Those Gathering at Xiagu 2

When Zhang Ran and Bu Zhi had just set out for Xiagu.

Here was another group heading towards Xiagu.

Unlike the two groups on the opposite side numbering tens of thousands, this side’s numbers were not that many. At most a few hundred. Only about one or two hundred.

But they were all mounted on horses, and their armaments were also excellently equipped.

The most noticeable point was those riding in the center. Those who seemed to be the leaders of the group or the objects of protection judging from the formation looked young, almost childlike.

The youngest boy among them was none other than Sun Deng, the Crown Prince of Wu. He was heading towards Xiagu with his guard and two of his Four Friends.

Having passed through Wuchang, although Xiagu was within reach, Zhang Xiu persistently advised:

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, this really won’t do. How can Your Highness, the foundation of the country, go to the battlefield? It’s not too late even now. Please return to Jianye quickly. Wenyu, you say something too.”

When Sun Deng didn’t seem likely to listen, Zhang Xiu turned to Chen Biao, who was also one of the Four Friends of Eastern Wu. But despite Zhang Xiu’s earnest request, Chen Biao was resolute.

“It’s a decision for the greater good, how could I dare to speak up?”

“You obtuse friend! Why don’t you understand that our duty and the greater good is to ensure that no harm comes to the Crown Prince’s precious body!”

Zhang Xiu was also just a young man of 21 who had just passed his coming of age. He couldn’t help but be afraid of war. But what was even more frightening was the possibility of something happening to Sun Deng’s safety.

If only Sun Deng had stayed in Wuchang and just the two of them, himself and Chen Biao, had gone with the guard as reinforcements, he would have gladly gone. Even knowing it was a death trap, the Four Friends’ loyalty to Sun Deng was beyond that.

Despite Zhang Xiu’s earnest dissuasion with all his heart and soul, Sun Deng remained firm. Rather, he urged his horse more and increased speed.

“Your Highness!”

“Uncle! I now have three younger brothers! Even excluding Li who is a hostage in Shu, I still have two. So the duty entrusted to me is not to spare my body, but to step forward in the country’s crisis as a priority!”

It wasn’t simply youthful impulse wanting to achieve merit himself.

After hearing from Zhuge Ke that war would break out in Jingzhou, Sun Deng had deeply contemplated. After careful consideration, consulting those around him about what would happen if they fought Shu in Jingzhou, Sun Deng decided that he himself should go to Xiagu.

If Shu occupies Xiagu, it becomes too difficult to defend Jingzhou. In the worst case, the talents and soldiers of Eastern Wu inside Jingzhou might become isolated and annihilated.

To defend Xiagu from the great enemy, Sun Deng judged that he himself must go directly to raise morale. That’s how he judged.

However, Zhang Xiu’s thoughts seemed different.

“Those in Jingzhou are outstanding people that His Majesty especially cherishes! Trust and leave it to them! Your Highness has just passed the age of setting your mind on learning, haven’t you!”

“It’s not just! I am already fifteen years old!”

Fifteen. The age at which Confucius said he set his mind on learning. At the age when Confucius set his mind on study, Sun Deng was enthroned as Crown Prince and embraced the country. Now a year after that, Sun Deng’s age was 16, having just passed fifteen.

He also received his courtesy name, which is normally received at 20, when he ascended to Crown Prince. For this era, he was sufficiently an adult.

Although his face was still youthful and his body not fully grown, somewhat small, Sun Deng’s posture and thinking were more mature than many adults.

“Cao Pi followed Cao Cao to war at ten, and Zhang Ran also went to the battlefield following Zhang Fei at nine! Are they the only ones? Father took office at fifteen, and Grandfather suppressed the rebellion in Xuchang at seventeen! Shouldn’t a great man participate in the battlefield at sixteen?”

In the end, Zhang Xiu failed to dissuade Sun Deng.

As Sun Deng had rushed from Jianye without even sending advance notice that the Crown Prince was coming, Xiagu welcomed Sun Deng without any preparation.

As they were coming from the direction of Jianye, they simply went out to check identities thinking they might be reinforcements, but how bewildered must the soldier who suddenly heard that His Highness the Crown Prince had come have felt.

It was fortunate that it was the experienced Zhou Huan; if it had been a novice general, even he would have been flustered and caused quite a commotion.

However, Zhou Huan appropriately utilized the appearance of Crown Prince Sun Deng, widely advertising it to the soldiers and raising the drooping morale.

And at a place gathered to let as many people as possible see the Crown Prince’s visit, Zhou Huan delivered a speech.

“In the engagement of two armies, the key to victory lies with the general, not in the number of soldiers! What have you heard about how Zhang Ran uses soldiers and commands compared to me? Zhang Ran is nothing but the martial prowess she inherited from her father!”

The soldiers who had been immersed in anxiety were greatly shocked by the appearance of the Crown Prince.

The soldiers, inspired by the appearance of one who showed the very will to never abandon Xiagu, responded with enthusiastic cheers regardless of whether Zhou Huan’s words were right or wrong.

“In military strategy, it is said that the attacker needs twice the numbers, while the defender only needs half! But isn’t this only true when both armies are on open plains without the defense of walls or moats, and when the soldiers on both sides are equally brave!”

Although cheers erupted again from the soldiers at Zhou Huan’s powerful shout, Zhang Xiu, who was watching from the side, shook his head inwardly.

He acknowledges that both Zhou Huan’s subordinates and Sun Deng’s guards are elite troops. However, it was hard to think they could compare to the Nanling Army that had dominated the world.

However, the soldiers were already intoxicated by the atmosphere and absorbed in Zhou Huan’s eloquence. There was no thought left to distinguish truth from falsehood.

“While our army’s morale is soaring with His Highness the Crown Prince being with us, the enemy is tired and exhausted from traveling a long distance. Facing them with well-rested elite troops, relying on the Yangtze River, city walls and hills, is the defender overpowering the attacker, truly a situation of winning a hundred battles out of a hundred!”

This time, even Zhang Xiu actually nodded.

Xiagu’s defensive position is solid. With the Yangtze River flowing in front, it’s difficult to attack without a navy, and Xiagu Castle built on Jiangxia Mountain is impregnable.

“Even if Liu Bei came personally, there would be nothing to worry about, let alone Zhang Ran!”

Zhou Huan, who had raised the atmosphere to the brink of explosion, stepped back slightly at the last moment to highlight Sun Deng.

“With His Highness the Crown Prince with us, we will surely be victorious!!”

Sun Deng was also quick-witted. As soon as Zhou Huan passed the turn, he raised both hands high, shouting “Long live!” and calling for victory.

And Sun Deng’s coming clearly had an effect.

They succeeded in defending without wavering despite Zhang Ran attacking Xiagu much earlier than expected.

§

“The Crown Prince is there?”

“Yes, that’s why those bastards are fighting so fiercely.”

I frowned at Jiang Wei’s words. It was because the plan had been disrupted.

I had left behind the slower central army and rushed to Xiagu at ultra-high speed with only the Nanling Army.

It was possible because there was no need to worry about being defeated in detail. They would obviously use the waterways, and even if by chance they chose the land route, the distance was too far for them to catch up with us.

After telling Shang Cong to take charge of the central army and follow, I led the Nanling Army and arrived at Xiagu. At that moment, I thought the victory or defeat had been decided.

No matter how excellent a general Zhou Huan is, it’s a far-fetched task to block 20,000 of the Nanling Army with just a few thousand troops.

I thought the soldiers, gripped by the fear of the situation where the enemy arrives much earlier than reinforcements, would crumble without even fighting properly.

However, due to Sun Deng’s appearance, the enemy army was reborn as fanatic warriors with the determination to fight to the death.

But the situation wasn’t all bad either.

Although the first day’s surprise attack failed, we still have an overwhelming numerical advantage. 5,000 vs 20,000. When Shang Cong’s army arrives, our forces will be six times that of the enemy.

‘When Shang Cong joins, we’ll push them back with numerical superiority. Is that really the best option?’

As I’ve said repeatedly, it’s difficult for stratagems to intervene in siege warfare. Even Zhuge Liang failed at it.

Unless the enemy general is Hou Xuandu, Zhou Huan is a person comparable to Xiahou Dun. It was Zhou Huan who had defeated even Cao Ren, Wei’s top general.

Even if we occupy Xiagu, won’t we lose the momentum to attack further afterwards?

This concern wasn’t mine alone.

The opinions of the generals were also divided into two.

“Sun Deng, Wu’s Crown Prince, is in Xiagu. If we just secure Sun Deng, even if we lose the strength to continue the offensive, we will gain something greater.”

The leader of the hard-liners arguing to attack Xiagu was Jiang Wei. Believing that attack is the best defense and that active offense is the most powerful strategy, Jiang Wei strongly advocated for the capture of Xiagu.

If there are hard-liners, there are also moderates.

The one who proposed the moderate opinion was Ma Su.

“Xiagu has the Yangtze River to its west and is built on Jiangxia Mountain, making it difficult to attack. Rather, why don’t we pull the army back west again and secure Luoshan Castle? After leaving some troops in Luoshan Castle to check Xiagu, wouldn’t it be better for the main army to secure other places first?”

Luoshan Castle belonged to Shiban County, but before Saiyi County was moved to Xiagu Castle on Jiangxia Mountain, Saiyi County had been established in Luoshan Castle.

In other words, Luoshan Castle is the old Saiyi County, and Xiagu Castle is the new Saiyi County.

Luoshan Castle and Xiagu Castle faced each other across the Yangtze River like Yangping. The difference is that while Yangping faces north-south, Luoshan Castle and Xiagu Castle face east-west.

Jiang Wei and Ma Su. Both of their arguments had merit.

When I didn’t give an answer, the two began to argue with each other.

“General Ma, if we cross the river again, we’ll have to go back to where the river is narrow like when we came, but the time it takes for that process is too inefficient.”

“You speak of efficiency, but Assistant Jiang’s argument is the inefficient one. If we attack Xiagu Castle, can you imagine how many casualties there will be? If the enemy’s reinforcements arrive in the meantime, our army might end up in a situation where we gain nothing.”

“Aren’t you underestimating our army’s strength too much? Once the central army arrives, we can capture that mere Xiagu Castle easily enough.”

“That’s an irrational argument!”

“General Ma, it’s because you haven’t seen our army capture Chang’an!”

“W-What? Are you looking down on me because I haven’t been with the Nanling Army for long?”

“Looking down on you? I just gave the basis for the rational judgment you mentioned.”

Seeing signs that it might turn into an emotional fight rather than a military council, I cut off the two’s argument.

“Enough! Today’s military council will adjourn here. I hope everyone returns to their positions and fulfills their duties. Dismissed.”

In the tent where everyone had withdrawn, my agonizing continued late into the night.

Until dawn broke, staying up all night.