Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 93 Sun Ce
Although Wu Jing was unwilling to admit it, Sun Ben had already felt that since the army's advance was curbed by Xu Gong in Wuxi, Wu Jing's sharpness had gradually faded. Although he still maintained an expansionist attitude towards the outside world, it was only for show.

If it were Wu Jing ten years ago, he would never pin his hopes on Liu Yao and take the safe path.

Time is the most terrifying thing in the world. No matter how strong a man is, he cannot withstand the erosion of time on his will.

Wu Jing can no longer carry the banner of the Sun family. It is time for the real master of the Sun family to take over this banner.

Sun Ben couldn't help but imagine a heroic figure in his mind. Only this person was the future hope of the Sun family. Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated and firmly stated his attitude to Wu Jing: "Uncle, the opportunity for battle is fleeting. Our army should advance towards Wucheng with all its strength!"

Sun Ben's statement put Wu Jing under great pressure. Unlike Xu Kun and Huang Gai, who were just generals of the Sun family, Sun Ben's status was much higher, and his voice in this army was no less than his.

Wu Jing suddenly realized that no matter how powerful he was recently, in everyone's mind, he was just a servant of the Sun family. Once Sun Ce started to manage affairs, the entire Sun family would begin to follow Sun Ce's orders.

Wu Jing quickly adjusted his position and said to Sun Ben and the other two, "Since this is the case, we will act according to Bofu and Junli's wishes."

Huang Gai and Xu Kun breathed a sigh of relief. The mission assigned to them by Sun Ce was half completed. Next, they just had to fully assist Wu Jing in attacking the city and capturing the stronghold.

Just when the four generals of Wu Jing reached a consensus, at Ruxukou, Lujiang County, adjacent to Danyang County, a huge fleet stretching for several miles was quietly anchored on the river. Food, fodder, tents, vinegar, salt, swords and crossbows and other supplies were continuously moved out of the port warehouses and then transported onto the ships by servants.

As the sun sets, the surface of the Ruxu River shimmers, and the golden afterglow shines on the warships, making the entire fleet look like a giant golden dragon entwined in the river.

Sun Ce stood on the deck of the main ship, wearing silver armor, holding a spear, and gazing at the Yangtze River with a sharp gaze.

The river breeze blew past, ruffling his cloak and making it rustle.

The ambitions and aspirations in Sun Ce's heart are like this endless river, surging and flowing endlessly.

Zhang Hong's words to him last year were still ringing in his ears: "You are following the example of the previous marquis and have a reputation for bravery and military prowess. If you surrender to Danyang and withdraw your troops to Wuhui, you can unite Jing and Yang and avenge your enemies. If you control the Yangtze River, exert your power and virtue, punish all evildoers, and support the Han Dynasty, your achievements will be comparable to those of Huan and Wen."
And now, he is about to take a crucial step, which is to withdraw his troops to Wuhui.

As long as Wu Jing and Zhu Zhi successfully meet in Wucheng and block the line from Qiantang to Guzhang, Wujun will be completely isolated from the outside world. By then, they will first defeat the Yan family and then attack Xu Gong from the west and north. The entire Wujun's hundreds of miles of fertile land will fall into the hands of the Sun family.

Yuan Shu also promised him that as long as he captured Lujiang, he would appoint him as the prefect of Lujiang.

By then, the three counties of Wu, Danyang and Lujiang will be connected into one, becoming a solid foundation for him to realize his ambitions.

Whenever he thought of this, Sun Ce trembled with excitement. He had longed for this day for too long.

To this end, he did not hesitate to give up the more reliable plan of slowly conquering Lujiang by land, but chose to take the water route, go straight to Wankou along the Yangtze River, and raid Wancheng. His purpose was to pacify Lujiang as soon as possible so that he could support the battlefields of Danyang and Wujun at any time.

As long as everything goes well and the fact that the Sun family controls Danyang and Wujun is achieved, Yuan Shu will be helpless against him. At that time, he will be like a fish entering the sea and a bird soaring into the sky, no longer bound by the cage.

Sun Ce thought of this and suddenly felt a surge of heroic spirit in his heart. He stood at the bow of the boat and shouted, "Bring me some wine. I want to drink by the river today!"

The accompanying guards saw that the depression between his brows had been swept away, replaced by an excited fighting spirit, and they were also excited. They shouted and brought out the table from the cabin and set out the wine and food. Sun Ce drank and chanted:
Young men's spirits soar, strong wine and the river breeze fuel their generosity. Iron cavalry and golden swords pacify the four seas, and lofty ambitions sway the Three Rivers. Danyang's beacon fires ignite a new dream, while the mountains and rivers of Wu and Yue await their old king. A song soars into the blue sky, and Jiangdong is transformed.

Just when Sun Ce was full of confidence, Yan Yi had already led the army to Yunchao Township in Rencheng and set up camp three miles away from the city for repairs.

As night falls, the last ray of light in the sky gradually disappears, replaced by stars and a hazy crescent moon.

Under the vast starry sky, hundreds of military tents were set up in a circular defensive formation, with the general's tent in the center and the tents of various units surrounding it. The tents were then closely connected by horse trails to ensure that the entire army could respond to attacks from all directions in the shortest time possible.

Outside the camp, a two-meter-wide trench was dug.

This is a typical trench-digging circle formation method, usually used in siege battles with a long time span.

Before arriving in Rencheng, Yan Yi learned from an insider that Zou Ta had asked Zhu Zhi for help. This made him realize that there might be some variables beyond his control in this battle, so he paid special attention to the construction of the camp.

If you look down from a high altitude, you can see that Yan Yijun's camp is built against the 300-meter-high Yunchao Mountain, and Zou Ta's Rencheng is located about a mile north of the 200-meter-high Daochang Mountain. The camp and the city are located opposite each other between the two mountains, with open plains on the east and west sides.

Although it was late at night, there were dense bonfires everywhere in the military camp and the city, which was enough to show that both sides were cautious and were on guard against the other side launching a night attack.

Since Yin Li came to serve as Yan Yi's personal guard, Yan Yi's safety protection has been greatly improved. Yin Li even tactfully suggested that Yan Yi should wear black clothes more often when traveling at night. Over time, he gradually developed this habit.

When patrolling the camp tonight, Yan Yi was wearing a lighter black armor with sleeves.

The soldiers along the way cast friendly glances at him.

His image of being strict, approachable and kind to soldiers has gradually penetrated into the hearts of the soldiers.

Especially those soldiers who participated in the Battle of Yuncheng and the newly recruited Danyang soldiers regarded him as an object of death.

As he became more and more familiar with military affairs, patrolling the camp was no longer a simple formality for Yan Yi. Instead, he was able to discover some problems on the spot and make timely corrections.

It is very important for a general to inspect the camp, just like a rider inspecting his horse.

It was already midnight when Yan Yi returned to the general's tent after finishing his patrol. As soon as he took off his armor, he saw Si Qing leading an ox cart to a stop on the horse road outside the tent, and helping an old man in his sixties down from the ox cart.

"Young Master, Mr. Sheng, one of the three elders of Yunchao Township, is here to visit." Si Qing entered the tent to report.

Yan Yi changed into a blue hakama and straightened his clothes: "Please ask him to come in."

(End of this chapter)