Chapter 519: - The Marquis Residence

The troops from the eastern and western great camps beside Zhennan Pass had already moved.

The first to come out were the cavalry contingents from the two camps, ten thousand riders each.

Yet although the Yan army stood right there, neither cavalry force chose to make a wide detour and encircle them. Instead, they coordinated with the Chu infantry advancing out from the camps and moved forward slowly.

For any experienced commander, the basic uses of cavalry were hardly secret.

Their defining advantage was mobility far beyond anything infantry could match.

Most of the time, once a battlefield opened up, and excluding rare exceptions like heavily armored cavalry, mounted troops would be released outward. They screened the field, maneuvered around flanks, cut roads, probed, harassed. In short, cavalry were supposed to be free.

These two Chu cavalry forces, however, looked as though they had been chained in place.

There was no freedom to speak of.

Because neither their commanders nor their supreme commander dared give them any.

Under ordinary logic, if one wanted to swallow an enemy force that had driven deep in isolation, the first step was to compress its room to maneuver, then cut off its retreat, and finally force it into a decisive battle.

Compressing maneuver space was exactly the sort of job cavalry should perform.

But Nian Yao did not dare let Great Chu’s precious horsemen do it.

Against some other Yan commander, perhaps he would have.

Unfortunately, the commander facing him was Tian Wujing.

Nian Yao knew perfectly well: if he dared send the cavalry out, Tian Wujing would dare eat them.

Great Chu did not possess much cavalry to begin with. In a defensive war, those horsemen were even more important for linking different positions and reinforcing one another. If Nian Yao casually threw them away in open battle, then his head really would have been filled with water.

And yet the Yan army had already ridden this far.

They could practically see Zhennan Pass.

Doing absolutely nothing would not be appropriate either.

Nian Yao’s admiration for Yan’s Southern Marquis was one matter. One could call it heroes appreciating heroes.

But if he truly curled up in terror and did not dare make the slightest move, the blow to Chu morale would be enormous.

The Yan could boast all they wanted about Great Yan’s iron cavalry being invincible in field battle.

Snow Sea Pass had even circulated the saying:

“Iron cavalry may number fewer than ten thousand; once ten thousand gather, none beneath Heaven can stand against them.”

But as the enemy, Chu absolutely could not admit it.

The instant Chu admitted that claim, the soldiers below would begin accepting it unconsciously as well.

Defensive warfare was defensive warfare, certainly.

But defense existed to bleed away the enemy’s strength and spirit until the opportunity came to strike.

If Chu truly degenerated into the kind of trash Qian troops who broke the instant they left their walls, then what the hell would be left to fight?

So General-in-Chief Nian had to send troops out.

The troops had moved.

As for what they would actually do after moving... mm.

There was quite a lot there worth thinking about carefully.

Rather than attacking, the forces from the eastern and western camps looked more as though they were escorting guests away.

Infantry formations held the center.

Cavalry provided support.

Everything advanced slowly and steadily.

Meanwhile, the northern gate of Zhennan Pass had remained shut from beginning to end.

The princely banner of the Prince of Jingnan still stood there in the distance.

For a time, it almost felt as though host and guest had exchanged places.

General-in-Chief Nian stood atop the city tower, his eyes streaked red.

Not from tension.

He simply had not slept for two days.

The strain was natural.

His mind, however, remained exceptionally clear.

He had already understood the Yan arrangement.

He himself had prepared a sack.

The Prince of Jingnan had thrown a nail inside it.

Battlefield contests were often not all that different from two wandering swordsmen exchanging moves.

One side made a move.

The other countered it.

Then, if someone spotted an opening, he struck hard.

Nian Yao knew perfectly well why Tian Wujing had brought troops here.

He was obviously not truly trying to storm Zhennan Pass.

A towering strategic pass like this could hardly be ridden over by kicking a horse forward.

And yet that was exactly why moments like this could be the most dangerous.

You assumed the enemy had come only to hold the field and had no intention of fighting seriously.

Then he might suddenly turn the false performance into something real.

Unfortunately for General-in-Chief Nian, every Chu camp and fort to the north was currently being “watched” by a corresponding Yan force.

That meant the troops he could actually move were limited.

Naturally, he felt his hands and feet tied.

Still, after the eastern and western camp forces began advancing, one military order after another had already gone out from Nian Yao.

Troops from the rear camp would arrive very soon.

The northern forces would also complete another round of redeployment within half a day.

At the very least, the two mobile forces under Dugu Nian and Xiao Lou could return rapidly to reinforce the area.

It was like playing cat’s cradle.

You undid my pattern.

I flipped yours.

Then we saw whose reactions were faster and whose hands were cleverer.

When that happened, the Yan forces spread across the outside would become dispersed.

Chu could then create overwhelming local superiority wherever it chose.

Central Mountain Camp could be swallowed.

Perhaps even Tian Wujing below Zhennan Pass could be wrapped up like a dumpling.

In sharp contrast to the Chu forces from the eastern and western camps, which advanced as though walking on thin ice, the Yan army, apart from the mounted scouts and patrols spread around the perimeter, was essentially resting.

The army had galloped hard to reach this place.

That had consumed horseflesh.

Restoring the horses’ strength was the immediate priority.

Even the Pixiu belonging to the Prince of Jingnan lay on its side at this moment, belly turned toward the sun.

Tian Wujing himself sat cross-legged on the ground nearby.

Seen from here, all the Chu nervousness and careful arrangements had the distinct flavor of throwing seductive glances at a blind man.

...

More than twenty li south of West Mountain Fort, Gong Wang’s force was slowly shadowing a Chu army.

The Chu troops marched in disciplined order.

Their armor was bright and uniform.

One glance was enough to see that these were not private soldiers belonging to some Chu noble house.

They were Imperial Clan Guards of Great Chu.

They had come out from West Mountain Fort.

Facing them, Gong Wang did not immediately order an attack.

The Chu had clearly prepared for the possibility that his force might strike.

Gong Wang remembered what the Prince of Jingnan had said during the military conference.

Central Mountain Camp was bait laid out by Chu.

The army before him, then, had to be one of the advance responses Chu had positioned in preparation for anyone taking that bait.

So the two armies continued in this strange arrangement.

One marched ahead.

The other followed behind.

From a distance, they appeared almost peaceful.

The “spectacle” existed because every other nearby force was likewise watching or being watched.

Neither side could easily apply pressure or provide support from some other direction.

And so the Chu marched.

The Yan escorted them.

Both moved at a tortoise’s pace.

“General, our scouts have just reported back. Troops have also come out from East Mountain Fort. Gongsun Zhi’s force made the same choice we did,” Vice General Lin Xu reported.

“Mm.”

Gong Wang nodded.

“General, Central Mountain Camp has been fighting for more than a day already. There still hasn’t been a result.” Lin Xu sounded worried.

“What are you anxious for? That is Count Pingye over there. What kind of accident do you expect?”

“It’s better to fear the one chance in ten thousand...”

“There won’t be a one in ten thousand.”

Gong Wang sounded remarkably confident.

“Some people are destined to stand before the stage and be admired by everyone. The Prince of Jingnan is that kind of person. Count Pingye is too. The larger the scene you give men like them, the better they perform. They will never embarrass themselves when the stage is truly grand.”

“General, you never used to speak this way.”

“Before the fighting began, the Prince of Jingnan placed my force and Gongsun Zhi’s force under Count Pingye’s command. Since that’s the case, I should at least hope my own luck is good, shouldn’t I?”

“This general only finds it difficult to believe you enjoy serving beneath another man.”

The army was on the move.

Everyone immediately around Gong Wang was one of his absolutely trusted personal guards.

That made conversation easier.

“This is not about enjoying submission. The present tide simply runs this way. Yan stands above. We Jin people naturally stand below. In the Three Jin lands today, it is extraordinarily difficult for a Jin man to rise. Even I can still independently command an army as a Jin general only because I benefited from the late Emperor’s final grace. That is why this campaign against Chu is so important. Right now, Jin people stand one head shorter before the Yan. Nothing can be done about that. But once Zhennan Pass is broken and our armies enter Chu territory, even if Great Chu is not destroyed, there will at least be a layer of Chu people below us Jin. We will no longer be at the very bottom. Second, Yan’s true long-standing ambition is not to attack Chu. It is to attack Qian. Great Yan has committed the strength of the whole state to this campaign against Chu because so long as Chu remains unweakened, the Jin lands can never truly be pacified. Attacking Chu is also about securing Jin.”

“Securing our Jin lands?”

“Yes. Only once Jin is stable will Yan be willing to loosen its guard against us. As for me, forget it. I’ve already shamelessly managed to sit in my current position. I have nothing to complain about. But men like you, and Lin’er, will finally have real opportunities to rise.”

Lin’er was Gong Wang’s son, Gong Lin.

At present, Gong Lin served as a vanguard general in the army and was leading one body of troops to pressure the Chu formation from the surrounding area.

Gong Wang paused, then continued:

“There is another matter. The Prince of Jingnan placing my force and Gongsun Zhi’s beneath Count Pingye should have a deeper meaning. In my view, it is not simply to coordinate this offensive, and not simply because the three armies on the eastern side need one man taking the lead. It may already be the rough shape of the rewards and arrangements that will follow after the war. Once Zhennan Pass falls, the eastern Jin lands, devastated by years of constant warfare, will be brought under stable administration again. If Great Chu is destroyed in a single campaign, that is one matter. If it is not, then eastern Jin still has three uses: first, to continue containing Chu; second, to guard against the Savages; third, to intimidate the entire Three Jin region.”

“General means Zhennan Pass may also be placed under Count Pingye’s control?”

“Possibly. But Count Pingye already controls Snow Sea Pass. Giving him direct garrison command of Zhennan Pass as well would probably be inappropriate. In my view, Gongsun Zhi’s force is more suitable to garrison Zhennan Pass afterward. My force will very likely be stationed at present-day Fengxin City. The three forces would then jointly guard this vital eastern Jin region. And above the three forces, a Residence should be established. Perhaps it would not equal the Marquis of Zhenbei Residence or the Marquis of Jingnan Residence, but it would stand beneath only those two. Do not forget that Count Pingye also carries the title Grand General of Cheng State. When that time comes, Count Pingye will directly control Snow Sea Pass and nominally command both Gongsun Zhi’s force and mine. Only then will the title Grand General of Cheng State possess substance as well as name.”

“The court planned this far ahead?” Lin Xu asked in astonishment.

“I don’t know. I can’t be certain. But when Yan destroyed the Helian and Wenren Clans, the Jin Emperor first opened South Gate Pass himself, then the forts around South Gate Pass changed sides one after another. That alone shows how much work the Yan had already done in this region years earlier. Once, the eastern states all mocked Yan people as Yan barbarians. Yet the present Emperor of Yan understands planning before action better than any ruler of his line. If they truly decided long ago to place this region beneath one man, then judging by reason, position, merit, and achievement, Count Pingye is unquestionably the most suitable choice. That is why this battle for Central Mountain Camp matters so much. An army of nearly a million men has built a stage for Count Pingye alone. Obviously, the immediate purpose is to break open the deadlock. Everyone understands that once Central Mountain Camp is removed from the heart of the Chu defense, Yan scouts and mounted patrols can range almost without obstruction and completely compress Chu’s operating space. Chu, meanwhile, will lose the key ground supporting the whole system and face having its forts and camps pulled out one tooth at a time. But beneath all that, the Prince of Jingnan personally choosing Count Pingye to shoulder the assault may also be about adding one more brilliant stroke to the pile of achievements already burning like oil beneath a roaring fire around his name. Then, after the war, establishing a Residence and raising his command standards becomes perfectly natural.”

“Enfeoffed... as a Marquis?”

Ever since the Jin lands were absorbed into Yan, Jin people had naturally begun studying Great Yan’s offices and noble ranks.

So Lin Xu understood exactly what the title “Marquis” meant in Yan.

For centuries, no one outside the Ji Clan had been permitted to become a Prince of Great Yan.

Now Yan had four Princes.

The two southern and northern Marquises possessed achievements great enough that raising them to princely rank was perfectly natural. In truth, both men had long stood beyond ordinary ranks. Whether they formally carried princely titles was little more than adding flowers to brocade.

The other two Princes were Prince Cheng in Yingdu and the Prince of Jin.

The former came from Situ Lei’s merit in offering Great Cheng to Yan.

The latter descended from the Yu Clan, whose ancestors had always possessed that dignity.

For every other noble outside the imperial surname, Count had essentially been the ceiling.

That was why Zheng Fan becoming Count Pingye at such a young age had caused such a tremendous shock.

But if he became a Marquis... then it would truly mean receiving land and founding a marquisate.

Gong Wang glanced at his trusted vice general and said irritably:

“Hey. Our Prince of Jingnan has spent this much effort pushing him and lifting him. Count Pingye, for his part, stole a princess without caring about anything and keeps taking the first merit in one battle after another. If they aren’t working toward a Marquis title, what the hell do you think all this is for? I can’t speak for other forces, but in the future, ours may very well become a garrison beneath the Marquis Pingye Residence. A great tree gives good shade. There are actually fewer Yan men beneath Count Pingye than Jin men and Barbarians. Whatever else happens, with him above us as shelter, Jin-born military officers will at least possess a patron to rely on while pursuing advancement. Of course, if a Marquis Residence is established in eastern Jin, it is not only that we need Count Pingye’s umbrella. Count Pingye will need our support as well. The arrangement naturally benefits both sides. If someone like Li Fusheng, or some other Yan general, were placed above us instead, life for Jin commanders would certainly become much worse. Being guarded against like thieves is a damned unpleasant feeling.”

“Report!”

A mounted messenger rushed over.

“General! One section of the Chu army has detached from its main formation and is moving rapidly toward Central Mountain Camp!”

Calling the Chu move a cicada shedding its shell would not be quite accurate.

It was more like a lizard abandoning its tail.

It meant the situation at Central Mountain Camp had probably become genuinely urgent.

The remaining main body stayed behind to cover the movement, while one force separated and raced forward as reinforcements.

Gong Wang’s earlier ease vanished.

His gaze sharpened.

He issued his order immediately.

“Send word to the Young General. Tell him that no matter the price, he is to stop that reinforcement force. Not a single man is to be allowed through to interfere with Count Pingye’s battle at Central Mountain Camp. Tell him not to treasure the family foundation. A foundation is accumulated precisely so it can be spent when it matters!”

“Yes!”

Gong Wang turned at once toward the vice general beside him.

“Vice General Lin.”

“This general is here.”

“Form up the central army immediately. It seems the Chu think the pressure we’re giving them is too light. Fine. Let’s make it simple and fight them properly. Order both wings to compress the Chu formation. You will personally lead the central army and charge them for me!”

...

“Send word to the front army! They are to pin those Chu reinforcements down no matter what. Not a single soldier is to slip past us toward Central Mountain Camp. Tell Yuan Lun that if he fails, I’ll cut off his head!”

Gongsun Zhi roared out the command.

Then he turned to the officers around him.

“Before the battle, the Prince of Jingnan placed my force and Gong Wang’s under Count Pingye. Don’t think that arrangement only begins after this battle. If that were so, why are Gong Wang and I the ones watching East Mountain Fort and West Mountain Fort separately? This is like sworn brothers in the jianghu. We’re being told to hand our new big brother a certificate of allegiance in advance! Form up your troops immediately. The Chu really think we’re only here to see them off? Fine. Then let’s properly send them on their way!”

...

Local clashes between Yan and Chu erupted in many places across the battlefield.

Yet on the whole, both sides still maintained restraint.

The Chu forces in the various camps and forts continued prioritizing the protection of their own positions.

That was not “watching the fire from across the river.”

If one Central Mountain Camp caused the dragon-locking plan to fail and instead dragged every Chu force out into a chaotic field battle against the Yan contingents, then regardless of the casualties, Yan would unquestionably benefit.

The Chu possessed forts and camps to rely upon.

Coming out to fight in the field meant voluntarily throwing away an existing advantage.

A small number of fortifications that believed themselves capable of protecting their own positions while still supporting others did send some reinforcements toward Central Mountain Camp.

But the Prince of Jingnan had personally established the strategic tone before the battle, and Count Pingye possessed both prestige and standing throughout the army.

No Yan or Jin commander dared adopt the attitude of watching the show or preserving strength while allowing a reinforcement force to slip past directly in front of him.

Below Zhennan Pass, meanwhile, the eastern and western Chu forces finally reached their assigned positions and formed a coordinated pincer.

A cavalry force from the rear camp had arrived as well.

Only then did General-in-Chief Nian finally order Zhennan Pass’s northern gate opened.

He personally led the central army out of the pass.

And at that exact moment, directly to the north, a distinctive column of warning smoke rose into the sky.

Mounted scouts immediately relayed the signal outward in every direction.

Nian Yao had already arranged the banquet.

As host, he had gathered everything currently available and intended to treat the Prince of Jingnan to one proper meal.

Unfortunately, the host had moved far too slowly.

The guest had been waiting for so long and the dishes still had not arrived.

That was hardly proper hospitality.

The Prince of Jingnan rose from the ground.

Beside him, the Pixiu understood at once and lowered itself.

Once Tian Wujing mounted, the Pixiu rose onto all four feet and released a roar.

The beast beneath the Prince of Jingnan turned.

Then, like a receding tide, the Yan army began withdrawing.

Only one thing remained.

At the Prince of Jingnan’s order, one princely banner was left planted exactly where it stood.

It was not taken away.

Below Zhennan Pass, General-in-Chief Nian had only just led his troops out when he saw this scene.

For a moment, his heart held three parts humiliation and irritation, three parts relief, three parts helplessness, and one part bitterness.

“Report clearly to the court: today, Yan’s Prince of Jingnan Tian Wujing led a great army to press against the city. Through my calm response and redeployment of the armies from every route, he was forced to retreat. We captured one banner of the Prince of Jingnan.”

[End of Chapter 519]