Chapter 165 – Sun Ce Vows To Kill Liu Mang
Translated by Bloodfalcon
TL Note: Guys, I am sorry for posting this just now, real life killing me, slicing me slowly. Krayto has also gone MIA, my fault that he is missing. I will keep continuing this on my own pace and my own. I will not abandon you all. I will finish this novel.
Sun Ce’s camp POV
Time: At the same time, when Liu Mang is confronting Xu Sheng in Wancheng city’s prison
“ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!” Sun Ce is screaming blood curdling scream while smashing porcelain here and there. All of his attendants are cowering in fear because Sun Ce’s appearance is truly terrifying. His armor is losing a half of it and his body is stained with his blood all over except for his helmet and what made Sun Ce more terrifying is everytime he moved, his wound got wet again and oozing blood, making him just like a general from hell..
Sun Ce thought “Dammit, that Huang Zhong, Huang Hansheng is truly strong. That golden broadsword of his is just like a dragon, aiming for my neck to kill me. I, who have reached hyper-class is still no match for him, also he killed at least 400 of my Zuo Danyang soldiers. If not for retreat drum earlier and his little lord in trouble and also his mercy, this Sun Ce might be the one who perish from this world earlier!!!”
“DAMMIT ALL TO HELL TO THIS BATTLE!!!” Sun Ce thought that while gritting his tooth. Never had Sun Ce been forced to retreat with big loss like this before.
“REPORT!!!” A messenger run inside the main tent. The medic who is currently stitching Sun Ce’s wound hesitated and stop his movement while looking at Sun Ce.
“Give me your report!!!” Said Sun Ce while frowned looking at the messenger, he have a bad feeling about the news.
“Reporting to Milord. The leader of Danyang soldiers of Chu, General Chen Wu died in battle!!!” The messenger said it with clear voice while kneeling and helding his fist respectfully.
“WHATTT!!!!” Exclaimed Sun Ce while standing up in surprise. The force of his body is so great that made the medic officer staggered and fall down, while his wound reopen again due to the suture is not complete, making him wince in pain.
Coupled with bad news and the pain from his wound made Sun Ce’s face really hideous and then he said “Chen Wu… CHEN WU DIED!!!! THEN DONG XI, WHAT ABOUT HIM?!” Sun Ce truly have big loss this time. First day of siege, already 1 general died and a portion of 5 elites destroyed. In Sun Ce’s hands there are 5 division of elites. First is the Changsha army which currently commanded by Zhou Yu. Changsha army is Sun Jian’s inheritance to Sun Ce and expert in water warfare. Commanders for this division are Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang and some of veterans during Sun Jian’s tenure as Governor of Changsha. But right now, they are only able to fight by ordering the others to fight as their strength already depleted by age.
The second elite division is Yu Province Infantry who were led by Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin. This Yu Province Infantry is originally belonged to Yuan Shu which was given to Sun Ce after he presented Imperial Seal to him. These 3,000 elites are also served as “mourning money” in order for Sun Ce not discovered that one of the perpetrators that killed Sun Jian is him. With only this Yu Province Infantry, Sun Ce managed to pacify Jiangdong and gained the trust of Changsha army, therefore laying foundation of Jiangdong army. This second unit have lost one commander which is Zhou Tai. Jiang Qin himself is already rendered useless in battle. It is just a matter of time, for this elite unit to be dissolved and scattered among other four elites.
The third elite right now still named as defender of Kuaiji. Their amount is not much as they only consists of Sun clan’s private soldiers and was led by Sun Quan. In this army, there are lots of good seedlings like Lu Meng and Ling Tong and lots of nobles who are adept in providing counsel and advice. Those nobles are representatives of all of noble clans in whole Jiangdong and because they are all gathered in Kuaiji, Sun Quan built a good rep with all of them and finally they become his main supporters. That is one of the very reasons that Sun Quan able to get all of support he needed to become the master of Jiangdong after Sun Ce’s passing historically.
The fourth elite is Yu Province Heavy Cavalry. They were led by Zhang Kai of Chen Lan and Lei Bo’s bandit brigades. After they evaded capture by Lu Bu army in Mt. Bagong, Zhang Kai led his cavalries to surrender to Sun Ce.
The fifth elite is the Danyang soldiers. Danyang soldiers are well known throughout Han Dynasty. Danyang people are all battle lovers and because of that trait, they make good soldiers. Sun Ce able to procure 10,000 Danyang soldiers of Chu and Zuo due to sheer luck. From 10,000 troops, 5,000 of Chu soldiers were given to Chen Wu and another 5,000 Zuo soldiers were given to Dong Xi. Sun Ce really think that this arrangements is very good as Chen Wu and Dong Xi are both generals and act like a Siamese twin. Chen Wu acting as the brain and Dong Xi as the brawn, this combination can fully utilize Danyang soldiers to the max.
And now, with Chen Wu dead meant Danyang soldiers prowess was severely compromised as Dong Xi do not know what to do. Today’s casualties for Danyang soldiers is really big, but Sun Ce did not really care as Danyang County still have many town to recruit, but a general as casualty? This event is really disheartening Sun Ce.
The messenger then replied “General Dong Xi, from returning to the camp, he just hold general Chen Wu’s body silently and make no movement at all!!!”
Losing Chen Wu meant for Dong Xi to lose his brain. His whole body become sluggish and unresponsive. Even this time, he just kept holding Chen Wu’s body in a complete still.
“Milord, this Lu Su greets you!!!” Lu Su also come into the tent, his face is very complicated and said to reported to Sun Ce “Milord, today’s casualties is very high but we almost take over Wancheng. This Lu Su came here to report the damage for today’s siege!” All those words were said while Lu Su seeing Sun Ce’s battered body. He knew that today Sun Ce almost breakthrough Wancheng, but was halted by Huang Zhong.
“Okay, said your report now!!!” Sun Ce said it while showing sullen look. He already obtained a bad news regarding Chen Wu’s death might as well goes down to abyss with damage report. Lu Su then begin his report “Casualties of Danyang soldiers. Zuo division is completely annihilated saved for their leader Zuo Renjie. From 10,000 troops diminished to 5,000 of Chu soldiers. Danyang Chu soldiers also suffered damage, the specification are 800 seriously injured, 200 minor injuries. This Lu Su suggest that we withdraw Danyang soldiers from tomorrow battle!”
“What about the other clan’s damage?!” Sun Ce’s tone is very very down as his own elite already half-crushed.
“Zuo clan, Bian clan, Wang clan also suffered estimated to be more than 10,000 troops from 100,000 troops!!!” Lu Su have no love for those nobles as he already considered them to be fodder during initial siege and also with their casualties, meaning more supplies for elites.
“What about Wancheng?!” Sun Ce said it while standing up, regardless his wounds have finished suturing or not.
“Wancheng defenders from 10,000 troops, we managed to kill 8,000 troops!!!” Lu Su responded. When Lu Su and Liu Mang traded words, he carefully assess the entire Wancheng. He assessed that inside Wancheng should have at least 10,000 troops although he did not know the exact number. So today, although Sun Ce army suffered big casualties but they also managed to decrease Wancheng defenders’ numbers until it remained only 2,000 troops so to speak.
With this, even with 5,000 Danyang soldiers of Chu, they are able to annihilate Wancheng city defenders to the last men. Actually Lu Su already know that Wancheng city’s defenders only remained less than 1,000 troops, but he just raise the number a bit as it would not make too much difference.
“OH, HO HO HO HO!!!! I REALLY UNDERESTIMATED YOU, LIU MANG” Sun Ce sneer up while laughing in a very menacing tone and his fist is clenched strongly. His anger is already peaked at the top. He was defeated by a rookie commander whose soldiers only consists of 3,000 elite troops and since the first day of the siege, his damage already unbearable. First Zhou Tai died, and then Jiang Qin lost one arm, then Chen Wu and Dong Xi. Even though Dong Xi did not die, but he is impossible to command Danyang soldiers again, also his Danyang Zuo soldiers decimated.
Sun Ce then stop his thought for a moment and said “Assign Dong Xi to be my personal bodyguard, he is not to leave me all the time!!!” A Dong Xi without Chen Wu, is a berserk Dong Xi. Dong Xi will attack friendly even without someone to guide him. Being Sun Ce bodyguards meaning Sun Ce can monitor all of his actions and he will definitely become much tamer and will not kill friendly.
“Yes sir!!!” Lu Su agreed with Sun Ce. Lu Su also felt this decision is correct. He had seen Dong Xi previously. Dong Xi stature is big and towering, if one standing in front of him, one can feel his bloodlust from his frequent cannibalism. An uncontrollable cannibal is truly fearful.
But Lu Su also have other concern in his mind. With Chen Wu died and Dong Xi reassigned, who would lead those 5,000 Danyang Chu soldiers? But he held his tongue, as this topic is very sensitive and may lead for his lord suspect him for insubordination and usurpation.
But Sun Ce is not a person who is afraid insubordination or usurpation but even then, there must be a line that a subordinate must not cross. Finally Sun Ce decides “Zijing, assign Danyang Chu soldiers to Ziyi, let him lead them!!!” This decision was made because there is no more excellent leader under his command. Chen Wu has died, Jiang Qin is badly wounded, Dong Xi is useless. Only Taishi Ci is the one can lead them as of now as Sun Ce will not let those nobles to touch his precious elites.
Lu Su also nodded in agreement with Sun Ce. Those ruffians need someone with strong discipline to keep them in line. If Taishi Ci can make them organized, they will be unstoppable by anyone.
Sun Ce then muttered “Damn you, Liu Mang. You destroy four of my generals!!! Zhou Tai, Chen Wu, Dong Xi, Jiang Qin!!! When I break the city tomorrow, I will skin you alive with my bare hand” When Sun Ce said those names, his eyes is very deep and emitting max killing intent. His hatred is even more than when he was laying siege to Lu Kang. In the end, his mercy got better of him and allow him to commit suicide. But Liu clan and Liu Mang, he will really skin them alive.
Originally Sun Ce’s plan for Liu clan is just to let them broke until they are all living under his welfare! Also regarding Liu Mang, Sun Ce only want to use him to threaten Lu Bu, nothing more nothing less. Liu Mang also have greater use than only that. Sun Ce can use his title Prince of Shu and General of Southern Expedition whose territory consists of four provinces as a legitimate reason in order to destroy Liu Biao and capture Jing Province. Killing Huang Zu alone will never bring that result and legitimacy.
In ancient time, when people go to war, you need legitimacy. King Cheng Tang, founder of Shang Dynasty, need to speak up his “Pledge of Cheng Tang” first in order to do battle with King Jie of Xia Dynasty. Doing battle without any legitimacy will make people question you and even rebel against you. Even those who become your enemies will actually question what is the meaning of this battle. This is one of the precise reason those nobles who sided with Sun Ce created Sin Manifesto, insulting Lu Bu as butcher, etc. That kind of stunt actually could get support from all local officials.
But now Sun Ce want to kill Liu Mang, and already do not care about legitimate cause. All inside his head right now is that he wanted to avenge his four generals. Remembering them, Sun Ce’s heart is very heavy. Especially when remembering Zhou Tai. Zhou Tai is the one person of whom Sun Ce placed a big hope. Zhou Tai’s prowess is actually pretty good even without his blood berserk. If he survived until now, perhaps he also will understand how to be a hyper-class general due to his strength alone.
But all is lost now, Zhou Tai is dead and cooked into meat patty. Sun Ce really gritted his teeth this time, Lu Bu really got an excellent son-in-law who can fight as excellent as him. Then Sun Ce screamed to the top of his lungs “LIU MANG!!!! EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT I WILL SAID NOW, THEIR BLOOD IS ON YOU!!! CHEN DUAN, DA QIAO, ZHOU TAI, CHEN WU, DONG XI, JIANG QIN!!!! YOU SHALL BE AVENGED THREEFOLD!!! CLEAN YOUR NECK FOR TOMORROW!!!! YOU WILL BE OUR PREY TOMORROW!!!!”