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"Sun Bin's Art of War: Ten Formations": The formation of Xuanxiang is designed to create doubt, making it difficult for the masses to resist.
Zhao Kuo arrived at Daliang Mountain with a scouting team, unaware that the main force he had gathered was already engaged in a decisive battle behind him. To ensure the capture of the Qin Army stationed on both flanks in the rear, he ordered communication with the main force of the Zhao Army stationed at Xiaoliang Mountain. If subsequent reconnaissance yielded results, then the Daliang Mountain area would belong to Zhao State from that point on!
News would take some time to relay back, so Zhao Kuo cautiously led the Scouting Team into Daliang Mountain. They found a boundary marker by the roadside and compared it with the Qin military map. He couldn't help but admire the meticulous craftsmanship; the precise measurements were astonishing. According to the map, they only needed to cross the hills ahead to reach the Grain Storage located in the valley. How could this not excite them!?
The overcast sky completely blocked out the sunlight, and mist rose in the mountains, forming a Jade Belt that made it feel as if they were in a fairyland. Zhao Kuo ordered everyone to take a short break to drink water and eat something before making their way to the mountain peak for further investigation. He took a Water Skin handed to him by a Soldier and drank deeply, wiping his mouth as he gazed thoughtfully at the mountaintop.
War is fought based on timing, geography, and unity among people. A prolonged conflict brings forth a crucial issue: unity does not merely represent a shared purpose; it also signifies that resources can be conserved in the rear to ensure supply lines for troops at the front.
To illustrate this, consider the consumption of supplies. If a Soldier consumes two pounds of food daily, then an army of one million would require two million pounds each day. Not accounting for losses during battles or along the way, within a month, frontline Soldiers could consume sixty million pounds of food.
If an acre of good land produces around one thousand pounds of food, then sixty thousand acres in the Warring States could only guarantee one month’s supply for frontline troops. This does not include reserves left by farmers or what remains after layers of exploitation; even one hundred thousand acres might not suffice for state requisitions.
One hectare equals fifteen acres, and one hundred hectares equals one square kilometer. The yield from sixty-six square kilometers of land could only sustain troop supplies for one month, assuming all that area consisted of fertile land.
At that time, there were no winter greenhouses to ensure crops could grow year-round. Rice could not be harvested repeatedly like chives; once cut today, it wouldn't be ready for harvest again in just a few days.
Since Qin and Zhao officially intervened in the Shangdang Region, it had already been over two years. No matter how much fertile land you have, such consumption cannot be sustained, especially when ensuring that domestic populations do not go hungry.
Now not only was Zhao State unable to bear this situation any longer, but it seemed that Qin State was also nearing collapse! This war had become a tremendous joke! It could be said that if Daliang Mountain truly served as Qin Army's Supply Depot, then this was likely their last bit of food!
This battle was expected to last at least two or three months; whoever could seize these supplies would endure until the end! With this thought in mind, Zhao Kuo stuffed the last piece of flatbread into his mouth. He stood up and called for Soldiers to prepare to set off.
As everyone finished tidying up, they heard the creaking sound of wheels coming from a distance. Zhao Kuo exchanged glances with the group, and the troops quickly concealed themselves in the dense forest by the roadside.
As the squeaking of wooden wheels grew closer, a Qin Army Supply Team emerged from the mountain path. The soldiers responsible for protecting the convoy led the way, numbering over two hundred. There were also quite a few supply carts, totaling exactly one hundred and fifty.
The Zhao Army commander glanced at Zhao Kuo beside him, still puzzled as to why such high-ranking officials had come along. But leaders are leaders; who knows what schemes these high-ranking officers have in mind?
While observing the supply carts, Zhao Kuo noticed that the commander was looking at him, mistakenly thinking he intended to ambush them. He hurriedly waved his hand to signal not to act rashly; their main army had not yet arrived! Even if they wanted to seize supplies, it wasn't worth it for just this little bit; their target was on the other side of the mountain!
The scouting team waited until the Qin Army Supply Team disappeared down the road before they emerged to check the path just traversed by the Qin Army. The damp ground was marked with deep wheel ruts, clearly indicating that heavy supplies were being transported.
The commander bent down and picked up a few grains of rice from the ground, tossing one into his mouth to chew. Then he handed some to Zhao Kuo, saying, "Grand Commander! Look! It's indeed food! It's this year's new grain!"
This so-called new grain actually referred to newly harvested rice, as the rice from that year was still just seedlings.
Zhao Kuo reached out and took a grain from the commander's palm, tasting it. As the light fragrance of new grain filled his mouth, he nodded in agreement. "Hmph! I didn't expect that Qin State has also started eating new grain!"
Upon hearing this, the Captain of the Guard was filled with tears. He clearly remembered that last year, Zhao Army had already begun to eat new grain. For the soldiers, everyone understood what it meant to have access to new grain.
At this point in the war, were they really going to starve here!?
The Captain of the Guard carefully tucked away a few remaining grains into his pocket and said, "Just as Grand Commander predicted, it seems that Qin Army's supplies are indeed hidden in Daliang Mountain!"
The reason Qin Army dared not store their supplies in Wild King City appeared to be due to being severely beaten by Wei Army. It was said that at that time, the walls of Wild King City had been breached by Xingling Jun, causing Qin Army to lose tens of thousands of troops in order to ensure their safety.
Zhao Kuo smiled noncommittally at the Captain of the Guard and explained, "Hearing is deceiving, seeing is believing; I can't be a hundred percent sure yet."
The Captain of the Guard, well aware that their army was about to run out of supplies, appeared overly excited. Seeing the Grand Commander taking his time, he quickly said, "So what are we waiting for!? Let's go take a look!"
Before encountering the Supply Team, they had previously run into a Patrol Team from the Qin Army. It was unwise to continue along the main road now, as they were nearing the heavily guarded Qin Army Granary. Zhao Kuo led the Scouting Team through the mountains and forests, opting to circumvent to the mountaintop along the tree line.
The ominous clouds that seemed ready to rain had dispersed without anyone noticing, and visibility improved from their elevated position. The small basin in Daliang Mountain's territory came into full view of the Scouting Team, revealing round and plump Grain Storage facilities neatly stacked on the ground. Teams of Qin Army Engineers busily moved around among the Grain Storage like ants.
The Troops Leader noticed many supply carts waiting outside the Grain Storage, with bags of grain being loaded onto them by workers. "Grand Commander! This should be fine now, right!?"
Zhao Kuo squinted at the workers loading the carts but shook his head after observing for a while. He looked up at the sky with a few drifting white clouds and then glanced at the surrounding Scouts. "There's no rush! Everyone rest in place! We'll wait until dark!"
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