Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 231 Hanging the Sheep and Beating the Drum
Meanwhile, Generals Xu Sheng and Ding Feng led over ten thousand men in pursuit of the fleeing enemy, advancing by both land and water, and sailing north along the Han River for over forty li.

Along the way, they encountered and fought five or six battles with Cao Xiu's routed troops, killing and capturing four or five thousand, and seizing countless armor, weapons, provisions, and valuables.

When they reached Hanjin, Cao Xiu and his rear guard troops were the first to cross to the north bank of the Han River. They then sank the boats and burned the docks to stop the Wu army from pursuing them.

This forced Xu Sheng and Ding Feng to halt their pursuit.

They waited for the rear army to cross to the north bank.

They took a short rest and ate and drank some water.

Xu Sheng reined in his horse on the riverbank. The two of them were covered in blood, sweat, and mud, but they did not look disheveled. Instead, their heroic spirit seemed to grow even stronger.

Ding Feng rode in from the southeast. His helmet was missing, his armor was missing, his hair was disheveled, and the blade of his broadsword was chipped, still dripping with enemy blood.

The two generals met at Hanjin Wharf and exchanged views briefly.

Ding Feng was of humble origin and served as a junior officer, military commander, and colonel under Gan Ning, Lu Xun, and Pan Zhang.

Some time ago, Pan Zhang returned from Xicheng without achieving anything. Sun Quan personally comforted the generals under Pan Zhang's command and then discovered that this junior officer named Ding Feng was different from the other generals in terms of physique, appearance, and speech.

So Ding Feng's files were transferred in.

It was discovered that Ding Feng was always brave and took the lead in every battle, killing enemy generals and capturing flags. He was also often wounded because he led from the front, just like Zhou Tai.

Sun Quan was greatly surprised.

At a banquet, in front of a group of civil and military officers, he praised Ding Feng's achievements and commended him for his actions. He rewarded Ding Feng with more than ten beautiful maids and 100,000 gold and silk. He also took Ding Feng from Pan Zhang and personally trained him, temporarily appointing Ding Feng as Xu Sheng's deputy general.

Although Xu Sheng had only known Ding Feng for a short time, after spending more than a month together, he knew that Ding Feng was quite brave and resourceful. Seeing Ding Feng in such a disheveled state after killing the enemy, Xu Sheng's approval of him increased even more.

"When we first heard His Majesty praise Cheng Yuan for his bravery, we generals thought it was an exaggeration and did not take it seriously. But today, having witnessed Cheng Yuan leading the charge, personally leading the soldiers, and breaking through enemy lines, his heroic figure is just like that of Duke Youping (Zhou Tai). Only now do we realize that the generals were narrow-minded."

"If every general and officer of our Great Wu could be as fearless and selfless as Cheng Yuan, braving swords and axes, wouldn't the prosperity of the Great Wu kingdom be just around the corner?!"

"You flatter me, Your Excellency," Ding Feng replied in a deep voice, neither humble nor arrogant.

Xu Sheng and Ding Feng then discussed the results and losses of their campaign northward.

After about half of the soldiers on the south bank had crossed to the north bank of the Han River and rested briefly, Xu Sheng prepared to take advantage of the overwhelming force and momentum to give Cao Cao's army no chance to catch their breath.

These are the exact words Sun Quan instructed Xu Sheng before he led his army to pursue the fleeing enemy.

Ding Feng, a subordinate general, upon hearing that Xu Sheng still intended to continue the pursuit, first looked around hesitantly. After a moment's thought, he spoke to the General of Andong before him:

"My lord, before we set off, the Grand Commander repeatedly instructed me:"

"The Emperor said that this is a golden opportunity that should not be missed, and anyone who dares to speak of retreat will be executed."

"However, we must be wary of Cao Wei setting up an ambush to lure our Great Wu into a hasty advance."

Xu Sheng was surprised.

Before setting off, the Grand Commander did not give him a single word of instruction, but he did give Ding Feng some advice.

Is this an attempt to win over Ding Feng?

Or does the Grand Commander know that even if he says this to him, he might not listen?

After all, he was the supreme being.

After the emperor encouraged him to study, he also read a lot of the "Records of the Grand Historian" and the "Book of Han". Although he did not pay much attention to the intricacies of people's hearts, he naturally gained some insights from seeing so much of it.

Ding Feng had no intention of concealing Lu Xun's admonitions, nor did he intend to use the defeat of the Great Wu to gain a false reputation for "the exceptionally well-preserved Feng Camp." He stated frankly:
"My lord, this place is full of peaks and valleys, with deep forests and lush grass. It is an ambush site. If we make a ruckus and pursue them, and advance too far with light troops, I fear we will fall into the Wei's ambush. My lord must be careful and cautious."

Xu Sheng pulled on the reins and looked around.

As Ding Feng said, this place is full of peaks and lush vegetation, making it even more suitable for ambush than Canglang River and Yunmeng Marsh, where the Great Wu had previously ambushed the Wei army.

Suddenly, he thought of something.

"The Wei prisoners said that Jia Kui, the governor of Yuzhou, who was previously surrounded by us in the Green Forest Road, was arranged by Cao Xiu to cover the rear because of his grudge against Cao Xiu, and thus did not enter the Canglang River or the Yunmeng Marsh."

"He was well-versed in military strategy and possessed both literary and martial skills."

"However, Cao Xiu's defeat was due to the fact that he did not see the rear guard troops commanded by Jia Kui at all."

“I had noticed this matter before, but... I thought that Jia Kui had a long-standing grudge against Cao Xiu, so he refused to help him and wanted to use the Great Wu to get rid of this thorn in his side.”

"Now it seems that Jia Kui may not be as despicable as I thought."

"I'm afraid they didn't flee at the first sign of trouble, but rather laid an ambush and waited for an opportunity. We really must be careful."

"Our army has been pursuing the enemy to the north, and the army has grown into a long snake, stretching for more than ten miles. If we are suddenly ambushed, we will be unable to defend both ends."

"Alright, let the three armies rest for a while longer, and send men to observe the surrounding area for any ambushes. Do not advance rashly."

"Yes!" Ding Feng was thrilled upon hearing this.

The two generals summoned dozens of their trusted men and relayed the military order they had just received.

However, not long after, He Qi's son, He Da, led more than ten officers and soldiers in a hurried attack on Xu and Ding.

Xu Sheng frowned slightly upon seeing this.

Before he could even ask a question, He Da launched into a tirade of abuse:
Xu Andong!

"The Supreme One has spoken!"

"Cao Xiu has already been defeated, what's the point of not pursuing him?!"

"Opportunity knocks but once; those who back down will be executed!!"

"Where does Xu Andong place the Emperor's command?!"
"Does the general mean to say that a general in the field may disobey the emperor's orders?!"

With such a heavy burden placed on him, Xu Sheng frowned even more deeply, shaking his head repeatedly as he expressed his and Ding Feng's concerns.

He Da and the dozen or so officers and clerks he brought looked at each other in bewilderment. After a moment, He Da, still relentless, angrily questioned:
"When pursuing the fleeing enemy, one must press on with unwavering determination and not rest for even a moment!"

"Now, firstly, crossing the river will delay our progress, and secondly, the Wei army will abandon their armor and drag their weapons as they flee!"

"We are heavily armored and armed, and our speed is far inferior to that of the Wei army. We should lightly deploy our troops, abandon our provisions and helmets, and march forward with our armor intact!"
"With just a leather armor and a spear, the soldiers are enough to terrify the Wei people!"
Why hesitate now, and instead look around?!
"If we were to let Cao Xiu escape, wouldn't that chill the Emperor's heart and demoralize the entire army?!"
"Back then, Cao Cao was defeated at the Battle of Red Cliffs and Liu Bei was defeated at the Battle of Yiling, which led to the current tripartite balance of power between Wu, Wei, and Shu!"

"The emperor regrets firstly for not pursuing the enemy at Red Cliff, and secondly for not chasing them at Yiling!"

"Now that the victory at Yunmeng has been achieved, if Cao Xiu is allowed to escape again, how will His Majesty be able to absolve himself of this hatred?!"

"The opportunity to unify the world is fleeting, like a flash of lightning; who can predict it?!"
"Just as no one could have predicted that Cao Zhen and Zhang He would fall at the hands of Liu Shan, the ruler of Shu!"
"This year has come, and auspicious omens have frequently appeared in Wu. The imperial astrologers and officials, observing the stars and the weather, all say that the fate of Wu lies with Wu, not with Han and Wei."

"If we are hesitant and timid, and miss this opportunity, wouldn't that be exactly 'if Heaven gives us an opportunity and we don't seize it, we will suffer the consequences'!"
"By then, we will both be sinners of the Great Wu!"
"Xu Andong, His Majesty has placed his heart and soul in the General's heart, entrusting him with a profound responsibility. How can Xu Andong fail to live up to this trust?!"

After being scolded and reprimanded by He Da, Xu Sheng, who had just made up his mind to act cautiously, slowly showed hesitation on his face.

Ding Feng looked directly at He Da and calmly spoke:

"General He, Cao Xiu is just a mediocre general."

"Now that our Great Wu has defeated them, if we let them return north, it may actually be advantageous for Great Wu."

“Otherwise, if Jia Kui, Man Chong, Zang Ba, Wang Ling and the like are given positions in the southeast, wouldn’t that be even worse for our Great Wu? It would be better to let them go.”

"Chengyuan, stop talking nonsense!" Xu Sheng hurriedly stopped Ding Feng from speaking recklessly.

The decision to pursue and kill Cao Xiu was made by the Emperor, and it was not something that a mere subordinate general like Ding Feng could question. All that generals could and should do was to steadfastly carry out the Emperor's orders.

He ordered his army to rest briefly and sent his soldiers to search in all directions. This was merely a few detours in carrying out the emperor's orders, to prevent the Wu soldiers from falling into Cao Wei's ambush.

But the ultimate goal remains unchanged: the Supreme Commander's decree is still not something they, as outsiders, can interfere with.

Before the military order is issued, we can discuss it.

Once a military order is given, it must be resolutely carried out.

Xu Sheng reassured Ding Feng, He Da, and the officers and soldiers He Da brought with him.

He ordered them to continue arranging manpower to help the soldiers on the south bank cross the river to the north, while sending an advance force to continue pursuing them to the north, but to proceed with caution.

At the same time, more scouts were sent out to check for any unusual activity in the surrounding area.

An hour passed.

Aside from several hundred dead or wounded, eighty percent of the soldiers he brought with him reached the north bank of the Han River.

As a result, more and more scouts were sent out.

Another half hour.

Suddenly, several scouts reported back.

More than ten miles to the north, a strategic pass had been captured by the defeated Wei army.

Cao Wei banners covered the mountains and fields, and judging from the scale, there were probably more than 10,000 people.

These Wei soldiers deployed deer antlers, large logs, and sharp bamboo in front of the pass, setting up a fortified position and demonstrating their determination to defend the pass to the death.

“Cao Xiu fled all the way from Yunmengze to here, without having time to build passes and checkpoints. The fact that he was able to set up a pass here and defend it must be Jia Kui and his Yuzhou army,” Ding Feng said.

He Da frowned:

"So what if it's Jia Kui? An army is all about momentum! The Wei army's defeat is inevitable, and Jia Kui's army alone is powerless to reverse the situation!"

However, not long afterward, another scout returned with a report.

"General Andong, there seems to be several thousand Wei soldiers hiding in a mountain hollow ten miles northwest of the Wei army's pass!"

Xu Sheng and Ding Feng frowned. "So there really was an ambush?" He Da was initially suspicious, then gave a contemptuous smile.

"Heh, since we've already detected the ambush, how can it still be called an ambush? It's just a trivial trick!"

Xu Sheng shook his head:

"Whether or not they were lying in ambush, Jia Kui's Yuzhou army rested and recuperated for several days."

"We have pursued Cao Xiu for dozens of miles, and now we are exhausted."

"Let's halt the pursuit for now and report back to His Majesty and the Grand Commander about what happened here."

...

It is located more than 20 li northwest of Wuying.

The night was as dark as ink, seemingly empty.

A moment later, the dark clouds covering the moon gradually moved away.

The bright moonlight suddenly poured down on the ground.

Suddenly, a hundred riders appeared in the middle of the narrow passage.

The moonlight, like water, gently enveloped the riders.

The shadows of the trees are dappled and sway gently in the wind.

Some people feed horses with beans.

Someone opened their purse to water the horse.

Both men and horses were clad in armor and armed with sharp weapons.

With great strides and high spirits, they are poised to unleash their power.

Each warhorse had a war drum hanging beside it.

Behind each warhorse was a goat.

The mouths of the goats were all tightly bound, and they were completely silent.

Whether from extreme hunger or extreme pain, its hooves thrashed about wildly.

"Let's go," Norimitsu gave the order.

The hundred riders slowly set off, taking small, light steps to gallop southeast, unhurried and unhurried.

early morning.

It's not going to be bright yet.

In Wu Jun's vanguard camp, the campfire was almost extinguished.

The night patrol soldiers, carrying halberds and crossbows, leaned against the gate and dozed off.

"—Knock knock!"

"—Knock knock knock knock!"

Suddenly, the war drums began to beat.

The man from Wu was suddenly awakened from his sleep.

The chaotic sound of war drums seemed to come from the sky and the ground, from all directions, simultaneously, causing the ground to tremble.

"No, enemy attack!"

I don't know who started it by screaming.

With this loud shout, the several Wu army camps that were connected instantly erupted into chaos.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"It's over, the Wei army is here!"

The northernmost night watchman was thrown into turmoil and rushed out of the camp to take a look.

In the dim morning light and the faint glow of fire, the Wei cavalry, clad in black armor and riding black horses, swept through the enemy lines like a whirlwind, crashing straight into the fortified gate.

The first general was majestic and imposing, riding a tall horse and brandishing a long sword, galloping straight toward the gate.

"Kill!!!" Norimitsu roared.

"Kill!" The hundred cavalrymen under his command shouted battle cries that shook the heavens.

Before long, Dian Man took the lead, directly crossing the gate and charging into the Wu army camp. He used the back of his sword as a hammer, slashing and smashing left and right. Wherever he went, Wu soldiers fell and died.

For a while.

A cacophony of drumbeats, staggering footsteps, frantic shouts and battle cries, the pounding of hooves, the neighing of warhorses, and cries of pleas arose all at once.

Like a surging tide, it all poured into the ears of the chaotic Wu army.

The Wu camp was instantly thrown into chaos.

Clad in cold armor, wielding long spears, and riding black horses, the Wei cavalry resembled gods of war, charging and weaving through the Wu camp.

A sweep.

Another collision.

Clusters of blood and bits of flesh splattered, and the stench grew stronger. The Wu army camp at the forefront was quickly filled with the stench of blood.

"—Knock knock knock knock."

The sound of drums was as dense as a sudden rain all around the camp, coming from all directions and penetrating directly into this military tent.

Although the sounds were fragmented and disordered, making it impossible to discern what military orders were being conveyed, this very fact made it all the more difficult for the Wu people to decipher them.

But that's precisely why it makes people even more uneasy.

What exactly is the enemy's intention?

Just how many troops were lying in ambush around the camp?

It was as if the entire stronghold was now completely surrounded by the enemy, with no way to get through.

The Wu army, its soldiers and officers, could not distinguish friend from foe, and began to trample each other or draw their swords to fight.

Xu Shengben was taking a nap inside the camp when he heard the drum and suddenly jumped up, barefoot and sword in hand, rushing out of the tent.

Ding Feng also came from another direction, and the two bumped into each other at the gate.

"My lord, this is bad!" Ding Feng exclaimed urgently, "The camp is about to rebel!"

"Don't panic!" Xu Sheng immediately realized the key point.

"Send word to all armies that the Wei soldiers who invaded the camp have been eliminated!"
Anyone who dares to light up will be executed!
Anyone who dares to leave the camp will be executed!
Anyone who dares to make a disturbance and disrupt the morale of our troops will be executed!
"Night patrol soldiers, bows and crossbows drawn, long shields erected as walls! Follow me!"

Xu Sheng issued a series of military orders.

The guards and officers quickly rushed to their respective camps.

Xu Sheng also rushed out of the camp, shouting repeatedly, ordering everyone to return to the camp and sit down.

Many did not comply.

Enraged, Xu Sheng grabbed a fleeing soldier by the collar and beheaded him with a single stroke.

At the same instant, Ding Feng also killed one person with remarkable synergy.

The two men split up to suppress the fleeing soldiers, killing more than a dozen panicked and chaotic soldiers before finally managing to quell the surging tide of defeated troops around them.

Before long, the shouts of the Wei army gradually subsided.

Just as Xu Sheng and Ding Feng summoned their warhorses to pursue and kill, the Wei cavalry retreated.

However, the drumming continued, becoming increasingly eerie.

When heavy, it is like thunder; when light, it is like willow catkins.

Xu Sheng dared not make a move.

However, after listening intently for a moment, his expression suddenly changed: "Something's wrong. The drumbeats are erratic, going east and west without any pattern, and there's no killing intent..."

Ding Feng also found it strange, and raised his hand to order his personal guards to leave the camp, light a fire, and go up the mountain.

Once we've climbed the mountain and entered the forest...

The firelight illuminated an empty space with no hidden soldiers.

Further in, there seemed to be dark shadows moving about in the woods.

Ding Feng looked closely and was astonished to see a goat hanging in the forest, its hooves kicking wildly, making the war drums sound deafening.

"Hanging a sheep and beating a drum!" Xu Sheng spat.

"Fortunately, the clamor in the camp has stopped." Ding Feng was still shaken.

"Chase!" Xu Sheng gritted his teeth as he watched the Wei cavalry disappear into the distance, and gave the final order.

(End of this chapter)