Chương 705: Success Built on the Bones of Thousands

He tapped the map: "The Art of War says, 'Military tactics are like water, which have no constant shape.' The battlefield is like flowing water, constantly changing. All the variables will eventually converge on you, and you alone will have to make the decision."

Staff can help you share the workload, but they can't share the responsibility, much less the myriad of thoughts swirling in your head.

Wang Chen blushed, sat down silently, and didn't say another word.

"If reporting military news is physically exhausting, then the mental pressure is even more grueling."

Liu Ce walked back to the podium, his tone becoming more serious:

"You think the commander-in-chief is sitting comfortably in the tent, sheltered from the wind and rain? Let me tell you, the person sitting there has a heavier heart than anyone else."

Because behind every tiny symbol on the map is a living, breathing person, with parents, wives, and children. If you issue an order, thousands could be gone. Few can bear the thought of gambling with human lives.

"Back then, when Zhou Yafu quelled the Rebellion of the Seven States, he led a large army to defend Changyi. The Wu-Chu allied forces launched a fierce attack on the Liang Kingdom. King Xiao of Liang was Emperor Xiaojing's younger brother. He sent people to beg for help every day, crying and pleading. Emperor Xiaojing also issued an edict urging him to go and save the Liang Kingdom."

The generals under his command also argued. Some said they should be rescued, since the imperial relatives and nobles could not be ignored; others said they should not be rescued, because rescuing them would fall into the trap of besieging the city and attacking the reinforcements.

The argument raged on. Should they rescue them or not? If they rescued them, hundreds of thousands of troops might be lost, and the world would descend into chaos; if they didn't rescue them, the Liang Kingdom might fall, the imperial relatives might die, and the court would blame them—a responsibility Zhou Yafu couldn't bear.

How much pressure was Zhou Yafu under during that period? His personal guards said that the general paced in his tent every night, got up before dawn to look at maps, and couldn't even eat.

The army doctor examined his pulse and said he was suffering from emotional distress and that if he continued to endure it, his health would collapse. But what could he do? He was the commander-in-chief; if he backed down, the entire Han Dynasty could be thrown into chaos.

Some people below sighed softly, their expressions becoming serious.

Liu Ce continued, "There was also the Battle of Mobei. Wei Qing led tens of thousands of cavalry deep into the desert, but after searching for more than ten days, he still couldn't find the main force of the Xiongnu."

The supplies were dwindling day by day, and the soldiers grew increasingly exhausted, barely able to find water. Panic gripped the ranks, but Wei Qing couldn't afford to. He kept a close eye on the map, dispatched dozens of scouts, and dared not sleep at night, fearing the Xiongnu might sneak in under cover of darkness.

In the vast desert, far from any village or shop, with the lives of tens of thousands of brothers in your hands, the feeling of being on tenterhooks is unimaginable to those who haven't experienced it.

He picked up the chalk and wrote a line heavily on the blackboard: "War is a matter of vital importance to the State; it is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected."

"This is the very first sentence of 'The Art of War'. More than seven hundred years ago, Sun Tzu understood this perfectly... War is not child's play; it is a gamble with the nation and human lives. The commander-in-chief cannot be careless in the slightest."

"But these aren't the worst parts. The most unbearable thing is loneliness."

The moment these words were spoken, everyone below was stunned.

How could someone commanding hundreds of thousands of troops, surrounded by a large entourage, be lonely?

Liu Ce looked at the puzzled faces of the crowd and smiled:

"Does it seem strange? How can you be lonely with hundreds of thousands of men under your command? Let me tell you, the higher the rank and the more soldiers you have, the lonelier you become. Because all the problems end with you, no one can shoulder them for you, and no one can make decisions for you."

You want to consult with your subordinates? Ten advisors might give you twenty different ideas, each with its own logic, but ultimately, the choice is yours. If you choose correctly, great; if you choose incorrectly, you'll be the one taking all the blame.

Take Zhou Yafu for example. Under pressure not to rescue Liang, who did he consult with? His subordinates? Everyone had their own agenda; some were afraid of taking responsibility, while others wanted to gain merit. They couldn't agree on anything.

"Speak to the imperial court? That's too late; by the time we finish discussing it in Chang'an, it'll be too late."

"All the weighing of options, all the torment, you have to swallow it all yourself. And what's even more deadly... you can't even show your fear or hesitation. You are the backbone of the entire army; if you panic, everyone below will fall into chaos."

Even if you're so scared you can't sleep at night in your tent, you have to be expressionless and as steady as a mountain when you leave during the day, making everyone feel, "The general knows what's going on, we're sure to win."

He told everyone a short story: "Back then, Li Mu was guarding the Xiongnu in the north, leading over 100, 000 border troops. For several years, he only defended and did not fight. His soldiers thought he was cowardly, and people in the court impeached him for being afraid to fight every day. The King of Zhao also issued an edict scolding him. But Li Mu just wouldn't change."

Once, one of his captains went to his tent in the middle of the night to request military orders. Lifting the curtain, he saw Li Mu sitting alone at his desk, staring at the map on the wall, his hand supporting his forehead, his temples covered in sweat. He had been sitting there all night. But the next day, when he was in charge of the tent, he was still cold and aloof, showing not a trace of emotion.

"Hundreds of thousands of people are watching you, waiting for you to make a decision, but you can't show even a hint of the torment, fear, or hesitation in your heart. You have to bear all the pressure yourself and make all the decisions yourself. This kind of loneliness is more painful than physical exhaustion or mental toil."

"Back then, when Wang Jian led 600, 000 soldiers out of Hangu Pass, he asked Qin Shi Huang for houses and land before leaving, and everyone thought he was greedy."

But he knew in his heart that with an army of 600, 000 men at his disposal, how could the King of Qin not have doubts? He had to command the battle while also guarding against the suspicions in the court; he had to take care of both internal and external matters.

If you win the war, all is well; if you lose, not only will you lose your life, but your whole family will suffer. This kind of double pressure is something most people can't bear.

At this moment, someone raised their hand. It was a younger student who asked timidly:

"Principal, what about Han Xin, the military genius? He said the more soldiers the better, so wouldn't he be less tired?"

Liu Ce chuckled: "The more the better. It sounds impressive, but what's behind it? It means that even if you give him a million soldiers, he can still manage all one million variables. No matter how much information there is, he can still make sense of it, and he can withstand any amount of pressure. That's talent plus hard work, something most people can't compare to."

But wasn't he exhausted? During the Battle of Gaixia, when he besieged Xiang Yu, he didn't sleep for days and nights, and fell seriously ill after the battle. There are no easy generals; they all earn their reputations by risking their lives. There are no shortcuts to success, and there are no shortcuts to leading troops.

As the sun gradually moved to due south, sunlight streamed through the windowpanes, casting neat squares on the floor.

Liu Ce dusted off his hands, finishing up the task:

"So, the saying 'One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand' refers not only to the soldiers who die in battle, but also to the commander-in-chief himself. The more troops you lead, the more exhausting it becomes. Your body breaks down, your heart is drained, and your spirit is worn out. Few people can withstand this triple pressure."

Those famous generals of ancient times who could command hundreds of thousands of troops with ease—Bai Qi, Wang Jian, Han Xin, Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and even Emperor Guangwu—weren't they all plagued by health problems at a young age? Constantly engaged in arduous travel and mental strain, few of them lived long lives.

"But did they have a way out? No. Behind them were the country, the people, and their families. Knowing that fighting a war would age them ten years, knowing that staying up all night would damage their health, they still had to grit their teeth and go on. Dedication to the cause until death was never just empty words."

He paused, looked at the young faces below, and softened his tone:

"I'm telling you this today not to make you afraid of war, but to let you know the weight of war. Don't treat soldiers' lives as a joke, and don't think that the position of commander-in-chief is easy. Once you're in that position, you'll know that more difficult than shouting 'All troops, attack!' is figuring out how to minimize the number of brothers who die and how to win battles safely."