Chapter Ninety-One: I Will Never Retreat, Even Unto Death

Come, brother, drink! Ha ha ha, it has been ages since I felt this happy!

The fierce general had a tiger-like countenance, bold and rugged, with a bristling beard. He raised a wine jar and drank deeply.

Another commander, his face flushed with drink, with phoenix eyes and a flowing, handsome beard, stroked his whiskers and said, "Yide, do not disgrace yourself before Big Brother. Besides, we are in camp."

"No matter, Yunzhang. Our third brother is simply in high spirits; let him be!" said the man in the seat of honor. His features were kind and benevolent, his eyes full of compassion, and his ears were a little larger than those of others. He wore a gentle smile.

"Second Brother, you do not understand the mood. Big Brother does! Ha ha ha, come, Second Brother, drink!" Zhang Fei lifted the jar and poured it back with his head raised, making Liu Bei and Guan Yu laugh.

Guan Yu said, "In this battle, even Yuan Shu suffered. He lost twenty thousand hu of grain and five hundred fine horses. Big Brother, this is indeed a great victory!"

"Of course it is a great victory. This brother owes it all to having valiant generals like you two!" Liu Bei said.

"When has Big Brother ever needed to say such things? That fellow Yuan Shu, ever since the campaign against Dong Zhuo, I have never looked on him favorably. Now he even dares call himself emperor—when Big Brother has not yet done so himself, how dare he!"

"Third Brother, mind your words!" Liu Bei said with some displeasure. "I am a descendant of the Prince of Zhongshan and the Filial King. Now that the Han Son of Heaven still lives, what we ought to do is aid the throne and save the Han house. How could we commit such outrageous rebellion?"

"It's my fault again, I misspoke," Zhang Fei said, raising the jar. "Yes, Big Brother is not like those other damn warlords! I, Yide, shall punish myself with a jar!"

"A report from outside: Gentleman Yuan Zhi has arrived," a soldier said.

"Quickly, invite the gentleman in."

Xu Shu bowed. "Xu Shu pays respects to my lord!"

Liu Bei hurriedly rose and drew Xu Shu to a seat. "Gentleman Yuan Zhi, there is no need for such formality. It is cold outside, and there is warmed wine in the tent. Third Brother, quickly bring some for Gentleman Yuan Zhi!"

Xu Shu naturally took pleasure in Liu Bei's warmth and familiarity, and sat down beside them. "Sir, you are a bit ungracious. Though you helped us win the battle, how did you yourself vanish? Come, a jar is here. Sir, you must finish it!"

Zhang Fei's face was tinged with red, his expression drunk with wine. He walked to Guan Yu and set the jar down. "Come, sir, let us drink together!"

Having said that, he collapsed onto the table and fell asleep.

Xu Shu and Liu Bei smiled faintly. Guan Yu could only stand helplessly and pour each of them a cup. "My younger brother is already drunk, so allow me to drink in place of Third Brother and toast you, sir."

"Please." Xu Shu took the cup and saluted Guan Yu before tilting his head back and drinking it dry, then setting the cup aside.

"I heard that Sir went to Xiangyang this time. Did you find your old friend?" Liu Bei asked with concern.

Guan Yu asked, "Big Brother, you knew that Gentleman Yuan Zhi had gone to Xiangyang this time?"

"Gentleman Xu Shu went to Xiangyang to visit an old friend," Liu Bei said. "It was not a major matter, so I did not tell you."

Guan Yu nodded. Xu Shu said, "I never made it into Xiangyang. These days the whole city has been under martial law, and the defenses are lax only in appearance but tight in fact. I suspect this has something to do with Sun Jian's death, though not entirely. I fear something even greater is about to happen."

Liu Bei said, "Though you did not meet your old friend, it is enough that Gentleman Yuan Zhi returned safely. Now that we have taken Huaiyin, I would like to ask Gentleman Yuan Zhi what we should do next."

Xu Shu said, "I have heard reports from the army: Yuan Shu's forces suffered a crushing defeat at Lujiang at the hands of Sun Ce. This is our opportunity. If it were before, I would advise my lord to attack only Huaian."

"But now Yuan Shu has been defeated. Sun Ce will surely turn his troops toward Shouchun. Yuan Shu is already overwhelmed, and his generals must be in a panic. Why not have my lord and I lead troops to Lingbi and Sixian to persuade the people there, while General Yunzhang leads the assault on Huaian? In this way, my lord can seize four cities!"

"Your reasoning is sound, Gentleman Yuan Zhi. Second Brother, can you take on this task?"

Guan Yu's eyes were full of confidence and pride. "Yunzhang will surely take Huaian. If I fail, I will come to you with my head in my hands!"

"Good. I shall give Second Brother twenty thousand troops!"

Guan Yu stroked his beautiful beard. "Why need so many? Big Brother's journey to Lingbi is long and may be dangerous. Five thousand will be enough!"

Xu Shu's heart tightened. "General, do not be overconfident. Though you defeated Yuan Shu's generals, Huaian still has more than fifteen thousand troops. It would be best to proceed cautiously and take ten thousand men."

"Sir Yuan Zhi underestimates my Second Brother too much. In terms of martial might, he is no less than Lu Bu," Liu Bei laughed. "Since Second Brother is so fierce, very well, I shall give you only five thousand men. In how many days can you defeat the enemy?"

"Within ten days, I will surely take Huaian!"

Xu Shu could not help but sigh. The two generals under his lord were indeed formidable, but they seemed far too prone to complacency. That would make them easy to trip up.

Liu Bei left one thousand troops to garrison Huaiyin and personally led more than twenty-four thousand men toward Sixian.

On the fifth day of the march, Liu Bei, Xu Shu, and Zhang Fei were eating in the tent.

"A report: regarding Huaian, General Guan Yu has already broken through the city, slain more than five thousand enemy troops, and the rest have all surrendered!"

"Second Brother finished so quickly?" Zhang Fei rose joyfully and let out a great shout.

"Sir Yuan Zhi, what do you think of my Second Brother?" Liu Bei said with a smile, stroking his beard.

"The general is truly a tiger among men!"

At the Shouchun palace, Yuan Shu was now in utter disarray. How had Sun Ce abandoned the attempt to reinforce Hefei and gone straight to attack Shouchun instead?

Twenty li away—an army of tens of thousands was only twenty li from Shouchun!

If that army charged into Shouchun, there would be no chance to resist.

"Quickly, summon Grand Marshal Zhang Xun back! Have him return at once to defend Shouchun!" Yuan Shu roared.

"Reporting to Your Majesty: the Grand Marshal is presently at Hefei, and the distance to Shouchun is several hundred li. Even if he is recalled now, it will be useless. Perhaps before he reaches halfway, Shouchun will already have fallen!"

Yuan Shu burned with rage and turned to Yang Hong below him. He shouted, "Yang Hong, this is your scheme—it has ruined me, ruined my Great Zhong! I should never have listened to your slanderous words! Guards, Yang Hong has used evil speech to delude the emperor. Charge him with treason and drag him out to be executed!"

Yang Hong's face changed color. "Your Majesty, this minister has been utterly loyal to Your Majesty. I have no second heart!"

The soldiers dragged Yang Hong outside without giving him any chance to say more. Yuan Shu slumped upon the dragon throne. "At this moment, all of you ministers—what better plan do you have?"

The ministers exchanged glances and remained silent. In ordinary times, it was Yan Xiang and Yang Hong who devised strategies for Yuan Shu; now one had resigned, and the other was probably already on the brink of death.

One minister stepped forward and said, "When the ruler stands, the state and household stand. Now that Sun Ce's army has advanced on Shouchun, Great Zhong is unable to contend. I beg Your Majesty to relocate!"

Yes, yes, there was also the plan of running away. Of the thirty-six stratagems, retreat was the best. The ministers suddenly felt enlightened and nodded, all speaking at once to advise him, "We too beg Your Majesty to relocate!"

"A grand city like Shouchun!" Yuan Shu cried in anguish. Shouchun was the foundation of his imperial enterprise; he knew full well that once lost, there would be no hope of recovery.

Why had he not listened when Yan Xiang told him to summon Zhang Xun back? It was all because he had been blinded by lust and trusted Yang Hong, that short-sighted fool!

But what else could be done now? Sun Ce was right before his eyes; if he did not flee, he would die. There was no other choice but to abandon Shouchun!

Yuan Shu was extremely frustrated, but at least he still had a chance to turn things around. His elder brother possessed immense strength in Hebei, and he had heard that Gongsun Zan was nearly defeated.

He might as well take refuge with him for now, then seek revenge by marching south later!

Truly, Heaven had not closed all paths. Yuan Shu suddenly felt much more at ease, though he still said weakly, "Issue the order: I shall relocate!"

Hefei.

Crash! The huge battering ram slammed into the city gate, sending wood chips flying in all directions. The shock left every soldier numb.

"Hold the line!" A hoarse roar reached everyone's ears. On the city wall, countless arrows and jars of oil rained down desperately onto the troops below. Flames, with heat that distorted the air, ignited the soldiers' bodies!

The scorching armor was like a branding iron. The pain of it pressing against flesh tore at the skin, and screams rose across the battlefield.

"Kill!"

Ladders were continually placed against the walls. Shield-bearers raised their shields and pushed the ladders away, but the moment any soldier reached the top, spearpoints as fierce as lightning would appear behind the shield wall and instantly pierce through their bodies, tearing out great sprays of flesh and entrails!

Rolling stones smashed the ladders apart, and several soldiers fell from the dozens of feet-high walls, instantly silent.

Catapults hurled dense volleys of rocks. The shields of the shield-bearers shattered like paper, and the huge, heavy stones smashed bones into fragments.

The moment soldiers fell, others stepped forward at once, their throats raw with shouting, their weapons intent on carving deeper, deadlier wounds into the enemy's bodies.

There was no fear in their hearts, no thought of retreat. There was only the fury of seeing comrades die and the courage born of defending the city without fear of death. The boiling blood in their chests made them ever more ferocious.

"Throw!"

Boom, boom, boom!

In Zhang Xun's camp, Ji Ling had grown increasingly weak these days, so weak that he could no longer even get out of bed. It seemed his end was near.

Once Ji Ling died, after he captured Hefei, with such a great military achievement Yuan Shu would surely hand over the army's authority to him. Then he would truly be the Grand Marshal!

At the thought of his title changing from empty honor to real power, he felt as though his life had reached its peak.

"A report: Shouchun has been taken by Sun Ce, and Your Majesty, together with the senior ministers, has fled north!"

Zhang Xun turned around expressionlessly and looked at the messenger with detached eyes. "I didn't hear that clearly. Say it again..."

"Sun Ce has led troops to attack Shouchun, and His Majesty has already taken the officials and fled north!"

"Say it again!"

"His Majesty has fled with the officials..."

"Utter nonsense, utter nonsense!! I was just about to take Hefei. I only need ten days—no, five days! Five days!!"

"You tell me Shouchun is gone, that Shouchun is gone!!"

"Nonsense!"

Zhang Xun roared, "I have ninety thousand troops. If Shouchun is gone, then so be it! I can take Hefei with my army and continue marching toward Xiangyang. I will declare myself king!"

"Issue the order: intensify the assault. Anyone who breaks the city shall be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold and enfeoffed as a noble over a hundred households!"

"Yes!"

"Throw fire!"

Han Dang roared, and torches were flung down from the walls again and again. Soldiers in the assault vehicles were burned alive.

"Reporting to the general, our oil is gone, even the oil for cooking has all been used!"

"Reporting to the general, the stones in the city have all been exhausted!"

"Reporting to the general, all the arrows are used up..."

Han Dang wiped away the blood dripping near his eyes from his helmet, raised his mountain-splitting axe, and shouted, "Soldiers, do you know why the Chancellor has not come to relieve us?"

"We do not!"

"The Chancellor fought at Lujiang and slew more than eighty thousand enemies in total, leaving the false emperor Yuan Shu with no forces left to defend himself. And in order to bring the war to an end, the Chancellor has already led troops to attack Shouchun. Once that is done, he can take the false emperor Yuan Shu!"

"The Chancellor is unmatched under Heaven! The Chancellor is unmatched under Heaven!"

"Then before the Chancellor takes Shouchun and comes back to relieve Hefei, what should we do?!"

"Defend Hefei to the death, no matter how long it takes!"

"To the death, no matter how long it takes! To the death, no matter how long it takes!!"

"Kill!"

At Hefei, in Han Dang's residence, Han Dang tossed aside his axe, his expression exhausted. His body was covered in dense wounds, and when sweat seeped into them it brought a sharp sting.

"General, General Kuai requests an audience!"

Kuai Liang walked into the residence with a bitter expression and bowed to Han Dang. "General, you have borne much hardship."

Han Dang waved his hand. "I'm long used to it. I've seen even more dangerous things than this. General Kuai, how goes what I asked of you?"

"It cannot be done," Kuai Liang said, shaking his head. "The grain route from Jianye to Hefei has already been cut off. It is nearly impossible to transport supplies. If reinforcements are sent, they will only be ambushed by Zhang Xun."

"Alas!" Han Dang sighed. "The grain in the city will last only seven more days, but if the Chancellor takes Shouchun and only then returns to defend Hefei, it will surely take far longer than seven days. General Kuai, do you have any other method?"

"Yes. Right now, this is the only way to defeat Zhang Xun's army!"

"How?"

"Grain," Kuai Liang said steadily. "Since Shouchun has already been attacked by the Chancellor, if Zhang Xun does not return to defend it, its fall is inevitable. This also gives us a crucial chance to strike: Zhang Xun's supply line."

Kuai Liang continued, "Ji Ling suffered a crushing defeat and joined Zhang Xun with twenty thousand troops, but that is also twenty thousand mouths to feed. With Shouchun lost and no further grain transport, if we burn his supplies, we can win!"

"General Kuai, just say how we should do it!"

"Lure the snake out of its hole!"

In Zhang Xun's camp, although Shouchun was lost, his grain reserves were still sufficient to support the campaign until Hefei was taken.

And after that, turning to Lujiang, or marching south to attack Jianye, would be easy enough.

After all, he had ninety thousand troops here!

"General, we have captured an enemy scout outside the camp!"

"Bring him in!" Zhang Xun called.

Two soldiers shoved the enemy into Zhang Xun's tent. "Kneel!" They kicked the spy behind the legs, and he dropped to the ground.

"Don't kill me, sir, don't kill me!" the spy begged as soon as he saw Zhang Xun.

Zhang Xun stroked his chin. "Not killing you is possible. Tell me what your general sent you here to investigate."

"I... I cannot say."

"If you won't say, then this is dull. Take him away and execute him."

"Wait, sir. I'm willing to speak, willing to speak!"

"Then speak."

The spy said, "My general sent me to investigate the location of your army's grain supplies."

The author has already been updating four thousand characters a day for several days in a row, and this is not the same as the occasional updates before. In view of such a big change, I am shamelessly asking for your support for the first time. Any kind of vote is fine. I hope dear readers will not be stingy and, if you like this book, cast yours for it.

In addition, special thanks to the reader Fisherman Song by the Lake of Dongting for the two monthly tickets, and to the reader Who Doesn't Read Big Books for the four recommendation votes. Thank you!