Chapter 81: Only Wit Can Prevail (Please Recommend)

When the common people heard that Liu Qi wanted to borrow doors to defend against the enemy, they were deeply moved by his resolve to hold Shunchang City. Everyone spontaneously took down the doors from their homes and personally delivered them to the city walls.

“Folks, we have more than enough doors now. Please go back and tell everyone that there’s no need to bring any more. We have plenty! On behalf of all the soldiers of the Southern Pacification Army, I thank you!” Liu Qi said to the people bringing doors, his heart brimming with emotion.

“General Liu, you’re defending the city for us. It’s only right that we bring you some doors. You really don’t need to thank us old fellows!” replied the elderly man leading the group.

After much effort, Liu Qi finally persuaded the townsfolk to return home. By now, the city walls were not only stacked with doors but also piled high with the food the people had brought.

Seeing all this food, Liu Qi was filled with happiness—a sense of pride that came from being recognized by his people.

But this pride was short-lived, soon swept away by the arrival of the Jin army.

When news spread that Liu Qi had led his troops to defend Shunchang, Wanyan Chang sent the Left Deputy Commander, King Yong, Wanyan Yong, at the head of fifty thousand soldiers as the vanguard, marching straight toward the city.

Liu Qi had barely enjoyed his moment of joy on the wall when he saw dust rising in the distance, the earth trembling—the Jin army was about to reach the city’s gates.

“General, the scouts report that the Jin vanguard of fifty thousand has arrived at Shunchang and is about to launch their assault,” Wei Nan reported as he approached Liu Qi.

Liu Qi nodded. “The Jin army comes in force, not giving us a moment’s respite.”

Wei Nan glanced up at the sky. It was already summer, the heat oppressive, and now, as midday approached, standing on the wall was stiflingly hot. How much harder must it be for the soldiers encased in armor?

“Have you thought of any way to defeat the enemy?” Liu Qi inquired.

Wei Nan pondered. “I have a rather untested idea. May I share it, General?”

As they spoke, the Jin army had already reached the foot of the city.

Seeing the Jin troops enter range, Liu Qi gave the order, “Loose arrows!” Instantly, a rain of arrows darkened the sky, falling upon the Jin ranks.

But the Jin soldiers, seasoned by countless battles and unlike the easily routed Western Xia, were well prepared. They raised their shields, crouching behind them, and easily weathered the Song archers’ hail.

Once within range, the Jin soldiers returned fire, sending arrows at the defenders atop the wall.

“Pass my order: Everyone, lift the doors high and take cover beneath them!” Now it was the Song soldiers’ turn to shelter from the Jin arrows.

A series of dull thuds resounded as arrows struck the doors. Thanks to this protection, the Jin arrows posed no real threat to the defenders.

The Jin army now began to set up scaling ladders.

Liu Qi had anticipated this. At his command, molten metal, prepared in advance atop the walls, was poured down upon the attackers. When the metal ran out, they followed with boiling water, then scalding oil. Rolling stones and logs—every defensive measure at Liu Qi’s disposal—were employed.

The assault began at noon and raged until dusk. At last, Wanyan Yong, seeing no immediate way to breach the gates, ordered a retreat and set up camp ten miles from the city.

Only then did Liu Qi breathe a sigh of relief, returning to his tent to discuss strategy with his officers.

“General, in my opinion, we should stay within the city and hold our ground. The Jin army won’t be able to break in,” one of Liu Qi’s deputy generals suggested.

Liu Qi shook his head. “Shunchang is too small, its defenses inadequate. If the Jin make continuous assaults, we’ll run out of defensive supplies—stones, logs—by the third day. And our food stores will last only ten days at most. If the Jin besiege us for ten days, we’ll be defeated without a fight.”

“General, if that’s the case, let me lead a group out tomorrow. If I can kill one, I’ll have paid for my life; if I kill two, I’ll have profited,” another deputy said hotly. He was a man of little guile, but formidable in battle, always at the head of every charge.

Liu Qi shook his head again. “It hasn’t come to that yet. If it does, I’ll lead the charge myself.”

Liu Qi then turned to Wei Nan, who had been silent. “Strategist, you haven’t spoken—have you thought of a way to defeat the enemy?”

Wei Nan pondered, then said, “After listening to everyone’s reports, I believe we cannot meet the Jin head-on. We must outwit them.”

“We don’t want a direct clash either, but what’s your strategy?” asked Right Deputy Commander Zhang Yu.

“Today, I observed the weather. The heat is unbearable. General, I suggest dividing our forces into five groups of four thousand men each, sending them out in rotation to fight. Inside the city, we’ll cook meat and prepare cooling herbal broth. When one group returns, they can feast and drink the broth to recover. By fighting in shifts, we rest while the enemy exhausts themselves. In this way, we’re sure to prevail,” Wei Nan said softly.

Liu Qi nodded. “A fine plan, strategist. By resting while the enemy tires, we’ll have the strength for battle while the Jin do not. What do you all think?”

The officers had no objections. Though this wasn’t exactly a cunning ploy, it cleverly employed a rotational tactic and made the upcoming battle feel newly invigorated.

With their plan set, the officers slept soundly that night. At dawn, the Song army set up great cauldrons outside the gates, boiling meat and brewing cooling medicine.

When the Jin hurled their insults, the Left Deputy Commander, well-fed and refreshed, led four thousand men out to meet them.

Zhang Yu proved his valor, leading his troops against the Jin without losing ground—in fact, fighting more fiercely as the battle wore on.

Wei Nan stood atop the wall, watching the situation below. From time to time, he would touch the armor of the sentries beside him. When he felt the sun had heated the armor to the point it burned his hand, he ordered the signal to retreat.

In ancient warfare, battles were fought by units, not as depicted in television dramas where two armies rush together in chaos. Such confusion would make an orderly retreat impossible. In those days, every soldier had to obey the formation. Once the order broke down, defeat was not far behind.