Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

Page 357

Liu Bei bowed respectfully while spurring his horse forward, eager to reach Liu Biao's residence immediately. The crowds on both sides grew larger and larger, indicating Liu Bei's considerable influence. Some children began to sing loudly: "Governor of Xinye, Imperial Uncle Liu! Since your arrival, the people have prospered!" Liu Bei's entry into Xinye had led to reforms in administration and encouragement of agriculture, resulting in a bountiful harvest, which the people of Xinye praised highly. While in Jingzhou, Liu Bei had also cultivated extensive relationships with the powerful ministers and clans of Jingzhou. At that time, Liu Bei was a newly arrived force, surrounded by capable generals, and easily quelled rebellions in various prefectures and counties. Various factions were busy courting or forming alliances with him. Now, with the possibility of a direct confrontation between Liu Bei and the Cai family, the ministers would likely dare not easily associate with him again. Sure enough, someone in the crowd shouted: "Son Liu Qi should be the heir! Son Liu Qi should be the heir! The Cai family is wreaking havoc in Jingzhou!" Liu Bei pretended not to hear, but he suspected this person was in for trouble.

Liu Bei gave a perfunctory greeting and rode off at full speed, with Zhao Yun leading the way. They soon passed through the bustling city center and headed straight for Liu Biao's residence. They first met with Liu Biao.

When Liu Biao saw Liu Bei, he was extremely polite and said, "My good brother has finally arrived. Jiangxia is in danger, and Huang Zu is my general. Looking around Jingzhou, there is no one to share my burden." As he spoke, he straightened his clothes, pulled Liu Bei out the door, mounted his horse, and rode side by side with Liu Bei, heading straight for the main hall of Jingzhou Prefecture.

The journey was much quieter, probably because Liu Biao had cleared the roads. Liu Bei didn't bring any guards, only Zhao Yun and Sun Qian accompanied him, while the others were arranged by Liu Biao to stay at the post station.

In the council hall of Jingzhou Prefecture, Liu Biao led Liu Bei by the hand, entering side by side. All the officials turned to look, and Liu Bei felt Cai Mao seemed to be glancing at him sideways. Sun Qian and Zhao Yun exchanged swords at the entrance. Liu Bei was about to unfasten his sword when Liu Biao grabbed his arm, saying, "No need, no need. My brother, you may bring your sword into the hall." This was a high honor; even Cai Mao had to remove his sword before entering the council hall. Only the young master could bring a sword. However, Liu Qi usually disliked carrying a sword, and Liu Cong was not yet of age, so it was even less likely.

Liu Biao led Liu Bei into the hall and invited him to sit in the first seat on the right. Zhao Yun and Sun Qian automatically stood behind Liu Bei. The seats on the left, however, were for Cai Mao, Zhang Yun, and others.

Chapter 87 Jiangxia is in dire need of help

"Huang Zu of Jiangxia is in dire need of help. A few days ago, I met with several ministers privately. Some advised me to abandon Jiangxia, while others urged me to immediately send troops to its aid... Now we are holding a meeting, and I have also invited Uncle Liu to attend. What are your thoughts? Please speak them out," Liu Biao said unhurriedly.

"Huang Zu is brave but lacks strategy, and is fond of grand achievements; he is destined to fail."

"Jiangdong has been recruiting talented people in recent years. I heard that Lu Su has been added, and the number of generals has also increased considerably. The newly appointed commander-in-chief, Zhou Gongjin, is Sun Ce's sworn brother. He is young, but quite cunning. Jiangxia is likely to be in grave danger."

The ministers discussed the matter extensively, expressing their concerns.

"Jiangxia is a vital location in Jingzhou. It overlooks Jiangdong to the south and is a place where we can accumulate wealth and grain. We must not give it up... If we give up Jiangxia, Jingzhou will lose a crucial base to the south. If Jiangdong occupies Jiangxia, it will pose a serious threat to Jingzhou!" said the councilor, Qi Yue, sternly.

“Qian Yue is right,” Cai Mao said. “We cannot abandon Jiangxia.”

When Cai Mao spoke, some of the officials agreed, while others remained silent.

Liu Qi was already impatient, but he remained seated upright out of courtesy, though he was clearly lost in thought. Normally, Liu Qi didn't participate in meetings; Liu Biao and the ministers would discuss things, and he would listen. Furthermore, there hadn't been many battles in Jingzhou in recent years, so large-scale meetings like this were rare.

"Liu Qi, what do you think?" Liu Biao suddenly called on him.

Liu Qi was startled and hurriedly stood up, giving a hasty bow in a flustered manner. "Yes, Father. The matter of Jiangxia..." Liu Qi's face turned red as he spoke, unsure of what to say, and he could only stammer.

Faint snickers could be heard from the hall, mostly from Liu Cong's faction.

Liu Bei was getting anxious. He had originally planned to immediately suggest that Liu Qi send troops out, with himself following. Unexpectedly, Liu Biao had pointed to Liu Qi first. If Liu Qi stammered and couldn't say anything, how could Liu Bei possibly make the suggestion?

Liu Qi was flustered and at a loss. He glanced at Yi Ji, then at Liu Bei, who secretly gave him a signal. Liu Qi stood there stunned for a long time, then suddenly, in a daze, he loudly proclaimed, word by word, "Your son is willing to lead the troops to Jiangxia!"

The courtiers were greatly alarmed. These words, though seemingly simple, carried considerable weight. The prince had clearly skipped the endless arguments and debates, directly recommending himself to lead the troops to fight against the Jiangdong people! In other words, the prince believed that protecting Jiangxia was a matter of course.

As expected, Liu Biao was taken aback for a moment, then revealed a somewhat satisfied smile.

“Young Master’s journey to Jiangxia is certainly commendable, but… Jiangdong is full of fierce generals and has considerable power. It is clear that you cannot handle it alone…” Yi Ji stepped forward and said, glancing at Liu Bei after speaking.

This Yi Ji is paving the way for himself, and also finding help for the young master to successfully go to Jiangxia. Liu Bei didn't have time to think too much, as this was an opportunity that couldn't be missed. He stood up, bowed, and said, "Your subject is willing to assist the young master on his journey, to share the burden for my elder brother, and to ensure that Jiangxia remains under your control."

This suggestion was something the courtiers hadn't expected. Previously, everyone thought Liu Biao was testing Liu Qi, and that Liu Qi had made a fool of himself. Unexpectedly, Liu Qi gave a seemingly naive but powerful answer, leading everyone to believe he was lucky and had passed. However, no one thought Liu Qi would actually lead troops to Jiangxia; it was merely a gesture. Then, Liu Bei stepped forward and said he was willing to assist Liu Qi in going to Jiangxia! The courtiers were completely stunned.

Cai Mao was the first to react. Why was Liu Bei rushing to Jiangxia when he was doing so well in Xinye? Jiangxia was a strategically important place; what would happen if Liu Bei occupied it?

Cai Mao hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Uncle Liu is a guest; how can he go into battle so casually? Besides, Xinye is crucial for defending against Cao Cao to the north. Without you, Uncle Liu, the northern part of Jingzhou is in grave danger..."

"Cao Cao's army is in Hebei, how can we return to Xinye!" Before Liu Bei could answer, Yi Ji immediately retorted. "My lord Liu Jing is a cousin of the Imperial Uncle, we are all one family, how can we distinguish between host and guest!"

“This…” Cai Mao was speechless for a moment.

"Report! Urgent report from Jiangxia!" a soldier outside the door reported.

"Bring it here!" Liu Biao said.

General Huang Zu has once again requested reinforcements, urging the Jingzhou army to set off quickly, otherwise Jiangxia will be lost!

Liu Biao's expression changed: "It was Liu Huangshu's suggestion, does anyone else have any objections?" He coldly swept his gaze across the assembled officials. Seeing Liu Biao's expression, the officials all lowered their heads and remained silent. Cai Mao knew this was a crucial moment; if they couldn't stop it now, Liu Bei would truly be expanding his influence into Jiangxia. So, he steeled himself and said, "Jiangxia is a strategically important place! Absolutely not! Jiangxia is an isolated city for Jiangdong. Jiangdong is powerful; it's not advisable to send the young master and Huangshu there. It would be dangerous..."

"So, General Cai, are you going?" Liu Biao asked.

Cai Mao was taken aback. He was good at training the navy and wielding power, but when it came to leading troops into battle… Cai Mao knew how formidable Zhou Gongjin, Cheng Pu, and Han Dang were. Without real skill, going there would be very dangerous; one would either be killed or captured. “…This…” Cai Mao stammered, unable to speak.

"You all know..." Liu Biao seemed very dissatisfied, "Cheng Pu and Han Dang, that group of men, are veteran generals who followed Sun Jian, and they are extremely brave. Zhou Yu, Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, and their ilk fought alongside Sun Ce in Jiangdong. That Little Conqueror Sun Ce led 3,000 elite troops from the Huai and Si rivers into Jiangdong, and in less than a year, his foundation was established. His ruler was a mighty one, and his generals were fierce warriors; at that time, the other warlords were shaken. Now, after three generations of accumulation, Jiangdong has a cloud of fierce generals, a rain of strategists, more than 7,000 warships, and hundreds of thousands of land and naval forces. It is truly powerful. Now Jiangdong is expanding northward, and only Liu Huangshu has stepped forward, willing to assist his youngest son in the expedition, unafraid of powerful enemies. You all think it is inappropriate for Huangshu to go to Jiangxia, so I ask you, is there anyone who dares to go and fight Jiangdong in Huangshu's place? Is there anyone?!" Liu Biao rebuked, scanning the crowd as he spoke.

The hall was deathly silent; all the ministers bowed their heads, none daring to speak.

"Please appoint Liu Huangshu as commander-in-chief and Prince Liu Qi as supervisor, and immediately lead 100,000 troops by land and sea to aid Jiangxia!" Liu Biao shouted when no one responded.

"No... Brother, I am merely assisting you, how could I possibly be the commander-in-chief... How could I possibly command the troops?" Liu Bei hurriedly said. "Please, sir, take command. I am willing to lead my troops and serve you faithfully. Only with you as commander can you command the troops."

"Xuande, there's no need to refuse," Liu Biao said, waving his hand.

“This is the young master’s first expedition, and as the eldest son, he should be the commander. We can have the Imperial Uncle guide him,” Yi Ji stepped forward and said.

"Very well..." Liu Biao said slowly, "Liu Qi, I appoint you as commander, but when leading troops, you must consult with your imperial uncle on everything, and you must not act on your own!"

"Yes, Father, I understand," Liu Qi quickly replied.

Chapter 88 A Son Should Be Like Sun Quan

Where can one gaze upon the Central Plains? The scenery of Beigu Tower fills the eyes. How many tales of rise and fall have unfolded throughout history? So many, so many. The endless Yangtze River flows on and on. In his youth, he commanded ten thousand troops, holding the southeast in relentless battles. Who among the heroes of the world could rival him? Cao Cao and Liu Bei. A son should be like Sun Quan.

—Xin Qiji, "Nanxiangzi: Climbing Beigu Pavilion in Jingkou with Sentiments"

Hundreds of warships cruised on the Yangtze River, with smaller boats darting about. The large ship in the middle was the flagship, bearing the prominent character "孙" (Sun).

The Yangtze River originates from the snow-capped mountains. In its middle and lower reaches, it bends, and near the river lies a strategic location: Baling (later Yueyang). Beside Baling lies a lake, coexisting with the Yangtze: Dongting Lake. Dongting Lake stretches for eight hundred li, its white waters reaching the sky. Jingzhou's naval base here housed nearly one hundred thousand soldiers. The later scholar Meng Haoran wrote a poem: "The mist rises from the Yunmeng Marsh, the waves shake Yueyang City," describing the vastness and expanse of Dongting Lake. The later scholar Fan Zhongyan said: "Be the first to worry about the world's troubles, and the last to enjoy its pleasures," using the waters of Dongting Lake to express his patriotism. The Yangtze continues eastward, soon bends again, leading to another strategic location: Jiangxia. Further east, it bends again, leading to Chaisang, the current capital of Sun Quan in 930. South of Chaisang lies another large lake, coexisting with the Yangtze: Poyang Lake. The Poyang Lake Jiangdong Naval Base also houses 100,000 naval troops.

Jiangxia, strategically located, could threaten Jiangdong to the south and secure Jingzhou to the north. Looking south towards Jiangdong, it was Sun Quan's greatest concern. Eastern Wu had repeatedly attacked Jiangxia, constantly weakening its power, rendering it unable to advance south and不敢直视 Jiangdong. However, this time Sun Quan personally led 150,000 troops and naval forces, accompanied by many of Jiangdong's generals, with overwhelming force, seemingly intent on killing Huang Zu and completely eliminating the northern threat. Liu Bei, on the other hand, led 100,000 troops and naval forces, including Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Sun Qian, and Jian Yong, leaving the Mi brothers to guard Xinye, and accompanied by his son Liu Qi, advancing by both land and water, sailing down the Xiang River directly towards Jiangxia.

Huang Zu of Jiangxia had already executed the fifth gatekeeper. The sight of those heads hanging high was horrifying even to Sun Quan. From his flagship, Sun Quan watched as the Wu army unleashed a furious barrage of arrows from the water, followed by a fierce assault. Judging from the dilapidated state of Jiangxia's walls, Huang Zu wouldn't hold out for more than a few days. Furthermore, the morale of Huang Zu's army was low, and coupled with Huang Zu's volatile temper and reign of terror, the collapse of Jiangxia was only a matter of time.

"Gan Ning!" Zhou Yu called Gan Ning over. "You will lead a large ship and dozens of small boats to form a fleet and go to Jiangxia Houcheng, at the mouth of the Xiang River. I judge that Huang Zu will be unable to hold out and will escape from there."

"Understood," Gan Ning said, and went to prepare.

Sun Quan was quite famous for his appearance: a golden beard, blue eyes, and a high nose, leading to speculation that he had foreign ancestry. He wore simple reddish-purple clothes, which matched his beard, suggesting he was a filial son. He had a good relationship with Zhou Yu and Lu Su, whom he relied on quite heavily.

“Do you know? When I was a child more than ten years ago, I watched helplessly as my father’s body was carried out of this city.” Sun Quan pointed to Jiangxia City, as if chatting casually.

Zhou Yu knew that when Sun Jian fought against Jingzhou, he fell into Liu Biao's trap and, coupled with Jingzhou's support from Yuan Shao, Sun Jian unexpectedly died. After his death, Eastern Wu nearly collapsed. His eldest son, Sun Ce, exchanged Jingzhou general Huang Zu for his father's body and negotiated peace with Jingzhou. At that time, Sun Quan rushed to Jiangxia to retrieve Sun Jian's body. Many thought Sun Quan was too young to understand, but he was actually quite clear-headed about the situation.

After Sun Jian's death, Eastern Wu lacked a capable leader, and soon internal divisions led to its collapse. Sun Ce abandoned Jiangdong and joined Yuan Shu, accumulating strength in the Huai and Si regions. Several years later, he gathered his former generals, leading several thousand troops, and within a year, swept through Jiangdong, re-establishing his power. During Sun Ce's conquest of Jiangdong, Zhou Yu was the first to join, followed by Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, Ling Tong, and others. Civil officials included Zhang Zhao and others. Sun Ce's power surged, attracting the attention of other warlords, earning him the title of "Little Conqueror," truly a powerful ruler and a formidable general. Unfortunately, Sun Ce died young, causing widespread panic in Eastern Wu. Sun Jian passed the throne to Sun Quan, who was young, inexperienced, and lacked authority. Furthermore, Eastern Wu had previously been ruled by military generals, heroes skilled in battle, but Sun Quan was not a warrior, having grown up in the palace. Whether Sun Quan can control Jiangdong is a question. Will Jiangdong split up again, just like it did after Sun Jian's death?

"I must thank you and Zhang Zhao," Sun Quan said with emotion, gazing at the white river flowing eastward.

When Sun Quan broke down in tears, Zhang Zhao shouted, "This is not the time to cry!" and helped him to the throne, performing the rites of a subject to his ruler. Zhou Yu also immediately supported Sun Quan's succession to the throne. Sun Quan's position was thus consolidated.

"Does our lord know that we will support you without hesitation?" Zhou Yu asked.

"Why?" Sun Quan asked, quite curious.

"Our lord acts with composure and wisdom, which is evident to all!" Zhou Yu chuckled. "When our late lord Sun Ce was on his deathbed, he said that conquering the south and north to expand the empire was the responsibility of our late lord Sun Bofu, while comforting the people and protecting Jiangdong was the responsibility of our lord Sun Zhongmou. Who was our late lord? How could he not see that no matter how the situation in the north changed or how powerful it became, the future of protecting Jiangdong rested in our lord's hands!"

"Hahahaha." Sun Quan laughed heartily, without replying.

Later, Cao Cao's saying, "A son should be like Sun Zhongmou," once again confirmed Sun Ce's judgment. The later scholar and general Xin Qiji said: "Alone I gaze upon the Central Plains, the scenery of Beigu Tower fills my eyes; how many events of rise and fall have occurred, so vast and endless, the Yangtze River flows on and on. In his youth, with ten thousand troops, who among the heroes of the world could rival him? Cao Cao and Liu Bei, a son should be like Sun Zhongmou!"

Was that young lord truly an inexperienced and helpless boy? Perhaps not. This boy, at a young age, personally witnessed his father's body being carried out of the enemy's high city walls. After the division of Jiangdong, with an uncertain future, how could the young Sun Quan become a spoiled brat? No, he was merely the youngest son of a fallen and disgraced family. Sun Ce was living under Yuan Shu's protection, and the entire Sun Jian clan was ostracized. It should be said that Sun Quan felt the coldness of human nature most acutely at this time. He was lonely and helpless; his father had passed away, his brother was living under someone else's roof, and he constantly faced brutal political and economic struggles. Sun Ce swept through Jiangdong; Sun Quan should have been able to experience geopolitical and military warfare, understand the political and military significance of various strategic locations, and begin to learn and observe governance and warfare.

Perhaps unintentionally, this blue-eyed boy did not display helplessness, but rather an inexplicable composure and intelligence.

Chapter 89 Analysis of Fazheng

Luo Jun had amassed 350,000 infantry and cavalry in Shuofang, resembling a gigantic monster crouching silently on this strategically important border region. This monster appeared languid, yet its eerie eyes constantly scanned the grasslands, its sharp claws poised to pounce on its prey at any moment. Further east, across the Yellow River, another monster silently crouched in Jiuyuan County.

Luo Chen had already dispatched over a hundred reconnaissance teams, which swarmed across the grasslands like bees, searching for the whereabouts of the main Xiongnu force. However, Ye Suo on the other side was no pushover either, conducting extensive searches of the reconnaissance teams and using numerous deceptions to mislead them. Chang Yuchun was extremely anxious, but he couldn't launch an attack because he hadn't identified the enemy's main force. If he rashly attacked, he might be routed or surrounded and wiped out.

Luo Chen wasn't particularly anxious. Although the Xiongnu were cunning, their extensive reconnaissance tactics would eventually find a weakness. They might be able to deceive and conceal themselves today, but what about tomorrow? The day after? A week? A month? The Central Plains had recovered its strength after the equal-field system, and the resources for an army of five or six hundred thousand could be sustained. It was just a matter of listening to a few more complaints from Zhuge Liang, especially Zhang Juzheng.

The only thing that troubled him was the battle report from the southeast. Liu Bei, along with Liu Qi, had gone to Jiangxia to fight the Wu army. Liu Bei was now at war with Eastern Wu, making the future alliance against Cao Cao even more difficult. Even more serious—as Fa Zheng in Shuofang pointed out in a single sentence—Liu Bei might become a new and formidable warlord. If Liu Bei remained in Jiangxia and continued to expand his territory, the situation wouldn't be good. Ultimately, Liu Bei had to join the Luo Chen group; otherwise, if allowed to develop unchecked, he could very well become a new force in the south, which wouldn't be good news for Luo Chen. Liu Bei joining Luo Chen, or Luo Chen using its power to restrict or even eliminate Liu Bei, were both possibilities.

"Let's assume our forces don't join the war in the southeast. Cao Cao marches south, and Liu Bei will inevitably retreat to Jiangxia. If Sun Quan and Liu Bei can form an alliance then, the outcome will be uncertain," Fa Zheng analyzed. This man returned to Shuofang from Zhong Ping's camp, daily coercing and enticing the old priest to write to Zhong Ping, informing him that the Shuofang army was withdrawing. After Zhong Ping discovered the truth, Fa Zheng ordered the priest executed. His attention then gradually shifted from the Han-Xiongnu battlefield, seemingly very interested in the development of the southeastern war. As for the Han-Xiongnu, with 50,000 to 100,000 troops constantly advancing, Fa Zheng believed it was a war lacking suspense. Its combat logic was very simple and brutal: find the enemy's main force, send massive armies to form a pincer movement, seize the enemy's main force, and then severely damage or annihilate it. Repeat this process until the Xiongnu's strength is completely weakened, and the Xiongnu submit to the Han or migrate, just like Emperor Wu of Han did. Simply put, it's about discovery—gang warfare. Compared to the simple logic of war on the grasslands, Fa Zheng believed that the complex situation in the southeast was more worthy of his attention.

“If Cao Cao wins, that’s quite likely. Cao Cao’s forces have invaded Jiangdong, and ultimately, Cao Cao’s strength will be superior to ours,” Fa Zheng continued his analysis. “What should we do then? – We’re helpless; we can only wait to die.” Fa Zheng saw Luo Chen smile and couldn’t help but chuckle, quite pleased with his own humor. “Our only way out is to prevent this from happening. We must fully support Sun Quan and Liu Bei until they defeat Cao Cao. We must be discreet and not rush to expand southeast. Let Cao Cao go first; once he’s gone, Sun Quan and Liu Bei will unite to resist him…”

"What if Sun Quan and Liu Bei win?" Fa Zheng wanted to continue his analysis, but Luo Chen interrupted him with a smile, seemingly uninterested in the following analysis and instead asking directly about the possibility of Sun Quan and Liu Bei winning, as if he really wanted to know.

“My lord, you think the same way I do,” Fa Zheng said. “Although all the circumstances suggest that Cao Cao has a greater chance of winning, I still believe that Sun Quan and Liu Bei will prevail. Why? Because Sun Quan and Liu Bei have the support of the Luo Chen Group.” Fa Zheng chuckled again, feeling that his humor was absolutely brilliant.

Luo Chen simply smiled slightly, signaling him to continue.

"Then what we need to do is to nip this nascent warlord Liu Bei in the bud." Fa Zheng's expression instantly turned cold. "Liu Bei cannot take advantage of the North-South War to expand his territory, otherwise he will be very difficult to deal with. Liu Bei's primary expansion direction will inevitably be the counties of Jingzhou. What should we do then? — Occupy all the cities, leaving Liu Bei with no cities to occupy." Fa Zheng then burst into wild laughter.

Luo Chen simply shrugged. "In fact, I'd love to have Liu Bei join my Luo Chen Group."

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"You still want him to join?" Fa Zheng clearly didn't agree. "Zhang Juzheng went once, and you went once yourself. You've made it very clear: Liu Bei has great ambitions and is not one to remain subservient to others for long. He wants to start his own business and become the leader." He then warned, "My lord, you must not be soft-hearted. Otherwise, if you sit idly by and watch Liu Bei grow stronger, you'll be raising a tiger to cause trouble."

Luo Chen knew in his heart that Fa Zheng was right. He really wanted to use his mysterious special abilities. However, he had rarely used them recently because his strength was already so great that he didn't need to use them often. Moreover, during his last trip to Longzhou, Cai Yong warned him not to abuse his special abilities, otherwise it would disrupt the normal operation of the Dao and the Yin-Yang energies, which could be quite dangerous. But this time, wasn't it worth it for him to give it a try?

...... ... .......

"Let's not attack Liu Bei yet," Luo Chen said thoughtfully. "Although he hasn't joined us, we're in an alliance... We should help him if we can."

"An alliance? What kind of effectiveness can this alliance have? Aren't they all just for the benefit of their own groups?" Fa Zheng said anxiously. "My lord, we must not be soft-hearted! This Liu Bei actually thought of using Liu Qi's opportunity to infiltrate Jiangxia with his power. His methods are truly brilliant, unfathomable. He is comparable to Zhuge Liang and Zhang Juzheng. My lord, we must not be careless!"

"That plan was mine," Luo Chen said helplessly.

"What?!" Fa Zheng was startled, as if he had countless words to say, but in the end he sat down weakly. "Alright, my lord's methods are truly brilliant, I admire you... but I can't understand why you were so lenient with Liu Bei."

Luo Chen was speechless. He had been planning to bring Liu Bei into his ranks, almost considering him part of his own faction.

"Fazheng, you have rendered meritorious service at the royal court this time, and I don't think I have rewarded you yet. I will promote you to deputy military advisor."

"Thank you, my lord!" Fa Zheng was overjoyed. But after thinking for a moment, he added, "I dare not. This would put me on equal footing with Mr. Xu Shu. How could I possibly compare myself to Mr. Xu Shu..."

“You don’t need to refuse, Mr. Xu Shu… I will reward him after this Han-Xiongnu war.”

Chapter Ninety Gan Ning

"Report! General Yan Qing has returned." A soldier reported from outside the tent. Yan Qing entered, saying, "My lord, Master Fa Zheng." Yan Qing bowed slightly. Upon seeing Yan Qing, Fa Zheng seemed to have something to tell him, so he rose to take his leave, saying, "I'll return now."

"Very well, Fazheng. If you have any opinions on the development of the war situation in the southeast, you can talk to me at any time. This will also help to minimize my decision-making errors."

"Understood." Fa Zheng said and left. He thought to himself that he had been so reckless just now, yet Luo Chen was not angry at all, and even asked him to speak his opinions and suggestions at the end. He truly had the qualities of a wise ruler.

"Did Cai Yan meet Mr. Cai Yong? How did it go?" Luo Chen asked hurriedly.

"Upon seeing them, the father and daughter wept with joy and repeatedly expressed their gratitude."

It turns out that after Yan "733" Qing arrived in Jiuyuan County, he did not return to the Luochen-controlled area, but went directly south to Longzhou on the Yellow River to meet Cai Yong.

“Mr. Cai Yong… has one more thing to tell you.” Yan Qing whispered in Luo Chen’s ear. “There is a malevolent spirit in the Northwest; be extremely careful.” However, Yan Qing clearly did not understand the specific meaning of this sentence. What exactly was this malevolent spirit in the Northwest?

“There are evil spirits in the northwest…” Luo Chen repeated. “Yan Qing, do you know why I’m so eager to fight the Xiongnu? Cao Cao is attacking the wealthy Hebei, which will bring him huge profits, while I’m fighting the barren Xiongnu.”

"For Mr. Cai Yong? For the peace of the northern border?" Yan Qing gave all these reasons one by one.

“That’s not the most important thing,” Luo Chen said with a smile. “‘There is a malevolent force in the Northwest, which can be used.’ This is what the teacher said in the secret scroll. The Northwest must have some kind of special armed force or weapon.”

"Some kind of mysterious power?" Yan Qing was clearly surprised.

"I suppose so..." Luo Chen smiled. "But who knows if it's true or not? But even if it's false, it doesn't matter. After defeating the Xiongnu, our army will get better pastures and horses, and we will also have a certain number of Xiongnu soldiers, which will improve our army's manpower structure."

On the Yangtze River, a speedboat suddenly burst out of Jiangxia City and headed directly towards its tributary, the Xiangjiang River.

The soldiers from Jiangdong had already climbed to the top of Jiangxia City's city walls, and the city's defenses were crumbling. Huang Zu hastily organized a group of his personal guards to design a defensive line within the city, but he himself was uneasy and chose to evacuate by fast boat.

However, Eastern Wu was clearly prepared, and a large number of ships rushed out instantly. It seemed that control of the waterways was firmly in Jiangdong's hands. The leading general was Gan Ning, Gan Xingba, who had recently joined Eastern Wu. This Gan Ning was a typical barbarian, extremely fierce. It is said that in his youth he enjoyed fighting and even worked as a river pirate for a time, leading a group of men in a fast boat to rob passing ships on the Yangtze River. Gan Xingba always carried a bell, and when he went to the market, people would hurriedly give way at the sound of the bell. He was a typical bully. However, later Gan Ning suddenly reflected on life, feeling that this way of life was unsustainable and meaningless. So he joined the army, determined to protect the country and its people, becoming a good young man. Gan Ning first served Liu Biao, but after a while, feeling that Liu Biao was incompetent and foolish, he went south and stayed with Huang Zu. Gan Ning was indeed very helpful to Huang Zu, making great contributions in resisting Eastern Wu's northward expansion and even killing the Eastern Wu general Ling Cao. Unexpectedly, Huang Zu considered this fellow a river bandit and unfit for important positions, thus delaying his promotion. Left with no other option, Gan Ning defected to Eastern Wu. Sun Quan, however, did not hold Gan Ning responsible for killing his general, keeping him and promising him a reward.

This time, Huang Zu encountered Gan Ning, a truly unfortunate fate. Huang Zu had no capable generals by his side; how could he possibly stand against Gan Ning? The Wu soldiers surrounded the ship, and Huang Zu's soldiers surrendered one after another, some resisting inside. Huang Zu said, "Gan Ning, I treated you well before, why kill me?" Gan Ning wouldn't listen to such nonsense. Fearing other generals would steal his credit, he shot Huang Zu dead with an arrow. Huang Zu learned a profound lesson with his death: don't talk about loyalty to a former lord with river pirates; do you think Gan Ning is Guan Yu? But that's another story. Some amateur experts, using their simplistic conspiracy theories, analyze Guan Yu's decision to yield at Huarong Pass, believing that not killing Cao Cao was a deliberate act to counterbalance Sun Quan. This is pure nonsense. Killing Cao Cao would throw the north into chaos, benefiting Sun Quan, but wouldn't it benefit Liu Bei? Liu Chan was destroyed by Wei, not Wu. Besides, it's ridiculous that you analyze a joke told by the old man Luo Guanzhong with such eloquence, using such idiotic logic. It's really absurd.

At this time, Liu Bei was still leading his army downstream.

Looking towards Jiangxia City, Liu Bei saw smoke rising everywhere, but he was unsure of the situation. He sent out scout ships to sail downstream first. From afar, Liu Bei saw the Eastern Wu ships, their formations clearly defined and well-organized, moving swiftly across the river. He was greatly impressed. "Eastern Wu often resides in waterways; their navy is indeed excellent." Liu Qi worriedly added, "That Huang Zu is hot-tempered and reckless. I've met him, and I feel he will have little chance against an Eastern Wu attack."

Liu Bei fell into deep thought. Eastern Wu was powerful, advancing northward year after year, its momentum at its peak. They even harbored ambitions to annex Jingzhou. Since Sun Ce's time, Eastern Wu had sought expansion everywhere, truly displaying great ambition. Liu Bei felt he lacked a top-tier strategist by his side, someone with whom he could discuss plans, minimize his mistakes, and prevent him from falling to this state. Although he now led an army of nearly 100,000, command was not truly his; he was merely temporarily in charge.

Just then, the reconnaissance ship sailed upstream, and a soldier jumped aboard the flagship. "Young Master, Imperial Uncle, Jiangxia City has been captured by Eastern Wu, and the Eastern Wu army seems to be organizing a retreat."

Sure enough, the Wu warships, layered upon each other on the river, began to turn around, as if the rear of the column had become the front. A large number of soldiers on the riverbank also began to board the ships, seemingly planning to withdraw in 3.7 seconds.

"Let's move forward and slaughter every last member of Eastern Wu!" Zhang Fei declared.

"Forget it, Eastern Wu has already retreated." Liu Bei shook his head. Liu Qi clearly didn't want to fight either, and nodded in agreement. Liu Bei said, "It's obvious that Jiangxia City is an isolated city and difficult to defend. With our army of 100,000 arriving, the Jiangdong soldiers will inevitably retreat. In the future, when powerful enemies from the north invade the south, Eastern Wu will still be useful to us."

“We have come with an army of 100,000, but we don’t look ready to fight. This is not a good sign,” Guan Yu advised. “The Eastern Wu have taken Jiangxia and are very arrogant. If we sit idly by now, we are letting them invade the north. They will likely become even more reckless in the future.”

"That's true..." Liu Bei suddenly realized. "Order the warships to form battle formation and head straight for Jiangxia! Archers, prepare! Fire arrows continuously upon my command!"