Chapter 122: The Making of a War God

Li Dong smiled, tugged at Qin Qiong’s arm, and said, "Standing here is useless. Let’s go, let’s head back to the boat and get some sleep."

Qin Qiong stood speechless, thinking to himself: Li Dong’s prediction was incredibly accurate; the forces from Salsu City really did come to launch a surprise attack. But with the chaos unfolding on the shore and the ships, who could possibly have the heart to sleep? He remained standing, watching Li Dong with a puzzled expression.

"It’s just a feint to confuse us. They are only harassing us; a full-scale assault is a lie. It’s nothing to worry about." Li Dong turned and headed back into the cabin, calling out to the still-standing Qin Qiong, "Weren't you sleepy earlier? Why haven’t you come back to sleep yet?"

Qin Qiong stepped steadily into the cabin, his brows locked in a frown for a long while before asking, "Since you had already deduced that Salsu City would launch a sneak attack tonight, why didn’t you report this vital intelligence to General Lai earlier?"

"I told you already! It’s just their diversionary tactic to shake our morale; they wouldn't dare board the ships to attack." Li Dong took off his outer robes and pulled a thin quilt over himself, leaving only his head exposed. "If you want to enjoy life, you must endure suffering. Letting your mind run wild only wastes your sleep! Go to bed; there’s a much more spectacular show to watch tomorrow!"

When Li Dong had defeated Zhi Shilang, Qin Qiong was far away in Qi Prefecture. Others had rumored that Li Dong possessed extraordinary abilities and commanded troops with god-like precision. At that time, Qin Qiong had remained skeptical, feeling that word-of-mouth reports were likely exaggerated and somewhat removed from reality.

However, judging by the situation at hand, Li Dong’s methods were indeed exceptional, and his ability to foresee the enemy’s moves was truly divine.

Qin Qiong thought to himself: Li Dong is three years younger than I am. Despite being younger, his intellect far surpasses mine. How can I, his elder brother, justify this? I must ask him for guidance. I cannot be a blacksmith for the rest of my life!

He shared his thoughts with Li Dong, saying, "I humbly request your instruction, brother!"

"You really want to learn?" Li Dong felt a small surge of excitement, thinking secretly: Brother Qin Qiong’s mind has finally awakened. Isn't this the very result I have been longing for and striving toward? For all these days, I have stayed by his side, never leaving, precisely to influence him, change him, and urge him to grow into the legendary God of War he is meant to be.

"Yes!" Qin Qiong nodded solemnly, a look of firm resolve shining in his eyes.

"Very well! The bond between us is deep; there is nothing we cannot discuss. I should have told you long ago, but since we met, you were set on being a blacksmith, and I didn't dare force my own path upon you." Li Dong, filled with excitement, suddenly sat up from his mat.

He warned him, "This road is not as easy or smooth as you might imagine; it is filled with hardships and dangers. A commander bears a heavy responsibility. One must master the timing of heaven, the advantages of the terrain, and the hearts of the people. You must be vigilant and painstaking at every moment, for one careless move can lead to total collapse, rivers of blood, and the ruin of the people. You must be certain of your resolve—once the arrow is loosed, there is no turning back!"

Qin Qiong replied with great boldness: "To be cowardly and fear death, to shrink from the challenge, is the way of a petty man. A real man, born between heaven and earth, should be armored and armed, charging forward with courage. To be wrapped in a horse hide upon death and see blood shed in battle is the glory of one’s life."

Li Dong was overjoyed.

Qin Qiong was truly a man of character! His spirit was heroic and his righteousness reached the heavens; he was worthy of being the great hero and warrior of the Sui and Tang dynasties.

"Becoming an excellent commander is not a task for a single day or night. It requires years of study, exhausting one’s mind over the classics, combined with blood-soaked struggle, the assimilation of past experiences, and the summary of one’s own reality before one can achieve a modicum of success."

Li Dong asked, "Are you prepared for this? It is by no means an overnight achievement."

Qin Qiong nodded, telling Li Dong he was determined to strive for this for three years, or even a lifetime.

Li Dong then explained his analysis of the enemy situation from earlier that day. As he spoke, Qin Qiong understood why he had so decisively predicted the midnight raid from Salsu City.

Then, Li Dong provided a detailed explanation of the relationships between the timing of heaven, the terrain, and human affairs.

Military strategy consists of five key elements: The Way, Heaven, Earth, The Commander, and Method.

The Way concerns national unity—whether the military and the people are united, whether the leadership is of one mind, and whether the war is waged with justice. It is about winning the support of the people, the officials, and the generals.

Heaven refers to timing. One must adapt to changes in weather, seasons, and temperature, remaining flexible rather than adhering to rigid rules.

Earth refers to the geographical environment—the difficulty of the terrain, its width or narrowness, and whether it favors us or the enemy. This also includes considering the distance between the two armies.

The Commander refers to the leadership—whether one rewards and punishes fairly, understanding the character, history, and the strengths and weaknesses of the troops, so that one can make proper adjustments and arrangements.

These were the essences of The Art of War. Through detailed battlefield examples, Li Dong helped Qin Qiong begin to understand how to approach the situation from a broader perspective.

He concluded by adding that the situation on the battlefield changes in an instant, but as long as one grasps these five factors, one will rarely go wrong.

Qin Qiong secretly memorized these lessons, pondering everything he did not understand until he had fully digested the knowledge.

The two grew more energized the more they talked, remaining awake throughout the night. Even as the sky began to brighten, neither had blinked an eye.

Suddenly, a low, rumbling sound came from the shore, like a muffled thunder rolling in from afar. Even the boats floating on the water vibrated slightly. The sound continued for nearly half an hour before stopping abruptly, leaving silence in its wake.

Li Dong’s expression changed drastically upon hearing this. He suddenly threw himself onto the deck, pressing his ear against the wood, his brow furrowed as he listened intently for a long time.

Seeing his strange behavior, Qin Qiong asked, "What is it? Is there an enemy threat?"

Li Dong did not answer. After standing up, he asked, "The current situation cannot be deduced using the five factors we just discussed. However, it is not without clues. Think carefully: from the moment we arrived at Salsu City yesterday until this strange sound occurred, what judgment can you make?"

Qin Qiong paced back and forth in the cabin, his face solemn, lost in deep thought.

"When we arrived yesterday, we were exhausted. They did not attack immediately, which shows they were wary of us. It is also possible they were uncertain of our strength, had not received orders from above, or were not yet fully mobilized. Their night raid was a warm-up for today's battle, intended to further fatigue us while they rested and gathered their strength in the city, waiting to reap the rewards."

"Analyzing the geography, the capital Pyongyang is only sixty miles from Salsu City. With fast horses, one could travel back and forth in a single night. I estimate that the strange sound we just heard was the arrival of enemy reinforcements. They are numerous, with many horses, and are likely an elite force."

Qin Qiong poured out his thoughts in one breath and looked into Li Dong’s eyes, asking, "Is my assessment correct or not?"

"Clap, clap, clap!" Li Dong applauded and laughed, praising Qin Qiong. He thought: What is a clever person? This is true intelligence! A natural, sharp intuition that yields immediate results!

"However..." Li Dong asked again, "You missed one important detail. This detail is crucial—so important that it could lead to the total annihilation of General Lai’s entire army! Think about it carefully again."

Qin Qiong blushed, feeling deeply embarrassed. He had thought his analysis was comprehensive, only to realize he had missed a fatal flaw. He racked his brains for a long time but could not find the answer, so he stopped trying and asked Li Dong to explain.

Li Dong smiled slightly and said, "If an elite enemy force had arrived, they should have immediately launched a surprise attack. General Lai, being unprepared, would certainly have suffered. But the enemy did not attack; instead, they went silent. What does that mean?"

With that simple reminder from Li Dong, Qin Qiong’s mind suddenly cleared, and he exclaimed excitedly, "I know! I know now—"