Chapter 222 - 4 embraces the flames (1/2)

Chapter 222 4 embraces the flames

Translated by Gamer @ endlessfantasytranslations.com

“Zi Rou has obtained Lu Bu’s secret weapon!?” Liu Biao could not believe it. It was that easy? Originally, Liu Biao just wanted to pay for the release of Huang She, to appease the heart of his veteran general Huang Zu. He also hoped that Lu Bu would not sell the secret weapon to the Sun family. However, he somehow managed to obtain the weapon instead.

His happiness came suddenly! Liu Biao has been fighting Sun Ce for years. Even that rebel weakling Gan Ning was able to send 30,000 of the Jiangdong Navy into the river with this weapon! (Liu Biao did not recognize Gan Ning’s ability because Liu Biao is blind for talent.) On the other hand, he has tens of thousands of elites along with many veteran officers! He does not believe that he could not send Zhou Yu running back to Jiangdong! It is very rare for Liu Biao to be this energetic.

“Yes Milord, Zi Rou has obtained the ballistae and is on his way to Jingzhou!” Kuai Yue was also very happy. With this weapon, there is no longer a need to fear Jiangdong. He was also very happy and proud of his brother’s achievement

“Hahaha Yi Du (courtesy), you and Zi Rou are like my left and right arms! When Zi Rou returns, there will be a great reward!” The Kuai brothers were Liu Biao’s 2 most important men. The younger brother Kuai Liang was good in business while the elder brother Kuai Yue was good in military tactics. Liu Biao is only able to suppress Jingzhou because of them.

(TN: Wikipedia told me Kuai Liang is the older one that does military tactics but that doesn’t matter here.)

Liu Biao should not be underestimated. Even if he is like a sick cat right now, his army was powerful. He was graceful and attracted recruits from afar. He preserves himself with the soldiers. Liu Biao’s Army was also the one that killed Sun Jian.

These were Liu Biao’s achievement but Liu Biao grew old and lost interest in conquering the lands. After this year, Liu Biao would be 58 years old. During that era, being 30 years old is already considered an old man. He is 10 years younger than Tao Qian, and older than Cao Cao by 13 years.

It could be said that Liu Biao was born at the wrong time.

“Milord. The Lu Bu’s Army did not sell the ballistae to just us!” Cai Mao was standing at the side looking unhappy. The Kuai family and the Cai family are both n.o.ble families from Jingzhou. They even had marriage dealing with each other. However, Cai Mao did not like to see the Kuai brothers being praised. Cai Mao is Liu Biao’s brother-in-law. Although the Cai family was not inferior to the Kuai family, Liu Biao was kinder to the Kuai family and treated them better.

Cai Mao also knew that this was Liu Biao’s way to keep the powers in balance. It was his way of keeping the peace in Jingzhou. Liu Biao and Cai Mao’s sister Cai s.h.i.+ also have a son called Liu Cong. This child also received the affection of Liu Biao.

When Liu Biao pa.s.ses away, there is a possibility that he will give the rule to Liu Cong. It is precisely because of this that Liu Biao favors the Kuai family more. That way, the Cai family would not have a chance to take over the kingdom as the Kuai family would keep them in check.

“Lu Bu has sold the blueprints of the ballistae to Jiangdong’s Sun Ce!” Cai Mao’s intelligence system was not weak and he managed to obtain this information. “Jiangdong’s Zhang Zhao has managed to obtain the blueprints before Zi Rou arrived!” Cai Mao said as he looked at Kuai Yue. The meaning of his words was although Kuai Zi Rou managed to obtain the ballistae, he did not manage to prevent others from obtaining it first.

“General Cai Mao! If you say it like that, why did you not volunteer to go yourself?” Kuai Yue also became furious and shouted. No one else was willing to go as Lu Bu’s reputation was terrible. There were many messengers who died at his hands. The latest person to die was Sun Ce’s Army’s Chen Rui. They were also not confidant of convincing Lu Bu. Only his younger brother Kuai Liang volunteered to go. At that time, he had blamed his younger brother for volunteering but never expected his brother to actually succeed. It was a pleasant surprise to him. However, Cai Mao had to stand up and say something sarcastic which made Kuai Yue angry.

“Don’t be like that Yi Du. I, Cai Mao, am only stating facts. I am also a naval commander and I am not suitable for lip service. This is why, Zi Rou is the most suitable candidate!” Cai Mao replied to Kuai Yue.

Kuai Yue also smiled coldly. You cannot do lip service? The lord has given you privilege, military power, and other things. Where was the part that shows that you are bad at lip service.

“Enough. No need to argue.” Liu Biao stood up. He was still very happy and hoped that the Kuai and Cai families would stop bickering. If the two families were united, he would have more things to worry about like the succession rights. Although he was happy, he pretended and put on a sad face. Acting was also a skill!

“Yidu, De Gui, both of you are Jingzhou’s great talent. It is because of you two that Jingzhou is peaceful but now you all quarrel until like this!” Liu Biao acted out.

“Milord, Yue is wrong!” Kuai Yue was the first to say it out. “I should not have gotten angry at General Cai Mao!”

“Milord, Cai Mao is wrong!” Cai Mao also apologized and knelt down. “I should not have question the abilities of Zi Rou!”

“Isn’t this good! The two of you should join hands and advance together!” Liu Biao nodded his head. “Good! Now that we have the ballistae weapon, we can settle our debts with that little Sun Ce!”

Although Lu Bu gave Jiangdong the blueprint, Jingzhou was given 23 of the actual thing. Now, each day that pa.s.s, the situation would also change greatly.

“Pa.s.s on my military orders! It is time for Huang Zu to attack Jiangxia! Remember! I want Official Zhou’s head!” Liu Biao’s eyes flashed as if full of fighting spirit. His appearance surprised Kuai Yue and Cai Mao for a moment. Is this truly the old and dying Liu Biao Jingsheng!?

At the time that Liu Biao entered Jingzhou with just a single horse, Kuai Yue was still a boy. Nevertheless, Kuai Yue could remember Liu Biao’s appearance from back. At that time, Kuai Yue was very impressed and believed that Liu Biao is his lord. Liu Biao did not disappoint him when Liu Biao managed to conquer the whole of Jingzhou with the help of the Kuai family. After capturing Jingzhou, he should have ignored Jiangdong and captured Yizhou. However, Liu Biao has given up. Kuai Yue is also going to give up after this battle! This is because Kuai Yue has also grown from a youngster into a middle-aged man.

Now Kuai Yue has seen this appearance of Liu Biao again. He rubbed his eyes as he did not believe it.

“De Gui, go down there and give your a.s.sistance! I will leave the rest to you! I am tired and will sleep first!” Liu Biao finished his command and sat back down. (TN: Go to bed!)

*Sigh* Kuai Yue sighed in his heart. His lord is already old! If he were younger, Jingzhou would not be in this condition. Kuai Yue felt a little bit sentimental. Although Liu Biao was strong, he was always the one being bullied. The other warlords would attack him but he would not attack them. He could defeat Sun Jian, the man who made Dong Zhuo lose sleep. He could also occupy Jingzhou for decades and had hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

“De Gui shall leave!” “Yi Dui shall leave!” The two men cupped their fists and left the hall.

After leaving the hall, the two men who should have been incompatible suddenly shared a laugh.

“Yi Du! Mao congratulates you and Zi Rou for his meritorious contributions!”

“No, no. De Gui give too much praise. Zi Rou still has much learn and would still need your help!” Their words were really friendly and sincere without any tone or hint of sarcasm. These two were real friends!

Kuai Yue and Cai Mao were actually childhood friends who were also distant relatives. As a family, how could they insult each other? They only pretended to hate each other in front of Liu Biao. Performance acts was not something only Liu Biao could do! They acted in front of Liu Biao to show him the ‘balance’. They had different political opinions but in reality, they were allies. Jingzhou could change their officials but in the end, the Cai family and the Kuai family were one family.

“What do you think about Milord?” Kuai Yue wanted to ask if Cai Mao has also felt that long-lost feeling.

“Yes. I saw it as well!” Cai Mao also nodded his head. Cai Mao also saw the same scene as Kuai Yue. He initially thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. It was the same feeling Liu Biao gave off when he conquered Jingzhou. It was that kind of courage. “Even then, what about it! Milord is old! Old!” Cai Mao shook his head. Liu Biao also seemed to know that his time was running out and did not want to take unnecessary risks. He was only willing to guard Jingzhou until the end.

*Sigh* Kuai Yue sighed again. “What about now? Milord’s orders.” Although Liu Biao has already given the command, it was Cai Mao’s decision as to whether he should execute it.

“Of course I am going!” Cai Mao nodded heavily. “Don’t you think that Sun Ce has gone over the line?” Although the Jiangdong Navy has always fought with the Jingzhou Navy, it always happened outside of Jiangxia. Both sides have their victories and defeats. This was also one of Kuai Yue and Cai Mao’s stratagem. The threat of the Jiangdong navy would make Liu Biao throw most of the tax money into the navy. This is why Jingzhou Liu Biao’s Army have hundreds of thousands of navy troops but only one or two thousand land troops. Now, Jiangdong has conquered half of Jiangxia and is starting to intrude on their profits.

Now that Sun Ce has the ballistae, he would naturally go after Liu Biao, and also the Kuai and Cai family. Better off attacking Sun Ce first! Now Jingzhou also has the ballistae on top of the towered s.h.i.+ps. If this is not the time to attack Jiangdong, there would never be another better chance!

“If we continue to wait for Jiangdong, we will never obtain that Zhou’s head!” Kuai Yue also nodded. As their families are united, Cai Mao’s actions would also be to Kuai Yue’s benefit.

“Don’t worry!” The two men parted. Cai Mao went to the naval camp and Kuai Yue went back to the mansion. Jiangxia is going to war. Kuai Yue would need to prepare provisions for the soldiers and try to copy the ballistae.

“The battle at Wan Cheng is over.” Cao Cao said as he looked at the doc.u.ments. He was currently at Guandu and is having a confrontation with Yuan Shao but he had some free time. He was facing his childhood friend from across the river and both sides were ready to mobilize their army.

Cao Cao who was watching the battlefield suddenly got the news that the battle at Wan Cheng is over. He felt that the news was wrong. Sun Ce attacked with 100,000 soldiers while Lu Bu would only have 50,000 soldiers at most. Cao Cao has also seen Lujiang, Wan Cheng before. It was a very big city with large walls and has a moat. When Sun Ce attacked Lu Kang at Wan Cheng, he took 2 full years to finally capture Wan Cheng. Even if it was only for 6 months, Cao Cao would be celebrating as there is nothing more entertaining than watching 2 enemies fight each other. How long has it been? One month? One and a half months? Sun Ce even fled back with only 5,000 soldiers!