Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 225 Slaughtering a Million Soldiers in Jiangnan
Baidi City.

The former palace of the late emperor.

Since the late emperor's death, apart from Li Yan, Chen Dao, and Fu Kuang, three important ministers and former generals of the late emperor, other civil and military officials such as Yan Yu, Zhang Gu, and Lei Bu, although they had been in Yong'an for several years, had never set foot in it.

Today, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty ascends the throne once again.

All the civil and military officials of Yong'an, except for Lei Bu, Zhang Gu and a few other generals who were inspecting the river defenses tonight, as well as Yan Yu, the prefect of Badong, all came to this hall.

Five years later, the imperial palace of the late emperor was once again adorned with the fluttering imperial banners. The emperor's former throne was once again the one upon which the emperor of the Han Dynasty leaned. The civil and military officials who had been six feet tall five years ago were now as strong as the late emperor and were able to ascend the steps into the palace were all filled with admiration.

The emperor hosted a banquet.

More than sixty civil and military officials occupied a seat in the hall.

There was no fine wine on the table, only a jar of clear water.

Nor were bells, chimes, zithers, or lutes played; songs and dances were performed to add to the festivities.

Only the emperor raised his cup, and together with his ministers recounted the story of the late emperor's dragon battle, and commemorated the moments when the late emperor stayed at Baidi during his last few years.

The ministers spoke with such sorrow that their voices turned to sobs.

Those in the room, weeping uncontrollably, looked at each other endlessly.

For a time, what was originally a joyous banquet with lanterns and feasts to celebrate victory turned somewhat somber as people remembered the late emperor and reminisced about the past.

At this very moment, Chen Dao, the dignified and imposing governor of Yong'an, suddenly pushed aside his seat and, with a majestic and imposing gait, requested to perform a sword dance for the emperor.

"This old minister, having grown up and learned swordsmanship, is renowned as the foremost swordsman in Runan."

"Although I have no knowledge of the classics and my family is not of high rank, the late emperor did not consider me to be of lowly talent and took me as his trusted advisor. I am very grateful and always feel that I have no way to repay him. So I often dance with my sword for the late emperor to accompany his singing."

"Although my temples are now gray and my arms are still strong."

"With my remaining strength, I will wield my three-foot sword and perform a sword dance for Your Majesty, hoping to win Your Majesty's favor."

After Chen finished speaking, the entire hall was astonished.

It's certainly not the kind of astonishment one might have when someone says, "Xiang Zhuang's sword dance was aimed at Liu Bang."

Chen Dao, as the Governor of Yong'an and a general who guards the country, was highly respected and respected. No one in the civil and military circles could compare with him. Yet, he performed a sword dance for his master in front of a large audience, just like a servant or guard. How could he not be considered the most loyal and sincere?
Liu Shan admired him and nodded in agreement.

Dressed in simple, coarse clothes, Chen Dao held his sword and bowed.

“The old minister’s sword, when wielded, can overturn an entire palace; hence the late emperor called it ‘the power of the entire palace.’”

"A full house?" Liu Shan murmured to himself.

In the center of the main hall, as soon as Chen Dao finished uttering the three words "full hall of power," he suddenly knelt down, sword in hand.

A bow.

Bow again.

He rises and rotates to the left, the sword following his body.

— Graceful as a startled swan.

Then it turned right and skimmed lightly.

— Graceful as a dragon in flight.

The sword dance, with its gentle and light touch, clashes somewhat with Chen Dao's slender jaw and tiger-like neck.

None of the civil and military officials in the hall had ever seen Chen Dao's sword dance before, and even now they could not discern where the hidden edge of this "all-encompassing momentum" lay.

But at this moment.

Chen Dao suddenly burst into song!

A man's duty in life is to achieve fame and merit!

"To achieve fame and merit is the greatest reward in my life!"

"To console myself for a lifetime, I shall get drunk!"

"I will get drunk and sing wildly!"

"Before the wild chant was finished, I drew my sword!"

"I draw my sword and look around!"

"Looking around, who can rival me?!"

The song lingered in the air.

Everyone present was astonished.

In the blink of an eye, the person suddenly danced from the center of the hall to the back, then let out a clear whistle, his steps as swift as lightning.

In just a few breaths, he suddenly passed through the seats of all the civil and military officials and finally arrived in front of the emperor's seat.

The sword's shadow grew rapidly, its light like flowing frost.

Its momentum was like a white rainbow piercing the sun, leaving all the emperor, his ministers, civil and military officials dazzled and shaken.

The flames of the lamps throughout the hall were also suppressed by the wind of his sword, lowering and then rising again.

Viewers were so captivated that they almost forgot to breathe.

In a moment, the sword's momentum suddenly subsided, circling several times.

Chen Dao faced the emperor, sheathed his sword behind his elbow, his temples slightly moving, frost and snow gleaming.

Just then, the singing started again.

But the tone suddenly turned melancholic and sorrowful, forming a stark contrast to the previous high-spirited and impassioned tone.

"Who can withstand my sudden defeat..."

"My heart is still unsettled, my halberd has suddenly broken..."

"My heart is not at peace, yet the day has already ended..."

"The sun is setting, and I find it hard to fall asleep..."

"Finally entering a dream, suddenly startled by a nightmare..."

"Suddenly, a nightmare struck, and endless hatred arose..."

The song ended.

His swordplay suddenly shifted, gathering the lightning into a single line.

He slightly lowered his wrist and lightly touched the ground with the tip of his sword.

The thunder and lightning of ten thousand miles have all turned into a pool of autumn water.

Her arms stretched out slowly like withered vines, and her steps were like those of wild geese flying low and hesitant.

The sword light no longer shot out, but swayed with the lamplight.

Like the setting sun half-submerged on the river surface, golden ripples spread slowly.

Every wrist movement carries the lingering warmth of the old battlefield.

Every flick of her sleeve seemed to brush away the snow-white hair at her temples.

The audience in the hall held their breath.

Only the sound of a sword slicing through the air gradually faded, like a distant flute drifting into the twilight.

Finally, the sword's edge touched his elbow, and its cold gleam vanished.

He stood tall and slightly bowed, his frosty hair reflecting the lamplight in the hall, a picture of desolate twilight.

Liu Shan leaned on a low table, his gaze dim.

After the singing and dancing, there was a sense of unfulfilled ambition.

Although there was no specific song being sung.

But everyone present knew exactly what Chen Dao was singing.

Then the hall fell silent.

Only the slight ripples on the water vessel reflected the shadow of the sword.

As Chen Dao danced, her movements became softer and slower.

More and more people in the hall were choking with sobs.

Those who are filled with grief and indignation at the unfulfilled ambitions feel even more deeply saddened.

Chen Dao suddenly stopped all movement.

Sheath the sword.

At this moment, the emperor and his ministers in the hall had completely forgotten what Chen Dao had said earlier. This dance was called "Full House Momentum." Moreover, because Chen Dao's sword dance and singing had become low, they all felt a sense of decline for heroes and unfulfilled ambitions.

However, at that moment, Chen Dao's expression suddenly changed!
His eyes were wide open, and he looked like a tiger descending a mountain!

With a tearing sound, the sword was drawn from its sheath.

Before everyone could react, the sword was already in mid-air.

Looking closely, one sees the sword light transform into a streak of light, swirling and coiling around the beams.

Chen Dao did not look up, but simply swung his arm and caught the upside-down white rainbow.

First, he leaped into the air like a hawk soaring through the sky, heading straight for the center of the main hall.

With another spin, he slammed his foot into the ground, like a bear shaking a mountain, making the floor tiles vibrate loudly.

After that, he rode his horse at breakneck speed, turning left and right among the dozens of seats in the hall.

The sword moves with the body, and the body flies with the sword.

Their clothes billowed in the wind, shooting out in all directions like powerful crossbow bolts.

Wherever it passed, the flames of lamps were compressed into a line by the wind of the sword, and then burst up again with a roar, like ten thousand torches burning at once.

When the lights dimmed and then brightened again, everyone stared intently once more.

But he held the scabbard in his left hand and wielded the sword in his right.

The blows struck from both sides, their clanging like the drums and horns of a vast army.

He took one step, then paused, then roared.

The roars and sword cries blended together, creating the illusion of a massive army marching in.

The stone pillars, curtains, jade steps, and bronze incense burners in the hall were all swept up in the shadows of the swords, transforming one by one into banners, spears, chariots, and beacon fires on the battlefield.

Just then, he suddenly lowered his body and curled up quickly on the ground.

The sword light traced a silver arc along the blue bricks, sparks flying.

Like iron cavalry charging into battle, it pierced straight through the encirclement. Suddenly, it leaped up and somersaulted in mid-air.

The sword strike descended from above, like Mount Tai pressing down, cleaving through the void.

All the civil and military officials in the hall felt a gust of wind rushing towards them, their beards and eyebrows raised, their robes fluttering as if about to tear.

Some people couldn't help but cheer, while many others held their breath and stared in awe, afraid of missing this rare sight in the blink of an eye.

The sword danced faster and faster, and the man spun more and more wildly.

Chen Dao's white hair flew wildly, each strand like a halberd.

At that moment, the man once again unleashed a thunderous sword dance and sang a high-pitched song.

"Who can withstand such a sudden defeat?"

"Suddenly my halberd is broken, and my heart is not at peace."

"My heart is not at peace, yet the day has already set."

"The sun has set, and I find it hard to fall asleep."

"Finally entering a dream, I was suddenly startled by a nightmare."

"Suddenly, a nightmare struck, and endless hatred arose."

"—Endless hatred for the enlightened ruler!"

"A wise ruler will launch a northern expedition to reclaim the Western Capital!"

"We will reclaim the Western Capital and defeat the Wu barbarians!"

"The Wu barbarians are defeated, and the old tassels are hung up!"

"The old vow is re-tied, fulfilling my lifelong ambition!"

"My lifelong ambition is to achieve a clear and tranquil path!"

"——Where did Wanli Qingxi begin?"

After asking the question, the person suddenly fell silent and stopped walking.

Suddenly, with a clang, the long sword in his hand was thrown high into the air, where it twirled several times, its cold light radiating like an inverted Milky Way.

But he didn't move an inch; he simply extended the scabbard, and the sword slid in with a clang, perfectly aligned with its edge.

All the emperor and his ministers in the hall were dumbfounded.

At that moment, the man suddenly thrust his sheathed sword forward, followed by a thunderous roar that seemed to shatter rocks:
"—Slaughter all one million soldiers in Jiangnan!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall felt their hair stand on end, their blood boil, and countless people burst into tears.

Where did Wanli Qingxi begin?
—Slaughter all one million soldiers in Jiangnan!

"Attack Wu!" Fu Kuang shouted passionately, tears streaming down his face.

"Attack Wu!" Guan Xing, Zhao Guang, and other generals behind Liu Shan roared in unison.

"Conquer Wu!"

"Conquer Wu!"

"Conquer Wu!"

For a time, the hall was filled with calls to conquer Wu.

Then, hundreds and thousands of voices outside the hall responded in unison, like the surging tide of a river at night, shaking the heavens and the earth.

The people are united.

Military morale is available.

midnight.

All officers below the rank of colonel have withdrawn.

Chen Dao then recounted to the senior generals the two strategies for attacking Wu that the emperor had described on the summit of Mount Kuimen, the strategies Yang Hong had offered for the country on his deathbed, and the emperor's strategy of guerrilla warfare in western Hunan.

All the generals praised Yang Hong's two strategies for attacking Wu as brilliant and excellent.

The generals had reservations about the emperor's strategy of "guerrilla warfare in western Hunan."

"Your Majesty, what is Sima Cuo's old strategy?" Zhang Gu, Zhang Dingjiang, who had just returned from his posting, asked with a surge of courage.

Before the emperor could speak, Chen Dao took the initiative to explain to the generals:
"Sima Cuo was a great general of the Qin state. Before Bai Qi rose to power, he had already made numerous contributions and held the position of Grand Commandant, which was still above Bai Qi's rank."

In the twenty-seventh year of King Zhaoxiang, Sima Cuo was ordered to lead the Qin army from Longxi into Shu, and to replenish the number of soldiers in Bashu to 100,000.

"When they attacked Chu, their troops split into two routes."

"The journey was all along the Yangtze River."

"The other route was to enter the Yuan River from Zangke, advance eastward downstream, and attack Qianzhong of Chu, which is today's Wuling in Jingzhou."

"Chu deployed a large army along the Yangtze River, and was caught off guard by Sima Cuo's attack on the Yuan River, so they could not attend to both sides."

"In the end, the Qin army defeated the Chu army, captured Qianzhong, and marched straight towards the capital of Chu."

"In the end, the State of Chu ceded territory to sue for peace, giving Qin the counties north of the Han River, as well as the two prefectures of Shangyong and Fangling."

The generals were somewhat surprised to hear this.

Many people don't know that you can enter Wuling from the Yuan River.

"Your Majesty, is the Yuan River still suitable for military operations?" Zheng Pu asked.

Liu Shan nodded: "General Ma Zhong and Ma Dexin of Annam have scouted the route in the past six months. They can take small boats and travel thirty or forty miles over mountains and ridges to reach the Yuan River, where they can deploy three or four thousand troops."

"Three or four thousand people?" Yan Yu frowned.

Three or four thousand men, deep into the heart of Wuling Wu, seems a bit too few.

General Fu Kuang of Andong looked worried and said:

"Your Majesty, I have heard that Sun Quan has recently issued lenient policies to appease the Wuling and Wuxi barbarians."

"He also repeatedly sent debaters to explain the fortunes and misfortunes of the people, and provided them with salt and iron, year after year without ceasing."

"Therefore, the Yi people of the Five Streams were grateful for his kindness, and Wuling was free from the threat of plunder. For three years, there was no war between Wu and the Man people."

"If our Han army ventures deep into enemy territory alone, the Wuxi Yi people may harbor gratitude towards Wu and join forces with Wu to resist us. What should we do then?"

Liu Shan shook his head without hesitation:
"Vice Minister Ma Bing once said to me:"

“The people of the Five Streams are like fire; they repay kindness with fervor and avenge enmity with fierce determination.”

"Though generations may pass, this vow will not change; this is what is meant by repaying kindness with kindness and repaying injustice with justice."

"It is also said that their custom is that whenever an alliance is formed, a painted pheasant must be tortured to draw its blood, which is then poured into a vessel and drunk together as a pledge."

"If the oath is broken, the gods and spirits will punish the person, and their descendants will not prosper."

"Therefore, the Wuxi Yi King Shamoke was able to remain steadfast from beginning to end, and even in death he would not waver, and he was willing to die for the Han Dynasty."

"It's not about being loyal, but about fulfilling my oath."

The Wuling Yi people have always been a target that the Han Dynasty could win over. When the entire Jingzhou region submitted to Wu, only the Wuling Wuxi Yi people remained defiant.

They hold grudges very much.

You Wu people killed my people and even my king, and you still expect me to submit to you? Are you out of your mind?!
Liu Shan remembered that three or four years later, Sun Quan granted Pan Jun the imperial insignia and ordered him and Lü Dai to lead an army of 50,000 to attack the Wuxi barbarians.

Over several years, Pan Jun killed and captured tens of thousands of people.

From then on, the Wuling Wuxi Yi people gradually declined.

Upon hearing the emperor's words, the generals suddenly understood.

Fu Kuang seemed to realize something and asked, "From what Your Majesty means, the so-called guerrilla warfare seems to be different from the guerrilla generals of the time of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Xiaowu?"

Liu Shan nodded.

The original meaning of guerrilla warfare is "to move around and attack," that is, to lead a mobile regular army, which can be deployed to various places at any time according to the needs of the battlefield to carry out tasks such as reconnaissance, raids, cover, and rearguard action.

Therefore, the guerrilla generals of the Former Han Dynasty were not generals who "hid in the mountains to fight guerrilla warfare," but rather mobile vanguards in the regular army.

Liu Shan's use of the term "guerrilla warfare" was naturally not what he meant by this.

"Do you all know that Peng Yue has harassed Chu?" Liu Shan asked with a smile.

The generals paused, as if they had all remembered something.

Peng Yue was as famous as Han Xin and Ying Bu, and was a renowned general in the early Han Dynasty. People at the time commented that the three of them "shared the same merits and were of one mind." Like the other two, Peng Yue was also enfeoffed as a prince of a different surname by Emperor Gaozu.

During the Chu-Han Contention, Peng Yue led his troops on a mobile campaign in the Liang and Chu regions, disrupting Chu's supply lines and forcing Xiang Yu to return to the rescue several times. He successfully helped Emperor Gaozu recover from his defeat at Pengcheng and ultimately assisted him in gaining the upper hand on the main battlefield of Xingyang, reversing the tide of the war.

Many people say that Xiang Yu's most hated person after his crushing defeat was not necessarily Emperor Gaozu or Han Xin, but rather the "cowardly" King Liang of the Han Dynasty.

Seeing the expressions on the faces of his generals, Liu Shan then said:
"In the past, King Helü of Wu wanted to attack Chu. Wu Zixu and Sun Wu devised a strategy for Helü to exhaust Chu with three armies."

"Divide the army into three parts, and send only one part to attack each time, while the other two parts rest and regroup."

"When the Chu army fought with all its might, the Wu army quickly retreated."

"The Chu army returned to rest and reorganize, while another Wu army unit launched another attack."

"This repeated itself, forcing the Chu people to run around in circles, which depleted their national strength and morale."

"Now I wish to appoint the chief of the Five Streams as Peng Yue of my Han Dynasty, and then appoint General Ma Zhong of Annan and General Meng Huo of Anhan to lead the people of the south to assist him."

"Firstly, we rely on the enemy for food supplies."

"Secondly, when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy is exhausted, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue."

"If so, it will surely make the Wu people unable to fight and unable to stop."

"In short, our Han army divided its forces into multiple routes to launch feint attacks and harass the Wu army from different directions, thus tying down the Wu army and preventing it from supporting each other from both ends."

"Wait until the Wu people are exhausted from running around before launching a real attack."

"The Wu people are facing the Wei army to the north, and are overwhelmed by attacks to the west. They are doomed to defeat."

...

Wuling.

Enshi.

Ma Liang's son, Ma Bing, led more than ten elite guards and arrived carrying the emperor's insignia.

Between the two mountains, hundreds of Wuxi Yi people suddenly rose from the forests and bushes, swarming down and surrounding more than ten Han people.

Ma Bing remained calm and composed, like a still lake, as he and his group of elite guards surrendered without resistance.

(End of this chapter)