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

In the spring of the fifth year of Jian'an (200 AD), in Yangzhou, Wu County.

Springtime river warms, willow catkins flutter in the air.

But in the military camp outside Wu County, there was no trace of the leisurely spring day.

Fifty thousand troops, fully equipped and ready to go. Banners blotted out the sun, and armored soldiers stood like a forest.

Warhorses neighed, and horns blared.

Zhou Yu stood on the high platform, dressed in silver armor, covered by a white robe, with a sword hanging at his waist, and a face as handsome as jade.

Behind him stood Yuwen Chengdu, Zhang Liao, and Zhang Fei, their hands on their swords.

Yuwen Chengdu remained as aloof as ever, his phoenix-winged gilded halberd held horizontally across his horse, while Red Hare snorted and pawed at the ground uneasily.

Zhang Liao's expression was calm, his gaze sharp as an eagle's.

Zhang Fei, on the other hand, was filled with excitement, his eighteen-foot spear whirring in his hand.

"I've been so bored in Xuzhou, I'm practically going stir-crazy!" Zhang Fei grumbled. "Now I can finally have a good fight!"

Zhou Yu smiled slightly but did not reply. He turned to face his 50,000 soldiers and said loudly:

"Soldiers! Liu Bei has seized Jiaozhou and resisted the imperial court; his crimes are unforgivable! Today, I, the commander-in-chief, am ordered by the Duke of Yan to lead you south to conquer Jiaozhi! It is a long and arduous journey, but I assure you—those who perform meritorious service will be rewarded, and those who commit crimes will be punished. Taking Jiaozhi will bring you wealth and honor, and your wives and children will be rewarded—it all begins today!"

Fifty thousand soldiers roared in unison: "Take Jiaozhi! We'll reward our wives and children! Take Jiaozhi! We'll reward our wives and children!"

The deafening roar startled the birds in the distant forest.

Zhou Yu waved his hand dismissively: "Let's go!"

As the bugle sounded, the 50,000-strong army marched south like a black tide.

Meanwhile, in Jingzhou and Xiangyang.

Unlike Zhou Yu's grand and imposing actions, Pang Tong's Jingzhou was as calm as a stagnant pool. But beneath this stagnant surface, undercurrents were surging.

Pang Tong sat in the governor's mansion, a map of the four southern commanderies of Jingzhou spread out before him. Changsha, Wuling, Lingling, and Guiyang—these four commanderies had been leaderless since Sun Jian's death. Nominally, they belonged to Liu Cong, but Liu Cong was young, Cai Mao had lost power, and the governors of the four commanderies each had their own agendas, observing the changing winds.

"Shiyuan," Zhuge Liang said, sitting at the lower end of the table, dressed in a blue robe, with a feather fan and a turban, "Among the four commanderies, there are Han Xuan, the Prefect of Changsha; Jin Xuan, the Prefect of Wuling; Liu Du, the Prefect of Lingling; and Zhao Fan, the Prefect of Guiyang. These four are all mediocre and not worth worrying about. What we really need to worry about are the powerful and influential families in the four commanderies."

Pang Tong nodded, his gaze deep and thoughtful: "Kongming is right. The powerful families of the four commanderies are deeply entrenched; if we attack them head-on, even if we capture them, they will be nothing but ruins. Perhaps..."

He paused, then looked at Zhuge Liang: "What brilliant ideas does Kongming have?"

Zhuge Liang smiled slightly: "Shiyuan, do you still remember what method the Duke of Yan used to conquer Ji Province back then?"

Pang Tong's eyes lit up: "Divide and conquer, defeat them one by one?"

Zhuge Liang nodded: "Exactly. Of the four commanderies, Changsha is the weakest, but the richest. We can send someone to Changsha, offer high-ranking positions and generous salaries, and persuade him to submit. Han Xuan is a cowardly and timid man, and he will not dare to refuse. Once Changsha is captured, the other three commanderies will be like frightened birds, collapsing without a fight."

Pang Tong clapped his hands and laughed, "Brilliant plan! Let's do as Kongming says."

Changsha Prefecture, Linxiang.

Han Xuan has been unable to eat or sleep properly these past few days.

News of Zhou Yu's southern expedition to Jiaozhou had already spread throughout Jingzhou. With the imperial army pressing in, what should he, the Prefect of Changsha, do? Surrender to the court? But he was a subordinate of Liu Cong, who was allied with the Sun family, and the Sun family was irreconcilably opposed to the court. Resist the court? But what could he use to resist? The few thousand soldiers garrisoned in Changsha were no match for Zhou Yu.

"My lord," General Yang Ling rushed in, "someone outside the city requests an audience, saying they are an envoy from the imperial court."

Han Xuan abruptly stood up, his expression changing drastically: "An envoy from the imperial court? What brings you here?"

Yang Ling shook his head: "I don't know. They only said that they were sent by Situ Pang Tong to deliver a message."

Han Xuan hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Please."

A moment later, an envoy in a blue robe calmly entered the mansion. It was none other than Zhuge Liang.

Han Xuan looked at the young man with trepidation. Zhuge Liang, however, remained calm and simply cupped his hands, saying, "Lord Han, I have come to deliver a letter on the orders of the Minister of Works." He took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it over with both hands.

Han Xuan took the letter, unfolded it, and his hand trembled slightly. The handwriting was clear and bold, clearly Pang Tong's own. The letter read: "Lord Han, please understand: the world's fate has shifted to the court. The Duke of Yan is wise and powerful, sweeping across the land. You, my lord, are confined to Changsha, isolated in a corner. If you do not make a decision soon, you will surely be reduced to dust. Now the court's army is marching south, and Jiaozhi will fall in no time. If you surrender now, your entire family can be preserved in wealth and honor. If you remain obstinate, it will be too late for regrets."

After reading the letter, Han Xuan remained silent for a long time before looking up at Zhuge Liang: "Sir, can the court... truly tolerate me?"

Zhuge Liang smiled slightly: "Rest assured, my lord. The Duke of Yan is benevolent and never kills the innocent indiscriminately. As long as you submit, you will remain the Prefect of Changsha. Everything will continue as before, and you will not be violated in the slightest."

Han Xuan hesitated for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth and said, "Very well. This general... is willing to submit to the imperial court."

Zhuge Liang nodded and took out a scroll from his sleeve: "This is the appointment letter from the Minister of Works. Once you sign and affix your seal, you will be a member of the court."

Han Xuan took the pen and wrote his name. His hand was still trembling, but he felt a sense of relief.

The news of Changsha's surrender quickly spread throughout the four prefectures.

Jin Xuan, the prefect of Wuling, was greatly alarmed upon hearing the news. He summoned his generals to discuss the matter, and some advocated resistance while others advocated escape, resulting in a deadlock.

"My lord," said his subordinate Gong Zhi, "Changsha has surrendered, and the imperial army will arrive soon. Wuling has few soldiers and generals; how can it resist? We should follow Changsha's example and surrender to the imperial court to ensure our safety."

Jin Xuan hesitated. Gong Zhi continued, "Does my lord still remember that Han Xuan was your colleague back then? Now he is a member of the court. If my lord insists on resisting, I'm afraid..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

Jin Xuan sighed deeply: "Never mind. Send down the order to prepare to receive the imperial envoy."

Lingling Commandery, Liu Du.

Liu Du was more decisive than Jin Xuan. Upon hearing the news of Changsha and Wuling's surrender, he immediately summoned his generals and announced his submission to the court. His son, Liu Xian, asked in bewilderment, "Father, are we just surrendering like this?"

Liu Du smiled bitterly: "What can we do if we don't surrender? The imperial army is pressing in. Can our few thousand men hold them off? Besides, the Duke of Yan is benevolent and never kills innocent people indiscriminately. If we surrender, we can preserve this foundation. If we don't surrender, we're doomed."

Liu Xian remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

Guiyang County, Zhao Fan.

Zhao Fan was the most hesitant. He had several thousand elite troops under his command and occupied a strategically important position, and initially intended to resist. However, when he learned that Changsha, Wuling, and Lingling had all surrendered, he finally gave up resistance.

"Surrender," he said to his men. "Even Han Xuan has surrendered, what are we still holding out for?"

In the spring of the fifth year of Jian'an, the four southern prefectures of Jingzhou were all surrendered to the imperial court without bloodshed.

When Pang Tong received the surrender documents from the four commanderies, he was playing chess with Zhuge Liang. After reading them, he laughed heartily and handed the documents to Zhuge Liang: "Kongming, you are indeed a master strategist! With the surrender of all four commanderies, the entire territory of Jingzhou is now in the hands of the imperial court!"

Zhuge Liang took the document, read it once, and smiled slightly: "The surrender of the four commanderies was not due to my merit, but to the might of the Duke of Yan. If the Duke of Yan had not been so powerful, would they have so easily bowed their heads?"

Pang Tong nodded, his gaze deep and thoughtful: "Next, it's time to support Zhou Yu."

Jiaozhou, Jiaozhi.

Liu Bei stood on the city wall, gazing northwards with a solemn expression.

Zhou Yu's 50,000-strong army has entered Jiaozhou territory. His vanguard, Yuwen Chengdu, leading 10,000 elite cavalry, marches day and night, heading straight for Jiaozhi. Zhang Liao leads his navy south along the coast, cutting off Jiaozhi's connection with Jiuzhen and Rinan. Zhang Fei leads his infantry, advancing by land, advancing step by step.

Advancing from three directions simultaneously, their momentum is unstoppable.

"My lord," Jian Yong rushed in, "Zhou Yu's army has reached Cangwu, no more than three hundred li from Jiaozhi!"

Liu Bei's face darkened: "So fast?"

Jian Yong said, "Zhou Yu's army marched extremely fast, and the counties along the way surrendered without resistance. The governor of Cangwu has already opened the city gates and surrendered. Zhou Yu took Cangwu without shedding a drop of blood."

Liu Bei clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white. He recalled a brief encounter with Zhou Yu in Jingzhou years ago. At that time, Zhou Yu was still young, yet he had already displayed extraordinary talent. Now, Zhou Yu was the Grand Commander of the Imperial Court, in charge of all military affairs in the southern campaign. And he, Liu Bei, was trapped in Jiaozhi, surrounded by enemies on all sides.

"Pass down the order," he said, his voice hoarse, "close all city gates and prepare to defend the city. Send men to Jiuzhen and Rinan to request reinforcements."

Jian Yong hesitated and said, "My lord, if the troops from Jiuzhen and Rinan are recalled, the area will be left vulnerable..."

Liu Bei waved his hand: "We can't worry about that now. If Jiaozhi falls, we won't be able to hold onto Jiuzhen and Rinan either. We should concentrate our forces and defend Jiaozhi to the death."

Jian Yong said no more and left to carry out his orders.

Cangwu County, Zhou Yu's camp.

Zhou Yu sat in his tent, a map of Jiaozhou spread out before him. Yuwen Chengdu, Zhang Liao, and Zhang Fei sat on either side of him.

"Grand Commander," Yuwen Chengdu pointed to Jiaozhi on the map, "Liu Bei's main force is in Jiaozhi, numbering over ten thousand. He also has a force in Jiuzhen and Rinan, totaling no more than five thousand. If our army divides its forces, first taking Jiuzhen and Rinan to cut off his wings, and then besieging Jiaozhi, Liu Bei will surely be defeated."

Zhou Yu shook his head, his gaze distant: "No. Take Jiaozhi first."

Zhang Fei was taken aback: "Grand Commander, Jiaozhi is Liu Bei's stronghold. It is a city with high walls and deep moats, easy to defend and difficult to attack. If we launch a strong attack, the casualties will be heavy."

Zhou Yu smiled slightly: "Who said I was going to launch a direct attack?"

The three generals looked at each other in bewilderment.

Zhou Yu stood up, walked to the map, and traced the map over the location of Jiaozhi: "Jiaozhi is not a monolithic entity. Liu Bei's men are mostly former subordinates of Shi Xie, who are inherently ambivalent. Now that the imperial army is pressing in, they must be filled with anxiety. If we can send someone to infiltrate the city and turn these former subordinates against their cause, Jiaozhi will fall without a fight."

Zhang Liao's eyes lit up: "Great Commander, brilliant plan! This humble general is willing to go!"

Zhou Yu waved his hand: "No rush. First, send people to spread the word that the court will only punish the ringleaders and not those who were coerced. Anyone in Jiaozhi who is willing to surrender can be pardoned. Once the news spreads, Liu Bei's men will surely become disloyal."

Yuwen Chengdu nodded: "This subordinate will take care of it immediately."

In the city of Jiaozhi, at the governor's residence.

Liu Bei sat in the hall, his face grim. Sun Ce stood beside him, his hand on his sword, his expression equally solemn.

"Lord Liu," Sun Ce began, "Zhou Yu's army is pressing in, and the people of Jiaozhi are in a state of panic. Those former subordinates of Shi Xie are probably unreliable."

Liu Bei nodded, his gaze deep and thoughtful: "I know. But now, I have no other choice."

He stood up, walked to the window, gazed at the horizon beyond the city, and murmured, "Bo Fu, tell me, how much longer can I hold out?"

Sun Ce was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "As long as you don't give up, I will fight to the death with you."

Liu Bei turned around, looked at him with a complex expression, and asked, "Bo Fu, do you hate me?"

Sun Ce was taken aback.

Liu Bei smiled bitterly: "When your father was alive, I betrayed him. Now you're desperate and have come to me for help. Don't you hate me?"

Sun Ce remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "I hate him. But I hate Ji Xuanyuan even more. He killed my father. As long as you help me avenge him, my life will be yours."

Liu Bei looked at him and suddenly smiled. In that smile, there was bitterness, helplessness, and also a hint of inexplicable relief.

"Alright. I'll play along and gamble with you this time."

Shuntian, the Yan Mansion.

Ji Xuanyuan sat in his study, with secret reports from Jingzhou and Jiaozhou spread out in front of him. After reading them, he smiled slightly and handed the reports to Guo Jia.

"Fengxiao, take a look. Pang Tong has taken four counties of Jingzhou without shedding a drop of blood. Zhou Yu has already arrived at Cangwu, and Jiaozhi will be taken in no time."

Guo Jia took it, scanned it quickly, and his peach blossom eyes curved into a smile: "Congratulations, my lord! The entire territory of Jingzhou is now pacified, and Jiaozhou will be soon as well."

Ji Xuanyuan nodded, his gaze deep: "Once Zhou Yu takes Jiaozhi, only Cao Cao will remain in the world."

Guo Jia said, "My lord, should we make the first move against Cao Cao?"

Ji Xuanyuan shook his head: "No rush. We'll deal with him after the southern expedition is over."

He stood up, walked to the window, looked south, and murmured, "It'll be soon. It'll be soon."