Chapter Sixty-Eight: The War Begins

Before dawn had fully broken, the scouts who had been sent to observe the Huangmen Pavilion returned.

A few days ago, Shen Chen had celebrated his eleventh birthday. Though his features still bore some traces of youth, he was growing taller and more robust with each passing day.

Recently, he had begun practicing archery.

In an era of war, merely reading books without honing one’s martial skills was out of the question. Even those so-called scholars were, in truth, brimming with martial prowess. There was little need to mention men like Wang Lang and Xu Shu, who were known to take up blades and fight. Even Zhuge Liang and Wang Can went about with swords at their waists and practiced regularly.

In fact, Xianshan Academy also taught swordsmanship, and the eldest disciple, Pan Jun, personally instructed his juniors in the art. As a high-ranking general of Eastern Wu in later years, Pan Jun’s martial skills were formidable. He was renowned for his valor—at one point, he even attempted to execute Lü Yi, Sun Quan’s favored courtier, and only failed because Sun Quan intervened.

Under such diligent instruction, the scholars of Xianshan Academy became quite capable. Though they could not compare to battle-hardened generals, it was not easy for mere three or five men to approach them.

Shen Chen, being younger, had yet to reach his full strength. With no one his age to spar with, he could only practice swordplay against wooden dummies, following Pan Jun’s teachings. After more than a year, he had acquired some measure of martial skill—his arms had grown sturdier, and in a few years more, he would surely possess considerable strength.

Yet swordplay was, at best, a means of self-defense in close quarters. For true technical mastery, archery was essential.

After all, a bow was the only tool that allowed one to strike from afar—far safer than hand-to-hand combat.

Gan Ning acted as Shen Chen’s archery instructor, frequently taking him hunting in the mountains. Since becoming the commander of Huyang, Gan Ning often came to Huangmen Pavilion for food and drink. The local economy and handicrafts prospered, making the place the busiest marketplace among the neighboring towns.

On this particular day, Shen Chen was practicing his archery again. Outside the manor lay a vast training ground with targets for archers—a place where Deng Zhao, Shen Zhen, and others drilled their troops.

The Huangmen Pavilion’s guard force had grown to twelve hundred men, stationed near the training ground.

Gan Ning was overseeing Shen Chen’s archery practice. Aside from the two of them, many soldiers were also training nearby—not with bows, but with blades, practicing their swordsmanship in pairs or small skirmishes with wooden weapons and shields, simulating real battle as closely as possible without live weapons.

Shen Chen used a small bow, suitable for children—nothing like the powerful war bows, which required greater strength. Even at full draw, his arrows could reach only thirty or forty meters. For now, he focused mainly on perfecting his stance.

The stance was everything in archery. So, from sunrise, he had not released a single arrow, but had stood in position for over an hour.

His back and waist ached as he gritted his teeth and persevered. Suddenly, a fast horse galloped to the training ground’s entrance, halted, and its rider hurried to report to Deng Zhao, who was drilling the troops.

After hearing the report, Deng Zhao nodded and walked toward Shen Chen. Out of the corner of his eye, Shen Chen saw this and was about to lower his bow when a sharp crack sounded.

Gan Ning had struck his right arm with a wooden board, sending a jolt of pain through his body. Shen Chen grimaced and protested, “Uncle Xingba, why did you hit me?”

Gan Ning snorted, “You deserved it. A true general must remain composed and undistracted. How can you let your focus waver during practice?”

Shen Chen had no choice but to resume his stance.

When Deng Zhao approached, he said, “Achen, the scouts have returned. Cao Cao’s army has indeed appeared near the Yu River and is currently camped at Bowang County.”

“…Ah.”

Shen Chen glanced at Gan Ning. Gan Ning tossed aside the wooden board, signaling that he could rest. Shen Chen put down his bow, sat on the ground, and massaged his arm. “It seems war is upon us again. But this is also our chance for revenge.”

Deng Zhao frowned. “Achen, you’re not thinking of fighting Cao Cao’s army, are you? They say he has brought tens of thousands of battle-hardened men. We have only a little over a thousand here at Huangmen Pavilion—how can we be a match for them?”

Shen Chen stood and replied, “Uncle, please summon my father and Sixth Granduncle. Uncle Xingba, you should come as well—we need to prepare for battle.”

“You really intend to fight?” Gan Ning walked by Shen Chen’s side. “Shouldn’t we leave this for Lord Liu to decide?”

Shen Chen scoffed, “What decisions can Lord Liu make? If my guess is correct, Zhang Xiu is already planning to surrender. By the time Lord Liu makes up his mind, Cao Cao will have taken most of Nanyang.”

“Zhang Xiu surrendering?” Gan Ning spat on the ground, eyes wide with indignation. “Bah, those men from Xiliang truly are fickle—utterly unreliable.”

Gan Ning himself had served Liu Zhang, then Liu Biao, and finally joined Sun Quan. But he was the type of man who gave his all to anyone who valued him. Liu Zhang and Liu Biao both failed to appreciate him, while Sun Quan did, so he followed the one who did.

When Zhang Xiu arrived in Nanyang, he was more a fugitive than a powerful warlord. Yet Liu Biao did not destroy him; instead, he gave him supplies and territory—allowing Zhang Xiu to rule over much of Nanyang, a tremendous favor. Had Gan Ning been in his place, he would have been utterly loyal to Liu Biao.

Now, with Shen Chen predicting Zhang Xiu’s surrender, Gan Ning felt nothing but contempt for Zhang Xiu’s character, especially since Shen Chen’s predictions had proven accurate before.

Shen Chen remarked, “People are like grass swaying in the wind, always leaning toward the strong. In the North, only Yuan Shao and Cao Cao hold true power. Aligning with them is hardly surprising.”

“Then we ought to report to Lord Liu at once and urge him to attack Zhang Xiu and Cao Cao,” Gan Ning suggested.

Shen Chen smiled. “Lord Liu won’t send troops. Last time, fighting Zhang Xiu cost him dearly; now, with Cao Cao involved, he will only defend Xiangyang. Still, things may change. Let us wait and see.”

By now, they had reached the inner hall of the training grounds. After waiting a short while, Shen Chen’s father Shen Zhen, along with Deng Zhao and Deng Hong, arrived.

Currently, Deng Zhao and Shen Zhen led the military at Huangmen Pavilion, while Deng Hong handled affairs once managed by Deng Mao, who had left to serve as county magistrate in Xinye. Thus, matters of the clan fell to these few.

As everyone took their seats, Deng Hong’s face was pale. “Achen, has Cao Cao invaded?”

“Yes,” Shen Chen replied with a wry smile. “It seems we’re about to relive the disaster of Xuzhou all over again. Cao Cao truly is inescapable.”

Deng Hong’s voice shook. “Let’s move to Xiangyang.”

“Move to Xiangyang?” Shen Chen shook his head. “Running away is not an option. When I built Huangmen Pavilion, it was for a day like this.”

“But we have only a thousand men—how can we stand against Cao Cao’s tens of thousands?” Deng Hong’s fear of Cao Cao was evident, haunted by the horrors he had witnessed in Xuzhou.

Shen Chen’s expression hardened. “If Cao Cao prevails, nowhere will be safe—not even overseas. Our only choice is to fight. Besides, things aren’t yet so dire. Trust my arrangements.”

Deng Hong, Deng Zhao, and Shen Zhen exchanged glances. Shen Zhen hesitated. “Son, do you have a plan?”

Shen Chen replied, “Father, do not worry. If I am not mistaken, Cao Cao will send troops to attack Lord Liu’s defensive outposts near Xinye. Huyang is one possible direction of attack. We can retreat into the back hills and harry the enemy, waiting until their attack falters. Then Uncle Xingba can strike and annihilate them.”

“How do you intend to arrange this?” Gan Ning asked.

Shen Chen outlined his plan.

Huangmen Pavilion had flourished, but those living outside the manor were tenant farmers and peasants dependent on the core group of just over a thousand original residents. Shen Chen planned to evacuate most of the populace to Huyang County, leaving the fields behind for now, while leading the core group into the hills behind the manor. The soldiers would be stationed in the mountain fortifications—towers and blockhouses—using the terrain for defense.

Deng Hong and the others doubted the feasibility of holding out, but Shen Chen overruled their objections and set his plan in motion. They began evacuating civilians and moving supplies into the hills.

The back hills were not high—the peaks rose barely a hundred meters, the lower hills only twenty or thirty. The trees had mostly been felled to build military camps on the slopes, surrounded by fences and walls.

Behind the hills were not only cave dwellings and blast furnaces, but many buildings and underground passages. Numerous tunnels and chambers had been dug to store supplies and allow for prolonged resistance.

It was a formidable fortress in its own right, though not expansive. In the Second World War, there was a famous battle for Iwo Jima, where tens of thousands of Japanese troops held out in tunnels, dealing massive losses to the Americans. The entire mountain was hollowed out.

Shen Chen, of course, lacked the means to build tunnels on such a scale. The excavated area of the back hills was less than one square kilometer. At the highest points stood twelve blockhouses, each capable of housing fifty soldiers.

The blockhouses had arrow slits at the top and portholes for spears at the bottom. There was no entrance from the outside; access was through underground passages, secured with traps and mechanisms, making them nearly impregnable.

So long as supplies held out, this fortress, with its top-tier defensive capabilities, was virtually unassailable. Even flooding would not work; there were drainage systems, air vents, and emergency exits.

With such fortifications, Shen Chen’s stronghold could withstand a determined siege.

Within days, most of Huangmen Pavilion’s populace had been relocated to Huyang. The entire settlement prepared for war—every household hid in the tunnels, and the troops took up their positions.

Meanwhile, from the direction of Wancheng, a force of about five thousand men advanced toward Xinye, a mighty torrent threatening to crush Huangmen Pavilion to dust.

This force was led by Cao Ren.

Historically, it was not Cao Ren whom Cao Cao sent to attack Huyang and Xinye, but Cao Hong. Cao Hong, as the vanguard, captured Wuyang, Bowang, Duyang, Biyang, Pingshi, and other counties. Zhang Xiu then surrendered, but after the affair with Lady Zou, he rebelled, forcing Cao Cao to retreat.

Later that year, in the eleventh month of the second year of Jian’an, Cao Cao ordered Cao Hong to attack Nanyang again, but Cao Hong was defeated by the combined forces of Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao and retreated to Yexian.

Cao Cao then personally led a second campaign against Zhang Xiu, capturing Huyang and seizing Deng Ji, a general under Liu Biao.

So, in truth, Cao Ren was not the one sent—Cao Hong was. However, owing to a personal vendetta between Cao Ren and Shen Chen, Cao Ren managed to obtain this assignment from Cao Cao, leading troops to Xinye and marching on Huangmen Pavilion.