He originally intended to surrender to Wei, so why did he end up restoring Han?

Chapter 116 (Not good, recommended to skip) Sun Bofu crosses the river in white, Taishi Ci burns the road to block the enemy.

Ji Ling considered it for a moment and felt that he still had plenty of time to sort things out: "One night is enough time for me to arrange everything."

Chang Xi's voice trembled slightly: "Do your family members know?"

"The management office has already contacted them, so they must already know about this news."

L

When were you notified?

Ji Ling smiled shyly. The thought of being free soon while these two would have to stay in jail made him a little embarrassed. He said, "The warden told me that just now when he called me over."

Seeing that Ji Ling was about to lose his head, yet he could still smile at them, Wang Si and Chang Xi couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. They honestly admitted that if they knew they were about to die, they absolutely could not have remained so calm.

No wonder he could become a general under the eccentric Yuan Shu. Putting aside his military skills for now, his mental fortitude alone is definitely up to par.

Aren't you nervous or scared at all?

"It's inevitable to be nervous. The road ahead is long, and it's normal to have doubts. But I still have the confidence to face it calmly."

A flicker of emotion crossed Wang Si's eyes, while Chang Xi had already turned away to wipe his tears.

"Don't be like that, we'll see each other again in the future."

"----ah?"

Chang Xi and Wang Si suddenly felt their legs go weak. Ji Ling meant that after he was executed, it would soon be their turn.

There was no time to mourn Ji Ling's death; the next to lose their heads were: Chang Xi and Wang Si!

"If possible, I hope we can meet once every ten days."

What does this mean? Will they not let us go even after we die?

Ji Ling hadn't expected the two of them to be so sensitive: "You both look so upset. Don't you like me being released from prison that much?"

"Released from prison?"

"Yeah, what else did you think it was?"

"I thought you—I—ah, I'm in a mess right now, don't talk to me." Chang Xi wiped his face, closed the door and left. Wang Si snorted heavily, opened Ji Ling's locker and quickly swept away all the paper and pens, then stormed back.

That night, Ji Ling thought that after gaining his freedom, he would be able to fall asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but even as the inky black of the sky gradually turned into a magnificent purple, he still couldn't fall asleep.

The next morning, Ji Ling, who hadn't slept all night, jumped out of bed at the sound of roosters crowing. After quickly washing up, she started preparing breakfast.

The warden quickly signed and stamped the release papers, making a copy and submitting another. After finishing his official business, he inquired about the work he had mentioned yesterday: "Ji Ling, what are your thoughts on the previous job?"

"After thinking about it, I still want to try to find a job in Xuzhou first. Although I am a martial artist who only knows how to kill, it is not impossible for me to do other jobs."

Ji Ling was a little afraid to look at the warden's face. The warden was already being very kind by offering him a job, and he had repeatedly declined, which was really impolite.

To Ji Ling's surprise, the warden did not express any dissatisfaction. Instead, he comforted her, saying, "Haha, it's alright, it's alright. Don't worry. Just keep this letter of recommendation with you. When you feel that other jobs are not suitable for you, then you can send this letter of recommendation out."

"Of course, you don't have to take this position if you find a better job. After all, the pay is low and the work is demanding, so it's quite tough."

Ji Ling hadn't expected the warden to be so thoughtful, even providing a backup plan after his refusal. He kept thanking him, saying, "Thank you, thank you. Warden Zhuge, we'll meet again someday."

"Let's not meet again. After all, no matter how you change the name of the management office, it's still a prison."

Ji Ling waved and embarked on her journey away.

Watching Ji Ling leave, a guard said to the warden, "Is this guy pretending not to know or does he really not know? The warden has been trying to win him over, but he still says he'll think about it."

"After all, it's a long-term strategy to catch big fish; it's impossible to see results in a short period of time."

The warden let out a long sigh, as if speaking to someone else, or perhaps muttering to himself, "It's better if my second brother does this; he's much smarter than me."

"Don't say that, Warden. Without your guidance, your second brother wouldn't have become so outstanding."

The warden extended his index finger, pointed it at the head guard, shook his head, and chuckled, "You slippery fellow, it's best to avoid saying things like that."

"Hehe, I understand, I understand."

Sun Ce was unaware that Cao Cao had actually helped him out; the reinforcements from Liu Biao, which he had been so worried about, were unlikely to arrive. Even if he had known, he probably wouldn't have cared, as he didn't need them. At this moment, dressed in plain clothes, he was drinking with his old subordinates in the cabin, while Zhou Yu was on the ship directing the fleet's movements.

Sun Ce was renowned (or rather, infamous) in Jiangdong, and many people knew him. In order to avoid revealing the identities of the group, he could only let Zhou Yu act as the commander.

Now that the dice have been rolled, success or failure is no longer something that can be controlled by human effort.

Zhou Yu directed the fleet, which sped forward on the Yangtze River. In fact, his men were quite skilled and did not require his constant supervision; they would act freely according to the situation.

In his spare time, Zhou Yu could also enjoy the scenery along the way and relieve his fatigue.

The scenery on both sides receded behind Zhou Yu, while the boatmen's chants accompanied the boatmen's continuous advance.

With more and more ships sailing on the river, there is no doubt that Sun Ce and his men are now on the economic artery of the Yangtze River.

The entire shipping route was bustling with activity, and the vibrant scene momentarily distracted Zhou Yu. In his childhood memories, the Yangtze River had always been just as bustling. It was as if war had never touched this place; it was peaceful and prosperous.

However, Zhou Yu also knew that they could not afford to lose this battle. If they lost, Sun Ce would be doomed and would never have another chance to rise again. Liu Bei and Liu Biao would both take this opportunity to rip off a piece of Jiangdong.

This battle must be won, it is imperative to win.

There is no survival without victory.

However, if they win, the trade network of Yuzhang County will be severely damaged, and the spectacular scene of hundreds of people vying for power like today will probably not be seen again for a long time.

Zhou Yu's low spirits lasted only a moment before being dispelled by the surging energy that welled up within him.

So what if this place is damaged? I can rebuild it to be ten thousand times better than Xuzhou!

Zhou Yu's ambition will not be extinguished by the current difficulties; he will only work harder to challenge all kinds of difficulties.

A journey of a thousand miles to Jiangling can be completed in a single day; the speed of water travel is naturally much faster than walking on land.

As night fell, Sun Ce's fleet finally arrived outside Nanchang City.

"Yuzhang is wealthy, and Hua Ziyu is of a kind and easygoing nature. He will certainly not suspect the merchants crossing the river at night." Sun Ce stood at the bow of the main ship, pointing to the brightly lit city on the south bank.

The city walls of Nanchang stretched for more than ten miles, and the hustle and bustle of the outer city market could be heard across the river. The signs of grain warehouses and cloth shops swayed in the wind, which was a vivid portrayal of the prosperity of Yuzhang County, which was described as "forming a market in one year and becoming a metropolis in three years".

In the final moments, Sun Ce remained silent. He simply surveyed all his generals coldly and uttered, "The time has come. Move out!"

At midnight, the merchant ships approached the South Gate. The guards were dozing against the battlements, their shadows stretched long by the torches.

"The boat is loaded with newly harvested linen from Wu County, and we're rushing to the market before dawn!"

The merchant at the bow of the ship, who was actually Chen Wu, the commander of Sun Ce's personal guards, waved the travel document and shouted loudly, his voice swaying slightly in the river wind.

The gatekeeper poked his head out and saw that the approaching ship was drafted very deep, and the boatmen all had dark complexions, clearly the result of years of sailing. He also saw people constantly carrying things out of the cabin and placing them on the deck. So he waved his hand and said, "Check the documents, open the gate!"

Just as the gates slowly rose, Chen Wu suddenly whistled. The twelve merchant ships attacked simultaneously, the merchants tearing off their white robes to reveal gleaming armor, the sound of their ring-pommel swords being drawn like the fluttering of cicada wings in autumn.

Before the guards could react, they were already cut down by soldiers who had leaped onto the dock. Sun Ce, wielding his tiger-headed golden spear, was the first to step onto the shore and whispered the orders: "First squad, seize the water gate; second squad, take control of the granary; third squad, charge straight for the governor's mansion!"

The defenses of Nanchang City were thrown into chaos.

Soldiers storming the city set fires and created chaos. "Enemy attack! It's the Sun banner!" The piercing alarm shattered the night sky of Nanchang. Inside the governor's mansion, Hua Xin, suffering from insomnia, was playing chess with his advisors. Upon hearing the news from his subordinates, the chess piece in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud," and his face instantly turned deathly pale: "The Sun banner? Sun Ce?! He actually dares to attack us?"

According to Hua Xin's assumption, Sun Ce would never come here under any circumstances. From both a military and political perspective, Sun Ce's behavior is somewhat illogical.

Before the words were finished, the clanging of armor plates came from outside the mansion. A general with disheveled hair and bare chest burst open the mansion gate, his black armor splattered with blood. He was none other than Taishi Ci's deputy general, who had just arrived from the military camp.

"Don't panic, my lord!" The deputy general stood before the steps, followed by hundreds of soldiers.

"General Taishi has already mobilized to prepare for a crushing blow to the enemy, and has specifically ordered us to come and protect the governor."

"Okay, okay!"

On the other side, a little earlier, at the Imperial Observatory.

Taishi Ci had just finished planning a new round of military expansion and was in bed.

Although Yuzhang Commandery was thriving under Hua Xin's leadership, displaying a vibrant and flourishing scene, it lacked martial prowess. It consisted mainly of the remnants of Liu Yao's defeated army, local commandery troops, and Taishi Ci and his personal retainers.

Taishi Ci, lying in bed, felt somewhat uncomfortable. He sensed that something was amiss. He opened his eyes and saw that faint light shone through the window onto his blanket. Taishi Ci rubbed his temples, preparing to change his position and continue sleeping.

Before he could even finish a breath, Taishi Ci opened his bloodshot eyes.

Wait, light!

Where did that light come from in the middle of the night?!

He threw off the covers with a whoosh, threw on his clothes, and rushed out of the room. The red light on the horizon made the sky look somewhat white, and accompanied by noisy shouts, the entire city of Nanchang came alive.

Taishi Ci knew that this was a fire, and something had happened in the city.

The messenger who arrived later confirmed Taishi Ci's suspicions: someone was indeed launching a surprise attack on the city, and this person was none other than Taishi Ci's old nemesis.

"What? Sun Ce is already in dire straits, yet he still wants to attack the city? He's a madman!"

Upon arriving at the encampment, Taishi Ci immediately began giving orders: "Send word! Assemble the troops immediately! One team will protect Prefect Hua, and the other team will follow me!"

Taishi Ci did not immediately head towards the noisy area, but instead climbed the watchtower to assess the overall situation.

Looking at the burning Nanchang City, Taishi Ci felt extremely grief-stricken. Every time he settled in a new place, Sun Ce would come immediately. First, he killed his former lord Liu Yao, and now he was attacking Prefect Hua. He was truly a heartless man!

Taishi Ci calmed down. Now he was Hua Xin's top general and had to consider the overall situation of the battlefield.

"Sun Ce's army is launching a lightly armed surprise attack; their speed is crucial!" Taishi Ci leaped onto the watchtower and saw that more ships were still approaching the shore on the river. He slammed his hand on the railing and immediately ordered, "Move all the tung oil and hemp cloth stockpiled in the western city and build a firewall along the south street!"

Another adjutant hesitated and said, "Tung oil is a war preparation material—"

"Isn't this a battle?! Burning it will stop the enemy, leaving it will be Sun Ce's spoils of war!" Taishi Ci kicked over an oil barrel, and golden tung oil flowed down the bluestone slab. The soldiers behind him followed suit and splashed tung oil on the street.

Taishi Ci looked around and immediately sketched out a three-dimensional defense plan in his mind: "Pile all sorts of debris on the road, not to completely block it, but to ensure that it hinders passage without completely blocking the road!"

"Then send archers to the houses on both sides, and once the enemy enters the alley, unleash a volley of fire arrows!"

"Yes, yes, place it like that. You over there, get out of the way! Half of your body is outside!"

In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, South Street was blocked off by a fire barrier made of hemp cloth, firewood, and tung oil.

Less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea after Taishi Ci and his men had set up the trap, Sun Ce's vanguard arrived. Taishi Ci watched as Sun Ce's soldiers drew ever closer to the trap, and inwardly cursed, "Get any closer, you beasts!"

As Taishi Ci had predicted, Sun Ce's soldiers did not give up their attack from here just because the road was blocked. Instead, they quickly overcame the obstacles by helping each other.

A soldier who was carrying his comrade to the top of the obstacle by supporting him with the sole of his boot suddenly felt something strange on his hand. He rubbed it between his fingers and then smelled it. His expression changed drastically, and he immediately warned his comrade.

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of Taishi Ci and the others; this was the perfect opportunity to deliver a crushing blow to Sun Ce's army!

"Release the arrows!!!"

As soon as Sun Ce's vanguard rushed into the alleyway and stepped over the oil stains, their armor was ignited by rockets thrown from the houses on both sides.

With a deafening roar, the entire street transformed into a fiery dragon. Soldiers screamed and rolled in the flames, while the following troops were blocked by the wall of fire and huddled together in a chaotic mass.