Chapter Ten: Testing the Waters

This sudden sword strike was swift and deadly, aimed straight for his life! The assailant was clad in black from head to toe, his face concealed; apart from his imposing build, there was nothing else to distinguish him. No one could tell who he was or how he’d managed to infiltrate the Governor’s residence.

For Pei Min, this was the first time he had ever faced such a situation, and cold sweat poured down his back in terror. Yet his reaction was nothing short of swift! At this critical juncture between life and death, he didn’t care for dignity or decorum—he dropped to the ground and rolled like a donkey, barely evading the fatal blow.

Before he was even fully upright, Pei Min had already drawn the sword at his waist.

With the sword in hand, all fear and unease vanished from his heart. He felt transformed, utterly calm. Bracing himself with a backward hand, he used the momentum to rise, and though he barely regained his footing, his sword was already thrusting forward. This strike carried no tricks or flourishes, but the trembling, shimmering tip covered a full thirty key points along his opponent’s chest, sides, abdomen, and throat, the offensive overwhelming.

The man in black twisted his wrist, but before this assault, he was at a loss as to how to parry. He retreated three steps, never daring to counterattack under Pei Min’s relentless offense.

Having gained the advantage, Pei Min immediately switched tactics. Silver flashed; his sword darted like a flying serpent, step after step pressing in, each thrust faster than the last. In an instant, he unleashed twenty-one strokes in ten moves, forcing the man in black into utter confusion. The attacker flailed desperately, sword and scabbard weaving a frantic defense, unable to strike back, compelled only to retreat—until, with a thud, his back slammed into the wall.

“No more, no more! I yield! I am Xue Ne, Xue Ne!” the man shouted in shock, his voice aged yet resonant. He tore the black cloth from his face, revealing a solemn, commanding countenance. Only after he was certain Pei Min would not pursue the attack did he sheath his sword as a gesture of goodwill.

Xue Ne, sixty-two this year, despite his gray-streaked hair and beard, radiated vigor and red-cheeked health, showing no trace of age.

Pei Min did not doubt his claim. The Governor’s residence was tightly guarded; the idea of an unknown assassin, especially an elderly one, sneaking in was absurd. He, too, sheathed his sword, still somewhat dazed as he gazed at Xue Ne.

Xue Ne wiped the sweat from his brow, still unsettled, and exclaimed, “The young are truly formidable! Though I am a cavalryman, not skilled in foot combat or swordsmanship, I have trained since youth—sixty years now—and pride myself on being passable with the sword. Yet under your blade, I had no chance to fight back. Your swordplay appears disorderly, stitched together from many styles, but therein lies its brilliance—impossible to defend against, truly remarkable.” With these words, he took the host’s seat at the center of the study and beckoned Pei Min to sit as well.

Pei Min had just sat down, intending to ask why Xue Ne had staged this dramatic test—for had he not held back, Xue Ne might well have been wounded.

Before he could speak, Xue Ne said, “You must be curious as to why I disguised myself and attacked you?”

Pei Min nodded. “The Governor surely wished to test me, though I cannot imagine the reason. Presumably, this was also why you specially invited me to the residence.”

Xue Ne laughed. “Exactly! I much prefer to speak plainly with clever men. I want to ask your help with something—something only you can do. But it carries a certain risk, and I had to see for myself if you were up to the task.” He spread his hands. “Clearly, you are far more capable than I imagined, more than qualified to assist me.”

Pei Min was even more bewildered. He ransacked his memory, certain this was his first meeting with Xue Ne. How could two complete strangers have any connection, much less a matter that only he could help with?

Xue Ne’s gaze fell on the “New Commentary on the Book of Changes” beside them, sparking his curiosity. “Do you know military strategy?”

Pei Min shook his head. “I do not, just reading idly. The Grand General is someone I admire deeply—if he writes a book, I must support it, whether I understand or not.”

Xue Ne laughed heartily. “Then let me test you!” He unlocked a drawer of the desk and pulled out a manuscript, tossing it to Pei Min from afar. “See if you can make anything of this.”

Pei Min accepted the manuscript and read it carefully. It was a military campaign record, documenting in detail the movements of the former Youzhou Governor Sun Quan—from his preparations before the expedition, to his march, and finally his disastrous defeat. Ten thousand soldiers lost, every detail meticulously recorded. The brutality of war, the utter annihilation of so many young men due to an incompetent commander, leapt from those few thin pages.

“Damn it!” Pei Min, recalling the situation in Huairou County, let out a low curse.

Xue Ne’s face was equally grave. “What’s done is done. All the anger in the world won’t change it. Calm yourself and read carefully.”

Pei Min nodded, suppressing his emotions to reread the document. Still, he could not see what was amiss. Xue Ne did not rush him, so Pei Min read the records again, word by word, over and over, until a strange feeling arose—something was wrong. Suddenly, he recalled a passage from the military texts he’d skimmed about the importance of intelligence.

In his writings, Xue Rengui stressed that in warfare, intelligence comes first; estimation and prediction are only last resorts.

With this in mind, Pei Min focused on the middle section of the document:

On the thirteenth day of the sixth month of the first year of Yanhe, the army, led by General Li Kailuo of the Left Brave Guard and General Zhou Yiti of the Left Power Guard, advanced in three columns against the Xi and Khitan.

On the sixteenth, Sun Quan ordered Li Kailuo to lead four thousand cavalry as the vanguard, while he himself led the main force, marching north.

On the twenty-second, Li Dapu led eight thousand cavalry and engaged the Tang vanguard in the Lengxing region, decisively defeating them.

On the twenty-fourth, Sun Quan, hearing of Li Kailuo’s defeat, dared not advance and withdrew his troops. That night, Li Dapu launched a night raid, inflicting a crushing defeat on the Tang camp.

On the twenty-fifth, Sun Quan formed a square formation by the mountains for self-defense and sent over ten thousand bolts of silk, purple robes, and golden belts to Li Dapu as an offering of peace. Li Dapu agreed to withdraw.

On the twenty-seventh, as the Tang army retreated, Li Dapu suddenly attacked, smashing the Tang cavalry and annihilating them.

On the twenty-eighth, Li Kailuo’s division was ambushed and wiped out.

On the twenty-ninth, Wu Keli’s division was ambushed and wiped out.

On the thirtieth, Zhou Yiti’s division was ambushed and wiped out.

On the first day of the seventh month, Sun Quan’s division was ambushed and wiped out.

“This is impossible!” Pei Min shot to his feet. “Does the Governor have a map?”

Xue Ne produced a sheepskin map from the drawer and spread it across the table. The terrain of Liaodong was clearly marked—mountains, rivers, plains, and open country all easily discernible, even to a novice like Pei Min.