Enemy intelligence

The pounding hooves and shouts took a long time to die down.

Jiang Ban rode over to the two men.

Jiao Yi asked in confusion, "Why have you come, Major Jiang?"

"The prefect sent me." As Jiang Ban spoke, the Wei soldiers clearing the battlefield approached with several bound prisoners.

"Major Jiang, we captured a few foot soldiers."

Jiang Ban glanced at the prisoners. "Take them back and let the prefect decide their fate."

"Yes, sir."

They had taken more than twenty heads and seized over a dozen warhorses. More importantly, the Wu cavalry had rashly advanced in pursuit of merit. Had they not done so, all the grain, fodder, and supplies at this outpost would already have gone up in flames.

Meanwhile, similar events were unfolding at several Wu outposts and villages along the southern bank of the Shu River.

The reason was that, shortly after the scout party led by Jiao Yi set out, scouts from Yue Lin's force had been the first to obtain the news.

According to the scouts, the Wu outposts were moving supplies, and some were even burning them outright.

The Wu army was fortifying its defenses and laying waste to the countryside!

Xiahou Xian had understood the Wu army's intentions at once.

As the name implied, fortifying defenses and laying waste to the countryside meant clearing away grain, houses, villages, and the like around a city, then holding fast within its walls.

The purpose was to prevent the enemy from obtaining supplies through plunder, thereby exhausting their provisions.

In fact, just last year, when Shu County was still in Wei State's hands, no such measures had been taken in this area.

Grand Marshal Cao Xiu had thought little of Eastern Wu, and Eastern Wu's target had always been Hefei. It almost never attacked toward Shu County.

After the Battle of Shiting, Wu State had successfully taken control of Shu County. Believing that Wei State could not wage another war in the short term, it had likewise taken no such measures around Shu County.

Wei State's sudden deployment this time seemed to have caught Wu State somewhat off guard. Only after its scouts detected Wei's southward movement from Liu'an did it hurriedly begin to act.

Naturally, Xiahou Xian would not let this opportunity slip away. The Huainan army had already suffered a grievous blow in the Battle of Shiting, and Huainan's harvest had been poor this year as well, bringing the army's supply problems squarely before him.

By taking advantage of Wu State's slow response to seize the supplies it had not yet had time to burn, they could strike first. As one side weakened and the other grew stronger, their chances of successfully attacking Shu County would rise greatly.

Thus, the moment he received the scouts' report, Xiahou Xian proposed that he and Yue Lin deploy all their cavalry to carry out this plan.

Now, Xiahou Xian and Yue Lin had joined their forces, and the two sat composed within the army, awaiting reports of victory.

Before long, Wen Qin strode into the command tent. "Prefect, our army has won a great victory!"

As soon as he entered, Wen Qin launched into an endless account of his own valor, how many enemies he had slain, and so on.

It had to be said that Wen Qin was indeed a man who wore his heart on his sleeve. Earlier, Xiahou Xian had pretended he intended to execute Wen Qin, chiefly to establish his authority.

Still, he had worried that Wen Qin might harbor resentment toward him and become estranged from him afterward.

As it turned out, Xiahou Xian had worried needlessly.

Before leaving the city, he had shared a round of drinks with Wen Qin and promised to make him the vanguard this time, giving him a chance to earn merit. After that, the awkwardness between them had vanished like smoke.

Still, his habit of fishing for credit would apparently not be cured anytime soon. Fortunately, this time his military achievements were genuine, and Xiahou Xian was not stingy with his praise, acknowledging them on the spot.

Next, the cavalry from Yue Lin's force returned to camp one group after another. Jiang Ban was the last to return.

After Jiang Ban gave Xiahou Xian a general account of the fighting, Xiahou Xian told him to return to camp and rest.

Yet Jiang Ban seemed to have more to say. He paused, then said, "Prefect, the scouts under my command say they have military intelligence they wish to report to you in person."

"Have them come in," Xiahou Xian replied.

Jiang Ban left the command tent and sent in the two men who had been waiting outside for some time. Xiahou Xian saw that they were Ji Shao and Jiao Yi.

Ji Shao's right arm was wrapped in thick bandages, while Jiao Yi's face was covered in bloodstains that had yet to dry.

"Thank you both for your efforts," Xiahou Xian said reassuringly.

Ji Shao did not take up that subject. Instead, he said at once, "Prefect, I noticed something strange about the Wu army's movements."

Xiahou Xian's eyes lit up. "Let's hear it."

"When we reached that Wu outpost, the Wu soldiers were initially taking their time transporting grain and fodder in grain carts. Only after a troop of Wu cavalry arrived did they abandon the transport and prepare to burn the provisions."

At this, Xiahou Xian exchanged a glance with Yue Lin beside him.

Yue Lin nodded. "It seems this was no coincidence."

Ji Shao interjected, "Were the Wu troops at the other outposts doing the same?"

"Exactly."

Xiahou Xian had initially thought it an isolated incident, but with Ji Shao's account, this was now the third group of scouts to report similar intelligence.

Normally, once the Wu army decided to fortify its defenses and lay waste to the countryside, it should have acted decisively, abandoning the outposts outright and burning all the supplies.

Yet the Wu army had done no such thing. Instead, it had been moving supplies at a leisurely pace.

Xiahou Xian surmised that there were two reasons for this.

First, Shu County lacked sufficient grain to sustain the Wu army for long.

As for the second, the Wu army must have learned of the Wei army's movements. It had only taken this risk after making certain it had enough time to transport the supplies.

Yet Xiahou Xian's impromptu action had forced the Wu army to change its plans.

Judging by the time needed for the scouts' round trip, there simply had not been enough time for Wu scouts to bring the news back to Shu County, assemble troops, and send them to the outposts.

In other words, the Wu army had received the news before Xiahou Xian dispatched his cavalry...

Could someone in the Wu army foretell the future?

If not, there was only one possibility left.

Xiahou Xian gathered his thoughts and spoke slowly. "I understand. Return to camp and tend to your wounds, everyone. I will make my own arrangements for the rest."

The two answered, "Yes, sir," then turned and left.

Another armored soldier entered the tent. "Reporting to both prefects: those prisoners are about ready."

"Mm." Yue Lin acknowledged him and signaled for the men to be brought in.

Soon, three Wu soldiers covered in whip marks were dragged into the command tent.

They could not stand steadily at all. The moment the armored soldiers released them, they collapsed to the ground.

Xiahou Xian questioned them first. "Tell us, how many troops are in Shu County? Who commands them?"

"Pah!" One prisoner spat a mouthful of bloody foam at Xiahou Xian. "Kill me if you want! Why waste words?"

"You have backbone." Xiahou Xian immediately waved a hand. "Men, soak him in a vat of brine. Help this brave fellow clean his wounds."

"Yes, sir!" The armored soldiers dragged the prisoner away, and soon his heart-rending screams came from outside the tent.

Xiahou Xian then approached the second prisoner. "And you? Would you like to try it too?"

This prisoner remained very calm. Biting his pale lip, he said, "I'll talk."

"Shu County currently has only three thousand defenders. The defending general is named Xianyu Dan."

"Xianyu Dan?" Xiahou Xian had never heard the name.

At this point, Yue Lin said, "I've heard of him. He was originally one of Lü Meng's subordinate generals. Though no mere wine sack and rice bag, his abilities are mediocre. He is no cause for concern."

Hearing this, Xiahou Xian continued, "Have any reinforcements come from across the river?"

"No."

Hmm... Xiahou Xian looked the prisoner over, then immediately barked, "Men, take him outside and behead him!"

Even as the prisoner was dragged away, he did not utter another word.

The lie had been far too clumsy.

His gaze had been so steadfast that, for a time, Xiahou Xian could find no flaw.

But the last question had exposed the horse's hoof beneath the disguise.

Shu County was a major stronghold in Lujiang, one Wu State had gone to great lengths to capture. How could it possibly have only three thousand defenders and an obscure general guarding it?

Besides, it was normal for an ordinary foot soldier not to know whether there were reinforcements. He should have answered "I don't know," not "No."

Xiahou glanced at the final prisoner, who was trembling all over, and waved a hand. "Forget it. It seems the men of Wu all have great integrity. Send this one on his way too."

Huh? At least ask me!

The terror of death shattered his last shred of reason. Held up by the guards, he shouted frantically:

"I'll talk! Don't kill me! I'll talk!"