Chapter Twenty-One: Hanging Sheep and

“Oh, why is that?” Li Guang asked.

Qin Cheng glanced at Li Guang. Under the night sky, Li Guang’s expression was solemn, with no particular emotion showing; this made it hard for Qin Cheng to guess what he was thinking. So he spoke slowly, “The post road is barely a yard wide—three horses abreast is its limit. Even if our army had thousands upon thousands, there’d be no room to deploy. The Xiongnu know this well; hence, they don’t worry about us launching a night attack.”

“Nonsense!” Li Gan exclaimed angrily, “Both sides of Eagle’s Pass have gentle slopes and dense trees. If our army had a large number of archers, we could deploy them all outside the pass, lining both hillsides. With a volley of arrows, the Xiongnu, being cavalry, couldn’t charge up the slopes. That way, they’d surely suffer a crushing defeat and retreat!”

This time, Li Guang did not interrupt his son, evidently agreeing with his reasoning. Qin Cheng noticed both men looking at him, smiled slightly, and countered, “And then?”

“What do you mean, ‘and then’?” Li Gan asked.

“After you’ve driven back the Xiongnu cavalry, what do you do next, young general?”

“Then, if we truly have reinforcements, naturally, we’ll pursue and annihilate them!” Li Gan shot Qin Cheng a sideways glance, as if he were looking at an idiot.

Li Guang’s face became even more grave.

“If the Xiongnu cavalry block the Gourd Gorge, what will your main force do then, young general?” Qin Cheng returned Li Gan’s ‘idiot’ look, utterly disregarding their difference in status.

“This…” Li Gan was startled, momentarily speechless. He was not stupid; Qin Cheng’s words made him realize the hidden trap. The trouble was, he hadn’t thought of this before, and it was a fatal flaw. Now, he didn’t know what to say and, unwilling to admit defeat, his face flushed red.

“Therefore, the Xiongnu will never worry about us attacking them. On the contrary, they may even welcome it. If we do so, all they need is a detachment to block Gourd Gorge, while their main force circles around behind us tonight. If they then block Eagle’s Pass, even with thousands upon thousands, we’d be trapped like fish in a jar, doomed to die,” Qin Cheng pressed his advantage, laying out all his thoughts. Better to let Li Gan bear the discomfort than risk offending Li Guang later.

Having heard all this, Li Guang’s mind was in turmoil. He had realized that even with a huge army, the Han could not overcome the Xiongnu, but he hadn’t considered the deeper implications. Previously, he’d hoped to hold Eagle’s Pass and await reinforcements, reasoning that since they were being attacked at Gourd Gorge, Vice General Li Xi must not have encountered the Xiongnu. Given their mutual understanding, Li Guang believed that waiting another day—and avoiding the Xiongnu’s flanking move—might allow them to coordinate with Li Xi, who could strike at the Xiongnu from behind, perhaps turning defeat into victory. But Qin Cheng’s words rendered all these hopes futile!

Still, were the Xiongnu truly so clever? Would they think so deeply?

Li Guang remained unconvinced.

If only Li Guang knew that they were facing not the Xiongnu army Li Xi was meant to confront, but rather the force under the Left Wise King, he would be at a loss.

Li Guang pondered this, silent for a long while. Qin Cheng, sensing the mood, refrained from speaking further, and the atmosphere grew tense.

“General, the Xiongnu are approaching!” As Li Guang was lost in thought, his pale-faced aide suddenly pointed towards the post road ahead.

Turning to look, they saw a Xiongnu cavalryman riding toward Eagle’s Pass, holding a blazing torch. He reined in his horse just outside arrow range. Even with the light, Qin Cheng and the others couldn’t see his face clearly in the darkness, but his loud voice carried over: “Han soldiers on the other side, listen well! The Left Wise King of Greater Xiongnu commands you: Surrender now, and your lives may be spared! Otherwise, at dawn tomorrow, where our cavalry goes, none of you will survive!”

After this declaration, the Xiongnu messenger laughed boisterously, flaunting his arrogance. He then added, “Tomorrow, we shall take the Flying General’s head!” With that, he turned and rode off.

Left Wise King?

Hearing this, Li Guang’s face darkened.

“Outrageous! The Xiongnu are too arrogant! Father, dead either way, let’s fight them to the end!” Li Gan, infuriated, drew his long blade.

“General, let’s fight them!”

“We’ll fight! General!”

“Fight the Xiongnu—avenge our fallen brothers!”

“Fight!”

A chorus of shout