The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 268 Zhou Yu: If Li Yi doesn't come, Jingzhou is ours for the taking. If he does come, then it will not belong to our lord.
Meanwhile, Liu Bei formally appointed Zhuge Liang as the commander-in-chief, overseeing the military and political affairs of Jiangnan.

Fearing that Zhuge Liang might not be able to control his subordinates, he specifically asked Li Yi to accompany him on his trip to Jiangnan.

Li Yi will be behind the scenes to help Zhuge Liang maintain order, and Zhuge Liang will just need to perform normally and reap the rewards.

During the selection process, Zhuge Liang was clear-headed.

Those who were chosen were either latecomers, or people of noble character who did not form cliques.

Notable figures include Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, and Gao Shun.

Zhuge Liang was also very good at interpersonal relationships, and he approached his senior, Li Yi.

He said that he had just taken command of the army and feared that some talented people might be overlooked, so he needed the Prime Minister's guidance and supplementation.

Li Yi stroked his beard and smiled:

"...Kongming chose General Huang, who is still vigorous despite his old age, and General Zilong, who is unparalleled in loyalty and bravery."

"General Gao is also meticulous and rigorous; he is a top choice for his time."

Li Yi first affirmed Zhuge Liang's choice of personnel, implying that he felt there was nothing wrong with it.

You, Kongming, can take these people down to the south of the Yangtze River.

Anyway, if the king really does give you Jingzhou, he will definitely cultivate his own loyal followers in Jingzhou.

Li Yi tapped the map of Jianghuai on the table lightly with his knuckles and pointed:

"However, the Jiangnan region, with its numerous waterways, requires not only land-based warriors but also—"

As he finished speaking, Li Yiyi traced a line of ink across the water in the painting, leaving a single drop that perfectly stained the direction of Shouchun.

A glint flashed in Zhuge Liang's eyes, and he already knew what Li Yi was thinking.

“Chen Yuanlong!” Li Yi said loudly, “He is skilled in managing ships and knowledgeable in water conservancy.”

"Back in Guangling, you once helped me defeat the pirates of Xuezhou with fire ships."

"With this man's help, the Jingzhou water fortress is nothing to worry about."

Zhuge Liang paused slightly with his feather fan, secretly thinking that Chen Deng was the leader of the generals in Huainan.

I dare not appoint him myself, for fear that the Huainan navy will seize power and suppress me.

But since Li Yi has spoken, it means he knows what he's doing.

On second thought, the soldiers of Huainan had been stationed on the frontier for a long time, and Chen Deng and his ilk were eager to take Jingzhou day and night.

If we do not share the credit with them now, I fear it will discourage the people of Huainan.

Liu Bei seemed to sense Zhuge Liang's concerns and immediately spoke up:
"General Zheng Nan is stationed in Huainan for me. This place is a vital point in Jiangnan and we do not move lightly."

"In my opinion, we should send naval forces from Yuzhang."

Yuzhang was the territory of Taishi Ci.

Back then, he was sent to Yuzhang to help Liu Bei develop Yangtu.

He also conducted preliminary field surveys for Li Yi, who has now been honing his skills in other places for several years.

Their hard work and great achievements are undeniable.

Taishi Ci already had considerable experience, and Liu Bei intended to take this opportunity to promote him.

He was promoted to a higher position in the Central Plains.

Zhuge Liang bowed to Liu Bei and said:
“Yuzhang is far from here. If it were the First Naval Force, it might not be able to arrive in time.”

"As the Prime Minister is indeed wise and insightful, we might as well let the Huainan navy assist us."

"Your Majesty, I request that you appoint the General Who Conquers the South as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy."

Seeing how adept Zhuge Liang was at handling things, Liu Bei couldn't help but burst into laughter:

"...Alright, since the two of you share the same strategy, we will follow your suggestion."

"It's just about the Yuzhang matter—"

As Liu Bei spoke, his gaze fell upon Li Yi.

Li Yi understood and stepped forward, saying:

"Taishi Ziyi has been stationed in Yuzhang for a long time, and I read his reports every time."

“I deeply appreciate the difficulty of building Yuzhang. Now the local grain and provisions are ready, and the soldiers are sufficient.”

"Ziyi is also a veteran general in the army, and he is well-versed in naval warfare."

“He can be ordered to lead the Yuzhang Army out of the Yangtze River and garrison Jiangxia as a surprise force.”

good!
Liu Bei was overjoyed and immediately drafted a handwritten edict, ordering Taishi Ci, then the Prefect of Yuzhang, to travel by Yangtze River to Jiangxia.

To provide support and protection for Zhuge Liang and his entourage as they marched south.

After everything was arranged.

In the eleventh year of Jian'an, in the fourth month of spring.

Zhuge Liang, the governor of Pingnan, was ordered by the king to lead an army of 20,000, which was said to be 200,000.

We set off from Xuzhou, passed through Runan, and entered Jiangxia.

On this day, in the height of spring, King Liu Bei of Qi personally hosted a farewell banquet for Liu Bei on the banks of the Si River.

"Kongming, on your journey, you shall pacify Jingzhou and Xiangyang for me!"

Liu Bei removed his brocade robe and draped it over Zhuge Liang's shoulders, then took his hand and said:
"Liu Qi has already prepared boats and is waiting for him in Jiangxia."

Zhuge Liang bowed twice to receive his orders, and then officially set off.

In this line,

Huang Zhong's 5,000-strong Divine Arm Battalion, clad in black armor, shone like the sun.

Zhao Yun's Cloud Cavalry and White Horse Volunteers numbered eight thousand, their banners obscuring the sky.

Gao Shun's elite infantry force numbered four thousand men, all of whom were infantry.

Chen arrived to oversee the baggage train, which consisted of three thousand people and a large number of carriages and horses.

In addition,

Furthermore, Chen Deng led the Huai River navy southward along the Si River, with warships stretching for thousands of miles.

Taishi Ci sent a separate messenger, saying that he had led the Yuzhang army out of Pengli and was ready to enter Jingzhou at any time.

It is worth noting that

All of the above troops belong to the general himself.

It wasn't that Liu Bei could change commanders at will, or that he could appoint whomever he wanted to lead the army.

Unless you encounter someone with a good temper like Gao Shun,
Lu Bu seized his elite troops and gave them to his relative by marriage, Wei Xudai, but he wasn't upset.

However, when Lü Bu was caught up in a battle later, he still had to return the Trapped Camp to Gao Shun.

Then you'll realize why these troops can't be arbitrarily taken from the generals.

As mentioned before, special eras create special blood ties.

This was not unique to Liu Bei; it was true for all the warlords at the end of the Han Dynasty.

This era has a strong concept of "soldiers from the local area," where soldiers only recognize their own superiors.

Therefore, whether it was Cao Cao or Liu Bei, they were both the big brothers who controlled them.

As long as the eldest brother is loyal to him, their younger brothers will naturally be loyal to him.

This is why Liu Bei severely suppressed his generals.

They all have private armies; we have to crack down on them.

If you create a separate unit for a newly recruited general, it will increase defense spending.

So it will be very troublesome.

Often, Liu Bei could only draw a small number of men from each general's retinue.

Then a separate piece of music was composed for the meritorious generals.

Because the amount drawn was small, and everyone was stabbed once, most of the generals had no complaints.

Zhuge Liang took 20,000 troops from Xuzhou.

Including Taishi Ci's Yuzhang troops and Chen Yuanlong's Huainan navy, there were at least forty to fifty thousand soldiers.

It has everything: army and navy, engineering equipment, supplies and provisions, livestock and mules, and even daily necessities.

The types of troops are also very complete.

It includes the top-tier infantry of Gao Shun's elite vanguard unit.

There were also archers trained by Huang Zhong's Divine Arm Battalion, who were extremely skilled at shooting.

Then there were the mixed barbarian cavalry that Zhao Yun brought back from Youzhou, and the top-notch cavalry combat experts that Gongsun Xu merged and reorganized—the Cloud Cavalry and the White Horse Cavalry.

Chen Deng's Huainan navy was the strongest navy in the Qi state.

It has the best naval commanders and the best naval force in the country.

Including the reserves that Taishi Ci brought from Yuzhang, this team can be said to have almost no weaknesses.

Liu Bei also put a lot of effort into this.

As Li Yi's number one successor, Liu Bei was terrified that Zhuge Liang would fail.

The lineup provided for him is the best he could do.

Zhuge Liang ascended the high platform and waved his white banner, while the sounds of drums and horns filled the sky and shouts shook the earth.

The army split into two routes, one by land and one by water, and marched south in a mighty procession.

……

Let me talk about two things.

The news that a large number of troops from Xuzhou were moving south had already alarmed Cao Cao, who was in Ye City.

He had guessed that something must have happened in Jingzhou from the news that Li Yi was eager to negotiate peace.

Therefore, spies were dispatched to closely monitor the movements in Jingzhou.

Sure enough, one shocking message after another came in.

Liu Biao fell seriously ill, and Lady Cai seized control of the government.

The eldest son, Liu Qi, fled to Jiangxia to avoid disaster and sought help from Liu Bei.

Liu Bei has already responded to Jiangxia's message and sent Zhuge Liang south of the Yangtze River.

Upon receiving this news, Cao Cao hastily gathered his civil and military officials at the Duke of Wei's residence.

He threw the intelligence report onto the table and shouted:
"Liu Jingsheng is critically ill, and Big Ears has already made his move!"

Before the strategists could speak, Xiahou Dun preemptively said:

"Now that Liu Bei has gone east, our army should set out immediately!"

We must not miss this opportunity again!

The setbacks in the Hebei campaign have put Wei at a disadvantage in its struggle against Qi.

If the struggle for Jingzhou fails again, the situation will become extremely difficult.

At that time, the State of Qi can completely surround the State of Wei from the north, east, and south.

The State of Wei no longer even had the opportunity to find an ally.

All affairs in Jingzhou can be considered of paramount importance.

Cao Cao glanced around, but did not immediately express his opinion.

But first, I asked everyone:
How many troops can Wei still mobilize?

Upon being asked, Cheng Yu immediately reported:
"After more than a month of preparation, our country can now mobilize about 50,000 troops in Yanzhou and Henan."

"With Zhong Yao in Guanzhong, it is sufficient to defend against Han Sui."

"There are 20,000 troops stationed in Shanyang and other places, which is enough to guard against Liu Bei."

Although Cao Cao's territory shrank, his troops did not decrease.

This was mainly because when the Qi state ceded territory earlier, it returned the 37,000 soldiers it had previously captured.

Cao Cao was also able to support these soldiers.

Although it lost most of Hebei's territory, its core and most developed region was actually the Yingchuan area.

The foundation had already been laid by using jujubes to cultivate land in Yingchuan.

in addition,

As mentioned before, Cao Cao's military expenditures were consistently high.

His conscription was coercive, and even if it incited local rebellions, it could be forcibly suppressed by force.

Although the war in Hebei was unfavorable, Cao Cao still had a chance to turn the tide.

That is to seize Jingzhou!
Currently, the main generals capable of leading troops still include members of the imperial clan such as Cao Ren, Cao Hong, and Xiahou Dun.

The defection of Yu Jin, a member of a different clan, was a great disappointment to Cao Cao.

But with the situation in the south pressing, he had no time to deal with Yu Jin.

Generals from other surnames, such as Li Dian, Yue Jin, and Lü Qian, can still be used.

Among the rising stars were also young talents such as Guo Huai, Cao Zhen, and Cao Xiu.

It can be said that Cao Cao still had many good cards to play.

He absolutely cannot afford to make any more mistakes in the upcoming military and diplomatic operations!
"...cough...cough..."

"According to reports from spies in Jiangnan, Liu Biao has contracted carbuncles on his back, and his health is deteriorating rapidly."

Guo Jia coughed twice and explained the intelligence he had gathered to Cao Cao.

“In Xiangyang today, Cai Mao and Zhang Yun are in cahoots, controlling both internal and external military affairs.”

"His second wife, Lady Cai, then controlled Liu Biao's inner chambers, preventing him from hearing what was happening outside the window,"

"...Haha...It's a pity that Liu Biao, a hero of his time, ended up like this."

"...cough cough..."

Overcome with excitement, Guo Jia coughed violently a few times.

Cao Cao's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly.

If Liu Biao is indeed seriously ill, then it would indeed be a great opportunity to seize Jingzhou.

No one understands Jingzhou better than me, Cao Cao!
He knew that although Jingzhou seemed to be united as one.

But it was entirely held together by Liu Biao; once Liu Biao died...

The rope will snap in response.

Cao Cao's assessment was not an exaggeration.

Historically, this occurred when Cao Cao marched south.

At that time, Jingzhou, which was known as one of the top three powers in the country, began to discuss whether to surrender to Cao Cao.

The newly appointed boss and CEO, Liu Cong, actually said to his subordinates:
"Now, let us, gentlemen, occupy the entire land of Chu, uphold the legacy of our late lord, and observe the world. What is wrong with that?"

This statement reveals just how lowly Liu Cong's status was.

On such a crucial matter of principle, Liu Cong could only weakly utter a single sentence.

Now we all work together to run the company and protect my old man's assets.

Isn't it a bit of a waste to have voted?
Do you think Liu Cong has a soft personality?

That is indeed the reason.

However, if Liu Cong has a strong military presence, it will be difficult for him to back down.

As the second son, he was able to gain the support of the gentry in Jingzhou.

The powerful clans of Jingzhou thought Liu Cong was easy to control.

It's the same principle as when the scholars of Yanzhou wanted to welcome Lü Bu in.

A person with only military strength but no brains is practically the ideal candidate for governor among the gentry and powerful clans.

Although Liu Cong lacked martial prowess, his uncle Cai Mao did.

Since Cai Mao wanted to support Liu Cong to take the throne, there was no need for everyone to rush to oppose him.

Cao Cao stared at the map of Jingzhou in silence, pondering how to compete with Liu Bei for Jingzhou.

Suddenly, Sima Yi rose from his seat at the end of the table, holding a whisk and pointing towards Xiangyang:
"My lord, do not worry. Liu Jingsheng has a sharp blade at home that you may borrow."

"Are you perhaps referring to the Cai family of Xiangyang?"

Guo Jia asked from the side.

"It is indeed the Cai family."

Sima Yi nodded and chuckled softly:

"Lady Cai wanted to depose the eldest son and establish the younger son in his place, so Cai Mao took command of the naval forces in Nanjun."

"To avoid disaster, the eldest son Liu Qi fled to Jiangxia and sought help from Liu Bei."

"Doesn't the Cai family need your sharp blade, sir, even more?"

As he spoke, he rowed across the river with his whisk, saying, "When the time comes, all Wei Gong needs to do is promise Liu Cong the throne, and Cai Mao will surely surrender the water fortress!"

It was obvious to everyone that Liu Qi had already pledged allegiance to Liu Bei.

In this way, Cai Mao and others naturally became Liu Bei's adversaries.

The Cai clan now urgently needs a powerful external ally to ensure Liu Cong's smooth ascension to the throne.

Cao Cao also desperately needed an ally who could help him establish a foothold in Jingzhou. With their interests aligned, they quickly reached an agreement.

What does Fengxiao think?

Although Sima Yi's strategy was excellent, Cao Cao never liked him and remained wary of him.

Even though he had already decided to adopt the plan, he still had to ask Guo Jia for his opinion again.

Guo Jia also agreed and gave a brief analysis.

Cao Cao was able to take this opportunity to praise Guo Jia, thus attributing the credit to Guo Jia.

Guo Jia and Cao Cao seemed to have a tacit understanding, and Guo Jia immediately spoke up:

"In my opinion, the main purpose of this trip to Jiangnan should be to win people over with favors."

"Now that Liu Qi has surrendered to Liu Bei, even though Liu Cong has Lady Cai as his advisor, he is no match for Liu Bei and cannot make a difference on his own."

"Without the support of the imperial court, even with Liu Biao's dying wish, Liu Cong would have had a hard time becoming the governor of Jingzhou."

Because the current Chen court is jointly controlled by the Cao and Liu families.

Liu Qi has already pledged allegiance to Liu Bei. If you, Lady Cai, dare to support Liu Cong to the throne...

Liu Bei will then directly accuse you of violating etiquette and establishing a younger son in favor of an elder son.

Then he submitted a memorial to the court, recommending Liu Qi to be appointed as the governor of Jingzhou.

How should you respond?

Therefore, the Cai family also desperately needed the support of the imperial court.

Of the two families, Cao Cao and Liu Bei, only Cao Cao remains as a viable option.

"Lord Wei can begin preparations for his southward journey to Jiangnan."

"On the one hand, someone was sent to Xiangyang to secretly contact the Cai family."

"After Liu Biao's death, Xu recommended Liu Cong to be the governor of Jingzhou."

"Liu Cong is young and knows nothing about military affairs. Your Excellency only needs to make a little effort, and Jingbei will naturally belong to our Great Wei."

good!
Cao Cao nodded repeatedly.

“Fengxiao’s words are exactly what I think.”

"If we can take Jingzhou, what harm is there in letting that scoundrel Liu Cong become the governor of Jingzhou for a while?"

"This matter should be handled swiftly and should not be delayed."

hiss……

Cao Pi took a deep breath, thinking to himself that this plan was clearly first proposed by Sima Yi.

Why did the father only praise Guo Jia and not mention Sima Yi at all?

He was about to step forward and speak out in defense of Sima Yi.

Sima Yi quickly grabbed his sleeve and shook his head at Cao Pi.

"...Zhongda, why does Father treat you this way?"

Sima Yi simply shook his head slightly and calmly replied:

"If I act with utmost respect, in time, Lord Wei will eventually understand my loyalty."

From afar, the registrar Yang Xiu saw the two whispering to each other.

Unable to resist, he said to Cao Zhi beside him:
“…Young master, look over there.”

Cao Zhi looked over and saw that his brother was indeed talking to Sima about something.

Yang Xiu said sarcastically:

"This must be because the two men are dissatisfied with Wei Gong's arrangements."

Cao Zhi was startled upon hearing this and hurriedly asked:

"How does Emperor Dezu prove this?"

Yang Xiu's lips curled up slightly, and he smiled smugly:

"Wei Gong once said that Sima Yi has the eyes of an eagle and the gaze of a wolf, and should not be entrusted with military power, for doing so would surely bring trouble."

However, Young Master Pi did not take it to heart and continued to maintain close relations with him.

"Young master, this is a great opportunity for you to show your abilities in front of Lord Wei."

"Now that we're going to Jiangnan, we might as well take the initiative to apply to go."

"Seeing your diligence, Duke Wei will surely treat you with great favor."

Cao Zhi frowned, somewhat reluctant.

He also invited Ding Yi to drink together and compose poems.

He was really reluctant to travel all the way to Jiangnan.

Yang Xiu urged him repeatedly, almost pushing him with his hands, and Cao Zhi could not resist him.

He was reluctantly pushed out, staggered to his feet, unaware that his clothes were stained with wine.

All the officials looked at him, holding their breath and remaining silent.

Cao Zhi first bowed respectfully, then recited aloud:

"Father need not worry about the affairs of Jiangnan."

"Your subject is willing to go to Jingzhou on behalf of your father to make contact with Cai Mao."

A glint flashed in Cao Cao's eyes, and the corners of his lips unconsciously turned up.

Whether Cao Zhi was capable or not is another matter, but his attitude of sharing the emperor's burdens alone deserves praise.

Seeing his younger brother vying to go first, Cao Pi was about to step forward and express his willingness to go to Jiangnan as well, but Sima Yi grabbed him.

Cao Pi turned to look at him, his eyes filled with questions though he didn't ask anything.

Sima Yi closed his eyes and said in a low voice:

"Young master, please be patient for now and there is no need to rush."

Cao Pi hurriedly asked him the reason.

Sima Yi then knelt before Cao Pi and whispered a secret plan to him.

Cao Pi nodded and gladly agreed.

As expected, seeing that Cao Pi remained silent, Cao Cao asked curiously:
“Even now, your brother is eager to be first in the south.”

Why doesn't Zihuan say a word?

Cao Pi then composed himself, stepped forward, and collapsed to the ground, weeping bitterly as he cried out:
"I recently heard that my mother is unwell, and I have been visiting her day and night. When I see food, I can hardly swallow it."

"My heart is burning with anxiety, and I can hardly move an inch."

"Zijian's talent and strategy surpass those of your son. If he were to lead the southern expedition to Jingzhou, he would surely achieve great success."

"Your subject only wishes to serve you medicine and to fulfill his duty as a son."

"I humbly beseech Father to have mercy and allow my mother and I to be together as a family."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao frowned and sighed:
"...It's rare to find someone with such filial piety."

Seeing this, many ministers in the court who supported Cao Pi seized the opportunity to speak in his defense:

"...Okay, okay."

"Young Master Pi is truly as filial as Shen Sheng!"

The story of Shen Sheng trapping himself with filial piety comes from the Zuo Zhuan.

Cao Cao, of course, understood the meaning of his ministers' words and immediately responded:

"When I travel to Jiangnan, I will certainly go there in person."

"You don't need to stay in Yedu alone. I will send a skilled physician to take care of your mother."

"You shall go south with Zijian."

Upon hearing this, Cao Pi wept and bowed in gratitude.

Upon seeing this, Yang Xiu gritted his teeth and sighed repeatedly.

Cao Zhi asked him the reason.

Yang Xiu then analyzed for Cao Zhi:

"This is a strategy of retreating to advance, devised by Young Master Pi. It must have been offered by Sima Yi!"

Cao Pi's performance just now was a triple win.

One approach was to use filial piety to control loyalty. Cao Pi outwardly declined military merits, but in reality, he used filial piety to coerce Cao Cao into making decisions.

Both brothers flattered Cao Zhi to the point of ruin. The phrase "Zijian's talent and strategy are far superior to yours" not only shows brotherly affection and respect but also subtly points out Cao Zhi's arrogance and conceit.

Because people at the time often described Cao Zhi as "acting willfully".

All three approaches use human relationships as a weapon, ultimately focusing on the "mother-son bond," directly striking at Cao Cao's Achilles' heel.

After the Wancheng Incident, as Cao Cao grew older, he placed increasing importance on family ties.

Seeing that Cao Pi used this as a weapon, Cao Cao was willing to believe that Cao Pi's feelings were righteous.

They also refused to believe that this was his "manipulation through tactics".

In the end, Cao Cao made his decision.

He personally led an army of 50,000 south.

He ordered Cao Pi to oversee the transport of grain and fodder, with Sima Yi assisting him.

Cao Zhi served as the military advisor and assistant commander.

Then he secretly dispatched Gao Tanglong to Xiangyang to persuade Cai Mao.

Upon receiving the news, Yang Xiu rushed to Cao Zhi's residence, stamping his feet and sighing:
"My lord has missed a golden opportunity!"

Cao Zhi asked him the reason.

Yang Xiu replied:

"Supplies are the lifeblood of an army, and now Duke Wei has entrusted them to the eldest son... Alas!"

At this moment, Cao Zhi was still hungover, and he simply stretched and said casually:
Why should Emperor Dezu worry?

“When I write a ‘Rhapsody on Jingxiang,’ my father will surely be pleased and will regard me with great favor.”

Yang Xiu shook his head helplessly and let out another long sigh:
"Young master, please forgive my overstepping of bounds."

"Playing with words and crafting elaborate phrases is ultimately not the way to govern a country..."

Cao Pi was already leading an army on his own, and even received the important task of supervising the transport of grain and fodder.

But you, my lord, can only serve as a military advisor. Don't you feel any sense of crisis?
Cao Zhi may have thought that his father kept him by his side because he liked him.

He disliked Cao Pi, so he kept him at a distance.

But is there a possibility?

Actually, it's because Duke Wei felt that you weren't capable of handling things independently and didn't feel comfortable leaving you out there.

That's why I kept you by my side?
Cao Zhi said nonchalantly:
"...Don't worry, Dezu. Don't worry, Dezu."

"Now that the matter of going south to the south has been decided, what's the point of worrying about it again?"

"You and I just need to do our part."

Helpless, Yang Xiu could only hope that his trip to Jiangnan would go smoothly.

……

On the banks of the Yangtze River, the Xiakou City Tower stands.

It was late spring, and suddenly the sound of a zither could be heard amidst the vast expanse of misty waters, like the cry of a crane in the heavens.

Zhou Yu, dressed in a plain robe, stood against the wind, his turban and ribbons fluttering in the river mist.

With ten fingers lightly brushing the strings of the zither, he played "The Long River Chant".

Chen Wu, Dong Xi, Huang Gai, and others led their troops, armed with swords, and stood guard to one side.

At this time, Zhou Yu was in high spirits, having just led his troops to defeat Huang Zu.

They captured Xiakou in Jiangxia in one fell swoop.

People at the time called it:

"Zhou Yu of Eastern Wu, with his heroic bearing and elegant demeanor, wearing a feather fan and a silk turban, struck fear into the hearts of the people of Jingchu with a smile."

At this moment, a fast horse galloped over and staggered to Zhou Yu's side.

"General! There's news from Xuzhou!"

Zhou Yu stopped playing the zither and waved his hand.

The scout immediately reported:
"Liu Bei of Xuzhou has appointed Zhuge Liang as commander-in-chief and has dispatched 50,000 troops to Jiangxia."

"……understood."

Upon hearing this news, Zhou Yu's expression remained calm, and he continued playing the zither.

Huang Gai and the others came over and asked Zhou Yu:

"...General, Liu Bei has dispatched 50,000 troops to Jiangxia, clearly for the sake of Jingzhou."

"My troops in Xiakou number only 20,000. Although the two armies are allies, what if a dispute breaks out?"

How to compete with Liu Bei for Jingzhou?

Cheng Pu slammed his fist on the table and stood up angrily, saying:

"Liu Bei claims to be aiding Liu Qi, but in reality, he wants to seize the meat that's right in front of us in Jiangdong!"

Amidst the generals' discussions, only Zhou Yu's fingertips remained suspended on the strings of his zither.

"Commander?" Lü Meng called softly.

Zhou Yu replied calmly:

"I originally thought that the matter of Jingzhou was of great importance."

"Why would Liu Bei send Li Yi instead of a country bumpkin?"

"At the very least, it should be Chen Yuanlong."

It's no wonder Zhou Yu underestimated Zhuge Liang; the truth is, Zhuge Liang in this timeline really didn't achieve anything significant.

For such an important task as traveling south of the Yangtze River, Liu Bei had so many people at his disposal.

Why choose a junior with no experience?

"……Well."

The scout remained kneeling on the ground, seemingly wanting to say something but unable to.

Zhou Yu said, "Speak if you have something to say."

"……Yes."

The scout nodded, then glanced at Zhou Yu's expression before speaking slowly:
"In fact, although Zhuge Liang was the commander-in-chief who entered Jingzhou this time, he was also the commander-in-chief who pacified the south."

"But Li Yi also went along on behalf of the emperor, accompanying Zhuge Liang."

boom! !

The music stopped abruptly, and a broken thread swayed in the wind.

Governor...

Everyone rushed forward, concerned about whether Zhou Yu's hand was injured.

Zhou Yu, however, put his hands behind his back and walked heavily to the riverbank.

His brow furrowed in discontent; after a long silence, he sighed and said:

"Li Yi has finally come to Jiangnan."

After speaking, Zhou Yu turned back to look at everyone and smiled slightly.

A hint of helplessness lingered in his smile:
"To be honest, if this Xingli Tianshu had not arrived, I would have been determined to take Jingzhou."

"However, with Li Yi coming along, it is feared that Jingzhou may not be entirely within our lord's possession."

The crowd looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

"...Commander, what should we do now?"

The generals all asked questions.

Zhou Yu chuckled and casually tossed the broken string into the river.

"Now that Tian Shu is here, why not invite him to enjoy this 'thousands of sails racing' scene together?"

He picked up the feather fan from the table and pointed to the Jingzhou water fortress that was faintly visible on the opposite bank:
"Gentlemen, please look—"

The generals followed the fan and saw the river wind lift the jade pendant at Zhou Yu's waist, the clanging sound like the first clash of metal.

The setting sun made the feather fan shine, as if the beacon fires were shining through the leather map.

Countless sailboats glided past the riverbank.

These were all seized from Jingzhou previously.

"Gentlemen, do you think that with Li Lang's intelligence and wisdom..."

"Can these naval commanders sway him?"

Zhou Yu smiled and asked the crowd.

(End of this chapter)