Chapter 303 (1/2)

Returning to Yangzhou

“What? You will let me go?” Sun Qian froze. He had already given up and only hoped for his corpse to remain whole. Instead, he found out that he would not only live but also be released. He would naturally be surprised. However, Sun Qian also knew about conspiracies. He knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. “Are you thinking of sending me back as a spy?” Sun Qian looked at Liu Ye and Liu Mang vigilantly. Although he was happy that he did not need to die, he would not betray Liu Bei. “If that is your plan, I suggest you give up and just kill me!”

“Haha.” Liu Mang looked at Sun Qian. Although the man was not very competent, he was a person that was truly loyal to Liu Bei. He was actually much better than some of the other competent people.

“Mister Sun Qian! You worry too much. We will not make you a spy. This is an insult to me and a humiliation for you! This one does not have any conditions for you. He just thought of letting you go free.” Liu Mang replied generously. He originally captured Sun Qian for the twenty thousand provision. Now that there are no more provision, Sun Qian had no more use.

“In that case, I thank Your Highness.” Sun Qian felt sceptical as he cupped his fist towards Liu Mang.

“However!” Liu Mang suddenly said, causing Sun Qian to feel disdain. ‘So there really was a condition after all!’ “Is the magnificent King not living up to his words? In that case, I, Sun Qian, understands you now. Just kill me.” Sun Qian replied unyieldingly.

“Mister Sun Qian. I said that I would let you go without harming you. However, this is not the time to let you go!” Liu Mang shook his head and smiled at Sun Qian. “If I were to let you go now, would you be able to return to the Left General?”

“This is…” Sun Qian carefully thought and found that Liu Mang was correct. No one would believe him if he, a captured prisoner managed to return easily without any injuries or problems.

“So, Sun Qian would need to pardon me for this.” Liu Mang gave a strange smile that made Sun Qian feel uneasy. Liu Mang then shouted. “How audacious! You have the impertinence to tease this one by burning down this one’s provisions? Did you really think this one does not dare to kill you?”

Sun Qian was not an idiot. When he heard Liu Mang say that, he immediately followed up. “False King! You must be dreaming if you want my Lord’s provisions! I will not surrender them to you even if I die!” Everyone in the Three Kingdoms era were actors.

“If you want to die, this one would help you accomplish it! Come! Tie this man up and throw him into the fire. I want him to burn together with the provision!” Liu Mang shouted angrily. “Yes!” Several of the Urban Army soldiers went towards Sun Qian. One of them whispered. “Sir. The rope would not be tight. You would be able to untie yourself if you struggle. We will also throw you into a jar1 filled with water. There should be enough water there for you to survive the flames. There is also ten days worth of provision in the water.” He then tied up Sun Qian and pushed him towards the fire.

“Fales King Liu Mang! You despicable sc.u.m! Hypocrite! Sc.u.m of the Han!” Sun Qian shouted while he was thrown into the water jar. His voice gradually became smaller as though he had been executed.

The two Urban Army soldiers returned as the fire grew. Liu Ye then asked. “Milord. Are you really sending him back? Although Sun Qian did not surrender, we could have persuaded him.” Liu Ye cupped his fist at Liu Mang. In any case, Sun Qian was a talented person. There are three regions in Yangzhou but only Xu Shu, Liu Ye, Huang Zhong and Yang Hong was able to govern. Liu Mang needed Xu Shu to manage Yangzhou and not an individual region. If he did so, it would be putting a talented person in an insignificant position. Besides that, Liu Mang needed Liu Ye’s help to bring to life the contents of the book he brought back. They would be leading in the world once the industrial zone took shape. Right now, they already had ballista, catapults and cement. In the future, they may even obtain gunpowder which will allow them to conquer the lands. Yang Hong was required for information gathering and was also Lu Bu’s Army’s diplomat. He had gained a lot from Sun Ce’s and Liu Biao’s Army. It was thanks to that gold that Liu Mang could hold out until now. Without provisions from Jingzhou and Jiangdong, Liu Mang would have already overworked the others.

On the other hand, Huang Zhong did not want to be a governor while the others such as Zhao Yun and Xu Sheng were needed to command the army and could not be transferred to a statutory position.

With Sun Qian, Liu Mang would be able to relax a little. Any future territories could be given for Sun Qian to manage. However, Liu Mang let Sun Qian return to Liu Bei with provision.

“Ziyang. A brainwashed person is the most difficult to sway.” Liu Mang knows how terrifying a brainwashed person could be. It went to the extent where victims would not even care for their own lives. Many men, women and children had already been affected. The current Sun Qian would follow Liu Bei even if it meant his death, like a dog. He would not leave Liu Bei no matter how he was treated. As a result, Liu Mang would need to be on guard against Sun Qian even if Sun Qian surrendered in case it was faked. In that case, he might as well let Sun Qian leave.

Killing Sun Qian may allow Liu Mang to relax more. However, rather than relaxing, he wanted his enemy to feel even more uncomfortable. Pang Tong had used Liu Mang to try and kill Sun Qian. When Sun Qian returns, he would not ignore this incident. Sun Qian and Pang Tong do not get along. One of them would eventually have to go. Sun Qian would definitely get in Pang Tong’s way and turn Pang Tong’s strategies upside down. Sun Qian also have his contacts in Liu Bei’s Army. Pang Tong was intelligent but did not have as much support. If he had, he would not need to make use of Liu Mang to get rid of Sun Qian.

This was why leaving Sun Qian together with Pang Tong and Liu Bei was more benefial than keeping Sun Qian.

After settling the problem with Sun Qian, Liu Mang returned to being distressed about the situation of provisions. “Ziyang. How much provisions do we have left?”

“Our armies provision is now less than five thousand!” Liu Ye replied. As a military advisor, it was also his job to take count of the provisions in the army. Their position was one of the most important ones in the army.

“Not even five thousand left? Didn’t Ziyang receive more than ten thousand at Yinshang?? How come there are only five thousand left?” Although Liu Mang did not receive provisions here, he had obtained a substantial amount at Yingshang and Anfeng.

“Milord. Didn’t you order to send ten thousand provision to Shouchun at Yingshang?” Liu Ye put his hand on the account book as he replied.

“Ah. I forgot!” Liu Man held his own head. He was inexperienced. When Lu Bu was in charge, all he had to do was accept the provisions. However, now he had to dispatch men for provisions and there was not enough of it.