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

Chapter 353 Zhang Liao's might shook Xiaoyao Ford, and the Jiangdong rats gained his name.

Banners fluttered in the wind above Hefei.

Zhang Liao stood behind the parapet, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
His eagle eyes, sharp as lightning, were fixed on the movements of the Wu army outside the city.

For months, Sun Quan personally led an army of 100,000 to besiege Hefei.

However, after a prolonged siege, they were unable to capture the camp. Today, they suddenly noticed that the Wu army's camp was sparsely lit with cooking smoke, and the troops were gradually withdrawing south.

"General Zhang, Wu Gou is trying to escape!"

Gan Ning pointed to the dust and smoke in the distance and said.

Zhang Liao stroked his beard without speaking, but his gaze was fixed on a unique group on the north bank of Xiaoyao Ford.

The troops were clad in bright armor and adorned with magnificent banners.

Instead of retreating, they set up tents and drank wine on the shore, as if they were having a big team-building event.

"Xingba, look!" Zhang Liao suddenly pointed his sword in that direction. "Under that purple parasol, there must be a high-ranking official of the Wu army!"

Zhang Liao had no idea that the person who was covering the rear and having team building activities by the river was Sun Quan.

He felt that Sun Quan was afraid of him after the previous Battle of Hefei.

And this kid knows absolutely nothing about military affairs.

After the previous defeat, how dare they take on such a heavy responsibility as covering the rear?

Gan Ning looked in the direction indicated and indeed saw someone wearing a brocade robe and jade belt vaguely visible under the canopy.

Surrounded by guards, the entourage was extraordinary.

He couldn't help but wonder, "Who is so bold as to drink and make merry on the shore just before retreating?"

Zhang Liao's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he said in a deep voice:
"No matter who it is, we must not let the Wu people leave like this."

"I have observed here for a long time, and Wu's main force has basically withdrawn."

"And these rearguard must be high-ranking officers of the Wu army."

"We can attack them!"

Having said that, he immediately turned and left the city, shouting sternly:

"Send the order! Beat the drums to assemble the generals!"

Zhang Liao waited until the main Wu army force had withdrawn before deciding to launch a surprise attack.

Because the strategic objectives this time are different from the last time.

Last time, Zhang Liao led 800 men in a charge, aiming to demoralize the Wu army before they could establish a firm foothold.

Afterwards, Wu's main force surrounded them, and Zhang Liao still had no choice but to break through and return to the city.

But this time, the strategic objective is to eliminate Wu Jun's elite rearguard.

If you're lucky, killing or capturing a few high-ranking Wu generals would be an even greater surprise.

Therefore, we must wait for the right opportunity, until Wu's main force has almost completely left, before launching a proactive attack.

Within half a quarter of an hour, all the generals in the city had gathered at the military headquarters.

Zhang Liao surveyed the generals, his gaze finally settling on two veteran generals from Huainan:
"Xingba and Youping, today is the day to make your mark and achieve great things!"

Gan Ning clasped his hands in greeting and replied, "This humble general is willing to lead the way!"

Zhou Tai also readily agreed, "I will obey your orders, General!"

Zhang Liao drew his command arrow and said in a deep voice:

"All seven thousand infantry and cavalry in the city were dispatched, divided into two groups."

"I will lead the main force with Xingba to attack the main force of Wu's army at Xiaoyao Ford."

"Youping will lead a detachment to destroy bridges and cut off roads, blocking their reinforcements!"

"Order!"

This time, the Han army mobilized its entire force, with a clear division of labor.

Zhang Liao and Gan Ning led the main force in a fierce attack on Wu's rearguard.

Zhou Tai was responsible for going to the broken bridge, both to prevent the main Wu army from returning to reinforce.

At the same time, it was also to annihilate the Wu army that failed to cross the bridge.

The generals took orders and left.

Before long, the gates of Hefei were opened, and the Han army poured out like a tide.

Zhang Liao, in white armor and riding a white horse, took the lead.

Gan Ning led his old troops of the Jin Fan Army in close pursuit, their iron cavalry kicking up dust.

At this time, on the north bank of Xiaoyao Ford, Sun Quan was feasting with his generals.

Sun Quan dared to cover the rear because he believed the Han army would not dare to launch a proactive attack.

After all, I had already made preparations this time.

The five thousand troops covering the rear were the elite of the elite.

Ling Cao and his son Ling Tong, along with fierce generals such as Chen Wu, Pan Zhang, and Song Qian, are all here.

Furthermore, the military system of Eastern Wu was based on the system of granting soldiers, allowing generals to recruit soldiers independently.

They brought only their own guards with them to cover the rear.

That is, their personal guard, which can be said to be the most elite soldiers.

In total, there were five thousand people.

Even if the entire Han army from Hefei came out, they didn't take them seriously.

At this moment, the veteran general Ling Cao suddenly felt the ground tremble slightly, and the clear wine in his wine cup rippled, instantly changing his expression:
"Your Majesty, cavalry are attacking!"

Before the words were even finished, dust had already appeared in the distance.

Lu Fan was startled and looked around. He saw the iron armor gleaming coldly like snow under the setting sun, and a large banner with the character "Zhang" fluttering in the wind.

"It's Zhang Liao!"

Chen Wu drew his sword and shouted, "Protect the King!"

Wu Jun hastily prepared for battle.

Zhang Liao's horse was fast, and in the blink of an eye, he had already charged into the enemy formation.

Wherever the halberd went, blood and flesh flew everywhere.

Gan Ning led his Jinfan troops in a flanking maneuver, and every arrow hit its mark.

Wu's army was in disarray before it could form a proper formation.

"Form a circular formation! Protect the King of Wu!"

Lu Fan shouted hoarsely, but Zhou Tai and his troops blocked his way.

Song Qian's troops had just formed their gun formation when they were routed by the Han army's iron cavalry.

Chen Wu roused himself and drew his sword to fight Zhang Liao.

Before they had exchanged three blows, Zhang Liao pierced his chest with a single halberd, staining his battle robe with blood.

He died on the spot.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Lü Fan hurriedly ordered his personal guards to raise the commander's flag in an attempt to stabilize the situation.

But then they saw smoke and flames shooting into the sky from the southwest—it turned out that Zhou Tai had led his troops to burn down the pontoon bridge.

Sun Quan's face turned ashen, and the jade cup in his hand fell to the ground and shattered.

Ling Cao rushed forward, grabbed his lord's sleeve, and shouted:

"The situation is urgent! Your Majesty, please retreat immediately!"

Having said that, he turned to the young general beside him and shouted:
"Tong'er, lead your three hundred personal guards to escort the King out of the encirclement!"

Ling Tong, his armor clanging, knelt on one knee:
"Father, rest assured, I am here, Lord Gong'an!"

He then leaped up and shouted, "Men of the Ling family, follow me to protect the emperor!"

Three hundred elite soldiers instantly formed a cone formation, protecting Sun Quan at the core.

Ling Tong wielded two halberds to clear the way, and was invincible wherever he went.

Suddenly, they saw a tide of fleeing soldiers ahead, and it was Pan Zhang killing the deserters.

"Anyone who deserts the battlefield will be executed!"

After killing two men, the defeated troops calmed down somewhat.

Among all the generals, only Pan Zhang's troops were the first to stabilize their position.

"General Pan!"

Ling Tong shouted, "Please join forces with me to protect the king!"

Upon recognizing Ling Tong, Pan Zhang immediately led his remaining troops to join him.

At this time, Zhang Liao had already spotted Sun Quan's entourage and personally led his elite cavalry in pursuit.

Gan Ning shouted from the left wing, "Purple-bearded boy, don't run away!"

After saying this, he shot off the tassel on Sun Quan's hat with an arrow.

Sun Quan was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he lay on his horse, not daring to raise his head.

Gan Ning was about to give chase when a general suddenly appeared from the side and blocked his path.

"Do not harm my lord! Ling Cao is here!"

Ling Cao was already covered in several wounds, but he still mustered his strength and blocked Gan Ning.

Upon seeing this, Sun Quan was horrified and immediately gave the order:

"Quickly! Send word for the main force to return!"

However, Wu's main force had already gone far away and could not return in time.

Helpless, Sun Quan had no choice but to rush to the riverbank under Ling Tong's protection.

When everyone arrived at the riverbank, they found that the pontoon bridge had already broken into two pieces, with only two lonely wooden planks swaying in the turbulent current.

"The bridge is broken!"

Ling Tong's eyes widened in fury as he turned to look.

Zhang Liao's iron cavalry had broken through Pan Zhang's defenses, and the large banner with the character "Zhang" fluttered in the dust.

Sun Quan's face turned ashen, his hand gripping the sword trembled slightly, and he cried out in anguish:
"Heaven has forsaken me!"

At this moment, his attendant Gu Li dismounted and said urgently:
"Don't worry, my king!"

He quickly untied his riding whip and pointed it to the south bank, which was ten zhang away.

"I observe that although this river is wide, warhorses can leap across it with all their might."

"Please step back thirty paces, Your Majesty, and gallop your horse at full speed."

"If I urge it on with a whip, it may be able to cross by leap!"

Upon hearing this, Ling Tong immediately ordered his personal guards to form a defensive line to cover the rear, and shouted:
"Prepare immediately! I will fight to the death to stop the enemy!"

Sun Quan gritted his teeth, mounted his horse, and pulled back.

Guli shouted a reminder:

"Your Majesty, remember this: when your horse leaps, you must bend down and embrace its neck!"

A deafening battle cry echoed from afar; Ling Cao and his remaining troops had already engaged Gan Ning in battle.

The old general, his white beard stained with blood, still shouted out for a fierce battle:

"Halt! This road is blocked!"

Gan Ning brandished his sword and sneered:

"Then I'll have no choice but to step over your dead body, you old bastard!"

The long blade moved like the wind, aiming straight for Ling Cao's throat.

Sun Quan had retreated thirty paces away and spurred his horse fiercely.

The swift steed neighed and charged towards the broken bridge like an arrow released from a bow.

Guli seized the opportunity, whipped the horse's rump hard, and roared:
"jump!"

The horse reared up, and Sun Quan held tightly to its neck, his purple beard fluttering.

In an instant, the horse's body became like a rainbow, soaring through the air and leaping across the ten-zhang-wide river surface!
The Wu soldiers on the south bank cried out in alarm as their horses' hooves nearly touched the loose stones on the south bank.

Sun Quan tumbled down, but was quickly helped up by his generals.

"Your Majesty has been frightened!"

"Your Majesty has been frightened! We are late in protecting you."

The Wu generals surrounded Sun Quan, concerned for his safety.

Sun Quan, still shaken, calmly said:

"...I am unhindered."

"Quickly! Send word to the general who hasn't gone far yet to come back and provide assistance."

"Many soldiers have not yet crossed the river, and I cannot abandon them."

Wu's most elite troops and best generals were fighting desperately on the other side of the river to help Sun Quan escape.

Sun Quan could not abandon them under any circumstances.

"Lord!"

Ling Cao, on the north bank, saw Sun Quan escape danger and was greatly relieved.

For a moment's distraction, Gan Ning's longsword had already slashed into his shoulder blade.

Instantly, ten thousand points of peach red appeared.

"Father!"

Upon seeing this, Ling Tong was heartbroken and tears streamed down his face.

Just as they were about to rush back to the rescue, they were surrounded by Zhang Liao's personal guards.

Ling Cao knelt on the ground, leaning on his sword, his battle robe stained with blood, yet he still shouted fiercely:
"Tong'er, don't worry about this old man!"

"Protect the master... protect the master..."

Before he could finish speaking, Gan Ning's second strike landed, and the old general collapsed to the ground.

"Gan Xingba!!"

Ling Tong's eyes were bloodshot as he charged into the enemy ranks like a mad tiger.

"Give me back my father's life!!!"

With his twin halberds flying, he slew seven Han soldiers in succession and headed straight for Gan Ning.

Gan Ning parried the double halberds with his sword and sneered:

"You little thief, your father is out of touch with reality, do you also wish to die?"

"Don't be anxious or cry. We will send you and your son down to reunite."

"Gan's knife—it's very fast!"

Ling Tong was furious:

"You bastard! Prepare to die!"

Ling Tong seemed to have gone mad, wildly wielding his double halberds, his moves becoming increasingly fierce.

Gan Ning was forced back three steps for a moment, and was secretly alarmed:
"This son is even braver than his father!"

By this time, most of Ling's three hundred personal guards had been lost, and corpses littered the riverbank.

Seeing this, Zhang Liao personally led his elite troops to surround them:
"Capture Ling Tong alive!"

Ling Tong was covered in blood, his armor shattered, yet he fought on relentlessly.

The captain of the personal guards shouted:

"Young General, retreat immediately! We will cover your retreat!"

They were all retainers of the Ling family clan and were absolutely loyal to the Ling father and son.

They were essentially suicide squad members.

At this critical moment, they absolutely cannot allow the entire Ling family to perish in battle.

The Ling family bloodline must be preserved!
After saying this, the captain of the personal guards led the last few dozen men to form a battle formation to meet the enemy.

In an instant, they were all killed in battle!

Suddenly, a deafening drumbeat was heard from the south bank; it was He Qi leading three thousand reinforcements to arrive.

Seeing the devastation on the north bank, He Qi urgently ordered:

"Archers, provide cover! Samples, proceed to provide support!"

Ling Tong was fighting alone against a group of enemies when he suddenly felt a chilling river wind behind him—he had been forced into a desperate situation.

Zhang Liao, appreciating talent, immediately stood on the high slope and said in a deep voice:
"Young general, surrender!"

"Submit to the imperial court as soon as possible and join us in restoring the Han Dynasty's land!"

Ling Tong laughed loudly, looking up at the sky, and said sadly:
"Men of Wu and Yue would rather die than surrender!"

Having said that, he cut the straps of his armor with a backhand and leaped into the turbulent water.

"not good!"

Seeing Ling Tong about to flee, Gan Ning shouted, "Fire arrows! Fire arrows!"

Arrows rained down, but Ling Tong had already disappeared into the water.

Zhang Liao raised his hand to stop the archers and sighed:

"A true tiger general!"

Upon seeing this from the south bank, He Qi immediately ordered skilled swimmers to go into the water to help.

Suddenly, they saw someone clinging to the rocks downstream; it was Ling Tong.

He actually swam thirty zhang (approximately 15 meters) while fully armored. When he was rescued, all ten of his fingers were broken, but he still gripped his double halberds tightly.

At this moment, the sound of gongs rang out from the Han army formation.

However, Zhang Liao saw that the banners of the Wu army's main force had appeared, so he ordered the troops to retreat.

Gan Ning looked unwillingly at the south bank:

"General, why not press our advantage and pursue?"

Zhang Liao shook his head:

"This battle has killed a large number of Wu's elite troops, and the Wu army has suffered heavy losses."

"With seven thousand men, he defeated one hundred thousand, which was enough to make him a formidable force in Jiangdong."

"Now that Wu's army has returned, I fear Hefei may fall."

"It would be better to stop while we're ahead and retreat back to the city."

He then led his troops to slowly retreat into the city.

Seeing the Han army retreat, He Qi personally led five hundred daredevils across the broken bridge to clean up the battlefield.

Suddenly, a soldier brought in something and said, "General, please take a look!"

It turned out to be the purple-gold helmet plume that Sun Quan had left behind.

He Qi carefully put it away, and then saw that Ling Cao's body was still standing, leaning against the spear, with his eyes wide open.

He Qi, with tears in his eyes, gently touched his eyes:
"Don't worry, General. Our lord is safe and sound, and the young general is safe."

Ling Cao's body then slowly fell to the ground.

……

That night, Hefei was brightly lit.

Zhang Liao sat upright in his military tent, with his generals lined up on either side.

The table was laden with wine and meat, a celebration of a great victory.

However, a hint of regret was visible between Zhang Liao's brows.

He set down his wine cup, surveyed his generals, and said in a deep voice:

"Today's battle has defeated the Wu army."

"However, there is one thing that troubles my heart."

Gan Ning clasped his hands in a fist and asked, "What worries you, General?"

Zhang Liao pondered for a moment, then waved his hand, ordering his men to bring in several surrendered Wu soldiers. He asked:
"Do you know that today on the north bank of Xiaoyao Ford, there is a general with a purple beard?"

"With a long torso and short legs, skilled in riding and archery, who is this person?"

The surrendered soldier, trembling on the ground, dared not conceal the truth and answered:

"Reporting to the general, this is... Sun Quan, the King of Wu."

The tent fell silent.

"Sun Quan?!" Zhou Tai slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his hair and beard bristling. "Sun Quan himself has come?"

Zhang Liao sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and shook his head.

"I should have realized it sooner! With his purple parasol and magnificent robes, who else could it be but the King of Wu?"

"If we had known it was him earlier, we would have captured him even with a thousand troops!"

"What a pity! What a tragedy!"

This was the closest Zhang Liao ever came to capturing Sun Quan alive.

However, because he failed to recognize Sun Quan in the formation, Sun Quan escaped.

Someone asked, "Didn't you see Zhang Liao when he led 800 men to raid Sun Quan's carriage?"
Moreover, he even challenged Sun Quan to a duel. How could Zhang Liao not recognize Sun Quan?

According to later speculation,

Perhaps because they were too far away at the time, and Zhang Liao was only chasing Sun Quan's carriage canopy, he couldn't see clearly what Sun Quan actually looked like.

Furthermore, during the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford, Sun Quan was in a sorry state and lacked his usual majesty.

Given the chaotic battle between the two armies and the urgent situation, Zhang Liao failed to recognize him.

However, regardless of the circumstances, this was undoubtedly Zhang Liao's greatest regret in life. Gan Ning was also filled with remorse, saying bitterly:
"If I had known this would happen, I would have pursued him to the death, and never allowed him to cross the river on horseback!"

Zhou Tai remained silent for a long time before finally speaking:
"This is fate, what can we do? What can we do!"

Zhang Liao took a deep breath, then stood up, sleeves fluttering, and solemnly said:

"Enough! This battle has resulted in a great victory over the Wu army, with the capture of generals and flags, which is enough to demonstrate our strength."

"Order the army to cook sheep and slaughter cattle to reward the soldiers!"

The generals responded in unison, and cheers resounded throughout Hefei.

The air was filled with the aroma of wine and meat, and celebratory sounds continued throughout the night.

Some are happy, some are worried.

While the Han army was celebrating their great victory, Sun Quan's side was in dire straits.

On the Yangtze River, Wu's warships slowly sailed eastward.

The night was deep, and the river wind howled, as if weeping and lamenting.

Sun Quan stood at the bow of the ship, his purple beard trembling slightly, his eyes dim.

He looked back north, but Xiaoyaojin had already disappeared into the darkness.

Only the surging river seems to be telling the story of today's defeat.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves was heard on the shore, and a group of surviving soldiers staggered towards them.

The leader, covered in blood and wearing tattered armor, was none other than Ling Tong.

"Public performance record?!"

Sun Quan was greatly alarmed, then overjoyed, and hurriedly ordered his men, "Quickly, provide backup!"

Ling Tong was helped onto the boat, but his face showed no joy. He staggered and knelt down, his voice hoarse as he said:
"Your Majesty... This humble general is incompetent and failed to protect my father."

"...of the three hundred personal guards, not one survived..."

Before he could finish speaking, he spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the deck.

Sun Quan rushed forward, grabbed him, and said in a pained voice:

"Gongji! Your father was loyal and brave; he died a worthy death!"

"Your return is a blessing from Heaven upon Jiangdong!"

Ling Tong's eyes were bloodshot, and tears streamed down his face.
"Even on his deathbed, my father cried out 'Protect the Lord,' but... he was unable to save him..."

"Murdered by the treacherous Gan Ning!"

Seeing his overwhelming grief and heart-wrenching pain, Sun Quan personally wiped away his tears with his sleeve and said gently:

"The dead are gone, but the living should carry on their will."

"Gongji, with you here, what do I have to worry about in terms of personnel?"

Upon hearing this, Ling Tong choked up and could not speak. He could only kowtow on the ground, tears streaming down his face.

Upon seeing this, Sun Quan immediately ordered his men:

"Send a quick message to the medical officer!"

He then personally removed Ling Tong's tattered armor, and seeing his body covered in wounds and blood, he was deeply moved and sighed:
"His courage and achievements are rarely seen in the world!"

The physician rushed over and applied Zhuo's excellent medicine to the wound.

Although Ling Tong was in extreme pain, he gritted his teeth and didn't utter a sound.

Sun Quan personally waited on him until his breathing gradually stabilized before he felt a little relieved.

In the stillness of the night, the river wind howls.

Wu's warships slowly sailed eastward, and the soldiers on board remained silent.

Only the river water lapping against the side of the boat seemed to weep and wail.

I don't know who started to sob quietly.

Immediately, cries of sorrow arose and spread throughout the army.

"General Chen has died in battle..."

"Lu Fan's entire army was wiped out..."

"General Song Qian's fate is unknown..."

The cries grew louder, echoing across the river.

Sun Quan stood at the bow of the ship, silent for a long time, before finally letting out a long sigh:
"The defeat in this battle is entirely my fault."

Gu Li, standing beside him, advised:

"Your Majesty, do not worry. Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war."

"We will fight again one day and avenge this humiliation!"

Sun Quan shook his head, his purple beard trembling slightly, and sighed:

"It is not because of the defeat, but because of the deaths and injuries of the soldiers."

“Ling Cao and Chen Wu were both pillars of Jiangdong, but now…”

He couldn't continue speaking, and just closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

The river wind howls, and the warships sail eastward.

That night, the sound of weeping echoed throughout Jiangdong.

After several days of travel.

Wu's warships slowly sailed into Moling Wharf. As soon as the deck was lowered, the wounded and disabled soldiers staggered ashore.

Their armor was tattered, their battle robes stained with blood, and their eyes still held a look of fear.

The people who were waiting on the shore were all shocked by what they saw and rushed forward to greet them.

They helped the wounded and inquired about the battle situation.

"Brother! Where is my brother?"

A young boy grabbed a soldier with a missing arm and asked urgently.

The soldier's face turned ashen. He shook his head and whispered:

"Your brother... has already died in battle at Xiaoyao Ford."

Upon hearing this, the boy was struck dumb, staggered back several steps, knelt down, and burst into tears.
"Brother—!"

The cries spread like a plague, and the dock was filled with mournful sounds.

An old woman wept bitterly while stroking her son's blood-stained battle robe, while a woman nearly fainted while holding her husband's urn of ashes.

Some children looked around blankly, wondering why their fathers were not returning home.

"Is Zhang Liao really that terrifying?" a wealthy man asked in a trembling voice.

"horrible?"

An old soldier sneered, his eyes still showing fear.

"Zhang Liao led eight hundred cavalrymen in a charge, as if they were entering an empty field!"

"General Chen Wu died in battle, and General Ling Cao was killed in action."

"If it weren't for General Ling Tong risking his life to cover the retreat, I'm afraid... I'm afraid even the King of Wu would not have escaped this calamity!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed.

From then on, Zhang Liao's name became renowned throughout Jiangdong.

In the dead of night, the sound of an infant crying could not be heard from a private residence in the eastern part of Moling City.

"Don't cry! Don't cry!"

The mother paced back and forth with her child in her arms, but she couldn't soothe the baby no matter what she did.

"If you cry again, the Liao will come!"

The father suddenly gave a low shout.

The baby's crying stopped abruptly, and it looked around in terror with tearful eyes.

This scene is playing out repeatedly throughout Jiangdong.

It is unclear when exactly, but the words "Liaolai" have become a spell to stop children from crying at night.

"Mother, what does Zhang Liao look like?"

A young boy asked timidly.

The old woman's expression was solemn:
"Zhang Liao was eight feet tall, with a face like a red date and eyes like copper bells."

"Holding a long spear, riding a white horse like the wind, killing people without hesitation!"

The child was so frightened that he hid under the covers and dared not make a sound.

Thus, the story of "Zhang Liao stopping the crying" was born.

……

Inside the Wu King's palace, bells and drums resounded in unison.

Sun Quan sat high in the main seat, his purple beard slightly drooping, his face solemn.

Civil and military officials were separated into ranks.

Ling Tong, dressed in plain armor, stood at the head of the military officers, with the white silk ribbon still tied around his waist, clearly still in mourning for his father.

"In the Battle of Xiaoyao Ford, all the generals fought bravely. Although there was a minor setback, their loyalty and courage are commendable!"

Sun Quan surveyed his ministers and said in a deep voice, "General Ling Cao fought bravely and died for his country. He is posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Duting and the posthumous name of 'Marquis Gang'."

A solemn silence immediately fell over the steps.

Ling Tong stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and the armor plates clanged loudly.

"On behalf of my deceased father, I thank Your Majesty for your grace!"

Sun Quan nodded slightly and then said:
"Ling Tong protected his lord in the face of danger, displaying unparalleled loyalty and bravery."

He was promoted to Lieutenant General and given an additional 600 men.

Because all three hundred of Ling Tong's personal guards were killed in battle, Sun Quan doubled the number of his men to replace him.

However, it should be noted that the statement that Ling Tong was given an additional 600 men does not mean that Sun Quan was going to give him 600 men.

Instead, Ling Tong was allowed to recruit an additional 600 soldiers.

This was the military appointment system of Eastern Wu.

Generals can recruit soldiers on their own initiative, and the soldiers' pay, armor maintenance, and weapons supply are all borne by the generals themselves.

If Wu generals want to maintain their army, they can only fight hard and seize spoils of war.

At the same time, in order to prevent the generals from becoming too powerful to control.

Each general has a limit on the number of soldiers he can recruit.

This means that once you have recruited a certain number of soldiers, you cannot continue to recruit; otherwise, it would be illegal.

This is why Sun Quan said he would give Ling Tong an additional 600 men.

Ling Tong bows again:

"Your Majesty, I will repay your kindness with my life."

"Pan Zhang executed deserters in battle to stabilize the morale of the army and was promoted to the rank of Commandant of Liyang."

"Lu Fan and Song Qian fought bravely and refused to retreat; each was rewarded with one hundred catties of gold."

"He Qi was commended for his meritorious service in providing support and was awarded the title of General Fenwu."

After Sun Quan finished bestowing the rewards, he suddenly remembered that Chen Wu's body had not yet been brought back, and he was overcome with grief, sighing:
"I have failed General Chen Zilie..."

Before he could finish speaking, an urgent report came from outside the hall.

"Report—General Chen's coffin has arrived in the eastern suburbs of Moling!"

Sun Quan suddenly stood up, his purple beard trembling slightly:
"Prepare the carriage! I shall go in person to offer sacrifices!"

In the eastern suburbs of Moling, white banners fluttered like snow.

Chen Wu's coffin was placed beside the newly built tomb, covered with the battle robe bestowed by the King of Wu.

Three thousand white-armored soldiers lined up around the perimeter, their spears and halberds forming a forest.

Suddenly, the mournful sound of drums and music was heard, and Sun Quan, dressed in plain clothes, arrived, followed by civil and military officials.

When Ling Tong saw the coffin, he recalled the tragic scene of Chen Wu dying to protect his master, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Zi Lie!"

Sun Quan grieved deeply over the coffin, saying, "Losing a trusted confidant is like losing an arm!"

Upon seeing this, all the ministers wept.

Zhang Zhao stepped forward and advised:

"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences. General Chen in heaven would not wish to see Your Majesty in this state."

Sun Quan wiped away his tears and personally took the reins to lead the coffin.

As the coffin was slowly lowered into the ground, a personal guard suddenly presented a broken sword—the very sword Chen Wu had held on his deathbed.

Sun Quan, holding his sword, wept and said:

"This sword has accompanied Zilie in battle for over ten years; now it shall be buried with him!"

Sun Quan and Chen Wu had a very good relationship.

This was mainly because Chen Wu greatly respected Sun Quan and was extremely loyal to him.

Even the most ruthless and heartless Sun Quan couldn't help but grieve when he lost a loyal general.

Sun Quan was about to place the broken sword into the coffin when he suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to ask his attendant:
"Where is Zi Lie's most beloved concubine who could play the zither?"

The servant answered in a low voice:

"Your Majesty, we are currently keeping vigil in the palace."

Sun Quan's purple beard twitched slightly, and he said in a deep voice:

"By my decree, grant her three feet of white silk and send her to accompany Zi Lie."

These words shocked everyone present, both civil and military officials.

The tablet in Zhang Zhao's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter." Without bothering to pick it up, he hurriedly stepped out of the ranks.

"No, Your Majesty!"

"Human sacrifice is a barbaric custom that was abolished in the Central Plains hundreds of years ago!"

Here Zhang Zhao deliberately mentions that the Central Plains had long since abolished this bad habit.

The implication is that the practice of human sacrifice still exists in places outside the Central Plains.

This is why Sun Quan would naturally make this request.

Because the practice of human sacrifice still exists in Jiangdong.

In fact, apart from the Central Plains, the civilizations in many other places were not yet considered advanced.

For example, Zhuge Jin in history did not raise the son born to his concubine, but simply abandoned him.

This was considered a very wise move by the people of Jiangdong at the time.

This was because it guaranteed the status of the principal wife and the eldest son.

It is not difficult to see from this that the North is not only more productive than the South.

Even in terms of thought and civilization, it was hundreds of years ahead.

Sun Quan frowned:
"Why do you say that, Zibu?"

"Zilie loved this girl the most when he was alive. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have her accompany him in the afterlife?"

Zhang Zhao earnestly advised:

"In the past, Duke Mu of Qin had three virtuous men from the Ziche clan buried with him, which caused Qin to lack talent and its military strength to decline."

"So much so that he was unable to launch an eastern expedition, and the poem 'Yellow Bird' still brings tears to the eyes of those who hear it."

"The Qin state has lost the hearts of its scholars and officials as a result, and has ultimately declined! Does my lord wish to follow this foolish path?"

Lü Fan also stepped forward and knelt down to remonstrate:
When Wei Wuzi was critically ill, he ordered his favorite concubine to be buried with him, but his son Wei Ke remarried this woman.

"Later, when fighting against Qin general Du Hui, I saw an old man trip Du Hui with a bundle of grass, and only then did I realize that it was my father repaying a debt of gratitude."

"This clearly shows that Heaven favors life; Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

Sun Quan flicked his sleeve and sneered:

"You all know how to quote scriptures, but do you know what the soldiers want?"

He suddenly turned to Chen Wu's eldest son, Chen Xiu, and asked, "You are the legitimate son, what do you think?"

Chen Xiu lay prostrate on the ground, trembling, and after a long while, he finally spoke:
"My father truly doted on Qin Ji during his lifetime."

Ling Tong saw it clearly from the ranks of military officers—

As Chen Xiu said this, his younger brother Chen Biao was secretly tugging at his brother's official robe, but was glared at fiercely by Madam Chen.

That night, in the study of the Wu King's mansion, Sun Quan sat alone at his desk.

As the candlelight flickered, Zhang Zhao was secretly summoned.

"Zibu, do you know why I insist on my own opinion today?"

Sun Quan asked in a deep voice.

Zhang Zhao sighed:

"This humble servant dares to guess that Your Majesty intends to do this for the living."

Sun Quan's purple beard trembled, and he nodded in a deep voice:
"That's exactly right. After the recent defeat at Xiaoyao Ford, the soldiers are losing heart."

"I want all martial artists to know—"

"Following Sun Zhongmou, one enjoys wealth and honor in life and dies with the utmost sorrow and glory."

"But at this price."

"Just a concubine!"

Sun Quan sneered, "Lady Chen has long resented this woman's rivalry for favor, and Chen Xiu is afraid of dividing the family property among those military generals."

As he spoke, he took out a scroll of bamboo slips and said, "Sir, please take a look at the joint petition submitted by various camps this morning."

Zhang Zhao unfolded the document and found it to be a memorial jointly signed by veteran generals such as Cheng Pu and Han Dang, requesting a grand funeral for Chen Wu. The memorial contained the phrase "to preserve the lives of his family and relatives."

Most of the military generals supported having Chen Wu's concubines buried alive with him.

Why is this?

In the eyes of many, being cared for by relatives after death is just like being alive.

That means you'll have someone to accompany you after death, so you won't be lonely on your journey to the underworld.

Therefore, most military generals supported this funerary ritual.

The following day, Sun Quan officially ordered that Qin Ji be buried alive with Chen Wu.

After the funeral, Sun Quan personally went to each camp to reward the troops.

Wherever they went, the soldiers all knelt on one knee, tears streaming down their faces:
"I am willing to die for Your Majesty!"

This is the effect of Sun Quan winning over the hearts of the people.

In order to cultivate loyal followers and gain their loyalty, he did not hesitate to lower himself and interact with them.

Therefore, she wanted to express her love for Chen Wu by having her concubine buried alive with him.

As he expected, the Wu soldiers were deeply moved by Sun Quan's actions and expressed their willingness to serve him.

Because in the eyes of the generals, Sun Quan was daring to defy the world and give them a grand funeral.

It's so touching that we have someone to accompany us after we die.

And what about Chen Wu's family?
They were actually very grateful for Sun Quan's actions.

They considered it a high-class and dignified funeral ceremony.

They were looking forward to the ceremony, but were too embarrassed to bring it up themselves.

When Sun Quan accomplished this, it was a great relief to everyone, and everyone was happy.

However, Sun Quan's actions would be heavily criticized not only in modern times but also in ancient times.

As mentioned before, this outdated custom has already been abolished in the Central Plains.

It was abolished in the early Han Dynasty and was not restored until the early Ming Dynasty.

During the more than one thousand years in between, there are very few clearly recorded instances of funerary sacrifice.

Even in feudal times, traditional ideas continued to evolve with the times.

For example, Sun Sheng, a historian of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, commented on Sun Quan, saying:

"Sun Quan's behavior is truly immoral."

"The saying goes, 'Good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished.'"

"Good fortune and misfortune are both karmic retribution, no wonder the state established by Sun Quan was so short-lived."

"Doesn't he deserve it?"

Of course, you have to look at it from Sun Quan's own perspective; he and Chen Wu did have a good relationship in private.

Historical records state that, "He was especially favored by Quan, who frequently visited his home."

Sun Quan did this because he was afraid that Chen Wu would feel lonely in the afterlife.

He just wanted to send his favorite person over to be with him.

But to be fair...

In Chen Wu's heart, his favorite person was not his concubine.

That must be Sun Quan, who was willing to risk his life for him!

If you're really worried about Chen Wu being lonely, you, Sun Quan, could simply slit your own throat and go see him.

Thus, the Battle of Xiaoyaojin came to an end.

……

(End of this chapter)