Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

[PS: Still starting with five updates today, each chapter is numbered, no cheating! Okay, that's all for now, back to updates.]

In November, the Xiang River gleamed with a cold, iron-gray light. The north wind swept across the river, freezing frost onto the bronze ramming horns of the warships.

Standing on the ship's railing, Sun Ce untied the ties of his scarlet cloak, letting it be torn by the gale into a fluttering battle flag.

The gulls circled mournfully among the masts, their white feathers damp with moisture, becoming as heavy as mourning cloth.

At this moment, a fleet carrying Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Sun Ce's younger brother Sun Quan, Sun Shangxiang, and several thousand soldiers was heading towards Linxiang.

As the fleet passed Xiangtan, Zhou Yu suddenly grabbed Sun Ce's shoulder.

Countless black whirlpools appeared on the river ahead, like cracks on a tortoise shell used by Baiyue shamans for divination.

The old boatman shouted a work chant and turned the rudder sharply, the dull thud of the boat scraping against the reef startling flying fish.

At three quarters past dusk, the setting sun dyed the Xiang River a blood-red color.

The mountains on both sides of the river, like the spine of a trapped beast, undulate in the twilight.

The sailors lit pine resin torches, and the flames flowed across Zhou Yu's fish-scale armor, as if gilding him.

When we spent the night at Baishazhou, ice crystals formed on the boat planks.

The spears and halberds of the soldiers on night watch were frozen to the ship's side, making a crisp sound when pulled.

Sun Ce heard a hollow "thump-thump" sound coming from the bottom of the water—it was the war drums of the sunken river rolling in the dark current.

On the fifth day, at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the outline of the city wall suddenly appeared in the thick fog.

The iron gate railings were covered with uncleaned fishing nets, with arrows stuck to them.

The stone steps of the dock were worn into deep grooves, deep enough to hold last night's rainwater.

On the opposite bank, in the reed marshes, the masts of several sunken ships pierced the sky like withered bones.

Zhou Yu suddenly grabbed Sun Ce's wrist guard: "Look at the city walls!"

The large yellow flag was appearing and disappearing in the fog, with a triangular piece missing from one corner, resembling a wound torn by a tiger's teeth.

"yellow?"

Sun Ce looked at Zhou Yu behind him with some confusion.

"Huang Zu?" Sun Ce asked, puzzled. "Didn't Huang Zu go to Yiling with my father?"

Zhou Yu smiled and shook his head slightly, saying, "This is Changsha Commandery. Huang Zu is going to Yiling. How could it be Huang Zu?"

"However, this is also a general surnamed Huang."

"When Liu Biao arrived in Jingzhou, he sent his nephew Liu Pan to guard Changsha and Linxiang."

"This man is from Gaoping in Shanyang, and he is extremely brave."

"He had a great general under his command named Huang Zhong, who was said to be exceptionally brave and skilled in martial arts."

"Changsha County is home to many barbarian tribes, all of whom are extremely fierce and often plunder cities and surrounding people."

When Liu Biao first arrived in Jingzhou, Changsha Commandery was in a state of extreme chaos.

"In the twenty-third year of Jianwu, the Changsha barbarians rebelled against Yiyang. The large-scale rebellion lasted from the first year of Yonghe to the third year of Yongshou. After the government suppressed it, the "Barbarian Cavalry Commandant" was added in Changsha Prefecture.

"Later, the 'Barbarian Atonement Law' was implemented to maintain a loose rule, and some leaders accepted the imperial court's title of 'Lord of the Town,' which brought temporary stability."

"This area is mainly inhabited by the Wuling Barbarians, also known as the Five Streams Barbarians. Although Wuling County is the center, their sphere of influence often extends to the western mountainous area of ​​Changsha County."

The Wuxi barbarians used Panhu (a divine dog) as their totem and were skilled in using poisoned arrows. Historical records state that "all crossbows were coated with poison, and anyone hit by one would die."

They lived in stilt houses and practiced both farming and hunting in the mountains.

Besides the Wuxi Barbarians, there were also the Lingling Barbarians.

The Lingling Barbarians were descendants of the Yue people who extended from the southern part of Changsha Prefecture to Lingling Prefecture.

They retain the custom of cutting their hair and tattooing, are skilled in bronze ware making, and use unique hanging coffin burial methods.

The ethnic group formed by the mixed blood of the local natives of Changsha Man and the Chu Man.

The ethnic group, formed by the intermarriage of local natives and Chu barbarians, required more than 10,000 soldiers from Jingzhou to suppress during the reign of Emperor Huan.

"The barbarians maintained a tribal alliance system with 'jingfu' (chieftains) and 'yijun' (tribal leaders)."

"If you want to govern Changsha, the main people are not the Han people, but the barbarians."

Watching Zhou Yu speak eloquently and listening to his insightful analysis, Sun Ce showed no sign of worry; instead, he revealed a look of excitement.

"I'm good at fighting, but not at strategizing."

"But I have you, so what do I have to fear!"

"Gongjin, with the two of us in Changsha, we will surely bring those barbarians under our thumb."

Zhou Yu shook his head with a wry smile and said, "What, you came to me just to become a fierce general who doesn't care about anything and charges into battle?"

"Haha, yes, yes, you're absolutely right."

Sun Ce laughed heartily and patted Zhou Yu on the shoulder, saying, "Things that require thinking are too tiring and not my forte. You provide the strategies, and I'll charge into battle. The two of us working together will be like a tiger with wings!"

Zhou Yu continued to shake his head with a wry smile, saying, "Bo Fu, don't be so happy yet."

"Governing Changsha can only be done once we have Changsha."

"Do you think we're here simply to take over Changsha?"

"Liu Pan in Linxiang City is no ordinary person."

"Although Liu Biao and your father had an agreement that Changsha and Jiangxia would be given to you and belong to your father, that was just an agreement."

"Liu Biao will do his best to delay, in case Duan Yu's army retreats before we have even captured Changsha."

"It's not necessarily a defeat. Winter has already arrived. If Duan Yu's army doesn't want to freeze by the river, their only option is to retreat."

"If Duan Yu's army retreats at this time, Changsha and Jiangxia will still be a source of disputes."

"Therefore, the first thing we need to do is not to govern the barbarians in Changsha, but to truly bring Changsha under our control. That is what we need to do right now."

Sun Ce frowned upon hearing this.

“But if it’s as Gongjin says, shouldn’t we take Jiangxia, which is more important, first?” Sun Ce asked, puzzled.

Zhou Yu shook his head and explained to Sun Ce, "Although Jiangxia is important, it is right next to your father's Lujiang."

“As long as your father returns to Lujiang, Jiangxia can be taken at any time.”

"Changsha is different, because there is Jiangxia between Changsha and Lujiang, so we can't come anytime."

"Moreover, if we take Changsha, it will be much easier to take Jiangxia. With Changsha and Lujiang, and your father and you attacking Jiangxia from both sides, Jiangxia will be indefensible."

“Your father’s choice was right; he should have taken Changsha first.”

Now Sun Ce finally understood what was going on.

"Alright, since that's the case, let's stick to the old method. Gongjin, you come up with the ideas, and I'll be responsible for execution. I refuse to believe that the two of us working together can't take Changsha."

"Isn't it Liu Pan who is guarding Linxiang? Gongjin, you are responsible for dealing with Liu Pan, and I will be responsible for dealing with that General Huang Zhong."

The city walls of Linxiang have already appeared in the thin mist beyond the river in the distance.

On the ship's side, a young man and a young woman came up behind Sun Ce.

"Brother, is that Linxiang?"

"Yes, brother, are we getting there?"

Sun Quan and his sister Sun Shangxiang asked.