Chapter Ninety: A Sudden Surprise

Jisun Si understood that since he had already come, it would be far too rude to rise and leave at once. Mon Di’s words were plainly rather strained; at most, Qi could capture Western Yun, so what business was it of his, the lord of Mon? Yet he had spoken as though Qi were launching a massive invasion, clearly hoping to seize some advantage from the occasion. The trouble was that Jisun’s family could not offer him much.

So Jisun Si felt somewhat irritated, but he still restrained himself and asked with a smile, “Since you speak thus, Lord Mon, what aid do you hope to receive from my family?”

People are always practical; once their own interests are involved, they become guarded at once. Seeing Jisun Si’s expression, Mon Di secretly laughed to himself, then said with a touch of helplessness, “What I have been considering is how to repel this assault by the Qi army. Only then can the border of Lu enjoy a period of peace. I am not lacking in weapons and armor, only somewhat short of grain.”

At those words, Jisun Si nearly laughed out loud. With a strange look on his face, he asked, “May I ask, Lord Mon, how many men are under your command?”

“About two thousand, and there are also some new troops in training. Altogether, there are a little over three thousand.”

Jisun Si was at a loss for words. After letting out a long breath, he said patiently, “For the Qi army to attack Western Yun, they would need at least a hundred chariots—that is to say, more than ten thousand men. Lord Mon, do you not think your forces are rather too few?”

Yet Mon Di remained full of confidence, speaking composedly. “Given Qi’s strength, this attack on Western Yun will need at least three hundred chariots—ten times my force. Victory is naturally difficult to achieve, but this is for the peace of Lu. I wonder whether Lord Heng would be willing to lend some grain?”

These words made Jisun Si so angry he could almost laugh. He could not tell whether Mon Di was simply too arrogant or had lost his mind, to say such a thing in front of him. Did he take him for a three-year-old child to be fooled so easily?

Now he felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles, and he truly had no desire to continue speaking with this madman.

Since Lord Mon has asked, a little grain is something our family can still spare. I will have it sent over shortly, as a gift to you. I still have some matters to attend to and should not trouble you further. Let us part here. Until we meet again.”

Watching Jisun Si leave in haste, Ji Ran said with a smile from the side, “It seems Jisun Si thinks, my lord, that you are boasting recklessly, which is why he departed so quickly.”

Mon Di gave a faint smile and leaned sideways in his seat. “I simply did not want to give him the chance to speak. At a time like this, none of the other Lu grandees have moved, and I have no wish to be the one to step forward first. Besides, to obtain a batch of grain without paying for it—how splendid is that?”

Ji Ran laughed heartily and nodded repeatedly. “My lord’s calculations are truly ingenious. With this grain, we can recruit more men. After this battle, I am certain the people of Lu will know your renown, and those who come to attach themselves to you will be without number.”

This was precisely the effect Mon Di wanted. In this age of chaos, people were a strategic resource. If one expanded one’s lands but lacked enough population to replenish them, it was nothing but waste.

After the autumn harvest, Jisun Si indeed sent a batch of grain as promised, enough to feed Mon Di’s three thousand men for a month. That was quite generous, and Mon Di naturally understood it as a gesture of goodwill.

It also showed how difficult Jisun Si’s position had become. He did not dare grow too close to anyone else for fear of arousing Yang Hu’s suspicion. The grain had been sent because word of Qi’s mobilization had already spread far and wide.

Yang Hu had also begun conscripting soldiers to prepare for resistance against Qi. Mon Di’s side had long since made all preparations and stood ready to depart at any time.

This time, Gao Zhang appointed his own retainer Pan Yi as commander, and called upon the Gao, Guo, Tian, and Bao clans to contribute a hundred chariots each for the assault on Western Yun. Judging by the number of troops, the scale was not especially large.

Mon Di also understood Gao Zhang’s intention very well. This was a test—to see whether Jin would react. If it did, then Qi would not attack Lu again for some time.

If not, then it would mean that the struggle for power within Jin had already become white-hot, leaving them with no room to spare for Lu. In that case, Qi could consider expanding the war.

And the timing was perfect.

Wei Shu of the Jin state, the renowned minister of the Wei clan and the creator of the Wei Shu formation, a great military reformer of his age, had only just died. The ambitious Fan Yang became Jin’s new ruling minister, and the very first thing he did upon taking office was to abolish the various restrictions that Wei Shu had previously imposed upon the great clans.

This caused no small upheaval within Jin. Then, at the meeting at Zhaoling, Fan Yang and the other Jin lords even openly demanded bribes from the rulers of certain smaller states, shaking the entire realm. From that point on, Jin began its descent into decline.

Gao Zhang’s eye was keen indeed. He hoped to seize this opportunity to wash away the humiliation of the earlier Qi-Lu war and raise his own prestige even higher.

At this same time, Mon Di led his three thousand cavalry out of Mon City and advanced toward Yun City.

Once he reached the vicinity of Yun City, Mon Di began using the mobility of his cavalry to harass the enemy. On the one hand, this was to harden his troops in battle; on the other, it was to provoke the fury of the Qi army and lure them into pursuit.

He also wished to keep the Qi troops from scouting the surrounding area, lest they discover the newly built dam on the Yi River.

Pan Yi had not expected to meet an opponent so soon, let alone one bold enough to attack him with only three thousand cavalry. In his view, this was a road to certain death, and he immediately ordered pursuit.

But how could chariots ever outrun cavalry? After several exchanges, Mon Di seized opportunities to strike back, inflicting heavy losses on the foot soldiers. This enraged Pan Yi, who personally led his troops in preparation to encircle and annihilate this band of blind fools.

The two sides fought and withdrew in turn. Fifty li from Yun City, Mon Di suddenly halted and began to confront the Qi army directly. Pan Yi found this suspicious and sent men to scout toward Western Yun. Seeing no movement from the city, he finally relaxed.

By then, the Qi troops were gradually forming an encirclement, while Mon Di seemed to notice nothing, continuing to maneuver and seek an opening in the fighting.

But just then, the ground suddenly began to tremble faintly. Almost at the same instant, both sides stopped moving. Mon Di knew the dam had been breached and dared not delay. He immediately led his men into retreat.

At that moment, the Qi army had no idea what was happening, and someone shouted at the top of his voice, “It must be the dragon turning over beneath the earth!”

That so-called dragon turning over meant an earthquake. Instantly, the ranks of the Qi army erupted into confusion. Pan Yi hurried to gather his troops, but before he could do so, a surge of floodwater came roaring straight toward them.