Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 20: Xu Chu on the left, Zhou Tai on the right, and Bo Fu in the middle.

"We two were originally river pirates. Upon hearing Lord Yuan's proclamation against the bandits, we resolved to serve our country and make meritorious contributions!"
Unfortunately, Yuan Gong's might was overwhelming, and he advanced with unstoppable momentum, pursuing us all the way to Guangling. We then heard that Yuan Gong had arrived in Wu County. Just as we arrived in Wu County, we heard that Yuan Gong had captured Qu'a.

Their conquests and territories are faster than the two of us could catch them. We have never seen a hero like Lord Yuan in our lives, but today we finally see the eldest son. Truly, like father, like son; a hero emerges from among the young!

After the two men finished their flattery, Jiang Qin cautiously probed, "Does that young master not know that Lord Yuan's proclamation states: 'All heroes of Jiangdong who lead their troops to welcome him will be promoted and ennobled'? Is that true?"

"And what about the two bandit generals I captured today? Can they be counted as battle merits?"

As Zhou Tai spoke, he tossed Zuo Rong and Zhang Ying to him like he was carrying two chicks.

Sun Ce: "."

"You two are truly brave and valiant. Once I meet my godfather, I will certainly recommend you for merit!"

"Thank you, young master!"

After this battle, two of Liu Yao's four generals were killed and two were captured. With the help of Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai, and with the assistance of Zhou Shang and Zhou Yu, Sun Ce soon recovered all the counties under Danyang's jurisdiction.

Having temporarily left Yuan Shu and newly acquired Danyang, Sun Ce subdued the surrendered soldiers and joined forces with Zhou Shang, Jiang Qin, and Zhou Tai. He discovered that he actually controlled a prefecture and commanded more than 10,000 soldiers.

He entrusted the governance of Danyang to Zhou Shang and Zhou Yu, and went to the military camp every day. He competed in martial arts and drank with Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai, and became friends with the captains and lieutenants. With his martial prowess and personal charm, many people admired him.

However, this good fortune didn't last long, because
Yuan Shu is here!

At that time, Sun Ce was drinking with Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai in his tent, discussing his ambitions and his desire to win them over.

"We are currently in a chaotic era, and chaos inevitably produces heroes. The day when heroes rise together will surely be a time of great turmoil in the world, and that will be the time for the realm to fall into chaos."

Sun Ce's impassioned voice gradually faded as he strangely noticed that Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai in front of him were inexplicably giving him meaningful glances behind him.

At that moment, Sun Ce felt a sense of foreboding and suddenly turned around!
The man stood at the entrance of the tent, looking him up and down with a half-smile.

The loose black robe fluttered in the wind, with golden pythons on it appearing as if taking flight.

"Bo Fu, my son, I've heard you've accomplished quite a bit in Danyang?"

The words, though spoken with a smile, sounded like a thunderclap to Sun Ce, sending chills down his spine and making his voice tremble.

In his army camp, as he was winning over the hearts of his people and about to express his ambitions, he turned around without a word and found Yuan Shu standing behind him.

Who wouldn't be afraid of that?

Godfather, why do you walk so quietly?
When Yang Hong came last time, the trusted guards at the gate knew to announce it beforehand. He couldn't help but grit his teeth and look at the soldier who was supposed to announce it.

Only then did they notice Xu Chu's muscular arms wrapped around the neck of the gatekeeper, with a simple and honest smile on his face, and a very affectionate posture.

Not only Xu Chu, but also the armored soldiers of his personal guards surrounded the entire tent to isolate the inside from the outside. Yuan Shu, with his python robe fluttering and a smile as he scrutinized himself, had been standing outside the tent for who knows how long.

"Tell me, the day when heroes rise up together will surely be a time of great chaos in the world, and then what?"
Why isn't my son saying anything?

Silent as a cicada!

The entire camp was quieter than ever before, so quiet that it seemed only the heavy breathing of the armored soldiers and Yuan Shu's low chuckles could be heard.

This intense, almost suffocating sense of oppression caused Sun Ce's back to be soaked with cold sweat once again. He felt as if he had returned to the scene of the Candle Shadow and Axe Sound at the Shouchun Palace Banquet, or perhaps he had been immersed in that night's Candle Shadow and Axe Sound from beginning to end, never leaving.

Why is Yuan Shu here?
Yes, he once said that once he had joined forces with his maternal uncle Wu Jing and his troops, he would immediately come to Danyang. But this is my Sun Ce's three-army camp!

When did he come in? What's more, he was right behind me, and I didn't even notice?

"What? Isn't my son happy to see his father?"

Do you think that borrowing your three thousand soldiers will stop me, your lord, or that those remnants of Liu Yao's army who surrendered to Yuan Shao will stop Yuan Shao's banner for you?

The reality was certainly not as simple as Yuan Shu described, and Sun Ce's deployment of his camp was not without its defenses.

However, Yuan Shu had already made arrangements to limit Sun Ce. The three thousand men he gave were all those who had followed him since he raised an army in Runan to rebel against Dong Zhuo, just like the hundreds of strong men that Xu Chu brought from the Xu family. These three thousand men were originally Yuan Shu's private army.

With these three thousand men working together from within and without, the remaining surrendered soldiers of Liu Yao, who were already too afraid to cause trouble, would have to be crazy to keep their adoptive father, Sun Ce, outside the camp.

Sun Ce did not respond to Yuan Shu's cryptic questions. He forced himself to calm down, managed a forced smile, and performed a deep bow in homage.

"Godfather, why are you here? You didn't even let me know beforehand so that I could greet you."

The talk of a chaotic world is just drunken rambling. I was just about to say that the realm will surely belong to my adoptive father at that time, but that is still uncertain!

"And I also need to persuade these two brave men to pledge their loyalty to their adoptive father."

As he spoke, he quickly changed the subject and introduced Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai to Yuan Shu.

"Father, you may not know this, but these two..."

“I know that one is named Jiang Qin, courtesy name Gongyi, and the other is named Zhou Tai, courtesy name Youping. They are both renowned heroes on the Yangtze River.”

Before Sun Ce could finish speaking, Yuan Shu put on an even warmer smile and personally greeted the two of them.

"I have heard that Gongyi is extremely skilled in naval warfare and is invincible on the river. Youping has the style of a famous general of ancient times. Now that I have Youping, it is like Emperor Gaozu having Marquis of Ruyin."

I have long admired you both and regret that I cannot meet you in person.

"Greetings, Lord Yuan."

Hearing that Yuan Shu valued his two pirates so highly, Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai, who had been worried about being looked down upon by this man from a family of high-ranking officials, were moved.

The two men exchanged a glance, and a plan was already formed in their minds.

Something's off about the atmosphere between this father and son!
They originally came to join Yuan Shu, but unexpectedly encountered Sun Ce first. After spending these days together, they discovered that Sun Ce also had ambitions to govern the world and was truly a hero of the time. They were also subtly impressed by his personal charm.

But now?

Sun Ce, whom they considered a hero of the time, was as timid as a mouse before a cat when he saw Yuan Shu. Who was superior? Was there even a question?
As expected of the fourth-generation nobleman Yuan Gonglu, whose military might was unmatched and whose conquests and territories were even faster than the surrender of his followers!
The two bowed deeply and said:

"We two wandered the Yangtze River, observing the various warlords of the Central Plains, and found no hero like Lord Yuan."

"I am willing to follow you and assist you, my lord, in achieving great things!"

"it is good!"

Yuan Shu personally took their hands and helped them up, one on each side.

These two men were quite loyal and righteous; having pledged allegiance to one lord, they would not serve two masters.

Remembering the historical record of Zhou Tai fighting tirelessly despite sustaining dozens of wounds while saving Sun Quan, Yuan Shu glanced at Sun Ce in the corner.

With Xu Chu on the left and Zhou Tai on the right, no matter how brave you are, Little Conqueror, what can you do to me?
(End of this chapter)