Chapter 24: The Art of Winning Hearts

Inside Jiang Wen’s tent, the entire room was warmed through by the fire, and the clay pot simmered with fragrant soup, filling the air with its aroma.

“Young master’s rank has risen, and the food has gotten better too. In the dead of winter, we can enjoy five-spice preserves now, when before we could only eat flatbread and drink cold water when thirsty.” Tao’er placed slices of radish and five-spice preserves before Jiang Wen. “Why did you sing that folk song in Fan City, young master?”

“In the art of war, winning hearts is paramount, besieging cities is secondary; psychological warfare outweighs military confrontation.” Jiang Wen handed his bowl to Tao’er.

Tao’er filled it with rice, setting it before Jiang Wen. “Young master, I overheard some generals say you don’t know how to fight. They claim you could have taken Xiangyang outright, but spent a month idly with Liu Biao. Now Xiangyang is ours, but Fan City still holds a hundred thousand troops. They say it was all for nothing.”

Jiang Wen nodded, picking up a piece of tofu and placing it in Tao’er’s bowl. “This tofu tastes quite good. Have a piece yourself. Don’t concern yourself with such matters in the future. Even if you hear things, act as if you didn’t, and do not discuss them with anyone.”

Tao’er paused, chewing quietly, lowering her head in silence.

A soldier burst in. “Advisor, it’s the hour of the Pig!”

Jiang Wen nodded, rinsed his bowl with water, and drank down the rest of his meal. “You may go. Also, notify yesterday’s three thousand soldiers to bring their erhus and prepare to depart with me shortly.”

Tao’er stood to help Jiang Wen with his clothes. “Young master, are you going out so late?”

Jiang Wen nodded. “This is the time when sleep eludes men. Soldiers with low morale, once idle, long for home.”

Stepping out of the tent, Jiang Wen shivered as the cold hit him. “It’s freezing!” He shrugged his shoulders.

Mounting his warhorse, he assembled with three thousand cavalrymen outside the wooden palisade. “The whole army, follow me!”

Sun Ce bowed to Sun Jian. “Father, Advisor Jiang has again left camp.”

Sun Jian nodded. “Though I allow him these actions, every time he leaves, I cannot help but worry.”

Sun Ce smiled faintly. “Father fears for his safety?”

Sun Jian laughed. “Alas, Shangxiang is still too young; we must wait a few more years. Where is Quan?”

Sun Ce replied, “My brother has gone to Uncle Youtai’s tent to study military tactics.”

“Don’t let your brother study too much. As the elder, you’re already a capable general; if the younger one follows suit, how will that work?” Sun Jian frowned. “How many days of provisions remain?”

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Sun Ce answered, “The fifty thousand bushels of grain from Yuan Shu are nearly gone, but our troops can hold out for another five days.”

“So the provisions suffice… Go patrol the camp at once, and inform all soldiers to stay alert these days. Huang Zu is cornered and may break out at any moment!”

“I obey!”

“Loose the arrows!” Bowstrings thrummed as volleys of arrows rained down upon Jiang Wen’s party. Jiang Wen turned his horse and fled, the arrows missing their mark.

Huang Zu, furious, threw his weapon aside upon returning to his tent. “That brat Sun Jian is insufferable, repeatedly undermining my army’s morale—shameless!”

Kuai Liang, calm as ever, said, “The art of war holds that besieging cities is the lesser, winning hearts is greater. Wasn’t Xiang Yu surrounded by Han Xin’s ‘Songs of Chu from Four Sides’? Sun Jian seeks to emulate Han Xin.”

“So what should we do? Wait here to die?”

Kuai Yue said, “Now that our lord has been captured, retaking Xiangyang is hopeless. Our only option is to break out, strike at Shouchun, consolidate strength there, and return next year to attack Xiangyang anew.”

Huang Zu’s face darkened as he looked at Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, and Cai Mao nearby. “Once Shouchun is taken, whom do we serve? Our families have all been seized by Sun Jian; how can we abandon them? We should turn back and retake Xiangyang!”

“Great undertakings must not be swayed by sentiment!” Kuai Yue said angrily. “Morale is low; to assault Xiangyang would be like throwing eggs at a stone. With such actions, you treat the lives of a hundred thousand troops as a game!”

“We have a hundred thousand men; Xiangyang now holds only forty thousand. Who’s throwing eggs at stones?” Huang Zu roared, then sneered. “Kuai Yue, remember, I am the commander here; it’s not your place to meddle!”

Kuai Yue began to argue, but Kuai Liang interjected. “Brother, sit down. Our army’s predicament has everyone anxious. Let’s end today’s council and reconvene tomorrow.”

Inside Cai Mao’s tent.

“Brother, you know attacking Xiangyang now is suicide. With Sun Jian closing off our retreat, our men have no will to fight. If we storm Xiangyang, Sun Jian will join forces with the defenders and rout us. Why not speak up with me?”

Kuai Liang remained silent, glancing at Cai Mao. “De Gui, have you made up your mind?”

“Surrender!” Cai Mao declared. “Yi Du, what use is Shouchun? Don’t forget, our families—and those of all our soldiers—are in Xiangyang and Jiangxia, both seized by Sun Jian. The troops have lost heart.”

Cai Mao’s eyes flashed with murderous intent. “Truthfully, the only one bent on fighting Sun Jian to the death is Huang Zu. We could offer his head to Sun Jian in exchange for favor!”

“This… Brother!”

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“Yi Du, the situation is beyond saving. If Yuan Shu aided us, we might stand a chance—fifteen hundred thousand bushels of grain, fifty thousand in gold, half of Jingzhou. What promises has Sun Jian made to Yuan Shu to keep him watching, never sending a single soldier?” Kuai Liang pondered, unable to make sense of it.

“One Sun Jian has trapped my hundred thousand troops, leaving us helpless,” Kuai Yue slumped in his seat, laughing bitterly.

Cai Mao said, “Zi Rou, Yi Du, enough lamenting. Will you fight or surrender? Make up your minds.”

“Surrender.”

“General Cai, General Huang has retired for the night. If you wish to see him, please wait until tomorrow.”

“I have urgent military matters. If you try to stop me again, I’ll cut you down!”

In Sun Jian’s main camp, Sun Jian sat on the command platform, with Jiang Wen and Sun Ce seated nearby.

“Report, General! An envoy from Liu Biao requests an audience!”

“What brings Liu Biao’s envoy here?”

The officers exchanged puzzled looks. Sun Jian glanced at Jiang Wen, who nodded. Sun Jian said, “Let him in.”

“Your servant, Kuai Liang, greets the Grand General!”

Kuai Liang? Jiang Wen’s body tensed. Sun Jian would one day fall to Huang Zu, thanks to this old schemer’s plots.

Sun Jian asked calmly, “Envoy, what brings you before me?”

“I bring word: General Cai Mao wishes to surrender to the Grand General, and has instructed me to bring Huang Zu’s head as tribute!”

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