It is said that although reinforcements arrived only five days after the fall of Suiyang, the Yan forces, seeing the Tang army's formidable presence, dared not engage them in open battle. Having long prepared their strategy, they adopted a policy of rigid defense and refused to come out. Who could have expected that the Tang forces and the righteous army, though newly arrived, would swiftly finalize their battle plan and launch an assault with thunderous speed, striking before one could even cover one's ears?
On a night when the wind howled and darkness reigned supreme, the righteous army had already concealed itself within the city, ready to serve as internal support. The Beggars' Sect leader, Elder Fei, whispered,"Everyone act separately. Be careful."
Wu Tong replied softly,"To follow the righteous and strike the rebellious—there is no battle we cannot win."
With that, everyone nodded. The forces split into multiple groups and dispersed.
Wu Tong followed Elder Fei and the others, moving silently toward the southern gate. They leapt soundlessly onto the city walls. Wu Tong, Liu Yun, and Ling Xian'er took advantage of the shadows, inching closer to the gate. The guards at the gate were laughing, drinking heavily, utterly unaware that catastrophe was about to descend upon them.
The three approached with feather-light steps, without making the slightest sound. Each struck in turn. Before the guards could even react, they were swiftly dispatched. The sentries on both sides of the gate could see each other clearly—if one side were attacked, the other would instantly notice.
The nearest guard only glimpsed fleeting shadows in the darkness. Just as he was about to shout, before he could make any sound, he felt a sharp pain in his throat and died instantly, becoming yet another soul beneath the blade. This was Elder Fei of the Beggars' Sect, leading his men as they eliminated the guards on the opposite side. If these sentries were not dealt with first, the plan to seize the gate would be exposed at once.
Though the righteous forces moved with utmost stealth, the sudden carnage finally alerted one guard, who threw back his head and shouted,"The enemy is attacking!"
At that very moment, how could Elder Fei allow him to succeed? He hurled the great saber in his hand as though it were a hidden weapon. The blade whistled through the air, striking almost instantly and piercing straight through the man's chest.
Suddenly, a sinister wind arose. Flames burst skyward within the city, smoke billowing in thick clouds. In an instant, alarm horns blared throughout the encampments. Fires erupted in multiple locations. From every corner and shadow, the Beggars' Sect's righteous fighters sprang forth like panthers from the jungle—swift, fierce, unstoppable.
Elder Fei roared,"Open the city gates!"
The righteous fighters rushed to the gate mechanism. The turning wheel was larger than a wagon wheel, with iron chains as thick as a man's arm connecting it to the gate. By rotating the wheel, the massive gate could be raised or lowered. The fighters braced themselves, planted their feet, and heaved together. The gate weighed over a thousand jin; slowly, it began to descend.
At this moment, reinforcing guards leveled their spears at Elder Fei. In the firelight, the spearheads gleamed with lethal intent. Yet the righteous fighters were like starving tigers entering a flock of sheep. They showed no mercy. Each wielded a heavy saber, cutting down enemies with fearless ferocity. Rebel soldiers screamed in agony; in the span of a single breath, half of the defenders were already slain.
Wu Tong gathered his inner strength and leapt skyward, his body soaring through the air. He rushed forward, executed a swift midair flip, and vaulted over the heads of several guards. His legs lashed downward in a vicious kick, instantly shattering the skulls of two men. Landing lightly, he shouted lowly as he unleashed the Crouching Dragon Blade.
In the blink of an eye, blades flashed. Spears were severed mid-shaft. With a reverse sweep of his saber, five guards were cut cleanly in half at the waist. One guard turned to flee. Wu Tong followed through with a kick, sending him flying straight into a fire brazier. At the city gate, two massive braziers burned day and night, their flames leaping more than three chi high. Unable to halt his momentum, the man plunged headfirst into the blazing fire. His screams tore through the night sky.
The rebel guards faced first-rate masters of the martial world. Whether it was the Beggars' Sect leader or Wu Tong, each alone was capable of facing a hundred foes.
Just as Wu Tong's divine might terrified the rebels into daring no further advance, flames across the city surged skyward, illuminating half the heavens. The city gate was now fully open. Suddenly, a deafening roar of battle erupted. In the darkness, countless figures surged forward like a tidal wave.
The Tang army had launched its full assault.
Shouts of slaughter shook the air. At a command from a Tang general, the troops instantly formed ranks and charged. The rebels, thrown into chaos in the darkness, could form no proper formation. The Tang forces seized the moment and cut them down relentlessly.
At the same time, Tang troops had broken through the western gate as well. Caught between two forces, the rebels collapsed in disarray, retreating while fighting. The Tang army and the righteous forces attacked from within and without. Zhang Gao personally led his troops forward, cutting down enemy commanders.
After a night of brutal fighting, the rebels were forced to abandon Suiyang. The Yan commanders Yin Ziqi and Yang Chaozong had no choice but to withdraw their remaining troops. By dawn, not a single rebel soldier remained within the city.
The Tang army and the righteous forces, striking in perfect coordination, had reclaimed Suiyang through a night raid. Suddenly, the Tang soldiers roared in unison,"Slay the vile rebels! Avenge our fallen!"
More than a hundred thousand voices cried out together. The sound shook heaven and earth, as though the sky itself were collapsing.
Thus it is written:
Blood bathed Suiyang through the night,Its merit shines with sun and moon.Loyalty and righteousness endure for ages,Their fragrance flows through all eternity.