xymnovel Chapter 104 Hasty Crossing North
Chapter 104 Hasty Crossing North
Ruxukou, on the north bank of the Yangtze River.
Sun Ce stood at the bow of the warship, clad in golden armor and a red robe.
Behind him, hundreds of warships, like giant beasts in the shadows, silently glided across the water and headed straight for the north bank of Ruxu.
According to the last message from the "insider" Qiao Gong, Yuan Tan's main force had returned north, and Liu Bei was isolated and helpless. At this moment, Ruxu and even Lujiang should be wide open!
"Land!" Sun Ce pointed his ancient sword forward, his voice booming through the river breeze.
Veteran generals such as Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang led their respective troops, charging towards the beach like tigers released from their cages.
However, the vanguard had just crossed the water and were not yet firmly established when...
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
The earth-shattering sound of war drums came from behind the hills on the shore!
Under a huge banner bearing the character "Yuan", Yuan Tan stood with his golden helmet and armor, his hand on his sword, surrounded by civil and military officials such as Guo Jia, Jia Xu, Zhang He, and Gan Ning. He wore a cold smile on his face, showing no trace of the disheveled state of his hasty return north.
"Sun Bofu! We've been waiting for you!"
Yuan Tan's voice traveled clearly through the morning mist to Sun Ce's ears.
Sun Ce's pupils contracted sharply, and his body trembled slightly!
We've fallen for their trap! This is a complete and utter snare!
"Halt! Form ranks! Defend!"
Sun Ce was Sun Ce after all; his shock lasted only a moment before he let out a roar.
The elite troops of Jiangdong reacted swiftly, their vanguard quickly retreating and forming a circular formation, relying on the rocks and shipwrecks on the beach, with their bows and crossbows all aimed at the shore.
It seems that forcing an attack today will only lead to failure.
Sun Ce knew this battle was inevitable and could only rely on the terrain for defense.
They attempted to intimidate Yuan Tan and then gradually demand territory.
But Yuan Tan clearly wouldn't give him that chance, and said sarcastically:
"Brother Bofu, what do you mean by this? Since you're here, why don't we go to Lujiang City for a drink? We are all subjects of the Han Dynasty, not Yellow Turban rebels. If you rashly start a war, that would be no different from rebellion."
Jiang Qin, who was listening nearby, could no longer hold back:
"Yuan Tan, who do you think you are, daring to call us traitors? Others may fear you, but I, Jiang Qin, do not!"
Zhang He shouted from the side, "Shut up! Who is this scoundrel who dares to address my master by his name?"
Yuan Tan waved his hand to stop them, a cold smile creeping onto his lips once more:
"Huh? What are you? If I remember correctly, you're just a river bandit, right? What kind of class do you think you are to talk to me? Sun Ce used river bandits like you, and you still say you're not a traitor?"
Jiang Qin was so angry that his face turned red, and he pointed at Yuan Tan, unable to utter a single word.
"You! You! You!..."
Sun Ce patted Jiang Qin on the shoulder to reassure him, and then said to Yuan Tan:
"There must be some misunderstanding between us. Wouldn't it be better to stop the fighting today and negotiate?"
Hmph! I went to such great lengths, and you think you can just negotiate like that?
Yuan Tan laughed heartily, his voice echoing across the land:
"Misunderstanding? You're colluding with Old Man Qiao, plotting an inside-outside attack? Do you really think I, Yuan Xiansi, am some blind fool?"
He paused, preparing to provoke the tiger further:
"Oh, right, I forgot to tell Brother Bofu some good news. Last night in Wancheng, Lord Qiao gladly sent his two beautiful daughters, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, to our army in exchange for forgiveness."
He deliberately drew out his words, watching Sun Ce's eyes turn bloodshot instantly, before slowly continuing:
"With such beauties in my arms, how could I possibly let them go to waste? Brother Bofu, rest assured, after I have savored them and indulged them a hundred times, I will have them returned to Jiangdong intact! Let the men of Jiangdong see what happens when they oppose me, Yuan Xiansi! Hahaha!"
Upon hearing this, Sun Ce felt his blood rush to his head and his heart bleed; he clearly could no longer hold back!
Da Qiao! That's the woman he's about to marry!
How dare Yuan Tan insult us like this! It's an utter disgrace!
"Yuan Tan, you treacherous dog! I swear to kill you!!"
Sun Ce let out a roar, his hair stood on end, his eyes were bloodshot and about to burst!
He no longer cared about formations or terrain; he spurred his horse and charged straight at Yuan Tan's army formation alone!
"All troops, attack! Kill! Slaughter them all!"
"My lord, you mustn't!"
The veteran generals Cheng Pu and Huang Gai were terrified and hurriedly led their troops to follow, trying to protect Sun Ce's flanks.
The commander-in-chief launched a furious attack, instantly disrupting the formation of the entire Jiangdong army. They could only follow their commander and launch a desperate charge against Yuan Tan's army, which was waiting in battle on the shore!
It's true that no one can accept minotaurs!
Seeing that Sun Ce was enraged as expected, Yuan Tan deliberately feigned panic, drew his sword, and shouted:
"Sun Ce has gone mad! We cannot fight him head-on! Retreat! Follow the plan, fight and retreat, lure the enemy deep into our territory! Archers, provide cover fire!"
Immediately, arrows rained down from the shore, halting the Jiangdong army's charge.
Yuan Tan moved the central army banner backward, and the vanguard soldiers followed orders, pretending to be outmatched. They abandoned some supplies and flags and retreated towards Lujiang, but they did not retreat in disarray and maintained their formation.
"You scoundrel, don't you dare run away!"
Driven by a bloodlust, Sun Ce paid no heed to anything else, brandishing his ancient sword, cutting through the waves, and relentlessly pursuing Yuan Tan's army.
Although Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and others felt something was amiss, their commander had gone mad and they were unable to dissuade him. They could only desperately lead their troops to follow, trying to protect Sun Ce in the chaos of battle.
For a time, the hilly area between Ruxukou and Lujiang was filled with the sounds of battle.
Relying on his fierce courage, Sun Ce's army pursued the ferocious enemy and nearly broke through the Qingzhou army's rear guard several times.
However, Yuan Tan's army was clearly well-prepared, setting up tripwires, pitfalls, and crossbow positions along the way to continuously wear down the Jiangdong army's morale and strength.
Surrounded by his personal guards, Yuan Tan occasionally looked back and saw that although Sun Ce's army was brave, their formation had broken down and they were completely dominated by anger, penetrating deep into the inland. He couldn't help but sneer.
"Order Fengxiao and Wenhe to carry out the plan. It's time to tighten the reins."
"promise!"
……
Moments later, Sun Ce's troops were led into Eagle's Sorrow Gorge.
By the time he realized what was happening, the canyon above was already filled with people, and countless arrows were being shot down from above.
In an instant, countless Jiangdong youths were struck by arrows and cried out in agony, their cries echoing throughout the entire valley.
"Ambush! Raise shields! Form ranks!"
Cheng Pu roared at the top of his lungs, but the cramped space made it impossible to organize an effective defense.
Jiangdong warriors fell in droves, their blood quickly staining the stream at the bottom of the valley red.
"Gongyi! Protect our lord!"
Huang Gai brandished his iron whip, desperately parrying the arrows, and pulled Sun Ce behind a giant rock.
Han Dang, Zhou Tai, and other generals also sought cover, their eyes bloodshot as they watched their men being mercilessly shot to death.
Sun Ce peered through the cracks in the rocks and watched the veterans who had followed him through the battles of Jiangdong fall like weeds under the cold arrows.
"I...I ruined them..." Sun Ce finally snapped out of his rage, his voice choked with emotion.
He realized that from the moment he landed at Ruxukou, he had stepped into the carefully woven trap of Yuan Tan.
Anger clouded his judgment and cost the lives of these loyal soldiers.
"My lord! This is not the time for self-reproach!"
Huang Gai said urgently,
"We must find a way to survive immediately!"
However, where was the way out? The entrance was blocked, and the cliffs on both sides were high and the forests were dense. The ambushers' arrows never missed, and they had obviously set up a trap.
Just then, Jiang Qin suddenly spoke up:
"My lord! I am deeply grateful for your kindness in choosing me from the ranks! In this situation, our only chance to survive is to hold off the enemy at the rear! Please grant me permission to lead my men to defend the valley entrance to the death! Let us fight our way out for you!"