Chapter 78: Confrontation
Fang Mingda swept his gaze over the sandbox and exchanged a meaningful glance with Jiang Yu standing beside him. "This humble official has come to apologize to the Lady and welcome the bride, so I did not bring any skilled strategists or generals. However, with tens of thousands of elite troops outside Hundred Blades Pass, there is nothing to fear. Allow my attendant to represent Southern Chen in this battle!"
Upon hearing these words, all the Liang officials in the hall visibly changed expressions, and a wave of murmuring discussion arose. Li Yao also lifted his eyes to look at him.
Fan Yuan cursed under his breath: "That damned fatty clearly came prepared! Claiming he's just having an attendant stand in for the battle - if we send any junior officer with a military rank, it would look like we're bullying them! Winning wouldn't be honorable, and losing would be utterly humiliating!"
Having his attendant step forward from the start clearly indicated careful preparation.
Xiao Li stood beside him, hearing every word of this quiet cursing clearly. He glanced sideways at the two figures standing in the center of the hall, his gaze settling on the attendant holding the tray.
From his earlier cursory observation of the man's waist and arms, he had already determined this was a trained martial artist.
However, it was reasonable for the Southern Chen envoy to bring a martial arts expert when meeting Wen Yu alone.
But now with this move, whether they won or lost in the sandbox deduction, they would become the losers - truly a well-laid trap.
Jiang Yu also noticed Xiao Li's scrutiny. Without looking up, he took a step forward to stand beside the sandbox, speaking with apparent humility: "May I ask which general would be willing to offer instruction?"
By this point, Wen Yu naturally understood - they had their preparations, and Southern Chen had theirs. The difference was that their preparations were focused on the battle situation, while Southern Chen resorted to such tricks.
Her expression remained unchanged as she said coldly: "What does the envoy take our Great Liang for?"
Fang Mingda looked up toward the dais, feeling the Lady of Liang's gaze pierce to the bone: "Our Liang generals have no reason to spar with an attendant. Since the envoy lacks capable commanders in your party, that general you previously sent happens to still be in our Pingzhou prison."
She ordered her attendants: "Someone, bring him up."
Previously, Wen Yu had ordered all the Southern Chen personnel imprisoned. Because Southern Chen's Senior Counselor kept falling ill every few days, and Fang Mingda had repeatedly requested to visit their senior official, Wen Yu had ordered Sikong Wei moved from prison to a courtyard residence.
Sikong Wei had only taken two personal attendants to care for his daily needs when leaving; the rest remained imprisoned.
Jiang Yu could accompany them out naturally because he was one of the "personal attendants" identified by Sikong Wei.
Hearing Wen Yu's words, the Liang officials present breathed quiet sighs of relief, secretly grateful they had avoided falling into the opponent's trap.
Li Yao sat with closed eyes, a slight smile on his face, seeming quite satisfied with Wen Yu's counterattack.
Fang Mingda subtly exchanged another glance with Jiang Yu, knowing that whether in military strength or national power, they held absolute advantage. Even if they brought up that martial general to have him fight, they would undoubtedly win - they just couldn't make Great Liang swallow this humiliation.
Therefore, Fang Mingda maintained a harmonious expression: "Since the Lady is generous enough to allow that foolish general to come fight in his stead, this humble official offers thanks in advance."Moments later, the martial general who had been disrespectful to Wen Yu at the city gate and had his hand broken by Xiao Li was escorted into the hall by two Pingzhou soldiers.
The general, with his untreated broken hand only roughly bandaged by fellow prisoners using torn cloth strips, now wore the injured limb in a sling around his neck. Despite his condition, he remained defiant. Seeing the Southern Chen representatives present, he immediately shook off the Pingzhou soldiers escorting him and shouted, "Don't touch me!"
Wen Yu watched everything with cold indifference.
Fang Mingda, ever diplomatic, understood that even if Wen Yu eventually conceded to reality, she would still be above him once she became Princess Chen. Offending her excessively would bring no benefit. He immediately scolded, "Cease your insolence!"
Having been imprisoned for many days and receiving poor treatment from jailers due to his previous provocation and foul temper, the general appeared utterly disheveled. Seeing the Southern Chen delegation, he attempted to seek their support: "My lord, this general's hand..."
Fang Mingda pointed at his nose and berated him: "Daring to disrespect the Princess and jeopardize the marriage alliance between our two nations - forget your hand, even your entire clan's heads wouldn't be enough to atone for this!"
He then bowed again to Wen Yu: "This brute lacks manners. I beg Your Highness not to take offense."
The general detected something unusual in Fang Mingda's attitude, realizing the threat about beheading his entire clan was genuine. He hurriedly looked toward Jiang Yu, but Jiang Yu lowered his eyes to avoid meeting his gaze, while Fang Mingda's sidelong glance carried murderous intensity.
Finally recognizing his precarious situation, the general dared not make further noise and stood silently with bowed head.
The Pingzhou soldiers escorting him saluted Wen Yu: "Your Highness, the prisoner Liu Zhixian has been brought before you."
Wen Yu waved for the soldiers to withdraw, fixing her gaze on the general: "Your repeated disrespect toward Great Liang warrants execution by my hand."
Liu Zhixian seemed discontent, twitching the corner of his mouth, but ultimately remained silent.
Wen Yu's gaze remained icy: "Now Southern Chen wishes to simulate the capture of Pingzhou through sandbox deduction. If you prevail, I shall pardon your previous insolence. Should you fail, I will execute you outside these gates. I presume the envoy and King Chen would raise no objections?"
As she spoke, her eyes shifted toward Fang Mingda.
Fang Mingda promptly nodded: "Before my departure, our King and Empress Dowager instructed that this foolish general be left entirely to Your Highness's discretion."
He then turned and commanded Liu Zhixian: "Hurry and thank Her Highness!"
Liu Zhixian suddenly looked up, finally comprehending that Southern Chen had abandoned him.
He appeared about to speak to Jiang Yu, but was silenced by a threatening glare from him.
A chill ran through Liu Zhixian's heart. He understood that exposing Jiang Yu's instructions would be futile - Great Liang wouldn't appreciate it, Southern Chen would completely reject him, and it might even endanger his family and clan.
Within mere moments, Liu Zhixian was drenched in cold sweat, fully realizing his only chance of survival lay in this sandbox deduction.
He finally lowered his head to Wen Yu: "This general... thanks Your Highness."
Fang Mingda ingratiatingly asked Wen Yu: "Might I inquire which general Your Highness intends to appoint for this contest?"
Wen Yu replied indifferently: "Observing that Southern Chen's general here has not yet reached thirty years of age, Great Liang shall likewise field a young general for this match."Her gaze swept over the many civil and martial officials before settling on Xiao Li. "General Xiao, you shall go. I grant you ten thousand troops. You must hold Hundred Blades Pass at all costs."
Xiao Li clasped his fists toward Wen Yu. "This general will not fail in his mission."
Fang Mingda didn't know who Xiao Li was, but seeing how young he appeared and that he wasn't any famous general, he didn't perceive him as a threat.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yu, having witnessed Xiao Li's display of skill when he fought Liu Zhixian that day, slightly narrowed his eyes.
He whispered something to Fang Mingda, whose expression shifted slightly before he cupped his hands toward Wen Yu and said, "My Lady, this foolish general has injured his hand and may find it inconvenient to hold the rod later. May this humble servant's attendant take his place in holding it?"
Wen Yu had already guessed that his attendant was no ordinary person, but the request was reasonable. Her gaze lingered on the attendant for two breaths before she nodded in approval.
The sandbox had long been prepared. The officials in the room stood on either side of it, observing from a distance.
Xiao Li stood on the side representing Pingzhou in the sandbox and cupped his fists toward the opposite side. "Great Liang, Xiao Li."
Liu Zhixian felt the bones in his crushed hand ache again at the sight of that handsome face. Though he knew it wasn't the right moment, he couldn't conceal the venom in his eyes. With one hand injured, he simply didn't bother returning the salute, gritting his teeth with hatred as he said, "Southern Chen, Liu Zhixian.""
According to the rules of sandbox deduction, before formal engagement, both sides must briefly describe their general terrain, troop numbers and weapon allocations, as well as how long their provisions can last.
Xiao Li sensed the other's hostility but remained unmoved. Holding the long rod, he pointed at the area representing Pingzhou in the sandbox. "My Great Liang has ten thousand troops defending the pass, all equipped as elite soldiers. We have eighty catapults, over thirty ballistae, and more than one hundred thousand arrows. Our provisions will last until autumn without worry."
After saying this, he looked not at Liu Zhixian, but at the attendant holding the rod for him. Then the rod shifted from Pingzhou city to the towering, blade-like mountains outside it. "The Great Wall outside Hundred Blades Pass is built along the mountains, stretching for hundreds of miles. The walls are over two zhang high, following the mountain contours. Every three li there is a beacon tower - if enemies are spotted, messages can be relayed to the entire army within one ke. Moreover, due to the extremely treacherous terrain, enemy troops would find marching difficult, cannot deploy scaling ladders, and cannot effectively use projectiles. The only approach for attack is the stone stair pathway where the city gate is located. Any invaders can be shot down with volleys of arrows."
Everything he described were defensive strong points of Hundred Blades Pass that Southern Chen had already thoroughly studied. Jiang Yu listened silently throughout, then turned as if waiting for Liu Zhixian's instructions, but actually using his eyes to signal Liu Zhixian.
Though Liu Zhixian bore resentment toward Southern Chen in his heart, having served under Jiang Yu for many years had instilled a deep-seated fear of this superior in his bones, especially at such a critical moment.
Fortunately, they were only introducing basic troop deployments now - Jiang Yu was reminding him to speak up.
Suppressing his hatred, Liu Zhixian pointed at the dense forests on both sides of the narrow path outside Hundred Blades Pass in the sandbox. "My Southern Chen has eighty thousand troops, all equipped as elite soldiers. Using the forest as cover, we've set up camp among the trees. We can produce siege weapons without limit. Provisions are delivered monthly and will last until year's end without worry."
Jiang Yu then marked out the general area in the sandbox according to his words and planted Southern Chen's banners.
Many Liang officials slightly changed expressions upon hearing that Southern Chen was attacking Hundred Blades Pass with eighty thousand troops.Their earlier projections had estimated that Southern Chen could muster at most fifty thousand troops. It now appeared they had underestimated Southern Chen.
Wen Yu sat in the commander's seat, her expression calm as she studied the sand table, revealing nothing of her thoughts.
Upon hearing the figure of eighty thousand, Xiao Li raised an eyebrow slightly before finally giving Liu Zhixian a proper glance. Meeting the other's gaze—half resentful, half triumphant—he said coolly, "Your state is the attacking party. General Liu, you may begin."
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