I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 121 Kneel down!

When I saw that Liu Miao had already left by boat... no, that's not right.

When he saw the man and horse all shattered in front of the camp gate... that's not quite right either.

It was probably when Liu Miao actually dared to advance a hundred paces as Liu Yao had instructed that the battle was already lost.

Just as Cui Zhu's killing of two historians did not change the fact that "Cui Zhu murdered his lord," even if Liu Yao, Xu Gong, and others later killed Liu Miao, it would not change how the world records this event.

"Liu Yao and his followers rebelled against their superiors and plotted to attack Liu Miao, the governor of Yangzhou!"

Liu Miao had completely grasped the concept of righteousness.

The continuous rain, like waves pouring down from the sky, was trying to wipe away the mess in front of the camp gate.

Even though the ground had been washed away several times, the scene from before still lingered in everyone's minds like an echo.

Did you hit Liu Miao?

Xu Gong and Zhang Yun chased after them, asking Taishi Ci with their last glimmer of hope.

"No, Liu Miao was already on the boat. Even without this rain, we still wouldn't have been able to hit him."

The two immediately covered their heads, looking embarrassed.

They knew they were in big trouble this time!
"It's alright, there's still a chance. Didn't the governor already send naval forces to intercept Liu Miao? What if?"

Taishi Ci shook his head.

Hopeless.

Whether it was Liu Miao's initial courage to stand alone at the camp's front, or the unforgettable scene of his men and horses being annihilated, both illustrate one fact—

Liu Miao had made ample preparations for this battle well in advance!

If you can easily avoid dangers on land, how much more so in the water, where it's like playing on your home turf?

Taishi Ci was right.

Several small boats approached the warship where Liu Miao was located amidst the surging waves of Taihu Lake. Before anyone could get on, two people were already flying onto it.

"My lord, it is Fan Neng and Yu Mi!"

Jiang Qin wiped away the rainwater before grabbing the rope tied to the boat and climbing upwards.

Suddenly an arm stretched out in front of him. Jiang Qin squinted in the wind and rain and saw that it was Liu Miao. He immediately grinned and showed his white teeth, which were out of place with his skin color.

"Those two are somewhat skilled! But that's about it!"

Liu Miao looked down at the ground and saw that the two men had their eyes closed and looked extremely peaceful. He immediately laughed and said, "Good! I was worried that they would renege on their promise! Now that Gongyi has brought these two heads here, it completely confirms the matter!"

"Gongyi, come with me into the boat to take shelter from the rain!"

"No need! My lord, you can go in! I feel more at ease staying outside!"

Jiang Qin looked around and asked again at the top of his lungs, "My lord, shall we turn back?"

"Return!"

Liu Miao took off his iron helmet, touched the dent in his neck armor, and laughed heartily.

"Now, it's their turn to beg me!"

------

Upon returning to Jinling, a beautifully written and well-supported proclamation, "A Proclamation Against Liu Yao for Offering Tribute," was quickly posted throughout the streets and alleys of Danyang County.

At the same time, Liu Miao also sent envoys to Yuan Shu, Hua Xin, the governor of Yuzhang, and Wang Lang, the governor of Kuaiji.

These messengers had nothing else to do but cry whenever they saw someone!
"Our governor is so pitiful!"

“How miserable!”

"what!!"

"Please, General (Prefect), send troops to assist us and avenge Liu Yangzhou!"

Upon hearing this, Hua Xin was greatly shocked: "How could such a thing happen? Insubordination and attacking one's superior are things only the most vicious people would do! As the prefect of Yangzhou, I cannot tolerate such a thing!"

Hua Xin then recruited soldiers and sent more than 1,500 infantry and cavalry to Liu Miao as support.

Wang Lang was the same.

Even though Zhou Xin, who had come to Wang Lang for refuge, tried his best to advise him that Wang Lang should not help Liu Miao, Wang Lang, being a great Confucian scholar, was not about to easily change his mind.

"The crimes of Liu Yao, Xu Gong, and others are unforgivable. If I do not go to support Liu Miao now, will there be any morality or etiquette left in the world?"

Wang Lang immediately wrote a letter to Liu Miao, expressing his willingness to send troops to help Liu Miao conquer Wu Commandery!

Yuan Shu was furious when he heard about this!
Throughout Jiangdong, who doesn't know that Liu Miao is one of his men?
Yuan Shu didn't care whether Liu Miao was doing well or not, otherwise he wouldn't have remained indifferent when Liu Yao went to Jiangdong with the imperial edict.

But Yuan Shu could not tolerate Liu Miao being attacked by troops for no reason!

Was that Liu Miao they were fighting?
That was clearly a slap in the face to Yuan Shu!

"Audacity!"

Yuan Shu was about to send troops to help Liu Miao attack Wu Commandery, but a message from the north made him hesitate.

"General, Cao Cao has defeated Lü Bu and reclaimed Yan Province!"

"That useless Lü Bu! He can't even control the daughter of a eunuch!"

Torn between his options, Yuan Shu ultimately dared not send troops from Huainan at this time. Instead, he dispatched Han Yin again, instructing him to deliver some gifts to Liu Miao as a gesture of consolation.

With Yuan Shu, Hua Xin, and Wang Lang successively expressing their opinions, the entire Wu Commandery has become the target of everyone's criticism!

For a time, the people of Wu County were filled with fear, and many officials even resigned their posts and left behind documents stating that they were irreconcilable enemies with the Han traitors!

Even the military officers were displeased by the battle, and Zhu Huan from Wu Commandery led his troops to desert the army and return to his estate to recuperate. Xu Gong and Zhang Yun were immediately horrified!
This was because Zhu Huan, though young, came from the Zhu clan of Wu County.

Now that the Gu and Lu families are both on Liu Miao's side, and even the Zhu family has abandoned him, doesn't this show signs that Wu Commandery is about to perish?

Xu Gong lamented, "With the help of Zhang Miao and others, Lü Bu was able to drive Cao Cao away from Yanzhou. Why is it that with your help, I cannot drive Liu Miao out of Jiangdong?"

It would have been better if this matter hadn't been mentioned; the more it was brought up, the more dejected Zhang Yun became.

"News has come from the north that Cao Cao and Lü Bu fought day and night for a hundred days and Cao Cao has defeated Lü Bu. Lü Bu has no choice but to go to Xiaopei and seek refuge with Liu Bei."

Xu Gong opened his mouth wide in disbelief.

Didn't we agree that in these chaotic times, we should rely on powerful and influential families?
Even his seeking Zhang Yun's help was based on the confidence gained from the events in Yanzhou.

And now you're saying... even Lü Bu was defeated?
"What, what, what should we do?"

Zhang Yun comforted Xu Gong, saying, "There's still some time before the grain supplies are ready. Liu Miao shouldn't be able to attack so soon."

"The only plan now is to build fortifications and wait for any unforeseen events to occur..."

Actually, Zhang Yun himself wasn't very confident when he said those words.

Even if the world changes, what does it have to do with Liu Miao?
To the north, Yuan Shu was always there to help block them in Huainan.

To the west, Hua Xin, the prefect of Yuzhang, was also stationed upstream of Danyang to provide defense.

In the south, Wang Lang, the governor of Kuaiji, like Hua Xin, had to side with Liu Miao because of the issue of righteousness.

Even the Yue tribes, either restrained by Yan Baihu or intimidated by Zu Lang's death, dared not harass Liu Miao.

"hiss--"

Zhang Yun then realized that Liu Miao had unknowingly created an absolutely safe environment for himself!

Previously, the only variable might have been Hua Xin and Wang Lang, but after the last battle, even that only threat was eliminated!
It can be said……

Unless Liu Miao takes the initiative to break with Yuan Shu, he will always be in a safe and stable position, and can fully enjoy the feast of Wu Commandery!
"Was this something Liu Miao had planned all along? Or was it just a coincidence?"

Zhang Yun suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and even regretted agreeing to fight against Liu Miao with Xu Gong!
"There will be a way, there will be a way..."

While reassuring Xu Gong, Zhang Yun went to Yuhang to find Xu Zhao and asked him to act as his envoy to Jinling.

When Liu Miao heard that Xu Zhao had come to visit, he did not rush to receive him, but instead summoned Lu Su.

"Zijing, how long did you wait for Xu Zhao last time?"

"Three days."

"Then let Xu Zhao wait four days this time."

Lu Su was both pleased with Liu Miao's protectiveness and worried that this might completely alienate Xu Zhao and other Jiangdong scholars, ruining Liu Miao's grand plan.

"Zijing, oh Zijing."

Liu Miao felt it was necessary to make Lu Su see the true nature of those scholars.

"What do you think Xu Zhao, a renowned scholar, has suddenly come to Jinling for?"

"They must be seeking peace with their lord."

Why do they want to make peace?

"Because they fear that their lord will settle scores with them in the future."

"Yes!"

Liu Miao lay on the bed, casually grabbed a plum from the table, and tossed one to Lu Su as well.

"They don't know they're wrong; they're just in such a hurry because they're about to die."

"Xu Zhao, this time, I won't show up. You, Zijing, will handle everything."

Liu Miao took a bite of the plum. Although it was a bit sour, it was a rare treat.

"Tell Xu Zhao that when these plums are completely sweet, that will be the day our army marches into Wu County."

"The three chiefs and equal land distribution are fundamental and cannot be changed."

"In addition, when we discussed the strategy on the couch last time, Zijing mentioned the words 'military' and 'law'."

"If they can all agree, then everyone will naturally get along peacefully, after all, I'm not a bad person!"

Lu Su smiled knowingly and took a bite of the plum Liu Miao had given him; it was incredibly sweet!
Four days later…

Lu Su then met Xu Zhao, whom he had previously visited but had been turned away at the door.

"The registrar is indeed very busy with official duties."

When Xu Zhao saw Lu Su, he was clearly still resentful about waiting for ten days. His words, if not full of resentment, were certainly sarcastic.

"Oh? Indeed."

After listening to Liu Miao's words, Lu Su had already completely given up on these scholars.

Seeing that Xu Zhao was still putting on airs even now, he agreed and then really turned to leave!

"Registrar? Zijing! Zijing! Look at you, what are you doing?"

Xu Zhao was clearly surprised that Lu Su was actually leaving, and hurriedly stepped forward to stop him.

As a result, due to prolonged sitting, blood circulation was poor, and his legs and feet became numb. As soon as he stood up, he immediately fell to the ground and knelt down in front of Lu Su.

Seeing that Lu Su still wouldn't turn around, Xu Zhao finally shouted angrily, "Lu Zijing! Do you really want me to kneel down and beg you?"

Lu Su turned around: "Haven't you already knelt down?"

　I finished writing it last night, but I wasn't satisfied, so I rewrote it. There will be two updates this afternoon~~~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)