Chapter 449: Immovable as a Mountain: Commandant Heifu

Fusu heard that Feng Jie's main army had not yet been wiped out by the Xiongnu, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief for Feng Jie and the ten thousand or so soldiers. It seemed they had not arrived too late after all!

But what puzzled him was that when Heifu heard the Xiongnu were now merely besieging them without attacking, he instead stopped advancing, ordered everyone to rest on the spot, and even had camp pitched. The sky was clearly still light; they could have marched another twenty li.

Young Master Fusu was anxious. During the earlier war council, hadn't Heifu talked about doing some kind of "blossoming from the center"? How was it that after the army had rushed for four days and arrived at the doorstep, they were now hesitating? If it were just a short rest, that would be one thing, but Heifu had halted entirely, looking for all the world as if he were content to sit and watch his allies in distress while he himself remained as immovable as a mountain.

Unable to restrain himself, he asked, "General, since you have already reached this river, no more than forty or fifty li from White Goat Mountain, why not advance upstream, coordinate with General Feng from within and without, and break the enemy's siege together? Why linger here and advance no further?"

Heifu had little recourse when it came to the Army Supervisor Young Master. A supervisor is not a general's subordinate, but rather his vulnerability. He could not forcibly order him to stay somewhere or do something. Fusu wished to approach the front lines to observe the battle, and after a few unsuccessful attempts to dissuade him, Heifu could only agree.

On the other hand, having the Young Master march to the front lines together with the troops could indeed boost morale. In this battle, where they would be fighting outnumbered, the Qin army sorely needed high spirits.

Fusu proved able to endure hardship. For four days straight, covering fifty li each day, the soldiers' feet grew weary, and the officers in the war chariots felt their backs would snap from the jolting, yet Fusu gritted his teeth and persevered, standing ramrod straight in his chariot.

The only trouble was, as a greenhorn witnessing war for the first time, Fusu truly did not understand many things.

This was only natural. The education Fusu had received over the past twenty years included rites, music, and law, but not the deployment of troops and battle formations.

Faced with Fusu's questions, Heifu could only patiently explain: "The Art of War says, 'If you force-march fifty li to contend for advantage, the commander of the van will stumble, and only half your force will arrive.' Our army has marched for four days straight. Although the soldiers, spurred on by you, Young Master, and concerned for their comrades' safety, have had surprisingly few stragglers, the men are all exhausted. If we force-march now, before we are even halfway there, while our army is strung out like a long snake, the Xiongnu will catch us at our ease and cut us in two. If our army is defeated, the Shang Province troops will truly be beyond saving."

"Conversely, our army's movements must have already been spotted by Xiongnu scouts. By halting here, within striking distance of White Goat Mountain at any moment, the Xiongnu will be forced to split their forces to guard against us. This way, the Xiongnu will have to look ahead and behind, and will no longer dare to assault White Goat Mountain with full force. Commandant Feng's side will also get a chance to catch their breath."

Heifu considered himself to have little natural talent for warfare. Commanding the twenty-five thousand seasoned soldiers from Beidi and Longxi at present was just right; any more and he would be overwhelmed. As for the civilian laborers? Their numbers were not small, but what was the point of bringing them? To have them collectively panic and rout, crashing back into their own battle lines when the Xiongnu charged at them?

"In war, numbers alone are no advantage. Only by not advancing rashly, by concentrating strength, assessing the enemy, and winning over men, is enough."

And the first principle of his way of fighting was to first ensure he himself would not be defeated, and only then consider how to achieve victory.

If they drove straight for White Goat Mountain, Heifu felt there was a very high probability he would be dragged down by Feng Jie and they would lose the battle together.

"The Art of War says, 'Know the place of battle, know the day of battle, and you can march a thousand li to join combat.' Half a year ago at Luminous Forest Palace in Yunyang, when His Majesty ordered Beidi and Longxi to jointly strike Helan, General Li and I began planning together. Staff officers and messengers traveled back and forth ceaselessly. The day each side would march, the daily distance covered, where to rendezvous—all were mutually known in advance. Thus, though separated by a thousand li, we could successfully join forces at Helan."

"Commandant Feng had previously agreed with Beidi and Longxi to rendezvous at Helan in mid-sixth month. Who could have known he would be besieged by the main Xiongnu force? No word has passed between us for over ten days. Even if I press close to the outskirts of White Goat Mountain, coordination would be difficult. This is what the Art of War means by: 'If you do not know the place of battle, nor the day of battle, then the left cannot rescue the right, the right cannot rescue the left, the vanguard cannot rescue the rearguard, the rearguard cannot rescue the vanguard—even if separated by only a few dozen li, it is the same.'"

Fusu nodded as if he understood, though he didn't quite. The truth was, all of Heifu's rambling, all his reasons for not immediately going to the rescue, boiled down to one thing: he had absolutely no trust in the commander of the Shang Province troops, Feng Jie...

Half a year ago, when the border generals gathered at Luminous Forest Palace, Feng Jie's words and bearing had betrayed a hint of resentment at being treated as Heifu's equal. In this campaign, his rash actions also smacked of seeking glory for himself. Although he had not fallen into disarray after being besieged and had held out for seven days, the Shang Province troops were weary and exhausted. They were probably sufficient for defense but insufficient for attack. If Heifu charged in, it might end up with the Xiongnu besieging him instead while Feng Jie escaped. He was not that selflessly noble.

Therefore, the most prudent course of action now, and the one that would cause the Xiongnu the most discomfort, was to simply stand here on the lower reaches of the Dousitu River, neither advancing nor retreating!

In front of Fusu and the other officers, Heifu laid out three possible ways to "assess the enemy."

"First: If the Xiongnu grit their teeth and ignore us, attempting to storm the Shang Province troops right under our noses, that would be suicide. We can immediately order the soldiers to roll up their armor and advance."

"Second: If the Xiongnu continue to hesitate, neither attacking nor leaving, then after I rendezvous with General Li Xin, infantry and cavalry will advance in coordination and fight a pitched battle against the Xiongnu on equal terms!"

"Third: The Xiongnu abandon the Shang Province troops, who have their backs to hills and woods, and turn to attack our army instead. If we encounter them like that, it might go badly for us. It would be better to wait here a while first and observe the Xiongnu's movements."

Fusu was astonished. "Why would the Xiongnu abandon the worn-out troops of Shang Province to attack our fresh, keen soldiers?"

"Because of the terrain."

Heifu said, "Though General Feng is besieged, upon learning the main Xiongnu army was coming, he sought out a hilly, wooded area to pitch camp. This is terrain that exhausts cavalry. Defending by relying on the terrain, the Xiongnu find it difficult to attack uphill. Since they have been stuck for seven or eight days without success, if this drags on, as long as the Shang Province troops' arrows are not exhausted, the Xiongnu cannot have their way."

"Our army is different. We are advancing along the flat riverbank, terrain where cavalry can roam freely, charging straight in to break formations and overrun camps. Moreover, our army has marched a long way and can also be considered a tired force. If the Xiongnu attack White Goat Mountain, I might roll up our armor and rush forward. Conversely, if the Xiongnu bring their whole army to attack us, the Shang Province troops are weary, hungry, and thirsty, and cannot come to support us in time. Even if the Xiongnu cannot annihilate our army entirely, they can easily achieve some success and gain minor advantages. Therefore, I believe the Xiongnu might bring their whole army to attack us!"

Fusu suddenly saw the light. So this was why Heifu had stopped and refused to move—to guard against a Xiongnu raid.

But he then raised a sharp question.

"What if... the Xiongnu Chanyu ignores both front and rear and simply flees far away with all his Xiongnu? What then?"

"If that happens, our army truly would have no good way to deal with the Xiongnu."

Heifu shook his head with a bitter smile, quite helpless. Even if the soldiers ran their legs off, they could not race against Mongolian horses on the steppe. If the Xiongnu simply swaggered off, the most they could do was send Li Xin with the chariots and cavalry to pursue and harry them for a while.

However, Heifu still felt that Chanyu Touman would not do that.

"He cannot afford the humiliation!"

The Xiongnu would certainly run, but it depended on how they ran. If they abandoned the fight against Qin now and simply withdrew, the Xiongnu would lose the entire territory south of the river, the entire Northern Jia, and could only keep the Ordos Loop—perhaps not even that.

Even a Chanyu could not bear such enormous losses. Once these regions were abandoned without a fight, the internal resentment alone would turn the Chanyu into a solitary man. What's more, outside there was still Prince Modu, who had defected to the Yuezhi and was watching with tiger-like intensity...

So Touman had to fight and win a battle. It was just that, based on Heifu's understanding of the Xiongnu, they generally marched when the moon was full and withdrew when it waned, a campaign lasting about half a month in total. At present, the patience of the various Xiongnu tribes was nearly exhausted.

If he were Chanyu Touman, what he would be thinking now was not how to annihilate the Shang Province troops entirely, but how to fight a small victory to save face, and then quickly take the tribes and flee. The Beidi and Longxi troops had already arrived. How far behind could the main Qin army that had found nothing at Touman City be?

By then, they truly would be unable to leave.

Now, seeing Heifu halt in flat, featureless terrain, the Xiongnu might think the topography here favors them. With the intent of gaining a slight advantage, killing or wounding a few thousand men, and then withdrawing, they might come to attack the Qin army...

Only by first assessing the enemy could one make such arrangements. Fusu felt deep admiration. Heifu's way of war, though seemingly plain and unremarkable on the surface, actually required a great deal of mental effort. This, perhaps, was his unique method of employing troops.

Because he did not know that Heifu was often panicking internally while only outwardly feigning calm composure, Fusu's opinion of Heifu was quite high. He thought to himself:

"When I was young, I once overheard State Commandant Liaozi discussing military affairs with my Imperial Father. He said that those who employ troops fall into four schools: Strategic Planning, Tactical Positioning, Yin-Yang Divination, and Technical Skill. General Li Xin can be called a valiant general, excelling in Tactical Positioning, like a torrent dashing away stones, like a bird of prey swooping."

"As for Commandant Wei, he can be considered a wise general, excelling in Strategic Planning, calculating first and fighting later..."

He recalled the high saddles and stirrups on the cavalry's equipment, and the new type of war chariot the infantry were pushing. "Hmm, and he also combines Positioning and employs Technical Skill."

In short, his ideas were unusually numerous. What Fusu did not know was that Heifu not only took endless delight in struggling against men, but often also pitted his wits against imaginary foes.

As they were speaking, Gongsun Bailu walked in, bowed solemnly, and reported: "Commandant, Army Supervisor, the scout cavalry have returned with word. Thirty li to the east, forty thousand Xiongnu cavalry are roaring this way! At their head is the Xiongnu Chanyu's eagle banner!"

"They actually came!"

Fusu was startled. Experiencing a battle formation for the first time, and outnumbered at that, he felt a slight nervousness. He looked at Heifu, but saw Commandant Wei remained very calm. Instead of first asking how soon the Xiongnu would arrive, he asked Gong Ao beside him: "Where has General Li Xin's cavalry reached?"

"General Li says there are over ten thousand Xiongnu obstructing them on the opposite bank, making a river crossing difficult. So they are first moving south before crossing, and I fear they will arrive somewhat later than the Xiongnu cavalry..."

"It seems our army must resist the Xiongnu alone for a while. With twenty-five thousand infantry against forty thousand... no, adding the ten thousand-plus Xiongnu north of the Dousitu River, that makes over fifty thousand riders!"

"Is Commandant Wei confident of victory?" Fusu asked, cupping his hands.

"I dare not say victory is certain, however..."

Heifu smiled. "When General Li raises his troops, he is always as swift as the wind, as consuming as a raging fire. Today, we must at least be as immovable as a mountain!"

To deal with the Xiongnu, Beidi Province had prepared quite a few good things over the past half year!

Heifu gave the order: "Magistrate Gongsun, immediately have the soldiers push out the martial steel chariots. Have the officers and men form a circular camp and prepare to resist the enemy!"

(End of Chapter)