Chapter 5: The First Battle, Zulang's Army Annihilated

  Among them was a tall and majestic figure, whose face looked somewhat worn but still exuded a heroic air. He was fully armored and was none other than the veteran general Cheng Pu.

  Cheng Pu, courtesy name Demou, was a native of Tuyin, North Ping. He was a famous general and Wu Dangkou Jiangjun (General Who Conquers the East) during the Three Kingdoms period, as well as the Taishou of Jiangxia. Initially, he served as an official in various states and commanderies, known for his appearance, strategic thinking, and eloquence in response. He was a veteran general under Sun's command, skilled in wielding the iron-tipped spear.

  He started from Sun Jian, killing Hu Zhi, a general of Zhu Jun, at the Pass of Xingyi. Later, when Jian obtained the Imperial Seal, Pu described its origin and flow, and advised Jian to return to Jiangdong to observe the situation and respond to Heaven's will. Later, when Jian attacked Liu Biao, Pu defeated Cai Mao and killed Lü Gong. After Jian's death, Pu followed Sun Ce, attacking Wang Lang and Yan Baihu, besieging Liu Yao and Huang Zu, roaming around the Yangtze and Huai rivers, accumulating military achievements.

  To others, they just looked like a group of soldiers wearing tattered uniforms but exuding an aura of ferocity and killing intent. The fresh wounds all over their bodies only served to highlight their bloodthirsty nature. Some areas were even still seeping with fresh bloodstains. They looked particularly pitiful!

  But Sun Ce also knew that these were his true confidants and they would not deceive him.

  Sun Ce hastily nodded slightly towards Cheng Pu and said, "Cheng Gong, I've troubled you with worry. Bo Fu is injured, please forgive me for my rudeness!"

  Cheng Pu hastily supported me, his face filled with guilt, saying: "It's all my fault for being incompetent, causing the young master to suffer such a severe injury. You must rest well! Fortunately, the young master is unharmed this time, or I would have been dead! The young master's body is worth a thousand pieces of gold! From now on, you must be careful and not take lightly the dangers of battle! The example of General Pu Qiong is still fresh in our minds! Remember, remember!"

  "Thank you, Master Cheng, for your concern! I've just got some aches and pains in my muscles, but after resting for a while, I should be fine. Please don't blame yourself, Master Cheng!"

  Sun Ce hastily replied and turned to Sun He with a puzzled inquiry.

  "Bo Hai, what time is it now?"

  "It's about the time of Chen now, young master. You've been unconscious for so long, no wonder you don't know what time it is. Mr. Lü and the others went ahead to scout out the road, they should be back soon. Seeing that you're awake, they'll definitely be very happy."

  "Dizzy. This person is quite eloquent! How can he be straightforward and outspoken? But when answering questions, it's a bit all over the place... Ugh, I've never felt that this 'de' character makes people angry before! Is there anyone who speaks without using the 'de' character?! I'm about to be driven dizzy by these 'de's!" Sun Ce thought to himself.

  "What year is it now?"

  Sun He looked at Sun Ce with a bewildered expression, and reached out to touch his forehead: "It's okay, it's not scalding hot. I thought you had slept for a whole year and were still in a daze! You scared me to death! How could you even forget the current year and month? Did you hit your head or something and get amnesia, forgetting everything that happened before?"

  Sun Ce glared at him with an unpleasant expression, and he couldn't help but shrink his neck and hastily replied: "Young master, I'll tell you right away. Today is the seventh day of the fourth month of the first year of Ping, and you've been unconscious for two days and two nights!"

  I was taken aback. "The third year of Chuping, that is, 192 AD. April 7th. That means it's been just over a year since Father Sun Jian died in battle."

  What's going on? This old Sun Ce, didn't he say everything was already arranged? Seven or eight days in advance to adapt my body. This super old guy is really a bit senile! I don't even know if he graduated from elementary school!

  What was supposed to be 7 or 8 days turned out to be 7 or 8 years. If he were to calculate pi, I'm afraid he would turn a circle into a straight line. It's really a big mess.

  Then he might as well put in more effort, push forward a bit, and let me, Sun Ce, who came through here, rescue Sun Jian. That way I can lean against the big tree and relax while flirting with girls.

  "Ah! I was wrong, it's reassuring to go and interact with those aristocratic recluses, it's also good to help our Wu State gather more talents. To lay a better foundation for our future. And now, that means I have to start struggling all over again."

  "But I don't remember much of this history at all. What should I do? I only recall the approximate time and situation of some famous events in the romance."

  "Who knows how Sun Ce actually developed in the beginning! I'm really going to be driven mad by this old man Sun! If only I had known, I would have gone to watch "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" a few more times! But who can know ahead of time that they'll have the chance to travel through time? Not like I'm a god or anything."

  "Alas! Others who cross over are all high-ranking officials with excellent conditions. How come when it's me, everything has to start from scratch again? Except for the dozens of tattered little soldiers by my side, I can only lie on a door plank myself."

  Even a foothold is gone. How miserable it has been mixed!

  Although it's said that everything is discounted these days, I never thought that this once-in-a-lifetime dimensional crossing would also be discounted! Is it because I didn't pay the bribe when I set out? But, even if I wanted to pay, I couldn't find any gods!"

  "It's really true that relying on mountains will make them collapse, and relying on gods will make them run away. It's really best to rely only on oneself! Looks like this time I'll have to do a good job with Sun Ce, and use up quite a few brain cells too! Let's go, let's go! This unexpectedly transmigrated modern person."

  I'm shouting "come on" to myself with a weak and powerless voice in my heart. But now I just want to cry, but there are no tears yet!

  "Ah! And my dear Qiao, do I still have to wait 6 years to marry you? The painful, long, and waiting feeling is driving me crazy just thinking about it."

  No way, I want to find an opportunity to go early, at least take a look at my beauty. First meet, cultivate some feelings also good. Right, first book in advance, lest she ran away with others.

  That really made me want to cry. If even the wife I've been destined for has run away, then I'm afraid I'll be the only one among all the transmigrators in this world who's left with nothing."

  "What's going on now? How did we end up like this?! I'm in pain all over, my head is spinning, and I can barely remember what happened!"

  I took a deep breath and calmed down, it seems that pretending to be injured is the best option now, I continued to ask.

  "It's still not that sinister Zulang who did it!" Sun He angrily shouted.

  "Halt, halt, halt! Don't be in a hurry, everyone is tired. Let's sit down and take a rest. Please, Director Cheng, come and slowly explain things to me. You go rest for a while first, okay?" Turning his head to look at Cheng Pu, "Thank you for your trouble, Director Cheng!"

  Cheng Pu smiled and nodded: "Alright, everyone has been traveling for a long time and hasn't rested in a while, so let's take a break here."

  Sun He hastily ordered the two soldiers carrying the door panel to find a relatively flat spot by the roadside and set Sun Ce down. Then, Cheng Pu began to explain their current situation.

  "Since then, after you consulted with Mr. Zhang and determined the general direction of development, you let the other generals accompany Mr. Zhang to send Old Lady and the young masters to temporarily reside in Jiangdu."

  "You took Bo Hai and Lü Fan with you to find Yuan Su, wanting to retrieve the old troops who followed Po Xu General before. I was worried about you, so I came along too."

  "After you met with Yuan Shu, he cried and begged him, but he believed in the words of Yang Hong, a long history, and refused. He only gave us an order to let us go to Danyang to recruit some soldiers ourselves. He said that when we return to Shouchun, he will give us some military funds to equip new soldiers."

  Sun He interrupted: "Yuan Shu is really a heartless and unscrupulous person, we have gone through life and death for him to conquer so many places! General Poqi has left, but he is so ruthless! Truly a complete scoundrel."

  Sun Ce hastily stopped him, "So that's how it is. Bohai, don't mention these words again! After all, for a long time to come, we will have no choice but to rely on Yuan Shu."

  "Now everyone here is our own brother, but if we talk too much, it's inevitable that it will reach Yuan Shu's ears. Then we won't be able to get anything done. Remember! Complaining all the time can only make our eyes unclear about the road ahead and confuse our hearts!"

  At this time, Zhou Yu looked at Sun Ce with a gaze of approval and said: "Well said! The young master is indeed perceptive! General Breaker of the Enemy has someone to succeed him!"

  Bo Hai, the young master's vision is far-reaching. You are also a veteran who has followed the general for many years. You must learn from the young master properly. Absolutely do not let your temporary anger ruin the young master's big plan."

  "Yes, I know Bo Hai was wrong, and I will definitely remember that. The uncomfortable feeling in my heart towards that bastard, I will also remember!"

  Cheng Pu continued: "We set out from Danyang a few days ago, as previously agreed. We brought back more than 500 new recruits to Shouchun, hoping that when we arrive in Shouchun, Governor Yuan will help us equip them with military gear."

  "On the 3rd of April, when we passed through Jing County, our troops went to purchase grain and forage, and clashed with Zu Lang's bandits. At that time, it wasn't a big deal, and everyone didn't think much of it! I also didn't specially dispatch additional sentries."

  "As a result, the next morning, Zu Lang led more than a thousand bandits to pursue us and launched a surprise attack on our campsite. For some reason, the guards I had arranged did not sound the alarm. The bandits had already entered our camp."

  They killed and set fires, the attack was extremely ferocious. Because it was not yet time for morning exercises, our recruited soldiers were also robust, but most of them were still asleep. Unprepared, they suffered heavy casualties immediately. Many brothers were killed by the bandits before they could even react.

  Alas, my brothers were all gallant heroes from Jiangdong who joined the noble cause with passion and fervor, but most of them were slaughtered by these bandits without even a chance to fight back. I am consumed by hatred! We must avenge our fallen comrades and wipe out the entire clan of Zuo's rebels!"

  Sun Ce, who had just somewhat entered his role, replied: "A grudge must be avenged. However, it cannot be rushed at the moment. Lord Cheng, please continue."

  "Yes! Fortunately, the great general led the charge with unmatched bravery. Bohai and I fought desperately together, killing over 200 enemies before leading these remaining brothers to break through the encirclement."

  Then we fled all night, only to shake off the pursuit of the bandits! Alas, our brothers were left with less than fifty people alive. Not one in ten survived! Moreover, almost everyone was covered in scars.

  Yesterday, as soon as the sky brightened, you fainted and slept for two days and two nights. Lü Ziheng said that you were too fierce in your fight to the death and exhausted yourself. It's likely that you'll need to rest for a while. But since you still haven't woken up, we're all very worried."

  He lowered his voice and said, "We've already had several soldiers die on the way because their injuries were too severe. At that time, everyone was relying on their last breath to break through the siege and run such a long distance."

  "Now that morale has collapsed and everyone is injured, if we don't seek medical treatment in time, I'm afraid there will be even more severe casualties!"

  "Alas, what's to be done! Where can we find a doctor in this desolate mountain wilderness? My brothers have barely managed to escape with their lives, I must bring them all back!"

  "Joking aside, those who can survive here are all top-notch. It's obvious that without some real strength, one wouldn't be able to emerge from the bloody battle of thousands of soldiers and horses, and after such a fierce fight, only the truly elite would remain."

  "This is my starting capital. No way, I won't give up a single one!"

  But at present, I have no way out. What can I do?