It was said that Sun Xiang, the Governor of Ruan Nan, did not have the courage to join Sun Ce and was hesitant about going to Jiang Dong due to the long distance and the constant surveillance by Yuan Shu's agents. Some also claimed there were personal conflicts between Sun Xiang and Sun Ce, making him unwilling to leave his post.
But Lü Bu, at this moment, was not concerned with such details. After confirming that there were no pursuers within a few dozen miles, he led his remaining soldiers into an abandoned village for temporary shelter. The past few days had been filled with tension, and the army had not had a proper meal. Finally, with some respite, the soldiers began fetching water, preparing food, and the once quiet village was now filled with noise and activity.
In one of the well-preserved houses in the village, Lü Bu and Zhang Liao sat across from each other, discussing the current state of their forces.
"Wen Yuan, how many soldiers do we still have who are fit to fight?" Lü Bu asked.
Zhang Liao replied, "After a careful count, we have about 2,600 men left. This includes 503 soldiers from the Xian Zhen Ying (Elite Troops), 1,170 cavalry, and 1,000 infantry who haven't been involved much in the fighting and are still in good condition."
He continued, "Among these men, 1,300 are non-combatants—mostly women and some children, many of whom are powerless in battle."
The battle outside Xia Pi had cost Gao Shun's Xian Zhen Ying about 300 men, leaving behind only 503 troops, many of whom were injured. Meanwhile, the cavalry forces, including Huo Cheng and Song Xian's 600 riders, had suffered close to a third of their original strength.
As for the 3,000 Xu Zhou soldiers inside Xia Pi, they had all fled.
Upon hearing this, Lü Bu gritted his teeth in anger. "Damn Cao Cao! This debt will be repaid sooner or later!"
After a brief pause, Lü Bu continued, "I plan to keep Gao Shun in command of the Xian Zhen Ying. As for the remaining cavalry and infantry, they will be under your command. However, I want the cavalry and infantry to remain separated for now. How does that sound, Wen Yuan?"
Zhang Liao bowed. "I will obey your orders!"
"By the way, how much food and fodder do we have left? Will it be enough to get us to Jing Zhou?" Lü Bu asked.
In the cold winter, not only did the soldiers need provisions, but the horses also required fodder. As such, even though it slowed their march, Lü Bu had decided to bring some supplies with them.
Zhang Liao frowned. "The food is almost gone. We have enough for another two or three days, at most."
"As for the fodder," Zhang Liao continued, "We have very little left. Even if we ration it, it will only last the horses for another two meals."
Lü Bu thought for a moment. "How many soldiers are still stationed in Shan Sang County?"
Zhang Liao answered, "The garrison in Shan Sang County only has about a thousand soldiers, but this is still Yuan Shu's territory. If we go there to raid the town, Yuan Shu will probably send troops to retaliate once he receives word."
Lü Bu shook his head. "Since Yuan Shu was defeated by Cao Cao, he has been holed up in Shou Chun and hasn't dared to show his face. It would take at least seven or eight days for him to send troops from Shou Chun to Shan Sang, and by the time he gets there, we'll be long gone."
"As for Sun Xiang's ragtag troops, I don't think they'll dare to stop us."
Zhang Liao cupped his hands. "In that case, I will take the army to Shan Sang County after a short rest."
Lü Bu nodded. "After you secure the food and fodder, return immediately. We'll wait here in this desolate village and see how Gong Tai's mission turns out."
"Until we get confirmation from Liu Biao, we should hold off on going any further. Although I have confidence in Chen Gong, we cannot be too hasty. If Liu Biao refuses to take us in, we may be walking into a trap."
Zhang Liao nodded. "Apart from food and fodder, does the General have any other instructions?"
Lü Bu replied, "Our main objective in Shan Sang County is to get food and fodder. If the county magistrate is sensible, we'll try to avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
"And if the town has a blacksmith shop, bring back a few blacksmiths. We'll need their skills."
Zhang Liao raised an eyebrow. "General, we can't stay in Shan Sang County for long, and we don't even have any mines. Why do we need to bring blacksmiths back?"
In Zhang Liao's experience, when raiding a town, Lü Bu was always concerned with the quality of wine and the beauty of women. But this time, he seemed to have changed his focus.
Instead of demanding wine or women, he now wanted to bring back blacksmiths.
Lü Bu explained, "Although we don't have any minerals right now, I want to improve the equipment for our cavalry. But to do this, we need to consult with skilled blacksmiths. So, when you go, just look for those with the right skills."
Zhang Liao nodded slightly but still seemed puzzled. Lü Bu had always prioritized the enjoyment of life—wine, women, and festivities—so it was unusual for him to now focus on improving military equipment.
Yet Zhang Liao understood that they were in a precarious situation, and if he didn't follow Lü Bu's orders, it would only make things worse.
"Understood, General," Zhang Liao said as he saluted.
Meanwhile, in Xiangyang, Liu Biao was busy with his own concerns. Since the death of Dong Zhuo, he had been granted control over Jing Zhou by the imperial decree, and his influence had grown. But Lü Bu's reputation preceded him, and Liu Biao's court was wary of this unpredictable warlord seeking refuge.
Liu Biao and his advisors gathered in the Zhou Mu Fu (Governor's Office), discussing whether to accept Lü Bu's potential arrival.
Given Lü Bu's past history, it wasn't an easy decision. Liu Biao would need to carefully consider whether accepting Lü Bu was worth the risks involved.