Chapter 598
War continued at, the important river that created Chinese civilization, the Yangtze River.
Once again, a huge army appeared on the Yangtze River. The fleet was ready for battle.
“Huo Jun! Are you crazy?” On the flagship, there were two high ranking officers. The one that shouted was Zhuge Liang’s subordinate, Li Yan, Li Fangzheng. The one being shouted at was Huo Jun, Huo Zhongmiao. The two of them were brought out from nobodies to their current position by Zhuge Liang. It can be said that Zhuge Liang scouted them. It was Zhuge Liang that dared to use them. Zhuge Liang also knew their strengths and weaknesses. For that reason, they were loyal to Zhuge Liang and listened to his orders.
Normally, Li Yan was the ‘disobedient’ one. He is the one that speaks out more as he did not want to be an assistant forever. He aspires to be someone like Zhuge Liang. On the other hand, Huo Jun is the one that stays quiet and listens to Zhuge Liang’s orders to the letter. Yet this time, their position seemed to have switched.
“I am not crazy.” Huo Jun replied indifferently. He did not care that he was being glared at by Li Yan.
“Then do you know what the hell you are doing?” Li Yan shouted back as he pointed at the drums that had been beaten.
“I know. It is just beating the drums to advance.” Huo Jun replied simply which quickly infuriated Li Yan.
“You are playing with fire! I want to see how you intend to explain this to the Military Advisor if something wrong happens!”
“I will explain myself to the Military Advisor. I do not need you to interfere. I will be fully responsible for my actions. Pass down my orders. Continue to beat the drums!” Huo Jun said as he continued to look at the Yangzhou Navy’s fortifications.
“Argh!” Li Yan stomped his feet in frustration. The Military Advisor’s stratagem was pretty much done. There was just one final step. Li Yan thought he would be rewarded but then this absolute retard decided to risk ruining everything.
Li Yan also could not overwrite Huo Jun’s orders as Zhuge Liang had placed Li Yan as Huo Jun’s assistant. Zhuge Liang did it because Li Yan was too smart. He was afraid that Li Yan would act on his own initiative. On the other hand, Huo Jun had a record of listening faithfully to his orders. Unfortunately, the opposite is happening this time.
There was going to be a fight because of a misunderstanding. At that time, both Li Yan and Huo Jun would have to suffer the consequences.
Knowing he could not persuade Huo Jun, Li Yan stomped his feet in frustration and then retreated into the hold of his ship. Out of sight, out of mind.
Does Huo Jun actually know what he was doing? Yes. Zhuge Liang’s orders was for him to take the Jiangxia Navy to the Lujiang Navy’s barracks and await orders. However, Huo Jun decided to go against Zhuge Liang’s orders. He was dissatisfied.
Why should the Military Advisor invest so much into the King of Shu to the extent of risking his own life? This was not the first time Zhuge Liang has done this. Huo Jun was dissatisfied. He wanted to see what kind of person Zhuge Liang was hell bent on serving.
It was mostly Huo Jun’s complaints. He wanted to seek justice for Zhuge Liang.
“Hmph. Are Yangzhou full of cowards?” The drums were being beaten very loudly but no movement could be seen within Yangzhou’s barracks. “Military Advisor. Why do you look at them so highly?” Huo Jun said with disdain. Seeing the troops was like seeing the person. The soldiers show what kind of general they have. At the same time, the generals show what kind of Lord they serve. It is just like how lions would command lions, not sheep.
“General look! The gates are being opened!” Huo Jun’s guards pointed at Yangzhou’s barracks.
“Hm?” Huo Jun looked at the gates that were slowly being opened.
“Those ships?” The Jiangxia Navy saw six battered ships slowly appear. None of them were in good condition. There were even two ships that still had their enemy’s ballista arrows stuck in it. It was clear that these ships had recently experienced battle.
“General. Are they fleeing?” Huo Jun’s deputy general asked as he looked at Yangzhou’s ships. It was clear that this man knew how battles go. The Yangzhou Navy had just experienced battle. Their ships were battered and their men exhausted.
The Yangzhou Navy’s ships sailed towards the opposite direction, as though fleeing. They looked like they were escaping.
“Abandoning your fellow soldiers?” Huo Jun sneered. “So the Yangzhou Navy only amounts to this much! Military Advisor, why do you risk yourself for these sorts of people.”
“Yangzhou had only just gone through a battle. What’s wrong with retreating to preserve their main force? Do you think everyone is as reckless as you?” Li Yan walked out and commented. He was still feeling extremely restless.
“Hmph. Retreating to preserve their main force? I don’t know that much! I only know that they abandon their fellow men and their barracks like disloyal cowards.” Huo Jun prattled. At this moment, the deputy general shouted. “General look! They are not retreating! They seem to be advancing towards us!”
“What?” Huo Jun turned around to look at the Yangzhou Navy. He saw the ships start to turn towards his own fleet after arriving at a certain point. This is in full knowledge that Jiangxia had hundreds of ships while Yangzhou only had six damaged ships.
EndlessFantasy Translations 