Free Web NovelChapter 174: The Fall of the Fierce Tiger
Lu Gong had already hidden himself in the dense forest, ready to ambush.
Sun Jian, riding fast and alone, was not far from the vanguard.
Sun Jian shouted, "Stop, you coward!"
Lu Gong turned his horse back to face Sun Jian in battle. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
As soon as they clashed, a fierce tiger-like shadow surged from the ancient halberd’s blade.
Roar!!!
The tiger roared through the forest!
Lu Gong’s arm was immediately pressed close to his chest by the immense force, forcing him back several yards.
Seizing the opportunity, he darted into the mountain path.
Sun Jian chased after, but couldn’t find Lu Gong.
As he was about to climb the mountain, suddenly a gong sounded, and rocks came tumbling down from the mountain while arrows rained from the woods.
Driven by a strong wind, the arrows were scattered like rain pouring down.
Almost all of Sun Jian’s troops on his side were shot down!
However, with his exceptional martial arts, Sun Jian barely evaded the arrows.
Realizing he had been tricked by the dense arrow rain, Sun Jian reacted instantly!
He urgently drove his horse back, intending to return to the camp to rally the generals for another battle!
However, at that moment,
A rough voice echoed from the high slope on his left.
"Sun Jian, where are you running to!"
This voice was all too familiar to Sun Jian, it was Huang Zu, the governor guarding Jiangxia.
Glancing back, Sun Jian saw Huang Zu in yellow armor, wielding a phoenix-tail saber!
With a commanding presence, Huang Zu watched Sun Jian flee in embarrassment!
"Haha, Sun Jian, today you meet your end!"
Sun Jian hastily rode back, although he was powerful in battle, facing so many fierce generals and soldiers,
he was no match for them all!
"Fire! Shoot him down!"
Huang Zu calmly gave the order,
At the same time,
He took out a bow from behind, aimed it, and fired an arrow at Sun Jian’s back.
In an instant,
Anticipating Sun Jian’s position, Huang Zu’s bow rang out, releasing the arrow.
The golden arrow sped like a falling star, transforming into a golden dragon roaring towards Sun Jian’s back.
Ah!!!
Sun Jian let out a cry of agony.
His body became weak, and he fell from his horse.
Seeing this, Huang Zu was overjoyed and immediately ordered his men to retrieve Sun Jian’s body, have the soldiers deal with it briefly, and bring it back to Xiangyang City for his lord to see.
Meanwhile,
Lu Gong took advantage of the situation and launched a barrage of firecrackers.
Kuai Yue and Cai Mao from the city led troops out, causing chaos among the Jiangdong army.
Lu Gong and Huang Zu also led the remaining troops to attack the rear of the Jiangdong army.
Huang Gai heard the earth-shattering shouts outside the tent,
His years of battle experience told him that the enemy was launching a surprise attack!
He immediately led the naval forces to meet them, coincidentally encountering Huang Zu.
After only a few rounds of battle, Huang Zu was captured alive.
Compared to the fierce generals like Huang Gai, Huang Zu’s martial skills were indeed lacking!
Cheng Pu protected Sun Ce and sought a way out, coincidentally encountering Lu Gong.
Cheng Pu rode forward, and after a brief fight, he speared Lu Gong from his horse.
The two armies fought until dawn, and then each withdrew their troops.
Liu Biao’s army entered the city.
Sun Ce led his army back to the Han River area, only to learn that his father had been shot to death by stray arrows, and his body had been carried into the city by Liu Biao’s soldiers. He cried out in grief.
All the soldiers wept bitterly.
Sun Ce’s eyes were swollen with tears, and he mournfully said, "My father’s body is still in Xiangyang City, how can I return home peacefully!"
Seeing their young master so filial, the other generals who were worried about the lack of leadership in Changsha’s army after their lord’s death felt slightly reassured.
In the late Han Dynasty, this was the case. Filial piety was an important criterion for selecting officials, and it was even more important than anything else.
If their lord valued filial piety, he would easily gain the love and respect of the soldiers.
Huang Gai clasped his fists and said solemnly, "Young master, now that we have captured Huang Zu alive, we only need one person to enter the city and negotiate for peace."
"Let Huang Zu be exchanged for the lord’s body."
Before he could finish speaking,
A military officer named Huan Jie stepped forward and respectfully said,
"I have an old relationship with Liu Biao and am willing to go into the city as an envoy."
Sun Ce agreed.
Huan Jie entered the city to see Liu Biao and explained the situation.
Liu Biao also didn’t want to continue the fight, wanting to end the battle quickly. Besides, Huang Zu was his general guarding Jiangxia, so trading a corpse for him was the best outcome.
Then he spoke up:
"The remains of Wentai have already been placed in a coffin here."
"You can quickly return Huang Zu, and both of our families can cease hostilities, and refrain from invading each other."
Huan Jie bowed in thanks and was about to leave.
At this moment,
Kuai Yue stepped forward and respectfully said, "No! No! I have something to say, and now the troops of Jiangdong are not retreating."
"Please, Lord, first execute Huan Jie, and then use this plan."
Liu Biao remained silent, not immediately executing Huan Jie, but waiting for the chief military adviser, Kuai Liang, to continue speaking.
Seeing this, Kuai Liang sighed softly in his heart and continued to speak:
"Now that the fierce tiger of Jiangdong, Sun Jian, has died, and his son is still very young."
"This is a heaven-sent opportunity!"
"Why not take advantage of this moment of weakness, swiftly advance, and we can easily obtain Jiangdong in one fell swoop!"
"Alternatively, if my lord returns Sun Jian’s body and ceases hostilities, it will only allow Sun Jian’s old subordinates to regain strength, which will be a problem for Jingzhou."
"I hope my lord will consider this carefully!"
With that, Kuai Liang bowed deeply.
Kuai Liang was well aware that if Sun Jian occupied the land of Jingzhou and Changsha, seizing Changsha in one fell swoop would connect Jingzhou with Yangzhou!
In the future, if Yangzhou were to be attacked, there would be no more worries from Changsha!
Unfortunately,
Although Kuai Liang had far-reaching plans and a long-term vision,
he overlooked Liu Biao’s character!
Liu Biao only wanted to be the local tyrant in his own territory and didn’t want to stir up trouble.
He had no desire to contend for the supreme position of the Nine Tripods.
Therefore,
Liu Biao shook his head slowly and said in a low voice:
"Zirou, although your plan is very clever and moving! How can I bear to give up Huang Zu when he is in Sun Jian’s camp?"
Seeing this, Kuai Liang became somewhat anxious!
He quickly bowed again and persuaded:
"My lord! Abandoning an incompetent military general like Huang Zu to seize the land of Jiangdong, why not?"
Liu Biao shook his head again and said firmly, "Huang Zu and I are close friends. It would be unjust to abandon him!"
Moreover, Huang Zu’s family behind him was the Huang family of Jingzhou, a prestigious family in Jiangxia County, Jingzhou, whose power could not be underestimated.
If Huang Zu were abandoned, Jiangxia County would have hidden dangers!
Therefore, Liu Biao sent Huan Jie back to his camp, and they agreed to exchange Sun Jian’s body for Huang Zu.
After Sun Ce returned Huang Zu to Xiangyang City, he welcomed Sun Jian’s coffin and then stopped fighting, returning to Changsha.
Arrangements were made for Sun Jian’s funeral...
The news of Sun Jian’s death was also learned by Long Chen, who was in Lujiang County.
When he first heard this news, there was unexpectedly a sense of sadness in Long Chen’s heart, as if an old friend had suddenly passed away.
"Alas... what a pity... a generation’s fierce tiger in Jiangdong, actually fell victim to an ambush and died with regret..."
