My Father in Law is Lu Bu Chapter 246 part2

246 Part 2

Xu Shu then asked Liu Mang "Milord! Why have you not send any generals to storm in?!" Xu Shu was really confused because the South Gate had been breached and Qing Province Soldiers will not be able to close it again. At this point of juncture, Liu Mang could just order to do siege and with White Riders3 as its vanguard, Qing Province Soldiers and Guan Yu will be entrapped inside the city. Liu Mang then said to Xu Shu "Yuanzhi! They are cornered beasts and cornered beasts will unleash their last burst strength if we keep on pressing them. Yes, we had breached Shouchun South Gate, but their numbers is almost intact 10,000 Qing Province Soldiers and they are very formidable foes especially cornered like this. Also, Guan Yu Guan Yunchang's martial arts skill is magnificent. It is comparable to my honorable father-in-law!"

"Yes sir!" Xu Shu acknowledged his words. Although Xu Shu's mouth said "Yes", but his eyes is fixated on Liu Mang, kept asking his real reasons. Making Liu Mang embarassed.

Xu Shu thought What nonsense are Milord is saying? Cornered beast? They are not worth mentioning at all!!! Those Qing Province Soldiers will become mincemeat once they encounter these heavy infantries we possess. Also, Guan Yu's prowess as good as Marquis of Wen? We can end him with Huang Zhong, Xu Sheng, Wang Wei and Zhao Yun attack together, let him taste what Marquis of Wen felt at Hulao Gate. The very reason Liu Mang is giving mercy is because he really respected Guan Yu back in the present. Readers, you know that Guan Yu's effigy is everywhere and he is revered by all of Chinese people also his stories, whether it is fact or fiction, still piqued anyone's interest even now. For that very reason, Liu Mang showed mercy to him now as his respect did not diminish even a bit back then.

So, Liu Mang did not order his army to attack. Giving Lord Guan The Second a chance to slip through. Liu Mang knew well Guan Yu's stubbornness and he is impossible to surrender and would rather be annihilated in battle as proven when he is defeated by Lu Meng at Maicheng and by Cao Cao at Xiapi. Liu Mang's gaze then fixated at South Gate and said in soft tone "Oh Lord Guan The Second, this mercy is because I respected you. Next time, I shall have your life!!! Also, if you happened to be at that gate blocking me instead of escaping, this Shouchun will be your grave!!!" In this world, there is nothing that cannot be destroyed.

Really Guan Yu did not let Liu Mang feel disappointed. After South Gate fell, he decisively shouted order to retreat. When he retreated he assigned 3,000 troops to guard his rear. But strangely, no one is pursuing him and it made him felt really strange. Liu Mang now entered Shouchun, with Urban Army entered first as they are better equipped and can anticipate any retaliation, followed by Black Flag and craftsmen and commoners and finally with Zhao Yun's Urban Army Cavalry which had turned into Zhao Yun's White Riders. When they entered Shouchun, the city was on fire that was burnt by Guan Yu in order to shake off their pursuers, the fire was made by any of the supplies that he cannot carry. Liu Mang then ordered to put off the fire. Fortunately Liu Mang got 50,000 commoners following him and being commoners they are sensitive to fire, so they quickly responded to Liu Mang's order.

Yang Hong, being Liu Mang's head butler, organized poor families to forage supplies from the town and got a big surprise. Provisions got 20,000-shi in Shouchun warehouse while the burnt provisions had several thousand-shi. Arrows got a lot, but was picked out by those poor families into unusable and usable. Usable arrows got 200,000 pieces. Defensive maneuvers such as rolling stones, spiked woods and other weaponry also got a lot. Really! Liu Bei had this many items. Thought Liu Mang. Liu Mang then sighed in relief and thought With this kind of provisions, Guan Yu will be able to last for at least 6 months. Fortunately, those craftsmen were able to built catapults to simplify this battle. If not, I will fight a very arduous, unefficient battle for likely a month or two with insurmountable casualties. Nevertheless, those 20,000-shi provisions and 200,000 piece of arrows become Liu Mang's first war spoils. Then Liu Mang asked Zhao Yun while smiling "Zilong, how do you like your White Riders?!"

"Report Milord, it is very good, doing battle is no problem at all!!!" Replied Zhao Yun earnestly. Zhao Yun is really satisfied leading Urban Army Cavalry. Regarding warhorses, Urban Army Cavalry's warhorses are comprised of pure breed Arabic warhorse. These warhorses is especially breed for cold weaponry cavalries and perhaps when the era hot weaponry came, these warhorses will become cargo carriers. Regarding soldiers, Zhao Yun also had no complaints as they are very disciplined being trained by Liu Mang and Cheng Yu back in Wancheng. Regarding heavy armor, the heavy armor is really light. Weighted only 20 pounds.

With everything is already really good, this cavalries can fight anything in the battlefield. Zhao Yun already rated this cavalry to be extremely complete. His heart now burning with desire to follow Gongsun Zan's role of repelling those beyond the Great Wall, to tell that White Riders still exist and will continue as invaders nightmare.

Actually today, Zhao Yun want to test this cavalry might, but did not have a chance to do so. Also today, Zhao Yun's mind is split into two. The opponent today is old friend, Guan Yu Guan Yunchang. Zhao Yun's impression of him is very good as they are once ally. If not for that job advertisement, perhaps Zhao Yun address Guan Yu as Second General. Right now, with Liu Mang asked how did he like his White Riders, made Zhao Yun earnestly and completely attached to Liu Mang. Feeling friendship toward Liu Bei and co, now switched to his lord and his current comrades. So, General Guan, so sorry!!! This Zhao Yun will use you to reintroduce White Riders again. (TN: Put a troll face from author on this sentence)

Liu Mang smiled and said "That is good then! Zilong, you bring your White Riders to Huai River riverside. Convey my words to General Guan Yu!!!" Liu Mang really satisfied that Zhao Yun puts his duty above friendship and anything else. "Eh, only deliver message?! What message, Milord?!" Replied Zhao Yun confused. "Tell him "General Guan, thank you for the arrows!!!" Liu Mang responded instinctively. Those are the words said by Kongming to troll Cao Cao at the Battle of Chibi. One can see how stressed out Cao Cao when he knew that 100,000 of his arrows were taken. And now, Guan Yu lost 200,000 arrows at the very least and 20,000-shi provisions, Liu Mang is smiling when he thought about Guan Yu's reaction.

"Yes sir!" Answered Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun is really confused because of Liu Mang's smile but he carried out his order quickly.  Zhao Yun ordered with his spear "All troops, ride up!!!" And all of Urban Army quickly followed his order. Zhao Yun had not been long with these cavalries but their heart already been subjugated by Zhao Yun by his martial arts prowess and his personality. Then they quickly goes to North Gate toward wharf.

Hehe, I finally had a cavalry unit The White Riders and its leader the Incomparable Zhao Yun Zhao Zilong. Thought Liu Mang while smiling. Liu Mang got two reasons to form cavalry, one is to obtain a high mobile unit. Two, because he want to compare with Lu Bu who had better cavalry unit. He want to see Lu Bu's stunned face when his White Riders managed to be on-par with his Bing Province Wolf Cavalry.

Bing Province Wolf Cavalry and White Riders, both of them can be considered like Muramasa and Masamune. Bing Province Wolf Cavalry is brutal and bloodthirsty much like Muramasa and their leader Lu Bu, while White Riders only kill those who deserved it such as invaders, much like Masamune and their leader Zhao Yun. They are both two extremes that Liu Mang really needed.

Zhao Yun and White Riders goes out from north gate as there lies Guan Yu's ship to Runan. Although White Riders speed is very quick, but Zhao Yun ordered them to be vigilant all the time. He did not want to be ambushed the second time. Once is enough!! That ambush he thought happened during his service of Gongsun Zan. At that time, a general of Yuan Shao named Ju Yi ambushed White Riders and the result is White Riders lost really badly. And luckily, Zhao Yun's vigilant is proved to be wrong as Guan Yu did not put up any ambushes at all as past Shouchun north gate, there is only vast prairie with no place for hide. Zhao Yun then reached northern wharf where he saw Guan Yu and his troops are boarding ships, prepared to leave Huai River. Guan Yu just sitting in the castle alone, pondering the event silently. This battle is 100% lost cause because of that weapon. Shouchun lost, provisions lost, weaponry lost. Thought Guan Yu, blaming himself. That brat Liu Mang did not even suffer any casualties, but neither me, my loss is just around 100 troops. What is truly going on here? Thought Guan Yu again, slapping his thighs as hard as he can. Also regarding those provisions, we aren't able to evacuate all of them, so we burn them, but we can only burn so little Thought Guan Yu, taking a deep breath after that.

Also, why the hell he did not pursue me? My retreat is too smooth!!! I had prepared those 3,000 troops to be sacrifice, but everyone is unscathed, what is going on here? Thought Guan Yu and then he gritted his tooth as if he realized something. "MRRGGGHHHH!!!!! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!" Guan Yu standing up fiercely and glared at the direction of Shouchun angrily. Prince of Shu, you mock me, you showed me mercy!!! I will never forget this affront!!! Screamed Guan Yu silently. If not for his mercy, he will never return alive in this battle and will die with 10,000 Qing Province Soldiers together.

While Guan Yu is very bitter, suddenly Tao Quan reported "General, it is strange, why Liu Mang army send a cavalry against our fleet?!" "Hrm?" Guan Yu stunned and quickly walk and get out of the castle and standing on the deck. He saw there are really white battle-dressed cavalry troops bearing two flags, one is Liu and one is Zhao. Liu's flag is golden-yellowish, that is representing what army they belong to, while Zhao flag is representing the commander of this cavalry, Zhao Zilong.

“Is Zilong!”Guan Yu thought that he in the Shouchun city saw Liu Mang general’s subordinates commanded that several hundred cavalry soldiers was Zhao Yun Zhao Zilong! Is his old acquaintance, original Zhao Yun appears in Liu Mangjun, Guan Yu also very much has doubts, because Liu Mang army approaches, therefore has placed the one side!

It is really Zilong Thought Guan Yu, really surprised. He is pondering the reason on why he send cavalry soldiers to chase them. That Liu Mang should had send warship to intercept us, unless…. Thought Guan Yu while smiling at the end of his thought. Guan Yu had come to a conclusion that Zhao Yun had come to join him and his brother. Guan Yu really thought that His Highness Prince of Shu is just using Zhao Yun for show only and he did not have military authority, right now after his use is finished, he was ousted. If not how can there be hundred of cavalries here? Also Liu Mang belongs to Lu Bu army and Lu Bu had a smelly street reputation which Zhao Yun hated very much.

In Liu Bei army, Zhao Yun is regarded the fourth brother among Peach Garden Oath Brothers. Even Liu Bei shared a bed with Zhao Yun. Guan Yu is really smiling now, although he lost Shouchun, but he can obtain a senior general named Zhao Yun also several heavy cavalries. It is an equal sacrifice as Shouchun can be recaptured later. Liu Bei really in needs of cavalry.

Guan Yu then ordered his subordinate to dock so Zhao Yun can climb up but stopped his every movements when he heard Zhao Yun's army yelling, making Guan Yu's face color shifting very much. His color of his face shifted so quickly as if he was Chinese opera actor4. After he calmed himself down, then Guan Yu just hung his head shamefully and lost his balance. Tao Quan then hold his arms and inquired "General, what is the matter with you?!" "Zizhang, help me into the castle!" Said Guan Yu, he had lost any strength left from his legs and arms. His pride was attacked severely today by retreating from Shouchun and now all what's left of his pride, now washed by those words.

"Yes sir!!!" Tao Quan responded and walked Guan Yu to the castle. When he heard that sound, his heart also sank. Because the words said "Milord, His Highness Prince of Shu, thanks General Guan Yu for gift of 200,000 arrows!!!" 200 people all saying those words together, making the riverside really noisy.

TN Notes:

1) Early chapters that me and James translated, White Feathered Warriors called White Eared Soldier, this is the truth for both translation. But I believe White Feathered is more appropriate than White Eared. Therefore, in the future, White Eared will be turned into White Feathered.

2) Too much redundancy, I will do a summary on that as the event already elaborated in the previous chapters.

3) Penetrating White Horse Cavalry → not good in long run, too mouthful. I changed it into White Riders.

Gamer Notes

4) Just for those who do not know, Chinese Opera actors wear masks. They can also change it really quickly like those clothes changing magic tricks.

Chapter end