In the prefectural office of Wu Commandery, Jiangdong.
On a desk, a pot of wine, two wine cups...
Two men sat opposite each other.
From afar, both men were quite handsome. One was more refined, while the other was much more martial.
"Gongjin, I have now conquered all six commanderies of Jiangdong, and our forces are at their peak... Is it time for revenge!"
The man who spoke was the martial one, known as the Little Hegemon of Jiangdong, Sun Ben, ah no... the Little Hegemon of Jiangdong, Sun Ce, Sun Bofu!
And the Gongjin he mentioned was naturally Zhou Yu, Zhou Gongjin!
As for the revenge Sun Ce mentioned, it was to avenge his father, Sun Jian. His father was killed by Huang Zu of Jiangxia...
Sun Ce and Huang Zu of Jiangxia were mortal enemies. However...
Between Jiangdong and Jiangxia, there was still the buffer zone of Lujiang.
To attack Huang Zu, Lujiang had to be taken first.
And on the surface, Sun Ce had already broken with Yuan Shu, making him an enemy of Liu Xun, who garrisoned Lujiang.
Sun Ce publicly claimed to be eradicating a Han rebel and launching an attack on Liu Xun of Lujiang, but in reality, he wanted to eliminate this buffer zone to attack Huang Zu of Jiangxia and avenge his father.
"Bofu, one must take things one step at a time. Do not be hasty," Zhou Yu took a sip of wine. "You must know, if our army urgently attacks Liu Xun of Lujiang, Huang Zu will surely come to his aid, and this battle will not be easy!"
"Then..." Sun Ce frowned.
"Haha..." Zhou Yu smiled faintly. "Bofu, why have you forgotten the four key points I proposed again!"
Sun Ce pondered for a moment and then said, "How could I forget? It is the support of the common people, the construction of the intermediate organization, strict military discipline, and the divine value of the Son of Heaven!"
... These four points proposed by Sun Ce were the key to his sweeping through Jiangdong in recent years.
And all of these were meticulously planned and deployed by Zhou Yu for him.
"Bofu, at the beginning of your southern campaign into Jiangdong, you were very much like Cao Cao when he was still in Yanzhou. You were left with only loyal and brave warriors from the former lord."
"However... you lacked soldiers and territory. Therefore... I instructed you to maintain strict military discipline, ensuring that when attacking cities and occupying territories, the common people would be unharmed, with 'not a single fowl or dog disturbed, nor any leaves or vegetables damaged.' This was to win the support of the common people..."
"Yuan Shu, using the reputation of his Yuan clan, which had held positions for four generations, outwardly recruited talented individuals. In reality, however, he gave important positions to his clan members and former subordinates. This is why, as long as the lord actively recruits and entrusts them with important responsibilities, the talented individuals of Jiangdong will flock to us!"
Zhou Yu's words encompassed three of the four major strategies he had formulated for Sun Ce over the years.
And Sun Ce always followed the words of his good brother Zhou Yu as if they were divine decrees.
When Zhou Yu ordered him to maintain strict military discipline, if someone in Sun Ce's army committed an offense and fled to hide in Yuan Shu's stables, Sun Ce, wielding his ancient blade, would personally go into Yuan Shu's camp and bring the deserter to justice.
After this incident, no one in the entire Jiangdong army dared to commit any offense.
Furthermore, Zhou Yu also proposed that Sun Ce's army, when attacking cities and occupying territories, must not harm the common people in any way. This was even more difficult.
In this era of turmoil and war, making the army obey orders was already quite difficult...
Let alone leaving the common people completely unharmed, it was undoubtedly even more difficult!
And because of the foundation of strict military discipline established earlier, Sun Ce truly achieved this.
The people of Jiangdong were grateful for his kindness. Wherever the army passed, they were welcomed with open arms!
In addition,
Zhou Yu keenly observed that Yuan Shu favored his own clan members and former subordinates while disregarding the talented individuals of Jiangdong. He suggested that Sun Ce actively recruit them.
Thus...
Lu Su from Dongcheng, Lu Fan from Xiyang, Zhang Zhao from Pengcheng, and Zhang Hong from Guangling all came to pledge allegiance. This helped Sun Ce establish an efficient team of advisors. Combined with the loyal and brave warriors left by his father, the intermediate organization was completed!
It was precisely because of "strict military discipline," "support from the common people," and "efficient intermediate civil and military officials," coupled with Sun Ce's unparalleled bravery,
that Sun Ce managed to conquer the six commanderies of Jiangdong in just two years.
And as Zhou Yu had said, the formulation of these plans was almost a replica of Cao Cao's rise in Yanzhou.
Cao Cao initially worked for Yuan Shao, and Sun Ce was also an employee, conquering the six commanderies of Jiangdong for his boss, Yuan Shu!
Lu Yu proposed that Cao Cao absorb the Yellow Turbans;
Zhou Yu advised Sun Ce to leave the common people unharmed, both of which were forms of grassroots governance!
Lu Yu proposed that Cao Cao recruit talented individuals from Yingchuan and entrust them with important responsibilities;
Zhou Yu suggested that Sun Ce recruit talented individuals from Jiangdong to hold key positions, which was the establishment of an intermediate civil and military structure!
Coupled with Cao Cao and Sun Ce's adherence to strict military discipline, the use of harsh penalties in chaotic times, it can be said that Sun Ce's entire rise in Jiangdong in recent years bore the shadow of Cao Cao everywhere.
And this... was the brilliance of Zhou Yu.
While other lords marveled at Cao Cao's rise, only Zhou Yu, through the phenomenon, saw the essence and dug out the core.
He formulated a perfectly replicated rise strategy based on local conditions, which could be considered exquisite.
Of course, the more he replicated it, the more Zhou Yu felt that this strategic planning was terrifying...
And Cao Cao's execution of this strategy...
was before the talented individuals from Yingchuan pledged allegiance. In other words, Cao Cao had a terrifying strategist by his side, hidden behind the scenes.
According to Zhou Yu's analysis, and the existing intelligence...
This strategist was the newly appointed Grand Minister of Agriculture, and the Emperor's appointed Head of the Imperial Academy—Lu Yu!
And he, very possibly, had another identity, that of the legendary Hidden Dragon!
Of course, these were not important.
However, copying the "homework" of the Hidden Dragon was something Zhou Yu was quite adept at.
"Bofu, of the four strategic plans, the other three have been implemented. The last one... is the divine existence of the Son of Heaven. However, Cao Cao has already taken the lead. We can only declare our loyalty to the court and try to benefit from it."
Zhou Yu continued...
However, Sun Ce didn't quite understand his words. "Loyalty to the court is natural, but how can we... profit from it?"
"Haha..."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu smiled faintly. "Bofu, have you forgotten how Yuan Shu incorporated the former lord's troops?"
This...
Sun Ce frowned. It was in the spring of the third year of Chuping. His father, Sun Jian, had fallen out with Liu Biao and led his troops to attack!
He had fought fiercely with Huang Zu, a formidable general under Liu Biao. Just as they were about to reach Xiangyang, he was unfortunately hit by a stray arrow and killed.
Because of this, the Jiangdong soldiers, in the midst of chaos, were incited by those with ulterior motives and were then absorbed by Yuan Shu.
"Gongjin, you mean..." Sun Ce thought of something.
Zhou Yu reminded him carefully, "Is not our lord today the Yuan Shu of the past? Just as Yuan Shu absorbed the former lord's troops, our lord should today absorb Yuan Shu's fifty thousand troops in Lujiang!"
Speaking of this, Zhou Yu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Urgent report from the front: Yuan Shu's city of Shouchun has been completely surrounded by Cao Cao. I predict that Yuan Shu will surely be defeated!"
When mentioning Yuan Shu's inevitable defeat.
Zhou Yu's tone was extremely firm. Indeed, with the Hidden Dragon assisting Cao Cao... and Yuan Shu having a false Hidden Dragon appearing on his side, in reason and in morality, in righteousness and in the hearts of the people? How could he not be defeated?
Zhou Yu paused and continued:
"As the saying goes, when the rabbit dies, the monkeys scatter. Once Yuan Shu is defeated, our opportunity will come. Liu Xun loves wealth, so why don't we... Bofu, you just need to follow my plan... and we can take Lujiang city without a single soldier being harmed, and absorb those fifty thousand Yuan troops into our ranks."
Upon saying this...
Zhou Yu's lips curled, and his tone became even more cheerful. "Is this the first joy?"
The first joy?
Sun Ce was slightly taken aback... "Is there anything more joyous than taking Lujiang and absorbing fifty thousand Yuan troops?"
"Yes!" Zhou Yu's tone became even more certain. "Bofu, you are now of age, but you are not yet married. I have heard that north of Changshan in Dantou, Lujiang, on the five continents mountain, there is a sect called 'Qiao Family Sect,' with an elder named 'Old Man Qiao,' and..."
At the end, Zhou Yu paused and his tone deepened. "And this Old Man Qiao has two beautiful daughters, named 'Da Qiao' and 'Xiao Qiao'!"
"The common saying is—'In Lujiang there are two Qiaos, in Hebei there is the beautiful Zhen Mi. Zhen Mi of Hebei is too far away. Why don't we, brothers, pick these two Qiaos of Lujiang first? To create a beautiful story for eternity?'"
Huo...
Upon hearing this, Sun Ce felt a different kind of emotion.
—Heroes have always loved beautiful women!
—Dewy beauties are to be pitied...
In an instant, he yearned for Lujiang even more.
However, Sun Ce did not know that...
It was not only Zhou Yu and Sun Ce who were interested in Lujiang and the "people" within it?
"Gongjin, please explain in more detail... how to break through Lujiang, how to recruit Yuan's army, and how to marry the beautiful ladies?"
Sun Ce said...
"Haha..."
Zhou Yu replied with a smile. "Bofu, you are flustered. I have never seen you so flustered even in the face of thousands of troops!"
...
...
Under the city of Shouchun, in Cao's encampment, the main military tent.
Cao Cao was discussing military matters with Xi Zhicai.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the tent, "Taptap." It was the grain officer.
This grain officer was named Wang Hou, an honest man specially chosen by Cao Song for Cao Cao.
In the past, when Cao Song was Grand Minister of Agriculture, he had embezzled too much money and grain, and he understood all the tricks involved...
It was for this reason that he was extremely cautious in choosing a grain officer, who had to be academically accomplished, ah no... who had to be upright and incorruptible.
Wang Hou was a model of this.
"Cao Sikong, Military Advisor Xi..."
Wang Hou bowed his hands and then, without hiding anything, said, "Our army's grain will only last for three more days. But I hear... the roads along the way have already frozen, making it difficult for people to pass, let alone grain carts. I hope Cao Sikong will prepare accordingly."
To put it bluntly, Wang Hou was subtly expressing that they should retreat soon... and come back after the rainy season when there was still grain.
However...
It had now reached the most critical juncture. Cao Cao and Yuan Shu were competing for endurance; whoever collapsed first would surely fall like a landslide.
Hoo...
Cao Cao let out a long sigh.
"Military Advisor Xi? What is your esteemed opinion?"
"This..." Xi Zhicai's eyes darted around, and finally, he decided, "If we were to use some unconventional methods, perhaps... we could extend the three days' worth of grain."
Xi Zhicai did not say it so explicitly...
But Cao Cao could understand his meaning.
"That is what I was thinking as well." Cao Cao nodded his head and leaned his head towards Wang Hou. "Do as I say and change the distributed large hu to small hu! To save the immediate crisis!"
This...
Wang Hou, being an honest man, immediately retorted, "But... but if you do that, the soldiers will complain? What should we do?"
"Don't worry, I will have a way," Cao Cao patted Wang Hou's shoulder and added meaningfully. "Grain Officer Wang? It has been some time since the expedition. Do you miss home? How many people are in your family!"
This... Wang Hou still did not understand, he nodded and replied truthfully, "Who doesn't miss home? Thank you for your concern, Cao Sikong. There are five people in my family: my father, mother, wife, and young son!"
"Oh... Hahaha..." Cao Cao first silently remembered, and then burst into laughter. "It's good that you miss home. After this battle is won, your family will be able to live a good life, haha, go... distribute grain with small hu."
Wang Hou, being naive and innocent, thought that Cao Cao was going to reward him after the battle...
He was immediately overjoyed.
"Thank you Cao Sikong, thank you Cao Sikong..." He hopped out of the tent and went to carry out the task of distributing grain with small hu as ordered by Cao Sikong!
In his opinion, although the morale of the army would be in chaos, Cao Sikong must have a way.
Watching his departing back...
"Alas..." Xi Zhicai shook his head helplessly.
He did not say anything. In this chaotic world, many things were unavoidable. If one is not ruthless? How can one achieve great things!
As the saying goes, a ruthless person is a great man...
Just then.
The sound of horseshoes, "dada-da... dada-da," echoed through the camp.
It should be known that Cao Cao had previously ordered that unless it was an urgent matter concerning grain, horses could be ridden directly to the main military tent. And now... this sound of horseshoes.
Instantly, Cao Cao's eyebrows shot up, and he ran out in three steps.
Xi Zhicai also hurried out...
But it was not grain they saw, but... Cao Anmin, Cao Cao's nephew—Cao Anmin.
"Nephew pays respects to Uncle, and Military Advisor!"
As Cao Anmin finished speaking, Cao Cao eagerly asked, "Where is the grain? Is there any way to send grain from Chen Country?"
This...
Cao Anmin took a small bag from behind him and handed it to Cao Cao.
The bag contained grain. This was an unavoidable method, asking cavalry to shuttle back and forth between Chen Country and Shouchun, carrying small amounts of grain with them.
However...
For the grain consumption of over a hundred thousand troops, this was merely a drop in the bucket.
Seeing the grain bag, Cao Cao was immediately disappointed, and his heart grew colder.
Unexpectedly, the words that followed from Cao Anmin filled him with boundless hope.
"Uncle, Grand Minister of Agriculture Lu has arrived in Chen Country... He asked me to bring a message to Uncle."
"What message?"
Upon hearing it was Lu Yu's message, Cao Cao immediately became twenty percent more spirited.
Xi Zhicai also perked up his ears.
Lu Yu, the name, in Cao's camp, was almost synonymous with "miracle" and "unbelievable."
"Grand Minister of Agriculture Lu said to ask Cao Sikong to hold on for ten more days... temporarily suspend the strong assault. Within ten days, he will surely find a way to transport grain!" Cao Anmin said with certainty.
Hoo...
As these words fell, Cao Cao let out a sigh and looked back at Xi Zhicai.
Xi Zhicai was also very surprised, because... just before the grain officer Wang Hou arrived, Cao Cao and Xi Zhicai had been discussing the final strategy—a strong assault.
A direct assault with no technical content, purely a clash of brute force.
In this way, many people might die, but... at this point, there was no other choice!
Yet...
Did Lu Yu predict this idea of a strong assault?
Cao Cao's eyes narrowed slightly.
This was not the point. The key was that Yu'er proposed that he would deliver the grain within ten days.
This...
"Gulp," Xi Zhicai swallowed. "Grand Minister of Agriculture Lu never speaks words without confidence. Perhaps... this time, he can really think of a solution!"
A solution?
Cao Cao knew in his heart, if... if the grain could really be delivered, and the strong assault avoided, what would that mean for him, and for the tens of thousands of soldiers...
A siege is like this: those outside want to get in, and those inside want to get out.
As long as they could drag on for one more day, the probability of victory without a fight could increase by one point.
Now... it had reached the most critical, most critical moment.
"I understand," Cao Cao nodded his head... "Where is Zhongkang?"
"This subordinate is here," Xu Chu quickly stepped forward.
"Tell Wang Hou to find every way possible to hold out until the tenth day!"
"Yes!" Xu Chu agreed and hurried to make arrangements.
Ten days...
Was this considered a gamble? Of course, Cao Cao had made preparations for both eventualities.
If Yu'er could deliver the grain within ten days, then everyone would be happy. But... if not, then the executioner's blade hanging over Wang Hou's head would have to fall!
The lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers would also be lost!
At this moment, Cao Cao's eyes narrowed. How he wished that Yu'er could create a miracle this time, just like in the past.
...
...
On the mountain road from Chen Country to Shouchun.
Over a hundred wooden oxen and flowing horses were moving at a brisk pace.
Speaking of which, the city of Shouchun was indeed a depression, but... this depression was a bit too deep.
It was not an exaggeration to call it a giant basin!
It should be known that to transport grain from Chen Country, one must first climb several continuous mountains.
Then, descend the mountain road again.
As the saying goes—it is easy to go up the mountain, but difficult to go down...
In this season of continuous rain, both going up and down the mountain were not easy, and the mountain roads were too slippery.
Even people could not stand firmly and kept falling!
But it was incredible that these wooden oxen and flowing horses, for some reason, their wheels seemed to grip the ground firmly. No matter how steep the slope, as long as the ox tongue and horse tongue were turned... these wooden oxen and flowing horses would brake sharply!
They could not be pushed no matter how much force was applied.
On extremely steep slopes, they stood still like mountains.
And this... had clearly become a secret weapon for traversing steep slopes. It could even help the soldiers transporting grain to stand firm.
The most remarkable thing was that, for some unknown reason, these wooden oxen and flowing horses...
Even pushing them from bottom to top was completely effortless, extremely light!
This made the soldiers transporting grain feel incredibly relaxed for the first time!
Hiss...
These naturally did not escape Dian Wei and Huang Zhong's eyes.
"Xu'er? Did you really make these wooden oxen and flowing horses?" Huang Zhong was somewhat incredulous. His son, who had been sickly since childhood, could actually create such a miraculous masterpiece?
While Huang Zhong couldn't help but show the smile of a loving father, he was more curious about what his son Xu'er had experienced at the Imperial Academy!
"It wasn't just me..." Huang Xu pointed to Dian Man not far away, and said humbly, "If not for the guidance of the books left by Chief Minister Lu, and if not for Elder Brother Dian, Elder Brother Xu... Young Master Ang, and Kongming... how could I have completed it independently!"
"In fact, it was Kongming who figured out the underlying principles. If not for him, I fear the creation of these wooden oxen and flowing horses would have taken God knows how long!"
Huo... Humble, not arrogant.
Huang Zhong was extremely pleased and praised repeatedly, "Hahaha, Xu'er, well done, I, Huang Zhong, have a good son!"
His old heart was filled with comfort...
Not far away, Dian Wei also patted Dian Man's shoulder. "You brat, you've got some skills. Originally, I thought that in our old Dian family, apart from your mother-in-law, everyone else were rough fellows! Unable to attend the Imperial Academy, unable to understand the principles taught by those teachers."
"However, Man'er, you've done a really damn good job. Heh heh, I didn't expect your brain to become so much smarter after attending the Imperial Academy! Better than your father!"
"From now on, just keep learning from young master Lu properly. It will be of great benefit to you, damn it."
Hearing this, Dian Man scratched his head. Was this considered praise?
His father's praise was really peculiar!
Just then...
The grain convoy turned around a mountain.
From afar, on the mountain, they could already see Shouchun city in the depression, and... under Shouchun city, the densely packed, dark mass of figures surrounding Shouchun city.
"Father, look... we're almost there!"
Hoo...
As these words were spoken, Dian Wei let out a sigh, and his eyes narrowed.
He looked at the sky, counted with his fingers, ten days... today was exactly ten days!
Haha, finally, they had not failed their mission and were about to arrive!
The young master's timing was just right, very tight!
...
...