Chapter 655: Zhang Wenqian

Xiazhou.

A mid‑late July morning.

The heat has not yet spread to Tongwan City on the edge of the Great Desert; the faint dawn light pierces the heavy clouds, coating the rammed‑earth stronghold with a wash of pale gold.

Inside the Chief Clerk's office, the candle flame still burns, its dancing light reflecting off the solemn faces in the room, while the air is scented faintly with ink and taut tension.

Zhang Wenqian, dressed in a scarlet official robe, has a lean, clean face, a few lines of gravity between his brows, yet carries the composure of one seasoned in border affairs.

He sits upright at the head seat, a scroll map in his hand, his fingertips lightly tracing the line between Xiazhou and Heifeng Valley, his gaze heavy.

Behind the desks on either side sit several armored generals, the foremost being Commander-in-Chief Gu Yu Ci.

The other generals either concentrate in thought or whisper low, all awaiting the crucial report.

At that moment, a soldier stationed at the hall's entrance hurried in.

He wears light armor, his expression a bit hurried, yet still respectful, reporting: "Chief Clerk, General, the brothers sent to probe Heifeng Valley have returned on orders!"

Zhang Wenqian hears this, a flash of brilliance in his eyes, and quickly raises his hand: "Invite them in at once!"

As soon as the words finish, two dust‑caked soldiers stride into the hall.

Both are clad in sturdy gear, dust on their faces, fine beads of sweat on their foreheads, clearly having rushed.

Upon entering, they immediately bow to Zhang Wenqian, Gu Yu Ci and the others, in unison saying, "Respectfully, Chief Clerk! Respectfully, Generals!"

"No need for formalities!" Zhang Wenqian waves his hand, his tone unable to hide urgency, "Quickly, tell me, how is Heifeng Valley?"

The soldier on the left straightens slightly, a trace of fear on his face, and hurriedly replies, "Chief Clerk, just as you suspected! The Qi army has indeed set an ambush in Heifeng Valley!"

Shuyi, following your orders, did not venture deep into the valley, only lurking around the mouth to observe; from afar he saw vague silhouettes of soldiers hidden on the cliffs on both sides, and the gorge was piled with numerous rolling stones and timber, clearly prepared in advance, awaiting our reinforcements to step in!

He pauses, recalling the scene, still uneasy: "The valley was eerily silent, even birds scarce, clearly a net of heaven and earth was laid out."

Shuyi, after probing with the Fire Cattle Formation, estimates from the response that the ambushing Qi forces number at least twenty thousand; if our reinforcements were to charge in rashly, we would likely have no chance to retaliate, a total annihilation.

"Damned Qi scoundrels! Truly treacherous!" Gu Yu Ci leaps to his feet, shouting an oath, the Xuan Armor clanging with a crisp "Clang."

He turns to Zhang Wenqian, his face full of relief and praise, "Thanks to Old Zhang's meticulous thinking and cautious action, otherwise, had we truly led reinforcements to Gancao City, we'd have fallen into this dire trap; the consequences unimaginable!"

The soldier on the right, watching Zhang Wenqian's composed demeanor, eyes brimming with unabashed admiration, can't help shouting, "Chief Clerk, you are truly divine!"

"Without even stepping half a pace beyond Tongwan City, you could anticipate the enemy, calculate the Qi army's ambush, such wit truly opens a subordinate's eyes!"

At his words, the generals in the hall all nod in agreement.

Their gazes toward Zhang Wenqian now carry a few more degrees of conviction.

Zhang Wenqian, hearing this, lifts his hand to press lightly, his expression still calm, his tone indifferent: "It's merely some deductions based on military strategy!"

"The Qi army comes from afar; provisions and baggage cannot be sustained, a swift strike is the best policy…"

"Heifeng Valley is the inevitable route to reinforce Gancao City; its terrain is treacherous, easy to defend yet hard to attack. If it were us, we would also choose to ambush here!"

"These are merely common principles of military strategy, not worth mentioning!"

As soon as he finishes, the soldier on the left seems to recall something urgent, steps forward, his expression solemn, and continues reporting, "General Li has, per your command, led his elite troops into Hangjin; these days they have been reinforcing the city defenses, digging deep moats, building high walls, and have also installed deer‑antler barricades at the perilous spots outside the city."

"General Li says, as long as he is in Hangjin, the Qi army will not advance even an inch!"

"Good!" Gu Yu Ci claps his hands first, praising, "General Li's discipline is strict; with him stationed at Hangjin, Tongwan City is secure!"

Zhang Wenqian nods, eyes narrowed, loudly commanding, "Messenger Commander must deploy his twenty thousand troops to hold Wu Hai, cooperating with Lingzhou's Pao Ze garrison, to block the Qi army's breakthrough into the two states of Xia and Ling!"

He pauses, then continues, "Make sure that Qi force is stopped north of Wu Hai!"

"Understood!" the two soldiers reply in unison.

Zhang Wenqian waves his hand, saying, "Go deliver the order!"

The two soldiers bow once and stride away.

Zhang Wenqian scans the crowd, his voice deep, "Generals, now the ambush in Heifeng Valley is clear, Hangjin's defenses are solid; the urgent task is each to fulfill his duty, defending Tongwan City and the surrounding key points!"

He raises his hand, his tone steady, "General Li, stationed at Hangjin, must dispatch additional scouts to closely monitor Qi movements!"

"The rest of you return to your sectors, reinforce city walls, tally provisions, tighten discipline; any change, report immediately!"

"Understood!" the generals answer in chorus, rising, clasping fists in salute, then exiting in order.

The once‑noisy hall falls silent in an instant, leaving only Zhang Wenqian, Gu Yu Ci, and the gradually intensifying morning light outside the windows.

"Old Gu, come see the map!" Zhang Wenqian lifts his chin toward Gu Yu Ci, tapping the map lightly with his fingertip.

"Alright!" Gu Yu Ci replies, striding swiftly to the desk, the Xuan Armor plates emitting a faint clatter with each step.

He leans forward toward the map, his gaze fixed on the positions of Xiazhou, Lingzhou, and Heifeng Valley, his expression focused.

Zhang Wenqian's fingertip traces the Qi army's advance route on the map, his eyes blazing, his voice deep: "The Qi State has always prized supply lines, yet this time they dare ignore the remote routes, joining the Rouran to rashly attack our two states of Xia and Ling; it is far from a momentary impulse."

"In my assessment, they intend to fight with on‑site resupply!"

"Along the Xiazhou‑Lingzhou border lie many granaries and villages; they aim to seize those supplies, feeding the war with war, to sustain the subsequent offensive."

Gu Yu Ci nods, eyes narrowed, his finger tapping the villages and granaries on the map, echoing, "You're absolutely right! We previously ordered the border populace to relocate, moving all granary supplies into Tongwan City, Hangjin and other strongholds, precisely to Clear the Countryside and cut off their supply route!"

"This move strikes their vital point!"

"As long as we can stall their troops, let their provisions run out, their morale disperse, the scales of victory will naturally tip toward us…"

"Indeed." Zhang Wenqian nods approvingly, his fingertip slowly moving to Lingzhou's spot, a hint of certainty flashing in his eyes, "Over in Lingzhou, Chief Clerk Doulu, who handles military affairs, and Commander Hua Jiao, both have fought alongside the Pillar of the State, their battle merits illustrious, their strategies unparalleled, certainly not ordinary men!"

"Having long endured war, they will surely see through Qi's scheming, will correspond with us from afar, adopting the same Clear the Countryside tactic, forming a flanking force that thwarts Qi's plans!"

Zhang Wenqian sees clearly: the Qi army seeks speed, a swift decisive strike!

While they intend to stall…

Stall until the Court's reinforcements arrive; perhaps they can even counterattack, leaving all these enemy forces behind!

And I, as Chief Clerk wielding the military‑administrative authority of Xiazhou, must, before the Court's reinforcements arrive, create as favorable a situation as possible!

Gu Yu Ci's brows gradually grow heavy, he stares at the map in silence for a moment, deliberates repeatedly, then slowly says, "Old Zhang, there's something I'm not sure I should say…"

Zhang Wenqian turns his head, glances at him, sees the hesitation, waves his hand, his tone even, "Old Gu, just speak plainly!"

Gu Yu Ci inhales deeply, clears his throat, his voice solemn, "From a strategic whole‑picture view, Clear the Countryside and holding key positions is indeed the optimal solution right now…"

"Abandon the rush to aid Gancao City, concentrate forces to defend Tongwan City and Hangjin; that will indeed preserve our army's strength to the greatest extent and repel the Qi and Rou allied forces."

Immediately, the tone shifted sharply, his voice deepening a few degrees, carrying an unmistakable heaviness: "But… what about Wang Sima and the garrison of Gancao City?"

Gu Yuci's gaze fixed tightly on the position of Gancao City on the map, his eyes full of complexity.

He had known Wang Sima for many years and knew him to be loyal and brave, while Gancao City's garrison numbered only a little over a thousand, having been besieged by the main Qi army for many days, already at the end of its strength, sustained solely by the belief that Reinforcements would arrive.

Now that they choose to hold fast without aid, it is no different from pushing Gancao City and Wang Sima into a dead end, tantamount to abandoning those soldiers who were holding out for aid.

Zhang Wenqian's brows instantly knit, his hand placed on the table unconsciously clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning slightly pale.

After a moment of silence, only the two of their breathing remained in the hall, the atmosphere so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

After a long while, he finally spoke slowly, his voice hoarse with restrained pain: "I am not trying to watch them die without rescuing…"

He paused, as if striving to calm his inner turmoil, "It's just that the current situation, Xiazhou's safety hangs by a thread, Tongwan City is the northwestern shield, it must not be compromised!"

"Gancao City and Tongwan City, one must be chosen; I can only choose to preserve the overall situation!"

He let out a long sigh, slowly closed his eyes, his face full of helplessness and guilt: "I act as the commander of Xiazhou's military and civil affairs, accountable upward to the Court and downward to the hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers of Tongwan City; I can only… can only fail Wang Sima!"

Gu Yuci looked at his painful expression, his heart a mix of five flavors, and said worriedly: "But Wang Sima is the New Duke's legitimate eldest son…"

"I know!" Zhang Wenqian suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of resolve in them, his tone firm: "I've already considered this! If Wang Sima were to die for the country, and the New Duke blames it, I will bear all the blame alone!"

"Whether it be removal from office and investigation, or military tribunal, I, Zhang Wenqian, have not a single word of complaint!"

Gu Yuci shook his head, his gaze returning to Gancao City on the map, his tone carrying a hint of hope: "It hasn't gotten that bad yet…"

"Wang Sima has studied military strategy since childhood, runs the army strictly, and although Gancao City is small, its defenses are solid…"

"With his abilities, combined with Gancao City's fortifications, holding out for ten days to half a month should not be a problem!"

"They should be able to hold until the Court's reinforcements arrive!"

Zhang Wenqian heard this, a faint glimmer flashing in his eyes, nodded, temporarily suppressing his guilt and struggle, and loudly ordered: "Old Gu, the matter must not be delayed!"

"You quickly go reinforce Tongwan City's defenses, dispatch more soldiers to guard the four gates, inventory the city's armaments and Provisions, and ensure nothing is left to chance!"

"If the Hangjin front line or any other key position falters, then our Tongwan City becomes Xiazhou's final line of defense; there must be no slip whatsoever!"

"Understood!" Gu Yuci heavily nodded, all hesitation and worry in his eyes fading, replaced by a resolute expression, "I'll handle it right away! I will not betray the trust, and will defend Tongwan City!"

Having said that, he clasped his fists in a bow to Zhang Wenqian, turned and strode out of the council hall, the clatter of Xuan Armor echoing in the spacious hall, gradually fading away.

In the council hall, only Zhang Wenqian remained, he walked slowly to the window, leaned against the windowsill, and gazed at the courtyard bathed in morning light.

The plants in the courtyard swayed gently in the morning breeze, distant shouts of soldiers training echoed, everything seemed so calm, yet a storm roiled in his heart.

He raised his hand to rub his swollen brow, murmuring to himself: "What needed to be done, I have already done!"

"Clear the Countryside, fortify the key positions, and the rest can only be left to Heaven's will…"