Chapter 160

The tip of Kang Yu’s finger pointed to Saixian.

But the place we had been calling Saixian was somewhat distant.

Here is Saixian, there is Saixian, everywhere is Saixian.

All of them were indeed Saixian.

The first place called Saixian was where Kang Yu pointed. It was located slightly south along the Yangtze River from our current position at Hagu.

Saixian, which had existed since the Qin Dynasty, was later moved when Huang Zu, the governor of Jiangxia, built the Jueyue Fortress, also known as Anyuelou. This fortress is now known as Luoshan Fortress. This happened in the year 190.

Later, Sun Quan killed Huang Zu and in 223, built Hagu Fortress on Jiangxia Mountain, moving Saixian there. This is the Hagu we aim to capture.

Despite these twists and turns, Saixian settled on Jiangxia Mountain, but the old site was not abandoned. It had functioned as a village for hundreds of years.

People fleeing from war, those escaping the conflict between Sun Quan and Liu Bei over Jing Province, and those who returned to their homeland after Saixian was moved.

Various people gathered, forming a village on the old Saixian site. Although it was distant from the route from Jiangling to Hagu, we discovered it during reconnaissance for a suitable crossing point.

“The river next to old Saixian is not too wide, and the current is stable. There is also a mid-river island, making it possible to block the river with minimal effort.”

The mid-river island was an island in the middle of the river. Though Kang Yu made it sound simple, blocking a large river like the Yangtze is no easy task. Historically, Wu Yan blocked the upper reaches of the river.

However, with a mid-river island as a base, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

Seeing the possibility, Guo Yi eagerly added more details.

“The distance is also very suitable. It’s not too far, so we can arrive before the enemy and have time to block the river. The enemy won’t be able to decide to turn back once they reach here.”

Guo Yi, showing a strong presence today, and Kang Yu together explained the feasibility and suitability, naturally swaying the mood of the meeting.

“We must hurry. Just as General Zhongling arrived much earlier than expected, the enemy might do the same.”

“That possibility is not very high.”

The river’s flow rate is a constant, not a variable. The wind is the same; spring winds are not very strong.

The only way to change speed is by rowing, but that has its limits. Rowing is extremely labor-intensive.

The limited variability in speed is both an advantage and a disadvantage of water routes.

“General Kang will lead the vanguard to block the river route, and our main force will move once the central army has recovered its strength.”

The meeting concluded. Once the central army’s fatigue is relieved, Shang Chong will take responsibility for besieging Hagu Fortress, and I will lead the Lanling Army south to intercept the enemy’s reinforcements at old Saixian.

During the meeting, Kang Yu mentioned Chang’an City. It was similar to that situation. To break the enemy holding an impregnable stronghold, we cut off their reinforcements and demoralized them.

The difference is that Chang’an City was a truly formidable fortress, difficult to capture even when demoralized, but it had internal issues. Hagu Fortress, while filled with exceptional talents, is not as strong as Chang’an.

If no reinforcements come, capturing Hagu Fortress after Bozul’s support is cut off is a foregone conclusion. Capturing Sun Ding alone could allow us to take Wuchang and Qichun without bloodshed!

Sun Ding’s presence making Hagu Fortress harder to capture might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Whether retreating from Jingling or Wuling to Eastern Wu by boat, one must pass through Hagu. Recognizing its importance, Sun Ding personally came to the battlefield to stop me.

If Sun Ding hadn’t come, I am certain that by now, the flag flying over Hagu Fortress would bear “Han” instead of “Wu.”

From that perspective, Sun Ding’s judgment seems correct.

‘But that was a short-sighted decision.’

In the short term, defending Hagu was beneficial, but in the long term, the loss from Sun Ding’s capture is much greater than the time gained.

Sun Ding likely thought he wouldn’t be captured. Defending Hagu, whether reinforcements came from Yiyang, Wuling, Jingling, or even if Sun Quan resolved the conflict with Wei and came himself.

If reinforcements arrived just once more, defending Hagu would bring immense benefits without loss, making it a gamble worth taking.

But reckless bravery must be punished.

After sending Kang Yu’s vanguard to old Saixian, I prepared to leave, gradually taking over from Shang Chong’s central army.

It’s better if the enemy realizes our movements late. No matter how perfect the plan seems, they might come up with some unexpected countermeasure.

Who knows if they might pull off something crazy like tying fire to ox tails to break the siege, as in the Warring States period. We must minimize the time they have to realize the situation and devise countermeasures.

Therefore, after the handover with Shang Chong’s central army was complete, I secretly left Hagu Fortress under the cover of night.

§

As Chang-ran predicted, the speed of the reinforcements led by Bozul, Seo Seong, and Sonso was steady without dramatic changes.

Upon hearing that Crown Prince Sun Ding was at Hagu Fortress, Seo Seong was eager to arrive as soon as possible, even willing to row himself, but Bozul’s dissuasion only made him sigh deeply.

However, Bozul was not idle.

He sent small boats to spread the news of the reinforcements’ arrival and, without overexerting, increased the number of rowers to slightly speed up.

Whether due to these efforts or the heavens favoring their determination, they seemed likely to arrive a few days earlier than expected. With this, they could reach Hagu Fortress, protect Sun Ding, and begin a counteroffensive.

But their advance was halted.

“What? The path is blocked?”

“Yes! The scout boats ahead reported that the river route is blocked by iron chains and iron rods.”

“How could they block the route with iron chains and rods!”

Sonso, listening to the report beside Bozul, spoke.

“Ahead is where Saixian was before Huang Zu moved it. There must be a forge there; they could have made them.”

“No, even with a forge, how could they make them so quickly? These aren’t things you can produce in a day or two.”

Making iron rods isn’t difficult. They don’t need to last forever; just strong enough for a few uses. Melt iron, pour it into molds, and drive them into the riverbed.

But making iron chains requires more precise work.

“They must have used two short chains instead of one long chain, utilizing the mid-river island. If they mobilized all the people and soldiers, working day and night, it’s possible.”

Sonso, more knowledgeable about naval matters than Bozul, having fortified defenses at a young age, believed it was possible. Bozul had no choice but to trust him.

“Ugh… If we push through with the fleet, can we break through?”

“With small boats, it’s impossible. With warships, it should be enough.”

“Then…”

“There’s a risk of the ships running aground.”

“No! Running aground would be disastrous! Using warships to remove iron chains and rods…”

“Well, there are many methods. If physically removing them is difficult, we can just send people to dismantle them.”

Nature’s cliffs and waterfalls are one thing, but these are man-made; surely, they can be removed by human hands.

Despite Sonso’s casual remark, Bozul’s furrowed brow remained.

“They must know that too. Those who set this up are still around. If we send people to dismantle them, they will surely interfere. They’ve set up defenses on the mid-river island; it’s obvious.”

Already troubled by their Yuan Rong and Qiang Nu crossbows, which can disrupt formations from afar, defending against them is difficult.

‘But removing the iron chains is possible. They know that too.’

Even if they station troops on the mid-river island and guard the chains, if the Wu army is determined to attack, they will be overwhelmed. The determination of the defenders is admirable, but it’s just a delaying tactic.

‘In the end, the real obstacle is the iron rods driven into the riverbed.’

Driving iron rods is easy; removing them is harder.

How long would it take to remove all the iron rods? There’s no guarantee Hagu Fortress can hold out that long.

As Bozul hesitated, Seo Seong, watching impatiently, shouted.

“Our generals have exerted themselves to the utmost, risking their lives to unite Xuchang and Luoyang for the country, and though we couldn’t swallow Shu, our Crown Prince has risen for the nation! How can we stand idly by! Isn’t this shameful!”

Seo Seong’s resounding cry in front of the gathered soldiers and officers truly reflected the spirit of Wu’s great generals.

“If the water route is blocked, we should go by land! Every moment counts! Even now, Hagu Fortress is under enemy attack; what is there to hesitate about!”