Chapter Forty-Four: Entering Moling

Atop the hillside, Sun Ce appeared, and at that moment, Zuo Rong’s face grew even paler. He had long heard of Sun Ce’s valor—Fan Neng and Zhang Heng had both fallen to his hand!

“Where is Taishi Ci?!” Zuo Rong roared, only to see, in the distance, two generals locked in combat with Taishi Ci, giving him no chance to break free.

Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin, each wielding mighty sabers, attacked in perfect harmony—one inside, one outside—alternating offense and defense, besieging Taishi Ci in turn and leaving him no opportunity to use his bow. He could only meet them with his blade.

“Who dares to threaten my general?!” Yu Mi charged forward on horseback, brandishing his long saber, which stirred up a whirlwind as his warhorse galloped wildly.

“A mere rat dares face me?!” Sun Ce bellowed, his white steed also surging forward.

The white cloth wrapping his leg was slowly soaked red with blood. “Wretch, prepare to die!” Sun Ce leveled his Conqueror’s Spear and thrust it furiously at Yu Mi. Yu Mi raised his saber to block, only to feel a dreadful force rush from his fingers up his entire arm. In a flash, Sun Ce spun his spear, raising a golden arc like a crescent moon. The spear swept from left to right, its lethal golden aura unmistakable.

Yu Mi, straining atop his horse, braced his saber like an immovable boulder. Yet even such a boulder shattered before the strength of the Conqueror. The spear struck Yu Mi’s sword with a thunderous blow, smashing it against his own body and sending it flying from his grip!

Sun Ce pressed his charge, seized Yu Mi’s armor with one hand, and tucked him beneath his arm.

Zuo Rong was stricken with terror; Sun Ce, bearing the might of a conqueror, seemed truly to possess the strength to move mountains.

The threat behind him drew ever closer. Zuo Rong cried out, “I surrender! Spare my life!”

Sun Ce hesitated, but then saw a hidden dart flash from Zuo Rong’s sleeve, whistling toward him! Sun Ce dodged with lightning speed, his anger flaring.

“Old traitor, to resort to such base trickery! You do not deserve to live!”

With a furious thrust of his Conqueror’s Spear, Sun Ce ran Zuo Rong through, ending his life.

“Your commander is dead by my hand! Why do you not surrender at once?” Sun Ce held Zuo Rong’s lifeless body aloft with one arm. The soldiers around, bloodied from battle, saw their spirits collapse; many immediately dropped their weapons and sank to the ground in surrender.

Liu Yao, reading the military report in his hand, was overcome with emotion. “Niuzhu… Niuzhu has fallen?!”

“Sir, General Zuo Rong… all other generals have been captured by Sun Ce…”

“How many troops remain…?”

“All have surrendered…”

“Pft!”

A mouthful of blood spattered across the grand hall as Liu Yao fell rigidly to the floor, eyes filled with rage.

“My lord! My lord!!”

In the main hall of Wan City, the generals Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Zu Mao, Kuai Liang, and others stood assembled. Sun Jian, reading the military report in his hand, broke into hearty laughter. “My son spent nine months pacifying Moling, while we old men have yet to defeat Lü Bu. These youngsters have outdone us, ha ha ha!”

“Report! General Kuai Yue, while transporting supplies, encountered several former Han officials—Yang Biao, Dong Cheng, Sima Fang and others—who have brought their families to seek refuge in Wan City with the general!”

Sun Jian immediately rose, his face alight with joy. “We are sorely in need of capable ministers, and now so many have come to us—this is a great blessing! I will personally go to welcome these esteemed elders!”

In the grand hall of Puyang, Cao Cao gazed at the bamboo tally, his expression complicated. “This Sun Wentai is indeed remarkable. Wenruo, he must be considered my greatest rival.”

By his side stood a refined scholar, seven feet tall, learned and poised. Though his features were unremarkable, there was an ambition in his eyes that aspired to rule the world.

Xun Yu bowed and said, “This man possesses unique vision—he knows how to defend and consolidate, and he knows to act in the Emperor’s name to command the lords. Truly, he must be considered a great adversary.”

“Yet, my lord cannot confine his vision to this alone. Lü Bu is now attacking Wan City; we could write to Sun Jian, offering to aid him in repelling Lü Bu. All we require is that he immediately march on Xuchang. With Sun Jian holding Lü Bu at bay, Xuchang will surely fall back into our hands.”

Cao Cao turned to another scholar nearby, pallid and delicate in appearance. “What does Fengxiao think?”

“I also believe this plan is sound.”

In the grand hall at Shouchun, Yan Xiang was driven out, and he sighed toward the sky. Ever since Yuan Shu had obtained the imperial seal, his every thought had turned to proclaiming himself emperor. Now, his troops disturbed the common folk, alienating the people—how could he ever become emperor? None of Yan Xiang’s remonstrations were heeded.

He looked at the military report in his hand—Sun Ce had recovered Moling. Now, Sun Ce had secured a foothold in Jiangdong, and even half of Jingzhou. Once he reclaimed all of Jingzhou and Jiangdong, his next ambition would surely be Yuzhou.

Yan Xiang left the hall with a bitter smile. “There’s not much time left…”

Across the land, the various lords were astonished by Sun Jian’s army—first, the unexpected conquest of Jingzhou, and now the capture of Moling. It seemed likely that Jiangdong would soon fall to them, and then Sun Jian would rise as the dominant warlord among his peers.

Sun Jian now courted the Emperor—could it be that the Han dynasty’s mandate was not yet extinguished?

Within the city of Moling, Sun Ce—having fought while wounded—had aggravated his injuries; the army physician’s hands trembled as he treated him. After all, if anything happened to Sun Ce, heads would surely roll, regardless of fault.

Jiang Wen entered the great hall of Moling alone. He looked at Liu Yao’s lifeless body upon the dais. Though a prince of the imperial clan, he had met such an end.

Jiang Wen called out, “Come! Carry Liu Yao away and see that he is properly buried.”

“At once!”

In the resplendent hall, beneath bronze beams carved with vivid beasts and monstrous birds, stood a solitary scholar.

Jiang Wen gazed at the throne, lost in thought, when a soldier in red approached behind him. “Advisor, the Commandant sends me to ask how we should deal with Taishi Ci and the other generals.”

Jiang Wen replied, “If Taishi Ci is willing to surrender, we should grant him an important position. If not, spare his life and let him go. As for the other generals, if any refuse to surrender, they should be executed.”

“I will report your orders at once!”

In the great hall of Moling, the generals knelt on the ground as the imperial envoy read aloud the edict.

“By imperial decree: For his tireless efforts in helping me reclaim the realm and vanquish the rebel traitors, I hereby appoint Sun Ce as General Who Rides with Valor.”

“Your servant, Sun Ce, gratefully receives the decree!”

Sun Ce took the edict. “Escort the envoy to the guest quarters to rest.”

A soldier rushed in, handing a military report to Jiang Wen. “Advisor, in this assault, we have seized eighty thousand bushels of grain, captured over ten thousand enemy soldiers, and acquired four thousand war horses.”

Sun Ce, unable to contain his delight, took the report. “Another resounding victory!”