Chapter 86: An Ingenious Plan

“Our Grand General has spoken: you are to hurry to the gates of Shunchang and meet your death. We’ve already built three floating bridges for you, just to speed your arrival, but you’re moving far too slowly—are you scared?” The envoy of the Song army addressed Wanyan Chang without the slightest courtesy.

Hearing these words, Wanyan Chang’s breathing grew heavy with rage, nearly commanding the execution of the envoy on the spot. He truly wanted to kill this Song envoy, but his strategist intervened.

“The rules of war state that envoys are not to be harmed. General, do not fall into Liu Qi’s trap!” Wanyan Diwo cautioned his furious leader.

Wanyan Chang took a deep breath, forcing down his anger, then gritted his teeth and replied, “Very well. Go back and report to your Grand General that he should wait for me at Shunchang. His head—I will claim it this time!”

Once the Song envoy departed, Wanyan Chang, seething with humiliation, ordered the abandonment of supply trains and commanded the entire army to advance swiftly upon Shunchang.

Having suffered defeat at the hands of Zong Shidao, Wanyan Chang desperately needed a victory to redeem himself. The fact that an obscure Song general dared to scorn him was intolerable. His fury was so intense that he abandoned the siege division, intent on reaching Shunchang quickly and cutting Liu Qi down from his horse.

“General, do not be angered. In truth, this situation is all advantage and no harm for us,” Wanyan Diwo hastened to persuade him.

Wanyan Chang looked at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Wanyan Diwo replied, “General, this confirms what those two fleeing Song soldiers said: their commander is a vain glory-seeker. Men like him are the easiest to deal with.”

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Chang considered it and saw the logic. “Have the men we sent to track them returned? Any findings?”

“They have returned,” answered Wanyan Diwo. “Those two did not lie. After leaving, they crossed the Yellow River and escaped.”

Wanyan Chang nodded. “Good. No rest. The whole army marches to Shunchang. Today, I will bathe the city in blood!”

And so, Wanyan Chang led one hundred thousand Jin soldiers, leaving behind ten thousand with the supply trains, as they rushed headlong toward Shunchang.

By now, it was the sixth month on the lunar calendar. The Jin army had been marching for most of the day. By midday, men and horses were exhausted, hot, and thirsty. They reached the banks of the Yellow River, and upon seeing its rolling waters, both men and beasts drank their fill.

Unbeknownst to them, before the Jin army’s arrival, scouts had already reported to Liu Qi. Liu Qi promptly dispatched several soldiers, who poured all the laxatives and arsenic collected from within Shunchang into the river upstream.

The Jin army suspected nothing amiss in the water. After drinking their fill and resting, they pressed on; Shunchang was not far ahead.

“General, scouts report that the Jin army has crossed the Yellow River and will soon arrive at the city,” a scout reported to Liu Qi.

“Have they drunk the river water?” Liu Qi asked urgently.

“They have. The Jin army rested by the river for nearly an hour, and now they’ve set out again,” the scout replied.

A surge of joy rose in Liu Qi’s heart; the strategist’s plan had succeeded. He immediately ordered the troops to assemble and prepare for battle.

Years of defeat at the hands of the Jin had left the Song soldiers fearful. Now, hearing that battle was imminent, anxiety filled Shunchang’s defenders. Liu Qi understood his men well, and, standing atop the high platform, addressed them: “Are you afraid?”

Silence greeted him, which was as good as an admission—they were, indeed, afraid.

“I know you’re frightened,” Liu Qi said, “but let me tell you, there’s no need for fear. What’s so special about the Jin army? Do they have extra legs or extra eyes? They are men like us. If you stab them, they’ll die just the same.”

Hearing Liu Qi’s blunt, down-to-earth words, the soldiers’ fear lessened considerably. Then Liu Qi continued, “And this time, I bring you good news: the Jin army has rushed here in this heat, and many have already suffered heatstroke. Their fighting strength is less than half what it once was. Is there anything left to fear?”

“No!” the soldiers cried out in unison, their voices emboldened. The Jin, renowned for their valor, had always been difficult to defeat—but if they could not overcome the weakened enemy now, it would be a disgrace.

“Even if you are afraid, I have a cure for that!” Liu Qi told his officers. “Men, distribute these items.”

The soldiers looked at the long, black wooden sticks handed to them, wondering what they were.

“General, what are these?” one of the soldiers asked.

“What do you think they are?” Liu Qi countered.

“Just a stick, isn’t it?”

“Exactly. It’s a simple wooden stick,” Liu Qi affirmed.

“And this will make us fearless?” the soldiers asked, dubious.

“Yes. When you go into battle, bite this stick between your teeth. When you face the Jin, slash at them without speaking—that’s how we’ll win!” Liu Qi instructed.

The soldiers didn’t fully grasp the reasoning behind Liu Qi’s words, and he offered no further explanation, merely ordering that they obey.

In truth, the principle was simple: battle depended on momentum. When speaking, that momentum dissipates. This was not easily explained, so Liu Qi simply issued it as a command.

After all preparations were done, Liu Qi began to muster his forces for battle. According to their plan, the five thousand Song cavalry would hold the rear, while Liu Qi led twenty thousand infantry out to meet the enemy.

Many in the army were puzzled; they believed the Jin cavalry would attack first, and that meeting them with infantry was tantamount to suicide. When the Jin cavalry charged, their speed and force would overwhelm the Song foot soldiers.

“Trust me and follow into battle. This time, the Jin will be forced to retreat in disgrace!” Liu Qi vowed to his officers.