Dragon Boat Race Chapter 6

Volume Two: Autumn Review of the Troops on the Battlefield

Foreword: Do not say scholars only offer empty talk; brilliant strategies frequently emerge to determine the fate of the world. Affection quietly blossoms while standing shoulder to shoulder on the battlefield, and heartfelt confessions are whispered on the riverbank under the moonlight.

Chapter One: Facing Crisis

Introduction: External enemies press in, internal traitors appear; facing crisis, true abilities are revealed upon receiving a critical mission. Not necessarily the hand that manages the grand strategy, yet able to calmly stabilize the army’s morale through conversation.

The urgent military report was like ice water thrown onto boiling oil, and the central command tent instantly erupted.

“Thirty thousand iron cavalry!” General Zhao gasped in shock, “The Zuo Xian King is personally leading the army?”

Even the usually composed Wu Ge’s expression changed. He strode quickly to the map, his finger pressing heavily on the northern line position: “Are the northern garrisons just eating dry rations? How could they let the Di people break through so easily!”

The messenger knelt on the ground, his voice trembling: “Reporting to the Marshal, the Di forces split into three routes, and the main force launched a surprise attack overnight. The garrison… the garrison was heavily outnumbered…”

Commander Sun clutched his wound, gritting his teeth: “Marshal, our current fighting force is less than eight thousand, with only a little over a thousand cavalry. If we hold fast and wait for reinforcements…”

“It’s too late,” Wu Ge interrupted him, his gaze cold and stern. “The closest reinforcements will take five days to arrive.”

A dead silence fell over the tent. Everyone understood what this meant—eight thousand against thirty thousand, and against the Di people’s most elite Zuo Xian King’s division. This was virtually a guaranteed defeat.

Advisor Wang suddenly threw himself at Wu Ge’s feet: “Marshal! At this time, we should immediately retreat and preserve our strength!”

“Retreat?” General Zhao was so angry he laughed instead, “Advisor Wang wants us to be deserters? To let the Di people march straight in?”

“This is a strategic transfer!” Advisor Wang urgently argued, “We can’t just wait here to die!”

Qin Gong watched with cold eyes, then suddenly spoke: “Why is Advisor Wang so certain that staying means waiting to die?”

The question was asked lightly, yet it made Advisor Wang stiffen all over.

“What does the Strategist mean by that?” Advisor Wang forced himself to remain calm. “They are many, we are few. Isn’t that obvious?”

“Yes,” Qin Gong slowly paced toward him. “They are many and we are few is obvious, but Advisor Wang seems to know the Zuo Xian King’s marching speed better than all of us, and is clearer that we cannot wait for reinforcements.”

He turned to Wu Ge: “Marshal, I suggest immediately taking control of Advisor Wang and his close associates. Regarding collusion with the enemy, it is better to investigate wrongly than to let it go.”

“You are slandering me!” Advisor Wang suddenly stood up, his face pale.

Wu Ge’s gaze was like lightning, sweeping between the two men. After a moment of silence, he waved his hand: “Guards! Take Advisor Wang and his secretary into custody and keep them under strict watch!”

The personal guards responded and entered, dragging Advisor Wang away despite his struggles.

The atmosphere in the tent grew even heavier. Although the internal traitor was removed, the crisis posed by the external enemy remained.

General Zhao paced anxiously: “Marshal, what should we do now? We can’t win a fight, and we can’t hold the defense. Are we truly going to…”

“Who says we can’t win a fight?” Qin Gong suddenly interjected.

Everyone was stunned, turning to look at him in unison.

Qin Gong walked to the map, his finger tracing several key locations: “The Zuo Xian King wants to swallow us whole, so he will certainly force a rapid march. Thirty thousand iron cavalry on a long-distance raid will be exhausted, man and horse alike. That is point one.”

He highlighted several valleys with his finger: “This area has complex terrain, with many narrow passes and deep valleys, which is unfavorable for cavalry deployment. That is point two.”

Finally, he looked at Wu Ge: “Although our army is small, by holding the natural defenses and waiting for the weary enemy, we may not be without the strength to fight.”

General Zhao couldn’t help but retort: “Strategist, you speak easily. Even if we have the geographical advantage, with such a vast disparity in troop numbers, how can we hold them?”

Qin Gong smiled slightly: “Who said we are going to hold them?”

At this, even Wu Ge raised an eyebrow.

“Not hold? Are we going to launch a proactive attack?” Commander Sun was incredulous.

“Precisely,” Qin Gong’s words were astonishing. “The Zuo Xian King assumes we will either hold fast and wait for reinforcements or retreat in panic. We will do the opposite.”

He explained in detail: “Select elite troops to set up an ambush along their inevitable route. We don’t need to aim for complete annihilation, only to blunt their momentum and disrupt their formation. At the same time, the main force will set up multiple layers of traps in the camp, feigning preparation for a desperate defense. Once their vanguard is frustrated, the main force will surely accelerate their advance, and then…”

“Then the exhausted Di army will crash into our firm formation, which is waiting in comfort,” Wu Ge finished the thought, a glint flashing in his eyes.

“Exactly,” Qin Gong nodded. “Furthermore, we can also…”

He lowered his voice and proposed an even bolder strategy.

After hearing his complete plan, the generals in the tent collectively gasped. The strategy was too risky, too… fantastical.

General Zhao was the first to object: “This is too dangerous! If we fail, the entire army will be wiped out!”

“Is following the routine not dangerous?” Qin Gong countered. “Eight thousand against thirty thousand is already a death trap. Without a surprise move, how can we achieve victory?”

Commander Sun mused: “The Strategist’s plan is risky, but it is certainly unexpected…”

All eyes were fixed on Wu Ge, awaiting his decision.

Wu Ge stared at the map for a long time, then suddenly slammed his fist on the table: “We will proceed according to the Strategist’s plan!”

He immediately began deploying troops: “General Zhao, you will lead two thousand men to set up the ambush along the route the Strategist indicated. Commander Sun, your injury is not healed, so you will be responsible for the camp’s defense layout. The rest of the generals will carry out their respective duties…”

Orders were issued one after another, and the generals left to carry them out. Finally, only Wu Ge and Qin Gong remained in the tent.

“Do you know the consequences if this plan fails?” Wu Ge stared at Qin Gong.

“I know,” Qin Gong replied calmly. “But this is the only chance.”

Wu Ge suddenly smiled, the expression softening his stern features somewhat: “This Marshal was right about you after all.”

He walked up to Qin Gong, his tall figure towering over him: “If we win this battle, this Marshal will grant you a promise.”

Qin Gong looked up, meeting his deep gaze: “What kind of promise?”

“Any promise, within this Marshal’s capabilities,” Wu Ge stated solemnly.

Qin Gong’s heart stirred. This might be his opportunity to find his way home…

But at this moment, he first had to help this army survive the immediate crisis.

That night, the military camp began intense preparations. Qin Gong, dragging his ailing body, personally inspected various locations. His modern knowledge of management and team collaboration proved unexpectedly useful at this time.

“The trench here needs to be a foot deeper, with sharpened stakes buried at the bottom,” he instructed the soldiers setting up traps. “The chevaux de frise over there must be staggered, leaving only narrow passages…”

The soldiers initially dismissed the instructions of the sickly Strategist, but they quickly realized his methods were indeed effective. Under his adjustments, the camp’s defensive system became more scientific and rational.

“Strategist, please go rest,” Ah Sheng looked worriedly at his pale face. “You haven’t closed your eyes in two days.”

Qin Gong shook his head: “Time waits for no one.”

He continued walking, but near the provisions camp, he ran into an unexpected person.

Wu Ge was personally inspecting the food and fodder reserves. In the moonlight, he had removed his armor and wore only a dark casual robe, which lessened his battlefield ferocity and gave him more of the air of a scholarly general.

“The Strategist hasn’t rested either?” Wu Ge noticed him.

“With a major battle imminent, I can’t sleep,” Qin Gong replied truthfully.

Wu Ge motioned for him to follow, and the two walked side-by-side through the camp area. The camp in the night was quiet and somber, with only the footsteps of patrolling soldiers and the neighing of horses in the distance.

“You are very different from the rumors,” Wu Ge suddenly said.

Qin Gong’s heart tightened: “Why does the Marshal say that?”

“I heard you were originally a scholar from Jiangnan, without the strength to tie a chicken, only capable of armchair strategy,” Wu Ge turned his head to look at him. “But the person you are now is not only proficient in strategy but also understands these…” He gestured toward the defensive works they had just set up, “Practical matters.”

Qin Gong forced himself to remain calm: “People always change. After experiencing life and death, one always comes to understand some truths.”

Wu Ge looked at him deeply, but did not press the matter further.

The two walked to a high ground, from where they could overlook the entire military camp. Pinpricks of fire flickered in the night, like a river of stars fallen to earth.

“If we win this battle,” Wu Ge suddenly said, “have you decided what promise you want?”

Qin Gong gazed into the darkness in the distance, and quietly said: “I only want to find the way home.”

“Home?” Wu Ge frowned. “Isn’t your hometown in Jiangnan?”

Qin Gong gave a bitter smile but said nothing. His home was a thousand years away, in another time and space.

Just then, a troop of cavalry carrying torches galloped into the camp. The one leading them was the messenger sent back by General Zhao.

“Report! The Di army vanguard has reached fifty li away! Estimated arrival is tomorrow at noon!”

The great battle was imminent.

Wu Ge’s expression sharpened, instantly reverting to the decisive commander. He turned to Qin Gong, his eyes burning bright:

“Strategist, are you ready?”

Qin Gong took a deep breath, suppressing the unease in his heart:

“Ready for duty, Marshal.”