Chapter 646

Chapter 646

Meanwhile, Sun Ce was being showered by arrows.

“Careful!” Sun Ce wanted to warn his men but it was already too late. He relied on the warhorse to avoid the arrows but his men weren’t so lucky. The ones transporting the tigers were hit on the body and fell down groaning. The ones helping Sun Ce at the front were immediately killed and fell off their horses.

“Who’s there?” Sun Ce shouted but there was no reply. Only the groaning voices of Sun Ce’s subordinates were heard.

“You dare to kill my subordinates but you don’t dare to show yourself?” Sun Ce provoked.

At that moment, a clapping sound could be heard.

“Good! As expected of the Little Conqueror, Sun Ce Sun Bofu! Capable of killing a fierce tiger and surviving a rain of arrows! It looks like I had underestimated you!” A man in blacked clothing walked out while clapping with a group of men following behind him.

“Who are you? Why did you kill my men?” Sun Ce asked as he looked at the man.

“Kill your men?” The man laughed. “Sun Bofu! I had no intentions of killing your men! I came here to kill you! Your subordinates were just unlucky to be in the way of the arrows.”

“Kill me?”

The assassins walked up to the groaning men on the floor and cut off their heads. “Why bother? If you had died from the arrows then you wouldn’t have been in pain!”

“Sun Bofu! Are you just going to hide behind your horse? Sigh you are really not worth these soldiers. To think that the Little Conqueror (xiao bawang) is now just a big tortoise (da wangba). Are you really so afraid?”

The other assassins laughed as well.

“Haha. I still haven’t met a single person that could make me feel afraid!” Sun Ce sneered and walked out from behind his horse. He even took out his Overlord Spear. He was behind the horse the entire time looking for it.

He faced the assassins and said. “Speak. Who are you and why do you want to kill me? You really have guts. If you speak, I will at least leave behind a corpse for you!” Sun Ce was full of confidence since he has his spear.

“Leave behind a corpse for me? You should worry about yourself instead! Don’t you recognize me?” The leader of the assassins took off his mask. “Now you should be able to recognize me!”

Sun Ce looked at the man and saw that he was familiar. Yet he can’t seem to recall who it is. “Who are you and what enmity do you have with me?”

“Sun Ce Sun Bofu! You really cannot recognize me? I still remember the day you killed my entire family and you cannot even remember me?” The assassin glared.

“I have killed many people. How could I recognize you?” Sun Ce asked back.

“You...!” The assassin was speechless. “Fine! I will allow you to die knowing my name! I am Xu Gong! I am the Xu Gong whose family you killed!” Xu Gong shouted.

“Xu Gong?” Sun Ce repeated.

“So? Do you remember me now?” Xu Gong asked coldly.

“No. It does sound familiar.” Sun Ce replied. But how could he forget Xu Gong? He already recognized Xu Gong the moment the man pulled down his mask. Xu Gong had a close scholar friend Xu Jing. When Xu Jing escaped the chaos caused by Dong Zhuo, Xu Gong received him. At that time, he was just an officer of the Wu County. His superior was Sheng Xian. To become Governor, he plotted to kill his superior. For this reason, Sun Ce looked down on him.

When Sun Ce united Jiangdong, Xu Gong wanted to rely on Sun Ce. But Sun Ce didn’t like him, and so, Xu Gong rebelled. That being said, Sun Ce did not wipe out the Xu Family because he was a noble in Jiangdong.

Yet, Xu Gong did not give up. He kept looking for an opportunity to retake Wu while ignoring the fact that Sun Ce’s influence had grown bigger. He sent a letter to Cao Cao saying that it would be a problem if Sun Ce is left in charge and wanted Cao Cao to summon Sun Ce to the capital via the Emperor’s orders. If he was successful, Sun Ce would need to go to the capital and Jiangdong would split once again. Xu Gong can then benefit from this. Unfortunately, this plot failed and Sun Ce could execute the entire family according to the law.

How could Sun Ce forget this man? He was just skeptical because Xu Gong was supposed to be dead. He had given Xu Gong for Sun Quan to execute. He said he did not remember Xu Gong because he wanted Xu Gong to get angry and make a mistake.

“It does not matter if you remember or not! I will avenge my family today! Men! Advance and kill this Sun Ce Sun Bofu!” Xu Gong ordered.

The other assassins around Xu Gong took out their swords and advanced towards Sun Ce.

As expected, Xu Gong had made a mistake. At that location, there was nowhere to hide. Xu Gong could simply order his men to keep shooting arrows and Sun Ce would be helpless, unable to protect himself.

Yet, Xu Gong ordered his men to advance to the front. This gave Sun Ce the advantage. With Sun Ce’s strength, why would he need to fear a few dozen men? He would not even have any problems even if they triple their numbers.

“Hmph!” Sun Ce swung his spear resentfully. The spear was like a reaper’s scythe. As he fought he found out that these assassins were really good at martial arts as well. Even if they were struck by the spear and their bones were broken, they did not scream. Some even tried to take the hit as they exchanged their lives for his.

“Hm?” Sun Ce careless allowed a sword to cut him in the arm. Blood started to flow out.

“Death soldiers?” Sun Ce coldly said. These assassins were not afraid of death at all. They would not stop until he was dead.

“Yes, they are death soldiers! If it is to kill you, normal soldiers will not work! Today is the day you will die!” Xu Gong prattled on loudly.

“The day I die? Hmph! You think a few insignificant death soldiers is enough to handle me?” Sun Ce suddenly showed his strength.

“What?” Xu Gong was shocked. This was not the strength of someone in a Refinement Stage. He had planned for a situation where someone from Refinement Stage cannot escape even in close combat. Yet this could not obstruct Sun Ce.

“You broke through? Impossible! How could you have broken through!” Xu Gong shook his head. Sun Ce had broken through and reached the Peak of Refinement. The only other person he knew of that is at this level was Lu Bu. Even if Sun Ce was similar to Xiang Yu, it was not something that could have been done so easily.

“You did not see wrongly.” Sun Ce laughed coldly as he brandished his Overlord Spear. He then used a skill with a roar. His killing intent took shape and the nearby death soldiers around him died immediately.

“How could this be?” Xu Gong’s eyes grew wide. He had several dozen death soldiers but now everything was in disorder.

“Xu Gong. I will give you one more chance to say who sent you! I will at least leave you with an intact corpse.” Sun Ce said as he pointed towards Xu Gong with his spear.

“You must be dreaming! The one who will die here is you! Stall him! Draw the bow!” Xu Gong said angrily.

“Hmph! How long can these weakling stall me?” Sun Ce asked back coldly and moved to kill these death soldiers.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Sun Ce said coldly.

“What am I talking about? You asked me who wants you dead right? It is your close kin! It is the person you love the most! Your little brother wants you dead! That is why I am here!”

“You lie!” Sun Ce did not dare believe it. He watched Sun Quan grow up. He treated Sun Quan fondly. Why would Sun Quan betray him? Sun Ce had become a conqueror for his family.

“Haha! If I was lying, how do you think I am still alive? You had personally given the order for my execution! Do you still remember the day you were at my residence? If I was lying, I would have already died then! How could I have survived until now? How could I even have an attempt at revenge?” Xu Gong said to Sun Ce with pity.

“You still lie in the face of death! I will give you one more chance to tell me who wants to kill me!” Sun Ce asked loudly.

“You still don’t believe me? Good! Then I will have you thoroughly give up! Second Lord! Are you still not going to come out? If you don’t come out now, you can forget about killing your brother for the rest of your life! You can forget about ever ruling Jiangdong!” Xu Gong’s voice echoed but there was no reply.

“You still refuse to show your face? Fine. Then you no longer need to look for Lord Cao’s envoy!” Xu Gong added.

Finally, several dozen people appeared from behind the trees and walked in front of Xu Gong.

“Xu Gong. What do you mean by this?” The newly arrived black clothed men asked. They were evidently not Xu Gong’s people.

“Haha. There is no other meaning. I just need to tell you that Lord Cao can guarantee you, the Second Lord’s position as the East Expedition General. He can also give you provisions. But there is a condition. He wants to see your sincerity. That is Sun Ce’s head!” Xu Gong said coldly towards the leader of the newly arrived men.

The atmosphere immediately sunk.

“Little brother. Is it really you?” Sun Ce said while feeling heartbroken. Though he could not see the man’s face, he could recognize Sun Quan from his figure.

Instead of replying, Sun Quan turned to Xu Gong. “Xu Gong. How did you notice me? Do you have a spy by my side?”

“Haha, Second Lord. It is not me but Lord Cao that has a spy by your side. Second Lord. Didn’t you ask me why I went to see Lord Cao’s envoy the other day? In truth, that man is just a messenger. I Lord Cao’s real envoy is me!” Xu Gong replied.

“What?” Sun Quan was shocked and then he laughed. “Xu Gong, I should have known. Someone with your character only dared to send a letter to Cao Cao because you were already his person!” Xu Gong used to be the Governor but Cao Cao was a Sikong. This was like a mayor reporting to the Prime Minister which is basically impossible. On top of that, Xu Gong had even been removed from position by Sun Ce.

Yet it turns out that Xu Gong had always been one of Cao Cao’s people. This goes to show how deep Cao Cao has placed himself in other people’s territory.

“Cao Cao’s envoy? East Expedition General?” Sun Ce was not a fool. Jiangdong also had has their own people gathering information. According to them, Liu Biao had become the East General. The East Expedition General was the East General’s assistant. Does this mean that his little brother wants to become Liu Biao’s assistant? Does he want to become the assistant of the man that killed their father?

“Why?” Sun Ce no longer asked if the man was his brother Sun Quan. He already knew that answer. He now wanted to know why Sun Quan was doing this. “Everyone else can betray me but not you! Not you!” Sun Ce shouted loudly. “You are letting down our late father!”

“Brother. You are obstructing me.” Sun Quan replied to Sun Ce.

“I am obstructing you? I did so much for our family! I have spent so much for you all! Why do you want to betray me?”

“Correct! You did everything for us! You are a good brother! You are a good and outstanding Lord! That is why everyone knows the name Sun Ce! They do not even know I exist! All they know is Jiangdong’s Little Conqueror Sun Ce Sun Bofu! They speak your name with admiration! But they don’t even remember my name! They call me Second Lord! As long as you are around, I cannot exist! I will only be known as your little brother and the Second Lord of Jiangdong!” Sun Quan’s face was red as he looked at Sun Ce.

“Zhongmou. Do you know when you were born, your father was not around. Mother was in labor and the midwife went to visit her parents. I am the one who ran over a hundred and twenty li in the middle of the night to find a midwife to help mother give birth to you! When you were born with blue eyes and oblong face, father panicked. The Confucian scholar in the city said this was an ill omen. You would overthrow your father. Father wanted to abandon you but I was the one who brought you back and shielded you from the cold weather. When you were hungry, you sucked my chest causing me pain. Then I found mother and begged father to keep you before he agreed!”

“You slowly grew up. I was the one who taught you how to conduct yourself. I taught you how to be strong and trustworthy. When father went on expeditions, I would teach you martial arts. I would teach you how to read and write. After that, father died. He had Old General Huang pass on his dying message telling me to kill you and rid myself of this ill omen! I tore the letter apart and told Old General Huang not to speak nonsense. I never believe in Heaven’s plans. I have almost died many times so that I can leave you all with Master Zhang. I went to Yuan Shu so that I can protect you all. However, Yuan Shu only helped half-heartedly so I had to go to Uncle to get a few hundred men from him. After that, I urgently went to find you all. I went to capture city so that you all have a safe place to settle down. However, I was stopped by Zu Lang. My army was wiped out and I almost died. Even after I was hit by many arrows, I told myself I have a little brother and a little sister. I also have a mother. I cannot die, I had to protect you all! So I came back. After that, I obtained Gongjin’s help and gave Yuan Shu the Imperial Seal in exchange for a several thousand men. When I had father’s former subordinates, I finally realized I could give you all a peaceful life! Did you know how happy I was then? I knew you had talent which is why I let you serve as a magistrate at the age of fifteen. Old General Huang told me to let you serve in the military but I refused because war is cruel and dangerous. I already lost a father, I did not want to lose my little brother!”

“Brother!” Sun Quan lowered his head. He had thought that Sun Ce refused to give him military power because Sun Ce was afraid of being surpassed. Sun Quan did not expect Sun Ce to do this because Sun Ce was worried about his brother’s safety. War was something that even Sun Ce himself could not guarantee his own safety. At the Yangtze River, they were completely wiped out. If it was not because of Lu Meng and Ling Cao, Sun Ce himself may have died. How could Sun Ce be willing to let his beloved little brother fight? When Sun Quan went to battle, Sun Ce ordered Lu Meng and Ling Cao to ensure Sun Quan returns safely even if the whole army has to be wiped out.

It was because Lu Meng failed to do so that Sun Ce was angry enough to want to execute Lu Meng. Fortunately, Sun Quan managed to return safely. Otherwise, Lu Meng and Ling Cao would be executed.

“You want this position? You want to become the Lord of Jiangdong?” Sun Ce said to his little brother. “Fine. I will give it to you. I will give you everything since you are my little brother.” Sun Ce said.

“Brother?” Sun Quan did not expect Sun Ce to be so cooperative.

“Isn’t it just a position? I am also tired so you can just have Jiangdong.” Sun Ce said bitterly. Sun Ce himself had ambition. He received Xiang Yu’s name so he also wanted to be a hegemon like Xiang Yu. However, his family was more important to him. So he gave it up for his little brother.

“Second Lord! Do not believe him!” Xu Gong started to become anxious after hearing the two brother’s conversation. If Sun Ce managed to persuade Sun Quan and hand over his position, then Sun Quan no longer needed to kill Sun Ce. What would become of his revenge? On top of that, Xu Gong’s ballista was already destroyed so Cao Cao would not think highly of him. Staying in Jiangdong will also just get him killed.

That was why Xu Gong wanted Sun Quan to kill Sun Ce. At the very least he could take Sun Ce’s head to Xudou to gain merits.

“Jiangdong’s position... I don’t want it anymore. You can have it. I am tired. After so many years of fighting, I am barely home. I should go home and accompany mother and Yu’er.” Yu’er was Sun Ce’s wife Lady Ping.

After saying this, Sun Ce turned around to leave.

“Stop! You cannot leave!” Xu Gong panicked. If Sun Ce left, then everything was finished. “Sun Quan! Do not forget Lord Cao wants your sincerity! If you don’t show your sincerity, Lord Cao will not help you form an alliance with Jingzhou!”

“The sincerity Cao Sikong wants is not my brother’s head. He simply wants Jiangdong and Jingzhou to obstruct Yangzhou. If I do that, he won’t be so picky!” Sun Quan replied indifferently. Cao Cao’s actions of allying Jingzhou and Jiangdong was ultimately for his own benefit.

Sun Quan followed this plan because he also shared the same goals. Sun Quan too, did not want Jingzhou to get annexed by Yangzhou.

“You!” Xu Gong was angry and decided to act for himself. However, he knew he was no match for Sun Ce. At this moment, another voice rang out through the woods.

“Milord! Milord!” Several men appeared.

“Gongjin?” Sun Ce stared at his sworn brother Zhou Yu before smiling bitterly. His own little brother betrayed him but his sworn brother still followed him faithfully.

“Milord! The Second Lord is disloyal!” Zhou Yu shouted hoping for Sun Ce to become more vigilant. But Sun Ce shook his head and relaxed. It would have been better if it happened earlier. But now, Sun Ce knew everything and felt tired. He no longer wanted to strive for more. He might as well leave behind his foundation of Jiangdong for his little brother. As he thought of this, he felt himself enlightened. It looks like all this time, he had been so tired.

As Sun Ce was about to greet Zhou Yu, Zhou Yu’s head turned with alarm. “Milord be careful!”

An arrow flew towards Sun Ce’s unguarded back.