Chapter 16: Section Four

Huang Shi thought for a moment and replied, "This humble one can have General Sun secretly report to Wang Huazhen, saying that this humble one has already gained deep trust, and that this venture of infiltrating the main army to go to Zhenjiang is for the purpose of gathering military intelligence."

"That suits my intent perfectly. This Beile has already had the Fushun Imperial Son-in-Law send a letter to Sun Degong, written exactly in that vein." The actual handling would not be as simple as Huang Shi described, but Hong Taiji was also quite satisfied with his adaptability — this man merely seemed to lack practical experience.

"My lord Beile is brilliant."

At once, Hong Taiji's hearty laughter filled the room: "Huang Shi, your stratagem is exactly the same as mine — by calling me brilliant, aren't you just praising yourself?"

"This humble one was presumptuous."

"So that means I am not brilliant? You have nerve." Hong Taiji teased him again, and an intangible air of intimacy rose between them. "We set out in a couple of days. Prepare yourself well. You have never been in battle before, correct?"

"Correct."

"Oh, then you must at least have an interest in marching and warfare?" Hong Taiji took out a map and showed it to Huang Shi. Asking a man for advice makes that man feel you value him and trust him. As for whether Huang Shi's answer was right or wrong, Hong Taiji did not care — being wrong did not matter anyway. With an encouraging smile, Hong Taiji asked:

"Now, I and Amin will lead three thousand troops, while Li Yongfang commands five thousand Han soldiers. Huang Shi, tell me — how should we attack Mao Wenlong?"

Huang Shi pretended to ponder for a moment, then began to recite the Later Jin's historical strategy:

"First, lead three thousand armored cavalry straight at Zhenjiang, forcing Mao Wenlong to hole up inside. Then have Li Yongfang sweep the surrounding rebels clean. Once Zhenjiang becomes an isolated city, mass the entire army and strike. Clear the branches and leaves first, then go for the root — that way there will be no risk of him scattering and fleeing, and Mao Wenlong can be dealt with in the shortest possible time."

After Huang Shi fluently recited what he remembered, Hong Taiji fell silent for a long while. When he spoke again, his tone had turned low and his manner was grave inquiry: "But that gives him time to fortify and wait for relief. If a large Ming force arrives, Zhenjiang will turn into a protracted siege. Should we not take Zhenjiang swiftly to guard against the arrival of reinforcements?"

Huang Shi answered almost without thinking: "What my lord Beile worries about is nothing other than Ming reinforcements entering the city and bringing large quantities of bows, crossbows, and firearms. But this humble one believes: the Ming court is mired in endless factional strife, attacking and shifting blame onto one another. Who knows how long it will take them to reach a decision. Therefore, this humble one dares to stake his own head as guarantee — in the short term, absolutely not a single soldier will come to their aid!"

The moment Huang Shi's words fell, Hong Taiji slapped the table, raised his head, and barked: "Huang Shi!"

Startled, Huang Shi hurriedly stepped back two paces, lowered his head, and stood at attention: "This humble one is here."

He heard Hong Taiji ask in a low, sharp voice: "Have you truly never commanded troops in battle before?"

Huang Shi muttered to himself — could he have remembered wrong? Cautiously, he answered: "This is indeed the first time this humble one has participated in military affairs."

For a long moment, Hong Taiji was speechless. Finally, he brought out a bundle. Unwrapping it revealed a silk headscarf and a feather fan. "Huang Shi, I had several of my consorts work through the night to make these. I hope you will accept them."

Huang Shi naturally understood the symbolism of this gift. He had never imagined that Hong Taiji would regard him so highly. After years of living like a dog in misery, had someone finally recognized his ability to transcend the age? At this moment, Huang Shi could barely contain his surging emotion, and he did not even know what to say: "My lord Beile, this humble one..."

Hong Taiji gently placed the items on the table, picked up the fan, and flicked a finger along its edge: "These feathers were all personally selected by this Beile — uniform in length, even in thickness. What do you think, Huang Shi?"

With that, Hong Taiji handed the fan over. Huang Shi received it with utmost deference. Several violently conflicting emotions began to war for control of his mind. He could not help warning himself inwardly: Be vigilant, be vigilant — the moment you slacken even slightly, Huang Shi, you will be cursed for a thousand years. But another voice rose in his chest at the same time: There is no need to struggle or take risks anymore — wealth, rank, and glory are right before your eyes; you can grasp them with a single reach.

Because of this fierce inner struggle, Huang Shi momentarily forgot to reply, nor did he make any gesture of thanks. Hong Taiji was slightly surprised — had this treatment and recognition, clearly exceeding all normal bounds, still not moved the man before him to tears of gratitude? Huang Shi's expression shifted ceaselessly as heaven and man warred within him, all of it taken in by his observer. Watching coldly from the side, Hong Taiji felt he had grasped the thread of this man's thoughts, and asked gently: "Do you not like it?"

Suddenly realizing he had lost his composure, Huang Shi hurriedly knelt, covering up: "My lord Beile's generous favor — this humble one is ashamed and unworthy. Overwhelmed by emotion, I have been discourteous. I beg my lord Beile's forgiveness."

Face to the ground, Huang Shi immediately felt a pair of hands support his shoulders and lift him up. "Huang Shi, sit."

After pressing him into a chair, Hong Taiji also sat down with a smile, tapping the fan in his hand: "Yesterday, Huang Shi, you spoke at length, mainly on internal governance and the people's livelihood. Many of your ideas were things no one had conceived of before. After this Beile returned, I pondered them through the night — they stirred me deeply. Though your bookishness is still strong and many of your plans are naive, that is merely a lack of practical experience. With a little tempering, you could be put to great use. Therefore, I believed I had found my own Mr. Fan, and had my consorts rush to finish this feather fan and silk scarf."

Having said this, Hong Taiji set down the fan and gestured for Huang Shi to drink his tea and not be so ill at ease. After Huang Shi nervously set down his teacup, Hong Taiji continued:

"My original intent in bringing you to Zhenjiang was simply for you to witness the hardships of governing a state. I did not expect you to have such insight into military matters as well, views that coincide with Father Khan's and this Beile's without prior consultation. What is rare is that these military strategies were settled only after many days of discussion and analysis of the Ming Emperor's and ministers' characters. Yet you, Huang Shi, knowing nothing of the various pieces of intelligence, were still able to penetrate to the crux of the matter. Truly rare."

The moment these praises entered his ears, Huang Shi inwardly cried out in shame. Plagiarizing the correct decisions of historical figures was far too easy — of course he needed no detailed intelligence.

Unexpectedly, while the praise still rang in his ears, Hong Taiji began to shake his head: "Huang Shi, you conceal your brilliance, probably to evade the eyes and ears of my Great Jin. From your attitude yesterday, I could see that you must hold great contempt for someone like Mr. Fan, who aids Father Khan against the land of his own parents. That is only human nature — this Beile does not blame you. But from your expression just now, this Beile has understood clearly: you will never willingly serve me with all your heart."

These words made Huang Shi's hair stand on end. He knew he had said too much — Hong Taiji now took him very seriously. He remembered that throughout history, when faced with a man of such talent, sovereigns invariably followed the principle: if he will not serve me, then kill him swiftly to be safe.

Just as his mind raced wildly, the man across from him spoke again: "Huang Shi, if you truly wish to bury your talents here and now, this Beile will simply pretend I never met you and send you back to serve under Sun Degong. What do you say?"

How to answer? Huang Shi's heart was thrown into utter chaos.