Chapter 482: Tempering Generals Is Like Grinding a Sword

On Liu Chengyou's side, the army had felled trees indiscriminately and set up camp against the ridge, the whole arrangement looking somewhat casual, lacking the strict order and neatness of the Han camp on ordinary days.

"Brother Zhongxun!" Before the imperial tent, the officer on duty was Pan Mei, standing with a sword at his side, exceptionally valiant and handsome. A soft call drew his attention.

His eagle-sharp gaze swept toward the newcomer, wariness undiminished, only relaxing once he recognized who it was. The newcomer was a powerfully built junior officer, exceptionally young—Pan Mei's good friend, a junior officer of the Fengchen Camp, Ma Renyu.

Stepping forward to block him, Pan Mei noticed the several slips of paper in Ma Renyu's hand and asked, "Renyu, why have you come?"

"Please announce me to His Majesty—I have urgent military intelligence to report!" said Ma Renyu.

"Hm?" A flicker of doubt passed through Pan Mei's eyes. He said, "What intelligence do you have that requires bypassing Chief General Li?"

The Chief General Li that Pan Mei referred to was Li Jixun, the current Chief Commander of the Fengchen Camp, promoted by Liu Chengyou after Wang Yansheng and Shi Yanchao had successively been transferred to the Imperial Guard. Li Jixun needed no lengthy introduction—he had been one of Zhao Kuangyin's "Ten Sworn Brothers of the Righteous Society" in the original history.

At the question, Ma Renyu said, "The matter is urgent—I can't worry about protocol. Besides, didn't His Majesty say that the Fengchen Camp is his imperial guard and may address the sovereign directly?"

"Wait here!"

Inside the tent, Liu Chengyou set down the vermilion brush he had been using to approve military affairs, looked at Ma Renyu—stalwart and resolute, yet still bearing a trace of boyishness on his face—and said with a light smile, "You, the Tiger Captain of the Fengchen Camp, what urgent military intelligence requires you to seek an audience with me?"

At the question, Ma Renyu presented the slips of paper with both hands and said, "Your Majesty, I was leading my men patrolling beside the Tang camp. About half an hour after the cavalry rode south, more than a dozen carrier pigeons flew out of the Tang camp. My men and I drew our bows and shot them down—five in total. We found these slips of paper tied to their legs.

When I opened them and looked, I found they were from Chen Jue, the Tang army's chief commander, sent to Xu Wenzhen's army, warning him to beware of our Great Han iron cavalry's ambush!"

Having heard this out, Liu Chengyou was indeed intrigued. He took the slips, glanced over them, and said, "Who would have thought the Tang army keeps carrier pigeons! Entrusting the transmission of military intelligence to these feathered beasts—it seems Chen Jue is truly desperate!"

Then Liu Chengyou's interest seemed to veer off course. His eyes brightened as he appraised Ma Renyu: "These carrier pigeons are small and nimble, yet you managed to shoot them down—your archery skill is impressive indeed, worthy of the name of my Fengchen Camp!"

Facing the Son of Heaven's praise, Ma Renyu grinned broadly, then realized something was amiss and said to Liu Chengyou, "Your Majesty, we did not shoot down all the pigeons. If those remaining beasts deliver the warning, the enemy will be prepared, and it may affect our iron cavalry's ambush!"

"No rush!" Liu Chengyou remained as composed as ever, gesturing to Pan Mei: "Zhongxun, what do you think?"

Pan Mei thought for a moment, then said, "Among the common folk who keep carrier pigeons, the birds must be familiar with the terrain and climate before messages can be sent. Spring has only just begun, and Chen Jue's army has marched north—their pigeons likely haven't had time to learn the environment. Moreover, as Your Majesty said, using pigeons to transmit military intelligence is inherently riddled with flaws. Whether these messages can actually reach Xu's army is doubtful.

Besides, since not all were shot down, how could we chase them? Xu Wenzhen is now within fifty li. If our iron cavalry spares no horseflesh, we can strike within an hour. The army's momentum has reached this point—even if he receives word, hasty preparations in such short notice are nothing to worry about.

Therefore, we need only await the report of victory from Chief Inspector Murong!"

Liu Chengyou looked at Ma Renyu, a hint of fondness showing in his manner: "Did you understand what Zhongxun said?"

Ma Renyu nodded, then couldn't help shaking his head, and after a moment's realization, muttered, "So my efforts were all for nothing?"

"Not entirely!" Liu Chengyou waved his hand. "At the very least, you've shown me your archery skill. Add that to your nose for military affairs, and one day you'll make a great general!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou say this, Ma Renyu was immediately delighted, chuckling to himself. Liu Chengyou then slowly rolled up the slips of paper, ordered Zhang Dejun to return them to him, and said, "Take these slips back to camp, hand them to Li Jixun, tell him the whole story, and have him record a merit for you!"

"Yes!" A trace of bewilderment flashed through his eyes, but Ma Renyu obediently acknowledged.

He performed the ritual bow and withdrew from the tent. Watching that powerful, tiger-like figure, Liu Chengyou said to Pan Mei, "Truly a young hero, a tiger of the Fengchen Guard! This Ma Renyu—he's only eighteen now, isn't he?"

When he had served under Guo Rong, Pan Mei had been as close to Ma Renyu as a brother, and had looked after him considerably. Hearing Liu Chengyou's words now, he said, "From the age of thirteen or fourteen, he was already roughing it in the military camps, though he rarely had chances to see battle. After being transferred into the imperial army, he earned Your Majesty's regard and was promoted into the Fengchen Camp, where he learned letters and martial arts, honing his combat skills. At present, he is like a sword ground to razor sharpness, its edge fully exposed—and now that he's on the battlefield, his eagerness to win merit burns fiercely..."

Appraising Pan Mei, Liu Chengyou's opinion of him improved further. Beyond military strategy, in personal conduct he was humble, courteous, and benevolent, possessing the bearing of a gentleman.

"Not just Ma Renyu—you, Pan Zhongxun, in my eyes, are you not also an incomparable blade?" Liu Chengyou stared at Pan Mei with piercing eyes.

Slightly startled, Pan Mei nevertheless humbly demurred: "I dare not presume!"

"Truly dare not?" Liu Chengyou said with amusement. "I've heard that back in your hometown, you told the villagers that in this age, it was the time for a true man to display his martial prowess and win merit to glorify his family name. Without the ambition and spirit to dare be first, how could one achieve such deeds?"

Hearing the Son of Heaven bring up the bold words he had spoken in his hometown, Pan Mei was surprised, and could not help but bow: "Your servant thanks Your Majesty for such high praise!"

"You and Ma Renyu have been in the imperial army for nearly three years now, haven't you?" said Liu Chengyou.

Pan Mei replied, "Indeed. We came to the capital in the second year of Qianyou, recommended by Governor Guo!"

At this answer, Liu Chengyou's gaze grew deep, and his tone gradually turned solemn: "Within the imperial army, there are too many young talents like the two of you—the finest of commanders. Three years of sharpening the blade, and now it must finally leave the sheath. This southern campaign is the time for you to press forward boldly and drink blood in the service of merit!"

Hearing Liu Chengyou's words, a flash of fervor and a flash of resolve passed through Pan Mei's eyes, and he clenched his fist.

By the time the sun set in the west and the sky darkened, Liu Chengyou stepped out of the imperial tent. The cold wind cleared his sluggish mind considerably. He looked toward the Tang camp in the southwest, and his brow furrowed slightly.

As he stretched, Wang Quanbin, Chief Commander of the Fengguo Army, came to report: "Your Majesty, the Tang army still shows no movement. It seems they truly have no intention of leaving camp to fight. This Chen Jue—so timid and cowardly, sitting on a great army, with such a fine opportunity before him, and yet he does nothing!"

"Enough!" Liu Chengyou raised his hand. "Pull back the soldiers lying in ambush. They've worked hard all day—let the men rest well!"

"Yes!"

"Chen Jue may be afraid to fight, but men's hearts are hard to predict. When we camp tonight, we must remain vigilant. What if Chen Jue's mind suddenly turns and he comes to raid our camp? We cannot be unprepared!" Liu Chengyou cautioned.

Wang Quanbin said calmly, "Your Majesty, rest assured!"

For a veteran of combat like Wang Quanbin, at his level of experience, setting up camp and preparing defenses was the most basic competence.

In fact, Chen Jue should count himself fortunate that he had stayed firmly "cowardly" to the end, unmoved by Xian Vice Minister's advice. On Liu Chengyou's side, after synthesizing the enemy situation with Wang Jun, Murong Yanzhao, and others, a decision was made: first take Xu Wenzhen's army to the south.

There were two main considerations for striking Xu Wenzhen's army: first, his troops were few in number, a mixed lot of good and bad, with relatively low fighting strength; second, they were overburdened with supplies, marching slowly, trailing far behind—a perfect opportunity to divide and annihilate them.

Though somewhat puzzled by Chen Jue's arrangement—not concentrating his entire army and baggage together, but instead keeping them tens of li apart for mutual support—the sovereign and ministers of the Northern Han naturally would not pass up an opportunity delivered to their very doorstep.

Within a single day, the Han cavalry had already severed communications between the two Tang armies, and urgently dispatched Murong Yanzhao and Han Tong to personally lead eight thousand iron cavalry and Dragon Elite riders south at full speed to ambush and destroy them.

Of course, Chen Jue had his own schemes as well. He had calculated that the Tang army would take advantage of his divided forces and come with overwhelming strength to attack. The Han camp had set the bait and laid the trap—unfortunately, they had waited in vain.

Still, though Chen Jue never came, Liu Chengyou was not too disappointed. After all, without the main cavalry force, even if the remaining ten-plus thousand infantry and cavalry could defeat Chen Jue, they could hardly achieve complete victory—and the cost in Han soldiers' lives would be no small matter.