Dragon Boat Race Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Chapter Three: Undercurrents

Epigraph: The drums of victory cease, yet sudden change arises; hidden undercurrents bring greater peril. Not the danger of blades on the battlefield, but the unpredictable human heart proves the most stubborn enemy.

The celebratory atmosphere of the victory feast had not entirely faded when the news that the Great Khan of the Northern Di had personally led fifty thousand reinforcements arrived, dousing the entire military camp like a basin of ice water.

Inside the central command tent, the charcoal fire crackled, but it could not dispel the chill in everyone’s hearts.

“Fifty thousand… adding the remnants of the Left Virtuous King’s forces, the enemy total is nearly eighty thousand…” General Zhao’s voice was dry. “Our army, even counting the wounded, is barely over nine thousand.”

Lieutenant Colonel Sun slammed his hand onto the table, causing his wound to burst open, blood seeping through the bandage. “We’ll fight them until we’re all dead!”

“No.” Qin Gong immediately objected. “A direct confrontation is just throwing eggs at a rock.”

All eyes turned to Wu Ge, who had been silent the entire time. The young commander stared at the map, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the tabletop—a habit he had when deep in thought.

“The strategist is right,” Wu Ge finally spoke after a long pause. “We cannot fight this battle head-on.”

He stood up and walked to the center of the tent. “Pass down the order to all battalions: immediately transition to defense. Fortify the defenses, take inventory of provisions, and prepare for a long siege.”

“Commander, are you planning to… hold out to the death?” Adjutant Wang couldn’t help but ask.

“No,” Wu Ge’s gaze swept over the generals. “We are waiting for the right moment.”

After the generals left with their orders, Wu Ge kept Qin Gong behind.

“What do you make of this?” Wu Ge asked, his tone carrying a rare gravity.

Qin Gong walked to the map, his finger tracing the route of the Northern Di reinforcements. “The Great Khan personally leads the campaign, yet delays launching an attack. That is highly unusual.”

“Indeed,” Wu Ge nodded. “Given the Di people’s habits, they should have launched a fierce assault immediately.”

“Unless…” Qin Gong mused. “They are waiting for something.”

The two exchanged a look, seeing the same worry in each other’s eyes.

Over the next few days, the situation indeed developed in a strange direction.

The Northern Di army camped thirty li away, only sending small detachments to harass them daily, never launching a full-scale offensive. Even stranger, their camp was loosely arranged, as if they were expecting something.

“They are waiting for provisions.” Early that morning, Qin Gong suddenly told Wu Ge while inspecting the granaries.

Wu Ge raised an eyebrow. “How can you tell?”

“I observed the smoke from the Di army’s cooking fires,” Qin Gong explained. “The number is far less than it should be. Furthermore, their warhorses have been grazing in distant pastures these past few days, which suggests a shortage of military rations.”

A look of appreciation flashed in Wu Ge’s eyes. “It seems we reached the same conclusion.”

That afternoon, Wu Ge gathered the generals and announced a bold plan: intercepting the provisions.

“The Di army’s rations must be transported from the north, and they must pass through Black Wind Gorge,” Wu Ge said, pointing at the map. “We will set up an ambush there.”

“But Commander,” General Zhao frowned, “our forces are already insufficient. If we divide our troops to raid the supply line, what if the Di army takes the opportunity to attack…”

“That is why this operation must be swift,” Wu Ge’s gaze was sharp. “We leave tonight and must return before tomorrow night.”

Ultimately, the task of intercepting the supplies fell to General Zhao. He led a thousand elite soldiers, quietly leaving the camp under the cover of night.

Qin Gong stood on the ramparts, watching their figures disappear into the darkness, a sense of unease stirring within him.

“Worried?” Wu Ge appeared beside him without him noticing.

“I just feel… it’s too smooth,” Qin Gong said softly. “Could the Di people truly not anticipate us raiding their supplies?”

Wu Ge was silent for a moment. “I also find it suspicious. I have already sent scouts to follow them secretly. If there is any abnormality, they are to report back immediately.”

However, the night was so calm it was unnerving.

The following dusk, just as the appointed time was approaching, hurried hoofbeats suddenly sounded in the distance. A fast rider galloped into the camp, the scout on horseback covered in blood.

“Commander! It was a trap!” The scout tumbled off his saddle, his voice mournful. “General Zhao and the others… they were completely wiped out!”

A deathly silence fell over the tent.

“What happened?” Wu Ge’s voice was cold as ice.

“The Di people… the Di people had already set an ambush in Black Wind Gorge…” The scout sobbed uncontrollably. “We walked right into the trap as soon as we entered the gorge… General Zhao… he covered our retreat…”

Qin Gong felt a wave of dizziness. A thousand soldiers, just gone?

“Also…” The scout suddenly remembered something and pulled a token from his breast pocket. “This was found at the ambush site…”

Wu Ge took the token. He only needed one look before his face changed.

It was a token from the Great Sheng army, and specifically… a token belonging to an Imperial Inspector.

“Imperial Inspector…” Wu Ge’s fingers tightened, the edges of the token almost digging into his palm. “The court sent an Imperial Inspector, and we knew nothing about it…”

Qin Gong suddenly understood. “The reason the Di people didn’t attack was that they were waiting. Waiting for our forces to be dispersed, waiting for the Imperial Inspector to arrive…”

“Waiting for an opportunity to capture us all in one fell swoop,” Wu Ge finished his sentence, a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside the tent. A high-pitched voice announced loudly:

“The Imperial Inspector has arrived—”

The tent flap was lifted, and a middle-aged eunuch dressed in brocade robes slowly walked in, followed by a squad of Imperial Guards.

“General Wu,” the eunuch said with a forced smile, “This humble one has been ordered to come and inspect the army. Surely the General doesn’t disapprove?”

Wu Ge bowed expressionlessly. “I was unaware of the Imperial Inspector’s arrival and failed to welcome you properly.”

The eunuch’s gaze swept across the tent, finally resting on Qin Gong. “Is this the strategist of unknown origin? I hear the General trusts him greatly.”

The alarm bells went off in Qin Gong’s mind. This Inspector meant trouble.

“Sir, you have traveled a long distance and must be tired,” Wu Ge subtly stepped in front of Qin Gong. “Perhaps you should rest first…”

“No rush.” The eunuch slowly walked to the commander’s seat and sat down. “I heard that the General just lost a thousand elite soldiers?”

The atmosphere in the tent instantly became tense.

“In the art of war, victory and defeat are common occurrences,” Wu Ge replied calmly.

“Is that so?” The eunuch sneered. “But why did I hear that the reason for this defeat was that someone… colluded with the enemy?”

His gaze shot directly at Qin Gong.