Chapter 103 - Liu Mang, A Hostage??? (1/2)

Chapter 103 – Liu Mang, A Hostage???

Translated by Bloodfalcon, Edited by Krayto

Inside Huangzhou city, the administration office was transformed into Lu Bu’s temporary HQ.

”You said, Huang Zhong and co, have not come to Huangzhou city?!” Lu Bu’s brow wrinkled. This battles most important spoils are Huang Zhong and Huang She. Although occupying Huangzhou city meant Jiangxia's army is defeated, that is not Lu Bu’s goal.

If only just to win Huangzhou city, Lu Bu would have done a siege from the get go.

”Um!” Gao Shun nodded. This person does not like to speak. His gesture meant, that when Gao Shun blocked the route to Huangzhou city, he did not meet with Huang Zhong and Huang She. Only army deserters were arrested by Gao Shun.

No Huang She, Lu Bu’s army leverage is gone. Moreover, with this battle, they have offended Jiangxia thoroughly. No, we should say that they have offended the entire Jing Province. With Jiangxia attacked, Jing Province will definitely send out troops and it will be very difficult to reach Xinye unharmed.

“Gao Shun, you go. Choose one division to be stationed in Huangzhou city!” Lu Bu waved his hand to send Gao Shun away. Now, he must think on how to knot relations with Liu Biao of Jing Province as well as Sun Ce.

Just as he prepared to remove his armor, suddenly the sound of a battle drum thundered.

“Who beats the drum? What is going on?!” Lu Bu’s vision turned fierce again. This is the battle drum thundering and their signal meant to attack.

“REPORT!!! Milord, report. Outside Huangzhou city, Jiangxia naval units are attacking!!!” A messenger hurriedly run in into tent and said it toward Lu Bu while panting.

“Jiangxia's naval units?!” Lu Bu was really confused. He had decimated Jiangxia's army. Although Jiangxia's naval units are strong, without coordination with the army; they cannot do anything to Lu Bu’s army. However at the same time, Lu Bu’s army cannot do anything to naval units as well.

“Come with me, toward the city wall!!!” Lu Bu directly went toward the city wall. A few days ago, the one who was standing there is Jiangxia’s army’s expelled master, master Huang She. Now, it turned into Lu Bu’s HQ.

Gao Shun, Zhang Liao, Zang Ba and co also followed. Chen Gong also followed.

“Is it really Jiangxia's naval units?!” Asked Lu Bu.

“Yes, Milord!!!” Chen Gong responded. In Huangzhou city’s ca.n.a.l, there is only Jiangxia's navy. All of Lu Bu’s army are landlubbers; they cannot swim, so this navy unit is not theirs. These large s.h.i.+ps definitely belonged to Jiangxia's navy. Their s.h.i.+p can be considered the “Red-Hare” of waters due to their speed and strength.

“No more infantry!? They want to attack a city with their naval units? Keep dreaming!!!” Zang Ba said it with disdainful tone.

Although Huangzhou city is situated near the river, the river is quite far from the giant crossbow and arrow shooting range. Also Huangzhou city is not like Xiapi which is surrounded by two rivers. It is not feasible for naval units to attack Huangzhou city, let alone now that the city has been occupied by Lu Bu’s army; it is simply unbreakable.

As if responding to Zang Ba, Jiangxia's naval units unexpectedly anch.o.r.ed near Huangzhou city. The landing board has been deployed from the large s.h.i.+p and Jiangxia’s naval soldiers are flus.h.i.+ng out one by one from the large s.h.i.+ps and the “Red-Hare” s.h.i.+p.

“Are they insane?!” Chen Deng once governed Guangling commandery with his father Chen Gui, so Chen Deng knew a little about naval units. He even clashed with Jiangdong and Jing Province once. The reason why Jiangxia naval units are invincible on water, it is because they are experts in naval warfare. However once they are ash.o.r.e, their fighting skills might be lower than infantry.

Moreover, naval soldiers all wear light armor. So they can stay afloat after they fall into the water. On water battles, they use long-range weapons so this is not too much of a bother. When they are ash.o.r.e and act as an infantry; they are useless.

The drum beat, signaling that Jiangxia's navy is going to attack the city.

5000 naval units attacking a city that is guarded by more than 20,000 troops? Are they joking? Isn't this asking for death?

“HUMPH, since they dare to attack, DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT RETREATING!!!!” Lu Bu’s original plan is to capture Huang She for leverage against Huang Zu of Jiangxia. After all Huang She is Huang Zu’s son. He can tell Huang Zu that Lu Bu's army did not have any malicious intent when they wanted to pa.s.s Jiangxia. They can give Intel asking for him to be in full alert. Stating that Sun Ce of Jiangdong had made his move, so Huang Zu can prepare himself. But Huang She himself now is missing, no one knows whether he had escaped back to Jiangxia or is dead. With Huang She is missing, the friction between Jiangxia and Lu Bu’s army is irreconcilable.

Since they have offended Jiangxia, what is wrong with offending completely?

“Milord, Zhang Liao requests to join the battle!!!” Zhang Liao quickly held his fist. Although, he just ate Jiangxia's army, the first rank in merit was also shared with Zang Ba. Although Zhang Liao is not an envious of the person, his life principle is to surpa.s.s the others. So Jiangxia's naval units are G.o.d-sent merit to him.

“Milord, Zang Ba also request to join the battle!!!” If those 5000 naval units stay in the water, Zang Ba would leave them alone. These ducklings actually came ash.o.r.e now. This is a slaughter fest, who wouldn't want this easy merit?

“Xuangao, your newly formed Mt. Tai Army division is currently comprised of recently surrendered soldier, they are tired and have morale. How can you want to battle with them?!” Zhang Liao said to remind Zang Ba.

“Wenyuan, your Bing Province Heavy Cavalry is not suitable to do battle here either!”

“Xuangao, you also had your first rank in merit, give me this one!!!”

“Wenyuan, I want to train my boys!!!” n.o.body wants to give up this easy merit.

Two of Lu Bu’s eight generals disputed over who is going to fight. Gao Shun on the other hand just stayed quiet because he has completed his own duty.

“Ahem, ahem!!!” Nearby Chen Deng walked out to interrupt their bickering “Please, generals, both of you, please cease your fighting. This time, please let Deng to join the battle!”

”YOU? HOW CAN YOU FIGHT?!” Both Zhang Liao and Zang Ba shouted in one voice “You are not a general, how can you want to join the fray?!”

“Yeah!!! With your physique, I doubt you can even kill a chicken!!!”

Being insulted as not a general and being considered as very weak that he cannot kill a chicken, made Chen Deng’s complexion very bad. How can he, Chen Deng, who is not a general, be called so weak that he cannot kill chicken with his bare hand?

Right now, he is no longer that weak scholar like before, he also undergone a rigid training regime that Lu Bu has taught him.

But Chen Deng can be said that he is not only a military commander, but he is also a Confucian scholar.