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

Chapter 216 Returning to Reinforcements? A Turnaround, Heading Straight for Xiangyang!

"Zhang Xun, you little brat, let's see where you can go now! Let me, Xiahou Yuan, fight you again!"

"Zhang Xun? I've heard you're known as the number one general under Ji Ling. Come, let me, Dian, meet you!"

"Zhang Xun, don't run! Today you will die without a burial place! I, Cao Hong, am coming!"

"I am Cao Ang, son of Cao Cao, the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty!"

Zhang Xun, come quickly and fight me!

"I am the nephew of Cao Cao, the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty!"

"Cao Anmin is here! You, Zhang Xun, come quickly and let my cousin Cao Ang fight you!!!"

The shouts were deafening, and Zhang Xun dared not fight.
He knows his own abilities; he might be able to bully Cao Anmin, the one who keeps saying he wants his cousin to fight him.

Good heavens! Cao Cao himself has come! Along with him came his most elite main force, a veritable cloud of fierce generals and rain of warriors.

With Cao Cao's army in front and Wen Ping behind, Zhang Xun felt that the sky was high and the earth was vast, and there was no way out.
The only option now is to flee!

He had just dodged Xiahou Yuan, escaped Dian Wei, and avoided Cao Ang when Cao Anmin came right in front of him!
Zhang Xun's eyes lit up; he was ready to fight this one!
"You thieving general, do you recognize me, Zhang Xun of Huainan?"

Cao Anmin never expected that the enemy general in front of him, who would run away from everyone and flee in all directions, would actually stop running when he saw him charging towards him.

Seeing Zhang Xun, who was fighting with all his might and ready to die, already in front of him, and looking at the three-pointed double-edged sword in his hand, which was specially made after he became famous, just like Ji Ling's!

The one who defeated Guan Yu in three rounds and Lü Bu in one move was Ji Ling.

But the second-best general in Huainan before them was rumored to be no less capable than Ji Ling.

Even if the rumors are exaggerated, Xiahou Yuan could hold off the enemy, Dian Wei could hold off the enemy, but Cao Anmin had no real skills. He only got his current position by pleasing his uncle.

Could someone like him really stop the fiercely fighting general Zhang Xun?

“Anmin! Hold him off for a moment, and your cousin will come to your aid immediately. Today, we will make this general under Yuan die and cut off his arm.”

Cao Anmin heard his cousin Cao Ang calling anxiously, but he remained standing still.

Just as Zhang Xun had a clear understanding of his own abilities, Cao Anmin was equally clear about his own capabilities.

Following the army and earning some battle merits is fine, but to step forward and block a general like Zhang Xun, who is comparable to Ji Ling, is he out of his mind?
Seeing Zhang Xun's furious, bloodshot eyes and ferocious expression, Cao Anmin was almost terrified.

He wanted to run, but remembering his uncle's ruthless military law, he forced himself to stop himself from retreating.

"Anmin! What are you hesitating for? Stop him! I, Dian, will be there soon!"

"Anmin! We must not let the traitor Zhang Xun escape. Don't be afraid, Uncle Xiahou is right behind you."

"Anmin, hold on for a moment, Uncle Hong will protect you."

The urgent cries echoing in his ears made Cao Anmin's ears feel muffled and his head feel throbbing.

Protect me? You're not even by my side, what can you use to protect me? Zhang Xun might block me, but I'll die. Who will repay my life, Cao Anmin's?

Seeing his hesitation and reluctance, even the soldiers of the distant Jingzhou army, acting on Wen Ping's orders, shouted in unison:
"The friendly forces of Cao Cao's camp must be stopped!"
We have already scattered Zhang Xun's rear guard and will rush to his aid immediately. Do not let the traitor Zhang Xun escape!

Cao Anmin: "."

Behind him, a death order rang out, sending chills down his spine.

"Those who retreat will die; do not disappoint me!"

It was none other than his uncle, Cao Cao, who had always been the one who loved him the most!
"Zhang the traitor, prepare to die!!!"

Under pressure from all sides, Cao Anmin seemed to have abandoned all his concerns. He was filled with hatred. "That scoundrel Zhang Xun, there are so many enemy generals blocking your way everywhere, why did you have to choose to break through here?"

No sooner said than done, Cao Anmin rode up on horseback, his vengeful spirit driving him to strike Zhang Xun with a single blow.

Zhang Xun shouted, "Good! You've come at the right time!" and met the attack with his own blade!

However, no one expected that, after just one clash of their weapons, Cao Anmin suddenly kicked his legs as if struck by an unparalleled force, and with the momentum of his warhorse, he was "sent flying" away, rolling more than ten feet on the ground!

How could it not be far? If I fall too close, I'm afraid Zhang Xun will finish me off.

Even as he was being "knocked away" along the way, Cao Anmin cruelly bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood, a performance that was truly vivid and convincing.

Such a scene, with its earth-shattering power, left everyone from Cao Cao's army to the Jingzhou army, and even Yuan Shao's army, utterly terrified and in an uproar.

"General Zhang, you truly deserve to be called the only fierce general in Huainan who can rival General Ji Ling!"

Yuan Jun was amazed by Zhang Xun's talent, which greatly boosted the morale of his troops.

"Is this the strength of Yuan's second-best general? He is no less than Ji Ling. Zhang Xun of Huainan truly lives up to his reputation."

Cao Cao's army was intimidated by Zhang Xun, and apart from generals like Xiahou Yuan and Dian Wei, few dared to fight.

At this moment, not only were others stunned, but even Zhang Xun himself was dumbfounded. "What the hell? I'm actually this strong?"

one move!
With just one move, I sent him flying and rolling dozens of feet away.
Could it be that I am truly, like Ji Ling, a peerless general of exceptional talent?
Nonsense! I'm getting old, and these past two years I've even had trouble lifting a stone block.

Zhang Xun glanced deeply at Cao Anmin, who had already rolled more than ten feet away and was now under the protection of Cao's army. He didn't pursue him further, but instead took the opportunity to shout:

Break through!!!
Soldiers of the three armies, if we do not fight to the death now, when will we? Follow me in breaking through the encirclement!!!

Cao Jun's originally tight encirclement and pursuit was broken through by Zhang Xun with his "divine strength".

Zhang Xun dared not look back and fled for his life.

Cao Jun joined forces with the Jingzhou army to ambush and kill the fleeing soldiers from the rear. The two sides pursued and fled until they reached Shuxian County, the seat of Lujiang County. Zhu Huan, the county commander who had received advance notice, opened the city gates and let Zhang Xun's remaining troops into the city.

Subsequently, Zhu Huan rallied his troops to defend against the enemy outside Lujiang, while simultaneously rushing to Shouchun to seek reinforcements from Yuan Shu.

By the time Yuan Shu received the relevant military report, Zhang Xun's escape from Jiangxia had already come to an end.

Zhang Xun's 20,000 troops were nearly wiped out when they were attacked from both sides by Wen Ping and Cao Cao's combined 50,000-strong army.

Zhang Xun led his troops in a breakout attempt, but suffered heavy losses and barely escaped with his life. He has now joined forces with Gu Yong, the prefect of Lujiang, and Zhu Huan, the county commandant, to defend Lujiang together.

Since Zhang Xun had already drawn troops from Lujiang when he went on the expedition, even with Zhu Huan's emergency mobilization, he could only muster 3,000 men. Together with Zhang Xun's remaining 2,000 remnants, they would only amount to 5,000 men.

Lujiang, the last barrier outside Huainan, seems to be in imminent danger.

One of the military reports in Yuan Shu's possession was Zhang Xun's earnest letter of apology.

At the same time, what was delivered to him was the joint attack on Chen by Lü Bu and Liu Bei, and the separate attacks on Liang and Yingchuan by Yu Jin and Li Dian.

In an instant, war broke out everywhere, with warlords besieging each other. From the heart of Huainan to the borders of their respective territories, battles raged everywhere, and the promising situation seemed to crumble overnight.

Inside Yuan Shu's central command tent, the atmosphere was so oppressive it sent chills down one's spine.

Since advancing into Jingnan, the army has won one victory after another wherever it goes. From Huang Zhong to Xing Daorong, no one dares to disobey the lord's command. However, no one expected that such a favorable situation would actually hide a crisis. The feudal lords besieged the country, and who could stop them?

Seeing that no one spoke, Zhuge Jin, the strategist, glanced with surprise at Zhou Yu, who was to the left and seemed to be Yuan Shu's trusted advisor.

Seeing that he seemed unmoved, with his eyes downcast and his mind seemingly focused on his inner thoughts, Zhuge Jin stepped forward and offered his advice:

"My lord! In my opinion, this defeat cannot be entirely blamed on General Zhang."

The sudden arrival of Cao Cao's army in Jiangxia was something no one could have predicted.

At present, Liu Biao, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Lü Bu have clearly formed an alliance and are attacking from four directions, aiming to destroy our lord in one fell swoop.

The best course of action now is to return to Shouchun as soon as possible. Once our army withdraws, Liu Biao, having suffered heavy losses, will certainly not dare to pursue us.

With Liu Biao no longer holding us back, our main force only needs to split into two routes to rush to the rescue and block the attacks of Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Lü Bu.

As for Yingchuan and Liang, Jin was certain that Cao Cao's forces were stretched thin after his repeated defeats at the hands of his lord. This move was likely a feint, and the presence of Generals Xiahou Dun and Yue Jin in defense would suffice.

This expedition has captured both Changsha and Lingling prefectures. If we can hold off the counterattack from the other warlords, it will be a great victory.

As for the remaining counties of Jingzhou and Xiangyang, today we capture five cities, tomorrow we conquer ten. Time and fate are entirely in our lord's hands. Let's see what Liu Jing Sheng will use to stop us next time.”

After he finished speaking, you could hear a pin drop.

The veteran officials of Yuan's camp present all looked at him with the same care and concern one would show to a newcomer.

Zhuge Jin soon realized why everyone around him, including Zhou Yu, who seemed to be the strategist, had remained silent throughout.

So much time has passed, especially now that Jiang Qin has personally met Guo Jia in Youzhou, everyone's attitude towards Yuan Shu has changed, and they have to recognize a fact.

It seems that our lord never had a so-called chief strategist, or rather, our lord himself was the greatest strategist in Yuan's camp!

Good heavens! While other lords are recruiting talented individuals and seeking top strategists to assist them, what about our lord? He doesn't need any at all!
He himself was one of the wisest men in the world, a master strategist who could manipulate people's hearts.

With such a strategist as their lord, along with his ever-present commander Zhou Yu, the general Sun Ce, and the tank Xu Chu, they formed a formidable force.

The assistants were rotated among figures like Jiang Gan and Xing Daorong, and the well-equipped and wealthy Huainan region was used for logistical support.

With such a top-notch team at its core, they achieved their invincible record.

Therefore, offering advice and strategies? That's unnecessary. Our Yuan camp already has a mature lord who will devise strategies for himself.

So when did it start?
Everyone couldn't help but recall the day their lord received the Imperial Seal of the State. It seemed it truly was destiny!

As expected, after Zhuge Jin finished explaining his strategy, the aloof Yuan Shu merely glanced at him and chuckled softly.

"Why blame Zhang Xun? Minister Zhang has rendered great service!"

Zhuge Jin: "???"

They were surrounded and ambushed by the enemy, and nearly all 20,000 soldiers were wiped out, putting Lujiang in grave danger and Shouchun in imminent peril.

In this situation, my lord, you call it making a contribution?
Seeing his confusion, Yuan Shu pointed to the map of Jingzhou hanging behind him and said:

"Borrowing a route through Nanyang, we will seize Lujiang and advance on Huainan?"
Cao Mengde really courted his own death.

Should we return to reinforce Shouchun? Or should we continue our attack on Guiyang, the last of the three commanderies in southern Jingzhou? Neither!

When the generals were initially selected and the troops were divided for battle, Zhang Xun's forces were the weakest.

However, because Lujiang is adjacent to only Jiangxia and Runan, Zhang Xun encountered no other formidable opponents besides Wen Ping.

Meanwhile, the main force of the Jingzhou army would inevitably be tied down in southern Jingzhou. Without the advantage in troop strength, Wen Ping would have little chance against Zhang Xun's tortoise-like tactics, thus achieving strategic containment.

Even Yuan Shu did not expect that Cao Cao would come through Nanyang and directly attack the heart of Huainan.
Nanyang?

Thinking of this, Yuan Shu smiled.

"All troops, listen to my command! Abandon Guiyang! The main force will advance and march straight for Xiangyang!"

I will capture Liu Biao alive and cut off Cao Cao's retreat!

The reason for prioritizing the attack on the three counties of Jingnan was that Zhang Xian had a high reputation and was more popular in these three places.

Moreover, because of Zhang Xian's rebellion, a large number of Jingzhou's elite troops have gathered in the three counties of Jingnan. If they are not conquered, their rear will be threatened.

But the situation has changed. Since the Lingling army, which is the strongest among the three counties of Jingnan, has been destroyed by Xing Daorong, and Cao Cao is coming in a hurry, then it is just right to take Xiangyang and wipe out Liu Biao, Cao Cao and the like in one fell swoop!
"As for Lujiang?"

At this point, Yuan Shu's gaze suddenly turned cold. "Issue my decree, appointing Zhang Xun as the commander-in-chief and Zhu Huan as the deputy commander."

Zhu Huan is hereby ordered to act expediently and make all military decisions, large and small. All officials in Lujiang are to obey his orders without fail!

Upon hearing this order, everyone exchanged glances and couldn't help but look at the newly arrived Xing Daorong and Zhou Tai beside him.

This familiar feeling is definitely it; it's something our Yuan camp is familiar with: the deputy general is higher in rank than the commander.

Before anyone could think further, Yuan Shu's voice at the head of the table grew colder and colder, sending chills down their spines.

"Tell Zhang Xun to use his tortoise-like tactics to hold the line!"
If Lujiang cannot be defended, then Huainan will be defended; if Huainan cannot be defended, then Shouchun will be defended; if Shouchun cannot be defended, then he will die in Shouchun!
Tell Huainan that they have no reinforcements; their only option is to capture Xiangyang and launch a pincer attack, trapping the enemy like turtles in a jar, and annihilating Cao Cao and Liu Biao's victorious army in one battle!

As soon as he finished speaking, the generals bowed and said, "Yes, sir."

Only Zhuge Jin, being a newcomer, after carefully considering the plan, boldly raised his objection.

"My lord's plan is excellent, but there are still some shortcomings."

Simply capturing Xiangyang would probably not be enough to achieve this "trapping the turtle in a jar" strategy.

Even if Shouchun can hold them off, if Cao Cao learns that Xiangyang has fallen, he will surely be fearful. If he were to return via Nanyang, wouldn't all our efforts be in vain?

“It’s too late.

Unlike Liu Biao, who had a great general under his command, Sun Quan was nothing but a skeleton in a tomb.

On the other hand, Nanyang has Zhang Xiu as its military leader and Jia Xu as its strategist. If a swift victory is not possible, Shouchun will not be able to hold out for long, and the losses will outweigh the gains.

As Yuan Shu spoke, a meaningful glint appeared in his eyes, and he smiled faintly, saying:
"Moreover, military strategy says: surround three sides and leave one side open. It's good to leave Cao Cao a way to retreat, and it will save him from fighting like a cornered beast and fighting to the death with me."

As for Nanyang, it would be better if he didn't go; if he did enter Nanyang, I fear the entire army would be wiped out, and his generals would suffer heavy casualties—that scenario is imminent.

Zhuge Jin was surprised and puzzled upon hearing this, but he saw that the people from Yuan's camp around him all nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Zhuge Jin: "."

Yuan Ying's old minister: Our lord's strategist can anticipate the enemy's moves in everything, don't you know that?
Zhuge Jin: "???"

(End of this chapter)