Tiger Hunt (2)
"My apologies, my lord!"
Huang Zu slammed his head to the floor. He knew the gazes turned his way weren't kind, but this was his choice.
—The path to survival, even cloaked in the shame of betrayal.
—Enduring a moment's humiliation to lighten the load on his shoulders for life.
—A road of suffering now, and perhaps even more hell ahead.
—I've passed on the stratagem. The rest is up to the general.
He had laid out various paths. And Huang Zu chose the one that meant one step back, two steps forward.
"You tried to hold the castle against Sun Jian's army, but they shot an arrow from below the walls and hit your helmet."
"Yes... urgh."
A bloodstained bandage wrapped Huang Zu's head. Even the civil officials ignorant of military tactics could see it was a grave wound, proof he'd truly brushed death.
"General Cai, what do you make of it?"
"...If it hadn't been for the walls, we'd have been wiped out."
"Hah... Was Sun Jian's army truly that strong?"
Liu Biao, Governor of Jingzhou, sighed deeply. The officials gathered at his sides echoed his lament.
Who could dare mock Huang Zu's defeat? Anyone facing Sun Jian by the river would have met the same end.
"You decided to retreat through the rear gate, but Sun Jian's men pursued?"
"Yes. Because of that... urgh, I lost half my troops...!"
Huang Zu swallowed his rage. If they'd followed the plan to the letter, maybe no one would have died. Sun Jian's pursuit had been close, but even if they chased, the thinned ranks were meant to play dead.
Yet Sun Jian's men moved faster than the stratagem.
—Have some soldiers flee in terror of Sun Jian's army. They'll become ambushers striking the enemy's rear later.
Quite a few had indeed fled as Sun Jian's men slaughtered the stragglers indiscriminately.
—Prepare ships at the port in advance for escape. Evacuate the infantry first, cavalry last.
Sun Jian, finding it hard to chase Huang Zu's fleeing infantry, had spurred forward with two generals, firing arrows at close range to cut them down.
If Huang Zu hadn't fought desperately at the rear, they wouldn't have saved even half. In truth, by swallowing his own humiliation to save his men, he'd preserved what soldiers he could from the riverside slaughter.
"It's for the best. We bar Yangyang's gates and fight from within. Thankfully, the walls are sturdy and hard to scale—no army marching long roads will climb them easily."
"C-General Cai. But there's a problem."
Liu Biao pressed his forehead, grinding his teeth.
"How much grain do we have in the city warehouses? Not enough to feed all these mouths in Yangyang."
"......."
"They'll plunder the lands around Yangyang. Then... we'll have to choose. Open the gates, or break the siege."
On the table's map of Yangyang, red tokens encircled the city in a ring.
"Hey, Yi'ya. Pretend you're Yuan Shu—what orders would you give Sun Jian?"
"Hm... Seize Yangyang?"
"But capturing a city needs at least three times the defenders. What would Master Xun You do?"
"Surround every gate, starve them out. That achieves Sun Jian's goal."
"Goal? Occupying Yangyang? Block all roads till they starve?"
"No. I'd send a messenger."
I dumped the entire go stone bowl east of the river. It held far more stones than those on the board.
"The moment word reaches that Sun Jian has Yangyang surrounded, Yuan Shu's main force moves."
"Sun Jian's just the vanguard. Yuan Shu's main army is tens of thousands strong."
"Then what? No reinforcements for Liu Biao anywhere nearby."
"Right. So we blunt the enemy's spear."
I moved some scattered stones from the river toward lands near Yangyang.
"Who in the world fights a tiger head-on? Everyone uses traps."
"What if they don't fall for it?"
"Then they all die."
I relayed the stratagem. But if it failed, there was only one way.
"Master Xun You. Mind if I build Sun Academy in Chenliu?"
"I'd welcome it. Heh heh."
"......."
"What? Yi'ya, why the wide eyes? Life doesn't go to plan. Always have an escape. What if Huang Zu betrays us and rats us out?"
Just run.
"Yi'ya, life never follows plans."
Was this the desperation of the overlord cornered on all sides? Liu Biao sighed at Sun Jian's forces on the map.
"...Why are Jingzhou's men all bookworms?"
Yuan Shao had Yan Liang and Wen Chou; Cao Cao, Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren; Dong Zhuo, Lü Bu. He didn't even dream of such elites. If he had just one warrior like Sun Jian's Huang Gai, Cheng Pu, or Han Dang, he could entrust everything.
There was one such man. But he was Cai Mo, from the powerful Cai clan holding real sway in Yangyang.
He was currently in a staring contest with Liu Biao. Liu Biao had pulled the Cai and Kuai clans to his side, but they treated him like a puppet.
Liu Biao's defeat wasn't theirs. The Cai or Kuai could ally with whoever became Jingzhou's new master—Sun Jian or Yuan Shu.
Truth be told, he'd first wanted to send Cai Mo to the riverside. To check his power while pitting the only capable man against Sun Jian.
But Cai Mo refused outright. The Cai clan opposed fiercely. Nearly losing one leg of his support base, Liu Biao suffered and sent Huang Zu instead.
"Hah."
Liu Biao felt stifled. Huang Zu lost as expected; scholar-officials recited tactical texts like lessons, offering useless advice. Despairingly, Liu Biao was no different.
Jingzhou's talents were nine parts internal schemers, scarce in military genius.
"This won't... Hm?"
"My lord."
Huang Zu arrived, head bandaged. Liu Biao inwardly sighed at his limits but appreciated the loyalty. He was grateful—just wished for more.
"Give me five hundred swift soldiers. With desperate resolve, I'll break the siege northward and beg aid from Yuan Shao."
"Yuan Shao?"
"Yes. Distance be damned—if you hold till his reinforcements arrive, we have a chance."
"...Does breaking the siege need five hundred?"
"Yes."
Liu Biao clutched his head at Huang Zu's firm reply, his mind filled with doubts of wasting five hundred elites.
But no alternative. No one else to trust.
Starve under siege, or face Yuan Shu's tens of thousands thickening the noose.
"...General Huang. You could die."
"It's fine. For you, my lord! This body should have died at the river! Grant me one more chance!"
"......Very well."
Liu Biao decided. Five hundred.
Affordable loss; success meant hope. If Huang Zu died, even Cai Mo would panic and move.
"Good. Go swiftly. Yuan Shao won't want Yuan Shu taking Jingzhou—he'll send aid."
"Understood!"
About two hours later.
Huang Zu's five hundred broke the siege. Hearing Sun Jian personally led the pursuit, Liu Biao fainted.
"Ha ha ha! Chase them!"
Sun Jian, thrilled, pursued the fleeing soldiers. Not just him—his entire army chased Huang Zu's men with glee.
"Surrender and live!"
At Sun Jian's shout, those nearly caught threw down swords and fled into the dark. Sun Jian roared with laughter at their vanishing shadows.
"Uha ha ha! These are soldiers?!"
"General, calm yourself."
"Sorry. Kuh, can't contain the joy of cornering that bastard Huang Zu."
Sun Jian slapped Han Dang's back, laughing heartily.
"Why fear Liu Biao's army so? They're nothing."
"Truly. So weak it's yawn-worthy."
Huang Gai loosed an arrow forward. It flew like lightning, embedding in a tree; a massive man climbing the mountain tumbled.
"Ha ha ha! Huang Zu! Where you fleeing?!"
Sun Jian's army was leisurely. Just five hundred, swift or not—their goal wasn't desperate fight, but fetching reinforcements.
"No reaching Yuan Shao. We'll herd and slaughter the prey slowly."
Sun Jian coldly stroked his blade.
"What's this place called?"
"Mount Xian."
"Mount Xian! Remember it. Here I slay Huang Zu."
Sun Jian grinned wickedly, shrugging.
"Just another small fry among the many I've killed."
"You dog bastard!! Fleeing with the Imperial Seal, bellied up to Yuan Shu, you son of a bitch!!"
Huang Zu's curses echoed through the mountains. Sun Jian just laughed, strolling casually toward the voice.
"Dying men all rant curses—but useless. They all died by my blade. Kneel now, and I'll forgive with just your tongue. Ha ha ha!"
That moment.
"While you play loyal dog here, your wife's bedding Yuan Shu!"
"......All troops."
Sun Jian raised a quiet hand.
"Capture that bastard—ALIVE—!!"
Sun Jian's army charged deep into Mount Xian. At lightning speed, they raced upward madly.
"General! Too deep!"
"Fine! I'll chew that insulter of my wife!"
Suddenly.
"All troops!!"
Huang Zu screamed, like a death wail.
"The one in the red turban—Sun Jian—!!"
Rumble.
On the slope chasing Huang Zu, men hidden atop emerged, one by one, severing ropes.
And.
Rumble rumble rumble!!
Boulders enough to blanket the slope rolled toward Sun Jian's army.
"Third stratagem."
"Kill only Sun Jian."
"Blind arrow, rolling boulders from the cliff, sharpened stakes hurled."
"Ambush. Reinforcements. Surprise attack."
"Enrage them from the river, make them explode at the prepared spot—be it Mount Xian or wherever."
"General, you'll lead this to victory, Jingzhou's hero."
"Sun Jian who slew Hua Xiong."
"Huang Zu who slew Sun Jian."
"Ignore all others. The red-turbaned one is the target."
"Kill Sun Jian alone, and we're done."
"Huh? Why hate Sun Jian so much?"
"He halved the value of my land."