Chapter 82: The Strategy of Rotating Battles (Please Vote for Recommendations)

The second corps surged forward as the first corps withdrew. Upon their return, the city gates were already prepared with freshly brewed cooling herbal medicine and savory meat broth. After battling the Jin army for a time, the men were both hot and famished. Now, drinking a bowl of the cooling medicine and devouring several chunks of meat immediately swept away all traces of exhaustion.

Wei Nan fixed his gaze on the two corps still fighting ahead, carefully monitoring the temperature of the armor worn by the sentries. The armor on these standing soldiers was already scorching to the touch—surely, the armor of those fighting in the field was just as hot!

Whenever Wei Nan found that a soldier’s armor had grown too hot, he immediately dispatched a fresh squad from the city to relieve those in combat, bringing the weary soldiers back inside. The returning men would at once drink the cooling medicine and eat heartily.

In effect, the Jin army was forced to fight against Song troops who were always in peak condition. In contrast, the Jin soldiers, clad in armor and now drenched with sweat, found their strength waning; deprived of replenishment, their spirits wilted in the oppressive heat.

After several rounds of combat, the Jin army began to falter, their defeat quickly spreading through the ranks. The Song forces pressed the advantage, routing the enemy and inflicting hundreds of casualties before Wanyan Yong sounded the retreat.

A great victory at Shunchang!

Liu Qi was overjoyed and generously rewarded his soldiers.

In Liu Qi’s camp, Wei Nan said to him, “General, although we have repelled the first wave of the Jin assault, this has not truly broken the siege of Shunchang.”

Liu Qi nodded emphatically. “Strategist, do you have a plan to defeat the enemy?”

Wei Nan considered, then replied, “General, the art of war prizes resting the troops while wearing out the enemy. Our strength is inferior to the Jin, so only by resting our men and exhausting theirs can we sap their power. As our vigor rises and theirs falls, we will achieve a great victory.”

Liu Qi nodded. “Your words ring true. I have already ordered preparations for more meat and herbal medicine tomorrow, and will continue to deploy our forces in shifts against the Jin.”

Wei Nan shook his head. “The Jin will surely realize our wheel formation and respond accordingly. Our advantage will then be much diminished.”

Liu Qi looked at Wei Nan, questioning, “Do you have a better plan?”

Wei Nan proposed, “General, why not select a thousand of our finest soldiers to form raiding squads, divided into five teams, and raid the enemy camp in turns through the night?”

Liu Qi frowned. “The Jin will surely guard against our raids. Even if we send men, it may not yield results. Besides, if each team is only two hundred strong, wouldn’t that be sending them to their deaths?”

Wei Nan waved his hand. “General, the purpose of these raids is not a true assault, but harassment. The squads need not concern themselves with killing many enemies, only with disturbing the Jin so they cannot sleep.”

Liu Qi slapped his thigh in delight. “This is a fine plan! Five squads, each attacking in a different watch of the night—then the Jin will not sleep at all. We will strike when the enemy is weary, and surely shatter them!”

Wei Nan asked, “Do you believe the plan feasible?”

“It is. I will summon the officers now and set this in motion. Tonight, the Jin camp will know no peace.”

The thousand chosen were all elite Song soldiers, quickly selected.

Liu Qi addressed them: “Tonight your task is not to kill many Jin, but to harass them. Make as much noise as you can, then withdraw. There’s no need to fear, but do not linger in a fight. If things go wrong, retreat immediately—I want you alive to help me slay the Jin!”

Liu Qi was known for his easy manner with the troops. Hearing his words, the men even joked, “When we return, will there be more meat and cooling medicine for us?”

“When the Jin are driven off, I’ll find you not only meat and medicine, but a wife as well!” Liu Qi laughed.

A thousand men roared with laughter; the tension eased, and the atmosphere became relaxed.

At the hour of the Dog, after a day’s battle, the Jin soldiers had long since retired to sleep.

But not long after, the night erupted with the pounding of war drums: “The Song are attacking!”

The Jin soldiers, just fallen asleep, scrambled from their beds only to find the Song raiders already vanished.

This commotion left them exhausted; though they lay back down, sleep would not come easily. Just as they began to drowse again, the crash of gongs shattered the night—another Song raid.

Up they leapt once more.

After three such alarms, sleep deserted them altogether.

By now, Wanyan Yong understood: the Song had no true intention of storming the camp, but sought only to deny the Jin their rest. Yet, knowing this changed nothing—he dared not order his men to ignore the alarms and continue sleeping. Should the Song truly attack, they would be slaughtered to the last.

In the darkness, the Jin could never know how many Song were coming. Each time the alarm sounded, the entire army was forced to prepare for battle. Thus, the torment continued until the east began to pale.

The Jin spent the night virtually sleepless.

Even Wanyan Yong bore dark circles beneath his eyes, to say nothing of his men.

The next day, the Jin took the field again. Sleep-deprived, they faced the well-rested Song. In the very first clash, they were routed, leaving hundreds of bodies behind as they fled.

Wanyan Yong did not wish to retreat, but to remain would mean total annihilation at the hands of the Song, for now their strength was no match.

In this battle, Liu Qi achieved lasting renown. Once an obscure commander of the imperial guard with no remarkable record, his promotion by Zhao Huan had been controversial. Yet Zhao Huan stood firm, and now Liu Qi had answered his critics on the battlefield, repaying his sovereign’s faith with this stunning victory.