Chapter 49

Chapter 683: Enemy in the Boat (2)

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"Can you still come up with more strategies after three?"

"This is the last one. There are no more. The strategy I will offer is the Linked Stratagem."

"Explain in detail."

"Note that Lord Yuan already knows that Liu Zihui, the patron of the scholar, has been selling information to Lü Bu."

Jin Yilu shifted his focus to Yuan Shao.

"Allowing the troops to march despite knowing this suggests that Lord Yuan has a hidden agenda."

"Whether this hidden agenda is advantageous or disadvantageous to you, I cannot say. After all, Lord Hejian is above Lord Yuan. He is by no means a comfortable presence for Lord Yuan."

"Surely, he wouldn’t use this opportunity to undermine the power of his father-in-law?"

"Who can know the depths of a person’s heart?"

Lady Yu could not deny Jin Yilu’s words.

After all, Yuan Shao did not marry her because of her beauty.

He did not marry the most beautiful woman in Ji Province but rather the daughter of Lord Hejian to achieve his ambitions.

While they are the same person, the significance is vastly different. Marrying a beauty is merely for personal pleasure, but marrying into the Han royal family is a way to gain their support.

However, the situation has changed now.

The Hejian Wang’s residence is not under Yuan Shao’s control, and with its considerable power, it could wield a sword from within and force Yuan Shao to hand over the throne to Yuan Shang.

If that is possible, then the opposite is also possible. It’s entirely plausible that he wants to take this opportunity to eliminate the thorn in his side, the Hejian Wang’s residence.

"Then what should we do? If Lord Yuan’s sword is aimed at the Hejian Wang’s residence."

"It is only natural to prepare for danger when you know it exists. That’s why I have once again offered a strategy to preserve the strength of the Hejian Wang’s army."

Jin Yilu had advised to recall the troops, to resist, and if all else fails, to negotiate with Lü Bu for victory, for these very reasons.

* * *

Lady Yu gripped the armrest of her chair tightly, trying to hide her unease.

"Do you know what you’re saying?"

"I am fully aware."

"If this gets out, neither of us can guarantee our safety."

Yuan Shao is that kind of person. He would cut off his own limbs to protect what is his, let alone someone else’s.

It’s a chilling thought, but Jin Yilu remained remarkably calm.

"Lady, what are you so worried about? As long as neither of us speaks, no one will know about today’s conversation."

"Perhaps, but I find your boldness admirable. To negotiate with Lü Bu, one must be as daring as you."

It seemed that Lady Yu was also considering the option of negotiating with Lü Bu.

"Very well. For the sake of my son, I must become strong. If it comes to a confrontation with Lord Yuan, I will not hesitate."

"Then, please go to Lord Hejian as soon as possible. The sooner you present your advice, the higher the chance of preserving the Hejian Wang’s army."

"Very well! Tell Xi that I won’t seek him out until the battle in Hanguan is over, but the misunderstanding has been cleared."

Lady Yu declared the restoration of her relationship with Yuan Xi. Jin Yilu bowed to her.

"Lady, I will convey your message to Lord Xi. I will take my leave now."

"Send for me if you need me."

"Would I refuse to travel a thousand miles to see you, even for a moment?"

Jin Yilu had met Lady Yu and obtained everything he wanted.

But there was one thing he could not obtain, and it was unlikely he ever would. That one thing was Lady Yu herself.

'What a waste. Such beauty is rotting in this place. It’s a pity, a great pity.'

Jin Yilu is not a person who desires material things, but he desired women, especially Lady Yu.

Lady Yu is a disappointment, but her beauty remains intact even after giving birth. Moreover, her lineage is that of the noble Han royal family.

It would take generations of virtue for a commoner to marry a woman of the royal family.

Given these thoughts, it’s not surprising that Jin Yilu covets Lady Yu.

'If I become an official, I will aim for the highest ranks. If I marry, I will aim for a woman of the royal family. When Yuan Shao falls, what could stop me from obtaining Lady Yu?'

* * *

While Jin Yilu was sowing seeds of distrust within the Guandong army, Lü Bu was preparing to attack the Guanxi army’s supply lines.

The long supply line stretching from Chang'an to Peiling, Xin Feng, Zheng, Huayin, Dongguan, and Hangu Pass, all the way to the main camp of the Guanxi army, was Lü Bu’s target.

He crossed the Wei River at Xia Gui and set up camp near Xin Feng. Mò Taigou and a thousand Gaozhu soldiers, who had already pacified Zongling Mountain, joined Lü Bu’s army.

"General Lü, we greet you."

Mò Taigou bowed respectfully, as the Han people do, to welcome Lü Bu.

"King Gaozhu, dispense with the formalities."

"A thousand Gaozhu warriors are ready for battle. If you give the order, Xin Feng will fall before the sun sets."

Mò Taigou was eager to finish the task and join his brother, Mò Taibā, at Taohua Mountain. However, Lü Bu shook his head.

"We will not attack Xin Feng."

"Then why did you call us here?"

"To attack those coming to Xin Feng."

"The ones carrying a lot of supplies?"

In response to Mò Taigou’s question, Lü Bu nodded. Mò Taigou’s lips curled into a smile.

He turned and nodded to the Gaozhu warriors, and their muffled laughter could be heard through the masks they wore.

"General, what should we do?"

Mò Taigou was eager to receive his mission.

He wanted to give the Gaozhu warriors a taste of the joy of battle.

Lü Bu then turned to Guo Jia, passing the task to him.

"King Gaozhu, we will drive the enemy to Hongmen. Wait there for them."

"Should we just wait for them to come?"

"We will give you a signal."

Mò Taigou turned his gaze back to Lü Bu.

"The Gaozhu warriors have been waiting for a long time."

"If you’re impatient, the only option is to burn the supply depot. Are you willing to do that?"

Lü Bu told Mò Taigou the fastest and most reliable way to subdue the Guanxi army’s supply base in Xin Feng. Mò Taigou waved his hand.

"We can wait another month, but only that long..."

"If this mission goes well, I will ensure you have enough grain to swim in."

"Then we will head to Hongmen immediately."

Mò Taigou, fearing Lü Bu might change his mind, led the Gaozhu warriors back toward Zongling Mountain.

"Now, with the Gaozhu soldiers in place... Scholar, what should we do next?"

"We must wait for the scouts to return."

"Isn’t that too relaxed? The battle in Hanguan is ongoing right now."

* * *

Hanguan.

Arrows rained down, and screams and battle cries intertwined in a fierce melee.

The Guanxi army, vastly outnumbering the Hanguan defenders, engaged in a war of attrition.

On the other hand, the Luoshi army relied on the high and sturdy walls and the strong crossbows to hold their ground.

"Send more arrows to the west! Burn the ram! Don’t spare the Menghuoyou!"

Luoshi, commanding from the watchtower, suddenly staggered.

Hanhao quickly supported him, and the attendants with sunshades surrounded them.

"Commander, this won’t do. You don’t even have the strength to stand. Why are you being so stubborn?"

"How can I, as the commander, leave the battlefield and rest?"

"I know your wounds are worsening. You might lose your life. Please, stop being stubborn."

Hanhao urged Luoshi to rest again. But Luoshi firmly refused.

"I, Luoshi, will stand or fall with Hanguan. Listen! Tie sunshades to my front and back! If that doesn’t work, tie me to the watchtower’s pillar, and if that fails, plaster the walls to hold my position!"

"Commander!"

"It’s an order! Hurry!"

While the attendants tied sunshades to Luoshi’s front and back, a general ran up to report.

"Commander, we’ve run out of Menghuoyou!"

To burn the rams battering the gates of Hanguan, Menghuoyou was essential.

Without it, they had no means to stop the rams from breaking through the gates.

Luoshi, without a moment to rest, fell into deep thought.

If they couldn’t stop the rams, they couldn’t prevent the gates from opening.

"General Duan! General Zhang!"

After much deliberation, Luoshi called for Duan Wai and Zhang Chao.

"General Zhang, order the soldiers to pour water on the gates from inside."

"Yes, Commander!"

Zhang Chao acknowledged the order without questioning Luoshi’s strategy and rushed down from the watchtower. Luoshi then assigned a task to Duan Wai.

"General Duan, have the soldiers throw burning straw bundles down."

Even without Menghuoyou, fire was still an effective means to stop the rams.

However, the problem was that throwing burning straw bundles wouldn’t produce the explosive firepower of Menghuoyou.

"Will that work?"

Duan Wai couldn’t hide his disappointment.

But Luoshi chose to reassure rather than scold, knowing that internal division during a battle could lead to defeat.

"It’s a temporary measure. But if we can stop the rams now, we can survive until tomorrow and the day after. I will do what I can. Commander, I accept your order!"

Duan Wai left the watchtower, and shortly after, the soldiers on the gatehouse walls continuously threw burning straw bundles down.

However, this battle was a loss for Luoshi. The Guanxi army seemed to have anticipated this situation. The men operating the rams doused them with water.

Soon, thick smoke filled the air. The men dousing the rams needed to breathe, even with wet cloths over their mouths and noses, making it harder to push the rams with one hand.

The nearby Guanxi soldiers also became disoriented from the smoke, causing the Guanxi army’s offensive to slightly wane.

Wei Zi and Chen Gong, observing the battle, frowned deeply. The smoke stung their eyes, but more importantly, they couldn’t come up with a strategy to counter the Guanxi army’s overwhelming assault.

"Scholar Gong, it seems we must use that method now. But I’m worried about what comes next."

Wei Zi and Chen Gong had devised a strategy together. However, he was reluctant to use their trump card so quickly.

Chen Gong was in the same position as Luoshi.

"Regardless, we must get through this crisis first. Don’t hold back. Use it when you need to. Water can be refilled, but the well will eventually run dry. I will try to come up with a follow-up strategy. For now, please advise the Commander."