Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Peach Has Been Plucked, and Sun Ce’s Fury

In the blink of an eye, several days had passed.

Outside Nanchang, in Yuzhang Commandery.

At this moment, Hua Xin, dressed in splendid robes, held the seal of the Governor high and, personally leading the civil and military officials from the city, went several miles out to welcome Chu Feng.

After waiting for more than an hour, they finally saw Chu Feng arrive with his army.

A series of formalities followed; in short, Yuzhang fell into his hands without any apparent reason, and it all happened in just a few days.

This left Chu Feng utterly bewildered. Clearly, he had underestimated what the Yuan family represented—having protégés and former subordinates spread throughout the realm was no idle boast.

Even Hua Xin himself had once served under Chu Feng’s father, but, unfortunately, his father had not lived up to expectations, leading Hua Xin to switch allegiance.

Back in the day, it took Cao Cao eight years to eradicate the Yuan family after defeating Yuan Shao. Had Yuan Shao won at Guandu, it probably wouldn’t even have taken eight months for Cao Cao’s territories to capitulate.

Yet, even if Yuan Shao had won, he might not have unified the land, for the infighting among his sons was so obvious that the more powerful his domain became, the more chaotic it would grow.

There was nothing to be done; in the matter of succession, Liu Bei probably handled it best—executing Liu Feng and naming Liu Shan as his heir. Though Liu Shan was no great talent, at least he didn’t stir up trouble!

After a while, in the governor’s residence.

Zhao Fan, Chen Ji, Gan Ning, and, among the civil officials, Hua Xin along with a few lesser-known followers—all of whom were in favor of surrender—were present. Chu Feng knew he must reward them with titles and ranks.

Being from the Yuan family himself, he understood that if word spread that surrendering to the Yuans not only spared you but also earned you promotion, future resistance would be far weaker.

So, Chu Feng began distributing rewards according to merit.

He appointed Hua Xin as Governor of Yuzhang, and the lesser officials also received titles and promotions, though nothing substantial was given—nor would he have given them anything tangible, even if he had it.

When this was done, Hua Xin spoke up. “My lord, though Yuzhang is now secure, Sun Ce has pacified Zhu Lang in Danyang. If he learns of this, he may seize the opportunity to advance westward.”

“Danyang and Yuzhang are separated by rugged mountains. No matter how foolish Sun Ce is, he won’t attempt a land march over those peaks. If he wants to attack Yuzhang, he’ll have to come by water,” Chu Feng answered resolutely.

He had seen firsthand during his march these past days how terrible the roads in Yuzhang were. Southern lands were truly inhospitable—mostly wild, forested mountains, even inside Yuzhang itself.

To come from outside would be no less than a grueling journey across mountains and rivers.

Only by water could troops and supplies be transported with ease.

Chu Feng’s voice grew serious. “Hua Xin, hear my command: mobilize the commandery’s populace to build a river fortress at Chaisang. Officially, say it’s for opening trade with Jingzhou.”

“Also, construct a dockyard at Pengze’s riverbank to build and moor warships.”

Hua Xin raised an eyebrow, thinking: Is the lord guarding against Jingzhou? Or is he planning to secure the Yangtze? Such foresight—far beyond his father.

“Yes, my lord,” Hua Xin replied.

“Gan Ning, hear my command. I appoint you Commander-in-Chief of the navy. Take your troops and set forth to disrupt the development of all dockyards in Jiangdong. If any are found, destroy them without exception!”

Chu Feng looked at Gan Ning with a grave expression.

He was well aware that Jiangdong’s naval strength was not yet fully developed. His urgency in acquiring ships was precisely to strike at the roots of Eastern Wu.

“Yes, my lord!” Gan Ning replied with excitement.

From the outset, he had been placed in charge of the navy. Chu Feng had not deceived him.

“My lord, I have only eight hundred men. That’s hardly enough to control a thousand miles of the Yangtze. Might I…” Gan Ning hesitated.

Eight hundred men completely limited what he could achieve!

“You may expand your forces to five thousand. Hua Xin will recruit for you, but Yuzhang is vast and sparsely populated. You’ll have to find ways yourself as well. As for supplies, I will see to it you have enough,” Chu Feng said solemnly.

“Rest assured, my lord. From now on, the Yangtze River is yours!” Gan Ning exclaimed, clasping his hands in excitement. He had spent half his life in obscurity, never finding anyone to make use of his talents—until now.

“Chen Ji, you are to garrison Nanchang, focus on repairing the city walls, pacify the mountain tribes, recruit local settlers, and cultivate new lands,” Chu Feng said gravely to Chen Ji.

“Yes, my lord,” Chen Ji replied.

“Very well. Hua Xin, bring me the register of all registered households in Yuzhang. I will remain here for the next few days,” Chu Feng said calmly.

His control of Yuzhang was primarily to command the Yangtze—westward to march on Jingzhou, downstream to strike at Jiangdong. As for Yuzhang itself—

It was merely a territory, one that could provide some grain and supplies.

“Yes, my lord,” Hua Xin replied.

...

Mid-September, second year of Jian’an.

On the river outside the Niuzhu naval camp.

Sun Ce, sword at his side, rode a boat. Huang Gai returned, frustrated. “My lord, that fellow Chu Feng remains unmoved, no matter how much we taunt or curse him.”

“Heh, a cowardly rat. I said all along he was just an empty name. We have only a few thousand men here at Niuzhu, yet he doesn’t even have the courage to come out and face us,” Sun Ce sneered, looking down on Chu Feng all the more.

Judging by the number of camps Chu Feng had set up, he must have at least tens of thousands of troops on the riverbank.

“My lord, allow me to land with my men and probe their strength!” Huang Gai said, clearly impatient.

“No. To attack while halfway across the river is a fundamental military taboo. Even if Chu Feng is foolish, he knows that much. Just have our men challenge them day and night,”

“We need only wait for Gongjin to secure all of Danyang—then we’ll see him panic,” Sun Ce said, raising his hand. After all, with only a few thousand men at Niuzhu, if they tried to cross and failed, the entire camp would be lost.

“My lord, General Zhou has arrived at the camp—he wishes to discuss urgent matters,” came a shout from a small boat approaching.

“Gongjin is here?”

Surprised, Sun Ce laughed, “He must have taken Danyang. Come, let’s return to camp.”

Soon, at Niuzhu naval camp.

Sun Ce saw Zhou Yu waiting and laughed aloud, “Gongjin, what brings you here? Have you captured Taishi Ci?”

“My lord, Yuzhang is lost,” Zhou Yu said gravely.

“What did you say? Yuzhang is lost? Did Liu Biao send his troops?” Sun Ce erupted in fury. Yuzhang was practically in his grasp—how could it be lost?

“My lord, it was not Liu Biao but Chu Feng. After borrowing ships from Jingzhou, he made straight for Yuzhang. By the time I received word, Liu Yao had already died, and Hua Xin surrendered the whole commandery.”

Zhou Yu was seething. Danyang was nearly theirs, and then Yuzhang would have fallen soon after. Yet Chu Feng had snatched the prize at the last moment—infuriating!

“What? Chu Feng took it? Then who is that across the river?” Sun Ce roared, pointing in anger.

“A feint in the east, a real strike in the west. He made a great show of attacking Niuzhu just to force you to return, but his true target was always Yuzhang.

He even detoured through Nanyang to enter Jingzhou to avoid our scouts—such cunning!” Zhou Yu ground his teeth. He hadn’t seen through the ruse at first.

He had wondered at the time, but failed to guess the truth.

What baffled him most was why Liu Biao had lent Chu Feng the ships.

“That scoundrel dares play me for a fool?”

Sun Ce clenched his fists so hard they cracked.

“My lord, now is not the time to dwell on this. With Yuzhang in his hands, Chu Feng can build docks at Chaisang and Dongting, sending his ships downstream to destroy our Jiangdong navy.

If we lose our ships, we’ll be trapped south of the river, with no hope of contending for the realm,” Zhou Yu said, brow furrowed, fully aware of Chu Feng’s ambitions.

“Then what do you propose?” Sun Ce asked.

“Openly fortify Niuzhu, but secretly strike at Yuzhang,” Zhou Yu replied solemnly. “We must retake Yuzhang. Without it, my lord will never have a foothold in Jingzhou, nor the right to cross the river.

I propose that my lord also stage a feint—assemble a mighty force at Niuzhu as if preparing for a decisive battle, while simultaneously sending men by land and water straight for Yuzhang.

Strike before Chu Feng is firmly established, and shatter him in one blow!” Zhou Yu declared, knowing how critical Yuzhang was to Sun Ce.

“Good. I’ve long wanted to test myself against Chu Feng. Let’s see if the rumors of his strength are true—if he can withstand even a few of my moves,” Sun Ce growled, fingers clenched tight.

“My lord, this battle will not be ours alone. We must get Cao Cao involved as well. Shouchun controls the north and south, and with Chu Feng now possessing warships, he could sail up the Huai River to attack any part of Yu Province. Cao Cao will not sit idly by.

You might write to him, saying Chu Feng has borrowed a thousand ships in Jingzhou and is building a great navy at Shaopo, preparing to attack the Central Plains.

Then, with Sun and Cao as allies, will Chu Feng defend Shouchun, or Yuzhang?” Zhou Yu’s lips curled in a sly smile.

Clearly, he intended to use Cao Cao against Chu Feng as well.

“Haha! Brilliant, Gongjin! I’ll write to Cao Cao at once,” Sun Ce laughed heartily. Not only would this allow him to retake Yuzhang, but he could also use Cao Cao’s hand to weaken Chu Feng.

Killing two birds with one stone!