Strategize like Wu Qi (Battle of Sishui part 2)

Lord Wu of Wei asked : "What if a band of plundering force suddenly appear, plundering our lands and fields, seizing our cattle and horse, what should I do?

Wu Qi said:" When a raiding force suddenly appear, you must first ascertain their strength. Avoid attacking them and take on defensive position. After their raids, they would feel that their armor is heavy and be afraid. So they will want to do a quick withdraw. Doing a quick withdraw would result in stragglers. You can then pursue and attack them, and they can be overcome. – Wu Zi, Fighting Plunderers.

"I get it Minister Li Ru, and….?" Hua Xiong asked .

Li Ru started to create a battle plan.

"Our opponent called themselves as the Anti Dong Zhuo Alliance. I am sure they try to relied on their number alone. But our opponent this time is worrying me."

"Sun Ce, the daughter of Tiger of Jiangdong?"

"Yes. I am not sure of her capability. It is a bit different. That is why I planned this." Kazuto silent, in Romance of Three Kingdom, it is Sun Jian who challenged them in the battle of Sishui pass. She attacked and gain upper hand but it is possible to defeat her with Hua Xiong . this universe seems to rewrite the role of Sun Jian. So he tried to use a different method.

"General Hua Xiong, attack the enemy of Sun Ce's army . and I command you NOT to win!"

"What! " Hua Xiong exclaimed. And regaining her sense she asked," Why would you want me to attack the enemy if you don't want us to win?"

"This is an order, from me the Minister of War." Li Ru end his word.

Hua Xiong still confused but proceed to obey the command. "Yes Darren."

XXX

And so, Hua Xiong only relying with 5000 men challenged the Sun Ce army and lost. Hua Xiong tried to understand the meaning of that war, but Minister Li Ru just praised her, asking.

"Who is that general who fought you , General Hua Xiong?"

"She called herself as Cheng Pu. If I am not wrong, she is one of the veteran general who worked during the day of Tiger of Jiang Dong."

"Cheng Pu…? I see…" Minister Li Ru calmly nodded.

"She has a good stance, must be a skilled warrior." Hua Xiong continued her impression.

"Alright. Now prepare yourself to win this battle against Sun Ce's army , General Hua Xiong."

"….? Minister Darren. Are not you counting chicks which had not been hatched?"

Minister Li Ru only smiled. "Nope. After seeing their victory, it already became a hen, ready for slaughter."

XXX

In the side of Sun Ce's army, Sun Ce was really satisfied with today battle. Cheng Pu has chase away the renowned General Hua Xiong, she laughed it herself.

"If the renowned General Hua Xiong fought cowardly, how would the Lu Bu of war fight the battle? Really! Rumor always be exaggerated!"

Even Cheng Pu and Huang Gai joined her happiness.

"They use that kind of battle plan to fought us? Sishui is bound to fell tomorrow before noon!"

The rest of the Sun Ce's camp was drown in their bliss after the victory, only Sun Quan still remained worry.

"Sheren nee-sama. I don't think it is wise for us to be careless."

"Renfa-chan! Drink your wine! This is your older sister's order."

So.. not heeding Sun Quan's advice, the Sun Ce's army already celebrating their tomorrow victory.

Meanwhile…. In the darkness of night…

"This will be the last wine they drink."

XXX

With a thunderous roar of the marching horse, Hua Xiong marches her full troops of 5000 cavalry men. Fully equipped and ready to battle their opponent. In the darkness of night, Hua Xiong's army battle cry resounded.

And with a signal, the darkness of night was lightened by a hail rain of flaming arrows.

"Burn Their Camps!"

Being attack suddenly with such swift and blitz night raid, Sun Ce's army demoralized. They began to disarray. In this kind of chaotic situation , how would they know who is their friend and who is their enemies?

Seems only the Hua Xiong army can distinguish their friend and foe even without the need of IFF system (This is not Gundam, no such device existed!). They seems only attacking Sun Ce's army. Sun Ce was shocked.

"What kind of…. How could they distinguish us ? even if they could held such well planned night raid. It still a mess if they commit friendly fires!"

XXX

In the bas of Sishui Pass, before The night raid, Minister Li Ru explained his plan.

"We will execute the night raid. Ready yourself. That is why I let them win in the first hand."

Hua Xiong accept the reasoning. "Excellent idea, Minister Darren. But how will the night raid be effective? In the darkness of night, how could we distinguish our opponent from friendly units?"

True. Thomas Alva Edison has not invented the "Lamp", so it is very rational to ask that. Using a frickin torch? Then how would you effectively fought your opponent? They still have Cheng Pu, not mentioning Huang Gai and Han Dang. Even without Zhou Yu and Taishi Ci, they are no mere general. They are battle hardened!

Minister Li Ru then throw a bucket to General Hua XIong. General Hua Xiong opened it and she saw somewhat of powder.

"That is a Phosphor powder , a remain of cavern bats residue."

"and.. what would that do to us, Minister Darren?" Hua Xiong asked.

"smeared it to your face, and any exposed body. They will glow in the darkness." Minister Li Ru explained.

Hua Xiong checked it and true! Because of chemical reaction (or…something like that. The author is not a Major in Physic and/or Chemistry), the phosphor began to glow in the darkness.

"Darren! What is this?" Hua Xiong exclaimed , surprised with the glow.

"Told you, it's a phosphor."

"I know ! explain it in an easier way!" Hua Xiong unsatisfied with Kazuto's answer.

Kazuto turned to Chen Gong "Chen Gong, did you remember when Ren wore that wild animal skin while tending you inside the cave?"

Chen Gong remembered, it is some kind of tiger, but Minister Li Ru did not meant about the animal. "yes…"

"When I met her, the animal skin glowed. Do you know the reason?"

Chen Gong pondered. Is it because.. "Darren, as far as I know, Ren sama always put it in the cave and only wore it occasionally to look for our meal. Sometimes the Animal skin is covered by dust because of the cave condition."

"That is right. This is the same dust. I checked, the cave where you live with Ren was also full of Phosphor, perhaps there are many cavern bat there."

Hua Xiong then began to understand it little by little. This is what the glowing monster from the Bing Province identity. a stupid powder which glowed.

XXX

Sun Quan reminded her sister to retreat. "Sheren nee-sama, we have no hope here . we have to full retreat!"

Sun Ce was then forced to acknowledge her opponent this time,

"I, Sun Ce lost this battle. I congratulate you… Dong Zhuo army."

Sun Ce and Sun Quan was then mounted on their horse and proceed to full retreat. Sun Quan suggest to stay with her sister, but Sun Ce being proud and stubborn. She want to prove that she has not lost and ordered Sun Quan to retreat first to the alliance main camp.

Seeing that it is an order, Sun Quan relents. Sun Ce ordered Han Dang the ninja to protected her. While for Sun Ce, she has to buy some time to reorganize her remaining army and retreat.

But this is a warfare. Hua Xiong found Sun Ce and attacked her. Cheng Pu tried to defend her but she was injured because of the night raid, forcing Huang Gai to pull her off from the vicinity. Sun Ce fought with all her might , even though exhausted. Hua XIong take this opportunity in her horse and spun her horse.

She swung her sword and tried to slashed Sun Ce , only to be blocked by a stray arrow. Hua Xiong quickly restrained herself and looked at the arrow which distracted her. It was Huang Gai's ! even in such distance she is still capable of shooting the arrows!

Sun Ce did not let the opportunity go wasted, she retreat with the remaining army and ordered them to take separate path. Sun Ce was left only with a junior officer named Zhu Mao.

"Sun Ce Darren, please exchange your cap with my hairpin!"

Sun Ce relents and gave Zhu Mao her famed cap and accept Zhu Mao's hairpin and wore it. Zhu Mao than slap Sun Ce horse, forcing the horse to run faster, while she wore Sun Ce's cap. She looked at Sun Ce's direction and whispered.

"Bo Fu Darren, please take care of my daughter, Zhu Huan."

And marched to opposing direction.

XXX

Hua Xiong looked at a figure of someone wearing a cap. "It is their general, attack at that direction!"

Hua Xiong marched at the cap wearing figure and tried to slam it with her horse, but she was surprised to see that it was not a people. And behind her , Zhu Mao swung her spear trying to ambushed her.

Hua Xiong did not looked back and swing her sword in low position, almost motionlessly. Without lifting her head and look at her ambusher she left the place cursing her bad luck.

"she ran."

Zhu mao was left alone,dying. Slashed in two, because of Hua Xiong's sword technique. A failed ambushed, yet Hua Xiong did not bother to look at her ambusher, because she is not worth it.

And Hua Xiong returned to Sishui pass, earning the first victory against Sun Ce of Anti Dong Zhuo Alliance.

XXX

In Sishui pass, Minister of War Li Ru re-simulate today war. He recount and smiled.

"Sun Ce was being reckless. Sun Zi, I have taught a very basic teaching regarding the art of war to your descendant. The Art of War is wasted on her reckless attitude. This is the most basic teaching of your teachings (see author note), yet your descendant neglected it. I don't know if Wu Qi is superior to you or not, if she still that reckless."

Kazuto was not wrong, let us compare it to Wu Qi's experience during her feats as the general for the state of Lu.

Tian He , the Prime Minister of Qi planned to conquer Lu. He sent his best generals, among them is Tian Ji who fought along with Sun Bin, Duan Ming an experienced general and himself. When he heard that the Lu sent Wu Qi who at that time was never known, Tian He underestimate her and began to loose his preparation of war.

Tian He then sent an envoy to spy on Wu Qi's troops but, the spy found that all of Wu Qi's soldier are all old and weary. He also found that Wu Qi lower her own dignity by interacting and eatrng with low rank soldier. The Spy also reported that Wu Qi has no intention of attacking Tian He's army and she admired him. Tian He then began to lose the focus and felt that he already won this war, until he heard the news that Wu Qi's troops attacked him and creating a disarray for his army. Tian He then realized that Wu Qi merely played to looked weak so he loosen his guard, He exclaimed and admitted that

"Wu Qi is on par with Sima (Minister of War) Rangju and Sun Zi. She is a genuine threat to Qi."

Author Note:

All warfare is based on deception.

When able to attack, seems unable. When we active, looked inactive.

When it is near, looked further. When it is far, looked near.

- Sun Zi's The Art of War, Chapter 1 Laying Plan

XXX

To respond the comment , i will explain it. This is Shin Koihime Musou fanfic. Sun Jian already dead before the setting and established Wu. i have to follow this.