For some inexplicable reason, the generals in the tent brimmed with confidence. Indeed, although King Zhou spent his time in camp singing and dancing, no one could surpass him when it came to strategic deployment.
Back then, King Zhou had never commanded an army, yet he had planned the Southern Campaign from his palace hall and returned victorious from his very first command. Was that not heaven-bestowed genius?
A guard brought the military map into the tent. Zi Shou gave it a slight nod and asked casually, "Generals, if we broke camp and marched immediately, how many days would it take to reach Sishui Pass?"
Strategic deployment was nothing but talk used to hoodwink people. Zi Shou was busy eating, drinking, and enjoying himself-how could he possibly have any such thing? Naturally, he had to make something up on the spot.
The sudden question stunned the generals. Had he not said he already had everything planned? Why was His Majesty turning the question back on them?
Could this be a test?
After some thought, the generals concluded that it was indeed a test, and that another purpose lay within it: establishing authority.
That, in turn, had two layers. The first was to establish the authority of the generals commanding the army. Most of this force's principal officers came from Tong Pass. That hardly mattered in small engagements, but at Sishui Pass, they might encounter the Zhou Army's main force and fight a large-scale battle. In that case, the commanding generals' leadership had to be firmly established. Even a little resentment toward Li Lie, Yin Pobai, and the others from Tong Pass officers such as Yu Da could lead to defeat. By asking this question, King Zhou was allowing Yin Pobai, Li Lie, and the others to propose their strategic deployments,