novelSusiti Chapter 47 Knowing When to Stop, Winning Hearts and Minds
Chapter 47 Knowing When to Stop, Winning Hearts and Minds
The Black Spear Dragon Cavalry arrived at the battlefield three days after the Battle of Zhengyang Floating Bridge ended.
During this period, Zhou's cavalry swept across the south bank of the Huai River, threatening the camps of the Yu Kingdom's navy.
As Guo Rong had predicted, the Yu Kingdom's navy, without the cover of its land forces, dared not defend its camp alone, and all its ships immediately set sail and fled into the depths of Huainan.
Fortunately, hard work pays off, and Heaven bestowed upon Li Chongjin another great achievement. Because the river was narrow and difficult to advance or retreat, Li Chongjin's cavalry were shocked to discover, during their search, over a hundred Yu Kingdom warships, which had scattered and stretched for twenty miles, lined up in a single file, a truly magnificent sight.
Seemingly aware of the main naval force's escape, the Yu navy, piloting these warships, abandoned ship and fled. They may have followed the main force or escaped into Shouzhou city. They didn't even have time to destroy their flagships. Hundreds of ships laden with military supplies fell into the hands of the Zhou state.
When Li Chongjin boarded the ship and opened the container, he found that everything, from weapons and armor to food, rice, salt, vegetables, copper coins, gold, silver, and silk, was brand new. It was clear that the Yu Kingdom's court dared not deceive Liu Renzhan. Unfortunately, all of it was wasted by that good-for-nothing Liu Yanzhen and given to the Zhou army.
Li Chongjin couldn't stop grinning as he looked at the supplies. This was enough for an army of ten thousand for four months! "I'm so lucky," he thought. "Military strategy says to take supplies from the enemy, and this is exactly what we're doing! Using their supplies will ease our burden. Presenting these logistical supplies to the emperor will surely please him, and Zhao Quanzhong won't be able to say anything then, hahaha!"
Li Xuan was unaware of the remarkable military achievements his commander-in-chief, Li Chongjin, had attained. He and the Second Left Wing Army were waiting on the riverbank for the officers of the Imperial Guard to organize traffic and arrange the crossing order for the entire Black Spear Dragon Cavalry Army.
When Li Xuan was selling salt, he traveled all over the Huai River region. He also had salt customers in Shouzhou City, but he didn't know how they were doing now. So he was very familiar with the riverbank where Shouzhou was located. When he arrived here, everything seemed to come alive. It was the feeling of his hometown, getting closer and closer.
Uncle Yuantu, I can't believe it! This time last year, I was at home with you, discussing the harvest. Now you're a general in an army. Life is unpredictable, and fate is cruel. I wonder how you are doing? Wait for me, I'll be back to see you soon with my wife and children.
Li Xuan stood on a high point on the riverbank, looking at the Zhengyang pontoon bridge that spanned the Huai River. This was the masterpiece of Prime Minister Li Gu.
By using this bridge, the attention of the Yu Kingdom's reinforcements was drawn, and the battle around it quickly shifted the entire Jianghuai war situation in Zhou's favor. Could this have been Li Gu's plan? Was he not truly retreating out of fear?
The truth was beyond the reach of a mid-level officer like Li Xuan. All Li Xuan could see was that even two days later, the first obstacle group and fortifications protecting the pontoon bridge on the water were still burned down.
That day, the Yu Kingdom's navy finally arrived at the battlefield. Undeterred by the setbacks in the land battle, they concentrated all their forces and launched a decisive fire attack. Unfortunately, they only managed to burn down the first layer of wooden barriers. The remaining two layers were too late to destroy.
But their attack was not in vain; even the burning of only the fire ships and the first layer of fortifications built on underwater obstacles still brought the pontoon bridge to a standstill. The fire burned for a full day before finally stopping.
Also due to the one-day disruption of transportation, Zhou Jun was unable to quickly penetrate deeper into Huainan to expand his gains. Instead, the famous general Liu Renzhan of Yu seized the opportunity to adjust his deployment, sending a comprehensive battle report and warnings to the rear. He also selected 5,000 soldiers from the nearby militia to quickly enter Shouzhou City for arming, further enhancing Shouzhou's defensive capabilities.
In the midst of chaos, Li Gu, Guo Rong, Zhao Quanzhong, and Li Chongjin all maintained an exceptionally fast pace in their offensive and defensive maneuvers. As a renowned general of the South, Liu Renzhan also possessed the qualities of a cautious yet decisive commander. Li Jing's decision to place this veteran general in Shouzhou was indeed very wise.
After waiting for about two hours, and with the troops having finished their dinner, the order to cross the river finally arrived. Illuminated by a large group of torches, the Black Spear Dragon Cavalry crossed the pontoon bridge at a normal marching pace. Many of the northern mules and horses had never crossed a pontoon bridge before, causing considerable trouble as they crossed, but fortunately, the experienced soldiers resolved the issues one by one.
Stepping onto the land of Shouzhou on the south bank, Li Changdu couldn't help but exclaim excitedly, "Ah, we've finally crossed the Huai River! Another ten or twenty days south and we'll be home!"
Li Xuan missed Li Yuantu. Li Chang, as Li Yuantu's son, was even more worried about his elderly father. Li Yuantu had been seriously wounded in the army, and his health had been fluctuating ever since. Li Chang had taken his wife and children to Bianliang with Li Xuan to pursue their future, leaving Li Yuantu alone to guard the old house and the graves of Li Xuan's parents. How could Li Chang not worry?
Li Xuan said happily, "Yes. We're getting closer and closer. Before I set off, Ke'er asked if we could see Guangling and Uncle Yuantu from Shouzhou. Of course, we can't see them from Shouzhou. But we have legs, we'll get there sooner or later!"
As Li Xuan spoke, he led his troops away quickly from the south bank of the bridge to avoid blocking the path of the following troops. As they approached Shouzhou along the official road, Li Xuan discovered a large number of captured Yu soldiers working hard.
They were forcibly driven by Zhou's army to dig trenches. After only two days of captivity, their clothes were already tattered, and many of them had wounds, clearly indicating that they had suffered a great deal.
Li Xuan pulled over an officer and asked, "May I ask which general is commanding the battle of Shouzhou?"
The officer paused for a moment, then looked at the black spear and the Dragon Cavalry insignia behind Li Xuan, and suddenly realized, "It's Commander Zhao of the Palace Guard."
Li Xuan then asked, "Was the order to make these prisoners of war do their work given by Commander Zhao?"
The officer nodded and said, "It is indeed Commander Zhao's order; there's no faking it. If it weren't for the Commander's order, I wouldn't have bothered with this matter. What are your orders, sir?"
Although one was an officer of the Palace Guard and the other a military commander of the Imperial Guard, they were not subordinate to each other. However, the military was governed by strict hierarchical rules, and since Li Xuan was of a higher rank, the officers naturally adopted a more subservient attitude.
Li Xuan shook his head and said, "I don't have any instructions, I just wanted to ask where Commander Zhao is. I happen to need to see him. Our Black Spear Dragon Cavalry is about to head to Chuzhou and won't be staying in Shouzhou. I need to get this done quickly, or it might be delayed for months."
The officer from the Palace Guard suddenly realized, "I see. Commander Zhao is working in the camp on the south bank. You can just go and find him. Once you get to the camp, you can ask him."
Li Xuan smiled and gave him a string of coins, saying, "Thank you, brother. I won't bother you any longer. Here's a little money; use it to buy some wine."
The officer laughed, "Thank you for the reward, sir. I wouldn't dare drink without orders. Haha, I won't keep you any longer, please go ahead."
Li Xuan smiled as he bid farewell to the officer, but his expression turned serious as he turned away. He returned to the camp to retrieve his horse, and Li Chang asked, "Brother Xuan, are you leaving the unit?"
Li Xuan said to Li Chang, "There is indeed something I need to see Commander Zhao of the Palace Guard. We will be leaving Shouzhou for Chuzhou soon. If we don't go now, it will be too late. You take your personal guards and escort the central army with the main force. I will go to see Commander Zhao alone."
After quickly arranging military affairs, Li Xuan rode swiftly to the commander of the garrison to request leave. The garrison commander, surnamed Hu, inquired, "Why are you so brazenly seeking out Commander Zhao? Do you know that we in the Imperial Guard and the Palace Guard must be mindful of our interactions?"
Li Xuan explained his reasoning: "Once we cross the Huai River, we'll be among my fellow countrymen. I see those captured soldiers suffering so much, and I can't bear it. Saying a few words for my hometown people shouldn't be a bad thing, right?"
What could be so bad? In today's moral climate, an official is expected to speak for his hometown and advocate for his fellow villagers. When Li Xuan encountered people from Huai being tortured, he stepped forward to plead with Zhao Quanzhong. Anyone would consider this perfectly reasonable.
Commander Hu nodded understandingly and said, "Go ahead. I know Commander Zhao. He's not the type to make things difficult. Speak to him politely and firmly, but don't rush to scold him. Whether it works out or not is up to him. You're just a military commander; you can't bear the responsibility of providing protection for all the people of Huai. Go quickly and come back quickly; we can only rest here for half an hour. I'll ask Commander Han for leave for you."
Li Xuan bowed in thanks, mounted his horse, and headed straight for the Zhou army camp on the south bank, which was currently the location of the Zhou state's Huainan military deployment.
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The southern camp remains comically preserved in the state of its collapsed walls. Li Xuan could almost feel the shock that Zhao Quanzhong's iron cavalry had sent through these gaps, charging relentlessly into the Yu army.
Zhao Quanzhong truly deserves his reputation as one of Guo Rong's best generals. In this battle, he perfectly combined the flexibility and daring of military tactics with a willingness to take risks. A person who dares to use troops in this way must be a wise man.
Li Xuan stopped looking at the gaps, and the palace guards on duty nearby came forward to question him.
Li Xuan succinctly stated that he wished to see Commander Zhao. Shortly after the palace guards entered to announce his arrival, a personal guard of Zhao Quanzhong came out and led Li Xuan into the camp.
To Li Xuan's surprise, Zhao Quanzhong personally greeted him at his commander's gatehouse.
Li Xuan quickly took two steps back and bowed, saying, "How dare I accept such courtesy from Commander Zhao? I am ashamed."
Zhao Quanzhong laughed heartily and said, "You and my second brother are like brothers, so naturally you are my own flesh and blood. How could I not come out to greet you when my brother has arrived? It would be impolite to just greet you at the door. Please come in quickly."
Li Xuan inwardly groaned. What kind of blood brother is this? Why are you shouting so loudly? Do you want to announce it to the whole world? However, Zhao Quanzhong seemed to know that Li Xuan was cursing him in his heart. Taking advantage of Li Xuan's hesitation, Zhao Quanzhong stepped forward and took the initiative to pull Li Xuan into the room. As they walked, he said, "You, Li Ziyu, are a rare guest. I'm starving from working. Come and have a few drinks with me."
Li Xuan hurriedly said, "No, no, the military situation is urgent. Our Black Spear Dragon Cavalry must march to Chuzhou immediately. The sooner we can stop the Yu Kingdom's reinforcements coming from the Huaidong direction, the better support we can provide to the Shouzhou battlefield."
Zhao Quanzhong listened thoughtfully and said, "Since it's so urgent, and Ziyu has come in person, he must have something important to discuss. Ziyu is from Huainan, and he once spoke in the palace about strategies for pacifying the world, his eloquence was dazzling and quite astonishing. Could it be that he has some excellent strategies for governing Huainan to present to you?"
Li Xuan was somewhat surprised by Zhao Quanzhong's keen insight; indeed, one should not underestimate anyone in the world. Zhao Quanzhong had risen step by step from Guo Rong's personal guard to his current position, and at the age of thirty, he took on the task of reorganizing the old Imperial Guards. Within just four or five months, he had reorganized the old Imperial Guards and maintained their strong fighting power; he was by no means just a general skilled in battle.
Li Xuan quickly said, "I dare not offer any good advice before the Commander-in-Chief. But I do have some things I wish to say."
Unexpectedly, Zhao Quanzhong gestured for him to wait a moment. Under Li Xuan's questioning gaze, Zhao Quanzhong first went to the basin to the side, washed his face, dried it with a cloth, tidied his hair in front of the bronze mirror, and put his hat back on.
After everything was in order, he turned around and bowed to Li Xuan, saying, "Since crossing the Huai River, I have felt the skill and resourcefulness of Liu Renzhan, the military governor of the Qinghuai Army. He is an old general, and I am a junior. His experience far surpasses mine, and his resourcefulness is no less than mine, so I am actually at a disadvantage."
He was from Huai, familiar with the geography, and highly respected; the soldiers and people of Huai trusted him. I, on the other hand, was from the north, leading my army to invade Huainan. Although we started with a great victory, I knew that neither the terrain nor the people were on my side.
As for the timing, it is now November, and December is fast approaching, with January bringing the bitter cold of winter. The enemy is inside the city, while our army is in the countryside. The enemy is concentrated, while our army is scattered. Although we have a numerical advantage, we cannot guarantee against the unpredictable wrath of Heaven. Since I took charge of military affairs in Huainan, I have been filled with worry day and night, and I finally understand the concerns and difficulties that Prime Minister Li Gu had previously expressed.
Therefore, I humbly request Ziyu's guidance on how we can truly seize the advantages of timing, location, and popular support in Huainan, and how we can truly establish a foothold there. I cannot speak these words to others, for that would damage my authority, demoralize my troops, and be meaningless. Only a talented scholar like Ziyu from Huainan can enlighten me.”
It must be said that Zhao Quanzhong, despite his high position, could still so gently and patiently seek advice from Li Xuan, and his words truly revealed a clear understanding and concern about the battle situation. He also placed such great trust in Li Xuan, respectfully seeking his guidance. Li Xuan was deeply moved, finally understanding why the veteran general Li Chongjin, with his illustrious military achievements, couldn't control him.
According to etiquette, Zhao Quanzhong, being of higher rank, took the initiative to bow and seek guidance. Li Xuan, in turn, had to do his best to reply: "I dare not utter a single word of guidance. This humble servant conveys twelve words to the Commander-in-Chief: Know when to stop, sustain war through war, and win hearts and minds."
Zhao Quanzhong pondered the twelve characters carefully and seemed to have gained some insight. He quickly invited Li Xuan to sit down and personally poured him tea, saying, "Since we can't drink alcohol or eat meat, we should at least have a cup of tea. Quickly explain the true meaning of these twelve characters to me."
Li Xuan got up, took the teacup, and took a sip to moisten his throat; he was really thirsty after riding all the way here.
After moistening his throat, Li Xuan began to explain to Zhao Quanzhong: "The Commander-in-Chief's previous concerns were very correct. The people of Huai have always been brave and fierce. In the early Han Dynasty, the dukes, marquises, ministers, and even the troops of Xiang Yu, the King of Chu, all came from the Huai region."
During the late Han Dynasty, there were figures like Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and Xu Chu. As for the previous dynasty, the elite troops of the Jianghuai region conquered the grasslands to the north, guarded the western borders, and pacified Jiaonan to the south, achieving remarkable military exploits.
Our nation's entire army numbers only a little over 100,000. If other powers were to attack, our forces would certainly be insufficient to subdue them. Therefore, I consider knowing when to stop the attack the most crucial choice.
Zhao Quanzhong inquired, "Does the saying 'knowing when to stop' mean that we should stop while we're ahead and not fight anymore this year? I'd like to do that too. But I'm afraid it won't get the approval of the authorities."
Li Xuan shook his head and said, "Knowing when to stop refers to external affairs. Our dynasty has mobilized the entire nation to move south, leaving the Central Plains vulnerable. It is impossible for us to remain in the Huai River region for long with our current military strength. This is an inevitable trend that no one can deny. Your Majesty is so wise that you must know this perfectly well."
On the other hand, the limitation lies in the weather. Our dynasty is situated in the Central Plains, a region vulnerable to attack from all sides, lacking any strategically advantageous terrain for defense. Our only reliance is on the Imperial Guard, whose elite troops are unparalleled in the world. However, the weather is bitterly cold, and the Imperial Guard, being only flesh and blood, cannot sustain prolonged combat. If they remain stationary for too long, many will inevitably suffer frostbite and die, wasting the lives of our elite soldiers on the mercy of nature. The Emperor will surely be distressed. It's not worth it.
Therefore, knowing when to stop means that our objective in this operation should not be to capture Shouzhou City, nor should we fantasize about conquering Huainan within a month or two. Instead, we should strive for other more suitable objectives.
Zhao Quanzhong slammed his hand on the table and said, "That's what I think too. Elite troops not only need long-term training and pampering, but also need to be tempered into steel through countless battles. If even one soldier freezes to death or is injured by frostbite, it would be a terrible loss. Quickly tell me, what goals are there that we can strive for?"
Li Xuan felt a pang of pain in his heart, but he still steeled himself and said, "I believe that Shouzhou is difficult to capture. We should avoid the fortified city and send a large force to monitor the Qinghuai Army. The rest of our troops should enter the heart of Huainan, with the primary task being to destroy the Yu Kingdom's reinforcements. Our troops are difficult to train. The same goes for the Yu Kingdom."
If we can annihilate one or two more Yu army groups and eliminate tens of thousands of troops within a month or two, then the Yu region along the Yangtze and Huai Rivers will be unprecedentedly vulnerable next year, and they will not be able to fill the troop shortage so quickly. This is the principle of knowing when to stop, acting appropriately first, and then ceasing. At that time, we can repeatedly make a show of force, threatening the Yangtze River region, and demanding that Nanjing pay tribute and submit. At least we should have to pay reparations in money and grain. Then we can withdraw our troops, and it won't be a loss.”
Zhao Quanzhong clapped his hands happily and said, "What a fine 'knowing when to stop'! Knowing when to stop is already so good. I wonder what you mean by 'using war to sustain war'?"
Li Xuan sighed and said, "I am from Huai, and I am uneasy about the Commander-in-Chief's policy of using war to sustain war. Both Huai and Lianghuai are lands of fish and rice, and there is a saying that there are three towns, one capital, and fourteen prefectures. The three towns refer to Shouzhou, Chuzhou, and Haizhou. These three places are heavily guarded and cannot be easily captured."
The first capital refers to Guangling, the eastern capital. Guangling controls the waterway to Jingkou and is undoubtedly heavily guarded. The other fourteen prefectures will not have large garrisons. We can easily flex our muscles among the prefectures and counties, forcing them to donate money and goods to avoid war. With dozens of counties in the fourteen prefectures contributing money and grain, our dynasty's gains will naturally be vastly different.
As for winning hearts and minds, this means that the purpose of this southward expedition is to establish a good reputation for our dynasty and our army, and to weaken the Huai people's will to resist. The Yu state is politically corrupt, and the emperor has shown little kindness to the Huai people. Their resistance to the royal army is more out of fear of war than loyalty to Jinling. While we are extracting wealth, we should also actively cultivate goodwill with the people of Huai, for future benefits.
Zhao Quanzhong thought for a moment and said, "Ziyu is right. What the Emperor wants is a Huai River region that can be used by our dynasty, not a Huai River region that has been ravaged, filled with hatred, and is in ruins everywhere. Nanjing has done nothing to the people of Huai River. We should do them a favor. However, we are here to seize territory and wealth. We have clearly offended the people of Huai River, so how can we do them a favor? I'm sure Ziyu already has a plan."
Li Xuan smiled and said, "There is an opportunity to show mercy right now. I see a large number of Huai people prisoners of war building fortifications outside. Commander, why don't you start by winning their hearts? The harshness we showed them a few days ago has already made them understand the majesty of our dynasty. As the saying goes, give them a slap and then a date."
After a few days of preparation, offer them some incentives, and they will naturally be at my disposal. As for collecting money and provisions from various places, as long as they don't harm the people and uphold morality, they can simply take the money and provisions and leave. They won't be resented too much; after all, what army doesn't do this kind of thing in these times?
Zhao Quanzhong suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. Ziyu, you've been going around in circles all this time because of those prisoners of war, haven't you? Just as you said, these prisoners of war have just surrendered. The Emperor has no intention of killing them. He even wants to incorporate them into the Imperial Guard, and promote and reward those with ability, so they can be used by us."
That's why I'm playing the bad cop, trying to wear them down first, and then the Privy Council will handle the recruitment and subjugation. Once the siege fortifications are complete, either I or the Emperor will send someone else; we'll definitely use some methods to make them grateful. Don't worry, Ziyu."
Upon hearing this, Li Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. These people were no ordinary individuals; they were thinking three steps ahead for every one step they took. It turned out their plan was to subdue, disintegrate, and then incorporate them into their own forces. It seemed they were preparing to build more Huai people troops, making the use of the Huai River to control the Huai River region more efficient.
Having received Zhao Quanzhong's reply, Li Xuan rose to take his leave. The Black Spear Dragon Cavalry was about to depart and could not be delayed any longer. Zhao Quanzhong did not try to keep him, but personally escorted Li Xuan all the way to the camp gate, astonishing the passing officers of the Palace Guard. Li Xuan bid farewell to this persistent "good brother" with a wry smile and rode away.
After a while, a scholar walked over and said, "Commander-in-Chief, why are you treating a mere minor official with such leniency?"
Zhao Quanzhong chuckled and said, "A minor official? He's a minor official now, but that may not be the case in the future. With tens of thousands of Huai people enlisting, the Imperial Guard will have a large number of Huai officers. The Li brothers were the first to defect to our dynasty. Who do you think will lead these surrendered generals in the Imperial Guard? And how will the Emperor utilize the Li brothers' Huai identity?"
Even Li Xuan's younger brother, Li Ji, married a daughter of the Pan family, and Pan Mei was a newly emerging force supported by the Emperor. Would the Emperor directly hand over the surrendered generals from the Huai River region to Pan Mei? "Today, my courteous treatment of him is tantamount to treating the future Commander of the Garrison Command and the Military Governor with the utmost respect. He is the leading figure of the Huai Army faction within the Imperial Guards. Tell me, shouldn't I treat him with courtesy, Zhao Tong?"
The scribe Zhao Tong, dressed as a scholar, said admiringly, "Commander-in-Chief, your foresight is truly admirable. I suppose Li Xuan hasn't thought of this yet."
Zhao Quanzhong smiled and walked back, saying, "If you can't think of it today, you will tomorrow. Those brothers are smart men; smart men don't do foolish things."