Chapter 83: Arrogance Leads to Defeat

Wanyan Yong, leading more than thirty thousand Jin soldiers, retreated in defeat to the city of Yanqing. On the way back, he happened to run into the main force of the Jin army under Wanyan Chang.

“Wanyan Yong, why are you withdrawing your troops?” Wanyan Chang frowned as he questioned Wanyan Yong.

Wanyan Yong was a junior in Wanyan Chang’s clan. Originally, Wanyan Chang had sent him to attack Shunchang City simply to give the young man a chance to earn merit, paving the way for his advancement in the Jin court. He had not expected that in less than a day, Wanyan Yong would return in defeat.

“Reporting to the General, the Song forces defending Shunchang are simply too formidable. I… I could not overcome them, so I had no choice but to withdraw,” Wanyan Yong stammered, clearly fearful in the face of Wanyan Chang.

“You fought the Song army for barely a day and fled so quickly? Is this how you wage war?” Wanyan Chang could not restrain his anger at the sight of Wanyan Yong’s demeanor. “You have brought shame upon the Jurchen people!”

“If I hadn’t retreated, would you have preferred me to lose all our men there, just as you once did?” Wanyan Yong grumbled inwardly, but dared not speak his thoughts aloud. Instead, he said, “General, the defenders are truly formidable. If you do not believe me, ask my deputy beside me!”

With that, he gestured to his deputy.

Wanyan Chang turned his sharp gaze on the deputy and barked, “Is this true?”

The deputy hurried to reply, “General, it’s not that our troops were incapable, but the Song army was insidious and cunning. We had no alternative but to retreat and await the chance to join forces with the main army, so that we might together annihilate the Song inside Shunchang!” This deputy, Wang Shuo, was originally a general from Liao.

With a crack, Wanyan Chang lashed Wang Shuo with his whip. The blow was fierce—even through armor, Wang Shuo felt a searing pain. Wanyan Chang did not particularly have Wang Shuo in mind; it was a warning for Wanyan Yong, an example made for all.

“Watch carefully. When I personally lead the army to destroy Shunchang, I’ll deal with you then!” Wanyan Chang scolded.

Wang Shuo gritted his teeth, clutching the spot where the whip had landed. The pain was sharp, even through his armor.

Though Wanyan Yong felt wronged, he dared not protest, obediently following Wanyan Chang toward Shunchang.

Wanyan Chang was desperate for a victory to wash away his shame.

Inside Shunchang, in the command tent of General Liu Qi, officers and soldiers were discussing plans to defeat the Jin. Although the Jin had temporarily retreated, Liu Qi was well aware that they would soon return, and that their main force, led by the famed Wanyan Chang, was coming.

Though Wanyan Chang had been routed by Zong Shidao on the battlefield of Zhending, Liu Qi did not dare underestimate him—a renowned and battle-hardened general of Jin.

“According to our scouts, Wanyan Yong’s vanguard has withdrawn and joined Wanyan Chang’s main force. Their combined armies are now advancing toward Shunchang, and will arrive within days,” Liu Qi reported to those present.

“General, Wanyan Chang commands a hundred thousand Jin soldiers—twice our number. In my view, Shunchang cannot be held. Is there hope for reinforcements?” Liu Qi’s left deputy asked.

Liu Qi shook his head. “Let us not count on reinforcements for now. If we must fight without them, what is our strategy?” He knew well that his men were the reinforcements. To expect help from others was wishful thinking—Wu Jie, facing two hundred thousand Western Xia troops, was likely in far graver straits.

“General, in my opinion, we should withdraw. His Majesty’s order was to defend Yanqing, but since it has fallen to the Jin and we have already repulsed the enemy once, our task is complete. There’s no sense in remaining here,” the left deputy advised. Though they had beaten back the Jin once, the prospect of facing them again filled the men with instinctive dread.

Liu Qi waved his hand. “To flee now is a death sentence. Our army consists mainly of infantry, while the Jin rely on cavalry. If we attempt to run, we’ll be caught within a short distance. Without the city’s defenses, we would be lambs to the slaughter.”

His words silenced the assembly; clearly, they all understood.

“General, as the saying goes, overconfidence leads to defeat. If we play our cards right, we still have a chance of victory,” Wei Nan stepped forward.

Liu Qi had come to value Wei Nan more and more. Though a scholar rather than a warrior, Wei Nan was far from a mere bookworm. He resembled, in Liu Qi’s eyes, the legendary Sleeping Dragon Zhuge Liang of the Three Kingdoms—master of strategy, victory conceived a thousand miles from the battlefield.

“Strategist, do you have a plan?” Liu Qi asked eagerly.

Wei Nan pondered, then said, “General, you might send agents to feign desertion, allowing themselves to be captured by the Jin. Let them spread word that you are an incompetent commander, thus lulling Wanyan Chang into underestimating you. Then, dispatch a true envoy to further provoke him. If Wanyan Chang is enraged, and we employ the flood tactic, the Jin can be defeated!”

Liu Qi, intrigued, said, “Please explain your plan in detail.”

Wei Nan nodded and elaborated, “Send two agents to pretend to flee. Along the way, they are ‘captured’ by the Jin. The Jin will interrogate them about the situation in Shunchang. Let the two claim that the city is hosting a grand banquet, celebrating the defeat of the Jin.”

Liu Qi nodded. “That’s easily arranged. I’ll send people at once!” Seeing the urgency of the moment, he immediately gave orders for the plan to be set in motion.

“Not so fast, General. When Wanyan Chang interrogates them, he will surely ask what kind of man you are. The two must be ready with their answer,” Wei Nan said, apologizing with a gesture.

Liu Qi waved it off. “Strategist, do not hesitate—so long as it breaks the Jin army, I care not what is said of me.”

Wei Nan nodded. “Then let them say that you were once commander of the imperial guards, a close attendant to His Majesty—skilled in flattery and sycophancy, but utterly useless in battle. Now, hearing that the Jin main force is approaching, you are terrified Shunchang cannot be held, and so the two of you fled in panic, only to fall into the hands of the Jin. Beg the Jin to spare you for your cooperation.”

“Outrageous! How dare you slander the general so!” the left deputy burst out in protest at Wei Nan’s words.