Chapter 157: A General Is Bound to Die on the Battlefield

The next morning, the Hu tribesmen did not come to attack the city, which was actually well within Zhang Chi's expectations.

After another three or four days, Zhang Chi ordered Du Ximing to rope off a sizable open space within the city, stating that he wanted to take a detailed inventory of the remaining grain and provisions.

Cai Shun, the grain officer, found this rather strange.

Although Cai Shun served as the grain officer in Zhang Chi's army, he was not Zhang Chi's man; rather, he belonged directly to Luo An, the Commissioner of Granaries in Shu.

Because Zhang Chi's supplies had always been provided by Commissioner Luo An, the grain officers and transport personnel in the army were all Luo An's subordinates.

Normally, Zhang Chi did not pay too much attention to logistical matters. During previous battles with the Hu tribes, supplies had always arrived on time, and Cai Shun's work had never suffered any errors.

However, on this military campaign, the grain from Shu was delayed time and time again. If not for the failure of the Shu grain to arrive, how could his own army have been besieged in the city by the Hu tribes?

Seeing Zhang Chi preparing to measure the rice in the city, Cai Shun asked with puzzlement, "My Lord Governor, I have already carefully tallied the provisions in the city; there is at most enough for seven days. Why bother measuring them again?"

Zhang Chi smiled faintly and replied, "Officer Cai only knows how to supervise the transport of grain from Shu, but he is unaware that on this northern expedition, I also brought along a sufficient supply of grain from Hanzhong precisely to be prepared for any contingency. Now that we are besieged in Lueyang and army morale is flagging, taking stock of the grain at this moment serves to let the officers and men of the three armies know that there is ample food in the city. Through this measure, we can stabilize military morale."

Cai Shun was startled. "So Your Excellency had made preparations long ago! Truly, you provide for a rainy day before it comes. This subordinate is deeply impressed."

In truth, what grain did Zhang Chi have? He had simply instructed Du Ximing to personally take trusted guards, and over the past few days, whenever the dead of night arrived, they would quietly fill empty rice sacks with sand, topping them off with a thin layer of white rice.

Du Ximing had long since dispatched soldiers to cordon off the perimeter of the open area. Nominally, this was said to prevent any scramble for provisions among the troops, but in reality, it was to keep people from getting close enough to discover the trick.

Sand was, after all, sand; anyone who got close could easily tell the difference. But who could possibly know from a distance?

Hearing rumors over the past few days that there was alternative grain reserves, most of the ordinary soldiers in the city had been skeptical. Today, however, seeing such a vast quantity of white rice with their own eyes, everyone's heart was set at ease.

Du Ximing had spent the past few days loading plenty of sand. The measuring process lasted from morning until afternoon, and as dusk approached, Du Ximing finally came forward to report, "Reporting to the Governor: there are currently nearly twenty thousand dan of grain remaining in the city, which is enough to feed the army for a month."

Upon hearing these words, it was as if the officers and men throughout the entire city had swallowed a pill of absolute reassurance.

A month! If they held out like this, the first to be worn down and collapse might well be the besieging enemy army.

Zhang Chi nodded with satisfaction and said, "The Hu tribes think our army is out of food, which plays right into my strategy. In a few more days, when the Hu forces fail to break the siege, their morale will inevitably scatter. At that time, our main army will charge out and make straight for Qinzhou!"

All the generals roared in approval.

The purpose of Zhang Chi's actions was, on the one hand, to stabilize military morale, and on the other, to use this method to flush out who the traitor was.

At the third watch of the night, Zhang Chi and the generals still had not slept and were gathered together. San Tong said, "Brother Zhang, could it be that you guessed wrong? Otherwise, why is there still no movement at this hour?"

"What do you know?" Daoxuan retorted. "Big Brother Zhang's strategies have always been infallible. Don't be impatient; wait a little longer and the truth will reveal itself."

Just as Daoxuan's voice faded, Du Ximing walked in and reported, "Just as the Young Master anticipated, the grain officer Cai Shun took advantage of the cover of night and secretly slipped out of the city just now."

Zhang Chi smiled and nodded.

In fact, back when Ding Yizhi first mentioned there was a traitor within the army, Zhang Chi had firmly refused to believe that anyone among his closest circle could be problematic. Whichever of these people followed him was as close as a brother of flesh and blood. Yet, from that very moment onward, Zhang Chi had already suspected that grain officer Cai Shun was the traitor.

Furthermore, the situation was likely far from simple.

Zhang Chi had sent fast couriers to urge the delivery of grain several times, yet the provisions from Shu still failed to arrive. Cai Shun was the grain officer in his own army; even if he were a traitor, he could not single-handedly influence the dispatch of grain from Shu.

And it was all too coincidental that Shu repeatedly failed to transport the grain, and right at this very juncture, the Hu tribes laid their trap. It was highly likely that certain figures within Shu were also inextricably implicated.

"Young Master, since you guessed long ago that Cai Shun was the traitor, why didn't you order me to capture him when he secretly fled the city?" Du Ximing asked.

"If we captured him, how could he help us pass a message to the Hu tribes?" Zhang Chi smiled.

"Pass a message? Brother Zhang, what message do you want to send to the Hu people?" San Tong asked, uncomprehendingly.

At this moment, Ding Yizhi smiled and said, "My elder brother's strategy is known as sowing discord through the enemy's own agent. The grain officer Cai Shun colluded with the Hu tribes as a traitor, informing them that our army lacked provisions, which is why the Hu forces besieged the city without attacking. Now, Cai Shun mistakenly believes our army has grain, and enough for a full month at that. Once he informs the Hu tribes, they will inevitably alter their strategy. And as soon as the Hu forces make a move, flaws will naturally appear. At that time, our main army will have the opportunity to escape and survive."

"Truly a brilliant strategy!" San Tong exclaimed.

"Ha! Mostly because you're too foolish. Didn't you just say Big Brother Zhang guessed wrong?" Daoxuan had always enjoyed bantering with San Tong.

"The situation is not quite that optimistic," Qin Bo stepped forward to say. "Judging from our observations over the past few days, although the Hu army lacks the strength to capture the city in the short term, they indeed possess a numerical advantage. If we wish to break out, it will by no means be easy."

"Moreover, what the Hu tribes fear most is our retreating back to Liangzhou Pass. Therefore, they have deployed heavy guards along the route of our return," Du Ximing added. "Even if we disrupt the Hu plans and force them to attack the city prematurely, withdrawing back to Liangzhou Pass will still be no simple task."

Qin Bo and Du Ximing were well-versed in military formations, and their understanding of military affairs was the highest among everyone present. Hearing their analysis, Zhang Chi furrowed his brow, looking troubled.

"Thinking too much now is of no use. Once the Hu tribes come to attack the city, we must closely observe their troop deployments before making plans to break through," Zhang Chi mused for a moment, realizing this was the only course of action.

Sure enough, grain officer Cai Shun proved to be a traitor to the Hu tribes. He fled the city in the dead of night, and by dawn the next day, the Hu forces had launched their assault on the city.

Yao Shuode had originally intended to starve Zhang Chi to death by trapping him in an empty city, but this strategy had collapsed due to the discovery that Zhang Chi had ample provisions. Consequently, Yao Shuode had cursed Cai Shun until he was utterly disgraced.

Even so, Yao Shuode swore an oath to ensure that Zhang Chi never made it back to Hanzhong.

The reason Yao Shuode was driven to such ruthless determination was, of course, to wash away his previous shame.

He considered himself the most formidable and battle-tested general of Later Qin, ever victorious in battle and invincible in attack, having rendered monumental service to the expansion of Later Qin. Yet, he had suffered his maiden defeat at the hands of Zhang Chi.

And that was not even the most humiliating part; the most humiliating thing was that his elite cavalry of three hundred thousand troops had actually been defeated by Zhang Chi's mere tens of thousands of infantrymen. How could he swallow this insult?

Therefore, he issued the order: "The entire army is to attack the city! But the ambush force cutting off Lueyang and Liangzhou Pass must on no account be moved. We must not give the Jin people any chance of returning to Hanzhong!"

He was determined to make Zhang Chi die right here!

In this campaign, the Hu tribes had clearly made preparations beforehand, getting everything thoroughly arranged, while Zhang Chi had marched out of Liangzhou Pass completely unaware. How could he not suffer defeat? Yet now, with the city of Lueyang in their hands, the Hu forces could not easily breach it either. After a full day of fierce and bloody combat along the ramparts, they still failed to take the city.

As evening descended, the Hu troops finally withdrew one by one.

Although they had held the city for the day, what Qin Bo had said atop the ramparts prevented anyone from feeling any joy: "We sent out over a dozen scouts today, but only one returned. According to the scout's report, heavy enemy forces are still guarding the southern route. What shall we do?"

Zhang Chi stood atop the city tower, gazing down at the scattered corpses of the Hu soldiers who had died attacking the city. He shook his head, utterly devoid of any solution.

The Hu forces were numerous; even if they piled up corpses, there would eventually come a day when those bodies reached the top of the ramparts. Besides, the provisions within his city could not possibly last until that day.

Du Ximing, who had directed the defense of the city all day long, was covered in dust and grime. He said, "Young Master, continuing like this is no solution. Although the morale of the soldiers in the city is firm, in a few days we will run out of food anyway. By then, breaking through the siege will be out of the question."

Everyone was at their wits' end when Zhao Qian suddenly stepped forward and said, "Reporting to the Governor: this subordinate has a plan."

"Oh? Let's hear it."

"Currently, we are surrounded by the main Hu army. Breaking out through conventional means will undoubtedly be exceedingly difficult. However, I reckon that although the Hu forces are numerous, they are ultimately limited. Enclosing all four sides like an iron barrel is unlikely; I suspect that to prevent the Governor from breaking through and retreating, the Hu army has concentrated greater manpower between Lueyang and Liangzhou Pass."

This was self-evident. Zhao Qian continued, "If I lead eight thousand death-defying soldiers under cover of night and launch a full-scale assault directly toward the direction of Qinzhou City—in this direction, the Hu troop numbers are smaller, and in the dark of night, they will not be able to discern the exact size of my force, inevitably mistaking us for the Governor's main army."

Zhang Chi already grasped Zhao Qian's intent, but Zhao Qian went on, "With me launching a feint attack, the Hu forces will believe the Governor's main army is about to attack Qinzhou City, and their main forces will inevitably be mobilized. At that time, the Governor can break through toward Liangzhou Pass."

It was indeed a brilliant strategy, but if he did this, how could Zhao Qian possibly return alive from such a mission?

Seeing Zhang Chi hesitate, Zhao Qian assumed Zhang Chi was worried the plan might fail, and added, "From the very beginning, the Governor leaked the news to the Hu tribes through the grain officer, claiming our army had ample provisions and that after stalemating with the Hu forces for several days, our army would march directly to take Qinzhou. Now, if I attack under the cover of night, the Hu forces will surely believe it to be true!"

"I do not think the strategy is bad; I am merely concerned that if you launch a feint against Qinzhou, it will be difficult for you to escape unscathed," Zhang Chi said.

Zhao Qian smiled faintly and replied, "My Lord Governor, I, Zhao Qian, am a descendant of the famous Three Kingdoms general Zhao Yun, and I value loyalty and righteousness above all else. Had it not been for the Young Master, I would merely have been a low-ranking officer in Shu, and it is doubtful whether I would ever have truly commanded troops in a real battle before my die. A warrior dies for one who truly knows him. Even if I, Zhao Qian, cannot escape this time, I do it willingly and without regret."

With that, Zhao Qian turned to Dark Edge and said, "Before I met the Young Master, I committed offenses against the 'Humble Clans'. Today, I only hope I can redeem myself through meritorious service."

Dark Edge's expression remained icy cold, showing not a flicker of change.

When Zhao Qian said he had committed offenses against the Humble Clans, he was naturally referring to the fact that before following Zhang Chi, while serving under Badong Commandery, he had indeed slaughtered quite a few members of the Humble Clans. When Zhang Chi first arrived in Shu and met Dark Edge, wasn't it Zhao Qian who had led troops to encircle and suppress the Humble Clan stronghold?

Originally, Zhao Qian had indeed been tainted by the airs of officialdom in Shu, but ever since following Zhang Chi, his transformation had been undeniable.

"Don't be rash. Let's think further to see if there are any other ways," leading others to court mortal danger was simply not Zhang Chi's style.

"Governor!" Zhao Qian said loudly, "The situation is now critical. If we delay making a decision and the grain runs out, we—"