Using Momentum, Not Force

The King of Yanqi was also a decisive man. The very next day, he arranged for his son Mo Rao to meet with Jiang Hao.

Mo Rao was in his thirties, the Yanqi King's third son. He too had a face full of curly hair and beard. Upon seeing Jiang Hao, he placed a hand over his chest and bowed. "Mo Rao pays his respects to the Grand Protector."

"Greetings, Prince Mo Rao." Jiang Hao returned the salute.

"General, I command a Yanqi force of two thousand men. My father summoned me yesterday and ordered me to follow your command from today onward. What are your plans?" Mo Rao asked.

"Bring everyone to Yuli. How many days until you can depart?" Jiang Hao said.

"It will take two days to organize the troops, and we must prepare a month's worth of provisions. Five days."

"Fine. We depart in five days."

Mo Rao went off to make preparations, while Jiang Hao found himself with nothing to do. He sought out his little secretary, Princess Dina. "Interested in taking a look around Yanqi with me?"

Princess Dina did not refuse. The two brought no guards and each rode a horse out of the city. Yanqi's environment was considered exceptionally good for the Western Regions. Mountains surrounded it on three sides, while the central valley was rich in water and grass. They rode to a river, dismounted, and walked along its pebbled shore.

Princess Dina looked toward the snow-white Tianshan Mountains in the distance, then turned to Jiang Hao. "You are remarkable. I never expected you to borrow two thousand soldiers with just a few words. I remember reading a book that recorded how the diplomat Zhang Yi could counter an army of a million with a single remark. Did you also study