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

Chapter 324 Since I have assisted Liu San in reviving the Han Dynasty, it is reasonable for me to become the third prime minister, right?

In the fifteenth year of Jian'an, on the shore of Poyang Lake.

The autumn wind was bleak, and the withered reeds drooped in the wind.

Zhou Yu lay on his sickbed, his pale face appearing particularly thin in the candlelight.

This renowned general from Jiangdong, only thirty-six years old, was now struggling with his illness, writing his final memorial with trembling hands.

"Life is mortal; whether one lives long or short is irrelevant, and there is truly nothing to regret."

The brush moved laboriously across the bamboo slips, the ink sometimes dark and sometimes light.

"But I regret that my ambitions have not been fulfilled and I can no longer serve Eastern Wu."

A violent cough interrupted his writing, and a servant quickly handed him a handkerchief, which was stained with dark red blood.

Zhou Yu closed his eyes and breathed for a moment, then continued writing:

"I have three things to advise you on."

"Firstly, to govern Jiangdong, one must plan ahead and not be complacent."

Secondly, the border people have not yet submitted, so a capable general needs to be sent to guard them.

His pen paused here, and the image of that diligent and studious young general appeared before his eyes.

“Lu Meng is loyal and brave, and can be entrusted with this task.” Another coughing fit followed, this time he couldn’t even hold his pen.

"at last."

He dictated with difficulty, and had his attendant write it down for him.

"The struggle for hegemony in the Central Plains has not yet ended. Regardless of whether Qi or Wei wins, our Eastern Wu should sit back and observe the changing situation, and not easily intervene."

"I earnestly hope that Lord Wu will cherish and treat this matter with care."

Before he could finish speaking, the bamboo slip in his hand had already slipped to the ground.

On the first day of the ninth lunar month, Zhou Yu, a renowned Confucian general, passed away.

When the news reached Jingkou, Sun Quan was reviewing memorials.

When the messenger choked back tears as he delivered the devastating news, Sun Quan's pen fell to the table with a "thud," splattering ink all over his sleeves.

"Gongjin."

Sun Quan staggered to his feet, tears welling up in his eyes instantly.

"Gongjin possessed the talent of a king's advisor, yet his life was short. What else can I rely on?"

After saying this, he burst into tears in front of everyone.

The attendants on either side had never seen their lord so distraught, and they all wept as well.

The next morning, Sun Quan changed into mourning clothes and personally set up a memorial service for Zhou Yu.

Before the memorial tablet, he recalled the years he had worked with Zhou Yu, every little detail.

Thinking of that spirited young commander during the Battle of Red Cliffs, I couldn't help but shed tears again.

"If it weren't for Gongjin, there would be no Eastern Wu as we know it today."

He personally offered three sticks of incense to the memorial tablet, and in the rising smoke, he seemed to see Zhou Yu's gentle and refined smile again.

"Pass the order."

With red eyes, Sun Quan said to those around him, "The state will bear all the costs of Gongjin's funeral."

He paused, then added:
“His children were all granted titles, and his former subordinates were properly settled.”

On the day of the burial, all the civil and military officials of Jiangdong were present.

Sun Quan was dressed in mourning clothes, his expression sorrowful.

Chief Secretary Zhang Zhao suddenly stepped forward and whispered:

"My lord, although Gongjin has passed away, we must not ignore the general trend of the world."

"Now that Cao Cao and Liu Bei are fighting fiercely in the Central Plains, it is the time for us in Jiangdong to sit back and watch the outcome unfold."

Sun Quan raised his eyes, the sorrow still lingering, but now tinged with a sharpness:
"Zibu's meaning is..."

Zhang Zhao bowed slightly.

"Matters of national importance should be decided early on, and the government should not be abandoned because of the loss of a person."

Sun Quan remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Yu's memorial tablet in the mourning hall, and slowly nodded:

"Summon Lü Meng to see me."

Lu Meng rushed over, still wearing his armor, with beads of sweat from his training still on his forehead.

After all, the nation's military affairs should not be abandoned because of Zhou Yu's funeral.

The ministers, led by Lü Meng, remained steadfast in their posts.

He knelt on the ground:
"What are your orders, my lord?"

Sun Quan stared at him:
"Before his death, Gongjin recommended you to succeed him as Grand Commander and take command of the Jiangdong army."

Upon hearing this, Lü Meng was startled and immediately kowtowed:

"This humble general is still inexperienced and dares not take on such an important task."

"With veteran generals like Cheng Pu and Huang Gai present, how could I possibly overstep my bounds?"

Logically speaking, apart from Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu should be the most senior.

Cheng Pu and Zhou Yu were always ranked as co-commanders of the Left and Right.

Everyone else thought that after Zhou Yu's death, Cheng Pu would take over the military power in Jiangdong.

However, Sun Quan did not want the old ministers of his father's and elder brothers' generation to take over military power.

He was more interested in supporting his own faction.

Therefore, in this selection of the Grand Commander, Sun Quan directly excluded Cheng Pu, Han Dang, Huang Gai, and others.

Sun Quan stood up and personally helped him up:
"Gongjin's judgment of people has never been wrong."

“Since he believes you are capable of this important task, Ziming, you need not refuse.”

Lu Meng wanted to take his leave again, but Sun Quan had already taken off his sword and handed it to him.
"This sword has been with me for many years; today I present it to you."

"From this day forward, the three armies of Jiangdong will all be at your command."

A sudden autumn wind rose outside the hall, swirling up a few withered leaves.

Lu Meng took a deep breath and accepted the sword with both hands:
"I will certainly live up to the trust placed in me by my lord and Gongjin!"

Sun Quan patted him on the shoulder, his eyes filled with both expectation and a deeper meaning:
"Cao Cao and Liu Bei are neither benevolent men. The future of Jiangdong rests on your shoulders."

Lu Meng solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute, his gaze as resolute as iron.

Sun Quan then asked:
"Since Ziming has been entrusted with such an important task, do you have any good strategies to teach me?"

That's a clever question. Logically speaking, Eastern Wu has just experienced the grief of losing Zhou Yu and hasn't yet recovered from it.

Normally speaking, the policy that Eastern Wu would follow next would simply be "following the rules of Zhou and Lü".

But Sun Quan asked Lü Meng if he had any good strategies to teach him.

This was clearly something he wanted to hear a different answer from.

Lü Meng immediately understood and replied with clasped hands:
"I observe the war situation in the Central Plains day and night, as if I were enduring hardship and biding my time."

"Currently, Cao Wei has suffered heavy losses, with several armies led by Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren being defeated by Liu Bei."

"This is truly a once-in-a-millennium opportunity!"

Sun Quan frowned slightly:

"When Zhou Yu was alive, he often said that he would sit back and observe the success or failure..."

Lü Meng stepped forward, his armor plates clanging loudly.

"Times have changed!"

"In the past, when Cao Cao and Liu Bei were evenly matched, Jiangdong should have been cautious."

"Now that the Wei army has just suffered a defeat and Liu Bei is exhausted, if we continue to stick to the old strategy, we may miss the opportunity that Heaven has given us."

Upon hearing this, Sun Quan's eyes lit up, and he slammed his fist on the table and stood up:

"Ziming's words are very much in line with my thoughts!"

"I do not wish to remain here for long; my previous statement was merely to test you."

He then frowned and said, "It's just about the attack on Jingzhou..."

"Once we seize Jingzhou, it will mean making an enemy of Liu Bei."

"If we fail, how can Eastern Wu withstand the counterattack from Qi?"

Lu Meng was a man of great talent and foresight; he had been planning for this matter all along.

We are closely monitoring all developments in Jingzhou.

"Lord Wu, I have secretly ascertained the true situation of Jingzhou."

"Now that we have heard that Zhuge Liang has gone far away, if we do not seize him, we will never have another chance."

Once the Central Plains War ended, Liu Bei completely unified Henan.

Then Jingzhou and Huainan will become the lock that completely seals off Eastern Wu, making it impossible to break through.

After all, it would be difficult for Jingzhou to mobilize so many troops as it did in the recent Central Plains War.

Sun Quan was eager to make progress, but he was also afraid of offending Liu Bei to the death.

This conflicting feeling left him in a dilemma.

Lü Meng continued speaking:

"I recommend one person to be a lieutenant general."

Sun Quan then asked, "Who is it?"

"Lu Xun, Lu Boyan".

Lu Meng said solemnly:

"Although Xun is young, he has great strategic acumen."

"Judging from his military discipline, he is strict in his laws and regulations, and is indeed a talented general."

"Why don't we split our forces into two groups, with Meng attacking and taking Jingzhou, and Xun attacking and taking Danyang?"

"If this matter succeeds, then the two provinces of Jing and Yang will be unified."

"My lord, you can conquer the world and dominate the Central Plains."

"Even if we retreat, we can hold the Yangtze River and remain the master of Jiangdong."

"Moreover... our lord is still young, while Cao Cao and Liu Bei are both over fifty years old."

"Among the Cao Wei imperial family, after Cao Ang's death, there was no talented person to succeed him."

"Among the Liu Qi clan, Liu Bei's sons are still young and have no ability to govern a region."

"My lord can afford to wait."

"At that time, will our lord still be afraid of being unable to defeat the second generation of Cao Cao and Liu Bei?"

Lü Meng's words were a wake-up call.

Throughout his life, Sun Quan had always harbored a deep-seated fear when facing the suppression of Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

But as Lü Meng said, he is only twenty-eight years old this year.

Are you afraid that you won't outlive those two old fogies, Cao Cao and Liu Bei?
As long as he can stabilize the foundation of the Eastern Wu and outlive the two first-generation leaders.

Their successors were either less capable than themselves or were still minors.

That is the chance for Eastern Wu to turn the tide!
Now, what Sun Quan needs to do is stabilize and expand his base of support.

"Ziming's words are like the sun breaking through the clouds, enlightening me and clearing my mind."

Sun Quan held Lü Meng's hand and led him along the corridor.

"Back then, when Cao Cao and Liu Bei joined forces to quell Yuan Shu, Li Yi supported his brother-in-law to govern Danyang."

"Although Danyang is poor, it is a place that produces elite soldiers."

"Over the years, we have sent countless Danyang soldiers to the State of Qi."

"As the ruler of Jiangdong alone, I cannot hold Danyang, which is truly a great regret."

"Therefore, the plan to capture Danyang is imperative."

"But shouldn't we reconsider the matter of seizing Jingzhou?"

Sun Quan maintained the composure expected of a politician at this moment.

For him, and even for the entire Eastern Wu, Danyang was a thorn in the side of the Wu people.

It's not because this place is so great, but because losing it would leave the territory incomplete, as if it had been chewed up by a dog.

Of course, this is just a joke.

From a practical point of view, besides producing elite soldiers, Danyang's geographical location was also very special to Eastern Wu.

Only by completely controlling Danyang could Eastern Wu truly unify the entire Jiangdong region and then maximize the natural advantage of the Yangtze River.

In fact, Jiangdong already had the strength to conquer Danyang.

After all, the geographical advantages are there.

If Eastern Wu wanted to, its troops could arrive in a day or two. Given Danyang's poverty, it was impossible for it to hold out until Qi's reinforcements from Huainan arrived.

However, out of fear of retaliation from the Qi people, they have not dared to make any moves against Danyang for so many years.

However, Sun Quan always hoped to unify Jiangdong through diplomatic efforts.

For example, by providing captives of the Yue people, or by spending large sums of money to offer boats and other vessels.

But Chen Deng refused them all.

Chen Deng was always a hardliner against Wu Qiang and consistently advocated prioritizing the south over the north.

The plan was to first destroy Eastern Wu, and then attack the Central Plains.

Of course, this is related to his life motto of "aspiring to conquer the Jiangnan region," and it is still based on his own interests.

Most of the senior officials in the country advocated prioritizing the north over the south.

After all, the Central Plains held more tangible benefits for them.

Due to preferential national policies, Huainan's control over Danyang has actually been weakening in recent years.

After all, they are separated by the Yangtze River, making communication very inconvenient.

Therefore, in recent years, more and more people in Wuzhong have been shouting the slogan: "Recapture Danyang and unify Jiangdong".

Danyang was a territory that Sun Quan absolutely had to seize.

Sun Quan also believed that the Wu people could "act first and report later" regarding the Danyang issue.

After all, Danyang did not involve too many of the core interests of the Qi people, and Sun Quan could easily make amends and appease the Qi people afterwards.

But Jingzhou is far too important.

This place connects Yizhou and Yangzhou.

Jingbei was an extremely wealthy region of the Han Dynasty and a paradise for scholar-officials.

If Sun Quan dares to seize this place...

That depends on whether he has the same luck as his father and brother.

Lu Meng noticed Sun Quan's hesitation and analyzed the situation, saying:

"My lord, please allow me to report!"

He pointed north and said loudly:

"Now Liu Bei has annexed the four provinces of Yu, Yan, Qing and Xu, and the north has long been pacified. His power is at its zenith."

"Judging from the current situation, the battle for Henan is a foregone conclusion."

"Liu Bei has already unified Henan and Hebei. If we allow him to digest the Central Plains, it will cut off our Jiangdong's path to survival."

Lu Meng suddenly knelt on one knee, his armor clanging loudly.

"Your subject requests to explain the advantages and disadvantages to Your Majesty."

"Now that Liu Bei has occupied seven or eight tenths of the Central Plains, his next move will surely be to go down the river!"

"At that time, the Zhang and Gu families of Jiangdong will surely come to advise our lord to surrender to Qi."

Lu Meng suddenly raised his voice, "It's only been a few years since Liu Cong's incident, has my lord forgotten?"

These words were like a sharp sword piercing my heart.

Sun Quan suddenly stood up, the teacup on the table overturned, and the brown tea spread across Jingzhou, like blood staining the battlefield.

His heart was pounding, and his mind was racing.

Taking advantage of the situation, Lü Meng offered his advice:

"Although Cao Cao was defeated, he will still retreat to Xichuan and needs allies."

"If we can take Jingzhou, we will be able to form a pincer movement with the State of Wei."

"By securing aid from Western Shu, we can strengthen our military force and launch a northern expedition in the future, taking advantage of the upstream area."

"With the strategic alliance between Wu and Wei secured, the natural barrier of the Yangtze River can also be completely taken!"

Under the eaves, Lü Meng's voice was deafening.

"Even if the war goes badly, it can still show Cao Cao sincerity and win over the hearts of the Wei people."

"The State of Wei is now like a cornered beast, desperately fighting for survival. They will surely see our Jiangdong as their lifeline!"

"Therefore, the campaign against Jingzhou and Xiangyang is imperative and cannot be delayed!"

Lu Meng's analysis was insightful and every word resonated with Sun Quan.

Given the current situation, the Central Plains War is essentially a foregone conclusion.

After Qi unified Henan and Hebei, its next step would definitely be to deal with Eastern Wu.

At that point, Sun Quan would only have one option left: surrender.

Because the powerful clans of Jiangdong would definitely urge Sun Quan to surrender.

At that time, Sun Quan will also be unable to control his own destiny.

But Cao Cao would retreat to Western Sichuan and continue the resistance.

At that time, due to strategic reasons, the relationship between the Wei and Wu families will become even closer.

Since Wei and Qi are irreconcilable enemies, why not break ties with Qi early on and side with Wei to cooperate with Cao Cao?

Now that we have captured Jingzhou, we can not only strengthen our ties with Yizhou, but also enhance our own strength.

This will make the strategic advantage of future counterattacks against the Central Plains even greater.

Even if we fail and offend the State of Qi, this will certainly strengthen the Wei people's determination to unite with us.

Therefore, the Battle of Jingzhou was a necessary battle, regardless of whether it could be won or lost.

"it is good!!"

Sun Quan finally made up his mind and patted Lü Meng on the shoulder.

"Ziming, I have already handed over the Jiangdong troops to you for command."

"How to conquer Jingzhou is entirely up to you."

"I do not intend to interfere with your official duties, but I have to say a few more words."

Sun Quan gave Lü Meng a final word of advice.

"Zhuge Liang was known as the Crouching Dragon, a remarkable man of his time."

There are rumors in Qizhong that he will be Li Yi's successor.

"This proposal seems to have received the approval of both Liu Bei and Li Yi."

"The one who can succeed Li Yi is definitely not an ordinary person."

"Although they have transferred troops from Jingzhou, they have also set up heavy troops in the Jiangxia defense zone."

"If Ziming cannot break through the Jiangxia defense line immediately, Zhuge Liang will react and lead his troops to retreat once he realizes what is happening."

"At that time, not only will the plan to seize Jingzhou fail, but my Eastern Wu will also face annihilation."

"Therefore, this operation must be steady, accurate, and swift! Let's get it done as soon as possible!"

Lü Meng bid farewell to Sun Quan.

It was already late at night when we left the palace gates, and the moonlight was as clear as if it had been washed.

Suddenly, Lu Xun was seen standing under the willow tree, seemingly having been waiting for a long time.

"Where is Boyan?"

Lu Meng stepped forward to greet him.

Lu Xun returned the greeting:
"When Governor Zhou passed away, Xun specially returned to attend the funeral."

"I heard that Brother Ziming was summoned to the palace by the Marquis of Wu for a meeting, so I came to visit you." "Just now, the Marquis of Wu's messenger conveyed that he ordered Xun to lead troops to take Danyang."

Lü Meng nodded, "It was indeed recommended by me."

Lu Xun asked in a deep voice:

"Is the Marquis of Wu truly determined to break with Qi?"

"Of course."

Lu Meng stood with his hand on his sword, thinking, "The arrow is on the string; it must be released."

"good."

Lu Xun nodded, explaining why he had asked the question.

The goal was to confirm whether Sun Quan had truly made up his mind to break ties with the State of Qi.

after all……

"Taking Danyang is not difficult, but we must be wary of retaliation from the Qi people."

Lu Xun did not think that taking Danyang was difficult; the real challenge was how to deal with the Qi Kingdom's retaliation.

That's why we need to ask Sun Quan's attitude, just in case his stance is not firm.

In that case, we'll lose both our wife and our army, and all our efforts will be in vain.

Lu Meng suddenly chuckled and said, "My mission is even more perilous than Boyan's."

Lu Xun was surprised. "Could it be..."

"Take Jingzhou."

Lu Meng looked westward, his voice low.

Lu Xun's expression changed upon hearing this, and he said in a deep voice:

"Zhuge Kongming was Li Ziyu's most outstanding disciple, and he was no ordinary person."

"Ziming's mission... is extremely difficult..."

"...Hahaha, I also know that this matter is very difficult."

Lü Meng threw his head back and laughed loudly, "It is precisely because it is difficult that it reveals the ambition of a true man! If one only chooses easy tasks, how is he any different from an ordinary person?"

"Boyan, I have already thought about it."

"A great man who lives a life of mediocrity and inaction is no different from rotten wood and decaying grass."

"If things go well on this trip to Jingzhou, great achievements and fame can be attained."

"If things do not go well, I am willing to die on the battlefield, my body wrapped in a horse's hide."

"It is not in vain that a man has a seven-foot frame."

After saying this, Lü Meng suddenly turned to face Lu Xun and met his gaze directly.

"...Boyan, before leaving home, Meng made a vow before the Marquis of Wu."

"If we cannot take Jingzhou in this battle, Meng will not return it to Eastern Wu."

"If I unfortunately die on the battlefield, I have already recommended Boyan as the next commander."

The moonlight shone through the water, making Lu Xun's eyes gleam with a sharp light.

After a long silence, he solemnly bowed to Lü Meng:

"If Brother Ziming needs assistance during the capture of Danyang."

"Please keep in touch with Xun at all times. Xun will definitely come to your aid day and night to help you, brother!"

Lü Meng also returned the greeting respectfully:
"Thank you in advance."

A night breeze suddenly arose, causing the two men's robes to flutter.

In the distance, the river waves crash against the shore, sounding like the clash of swords and the thunder of horses.

……

The following day, Lü Meng officially took command and led his troops to Chaisang.

Scouts had already reported:

"Along the river, for twenty or thirty li, there are beacon towers on high ground."

I have also heard that the Jingzhou army is in full swing and ready for action.

Lü Meng sighed deeply:

"When Governor Zhou was alive, he frequently interacted with Zhuge Liang."

"At that time, the people of Jingzhou did not think that they would go to war with Eastern Wu."

"With such heavy defenses in Jingzhou, it seems Zhuge Liang is still wary of the Wu people after all..."

Despite being mentally prepared, Lü Meng still felt somewhat disappointed.

He then sent people to investigate the defenses of Jingzhou.

Before long, the scouts reported that Zhuge Liang had set up four lines of defense in Jingzhou.

They are Zhao Yun of Xiakou, Ma Su of Gong'an, Ma Liang of Jiangling, and Pan Jun of Yiling.

Lu Meng was startled again:
"Xiakou is the gateway to Jingzhou, and it is guarded by Zhao Zilong."

"Zhao Yun was incredibly brave and had a calm and composed personality,"

"If that's the case, Jingzhou will be extremely difficult to capture."

"I advised Lord Wu to take Jingzhou, but what should we do now?"

Just as Lü Meng was racking his brains over a problem, he suddenly caught sight of an unfamiliar name on the list of defense personnel.

"Who is this Ma Su?" Lü Meng asked.

The person on the left and right replied:
"This is Ma Su, Ma Youchang, the younger brother of Ma Liang, who is also the chief clerk in Zhuge Liang's household."

"Member?"

Lu Meng frowned and asked again:
"Has he never led troops before?"

In order to seize Jingzhou, Lü Meng thoroughly investigated every general in Jingzhou.

But the name Ma Su seemed completely unfamiliar.

"I heard it's his first time leading troops."

"the first time?"

Lu Meng was even more puzzled and paced back and forth in place.

"People say that Zhuge Liang was cautious throughout his life, so how could he have entrusted such an important port as Gong'an with the task of guarding a newcomer who had never led troops independently before?"

This……

The crowd looked at each other, then spread their hands and said:
"I don't know."

"Could this Ma Su be a genius of unparalleled talent?"

"Didn't Li Yi achieve a hundred victories in his very first battle when he led troops?"

"Since Zhuge Liang entrusted such an important task to these people, they must indeed have extraordinary abilities."

The crowd discussed it amongst themselves, unable to think of any other possibility besides suspecting that Ma Su was a genius.

Lu Meng paced back and forth for a long time, when suddenly an idea came to him.

"...How about this, I will go to Jingzhou under the pretext of reporting on the death of Zhou Yu."

"It's a good opportunity to test Ma Su's true strength."

"If he is indeed a mediocre talent, we can use this as a breakthrough point."

Everyone agreed and began making their own preparations.

Early the next morning, Lü Meng pretended to go to Jingzhou to report Zhou Yu's death, and took about thirty people with him to visit Jingzhou.

……

Jingzhou, Gong'an Port.

Liao Hua strode up to Ma Su and said with a grave expression:

"Why would joining the army require changing the police deployment?"

Ma Su picked up his pen and continued reviewing official documents without looking up.

"The old system had many flaws and its defenses were flawed."

"I merely rearranged the formation and made slight modifications."

Liao Hua frowned and said in a deep voice:

"The public security and defense arrangements were personally formulated by Lord Zhuge, how could there be any error?"

"Moreover, the Prefect has accompanied Prime Minister Li through many battles, and wherever he goes, he has given his best advice."

"Having been tested in battle, how can it be easily altered?"

Ma Su then put down his pen and said seriously:

"You only see the surface. The hills north of the port can be used to station a large army, but instead, watchtowers are set up."

"To leave a strategically important waterway undefended—this is a sure path to defeat!"

"To station troops on hills? The military advisor is mistaken."

Liao Hua hurriedly advised, "Without water support, wouldn't we be isolated?"

Ma Su abruptly stood up, his feather fan falling to the ground, and shouted sternly:
"Don't speak nonsense. I have read military books and am well-versed in military strategy."

"The magistrate still consults me on many matters; why are you obstructing him?"

"Besides, you are nothing but a mere warrior; how could you possibly know the essentials of military strategy?"

In the midst of the argument, someone suddenly reported that several boats were approaching from outside the river.

Ma Su then flicked his sleeve and swept past Liao Hua:
"...Hmph, I have to go see the people coming by boat, I don't have time to argue with you."

"I am the commander-in-chief, and you are the deputy commander-in-chief."

"If you dare to speak nonsense again, don't blame me for dealing with you according to military law."

After saying that, he walked out of the room without looking back.

Outside the port, Lü Meng's light boat had already sailed up the river and arrived at Gong'an Port.

Suddenly, they saw banners scattered on the shore, and the layout of the camp was quite different from usual.

Lu Meng leaned on the gunwale and looked around, his brows gradually furrowing.

"...This is not the work of Zhuge Liang."

Lü Meng pointed to a camp on a high, isolated spot on the shore.

"It is common sense to set up a fortified camp in a strategic location, but this place is more than three miles away from the waterway. How can we provide assistance in an emergency?"

Deputy General Song Qian replied:

"It is said that this is a newly established set of regulations by Ma Su."

"Oh?"

Lu Meng stroked his chin, his heart gradually becoming excited.

"Quickly prepare the gifts, I wish to pay my respects to this Military Advisor Ma."

So the group prepared to dock and bring the boat ashore, and then sent someone to deliver the visiting card.

As soon as Ma Su stepped out, he saw his personal guards rushing inside.

"Report! The newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of Eastern Wu, Lü Meng, has sent a messenger with a letter, saying that he is here to pay his respects to the General in order to mourn the passing of Zhou Yu!"

"Oh?"

"Is Zhou Yu dead?"

Ma Su did not show much respect to the commander of Eastern Wu.

After all, the Battle of Red Cliffs was entirely fought by the people of Jingzhou; what did it have to do with the people of Wu?

"What did the visitor say?" Ma Su then asked.

The guard bowed and replied:
"Wu Shi said that Governor Lü had long admired Military Advisor Ma's talent and reputation, and specially prepared a small gift to pay him a visit."

Ma Su smiled slightly and addressed those around him:

"I never imagined that my name, Ma Youchang, would spread all the way to Jiangdong."

He immediately changed his clothes and went out to greet them.

Outside the city gate, Lü Meng and his party of more than ten people were all dressed in plain clothes.

Seeing the city gates wide open, Ma Su led his men out to greet them. Lü Meng immediately dismounted and bowed respectfully.

"I have long admired Military Advisor Ma's noble character, and to meet him today is truly a great comfort to me!"

Seeing that Lü Meng was tall and strong yet had refined manners, Ma Su was secretly pleased and returned the greeting:
"Governor Lü has come a long way and must be tired. Please come into the city for a chat."

Upon entering the hall, Lü Meng ordered his men to bring out the gift box.

Ten bolts of brocade from Jiangnan, a bushel of pearls from Kuaiji, and several volumes of finely crafted military books.

Ma Su's gaze swept over the brocades and pearls, and he was very satisfied.

He disdained the military treatises among them, and didn't even bother to flip through them.

"I am unworthy of such a generous gift from the Governor."

Although Ma Su verbally declined, he had already signaled to his servant to accept the money.

After the guests and hosts were seated, Ma Su feigned doubt:
"Jingzhou has many civil and military officials; why does the Commander-in-Chief choose to see me alone?"

Lu Meng then cupped his hands and said:
"Who in the world doesn't know that Military Advisor Ma is a confidant of Master Zhuge?"

"Now that Master Zhuge is away on a distant expedition, shouldn't all matters concerning Jingzhou be decided by the Military Advisor?"

He then lowered his voice.

"To be honest, Military Advisor, in addition to reporting the death of Gongjin, I also wish to strengthen cooperation with Jingzhou."

Upon hearing this, Ma Su's teacup trembled slightly.

He forced himself to remain calm and said:

"The governor is mistaken."

"The defense of Jingzhou is under the command of General Zilong..."

"At the very least, my elder brother Ma Liang is in charge of affairs in Jiangling."

"How could it be my turn, a junior?"

Lu Meng suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to the ground:
"You flatter me, Military Advisor! Ma is stationed in Jiangling, and this strategic pass of Gong'an is precisely the place entrusted to a man of your great talent, Military Advisor."

When he looked up, a sincere light shone in his single eye.

"If I am fortunate enough to serve in the army and provide guidance on the defense of Jiangdong, I will repay you handsomely."

Upon hearing this, Ma Su was secretly pleased.

The newly appointed governor of Eastern Wu came to see him specifically, and even asked him to give advice on the defense of Jiangdong.

This clearly shows that Ma Su was indeed a man of great talent and reputation.

Now, let's see who dares to call him arrogant again.

Even arrogance has its justification.

After all, the top leader of Jingzhou and the second-in-command of Eastern Wu both consulted him, so the value of his advice goes without saying.

In Ma Su's view, once Li Yi retired, Zhuge Liang would take his place.

He will be the third prime minister of the Han Dynasty who will revive the nation.

Three against three, it's all fate, it's all destiny.

While Ma Su was lost in his fantasies, Lü Meng was carefully observing the changes in Ma Su's expression from the side.

He became even more convinced that Ma Su was definitely not a genius who could match Li Yi!

But he can't say anything yet.

After a moment, Ma Su recovered his senses and finally couldn't help but laugh out loud:
"...Hehe, please have a seat, Governor."

"I don't know Gongjin... Alas, Heaven is truly jealous of talent!"

Lü Meng looked sorrowful:

"Even on his deathbed, Gongjin still cherished the friendship between Sun and Liu."

As he spoke, he took out a scroll of bamboo slips from his sleeve. “This is Gongjin’s last writing. He instructed me to present it to the wise men of Jingzhou.”

When Ma Su unfolded it, he found it was Zhou Yu's handwritten "Memorial on the Alliance between Sun Quan and Liu Bei," with characters as thin and sharp as if carved by a knife.

He was secretly delighted, hoping to facilitate further contact between Qi and Wu.

In the future, it is very likely that the entire territory of Eastern Wu will be annexed without losing a single soldier.

Isn't this a great achievement?
After reading the letter, Ma Su was overjoyed and said to Lü Meng:
“The words in Governor Zhou’s letter are enough to show his sincerity.”

"Excuse me for speaking out of turn, but the Qi and Wu families are already allies."

"How else does the Governor intend to strengthen ties between the two regions?"

In other words, what are Jiangdong's plans for the future?

The meaning of Ma Su in the last sentence couldn't be clearer.

Lu Meng understood, and his hand holding the teacup paused slightly, causing fine ripples to appear in the tea.

He looked up and glanced around, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

Ma Su understood and waved his hand to dismiss the servants.

Only the two of them remained in the waiting hall. Suddenly, Lü Meng let out a long sigh:
"To be honest, I have come here with a different purpose in mind."

He got up and walked to the window, gazing at the faint lights on the opposite bank of the river:

"Currently, Cao Wei is suffering repeated defeats in the war in Henan, and Liu Bei has already occupied seven or eight tenths of the Central Plains."

"My Lord is troubled day and night..."

As he turned away, tears welled in his single eye. "I fear I must submit to fate."

The teacup in Ma Su's hand clattered onto the table.

"The governor means..."

"I will surrender to the State of Qi." Lü Meng's voice was low and deep.
"only……"

He shook his head with a wry smile, "Many of the prominent families in Jiangdong are blindly loyal."

"Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and others offered advice daily, spouting nonsense like 'better to die a glorious death than live a shameful life.'"

A glint flashed in Ma Su's eyes, and his body leaned forward unconsciously.
"So, what does the governor mean..."

Lu Meng sat back down at his seat and lowered his voice:
"Currently, Cao Wei has not been completely defeated, and those old stubborn people still harbor illusions."

"After Liu... no, after His Majesty the King of Qi has unified Henan and Hebei."

"They naturally dared not say anything more."

A sudden gust of autumn wind swept in through the window, causing the candlelight to flicker violently.

The shadows of the two people on the wall swelled and shrank, like ghosts dancing.

Ma Su clapped his hands and laughed:

"The Commander-in-Chief is wise! So, it seems that Lord Wu has already expressed his intention to submit?"

Lü Meng nodded solemnly:

"My lord often says that the world, after a long period of division, will eventually unite."

"only……"

He suddenly grasped Ma Su's hand, "I hope you will keep this matter a secret for now, Military Advisor."

"If word gets out, things might change."

Ma Su felt the rough warmth of Lü Meng's palm, and his resolve grew stronger.
"It's natural."

Before he could finish speaking, they suddenly heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats coming from outside the city.

Lu Meng's expression changed, and he hurriedly stood up:

"I fear it is someone from Jiangdong seeking me. I earnestly hope you will join the army after hearing what I have said today..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ma Su waved his hands repeatedly to interrupt him, saying:
"Rest assured, Commander, Su knows what he's doing."

Ma Su was overjoyed; Chen Yuanlong had longed for the achievement of conquering Jiangnan his entire life.

He obtained it without lifting a finger!

……

(End of this chapter)