Chapter 117: Hot Pot

The defensive shields were as flimsy as paper, shattering and cracking under the assault, utterly unable to hold.

"Loose arrows!" Xu Shu commanded from his vantage point, his expression impassive.

The hidden troops on both sides tightened their bowstrings. The dense, sharp glint of the arrowheads filled the air with despair. Though the blood sprayed across the ground was quickly evaporated by the raging fires, it still stained the earth a deep crimson.

Sun Fu roared, gritting his teeth as he lifted the corpse of a fallen soldier to shield himself. Countless arrows embedded themselves into the body, while his own right arm bled incessantly.

"Retreat! Fall back!"

Han Dang bellowed, his warhorse galloping at full speed. The soldiers scrambled over one another in a desperate bid for survival.

Ling Tong pushed himself up, his body burning with pain, yet the silence of his suffering was even more unbearable.

"Liu Bei!!"

"General Guan, it is your turn to pursue."

"Charge!"

Sun Ben’s entire army was stationed outside the valley pass. They could already hear the thunder of hooves, and as a battered troop of soldiers burst from the pass, he instantly recognized Han Dang at their head.

"General, this way!"

"Clear a path!"

The troops immediately parted. Han Dang charged into the formation, followed by the stragglers and defeated soldiers emerging from the valley. Sun Ben knew, looking at the situation, that the losses this time were likely immense.

"Kill!"

Another troop burst forth from the valley. Their leader wielded a serpent-headed spear, his thick brows and leopard-like eyes conveying a presence as loud as thunder.

"Halt!" Xu Shu commanded. Zhang Fei immediately pulled on his reins. "Sir, why do we not pursue?!"

Xu Shu replied, "Look. These troops are composed, and their formation does not resemble that of a freshly defeated army. To pursue rashly might lead us into an ambush."

"Let us return."

"Those rats! Your grandpa here hasn't had his fill of killing yet! If you dare come again, I will make sure you learn the true power of my serpent-headed spear!"

At the Xia Cai military camp:

"Where is Ling Tong?"

"Commander Ling has taken troops to retrieve the body of General Ling Cao."

"Very well. What are the casualties?"

"Over forty thousand troops. One thousand lightly wounded, five thousand severely wounded. Total casualties exceed thirty thousand..."

*Cough!* Han Dang’s body trembled slightly, and he nodded. "You may go."

"Yes, this subordinate withdraws."

The generals within the camp all wore dejected, soot-stained expressions. Han Dang looked at them and asked, "Do any of you have anything to say?"

The generals remained silent; they all knew the stinging pain of this defeat.

"Everyone leave. Sun Ben, stay behind."

"We shall take our leave."

"Sun Ben, how did you know this strategy was an ambush?" Han Dang asked, his hair disheveled.

"Reporting to the General, it was because the advisor Kuai Yue told me. He informed me that it was highly likely we would be ambushed and ordered me to lead troops to the valley entrance to provide support."

"Kuai Yue? If he knew, why did he not come to inform me?! If he knew, why did he not try to dissuade me? If he had, how could our army have suffered such heavy losses!" Han Dang roared, his face flushed with uncontrollable rage.

"Summon him to see me!"

"Yes." Sun Ben bowed and exited the tent, while Han Dang continued to cough violently.

"I, Kuai Yue, pay my respects to the General." Kuai Yue stepped into the tent and bowed.

"Since you knew it was a trap, why didn't you warn me sooner!"

"General, I had already cautioned you. This was your own lapse in judgment."

"That night, you could have clearly come to offer advice, but you did not! It is obvious you deliberately stayed silent, wanting to see me make a fool of myself!" Han Dang raged. "These are the lives of thirty thousand men! Kuai Yue, how could you be so cruel!"

"I wished to advise you, but the General’s guards drove me away," Kuai Yue replied coldly. "General, if you wish to find a scapegoat, I cannot accept such a label. In the military, soldiers only follow orders. You cannot blame me for flawed decision-making. You personally signed a military pledge before the Prime Minister; I suggest you look to your own affairs."

*Cough!* "Get out!"

"I take my leave."

Kuai Yue stepped out of the tent. Outside, a general was squatting by a pile of flint. "A real man, even if he suffers a setback, should not be so sentimental. Why are you crying?"

"Greetings, Advisor."

"Sit." Kuai Yue stared blankly at the fire. "Our hope of conquering Xuzhou is likely gone."

Ling Tong’s expression was ferocious. "Even if we lost this time, we will send troops again. I will peel the skin and pull the bones from Liu Bei!"

"Child, get some rest. On the battlefield, one can lose their life at any moment. It is a tool for rulers to contend with one another, and a tragedy for the common people. No matter when—today or in the future—no one can stop it. It may be contained, but it will inevitably erupt."

"And it is precisely because of this that heroes emerge. Today, there was a hero who, for the sake of his son, made the most difficult decision a human could ever make."

In Xiangyang, at the Prime Minister’s mansion:

Sun Ce’s expression was ghastly, his heart filled with seething rage. Cai Yan sat timidly to the side, not daring to make a single move.

"Seventy thousand troops! They haven't been on the battlefield for a month, and he has squandered thirty thousand! What use is he? What use is he!"

"Husband, perhaps it was just a lapse in the General's judgment. Please, do not be angry..."

"Shut up!"

"I, Zhou Yu, pay my respects to the Prime Minister." Zhou Yu bowed to Sun Ce. "The Prime Minister seems to be in low spirits today. May I ask why?"

"See for yourself."

Zhou Yu remained standing. Sun Ce shouted, "Everyone, withdraw!"

"Yes."

Once they had gone, Zhou Yu picked up the bamboo slips. "Thirty thousand troops. It is not beyond my expectations. How does the Prime Minister intend to deal with the General?"

"How else? He signed a military pledge himself. By the law, he shall be beheaded!"

Zhou Yu smiled faintly as he put the slips away. "Prime Minister, General Han Dang is a rare martial talent. Even for the sake of our great cause, you should spare his life. Furthermore, since he has suffered a defeat, this is the perfect opportunity to win over hearts and minds."

"Military power and the loyalty of a minister are worth a life to any ruler."

"To become a great sovereign requires more than just a heart full of passion and decisiveness; one must also deliberate carefully."

"Your sophistry is endless!" Sun Ce retorted.

Zhou Yu smiled. "This 'sophistry' is a mandatory lesson for the rulers of all ages."

"Order the army to retreat!"

The army marched across the snowy landscape. The vast white snow sparkled under the brilliant sun. The clean tree branches, frozen through a long winter, were about to sprout new buds, signaling the end of the winter season. Not far off, the city walls of Chibi could be seen.

"Ahead is Chibi. From there, we reach Baling. That is the territory of Han Xuan." Lu Meng pulled out a waterskin and took a sip. "I wonder if that old fellow I’m looking for is still in Baling!"

"That general is named Huang Zhong. His archery is peerless; he can pierce a willow leaf at a hundred paces." Jiang Wen sat on his horse, which moved at a leisurely pace. "Han Xuan also has a fierce general named Wei Yan. If we can win these two over, they would add great strength to Bo Fu."

"That old man can pierce a willow leaf at a hundred paces? Won't his eyes be too dim?"

"Don't underestimate him just because he is old. Huang Zhong is a formidable veteran; it is only a pity that he serves an unwise master," Jiang Wen said, holding the reins with a smile. "Speaking of which, Zhao Fan has an incredibly beautiful concubine. Zi Ming, aren't you worried about not finding a partner?"

Lu Meng rolled his eyes. "To be honest, I find that Changsu is quite serious sometimes, but then his brain suddenly seems to go haywire."

"If I were serious all the time, could I be your trusted friend?" Jiang Wen suddenly shouted, "The great river flows east, waves wash away, the romantic figures of the ages!"

"To the west of the ancient fortress, they say, is the Red Cliff of Zhou Lang of the Three Kingdoms."

"Jagged rocks pierce the sky, startled waves pound the shore, rolling up a thousand piles of snow."

"The landscape is like a painting, how many heroes in their time!"

"Thinking back to Gongjin in those days, Xiao Qiao had just married, his spirit and bearing majestic."

"With a feather fan and silk kerchief, amidst laughter and talk, the enemy’s masts and oars were reduced to ash and smoke."

"A soul wandering through the ancient kingdom, the sentimental should laugh at me, for my hair has turned gray early."

"Life is like a dream, let me pour a cup of wine to the river moon."

Though there is no grand feat here of Zhou Yu defeating Cao Cao, being able to crush the four regional lords in the land of Chibi and overcome the strong with the weak is sufficient.

Lu Meng looked at Jiang Wen, frowning. The poem felt distinctly odd, but he remained silent. After reciting it, Jiang Wen sighed slowly; it truly felt like a soul wandering through an ancient land.

"Is the General composing poetry?" Gan Ning rode his horse quickly to Jiang Wen’s side.

"No, this is a lyric."

Gan Ning smiled. "I come from a background as a mountain bandit, and I respect scholars the most. However, those who were merely famous in name have already become ghosts under my halberd. If we win a great victory this time, I want the General to compose a poem for me!"

"Very well. Since you have asked, Gan Ning, I shall not refuse."

"General, intelligence from the Xuzhou army!"

Jiang Wen opened the bamboo tube, read the letter, and couldn't help but sigh. "I thought that with Kuai Yue accompanying them, the losses wouldn't be heavy, but I still underestimated the situation."

Lu Meng asked from the side, "What does the letter say?"

"They were ambushed at Gaixia, with over thirty thousand casualties. This expedition to Xuzhou is effectively a defeat. The Prime Minister has already recalled the troops."

"Han Dang is in for a headache this time. Given Bo Fu's temper, he should be losing his head, but I didn't expect such a disastrous defeat in less than a month." Lu Meng sighed. "If these generals weren't so power-hungry, perhaps such a crushing defeat wouldn't have happened."

"Speed up the march! We must reach Baling within five days!"

"Yes!"

In the region of Changsha:

Several years had passed since the defeat at Chibi. Han Xuan had been recuperating for a long time and now held over twenty-five thousand troops.

Han Xuan was eating river fish when a soldier entered.

"Report! Baling is requesting reinforcements!"

"Who is stationed at Baling?"

"Reporting to the General, it is General Huang Zhong."

"Fine. Send more troops and provisions to Baling. Order Huang Zhong not to engage in battle lightly and to defend the city strictly. Sun Ce’s army has traveled so far; their supply lines must be strained. We only need to hold out, and Jiang Wen will surely retreat!"

"Yes, I shall see to it immediately."

"Go!"

Huang Zhong let out a soft cry. *Swish!* The soldiers shouting insults outside the gate quickly retreated.

After stowing his bow and arrows, Huang Zhong returned to the city.

The snow had begun to melt, and the weather was several degrees colder than when it had been snowing. In Jiang Wen's tent, hot soup was boiling, and several soldiers were drinking to warm their stomachs.

Although he had advocated for a rapid attack, when a general is in the field, all decisions rest with Jiang Wen.

The soldiers were also busy boiling soup and sitting together by the fire.

"General Jiang is truly generous to his soldiers. When I followed General Cheng Pu into battle, he insisted on attacking during heavy snow. It was so cold we couldn't even hold our blades, and our bodies were covered in frostbite. It’s nothing like now, where we can even have soup."

"I heard that General Jiang has never lost a battle; he’s invincible, and every time he fights, the losses are minimal."

Lu Meng smiled as he walked into the tent. Taishi Ci, Gan Ning, Jiang Qin, and Zhou Tai all stood up to salute.

Lu Meng found a seat and saw a large cauldron, the bottom burning red with a rolling, boiling hot soup. "What is this?"

Jiang Wen smiled and said, "A pot. Unlike a clay pot, this one is made of iron. I spent quite a bit of money having a craftsman in Xiangyang make it. This dish is called hot pot, and it is most comforting to eat when the weather is cold."

"The flavors are already prepared; you just need to put the vegetables in and cook them to eat."

Lu Meng picked up his bowl and chopsticks, dipped a piece of mutton into the bowl, and ate it, but immediately spat it out because it was so hot. "Only you. Others are on pins and needles when they go to war, thinking of nothing but how to break the enemy. It is rare to see someone eat so peacefully."

"War is war, and eating is eating. Besides, since Huang Zhong is guarding the city so stubbornly, even if we wanted to attack, we have no way to do so. It is better to wait for the enemy to tire himself out."

"But this is not a long-term solution. Delaying too long is disadvantageous to us. You know the provisions have to be transported from so far away; we cannot just sit here and wait for death," Lu Meng said after eating a piece of mutton. "Delicious!"

Gan Ning and the other generals were eating this type of food for the first time and found it even more delicious. Once they started, they couldn't stop.

They usually ate roasted meat, and this fresh way of cooking was a first for them.

"This hot pot method is similar to 'mao cai'. I was patrolling the camp outside just now, and all the way here, everyone was praising you. I’m wondering what you actually did; tell me about it."

Jiang Wen took a sip of water and said, "It’s very simple: treat them as human beings, not just as soldiers meant to charge and die on the battlefield. Govern the army with strictness, but soothe the troops with kindness."

"Also, although Huang Zhong is guarding the city, it is not as if I have no way to deal with him. The snow has already begun to melt in the vicinity these past few days."

In Baling, at General Huang Zhong’s residence:

Huang Zhong was eating a side dish when a soldier saluted and said, "Reporting to the General, the enemy troops have been constantly entering the nearby hills to dig up snow in recent days."

"Digging up snow? They think this is a place for them to rest, playing with snow like children? Ignore them. Since they aren't attacking the city, just pretend you don't see them."

A snow flood is no small disaster; its destructiveness is on par with a mudslide, and Baling is located right by the river.

"My Lord, My Lord! They have broken camp and retreated ten miles!"

Huang Zhong stood on the city wall and gazed into the distance. Indeed, he could vaguely see tents on the more distant hills. Regardless of what they were plotting, retreating ten miles was hardly a reason to lure him out of the city.

The temperature had risen in recent days, and the cold was no longer as biting.

Sun Ce’s troops were truly interesting—coming here to play with snow for nearly a month, and then retreating ten miles. It was almost laughable.

*BOOM!*

A sudden, muffled, and earth-shattering roar startled everyone awake. Soldiers ran out of their tents, while Huang Zhong stood on the city wall and watched as a massive wave of water surged down from the distant mountain peaks, mixed with vast amounts of ice and snow.

The immense force slammed into the city gate, shattering it instantly.