No Expectations, No Disappointment

The young and strapping General Wang Lei was more than ready for war! The very air was vibrating with excitement. He had assembled his five thousand strong infantry, built an extra battering ram on site. You can always use an extra battering ram!

He'll finally see the multiple belt crossbow in action. A set of two huge crossbows, too heavy to be carried by a single person, so it had to be mounted onto a support. The arrows were the size of a full length spear, good for throwing flaming arrows over city walls. Wang Lei had twenty such crossbows made, the crafting of which he personally supervised.

However, at the moment of convening at the battlefield, outside the gates of Gaochang, the young general could not help but feel a little disappointed. The city walls were not even that high! What kind of defence is that!

Wang Lei climbed down the mobile watchtower. He smoothly tossed himself over his horse and rode to the front of the infantry formation. In the distance, he spied Senior General Li TengFei, already in a meeting with several lower ranked Commanders.

Wang Lei although also called "general", was at a lower standing to General Li TengFei. For the reason that, Li TengFei controlled a larger army, plus cavalry. Wang Lei had his own independent, company of 5,000 infantry, an army raised through private funds from the Wang clan. But General Li TengFei had his backing from the capital, and had authority over the professional soldiers and conscripted soldiers of the Imperial clan.

It also happens that General Li TengFei was older, and more experienced. He had the authority of seniority, which Wang Lei respected and reluctantly recognized in public. Even when Wang Lei was conflicted in his heart over General Li TengFei's views, outwardly Wang Lei will not disagree.

Such as the time he had nearly lost his life because the wise General Li TengFei said it was a good idea to send him to Gaochang as an envoy.

Wang Lei trotted his horse at a deferential pace, he greeted General Li TengFei with cupped hands, then saluted the other commanders according to rank. They were to have a short meeting, receive their orders before returning to their own companies.

General Li TengFei was in a good mood. The senior general was not very old, still a young man in his early twenties but already a mentor to several officers. The man was tall and naturally domineering. He gave off a quiet killer's aura on the battlefield, but among friends and his own officers, he was surprisingly genial. He liked to joke and tease, especially this overly serious junior general of a prosperous family, little general Wang Lei.

"General Wang Lei has the countenance of a shining hero this early morning! Very good!" General Li TengFei said "good" several more times, nodding his head towards Wang Lei. It seemed even Li TengFei's horse was nodding in agreement.

"Wang Lei thanks Senior General for the compliment."

"Haha, so polite! I see you have a new battering ram, and a few more crossbow things," The Senior General did not know what to call these other weapons, or perhaps he was purposely being vague to annoy Wang Lei. "Too bad Gaochang's defenses hardly match your contraptions. We don't need them! General Wang Lei need not trouble himself!"

At those few words, Wang Lei's expression turned black. This was equivalent to attending a potluck lunch, only to have the host humiliate you by saying "no need!" I don't want what you have brought to the table!

Wang Lei's throat hitched, his grip on the horse's reins tightened as he stared at the receding back of Li TengFei.

"What I want are drums! Commander Lou, take those drums out. Feed the drummer boys extra rations. Have the soldiers start chanting at my command. We are to make the biggest battle cry the Western Regions would etch into their stone mountains. A memory to take a hundred years to forget!"

There was a sharp, quick sound of agreement from all the officers. As the officers took their leave to return to their posts. General Li TengFei motions to keep Wang Lei back, "I want you to get a good view of the show." An annoying twinkle gleamed in the Senior General's eye.

Was there some kind of agreement that happened that Wang Lei did not know about. He looked around in astonishment. At Li TengFei's signal, rows and rows of war drums appeared, leading a beat that the soldiers in formation followed. The imperial soldiers, in perfect harmony with the drums stamped their feet, clapped, and chanted "Huuuuu! Haaaaa!" like they were performing breathing exercises for self cultivation.

The overall effect was astounding and terrifying. Dust rose from the air meeting the mist of the cracking dawn. Everytime the foot landed, it was as if there was a small earthquake. It made the blood flow a little faster, and heated the air.

Wang Lei peered towards the gates of Gaochang City, there was some small movements one could just see with great concentration. The city gates were opening! Someone creeped out, weaponless, waving his hands in the air. One, two, three, a total of eight people were pushed out of the gates, all with their hands in the air to say that they were unarmed.

"What did I say? That peace envoy was a brilliant idea, all thanks to General Wangs great efforts! We'll claim this city without any cost at all!" Senior General Li TengFei was grinning from his left ear to his right ear, clapping a heavy hand on Wang Lei's shoulder.

Gaochang's rebels were indeed ready to negotiate. Fearing that they had killed the Imperial envoy, witnessing first hand the might of the Imperial Army at their front door. Not counting the many demands and missives from Li TengFei, threats of retribution for the lost life of the Imperial envoy, that is General Wang Lei's untimely death. Of course, Wang Lei was very much alive, but the officials of Gaochang did not know that.

Through underhanded pressure and a huge peacock show, the subjugation of the city of Gaochang was swift and bloodless. The army officers entered the city, within view, majority of the Imperial Army camped outside the city walls.

Wang Lei had to admit, this strategy of General Li TengFei was not bad. Very clever and appropriate for a smaller vassal city like Gaochang, that would be no match for a full confrontation with the Imperial Army, anyway.

Wang Lei neatly sharpened his sword, his mind drifting here and there. He had settled into his own room, very close to the quarters of General Li TengFei. The city officials were cooperative hosts, giving them a central location to house.

The Imperial Army would be stationed at Gaochang for a time, until food supplies arrive. It was a death sentence to move a large army without food rations. There were still a few more cities in the western regions the capital wanted to control.

Suddenly, there was a rapid tapping on the door. It was Ji An, his personal servant. "General Wang Lei, General! General!" Ji An could hardly catch his breath. Did he hear some kind of explosive gossip that made him too light headed to speak straight? Ji An could not wait any longer and flung the doors open.

"Young fourth master! The water spirit, we found him!"