Xin Yi
"General Zhu Ran. A report has come in from our spies. Xu Shu and Feng Xi have led their army out of Jiangling."
"Is that so. Understood, General Pan Zhang. At last, Lord Zhou Fang's scheme begins to bear fruit."
Zhu Ran smiled at the report Pan Zhang delivered.
It was a scheme they had spent months carefully constructing. The intelligence Pan Zhang brought was sweet beyond measure — a reward that made every day of waiting worthwhile.
Luring Xu Shu out of Jingzhou, in particular, was an enormous achievement. With the majority of Shu's generals away on the northern campaign, Xu Shu was virtually the only man in Jingzhou whose strategic brilliance still demanded caution.
"Xin Yi has also been assigned to Xu Shu's army and is traveling with them. He has agreed to pass us their route of march, their formation, their schedule of advance — everything. With that information, we can break Xu Shu's army."
"Excellent. We ambush them along their route of march, and Xu Shu is finished."
Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang had concealed their forces a short distance from Changsha. Working in collusion with their agents inside the enemy camp, they had laid plans to strike Xu Shu's army and seize Jiangling.
"And convey orders to Zhu Huan and Quan Cong: advance on Jiangling in secret, as planned."
"Yes, sir."
Elsewhere, a separate detachment under Zhu Huan, Quan Cong, and others stood ready. The moment Xu Shu marched out, they would take a different road in secret and snatch the emptied fortress of Jiangling.
Once Jiangling was theirs, they meant to press on and take Gong'an, Wuling, and the rest of southern Jingzhou in turn.
"We should move our own forces as well."
Under cover of night, they shifted their army to a place ideally suited for ambush.
"General Zhu Ran. Another courier has arrived from Xin Yi. Read this secret letter."
"Let me see. Hmm. Yes — they are moving this way, just as expected. The intelligence all matches."
Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang kept their army on the move, receiving the steady stream of reports Xin Yi sent them.
Even so, they could not yet trust Xin Yi completely, and so they cross-checked every word against the reports of the scouts they had sent ahead.
The two sources agreed at every point, and that agreement planted in Zhu Ran a growing confidence that the operation was proceeding smoothly.
"According to Xin Yi, Xu Shu will enter Baqiu in two days. And tomorrow he himself will slip into our camp in secret to deliver more detailed intelligence."
"The enemy is moving exactly as we anticipated. We will wait at Baqiu and finish Xu Shu's army there."
Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang positioned their forces at Baqiu and waited for Xin Yi's arrival the next day.
The following day.
To meet Xin Yi, Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang went to the appointed place — a spot ringed by brush and trees, perfectly suited for a clandestine rendezvous.
The dense canopy blotted out the sky, and a dim, heavy stillness hung over everything.
Rustle. Rustle.
"Someone's coming."
The sound of someone pushing through the undergrowth drew nearer, accompanied by footsteps.
"Halt. Who goes there?"
The guards leveled their weapons at the unidentified figure.
"It is I. Xin Yi. I have come to keep my promise — lower your weapons, if you please."
The guards searched Xin Yi's belongings, then brought him before Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang.
"A pleasure to meet you. Oh — Grand Commander Zhu Ran himself. This humble officer is Xin Yi."
The moment Xin Yi laid eyes on Zhu Ran, he began to bow and scrape.
"The title of Grand Commander is only temporary, but yes — I am Zhu Ran."
"Aigoo. A renowned general such as yourself is certain to be confirmed as Grand Commander proper for the merit of this campaign. Temporary titles can go to the dogs, I say."
Xin Yi rubbed his palms together and kept bowing. Whatever else he might be, his talent for flattery was considerable.
"And, heh heh heh — once Your Excellency has taken Jiangling, this humble officer would very much like to serve His Majesty the King of Wu more closely."
"Of course. Our lord always keeps his word."
Privately, Zhu Ran wondered whether a man of this sort was worth employing — but the seizure of Jiangling came first.
"Needless to say, Xin Yi, you must also keep your promises. Deliver the intelligence you claimed you would bring."
"Aigoo. Naturally, naturally. As I wrote in my last secret letter, Xu Shu's army will advance this way at first light tomorrow. As for their formation and operational plans…"
Xin Yi began pouring out everything he had learned in the military councils. Zhu Ran nodded, absorbing every detail.
"When Xu Shu's army falls into the trap tomorrow, I will throw their rear into chaos. You will be able to take Xu Shu alive."
"Good. Do not think of breaking your word."
"Set your mind at ease. Once I make a promise, I keep it. Well then — I shall take my leave and return…"
Xin Yi had just turned to go when an aide came racing up, gasping for breath.
"C-Commander! General! W-we're in serious trouble!"
At the aide's frantic cry, Xin Yi stopped mid-step and looked back with a puzzled expression.
"What is this racket? Speak quietly."
"I-it's — our main camp is under enemy assault as we speak."
Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang's mouths fell open at the report.
"What?! Impossible! Are you certain?"
"Absolutely certain. An enemy force appeared without warning, set fires, and is attacking our troops. General Zhu Shou was killed trying to hold them off. We cannot mount a proper defense against the surprise attack — please, return at once and take command!"
"This is absurd…"
Unable to make sense of the news, Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang turned on Xin Yi.
"Xin Yi, you dog! Did you not say Xu Shu would march tomorrow?!"
At Pan Zhang's furious roar, Xin Yi went deathly pale.
"Th-that can't be… At the operational council it was clearly decided they would march tomorrow…"
"Silence! So you dared deceive us and lead us into a trap!"
"N-no! Absolutely not!"
Unable to contain his rage, Pan Zhang drew his blade and leveled it at Xin Yi.
"You cunning bastard! I'll kill you!"
"G-General, spare me—!"
"General Pan Zhang, wait—!"
Zhu Ran tried to stop him, but he could not prevent Pan Zhang's sword from cutting through Xin Yi's neck.
"Ghk…!"
With a strangled cry, Xin Yi collapsed, blood pouring from his throat.
"This… He may well have been deceived by Xu Shu himself. We should have held him and questioned him properly…"
At Zhu Ran's grim words, Pan Zhang's face showed a flicker of regret.
"Damn — I was too hasty…"
"It is already too late. The man is dead. More importantly, we must return to the main camp at once. Quickly."
"Yes!"
Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang hurried back toward their main force. Yet Zhu Ran still could not grasp what was happening.
If Xu Shu had moved, we would surely have detected it. Does that mean another force was moving without our knowledge?
Cold sweat ran down his back.
Zhu Ran had never let his guard down; he had seeded scouts around Xu Shu's army well in advance. But those scouts watching Xu Shu had sent no word at all.
Then did they see through our plan from the start? Since when?
Unless every scout had been captured or had simply neglected his duty, it meant Xu Shu had not moved his army at all until now.
There was no time left to think. The moment the main camp came into view — blazing scarlet with fire — the cold sweat pouring down his back grew heavier still.
"You dogs of Wu! Count it an honor to die by the blade of Shamoke, King of the Barbarians!"
Shamoke roared as he struck off a Wu soldier's head.
"Set the fires! Burn it all to the ground!"
The commander of the "other force" Zhu Ran had belatedly guessed at was none other than Shamoke.
Shamoke, king of the Wuling barbarians, had cooperated with Shu once before during the previous battle for Jingzhou.
This time, too, Ma Liang had persuaded him with promises of treasure and reward, and Shamoke had accepted readily.
Ma Su, who knew the local terrain well, had been attached to Shamoke's force to guide them.
Under Ma Su's direction, Shamoke's troops had advanced on Baqiu by a route entirely different from Xu Shu's army, and had struck the Wu forces waiting in ambush for Xu Shu from a direction they never expected — reversing the ambush upon them.
The result shattered whatever military glory Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang might have claimed.
And the false intelligence fed to Wu through Xin Yi had been Xu Shu's scheme all along.
"H-hold them! If we steady the lines even now, we still have every chance of winning!"
Returning late to the main camp, Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang tried to throw everything into defense.
Even that did not go as they wished.
Judging that his plan had succeeded, Xu Shu led his main force in a frontal assault.
Caught between Xu Shu and Shamoke, Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang abandoned even their main camp and fled at last to Changsha.
"Military Advisor Xu. The enemy has been completely routed. Zhu Ran and Pan Zhang are said to have fled to Changsha."
"You have done well, General Feng."
After driving off the Wu army, Xu Shu and Feng Xi were reorganizing their forces.
For a moment Xu Shu considered pressing straight on to Changsha, then discarded the idea at once.
We have neither the troops nor the supplies to widen the front here — we would only invite a counterattack. And more importantly, if the report that the enemy is circling around to strike Jiangling is true, we must return at once.
Xu Shu made his decision.
"General Feng. We will turn back for Jiangling immediately. See to the reorganization of the troops."
"Understood, Military Advisor."
As Feng Xi left to gather the soldiers, Xu Shu thought on.
They said General Jin has already slipped into Jiangling in secret. No matter what schemes the enemy attempts, so long as General Jin is there, Jiangling will not simply fall into their hands.