Chapter 93: Sun Shangxiang of Eastern Wu [Please Subscribe]

At Dantu, the county magistrate, panting hard, looked back at the enemy troops still hot in pursuit, and fear nearly broke him. Yet at last he had made it back.

“Quickly, open the city gates!”

On the battlements, a scholar appeared and looked down at the magistrate with a faint smile. “Magistrate Chen, a wise man knows the times. The Yuan family has served as ministers to the throne for four generations; why make the common people suffer for it?”

“What... what do you mean by that?”

The magistrate turned anxiously toward the county clerk on the wall. In the past, this man had always been unfailingly respectful to him, but now...

“To speak frankly, I abandoned darkness for light long ago. The Sun clan are base and contemptible, and they have offended the great families of Wu Commandery. Their ruin is only a matter of time. Young Master Yuan will surely come to rule the lands east of the river.”

“How laughable that Sun Ce is still besieging a fortified stronghold at Spring Valley, completely unaware that he has already fallen into my lord’s trap. By the time he brings his army back, Wu Commandery will already have a new master.”

The scholar stroked his beard and smiled.

His name was Li Gan, an obscure nobody in history, yet he was a disciple of the Yuan household. Chu Feng had long since bribed him and promised him an office in the commandery, all for the sake of seizing Dantu.

“You... you traitorous wretch, seeking glory by betraying your lord!”

“Haha, absurd. Has Sun Ce not, in his quest for power in Jiangdong, slaughtered countless men of stature? I merely seek a road to survival for the people in the city.”

“Soldiers of the garrison, your wives, children, and elders are still waiting inside the city. Lay down your arms and surrender, and my lord will not make things difficult for you. If you resist to the death, you will surely die!”

The scholar shouted again.

At the same moment, Zhao Fan had already caught up from behind. Seeing the soldiers hesitate and cast aside their weapons one after another, the county lieutenant gritted his teeth and swung his saber straight at the magistrate.

With Dantu lost, death was death no matter what. Better to live another day if he could. Even an ant will struggle to survive.

“Brothers, surrender with me to Lord Yuan!”

In mid-February of the third year of Jian'an, General Chu Feng, having feinted east and struck west, personally led his army in a surprise attack on Dantu. The county magistrate of Dantu was executed, and his head was sent to various places as warning. The county lieutenant and county clerk welcomed Chu Feng into Dantu.

Meanwhile, the two counties of Qu'a and Jurong surrendered at the first sign of his approach.

Seizing the opportunity, Chu Feng advanced into the three counties at once. He also ordered the city defenses strengthened, and even had shipyards built along the riverbank, intent on taking root in Wu Commandery and pressing his advance from there.

In an instant, fear spread throughout Wu Commandery. The local gentry of each clan were still waiting to see who offered the better bargain, watching silently for Chu Feng’s next move. Most of all, they feared Sun Ce.

He had slain one great house after another.

If Chu Feng failed to capture Wu Commandery, then Sun Ce’s blade would next fall upon them.

Wu Commandery, the commandery seat.

At Sun Quan’s residence in Wu County, Sun Quan was teasing a bird in the rear garden, and beside him stood his newly wedded wife, Lady Xie.

Lady Xie was the daughter of Xie Jiong, a native of Shanyin in Kuaiji. She possessed extraordinary beauty and had countless suitors. Upon hearing of her, Lady Wu had specially arranged the match and sent a marriage proposal on behalf of Sun Quan.

Yet in history, Sun Quan was not only lascivious but also fickle, fond of novelty and weary of the old. Throughout his life, he is recorded as having taken seven wives. Once he brought in a new one, the old one rarely came to a good end.

Most of them died in dejection and sorrow.

A classic case of,
smiling with the new, while the cries of the old go unheard.

At that moment, the commandery administrator Zhu Zhi came hurrying in, his face full of anxiety. Seeing Sun Quan in the distance, one arm around a beauty while the other teased a bird, he cried out, “Second Young Master, Chu Feng’s army is already at the gates of Wu Commandery, and you still have the mind to idle about and play with birds?”

Sun Quan’s hand around Lady Xie tightened at once, and he said in alarm, “What did you say? Chu Feng is already at Wu Commandery? How is that possible? Was he not still locked in standoff with my brother at Spring Valley?”

“Alas, we were fooled. My lord and Zhou Yu both fell for Chu Feng’s diversion and feint. That boy is truly cunning. On the surface he pretended to support Ji Ling, but in truth he personally led his troops on a desperate night crossing to Dantu. The county magistrate there is already dead, and Qu'a and Jurong have both surrendered without a fight!”

Zhu Zhi lamented bitterly.

It was his own fault for not being on guard. He had assumed Chu Feng was still in Danyang, who could have imagined he would dare such a bold move and secretly cross at Dantu? After all, Dantu had only a single shallow landing place.

Sun Quan panicked and hurriedly asked, “Then what should we do now?”

“I have already sent riders at full speed to Danyang to inform my lord and Zhou Yu, so that they may return at once and defend Wu Commandery. But now that Qu'a is lost, I fear Piling may also fall.”

“If Piling falls, Chu Feng can take Wuxi directly and press on Wu County. The aristocratic clans of Wu County already bear grudges against my lord. Once he reaches the city walls...”

“Wu Commandery will be hard to hold. My lord’s foundation will be hard to preserve!”

Zhu Zhi clenched his teeth and spoke in a low voice.

He was deeply worried. Others might not know it, but he knew well enough: when Sun Ce first entered Jiangdong, he had carved his way through blood, offending a great many gentry families.

And Chu Feng came from the Yuan line, a house that had produced ministers for four generations, with disciples and former officials scattered all under heaven. Those great clans were likely already preparing to celebrate, waiting only for Chu Feng to draw closer.

Sun Quan pressed his lips together, his face full of dread.

“Second Young Master, I have already ordered He Qi to lead troops toward Piling. He is bold and resourceful, but his years of service are still too few to command universal respect, and the gentry throughout Wu Commandery are stirring. I cannot spare the time.”

Zhu Zhi paused there.

“Please speak plainly, General!” Sun Quan said solemnly.

“Second Young Master, you are clever by nature, and you are also the second son of the late lord. Many of the people, both soldiers and civilians, respect you. This time, you should lead the army to hold Piling and wait for the return of my lord and Zhou Yu,” Zhu Zhi said in a grave voice.

“But I...” Sun Quan was somewhat uncertain.

“There is no need for the Second Young Master to worry. You need only awe the three armies. He Qi is brave and skilled, more than capable of holding the city, and I have an adopted son named Zhu Ran, about your age.

He is extraordinarily fierce and impossible to withstand. I will have him accompany you and protect your safety,” Zhu Zhi said solemnly.

“I understand. I will prepare at once and head north to block Chu Feng,” Sun Quan replied.

In a struggle among rulers, it is either you die or I die.

With his elder brother absent this time, he had to shoulder the burden himself.

After Zhu Zhi left, a young woman strode in from the front, followed by several maids. Unlike ordinary serving girls, each of them had tied up hair and bore an air of martial spirit.

The young woman herself wore a close-fitting Hu costume. Though still young, she possessed a strikingly capable bearing. Her brows were full of valiance, and she came forward with one hand resting on the hilt of her sword.

“Little sister, why have you come?” Sun Quan asked in surprise.

“Second Brother, did General Zhu Zhi just say that you were to lead the troops against the enemy?” Sun Shangxiang said sharply, her slender brows raised.

“Yes. After I leave, you must protect Mother and wait for our eldest brother to bring reinforcements,” Sun Quan said with a nod. His younger sister had never liked embroidery or feminine work, and from childhood had loved martial arts.

Sun Jian had taught her personally, and later Sun Ce had also found time to instruct her in combat. Her skill was truly exceptional. Though she was still young, three or five burly men could scarcely get near her.

She had even taken in serving girls and trained them herself. One could say that as a woman she was in no way inferior to a man.

“Second Brother, I want to go with you into battle. Mother has the protection of the other brothers,” Sun Shangxiang said gravely.

“Little sister, do not be willful. War is no child’s play. How can you, a woman, go to the field of battle? Besides, Wu Commandery is the foundation of our Sun family, and it must be held at all costs!”

Sun Quan swept his sleeve and refused her at once.

“But...”

“Enough. Do not speak of this again.” Having said that, Sun Quan turned and left, giving Sun Shangxiang no chance to argue further.

Sun Shangxiang bit down on her silver-white teeth. With her elder brother absent, she had to go to this battle.

Today’s updates are done. I will continue tomorrow. The group invitation is in the introduction; just a little more and the next milestone will be unlocked. Come on!