RPAGF Chapter 271 Crossing the River
Chapter 271 Crossing the River
Liu Hong then said:
"Chen Er, you're just being evasive. You're too clever. You hide your weaknesses and lay traps everywhere. I ask you, when were the boats for crossing the river arranged after you broke through the Wu army's camp? Did you already know that I would be burned by Lu Xun? Furthermore, where did you get the black oil that you used to burn Lu Xun's warships? What is your relationship with Qu Xiang? Why are his military formations and the way his soldiers fight so similar to the Wuxi Army? Don't tell me you don't know."
Chen Er's head buzzed. Sigh, he had been too obvious. He hadn't even realized how many things he had done. He had always been too sharp and clever. Liu Hong, on the other hand, was a shrewd and cunning man who was better than anyone else. He had a keen eye for people and could probably see right through Chen Er's scheming ways.
But Chen Er couldn't admit it now; he had to make it sound plausible. Chen Er knelt forward, kowtowed again, and said in a sorrowful voice:
"Your Majesty, your humble servant is utterly loyal to the Han Dynasty, as Heaven and Earth can attest. When I was harassing Lu Xun's army behind the Yangtze River, I noticed the hot weather, which was conducive to fire attacks. I sent a letter to Your Majesty to warn you about Lu Xun's fire attacks. Your Majesty reprimanded me, and I had no choice but to ask Ma Chao to prepare boats for crossing the river, fearing that if a fire broke out, I would not be able to reach Your Majesty in time to rescue you. So I secretly asked Your Majesty to prepare boats for crossing the river."
“Your Majesty, I am also completely loyal. The black oil used to burn Lu Xun was prepared in advance by me. Your Majesty also knows that the black oil used by my master Zhuge to make thunderbolts was found by me. Your Majesty also knows that I run Jishetang.”
"He has a fondness for novelty and wealth. When he saw this black oil, he wondered if he could make something out of it, so he secretly hoarded some of it. When I burned Lu Xun, I used all of my hidden wealth."
“Qu Xiang was someone I took in in Longxi. His father was Qu Xing, a notorious bandit from Changsha. Back then, Sun Jian killed Qu Xing in Guiyang. Seeing Sun Jian’s power, Qu Xiang hid in the mountains, but he never forgot to avenge his father’s death.”
“I met him when I was taking Xingshan. He has long admired Your Majesty and volunteered to join my army. I found him to be a reliable person, but most of his men came from mountain bandits and were not able to fight the Wu army head-on. So I taught him military training techniques. In order to improve his combat effectiveness as soon as possible, I also sent some of the Wuxi Army’s core members to serve as his junior officers. That way, he is more like the Wuxi Army.”
Seeing Chen Er explaining himself with tears streaming down his face, Liu Hong sighed and said:
"Get up. If I didn't know that you have been amazing since childhood and have never done anything to betray the Han Dynasty, I would have killed you just because you have been disobedient and acted on your own at will."
Chen Er kowtowed again and said loudly:
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for not killing me."
After saying this, he got up and stood aside, waiting for Liu Hong to continue his lecture. Then Liu Hong asked Chen Er and Ma Chao in detail about their campaign against Lu Xun's rear alone, all the way back to Yufu. Chen Er and Ma Chao recounted everything in detail.
Of course, they still concealed some things, such as Qu Xiang being Chen Er's subordinate and Lu Xun's sworn brotherhood with Chen Er, but what they said was the truth. When they mentioned that Lu Xun originally intended to surrender to Chen Er, letting Feng Xi and Zhang Nan go first, and then after Zhou Tai and the others returned to the Wu formation, Lu Xun suddenly launched an attack on them, Liu Hong sighed and said:
"Lu Xun is cunning and treacherous. You are still young and trust others too much. You shouldn't have done that."
After hearing about the relationship between Lü Yan and Heng Duan, he was also glad that Lü Bu had a successor and said that he was going to reward them.
After Chen Er finished speaking, he said at the end:
"Chan'er and you are sworn brothers, and he admires you greatly. I have watched you grow up, but over the years you have been too sharp and invincible. You can solve anything that others cannot do. Where does that leave the other people's face? If this continues, who will cooperate with you? You should know that too much of a good thing is bad."
Chen Er quickly bowed:
"His Majesty's lesson is correct."
Liu Hong waved his hand, glared at Chen Er, and said:
"Stop flattering me. I'm over sixty years old, and I've lived longer than you. Your aunt has already told me about your campaign to break through Lu Xun's camp. I've summoned you here today to ask if the Wuxi Army can still be regrouped?"
Ma Chao bowed respectfully, his face filled with sorrow, and said:
"Long live the Emperor! My 30,000 men were caught completely off guard by Lu Xun's army. In the chaos, I fear they suffered heavy casualties, with perhaps only one in ten surviving."
Chen Er turned to Ma Chao and said:
"Chao'er, it's all my fault, I've implicated those people."
Upon hearing Chen Er's words, Liu Hong sighed and said:
"Ma Chao, you suffered heavy losses in this battle. I will definitely compensate the Wuxi barbarians so that those who died in battle can rest in peace."
Ma Chao immediately knelt down to express his gratitude:
"Your Majesty, on behalf of the soldiers of the Wuxi Army, I thank you for your kindness."
Liu Hong gestured to Ma Chao that there was no need for further formalities, and Ma Chao got up and stood to the side. Then Liu Hong said:
"In this great battle, our side suffered heavy losses. If it weren't for Qing'er rescuing Wu Ban, Feng Xi, Zhang Nan, and other generals, the strength of our Han Dynasty would have been even greater, and I would have no face to face my ministers in Chengdu. In addition, you also escorted your aunt back to my side, which is all your merit. I want to reward you. What do you want?"
Chen Er's mind raced. What did Liu Hong mean? Was he offering Chen Er a reward? Could Chen Er accept it? Could he refuse? But what should he ask for? Chen Er feigned hesitation and said:
"Your Majesty, I do not yet have a courtesy name. May Your Majesty bestow one upon me? Also, although I am somewhat wealthy, I have always longed for a fief."
Upon hearing this, Liu Hong laughed heartily, tapped Chen Er's head, and said:
"Your request is a bit too modest. However, this title cannot be chosen carelessly; I must think carefully and decide on a suitable one. I will grant you a fief of 500 households, and your Master Zhuge will choose a place for you. Furthermore, I will bestow upon you an official title, making you a higher-ranking general. The imperial edict will be issued in a few days to formally confer this title."
Chen Er quickly knelt down to express his gratitude. Liu Hong then told Chen Er to get up, pulled him to the edge of the platform, pointed to the roaring river flowing eastward, and asked Chen Er:
"Qing'er, do you think I still have a chance to unify the world?"
Chen Er suddenly felt a sense of desolation. After all, Liu Hong was already over sixty years old. He had worked hard all his life to become emperor. He was originally ambitious, but Lu Xun's fire destroyed most of the little wealth he had just accumulated.
Chen Mingde, the hero he discussed with over wine in the North, has passed away. But even in death, Chen Er cannot claim to be Chen Mingde's alter ego. Historically, he too will die next spring, a hero in his twilight years, unable to accomplish anything significant. Yet Chen Er cannot avoid answering his question, so he carefully chooses his words:
"Your Majesty, my master Zhuge Liang once proposed the development trend of our Han Dynasty being divided into three parts when we were in Longzhong. I believe that this is an inevitable trend. If Your Majesty wants to unify the world, you must make preparations for many more years. It is not too late to send troops when you have a well-trained army and sufficient food."
Liu Hong turned to look at Chen Er and said:
Should we attack the south first or the north?