Marching to War

Hefei, in Huainan Commandery, had become a military fortress ever since Wei and Wu divided their realms along the river.

With it, Wei State had a shield for Huainan. Keeping Wu State outside Hefei would ensure that Huainan remained secure.

If Wu State wanted to take Huainan, it would first have to take Hefei. Then its forces could follow the Ruxu River through Lake Chao and head north along the Shi River. Hefei stood not far from where the Shi River met Lake Chao; its strategic importance spoke for itself.

Years of war, however, had ravaged this already small city. Almost no civilians remained, and Wei State normally maintained a garrison of roughly three to five thousand men there.

Today, however, Hefei was unusually bustling.

Man Chong had brought his own troops from Shouchun, stationing twenty thousand Huainan infantry and cavalry in Hefei, and ordered Wang Ling, Inspector of Yang Province, to camp sixty li east of Hefei with fifteen thousand infantry.

About eighty li south of Wang Ling lay Juchao County, an important Wu State stronghold.

Hefei, Wang Ling's force, and Juchao formed three horns of a triangle. Together with the troops under Zhang Hu, Li Zhen, and the others already defending Hefei, Wei's forces around the city numbered forty thousand.

Man Chong had also ordered twenty thousand troops from Yu Province, Yan Province, and elsewhere to garrison Shouchun.

For one, they would fill the void in the rear; for another, they could serve as a mobile reserve.

Wu State naturally would not sit and await death. It too was actively preparing for war. Although Sun Quan did not know whether Wei State was serious, no one who learned that heavy forces were massing at Hefei would dare take it lightly.

An unending stream of Wu soldiers traveled upriver from Niuzhu, Wuhu, and elsewhere, arriving at Ruxu Fortress and Juchao.

The Wei and Wu armies drew up their forces and faced each other along the border.

Xiahou Xian had also marched out with his army.

Two days later, the army had marched sixty li south and made camp on the northern bank of the Shu River.

Ever since Wu State occupied Shu County, the Shu River had more or less formed the boundary between Wei and Wu. They were only fifty li from Shu County and could reach it within two days.

Although Man Chong's orders were for him to cooperate with Yue Lin in surrounding Shu County, the two commandery administrators discussed the matter and decided to send scouts to ascertain the enemy's situation before making their next move.

Each sent his own scouting party to reconnoiter the southern bank of the Shu River.

In Xiahou Xian's scout battalion was a company commander named Jiao Yi, who took about twenty riders with him this time.

It was worth mentioning that Jiang Ban had assigned the newly enlisted Ji Shao to the scout battalion. He was now serving under Jiao Yi.

The scouts soon discovered a Wu outpost. Jiao Yi estimated that it held a little over a hundred men.

Just then, Ji Shao noticed something unusual and said, "Commander Jiao, the Wu soldiers seem to be moving their provisions."

Jiao Yi carefully studied the activity inside the outpost and discovered that the Wu soldiers were not only moving provisions and supplies south, but had even begun breaking camp.

Jiao Yi turned to one scout and said quietly, "Hurry back and report to the commandery administrator."

"Yes!" the scout answered. Keeping his footsteps light, he jogged a long way down a narrow path before finally mounting behind a small hill, taking care to make as little noise as possible when he left.

"Commander, it seems we're already too late. Listen!" With a grave expression, Ji Shao pointed toward the highway not far from the Wu outpost.

What sounded like hoofbeats was drawing closer.

One horse, two...

How was that possible? It sounded like at least several dozen riders!

Jiao Yi's eyes widened.

Eastern Wu did not breed horses, and mounts were scarce in its army. It could seldom afford the extravagance of sending so many cavalrymen to such a small outpost.

The Wu cavalry rode straight into the outpost. The officer at their head shouted something, and the soldiers inside immediately bustled about.

Seeing that the Wu soldiers seemed to be searching for torches, Ji Shao understood at once. "It looks like they're going to burn the outpost."

Jiao Yi stroked his chin thoughtfully, then said, "If the Wu soldiers had no horses, we could maneuver with ease. Now several dozen riders have turned up."

"We shouldn't linger here."

"Pass on my order. Withdraw slowly and return to camp."

Ji Shao nodded and immediately obeyed.

But who could have known that, for some reason, a horse behind the nearby hill would suddenly let out a startled neigh!

They were too close to the Wu outpost. The Wu cavalry immediately noticed something amiss, swung into their saddles, and headed toward them.

"Retreat, now!"

Abandoning concealment, Jiao Yi shouted his order, then raced toward the horses with Ji Shao and the other scouts.

Whoosh!

An arrow instantly pierced a scout's back. He fell to the ground in agony. His comrades had no time to help him and could only watch as he lay there convulsing.

Jiao Yi finally found his mount. He immediately vaulted into the saddle, lashed his horse without looking back, and galloped away.

Ji Shao and the other scouts who had managed to mount followed close behind.

Suddenly, several more arrows flew toward them and struck a horse in the legs. It stumbled and crashed to the ground, sending the scout on its back tumbling down hard as well.

Ji Shao picked up speed and caught up with Jiao Yi. He did not understand why Jiao Yi seemed not to care at all about their comrades' deaths. Besides, he felt they could not simply keep fleeing like this. He was a soldier too.

After a brief moment's thought, Ji Shao finally spoke. "Commander, I don't think we can just sit and await death."

"I know that. But those are clearly regular Wu cavalry, and we have a more important task. There's no need to get entangled with them."

Of course Jiao Yi was not so cold-blooded and heartless. These were brothers who had followed him through life and death. But that was how it was for soldiers, and all the more so for scouts.

He had no time to grieve. The only thing he could do now was get the intelligence about the Wu forces back successfully.

"Commander, then I'll cover the retreat!" Thinking the other man was being weak, Ji Shao immediately volunteered.

"Have you gone mad?" Jiao Yi roared.

Before Jiao Yi could say anything more, Ji Shao hauled on the reins and turned his horse, riding out to the side of the party before drawing his bow from his back.

Ji Shao's move drew some of the Wu riders' attention. They drew their bows, nocked arrows, and aimed at him.

Ji Shao did not hesitate either. He raised his bow and fired.

One Wu rider had not initially considered this Wei soldier who had broken away from his party a threat. But just as he took aim, an arrow hurtling straight toward him pierced his chest.

Only then did the Wu soldiers realize that the lone Wei soldier possessed astonishing archery skills. Five riders immediately split off from the pursuit and charged toward Ji Shao.

Although Ji Shao killed two riders with his remarkable archery, he could not withstand attacks from several directions. An arrow struck his horse in the hindquarters. It screamed and was beyond his control.

Then came another arrow. A sharp pain tore through Ji Shao's right arm. At last, he could no longer hold the reins and fell from his horse.

The Wu riders kept closing in, as though pronouncing their prey's death sentence.

Just then, the leading Wu rider's gaze suddenly froze, and blood spilled from his mouth. By the time he realized what had happened, an arrow was already lodged in his neck.

"I've never seen a reckless fool like you!" Bow in hand, Jiao Yi urged his horse over. "If anyone covers the retreat, it should be me! Every one of you has to get back safely!"

Sitting on the ground and clutching his wounded arm, Ji Shao was grateful that Jiao Yi had returned to save him.

But he also felt regret.

For at least forty riders were now closing in around the two of them.

He knew the odds were grim.

Ji Shao stood and shouted to Jiao Yi, who was galloping toward him, "As long as someone gets back, our mission counts as completed, right?"

Of course Jiao Yi understood what he meant. Deftly steering his horse through the flurry of arrows, he shouted, "Enough nonsense! You can still draw a bow, can't you?"

Both knew that the Wu soldiers would no longer kill them now. They would be captured and taken away, but neither wanted to give the enemy that chance.

Ji Shao picked up his bow from the ground and, enduring the fierce pain, drew it and aimed at the charging Wu soldiers. "Come on!"

Just then, Ji Shao heard the Wu soldiers nearby shouting something. "Wei cavalry are coming!"

"Wei cavalry are coming!"

At the same time, hoofbeats like rolling thunder came hard on their heels.

"Retreat!" the Wu officer ordered immediately.

Not far away, dust filled the air. As it cleared, Wei State cavalry clad in black armor suddenly emerged.

"Wu scum, don't run!"

The newcomer was none other than Army Major Jiang Ban.