Chapter 71: Sun Ce's Anxiety and Xiahou's Fall into the Trap

Jian'an, Second Year, late October.

Beneath the walls of Chaisang, the corpses were beyond counting.

Within the city, the commander was Chen Ji; Hua Xin was tasked with defending Nanchang, and leading the assault outside the walls was Sun Ce, who had attacked for several days, yet Chaisang remained unbroken.

"Master, Huang Gai has sent word yet again, urging reinforcements!"

Zhou Yu accepted the letter and read it, his expression grave.

Sun Ce clenched his jaw in fury. They were so close—just a little more, and with Chaisang taken, Yuzhang would be isolated and forced to surrender. Yet Chaisang proved so difficult to breach!

What worried him most was that if Niuzhu fell, then the aristocratic clans of Danyang and Wu Commandery would surely surrender without a fight. Those blood-sucking lords would never resist Chu Feng.

“We cannot abandon our efforts halfway. Gongjin, you will oversee the formation. Lu Fan, Han Dang, you will don your armor and attack the walls with me. Chaisang must fall within three days!”

Sun Ce’s face hardened as he roared the command.

He was truly enraged by Chu Feng’s maneuver—completely disregarding Yuzhang’s safety and racing Sun Ce to see who could break through first, forcing him to pull back his forces.

After all, if Sun Ce won, at most he’d hold Yuzhang; but if Chu Feng succeeded, as a scion of the Yuan family, all of Danyang and even Wu Commandery would change hands—a loss Sun Ce could not afford.

Thus, another assault commenced.

—

Meanwhile, on the official road from Song County to Xiyang.

A scout galloped in, shouting, “Master, the enemy is fifty li away. They will arrive before dusk tomorrow!”

“Tomorrow, then.” Chu Feng repeated thoughtfully, then ordered, “Zhao Fan, take men and make camp on the distant hill for rest and preparation.”

“Yes, sir!” Zhao Fan nodded, then hesitated. “Master, the terrain here is flat—good for cavalry charges—but we only have eight hundred horsemen. If—”

“If we lose, or win a costly victory, we’ll have no cavalry left for some time.”

“Don’t worry. With so few cavalry, I won’t squander them so recklessly.” Chu Feng waved his hand. Warhorses were precious indeed; he would not waste them.

Those eight hundred cavalry had been gathered from all over, nearly draining their resources. If they lost them to mere rabble, the loss would be unbearable.

“Xu Chu, take some men to the nearby villages and bring back as many strong young men as you can find. Also, gather carts and wooden crates—bring as many as possible. I have a use for them.” Chu Feng stroked his chin as he spoke.

“Oh!” Xu Chu nodded.

—

At dusk, Xu Chu returned.

He brought two or three hundred able-bodied youths, over twenty carts, and crates of all sizes—the number of villages he had visited was anyone’s guess.

“General, spare us! Have mercy!”

—

Chu Feng sighed and said, “Untie them.”

The truth was, this place lay on the border between his lands and those of Cao Cao. If he conscripted these people, so could Cao Cao. In the end, they were all his subjects.

“There’s no need for fear. I only ask for your help transporting these goods to Xiyang. Once there, each of you will be rewarded with two dou of millet.”

Chu Feng spoke gently.

The young men exchanged glances and reluctantly agreed.

“There are tents here for you. Don’t try to escape. Any who do will be executed!” Chu Feng’s tone turned cold, and he barked out the order.

With threats and promises, over two hundred men were settled into camp, anxious and uneasy.

As for Chu Feng, he led his men to fill all the crates with sand, and ordered the sacks to be filled as well.

“Master, why go to all this trouble? Can these things defeat the enemy?” Xu Chu scratched his head, puzzled.

“Of course they can,” Chu Feng replied.

—

By noon the next day.

On the distant road, thirty mounted men guarded a group of over two hundred able-bodied men pushing more than twenty carts filled with sacks and crates.

At the very front, a flag flew—the character “Zhang” upon it.

Meanwhile, in the enemy camp.

Xiahou Dun chatted idly, “Miaocai, if you ask me, the master should just give us more troops and let us take Shouchun directly! Now look at us—five thousand men, forced to march slowly. It’s maddening!”

“Yuanrang, the master has his reasons. It’s not our place to question. Let’s just do as commanded.” Xiahou Yuan replied seriously.

“Bah, as for that little scoundrel Chu Feng—he brags that he can defeat ten thousand men alone. Not to belittle him, but I could cut him down in three strokes.”

Xiahou Dun wore a look of irritation.

In truth, his single glaring eye was quite intimidating.

Xiahou Yuan shook his head with a sigh.

His cousin was bold to a fault—reckless and eager for glory. Still, his loyalty and skill in commanding troops balanced his flaws.

Just then, a scout rushed in.

“General, ten li ahead is a group of several hundred, likely a family on the move, with dozens of carts loaded with grain and treasures!”

At this, Xiahou Dun’s eye lit up and he grinned. “Well, well, who would have thought we’d find such spoils on the march?”

“All units, listen up! Chu’s rabble is ahead—follow me, and the treasures are yours to share!”

“Yuanrang, don’t—!” Xiahou Yuan barely began before Xiahou Dun charged ahead, forcing him to sigh and spur his horse after him.

—

At once, thousands surged forward like a school of fish, spurred by the promise of loot, heedless of danger.

Xiahou Dun and his trusted guards were at the very front.

It didn’t take long before shouts rang out and the villagers driving the carts fled in terror at the sight of the approaching army.

The cavalry escort also retreated symbolically.

Witnessing this, the soldiers grew even more frenzied—dozens of carts laden with treasure, even a small share promised a life of luxury.

A few li away, behind an earthen mound.

Through a spyglass, Chu Feng watched the enemy’s chaos with a slight smirk. To be honest, he was simply imitating Lord Cao’s tactics—using Cao Cao’s stratagems against his own armies. Quite fitting, really. He hadn’t expected it to work so well, but with the enemy completely unprepared and discipline so lax, the effect was remarkable.

Xiahou Dun and his guards reached the grain carts first.

He dismounted, grinning from ear to ear, but when he opened a crate, he froze.

Where was the money? The gold and jewels?

Why was it all sand?

“My crate is full of sand!”

“So is mine!”

“And mine too!”

As the shouts spread, Xiahou Dun cried out, “It’s a trap! Don’t come any closer!”

But the soldiers behind only thought Xiahou Dun and his guards wanted the spoils for themselves and ignored the warning.

Moments later, the thunder of hooves erupted from the left—an iron-clad cavalry force charged in, their roar echoing across the field.

“It’s Chu’s cavalry!”

“Quick, form up! To arms!”

Xiahou Dun shouted in desperation. Now he was truly in trouble.

Their formation was in disarray, they had advanced recklessly over ten li, and now the enemy had struck without warning. The infantry stood no chance but to be slaughtered.

Yet, no matter how Xiahou Dun bellowed, the soldiers could not form ranks in time.

This was his blunder. He quickly formed a line with his own guards, praying that Xiahou Yuan could seize the opportunity and turn the tide.