Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 211 Stay or leave as you like
"General Sun is back!"

"General Sun shot and killed General Li!"

These two explosive pieces of news quickly spread throughout the surrounding area, causing a commotion among the soldiers.

"Sun Ce has rebelled! The entire army must immediately retreat to the pass and await General Fenwu's arrival to deal with this traitor!"

Li Feng's trusted generals all paled and hastily pulled on the reins, retreating towards the gate, wishing they could escape immediately. But to their dismay, only a scattered hundred or so soldiers followed.

Sun Ce had fired a powerful arrow to intimidate his troops. However, after the arrow was fired, his still-healing wound began to bleed again.

He endured the pain, raised his spear, pointed the tip at the gate, and shouted, "Li Feng plotted treason and sent men to ambush and kill me. Ce has already killed him. You all should quickly capture and kill his accomplices and reward them accordingly!"

Sun Ce cleverly pinned a blame on Li Feng, and did not reveal the truth about his change of heart for the time being.

This correct approach allowed him to successfully take control of the situation.

After a slight hesitation, the soldiers who followed Li Feng chose to obey Sun Ce's orders. Some looked at Li Feng's confidants with ill intent, some drew their bows and shot, and others who were nearby raised their weapons and slashed at the men.

A general is the courage of the army and the soul of the soldiers. Sun Ce led these soldiers to conquer Lujiang with unstoppable momentum, winning battle after battle, and had already established a lofty reputation among these soldiers.

Sun also spent a lot of money on these soldiers, winning over many of their hearts.

Now that Li Feng is dead, there is no one left in the army who can rival Sun Ce, so the overall situation is settled!

Upon hearing the news, Chen Lan was terrified and fled south with his six hundred cavalrymen without hesitation.

The garrison at Nanzhai Pass was puzzled to see him return in such a disheveled state, but opened the gate at his repeated urging.

Chen Lan took the lead, leading six hundred cavalrymen who rushed out of the village gate like the wind and headed east.

He had to inform Zhang Xun of the fall of Dazhai as soon as possible, lest he foolishly run headlong into it.

"That idiot Zhang Xun! Why didn't he act sooner? He had to wait for the Lord's order, which almost got me killed!"

Chen Lan, still shaken, lowered her body, squeezed the horse's flanks with her legs, and spurred it to gallop wildly, cursing Zhang Xun in her heart.

Shouchun is a full 600 li away from Guangde. How could a military order be delivered in a short time? By the time the order is received and action is taken, it will be too late!
Chen Lan was filled with rage. He raised his whip and lashed the horse's rump in a fit of anger. Suddenly, he heard a cavalryman beside him shout, "General, look!"

He straightened up and looked in the direction the cavalryman pointed. He saw a heavily armored cavalry sweeping towards him from the foot of a distant hill. The dense black armor reflected a blinding, cold light in the sunlight, sending chills down his spine.

Chen Lan's pupils suddenly contracted, and her hand gripping the reins trembled involuntarily.

Even the warhorses are clad in horse armor; throughout the entire Jiangdong region, only Yan Yi's Longxiang Battalion possesses such attire.

"Do not engage in battle, retreat north!"

Knowing he was no match for his opponent, Chen Lan felt a surge of frustration. He roared and led his men in a desperate northward escape.

This man was extremely selfish and always only cared about his own interests. He knew that it would take a long time for the cavalry to suddenly change direction while they were galloping at high speed, but he still issued the order to retreat north. This shows that he didn't care about the lives of his men in order to gain a little more chance to escape.

If the general has no will to fight, how can his troops be willing to risk their lives?

The sound of horses' hooves rolled like muffled thunder. In the span of twenty or thirty breaths, the Longxiang Camp had already arrived with a gust of wind.

The vanguard cavalrymen raised their spears and halberds, their blades aimed directly at Chen Lan's rear guard, instantly felling twenty or thirty men from their horses, blood splattering everywhere.

Hearing the screams behind him, Chen Lan felt a chill run down his spine, as if countless sharp arrows were aimed at his heart. He gritted his teeth, not daring to turn around, and cracked his whip in the air, lashing his horse's rump.

Relying on his swift and powerful horse and the many sacrificial riders who covered his retreat, he finally escaped the pursuit of the enemy cavalry. Leading dozens of remaining riders, he hurriedly crossed a desolate mountain and meandered along the rugged mountain road for several miles. Only after confirming that there were no more pursuers did he dare to turn around and head towards Zhang Xun's camp.

After inquiring at the camp, they learned that Zhang Xun had not yet returned.

"Could it be that Zhang Xun is already trapped in the Guangde stronghold?"

Chen Lan paced back and forth in front of Zhang Xun's command tent, filled with doubt and apprehension. He wanted to go and inform Zhang Xun, but he was also worried about encountering enemy cavalry on the way. Just as he was about to send a few scouts in his place, he suddenly heard a report that Zhang Xun had led his army back and was less than two miles away from the camp.

He hastily donned his helmet, mounted his horse, and galloped to Zhang Xun's army. He knelt on one knee before the great banner, and cried out in tears, "Lord Zhang, Sun Ce arrived at the Guangde camp before you! Li Feng has been beheaded, and his six thousand troops have all defected. This humble general...this humble general fought valiantly, sustaining numerous wounds, before finally breaking through the encirclement...Waaah!"

Before he could finish speaking, he collapsed to the ground and wept bitterly.

Several veins bulged on Zhang Xun's forehead, and his cheeks twitched slightly. His already terrible mood was now even more furious. He wanted nothing more than to lash out at Chen Lan with a whip, but he glanced at Lei Bo beside him out of the corner of his eye and forced himself to hold back.

Lei Bo dismounted and strode over to Chen Lan, helping him up: "Zi Ren, you have done your best, get up quickly! This battle is not your fault, Zhang Gong is discerning and will not blame you!"

Zhang Xun gripped the riding whip tightly with all his might, watching the two perform with a blank expression.

Chen Lan stopped crying and met his eyes, which were almost bursting with fire. She thought to herself, "If you hadn't kept delaying, none of this would have happened."

The two men silently criticized each other in their hearts and returned to the camp without saying a word.

As soon as he entered the village gate, a rider came galloping up. He took out a scroll from a black bag on his back and presented it to Zhang Xun with both hands: "Lord Zhang, the Marquis has given an urgent order."

Zhang Xun took the document, and upon closer inspection, his face immediately turned a deep purplish-red.

The document ordering Yuan Shu to eliminate the Sun family finally arrived.

"What use are you to me now that you've been delivered like this!"

Zhang Xun, inwardly roaring, suppressed the urge to tear the document to shreds and handed it to Lei Bo. Lei Bo and Chen Lan looked at the document, also at a loss for what to do.

The three returned to the command tent and sat down.

"Master Zhang, what should we do now?" Lei Bo asked cautiously.

Zhang Xun's brows were furrowed, a deep line etched between them, as if he were being weighed down by an invisible burden.

His gaze was deep as he took out a command token from his waist pouch and stared at it intently, ignoring Lei Bo's question. Instead, he asked, "Do you think the 10,000 troops at Guangde Camp will obey Sun Ce's wishes and fight against our army?"

Lei Bo recognized the token in his hand as the troop deployment token for the 10,000 troops at Guangde Great Camp. Knowing that he was eyeing those 10,000 troops, he pondered and said, "This humble general believes that Sun Ce is currently unable to command those 10,000 troops to fight against our army. Otherwise, why would he let us leave so easily?"

Zhang Xun nodded in agreement: "Ziting is right. In the Battle of Gulingdu, it was Xu Sheng who held back Zhou Xin's troops, which ultimately led to the annihilation of Zhou Xin's entire army. Now that Xu Sheng has arrived, if Sun Ce has completely taken control of those 10,000 troops, he will never allow our army to withdraw so easily."

An hour earlier, when he learned that the Guangde camp had fallen, his first thought was to lead his troops into the camp and take back the 10,000 soldiers from Sun Ce. However, he was reluctant to retreat because of the presence of the Longxiang Camp.

"Does Lord Sun intend to win back those ten thousand troops?" Lei Bo couldn't help but ask.

Zhang Xun slowly closed his five fingers, gripped the command token in his hand, and said in a deep voice: "That's right, the key to victory or defeat in this battle lies in those ten thousand troops. If Yan Yi gets this army, our numerical advantage will be completely lost, and it will be difficult to shake Guangde again. But if we can win back this army, the advantage will be back on our side."

Chen Lan interjected at the opportune moment: "What Zhang Gong said makes sense. In my humble opinion, it is not difficult to take back these 10,000 troops."

Zhang Xun and Lei Bo turned around at the same time, looking at him in surprise, neither of them expecting that these words would come from his mouth.

It's something that even two brilliant minds like us struggle with, and you, you idiot, say it's not difficult?
Chen Lan understood the meaning in their eyes, and sneered inwardly, "Looking down on people like dogs." A mocking smile appeared on her lips: "Zhang Gong, Ziting, suppose you two both took a fancy to a young lady in a brothel and wanted to possess her, what would you do?"

Zhang Xun and Lei Bo exchanged glances, their eyes flashing like lightning as they both glared at Chen Lan.

We're here having a serious military discussion, and you're talking about prostitutes? Are you out of your mind?
Chen Lan shrank back and chuckled awkwardly, "Since neither of you is willing to speak, then I will speak for you. When two warriors vie for a concubine, the one with the highest bidder wins. It is impossible for Lord Zhang to reclaim 10,000 troops from Yan Yi with a mere 6,000 men. However, if we summon the 10,000 troops on the Guangde front and the 4,000 garrison troops in the fortified villages of Yongping, and combine our forces, we can exert pressure and force them with other means. Not only will our army be invincible, but the possibility of reclaiming 10,000 troops will also greatly increase."

Zhang Xun stared at him with a strange look for a while, then nodded slightly, thinking to himself, "You've finally said something sensible."

“Zi Ren’s words make some sense. Lord Sun, our army is currently divided into three routes, and it is indeed possible that the enemy will defeat us one by one. We should regroup as soon as possible.” Lei Bo patted Chen Lan on the shoulder and smiled, “However, it is not advisable to transfer too many troops from the Yongping direction, lest the enemy cut off our retreat and supply lines. In my humble opinion, transferring two thousand elite troops is enough. We can also transfer some of the construction troops from Qu’a, Wujin, Jurong and other cities to Yongping, which should ensure that our army’s rear is secure.”

Zhang Xun frowned slightly: "If Xu Gong takes the opportunity to launch a sneak attack on Qu'a, wouldn't we be caught in a dilemma, unable to defend ourselves from both ends?"

Lei Bo snorted coldly, his eyes filled with disdain and contempt for Xu Gong: "That piece of trash Xu Gong wouldn't dare to provoke Lord Junhou even if he had ten thousand lives!"

Zhang Xun and Chen Lan looked at each other and burst into laughter, and Lei Bo also laughed along. Thus, the military meeting ended amidst a chorus of scornful laughter directed at Xu Gong.

Just as Zhang Xun and Lei Bo had predicted, Sun Ce had not yet fully taken control of the 10,000 troops he had brought from Lujiang.

Otherwise, Zhang and Lei would never have been able to return to the camp alive.

"Wenxiang, in your opinion, what should we do now?"

Inside the command tent, Sun Ce and Xu Sheng sat facing each other, and Sun Ce politely inquired about each other's situation.

He greatly admired Xu Sheng, but also felt a pang of guilt. If it weren't for his appearance, the position of Commandant of Danyang would have been firmly in Xu Sheng's hands.

Xu Sheng pondered for a moment and said, "I am aware of Lord Sun's concerns. Before leaving, the young master had already given instructions on this matter. Please gather all the departments and act according to the young master's words."

Sun Ce nodded slightly, then instructed Cheng Pu and Han Dang to gather their troops.

Soon after, apart from the two thousand troops stationed in the camp, the remaining twelve thousand troops gradually emerged from the camp and lined up in an open plain.

To prevent uncontrollable riots and uprisings, Sun Ce positioned 6,000 elite troops with relatively high loyalty and 2,000 Zhou clan soldiers at the four corners of the army formation, subtly encircling the other 4,000 troops.

After everything was arranged, he rode his horse to the front of the battle line. Under the gazes of bewildered and uneasy eyes, he loudly recounted his experiences of the past few days. Of course, the mastermind behind the assassination attempt was now Li Feng, and he had narrowly escaped Li Feng's attack, only returning to camp after recuperating from his injuries for several days.

Because there were too many soldiers, his voice could not be heard everywhere, so he had Cheng Pu and others scattered throughout the army repeat it, thus firmly pinning the blame on the dead Li Feng.

As expected, the entire audience erupted in uproar, and it took a full quarter of an hour for things to quiet down.

Sun Ce knew that his next words would cause a huge uproar, so his expression turned solemn, and he said in a seductive tone, "I have verified that Li Feng was instructed by Yuan Shu to try to kill me! My father expanded the territory for these wolves, and my clan fought for these rats and sparrows, and this is the result! What about the justice of Heaven? How absurd! A true man born between heaven and earth, if he does not avenge this, how can he live in this world? I now sever all ties with the dog Yuan Shu!"

"Young Master Yan is a hero of our time. His benevolence and virtue extend far and wide, benefiting all. Under his rule, the people live in peace, the old and young are well cared for, the law is clear and punishments are prudent, and all industries flourish."

"Young Master Shao governs his army with strict discipline and great kindness. He personally prepares medicine for soldiers who fall ill, and generously compensates the families of fallen soldiers. In winter, he provides them with padded clothing, and in summer, he offers them refreshing water. The entire army is deeply grateful and willing to die for them."

"Though I am unworthy, I am willing to lead the sons of the Sun family to serve under your command, young lord. From this day forward, I will follow your lead without question. If I break this oath, may a thousand arrows pierce my heart, and may heaven and earth condemn me!"

Sun Ce finished speaking in one breath, his face turning green. In particular, the eight words "pierced by ten thousand arrows, intolerable to heaven and earth" were what Xu Sheng insisted he say in public, and their meaning was self-evident.

But he had no time to think about it, because as soon as he finished speaking, the audience erupted in a clamor, with discussions surging like a tidal wave, and in some places, signs of rioting had already begun to appear.

Cheng Pu, Han Dang, and others were on high alert. Together with hundreds of junior and middle-ranking officers who had been instructed by Sun Ce beforehand, they each led their personal guards and supervisory teams to maintain order in various places.

"Bang the drum!"

At this moment, Xu Sheng walked out with a solemn expression. As his arm fell, twenty military drums behind him struck together, the sound waves sweeping across the entire field like thunder.

After the surroundings gradually quieted down, he surveyed the entire area and, in a high-spirited tone, loudly proclaimed the benefits for all soldiers, including military ranks, rewards, pensions, and medals. He then declared, "The young lord promises that anyone willing to follow, as long as they meet our army's requirements, will have their family brought to our jurisdiction, ensuring their parents are cared for and their wives and children are well-off. Anyone who wishes to leave will not be forcibly detained; they will be given provisions and sent home!"

(End of this chapter)