Indeed, the Yuzhou forces were gradually withdrawing. By the fifth day, their camp had emptied, while Gou Xi had launched three attacks in two days. Though all were small-scale with little to show for them, they still infuriated the soldiers across the river.
Especially the Prince of Donghai—he had nearly lost his mind with rage. Last night the opposite side had beaten drums five times. Each time they thought it was another raid, but found people merely beating drums and gongs in mid-river. Though suspecting deliberate harassment, upon hearing the drums they still feared a surprise attack and had to rise and prepare for battle. After five rounds of this, the Prince of Donghai and his subordinates had barely slept all night.
Before this, they had already gone one night without proper sleep.
Two days without good rest would sour anyone’s temper, let alone the Prince of Donghai. Even when some suggested Gou Xi was employing a feint strategy and advised patience, they dared not counsel the furious Prince to endure.
Sleep-deprived, the Prince of Donghai gazed into the distance but could no longer see any trace of the Yuzhou forces. The scouts he’d quietly sent out had returned—two of them reported, “We followed their withdrawal route for about forty li before we had to turn back. They’ve definitely left. We couldn’t go deeper—the Yanzhou forces are intensively searching for us, and they’re even arresting ordinary civilians who approach the riverside.”
“With such severity, could you discover why the Yuzhou forces withdrew?”
“No, we couldn’t find out anything.”
This statement itself contained deep implications. What matter could prevent scouts from discovering even a hint of information despite specifically investigating?
The Prince of Donghai grew increasingly suspicious that Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi had fallen out. Though he didn’t know the reason, clearly that day when they met before his eyes, they hadn’t reached an agreement but had instead quarreled.
Thinking of this, the Prince of Donghai couldn’t help laughing heartily, then wondered, “Could Magistrate Zhang have gained control of the Yuzhou forces and suppressed Zhao Hanzhang?”
This had been a casual move on his part. He hadn’t expected Magistrate Zhang to actually suppress Zhao Hanzhang. After all, Zhao Hanzhang’s achievements these past two months had been too dazzling. His subordinate general Ma Jia’en had died confusedly at Zhao Hanzhang’s hands, and his twenty thousand troops had all gone to her. How many men did Magistrate Zhang have?
He could hardly overcome Zhao Hanzhang.
But looking at it now, perhaps Magistrate Zhang still had some use. At least the Yuzhou forces had truly withdrawn.
The Prince of Donghai asked, “Who delivered the letter to Magistrate Zhang? Have him come see me.”
He wanted to carefully question the circumstances at that time—there might be some clues.
The scout who had delivered the letter carefully approached and knelt on one knee to report, “…We met at the riverside. After confirming he was Magistrate Zhang’s attendant, I handed over the reply and immediately boarded the boat to return.”
He paused before adding, “However, the Yuzhou camp nearby was quite lively at the time. They said they were holding a victory banquet and everyone had gone to drink. I dared not linger and boarded the boat to leave immediately.”
“The attendant said nothing about how Magistrate Zhang planned to act?”
“No.”
Whether delivering or receiving letters, both parties understood one principle: the more you know, the faster you die. So they preferred not to exchange a single word. After confirming identities and delivering the letter, they’d leave immediately.
The Prince of Donghai received little information and couldn’t help but interpret the situation in his favor, becoming increasingly convinced Zhao Hanzhang and Gou Xi had fallen out.
However, he wasn’t reckless. He ordered, “Select two thousand men to prepare to cross the river and test Gou Xi’s intentions.”
Gou Xi was far more composed than the Prince of Donghai. He was a renowned general and understood the Prince’s psychology thoroughly.
He organized the counterattack methodically—neither outstanding nor failed, just a minor victory over the other side.
But this gave the Prince of Donghai confidence. He even sensed Gou Xi’s urgency, as if wanting a quick resolution. Could something have happened in Yuzhou or Yanzhou?
In just one night, the Prince of Donghai entertained numerous suspicions and doubts.
Gou Xi employed this feint strategy masterfully. Zhao Hanzhang decided to learn from him. Since the army had begun breaking camp, she had been making certain arrangements.
When each group’s turn came to break camp and leave, she would meet with the commanding officers.
Her group was the last to leave. Halfway along the route, Zhao Hanzhang called over Zhao Kuan and Sun Linghui, instructing them, “You need not go to Xuchang. When you reach the front, lead your troops south back to Runan.”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “Take twenty thousand troops back.”
Zhao Kuan gaped, asking, “We’re not participating in the battle?”
Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him, “What are you afraid of? With sixteen hundred thousand of our Yuzhou forces here including logistics, Gou Xi with nearly two hundred thousand, and the Prince of Donghai claiming three hundred thousand—even allowing for inflation, I estimate around two hundred thousand—can all these people clash in one place?”
She continued, “This is all within Yuzhou territory. What about Yuzhou itself?”
Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand, “Go quickly and quietly. Have people sweep away your tracks along the route. Station scouts front and rear. Be careful of Yanzhou scouts—don’t let them discover your movements.”
Sun Linghui said, “I would prefer to remain at your side, Commander.”
Zhao Hanzhang refused, “Zhao Kuan is careful enough but lacks decisiveness. You should go with him. The troops you’re taking are all Zhao family forces. After returning, settle them well. I have enough people here.”
Though Sun Linghui regretted not being able to stay, thinking she’d been entrusted with an important responsibility excited her. She happily assured, “Rest assured, Commander. We’ll safely bring them all back to Runan and settle them.”
Zhao Hanzhang nodded with satisfaction.
Sun Linghui left quietly. Her contingent had fallen behind and quietly turned onto a different road, so much so that she didn’t even get to say goodbye to Fan Ying, only writing a letter for those remaining to deliver.
By the time Fan Ying learned of Sun Linghui’s departure, it was after they’d established camp.
Many tents had been set up, but when she went looking for Sun Linghui, she discovered most tents along the way were empty—one tent housing ten people, followed by two empty ones, then another with ten people.
Fan Ying broke into a cold sweat, frightened. Unable to find Sun Linghui and naturally not receiving her letter, she immediately turned and hurried back to the main tent to find Zhao Hanzhang and report, “My lady, more than half the tents are empty. Someone has hidden our troops.”
She suspected someone was concealing forces to secretly move against Zhao Hanzhang.
She had been on duty the night of the victory banquet and missed the chance to stand beside Zhao Hanzhang, so afterward she learned from countless retellings about her lady’s ruthlessness and commanding presence that night. Her heart filled with regret while she grew increasingly vigilant.
It seemed many within Yuzhou still refused to submit to her lady. She must be more careful.
Hearing Fan Ying’s report, Zhao Hanzhang smiled slightly, nodded, and said with a smile, “You did well, discovering this quickly. However, I sent them away myself. No need for alarm.”
Sixteen hundred thousand people—the daily grain consumption alone was an enormous problem. She wasn’t as wealthy as the Prince of Donghai or Gou Xi, nor would she involve so many officers in civil war. So she’d sent most of them away, having them lead troops back separately.
Now fewer than fifty thousand remained. This was still allowing for potential escalation of hostilities—otherwise she could have kept just twenty thousand for battle.
Feint strategies—who couldn’t employ them?