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

Chapter 380 Qin used Bai Qi to fight Zhao Kuo, so why can't our Han replace the enemy's Lian Po?

As the morning mist dissipates, the surface of the Yangtze River shimmers with golden light.

Chen Deng stood on the ship, gazing at the south bank.

Countless Han warships stretched across the river, their banners obscuring the sky, creating a formidable spectacle.

"Report! Wu's warships have left Ruxu Port!"

Chen Deng squinted and saw that on the distant river, the dark Wu army fleet was like a dark cloud pressing down.

On the lead warship, a fierce general stood with one foot on the bow, his voice booming like a bell:

"General Ding Feng of Wu is here! Who among the Qi traitors dares to challenge us?"

In the Qingxu army formation, Zang Ba frowned and said to his nephew Zang Xun beside him:

"This thief is arrogant, go and meet him."

Zang Xun clasped his hands in acceptance of the order and led more than ten warships to meet them.

When the two boats were a hundred paces apart, Ding Feng suddenly drew his bow and nocked an arrow.

As the bowstring twanged, a sharp arrow pierced the air and struck Zang Xun squarely in the throat!
"Xun'er!"

Zang Ba's eyes were bloodshot, but he saw Ding Feng wave his command flag, and the Wu army's warships unleashed a barrage of arrows.

The Qingxu army was not skilled in naval warfare, and their formation was immediately thrown into chaos.

"Chen Biao on the right wing, Han Dang on the left wing, charge!"

Ding Feng shouted.

In an instant, the two Wu army fleets, like swords drawn from their sheaths, plunged straight into the heart of the Han army's territory.

"Order Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai to immediately engage the enemy!"

Chen Deng gave an urgent order.

Command flags fluttered on the warships, and the Han army's warships hastily changed formation.

The river was instantly filled with deafening shouts of battle.

Jiang Qin led the Huainan navy in a fierce battle with Chen Biao, while Zhou Tai faced off against Han Dang.

Warships collided, and arrows rained down.

Soldiers frequently fell into the water, their blood staining the river surface red.

"Fire the bombs!"

Chen Deng shouted sternly.

The catapults on the Han army's warships roared, and huge stones were thrown at the Wu army's fleet, creating water columns several meters high.

Lu Xun, standing atop Wu's flagship, sneered upon seeing this:

"Little tricks."

He waved his command flag, and the small boats of the Wu army moved nimbly back and forth, while the large ships formed a defensive formation.

The battle raged until noon, when the sun was blazing overhead.

Corpses floated on the river, and broken oars and paddles drifted with the waves.

Lu Xun surveyed the battlefield. Although he had the upper hand, he was worried because he saw the Han army's fleet coming in an endless stream.

Wu's army was far outnumbered by the Han army, even though he achieved a decent casualty ratio.

However, if the Wu army were to engage in a battle of attrition with the Han army, it would still be at a significant disadvantage.

This is the terrifying aspect of the concept of quantity.

"Ming Jin withdraws his troops!"

Lu Xun made a decisive decision.

As the gong sounded, Wu's warships fought and retreated.

Seeing this, Chen Deng also gave the order:

"withdraw troops!"

He sighed inwardly, realizing that despite having superior military strength, he could not break through Lu Xun's naval formation.

Furthermore, knowing that the armies in Hebei and Henan each harbored their own agendas, a prolonged war would inevitably lead to unforeseen changes.

At the same time, although the Han army had a numerical advantage, it was not to the point of completely overwhelming the Wu army.

Although the state of Wu was small, it was still able to mobilize more than 100,000 troops.

This is different from the historical Battle of Red Cliffs.

Historically, Cao Cao mobilized more than 200,000 troops for his southern campaign.

At that time, the allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei only numbered 48,000.

Among them, Liu Bei had 10,000 troops, Liu Qi had 10,000 troops, and Sun Quan had 30,000 troops.

By the time the Western Jin Dynasty conquered Wu, Eastern Wu was able to mobilize 230,000 people from its own territory.

From this, you can see that Sun Wu was also quite skilled at farming in the Wu region.

Because the Eastern Wu in this world failed to expand into Jingzhou and Jiaozhou, it could only mobilize a maximum of about 100,000 troops.

Even so, they faced a war of annihilation launched by the Han army.

There must still be many people from Wu who are willing to sacrifice themselves for their country and share a common hatred for the enemy.

The Battle of Ruxukou was originally a probing attack by Chen Deng against the Wu army.

They had no intention of engaging in a full-scale decisive battle with Wu Jun.

On the way back to camp, Jiang Qin steered his small boat close to the warship and shouted:

"General, why not press our advantage and pursue?"

Chen Deng shook his head:

"Lu Xun retreated without making a scene; there may be an ambush."

"and……"

He looked at the few friendly fleets that were faintly visible in the distance and thought, "Our morale is not high."

As the sun sets, the river turns blood-red.

In this battle, the Han army suffered 8,000 casualties, while the Wu army suffered 5,000 casualties, and neither side gained a significant advantage.

But Chen Deng knew that the real contest had only just begun.

In the following days, the Han army launched a series of offensives against the Wu army.

Both sides had their victories and defeats, but the Han army was never able to break through the Wu army's Yangtze River defense line.

Chen Deng stood on the high platform, gazing into the direction of the Yangtze River, his brows furrowed.

"Report——"

A scout rushed over and knelt on one knee.

"General, Wu's army is still holding Ruxukou, and our offensive has been thwarted once again today."

Chen Deng sighed and waved for the scouts to leave.

He turned to his advisors and said:
"Lu Xun is a man in his prime, skilled in command, and a great threat to our army."

"If we cannot eliminate this man, it will be difficult to break through the natural barrier of the Yangtze River."

The strategists looked at each other, speechless for a moment.

Just then, a man stepped forward from the crowd, cupped his hands, and said:

"General, I have a plan that may eliminate Lu Xun."

Upon closer inspection, everyone recognized him as Jiang Gan, a renowned scholar from Jiujiang.

His courtesy name was Ziyi, and he was currently serving as the Registrar of the Huainan Army.

Although Jiang Gan is portrayed as a clown in the novel, he was actually a famous scholar from Huainan.

His contemporary assessment was that he was "renowned for his talent and eloquence, unmatched in the Jiang and Huai regions, with no one able to rival him."

Historically, Jiang Gan did indeed try to persuade Zhou Yu to surrender, but there was no clownish act of him stealing the book.

He simply replied to Cao Cao, "Your refined character and lofty aspirations cannot be measured by words alone."

Jiang Gan was a man of courage.

In the midst of the clash between the two armies, amidst the swordplay and bloodshed that led to the killing of Cao Wei's envoy, Zhou Yu volunteered to sail a small boat to persuade the Eastern Wu Grand Commander, who commanded tens of thousands of troops, to surrender.

He disregarded his own life and death, arguing his case with reason and conviction.

This clearly demonstrates that he is a talented, eloquent, and courageous person.

Upon hearing this, Chen Deng's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he quickly asked:
"What brilliant plan does Ziyi have? Tell me quickly."

Jiang Gan stroked his beard and smiled:

"Does the general know about the Battle of Changping between Qin and Zhao?"

"Qin feared Lian Po's abilities, so they used a counter-espionage scheme."

"The king of Zhao replaced him with Zhao Kuo, which ultimately led to a great defeat for the Zhao army."

"Oh?" Chen Deng seemed to understand. "Ziyi's intention, could it be...?"

"Exactly."

Jiang Gan nodded, "Sun Quan now favors Lü Yi, the Grand Secretary."

"This person is treacherous and vicious, manipulates power, and has framed countless loyal and virtuous people."

"If we can start with this man and make Sun Quan doubt Lu Xun and replace him with another general, then the great cause can be accomplished."

Chen Deng was overjoyed upon hearing this and clapped his hands, saying:

"Brilliant plan! Brilliant plan indeed!"

"However, this matter requires careful planning. Does Ziyi have a specific strategy?"

Jiang Gan cupped his hands in greeting and calmly said:
"I still have old friends in Wu, and I am willing to go there in person to help them."

"All you need are two boys to steer the ship, and enough gold and silver to bribe officials."

Chen Deng pondered for a moment, then resolutely said:
"Alright! I'll leave this matter to Ziyi."

He then ordered his men to bring one hundred yi of gold, ten hu of pearls, and one hundred bolts of brocade, and handed them over to Jiang Gan.

The following morning, the river was shrouded in mist.

Chen Deng led civil and military officials to the riverbank to see him off.

As they parted, Chen Deng held Jiang Gan's hand and solemnly said:

"Ziyi's trip is of great importance."

"If this succeeds, it will be the greatest achievement of our Han Dynasty in destroying Wu!"

Jiang Gan solemnly cupped his hands in greeting:

"I will do my utmost to live up to the general's expectations."

The small boat quietly left the shore and disappeared into the vast river mist.

……

Jianye, Wu Palace.

Meanwhile, Sun Quan appointed Lü Yi as the Grand Secretary, in charge of reviewing documents submitted by various government offices and prefectures.

He was harsh and cruel, and his law enforcement was severe.

Relying on Sun Quan's favor, he gradually became arrogant and domineering in the court.

They even started setting up institutions to sell alcohol and then using checkpoints to collect taxes and make huge profits.

When reporting the crimes of others, even the smallest matters must be reported to the imperial court.

Then they would escalate the case to frame and slander ministers, and exclude and persecute innocent people.

One day, at Lü Yi's residence.

"Lu Zhongshu, this is the wine tax revenue for this month."

An official presented the account book, flatteringly saying:
"Since the establishment of the winery in Zhongshu, the profits have tripled."

Lü Yi flipped through the account books and sneered:

"……not enough."

"Pass down the order: anyone who brews privately shall be punished for violating the law."

“This…” the subordinate hesitated, “Cutting off someone’s source of income is like killing their parents.”

"The exorbitant profits from brewing fine wine mean that banning private brewing might cause resentment among the people."

"Complaints?"

Lu Yi slammed the ledger shut. "I, as an official, enforce the law as firm as a mountain. Why should I fear the complaints of the common people?"

"Besides, the country is currently at war, and how precious food is, do you think these common people don't know that?"

"I am doing this for the greater good of the country; we cannot let the soldiers on the front lines go hungry, can we?"

"Proceed according to this order. Anyone who hesitates will be punished the same as the violator!"

The subordinate official was so frightened that he knelt on the ground:

"I know I was wrong, I'll take care of it right away! I'll take care of it right away!"

Soon after, Lü Yi added more checkpoints and levied taxes, requiring all merchants and travelers to pay heavy taxes.

Merchants suffered greatly, yet dared not speak out against their anger.

In the imperial court, Lü Yi became even more outrageous.

He specialized in reporting the crimes of others, exaggerating even the smallest matters and reporting them to the imperial court to further escalate the case and frame others.

Many loyal and virtuous officials were thus demoted and exiled.

"Prime Minister, that scoundrel Lü Yi has impeached Chief Secretary Zhang again!"

Shi Yi hurriedly entered Gu Yong's residence, her face solemn.

Gu Yong put down the bamboo slips in his hand and sighed deeply:
“Lord Zhang was a former minister of our late lord, a man of high virtue and prestige. How dare Lü Yi do such a thing!”

Shi Yi said angrily:
"That scoundrel Lü Yi slanders ministers, excludes and frames the innocent; no one in the court dares to speak out!"

"Now is a time of national crisis, a time when people's hearts are uneasy."

“Lü Yi’s abuse of power will surely bring disaster.”

Gu Yong shook his head and said in a deep voice:

"Since the king trusts him, we can only proceed cautiously and wait for the right opportunity."

Just then, an incident occurred in Poyang County that completely escalated the conflicts within the court.

One of Lü Yi's guests committed a crime in Poyang and was arrested and imprisoned by Prefect Zheng Zhou in accordance with the law.

When the news reached Jianye, Lü Yi was furious.

"That Zheng Zhou! How dare he touch my people!"

Lu Yi smashed a teacup in the mansion, his face contorted in a ferocious expression.

"Men, prepare the horses! I need to go to the palace to see the King of Wu!"

Inside the palace, Sun Quan was reviewing memorials.

"King Wu, Secretary Lü has important matters to discuss with you," the eunuch reported.

Sun Quan looked up:

"Xuan."

Lü Yi entered, knelt on the ground, and wept bitterly:

"Your Majesty, Zheng Zhou, the Prefect of Poyang, has shown utter disregard for the law and has arbitrarily arrested state officials. I beg Your Majesty to take heed!"

Sun Quan frowned:

"Is this really true? Who did Zheng Zhou arrest?"

"He is a guest in my household, a kind and honest man who has never committed any illegal acts."

Lü Yi declared confidently, "Zheng Zhou's actions are clearly aimed at me!"

Sun Quan pondered for a moment:

"Zheng Zhou has always been upright and honest; this matter may require further investigation."

"Your Majesty!"

Lü Yi interrupted, "Zheng Zhou is arrogant and disrespectful to everyone because of the old favors he received from our former lord."

"This action suggests a rebellious intent!"

Sun Quan's face darkened:
"If that's the case, recall Zheng Zhou immediately. I want to personally punish him!"

A few days later, Zheng Zhou was escorted to Jianye, causing shock throughout the court and the country.

Inside the main hall, Zheng Zhou was bound hand and foot and kneeling on the steps.

Sun Quan looked at him coldly:

"Zheng Zhou, do you know your crime?"

Zheng Zhou raised his head and said:
"I do not know what crime I have committed!"

"Be bold!"

Lu Yi shouted sternly, "You arrested a state official without authorization, and you still dare to argue?"

Zheng Zhou sneered:

“The so-called ‘officials’ that Lü Zhongshu referred to were nothing more than lawbreakers.”

"I acted in accordance with the law; what wrong have I done?"

"presumptuous!"

Sun Quan slammed his fist on the table and stood up, "Guards, imprison Zheng Zhou and hand him over to the Court of Justice for trial."

"Your Majesty, please wait!"

Gu Yong suddenly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This old minister believes there is something fishy about this matter, and I beg Your Majesty to investigate."

Shi Yi also stepped forward:
"...I second that proposal."

"Prefect Zheng is an honest and upright official; he would never arrest someone without cause."

Sun Quan narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice:

"Are you two ministers trying to plead for Zheng Zhou?"

Gu Yongzheng said with a straight face:
"I am not pleading for anyone, but only for the sake of justice."

"If Zheng Zhou is truly at fault, he should be severely punished."

"If anyone falsely accuses a loyal and virtuous person, please let Your Majesty see the truth."

Seeing this, Lü Yi hurriedly said:
"Your Majesty, the words of Prime Minister Gu and this Chamberlain seem to suggest a cover-up!"

"Lü Yi!" Shi Yi glared angrily, "Don't you dare spout such nonsense!"

The atmosphere in the court was tense.

Sun Quan frowned as he looked at his ministers who were arguing back and forth.

After a long silence, Sun Quan waved his hand and said:

"...That's all."

"Zheng Zhou, considering that Gu Qing and Shi Qing pleaded for you, I will spare your life today."

"But you no longer need to serve as the Prefect of Poyang."

Zheng Zhou kowtowed deeply:

"Your Majesty, I thank you for sparing my life."

After the court session, Lü Yi caught up with Gu Yong and Shi Yi, and sneered:

"You two are quite imposing today; even the King of Wu has to give you some face."

Gu Yong said calmly:
“Lord Lü, you flatter me. I am merely doing my duty to the country.”

"To be loyal to the country?"

Lu Yi smiled sinisterly, "Prime Minister Gu had better remember what I said today."

Watching Lü Yi's departing figure, Shi Yi was filled with worry:

"Prime Minister, Lü Yi is a narrow-minded man. He will not let this matter rest."

Gu Yong looked up at the sky and sighed deeply:
In chaotic times, it is difficult to distinguish between loyalty and treachery.

"At this critical juncture for the nation, I only hope that the King of Wu will wake up soon, otherwise... alas!"

From then on, Lü Yi became even more unscrupulous in the court.

He planted a large number of informants to monitor officials, and fabricated charges against them for the slightest dissatisfaction.

It was early May.

Inside Jianye City, the plum rains had just stopped, and the air was filled with a damp atmosphere.

When Lü Yi returned from the Wu King's palace, his wide official robe was soaked with sweat and clung stickily to his back.

As soon as he stepped into the mansion, he sensed something was amiss in the atmosphere—

The servants looked flustered and avoided eye contact, as if something serious had happened.

Is there anything amiss at the manor?

Lu Yi frowned and asked, casually handing his official hat to the attendant beside him.

The old butler quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said:
"Reporting to the patriarch, a distinguished guest has arrived from Jiangbei."

"He claimed to be Jiang Gan from Jiujiang and had been waiting in the side hall for a long time."

Lu Yi paused, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes:
"Jiang Ziyi, a renowned scholar from Jiujiang? What brings him to my residence?"

After a moment's hesitation, he asked again, "Have you checked my identity?"

"It has been checked."

The steward whispered, "The man is carrying a document from the Han...Qi Kingdom, and is undoubtedly Jiang Gan."

"He also brought many valuable gifts, many of which are rare treasures in Jiangdong."

Lu Yi raised an eyebrow, his mind filled with doubts.

He had no prior acquaintance with Jiang Gansu. Now that the two countries were locked in fierce combat, this man's sudden visit must be suspicious.

After thinking for a moment, he straightened his clothes and finally decided to meet him.

"Prepare tea, I will go see him in person."

In the side hall, Jiang Gan stood with his hands behind his back, admiring the landscape painting of Wu region hanging on the wall.

He was dressed in a plain-colored long gown, with a lean face and an air of refined elegance between his brows.

If it weren't for the sword at his waist, he would look more like a refined scholar traveling the world.

Hearing footsteps, Jiang Gan turned around and saw Lü Yi enter. He immediately bowed respectfully.
"Jiang Gan from Jiujiang, I have taken the liberty of visiting you. I hope you will forgive my intrusion."

Lu Yi returned the greeting, but his gaze lingered on Jiang Gan, scrutinizing him closely.
"Mr. Ziyi has come from afar; I am so sorry for not greeting you properly. However..."

He paused, then gestured for the maid to serve tea.

"Now that the states of Wu and Qi are at war, it may be inconvenient for you to visit at this time."

Jiang Gan took the teacup and smiled calmly:
"...Lord Lü is overthinking it."

"I am doing this not for national affairs, but for personal reasons."

"Oh?"

Lü Yi took a sip of tea, her vigilance undiminished.

"I have never met you before, sir. How could there be any personal relationship between us?"

The maidservant quietly withdrew, leaving only the two of them in the hall.

Jiang Gan put down his teacup and looked directly at Lü Yi:
“Lord Lü held a high position and great power in the State of Wu, and although Gan was in the north of the Yangtze River, he had long heard of his great name.”

"When I saw him today, he certainly lived up to his reputation."

Lu Yi remained calm and said in a deep voice, "...Sir, you flatter me."

"I, Lü, am but a mere subject under the King of Wu; how dare I presume to possess such high rank and power?"

Jiang Gan chuckled softly:
"...Lord Lü is too modest."

"Who in the Wu Kingdom doesn't know that Lord Lü is a confidant of the King of Wu and is in charge of confidential and important matters?"

Even important officials like Lu Boyan and Gu Yuantan had to be mindful of Lord Lü's mood before acting.

Upon hearing Lu Xun's name, a shadow crossed Lü Yi's eyes, but he quickly recovered.

"What brings you here, sir?"

"Could it be..."

His voice grew colder, "Here to act as a lobbyist?"

Jiang Gan shook his head and smiled:
"No."

"I have come here for the sake of Lord Lü's future."

"future?"

Lü Yi raised an eyebrow. "My future is in the hands of the King of Wu. Why should you trouble yourself, sir?"

Jiang Gan said calmly:
"Does Lord Lü know how many troops Wu can mobilize now?"

Lü Yi's expression changed slightly, and he said sternly:

"This is a state secret, why do you ask about it, sir?"

"Even if the whole country is mobilized, the number of people would be no more than 150,000 to 160,000."

Jiang Gan asked and answered himself, "The Han army already has 200,000 troops along the Yangtze River."

"With 100,000 men against 200,000, how can Wu's army resist?"

Lü Yi snorted coldly:
"...Sir, you are mistaken."

"Lu Boyan repeatedly defeated the Han army at Ruxukou, and the Han army commander Chen Yuanlong was helpless. This is known throughout the world."

"Although the state of Wu is small, its soldiers are willing to fight to the death. How can victory or defeat be determined by numbers?"

Jiang Gan laughed loudly upon hearing this, but there was no joy in his laughter:

"A small victory at one time is hardly enough to determine success or failure."

"Has Lord Lü not heard the saying, 'A small enemy's strength leads to a large enemy's capture'?"

"Now my lord Liu Xuande has revived the Han Dynasty for the third time and inherited the great lineage."

"To rule over all nations from the land of China is the mandate of Heaven."

"But the ruler of Wu is ignorant of the times and the will of Heaven, and has overstepped his bounds by declaring himself king. Isn't that going against the will of Heaven?"

Have you not heard that those who follow the will of Heaven prosper, while those who defy it perish?

These words left Lü Yi speechless.

Although he was a subject of Wu, he knew in his heart that what Jiang Gan said was true.

The Han state was vast and rich in resources, with a large army and many generals. If the stalemate continued for a long time, the Wu state would indeed find it difficult to sustain the war.

Seeing Lü Yi waver, Jiang Gan pressed his advantage:

"...Rong Gan gave Lord Lü some analysis."

"Even if Wu's army were to win by chance against Han's army, it would only be a repulsion."

"If the Han army can rest and recuperate for another three to five years, it can once again raise an army of 200,000 to march south."

"And how many years can the entire Wu Kingdom sustain this effort?"

"Not to mention that it would be as difficult as ascending to heaven for the Wu army to completely defeat the Han army."

Lu Yi frowned, his teacup tilting unnoticed as tea splashed onto his sleeve.

Jiang Gan lowered his voice:

"Furthermore, if Wu's army truly wins, Lu Boyan will surely consider it a great honor."

“Gan Wen Lu Xun was quite dissatisfied with Lü Gong and had repeatedly spoken to the King of Wu, saying that Lü Gong was abusing his power and ruining the country.”

"If he gains power, how will you, my lord, conduct yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Lü Yi was struck dumb, her face turning deathly pale.

He had a long-standing feud with Lu Xun, and if Lu Xun gained Sun Quan's trust more because of his military achievements, his own situation would indeed be dangerous.

Thinking of this, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and the back of his official robe was already soaked.

Jiang Gan, observing the expressions and knowing he had hit the nail on the head, said in a slow voice:

"...Lord Lü, do not worry."

"I have come here precisely to relieve Lord Lü's worries."

Lu Yi forced himself to remain calm, but his voice trembled slightly:

"What do you mean by that, sir?"

Jiang Gan took out a secret letter from his sleeve and pushed it in front of Lü Yi:

"Chen Zhengnan said that if Lord Lü is willing to be an inside agent, he can help the Han army defeat Wu."

"Not only will past transgressions be forgiven, but Lord Lü will also be enfeoffed as a marquis with a fief of a thousand households, ensuring his family's wealth and honor for generations to come."

Lü Yi stared at the secret letter, his fingers trembling involuntarily.

He knew full well that this was an act of treason, but everything Jiang Gan said was true—

The Wu Kingdom is no match for the Han army, and Lu Xun's rise to power will inevitably bring disaster upon himself.

"Lord Lü".

Jiang Gan's voice was like a spell, "A good bird chooses a tree to perch on, and a wise minister chooses a lord to serve."

"The fate of the Wu kingdom is sealed; why must Lord Lü perish with it?"

Outside the window, dusk was falling.

A crow landed on an old tree in the yard and let out a piercing caw.

Lü Yi looked up at the window, then looked down at the secret letter.

Finally, she slowly reached out her hand.

The candlelight flickered in the study.

Lü Yi ordered his men to close the doors and windows tightly, leaving only his trusted servants to guard the outside.

He personally poured Jiang Gan a cup of Jiangdong Spring Brew, the amber liquid gleaming alluringly in the candlelight.

"Mr. Ziyi."

Lu Yi lowered his voice, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

"Since we have agreed to cooperate, how does the Han army intend for me to cooperate?"

Jiang Gan raised his cup and took a small sip. The wine moistened his lips and mustache, but he didn't wipe it away immediately. Instead, he smiled meaningfully and said:

"Lu Gong was a man of few words and straightforward manner, and he never beat around the bush."

"Now Lu Boyan controls the defense along the Yangtze River, with deep trenches and high walls, making it difficult for me, General Chen Yuanlong, to eat or sleep."

Lü Yi frowned slightly:

"Lu Xun was indeed a pillar of the Wu Kingdom. After Lü Meng's death, the King of Wu entrusted him with the heavy responsibility of governing the country and put all the country's troops into his hands."

"If the King of Wu is to replace Lu Xun..."

"Alas, it's difficult." He shook his head. "As difficult as climbing to heaven."

"No and no."

Jiang Gan put down his wine cup and leaned forward slightly.

"Sun Quan, the King of Wu, outwardly appeared magnanimous, but inwardly he was very suspicious."

"Lu Xun commands a large army; how could he not be wary of him?"

"Judging from Sun Quan's recent actions, although he outwardly trusts Lu Xun, he has secretly sent his trusted confidants to monitor the army's movements."

A glint of light flashed in Lü Yi's eyes.

Fang recalled that Sun Quan had indeed inquired about military details from Lu Xun privately on several occasions recently, and couldn't help but secretly admire Jiang Gan's insight.

Seeing the change in Lü Yi's expression, Jiang Gan knew he had fallen into his trap, and continued:

In my opinion, this matter can be carried out in three steps.

"First, spread rumors among the people that Lu Xun was a powerful general with treacherous intentions."

"gossip?"

Lu Yi stroked his beard in deep thought, "There are many eyes and ears in Jianye City. Once a rumor starts, it will surely reach the palace."

"Exactly that."

Jiang Gan clapped his hands and chuckled, “Once the rumors start to spread, Lord Lü can then speak to the King of Wu about the discussions among the people.”

“Sun Quan will certainly not believe it, but to reassure the court and the public, he will definitely order Lord Lü to investigate this matter.”

A flash of understanding crossed Lü Yi's eyes:
"Understood, Chen Zhengnan will also be there at that time..."

"Indeed, General Zheng Nan will cooperate."

Jiang Gan spoke methodically:
"Our army has captured several Wu spies in Jiangbei. They will confess that Lu Xun was secretly colluding with our army."

"If Lord Lü simply embellishes the investigation slightly and reports back to King Wu, why should Sun Quan not become suspicious?"

The candlelight crackled, casting flickering light on and off the faces of the two people.

Lü Yi stared at the secret letter, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

He knew that if this plan succeeded, Lu Xun would surely fall, and he himself would achieve unparalleled merit.

However, if exposed, it will surely bring about the disaster of being killed and the extermination of one's clan.

Jiang Gan seemed to see through his thoughts and said slowly:
"...Lord Lü, do not worry."

"With Lu Xun gone, the remaining Wu army is nothing but chickens and dogs, not worth worrying about."

"Our Han army can then drive straight in, cross the Yangtze River, and sweep across the Wu region."

"By then..."

He lowered his voice, but every word was like a hammer blow: "Lord Lü is the greatest contributor to the destruction of Wu. He will be ennobled and appointed prime minister in no time."

Lü Yi's breathing quickened, and he seemed to see himself in the glorious scene of wearing Han Dynasty court robes and ranking among the Nine Ministers.

"Chen Zhengnan is a clear example of how the current emperor treats his meritorious officials."

Jiang Gan continued to escalate the situation, stating, "Chen Yuanlong commands Huainan with well-trained troops and ample supplies."

"Many people in the court have impeached him, but His Majesty not only did not doubt him, but also entrusted him with the important task of conquering the south and commanding all military affairs."

"Such magnanimity is beyond the reach of a mere child like Sun Quan."

These words struck a nerve with Lü Yi.

Although he held a high position in the state of Wu, he felt like he was walking on thin ice every day.

He had to please Sun Quan while also guarding against the exclusion by veteran generals like Lu Xun.

If one could switch allegiance to the Han dynasty, it would be a fitting tribute to one's ancestors who had enjoyed the Han's bounty for generations, and it would be worthy of their honor.

Thinking of this, Lü Yi suddenly stood up, took Jiang Gan's hand, and said excitedly:

"Your words, sir, are like the sun breaking through the clouds, instantly enlightening me!"

"The Han dynasty is the rightful heir, the mandate of heaven has decreed it, and I am willing to serve it like a dog or a horse!"

Jiang Gan laughed loudly, his voice shaking the roof tiles:
"well!!"

"With Lord Lü's assistance, what great undertaking cannot be accomplished?"

He took out a jade pendant from his bosom and broke it in two.

“This jade is a token. When Lord Lü sends his trusted men with this jade to Jiangbei, our army will cooperate fully.”

Lu Yi solemnly accepted the half of the jade pendant, feeling its smooth texture yet its immense weight.

He suddenly remembered something:
"Where should we begin when dealing with rumors?"

Jiang Gan had made preparations in advance:

"There is a restaurant called 'Drunken Immortal' in the south of the city. The manager is a spy for our army."

"Three days later, people there will be talking about how Lu Xun placed his cronies in the army and eliminated his rivals."

"Lord Lü only needs to have someone secretly push things along."

"good!"

Lü Yi clapped his hands in praise, "I have several trusted confidants in the Censorate, who are most adept at making unfounded accusations."

"Once the rumors start, let them submit a memorial impeaching Lu Xun for abusing his power. This will surely attract the attention of the King of Wu."

The two then discussed things in private for a long time, until the night was deep and quiet.

As Jiang Gan rose to take his leave, the morning star was already visible outside the window.

"I'll wait patiently for good news in Jiangbei."

Jiang Gan bowed in farewell, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light.
"I hope Lord Lü will not break our promise today."

Lü Yi respectfully returned the greeting:

"Since Yi has made up his mind to return to Han, he will do his utmost."

"Please convey to General Zheng Nan and His Majesty that we should await my good news."

Jiang Gan donned his cloak and quietly disappeared into the night.

Standing alone in the courtyard, Lü Yi looked up at the gradually whitening sky, feeling both excited and apprehensive.

He knew that his actions today would either make him famous in history or... lead to utter ruin.

……

Zuixianlou, located south of Jianye City, has always been a place where merchants from the Wu region gather and where information flows smoothly.

At noon that day, the building was bustling with activity, filled with the clinking of glasses and lively conversation.

Several well-dressed merchants sat at a table by the window, loudly discussing the war situation north of the Yangtze River.

Have any of you heard of this?

A middle-aged businessman with a short beard lowered his voice, but deliberately made sure that everyone around him could hear him.

“Lu Boyan has secretly replaced more than 30 generals in the Ruxukou camp, replacing them all with his own confidants.”

Several young scholars at the next table changed color upon hearing this.

One of them slammed his fist on the table and stood up:

"Absurd! General Lu is loyal to the country, how could he do such an unjust thing?"

The short-bearded merchant sneered:

"Young master, you've lived in Jianye for so long, how could you possibly know the true situation on the front lines?"

“We just came from Wuhu, and what we saw with our own eyes, how could it be false?”

Several of his companions chimed in, describing with certainty how Lu Xun eliminated his rivals.

In a corner of the restaurant, a fisherman wearing a straw hat quietly pricked up his ears.

He was an informant sent by Lü Yi to monitor the situation. Seeing that the plan was progressing smoothly, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"General Lu is a brilliant strategist. How could he have repeatedly defeated the Han army without his absolutely trusted generals?"

Some scholars objected.

"Exactly!"

Another person chimed in, "If it weren't for General Lu, the Han army would have already crossed the river!"

"What are your intentions in slandering meritorious officials here?"

A fat merchant with a fierce face suddenly slammed his fist on the table:

"What do you scholars know!"

“My cousin was a captain in the army and he personally told Lu Xun that he was intercepting grain and supplies and privately raising assassins.”

"The soldiers on the front lines are angry but dare not speak out!"

"Nonsense!"

The scholars glared angrily.

The argument escalated, drawing the attention of all the patrons in the restaurant.

The short-bearded merchant, seeing that the time was right, sighed:

"Whether you believe me or not is fine. But..."

He looked around and lowered his voice:
"I have heard that Lu Xun has been secretly communicating with the Han army's envoys, intending to use the natural barrier of the Yangtze River as a bargaining chip to obtain a title of nobility from the Han court."

As soon as this statement came out, the whole audience was in an uproar.

Even those who had initially been staunch supporters of Lu Xun began to waver—after all, rumors can spread like wildfire.

Within three days, the rumor spread like a plague throughout Jianye City.

At the fish market in the early morning, two fishmongers chatted as they gutted fish.

"Have you heard? General Lu calls himself 'Divine Lord' in the army and even dares to disobey the edict of the King of Wu."

"Not only that! My neighbor Wang Po's son-in-law is serving in the army."

"They say Lu Xun's banner has nine tassels, two more than the King of Wu's!"

In the afternoon, several wealthy merchants' wives and concubines were whispering among themselves as they selected fabrics in the silk shop.

“My husband said that Madam Lu Xun secretly went to Jiangbei last month and brought back a cartload of Han brocade.”

"Oh, is that really true? Lu Boyan seems like an honest man, but it turns out he's a corrupt official too."

"Hey! No wonder we keep winning battles at the front. Were you in cahoots with the Han army?"

These exaggerated rumors eventually became so widespread that even children playing in the street could sing a few lines about them.

The rumors quickly spread to the palace.

On this day at court, Zhang Tao, the Imperial Censor, suddenly stepped forward, holding a jade tablet, and loudly proclaimed:

"I have heard that Lu Xun is tyrannical and domineering in the countryside, which has caused much discussion among the people."

"For the sake of the nation, Your Majesty, please investigate this matter thoroughly!"

There was an uproar in the court.

The veteran minister Zhang Zhao sternly rebuked:

"Absurd! Boyan is utterly loyal; how can he be slandered!"

Zhang Tao remained calm and composed:

"I have seventeen merchants who have jointly testified that Lu Xun arbitrarily changed officers and misappropriated grain and provisions."

"If Lord Zhang does not believe it, he may send someone to the marketplace to investigate."

Sun Quan sat on his throne, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

He waved to stop the argument:
"This matter will be discussed later."

After the court session ended, Sun Quan kept Lü Yi behind in a side hall to discuss matters.

"Minister Lü, have you heard any of the rumors circulating in the streets lately?"

Lü Yi bowed and said:
"...I have indeed heard of this."

"Not only ordinary people, but even many officials in the court are talking about it in private."

Sun Quan frowned:

"Do you really think that Boyan would... use his military power to his advantage?"

Instead of answering directly, Lü Yi asked:
"Does Your Majesty know how many troops Jianye currently has?"

"The Imperial Guards number 20,000, plus the city defenses, totaling approximately 30,000."

"What about Lu Xun?"

Sun Quan remained silent for a moment:

"More than 150,000."

Lü Yi stepped forward, lowering his voice:

"Your Majesty, consider this: if Lu Xun truly harbors disloyal intentions, he might lead his army back to Jianye..."

He deliberately left things unsaid, observing Sun Quan's reaction.

Sun Quan's forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, but he still tried to remain calm:
"Boyan has followed me for many years, and his loyalty is evident."

"I would never be the kind of person who betrays his master for personal gain!"

Lü Yi sighed deeply:
"I do not doubt Lu Xun."

"only……"

He changed the subject, looked up and stared directly at Sun Quan, "Now, it's clear to anyone with eyes that Qi is strong and Wu is weak in the world."

"Many people in the court harbored disloyal intentions, thinking of changing masters and continuing to serve as officials after the Qi army crossed the river."

"But if Your Majesty is defeated... alas."

"How is it?" Sun Quan's voice trembled slightly.

"How should we conduct ourselves?"

Lu Yi said slowly and deliberately, “Lu Xun commands a large army and is precisely the kind of person the Qi army is trying its best to win over.”

"If he uses the king as a bargaining chip to ask Liu Bei for a high price, how could Liu Bei not treat him generously?"

What Lü Yi said is true.

Generally speaking, enemy generals who surrender with a large army are usually treated well.

For example, when Zhang Han surrendered, he was immediately granted the title of Prince of Yong.

When Zhang Lu surrendered, he left some valuables for Cao Cao because of his good performance.

He was directly appointed as the General Who Guards the South and was even granted the title of County Marquis.

They even arranged a marriage alliance with the Cao family.

Furthermore, Cao Cao allowed Zhang Lu to freely preach within his territory.

This is politics.

However, how fiercely you fought before.

As long as you "bring your own capital to invest," the country will definitely treat you well.

Because you must set an example for the world.

Anyone who holds military power and pledges allegiance to me will certainly be treated well by me.

This is to prevent future resistance from others and to minimize our own losses.

After listening to Lü Yi's analysis, Sun Quan suddenly stood up.

The teacup on the table was turned upside down by the sleeve, and the tea seeped into the bamboo slip, creating a dark patch.

He turned his back to Lü Yi, gazed out the window for a long time, and finally spoke:
"You may investigate this matter in secret."

"But remember..."

His eyes flashed with cold light as he turned away. "Do not let Boyan know."

Lü Yi bowed deeply in submission:

"I accept your order."

As he lowered his head, a smug, cold smile crept onto Lü Yi's lips.

Stepping out of the palace gates, Lü Yi looked towards the north bank of the Yangtze River, thinking to himself:

"Brother Ziyi, the first step has been completed."

……

(End of this chapter)