Chapter IV: The Defense of Chang Sha Pt. 1

Chang Sha was successfully captured, but it seemed Sun Ce wasn't going to take it lying down. He immediately mustered a force and set out to attack Lu Xian for a staging ground to retake Chang Sha and fight this newly appointed Governor in the south. Sun Ce's forces, led by Zhou Tai easily defeated Liang Meng's defenders. Nervous but steady, Liang Xiu strength the defenses of Chang Sha in preparation for the upcoming battle for Chang Sha.

While Sun Ce had the upper hand with his military and personnel, he had no idea the resolve that burned deep within Liang Xiu. Liang Xiu understood that he would be taking up the mantle of leader soon and he would need all the experience he could get before his father relinquished control. Liang Xiu prepared for battle.

Zhou Tai set out with Zhu Ran with fourteen thousand soldiers to attack Chang Sha, where only sixteen thousand were stationed. Zhou Tai smirked as he thought of sacking the city and taking it back over in the name of his lord. He would enjoy victory in this battle. He marched out ahead with his pikemen. His small force would be enough to destroy the pathetic child that Liang Xiu was. Then he would march on Gui Yang and kill Liang Meng. Zhou Tai was here to prove his worth to his lord, and prove his worth he will.


But one thing he didn't know, just like Sun Ce, the actual heart, skill, and willpower that Liang Xiu had in his arsenal. Liang Xiu marched out along side of Hou Jun with Cheng Ying and met Zhou Tai head on. Zhou Tai was caught off guard but didn't falter. He met Liang Xiu's cavalry charge head on. The casualties on Zhou Tai's side outnumbered the casualties on Liang Xiu's side. But Liang Xiu knew that after the initial charge the real battle began.

Sun Ce knew he had to send reinforcements to battle against Chang Sha. He sent Lu Fan and Wei Fang with 12,000 troops as support for Zhou Tai. He had no doubt that he would retake Chang Sha from the governor in the south and he left his city of of Chai Sang sparsely defended. He had no need to have the city guarded heavily. He sat back and waited for his plan to come to fruition.

However, Liang Meng wouldn't allow Chang Sha to fall. He lead a caravan of 24,000 troops with many armaments, supplies, and gold set for Chang Sha. He had come so far since an agricultural adviser to a Governor of the South. He wouldn't stop. He wasn't going to lose to Sun Ce. He cared not for how powerful and frightening the Sun family is, he wouldn't be showed up by some pathetic little cub on a boat. He had complete confidence in his son that he would hold Chang Sha.

The battle for Chang Sha raged intensely. While Zhou Tai and Zhu Ran had more men, Liang Xiu's cavalry caused massive damage against Zhou Tai's pikemen while Huo Jun's pikeman tore into Zhu Ran's. However, casualties were on both sides and Zhu Ran attacked the walls of Chang Sha. The numbers dwindled but morale was restored when Liang Meng was seen with the caravan.

Sun Ce was angered by the turn of events and sent Lu Kang with 5000 troops from Jiang Liang as reinforcements, but it a futile effort and he knew it. Liang Meng had arrived with his 24,000 troops. Lei Bo grabbed five thousand spearmen and set out, ultimately wiping out Zhu Ran. Now, the battle was in Liang Xiu's favor. Zhou Tai fell back to regroup and assessed the situation. He knew that his reinforcements were some ways off but he didn't want to back down. Zhou Tai pushed forward. Zhou Tai was wiped out and Liang Xiu was victorious. The defense of Chang Sha was a success.