Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 252 Battle of Lingyang
Chunfeng Pavilion is located 35 li southeast of Lingyang.

Just as Zulang convened a military council to discuss Peng Cai's surrender, Zhu Zhizheng personally led a large army to pursue Peng Cai's troops.

Peng Cai, like a dog that has lost its home, led his remaining troops in a hasty retreat towards Lingyang.

Zhu Zhize said, "We should pursue the enemy with our remaining strength," showing a determination not to give up until the enemy was completely wiped out.

In the chase, the two armies rapidly approached Lingyang.

Zulang's scouts were on high alert, rushing back and forth around Zhu Zhi's unit to closely monitor its movements.

Almost every hour, scouts would rush to Jing County and Lingyang to report the latest movements of Zhu Zhi's troops to Zu Lang and Jiao Ji, the garrison commander of Lingyang.

Jiao Ji was greatly alarmed upon hearing the news, feeling a sense of impending doom. He immediately ordered a citywide curfew and sent an envoy to Zhu Zhi's camp, demanding that Zhu Zhi immediately withdraw his troops and not cross the Lingyang border.

At this time, Zhu Zhi had led his army to Cangwu Pavilion, which is located at the border of Lingyang and Yixian, and is only 23 li away from Lingyang City.

At 4:45 PM, in Zhu Zhizhong's military command tent.

After reading Jiao Ji's sternly worded document, Liu Ye smiled slightly: "This wildcat with its fur standing on end needs to be appeased first. Our army can temporarily station itself in Cangwu."

Zhu Zhi stroked his beard and laughed heartily. He then ordered the entire army to set up camp and wrote a letter, which he sent by fast horse to Jing County.

"The bandit leader Peng Cai has gathered a crowd to wreak havoc, plundering prefectures and counties. I have been ordered to pursue and suppress him. This bandit is as frightened as a dog with its tail between its legs and has fled into the territory of Lingyang. General, you are in charge of this region and have always been discerning. You should know that if this villain is not eliminated, he will eventually become a scourge to both places."

"I humbly request that the General prioritize the overall situation and deliver this traitor and his accomplices to our army. This would both eliminate a local menace and preserve the friendship between our two sides. If you grant my request, I will reward you handsomely to express my gratitude."

In the council hall of the official temple in Jing County, Zu Lang read Zhu Zhi's handwritten letter word by word, then glanced at the people below and asked, "What do you all think?"

Shooting Captain Dong Rui stepped forward and said, "General, our army is currently secretly planning to attack Yan Yi. If we antagonize Yan Yi over the Peng Cai incident, it may alert him. I believe we should hand Peng Cai over to Zhu Zhi or expel him from the country. This will further lower Yan Yi's guard."

Zu Hong was eager for his father to engage in battle with Yan Yi as soon as possible, so that Yan Yi would kill Zu Yu. He glanced at Dong Rui with hostility, then clasped his hands in a fist and said to Zu Lang, "Father, Peng Cai has come to us in distress. If we discard him like a worn-out shoe just because of a single document from Zhu Zhi, who in the world would dare to come and join us? I believe that Peng Cai should be properly settled!"

All eyes were focused on Peng Cai, and not a single person made the connection to Zhu Zhi's sneak attack on Lingyang.

Fabian said with great concern, “General, Zhu Zhi has stationed troops on the border, only about twenty miles from Lingyang. Although they have not crossed the border, they are a real threat. Regardless of whether Peng Cai is settled or not, our army should reinforce Lingyang to prevent Zhu Zhi from launching a surprise attack.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zu Lang's cousin Zu Ying laughed loudly: "The strategist is overthinking it. Yan Yi is attacked from both sides and is actively trying to persuade his brother to remain neutral. How could he dare to start a war with our army at this time? Unless he has lost his mind, he would not be so unwise."

“Indeed! Zhu Zhi has only a mere ten thousand troops, half of whom are weak soldiers from Yuzhang. Even if he has ulterior motives, he is not a threat. Our army can easily defeat him,” said Han Yi, the Tiger General.

Fabian was well aware of these circumstances, but for some reason, he felt uneasy: "But..."

Zulang waved his hand to interrupt him: "Strategist, why don't you read this letter first?"

He picked up a scroll of bamboo slips from the table and handed it to Fabian.

He had just received this letter; it was a personal letter from Yan Yi.

In the letter, Yan Yi expressed his appreciation for Zu Lang's neutral stance and promised to send money and provisions immediately as a sign of sincerity. However, Zu Lang's request was for a very large sum, which was difficult to grant in full. After careful consideration, Yan Yi could only raise 70,000 shi of grain and 2,000 jin to provide for the supplies.

Fabian took the bamboo slips, read them carefully, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face: "The General's strategy of feigning neutrality has worked, and I have nothing to worry about now."

The other generals read the letter one by one, and all of them were delighted.

Zu Ying looked at Zu Lang with admiration: "Brother, what a brilliant plan! Yan Yi, who has always been arrogant, has now been manipulated by you."

Zulang was both pleased and excited, and couldn't help but burst into laughter. He turned his gaze to Fabian, deliberately saving face for him: "The strategist's concerns are not without reason. Issue my military order to immediately dispatch three thousand elite troops from Ningguo to Lingyang."

"The commander is wise!" Everyone clasped their hands in salute.

Zu Lang spoke of "immediately," but in reality, he didn't take the matter of reinforcing Lingyang to heart. It wasn't until evening, after being reminded by his attendant, that he stamped the document he had already prepared with his official seal and sent it to Ningguo.

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhi and Ling Cao, fully armored, led 8,000 troops straight towards Lingyang with murderous intent, leaving Liu Ye with 1,000 troops to guard the camp.

Such a large-scale march was immediately noticed by Zulang's scouts.

"Report this to the commander-in-chief immediately!" The scout leader monitoring Zhu Zhi's troops looked at the fiery marching army before him, his face turned ashen, and he stammered incoherently.

More than ten scouts reined in their frightened warhorses, and before the horses' hooves even touched the ground, they lashed their rumps with whips and spurred them on toward Jing County and Lingyang.

Cangwu Pavilion is not far from Jing County, only sixty or seventy li away. The urgent report was sent to Zulang's residence early the next morning.

Zulang was awakened from his sleep, furious and about to explode. But upon hearing the report, he was instantly wide awake. He snatched the military report and examined it closely, his fingers trembling slightly as he muttered repeatedly, "Insane! Absolutely insane! How dare he!"

Despite the military report being so conspicuous and every word being irrefutable evidence, he still found it hard to believe that Yan Yi dared to launch the first attack against him.

"Damn it, why are you attacking me first instead of Xu Gong and Wang Lang? Even if you take Lingyang, what can you do? Have you lost your mind?" Zu Lang paced back and forth in the bedroom barefoot, cursing under his breath: "I clearly told you, I'm neutral, I'm neutral!"

According to his plan, the war could be divided into three phases. The first phase was when he, Xu Gong, and Wang Lang launched an offensive together. The second phase was when Xu Gong, Wang Lang, and Yan Yi were embroiled in a three-way battle, while he secretly preserved his strength. The third phase was when he would take advantage of the weakened state of Yan, Xu, and Wang to expand his territory on a large scale.

But now, all the plans have come to naught. I thought I could stay out of the core battle and build up my strength, but I never expected to become the first target of the enemy.

Zulang's expression was extremely grim. The opponent launching an offensive and being forced into a defensive posture were two completely different things. Even if he won this battle, he would undoubtedly suffer a severe blow.

"General, it's too late to send reinforcements from Ningguo. The most urgent task is to dispatch reinforcements from Jingxian as soon as possible to prevent the fall of Lingyang."

Fabian rushed over, his hair disheveled, without even a headscarf. "Don't panic! There are over ten thousand troops defending the three cities of Lingyang, and Jiao Ji is stationed there. Zhu Zhi will have a hard time taking them down in a short time." Zu Lang wasn't worried about Lingyang; he was worried about his plan to preserve his strength failing. "Send a messenger to Xu Gong and Wang Lang, and tell them to send troops immediately!"

Fabian stamped his foot and said, "General! Zhu Zhi led eight or nine thousand light troops in a rapid advance. Apart from siege ladders, he had no other siege equipment. Why does he still dare to attack our fortified city? This man must have something to rely on! Peng Cai! Beware of Peng Cai!"

He paused, then continued, "Zhu Zhi's troops and the Yuzhang Army alone are naturally unlikely to pose a fatal threat to our army! However, those who seize the initiative have the will to take advantage of the enemy, while those who arrive later will face certain death. This is what is meant by 'the one who seizes the initiative can take away the enemy's morale, while those who arrive later will inevitably be put on the defensive.' If Lingyang is lost, although it will not shake the foundation of our army, this threat from within will have endless consequences. Given Yan Yi's style of doing things, how could he not have a backup plan? At that time, our army will be too busy to take care of internal matters, so how can we plan for the future? The commander-in-chief must be aware of this."

Zu Lang's expression gradually turned serious: "Bring me my armor, I will personally go to save Lingyang!"

Since conspiring with Xu Gong and Wang Lang, he had been obsessed with the dream of expanding his territory, as if possessed, focusing only on offense and neglecting defense. At this time, under Fabian's earnest persuasion, he finally regained some clarity, but the clearer he became, the more resentful he became towards Yan Yi and Zhu Zhi.

Half an hour later, a force of 5,000 men left the south gate of Jing County and headed towards Lingyang overnight.

As dawn broke, less than twenty li from Lingyang, torches suddenly lit up ahead, and a defeated army was rushing along the official road.

A general rushed out from among the fleeing soldiers, staggered to Zulang's horse, knelt down with a thud, and burst into tears before he could even speak.

Zu Lang stared intently and recognized Zhou Shun, one of Jiao Ji's generals. His heart skipped a beat, and he asked urgently, "How is Lingyang? How are my brothers Jiao Ji?"

Zhou Shun choked up and said, "Reporting to the commander, Lingyang has fallen. When I left the city, I did not see General Jiao. I fear he has perished inside the city."

"Abandoning the city and its commander, fleeing without a fight, why don't you just die?" Zu Lang's face changed, and he roared in fury: "Guards! Drag him away and behead him!"

Two guards stepped forward and pinned Zhou Shun to the ground. One of them drew his sword with a clang.

Zhou Shun struggled and said, "General, you are wise! It is not that I am unwilling to defend to the death, but that Peng Cai harbored evil intentions and betrayed us on the battlefield, attacking our rear! At that time, all three gates were captured, and the situation was beyond saving, so I had no choice but to lead my troops to retreat."

"Peng Cai! You scoundrel! You scoundrel!" Upon hearing this, Zu Lang's face turned ashen, and he exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay. He yanked the reins and roared, "To Lingyang!"

"General, wait!" Fabian spurred his horse forward and said urgently, "The most urgent task is to ascertain the enemy's strength and weakness. If we can save Lingyang, we should do everything in our power. If it is hopeless, we should first secure Lincheng and Anwu!"

Zhou Shun grasped at a straw and hurriedly recounted every detail of the fall of Lingyang.

After he finished speaking, Zu Lang's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He knew that the fall of Lingyang was a fact that could not be reversed. He suppressed his anger and said, "Dong Rui, you lead two thousand troops to reinforce Anwu. I will go to Lincheng."

Dong Rui accepted the order and left.

Zulang led three thousand troops to reinforce Lincheng. Halfway there, he saw another group of defeated soldiers rushing towards him in a panic, their banners fluttering and their armor scattered.

"General, General Jiao... that traitor Jiao has betrayed us, leading the enemy into the city. Lincheng is lost!"

Upon hearing this, Zu Lang was struck dumb, his face filled with disbelief: "Is this really true?"

"Absolutely true!"

Zulang clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking, and he was on the verge of exploding in rage.

Peng Cai's defection at the last minute enraged him, but it didn't deeply wound him. However, Jiao Ji, his brother who had shared life and death with him for over ten years, also betrayed him, which was like a sharp knife stuck in his heart.

Fabian's words came true; the situation was worse than he had imagined.

Zu Lang fully regained his senses: "Zu Ying and Han Yi, each of you lead a unit to gather the defeated soldiers along the way and come to Anwu to join me!"

"General, there is no need to worry too much. The loss of Lingyang and Lincheng may seem like a disaster, but it actually hides an opportunity. The enemy's forces were already few, and now they have divided their troops to defend them, which is a major taboo in military strategy. General, you can quickly mobilize your troops to surround the two cities with lightning speed, cut off their supply lines, and cut off their reinforcements. Once they are isolated, you can take Lincheng first, then Lingyang, and defeat them one by one."

On the way to Anwu, Fabian rode alongside Zulang. Seeing Zulang's furrowed brow, Fabian comforted him and suddenly had a flash of inspiration, offering a plan.

After suffering repeated setbacks, Zu Lang finally put aside his arrogance and began to humbly accept advice: "The strategist is absolutely right. I should quickly mobilize the army and take back the two cities."

No sooner had he arrived in Anwu than his scouts began to arrive with reports.

"Reporting to the commander! Zhu Zhi has relocated all the people of Lincheng and ordered the city to be burned down. He has now led his troops to retreat to Lingyang."

"Reporting to the Commander! Zhou Xu is personally leading five thousand Yuzhang troops and is rushing to Lingyang day and night. He will arrive in two days at the latest."

Upon hearing this, Zulang felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, and his body swayed as he nearly fell over.

Judging from the strength of the troops and the terrain, he was clearly the one with the advantage, but at this moment, he felt as if the enemy was overwhelming him, making it hard for him to breathe.

If Zhu Zhi is so difficult to deal with, what would happen if it were Yan Yi?
Zu Lang's mind flashed back to the images of Xu Gong and Wang Lang, their heads bobbing and spouting classical phrases. A thought he'd never considered before suddenly surfaced: 'Could these two pedantic scholars possibly stand a chance against Yan Yi?'

Suddenly, he felt a sense of dread, as if he had made the wrong bet.

The ensuing battles brutally confirmed his anxieties. After occupying Lingyang, Zhu Zhi amassed 15,000 troops within days, posing a significant threat to Jing County. Under Zhu Zhi's command, the once-weak Yuzhang Army seemed to have undergone a complete transformation, its combat strength steadily increasing and its morale soaring. This forced him to draw upon all of Ningguo's elite troops to suppress Zhu Zhi's forces at the Lingyang line.

But that was his only advantage. Faced with the heavily fortified city of Lingyang, even with his best efforts, he couldn't conquer it. And once he led his troops to retreat, Zhu Zhi would immediately launch attacks in all directions, causing him endless trouble.

What alarmed Zu Lang even more was that, as the war progressed, Yuzhang County, which had little presence in Jiangdong, seemed to be gradually awakening. More and more reinforcements were arriving in Lingyang from various parts of Yuzhang, and Zhu Zhi's military tactics were becoming increasingly fierce, showing signs of a shift from defense to offense.

Although Yuzhang is sparsely populated, its territory is the largest in Jiangdong. His territory is less than one-seventh the size of Yuzhang Commandery.

Zulang was completely dumbfounded. At this moment, he no longer cared about expanding his territory. He was already grateful to be able to keep his existing territory intact.

Just as Zhu Zhi launched his surprise attack on Lingyang, a massive navy of over a thousand warships sailed away from Qiantang Bay and, with lightning speed, suddenly entered the waters of Kuaiji, igniting a fierce battle along the hundreds of miles of Kuaiji coastline.

(End of this chapter)