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

Chapter 18 With Godfather Above, a Plan is in Sight

Yuan's army broke through the city overnight and captured Liu Yao alive, making them the most powerful force in Jiangdong for a time.

Never forget our original aspiration!

Yuan Shu immediately pressed his advantage, leading his troops straight to Danyang, determined to crush Liu Yao's remaining forces and help Sun Ce rescue his mother.

Sun Ce felt scalded by his adoptive father's fervent and heartfelt affection.

With Danyang approaching, once Yuan Shu's army arrives, the last remaining elite force of the Sun family, numbering several thousand and under the command of his maternal uncle Wu Jing and cousin Sun Ben, which was needed to fight against Liu Yao, will likely be absorbed and annexed.

Sun Ce stepped forward, willing to share his father's burdens.

"Godfather, I have a plan!"
Zhou Yu's uncle, Zhou Shang, is currently the governor of Danyang. My maternal uncle and my mother's family are also in Niuzhu and other places under the jurisdiction of Danyang County, and they have always been fighting against Liu Yao's forces.

Now that Liu Yao has been defeated and his people are in a state of panic, why should we need to send a large army? I only ask that my adoptive father send me three thousand elite soldiers. Within half a month, I will surely take Zhou Yu and persuade Zhou Shang to surrender, wipe out the remaining forces of Liu Yao, and hand over Danyang.”

"."

Yuan Shu remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on Sun Ce, making Sun Ce feel a chill run down his spine.

“Ce’er, our Han Dynasty governs the world with filial piety. If a son is not filial, it is truly not a good thing.”

In the past, when Dong Zhuo wreaked havoc on the court, my half-brother Yuan Shao and I formed an alliance to attack him. We were shocked to learn that all our relatives in Luoyang had perished at the hands of this traitor. At that time, I wished the armies of the eighteen warlords, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, could besiege the city in an instant to eliminate this national traitor. How could I possibly lead a small force to recklessly advance for personal gain?

His eyes were deep, and his words were full of sorrow, “It is because I failed to provide adequate assistance that my relatives died tragically, which is why I cannot bear to see you and your child separated now.”

Brother Wentai entrusted his orphan and widow to me. Now that you are young and ignorant, I have no choice but to take care of you. Do not mention your plans again. I will personally lead a large army to Danyang to ensure the safety of your Sun family.

Sun Ce: "."

If I remember correctly, when the eighteen warlords were fighting against Dong Zhuo, my adoptive father even blocked my father's supplies.

However, if you insist on saying it that way, it's not wrong. At that time, the entire Yuan family was brutally murdered, and you, my adoptive father, and Yuan Shao were so anxious that you were red in the face. Every day at banquets, you denounced the traitors and urged everyone to send troops, but you were unsuccessful.
The next day, the banquet continued, and the cursing continued.

Although he harbored resentment in his heart, Sun Ce was suppressed by Yuan Shu's appeal to filial piety. He felt helpless, after all, it was hard to justify his decision to abandon the safe strategy of pressing the army into the border and instead personally lead three thousand men to risk rescuing his mother.

Even the saying, "If a son is not filial, it is truly not a good thing," is a double entendre warning. The word "filial piety" is too heavy, leaving him powerless to refute it.

Seeing that he was being pressured by Yuan Shu's words, and knowing that the opportunity had been lost, Zhou Yu clasped his hands in a salute.

“Lord Yuan, I can write a letter to ask my uncle to help you. Together with you, we will surely make sure that Liu Yao’s remaining followers die without a burial place.”

Sun Ce understood his meaning. Yes, if his maternal uncle and cousin could make meritorious contributions in this great battle, his adoptive father would not be able to touch their troops for the time being. Otherwise, wouldn't that discourage the meritorious officials?
"Ce Ke and Gong Jin wrote a letter together. My maternal uncle is trapped in Danyang and has longed for reinforcements. Now that he knows my adoptive father is coming, how can he not bravely rush forward?"

Sun Ce kowtowed deeply, delivering his speech with great fervor. His armor clanged against the blue bricks, his unyielding spirit resounding like metal striking metal.

"I am solely focused on saving my mother, and my heart is truly anxious. I am willing to lead the vanguard, personally guiding the elite soldiers to clear the way for the army, breaking through enemy lines and scaling city walls, even unto death!"

The flickering candlelight cast the young general's shadow onto the tent, and in a daze, it gradually overlapped with the image of Sun Jian kneeling and begging for the vanguard when he first entered Yuan's camp in the original owner's memory.

[I, Sun Jian, am willing to serve as Lord Yuan's vanguard. I will be victorious in every attack and secure victory in every battle. If I am defeated, please behead me!]

He knelt in the tent in the same way back then, his ambition so lofty and generous, which I still remember vividly.

If a brave and fierce general like Sun Ce cannot serve on the battlefield with his sword and spear, wouldn't that be a pity? Moreover, with Zhou Yu assisting him, his momentum is unstoppable. If he were to contend with Cao Cao and Liu Bei in the future, Zhou Yu would be the sharpest sword in his hand, invincible in attack and invincible in battle. Why should he fear that the sword is too sharp and put it away, thus tying his own hands and feet?
However, my son Bofu, if you think that this will allow you to escape control and break free from the net, you are being far too naive. Today, your father will teach you a lesson.

In the past, when the Qin Emperor ascended to the supreme position and ruled the six kingdoms, he wielded the whip and lashed the world, using his power to oppress people and forcing the world to submit to him!

Now I am overwhelming Jiangdong with my power, swallowing up Liu Yao and annexing the aristocratic families. You can escape the monk with your family, but can you escape the temple?

"That's enough."

Yuan Shu suddenly sighed, his gaze fixed on Sun Ce, as if he truly felt a tender affection between father and son.

"Brother Wentai, you were just as stubborn back then. Since that's the case, I'll temporarily grant you the tiger tally and allow you to lead three thousand troops as the vanguard to attack Liu Yao's remnants. Zhou Yu will accompany you as your deputy."

Sun Ce's expression brightened as he was about to express his gratitude, but Yuan Shu's tone suddenly changed.

"I cannot bear to betray the trust that Wentai has entrusted to me."

I will personally lead the veteran generals Han, Cheng, and Huang, and march a large army to Niuzhu to join forces with Wu Jing and Sun Ben's troops, to welcome back Lady Wu, Quan'er, Yi'er, and others. Bo Fu will lead the army to fight on the front lines. I will ensure your family's safety and never let you feel disheartened.

The joy that had just appeared on Sun Ce's face suddenly turned ashen. Hearing Yuan Shu's earnest and warm words, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Gongjin's scheme was seen through once again?

This trip, allowing him to lead troops into battle and acquire the three thousand men he had longed for, should have been a joyous occasion.

But while some rejoiced, others grieved. He was leading three thousand men to fight and battle, while Yuan Shu went directly to incorporate Wu Jing's troops. As far as he knew, his maternal uncle and cousin still had about five or six thousand Sun family soldiers. With this in-and-out move, he lost two or three thousand men.

Most importantly, his three thousand troops were mobilized using the Tiger Tally, and he had to return them upon his return! If he did not return, his mother, family, and all the veteran generals of the Sun family would perish at the hands of Yuan Shu.

Recalling what Yuan Shu had said before: "The entire Yuan family of Luoyang fell to the traitor Dong Zhuo. When they heard that he and Yuan Shao had raised an army, they were all slaughtered."

Sun Ce was suddenly startled to realize that such a cold and sharp threat was actually hidden in a series of warm and gentle words.

What do you mean by ensuring my family's safety? Now, all the old generals of the Sun family, along with their mothers and relatives, except for me, have fallen into your hands. This makes me feel like I have thorns in my back, and my spine is chilled.

Sun Ce gritted his teeth and accepted the order, while Yuan Shu, like a parent worried about their child going out, gave instructions and advice as if they were an elder.

"Victory or defeat is not the point; my son, you should prioritize your own safety."

My army will join forces with Wu Jing and arrive in an instant. If you do not see the entire territory of Danyang changed, you will be surprised.

With a light laugh, he tossed the half-empty bronze goblet in his hand onto the table, spilling honey water that shimmered like amber.

"I will personally raze Danyang to the ground and bring you home!"

His gaze, which held a half-smile, swept between the two young faces beneath the tent. He rose and left the camp, his bright red cloak fluttering in the wind.

"Bo Fu, my son, come with me to war!"

"Your subordinate obeys!"

(End of this chapter)