Chapter Twelve: Strategic Guidelines
Dong Zhuo’s fleshy face twitched as he glared furiously at the assembled ministers. Though his body was corpulent, he leapt nimbly to his feet. “Where is my son Lü Bu?”
“Your son is here!”
“Convey my command. Take one hundred and fifty thousand troops and march at once to Hulao Pass. I want the head of that boy Sun Jian as a trophy for my wine jar!”
“Yes, Father. I accept the order!”
That night, a biting wind swept the land. The generals’ horn bows grew stiff with cold, and even the protectors’ iron armor seemed unendurably frigid. Ten soldiers sat huddled around a fire, seeking warmth as the flames crackled and popped.
In the pot, broth bubbled and simmered, the aroma of minced meat wafting through the camp. Jiang Wen, clad in thick cloth, perched atop his horse, a line of wagons trailing behind him.
“Greetings, Assistant Commander…”
“Greetings, Assistant Commander…”
The surrounding soldiers all saluted Jiang Wen, while Tao’er’s face shone with pride, flushed with excitement as she gazed in delight at the troops.
Jiang Wen dismounted and beckoned to the soldiers behind him. “Go now. Distribute these firewood bundles to the prisoners. Remember, no beating or abuse.”
“Yes, sir!”
Tao’er stood beside Jiang Wen, breathing into her hands for warmth. “Young Master, why give them the firewood? Aren’t they Dong Zhuo’s men?”
Jiang Wen replied quietly, “Soldiers obey their generals. As the saying goes: ‘A timid soldier is just one; a timid general makes his whole army timid.’ A commander shapes his troops: under Dong Zhuo, they’re bullies; under General Sun Jian, they’d become lions and wolves. Strip away their armor, and they’re common folk like anyone else.”
Tao’er giggled. “Young Master, you truly are a good man.”
Jiang Wen smiled faintly. “Go back to camp on your own in a moment. I have matters to discuss with the general.”
“Yes, sir.”
In Sun Jian’s main camp, the general and his veteran lieutenants were roasting meat to celebrate their great victory.
“It’s a pity we can’t drink wine—meat tastes bland without it. Here, Da Rong, this piece is ready.”
“Brother Gongfu, I haven’t been feeling well these past days. You have it instead.”
Sun Jian flicked a piece of roast meat into Cheng Pu’s bowl. “Here, Demou.”
“Thank you, General.”
“General, Assistant Commander Jiang Wen requests an audience at the gate!”
“Oh? Perhaps he smelled the roasting meat and wants to join our feast?”
“Haha! That lad is clever—I like him very much,” Cheng Pu said with a hearty laugh, tearing into the roasted meat.
Sun Jian nodded in agreement. After all, Jiang Wen had advised turning away Dong Zhuo’s imperial edict and suggested executing Li Jue. More importantly, Jiang Wen held no real power, which had already won the old generals’ favor.
Sun Jian smiled. “Bofu, go invite him in and prepare another set of bowls and chopsticks.”
“Yes, Father!” Sun Ce quickly finished his meat, wiped the grease from his face, and stepped out of the tent.
Jiang Wen saluted Sun Ce. “Greetings, Brother Bofu.”
Sun Ce chuckled. “My father is roasting meat. Will you join us, Changsu?”
Jiang Wen shook his head. “Bofu, I must discuss important matters with General Sun. Please prepare a brazier for me, and after the celebration, when the generals depart, allow me a private audience with your father.”
“Now that our army has won a great victory, what urgent business do you have to discuss with him?”
Jiang Wen bowed solemnly. “I wish to offer counsel on the future strategy.”
Sun Ce’s expression grew serious. “I’ll inform my father. Please wait a moment.”
Sun Ce reentered the tent and whispered in Sun Jian’s ear. Sun Jian’s expression changed. Nearby, Sun Jing took a sip of water and asked, “Brother, what is it?”
“Youtai, please escort Jiang Wen to my quarters,” Sun Jian said.
“Yes, Brother.” Sun Jing saluted and excused himself from the gathering of officers.
Jiang Wen sat quietly on a cushion, the brazier burning beside him. Sun Jing sat facing him, smiling. “Though you’re younger than Bofu, your insight is rare indeed. May I ask where you are from?”
Jiang Wen replied, “I am from Fuchun County. My family was poor, and my parents died during the Yellow Turban Rebellion. My second uncle raised me thereafter.”
“So you are of humble birth. May I ask, who was your mentor? To have nurtured such wisdom, I would wish to pay my respects.”
Jiang Wen hesitated before answering, “I loved reading from a young age. If I had a teacher, it would be my father. After he taught me to read, I continued my studies on my own.”
“I see…” Sun Jing sighed with some regret. If Jiang Wen had a teacher, what a remarkable man he must have been to have produced such a student.
Sun Jian entered the tent, Sun Ce following close behind. Jiang Wen and Sun Jing immediately rose and saluted.
For the warlords of this era, all harbored ambitions for the realm, but war was not a child’s game. How and where to fight required strategy—a plan for the future.
Sun Jian dismissed Sun Jing and Sun Ce. “The rest is between me and the Assistant Commander. You two may leave.”
“Yes, sir.”
Sun Jian stood before Jiang Wen. “You told Bofu you wished to offer counsel. Speak now of your thoughts for the future.”
Jiang Wen did not answer immediately. He bowed, lifted his robes, knelt, and touched his forehead to the ground before Sun Jian. Rising, he repeated the obeisance again.
“Enough—speak your mind!” Sun Jian sat on his bed. “What matter is so grave you must show such formality?”
Jiang Wen said, “I beg you, General, to heed my advice!”
“Speak boldly. I will judge for myself.”
“Does General believe that the greatest benefit of this coalition against Dong Zhuo lies in the rewards the Emperor may bestow after his defeat? Is it the petty profits of grain and supplies seized from the rear? Is it the mustering of troops and seizing of cities after Dong Zhuo falls?”
Sun Jian frowned. “If, as you say, all those are set aside, I confess I cannot see what benefit remains.”
“Forgive my boldness, General, but the greatest benefit is a person you have never considered!”
“How dare you!” Sun Jian roared, rising to his feet. Several soldiers rushed in instantly, weapons leveled at Jiang Wen. At a single word from Sun Jian, Jiang Wen’s life would end in a heartbeat—a living man reduced to a pile of flesh.
Jiang Wen immediately prostrated himself. It was not hard to guess whom he meant—the Son of Heaven himself!
Sun Jian had dared to seize the Imperial Seal at Luoyang and not surrender it. Jiang Wen knew the tiger harbored ambitions beyond mere fealty.
Cao Cao’s success was due in large part to wielding the Emperor as a hostage to command the lords. In the early days, before he revealed his true ambition, the court believed him loyal, and countless talents flocked to his side. Xun Yu and others recommended gifted men without end. The local gentry, led by the Xun clan, strongly supported him.
To possess the Emperor was to gain an incomparable advantage in political affairs.
Yet the ambition of the tiger is what others most fear—especially when their thoughts are so plainly laid bare. In such moments, the ferocity revealed is enough to kill.
Jiang Wen knelt, neither defending himself nor daring to lift his head. He knew he had provoked the wrath of the tiger, and if death awaited, there was no hope of escape.