Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 262 All ships set out, a thousand sails in motion

Jiangnan.

The Chinese military tent.

Liu Shan's Golden Guard Banner and Chen Dao's Rear General Banner, one high and one low, were both raised in front of the tent.

When the drums were sounded, all the generals and officers of the camp, whose rank was over two thousand shi, arrived in unison.

The emperor, dressed in a black robe, sat in the main seat, while Grand Commander Chen Dao sat beside him, exuding an air of solemnity and authority.

After a brief exchange of greetings, several officers and lieutenants sitting in the back row exchanged glances. One of them finally couldn't contain himself and asked the emperor, who was seated at the head of the table, in a low voice:

"Your Majesty and the Grand Commander have both arrived... So, does this mean the main attack is truly aimed at Jiangnan, rather than at Fu Taolu's position on the north bank?"

Upon hearing this question, several officers who shared the same doubt immediately turned their gazes to him intently.

In the previous battle of Yanyu Pass, they were originally a diversionary force, but unexpectedly they directly captured Yanyu Pass, and their achievements surpassed those of Fu Qian and his troops.

Now that His Majesty has arrived in person and the imperial banner is flying high, doesn't this mean that even greater achievements are just around the corner?
Most of those present were not arrogant people; they all knew that Pan Jun was not someone to be trifled with.
It is also known that the reason why they were able to win at that time was firstly due to the five thousand infantrymen trained by Zheng Pu and Wang Chong, who were skilled in the Mandarin Duck Formation; secondly due to the various key intelligence gathered by spies; and thirdly due to the various strategies for breaking through the pass devised by the emperor and his close generals such as the Grand Commander and Guan Xing based on the intelligence.

As for them, they were nothing more than lackeys and henchmen, only benefiting from the emperor's personal campaign. If there was anything to be proud of, it was that they withstood the pressure and stabilized the battle line before the surprise attacks of generals Guan Xing and Zheng Pu.

However, despite this, their soldiers still gained valuable experience. Morale, such an intangible thing, is often built up through a series of victories.

With more wins, confidence grows, equipment is upgraded, and there are no worries about the future; even a weak pawn can become a formidable force.

And all of this can be said to be brought about by this emperor who personally led the expedition.

Another dark-skinned captain couldn't help but chime in:
"No matter what, His Majesty's appointment as commander-in-chief, his pioneering role in breaking through the pass, capturing enemy generals and seizing flags—we must fight for that achievement!"

“That’s absolutely right!” A captain standing nearby slammed his fist into his palm.

"Your Majesty, we missed the chance to capture the general and flag at Yanyu Pass in the last battle. This time... we absolutely cannot let Your Majesty down again!"

Voices began to rise from inside the tent, restless and eager.

Shortly after, Zhang Gu looked around and said with a sigh:
"Rewards for merit are certainly important."

"However, as long as our homeland is not recovered and Sun Quan is not dead, the hatred for Jingzhou and the resentment for Yiling will not be resolved in a single day!"
"Kill the traitor Wu, avenge our hatred, and make sure Wu dog pays in blood!"

“General Zhang is absolutely right!” Cen Shu, the Salt Commissioner of Jiangzhou, said in a booming voice.

This drew sidelong glances from the generals around him, and even from Liu Shan and Chen Dao, who were seated in the main and deputy seats.

He paid no heed and clasped his hands in a fist salute towards the direction of the emperor:

"His Majesty!
"Winning battles and promotions are all things to come later!"
"I think that it would be truly satisfying and cathartic to cut down those traitors who betrayed their masters and those wicked dogs who aided and abetted the evildoers!"
"Pan Jun was so terrified at the mere mention of the news that he abandoned his army and fled. I can finally vent this pent-up anger that I've held in for so many years!"

But that's far from enough!

"The traitors Pan Jun and Fu Shiren are not dead!"

"Jingzhou has not yet been recovered. The mere Iron Chain Pass and the mere Wu County will surely be taken by His Majesty within five days!"

Liu Shan's gaze swept over Zhang Gu, Cen Shu, and the other generals, and he slowly nodded with a hint of approval in his smile:
"With the army's morale high and its momentum unstoppable, this is the foundation for defeating the enemy, and I am very pleased with it."

However, before the generals could react, he subtly changed the subject, his tone becoming serious:
"However...you all should know that what our Great Han will face next is the fortified city of Wuxian and the Iron Chain Pass, which are held by the two rebels Pan Jun and Sun Shao."

"The city there is high and the moat is deep, and the pass is dangerous and difficult to attack."

"Furthermore, there are iron chains across the river and giant cones at the bottom that hinder our navy."

"This battle is a real tough battle and a battle of attrition."

"There will never again be the chance to achieve a surprising victory or defeat the enemy with a small force, as was the case at Yanyu Pass."

"What we are fighting for is the lives of our soldiers, and what we are sacrificing is the resources of our nation. Every step forward requires rivers of blood and piles of corpses."

The excited atmosphere inside the tent suddenly froze. The excitement on the faces of Zhang Gu, Cen Shu, and the other generals subsided slightly, and they showed signs of deep thought.

However, after only a moment, Zhang Gu seemed completely unconcerned and spoke again in a loud voice, his tone resolute:

"His Majesty!
"I believe that there is no need to devise any more ingenious schemes or strategies!"
"So what if we're tackling tough challenges? So what if we're fighting hard battles?!"
"Last year, the Prime Minister led the army on a northern expedition and broke through the Wei rebels' strongholds and high walls overnight!"
"My Eastern Expeditionary Army is now under the personal command of His Majesty. Our soldiers have been honing their skills for years and are now ready to fight. Are we really going to be weaker than our brothers in the Northern Expeditionary Army?!"

"What the Northern Expeditionary Army can do, my Eastern Expeditionary Army can do as well!"
"Not only can we do it, we can do it faster and more beautifully!"

"We must let the world see that our Great Han army, whether in the Northern Expedition or the Eastern Expedition, is a formidable force, unstoppable in its might!"

These words were like a drop of water thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the emotions of the generals in the tent.

“General Zhang is right!” Reibu stepped out of the train immediately, his voice booming.

"The Northern Expeditionary Army is His Majesty's army, and so is our Eastern Expeditionary Army!"

"We eat the same food and receive the same pay, so why are we treated worse than them?!"
"In the Battle of Yanyu Pass, we won a victory against overwhelming odds!"

"The fact that Pan Jun was routed and forced to abandon his armor is clear proof!"

Cen Shu is also an interface:

"That's exactly right!"
"What Wu the bandit relies on is nothing more than the danger of the river pass."

"But our army has won one victory after another, and its morale is high!"
As the saying goes, "One should strike while the iron is hot, but the momentum will wane on the second attempt and be exhausted on the third."

"Our Han soldiers are now in unparalleled spirit, and it is time to press on and crush the Wu traitors!"

"Yes! Crush that bastard Wu, let him taste the might of the mighty warriors of the Han Dynasty!"

"The tough battles that the Northern Expeditionary Army could fight, our Eastern Expeditionary Army can fight just as well! And we'll fight them even better!"

Inside the tent, the generals spoke one after another, their voices urging to fight rising and falling.

The atmosphere, which had been somewhat stagnant due to the emperor's reminder, had become fiery and energetic, with a spirit of not giving up and a strong desire for battle arising spontaneously in the central command tent.

In fact, many mid- to lower-ranking officers were well aware that, in terms of overall strength, equipment, and training, the army on this eastern expedition was indeed somewhat inferior to the Northern Expeditionary Army, which the Prime Minister had poured his heart and soul into building and which had gathered the most elite forces of the Han Dynasty.

Even in the navy, apart from the few massive flagship ships that could bolster the morale of the soldiers, most of the middle and upper-ranking officers understood that the Han navy was objectively at a disadvantage compared to the Wu people who had lived on the rivers and seas for generations in terms of ship handling and naval combat experience.

However, in the first battle of the Eastern Expedition, they won one victory after another, quickly conquered the key pass, and then killed generals and captured flags, advancing triumphantly all the way to the front of the Wuxian River Pass.

All of this greatly boosted the morale of the Eastern Expeditionary Army and completely washed away the lack of confidence that had existed in the past due to the disastrous defeat at Yiling.

A sense of pride and conviction has already blossomed.

Morale and morale, this intangible yet real force, are often more important factors for victory than superior equipment or rigorous training.

Liu Shan looked at the excited generals under his command and clapped his hands in celebration:

"Very well! Since you all possess such lofty ambitions, I will wait and see how my valiant warriors conquer cities and fortresses, and display the might of my Great Han! May the Great Han be victorious!"

"The great man is victorious!"

"The great man is victorious!"

The atmosphere is right.

Liu Shan then led his generals to witness the power of the Eight-Ox Crossbow and told them that this was the secret weapon of the Han Dynasty in this battle.

Amidst shock and elation, the generals returned to their respective camps to prepare for battle.

As Liu Shan watched the departing figures of his generals, he subconsciously stroked his short beard.

Things are made secret, and words are leaked.

The operation to secretly build a giant raft upstream to break the iron chains of the river was kept secret by only a handful of people, including Liu Shan, Chen Dao, Guan Xing, and Zhao Guang, to ensure its success.

Similarly, the operation by Fu Kuang and Liu Yin to quietly infiltrate behind enemy lines and sever the connection between Wu County and Zigui was an absolute top secret, completely unknown to ordinary officers.

As for the final determination of the specific battle sequence and main attack direction, Liu Shan did not intend to announce it to the public at this time.

The real decisions are still being made only within the innermost circle.

After a long while, Liu Shan finally turned his gaze to Chen Dao, Guan Xing, Zhao Guang, and a few others:

"The art of war, which is to make the enemy appear strong when they are weak, and weak when they are strong, and so on, is nothing more than 'using various methods to mislead them'."

"Today, I will make a grand display and parade the troops around the camp."

"Firstly, it is to boost the morale of the soldiers here and demonstrate the determination of our great Han to recover Jingzhou and Xiangyang. Secondly, it is to keep Pan Jun and Sun Shao on the other side from figuring out the true intentions of our great Han."

"With my imperial banner hanging high here, those people will make unfounded speculations and be suspicious."

"We need to divide our forces to reinforce the defenses on the south bank, but we dare not easily draw troops from the north bank to provide support. This would distract us from other matters, and we must guard against any possible threats."

"Such indecisiveness and inability to attend to both sides is the reason for their defeat."

Guan Xing's eyes flashed with a strange light, and he replied in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, Holy Ming!
"As a result, the people of Wu were disturbed, their judgments were impaired, and their troops were scattered."

"No matter whether they ultimately determine that my main attack direction is south or north, they will be put on the defensive!"
"Their attention will inevitably be firmly drawn to the cross-strait offensive and defensive operations!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Guang's face also showed excitement, and he continued:
"Those two traitors, Pan Jun and Sun Shao, could never have imagined that the key to our Han Dynasty's victory over the enemy lies neither in the south nor in the north, but on the surging river, amidst their seemingly foolproof iron chains and sinking spikes!"

...

Guansi Temple in Wuxian County.

The atmosphere was solemn.

General Sun Shao, the General Who Guards the West, sat upright on the left. Even though they were discussing matters inside, he was still in armor and had not removed his sword. His gaze swept over the Grand Master of Ceremonies and General of the Vanguard who was in charge of supervising the army.

“Pan Taichang.” Sun Shao’s voice was not loud, but as soon as he uttered those three words, anyone could hear the sarcasm in his tone.

"The Shu barbarians have deployed their troops in the north and south, their momentum is overwhelming, but their main direction of attack is still undecided." He changed the subject, revealing his sharp edge.

"In my opinion, the Grand Master of Ceremonies should lead a large army to guard the fortified city of Wuxian in Jiangbei, while the Iron Chain Pass in Jiangnan... I should personally go there."

"The passes south of the Yangtze River are crucial to the survival of the iron chains that cross the river. If these chains are broken, the Shu naval forces can sail downstream. At that time, the gates will be wide open, and the entire region from Zigui to Xiling and Jiangling will be shaken... Can the Grand Master of Ceremonies still bear this responsibility?"

"Sun Zhenxi!" Before the words were even finished, one of the generals at the table could no longer contain himself and suddenly stood up.

"His Majesty personally bestowed upon Pan Taichang the imperial insignia and appointed him as the supreme military commander of the western front! Sun Zhenxi is under the command of Taichang; how can he act so disrespectfully?!"

"Not bad!"

"In times of crisis, unity of purpose is even more crucial!"

"Is General Zhenxi trying to sow discord among our troops with these words?"

Most of the scholars from Jingzhou did not speak directly during the gathering, but their gazes toward Sun Shao were filled with dissatisfaction and wariness.

"Holding the imperial staff to oversee the army?" Sun Shao repeated these four words in a sarcastic tone.

“Pan Taichang held His Majesty’s insignia, but abandoned his troops and fled at Yanyu Pass. From that moment on, he, as the general, no longer had the power to supervise the army under my command!”

"Hmph, His Majesty's mission will arrive soon. If His Majesty's decree arrives and still orders your Grand Master Pan to control all the armies, I, Sun Shao, will naturally have nothing to say and will obey orders!"

He stood up abruptly.

"But... before His Majesty's decree arrives, the defense of Wu County can no longer be decided by your Grand Master Pan!"

Pan Jun, the chief of the group, was both angry and humiliated, but he had nothing to say. He only said that the most important thing now was to appease Sun Shao, stabilize the morale of the army, and protect Wu County, rather than to hold a grudge against Sun Shao.

"Alright, let's do as Sun Zhenxi says! Sun Zhenxi will guard the south of the Yangtze River, and I will guard the north!"
"The Shu army is at our gates. We must unite as one and vow to live up to His Majesty's trust!"

The generals then departed.

Shuizhai in Wuxian County.

General Sun Shao, the General Who Guards the West, summoned General Sun Jun, who had inherited the title and rank of his deceased brother Sun Huan, and handed him the tiger tally he carried.

"Shuying, this is my Zhenxi Tiger Tally."

"In the event of any unforeseen circumstances, you shall immediately take command of all troops and soldiers at the pass with the Tiger Tally and guard the city and passes with utmost care."

"No one may engage in battle without my order!"

“I understand!” Sun Jun replied firmly.

Sun Shao nodded: "I have high hopes for Pan Chengming!"

...

On the twentieth day of the first lunar month, the river mist remained.

The river water was turbulent, and the chill was still biting.

The mountains on both sides were shrouded in mist, their dark outlines barely visible, like a giant beast lying in wait.

"—Boom!" A war drum suddenly shattered the deathly silence.

The drumbeats were deep and muffled, reverberating across the river and sky.

"Dong Dong Dong!!!"

Immediately afterwards, the war drums sounded one after another, the rhythm becoming faster and more urgent.

Finally, the Han army's war drums thundered wildly, creating a deafening and awe-inspiring sound.

The riverbank trembled with the sound of drums.

At the Iron Chain Pass to the south, the gates of the Han army camp were wide open.

Squads of Han soldiers, fully armored and in helmets, marched out in silence.

The sounds of swords, spears, and armor clashing, along with the heavy thud of footsteps, created a chilling atmosphere amidst the river breeze and mountain mist.

The officers shouted loudly, urging the soldiers to advance.

One after another, the massive and imposing siege engines were pushed, pulled, and dragged by the soldiers and laborers, rolling over the muddy ground and leaving deep ruts.

Beneath the central army banner, Chen Dao leaned on his sword and gazed eastward.

After a moment, he swallowed a mouthful of cold, damp river air and ordered the messenger beside him in a deep voice: "Order each battalion to proceed in order, maintain formation, and advance slowly! Anyone who makes a commotion or disrupts the formation will be executed!"

"Yes, sir!" The messenger clasped his hands in acceptance and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the mist.

The iron chains across the river connect the north and south passes.

The entire Han army marched out of their camp and formed ranks.

All siege equipment was pushed to the front of Wuren Pass.

Wu Jun was on high alert.

Pan Jun was startled upon hearing the drums in Wu County, north of the Yangtze River.

Sun Shao held firm at Tiesuo Pass in Jiangnan, awaiting the enemy's arrival.

Just as this great battle was about to break out, and everyone's attention was drawn to the iron chains across the river and the passes on both banks.

It is located 20 li upstream from Yanyu Pass.

A secluded bend in the river.

Eight enormous rafts were silently gliding into the main channel.

The raft was not empty.

Instead, they built simple fortresses and barriers with wood and mud, and you could even see some strangely shaped objects covered with tarpaulins.

On each raft stood more than a hundred elite Han soldiers, all highly skilled swimmers.

A young general stood at the front of the leading raft, his figure upright and his eyes piercing. He was Chen Dao's son, General Chen Hu, the commander of the warships.

He raised his hand to signal, and the drummer beside him quickly struck out to the rafts behind him.

Eight giant rafts floated on the river, moving at a leisurely pace towards Wuxian, more than thirty miles downstream, and silently approaching the iron chain that spanned the river.

The thick fog concealed their tracks.

The drums urging the troops to march resounded on the river.

The Han army deployed all its ships, and a thousand sails were in motion.

(End of this chapter)