Chapter 105: The Strongest Fortress

Li Changqi dared to act arrogantly toward Feng Renduo Baolizhi, but when faced with this battle-hardened general of the Western Xia Kingdom, he dared not overestimate himself. Although displeased, he could only ask, “General, may I inquire what your strategy is?”

Feng Renduo Baolizhi replied, “I intend to follow the young prince’s example and post a public notice.”

Hearing Feng Renduo Baolizhi mention the public notice reminded Li Changqi of his own previous attempt—posting a reward for anyone who could bring the head of Wu Jie, only to be mocked with a donkey’s head in return. This recollection flustered him, and he snapped, “General, why do you mock me?”

Feng Renduo Baolizhi laughed heartily. “Young prince, you are overthinking. I mean to post a notice soliciting plans to breach the city walls. Whoever provides a viable strategy shall receive a handsome reward!”

Li Changqi scoffed indifferently, “Is that all? Posting such notices is pointless. If we—so many of us—cannot devise a plan, how could we expect those Song people to offer any help?”

Feng Renduo Baolizhi thought silently, “You simply don’t understand the Song,” but kept this to himself. Smiling, he said, “Young prince, don’t be impatient. Posting the notice won’t cost us much time. Let’s just try it; if it works, it will save us considerable effort.”

Li Changqi had no better ideas, so he nodded in agreement, though inwardly he remained skeptical. If such a strategy succeeded, he would be willing to write his name backward.

The notice was quickly posted. On the first day, all was quiet—no one came forward with advice. Li Changqi couldn’t help but seek out Feng Renduo Baolizhi. “General, waiting like this is not a solution. If no one comes with a plan, are we just going to waste time like this?”

They commanded two hundred thousand troops, and the daily consumption was astronomical. Yet Li Changqi’s concern was not the resource drain; he was simply eager to break through Fuping City.

“Wait a little longer,” Feng Renduo Baolizhi answered decisively, insisting on patience.

The second day passed with no news either.

Li Changqi again approached Feng Renduo Baolizhi, urging him to launch an attack on Fuping.

“Wait a little longer,” was the unchanging reply.

“Wait, wait, wait! How long must I wait?” Li Changqi’s anger flared.

“Young prince, do not be anxious. When the time is right, Fuping City will fall naturally,” Feng Renduo Baolizhi said calmly.

“General, we must march tomorrow. I’ve waited too long already. Do you think our Western Xia cavalry will be held back by such a small city?” Li Changqi had lost all patience. He had waited so long, hoping to finally destroy Fuping City, only to be told to wait still. How could he bear it?

“Young prince, rashness is the enemy of warfare. If we do not wait, do you have a better plan?” Feng Renduo Baolizhi countered.

Li Changqi was momentarily silenced. His lips trembled as he snorted in anger. “General, if you do not march soon, beware that I shall report you to His Majesty.”

“Young prince, as I said, the time has not come,” Feng Renduo Baolizhi replied coolly, completely ignoring the threat.

“Hmph!” Li Changqi snorted in frustration, swept his sleeve, and strode away, intent on lodging a complaint.

Feng Renduo Baolizhi’s son, Feng Renduo Baili, watched Li Changqi leave and worriedly said to his father, “Father, the young prince is cold and ungrateful. You have treated him with such respect, yet I fear he will speak ill of you before His Majesty.”

“He is but a reckless youth. What is there to fear?” Feng Renduo Baolizhi replied.

Feng Renduo Baili, hearing his father’s dismissive words, said no more and instead asked, “Father, do you really expect someone to offer us a plan to breach the city?”

Feng Renduo Baolizhi said, “Remember, the strongest fortress can often be broken from within. Warfare is like a duel between two men; every person has a weakness. It is a matter of finding that flaw and exploiting it.”

Feng Renduo Baili pondered these words. While they sounded clear, applying them in actual combat required hard-earned experience.

On the third day, Li Changqi sent a letter to the Western Xia Emperor Li Shunqian, accusing Feng Renduo Baolizhi of cowardice and reluctance to fight, causing the Western Xia army of two hundred thousand to be stalled outside Fuping City.

Feng Renduo Baolizhi was well aware of Li Changqi’s underhanded move but paid it no mind. The emperor had assigned this reckless youth to the army partly to give him a chance to mature, and partly to keep an eye on him.

That noon, a woodcutter arrived at the camp.

“Are you the ones posting the notice that promises a reward of one thousand taels of gold, a thousand bolts of silk, and ten thousand dan of grain to anyone who provides a plan to breach the city?” the woodcutter asked Feng Renduo Baolizhi.

Feng Renduo Baolizhi nodded. “Yes, anyone who offers a viable strategy shall receive these rewards.”

“Then give me these first,” the woodcutter demanded.

Feng Renduo Baolizhi laughed heartily. “Rest assured, I never go back on my word. If your plan is workable, I will give you every bit of what I promised.”

“Enough nonsense! Will you speak or not? If not, I’ll cut off your head!” Li Changqi threatened impatiently at the woodcutter’s dithering.

“What do you mean by that?” the woodcutter asked, bewildered.

“The meaning is clear: tell us everything you know, or die!” Li Changqi was eager to vent his fury on a Song man.

“Young prince, do not be rude. What I promised will be honored,” Feng Renduo Baolizhi said with displeasure toward Li Changqi, then turned to the woodcutter. “Rest assured, as your people say, ‘A gentleman’s word is as good as a four-horse chariot cannot chase.’ What I promised, I will deliver in full.”

With that, Feng Renduo Baolizhi ordered his men to bring the prepared rewards before the woodcutter. “If your plan works, all of this is yours.”