My Father in Law is Lu Bu - Chapter 273

Chapter 273

Liu Bei Gathers at Yangzhou

Liu Bei had really gained a big advantage . He had a total of fifty thousand soldiers . Aside from five thousand navy, he had forty-five thousand soldiers . Ten thousand soldiers were left behind at Runan . He was afraid that Cao Ren who was left behind by Cao Cao would strike him from the back . The remaining thirty-five thousand people were all sent out . The warriors were Zhang Fei, Chen Dao and Liu Pi . Although Liu Pi was weak in comparison, he was still a second class general . Zhang Fei and Chen Dao were both first class generals .

All the advisors besides Sun Gan was also taken by Liu Bei . Jian Yong was responsible for the transport of provisions . Pang Tong was the military advisor . Both of them cooperated for a splendid formation .

“Liu Bei has dispatched his soldiers?” Xu Shu learned about this information and knitted his eyebrows . Not only did Zhang Xiu’s banner appeared around Guangzhou . Even Liu Bei’s soldiers have appeared . On top of that, the number of intelligence officers sacrificed for this information showed that Liu Bei brough several tens of thousands of soldiers this time .

This is terrible .  At Shouchun, Xu Shu only has fifty thousand people . However, these fifty thousand people cannot do field operations . These are soldiers recruited after the 1 . 2 million people arrived . Defending the city was still possible but they were only recruits for field operations . On top of that, Shouchun does not have a lot of weapons or armor . It was already a lot for half of them to be wearing the navy soldier’s armor .

It would now be difficult as Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu has cooperated . Zhang Xiu has cavalries . Although he could wreak havoc for a while, he cannot siege if they simply closed the gates . However, it was different now that Liu Bei had brought foot soldiers . It was enough to plunder the city .

“Seems as though Marquis wen is requesting reinforcements . ” Xu Shu commanded a soldier . Right now, he could only ask for reinforcements . However, he was not completely helpless . “Have Zhang Rui and Deng Yi take two twenty thousand soldiers each to guard Hefei and Lujiang . Tell them to focus on defense . They must not go out and fight!”

“Take twenty thousand soldiers each?” The general at the side could not understand . “Military advisor . What about you?” Shouchun only had fifty thousand soldiers . If they each took twenty thousand soldiers, Shouchun would only be left with ten thousand soldiers . How could Shouchun be protected?

“Haha . I do not need to worry!” Xu Shu smiled . If Lujiang and Hefei were captured, Shouchun would become exposed and dangerous to defend . A battle need not be fought . A direct siege would be enough to pin down and kill Xu Shu . After all, there is a shortage of forage in Shouchun . However, if Hefei and Lujiang was not captured, Liu Bei would not dare to enter Shouchun’s hinterland . This is because Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu’s supplies would be exposed to the Lu Bu’s Army . There are also no provisions at Shouchun to supplement Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu . If they wanted military rations, they would need to bring their own food . It would not be safe for the transport of supplies if they could not capture Lujiang and Hefei .

He believed that Marquis Wen would not be indifferent to Shouchun . Once there is a problem with Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu’s supplies, they would have no choice but to retreat .

Xu Shu had kept ten thousand soldiers as a precaution . Cavalries are very fast . If Zhang Xiu had really sent the cavalry to raid the city, Xu Shu would need some soldiers .

Ten thousand soldiers would not be enough to defend the city . However, there was a million of common people in it . It would be enough to use them to guard the city .

.

Zhang Xiu’s Xiliang armored cavalry and Liu Mang’s forty thousand soldiers would meet at Guangzhou . Liu Bei would be delivering supplies from the back .

“Left General . Lord Xuande . What is the purpose of your arrival?” Although Zhang Xiu and Liu Bei had dealings with each other, it has only been through letters . They had never met face to face before . This time, both sides had personally took out their armies to do battle .

“General Zhang . I came here this time to help the general seek justice . Originally, that sixteen thousand gold was a gift for the general, in admiration of general fighting back against Traitor Cao . Who would have expected it to be stolen by that Slave of Three Surnames . General has sent a messenger to contact him but he insulted you and killed the messenger . This one is prepared to help general to seek justice . ” Liu Bei spoke righteously as though he was a saint wanting to help Zhang Xiu obtain justice .

“Seek justice?” Zhang Xiu was not a fool . He secretly sneered when he heard Liu Bei’s words . “If this is the case, Left General, please go back! Although weak, I am able to obtain justice on my own . I will not bother the Left General!”

“This is…!” Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu acted politely . However, Zhang Xiu did not accept, causing Liu Bei’s expression to change, looking without appreciation .

“Zhang Xiu . How dare you speak to my brother like that!” Zhang Fei who was at the side looked dissatisfied . He took his Serpent Blade and pointed it at Zhang Xiu .

“Who dares to hurt Milord!” By Zhang Xiu’s side was a valiant general that looked as powerful as Zhang Fei . He held a pair of iron hammers with formidable strength . He knocked it together, giving out a buzzing sound . The sound proved that the hammers were not hollow but solid . Each hammer weigh no less than one hundred pounds .

“Hu Che Er . Move aside . Otherwise, don’t blame Zhang Fei’s Serpent Blade for being unable to recognize people!” The man Zhang Fei saw was Hu Che Er, one of Zhang Xiu’s subordinate that has accompanied him drinking . The people that would easily make friends are the people with a common interest . Both Zhang Fei and Hu Che Er loved drinking . When two drinkers meet, it would become difficult to separate .

“Black Face Zhang! You are the one that should step aside . If you disrespect Milord anymore, do not blame me for feeding you the hammer!” Hu Che Er was not Han . He was Qiang . He had followed Zhang Xiu from an early age . It could be said that Zhang Xiu was as much as his brother when compared to Zhang Fei and Liu Bei . He had good opinion of Zhang Fei and the two became friends after drinking . But friends are nothing in front of his lord . After all, he had already killed one of his old friend, Dian Wei .

As Zhang Fei and Hu Che Er confronted each other, Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu were also glaring at each other . The smell of hostility was strong .

“Milord . General Zhang . Allow this Pang Tong to say something!” Pang Tong interrupted .

“There is no harm for Shi Yuan to speak . ”

“There is no harm for you to speak . ”

“General Zhang . Bright people do not speak secretive words . This time, our purpose here is the same as yours!” Pang Tong said .

“Oh? Is that so? Is the Left General also here to discuss about the sixteen thousand gold?” Zhang Xiu spoke with ridicule . It was understandable for Zhang Xiu . Before leaving for the expedition, he had spoken with Jia Xu . After killing Cao Cao’s son, Jia Xu does not speak unless asked by Zhang Xiu . Jia Xu was a lifesaver . He had also told Zhang Xiu that the sixteen thousand gold was taken by Liu Bei, not Lu Bu .

The gold was initially given to Zhang Xiu by Liu Bei . If Liu Bei took it back, it meant that Liu Bei did not give the gold at all . It is entirely an excuse to provoke a battle between Zhang Xiu and Lu Bu .

If it was before this, Zhang Xiu would become furious . Instead of sending soldiers to Lu Bu, he would go and question Liu Bei . However, that was before this . Now, Zhang Xiu did not settle his problems with Liu Bei and instead focused on Lu Bu . The first reason was that Lu Bu killed his messenger . At that time, Zhang Xiu had thought that Lu Bu was the one that robbed him . If Lu Bu had explained himself, Zhang Xiu may have felt more comfortable . However, Lu Bu killed the messenger, which insulted him . The second reason was the more important one .  This one was because of Sun Ce’s stratagem . A few months ago, Sun Ce had given letters to Liu Bei, Liu Biao and also Zhang Xiu . With 1 . 2 million people living at Shouchun, the Lu Bu’s army would not be able to eat . If they were to block entry to Shouchun, they would face the bitterness of the world losing faith in them .

1 . 2 million people’s worth of food was not a small amount . In a simple manner, Lu Bu does not have enough provisions for 1 . 2 million people . Once there is not enough forage, not only will the people riot . Lu Bu would also have difficulty sending troops . Taking advantage to rob others was something Zhang Xiu knows how to do . After all, the Xiliang Cavalry’s first boss was that bandit Dong Zhuo .

Zhang Xiu would of course not let go of such a good opportunity to send troops .

Zhang Xiu’s earlier words meant that he had already seen through Liu Bei’s thoughts .  Are you trying to use me? You better wait until I am senile first!

“General Zhang . Although Milord was unable to give you the sixteen thousand gold, do not forget that Milord has given you seventeen thousand gold in the past . Are there any deficits to generously dispatch troops for the General?” Pang Tong said indifferently .

It was true . Even when not counting the sixteen thousand gold, Liu Bei had already given Zhang Xiu plenty of things in the past . It was still more than ten thousand from the start . Liu Mang sold the ballista also for about that price . This was enough for Zhang Xiu to support tens of thousands of soldiers .

As Zhang Xiu understood this, Pang Tong brought it up .

“What does the Left General want?” Zhang Xiu was not a rude and unreasonable person . Even if Liu Bei was using him, he had solved one of Zhang Xiu’s big problems . So, Zhang Xiu had to return the favor .

“What does General Zhang think we want?” Pang Tong asked and did not immediately reply .

“You want all the money and food in Lujiang!” Zhang Xiu replied .

“The money and food in Lujiang?” Pang Tong froze for a moment .

“Is that right? You want my twenty thousand Xiliang Cavalry to deal with their five thousand wolves!” Zhang Xiu was a little unsatisfied . The Lu Bu’s Army had two places that were rich . One was Shouchun and the other was Lujiang . Zhang Xiu had already left for Shouchun so there was not much else he could think of .

“No . No . General Zhang has misunderstood out intentions! Milord intends on letting you have all the money and provisions . All the money from Lujiang and Shouchun would go to you!” Pang Tong looked very generous on the surface but he was feeling happy in his heart .  Money and provisions? This Zhang Xiu is really short-sighted . What good is money and provisions in these chaotic times . Right now, the most important thing is land . We would only have greater development by occupying land . Even if all the money and provisions from Lujiang and Shouchun were to be given to Zhang Xiu, he only has one prefecture, no, one city . It does not have many common people . Almost all of it has turned to military bases . Having troops and no land only meant that all of his money would be spent .

Giving a man a fish would only feed him for a day . With land, there would be a population that could give a steady flow of provisions and tax money .

Another reason why Pang Tong was so generous was that the Lu Bu’s army may have money but definitely not much provisions . It would definitely be cleaned out . If Lu Bu’s Army had provisions, nobody would recklessly fight with him in the first place .

“Are those words true?” Zhang Xiu asked delightedly . He could not be blamed for being short sighted . In the first place, Zhang Xiu and Liu Bei have different thoughts . Zhang Xiu was just like Cai Mao from Jingzhou . They both do not seek hegemony or domination . Instead, they are waiting for a master to join . In other words, they are waiting to serve the powerful . Cao Cao and Yuan Shao are currently their targets .

The more soldiers they own and the more money they have, they would have more weight to their new masters .

“A written agreement can be made!” Pang Tong confirmed

“What do I need to do?” Zhang Xiu also calmed down . With such benefits, there would definitely be a price .

“General does not need to do anything! Several months had passed and Jiangdong’s Little Conqueror’s stratagem is gradually coming into effect . Lu Bu lacks provisions and would have problems sending out troops . However, we still should not take things lightly . That is why, if Lu Bu’s reinforcements arrive, General Zhang should obstruct them and also plunder . Allow us to be the one besieging the city . ” Zhang Xiu’s Xiliang Cavalry has good mobility . They could obstruct Lu Bu’s Wolf Cavalry and even threaten Lujiang . With them attracting the attention of Lu Bu’s Army, all Liu Bei needed to do was strike at Yangzhou .

“Good . Xiu will swallow up the enemy and oppose the enemy cavalry for the Left General!” The twenty thousand Xiliang Cavalry was not for show . The reason why Cao Cao fancied Zhang Xiu was because of the Xiliang Cavalry . In the original history, Cao Cao had still accepted Zhang Xiu even though his son and his treasured Dian Wei was killed . This was because of the Xiliang Cavalry .

If Zhang Xiu were to continuously hold the Xiliang Cavalry, Cao Cao may be afraid . After Zhang Xiu joined Cao Cao, the Xiliang Cavalry was divided into three, leaving Zhang Xiu with only several thousand people . With the huge power already demolished by himself, who else would Cao Cao get rid off?

Zhang Xiu has his own confidence . If the Lu Bu’s Army appeared, it would be the whole army . The Xiliang Cavalry had experience fighting with the Formation Breaker and the Wolf Cavalry . The Wolf Cavalry were two times more powerful than the Xiliang Cavalry at most . However, the Xiliang Cavalry has more than twenty thousand soldiers .

“Haha . Today, Milord also has a courtesy gift for General Zhang!” Pang Tong winked at Liu Bei and then he nodded .

“A gift?” Zhang Xiu did not understand .

“I wonder if General Zhang is interested in the taxes from Gushu and Anfeng of Guangzhou?”

“Gushu and Anfeng of Guangzhou? Today? Does Liu Bei plan to capture three cities?”

Note : Please download the sponsor's game to support us!