“Look!” The scout reported excitedly.
The Field Marshal couldn’t help being excited, too, and said to his Second-in-Command, “The supplies and commendations from the Imperial Court have arrived.”
The Field Marshal was right. The Imperial Court had dispatched the Assistant Minister of Finance with the commendations and urgently-needed supplies of food, clothing, and weapons. The most thrilling of all to the rank and file, and to the Field Marshal himself, was that the Emperor had gifted him a yellow mandarin jacket.
When the grand celebration banquet was over, the Second-in-Command said to the Field Marshal: “The Emperor has shown his heavenly, infinite kindness by gifting you a yellow mandarin jacket. I swear I will serve the Imperial Court to my last breath so I will be worthy of His Majesty’s kindness!”
“Certainly, certainly. As long as you follow me, the Field Marshal, single-mindedly, I will make sure you will all get something in return.”
The wine had probably gone into the Second-in-Command’s head and his tongue loosened up. He said, glowing with excitement: “Field Marshal, I propose we strike while the iron is hot. Right now the morale of the rank and file is at its peak and we have just been provided with fresh supplies. If we launch a surprise attack tomorrow night and take the enemy completely off guard, we can drive them into the desert where they will stay forever. That will take care of our border troubles for good!”
The Field Marshal chuckled: “You must have had a drop too much. Annihilating the enemy is of paramount importance and has to be considered from a long-term perspective. Why don’t we talk about it tomorrow?”
The Second-in-Command thought it made good sense. He continued to drink to his heart’s content and didn’t bring up the surprise attack business again.
Days had passed, yet the Field Marshal still hadn’t said a word about the strategy session. The Second-in-Command found it strange and couldn’t help but approach the Field Marshal about it.
The Field Marshal told everyone else to leave the room and then showed the Second-in-Command his calligraphic writing entitled “Cat and Mouse Play.” The Second-in-Command studied it for a while but only half understood. He could understand “playing with the mouse” for a while. But for how long? Forever? Noticing the puzzlement in his face, the Field Marshal indicated for him to sit down and said, solemnly:
“Look at the generals who have risked their lives fighting for their monarchs in all dynasties. Once the victory is secured and the war is over, how many of them have had a good ending?”
Although not a well-read man, the Second-in-Command had heard sad stories of brave generals before. He nodded thoughtfully.
Then the Field Marshal said: “The Story of King Gou Jian of Yue from Records of the Historian[11] says: ‘When the birds are downed, bow and arrow will be put away; when the rabbits are killed, the dog will be slaughtered, too.’ This is an axiom from time immemorial and you and I should never forget.”
The Second-in-Command, not an obtuse man really, understood most of what the Field Marshal meant. He recalled a battle they had fought about half a year ago. It was on a dark night near the end of winter. The cold wind whistled throughout the night and all through the next day. Scouts came back to report that troops of Prince Yelu of the Xiong Nu[12] were all stationed in the Peacock Valley for shelter from the vicious wind. From a strategic point of view, once they had secured the high points surrounding the valley, the Field Marshal’s army could go in for the kill. It would be easy. Yet, when the Field Marshal positioned his troops, he left a section of the noose in the north not as tightly secured as elsewhere. At the time some generals raised their concerns. The Field Marshal thus explained: When cornered, the beast will fight desperately. This way we can minimalize casualties among our rank and file. Understand?
Thanks to this loose end in the north, whatever was left of Prince Yelu’s army broke through the ambush and escaped.
That, the Second-in-Command thought, seemed to be the essence of the “Cat and Mouse Play.” True, if we had annihilated the enemy in that battle, the border might have had a few years of peace, yet with a peaceful border what would we generals and soldiers do? Would the Imperial Court still support us, let us have our own way, and send endless supplies in our direction? He suddenly understood everything and said, with both hands in front of his chest: “This general will follow the Field Marshal in this ‘Cat and Mouse Play’ to the end!”
In the midst of fierce laugh, the two raised their wine cups again.
(2004)