Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 200 The Ambition of Emperor Guangwu
As the sun sets, the afterglow gradually fades from the city walls.

Sun Ce walked down the city wall, went to his residence to change into a dark-colored trousers, ate a few bites of food in a hurry, and then went to the military camp in the west of the city to personally inspect the camp.

Upon entering the camp and passing by the barracks, he saw some soldiers squatting on the ground eating, with very little grain in their earthenware bowls, and he immediately flew into a rage.

"Where is the warehouse clerk? Go and summon him immediately!"

Seeing Sun Ce's anger, the followers dared not delay and hurriedly searched for Bo Ji, the granary clerk.

A moment later, Bo Ji, accompanied by two subordinate officials, hurried over and stood nervously before Sun Ce, bowing: "Bo Ji, the clerk of Yongping Granary, pays his respects to General Annihilation of the Bandits."

Sun Ce drew his sword, pointing the tip at a ceramic bowl, and glared angrily at Bo Ji: "Our army has rushed here day and night to protect your city, and you dare to try to fool our soldiers with just two or three pints of inferior rice? Could it be that someone is lining their own pockets?"

Bo Ji was so shocked that he took a step back and said with a mournful face, "General, please calm down. Even if I had ten lives, I would not dare to cut the soldiers' rations. It is just that most of the grain stored in our county has been sent to Guzhang. Now there are less than eight thousand shi left in the granaries, and the next batch of grain has not arrived yet. I had no choice but to reduce the soldiers' rations."

Sun Ce was shocked upon hearing this. His anger gradually subsided, and he sheathed his sword.

The 8,000 shi of grain stored up is only enough for the needs of 12,000 troops for more than ten days. If the grain supervisor does not deliver the grain in time, won't the whole army run out of food?
Han Dang and Chen Wu rushed over upon hearing the news, and were greatly alarmed to learn that the food supplies were running out.

An army cannot move until its supplies are ready. With only a few thousand bushels of grain, how can we possibly fight against Yan Yi's army?

Sun Ce's two sword-like eyebrows furrowed together, and his cold and handsome face seemed to be coated with a layer of bluish-gray cold light by the deepening twilight. The people around him subconsciously slowed their breathing.

"Zilie, lead two thousand troops to collect grain from the nearby counties."

"Lord Yi, you must go to Shouchun immediately and ask the Marquis to replenish our army's provisions as soon as possible."

After giving his instructions, Sun Ce turned his sharp gaze to Bo Ji again: "How are the people here doing? Do they have enough rice to eat?"

Bo Ji was slightly taken aback, not expecting Sun Ce to ask such a question. After regaining his senses, he immediately felt troubled.

The people of Yongping lived a very hard life, which could be described as seven out of ten houses being empty and the fields filled with starving corpses. The culprit who caused all this was Wu Jing, the uncle of the young commander in front of them.

Bo Ji couldn't fathom Sun Ce's thoughts, so he carefully chose his words and replied, "Reporting to the general, this county has been affected by the war this year, and many people have fled. Now, only two or three tenths of the county's population remains."

Sun Ce's expression was uncertain, and a hint of anger appeared between his brows, but he did not show it. He just sighed helplessly and said, "Immediately take out one thousand shi of grain from the treasury and distribute it to the people in the city."

This is the biggest difference between Sun Ce and Wu Jing.

Wu Jing was short-sighted, often only seeing immediate gains. Sun Ce, however, harbored ambitions far beyond a single city or territory; he envisioned the entire Jiangdong region. In military affairs, he maintained strict discipline, with clear rewards and punishments, earning the loyalty of his soldiers. In civil affairs, he prohibited his soldiers from plundering the people, recruited displaced people, restored production, and sometimes implemented policies of light taxes and corvée labor, demonstrating a remarkable ability to win popular support.

"Take grain and distribute it to the people?" Bo Ji almost thought he had misheard, his mouth agape in astonishment: "But the army's rations!"

A hint of impatience flashed in Sun Ce's eyes, and his right hand rested on the hilt of his sword again: "I have my own plan, you just need to do as I say!"

Bo Ji smiled bitterly to himself, "You've already touched the hilt of the sword, how dare I not do as you say?"

The thousand bushels of grain were quickly distributed, like a pebble thrown into the ocean, without causing any ripples.

The trap Wu Jing dug for Sun Ce was far too large, practically bottomless. A mere thousand shi of grain was utterly useless.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the energetic Sun Ce casually summoned two of his personal guards, and the three of them, on horseback, rode out of the city.

After leaving the city, he sometimes walked quickly and sometimes slowly, mostly venturing into dangerous mountainous areas to carefully observe the surrounding terrain.

Like Yan Yi, Sun Ce also planned to first build a defensive line and then look for opportunities to attack once supplies arrived. Moreover, his targets were not limited to Yan Yi alone; he would attack wherever there was an opportunity, intending to seize territory first.

Without territory, the followers are like trees without roots, destined to perish sooner or later.

Sun Ce was well aware of his disadvantages. He came to Jiangdong not to avenge Wu Jing, but to expand his territory. He only had one chance, and he couldn't afford to lose.

The three riders rode slowly along the mountain path. When they passed Lingxiu Mountain, the terrain became more treacherous, and the road ahead was cut off.

Sun Ce looked up at the mountain and saw clouds surging between the undulating ridges, as if thousands of troops were hidden within them. He squinted slightly, letting the mountain wind whip his cloak, then suddenly dismounted and headed towards Lingxiu Mountain.

Two guards, one found a place to tie the horse, and the other hurriedly followed.

Sun Ce climbed to a spot not far from the mountaintop in one breath and looked around. The terrain of Yongping City within a radius of ten miles was all in his view.

His gaze fell on a pass in the northeast, and he murmured, "A stronghold should be built here to block the vital passage." His gaze then turned to the foothills in the southwest, and he seemed to be deep in thought: "A garrison can be stationed on this mountain to form a pincer movement with Yongping."

After surveying the terrain, the sun had already risen high in the sky, and the sunlight was making Sun Ce feel increasingly hot. He wanted to find a shady spot to rest. As he looked around, he suddenly saw a soaring eaves and corners piercing through the mist among the pines and cypresses on the mountaintop, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

Sun Ce was overjoyed and, with two personal guards, climbed to the top of the mountain. Suddenly, he stopped and looked ahead. There, amidst the wild grass, stood a dilapidated temple.

The temple's vermilion gate has faded, the copper rings on the gate are rusted, the steps in front of the temple are covered with moss, and half of a plaque hangs diagonally on the lintel, with the two characters 'Guangwu' still faintly discernible.

Sun Ce had admired Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu since childhood. Upon seeing this scene, he was both delighted and saddened. He was delighted to have stumbled upon the temple of Emperor Guangwu, but saddened that the temple was dilapidated and its former glory was gone.

With a sense of pilgrimage, he slowly walked into the temple.

Dust floated inside the temple, the walls were mottled, and the ancient murals on the walls were still faintly discernible, depicting the heroic deeds of Emperor Guangwu.

Sun Ce's gaze swept across the murals one by one, his heart surging with excitement. His initial frustration gradually dissipated, replaced by a surge of heroic ambition.

He gazed with reverence at the statue of Emperor Guangwu before him, slowly knelt down, closed his eyes, and prayed: "The Han dynasty is in decline, and wolves have usurped the throne. Dong Zhuo usurped power first, and Li Jue held the emperor hostage later. Although I am not talented, I wish to follow Emperor Guangwu's will and bring peace to this chaotic world. If I can establish a career in Jiangdong and revive my father's legacy, I will rebuild the temple and offer sacrifices in all four seasons."

After offering his prayers, he suddenly stood up, strode out of the temple, and headed down the mountain.

As they reached the mountainside, they suddenly saw the bushes rustling ahead and heard a series of hurried footsteps. Sun Ce stared intently, listened carefully, placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword, slowly drew the sword, then sheathed it again, his expression relaxing.

It turned out that Cheng Pu had come looking for him with a group of soldiers.

"Bo Fu, I'm having trouble finding you!"

Cheng Pu, holding a sword and carrying a bow, stood before Sun Ce, slightly out of breath, and began to pour out his grievances.

Sun Ce hurriedly asked, "Lord Cheng, did you come looking for me? Is there something wrong in the city?"

"Nothing's wrong in the city." A trace of lingering fear still lingered in Cheng Pu's eyes. "This place is rife with bandits. When I arrived just now, I saw a group of people in the distance, armed with weapons, furtively peering up the mountain. They only retreated when they saw me. Judging from their behavior, they were definitely not ordinary bandits."

He paused slightly, his tone carrying a hint of admonition: "Bo Fu, the fate of the three armies rests on the commander-in-chief, and the future of the Sun family depends on you. In the future, when you travel, do not be so hasty, and you must bring more guards."

Sun Ce disagreed in his heart, but replied sincerely, "I will heed Lord Cheng's words."

Judging from his expression, Cheng Pu knew he hadn't listened. He sighed inwardly, "Although Bo Fu possesses the courage of ten thousand men, he is arrogant and prone to reckless risks, just like his father. I only hope Heaven will protect the Sun family and prevent a repeat of the past."

After descending Lingxiu Mountain, the group rode their horses toward Yongping. As they approached the west gate, they suddenly saw Lü Fan leading more than ten cavalrymen galloping toward the city gate.

"Bo Fu, Sun Ben and Xu Kun have arrived with two thousand troops and are eagerly awaiting your arrival." Lü Fan reined in his horse on the official road.

"Where is he?" Sun Ce asked, slightly taken aback, his tone somewhat complicated.

"They are already waiting at the official temple."

Sun Ce gave his horse a light spur and galloped toward the temple. As soon as he entered the temple gate, he saw two dejected but familiar figures pacing back and forth in the front courtyard. They were Sun Ben and Xu Kun.

Hearing footsteps, Sun Ben turned around and met Sun Ce's gaze. He immediately looked ashamed, drew his sword, threw it at Sun Ce's feet, and knelt down with a thud. His voice was choked with sobs: "Bo Fu, I'm sorry. I failed to protect my uncle's troops. Punish me as you see fit!"

Xu Kun knelt down beside him without saying a word.

Sun Ce sighed inwardly, slowly stepped forward, and helped the two men up: "You two are both my brothers. Let's not talk about what's past. Where is your uncle? Why didn't he come with you two?"

Xu Kun clenched his fist and let out a cold snort.

Sun Ben's eyes darted around, and he stammered, "My uncle had something come up and went to Shouchun alone."

Sun Ce's expression darkened, but he also seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

The assassination attempt on Zhu Zhi by Wu Jing had caused a great uproar, putting Zhu Zhi in a difficult position. On one side was his uncle, who had devoted himself to the Sun family, and on the other side were his father's many former subordinates. He truly didn't know how to mediate the relationship between the two.

Wu Jing is now disgraced and can no longer hold a position in the army. To the Sun family, Wu Jing is not only worthless, but has become a hot potato. Only by getting rid of him can the Sun family maintain their current interests.

A sense of guilt towards Wu Jing welled up in Sun Ce's heart. He sighed softly and did not mention the man again.

Everyone arrived at the council hall and took their seats.

Sun Ce couldn't wait to ask about the details of the Battle of Guzhang.

Sun Ben's face turned deathly pale instantly, as if an unhealed wound had been ripped open, and a trace of pain flashed between his brows.

Xu Kun's face was also very ugly, but he knew that the most important thing at the moment was to assist Sun Ce in defeating Yan Yi. He immediately recounted the process and details of the Battle of Wucheng and the Battle of Guzhang in great detail.

"The Wu County Allied Forces were inferior to our army in terms of personnel quality, equipment, tactics and command. If it weren't for Qiao Rui and Yue Jiu always making our army stand in front while they hid in the back and watched, chasing after profit like flies and avoiding harm like hawks, our army would not have been unable to conquer Wucheng for more than a month."

"Yan Yi's army is indeed very strong. In terms of formation, soldiers' fighting skills, and combat experience, our army is superior. However, in terms of equipment, tactics, and morale, our army is inferior. This army has one characteristic: their military discipline is extremely strict. Once the order is given, the soldiers charge forward with all their might. In particular, their cavalry is, in my opinion, close to the fighting strength of Dong Zhuo's Flying Bear Army. Currently, the biggest weakness of this cavalry is its small number. In the next battle, our army should first eliminate this cavalry."

Xu Kun said everything he could think of.

Sun Ce listened attentively, then said solemnly, "Yu Zhang's words remind me of my father's Battle of Yangren. When my father was alive, he told me that there were only two ways to defeat such an elite force."

When he mentioned Sun Jian, everyone looked solemn and listened attentively.

Sun Ce's tone revealed a sharp killing intent: "First, use the same elite troops to achieve a surprise victory. Second, use an army several times larger than the enemy's to surround and annihilate them!"

Lu Fan looked at Sun Ce with admiration, as if gazing at a beautiful jade whose brilliance was growing ever brighter: "Bo Fu is right. It is not an easy task to maintain such an elite force. The daily maintenance of the soldiers' armor alone is a huge expense. In my opinion, Yan Yi is now outwardly strong but inwardly weak. The territory he controls is no longer sufficient to support his military expenditures, which is why he is so eager to expand into the southeast region of Danyang. As long as our army can defeat him once, he will never be able to rise again."

Sun Ce tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, then looked up at Lü Fan: "Does Ziheng mean that I should ask Yuan Shu for reinforcements?"

Lu Fan smiled slightly: "That's right! In the Battle of Wucheng, Yuan Shu used our army as the vanguard, intending to make our army and the enemy army suffer heavy losses so that he could reap the benefits. Why don't you follow his example, Bo Fu?"

He paused, then sneered, "Currently, Cao Cao is busy quelling the rebellion and has no time to spare. Yuan Shu has 30,000 elite troops on the northern front who can be mobilized. The fighting strength of these 30,000 elite troops is far superior to that of Qiao Rui and Yue Jiu's armies. As long as we lure Yuan Shu to bring these elite troops here, causing both Yuan and Yan's armies to suffer heavy losses, who in the vast Jiangdong region can resist Bo Fu?"

Sun Ben, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up: "Ziheng, Yuan Shu is much more experienced in this than we are. My uncle and I have tried to use the Qiao and Le armies to wear down the enemy, but we failed. It will be quite difficult to achieve this."

Lu Fan narrowed his eyes: "Of course, it's about tampering with things on the battlefield. Once Yuan's army is on the battlefield, their life or death will be out of their hands!"

Looking at Lü Fan, whose smile was full of calculation, Sun Ben suddenly realized why he and Wu Jing couldn't outmaneuver Yuan Shu. In the end, it all came down to them not being ruthless enough.

If Wu Jing had planned his strategy against Yuan Shu from the beginning, just as he had done with abandoning the Ming Tombs, the outcome of the Battle of Wucheng might have been different.

Sun Ce immediately understood Lü Fan's meaning and laughed, "Very good, let's do as Ziheng says."

Lu Fan stroked his short beard, his eyes gleaming: "Yan Yi is a pawn used by Yuan Shao and Liu Biao to deal with Yuan Shu. Bo Fu can use him to provoke Yuan Shu, which should increase our chances of success by three points."

(End of this chapter)