Three Kingdoms: Conquer Wu from Maicheng with Cavalry and Swords, Don't Fall Behind

In Jingzhou, at Maicheng Wuying, a slight chill was creeping in.

The middle-aged man, with his bare, muscular arms, lifted a stone weight with his large hands, his body as thick as a mountain, his neck as thick as his head.

Lü Ba held a towel in his hands and served respectfully:

"If Father simply leaves the heads of Jiang Qin and Han Dang hanging on the city wall of Maicheng, the men of Jiangdong will be filled with grief and indignation and attack the city. Maicheng can be taken in one fell swoop. Why go through all this trouble?"

Lu Meng, panting heavily, put down the stone load. He reached for a towel and wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Intrigues and schemes will never amount to anything, let alone your petty tricks. You flaunt your power, are fond of fighting and brawling, and think that by controlling people's hearts you can be invincible."

"Little do you know, true cunning is no cunning, it is uprightness. If intrigue were so effective, our ancestors would have written several books about it long ago. Who are you to point fingers?"

Lü Ba looked embarrassed and indignant: "Warfare is based on deception. Was our army's capture of Jingzhou fair and square?"

Lü Meng, with his strong voice, instructed with authority:

"You brat, do you really think that crossing the river in disguise will allow us to seize Jingzhou? If Fu Shiren doesn't surrender, it will take me at least ten days to half a month to attack Gong'an. If Mi Fang doesn't surrender, with Yidu and Bashu providing support, we can hold out for at least three months!"

"Without a righteous and honorable act of kindness, why would Fu Shiren and Mi Fang have surrendered?"

"After our army entered Jiangling, we strictly enforced military discipline. I specially sent people to protect Guan Yu's residence and prevent his family from being disturbed. Ma Liang sent an envoy to inquire, and I personally received the envoy and allowed him to meet with Guan's family."

"Jiangdong has no sense of honor. Do you think only Fan Zhou and Xi Zhen rebelled in Jingzhou?"

Lu Ba was rendered speechless by the question, and his long-held beliefs were shattered.

Lu Meng put on layers of brocade robes and gestured for his son to help him put on armor. He wore a suit of iron lamellar armor, made of rectangular plates woven together, in black and red, and equipped with a "basin collar" to protect his neck and "shoulder capes" to protect his shoulders.

"True political maneuvering is not about the ingenious designs and meticulous planning in history books, but about seizing opportunities and acting in accordance with the prevailing circumstances. Liu Bei lost virtue because of Mi Fang and Fu Shiren, and Guan Yu lost loyalty because of Mi Fang and Fu Shiren."

"I crossed the river in white robes, going with the flow. What does that amount to?"

Lu Ba stood frozen in shock, utterly impressed. He couldn't help but recall the Alliance at Xiangshui, which had unfolded in a similar manner.

Back then, Lü Meng was ordered to lead 20,000 troops on an expedition, intending to take over the three prefectures of Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang.

He first sent a proclamation to Changsha and Guiyang, and both prefectures, intimidated by his military might, surrendered without a fight.

Only Hao Pu, the prefect of Lingling, held firm in the city and refused to surrender. After resisting for a period of time, he finally surrendered.

Looking back now, the surrender of Changsha and Guiyang seems to have been anything but simple.

"My father mastered the art of strategic maneuvering. His position as Grand Commander was comparable to that of Zhou Yu and Lu Xun in terms of prestige and achievements."

Lu Ba stood upright, and when he looked at his father again, he felt awe.

Even in my forties, I still insist on exercising every day to maintain a good figure. I read for an hour or two every night to cultivate my character.

A true hero.

Everyone thought that the father only began to study and become wise after the Marquis of Wu encouraged him to study.

Only Lü Ba knew the truth; it was nothing like the rumors. His father had been a bookworm ever since he took command of the army.

At fifteen or sixteen, he already said, "If you don't venture into the tiger's den, how can you catch the tiger cubs?" How could such a person be an ordinary person?

Looking back on my father's life, he started as a common soldier, lost his patron the first time, and chose the wrong side the second time. Yet, he still managed to become a high-ranking official and be granted a marquisate.

If this person were truly foolish, then there would be no one in the world who is truly wise. He is simply afraid of appearing too shrewd and revealing his intelligence, so he pretends to be foolish.

The emperor's exhortation to study was not only a test, but also a recruitment drive, and even more so, a preparation for his important appointment.

That day, the Emperor didn't just persuade his father alone. But only his father and Jiang Qin truly listened, and their stories were recorded in history.

Learning to accept setbacks, to forgive, and to tolerate—isn't that a kind of wise strategy?

A bodyguard hurried over to report: "Reporting to the Grand Commander, Zhuge Jin has returned."

Lu Meng donned his military uniform, and then donned the brocade cloak bestowed upon him by his lord to display his majesty: "Let's go and welcome the martyrs of Eastern Wu."

The coffins of veteran generals Han Dang and Jiang Qin were slowly driven into the central army camp. The Jiangdong soldiers all wore white mourning clothes and were deeply grieved.

After finishing his business, Lü Meng invited Zhuge Jin into his tent to warm up. The two men, their hearts heavy with sorrow, chatted idly.

Once Zhuge Jin's body had warmed up, Lü Meng began to discuss serious matters.

Zhuge Jin recounted everything that happened in Maicheng in detail, without concealing anything.

A hint of surprise flashed across Lü Meng's resolute face, which he quickly concealed, replaced by disdain.

"Guan Yu fled to Liu Bei, clearing five passes and slaying generals to pave the way, yet he disdained Cao Cao's rewards. Now he begs for a thousand bushels of grain; a lamentable end for a hero in his twilight years!"

Lu Ba exclaimed excitedly, "This just proves that Maicheng is running out of food. Guan Yu, you traitor, have no chance of escape!"

Lu Meng remained calm and asked, "I intend to keep my promise and release Guan Yu's daughter, and also give her a thousand shi of grain. Does anyone have any objections?"

Zhuge Jin's tense mind was relieved. He had been somewhat uneasy about agreeing to Guan Yu's request without consulting him. Now that the Grand Commander had agreed, he was finally at ease.

A tall figure suddenly stood up in the tent and loudly argued, "This thousand bushels of grain must not be given!"

In the twentieth year of Jian'an (210 AD), Lü Meng captured the three southern commanderies of Jingzhou; in the twenty-fourth year, he recaptured the commanderies of Wuling, Nan Commandery, and Yidu, accumulating numerous military achievements. There were few who could challenge him.

Everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice, and their hearts skipped a beat. The person who objected was none other than Sun Jiao, who came from the imperial family.

The north often attacked, and Sun Jiao, a general of the imperial clan, repeatedly rushed to defend against them, earning him the reputation of being an elite force.

Due to his outstanding military achievements, he was granted the fiefdoms of Shaxian, Yundu, Nanxin, and Jingling, and he appointed officials and staff himself.

When Eastern Wu launched its attack on Jingzhou, Sun Quan considered appointing Lü Meng and Sun Jiao as commanders of the left and right wings, respectively, to check and balance each other.

Later, Lü Meng submitted a memorial, citing the conflict between Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu as a cautionary tale for Sun Quan. Sun Quan, realizing the error of his ways, appointed Lü Meng as Grand Commander and appointed Sun Jiao as his successor.

"This thousand shi of grain is indeed not appropriate; if we're going to give it, we should give ten thousand shi!" Lü Meng said decisively.

The crowd looked puzzled but dared not utter a sound.

Sun Jiao exhaled a breath of stale air and asked in a deep voice, "Why?"

Lu Meng's tiger-like eyes gleamed, and he said generously:

"A person cannot stand without integrity. Didn't Guan Yu say that he would open the city gates to welcome my royal army if I gave him 10,000 shi of grain?"

Sun Jiao scoffed, "Guan Yu was just joking, but the Grand Commander believed him without question."

Lu Meng's expression was solemn, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:

"Words of a traitor may be jested with, but the world is not to be trifled with. Guan Yu is known for his integrity and has many followers. In the twentieth year of Jian'an, I attacked the three counties of Jingnan. Wu Dang, together with officials from Ancheng, Youxian, Yongxin, and Chaling counties, entered Yinshan City to gather troops to resist, claiming that they 'only know of the Han Dynasty and not of Wu.'"

"Now that I am attacking Nan Commandery, the bandits Fan Zhou and Xi Zhen have again joined Guan Yu's cause. My Jingzhou in Jiangdong should not be treated like this!"

"To conquer Jingzhou, we must win hearts and minds. Maicheng only has a few hundred old, weak, sick, and disabled people; even with grain, it's too weak to hold. Is ten thousand shi of grain more important, or is it more important to make Guan Yu lose faith in the world? You all decide!"

Guan Yu, wanting to maintain his dignity, was stripped of it by Eastern Wu. The generals of Eastern Wu were deeply moved and filled with admiration. The deaths of Han Dang and Jiang Qin demanded that someone bear the consequences.