Four Thousand Versus Twenty Thousand

“General, Wan City has mobilized.”

In the barracks of Xinye City, Yi Ji hurried over to report to General Deng Ji, the Commander of the Northern Forces.

“Oh? How many men are coming?” Deng Ji asked, setting aside his chess piece.

“The scouts report that General Cao Xin himself leads the force—eight hundred cavalry, three thousand infantry, totaling three thousand eight hundred men,” Yi Ji replied.

“Ji Bo, are you certain Cao Xin is among them?” Deng Ji's brows furrowed as he spoke.

“General, without a doubt. Cao Xin is tall and robust, striking in appearance, and carries a great iron spear. The scouts saw him clearly.”

“Excellent!” Deng Ji clapped his hands and laughed. “That Cao Ziyu, the commander of Wan City, brings only four thousand troops to Jinyang. Truly, he is young and arrogant. Ji Bo, send orders to Han Song, Deng Xian, and the other commanders. Let them follow the plan and reach their designated positions as soon as possible. This time, I want those four thousand Cao troops to come and never return.”

“Yes, General!” Yi Ji bowed and left the central tent.

Deng Ji picked up a chess piece and placed it on the board, bringing the whole game to life.

—

Clip-clop~

At the foot of Mount Huo, within the bounds of Jinyang County, a force of four thousand marched in orderly columns through a vast golden wheat field.

It was the season when the wheat ripened; most of the crops in Nanyang were already golden. Farmers hurriedly harvested in the fields, while the calls of wheat-harvest birds echoed from distant woods: “Wheat’s ripe, hurry and reap!”

Seeing the army approach, the farmers quickly ducked behind the ridges, not daring to lift their heads.

“Tell me, elder, why is that patch of wheat burned?” Liao Hua stepped onto the ridge and gazed at a wide area of scorched fields—over twenty acres, the scent of charred wheat drifting from afar.

“G-General, it was the troops from Jingzhou. They burned and stole the wheat, and caused havoc in the villages. We feared they’d return, so we harvested at night,” an old farmer replied trembling.

“No need to worry, elder. Prefect Cao of Nanyang has brought his troops to Jinyang. Within three days, the Jingzhou forces will be defeated. You may harvest in peace.” Liao Hua rode back to the main road, bowing to Cao Xin, who sat atop his horse.

“General, the Jingzhou troops set the fire.”

“Outrageous! Zhengfang, head to the county office. Have them record each household’s losses. When the war is over, the government will compensate them, so they won't resort to banditry. Also, the army’s supplies are stored in Jinyang—Zhengfang, you’re in charge of logistics,” Cao Xin ordered, his gaze fixed on the blackened wheat fields.

“Yes, General. I will not fail in my duty!” Li Yan rode off with his men.

“Yuan Jian, where is Deng Xian’s army now?”

—

“General, news just arrived. Deng Xian has withdrawn from Jinyang, retreated ten miles, and set camp southeast of Jinyang County, less than twenty miles from our position.” Liao Hua unfolded a sheepskin map and traced the route with his finger.

“Oh?” Cao Xin raised his sword-like brows. “By rights, upon hearing of my advance, Deng Xian should have fled to Xinye overnight. Why does he linger here?”

Liao Hua laughed, “General, last time we attacked Anzhou and lured Xinye’s forces out, striking the relief troops. Now, they surround Jinyang—likely the same tactic. Only, I wonder how deep their trap is and whether it can hold us.”

Cao Xin smirked. With two hundred Langya cavalry and a thousand Langya infantry, it would take an extraordinary pit to ensnare them.

“Don’t underestimate them. Send word to Pei Yuanshao—have his scouts search thoroughly. Find out where the trap is and how large it is.”

“Yes, General!” Liao Hua departed to carry out the order.

“Order the troops! March faster!”

Once beyond the wheat fields, Cao Xin led his army onward, closing the distance to Deng Xian’s forces—now less than eight miles away.

“Report, General!” A scout galloped toward them, horse and rider drenched in sweat from racing under the sun. Catching his breath, he said, “Commander Pei sends word: last night, a force silently left the Xinye camp. Numbers unknown, destination unknown.”

“Understood. Both man and horse, avoid cold water.” Cao Xin tossed him a waterskin—inside, cool water with a pinch of salt.

“Thank you, General!” The scout wasted no words, gulped the water, and shared some with his steed.

“Report!” Before the first scout could leave, another arrived at full speed. This time, the news: unusual movements in Huyang City; last night, an unidentified force quietly left the Huyang camp, destination unknown.

“Understood.” Cao Xin handed this scout a bag of salted water as well, then summoned Liao Hua, Cao Chun, Bai Feng, and Wu Ba for a council.

“The situation is clear. Jingzhou’s forces are plotting. Deng Xian is the visible piece; Xinye and Huyang garrisons are the hidden ones. Five thousand for the visible piece, about fifteen thousand for the two hidden ones,” Cao Xin explained, pointing to the map.

“Wait, General, how do you know the hidden forces’ numbers?” Cao Chun asked, puzzled.

“Xinye’s total garrison is fifteen thousand. Deng Xian took five thousand, leaving ten thousand. Even if Deng Ji leads troops out, at least two thousand remain to guard the city, so Xinye sends out about eight thousand. Huyang’s Han Song has eight thousand—leaving about two thousand to guard, so about six thousand move out. All together, about fifteen thousand, with a margin of error no greater than three thousand,” Cao Xin stated calmly.

Cao Chun and the burly Wu Ba stared at him, awe and admiration in their eyes.

“Is that so difficult?” Cao Xin asked, surprised.

“It is! I can only count up to one hundred,” Wu Ba admitted, scratching his head.

“Haha, no worries, you’ll learn in time!” Cao Xin smiled, pointing at the map. “We still need to clarify two things: first, the movements of Zhang Xiu in Rang City; second, the exact locations of the two hidden forces.”

“How can we determine that? Nanyang is vast. Even your best scouts can’t search every forest and valley in half a day,” Cao Chun said.

“No need to search everywhere—just the strategic terrain within fifty miles of Deng Xian’s position. That should reveal where the hidden forces are concealed,” Cao Xin replied, tracing a circle on the map.

“Report!” Another scout rushed in. “General, Commander Pei sends word: Zhang Xiu’s troops at Rang City are quiet; Yuyang City’s gates are shut today, and there are signs of troop movement on the road from Xinye to Yuyang. We can confirm the Xinye soldiers are at Yuyang—about eight thousand strong.”

“Understood!” Cao Xin dismissed the scout to rest, then pointed at the map again. “Xinye’s decoy force is in Yuyang, about eight thousand men. Huyang’s decoy force should be twenty miles southeast, in Tongbai Mountain, about six thousand men. Including Deng Xian’s five thousand, Jingzhou has mobilized nearly twenty thousand troops this time.”

“Twenty thousand? We have less than four thousand—how can we fight?” Cao Chun exclaimed.

“Twenty thousand isn’t so many. We excel at winning with fewer men.” Liao Hua laughed softly.

Cao Xin laughed heartily as well—four thousand against twenty thousand, finally a chance for a big gamble.

“Bai Feng, Wu Ba, after we engage Deng Xian, if he feigns defeat and flees, you two must swiftly lead troops into Tongbai Mountain and block the hidden force there as best you can.”

“Yes, General!” Wu Ba and Bai Feng replied loudly.

Bai Feng hesitated and said, “General, our Langya troops fight ten men apiece. Using a thousand against six thousand is wasteful. I request to lead five hundred infantry to defeat the ambush hidden in Tongbai Mountain.”

Cao Xin paused, then laughed. “Bai Feng, it’s good to be capable, but don’t be too proud. You have five hundred new Langya infantry—their combat strength is yet untested. If you manage to eliminate the ambush in Tongbai Mountain early, follow the routed enemy to Huyang and Xinye, and try to infiltrate their cities.”

“Yes, General, I will complete the task!” Bai Feng declared.

“Zi He, once Deng Xian flees, you lead the light cavalry with me to first drive back the Yuyang ambush.”

“Yes, General!” Cao Chun saluted and accepted the order.

With tasks assigned, Cao Xin ordered the entire army to attack, striking directly at Deng Xian’s camp—the depth of the trap would soon be revealed.

—