Chapter 261 Lu Bu in Julu (1/2)
Chapter 261 – Lu Bu in Julu
February 15th, 183 A.D.
Jia Xu, Lu Zhi, Xu Huang, Zhou Cang, and all soldiers in Julu had reached Anping County today.
The old wooden fortress was still around, but Jia Xu decided to expand it in this battle as the battle scale was different. The small fort could not house all 60,000 elites of Julu, and all of this fort's weaknesses had been analyzed by every scholar already.
”We'll expand the fort into three separate fortresses, but we will separately construct barricades and trenches for our camp.”
Jia Xu picked two places as their camp location. Each camp was on the fort north and south wing.
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February 17th.
In two days, both camps formed wooden fences, spike barricades, and three-meter deep moats.
All soldiers contributed into digging the deep moat, which was 20 kilometers in length and 10 meters in width, creating a defensive line which could not be crossed.
The gigantic long moat was not a simple hole without a path. Jia Xu decided to have the soldiers make a dozen small passages, which led to the entrance of both camps. However, the passages were so small that only one person could enter at a time, preventing the flood of soldiers in the case of invasion.
In addition, at the exit of the small passages, check-point pill-boxes, watchtowers, and spike traps were waiting for anyone who could cross them.
The construction project of Jia Xu had not finished yet. He gazed at the picture in the scroll, which was drafted by Tong.
”Cross-fire, Japanese Castle Trap Moat, Island Fortress, Maze Castle …”
Jia Xu recited each picture as he was choosing which layout was the best for their future battle.
”That damn brat is too creative at defensive tactics. Time sure has changed.”
The conclusion report from Nanpi spies had reached Jia Xu's hands. Yuan Shao gathered 200,000 soldiers from all noble forces and his Yuan family forces, which they were gathering in Guangchuan County, east of Anping and southwest of Nanpi.
It was impossible for Jia Xu and the others to intercept such a massive army with fewer troops. They had to wait for the reinforcement from Jinyang, and they had to create a favorable battleground for themselves.
By having the advantageous battleground and a proper fortification, they should be able to outlast the Yuan forces until Xiao Wu or Tong finished their battles and return to help them.
…
…
At the same day, Jinyang Army, led by Lu Bu, Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, and Li Feihong had arrived at Julu.
Zhang Jiao and Sima Fang went out to receive them. Although they should be in a higher position, they still bowed their head to Lu Bu as the situation required his aid.
Lu Bu was still as aloof as ever. He ignored the polite greetings from Zhang Jiao and others and left everything to Zhang Liao and co.
”I'm sorry. Lu Bu is always like that,” Li Feihong apologized to Zhang Jiao.
”Ha-ha, I've expected that. It's alright. Come, let's enter the city and rest first.”
All of them exchanged pleasantries and entered the city. Since Zhang Liao and Li Feihong knew about the news of Hua Shi's baby, they did not want to spoil Zhang Jiao's mood.
”By the way, I'll send you the congratulatory gift later when Lu Bu isn't looking,” Li Feihong whispered to Zhang Jiao.
Li Feihong had secretly bred several Red Hare horses, dairy cows, bulls, and freshwater fishes in his private world. He planned to deliver all of these to Julu to pay Tong as a price of his lifespans.
”Well, we are carrying another batch of iron ores with us, too. It will arrive a few days later though.”
Zhang Jiao laughed, ”Don't worry, don't worry. Having all of you here is already reassuring.”
While Li Feihong and Zhang Jiao chatted, Sima Fang glanced at the two in wonder.
'Since when has Lord Zhang gotten so close to this young man? Should I check his background?'
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While Zhang Jiao and Li Feihong were taking care of the Jinyang soldiers and a place to settle their camp, Lu Bu had already entered the city with his giant Red Hare horse, strolling on the main street.
Lu Bu had heard about the development of Julu City from his wife, and she always complained that she wanted to visit the city for sightseeing, which also made Lu Bu curious.
As Lu Bu looked around, buildings of shops, stalls, taverns, and inns were all over the place on the main street. Many merchant caravans stopped at restaurants and inns to rest. Local people were walking around the shops with their families, smiling and laughing.
The cheering mood of the civilians baffled Lu Bu. In his point of view, these people should have been in a panic because their city was about to be attacked by a massive army. Yet, they acted as if nothing had happened.
Also, the mixed aroma of various kinds of food piqued Lu Bu's nose. His stomach growled, and his saliva flooded his mouth.
”The city of food …”
Lu Bu muttered the nickname of Julu City that all merchants and scholars entitled it.
He parked the Red Hare King at one of the restaurants stable and walked inside.