Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 674: Sun and Liu's Armies Besiege the County City

With Lei Bo and Li Feng deliberately withdrawing troops and secretly letting the enemy off guard in the front, and with the fierce general Taishi Ci leading the charge, the coalition forces of Huang Zu and Liu Yao were unstoppable.

During the attack on Nanchang County, Taishi Ci led the charge, wielding twin halberds. He charged unstoppably, crushing the enemy and successfully opening the city gates. The allied forces quickly poured in, and Nanchang County fell to them. In Pengze County, facing stubborn resistance from the enemy, Taishi Ci employed a clever tactic, seizing their food and supplies at night. This threw the enemy into disarray, allowing Huang Zu and Liu Yao to advance and easily capture the city.

The defenders of Pohu County initially attempted a last-ditch resistance, but Taishi Ci led his former troops in a surprise attack by water, catching them off guard. Huang Zu and Liu Yao coordinated their advances by land, and with this combined force, Pohu County was successfully captured. Subsequently, Liling County, Yuhan County, Ai County, and Gan County were successively conquered thanks to Taishi Ci's valiant fighting and the close coordination of the allied forces.

The army rushed to the city of Yuzhang County with great momentum and aggressiveness, forming a confrontation with Sun Ce's army in the south and the north. The fate of Yuzhang County hung by a thread, and a war was about to break out.

Looking back on the journey, Liu Yao's life was much easier thanks to the brave general Taishi Ci leading the charge. In the past, Huang Zu, relying on his own vast military strength, would mock Liu Yao with sarcasm, his stern face and stern eyes causing Liu Yao, a local lord, to lose face. Now, with Taishi Ci's repeated achievements on the battlefield, Huang Zu no longer had any excuse to mock Liu Yao, and Liu Yao's frustration was finally alleviated, regaining some of his dignity.

Huang Zu, on the other hand, watched Taishi Ci fight tooth and nail on the front lines while he himself enjoyed a leisurely rest. Liu Yao had limited troops at his disposal, and every time he captured a county, he had to rely on Huang Zu to station troops in the rear. Huang Zu appeared to be dedicated, but in reality, he had ulterior motives.

With a string of victories, good news trickled into Jingzhou. Upon learning of this, Liu Biao, while dispatching troops to deliver food and fodder, began his own calculations. Each time he dispatched food and fodder, he meticulously assembled a large force. Once the food and fodder arrived at their destination, he secretly instructed the troops to station themselves there, quietly retaking the counties that had been captured by Liu Yao's coalition forces.

Liu Yao remained in the dark, completely unaware that his painstakingly conquered territory was being gradually eroded by Liu Biao. He busied himself daily with confrontations with Sun Ce, discussing siege strategies, and obsessed with reclaiming Yuzhang County and achieving unprecedented success. In his tent, Liu Yao sat with Taishi Ci and others, studying the defense map of Yuzhang County and plotting their next move, completely unaware of the subtle movements of the Jingzhou army behind him.

Huang Zu would occasionally praise Taishi Ci in front of Liu Yao, hinting that Liu Yao should use Taishi Ci, but in reality he wanted to push Taishi Ci to the most dangerous front lines to deplete Liu Yao's manpower. However, Taishi Ci, who was solely devoted to serving his lord, was completely unaware of the subtle changes in the situation and continued to train his troops daily, ready for a decisive battle with Yuan Shu's army at any time.

In Sun Ce's camp, the lights in the tents burned brightly throughout the night, and Sun Ce was absorbed in military affairs. Since successfully capturing southern Yuzhang County, he had devoted all his energy to attacking the city. However, every time he saw victory in sight, and the city was on the verge of capture, Lei Bo and Li Feng stubbornly held back. Sun Ce secretly thought that Lei Bo and Li Feng were indeed capable, but he did not realize that during his previous sieges, their forces were weak and their defense was extremely difficult. But now, they had gathered troops from northern Yuzhang and concentrated them inside the city, greatly increasing their defense and naturally making it more than enough. This was all just a deliberate illusion.

At this time, scouts hurriedly arrived with news that troops lent to Liu Yao by Liu Biao in northern Yuzhang had begun an attack, and Taishi Ci was among them. This news filled Sun Ce with anxiety. In reality, Sun Ce held Taishi Ci in high regard, though not for his bravery, but for his loyalty. So when Taishi Ci bid him farewell and returned to Liu Yao's service, Sun Ce offered no resistance and generously offered him provisions, fodder, and armor, hoping to help him achieve success. This move drew incomprehension and disapproval from his own troops, but Sun Ce stood firm, defying all objections.

As battle reports trickled in, the counties north of Yuzhang were successively conquered, and each time, it was Taishi Ci who led the charge. While Sun Ce marveled at the strength, neatness, and thoroughness of the Jingzhou troops, he also felt a sense of relief. After all, if it were anyone else, it would be difficult to match Taishi Ci's ability, his fearlessness on the battlefield, and his numerous exploits.

Sun Ce knew the situation was becoming increasingly complex. The allied forces of Liu Yao and Huang Zu were pressing in from the north, while Lei Bo and Li Feng were holding out in the city. Although he had captured the southern part of Yuzhang County, completely conquering the county remained fraught with difficulty. He sat at his desk, brow furrowed, fingers tapping lightly as he pondered a strategy to defeat the enemy.

Inside the tent, flickering candlelight illuminated faces ranging from solemn to anxious. Sun Ce sat at the main seat, his expression calm. His gaze slowly swept across the ranks of the civil and military officials in the tent. His voice was loud and forceful: "I have gathered you all here today to discuss the current situation. Our army is currently at a stalemate with Yuzhang County, and northern Yuzhang has been recaptured by Liu Yao's army. What should we do with Yuzhang County? I hope you will share your thoughts."

Lü Meng was the first to rise, stepping forward and bowing. "My lord," he said, "Jude, judging by the current situation, Yuzhang County is guarded by Lei Bo and Li Feng. They are holding the city, making it difficult to capture. Furthermore, all the northern counties of Yuzhang have been recaptured by Liu Yao. Even if we capture Yuzhang County, I'm afraid it will be difficult to hold. The surrounding situation is complex, and with enemy forces surrounding us, our army faces considerable pressure."

As soon as Lü Meng finished speaking, Wei Yan couldn't help but stand up, his arms folded across his chest, a look of disapproval on his face. "General Lü, you're wrong! How can it be hard to hold on after we've taken it? Even those mediocre men, Lei Bo and Li Feng, were able to hold on for so long. Given our army's strength, if we take Yuzhang County, holding on will be no problem at all. The only truly formidable figure in Liu Yao's army is Taishi Ci. In my opinion, Taishi Ci is a true hero. The rest are just trash, not to be feared!"

Wei Yan's retort instantly made Lü Meng's face turn slightly grim. Xue Zong, also from a prominent Wujun family, frowned slightly, coughed, and spoke slowly, "Wenchang's words are truly courageous. When it comes to defending the city, we should consider the overall situation. Southern Yuzhang has just been pacified, and troops are needed everywhere. Southern Yuzhang alone is unlikely to sustain such a large army. To maintain the army's expenses, we need to transfer troops from Kuaiji County. This will not only be costly, but also consume a great deal of manpower and resources. It's not a sustainable solution."

The atmosphere in the tent stagnated slightly at these words. Wei Yan, already somewhat marginalized by these aristocratic generals due to his past as a general in Jingzhou, stiffened his neck, his face flushed, and he loudly retorted, "I served in Jingzhou for many years. How could I not know the strength of the Jingzhou troops? Their swift capture of northern Yuzhang is entirely due to Taishi Ci alone! Without Taishi Ci, how could Liu Yao's army be so formidable?"

At this time, Gu Yong couldn't help but speak, with a hint of complaint in his tone: "If I had known that Taishi Ci was so brave, I shouldn't have let him go. If he was still in our army, the situation would be very different." As soon as these words came out, everyone's heart tightened. After all, these words were somewhat offensive to Sun Ce's decision to let Taishi Ci go.

Sun Ce listened quietly to the arguments, his brow furrowed slightly. Though he felt a little displeased, he knew that military discussions required a diverse range of opinions, not just one. He raised his hand to signal silence and spoke slowly, "Everyone has a point. The current situation is complex, and our army is indeed facing numerous difficulties. But we cannot let this cause us to lose our composure. We must take a long-term view and work together to find a strategy to defeat the enemy." With that, Sun Ce's gaze swept over the men one by one, his gaze radiating determination and trust.

After the arguments subsided and the tent gradually quieted down, Sun Ce raised his hand and coughed softly. His magnetic and steady voice slowly echoed through the tent: "Everyone's words are valid. The current situation is extremely complicated. The success or failure of Yuzhang County is the key to our Jiangdong cause. We cannot afford to be careless and must treat it with great caution."

His gentle gaze first fell on Lu Meng, with some sincere affirmation in his eyes: "Ziming, you have always taken the overall situation into consideration and thought very far ahead. This time you have considered the difficulties of holding on after occupying Yuzhang County, as well as the many difficulties that will be faced in supplying food and grass. Such foresight is really good." When Lu Meng heard this, a warm current surged in his heart. He bowed slightly, and a look of relief naturally appeared on his face, as if his efforts and thinking had been recognized with the most cherished recognition.

Then, Sun Ce slowly turned his gaze to Wei Yan. His expression was still calm, and there was no hint of blame in his tone: "Wenchang, you fight bravely and fearlessly, leading by example, and you are full of confidence in yourself and the strength of our army. I admire this heroic spirit from the bottom of my heart. However, you must know that war cannot be won by relying solely on personal bravery. It also requires starting from the overall situation and careful planning to be invincible." After hearing this, Wei Yan nodded slightly. Although there was still a trace of dissatisfaction in his heart, he also understood that what his lord said made sense, so he didn't argue any more.

Then, Sun Ce turned his gaze to Xue Zong and nodded slightly in affirmation: "Jingwen, you can analyze the current situation in depth from the unique perspective of the aristocratic family and provide us with new ideas and perspectives. It is truly commendable." Upon hearing this, Xue Zong bowed respectfully and then stepped aside, his expression full of humility.

Finally, Sun Ce's piercing gaze fell on Gu Yong. His face darkened slightly, but his tone remained steady. "Yuan Tan, I completely understand your regret for Taishi Ci. But I let him go out of my respect for his loyalty. From now on, please refrain from such offensive remarks. Remember, everyone in the army, from top to bottom, should prioritize the overall interests." Upon hearing this, Gu Yong's face turned pale and he quickly knelt to apologize, filled with regret. He shouldn't have spoken these words out of impulse. On the surface, he was criticizing Taishi Ci, but secretly, he was blaming Sun Ce. Sun Ce was currently in the limelight, and the Wujun families were secretly plotting against him. He couldn't let him alert Sun Ce and ruin their plans.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like