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Chapter 345: 345






“Faster! Faster!” Liu Mang’s Army was moving as quickly as possible . He did not even have time to organize the Xiliang Cavalry . The Xiliang Cavalry were formidable on horses but if they were then put on a ship, they become like sheep . Meanwhile, Liu Mang’s main army set out to Shouchun . There were too many important things at Shouchun . He could not lose it . If he loses Shouchun, he would lose Yangzhou and all of his hard work such as his invention and the sweet potatoes would belong to others .

They followed the Yellow River . If they had used cavalries, they would take three days but following the river would only take half the time .

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The day passed quickly as the sun sets . Time would not wait for one man .

“Military Advisor!” Zhao Yun went to Shouchun’s governor’s building around midnight . He would always come here at this hour . He saw Xu Shu there, quiet and motionless .

Zhao Yun noted that Xu Shu was still wearing the same clothes since evening . In other words, the man had never left the hall and had not gone to bed .

“Military Advisor!” Zhao Yun called out again . This time, Xu Shu heard him and turned his head .

“Zilong . You are here . ” Xu Shu’s voice was hoarse . Zhao Yun was stunned the moment Xu Shu turned around . Xu Shu now looked aged despite being at the prime of his life . His eyes were bloodshot and the corners of his mouth was dry . Even his hair had started to turn white .





“Military Advisor! You…” Zhao Yun did not know what to say .

“Come . Sit!” Unlike Zhao Yun, Xu Shu seemed unaffected . Although he looked haggard, his free and easy nature remained . Xu Shu invited Zhao Yun to sit and even poured tea for him although the tea was already cold .

“Zilong . Are you willing to part with Shouchun?” Xu Shu was seemingly out of form .

“Shouchun?” Zhao Yun did not know how to reply . He had only been in Shouchun for a few months . If it was not because of what happened at Hefei, he would simply be like a guest at Shouchun . However, in the past few days, he had been defending Shouchun .

“I would have to part with Shouchun . ” Xu Shu said again and then explained his feelings of desolation . “Milord handed to me five regions in Yangzhou . I swore to Milord that no harm would come to Yangzhou as long as I am around . But now, Gushi and Hefei have fallen . Anfeng surrendered . All that is left is Lujiang and Shouchun . Lujiang is only a river stronghold . Shouchun is the key point in Yangzhou . However, I, Xu Shu, is incapable of protecting this place . ” Xu Shu lost his bearings as though he was drunk although all he had was tea .

“Miltary Advisor . We will not lose Shouchun!” Zhao Yun replied with determination . “As long as I, Zhao Yun, am here, I will not let the Liu Bei’s Army even take a step into the city!”

“Ah, Zilong . It is useless!” Xu Shu smiled bitterly and shook his head . “If Shouchun was lost, the life of Milady would not be guaranteed!” Pang Tong had meant to exchange Shouchun with Lu Lingqi’s life .


As a subject, Xu Shu could not ignore the life of his Lord’s wife . It was the same with Zhao Yun’s actions in the original history . There were things that a loyal subject could not ignore . This meant that Lu Lingqi needed to live and Liu Mang’s escape path needed to be secured regardless of whether Shouchun still stood . They would need to return to Lujiang and make a comeback . If Lu Lingqi dies at Shouchun, they would have no way out . They would not be able to go to Lu Bu as their connection to the Lu Bu’s Army would be severed . Liu Mang would also become someone who has no gratitude, as everything in Yangzhou could develop because of Lu Bu’s support . Regardless of what Liu Mang did, if Lu Lingqi dies, he would need to bear the blame . As Xu Shu could not allow this to happen, he had to fight back on his own .





Xu Shu already said that Shouchun would only fall after his death . However, he would need to give Shouchun in exchange for Lu Lingqi .

“Zilong . I will leave everything to you once Shouchun falls . You must safely bring Milord’s wife to him!” Xu Shu said as he looked at Zhao Yun . It was as though he was speaking of his will .

“Military Advisor!” Zhao Yun finally understood what was said and quickly cupped his fist . “I know martial arts but I cannot plan strategies like you! I am not qualified for the task, please withdraw your orders!”

Xu Shu did not give Zhao Yun a reply and simply looked at the sky as it slowly turned brighter1 . “Go, Zilong . It is about time we greet Milady . ”

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Outside Shouchun, Pang Tong quietly looked at the city .

“Shiyuan . Do you also have trouble sleeping?” A voice rang out while Pang Tong was deep in thought . Pang Tong turned around to see Liu Bei . He immediately cupped his fist and greeted . “Milord . ”

Liu Bei was unable to sleep as he anxiously waited for Shouchun to become his . “Shiyuan . It is truly a blessing for me to have you . You are definitely the one that contributed the most if I manage to seize Shouchun and the Central Plains!” Liu Bei praised generously . Without Pang Tong, he would have been developing Yuzhou and miss a lot of opportunities . He would then be chased away again by Cao Cao . With Pang Tong around, he had a direction to go to . He was going to capture Yangzhou and scheme against Zhang Xiu . His army would then grow in power . He would have infantries and cavalries . Yangzhou was his first step in competing for the world .

“Thank you, Milord!” Pang Tong’s expression was indifferent . He was unable to sleep not because he was about to win Shouchun but because he was worried . Once he captures Shouchun, he would forever lose a friend . Pang Tong quietly shook his head thinking of Xu Shu .





As the sky turned bright, both sides made their preparations .

Liu Bei’s Army gathered in the morning . It was almost the promised time . The Liu Bei’s Army waited below the city for Xu Shu to open the gates .

“Shiyuan . Do you think this Xu Shu would go back on his word? What do we do if he intends to protect Shouchun to his death?” Liu Bei was still worried .

Pang Tong first looked at the walls of the city without replying . After that, he confidently said, “Don’t worry Milord . We will take Shouchun today!”
“Why do you say so?” Liu Bei could not understand why Pang Tong believed this to be so after looking at the walls .

“Milord . Do you notice anything missing from the walls?” Pang Tong asked as he pointed towards the walls .

Liu Bei looked up at the walls and saw the soldiers and flags still stationed there . After a while he noticed what was missing . “It is missing their general!”

“That’s right Milord . ” Pang Tong replied . Every day, at that hour, Zhao Yun and Xu Shu would already be on the walls . Their presence appeased the men and they could also give commands . However, the two of them were missing . If Xu Shu decided to fight to the death, he would be on the walls, boosting morale . The absence of Xu Shu and Zhao Yun showed that they no longer had the will to fight .

“Don’t worry . Shouchun would soon be…” Before Pang Tong could finish, a scout on a horse quickly rushed over . The scout quickly got down and knelt in front of Liu Bei .

“Report! There is a heavy cavalry rushing over from Hefei!” The scout gasped for breath as he reported . He had rushed back to give this urgent report .

“A heavy cavalry?” Liu Bei was shocked . The Xiliang Cavalry was with them and the Wolf Cavalry had already been defeated . Who else could it be?

“From Hefei, it must be the Wolf Cavalry . ” Pang Tong asserted . The only one that could come from Hefei was the Wolf Cavalry . They were also the only other cavalry on the Central Plains .

“Does Lu Bu want to send the Wolf Cavalry to its end?” Zhang Xiu gave a sinister sneer . The Wolf Cavalry had been defeated when they were whole . How could they win with only half their remaining numbers?

Pang Tong also did not understand this situation . Although the Xiliang Cavalry had lost a lot of men to Liu Mang, they still had almost ten thousand soldiers . Pang Tong shook his head, believing that it is not the right time to be thinking about this . The Wolf Cavalry could not be allowed to reach Shouchun as their Lu Lingqi was a fake . They would not be able to take Shouchun then . Pang Tong wanted to request for Zhang Xiu to go and intercept the Wolf Cavalry . However, Zhang Xiu spoke up before Pang Tong could even say a word . “Lord Xuande . Leave the Wolf Cavalry to me!” Pang Tong’s stratagem for capturing Shouchun did not need him . So, he might as well attack the Wolf Cavalry . Besides that, killing off the remaining Wolf Cavalry soldiers could serve as vengeance for the troops he lost to Liu Mang and it could also help him restore his reputation .

“In that case, I leave this you, brother!” Liu Bei’s now had good relationship with Zhang Xiu and even called him brother . If someone was willing to dispatch on their own, he would be pleased . If he had to tell them to go personally, he would end up owing them a favour .

“General Zhang Xiu, be careful . You need to drive away the Wolf Cavalry!” Pang Tong suddenly had a bad premonition and quickly gave a precaution .

“Military Advisor Pang, don’t worry!” Zhang Xiu nodded . He had seen Pang Tong’s abilities and held the man in respect . However, listening to his advices was a completely different matter .

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1 . The day truly passed by quickly . Its faster than Harvest Moon .

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