Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1148 Liu Biao's Navy Walks into a Trap

As the mist on the river gradually dissipated, Gan Ning led his naval warships to form a battle array on both sides of the ferry crossing. Archers on the ship's gunboats drew their bows and nocked arrows, and the cannons were fully loaded, awaiting only the order to launch an attack. Han Dang stood on the dock pier, gazing at the massive fleet in the middle of the river, his brow furrowed. Although the enemy had displayed the "not enemy" signal and the fleet had stopped, the sudden appearance of such a large naval force was something no one dared to underestimate.

"General Gan," Han Dang called back to Gan Ning on the ship, "what are they doing? They're neither fighting nor retreating, are they trying to buy time?"

Gan Ning gripped his broadsword, his eyes wary: "Who knows! In chaotic times, people's hearts are unpredictable. The more they 'show goodwill,' the more likely they are hiding something. Let's hold our positions and see what tricks they're up to!"

As they were talking, another light boat sailed across the river. It was not fast, and it carried only a few people, who appeared to be envoys. Gan Ning signaled to his men not to stop them, but only ordered them to keep a close watch from a distance. He himself continued to lead his warships to patrol both sides of the ferry crossing, guarding against any sudden attack.

Han Dang paced anxiously back and forth on the shore, wondering what the other side was up to. Just then, he heard a rapid sound of hooves behind him. He turned around and saw Ma Chao riding towards him with Pang De and others, clearly having arrived immediately after receiving the news.

"Your Majesty!" Han Dang hurriedly went to greet him, clasped his hands and reported, "A large number of naval troops have suddenly appeared on the river, carrying Liu Biao's banner, saying that they want to defect to Jiangdong. They have also sent envoys and are currently waiting in the middle of the river."

Ma Chao reined in his horse, his gaze fixed on the sails on the river, and said in a deep voice, "Liu Biao? Why isn't he guarding Jingzhou? What is he doing in Jiangdong?"

Han Dang looked at the fast boat in the middle of the river and said to Ma Chao, "Judging from the flags, they are indeed from Liu Biao's side. They only say they are envoys and that they have no hostile intentions."

Ma Chao raised an eyebrow: "Liu Bei and Liu Biao are locked in a fierce battle in Jingzhou. It's strange that he would send someone here at this time. Since they're here, let's hear what they have to say." He then gave Han Dang a wink.

Han Dang understood and shouted to Gan Ning, "Let the fast boats dock. Only the envoy's boats are allowed to disembark; the rest of the boats must remain on the river!"

Before long, the speedboat slowly docked at the pier. The cabin door opened, and the first person to step off was a middle-aged man dressed in a scholar's robe with a calm face. This was Kuai Yue. Behind him followed a timid-looking man who kept his head down and dared not look at anyone. This was Liu Qi.

Han Dang stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "I am Han Dang. May I ask which commander of Jingzhou you two serve under? And what brings you to my Moling?"

Kuai Yue's gaze swept over the crowd at the dock, lingering briefly on Ma Chao and Pang De. Ma Chao's silver armor, however, did not resemble the Jiangdong style, while Pang De was burly and imposing, resembling a northern general. Just as he was about to speak, Ma Chao stepped forward first, his tone calm: "I am Lü Meng." He then pointed to Pang De beside him, "This is Lü Dai."

Pound understood immediately, nodded slightly, and adopted an arrogant demeanor.

Upon hearing the names "Lü Meng" and "Lü Dai," Kuai Yue felt a sense of relief. He had long heard that these two were generals supported by powerful families in Jiangdong, and that they were closely associated with Zhang Zhao and others. The events surrounding Sun Ce were also vaguely related to these people. With this connection, they wouldn't be too harsh on him and his "fellow travelers."

He then bowed respectfully and said loudly, "I am Kuai Yue from Jingzhou, and this is Liu Qi, the eldest son of my lord. We have come to pay our respects to Lord Wu on the orders of Liu, the Governor of Jingzhou, to discuss important matters."

Han Dang remained silent, watching how Ma Chao would respond.

Ma Chao feigned hesitation, his brows furrowed: "You two have come at an inopportune time. Zhou Yu has raised an army in Wu County and is causing a commotion. The situation in Moling is tense, and the Marquis of Wu is busy deploying troops. I'm afraid he has no time to receive guests."

Kuai Yue, already prepared, quickly said, "We came here specifically because we heard of the turmoil in Jiangdong. Liu Jingzhou is willing to offer the Jiangxia navy to help Lord Wu quell the rebellion, only asking that after the matter is accomplished, he grant us a small piece of land to settle down." After he finished speaking, he secretly observed Ma Chao's expression. Seeing that the other party seemed to be thinking, he added, "General Lü Meng and General Lü Dai are both pillars of Jiangdong. If we can get their help, this matter will definitely be twice as effective."

Ma Chao gave an "Oh," and looked at him with a half-smile: "Liu Jingzhou has certainly made a good plan. But with Zhou Yu causing trouble, Jiangdong has its own troops to deal with it. Why bother Jingzhou's navy?"

Kuai Yue's heart tightened, and he hurriedly said, "General, you may not know this, but Liu Bei's power in Jingzhou is immense, and Jingzhou is already struggling to hold on. If we can submit to Jiangdong, we can not only help the Lord of Wu, but also serve as a shield for Jiangdong to resist Liu Bei's northward advance. It is truly a win-win situation."

Unable to contain himself any longer, Liu Qi staggered forward half a step, his voice still wet with tears: "General Lü! You must believe me! Ever since Liu Bei acquired Zhuge Liang, he's become like a tiger with wings, forcefully seizing my four counties of Lingling, Wuling, Guiyang, and Changsha! The situation in Xiangyang is even worse; those powerful families in Jing and Xiang secretly colluded with them, and together they surrendered the city gates! My father and I hastily boarded a ship and fled all the way here. We were truly desperate and had no other choice but to seek refuge with Lord Wu for a way to survive!"

He gripped Ma Chao's sleeve, his knuckles turning white from the force: "My father is in the fleet right now, how could this be false? Please have mercy and inform them for us!"

Ma Chao looked down at his reddened eyes, his fingertips tapping lightly on the hilt of his sword, without immediately replying.

Kuai Yue frowned secretly—this young master was too impatient, revealing all his family's secrets right away, practically exposing his weakness. But since things had come to this, he could only continue the conversation and fill in the gaps: "What Young Master Liu said is all true. My lord Liu Biao is indeed in the fleet at this moment. His visit is not a test, but entirely out of sincerity. Please ask General Lü to inform Marquis Wu that Liu Jingzhou has come to pay a visit and hopes to be properly accommodated."

He paused, then added, "Furthermore, I have known Mr. Zhang Hong for many years and we have a deep friendship. Even if Lord Wu is currently unavailable, it would be good if we could invite Mr. Zhang Hong over for a chat to discuss the arrangements."

Hearing the two statements, Ma Chao's eyes flashed with understanding. The flustered state of Liu Biao and his son suggested they were truly unaware of the current situation in Jiangdong.

He released his grip on his sleeve and said slowly, "If that's the case, I will inform him on your behalf. However, Lord Wu's affairs are complicated, and whether or not you can see him depends on his decision. You should wait on the boat and not wander around, lest you cause any more trouble."

Liu Qi nodded hurriedly, a bit of color finally returning to his face: "Thank you, General Lü! Thank you, General Lü!"

Ma Chao nodded and said, "In that case, you may wait here for a moment. I will go and inform Lord Wu, and he will surely make proper arrangements for you." After saying this, he and Pang De exchanged a glance, mounted their horses, and the group galloped away towards the city, leaving a trail of dust in their wake.

Kuai Yue watched their departing figures, his brows furrowed slightly, and smiled at Han Dang beside him, saying, "It is said that Jiangdong has plenty of water but few horses, and ordinary generals mostly travel by boat. But just now, looking at General Lü and his party, the warhorses they rode were all magnificent, unlike ordinary ones."

Upon hearing this, Han Dang laughed heartily and quickly changed the subject: "Mr. Kuai, you flatter me! Moling is the capital of Jiangdong, a place where dragons and tigers dwell. Generals Lü Meng and Lü Dai are highly regarded by Mr. Zhang Zhao and Mr. Zhang Hong, and they are influential figures in front of Lord Wu, holding extraordinary positions." He patted his chest, his tone tinged with pride, "Jiangdong has a vast territory, and although it is known for its navy, it is not lacking in fine horses. It is not surprising that someone as trusted as General Lü has a few good horses. To put it bluntly, General Lü's current momentum is such that even we old guys who followed Lord Bofu in conquering the world have to think highly of him."

Hearing this, Kuai Yue felt increasingly reassured. He had long heard that Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong held leverage over Sun Quan, causing Sun Quan to obey their every word. Furthermore, Lü Meng and Lü Dai were generals highly regarded by these two, naturally holding exceptional positions. Therefore, it made perfect sense that they possessed excellent warhorses. He nodded inwardly, feeling that this trip might truly yield the desired results, and bowed to Han Dang, saying, "I see. I was indeed ignorant."

Han Dang smiled and waved his hand, but his gaze inadvertently swept over the fleet of ships on the river, a hint of vigilance flashing in his eyes. Following Ma Chao's instructions, he led Kuai Yue and Liu Qi to rest temporarily at the dock. He spoke politely, but he knew in his heart that this group from Jingzhou was likely to suffer a great setback in Moling.

Ma Chao galloped back to Moling, where Lu Su and Taishi Ci, along with their personal guards, were waiting at the city gate. Upon seeing him dismount, they rushed forward to greet him.

"My lord, the remnants of Zhang Zhao's gang have been gathered and are all being held in the western camp of the city," Taishi Ci reported in a gruff voice.

Ma Chao nodded slightly, and Lu Su asked about the situation of the naval forces on the river.

Ma Chao recounted in detail how Liu Biao had requested an audience on the river and subtly implied that he held leverage over Sun Quan. Lu Su's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he stroked his beard, pacing back and forth: "My lord, this is indeed an opportunity! Liu Biao and his men fled in haste, surely unaware of the current situation in Jiangdong, and still think they can use some old grievances to blackmail us. Why don't we turn the tables on them—we'll impersonate Sun Quan, say we cherish old friendships, and invite him ashore to Moling City for a chat to discuss our resettlement."

"Will he fall for it?" Taishi Ci frowned. "Liu Biao is cunning and treacherous; he might not be willing to land so easily."

“Yes, he will,” Lu Su said confidently. “He’s drifting on the river with his remaining troops, just to come to Jiangdong to beg for favors. We’re offering him a way out, and he has no reason not to accept it. Besides…” He changed the subject, “Don’t they always mention Mr. Zhang Hong? Let Zhang Hong step forward. With Zhang Hong there, Liu Biao, Kuai Yue, and the others will definitely lower their guard.”

A fierce glint flashed in Ma Chao's eyes: "Good! That's the plan. If he dares to come ashore, capture him immediately! As for the navy on the river..."

"Rest assured, my lord," Lu Su replied. "Without Liu Biao and Kuai Yue in command, those soldiers are already panicked. After we capture their commander, we'll send a naval commander with a fleet to surround them and persuade them to surrender—those willing to submit will be incorporated into the Jiangdong navy. They'll be leaderless and hesitant to act, so they'll surely be in chaos and easy to incorporate."

Ma Chao thought it feasible and ordered Zhang Hong to be brought in. When Zhang Hong was dragged up, his robes were still stained with mud, and his hair was disheveled like straw; he was nowhere to be seen as the dignified scholar he once was. When he looked up and saw Ma Chao's cold gaze, his knees buckled and he knelt on the ground, repeatedly saying, "I am guilty! Please spare my life, Your Majesty!"

Ma Chao looked down at him, his tone devoid of any warmth: "I was originally going to kill you, but there's something I can do for you right now."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Hong grasped at a straw and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse! As long as I can live, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

“Liu Biao has been defeated by Liu Bei and is currently trapped on the river. He wants to ask Sun Quan for a place to stay.” Ma Chao said slowly, tapping his fingertips on the table. “Kuai Yue specifically asked to see you. Go and lure them ashore. Tell them that Sun Quan has prepared a house and is willing to take them in for a while.”

Zhang Hong was stunned, his face full of astonishment—why would Liu Biao and Kuai Yue suddenly come to see Sun Quan? But the instinct for survival overcame his doubts, and he quickly replied, "Leave this matter to me! But... after it is done, please keep your promise, Your Majesty."

"You dare to negotiate with me?" Ma Chao's eyes flashed, and the sword at his feet suddenly drew half an inch from its sheath, its cold light making Zhang Hong's face turn deathly pale. "If you don't do a good job, I'll end it now; if you do, then we'll discuss your life or death."