Xie Xuan Asks Three Questions on Military Strategy, Shanbo Discusses the World

Chapter 85 Xie Xuan Asks Three Questions on Military Strategy, Shanbo Discusses the World

The poem was completed.

Xie Xuan looked at Liang Shanbo with a different kind of expression in his eyes.

The discussion and poetry recitation just now tested literary talent and wit.

While literary talent and eloquence are certainly important, Xie Xuan was skilled in both literature and martial arts, and aspired to a military career, so he naturally valued military knowledge.

He said to Liang Shanbo, "Master Meng said you are skilled in both literature and martial arts, with excellent wrestling and archery skills, and you have also devoted yourself to studying military strategy. Your literary talent has already been demonstrated; now I wish to test your knowledge of military strategy. Are you willing?"

Liang Shanbo bowed again and said, "Shanbo would not dare to refuse your request. Please thank you for your guidance, sir."

Xie Xuan nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, and then asked his first question about military strategy: "In warfare, there is a difference between large and small forces. The large force relies on momentum, while the small force relies on change. Let me ask you, if you only have three thousand newly recruited soldiers who have not been rigorously trained, while the enemy has ten thousand men and is holding a defensive position, then fighting will be dangerous, and retreating will lead to defeat. What would you do?"

After a moment's thought, Liang Shanbo calmly replied, "Thank you, sir. I dare say the answer to this question lies neither in 'fighting' nor 'retreating,' but in the word 'division.'"

Xie Xuan's gaze sharpened slightly, but he did not interrupt.

Liang Shanbo continued, "The military classics say: 'If we can make our enemies formless while they are intangible, then we can concentrate our forces while the enemy is scattered.' The enemy is numerous while we are few, and they occupy strategic positions while our soldiers are untrained. If we rashly seek battle, it will be like throwing an egg against a rock. If we retreat hastily, our morale will collapse immediately, and the enemy will seize the opportunity to launch a surprise attack, leading to the annihilation of our entire army."

The only chance of survival at this point lies in turning disadvantage into advantage: breaking up the main force into three smaller ones, each choosing a concealed route to infiltrate behind enemy lines. Three thousand men; united, they form a lone army; divided, they become three sharp knives. The enemy holds a strong defensive position, their position fortified; however, their vision is limited, and they cannot discern the true strength or weakness of each of our forces.

I ordered all my troops to lie in wait during the day and move out at night, some to light fires as a feint, some to make noise as a bluff, some to attack their supply lines, and some to harass their scouts, so that the enemy would not know where my main force was or where I was coming from.

If their vast army is divided to respond, the danger will dissipate on its own; if they are forced to defend their positions, weaknesses will emerge. When they are divided, exhausted, and in disarray, I will choose their weakest link and launch a surprise attack with my hidden main force. If we break through their defenses in one battle, the enemy's entire front will be shaken.

Therefore, I believe that the key to defeating the three thousand new recruits lies not in fighting, but in dividing them; not in retreating, but in harassing them. Divide the enemy's forces, disturb their morale, and exhaust their army. Wait for the enemy to fall into disarray, and then the small can defeat the large, and the few can overcome the many. This is not a clever strategy, but a way to survive in a desperate situation.

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere inside the quiet room became solemn.

Xie Xuan's gaze lingered on Liang Shanbo's face for a few moments before he spoke: "Dividing the troops to harass the enemy is indeed a strategy to survive in the face of death. But let me ask you, you have three thousand newly recruited soldiers who have not received rigorous training. How will you command each route if you divide them into three groups? New soldiers are easily frightened and easily routed. Once they penetrate deep into enemy territory alone and the battle goes poorly, I fear that if one group collapses, all three will crumble. Have you considered this?"

Liang Shanbo met Xie Xuan's gaze, nodded slightly, and replied, "Mr. Xie's concerns are very valid. When new recruits are divided into troops, the most dangerous thing is poor command and lack of courage. Therefore, I believe that for this plan to work, three things must be done first."

First, before dividing the troops, there must be a short training session. This training does not cover battle formations or siege warfare; it focuses on two things: nighttime marching communication and the commands to halt at the sound of the drum and retreat at the sound of the gong. This can be roughly mastered in a few days, sufficient for orderly movement, though not enough for actual combat.

Secondly, before dividing the troops, the soldiers must be selected. Among the three thousand men, those with military experience, outstanding courage, and quick wit, regardless of their background, should all be promoted to platoon leaders or squad leaders, so that each corps has one or two key members as its core. In this way, even if the new recruits are timid, they will not be defeated in a single battle because they are supervised by veteran soldiers.

Thirdly, the various forces do not aim for a decisive battle, but rather prioritize harassing the enemy. They operate by day and at night, avoiding sieges and prolonged engagements, retreating immediately after a brief encounter. Even minor setbacks will not affect the overall situation. Furthermore, each force has a pre-established rendezvous point, with a three-day timeframe, where they will converge regardless of victory or defeat. The enemy will not know our true strength and will not dare to pursue rashly. If they divide their forces for search and suppression, our forces will become increasingly scattered; if they do not divide their forces, our various forces can continue their infiltration and maneuvering as before.

Liang Shanbo concluded: "In the end, this strategy relies not on the fighting strength of the new recruits, but on the information chaos after the troops are divided."

If the enemy doesn't know how many troops I have, where they came from, or where I intend to attack, then their advantage is useless. But if I successfully penetrate into the enemy's rear stronghold, the enemy will be forced to look back, and once they do, their formation will fall into disarray.

The success or failure of this strategy does not depend entirely on the quality of the soldiers, but on whether the enemy general is suspicious. If the enemy general is suspicious, then feigned weakness can be mistaken for reality; if the enemy general is calm, then even reality will be difficult to achieve.

Therefore, I consider this strategy a gamble of survival, not a foolproof plan. Mr. Xie's situation is indeed a dead end; in such a situation, one can only gamble on a sliver of hope.

Xie Xuan remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded and said a single word: "Okay."

This Liang Shanbo is different!

He just asked about military strategy in dire straits. Ordinary scholars who discuss military affairs either talk about "putting themselves in a desperate situation to survive" or rigidly adhere to the old saying "avoiding the strong and attacking the weak".

But what Liang Shanbo said was to divide the troops, harass the enemy, and confuse the enemy. What is even more commendable is his clarity and frankness. He did not shy away from the risks of this strategy, and even bluntly pointed out that it was a gamble. He also added specific methods for short-term training and troop combination. It was not a strategy on paper, but a method that could actually be tried on the battlefield.

Xie Xuan straightened his clothes and asked his second question about military strategy: "I'll ask you again, what should a general base his army on?"

The first question concerns strategies for dealing with unfavorable situations, while the second question concerns the fundamentals of military administration.

What exactly do those who establish an army rely on? Is it the personal ability of the generals, or the constraints of laws and regulations?

Liang Shanbo pondered for a moment and said, "Thank you for your question, sir. I would like to answer it by recounting a defeat."

Xie Xuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Liang Shanbo slowly said, "In the Battle of Changping between Qin and Zhao, Zhao Kuo replaced Lian Po, and the Zhao army of 400,000 was wiped out. People say that it was Zhao Kuo's fault for being a strategist who only knew how to talk about war on paper. But I think that Zhao Kuo's defeat was just a facade."

Zhao was not without its problems. Since King Wuling of Zhao adopted the nomadic dress and cavalry tactics, there were established systems in place for good families in the border counties to serve as cavalry and for infantry to guard the inner counties. Zhao's best generals, such as Lian Po, Li Mu, and Zhao She, were all outstanding figures of their time.

However, the laws of Zhao were not fully implemented. King Xiaocheng of Zhao replaced Lian Po with his personal favor, which meant that the system was rendered ineffective by his own will at the implementation level. The law was established but not solidified; the army was strong when its leaders were alive, and weak when they were gone.

In contrast, the Qin state did not rely on just one person. Before Bai Qi, there was Sima Cuo; after Bai Qi, there were Wang Jian and Meng Tian. The strength of the Qin army did not depend on the survival or death of a single general. Shang Yang's reforms established a system of military merit and nobility, providing opportunities for advancement for both farmers and warriors, and ensuring that even a million-strong army would be rewarded.

More importantly, King Zhaoxiang of Qin consistently trusted Bai Qi and Wang Ling, and did not allow the opinions of the inner court to interfere with the front lines. Beyond the law itself, there was also a profound reverence for and adherence to it. This was not the achievement of any single famous general, but rather the merit of the system and its effective implementation.

Liang Shanbo looked at Xie Xuan, his voice growing deeper: "Therefore, I believe that a general should establish an army based on law, supplemented by people. A good general is like a knife, and a system is like a whetstone. No matter how sharp a knife is, if it is not sharpened with a whetstone, it will become dull over time. The use of a whetstone is not in its shape, but in its hardness and immovability."

Only with sound methods for selecting generals, training troops, rewarding and punishing soldiers, and managing provisions, and ensuring that these methods are not abandoned due to the whims of any one person, can an army have more than just one Lian Po; it can have ten or even a hundred Lian Pos. This is the true foundation of an army.

Otherwise, even with the talent of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi, one's life would end in a single generation; even with the bravery of Liu Bang and Liu Bei, one's life would end in a single generation.

After hearing this, Xie Xuan looked at Liang Shanbo with a solemn expression.

What should a general use to establish his army?

He had pondered this question for many years.

He believed that people should be selected based on their talent and courage, not their social status; and that rewards should be based on military merit, not personal likes or dislikes. What Xie Xuan wanted were a few famous generals and a lifetime of glory.

But now, Liang Shanbo's words were even more profound than he had imagined. It wasn't about a few famous generals, but an iron army; not about fleeting glory, but an ever-victorious force that could be entrusted with the fate of the nation. Even more remarkable was that Liang Shanbo wasn't concerned with the "existence" or "absence" of laws, but rather with whether laws could be "unwavering."

This young man wasn't just reciting a memorized text; he truly understood the principles behind the rise and fall of dynasties throughout history.

People can succeed or fail. Only by upholding the law can we ensure that those who succeed emerge and those who fail are prevented.

Behind the blue silk curtain, Xie Daoyun's expression also became solemn.

She was well-read and had a deep understanding of the rise and fall of dynasties. Liang Shanbo's words, comparing Zhao and Qin, were incisive and to the point; they were not just about military strategy, but also about the way to govern a country.

Rule by man versus rule of law, establishment of law versus adherence to law—aren't these the fundamental reasons for rise and fall, order and chaos throughout the ages?

Liang Shanbo was able to see the shortcomings in the implementation of the system in the defeat at Changping, and the value of the unwavering law in Shang Yang's reforms. How many of the famous scholars in Jiankang City could match this insight?

Xie Xuan remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "What a fine saying, 'Based on the law, supplemented by people.' You can see that the immutability of the law is more important than its establishment; that's not easy."

He originally thought that even if Liang Shanbo devoted himself to studying military strategy, he wouldn't be very proficient, after all, he was only a sixteen-year-old boy, and he had already shown his talent in philosophical discussions and poetry.

This is completely unexpected, and I can't help but be surprised.

He paused, then solemnly asked his third question about military strategy: "You answered the first two questions very well. Now I'll ask you a third question. In the art of war, when should one act swiftly, and when should one act slowly?"

Upon hearing this question, Xie Daoyun's expression changed slightly behind the blue silk curtain.

Although she was not an expert in military strategy, she knew that this question was not simple. "Swift" and "slow" seem to be asking about the speed and rhythm of military operations, but in reality, they are asking about a person's judgment of timing and grasp of the situation.

Liang Shanbo fell into deep thought again.

This time, he spent more time in deep thought than the previous two times.

He lowered his head slightly, and after a long while, he raised his head and spoke: "Thank you for your question, Mr. Xie. I would like to answer it by referring to the Zhuangzi."

Xie Xuan asked in surprise, "Zhuangzi? What does military strategy have to do with Zhuangzi?"

Liang Shanbo calmly replied, "The opening of Zhuangzi's 'Free and Easy Wandering' states: 'In the Northern Darkness there is a fish, its name is Kun. Kun is so large that no one knows how many thousands of miles it spans.' Mr. Xie's question, 'When will Xu arrive?' This image of Kun represents the ultimate meaning of 'Xu.' My lofty ambitions are hidden deep within, not because I am unwilling, but because the time is not yet ripe."

It transforms into a bird, named Peng. The back of Peng is so vast that no one knows how many thousands of miles it spans. When it flies in anger, its wings are like clouds hanging from the sky. "When will it soar?" This image of Peng is the ultimate expression of "swiftness." When the time comes, it can rise straight up, covering ninety thousand miles to the south. Its unstoppable momentum lies in the long period of silence and accumulation of strength beforehand.

Therefore, a skilled strategist knows when to be a Kun (a mythical fish) and when to be a Peng (a mythical bird). When diving into the abyss, one should concentrate one's strength and not act rashly; when soaring in fury, one should move like thunder and show no mercy.

And what determines this "transformation" is precisely what Zhuangzi said about birds: "When the sea winds blow, they will migrate to the Southern Ocean—leaving to rest for the sixth month." If the sea winds do not arrive, and the sixth month's rest does not come, even the Peng bird cannot fly. The so-called "waiting for the right time" refers to waiting for the great flow of the universe, which cannot be forced by one's own impatience.

Liang Shanbo looked at Xie Xuan with a burning gaze: "Mr. Xie, you asked when to act quickly and when to act slowly? I dare to speak on the matter at hand."

The Former Qin conquered people by force, swallowing Yan and its military might shook Liang and Dai. Within its borders, the Xianbei, Qiang, and Jie tribes were all outwardly submissive but inwardly resentful. This was Qin's Achilles' heel. Although our Jiangdong region is rife with factional infighting and self-serving schemes, we can unite in upholding the greater good in the face of a powerful enemy. While the Former Qin possessed a vast military might, its numerous tribes were divided and harbored differing ambitions.

The so-called "waiting for the right time" is not waiting for our troops to be well-trained and well-supplied, but waiting for internal changes to occur, waiting for the undercurrents beneath the North Sea to stir up its vast ocean!

My "deliberate slowness" is precisely to catalyze the enemy's "swiftness"! With my "deliberate slowness," I nurture my sharpness, awaiting the enemy's change. When the hearts of the people in the Former Qin are scattered and chaos erupts, that will be the time for my great roc to soar and strike decisively! This is not cowardice, but a strategy for certain victory!

After he finished speaking, he placed his hands on his knees, bowed slightly, and said no more.

The quiet house was completely silent.

Xie Xuan sat motionless, his hands resting on his knees, staring at Liang Shanbo.

What this young man saw was not only military strategy, but also the times, the human heart, and the hidden ailments in the heart of the enemy country!

This is not just theoretical talk; this is a "Strategy for Pacifying the Barbarians" that is worthy of being presented to my uncle!

He once asked his uncle Xie An when they could launch a northern expedition. His uncle replied with one sentence: "The time is not yet ripe." The "time" his uncle referred to was not his personal understanding, but the overall situation of the world. With the Former Qin still in chaos and the north still unmoved, a hasty northern expedition would only be a waste of national strength.

His uncle had also given him a sword, with the words "Waiting for the Time" engraved on its blade. His uncle said that the ancients had a tradition of forging swords to commemorate their aspirations, and that he should be like this sword, hidden in its sheath, nurturing its sharpness, waiting for the right moment to unsheathe it. He took the sword, looked at the words "Waiting for the Time," and knew that his uncle wasn't trying to pressure him, but rather to teach him.

Today, Liang Shanbo's words are exactly the same as his uncle's words of advice and the sword he gave him!

Behind the blue silk curtain, Xie Daoyun listened quietly. Because she was not proficient in military strategy, she had not uttered a word during this test.

But she could distinguish between empty talk and genuine insight. When Liang Shanbo was tested by the three questions on military strategy, from the resourcefulness of surviving in desperate situations to the system of establishing a long-term army, and then to the insight into the general trend of the world, it was as if he was not answering questions, but looking at war and the world with a complete perspective.

Throughout this round of testing, Meng Wenlang did not utter a single word.

He sat quietly, and with each response from Liang Shanbo, a feeling of joy welled up within him, like the sound of the wind in the pine forest outside the window. When Liang Shanbo finished answering, his joy was so overwhelming that it was evident on his face and in the way he looked at his disciple.

After staring at Liang Shanbo for a long time, Xie Xuanfang commented: "Liang Shanbo, your three answers are as follows: First, you used division to break the situation, which showed your wisdom and resourcefulness; second, you established your army according to law, which showed your foresight; and third, you used the times to control the situation, which showed your capacity to govern the country."

As he said this, his admiration was evident in his eyes.

He turned to Meng Wenlang and smiled slightly: "This young man possesses both literary and military talents, and has a keen eye for the grand scheme of things. You have truly taken on a fine disciple, sir!"

Meng Wenlang bowed humbly and said, "This unworthy disciple is still young and inexperienced. In the future, I will rely on your guidance to help me succeed."

Xie Xuan hesitated for a moment, then suddenly took off the sword from his waist.