War council

An uproar filled Man Chong's administrative hall.

Everyone present understood what the words "a hunt in Lujiang" meant.

After all, Lujiang Commandery in Yang Province was shared between the states of Wei and Wu.

A dividing line ran roughly from the Mount Tianzhu area in the west, along the southern shore of Lake Chao, to the Tangyi area in the east. Wu State occupied the south, while Wei State held the north.

In other words, Wu State had a buffer zone on the northern bank of the Yangtze River. This was also why Wu State could frequently organize northern expeditions: they could use the Yangtze River to transport supplies and troops continuously from Jiangdong.

And a hunt in Lujiang meant that Man Chong intended to weaken Wu State's presence north of the river.

But was this really the time to take the offensive?

With that question in mind, someone immediately stepped forward to speak. "General, we in Huainan have only just suffered defeat at Shiting, and morale throughout the army is low. Launching a campaign now would hardly be appropriate. Besides, we are in the depths of winter, which makes marching all the more difficult."

Man Chong ignored him, stroking his beard without betraying any expression.

At that moment, a scholar in gray robes, seated closest to Man Chong, seemed to have something to say.

The scholar's hair was grizzled, and he looked somewhat older than Man Chong. A sable coat lay draped over him. He held his right fist to his mouth and coughed softly several times before asking, "Where do you intend to strike, General?"

Only then did everyone realize that this was the question they ought to be asking now.

Man Chong answered with just one place name: "Dongguan."

A faint smile suddenly appeared at the corners of the old man's mouth. "This move of yours hardly looks like a hunt, General."

Dongguan, also known as Ruxukou, was one of Wu State's most important ports for advancing north from Jiangdong into Lujiang.

If Dongguan truly fell, Wu State would have to advance north from Wankou. But Wankou was too far from Hefei. Forsaking the near to seek the far, taking such a long detour, would only squander military strength. Unless Wu State abandoned its attacks on Hefei, they would never allow Dongguan to fall.

Thus, the danger of Man Chong's intended attack on Dongguan went without saying. For both Wei and Wu, this would be a battle of life and death. Once hostilities began, they were bound to develop into a large-scale campaign.

Man Chong looked at the old man beside him. "What do you mean, Boran?"

Boran was Zhao Yan's courtesy name. He was one of Yingchuan's "four great scholars" in the late Eastern Han. He had joined the Cao Wei camp many years ago and held numerous offices. His last post had been military adviser to Grand Marshal Cao Xiu.

Of course, he had also strongly urged Cao Xiu not to risk advancing west into Shiting. He bore no blame for the Battle of Shiting.

Zhao Yan leaned to one side and reached up to pull the sable coat tighter around his shoulders. "Your residence really is cold, General Man."

Then he continued, "You have quite an appetite for this campaign, General. We in Huainan must actively prepare for war. Since you have already decided, we need only follow your orders."

"But Master Zhao, Dongguan has always been a heavily garrisoned Wu stronghold. How could taking it be easy?" A military officer in the ranks suddenly interrupted.

His name was Yue Lin, and he was the son of the famed Cao Wei general Yue Jin.

Zhang Hu, standing beside Yue Lin, also voiced his concerns. "I have heard that Dongguan has the Yangtze River at its back. Even if our army wins for a time, we cannot stop the endless stream of Wu naval forces coming along the river."

He was Zhang Liao's son. Zhang Liao and Yue Jin had once guarded Huainan together for many years. Now their sons had inherited their fathers' unfulfilled aspirations and continued to guard Great Wei's frontier.

In Zhang Hu's eyes, this looked like a thankless undertaking no matter how he considered it.

"General Zhang, please be patient. I believe General Man has plans of his own." Just then, a man in white beside Zhao Yan spoke.

The man in white had refined, handsome features. He adjusted his headpiece, then turned and cupped his hands to seek Man Chong's guidance.

He was Li Zhen, Li Dian's son. Unlike the other sons of famed generals, he had not joined the military. Instead, he had relied on his learning to serve as a strategist in the general's headquarters.

Only when everyone stopped discussing the matter did Man Chong slowly speak. Yet he seemed unwilling to explain much, merely saying, "Generals, make haste to put your troops in order and await my military orders."

After speaking, Man Chong added, "This matter must be kept secret."

Having received their orders, the generals departed one after another, and Xiahou Xian also took his leave.

On the way, Xiahou Xian wondered why Man Chong had been so eager to launch a war as soon as Wang Ling was imprisoned for investigation.

Thinking it over carefully, if Wang Ling had still occupied the post of provincial inspector, such a vast campaign plan could only have been implemented after consultation with him. After all, Man Chong might not have been able to mobilize the troops under Wang Ling's command.

But things were different now. With this maneuver, Man Chong had gained complete oversight of military affairs in Yang Province. Without Wang Ling holding him back, Man Chong could do what he wanted.

Could Man Chong be seeking to seize power?

A frightening thought flashed through Xiahou Xian's mind.

He promptly gathered his thoughts, and his carriage headed toward a drill ground in the north of the city.

Come to think of it, he had been busy lately with the task Man Chong had assigned him and had never found time to see how Wen Qin's work was progressing.

Since Man Chong had just ordered him to put his troops in order, Xiahou Xian naturally had to inspect the camp in person.

Wen Qin's camp lay in the northwestern corner of the city's northern district. It was not particularly spacious. Normally, large armies were rarely stationed within a city, so this could only be considered the Huainan Guard's camp.

To better accomplish the task Xiahou Xian had given him, Wen Qin had recently expanded the Huainan Guard to a thousand men.

As soon as Xiahou Xian entered the drill ground, he heard spirited shouts. The soldiers were performing their daily training in perfect unison.

In the gaps between the ranks, Wen Qin walked among the formations with a riding whip held behind his back.

One soldier's saber swing apparently fell short of the required form, earning him a heavy, forceful lash from Wen Qin.

The soldier let out a muffled grunt and fell to the ground. Wen Qin crouched down, patted the soldier's frightened face, and asked, "Does it hurt?"

The soldier dared not lie and repeatedly said that it hurt badly.

Wen Qin glared fiercely at the soldier. "Remember this feeling! If your saber fails to kill the enemy on the battlefield, what awaits you will be pain a thousand, ten thousand times worse!"

The soldier nodded, forced himself to stand despite the pain, and resumed training.

Suddenly, applause reached Wen Qin's ears. Seeing that Xiahou Xian had arrived, he hurried over to greet him.

"My lord, what brings you here? This drill ground is too dirty. Why don't we speak in my tent?"

Xiahou Xian waved his hand to indicate there was no need and merely asked how the takeover of the commandery troops outside the city was progressing.

Wen Qin immediately thumped his chest and insisted on taking Xiahou Xian outside the city for an inspection.

The two spurred their horses onward and arrived at the military camp ten li north of Shouchun.

Over a hundred tents of various sizes greeted their eyes. Under the standard arrangement of an average of ten soldiers to a military tent, a rough estimate put the force here at four or five thousand.

Xiahou Xian praised Wen Qin on the spot. "General Wen, you truly are a fine commander. In such a short time, you have put this army in excellent order."

With proud strides, Wen Qin led Xiahou Xian farther inside, saying as they walked, "My lord, there are about eight hundred new recruits, all carefully selected by me. Together with the troops previously stationed here, we now have a total of five thousand men."

Wen Qin had delivered his report before Xiahou Xian could ask, saving him the trouble.

Most of these soldiers had been recruited from the local countryside. In addition, Xiahou Xian had selected some skilled fighters from among the household servants he had brought from Luoyang and incorporated them into the army. These could almost be called Xiahou Xian's private troops.

They differed from the military farming troops permanently stationed along Cao Wei's borders. They did not have to perform labor and were a genuine combat force.

Xiahou Xian then made a round of the camp. Wen Qin personally took him to meet the middle- and lower-ranking officers, and even some ordinary soldiers.

Once all this was done, the two entered Wen Qin's tent. Xiahou Xian took the seat of honor, while Wen Qin waved the guards out. Then his eyes shifted, and he asked, "My lord, is there a war brewing?"

Xiahou Xian's gaze sharpened, and he smiled. "I never expected you to have such a keen nose, Zhongruo."