Chapter Forty-Three: Victory from Afar, The Execution of Liu Xun

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Shouchun, the generals’ council hall.

All the commanders were assembled, led by Qiao Rui, Ji Ling, and Lu Su, with Zhang Xun, Chen Ji, Le Jiu, Li Feng, Liang Gang, and others present. Each was curious about why Chu Feng had summoned them so urgently.

Lu Su had a vague suspicion of the reason.

At that moment, Chu Feng strode in with the bearing of a dragon or tiger, took his place at the center, and turned to say, “Gentlemen, the opportunity for battle is upon us. I fear Liu Xun will withdraw his troops tonight. Let your divisions be fully prepared!”

“Liu Xun is retreating?”

The generals looked at each other in curiosity.

“Within three days, the Liu army will surely withdraw. For Lujiang is now in our hands, and their army is like a tree without roots—how can they hope to hold out?” Chu Feng laughed heartily.

“Lujiang has been taken?”

Zhang Xun and the others were stunned; their gazes toward Chu Feng were filled with astonishment. Was their leader truly so formidable? In the blink of an eye, he had seized Lujiang, a thousand miles away?

To devise strategies in the tent and win victories across great distances—is this truly their chief? Impressive!

“My lord, I request to lead the attack. I will sever Liu Xun’s head and present it to you!” Ji Ling stepped forward, fist clasped, his voice ringing with conviction.

“My lord, I request to fight!” the generals cried in unison.

“Very well! Ji Ling, hear my command: Take three hundred iron cavalry, ride swiftly under cover of night, and lie in ambush north of Hefei. When Liu Xun’s army collapses, he will surely try to escape with a light cavalry through that route!”

Chu Feng spoke loudly.

“I accept the order. I will take his head!”

“Liang Gang, Le Jiu, you two will each lead three thousand troops. When Liu’s army begins to retreat, sound the call that Lujiang has fallen, break their morale, and when they rout, strike from concealment.”

“We accept!” the two replied.

“Zhang Xun, Li Feng, Chen Ji, you three will command your troops alongside me to break the enemy lines. Once we are victorious, organize the army to accept the surrender of the fleeing soldiers. Remember: do not kill innocents for false credit. Any violation of military discipline will be punished by death!” Chu Feng emphasized.

“We accept!” the three nodded.

“Lu Su, you will lead troops to pacify the counties within our borders, calm the people, open the granaries, and ensure the survival of the populace!” Chu Feng instructed.

He was watching the drought come steadily closer; they must endure it.

“Yes!” Lu Su replied solemnly.

“Qiao Rui, you are charged with guarding Shouchun, the foundation of my rule. When we leave the city to quell the rebellion, ensure its safety and prevent any treacherous plots!”

Chu Feng gave special instructions.

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The task of defending the city could only be entrusted to Qiao Rui.

“As long as I live, the city stands. If I fall, so too does the city!” Qiao Rui was fiercely loyal to his son-in-law, and his status was rising steadily, becoming Chu Feng’s most trusted confidant.

“Very well, everyone go prepare. Tonight, all must act. I worry Liu Xun will depart before dawn!” Chu Feng clenched his fist and spoke gravely.

Liu Xun was Chu Feng’s first rival among the warlords; he must be destroyed. Not only would this rid him of traitors, but it would also establish Chu Feng’s reputation.

Then all the wise and capable men in the land would know that in Jianghuai there was a powerful lord—Chu Feng, descendant of the Yuan clan. Thus, they would rush to join him and he would build an empire!

...

That night, summer insects chirped.

Every division in the city stood ready, setting out one after another, deploying to their assigned locations. Meanwhile, Liu Xun’s camp was packed up, east and west, all prepared to depart at the deepest hour of night.

At the third watch, Liu Xun gave the order.

Over twenty thousand soldiers began to break camp, but as the vanguard moved out, drums thundered on both flanks, and songs from three directions proclaimed the fall of Lujiang and the rout of Liu’s army.

In an instant, panic spread inside and outside the camp.

The retreat itself was abrupt, but now, hearing the Chu army shouting that their homeland had been stolen, the soldiers were beside themselves with fear, thinking of their wives and parents back home.

And with Lujiang lost, they had no supply lines; no wonder Liu Xun was so desperate to withdraw. The armored troops frantically questioned their captains.

The captains could not explain; morale wavered.

There was nothing to be done. Liu Xun’s troops were mere rabble—just as even Guan Yu, famed throughout China for his love of his soldiers, suffered mass desertions when his own territory was stolen in Nan Commandery.

At the front,

Liu Xun was anxious: “What has happened?”

A cavalry officer replied, “My lord, suddenly countless Chu soldiers appeared on both sides of the camp, shouting that Lujiang has fallen and urging the execution of the general, sowing chaos among our troops!”

“Damn it! Summon the execution overseer and have all those who delay orders put to death at once!” Liu Xun growled; these men were all he had left!

“Yes!” the bodyguard replied.

But soon after, countless torches blazed from both flanks, banners rippling, and the cries to kill Liu Xun echoed to the heavens.

“My lord, the enemy is strong; we must withdraw at once!” the subordinate looked around anxiously. The only hope was to lead the vanguard out; otherwise, they would be caught in a pincer.

Liu Xun gritted his teeth in fury.

“Charge!” he shouted, with no time for further thought.

Immediately, over six thousand infantry and cavalry of the vanguard fought their way south, unaware that the surrounding forces were mere posturing; had they truly come through, they would not have been able to resist.

After some time, the army pressed on for more than ten miles.

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Liu Xun looked back in terror and anguish, but at least several thousand still followed him. If he could return to Lujiang and recapture Wancheng, he might still succeed!

“My lord, all troops are discussing the loss of Wancheng, and nearly all our supplies and provisions are gone. Yet we are still seven or eight hundred miles from Wancheng and the army may not last until tomorrow,” a subordinate said quietly.

“We must endure, no matter what! Pass the order: the whole army will march swiftly, prepare to forage at Hefei, Chu Feng will not catch up!” Liu Xun barked.

“Yes!” the subordinate replied.

But just then, from the distant slope, an explosion rang out and Chu Feng’s voice thundered:

“Kill Liu Xun—reward of a thousand gold!”

He galloped at the head of the charge, three hundred cavalry following, the sound of iron hooves pounding the sand echoed sharply in the night.

Countless foot soldiers followed on both wings, chanting the call to slay Liu Xun. The sight sent Liu Xun fleeing on horseback, his elite guards close behind.

The remaining infantry were less fortunate. When they saw Liu Xun had fled, they offered only token resistance before surrendering. Chu Feng had his men take charge of the routed soldiers.

He himself led three hundred cavalry in pursuit!

They chased for over twenty miles, but in the darkness, Chu Feng took the wrong path, cutting down dozens of riders, only to realize Liu Xun was not on that route.

Helpless, he had to call off the pursuit.

But in this battle, he gained dozens of warhorses and countless supplies. Most importantly, Liu Xun’s twenty thousand infantry surrendered with barely any resistance.

However, these soldiers were only slightly better than civilians. If they faced Cao Cao’s Qingzhou troops, they would crumble instantly—mere rabble.

A battle-hardened army cannot be matched by mere numbers.

Before the Battle of Guandu, Yuan Shao’s flanks were seized by Cao Cao, his generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou killed in the front, and all his rear maneuvers destroyed.

The fact proved that numbers alone were useless.

...

At dawn, north of Hefei.

At the junction of Shi River and Fei River, Liu Xun fled in disarray, with only a hundred or two mounted followers. He watched behind in fear, and as several warhorses fell, Liu Xun finally ordered a rest.

But from behind a distant hill, Ji Ling charged forth. Liu Xun tried to lead his horse to escape, but the steed collapsed, foam streaming from its mouth.

In the end, Liu Xun fought to his last breath, and Ji Ling slew him.