvantage.”

“Then leave twenty archers with me,” Liu Heng said. “The main force is still with you, Brother Shuheng. As long as you can provide timely support, even if the enemy cavalry besieges my position, they won’t break through anytime soon.”

“All right. I’ll have Xunping stay with twenty archers, and I’ll take the others to the slope on the left.” Li Shuheng understood the urgency and took most of the archers away from the convoy, leaving only twenty behind.

Li Shuheng led the bulk of the archers stealthily into the shadows behind the slope. The supply wagons were barely arranged into a circle, with the livestock secured inside under guard. Fires were lit at several points outside the circle, their flickering flames illuminating the area brightly.

Once all was set, everyone returned behind the wagons, using the wagons and sacks of grain for cover.

Just then, the flickering firelight ahead grew clearer, and the sound of hoofbeats became distinct. Through the firelight, many figures could be seen moving.

“Damn it, there are over fifty horsemen and no fewer than two hundred infantry. From the look of it, this must be the cavalry unit led by Commander Ma Yunjiu,” Chen Xunping observed through the gaps between the wagons, watching the approaching cavalry and infantry.

Dozens of tall horses led the front, riders mounted above, followed by hundreds of foot soldiers. The infantry’s slow pace had delayed the cavalry from appearing before the convoy sooner, giving Liu Heng’s group precious time to prepare.

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When about a hundred paces away, Ma Yunjiu pulled on the reins, and the others halted as well.

Zheng Daqiu hurried from the infantry ranks and arrived before Ma Yunjiu’s horse.

Ma Yunjiu pointed toward the convoy a hundred paces ahead. “That should be Liu Heng and the archery camp. I didn’t expect they’d bring so much grain.”

Zheng Daqiu glanced in the direction indicated and saw sacks bulging with grain, piled high on large wagons—more than one wagon.

“That bastard’s been damn lucky to snag this much grain so quickly,” Zheng Daqiu muttered under his breath, though inwardly pleased.

If his bet with Liu Heng still stood, the position of camp leader for the rear camp would slip from his grasp. Fortunately, Wu the Blind and others’ failed coup to seize control of the bandit army’s rear camp had been crushed by Shi Yunhu. Now Shi Yunhu held sway over four of the army’s five camps, and anyone aspiring to lead the rear camp had to answer to him. As for that bet—it was now worthless.

Ma Yunjiu frowned suddenly. “It looks like the enemy is well prepared. Zheng Daqiu, Shi Daigui sent you here for a reason. What’s your plan?”

Zheng Daqiu smiled. “Don’t worry, Commander Ma. This time I brought Ma the Crippled Cook from the rear camp to scout ahead. My men will follow behind and rush in at the right moment. Once chaos breaks out inside, you can lead your men to charge through, swiftly cutting down Liu Heng and the archery camp’s men. We’ll also seize all this grain to bring back to Shi Daigui.”

Ma Yunjiu considered for a moment and nodded. “Do it as you say. But make sure those wagons are secure. We can’t let them destroy the grain in desperation.”

“Commander Ma, rest assured. Wait here for good news,” Zheng Daqiu said before hurrying back to the infantry.

Soon, Ma the Crippled Cook hobbled out from the ranks with several bandits. Some carried loads, others pushed a wheelbarrow with jars of wine.

About twenty or thirty paces outside the circle of wagons, fires lit the area. Ma the Crippled Cook’s group was spotted immediately by Liu Heng’s men hiding behind the wagons.

“Isn’t that Ma the Crippled Cook from the rear camp? Why is he here?” Yang Yuan looked puzzled as he watched the limping man approach.

Liu Heng rubbed his chin. “In any case… this might not be a good thing.”

“Should I order the archers to shoot them?” Chen Xunping suggested. “They’ll be sitting ducks by the fires. Guaranteed one arrow, one kill.”

“Not yet,” Liu Heng waved a hand. “I want to see what they’re up to.”

By then, Ma the Crippled Cook and his group had come within thirty paces of the wagons. Ma the Crippled Cook called out, “Is Liu the Head here? I’m Ma the Crippled Cook. Don’t shoot. Let us through—we’re here to deliver food.”

“Pfft! Since when did Ma the Crippled Cook get so friendly with us that he’d bring us food after traveling over ten miles?” Yang Yuan spat heavily on the ground.

Liu Heng instructed those nearby, “Let them come closer.”

Yang Yuan looked at Liu Heng in disbelief. “Chief, are you serious? This Ma the Crippled Cook obviously means trouble. There’s no way he’s carrying food with so many men. I think they’re here to fight.”

“Relax,” Chen Xunping patted Yang Yuan’s shoulder. “With so many of us here, those few won’t cause any trouble.”

Liu Heng said firmly, “Tell Ma the Crippled Cook to come forward.”

Helpless, Yang Yuan pressed himself into a gap between the wagons and shouted, “Ma the Crippled Cook, Liu the Head says you can come through, but no tricks.”

“We promise, we’re just bringing some food for everyone,” Ma the Crippled Cook called back, then limped toward the wagons.

Wherever he passed, the fires nearby quietly went out.

Before long, Ma the Crippled Cook reached the wagons. Yang Yuan signaled for a path to be cleared, allowing Ma and his men inside.

Ma the Crippled Cook hesitated for a moment upon seeing Yang Yuan’s faintly smirking face behind the wagons, then gritted his teeth and stepped in.

The men behind him carried supplies into the circle formed by the wagons.

Suddenly—

A sharp twang pierced the air as an arrow flew, followed immediately by a scream.