Chapter 121 Shared hatred and hatred
This battle.

Jin Mao's troops suffered more than 500 casualties.

Sun Jian's troops suffered 0 casualties!

Changsha County, County Magistrate's Office.

Sun Jian had not yet washed, and his body was covered with blood and scabs, like a Shura wearing blood-stained armor. Even if one could not see his expression clearly, one could feel his anger just by looking at the temperature of the air.

Sitting on the right, Jin Mao was dressed neatly, just like the four generals kneeling in the hall. However, Jin Mao was calm and composed, while the four generals dared not to breathe a word.

"What a great guy who takes it all on himself!"

"What a disobedient person!"

Sun Jian gritted his teeth and said, "Cheng Pu, how can you bear the blame alone?"

Sun Jian had just come down from the battlefield, and the murderous aura was not yet dissipated. He roared like a tiger descending from the mountains, with an intimidating momentum.

Jinmao couldn't stand it anymore and said, "If you want to cut it down, just cut it down. Why are you talking so much nonsense?"

As if sensing Jin Mao's thoughts, Sun Jian shouted, "Someone come!"

"Cheng Pu disobeyed military orders, drag him away and behead him!"

"My Lord, you can't do that!"

The other three generals pleaded for mercy, and Zhu Zhi said, "Demou has followed you for three years, fighting in endless battles. Even if he has no merit, he has worked hard."

"For the sake of our past friendship, please forgive him this time."

Jin Mao turned his head away and almost couldn't help but speak out. This line was too funny. If it were his subordinates, he would punish the person who begged for mercy.

How can merits and demerits offset each other?
Unfortunately, he is him and Sun Jian is Sun Jian.

Sun Jian did not really want to kill Cheng Pu. The old man was good at answering questions and making arguments, had many strategies and tactics, and was not lacking in bravery.

Where can you find so many such good subordinates?
But right.

Jin Mao's subordinates were tormented so much by Sun Jian, but they didn't say anything. If they were in each other's shoes, Sun Jian would have been slapped in the face. Losing face is a small matter, but making enemies with Jin Mao is a big deal.

After this battle, Sun Jian has clearly realized the strong overall strength of Jinmao. It is not a wise thing to make enemies with such a neighbor.

At this moment, Sun Jian no longer had the contempt he had before. Even if he was reckless, he knew that a man like Jin Mao would never go along with the eunuchs.

It’s just that this is the current trend. If a poor man like Sun Jian wants to make a name for himself, he has to use special means.

Didn't Sun Jian suspect the eunuchs were behind this when he came to quell the rebellion?

Naturally there is.

So, now Sun Jian understands Jinmao’s difficulties very well.

But now without Jinmao's permission, Sun Jian couldn't save face.

Seeing the tense atmosphere on the field, Jin Mao said helplessly: "Brother, considering that this is Demou's first offense, please forgive him this time."

Jin Mao couldn't overturn the table so capriciously. If he really wanted to, he should have killed all of Sun Jian when he first met him, instead of waiting until now.

This is called too high sunk cost. It involves loss of soldiers and compensation for grain. What does Jinmao want?
It's not that he covets the status and strength of Sun Jian's family, but mainly their strength.

Sure enough, Sun Jian felt relieved, rode down the hill on the donkey, and said loudly: "Since my junior brother begs for mercy, I will spare you this time!"

"But the death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime cannot be escaped!"

"Go down and get a hundred military sticks!"

"Yes!" Cheng Pu burst into tears of gratitude, and bowed deeply to Jin Mao, saying, "Thank you, Governor Jin, for not killing me."

Jin Mao waved his hands, but he didn't take it seriously. He just listened to such insulting words.

The festival was over, and Sun Jian spoke to Jin Mao in a friendly manner.

Sun Ce will definitely work for Jin Mao in the future, so Sun Jian is trying to build good relationships in advance.

"Brother, you should go wash up first. You look scary like this."

Sun Jian laughed and said, "Brother, listen to my advice. A real man should go to the battlefield!"

Jin Mao responded perfunctorily, "Your family are all real men, but in the end two of you died early."

When Sun Jian's troops left, only Jin Mao's troops were left in the hall.

Suddenly, Jiang Qin could not help but complain about Sun Jian's brutality: "My lord, you must be careful of this tiger!"

"Brothers could have suffered fewer casualties, but that Governor Sun..."

Jiang Qin cried and complained, and Jin Mao understood the whole story and seemed to be thinking about something.

At this time, another man in blood-stained armor spoke up: "My lord, don't listen to Gong Yi's nonsense. Governor Sun has a unique way of commanding troops."

Zhou Tai told Jin Mao again about the high morale when the city was captured.

Jin Mao had some vague ideas in his mind, but they couldn't be connected together.

At this time, Dong Xian spoke and described in detail how Sun Jian attacked the city.

Jin Mao's thoughts suddenly came together: "So that's it!"

At this time, Jin Mao sorted out the various time points and immediately understood what siege was all about.

The opponent this time is a bit weak. It has reference value, but it is not worth learning from.

However, Jin Mao finally learned what siege was all about.

At the beginning, everything he did was correct. If Cheng Pu had cooperated a little, the first person to break into the city would not be Sun Jian, but someone from Jin Mao's side.

At this moment, Jin Mao actually understood Sun Jian's approach. Even he didn't know how to attack a city, so what could Dong Xian know with two newbies?
"Gong Yi, you must remember this experience and lesson."

Jin Mao said: "We must pass on our siege experience to others, so that we won't need help from others in the future!"

Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, and Dong Xi all nodded their heads in agreement. Next, Jin Mao did not want to interfere in Sun Jian's taking over of Changsha County.

But Sun Jian was too enthusiastic and wanted Jin Mao to sit beside him and consult with him on everything.

Jinmao was originally quite touched. Look, people treat you as their own, how kind!
Later, Jin Mao realized something was wrong: "You really don't treat me as an outsider!"

Sun Jian asked him to do all the dirty and tiring work and he didn't feel embarrassed at all.

Jin Mao observed carefully and found that Sun Jian had no scholars under his command. Without Jin Mao's help, he could only rely on the four generals, four rough men, to do the work.

Cheng Pu and Zhu Zhi are not so bad. They worked as state and county officials before joining the army and have their own way of handling things. Han Dang and Zu Mao are really rough guys embroidering. The more you look at them, the more confused you feel.

But on second thought, Cheng Pu and Zhu Zhi are both capable of leading troops in battle and governing the local area, and Jin Mao does not have many such talents under his command.

This time, Jin Mao was jealous again, and he scolded Zhou Taisan every day: "Look at them, and then look at you, what a difference!"

Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin couldn't stand the provocation and clamored to surpass Cheng Pu and Zhu Zhi. Only Dong Xi was so stupid and stubborn that he just smiled every day and no amount of scolding could help.

In the end, Jin Mao did not urge Dong Xi. Let him be. It was not bad to be a personal guard. Although he could not stop a fierce man like Sun Jian, little Karami could not get close to him either.

September 20th.

Xi Zhicai came with a mixed camp of three thousand soldiers, escorting four thousand grains and fodder.

This was something that had been decided in advance and Jin Mao could not go back on his word. In fact, he was supposed to transport 6,000 shi of grain this time, but with the consumption on the road, only 4,000 shi were left.

Since Lingling County and Guiyang County to the south of Changsha County were still plagued by banditry, Sun Jian invited Jin Mao to join him in suppressing the bandits.

Jinmao agreed, but as he said before, the sunk costs were too high and he has not seen any benefits yet.

Therefore, the main battalion will take the wounded back to Nanchang County for rest and recuperation, and these 3,000 people will replace the main battalion.

The Imperial Guards stayed behind, and General Dong Xisan asked to stay, so Jin Mao's men began to conduct actual combat exercises with veterans leading new recruits.

Opposite the Changsha County Governor's Mansion, Jinmao's headquarters.

"Zhicai, thank you for your hard work."

Jin Mao was feeling depressed. He had lost both soldiers and food supplies during this expedition, and there was no sign of Sun Ce yet. It would be a lie to say he wasn't depressed.

Xi Zhicai changed his words of persuasion, which were about to come out of his mouth, and said, "My lord, why be depressed?"

"I heard that Sun Jian, the fierce tiger of Jiangdong, is just like the Marquis of Qiantang. He values ​​righteousness over money. You have made such a huge contribution this time, so why worry about not getting a reward?"

"Sun Jian will definitely have something to report."

Jin Mao nodded, perking up a little but not much.

Xi Zhicai rolled his eyes and realized that his lord was also aware of these long-term interests and was unhappy because there were no immediate benefits.

No investor will invest a large sum of money and not care about not seeing results in the short term.

"I heard that Cheng Pu is very grateful to you for pardoning his crime. Why don't you take this opportunity to let him train cavalry for me?"

Jin Mao opened his eyes wide, this was a good idea, but he was a little hesitant: "Cheng Pu may not be sincere, what if he is cheating?"

Xi Zhicai couldn't quite understand Jin Mao's worries, but that didn't stop him.

"My lord, you will know once you give it a try. There is no harm in giving it a try. You will not suffer any loss."

Jinmao thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case, and he became happy again.

"Zhicai, let me tell you, I have benefited a lot from this siege..."

Xi Zhicai listened very carefully and would occasionally make a few compliments.

Jin Mao likes people like Xi Zhicai, who is talented, speaks well, has a similar temperament, and is a perfect strategist!

...

September 21st was the day when the troops swore to set out to quell the rebellion in Lingling and Guiyang counties.

During this period, Sun Jian was not idle. He recruited 2,000 soldiers in Changsha County and trained the troops while handling government affairs.

Jin Mao had seen Sun Jian training his troops, and could only describe them as so-so, neither good nor bad, and there was a big gap between them and his subordinates.

It’s not a problem of training methods, but that Sun Jian can’t “well-fed” the new recruits like Jin Mao did, so of course he can’t motivate the new recruits.

Jinmao had already helped Sun Jian to conquer territory, so Sun Jian naturally felt embarrassed to continue eating Jinmao's food.

However, Changsha County had just suffered a disaster, and the autumn grain harvest was not so optimistic. Sun Jian had to take food from the people to feed his troops.

In this regard, Jinmao did not comment. Changsha County is not his territory, and he does not want to get involved in so many trivial matters. He just wants to take care of himself first.

The oath is completed.

Just as Sun Jian finished talking about setting off, an uninvited guest arrived.

Wang Rui, the governor of Jingzhou!

"Greetings, Governor (of Jingzhou)." Sun Jian and Jin Mao bowed at the same time.

Wang Rui said to Jin Mao in a calm tone, "Shou Dai Yuzhang, you have crossed the line. Please return quickly!"

Sun Jian stopped Jin Mao and stepped forward to explain: "Reporting to the governor, Jin Taishou is the reinforcement I invited. Without him, the rebellion in Changsha County cannot be quelled!"

"Humph!" Wang Rui said dissatisfiedly, "Are you blaming me, the governor, Sun?"

Sun Jian was obviously angry, but he said patiently, "I dare not."

"It turns out that he doesn't dare, not that he doesn't want to." Wang Rui found fault with him: "Grandmaster Sun relies on his military power. It seems that he doesn't take me, the governor, seriously?"

Sun Jian's anger reached its critical point and he didn't want to answer.

Jin Mao frowned at the side. How could Wang Rui, a scholar, be so arrogant? He came when the time for picking peaches should be right instead of earlier or later.

Wang Rui saw that the two men were dissatisfied, but he wanted to add fuel to the fire: "The bandits in Lingling and Guiyang counties are still wreaking havoc. I came here to mobilize the county soldiers to quell the rebellion."

(End of this chapter)