Chapter Forty-Two: The Divine Archer Taishi Ci

Within the archery range stood a man of seven feet, with a handsome face framed by a fine beard, his eyes sharp as lightning, his arms spreading with the strength of an ape. Arrow after arrow flew from his bow, every one striking dead center on the target. Yet Taishi Ci showed no pride; he simply continued, stringing arrow after arrow with tireless precision, never missing once.

“Sir, a secret letter from the Prefect, sent to you in private,” a messenger announced.

Taishi Ci took up the bamboo tube, opened it, and read the script inscribed on the bamboo slip within. His expression grew grave as he turned to the messenger and asked seriously, “Was this truly penned by the Prefect himself?”

“Yes, my lord. It is indeed in his own hand, and he bade me deliver it to you secretly.”

Taishi Ci was a man who valued gratitude and loyalty above all. Liu Yao had entrusted him, and even the smallest kindness was never forgotten. But the order in this letter was truly shocking...

“Your humble servant, Taishi Ci, accepts the command!”

It was the seventh month of the year 195 of Han, deep in the summer. By the riverside, four young men sat quietly, watching the fishing lines dangle, waiting for a bite from the lake below.

Lu Meng, having found a shady spot, slipped off his rain cloak and lay down on the grass. “Half a year of rest—life is truly idle these days!”

“This is what it means to wait at ease for the fatigued,” Zhou Yu replied, eyes half-closed in feigned slumber. “No doubt Liu Yao’s court is in uproar now, but here we are, preserving our strength and winning the hearts of the people.”

Jiang Wen, reeling in his hook to release a small fish before casting again, teased, “Ziming just misses his wife, that’s why he’s so eager.”

Lu Meng scoffed, “I call this the true style of a gentleman!”

“Is that so?” Sun Ce threw in his own fishing line. “Gentlemanly, you say.”

“After this campaign, Changsu will marry Tao’er, and as for Bofu, there’s Zhaoji. I, of course, have Lu Min…” Lu Meng grinned wickedly at Zhou Yu, earning himself a dark look.

Zhou Yu rebuked him, “Why do you always talk only of women? Our ambitions are for the realm, yet yours are so base!”

“Heh heh heh…”

Jiang Wen said quietly, “If I could beat him, I’d love to give him a thrashing myself.”

At that moment, a soldier approached and saluted. “General, three hundred li from Niuzhu, a force of the Shanyue has appeared. They’ve raided the supply route and stolen three thousand shi of our grain!”

“Just as soon as we relax, trouble finds us. Ready my horse!” Lu Meng sprang to his feet, brushing grass from his clothes.

“Wait!” Zhou Yu also stood. “We have twenty thousand troops garrisoned here. The Shanyue are mere bandits—would they really dare to provoke us?”

Sun Ce picked up his rod and basket. “It seems Liu Yao can’t sit still. Summon the officers for a council of war.”

Inside the tent, the generals gathered.

Jiang Wen and Zhou Yu stood to Sun Ce’s right and left.

Jiang Wen studied the map. “The Shanyue have three thousand men, but they’re hiding in the mountains three hundred li behind us. It will be difficult to root them out.”

Zhou Yu pointed to their encampment on the map. “Our supplies are to the rear. This mountain range encircles all of Niuzhu. If we take a detour, we can reach the rear gate of the county, bypassing the main defenses. The Shanyue are wildmen—this terrain is their home.”

Sun Ce asked, “Lu Meng, you’re most adept at suppressing the Shanyue. If it’s only them, there should be no trouble.”

Jiang Wen nodded. “This is surely Liu Yao colluding with the Shanyue to harass our supply lines. If General Lu Meng leads a large force to attack, Liu Yao may seize Niuzhu and Juchao in our absence.”

Gan Ning bowed and asked, “If we do not send troops against them, what then?”

Zhou Yu answered, “We are locked in a war of attrition with Liu Yao, and grain is vital. If our supply lines are harassed day and night, we’ll be forced onto the back foot.”

Sun Ce said, “The way I see it, the sooner we act, the better. Our siege engines are in place. Lu Meng, Zhou Yu—take five thousand troops into the mountains to strike at the Shanyue!”

“The rest, follow me to assault Moling. Carry out your orders!”

“Yes, sir!”

Within the camp at Moling, after Xue Li had been eliminated by Taishi Ci, Ze Rong now commanded twenty thousand men, with Taishi Ci as his deputy. Ze Rong fingered his prayer beads as he bade farewell to a rough-featured man.

He watched as the Shanyue commander departed with the stolen grain. At last, a weight lifted from Ze Rong’s heart. Suddenly, a soldier rushed in and saluted. “General Ze Rong, Sun Ce approaches with fifteen thousand men to attack Moling!”

Ze Rong rolled his prayer beads between his fingers. “I never meant to wait for Sun Ce to withdraw. Since he chooses to attack, we’ll simply hold the city. With the Shanyue harassing his rear, he’ll soon be defeated.”

“Taishi Ci, take your troops and defend the city gate. Prepare to meet Sun Ce’s assault!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Zhang Ying, Yu Mi—take your positions at the gate as well. Do not let Sun Ce breach the city!”

“All other officers, follow your orders!”

Outside the city walls of Moling.

Sun Ce and his generals surveyed the formidable stronghold before them. The black stones gleamed like steel. With a roar, Sun Ce gave the order: “Attack!”

Stones from the catapults rained down, crushing soldiers at the gate, their blood and viscera spilling from shattered bodies.

Those who survived the first onslaught emerged from behind the battlements. Taishi Ci drew his massive bow, an arrow slicing through the air to strike down one of the engineers at the catapult. “Archers, fire!”

A storm of arrows poured down like a tempest.

Scaling ladders were thrown up against the walls, and soldiers scrambled up. Jars of wine crashed down, and with a torch, fire blazed along the spilt wine, setting the ladders alight. Soldiers fell from heights of seven or eight meters.

The ground was strewn with blood and mangled limbs. No matter how many times Jiang Wen witnessed it, he could never truly grow accustomed.

Behind the battlements, Taishi Ci drew his bow to its full strength. Suddenly, Sun Ce looked up. In his eyes, an arrow seemed to grow larger and larger. Instinctively, he twisted aside, but the arrow struck his thigh and sent him tumbling from his horse.

“Retreat!” Jiang Wen’s face went pale. With a furious shout, he leapt from his mount and dragged Sun Ce away. Another arrow whistled toward him, its tip keen enough to pierce flesh with ease.

“Clang!” Twin halberds flashed before him—Gan Ning’s arm trembled as he deflected the arrow, sparks flying as it glanced off the blade and buried itself in the earth.

“Guard them!” Gan Ning bellowed. Soldiers with great shields hurried over, forming a tight barrier around Jiang Wen and Sun Ce.

The great gong of the army boomed. The troops began their withdrawal as blood poured from Sun Ce’s thigh.

Within Sun Ce’s camp at Niuzhu.

“Pull!” Sun Ce’s whole body trembled as he downed a mouthful of wine and yanked the arrow from his leg. “Ah, that’s more like it!”

The military physician’s hands shook as he carefully staunched the bleeding, all too aware that several officers stood nearby ready to strike him down at the slightest mistake.

Zhou Yu burst into the tent, his heart sinking at the sight of Jiang Wen’s grim expression. “Could it be—Bofu?!”

Jiang Wen shook his head. “No bones were hit, but he won’t be able to fight for a while. What of Ziming?”

Zhou Yu breathed a sigh of relief. “Ziming has already gone ahead; I returned alone at full speed.”