Chapter Thirteen: Fallen into a Trap

In the days that followed, the Wu army fought intermittently, always retreating dozens of miles after inflicting minor losses upon the Chu troops. This chase and flight gradually led them into rugged terrain at the foot of the Dabie Mountains, several hundred miles from Yingdu.

Throughout, the generals advised against further pursuit; General Wei She went so far as to block the chariot and argue forcefully, insisting the Wu army’s tactics were clearly a lure. But Nang Wa’s rage had long clouded his judgment. Ten thousand men could not capture five thousand conscripts, suffering repeated losses in the process—how could he return without being mocked? Furthermore, the scouts had failed to locate the main Wu force, so he felt no fear of his rear being cut off.

Seeing Wei She’s refusal to yield, Nang Wa seized his longbow and smashed it against him. Wei She dared not evade, his face left bloodied. The generals whispered among themselves, but none dared to advise further.

Bai Bing’s eyes lit up. Stepping forward, he saluted and declared, "The Wu army lies thirty miles ahead, exhausted. I request permission to lead light chariots forward and capture Fu Gai’s head before sunset."

"Very well," Nang Wa replied. Bai Bing had originally been kept close for his archery, serving as a deputy chariot guard. Now, he seemed far more sensible than the others.

"You shall have two hundred light chariots—no conscripts. Your only task is to block Fu Gai’s escape; that alone will be a great feat."

"Understood!"

Meng Di’s intuition proved correct.

Shen Yinshu had arrived at Fangcheng, bringing tens of thousands of soldiers from the Qin and Jin borders. He ordered Dou Xin to lead his men and proceed to Xicheng, the site where Meng Di and his companions had set fire to the Wu camp.

"Since the Wu camp has been burned to ashes, why go there?" Dou Xin convened his deputy generals in the tent; Mo Cheng asked in surprise.

"Commander Shen intends to burn the Wu boats as well, trapping Helu so he cannot escape."

By now, the news of the Wu army approaching the Han River had spread.

"I recall seeing only a few boats from the mountain that day. If the Wu army intends to abandon their vessels and land, why specifically at Xicheng?" Meng Di pondered, pointing to the map. Though the map scratched onto animal hide was crude, the main rivers and mountains were marked. He had learned much from the soldiers these days and could match the locations.

Everyone studied the map but remained puzzled.

Meng Di explained, "The Huai River near Xicheng is winding and difficult, with a narrow surface, making it hard for boats to turn. Moreover, Xicheng is far from the state of Cai and easily attacked by us. For the Wu army, long-distance travel means the greatest concern is having their retreat cut off. A commander capable of orchestrating such a surprise attack would certainly think of this."

"Where do you believe the Wu boats are moored?" Meng Di’s gaze shifted downstream, his finger tapping lightly.

"Zhou Lai?"

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"Precisely. The waters near Zhou Lai are wide, allowing boats to advance or retreat freely. Furthermore, there is no mountain or river barrier between Zhou Lai and Xicheng, making the march convenient. If I were the Wu commander, I would certainly land at Zhou Lai, march to Xicheng, and then turn south."

The others were skeptical. Dou Xin sighed, "Commander Shen has fought for half his life, bold and resolute. Words alone are no use; let us reach Xicheng and see for ourselves."

A few battered sailboats rested by the shore, gently bobbing with the waves. Shen Yinshu stood at the charred remains of the Wu camp near the Huai River, watching the water flow eastward in silence. After a long while, he summoned Meng Di.

"You are the conscript who set fire to the Wu camp?"

"I am."

"I've heard you often speak with remarkable insight. Did you already suspect the boats were moored at Zhou Lai?"

"It was only conjecture."

"Then tell me, what should we do next?"

"To go to Zhou Lai and return would take ten days or more. The soldiers are exhausted from travel; better to follow the Wu army’s trail south from here."

"Very well. The army moves slowly; I’ll select two hundred skilled riders as your vanguard—set out south immediately."

The Chu troops Shen Yinshu brought relied mainly on chariots, marching only twenty or thirty miles a day. Now, they had forced themselves over two hundred miles in less than ten days; many soldiers had fallen behind, and the vehicles badly needed repair. They had no choice but to halt and rest.

At this moment, neither Shen Yinshu nor Meng Di knew that Nang Wa’s ten-thousand strong army had been lured to the foot of the Dabie Mountains.

Bai Bing, full of excitement, sped ahead with two hundred light chariots, and managed to intercept the Wu army before sunset. The price was steep: dozens of chariots were ruined on the rugged mountain roads.

Seeing Fu Gai’s men, fewer than a thousand, all wounded and pallid, Bai Bing laughed heartily. So long as Fu Gai was captured, losing all two hundred chariots would matter little.

"Fu Gai, Bai Bing is here! Surrender now, and I’ll spare your life!"

Fu Gai laughed strangely in turn. "Bai Bing, surrender now, and I’ll spare your life!"

In a rage, Bai Bing drew his bow to shoot, but at that moment a drum sounded; countless Wu soldiers appeared in the valley, arrows raining down in waves. After several volleys, the battlefield fell silent—none of the hundreds of Chu armoured men survived.

Poor Bai Bing, just on the verge of achieving merit, met his end in an instant.

Helu ultimately adopted Sun Wu’s strategy. Sun Wu advised that since a surprise attack was no longer possible, the army should conceal itself near the Dabie Mountains. The Chu, expecting Wu to seek a swift battle, would be confounded by this reversal, losing their target.

He also suggested having the vanguard operate near the Han River. Nang Wa, the Chu Prime Minister, was ambitious and stubborn; failing to find the main Wu force, he would not tolerate mere harassment from small detachments. If Nang Wa could be lured near the Dabie Mountains, the Wu army could then converge and destroy him.

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Helu was himself a bold adventurer; his eyes shone at the suggestion and he immediately agreed, preparing to send someone to replace Fu Gai at the front.

Sun Wu quickly intervened. "Fu Gai must not be replaced."

"Oh? Fu Gai is brave and fierce, never admits defeat. If he were to retreat to lure the enemy, he might not play the part convincingly."

"It is precisely Fu Gai’s valor that makes this ruse effective. If the vanguard collapsed at the first blow, Nang Wa would not be fooled."

Just as Sun Wu predicted, Fu Gai, upon receiving the order, flew into a rage and fiercely battled the Chu troops several times before gradually retreating, drawing the Chu army in pursuit.

Nang Wa’s face grew bitter. Not long after Bai Bing’s departure, large numbers of Wu troops appeared nearby. Scouts reported both the Wu and Tang-Cai banners present, with six or seven thousand men at least. Even a fool could see now: the main Wu force was lying in ambush.

The Chu army hurriedly withdrew several miles, choosing an open ground to form ranks. Nang Wa had no energy left to blame the scouts; in truth, they were not at fault. After Wu’s main force marched south, they did not head straight for the Han River but circled eastward to the foot of the Dabie Mountains. The scouts had orders to search only north and south, so naturally found nothing.

The problem now was that Chu had pursued too eagerly: their ten-thousand strong army was stretched along the road like a serpent, the head and tail separated by a hundred miles, impossible to regroup quickly.

Meanwhile, Wu was rested and ready; the outcome was clear even before battle.

The central command tent was silent. The generals watched Nang Wa, who appeared utterly lost. In their hearts, they grumbled: had you not insisted on pursuit, ignoring all advice, how could matters have come to this?

At last, Nang Wa felt the urge to retreat. How could the Prime Minister of Chu be caught in such peril?

He looked to Shi Huang and Wei She. "Perhaps we should withdraw immediately to the Han River. The Wu army is mostly conscripts; they cannot catch up with our chariots."

Wei She interjected, "That cannot be. If the Wu army pursues, our ten-thousand men will fall apart."

Nang Wa secretly resented Wei She’s obstinacy, always refusing to give him face, but knew his own suggestion was foolish.

Shi Huang, seeing this, stepped forward. "There is a place called Bai Ju, a dozen miles ahead. The terrain is open and favorable to us. Let us fight the Wu army there; gather our forces, and if victory eludes us, retreat as we fight."

The generals debated for a long time but found no better option, so arrangements were made, and each departed to their duties.

When the others had left, Shi Huang lingered alone and asked, "Do you intend to abandon the army and flee?" Their decades-long acquaintance had made Nang Wa’s intentions plain.

Nang Wa remained silent.