Chapter 174

Chapter 174: The Death of Sun Jian

In the midst of Sun Jian’s fierce assault, Huang Zu truly had no chance to cross the river.

The reason was that the forces attacking Huang Zu weren’t just coming from the land.

Leading the grain transport fleet on the water was Cheng Pu, who had fought alongside Sun Jian for many years.

Before the large ships arrived, small boats had already drifted along the river, firing countless arrows at the Jing Province defenders on the shore.

These soldiers from Changsha, after more than a year of training on Dongting Lake, had become adept at naval warfare. Once they seized the initiative, they destroyed the iron chains on the river and positioned their boats across the water.

For Huang Zu to cross the river now would be like walking into a trap.

His only option was to take the land route, heading straight for Nanjun and seeking refuge in a large city.

Thus, Sun Jian’s goal wasn’t just to stop Huang Zu on this side of the Han River but to intercept him before he could enter any city.

“The nearest county town to Jingling is Dangyang,” Sun Jian ordered as he led his cavalry in pursuit. “Bofu! Take a detachment and head straight for Dangyang. If Huang Zu is heading there, make sure to intercept him.”

Sun Ce immediately acknowledged the order and turned his horse.

Huang Gai, who was beside Sun Jian, initially wanted to advise against such a hasty pursuit. However, seeing that Sun Jian’s orders were still rational and not driven by anger from Huang Zu’s repeated provocations, he felt somewhat reassured.

After assigning Han Dang to accompany Sun Ce, Sun Jian exchanged a glance with Zu Mao, signaling that they must keep a close eye on Sun Jian to prevent him from advancing too far and falling into an enemy trap.

Unfortunately, Huang Zu showed no concern for his soldiers, abandoning anything that would slow him down as he fled north.

The soldiers he left behind became obstacles hindering Sun Jian’s pursuit.

By the time Sun Jian broke through the last line of defense, he had already passed Zhangshan by the Han River.

Wanting to continue the chase, but night had fallen.

Huang Gai tried to persuade Sun Jian to rest before continuing the pursuit, saying, “Given the current situation, Huang Zu isn’t planning to turn to Dangyang. Instead, after being defeated by us, he intends to abandon Jiangxia and join Liu Biao in Xiangyang. I suggest, General, that we wait for Bofu’s detachment to return from Dangyang and for our infantry to catch up before slowly advancing towards Xiangyang.”

If the decisive battle was to be at Xiangyang, Sun Jian, with only this cavalry unit, couldn’t possibly take the city. He would need to wait for the rest of the troops to arrive.

Not catching Huang Zu now wasn’t the end of the world.

If Liu Biao was defeated, Huang Zu wouldn’t escape either.

It was better to proceed cautiously.

However, Sun Jian, having defeated several of Huang Zu’s interception forces, was now driven by the momentum of his rapid attacks and couldn’t be easily dissuaded.

Looking ahead, he said, “No, we can’t stop now! Just over a hundred li ahead is Lankouju. It’s the boundary between Jiangxia and Nanjun on the Han River and has always been a crucial defensive town. If Huang Zu occupies it, it would be even more troublesome than if he entered Dangyang. We must stop him.”

But seeing the fatigue on the faces of his soldiers, who had followed him from Yunmengze without much rest, Sun Jian decided to let them set up camp, have a hot meal, and rest for a while before continuing.

When the army set out again, the sound of hooves in the vast night returned to its previous thunderous pace, charging towards the next city.

However, in the same night, another force, alerted by messengers, was waiting for Sun Jian’s arrival.

It was Zhang Ji and Huang Zhong, who had stationed their troops early at Lankouju.

Huang Zu, the Prefect of Jiangxia, fleeing after his defeat, was part of Jia Xu’s plan, which Dong Zhuo had written to Liu Biao.

Huang Zu would have liked to defeat Sun Jian directly, but seeing Sun Jian’s military prowess, he knew he couldn’t and decided to stick to the plan.

According to Jia Xu’s analysis, Sun Jian, the fierce tiger, wouldn’t easily fall into a trap. They needed to provoke his fighting spirit, then repeatedly block his momentum until—

The final trap.

About twenty li south of Lankouju was a range of low hills.

Zhang Ji touched the long spear in his hand, a sharp glint in his eyes.

Dong Zhuo’s letter to Liu Biao had made his current situation very clear.

Zhang Ji didn’t know that the letter from Zhang Xiu was actually to ensure he wouldn’t be suspected of disloyalty by Dong Zhuo or implicated due to his nephew’s surrender. He felt he needed to achieve something significant to secure his position in the Liangzhou army.

Defending Chang’an didn’t prove his usefulness; this campaign in Jing Province was his best opportunity.

He turned to Huang Zhong beside him and said, “General, I’ll need your support later.”

Huang Zhong, promoted by Liu Biao, was loyal to him and naturally wanted to hold off Sun Jian’s advance.

He knew clearly that if Lankouju fell, Sun Jian could reach Xiangyang in less than a day.

They had no retreat!

If they couldn’t kill Sun Jian now, they would have to face him at Xiangyang.

Huang Zhong replied, “General Zhang, rest assured. Although ambushing is not the act of a true hero, to protect Jing Province and ensure our lord’s safety, we must do this to Sun Wentai.”

Sun Jian was indeed a fierce general of the realm, commanding respect, but they stood on opposite sides.

Hearing the tremors from the south growing closer, Zhang Ji suddenly spurred his horse forward.

The Liangzhou cavalry, well-trained, followed closely.

Before they had gone far, Huang Zu, who had deliberately slowed down before reaching this point, and Sun Jian, chasing from behind, came into Zhang Ji’s view.

Perfect timing!

Sun Jian hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

It wasn’t uncommon for him to gain an overwhelming advantage in battle, and this encounter with Huang Zu was no exception.

For him, catching up to Huang Zu’s remnants before reaching Lankouju was only natural.

The rest along the way left him without any fatigue from night fighting. Instead, he felt fully charged. The moment he realized Huang Zu had no more guards to form a defensive formation, Sun Jian didn’t hesitate to slash through the enemy before him, heading straight for Huang Zu.

Since participating in quelling the Xu Chang rebellion in Kuaiji during the Xiping era, Sun Jian had always fought bravely at the front. It was this leading-by-example that made him the unique core of his command.

Today’s battle was no exception!

Under the moonlight, Sun Jian, riding ahead with his striking red headscarf, was clearly visible to his followers.

Zu Mao, worried about Sun Jian’s actions, was also moved by his incredible charisma and followed on horseback.

This was the General Who Breaks the Barbarians they followed!

However, just as Sun Jian was about to swing his sword at Huang Zu’s head, a long spear intercepted him.

Sun Jian paused, his gaze coldly turning to the newcomer.

But in the heat of battle, the reflection from the cavalry officer’s armor made it hard to see his face or identify his origin.

Before Sun Jian could ask who he was, the opponent’s attacks grew fiercer.

The cavalry accompanying him broke into the formation, splitting Sun Jian’s pursuing force in two.

Compared to Huang Zu’s troops, these men had a seasoned, battle-hardened air, making Sun Jian wary.

“Scoundrel!” Sun Jian shouted, raising his sword to strike.

From their brief encounter, he could tell this was a formidable opponent, but he wasn’t afraid of the challenge!

It just meant one more enemy to kill!

The opponent’s spear technique was impressive, and his cavalry, mixing with Huang Gai and Zu Mao’s troops, held their own, fueling Sun Jian’s fighting spirit.

His eyes burned like fire, almost forgetting the fatigue from the chase, focusing entirely on Zhang Ji.

But his opponent, fierce in attack, retreated quickly upon realizing he was outmatched.

Sun Jian, thinking his opponent was a hero like himself, saw the man feint and then retreat with his spear.

Even Huang Zu, whom he had nearly captured, disappeared amidst the cavalry’s interference.

Furious, Sun Jian resolutely chose to pursue.

Whether it was Huang Zu or this sudden spear-wielding expert, his fighting spirit was left unsatisfied. If he couldn’t kill one of them tonight, he wouldn’t rest easy!

Zu Mao, having just cut down a cavalryman, could only see Sun Jian’s back as he chased with his close followers.

In his urgency, he forgot to call him General, shouting instead, “Wentai!”

But his voice was drowned out by the surrounding hoofbeats, let alone what he said next.

“This seems like—”

The Liangzhou army!

Distracted by the surrounding woods and caught off guard by the sudden attack, Sun Jian’s troops didn’t immediately recognize the cavalry’s origin.

They thought Liu Biao had stationed this capable force here to ensure Lankouju’s safety.

Given the Jing Province nobles’ determination to defend Xiangyang, it was possible to assemble such a cavalry unit.

But as Zu Mao cut down an enemy who hadn’t retreated in time, he clearly heard the man curse something.

The clash of weapons didn’t mask the sound, and in that instant, he realized something.

He had heard that accent before!

But not during battles in Jing Province—it was during the campaign against Dong Zhuo.

His heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding rising.

This didn’t seem like Liu Biao’s troops but more like the Liangzhou army.

Why would the Liangzhou army be here?

Whether Liu Biao had sought Dong Zhuo’s help or Dong Zhuo had intervened in Jing Province’s affairs, it meant Sun Jian was likely heading into a trap.

Realizing this, he shouted hoarsely, “No! Gongfu! Get Wentai to retreat!”

If the terrain ahead was open, it might be different, but the woods and uneven ground made it far more dangerous than their current position.

This wasn’t a retreat—it was a change of battlefield!

But not only did Zu Mao’s warning fail to reach Sun Jian, Sun Jian himself had already disappeared from their sight.

Zu Mao’s alertness peaked.

He hoped that even if Sun Jian encountered an ambush ahead, his bravery would allow him to fight his way back. Even waiting until dawn to act would be better.

But things didn’t go as hoped.

As he and Huang Gai organized a defensive force and moved forward, hearing the battle ahead and giving chase, they saw from afar…








The Xiliang general managed to block Sun Jian’s attack. At the same time, an arrow shot from the forest pierced Sun Jian’s forehead with deadly precision. This was at least a two-stone bow’s arrow, and it was enough to be fatal! Sun Jian groaned and fell off his horse. “Wentai!” “General Sun!” Huang Gai and Zu Mao cried out in panic. After Huang Zhong’s successful strike, Zhang Ji decisively slashed at Sun Jian’s neck, ensuring the fierce tiger of Jiangdong would not survive this battle. This was a strike to eliminate all roots. Sun Jian’s last bit of consciousness allowed him to hear the enemy’s counterattack order before he completely died. Almost simultaneously, not only did Zhang Ji’s Xiliang troops lure the enemy away, but Huang Zhong and his generals also launched a counterattack. Huang Zhong was appointed as a Middle General by Liu Biao for his bravery in battle, not just for his archery skills. Collaborating with Zhang Ji to kill Sun Jian was to cut off the enemy’s head, but now it was time to see him lead troops in a frontal battle! Sun Jian’s death left his troops leaderless. Despite Huang Gai and Zu Mao’s efforts to rally the soldiers, they couldn’t counterattack under the combined assault of Zhang Ji and Huang Zhong. In the ensuing forest battle, Zu Mao was killed by Zhang Ji, and Huang Gai managed to retrieve Sun Jian’s body and fled to Dangyang. Relying on his knowledge of the terrain and taking detours, Huang Gai finally escaped the enemy’s pursuit at dawn and reunited with Sun Ce. Exhausted, he knelt before Sun Ce with Sun Jian’s body. Sun Ce was thunderstruck. He had just received his father’s message to regroup but never expected to hear of his father and Zu Mao’s deaths. The 16-year-old boy clenched his teeth, looking at his father’s lifeless body and the blood on Huang Gai’s face. He remembered their ambitious march north to challenge Liu Biao and couldn’t help but feel sorrow. But he knew this was not the time for grief. Liu Biao’s troops and the sudden appearance of Xiliang forces might advance cautiously, but if given the chance, they would wipe out Sun Jian’s forces in Nan Commandery. He needed to quickly reorganize his troops and retreat. His father was dead, but Sun Ce couldn’t fall! In his grief, he regretted joking with his father about sharing the burden, never expecting to face such a situation. But he quickly composed himself, wiped his tears, and said, “Uncles, my father trusted you the most. Now, I, Sun Ce, humbly ask for your help.” Huang Gai, Han Dang, and Cheng Pu, who had arrived by boat, saluted Sun Ce, “Young General, just give the order.” “Our best path now is to return to Changsha Commandery. With General Zhu’s reputation and my father’s blood feud, I, Sun Ce, have the confidence to regroup and challenge Liu Biao again!” They lost cavalry but still had infantry strength. Returning south of the Yangtze River wouldn’t be difficult. Liu Biao couldn’t easily take Changsha Commandery even with Dong Zhuo’s support. This was the safest path. But Sun Ce declared firmly, “But I don’t plan to do that!” They had brought troops from Changsha across the river. Although they fought their way to Nan Commandery, they not only lost troops but also their commander, Sun Jian. Rebuilding wasn’t as simple as a few motivational words. Liu Biao wouldn’t give him time to develop peacefully. If Liu Biao further consolidated his power in Jing Province, Sun Ce would lose any chance to march north. So he had to break through this predicament! Remembering his conversation with Sun Jian, Sun Ce continued, “When my father was alive, we couldn’t attack Yuan Shu because we both received appointments from the Ye court. But now, we don’t need to worry about that. Let’s go to Lujiang!” To attack Yuan Shu! Sun Jian’s subordinates mourned their general’s death but were comforted to see Sun Ce’s commanding presence. The boy, who seemed to have grown up overnight, bowed deeply and said, “I, Sun Ce, humbly ask you to cross the Han River with me, relieve the siege of Shu County, join forces with the Lujiang Prefect, defeat Yuan Shu, take Yang Province, and then plan for Jing Province. Changsha is guarded by General Zhu, and my mother and siblings are safe. Let’s take a gamble for a way out!” Sun Ce wasn’t one to be trapped. His strategic mind wouldn’t let him take the usual path. With Sun Jian’s death, even the title of General Who Breaks the Enemy no longer bound them. Why not try to swallow Yuan Shu’s forces first and then counterattack Liu Biao! He wasn’t afraid of Liu Biao. He would avenge this sooner or later! Outside, thunder rumbled, and rain began to pour. In late September in Liangzhou, the long-awaited autumn rain finally arrived. Qiao Yan looked out the window, watching the rain quickly turn into a downpour. Interestingly, according to reports from Liangzhou’s commanderies, the rain stopped at Zhangye Commandery, not even covering the entire area, and only half of Wuwei Commandery was affected. The rain was heavier in Jincheng, Beidi, and Anding commanderies. This uneven rainfall reinforced Qiao Yan’s determination to complete water storage and diversion projects to prevent future droughts from devastating the newly stabilized Liangzhou. She turned her attention back to the report in front of her. The upheaval in Jing and Yang provinces was indeed earth-shattering, like a storm sweeping through. Zhang Ji, entering Jing Province through Wuguan, joined forces with Liu Biao’s Middle General Huang Zhong and Jiangxia Prefect Huang Zu to ambush Sun Jian successfully, killing the fierce tiger of Jiangdong. This meant that, for at least a year or two, Qiao Yan would have no southern allies to jointly attack Dong Zhuo. So she needed to stabilize Liangzhou to prevent Dong Zhuo from finding an opportunity. After Sun Jian’s death, Zhang Ji quickly retreated to Wuguan, returning to his position guarding the Guanzhong Plain, relieving Liu Biao’s worries about Dong Zhuo occupying Nanyang Commandery. Meanwhile, Sun Ce didn’t retreat to Changsha but instead took Sun Jian’s body and his old troops straight to Lujiang’s Shu County. Earlier in April, Yuan Shu had besieged Shu County, accusing Lujiang Prefect Lu Kang of withholding military supplies. After a long siege, Yuan Shu planned to take a break and watch the conflict between Sun Jian and Liu Biao, but instead became the center of attention. Sun Ce, filled with grief over his father’s death, attacked Yuan Shu’s camp at night, nearly beating Yuan Shu as if he were Liu Biao. Yuan Shu, shocked, tried to organize a counterattack but was driven back to Jiujiang Commandery by the enraged Sun Ce. Sun Ce, truly a worthy successor to his father, took advantage of the situation. With Yuan Shu attacking Lujiang, the Ye court appointed Yuan Yin from the Yuan Clan of Runan to replace Zhou Shang, the former Danyang Prefect and Zhou Yu’s uncle. This gave Sun Ce an excuse to march into Danyang. In just half a month, with Zhou Yu’s help, Sun Ce controlled Lujiang and Danyang, facing Yuan Shu across the river in a temporary stalemate. This report reached Qiao Yan’s desk. Guo Jia, tasked with luring Zheng Xuan to Bingzhou, was still in Liangzhou due to the need to deal with the local elites. After reading the report, he marveled at Jia Xu’s effectiveness in infiltrating Dong Zhuo’s ranks. It wasn’t easy to gain Dong Zhuo’s trust, but Jia Xu not only succeeded but also directed Dong Zhuo’s troops to Jing Province at the right time, killing Sun Jian and buying Qiao Yan more time to develop. With this move, Jia Xu secured a top spot among Qiao Yan’s strategists. No wonder Qiao Yan had specifically requested Jia Xu when she became the Governor of Bingzhou. Even though Jia Xu had been slacking off, Qiao Yan still valued him highly, even taking him on a mountain hike. Guo Jia stroked his chin, feeling a sense of crisis. He couldn’t help but ask, “Does Your Excellency think Wenhe overstepped this time?” Jia Xu’s silent scheme, killing Sun Jian, was good news for Qiao Yan—great news, in fact. But Sun Jian had been on friendly terms with Qiao Yan, and sending him to his death might seem like overstepping authority. So Guo Jia wanted to hear Qiao Yan’s thoughts. Amid the rain outside, Qiao Yan tapped the table rhythmically, deep in thought. Sun Jian… Sun Jian was a hero. Upon hearing of his death, Qiao Yan recalled their first meeting. Back then, Qiao Yan had just arrived in this world and felt a strange sense of familiarity seeing Sun Jian and Cao Cao, both at the start of their careers. She also remembered their meeting in Luoyang during the campaign against Dong Zhuo. As the leader of the second force to enter Luoyang, Sun Jian exuded an unstoppable vigor and was among the top military talents of the time. In her mind’s eye, she saw Sun Jian declaring his plan to join forces with Zhu Jun to attack Chang’an, full of heroic spirit. But since her orders to Jia Xu were to steer the southern chaos in her favor, Sun Jian’s fate seemed inevitable. Jing and Yang provinces couldn’t fall into the hands of someone as capable and charismatic as Sun Jian, or they would become a threat to her. Guo Jia noticed Qiao Yan’s tapping pause. At that moment, she spoke, “Fengxiao, I’ve always believed in one principle—” “Mercy to the enemy is cruelty to oneself.” So Sun Jian’s death was just that—Jia Xu did a splendid job!