Tiger Hunt (1)
Everyone has an expectation of what a person is capable of. Just like with Lü Bu, who sliced through Fang Yue and Mu An-guk in the Anti-Dong Zhuo coalition—there's that instinctive sense of, "This guy's got what it takes!"
A great leader places talent where it's needed most, running the organization based on each person's abilities and those expectations.
But life has a funny way of twisting things.
"The leader's curse is giving more work to those who do well because they can, and less to those who can't because they won't."
That's just how human organizations work. Every one I've seen so far. History bears it out, and a glance at the countless factions across the land confirms it.
The capable end up shouldering more. For the less able, you assign helpers or push them to improve. The utterly incompetent? Cut them loose or give them grunt work anyone could do.
That's why the skilled get greater rewards, more merit, more honor.
Sun Jian has the talent but hasn't reaped the rewards he deserves.
Huang Zu is just your average general. But if he beats Sun Jian? Liu Biao's view of him changes overnight.
"If Yuan Shao has Yan Liang and Wen Chou, then I've got Huang Zu!"
"Pardon? Me?"
"Exactly. That's why we picked the fourth of Xun You's five stratagems."
"Hit and run, right?"
Sima Yi, sitting across from me, stared at the map and tilted her head.
"Huang Zu lures Sun Jian from the riverside, retreats all the way to Yangyang, and fights alongside Liu Biao's main force. Then Huang Zu's troops drive Sun Jian back."
"Sure. Simple, isn't it?"
"Not even close. There's a ton that doesn't add up logically."
Sima Yi shook her head firmly.
"I get the politics, though. If we score a big win at Jiangxia with Huang Zu's forces, Liu Biao won't send reinforcements against Yuan Shu later."
"Right. He'll think, 'Huang Zu can handle it!' Then Huang Zu demands troops and supplies over blind faith."
"And Liu Biao won't give them?"
"Nope. 'Didn't Huang Zu beat Sun Jian, the guy who crushed Hua Xiong? No need for backup.' Even I'd think that."
Sun Jian was arguably Yuan Shu's best general. Defeating him would spread Huang Zu's fame across the Central Plains.
"So Huang Zu has to lose thoroughly to Sun Jian this time—like a proper average joe. He charges in boldly once, realizes he's outmatched, and pulls back to Yangyang."
"Wouldn't that mean the Jiangxia prefect abandons his own city?"
"Yeah, he'll take some heat. But results speak louder. Beat Sun Jian, and he's back as triumphant general in Jiangxia."
"General Huang Zu won't let Jiangxia's people suffer."
Xun You finally spoke, subtly revealing the finer points of her strategy to Sima Yi.
"If an enemy you could catch and crush just by chasing retreats to Yangyang with seventy percent of his force intact—what would you do?"
"...Chase him?"
"Exactly. Huang Zu will make Sun Jian pursue him. To pull that off, I've prepared three things."
"Three? It's a plan you cooked up with Master Kim."
"..."
Sima Yi scowled. A chill ran down my spine, but I explained the flow of our scheme anyway.
"First one... is trash talk."
"Pardon?"
"Provoke him with profanity."
* * *
"Hahaha! Hey, you Jiangdong mutt! That's all you got?!"
Atop Jiangxia's walls, Huang Zu bellowed with maniacal laughter.
"Come on up! What, scared you'll lose if you do?!"
"...That bastard."
Sun Jian's generals glared up at the city, faces flushed with rage.
"General, let me go. I'll cut out his tongue and bring it to you."
"No need, General Huang. Leave this scum to me—I'll take his head whole."
"Nonsense. No need for you gentlemen against riffraff like that."
Sun Jian calmed his officers with a relaxed smile, cleared his throat, and roared back.
"You arrogant shit—!!"
The battlefield fell silent in an instant. The soldiers hurling insults from the walls shut their mouths at Sun Jian's thunder. Even Huang Zu gulped and stopped.
"Hiding behind one measly wall, are you blind?! Fine! I'll smash your gates and face you myself!"
"Hah! As if you could even reach!"
"Insolent fool! My fifteen-year-old son could beat you!"
"What?! You...!"
Huang Zu gripped the battlements, trembling. He bit his lip, steadied his breath, and bellowed with venom.
"Yaaaah!! Shut your yapping dog mouth!!!"
"...That son of a bitch."
Sun Jian's blood boiled at being called a dog again.
"What?! Got something to say, Yuan Shu's lapdog?! Heard you scampered to him with the Imperial Seal like a whipped pup?!"
"Can't take it anymore, General. Let's charge."
"Agreed. We'll flatten the walls..."
Twang!
Arrows rained from the walls. Sun Jian batted away the blind shots with his sword; infantry raised shields.
"Weak. Pathetic. How many even?"
"Not even three hundred, sir."
"Can't afford delays."
Sun Jian sighed. His goal was Yangyang—not wasting time on this fool at Jiangxia.
But even a hack general was still a general. Ignoring him risked a rear attack.
"Hey, you! Huang Gongfu here to deal with you! Can't stand watching a disgrace to the Huang clan!"
"What?! You old fart who barely survived Hua Xiong—"
Thwack!
Huang Gai nailed Huang Zu's helmet. The startled prefect jerked aside, dodging by a hair. Huang Gai frowned and nocked another arrow.
"Tch, getting old."
"If you're old, General Huang, what does that make us?"
"Heh, scurrying like rats."
Sun Jian's men were at ease. His troops too. Huang Zu really was beatable—even by Sun Jian's fifteen-year-old son, as he'd boasted.
No duel needed; you could just feel it.
"Don't go too hard. He's still a prefect..."
"Hey! Stay put! I'll ride out with cavalry and slaughter you all! Open the gates!!!"
Sun Jian's men smirked. Huang Zu had baited them, but now he seemed hooked—rushing to open the gates himself.
"Tch, calling that trash talk."
"Anti-Dong Zhuo days had worse flying at us."
"True. Not like these pampered Jingzhou layabouts... What? Why aren't they opening?"
Sun Jian frowned. No sign of gates moving, despite Huang Zu's shouts. Archers had vanished after their volley.
"Bluff?"
"Maybe rotating troops. Could get arrowed if we approach."
"Too quiet for that...?"
"General—!!"
A horseman galloped up from afar, breathless.
"Aren't you the intel officer I sent to the rear gate?"
"Enemy's rear gate opened! Troops fleeing west!"
"What?!"
Sun Jian's face twisted.
"That bastard's running...?!"
"General, opportunity. Take Jiangxia."
"No! Pursue!"
Sun Jian gripped the reins, face red as sunset.
"Perfect! Crush Huang Zu and steamroll Yangyang while we're at it!"
"General, rest..."
"No need! We just were! To Yangyang—"
Sun Jian pointed west, grinning fiercely.
"Half a day's ride!"
* * *
"Close enough to smell victory. If Jiangxia's garrison bailed, better camp near Yangyang anyway."
"Logically, chase the routed troops, weaken them before linking with Yangyang, beat the messengers there first."
"Ah...! By the time word reaches Yangyang...!"
"Sun Jian's army at their doorstep."
I shifted all the black stones from Jiangxia to Yangyang on the Jingzhou map.
"Huang Zu—no, Jingzhou—can't win with just his men. Needs Liu Biao's main force."
"Liu Jing Sheng's stingy too. Even for defense against Sun Jian, skimps on troops."
Straight fight? Instant loss.
"But Master, won't Yangyang resent dragging the enemy home?"
"That's where phase two kicks in."
I moved some of Huang Zu's stones elsewhere.
"Troops deserting out of fear of Sun Jian's numbers."
"Really?"
"Fake, of course. But gives cover for a bloodless rout."
Phase two: disinformation. To your own side. Only then will Liu Biao budge his heavy ass.
"People only notice when the fire's on their feet."