Chapter 80: Encountering Battle on the Road

Hearing these words, Zhang Xiu was momentarily taken aback.

“Master, where are you going?” he asked, puzzled.

Liu Xie took a deep breath and replied softly, “Naturally, to Xuzhou.”

“Xuzhou?” Zhang Xiu’s brow furrowed slightly, curiosity evident in his heart. He wanted to ask Liu Xie what he intended to do in Xuzhou, but seeing the look on Liu Xie’s face, he sensed the young lord had no wish to elaborate. Therefore, he did not press further.

“Rest assured, Master. I will surely heal Nanyang and await your return,” Zhang Xiu said gently.

Liu Xie nodded, his mind seemingly lost in thought.

The next day, Liu Xie departed Wan City on horseback. Accompanying him were twenty members of the Wolf Shadow Guard. Including himself, they numbered only twenty-one.

In truth, before their departure, Zhang Xiu had suggested that Liu Xie take more men, given the considerable distance to Xuzhou and the possibility of encountering trouble along the way. However, Liu Xie was unconcerned, insisting on bringing no more than this small party. Seeing his resolve, Zhang Xiu and the others could say nothing further.

Leaving Wan City behind, Liu Xie led his twenty companions northward, toward Xuzhou.

“Master, we will soon pass through the region of Lujiang in Yangzhou,” one of the Wolf Shadow Guards said as he rode alongside. “I heard that recently, Sun Ce has been battling Liu Xun in that area.”

“Oh? Lujiang, Liu Xun, Sun Ce?” Liu Xie mused, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

“If I am not mistaken,” he said quietly, “Liu Xun was once a subordinate of Yuan Shu.”

“Yes, Master,” the guard replied. “Since Yuan Shu came under your command, he has had no further contact with Liu Xun. However, it is said that Liu Xun was once a trusted lieutenant. With that in mind, I doubt he will make trouble for us.”

The guard explained the situation. Yuan Shu’s lack of contact with his former subordinate had surprised Liu Xie, but after considering it, he understood. Now that Yuan Shu served under him, frequent communication with outsiders would be unwise. It was clear Yuan Shu truly intended to remain in Wan City.

“We’ll worry about it when we arrive,” Liu Xie said. “If Sun Ce is indeed attacking Lujiang, perhaps we can intervene.”

With those words, Liu Xie urged his men forward, galloping into the distance.

After nearly a day’s hard riding, the sun was less than an hour from setting when they finally heard commotion ahead.

“Master, there’s movement up ahead,” one of the Wolf Shadow Guards reported quietly.

Liu Xie nodded, well aware of the situation, for they could distinctly hear the fierce cries of battle from afar. Judging by the volume, a large force was engaged.

“We are less than ten li from Lujiang commandery now,” the guard continued. “I suspect Sun Ce is laying siege to the city.”

“Find a vantage point,” Liu Xie instructed.

They pressed forward a few more miles, and the sounds of battle grew ever clearer. Liu Xie led his party to the crest of a distant hill and produced the telescope he had invented for this era, scanning the scene ahead.

As expected, a fierce battle was underway. Tens of thousands of troops were assaulting the city, and from the looks of it, the walls were on the verge of being breached.

Liu Xie pondered the situation, recalling that history recorded such a battle—after which Liu Xun lost his position and Jiangdong seized control. Most famously, it was here that Sun Ce and Zhou Yu encountered the beauties Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao.

It seemed the events unfolding before him matched that account.

“Master, what should we do? Shall we intervene?” the Wolf Shadow Guard asked.

Liu Xie understood. To intervene meant aiding Lujiang commandery, for Liu Xun had once served Yuan Shu—who now served him—so it was only right to help Liu Xun.

Yet Liu Xie did not answer immediately, instead carefully observing the situation before him.

“Intervene, certainly,” he said at last. “But with such small numbers, we should infiltrate the city first.”

Indeed, the enemy’s numbers were vast; a reckless attack might be disastrous. The Wolf Shadow Guards excelled at covert operations.

With that, Liu Xie led his men from the hill. Amid the chaos of battle, they slipped unnoticed into Lujiang commandery.

Inside, the city was in turmoil. Countless people fled in all directions. Clearly, the city had been breached.

“Go—to the Prefect’s residence!” Liu Xie ordered.

He and the Wolf Shadow Guards sped toward the government mansion. Upon their arrival, they found fierce fighting underway. The soldiers of Jiangdong had already reached the compound, and it appeared those inside were resisting desperately. The attackers could not break through immediately, but it was only a matter of time—reinforcements streamed in from outside, and those inside could not hold out for long.

“Master, Liu Xun must be inside,” a guard said. “What should we do?”

Liu Xie glanced at him. “What else? We storm in and rescue him!”

At his command, the twenty Wolf Shadow Guards charged the compound. The Jiangdong soldiers besieging the residence were taken aback at the sudden appearance of twenty black-clad men brandishing curved blades. Before they could react, the Wolf Shadow Guards’ ferocious assault stunned them; in a single exchange, dozens of enemy soldiers fell.

“Who are you people? Seize them all!” bellowed a commanding officer directing the attack.

A large force of Jiangdong soldiers rushed the Wolf Shadow Guards, but the guards wasted no time in entangling with them, instead carving a bloody path straight into the compound.

“Those inside, listen—we are Wolf Shadow Guards under Wan City’s command, here by order. Please follow us and fight your way out!” shouted the guards toward the interior.

Yet there was no response from within. The Wolf Shadow Guards continued their assault, and soon, men rushed out from inside.

“Who? Who is here from Wan City?” a soldier cried.

“We are—all of us,” the guards replied. “We’ve come by order. Quickly, come with us and fight your way out!”

Hearing this, the soldier turned and shouted back into the government mansion, “General, men from Wan City have come to help!”

Moments later, several dozen people emerged, led by Liu Xun himself, clad in armor.