Pi Island exploded into life.
There had already been nearly ten thousand defenders stationed on the island, and now more than two thousand elite Guan Ning cavalry led by Cao Wenzhao had arrived, along with five thousand Gao Family Village militia under Cheng Xu, so that the small island suddenly found itself crammed with close to twenty thousand men, enough boots stomping the ground to make the earth reconsider its structural integrity.
A decree came down in the name of Dao Xuan Tianzun, stating that the various forces should cultivate camaraderie before marching into battle together, because men who had shared food and laughter would guard one another with their lives when arrows began to fall.
And when such a decree descended, what else could one do but hold a banquet.
Soldiers slung arms over each other's shoulders and sat in long rows, tables groaning under plates of meat and vegetables, while the cooks delivered to each table a large wooden bucket of fermented rice water, which was not technically alcohol and therefore perfectly acceptable within military discipline.
"Brother, drink!"
Cups clinked, the cloudy liquid sloshing dangerously close to the rim.
The Pi Island defenders were long accustomed to scarcity and nearly had heart attacks when they saw the drink almost spill, so they quickly stopped clinking cups for the second round and instead made a symbolic gesture in midair before pouring it straight down their throats.
"Ah, refreshing!"
The Gao Family Village soldiers burst into laughter.
"This is bland as ditch water," one of them said cheerfully. "Once the war is done and we are off duty, I will treat you to Wuliangye. That is real liquor, an immortal brew bestowed from the heavens by Dao Xuan Tianzun himself."
The Pi Island men stared in disbelief.
"You people live like this?"
"After this campaign we must find a way to try it."
Laughter rolled across the camp.
Inside the council hall, however, the mood was far quieter.
Several generals sat around a large table on which there was no food and no drink, only an enormous map weighted at the corners.
Cao Wenzhao gestured toward Shen Shikui.
"General Shen, brief us on the current situation around Pi Island."
Shen Shikui cupped his hands respectfully.
"After the naval battle off Pi Island, the Jianzhou forces suffered severe losses, roughly ten thousand men, and all of them elite troops. For them that was a wound too deep to ignore, so they have kept a low profile since then and have not attempted another assault on the island."
Cheng Xu nodded slightly.
Shen continued, "Huang Taiji has withdrawn his main forces. Intelligence suggests he is currently entangled in disputes with a Mongol tribe called Khalkha, though the details remain unclear."
Cheng Xu smiled faintly. "Entangled with a tribe?"
Shen Shikui chuckled. "In earlier years they would have crushed a minor tribe with a casual slap. After their losses here, even a small Mongol tribe can bargain with them. It is almost amusing."
The men around the table shared restrained smiles.
Cao Wenzhao leaned forward. "And Joseon?"
Shen's expression grew thoughtful.
"After subduing Joseon, they intended to demand money, troops, and grain for a renewed campaign against the Ming, but the losses at sea forced them to suspend that plan, so for now they have issued no new orders to King Injo."
He allowed himself another slight smile.
"King Injo still leans toward the Ming in his heart. He has not sent ships to harass Pi Island, nor has he stationed heavy forces in Tieshan across the strait. He is wavering."
Cheng Xu tapped the map lightly.
"In other words, if we demonstrate strength by striking the Jianzhou hard, King Injo may tilt back toward us."
Shen shook his head slowly.
"Strength alone may not suffice. When the Jianzhou invaded Joseon previously, King Injo appealed to the Ming for aid, and none came. He was left to fend for himself. If we appear powerful but fail to protect him when it matters, he will not dare break with the Jianzhou."
The logic was uncomfortably sound.
Cheng Xu's lips curved.
"Then we act on two fronts. We strike the Jianzhou to display power, and at the same time we send envoys to King Injo and make it clear that his elder brother has not abandoned him."
Soft laughter circled the table.
Cao Wenzhao returned to the map.
"How are the Jianzhou forces deployed?"
Shen Shikui's expression turned peculiar.
"Their main army has withdrawn, but three men remain stationed in Dandong, subtly containing Pi Island."
"Three?" Cao Wenzhao blinked. "Why three? Why not two or four?"
Cao Bianjiao rubbed his forehead.
"Uncle, perhaps the more relevant question is which three."
Cao Wenzhao coughed lightly. "Yes, yes. Which three?"
Cheng Xu spoke calmly.
"Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi."
Shen nodded.
"Correct. They know Pi Island best, so they were left in Dandong to monitor us and prevent raids into the rear. At the same time, their presence threatens King Injo, ensuring he does not dare defect."
Cheng Xu studied the map in silence for a long moment, eyes tracing rivers and roads.
"Very well. We begin with Dandong. We strike the Three Surrendered Kings hard, show King Injo our strength, and then open talks."
Shen Shikui nearly leapt from his seat.
He had witnessed the formidable naval strength under Cao Wenzhao, but the land forces of these newcomers remained untested in his eyes.
"This masked general," Shen began cautiously, "is this not somewhat bold? Dandong is heavily garrisoned. Kong Youde, Geng Zhongming, and Shang Kexi are not incompetent. Moreover, Shengjing lies not far away. The moment we attack Dandong, the Jianzhou main force will rush to reinforce. Their naval capabilities are poor, but on land they are formidable."
Cheng Xu inclined his head.
"Their land forces are indeed strong and must be respected. Yet they are not stronger than us."
Shen's face stiffened, suppressing the urge to call him arrogant.
Cheng Xu continued evenly.
"A capable general does not rely on bravado or flashy maneuvers with inferior numbers. One uses superior strength to encircle smaller forces and employs strategy to dismantle tactics. The highest form of warfare is to strike at plans."
Shen exhaled in relief, thinking perhaps the young man had reconsidered.
"Then perhaps we should avoid Dandong for now."
Cheng Xu shook his head.
"No. We simply arrange matters so that their main force cannot reinforce Dandong."
Shen blinked.
"And how exactly do you arrange that strategically?"
Cheng Xu's finger moved across the map, sliding from Dandong to Shengjing, then further west, then south toward the passes, as a faint smile appeared beneath the edge of his mask.
"We give them a choice."
He looked up, eyes sharp as drawn steel.
"When a man believes he faces two fires, he must decide which one to extinguish first, and while he hesitates, we strike where he is weakest."
Outside, the sound of soldiers laughing drifted faintly through the window, mingling with the distant crash of waves.
The board had been set long ago.
Now it was time to move the pieces.