NOVPUBAfter the battle of Jiujiang, Zhou Yu’s Jiangxia Navy followed Gan Ning’s navy from afar, without engaging in combat. They simply trailed them, stopping when they did, and eventually chased Gan Ning’s group to the Yangtze River Estuary where they met with Gan Lan. Only then did the Jiangxia Navy slowly turn around and leave, allowing Gan Ning and Chen Xi to breathe a sigh of relief.
Every time they saw the enemy navy with their uniform Cloud Qi, and the four Legion Talents—one large and three small—Gan Ning and Chen Xi felt somewhat helpless. Such a majestic military presence could not be undermined by mere patches of cold mist. Indeed, most Spiritual Talents, beyond their special added effects, were used for their element of surprise.
"They’ve finally left, I thought they really wanted to fight us," Chen Xi said, exhaling deeply and leaning on the ship’s rail.
"The Jiangxia Navy is truly formidable," Gan Ning exclaimed with admiration.
"Send orders to Zilong and Shuzhi to return to Xiapi in Xuzhou, and continue with the garrison and drilling soldiers. The Xuzhou Plain is vast, let Zilong select soldiers and train more cavalry. It would be best to train more at the border of Xiapi, Yuzhou, and Yangzhou. Let Shuzhi also intensify training the Danyang Troops and guard Xuzhou, staying vigilant," Chen Xi, seeing they were now safe, instructed a messenger to inform Zhao Yun and Chen Dao, who had been lying in ambush on the shore all along.
"Having ships is only part of the equation, but we of the Lu Family will do our best to improve," Lul Jun remarked, still with a sense of unease from the earlier show of force by the Jiangxia Navy. There was a vast difference between bandit soldiers and regular troops.
"Leave the training of the soldiers to me. That spiritual pressure is truly something; they are indeed elite soldiers specially selected by Zhou Yu," Gan Ning said, looking back enviously at the Jiangxia Navy, which was almost disappearing over the horizon.
"The Jiangxia Navy has been established for a very long time, and after Zhou Yu used the river bandits to defeat Huang Zu, he took over ninety percent of the navy. From among them and the several thousand bandits he led, he selected the most elite eight thousand and trained them. If they didn’t reach this level, I would have to wonder why," Chen Xi reassured everyone with a smile.
Although Huang Zu was a competent general on the water, he was unfortunate to face Zhou Yu, who he underestimated due to Zhou Yu’s young age. Unexpectedly, Zhou Yu decisively defeated him. Annoyed and embarrassed, Huang Zu continuously lost battles thereafter. Zhou Yu, seizing the moment, did not give Huang Zu any chance to breathe and eventually killed him!
The Jiangxia Navy didn’t suffer heavy losses in those battles, only their commanding officer died. The majority was recruited by Zhou Yu, who after selecting the elite, dismissed the rest to join the Yangtze River Pirates. It was through this method that Zhou Yu gained control over most of the Yangtze River pirate groups, and the real power of Sun Ce’s army began to expand. Otherwise, mere lip service would not have been enough for Zhou Yu to control the Yangtze River.
"Hmph, let him be smug for a few years. In a few years’ time, I, Gan Xingba, will return to the Yangtze River to challenge him and see who’s the better man!" Gan Ning said with a snort, staring at the nearly vanished Jiangxia Navy in the distance. He coveted Zhou Yu’s military prowess, and so he planned to strive for that level as well.
"That’s the spirit you should have. Keep it up, Xingba. I’ll support you with what you need when the time comes," Chen Xi said with a smile. "Our navy can’t possibly be weaker than theirs from the Sunx family, right?"
While Chen Xi was encouraging Gan Ning, Sima Lang had already traveled through his old home in Henei to reach Chang’an, the current imperial capital of the Han Dynasty.
Looking at the bloodstained city walls, Sima Lang couldn’t help feeling bitter. The dark-red bloodstains at the base of the wall were fading and hard to discern, but Sima Lang still knew that it was the place where Minister of Education Wang Yun had jumped to his death, a spot that made the hearts of all loyal and righteous men of the world grow cold whenever they thought of it.
[We of the Sima family also once served this dynasty, this once mighty dynasty that ruled the world. Unfortunately, it could not escape the fate of waxing only to wane, a gradual descent into decline. Now it remains to be seen whether this emergence will lead to a Guangwu or a Wang Mang], Sima Lang thought quietly to himself.
Sima Lang paid the town-entry fee with a carriage, and then used a visiting card to enter Li Jue’s residence.
"Sima Lang of Henei pays respects to the General of Chariots and Cavalry," Sima Lang said with a smile that conveyed goodwill to Li Jue.
"Please have a seat, seat, seat. No need for formalities, nephew Sima. How is your father?" Li Jue offered a seat with joyous laughter, "I wonder what urgent matter brings you from Henei to Chang’an, as we haven’t met in years. Back when Minister Dong was still alive...sigh! Nephew, would you be interested in an official position? My General’s Residence just happens to be short of a Sima," Li Jue said with a double meaning.
Back in the days when Dong Zhuo was still alive, he had no deep ties with the Sima Family and even wanted to deal with them at first. However, after meeting Sima Lang, he was reminded of his own deceased son, felt an immense sigh within his heart and chose not to trouble Sima Fang, but instead, he looked after him a little.
"Thank you for your high praise, General. Boda is immensely grateful. Now that I’ve completed my studies, I am honored by your offer," said Sima Lang as he buttered up Li Jue, "However, I have another matter for which I’d like to request the General’s assistance.
"Let’s hear it," Li Jue asked with a smile, pleased to hear Sima Lang’s acceptance.
"My younger brother, Sima Zhongda, just fifteen years old, went on a journey and got lost..." Sima Lang said somewhat sheepishly, then blushed appropriately, "I ask for the General’s help in finding him."
"Hahahaha, a trivial matter, leave it to me," Li Jue laughed heartily, "Rest assured, there will soon be news."
"I’m very grateful to the General," Sima Lang bowed deeply, then stood up and said, "Upon my entrance earlier, I noticed that the General looked gloomy. It seems you have worries on your mind. Could I perhaps listen to them? I’ve heard it said that two heads are better than one. If the General trusts me, you may speak your mind, and together we can come up with a plan. Perhaps, by drawing parallels, a new idea may come to the General."
After some thought, Li Jue felt there was merit in Sima Lang’s words and spoke up, "Alas, Boda, you are unaware. The Sili region is in ruins, and on top of that, our grain supplies are running low after multiple military campaigns. Aduo, Fan Chou, and the Zhang Family are all asking me for grain. But where would I get grain for them!"
Li Jue went into detail about the situation, and Sima Lang immediately understood the cause and effect—the ample leftover grain accumulated by Dong Zhuo’s looting would sustain life, so long as the Xiliang Soldiers kept pillaging.
Unfortunately, the prolonged standoff with Ma Teng had consumed too much grain; with the stores depleting, what was left was not much. Asking Li Jue to downsize his Xiliang Soldiers was out of the question, but without reduction, there would not be enough grain.
"So that’s the situation. Why not negotiate peace with Ma Teng?" Sima Lang suggested tentatively, "Although it might dent your pride, it is the swiftest solution."
"I’m afraid it won’t work. Those bastards Ma Shoucheng and Hann Wenyue are gritting their teeth and trying to drag us down! Now it’s a matter of who can’t hold out," Li Jue spoke in an extremely displeased tone. (To be continued. If you like this novel, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com), and to cast monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)
