Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Became the Eldest Son of Sun Ce - Chapter 197



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Episode 197. The First Northern Expedition (7)

The mad offensive, which would have resulted in total annihilation, was successful.

I sat there blankly in thought for a while.

First, I had to figure out why that ignorant attack worked.

‘If the pursuing force was able to occupy Heo-hyeon, then Heo-hyeon was practically an empty house… I see. The Cao Cao army stationed in Heo-hyeon must have disappeared somewhere. Considering the current situation in Yeongcheon-gun… .’

The scope of thought was broadened from Heohyeon to Yeongcheon.

Then, the question that had been tied like a knot and would not come undone was solved in an instant.

‘General Jang! You pulled out your sword in Heohyeon!’

The words in my head clicked into place one by one. Only then did I understand why Heo Hyeon was so empty.

I stared at Gahu with eyes that said, “Oh no.”

Gahu also looked at me with a sunken gaze, as if he was thinking of something similar to me.

I opened my mouth, biting one side of my lip in regret.

“The possibility that Jang Nam-yang (Jang Soo) will be safe is….”

Then Gahu answered immediately.

“…I can’t give you a definite answer. I don’t know what their trap is, but judging from the fact that they emptied Heo Hyeon, it seems like they put a lot of effort into the strategy. Judging from this…. Jang Nam-yang’s (Jang Soo’s) life or death seems to be in the hands of heaven.”

It was bitter. It must have been a happy thing to have taken over Heo Hyeon.

Is Heo Hyeon an ordinary adult? Wasn’t it Cao Cao’s beloved stronghold until just a few years ago?

But if the price for capturing Heo-hyeon was the annihilation of the Liangzhou cavalry… it would be quite disappointing.

I prepared the letter with regret in my mouth.

I gave my congratulations on the capture of Heo Hyeon and ordered the gathering of any remaining troops from Jangsu-gun, and handed over a letter to the messenger.

“…You return to Heohyeon and convey my orders. And tell the generals who captured Heohyeon that they did a good job.”

“I will obey your orders!”

As the messenger disappeared, I opened my mouth with mixed feelings.

“They say that a person’s actions are determined by heaven… This incident is truly so.”

“It was just a coincidence that the timing was right, so there is no need for your lord to be disheartened. Objectively, your lord captured Heo-hyeon without much damage to the main force. Isn’t that right?”

A remark as usual, but the underlying meaning was clear.

I was pointing out that the Liangzhou cavalry was under the direct command of Jang Su, not me or Sun So. That wasn’t a wrong statement.

‘Putting aside the usefulness of the Liangzhou cavalry… Is this an opportunity to embrace the direct forces of the general?’

Jangsu, too, was almost like a semi-independent guest like Taesaja.

It was inferred that the Liangzhou cavalry had been annihilated, but still, the Liangzhou cavalry was the Liangzhou cavalry. If they were handled well, they would surely still boast fierce power.

However, a few years ago, Gahu’s cold perspective of treating Jangsu-gun, where he lived, like someone else. I smiled and answered Gahu’s cool-headed way of dealing with the world.

“…That’s very like you.”

“I appreciate your compliments, my lord.”

This was a golden opportunity to unite the cavalry forces of General Liang Zhou, who were clearly in shambles, with me. I should be happy about this.

***

Yeju Yeongcheon-gun Heo Hyeon.

After a while, I entered Heohyeon with the main force.

“This is Heohyeon….”

For me, it was a new experience. Above all, this was the path that Sun Ce and Zhou Yu had walked together in the past.

I couldn’t help but feel even more sentimental when I thought that I was currently walking the same path as them.

It was the same for the other generals, as the generals who greeted me stared at me with tearful eyes.

It is often said that memories of the past are constantly beautified. It was clear that they were comparing me to Sun Ce in his prime.

Soon, the elders who were welcoming me spoke one by one.

“…I hope your lord lives a long and healthy life.”

“It’s good that I’ve survived this long. I never thought I’d see such a sight again….”

A son walking in the same footsteps his father walked in the past. Anyone who sees this will find it a beautiful sight.

But… that doesn’t mean I can just be absorbed in sentimentality like this.

I whispered softly to the elders of the pursuit party.

“…Once the ceremony is over, the generals in the pursuit party, please follow me.”

The generals’ faces gradually hardened as they realized that my voice was unusual.

In the end, it turned out well, but it was a trick that was aimed at the enemy’s misjudgment. It was terrifying to imagine what would have happened if things had gone wrong, even by one chance.

So, apart from victory, we had to strengthen military discipline.

***

Heo Hyeon Palace.

Within Xu Xian, the palace boasted magnificent grandeur. Just looking at it, it seemed as if Cao Cao had poured his heart and soul into Xu Xian.

And I once stood in the center of the great battlefield that Cao Cao would have used, looking at the generals lined up on both sides.

I opened my mouth with a faint smile on my face.

“The victory of the generals is something to celebrate. They knew that the enemy’s forces were small, so they advanced and captured Heo-hyeon. This is something to celebrate. Isn’t that right?”

Even though I smiled and praised them, most of the generals just quietly blinked. The old generals just smiled stiffly, looking a little nervous.

“Hmm, isn’t that something to celebrate?”

When I asked again, only then did the generals speak in unison.

“No, my lord! It is a cause for celebration!”

“We have captured Cao Cao’s base in one fell swoop, so we should be congratulated!”

The cries of the generals pouring down like a downpour.

I tilted my head as if I didn’t know and said.

“But I have a question. At first, I was told that you would pursue us all the way to Yeongcheon, but why did you pursue us so deep into Heohyeon?”

When I asked about the process rather than the result, my son-in-law, who had been noisy, became quiet.

If you think about it, it couldn’t be otherwise. If you look at the process of taking over Heo Hyeon, it was close to the generals’ arbitrary abuse of authority.

Among the timid generals, Han Dang spoke in a rough voice.

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“…My lord, we apologize for causing you any trouble, but the result is….”

“Oh, that’s right. The results were excellent. But you know, when you made such a swift advance, didn’t you have any hesitation at all?

Even if the Liangzhou cavalry overthrow Yeongcheon, how can they have the audacity to even think of heading to Yeongcheon-gun?”

If Cao Cao’s army had been crouching in Xuhyeon, the pursuing army would have been destroyed in an instant.

When I pointed this out, the atmosphere among the generals, which had been agitated, slowly sank like a swamp.

Most of these Songa generals are the type of people who only listen to what they are told after being beaten first. Of course, Zhou Yu and Lu Xun were exceptions.

But if I just swing the whip like this, they might become dissatisfied. Of course, even if they were dissatisfied, there would be very little they could do, but at least I had to make a show of offering them a carrot.

“…I am not criticizing your excesses because I covet your achievements. Each and every one of you is a general who is needed by our army.

If you had recklessly pursued us and been ambushed by Cao Cao’s army? How could I possibly return to Jianye and see your descendants?”

Perhaps because he spoke in a slightly softer tone, the gazes of the generals who had seemed aggrieved seemed to gradually calm down.

“…I am sorry, my lord.”

“I am sorry for causing you any trouble, my lord.”

I appeased the generals with a smile on my face.

“If we compare your merits and demerits, the merits you have achieved are overwhelmingly high, so how can I punish you? However, you should not take my reprimand lightly, and when something like this happens again, think it over carefully and move your troops again. Do you understand?”

“…Yes, my lord!”

The mixed expressions on the generals’ faces as they exchanged joy and sorrow with each word were quite something to see.

In the first place, since they had done such a great job, there was no point in punishing them for exceeding their authority. It was better for both parties to give them a verbal warning like this.

“By the way, is there any news about Jang Nam-yang yet? It must have been several days….”

When asked about the news of the generals, the generals looked at each other. Then, Huang Gai answered on behalf of the generals.

“I’m sorry to say this, but not yet.”

“Hmm, then I guess we have no choice but to wait a little longer. I understand. Now that we’ve taken Heo-hyeon, we should take the nearby counties as well. I hope the generals will focus on clearing out the area around Heo-hyeon.”

“I will obey your command, my lord!”

It had to be announced to the world that Heo Hyeon’s landlord had changed.

Above all, the objectives of Chogun and Heo-hyeon were captured. This meant that the first northern expedition was successfully completed.

This also meant that Sun So filled the void left by the death of Sun Ce.

Moreover, Cao Cao was slapped twice by his son-in-law. For Cao Cao, who considered himself the warlord of the Central Plains, this was the greatest humiliation.

The extreme anger or crushed self-esteem that Cao Cao feels cannot be converted into normal values… .

To be specific, I had a cautious thought that it would feel like the married woman he was enjoying was stolen by another man.

Of course, I have never experienced this situation before. I neither know nor want to know the dark feelings of a loser.

‘I lost my beloved Xu Xian… I guess I’ll have to see Cao Cao’s face too.’

***

Case study team member Hanam Yoon and Shin Jeong-hyeon.

Cao Cao’s barracks.

Sinjeonghyeon was about two to three days away from Heo-hyeon. This immediately showed Cao Cao’s army’s lingering attachment to Heo-hyeon.

Xiahou Dun looked around with complicated eyes.

Although he had shown off his might by destroying the trapped Jang Su-gun to some extent… Cao Cao’s army had gained nothing. Instead, the emptiness of losing Xu Xuan was constantly lingering in his heart.

Since he had lost Heo Hyeon so easily, it was rather worthwhile to count the repulsion of Jangsu-gun as an achievement.

“ha….”

Jeong-wook opened his mouth in a seething tone.

“…What can we do? It’s Jeong-wook’s fault for not being able to properly predict the enemy.”

Another general, Seo Hwang, spoke with a pitiful look at Jeong-uk’s deep self-reproach.

“How could it be only Jeong Sang-seo’s fault? This Seo Gong-myeong…. It’s because he underestimated the enemy too much.”

The generals who were routed by the pursuing force barely managed to escape with their lives. Those who were lucky enough to meet the retreating Cao Cao army were able to join them.

After a while, Xiahou Dun let out a deep sigh and said.

“…Stop blaming yourselves now. Heo Hyeon has already fallen to Son So-gun… All that’s left for us to do is wait for our lord’s will.”

In any case, in the end, Cao Cao’s army suffered a crushing defeat. They lost Xu Xian once again to Sun Ce’s eldest son, Sun Zhao.

Since we were blinded by the suppression of Jangsu-gun and Heohyeon fell, we had no excuse to respond.

***

Giju Jungsangun Mugeukhyeon.

Cao Cao’s barracks.

Cao Cao’s mood after leaving the Wei army and going on an expedition was not too bad.

This was natural, as they had been winning consecutive matches against the stubborn Won Sang.

He thought it was a good idea to send out the famous generals, so he organized the plan in his head in sequence.

‘Once we take control of the base… we’ll head south and defeat you.’

Won Sang, who has completely withdrawn from the base, will not have the strength to raise an army for the time being.

Cao Cao planned to take advantage of the quiet in the north to drive out Sun Zhaojun together with Xu Huang.

However, Cao Cao was not satisfied with the offensive of Sun Zhao’s forces stationed in Qingzhou.

The generals stationed at Chohyeon, including Seo Hwang, would hold out well, but there was too much land to be occupied.

‘… If everything goes my way… I will rise to become the most powerful force in the Central Plains. Son So, I recognize your talent, but aren’t you the one who took that position because you had a good father? How can you possibly win against Cao Cao!’

At the time when Cao Cao was thinking like that.

A messenger came running in from outside Cao Cao’s tent, shouting:

“Payment, payment! This is General Ha Hou’s report!”

Cao Cao smiled happily at the news he had been waiting for and picked up the bamboo slip. Then he read it with a satisfied smile.

As he read the letter, Cao Cao laughed heartily. So brightly that he almost looked like a madman.

“Hahahahaha!”

Meanwhile, the messenger who heard the laughter was trembling in fear. That laughter was not just any laughter, but sounded like lightning that was about to explode at any moment.

He who had been laughing as if the barracks were leaving suddenly stopped laughing. Looking at his attitude changing so abruptly, it was doubtful whether he was the same person who had been laughing just a moment ago.

Soon, Cao Cao shouted with a face full of humiliation.

“To have Heo Hyeon taken away by the country bumpkins of Gangdong, and at that, over the course of two generations! What kind of humiliation is this!”

Even before it could be realized, the anger of those whose dreams had been shattered spread throughout the barracks.

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