My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

In March of the third year of Jian'an (198 AD), in Yangzhou, Wu County.

Spring breezes blow across Taihu Lake, making the water sparkle, and willow catkins drift in the wind along the shore.

But in Wu County, there was not a trace of spring warmth.

Sun Jian has returned.

His temper changed after he returned from Jingzhou.

Although he gained the "protection" of the four southern counties in Jingzhou, he still couldn't swallow his anger. That brat Liu Qi dared to bargain with him.

Cao Cao, the descendant of a eunuch, dared to take a share of the pie from his bowl, and Liu Bei, a weaver of mats and seller of shoes, dared to act as a peacemaker in the middle.

When has Sun Wentai ever suffered such humiliation?

After returning to Jiangdong, he would vent his anger on those who disobeyed him.

Wu County, Lu family.

Lu Kang sat in his study, a newly delivered document laid out in front of him.

His hands were trembling slightly, not because of old age, but because of anger.

The document was written by Sun Jian himself.

The inscription reads that the salt fields, tea gardens, and farmland owned by the Lu family for generations will all be confiscated by the government and redistributed.

All members of the Lu family who served as generals in the army were transferred from their original positions and given sinecure duties.

Half of the books in the Lu family library had to be donated to the government for "organization and preservation".

Lu Kang put down the documents, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

"Father."

The eldest son, Lu Ji, walked in, his face pale: "The Gu family, the Zhang family, and the Zhu family have all received the same document. Sun Jian is... trying to uproot us all!"

Lu Kang opened his eyes, his gaze calm as still water, but beneath that calm lay an unfathomable chill.

"Ji'er".

He slowly began, "Do you know why Sun Jian attacked us?"

Lu Ji shook his head.

Lu Kang stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the century-old camphor tree in the courtyard: "Because he doesn't trust us. He conquered Jiangdong by force. The only people he trusts are his old subordinates, Han Dang, Zu Mao, Huang Gai, and Cheng Pu, who followed him all the way from Changsha. They are his confidants. As for us Jiangdong aristocratic families, in his eyes, we are nothing more than a burden that he has to tolerate."

He turned around and looked at his son: "Now that he has the four southern counties of Jingzhou, he feels that he has grown too powerful and wants to kick us 'burdens' aside."

Lu Ji gritted his teeth: "Father, we can't just sit here and wait to die!"

Lu Kang nodded, his gaze deep and thoughtful: "Of course not, but we have no troops, how can we fight Sun Jian?"

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Unless... someone is willing to help us."

Lu Ji's eyes lit up: "Father means..."

Lu Kang did not answer, but walked back to his desk, picked up his pen and wrote a few lines on the paper.

After finishing writing, he carefully folded the paper and handed it to Lu Ji: "Send someone to Shuntian, and personally deliver it to the people in the Prime Minister's residence. Remember, this matter is top secret, and no one should know about it."

Lu Ji took it and nodded emphatically.

Wu County, Gu Family.

Gu Yong also received a document from Sun Jian.

His reaction was much calmer than Lu Kang's; he simply placed the documents on the table and remained silent for a long time.

"Father."

"What should we do?" Gu Shao, the son, asked softly.

Gu Yong did not answer, but simply stood up, walked to the bookshelf, and took down a scroll of bamboo slips.

That was the Spring and Autumn Annals, which he had read countless times.

But at this moment, he opened the bamboo slips and his gaze fell on that line of text: "Duke Huan of Qi attacked Chu and demanded that the bundle of thatch be brought in."

He suddenly laughed.

"Shao'er".

He turned to his son and asked, "Do you know what banner Duke Huan of Qi used when he attacked Chu?"

Gu Shao was taken aback: "Why didn't Bao Mao enter?"

Gu Yong nodded: "What is thatch? It's just thatch used for sacrifices. Did Duke Huan of Qi really care about those few bundles of thatch? No, what he wanted was the submission of the State of Chu. But he didn't say 'I want you to submit' directly. Instead, he found a high-sounding reason."

He put down the bamboo slips, his gaze deep: "What Sun Jian wants is not our little salt fields and tea gardens, but the Jiangdong aristocratic families to submit to him, and for us to hand over our entire fortune so that he has enough money and supplies to contend for the world."

Gu Shao suddenly realized: "Then let's..."

Gu Yong waved his hand: "No need to rush. Sun Jian is powerful now. A direct confrontation would be suicide. What we need to do is wait."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Wait for someone who can deal with him."

Gu Yong walked to the window, looked towards Shuntian in the north, and murmured, "The Prime Minister won't stand idly by."

Several days later, in Shuntian, at the Tiance Prefecture.

Ji Xuanyuan sat in his study, with two secret reports spread out in front of him.

One copy came from Lu Kang, and the other from Gu Yong.

The wording is different, but the meaning is the same: Sun Jian is purging the powerful families of Jiangdong, and he is willing to act as an inside agent. He requests that the Prime Minister send troops as soon as possible.

He handed the secret report to Guo Jia: "Fengxiao, take a look."

Guo Jia took it, scanned it quickly, and his peach blossom eyes curved into a smile: "My lord, the fish in Jiangdong has finally taken the bait."

Ji Xuanyuan stood up, walked to the map, and pointed to the location of Wu Commandery: "Sun Jian thought that he could consolidate his power by purging the aristocratic families, but he didn't know that he was digging his own grave."

Guo Jia nodded: "The powerful families of Jiangdong have been deeply entrenched for centuries. Sun Jian conquered them by force, and while they appear compliant, they harbor deep hatred for him. They could rebel at any time if someone takes the lead."

Ji Xuanyuan turned around and looked at Guo Jia: "How are the preparations going with Ziyi?"

Guo Jia said, "Taishi Ci has already infiltrated Jiangdong and made connections with the Lu and Gu families. He is just waiting for the lord's order to launch his attack."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded, his gaze deep: "No rush. Let Sun Jian cause trouble for a while longer. The more trouble he causes, the more the aristocratic families will hate him. We'll make our move after he's offended everyone."

He paused, then said, "Send word to Ziyi to continue contacting the powerful families of Jiangdong. At the same time, have Zhou Yu begin planning the southward advance. It's time to conclude this game in Jiangdong."

Guo Jia clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, sir!"

Jiangdong, Wu Commandery, Sun Jian's residence.

Sun Jian sat in the hall, with a thick stack of documents in front of him.

That was a list of "contributions" from various counties and prefectures.

Salt fields, tea gardens, farmland, shops, book collections... it has everything.

He nodded in satisfaction and looked at Han Dang beside him: "Lord Yi, you see, these noble families are nothing special. With just a document from me, they obediently handed over their family fortunes."

Han Dang hesitated and said, "My lord, these aristocratic families have been operating for generations and have deep roots. Forcing them like this may incite a popular uprising."

Sun Jian waved his hand dismissively: "A popular uprising? Do they dare? My sword is not to be trifled with."

He stood up, walked to the map, and traced his finger across the six counties of Jiangdong: "I will establish a new order in Jiangdong. Those old aristocratic families should step down. My old troops are the true masters of Jiangdong."

Han Dang opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

Several months later, in the autumn of the third year of Jian'an (198 AD), Jiangdong.

Sun Jian's purges became increasingly intense.

The Lu, Gu, Zhang, and Zhu families, the four major families of Jiangdong, were stripped of most of their businesses.

Their sons and daughters were expelled from the army and government offices and replaced by Sun Jian's old troops.

Those once powerful and influential families in Jiangdong became powerless and powerless commoners overnight.

Some resisted, but were brutally suppressed by Sun Jian.

Some people tried to escape, but were caught and executed.

Many more people chose to remain silent.

Silence is not submission.

Silence is waiting.

Wu County, the secret chamber of the Lu family.

Lu Kang, Gu Yong, Zhang Yun, and Zhu Huan, the heads of the four major families in Jiangdong, secretly gathered together.

"We can't wait any longer."

Lu Kang said in a deep voice, "Sun Jian is trying to wipe us out."

Gu Yong nodded: "We have received news from the Prime Minister that General Taishi Ci is in Jiangdong, just waiting for the right time."

Zhang Yun exclaimed urgently, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's rebel!"

Zhu Huan shook his head: "We can't rush things. Sun Jian has troops, but what do we have? A few lives? If we act rashly, we'll only be throwing our lives away."

Lu Kang said, "Therefore, we must wait, wait for the Prime Minister to send troops, and wait for Sun Jian's main force to leave Jiangdong."

He looked at everyone with a firm gaze: "The Prime Minister said that as long as the Jiangdong aristocratic families are willing to submit to the court, everything will remain the same. The Lu family, the Gu family, the Zhang family, and the Zhu family will still be the masters of Jiangdong."

Gu Yong nodded: "Then it's settled. Let's go back and keep in touch secretly, waiting for the right opportunity."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Outside the window, the autumn wind was bleak, and fallen leaves were flying everywhere.

The winds of Jiangdong are about to change.

Shuntian, Tiance Prefecture.

Ji Xuanyuan stood by the window, gazing southwards with a distant look in his eyes.

Guo Jia walked in and said softly, "My lord, preparations are complete in Jiangdong, awaiting only your command."

Ji Xuanyuan walked back to his desk, picked up his brush and wrote a few words, then handed them to Guo Jia: "Send word to Ziyi, tell him to inform the Jiangdong aristocratic families that when the time is right, they should light a fire as a signal and coordinate an attack from within and without."

Guo Jia accepted it, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes, sir!"

Ji Xuanyuan looked out the window, a slight smile appearing on his lips.