Chapter 143: The Chen Clan of Qi State
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When Tian Chang asked this, Meng Di merely smiled calmly before replying.
“It is very simple: tempt them with benefits. These river bandits will eventually grow old, fall ill, and die. What will become of their descendants then? Will they continue to be river bandits? So I told them that as long as they worked diligently, I could guarantee their descendants a future under my rule.”
Tian Chang understood Mengyi’s basic policies well enough, and he could not help being startled by Meng Di’s audacity. If Zheng had merely damaged the rites of Zhou by casting the Criminal Statutes, then what Meng Di was doing now amounted to treating those rites as though they did not exist at all.
Meng Di had handled the matter relatively discreetly, promoting people only within his own army. Thus, the other feudal states knew little of it, and he had not encountered much opposition. Yet this only aroused even greater curiosity in Tian Chang.
One thing, at least, was certain: none of this could be found in Tian Rangju’s Art of War. Presumably, it had come from the Fisherman Jiran. But as Meng Di’s influence continued to grow, sooner or later he would be unable to maintain a foothold in Lu.
Lu had always been the state most devoted to the rites of Zhou. Although its domestic affairs were now in utter disarray, as the heir of the Duke of Zhou, the rites of Zhou were the foundation of Lu’s existence. Tian Chang had no intention of reminding Meng Di of that.
At this thought, a smile appeared on his face, and he put on an expression of profound admiration.
“Master Meng is indeed no ordinary man. I am filled with admiration. This time, my Tian clan has done everything in its power to assist you, and I hope that one day we shall hear good news from you. If the Tian clan should one day take control of Qi, Master Meng will then receive even greater benefits.”
Meng Di would never believe such nonsense. The Tian clan had clearly already prepared itself to sacrifice him the moment danger arose. After seeing Tian Chang out of the guesthouse, Meng Di stood at the entrance, lost in thought for a long while.
What concerned him most now was what, exactly, had happened in Lu. At that moment, Bo Ren came up behind him and said softly,
“My lord, a man named Chen He requests an audience.”
The surname Chen? And at such a late hour? Meng Di had no idea who the man was, though curiosity stirred within him.
“Anyone who comes to see me after nightfall must have something to discuss. Invite him in.”
It was not long before Meng Di met his visitor. The man appeared to be only in his thirties, and his clothing was quite ordinary. Meng Di therefore asked,
“Master Chen, you have come to visit in the middle of the night. May I ask what brings you here?”
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Chen He gave a bashful smile and bowed before explaining,
“I am Chen He, a member of the Chen family, a collateral branch of the Tian clan. I pay my respects to Master Meng. I have not come today on any particular matter. Rather, I have long been interested in Mengyi’s new policies and in your methods of employing cavalry, and so I have come to seek your instruction.”
He bore the surname Chen, yet claimed to be a member of the Tian clan? Meng Di did not understand at once. Frowning slightly, he asked,
“If your surname is Chen, why do you call yourself a member of the Tian clan? Is there some story behind this?”
Chen He had clearly prepared for the question. He sighed softly.
“My ancestors were once members of the royal house of Chen. When Chen fell into civil disorder, the son of Duke Li of Chen, Chen Wan, fled the turmoil and moved to Qi. He later changed his surname to Tian. Yet to avoid forgetting their ancestors, some members of the clan retained the surname Chen.”
“As the power of the Tian clan grew, the Chen branch gradually declined and became unknown to the world. Later, a member of the Chen family, Chen Shu, won merit while campaigning against Ju. The Lord of Qi granted him the surname Sun and ordered him to establish a separate lineage. From that point on, the Chen family declined even further.”
As Chen He recounted this history, something stirred in Meng Di’s heart. He knew that Sun Wu had come from Qi. Hearing Chen He explain the matter, he could not help connecting the two, and asked,
“Then is Sun Wu, who is now in Wu, a member of this Sun clan of Qi?”
Chen He fell silent for a moment before giving a slight nod. His voice carried a note of helplessness.
“Master Meng is correct. Sun Wu is indeed of Qi’s Sun clan. By now, the Tian clan has become dominant in Qi. After the Grand Marshal of the Tian clan stepped down, he broke away from the clan. Many members of his family took Sima as their surname, chiefly because they were unwilling to submit to the Tian clan’s main branch.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Di could not help admiring the Tian clan—or rather, the Chen clan. It was truly formidable. From Chen Wan onward, it had produced no small number of talented men: the ruthless hero Tian Hengzi, who established the policy of taking in grain by the small measure and distributing it by the large; and military geniuses such as Tian Rangju and Sun Wu.
It was truly a family with a deep scholarly and martial tradition. At this thought, Meng Di found himself taking a greater interest in Chen He. Could this Chen He also be a man of hidden brilliance?
His attitude changed noticeably, becoming far more solemn.
“Since Young Master Chen has questions, I shall naturally answer everything I know and hold nothing back.”
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Chen He still wore a bashful expression. He seemed somewhat ill at ease with words. After thinking for a moment, he finally asked,
“I have made some inquiries. In your battle with the Lord of Qi, Master Meng appeared especially fond of cavalry. So I would like to ask whether you intend to dispense with chariot forces altogether and place your principal reliance on cavalry?”
Since the question concerned this matter, it was obvious that Chen He was interested in military affairs. Meng Di understood at once and replied,
“As the saying goes, an army values speed above all else. Chariots are chiefly suited to level, open ground. When formations are drawn up, they can suppress cavalry very effectively. Yet in terms of mobility, cavalry has the advantage. Each has its obvious strengths and weaknesses.”
“However, if one compares the resources required to train chariots and cavalry, it becomes clear that cavalry is superior. It is easier to form an effective force, and once a battle settles into a protracted struggle, cavalry can provide an unending stream of fighting power.”
Chen He nodded at this, but raised another question.
“In a small engagement, the role of cavalry is indeed plain to see. But in a large-scale battle between armies, if the cavalry cannot be directed with perfect precision, then when the two sides clash, cavalry may not necessarily prevail.”
Meng Di naturally understood the reasoning behind this. Even if he were to command one hundred thousand cavalry against one hundred thousand chariot troops, he would have no confidence of winning in a single battle. The reason was simple.
Once an army grew too large, command became extraordinarily troublesome. Coordination between the ranks was essential. If the greater part of the cavalry were surrounded and destroyed by chariots, its disadvantages would be exposed completely. In terms of sheer combat power, chariots had the overwhelming advantage.
Under such circumstances, the commander needed exceptional strategic vision and exquisite skill in directing troops. There were only two ways to achieve this. The first was for the commanders themselves to possess extraordinary natural talent.
The second was to accumulate experience through continual warfare and cultivate a group of outstanding commanders. Only then could the role of cavalry be brought fully into play.
End of chapter
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