Conversing with intelligent individuals is a pleasure.
Engaging in conversation with the two astute minds, Lu Xun and Cheng Yu, evidently doubled that pleasure.
Lu Yu briefly recounted to Cheng Yu the "beginning and end of his connection" with the Lu family of Jiangdong. Cheng Yu found it utterly unbelievable, yet all indications pointed in this direction, making it impossible to refute.
However, this was a good thing.
It was beneficial for Lu Yu, for Cao's camp, and even for Cheng Yu himself.
It seemed…
Cheng Yu already had a premonition that Jiangdong might forge a new and distinctive path.
Lu Yu, without hesitation, shifted the topic of their discussion from Xuzhou to Jiangdong.
The immediate priority was to finalize the strategy for the rise of the Lu family and the eventual containment of the Sun clan of Jiangdong.
"Boyan, the second grand gift you mentioned earlier, is it my background?" Lu Yu initiated the conversation.
Lu Xun smiled slightly. "Although the Lu family is not what it once was, it has been deeply rooted in Jiangdong for many years. With the assistance of our Lu family to my elder brother, how could it be less valuable than the topographical map of Jiangdong's six commanderies and seventy-two counties?"
"Naturally," Cheng Yu nodded with a smile. The influence of a prominent family was immeasurable.
For instance, the Yuan clan of Runan, the Yang clan of Hongnong…
This era was such that aristocratic families monopolized all resources through their official careers.
Indeed, this phenomenon was particularly evident in the eyes of Jiangdong's families.
"Actually, I am curious about your third grand gift, Boyan?" Lu Yu changed the subject. "Your gifts are always more precious than the last. The topographical map of Jiangdong's six commanderies, the support of the Lu family, and the final one…"
Upon saying this, Lu Yu's gaze fell upon Lu Xun.
The implication was that good things should be shared.
"Haha…" Lu Xun chuckled lightly. "This third grand gift depends on whether my elder brother is interested in the life of the Little Conqueror, Sun Bofu."
Sun Ce's life?
Before Lu Yu and Cheng Yu could ponder this, Lu Xun’s voice continued. "In Jiangdong, there are quite a few people who desire Sun Ce's life. Sun Ce consistently relies on his bravery and enjoys hunting. Oddly, he never brings guards when hunting. With a little arrangement, or by providing some information to these assassins, it would be enough for Sun Ce to become someone else's prey, perishing in Jiangdong. However… it depends on whether my elder brother truly wants his life."
Lu Xun's words caused Lu Yu's eyes to narrow, and his brows subconsciously twitched.
Lu Yu was well aware…
That Sun Ce had many enemies in Jiangdong was hardly news!
For example, when Sun Ce campaigned against Yan Baihu, Yan Baihu sent his brother Yan Yu to seek peace…
Unexpectedly, Sun Ce directly severed Yan Yu's head with his halberd. Afterward, Yan Baihu surrendered but was also killed by Sun Ce.
This nearly filled Yan Baihu's confidants with deep hatred for Sun Ce!
It could be said…
From this incident alone, it was evident that although Sun Ce was skilled in martial arts, this young man completely disregarded chivalry.
Beyond this, the demise of local magnates like Xu Gong and Liu Yao was also more or less related to Sun Ce's disregard for chivalry.
Even…
According to ancient texts and historical records, Sun Ce was ultimately assassinated by three retainers of Xu Gong, who sought revenge for their master and thus orchestrated the ambush in the hunting grounds!
However, according to Lu Yu's analysis, perhaps Xu Gong's three retainers were merely a scapegoat; there were simply too many people who genuinely wanted Sun Ce dead.
"Are you implying, Boyan, that you can contact these forces hostile to the Sun family?" Lu Yu immediately retorted.
"Not only can I contact them, but if our Lu family's objective is to annihilate the Sun clan and kill Sun Ce, and if we could also obtain an imperial decree, I am confident I can make these individuals serve our Lu family!"
Lu Xun's words were not explicitly stated.
However, since he spoke so confidently, it was likely that he had already established contact with these factions.
It was understandable; the Lu family and the Sun family were indeed quite antagonistic. It was reasonable for these factions to proactively contact Lu Xun and conspire to slaughter the Sun clan.
Only…
"How many people are within these forces that are hostile to Sun Ce?" Lu Yu continued to inquire.
"Over twenty thousand people!" Lu Xun replied truthfully. The remnants of Yan Baihu, Xu Gong's retainers, Liu Yao, and Wang Lang's stragglers, pieced together, amounted to a considerable number!
Lu Xun did not forget to ask back, "However, elder brother, you must consider carefully whether killing Sun Ce would be beneficial to you and Cao's camp!"
This statement hit the mark…
Similarly, this was precisely what Lu Yu had been repeatedly contemplating recently.
Making Sun Ce die was a simple matter, but would the situation truly be better after Sun Ce was gone?
Lu Yu felt it was uncertain…
Sun Ce's general strategy always relied on the military might of the "Huai-Si Group" to suppress the Jiangdong magnates. These Jiangdong families either had grudges against the Sun family, or they maintained a facade of unity while secretly plotting against each other!
But if Sun Ce were to meet his end, and Sun Quan ascended to power, that would be an entirely different story.
It had to be said that in terms of checks and balances and winning people's hearts, Sun Quan was far more adept than Sun Ce.
It was highly possible…
That the precarious situation in Jiangdong, under Sun Quan's management of checks, balances, and appeasement, might see a brief period of unity!
This was not what Lu Yu wanted to see.
Of course, Sun Quan's leadership in military campaigns was abysmal…
But for Lu Yu, dealing with a skilled warrior focused on charging into battle was far simpler than confronting a wise strategist adept at "selecting and appointing capable individuals."
However…
Lu Yu still wanted to hear Lu Xun's opinion.
"Boyan, in your view? Should Sun Ce die?"
Upon asking this, Cheng Yu on the side was somewhat bewildered…
The conversation between these two young masters was so relaxed, as if the decision of whether the world-renowned Little Conqueror, Sun Bofu, lived or died could be made within the confines of this small room.
It appeared that the Lu family members… spoke with great confidence and possessed formidable capabilities!
"Elder brother…" Lu Xun's voice resounded again. "From a personal perspective, I hope Sun Ce dies. That way, the family feud of our grandfather Lu Kang, who lost his city and his life, would be avenged, and it would provide an explanation to our clan. However…"
Mid-sentence, Lu Xun paused.
"From a broader perspective, I do not wish for Sun Ce to die, because if he dies, many resentments will dissipate!"
"Elder brother must know that these Jiangdong magnates and aristocratic families resent the Sun family because they resent Sun Ce. However, once Sun Ce perishes, the grievances will undoubtedly be largely eliminated. And if the successor is a benevolent and wise ruler, then… perhaps the entire Jiangdong will become a solid entity, united in purpose."
Lu Xun's words were almost identical to Lu Yu's concerns.
Why, despite such deep enmity with the Sun family in historical accounts, did Lu Xun still help them defend against the Shanyue and, at the most critical juncture, help the Sun family achieve the reversal in the Battle of Yiling?
This clearly indicated… that Sun Ce's death took away all the accumulated resentment, and Sun Quan's ascension brought all the aristocratic families together.
It was often said that Xuzhou was a great melting pot, but the situation in Jiangdong, compared to Xuzhou, was undoubtedly an even larger melting pot.
Lu Xun's tone was solemn, and his expression was complex.
Conversely, Lu Yu appeared very relaxed, as if… he had already devised a plan.
"Boyan, actually, besides living or dying, we have a third option for Sun Ce."
"A third option?"
"That's right, the third option is…" Lu Yu deliberately paused, seeing Lu Xun and Cheng Yu both perk up their ears in anticipation. Only then did he blurt out, "We can leave him half-dead!"
Wow…
Half-dead?
What a novel idea!
But… dying is easy, and living is also easy?
How could he be left half-dead?
"Haha…"
Seeing Lu Xun and Cheng Yu completely mystified, Lu Yu continued.
"The assassination can proceed as planned, but Boyan, you must instruct the assassins not to strike the face! And when shooting arrows, do not aim for the face!"
"Our Little Conqueror is quite concerned about his appearance. His physique is robust; being shot ten or eight times won't kill him, at most he'll be bedridden for life. However, if his face is hit by even one arrow, he might never escape his fate as a falling star. Ultimately, he is too thin-skinned!"
Lu Yu's words carried a hint of mockery and playfulness…
But they were not without basis.
Historically, there are various mysterious stories surrounding Sun Ce's death.
For instance, he was supposedly played to death by Yu Ji, or shot by Xu Gong's three retainers… or, the most reliable account, supported by many ancient texts.
Sun Ce died of ugliness related to his own face!
The reason? Sun Ce was handsome. In Jiangdong, if Zhou Yu was considered the most handsome man, then Sun Ce was the second.
Throughout history, handsome men and beautiful women often share a common trait.
That is, they are exceptionally concerned about their appearance…
They would look in the mirror eleven or twelve times a day if possible.
From the highly profitable cosmetic surgery hospitals of the previous life, one could glean some insight.
Sun Ce was no exception. After being stabbed by assassins in the face, he did not die immediately. Instead, he returned home to recuperate. The doctor told him not to engage in strenuous activity and certainly not to get angry!
As the saying goes, it takes a hundred days for bones to mend after injury. However, Sun Ce felt uncomfortable if he didn't look at his face in the mirror every day.
Yet, upon picking up the mirror and taking a look, he was overcome with anger, exclaiming – "With my face looking like this, how can I achieve great deeds?"
His wounds ruptured, and his fury surged. The young talent of his generation was literally scared to death by his own face!
In many romance novels, when a story is forcibly brought to an abrupt end, it might describe the protagonist suffocating from their own beauty, dying from being too beautiful. But Sun Ce, dying because of his ugly face, could be considered the first person in history!
This…
Lu Xun's eyes flickered, and he seemed to understand Lu Yu's intention.
That is, the assassination could proceed as planned, but the degree of injury needed to be controlled; a severe disability would suffice… keeping him alive would ensure that the resentment of the Jiangdong magnates and aristocratic families would continue to target the Sun family. The more intense their struggles, the more the Lu family could benefit from the fisherman's haul.
"Elder brother, I understand. When I return, I will contact Yan Baihu, Liu Yao, Wang Lang, Xu Gong's retainers, and their remnants, and incorporate this force into our Lu family!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yu nodded. Having an intelligent younger brother was indeed beneficial.
Many things became clear with just a single point!
"Do not rush for now. Stay in Lujiang for a few more days. Once I return to Xudu City and explain to the Grand Secretary Cao, and obtain an imperial decree, everything will be twice as effective and proceed smoothly."
Lu Yu continued to instruct…
Lu Xun cupped his hands. "Elder brother's considerations are thorough. Your humble brother will comply with everything elder brother says."
Having concluded the discussion on containing the Sun clan of Jiangdong, Lu Yu directly shifted to another matter, an even more important one – the rise of the Lu family!
"Boyan, what I will discuss next is the strategy for the rise of our Lu family! Granted, with the forces hostile to the Sun family as a foundation, the Lu family possesses a not-insignificant hidden armed force on the periphery, but it is not enough!"
"The Sun family has the support of 'Huai-Si' talents, coupled with the assistance of Jiangdong's two major families, Zhang Zhao of the Zhang clan, and Zhou Yu of the Zhou clan. One excels internally, the other externally. Merely twenty thousand men cannot shake the Sun family's rule. This means our Lu clan must become even stronger!"
At this point, Lu Xun detected a hidden meaning in Lu Yu's words and immediately interrupted, "Does elder brother mean for our Lu family to temporarily submit to the Sun clan?"
"Precisely," Lu Yu nodded. "Due to Jiangdong's unique military system, once the Sun family bestows troops upon you, Lu Xun, these troops will forever belong to you. In other words… as long as there is a pretext, we can unreservedly demand troops from the Sun family to strengthen the clan's power!"
"To achieve this, the primary issue to resolve is money. You need not worry about this. I am already the Grand Minister of Agriculture of the Han Dynasty and control the nation's finances. You can proceed under the guise of business, and I will secretly supply you with a large amount of military supplies and provisions to help you strengthen your family!"
As he spoke, Lu Yu's tone became quite serious, and his demeanor was meticulous.
It was evident he was not joking; he genuinely intended to invest heavily in the Lu family.
To gradually strengthen it, to nurture it into a colossus that even the Sun clan could not ignore!
Besides money, in Jiangdong, the only other measure of a family's strength was troops.
As Lu Xun pondered this, Lu Yu's voice already emerged.
"Regarding troops, I propose that the Lu family actively undertake the responsibility of pacifying the Shanyue."
The reason for this arrangement was that ancient texts recorded Lu Xun's skill in dealing with the Shanyue. Although the Shanyue were fierce warriors, they lacked intelligence, which was precisely Lu Xun's forte.
Indeed, the Shanyue were a persistent nightmare for Jiangdong and the Sun氏.
Actually, it was alright during Sun Ce's reign…
But during Sun Quan's reign, the Shanyue repeatedly raided the borders, causing him endless annoyance and unease…
It was precisely because of Sun Quan's bold appointment of Lu Xun that the Shanyue disturbances were alleviated to a certain extent.
"Pacifying the Shanyue? That would require a large number of troops, wouldn't it? It seems… our Lu family currently has…"
A hint of hesitation flashed in Lu Xun's eyes.
"Haha… there's no rush for this matter." Unexpectedly, Lu Yu waved his hand with a smile. "After Sun Ce's assassination, the Shanyue tribe will undoubtedly become more active, conducting frequent raids!"
"At that time, wouldn't Boyan have to request permission? I'm not exaggerating… apart from Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, none of the Jiangdong generals can handle the Shanyue!"
"With Sun Ce assassinated, the military affairs will naturally fall entirely upon Zhou Yu's shoulders. He will be unable to spare himself. It will truly be time for you, Boyan, to step in when they repeatedly suffer defeats in pacifying the Shanyue! At that time, the Sun family will inevitably provide grain and troops. And once you achieve several impressive victories, the supplies and military strategies will flow unendingly. Perhaps, one campaign against the Shanyue will be enough for our Lu family to return to the forefront of Jiangdong families!"
Wow… such meticulous planning!
Did he calculate every step?
Lu Xun took a sharp breath. He hadn't felt it during their conversation, but now, he truly felt the oppressive weight in his elder brother Lu Yu's words.
Such immense pressure!
Utilizing the pacification of the Shanyue to continuously strengthen the Lu family's troops and constantly erode the Shanyue's strength.
If the plan succeeded, who knew whether Jiangdong would eventually belong to the Sun clan or the Lu clan!
Hoo…
He let out a long breath.
Lu Xun's heart throbbed repeatedly.
His elder brother's stratagems and plans, as heard by his ears, accounted for every move of Sun Ce, Zhou Yu… and even the Shanyue, and every aspect of Jiangdong.
What Lu Xun needed to do was to follow the strategic plan laid out by his elder brother, step by step!
Effortless, yet effective.
The key was that, beyond being effortless, these strategic plans were convincing.
Immediately, Lu Xun nodded heavily.
"Elder brother's brilliant plan, your humble brother has noted it."
"Also, when you return to Jiangdong, be sure to pay attention to various intelligence from Jiangdong. Since you can draw the topographical map of these six commanderies of Jiangdong and contact those forces hostile to the Sun family, it should not be difficult to obtain this intelligence."
Lu Yu's words were not finished; he continued to patiently instruct, fearing his younger brother might forget any detail.
And every word, every point he made was crucial.
"Any important intelligence concerning the Sun clan of Jiangdong must be transmitted to Jiangbei without delay. It doesn't matter if I'm not in Lujiang. I will leave a contingent of the Dragon Cavalry here to relay messages at any time. They will also promptly report your correspondence to me."
"If you require money, provisions, or troops, or if you deploy any action, you can also send word. Boyan, rest assured, your elder brother has plenty of support for you, if nothing else!"
At the end, Lu Yu placed his hand on Lu Xun's shoulder, and Lu Xun cupped his hands in acknowledgement, presenting a scene of brotherly affection and filial piety.
Cheng Yu, who had been listening intently to the conversation between these two brothers, found it difficult to interject.
Now that everything had been said, Cheng Yu proactively volunteered, "Young Master Lu, why don't I accompany Young Master Lu to Jiangdong? That way, he will have a helper!"
This…
Lu Yu's eyes flickered.
If Cheng Yu went to Jiangdong, with his bold, meticulous, and exceptionally steady personality and conduct, wouldn't Jiangdong be as stable as a dog?
However…
"Sima Cheng, it's not that you cannot go to Jiangdong, but… the urgent matter at hand is that I have an important task to entrust to you."
Hmm?
An important task?
For some reason, the moment Young Master Lu mentioned an important task, Cheng Yu immediately thought of defecting and persuading enemy generals to surrender?
In the past, he persuaded Xu Huang to surrender, offering the head of the rebel Yang Feng.
He persuaded Xu Chu to surrender, offering the heads of those Yellow Turban remnants.
He persuaded the generals under Yuan Shu to surrender, causing Yuan Shu to fall into a dire situation!
This time… which "lord" was unlucky?
Don't say it, Cheng Yu was actually somewhat looking forward to it.
However, Lu Yu did not rush to give instructions. He finally patted Lu Xun's shoulder.
"Tomorrow, elder brother and Sima Cheng will depart. Liu Ye, the Grand Secretary of Lujiang, is a trustworthy person. He will temporarily oversee the construction of warships here. If there is any urgent matter, you can send a clansman to report to him!"
"Your humble brother understands. Are elder brother and Sima Cheng returning to the court to discuss matters concerning Lu Bu and Liu Bei?"
Lu Xun retorted.
"Yes and no," Lu Yu nodded. His gaze turned back to Cheng Yu. "Naturally, I will return to participate in the deployment of the siege of Xiapi City, but Sima Cheng cannot return to Xudu City for the time being; he has to go to a distant place!"
Upon mentioning this, Lu Yu smiled slightly, but a glint of brilliance, like a cone in a bag, flashed in his eyes.
"Boyan, remember this: it is not terrifying to face fierce enemies head-on, but it is terrifying to have enemies stabbing you in the back and in the dark! Your elder brother dislikes guarding against gentlemen; he particularly likes to guard against villains!"
"Our Sima Cheng can also be considered an nemesis of villains. Alright, Boyan, you can wait in Jiangnan and look forward to good news from the northern frontier!"
…
…