Outside Xuchang City, in the Imperial Palace, beyond the Canglong Gate.
A massive government office complex stood prominently.
The Imperial Secretariat.
As the place for communication between the Son of Heaven and the officials, and where imperial decrees to various regions were drafted, its importance was self-evident.
Cheng Yu had returned from the Black Mountain Army in Zhaojun.
With Xun Yu absent, it was up to him and Xun You to oversee the Imperial Secretariat. The immediate task was to decide the punishment for Chen Deng, the Prefect of Guangling, and Liu Xun, the Prefect of Lujiang.
This was a sensitive matter. After all, both men had previously achieved great merits. Now… facing a major defeat, how should they be punished? Both Cheng Yu and Xun You found it difficult.
Of course…
Here, the civil officials were experiencing a sense of inexplicable panic with this sudden defeat on the eve of the New Year.
However, Cheng Yu and Xun You felt that the situation was not simple and had already dispatched someone to invite Lu Yu.
Not long after…
Lu Yu stepped inside.
“Sima Cheng, Mister Xun…”
The three bowed to each other, and then… each sat on the bamboo stools designated for discussions in the Imperial Secretariat.
“I have already heard a general account of the specific battle situation. Chen Yuanlong and Liu Zitai are indeed at fault and should be punished…”
What astonished Cheng Yu and Xun You was the seriousness in Lu Yu’s tone.
It seemed he wasn’t planning to go easy on them…
After all, Lu Yu was known for being protective of his subordinates. Liu Xun and Chen Deng were both prefects he had appointed despite considerable opposition; they were considered his "own people." At least from the perspective of an outsider like Xun You, this matter would likely be downplayed.
Who would have thought…
Lu Yu’s tone was somewhat unexpected.
“Although the heavy fog was a contributing factor, which can be considered extenuating circumstances, Cao Cao’s army has always maintained strict discipline. We cannot be lenient, nor can we impose severe penalties, nor can we let them off too lightly. Each will be fined a year’s salary, a minor punishment to serve as a warning!”
“However, this punishment, this major defeat, must be compiled into a written document by the Imperial Secretariat and circulated to all armies as a deterrent! Our Cao camp can only afford to be embarrassed this once…”
Was this the final decision?
Cheng Yu knew some of the reasons behind it and could understand.
But Xun You felt it was… perhaps a bit too much. While this was indeed a great defeat, both Liu Xun and Chen Deng had performed outstandingly before. Moreover, this incident was sudden… who could have imagined that several hundred or a thousand people from Jiangdong would dare to launch a surprise attack?
At most, their merits and demerits should cancel each other out. It shouldn't be like this.
And…
A year’s salary as a fine was not a big deal, but to have this punishment circulated to all three armies felt a bit like… a public humiliation.
Who didn’t care about their reputation?
“Sima Lu… this…”
Just as Xun You was about to speak, he suddenly recalled a letter from his uncle Xun Yu, which specifically mentioned that Lu Yu should be the one to make the decision on this matter!
Then…
“Mister Xun? Do you have any other objections?” Lu Yu continued to ask…
“No…” Xun You waved his hand. “Let’s just do as Sima Lu suggests…”
At once, only one voice remained in the entire Imperial Secretariat.
Lu Yu gave a slight smile and then said with a laugh, “New Year’s is only two days away. Sima Cheng… Strategist Xun, I have prepared a New Year’s gift for each of you and have sent people to deliver them to your residences.”
Xun You replied with a smile, “Then thank you, Sima Lu…”
Cheng Yu also cupped his hands slightly. He was too familiar with Lu Yu, and thanking him felt rather formal.
“Oh, right…”
Lu Yu thought of something. “For Yuanlong Chen in Guangling and Zitai Liu in Lujiang, I have also prepared a New Year’s gift for them. Please trouble the Imperial Secretariat to include these gifts when sending out urgent documents to them.”
This…
Xun You’s eyes twinkled. Now he was curious and asked with great interest, “May I ask Sima Lu? Are the New Year’s gifts for you and Sima Cheng different from those for these two prefects?”
This question hit the mark.
Lu Yu had not intended to say anything.
However, since Xun You had asked, he simply spread his hands and frankly replied, “To be honest, Mister Xun, your and Sima Cheng’s New Year’s gifts are equivalent to one year’s salary. As for… the New Year’s gifts for Prefects Yuanlong and Zitai, they are equivalent to three years’ salary.”
Uh…
Upon hearing this, Xun You was stunned.
Then, he stroked his beard and actually smiled…
Good heavens, this was a punishment of one year’s salary, but through New Year’s gifts, they were rewarded with three years’ salary. Was this still a punishment? This was clearly a reward!
“Hahaha…”
Xun You and Cheng Yu burst into hearty laughter.
“Sima Lu’s actions are truly brilliant. This ‘art of psychological warfare’ is dazzling!” Cheng Yu exclaimed.
Xun You’s eyes darted around. He felt that this matter was becoming increasingly complex.
…
…
Outside Guangling City, along the banks of the Yangtze River.
At dawn, the bodies of “Cao army soldiers” were thrown into the river like dead dogs from the water camp.
Of course, these so-called Cao army soldiers were those prisoners who were “two-faced” and “fickle.”
More than ten thousand of them.
A few days ago… Zhou Tai had caused a bloody scene.
The entire camp was littered with corpses.
Chen Deng had no time to bury them, nor did they deserve Chen Deng’s effort to bury them. So, they were simply thrown into the river, letting their bodies float downstream to feed the fish!
The fish in the Yangtze River were fortunate to have a feast.
And the official announcement… called this “water burial,” a rather humanitarian “water burial.”
Of course…
This news was clearly seen by spies from Jiangdong. The situation here… had long been reported to Jiangdong via carrier pigeons!
Wu Commandery, Zhou Family Residence.
Zhou Yu had not slept for an entire day. His eyes were slightly dark, and his spirit was a bit weary, but his mind was still working at full speed. Opposite him sat Lu Su, who had just arrived for a visit.
As a close friend, Lu Su immediately noticed Zhou Yu’s dark circles.
“Gongjin, you didn’t sleep last night?”
Zhou Yu’s only response to Lu Su was a slight nod of his forehead.
Lu Su didn’t mind and continued to ask, “Is Gongjin thinking about how the Lu family’s great victory over Cao’s camp has relieved the crisis in Jiangdong…”
Upon mentioning this, Zhou Yu’s eyes widened considerably.
However…
He still did not speak, only nodding his forehead as usual.
He was waiting for Lu Su to voice what he wanted to say, his opinions.
Indeed…
The honest Lu Su, seeing Zhou Yu’s silence, stroked his beard.
“Gongjin likely feels that this matter is strange, just as I do?”
Mentioning this topic, Lu Su, with his hands behind his back, walked to the window…
“I would not be surprised if any of the seven great families of Jiangdong chose to resist Cao with all their might! After all, they are beneficiaries under the protection of the Sun family! But… only the Lu family should not have! Let alone the enmity between the Lu family and Bofu, the decline of the Lu family was also related to Bofu’s attack on Lujiang in the past, which led to the death of the then Prefect of Lujiang, Lu Kang.”
At this point, Lu Su paused and shook his head. “Why would they resist Cao with all their might? And how could they achieve two consecutive great victories, saving Jiangdong from dire straits? This is simply… incomprehensible!”
Having said this much.
Zhou Yu’s eyes flickered, and finally, he spoke.
“Zijing, you underestimate the Lu family. They are the true beneficiaries under the protection of the Sun family!”
“What?”
Lu Su was greatly surprised, but before he could ask for details, Zhou Yu’s voice came out. “Do you remember the mountain and two ridges that the Lu family sold their ancestral property to purchase back then?”
“The ‘Qionglong Mountain’ and ‘Shenting Ridge’ on the outskirts of Wu Commandery, and ‘Yan’ou Ridge’ in Kuaiji?” Lu Su recited immediately.
“Exactly! I have sent people to investigate, and a large amount of fine iron and gold mines are from this one mountain and two ridges. The current Lu family is no longer what it used to be. To put it mildly, let alone the seven great families of Jiangdong, even if your Lu family’s wealth were added, the eight families combined might not match one Lu family!”
Hiss… This…
As these words came out, Lu Su gasped.
One mountain, two ridges? Fine iron and gold mines!
Good heavens…
Perhaps in the Central Plains, this was nothing… Because once it was known that these mountain ranges could yield fine iron and gold mines, various families would covet them. But… in Jiangdong, under the rule of the Sun family, this mountain and two ridges now belonging to the Lu family would forever belong to the Lu family, passed down from generation to generation. Other families could not covet them. This was the rule established by the Sun family in Jiangdong!
And…
Once Jiangdong fell into Cao Cao’s hands, then… this rule!
A series of thoughts flooded into Lu Su’s mind.
“If that’s the case… it’s reasonable for the Lu family to resist Cao!”
Yes…
Even to maintain these gold mines and fine iron…
The Lu family was bound to stand on the same side as the Sun family. Even if there was prior enmity, it didn't matter.
In the face of absolute interest, what deep hatred could not be resolved?
“It is indeed reasonable,” Zhou Yu sighed…
From Zhou Yu’s sigh, Lu Su sensed a hint of deeper meaning. Immediately, he proactively asked, “Then what is Gongjin still worried about?”
“Zijing, don’t you think… Cao’s army’s performance in the two surprise attacks on Guangling and Lujiang was somewhat too unusual?”
Zhou Yu’s eyes narrowed.
“The Lu family’s opponent is the Cao army that could push back the Little Conqueror step by step. Facing mere hundreds or thousands of people? Even with heavy fog covering everything, they shouldn’t be so fearful that they don’t advance… And Chen Yuanlong, how could he have been defeated so thoroughly?”
“These are all too strange, and too coincidental…”
Saying this, Lu Su also narrowed his eyes, a seed of suspicion arising.
Just then.
“Thump thump…”
The sound of continuous footsteps approached.
Followed by an urgent voice.
“Reporting to Commander Zhou, the spies from the north of the river have sent news!”
“Let him in…”
Hearing about spies from the north of the river, hearing “news,” Zhou Yu’s spirits immediately perked up. He gestured for Lu Su to sit down, and he himself returned to the main seat.
Not long after…
A soldier from the scout camp reported, “Reporting to Commander Zhou, as of this morning, four pieces of intelligence concerning Cao’s army have been received.”
“Three pieces?” Zhou Yu and Lu Su were slightly surprised.
The soldier’s words continued.
“First, for three consecutive days, over ten thousand Cao army armored soldiers’ corpses were thrown into the river in a corner of Guangling, north of the river. It is said that Prefect Chen Deng of Guangling, under orders from the Imperial Secretariat, conducted a water burial for the fallen soldiers! Our army’s spies have all investigated at close range and confirmed they are indeed Cao army soldiers… And each person has wounds, their blood has dried up, truly caused by the surprise attack of the Lu family’s troops!”
This…
Upon hearing the first piece of intelligence, Lu Su involuntarily glanced at Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu’s facial muscles twitched violently.
But he still showed no emotion, merely uttering the word “continue.”
“Second, this battle report mentioned that the Lu family captured seventy-five warships, two hundred sets of fine steel halberds, two hundred sets of fine steel short swords, and two hundred sets of fine steel armor. In the past… at the Lujiang battlefield, the Dragon Valor Camp’s great victory over General Sun relied on these divine weapons and armor. It is said that these fine steel weapons and armor are extremely precious even in Cao’s camp!”
As these words came out, Zhou Yu’s eyes flickered… he still offered no comment, gesturing for the soldier to continue.
“Third, our spies in Cao’s camp have sent news that Cao Cao, upon hearing of these two major defeats, was so enraged that he suffered a severe headache and immediately fainted. Cao’s camp is now in great chaos… The entire eastern expeditionary force has retreated to Xuchang City. Xun Yu has sent an urgent report to the Imperial Secretariat, asking the Grand Minister of Works Lu Yu to temporarily take charge of the Imperial Secretariat!”
Whoosh…
Zhou Yu took a deep breath. Cao Cao even fainted?
This time… he did not let the soldier continue reporting but gestured for him to pause.
He was contemplating the third piece of news?
Cao Cao fainted?
He had heard that Cao Cao had always suffered from a headache, and could not get angry.
Previously, Cao Cao had advanced triumphantly, conquering the Central Plains.
It seemed he had no opportunity to exhibit such symptoms, but this time…
This was the first time he had suffered such a significant setback. Perhaps in his rage, the headache might have flared up.
“Where is Lu Yu?” Zhou Yu’s eyes settled, and he proactively asked, “Has no intelligence about Lu Yu been received?”
“Yes…” The soldier nodded. “That is the fourth piece of news. Lu Yu, in charge of the Imperial Secretariat, fined Prefect Chen Deng of Guangling and Prefect Liu Xun of Lujiang one year’s salary each, and also sent people to circulate it to all three armies, stating it was a warning to deter future misconduct. However… for the New Year’s gifts, Lu Yu prepared three years’ salary, distributed separately to Chen Deng and Liu Xun. Now, this matter has become the talk of the town in Cao’s camp!”
Hmm… The fourth piece of news, this punishment, was somewhat strange!
In fact…
When hearing the first three pieces of news, Zhou Yu didn’t feel anything inappropriate, only that it seemed a bit deliberate.
It was as if Cao’s camp was deliberately portraying the impact of this major defeat on them.
But… precisely…
The fourth piece of news.
A year’s salary as punishment, circulated to all three armies, yet they were rewarded with three years’ salary?
In fact…
For a prefect of a commandery, whether it was one year’s salary or three years’ salary, it was not much of a punishment.
Circulating it to all three armies would make them lose face!
Yet, the face that had just been lost was regained through the triple salary as New Year’s gifts.
Was this considered a punishment?
What was Lu Yu up to?
“A minor punishment to serve as a warning? Buying people’s hearts!” Lu Su, however, seemed to have understood something. He said, “I have long heard that this commander of the Dragon Valor Camp, Lu Yu, is skilled in psychological warfare and is very protective of his subordinates. Such a punishment is quite reasonable, and even… carries a touch more human warmth!”
Yes…
Zhou Yu nodded.
It was indeed reasonable.
Now that Cao Cao had fainted, if the frontline generals were punished, it would inevitably lead to trouble. But… if they were not punished, then they could not serve as a deterrent and uphold military discipline!
Heh heh…
Zhou Yu chuckled.
To be honest, according to Zhou Yu’s thoughts, the first three pieces of intelligence were reasonable, but they were too coincidental and too deliberate, which inevitably made Zhou Yu suspicious.
Only the last, the fourth piece of news, seemed to have a touch of human warmth and demonstrated Lu Yu’s wisdom.
It was both punishment and reward, hitting them in the face, yet also offering a big carrot, heh heh… As expected of Yin Lin, who was skilled in strategy, not simple!
“Hahahaha…”
Finally… Zhou Yu burst into hearty laughter.
It was precisely this fourth piece of news that eased Zhou Yu’s worries significantly and made him feel that the entire event was not staged or a trap, but a genuine occurrence.
Thinking of this point, Zhou Yu finally let down his guard.
“Zijing, I don’t think this matter is fake,” he sighed, and turned his gaze to Lu Su.
Lu Su also nodded. “Gongjin, these are the lives of tens of thousands of armored soldiers, stained with blood. Using the lives of his subordinates as bait to achieve a certain purpose, heh heh… It seems that ever since Yin Lin joined Cao’s camp, Cao Cao has never been this cruel, has he? He wouldn’t resort to such extreme measures to deal with our Jiangdong!”
“Indeed!” Zhou Yu nodded. He called out, “Someone?”
“My Lord!” A trusted armored subordinate entered.
Zhou Yu immediately gave instructions… “Send someone to present the battle report to Wu Commandery, and let Madam Sun Senior hear this good news. Also, have the elders of the Zhou family contact the Lu family and congratulate the Lu family on their monumental achievement in ‘resisting Cao’ this time!”
“Yes…” The trusted armored subordinate agreed and went to make arrangements.
As for Lu Su.
His eyes twinkled, as if he still had something on his mind.
And Zhou Yu seemed to understand this look, or perhaps he didn’t?
“Zijing, if you have something else to say, please speak your mind directly…”
“Gongjin, speaking frankly!” Lu Su’s expression suddenly became extremely serious. “If Bofu cannot wake up… then going forward, in Jiangdong… will it be the second son of the Sun family? Or the third son of the Sun family?”
Lu Su’s meaning was very clear.
Now that the crisis of Cao Cao’s southern advance had been resolved, then Sun Bofu, who was bedridden and on his deathbed… the Sun family in Jiangdong would inevitably select a new heir.
Whether it would be the second son, the jade-eyed Sun Quan, or the third son, Sun Yi, who closely resembled the Little Conqueror Sun Ce, was a new story.
Of course, as the Left Governor of Jiangdong, Zhou Yu undoubtedly held significant influence in the recommendation of this successor.
Even his vote was decisive.
Whoosh…
Zhou Yu let out a light sigh. It was indeed about this matter.
He did not answer immediately but instead asked,
“Zijing, speaking of something unrelated, which young master do you think the Lu family will support?”
“The Lu family…” Lu Su recited these two words.
At this moment, as an honest man, he suddenly realized his mistake. The Lu family, which had just turned the tide and was richer than all seven great families combined, had they not had a say?
This successor of the Sun clan in Jiangdong… perhaps Commander Zhou did not have the final say after all!
…
…