Chapter 366: Ruling
Similarly “exiled” to the Western Regions, Deng Cui remained a rising star in the Capital, with almost everyone believing his departure was only temporary and that he would soon return to the Emperor’s side with unlimited prospects. Meanwhile, Marquis Zhang Yin had fallen into a new low point – his grandson’s crimes had not yet been fully atoned for, and he had once again disappointed the Emperor’s trust by remaining inactive at the most crucial moment.
These two men of vastly different temperaments were now to carry out the same mission.
Zhang Yin was older, more experienced, and more seasoned, yet he harbored no competitive spirit whatsoever. Content to take a subordinate position, he consciously walked behind when entering the room.
Deng Cui showed no courtesy either. After paying respects to the Emperor, he answered every question readily and spoke eloquently, his meaning clear: “A great general adapts to circumstances. There are dedicated officials for troop formations and battle arrangements – they don’t need the general to handle everything personally.”
Deng Cui’s several victories had contained considerable elements of luck, but he had indeed achieved “adapting to circumstances,” displaying profound strategic thinking. Han Ruzi could not underestimate him, and smiled, “Then does a great general make no preparations before battle?”
“There are preparations – troops, horses, money, grain, and trust.” Deng Cui counted on his fingers, exactly five items. “In short, the more the better. The more of these five things available, the more choices a general has, and the more composed he can be when adapting to circumstances. With too little, even the most capable general is simply marching to his death.”
Zhang Yin was left standing to the side, unable to interject at all.
“Did General Deng Liao also employ this approach?” Han Ruzi asked. Though he felt Deng Cui was capable of serving as a great general, he still felt somewhat uneasy.
“When the Grand General was alive, I was still a child with little contact with him. But according to clan elders, the Grand General was especially skilled at these ‘five requirements.’ Before each battle, he would persistently badger the Martial Emperor. If he couldn’t obtain more supplies, he would demand better quality – fifty thousand soldiers would be equipped with at least one hundred thousand fine horses, with countless transport workers. While other generals often ended battles with nothing left and needed to quickly return to the city for resupply, only the Grand General always had surplus provisions.”