Chapter 565

“What’s going on?” Liu Pan was chasing Liu Mang. Some of his men went ahead of him to try and get ahead of the hot air balloon but then they started to slow down.

“Did we already catch the King of Shu?” Liu Pan asked one of his guards and then ordered the guard to go and take a look. The guard left and quickly returned.

“Report. The King of Shu had gone over the West Gate and left Xiangyang.”

“Then why are we not chasing after him?” Liu Pan was unhappy when he heard this. They may need to take detours as they could not go over walls but the hot air balloon was slow enough for them to catch up. So why were they wasting time here? For a moment, Liu Pan wondered if this is because they were tired but quickly wrote it off. His troops could be one of Jingzhou’s most elite troops. He was certain they would not slow down at all even when travelling long distance.

“General. We are stopped!” The guard explained.

“The King of Shu have men bringing up the rear?” Liu Pan asked. It would definitely be a good reason if there were enemies.

“It is not the enemy. We cannot go pass the West Gate.” The guard replied bitterly. The gates were closed and they could not fly over the walls like Liu Mang.

“Take me there. I want to see what is going on.” Liu Pan ordered gloomily before he and his guards went towards the gate.

The city defense of Xiangyang city wasn’t anything too luxurious as it was the internal parts of Jingzhou. The city was like a large field with lots of waterways due to being for trade instead of fortification. This was one reason why losing Fancheng made Liu Biao panic. Although the walls could not be too high due to the moist ground, it was still large. The gate was tightly closed.

Liu Pan narrowed his eyes. “Go and call the officer handling the city gate!” Liu Pan ordered angrily. Why was the gate closed in broad daylight?

“Yes!” The guard nodded and then stepped forward. “The people at the West Gate! Our general, Liu Pan, is here! Bring your superior officer out! Our general wants to see him!”

“Liu Pan? Which Liu Pan? I don’t know him! I am not going to meet him!” The military officer on the walls of the West Gate waved his hand away in disdain. He had received order from Huang She to keep the gate closed.

“Our military officer have spoken! Ask your General Liu Pan to go back!”

“Hmph!” Liu Pang harrumphed coldly. He then personally stepped forward and spoke. “If you does not recognize General Liu Pan, then how about Second Lord Liu Pan?”

“Second Lord?” The military officer was stunned. From which family?

“Which other family can he be from? Our general’s uncle… No. Our general’s father is named Liu Jingsheng! He is the Lord of Jingzhou!”

“The Lord’s second child?” The officer stood up immediately. At the end of the day, he worked for Liu Biao so he had to deal with this claim. He walked over to the edge and looked down at the army. “Where is your evidence?”

Normally, an officer would not be so bold when looking at a heavy cavalry but since he was on the city walls, the heavy cavalry did not scare him.

“Evidence?” Liu Pan thought for a while and then took out a jade ornament. “Can this white jade tiger count as evidence?”

“I can’t see it from here. Have it brought up!” The officer shouted back.

“You!” Liu Pan’s subordinate became angry. How can a small officer like this man be so rude towards the Lord’s child? However, Liu Pan stopped his subordinate from acting out as he was short on time. Best to settle things smoothly and then quickly resume his chase.

The jade was quickly handed over.

“This jade…” The officer muttered as he appraised the jade. Although he could not tell if it was genuine, it was clearly something so precious that only the very influential could wear.

“Could it really be the Lord’s second child?” The officer had heard of this person before but information about him slowly stopped. Last he heard was that the individual was sent away to the borders.

“The Second Lord is well. Forgive this officer for being blind.” The military officer cupped his fists at Liu Pan.

“Enough nonsense. Open the gate. Our general is currently pursuing the enemy!”

“This subordinate offers a humble apology for any mistakes caused but Milord said that there is a rebellion in the city and ordered for all the gates to stay closed.” The officer replied with courtesy but in the end, he refused to open the gates.

“What is your name?” Liu Pan narrowed his eyes. If one was attentive, they could already see his killing intent.

“This subordinate is Ye Cheng.” The officer replied.

“Ye Cheng of the Ye Family!” Liu Pan said as he thought about the name. “Are you one of the Huang Family’s men?” Liu Pang immediately knew that Ye Cheng was one of the Huang Family’s subordinates. It was the same as how the Zhang Family was the Cai Family’s subordinate.

“Ye Cheng. I don’t care what family you are from! If you do not open the gates now, you will never need to open the gates ever again! You will just be dead!” Liu Pan said with killing intent.

“Are you threatening me?” Ye Cheng also became angry. He had the backing of the Huang Family so he was not afraid. Why would he care about Liu Biao’s second child if even Liu Biao’s first son did not have any position at all?

“I am not threatening you! I am also not the one that wants you dead! It is my father!” Liu Pan replied indifferently.

“Hm?” Ye Cheng could ignore it if Liu Pan was the one that wanted him dead but he could not ignore Liu Biao.

“Our general is ordered to chase down the renegade. The renegade escaped but the gate here is closed. Can you take responsibility for this?”

“This…” Ye Cheng hesitated as he knew that Liu Biao was determined to see things through this time. Liu Biao would not spare him if he heard of what happened here. At the same time, Ye Cheng was ordered by Huang She to not let Liu Pan through.

“General. There is no need for this. Just open the gates.” One of Ye Cheng’s officers spoke up.

“What about the Young Master?”  

“The Young Master told us to obstruct him. He never told us not to let him go through the gates. Look. That flying thing have already travelled far. We no longer need to buy time.”

Ye Cheng saw that the hot air balloon have almost reached the forest area. How could Liu Pan continue chasing? “Haha. Men! Open the gates! Let the Second Lord through!”

“Understood!”