Chapter Twenty-One: Shi Yunhu’s Fury

“Hold! Which battalion do you belong to?”

A few minor leaders from the Rear Battalion, who had just left their camp, were stopped by an incoming squad.

“Master Zhao, we are all from the Rear Battalion,” said one of the minor leaders named Chen Wu, bowing slightly.

Zhao Yutu frowned, not recalling having met him before, and asked, “Do you know me?”

“I once had the honor of meeting you when I accompanied Zheng Daqiu to the Central Battalion,” Chen Wu replied with a forced smile.

Zhao Yutu inquired, “If you’re from the Rear Battalion, why did you leave? What are so many of you doing away from your camp?”

“Master Zhao, we hope you will stand up for us!” Another minor leader from the Rear Battalion stepped forward.

Hearing this, Zhao Yutu’s heart sank with a bad premonition. He asked, “What happened? Why do you want me to intervene?”

“This morning, Liu Heng came to the Rear Battalion and drove us all together, declaring he was taking over the battalion. A few of us refused to accept this, so he expelled us. Master Zhao, please help us!”

“Master Zhao, please help us!”

“Please, Master Zhao, intervene for us!”

Several minor leaders from the Rear Battalion voiced their pleas.

“Looks like I’m a step too late,” Zhao Yutu muttered to himself, then glared at the bandits before him and said disapprovingly, “Why didn’t you stay and fight Liu Heng for control of the Rear Battalion? Instead, you left, handing him the chance to cement his leadership.”

Chen Wu explained, “We did fight. We told Liu Heng that Zheng Daqiu had been appointed head of the Rear Battalion by Shi Dagui, and everyone in the battalion knew it. But Liu Heng insisted Zheng Daqiu was dead. We didn’t believe him, so he expelled us. We wanted to argue our case, but Liu Heng had Guo San, who disputed him, shot. With no other options, we had to leave the Rear Battalion temporarily and report this to Shi Dagui at the Central Battalion. On our way, we met Master Zhao.”

“Master Zhao, is Zheng Daqiu really dead?” a minor leader beside Chen Wu whispered.

Zhao Yutu glanced at him and said, “Zheng Daqiu conspired with Wu Blind and rebelled. He was executed.”

“Ah! He’s really dead!” Chen Wu’s face showed surprise. “Wasn’t he already head of the Rear Battalion? Why would he rebel?”

Not just him—the other minor leaders also wore expressions of shock.

“Enough. I don’t have time to listen to your lamentations,” Zhao Yutu said sternly. “Since Liu Heng has taken over the Rear Battalion, you all will come with me to the Central Battalion to meet with Dagui and report everything—how Liu Heng forced you out.”

“Yes, yes, we’ll obey Master Zhao’s orders,” Chen Wu and the others nodded repeatedly.

Zhao Yutu abandoned his plan to head to the Rear Battalion and led the minor leaders back to the Central Battalion.

………………

Inside the main tent of the Central Battalion, after hearing Zhao Yutu’s report, Shi Yunhu was so furious he kicked the low table in front of him over.

The wine jars and cups on the table smashed into pieces, spilling the remaining wine into the dirt, leaving a strong scent of alcohol lingering.

“I told you to take men to the Archers Battalion, but you failed to bring them back. I ordered you to take men to seize the Rear Battalion, but Liu Heng preempted you. What use are you to me?” Shi Yunhu grabbed a nearby knife and struck Zhao Yutu’s left cheek with the blade and sheath.

Zhao Yutu’s left cheek immediately swelled, but he knelt motionless on the ground.

“Ma Yunjiu!” Shi Yunhu shouted outside the camp.

Ma Yunjiu, clad in padded armor and an iron helmet, strode into the tent.

Shi Yunhu asked bluntly, “I gave you 200 men plus your cavalry. Can you take down Liu Heng and his men?”

Ma Yunjiu lowered his head, saying nothing.

“Silence means you can’t,” Shi Yunhu said with a fierce glare.

Ma Yunjiu quickly cupped his fists and replied, “Dagui, after last night’s battle, Liu Heng’s refugees have tasted blood and gained some semblance of veteran soldiers. It’s risky to act now.”

“Hmph!” Shi Yunhu snorted coldly. Then, seeing Zhao Yutu still kneeling beside him, his anger flared again. He kicked him and cursed, “You useless waste! You said you were bedridden with a cold. Tell me, how does a bedridden man manage to take over my Rear Battalion?”

Zhao Yutu scrambled up quickly, knelt properly, and said nothing. He knew Shi Yunhu was venting his anger on him, so he remained silent and obedient.

After cursing some more, Shi Yunhu sat back down and looked at the two men in the tent. “You two, tell me how we’re going to deal with Liu Heng and Li Shuheng.”

Then he said to Zhao Yutu, “You can stand up now.”

Zhao Yutu carefully got up and stood beside Ma Yunjiu.

Ma Yunjiu spoke first. “Dagui, for now, it’s best not to confront Liu Heng. He and Li Shuheng are stronger than Wu Blind and his men were. If we act rashly, it will stir unrest in the camp and cause more harm than good.”

“You’re the adviser. What do you think?” Shi Yunhu asked, squinting at Zhao Yutu.

Zhao Yutu pressed his hand against his swollen cheek, biting back the pain, and said, “I also believe it’s unwise to act now.”

Shi Yunhu roared, “Unwise, unwise—you’re all just good at saying it’s unwise. I asked for your advice, not to hear your nonsense.”

“Please calm down, Dagui,” Zhao Yutu hurriedly said. “Liu Heng has grown strong, and to deal with him, we must be patient. Once we fully control the forces left by Wu Blind and Zhou Heilian in the Left and Right Battalions, we can unite the entire camp’s strength against Liu Heng and Li Shuheng.”

Shi Yunhu tapped the armrest a few times and said, “You have a point. But what if Liu Heng keeps training refugees and growing his forces? He managed to form a several-hundred-strong unit in just ten days. By the time we consolidate Wu Blind’s and Zhou Heilian’s men, he’ll be even stronger.”

Zhao Yutu said, “Dagui, rest assured. I have a plan to keep Liu Heng so busy he won’t have time to train his men.”

“Tell me.”

Shi Yunhu looked at Zhao Yutu, and Ma Yunjiu, who hadn’t spoken, also looked on curiously.

Zhao Yutu said, “I brought back several minor leaders from the Rear Battalion. You can promise them some benefits, have them try to divide and win over the troops there. That way, Liu Heng won’t fully control the Rear Battalion. Also, Dagui, we should move soon. Staying in one place too long makes us vulnerable to government forces. Once we’re on the move, even if Liu Heng is talented, he won’t have the time to train refugees.”

Shi Yunhu rubbed his beard and cursed, “Damn scholar’s mind is full of schemes.”

Suddenly, Ma Yunjiu said, “The supplies in all battalions are running low. Moving the entire camp now will likely upset many.”

“That’s indeed a big problem,” Shi Yunhu thought for a moment and said, “Liu Heng took a batch of grain from Zheng Family Village. We can just demand supplies from him. Do you think they’ll carry grain and split off to see who’s stronger?”

Hearing this, Zhao Yutu paused, then quickly responded, “Dagui, don’t worry. They won’t dare to split from us. Otherwise, the troops from several battalions wouldn’t let them go unpunished.”

“What do you mean?” Shi Yunhu frowned.