Chapter 165 - Sun Ce Vows To Kill Liu Mang (2/2)
“Milord, this Lu Su greets you!!!” Lu Su also come into the tent, his face is very complicated and said to reported to Sun Ce “Milord, today’s casualties is very high but we almost take over Wancheng. This Lu Su came here to report the damage for today’s siege!” All those words were said while Lu Su seeing Sun Ce’s battered body. He knew that today Sun Ce almost breakthrough Wancheng, but was halted by Huang Zhong.
“Okay, said your report now!!!” Sun Ce said it while showing sullen look. He already obtained a bad news regarding Chen Wu’s death might as well goes down to abyss with damage report. Lu Su then begin his report “Casualties of Danyang soldiers. Zuo division is completely annihilated saved for their leader Zuo Renjie. From 10,000 troops diminished to 5,000 of Chu soldiers. Danyang Chu soldiers also suffered damage, the specification are 800 seriously injured, 200 minor injuries. This Lu Su suggest that we withdraw Danyang soldiers from tomorrow battle!”
“What about the other clan’s damage?!” Sun Ce’s tone is very very down as his own elite already half-crushed.
“Zuo clan, Bian clan, w.a.n.g clan also suffered estimated to be more than 10,000 troops from 100,000 troops!!!” Lu Su have no love for those n.o.bles as he already considered them to be fodder during initial siege and also with their casualties, meaning more supplies for elites.
“What about Wancheng?!” Sun Ce said it while standing up, regardless his wounds have finished suturing or not.
“Wancheng defenders from 10,000 troops, we managed to kill 8,000 troops!!!” Lu Su responded. When Lu Su and Liu Mang traded words, he carefully a.s.sess the entire Wancheng. He a.s.sessed that inside Wancheng should have at least 10,000 troops although he did not know the exact number. So today, although Sun Ce army suffered big casualties but they also managed to decrease Wancheng defenders’ numbers until it remained only 2,000 troops so to speak.
With this, even with 5,000 Danyang soldiers of Chu, they are able to annihilate Wancheng city defenders to the last men. Actually Lu Su already know that Wancheng city’s defenders only remained less than 1,000 troops, but he just raise the number a bit as it would not make too much difference.
“OH, HO HO HO HO!!!! I REALLY UNDERESTIMATED YOU, LIU MANG” Sun Ce sneer up while laughing in a very menacing tone and his fist is clenched strongly. His anger is already peaked at the top. He was defeated by a rookie commander whose soldiers only consists of 3,000 elite troops and since the first day of the siege, his damage already unbearable. First Zhou Tai died, and then Jiang Qin lost one arm, then Chen Wu and Dong Xi. Even though Dong Xi did not die, but he is impossible to command Danyang soldiers again, also his Danyang Zuo soldiers decimated.
Sun Ce then stop his thought for a moment and said “a.s.sign Dong Xi to be my personal bodyguard, he is not to leave me all the time!!!” A Dong Xi without Chen Wu, is a berserk Dong Xi. Dong Xi will attack friendly even without someone to guide him. Being Sun Ce bodyguards meaning Sun Ce can monitor all of his actions and he will definitely become much tamer and will not kill friendly.
“Yes sir!!!” Lu Su agreed with Sun Ce. Lu Su also felt this decision is correct. He had seen Dong Xi previously. Dong Xi stature is big and towering, if one standing in front of him, one can feel his bloodl.u.s.t from his frequent cannibalism. An uncontrollable cannibal is truly fearful.
But Lu Su also have other concern in his mind. With Chen Wu died and Dong Xi rea.s.signed, who would lead those 5,000 Danyang Chu soldiers? But he held his tongue, as this topic is very sensitive and may lead for his lord suspect him for insubordination and usurpation.
But Sun Ce is not a person who is afraid insubordination or usurpation but even then, there must be a line that a subordinate must not cross. Finally Sun Ce decides “Zijing, a.s.sign Danyang Chu soldiers to Ziyi, let him lead them!!!” This decision was made because there is no more excellent leader under his command. Chen Wu has died, Jiang Qin is badly wounded, Dong Xi is useless. Only Tais.h.i.+ Ci is the one can lead them as of now as Sun Ce will not let those n.o.bles to touch his precious elites.
Lu Su also nodded in agreement with Sun Ce. Those ruffians need someone with strong discipline to keep them in line. If Tais.h.i.+ Ci can make them organized, they will be unstoppable by anyone.
Sun Ce then muttered “d.a.m.n you, Liu Mang. You destroy four of my generals!!! Zhou Tai, Chen Wu, Dong Xi, Jiang Qin!!! When I break the city tomorrow, I will skin you alive with my bare hand” When Sun Ce said those names, his eyes is very deep and emitting max killing intent. His hatred is even more than when he was laying siege to Lu Kang. In the end, his mercy got better of him and allow him to commit suicide. But Liu clan and Liu Mang, he will really skin them alive.
Originally Sun Ce’s plan for Liu clan is just to let them broke until they are all living under his welfare! Also regarding Liu Mang, Sun Ce only want to use him to threaten Lu Bu, nothing more nothing less. Liu Mang also have greater use than only that. Sun Ce can use his t.i.tle Prince of Shu and General of Southern Expedition whose territory consists of four provinces as a legitimate reason in order to destroy Liu Biao and capture Jing Province. Killing Huang Zu alone will never bring that result and legitimacy.
In ancient time, when people go to war, you need legitimacy. King Cheng Tang, founder of Shang Dynasty, need to speak up his “Pledge of Cheng Tang” first in order to do battle with King Jie of Xia Dynasty. Doing battle without any legitimacy will make people question you and even rebel against you. Even those who become your enemies will actually question what is the meaning of this battle. This is one of the precise reason those n.o.bles who sided with Sun Ce created Sin Manifesto, insulting Lu Bu as butcher, etc. That kind of stunt actually could get support from all local officials.
But now Sun Ce want to kill Liu Mang, and already do not care about legitimate cause. All inside his head right now is that he wanted to avenge his four generals. Remembering them, Sun Ce’s heart is very heavy. Especially when remembering Zhou Tai. Zhou Tai is the one person of whom Sun Ce placed a big hope. Zhou Tai’s prowess is actually pretty good even without his blood berserk. If he survived until now, perhaps he also will understand how to be a hyper-cla.s.s general due to his strength alone.
But all is lost now, Zhou Tai is dead and cooked into meat patty. Sun Ce really gritted his teeth this time, Lu Bu really got an excellent son-in-law who can fight as excellent as him. Then Sun Ce screamed to the top of his lungs “LIU MANG!!!! EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT I WILL SAID NOW, THEIR BLOOD IS ON YOU!!! CHEN DUAN, DA QIAO, ZHOU TAI, CHEN WU, DONG XI, JIANG QIN!!!! YOU SHALL BE AVENGED THREEFOLD!!! CLEAN YOUR NECK FOR TOMORROW!!!! YOU WILL BE OUR PREY TOMORROW!!!!”
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