My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

Back on the fleet, Xiao Heng was still unable to calm down.

The fleet soon set sail, slowly moving along the abandoned branch canal. Xiao Heng stood alone at the bow of the flagship, repeatedly examining the jade seal.

Killing Peng Chao would be a great achievement that would propel him to new heights, but it also harbors unseen dangers.

"With Peng Chao dead, it's unlikely that everyone will go mad."

Xiao Heng muttered to himself, Deng Jing's words before leaving clearly resurfacing in his mind.

"Ju Nan is far superior to Peng Chao. He comes from a military background, is fearless, and rose to his position entirely through hard-earned military achievements. He has always resented Peng Chao's rise to power through kinship, but he has no choice but to submit to him due to Fu Jian's military orders. Moreover, this man is extremely ambitious and has long wanted to emulate Deng Ai, leading a light force to strike directly at the heart of the enemy and achieve unparalleled merit..."

Xiao Heng frowned slightly, pondering in his heart that now that Peng Chao was dead, it was unlikely that he would take over the remaining Qin army.

If Deng Jing's words are true, given Ju Nan's fierce courage and ambition, he would never easily retreat to Xuyi. He would either lead his troops back and launch a desperate counterattack, or he would gamble everything and truly emulate Deng Ai, bypassing the main force and launching a surprise attack on Jiankang. Either way, it would be more troublesome than facing Peng Chao.

"Luckily, I didn't make a fuss about it immediately."

Xiao Heng breathed a sigh of relief, carefully stuffed the seal into his personal brocade pouch, and then tied it tightly with a strip of cloth. This was the only irrefutable evidence of Peng Chao's death, and he must not show it to anyone unless absolutely necessary. He would wait until he met up with Xie Xuan before reporting it to him, thus securing the credit and leaving the subsequent risks to the main force of the Northern Army.

With his mind calmed down, Xiao Heng closed his eyes and summoned the ancient book's phantom image from his mind once more.

The flowing text lingered before his eyes; 1000 history points would be enough for him for a while.

What truly troubled him was the title of "Champion Marquis".

Xiao Heng pondered the words repeatedly. The value of this title was undeniable, as it greatly enhanced leadership and martial potential, enough to transform an ordinary general into a top-tier warrior.

Who can use it?

He went through his trusted subordinates one by one in his mind. Han Yong was meticulous, but he was nearly forty years old and his potential was already set. Even if he used a title, there would be limited room for improvement, which would be a waste.

Chen Dazhong was a loyal and capable bodyguard, but he was only good at guarding and relaying orders. He could only lead a maximum of three hundred soldiers. He would be in chaos if he led more than that. Giving him the command would be a waste of his talents.

Liu Dan is an exceptional archer and has made a great contribution by beheading the commander. He is still young, but he is too straightforward and lacks leadership skills, so he may not become a great general.

Lu Da, forget it, I'm already in my thirties.

"For your own use?"

Xiao Heng thought for a long time and realized that what he lacked more than himself were capable and outstanding new generals who could stand on their own.

Using this title on oneself is far less valuable in the long run than cultivating a capable subordinate.

He then thought of Deng Jing, the descendant of a famous general, who was of suitable age and still had potential to be tapped, but Deng Jing had already reached the level of eighty in both military command and civilian command.

Xiao Heng shook his head, suppressing the thought for the time being.

"Never mind, let's keep it for now and find Liu Yu's underlings when we get back!"

......

Less than a quarter of an hour after Xiao Heng's fleet sailed out of the abandoned branch canal, the silence on the shore was shattered by the rapid sound of horses' hooves.

Liu Laozhi led several hundred light cavalry at breakneck speed and saw from afar that the mudflats were in a mess, with broken arrows and scattered pieces of armor, but not even a corpse or the remains of a horse was left behind.

"Stop! Be on alert!"

Liu Laozhi dared not be careless. He reined in his warhorse, looked down at the scene, and frowned deeply.

After the guards dispersed, Liu Laozhi dismounted, bent down to pick up an arrowhead, and after examining it closely, he found that the design was clearly that of the Northern Army. He immediately had a bad feeling.

"Bring that barbarian here!"

A moment later, the guards dragged a Hu general forward. The man was wearing tattered Qin army armor, his left arm was severed at the wrist, the wound was wrapped with blood-stained hemp cloth, and his face was full of terror. He was the general that Peng Chao had left behind to cover the rear.

Liu Laozhi grabbed the Hu man by the collar, his tone fierce.

"Tell me! Did Peng Chao take this path?!"

The Hu man was struggling to breathe, and the excruciating pain from his severed hand made him tremble all over. He hurriedly nodded.

"Yes...yes! The governor...he fled this way with several dozen personal guards!"

Liu Laozhi threw him to the ground. He had been chasing him for so long, who could be faster than him?

The Hu man curled up on the ground in pain, adding in a trembling voice.

"The Commander-in-Chief and General Ju have long been at odds! After the loss of Huaiyin, the two have been arguing every day. General Ju said he was incompetent, and this time, he forced the main force to head towards Xuyi, leaving only a few thousand men for the Commander-in-Chief..."

He had just finished speaking when he seemed to remember something and muttered to himself:

"Perhaps, perhaps the Commander was intercepted and killed by General Ju's men!"

"fart!"

Liu Laozhi sternly rebuked him, refusing to believe this explanation at all.

"Send men to search everywhere! Don't let any trace slip by!"

Liu Laozhi gave a deep order: the traces at the scene were clearly the work of the Northern Army. These arrows were irrefutable evidence. There were no signs of struggle, and no hoofprints. It was obvious that they had been lying in ambush here long ago. But who would intercept Peng Chao here? He led his troops in pursuit all the way and did not encounter any friendly forces. Could it be Zhuge Kan's men?

This area should logically fall within Zhuge Kan's defense zone, so it would be reasonable for Zhuge Kan to intercept and kill any remaining troops of Peng Chao.

If it was Zhuge Kan who did it, why would he need to clean up the traces? That seems too unusual.

The guards scattered to search the reed marshes and surrounding waterways, and soon someone reported back.

"General! There's an abandoned branch canal to the west with watermarks from a fast boat. It looks like it just left, heading towards the Huai River!"

Liu Laozhi walked quickly to the entrance of the branch canal, his gaze becoming increasingly complicated as he looked at the turbid canal water and the winding waterway in the distance.

Although he was unsure who had intercepted Peng Chao, he was certain that the other party had already gone far away, and chasing after them would be futile.

What bothered him even more was why that mysterious Northern Army unit was deliberately concealing its tracks.

"General, should we give chase?"

Liu Laozhi pondered for a moment, then shook his head. He looked at the Hu general and said coldly.

"Take him with you!"

"..."

On that day, Xie Xuan led the main force of the Northern Army in pursuit to the southeast of Xuyi, and the main camp was built by the water.

All the generals gathered here, even Sun Wuzhong, who came from the farthest place, but Xiao Heng was the only one missing.

As dusk approached, the central command tent remained brightly lit.

Xie Xuan sat in the main seat, with generals such as Liu Laozhi, Sun Wuzhong, Zhuge Kan, and Gao Heng standing on either side of him.

"Has Xiao Heng not arrived yet?"

Sun Wuzhong was also somewhat anxious and bowed in reply.

"Reporting to the Commander, three groups of scouts have been dispatched to investigate along the route, but there has been no news yet!"

"Can the forward camp send word to ascertain whether Peng Chao has returned to camp?"

Gao Heng stepped forward, cupped his hands, and returned the greeting.

"Reporting to the Commander, the vanguard has already reported that the banner bearing the character 'Peng' has not been seen among the Qin army's ranks!"

Xie Xuan was also puzzled, and he looked at Liu Laozhi.

"Could it be true, as Military Advisor Liu said, that Peng Chao has already been intercepted and killed by our troops?"

These words also caused each of the generals in the tent to have their own thoughts.

Liu Laozhi was not sure either, and it was all just a guess, but Sun Wuzhong felt that it was true and that Xiao Heng had hit the jackpot again, and he was filled with emotion.

Zhuge Kan remained calm, secretly pondering the movements of Xiao Heng's navy. That abandoned branch canal was originally within his defense zone, so why didn't he know if Xiao Heng was indeed intercepting and killing fleeing soldiers there?

The military council continued until night completely enveloped the camp. Outside the camp, the sound of naval fast ships docking could be heard, and a loud announcement was made that Xiao Heng had arrived.

Everyone was relieved, but their expressions varied: some wanted to confront him, some were envious, and some were worried...

A moment later, Xiao Heng, dressed in naval leather armor and with a curved sword at his waist, strode into the tent, his posture upright and his aura imposing.

He walked straight to the tent and knelt on one knee to pay his respects.

"Your subordinate, Xiao Heng, was ordered to pursue the Qin army. I am a step late; I beg the Governor's forgiveness!"

All the generals' gazes fell on Xiao Heng, their expressions complex.

Some people were filled with awe. In just a few months, Xiao Heng went from an unknown halberd bearer to a lone figure in the East China Sea who destroyed the navy, captured Murong Yan, and then launched a night raid on Huaiyin to seize the city. Now he leads five thousand naval troops and has made outstanding military achievements. Even Liu Laozhi and Sun Wuzhong are inferior to him. Some people were secretly jealous, but dared not say anything because of Xie Xuan.

Xie Xuan raised his hand to signal him to stand up, carefully examining him. It had been more than three months since they last parted at Sikou. Then, his gaze swept over the generals in the tent, and he slowly spoke.

"Xiao Heng, you led your navy westward to intercept them. Did you achieve any success?"

Xiao Heng stood with his hands at his sides, his tone calm.

"Reporting to the Governor, during the pursuit, the Qin army deliberately left false traces, causing me to veer off course. I encountered several scattered groups of defeated soldiers along the way, which I have cleared out. I did not encounter the main force of the Qin army, but only intercepted some weapons and armor."

A hint of doubt flashed in Liu Laozhi's eyes, but he did not make an immediate accusation. He had no evidence and would only make a fuss about his colleagues' suspicions if he rashly accused them.

Xie Xuan did not investigate further and gestured for him to join the ranks.

"Currently, the remnants of the Qin army have retreated to Xuyi, and Peng Chao's fate is unknown. Neither of them can temporarily lead a large army. According to the surrendered soldiers, the two have long been at odds, and each led a part when they broke out. Issue the order that the entire army rest for a day, and tomorrow we will launch a three-pronged attack on Xuyi. Liu Laozhi will lead his troops to attack the south gate, Zhuge Kan will attack the east gate, and Sun Wuzhong will lead his troops to guard the south bank to prevent the Qin army from escaping by water. Xiao Heng, you will lead the navy to block the waterway on the west bank of the Huai River and cut off their retreat."

"Your subordinate obeys!"

The generals all accepted the order in unison.

During a break in the military council, the atmosphere inside the tent eased slightly, and Xie Xuan specially had someone bring over the melons and fruits sent by Sima Daozi.

Sun Wuzhong broke the silence first, his tone carrying a mix of emotion and familiarity.

"Did you really not ambush and kill Peng Chao?"

Xiao Heng smiled and nodded, his tone humble.

"Brother Sun, you flatter me. I've gone astray and almost ended up in Huaiyin!"

Liu Laozhi also walked over, staring sharply at Xiao Heng, and took out an arrow.

"Are these arrows from the Qin army? I've been chasing them all night!"

Xiao Heng felt a chill run down his spine, but remained outwardly calm and responded readily.

"Possibly. There have long been rumors that this Ju Nan is ruthless, and I've even heard that Peng Chao is Fu Jian..."

Xiao Heng began to tell the story of Pengcheng, and even Zhuge Kan came over to listen. After hearing that Fu Jian had homosexual tendencies, the group was very disdainful.

This hurdle has been temporarily evaded, but Liu Laozhi's expression shows some disbelief, yet there's no substantial evidence.

Zhuge Kan understood Liu Laozhi's thoughts and hurriedly explained.

"Brother Liu, don't overthink it. If Sanlang really had killed Peng Chao, he would have already boasted about it. Do you remember that Murong Yan?"

Liu Laozhi then remembered Murong Yan, and a moment later he put his arm around Xiao Heng's shoulder.

"Sanlang, please don't mind. The soldiers have been chasing us all night, and they won't be satisfied until they find out the truth!"

Xiao Heng was relieved and shamelessly responded.

"Brother Liu, you're overthinking it. In the battle of San'a, we killed tens of thousands of enemies. I'm more than impressed. Peng Chao was just lucky; it was pure chance!"

"Sanlang was no less impressive; his night raid on Huaiyin cut off the Qin army's supply lines—that's a truly great achievement!"

"We will have to rely on you tomorrow, General. The Qin army in Xuyi City is short of food and will definitely try to break out. I've heard that they are notoriously difficult to deal with, so you must be on guard."

"Rest assured, we will not let a single Qin soldier escape."

"..."

Xie Xuan sat in the back tent, listening to everything, a deep meaning flashing in his eyes.

He naturally noticed the verbal exchange between Xiao Heng and Liu Laozhi, and he didn't believe that Xiao Heng was simply lost.

After the military meeting ended, the generals left the camp one after another. Xiao Heng was the last to leave, and as soon as he stepped out of the tent, Xie Xuan called him back.

"Xiao Heng, wait a moment."

Xiao Heng turned around and bowed.

"What are your orders, Commander?"

Xie Xuan walked up to him, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

"Do you know that if Peng Chao is truly dead, it would be an unparalleled feat? I don't care what you've hidden today, I only hope you remember that only when the soldiers of the Northern Army are of one mind can we defeat Qin. Tomorrow's battle is of utmost importance, so don't let personal thoughts jeopardize the overall situation."

Xiao Heng was startled, realizing that Xie Xuan had already noticed something amiss.

"This humble general dares not! In tomorrow's battle, this humble general will certainly go all out to defend the western waterway to the death, and will never fail the governor's trust. As for Peng Chao's matter, this humble general will report everything to the governor after the war is over."

Upon hearing this, Xie Xuan nodded slightly, asked no further questions, and waved his hand.

"Go, get some rest. Tomorrow's battle is crucial."

Xiao Heng got up to take his leave, and only when he walked out of the tent did he realize that his back was covered in sweat.

Xie Xuan's insight far exceeded his expectations; it seems that Peng Chao's matter cannot be kept secret for long after all.

......