Three Kingdoms: Jiangdong is no longer a rat

Chapter 240 The Rational Zhang Zhao and the Arrogant Zu Yu
Zhang Zhao had a slender face and medium build. Although he was nearly forty, his hair was thick and black, and he was meticulously combed. He had a refined and composed demeanor. He possessed both the scholarly air of a Confucian scholar and the composure and competence of a strategist.

Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, he was the undisputed leader of the civil service in Eastern Wu. He was known for his deference, saying, "When entering the palace, he bows to the emperor; when leaving the palace, he bows to the king," making him second only to the emperor.

However, his "advocacy of surrender" caused his political status to plummet, and he gradually fell out of favor with Sun Quan, eventually being squeezed out of the military and political decision-making center.

Yan Yi was filled with curiosity about Zhang Zhao, yet also harbored a subtle sense of repulsion. No ruler would appreciate a subject whose surrender tendencies were maxed out.

However, Zhang Zhao was always a top talent in the land, renowned for his erudition and upright character from a young age. Upon joining Sun Ce, he was immediately granted the prestigious positions of Chief Clerk and General of the Army, entrusted with both civil and military affairs. He lived up to Sun Ce's expectations, making irreplaceable contributions to Sun Ce's pacification of Jiangdong, recruitment of talent, and pacification of the people.

The fact that Sun Ce entrusted his son to Zhang Zhao on his deathbed, saying "If you have any questions about internal affairs, ask Zhang Zhao," demonstrates Zhang Zhao's unparalleled talent in politics.

Yan Yi has now gained the allegiance of Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and others, making him a veritable gathering of heroes and talents in terms of military command. However, he still lacks a top-tier talent to manage state affairs.

In his mind, if Jiangdong were to use its population and resources to launch a northern expedition against the Central Plains, the development of Jiangdong was of paramount importance. The faster Jiangdong developed, the greater the probability of a successful northern expedition; the two were directly proportional.

Therefore, although Yan Yi disliked some of Zhang Zhao's political views, he affirmed Zhang Zhao's political talent, believing that his importance was no less than that of Zhou Yu, and perhaps even slightly greater.

"In your opinion, Zhang Gong, who will ultimately prevail in the struggle between me, Xu Gong, and Wang Lang?" After exchanging greetings, Yan Yi began discussing current affairs with Zhang Zhao. Ostensibly, he was seeking advice, but in reality, he was testing him.

If we consider Jiangdong as the entire world, the current situation in Jiangdong is quite similar to that at the time of the Battle of Red Cliffs.

Xu Gong held Liu Yao hostage, thus controlling Yangzhou; the combined population, territory, and resources under Xu Gong and Wang Lang's rule were clearly superior; in the core battle zone, Xu Gong's ally was the powerful Wang Lang, while Yan Yi's allies were merely figures like Xu Zhao.
These situations are strikingly similar to the historical confrontation between Cao Cao and Sun Quan. The only difference is that Xu Gong's personal abilities were far inferior to Cao Cao's, and his army was also weaker.

On the surface, Yan Yi was discussing current affairs with Zhang Zhao, but in reality, he was studying Zhang Zhao as a person.

After considering the matter carefully for a while, Zhang Zhao replied, "I believe that Your Majesty is more likely to be defeated. However, if Your Majesty can withstand the initial offensive of the Xu King's allied forces and drag the war into a stalemate, and then find a way to sow discord between the two Xu Kings and cause internal strife, this battle may be able to turn the tide and turn defeat into victory."

Yan Yi didn't know if this was his true thought or if he was just trying to say something shocking, so he asked with a calm expression, "What was the reason for the defeat? I hope you will tell me frankly."

Seeing that he did not show any anger on his face, Zhang Zhao secretly praised him and began to speak frankly: "Firstly, the Prince of Xu occupies the two most powerful counties in Jiangdong and has an army of 100,000. In terms of territory, population, and army, he is almost three times the size of you, my lord. Even if you are good at fighting, my lord, it will be difficult to reverse this huge gap."

"Secondly, Xu Gong and Wang Lang, acting in Liu Yao's name, have a greater advantage in terms of political legitimacy, and this approach is superior."

"Thirdly, in the Wu and Hui regions, Your Majesty only has Xu Zhao as an ally. Zhao is of humble origin, with fewer than ten thousand soldiers, little land, and a weak population, making it difficult for him to provide substantial assistance to Your Majesty."

"Fourth, Xu Gong and Wang Lang have a higher reputation among the gentry. Taking Wu County as an example, the four major clans of Gu, Lu, Zhu and Zhang all support Xu Gong, which puts you, my lord, at a natural disadvantage in this regard."

As Yan Yi watched Zhang Zhao speak eloquently, he gradually realized that what the other party was saying were his true thoughts, rather than some kind of conversation strategy.

Finally, Zhang Zhao solemnly added: "Once war breaks out, Jiangdong will inevitably suffer immense loss of life and its people will be displaced. I earnestly request Your Majesty to consider the plight of the people and to work with Xu Gong and Wang Lang to turn hostility into friendship and resolve the conflict peacefully. If this is done, Jiangdong will be fortunate, and the world will be fortunate."

Yan Yi was speechless for a while. Only after experiencing it firsthand did he truly understand why Zhang Zhao became the representative figure of the "surrender faction" in Eastern Wu.

This fellow moved to Yangzhou purely to escape the war. He never intended to serve anyone beforehand; he was simply taking things one step at a time and going with the flow.

As a leading figure among the gentry residing in Xuzhou, Zhang Zhao considered matters based on a comprehensive weighing of the relative strengths, the people's livelihood, political legitimacy, and the interests of the gentry and himself. Given the precedent of Liu Cong surrendering to Cao Cao, his advocacy for Sun Quan's surrender is not surprising.

Strictly speaking, this is not 'capitulationism,' but rather a rational consideration based on one's own position.

But for a ruler, encountering such a person is either enough to drive them to their death with anger, or put them on the verge of vomiting blood. After all, everyone hopes to have loyal ministers who can share both joy and sorrow, rather than 'rational people' who weigh every move based on self-interest.

After figuring out what kind of person Zhang Zhao was, Yan Yi immediately knew how to recruit and utilize him.

At this stage, Zhang Zhao will not pledge allegiance to him, nor does he need to deliberately recruit Zhang Zhao. When the war goes smoothly, Zhang Zhao will naturally come to serve him on his own initiative. After all, he is an absolutely rational person who values ​​self-interest.

For the rest of the time, he didn't utter a single word about recruitment. Instead, he changed the subject and talked to Zhang Zhao about politics.

Zhang Zhao had assumed that Yan Yi's personal visit today would be an attempt to recruit him. However, he hadn't expected the other party to take such an unconventional approach, making no mention of recruitment whatsoever. This left him both confused and somewhat disappointed.

Am I, Zhang Zibu, really so unworthy of his attention?
But soon, his mind was drawn to Yan Yi's discussion of government affairs.

Both men present were experts in politics. Zhang Zhao possessed genuine talent in governance, while Yan Yi, coming from a later era of information explosion, was unparalleled in his foresight and innovation. Their conversation flowed like dry tinder meeting a blazing fire, and time flew by unnoticed.

Zhang Cheng sat to the side and couldn't help but yawn.

Zhang Zhao glared at him with exasperation.

Zhang Cheng sat up straight like a startled rabbit, placing his hands on his knees and looking straight ahead.

Yan Yi chuckled inwardly. Having spoken for so long, he was quite parched, so he rose to take his leave: "I am deeply grateful for your guidance today. I will come again another day to seek your instruction."

Seeing that Yan Yi had never explicitly expressed any intention to recruit him, Zhang Zhao felt a sense of loss, wondering if he had somehow offended him. With mixed feelings, he rose and politely saw Yan Yi out of the tent.

Turning around, he saw Zhang Cheng looking honest and unassuming, which greatly displeased him. He coughed lightly and said, "See the Lord off for me."

Even if Zhang Cheng was stupid, he knew that his father wanted him to get to know Yan Yi and become familiar with him. So he immediately followed Yan Yi obsequiously, racking his brains to find topics to talk about.

Seeing his son's timid and submissive demeanor, Zhang Zhao covered his face in frustration and walked away.

Yan Yi didn't treat Zhang Chengke the same way he treated Zhang Zhao. He casually took a water pouch from the guard and gulped down several large mouthfuls.

Whether Zhang Cheng was too honest or just plain stupid, Zhang Zhao asked him to see Yan Yi off, so he stayed by Yan Yi's side the whole time. Yan Yi had been meeting with Zhou Shang and Zhang Zhao in succession, and after sitting for so long, his legs were numb and his head was throbbing. So he took his guards and a little follower and strolled around the West Lake.

The beautiful scenery of the lake and mountains brought joy to my eyes. The cool breeze carrying the scent of nature blew against my skin, but thanks to my thick fur coat, I didn't feel cold at all; instead, it invigorated me.

Yan Yi walked along the lakeside for a while, looking at the West Lake, which showed no signs of artificial embellishment. While enjoying the view, he couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

In terms of transportation, development, and accommodation, the West Lake of later generations naturally surpasses that of today. However, in other aspects, it is rather lackluster.

At that time, West Lake had become a tool for making money. Even the Qiantang River was enclosed by walls, and people began to pay tolls.

It's one thing to profit from the area, but what's even more outrageous is that West Lake has been divided into a commercial area and a sanatorium area. Ordinary people can only visit the commercial area. The sanatorium area, which is even more exclusive, is closed off and not open to the general public, becoming the exclusive domain of the privileged class.

Although this era is precarious and filled with war, people still possess courage, humanity, and morality. It is a land of flourishing culture and martial arts, and a nation of etiquette.

Looking back over a thousand years, comparing the two events evokes a myriad of emotions.

At this moment, the guard beside him revealed a wary look and stared at the two strangers walking in front.

Both men were dressed in Confucian robes, seemingly scholars who had come to enjoy the scenery. However, the scholars of this dynasty were not simple; most of them followed the ideology of "becoming generals and ministers," were skilled in archery and horsemanship, and were proficient in martial arts.

"Wei Feng and Li Xun pay their respects to Your Excellency." The two scholars stopped about two meters away from Yan Yi, bowed respectfully, and then greeted Zhang Cheng: "Bo Xing."

Zhang Cheng vaguely sensed the murderous aura emanating from the guards around him, and quickly introduced them: "My lord, these two are my close friends. Wei Feng is skilled in poetry and prose, and Li Xun is proficient in painting. They are quite famous among the young scholars of Guangling."

Yan Yi's recruitment efforts were not limited to renowned scholars like Zhou Shang and Zhang Zhao, but also included young scholars. Compared to the former, the latter were more spirited and ambitious, and their numbers were greater, making them the true backbone of the movement.

He glanced at the two of them, a friendly smile appearing on his face: "You two have come from afar, I am sorry for not greeting you properly, may I ask what you wish to teach me?"

Wei Feng and Li Xun, who had been somewhat reserved, relaxed considerably upon seeing his approachable manner. Wei Feng turned and pointed to the distant lakeside, saying, "I have come here with great honor to invite you, my lord, to our poetry gathering."

Yan Yi glanced in the direction he was pointing and nodded with interest.

Wei Feng and Li Xun relaxed, their faces showing excitement.

They knew very well that the only way to attract Yan Yi's attention was to earn the opportunity themselves. Unlike Zhang Cheng, who had a father who was the leader of the Xuzhou gentry, their path to officialdom had already been paved smooth and unobstructed.

The group walked towards the lakeside ahead.

The number of scholars attending the poetry gathering was quite large, about forty or fifty people, including five women. They were clearly not expecting that Wei Feng could actually invite Yan Yi, and most of them seemed a little flustered, tidying their clothes and rising to bow.

Yan Yi spotted a familiar figure among them, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

"Greetings, Lord." Bu Lianshi bowed gracefully, her eyes sparkling with delight: "Just now, Wei Feng went to invite you, and I thought he would return empty-handed."

"There's no need for formalities between us," Yan Yi said with a smile. "How could I dare refuse such a kind invitation from Lord Wei?"

Bu Lianshi seemed to remember something, and a faint blush rose on her pretty face, like peach blossoms in early March.

A sudden silence fell over the surroundings. The scholars who admired her were either mesmerized, gazing at her with infatuation, or stealing glances at Yan Yi, revealing expressions of jealousy.

Wei Feng cast a grateful glance at Bu Lianshi and eagerly led the way for Yan Yi: "My lord, this spot is the best for viewing the scenery. Please move in and take a seat."

Yan Yi sat down on the mat and realized that he was sitting right next to Bu Lianshi.

He keenly noticed the strange looks he was receiving, smiled slightly, raised his hands, and said loudly, "We are gathered here today only to discuss poetry and literature. We do not care about social status, but only seek those who share the same ideals. Please feel free to sit down and do not be shy."

The atmosphere suddenly became heated.

A burly young man with a scar on his left cheek first glared at Wei Feng with displeasure, then cast a greedy glance at Bu Lianshi, and finally gave Yan Yi a hostile look before striding out to the center of the arena.

"A true man should wield a three-foot sword, roam the world, and establish his achievements. To merely discuss poetry and songs is rather petty and uninteresting. Today, I will use martial arts to make friends and liven things up for you all! I wonder if any of you would be willing to step forward and exchange a few blows with me!"

The young man's sharp, wolf-like eyes swept across the entire scene, and the crowd instantly fell silent wherever his gaze fell. He muttered a dissatisfied grumble, his gaze finally settling on Yan Yi, a hint of provocation in his eyes.

Bu Lianshi leaned towards Yan Yi and said in a slightly nervous voice, "This person is Zu Lang's second son, Zu Yu. He has practiced martial arts since childhood and is skilled in archery and horsemanship. He likes to fight and be fierce with others. Those who fight with him will either suffer broken bones or die on the spot. He is extremely ruthless."

Seeing her whispering to Yan Yi, Zu Yu, recalling the recent rumors, was consumed by jealousy and roared, "You all pride yourselves on being heroes, yet not one of you dares to accept the challenge. Are you all cowardly women, incapable of even killing chickens?"

Wei Feng wanted to show off his skills in front of Yan Yi. Knowing that the opportunity was rare, he stood up and said loudly, "I'll have a go at you!"

Zu Yu glanced at him disdainfully and snorted coldly, "Take your weapons!"

Wei Feng seemed quite wary of him, and without hesitation, he reached out and caught the longsword that Li Xun tossed to him. Seeing that Zu Yu had his hands behind his back and showed no intention of taking a weapon, Wei Feng frowned and asked, "Where is your weapon?"

Zu Yu clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking, and looked at Wei Feng, laughing arrogantly: "You're not worthy of making me use my weapon!"

(End of this chapter)