Late Tang Dynasty: Descendants of the Imperial Clan

Zheng Tian then sat behind the desk, holding a book, and slowly flipped through it in the morning light streaming in through the carriage window.

"Jingzhi has arrived."

Zheng Tian closed the scroll and beckoned to Li Cenji.

"Get in the car."

Li Cenji dismounted as instructed, handed the horse to the junior officer, quickly boarded the carriage, and sat down below Zheng Tian.

Although the carriage was not very spacious, it was neatly arranged.

A small charcoal stove sat in the corner, brewing a pot of tea, the aroma of which wafted through the air.

Zheng Tian looked him over and said:

"You are now the Commander-in-Chief of the Cavalry, with two thousand men under your command. Military campaigns are not something that can be accomplished by simply training for a few hours on the drill ground. The drill ground is for practicing swordsmanship and horsemanship, as well as formations and ranks. But once you leave the city and are on the road, there is much more to learn."

He paused, then slowly said...

"Astronomy, geography, terrain, marching and encampment, battle formations and tactics, supplies and provisions, military law and morale, scout intelligence, and even dealing with officials in the court and getting along with your generals... these are all things a commander must know. Although I am a civil official and not particularly knowledgeable in military affairs, I have accumulated some basic experience through years of exposure and dedicated study. On this march, you will follow me and learn as much as you can."

Upon hearing this, Li Cenji felt a surge of warmth in his heart and immediately wanted to kneel down in the carriage, saying:

"Thank you very much, my teacher."

Zheng Tian waved his hand to stop him, and said:

"No need to thank me. Let me ask you, do you know how to read the sky?"

Li Cenji looked up out the car window. In the hazy sky, a few wisps of clouds were blown swiftly by the morning breeze towards the southeast.

Based on his daily life experience, he pondered for a moment and said:

"This disciple can only make a general judgment. The sky today is gray but not gloomy, with thin and high clouds, so it should be a sunny day."

Zheng Tian nodded slightly and then asked:

"When is a surprise attack appropriate? When is it not advisable to engage in battle?"

Li Cenji was taken aback, recalling the military books the original owner had read.

Ancient military books regarded "observing the weather" as an essential core skill for generals, and even developed it into a complete system of military meteorology.

In "The Art of War," Sun Tzu lists "Heaven" (timing) as the second of the five factors: Heaven refers to Yin and Yang, cold and heat, and the seasons. That is, day and night, sunshine and rain, cold and heat, and the four seasons. Knowing Heaven and Earth, victory will be inexhaustible.

However, since the original owner lacked combat experience, Li Cenji could not immediately give a systematic answer and could only summarize it in his mind first.

But Zheng Tian didn't wait for his reply. His gaze swept across the window, as if he had spotted excellent teaching material, and he pointed to the distant Qishan Mountain peaks outside the window, saying:

"First, look at the fog on the mountaintop. When a mountain wears a hat (a symbol of rain), rain is sure to come. If the fog on the summit of Qishan Mountain doesn't dissipate, it may rain tomorrow. If the fog dissipates, it will be a sunny day. Next, look at the wind direction. The terrain of Guanzhong is high in the northwest and low in the southeast. At this time of year, the wind mostly comes from the northwest, making it dry, cold, and with little rain. But if one day the wind direction suddenly changes and comes from the southeast, that's a sign that it's going to rain. This is because the southeast wind carries moisture from the Wei and Yong Rivers, which, when it meets the cold air from Guanzhong, will turn into rain."

He paused, then answered the question he had asked earlier, saying:

"Night raids must be carried out on nights when the moon is hidden and the clouds are thick, ideally with a light breeze. The wind can mask the sounds of men and horses, and the clouds can obscure the light of the stars and moon. If the moon is bright and the stars are few, the enemy camp's lights will be clearly visible, which would be advantageous for the defending side. Foggy days are favorable for surprise attacks but unfavorable for large-scale troop formations. Snowy days are favorable for intercepting supplies and raiding camps but unfavorable for long-distance raids. You must keep these in mind in the future."

Li Cenji kept these words in mind.

The master and apprentice talked as the central army slowly moved forward with the troops.

After traveling for about an hour, the group arrived at a gentle slope.

Zheng Tian then ordered the car to stop, and led Li Cenji out of the car, standing on a slightly higher mound beside the official road.

"Jingzhi, come and see."

Zheng Tian pointed to the terrain ahead and said.

Li Cenji looked in the direction he was pointing.

As you look around, the terrain on both sides of the official road gradually opens up. On the left is a low, gentle slope covered with weeds and a few old, crooked trees.

To the right is a shallow stream with clear water, revealing the pebbles at the bottom.

Further to the right of the stream, there is a sparse poplar grove.

"Tell me, what are the advantages and disadvantages of this terrain?"

Zheng Tian asked.

Li Cenji carefully surveyed the surrounding terrain, pondered for a moment, and said:

"Archers can hide on the gentle slope to the left, and cavalry can ambush in the woods to the right. If the enemy sets up an ambush here, they can wait until our army reaches the stream—"

"How about the stream?"

Zheng Tian pressed for an answer.

"Although the stream is shallow, the riverbed is full of pebbles, which will slow down the men and horses when they cross it. At this time, the archers behind the slope will fire at the same time, and the cavalry will break out from the forest to attack from both sides, which can be very effective."

Li Cenji replied.

Zheng Tian nodded, and then said:

"If you were the general guarding the central army, how would you deal with this kind of terrain?"

Li Cenji pondered for a moment and said:

"Scouts must first thoroughly search the area behind the gentle slope, in the woods, and even on the opposite bank of the stream. Once it is confirmed that there are no ambushes, infantrymen with shields should stand on the gentle slope to protect the flanks and cover the passage of the central army. It is better to spend more effort than to advance rashly."

"good."

A slight smile appeared on Zheng Tian's face.

"This is the principle of 'first make yourself invincible, then wait for the enemy to become vulnerable.' For a general, the greatest taboo is rashness."

He then changed the subject and said,

"However, you only told half the story. Look at that stream again. It's only ten miles from Fengxiang, the very place our army passed through on the first day of our march. If we are ambushed here, there's only one possibility: there are Huang Chao's spies inside Fengxiang. So while your previous arrangement was sound, you must add one more thing: if we are ambushed here, we must not linger in battle. We must quickly send someone back to the city to order martial law, search for and capture the spies, and cut off any enemy insiders."

Li Cenji understood that war should not be limited to the battlefield in front of us, but should also take into account the court, the city, and the hearts of the people behind us.

A fundamental viewpoint in later Marxist war theory can well explain this point:

War is an extension of politics.

He clasped his hands in greeting and said:

"This disciple has learned a great deal."

Zheng Tian then said:

"You must remember. Mountains, valleys, passes, fortresses, plains, forests, and swamps each have their uses. Passes and fortresses are impregnable, perfect for ambushes and interceptions. Plains are open, advantageous for cavalry to gallop and for large armies to form ranks, but not for small groups to defend. Forests can hide troops, but are also vulnerable to fire attacks. Swamps and muddy terrain are difficult for both men and horses to traverse; they are dead ends and should never be entered lightly. It is better to take a detour and travel for several days than to trap your army in a dead end. As for where to cut off the enemy's retreat and where to block enemy reinforcements, you must see the specifics when you arrive at the location."

After saying this, he got back into the car and ordered Li Cenji to sit down as well.

The supply wagons continued forward. Zheng Tian unfolded the map of Guanzhong on the table, pointed to the prefectures, counties, and passes marked on it, and said:

"In military campaigns, there is one crucial matter: calculating distances. Do you know how many li (a Chinese unit of distance) it is from Fengxiang to Chang'an?"

Li Cenji pondered for a moment and said:

"About three hundred li."

"More than 310 li."

Zheng Tian corrected him, his finger slowly tracing the map.

"You must know these distances by heart. Not only this main road, but also all the small paths, forks, and ferries—you must memorize them all. Knowing the distances will allow you to estimate the marching time, know where you can outflank the enemy, and know where you can encircle them. More importantly, you must know where the enemy is and how many days it will take for them to arrive, so that you can determine the timing and location of your ambush."

He raised his head, looked at Li Cenji, and slowly said:

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. What does 'know your enemy' mean? It means relying on scouts. Send out scouts, sentries, and agents to investigate far and near, to find out the enemy's strength, troop types, who their commander is, his personality and style of warfare, their camp location, their grain storage locations, the distance of reinforcements, and whether they have ambushes. You must also be able to distinguish between truth and falsehood: whether the enemy is bluffing, luring you in, feigning retreat, or secretly setting up ambushes. I have already sent several groups of scouts eastward and ordered people to spread rumors in Chang'an to confuse them. You will have to learn to do these things in the future. Using spies, distinguishing between truth and falsehood, and anticipating the enemy's moves are the first and foremost tasks of a commander."

Li Cenji listened intently, feeling his horizons suddenly broaden.

He used to only know how to practice martial arts, train soldiers, and charge into battle, but he didn't know that in the eyes of a general, the battlefield was actually a giant net woven from weather, terrain, distance, and intelligence.

Zheng Tian's words seemed to open a door he had never seen before.

The army then continued its slow eastward march.

Li Cenji followed Zheng Tian, ​​eagerly learning from him.

Zheng Tian was also very open-minded, seemingly intending to impart all his knowledge to others.

-----------------

When the army crossed the Shibi Village, it was already the second day, and the sun was high in the sky.

That Stone Nose Village was originally a military fortress built by the previous dynasty, nestled against the mountain and controlling the vital passageway to the main road.

Although the stockade walls were dilapidated and half of the two corner towers had collapsed, the terrain was indeed strategically important.

Both sides are high cliffs, dozens of meters high, and the middle is only wide enough for two oxcarts to pass side by side.

If we were to ambush them here, and block both ends as the enemy entered this narrow pass, then logs and rocks would roll down from the mountaintop, leaving even tens of thousands of troops helpless.

As the group passed through the village entrance, many officers and soldiers glanced at the cliffs on both sides.

Those who had attended the meeting at the Marshal's Mansion that day showed expressions of doubt.

Li Changyan reined in his horse and paused at the entrance of the village.

One of the commanders beside him also slowed his horse, gazing at the steep cliff, and whispered:

"General, wasn't this the place the general was referring to that day?"

Li Changyan did not answer, but simply shook his head slightly.

He wasn't the kind of person who couldn't keep his composure.

But seeing that the army had crossed such a dangerous place without stopping at all, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

That day at the military governor's mansion, Zheng Tianming pointed to Shipi Village on the map and said that the terrain there was treacherous and it was the best place to set up an ambush.

Now that the army has arrived, they have not left a single soldier behind, but have simply walked straight past.

He glanced back.

The central army's banner was still half a mile away, slowly moving towards this side.

Zheng Tian's supply wagon moved at a leisurely pace under the banner, showing no sign of stopping.

"The commander has his own plans."

Li Changyan finally spoke, his tone calm.

"We shall follow your orders."

The commander clicked his tongue, said nothing more, and simply flicked the reins, urging his horse forward.

Similar questions were spreading throughout the team.

Several military commanders from Jingyuan Town huddled together, whispering amongst themselves.

A burly man with a thick beard said in a low voice:

"Didn't Minister Zheng say in the hall that we were going to set up an ambush here? Why did we continue forward after passing the stronghold?"

Another lieutenant with fair skin chimed in:

"Have you changed your mind?"

"How can such a matter of national importance be changed so easily? You're just a scholar after all!"

The bearded man shook his head, but couldn't explain why, so he could only grumble angrily.

Just then, a fast horse came galloping up from behind. On horseback rode a messenger from the central army, a banner tucked behind his back. Reaching the front of the Jingyuan garrison, he reined in his horse and called out loudly:

"Commander Cheng has ordered that we continue forward without delay!"

The bearded man quickly clasped his hands in response, and only after the messenger had gone far away did he lower his voice and say:

"Commander Cheng isn't going to give a reason?"

The fair-skinned lieutenant gave a wry smile and said:

"Given Cheng Shuai's temper, if he didn't know the reason, he would have shouted it out long ago. The fact that he doesn't say it means he knows, but just can't say it."

That evening, the army set up camp ten miles east of Shibi Village.

The following morning, they continued eastward.

That day, they only traveled fifteen li.

On the third day, it was another fifteen li.

On the fourth day, it was still fifteen li.

This stop-and-go approach is like taking a stroll. If the vanguard marches fifteen li, the rearguard might be able to spend another night in the camp left behind by the vanguard.

The discussions within the ranks grew louder, everyone was burning with anger, and calls for battle were constant.

Although the officers and soldiers did not know what Zheng Tian was up to, they saw that the military governors were silently following orders, so they also restrained their troops and did not ask any more questions.

Li Cenji diligently studied under Zheng Tian every day, and Zheng Tian was happy to do so, teaching Li Cenji while handling military affairs.

Teach him how to match different troop types, how to coordinate them, and how to deploy them on the battlefield.

He taught him how to set up camp, divide the camp area, dispose of filth, and prevent disease.

Teach him how to deploy troops and adapt to changing circumstances.

He was taught to win over the troops, keep his subordinates in check, know how to use people effectively, be fair in rewards and punishments, and share weal and woe.

He was taught how to deal with the officials in the court, how to request provisions, how to ask for rewards, and how to write memorials to the emperor.

Li Cenji was like a long-dried sponge, desperately absorbing the knowledge of military strategy, army management, command, and response.

By the afternoon of the fifth day, the straight-line distance to Fengxiang was only sixty or seventy li.

Zheng Tian was sitting in the supply wagon, explaining to Li Cenji how to estimate the size of the enemy's forces from the number of enemy camps, when he suddenly stopped talking.

He lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside.

Outside the window was a rolling hill, with the official road winding between two earthen slopes.

The slope on the left is higher, covered with waist-high withered grass and low shrubs, with a few crooked old locust trees interspersed among them, their bare branches casting winding shadows in the slanting sunlight.

The slope on the right is gentler, and below it is a sparse poplar grove. Further away, a shallow ditch can be vaguely seen, with what appears to be a stream in it, reflecting dappled sunlight.