Three Kingdoms: I choose Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao, why are you crying, Diao Chan?

Chapter 52 Post-War Summary (Thanks to the monthly ticket support from book friend 2023…4893~)

As Sun Ce surrendered, his generals including Cheng Pu, Han Dang, Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, Ling Cao and others also surrendered.

This is the benefit of subduing a powerful leader.

Just like in the game, there is a high probability that subordinates will surrender along with their master.

Of course, Lu Bu could see that these generals were not as completely submissive as Sun Ce.

But as long as Sun Ce was in charge, these generals would not do anything out of line.

After spending more time together, they will naturally see the power of their new lord!

In addition to these generals, the more than a thousand soldiers remaining after the battle also surrendered.

With these soldiers, Lu Bu's lost troops were recovered.

Without any further delay, Lu Bu immediately brought Sun Ce and his men back to the port to support Zhang Liao and successfully repelled Liu Biao again!

On the Yangtze River.

In the anchored warship.

Liu Biao looked at Zhou Yu, who was keeping his head down and silent, and asked in a deep voice:

"If I'm not mistaken, the one who fought against us together with Lu Bu should be your master Sun Bofu, right?"

"Yes……"

Zhou Yu nodded with difficulty.

Kuai Yue on the side taunted:

"After all this time, you are here to pretend to surrender?"

Zhou Yu suddenly raised his head, his eyes sharp as arrows:

"Then I can just surrender to Lu Bu with Sun Ce. Why would we go to all the trouble to join forces with you?"

Seeing that the atmosphere on the ship was tense, Kuai Liang hurried out to smooth things over:
“I think it was the reinforcements brought by Lu Bu that defeated Sun Ce, and Sun Ce had to surrender to Lu Bu for some reason.

"I don't think Gongjin knows about this."

Kuai Yue sneered:
"You're fighting us right after you surrendered. This role change is too fast!"

Zhou Yu fell silent again.

After a long time, he said in a cold voice:
"I'll write him a letter and ask him why he did that."

Liu Biao smiled faintly and said:
"Wouldn't it be better if I just sent Gongjin over there to confront him face to face?"

Zhou Yu glanced at Liu Biao:
"If I do this, wouldn't it prove that I am in cahoots with Sun Ce?
"If he can't give me a reasonable explanation, what's the harm in me serving you?"

After saying that, Zhou Yu said goodbye and entered the cabin.

Looking at Zhou Yu's departing back, Kuai Liang hurriedly said to Liu Biao:
"My lord, Gongjin's talent is a hundred times greater than mine!
"If I can get his help, I will have a chance to continue to fight against Lu Bu..."

A hint of surprise appeared in Liu Biao's eyes:
"Is this boy really so talented?"

Kuai Liang and Zheng nodded:

“Although he is still young, he is a first-rate expert in both strategy and leading troops in battle.

"If Sun Ce hadn't suddenly betrayed us, Lu Bu would have led reinforcements to attack us.

"With the help of Gongjin, we almost broke through Xiakou Port!"

Recalling the battle just now, Liu Biao nodded thoughtfully.

Kuai Yue sneered again:
“I think this guy is just a show-off!

"If you can't even guess your master's inner thoughts, how can you have any real knowledge?
"And who can guarantee that he is not a spy of the enemy, who came here on purpose to play the long game and catch a big fish?"

Kuai Liang glanced at his cousin indifferently:
“I didn’t say Gongjin was a perfect person.

"Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. At least in terms of military strategy, both you and I are far inferior to him!
“As for whether he is a spy or not, I think with Gongjin’s pride, he would look down upon Lü Bu, who came from a humble family.

"How could he possibly offer advice to Lu Bu?"

"Humph!"

Kuai Yue snorted heavily but did not refute, obviously agreeing with the other party's statement.

……

the other side.

After Sun Ce finished reading the letter Zhou Yu wrote to him, he handed it to Lu Bu. After reading it, Lu Bu smiled and asked Sun Ce:
"How do you think we should respond, Bofu?"

Sun Ce sighed:

"Look at Gongjin's attitude. If he knew that I have surrendered to the Lord, I'm afraid he would never come again..."

Lu Bu nodded helplessly:

"In Gongjin's heart, I am always a pariah who cannot meet his standards..."

After a brief silence, Lu Bu continued:

"But it doesn't matter, sooner or later, I will impress Gongjin!
"Let's ignore him for now, unless he agrees with it from the bottom of his heart.

“Even if I trick him into coming here, I can’t make him sincerely work for me.

"Now that I am in charge here, I think Liu Biao will withdraw his troops soon.

"After our army finishes this battle and rests for a while, we will immediately attack Xiangyang, capture Liu Biao for you, and bring back Gongjin!"

Sun Ce thought for a moment, but didn't know how to explain to Zhou Yu.

If you say this is a gamble between military commanders, I'm afraid the other party won't understand.

So he simply followed Lu Bu's advice and did not reply to the other party.

The next few days.

Zhou Yu had not received a reply from Sun Ce, and he roughly guessed what was going on.

There is no possibility of winning the attack on Xiakou Port at the moment.

Zhou Yu then suggested that Liu Biao return to Xiangyang to reorganize his army and then wait for an opportunity to take revenge.

With Liu Biao's withdrawal of troops, the crisis at Xiakou Port was resolved.

At the same time, Lu Bu received news: the 10,000-strong army led by Qiao Rui stationed in Yiyang retreated quickly.

Lu Bu guessed that it must be the strategy Liu Ye had set before that worked.

Yuan Shu found that attacking him would not yield any results.

Instead, they took advantage of the fact that Kong Rong of Runan had taken away 10,000 soldiers and horses and attacked Runan!
In this way, Kong Rong's troops who came to attack Lujiang would most likely rush back to support Runan.

With only 8,000 troops left, Zhang Chao could not pose any threat to Lujiang.

This strategy was only thought of by Lu Bu in recent days, and I think Liu Ye had the same idea.

But the other party was able to think of it so many days ahead of him. This is the terrifying thing about top strategists!
When Lü Bu led his army back to Xiling City, the seat of Jiangxia, news came from Lujiang:

The 10,000 troops led by Kong Jun were defeated by the ambush troops led by Ji Ling on the way back to provide reinforcements, so he had to lead the remaining troops to join Zhang Chao.

Yuan Shu therefore directly captured Runan.

After Zhang Chao learned of Yuan Shu's trick, he immediately stopped attacking Lujiang and returned directly to Guangling.

At this point, after the four armies attacked Lu Bu together, three of them were defeated and retreated!

Only the army led by Sun Ce surrendered directly to Lu Bu.

Although victory was ultimately achieved, the battle report afterwards showed that this was a pyrrhic victory.

The other three routes were fine, but in the battle with Sun Ce, more than 3,000 people were sacrificed.

Adding the sacrifices from the other three routes, the losses amounted to as high as six or seven thousand!

Excluding the prisoners captured afterwards, the net loss of troops was about 5,000.

The current total strength, not counting the 5,000 soldiers that Huang Chengyan has not yet given, is only 35,000.

Lu Bu now understands a truth:
The defenders certainly have a great advantage, but when soldiers are sacrificed, they are real sacrifices.

There is rarely any chance to make up for it.

Although the attacking side will suffer greater losses, as long as they can capture a city.

The people in the city, the aristocratic families, and even the areas under control around the city are all real resources!
This is the main reason why the princes are trying so hard to expand.

The more land you have, the faster your strength grows.

If we just stay in a corner, we will be surpassed by other forces sooner or later!

After realizing this, Lu Bu began to consider how to capture Xiangyang with the least loss while recuperating.

(End of this chapter)