Chapter 66 – Intermission before crossing over to XinyeTranslated by Bloodfalcon

“Now, the only route left for us to reach Xinye is going through Lujiang and Jiangxia!” Chen Gong spoke that while pondering.

Since Liu Pi of Runan have surrendered to Yuan Shao, Cao Cao will certainly be on red alert to guard his rear against Liu Pi and WILL CERTAINLY send his senior generals to blockade Runan access roads, therefore Runan is not accessible anymore. Even if no blockade by Cao Cao, Liu Pi will never let Lu Bu pass under Yuan Shao’s order.

“Lujiang?!” Lu Bu thought for a moment. This Lujiang once one of Yuan Shu’s domain, after Yuan Shu were defeated, Lujiang’s prefect Liu Xun declared independence from Yuan Shu. Afterward Liu Xun, got very greedy after defeated by Sun Ce in 197 and after Yuan Shu defeated by Old Cao, and quickly abandoned Lujiang and go to Old Cao to become his attendant, leaving Lujiang masterless.

TL: For more information about Lujiang former prefect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Xun_(Han_dynasty)”

“Lujiang’s prefect now is Little Conqueror Sun Ce’s subordinate!” Said Chen Gong.

“Sun Ce? Sun Jian’s son?!” Lu Bu’s mind flew back to the moment of Hulao Gate siege. Among those 18 warlords, Sun Jian was the vanguard and the only one who dared took on Dong Zhuo’s Xiliang Cavalries to the point of direct confrontation. Although he is defeated by Dong Zhuo’s general Hua Xiong, but he made his fame by his deed. When Sun Jian returned triumphantly from battle, at that time, Sun Ce was still 17, still teenager.

From that teenager, now Sun Ce has become one of the warlords. Thus you can see, what kind of a character Sun Ce is. After Sun Jian’s death, he took on his father’s role and then gave Yuan Shu the Imperial Seal that was found in the well and then exchanged it with 3,000 soldiers and horses. After that he declared independence from Yuan Shu and proceeded with pacification of Jiangdong, laying foundation of Wu Kingdom or state at this time.

“Ah, two young valiant men!” Said Chen Gong after further reading the intel that he obtains. Lujiang was occupied by Sun Ce, and now the prefect of Lujiang is a young man called Zhou Yu! Sun Ce and Zhou Yu about the same age. Moreover, the occupation of Lujiang is thanks to Zhou Yu’s stratagem. A very accomplished young man.

“Young men?!” Lu Bu then thought Liu Mang who now still practicing martial arts in martial arts field. What Chen Gong’s meant by young men is that they are a generation below both Lu Bu and Chen Gong.

“Cao Cao and Yuan Shao are ready to begin confrontation at Guandu! Precisely of that situation that this Little Conqueror Sun Ce go to Lujiang this time, so we can see that his ambition is not small at all!” Sun Ce’s plan is the same as Lu Bu’s and Liu Pi’s plan. Through Lujiang and go to Runan, directly threaten Xu Du. When Cao Cao and Yuan Shao really clash in Guandu, Sun Ce who are currently waiting in Lujiang, will just go to Runan and threaten Xu Du. If that scenario really happened, then Cao Mengde’s predicament will be very very amusing.

“We are just passing through, so this Little Conqueror will definitely agree to let us pass!” Zhang Liao said that because he also know Sun Jian when he served Lu Bu who was still in Dong Zhuo’s employ, when both of their armies collided with each other at Hulao Gate.

Also, if one can traced the origin of Sun Jian’s death, then Lu Bu Army (remnant of Dong Zhuo’s army according to Sun Ce) is also considered as Sun Ce’s personal enemy. Think about it, Sun Jian was killed by Huang Zu, not just because he had Imperial Seal but also because Sun Jian Army was defeated by Hua Xiong at that time, leaving him with no teeth or claws to protect himself. And because of that, Huang Zu able to kill Sun Jian effortlessly.

“Yes….. He, should allow us to pass!” Said Chen Deng uncertain.

“Ahem, if he do not allow us to pass, we will force our way through!” Lu Bu said it lightly “If his father was defeated by my hand, then his son also can be defeated!” Lu Bu is a valiant general, so he naturally interested in his strength. Hearing that this Jiangdong’s Little Conqueror reached first-class general strength at such an early age, Lu Bu cannot wait to try his hand on Sun Ce’s skill.

TL: Historically, Sun Jian Army defeated Lu Bu Army at Hulao Gate, but it is a matter of strategy. Also historically, Sun Jian cannot withstood duel with Lu Bu, so he speak partial truth here.

“Yes, if he does not allow us to pass, we will force our way throught!” Chen Gong also dispel his worry. We cannot go to Runan, because it will offend two sides altogether. Both Yuan Shao and Cao Cao neither are good to ally with. If they hit Runan, it is possible that they will have a truce and attack Lu Bu, one attacking to protect his rear and one attacking to protect his ally. But Lujiang is different. Jiangdong’s soldiers majority are trained for water war. If they are fighting in water, they are invincible but when they are fighting on the land? Are any of them a match to Bing Province Heavy Cavalry??

Plus, Lu Bu and Sun Ce do not have any relationships at all, and certainly Sun Ce did not want to taste any loss by conflicting with Lu Bu Army. Sun Ce who occupies Lujiang, one can see how big his ambition is, and he certainly will not be reckless in making enemies unlike Lu Bu who were overconfident prior his expel from Xu Province.

“Rest for a day, prepare army for three-shift cook tomorrow morning, we depart before dawn! Depart early, in order to avoid further problems or delay” Lu Bu issued order.

Those divisions leaders complied with orders and leave the tent, only Chen Gong remained.

Chen Gong want to speak his concern but cut off in the middle of sentence “Milord!”

“Gongtai, you want to speak about Hanyang’s matter right?!” Lu Bu already knows what Chen Gong’s concern is.

Hearing Lu Bu speaks frankly, Chen Gong also loosened his tense “Milord, Is Hanyang really well?!” Liu Mang are practicing martial arts 12 hours a day. He come into practice tent from dawn and did not come out until dusk.

“It is not good! But you and me cannot interfere with him!” Lu Bu shook his head. This person, Liu Mang, Liu Hanyang, the man who stand aloof from this ancient times affairs (because he is from present times), now have become stimulated. Liu Mang who now have a heart that strive to excel cannot be prevented by Lu Bu, if he want to progress further. The reason why Lu Bu regard and admire him as his child not just because he saved his life and his whole family and become his daughter’s husband, but also Liu Mang is very stubborn like him.

“Years before, my adoptive fathers thoughts are also like me now, full of concern to one’s child!” Lu Bu said that with words that only Lu Bu can hear.

“Hey!” Chen Gong also concerned with Liu Mang’s body. With this training duration, he is taking it too far, he also knows that Liu Mang want to excel in his training as fast as possible, but he also must take care his own health, a day practicing martial arts without rest is the same as burning oneself out.

“Do not worry, that boy has Lingqi as his martial arts coach, that boy is all right!” Liu Mang martial arts coach now is Lu Bu’s daughter Lu Lingqi. Please do not see at her body which looked like a frail thing, she have 70% of Lu Bu’s power and prowess. Hell, even Zhang Liao or Gao Shun goes one-on-one with her, they maybe will not victorious.

“Gongtai, you go back and rest, tomorrow is the big day!” Lu Bu also tired and he needs to rest.

“Yes! Milord!” Chen Gong left while still worrying about Liu Mang.

At Shouchun martial arts field, there are two figure of a man and woman practicing. The woman is using two-edged sword and the man is using shield. Those two weapons colliding frequently and causing sound of metal collision.

“Good, today is enough, you have made quite a lot of progress!” Said Lu Lingqi who then took off her steel helmet while huffing and puffing.

“Um, you rest first! I want to practice again!” Liu Mang nodded. He and Lu Lingqi’s sparring has brought him great benefits, but now he stops a moment to review both of their movement.

“Practicing martial arts again?!” Lu Lingqi who heard this words raise her eyebrows “Liu Hanyang, did you know the proverb haste make waste? You know right by doing this way, you will burn out your body!” They practice from dawn until now dusk already and the sky was getting black, they have not rested at all!

“I know!” Liu Mang replied lightly, and continued to doing martial arts training as before.

“Clang” Lu Lingqi put down her sword and hold down Liu Mang’s shield, so he cannot move at all. “Why, why you should continue like this?! For what reason?!”

“Let go!” Said Liu Mang while looking at Lu Lingqi.

“I will not let go!” Replied Lu Lingqi, in her opinion Liu Mang is insane. Praciticing martial arts is not a one day effort can succeed, so in her eyes, Liu Mang want to burn out his body till he cannot move no longer.

“FINE!” Liu Mang released the great shield from his hand, and then took up another great shield from weapon rack.

“You!!!!” Lu Lingqi really angry “Liu Hanyang, you are insane!”

“My welfare is none of your concern!” Liu Mang said it with low voice.

"I am your wife!" Lu Lingqi is angry and also do not shy to speak her status directly.

“You are still my fiancée!” Liu Mang said it with disdain “Miss Lu, we have not yet married, so you cannot say you are already my wife! Leave here!!! Do not make me say it the second time!! Else I will make soldiers escort you!!!” Urban Army soldiers nearby also on standby.

“You are truly ridiculous!” Miss Lu now really angry, “If you want to keep practice, just practice till you die and see if I care about you!” Screamed Lu Lingqi. She finally found a person to care forever but was spitted out like saliva and even did not look back to her. Lu Lingqi running away with extreme anger.

Looking back at Lu Lingqi leaving, Liu Mang can only said these three words in a very low voice “I AM SORRY!”. Lu Lingqi do not understand the pressure on Liu Mang shoulder. It is very heavy and can crush him at any second. Liu Mang wanted to rest but as soon as he stops. Xu Cheng, his personal bodyguards, Urban Army casualties and those supply troops appeared in front of him, and the sound of those brothers are playing again in his mind like a broken record.

"General, General! "

"General, we died in misery, we died in misery!"

"General saves us, saves us!"

"HAAAAAAA" Liu Mang exclaimed loudly, he brandished shield again.

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