Volume One, Chapter 8: Two Generals Compete for Glory — Jia Xu's Stratagem Unfolds

The bronze candelabra in the grand hall flickered with a dim yellow light, casting shadows that transformed Li Jue’s pale, iron-like face into that of a malevolent demon.

After Li Jue and Guo Si met within the hall, they exchanged a sharp snort, their already somber expressions deepening into gloom as they each turned their heads away.

Zhang Ji and Fan Chou watched anxiously, their hearts heavy.

The others, upon learning of the imminent arrival of these two armies, furrowed their brows in concern.

Within the hall, the civil and military officials exchanged glances, their lips sealed in silence.

Li Jue’s fingers dug deeply into the gilded armrest, his knuckles whitening with the force of his grip. “How dare Ma Teng’s brat invade our borders!”

Guo Si suddenly smashed the table with a crash; a wine vessel rolled across the carpet, the crimson liquid spreading like fresh blood. “That old bastard Han Sui—he should have been taken care of long ago…”

“Generals, please restrain your anger.” Jia Xu’s voice emerged quietly from the shadow beneath a column. He stepped into the light, his gaunt fingers twisting the sleeve of his robe. “The enemy advances fiercely. It would be wiser to dig deep trenches and erect strong fortifications…”

“Nonsense!” Li Meng suddenly kicked over a low stool; his armor clattered loudly. Pointing at Jia Xu’s nose, he spat curses. “You pedantic scholar only knows how to hide! Give me ten thousand elite soldiers, and I will bring you the heads of Ma Teng and Han Sui!”

Wang Fang immediately rose, the heavy blade at his waist clanging. “I volunteer to go with Lieutenant Li!”

[System Notice: Detected Li Meng’s martial prowess at 77 and Wang Fang’s at 79, triggering the ‘Arrogant Troops are Doomed’ scenario.]

Emperor Liu Xie, hidden behind his imperial curtain, allowed a faint smile to curl at the corner of his lips.

He caught the mocking glint in Jia Xu’s eyes as the old fox feigned alarm and took two steps back. “This…”

After exchanging a subtle glance with Liu Xie, Jia Xu snorted lightly. “Though these two armies have traveled far, their morale is high. It is best to dig deep and hold firm against the enemy. Within three months, when their supplies run out, they will be forced to retreat. Then, we can pursue them easily and capture these two generals.”

Li Meng sneered upon hearing this. “Advisor, your strategy is flawed. How can we bolster the enemy’s spirit while diminishing our own prestige? The enemy is weary from their journey; I insist on borrowing ten thousand elite soldiers to cut off the heads of Ma Teng and Han Sui, to present to the general.”

Wang Fang echoed him in unison. “I will go with Lieutenant Li to strike down the enemy!”

Jia Xu, knowing their hotheaded nature, stoked the fire further. “If we engage the Ma-Han allied forces now, we will surely be defeated.”

Li Meng and Wang Fang pledged together: “If we fall, we offer our heads in sacrifice.”

Jia Xu glanced at the two fired-up generals and smiled inwardly.

He then advised Li Jue and Guo Si, “If Generals Wang and Li insist on battle, there is a treacherous mountain called Zhouzhi, two hundred li west of Chang’an. The rugged terrain is ideal for Generals Zhang Ji and Fan Chou to station troops and hold firm. Let Li Meng and Wang Fang lead their forces to meet the enemy head-on.”

“That’s decided!” Li Jue stood abruptly, his sword gleaming coldly in the candlelight. “Dispatch fifteen thousand elite troops immediately. Leave the city!”

Both generals left Chang’an with joy, traveling over a hundred li to confront the Ma-Han allied army face to face.

Li Meng and Wang Fang, eager for glory, ignored the soldiers’ exhaustion and low morale, leading the charge.

The Ma-Han cavalry formed battle lines; Ma Teng and Han Sui rode side by side, pointing at Li Meng and Wang Fang, hurling insults: “Traitors to the nation! Who will seize them?”

Before the words were finished, a young general appeared, his face refined as a noble’s, eyes bright as shooting stars, tall and robust, wielding a long spear astride a fine steed, charging from within the ranks.

This was none other than Ma Teng’s son, Ma Chao, styled Mengqi, only seventeen years old but invincible in courage.

Wang Fang underestimated his youth and rode out to meet him.

After only a few exchanges, he was speared down by Ma Chao, falling beneath his horse.

“Pathetic!” Ma Chao spat and cursed as he turned his horse to leave.

Seeing Wang Fang slain, Li Meng wheeled his mount and pursued Ma Chao from behind.

Ma Teng, watching intently from the front, shouted a warning: “Watch your back! Someone’s pursuing you!”

Before the words had finished, Ma Chao’s back seemed to have eyes; he trapped Li Meng’s spear under his arm and with a single motion, captured Li Meng atop his horse.

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It turned out Ma Chao had knowingly feigned vulnerability, waiting until Li Meng’s horse approached with the spear thrust. With a swift move, he seized him effortlessly.

With their commanders dead or captured, the troops lost heart and scattered in retreat.

Ma Teng and Han Sui seized the opportunity to kill and capture many draft horses. They quickly occupied the outpost below the mountain pass, executing Li Meng before the camp to boost their army’s morale.

The news of Wang Fang and Li Meng’s deaths and defeat quickly spread to Chang’an, causing a massive uproar.

Upon hearing that Li Meng and Wang Fang had been killed by Ma Chao, Li Jue and Guo Si trusted Jia Xu’s foresight and resolved only to hold the defenses, refusing to engage.

No matter how loudly the Ma-Han allied forces taunted daily, they paid no heed.

One night at Zhouzhi Mountain, the insects in the grass emitted dying cries.

Zhang Ji lifted the tent flap to find Jia Xu studying a game of Go by the glow of a tallow lamp. The black and white stones on a sheepskin map depicted the terrain around Chang’an.

After seating themselves, Fan Chou, impatient by nature, hurriedly asked Jia Xu, “Advisor, what urgent matter brings you here late at night?”

Zhang Ji’s eyes swept the board and suddenly narrowed—black stones representing Li Meng and Wang Fang were encircled by white stones.

Fan Chou noticed the problem too and slammed the table. “Damn it! Have those two fools lost?”

Jia Xu glanced at both men, sighed deeply, but said nothing.

Exchanging looks, Zhang Ji and Fan Chou sensed the gravity of the situation.

Fan Chou, hot-tempered, cursed, “You scholars love to beat around the bush! Just spit it out, don’t try to suffocate me with suspense!”

Zhang Ji, calmer, asked Jia Xu with suspicion, “Advisor, is there an order from the generals?”

At this, Fan Chou ceased cursing, waiting for Jia Xu’s answer.

Jia Xu sighed again. As Fan Chou’s face darkened, he slowly said, “I regret it deeply.”

Their confusion grew.

Jia Xu continued, “I had advised holding the city to resist the enemy, but Lieutenants Wang and Li refused, insisting on leading the troops out. In the end, they were defeated and killed.”

He paused again.

Fan Chou, still confused, cursed, “Advisor Jia, can’t you just finish your story at once? Your words are killing me.”

Zhang Ji shook his head at Fan Chou’s impatience but kept his gaze on Jia Xu, awaiting more.

Jia Xu, unruffled by the outburst, resumed, “Originally, the two generals stationed at Zhouzhi Mountain planned to wait until the Ma-Han forces ran out of supplies and their morale faltered. Then, as the enemy retreated, they would strike and win a great victory.”

Zhang Ji and Fan Chou were puzzled—was this not the very purpose of their stationing?

Zhang Ji questioned Jia Xu, “Has something changed within the city?”

Jia Xu nodded. “Since Wang and Li’s defeat and loss of troops, the authority of Generals Li and Guo has weakened. The Ma-Han forces outside the city continue their daily taunts, harassing the two generals. Meanwhile, in the city, those with ill intent spread rumors, alleging that General Fan, being from the same region as Han Sui, might be colluding with the enemy.”

Before Jia Xu finished, Fan Chou bellowed, “Nonsense! Although Han Sui and I hail from the same place, we have little contact. Besides, most of the troops are from Liangzhou. Does he truly suspect that?”

Jia Xu leisurely sipped tea and praised, “General Fan is wise.”

Fan Chou, stunned by the unexpected compliment amid his anger, stared wide-eyed at Jia Xu.

Jia Xu resumed in a measured tone, “There are indeed rumors in the city. Generals Li and Guo intend to purge the old West Liang troops.”

Silence fell in the tent, broken only by the chirping insects outside.

Jia Xu sighed deeply and produced a note from his sleeve.

Zhang Ji unfolded it to find a secret order from Li Jue to his nephew: “If Fan Chou and Han Sui collude, execute them on the spot!”

“Damn lies!” Fan Chou slammed his fist on the table, shaking the lamp fiercely.

Veins bulging on his temples, he paced the tent like an enraged hyena. “When I fought into Chang’an with them, Han Sui was still eating dust in Longxi!”

Zhang Ji placed a hand on Fan Chou’s shoulder, eyes cold as he said, “Brother Wenhe, your presence here…”

“I cannot bear to see you both march to your deaths.” Jia Xu suddenly placed a white stone on the Zhouzhi Mountain position. “In three days, Li Xian will arrive to oversee the battle.”

“Does he dare?!” Fan Chou, lacking guile, shouted hatefully.

Zhang Ji’s expression darkened as well.

Jia Xu observed this with quiet amusement.

Just a little maneuver, and these two great generals were spinning in my trap, obedient as lambs.

Hmph! I must ask the emperor for a raise.

How much should I ask for?

Hmm, just a single coin, and with a written receipt!

If he dares to betray me later, I’ll expose the receipt and see if he still dares!

An emperor owing his subject a single coin! That would surely make him the most infamous ruler in history, renowned for millennia!

Jia Xu pondered other matters silently. Zhang Ji and Fan Chou, suspecting he feared blame, quickly spoke up, “Advisor, don’t misunderstand, we do not doubt you. Please teach us!”

They rose and cupped their hands in respect.

See? Betrayed and yet counting the money for him!

After a moment’s silence, Jia Xu said, “I came because I cannot bear to see you both suspected and even sent to your deaths.”

Their eyes brightened. “Please teach us, Advisor!”

Jia Xu continued, “Tomorrow, Generals Li and Guo will send envoys demanding you attack the Ma-Han forces. You must delay as long as possible. When General Li Jue sees you have not moved, he will dispatch one of his nephews to pressure and supervise you, fearing disobedience.”

Zhang Ji and Fan Chou exchanged a glance, then asked, “What should we do?”

Jia Xu sipped tea and said, “Keep delaying! Delay a day at a time. When you can no longer stall, march three to five li, then camp again. Guo Si will also send someone under my direction; it will be General Duan Wei, who values his life and wealth. Under your threats and bribes, he will stabilize Generals Li and Guo. Once the Ma-Han army’s supplies run out, we will strike forward, attacking from both inside the city and outside, ensuring their defeat. Then, with your great victory, Generals Li and Guo will not blame you.”

Having said all this, Jia Xu took another sip of tea.

Indeed, talking is exhausting and consumes a lot of tea!

Zhang Ji and Fan Chou believed Jia Xu’s plan wholeheartedly and cupped their hands. “We will follow the advisor’s orders in all things!”