Chapter 101: Challenge! Vision! [Please Subscribe]

Early April, the third year of the Jian'an era.

Sun Ce, commanding his various generals and an elite force of thirty thousand, advanced to station at Piling, attempting to drive Chu Feng out of Wu Commandery in one stroke and solidify his base of operations.

Outside the city, within the military camp.

More than half of these thirty thousand troops were veterans of a hundred battles. As for Chu Feng, because he had to hold Dantu, he had detached three thousand men, leaving him with only fifteen thousand troops inside and outside the city, including surrendered soldiers. He was barely half the strength of Sun Ce!

However, there was no other way. Sun Ce’s current position was akin to Liu Bei’s conquest of Hanzhong in later history; it was a total war for the state, whereas Chu Feng was merely holding a strategic core.

Inside the command tent, Sun Ce looked at his many subordinates and said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, Chu Feng has built a camp to hold Piling. Do you have any brilliant strategies to help me defeat the enemy?"

"My Lord, it is clear that the brat Chu Feng intends to hold his camp firmly. In my opinion, why not let me lead a detachment to launch a direct assault? We will certainly take it within half a month!" Dong Xi stepped out, his stature imposing, and spoke loudly.

"My Lord, although our force is stronger than Chu Feng's, a direct assault is inadvisable. The Art of War states: 'If you have ten times the strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, engage them.' We should find a way to lure the enemy out to fight and annihilate Chu Feng's forces," Yu Fan hurriedly advised.

"Bah, Yu Fan, aren't you just stating the obvious? That brat Chu Feng has no intention of leaving the city right now; how are we to lure him out? I say a direct assault is the least troublesome path." Dong Xi was somewhat speechless. Scholars loved to spout empty words; the Art of War was the Art of War, and it described the ideal methods, but ordinary people simply could not apply them.

"My Lord, we might as well pile up earthen mounds to gain height and fire upon them; I imagine they lack sufficient hides and similar materials in the city to defend against it. If that still does not work, we can dig tunnels and infiltrate, catching them off guard!" Lu Fan also cupped his hands and spoke.

Compared to a direct assault, building earthen mounds and digging tunnels would result in fewer casualties, though the effect might not be stellar; it could only be considered an effective countermeasure.

"My Lord, both earthen mounds and tunnels will take considerable time. We could have people prepare them while simultaneously sending others to challenge the enemy. It would be best if we could lure them out," Yu Fan suggested again.

Sun Ce nodded and looked toward Zhou Yu, "Gongjin, how do you think we should take the city?"

"My Lord has many fierce generals under his command. We might as well follow Zhongxiang's suggestion and send men to challenge them. Firstly, this will allow time to prepare siege equipment, sacks, and bamboo baskets; secondly, if Chu Feng does not dare to engage, it will lower the morale of his army and display our military might," Zhou Yu said in a deep voice. In truth, he had a plan, but it required the cooperation of others, and he was quite interested in meeting this Chu Feng himself.

"Generals of all divisions, hear my command: order the army to build siege equipment, and prepare sacks, bamboo baskets, and other necessities. Prepare for a full-scale assault!" Sun Ce barked.

"Understood!" the generals nodded.

Subsequently, Sun Ce had ambushes set ten miles outside Piling and dispatched several top generals to lead troops to challenge the city.

***

At noon, beneath the walls of Piling.

Generals Ling Cao, Lu Fan, Dong Xi, and He Qi were present. Their martial prowess was among the best of the second-tier commanders. Behind them, thousands of infantrymen beat drums to cheer them on.

"Chu Feng, you coward! Do you dare come out and measure yourself against your grandfather?" Dong Xi, carrying a broadsword, stood over eight feet tall, looking like a bear or a tiger. He unleashed a torrent of insults, which also encompassed the defending generals on the city walls.

"Hmph! The thief is arrogant! Open the gates, and watch me take this man's head!" Gan Ning, quick-tempered by nature, slammed his hand against the parapet, his face flushed with rage.

"General, the Lord has given strict orders that no one is to open the city gates without permission. Those who disobey will be executed!" Nearby, Li Feng, though equally incensed, hurriedly reminded him.

Gan Ning, unable to contain his fury, pointed at Dong Xi in the distance and shouted, "Don't run, thief! Once I report to my Lord, I will surely take your head!"

"Haha, I'll be waiting right here!" Dong Xi laughed boisterously, brandishing his blade.

Still fuming, Gan Ning grasped his sword and strode toward the command headquarters. He found Chu Feng intently studying an ancient text—it seemed to be the *Wei Liaozi*—and even taking notes, looking quite refined.

Gan Ning found it difficult to interrupt for a moment and paced back and forth nearby for a long time. But Chu Feng continued to study the classic, which made the impatient Gan Ning unable to hold back any longer.

"My Lord, I have a report."

"Speak," Chu Feng said without looking up, continuing to read.

"My Lord, some brutes from Sun Ce's army are outside the city insulting you, claiming that you are... are... Bah! I cannot stomach this; I implore you to open the gates so I may take their heads as an offering to you." Gan Ning cupped his hands and pleaded.

Hearing this, Chu Feng slowly put down the book, looked up, and asked in return, "Xingba, you know of the Overlord, Xiang Yu, do you not?"

"Naturally!" Gan Ning replied, puzzled.

"He fought over seventy battles in his life, yet suffered only one defeat, and that single defeat cost him his life. Do you know why?" Chu Feng looked at Gan Ning.

"The Overlord was the bravest of the three armies; it was not a failure of his combat ability!" Gan Ning, who held Xiang Yu in high regard, answered loudly.

"Heh, human strength has its limits. Xiang Yu was arrogant and could not manage his subordinates, leading to his isolation and the loss of his followers. He lacked the talent of a commander, and even more so the strategic wisdom to govern a state."

"Thus, despite seventy victories, he met his end at Gaixia. It is both lamentable and tragic." Chu Feng shook his head, sounding somewhat regretful.

Gan Ning did not understand. "What does my Lord mean?"

"The Art of War says: A general must possess wisdom, integrity, benevolence, courage, and discipline. If being strong and aggressive were enough, would Xiang Yu not have conquered the world long ago?"

"How then could there have been the defeat at Gaixia?"

"You command thousands of sailors; you are a commander. What I hope for is to cultivate you into a commander who can hold his own, not a mere brawler!"

"If your temperament is so volatile, easily swayed by the words of others, how can you be worthy of being a naval commander? Where does that leave the thousands under your command?" Chu Feng's voice was not loud, but every word was deafening! He stared straight at Gan Ning, his eyes filled with questioning.

"My Lord, I..." Gan Ning felt ashamed.

"A general puts wisdom first, not martial prowess."

"A commander puts management first, not martial prowess."

"Though Xiang Yu was a commander, he was overly arrogant. He failed to manage his men and prioritized force above all else. Even if he hadn't been defeated at Gaixia, he would have fallen at Luoxia or Liuxia, do you understand?"

As Chu Feng said this, he picked up the ancient text and began to read again. In his view, even if he possessed the strength of ten thousand men, without the ability to manage his subordinates, he would only be another Xiang Yu or another Lü Bu—nothing more!

This was why he constantly studied ancient texts. After all, he was a warlord, a commander-in-chief. Whether others could manage their subordinates was not important, but he had to be able to, otherwise, the fates of Lü Bu, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu would be his own cautionary tales.

"After my Lord's words, I feel deeply ashamed!"

Gan Ning's face turned red. Although Chu Feng had scolded him, he had done so in a way that left Gan Ning completely convinced. Furthermore, Chu Feng's words revealed how highly he valued him; how could Gan Ning let him down?

Xu Chu also sighed with emotion. His leader truly had a great vision. He finally understood why Chu Feng loved reading; the way he put things was simply different. However, as for himself, he would just let it be—he couldn't learn that!

"Heh, I hope that one day, your subordinates will call you 'Commander' rather than 'General'." Chu Feng chuckled, waving his hand. "That stack there is the ancient text I have finished reading. You may study it in your spare time. If there is anything you don't understand, you can come to me. Go!"

"Thank you, my Lord, for your grace!"

The fire of rage in Gan Ning's heart had vanished, replaced by an even greater urge to learn.

Watching Gan Ning's departing back, Chu Feng sighed. Lü Meng had become a legendary commander through diligent study and inquiry, eventually being ranked among the sixty-four generals. He hoped Gan Ning might also be cultivated into such a commander, though cultivating one was extremely difficult. In the entire Wei kingdom, those who could be called true commanders were few and far between!