At the victory feast, Wu Tong raised his cup and said in a low voice, "Letting Suiyang remain under Yan siege won't do. We must find a way to make them withdraw." Though celebratory, his tone held steady concern.
Nan Jiyun frowned and answered, "If not for the righteous army's supplies, we'd have run out of arrows by now!" His voice was heavy, his gaze resolute. The tent fell silent—until the Drunken Beggar suddenly burst out laughing. "They say: to capture the enemy, seize their leader first!" Few words, but they cut to the heart of the matter.
Xu Yuan's eyes lit up. "The Beggars' Chief is right—but none of our men can recognize Yin Ziqi. Otherwise, with General Nan's hundred-pace marksmanship, he could shoot the Yan commander dead, leave them headless, and force a retreat." Heads nodded around the tent; all knew how often a single man could turn a battle.
Then Li Qian rose from a side seat, thoughtful but smiling faintly. "This humble woman has a plan—if it might be tried?"Zhang Xun laughed aloud. "Speak freely, miss!"
Li Qian said evenly, "The Yan must be guessing whether we're out of arrows. Why not play along?"
The Drunken Beggar cocked an eyebrow. "And how do we 'play along'?"
Li Qian's eyes flashed. "Have men whittle arrowheads from mugwort stalks and shoot them at the Yan. The soldiers struck will assume our true arrowheads are spent and report it to Yin Ziqi. In that moment, we'll see who he is."
Xu Yuan slapped the table and stood, delighted. "Brilliant—beyond prediction!"Zhang Xun clapped in high spirits. "Then let us try it!"The Drunken Beggar laughed, lifting his bowl. "So it's settled. Come, righteous friends—let's toast the generals!"A roar answered: "To the generals!" The tent's mood surged; wine fragrance filled the air, firelight shone on the set faces of soldiers and heroes. Cups rose together; their drinking was bold, their spirit sky-high. That night the camp was bright with lanterns and ringing with drums; soldiers and allies were treated for their service. Laughter and talk never ceased—but none forgot the enemy lurking outside the walls. All hearts were one, sworn to live and die with the lone city; they would take the field as one, momentum like a rainbow, wills like iron—a Great Wall that could not be broken.
At dawn the next day, the Yan vanguard again rode to the walls to issue challenge, led in person by a great commander. Yang Yong rode out proudly and shouted, "Tang soldiers tricked me before—why not fight me fairly today!"
Before his words had faded, General Nan Jiyun atop the wall had already nocked an arrow. With a sharp hiss an arrow flashed out straight at Yang Yong. Startled, he saw the shaft rush like thunder, impossible to evade; in a blink it struck the armor at his midriff. He cried out, despair flooding his chest: "So—this is the end!" Chaos surged around him as the Tang released a volley; arrows fell like locusts, the Yan vanguard tumbling in confusion.
Gritting his teeth, Yang Yong snarled, "Retreat!" He reined back, clutching the spot where the arrow had struck, certain he was at death's door. But once in safety, he caught his breath and looked down: though a feathered shaft jutted from his cuirass, there was no blood. "How… am I not wounded?" He yanked the arrow free—and found the head carved from mugwort stalk, neither iron nor wood, with no power to harm. Astonished, his mind raced: "Could it be—the Tang have no real arrows left? If so, our chance is at hand!" The other vanguard riders likewise discovered grass-tipped shafts and turned from shock to joy. Wheeling their mounts, they galloped back to the central camp, shouting, "General Yin! The Tang have no arrows—look, we're unhurt!"
Yin Ziqi, hidden among the Yan ranks, rejoiced at the news and rode out at once. Soldiers pressed forward to show the grass arrows, thrilled and breathless, all reporting the "glad tidings." Yin Ziqi's eyes gleamed; delight surged through him. "Heaven favors me! The Tang truly are spent—now is the time to take the city!"
On the distant battlements, Zhang Xun had already read the enemy's intent. Seeing a rider in golden armor emerge at the center with commanding bearing, he knew without doubt it was Yin Ziqi. He pointed him out to Nan Jiyun. "That is their commander—do not let him go." Yin Ziqi, elated, began pushing the army forward like a breaking wave toward Suiyang. Zhang Xun's gaze hardened. At his quiet order, Nan Jiyun lifted his powerful bow and drew once more.
Hiss! Another arrow screamed across the sky like lightning.
A terrible cry: Yin Ziqi was struck in the left eye; blood spattered his face and helm. Pain exploded; his mind roared. "How—an ambush!" He reeled in the saddle; the reins nearly slipped from his hand.
The Yan, seeing their commander down, were stricken as with a death knell. Panic spread; aides shouted, "Protect the general—fall back!" Zhang Xun seized the moment. "Pass the order—loose!" Instantly the walls thundered with bowstrings; arrows poured like a storm into the enemy ranks. Moments ago their confidence had soared—now the arrow-rain shattered their lines. "How do they still have arrows? Was it a ruse?"
Just then Suiyang's gates boomed open. Lei Wanchun burst forth like a caged tiger, leading the charge with a sky-rending shout. Zhang Xun followed with the main force, pressing the attack at full momentum. Headless, the Yan army disintegrated, soldiers fleeing in all directions like headless flies. Wails rose, blood ran; chaos reigned. Yin Ziqi, grievously wounded and terrified, fled for his life, nearly dying on the spot. Routed and broken, the Yan abandoned the siege of Suiyang.
For sixteen straight days the Tang forces fought, capturing over sixty enemy officers and cutting down more than twenty thousand men, a resounding victory. The army took countless wagons, horses, cattle, and sheep. Zhang Xun distributed all of it to the troops, taking not a single share for himself. Gratitude swelled in the ranks; morale soared.
After his defeat, Yin Ziqi judged his troops exhausted and unfit to fight, and—helpless—ordered a retreat. Zhang Xun's renown shook the realm. When the victory report reached Chang'an, Emperor Suzong rejoiced and swiftly issued an edict: appointing Zhang Xun as Censor-in-Chief, Xu Yuan as Censor, and Yao Yin as Director in the Ministry of Personnel—rewards for loyalty and valor.
Spring returned, grasses grew and orioles sang. In fair May weather, the righteous army took their leave of General Zhang. Each went his way, and Wu Tong's company set out on the road home. That day they came to the territory of the Flying Eagle Gang. As they walked the street, a voice called out, "Master Wu of the Loyal-Righteous Hall!"
Wu Tong turned—and it was Wang Yun. Months had passed since he had slain his enemy. Li Qian said, "We were just looking for you."Wang Yun asked, "Is this Master Wu's lady? Do you have business with me?"Wu Tong, a little embarrassed, said, "These are all my wives."Li Qian's eyes glinted. "Young Hero Wang, where are you employed now?"Wang Yun replied, "Thanks to Master Wu's favor, I'm currently running escort jobs for the Capital Escort Agency."Zhao Rou said, "Is Chen Hao the Chief Escort?"Wang Yun nodded. "He is."
Wu Tong, puzzled, asked, "Young Hero Wang, bodyguard work isn't for everyone—you need real skill. How did I help?"
Wang Yun answered, "Master Wu's chivalrous name is far-famed. What you did at Fahua Temple, standing up for the Wang household, is known across the land. So when I applied to the Capital Escort Agency, Chief Escort Chen hired me on the spot, saying Master Wu is a hero seldom seen in any age."
"I see," said Wu Tong. "We're paying a call on the Flying Eagle Gang. Would you like to join us to meet a senior of the jianghu?"
"If he merits Master Wu's esteem, how dare I miss it?" Wang Yun said. "I'll tell my fellows to wait at the inn and return shortly." He spoke with his escort companions, then came back. "Let's be on our way."