White sails dot the expanse as ships traverse the waters.
The slightly yellow Yangtze River churns with a "hua hua" roar, the moonlight seemingly casting a layer of luminescence upon its surface, adding a grim and murderous aura to the silent night.
The river current flows towards the center, crashing back against the remarkably sturdy stone steps, churning up stern waves that collide with the oncoming ones, creating a booming sound.
The might of the Yangtze, wave after wave, surges and rolls eastward.
All of this seems to herald an eventful night.
Landing.
Hundreds of vessels are moored along the bank, within the territory of Lujiang.
Nearly twenty thousand Jiangdong soldiers disembark rapidly, orderly, their weapons aligned, a truly majestic and formidable legion.
Upon landing, they do not immediately press on. Instead, they wrap rough cloth around their shoes, ensuring that even with over twenty thousand men, their marching footsteps do not create a deafening sound.
A surprise attack…
Indeed, they are the Jiangdong forces led by Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, intending to launch a surprise assault on Lujiang while Liu Xun's main army is engaged in attacking Shangliao, much like the crossing of the river by white-clad soldiers decades later.
Insidious, base… yet always effective!
"Advance. Upon reaching the walls of Wancheng, attack without waiting for orders!"
Sun Ce issues the command with a low voice, his demeanor filled with excitement…
He is always like this, incredibly invigorated once on the battlefield, often leading from the front, so much so that even his personal guards struggle to keep up.
In stark contrast to Sun Ce's fervor, Zhou Yu remains calm and collected, his brow furrowed as he gazes towards Wancheng in the distance.
Everything is under control…
Zhou Yu smiles faintly, seeing no reason for excitement. Liu Xun… heh, he is still far behind compared to himself!
Tonight, the banner of command in Lujiang Commandery will change.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh…"
The river wind blows incessantly, and the temperature suddenly drops considerably.
"Tap tap tap…"
The faint sounds of marching echo.
Tens of thousands of men on the march, even with rough cloth wrapped around their shoes, cause the very earth to tremble softly. Approaching from afar, faster and faster, they are nearing the walls of Wancheng.
Wancheng is the seat of Lujiang, its strategic importance is undeniable…
It can be said that once Wancheng is captured, the defenses of the entire Lujiang Commandery will crumble instantly. Sun Ce is confident of taking all of Lujiang within half a day.
And even if Liu Xun returns to reinforce immediately.
He will first encounter the ambush laid by Sun Ben and Sun Fu at "Pengze"…
Gongjin mentioned that "Pengze" is a strategically advantageous and difficult-to-attack location. Liu Xun's army is bound to suffer a significant loss!
Heh heh…
Even without an ambush, there is far too little time.
It can be said that Sun Ce is determined to capture Lujiang tonight.
"Bo Fu, do you see it?"
The army can clearly see Wancheng as they advance.
The Jiangdong forces are now less than three miles from Wancheng. Zhou Yu does not forget to remind Sun Ce.
"Do you see? Only a few torches are lit on the battlements of Wancheng, indicating lax defenses. We can take this city with a single, decisive push!"
Much like determining the number of soldiers in a camp by counting the number of hearths within it.
In the darkness, the number of torches on the battlements can also roughly estimate the number of defending troops.
Indeed, Wancheng currently appears to have lax and insufficient defenses…
It is estimated that there are no more than a thousand men stationed on the battlements!
Such a Wancheng, such a Lujiang, is as easy as picking something from one's pocket.
Upon hearing Zhou Yu's words, Sun Ce's confidence grows even stronger.
For years, as his strategist, Zhou Yu has consistently provided brilliant plans with no errors, and he never doubted that if Zhou Yu said they could take the city today, they would indeed take it.
"Gongjin, remain here to command the central army. I will personally lead the troops to attack the city!"
This is the consistent mode of cooperation between Sun Ce and Zhou Yu.
Sun Ce charges into battle, while Zhou Yu directs from the center!
"Hahaha… When we capture Lujiang Commandery tomorrow, I will take Gongjin to the Qiao family on Wuzhou Mountain, and we can 'pluck' the elder and younger Qiao to celebrate?"
As Sun Ce said…
Although the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" depicts the touching and passionate love stories between Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao.
In reality, the historical Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were merely spoils of war from Sun Ce and Zhou Yu's conquest of Lujiang.
Where was all that romance?
Or rather…
In this era, women were indeed spoils of war. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu would hardly engage in sweet talk with them?
At this moment…
Sun Ce's eyes narrow.
"Soldiers, follow me!"
Gazing ahead, the Jiangdong disciples begin their final charge.
Scaling ladders… this is the most ancient, yet most effective method of siege warfare.
Instantly…
The great banner of "Sun" flutters in the moonlight, bright armor glints with dazzling brilliance, and staggered swords thrust towards the sky, emitting a chilling cold light.
The twenty thousand Jiangdong soldiers, having shed their rough cloth wrappings, their footsteps thunderous, make a heavy rumbling sound as they surge forward with irresistible force!
The kicked-up dust rolls and churns like a tidal wave, inspiring awe and chilling the bone.
…
"They're here!" On the battlements of Wancheng, Cheng Yu has been waiting for a long time.
Gazing at the Jiangdong soldiers like a tide, at the scene of dark clouds pressing down.
Hoo…
Cheng Yu lets out a long sigh.
He is not afraid, merely experiencing a sense of lingering dread.
He considers that if not for Lu Gongzi's silk pouch, the fall of Wancheng today, and indeed Lujiang, would have been unavoidable!
—Even an immortal could not save them, could not save them.
Hoo…
Cheng Yu sighs again, though he had already held Lu Yu in high regard before. This scene still sends ripples of excitement through his heart.
Anticipating the enemy, planning without flaw, Lu Gongzi has completely grasped Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and the entire situation in Lujiang.
With just a single silk pouch, the entire situation along the Yangtze River might have changed.
Thinking thus…
Cheng Yu slowly closes his eyes. He can feel that besides the shouts of the Jiangdong soldiers, in the jungles and bushes surrounding the city gate, the fierce tigers who have been lying in wait for a long time have opened their bloody mouths and opened their bloodthirsty eyes. They are about to be released from their cages.
Indeed…
Just as the Jiangdong soldiers swarm forward, about to reach the city walls.
"Swoosh swoosh swoosh," countless fire arrows are shot from all directions.
"Ahhh ahhh ahhh…"
The first sounds are the screams of countless Jiangdong soldiers.
Suddenly, all the Jiangdong soldiers halt, their momentum of attack halted by the volleys of arrows shot from all sides.
"Is there? Is there an ambush?"
Zhou Yu, standing high at the rear, his eyes suddenly narrowing.
From his elevated position, he can clearly see these arrows being shot from the forests near the city gate. This means there is an ambush outside the city gate of Wancheng?
But…
This is not right!
How could there be an ambush?
Clearly…
The intelligence repeatedly relayed by spies from Shangliao City, deduced from the number of hearths used daily by Liu Xun's troops, indicated that Liu Xun had mobilized his entire army.
Then?
Where did these tens of thousands of hidden troops come from?
Before Zhou Yu could ponder further…
"Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh…"
The sky-filling fire arrows, like locusts passing through, densely rain down again. Following closely behind… the ground beneath their feet seems to shake.
"Kill… kill…"
"The enemy is ambushed, kill them quickly!"
The city gate of Wancheng is flung open, and countless troops surge out.
Simultaneously, from all directions… the sounds of footsteps and horses' hooves resound, a rumbling that sweeps the ground, followed by… denser dust clouds.
In an instant, the area beneath the walls of Wancheng is filled with the harsh sounds of clashing swords and blades.
Fifty thousand troops, Liu Xun's fifty thousand troops, descend like divine soldiers, encircling the Jiangdong forces.
Flames fill the sky, shouts erupt, the earth-shattering roar is mixed with cries of anguish, and the air is instantly filled with a thick scent of blood. The surroundings are grim, the earth stained with blood.
"Amb… ambushed?"
"Where… where did these soldiers come from?"
Even the usually brave Little Overlord Sun Bo Fu's brow is now furrowed. A doubt arises in his heart, the same as Zhou Yu's?
Where did these tens of thousands of enemy soldiers materialize from?
Shouldn't they… shouldn't they be at Shangliao City?
"Form ranks, meet the enemy… meet the enemy…"
Even in this desperate situation, Sun Ce forces himself to remain calm and begins to organize his soldiers to resist the enemy.
However…
The disparity in numbers is too great. Twenty thousand against fifty thousand. Even if the Jiangdong disciples are valiant, they are now deeply surrounded, their morale shattered.
And when morale is shattered, can the formation remain stable?
Furthermore, they are on a long march, while Liu Xun's fifty thousand troops are well-rested. This is not a fair fight at all.
The soldiers on the outermost edge of the Jiangdong forces fall one by one. Some even stumble and flee from the front to the rear, their bodies covered in blood.
Their stained faces reveal an unconcealable panic.
Their blood-red eyes are filled with panic and fear…
And a despair they have never known.
For years, under Sun Ce's leadership and Zhou Yu's strategizing, they have always been the ones to ambush, the ones to slaughter, the hunters…
But today, they have become the prey, the… fish in a barrel!
"Ah… ah…"
"Ah…"
"Ah…"
Continuous screams are heard without end.
Countless Jiangdong soldiers have their hair disheveled, their bodies covered in wounds, the wounds throbbing painfully, their throats emitting uncontrollable groans of pain!
Blood-soaked armor continuously drips blood onto the ground, the entire area beneath the city is marked by blood.
The defeat is like a mountain collapsing…
More and more deserters appear, and it is inevitable that Sun Ce's army will be routed.
But at this moment.
"Swoosh…" Sun Ce draws his Guding Saber from his waist and, with a single slash, kills a fleeing Jiangdong soldier!
Blood splatters…
This scene also causes those who were about to flee to halt.
Hoo…
At this moment, Sun Ce's eyes are intensely focused, and only one thought echoes in his mind: Father, in this dire situation, please help me fight with my back to the river!
With this thought, he suddenly plunges his Guding Saber into the ground beside him and shouts loudly, "Any officer who abandons the army and retreats first will be immediately executed; any soldier who abandons the officer and retreats first will be executed by the rear guard!"
— "From now on, anyone who retreats past this saber will be immediately beheaded. If I, Sun Ce, retreat past this saber, the rear guard may also take my head."
With these words, Sun Ce spurs his horse forward, leading the charge alone.
Back then…
His father, Sun Jian, was like this, leading from the front, carving out remarkable achievements with every stroke of his saber, laying the foundation for the Sun clan's enterprise!
Today, he, Sun Ce, will do the same!
And he knows even better that in a desperate situation, with no retreat, only he, the commander of the three armies, can turn the tide.
"I am Sun Bo Fu, the Little Overlord of Jiangdong! Take my life!"
It must be said that Sun Ce's bravery instantly infects countless Jiangdong disciples. The previously scattered formation instantly re-forms and re-gathers, turning what should have been a one-sided battle into a fierce contest of equals.
The improvement in the situation…
Causes Zhou Yu, standing on high, to let out a long sigh of relief.
"Bo Fu! Fortunately, there is you…"
At this moment, Zhou Yu's mind is buzzing. In such a situation, with the army surrounded by countless enemies, Zhou Yu has little room to maneuver.
He can only hope that Sun Ce can create a miracle.
Speaking of which, while Zhou Yu's planning was instrumental in conquering Jiangdong and taking its six commanderies, it was Sun Ce's bravery that repeatedly inspired the soldiers of the three armies and was the key to creating countless miracles of defeating the many with the few.
Perhaps this time they can also defeat the many with the few?
Perhaps this time, they can also find life in the face of death?
Bo Fu, you… you are the Little Overlord of Jiangdong, you must be able to do it.
Zhou Yu's eyes become even more determined, and he gazes intently at the bloody battlefield under the moonlight.
…
On the battlements of Wancheng.
"Sima Cheng, that must be the Little Overlord Sun Bo Fu, right?"
Liu Ye points to the enemy general below the battlements, who is darting left and right as if in no man's land, and asks this question.
"There are a hundred personal guards around him… Who else could it be but Sun Bo Fu?" Cheng Yu nods, watching him effortlessly defeat two of Liu Xun's deputy generals, one against two, and exclaims, "It seems this Little Overlord of Jiangdong is not just a vain reputation."
This…
Upon hearing this, Liu Ye's eyes narrow slightly.
"He is too formidable. Because of his bravery, he has even inspired the enemy soldiers. Their morale, which had collapsed, has suddenly become spirited again. This battle seems to have added some uncertainty."
"Is that so?" Cheng Yu's lips curve slightly, revealing a faint, indifferent smile. "Zi Yang, don't forget, our Long Xiao Camp has not yet made a move."
Long Xiao Camp?
Upon hearing these three words, Liu Ye is stunned. He quickly asks in return, "But the Long Xiao Camp only has… only fifty cavalry! Looking at Sun Bo Fu's martial skills, and the hundred personal cavalry surrounding him, let alone fifty, even five hundred cavalry might not be able to deal with him!"
It's not that Liu Ye speaks like this…
Sun Ce is too skilled in combat and his martial arts are superb. Liu Ye alone has witnessed…
He has killed no less than five deputy generals and dozens of soldiers. Including his personal guards, this single unit might have the blood of hundreds of soldiers on their hands!
In Liu Ye's opinion, unless… unless the legendary "Ancient Dian Wei" from Long Xiao Camp, Dian Wei, were here, perhaps he could fight against this Sun Bo Fu.
"Hahaha…"
Unexpectedly, Cheng Yu laughs. He strokes his beard as he laughs with great composure.
"Sima Cheng still has the mood to laugh?" Liu Ye is exasperated… "If Sun Ce continues to fight like this, it seems like our army has fallen into an ambush, and our army's morale might even collapse."
Speaking of which, Liu Ye sighs helplessly and asks again, "Does Sima Cheng… have such confidence in these fifty Long Xiao Camp knights? Are they… truly Sun Ce's match?"
"In terms of martial arts, they are certainly no match for Sun Ce." Cheng Yu waves his hand, speaking truthfully.
Cheng Yu dislikes showing off, at least not openly.
"Then?" Liu Ye asks again.
This time… before he can speak, Cheng Yu's words follow: "Although the martial arts of the Long Xiao cavalry are inferior to Sun Bo Fu, it's not like we can't… Our Long Xiao Camp has good equipment… By the way, Zi Yang, you probably don't know what steel is yet?"
Steel?
Liu Ye taps his forehead. What is this?
Just as he is lost in thought…
At the city gate of Wancheng, another troop of cavalry charges out.
Unlike Liu Xun's legion, they are all clad in dark black armor, and in their hands, they hold sharp battle halberds. In the moonlight, it can be seen that these battle halberds are very heavy!
But these knights handle the heavy weapons with ease, as if… they can easily wield such weight.
And this troop of cavalry, though only fifty strong, stands out exceptionally on the battlefield due to their equipment.
They are not the Long Xiao Camp knights? Who else could they be?
"Brothers, you've been cooped up long enough, haven't you?"
The one leading them is none other than Cao Xiu…
He is right, the Long Xiao Camp has indeed been cooped up!
These fifty cavalry are the elite of the elite within the Long Xiao Camp. They have been ordered to carry out a mission and earn merit on the battlefield!
One must know that the Long Xiao Camp has a clear system of rewards and punishments.
For killing a certain number of enemies, they receive specific land;
For killing a certain number of enemies, they receive specific residences!
For killing a certain number of enemies, they help you get married! Besides this… as long as you earn merit on the battlefield, even if you want to marry two or three wives, the Long Xiao Camp will satisfy you.
Therefore, every knight in the Long Xiao Camp yearns for the battlefield and for military achievements as if possessed.
This is directly related to their future and their lives, driven by interests!
Finally, finally, they can go to battle…
They have been suffocated for a long time!
Instantly, the Long Xiao cavalry let out a uniform "ao ao" cry, appearing extremely excited. Some Long Xiao knights even shed tears, tears flowing down like streams, "Finally, we can fight!"
Compared to them, Cao Xiu's heart is also very excited.
However, as the commander, he must calm his emotions and make the most accurate judgments on the battlefield.
"Ahem, you all, don't get too excited, don't get too excited. Let this general find the target, and then we will attack!"
Every time the Long Xiao Camp goes on an expedition, Cao Xiu must shout this.
He feels that the times have changed. In the past, when leading troops, upon hearing of battle, one had to boost morale, shouting, "Brothers, go forth, do not fear!"
Now, the situation in the Long Xiao Camp is completely different…
Lu Gongzi has directly equated military merits with rewards. Now, at every battle, the soldiers under his command are even more excited than Cao Xiu.
Hoo…
Taking a breath.
Cao Xiu sees a troop of cavalry, the most formidable in the Jiangdong army… This time the Jiangdong soldiers crossed the river, and those who can ride horses are definitely high-ranking officials!
Of course, for the Long Xiao Camp knights, whether they are high-ranking officials or not is unimportant!
After all, they count heads. But for Cao Xiu, the commander, it is different.
He must chop down a high-ranking official to stand tall!
At the very least, he can stand tall before Lu Gongzi, like Sima Cheng Yu, like Commander Dian Wei, like General Huang Zhong, and even more so, make the entire Cao army cast their eyes, and make his uncle Cao Cao cast his eyes.
"It's them. That troop of cavalry looks very capable. Let's use their heads to achieve the merits of our Long Xiao Camp!"
Cao Xiu softly murmurs.
This can be considered him finding his target.
And what he doesn't know is that the target he has chosen is Sun Ce and his personal guard unit!
The trump card against the trump card!
— "Ahem, brothers!"
— "Our Long Xiao Camp never bullies the weak. Let's tackle this tough bone!"
With these words…
Cao Xiu raises his battle halberd.
— "Long Xiao Cavalry, follow me and kill!"
— "Assault the enemy on horseback, swift as lightning, routing the enemy in an instant…"
…
…