My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 149 What Liu Biao Desires

If the alliance of the three Lius could truly be established, with Liu Biao as its leader, it would span the three provinces of Jing, Yang, and Xu, and could even expand into Yu, Yi, and Jiao provinces.

By then, Liu Biao's ambitions will not be easily dismissed.

Liu Biao thought this operation was feasible.

Of the three, he held the highest official position. He was not only the only one to be granted a marquisate, but also a general with the title of Grand General, possessing the power to establish his own office and be of the same rank as the Three Excellencies. His status was also the most prestigious.

Moreover, both Liu Bei and Liu Yao are being bullied by Yuan Shu. If I were to lend a helping hand now, I would surely earn their gratitude.
It shouldn't be too much to make a small request then, right?

“My lord, Liu Zhengli was not an easy person to talk to in the past.”

Kuai Yue was incredibly astute. He guessed what Liu Biao was thinking just by observing a few changes in his expression, and immediately poured cold water on him.

Liu Biao and Kuai Yue had known each other for many years and understood each other very well.

Liu Biao knew how outstanding Kuai Yue's talent and how powerful he was, so he naturally dared not give him free rein. Otherwise, what power would he have left? He probably wouldn't even be as powerful as Emperor Xian of Han in Chang'an.

Kuai Yue also knew Liu Biao's abilities and shrewdness, and understood that the other party would definitely not let him go just because he pretended to be weak and stupid. On the contrary, he would become more vigilant.

It would be better to speak up when necessary, which would not only vent your anger but also prevent Liu Biao from worrying about you so much.

After being rebuked by Kuai Yue, Liu Biao remembered Liu Yao's bad temper and felt somewhat helpless.

When Liu Yao was nineteen years old, his uncle was kidnapped by a group of bandits. He managed to rescue his uncle, which made him famous throughout the county. Based on this, he was recommended as a filial and incorruptible official and appointed as a court physician.

He was then selected as an official, starting as a county magistrate. Who were the people who started out with him at that time?
Previously, Tao Qian governed the region; now, Wang Lang, the future one of the Three Dukes of Cao Wei, was loyal and righteous. He set up an altar at Suanzao and made an oath. Zang Hong was praised by Yuan Shao as the greatest contributor to Qingzhou. Zhao Yu was Tao Qian's assistant, famous throughout Xuzhou, but he made a mistake and was assassinated by the villain Zuo Rong.

One can only lament how many heroes and outstanding figures there were at the end of the Han Dynasty, but unfortunately, the central government of the Eastern Han Dynasty failed to make good use of them.

Liu Yao had an extremely stubborn temperament. When he served as the magistrate of Xiayi County, the prefectural governor, as a relative of the powerful, entrusted Liu Yao with his favor. If Liu Yao were willing to take care of him, promotion and wealth would be within reach.

Liu Yao initially refused outright, but after being forced by the prefect, he abandoned his post and fled.

This put the prefect of the prefecture in a very awkward position.

Of course, Liu Yao was able to be so strong because his family had great influence in Qingzhou, and even the eunuchs dared not easily oppose them.

Liu Yao and his elder brother Liu Dai were both recommended as outstanding talents by the prefectures and counties, and after impeaching the nephew of the eunuch, the prime minister of Jinan, they were able to achieve merit without any fault, and even successfully caused the other party to be dismissed. If they had a weaker background, they would have been sent to the capital in chains long ago.

Not to mention that Liu Dai later held the high-ranking position of Governor of Yanzhou, and Liu Yao was appointed Governor of Yangzhou.

"Indeed, Zhengli has a strong personality..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Biao was initially somewhat embarrassed, but he was not displeased.

After deliberating for a while, Liu Biao asked, "If I were to march south south and join forces with Zhengli to attack General Zuo, would Zhengli agree to let me submit a memorial to the governors of Lujiang and Yuzhang?"

Kuai Yue remained expressionless; Liu Biao's appetite was much as he had imagined.

Lujiang is right next to Jiangxia County, but this does not mean that communication between the two is convenient. The entire Dabie Mountains divide Lujiang County and Jiangxia County in two, and the land transportation is quite narrow. Moreover, one side is backed by mountains and the other by a lake, which is not conducive to the movement of large armies. It is a deadly place that military strategists often talk about.

The Battle of Shiting, which broke out in later generations as the founding battle of the Eastern Wu Kingdom, took place in this narrow passage.

Therefore, the most efficient mode of transportation between Lujiang and Jiangxia is the Yangtze River waterway.

Historically, the Eastern Wu occupied the southern part of the Dabie Mountains, while the Cao Wei occupied the northern part, dividing Lujiang County into two parts, each under their control. This division remained largely unchanged until the end of the dynasty, precisely because of this relationship.

For Liu Biao, however, the situation was entirely different. If he could take control of Lujiang Commandery, the water and land routes connecting the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River would simultaneously fall into the hands of Jingzhou, and would also greatly enhance Jingzhou's influence over Yangzhou, Xuzhou, and Yuzhou.

In this way, Liu Biao's soft power and influence will immediately rise to a new level. If he can turn this soft power into a solid base, he may even be able to rival Yuan Shao.

As for Yuzhang, although it has a vast territory, abundant resources, and a large population, it is far less important than Lujiang County in terms of both geographical location and level of development.

However, Liu Biao really wanted to recommend his trusted former subordinate Zhuge Xuan to take over as the governor of Yuzhang. Although Zhuge Xuan had not yet returned, he had already written a letter informing him of his return date.

Unfortunately, Kuai Yue's answer was quite ruthless, coldly uttering only four words: "Absolutely impossible."

But Liu Biao was still not giving up and continued to ask, "If I were to occupy Jiangbei with my troops first, how would Liu Zhengli react?"

Kuai Yue did not rush to answer this time, but instead fell into deep thought.

He remained in deep thought for a long time, but Liu Biao showed no impatience and simply waited quietly by his side.

Finally, Kuai Yue raised his head again and said solemnly, "Liu Zhengli will most likely swallow his anger and keep quiet."

Liu Biao was overjoyed, as he had great trust in Kuai Yue's judgment.

"If that's the case, then it's feasible."

Liu's face showed delight, and he was eager to try.

Whether Jingzhou can acquire Lujiang and Jiujiang, the land north of the Yangtze River, is crucial to whether Yangzhou has leadership over the region.

If the land north of the Yangtze River were in Liu Biao's hands, Liu Yao would only have two choices: to submit to Liu Biao or to fight to the death.

Since Kuai Yue believes that Liu Yao will concede, that is undoubtedly the result Liu Biao most desires.

When does Your Excellency plan to send troops?

Kuai Yue looked up and saw the joy on Liu Biao's face. Feeling somewhat displeased, he deliberately volunteered, saying, "If Your Excellency does not despise me, I am willing to serve Your Excellency and attack Lujiang."

Liu Biao was speechless; naturally, he didn't want Kuai Yue to go.

He knew that while Kuai Yue's arrival would greatly increase the chances of success, it would also mean that Kuai Yue would have more military achievements and greater influence over the army.

"No, the affairs of the state are too numerous to bear. I cannot leave Yidu for even a moment, let alone for several months."

Liu Biao pretended not to understand Kuai Yue's meaning and rejected the idea, saying, "Let De Gui go instead."

Compared to Kuai Yue, Cai Mao was less ambitious and easier to talk to. More importantly, Cai Mao was his brother-in-law, so he was bound to be more loyal than an outsider.

Kuai Yue had expected this, but he was still slightly disappointed. However, he could understand Liu Biao, since Liu Biao had not been stingy with what was due to the Kuai family.

The entire civil official group in Jingzhou, headed by the Kuai family, really cannot be given too much military power.

Kuai Yue then rose from his seat, bowed, and said, "Your Excellency's kindness is immense; I am deeply grateful."

Liu Biao quickly helped him up and waved his hand, saying, "Yidu, there's no need for this between us. Please sit down comfortably."

Liu Biao then asked, "In that case, I wish to send an envoy eastward. Is there anyone in Yidu who can recommend someone?"

After a moment's thought, Kuai Yue recommended, "Liu Xian of Lingling, courtesy name Shizong, is learned and has a strong memory. He is knowledgeable in state affairs, understands classical allusions, and is resolute. He is suitable to be an envoy and will not fail in his mission."

"Emperor Liu Shizong."

Liu Biao thought for a moment and then readily agreed: "As expected of Yidu, the talents and virtuous men of Jingzhou are all within your grasp. Liu Shizong is indeed the right person to be sent on this mission."

Therefore, Liu Biao selected an envoy and dispatched Liu Xian (Liu Shizong) to visit Yangzhou and Xuzhou.

At this moment, the Huai and Si regions are in turmoil, and a major battle is about to reach its climax.

After three days of preparation, Yuan Shu's army, with Sun Ce's troops as the vanguard, Wu Jing as the follow-up, Qiao Rui as the commander of the central army, and Sun Ben as the rear guard, totaling 30,000 men, set out for Guangling.

At this time, Taishi Ci's harassment along the way caused Yuan Shu's army to gather cavalry to try to encircle Taishi Ci's troops.

However, Taishi Ci was also very shrewd. He feigned an attack and then retreated back to Guangling City.

Yuan Shu's army stretched out in a long line, with banners waving. When the vanguard, Sun Ce's army, arrived outside Guangling City and began to set up camp, the rearguard, led by Sun Ben, had not yet left Jiangdu City.

For Yuan Shu's army, this battle also presented considerable advantages. Their logistical supply lines were extremely smooth, and losses were minimal. Food and weapons could be continuously transported down the river from Liyang to Jiangdu. Jiangdu was only about ten miles from the front-line camp, allowing for easy transfers without the risk of being plundered.

This time, Yuan Shu's army adopted a cautious and methodical approach, not attacking the city easily, but instead setting up camp and besieging it before beginning to build engineering equipment.

Yuan Shu's army was prepared for multiple scenarios. If the main force of the Xuzhou army came south to reinforce them, they could retreat and return with a satisfactory explanation. Alternatively, if Yuan Shu agreed to Sun Ce's plan, their busy work around Guangling would serve as a smokescreen to deceive Liu Yao.

If in the end no reinforcements arrive from Xuzhou, and Yuan Shu does not change his mind, he will force them to attack Guangling.

Then the equipment prepared during this period came in handy. Otherwise, we couldn't just use human lives to fill such a fortified city as Guangling, could we?
Yuan Shu's army only numbered 30,000, while the Xuzhou army in the city numbered 10,000. Theoretically, Yuan Shu's army was not at an advantage.

Fortunately, the Xuzhou army was newly arrived and had not yet won the hearts of the people.

Otherwise, even if Yuan Shu's army were wiped out, with 10,000 Xuzhou soldiers, plus the few thousand able-bodied men and tens of thousands of women, children and the elderly in the city, it would have been impossible for them to take Guangling City.

Liu Feng stood on the city wall, gazing at Yuan Shu's military camp.

The enemy surrounded three gates, leaving one open – the north, south, and west gates were all encircled, leaving the east gate unguarded.

However, Liu Feng could never give up Guangling.

Such a fortified city, if it were to fall into the hands of Yuan Shu, how many Xuzhou soldiers would die beneath its walls?

"Uncle Zilong, teacher, when do you think the enemy will launch their attack?"

Liu Feng truly didn't understand, and humbly sought guidance.

Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci exchanged a glance, each wanting to defer, but Zhao Yun finally spoke up: "Judging from the speed at which the enemy is building siege weapons, I estimate that in another three to five days they will have the confidence to launch an attack. As for when exactly to begin, it depends on the choice of their commander."

Taishi Ci nodded in agreement: "Young Master, please look. These are siege towers, used to control high points, allowing for a commanding view and shooting arrows into the city, thus providing cover for the soldiers to climb and the battering rams to approach the city gate. The enemy is mainly waiting for these weapons. If it were ladders and battering rams, they wouldn't have to wait so long."

Liu Feng suddenly realized that the twenty-odd siege towers on the opposite side were already in place. No wonder Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci both thought that the day the enemy would attack the city was just around the corner.

Outside the city, things were bustling with activity, and inside the city, things were just as busy.

Liu Feng had previously organized young and strong men through the local officials of Guangling County, sending them out to cut down trees, transport stones, and reinforce the city's defenses.

While Liu Feng was chatting idly, Yuan Shu's army was assembling its generals and commanders, ready for battle.

"The lord's orders have arrived, instructing us to give it our all. If we succeed, we should prioritize capturing Guangling. If not, we can use this opportunity to mislead Liu Yao and launch a surprise attack on Jiangdong."

Qiao Rui and the other generals present relayed Yuan Shu's decision.

Although Sun Ce and the others were not entirely satisfied with this decision, it was actually far better than their bottom line.

At least Yuan Shu realized that compared to the easy prey of Jiangdong, Guangling City was undoubtedly a tough nut to crack.

Therefore, the generals gladly accepted the order and decided to launch a general offensive five days later, using all the engineering equipment at once.

At the same time, Yuan Shu agreed to send more men to continue scouting the situation along the Dantu line in preparation for the next phase of fierce fighting.

Based on current intelligence, Dantu has less than two thousand garrison troops, while Qu'a has three to four thousand.

Once Yuan Shu's army captures Dantu, Liu Yao's army will have no chance to stop Yuan Shu's army anymore.

Five days later, Yuan Shu's army held a grand feast for the entire army, and then the main force left the camp and besieged Guangling City.

Yuan Shu's army was better equipped than the Xuzhou army.

Sun Ce's troops were indeed well-equipped, with over 80% wearing armor. Even Qiao Rui's troops had an armor rate of over 60%, and many of them wore iron lamellar armor.

Yuan Shu's army first pushed out the siege towers, step by step, until they reached a point where their arrows could cover the walls of Guangling City, before stopping. They then began to reinforce the towers and build defensive fortifications to resist any counterattacks from the city's defenders.

Generally speaking, the defending side cannot tolerate the siege towers continuously firing at the city walls, as this would not only greatly increase the casualties of the defending side, but also severely damage their morale.

It also interferes with the supply of war materials to able-bodied civilians on the city walls, which has many drawbacks.

This is also what makes the well-ladder so formidable.

Therefore, the defending side would concentrate its elite troops, break out of the city, and seize and destroy the siege towers.

Alternatively, they could launch a counterattack from high-rise buildings within the city, using bows against bows to shoot down the attacking archers on the ramparts.

Yuan Shu's army was divided into three parts, which besieged the north, south and west gates of Guangling City respectively.

To the north were 6,000 of Sun Ce's troops, to the west were 6,000 of Wu Jing's troops, and to the south were 8,000 of Yuan Shu's personal troops. Sun Ben's troops remained at the main camp to support the front.

The siege weapons were also divided into three parts: the north gate and the west gate each received 30%, and the remaining 40% were concentrated at the south gate.

This plan was discussed and agreed upon by all the generals.

At this time, Yuan Shu's army was still quite harmonious. Sun Ce, Sun Ben, and Wu Jing were like family, and their relationship was very amicable. Qiao Rui admired and respected Sun Ce from the bottom of his heart and listened to his every word.

With such an atmosphere and foundation, the plan is naturally quite easy to formulate.

Sun Ce actually took special care of Qiao Rui, letting his uncle take the longest and most dangerous route through the North Gate, while he himself was in charge of the West Gate, looking after both sides, and giving the South Gate, which had the most open terrain and was closest to the main camp, to Qiao Rui.

Qiao Rui wasn't stupid; he was very grateful to Sun Ce.

Of course, the reason why only 20,000 men were dispatched, while Sun Ben's 8,000 elite troops stayed in the main camp to observe and provide support, was not because Yuan Shu's army was foolish and arrogant and underestimated the Guangling Xuzhou army, but because the battlefield was only so big and only these people could be deployed.

If Sun Ben's 8,000 elite troops were to join the battle, it would likely make the battlefield too crowded and difficult to deploy, which would actually hinder the war and increase casualties on our side.

Unless Sun Ben's eight thousand men are placed in the east of the city, even then, Sun Ben can only bring two or three thousand men at most, because there are large mudflats in the east of the city that cannot be used for formation.

Therefore, Yuan Shu's army simply maintained the strategy of surrounding three sides while leaving one side open, placing Sun Ben's troops in the main camp to ensure the safety of the camp.

Yuan Shu's army was in good spirits and wanted to take the initiative, but they did not expect that the Xuzhou army was eager for battle and had high morale.

Faced with Yuan Shu's all-out offensive, the Xuzhou army was naturally undaunted and chose to go out of the city to meet the enemy directly.

With the sound of clarion calls, the south gate of Xuzhou opened, and the Xuzhou army, led by Pan Zhang's troops, slowly marched out of the city.

The first to leave the city were a hundred cavalrymen led by Taishi Ci. This cavalry force was assembled by scavenging warhorses from the entire city of Guangling. Fortunately, Taishi Ci's men were skilled horsemen and had a number of soldiers who had participated in cavalry drills, but they lacked horses.

Now that we have horses, our immediate combat strength has increased.

After Taishi Ci's troops left the city, they naturally could not launch an attack alone, but instead moved to the side to hold the line.

Following closely behind them were Xu Sheng's 1,600 spearmen, whose equipment was even more luxurious, with each of them wearing a round shield on their left hand.

This round shield has three straps, two long and one short, inside and outside. The two long straps go around the shoulders from the top and bottom respectively and are tied under the armpit on the other side, while the short strap is used to tighten the wrist, securing the shield without affecting the hands' ability to hold the gun.

In this way, the spearmen each had an extra wooden shield in their left hand, which they could use to block arrows.

These 1,600 spearmen were arranged in four ranks, each with 400 men, and further divided into four smaller formations, with a gap of two or three men between each formation.

All the spearmen held their spears upright, and after Taishi Ci, who was the first to leave the city, led his cavalry to bring up the rear, they became the vanguard and marched forward fearlessly.

Following them were Zhao Yun's troops, four thousand men divided into two groups, to cover the flanks of the central spearmen and protect their vulnerable flanks.

Then came the heavy infantry led by Pan Zhang and Zhou Tai.

Before the battle, Zhou Tai specifically asked Liu Feng for permission to lead the troops. So Liu Feng simply assigned him to Pan Zhang as his deputy, giving him 150 heavily armored infantrymen as the vanguard.

At this time, Zhou Tai had already helped the Xuzhou army to build a navy with a force of two thousand men, one thousand of whom were still sailors. However, Liu Bei waved his hand and promoted Zhou Tai to naval commander and Jiang Qin to commander of the Qu Army.

These heavily armored soldiers didn't have to walk; instead, they sat on oxcarts, cared for by auxiliary soldiers. They would only don their armor and go into battle when needed to break through enemy lines.

(End of this chapter)