Chapter 542

“Kill! We live and die together with Nandun!” The Yuzhou defenders at Nandun showed astonishing spirit as they shot arrows down the walls.

“These guys are crazy!” Zhang Liao and the others now understood the power of rumors. The defenders and the citizens in Nandun had all been brainwashed by Liu Mang.

Half of Nandun’s citizens were originally from Yuzhou. These people were all extremely loyal to Liu Bei. Their loyalty towards Liu Bei only strengthened when Liu Bei returned their provisions with Cao Cao’s help.

They went crazy the moment Liu Bei said that Yangzhou will massacre everyone in the city. Zhang Liao could see plenty of people not wearing armor on the city walls.

“Charge again!” Lu Bu ordered from the camp. If they cannot capture Nandun, it would be difficult to march towards Runan as they cannot cut off their provisions. Nandun was the trial the Yangzhou Army needed to face.

Lu Bu have seventy thousand troops under his command but he did not have many ways he could use to capture Nandun.

“Milord. This is the third wave of attack!” One soldier reported. Each wave consisted of at least five thousand soldiers and each time they lose more than one thousand soldiers. Even a few men originally from the Urban Army lost their lives in the charge. Yet, their efforts had been in vain. They were unable to attack the city at all.

“Charge again!” The soldier replied. As he was the commander, no one dared to disobey. Another five thousand men charged towards Nandun. Obviously, they failed, repelled by arrows and boiling water. The troops quickly fell into disorder.

“Withdraw!” Lu Bu gave the order. Seeing this scene, he knew that relying on his elites to scale the walls was impossible. Initially he thought of wearing them down through fatigue but now realized that his troops would be worn out before the enemy.

“Milord! Catapults!” After the troops withdrew, Gao Shun reminded Lu Bu about the catapults. With so many troops they could make catapults to attack Nandun.

“Milord! No!” Zhang Liao immediately opposed the suggestion. “Milord! Liu Bei claimed we would massacre the people! If we use catapults, we would cause casualties amongst the populace on the walls. This would certify us as enemies to the people!”

If they were to attack with catapults, the rumors spread by Liu Bei would become facts. They would incite hatred and Liu Mang would no longer be able to use the people. The reason Liu Mang invaded Yuzhou in the first place was to obtain manpower.

“But, if we do not use the catapults, we cannot take Nandun without suffering heavy casualties!” Cheng Yu added. Zhang Liao curled his lips. They needed catapults to win but using catapults would make victory meaningless.

“How about we ask His Highness?” One person suggested.

Although Liu Mang was Lu Bu’s son-in-law, he seemed to be the one in charge instead of Lu Bu. Lu Bu protected Yangzhou’s South while Liu Mang developed Yangzhou.

Lu Bu himself did not expect the debilitated Yangzhou to flourish, even better than Shouchun and Lujiang. That was why Liu Mang was in charge. That being said, it was Lu Bu’s decision as to whether they should consult Liu Mang for advice since Lu Bu was the father-in-law. The others were afraid that Lu Bu would get angry as he came first. Without Lu Bu in front, Liu Mang would not have been able to obtain his current territory.

“Do it!” Lu Bu replied indifferently. He had no choice as his son-in-law was far better than him. Lu Bu understood that he could only be a general. He could not truly conquer lands.

“Oh right. Tell that boy that Ling Er misses him.”

“Yes!”

***

“The people of Nandun are willing to die to defend it? This rabble rousing Liu Bei must die!” Liu Mang said after obtaining the report.

“This Liu Bei can already be considered a traitor to this nation!” Jia Xu said with sorrow. If you could lie to one, you are good at deceit. If you could get hundreds to take you at your word, you have charisma. However, Liu Bei could trick over a hundred thousand people so easily. This was already at the frightening level of witchcraft.

Having popular sentiment would give you power. This is not something people just say for fun.

“We must definitely kill him!” Liu Mang said coldly. Liu Bei’s ability to rally supporters was too frightening. Such a person with wild ambitions is better off dead for peace and stability.

“Afraid of using the catapult? I want both Nandun to disappear forever!”

“Milord?” Jia Xu was shocked. He did not expect Liu Mang to be so cold to the citizens. There were about a hundred thousand of them at Nandun.

“Wenhe. Even if we spare them, would you dare to use them?” Liu Mang smiled bitterly. Liu Mang did not want to be a butcher but these people already treat Liu Bei as a God due to being brainwashed. They would not admit their mistakes even if the facts were laid out in front of them. These kind of people would only bring disaster in the future.

“But Milord?” Jia Xu hesitated as Liu Mang needed the people. This was the reason he attacked Yuzhou in the first place.

“Five hundred thousand men from Yuzhou is enough. In fact, it is already too much. Yangzhou cannot support them!” Liu Mang replied. Yangzhou have over one million citizens. Assuming they obtain eight hundred thousand citizens after defeating Liu Bei, there would definitely be too many people for Yangzhou to support.

Liu Mang could only afford to take in five hundred thousand men. So he might as well treat the whole of Nandun as an enemy to wipe out.

“Milord. You will gain the reputation of a butcher which will hinder you!” Jia Xu pleaded but Liu Mang would not change his mind. “Anyone that holds a weapon is an enemy! Either way, I have already become a butcher once! There is no difference even if I do it again!”

“Give my father-in-law my reply. No matter the cost, I want Liu Bei’s head and his land!” There was no time left. Cao Cao had already begun to meddle with the Central Plains. This showed that his war at Hebei is going smoothly. Liu Mang needed to finish this and strengthen his army in order to face the upcoming obstacle.

“Understood! Oh right! Your father-in-law also says that Madam Ling misses you!”

“Ling Er?” Liu Mang thought of his wife that loves him. They have been separated for several months now. He also thought of his other women including the widowed Lady Zou.

“I must act quickly! Capture Yuzhou and make Liu Biao allow me to go home!” Liu mang said to himself. He then had Jia Xu help him write a letter that stated how much he missed home.

Meanwhile, someone within Jingzhou was also thinking of Liu Mang while filled with grievances.

“Why? Why did I only meet him now?” A beautiful woman grieved as she combed her hair. She was in the Lord’s residence but her heart was not there.

“Milady!” The servant Xiao Cui entered the room.

“Xiao Cui?” The beautiful woman seemed distracted but it did not hide her loneliness.

“Are you thinking of him again?” Xiao Cui asked.

“Do you not think of him?” She would ask every time she thought of him.

“Milady!” Xiao Cui blushed.

The beautiful woman sighed when she looked at Xiao Cui. She felt envious of Xiao Cui. “In a few days, I will tell the Lord to gift you to him.”

“Milady! Are you chasing me out?” Xiao Cui asked feeling frightened.

“Of course not you silly girl!” The beautiful woman replied as she stroked Xiao Cui’s head.

“I want to support Milady forever!”

“Your thoughts is enough.”

“Milady. Are you serious?”

“What else can I do? He is not going to stay here!” The beautiful woman replied with a pained expression.