"Minister, are we really going to fight?"
At Santunying, in the Governor-General's office, Qi Jiguang uncertainly asked Wang Yan, who was gnawing on a large bone.
"You're the great General Qi. Could you stop asking such nonsense?" Wang Yan lifted his greasy hand, picked up his wine cup, and took a sip. Muttering, he said, "I spent over a month arguing with Xu Jie and the others in Jingcheng before this war was settled, and you're still asking whether we're really going to fight?
Old Qi, what you need to do now is carefully consider whether the battle plan we prepared is complete, whether it accounts for unfavorable circumstances, and how to respond if anything goes wrong."
"Minister, you're letting me make all the decisions?" Qi Jiguang was uncertain again.
Having spent so much time with Wang Yan, Qi Jiguang understood that Wang Yan was actually quite accomplished when it came to warfare. Though it was all theoretical, there was nothing wrong with his theories. Whenever the two of them ran war simulations in their spare time, Wang Yan would beat him so badly he could not find his bearings.
"You'll handle the offensive. I'll handle rear defense and relief, as well as supplying the frontline troops with provisions. We'll divide the work and each manage our own responsibilities. Rest assured, I absolutely won't meddle in your decisions. Fight however you want."
"Minister, if we lose..."
"Victory is the only option!" Wang Yan spoke resolutely. "His Majesty and the court have spent so much silver on Jiliao these past few years. How could we possibly fail to win? Since you insist on hearing what happens if we lose, I can tell you plainly: the two of us can just kill ourselves. No need to trouble anyone else, and no need