My Father in Law is Lu Bu Chapter 244 part1

Chapter 244 - Escapist Liu Wildest Dream

Zhuge Liang then cupped his fist and said "General Wen Ping, Liang also brought two generals with him to Sanjiangkou. Hope general can accommodate them!!!" Hmm, two generals. Wen Ping already noticed those two who are standing at Zhuge Liang's behind. He observed that their skill in martial arts is very good and looking the way their eyes flicker, they should have an outstanding ability. As of now, Wen Ping is impossible not to hear to Zhuge Liang's words, even if they have concealed meanings. By bringing two generals with Zhuge Liang, it already implies that he want Wen Ping want military authority for himself. If before, Wen Ping will not hand over military authority to him, even if he was asked, he will dodge the request. Now it is different, Zhuge Liang had demonstrated his ability enough to make him pleasantly surprised. So, Wen Ping, although he knitted his brows, complies with a smile "Not to worry!!! I will allocate 10,000 troops to be under your two generals!!!" The very reason that Wen Ping is just easily assigned 10,000 troops is because those 10,000 troops are not trained and raised by him. Wen Ping's direct descendant are those 40,000 troops which has been cut down by 10,000 troops from a skirmish two days ago. Those 10,000 troops that he allocated were Huang Zu's leftovers. Their home of Jiangxia had been seized by Jiangdong, their morale is at their lowest, their only hope is for their lord Huang Zu to come back from Jing Province with reinforcements and help them to drive Sun Ce out of their home. But Huang Zu has already thought that Jiangxia has no more value in reclaiming so he just returned to Jing Province alone in shame and leaving them guiltily.

He also knows that if he took those Jiangxia troops back to Jing Province for refuge, they will not want that and perhaps will do a mutiny. It would be better to leave them to Wen Ping, and he at least can just leave behind his emotions and sentiments toward them.  Wen Ping is now the new rising superstar in Liu Biao's eyes, much like Huang Zu in the past

. At that time, Huang Zu is the shining star of Jing Province. He is one of Liu Biao's first generals who commanded all of Jing Province soldiers, even Cai Mao and Zhang Yun are under him and call him general. His greatest achievement is killing Sun Jian of Changsha Commandery. After that, Huang Zu grew old, lost that courage, lost Jiangxia that was his award for killing Sun Jian, as well lost Cai Mao's and Zhang Yun's respect. And come Wen Ping to replace him. They are both generals, and Wen Ping did not treat Huang Zu coldly, therefore they strike a quick friendship with each other. Therefore, Huang Zu can hand over his troops to Wen Ping. But friendship is just a friendship, that is all. So Wen Ping throw those Jiangxia troops to Zhuge Liang unhesitantly. Zhuge Liang then said to those two generals "Quick, kneel down and thanked General Wen Ping!!!" Zhuge Liang really surprised that Wen Ping comes out with such big numbers. He initially thought that Wen Ping will only assign 3,000 troops at most and he need to negotiate with him as the number is the minimal needed to slowly overtake military authority from Wen Ping.

Instead, Wen Ping unexpectedly provided them with 10,000 troops. He got more than he had bargained for. So Zhuge Liang made his subordinate to thank profusely. Those two generals quickly knelt, cupped their fist and said "We, Huo Jun and Li Yan, would like to express our thank you toward General Wen Ping for providing us chance to shine in this army!!!" Wen Ping then said "Please, dispense with the formalities!!! You are military adviser's recommended people, naturally you are all outstanding person in our Jing Province. We worked under one lord. If you must give thanks, please direct it to our lord!!!!" Wen Ping said those words smoothly. Otherwise he will not obtain Liu Biao's trust.

Regarding those two, we will provide brief trivia now. Huo Jun, his styled name is Zhongmiao. He is a native of Zhijiang, Nanyang. His older brother Huo Du, rallied a several hundred man to perform militia. After Huo Du’s death, Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province, put Huo Jun in command of the militia and in responsibility for several hundred people. Unfortunately, he is unable to gain Liu Biao favor and did not entrusted with heavy responsibilities. The reason Zhuge Liang liked this person, is even though his men only numbered several hundreds, he managed to train them into becoming elites. Also he is a very pleasant person and able to see everything from Zhuge Liang's point of view. (TN: Most of Huo Jun's biography were taken from kongming.net and Rafe De Crespigny's translation. Its raws also wrote the same. THANK YOU BOTH OF YOU!!!!)

And now Li Yan. He is also known as Li Ping, his styled name is Zhengfang. He is a native of Nanyang and can be said that he is one of Zhuge Liang's fellow hometowns mate. Why I said hometowns? Because Zhuge Liang got two hometowns, one is Xu Province Langye and the other is Nanyang. (TN: FUCK YOU AUTHOR!!!!)

Li Yan worked as a civil clerk in Jing Province under the provincial governor Liu Biao, and had earned himself a reputation of being competent. However, his time as a clerk did not last long, as he is later was reassigned to become sheriff. And with Zhuge Liang now worked as Liu Biao's subordinate and was assigned to Jiangxia as military adviser, naturally he resigned from his post and follow Zhuge Liang. With his own trusted friends on board, they become his left arm and right arm. Huo Jun is good at defense and Li Yan is good at offense and they are complementing each other. Also they are of similar age, and share common tongue. They are Zhuge Liang's first men in order to obtain Jing Province military authority.

After the banquet, Zhuge Liang did not return to rest, instead he went to his military camp as there lies the 10,000 men provisioned by Wen Ping. Zhuge Liang knows that these men are remnant of Jiangxia's army. Their state now is really pitiful, their hometown was seized, they are beaten, their lord is abandoning them as Huang Zu is retreating toward Lingling commandery alone. Their morale is at the lowest, and they have an innate fear of Jiangdong army. No wonder Wen Ping quickly reassigned them to Zhuge Liang almost immediately. But this is still good!!! Zhuge Liang then took a deep breath and thought decisively Fine, since nobody wants you, I will let you be my first army. These army is the one called sorrowful army. A sorrowful army's battle efficiency is none, their morale is very low and its personnel possessed innate fear of battle and once they are dispatched, the result is annihilation. Out of those 10,000 people maybe one-third can fight, can become his trump card  as they are familiar with Jiangxia and its waters, also if Zhuge Liang said that he is fighting to reclaim their home, they will invigorated. Zhuge Liang then ordered "Zhongmiao, Zhengfang, I will assign each of you 5,000 troops. Zhongmiao is the general while Zhengfang is the deputy!!! Take your time to train them, I want to see a different Jiangxia army next time we convene again!!!" Since Huo Jun is more calmer out of those two, Zhuge Liang appointed him as general.

"Yes, military adviser!!! We will not disappoint military adviser!!!" Those two cupped their fists and go to their respective position. Both of them were very grateful toward Zhuge Liang, if not for Zhuge Liang, possibly they will work as sheriff until old age and thanks to Zhuge Liang again, that they are leading 5,000 troops at this age. "I hope so!!!" Zhuge Liang replied. However even if these two cannot make Jiangxia Navy into their hoped trump card, Zhuge Liang still have another plan to snatch military authority from Wen Ping's hand and that one is really ugly. Zhuge Liang thought Defecting to Jiangdong is not such a bad idea and The Handsome Zhou will become buddy-buddy with me.

The news of Sleeping Dragon become an official will quickly reach Fledgling Phoenix ear as he still reign supreme in Jing Province. Right now Fledgling Phoenix is already serving his chosen wise lord, which is The Escapist Liu in Runan. In terms of origin, Fledgling Phoenix's origin is much bigger than him. He is Lord Pang's nephew and Pang clan is a very big clan in Jing Province. Since Pang Tong was small, he had been engaged in scholarly education, so he is well versed in literature. Unfortunately Pang Tong felt an inferior complex due to his stature. He is black, fat and very short. However he is able to be confident as he is still had ability. When Zhuge Liang came, that complex come out again as Zhuge Liang can be said surpassing him in all abilities, in stratagem, in literature, even when playing Go!!!! He can be considered as a GaoFuShuai character. So when they are under Master Shuijing's tutelage, Pang Tong always looking trouble with Zhuge Liang, in order to insult him for having lower views than him, when they are studying he always said how do you view that? How do you view this? Zhuge Liang is only a bit older than Pang Tong, so he treats Pang Tong, and it infuriates him more and tried to outwit Zhuge Liang more and more, in order for Zhuge Liang to treat him as equal. However Zhuge Liang knows about his complex and usually compliant to his every inquiries in order not to agitate him further and ruining their relationship. However, Zhuge Liang's compliant nature made Pang Tong felt that he is feeling sorry for him. So at that time, Pang Tong who had chosen Escapist Liu, made a bet with Zhuge Liang with a wager that whomever wise lord lost, the loser must work as a servant for the winner one. While Zhuge Liang did not really care for the result, Pang Tong is really fired up with Zhuge Liang acceptance of the bet and determined to win at all cost.

In historical timeline, after Pang Tong had joined Escapist Liu's roster, he took the same post as Zhuge Liang as a military adviser and a General of Household. How can an army had 2 military advisers? This is already one of Zhuge Liang's patience. After that, Pang Tong, in order to eclipse himself over Zhuge Liang, proposed 3 stratagems for Escapist Liu to obtain Sichuan and of course Escapist Liu heard and prepared to go with his plan, it made Pang Tong really happy. However, due to Pang Tong aggressiveness in order to eclipse Zhuge Liang, he made rash decision and finally died by volley in Luofengpo. Really, rushing to prove yourself can only make you a dead man. And now, in this alternate universe, he had chosen Escapist Liu again. This time Escapist Liu without Xu Shu and Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong can be considered as chief strategist. He really felt flying as Liu Bei is depending himself so much, this feeling is a first time to him.

(TN: FUCK THE AUTHOR, SAYING LIU BEI WITH ONLY LIU PAOPAO, RUNNING LIU HERE, RUNNING LIU THERE, ESCAPIST LIU HERE, ESCAPIST LIU THERE. FROM NOW ON, RUNNING LIU, ESCAPIST LIU, IS CALLED BY HIS OWN REAL NAME LIU BEI!!!! AND FUCK YOU ALL SJW WHO DID NOT LIKE MY TRANSLATION!!!!!) "Master Pang, what is our next course of action?" Asked Liu Bei. His eyes is glittering with hope toward Pang Tong. This person is really had great ability, he just joined his Liu Bei army and he already proposed to him a lot of strategies. One of them by dispatching a messenger toward Fort Wan and shows good will to Zhang Xiu who occupied Fort Wan. Fort Wan is actually located in Jing Province however he is more near to Yu Province rather than Jing Province and Liu Bei's Runan is very near to Fort Wan. Runan had four neighbours. One of those neighbours were Lujiang who was occupied by Lu Bu army. Lu Bu played Liu Bei, he snatched Xu Province from his hand. Liu Bei played Lu Bu, almost killed him in Xiapi. Also in original history, when Lu Bu tried to pledge his allegiance to Cao Cao, Liu Bei intervened and said "Brother Mengde, please remember what happened to Ding Yuan and Dong Zhuo" Those words alone, made Lu Bu passed away and missing in the ocean of history. So, it can be said Liu Bei army and Lu Bu army are arch-enemies and want to tear apart both skins. If Lu Bu was in Hefei, he will explode immediately and do fight to the death with Liu Bei, fortunately it is Liu Mang who was here as he is not so hot-headed like Lu Bu and will definitely succeed in Chen Gong's plan for opening up territory.

The second neighbor, is Cao Cao, Cao Mengde. This is also an enemy as Liu Bei had signed his name on a manifesto proposed by Dong Cheng, the manifesto allegedly written by Emperor Xian with his blood. However, the real reason Liu Bei pit himself against Cao Cao is pretty unclear. Cao Cao believed him to the max. Guo Jia and the others had proposed Cao Cao for God knows how many times to cut him down, as this person is ambitious and not a quiet person, but Cao Cao rejected their idea. He kept thinking that his worthy brother Xuande is a good person. During their discussion over hero, Cao Cao knew that Liu Bei is a rogue, a thorn on his side. But Cao Cao kept trusting Liu Bei, even providing him with 20,000 Qing Province elites and made sure that Liu Bei's provision is always fulfilled even if his own is lacking.

But even with that overtly good treatment, Liu Bei still stabbed Cao Cao in the back. Liu Bei abandoned his benefactor all this time and killed Cao Cao's general Che Zhou, snatching back Xu Province from his hand. And that was the final straw on his patience, Cao Cao then gathered his army and expel Liu Bei out of Xu Province. And if Guandu is not raging, Cao Cao will chase Liu Bei even to the ends of earth, therefore Liu Bei and Cao Cao is unreconcilable. Even when Liu Bei was expelled, Cao Cao still did not feel any better, so he assigned Cao Ren as a guardian of Yingchuan Commandery and Wuping Commandery and had Xun Yu oversee everything in Xu Du. Cao Cao is afraid that if he let his guard down, Liu Bei will come and end everything about him. The third neighbour is Liu Biao of Jing Province. Although Liu Biao of Jing Province and Liu Bei shared the same Han ancestor, Liu Biao looks down on this Liu Bei. He had no good impression on Liu Bei and historically when Liu Bei goes to Jing Province, he only provided him with small town of Xin Ye. Liu Biao's impression of Liu Bei is that Liu Bei is a charlatan and a hoodlum that must be killed at any cost.

Chapter end