Chapter 1

In the second year of the Chuping era of the Han dynasty, 191 AD, the eighteen warlords formed an alliance at Suanchao to jointly oppose Dong Zhuo.

After several months of intense battles, Dong Zhuo retreated to Guanzhong, fortifying his position, while the eighteen warlords dispersed in different directions.

At the same time, in the governor's office of Changsha, Huang Gai, who was left behind, received a letter from Sun Jian, ordering him to lead the troops north to provide support.

"Uncle, can I go with you this time?" As Huang Gai was about to set out north, a young officer came to request permission.

"It's Boyan... This northern expedition is no joke," Huang Gai said with a smile, turning to look at him.

This was Sun Jian's nephew, Sun Hao, the eldest son of Sun Jing, who was only seventeen (in Chinese age) and just a few months older than Sun Ce.

During the previous campaign against Dong Zhuo, he had volunteered to join the army.

However, Sun Jian, considering his youth, did not agree and only arranged for him to train under Huang Gai.

"This mission is mainly to support Uncle, so it's not very dangerous. Besides, I've been training in the army for several months but haven't participated in any battles. How can I grow if this continues?" Sun Hao earnestly pleaded.

Huang Gai nodded, having observed Sun Hao's performance in the army over the past few months.

Moreover, Sun Hao's argument made sense.

With Huang Gai's permission, Sun Hao felt relieved.

Ever since he learned that Sun Jian was heading directly south to Changsha, he knew he was not in the real historical world.

This was for the best, as he could now anticipate that Sun Jian would be ambushed in the Xian Mountains near Xiangyang.

Since he had been transported to this world a year ago, he had been helping his father manage the family business and volunteering to join the army.

He hoped to prevent Sun Jian from being deceived by Yuan Shu at the Fenshui Pass.

However, Sun Jian, thinking he was too young, only allowed him to train under Huang Gai.

Now, with the news that Huang Gai was to go north to provide support, how could he miss this opportunity?

If he missed this chance, Sun Jian would surely fall into the ambush and die!

The Sun family of Fuchun currently had only Sun Jian in office.

If he lived, Sun Hao and Sun Ce could save a few years of struggle.

If he died, they would have to find a warlord to work for a few years before seeking another opportunity to rise again.

"Boyan (Sun Hao's courtesy name), the leg bindings you introduced are very useful. The soldiers can march all day and still feel relaxed."

In the evening, as they set up camp, Huang Gai approached with a smile.

With this, the army, which originally could march fifty miles a day with thirty miles in heavy armor, could now march seventy miles a day with fifty miles in heavy armor.

Sun Hao, who introduced this, had effectively earned military merit!

"Since that's the case, can we increase our marching speed from tomorrow? Calculating the time, Uncle should be near the Han River soon."

Sun Hao was now fully focused on the mission to "rescue Sun Jian."

"Haha, no need to rush. Considering the distance, the governor should only reach the Han River in a day or two. Our northern expedition is just for support. Is there any strong enemy in Jingzhou?"

Huang Gai laughed, thinking Sun Hao just wanted to see Sun Jian sooner.

"You're mistaken! Commander Huang, haven't you forgotten that Uncle killed the former governor, Wang Rui, when he went north? The new governor, Liu Biao, moved the provincial capital to Xiangyang. If Uncle passes by Xiangyang, wouldn't the new governor be nervous?"

Sun Hao couldn't say that Huang Zu would ambush Sun Jian in the Xian Mountains, so he analyzed the situation based on the facts.

The army Sun Jian led on the northern campaign was largely destroyed by Hua Xiong.

If not for this, why would Huang Gai need to go north to provide support?

"Is that true?"

Huang Gai was stunned and quickly summoned the chief clerk to inquire, only to learn that Liu Biao had indeed taken office three months ago.

The provincial capital of Jingzhou was originally in Jiangling, but Liu Biao took office in Xiangyang and moved the capital there.

The problem was that Sun Jian probably didn't know about this.

This time, he would likely pass by Xiangyang on his way south.

"Trouble! We must hurry north!"

Realizing the situation, Huang Gai felt an urgent need to act.

In the end, it was Sun Hao and the chief clerk who persuaded him to calm down.

Indeed, it was already late, and they couldn't continue marching at this hour.

However, the next morning, the army began its northward march as soon as it was light.

They covered over a hundred miles that day, even with the need to slow down for the supply wagons.

Even so, in just three days, the army had reached the vicinity of Xiangyang.

Just as they arrived, they saw two armies engaged in battle from a distance.

No, it was more accurate to say that one army was retreating, while the other was pursuing.

"Ah, it's the governor!" Huang Gai, spotting the red turban, exclaimed in surprise.

Sun Jian, whether in battle or in daily life, always wore that red turban, which made him easily recognizable to those who knew him.

"Commander Huang, we must hurry to support him!" Sun Hao was panicked, knowing that Huang Zu's ambush was about to begin.

Sure enough, just as Huang Gai ordered the troops to provide support, a group of archers suddenly appeared on the Xian Mountains.

And Sun Jian, who happened to be at the forefront, was targeted by concentrated fire.

Seeing the arrows flying towards Sun Jian, Sun Hao felt a sense of dizziness.

Despite the accelerated march, why did they still not arrive in time?

Hundreds of arrows shot towards Sun Jian, and despite his armor, he was pierced by many arrows and fell off his horse.

"Villains, how dare you harm my uncle!" Sun Hao roared.

He immediately led a hundred soldiers and charged towards Huang Zu's forces with his sword.

Unfortunately, as a mere squad leader in the army, he had no horse to ride.

Thus, his charge on foot lacked the necessary momentum.

"Haha, if you want to die, I'll send you to join Sun Jian!"

Huang Zu, curious about the sudden appearance of another army, laughed and charged towards Sun Hao on horseback.

"I'll show you that I haven't wasted my time this year!"

Facing the cavalry charge, Sun Hao, taking advantage of the initial slow speed, quickly moved forward.

He rolled and swung his ancient sword, cutting off the leg of Huang Zu's horse.

Huang Zu, losing his balance, fell off his horse.

Seizing the moment, Sun Hao quickly got up and delivered a sweeping blow, decapitating Huang Zu.

He didn't even consider the potential negative consequences of killing Huang Zu.

Huang Zu's ambush had killed Sun Jian, nullifying the Sun family's years of effort, and he couldn't swallow this humiliation!

As he was about to speak, a rider passed by, killing an enemy soldier near him. It was Huang Gai coming to support.

"Do not act rashly on the battlefield!" Huang Gai advised and continued to fight the enemy.

With Huang Zu dead, his soldiers began to scatter. The remaining task was to mop up.

He couldn't help but look back at the young general leading the troops in battle.

He never expected that his first time in battle would be under such circumstances.

He was also very self-critical, thinking that if he had been faster, just a little faster...

The archers on the Xian Mountains also scattered upon seeing the situation.

Sun Jian's main army arrived shortly after, but the battle was already winding down.

"Public Fu, why are you so...?" Cheng Pu approached, surprised to see Huang Gai, but then fell silent.

According to the normal marching schedule, Huang Gai should have joined them in a day or two.

Now, with Sun Jian's ambush and death, Huang Gai's self-reproach was evident, and Cheng Pu didn't know what to say.

He couldn't help but look at the young general nearby, who he remembered was Sun Jian's nephew.

At that moment, he stood in the army, watching his soldiers clean up the battlefield, his figure looking desolate.

Some in the army also recognized Sun Hao, who was Sun Jian's nephew and the eldest son of Sun Qiang.

Just as they were about to approach to inquire or offer comfort, they were stopped by Sun He.

Let him have some peace and quiet at this moment!

No one knew that deep in Sun Hao's consciousness, three systems had simultaneously appeared.

However, upon realizing each other's presence, they began to clash and collide.

In the process, the three systems were damaged and eventually merged into a new system.

But Sun Hao was not particularly happy. He never expected that his "cheat" would only activate after Sun Jian's death.

"No wonder there was no response for over a year..."

Sun Hao's feelings were complex. The cheat had arrived, but he couldn't feel happy about it.