Chapter 115: The Southern Campaign against Jingzhou

Nanyang. The carriage wheels left tracks in the snow. Inside the carriage, Tao'er toyed with the plum blossoms she had just plucked.

The trees were bare and stark, with occasional clumps of snow falling from their branches. Both the horses and the men exhaled clouds of white mist.

Relying on the grain stored during the autumn harvest, the common people could just manage to survive the winter. However, with the beginning of spring approaching, they would soon be free from this bitter cold.

In the thickets of the mountains, pedestrians could occasionally be seen foraging for wild vegetables or game. Their gaunt, impoverished faces were a testament to the hardship of their lives.

The thatched cottage was blanketed in thick snow, and the fallen leaves in the courtyard remained unswept. Jiang Wen stepped down from the carriage and gazed at the cottage. The structure remained as it was, yet the people had long since departed, leaving it hollow and silent.

"Young Master, are you visiting this Sleeping Dragon again?"

Tao'er, wrapped in a sable cloak, leaned slightly against Jiang Wen. Jiang Wen held her slender waist. "Yet, I still let him slip away. Had I known today would come, I should have sent someone to take his life the day before he left."

Tao'er remarked, "It is clear that you hold this gentleman in high regard. You look down upon the Chancellor and his strategists, yet you have always kept this man in your heart, treating him with such respect and humility."

"No matter how respectful I am, I could never make him stay. If I could have had him killed, I would gladly have forsaken that courtesy. This battle in Xuzhou is likely to be a heavy loss."

"Are you afraid of him, Young Master?"

"I am. And not just him; I fear many others as well. I fear nothing more than being an enemy to a brilliant mind. I do not feel fortunate that my opponent is a genius; this is a gamble where I cannot afford to lose—to lose is to lose one's life."

"Alas, nothing ever happens according to your wishes. Things go against your expectations. Let us return."

"Each seeks their own lord, each serves their own master. I truly do not wish to be your enemy, Kongming."

***

At Sun Ce's residence.

"How long will it take to conquer Jingzhou this time?"

Zhou Yu replied, "Jingzhou is too far from Xiangyang, and having just endured the Battle of Shouchun, our army cannot afford the drain on grain. If we cannot take it in one fell swoop, we must wait to garrison and farm, waiting for the coming year."

Lü Meng waved his hand. "Do not worry. This time, Changsu is leading the troops. There will be no mishaps; we will surely take Jingzhou quickly."

Sun Ce smiled. "I am not worried; I simply wish to know how much time it will take."

Jiang Wen said, "The weather is currently severe, and the snow has not yet melted. Many waterways are likely frozen. It will probably take a hundred days just to arrive. Since there are four warlords in Jingzhou aiming for hegemony, the conquest will take another hundred days. After everything is pacified and we return to Xiangyang, I estimate it will take a year."

Zhou Yu frowned. "While I do not worry about the outcome, the time required is too long. Han Dang is currently leading troops to attack Pengcheng, diverting a vast amount of grain. If we remain bogged down in the war for too long, our provisions will become a problem."

"The grain issue will have its own solution. As for the Xuzhou campaign, I hope you will advise General Han to carefully consider the situation and not be blinded by greed for merit or advance recklessly."

"We shall take our leave now to prepare at home and set out tomorrow."

"Woo—!"

The sound of horns echoed. Thousands of troops stood outside the gates of Xiangyang.

Jiang Wen, clad in armor and bearing weapons, appeared both refined and remarkably heroic. Lü Meng, noticing a general not far away, felt slightly uneasy—Gan Ning had come after all. Aside from him, the presence of the veteran General Huang Gai was unexpected, as were Zhou Tai and Taishi Ci.

Remembering that old man from last time made Lü Meng’s teeth itch. After all, he had been struck by a hidden arrow. To be defeated in open battle on the field might command respect, but playing dirty only invited contempt.

Wu Jing looked at Jiang Wen’s armor. "With those thin arms and legs of yours, don't let the wind blow you away when you reach the battlefield."

Jiang Wen smiled. "I thank the General for his concern, but I am in good health and well-fed every day. The General’s worries are unnecessary."

"True, it isn't the first time General Jiang has campaigned. But before, you only watched others lead troops; now you are leading them yourself. I hope you don't lose your composure out of nervousness and suffer a defeat."

Quan Cong laughed. "We have won this time; I hope the General does not disgrace the Chancellor and bring us news of a defeat!"

"Then I shall wish all the generals a triumphant return. However, if I truly suffer a defeat, I ask that you all put in a good word for me before the Chancellor," Jiang Wen said, bowing.

In the crowd, Jiang Hao was supported by Tao'er, and Diaochan wore a veil. Jiang Wen nodded to them, his heart filled with reluctance.

"The Chancellor is here!"

***

All the soldiers bowed in unison. "We pay our respects to the Chancellor! May the Chancellor live for a thousand autumns!"

"Rise!" Sun Ce, riding his warhorse, looked at the crowd. Zhou Yu handed the command flag to Jiang Wen. "You must return in triumph!"

Jiang Wen took the flag, nodded to Sun Ce, and ordered, "The entire army, move out!"

"Giddy-up!" Lü Meng kicked his mount, and the horse began to trot, with the other generals following closely behind.

Han Dang received his command flag and departed as well. The two armies gradually separated.

***

Lingbi, Liu Bei's residence.

A scholar sat inside, holding a feather fan and smiling serenely. Xu Shu sat across from him, warming wine for their conversation. Nearby, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei watched Zhuge Liang’s expression with intense displeasure.

Zhang Fei’s thick eyebrows bristled, his beard trembling beneath his mouth. "Second Brother, I’ve been thinking—this fellow has only two eyes, two ears, and one nose. Is that 'Sleeping Dragon' title just something made up to fool Big Brother? If this bird-man dares to deceive Big Brother, I’ll skin him alive!"

Guan Yu stroked his beautiful beard. "Second Brother, speak no more. Since he is a friend of Master Xu Shu, we should treat him with due respect."

Zhang Fei raged, "Then tell me, Second Brother, what is the meaning of the strategy this bird-man gave Big Brother? Xuzhou was something we obtained with such painstaking effort, yet now, after listening to him, we are to simply hand it over. Is it worth it?!"

Guan Yu’s expression shifted. These words resonated with his own thoughts, and he largely agreed with Zhang Fei. He truly could not understand why this man would advise their brother to surrender.

Although the situation was dire, Guan Yu prided himself on his Green Dragon Crescent Blade; he believed that whether it was Sun Ce or Cao Cao, they would surely never return if they dared to attack!

"Second, Third Brother, a banquet has been set inside. Why not come in for a cup of warm wine instead of suffering in the cold outside?" Liu Bei walked in from the gate and said with a smile.

"What wine is there to drink?!" Zhang Fei shouted. "I have no appetite!"

"Third Brother, how can you speak to Big Brother like that!" Guan Yu said, offering a conciliatory smile. "Big Brother, Third Brother is feeling a bit unwell today."

Liu Bei laughed heartily. "I can see that. Usually, if Third Brother caught a whiff of wine, he would already be dead drunk."

Zhang Fei flared his beard and widened his eyes. "Big Brother, you are still mocking me? Let me ask you: do you truly intend to listen to that piece of crap and surrender to Cao Cao?"

Liu Bei replied, "Third Brother, there is no other way at present. Cao Cao now controls the north and remains a loyal minister of the Han. Sun Ce, however, slaughtered Han officials before the Emperor; he is a rebel. To campaign against him, we must borrow Cao Cao’s strength."

"And after you borrow that strength, Big Brother? You have always said you wanted to restore the Han. Once you've surrendered to Cao Cao, what then?"

"We wait for the right moment."

"Wait for the right moment?!" Zhang Fei shook his head. "Second Brother, you persuade him too. I say that so-called strategist is no good. 'Wait for the right moment'—anyone can spout such nonsense!"

"Third Brother, say no more. My mind is made up. Come inside and drink."

"I won't drink!" Zhang Fei bellowed. "I'm going back to my quarters to sleep!"

Liu Bei pushed open the door. Xu Shu and Zhuge Liang stood to pay their respects. "Commoner Zhuge Liang, Minister Xu Shu, greet the Magistrate and our Lord."

"Please, masters, sit."

Xu Shu held his wine cup. "Since you and General Guan were delayed, Kongming and I began drinking first. Now that you have arrived, I shall punish myself with a cup."

"The weather is cold; warm wine warms the spirit. We should drink more," Liu Bei said, standing up. The others followed suit and drank together.

Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Liang. "Master, you have chosen to serve me, but I do not know how to repay you. Though I am a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, my family line has fallen. If not for my meeting my second and third brothers, I would likely still be weaving mats and selling sandals."

Zhuge Liang smiled. "A wise lord in ancient times did not need a glorious reputation; what he needed was insight and courage. Goujian of Yue was also once impoverished, trapped in a prison, yet he slept on brushwood and tasted gall, ultimately achieving great deeds. Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, was merely a village head before he succeeded—not even a descendant of nobility—yet he managed to destroy the Qin and crush Xiang Yu."

"Then, in your opinion, what should I do? If I lose Xuzhou, where should I go?" Liu Bei asked, feeling somewhat lost.

"Xuzhou is a place for the Magistrate to build his ambitions, but not a place to achieve them. There is a land that is vast and rich in resources, yet its ruler is mediocre and content with guarding his own borders. If you do not take it, who will?"

"What place does the Master refer to?"

"Yizhou."

"Yizhou..." Liu Bei frowned. "Liu Zhang and I are both of the Han royal lineage. If we were to cross swords, would that not be too much? Furthermore, our army is trapped in Xuzhou. With such a great distance, what force can we muster to go to Yizhou?"

"Why would you need an army? A few of us can simply request passage to Yizhou."

Liu Bei frowned slightly, his hands clenched. "Without an army?"

"Indeed, this seems like madness to you. But if you arrive with an army, Liu Zhang will surely bar you at the gates. Once you reach Yizhou, you can secure a city as your residence and then begin recruiting troops."

Liu Bei looked at Guan Yu, who smiled and asked, "Master, not to mention the long distance from Xuzhou to Yizhou, the road is filled with passes guarded by soldiers. Even crossing Jingzhou is a daunting task. How can we speak of going to Yizhou?"

"My wife, Lady Huang, is related by marriage to the Cai family, who serve under Sun Ce. They have already made arrangements. We can slip away and cross Jingzhou while Sun Ce and Cao Cao are locked in battle over Xuzhou."

Xu Shu stood by in silence, nibbling on a small dish while listening to the dialogue between Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei.

If Yuan Shao had not been defeated so thoroughly, there would be no need to abandon Xuzhou; Liu Bei could have joined forces with Cao Cao to oppose Sun Ce. But after Yuan Shao’s defeat, Cao Cao had become another formidable power, and Liu Bei had become a weak lamb caught between a hungry wolf and a ferocious tiger.

Thus, Xuzhou had become a place that had to be abandoned.

"Enough. Today, your arrival is a cause for celebration. We shall speak no more of these matters. Come, Master, let us drink."

After three rounds of wine, Liu Bei saw Zhuge Liang and Xu Shu off, leaving only Guan Yu.

Guan Yu’s complexion was naturally ruddy, and the wine had deepened it, though he showed little sign of drunkenness. "Big Brother, if we listen to him this time and go through Jingzhou, we are placing our lives in his hands. Whether we live or die depends entirely on his whims... Could this be a trick between him and Sun Ce?"

"No," Liu Bei shook his head. "When Xu Shu sought him out, he had not yet entered government service. That he is willing to serve me is my good fortune."

"Sigh. To be honest, I am not certain if this so-called Sleeping Dragon has true substance. He has certainly angered Third Brother."

"Third Brother’s anger comes and goes quickly. In a while, bring some wine and go check on him."

***

Fifteen days later.

Liu Bei's residence.

Zhuge Liang looked at a map, while Liu Bei sat to the side in deep contemplation. Zhang Fei stared out the window, not even bothering to glance at Zhuge Liang. Only Guan Yu remained composed.

"Hearing that you have submitted, Sun Ce has dispatched Han Dang with seventy thousand troops to attack Lingbi."

"Do you have a strategy?"

Zhuge Liang lightly waved his fan in thought. Zhang Fei spoke up: "Why is Big Brother afraid of him? That Sun Ce calls himself the 'Little Conqueror of Jiangdong.' I've heard his spear technique is legendary, and my hands have been itching for a long time. Now that he's coming, I want to see if my Serpent Spear is sharper or his Overlord Spear is better!"

"Third Brother, do not exaggerate," Guan Yu said sternly. "Sun Ce is remarkably brave. When he campaigned against Yuan Shu in the past, he was the bravest of all the armies. Though you possess the strength of ten thousand, you must not take him lightly."

"Sun Ce will not come this time," Zhuge Liang said abruptly.

Zhang Fei curled his lip, his voice thunderous and deep. "How do you know that Sun Ce brat won't come?"

Zhuge Liang replied, "I stayed in Xiangyang for a long time and understand the situation there. Currently, the generals there have formed one faction with Sun Ce’s younger brother, while Sun Ce and his loyal ministers form another. The two sides are locked in a fierce struggle. This time, Han Dang is using his own military authority, so he will undoubtedly be the commander-in-chief."

"These generals do not submit to Sun Ce; they are arrogant and proud of their achievements. Attacking you is likely a way to gain credit and intimidate Sun Ce. However, I have already formulated a plan to defeat the enemy."

***

Xiapi. Han Dang and a group of generals were drinking. Kuai Yue bowed to the generals. "General, although Liu Bei has few troops, we must not be careless."

"The army just arrived today. The long march has exhausted the troops' morale. Today is merely for consolidating our spirits."

"I understand your intentions, but we should immediately send scouts to probe Liu Bei’s troop deployments and city defenses. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

"Enough, Advisor Kuai. I called you here to drink, not to hear these things. Come, have some wine; you must be cold in this weather!" Wu Jing laughed, his face already flushed with drink. "That Liu Bei has only thirty thousand men. No matter how much he struggles, he won't be able to turn the tide."

"When Yuan Shao marched south against Cao Cao, he was just as arrogant and dismissive as you are now!"

"Enough, Cao Cao this, Cao Cao that... How many Cao Caos are there in this world? Does he have that kind of talent? If you aren't going to drink, then step aside and don't ruin the mood!"