Because the main army led by Wang Ben was still stationed at the Chu border, Wang Ben had only brought a small contingent of personal guards back to Xianyang to receive the tiger tally, after which he would immediately return to the army and lead the main force north to attack Wei.

This was Wang Li’s first time truly accompanying an army on campaign. Having grown up in military camps since childhood, he had long been accustomed to such harsh conditions. However, the Ever-Victorious Halberd in his hands was excessively heavy. From leaving Xianyang, passing through Hangu Pass, and rushing all the way to the army’s stationed location, he had exhausted three warhorses. So after meeting up with the main army, he simply walked forward on foot like ordinary infantry.

That Minister Gan had truly given him a difficult problem. Without a fine steed, it would be impossible to support his use of that Ever-Victorious Halberd for long campaigns.

And there was more than one difficult problem.

Wang Li unconsciously touched his left chest, where there was an even more troublesome problem. (Left chest →_→ the position closest to the heart)

However, now wasn’t yet the time when it had to be used.

The Qin army marched north, carrying the momentum from previously conquering over ten Chu cities in one fell swoop, breaking through like splitting bamboo as they attacked into Wei territory. Before winter had even passed, they could already see the city walls of the Daliang capital from afar.

At this point, the Qin army’s good fortune seemed to have run out. The Daliang capital’s city walls were extremely solid. Even though the Qin army had surrounded Daliang so tightly that not even a bird could fly out, the city had abundant grain stores. Over ten attempts at storming the city within a month had shown no results.

A subtle restlessness and unease silently transmitted through the Qin army. Although behind them, on the Chu battlefield, continuous victory reports came from Li Xin and Meng Tian’s armies, the situation with Qi was eerily quiet without any movement at all.

No one believed Qi could truly look on coldly while Wei and Chu were beaten to a pulp by the Qin army and still continue holding their forces back. Although messages from spies lurking in Qi all reported that everything was peaceful, Qi was like a massive creature lying in wait at their side. Not knowing when it would rise to attack brought immeasurable enormous pressure.

Wang Li gazed eastward, thinking that perhaps one day armies covering the sky would appear on that horizon.

Because siege warfare was the most cruel and dangerous—one careless mistake and you’d be left forever beneath those city bricks—no one dared let Wang Li rush forward as a vanguard. He could only stay frustrated in the military camp, pacing alone.

His father Wang Ben commanded troops adhering strictly to everything learned from his grandfather. The camp was set up according to the “Marching” chapter from Sun Tzu’s Art of War, choosing advantageous ground, occupying high positions facing the sun, staying as far as possible from rivers and marshes. However, Daliang’s terrain was low-lying, and just several li from the city, a great river surged past, its riverbed height even far exceeding that of Daliang’s city walls.

Wang Li stood before the military camp’s palisade, watching that rushing river water, hearing the roaring, howling water sounds in his ears, his heart filled with admiration for the river’s perilous nature. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would never dare believe such a strange sight existed.

The Wei River flowing past Xianyang merged with the northern river at Taolin Pass, forming this mighty great river before his eyes. He wondered if that young Minister of State, when gazing at the rolling Wei River from Gaoquan Palace, had thought of this brilliant siege strategy.

After pacing before the palisade for a long while, Wang Li finally gave up his struggle, mustered his courage, and walked toward his father’s main tent.

He stood properly outside the main tent waiting for personal guards to announce him. Only after receiving permission did he lift the tent flap and enter. Because the main tent needed to accommodate high-level military deliberations, it was quite spacious. However, this wasn’t deliberation time—only his father was present, standing with his back to him, studying a sheepskin map hanging in the tent.

“Not advancing means retreating, not being pleased means worrying, not obtaining means perishing—this is the constant of worldly people. Why aren’t you practicing martial arts?” Without waiting for his son to pay respects, Wang Ben spoke reproachfully without even turning his head. He had wanted to discipline this troublesome boy for a long time. Every day he wandered idly around the military camp. Others didn’t say anything out of respect for his face, but who knew what they were muttering in their hearts!

Wang Li secretly groaned. How could he possibly have been wandering aimlessly these past days? The brilliant strategy written by the young Minister of State was only a general plan—it absolutely couldn’t describe every situation in detail. Moreover, the other party had never come to Daliang and didn’t know the actual conditions here. So even though he knew this was an absolutely brilliant strategy, he had to observe for several days before confirming whether it was feasible.

His father, being a military general, was afraid of not understanding references when conversing with civil officials. So in his leisure time, he studied diligently, and thus liked to quote classics when speaking. Wang Li couldn’t understand his father’s roundabout speaking style as a child. Wanting to argue but unable to find a starting point, he had developed a direct speaking style, unknowingly offending many people.

Recalling his youthful experiences, Wang Li silently sighed. Of course, if he hadn’t spoken so harshly, perhaps that Minister Gan wouldn’t have been ambushed and injured at the Half-Step Hall. This regrettable incident had invisibly changed Wang Li’s personality. Whenever he felt irritable, this matter would surface in his mind. Suppressing the impulse to argue with his father, Wang Li calmly stated: “General, I have a matter to report.”

“The best military policy is to attack strategies, the next to attack alliances, the next to attack armies, and the worst to attack cities. The method of attacking cities is only when unavoidable. Attacking cities… is only when unavoidable!” Wang Ben didn’t think his son could possibly have anything serious to say. He withdrew the attention divided by Wang Li’s entrance and continued muttering to himself before the sheepskin map.

Wang Li actually understood this passage, because his father had once forced him to memorize much military strategy. This line was from the “Planning Attacks” chapter of Sun Tzu’s Art of War.

When memorizing it then, he hadn’t understood its meaning. Hearing it now and carefully considering it, he felt that Minister Gan, who had obtained over ten Zhao cities without deploying a single soldier, was truly a peerless genius.

The best military strategy was to win through planning, the next was to defeat enemies through diplomatic means, then to dispatch armies to attack and win, with attacking cities being the worst strategy. Attacking cities was the lowest approach, only used when absolutely unavoidable. His father was vexed about the current situation—the Qin army seemed to have the upper hand, but considering the surrounding circumstances, they had actually entered a predicament.

“Therefore, those skilled in warfare subdue enemy forces without battle, capture enemy cities without assault, destroy enemy states without prolonged campaigns. They must compete for all under heaven with completeness intact. Thus the army is not blunted, and advantage can be completely preserved. This is the method of planning attacks.” Wang Li softly continued reciting. The words his father had forced him to memorize by rote in the past now emerged as precious pearls. Planning attacks, planning attacks—the young Minister of State was truly a master of planning attacks.

Wang Ben rarely saw his son voluntarily recite texts. Seeing this, he turned around in surprise. Though his mood was poor, he still nodded with gratification: “I have military texts here. If you’re unwilling to practice martial arts, memorizing texts is also acceptable.”

Hearing this, Wang Li rolled his eyes and pulled out a small silk pouch from his lapel. He had originally intended to hand over the pouch together to his father, but thinking it over, he extracted the cloth inscribed with writing and handed it over, putting the empty pouch back in his lapel. Meeting his father’s puzzled gaze, Wang Li explained calmly: “Before leaving, Minister Gan gave me this brilliant strategy in a pouch.”

Wang Ben, who had been about to dismiss it, immediately unfolded the cloth in his hands upon hearing Minister Gan’s name, seriously reading the text. The more he read, the more rapid his breathing became. After reading it back and forth several times, his anger also reached its peak. Waving the cloth document, he berated Wang Li: “Why didn’t you tell me such a brilliant strategy earlier?!”

“The strategy Minister Gan wrote clearly states everything must be based on actual terrain.” Wang Li had long known his father would be furious and explained unhurriedly, “After observing the water volume these past days, only today was I certain this strategy was truly feasible.”

Wang Ben’s fury didn’t dissipate, but at least he knew his son hadn’t deliberately delayed military affairs. However, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He couldn’t help but grab bamboo slips from the table and strike Wang Li several times: “Fool! I told you to study but you wouldn’t. Only an idiot wouldn’t know the two words ‘spring flood’!”

Wang Li stubbornly endured several strikes, finally letting his father vent his anger. However, he still couldn’t help arguing a few lines: “I was afraid that if the strategy failed, we wouldn’t have to accept his favor. Didn’t you say not to take sides?”

“Hmph! The trap has already been set, just waiting for us to fall into it. He calculated that we’d have no choice but to use it.” Wang Ben had long thought it through. The worst result would be prolonged unsuccessful siege of Daliang while being surrounded by Qi and Chu allied forces from front and back. Now with a brilliant strategy to easily capture the city, even reducing Qin army casualties to the lowest point—this was a result beyond hoping for. As for political matters, Wang Ben said quite righteously: “Anyway, your grandfather will shoulder any problems!”

Hearing this, Wang Li felt absolute envy, jealousy, and resentment! He also wanted to say his father would shoulder any problems for him! Rather than striking him with bamboo slips!

Wang Ben had no time to consider these matters further. Those few strikes at Wang Li were punishment for the latter secretly hiding such a good strategy. If it had been earlier, fewer soldiers would have been injured in the siege, and they could have observed the river conditions earlier to prepare in advance.

However, thinking more carefully, even if Wang Li had produced the strategy earlier, the siege battle still had to be fought. Otherwise, the Wei army would suspect their true intentions and might rush out to engage them in plains warfare, causing even greater casualties. Fine, even if it made him as a father anxious and worried, it was worth these few strikes. Heaven knew how much hair he’d lost these past days!

Wang Li naturally didn’t know what those strikes were really for. Before he could complain further, Wang Ben sent him to summon the various military officers for a meeting.

Wang Ben looked at the cloth document, and while the tent was empty, decisively tore off the latter section.

Because of the prolonged unsuccessful siege of Daliang, the officers’ hearts were also restless and uneasy. Hearing General Wang summon them, they all rushed to the main tent at the fastest speed. Originally not holding much hope for an immediate solution, after viewing the cloth document, they immediately erupted in excitement.

No one would doubt this strategy could fail.

In the Central Plains, only this river before them could be called “the River,” while another that could match it was that river flowing through Chu territory. All others were waters with distinct names, like the Wei River and Luo River. This showed how vast this River was.

The more Wang Li listened, the more ashamed he felt. He really had studied too little, actually initially doubting whether the young Minister of State’s strategy could work. As everyone in the tent grew more heated in discussion, officers unable to sit still stood up and rushed outside the tent, pointing at that rushing river and discussing great matters.

Other soldiers unaware of the truth thought these officers were looking at distant Daliang, studying siege strategies.

“Now terrain is an aid to the army. Assessing enemies, planning victory, calculating dangers, distances—this is the way of a superior general. Knowing this and using it in battle ensures victory; not knowing this and using it in battle ensures defeat.” Wang Ben said with deep emotion. He had only noticed that camping required staying away from rivers but hadn’t realized this river could be utilized. The gap between him and that Minister Gan was evident. Moreover, that Minister Gan hadn’t even come here, judging this solely from some hydrological and geographical data.

“Eh? Why is there a section missing from the back of this cloth document? General, what was written there?” An officer holding the cloth document carefully discovered the irregularity. Wang Ben hadn’t said whose strategy this was, so someone began suspecting whether there was a signature at the end that was inconvenient for outsiders to see and thus deliberately torn off.

“Nothing important.” Wang Ben glared at the innocent-faced Wang Li, coughed lightly, and changed the subject, beginning to assign tasks to everyone. After all, though the strategy was decided, spring flood season hadn’t yet arrived, but preparatory work still needed to begin.

Wang Li rubbed his head, feeling his father’s blame was inexplicable. The young Minister of State had only instructed him not to let the silk pouch easily leave his person. What was there to hide that required deliberately tearing it off?