Chapter 284 – Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry Rides to Yangzhou (1/2)
Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry Rides to Yangzhou
Liu Bei’s speed was not fast. After avoiding Guangzhou, he and Zhang Xiu rampaged throughout Yangzhou. He would siege while Zhang Xiu would plunder. After Gus.h.i.+ and Anfeng, a number of county towns were captured. Liu Mang’s Army in Yangzhou withdrew many times until Liu Bei’s Army had reached Hefei. Unlike Hao Shao who defended Guangzhou for four days with twenty thousand soldiers, Hefei’s twenty thousand soldiers fell within two days from the Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu’s coalition forces. Zhang Xiu’s Army even bypa.s.sed Shouchun and raided Chengde, which also fell on the same day. The entire Yangzhou was plunged into chaos. Only Shouchun and Lujiang were left in Liu Mang’s hands.
“Detestable!” A handsome and tall middle-aged man in Lujiang swept the official doc.u.ments onto the floor in a fit of rage.
“Milord! Calm your anger!” The nearby Cheng Gong went and picked up the doc.u.ments. Words of consolation came out from his mouth but he himself felt very angry. The doc.u.ments said that in Yangzhou, only Shouchun and Lujiang was left in Liu Mang’s hands. Everywhere else has fallen. Lu Bu had opened up territory for Liu Mang to develop industries. It could be said that Lu Bu had already given Liu Mang all the resources available. Now all these was taken away by others. This would naturally make one feel angry.
“Gongtai! I want to dispatch troops!” Lu Bu was extremely angry for being taken advantage of. It would not be his style to keep enduring. Lu Bu now wants to tear his enemies apart with his wolves. “Baby Zhang Xiu. Even your uncle did not dare to try and bully me. You are looking for trouble! Big Eared Liu. How regretful. I should have let Ji Ling bring the Yuzhou Army to destroy you!”
“Milord. It is not that we must not dispatch troops!” Chen Gong was even more anxious compared to Lu Bu. For better or worse, Lu Bu only has a daughter after so many years. He has many wives and concubines but Chen Gong had none even after following Lu Bu for so many years. As it was too late for him to get a wife and son, Chen Gong sees Liu Mang as an elder would see a junior. The moment Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu went out, Chen Gong had already prepared soldiers and provisions. However, his plan could not keep up with the changes. Sun Ce also went out. His fleet patrolled the Yangtze River and would disembark if they were not careful.
Sending a little bit of help to Liu Mang is not worthit as right now, Zhang Xiu and Liu Bei had united. Zhang Xiu had twenty thousand Xiliang Cavalry and Liu Bei had ten thousand troops. He even took out his elite White Eared soldiers. If they were to send out most of the soldiers, it would not be called reinforcements due to a lack of soldiers. It would be gifting out presents after being surrounded. That is why the Wolf Cavalry, Urban Army or Mountain Army would be needed to aid Yangzhou. These elites could chase away Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu’s Army but what would become of Lujiang?
Sun Ce’s Army is now waiting for a chance. Once Lu Bu’s elites all disappeared, it would be the same as giving Lujiang over to Sun Ce. He was still hoping to once again capture Wan Cheng and obtain Lujiang. This is why Lu Bu’s Army could not move.
“Sigh!” Lu Bu punched the table. The wooden table was smashed into pieces. Lu Bu knows this but the situation at Yangzhou made him extremely anxious. “Gongtai. Write a letter and tell Hanyang to withdraw the troops. Have all of them return! We don’t want Shouchun anymore!” Lu Bu could now only choose to abandon Shouchun and Yangzhou. He only wanted Lujiang.
“Milord. Do you think Hanyang would listen?” Chen Gong shook his head. If Liu Mang had listened, he would have withdrawn his troops a long time ago. Chen Gong and Lu Bu had initially discussed about how to burn the bridges. They thought of using the millions of common people and give it to Liu Bei to cause trouble at Yuzhou. This would give Liu Bei a big headache. Compared to the others Liu Bei placed more emphasis on reputation. This was because Liu Bei is not from a land-owning cla.s.s. He did not dare to disregard his people like Cao Cao and could only eat this loss. After that, Lu Bu could get Liu Biao to fight Jiangdong again. The whole army could then land on Jiangdong and cause chaos.
Chen Gong believed that this was a good idea but Liu Mang rejected it when he received the letter. Although this stratagem would cause misfortune to Liu Bei and Sun Ce, Lu Bu himself would also fall into a huge predicament. The battle of Guandu approaches its end. Once Yuan Shao or Cao Cao have their hands free, Lu Bu would lose his place in the world.
Liu Mang was not joking. Cao Cao’s elder brother Cao Chun had died in the hands of Lu Bu. Liu Mang himself had offended Cao Cao. Once Cao Cao obtains the world, he would not spare the Lu Bu’s Army.
“That fellow!” Lu Bu finally understood the meaning of the idiom wis.h.i.+ng iron could turn into steel. He finally understood Liu Biao and Yuan Shao’s helplessness to their children. Lu Bu rubbed his head. Even if he wanted to have Liu Mang withdraw right now, it would be very hard. This was because Lu Bu had obtained information that Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu had already pressed towards Shouchun and Lujiang. They needed the help of the walls of Lujiang to defend. Once they withdrew the troops, the twenty thousand Xiliang cavalry would become a nightmare to the troops. Withdrawing the troops might result in a huge defeat.
“Father! Father!” While Lu Bu had a headache, a beautiful woman entered the hall. The woman was very attractive and looked like Lu Bu. This was Lu Bu’s only daughter, Lu Qiling. Right now, she no longer looked valiant. Instead, she looked weak. She broke into tears when she entered the hall.
“Ling Er. What are you doing here?” Lu Bu saw his daughter and asked. “Go back. This is not somewhere you should be.”
“Miss!” Chen Gong saw Lu Bu’s daughter cupped her hands when normally, she would return after greeting ‘Uncle Chen’. Chen Gong was Lu Bu’s right and left hands. He was also the Lu Bu’s Army’s brain. This was why calling him uncle was acceptable. However, this time, Lu Qiling had no mood to do that.
“Father. Did something happen to husband?” Lu Qiling opened her eyes wide and watched her father hoping to get the exact news from his mouth.
“Nonsense. How is that possible? Hanyang is doing well in Shouchun!” Lu Bu waved his hand as his eyebrows pulsate.
“You liar!” Lu Qiling did not believe her father. “If Hanyang is doing well in Shouchun, why would the Liu Bei’s Army and Zhang Xiu’s Army appear in Yangzhou! Why would they besiege Shouchun?” Lu Qiling questioned.
“Who told you this?” Lu Bu frowned. Who told Lu Qiling that Liu Bei’s Army and Zhang Xiu’s Army are attacking Shouchun? It is not possible to hide the fact that Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu had dispatched troops but the situation at the battlefield should have been able to stay hidden. So, the fact that Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu were attacking Shouchun is only known to Lu Bu and a few generals. The only other one that knows was Lu Bu’s wives which he told while being agitated.
“You do not need to care who was it that told me. Father. Tell me whether something has happened to husband!” Lu Qiling looked at her father. Lu Bu also did not know how to reply. However, Lu Bu was certain that his wife was the one that told her. His head started to hurt even more.
“Why would I lie to you? Why is a girl like you bothering with this? Go back quickly. This is a conference hall. Someone. Come and send her back!” Lu Bu did not want to explain. It was possible that his explanation would not make sense the more he explained. He could only choose to let Lu Qiling go back.
“I know. I know. Second Mother was right. Something happened to husband!” Lu Qiling was somewhat at a loss. The woman who could compete with men had already disappeared. She was now just a girl worried about her husband.
“As expected it was Chan Er who said it.” Lu Bu did not go and immediately blame Diao Chan. After all, such a big thing is hard to hide from the family.
“Why are you all still stunned there? Send the Miss back!” Lu Bu roared again. He could only choose to send her back and then explain it to her when he returns.
“Yes!” Two nearby bodyguards then sent Lu Qiling off.
“Gongtai. Is there no other way?” Lu BU asked Chen Gong unwillingly.
“Right now, you can only pray for Hanyang to be able to hold on!” Chen Gong was also helpless. Right now, Lu Bu was attacked on three sides. On their own, Lu Bu was not afraid of them. If Sun Ce were to attack alone, Lu Bu could route his entire army again like last time. After all, no one is a match for Lu Bu’s Army on land.