Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

Page 384

"Luo Chen has arrived in Jiangxia alone. Gentlemen, could we consider quickly besieging Jiangxia and capturing Luo Chen and Liu Bei alive? In this way, Jingzhou will fall entirely into the hands of Jiangdong."

The courtiers remained silent. Sun Quan, seeing their fear, was quite displeased. Lu Su said, "My lord, this move is extremely reckless... Even if Grand Commander Zhou Yu were still alive, he would certainly not approve of this..."

"Why did 133 advance so recklessly?" Sun Quan asked unhappily.

"While this move appears promising on the surface, it is actually quite difficult to execute. Jiangxia City is very tall and built along the river, making it extremely strategically important. If our army besieges it, Huang Zhong's troops are in Changsha and other places, and the Luo Chen cavalry is highly mobile and will surely arrive within a day or two. Jiangxia can hold out for a day or two without any problem," Lu Su analyzed, shaking his head. "Moreover, this move will inevitably put Jiangdong in strategic danger. Now that the Wu army has dealt a heavy blow to the Cao army, Cao Cao harbors resentment. Besieging Jiangxia again would be tantamount to starting a war with the Luo Chen group. Jiangdong would be simultaneously at odds with two major separatist forces in the Central Plains, which is by no means a wise move."

Everyone echoed his agreement. After the Battle of Red Cliffs, the pro-war faction naturally held most of the real power in Eastern Wu. Zhang Zhao and others, lacking Sun Quan's trust, were relegated to the sidelines. Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and others became rising political stars. Now that Zhou Yu had passed away, Sun Quan relied heavily on Lu Su. Seeing that his argument made sense, he had no choice but to abandon his own ideas.

Sun Quan said, "Since we can't use force, we should at least make it clear to Luo Chen and make them vacate key locations like Jiangxia and Nanjun! Our Wu army has worked so hard, and they've already taken the fruits of our labor!"

Chapter 222 Snow on the Great River

Lu Su stood personally on the observation platform on the river north of Chaisang. Deep winter had arrived; the north wind howled, and heavy and light snow had finally reached the south. Fine, salt-like snowflakes bounced and pelted Lu Su's clothes. Soon the snow intensified, drifting like willow catkins in the southeast summer, scattering gently onto the earth and the river. The snow vanished instantly upon hitting the river.

Later generations wrote an ode to the Great River: "In those times, yin and yang were in chaos, and dawn and dusk were indistinguishable. The sky was a single color, then suddenly a thick fog descended. Even a cartload of firewood could not be seen, only the sounds of gongs and drums could be heard. At first, it was like a hazy mist, barely concealing the leopard of the southern mountains; gradually, it filled the air, threatening to obscure the Kun of the northern sea. Then it reached the high heavens above and stretched down to the thick earth below, vast and boundless. Whales and sea monsters emerged from the water, stirring the waves; dragons lurked in the abyss, exhaling their breath. It was like the plum rains clearing, the spring chill brewing, a vast and boundless expanse. To the east, the banks of Chaisang were lost; to the south, the mountains of Xiakou were nowhere to be seen. A thousand warships sank into the ravines; a single fishing boat appeared and disappeared in the waves. Even more so, the sky lost its light, the morning sun lost its color; daylight turned to dusk, and the crimson mountains turned to blue water. Even the wisdom of Yu the Great could not fathom its depths; even the keen eyesight of Li Lou could not discern what was just a few feet away."

"Grand Commander, why don't you go rest in the tent? The fire is already lit there." Young General Ling Tong ran to the observation platform. "It's too windy here."

Lu Su shook his head: "No need, you don't need to worry about me. I'll just stay here and get some fresh air to clear my head."

Lu Su's brows were slightly furrowed. The river surface was as calm as a mirror, yet his thoughts were churning. Sun Quan sent a letter to Luo Chen in an extremely impolite tone, inviting him to meet him in Chaisang.

"Prime Minister Luo Chen: I am delighted to hear that you are currently in Jiangxia. In the Battle of Red Cliffs, both sides cooperated to inflict heavy losses on Cao Cao's army. The Wu soldiers risked their lives and became the main force in defeating Cao Cao's army. Our Wu general Zhou Yu was brave and fierce. The fire at Red Cliffs caused a great defeat for Cao Cao's army. Afterwards, he led his troops north and defeated Xiahou Dun, Cao Hong, and others. However, he was unfortunately wounded and recently passed away in Chaisang. Whenever I think of this, I am heartbroken at the loss of my ally and cannot help but shed tears in secret."

The Wu army has suffered heavy losses, yet the forces under the Prime Minister, including Liu Bei and Huang Zhong, have not cooperated sincerely with our army to jointly attack Cao Cao's army. Instead, they have taken advantage of the situation, occupying Nan Commandery and Changsha Commandery, which is unreasonable. Now, the Wu army numbers in the hundreds of thousands, and from generals to soldiers, everyone despises your actions. Cao Cao has not yet been defeated, and there is a risk of conflict between our two sides. Therefore, I wonder if the Prime Minister could make a trip to Chaisang to discuss this matter in person and seek a proper resolution. Sun Quan.

Sun Quan's meaning was simple: Liu Bei and Huang Zhong had seized some territory in Jingzhou, which Sun Quan considered "unjustifiable." He argued that the main force resisting Cao Cao's army was Wu, and that the Grand Commander Zhou Yu was dead; the territory should belong to Eastern Wu. Therefore, Sun Quan wanted it back. Furthermore, Sun Quan aggressively implied that his generals and soldiers were very dissatisfied, meaning his own troops wanted to fight Liu Bei and Huang Zhong's forces. If Luo Chen refused Sun Quan's demands, Sun Quan might resolve the matter through war. Even more impressively, despite Luo Chen being the Prime Minister, Sun Quan actually summoned him to Chaisang.

Sun Quan's letter bypassed Lu Su and was sent directly to Jiangxia. He then gave Lu Su an order to go and meet Luo Chen. Lu Su was greatly alarmed and hurriedly went from the central command tent to Chaisang to meet Sun Quan. After reading Sun Quan's letter, Lu Su was terrified, his heart pounding with fear. His voice trembled as he asked, "Has the lord already sent the letter?"

“Yes.” Sun Quan didn’t seem to care.

Lu Su almost cursed, but held back. Sun Quan was underestimating the Luo army's fighting strength! The Luo army hadn't fought many battles in the south in recent years; their most recent victory was Huang Zhong leading the Guanzhong cavalry to crush Wen Ping's Jingzhou cavalry, protecting Liu Bei's family in Xinye. Their formidable fighting prowess had shaken the Cai clan of Jingzhou, deterring them from further attacks. Sun Quan, separated by a river, hadn't witnessed this. Rumors of the Luo army's powerful artillery and wolf-like formations were dismissed as nonsense. Furthermore, the Wu army's decisive victory over the Cai army at the Battle of Red Cliffs had boosted Sun Quan's confidence. With 300,000 troops stationed in the region, far exceeding the Luo army's numbers, Sun Quan dared to adopt such an aggressive stance.

However, Lu Su was worried that if Re angered Luo Chen, it would not be good for Sun Quan.

“Cao Cao’s army numbers a million, yet we are not afraid. Does the strength of Luo Chen’s army surpass that of Cao Cao?” Sun Quan noticed Lu Su’s alarm. “Luo Chen’s war with the Xiongnu in the north has just ended, and the main force needs to rest. Moreover, Cao Cao is holding them back in the north, so they naturally cannot launch a large-scale southward offensive. With only Luo Chen’s army in the south, the outcome is uncertain. Luo Chen must weigh the situation carefully.” This argument seemed to make sense, and Lu Su was speechless, unable to reply.

What followed was a rather anxious wait. A few days later, Sun Quan received a reply from Luo Chen.

"Upon hearing of General Zhou Yu's passing, I am deeply saddened. I, Luo Chen, will personally travel to Jiangdong to offer my condolences. As for the matter of Jingzhou, I, Luo Chen, have been dealing with military affairs in the north for many years and am unaware of it. As for any issues with my subordinates, I will coordinate with the general at that time."

Lu Su was quite surprised to receive the letter. This Luo Chen wasn't angry at all, and even readily agreed to come to Eastern Wu in person. His main reason for coming was supposedly to "pay respects to General Zhou Yu," and he seemed completely unconcerned about the Jingzhou territory, simply stating that he could coordinate with Sun Quan. Sun Quan, upon seeing the letter, was overjoyed, gaining even more confidence in his (Wang Nuo Zhao's) judgment. Luo Chen was someone they couldn't afford to fight in the southeast.

Luo Chen did not intend to fight Sun Quan in the southeast first. Although Sun Quan's letter was arrogant, it suited his purposes: to stabilize the southeast through negotiations first. The north was currently freezing cold, and the army had just fought a major battle and needed rest. However, localized warfare was possible. Therefore, Luo Chen's plan was to stabilize the southeast first and then wage war in localized areas of the north. He could even mobilize the Wu army to attack Cao Cao from the north, putting Cao Cao's army in a more difficult position, facing attacks from two sides.

Now that Cao Cao's army has suffered a major defeat, there's no possibility of them allying with Wu in the short term. This means Luo Chen is in a good position; he can ally with anyone and then gang up on the other. According to Luo Chen, Cao Cao is a major threat and must be dealt with first. He absolutely cannot fight on two fronts against both Cao Cao and Sun Quan, so even if he's unhappy, he must negotiate with Sun Quan.

Chapter 223 Arrival in Chaisang City

Lu Su was filled with turmoil. Although Luo Chen readily agreed, his ultimate stance remained unclear. As the weakest of the three remaining separatist powers, Eastern Wu naturally had to be extremely cautious.

"Commander!" Ling Tong called out, pointing to the distant river. Sure enough, amidst the falling snowflakes, a large ship could be faintly seen, its sails already fully unfurled, rapidly approaching. Snowflakes pattered down on the bow, piling up in white, thus distinguishing it from the river surface; otherwise, it would have been completely blended into the snow and water, disappearing into the vast expanse of white.

"Send patrol boats to meet them!" Lu Su ordered.

The two patrol boats slowly approached.

A moment later, a flag was suddenly unfurled from the large ship. It was red with a black border, and something seemed to be embroidered on it, but the distance was too great to see clearly. However, Lu Su was quite certain, because according to his observation, Huang Zhong's Guanzhong cavalry all used this style of flag, embroidered with the character "Huang" (Yellow). He was certain that this was Luo Chen's ship.

The wind was strong, and the ship moved quickly; in no time, the large ship had arrived. Wu's patrol boats were guiding it, and soldiers on the shore were using flags to indicate where to anchor. Lu Su descended from the observation platform and went to the harbor to greet it.

As they drew closer, Lu Su could see clearly that the once-powerful young lord stood calmly at the bow of the ship. This was the first time Lu Su had seen Luo Chen. Previously, Luo Chen had focused all his main forces on the front lines, naturally not getting involved in the southeast, so he himself hadn't appeared there. This trip to Jiangxia marked Luo Chen's first public entry into Jingzhou territory and his first time near the Yangtze River. And this trip to Sun Wu territory was Luo Chen's first visit to Jiangdong.

Luo Chen wore a grey cloak, with a few snowflakes clinging to its lapel. This young lord, sporting a small mustache, was probably around Sun Quan's age, in his early twenties. Beside Luo Chen stood Liu Bei, a figure Lu Su would certainly recognize. Another figure, dressed strangely with flowing robes, carried a long sword.

"Prime Minister Luo Chen!" Lu Su quickly stepped forward to greet him. "It is truly an honor for my humble abode to have the Prime Minister personally visit Eastern Wu!" As he spoke, he also bowed deeply to Liu Bei: "Uncle Liu... it is an honor for Uncle Liu to visit Eastern Wu."

"Mr. Lu Su?" Luo Chen asked tentatively, then stepped forward to greet him.

"It is indeed I," Lu Su introduced himself before Liu Bei could speak. "I am Lu Su, Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of Eastern Wu. I have long admired the name of Prime Minister Luo Chen, and meeting him today has greatly fulfilled my lifelong desire."

"I've long heard Xuande say that Mr. Lu Su is a kind and benevolent man, and seeing him today, I can confirm it truly lives up to his reputation," Luo Chen chuckled, sizing up this historically renowned good-natured man. Lu Su wasn't in military uniform, nor was he dressed like Zhuge Liang with his feather fan and turban. Instead, he possessed a subtle swordsmanship, making one believe he could fight on horseback. Without his uniform, he could discuss history and the present. Lu Su had a long beard and was quite handsome. However, judging from his expression, Lu Su was rather unassuming, not arrogant, and remarkably humble and composed. It was truly fitting that such a person succeeded Zhou Yu as commander-in-chief.

"I have long admired the hero Zhou Yu, but alas, I am unfortunate enough to die before I could even see him. It is truly a tragedy that the heavens are jealous of such a talented man!" Luo Chen sighed.

Seeing Luo Chen's genuine and undisguised sorrow, Lu Su was also overcome with grief. "I have known Zhou Lang for many years. Zhou Lang was a man of unparalleled talent, both ancient and modern, and he was always sincere and honest. Now that Zhou Lang has passed away, my lord has lost a pillar of strength, and I myself have lost an old friend and an elder brother!"

The two mounted their horses and, with a few attendants, headed straight for Chaisang City.

Seeing this, Ling Tong and Gan Ning, who were in charge of defense along the Yangtze River, exchanged bewildered glances. Luo Chen had only brought one ship to Jiangdong, with no more than a few dozen people on board. Moreover, Luo Chen had no intention of bringing any attendants; only Liu Bei and a strange fellow followed him. However, Ling Tong and Gan Ning judged that this fellow was definitely a bodyguard with exceptional skills. Even so, bringing only a bodyguard was still incredibly audacious. Commander Lu Su, on the other hand, was kind and straightforward, mounting his horse and leading the way with only a few messengers and no other guards.

The outskirts of Chaisang were a pristine white. Snowflakes pattered softly on the ground. White paper hung from the bare trees; today was the day of Zhou Yu's mourning. They hadn't walked far when they saw a large group of people ahead. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was Sun Quan himself. Since Luo Chen had personally come to visit, even the arrogant Sun Quan had to come out of the city to greet him; otherwise, it would be impolite.

Luo Chen and Sun Quan were close in age. Luo Chen had a light beard, sword-like eyebrows, and an imposing air. Sun Quan, on the other hand, possessed a different kind of domineering presence. He had blue eyes and a purple beard, and his gaze was piercing. At first glance, he seemed rather strange, but upon closer inspection, he exuded a heroic aura. Luo Chen looked him over and over, wondering if he had foreign blood.

After exchanging pleasantries, the two rode side by side into the city. Luo Chen, who had never been to Jiangdong before, hadn't paid much attention, but now that he had personally met Sun Quan, he immediately sensed that this man was definitely not one to be subservient to others. Every action of Sun Quan had to be in line with Luo Chen's, meaning that he considered their conversation to be between equals, not that he, Sun Quan, was inferior to Luo Chen.

Luo Chen and Sun Quan rode side by side into Chaisang City, where they were welcomed by soldiers and civilians. Funeral flags fluttered throughout Chaisang City, and many flags in remembrance of Zhou Yu were displayed on the streets. All the soldiers within the city were dressed in white for the funeral.

Luo Chen said, "We have long admired Zhou Lang, but unfortunately, we are unfortunate enough to arrive in Jiangdong today, only to find that Zhou Lang has already passed away. What a pity..." He then prepared to offer his condolences to Zhou Lang.

Lu Su said, "Prime Minister Luo has come from afar. Why don't you go to the post station to rest and warm up before coming to pay your respects..." However, Luo Chen insisted on going. When they arrived at the main hall, there was complete silence. Only the white cloth inside blended with the snow outside, creating a vast expanse of white everywhere.

Sun Quan dismounted first to pay his respects. He then pulled a letter from his robe and read it aloud with deep emotion:

I, Yu, though of mediocre talent, have been deeply honored with exceptional favor, entrusted with a trusted aide and commanding troops. I have dared not refrain from exerting my utmost strength to repay this kindness. Alas, life and death are unpredictable, and life's span is predetermined; my foolish ambitions remain unfulfilled, and my humble body has perished, leaving behind boundless regret! Currently, Cao Cao is in the north, the battlefields are not yet pacified; the forces of the fallen are formidable, like a tiger eyeing the land; Liu Bei's refuge is akin to nurturing a tiger; the fate of the world remains uncertain. This is a time of great anxiety for the court officials, and a time of profound concern for His Majesty. Lu Su, loyal and upright, is unwavering in his duties and can succeed me in this role. A dying man's words are often wise. If Your Majesty would grant me this favor, my death will be immortal.

It turned out to be Zhou Yu's will. Upon hearing this, all the surrounding generals were moved to tears. Hearing the eight words, "Luo Chen's power is immense, like a tiger's gaze," Lu Su was greatly alarmed. Sun Quan had actually read Zhou Yu's opinion of Luo Chen aloud in front of him! Lu Su then glanced at Luo Chen again, and saw that Luo Chen's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure, as if nothing had happened. Of course, this was an open secret; who didn't know it?

Chapter 224 Mourning

Meanwhile, Sun Quan read Zhou Yu's will. Upon hearing Zhou Yu's recommendation of him as Grand Commander, Lu Su was overcome with grief and wept bitterly. The surrounding generals, seeing Zhou Yu's strong recommendation of Lu Su and knowing Lu Su's usual honesty and kindness, could not object; they all covered their faces and wept.

After Sun Quan finished his ancestral worship, Luo Chen, as a guest, did not wear mourning clothes. Instead, he spoke earnestly to everyone, saying, "During the Battle of Red Cliffs, we were in the north, our main force was tied down, and we were at a loss. Fortunately, we had Commander Zhou Yu, a man of unparalleled talent. I heard of the fire at Red Cliffs from the north and was filled with admiration. I longed to meet Commander Zhou Yu, but fate had other plans. On the very first day after the war on the grasslands ended, I immediately headed south. When I arrived in Jiangxia, I heard that Gongjin had passed away! This is the greatest regret of my life! I, Luo Chen, had long envisioned a conversation with Gongjin, but who would have thought that it would never happen!" He couldn't help but shed tears as he spoke. Everyone was deeply moved.

With Gongjin dead, everyone naturally hated Cao Hong and Xiahou Dun, followed by Fa Zheng, because Fa Zheng had been subtly provoking Zhou Yu. Unexpectedly, Fa Zheng didn't come today; in fact, he had been transferred to Yizhou, not Jingzhou at all. Now that Xu Shu was in charge of Jingzhou, everyone had no outlet for their anger. As for Luo Chen, he came this time with Liu Bei and a strange-looking bodyguard, and no one had any interest in causing them trouble. They could only sulk in silence.

Na Luochen read the eulogy: "Thinking back to your days, so heroic and spirited; weeping for your untimely death, we prostrate ourselves, bleeding. Your loyalty and righteousness, your heroic spirit; though you died at the age of thirty, your name will be remembered for generations. We grieve for you deeply, our hearts are filled with a thousand knots of sorrow; our grief is boundless. The heavens are dark, the army is filled with grief, our lord weeps, our friends shed tears… Alas, Gongjin! We are forever separated by life and death! You remained steadfast in your integrity, even in the darkness, may your spirit bear witness to our hearts: from now on, there will be no one in the world who understands us! Alas, how painful! May you rest in peace."

Seeing his sorrowful reading, everyone secretly shed tears.

After the ceremony, Luo Chen and Sun Quan took their seats for discussion. Sun Quan, without any politeness, reiterated his demands from the letter: "The Wu soldiers risked their lives to drive out Cao Cao's army, while your troops reap the benefits. This is contrary to reason and morality..."

"What are your demands?" Luo Chen interrupted him, speaking coldly.

Seeing Luo Chen's directness, Sun Quan was equally assertive: "Your Liu Bei's troops seized Nan Commandery while Commander Zhou Yu was defeating Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong, which was unreasonable. Your Huang Zhong's troops stood idly by during Cao Cao's attack, but after Cao Cao's retreat, they marched straight in and occupied the three commanderies of Changsha, Wuling, and Guiyang, which was also unreasonable. I urge your troops to withdraw voluntarily and avoid unnecessary friction."

This is a blatant threat. Clearly, "friction" means military attack. If Luo Jun does not withdraw, Wu Jun may resort to military attack.

Luo Chen remained silent, but Liu Bei beside him was displeased: "General Sun, when Cao Cao's army attacked, my troops fought back fiercely, participating in bloody battles against Cao Cao's army at Xinye, Changbanpo, and Chibi, suffering heavy losses. How can we not occupy the land of Jingzhou? Moreover, Jingzhou belongs to Liu Biao. Now that Liu Biao's son Liu Qi is still alive, as Liu Qi's uncle and Liu Biao's brother, how can I not assist Liu Qi in occupying Jingzhou?"

These words left Sun Quan and his entourage bewildered, never expecting Liu Bei to bring up Liu Qi as a trump card. Unable to directly resort to dishonest tactics, Sun Quan gestured to Lü Meng beside him. Lü Meng then declared sternly, "How can the land of the Han Dynasty belong to Liu Biao! It shall be occupied by the virtuous! Liu Biao has already been destroyed by Cao Cao, and naturally cannot return to the stage. The virtuous shall occupy Jingzhou!"

Liu Bei flew into a rage, slammed his fist on the table, and stood up, shouting, "How dare you be so rude, you scoundrel! Your small army from Eastern Wu dares to be so arrogant! If my army hadn't been dispatched, we wouldn't even be able to hold our seats at Chaisang!"

Seeing this war of words, Luo Chen, as the lord, naturally wanted to ease the tension, so he said, "Xuande, please don't be rude. General Sun didn't mean that." Sun Quan also seized the opportunity to smooth things over, saying, "Lu Meng, please don't be rude! We can talk about anything!"

Seeing the argument escalating so fiercely, Lu Su couldn't help but try to smooth things over: "Everything can be discussed. Our two families are allies, and we must not resort to violence."

Na Luochen said, "My troops, including Liu Huangshu, have also fought valiantly against Cao Cao's army. Moreover, with Prince Liu Qi present, it would be unreasonable not to occupy a portion of Jingzhou." As he spoke, he sat up, and seeing that Sun Quan was about to respond, he added, "It's not that I care about this small territory, but it is an affirmation of my Luochen troops' resistance against Cao Cao's army. Besides, Liu Biao was appointed as the governor of Jingzhou by the Han Dynasty, and now Liu Biao's son, Liu Qi, has nowhere to go. It's simply impossible. Therefore, it is impossible for you, General, to completely withdraw from Jingzhou."

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Sun Quan, seeing Luo Chen's words, was at a loss for words and wanted to ask Lü Meng beside him to say something more forceful. But Luo Chen continued, "However, we can make some concessions; these are all negotiable."

Upon hearing this, Sun Quan knew there was hope and asked, "So, General Luo, how do you intend to make concessions?"

Luo Chen said, "Now that the Imperial Uncle has taken Nan Commandery, it was indeed taken by taking advantage of the opportunity when Commander Zhou fought hard to defeat Cao's army. Out of respect for Commander Zhou, we cannot do something like reaping the benefits without doing anything."

Upon hearing this, Sun Quan and the others were all delighted. Liu Bei, however, was displeased: "Nan Commandery is a crucial territory; how can we so easily hand it over to others..."

Na Luochen continued, "But Nanjun is the place that connects the north and south of Jingzhou. If we give up Nanjun, then my 100,000 troops in the three southern counties of Jingzhou will not be able to enter the Yangtze River. My navy in Dongting Lake will also have to be relocated. It's too troublesome."

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Upon hearing this, Sun Quan noticed that Luo Chen's tone had shifted, suggesting a change of heart. He then said with a stern face, "Nanjun is an isolated city. General Han Dang, who commands my troops in Jingzhou and Xiangyang, has a rather unpleasant temper, which may cause friction."

Luo Chen chuckled and said, "My suggestion is: we exchange Jiangxia for Nanjun, hand over Jiangxia to Sun Wu, and we occupy Nanjun and the three commanderies of Jingzhou. This way, the power dynamics between the two sides will be less complicated, the division will be clear, and my navy won't need to be moved. Wouldn't that be great?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Quan realized it was the suggestion. He immediately exchanged glances with Lu Su and Lü Meng. Lu Su said, "This plan seems worth considering..."

Lu Meng, however, was a tough guy. He said, "Although Nan Commandery has been exchanged with Jiangxia, you still occupy the three southern commanderies of Jingzhou. How can that be justified?"

Luo Chen laughed heartily: "General Lü Meng, Huang Zhong's 100,000 troops are currently defending the three southern counties of Jingzhou. If you are not satisfied, you can lead 200,000 troops to fight against Huang Zhong... Huang Zhong's troops have been resting for a long time, and I don't know if their fighting strength has declined... Hahaha..."

Seeing Luo Chen's nonchalant attitude, Lü Meng was immediately enraged. Clearly, Luo Chen's meaning was simple: Huang Zhong was right there; if he was capable, he could fight the Guanzhong cavalry. If he won, he would be yours.

Chapter 225 Negotiations in Jingzhou

Na Luochen made no attempt to hide his intentions: "I have absolutely no intention of fighting General Sun Quan in the southeast. Our army is currently resting and recuperating, and we will engage Cao Cao's army in the spring. I have already ordered Xu Da to take advantage of the situation and launch an attack on the area near Luoyang, laying the groundwork for the spring campaign. As I expected, the orders I issued a few days ago have already been relayed to Han Dang by your troops in Wancheng. General Sun might receive Han Dang's report soon..."

"Your army is launching a frontal attack on Cao Cao in Luoyang?" Lu Su asked, quite concerned.

“That’s right, but the main force hasn’t launched an attack yet. Now we’re just waiting for the weather to warm up a bit,” Luo Chen said. “Our concessions in Jingzhou are limited to ceding Jiangxia to ensure the safety of your territory, including Chaisang, and to demonstrate our sincerity. As for the three southern prefectures of Jingzhou and Nanjun, we will naturally occupy them to protect our navy at Dongting Lake and the mouth of the Yangtze River. That’s our stance.”

Sun Quan was clearly deep in thought. This was tantamount to Luo Chen offering Jiangxia up for free in order to ensure peaceful relations with Eastern Wu.

"Your army has been fighting for a long time and has not yet rested. Are you going to attack Luoyang directly?" Lü Meng asked.

“We still have plenty of manpower,” Luo Chen said. “We have many captured Xiongnu soldiers, the young men selected from the Fubing system in the Guanzhong Plain are well trained, and the Tongguan garrison has been resting for a year or two. We can use all of these…” He chuckled coldly, as if mocking Lü Meng for being ignorant of the world.

Just then, a messenger at the door reported, "My lord! There is an urgent report from Jingzhou!"

Sun Quan was greatly alarmed. He glanced at Luo Chen; the Jingxiang region was relatively close to both Cao Cao and Luo Chen, making it a prominent area. He hurriedly said, "Come in!" The messenger entered the inner room, brought out a letter, and then left. Sun Quan opened it and read: "Luo Chen's army is attacking Hongnong, Caoyang, Luoyang, and other places. So far, they have captured Hongnong and Caoyang in one day and are approaching the outskirts of Luoyang. Luo's army is equipped with a weapon called 'Yuanhua Cannon,' which can launch gunpowder and bombs from a great distance to destroy city walls. Cao's army has almost no chance to fight back."

Sun Quan looked at the report from the front lines and found it utterly unbelievable. The fact that they could destroy the city walls from such a distant location made him feel somewhat uneasy.

Sun Quan said, "Since Prime Minister Luo Chen has made his stance clear, let's go back and discuss it. We can give a reply tomorrow."

Sun Quan said, "Since Prime Minister Luo Chen has made his stance clear, let's go back and discuss it. We can give a reply tomorrow."

Luo Chen chuckled and said, "General Sun, the war has already begun in the north, and it will be the main battlefield in the future. Naturally, I must return. Besides, the New Year is approaching, and I need to go back to Chang'an to rest. I will leave the affairs in the south to Liu Bei, Xu Shu, and General Huang Zhong. You can discuss the rest with them." With that, he smiled, stood up, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and left with his head held high.

Liu Bei said, "General Sun, my lord will launch a fierce attack on Cao Cao in the north. Cao Cao will be overwhelmed and will surely send his general Zhang Liao north to relieve the fire. At that time, General Sun can then attack Hefei, Shouchun, Xuyi, Huaiyin and other places in the east and north." With that, he left with a cold laugh.

This remark infuriated Sun Quan. Although it was a reminder that Sun Quan could benefit from Luo Chen's attack on Cao Cao, it was also clearly a mockery of Sun Quan's hundreds of thousands of men being defeated by Zhang Liao's mere ten thousand.

Another battle report arrived from the front, one that surprised not only Sun Quan but also Luo Chen. It turned out that in just three days, Luo Chen's 100,000-strong army under Huo Qubing, along with Sun Yuanhua's artillery column, had launched a fierce attack on Luoyang and directly captured it. Cao Cao's important defensive center in the north-central region had been easily defeated.

The fighting prowess of Luo Chen's army instilled great fear in Cao Cao and Sun Quan. Sun Quan finally experienced Luo Chen's strength firsthand. Meanwhile, Luo Chen had already sailed to Shangyong, and from there, he headed directly back to Chang'an by land.

After careful consideration, Sun Quan decided that maintaining peace with Luo Chen was the best course of action, and thus informed Liu Bei that he approved of Luo Chen's proposal. Soon after, Liu Bei, accompanied by Liu Qi and others, arrived in Changsha with 0 troops by land and sea, and met with Xu Shu and Huang Zhong. Poor Xu Shu, who had just been appointed governor of Jiangxia, had his province handed over to Luo Chen. However, it was clear that according to Luo Chen's arrangement, Liu Bei was the nominal supreme commander, but because Liu Bei was not very decisive, he would inevitably obey Xu Shu. Huang Zhong, being Xu Shu's subordinate, would also have to obey him. Xu Shu was the actual commander of Luo Chen's forces in Jingzhou.

After Liu Bei arrived in Changsha, Luo Chen issued an order commanding Huang Zhong to lead 100,000 troops north to replace Guan Yu and occupy Nan Commandery and nearby towns. Guan Yu returned to Changsha with Liu Bei's 30,000 troops. Soon after, Luo Chen ordered Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, and Wei Yan to go north. To fill the gap in the south, Luo Chen ordered Lü Bu to lead 100,000 cavalry south to Chengdu, but he was soon transferred to Shangyong. In Chengdu, Lü Bu received 100,000 new recruits under the Fubing system, bringing his total strength to 200,000. Half of these 200,000 troops were divided by Qi Jiguang, who led 100,000 troops to be stationed near Changsha and Dongting Lake. Thus, there were approximately 270,000 Luo Chen's land forces in the vicinity of Nan Commandery, Dongting Lake, and Changsha: Huang Zhong's 100,000 cavalry stationed in Nan Commandery and other areas; Qi Jiguang's 100,000 infantry and cavalry stationed in Dongting Lake and Baling; and Liu Bei's 70,000 troops stationed in Changsha. These 270,000 troops were quite close together, and there was a great deal of activity. This greatly alarmed the Wu army in Jingzhou and Xiangyang. If these 270,000 troops were to launch an attack, they could completely encircle Han Dang's forces and trap them north of Nanjun.

Huang Zhong was indeed no pushover. Upon arriving in Nan Commandery, he advanced westward, capturing Gong'an and Yidao, advancing all the way to Baidi City, where he joined forces with Luo Chen's army from Yizhou, thus completely opening up the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River. This move naturally provoked a strong protest from Sun Wu. However, thanks to Luo Chen's troop deployment, Lü Bu and the Yizhou garrison suddenly replenished Jingzhou's forces with 4.2 men, instantly eliminating Wu's numerical advantage. After careful consideration, Sun Quan heeded Lu Su's advice and refrained from military action.

Soon after, Fa Zheng died. Luo Chen sighed deeply. He then transferred Zhuge Liang south to serve as the governor of Yi Province. Zhuge Liang thus relinquished his position as regent, which he had held for several years. As for the capital lacking a leader, Liu Bei was clearly a more reliable option. Luo Chen then transferred Liu Bei north to serve as the successor to the position of Minister of Works, effectively taking over Zhuge Liang's functions, but without the high-ranking title of "regent." This meant that Zhuge Liang stepped down from his perpetual "second-in-command" position within Luo Chen's group and began to stand on equal footing with Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Heng, Liu Bei, and others. Subsequently, Luo Chen formally appointed Xu Shu as the governor of Jing Province, although Xu Shu's Jing Province only controlled a little over one-third of the province.

Chapter 226 Dongting Navy

Luo Chen received numerous transfer orders in the south, with appointment letters flying everywhere, which everyone had become accustomed to. Luo Chen didn't care much, because Cao Cao and Sun Quan had many generals, while he himself had long been short of generals, which naturally displeased him. Now that Luo Chen had introduced several generals through the system and taken over Liu Bei's group, acquiring some more generals, he naturally wanted to appoint more.

One appointment notice in particular caught the eye: an order to establish the Dongting Navy, appointing Xu Shu as its commander and ordering Shi Lang to assist him. Shi Lang was a completely unknown figure, and his title was not mentioned, yet he was directly appointed as the assistant commander of the navy. When this order was issued, Luo Chen met directly with Shi Lang, Xu Shu, Huang Zhong, and others.

After Luo Chen left Chaisang, Liu Bei naturally returned to Jiangxia to continue commanding and prepared to relocate. Luo Chen traveled upstream along the river and soon arrived at Changsha and Dongting Lake. There he met Xu Shu, Huang Zhong, and Shi Lang.

"What's the size of the navy?" Luo Chen asked. Since accepting Xu Shu's suggestion to build a navy, he had exchanged for a Shi Lang from the system. This Shi Lang was a Qing Dynasty general; mastering gunpowder was certainly no problem for him. He was the frontline commander during Kangxi's recapture of Taiwan, making him quite suitable for training the Dongting Lake navy.

“There are a hundred large ships, including fifteen giant warships. They are currently under construction and are expected to reach the city walls of Jiangxia City on the river when completed. There are also several hundred small ships under construction,” Shi Lang said.

"Very good." Luo Chen simply nodded slightly. "What kind of artillery is Mr. Zhang Heng working on? I'll immediately send Mr. Zhang Heng over personally to discuss the deployment of artillery on ships with you. Lin Chong's troops and Zhang Juzheng's men will definitely gather there as well, to ensure the secrecy of this matter," Luo Chen said leisurely. However, this surprised the others considerably, because Zhang Heng was a very important figure. "Mr. Zhang Heng doesn't handle administrative work much. The people Lin Chong sent and Zhang Juzheng's men will be under your unified command, and you will assist Mr. Zhang Heng in his research!"

"Understood!" Shi Lang replied immediately.

Clearly, Shi Lang is still operating in secrecy, and outsiders are unaware of his position and duties. After meeting with Shi Lang, Luo Chen appointed him as an assistant to the Dongting Navy to facilitate his work.

The commander of Luoyang and the surrounding defense zone was the strategist Xun You. Xun You was responsible for defense, garrisoning troops and cultivating land, and also handling some of Cao Cao's army's logistics. Xun You was quite capable and a heavyweight strategist, so when Cao Cao's main army marched south, he sent Xun You to Luoyang to oversee operations and prevent Luo Chen from launching a surprise attack from the rear. However, Xun You and his uncle Xun Yu shared similar political views, and Cao Cao didn't fully trust them. Both of them stepped down from their frontline strategist positions and took on logistical and defensive duties. One was in Luoyang, and the other in Xuchang.

Xun You was truly unlucky this time, encountering Huo Qubing as his lord. Luo Chen issued an order to Xu Da, instructing him to organize some troops to advance eastward for a probing attack. In the letter, Luo Chen intentionally or unintentionally mentioned Huo Qubing. Xu Da understood that Luo Chen definitely wanted to give Huo Qubing some experience. He then ordered Huo Qubing to lead 100,000 cavalry eastward to launch a probing attack on Hongnong, Caoyang, and Luoyang. Luo Chen specifically instructed Sun Yuanhua to lead an artillery column to assist in the attack. Therefore, Xu Da also sent the artillery column, which had just retreated to Tongguan, to join the attack.

Xu Da naturally understood that adding an artillery column made it no longer a probing attack; they had already witnessed the power of artillery several times. Sure enough, in the first battle at Hongnong, Huo Qubing completely surrounded the city in less than an hour. The Hongnong defenders were greatly alarmed, and Xun You was also quite surprised, as Huo Qubing's movements were too swift. However, Xun You, as expected of a heavyweight strategist, coordinated 150,000 troops within an hour, launching attacks on Hongnong from all directions, seemingly preparing for a decisive battle with Huo Qubing. According to Xun You's plan, although the Luo army's cavalry was formidable, Cao Cao's army, trained by him, was also quite capable. They could maintain a stalemate with the Luo army.

Since it is currently the dead of winter, and the Battle of Luochen has just concluded, this is not a proper decisive battle, but rather a probing attack. If the stalemate drags on, Huo Qubing will not have adequate supplies and will surely retreat within ten days. At that time, we can take advantage of the situation to pursue him and even achieve a minor victory.

After Huo Qubing besieged Hongnong, the defending troops expected him to launch a fierce attack, but this did not happen. The garrison surrounded Hongnong but did not fight, instead chatting on horseback. The Hongnong defenders received news that Xun You had mobilized 150,000 troops, which boosted their confidence. However, Huo Qubing's siege without attack was actually a prelude to Sun Yuanhua's artillery column. Although the artillery column was equipped with many fine horses, its marching speed would certainly be much slower than Huo Qubing's light cavalry. Huo Qubing urged them repeatedly, and finally, at noon that day, the advance detachment of Sun Yuanhua's artillery column arrived. This advance detachment carried only a dozen or so cannons. Huo Qubing ignored this and immediately ordered a concentrated bombardment. The advance detachment bombarded a corner of the city wall for fifteen minutes, creating a large hole. Huo Qubing led his cavalry into the city, opened the gates, and the defending troops were thrown into chaos. In fact, the moment the cannons roared, the city walls trembled, and the Cao army defenders were thrown into panic. After Huo Qubing's cavalry entered, they annihilated the garrison of Hongnong in less than half an hour. Some of the troops scheduled to be transferred to Hongnong had not yet departed. Xun You believed that Hongnong's city walls, having been repaired, were quite fortified and could hold out for at least three days.