Chapter 665: The Art I Know Is the Great Dharma of Heaven and Earth

The others understood Luo Zhao’s meaning as well.

He added, “Are we really supposed to have no way of dealing with him?”

Su Yuanbai frowned. “That fellow doesn’t respond to either softness or force. Under the present circumstances, there really isn’t much we can do with him. He even dared grope Tiannü Sect Elder Hui Qingping’s backside. Now he spends every day teasing her and shouting that he wants to marry her. The whole thing has already become a joke...” He briefly recounted the absurd news that had come from Yan.

Luo Zhao was left speechless. Wen You was equally shocked by Wu Gongling’s lawless nerve. A man like that might genuinely be impossible to frighten.

The three Elders themselves did not know whether to laugh or cry when they spoke of it. They were rather curious to see just how furious Hui Qingping must be by now, but for the moment none of them could conveniently leave this place.

Putting the idle talk aside, Dong Yinglai asked, “Grand Commander-in-Chief, do you have any other views on the campaign decided above that you want us to convey?”

Luo Zhao turned back toward the situation marked out on the map. Hate Wu Gongling as he might, the man had already steered events to this point. Spilled water could not be gathered again. If Wu Gongling truly ignited a battle along the border, then if Luo Zhao refused to fight, and the Song court refused to fight, there would be no explaining it to the three major sects...

...

In the Hall of Military Instruction within the Qi imperial palace, a group of officers responsible for military affairs gathered before an enormous hanging map. Emperor Hao Yuntu was there as well.

Supreme General Huyan Wuhen personally held a pointer as he explained the war in Yan to Hao Yuntu. After analyzing the various developments, he tapped the pointer against the approximate position of Wu Gongling’s force.

“Your Majesty, wherever the rebels now pass, Yan’s local provinces and prefectures are adopting a policy of strengthening their walls and clearing the countryside, denying the rebels any opportunity to replenish supplies. Wu Gongling’s provisions cannot last much longer. Judging from the movements of his force, he is probably preparing to strike Yan’s border troops and create an opening for Song’s army to attack. Otherwise, Wu Gongling’s rebels have very few other roads left to live.”

Hao Yuntu’s expression was grave. “In that case, a great war between Han and Song on one side and Yan on the other is unavoidable?”

Huyan Wuhen replied, “Wu Gongling is heading toward the Song side. Han probably will not be in a hurry to move and will first watch how matters develop. But once Yan and Song begin fighting, Han will send troops sooner or later.”

Hao Yuntu nodded, understanding the logic. Then he gave a cold laugh. “Changing commanders before battle! Shang Jianxiong, Shang Jianxiong... what do you expect Us to say about you? Supreme General, is there truly no way to salvage Yan’s war?”

Huyan Wuhen answered cleanly, “Defeat the enemy. Drive them back.”

Hao Yuntu asked, “Do you believe Yan as it stands now can still defeat Han and Song?”

“It is not impossible,” Huyan Wuhen said. “Prince Ning has not been dead for very long. The old troops he left behind are all men seasoned by long years on the battlefield. None are mediocrities in war. They are the last foundation still supporting Yan and making others reluctant to provoke it lightly. If a truly capable general who can plan across the whole board puts them to proper use, no one would dare underestimate them.”

“The problem is Shang Jianxiong’s conduct in the past. Gathering those men again and persuading them to risk their lives for him will be extremely difficult, because they know perfectly well that however loyally they serve, Shang Jianxiong will still eliminate them in the end.”

“So long as they preserve their own strength, even if Yan collapses, at worst one dynasty replaces another. After a great war, Han and Song will have suffered tremendous losses. Their territory will expand and their strength will be spread relatively thin. On top of that, Han and Song themselves will inevitably enter into competition.”

“Under those circumstances, so long as the regional lords are willing to change allegiance, Han and Song should be willing to accept them. What Han and Song will not spare is Yan’s imperial house and Yan’s three major sects. The regional lords below who hold military power, together with the sects protecting them, can continue holding their armies and preserving themselves much as before.”

“Even some officials of the Yan court may still receive substantial appointments afterward. So in the final stage, all these people have roads of retreat. They may not be willing to stake their lives. And even if they are, a plate of loose sand cannot accomplish much.”

“In letters, there is no first; in war, there is no second. Until men truly contest superiority, which regional lord will submit to another? To resist Han and Song, the Yan court still lacks a figure with enough prestige to make the regional lords bow their heads and obey. Shang Yongzhong and the military officers of the Yan court simply do not possess the seniority or authority to suppress those arrogant, battle-hardened commanders.”

Hao Yuntu’s heart tightened again and again as he listened, and many associations passed through his mind.

If Qi collapsed one day, who would spare him? He would inevitably be rooted out completely. Yet the officials below him understood local customs and governance. So long as they were willing to serve a new power, some of them could still preserve wealth and honor. They would merely have changed masters.

He also knew Huyan Wuhen was speaking the truth. Once a war reached a certain stage, cultivators could not so easily control regional lords. Forcing men to risk their lives was useless. Even with a blade at someone’s neck, he could still find ten thousand ways to lose a battle and leave you helpless.

Once the greater situation went out of control, or once the tide was clearly lost, every manner of complication would emerge.

After considering for a moment, Hao Yuntu asked, “Meng Shanming?”

Huyan Wuhen nodded. “Even Shang Chaozong would do. Prince Ning is dead, but the influence he held over the regional lords inevitably passed in part to Shang Chaozong. Add to that the fact that Shang Chaozong built himself up in Nanzhou from almost nothing. After these several campaigns, he has done enough to consolidate the influence his father left him.”

“As for Meng Shanming... if Shang Chaozong remains imprisoned, I fear he may not be willing to exert himself. If the Yan court truly kills Shang Chaozong, that would be the same as cutting the last tether binding Nanzhou to Yan. Nanzhou’s troops would then become wild horses with their reins snapped. Frighten them even slightly and they may bolt in an entirely different direction!”

...

Within the imperial palace of Jin, Grand General Yin Chu was likewise explaining to Emperor Taishu Xiong how the war in Yan might develop.

Shao Pingbo listened from the side, his thoughts turning over and over.

As the situation developed, whether the Yan court released Shang Chaozong or refused to release him placed Shao Pingbo in a dilemma. Releasing him would be unfavorable to Jin’s plan. Yet if Yan refused, then putting himself in Niu Youdao’s place, Shao Pingbo had to admit it might not be a bad thing for Niu Youdao. It would be equivalent to removing one of the shackles restraining him...

...

The pursuing army stopped advancing.

Shang Yongzhong galloped past the flanks of the halted force and found Su Qitong, who had ordered the stop. To his surprise, An Xianzhao, responsible for the Tuzhou forces in the rear, was there as well.

Shang Yongzhong jumped down from his horse and strode toward the two men under heavy guard. “Generals, we have been on the road barely an hour. Are we stopping to rest again? The rebels are fleeing while continuing to bring calamity wherever they pass. We should catch them and destroy them as quickly as possible!”

Su Qitong and An Xianzhao exchanged a glance. Su Qitong had someone bring over a map and spread it open.

Pointing at it, he said, “Your Highness, something is wrong. Wu Gongling’s route suggests he intends to join up with Song’s forces. Brother An had the same suspicion and came to discuss it with me. Our judgments coincide.”

Shang Yongzhong studied the map for a while, then shook his head skeptically. “Not necessarily. Heavy forces are massed along the border, while our great army is pursuing from behind. If Wu Gongling is caught between the two armies, won’t he be walking into death?”

In that instant, Su Qitong looked up at the sky while An Xianzhao lowered his gaze toward the ground.

Seeing their reactions, displeasure appeared on Shang Yongzhong’s face. He was not stupid. How could he fail to notice the contempt the two men were showing him?

His voice sank. “Is there something wrong with what this Prince said?”

An Xianzhao stabbed a finger at the map hard enough to make the paper rustle. “Brother Su already said Wu Gongling is going to join Song’s army. Does Your Highness think Song’s army is a block of wood that will stand there without moving?”

“Wu Gongling has three hundred thousand troops, all seasoned veterans. How many men does Your Highness think the border provinces and prefectures would have to mobilize to fight them?”

“Yes, the border holds heavy forces, but those forces are spread across a long defensive line. Once Wu Gongling’s three hundred thousand men arrive, he needs only strike one point to pull at the entire line. Can the troops up and down that line simply sit and watch?”

Su Qitong sighed. “If the surrounding forces sit and watch, Wu Gongling will punch through the defensive line. If they rush over to reinforce it, the line elsewhere immediately weakens. Either way, Song’s army gains an excellent opportunity to cross the river and attack.”

Only then did Shang Yongzhong’s expression change dramatically. At last he understood, and panic entered his voice.

“No. We absolutely cannot let him succeed. Immediately order the whole army to advance at full speed. We must intercept the rebels!”

He could hardly avoid panicking. If the rebels achieved their purpose, Shang Yongzhong did not need anyone to tell him what he would face afterward.

An Xianzhao said, “The distance between the two armies is what it is, and their speeds are what they are. This is not a matter where saying ‘catch them’ means we can simply catch them.”

“If Your Highness can gather the remaining strength of the provinces and prefectures along the way and force those local troops to fight without regard for losses, there is still a chance to stop Wu Gongling quickly. Otherwise, scratching at three hundred thousand men with small harassment attacks is useless.”

“I will report to the imperial court immediately and have them apply pressure!” Shang Yongzhong threw out the words and hurried away without daring to waste another moment.

“Pah!” An Xianzhao spat to one side. “What a thing. If we truly followed his command, we wouldn’t even know how we died.”

In truth, there was no need for Shang Yongzhong’s report.

As Wu Gongling’s line of advance became increasingly obvious, the various powers had already begun reaching the same judgment about his intention.

Every change in the situation moved the interests of all parties.

Messages from Qi and Wei reached Yanjing one after another even before Shang Yongzhong’s report. Both states explained the danger to the Yan court and simultaneously applied pressure, hoping Yan would release Shang Chaozong, placate him, and have him lead Nanzhou’s forces back into the campaign as quickly as possible.

How could Shang Jianxiong lightly release Shang Chaozong?

The decree had been Shang Jianxiong’s own decree. Reversing it now would be a slap in his own face.

Yet the situation truly did make him nervous.

He mobilized every force at court he could mobilize and pressured the provinces and prefectures along the rebels’ route to stop them regardless of cost.

Under that pressure, and even under threats of death, the local administrations ahead of the rebels began placing obstacle after obstacle in their path: digging up roads, blocking routes, destroying bridges, trying every possible method to slow them down.

Such little tricks could not stop Wu Gongling.

Worse, Wu Gongling left the same obstacles behind for the pursuing armies. If his men crossed a bridge, they destroyed it after passing, ensuring the pursuers got to enjoy the same inconvenience.

The provinces and prefectures along the route then gathered one hundred thousand men and established a defensive position at a vital pass the rebels had to cross.

Wu Gongling broke through in a single assault.

He accepted no surrender.

Every captured soldier was slaughtered.

The ferocity of the act terrified the local forces farther ahead. Difficulties and excuses began appearing everywhere, while requests for reinforcements poured toward the imperial court.

Yan’s three major sects became anxious as well.

The first to come under unbearable pressure were the five Elders supervising the regional armies. They forced the pursuing regional lords to chase the rebels at full speed regardless of the cost.

The five regional armies had no choice.

They pursued almost day and night, with the soldiers receiving very little rest. Slowly but visibly, the distance between them and the rebels began to shrink...

...

On a ridge, one force from among the rebel troops doubled back.

A group of men sat on horseback atop the ridge and watched the distance. Wu Gongling and the others were among them, protected by a crowd of cultivators.

“The pursuing army is drawing close. Why has the Grand General suddenly turned back?” Quan Taifeng asked.

Wu Gongling chuckled. “What is there to fear from pursuers? If I want to stop them, a wave of my hand is enough to settle the matter.”

Not far away, Hui Qingping sat on horseback as well. She gave a cold snort. “Empty boasting!”

Wu Gongling turned toward her. “Pingping, you cultivators aren’t the only ones who know magic arts. The art I know is none other than the Great Dharma of Heaven and Earth. How about we make a wager? If I can cast my art and easily stop the pursuing army, you marry me. What do you say?”

Some forms of address became natural once repeated often enough.

Hui Qingping snapped, “And if your boasting proves empty?”

Shing!

Wu Gongling drew his treasured sword and lightly flicked the blade with one finger.

“If my great art fails, I am willing to take my own head and present it to you!”

[End of Chapter 665]