Translated by Bloodfalcon, Edited by Krayto
“So, all of Lu Bu’s army is leaving…” Sun Ce stands on top of an outpost that is overlooking Wancheng city. He is watching the way Lu Bu army’s moving, it is very organized and very disciplined, worthy being called Lu Bu’s army, the elite of elites. Their divisions are really good. Urban Army, Formation Breaker, Bing Province Heavy Cavalry. Sun Ce then murmured “Those divisions, if they belonged to me, Sun Ce, how good it would be?”
He said that in special regards to Bing Province Heavy Cavalry. Those cavalry men are really making Sun Ce drool with envy. A warhorse is needed to create a cavalry, but in Huainan area, it is not suitable to grow a good horse, therefore he must import them from north for one hundred gold a horse. So, all these times, Sun Ce has been desiring to form a cavalry unit of his own.
If right now he had Bing Province Heavy Cavalry, he can invade the Central Plains and directly confront Cao Cao. However, he can only pity himself because he does not have any cavalry.
Yesterday, entertaining Lu Bu’s army and his wedding banquet really made Sun Ce distressed, because he needed to entertain a lot of people. The amount is not hundreds but tens of thousands of people. The amount of grain and provisions used to entertain Lu Bu’s army can used to fight in war two times in succession.
“Gongjin, is this really worth it?!” Asked Sun Ce, really puzzled from Zhou Yu’s proposed scheme before his departure to liberate Sanjiangkou, and now he returned empty handed because he was unable to do it.
The true meaning of his scheme is actually to spread gossip that Lu Bu’s army and Sun Ce’s army formed an alliance. Lu Bu’s army is very happy because Sun Ce’s had given entertainment without any conditions or any interest, instead he just took a big loss of supplies at the surface.
“Milord, do not worry!” Said Zhou amusingly while looking at Sun Ce’s bewilderment. Sun Ce is afraid of being poor. Since his father passed away, Sun Ce was at mercy of Yuan Shu. So every foot soldiers, money, and grain and provisions is very valuable in Sun Ce’s eyes.
Zhou Yu then swung his feather fan toward the map while smiling ““Yesterday’s entertainment was not a gratis entertainment. In this whole world, people always knew that there is no free lunch!
In order to reach Xinye, Lu Bu’s army had passed through our Lujiang and now they are heading toward Jiangxia. Huang Zu of Jiangxia is our enemy. If he knew that we have entertained Lu Bu’s army lavishly, Milord, what do you think his feelings are like right now?!” Said Zhou Yu again with smile on his face.
“He will be uneasy all the time!” Answered Sun Ce toward Zhou Yu’s question.
“Correct, he will be very uneasy all the time. Although Huang Zu did not have power to invade, he still has the strength to defend his land.
Although we beat him once, but we were still unable to conquer Jiangxia! Now we have Lu Bu, Marquis of Wen, who can help to break Jiangxia! With this scheme, conquering Jiangxia has become our key to conquering the Jing Province!”
“So, as long as we keep spreading gossip that we had formed alliance with Lu Bu’s army, the one who will be most afraid is Huang Zu. Plus there are news that Lu Bu’s army is approaching Jiangxia, the panic-stricken Huang Zu will definitely dispatch troops to hit the enemy. Given their temperament as consideration, Lu Bu and Huang Zu will definitely do battle, and at that moment, our opportunity will be opened!”
“Can Lu Bu defeat Huang Zu?!” Sun Ce’s brow wrinkled heavily. He tried to capture Jiangxia so many times before. But, no matter what method he used to capture, he is still unable to capture Jiangxia and his casualties are very high every time he campaigned toward Jiangxia.
Zhou Yu then elaborated his analysis “If in naval battle, then Lu Bu’s army potential is currently zero. But if it is about land battle, ten or twenty Huang Zu tied together is still not Lu Bu’s match! Right now, we lack a land force. Once Lu Bu and Huang Zu do battle on land, simultaneously we capture Jiangxia through the water under the pretext that we are Lu Bu’s allies.
“But, if Lu Bu knows that we are using him, he will definitely be infuriated!” Sun Ce is really worried at this matter. No one wanted to start a war with Lu Bu.
“They will not do that!” Zhou Yu shook his head and while smiling he said “When that time comes, Lu Bu cannot afford to be our enemy!” Once we have both advanced to Jiangxia, Lu Bu will have offended Liu Biao of Jing Province, whether he had intention or not, he is also near Jing Province and Yu Province which belong to Cao Cao, and he is Lu Bu’s mortal enemy.
With Liu Biao and Cao Cao offended, Lu Bu cannot afford to offend another warlord. If he also made Sun Ce his enemies, Lu Bu may never have a home base ever again. Therefore, no matter what, if according to logic, Lu Bu will ask for Sun Ce to form an alliance.
And, if it is true, Lu Bu will get angry. They each possess a different realm of warfare. On land battle, Lu Bu is the king. But on sea, Sun Ce’s army can be personified as a dragon in water, really strong. Can one group of northern land-lubber fight with southerners in naval battle?!
“Okay then, so we just sit back and wait for the good news from Marquis of Wen Lu Bu!” Sun Ce is smiling now. Jiangxia is the location that he wanted to grab the most, and he looks at Jiangxia’s direction with expressions full of determination. He thought “Oh, father. Please wait! Your son will certainly take revenge for you. Huang Zu!!!! Liu Biao!!!! Soon, we will settle our blood debt with you!”
“Un!” Zhou Yu also nodded. Seeing that Sun Ce has a look full of determination, he knows that this is Sun Ce, Sun Bofu that he knows.
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If someone asked, who in all of Jing Province is the Sun clan’s most hated enemy, they will certainly say it is Huang Zu. And if someone asks, who in all of Jing Province, has the most battle with Sun Ce? The answer is also Huang Zu. And if the same question was asked, who in all of Jing Province, is the most afraid of Sun Ce? Definitely it is Huang Zu.
Currently he is reading an intel from Jiangdong, his hand is trembling the entire time he was reading it. Huang Zu is really restless. It said in the intel, Lu Bu, Lu Fengxian is heading south. He did not know what is the reason for Lu Bu to head south, but when he heard news that Lu Bu is approaching Lujiang, his heart was very happy, because he thought Lu Bu wanted to swallow Sun Ce’s domain. But the intel that he got today, made Huang Zu really restless.
Several days ago, he had Intel that Lu Bu had passed Shucheng County and Shiting to go toward Wancheng city. Sun Ce unexpectedly let them pass Lujiang. Furthermore Sun Ce and Zhou Yu came out of Wancheng city, without bodyguards, ride 50-li to meet Lu Bu and co from Wancheng city.
They are both warlords. How can Sun Ce want to meet up with him as if he was meeting up with guests, with no bodyguards at all? Sun Ce really did not fear that Lu Bu may take him hostage to seize his domain directly.
Did Lu Bu join forces with Sun Ce? Huang Zu can only think this possibility for now. Sun Ce is Jiangdong’s Little Conqueror, Lu Bu is a mighty tiger. If these two joined forces, this Jiangxia will be hard to protect.
Please do not look at Huang Zu’s defeat record when defending Jiangxia these many years, but look at who is his opponent who caused him so many defeats. With Sun Ce as his opponent, he suffered only defeat after defeat, ingloriously.
Moreover, Huang Zu is old now about 60 years old, even when that time, when he killed Sun Jian he was 50 years old. So he no longer has any ambition. But even if he was defeated many times, he still maintained a stubborn defense in order to prevent Sun Ce from entering Jing Province through Jiangxia.
From his prowess alone, it can be said Huang Zu still had the ability as a commander-in-chief of the army, but he is getting old and his prowess has declined by the years.
“Gentlemen, do you have a stratagem to propose?!” Inquired Huang Zu while glancing towards his civil and military retainers.
Because Jiangxia is the bridgehead that connects Jing Province and Jiangdong, it is also fortress to withstand the Sun clan's attack, Liu Biao assigned his elites to guard Jiangxia, and it resulted with many generals and scholars in this place. But they have kept silent all this time.
With Sun Ce's frequent attacks it made these generals and scholars lose heart, now with the addition of Lu Fengxian, their morale is at the lowest point.
A young man then stood up, holding his fist and said “Dear father, I would like to take vanguard this time. Since ancient times, soldiers are used to block water and hold off the earth. We do not need to worry about these two bastards Sun Ce and Lu Bu, who are they anyway? Please assign 20,000 elite troops to your son, I will make sure they die shortly!” Hearing that young man's words, Huang Zu nodded many times.
That young man's courage and strength is really praiseworthy. That young fellow who just spoke is Huang Zu's dear son, Huang She. He is tall and quite good looking, he can be compared to Huang Zu in his younger times. But only his looks is similar, his administration and military skill is only average but this person had “ambition” in his heart.
“General She, your decision is incorrect!” Huang Zu had not yet opened his mouth to respond, when suddenly a nearby general stood up. His armor is dark yellow, on his face is a full of beard which length is already touching his chest. His face filled with a heroic look.
“Huang Zhong, why you do this?!” Huang She hit his table and pointing toward this veteran general. Huang She is really angry, because each time he showed his determination in front of his father, this Huang Zhong always poured cold water on his request.
TL: Huang Zhong, master archer,