Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 218 If it doesn't work out, then break up

The miracle that Zhang Xun and others were hoping for was, of course, Yuan Shu.

In recent days, Yuan Shu has only been preoccupied with one thing: how to protect the elite troops he had sent to Danyang.

He first forced the major clans of Lujiang to raise grain, and then plundered the grain stored in the Lujiang government granary, raising a total of 50,000 shi (a unit of dry measure). The Lujiang Prefect Liu Xun personally led troops to escort them across the river at Maojin Ferry near Wankou.

Unexpectedly, just as the grain ships reached the middle of the river, they were ambushed by the Qiantang Navy. Not only did they lose 20,000 shi of grain, but the ships also capsized and the people drowned, with as many as two or three thousand corpses floating on the river.

After this battle, Yuan Shu completely abandoned the idea of ​​crossing the river to transport grain and set his sights on the various forces in Yang and Jiao provinces.

But the results were still not ideal.

Zhu Fu, the governor of Jiaozhou, was the first to refuse Yuan Shu's request for help: he would welcome him with ships, but he could not grant any other request.

Zhu Fu even secretly cursed Yuan Shu: 'In the past, he was arrogant and rude, treating me like I was nothing. Now that he's in dire straits, he suddenly remembers the favor I owe him? He thinks he can trick me into risking my life against Yan Yi with just a warship deal worth three thousand gold pieces? Is he out of his mind?'

Yuan Shu was indeed grasping at straws in his desperation. Although he and Zhu Jun had served in the same court, their relationship was far from good. Two years earlier, when Zhu Jun rallied the warlords of Guandong to attack Li Jue, Tao Qian used Zhu Jun's name to forge an alliance against Li Jue, but Yuan Shu did not participate.

In recent years, Yuan Shu's ambition to usurp the Han throne and establish himself as emperor has gradually become apparent, which has further aroused the dissatisfaction of the Zhu family.

Therefore, Zhu Fu not only refused to send his navy to the Yangtze River, but also secretly raised the price of the warships by 20%, saying, "Buy it or don't, I don't care about your little bit of money."

Like Zhu Fu, Wang Lang, instigated by the traitor Xu Jing, did not hesitate to refuse Yuan Shu's request for help.

I even refused my good buddy Xu Gong's request to send troops, so who do you think you are, Yuan Gonglu?
As Yuan Shu looked at the scrolls of letters, some politely declining and others bluntly rejecting the offer, he deeply understood what it meant to kick someone when they're down and the coldness of human relationships.

In desperation, he had no choice but to offer a condition that felt like a piece of his heart being torn apart: whoever helps him rescue the Yongping army, he is willing to give away eight cities of Danyang and 150,000 shi of grain.

Xu Gong and Zu Lang were tempted. On one hand, they exchanged letters, warning each other not to betray their own side and cooperate with the treacherous Yuan Shu. On the other hand, they secretly contacted Yuan Shu, expressing that although they could not send troops to help, they were willing to provide assistance in terms of food and supplies when Zhang Xun's army retreated to the vicinity of their territory.

Thus, Yuan Shu finally grasped at two lifelines. However, his act of sacrificing his own flesh seemed to come too late. Yongping was already heavily surrounded, and not even a fly could get in. How could he then pass on this crucial message to Zhang Xun?
Just as he was racking his brains trying to figure out how to send the message, Yan Yi's troops began to move around frequently and withdrew the garrison troops from various strongholds north of Yongping.

This is a classic example of surrounding three sides and leaving one side open, with two main objectives: first, to demoralize Yuan's army and then pursue and kill them after they leave the city; second, to lay an ambush north of Yongping, just waiting for Yuan's army to fall into the trap.

Having been on the battlefield for many years, Zhang Xun was naturally able to see the key to the matter and knew that what seemed to be a path to survival in the north of the city was actually a dead end.

However, Yuan's soldiers did not think so. They only knew that they could earn a way to survive without having to fill the dense, honeycomb-like fortifications with their own flesh and blood.

A fierce conflict erupted between the generals and the soldiers, or rather between Zhang Xun and his various units, over issues such as whether to stay or leave, and where to break out.

As the chaos in the city intensified, even Lei Bo and Chen Lan gradually succumbed to the pressure and stood on the opposite side of Zhang Xun.

“Boda, the morale of the army is so low that it is beyond repair. Last night, three battalions mutinied one after another. If we force the soldiers to break through to the east and west flanks, they will suffer setbacks along the way, and the morale of the army will collapse in an instant.”

Inside the council hall of Yongping Official Temple, Lei Bo looked exceptionally haggard. His face was withered, his eyes sunken, and his gaze dull and weary, as if he had endured countless sleepless nights.

The city's food supplies were running low, and the soldiers could only fill their stomachs with thin porridge each day. It could hardly be called porridge; it was just a murky yellow soup with dozens of grains of millet floating on top, reflecting the soldiers' sunken cheeks.

Early winter had arrived, and the north wind was biting, grinding at the bones like a dull knife, eroding the heart day by day. The entire army had endured hardship in Guangde City for more than half a month, but Yuan Shu's side remained silent. As time went by, everyone began to feel despair.

“Ziting, think about it carefully. Since the enemy troops in the north of the city have withdrawn, why has the Lord not sent a single word to Yongping? It is clear that the north of the city is still under enemy blockade. If our army takes this route, we may fall into the enemy's trap, and the danger will be unpredictable.”

Zhang Xun's eyes were burning with anxiety, and he patiently tried to persuade Lei Bo to stand on his side.

Lei Bo's answer greatly disappointed him: "On the east and west flanks, the enemy has occupied advantageous terrain and constructed a tight defensive line. If our army cannot break through in a short time, it will also be easy to be surrounded. Even if we break through, how many days can we hold out?"

"In my opinion, we should break out to the north. Not far north of the city is the Jiashan Mountains, where several bandit groups have gathered. If our army can enter the mountains, drive out these bandit groups, seize their food and fodder, and defend the mountains and fortresses, we will have a chance to survive. Moreover, Jiashan is relatively close to the Yangtze River. Once the Qiantang Navy withdraws, our army will be able to reach the Yangtze River quickly, cross the river, and return to Shouchun."

Zhang Xun slumped onto the couch, knowing it would be difficult to persuade Lei Bo to change his mind.

"You may step back now. Let me think this over carefully, and we'll discuss it again tomorrow." He rubbed his throbbing temples and suddenly began to cough violently.

Lei Bo pushed the water-filled glass on the table in front of him, stared at him intently for a moment, then turned and strode away.

At dawn the next day, Zhang Xun, still feverish from catching a chill the night before, remained delirious. Suddenly, he heard a commotion outside, and faintly heard someone shouting: "It's urgent! Report to the general immediately!"

Boom!

The chaotic footsteps grew closer, and someone knocked loudly on the door.

"General, Lei Bo and Chen Lan are gathering troops, but we don't know why!"

Zhang Xun abruptly threw off the covers, sat up in bed, put on his shoes, threw on his clothes, grabbed his sword, and pushed open the door to go out.

The sky was hazy, a pale blue tinged with gray, just as night was turning to dawn. A cold wind whistled and swept across our faces.

Zhang Xun couldn't help but shiver, his face flushed an unnatural red, and he asked in a hoarse voice, "What happened?"

Several loyal generals stood outside. One of them, who looked rather composed, said, "This morning, before dawn, some people in the eastern military camp started causing trouble. They gathered more than a thousand people and clamored to leave the city. Lei and Chen went to appease them, but for some reason, they started gathering troops, and it seems they also want to leave the city."

Zhang Xun was startled, feeling a chill run down his spine and straight to his head. He hurriedly went back to his house, put on his armor, and led more than a hundred cavalrymen to the military camp in the east of the city.

Halfway there, one could see the streets filled with people amidst the gray fog, the crowds seemingly endless, numbering no less than several thousand.

Lei, clad in thin armor and wielding a long spear, rode at the forefront.

Zhang Xun spurred his horse out and blocked the street corner. He straightened his body with difficulty, looked directly at Lei Bo, who had a panicked expression, and said in a deep voice, "Ziting, what do you want?"

Lei Bo raised his hand to make a stop gesture, gently spurred his horse, came to his side, and gestured for him to talk aside.

The two rode their horses to the left alleyway of the street. Lei Bo, his face full of helplessness, lowered his voice and said, "Boda, I have no choice. There is a lot of discontent in the camp. If we suppress it any longer, it may lead to a mutiny. We can no longer count on the Marquis. We should break out as soon as possible while we still have a few days' worth of rations. I won't argue with you. You can go east or west as you please. I will lead the troops north. What do you say?"

Zhang Xun lowered his head slightly, his face grim, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes from time to time. He had long seen through Lei Bo and Chen Lan; they were two unfamiliar, ungrateful wretches who only cared about their own interests. Yet, the Marquis had been deceived by their clever words and entrusted them with important responsibilities.

Beset by internal and external troubles and with morale shaky, these two men have likely developed ulterior motives.

He slowly raised his head, his expression having returned to normal, and asked, word by word, "Do you really intend to lead your troops north?"

Lei Bo and Chen Lan, who had ridden up on horseback, exchanged a glance and said decisively, "That's right!"

Initially, he still held onto hope for Yuan Shu, expecting this powerful nobleman to help him out of his predicament, but as time went on, that hope turned into disappointment.

What a load of rubbish! He's a descendant of high-ranking officials from four generations of noble families, with disciples and former subordinates all over the world. He's clearly a useless piece of trash, completely unreliable when it matters!
Now, having joined forces with Chen Lan, and taking advantage of the army's demoralized state, he has already gained control of most of the troops. Once they storm Jiashan, they will have a foothold. If Yuan Shu tries to win him over, he will return to Shouchun; if the blame for the defeat is placed on him, he will follow Sun Ce's example and lead this elite force to establish a new banner. The world is vast; where can't he go?
Zhang Xun's gaze pierced through the thin mist, lingering on Lei Bo for a moment before slowly shifting to Chen Lan. After a long silence, he said coldly, "Since you two have made up your minds, I will accompany you to lead the troops north." Chen Lan was slightly taken aback and blurted out, "Lord Zhang, there's no need to force yourself!"

Lei Bo's voice followed: "Why not split into two groups and break out separately? That way, even if one group encounters problems, the entire army won't be wiped out."

Zhang Xun became increasingly suspicious that the two of them had something to hide, and said in a deep voice, "My mind is made up, you two need not say more."

Lei Bo and Chen Lan exchanged a glance, their faces both somewhat gloomy. After a moment, they said helplessly, "There is no time to lose. Please gather your troops as soon as possible, and we will leave the city immediately!"

Each of the three men had their own agenda. They gathered their loyal followers, abandoned most of their supplies, and took only what they needed to eat. They assembled their troops and headed towards the north gate.

Crunch!

The city gates, which had been closed for many days, slowly opened amidst the expectant gazes of the soldiers.

The three men, along with their retinue, filed out of the deep doorway.

Outside the city, all was silent and deserted. The official road stretched straight ahead, eventually disappearing into the depths of the misty morning fog, as if it were a path leading to the underworld.

Fourteen thousand hungry soldiers surged onto the official road and headed north.

"The ranks must not be scattered, no whispering, and no leaving the ranks. Anyone who falls out of formation will be treated as a deserter!"

The officers and soldiers of each unit brandished their whips and shouted orders to maintain order.

Two quarters of an hour later, the vanguard of five thousand soldiers crossed the Lai River and arrived at a fork in the road.

The left path winds and twists, leading straight into a deep, old forest.

The right road extends along the banks of the Laishui River, and the road is muddy and slippery, with reeds growing everywhere.

The road ahead leads directly to a steep valley. After passing through the valley and traveling a few more miles, you will reach Jiashan.

Zhang Xun and Lei Bo disagreed again, with Zhang Xun advocating for moving to the left, while Lei Bo insisted on continuing forward.

"The road ahead is steep and the valleys are deep, covered with dense vegetation. This is where our ambush is located. If the enemy has already occupied it, we must not proceed!"

"The left flank is densely wooded; if the enemy sets it on fire, how can we possibly survive?"

"I am here to command the army with the imperial insignia. How dare you disobey my orders?"

"The way of a general is to first accept advice; those who refuse advice will be isolated, and those who are self-willed will fail! If you wish to go left, please go ahead; I will go north!"

Zhang Xun's temples throbbed with anger, and he was so angry he almost vomited blood. Every time the argument reached its climax, Lei Bo would threaten him with breaking up the group, making him hesitant to act and forcing him to compromise.

However, Lei Bo also knew that the valley was easy to be ambushed, so he did not dare to enter lightly. He only ordered the military commander Han Yi to lead three thousand troops into the valley to test the waters.

Han Yi led three thousand soldiers to the valley entrance, where they saw jagged rocks and sheer cliffs on both sides, barely wide enough for five horses to ride abreast. The mountain wind howled, stirring up clouds of dust, and eagles could be seen circling overhead, adding to the somber atmosphere.

The three thousand soldiers cautiously entered the valley. After walking for about a mile, they could only hear the howling of the mountain wind and saw no sign of an ambush. Their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, gradually calmed down, and their pace quickened.

Just as they were about to leave the valley, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted in mid-air, sending rubble crashing down the valley walls: "The road to the Yellow Springs has ended, and Ce has been waiting here for a long time!"

As soon as he finished speaking, logs and boulders poured down from both sides of the valley, instantly sealing off the entrance.

Clang!

The crisp sound of gongs rang out at the same time.

Soldiers emerged from both sides of the valley, archers drew their bows and prepared to fire, the oilcloth wrapped around the arrowheads already set ablaze.

Before Han Yi's horrified eyes, bundles of greased firewood rained down from the cliff, quickly filling the valley to the brim.

"Get out of the valley immediately!" Han Yi roared, turned his horse around, and whipped it into a gallop.

The soldiers were in complete chaos, pushing and trampling each other as they fled frantically toward the south entrance of the valley.

"Fire!" The military orders echoed from both sides of the valley.

Fire rained down, arrows pierced the firewood pile, flames shot up several feet in an instant, and screams of agony filled the valley.

Black smoke billowed upwards, turning half the sky a murky color.

In the blink of an eye, the entire valley was engulfed by raging flames, turning into a sea of ​​fire, with screams of agony rising and falling.

Sun Ce stood atop the cliff, his fingers gripping the hilt of his sword, gazing intently into the valley. After a long while, he sighed, turned, and left.

Outside the valley, Yuan's soldiers were in a state of panic, with some breaking away from their ranks and scattering in all directions.

"Are you satisfied now?!"

Zhang Xun glared angrily at Lei Bo, whose face was ashen, and led nearly ten thousand soldiers toward the forest on the left.

After walking about a mile, streaks of fire shot up from the forest and quickly engulfed the dense woods.

"Yan Yi, you're so cruel!"

Zhang Xun stared at the sea of ​​fire ahead with bloodshot eyes and gritted teeth, his face contorted with rage and his hands trembling with fear.

With the western and northern routes cut off and the eastern route blocked by a large river, the only option was to retreat to Yongping.

Zhang Xun looked up and let out a mournful laugh, like a trapped beast, leading his dwindling retinue of troops in a hasty retreat towards Yongping.

When they reached the edge of the river, he suddenly pulled on the reins, freezing in place as if struck by lightning.

A familiar banner flutters in the wind at the south end of the bridge.

Surrounding the banner was a tight military formation, like an impregnable fortress, with halberds like a forest and bows drawn taut, blocking the only retreat route for Yuan's army.
An hour later, under Zhang Xun's despairing gaze, this troop, into which Yuan Shu had poured countless efforts, met its end, with countless soldiers surrendering in the face of battle.

Yan Yi's list of prisoners of war has also been updated with three new names: Zhang Xun, Lei Bo, and Chen Lan!
(End of this chapter)