Traveling back in time to Liu Feng, starting with rescuing soldier Guan Yu.

Chapter 112 Battle of Laodao River

When Liu Feng led six hundred cavalrymen away from Quanling, the setting sun had already dyed the mountains on the west bank of the Xiang River a dark red.

He ordered Kou Xun to lead two hundred cavalrymen to stay in Lingling, reorganize the city's defenses, and await the arrival of the new official sent by Ma Liang from Linxiang. Liu Feng himself led the remaining six hundred cavalrymen north along the original route, rushing back to the Laodao River front line day and night.

The Jade Lion Horse, drenched in sweat, still strode with its head held high, its hooves swift and powerful, its snow-white mane resembling a wisp of cloud in the twilight.

Meanwhile, Hao Pu's head was carefully placed in a wooden box and sent to Changsha by a fast horse team, to be displayed in various counties along the way.

The wooden box was opened in public at each city it arrived in, so that local officials and people could see for themselves the fickle fate that had befallen them.

This was also Liu Feng's special instruction before he left: the execution of Hao Pu should not only be swift and shocking, but also carried out in a grand manner to intimidate people.

In Linxiang City, after receiving Hao Pu's head, Ma Liang hung the wooden box in the most conspicuous position in the market south of the city, and posted a notice next to it with only seven characters: "Those who betray the Han, take Hao Pu as a warning."

The market was packed with merchants and farmers from nearby villages. Some clapped and cheered, while others dispersed silently. But the news spread like wildfire throughout the four counties.

In Quanling City, Kou Xun had already ordered his men to inventory and register the grain and fodder stored in Hao Pu's treasury. Apart from leaving enough grain for the Quanling City garrison to last for three months, the rest was loaded onto carts and transported north with the army as military rations.

Hao Pu had served as the prefect of Lingling for many years, and the treasury had accumulated a considerable amount of money, silk, and copper. Kou Xun confiscated all of these and ordered his subordinates to register them before transporting them to Linxiang.

Although this sum of money and silk was not a huge amount, it could be used to reward the troops and provide relief to the wounded and the injured, which would alleviate the immediate crisis.

The journey back to Linxiang from Quanling was somewhat easier than the way there. Liu Fengduan immediately mounted his horse, munching on a dry biscuit, but his mind was already planning his next move.

Several days have passed since the cavalry left Linxiang, and no military reports have yet been sent back from the direction of Laodao River. However, judging from the marching speed of Kou Wei and Sha Moke, the main force of the Han-Man coalition should have already completed its deployment on the north bank of Laodao River.

Sun Quan's main force marched south from Baqiu City, advancing along the west bank of the Xiang River, and should have already invaded the northern border of Changsha Commandery by now.

The clash between the two sides along the Laodao River has only taken place in the last day or two.

Liu Feng looked up to the north. The night was deep, and the fields on both sides of the official road were tinged with a faint silvery-gray in the moonlight.

A few scattered lights could be faintly seen in the distance, which were villages along the way. However, since Liu Feng had issued the order to fortify the walls and clear the fields in advance, most farmers had moved to nearby county towns. Only a few elderly people who were unwilling to leave their homes were still guarding their ancestral houses, but they kept their doors tightly closed, praying that they would not encounter the flames of war.

Liu Feng withdrew his gaze, gently spurred his horse, and the Jade Lion Horse quickened its pace slightly.

Six hundred cavalrymen galloped along the official road for a day and a night, finally arriving at the north gate of Linxiang City the following afternoon.

Liu Feng did not order his troops to enter the city again. Instead, he ordered them to rest at the post station outside the city for half an hour, have a hearty meal and rest their horses, and then continue northward.

With Ma Jichang overseeing things in Linxiang City, there shouldn't be any worries about the production progress of the Divine Arm Crossbow and the Triple Bow Ballista.

Laodao River!

Liu Feng muttered to himself, repeating the place name.

Sun Quan led 80,000 infantry and cavalry.

Even with the natural defenses of the Laodao River and the fortifications of their camp, 15,000 men trying to hold off an army of 80,000 felt like they were dancing on a knife's edge.

After another day of travel, a scout suddenly reported that Kou Wei and Sha Moke had set up a large camp on the south bank of the Laodao River, and several lines of defense on the north bank had also been set up.

The barbarian soldiers of Shamokemo dug countless pits and laid poisoned crossbow traps in the reed marshes and hills on the north bank, just waiting for the Wu army to step on them.

When Liu Feng arrived at the camp on the south bank of the Laodao River, it was already 9 PM that night. The camp was brightly lit, with the sounds of watchtowers rising and falling, and patrolling soldiers moving back and forth, the clanging of armor plates particularly crisp in the night.

Liu Feng dismounted, handed the Jade Lion Horse to his personal guards to be fed, and strode towards the central command tent.

Inside the tent, Kou Wei and Shamoke were discussing something in hushed tones around a map. Shamoke, with one arm bare and the tattoo on his shoulder gleaming bluish-black in the lamplight, pointed to several marks on the map on the north bank of the Laodao River and spoke in a gruff voice.

Kou Wei, however, was much calmer, his fingers moving slowly across the map, occasionally nodding. Hearing footsteps outside the tent, the two looked up simultaneously and saw Liu Feng lift the curtain and enter; they both stood up.

"My lord!"

Shamoke grinned and strode up to Liu Feng, laughing, "You've come fast! Have you cut off Hao Pu's head yet?"

"It is currently hanging in the market in Linxiang."

Liu Feng nodded, walked to the map, and glanced at the dense markings on it.

"How's the battle going on the Laodao River side?"

Kou Wei clasped his hands and said, "Reporting to Your Excellency, as per your pre-departure arrangements, our army has established three lines of defense on the north bank of the Laodao River. The first line consists of dozens of pitfalls dug in the reed marshes and hills, filled with poisoned crossbow traps. The second line comprises archers from the Wancheng camp, occupying several high points on the north bank. The third line consists of the Fengzi Camp and veteran soldiers from Shangyong, arrayed at the ferry crossing on the south bank, ready to support the barbarian troops' retreat to the south bank at any time. The vanguard of Sun Quan's army has already reached the northern border of Changsha. Scouts report that they departed from Baqiu about five days ago, heading south along the west bank of the Xiang River. Based on their pace, they should arrive at the north bank of the Laodao River as early as tomorrow morning."

"You've come at the perfect time."

Liu Feng sat down in front of the map and began to inquire in detail about the troop deployment and general arrangements for each defensive line.

The lights in the tent stayed on until late at night, and occasionally Liu Feng's deep questions and Sha Moke's hearty laughter and scolding could be heard.

In the darkness on the north bank of the Laodao River, barbarian scouts lay in ambush deep in the reeds, their poisoned crossbows nocked and their traps laid out with straw mats, waiting for the Wu army's vanguard to set foot on this deadly land.

At dawn the next day, before the fog had dissipated on the north bank of the Laodao River, the vanguard of the Wu army had already appeared on the low hills on the north bank.

First, scattered scout cavalrymen peeked out from the morning mist, followed by well-organized infantry ranks, a dark mass sweeping across the mountain ridge like a slow but unstoppable mudslide.

Banners fluttered in the morning breeze as the army surrounded a large banner embroidered with a huge character "Sun" in a flamboyant style—Sun Quan's central army banner.

The ruler of Jiangdong has arrived in person!

Sun Quan set up his central command tent on a high ground less than five miles from the Laodao River.

His choice of this location for camping was quite deliberate; the slightly elevated position offered a panoramic view of the entire ferry crossing, with rolling hills behind it, facilitating the deployment of his army. Two streams flowed into the Laodao River on either side, forming natural flanking barriers.

Eighty thousand infantry and cavalry were lined up along the riverbank, with camps layered upon each other. The sound of horns rose and fell, creating a powerful and imposing force that could chill any defender to the bone.

Liu Feng stood on a slope on the south bank of the Laodao River, observing the movements on the opposite bank. Behind him was a camp that had been fortified overnight, complete with trenches, fences, and crossbow emplacements.

Kou Wei and Sha Moke stood on the left and right respectively, all three of them looking at the dark army formation on the opposite bank.

"Eighty thousand men."

Kou Wei's voice was not loud, but it carried a heavy weight: "My lord, observe the banners and flags of the military camp. The number of Wu troops is no less than, if not greater."

""

Shamoke slammed his large horn-bow on the ground and said gruffly, "So what if there are many? Only crossing the river counts!"

Liu Feng withdrew his gaze, a cold smile appearing on his lips, and said in a deep voice, "Beat the drums to gather the generals and prepare to meet the enemy."

Laodao River originates from the northern foot of Mufu Mountain and meanders from northeast to southwest into the Xiang River. The river is tens of meters wide and the water is chest-deep.

The riverbanks are covered with continuous reed marshes and low hills. The current is slightly slower at the river crossing, making it the only suitable location for a large army to cross within a radius of dozens of miles.

Liu Feng chose to set up camp and defenses here because he valued the terrain. If the Wu army wanted to move south to Linxiang, they had to cross the river at this ferry.

The elite barbarian soldiers had been lying in wait on the north bank all night.

They were all excellent veteran hunters in Wuxi Mountain, hiding in the reeds and bushes like fish in the sea.

The pits dug out on the mudflats had sharpened bamboo sticks stuck upside down at the bottom, and the surface of the pits was covered with thin bamboo branches and straw mats, sprinkled with topsoil, making them no different from flat ground.

The pits contained narrow paths, barely wide enough for one person to pass through, and only the barbarian soldiers knew where these escape routes were.

On the north bank, archers lay in ambush in the bushes on several high grounds, their crossbow bolts coated with arrow poison that gave them a dark purple hue.

Just after Chen Shi (7-9 AM), Wu Jun's first probing attack began.

A Wu soldier captain led five hundred infantrymen out from the north bank formation, slowly approaching the ferry crossing while holding up their shields.

They were sent by Sun Quan to scout ahead, to test the depth of the river and to see what was hidden in those seemingly empty reed marshes.

Five hundred infantrymen had just stepped onto the shallow waters of the crossing when they saw no movement on the opposite bank. The captain in charge breathed a slight sigh of relief and turned back to wave his flag towards the ranks.

Just then, a poisoned crossbow bolt flew silently from the depths of the reeds, striking the captain squarely in the throat.

The poison on the arrow was lethal upon contact with blood; the captain didn't even have time to utter a sound before collapsing headfirst into the shallow water.

Immediately afterwards, a deafening battle cry erupted from the reeds. Barbarian soldiers leaped from their hiding places, their steel blades flashing in the sunlight, cutting down one panicked Wu soldier after another into the water.

Hundreds of barbarian soldiers swarmed out of the reeds, their short swords flashing and their poisoned crossbows firing in rapid succession. In the blink of an eye, most of the five hundred Wu soldiers who were scouting ahead were killed.

A few who reacted quickly turned and fled back to the camp, only to be tripped by the pit and have their legs pierced by bamboo spikes at the bottom of the pit, their screams echoing one after another.

Shamoke stepped onto the corpses of Wu soldiers on the riverbank, brandished his sword at the Wu army formation on the opposite bank, and shouted fiercely, "Wu dogs, go back and tell Sun Quan that if you want to cross the river, you'll have to pay with your lives!"

He was covered in blood, yet he laughed with boundless pride.