Chapter 1 The Troops

In the garrison, Zhang Zhongfu was reorganizing his troops when, suddenly, a look of surprise appeared in his eyes, and he began to rein in his mount. In the distance, a line of several riders galloped towards the camp. As they drew closer, many people could clearly see that the leader was clad in silver armor and a golden helmet, with a large red tassel on his helmet and a dark red cloak billowing behind him in the swift rush.

"It's Commander Qu!" Zhang Zhongfu exclaimed, pulling on the reins. He recognized the leader as Qu Duan, his direct superior.

Instantly, the officers and soldiers in the camp stopped what they were doing and exchanged glances, their spirits immediately dampened.

As the galloping horses drew nearer, the cavalry, led by Zhang Zhongfu, immediately dismounted and stood at attention. Qu Duan, however, abruptly pulled on his reins several zhang (丈, a unit of length) away from the cavalry, and the fine Western Regions horse beneath him came to a sudden halt.

Qu Duan gazed at the camp's disarray and the askew banners. His gaze was so cold that the assembled cavalry stood in utter silence, even the horses unmoving. Qu Duan fixed his gaze on the cavalry officer before him. "Is this the magnificent battle you fought? You said you would personally oversee the army. Is this how you do it?"

Zhang Zhongfu paled. "Commander, this subordinate..."

With a "snap," Qu Duan's horsewhip flashed across Zhang Zhongfu's face like lightning, instantly leaving a bright red welt. Zhang Zhongfu, however, stood even straighter after being struck so heavily.

Qu Duan then sternly asked, "What is the consequence of underestimating the enemy and advancing rashly? Have you forgotten already? Chen Yanzhang and Wang Gang are still watching you from above! Each of the front, rear, left, and right armies has lost a commander. Did you think that our cavalry couldn't lag behind and had to lose one too? I told you to be careful! Did you turn a deaf ear to my words?" Hearing this, Zhang Zhongfu's face turned from white to red to green.

Having said that, Qu Duan straightened up again and looked at his soldiers. "Greedy for merit, advancing rashly, returning in defeat, bringing shame upon us all—do you know what the punishment is?" "..." All the soldiers, including Zhang Zhongfu, dared not answer.

Seeing this, Xiahou Yuan, a close aide, couldn't help but plead softly on behalf of Zhang Zhongfu, who was also a member of Qu Duan's inner circle. "Jiedu (節度, a military commissioner), Commander Zhang fought fiercely with a nearly equal number of Jin soldiers for half a day before being defeated. In the end, he didn't lose too many soldiers." Qu Duan interrupted him, his voice cold and laced with sarcasm. "Fought fiercely for half a day against a bunch of demoralized remnants and defeated dogs who retreated from Hebei, and still lost? Does that mean we'll also lose to the Jin's Yanyun New Army? After losing to the New Army, we'll lose to the conscripted army, and after that, we'll lose to the laborers? Soon, there'll be no one left to lose to." Xiahou Yuan obediently lowered his head and said nothing.

Qu Duan cracked his whip in the air again and continued with his unpleasantries. "Which one of you isn't hailed as being proficient in both literary and military arts? 'Do not hinder a retreating army; do not press a desperate foe.' Did you read those military texts and then feed them to the dogs? And you say you didn't lose too many soldiers—you have no shame! If the Jin army hadn't been unwilling to continue fighting, then this time next year, Caifu (Zhang Zhongyan's courtesy name) would probably be visiting his brother's grave!" As he said this, he glanced pointedly at Liu Qi, who also had a brother. Liu Qi's face instantly turned ashen.

As if finding a new target, Qu Duan turned back and sneered again, "Vice Commander Liu, are you satisfied with this great 'achievement'? Put away those petty thoughts! The decisive battle is at hand. If the Northern Expedition is ruined by our Imperial Guard Cavalry, then you and I will have committed a crime against the Song, against the Emperor, against all the people! Now, it's certainly difficult for me, Qu Da, to ask for a large standard, but I can't be implicated and lose my reputation in my later years. 'I left home young and returned old.' If this battle really goes wrong, you, Liu Qi, will probably have to wait until you're seventy or eighty to get your brother out! If you're still thinking about vying for merit and advancing rashly, unless you get the Emperor to remove me and take over as the cavalry commander yourself!" At this point, Qu Duan chuckled. "But even if I step down, there's still a proper Duke who's earned his merit waiting by the Emperor's side!" Liu Qi's face turned from green to white to red, finally understanding why Qu Duan had insisted on him accompanying him to Zhang Da's garrison. This superior of his, who was so pleasant to talk to, clearly remembered the words he'd used to egg Zhang Da on to snatch merit in the first place.

Silence reigned, and everyone was filled with trepidation. Qu Duan, however, didn't look at his own troops again, only leaving a sentence: "Get yourselves reorganized properly! Who are you showing that dejected look to?" With that, he abruptly pulled on his reins and loudly ordered, "Let's go!"

The horse lifted its hooves and galloped away.

In the sound of orderly hooves, the several riders once again followed Qu Duan's horse closely.

Back at his own camp, Qu Duan impatiently tossed the reins to Xiahou Yuan. "Go feed the horse. Remember to send my bottle of wound medicine to Zhang Da later. Also, have Zhang Da send his memorial of self-reproach to me first. He can't handle this matter himself. Did I owe you all a future in my past life? Not one of you lets me rest easy!" Liu Qi, concerned about his own merit, since it concerned his brother's future, couldn't help but ask, "How will Commander explain this to the Emperor?"

Qu Duan sneered, "Don't worry, this blame won't fall on Vice Commander Liu. I'll take responsibility myself! It won't stop you from being a loving brother!" Hearing this, Liu Qi breathed a sigh of relief, then fell silent. His superior truly had too much to say!