Chapter 318
“A traitor?” When Wen Pin flipped out, one of his general of ten thousand men asked. “General. Where do you want to find that traitor?” This man was confused. He came in here to make a report but was just in time to hear Wen Pin shout his intentions of killing a traitor.
“Hmph! Did you enjoy your drink with Zhuge Liang? Speak! What benefits did Zhuge Liang give you?” Wen Pin’s anger rose when he saw the man that arrived. ‘Being a bad example to others along with that traitor is one thing! Yet you dare to come back? Are you trying to surrender?’
“Drink? Benefits?” The man immediately knelt after hearing this. Wen Pin’s Army had banned taking bribes. The drink itself does not matter but not when it involved Zhuge Liang. They had used the excuse of a child being born but that was just an excuse as Zhuge Liang’s subordinate, Huo Jun, was among them. “General. Spare me!” He had thought that Wen Pin found out that Huo Jun gave him a golden sword sheath.
“Spare you? Haha. What are you talking about? Aren’t you following Zhuge Liang now? You want to rebel against me and siege this place together with Zhuge Liang! The one that should be asking to be spared should be me!” Wen Pin’s tone made the man tremble.
“Rebel? Siege against you? General. How is it that I am rebelling?” The man was afraid but he would not rebel. They would not rebel even when bribed as this would involve their entire family. Their entire family would be executed.
“Still quibbling? I, Zuo Chao, already know of all of your tricks with Zhuge Liang! Just wait for General Wen Pin to annihilate your army!” Zuo Chao was very pleased to see this general of ten thousand men kneeling on the ground. Once the night has passed, Zuo Chao may also obtain that position.
“Zuo Chao?” The accused never met him before. He then said, “General Wen Pin. If you want to accuse and execute, please listen to me first. I have received a golden sword sheath from Huo Jun. It was a present for my child being born. It is not for a rebellion! If General still insists on framing me, I, Qin Lan, would have nothing to say!” The man explained. Even he would not want to rebel, fall into infamy, and cause misfortune for his entire family.
“Hm?” Wen Pin started to hesitate when he saw the man remain strong willed. After all, Qin Lan was one of his trusted subordinates. Even if there was a rebellion, he should not be part of it.
“Hmph! If it is not a rebellion, what is going on outside the camp?” Zuo Chao was dissatisfied to see Wen Pin hesitate. He wanted Wen Pin to execute more people. That way, his chances of being promoted would be higher. Zuo Chao immediately advanced towards Qin Lan and asked. “Isn’t this a rebellion? Is he not mobilizing the troops? What else could he be preparing for at night?”
“Mobilizing the soldiers for a rebellion?” Qin Lan was stunned by Zuo Chao’s words.
“Nothing left to say? You can still be so eloquent even with the facts in front of you! General Qin. You truly have thick skin!” Zuo Chao sneered.
“Men! Take Qin Lan away. Execute him after pacifying the rebellion!” Wen Pin personally called for the guards.
“Wait!” Qin Lan suddenly stood up and pushed away the two bodyguards trying to arrest him.
“What’s wrong? Is General Qin trying to fight back and kill General Wen Pin? You can keep dreaming as long as I, Zuo Chao, is here!” Zuo Chao declared as he pulled out his sword. His loyal expression along with his face made others feel uncomfortable.
“Kill General Wen Pin? What a joke! My life was given to me by General Wen Pin! I will not act against him even if I am scum!” Qin Lan sneered. He had worked for Wen Pin for many years and now obtained his position. It was precisely because Wen Pin’s Army was strict that someone like him was able to obtain his position. Wen Pin had also saved Qin Lan’s life before. These were why Qin Lan felt grateful to Wen Pin.
“He saved your life and you bite the hand that feeds you. You are truly scum!” Zuo Chao ridiculed again.
“Shut up! Who the hell are you to even be speaking at General’s main camp?” Qin Lan also became angry. The courage he obtained from drinking wine that night had been supressed by Wen Pin. However, it had flared up again.
“I am a person loyal to the General and to Jingzhou! What about you? You are just a traitor! Men. Drag him out and execute him!” Zuo Chao wanted to circumvent Wen Pin and execute Qin Lan. Yet, as someone who claimed to be loyal to his general, he should first be loyal to Huo Jun.
“Let us see who dares!” The intoxicated Qin Lan also pulled out his sword.
“Protect the General!” Zuo Chao immediately stood in front of Wen Pin. “General. Run quickly! I, Zuo Chao would remain here!” This was truly laughable as Wen Pin was much stronger than Zuo Chao and Qin Lan.
“Qin Lan. So you are truly rebelling! Haha. Take your sword and kill yourself. I will not look for your family!” Wen Pin coldly looked at Qin Lan as he said.
“Kill myself? Haha! So General truly wants me do die. Just say it earlier! I would have readily given my life to you! There was no need to frame me as a rebel!” Qin Lan softly said as he placed his sword at his neck. “General. Let us meet again in the next life!” Qin Lan said his final words as he moved his hands.
“Wait! General Qin Lan!” A voice came from outside the camp. The person had entered trying to stop Qin Lan but it was too late. Qin Lan had already cut his neck. He perished shortly after, unable to breathe.
“General Wen Pin! What is going on here?” The person that first arrived furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at Wen Pin.
“G-General Huo Jun? Military Advisor?” Zuo Chao shivered when he saw the two people that just arrived. They were Huo Jun and Zhuge Liang.
“Zhuge Liang. You still dare to come to my camp?” Wen Pin laughed. He had believed that Zhuge Liang had mobilized earlier. This meant that Zhuge Liang should be attacking his army. He did not expect Zhuge Liang to appear in his own main camp. Wen Pin has his bodyguards that would listen to only him. He would have needed to sacrifice a lot of men to quell the rebellion but now, he would only need to capture Zhuge Liang.
“What’s wrong? Is General Wen Pin also intending on forcing my death?” Zhuge Liang replied as he looked at Qin Lan’s ice cold body. He saw Huo Jun support Qin Lan’s body. Based on the earlier scenario and Qin Lan’s wounds, it could be seen that Qin Lan had killed himself. The only person that could make Qin Lan do this was Wen Pin. Thus, he concluded that Wen Pin had forced Qin Lan to die.
“Zhuge Liang. Huo Jun. Are you still intending to act at this hour? There is no need to pretend anymore. I have already told everything to General Wen Pin. The two of you should just prepare to die!” Zuo Chao saw the Wen Pin’s bodyguards around Zhuge Liang and became braver. His voice also became louder.
“You must be Zuo Chao.” Zhuge Liang glanced at Zuo Chao. His expression that showed his despise for Zuo Chao, made Zuo Chao feel ashamed. Zuo Chao hated to be looked at with contempt.
“Oh. I understand now! General Wen Pin is actually intending on defecting to Sun Ce for riches! In that case, I, Kongming, admits defeat. Once you take my head, you can control my thirty thousand soldiers. Once you have seventy thousand soldiers, you would be able to get a good position at Jiangdong!” Zhuge Liang said indifferently. He even placed one of the nearby bodyguard’s sword at his neck.
“What?” Wen Pin sneered. The traitor had called his a traitor. “Lord Liu Biao have treated me well. Why would I betray him?”
“If that is not the case, why do you have a spy from Jiangdong in your camp?” Zhuge Liang asked as he pointed at Zuo Chao.
“What? A spy from Jiangdong?” Wen Pin was stunned. ‘Zuo Chao is a spy from Jiangdong? What about the rebellion he was talking about?’
“I am a spy from Jiangdong? General. Do not trust this Zhuge Liang. If I was a spy from Jiangdong, I would not be here. I would have persuaded for your surrender, not inform you of Zhuge Liang’s rebellion!” Zuo Chao explained.
“That’s right!” Wen Pi nodded. Zuo Chao’s explanation was precisely what a spy from Jiangdong would try and do.
“General. When I heard their plot, I refused to follow their bad example and came out to demand justice. General. Look outside your camp now. Isn’t all that shouting from their vow of rebellion?” The shouting from earlier was real. Wen Pin had heard it himself. As a result, Wen Pin still suspected Zhuge Liang.
“Zuo Chao. I never expected you to be this kind of person!” Huo Jun looked at Zuo Chao in anger. He was this close to being sold off by Zuo Chao.
“Are you speechless from anger? Right now, the only road left for you is the road to your death!” Zuo Chao declared, feeling pleased with himself.
“Haha! The shouts of rebellion is taking place outside? Haha!” Zhuge Liang suddenly laughed arrogantly.
“What are you laughing at?” Zuo Chao asked. He then turned around and said to Wen Pin. “General. I think they have gone crazy and started laughing after their schemes were dismantled. Right now, it is important that we capture them and pacify this rebellion! We can think of other things later. If we do not, Xiakou would suffer even more losses!” Zuo Chao made it sound as though he was considering Wen Pin’s matters, making Wen Pin nod his head. Although he did not look like much, he was still good enough to continue with this after Qin Lan’s death.
“I laugh at your ignorance! I laugh because General Wen Pin was unknowingly tricked. I laugh because your navy is about to be completely routed, causing Jingzhou to become submissive! General Wen Pin. You said that a rebellion is going on outside. Ask one of your trusted subordinates to go and see if it is truly a rebellion. Being led around by a nameless soldier is not good for your reputation!”
“Are you still trying to argue? General. He is just trying to stall for time!”
“Someone get out there and see what is going on!” Wen Pin started to feel suspect and sent out one of his bodyguards. A little while later, the bodyguard returned giving Zhuge Liang and Huo Jun an odd look.
“Haha. Just like I said. Zhuge Liang and Huo Jun intend to rebel!”
“Why are you all still not arresting them?” In anger, Wen Pin ordered for the two bodyguards beside him to arrest Zhuge Liang and Huo Jun.
“Wait!” The bodyguard that had returned suddenly shouted. “General. They are certainly shouting for a battle outside but it is not one of rebellion!”
“What else if not for a rebellion? Are you telling me they are performing a show in the middle of the night?” Zuo Chao ridiculed.
“General. Sanjiangkou had been lost. They are shouting their intentions to return and take back Sanjiangkou.”
“What?” Wen Pin was no longer calm. There were three ports along the river. Sanjiangkou, Xiakou and Wuchang. The one at Wuchang had long since been occupied by the Jiangdong Navy. Sanjiangkou was also recently occupied by them before Kuai Liang risked his life to capture it along with the new technology from the Lu Bu’s Army. Before that time, the Jiangdong Navy used to battle against Wen Pin. Now, Sanjiangkou was lost again.
“It must be the Jiangdong Navy!” Wen Pin shouted without even needing to guess.
“General Wen Pin. The Jiangdong’s request for a ceasefire is faked to obtain Sanjiangkou! Besides that, this Zuo Chao is a spy from Jiangdong that tried to obtain information from my army!” Zhuge Liang accused.
“Zhuge Liang! You slanderer! I personally heard you and Huo Jun conspiring to capture Xiakou and rebel against Jingzhou!” Zuo Chao shouted back.
“Rebel against Jingzhou? I am the intermediary for my family. Although my elder brother Zhuge Jin submit himself in service to Jiangdong, most of my family is at Jingzhou! One of my elder sisters even married into the Kuai Family! I even obtained a good position at my young age! Why would I abandon JIngzhou?” Zhuge Liang’s words were convincing. Even Huo Jun nodded and almost believed that Zhuge Liang really had no intentions of rebelling against Jingzhou.
“But I heard it!”
“What evidence do you have?”
“Me! I am the evidence!” Zuo Chao gave a faulty reasoning that he had personally heard this. There were nothing that could record in that era. “You claim that I am a spy from Jiangdong. If that is the case, why would I try and expose you?”
“Haha. That is easy. You want us to have a falling out! You want to persuade General Wen Pin into subduing the rebellion. At night, we would not even tell who is ally and who is foe while you just fan the flames. At the end of the battle, only a few people would be left alive! Meanwhile, your army have already captured Sanjiangkou. It is only half a day’s journey from Sanjiangkou to Xiakou and the Jiangdong Navy would be able to easily profit from this as our army is exhausted. Am I right, Zuo Chao?” Zhuge Liang narrowed his eyes. From the earlier discussion, Zhuge Liang knew that Zuo Chao had already heard too much and must not live. Besides that, Zuo Chao had force Qin Lan to commit suicide. He was not a good person and would bring disaster to the army sooner or later. It was best that he die now.
Wen Pin took a deep breath in anger. If Zhuge Liang’s words were true, the end result would be too frightening. Although Jingzhou has thirty thousand navy soldiers, only twelve thousand were elites. If so many soldiers were lost here, the whole of Jiangxia would be lost.
They had fought in a deadlock for so many years. If they were to lose here, the Jingzhou Navy would not be able to cross the Yangtze River anymore.
“Well played. I was almost tricked!”
“It is not me! They are the rebels! They are the traitors! It is not me!” Zuo Chao shouted loudly but nobody paid him any attention. “General Wen Pin! You must believe me!” Zuo Chao spoke as he clung himself to Wen Pin. However, Wen Pin knocked him away. “Scram!”
“It is you guys!” Zuo Chao shouted towards Zhuge Liang and Huo Jun. When he looked at Huo Jun, he suddenly shouted again. “I understand now! General Wen Pin, I understand now! Those pro…” Zuo Chao had suddenly recalled the provisions taking from the Jingzhou Navy. The destination of this provisions was Lujiang. If he were to speak of this, Zhuge Liang and Huo Jun would be finished as supplying for the enemy was the same as a rebellion.
“Huo Jun. Send this deceitful man on his way!” Zhuge Liang was also startled as he almost forgot about the provisions.
“Understood!” Huo Jun was also not a fool. He immediately stepped forward and caught Zuo Chao. Although Zuo Chao resisted, he was no match for Huo Jun. Huo Jun covered his mouth and plunged his sword into Zuo Chao’s chest. Blood splashed onto Huo Jun’s face but he paid it no mind.
“Pro…vi…” Zuo Chao tried to speak but strength left his body and he collapsed.
“Provi?” Wen Pin still had doubts but placed it at the back of his mind. “Military advisor Zhuge. If it was not for you, I would have made a huge mistake. Please accept my respect!” Wen Pin spoke as he half knelt. Zhuge Liang would not have Wen Pin kneel as he truly wanted Wen Pin’s men. Wen Pin had high prestige in the army. He hurriedly supported Wen Pin back up.
“Sigh. General Wen Pin. Do not act like this. Everyone makes mistakes. However, this general here needs to obtain a proper title and be buried properly!” Zhuge Liang looked at Qin Lan who was a truly loyal person. When asked to die, he went ahead and die. These kinds of people were truly hard to find.
“This is a necessity. I will take care of his child as my own.” During his anger, he had lost his head but Wen Pin actually did not want Qin Lan to die. However, he failed to stop the man in time. Now, it was too late for anything else to be said. He looked at the dead Zuo Chao with hatred, hoping to be able to make mincemeat out of him. “Men. Feed this corpse to the dogs!”
“Understood!” The two bodyguards replied before dragging away Zuo Chao’s corpse.
“General Wen Pin. We should next discuss about sending troops to Sanjiangkou.”
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Two men looked at each other at Sanjiangkou. One was very excited while the other was sullen. These two were Han Dang and Huang Gai.
“Gongfu. Why do you have such a bitter expression? We have recaptured Sanjiangkou. From here, we can once again launch our attack on Jiangxia!” Han Dang felt very pleased. It was his fault that he lost Sanjiangkou. Kuai Liang had almost died to take Sanjiangkou but now, Han Dan had recaptured it. There were only a few losses this time. It was much more cost effective in comparison.
“Yigong! Did you know that you have made a big mistake?” Huang Gai did not know how to explain it to his old friend and shook his head with a wry smile. He could only sigh in despair.
“A big mistake?” Han Dang was stunned. He did not know how this was a mistake. However, Huang Gai is not a person that would lie like this. If Huang Gai said that this was a mistake, there must be a reason. “Gongfu. Please don’t frighten me!”
“Why would I try and frighten you? We have been together since we served under the late Lord Sun Jian. During those times, have I ever tried deceiving you?” Huang Gai replied. They were friends for many years. During that time, Huang Gai had never deceived anyone.
“Then tell me. Where did I go wrong?” Han Dang was also anxious. He was happy to see Huang Gai but the man’s frowning expression after he captured Sanjiangkou made him feel uncomfortable.
“Sigh.” Huang Gai sighed and then explained the consequences of Han Dang’s actions.
The Jiangdong Navy and the Jingzhou Navy had stopped figting a month ago. They even sent messengers to each other. The reason for this truce was because of Lu Bu. On the surface, it was an attack from three sides but in reality, it was four! Although Liu Biao did not dispatch any troops, he had also contributed to Lu Bu’s situation. Liu Biao wanted both Lu Bu and Sun Ce to suffer losses.
The two of them wanted to defeat the same enemy and therefore joined forces.
Sun Ce had sent troops to watch Lujiang. This made Lu Bu unable to send reinforcements to Liu Mang. Once Liu Mang is dead, they would go after Lu Bu.
This stratagem had been going well until it was foiled by Han Dang. Both sides had come to a truce. Even Sun Ce and Zhou Yu decided to leave Jingzhou alone for now because they were at a critical moment.
Huang Gai had been extremely frightened when he received Han Dang’s letter. Han Dang’s intentions of capturing Sanjiangkou would provoke a war. The problem was the timing. However, Huang Gai gritted his teeth and did not inform Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. This was because Han Dang’s letter had been brief. It only told him the time of action and nothing else. Huang Gai did not know how to contact Han Dang after that. Besides that, there were still hundreds of soldiers at Sanjiangkou. If Huang Gai did not send any troops as reinforcements, Han Dang would definitely die. Huang Gai could not bear to let that happen.
However, Huang Gai did not know how to explain this to Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. They provoked a war and Liu Biao would definitely fight back. War was about to begin again.