Wubei Zhi (Vol. 17)

"We have maintained our defenses for a long time and frequently adjusted our battle lines. Now, we are fortunate enough to follow Your Excellency in defeating the rebels; however, there are still matters we do not fully understand."

They asked: "When Your Excellency first arrived, the army's food supply was in a critical state, yet you chose to disperse the provisions to distant areas. Why was this?"

Wang Shi replied: "The reason is easy to understand. The rebels gather grain specifically to lure hungry people into their ranks. By providing them with food ourselves, we ensure they have no reason to become bandits. Furthermore, the various counties currently have no garrisoned troops; if the rebels were to arrive there, the grain stored in those granaries would only serve to supply them."

"Why did you not set up beacon fires 烽燧 original: 烽燧 (fēngsuì); a system of signal towers using smoke by day and fire by night to communicate enemy movements?"

Wang Shi said: "Beacon fires are meant to summon reinforcements. Currently, all our available troops are already on the move, and there are no reserves left to follow them. To light the beacons would only terrify the soldiers and the common people, causing them to fall into a panic of their own making."

"Why did you use weak and fearful soldiers as scout cavalry 候騎 original: 候騎 (hòujì); reconnaissance riders or scouts and provide them with such small detachments?"

Wang Shi replied: "Brave soldiers carrying sharp weapons would likely engage the enemy without measuring their own strength. If they were to fight to the death, we would never even know the rebels were approaching. Weak soldiers, however, will retreat and report back the moment they see the enemy."

They all bowed and said: "This level of foresight is beyond our reach."

Prior to this, the Emperor had been deeply worried about the bandits in the Yue region. Xiahou Zi A prominent Chancellor of the Tang Dynasty who recommended Wang Shi for the post had told him: "Wang Shi has talent to spare; he will report a victory in no time."