Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 151 Winning Hearts and Minds is Paramount

With the westward expedition decided, the core decision-making circle of Xinghuo Fortress was like a fully drawn bow, the string taut, the arrow aimed at Xiliang. However, unlike the breathtaking direct confrontation at Yue'er Bay in the northern frontier, this time the "arrow" was more of an invisible blade and a barrage of venomous words. The battlefield would shift from the open riverbanks to the intricate interpersonal relationships and unpredictable human nature within Xiliang itself.

Ten days after the Battle of Moon Bay, in the increasingly quiet and heavily guarded courtyard of the Censorate, Jia Wen sat upright behind his desk, several dossiers he had painstakingly compiled and transcribed overnight spread out before him. The flickering shadows of the oil lamp cast on his gaunt face, making his long, narrow eyes appear even more unfathomable. Li Shu stood silently to his side, like the most silent shadow.

"The key to Xiliang lies in 'the disunity of the people and the suspicion of the ruler.'" Jia Wen's voice was not loud, as if stating a theorem that had already been proven. "Han Sui, after Ma Teng's rebellion, is already a frightened bird, seeing snakes in every bow. His generals, especially those who are not his direct subordinates, those who have had a past with Ma Teng, or those who are meritorious but straightforward, must be sitting on pins and needles, worrying day and night about when the executioner's knife will fall. My 'winning hearts and minds' will start from this point, burning this fire of suspicion even brighter, until... some people cannot bear it any longer, either taking risks or seeking another way out."

He picked up a file, which was densely filled with the names, hometowns, resumes, personalities, interpersonal relationships, and even some less-than-honorable private details of the officers and soldiers in the Xiliang army. "Li Shu, have you had any new information about the people you planted in Xiliang lately? Especially about Han Sui's attitude towards the military generals, and the movements among the generals."

Li Shu immediately stepped forward and whispered, "Reporting to Commander Jia, according to the latest intelligence report, since Ma Teng's escape, Han Sui has indeed become more paranoid, just as Commander Jia predicted. He has strengthened the surveillance of his personal guards, the 'Wolf Guards,' on the officers and soldiers in the army, especially on several non-direct subordinate generals stationed along the Longxi and Jincheng lines, such as 'General Zhenwei' Zhang Heng and 'Colonel Yangwu' Cheng Yin. Half a month ago, Zhang Heng was publicly reprimanded and fined three months' salary by Han Sui for 'lax military discipline and potential disloyalty' after one of his scouts went missing. Cheng Yin, on the other hand, has been frequently transferred to different defense zones recently because he refused to send his sister to Han Sui's palace as a concubine, and his subordinates are quite resentful."

A cold glint flashed in Jia Wen's eyes: "Zhang Heng... Cheng Yin... Hmm, these two are indeed capable. Zhang Heng is brave and skilled in commanding troops, having guarded Longxi for many years and enjoying the hearts of the soldiers, but he is not a direct subordinate of Han Sui, and has a fiery temper, often contradicting others. Cheng Yin is good at defense, disciplines his troops strictly, and the matter of his sister further demonstrates his integrity; he is not a sycophant. How can Han Sui not harbor resentment towards them given his treatment?"

He picked up his pen, marked the two names, and then asked, "What is the current situation of Ma Teng's former subordinates?"

"After Ma Teng and Ma Chao fled, their former subordinates in Xiliang were either purged or disbanded and incorporated into various armies, where they suffered severe suppression. Among them, Pang De, the former Sima under Ma Teng, was known for his exceptional bravery and loyalty. However, because he refused to accuse Ma Teng of 'treason,' Han Sui stripped him of his military power and demoted him to the position of Garrison Commandant, leaving him frustrated and disillusioned. Many of his former soldiers also faced ostracism," Li Shu replied.

"Pang De... he is a loyal and brave man. If we can use him, he is worth a thousand soldiers." Jia Wen pondered and marked Pang De's name. "However, he is loyal to his former master and may not be easy to recruit. We need to plan carefully. Perhaps we can keep him as a backup plan and wait for the right time to make our move."

He put down his pen and began to dictate a series of specific instructions, his voice steady and clear:

"First, spread rumors. Target areas: military camps, markets, and even some officials' residences in Longxi, Jincheng, and Guzang. The rumors need to be layered: The first layer targets Han Sui. Spread the rumor that 'Han Sui has drafted a new purge list because of Ma Teng's affair, and all those who are not his direct subordinates, have military merits, and have prestige are on the list, and he wants to eliminate them all as soon as possible.' You can 'accidentally' leak some fragments of the 'list,' mixing real names with pseudonyms, making sure that the names of Zhang Heng, Cheng Yin, and other generals in similar situations 'coincidentally' appear."

"The second layer targets the generals. Spread 'unfavorable' rumors about each other among the target figures such as Zhang Heng and Cheng Yin and their subordinates. For example, say that Cheng Yin is dissatisfied with the uneven distribution of credit in the last battle; or say that Zhang Heng mocks Cheng Yin for losing power because he refused a marriage proposal. The language should be crude and direct, in line with the tone of soldiers. At the same time, you can also spread rumors that Han Sui wants to transfer Zhang Heng and Cheng Yin to each other's defense areas, which is actually a divide-and-conquer strategy to weaken their power."

"The third layer targets Pang De and other former subordinates of Ma Teng. They spread rumors that Han Sui fears Pang De's bravery and wants to find a pretext to eliminate him, and has begun to fabricate evidence against him for 'colluding with his former master and plotting rebellion.' This makes all his former subordinates feel insecure."

"The channels of dissemination," Jia Wen continued, "are through traveling merchants, itinerant monks and Taoists, refugees, and even... bribing some disgruntled low-ranking officers or clerks in the Xiliang army. We must use multiple channels simultaneously, keeping the source obscured. The Censorate will allocate special funds, which you will have full authority to distribute."

Li Shu solemnly agreed: "Your subordinate understands. We will ensure that the rumors spread like a plague, infiltrating everywhere yet leaving no trace."

"Secondly, contact and probing." Jia Wen lightly pointed to the names of Zhang Heng and Cheng Yin. "When the rumors are brewing and they are filled with fear and resentment, select the most capable spies, those best at reading people and with suitable identities to approach these two or their close associates. Don't directly express your intention to recruit them; they can pose as merchants sympathizing with their plight, wandering knights admiring their martial prowess, or even江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) practitioners who can 'solve their problems.' Initially, simply convey goodwill, listen to their complaints, and occasionally 'inadvertently' mention Xinghuo Fortress's strict laws, fair rewards and punishments, and eagerness to recruit talent, especially its treatment of brave and capable generals. Let them know that in this world, Han Sui is not the only option."

"As for Pound," Jia Wen paused, "we will not take the initiative to contact him for now. However, among his former subordinates, there may be those who are weak-willed and resentful. We can try to bribe or turn them to serve as spies to understand his movements. At the same time, we should find a way to 'cleverly' get the news that Han intends to harm Pound to Pound himself."

"Thirdly, fabricate 'evidence' and incidents." Jia Wen's eyes flashed coldly. "Rumors alone are not enough to be believed. We need some 'real' things to corroborate the rumors and intensify suspicion. For example, we can forge a few 'fragments' of secret letters bearing the special markings of Han Sui's Prince's residence, vaguely mentioning the 'surveillance' and 'contingency plans' for Zhang Heng and Cheng Yin, so that they are 'accidentally' picked up by Zhang and Cheng's soldiers or confidants. Or, we can create a few small-scale 'attacks' or 'thefts' near Cheng Yin's defense zone, leaving some vague traces pointing to Zhang Heng's subordinates. The incidents don't have to be big, but they need to be suspicious and arouse suspicion."

Li Shu was secretly alarmed. Jia Wen's plan was intricately linked, ruthless, and targeted the most vulnerable aspects of human nature. This was not merely a battlefield strategy, but a terrifying method of understanding and manipulating people's hearts and minds.

"All actions must be carried out with utmost caution. It is better to achieve nothing than to expose yourself," Jia Wen concluded. "Although Xiliang is in chaos, Han Sui's 'Wolf Guards' are not all incompetent. We are dancing on the edge of a knife; one wrong step and we will lose everything. Report to me daily, no matter how small or big the situation. If you encounter an emergency or something suspicious, you may make a decision on the spot, but you must have a backup plan."

"Don't worry, Jia Ling, I know what's important," Li Shu nodded solemnly.

With the plan finalized, the secretive machine of the Censorate sprang into action once more. Large quantities of gold and silver were broken down into smaller sums and channeled into Xiliang through various means. Carefully selected and trained spies, each with different identities and missions, vanished silently along the roads leading to Xiliang, like water droplets seeping into sand. An invisible net began to quietly unfurl within the territory ruled by Han Sui; its threads were rumors, tests, and fabricated evidence, and its target was the hearts of generals already wavering due to their lord's suspicion.

Meanwhile, along the border between Xinghuo Fortress and Xiliang in the north, Chen Wei's small elite harassment operations had also begun. A dozen or so teams, each no more than a hundred men, disguised as bandits, routed soldiers, or unidentified armed groups, moved stealthily, specifically targeting Xiliang border outposts, patrols, and small convoys transporting supplies to the border. They moved swiftly, striking and retreating without lingering, leaving behind only burning watchtowers, fallen soldiers, and an atmosphere of anger and unease stemming from being watched and provoked. The Xiliang border garrison was exhausted from running around, unable to even catch a glimpse of the enemy's main force; their morale and patience were gradually eroded.

Meanwhile, within Xinghuo Fortress, Dian Xiong's elite troops and main force began frequent, large-scale mobile drills, with camps changing daily, banners waving, and dust billowing, giving the impression that a major westward advance was imminent. When this news reached Xiliang, it added to the pressure and suspicion in Han Sui's mind.