Chapter 122: Taking Changsha with a Sharp Tongue

"Wenzhang, how are his injuries?" Huang Zhong watched as the medical officer emerged from the room. The officer’s expression was anxious as he replied, "General, I have done all that is within my power. As for the outcome, we can only leave that to General Wei himself."

Huang Zhong waved his hand, and the medical officer bowed and departed immediately. No sooner had the officer left than Han Xuan strode in from the doorway, his face twisted in rage. "Huang Hansheng, who gave you permission to open the city gates!"

"Reporting to my lord, I could not bear to see General Wei abandoned beneath the gates, so I ordered them opened. I have already brought him back."

"You rescued him? In his current state, only the heavens know if Wei Yan will live or die. And had Jiang Wen’s troops surged in because you opened those gates, what would have become of us then!" Han Xuan raged. "In such a perilous situation, you prioritize a dying man—is this what you call loyalty, Huang Zhong?!"

Huang Zhong bowed to Han Xuan, his hand tightening into a fist only after his lord had stormed away.

***

Jiang Wen’s camp.

Jiang Wen looked at the letter in his hands. "To consolidate the Shou-chun defensive line, the Prime Minister is leading his troops on a personal expedition."

"A personal expedition? Does that mean he intends to engage Liu Bei in battle?"

"No. Cao Cao has already stationed troops at Peng-cheng. This maneuver is merely to prevent Cao Cao from seizing the opportunity to attack Shou-chun. The Ru-nan region is also restless, so the Prime Minister’s presence serves two purposes: to bolster the morale of the army and to ensure Cao Cao dares not act recklessly."

Lu Meng put the letter away. "I cannot say if this is right or wrong. After Han Dang’s defeat, I should feel happy since we are political rivals, but those who died were our own soldiers—thirty thousand of them!"

"Is there another letter you haven't given me?" Jiang Wen asked, turning to Lu Meng.

Lu Meng immediately placed the letter before him. Jiang Wen checked the sender. "Diao Chan?"

As Jiang Wen finished reading, his expression grew complex. Lu Meng watched him in confusion. "What is it?"

"They are pregnant."

"Who? Diao Chan?!"

"No, both of them are."

Jiang Wen’s mood fluctuated, a mixture of joy and apprehension that he could not put into words. Lu Meng clapped him hard on the shoulder. "Tao'er must give me a boy!"

Jiang Wen took a deep breath. Since the children weren't born yet, there was no need for such anxiety. "And if Tao'er doesn't have a boy, but Diao Chan does?"

"That is different. One is a wife, the other a concubine. If your concubine's child were to marry my child, even if Lu Min and I agreed, the head of the Lu clan would never consent. And don't forget, Diao Chan once belonged to Lu Bu..."

"What of it? Do I not know the purity of my own woman?"

Seeing the flicker of anger in Jiang Wen's eyes, Lu Meng realized he had said too much. "Forget it. It is rare to receive such good news; shall we invite the other generals to a banquet?"

"No. Let us wait until we have conquered these four commanderies; then we shall hold a victory celebration."

"Conquered? Given this good news, and since you have already said that Huang Zhong and Han Xuan are at odds, why not raise our troops and attack the city now?"

"We must not be too hasty. Summon the soldiers; begin the drills!"

"Yes!"

"One!"

"Hah!"

...

Han Xuan rushed out of his residence, boarded his carriage, and arrived at the gate tower, gazing out at Jiang Wen’s camp. He saw an endless sea of soldiers.

"Two!"

"Hah!"

"My lord, Jiang Wen is drilling his troops. My subordinates estimate that they will attack the city gates shortly!"

"Summon Huang Zhong!"

"My lord, do you truly wish to summon General Huang? There have been rumors throughout the army for days that the old general has been colluding with Jiang Wen in secret. That arrow shot from the city wall..."

"Shut your mouth!" Han Xuan barked, looking toward the enemy camp. "Fine. I shall defend the gates myself!"

Huang Zhong donned his armor and took up his sword. Just as he was about to leave his residence, he was intercepted. Huang Zhong’s brows furrowed. "Who are you to block my path!"

"The lord has ordered that General Huang remain in his residence and not step outside."

"I hear the sounds of Jiang Wen drilling his troops from outside the gate; how can I not go and see for myself?"

"The lord’s orders are absolute; please do not make things difficult for us, sir!"

The main army gathered before the gates of Chang-sha. Jiang Wen and Lu Meng looked up at the soldiers on the battlements. "Zi-ming, do you recognize him?"

"I do. It is Han Xuan."

***

Gan Ning’s gaze was dark as he rode his horse forward, staring intently at Jiang Wen. "General, if I kill him this time, will you stop me again?"

Jiang Wen replied somewhat awkwardly, "No. Xing-ba, do as you please. However, if the enemy surrenders, please show restraint."

"Hmph!" Gan Ning snorted and rode his horse to the side.

Tai-shi Ci took command of the center formation.

Jiang Wen sat alone on his horse, looking up and shouting, "Soldiers of Chang-sha! Your Generals Huang Zhong and Wei Yan have been defeated by my army. Wei Yan’s life hangs in the balance. You have already witnessed our might—do you dare to face us in battle?"

The soldiers on the walls were filled with rage, their weapons leveled at Jiang Wen, though a few looked hesitant—or perhaps, fearful.

Jiang Wen cleared his throat. "Our army has always treated captives well; you will have food and clothing, and we shall never humiliate you. But if you persist in your stubborn resistance, once the city is breached, even if you surrender, it will be too late!"

"And today, you do not see Huang Zhong. Do you think something has happened to him?" Jiang Wen shouted. "I tell you, General Huang has already defected to our side! I promised him that if he joined our ranks, he would be granted fertile land, high office, and wealth!"

The soldiers looked at one another. Huang Zhong was their god of war, their pillar. But the rumors of his betrayal had been circulating for days, and the impact was devastating—especially now that the enemy commander himself was confirming it!

Could it be that General Huang had truly colluded with the enemy?

"Do not listen to his nonsense!" Han Xuan roared. "Jiang Wen, you attempt to shake our morale with such cowardice! Why not attack the city directly?"

"What nonsense?" Jiang Wen laughed. "Huang Zhong is clearly uninjured, yet he does not appear—is that not because you, Han Xuan, forbid it? You are men of flesh and blood; you know that if we truly go to war, without Huang Zhong, you cannot withstand our army. Opening the gates is your only chance!"

"You all have families. If you open the gates, I swear I will not harm a single civilian, nor will I take even a needle or a thread from them!" Jiang Wen roared. "I, Jiang Wen, stake my own life on this vow!"

The soldiers' eyes wavered. Protecting one's home and country—in the end, for them, home came first and country second. They were not famous generals or high officials; they were ordinary, nameless pawns who only wanted to protect their own small corner of the world.

"Shut up! Everyone, take up your weapons!" Han Xuan looked left and right, his hair standing on end with fury. "I told you to take up your weapons! He is the enemy—how can you believe a word he says!"

"Everyone, many of you were captured at Ba-ling in the past. I, Jiang Wen, let you go as I promised. I keep my word; I never break an oath. Think: are you not soldiers to protect your homes?"

"Now, if you open the gates and surrender, the Prime Minister is a wise ruler, renowned throughout the world. He governs his lands with order and prosperity. If you surrender, you need not worry about enemy incursions or the safety of your families, for the Prime Minister will provide for all of that!"

"Those who open the gates and surrender now shall be rewarded with one hundred pieces of gold and ten bolts of silk! And whoever brings me the head of Han Xuan shall receive one hundred pieces of gold and a fief of one hundred households!"

"They are my loyal soldiers! They would never do such a thing!" Han Xuan glared, drawing his sword and striking down a soldier beside him. "Whoever dares to put down their weapon shall meet the same fate!"

"Everyone, do you know why General Huang Zhong has not appeared? It is because he rescued Wei Yan and brought him into the city, violating your lord's orders. Your lord deems Wei Yan a dying man, worthless of being saved!"

"That's right, I heard that too. The lord did say under no circumstances were the gates to be opened, and that Wei Yan should be left to die!"

"Listen to that—how chilling it is!" Jiang Wen sighed. "A lord who kills his hunting dog once the game is caught—are you truly willing to defend such a man?"

"Fire! Fire your arrows!"

The surrounding soldiers wore complex expressions, but not a single one moved.

"Open the gates!"

"Open the gates!"

"You dare to rebel!" Han Xuan’s face turned crimson. As he raised his sword to strike the soldiers nearby, an arrow whistled through the air and pierced his armor, driving straight through his chest.

Tai-shi Ci coldly lowered his bow.

The city gates swung open. Jiang Wen smiled and let out a breath. "The army shall enter the city. Anyone who harms, burns, loots, or kills shall be beheaded and displayed as a warning!"

"Impressive, truly impressive!"

Lu Meng clicked his tongue in wonder, and even Gan Ning was at a loss for words. "This battle was no less spectacular than the one at Guan-du!"

"I once heard of a man even more remarkable. He incited a riot in a tavern; though he was captured, he used his words to gradually gain control of a nation’s military, eventually ascending to an imperial throne equal to the Emperor's and launching wars against neighboring states. No one could deny his eloquence or his military talent, but beyond doubt, he was a great villain who failed the world."

"What kind of man is that? So spirited—is it recorded in the history books?"

Jiang Wen shook his head. "That man was only someone I saw in a dream."

"Why talk of dreams? I must report this to Bo-fu exactly as it happened so they can share in the joy—truly, a victory without shedding blood!"

Jiang Wen’s army occupied the city. He arrived at Huang Zhong’s residence, where the soldiers attempting to resist were immediately detained. "Kneel!" the Jiang soldiers barked, kicking the guards' legs to force them down.

Jiang Wen looked at the locked door. "Open it."

The soldiers nearby bowed fearfully and opened the door.

Huang Zhong sat with his eyes closed, his armor stripped away. Jiang Wen smiled. "Seeing you like this, General, you must know my army has taken Chang-sha. Does our old wager still hold?"

"A word once spoken is hard to take back, even with a team of four horses," Huang Zhong opened his eyes. "I wish to see him. Is he still alive?"

"He has a breath left. He is at the gate tower, though if we rush there now, I fear..."

***

Huang Zhong walked straight out the door. The guards made to stop him, but Jiang Wen shook his head.

"Let us go. Let us see Wei Yan."

Jiang Wen led his troops to Wei Yan’s residence. The servants looked at Jiang Wen in terror, none daring to block his path, all falling to their knees.

The soldiers prepared to draw their swords to intimidate them, but Jiang Wen waved them off.

"Where is your master? Take me to see him."

The servant trembled. "My lord, this way, please."

Jiang Wen looked at the unconscious man on the bed. "Can he be moved?"

"No, my lord. The medical officer said we must be careful with his wounds; moving him would likely cause them to tear."

"Very well. He shall remain in this residence. You are the steward; you shall manage the house. But the moment Wei Yan wakes, you are to inform me at once."

"Yes!" the servant agreed, relieved.

Jiang Wen walked out of the room toward two soldiers nearby.

"General."

"You two are to remain here to guard Wei Yan. If anyone attempts anything untoward, execute them immediately."

"Yes!"

***

Han Xuan’s residence.

Jiang Wen held Han Xuan’s official seal in his hand, leafing through the administrative papers before losing interest. Lu Meng walked in, beaming. "The city’s grain supplies are plentiful; we need not worry about provisions for now. The other matter is how to settle the fifteen thousand captives."

"You and Tai-shi Ci shall categorize these troops. Remember to keep them separated so they do not band together and cause trouble. Has anyone violated military law?"

"None. They have all been very docile."

"And Gan Ning?"

"The same. That pirate-like air about him has improved quite a bit."

Jiang Wen nodded. "That is good. Tomorrow, let Tai-shi Ci remain to hold the city, and we shall continue the expedition."

"Tai-shi Ci to remain? Why not let Gan Ning stay?"

"Gan Ning? You forget who wounded Wei Yan—that was my gift to Bo-fu. If I leave him behind, who knows when he might kill someone."

***

"Tongue and teeth take Chang-sha!"

"Hahaha, wonderful, truly wonderful!" Sun Ce exclaimed, looking at the bamboo slips in his hand. "To conquer half of Jing-zhou in one go—Chang-su’s troops are as swift as the wind. To take two commanderies in such a short time, the conquest of Jing-zhou is within our grasp!"

"A letter arrived not long ago; Han Dang has already returned to Xiang-yang," Zhou Yu said. Sun Ce nodded. "No doubt they are all gathered together now, debating how to absolve Han Dang of his crimes. It is a pity, but a military pledge, once made, cannot be broken."

"Speaking of which, there is another piece of good news. Would you like to hear it?"

"What is it?"

"Chang-su’s two wives are both pregnant!" Zhou Yu said with a smile. "My mother and Le-yao are already preparing to go and 'claim' the children."

Zhou Yu looked at Sun Ce, who did not seem very happy. "What is wrong?"

"My mother still harbors resentment over that previous incident with Jiang Wen and has yet to let it go. I fear we will not be able to become in-laws. And there is another matter: have you heard that Shang-xiang has been pining for someone lately?" Sun Ce looked at Zhou Yu with a wry smile. Zhou Yu lifted his teacup, momentarily speechless. "That would be difficult. Your sister loves martial arts, and they have never even met. How could this be?"

"How else? The scholars are all saying that Chang-su is undefeated, that his battles are unparalleled, and that he possesses the spirit of the divine commander Han Xin. My younger sister loves all things military, and so it happened. She often asks me about Jiang Wen, yet she refuses to go out and meet anyone. Her best years are being wasted in vain."

"What I worry about is not that, but something Chang-su once told me..." Zhou Yu said, looking hesitant.

"What did he say?"

"That if one wishes to be crowned a king, one must have the support of the gentry. Although the Han officials currently rely on you, they still hold the Emperor in their hearts. To declare oneself king rashly would surely invite opposition, unless..."

"Stop stalling, speak!"

"Unless you form an alliance through marriage with Emperor Xian of Han. And your only daughter is Shang-xiang."