Chapter 123: The Huang School of Strategy, The Yang School of Strategy

Five thousand Northern Liao troops were hurling insults incessantly, yet the dozen or so commanders among them looked pale and listless, their eyes devoid of spirit.

"Huang Chunhui is known for his patience; is there any point to this constant cursing?" a bearded general asked, feeling quite despondent.

"Whether it’s useful or not, we have to do it. We must secure a great victory this time; otherwise, with the Emperor sharpening his blade, neither your head nor mine will be safe."

The bearded general suddenly thought of something. "How about... we curse his mother?"

"We’ve already done that."

Everyone shook their heads.

The bearded general sighed, then hit upon another idea. "How about... we curse him for having a son without an anus?"

The crowd shook their heads again.

"We have to try something."

The bearded general spurred his horse forward. "Change tactics! Curse Huang Chunhui for having a son without an anus!"

Over five thousand men shouted in unison, "Huang Chunhui, may your son be born without an anus!"

The commanders could only offer bitter smiles.

The bearded general turned his horse around with a sense of regret, preparing to return. Suddenly, he froze...

The city gates had opened.

With the gates thrown wide, a wave of cavalry charged out with wild abandon. The lead commander looked young, gripping a long spear, his eyes gleaming with a fervor akin to a patron spotting a beauty!

"They’re out!"

The Liao generals were overjoyed and immediately ordered their troops to engage.

"Slow down! Slow down!" a veteran commander shouted from the battlements.

But Zhang Du had already charged in, leading the way.

In an instant, cries of agony erupted. With him as the spearhead, the Tang cavalry struck like a red-hot iron rod plunging into a block of ice.

The Liao generals were dumbfounded.

The bearded general cried out, "How is the Tang army so fierce? Whose subordinate is this?"

Jiang Cunzhong followed, his style contrasting with Zhang Du’s aggressive fire; he was composed and steady, striking the Liao army from the flank.

"Stop him!"

Zhang Du was charging too fast.

On the city walls, someone asked with confusion, "Why do they look like they’ve taken some kind of drug?"

Zhang Du was charging with an unstoppable, reckless intensity.

Liao Jin glanced at the man. "What kind of drug?"

The man hurriedly offered a sycophantic smile. "The kind the subordinate takes. You know... that stuff brought from Chang'an, the one they say makes you feel good and makes her feel good too."

"Absurd!" Liao Jin’s face was cold, though he recalled a box of pills Yang Xuan had gifted him, which were referred to as "Rejuvenation Pellets."

When he had asked about their effect, that was exactly how Yang Xuan had described them.

*I am an old man now; I have no desire to use such things. Is there any point to this?*

Zhang Du continued to charge forward, but the enemy was squeezing him from both sides. With his troops being flanked, the situation did not look promising.

Yet, Liao Jin was not worried.

Huang Chunhui’s eyelids drooped, as if he were dozing off.

"Good!" someone exclaimed joyfully, pointing below the city wall. "Look, Commander Jiang has pierced through from the flank."

Jiang Cunzhong and his men had punctured the enemy's left wing and were hacking their way toward the center.

The enemy had already been unable to withstand the ferocious, unbelievable Zhang Du; with Jiang Cunzhong now added to the mix, their morale was clearly plummeting to the bottom.

The bearded general shouted, "Surprise attack! Counter-attack!"

The front lines were in chaos. Someone yelled, "We can't hold!"

"Don't retreat!"

The bearded general was furious. He grabbed his long saber and charged over, decapitating the soldier who had spoken of defeat, and roared, "Warriors, follow me..."

Up ahead, a spear struck a Northern Liao soldier from his horse like lightning, followed by a sweep that unhorsed two more enemies.

Zhang Du spotted the bearded general and shouted in a frenzy, "Stop right there!"

*He hasn't even started fighting and he's telling me to stop? What is this nonsense?*

The bearded general shuddered, and with a clang, he crossed blades with Zhang Du.

A sharp pain shot through his thumb web, and his saber went flying into the unknown.

The bearded general spurred his horse to flee.

"Wait!" Zhang Du pursued relentlessly.

"I won't kill you!"

"Stop!"

"If you don't stop, I'm going to fire arrows!"

Once the bearded general was defeated, the Northern Liao army collapsed in an instant.

"Kill!"

Jiang Cunzhong arrived in time, surrounding hundreds of enemy troops from the flank before slaughtering them.

"Assistant Commissioner, don't pursue the desperate enemy too far!" Judge Wu Lin said cautiously.

After Zhang Chumao’s "great victory," he had revealed his intentions to scheme for the position of Northern Frontier Commissioner. With the backing of a powerful family, many viewed him as Huang Chunhui’s successor.

Wu Lin was one of them, and he had pandered to Zhang Chumao with such sycophancy that it was truly pathetic.

Now that Zhang Chumao had slunk off to the Southern Frontier, Wu Lin was in a tight spot.

Huang Chunhui was still "dozing."

Liao Jin said flatly, "The enemy was acting strange today."

Huang Chunhui opened his eyes. "Five miles!"

A chill ran through those present.

Someone immediately went to relay the order.

Zhang Du was extremely dissatisfied. Watching the remnants of the enemy flee five miles away, he couldn't help but be furious.

He rode his horse back into the city and climbed the walls. Liao Jin snorted, "Trying to turn the world upside down?!"

Huang Chunhui glanced at him, and under that gaze, Zhang Du’s rage vanished. He said aggrievedly, "Assistant Commissioner, we finally had a chance to fight. Why could we only pursue them for five miles?"

"Because you are an idiot." Huang Chunhui rested his hands on the battlements and took a deep breath, saying comfortably, "Our Northern Frontier has an army of sixty thousand. Even if Helian Feng were stupid, he wouldn't send five thousand men just to provoke us."

Liao Jin nodded. "It's freezing; the cost of mobilizing troops is too high. This doesn't look like Helian Feng's style."

"Either it’s a feigned defeat, or something has gone wrong elsewhere." Huang Chunhui rubbed his eyes. "We pursued for five miles; if they had an ambush, they would have sprung it by now. Since they didn't, it means something is wrong within Northern Liao. Go find out."

"Understood."

On the third day, everyone was discussing matters.

Huang Chunhui was still drooping his eyelids, responding only occasionally.

Everyone was accustomed to his style, and Liao Jin filled in the gaps, making for a harmonious atmosphere.

"Assistant Commissioner, an urgent report!"

Someone shouted from outside.

Huang Chunhui opened his eyes. "Come in."

A scout entered, his face covered in frostbite cuts from the cold wind. After saluting, he said, "Assistant Commissioner, there is an internal rebellion in Northern Liao."

Hm?

Huang Chunhui sat up straight. "Give me the details."

There was a brazier in the hall, making it relatively warm, but the heat caused the cuts on the scout’s face to sting and itch unbearably.

"They say there was a rebellion. After it failed, Helian Feng purged a group of people, and those five thousand men were their subordinates."

"They were sent to die." Huang Chunhui drooped his eyelids again. "The wind in the Northern Frontier is like a small blade. Remember to apply grease to your face, or you’ll end up with a face full of gashes. You can tough it out when you’re young, but you’ll suffer when you’re old—full of fine lines that won't go away. At forty, you’ll look sixty."

The scout was stunned. "Yes."

After the scout left, everyone looked at Huang Chunhui, their minds filled with the memory of his decisiveness that day.

*This is the black rat snake that hasn't moved for years!*

*Once it strikes, it's fast and ruthless.*

*Is this really that senile Commissioner?*

Someone couldn't help but ask, "How did the Assistant Commissioner determine that something was wrong in Northern Liao?"

"Helian Feng is not stupid. In the past, his provocations were small groups. Five thousand men—this was clearly a gift of heads for me. If I hadn't struck, you all..."

Huang Chunhui looked at the crowd and sighed. "You’ve all been feeling pent up these past few years, right?"

For the past few years, the Northern Frontier had been silent, letting the Northern Liao army blather under the city walls.

Everyone nodded.

Huang Chunhui rubbed his reddened nose. "A man cannot be pent up for too long. Now is just the right time. Look at Zhang Du; he fought like a starving tiger today, and those soldiers were fierce as wolves. A man must know when to hold back, and when to let go."

The crowd looked at each other in confusion!

*Is this the Commissioner’s art of war?*

...

Wang Zhangyi hurried into the residence and said outside the side room, "Master Sun, urgent matter."

Sun Yu was sitting there reading a book. Upon hearing this, he looked up. "Come in."

Wang Zhangyi entered and whispered, "That corrupt official went to drill those new recruits himself today."

Sun Yu laughed. "That batch of recruits is quite fierce and unruly. More importantly, there are too many of them—over two thousand. Will those people follow his orders? In their dreams! Just wait and see; there will be a time when that corrupt official is overwhelmed, and it might even cost some lives." His eyes were ruthless. "As long as that corrupt official suffers, I am willing to offer rewards to all the deities."

He piously pressed his palms together and prayed in a low voice...

...

"What is the art of war? Anything that can kill the enemy is the art of war."

At the foot of the mountain, the array of over two thousand men was massive.

At this moment, the formation looked unstable; some were swaying, others were fidgeting.

Yang Xuan was explaining his views on the art of war to the commanders below.

The moment he looked up and saw those swaying soldiers, his rage exploded instantly. "What should be the first lesson of the art of war? Obedience to orders. Someone!"

A group of burly men stepped forward.

"Take your sticks, and hit anyone who moves!"

The burly men rushed in and began a brutal beating.

"Beat your mother!"

Someone began to resist.

Everyone looked at Yang Xuan.

What now?

"Drag him out!"

A burly man was dragged out, his hair disheveled, looking at Yang Xuan with defiance.

In the ranks, two convicts whispered to each other.

"Brother Nine has a belly full of instigating words. Once the fighting starts, we’ll stir things up too."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, Brother Nine could talk a dead man back to life!"

Up front, Yang Xuan pointed at the burly man. "Gag him, hang him on a tree, and bring two sheep."

The burly man was stunned. "You..."

"Seal his mouth!" Yang Xuan said with disgust.

Wang Lao'er slapped him hard.

"Woo, woo, woo!"

The burly man, his lips swollen like sausages, was hung on a tree. When two sheep were brought over, the crowd was confused.

"Are they going to treat us?" someone guessed.

"Two sheep for a thousand people? There won't even be enough wool to go around."

"What is that? Honey?"

"Tsk, tsk! Honey-roasted whole lamb, that taste... I won't even mention it."

Over two thousand men were drooling, but Yang Xuan ordered someone to take off the burly man's shoes and socks and smear honey on the soles of his feet.

"Bring the sheep over."

Everyone was dumbfounded, thinking it was too wasteful.

The two sheep approached, each licking one foot, their mouths wide open as they licked frantically.

"Woo, woo, woo!"

The man hanging on the tree twisted his body frantically, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

"Woo, woo, woo..."

Gradually, the noise in the ranks died down.

Everyone looked at Yang Xuan, who was walking over slowly, with something new in their eyes.

"The veterans know my rules." Yang Xuan stopped and looked at this group of convicts. "You are all human scum; you aren't worth dying for."

The ranks were deathly quiet.

"What do I need such scum for? To show kindness? Keep dreaming!"

"You have all committed grave sins. I think that if I killed you all, I might be wronging some, but if I kill every other one, I’ll certainly let some escape."

"Do you want to die or live?"

Yang Xuan pointed to the side. "Those who want to die, step out, and I will grant your wish!"

No one stepped out.

"Since no one wants to die, then..." Yang Xuan tapped his palm with a wooden stick and sneered. "You must know my rules: follow orders, follow orders, and follow orders. Whoever violates my rules..."

He pointed the wooden stick at the man who was currently trembling violently on the tree and said, "Believe me, this is just an appetizer; there are more methods waiting for you."

Everyone was silent.

"Continue!"

Yang Xuan walked back. Cao Ying said, "Sir, these people are not yet convinced."

"That's simple," Yang Xuan said. "Since they aren't convinced, I have a method prepared. Nan He!"

"Here!" Nan He stepped forward.

Yang Xuan said, "Take five hundred brothers and let them experience what a battle formation is."

"Understood!"

"Use only fists and feet!"

Yang Xuan set the rules.

The new recruits couldn't help but feel secretly happy.

A dozen ringleaders were conspiring in the ranks.

"Keep an eye on them," Yang Xuan said, crossing his arms. "Break their limbs later."

Nan He acknowledged.

Five hundred against nearly two thousand, and only allowed to use fists and feet.

What could this be if not a guaranteed win?

Driven by the dozen ringleaders, the new recruits were in high spirits, almost howling.

The two sides stood face to face.

Yang Xuan raised his hand and brought it down sharply, then turned to Cao Ying. "I don't know what Northern Liao is up to, but mobilizing troops on such a scale in this season is too difficult and costly; the three major tribes surely won't agree. That's why the city is tight on the outside but loose on the inside."

"Yes." Cao Ying smiled. "Zhangyu County says they are arming the entire population, and Huilong County is even more anxious. They sent a document last time with all sorts of hints, just short of begging us to intervene at the critical moment."

"For the sake of the Commissioner, we'll help our brothers out!" Zhuque said with a smirk.

"No need to be nervous..."

The two chatted idly, while behind them, dust filled the training ground.

The veterans stood in formation. When the new recruits first came up, they maintained their formation, but once the fighting started, it fell into complete chaos.

*But we have more people!*

Even the burly man hanging on the tree forgot to laugh, staring at the battle.

It was only two rounds before the veterans at the front began their assault.

"Help!"

"Ouch! My leg!"

The new recruits collapsed instantly. A few who were brave or fierce tried to block the way, only to be overwhelmed.

"I surrender!" a ringleader knelt and raised his hands.

A soldier rushed over and kicked him in the thigh without hesitation.

"Ow!"

The new recruits scattered like frightened animals. Some even fled to the mountains, only timidly coming down the next day to look for their organization.

Nan He trotted over. "Sir, it's over."

"A bit slow." Yang Xuan turned around, looking somewhat dissatisfied.

Dozens of men lay on the training ground with broken limbs. Yang Xuan pointed at them. "These people will work the fields from now on."

The rest, bruised and battered, were driven back into formation.

The five hundred veterans stood on the side, glaring like tigers, ready to rush in and beat them again at any moment.

Yang Xuan looked at them coldly. "You are all human scum. This is the last chance I’m giving you. Those who don't want to serve in the army, step forward!"

Previously, his words had been treated as wind, but now, no one dared to doubt them. A moment later, over a hundred men shuffled out.

One shouted, "This humble one would rather go back to prison."

"I will grant your wish." Yang Xuan ordered, "Taiping City is not sturdy enough; start repairing it tomorrow. These people are the best laborers. Remember, if anyone dares to slack off, I don't care if they live or die!"

Repairing the city walls in this weather was pure torture. The hundred men immediately wanted to run back into the ranks, but Diao She and his men blocked their path.

"Such a ruthless Magistrate Yang, he wants us to die!" someone shouted with venom.

"You have all misunderstood one thing," Yang Xuan said flatly. "From the moment you arrived in Taiping City, your life and death were no longer in your own hands. Letting you serve in the army to protect the country is a chance for a new life. Since you don't want to be human, then I will grant your wish!"

A bunch of human scum, still fantasizing about bargaining.

Yang Xuan felt he had been too kind for too long.

"Magistrate." A rider arrived from the direction of the county town.

"The Commissioner orders the Magistrate to go to Lin'an."