Chapter 166: Sneak Attack On Danyang
In Danyang Commandery, the deputy general stationed at Niuzhu was named Chen Feng. Although he was not well-known, he was very senior. He had first been Wu Jing’s subordinate, then followed Sun Ben. After Sun Ce raised his army, he had always followed Sun Ce, campaigning south and north for many years, but even now he was just a commandant.
The reason Chen Feng was not doing well was not because Sun Quan looked down on him, but because he had a major flaw: he was addicted to alcohol and repeatedly violated military regulations by drinking, angering Sun Ce, after which he lost any chance of promotion.
After Sun Quan took power, several great generals were promoted, but Chen Feng’s name was never on the list. From then on, he harbored resentment. At that moment, Sun Ben secretly sent someone to win him over, and Chen Feng defected to Sun Ben without hesitation.
That morning, a man dressed as a farmer arrived outside the barracks, claiming to be Chen Feng’s relative with important business for him.
Chen Feng hurried out of the main camp and immediately recognized the farmer as one of Sun Ben’s informants placed in Danyang County. He quickly brought the farmer into the main camp.
In the large tent, the farmer handed Chen Feng a letter hidden in his hair.
“Everything that needs to be said is in the letter. I have nothing to add.”
Chen Feng nodded and ordered his personal guard to give the farmer five taels of silver and escort him out.
After the farmer left, Chen Feng opened Sun Ben’s letter and read it carefully several times. He then burned the letter with fire, got up, and went to the commander’s large tent.
Niuzhu had a garrison of 12,000 soldiers. The commander was the great general Ling Cao, and Chen Feng was the deputy general. Chen Feng arrived at the large tent and handed Ling Cao a new duty roster, saying, “Subordinate made a slight change to the duty roster. Please review it, General.”
Ling Cao glanced at the duty roster and smiled. “You arranged it last night. Why did you schedule yourself for tonight and tomorrow night? That’s too hard on you!”
“General, I have some family matters the day after tomorrow. I’ll swap with others for these two days, and take a day off the day after.”
Ling Cao chuckled. “Missing your wife, huh? I understand! I understand! Just do it that way. You arrange it!”
Ling Cao immediately signed the new duty roster, but he did not notice the faint cold smile that flashed across Chen Feng’s face as he looked at him.
At nightfall, faint white mist shrouded the Yangtze River. Two hundred large mengchong warships secretly sailed through the fog. They had clearly drilled this many times and could maintain distance even in the fog without colliding.
The two hundred warships bypassed the river islets at Hengjiang Ferry and Dangli Estuary, where Eastern Wu had garrisons and sentries.
The fleet headed straight for the southeast defense point at Niuzhu, which was exactly the duty defense point of Chen Feng’s army.
This fleet was Sun Ben’s army. Each large mengchong warship carried a hundred soldiers, making a total army of 20,000. Their target was Danyang Commandery.
Sun Ben had prepared for this operation for a full year. From the day he unwillingly left, he dreamed of how to come back and kill his way in.
Sun Ben had always been waiting for an opportunity. When he heard that Cao Cao was leading his army north to Youzhou, he knew his chance had come. By the time Cao Cao returned, the rice would already be cooked.
Although Sun Ben had Cao Cao behind him, he was not Cao Cao’s puppet. He had his own dreams and pursuits. He wanted to become the lord of Jiangdong.
Taking Danyang Commandery was just his first step. Next, he would swallow all of Jiangdong. While there were still people supporting him now, in a few more years, he would have no chance.
Sun Ben personally stood on the lead large ship, eyes fixed on the south. By now, they were only a mile from the south bank, but nothing could be seen.
The great general beside him, Liang Hui, whispered, “Lord, could it be a trick?”
“Shh—”
Sun Ben stared unblinkingly at the south. At that moment, three fire points appeared on the south bank.
Sun Ben was overjoyed. He straightened up and shouted, “Full army, advance at full speed!”
Sun Ben’s army landed. Chen Feng knelt on one knee and saluted. “I am willing to die for the general!”
Sun Ben quickly helped him up with a smile. “You are my old subordinate. Since you are willing to follow me, I will certainly not mistreat you!”
Chen Feng was moved and immediately changed his address. “Thank you for your grace, Lord!”
Sun Ben asked him again, “How is the situation at the main camp?”
“The main camp is very quiet, with no movement at all!”
Sun Ben nodded. “Will your subordinates obey orders?”
“Please rest assured, Lord. Three thousand brothers have followed me for many years and are absolutely loyal to me!”
Sun Ben said happily, “Then prepare to strike!”
The barracks were very quiet, with all soldiers in deep sleep. Two armies were on duty today: one was deputy general Chen Feng’s three thousand soldiers guarding the east, and the west was guarded by great general Zhao Guang’s two thousand soldiers. The remaining seven thousand soldiers were all in deep sleep.
At that moment, the alarm bell rang loudly. “Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!”
The urgent, piercing alarm bells woke the sleeping soldiers. Five thousand soldiers jolted awake from their dreams and ran out of the barracks in panic. The barracks were in chaos.
At this time, the commander Ling Cao also rushed out of the large tent and ran straight into Chen Feng, who was charging into the barracks. Unaware that Chen Feng had defected, Ling Cao sternly demanded, “General Chen, what is going on?”
Chen Feng pointed behind him and shouted, “General, watch out behind you!”
Ling Cao turned his head. There was nothing behind him. He suddenly realized something and was about to turn back when he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He slowly lowered his head. Chen Feng’s horse spear had pierced through his chest. He pointed at Chen Feng. “You, you—”
Ling Cao could not say another word and died full of resentment, his eyes still glaring at Chen Feng, unable to close in death.
Chen Feng roared, “The Marquis of Wu wronged me. Today I rebel!”
At this time, Sun Ben also led 20,000 soldiers to kill into the barracks. The Jiangdong Army soldiers had no way out and knelt to surrender one after another.
Sun Ben took the strategic stronghold of Niuzhu without bloodshed, capturing over 10,000 Jiangdong Army soldiers. The commander Ling Cao died at the hands of the traitorous general Chen Feng.
Eastern Wu had 20,000 garrison troops in Danyang Commandery. Besides the 12,000 at the river-crossing strategic point of Niuzhu, the other 8,000 troops were deployed more scatteredly. These 8,000 troops were mainly to defend county towns against Shanyue people raids, distributed across various county towns, with as many as 2,000 or as few as a few hundred.
After taking Niuzhu, Sun Ben’s army continued advancing south, sweeping everything before it. Danyang Commandery was originally Sun Ben’s old base, where he had deep roots. Most officials were ones he had appointed. The Sun Quan regime, to stabilize Danyang Commandery, had not replaced them, leaving a hidden danger.
Wherever Sun Ben’s army passed, counties opened their gates to welcome the king’s army, providing rice and meat to reward the troops. In just a few days, county towns such as Jiangcheng, Hushu, Jurong, Danyang, Moling, Shicheng, and others all surrendered. On the fifth day, the army arrived at the commandery seat of Wanling County. Tens of thousands of troops besieged the city, and Danyang Prefect Wu Jing led 3,000 out of the city to surrender to Sun Ben.
With the surrender of Wanling County, it meant that the most important northern region of Danyang Commandery was entirely occupied by Sun Ben. The remaining southern regions were all mountains, but there would be no suspense—they would surely surrender to Sun Ben.
In less than ten days, soldiers eagerly enlisting from all sides numbered as many as 20,000. Adding the 20,000 who surrendered, Sun Ben’s army grew from the initial 20,000 at landing to 60,000 in just ten days.
But Sun Ben did not rush to attack Jiangdong. He was very experienced and knew that with the army unsteady, hasty attack would lead to easy defeat. He stationed himself in Wanling County and began reorganizing the 60,000 troops, aiming to quickly turn them into combat-ready forces.
