Chapter 38: The Brocade Sail Thief

  Two days later, Liu Jue finally returned to Xiangyang City. He and his entourage first went to the north city pier, where they learned that Liu Bei's fleet had not yet returned. He took out a five-tael gold ingot and handed it to his entourage, smiling at him: "You've worked hard on this trip, you can go home first! Please take this money, it's my little intention, buy something for your wife and children."

  The attendant's home was on the opposite bank of the Han River in Fan City, he declined but couldn't get out of it, so he gratefully accepted the gold and bid farewell with a bow.

  Liu Jue gazed after him as he went to the dock, then turned his warhorse towards the city gate and galloped northward. After riding for three days, he was also somewhat fatigued, so he decided to return to his mansion first and get a good night's sleep before going to report to his uncle Liu Biao.

  Liu Xuan's war horse galloped swiftly, it was noon at this time, the empty land on both sides of the official road outside the north city was filled with all kinds of small stalls, people came and went, business was booming.

  Not far away, there are several taverns and inns, where the sound of laughter and noise can be faintly heard from inside. The most famous Wangjiang Tavern in Xiangyang is located at the northernmost end.

  The defense of Xiangyang City was very strict. Outside the north city, there was first a moat, and after passing through the moat, there was the real inner city, guarded by nearly a thousand soldiers at the North Gate.

  Although the city defense is tight, the soldiers are not very diligent. Dozens of soldiers guarding the city lazily gathered in groups of three or five to rest by the city wall. A few soldiers glanced at the passersby with a sideways glance, generally they didn't ask about the pedestrians, only when they saw suspicious people would they stop and check.

  Just then, the soldiers' eyes lit up almost simultaneously. "Look!" someone whispered, "That horse!"

  The soldiers all saw that a very majestic war horse was slowly running towards the city gate, and the person on the horse seemed to be an officer.

  At this time, as long as they were not Wen Guan Bo's officials, the soldiers would not take an officer without attendants seriously.

  Dozens of soldiers were in high spirits, swarming around Liu Xuan's war horse on both sides, not blocking the way, but squeezing on both sides of the road, pointing and gesturing at the war horse.

  "What a fine steed, even more majestic than General Cai's Lion Head Horse with Yellow Hooves."

  "General Cai's horse is far inferior, and I think even the Governor's Wind Chaser will be a notch below."

  Someone recognized the owner of the war horse and whispered in shock: "Isn't this Young Master Jing?"

  "Who is Master Cui?"

  "Idiot! Does Young Master Jing even know who defeated Cai Jin in the last sword fight? Forgotten already?"

  "So it was him, the nephew of the provincial governor!"

  Recognizing Liu Xuan, several soldiers who wanted to come forward and chat were frightened and retreated one after another. Liu Xuan smiled and urged his horse to move on, and the crowd could only watch as this majestic warhorse galloped into the city gate.

  These envious comments, Liu Jing had long been accustomed to on the way, and he also realized that this war horse would bring him a little trouble, but hopefully only a little trouble.

  As soon as he entered the city of Wucheng, someone suddenly shouted loudly behind him: "The bandit Jinfan is here!"

  Only to see countless vendors selling vegetables and sundries outside the city, each and every one of them was terrified, stumbling and rushing in from outside the city, competing with each other, swarming in, just like the vendors of later generations encountering law enforcement.

  The three words 'Jin Fan Zei' greatly piqued Liu Xuan's interest, and he immediately turned his horse around, gently clamping his legs together, and the warhorse galloped towards the city gate once again.

  Outside North City was originally a bustling place, selling fish and vegetables, all kinds of southern and northern miscellaneous goods, with more than 100 stalls, as well as three wine shops and two inns.

  But at this time, the tofu stall was knocked over, the vegetables were trampled to pieces, the vendors ran away in a hurry, and the three wine shops also closed their doors. Several dozen wine guests hid behind the windows and peeked outside.

  At the mention of 'Brocade Sailors', the people of Xiangyang were frightened out of their wits.

  As more and more onlookers came out, some vendors also thought of their own stalls and followed them out of the city. Over a hundred people crowded around both sides of the city gate.

  Not far from Xiangyang City, more than 100 sailboats were moored along the riverbank. About 400 people disembarked and gathered on the riverbank. Behind them, a large boat was lowering its sails, which appeared to be made of colorful brocade.

  Three big men quickly walked towards the city gate, with the first one being about twenty years old, eight feet two inches tall, dark-skinned, with a pair of sword-like eyebrows under his tiger eyes shining brightly, high nose and square face, looking majestic.

  He wore a magnificent brocade robe, but the front of his jacket was open, revealing his ancient bronze-colored chest muscles. He held a pair of double halberds in his hands, with a bow and arrow on his back, and a long knife at his waist. As he walked, he exuded a fierce aura, appearing both untamed and majestic.

  He walked past Liu Jing, a strong and intense male aura hit him in the face, bringing with it an overwhelming pressure. The pair of halberds in his hand weighed at least eighty kilograms, and his large hands gripped them tightly like steel claws.

  Liu Jiong hastily urged his horse to yield and give way, the big man looked at his warhorse in surprise, smiled slightly at him, revealing a mouthful of snowy white teeth.

  This smile suddenly made Liu Xuan have a good impression of him. Could this person be the famous Gan Ning from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?

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  The garrison at the city gate had become tense, with troops rushing to the top of the wall, holding long spears and bows and arrows, watching the hundreds of waterborne visitors appearing outside the city.

  The general in charge of the defense of Xiangyang was named Cai Zhong, a younger cousin of Cai Mao. He was only a deputy general, but he was seven feet six inches tall, with extremely broad and thick shoulders, and a pair of triangular eyes. In Xiangyang, he was notorious for being ruthless and cruel.

  He had just heard from his soldiers that a precious horse was entering the city, so he ran to the top of the city wall and happened to meet Gan Ning. Cai Zhong held a golden-backed tiger-toothed knife in his hand and looked coldly at several big men who were slowly approaching the city gate.

  "Halt!"

  "Who are you people, daring to forcibly enter Xiangyang City?"

  Gan Ning, with a wave of his hand, signaled his men to halt. He stepped forward and bowed, saying in a loud voice: "I am Gan Ning, also known as Gan Xingba. I have heard that the Governor of Liu is recruiting talented individuals, so I have come to offer my services!"

  Although everyone had already guessed that he was Gan Ning, his self-introduction still caused a stir among the people in and out of the city. Gan Ning's reputation in Jingzhou was extremely great, and every old and young person in Jingzhou knew that this man was the leader of the water thieves in the river, who was generous and heroic, but also ruthless and cruel. Those who respected him would be rewarded tenfold, while those who offended him would be retaliated against tenfold.

  When he marched on land, his troops were arrayed like a forest of trees; when he sailed on water, his ships were linked together in a long line. His sailing vessels used silk as sails, and so he was nicknamed the "Brocade Sails Bandit".

  Because he killed people like hemp, looted and plundered without mercy, for many years he roamed the Yangtze River in Jingzhou and Bashu, and the government repeatedly besieged him but to no avail. However, it was unexpected that he actually appeared under the city of Xiangyang.

  "The pirate on the embroidered sail is going to kill someone!"

  The soldiers on the city wall shouted and yelled, drew their bows and set up arrows. Hundreds of arrows were aimed at Gan Ning below the city, everyone was extremely tense, as if Gan Ning had come to attack Xiangyang with his troops.

  Cai's triangular eyes narrowed into a line, with fierce light flashing in his eyes. Two years ago, he was also ordered to destroy the Jin Fan bandits, but returned in defeat. It was that failure that triggered the governor's anger and removed him from his position as naval lieutenant, reducing him to today's castle guard general.

  Cai's killer instinct was suddenly aroused, and he had actually delivered it to his doorstep. How could he let this opportunity slip away? But in his heart, he also knew that Gan Ning's martial arts were extremely powerful, and with a weapon in hand, rushing out hastily would only cause the man to escape, so he needed to use a clever plan to lure him into the city first...

  Cai Zhong chuckled and said, "So, Gān young brother has come to rely on the provincial governor, turning evil into good, this is a good thing!"

  He turned around and ordered his men, "Put down your bows and arrows!"

  The soldiers slowly put down their bows and arrows, Cai Zhong quickly walked down from the city gate, out of the city gate, he bowed deeply and smiled, revealing two shiny gold teeth, and said with utmost sincerity: "Gan old brother is a hero among men, willing to surrender to the state shepherd, this is a great joy for the Jingzhou army, then I Cai Zhong will do my best to lead Gan old brother to meet the state shepherd, please follow me into the city!"

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  Liu Cong heard it clearly, and indeed it was Gan Ning. At this time, more and more people gathered around, and Liu Cong heard the whispers of the people around him.

  "This Jinfeng thief is doomed, unexpectedly encountering Cai Zhong. In the past, Cai Zhong was defeated by him, how could he spare him today."

  "Impossible! Gan Xingba has come to surrender to the provincial governor, how could Cai Zhong dare kill him?"

  "Hum! What is the Cai family afraid of? The governor will not offend the Cai family for a single Gan Ning."

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  Liu Jue was secretly shocked in his heart, today is a bit troublesome. If Gan Ning can't stay, he will definitely go to Dong Wu for help. But the problem now is that this Cai Zhong seems to be taking advantage of the situation to kill people.

  Although Liu Jue was the nephew of Liu Biao, at this time he was still a minor figure and Cai Zhong might not listen to his words. The only way to turn things around now is for Liu Biao to come forward in person, but if he goes to ask Liu Biao, it will take at least half an hour back and forth, by that time the Huanghua vegetables would have gone cold, what can be done?

  Liu Xuan was extremely anxious in his heart, but for a time he had no plan to implement.

  Gan Ning sneered, he was not a three-year-old child, what was Cai Zhong's intention? He naturally understood that since he had expressed his attitude to surrender to Liu Biao, then Liu Biao must come in person to see him, to dispel their previous grievances and ensure his own safety. If Liu Biao did not even have this heart and sincerity, then he could only go to surrender to Eastern Wu's Sun Quan.

  Gan Ning smiled faintly, "Thank you for General Cai's kindness. I, Gan Ning, have come from afar to offer my services. I only hope that the Governor will give me some face and meet with me at the North City Gate. Please inform the Governor of this, I await his arrival."

  "How dare you!"

  Cai Zhong's face turned red with rage, "What status is the governor of the state, how could he come to welcome you, a bandit from the river? You don't know how to behave, so don't blame me for being impolite."

  Cai Zhongyi waved his hand, and more than a hundred soldiers rushed up from behind him, surrounding Gan Ning in layers. Over a hundred bows and crossbows were aimed at Gan Ning from all sides.

  Gan Ning's men were shocked and drew their swords, ready to charge forward. However, Gan Ning waved his hand to stop them. He remained calm and composed, letting out a cold laugh, "Is this the hospitality of Jingzhou?"

  Cai Zhong threw his head back and laughed loudly, "Heaven has a road you don't take, the underground has no door but you come to surrender yourself, Gan Xingba, today is the day you'll lose your head, accept death!"

  He was about to give the order to shoot arrows, when Gan Ning gripped his twin pikes tightly, on the verge of exploding. Just at that moment, a loud shout came: "The Provincial Governor has an order!"

  Right on the heels of that, a magnificent warhorse burst into the encirclement like a gust of wind. Several soldiers dodged too late and were knocked to the ground by the horse. The sudden turn of events caused the momentum of both sides to come to an abrupt halt.