Section 037: Its Edge Can Sever Steel

Zhang Junke showed no mercy, seizing the piece and making his move. Soon, he pressed aggressively toward the battlefield boundary, his aura fierce and intimidating. Du Fuwei and Fu Gongtu, baffled by Li Dong’s insistence on playing chess at such a critical moment, could only stand aside and watch. They wondered what deeper purpose Li Dong might be pursuing.

On the chessboard, Zhang Junke’s momentum was overwhelming. Not fully acquainted with the rules of ancient chess, Li Dong found himself restricted at every turn, and signs of imminent defeat began to appear.

Observing the game in silence is a true gentleman’s conduct; the ancients adhered strictly to this rule. Du Fuwei and the others, watching anxiously, wished to help Li Dong but were powerless.

Just then, a scout reported that the drumming of battle could be heard from the western city camp, suggesting that Zhang Xutuo and Zhishi Lang’s warriors had begun their clash.

Li Dong furrowed his brows as he held a chess piece, then instructed Fu Gongtu, “Lead two thousand soldiers, utilize battering rams, chariots, and cloud ladders to attack the city. To minimize needless losses, have the soldiers ascend the ladders, and when they near the walls, deploy archers to support them with covering fire.”

Fu Gongtu responded affirmatively and hurried out, but Li Dong suddenly called him back, saying, “This assault is not to seize the city, but to tie up Zhishi Lang so he cannot attend to both fronts. Do not force your way through; remember: be flexible and unpredictable, keep the enemy guessing, and you’ll render great service.”

Fu Gongtu hesitated, replying, “I understand. Please rest assured, General.” Yet internally, he disagreed. If the attack succeeded and his troops reached the walls, would he really order a retreat? Flexibility meant not blindly following orders, but without Li Dong’s presence on the front lines, how could he know what was happening?

Meanwhile, Li Dong gradually became familiar with the ancient chess rules, and began to turn the tide, matching Zhang Junke move for move.

The tension mounted. Zhang Junke grew uneasy, a sheen of sweat appearing on his nose as he hesitated with his chess piece. Li Dong, now much more relaxed, wagged his head, urging him to hurry.

The crucial skill in chess lies in discerning the opponent’s real intentions and anticipating their moves. If you can see three moves ahead, you’re considered skilled; five moves ahead, and you’ll rarely meet your match. At the same time, your own strategy must be carefully arranged— the more steps ahead you plan, the harder it is for your opponent to see through you, and the easier it is to achieve victory through surprise.

Fu Gongtu, leading two thousand elite soldiers, set up cloud ladders and launched a fierce assault on the western gate, with strong support from archers. Zhishi Lang’s forces at the west gate were locked in combat with Zhang Xutuo, neither side gaining ground. Suddenly, a detachment burst forth from the west gate, seemingly employing a feint, startling Zhishi Lang into sending ten thousand troops to reinforce the city walls.

According to Li Dong’s plan, Fu Gongtu didn’t need to fight to the death, only to create the illusion that the main force was attacking the west gate, while Zhang Xutuo’s eastern gate assault was merely a diversion. However, eager for accomplishment, Fu Gongtu urged his soldiers to climb higher, resulting in heavy casualties. Eventually, they had to retreat.

Zhang Junke, seeing Li Dong’s offensive growing ever fiercer, felt overwhelmed and began withdrawing his pieces from Li Dong’s territory to defend himself, still hoping that a sudden move might snatch victory and save face before the assembled generals.

Li Dong, seeing through Zhang Junke’s strategy, smiled and said, “You shouldn’t have attacked so fiercely from the start. Knowing yourself and your opponent is the key to victory. You didn’t understand my chessboard, so your relentless assault only led to losses. Now, faced with difficulty, you’re retreating entirely—this could easily turn into a rout, with defeat following swiftly!”

Du Fuwei, keenly intelligent, realized from the chess battle between Li Dong and Zhang Junke that the chessboard reflected the real battle’s dynamics, with a hint of Zen: excess leads to downfall, and too much softness results in collapse.

He said, “Combining strength and gentleness, harmony between dragon and tiger, attack and defense balanced, neither abandoning nor clinging. General, your true intent isn’t in winning or losing, but in probing Zhang Junke’s strengths and weaknesses?”

Li Dong chuckled, “A gentleman observes in silence! Are you a gentleman or a knave?”

Du Fuwei blushed and fell silent.

Prompted by Du Fuwei’s words, Zhang Junke suddenly understood, saying, “So that’s it! I concede this game—let’s fight another!”

Li Dong happily reset the board, and the two embarked on a new match.

Meanwhile, Fu Gongtu’s assault faltered, his troops suffering heavy losses and struggling to hold their ground. He hurried to Li Dong’s tent for advice.

Before he could speak, Li Dong waved him off, “Follow my instructions. Don’t disturb my enjoyment of chess.” He placed his piece calmly, as if unconcerned with Fu Gongtu’s fortunes on the battlefield.

Du Fuwei signaled to Fu Gongtu, who leaned in for a whispered conversation. Afterward, Du Fuwei shook his head, and Fu Gongtu asked doubtfully, “Will this really work?”

“Following the general’s orders, you’ll be fine. Acting on your own has two outcomes: if you fail, you’ll be punished; if you succeed, does that mean you’re more cunning than the general? Don’t forget, we’re here to tie up Zhishi Lang, not to actually take the city. Remember what the general said—force them out, not break in!”

Fu Gongtu’s face paled, realizing his grave mistake. He hurried out to reorganize his troops.

At this point, Li Dong and Zhang Junke’s chess match reached a clear outcome: Li Dong maneuvered with ease, while Zhang Junke struggled, his strength waning. Li Dong’s attack grew ever tighter, Zhang Junke’s pieces sinking deeper into peril, unable to extricate themselves from danger.

Li Dong’s strategy mirrored the one he and Zhang Xutuo had analyzed before battle: left draws right, right draws left, with real and false positions shifting rapidly, leaving Zhang Junke unable to discern the truth and trapped in confusion.

The second game dragged on, with no resolution, though Du Fuwei saw clearly that Li Dong held the initiative, only one step away from launching an all-out attack with every piece poised as a lethal move.

“Concede,” Du Fuwei finally advised Zhang Junke, “That way, you won’t lose so disgracefully.”

Li Dong laughed, “This is the formation I understood a few days ago, watching the donkey turn the mill. Two giant millstones, hard as iron and unstoppable. With the right force, they spin, and no matter what grain is thrown in, its fate is the same: ground into flour!”

“This time, as we attack Zhangqiu, our formation is the same. Zhang’s forces at the west gate are one millstone; our assault is the other. Zhangqiu is the grain between them. By pulling from both sides, we disorient the enemy’s morale, dissipating their resolve.”

“In no more than half an hour, the victory report will come from the front lines.”

Li Dong smiled, “Even if Zhishi Lang were the reincarnation of Zhuge Liang or Jiang Ziya, he could never foresee us employing such a simple, rustic strategy to attack Zhangqiu.”

Zhang Junke and Du Fuwei were thoroughly convinced, their admiration deepening.

A battle for Zhangqiu’s very survival had been resolved by the most humble countryside method, woven into the strategy as if by magic. Truly, a man of legendary talent!

Sure enough, before long, Fu Gongtu strode in to report joyfully, “General, the defenders at the west gate have suddenly thinned out. I can’t figure out what trick they’re playing, so I’ve come to ask your guidance.”

Li Dong said, “Pull back the troops. Prepare the camp for cooking. Tonight, there will be a fierce battle—do not make any mistakes!”

The others, hearing this just after victory, wondered why another fierce battle was coming.

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Tomorrow is the college entrance exam. Wishing all candidates success and a place on the honor roll! Once the essay topic is announced, I’ll write one myself—please stay tuned. If it’s not up to standard, I hope you’ll still reward me generously! Ha ha.