Chapter 13: The Jing Kingdom Declares War!
In the fourth year of the Marquis of Shang’s reign, after two years of rest and recovery, the Shang Kingdom had completely absorbed the territories acquired in the first year of the Marquis of Shang and had significantly restored its strength.
That same year, Marquis Jing, aged eighty-five, suddenly collapsed during a court assembly. Although he soon regained consciousness, everyone knew his life was ticking down. He was unlikely to live much longer.
Power always seeks a new host.
With Marquis Jing’s health failing, numerous young princes were vying fiercely and covertly for the throne, leading to constant struggles throughout the Jing Kingdom.
But Marquis Jing was merely ill, not mad or foolish.
He saw the state of the Jing Kingdom with absolute clarity.If those sons wielding real power were left to fight chaotically among themselves, the disintegration of the Jing Kingdom would be imminent.
In the fourth year of the Marquis of Shang’s reign, in May,
Marquis Jing issued an edict.
Its general meaning was this:
The Shang Kingdom is a deeply entrenched threat to our Jing Kingdom; no one may rest peacefully while it lies so close to our doorstep.
Whoever can conquer the Shang Kingdom and bring Chang’an under Jing control shall be regarded as Sovereign.
The moment Marquis Jing’s edict was announced, it sparked a tremendous uproar throughout the Jing Kingdom—
though mostly voices of support.
At the end of May, in the fourth year of the Marquis of Shang,
Grand Marshal Prince Liao of the Jing Kingdom declared war on the Shang Kingdom in the name of the Sovereign!Shang Kingdom, Hao City, Royal Palace.
In the court hall, the civil and military officials wore grim expressions.
“A thousand chariots—truly an audacious move.”
“Ah, the Jing Kingdom is advancing fiercely. This time, in the struggle for the throne, they’re unlikely to give up easily.”
“The thousand chariots are one thing, but what’s truly worrying is that Jing has also deployed five thousand cavalry.”
“By that calculation, our advantage with five thousand cavalry is almost—”
“That’s mistaken. While Jing has tried to emulate our cavalry battalions, it’s merely imitation; it can’t compare to the Grand Marshal.”
The officials bickered endlessly.
The Lady of Shang rubbed her temple in frustration, looking expectantly at Zhang Yang, and softly asked, “Grand Marshal, how many troops do you think our kingdom should send?”
Zhang Yang gave no immediate answer.
He pondered for a long time before saying, "The Jing Kingdom is strong in both troops and cavalry—it cannot be compared to the States of Li or Yang."
"This time, Jing has deployed a thousand chariots and an additional five thousand cavalry."
"Our kingdom has spent years recuperating and presently has only three hundred chariots. Although we have the Xuan Bird Battalion, it’s clear that Jing has learned from the defeats of Li and Yang, and has prepared these five thousand cavalry accordingly."
"Even if these five thousand cavalry aren’t as formidable as the Xuan Bird Battalion, they are sufficient to slow down our forces and could even coordinate with the chariots to encircle the Xuan Bird Battalion."
"If we confront them head-on, victory will be difficult."
"War depends on timing, terrain, and unity."
"In terms of manpower, we are far inferior to Jing, so we must seek advantage through timing and terrain."
At this point, Zhang Yang’s gaze grew resolute as he cupped his hands together respectfully and said, "My lady, I suggest we choose Yao Mountain at Jia Pass as the battleground for the decisive battle."
The Lady of Shang appeared thoughtful.
Yao Mountain?Yao Mountain lies to the northwest of the Shang Kingdom.
The mountain range stretches for several hundred miles, running from north to south.
It is precisely because of the barrier formed by Yao Mountain that the Shang Kingdom has been able to barely hold off the assaults from the Jing Kingdom and survive by a stroke of luck.
Jia Pass lies on the closest mountain route from Jing to Shang.
This area is full of hills and the mountain paths are rugged and uneven; it is not an ideal place for a decisive chariot battle.
However, cavalry are agile here and hold a distinct advantage.
The Lady of Shang exclaimed, “Jia Pass suits cavalry better—it favours our kingdom.”
“In that case, we shall follow the Grand Marshal’s recommendation.”
After some deliberation, the court officials also agreed that Jia Pass would be more advantageous to the Shang Kingdom.
Before long, the Lady of Shang sent envoys to the Jing Kingdom to deliver the formal declaration of war.The two kingdoms agreed to meet for a decisive battle at Jia Pass on the tenth day of the tenth month in the fourth year of the Marquis of Shang’s reign.
The Shang Kingdom would deploy three hundred chariot units and the Xuan Bird Battalion’s five thousand cavalry—virtually committing the full strength of the nation.
News of the declaration of war spread across the land instantaneously.
The Jing Kingdom was the foremost among all the Feudal States in the realm, the only one capable of fielding a thousand chariots.
Although the Shang Kingdom could not match its peak power following the war two years earlier, it had nonetheless clawed its way back into the ranks of the major powers.
Across the entire realm, fewer than twenty Feudal States could muster three hundred chariot units!
For a time, sovereigns and nobles from every corner of the land debated the impending clash between these two kingdoms.
“The Shang Kingdom is truly formidable. Just a few years ago, they seemed doomed to fall, yet now they can field three hundred chariots again.”
“Indeed. At its peak, the Shang Kingdom’s strength was only around four hundred chariots.”
“Word has it that the Shang Kingdom’s resurgence is entirely thanks to the skill of Grand Marshal Zhang of the Zhang Family.”"That Grand Marshal Zhang of the Zhang Family is truly remarkable."
"Two years ago, the State of Li and the State of Yang declared war on the Shang Kingdom simultaneously. The Shang Kingdom’s Grand Marshal, with just two thousand troops, defeated the combined forces of Li and Yang, totalling three hundred chariots, achieving a decisive victory."
"Hmm, this man favours cavalry and has completely abandoned chariots. It’s a mystery how he trained his men so well that the cavalry could triumph over the combined chariot forces of Li and Yang."
"Hmph, it’s merely a rogue tactic relying on the mobility of cavalry, which chariots cannot catch. Nothing noble about that."
"Conducting warfare is about pitting the King's Army against the King's Army. Such underhanded tricks are no better than a rustic youth’s schemes. Honestly, how can such a person even be called a hero?"
"That’s mistaken. When cavalry face chariots, would anyone foolishly give up their own strengths and attack the enemy’s strengths with their weaknesses?"
"Exactly. The cavalry archery technique is clever but not without its flaws. Had the States of Yang and Li possessed cavalry at that time, they could have engaged the Shang cavalry on equal terms. Then, with chariots encircling from the flanks, the outcome would have been very different."
"In the end, it was simply the poor command of the States of Li and Yang that led to their defeat.""I don’t agree with that."
"Before Grand Marshal Zhang of the Shang Kingdom, which state had a dedicated cavalry unit? Cavalry were generally used only for reconnaissance."
"It was only after Grand Marshal Zhang led his cavalry to fame in battle that other states began to establish their own cavalry units."
"That’s certainly true. The Jing Kingdom only started forming cavalry units after the downfall of the State of Li."
"The Jing Kingdom really went all out, deploying five thousand horsemen in one move."
"Indeed. This time, with the Jing Kingdom sending a thousand chariots plus five thousand cavalry, the Shang Kingdom’s Grand Marshal’s cavalry archery tactics will likely find it hard to achieve another remarkable victory."
"Naturally. The Jing Kingdom is the foremost among all the feudal states, brimming with outstanding talents. There’s no way they haven’t figured out Grand Marshal Zhang’s military strategies."
"Ah, it seems the Shang Kingdom won’t be able to hold out this time."
"The gap is just too huge. A thousand chariots is not the Jing Kingdom’s limit, but three hundred chariots already represent the Shang Kingdom’s maximum."
"Even if the Jing Kingdom suffers losses among those thousand chariots, they can assemble another thousand again."But if the Shang Kingdom were to lose those three hundred chariots, there would be no soldiers left in the country to fight.
Across the lands, all the states were abuzz with discussion, yet hardly anyone was optimistic about the Shang Kingdom.
Though Zhang Yang had risen to fame through a single battle back then, precisely because of that one famed victory—when he defeated two states in one battle—it had long since become the most classic military engagement of the era, studied time and again by heroes from all realms.
There were countless strategies developed to counter it.
They no longer believed Zhang Yang could recreate such a miracle.
And if the miracle could not be repeated, it naturally meant defeating the Jing Kingdom was impossible.
Time passed swiftly in such an atmosphere.
Before they knew it, it was already the tenth month of the fourth year of Marquis Shang’s reign.
On the Jing Kingdom’s side, the army was led by Grand Marshal Prince Liao.
Prince Liao, the Eighth Son of Duke Jing, was also the eldest among all the surviving sons, at fifty-five years old.
Known throughout the states for his steadiness and decisiveness, he was the most powerful prince in the Jing Kingdom.
To curb Prince Liao’s influence, Duke Jing had successively supported three other princes to challenge him.
They were all leading candidates for the throne of the Jing Kingdom.
On the tenth day of the tenth month, outside Jia Pass,
the two armies faced each other, banners fluttering like a forest.
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