Chapter 154: The Eastern Wind Rises

After putting on what he considered a magnificent display, Zhong Tianlang led his army south. Once he was gone, Zheng Fan had Liang Cheng take five hundred cavalry and make a show of pursuing him.

Liang Cheng knew exactly what he was doing and did not press recklessly. He still had to guard against the silver-armored general suddenly turning around to strike back. So the Qian cavalry rode ahead while Liang Cheng followed behind, "escorting" them and applying just enough pressure.

The scene looked remarkably similar to when Zheng Fan had led his troops back from the State of Qian some time ago, with cavalry from various Qian forces shadowing them along the way.

There was a maxim in the art of war: "Do not block an army returning home; do not pursue a desperate foe."

This was precisely the sort of situation it referred to. When the enemy was absolutely determined to go home, trying to stop them meant they would fight you with everything they had. Whether you could actually intercept them was another question; your own losses would certainly be heavy.

In truth, this so-called pursuit was mostly about giving themselves an excuse when the inevitable questions of accountability came later.

Probably only Zheng Fan could order Liang Cheng around for something like this.

By the time dawn whitened the horizon, Liang Cheng returned with his troops. Every man who had ridden out came back. Not one was missing.

Zheng Fan seized the chance to wash up and sleep. After spending more than half the night being battered by freezing wind atop the walls, even he was having trouble enduring it.

When he woke, it was already noon.

Zheng Fan could sleep. The others could not. After Liang Cheng returned that morning, another five hundred cavalry were sent out.

This time, naturally, they were not chasing the enemy.

They were cleaning up the battlefield.

Yes.

The Qian had fought the battle, and Green Willow Fortress was responsible for sweeping up afterward.

By the time Zheng Fan washed, ate, and came outside, several hundred routed soldiers were already sitting in the open ground beyond the fortress, eating lunch.

None of them looked particularly presentable. Their faces still carried lingering panic, but they were obviously starving and wolfed down their food.

Zheng Fan climbed onto the battlements and asked the Blind Man, who had traded his wheelchair for crutches, "How many did we gather?"

"A little over three hundred."

"Not bad."

"Mm. Not bad at all."

The previous night, the Qian cavalry had smashed one small fortress and four military stockades. The Yan army had suffered substantial casualties, but plenty of men had escaped during the assaults as well.

After all, it had been a surprise night attack. Swallowing everything in one gulp without spilling a single drop was impossible.

"Since we've taken these men in, we're not spitting them back out."

Garrison Commander Zheng laid down the guiding principle.

In truth, although Zheng Fan had accumulated considerable military merit in the Great Yan—and still did not know that the head of a Prince was even now being transported for eventual delivery—strictly speaking, his conduct had not merely retained the habits of a warlord.

He was practically more of a warlord than actual warlords.

Before a truly dangerous battle, he pulled back and redirected disaster toward someone else. Once the fighting ended, he reacted immediately and absorbed whatever manpower he could.

It was not really fair to call Zheng Fan too ruthless.

This world had taught him that lesson the very first time he became a corvée laborer.

Those who were not ruthless enough, or still carried naïve ideals in their hearts, had probably had grass growing over their graves for years.

It was not as though Zheng Fan had never imagined whether he might someday stand at the very forefront for some grand cause and shout, "Fight to the death! Not one step back!"

But imagination was all it was.

This was, after all, an entirely new world, not the history he had once known. If this had been a conventional journey back into his own world's past, perhaps as a transmigrator he really might have felt something different.

"Master, I intend to place these routed soldiers in the lowest tier. Once they earn military merit of their own, they can be promoted."

"Mm. Agreed."

Routed troops ought to look the part.

Taking you in and shielding you from punishment was already generous enough. As for status and privileges, those could wait.

Just then, a messenger arrived bearing military orders. Xu Wenzu was nearby and summoned Garrison Commander Zheng to meet him.

Zheng Fan did not hesitate. He changed into armor, took A'Ming with him, and headed out.

Xu Wenzu was not far from Green Willow Fortress. His enormous body now sat in the middle of a devastated military stockade.

Around him stood several hundred garrison soldiers from Nanwang City, along with five Generals Zheng Fan had seen in the command office the previous day.

After Zheng Fan arrived, he simply stood toward the rear and said nothing.

Xu Wenzu sat there like a mountain of flesh. Combined with the oppressive mood radiating from him, he truly projected the weight of official authority.

Everyone stood like that for quite some time.

Finally, Xu Wenzu raised his head. A sharp light glinted between his narrow eyelids.

He spread both hands.

Then said, "You all know what happened.

"I didn't summon you here to assign blame. We've already lost face. At this point, whether anyone is punished for it hardly matters.

"This time, the Qian came straight to our doorstep, struck us, and then swaggered away.

"Me. You. You. Every last one of you standing here—not one of us can escape responsibility.

"Death would be too good for us!"

Xu Wenzu did not try to shift responsibility or search for excuses.

Nearly a full day had passed since the incident, yet there was still no word from the Jingnan Army's main camp.

The Marquis unquestionably knew what had happened the previous night.

Yet the Marquis had said nothing.

That silence was strange.

And often, silence was the most frightening response of all.

"I care about my office. I care about my wealth, my life, and the foundations I've built for myself. I believe every one of you cares about the same things."

As Xu Wenzu spoke, his gaze swept across everyone present.

"I'll say something taboo.

"Great clans that stood for centuries disappeared just like that. Compared with them, what do our little fortunes and positions amount to?

"A war between states is upon us.

"You, me, all of us—are we truly after nothing more than this tiny scrap of military authority in our hands?

"This is a war between states!

"A war between states!

"The Great Yan has waited a hundred years for another opportunity like this. History itself lies before us. We may actually have the chance to leave our names in its annals!

"I won't hide it from you. This morning, I sent a memorial to the Marquis of Jingnan's camp. Not one word has come back from the Marquis.

"Yesterday, in the command office, we all said the Great Yan has only the Jingnan Army and the Zhenbei Army, and that isn't enough. We said we needed to forge another elite army of our own.

"Wonderful.

"We had barely finished speaking before somebody slapped us across the face that very night.

"I was born in the north. Up there, we believe in one simple rule: if the barbarians dare cross into Yan territory and kill one of ours, the Zhenbei Army rides into the desert and kills two of theirs!"

Xu Wenzu drew a deep breath.

Then roared, "Normally, we can fight among ourselves all we like. But this time, this isn't some damned family squabble!

"Tomorrow, every force here stops hiding its strength. Bring out the best troops under your command!

"We assemble here.

"We form the army here.

"Then together, we kill our way into Qian!

"The Qian killed one of ours last night? Tomorrow, we'll butcher two of theirs!

"Until we've killed enough, we do not return!

"My troops will be the first to assault the walls and the first to take their stockades!

"You take the military merit first!

"After the battle, I'll replace your lost weapons, equipment, horses, and men before I replace my own!

"I only want to ask you one thing.

"You're all men with balls between your legs—do you dare come with me tomorrow and win back the face we lost?"

Xu Wenzu shouted himself into a frenzy. His face had gone red, and steam seemed to rise from him.

The five Generals present dropped to one knee together.

Cupping their fists, they answered solemnly, "This General accepts the order!"

Officially, they were of equal rank. Xu Wenzu was also a General; it was only the nature of his assignment that usually allowed him to stand half a step above them.

But at this moment, those five Generals had effectively acknowledged Xu Wenzu as their superior and themselves as his subordinates.

It was not because Xu Wenzu's speech had been overwhelmingly stirring.

They were grown men, old turtles who had spent years rolling through military mud. They were not hot-blooded youths who could be whipped into a frenzy by a few slogans.

There were other reasons.

First, the previous night's events had cost the Great Yan tremendous face. Qian troops had actually fought their way in and then fought their way back out.

Second, they themselves understood that they now needed someone to take the lead, gather their strength together, and win back a battle.

Since Xu Wenzu was willing to say these words, it proved he was willing to assume that role.

Besides, anyone willing to obey Xu Wenzu's summons and leave his own stockade to come here was already somewhat aligned with Xu Wenzu on an emotional level. A preliminary selection had effectively taken place before the meeting even began.

Zheng Fan and the other Garrison Commanders and Lieutenant Commanders also dropped to one knee and answered in unison.

"We won't bother with cutting palms and swearing blood oaths. We're the Great Yan's army, not bandits in some mountain stronghold.

"I only hope none of you have forgotten that you're men of Yan!

"Enough.

"Go back and prepare.

"Tomorrow, we assemble here and march!"

The assembled officers departed one after another.

Zheng Fan remained.

Xu Wenzu signaled with his eyes, then led Zheng Fan into a tent that had half collapsed. Personal guards stood outside, ensuring no one could approach.

"Goddamn it... I'm furious!"

Once inside, Xu Wenzu cursed and dropped heavily onto the ground.

Zheng Fan sat down with him.

This time, however, Zheng Fan was not quite as relaxed or familiar as he usually was around Xu Wenzu.

"Green Willow Fortress is so close to this place. You didn't hear anything last night?"

Xu Wenzu had begun his questioning.

Zheng Fan smiled bitterly.

"Of every fortress and stockade along this frontier, Green Willow Fortress was the only one that lit its beacon last night."

Xu Wenzu choked on his next words.

Yan might have piled plenty of troops onto the frontier, but Xu Wenzu knew perfectly well how chaotic the command system had become.

Part of the blame belonged to the former official Xiao Dahai, or even further back, to the long decay of the frontier fortress system itself.

Then, over the past few months, the court had stuffed numerous Generals and their troops into the region.

The Marquis of Jingnan had made no effort to reorganize them.

Everyone wandered around like headless flies without anyone truly presiding over the whole mess.

It would have been stranger if things had somehow become orderly.

"Ah."

Xu Wenzu sighed.

His gaze toward Zheng Fan softened considerably.

Zheng Fan himself understood something clearly.

Back in Tiger Head City, Xu Wenzu had once spoken to him about preparing to surrender the city to the Marquis of Zhenbei's household and so on.

But Xu Wenzu was not like Zheng Fan.

Xu Wenzu was Yan to his bones.

Now that the Marquis of Zhenbei had clearly aligned himself with the Yan Emperor and was preparing for the southern campaign, if Zheng Fan made too ugly a spectacle of preserving his strength and avoiding battle, Xu Wenzu absolutely could turn on him.

The preparations and displays Zheng Fan had arranged the previous night were, to put it plainly, partly a performance for Xu Wenzu.

Fatty Xu was currently Zheng Fan's greatest backer and controlled vast quantities of supplies in Nanwang City.

Naturally, he had to be kept happy.

"My lord, I sent troops after that Qian cavalry force last night, but we couldn't catch them. They had too many men, and I was worried about an ambush."

Half truth.

Half lie.

Xu Wenzu nodded to show he understood.

But his expression cooled slightly.

Clearly, Xu Wenzu had guessed something and was deliberately allowing Zheng Fan to see his displeasure.

He suspected Zheng Fan of avoiding battle.

And this was his warning.

Xu Wenzu had served as both a civil and military official. He had eaten sand in the north as well.

How could he possibly fail to understand the tricks involved?

What kind of pursuit brought back not even a single enemy corpse?

Zheng Fan smiled bitterly again.

"My lord, that Qian cavalry force's target was me."

Xu Wenzu froze.

Forget subtle expressions and hidden messages.

He turned directly toward Zheng Fan.

"How do you know that?"

"Last night, the Qian cavalry commander came outside Green Willow Fortress holding up a severed head. He shouted that he'd already killed Zheng Fan, Garrison Commander of Green Willow Fortress, destroyed Green Willow Fortress itself, and told us to wash our necks and wait for him to come collect our heads someday."

"............"

Xu Wenzu.

Xu Wenzu's face began turning blue.

He looked like a man desperately trying not to laugh.

Laughing now would completely ruin the atmosphere.

But damn it all this was really fucking funny.

Hahahahaha!

"I couldn't see whose head he was carrying, but I assume that Qian general mistook someone else for me and attacked the wrong place.

"That's why I was overly cautious when I led troops after him. I knew their target was me. Their target was Green Willow Fortress.

"I can lose a battle. I can lose men.

"I'll tell you what's truly in my heart, my lord. If sacrificing every last man in Green Willow Fortress could have kept that Qian cavalry force here, I wouldn't have frowned once!

"But when two states go to war, momentum matters.

"I've entered Qian several times and won considerable military merit, displaying the might of the Great Yan. My name has probably been sitting on the desks of Qian's senior commanders for quite some time.

"Every last one of them must be itching to kill me.

"I can afford to lose.

"But if Green Willow Fortress were destroyed, or I were killed, and they truly carried my head back with them—the consequences would be far greater than the loss of one man or one fortress."

"Ah!"

Xu Wenzu lowered his head and finally forced down the laughter threatening to burst out.

He reached over and patted Zheng Fan's shoulder.

"That's true.

"You absolutely could not afford to have anything happen to you last night.

"If something had happened, the Great Yan would have lost far too much face this time.

"More importantly, if that Qian cavalry force really carried your head home, Qian morale would certainly soar.

"My guess is that Qian commander mistook Apricot Blossom Stockade for Green Willow Fortress.

"The other stockades they attacked were all too small. Only Apricot Blossom Stockade had a relatively substantial force."

Zheng Fan looked genuinely shocked.

"Then the head that Qian general was holding up on his spear last night...

"Was that Assistant General Deng?"

Xu Wenzu nodded.

"Eight or nine chances out of ten."

Zheng Fan sighed.

There was not the slightest trace of gloating on his face.

Only a faint sorrow.

They might have had their conflicts, but in the end, both were men of Yan.

Both served in the Yan army.

They had been comrades in arms.

Sigh...

That was enough.

Push it any further and the performance would become fake.

Fortunately, Zheng Fan's acting ability had improved tremendously since coming to this world.

And Xu Wenzu had been the first opponent with whom he had ever traded performances.

They were both practiced hands.

Xu Wenzu pursed his lips.

Seeing Zheng Fan's expression, he consoled him.

"Don't dwell on it.

"The Qian marched north. Whoever they attacked, they were attacking Yan soldiers. There isn't really such a thing as the right or wrong target.

"One thing gave me a little comfort last night.

"One Assistant General and four Garrison Commanders died in battle.

"Not one clung to life."

Zheng Fan clenched his fist.

"They... were all fine sons of the Great Yan!"

"Mm.

"Right. Have your people collect those fifteen hundred barbarian soldiers from me later.

"I've already equipped them with warhorses and armor.

"Things are urgent, so move quickly.

"Several Generals lost troops this time, especially General Yang. Deng Ziliang served under him, and with Apricot Blossom Stockade completely wiped out, he suffered the heaviest loss.

"I'm worried they'll start eyeing those barbarian troops again.

"Take them home early and swallow them whole.

"And don't spread what happened today.

"Let the Qian say whatever they want on their side.

"We don't need to talk about it ourselves."

"This subordinate understands."

"Good.

"I've given you soldiers.

"I've given you warhorses and equipment.

"You heard what I said in front of those five Generals.

"Tomorrow, you need to fight with everything you've got and help me win back this face!"

"I would gladly fight to the death!"

"Don't die.

"But tomorrow, don't hold anything back either.

"I know the men under you can truly fight.

"So show me what they can do.

"If tomorrow's performance goes well, I'll be able to draw those five Generals firmly to my side."

There was no need to say more.

An army was maintained for a thousand days to be used in a single hour.

Xu Wenzu had made himself perfectly clear.

I gave you soldiers.

I gave you equipment.

I supported you this heavily precisely because I need you to fight for me when the time comes.

The Sixth Prince supported Zheng Fan for much the same reason. He wanted Zheng Fan to rise within the military so that, when the struggle for the throne came—or when the Sixth Prince needed to save his own life—he would have support from the army.

There had never been such a thing as free pie falling from the sky.

At the same time, Xu Wenzu intended to use this affair to bind the five Generals to his own chariot.

That involved another layer of political calculation.

"Rest assured, my lord.

"Tomorrow, Green Willow Fortress will not disappoint you!"

"Mm.

"All right. Go back and prepare.

"I need to get myself ready as well."

Zheng Fan helped Xu Wenzu to his feet.

Once Xu Wenzu stood, however, his hand remained clasped around Zheng Fan's wrist.

He said meaningfully, "Yesterday, I already submitted your military merits to the higher authorities."

"Thank you, my lord."

"Don't thank me.

"You earned all of it through your own ability.

"There's one more thing I want to tell you.

"In this life, a man always needs to seize hold of something.

"Flying a kite is the same way.

"You need wind before it can rise.

"You have ability, and the great figures above have always looked favorably upon you.

"That is your good fortune.

"But never grow complacent."

Zheng Fan frowned slightly, pondering the deeper meaning in Xu Wenzu's words.

Xu Wenzu patted the back of Zheng Fan's hand again.

"The wind... is about to rise.

"You need to catch it.

"If you catch it..."

"If I catch it, what happens?"

Xu Wenzu lifted the tent flap and bent down as he walked outside.

He raised his head toward the brilliant blue sky.

Then said, "You'll rise into the heavens."

(End of Chapter)