Treatise on Military Preparedness, Volume 42

Examination of Military Strategy

The Tang Dynasty, Part 6

Someone suggested: "Although Wang Shi is the son of a Confucian family Meaning he was raised in the scholarly tradition rather than a military household, he previously achieved merit while serving in Annam A Tang protectorate in modern-day northern Vietnam and is capable of this appointment." He was then appointed as the Surveillance Commissioner of Zhedong and was summoned to the palace to be questioned regarding his strategy.

He replied, "As long as I am provided with troops, the rebels will certainly be defeated."

A eunuch attending at the side remarked, "The cost of dispatching troops is exceedingly high."

Shi responded: "If there are many troops, the rebels will be defeated quickly, and the cost will be saved. If the troops are few and cannot achieve victory, the conflict will drag on for months and years. The rebels' power will only grow, and the transport routes of the Yangtze and Huai rivers will be blocked. If that happens, then from the Nine Temples Nine Temples (九廟): The ancestral shrines of the Imperial family, symbolizing the spiritual heart of the state above to the Six Armies Six Armies (六軍): The core imperial military forces stationed at the capital below, there will be no way to provide supplies. At that point, how could the costs possibly be calculated?"

The Emperor looked at the eunuch and said, "We must give him the troops." He then issued an edict to dispatch troops from various circuits and place them under Wang Shi's command.

Meanwhile, Pei Fu Historically identified as the rebel leader Qiu Fu had divided his forces to plunder the prefectures of Qu, Wu, Ming, and Tai Regions within modern-day Zhejiang province. Wherever they went, they captured the young and strong to bolster their ranks. However, when the official announcement of Wang Shi's appointment was released, the hearts of the people in Zhedong began to settle.

Fu was just then drinking with his followers; when he heard the news, he was displeased. Liu Wang said: "We should immediately lead our troops to take Yuezhou The administrative center of Zhedong, and rely on the city walls and fortifications to hold our position..."