sjar Chapter 702: Sun Ce Arrives, Forces Divided
Chapter 702: Sun Ce Arrives, Forces Divided
With the arrival of summer, abundant rains moistened the earth. During this period, Yuan Shu and Ma Chao were unable to gain any advantage. Fortunately, Ma Chao was also unable to gain the upper hand. The continuous rain made the ground muddy and slippery, and Ma Chao's cavalry, which was essential for his success on the battlefield, could not gallop freely in such a terrain, rendering it completely useless.
Although Yuan Shu lost two or three cities during this period, the situation remained stable. He remained relatively cheerful, largely thanks to the ingenious strategy devised by Yang Hong. Through precise control of the various factions and skillful planning, Yang Hong successfully provoked conflict between Sun Ce and Liu Biao, plunging the two factions into a fierce and entangled struggle.
Upon learning of this, Yuan Shu was secretly delighted, grinning from ear to ear. With Liu Biao firmly holding Sun Ce at the front, the pressure on his side suddenly eased considerably, and he enjoyed a leisurely and comfortable life every day. He often chatted and laughed with his advisors in his tent, his words filled with praise for Yang Hong's strategies. Yuan Shu knew that if this stalemate continued, Sun Ce would be distracted by Liu Biao and Ma Chao would make no breakthroughs. In due course, Ma Chao would find it difficult to maintain the current standoff. At that point, the situation would naturally turn in his favor.
Ever since Yang Hong presented his brilliant plan, which had pitted Sun Ce against Liu Biao and successfully relieved Yuan Shu's own pressure, his favor towards him had reached an unprecedented level. Yuan Shu always consulted Yang Hong on matters of all sizes, and he was generous with his rewards, even willing to present his entire treasury of treasures to Yang Hong. Yuan Shu considered Yang Hong an indispensable right-hand man, essential to his great cause, and he trusted and obeyed his every word.
Yan Xiang, on the other hand, met with a complete setback during his mission to Tao Qian. Although Tao Qian had deployed his troops on the border of Xuzhou, with banners waving and soldiers arrayed in formation, ready to attack Wujun at any moment, he was hesitant to actually launch his attack. While this did somewhat ease Zhou Yu's offensive against Jiujiang County and alleviate some of the pressure on Yuan Shu, Yuan Shu was not convinced.
Yuan Shu viewed Yan Xiang's failure to persuade Tao Qian to dispatch troops without hesitation as a sign of incompetence. He already harbored a prejudice against Yan Xiang, feeling that many of his suggestions were unfavorable, and the "failure" of this mission only intensified his rage. From that point on, Yuan Shu's expression became particularly grim whenever he saw Yan Xiang. Not only did he stop actively seeking his advice, he often mocked him publicly. Gradually, the distance between Yuan Shu and Yan Xiang grew, and he ceased to include him in important meetings. Yan Xiang, who once offered Yuan Shu advice in his tent, now watched silently from a corner, his talents scarcely visible.
One day, upon learning that Zhengce had issued a proclamation threatening to attack him, Yuan Shu dropped the jade pendant he was playing with with a thud. His face instantly turned ashen, his eyes filled with panic. "How is this possible?" his voice trembled, his hands subconsciously clenching the armrests of his chair, his knuckles turning white from the strain.
Yuan Shu quickly summoned his advisors. As they filed in, they saw Yuan Shu pacing back and forth in the hall, looking agitated. He suddenly stopped and shouted, "Tell me, what should we do now?"
At this time, Yan Xiang stepped forward and bowed, saying: "My lord, in my opinion, the current situation is serious. Why don't you consider an alliance with Yuan Shao? The Yuan family is one family, and joining hands may be able to solve the urgent problem." He looked sincere and his eyes were full of worry.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Shu's face showed disgust and he sneered, "Alliance with Yuan Shao? Who the hell is he! He's always trying to suppress me, how could I possibly cooperate with him!"
Yan Xiang hurriedly advised: "My lord, the situation is critical. Let's put aside our prejudices for the moment and put the overall situation first. The alliance is only a temporary measure. Let's get through this difficult time first and then make plans."
Yuan Shu paced back and forth in his tent, cursing nonstop, completely lacking the demeanor of a powerful lord or son of an aristocratic family. Suddenly, he stopped and shouted at Yan Xiang, "Go to Tao Qian immediately! Tell that old scoundrel to stop dithering and send my troops! I'm getting impatient. Does he still want to cooperate? If he delays any further, I'll turn my back on you!"
Yan Xiang was helpless, secretly groaning, yet he dared not disobey Yuan Shu's orders and could only accept them. Before dawn the next day, he packed his bags and hurriedly set off for Xuzhou to meet Tao Qian. Along the way, Yan Xiang was filled with anxiety, knowing full well that the journey would be difficult. Tao Qian was already wary of Yuan Shu, and their previous collaboration had been marked by friction. He feared that if he pressed for an army this time, he would be met with rebuff.
A few days later, Yan Xiang finally arrived in Xuzhou. Despite the fatigue of the journey, he went straight to Tao Qian's residence to ask for an audience. Tao Qian was somewhat displeased by Yan Xiang's visit, but he still reluctantly welcomed him into his residence.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yan Xiang got straight to the point, saying earnestly, "Lord Tao, the war is now at a critical juncture. My master hopes you can quickly send troops to help us so that we can jointly deal with the crisis. I hope Lord Tao will not delay any further."
Tao Qian frowned slightly after hearing this. He took a sip from his teacup and said slowly, "Mr. Yan, it's not that I'm delaying intentionally. Xuzhou has been very busy lately. It takes time to prepare food and fodder, and train the soldiers. It's really difficult to send troops immediately."
Yan Xiang was anxious and quickly advised, "Lord Tao, the opportunity for battle is fleeting. The situation is critical. If we don't work together, we will all be in trouble. I hope Lord Tao will remember our cooperation and send troops as soon as possible."
Tao Qian looked troubled. After a moment's silence, he said, "I understand the situation is urgent, but Xuzhou has limited military resources. If we rashly send troops, the rear will be left empty, which is truly worrying. I would like Mr. Yan to tell Mr. Yuan that I can allow more time for preparations."
Yan Xiang was helpless, but he also knew that Tao Qian had made up his mind and that further persuasion would be futile. He had no choice but to get up and say goodbye, returning to Yuan Shu with a heart full of disappointment.
After Yan Xiang left, Tao Qian's expression was solemn. He immediately summoned his staff to the main hall of his mansion to discuss important matters. Inside, candlelight flickered as everyone gathered around, the atmosphere oppressive and suffocating.
Tao Qian coughed lightly and spoke first, his brow furrowed. "Sun Ce's power is at its peak, and his army is unstoppable. You all know that even Liu Biao, with his vast territories of Jingxiang and deep-rooted empires, is wary of Sun Ce and dares not challenge him easily, let alone us in Xuzhou." Tao Qian paused, a flicker of worry and helplessness in his eyes. "Remember, Xuzhou was defeated by Sun Ce before, and its strength was greatly weakened. If we rashly start a war now, it would be like an egg against a rock. How could we have the courage to do so?"
An aide bowed slightly and echoed, "My lord, you are absolutely right. Sun Ce has been conquering cities and seizing territories lately, and his momentum is strong. It is indeed not appropriate for us to confront him head-on."
Tao Qian nodded slightly, then sighed, "Besides, the Yuan family and the imperial court are now vying for power, and it's still unclear who will emerge victorious. We in Xuzhou are just a force caught in the middle. Why bother inviting trouble now? If we get involved in this dispute, regardless of whether the Yuan family or the imperial court wins, we in Xuzhou will likely become the target of liquidation. It's simply not worth it."
When everyone heard this, they fell into deep thought. For a moment, the only sound in the hall was the popping of candles. Everyone understood that what Tao Qian said was reasonable, but they really couldn't think of a better way to deal with it. They could only look at each other in silence.
Yan Xiang left with disappointment. Along the way, Yan Xiang was in a heavy mood, thinking about how to explain this result to Yuan Shu. He knew that Yuan Shu would be furious when he found out, and he was afraid that he would be reprimanded again.
Meanwhile, Sun Ce personally led a vast army, advancing with lightning speed into Lujiang County. His troops were high-spirited, their flags waving in the wind, and their momentum was immense. Ma Chao, however, had already established a strong presence in Lujiang County. With Sun Ce and Ma Chao, one in front and one behind, they were effectively encircling Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu felt uneasy and terrified.
Yuan Shu knew the situation was critical, and he took no chances. He sat in his tent, his brow furrowed, his expression grave, beads of sweat covering his forehead. He was deeply uneasy. Faced with such a dire situation, he grew suspicious of his generals, he dared not trust them easily. After all, at this crucial moment of life and death, people's hearts were unpredictable, and he feared some would defect or fail to fight effectively.
After much deliberation, Yuan Shu finally decided to have Ji Ling detach a portion of his troops to resist Sun Ce. He immediately summoned Ji Ling and Chen Lan to his tent and urgently said, "Ji Ling, Chen Lan, Sun Ce is now advancing aggressively. Together with Ma Chao, he has encircled Lujiang. The situation is extremely critical. Ji Ling, assisted by General Chen Lan, immediately detach elite troops to resist Sun Ce. We must hold the line and not allow even the slightest error! This is a matter of life and death for our army. You must give it your all!"
Ji Ling, receiving the order, dared not delay, quickly mustered his troops and galloped towards Sun Ce's direction. Yuan Shu, on the other hand, paced back and forth in his tent, anxiously awaiting news from the front. Every moment was an agonizing experience for him, uncertain where this confrontation with Sun Ce would lead, filled with fear and worry about the unknown.
Upon arriving at Lujiang County, Sun Ce led his army without hesitation, launching a fierce attack on Yuan Shu's forces. He led the charge, inspiring his men to surge toward the city like a surging tide. Instantly, shouts of battle shook the heavens, and swords flashed. In a matter of seconds, they successfully captured the city, their swiftness and ferocity catching Yuan Shu's forces off guard.
Just as Sun Ce was securing his initial victory, Ji Ling hurriedly arrived with reinforcements. Seeing the city lost, Ji Ling felt a surge of regret, but he knew this was not the time to advance rashly. So, he decisively ordered his troops to defend the county town. Relying on the county town's sturdy walls and fortifications, he attempted to slow down Sun Ce's frenzied offensive.
However, Sun Ce gave Ji Ling no respite. Leaving a small force to garrison the recently captured city, he personally led the main force, charging towards Ji Ling's territory. Arriving at the city, Sun Ce immediately ordered the encampment. While the soldiers were just beginning to work, and the tents were barely established, Sun Ce, impatient, led his elite troops, quickly deployed, and challenged Ji Ling before the city walls. Clad in silver armor and wielding a spear, he stood majestically before the battle lines, shouting curses. His defiant demeanor betrayed his complete indifference to Ji Ling within the city walls. A fierce battle of attack and defense was about to ensue.