Chapter 475: Side Story 26: Qu Duan Berates the Cavalry — Xiahou Ningyuan

Side Story 26: Qu Duan Berates the Cavalry — Xiahou Ningyuan

In the encampment, Zhang Zhongfu was reorganizing his troops when suddenly a look of alarm flashed in his eyes, and he began to rein in his mount. In the distance, a line of several horsemen came galloping toward the camp. As they drew nearer, many could see the lead rider in silver armor and a golden helmet, with a large red tassel on the helmet and a dark red cape fluttering backward behind his shoulders in the rush.

"It's Commander Qu!" Zhang Zhongfu blurted out, pulling on his reins. He recognized the leader as Qu Duan, the direct superior of this cavalry unit.

Instantly, the officers and men in the camp all stopped what they were doing, exchanged glances, and then one by one drooped their heads.

As the few horsemen approached, this cavalry unit, led by Zhang Zhongfu, immediately dismounted and stood at attention. But Qu Duan, still on his horse, suddenly yanked the reins hard a few yards away from the cavalry unit, and the fine Western horse beneath him came to an abrupt halt.

Qu Duan looked at the camp's disheveled state and crooked banners. His gaze was so cold that the cavalry standing there fell into a dead silence, and even the horses did not move. Qu Duan fixed his glare on the cavalry officer before him: "Is this the fine battle you fought? You said you would personally oversee the troops, and this is how you oversee them?"

Zhang Zhongfu stiffened: "Commander, your subordinate…"

With a crack, the riding crop in Qu Duan's hand flashed like lightning across Zhang Zhongfu's face, instantly leaving a bright red welt. But Zhang Zhongfu, after being struck a heavy blow, actually stood even straighter.

Qu Duan then demanded harshly: "Have you already forgotten the consequences of underestimating the enemy and advancing rashly? Chen Yanzhang and Wang Gang are watching you from the heavens! The forward, rear, left, and right armies each lost a commander. Do you think our cavalry can't fall behind and needs to lose one too? I told you to be careful, and this is how careful you are? My words go in one ear and out the other!" Hearing this, Zhang Zhongfu's face turned from white to red to green.

Having said this, Qu Duan sat up straight again and looked at his soldiers: "Greedy for merit, advancing rashly, returning in a crushing defeat, losing face—do you know what crime that is?" "…" None of the soldiers, including Zhang Zhongfu, dared to answer.

Seeing this, Xiahou Yuan, a close junior officer, couldn't help but quietly plead for Zhang Zhongfu, who was also a direct subordinate of Qu Duan, from behind: "Military Governor, Commander Zhang did fight fiercely against an equal number of Jin troops for half a day before being defeated, and in the end, he didn't lose too many men—" Qu Duan cut him off, his voice cold and dripping with sarcasm: "Fought fiercely for half a day against a bunch of defeated stragglers and homeless dogs retreating from Hebei, and still lost? Should we then lose to the Jin's new Yanyun army, then to their conscripts, then to their laborers? After that, there really would be no one left to lose to." Xiahou Yuan obediently lowered his head and said nothing.

Qu Duan cracked his riding crop in the air again and continued his stream of sharp words: "Which one of you isn't supposedly skilled in both letters and martial arts? 'Do not intercept a returning army; do not press a desperate foe'—have you read the military manuals into a dog's belly? And you say you didn't lose too many men—you've got no shame at all! If the Jin army hadn't been unwilling to prolong the fight, this time next year, Caifu (Zhang Zhongyan's courtesy name) would probably be visiting his brother's grave!" As he spoke, he deliberately glanced at Liu Qi, who also had a brother, and Liu Qi's face immediately turned ashen.

As if finding a new target, Qu Duan turned back and continued his sarcastic tone: "Vice Commander Liu, are you satisfied with this 'great achievement'? Put away those little schemes! The decisive battle is imminent. If the great cause of the Northern Expedition goes wrong on our Imperial Guard Cavalry, then you and I will be guilty before the Great Song, guilty before His Majesty, guilty before the people! Now, it's hard enough for me, Qu Da, to request a large banner, but I can't afford to have my reputation ruined in my later years. 'Left home young, returned old.' If this battle truly causes trouble, you, Liu Qi, wanting to fish your own brother out, might have to wait until you're seventy or eighty! If you still think about vying for merit and advancing rashly, you'll have to get His Majesty to remove me and make yourself the Cavalry Commander!" At this point, Qu Duan let out a sneer: "But even if I step down, there's still a legitimate meritorious Duke waiting by His Majesty's side!" Liu Qi's face was forced from green to white to red, finally understanding why Qu Duan had insisted on bringing him along to Zhang Da's camp. This smooth-talking superior clearly remembered the words he had used to egg Zhang Da on to seize the credit.

All around was silent, everyone awed, but Qu Duan no longer looked at his own troops. He tossed out a final line: "Reorganize yourselves properly. Who are you showing those dejected faces to!" With that, he suddenly yanked the reins and commanded loudly: "Let's go!"

The horse reared and galloped off.

Amid the rhythmic beat of hooves, the few horsemen once again followed Qu Duan's mount as it sped away.

Back at his own camp, Qu Duan impatiently threw the reins at Xiahou Yuan: "Go feed the horse, and remember to send my bottle of wound medicine to Zhang Da later—and also, tell Zhang Da to send his confession memorial to me first. He can't handle this himself. Did I owe you all a future in my past life? None of you give me any peace!" Liu Qi, concerned about his own merits, since it involved his brother's future, couldn't help but ask: "Commander, how will you explain this to His Majesty?"

Qu Duan sneered coldly: "Don't worry, this blame won't fall on your head, Vice Commander Liu. I'll take it upon myself! It won't hinder your brotherly love!" Liu Qi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, then was left speechless: This superior of his really had a mouth that was too sharp!