Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 239 West Lake Social Scene

After leaving Xu's residence, Liu Yao went straight to the official temple to summon his advisors and discuss the preparations for the grand ceremony.

After some deliberation, he named it the 'Yangzhou Civil and Military Grand Ceremony'.

The words "Yangzhou" and "grand ceremony" reveal Liu Yao's high expectations for this event. Even if he couldn't defeat Yan Yi's Qian Yuan Society, he wanted to use this "grand ceremony" to let the world know that Jiangdong was not only home to Yan, Xu, and Wang, but also to him, the imperially appointed governor of Yangzhou.

Liu Yao had long been fed up with being bossed around by Xu Gong. When he first arrived in Wu Commandery, he had no soldiers or food, only a few family retainers who had followed him for many years and some guests, and his situation was difficult. Therefore, he was able to hold on to the idea of ​​enduring hardship and biding his time, trying to please Xu Gong at every turn, and silently enduring the humiliation of living under someone else's roof.

Now, he has gathered several thousand elite soldiers under his command, gradually gaining some say and influence in Wu County. The military pressure exerted by Yan Yi has also created favorable conditions for him to seize power. The opportunity is right in front of him; he no longer wants to endure it, he wants to take back what is rightfully his.

Who is Xu Gong! In terms of official rank, fame, connections, and talent, how can he compare to him? What gives him the right to ride on his head!

Liu Yao snorted disdainfully, a surge of heroic ambition rising in his heart, as if he could already see himself in the spotlight at the grand ceremony in Yangzhou, full of vigor and unparalleled brilliance.

But reality dealt him a harsh blow. Two or three days passed, and preparations for the grand ceremony remained stalled, with everything in chaos and no clear direction.

The reasons for this were twofold. Firstly, he lacked manpower and relevant experience. Faced with the complex and numerous preparatory matters, he inevitably felt somewhat overwhelmed. Secondly, although Xu Gong had agreed to the matter, he had not provided substantial support, making it difficult for him to proceed and implement his plans.

Liu Yao harbored deep resentment towards Xu Gong, but dared not show it in the slightest. Instead, he vented his anger on his subordinates: "A bunch of useless trash! The regulations of Qiantang are clearly laid out there, yet you can't even follow them? You can't even copy them properly, what use are you!"

The subordinate in charge of the matter retreated obsequiously, inwardly grumbling. While preparations for the Qian Yuan Society were progressing rapidly, many details remained undisclosed, leaving everyone confused. Moreover, without Xu Gong's full support, could such a grand event be organized by just a handful of people?
After all, they still needed to make a living under Liu Yao's command, so the subordinates dared not speak out against their anger and could only continue to send more spies to Qiantang to inquire about the details of the preparations.

At this moment, on the shore of West Lake, ten miles southwest of Qiantang City, more than ten camps have sprung up. The camps are connected and spread along the lake, each capable of accommodating three to four thousand people.

The number of people attending the Qian Yuan Society was so great that the inns and guesthouses in Qiantang City were already overcrowded, and it was extremely difficult to find a room. Under the organization of the Qiantang government, the city's residents vacated their surplus houses to provide lodging for those attending the Qian Yuan Society. Even so, many people still had nowhere to stay.

Yan Yi then gave the order to mobilize the garrison to build camps on the shores of West Lake for the attendees. Initially, only six camps were built, but as the influx of people continued, the number was quickly increased to ten, finally solving the accommodation problem.

On the plain about a mile south of the camp, a tall platform made of cypress wood stands majestically. The platform base is several tens of feet long and wide, with one half being an open space and the other half having more than twenty neat green sheds built on it.

This high platform served as the temporary office of the 'Dianqian Yuanshu'. All matters related to the competition, from the appointment to the organization, were carried out in an orderly manner here, making it a prototype of the competition organizing committee in later generations.

To the west of the high platform lies a vast plain, which has been carefully divided into venues for the competition, stretching all the way to the shore of West Lake.

Although West Lake is not yet fully formed and has not been effectively developed, its winter scenery shares a similar charm with the snow-covered West Lake that people see in later generations, and is even more primitive and rustic.

The lake was exceptionally calm in the cold weather; the water was clear and icy, and a gentle breeze rippled across it.

The lakeside retains its unspoiled, pristine natural beauty. Dozens of tents are lined up along the lake, with people moving about around them, scattered throughout the entire lakeside. At a glance, there are as many as a thousand people.

These are tourists who came out to enjoy the scenery of Linhu Lake while the weather was clear and sunny.

Thanks to Yan Yi's vigorous promotion and the hosting of the Qian Yuan Gathering, West Lake has gained some fame and is becoming known to more and more people. Many literati and scholars, when discussing the scenic beauty of Qiantang, invariably mention West Lake, which has clearly become a famous scenic spot.

Among the dozens of tents, a blue one stood out. Not only was it the largest, but the hundreds of guards scattered around it were also imposing, their solemn posture exuding a chilling aura of military might. All these signs pointed to the extraordinary nature of the tent's owner.

Inside the tent, the silver charcoal in the bronze brazier burned bright red, occasionally emitting a soft crackling sound.

Yan Yi, dressed in a silver-gray fox fur coat, sat at the head of the table. In front of him, two rows of people sat, led by Zhou Yu and Zhou Shang, and more than ten members of the Zhou clan, including Zhou Jun, who had been captured by Xu Sheng in the past.

Zhou used attending the Qian Yuan Society as a cover to travel to Qiantang. Although the number of people who came was small, they were all core members of the family, which shows that they attached great importance to this meeting.

"Your Excellency's hosting of the Qian Yuan Gathering is truly a grand event that Jiangdong has only seen once in a century. I humbly offer this small gift as a token of my congratulations to Your Excellency."

Zhou Shang was all smiles and laughter when a young man beside him stood up, carrying a beautifully crafted wooden box inlaid with gold and silver. He walked to the front of the hall and bowed as he presented it.

The box contained two items: a silk gift list about an inch thick, neatly folded; and a palm-sized Hetian jade tiger, lustrous and shiny.

The jade is engraved with small characters on both sides: the front side is engraved with "like the rising sun" and the back side is engraved with "like the constant moon".

Yan Yi picked up the jade tiger, looked at it in his palm for a few moments, and then put it back in the box with a smile.

The Zhou family's attitude towards him changed so drastically, partly because of Zhou Yu, and partly because of the current political situation.

After the meeting that day, Zhou Yu began to seriously consider serving the government. With Sun Jing's persuasion, he finally sent a letter to Zhou Shang to discuss the matter.

Zhou Shang had already intended to visit Qiantang, and upon receiving the letter, he was immediately intrigued. Ignoring Yuan Shu's surveillance and suspicion, he went to Qiantang under the guise of attending the Qian Yuan Society.

Yuan Shu is in a very precarious situation. It is a foregone conclusion that Liu Biao will use force against him. The only difference is how many forces will eventually get involved.

Once Liu Biao found allies, Yuan Shu's defeat was almost inevitable.

In this turbulent time, the officials, gentry, and powerful families who had allied themselves with Yuan Shu were all like frightened birds, living in constant fear. On the surface, they still feigned compliance with Yuan Shu, but in secret, they each harbored their own thoughts and were plotting their escape routes.

Zhou Shang came not so much because of Zhou Yu, but rather because he was forced to come by the critical situation.

Just as Sun Ce's fall into Yan Yi's hands forced the Sun clan to make Yan Yi their only allegiance, the Zhou clan faced a similar predicament with no better option. Zhou Yu, Zhou Jun, and other core members of the clan, along with two thousand clan soldiers, were still under Yan Yi's control. When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Moreover, from any perspective, Yan Yi was a very good choice.

"You may all step back."

As the conversation gradually got down to business, Zhou Shang and Zhou Yu exchanged a glance, and then Zhou Shang dismissed the clansmen in the tent.

Zhou Jun and the others rose, bowed to Yan Yi in farewell, and filed out. In the blink of an eye, only Yan Yi, Zhou Shang, and Zhou Yu remained in the tent.

The once noisy tents suddenly fell silent, and a gentle breeze rustled against the tent surfaces.

Zhou Shang sat with his hands on his knees, looking intently at Yan Yi: "I have long heard that Your Excellency's military tactics are like those of ancient famous generals, and I dare to ask for your guidance. As Sun Tzu once said, 'If you have ten times the strength of an enemy, surround him; if you have five times the strength, attack him; if you have twice the strength, divide him.' This is the common principle of warfare, which shows that the size of the army is indeed the key to victory or defeat."

"Now, looking at the combined forces of Xu and Wang, they number 80,000, more than yours, my lord. As the art of war says, 'The many overcome the few, like accumulated water overflowing.' Even if your fighting strength is slightly inferior, Xu Boqian's overwhelming numbers put your lord in grave danger. I am still foolish and dull; may I ask how you, my lord, will respond?"

When he and Zhou Yu privately discussed joining Yan Yi's forces, they both considered Yan Yi's ability to defeat the combined forces of Xu and Wang as the most crucial issue. In this battle, Yan Yi would be outnumbered and outgunned; if he won, the fertile lands of Jiangdong would be theirs, and the Yan clan would instantly become the most powerful force in the land. Joining such a force would naturally be a wise move.

However, if Yan Yi shows signs of being no match for the Xu-Wang alliance, the Zhou family will resolutely withdraw and seek another way out, even if they have to abandon Zhou Yu.

The Zhou family, with two generations of high-ranking officials, was a prestigious clan far superior to the Sun family. The Zhou family would never risk the safety of a few members for the sake of the entire clan. Furthermore, Zhou Yu's position within the family was not as irreplaceable as Sun Ce's.

Yan Yi understood Zhou Shang's thoughts perfectly. Before meeting Zhou Shang, he had already considered many issues. Upon hearing this, he smiled and said, "The best soldiers are those of high quality, not those of large numbers. The best example is Xiang Yu's decisive victory with 30,000 elite troops against the Qin army of 400,000. Since I raised my army in Yuncheng, I have fought dozens of battles, large and small, using battle to train my soldiers and weeding out the weak. My army consists of elite soldiers who can fight ten men each. King Xu Yu is not good at military affairs. His soldiers have been out of practice for a long time. Even if he has twice the number of men as us, they are nothing but chickens and dogs."

"Our army is full of excellent generals, while the Xu-Wang allied forces are suffering from a shortage of talent. In terms of commanding generals, they are far inferior to our army."

"Our army is united, while the enemy army, though numerous, is divided among three commanders, each with their own agenda and ulterior motives, leading to our defeat."

Although Zhou Shang was well-versed in classics and history, he was not skilled in military affairs and usually sought Zhou Yu's advice on military strategy. Therefore, while listening to Yan Yi's words, he observed Zhou Yu's expression. Seeing that Zhou Yu occasionally showed approval, he gradually made up his mind, but he was still somewhat uneasy: "Your Excellency just now mentioned the past events of Xiang Yu, which is indeed reasonable. However, the situation in ancient and modern times is very different. In the Battle of Julu, although the Qin army was numerous, it was disunited and its people were not on the same page. Now, although the Xu-King alliance is not a monolithic force, it has not yet collapsed. We cannot generalize."

Yan Yi laughed loudly, "Has the Duke of Zhou not heard of the Battle of Qiantang and the Battle of Jurong?"

Zhou Shang remained silent for a moment, his gaze subtly shifting to Zhou Yu. Seeing Zhou Yu nod almost imperceptibly, he didn't dwell on the matter further and instead asked, "Judging from the current situation, Xu Gong, Wang Lang, and Zu Lang must be attacking from three directions simultaneously. Your Excellency is attacked from both sides; how do you plan to break through these three enemy forces?"

Asking this question indicates that he agrees with what Yan Yi said earlier. When deducing the course of a battle, both sides must first reach a consensus on aspects such as the number of troops, combat strength, commanding generals, and terrain before discussing tactical details and drawing conclusions about victory or defeat.

Yan Yi was unwilling to discuss this issue further. With Zhou Yu, who was knowledgeable in military affairs, there was no need for him to go into too much detail. He pondered for a moment and said, "I will use the troops from Yuzhang to contain Zu Lang's army. As for Xu Gong and Wang Lang's armies, Bo Fu and I will each lead an army, one to attack and one to defend. Once we defeat one of them, the overall situation will be settled."

Zhou Yu sat quietly to the side the whole time, without uttering a word. At this moment, he finally spoke up: "With your abilities, my lord and Bo Fu, you should be able to defeat the armies of Xu Gong and Wang Lang. Even if the battle becomes deadlocked for the time being, you will still be in an invincible position."

Zhou Shang's heart skipped a beat. He knew Zhou Yu's temperament well; he never spoke lightly on such important matters, and once he did, it meant he was already confident.

The thought that Yan Yi was very likely to occupy the fertile land of Jiangdong stirred his heart. He calmly stretched out his right hand and tapped it lightly on the table, looking thoughtful.

Zhou Yu picked up the wine cup on the table and took a sip.

This was the pre-arranged code between the two. Seeing this, Zhou Shang no longer hesitated, straightened his clothes, and solemnly asked, "Yuan Shu has spread his spies extensively among our people, and his surveillance is very strict. May I ask, my lord, what good plan do you have to help our people cross the river? And how do you intend to settle our people?"

Yan Yi was overjoyed upon hearing this, knowing that the Zhou family had made their decision, and all that remained was to negotiate and negotiate to secure the greatest possible benefit.

He smiled and sat down to talk with Zhou Shang and Zhou Yu.

A full hour passed before the conversation, which involved numerous interests and details, finally came to an end.

All three of them wore satisfied smiles.

When Zhou Shang and Zhou Yu got up to take their leave, their expressions already showed a degree of respect.

Yan Yi personally escorted the two out of the tent. After resting inside for a while, they walked out of the tent and headed towards a gray tent in the distance.

The shores of West Lake had now become his social stage. The Qian Yuan Gathering had been more successful than he had anticipated. People he rarely saw on ordinary days, or those he had no time to visit due to their distance of hundreds of miles, were now appearing before him one after another. So much so that he could bump into several people just by turning a corner.

In front of the gray tent, a scholar dressed in a Confucian robe, about twenty years old, kept looking up at the tent where Yan Yi was. When he saw a tall figure walking towards him under the protection of several guards, he quickly straightened his clothes.

This scholar was Zhang Cheng, who followed Bu Lianshi to Qiantang. His father was Zhang Zhao and his younger brother was Zhang Fen.

Yan Yi approached Zhang Cheng, bowed, and said, "I wonder if Lord Zhang is in his tent? I have come here without permission to ask for your guidance."

Zhang Cheng wore a restrained and nervous smile as he returned the greeting, saying, "My father has been waiting in the tent for a long time. Please, my lord!"

Yan Yi followed him into the tent. The bright light around them suddenly dimmed, and a few rays of sunlight leaked in through the gaps in the tent walls, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Hearing footsteps, Zhang Zhao looked up from the mountain of books on his desk, first carefully examined him for a few moments, then slowly stood up, a kind smile on his face.

"Zhang Zhao of Pengcheng pays his respects to Your Lordship."

(End of this chapter)