Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Before departing, as Sun Jian was about to mount his horse, he saw his younger brother Sun Jing kneeling before him with the others, blocking his path. Sun Jing's expression was grave as he clasped his fists and urged, "Elder brother, now that Dong Zhuo holds power and the Emperor is helpless, the world is in chaos, and various factions are rising. Jiangdong has only just stabilized, and the people are finally at peace. To act on a momentary grudge could be unwise. Please reconsider, and do not let personal vendettas overshadow the greater cause!"
Upon hearing this, Sun Jian halted his horse, his gaze sharp as a blade. In a low yet undeniable tone, he replied, "Jing, you are being too naive! Liu Biao once obstructed my return; now he listens to slanderous words and seeks to attack Jiangdong. If we do not eliminate this traitor, how can we ensure Jiangdong's safety? If we do not avenge this grudge, how can the Sun Family establish its authority in the world?"
Sun Jing remained unconvinced and once again prostrated himself, pleading, "Elder brother, Liu Biao's power is great. If Jiangdong becomes vulnerable due to war, won't that allow others to take advantage? This action could lead to serious consequences!"
Before Sun Jian could respond, his eldest son Sun Ce stepped forward boldly and declared loudly, "Father is right! My brothers worry too much. If you must go on this journey, I wish to accompany you to protect you and avenge our enemies, raising the Sun Family's reputation!" With that, Sun Ce knelt firmly, clenching his fists with determination in his eyes. "I am willing to follow you into battle; if danger arises, I will protect you with my life!"
Hearing this, Sun Jian's brow relaxed with evident satisfaction. He dismounted and personally helped Sun Ce up, patting him on the shoulder with a tone full of pride: "Good son! With you by my side, what do I have to fear? With an heir like you in the Sun Family, Jiangdong will surely be unified!" He then turned to Sun Jing and said in a voice as thunderous as a storm: "Jing! I am undertaking great matters; there is no need for further obstruction. If you are concerned for Jiangdong's safety, you may stay home and secure our rear."
Before he finished speaking, Sun Jian had already remounted his warhorse, donned his armor, and shouted boldly: "Those who follow me shall march towards Jingzhou!" Sun Ce followed closely behind and turned back to bow to Sun Jing with fervor: "Uncle, the safety of Jiangdong is entrusted to you. I will fight alongside my father and will not disgrace the Sun Family's name!"
The riverbanks were lined with warships fluttering flags that snapped in the wind as war drums thundered loudly. Sun Jian and Sun Ce boarded the flagship while tens of thousands of soldiers shouted in unison: "Eliminate Liu Biao and avenge our great grudge!" The warships sailed downriver amidst crashing waves that seemed to reflect the indomitable ambition of father and son as they headed straight for Jingzhou and Fan City!
However, Huang Zu had already positioned heavy troops along the riverbank, hiding crossbowmen among dense trees and rocks in preparation. From his elevated position, he spotted Sun Jian's fleet approaching the shore and immediately commanded: "Release arrows!" A rain of arrows filled the sky like a storm cloud, densely packed enough to obscure the sun as they shot towards Sun Jian's ships.
Sun Jian smiled coldly and commanded firmly: "Steady your positions; do not act recklessly! Follow my orders!" The soldiers aboard immediately took cover beneath the deck, holding their ground while occasionally beating drums to feign chaos as if retreating. Seeing this tactic work as intended, Huang Zu ordered his crossbowmen to continue firing. In no time at all, arrows piled up like mountains on the riverbank while countless ineffective arrows floated on the turbulent waters.
By the third nightfall, complaints arose among Huang Zu's crossbowmen: "General, we have run out of arrows; how can we continue fighting?" Huang Zu's face turned dark as he angrily shouted: "Hold your ground! Await reinforcements!" Just then, loud drumbeats suddenly erupted across the river. Standing at the bow of his ship with piercing eyes and sword raised high, Sun Jian commanded: "All troops listen up; counterattack with their own arrows!"
The soldiers on board had already gathered arrows retrieved from the river into wooden barrels; after three days of collection, they had amassed over a hundred thousand arrows. With a strong tailwind at their backs, Sun Jian's fleet lined up neatly on the river as soldiers leaped onto the deck. They unleashed a volley of arrows that arched like rainbows directly at Huang Zu’s positions onshore.
"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—" The sound of arrows slicing through the air was relentless as a torrential downpour descended upon Huang Zu’s soldiers. The archers on land were thrown into disarray without arrows to retaliate; they could only shield their heads with their shields but still struggled against the overwhelming assault. Sun Jian laughed heartily and proclaimed loudly: "Huang Zu! Today you shall surely be defeated!"
In the chaos of the military formation, shouts erupted: "We can't hold them back! Retreat!" Seeing the situation was dire, Huang Zu reluctantly ordered, "All troops withdraw from the riverbank, preserve our main force!" The soldiers retreated in a panic like a tide, leaving behind a ground littered with arrows and debris. Sun Jian, victorious, stood proudly at the bow of his ship, pointing his long sword towards the shore, his voice booming like thunder: "Liu Biao of Jingzhou, your days are numbered!"
As Sun Jian's army landed, Cheng Pu and Huang Gai led their forces to attack from both flanks, while Han Dang charged from the rear to assault Huang Zu's camp. The three armies struck like thunder, directly targeting Huang Zu's formation. His soldiers were thrown into disarray, and the defenders of the camp had little chance to retaliate, fleeing in all directions. Realizing the situation was lost, Huang Zu hastily abandoned Fan City and retreated towards Deng Cheng.
Sun Jian received the news and let out a cold laugh, drawing his sword and pointing it northward. He declared loudly, "I will not return to Jiangdong until I take Huang Zu's head today!" He then ordered Huang Gai to guard the ships while he personally led his troops in relentless pursuit. Unwilling to yield, Huang Zu quickly gathered his remaining forces outside Deng Cheng in an open field to face the enemy, hoping to turn the tide of battle.
Sun Jian stood under the banner, clad in silver armor, exuding authority. Beside him, Sun Ce was fully equipped as well, holding a spear and gazing intently at the enemy lines. He whispered to his father, "If Huang Zu dares to fight today, he will surely meet his end." Sun Jian nodded slightly, his eyes reflecting trust.
Huang Zu was furious as he rode to the front lines, raising his whip and shouting angrily: "Jiangdong scoundrels! How dare you invade my Han Dynasty's territory! Today I will ensure you do not return!" With that, he suddenly waved his hand to command Zhang Hu into battle. Zhang Hu brandished his sword and galloped straight towards Sun Jian's formation. Sun Jian coldly remarked, "Han Dang, are you willing to face him?" Han Dang leaped forward on horseback with his sword drawn, engaging in fierce combat with Zhang Hu. The clash of blades created a web of light as they fought fiercely. After more than thirty exchanges, Zhang Hu began to show signs of fatigue.
At that moment, Chen Sheng from Xiangyang saw that things were not looking good and rushed in with his spear to assist. Seizing the opportunity, Sun Ce steadied his spear and quickly drew his bow and arrow, pulling it back like a full moon. His sharp gaze locked onto Chen Sheng. The bowstring twanged as the arrow flew like lightning, striking Chen Sheng squarely in the face! With a scream of agony, Chen Sheng fell from his horse, blood spilling onto the battlefield.
Seeing Chen Sheng's tragic death caused Zhang Hu's mind to spiral into chaos; his swordplay faltered as he exposed vulnerabilities. Han Dang let out a loud roar and charged forward on horseback with his blade aimed at Zhang Hu’s head. With one swift strike, blood splattered as Zhang Hu's head was cleaved nearly in half; he died tragically beneath his horse. Witnessing the deaths of two of his generals left Huang Zu shaken with fear; he hurriedly discarded his helmet and steed and mixed into the infantry to flee in panic.
Cheng Pu saw Huang Zu escaping and shouted fiercely: "Stop that traitor!" He spurred his horse and gave chase. However, relying on his knowledge of the terrain, Huang Zu managed to escape into the mountains. Sun Jian led his troops in pursuit of Huang Zu's defeated forces until they reached the banks of the Han River. Watching the enemy retreat in disarray, Sun Jian coldly stated: "If they cross this river again, I will take their heads!"
He then ordered Huang Gai to dock their ships at the Han River in preparation for their advance into Jingzhou.
Huang Zu hastily gathered what remained of his troops and stumbled before Liu Biao with a face full of shame: "General, Sun Jian's momentum is like a raging storm; I find it difficult to withstand! Our army has suffered a great defeat; there are no defenses left at Han River. Please make a swift decision!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Biao's expression darkened as he furrowed his brow in silence for a long moment. Kuai Liang stepped forward calmly and said: "My Lord, morale is low right now; our recently defeated army cannot fight again. It would be better to temporarily close the city gates and fortify our defenses with deep moats and high walls while we wait for an opportunity. At the same time, we should send someone secretly to request aid from Yuan Shao. He is at odds with Sun Jian; if we can borrow troops from him, it would be enough to restrain their forces and alleviate our urgent crisis."
Cai Mao heard this and sneered before standing up to refute: "Zi Rou’s plan may be prudent but is overly passive. With enemies at our gates, if we close ourselves off from battle our morale will surely dissipate further. When Sun Jian’s army presses down upon us without any fight put up against them, the day our city falls will be the day our nation perishes! Although I Cai Mao may lack great talent, I wish to lead troops out of the city so that one battle can determine our fate!"
Kua Liang shook his head slightly and replied coldly, "General Cai, your words are rather hasty. In warfare, it is essential to strategize before taking action. Sun Jian is like a fierce tiger; if we do not avoid his sharpness, this battle may not only fail to turn the tide but could also leave Lord isolated and helpless."
Cai Mao's expression darkened, and he raised his voice slightly, "Zi Rou! Military strategy states, 'Speed is essential in warfare.' If we only know how to defend, we will inevitably fall into a deadlock! Moreover, if Lord closes the city and refuses to fight, how will we explain this to the people inside? In such a state of anxiety, they may collapse without even fighting!"
The two argued back and forth, while Liu Biao's expression fluctuated between anger and contemplation. After a moment of silence, he finally slammed his hand on the table and declared decisively, "General Cai is right! Although our army has suffered defeat, we cannot surrender without a fight. Cai Mao, you will immediately organize the troops and select elite forces to strike back at Sun Jian! As for seeking assistance from Yuan Shao, that can proceed simultaneously to guard against future troubles."
Cai Mao cupped his hands in acknowledgment, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes as he coldly replied, "I will not fail in my duty!" With that, he turned resolutely and strode out of the tent, preparing for battle.
Comment 0 Comment Count