Chapter Forty: Visiting Zuo Rong

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In the county seat of Niuzhu, inside Xue Li’s tent, Xue Li handed the bamboo slip he was holding to a nearby soldier, and Yu Mi took it to read.

With a heavy expression, Xue Li said, “The lord has just issued a military order. He demands that we drive back Sun Ce within a month. If we fail, our ranks and offices will be stripped from us.”

“This... how could that be possible!” Yu Mi’s face paled slightly. “Sun Ce commands a host of valiant generals, and he himself is formidable in battle. The fact that our forces have held the city for several months is already a feat. To defeat Sun Ce within a month...”

Xue Li replied gravely, “But the military order has arrived; even if we’re unwilling to fight, we have no choice but to press on. Send men to investigate the whereabouts of Sun Ce’s grain supplies. Sun Ce has marched far in this campaign—his provisions must be running low. If we can set fire to his stores, his army will collapse without us having to fight.”

Yu Mi pondered for a while and then said, “Convey my order: Send Inspector Tai Shici, along with an elite cavalry unit, to Sun Ce’s camp to scout out the enemy’s grain routes!”

In Sun Ce’s camp, Zhou Yu held a bamboo scroll in his hand and looked at Sun Ce. “Xue Li has invited us to a banquet at Niuzhu Ford, to enjoy the scenery and fine food. He promises us excellent wine and meat.”

Sun Ce dismissed it with a laugh. “Such an obvious trap—does Xue Li take me for a three-year-old child?”

“Bofu, what you don’t realize is that in the past, this might have been a simple ruse,” Zhou Yu said, spreading out a mat for Sun Ce as the two sat facing each other. “Sometimes, the outcome of a campaign isn’t determined solely by arms and generals. What happens after the battlefield can decide victory or defeat as well.”

“So, Gongjin, you think I should accept the invitation?”

“Niuzhu Ford is a beautiful spot, and with Xue Li offering wine and meat, wouldn’t it be a pity not to go?”

“How many troops should I bring?”

“Two thousand will suffice, but be sure to take Generals Gan Ning and Jiang Qin with you.”

Sun Ce nodded. “And you, Gongjin, will you not come?”

Zhou Yu stood and picked up a bamboo scroll from the table. “I have another matter to attend to. Niuzhu Ford is not a place where an ambush can be easily laid—there’s no way to conceal axemen—but Bofu, take care nonetheless.”

On the main road from Juqu to Niuzhu, Lu Meng pulled his spear from the body of a bandit chief and flicked the blood from its tip. He glanced at the river pirates crouching nearby. “This is the third attack during our grain transport—there truly are a lot of bandits in Jiangdong. Hey, someone drag this fellow away and bury him.”

Jiang Wen looked at the gaunt-faced brigands and called out, “Our army serves as Tiger Guard Lieutenant Sun Ce, son of the Minister of Works—renowned across the land for our righteousness! Though you are bandits, I know that desperation drives men to such lives. Who would willingly become outlaws?”

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“The Emperor needs every subject to help save the realm, and the Minister of Works requires men of valor to achieve great deeds! Will you lend your strength for the Emperor, for the Minister, for the good of the land?”

Lu Meng watched as Zhou Tai calmly counted the weapons and gathered five hundred more soldiers. With a sigh, Lu Meng said, “Changsu, why not set out for Yuan Shao tomorrow?”

“What for?”

“To sow dissent! With your silver tongue, if you go to Jizhou, perhaps you’ll return with tens of thousands of troops.”

Jiang Wen laughed as he mounted his horse, “Order the army to make haste; tomorrow we’ll reach Niuzhu.”

At Niuzhu, in Sun Ce’s camp, Li Yi bowed deeply to Jiang Wen, “I welcome the advisor, and General Lu Meng and General Zhou Tai, back to camp.”

“Where is the Lieutenant?” Jiang Wen and the others dismounted and inquired.

Li Yi replied respectfully, “The Lieutenant took two thousand troops and the two other generals to the banquet at Niuzhu Ford this morning. The strategist also left swiftly on horseback—I don’t know where he went. Before leaving, he instructed that if the advisor returned, guarding the grain supplies must be our top priority.”

“Bofu went to the banquet? The strategist approved?”

“He did.”

Jiang Wen nodded, “Very well, go and have the grain carried in.”

He gave a wry smile—these people are truly carefree. If he’d been delayed by even a day, there would be no commanders left in the camp.

Jiang Wen turned to the messenger, “Pass the order—the entire camp is to double its vigilance. Patrol shifts will now rotate every four hours instead of three! Also, send scouts to watch all nearby routes, even the dangerous ones—post two men to each. Guard the waterways heavily as well!”

“Yes, sir!”

Inside Jiang Wen’s tent, two wooden barrels steamed with hot water. Lu Meng and Jiang Wen were soaking comfortably.

Lu Meng closed his eyes and sighed, “All my fatigue from these days just faded away. Bofu really couldn’t wait for us to return before having his feast.”

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Lu Meng glanced at Jiang Wen, who was lost in thought, and whistled. “What’s wrong, missing your Tao’er back home?”

Jiang Wen replied, absent-minded, “Yes and no. There’s just a sense of melancholy in my heart.”

Lu Meng chuckled, “You’ll get used to it. Some never make it back from the battlefield once they step onto it.”

Night fell, pitch-black and silent. Figures moved stealthily through the water, drifting closer on rafts. “Loose arrows!” Suddenly, a sharp command rang out, startling all the soldiers. A hail of arrows rained down, and many on the rafts were struck and fell into the river. Zhang Ying quickly dove underwater to evade the falling shafts.

Torches flared along the shore, illuminating the scene. “Kill them!” Lu Meng, wielding a long spear, stood with his men at the riverbank, mercilessly stabbing with their polearms, leaving no quarter. Agonized screams echoed through the water as blood spread in crimson clouds.

“Retreat!” Seeing the dire situation, Zhang Ying shouted the command.

Back in Jiang Wen’s camp, Lu Meng tossed his helmet aside. “Changsu, just as you predicted—they tried to raid our camp by night. We killed a hundred of them.”

“With so few officers left here, if Bofu and the others were still away, not a soul would survive an attack.” Jiang Wen illuminated the map with a candle, speaking expressionlessly. “Bofu and his party are still at the banquet at Niuzhu Ford—they’ll probably return tomorrow. Ziming, take ten thousand men to the foot of the mountain to meet them.”

“Ten thousand?” Lu Meng was surprised. “If I take so many, how will you defend the camp?”

“It’s fine—there are still eight thousand soldiers here,” Jiang Wen replied with a faint smile. “The grain is our lifeblood, but Bofu is even more critical—he must not come to harm.”

Moling—five days later, Zhou Yu passed the gate inspection and entered the city. He found an inn at random and, after paying, inquired about the residence of the local officials.

“Sir, that mansion on the next street is Lord Zu Rong’s residence. If you’re seeking office, you can ask him for a recommendation!”

Zhou Yu handed over a hundred zhu coins. The innkeeper was startled by the generous sum. “It’s too much, young master... thank you, thank you!”

Standing before Zu Rong’s mansion, Zhou Yu greeted the gate attendant. “Please announce that Zhou Yu, son of the Magistrate of Luoyang, requests an audience with Lord Zu Rong!”