Chapter 580: The Hour of Wu Has Come

Advancing step by step, taking one city at a time, inching forward — that is how ordinary people picture a military campaign. It does not belong to those "geniuses."

Zhang Bu was just an ordinary warlord. He truly could not imagine how bold and fearless Geng Yan must have been to abandon his baggage train, force-march three hundred li, and head straight for the enemy's capital!

Not only were the enemies astonished — even Grandee Fu Long, who accompanied the army under Geng Yan's command, still could not believe, upon reaching the walls of Linzi, that Geng Yan had simply bypassed every obstacle and made this place his target of attack!

It turned out that, guided by Fu Long and others who had been to Linzi, Geng Yan concentrated the Shanggu shock cavalry and the Jizhou mounted auxiliaries — five thousand riders, each man with two horses, carrying five days' provisions — and in just four days struck from Lixia straight to Linzi.

But to think of attacking this greatest city under heaven, with a population of three or four hundred thousand, using five thousand panting, exhausted troops — that was simply a serpent trying to swallow an elephant: no matter how wide it opened its jaws, it could never be done.

Fu Long could only endure the pain of his buttocks chafed raw by the saddle, seek out Geng Yan who was deploying his troops, and present his own view.

"General of Chariots and Cavalry, our forces are too few — I fear they are insufficient to break Linzi. Zhang Bu's main force is at Xi'an County, forty li northwest of Linzi, and can reach here in a single day. I still believe that even if we are to make a long-range raid, we should go to Xi'an to join forces with General Gai, and not come to Linzi to take such a risk."

"Since when has Grandee Fu understood military matters?"

But Geng Yan could not stomach the shallow insight of a civil official. He had his own calculations: "Xi'an is a small city but strongly fortified, and all of Zhang Bu's elite troops are there. If we attack Xi'an first, Zhang Bu will defend with the city at his back. If we cannot take it swiftly, Gai Yan and I will be deep in enemy territory with no supply line behind us, our troops bogged down before a strong city. Within ten days, we will be worn down without even fighting. Even if we win a minor victory, our casualties will be heavy, and Zhang Bu can still calmly lead his army back to Linzi and resist stubbornly from his lair. Linzi has a huge population — if he truly rouses them, that will also be a hard fight. Grandee Fu's suggestion may not be appropriate."

After that, Geng Yan approved Fu Long's participation in the subordinate generals' council of war, and he laid out his plan before everyone: "In attacking Linzi, I am still besieging a point to strike the reinforcements — to force Zhang Bu to come back and rescue his capital!"

Ever since Diwu Lun gave this tactic a name, Cen Peng loved using it most, with Geng Yan a close second. Pointing at Linzi, whose gates were tightly shut, he said: "Linzi's name is great, but in truth it is easy to attack. Its perimeter is fifty li, with thirteen city gates in all. According to prisoners, the garrison left to hold Linzi numbers no more than ten thousand. How many men can stand on each li of wall? Thus even the garrison is insufficient. The wealth and families of the Qi army's ruler and ministers are all in Linzi. Zhang Bu, dreading a repeat of the Lixia disaster, will surely return to the rescue when he receives the plea for help!"

"Once we crush Zhang Bu's main force, whether Linzi or Xi'an, both will be prizes in my palm. This is what is meant by striking one and gaining two."

After hearing this, Fu Long grew even more worried: "Linzi has a huge population. If every household sends out one man, they can muster a hundred thousand. If they coordinate with Zhang Bu from within and without, attacking our army in a pincer, what then?"

But Geng Yan replied with certainty: "The troops of Linzi will not come out."

"Zhang Bu is a man of Langya in Xuzhou. After entering Qingzhou as an outsider army, the soldiers he conscripted were taken by force, and the grain he collected was mostly seized by plunder. He has many frictions with the local gentry, and they distrust each other — even more so after the Red Eyebrows were destroyed. At the battle of Lixia, the Qingzhou troops and the Langya troops did not come to each other's aid, and we exploited that. I expect Linzi will be the same."

"Linzi's population may be large, but they are all merchants, peddlers, laborers, and hired hands. If Zhang Bu is foolish enough to drive market folk into battle, that would be just like the Yin slaves, seven hundred thousand strong, facing the Zhou army at Muye. To the market folk, whether it is the King of Qi or the Wei Emperor makes little difference."

In the end, it was still a gamble. Fu Long shut his mouth, only his heart remaining uneasy, while Geng Yan had already begun selecting the battlefield position.

He raised his head and gazed up at the city of Linzi. The walls, eight zhang high, were like a great mountain, blocking Geng Yan's line of sight. On the upturned eaves and tile-ends of the gate towers crouched ceramic auspicious divine beasts, some like turtles, some like tigers. Among the city's quarters, the royal palace lay in the small southwestern citadel, while the outer walls and markets were in the large northwestern citadel.

The Wei army had little grain left and had already begun slaughtering horses too exhausted to fight, eating their flesh. If Zhang Bu ignored them and chose to drag things out, that would be troublesome — after all, the main infantry force was still two hundred li to the west, advancing slowly, and would not arrive for at least ten days or half a month.

And so Geng Yan chose the position that most threatened the nerve center of Linzi:

"It shall be at Linzi's southern gate."

"Jixia!"

Zhang Bu was indeed still hesitating. The recent battle of Lixia in Ji'nan Commandery had been lost precisely because the garrison rashly came out to rescue another city, leading to total destruction — that lesson could not be ignored. Furthermore, if he took his main force back, how should he deal with Gai Yan and the Yuyang shock cavalry over at Xi'an County?

Caught in this dilemma, Zhang Bu chose to observe for one more day. With Linzi's huge population, surely it could hold out for ten days or half a month, right?

He tossed and turned all night. The next day, refugees fleeing Linzi arrived at Xi'an County seeking help, and Zhang Bu thus learned of Geng Yan's troop dispositions.

"The Wei army is encamped outside the Ji Gate, fiercely attacking the royal palace?"

"And they have circulated proclamations throughout the great city of Linzi, declaring that the Wei Emperor Diwu Lun's ancestors were also of the Tian clan of Qi, and that he has now come to rescue the elders of the Qi lands from dire straits?"

Hearing this, Zhang Bu could no longer remain calm. He was so agitated he jumped up and down.

Why? Because human nature is to cling to life and seek one's own advantage. Zhang Bu's rule over Linzi had, in truth, lasted a mere three years. He was of lowly origin and a man from another province; the gentry and common people did not truly submit to him.

And Zhang Bu's governance, while certainly somewhat better than that of the Greenwood or the Red Eyebrows — not quite "dire straits" — could hardly be called benevolent rule. He supported a force of eighty thousand with the resources of a single province. Moreover, his followers had rapidly grown corrupt, living in luxury and excess. The tax rates and land rents among the common people were heavy, and there was no shortage of grievances.

When Geng Yan's great army arrived, if he had first attacked the wealthy and populous great city of Linzi, the livelihoods of the several hundred thousand people inside would have been threatened. Fearing that the enemy outside the walls would plunder them, they might perhaps have helped the garrison resist.

But Geng Yan aimed his attacks solely at Zhang Bu's royal palace, while proclaiming that he would not harm the common people. The people of Linzi, skeptical yet half-believing, were perfectly happy to stand by with their hands in their sleeves.

"Those left to hold Linzi are all local soldiers, with low fighting capacity — they probably will not fight with full effort. It seems I cannot ignore Linzi!"

So Zhang Bu left ten thousand troops at Xi'an County, still requiring them to maintain a linked encampment of over ten forts and find a way to block the Yuyang shock cavalry.

Zhang Bu himself would personally lead twenty thousand men and hurry to Linzi. Before setting out, to boost morale, he encouraged his core subordinate generals, saying: "Think back to the beginning — when the Hebei bandit gangs Youlai and Datong, over a hundred thousand strong, invaded Qi, I defeated them all. Now young Geng has fewer troops than they did, and they are all exhausted — what is there to fear!"

From Xi'an County to Linzi was a mere forty li. A man with a brisk pace on an ordinary day could cover it in one day; a merchant's cart fully loaded with goods could make the round trip in half a day.

Yet on this return march to the rescue, Zhang Bu was extremely cautious. He sent his scouts out a full thirty li, to keep the Wei army under close observation. And although his troops were forced to march in column, they bunched together as much as possible on the main road, so that upon encountering the enemy they could swiftly deploy into a line formation.

But all along the way, the Qi army was subjected to countless harassing attacks. The area around Linzi was a classic great plain, and the Wei army's Shanggu shock cavalry were like fish entering the sea — appearing and vanishing like ghosts. Though they were only scouting skirmishers, their combat strength was extremely formidable.

The Wei army's cavalry organization: five riders made a squad leader, ten riders a petty officer, a hundred riders a commander, two hundred riders a general. Scout units based on two hundred riders numbered at least five. They played at wheel warfare, appearing and disappearing among the millet fields on either side of the road, but never using brute force to charge directly. Instead, they drew their bows and loosed arrows from a distance, forcing the Qi army to bunch up and take defensive positions — then they would ride off and be gone.

But just as the Qi army relaxed its guard, another scout unit would come howling down upon them!

The Qi army's twenty thousand men, no matter how densely packed, still stretched into a column ten li long, like the serpent of Mount Chang. But this serpent was extremely cumbersome and utterly incapable of "strike the head and the tail comes to the rescue, strike the tail and the head comes, strike the middle and both head and tail come." Instead, it was harried into flailing left and right.

In a mere forty li, Zhang Bu's troops stopped and started, wasting two full days. The soldiers were so harassed they could not rest; the marching column was broken off several times. Disoriented detachments fell behind, were attacked and scattered by the scout units, and simply became deserters — a common occurrence.

By the time they could finally make out the walls of Linzi, the Qi army was utterly exhausted. Even Zhang Bu, standing in his chariot, was on the verge of dozing off. Only by drawing his blade and cutting a bloody gash across the back of his hand did he jolt himself awake.

Though the Qi army was large in number, in such a state it was utterly incapable of fighting. Zhang Bu planned to first reach the Yong Gate west of Linzi, set up camp and fortifications, and only after resting and recovering drive off the Wei cavalry — that would not be too late.

But Geng Yan gave Zhang Bu no such chance. The Wei army, which had been taking its meals at Jixia by Linzi's southern gate, had already shifted its forces to the west of the city, placing itself squarely between the Qi army and Linzi! They formed their battle line with their backs to the city!

Such an arrogant formation rekindled the fury even of Zhang Bu, whose heart had been inclining toward avoiding battle. He cursed:

"Geng Bozhao, you are too arrogant! You treat the giant city of Linzi as if it were nothing, and you think Zhang Bu is a dead man?"

He then issued his orders: "The Wei cavalry have been fighting continuously for days — they must be spent and unable to charge. The whole army will rest on the spot for half a shichen, then advance and drive the Wei soldiers into the moat! Send men to contact the garrison troops inside Linzi. Once I advance, they are to come out and coordinate, and we shall surely slaughter Geng Bozhao beneath the walls of Linzi!"

The troops Geng Yan had brought to the walls of Linzi were all cavalry — mainly the Shanggu shock cavalry, with the Jizhou horsemen as auxiliaries. A man's strength is easily restored, but a horse's is not. Just as Zhang Bu had reckoned, most of the army's horses were gaunt and spent.

However, Geng Yan had made adjustments among the mounted troops. Three thousand Jizhou horsemen had contributed their mounts and were now "dismounted infantry," gripping horse lances and cavalry sabers, arrayed at the center of the battle formation — as unhurried as a forest.

The two thousand Shanggu shock cavalry still had their warhorses and roamed the left and right wings of the formation, nimble and mobile.

Fu Long was already an old hand at diplomatic missions, but this was his first time personally on a battlefield: ahead of him were the vast, surging ranks of twenty thousand Qi troops, already forming a semicircle to envelop the Wei army. Worse still, a few li behind them lay Linzi, the greatest city under heaven. On the walls, Zhang Bu's men were looking down; countless gazes were like sharp arrows, making Fu Long feel as if thorns were pricking his back.

He resisted the pain and itch, not reaching out to scratch, but he could not stop himself from turning his head back again and again. Fu Long constantly felt that from within Linzi, tens of thousands of men would come roaring out like a mountain avalanche and a tsunami, and sweep the Wei army away...

Fu Long glanced sidelong at the commander, Geng Yan. This general, even younger than himself, was remarkably composed, still holding his "far-seeing lens," observing the Qi army's formation unhurriedly and unflustered.

Fu Long remembered that during the pre-battle council, Geng Yan had said this:

"The twenty thousand men under Zhang Bu are all his Langya elite. Coming from Xi'an County toward Linzi, their morale is still high, and the soldiers are eager to fight. We must first blunt their edge! Therefore I ordered the cavalry wings to harass but not engage — now galloping forth, now galloping back — swift as the wind, violent as thunder, making broad daylight seem like dusk, changing banners and pennants repeatedly, switching garments, throwing the Qi army into chaos and exhausting them."

"Now the enemy has just arrived; their morale has already declined. Their marching formation is not yet set, their front and rear are disconnected, and their soldiers do not wish to fight but only want to set up camp and rest. Yet I still have two thousand elite cavalry available — press their front and rear, hunt their left and right, strike them from the wings, and the enemy will surely be terrified. Then use the three thousand mounted infantry to strike swiftly at their front and press their ramparts, and the enemy will surely be routed."

Was it really that simple?

It was that simple!

Fu Long did not dare to ask further, but it was Geng Yan who first broke the silence.

"Master Fu, a few days ago you told me the story of the Ji Gate south of the city and the Jixia Academy. What, then, is the lore behind this Yong Gate?"

In a single line, Fu Long's thoughts were pulled from a war he did not understand back into the classics he knew so well. He steadied his voice as best he could.

"The Zuo Commentary, eighteenth year of Duke Xiang: Jin and the feudal lords attacked Qi, cutting the reeds at Yong Gate. On the day of jihai, they burned Yong Gate. This Yong Gate was once burned when Jin led the feudal lords here."

Geng Yan asked again, "And when Yue Yi attacked Qi in the Warring States period, through which gate did he enter?"

Fu Long replied, "There is no record, but it should also have been Yong Gate."

"Good."

Geng Yan laughed. "It seems choosing Yong Gate was correct. Most of my men are also from Yan and Zhao. I only hope this time we can match Yue Yi's achievement!"

After that, Geng Yan said no more.

It was the height of summer, the fifth month. As the sun slowly climbed, the day grew hot, and the remaining time became truly unbearable. Fu Long's cloth cap was soaked through with sweat, and his chest felt tight. From the observation wagon, he spied the Qi army resting and drinking water where they stood, their ranks in considerable disarray. Yet Geng Yan remained unmoved, simply letting the Qi army drag on, bit by bit reorganizing themselves.

A stalemate like this clearly disadvantaged the Wei army. Fu Long could not hold back. He spoke cautiously: "General, did you not say before the battle? 'When the enemy has just arrived, their marching columns not yet set, their vanguard and rear unconnected — strike their forward cavalry, hit their flanks, and the enemy will surely flee.' This is common knowledge in the use of cavalry. So why now do you let the Qi army rest and regroup without attacking?"

General, what are you waiting for? For the Qi army to collapse on its own? For Linzi to surrender?

A scholar was a scholar. Such foolish questions Geng Yan normally disdained to answer. Today, perhaps because his stratagem was about to succeed and his mood was good, he actually replied to Fu Long with a smile.

"I am waiting for one man."

"Who?"

"General of the Tiger Teeth, Gai Yan, Gai Juqing!"

Geng Yan's eye remained pressed to the telescope — the device was truly too useful on the battlefield — and he revealed the answer to Fu Long:

"Zhang Bu's main force has already been drawn back. How can the garrison of Xi'an County possibly withstand the Yuyang shock cavalry? I sent word to Gai Yan long ago. Today, when battle is joined, the Yuyang shock cavalry are even fiercer at the charge than the Shanggu shock cavalry. Even if Gai Yan cannot take the city, circling around here is effortless for him."

Of course, whether the Yuyang shock cavalry would keep the appointment and arrive on time was an unknown. These troops Wu Han had brought out were famed for their arrogance and unruliness. Gai Yan had been a troublemaker himself and was said to obey only Ma Yuan. Back on the He and Ji rivers, he had refused to coordinate and had sabotaged his allies. How would he behave today?

But Geng Yan felt that when he had left Bing Province, he had left behind the elite main force of the Bing Province cavalry, and had also exhorted his old subordinates to give Wu Han face and put the greater good first. Grant convenience to others, and convenience will be granted to you. Had he not done all that precisely so that Wu Han's old subordinate Gai Yan would, in turn, give him face?

The weather grew ever more scorching. As the sun drew nearer to its zenith, in Geng Yan's telescope, behind the vast formation of the Qi army, he finally glimpsed waves of yellow dust — the cloud raised by tens of thousands of hooves trampling the earth as cavalry advanced.

And as the wolf-smoke used for signaling was lit and the gaudy great kite rose with the wind, Geng Yan confirmed the identity of the newcomers.

Beneath that kite and wolf-smoke, there was surely a fierce general nine chi tall, spear in hand!

His waiting had not been in vain. Gai Yan had arrived as promised!

"Though half a shichen late."

Muttering this, Geng Yan handed the telescope to Fu Long to amuse himself with, then had his men wave the commander's banner and issue the order to attack.

"Mount up!"

"The hour of wu has come!"