Chapter Six: The Empty City Stratagem Repels Pang Juan

Pang Juan’s gaze was fixed intently on the open gates of Wu Pass.

Why would the State of Qin throw open its gates when it clearly knew it was no match for him?

A trap. It was absolutely a trap.

Pang Juan understood the strategic importance of Wu Pass to Qin; he was certain that Qin would never surrender it so easily. Therefore, his expedition served two purposes: to pressure Qin into surrendering Gongshu Cuo, and to deplete the vitality of the Qin army at Wu Pass, paving the way for a future full-scale invasion.

Pang Juan did not dare to gamble. He had just been caught off guard by an ambush, losing over three thousand elite soldiers. Could it be that Qin had ceded territory to secure reinforcements from other states, and those troops were now waiting inside the pass?

Atop the walls of Wu Pass, Meng Yun stared in disbelief as the Wei army came to a halt.

"They... they stopped?!"

He could hardly believe that the Wei forces had simply halted just like that.

Zhao Zheng let out a sharp breath, his knuckles turning white from clenching his fists. His clothes were already soaked through with cold sweat.

It worked. The gamble had paid off.

He had bet that Pang Juan’s suspicious nature would lead him to fall for an "empty fort strategy." History had shown that this exact trait was what ultimately led to Pang Juan’s demise at Maling Road. However, this could not last long; the moment Pang Juan realized the truth, everything would be over.

Zhao Zheng’s heart hung in his throat as he scanned the area behind the pass with anxious eyes.

"Ying Quiliang, oh Ying Quiliang, you must hurry..."

After a long while, seeing no movement within Wu Pass, Pang Juan realized he had been played.

"Attack the city!"

Pang Juan gnashed his teeth in fury and issued the order for the Wei army to press forward.

"Sir, I recall that Pang Juan is your disciple. As his master, can you not order him to withdraw?" Ying Qian asked, suddenly remembering Pang Juan’s connection to Guiguzi.

Zhao Zheng’s expression stiffened. What did Pang Juan being Guiguzi’s disciple have to do with him, a fake Guiguzi?

"Ah... well, although he is my disciple, we have never actually met. I merely passed down a book to him," Zhao Zheng improvised, forcing himself to remain composed.

Ying Qian nodded. The Guigu School had always been mysterious and unfathomable, so such a method of teaching was not entirely out of character.

***

Seeing the Wei army about to swarm into the pass, the veteran Qin soldiers prepared to lay down their lives to defend their homes. At that moment, a voice from within the pass halted the advancing Wei forces.

"The Prime Minister of the State of Wei has arrived!"

Those on the walls of Wu Pass saw a squadron of cavalry racing toward the gates. At the lead was Ying Quiliang, and behind him rode an old man—undoubtedly Gongshu Cuo.

"Damn it."

In the distance, Pang Juan slapped his thigh in frustration. He had not expected Qin to release Gongshu Cuo at this exact moment. The pretext for Wei’s campaign had been to rescue Gongshu Cuo; now that Qin had released him, Wei no longer had a justification for war.

"It’s the old Prime Minister!"
"The Prime Minister has returned safely!"

Upon seeing Gongshu Cuo behind Ying Quiliang, the Wei soldiers were overjoyed, clearing a path for them—a testament to Gongshu Cuo’s status in Wei.

Seeing this, Zhao Zheng, the others on the wall, and the Qin soldiers breathed a sigh of relief.

"Lord of Qin, your benevolence is noted. I bid you farewell."

Only then did the group notice several others among the cavalry, wearing different attire. Ying Qian recognized them immediately: they were the envoys from the six states who had been stationed in Qin.

"As expected of Duke Xiao of Qin."

Zhao Zheng silently admired the move. Ying Quiliang had brought out the envoys of the six states to act as witnesses, preventing Pang Juan from secretly harming Gongshu Cuo and framing Qin for it.

Watching Gongshu Cuo and the envoys depart, Ying Quiliang finally relaxed. The crisis had been averted.

"Withdraw from Wu Pass."

Following Ying Quiliang’s order, the Qin army began to retreat from the pass in an orderly fashion.

"Sir, you are truly a divine strategist!"

On the road back to Yueyang, Ying Quiliang learned that it was Zhao Zheng’s plan that had stalled Pang Juan, and he offered endless praise.

"This empty fort strategy was not perfect. Had you arrived even a moment later, Wu Pass would have been lost," Zhao Zheng replied, shaking his head. It was a desperate gamble, riddled with flaws. A true empty fort strategy involved opening the gates as the enemy arrived, but Zhao Zheng had waited until they were already there. It had only worked because of Pang Juan’s paranoia; anyone else would have broken through.

They returned to Yueyang the next day. Gan Long and the court officials were there to greet them, but an unusual atmosphere hung in the air. Zhao Zheng had already guessed that the old aristocracy would make a major issue out of the ceded territory.

Inside the Yueyang Palace, no sooner had Ying Quiliang taken his seat than Gan Long stepped forward, bowing deeply. "My Lord, I, Gan Long, have a matter to present."

Ying Quiliang arched an eyebrow. The old fox was at it again, though he remained outwardly calm. "Please speak, Senior Grand Master."

Gan Long declared loudly, "The land of Shaoliang was won by the blood of our ancestors, and Wu Pass is the final gateway to the Guanzhong region. Yet, under the guise of buying time, you have ceded them to the Wei thieves?"

"This is like cutting flesh from our own hearts, chilling the souls of the people of Qin! I dare to request that you rescind your order and reclaim Shaoliang and Wu Pass."

As he finished, the officials behind him echoed in unison: "We request that you rescind the order and reclaim Shaoliang and Wu Pass!"

Ying Quiliang’s face was as dark as water, his anger rising. He knew Gan Long’s motives perfectly. The talk of "chilling the hearts of the people" was merely a pretext to undermine royal authority and protect the interests of the old nobility. Most of their assets lay in the Hexi region, and they could not tolerate the loss.

Suppressing his rage, Ying Quiliang said in a low voice, "During the Battle of Hexi, my father fought and died. Why were none of you so passionate then?"

Gan Long’s face turned even more aggrieved as he raised his voice. "Back then, our national strength was insufficient, and our soldiers were helpless despite their will to fight. Today, we show cowardice before the battle even begins, handing over our gateways for nothing."

"Such weakness! Where is the spirit of the people of Qin? The hearts of the people are unsettled, my Lord!"

Gan Long’s words were grand and highly incendiary; the nobility behind him began to stir restlessly. Ying Quiliang was momentarily speechless. Having just returned from the brink of death, he found his own people turning against him for their own selfish interests.

A subtle, smug smile tugged at the corner of Gan Long’s mouth. Zhao Zheng, who had been quietly watching the performance, stepped forward.

"My lords, your concern for the country and its people is truly moving!"

Zhao Zheng nodded slightly, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He paused, then added:

"I am but a man from the wilderness and do not understand grand politics, but I have a question I would like to ask the Senior Grand Master."

Gan Long’s eyelid twitched, a bad intuition creeping in. "Speak."

Zhao Zheng looked directly at the representatives of the old nobility. "On my way back, I saw the starving people of Qin resorting to trading their children for food. Do you think that is like cutting flesh from their own hearts?"

Gan Long nodded. "Naturally, that is like cutting flesh from one's heart. But it is unavoidable; they must do so to survive."

Zhao Zheng asked, "So, if it can be avoided, there is no need to suffer such pain?"

Gan Long nodded again. "Of course. Who would wish to endure such pain if it could be avoided?"

Zhao Zheng’s tone shifted, turning cold. "Then why, when it could have been avoided, did you not lift a finger to prevent it?"