Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 218 Hair like chives, cut and it grows back; head like a chicken, cut and it crows again.

"If Mao recommends someone, he will surely be able to stop the rebel Yuan!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Kuai Liang was surprised, and Liu Biao also looked at him with a surprised gaze, not understanding why, at this point, his own brother-in-law was not helping him, but recommending something else.

Looking at everyone here, is there anyone more capable of leading troops into battle than you?

Facing the gazes of the crowd, Cai Mao looked up at them with his head held high.

"My lord is unaware of something."

In the battles of Changsha and Lingling, it seemed that our army suffered a great defeat, but in fact, there was a victory in defeat. All the troops were in disarray, but only one person was victorious, regarding Yuan's army as nothing.
At the gates of Changsha, Huang Zhong was defeated and surrendered, and his army was scattered. However, one man, leading less than a thousand men, broke through the encirclement and rode alone through Yuan's army as if it were empty.

In Lingling City, Xing Daorong surrendered to Yuan, and the army lost heart. However, one man led a group of people to break through the enemy lines by charging with a fire ox. He was unstoppable in Yuan's army and could be described as a thousand soldiers fleeing from his grasp.

It is precisely because of this man that we have been able to escape the encirclement of Yuan's army time and time again, narrowly escaping death.

"There are actually such people in our army?"

Liu Biao found it hard to believe. He couldn't believe that after losing so badly to Yuan's army, there was someone in his army who fought Yuan's army just as fiercely as Yuan's army fought him.

He frowned and urged, "Minister Cai, since there is such a person in the army, why didn't you say so earlier? If you had let him take command of the army earlier, the Battle of Lingling wouldn't have come to this."

To this, Cai Mao could only smile wryly, “My lord, I must say this, but if it weren’t for the Battle of Lingling, I would have thought that Xing Daorong was a peerless general, capable of protecting Jingzhou and Xiangyang. Who else would have caught my eye?”
However, it was precisely in the Battle of Lingling that Xing Daorong betrayed his comrades and defected to the enemy, causing the morale of the entire army to plummet. Only in such desperate situations can one truly see the strength and the hearts of the people.

This man was none other than Sun Zhongmou, the son of Sun Jian, the Tiger of Jiangdong!

That night at the gates of Quanling, this man, single-handedly, routed tens of thousands of Yuan Shu's troops. Thousands of soldiers and horses fled in terror; Mao witnessed it firsthand.

"It was this person?"

Upon hearing this name, Liu Biao's joy faded somewhat, and he spoke with considerable doubt.

“I have also heard of Sun Zhongmou, but even if he is as powerful as you say, how can I trust him so much?”
You've heard about the Sun family's current status in Huainan, especially their eldest brother, Sun Ce, who has now been adopted by Yuan Shu and become Yuan Ce. The Sun family's power will only grow stronger.

Can you believe someone like that genuinely came to join us? His thriving elder brother, the powerful family of Huainan—he's giving all of that up?

Seeing Liu Biao hesitate, Cai Mao quickly pressed his advantage, "My lord, you are overthinking things! In considering all these things, you have overlooked one thing: youthful ambition!"
As the saying goes, a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger. Sun Quan was still a young man, at the age when his ambitions were sky-high.

At this moment, he saw Yuan Shu take the Imperial Seal of the State from Sun Ce, which his father Sun Jian had risked his life to obtain. Sun Ce even recognized the enemy as his father and changed his surname to Yuan Ce.

In this situation, he was in the prime of his life; how could he possibly tolerate it?

"That being said, Sun Jian's death, after all..."

Liu Biao paused slightly and didn't continue, but everyone present knew that Sun Jian's death was inextricably linked to their Jingzhou, or rather, to their lord.

To expect Sun Jian's son to save Jingzhou at this point is wishful thinking.

However, Cai Mao seemed to have been prepared for this, pointing at Kuai Liang and asking him loudly.

"My lord, if you don't trust Sun Quan, do you not trust Kuai Zirou?"

Kuai Zirou can vouch for Sun Quan!

Liu Biao: "???"

"My lord, you may not know this, but Sun Quan has already taken Kuai Yue, one of the Kuai brothers, as his teacher."

No one knew better than the Kuai brothers whether he was capable or loyal.

As Cai Mao spoke, he raised his hand to signal Kuai Liang, "Zi Rou, don't just stand there, quickly tell the lord, was any of what I said before a lie?"

Kuai Liang: "."

Kuai Liang could only smile wryly and bow to Liu Biao, saying:

"What General Cai said is not unfounded."

Judging from the letter sent by Yidu, Sun Zhongmou has the same style as his father, much like the fierce tiger of Jiangdong.

As for whether or not he can be trusted, the Sun family in Huainan was almost wiped out because of his previous capture and surrender, which led to his defection from Yuan Shu and his failure to establish his own power base.

He now has nowhere to stand in Yuan's camp; it's safe to say that General Cai is more likely to surrender than he is.

Cai Mao: "."

"Stop talking nonsense. My lord and I are family. How could I surrender? Bringing up this matter out of the blue, I think you, Kuai Zirou, might be thinking of surrendering."

"Then why didn't you dare fight to the death when I recommended General Cai?"

"I'm only recommending a more suitable person for the sake of our lord's grand plan. Otherwise, my death would be a small matter, but ruining our lord's overall situation would be a much bigger one."

Seeing that the two were still arguing at this hour, Liu Biao shook his head to interrupt them, saying:

“If Yuan’s army is so powerful that I cannot even protect myself and am thinking of surrendering to save myself, how much more so would you gentlemen?”

At this critical juncture, I dare not say that you will all work together with one heart and one mind, but at least I ask that you fight with me to the very last moment. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we will never give up easily.

Xiangyang doesn't just belong to me, it belongs to you all too!

Liu Biao's meaning was clear: whether it was the faction of maternal relatives represented by Cai Mao or the aristocratic family faction behind Kuai Liang.

If Xiangyang is really lost and falls into Yuan Shu's hands, whether you are relatives of the emperor or members of a powerful family, who will be able to protect your current comfortable life and status?
As expected, upon hearing this, Kuai Liang and Cai Mao composed themselves and stopped arguing. Seeing this, Liu Biao then spoke:

"So, Sun Quan is indeed capable of being used?"

According to Yidu, Sun Zhongmou's fighting strength is probably no less than that of Ji Ling.

The reason for our previous repeated defeats was that we had a small army and few generals. How could we not be defeated when facing an invincible army?
However, I have never seen him in person. All that I have seen and heard is from his letters from another dimension. If my lord wishes to know everything about him, I'm afraid we will have to wait for his return.

"By the time he gets back, it will be too late."

Cai Mao waved his hand to interrupt, "At this critical moment of life and death, why bother with trivial matters?"

"My lord! I have witnessed Sun Quan's abilities firsthand; why hesitate now?"

Liu Biao remained silent for a long while before stopping himself from speaking.

"In urgent situations, expediency is necessary; if we must use him, it is not impossible."

"Now that Yuan Shu's army is advancing menacingly, even if Sun Quan is appointed, how can we deal with it?"

In order to avoid going to the battlefield himself, Cai Mao had already thought everything through and was full of confidence.

"Rest assured, my lord, Sun Quan and Kuai Yidu are currently on their way to reinforce Xiangyang."

Before Yuan Shu's army arrived in Xiangyang, there were still many counties in our hands. Fighting to the death in these counties could delay them for a while. This delay would allow Sun Quan and his men, who had unimpeded access along the way, to return to Xiangyang in time.

When they return with 20,000 elite reinforcements, I will conscript more soldiers for them.

If we had tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of heavenly soldiers at our disposal, under the command of Sun Quan, we could at least hold out until Shouchun was in dire need, if not completely wiped out.

"Conscript soldiers? Tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of troops?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Biao was taken aback and said blankly, "We just conscripted troops once before, and only then did we manage to gather 70,000 soldiers in Jingnan. But just as we were fully prepared, Xing Daorong destroyed them all. How can we conscript troops now? I'm afraid the people will resent us and cause internal strife."

"Oh dear, my lord! What time is it now, and you still care about your reputation?"

If we can't survive this battle, there will be no future. Why do you care about the boiling public resentment?
If we don't conscript these troops now, are we just leaving them for Yuan Shu?

Liu Biao was stumped. Yes, if he didn't win, both he and Xiangyang would be gone. Why would he care about anything else?
If we win, no matter how much public resentment boils over, even if there are widespread complaints, it's still better than being annihilated.

Liu Biao sighed deeply. This scholar had never been able to let go of his self-righteous arrogance, and he issued such a decree that would damage his reputation. Without another word, he stormed off.

"Alright, alright, what you say makes sense, then we'll do as you say."

All matters, large and small, here are to be handled by Cai Mao and Kuai Liang. Whether they win or lose, I have no further concern myself with them!

Not to mention how Cai Mao raised as many troops as possible for Sun Quan after Liu Biao left.

Meanwhile, in Lujiang.

"General Wenping, please wait!"

Cao Cao stepped forward, grasped Wen Ping's hand tightly, and said:
"At this time, the traitors will be eliminated and the victory accomplished in one battle, in a very short time."

At this critical juncture, how could General Wenping so easily leave, lest the great cause of overthrowing Yuan Shikai fail at the last moment?

"The great cause of overthrowing Yuan Shikai ended in failure?"

The reason we attacked Zhang Xun together in the past was that we thought if we advanced into Lujiang, we could force Yuan Shu to retreat and relieve the predicament in Jingzhou.

However, the situation has not improved at all; on the contrary, Yuan Shu's main force has shifted its focus and is heading straight for Xiangyang.

Wen Ping spoke firmly, a cold laugh escaping his lips.

"If Xiangyang is lost, Jingzhou will fall. What good will it do me to capture Shouchun, let alone Lujiang? At that time, I'll probably have to seek refuge under Prime Minister Cao."

Cao Cao, having his thoughts exposed, was not embarrassed. Just as he was about to offer further advice, Wei Yan rushed in, hurriedly handing the military order to Wen Ping, his face flushed red.

"The latest order from Xiangyang is: General, we will not withdraw!"

Our lord has ordered us to fight with all our might, launch a fierce attack on Lujiang, and advance straight to Shouchun. This battle will shock the world.

As far as Wei Yan was concerned, what did it matter to him whether Xiangyang was lost or not, or whether Liu Biao lived or died?

He had just been recruited and had no loyalty to Liu Biao whatsoever. The reason he came here was to establish an unprecedented great achievement. And what achievement could compare to the surprise attack on Huainan and the capture of Shouchun?
Upon hearing this news, how could Cao Cao not be overjoyed?

His insistence on keeping Wen Ping was not entirely for the sake of this great general, but mainly because of the 20,000 elite Jingzhou soldiers remaining under Wen Ping's command.

Attacking a city with 30,000 troops and attacking a city with 50,000 troops are completely different concepts.

Everyone is racing against time right now, and once Wen Ping leaves, his progress in attacking Lujiang and even Shouchun will be greatly reduced, giving Yuan Ying a chance to catch his breath and respond.

Upon hearing this news, Cao Cao laughed heartily.

"Liu Jingzhou is a reasonable person."

"So, General Wen, now that you have received orders from your lord, do you still wish to return to reinforce Xiangyang?"

Wenping remained silent.

Xiangyang is in dire need, but it seems our lord no longer needs him?
Oh! How foolish I was!
If he could go back, he could still hold off Yuan's army for a while, but now that he's gone, what can the people in Xiangyang do to resist Yuan's army?
After a long silence, Wen Ping finally said in a low voice:
"All troops assemble, attack the city!"

Seeing that Wenping was in a hurry to launch today's attack.

Cao Cao made no attempt to conceal his intentions, ordering his entire army, "The whole army will cooperate with General Wen to attack Lujiang. We must take this city before dawn!"

The Battle of Lujiang, Day 15.

"These are the last arrows and weapons we have, and we have very few soldiers left. We can't hold out any longer."

"Vice General Zhu, let's retreat to Huainan."

However, before Zhang Xun could finish speaking, Zhu Huan glared at him with a ferocious expression.

"Withdraw? Behind us are the families and homeland of the soldiers and officers, Huainan!"
This is not only the last line of defense for Huainan, but also the culmination of years of hard work by Gu Yong and me. How can we abandon it?

As he spoke, he raised the sword on his right and shouted loudly!

"Today, we are sworn enemies with that traitor Cao. We will fight to the death!"
Our lord has never been defeated, having traversed the north and south of the Yangtze River. His undefeated record must not be ruined because of us.

If we run out of arrows, we'll use rolling logs; if we run out of rolling logs, we'll use boulders; and if we run out of boulders, then follow me, pick up your swords, and charge into the enemy ranks!

Today I live with you all, and I will die with you all!
At worst, all my soldiers will follow me out of the city and face that great Han prime minister head-on, to compete with the main force of Cao Cao's army.

After my death, General Zhang Xun will succeed me; after the death of the general, the lieutenant will succeed me; after the death of the lieutenant, the captain will succeed me, and so on down to the platoon leader and squad leader. You all should also bravely advance!
For the sake of the nation and its people in Huainan after my death, my lords, let us meet again in the afterlife!

kill! ! ! "

Zhang Xun: "."

You still know that I am the commander-in-chief?

However, with Zhu Huan leading the charge, the morale of Yuan's army was boosted, and they managed to hold off another attack, but their good fortune did not last long.

The Jingzhou troops had just retreated when Cao Cao's army arrived again.

The enemy forces surged in like a tidal wave, relentless and endless, while the number of soldiers around them dwindled.

Fifteen days have passed, and for Yuan Jun, whether it is physical or mental, or even the defensive weapons, everything has reached its limit.

With less than five hundred men left around them, Zhang Xun and Zhu Huan exchanged a glance. They knew, without needing to be reminded, that their time was running out.

And just at this moment when despair was about to be extinguished, shouts were heard, growing louder as they approached, echoing across the battlefield.

"The Emperor Star shines in the North Star, shaking the universe and suppressing the vast sky!"

Like stars and fireflies, they carry all living beings to witness the Yellow Heaven!

Heaven is dead, Huang Tian shall stand!
"The common people, we come to your aid, to help Lord Yuan save the day and restore the great cause!"

Countless people, covering the mountains and fields, carrying hoes and sickles, wearing yellow turbans, swarmed in.

The man at the front, dressed in a flowing Taoist robe, was none other than Yu Ji of the Way of Peace!

As long as Heaven lives on, the Great Teacher of Virtue will never perish, and his banner will never fall!
The people yearn for peace, and the faith in Huangtian will endure forever!
Since Lord Yuan brought us peace, anyone who dares to disrupt Lord Yuan's great cause is undermining the foundation of our peace.

Even if the masses die, they will follow one after another!

Hair like chives, cut and it grows back; head like a chicken, cut and it crows again.

Yet even leeks can have a pungent and spicy anger; when the rooster crows, the world is bathed in light!

Your biggest mistake was choosing Huainan as the battlefield!
(End of this chapter)