Chapter Nine: The Plan Unfolds (Part Two)

"Is this news reliable?" A powerful voice resounded within the tent.

"Guo Bao was beaten in front of the troops early this morning, many saw it. The insults were harsh. But by afternoon, Yang Qingyun went to find Guo Bao, asking him to command the group of prisoners. It doesn’t look like a ruse."

"Excellent! Heaven is clearly on my side! This is a great opportunity. Ha ha ha ha!" Pang Yuan, whose brows had been tightly knit for days, finally relaxed.

Last night, the man he had been negotiating with was none other than Guo Bao.

He had harbored doubts about the matter, not expecting much.

But unexpectedly, the situation turned around, offering hope.

"Hmph, Yang Qingyun, Yang Qingyun. Truly a hopeless fool—without Su Qing, Great Ming is nothing but a fat sheep awaiting slaughter."

Indeed, as Pang Yuan anticipated, Guo Bao appeared in his tent again the following night.

Suppressing his mirth, Pang Yuan maintained a calm face, saying, "General, you’ve just been promoted to command troops—why do you appear in my tent?"

Guo Bao’s anger flared at these words. He slammed the table, shattering it into pieces.

"Heh, General now stands second only to the commander in the army. Who dares provoke you so?" Pang Yuan continued his mocking tone.

"Yang Qingyun, that bastard, I must cut him into a thousand pieces. He humiliated me in front of everyone. If I don’t skin him alive, I swear I’m not Guo Bao!" Guo Bao’s eyes blazed, his words spat through clenched teeth.

Pang Yuan remained unmoved, probing, "Even if you desire vengeance, you don’t have command of the army. As long as Yang Qingyun doesn’t issue the order, your forty thousand men remain useless."

Guo Bao sneered, then articulated each word: "That’s not up to him."

"What do you mean, General? Do you have a way to force Yang Qingyun to deploy the troops?" For the first time, Pang Yuan felt drawn in.

After all, forty thousand men out of reach were worthless; conversing with such was a waste. Yet Guo Bao’s meaning was clear: he had a way to lead men out of Chenghao and engage the allied forces.

Seeing Pang Yuan’s eagerness, Guo Bao looked at him with contempt. "Didn’t you just mock me a moment ago, old man? Why so anxious now?"

"Ah, my worthy brother, you misunderstand. I was merely considering your safety. Imagine—if you acted impulsively in the city and something went wrong, Yang Qingyun wouldn’t spare you.

I was only thinking of your wellbeing. But now you have a solid plan. I am truly glad for you."

Pang Yuan, having lived over a century, was no mere brute. Sensing the shift, he immediately addressed Guo Bao as a brother.

Guo Bao’s expression softened as he revealed his plan: "Tomorrow, I’ll join others in submitting a joint petition. Most of the commanders are dissatisfied with Yang Qingyun and have grown resentful toward him.

Besides, Old General Pang, you’ve placed quite a few agents among the troops. Since those forty thousand prisoners were released, their treatment has been vastly inferior to regular soldiers.

They’ve long resented Yang Qingyun, that useless general. I believe once they’re out, they’ll flock to your banner."

"Good! Good! Good!" Pang Yuan could not help but clap his hands in delight.

"In that case, I’ll await the good news. May all go well for you, General."

"Very well." Guo Bao rose to leave, then paused at the tent’s entrance. "This time, Guo Bao is truly partnering with Old General Pang. I hope you don’t do anything to disappoint me and our brothers."

With that, he vanished into the night.

Pang Yuan gazed at the scattered wood chips in silence, but his fervor could not be concealed.

He was old now, and as many coveted his position, just as many wished for his defeat at the hands of Ming. This campaign could only end in victory.

Chenghao General’s Mansion, secret chamber

"How did the negotiations go?"

"That old rascal Pang Yuan suspects nothing. I’m sure it will succeed."

"I’ve already found the names for the joint petition. I’ve checked their backgrounds. Amidst the chaos, make sure to eliminate them. This is the perfect opportunity to reorganize the General’s Mansion."

"Yes."

"Go on, you have plenty to do. When it’s done, I’ll treat you to a three-day feast."

"Marshal, you must keep your word! No backing out!"

"Go, go, when have I ever reneged on my promises to you? Get to your tasks."

"Yes."

Listening to Guo Bao’s departing footsteps, Su Qing sighed deeply. "If this battle truly succeeds, it’ll be at least twenty years before the Three Kingdoms attempt another invasion of this scale."

Two days later

"Marshal, we humbly petition to deploy troops and battle that old Pang Yuan to the death. Please grant us your blessing!" Aside from Yang Tingyu, Guo Bao and two others knelt before the assembled commanders, begging for action.

"Very well! Since you wish to fight, take more men with you." Su Qing sat at the head, watching the others with amusement.

Seeing many faces pale at his words, he found it all the more entertaining.

He brought out the prepared list and began to read it aloud.

Everyone who heard their name trembled, barely able to stand.

Some even knelt, pleading with Su Qing, citing the dangers of deployment.

But Su Qing was not swayed.

He addressed the loudest objector, "Since your argument is so sound, why not simply surrender?"

As soon as he finished, the man was stunned. About to reply, Su Qing waved his hand: "Guards! Drag this traitorous dog out and punish him according to military law."

Amid the man’s screams and pleas, Su Qing questioned again, "Does anyone have any objections to this deployment?"

The others exchanged glances, not daring to utter a word.

Good heavens, he asks for opinions just after dragging someone out—only a fool would dissent.

"Since none of you object, tomorrow those mentioned will accompany Yuwen Qi, Guo Bao, and the others to face the enemy." Su Qing’s sharp gaze swept across the room, making their faces ache.

"Go about your duties, then. If there’s nothing else, no need to stay for lunch with me."

At Su Qing’s words, the group fled the General’s Mansion, terrified they’d end up on the death list.

Watching their hasty retreat, Su Qing laughed and said to Yang Tingyu, "Look at them—how are they supposed to face an army of fifty thousand? Yang Qingyun certainly knows how to pick his people."

Yang Tingyu nodded in agreement. "Marshal, to be honest, since Yang Qingyun took your place, our military campaigns have rarely succeeded. Many officials here bought their way in.

They think only of bribing superiors, never considering that if Ming falls, they’ll have no home."

Su Qing stretched lazily, sighing, "Indeed! The Ministry of Revenue always complains about the military’s silver needs, and the Ministry of Rites often disparages us before the emperor.

These decrepit old fools—if Ming falls, they’ll surrender at once."

He turned to Yang Tingyu. "Remember when we fought Qian?"

Yang Tingyu’s eyes flashed with killing intent. "How could I forget? It’s etched in my bones. Qian was poor and weak, yet it took us three years to uproot them, a humiliation I’ll never forget."

Su Qing mused, "Who would have thought these frail scholars would throw open the gates for us at the critical moment?"

Yang Tingyu scoffed, "‘A wise bird chooses its tree,’ ‘the right ruler’—just excuses for cowardice."

He added, "Why does the emperor trust these people, while loyal subjects like us can never rise?"

"The emperor knows our loyalty," Su Qing sneered. "But he must appease the aristocratic clans. If they rebel, the empire would be in chaos.

To stabilize the court, he must heed their words. Some can be killed, some cannot. Without their support, the founding emperor could never have risen from a border general to the ruler of Ming."

Yang Tingyu was left in a daze.

Su Qing patted his shoulder with heartfelt advice, "Don’t just learn military tactics—there’s much more to know. I’ve lived so long and still haven’t figured it all out, nor do I care to now.

But you have time. Living well is what matters."

"Marshal…" Yang Tingyu hesitated, sensing a hidden meaning, but could not quite grasp it.

"Enough, nothing more needs to be said. Go now," Su Qing waved him off.

Yang Tingyu, unable to guess further, bowed and withdrew. "I’ll take my leave."

The next day at the fifth hour

After days of thick fog, dawn finally saw it dissipate. The two armies stirred from their silence.

Pang Yuan led the Three Kingdoms coalition: four hundred thousand strong. The center held two hundred thousand infantry; each wing fielded fifty thousand cavalry. In the rear lurked a hundred thousand archers and hundreds of catapults.

Guo Bao’s forty thousand prisoners were disorderly, their formations riddled with flaws.

No bugle had sounded, yet the outcome was already clear.

Pang Yuan raised his hand, prepared to issue the command, but suddenly heard Guo Bao’s voice.

Guo Bao unleashed his inner strength and shouted, "Brothers! Why did we become soldiers? Was it not for a meal, for survival?

But now Yang Qingyun treats us as less than human. He knows we’ll die on the battlefield, yet sends us anyway. Should he not die?"

"He should! He should!" Someone began the cry, and soon forty thousand prisoners roared in unison.

Seeing his words take effect, Guo Bao stoked the fire, "After being released, we’re still treated unequally—watching others feast while we eat scraps like dead dogs. Are you content?"

Above, Su Qing said to Yang Tingyu, "Guo Bao’s oratory needs work. If I hadn’t planted nearly a thousand agents among the prisoners as amplifiers, he might not have stirred them so."

"So Marshal planned it all along. My worries were unfounded," Yang Tingyu admitted, relieved that Su Qing had foreseen everything.

On Pang Yuan’s side

"Marshal, shall we attack?" his deputy asked cautiously.

Pang Yuan sneered, "They’re tearing themselves apart—why should we intervene?"

"What do you mean, Marshal?" The deputy barely finished before chaos erupted among the Ming forces.

The Ming army, prepared to fight to the death, began slaughtering each other.

"Ha ha, General Guo, I’ve received your gift!" Pang Yuan beamed, watching the approaching mass of defectors.

On the Ming side

"General Guo, you—!" The other commanders were stunned by Guo Bao’s words.

They had long been bribed by Wei, expecting no hope of survival today. Hearing Guo Bao’s intent to defect, he seemed their savior.

But then Guo Bao’s words pushed them into the abyss.

"These dog officers who have oppressed you are right before you—let’s execute them together.

Then, I’ll lead you to Old General Pang, who has promised me that anyone who follows will enjoy the same food and clothing as the rest of the Ming army.

If you want such a life, follow me. I pledge my head as collateral—I will not break my word."

With that, Guo Bao drew his sword and, catching the traitorous deputy off guard, beheaded him.

That man had bought his post and colluded with Wei for a year, selling out Ming’s secrets. He had little strength, which made his death so easy.

This set the tone for the prisoners’ defection. Seeing Guo Bao so easily kill a commander, they turned on their own oppressors.

Within the time it takes to brew tea, all the commanders save Guo Bao lay dead.

Yuwen Qi and Wu Jian had already slipped into the city as the battle began.

The three stood behind Su Qing, awaiting his command.

"Enough, Guo Bao has staged his play. Now it’s time to end it. Let’s go." Su Qing rose slowly from his grand chair and strolled toward the General’s Mansion.