The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 325 Never ask for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee!

Yangzhou, Danyang.

A biting wind swept through the city, while inside the government office, charcoal fires crackled and popped.

The registrar Zhou Xian hurriedly entered the room with the official gazette in his hand and saw Yuan Yin leaning against a folding chair, playing with a Hetian jade seal, which was a new gift from the Prince of Qi.

"My lord, news has come from Jiangdong that Lu Xun has been appointed by Sun Quan as the governor of Xindu, which is only a short distance from our Danyang!"

Zhou Xian bowed and handed over the documents, his voice tinged with unease.

Yuan Yin lazily raised his eyes:

"Lu Xun is nothing but a scholar, a mere armchair strategist. He's not worth worrying about."

He stroked the dragon-shaped knob on the jade seal. "Last month, the Wu envoy also gave me large tangerines from Wen County, saying that the Marquis of Wu personally sent people to pick them, and his words were very humble."

Zhou Xian hurriedly took two steps:

"Your Excellency is wise! Danyang is a barren land with impoverished people, and the garrison has not fought on the front lines for many years."

"If the Wu people launch a surprise attack, Danyang will be impossible to defend."

"But Huainan is separated from here by the Yangtze River, so it cannot provide immediate support."

"Your Excellency should make preparations as soon as possible."

"absurd!"

Yuan Yin suddenly threw the seal on the table, startling the charcoal brazier and causing sparks to fly everywhere.

"I am the brother-in-law of Prime Minister Li, and Danyang is backed by a million-strong army of the State of Qi!"

"Sun Quan, that brat, dares to lay a hand on me?"

"Moreover, the land of Jiangdong originally belonged to my Yuan family. The Sun family was nothing more than a guard dog of the Yuan family back then."

"...Hmph, it's just a pity that raising wolves as guard dogs is difficult."

The north wind howled outside the window, swirling fallen leaves that lashed against the windowpane.

Yuan Yin was in Jiangdong, but he only controlled one prefecture because of the arrogance that was ingrained in the Yuan family.

He had always believed that the Sun family had betrayed the Yuan family to gain control of Jiangdong, and even though Jiangdong now belonged to the Sun family, he was still dissatisfied.

Of course, the most important reason is that he is now working for Boss Liu and has the backing of the State of Qi.

With the support of the State of Qi, there was naturally no need for them to treat the people of Wu with any kindness.

Therefore, he always acted arrogantly when facing visiting Wu envoys.

The Wu envoys always chose to be tolerant, which made Yuan Yin despise the Wu people even more.

Zhou Xian's eyes narrowed, and he suddenly lowered his voice and said:

"Now that the Central Plains are mired in war, does Your Excellency still remember—"

"Before the war began, the King of Qi mentioned in a secret order that the war in the Central Plains should be quelled later."

"Then I will transfer the Prefect to the capital to serve as Grand Master of the Palace. If anything happens in Danyang during this time..."

The implication is that Yuan Yin has accumulated enough seniority in Danyang over the years.

You helped King Qi guard the border; even if you didn't achieve great merit, you certainly put in a lot of hard work.

Now the hard times are almost over, and after the war is won, you will be transferred to work in the central government.

At that time, with your qualifications and your status as a relative by marriage to Prime Minister Li, you will be able to succeed.

Getting a position as one of the Nine Ministers wouldn't be a problem at all.

As expected, Yuan Yin's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

Zhou Xian seized the opportunity to offer his advice again:

"Although Lu Xun was young, he entered officialdom at a very early age and assisted Sun Quan."

"Moreover, Sun Quan did not allow him to take office earlier or later, but he took office precisely when King Qi had annexed Henan."

"His intentions are unpredictable; we must be wary of him."

"enough!"

Yuan Yin waved his hand irritably, but then suddenly narrowed his eyes.

"However...you may send someone with congratulatory gifts to the new capital to investigate the situation."

"Here."

Therefore, Danyang immediately dispatched an envoy to Xindu to investigate Lu Xun's true strength and weaknesses.

The air inside the Prefectural Governor's Mansion in Xindu was filled with the aroma of medicinal herbs.

Upon receiving the urgent report that Yuan Yin's envoy was about to arrive, Lu Xun immediately threw down the military treatise in his hand and smiled at his attendants:
“This must be Yuan Yin sending someone to probe our strength.”

Military advisor Zhu Ran understood and asked:

"In that case, how does Your Excellency intend to deal with this?"

"General Lü has not yet fully resolved the affairs of Jingzhou, so we cannot rashly engage in battle with the Qi people."

The attacks on Danyang and Jingzhou must be carried out simultaneously.

Because once one side attacks first, the other side will be on guard.

Therefore, the pace of both sides must be synchronized.

But clearly, the work in Jingzhou is much more troublesome than in Danyang.

Lu Xun's problem was not how to capture Danyang, but how to keep the people of Danyang as stable as possible before Lü Meng was ready.

Lu Xun stood up and pondered for a moment:
“I will feign illness to appease him.”

"Gentlemen, please prepare for me."

Having said that, he immediately removed his hat and let his hair down, ordering someone to bring ginger juice to apply to his eyelids and forehead.

In a short while, his eyes turned bloodshot and his face became sallow, making him look like someone who had been ill for a long time.

"Quickly, remove half of the charcoal brazier and soak the bedding in some cold water."

Lu Xun coughed as he took off his outer robe, lying on the couch in only his single garment.

He then ordered someone to boil bitter ginseng soup and place it on the table, instantly filling the room with a bitter smell.

A moment later, the messenger was invited inside.

Lu Xun was seen shivering, wrapped in a wet blanket, with suspicious bloodstains still remaining in the copper basin beside the bed.

That was actually chicken blood prepared in advance by the servants.

"Oh my, what's going on, Lord Lu?"

The messenger feigned concern and suddenly reached out to touch Lu Xun's forehead, but Lu Xun turned his head away to avoid it.

The attendant quickly stepped forward to stop him.

"My lord, be careful of infection! My master is suffering from acclimatization problems and has contracted the Jiangdong plague."

(The Eastern Han Dynasty was a dual monarchy, where subordinates could address local officials as subjects.)

The messenger quickly withdrew his hand and began to observe secretly.

Lu Xun's Adam's apple bobbed, and suddenly he coughed up a mouthful of "bloody phlegm," then gasped for breath:
"...I'm so sorry, I'm being rude."

The spittoon had been secretly laced with cinnabar, which dissolved in water to resemble blood.

"Jiangdong is indeed a place where epidemics are frequent."

The envoy feigned a sigh, but his gaze kept lingering on Lu Xun.

He then suddenly pressed on, asking, "I heard that the Prefect was inspecting the city defenses three days ago?"

The implication is: You were perfectly fine three days ago, how come you suddenly got sick?
Lu Xun trembled violently on the bed and coughed violently. The attendant quickly said:
"It was because I got caught in the rain that day that I contracted the disease!"

As he spoke, he lifted the corner of the blanket, revealing the wound medicine that Lu Xun had secretly applied to his waist, which was made of crushed hibiscus leaves.

Seeing the "ulcer" covered in pus and blood, the messenger finally believed it to be 80% true:
"I am truly saddened by the severity of your illness, Your Excellency's condition."

"To be honest, I am here on the orders of Magistrate Yuan to make this visit."

"The original intention was to congratulate the Prefect on his new appointment, but I did not expect to contract this terrible disease."

"What a pity, what a tragedy..."

Lu Xun suddenly struggled to his feet, his fingers gripping the messenger's sleeve:
"I am ashamed! Please convey this to Lord Yuan."

Before he could finish speaking, he coughed violently again, spraying the ginger juice he had been holding in his mouth all over the messenger's sleeve.

"Take Lu Xun for example. There's plenty of time."

Fearing he might catch something from Lu Xun, the envoy quickly broke free and then bowed respectfully, saying:

"Of course, of course, I will truthfully convey the Lord's condition to my lord."

Then, citing the reason that he would not disturb Lu Xun's rest, he formally bid him farewell.

A cold wind howled outside the new capital city.

Lu Xun stood with his hands behind his back on the city tower, watching the carriage of Yuan Yin's envoy gradually disappear into the distance.

His face, which had just looked pale and sickly, had now regained its color.

"I never imagined that a mere envoy from Danyang would dare to be so arrogant."

Lu Xun brushed the remaining ginger juice off his sleeves and sneered:

"He did not bow when entering the mansion, nor did he shy away when visiting the sick, and his words were full of probing."

Zhu Ran handed over the hot towel, shook his head, and sighed:
“Yuan Yin has always relied on the power of the State of Qi.”

“Last year, when Wu’s envoy went to Danyang to offer New Year’s greetings, he was questioned in court about the military preparations of Jiangdong.”

At this point, Zhu Ran gritted his teeth in hatred.

A mere prefect of Danyang dared to casually interfere in the internal affairs of Eastern Wu.

The people of Wu dared not refute this, and thus endured their humiliation for many years.

Therefore, every Wu person longed for the early recapture of Danyang.

Lu Xun took the hot towel and wiped his face, his eyes gleaming:

"It must have been tough on the former governor of Xindu."

He looked towards Danyang, a slight smile playing on his lips:

"But this sense of humiliation..."

Suddenly, he threw the hot towel into the brazier beside him, and with a hiss, white steam rose up.

"It's about time it came to an end!"

……

Inside the Danyang government office, Yuan Yin ate tangerines while listening to the envoy's report.

He suddenly leaned forward:
"Is Lu Boyan truly seriously ill and vomiting blood?"

"I saw it with my own eyes!"

The envoy patted his chest and said with absolute certainty:

"The blood in the spittoon cannot be faked."

"Moreover, the sores on his waist were festering and the bandages that the apprentice changed were full of pus and blood."

"This person must be suffering from a terrible disease."

Zhou Xian frowned and interjected:

"Lu Xun was a promising young man, and he was perfectly fine just a few days ago. How could he suddenly..."

"Eh~"

Yuan Yin waved his hand to interrupt, placing the unfinished tangerines on the table.

"The damp miasma of Jiangdong is most deadly. Sun Ce was such a hero, yet he died at the young age of twenty-six."

Sun Ce's death was inextricably linked to his assassination attempt.

However, it is worth noting that Sun Ce was not directly stabbed to death.

He died because he was stabbed and his illness could not be cured.

A large part of the reason is that there is a lot of miasma in Jiangdong, and wounds are very easy to get infected.

This can lead to the growth of pathogens.

Therefore, not many people are willing to come to poor and remote places like Danyang.

Yuan Yin understood how difficult the work was, and he hoped to be promoted soon and move to the Central Plains where the climate was more livable.

Thinking of this, Yuan Yin suddenly said:
"Come forth! Issue the order to reward the troops!"

Zhou Xian asked in surprise:
"My Lord! Even if Lu Xun is seriously ill, the defense of Xindu should not be relaxed."

"Confused!"

Yuan Yin suddenly stood up, the jade pendant at his waist jingling.

"If Lu Xun dies, the people of Wu will surely appoint another governor."

"By the time they finish the handover, it might be spring."

He walked over to the map of Jiangdong and pointed to the location of Xindu.

"By then, the King of Qi will have already pacified the Central Plains. I want to see how the Wu people will seize my Danyang."

Suddenly, a crow took flight outside the window. Zhou Xian stared at the isolated mark of Danyang on the map, hesitant to speak.

Yuan Yin, however, was already humming a little tune as he went to the back hall to try on the newly made official robes for the Nine Ministers.

When Sun Quan heard that Lu Xun was ill, he was very disheartened.

Lü Fan advised:
“Lu Boyan’s illness must be a ruse, just to appease Yuan Yin.”

"It is not a real illness; I hope Lord Wu will not worry."

Sun Quan then said:

“Since Ziheng knows there is a trick, he can go to the new capital and keep an eye on him for me.”

Lu Fan accepted the order and rushed to Xindu overnight to see Lu Xun. Sure enough, Lu Xun did not appear to be ill.

Lü Fan got straight to the point:
"I have come on the orders of Lord Wu to inquire about your health, Boyan."

Lu Xun returned the greeting with a cupped hand:
"My humble body is occasionally ill; why bother to inquire about it?"

Lü Fan then said:

"The Marquis of Wu entrusted you with an important task, yet you did not seize the opportunity and instead harbored deep resentment. Why is that?"

Lu Xun then explained:

"It is not that I have not done my best; taking Danyang is easy, but pacifying the area afterwards is difficult."

"My taking Danyang is as easy as taking something with a wave of my hand."

"However, Jingzhou is of paramount importance. If Governor Lü cannot take it first, Xindu will not dare to act rashly."

Oh?
Lu Fan raised an eyebrow, pondered for a long while, looked at Lu Xun, and said slowly:

"I heard that after Governor Lü arrived at Caisang, he was stopped at Xiakou."

"Xiakou is guarded by Zhao Yun. He is a mature and steady man, and I'm afraid it won't be easy to take."

Lu Xun laughed:
“I have already exchanged letters with Governor Lü, who mentioned that he has a plan to take Jingzhou.”

"I hope Ziheng will not have any doubts."

Lü Fan hurriedly asked what the plan was.

Lu Xun replied:
“This matter is of great importance, and Governor Lü has not explained his plan to me.”

"Could Boyan possibly guess what the plan is?"

"nature."

"What is the plan?"

Lü Fan quickly asked.

Lu Xun smiled and waved his hand, "Since Ziming is unwilling to say it outright, he naturally hopes that as few people as possible will know."

Why should I expose them?

"Could it be that even the Marquis of Wu cannot know?"

"The matter of Jingzhou is of great importance; it would be best to be cautious."

Upon hearing this, Lü Fan remained silent for a long time, then sighed:

"...Very well, may Ziming truly be able to take Jingzhou for Lord Wu."

“I will report back to Lord Wu immediately, and Boyan will also keep a close eye on the situation in Danyang.”

"nature."

The two bid farewell and went their separate ways.

Not to be discussed.

……

On the other hand, after visiting Ma Su and returning to Caisangkou, Lü Meng determined that Gong'an Port was the breakthrough point for him to seize Jingzhou.

Upon returning to his office, he immediately ordered someone to write a letter, listing the gifts of horses, exotic brocade, and wine.

He sent an envoy to Xiakou to meet Zhao Yun.

At that time, Zhao Yun was inspecting city affairs on the city wall when he was suddenly informed that Lu Meng, the governor of Jiangdong, had sent someone with gifts and a letter to pay his respects to the general.

Zhao Yun then said:

"Gifts can be returned, but letters should be kept."

Then, the messenger was invited in, and his letter was obtained. The letter read in brief:

"Under General Zilong's command"

"I am fortunate to have been entrusted with such an important task despite my mediocre talent, and I have been ordered to move to Chaisang."

"I live in constant anxiety, as if walking on thin ice."

"I have always believed that Jiangxia is a strategic location, and that the general's power and virtue have always been the reason for the peace and stability of the north and south."

"It is not appropriate for me to be residing in a neighboring territory. I am afraid that my soldiers will become suspicious and resentful, which may lead to discord."

"Although I am not clever, I know the importance of the alliance between Sun Quan and Liu Bei."

"Therefore, I have already submitted a memorial to the Marquis of Wu, requesting to retire and return to my hometown, and wishing to recommend a virtuous person to succeed me."

"If I am allowed to lay down my arms, I will personally go to Xiakou, carry thorns on my back to apologize, and show my true intentions."

"It is late autumn, and the river wind is biting. I humbly request that the general take good care of his health and not worry about me."

"I am filled with trepidation as I write this, and I do not know what to say."

After reading the letter, Zhao Yun couldn't help but smile when he saw that the handwriting was weak and the words were timid.

Seeing the general's expression, the attendant asked:

"Why is the general laughing?"

Zhao Yun put the letter into a box and spoke gently to the Wu envoy:
"Governor Lü is too modest."

"Please convey to us that the alliance between Sun Quan and Liu Bei is a matter that Lord Zhuge and the King of Qi have been concerned about day and night."

"Now that the governor is stationed in Chaisang, he only cares about harmony. Why should he resign?"

He then ordered his personal guards to fetch the brocade box:

"This is a calming tea, a specialty of Jingzhou, which can help Governor Lü to calm his mind."

Ten more bolts of brocade were added, "The river wind is cold, but this is just a token of my feelings."

A sudden east wind arose outside the tent, stirring the letters on the table.

Military judge Xiahou Lan suddenly spoke up:
“Brother Yun, Lü Meng’s letter is perhaps a little too humble.”

"I wonder if this is a trap?"

Xiahou Lan was from Changshan Zhen Ding, and was a fellow townsman of Zhao Yun.

The two were as close as brothers.

After Zhao Yun rose to prominence under Liu Bei, he recommended Xiahou Lan to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei then had him stay in Zhao Yun's troops as a military judge in charge of criminal law.

When they talked about military affairs, the two could talk about anything.

Zhao Yun waved his hand to stop him:
"Why be suspicious when our neighbor is courteous?"

"Oh? Brother Yun, aren't you worried that Lü Meng might use trickery to attack my Jingzhou?"

"...Hehe, Brother Lan is being too suspicious."

“Yun will guard Xiakou. Regardless of whether Lü Meng is bluffing or not, he must let me die.”

"Otherwise, don't even think about crossing Xiakou."

Xiahou Lan thought about it and agreed. No matter what tricks Lü Meng used, they would stay here and guard.

Nothing will happen. Therefore, no further preparations are needed.

After reassuring Zhao Yun with a letter, Lü Meng wrote another letter to Ma Su.

The book states briefly:

To You, the Young Military Advisor:

"I am deeply grateful for your kind words. During our previous official meeting, I had the pleasure of witnessing your exceptional talent and abilities, and I have always admired you."

"I am writing to you now because I have an important matter to entrust to you."

"After Zhou Yu's death, the voices advocating peace grew louder in Jiangdong."

"Although Meng was in charge of military affairs, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai and others still held the view that it was better to die than to perish."

“Whenever I think about how I should teach the soldiers in accordance with the circumstances, I cannot help but sigh deeply.”

"I humbly believe that we should secretly move our military equipment and supplies to Jingzhou."

"Firstly, we will reduce the military preparedness of Jiangdong, so that the stubborn ones will have no support."

"Secondly, it can serve as a means to join the army and advance one's career."

"Thirty warships have been prepared, ostensibly for merchant travel, but we are worried that General Zilong will find out."

"If you can clear the passes along the river and allow supplies to enter safely, then when the King of Qi rewards you, you will be ranked first in merit."

"I am willing to step down from the front lines, but I only ask that the people of Jiangdong be spared the ravages of war."

"This matter is confidential and must not be disclosed to any third party."

"The silk is short, but the sentiment is deep; we eagerly await a reply."

……

Ma Su was reading Lü Meng's secret letter in the government office when he was overjoyed and accidentally knocked over a lamp on the table.

"God help me too!"

Ma Su clapped his hands and laughed, then immediately took the official seal and issued the travel permit.

The attendants on either side asked in doubt:

"The river defenses have been very tight recently, why did you issue a special permit for merchant ships, Military Advisor?"

Ma Su rose abruptly, sleeves fluttering: "This is a secret order from Lord Zhuge; how could you possibly know such a thing?"

He then ordered his trusted confidants to take the command arrow and relay the order to each ferry crossing:
"All merchant ships from Jiangdong will be exempt from inspection and allowed to pass."

Someone might advise:
"May I inform General Zhao in advance?"

Ma Su thought to himself, if he knew Zhao Yun's reasoning, Zhao Yun would surely try to take credit from him.

If the credit for conquering all of Jiangnan is taken by others, it's better to keep it all for yourself.

So he said:

"General Zhao is guarding the gateway to Jingzhou, so there's no need for him to worry about it."

"Only merchant ships are allowed to pass through my direction."

After much trouble, Lü Meng finally obtained permission to sneak across the Yangtze River defense line.

Lu Meng officially began to muster his troops, selecting elite soldiers for his cavalry, infantry, and naval forces, who were then hidden in boats and deer-shaped ships.

Then they selected those who knew how to swim to dress as merchants, all dressed in white, and rowed the boat.

Four generals, Han Dang, Pan Zhang, Ding Feng, and He Qi, were subsequently transferred and advanced.

They sailed a fast boat towards Jingzhou.

They traveled day and night, reaching the north bank.

When the soldiers guarding the beacon tower on the riverbank questioned the man from Wu, he replied:
“We are all merchants from Eastern Wu. We were blocked by the wind on the river and came here to take shelter.”

“We have special permission to join the army.”

After speaking, he handed over the voucher given by Ma Su and casually gave some money and valuables to the soldiers guarding the post.

The soldier was under Ma Su's command. Since he had been informed in advance and had received benefits, he naturally trusted him.

So they allowed it to anchor on the riverbank.

Around midnight, elite soldiers from the boats and deer came out and bound the government troops on the beacon tower.

At the signal, more than eighty ships of elite troops rose up and headed to the important watchtower.

They captured them all and put them into the boat; not one escaped.

So they marched forward at full speed, taking Gong'an without anyone noticing.

Ma Su, along with his officials, had been waiting at the dock for some time. Watching the approaching merchant fleet on the river, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Lu Ziming is indeed a man of his word."

"Should the goods be inspected before enlisting in the army?"

The lieutenant asked in a low voice.

Ma Su waved his hand unhappily:
"How could a clearance document personally signed by this official be fraudulent?"

As he spoke, he straightened his clothes and headed toward the first ship that was docking.

As soon as the planks were unloaded ashore, Lü Meng, dressed in plain clothes, stepped out of the cabin and bowed respectfully from afar.

"I feel truly indebted to Military Advisor Ma for personally welcoming us!"

Ma Su returned the greeting with a smile:

"Commander, you've worked hard; are you unaware of the first batch of military equipment?"

Before he could finish speaking, a crisp "crack" was heard.

Lu Meng suddenly overturned the cargo box next to him, revealing a box full of gleaming ring-pommel swords.

Before the Jingzhou army could react, Han Dang had already sprung up from the cabin and cleaved the dockside banner in two with a single stroke:

"Young men of Eastern Wu, today is the day to make our mark and achieve great things!"

In an instant, thirty warships simultaneously lifted their tarpaulins, and eight thousand elite armored soldiers surged out like a tide.

He Qi's troops, hidden in a secret compartment, fired an arrow that accurately struck the beacon tower.
Ding Feng led his water ghost squad into the water and scuttled the patrol warships in the harbor.

Pan Zhang's light cavalrymen leaped out of the boats and headed straight for the city gate.

The group had a clear division of labor, indicating that they had rehearsed for a long time beforehand.

"Lu Meng! You!"

Ma Su was shocked and furious. He had only drawn his sword halfway when his personal guards pulled him back.

In the chaos, his crown was nowhere to be found, and his hair was disheveled like that of a madwoman.

Lu Meng stood at the bow of the boat and laughed loudly:

"Thank you for the military enlistment clearance document!"

As he spoke, he drew his bow and shot down the large banner with the character "Qi" on the city wall.

Liao Hua desperately protected Ma Su as they tried to break through the encirclement, but Han Dang blocked their path.

Just as he was about to be captured, Ma Su suddenly pushed over the brazier next to him.

Taking advantage of the rising flames, he actually took off his official robes and blended into the chaotic army, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

As dawn broke, Lü Meng stood atop the smoke-filled city wall of Gong'an, gazing at the devastation on the ground.

A soldier came to report:
"We searched the entire city, but could not find any trace of Ma Su."

Lu Meng said solemnly:
"A stray dog ​​is not worth worrying about."

"Taking Jingzhou is the most urgent task at present."

"Order that after the soldiers enter the city, if anyone kills a person or takes a thing from the people, they shall be dealt with according to military law."

The original officials will remain in their posts.

The families of the officials were housed separately in other residences, and were not harmed or disturbed by outsiders.

Just then, a heavy rain began. Lü Meng mounted his horse and led several riders to check the four gates, ensuring the safety of Gong'an.

Suddenly, a man was seen taking a bamboo hat and chopsticks from the common people to cover his armor. Lü Meng then ordered his men to grab him and ask him what was wrong.

It turned out to be someone from his hometown.

Lü Meng then said:

“Although you are from the same hometown as me, I have already given my orders, and you have violated them. You shall be punished according to military law.”

The man wept and said:
"He was afraid that the rain would wet his official armor, so he took it to cover it up; it was not for his own use."

"I beg the general to consider our shared hometown!"

Lu Meng said solemnly:
“I know you are an official, but you should not take things from the common people.”

So he ordered his men to push him down and behead him, and then displayed his head.

Then they collected his body, wept, and buried him.

The three armies were immediately awed and in awe.

Lü Meng then urged all his troops to march immediately towards Jiangling.

Jiangling is the heart of Jingzhou; whoever controls Jiangling controls Jingzhou.

Because it is a major transportation hub for the entire southern part of China.

It is situated at the golden section point of many waterways, including the Han River, the Yangtze River, the Yang River, the Xia River, and the Xiang River.

Controlling Jiangling is equivalent to controlling Jingzhou's most important waterway transportation.

……

Jingzhou, Jiangling.

The north wind on the city wall was like a knife. When Ma Liang got up to wash and dress in the morning, he suddenly heard the sound of drums and horns outside the city.

The rhinoceros horn comb in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud," and he hurriedly asked what was causing the commotion.

"Report! The Eastern Wu army has reached three miles north of the gate!"

"What!?"

Ma Liang was shocked and staggered up the city wall, where he saw banners like a forest in the morning mist.

First, the large banner bearing the character "吕" fluttered in the wind.

He grabbed the city's garrison captain:
"The Yangtze River is a formidable natural barrier; how did the people of Wu manage to cross it?!"

The captain's face turned ashen: "None of the beacon towers issued any warnings last night..."

Just as they were wondering what was going on, a group of surviving soldiers stumbled into the city.

The leader, dressed entirely in red armor, knelt and wept on the ground.

"Military Advisor Ma has fallen into a trap! The Public Security Bureau... the Public Security Bureau has been captured!"

"The Wu people disguised themselves as merchants... and fooled them..."

He fainted before he could finish speaking.

Ma Liang's vision went black, and he only managed to avoid falling by grabbing the parapet.

He looked at the sparsely scattered garrison inside the city, and then at the dark mass of Wu troops outside the city.

Jiangling's elite troops are all deployed outside, and at this moment, there are less than five thousand old and weak people in the city.

Most importantly, no one expected the Wu people to suddenly besiege the city.

Therefore, Jiangling did not implement a scorched-earth policy beforehand.

This means that the Wu people could easily build siege weapons and make full use of wilderness resources.

"Jingzhou...is in grave danger!"

"You're so foolish!"

His fingernails dug deep into the cracks in the city wall bricks, and gray brick dust fell down in a flurry.

Why is Mr. Ji Chang so disheartened?

A loud shout came.

Liu Xun, Li Yan, and Zhang Ren each led their personal guards up to the city wall.

Although these former troops from Yizhou numbered only a hundred or so, each of them was clad in bright armor.

After all, they were refugees together and have followed each other to this day; their spirit and morale are far superior to those of ordinary soldiers.

"Now that the Wu army is at the city gates, why do you sigh so deeply instead of thinking about how to defend the city?"

Liu Xun questioned loudly.

"...Alas...you are unaware of the truth."

"Our Jiangling defense line mainly relies on the signal transmission between the surrounding important towns and the beacon towers."

"But because of my brother's mistake, we were tricked by the Wu people into passing through Gong'an Port, which allowed 30,000 Wu troops to gather under the city overnight."

"Jiangling has not had time to fortify its defenses and clear the fields, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to hold out until reinforcements from other cities arrive."

"If Jiangling is lost, Jingzhou will surely be lost as well."

"Then our Ma family will become sinners of the State of Qi, and we will be nailed to the pillar of historical shame!"

Zhang Ren was furious upon hearing this and said:

"A true man is fortunate to die on the battlefield!"

"Since you are receiving a salary from the state, you should repay your country with your life."

“To sigh and lament here, is this the behavior of a true man?”

Liu Xun also came over to comfort him, saying:

“My father and I are homeless. We have been able to eat meat thanks to the people of Jingzhou.”

"Now it's our turn to help you."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hand behind his back.

Dozens of soldiers from Yizhou walked over, each one looking spirited.

Liu Xun shouted loudly:
"If the city falls, we will not be able to escape either."

"You have already lost your home, do you wish to become homeless stray dogs wandering aimlessly?"

Upon hearing this, all the soldiers of Yizhou shouted in unison:

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"Kill the thief! Kill the thief! Kill the thief!"

They numbered only a few dozen, yet they displayed an exceptionally strong fighting spirit.

They were well aware of the vast disparity in strength between themselves and the enemy, but they were all prepared to die and were willing to fight the Wu people to the death.

Li Yan stroked his beard and said to Ma Liang:
"When Zhuge Liang was alive, he implemented many benevolent policies and was kind to the people of Jingzhou."

"Why don't you go and persuade the people to defend the city together?"

"With the army and the people united as one, we may be able to hold out until General Zhao and General Pan come to our aid."

Upon hearing this, Ma Liang quickly regained his composure and bowed to the three of them, saying:

"Thank you all!"

"I lost my mind for a moment because of my brother."

"You are right, there is only one option left: war!"

So everyone divided the tasks clearly and went off to prepare for defense.

Ma Liang stood atop the bell and drum tower in the center of the city and suddenly swung his sword, severing the bell rope.

The heavy tolling of the bell resounded, startling all the birds in the city into flight.

The crowd stirred and gathered around.

"Listen up, elders of Jiangling!"

Ma Liang shouted at the top of his lungs, with an unprecedented volume.

"We have lived in Jingzhou for generations, and have been blessed by the Han dynasty."

"In the past, there was a severe drought for three years, and the fields were parched and cracked. Zhuge Liang rushed to the rescue day and night."

"Distribute the grain from Qi to save our people."

"Digging wells and building canals will benefit future generations!"

The stone carvings on the well platform still stand, and your grain bags are still at your waists. How could you forget this kindness?

"However, Lü Meng of Wu, a man with wolfish ambitions, feigned an alliance while secretly engaging in banditry!"

"White-clad figures crossed the river and attacked our Public Security Bureau."

"Now they have stationed their troops under the city walls, intending to seize my homeland and destroy my ancestral temples!"

“If the city falls, your wives and daughters will be violated.”

"Your fields and houses will all be seized by the enemy!"

"The old are thrown into ditches, and the young are reduced to slavery!"

"I, Ma Liang, hereby swear an oath today—"

"I'd rather die on the city wall than live a life of dishonor at the hands of the enemy!"

"I am willing to use my blood to dye this banner of the Han people!"

"If you remember the kindness of the magistrate who saved your lives, and if you cherish the love for your ancestors and homeland, then you should take up arms and defend this city together!"

"The elderly, women, and children can carry stones and pass arrows; the strong can follow me to scale the city walls and kill the enemy!"

Even if I die from exhaustion, I will still let the Wu dogs know of my existence—

"The people of Jiangling are as tough as iron!"

"Every inch of land in Jingzhou must be fought for!"

"Today, we fight not for fame or fortune, nor for rank or reward!"

"So that our descendants can stand tall between heaven and earth!"

"Come on, comrades!"

"Drive these plagues out of our country!!"

Ma Liang's voice was deafening; he was an exceptional orator.

They are extremely adept at inciting public sentiment.

It emphasized Zhuge Liang's kindness and condemned the shamelessness of the Wu people.

The emotional manipulation was perfectly executed.

His speech was truly thought-provoking.

The entire city erupted in a deafening roar.

"The people of Jiangling are as tough as iron!"

"Every inch of land in Jingzhou must be fought for!"

"Kill Wu the dog! Kill Wu the dog!"

Suddenly, a horn sounded from the north gate, indicating that Lü Meng had begun his attack on the city.

Ma Liang surveyed the city's residents one last time and uttered only six words:

"Gentlemen, follow me to kill the traitors."

This single sentence is more inspiring than a thousand words.

In an instant, kitchen knives, hoes, and door bolts were raised like a forest, and even three-year-old children gripped the arrows they had picked up.

The hammers pounded rapidly in the blacksmith's shop in the south of the city. Blacksmith Wang, shirtless and sweating profusely, melted down a plow and forged it into a spearhead.

His wife led the neighbor women to dismantle the door panels to make shields, and they were unaware that their fingernails were breaking.

Seeing this scene, Ma Liang was moved to tears, which splashed onto his clothes. He couldn't help but sigh:

"Only today do I realize what it means that 'the will of the people is the Great Wall'!"

However, regardless of the circumstances, the people and soldiers of Jiangling would have to face 30,000 elite Wu troops who were well-prepared.

They had to hold out until Zhao Yun and Pan Jun's reinforcements arrived.

Otherwise, Jingzhou will be in grave danger!
Ma Liang organized the people to climb the city wall and defend against the enemy.

On the other side, Liu Xun and Li Yan also led their personal guards to help defend the city.

Zhang Ren was no exception; a personal guard ran over to tell him that his brothers were ready.

"……Um."

Zhang Ren nodded and glanced at the iron-rimmed bow behind him.

(End of this chapter)