Settling the strategy

What made someone an unparalleled genius?

The Sage King and Duke Wen of Luo were already gradually passing into legend. The most recent was Duke Xuan of Luo, who had single-handedly held up the collapsing heavens, a deed still celebrated to this day.

What sort of people were the sage kings and worthy ministers recorded in the histories?

Men like Duke Wen of Luo, who could weave heaven and earth into order, and great worthies like Duke Xuan of Luo, who could turn back a raging tide after it had broken loose, existed only in stories. No one had ever seen them.

But now, the people of Qi State had.

"Chancellor Zhong's abilities are like the bright moon in the heavens. We cannot even count ourselves among the stars." This was the unanimous praise of Qi State's ministers and officials.

"Only after witnessing the chancellor's abilities did we understand that the Sage King's words about the ancient worthies comprehending the changes of heaven and humanity were no empty claim."

For five years, such praise had filled every corner of Qi State. In Linzi, even a small child knew of Guan Zhong's abilities.

The reason for it all lay in the prosperity Qi State now enjoyed.

Five years earlier, Guan Zhong had become Qi State's chancellor and launched a series of reforms within its borders. In just a few short years, his governance had made the state wealthy and its people strong.

A minor defeat three years earlier had not stirred even the faintest ripple.

No one pocketed belongings lost on the roads, doors stood unlocked at night, the treasuries overflowed, and order prevailed throughout the land.

People had once thought these were merely words in books. When they appeared in reality, the shock everyone felt was beyond description.

Inside Qi State's palace, another year's tax returns had been presented. Looking at the ever-growing figures, Lü Xiao Bai could not help laughing in delight.

"Zhong, in this life of mine, my parents gave me birth, my uncle raised me, and you made me what I am."

Seated respectfully beside him, Guan Zhong smiled. "My lord, you are a man favored by Heaven.

"Your present accomplishments have nothing to do with me.

"Quite the opposite. Whatever small reputation I have gained is due solely to your trust."

Guan Zhong was always like this, and Lü Xiao Bai had long grown accustomed to it. He asked, "Zhong, when you first took charge of state affairs five years ago, you spoke of Venerate the King and Expel the Barbarians. Has the time come?"

Hearing Lü Xiao Bai ask about policy, Guan Zhong sat upright and answered solemnly, "My lord, the time has come to drive out the barbarians. Venerate the King still needs a little more seasoning."

This left Lü Xiao Bai bewildered. "Are Venerate the King and Expel the Barbarians not done together?"

"Must Qi State drive out Yi and Di alone? Yi and Di across the land are fierce and numerous. How could Qi State possibly wipe them out?"

Lü Xiao Bai was always optimistic, but even he did not believe Qi State had grown that powerful.

Qin State had fought the Western Rong for nearly a century without a decisive outcome. Chu State had been powerful since Xiong Dun's time, yet it was still locked in a contest with the Southern Barbarians.

If these barbarians were so weak, Qi State's former rulers would have wiped them out long ago. They would never have survived until his reign.

Guan Zhong shook his head and smiled. "Do not be anxious, my lord. Allow me to explain.

"Ever since the Sage King wrote The Way of the King, only one kind of prestige has commanded the greatest respect among All Xia: that earned by driving out the barbarians.

"Why does Luo State enjoy such prestige among the feudal lords?

"Is it because the Zhou Royal House trusts it? The feudal lords and the Royal House do not even share one heart and mind. Why would they admire and submit to Luo State because of the Royal House?

"The true reason is that whenever Luo State venerates the king, it then gathers the strength of the All Xia states to help the weaker feudal states. That is what has won it such lofty prestige.

"Luo State places great importance on the feudal lords' achievements in driving out the barbarians!

"Even Xiong Dun, who overstepped his station and proclaimed himself king, was spared by Duke Wen of Luo because of his achievements against the Southern Barbarians. This is immensely important.

"Chu State had been regarded as barbarian for two hundred years. Could merely marrying a queen into the Royal House have brought it into All Xia?

"It would have been one thing if Crown Prince Dao had ascended the throne, but the man who ultimately became Son of Heaven was King Xi.

"Chu State is accepted today because Prince Yan of Luo entered its service a century ago.

"The successive Marquises of Luo have never judged the nobility of a bloodline. They look at only two things: first, Venerate the King and respect the rites; second, achievements in driving out the barbarians."

"If you wish to become hegemon over the All Xia states, you must gain the Marquis of Luo's recognition.

"To gain his recognition, you must achieve great deeds in driving out Yi and Di.

"Moreover, Qi State's standing among the states is still insufficient. Many feudal lords still view it through the eyes of Lü Wu Jiu's era.

"After five years of reform, this state of a thousand chariots needs a glorious victory to proclaim Qi's strength to the whole All Xia World."

Luo State's existence had caused the term All Xia, alongside the development of the Rites of Zhou, to be engraved into the feudal lords' blood much earlier.

After three hundred years of development, a unified cultural sphere of All Xia had emerged.

Diplomatic ceremonies between states had to be communicated, and major events within each state were reported to the other feudal states.

Even in the histories, foreign Court Historians could be found recording another state's past.

If a ruler wished to kill a Court Historian for recording his faults, Court Historians in other states would record them instead. This was their shared sense of identity.

For Qi State to become hegemon meant having every feudal lord within this circle acknowledge it as their leading elder brother, possessing both strength and prestige, capable of settling troubles for them all.

Lü Xiao Bai understood. Stirred with excitement, he said, "Zhong, I understand what you mean.

"The All Xia states are now struggling under incursions by Yi and Di."

"If Qi State can gain the upper hand in war against Yi and Di, the other states will know how strong it has become."

"Then, when we invite them to an assembly to swear an alliance, nothing will stand in our way. My uncle will have every justification to crown me hegemon."

To practice the way of the hegemon in the name of the kingly way-this was the path Guan Zhong had chosen for Qi State, and the one Luo Xiu hoped to see.

"The Lai Yi!

"They are truly hateful. Since our ancestor founded this state, the Lai Yi have raided us without end. The wars have continued for three hundred years.

"A century ago, they took advantage of Zhou State's weakness and joined other Yi and Di in invading the Central Plains. If, despite my state's strength, I still cannot wipe out such barbarians who refuse the king's civilizing influence, then surely I lack the Mandate of Heaven to become hegemon!"

Ruler and minister settled their plans for war against the Lai Yi, and all of Qi State immediately sprang into action. The Rural Districts Guan Zhong had designated specifically for military service began levying troops.

These State People regularly trained in organized groups. Their fighting strength far surpassed that of the hastily conscripted peasant and slave soldiers of the past.

Moreover, Qi State had a large population and an abundance of troops.

Qi State was a great state. Under the Rites of Zhou, it was permitted three armies, or thirty-seven thousand five hundred men. In reality, the army figures of many states were largely nominal.

Qi State's army naturally far exceeded that figure. But with the Royal House now in decline and Yi and Di numerous, most states had forces far beyond the prescribed limits.

Qi State sent a full hundred thousand regular troops on this expedition. Naturally, not all of them were crack soldiers. Fully professional elites like Luo State's Dare-to-Fight Warriors numbered only a few thousand.

But the other ninety thousand were certainly not the sort of army that collapsed at the first touch. These men had all received military training. This was Guan Zhong's reform policy of making soldiers and civilians one.

The enormous quantities of grain and fodder needed for an army of a hundred thousand required time to gather, even with Qi State's present wealth.

As for war chariots, there was even less need to elaborate. Qi State was now a state of a thousand chariots, but even states bearing that designation differed.

Qi State, for instance, had several thousand war chariots, while Song State truly had only a thousand. If any broke during battle, it probably would not even have replacements.

Because this was Qi State's first battle to display its strength before the All Xia states, Guan Zhong was extremely cautious. He considered every aspect, and the preliminary preparations alone took a full three months.

When mobilizing an army of over a hundred thousand, only a fool would lead it out within a few days. That was not waging war; it was sending men to their deaths.

After losing to Qu State last time, Minister An Ning had felt ashamed and ceased personally leading troops, taking charge of transporting provisions instead.

The man commanding Qi State's army this time was Zhang Qi, the Grand Marshal personally selected by Guan Zhong. Guan Zhong accompanied the army as chancellor.

Zhang Qi came from Yan State's Ducal Clan. After Xi Yi was elevated to Lady of Qi State, he had followed her to Qi State in accordance with custom, as one of the nobles of Yan State.

Over the years, he had earned considerable trust from Lü Xiao Bai.

He possessed exceptional courage and martial prowess, as well as strategic talent. Guan Zhong thought highly of him and had specifically chosen him as general for this expedition against the Lai Yi.

Outside Linzi, Lü Xiao Bai personally saw Guan Zhong and Zhang Qi off. Each of the three held a cup of wine.

"Minister Zhang, I entrust Qi State's hundred thousand sons to your hands. When you return victorious, I will surely reward you."

Holding his cup, Zhang Qi said, "My lord, I was originally no more than an idle member of Yan State's Ducal Clan. After following my lady to Qi State, I drifted through my days.

"I never imagined I would gain your trust and regard, or that merely earning a few insignificant merits would allow me to command a great army.

"I know that your affection for my lady and your trust in Chancellor Zhong have extended their blessings to me.

"The Sage King said that one who receives another's kindness without repaying it is unworthy of being human.

"Now I finally have a chance to repay your kindness on the battlefield.

"I am willing to pay any price. Even if I cannot ascend to heaven after death to stand before Heaven and the Sage King, I will conquer Lai Yi State for you.

"My lord, please accept my bow!"

As he spoke, he actually dropped to one knee before Lü Xiao Bai, choking with emotion.

In this age, even kneeling on one knee was an exceptionally weighty gesture. Lü Xiao Bai hurriedly helped Zhang Qi up and said with feeling, "Good, Minister Zhang. I will await good news from you and the chancellor here in Linzi."