Chapter 673: Winning This Way Feels Rather Inglorious

“A gift?” Everyone was surprised.

Strategist Wen You asked curiously, “The Grand Commander-in-Chief intends to send Meng Shanming a gift?”

Luo Zhao smiled. “Why shouldn’t I? The man is already old, yet he still drags his crippled body onto the battlefield. That alone deserves respect. We can afford to be broad-minded.”

Everyone looked from one face to another. Something about the smile on Luo Zhao’s face seemed suspicious. They all felt there had to be more to it than that.

Su Yuanbai, Elder of Lingxiao Pavilion, urged his horse forward and asked with a smile, “What gift does the Grand Commander-in-Chief intend to send?”

The cultivators on Song’s side were in excellent spirits. Ever since Luo Zhao led the army into Yan, he had fought one beautiful battle after another. Yan’s destruction seemed close at hand, so the cultivators of the various factions had naturally become exceptionally courteous toward him.

“A horse! I have long heard Meng Shanming loves horses. One should give a man what suits his tastes. Bring me the horse General Lian gave me!”

At Luo Zhao’s order, someone immediately went to carry it out.

Before long, they led over a magnificent white stallion. It was powerfully muscled, tall and vigorous, its coat pure snow-white without a single stray hair of another color. This was precisely the horse Lian Anshan, defender of Iron Gate Pass, had given Luo Zhao after opening the pass and surrendering.

The horse alone was not enough.

Luo Zhao ordered men to stitch together a simple covering for it on the spot.

Once the outer cloth of white fabric was draped over the horse’s body, the animal looked as though it had been dressed in mourning hemp for a funeral procession.

One strange expression after another appeared around them.

Wen You laughed. “The Grand Commander-in-Chief’s gift is certainly... auspicious.”

The words drew a roar of laughter.

Everyone knew perfectly well he meant the exact opposite.

“Meng Shanming refuses to admit he is old. Let me provoke him a little and see what happens!” Luo Zhao dismounted after speaking and called for brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. He personally wrote a letter to Meng Shanming.

Those nearby leaned closer to look at what he had written and immediately began chuckling. The men farther out craned their necks but had no idea what the Grand Commander-in-Chief had put in the letter.

The horse and letter were then sent away.

Luo Zhao immediately called for the map and gathered his generals to rearrange the entire operational plan.

Once the officers understood their assignments, they accepted their orders one after another and left to prepare.

The senior members of Song’s three major sects, however, were somewhat puzzled by what they had just witnessed.

Su Yuanbai tried asking, “The Grand Commander-in-Chief has changed the battle plan?”

Luo Zhao nodded and explained, “Mockery is mockery. What deserves caution must never be underestimated. Meng Shanming’s reputation as a famous general was not gained by luck. In battlefield experience, he surpasses all of us. His use of troops is seasoned, ruthless, and endlessly variable. His seizure of Nanzhou and attack on Dingzhou both show that the old saber has not dulled.”

“Once he brings Yan’s forces into order, continuing to deal with him by the methods we used against ordinary opponents would be thoroughly inappropriate. We must adjust at the proper time.”

“Since ancient times, how many men have failed at the last step because they became careless and then regretted it until their hearts broke? How could we follow those examples?”

“Great Song is attacking with the strength of the whole state. If carelessness leads us to defeat, with what face could we return and look upon the elders of Jiangdong?”

Wen You nodded deeply in agreement.

Su Yuanbai of Lingxiao Pavilion, Dong Yinglai of Blood God Hall, and Chang Fei of Heaven-Splitting Palace exchanged glances.

They had not expected the appearance of a single Meng Shanming to make Luo Zhao overturn his entire operational plan.

The earlier plan had been simple: defeat Yan’s armies. The only real question had been how to maneuver and deploy Song’s forces in order to crush them.

The new plan abandoned that idea entirely.

Song would no longer entangle itself in fighting Yan’s armies.

It needed only to break through whatever obstacles stood directly ahead and drive straight for Yanjing.

Dong Yinglai did not quite understand. He asked, “If we do not defeat Yan’s armies, what use is taking Yanjing? Won’t we still have to turn around afterward and fight those armies?”

Luo Zhao waved a hand. “No. This is the safest method. Meng Shanming has already entered the field. How can we continue allowing Han to watch the spectacle from the sidelines? It is time to force Han to move as well.”

The three Elders looked at one another again.

They still did not understand.

Wen You thought for a moment, stroked his beard, and nodded. “I believe I understand the Grand Commander-in-Chief’s intent.”

“Oh?” Luo Zhao smiled, looking as though he wanted to hear exactly what Wen You had understood.

The three Elders turned toward Wen You as well.

Chang Fei said, “We would hear your insight.”

Wen You paced back and forth before the map for a time. After sorting through his thoughts, he pointed at it and explained in detail.

“As the Grand Commander-in-Chief said, although victory is within our grasp, we still cannot underestimate Meng Shanming.”

“With Meng Shanming commanding, no one can guarantee there will be no accident if we become entangled with him. Fighting him directly is not wise. Even if we win, the damage to our own side would be difficult to estimate.”

“And even if Meng Shanming loses, he will certainly find a way to tear a bloody chunk from us. If our own strength is badly damaged, we will be at a disadvantage afterward when the time comes to divide Yan with Han.”

His hand shifted to the western route toward Yanjing.

“Yan’s armies are already in difficulty over grain. Meng Shanming will certainly want a swift, decisive battle. We cannot let him have one.”

“To the west, Yan has almost no defensible terrain left. It will be difficult for them to stop our momentum once we begin advancing like splitting bamboo. We can drive west in one sustained push and ignore harassment from the surrounding forces.”

“Once Yanjing is in danger, all of Yan will panic. How could the capital simply be abandoned? Orders will inevitably go out demanding urgent reinforcement from every direction.”

“No matter how capable Meng Shanming is, what can he do then? He will have the will but not the strength. All he can do is chase behind us.”

“His army is already short on grain. Drag him after us like this and consume more time. Even if he eventually catches up, how long can he last?”

“At that point, we can finally turn and maneuver against him. Once his grain is exhausted, he will collapse without battle.”

“And once Yanjing is endangered, there is another force that will find it difficult not to move.”

Wen You raised a hand and pointed toward Beizhou in northern Yan.

“Once the capital is in danger, the armies in the east will be blocked by us. If it becomes clear Meng Shanming cannot save the emergency and will lose sooner or later, the court will desperately urge the northern forces to come south.”

“The moment Yan’s northern defenses loosen, how could Han possibly miss the opportunity? When the moment comes, Han will certainly attack!”

Dong Yinglai hesitated. “What if Yan’s upper ranks abandon the capital and flee?”

Wen You replied, “At that point, how could the matter still be entirely up to them? It is easy for cultivators like you to think of coming and going freely, but can the court simply abandon every official in the capital?”

“How many officials of every rank live in Yanjing? How many dependents do they have?”

“That is not a place one simply leaves at a word. They will inevitably be trapped by our army, and northern forces will have to be summoned to rescue them.”

“Even if they manage to flee, it cannot be merely a handful of cultivators carrying away a few senior court officials. An army from the capital would have to escort a whole group out. They cannot simply throw away all the troops of Yanjing and run.”

“If they dare flee, our forces will pursue. They will still have to summon the northern armies urgently to their aid.”

“Take the matter back ten thousand steps. Even if Yan’s cultivators carry the highest officials away, where can they go?”

“The eastern forces are already close to defeat and will not be safe. Their only viable refuge will be the northern region where Yan’s heavy troops are concentrated.”

“At that point we need not even chase them. Once the matter before us is settled, we can simply carve out territory for ourselves inside Yan.”

“Would Han sit and watch Song feast so lavishly?”

“Of course not. Han will be forced to attack Yan’s northern defenses in order to take part in dividing the spoils.”

“So the Grand Commander-in-Chief’s method is exceptionally brilliant and also the safest.”

“Yan’s upper ranks will never care whether Meng Shanming lives or dies. What they will care about is whether they themselves live or die. They will press him desperately.”

“We can exhaust him to death without even needing a great battle.”

“That means we can not only win, but win securely while suffering comparatively little loss.”

“Why become entangled with Meng Shanming and take that risk? Let him think we are afraid of him. What of it?”

“Hahaha...” Luo Zhao laughed freely and slapped Wen You on the shoulder. “The man who understands me is Wen You!”

Wen You bowed with cupped hands and modestly declined the praise.

The three Elders finally understood. Delight appeared in their eyes.

By this reasoning, victory was all but certain.

Su Yuanbai clapped his hands in admiration. “The Grand Commander-in-Chief truly possesses extraordinary talent for planning victory from the command tent! Once you defeat Meng Shanming in this campaign, your name will surely become immortal!”

Luo Zhao chuckled and waved the compliment away, then sighed.

“I truly would have liked to face Meng Shanming directly in one battle. To beat him this way feels somewhat inglorious.”

“Come now.” Chang Fei disagreed. “On a battlefield, one uses whatever means are required. Where is there room for such fastidiousness?”

“Have you not heard the saying that all warfare is based on deception? A victory is a victory. What ‘inglorious victory’ is there on a battlefield?”

“To have the good fortune to follow this army and personally witness the Grand Commander-in-Chief accomplish an achievement for the ages is one of the great fortunes of our lives!”

Luo Zhao cupped his hands. “Then I must ask all of you to give me your full assistance in what comes next.”

The three Elders returned the salute together.

“We will exert ourselves fully and will not delay the Grand Commander-in-Chief’s campaign!”

Luo Zhao thanked them, then turned to look into the distance.

“I wonder whether receiving my gift will stir Meng Shanming’s blood enough to make him come and fight me to the death.”

...

Outside the central command tent of the Changzhou army, everyone had finally arrived.

Xu Jingyue, An Xianzhao, Su Qitong, and Xin Mao entered together.

Before all four had arrived, Meng Shanming had remained out of sight inside. Those who came earlier could only stand obediently outside and wait.

Once the four entered, they saw Meng Shanming seated upright in his wheelchair.

A mixture of emotions passed through every man present.

Together they cupped their hands.

“Greetings, Marshal!”

Meng Shanming said, “All of you are regional lords now. There is no need to be so courteous toward a crippled old man like me.”

“I already told Zhang Hu earlier that I truly have grown old. My eyes must have dimmed. I genuinely cannot understand the war you gentlemen have been fighting.”

“That is why I specially invited all of you here to ask for instruction. Forgive the abruptness.”

Including Zhang Hu, the five regional lords all looked ashamed and quietly exchanged glances.

The Elders of the three major sects standing nearby, meanwhile, wore rather uncomfortable expressions.

It was far too obvious that these five regional lords behaved as meekly as could be in front of Meng Shanming. They scarcely dared breathe heavily.

They were more obedient here than when facing the three major sects.

That naturally did not feel pleasant to watch.

Xu Jingyue gave a dry laugh and tried saying, “Marshal, when you speak like this, the five of us truly have nowhere to hide our shame.”

Meng Shanming remained motionless in his chair. Only his lips moved.

“Shao Dengyun is guarding the critical territory of Beizhou against Han and cannot leave. Chen Jiu in Bozhou and Wu Kang’an in Qizhou are mixed in with the imperial court’s forces and likewise cannot easily get away.”

“Wu Gongshan of Cangzhou most likely died at his younger brother’s hands. By now, all of you should understand why I kept Wu Gongling suppressed back in those years.”

“I was too softhearted then.”

An Xianzhao said weakly, “That cannot be blamed on the Marshal. His Highness Prince Ning acted out of consideration for Wu Gongshan back then and stopped you.”

Meng Shanming ignored that point.

“Of the eighteen generals once under my command, only eight of you are still alive.”

“Shao Dengyun, Chen Jiu, and Wu Kang’an are first of all tied down by other matters. Second, I do not dare summon all of you here at once.”

“After all, every one of you has become a regional lord now. Your wings have hardened. You have grown accustomed to calling the wind and summoning the rain within your own provinces.”

“How could men like that still put a crippled old fellow like me in their eyes?”

“Yet His Highness has perversely appointed me Grand General of the Eastern Campaign.”

“I truly have no confidence in myself.”

“How would a crippled old man like me dare command regional lords such as you?”

“So I called the five of you here first to test the matter.”

“I only want to ask one thing.”

“Am I suitable to serve as Grand General of the Eastern Campaign?”

[End of Chapter 673]