Chuang Wang, Li Yan, Li Guo, and Liu Zongmin led the Fengtian Changyi Battalion northward after passing through the Fengyang region.
Just as Chuang Wang had predicted, Fengyang held special symbolic meaning for the Ming court. Because of that, the mysterious musket corps did not deploy forces there to intercept them.
Of course, Chuang Wang understood something else very clearly. The moment he stirred up trouble in Fengyang, that same mysterious musket corps would receive word and pursue him without hesitation.
Low profile. Absolutely low profile.
They moved carefully, quietly, like a school of fish gliding through shallow water, slipping past Fengyang without incident.
The rear scouts soon galloped back with news.
"Big Brother Chuang Wang, not long after we entered Fengyang, a heavy armored cavalry unit moved into the Huainan region. They've even raised hot air balloons there. It's obvious they've sealed off Huainan. No large force can pass through that area now."
Chuang Wang let out a long breath. "Good thing we moved quickly. Otherwise we would have been trapped."
Then he paused. "Heavy armored cavalry?"
The scout nodded. "Yes. Ironclad riders."
Chuang Wang's eyes narrowed. "That reminds me of someone. Lao Huihui commanded heavy armored cavalry. After we split forces at Xingyang, I heard little from him. Could it be…"
The scout hesitated. "That unit did resemble Lao Huihui's cavalry."
Chuang Wang gave a slow nod and sighed. "Wang Er followed the mysterious musket corps. Now even Lao Huihui has gone over. Thinking about it carefully, both Wang Er and Lao Huihui were men who valued rules and discipline. They must have been drawn by the leader of that musket corps. If only I had met Mr. Li Yan earlier, perhaps those two would have followed me instead."
There was genuine melancholy in his voice.
Wang Er and Lao Huihui were true heroes, far more capable and honorable than fellows like Guotianxing, Mantianxing, Sweeping King, or Waguang King. Yet clearly, Chuang Wang's own charisma had not been enough to command their loyalty.
A pity.
Li Guo spoke up. "Uncle, where do we go now?"
"Continue north," Chuang Wang replied. "We've slipped out of the encirclement. The sky is high and the sea is wide. Since the musket corps is determined to fight for the Central Plains, we will leave the Central Plains. We cross the Yellow River and head to Shandong, to Beizhili."
Liu Zongmin frowned. "Shandong and Beizhili are close to the capital. The court might…"
"If the court were truly strong," Chuang Wang interrupted, "would the Jianzhou tribes have broken through the passes and scared them into hiding in the capital like frightened turtles? In my view, the capital may well be the easiest place to bully right now."
The others thought about it.
"Hey… that actually makes sense."
All the capable generals of the court were stationed outside. Hong Chengchou, Lu Xiangsheng, Qin Liangyu. None were in the capital.
It seemed that the most convenient place to operate was precisely the area around Beijing.
Meanwhile, in the mountains.
Zhai Tang was leading a small group of Jin merchants through dense forest.
He had deliberately separated from the Eight Great Kings. When the latter was not paying attention, Zhai Tang took his own men and slipped into a narrow ravine, twisting and turning until they shook off pursuit.
He had already noticed something important. The hot air balloons floating in the sky could easily detect large forces, but small groups were much harder to spot.
So he had to split off.
Zhai Tang did not possess the overwhelming combat strength of the Eight Great Kings, but as a Jin merchant, he had a different kind of power. He had traveled countless trade routes.
The Dabie Mountains were complex and rugged, yet among the Jin merchants there was always someone who had once run goods through these hills.
"Master, we head northwest from here," one subordinate said while leading the way. "If we cut through here, we reach Huangbaishan. After crossing Huangbaishan and the Guan River, we can slip out through Guangshan County."
Zhai Tang nodded. "Guangshan County may also have their troops. Do not let your guard down. Watch the sky carefully. If we see a giant sky lantern, we abandon this route immediately."
They answered in unison.
They crossed Huangbaishan. Ahead flowed a small river, the Guan River. Because their numbers were few, crossing was easy. They found a shallow stretch and waded through.
All along the way, no hot air balloon appeared in the sky.
At last Zhai Tang allowed himself a thin smile. "Heh. Perhaps Guangshan County truly is our escape."
At that same moment, in Guangshan County.
Tie Niaofei was leading a logistics unit stationed within the county seat.
For years, Tie Niaofei had been responsible for transporting supplies to the northern frontier troops. Normally he would not be here. But this time was different.
Gaocun had mobilized multiple armies at once. The Northern Route Army alone fielded thirty five thousand men, divided into several columns advancing in parallel like a massive net.
The strain on logistics was enormous.
The supply teams were running themselves ragged. Reinforcements were needed.
So Tie Niaofei had temporarily left the frontier routes and joined the logistics effort for the grand encirclement.
However, a lifelong merchant suddenly turned logistics officer was clearly out of his depth.
"How do you even use this hot air balloon?" Tie Niaofei muttered, staring at the limp, uninflated mass before him.
A subordinate grumbled, "The village really dropped the ball this time. They gave us a balloon but no trained scout to operate it. What are we supposed to do with this thing?"
Tie Niaofei waved him off. "Do not blame the village. This campaign is massive. Even they are stretched thin. Our problem right now is manpower shortage."
The complaint died there. The men gathered around the balloon, studying it with furrowed brows.
"Boss, maybe we fasten these two rings together."
"This brazier must be for heating air. Once the hot air fills the sack, it should rise."
"Boss, I think I understand it now."
He promptly fumbled and dropped a rope into the brazier.
"Ah! The rope's on fire!"
Chaos erupted. They stomped and flailed until the small blaze was extinguished.
The balloon remained stubbornly on the ground.
Tie Niaofei finally threw up his hands. "Forget it. I, Tie Niaofei, have roamed the world as a merchant for decades. I never used such a contraption before and did just fine. I even sold private salt around here back in the day. I know these roads like the back of my hand. What's there to fear? Move out. We must deliver these provisions to General Luo Xi as soon as possible. He entered the mountains three days ago. He should be running low on grain."
With that, Tie Niaofei led his unit out of Guangshan County and plunged straight into the mountains.