My Father in Law is Lu Bu

Chapter 147 - An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth (1)

Translated by Bloodfalcon, Edited by Krayto

Surrounded by so many soldiers; Liu Mang had seen this scene twice before. First time, when he was surrounded by Cao Cao in Kaiyang and this is the second time. However, at that time, the commander-in-chief was Lu Bu, so he was free to do whatever he can and even express his emotion. But right now, he is the commander-in-chief, his every action and movement will affect the morale of Wancheng city and his decision will be what determines the fate of these 8,000 troops.

The enemy is big in numbers and in Wancheng city, adding the Urban Army and the Liu clan private soldiers, their forces only numbered 8,000 troops. The Lu clan, Xu clan and Han clan also provided their private soldiers but their number is so small it only equaled only 500. So, Liu Mang now only had 8,500 troops in his hand. This is the first disadvantage that Liu Mang had.

The second one is the size and condition of this Wancheng city. This city is really big and worthy of its title as the capital of Lujiang. However, due to its size it will be very difficult to send reinforcements if one of the gates is attacked.

For the third disadvantage, the wall are in a bad state due to the battle with the nobles. So Liu Mang had no choice to assign the Lu, Xu and Han clan’s private soldiers to repair the walls returning the number of troops from 8,500 to 8,000 again.

If Liu Mang had 20,000 troops, he can repel them and even open the gates for a direct assault. Regarding grain and provisions, there are still a lot left inside the now ruined Administration Office’s granary that was “hand-picked” by Lu Bu. It still can feed 100,000 people with normal meal rations for at least 6 months.

Liu Mang with only 8,000 troops had to withstand an assault of 100,000 troops. Winning the battle with this kind of number is not an impossible feat, but he would need a very grand strategy. Liu Mang now is focusing on defense instead of attacking. Nobody can handle the pressure that Liu Mang felt right now.

The only other thing that he needed was reinforcements. Even defending the city to the last man will not stop Wancheng city will be broken. Once broken, Lu Bu’s army’s grain and provisions will be gone and will be routed in a matter of days, so Liu Mang sent a messenger to Shucheng County to request for reinforcements to turn back the condition right now to favor Lu Bu’s army.

Those Cao troops who specialized in ground warfare are not Lu Bu army’s match, let alone this Jiangdong army whose army strong point focuses on naval units.

“LIU MANG THE BUTCHER, SHOW YOUR FACE!!!” A scholar from Sun Ce’s army started to provoke Liu Mang in order to do battle, and then he said “Liu Mang the butcher. You are one of Han Dynasty clansmen and a prince. You should work for the benefit of people, govern the people with benevolence, but you colluded with the slave of three surnames and frontier hungry wolf Lu Bu, occupied our city, killed our subjects and committed a great sin. Surrender now and I will make sure that Milord spares you!!! If you wait until our army breaks the city, your blood will be spilled in this city!!!” That scholar spoke those words in a confident tone, even without scripts.

“Hahaha, surrender and we will be spared?! Is this scholar out of his mind?!” Liu Mang thought in his heart. Lu Bu’sarmy and Sun Ce army already a mortal enemies and this scholar is actually asking for him to surrender? Lu Bu’s army will not be able to live if they surrender, not a single one, including Liu Mang.

Moreover, at Wancheng city, there are Zhou Tai and Zhou Cheng’s heads hanging which already started to decompose. Zhou Tai was one of Sun Ce’s beloved general and Zhou Cheng is Zhou Yu’s relative and both of them were killed by Liu Mang. So, one can see the enmity between Liu Mang and Sun Ce and adding by Da Qiao’s “death”, this young scholar should know that they already past the point of reconcile.

“What is your name?!” Liu Mang asked this confident scholar his name. This man’s tongue is really good, able to speak every one of his “sins” in one breath, is able to speak about how Liu Mang should behaved and also able to say things that can be deciphered as “alas, reality is a cruel bitch to you, Liu Mang!!!” for staying with Lu Bu.