Chapter Sixty-Six: The Might of the Yuan Clan—Surrender Without a Fight

After some time, at the post station.

Just as Chu Feng arrived, he saw a group of people waiting there. When he recognized the man at the forefront, he couldn’t help but smile—what a stroke of luck today!

“General Gan Ning greets my lord!” Gan Ning immediately clasped his fists in salute. In just one day, he and his men had come to a decision. Though Liu Biao was the lord of Jingzhou, all military authority lay in the hands of the Cai family. There was no chance for him to rise in such a place. Rather than wasting away here, it was better to serve under Chu Feng.

“Haha! After we parted yesterday, I’ve been thinking of you day and night, hoping you’d come, Xingba!” Chu Feng strode forward, full of excitement.

Gan Ning was filled with emotion. In Yizhou, and later here in Jingzhou, both Lius had overlooked him, while this Chu Feng, whom he had never met before, valued him so highly. This contrast instantly made him feel he had chosen the right man to follow.

“My lord, when do we set out?” Gan Ning asked eagerly.

“We leave at dawn, once the warships are ready,” Chu Feng replied.

Gan Ning raised an eyebrow. The warships still needed preparation?

——

At dawn the next day, Chu Feng made his farewells.

Liu Biao himself led a retinue to see them off, watching as the warships raised their sails and set out before finally taking his leave.

Aboard the fleet, Gan Ning and his men were disguised as sailors. In addition, many boatmen had been hired. Nearly four hundred vessels, large and small, drifted downriver.

——

Meanwhile,

At the governor’s mansion in Lingyang.

Sun Ce flung a bamboo slip to the floor and slapped the desk, roaring, “That Chu Feng! He has the audacity to attack from three directions, does he really think I wouldn’t dare meet him in battle?”

“My lord, Chu Feng is advancing south?” Zhou Yu asked anxiously. They had only just captured Zu Lang, and Tai Shici had yet to be taken at Jing County—and now Chu Feng was coming south.

“He is personally leading Ji Ling and several armies south. According to word from Huang Gai, they’ll arrive soon,” Sun Ce replied, furious at the insult.

Zhou Yu frowned, suspicion rising in his heart. By rights, Chu Feng shouldn’t be so bold, not with Cao Cao so close—if Cao Cao attacked, wouldn’t he be caught in a pincer?

“How does my lord intend to respond?” Zhou Yu asked.

“There are only three thousand defenders at Niuzhu. Huang Gai has already requested reinforcements. I will take three thousand men and personally garrison Niuzhu. The likes of Yuan Shu’s officers are all cowards—when they hear I am coming, they will not dare cross the line,” Sun Ce declared.

“Gongjin, you will lead the rest against Tai Shici at Jing County. I have fought him before; he is a formidable warrior. If you can capture and win him over, all the better.”

Zhou Yu pondered, “So be it. But my lord, take care—Chu Feng is not only a skilled fighter but also cunning. Do not fall into his trap.”

“I know!” Sun Ce waved him away.

——

In truth, he was not convinced. As for martial prowess, he considered himself second to none. In his view, Chu Feng’s reputation was likely exaggerated. He was just itching to unhorse him in battle.

——

The second year of Jian’an, ninth month of autumn.

General Sun Ce of the Ming-Han, commanding three thousand elite troops—heralded as thirty thousand strong—camped at Niuzhu, confronting Chu Feng across the river and even mocking him for not daring to cross for battle.

——

In Yuzhang, governed from Nanchang.

In his study, Liu Yao poured over documents. His face was yellow and emaciated, wracked by endless coughing. It was clear he did not have much time left.

“My lord, calamity! Calamity!” The door burst open and a scholar hurried in.

“What sort of behavior is this?” Liu Yao scolded between coughs. “Out with it—speak clearly!”

“My lord, on Dongting Lake, countless warships have appeared from who knows where. They stretch on without end,” the scholar exclaimed.

“What? Warships? Is it Liu Biao or Sun Ce?” Liu Yao was alarmed, having been cowed by Sun Ce before.

“It’s Chu Feng of Jiujiang. He’s brought a massive force and threatens that you have seven days to surrender the city, or he’ll exterminate your entire household!” the scholar cried.

“Chu Feng of Jiujiang? Where did he get so many ships? Cough, cough!” Liu Yao grew flustered. Yuzhang was already impoverished, and after the power struggles between Zhu Hao, Zhuge Xuan, and others, it was even more dilapidated.

“My lord, Chu Feng’s strength is overwhelming. How can a single commandery like ours resist? Perhaps… perhaps we should surrender?” the scholar sighed. Yuzhang’s troops numbered less than ten thousand, the Shanyue tribes were causing trouble—defeat was inevitable.

“Hmph! This is Han soil. You and I are Han subjects. Instead of defending our territory and people, you speak of surrender?” Liu Yao scolded angrily.

“But my lord…”

“When I first came to Yangzhou, I dared face Yuan Shu head-on. If I now surrender in fear of his son, would I not disgrace my ancestors and lose the Han’s legacy?”

“Besides, Yuzhang still has ten thousand armored soldiers. Why should we fear Chu Feng?” Determination flashed in Liu Yao’s eyes.

“Uh…”

“Send orders! General Wang Yi is to take three thousand men and garrison Liling, to block the enemy. On a chosen day, I will personally lead the army to the front and show Chu Feng’s brat how I drive him back!” Liu Yao slammed the table in outrage.

As the scholar was about to accept his orders, a hurried voice rang out.

“Report, my lord! Urgent news from the front—Liling’s county magistrate surrendered at the first sign of trouble. Chu’s army has entered the city,” a guard arrived, his face weary and anxious.

“What? Liling has surrendered?” Liu Yao was dumbfounded, fear and anger mingling.

“It has,” the soldier confirmed.

“Hurry—have Wang Yi garrison Haihun and defend the city at all costs!” Liu Yao snapped out of it and shouted. Losing Liling was bad enough—Haihun must be held.

Haihun was the final barrier to Nanchang!

“My lord, when I passed through Haihun to change horses, the county magistrate shut himself inside and declared he too would welcome Chu Feng to rest in the city!” the soldier reported.

With a thud, Liu Yao collapsed onto a chair. The heroic resolve of moments ago faded instantly into despair—Haihun was lost as well?

It was over. Completely over.

He had underestimated Chu Feng’s influence. Not only had Chu Feng redeemed the Yuan family’s name, but his bold actions had restored their prestige. The world now rallied to his banner. At the very least, Yuzhang was full of Yuan’s former students and officials.

“My lord, what will you do now?” the scholar asked. The court had already stripped him of his post as Inspector of Yangzhou, and now Chu Feng was coming with his army.

What could he do? Defend Nanchang to the bitter end? Yet the soldiers’ morale was shattered. Yuzhang had never truly been his territory. Once Chu Feng’s army appeared at the gates, there would surely be defections.

“Cough, cough!” Liu Yao coughed violently.

Already gravely ill, the shock and anger only worsened his condition, leaving him even weaker.

“Master, Lord Hua Xin of the prefecture is outside with soldiers, asking for an audience!” The steward came to report.

“Hua Xin?” Liu Yao frowned. This was a bad sign—Hua Xin was from a noble family, connected to many powerful clans.

“Help me meet him.”

Before long, at the entrance.

Hua Xin, impeccably dressed and accompanied by other clan leaders, bowed to Liu Yao. “Hua Xin greets the governor.”

“Hua Xin, are you here to surrender with these men?” Liu Yao asked, his voice trembling.

“Yuzhang is impoverished, the people are suffering. Governor, please do not bring more hardship upon them, or you will bring about your own destruction,” Hua Xin replied, his tone respectful.

“Hua Xin, you once served Yuan Shu, who ignored you—have you forgotten all that?” Liu Yao questioned reproachfully.

“Governor, the invader is Chu Feng, not Yuan Shu.”

“Heh… haha!” Liu Yao burst into laughter—at the iron-clad clans and the fleeting dynasties, at these so-called Han officials who, rather than being loyal to the Han, pledged themselves to the Yuans.

A spurt of blood shot from his mouth. With little time left to begin with, his eyes rolled back, and he died on the spot.