Chapter 566: A Mantis's Arm

The Ji River separated the Qin government troops from the rebellious Qi "bandit gangs." South of the Ji, the Qin army set up camp; north of the Ji, the Qi camp appeared somewhat chaotic. Though they had numbers and momentum, they lacked any real discipline.

In one corner, several dozen knight-errants from Le'an County gathered. With a great battle imminent, their faces showed no tension; instead, they kept jeering at a wandering swordsman surrounded by a crowd.

"Yue Bian, I heard you killed a Qin soldier and even got a reward?"

The knight-errant Yue Bian, surrounded by the crowd, was around thirty, dressed in ordinary coarse brown clothes. At this moment, his face was animated with delight. He held up a packet of coins, weighing it in his hand and showing it off to everyone. Under their envious gazes, he tilted his head back and said:

"Of course! Your old man here, following the Chancellor-General's orders, crossed the river to scout the enemy. A Qin sentry spotted me, but before he could raise the alarm, my hand rose and my sword fell—I killed him. There was no time to take his head, so I took his helmet and returned. This is the proof!"

He raised the Qin soldier's helmet high for all to see, his smugness written all over his face.

Someone nearby questioned him: "Yue Bian, I've known you for years. I know you're a good swimmer and know the Ji River well, but as for your swordsmanship..."

The knight-errant exposing Yue Bian's weakness waved his hand dismissively, his expression scornful, indicating his swordsmanship wasn't worth mentioning, so he absolutely refused to believe Yue Bian could kill an enemy.

Wandering swordsmen care most about face. Yue Bian immediately flushed red and argued repeatedly, saying he just hadn't liked showing off before, but once on the battlefield, he realized he was actually formidable. In the end, he even boasted:

"Seven years ago, I joined the army as a crack fighter. If the king hadn't surrendered before we even fought, I would have slaughtered the Qin army until not a scrap of armor remained!"

The turning point in Yue Bian's fortunes had indeed occurred seven years ago. Before that, he had always lived as a wandering swordsman, following the local county knights of Le'an. One day he'd be a retainer under someone's roof for a few meals, the next he'd scrounge food and drink elsewhere. All day long, he acted on impulse and championed causes, earning money through brawls and feats of daring. Though not well-off, he was free—at least in his own eyes, better than the farmers scratching a living from the dirt or the peddlers toiling for their livelihood.

Qi was unlike the other six states. The country was wealthy, and whenever war came, besides conscripting troops from the five capitals, it also used money to recruit knight-errants everywhere to join the army—making them arguably the earliest mercenaries in the Central Plains. Thus, knight-errants held a status not unlike that of the lower-ranking samurai and ronin of later-era Japan.

But ever since Qi was destroyed, everything had changed drastically. Qin officials in black robes arrived with a few men, drifting into office with an air of ease. These officials spoke words Yue Bian couldn't understand. Notices in Qin script began to be posted in front of the county temple gates—though whether Qin script or Qi script, Yue Bian couldn't read either, but that didn't stop him from secretly spitting at everything and everyone from Qin. The black robes of the Qin officials, the crooked topknots on Qin heads, the thick, heavy Qin accent, the Qin characters copied onto that object called "paper"—all of it offended his eyes.

Yue Bian hated Qin because Qin law had cost him his livelihood.

Wherever Qin officials went, their greatest enthusiasm was for cracking down on wandering swordsmen who "used force to defy prohibitions." The knight-errants once respected by others became people the law would not tolerate. Their swords were all confiscated—rumor had it they were melted down in Xianyang to cast twelve great metal men.

And so, Yue Bian had no choice but to switch to another trade: ferrying people across the Ji River.

But after a single brawl at the ferry crossing, sparked by a disagreement with a passenger, Yue Bian was arrested and imprisoned for the crime of "private fighting." What had been a trivial matter in Qi was punished with a heavy fine by the Qin officials. Unable to pay, he was forced to do three months of hard labor for the government, going to the seashore to cut firewood and boil salt. By the time he returned, he was tanned jet-black, and even his ferryman's job was gone.

Yue Bian had no land, no trade skill, and even less chance of becoming a clerk. He could only work as a hired hand, doing odd jobs for others. If it was reaping wheat, he reaped wheat; if it was pounding rice, he pounded rice. But he never lasted long at any of it, just scraping by for a meal.

Even after several years of such hardship, his once-sturdy body growing gaunt, when he heard that the Commandery Governor in Jiaodong had crushed the Tian clan of Yeyi and distributed Tian lands to hired hands and tenant farmers to cultivate, Yue Bian wasn't the slightest bit tempted.

He said scornfully, "Even if I starve to death, I won't go scratch a living from the dirt."

This was the pride of Yue Bian, who fancied himself a "knight." He didn't know how many generations back, but his ancestors had been minor nobles—they had once been well-off.

Countless times, Yue Bian yearned for the life when Qi still existed. Everything back in Qi had been so wonderful—playing cuju and liubo, watching people play the zither and blow the reed pipes, so carefree and joyous. During festivals and holidays, there was even the chance to drink wine in great gulps and eat meat in big bites.

But life now was oppressive and dull. Wealth was all seized by officials and clerks. The entire society, no matter the class, was more impoverished than before.

It wasn't just the knight-errants who had it hard. Merchants were also targets of suppression. Farmers' taxes had multiplied several times over. Confucian scholars hung their heads, no longer able to enter government offices.

Many people, like Yue Bian, loathed Qin and yearned for the old life, yet had no idea how to change any of it. They could only drift along helplessly, muddling through from day to day.

But at last, an opportunity came. First, the Qin Emperor was assassinated. Although he sent men to relay a verbal edict, saying that both he and the realm were safe and sound, some whispered that it was a lie—that the emperor was actually already dead, and the forged decree was issued to calm people's hearts.

"Just like Duke Huan of Qi—clearly dead, yet those outside didn't know!"

Soon after, more news arrived! The Tian brothers of Di County had killed the officials and rebelled!

Upon hearing this, Yue Bian gave the three Tian brothers a thumbs-up. Truly worthy of the county knights famed throughout the Qi region for so many years!

Then the matter spread through the county. At first, people didn't believe it, but those coming from Di County told the tale with vivid detail: the new King of Qi had already donned the purple robe, raised the great banner, and was recruiting heroes and gallants from all over. And Tian Du, descendant of the Lord of Anping, who had entrenched himself on the offshore islands, had also fought his way back. The sails of his fleet blotted out the sea. The "forty-thousand-strong army" that the Marshal of Yongmen had led out back then all wore white helmets and white armor: they were in mourning for King Jian of Qi, seeking to avenge him!

The government called this "rebellion," but in the eyes of the wandering swordsmen, it was clearly the restoration of Qi. Yue Bian and the others' minds began to stir, hoping to ride this upheaval and return to their old lives.

When the troops from Di County and Qiancheng arrived beneath the walls of Le'an, the Qin county magistrate still wanted to rally the county's people to resist, but Yue Bian and some knight-errant youths who had had enough of Qin rule stormed into the county temple and killed him. The crowd opened the city gates to welcome the Tian brothers, and in the end, they were all taken under the command of the "Right Marshal" Tian Rong.

The new King of Qi was the younger brother of the old King of Qi who had been taken captive by the Qin and starved to death. Dressed in a purple robe, somewhat bloated, Yue Bian only caught a distant glimpse of him.

Tian Dan, as the mastermind of this restoration, became "Chancellor." His younger brothers, Tian Rong and Tian Heng, became Left and Right Marshals respectively. Tian Du, the great-grandson of the Lord of Anping, became "Grand General."

Tian Dan wanted to leverage the fame of the Lord of Anping, Tian Dan, to call upon the masses of Qi to join this great war to expel the Qin and restore the state of Qi!

Just like that, Yue Bian could pick up his sword again, raise his head high, stick out his belly, and bask once more in the gazes of awe and fear from the common folk.

He didn't know how vast Qin was, nor how many people had truly risen in rebellion. All he knew was that in Le'an County, Yue Bian could once again swagger around unchecked, with no more tangled Qin laws to restrain him...

It was as if the great mountain pressing down on him had suddenly crumbled, and the weight on his shoulders lifted.

But before they could enjoy it, they were dragged by the "Chancellor" to the banks of the Ji River.

The Qin army had come!

Yue Bian was a good swimmer and had been sent over the previous night to scout the enemy. Whether or not he had truly killed a Qin soldier and seized a helmet, Yue Bian was promoted to Platoon Chief by Tian Rong's order, and according to the old customs of Qi, publicly awarded two taels of gold—all to boost morale before the battle...

And on the night after Yue Bian and the others were ordered to cross the river and scout the Qin army, Tian Dan ordered a thousand men to force a crossing of the Ji River. The result was a crushing defeat and retreat...

On the southern bank of the Ji River, the Commandant of Linzi, Lou Kang, watched the "bandit gangs" who had tried to cross the Ji to attack but were beaten back in utter defeat, and burst into loud laughter.

Over the past half month, rebellion had swept across the entire northern bank of the Ji River. The various Tian clans, knight-errants, bandits—all the groups suppressed by the Qin government—had united, killing Qin officials and seizing cities in revolt. Because it happened so suddenly, Linzi Commandery had only managed to hastily assemble five thousand commandery troops to hold the region south of the Ji River, stationing them in Duchang County.

The Tian brothers' rebellion had been long in the planning. When they attacked neighboring counties, they had partisans everywhere who responded, taking them with little effort. They quickly gathered a hundred chariots, several hundred cavalry, and over ten thousand foot soldiers, now massed north of the Ji River—a rather formidable display of force.

However, judging solely by their motley clothing and motley assortment of weapons, the Commandant of Linzi felt that no matter their numbers, they were still a rabble.

It was evident from how these Qi men hastily crossed the river to attack the Qin main camp: their commander knew nothing of military tactics or marching, just attacking in blind chaos. As a result, the unit they sent over met a head-on pummeling from the Qin army!

The Qin army's heavy crossbowmen lined up along the water's edge. At Lou Kang's command, they loosed arrows ceaselessly into the river. The Qi men had few bows or crossbows and were immediately thrown into chaos, men and horses toppling, miserable cries rising one after another. Though they had boats to cover their retreat, their losses were still severe. Those struck by arrows screamed in shock and agony—it was a one-sided slaughter.

Now the water was full of floating corpses. Several hundred Qi men, having barely dipped their toes in, quickly retreated and refused to enter the water again no matter what. The Qi men on the bank, who moments before had been clamoring loudly, were now utterly silenced. After a while, following yet another failed assault, they actually began to scatter and flee, turning their banners around and retreating!

"The bandit gangs have been repelled!"

Seeing the enemy so utterly incapable of withstanding a single blow, the Commandant of Linzi's blood rushed to his head, and he actually gave the order to cross the Ji River and continue the pursuit!

A military marshal, harboring doubts, said to the Commandant, "The Qi men are behaving like this—breaking at a single touch and using thick smoke to obscure the northern bank. It may be a ruse."

"This old man hasn't been fighting wars for just a day or two. Can't I tell whether it's a ruse or not?"

Lou Kang's face immediately filled with displeasure. He was indeed no longer young—past fifty. As an old subordinate general of Wang Ben, if one spoke only of fighting, Lou Kang had done plenty. He had participated in the campaigns against Zhao, Yan, and Chu. Though he had no great achievements, he had accumulated minor merits and risen to his current position.

Among Qin's many opponents, the one Lou Kang despised most was Qi. Even weak states like Han and Yan had at least picked up weapons and offered some resistance to the Qin army. Only the wealthy Qi was a soft egg, surrendering without a fight. This led many Qin generals to hold the Qi people in deep contempt.

So Lou Kang declared: "The world has long agreed: the crack fighters of Qi are no match for the elite troops of Wei, and the elite troops of Wei are no match for the sharp warriors of Qin."

"Even when Qi still existed, its crack fighters were utterly incapable. Against a minor foe, they might luckily prove useful, but against a major or entrenched enemy, they would instantly scatter. How much more so now that Qi is destroyed? This rabble may have plucked up some courage, but they are just as incapable of withstanding a single blow!"

Having made up his mind, Commandant Lou Kang immediately ordered pontoon bridges to be set up and crossed the river to pursue the bandit gangs...

Beyond his military confidence, Lou Kang was keenly aware that if he could quell the rebellion using Linzi's own strength, the punishment the First Emperor of Qin would mete out to them afterward might be somewhat lighter...

……

At the same time, on the northern bank of the Ji River, beneath a low hill shrouded in thick smoke from burning fields, the true main force of the Qi army lay in wait. Yet they lacked any real order, especially the wandering swordsmen — standing without proper stance, sitting without proper posture, a chaotic mess.

Yue Bian was even discussing the sounds from up ahead with his companion.

"Defeated?"

"They say it's a feigned defeat, to lure the Qin troops across the river to strike."

"I fear it might be a real defeat."

The wandering swordsmen chattered noisily about the orders the 'Chancellor' and the Left and Right Marshals had just issued, saying the troops sent ahead to cross the river and feign defeat were meant to lure the Qin troops over — they must not grow suspicious.

But as the sounds of battle erupted several li ahead and the truth remained unknown, some of the gallant swordsmen truly began to feel their courage waver.

Even the platoon leader, Yue Bian, couldn't help swallowing a mouthful of saliva, his sword hand slick with sweat.

Though he had brawled fiercely before, this was the first time in many years that Yue Bian stood upon a battlefield.

Whether it was a feigned defeat or a real one up ahead, a fight was certain to break out soon. He had been to the opposite bank and observed the Qin troops up close. This Qin force came from Linzi, numbering five thousand. Though only a thousand were true elite soldiers from Guanzhong, the rest were garrison conscripts drawn from various commanderies, rotated once a year.

Because the Qi region had been at peace for so long, their training had slackened, but the framework remained. They were encamped on the opposite bank in dense black masses. Though their numbers were only half of the Qi forces, their solemn discipline made them appear even more numerous. When they marched, the dagger-axes and spears in their hands gleamed like a forest of cold light.

Yue Bian turned back to look at his own side. The rebel army was composed of several parts: the overseas pirates and bandits brought by Tian Heng and Tian Du formed the main force, the retainers of the Tian Dan clan, along with gallant swordsmen from various regions, occupied the left and right wings respectively.

No matter which part, the Qi men wore a motley assortment of clothes and carried every kind of weapon — some even held wooden clubs — their garments tattered, their order far from uniform.

Further back were some peasants and merchants helping to transport supplies, their faces timid. They detested Qin rule, yet dared not rebel. Even with someone leading the charge, they refused to join in — unless forced at spear-point to help carry the baggage. But even then, this group was constantly thinking of fleeing.

"Gutless rats."

Though he cursed these fence-sitting peasants and merchants aloud, the swordsman Yue Bian still felt a twinge of fear in his heart.

Many of the gallant swordsmen beside him also showed their fear, their hearts seized by hesitation. What they were about to face was no longer a lone, unlucky Qin official, surrounded by only a few men and trapped in Qi territory. It was the Qin army — the army that, over the past century, had swept across the realm without equal!

The Qin army was synonymous with invincibility! Those Qin officials and soldiers in their black robes had ruled Qi for too long. Gallant swordsmen and righteous men had hidden everywhere like rats, even developing a conditioned reflex — at the sight of them, they would flee…

Yet now, they were being ordered to take up crude weapons, to bravely charge forward, and face powerful bows and crossbows.

Just thinking of the Qin men's equipment and imposing aura was enough to silence even the boastful Yue Bian.

"Yue Bian, didn't you say you'd wipe out the Qin army without leaving a single scrap of armor behind?" someone beside him couldn't resist teasing at this moment.

Yue Bian curled his lip and said nothing. He had indeed been boasting. That helmet — he had picked it up while a patrolling Qin soldier was relieving himself…

"Tell me, can we win this time?" The Qi people were brave in personal duels but cowardly on the battlefield, and someone voiced this uncertain question.

Yue Bian furrowed his brow. Though he was also a bit afraid, boosting the enemy's morale and sapping his own side's courage was no good. Just as he was about to say something, a chariot suddenly galloped to the front of the army. It was the 'Chancellor,' Tian Dan.

"Gentlemen, hear Dan's words!"

Though Tian Dan had become 'Chancellor,' he still preferred to wear a martial outfit, which helped him mingle freely with the wandering swordsmen.

He knew the real battle was about to begin. He had to say something before the fight to settle everyone's hearts.

So Tian Dan had a dozen or so strong men relay his words before the army, shouting loudly:

"These past days, whenever we breached a city, the Qin officials we put to death would often curse us, saying we are a rabble, a mantis trying to stop a chariot — angrily raising its arms against the wheel, unaware it is not up to the task…"

This metaphor was vivid. The mantis was tiny and fragile, while the chariot wheel was hard and swift — upon collision, it would be ground to powder. The wandering swordsmen exchanged glances, a trace of dejection in their eyes. Though turning the tables and becoming masters these past half-month had felt exhilarating, now that the moment had come, regret came too late.

"But I admire the mantis!"

Just as morale was sinking low, Tian Dan suddenly raised his voice: "Long ago, Duke Zhuang of Qi went out hunting. A small green insect blocked his path, raising both arms high, ready to fight his chariot wheel. Duke Zhuang asked his charioteer: 'What insect is this?'"

"The charioteer replied: 'This insect is called the mantis. By nature it is fierce, knowing only to advance and never retreat, underestimating the foe without measuring its own strength.' Then Duke Zhuang of Qi said: 'If a man were like the mantis, he would surely be the bravest warrior under heaven!' And so he moved his chariot aside, yielding the way to the mantis!"

This story was simple and easy to grasp, and it was native to Qi. The wandering swordsmen listened, stunned. A堂堂 sovereign duke, yielding the road to a tiny insect?

"What allowed the mantis to make a duke yield? Its courage!"

Tian Dan drew his sword and raised it high, pointing toward the Qin troops who were gradually crossing from the southern bank of the Ji River to the northern bank. He understood clearly that in a real fight, even though his side outnumbered the enemy two to one, they would still hold no advantage. They could only exploit the Qin general's contempt for them, lure them across the river, and strike when they were halfway across.

Coupled with his other arrangements, perhaps they had a fifty percent chance of victory…

This great cause of restoring Qi — would it perish after flapping its wings a few times, or would it be like the saying of their Tian clan: the phoenix takes flight, its cry ringing harmoniously? Everything depended on today!

So he roared hoarsely: "We may be small, but we hold sickles in our hands. We cannot, like the cicada, sit idle and await our doom. What's more, if there are a thousand mantises, ten thousand mantises, can they not stop one rotten, broken chariot?"

Tian Dan's younger brother, Tian Heng, also stepped forward and shouted encouragement: "That's right! Fight, and we may die. Flee, and we might survive a while longer. But if we stay, we can restore the glory of Qi, reclaim the freedom of old! Gallant swordsmen will no longer need to hide in shadows, merchants will no longer suffer contempt, and peasants will no longer pay more than half their harvest in taxes! We must make the Qin men know — taking our lives is easy, but trying to enslave the Qi people and exterminate the Tian clan is harder than reaching the heavens!"

The Tian brothers knew what these followers of theirs wanted. In that moment, blood long cooled seemed to ignite. Yue Bian, who craved chivalrous honor and righteousness more than anything in his life, felt a rush of heat to his head. He raised his own sword and roared in unison with those around him:

"In this battle, we know only to advance, never retreat! After this fight, we shall surely be the bravest warriors under heaven!"

When the Qin vanguard set foot on the northern bank of the Ji River, what they saw were over ten thousand Qi men brandishing their weapons, like ten thousand mantises shaking their bladed arms, charging straight toward them!

PS: Sorry for the wait.

Yesterday was basically the engagement banquet. I drank so much I didn't even know who I was anymore, and my brain is still numb even now… Today I only have one big chapter of five thousand characters. Please forgive me. Also, we set the date today — the wedding will be before the New Year. I'll send red envelopes to readers in the book fan group then. Thank you, everyone.

(End of Chapter)