Chapter 108: The Qiang People's Strategy

Page 1 of 3

Qi Jun quickly rallied the villagers. Though the rain showed no sign of letting up, the enthusiasm throughout the county constable camp had not been dampened in the slightest.

“I have something to discuss with Magistrate Feng. Everyone, put your backs into it!” Qi Jun watched the busy villagers and was about to leave when Liu Kui stopped him.

“Sir, all that wine you bought is for rewarding everyone, right? Drinking wine alone is rather dull. Why not buy a pig as well…” As he spoke, Liu Kui wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth.

“No… Go buy the wine first, and I’ll explain afterward. It isn’t for drinking. I need it to fight the Qiang.” Qi Jun knew Liu Kui was craving wine, and most likely every villager’s appetite for it had been stirred as well. But he truly had not bought so much wine for them to drink.

“Sir, stop talking nonsense. How can wine kill the enemy? You’re not planning to get them all drunk, are you? Or are you going to smash them one by one with wine jars?” Liu Kui looked at Qi Jun with a scoff. In his understanding, wine existed for one purpose only: drinking.

“You… In a manner of speaking, yes. Hurry up and bring all the wine back, all right? Once this battle is over, I won’t stop you even if you want to soak in a wine vat. As for pork, you can even sleep with a pig…”

Qi Jun had intended to say, “You can sleep in the pigsty with the pigs for all I care,” but suddenly remembered that the man before him was to become his father-in-law. Whatever else happened, he had to treat him courteously. They would be family from then on, and he could not let his words become improper.

Liu Kui did not take offense, but Qi Jun’s words only left him more confused.

“We’re really going to smash them with wine jars? Wouldn’t bricks or something work better?” Though Liu Kui did not understand, he did not delay any longer. Muttering to himself, he led the villagers away.

At last free of Liu Kui’s persistent questions, Qi Jun breathed a sigh of relief and immediately left the county constable camp for the county commandant’s residence.

Feng Qinian was discussing the arrangements for defending the city with Xiao Ming, Zhao Gui, and the others, utterly at a loss. The moment he saw Qi Jun return, he rose and pulled him down into a seat.

“County Commandant Qi, you have come at just the right time. Tell us how you think the defensive forces should be deployed…” Feng Qinian rolled up his sleeves and pointed to several bricks on the ground.

Only then did Qi Jun notice that four bricks had been set upright side by side before Feng Qinian, representing the four walls of Anqiang City.

A pile of small stones had been placed on one side of the bricks, while several little mounds of earth stood on the other.

“What are these?” Qi Jun asked, pointing at the stones and earth.

“The stones represent the Qiang soldiers. These mounds show the terrain around Anqiang. This one, split down the middle, is Red Mud Valley. The one over there, a little higher, is Coiling Dragon Ridge…”

With Feng Qinian’s explanation, Qi Jun began studying the crude map of Anqiang’s terrain with considerable interest.

“Magistrate Feng, what did you just call Mr. Qi?”

Xiao Ming’s attention had been captured entirely by the title he had just heard Feng Qinian use for Qi Jun.

Page 1 of 3

Page 2 of 3

How had Qi Jun suddenly become County Commandant Qi? Xiao Ming wondered whether he had misheard. He looked toward Zhao Gui across from him and found the same expression of disbelief on the other man’s face.

“You heard correctly. He is County Commandant Qi. As of today, I am the magistrate of Anqiang. Captain Li from the Commandery Commandant’s Office personally came to read out the document issued by the Ministry of Personnel.” Feng Qinian had no great talent for warfare, but his hunger for office was extraordinary.

Now that he had finally become the highest-ranking official in Anqiang County, he wished he could announce it to everyone at once. Since Xiao Ming had asked, he seized the opportunity to proclaim his new status to the two county constable captains.

“What wonderful news, Magistrate! I offer you my congratulations on your promotion!” Xiao Ming immediately stood, retreated two steps, and bowed deeply to Feng Qinian.

“Magistrate Feng, I was ignorant before! These worthless eyes of mine failed to recognize your great ability. I beg you to look favorably upon me in the future…” Zhao Gui also hurried to his feet and bowed deeply to Feng Qinian, then dropped to his knees and repeatedly knocked his head against the floor.

Feng Qinian was clearly reveling in the sense of superiority that power brought.

He lifted his chin and looked down at Xiao Ming and Zhao Gui before him. The pleasure of his official advancement filled his proud face. At that moment, compared with the satisfaction of his promotion, even the threat posed by the Qiang soldiers seemed insignificant.

Qi Jun had never cared for such theatrics in official circles. Hearing the exchange, he raised his head and glanced at Xiao Ming and Zhao Gui performing before Feng Qinian, frowning in distaste.

“Magistrate Feng, in my view, this is where the Qiang are most likely to launch their main assault.” As he spoke, Qi Jun pointed at the bricks on the ground.

“County Commandant Qi, you have it backward. This side is the west, while yours is the north.” Feng Qinian glanced over and could not help laughing.

“No, I am indeed pointing to the north. We must reinforce the northern wall with more defenders, especially troops capable of countering cavalry.” Ignoring Feng Qinian’s laughter, Qi Jun continued, “As far as I know, the Qiang excel at horsemanship, and their army contains many mounted warriors. Though they have come from the west, they may not choose to attack the western wall.”

“The west is mountainous and lacks open ground, which is unfavorable for a Qiang cavalry assault. The terrain to the north, however, is broad and open, rising gradually from south to north. It not only allows the Qiang cavalry to maneuver but also favors a full charge.” Qi Jun pointed toward the mound representing the northern terrain, his voice heavy with concern.

“That… does make sense…” Feng Qinian stroked his beard as he considered Qi Jun’s analysis.

“County Commandant Qi, I still think Magistrate Feng is right. We obviously ought to focus our defenses on the west! Do you really think the Qiang are fools? Why would they go all the way around to attack us from the north? Don’t forget, the Black Halberd Camp of the Western Garrison Army is stationed up there.” Xiao Ming glanced at the mounds of earth and bricks and spoke dismissively. “What we should be discussing now isn’t where the Qiang will attack, but how to defend. Zhao Gui’s three companies still have plenty of men, yet instead of sending them up, he wants me to go. Tell me, does that make any sense?”

“Keep quiet, Xiao. I only take orders from Magistrate Feng. If he tells me to go west, I certainly won’t go east…” Zhao Gui said, casting Feng Qinian an ingratiating glance.

“The Qiang have not raised this army merely for Anqiang. Their true target is Ding’an Commandery! By attacking from the north, they can make the fullest use of their cavalry and sever the connection between Anqiang County and Ding’an Commandery. They need only send a small portion of their forces to take Anqiang and eliminate the threat to their rear. Then they can advance north with their main army and strike at the commandery city!”

By then, Qi Jun was nearly certain that the main Qiang army was racing north.

Page 2 of 3

Page 3 of 3

The Qiang riders he had encountered that day had been no more than scouts. The reason the main body had not yet attacked Anqiang was that they had not completed their strategic deployment.

The moment the Qiang attacked Anqiang would be the day they launched their general assault on the commandery city. If that happened, the city would be completely unable to send reinforcements to Anqiang.

“I understand now!” Qi Jun sprang to his feet and said to Feng Qinian, “Send someone east to Minzhou Commandery for reinforcements! If we wait any longer, it will be too late!”

“Minzhou? Reinforcements from Ding’an Commandery could reach Anqiang in less than half a day. But an army from Minzhou would have to go around Min Mountain, and even the fastest reinforcements would take three days!” Feng Qinian stared at Qi Jun in confusion, then looked blankly at the bricks on the ground. He could not understand why Qi Jun would seek help from Minzhou instead of the nearer commandery.

“And with the rain coming down so heavily, the road to Minzhou is muddy, slippery, and nearly impassable. How are they supposed to get there?” Feng Qinian rose and gazed at the flowers and plants in the courtyard swaying in the wind and rain, his hands clasped behind his back as he hesitated.

“Even if they have to crawl, they must crawl to Minzhou and bring back reinforcements!” Qi Jun rose anxiously and walked to Feng Qinian’s side. “The survival of Anqiang City hangs in the balance. I leave the matter of requesting aid to you, Magistrate. Have the things I asked for been prepared?”

“I had A-Xin procure the charcoal, saltpeter, and the other materials. He should have gathered some by now.” As he spoke, Feng Qinian summoned A-Xin.

“My lord, what are your orders?” A-Xin stood beneath the eaves and wrung the rainwater from his clothes.

“How are the things County Commandant Qi requested coming along?”

“My lord, I have hurried to prepare what I could. I do not know whether it will be enough.”

“Where are they? Take me there at once!”

Qi Jun’s heart lifted at the news, and the tension and anxiety weighing on him eased somewhat.