xymnovel Chapter 108 The four major families of Wu County could no longer sit still.
Chapter 108 The four major families of Wu County could no longer sit still.
Chapter 108 The four great families of Wu County could no longer sit still.
Liu Bei immediately made the decision: "Issue the order that Huai'an be the commander-in-chief and Yide the deputy commander, leading their troops to attack Kuaiji!"
After saying that, Liu Bei asked again, "You only have 15,000 men under your command now, while Wang Lang has at least 20,000 troops in Kuaiji. Is that enough?"
"Wang Lang and his men are no match for us, not to mention He Qi's thousands of elite troops," Lu Yong said with a smile.
Liu Bei thought for a moment and nodded: "Alright. When do you plan to set off?"
"Three days later."
"So urgent?"
"Speed is of the essence in war," Lu Yong said. "The news of the emperor's return to the east has already spread, and Cao Cao will definitely take action."
We must stabilize the Jiangnan region before the situation in the Central Plains changes.
Liu Bei patted Lu Yong's arm and said, "Take Youping with you, and let them get to know each other better. I'll be waiting for your good news in Wanling."
Zhou Tai's eyes widened: "My lord, this humble general is leaving! Your safety—"
"Don't worry, you have the guards you trained, and Huai'an will also secretly arrange manpower," Liu Bei said with a smile. "Go, and do your best."
Zhou Tai looked at Liu Bei, then at Lu Yong, and knelt on one knee to bow to Liu Bei.
After getting up, he stood behind Lu Yong.
His face was beaming with undisguised joy, his mouth practically stretched to his ears.
Three days later, at the drill ground north of Wanling City.
Fifteen thousand soldiers stood in formation, their swords and spears like a forest, their banners fluttering in the wind.
Lu Yong stood on horseback at the front of the formation, with five fierce generals standing beside him: Zhang Fei, Zhou Tai, Xu Sheng, and Lei Hu.
Zhang Fei has been spending too much time in the forest lately, and his skin has become rougher and his face has become darker.
However, judging from his expression, he seemed to still have some unsatisfaction.
Therefore, Lu Yong said to Zhang Fei, "Third General, you will lead five thousand men through Shexian and Zhuji, and attack Shanyin from the southwest."
If we encounter mountain tribes along the way, we can use military force to deter them and prevent them from causing trouble during the chaos.
Zhang Fei raised an eyebrow and asked, "Going into the woods again?"
"You've been practicing mountain warfare lately, isn't this the perfect opportunity for real combat?"
Aside from his elder brother Liu Bei, Zhang Fei now listens to Lu Yong the most.
Hearing Lu Yong say this, he didn't hesitate for long and readily agreed: "Okay! I'll do whatever you say."
Lu Yong then turned to Xu Sheng and said, "Wen Xiang, you will lead three thousand men as the vanguard."
Guling on the banks of the Qiantang River will be where Wang Lang's main force is located. When you get there, don't rush to act; wait for my orders.
Lu Yong then looked at Zhou Tai and said, "Youping, you will be in charge of the central army guards. This is a good opportunity to give you some experience."
Zhou Tai's eyes lit up, and he clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, sir!"
His good friend Jiang Qin had recently made a name for himself leading an army in Yuzhang County.
It would be a lie to say that Zhou Tai wasn't envious.
However, out of gratitude for Liu Bei's trust, he silently buried his envy deep in his heart and faithfully fulfilled his mission of protecting Liu Bei's safety.
To his surprise, Liu Bei actually released him and even let him train under Lu Yong.
Even if Zhou Tai was slow to react, he would have realized it by now.
He finally got the opportunity to lead troops that he had been longing for!
Lu Yong glanced one last time at the soldiers, their faces filled with admiration and fervor, drew his sword from his waist, pointed it diagonally to the sky, and declared loudly, "Let's go!"
"kill!"
"kill!"
"kill!"
Meanwhile, in Dangtu City.
Zhao Yun was patrolling the city wall when a messenger rushed up, holding a letter in his hand. "General, an urgent message from the lord!"
Zhao Yun quickly took the letter, opened it, and read it carefully.
The letter contained only a few lines, yet it made his hands tremble slightly.
Zhao Yu, who was standing beside Zhao Yun, couldn't help but ask curiously, "Brother, what did the lord say?"
Zhao Yun laughed and said, "The strategist is about to send troops to Kuaiji. The lord has ordered me to lead 1,000 elite cavalrymen south to help the strategist defeat the enemy."
He also said that the strategist wanted to train an army stronger than any in the world, and from then on, he appointed me as the cavalry commander of this army under the strategist's command.
"Huh?" Zhao Yu asked in surprise, "Brother, you are the sole commander of Dangtu. Why would the lord transfer you to be a cavalry general under the strategist?"
And you seem quite happy about it?
Zhao Yun was eager to set off.
He gestured to Zhao Yu to walk and said, "The strategist always goes out in battle and is invincible. Only by following him can we achieve as many military exploits as possible."
Currently, countless people under our lord's command wish to be transferred to the strategist's command.
Moreover, the strategist wants to train a strong army, and if I don't join this army now, I may never have another chance.
Zhao Yu suddenly understood and nodded, saying, "Then brother, go without worry. Dangtu will be guarded by me and the uncles and elders of the clan. You won't get lost."
By this time, the two had already descended the city wall.
Zhao Yun didn't have time to explain to Zhao Ping and the others. He mounted his horse and went to gather troops before heading south.
Zhao Ping had something he wanted to discuss with Zhao Yun, but when he arrived, he only saw Zhao Yun's back.
"Xiaoyu, Zilong, why are you in such a hurry? Has there been an enemy situation somewhere?"
"No enemies—" Zhao Yu replied, watching Zhao Yun's departing figure. "It was our lord who transferred my brother to the strategist's command, saying he wanted to build an invincible army."
"Oh!" Zhao Ping exclaimed with envy. "If I had arrived a moment later, I would have wanted to go with Zilong too!"
"————" Zhao Yu.
Lu Yong's army marched eastward along the official road on the south bank of Taihu Lake.
The column stretched for miles, with scouts moving back and forth, and a rider reporting back every half hour.
On the third day of their journey, Lu Yong and his party arrived at a point ten miles from Wucheng.
Suddenly, a troop of cavalry appeared ahead, led by Guan Yu, with only a few dozen personal guards behind him.
Lu Yong urged his horse forward, cupped his hands and said, "General Guan, how could I trouble you to come all this way to greet me?"
97
Guan Yu reined in his horse, glanced around at the army behind Lu Yong, and then clasped his hands in a fist and replied, "Why did you not inform me before sending troops to Kuaiji? Wu Commandery borders Kuaiji, and I could also serve as the vanguard."
"Our lord has his own arrangements. General Guan is stationed in Wu Commandery, a weighty responsibility, and cannot be easily moved."
Guan Yu sighed and said nothing more.
Actually, he also wanted to follow Lu Yong to gain some military merits.
Look at my third brother, he's earned so many military merits by following the strategist!
?
Guan Yu then realized that Zhang Fei didn't seem to be in Lu Yong's group.
Zhou Tai, on the other hand, appeared in the position of commander of Lu Yong's personal guards.
"Where is my third brother?" Guan Yu asked.
"The three generals led their armies separately, passing through Shexian and Zhuji, and attacked Shanyin from the southwest," Lu Yong explained.
Guan Yu nodded slightly and turned his horse to ride alongside Lu Yong.
The two walked and talked, with Guan Yu asking about military strategies, which Lu Yong answered one by one.
Upon reaching the gates of Wucheng, Guan Yu suddenly reined in his horse, narrowed his eyes, and gazed into the distance.
Lu Yong also looked up and saw several noblemen dressed in brocade robes standing at the city gate.
The three leaders included one man in his early thirties, with a thin face and a calm demeanor.
Behind him was a young man, but tall and with a resolute face.
The last person was in his forties, with a kind face and an ordinary build.
After Lu Yong and Guan Yu approached, the three men came forward, cupped their hands, and said, "Gu Yong of Wu Commandery greets Army Commander Lu."
"Zhu Huan of Wu Commandery has met with the Army Division Commander."
"Zhang Dun of Wu Commandery has met with the Army Division."
The three of them were the heads of the Gu, Zhu, and Zhang families, three of the four top families in Wu County.
As for the Lu family, which was once ranked first, they suffered annihilation in the Battle of Lujiang in 194.
Sun Ce besieged Lujiang for two years. Lu Kang, the head of the Lu family, died in battle. Less than half of the Lu family members escaped from Lujiang back to Wu County. Almost all of the young and middle-aged men were lost, and the family's strength plummeted.
The one currently in charge of the clan is actually Lu Xun, who is only thirteen years old!
Because Liu Bei and Yuan Shu were allies, and Sun Ce was under Yuan Shu's command.
They were also unaware of the true relationship between Sun Ce and Liu Bei, so the Lu family always harbored suspicion towards Liu Bei.
This time, the four major families joined together to await Lu Yong's arrival, but Lu Xun, citing "Lu Ji's young age and frail health, making it inconvenient for him to travel far," only sent one clan elder as a representative to attend.
>