Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3852 Not a Feudal Lord

On the city wall of Jiangling, Xu Huang stood with his hand on his sword, his gaze coldly fixed on the movements of the "allied forces" outside the city.

Although Liu Bei had secretly sent someone back with a message, Xu Huang still did not let his guard down.

As agreed, Xu Huang ordered the soldiers in the military camp by the Yangtze River to be recalled, and sent the ships to Zigui upstream. He then left an empty camp for Liu Bei to attack and occupy, but he still did not let his guard down against Liu Bei.

This "treaty of surrender" with Liu Bei will certainly carry risks.

However, this risk was worth taking for Xu Huang.

Only in this way can Cao Ren be drawn out of his stronghold in Xiangyang!

Only then can the Cai and Kuai families have room to maneuver!
As a hostage, Kuai was really going all out for his future status!
Since we're going to put on a show, we need to go all the way.

With a roar of "Aiya!", Liu Bei "captured" Xu Huang's riverside stronghold, thus beginning the grand drama of Jiangling...

Liu Bei had previously sent Sun Qian to make it very clear to Xu Huang that among the Jiangdong army he brought, there would inevitably be military officers and generals left by Sun Quan to monitor and check them. Before the grand show even began, Liu Bei had to cooperate with Xu Huang to eliminate those die-hard elements loyal to the Sun family and difficult to control that Sun Quan had placed in the Jiangdong army.

With the booming of war drums, the grand opera begins.

Beneath the walls of Jiangling, the vanguard of the Jiangdong army, under the command of Liu Bei, had already begun to form ranks.

The troops arrayed in this formation were of diverse composition.

There were Liu Bei's direct confidants, but there were also many mid- to low-ranking officers whom Sun Quan had specially arranged to monitor and check Liu Bei.

They may be brave, but their loyalty to Sun Quan far exceeds their obedience to Liu Bei, this "guest general".

Amidst the pounding of war drums, the siege of Jiangling began.

Did these Jiangdong military academies, specially arranged by Sun Quan, not know that they were being secretly targeted by Liu Bei?

Really not necessarily!
But everyone's vision is limited, especially on the battlefield.

Not everyone can have their eyes in the sky like a keyboard warrior.

The information available to these Jiangdong military academies was limited, and they had no right to refuse orders that appeared to be 'compliant with procedures' and 'legal in their instructions'.

It's like changing a formation from fifteen to twenty people, then to twenty-five and then thirty. Do ordinary soldiers and military academies have the right to refuse?
Are you kidding me?

Do they think they're a bank, able to adjust interest rates and check household registrations?

Moreover, with a long string of orders mixed together, how could any soldier or military academy officer in the midst of the war calmly think and analyze things carefully?
Liu Bei's leadership skills were sufficient to be subtle and discreet.

He ordered Zhang Fei to lead a group of men in a feigned attack on the south city wall, while he ordered the troops of Sun Quan's direct officers to launch a fierce attack on the west city wall, which was the most heavily fortified part of Jiangling, under the pretense of a feint attack.

Although these Jiangdong officers may have had doubts, military orders are absolute, and with everyone watching, they could not disobey. They had no choice but to bite the bullet and urge their soldiers to carry ladders, push makeshift shield carts, and charge towards the city wall, which was raining arrows.

Xu Huang could see it clearly from the city wall.

He ordered the defenders to launch a "selective" and fierce counterattack.

Arrows, boulders, and logs rained down mercilessly on the charging Jiangdong soldiers on the western flank of the city, causing real and devastating casualties. The Jiangdong military academy officers, especially those at the forefront, shouting the loudest and wearing slightly different armor and uniforms, were the primary targets!
However, in the direction of the south city, just like Zhang Fei below the city, a deafening roar was emitted, but it was all bark and no bite...

We still need to create some momentum, otherwise why would the Jiangdong soldiers be willing to change the number from fifteen to thirty?
A military officer who was a close confidant of Sun Quan was brandishing his sword and had just deflected a stray arrow. He was about to urge his soldiers to climb the siege ladder when he failed to notice that a powerful crossbowman from the Flying Cavalry had been aiming at him for some time on the city wall!

*Whoosh—Pfft!*

The noisy battlefield environment masked the sound of crossbows being fired, and by the time the Jiangdong Army academy students spotted the crossbow bolts, it was too late to dodge!

The lethality of a crossbow is always undeniable.

The sophisticated mechanisms within the Huang family workshop ensured the accuracy of the shots.

This powerful crossbow bolt pierced the throat of the Jiangdong Military Academy!
His eyes widened in disbelief as he clutched his bleeding wound, collapsing to the ground with a thud, the sword in his hand clattering to the floor.

Almost simultaneously, another military officer who was trying to reorganize his formation was struck in the waist by a thick log, along with his shield. He immediately spat out a mouthful of blood and was on the verge of death!
Xu Huang commanded his soldiers to counterattack, and they seemed to have eyes, specifically targeting officers loyal to Sun Quan.

Meanwhile, Liu Bei, commanding from the rear, was always a step behind in responding to the requests for reinforcements from these Jiangdong troops, as well as the replenishment of their casualties. It wasn't that he refused to provide aid, but rather that he did so slowly, in a planned, step-by-step, and phased manner...

Liu Bei deliberately delayed sending out reserve troops to provide support, watching helplessly as these spies planted by Sun Quan were gradually removed by the cavalry garrison on the city walls.

Xu Huang even seized upon a weakness revealed by a group of Jiangdong soldiers, directly leading his troops to open the city gates and launch a counterattack, severely wounding one of the Jiangdong soldiers' captains on the spot!
"You arrogant man, don't be so cocky! Zhang Yide of Yan is here!"

After Xu Huang launched his attack, Zhang Fei roared and "rushed" over from the south of the city...

Zhang Fei, like an angry Vajra, shouted to make way for Ye Ye and led a group of men to attack from the flank.

The Jiangdong soldiers who originally wanted to surround Xu Huang's troops were naturally driven away by Zhang Fei and others.

Zhang Fei let out a deafening roar, which drew everyone's attention. He swung his eighteen-foot spear like a windmill, seemingly fiercely charging straight at Xu Huang, who had just killed the Jiangdong Captain and appeared to be retreating from exhaustion!
"Whoa!" Zhang Fei yelled, seemingly worried that Xu Huang wouldn't hear him, "You bastard! Take this spear!"

Xu Huang raised his axe to meet the attack, and with a loud clang, sparks flew everywhere!

The two exchanged a glance, then simultaneously shouted and began to fight.

Long spears and giant axes whistled past, sparks flew, and fierce winds raged; it was truly a case of death if you got close, and injury if you touched them!

The soldiers and military academy students in the surrounding area scattered in a panic, scrambling and crawling away...

Just when everyone thought Zhang Fei and Xu Huang would fight for three hundred rounds, they didn't expect that after less than ten rounds of "intense" fighting, Xu Huang pretended to be defeated and retreated to his own lines with a feint.

Zhang Fei, enraged, brandished his sword and spear, roaring as he pursued Xu Huang. He would take two steps, then brandish his spear, then stop and shout "Yay! How about that!" His troops cleverly formed a semi-encirclement, more like escorting Xu Huang safely back into the city gates than chasing him.

Meanwhile, the loyal troops of Sun Quan who had lost their command and fallen into chaos below the city were completely exposed to the crossbow range of the cavalry on the city walls, and suffered another wave of heavy losses without any explanation.

To Cao Ren, who was watching from afar, this "fierce" battle under the city walls appeared as a desperate assault by the Jiangdong army, resulting in heavy casualties, including the deaths of high-ranking officers. Meanwhile, Zhang Fei from Liu Bei's army fought valiantly to rescue the city, engaging in a fierce battle with the defending general Xu Huang and forcing him to retreat.

All the casualties and sacrifices seemed so real, without any flaws.

Cao Ren's doubts about the Jiangdong army's "sincerity" lessened somewhat, unaware that behind this bloodshed was a tacit purge and cooperation between Liu Bei and Xu Huang.

……

……

As night fell, the lights of the allied camp outside Jiangling City flickered, facing off against the wary torches of the cavalry on the city walls. The somber atmosphere of the daytime defeat in the siege enveloped the Jiangdong army camp, with the groans of wounded soldiers carried faintly on the wind.

Inside the central command tent, candlelight blazed brightly. Cao Ren had just finished listening to his subordinates' detailed report on the day's battle, with particular emphasis on the circumstances of the deaths of the several military academy officers from the Jiangdong army...

Cao Ren was still weighing the options in his mind.

The losses suffered by the Jiangdong Army were real and undeniable, but...

A ingrained instinct developed over years of battle kept Cao Ren vigilant. Just then, a personal guard entered the tent and reported: "General, Liu Bei has sent an envoy requesting an audience."

"Oh?" Cao Ren's eyes flashed. "Let him in."

Sun Qian walked in with a face full of anger.

"Sun Qian from Beihai, an official under the command of the Imperial Uncle of the Great Han, greets General Cao." Sun Qian bowed with his hands clasped, his demeanor composed, though a hint of anger lingered on his face, his manners impeccable.

Cao Ren remained expressionless, nodding slightly, and asked knowingly, "Ah, so it's you, Master Gongyou... No need for formalities, no need for formalities... It's already late at night, has General Zuo come to offer any instructions?"

Liu Bei had multiple identities.

Besides "Imperial Uncle of the Han Dynasty", "General Who Conquers the South" was given by Fei Qian, while "General of the Left" was a title approved by Cao Cao.

Therefore, Sun Qian addressed Cao Ren as "Imperial Uncle of the Great Han," while Cao Ren specifically referred to him as "General of the Left," each with its own hidden meaning...

Sun Qian straightened up, his face displaying just the right amount of anger, and said bluntly, "General Cao, you are wise. I have come here today to seek your advice regarding the daytime battle and the prospects for cooperation between our two armies."

Sun Qian spoke calmly, but his words carried considerable weight.

Cao Ren raised an eyebrow, knowing the main event was approaching, and followed up, saying, "Oh? What concerns does Mr. Gongyou have? Please speak freely. Since I have made an alliance with the Left General, I will naturally be frank with him."

Cao Ren slightly emphasized the word "frankness".

But in this day and age, what kind of "honesty" can there still be?
They're all using each other, yet they keep talking about 'sincerity'.

Sun Qian slightly raised his head, looking directly at Cao Ren, and said confidently, "General Cao, today our army attacked the city, and our soldiers fought bravely, suffering heavy casualties, which is evident to all. However, observing your army, arrayed at the rear, though the drums and bugles sounded, not a single soldier actually engaged in combat... It's not that we are suspicious, but the soldiers, seeing this, inevitably feel resentful and secretly speculate that you... are you perhaps sitting idly by to watch the outcome and preserve your strength? General Cao's callous actions shake the foundation of the alliance, which is likely not a good thing!"

Sun Qian was, of course, "fully justified."

From any perspective, the Jiangdong army's siege today was a massive undertaking...

If Liu Bei weren't worried about "overacting," he would have liked to bring a cartload of wounded soldiers to show Cao Ren!
Faced with Sun Qian's words, Cao Ren was clearly prepared. His face appropriately displayed a mixture of 'helplessness' and 'sincerity,' saying, 'Mr. Gongyou, you have misunderstood me! You are a wise man, and you should know that war is a perilous affair, requiring utmost caution. It is not that I am unwilling to fight because I am reluctant to have troops, but rather… I still have a lingering doubt and must proceed with caution.'"

Cao Ren made no attempt to conceal anything, but instead, observing Sun Qian's expression, he slowly said, "Mr. Gongyou, you should know... that General Zuo previously served temporarily under the General of the Cavalry and had a period of... goodwill with that Fei traitor... Now, they have suddenly turned against each other and joined forces to attack Jiangling. Although there is a righteous cause,... on the battlefield, things can change in an instant. I, Cao, bear the responsibility for the safety of Jingbei and must consider the possibility of unforeseen circumstances..."

When they were discussing the alliance, did Cao Ren not know that Liu Bei had served as a guest general under Fei Qian?
Obviously not.

So why is it that Cao Rencai only brought up this question now, as if he had just thought of it?
Cao Ren had his reasons.

Of course, this was indeed one of Cao Ren's concerns, and it was also his biggest concern.

This refers to the issue of Liu Bei's reliability.

The fact that someone who once served as a "guest general" under Fei Qian has now turned his guns on Fei Qian's city raises serious questions about his resolve and stance.

During the Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms periods, the social structure was somewhat similar to that of modern corporations. In this context of widespread chaos and the rise of numerous warlords, it was common for scholars and military generals to choose and change lords. The so-called "choosing a lord to serve" was a widespread phenomenon and was not considered a shameful "betrayal." As long as there was a reasonable and appropriate reason, one could "jump ship."

Sun Qian seemed to have anticipated Cao Ren's question. Instead of showing any anger at being offended, he revealed a smile of understanding. Deep within that smile was a sense of pride befitting a member of the Han imperial family and a legitimate and loyal envoy.

With all those actions taken by the Cao family, how dare you doubt me, a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty?
"General Cao's concerns are reasonable," Sun Qian's voice was calm and clear. "However, you should know that my lord is a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, a great-great-grandson of Emperor Jing of Han, and a dignified imperial uncle of the Han Dynasty! This identity is not merely a title, but a matter of bloodline and duty!"

Sun Qian's tone grew increasingly forceful, as if he stood on the highest moral ground, speaking with an unquestionable orthodoxy: "Fei Qian, though called a General of the Cavalry, has become increasingly arrogant, disrespectful of the court, and threatening the emperor—these are the actions of a traitor! Our lord, as a member of the Han imperial family, is irreconcilably opposed to this traitor! His previous subservience was merely a temporary expedient, awaiting the opportune moment! This is a matter of righteousness, far beyond the considerations of past favors."

Sun Qian cleverly attributed Liu Bei's "break" with Fei Qian to the fundamental conflict of loyalty to the Han Dynasty, placing Liu Bei on the moral high ground, thus resolving Cao Ren's doubts about Liu Bei's "unstable stance".

Sun Qian continued, "Moreover, in the past, my lord's uncle was a guest, and he was campaigning against Jiaozhi! Now that Jiaozhi has fallen and returned to the territory of the Han Dynasty, this is an unparalleled achievement! My lord's uncle neither takes pride in this achievement nor covets high positions and generous titles; his heart remains with the Emperor and he cherishes the memory of the Han Dynasty! How can ordinary people understand such noble principles?"

"..." Cao Ren was at a loss for words after hearing this.

You're awesome, PLUS!

However, what Sun Qian said is reasonable and could be justified at the time of the Three Kingdoms period...

Liu Bei served as a "guest general" on many occasions, but each time he fulfilled his role as a "professional manager" to the best of his ability!

Liu Bei's departure from Cao Cao stemmed from his suspicion that Cao Cao was a "traitor to the Han Dynasty." After all, at that time, the emperor and Cao Cao were at odds, which provided him with the highest political legitimacy. His opposition to Cao Cao was an expression of loyalty to the Han Dynasty, not a betrayal of himself.

While residing in Liu Biao's territory, Liu Bei was diligent and conscientious, always regarding himself as a guest general and maintaining respect for Liu Biao. He did not attempt to usurp the throne, and his failure to seize Sichuan could not be considered a betrayal of Liu Biao, but rather a failed commercial endeavor to "compete for market share."

Now, breaking away from Fei Qian can be seen as an action taken after "completing" Fei Qian's "mission." Has Liu Bei perfectly accomplished his mission of conquering and recovering Jiaozhi?!

From this perspective, Liu Bei's career as a "guest general" or his reputation as a "professional substitute manager of the Han Dynasty" is truly brilliant and resounding!

Cao Ren swallowed hard. He couldn't find any rebuttal to Sun Qian's self-righteous and awe-inspiring pronouncements about being a "relative of the Han imperial family." He could only change the subject, posing another question: "General Zuo's loyalty to the Han dynasty is commendable. However… with your abilities, General Zuo, where in the world couldn't you go? Why… choose to remain in Jiangdong, under the control of Sun Quan?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Qian's face revealed a perfectly nuanced complex expression, a mixture of helplessness regarding Liu Bei's predicament and the reserve befitting an envoy of the imperial family. After all, Sun Qian was a professional diplomatic envoy, far superior to those of later generations who only knew basic facts.

"Jiangdong, heh..." Sun Qian seemed to reveal some resentment. "It's only temporary... Hmm, General Zixiao, this matter... is irrelevant to the current battle situation, isn't it?"

Halfway through his sentence, Sun Qian seemed to realize he had "slipped up his tongue," so he immediately stopped and began again: "Now, our joint attack on Jiangling is to rid the Han Dynasty of a traitor! As for other matters, my lord, the Imperial Uncle, is wholeheartedly devoted to upholding the state, protecting the Emperor, and loyal to the Han Dynasty! I hope General Cao will understand, set aside his prejudices, and work together wholeheartedly, then Jiangling can be captured, and Jingzhou can be secured!"

Sun Qian's words were a mix of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion.

After listening, Cao Ren remained silent for a moment, then finally showed a slightly relieved smile. He stood up, bowed respectfully to Sun Qian, and said, "Mr. Gongyou's words have truly cleared the fog and enlightened me! General Zuo's loyalty is as clear as day; I have been overthinking! Please tell General Zuo that tomorrow! Tomorrow, our army will certainly launch a full-scale attack and join forces with General Zuo to break through the city!"

Having received Cao Ren's reply, Sun Qian said nothing more, bowed, and took his leave.

Cao Ren pretended to see him off, but then the smile on his face slowly froze.

Back in the main tent, Cao Ren felt he had finally seen through Liu Bei…

A capable, ambitious member of the Han imperial family who longed for territory but had nowhere to go for the time being.

Cao Ren believed that Liu Bei's attack on Jiangling was not really for the so-called "loyalty to the Han Dynasty," but rather to take advantage of the chaos to acquire a piece of territory that Liu Bei was relatively "familiar" with!

It's worth noting that Liu Bei also spent time in Jingzhou back then!

Therefore, after driving away Xu Huang's cavalry, Liu Bei could naturally occupy Jiangling. Cao Ren, on the one hand, had to deal with the pressure from the north and could only acquiesce to Liu Bei's invasion of Jiangling; on the other hand, Liu Bei had once again fulfilled his role as a "guest general" in Jiangdong, so there was no question of "betrayal"...

"Heh, what a clever scheme!"

Cao Ren grinds his teeth.

But Cao Ren could accept this scheme.

This gradually lowered Cao Ren's guard; at least for the short term, his and Liu Bei's "goals" were aligned...

However, Cao Ren remained cautious, believing he needed to observe further. He would only truly join the assault on Jiangling once he saw Liu Bei demonstrate his unwavering resolve to capture it. This way, he could weaken Liu Bei's forces as much as possible, rendering him unable to advance north after taking Jiangling and thus posing no threat to Xiangyang.

As for what will happen after Jiangling becomes Liu Bei's territory, we can only rely on the wisdom of those who came after...

(End of this chapter)