Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 201 A young commander of ten thousand, holding Changsha in the midst of endless battle.

During the Battle of Changsha, which had not yet occurred and would never occur.

Even in his sixties, the elderly Huang Zhong could fight Guan Yu, who was riding Red Hare and wielding Green Dragon Crescent Blade, for 150 rounds without a clear victor.

Moreover, Huang Zhong was only in his forties at the time, the prime of his martial prowess.

His strength was unmatched; though he fought four generals alone, his large sword was impenetrable, and he only managed to fall slightly behind.

Ten rounds, twenty rounds, thirty rounds!
Despite having given their all, they still couldn't defeat him. Sun Ce, Huang Gai, and the other three generals looked at Huang Zhong, who was struggling to hold on against their attacks, with a hint of horror in their eyes.

No wonder Yuan Gong said in his letters that Huang Zhong was the opponent he feared most in Jingzhou; it turns out he wasn't entirely deceiving the people of Jingzhou.

What this thing said was actually true. To be able to withstand the siege of the four of them until now, such bravery and strength can probably only be defeated by bringing back General Ji Ling.

Although Huang Zhong fought bravely and managed to temporarily hold off the four generals' attack, without his help to put out fires everywhere, how could this precarious city be defended?

Moreover, as Yuan Shu personally led the attack, he brought Zhang Xian and Huan Jie with him, ordering the two of them to climb onto the well railing, and all the soldiers cheered for them.

“I am Zhang Xian, the Prefect of Changsha, and Huan Jie, the head of the Huan family. You must not fight to the death.”

Lord Yuan has agreed that after this battle you can return to our command, with the same pay and benefits as Yuan's army, and your pay will be issued at the training ground after the battle.

Why should we risk our lives for Jingzhou? Why not share wealth and honor with us? If we don't surrender now, when will we?
Lord Yuan also promised that after this battle, regardless of whether they were on the enemy's or our side, they could take the heads of the Jingzhou soldiers to accumulate merits and be granted titles and land!

"My buddies, why don't you join us on our rebellion and together we'll seek wealth and power?"

There were about 10,000 soldiers in Linxiang City, who were originally Zhang Xian's old troops. They were attacked by Huang Zhong a few days ago and fled in haste, but were left in the city. Later, Huang Zhong recruited them with the righteousness of Liu Biao of Jingzhou.

If these people had followed Huang Zhong and won battles, they wouldn't have developed any disloyal intentions.

But the situation is dire, and looking up at Yuan's army, it seems there is no end in sight. It is clear that Linxiang cannot be defended in the end.

At that moment, they heard their old superior shouting for them to surrender from within the enemy ranks. After they surrendered, their old superior paved the way for them.

If you surrender now and return to their command, you can receive the same treatment as Yuan's army, and receive your pay directly after the war? You might even be able to exchange your head for a noble title after defecting.

At that time, some of Zhang Xian's former subordinates wavered and their swords weakened; some were thinking of saving their lives and had already decided to retreat; and some were even more determined to betray their allies for wealth and power.

Upon seeing this scene, Zhang Xian knew that his chance to make a contribution had come.

He immediately led a group of soldiers to shout from the balustrades outside the city walls, trying to sway the people's hearts.

The total number of troops defending Linxiang was only 18,000, of which nearly 10,000 were former troops from Changsha. Zhang Xian's words made them waver, and their thoughts were divided, with some even turning against him!

Given such internal strife, how could they possibly withstand the relentless offensive of Yuan's army?
The Yuan army soldiers who stormed the city walls, aided by their allies who had defected and cowardly surrendered troops, inflicted heavy losses on the Jingzhou soldiers, who were forced to retreat in disarray and could no longer resist.

Amidst the chaos of battle, Huang Zhong heard his soldiers behind him shouting urgently, "General Huang, Yuan's army has broken into the north city and we can't hold them off!"

Before long, another soldier shouted: "General Huang, the south city is in danger! Yuan's army's offensive is too fierce. Those iron men that are impervious to swords and spears will kill us if we touch them or even if we bump into them."

A moment later, another soldier came to persuade him: "General Huang, the western city has fallen. Military Advisor Kuai ordered you not to linger in battle. Linxiang can no longer be held. Let's retreat!"

withdraw?
Upon hearing this, Huang Zhong could only respond with a wry smile.

He wasn't interested in fighting at all. The four generals in front of him were all eager to take his head, and they were unwilling to let him retreat at his leisure.
He was no match for four hands, and he had barely managed to hold on until now, having exhausted all his strength. Retreating would be far from easy.

He had no choice but to give a fierce order: "You all retreat first, cover Mr. Kuai's escape from the city as soon as possible, I will hold them off!"

The soldiers of Jingzhou were moved and quickly relayed his orders to Kuai Yue, who sighed softly upon hearing them.

But he knew that things had come to this point and there was no way to turn back. He could only send a part of his troops to cover the rear with Huang Zhong, while he personally led three thousand elite troops out of the city and fled in haste.

Meanwhile, on the eastern city wall, Huang Zhong was fighting four opponents alone, and was already covered in wounds and blood.

He knew he couldn't hold on any longer, but the thought of those who looked up to him during the day, believed in him, and hoped that this man whom Yuan Gong feared most could protect the soldiers and civilians of Linxiang kept him safe.

He gritted his teeth and persevered, desperately squeezing out every last bit of strength to fight the enemy alongside the soldiers who remained behind him.

However, gradually, fewer and fewer people were around him, until he was surrounded by enemy troops.

With a command, "Ce'er! Hold your fire!" Sun Ce, though harboring murderous intent, dared not disobey Yuan Shu's order and could only lead Huang Gai and the others to retreat and prepare for battle.

As the four men who had been besieging him gradually retreated, a man in white robes emerged from the surrounding enemy ranks.

Without needing to guess, Huang Zhong already knew the identity of the person in front of him, and he glared at him coldly.

“Kill me if you want, why should Lord Yuan mock and humiliate me?”

Yuan Shu smiled and said to him:

"General Huang, you misunderstand. Your martial prowess is unparalleled in this world. You are indeed the person I fear most in Jingzhou. How could I have spoken lightly?"

"Enough! To be valued so highly by Lord Yuan, I, Huang, can say that my life has not been in vain."

"The victor is king, the loser is villain. Lord Yuan, make your move. I cannot surrender."

"is it?"

Yuan Shu scrutinized him with unfathomable eyes, a strange smile playing on his lips.

"What the people in the city will experience after the city falls is something that General Huang, who has been through many battles, doesn't need me to remind him of."

General Huang, you have been stationed in Changsha for a long time. At this moment, are you going to remain indifferent to the people of the city who believe in you and expect you to protect them?

"This"

Huang Zhong stared in astonishment at the person before him, his eyes filled with disbelief.

“That’s impossible! You are Lord Yuan of Huainan. Although I am in Jingnan, I have long heard of your love for the people and your reputation for benevolence throughout the Jianghuai region.”

You...you would never do such a thing, ruining my reputation. Stop making fun of me again."

"Two years ago, you heard that I was cruel and tyrannical, and that my wars were excessive, causing untold suffering to the people of Huainan."

However, Yuan Shu, as if he had heard a funny joke, coldly said to him:
You misjudged me then, and you misjudged me again today.

Tyranny is me, benevolence is me; who I, Yuan Shu, am depends solely on who I choose to be.

Now that things have come to this, General Huang, are you truly not going to surrender?

Upon hearing this, Huang Zhong was stunned into thought.

Yes, the Yuan Gong of the past, the Yuan Gong of the present, the Yuan Gong before our eyes—Huang Zhong had only heard rumors about what kind of person Yuan Gonglu really was.

This is our first meeting, so how can I assume he is a kind and virtuous person?

Recalling the pairs of eyes that looked up at him as he walked up the city wall, filled with longing and fervor, Huang Zhong was filled with conflicting emotions, opening his mouth to speak but then stopping himself.

Before he could even speak, the man's gloomy expression suddenly changed, as if the clouds had parted and the sun had shone through.

He laughed loudly, "However, General Huang is right about one thing: Shu is indeed a benevolent person."

"And today, there's no need for you to subdue me." He said, raising his hand to summon Zhuge Jin, and said, "Read it!"

Zhuge Jin understood and immediately read aloud a decree:
"I, in my humble state, have inherited the legacy of my ancestor and now rule over the entire world."

They could have shared peace with all the people, but after Dong Zhuo's death, Li Guo caused chaos, Li Guo was destroyed, and then there was the traitor Cao Cao, who harbored evil intentions.

He was nominally the Chancellor of Han, but in reality a traitor to Han. He controlled the court and the country, commanded the feudal lords, and allowed his troops to run rampant, harming the people and causing widespread suffering and the decline of the Han Dynasty.

Whenever I think of this, I am heartbroken and filled with worry day and night!
I recently heard that Huang Zhong of Changsha is highly skilled in martial arts and exceptionally loyal.

General Shu recommended him, saying: "His loyalty, courage, and strategy are no less than those of the ancients."

Ji Ling, a general under the Grand General, was ordered to defend the State of Chen from the brink of disaster and is ready to fight Cao Cao to the death at any moment.

I hereby obey the Grand General's decree and appoint Huang Zhong as General Who Pacifies the North. I hope that you will keep the people of the world in mind and take the restoration of the Han Dynasty as your own responsibility. Immediately go to the State of Chen and join General Ji Ling in resisting the traitor Cao and overcoming the difficulties together.

On the day we defeat Cao Cao, I will bestow upon you land and titles to reward your loyalty and bravery! Those who delay, hesitate, or linger without advancing will be punished according to the laws of the land, and will not be spared lightly!
To restore the Han Dynasty, I rely on you all. I hope you will all work together with one heart and one mind. I look forward to your arrival from Luoyang.

After the imperial edict was read aloud, Huang Zhong looked around blankly, at a loss for what to do.

Yuan Shu sized him up and chuckled softly, "His Majesty has issued an edict, General Who Pacifies the North, why don't you accept the decree and express your gratitude?"

"But this."

Huang Zhong wanted to say that this thing was obviously a forged imperial edict, and they weren't even going to put on an act, were they? His Majesty was far away in Luoyang, how could he listen to Yuan Shu's recommendation?

However, before he could hesitate, Yuan Shu coldly rebuked him:

"Huang Zhong, are you a Han official or a subject of Liu Biao? Are you a Han general or a private soldier of Liu Biao?"

"I am a subject of Han, I am a general of Han!"

"Then the imperial edict of the Emperor is here, and the Imperial Seal of the State is the witness."

Shu was personally appointed as a Grand General by His Majesty, with the power to command all the troops in the country.

The traitor Cao Cao is now holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords. His usurpation is blatantly obvious, and his disloyalty is known to everyone.

His Majesty has issued this edict, and Shu himself has issued the order to summon you to the State of Chen, so as to carry out the Northern Expedition and save the Emperor from his dire straits.

This is what is meant by surrendering to the Han but not to Yuan. And now you are still hesitating; are you perhaps going to disobey the imperial decree, putting your own selfish interests above the greater good of the nation?

Huang Zhong: "."

Lord Yuan, you are just like Cao Cao, laughing at him for being only a hundred paces away from him. You still have the nerve to say that he has disloyal intentions, which are obvious to all.

However, Huang Zhong was truly at a loss after hearing Yuan Shu's words. He had not intended to surrender, but now Yuan Shu was not asking him to surrender either.
Yuan Gong directly issued an imperial edict and a general's order, commanding him to go to the front lines of Chen State to punish the traitors.

He didn't give himself a chance to refuse to surrender; to refuse would be disloyal to the country and defy imperial orders.

Then he recalled Yuan Shu's earlier statement that he had misjudged him and his words of coercion among the people of the city.

Having been stationed in Changsha for a long time, Huang Zhong had developed a deep connection with the local people. He knew that if Yuan Shu continued to threaten and coerce him, he would have no choice but to surrender.

But he didn't; instead, he gave himself a way out.

He surrendered to the Han Dynasty but not to Yuan Shao. Huang Zhong did not surrender; he was simply transferred away by imperial edict and the Grand General's order.

He even thoughtfully transferred himself to the Chen Kingdom's front, so he wouldn't have to fight against his comrades in Jingzhou.

On the surface, it was a forged imperial edict, but the thoughtful care shown in it—that the emperor surrendered to the Han but not to Yuan—was unparalleled among those who had surrendered to Yuan before, such as Xiahou Dun and Yue Jin.

He not only preserved his reputation for loyalty and righteousness, but also his own life, and even more so, the friendship between his comrades and the people of the city. How could Huang Zhong not be moved by this?

"Zhong was right, Lord Yuan, you are a benevolent man."

As he spoke, he put down his long sword, bowed deeply, and said, "General Zhong, who pacifies the north, is willing to obey the Emperor's decree and punish the traitors!"

"Very well, General, please rise. In the future, to uphold the Han Dynasty and eliminate traitors, we will need to work together with one heart."

Before Yuan Shu could finish speaking, Huang Zhong remained kneeling and refused to rise.

"I hope Lord Yuan will not take offense. I have another request at the moment. If Lord Yuan agrees, I will immediately ride into battle to aid General Ji Ling."

"Oh?"

Yuan Shu's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but a faint smile remained on his face. "General, please tell me."

"Liu Jingzhou has shown me great kindness and recognition; I hope Lord Yuan will forgive him."

"Hahaha"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shu shook his head and laughed, "General, have you not heard of the past deeds of Liu Yao, the former governor of Yangzhou and now the Grand Tutor of the court?"

In the past, he held military power in Jiangdong, and his oppressive policies and cruel treatment of the people led to his execution by imperial decree.

Even when Liu Biao was defeated and captured, Yuan Shu did not take his life. Although Liu Biao is arrogant and still harbors rebellious intentions, he is still a member of the Han imperial family and has made contributions to the country.

If Xiangyang falls, Shu could send him to Luoyang and appoint him Grand Tutor to fight against Cao Cao, thus restoring the Han Dynasty and reviving the Han. That wouldn't be unreasonable.

Upon hearing this, Huang Zhong breathed a sigh of relief. "If that is the case, then I am willing to serve the State of Chen with all my might, leading from the front, and I will not hesitate to die ten thousand times over."

Yuan Shu persuaded Huang Zhong to surrender to the Han rather than Yuan Shu, while on the other side, Kuai Yue had only three thousand men left and was about to flee the city.

Unfortunately, they were surrounded and intercepted by nearly 10,000 Yuan troops who had broken out of the city. It seemed that they would be trapped in the city with almost no way out.

Unexpectedly, a group of men suddenly appeared from the side. The young general leading them was none other than Sun Quan, with blue eyes and a purple beard.

Although this army numbered only a little over a thousand, they had followed Sun Quan all the way and won one battle after another without ever being defeated, and their morale was at its peak!

Each of them thought they were invincible against a hundred or a thousand men, incredibly brave and unstoppable, and that even if there were ten thousand troops in front of them, they would still go forward.

Li Feng, the Yuan army general who led the pursuit, was astonished to see the blue-eyed, purple-bearded man and immediately recalled the private order given by Yuan Gong.

[Ten thousand heavenly soldiers, do not be overconfident; a thousand armies and ten thousand horses, avoid the purple-bearded one!]

Knowing that this was their own scheme, they did not hesitate and immediately began to act.

And so, a scene that shocked Kuai Yue unfolded before his eyes.

Sun Quan charged into the enemy ranks on horseback, followed by a thousand men. Facing an enemy force ten times his size, this young man commanded with ease, treating the thousands of troops as nothing.

In his youth, he commanded ten thousand troops, and the battle at Changsha never ceased.

He led a mere thousand men, broke through the enemy lines, and those who stood in his way were routed. No one dared to fight him under his sword, as if the fierce tiger of Jiangdong had been reincarnated.

When Kuai Yue was led out of the city by Sun Quan, he suddenly realized the truth in this situation, compared to Huang Zhong, who had 20,000 troops under his command but whose city was breached by Yuan's army in less than a day!
"I regret not being more suspicious and thinking things through; I've fallen right into Yuan Shao's trap!"

(End of this chapter)