Jiangdong, Wujun.
Chen Gong was still basking in the sun in the courtyard, looking lazy and in a good mood.
Lu Xun suddenly ran over.
"Sir, my brother has sent a letter!"
Lu Xun spoke hurriedly, his tone seemingly urgent.
Chen Gong closed his book and slowly rose, "After the Battle of Red Cliffs, the Great Wei navy achieved a great victory, and it is heard that Ruxukou has also fallen. At such a time... what kind of letter would Lu Ziyu send?"
Posing a question...
Lu Xun hurried to speak, "Does my brother intend to persuade the Sun clan of Jiangdong to surrender?"
"Persuade surrender?" Chen Gong subconsciously shook his head.
Jiangdong was the foundation of the Sun clan for three generations, from Sun Jian to Sun Ce, and then to the current Sun Yi... all were valiant men. They would surely fight to the death, and surrender... would be difficult!
"Cough cough..." Chen Gong said softly. "I fear this is your brother's wishful thinking!"
"In my opinion, it would be better to persuade Lu Ziyu to advance from Red Cliffs and Ruxukou. With the troops of the Lu family of Jiangdong cooperating from the inside and outside, with the power of thunder, the entire six commanderies of Jiangdong can be captured in one fell swoop. Why bother... with persuasion?"
As these words left his mouth...
Lu Xun quickly explained, "I originally intended to do so, but... my brother's letter mentioned that he intends to preserve Jiangdong as much as possible, so that the common people of Jiangdong do not suffer the miseries of war!"
This...
Chen Gong was stunned. Lu Xun had not yet grasped the full meaning...
But he understood more profound implications from this one sentence.
Even, Chen Gong thought of the scene when Cao Cao attacked Xuzhou to avenge his father.
Logically, Cao Cao, in his rage, would surely have engaged in a killing spree.
But in reality... Cao Cao did not slaughter the people of Xuzhou. On the contrary... he was exceptionally benevolent to them.
This was also one of the reasons why Lu Bu was defeated by Cao Cao!
Of course, that was not the main point.
Standing at this juncture in time, Chen Gong could see the situation more clearly!
There were two reasons why Cao Cao did not slaughter Xuzhou at that time...
One was that Lu Yu had planned in advance and saved the old Master Cao!
The other was the grand strategy proposed by Mao Jie and Xun Yu: "Serve the Son of Heaven to command the vassals"!
And under this strategy...
The Son of Heaven already belonged to Cao Cao!
Then, the people of the Great Han, the common folk... naturally also belonged to Cao Cao himself!
Since they were his own people, why would he slaughter them?
Now... it was the same.
Although he could have flattened Jiangdong in one go with absolute pressure, Lu Yu chose to persuade them to surrender...
The reason was that he did not want the common people of Jiangdong to suffer the hardships of war. It turned out that he had already regarded the people of Jiangdong as his own people from the beginning. This move... was no different from "Serve the Son of Heaven to command the vassals."
As Chen Gong analyzed...
If history had followed its original course, "Serve the Son of Heaven to command the vassals" was proposed by Mao Jie, and Xun Yu further elevated it based on that.
His "Hold the Son of Heaven to command the lords" was more advanced, not in treating enemies, but in treating the common people.
So to speak... Serving the lord to follow righteousness, is great prosperity;
— Upholding impartiality to subdue heroes, is great strategy;
— Supporting benevolence to attract talents, is great virtue.
This was Xun Yu awakening Cao Cao to the great way of virtue, focusing on people.
This was Xun Yu reminding Cao Cao – not to forget his original intention!
To elaborate further...
The so-called awakening referred to...
Did you forget your past advice as an advisor?
Did you forget that you raised an army to oppose Dong Zhuo?
Did you forget your bold declaration and ambition of "You all face north, I will head west"?
How could you be like Yuan Shu, Lu Bu, and Gongsun, fighting and slaughtering indiscriminately?
It is hard to imagine...
Historically, if Xun Yu had not been there, who knows how many times Cao Cao would have slaughtered Xuzhou?
And how many common people would have died under Cao Cao's butcher's knife.
It can be said...
Regarding the solution to massacres, Lu Yu and Xun Yu adopted completely different methods... one cut off the source, the other awakened Cao Cao through morality and law.
Of course...
Considering the current situation in Jiangdong, it is not an exaggeration to say that if the Great Wei troops advanced in full force... within three months, the six commanderies of Jiangdong would all fall.
But considering the determination and will of the Sun clan's three-generation foundation in Jiangdong, they would surely resist to the end.
Then... this conquest would result in many deaths.
This was based on a strategic level... and it completely deviated from the character "Quan" (completeness/preservation) in Sun Tzu's Art of War, which Lu Yu consistently adhered to.
It was for this reason that he was exceptionally firm...
— Persuasion to surrender is primary!
— Strategy is secondary!
*Hoo...*
Thinking of this, Chen Gong narrowed his eyes.
"If... that is the case, then the first priority is to deter the Sun clan of Jiangdong, and besides that... we need to hurt them!"
"Hurt... and deter?" Lu Xun's eyes darted around. "What does it mean to hurt? What is deterrence?"
This...
Chen Gong's gaze flickered. "If a few thousand men can repel tens of thousands, that would be the most effective deterrence. But now... the Great Wei has more troops. If it's just a thunderous advance, it's not 'hurting'... nor will it make the Sun clan submit. Perhaps... it will only incite their fighting spirit more."
"Winning with fewer against more?" Lu Xun repeated. "Then... what is deterrence?"
Mentioning this, Chen Gong paused. "Fifty miles south of Red Cliffs, I remember there is a group of Shanyue people. They have not surrendered to you, have they?"
"That's right." Lu Xun nodded.
In the past, he had gone alone to persuade the Shanyue. The Shanyue had readily surrendered to him, except for... one mountain stronghold, which had over ten thousand soldiers and more than fifty thousand Shanyue people.
"These Shanyue people are not numerous, but they are located in the deepest part of the mountains, building their cities with stone. Every path is like a single pass that can hold back ten thousand men. For this reason, they resolutely refuse to surrender!"
Hearing this... Chen Gong stroked his beard.
"This is perfect!"
"Boyan, you immediately write to Lu Ziyu, if you want to persuade them to surrender... you must annihilate this branch of the Shanyue as a family to the point of extinction!"
Uh...
Lu Xun was stunned.
"Sir, I just mentioned that the Shanyue people are not numerous, but they are located in the deepest part of the mountains... how easy is it to break through?"
"Haha..." Chen Gong laughed. "Lu Ziyu has his ways... Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang combined were no match for him. Dealing with these ignorant Shanyue people will be no problem."
"You just need to write a letter. If the Shanyue are annihilated as a family... then the major families of Jiangdong will gather at your Lu mansion to discuss surrender plans!"
This...
Despite still having some doubts, Lu Xun still nodded!
He should have more... confidence in his elder brother!
...
...
Red Cliffs, a military tent.
Countless Tiger Guards were surrounding this military tent, maintaining strict security!
Inside the tent, only Lu Yu and Cao Cao were present.
At a square table, the two sat on opposite sides.
"Ziyu intends to persuade them to surrender?"
"That's right."
"But the Sun clan has been established for three generations, and I fear they will not surrender easily!" Cao Cao's eyes were hesitant. "I knew Sun Wentai at the eighteen lords' campaign against Dong Zhuo... his sons are valiant and will fight to the last moment!"
"So... something is missing..." Lu Yu said meaningfully.
"Missing what?"
"Lack of sufficient deterrence?"
"Deterrence?" Cao Cao was startled, then quickly asked, "You are the Commander-in-Chief of the Great Wei navy, what do you plan to do?"
As these words left his mouth...
Lu Yu took out two letters from his embrace. "These are handwritten letters given to me by Lu Xun and Zhou Yu respectively!"
"They both mentioned a force... If our Great Wei can sweep away this force with lightning speed, it will fundamentally... deter Jiangdong, making the clans and people of Jiangdong terrified... and making the Sun clan of Jiangdong fearful!"
Hmm...
Cao Cao did not reply but immediately unfolded these two letters.
At first, there was nothing...
But as he read further, both Zhou Yu and Lu Xun's brushstrokes pointed to the "Shanyue" fifty miles south of Red Cliffs...
"Ziyu wants to conquer the Shanyue?"
"Not conquer, but annihilate this branch of the Shanyue!"
"But they are in the mountains... Our Great Wei troops are good at plains warfare, not mountain warfare..." Cao Cao hesitated.
Indeed, there were not many who could fight in mountain warfare in Great Wei, except for Zang Ba's Taishan Army, and a small number of Xuzhou's Danyang soldiers... but neither the Taishan Army nor the Danyang soldiers were currently in Jiangdong.
Moreover... in mountainous areas, the advantage of terrain was too obvious... a single pass that could hold back ten thousand men!
However...
Compared to Cao Cao's doubts, Lu Yu appeared exceptionally calm, as if he were detached from the world. "King Wei, actually, there is no need to attack..."
"If we burn the entire mountain range, then... the Shanyue people who built their cities within will be defeated without a fight!"
*Hiss...*
Arson to burn the mountains?
Upon hearing such words, he was somewhat surprised, but... his mood quickly calmed down.
It seemed that in his son's eyes, there were only two strategies: either "attack the heart"... to subdue the enemy without fighting... or to be extremely cruel, giving the enemy no chance to breathe!
On one hand, the "benevolence" of a "sage," on the other, the "devil" of "hell"...
After so many years, Cao Cao could now understand Yu'er!
...
...
Jiangdong, Wujun.
In a study within the Sun family mansion.
Sun Quan and Lu Su sat opposite each other.
"Red Cliffs has fallen, Ruxukou is lost, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang have retreated, and Commander Zhou has been captured... Is this what is called a collapsing tide?"
Sun Quan's pair of emerald green eyes narrowed tightly...
He looked utterly dejected.
"The most terrifying thing is not defeat, but the disintegration of morale..." Lu Su sighed. "I heard that Sun Xiaomei was released by Lu Ziyu and even became Lu Ziyu's persuader!"
"Heh..." Sun Quan sneered...
Thinking of this, he was full of anger.
What nonsense about Broken Sword, Flying Snow, and Vast Sky... Even without hearing the end of the story, Sun Quan understood that his younger sister had been enticed by Lu Ziyu, using rhetoric like "the world" and "unification"... to persuade their mother and third brother...
And yet, both of them had actually listened...
They even began to doubt... whether their persistence was right or wrong!
*Hmph...*
Sun Quan snorted coldly. One should know that Sun Quan's temperament was never soft. His favorite pastime was shooting tigers...
He had a workshop specially design a "tiger-shooting chariot." It was enclosed on all sides, with only one opening for archery. He would sit inside and shoot tigers unharmed...
In his opinion... this tiger was Cao Cao, and Lu Yu was the wings and claws of this tiger!
How could the three-generation foundation of the Sun clan of Jiangdong be destroyed in his generation?
"Zijing, you also thought of surrendering, didn't you? After all... Xuzhou is Zijing's hometown. After a lifetime of fighting outside, who doesn't want to return home?"
Sun Quan looked directly at Lu Su.
Lu Su hesitated for a moment before replying, "Who doesn't want to go home? But... I sold my property and brought my clan to reside in Jiangdong. Where is home in Xuzhou anymore?"
Indeed... as a representative of the migrant faction, Lu Su's thoughts were completely different from Zhou Yu's.
Zhou Yu wanted to escape Jiangdong... because he was a proponent of conquest, and he had suppressed too many Jiangdong clans. The death of the Young Hegemon Sun Bofu had sounded a warning bell for him!
But... Lu Su had not engaged in conquest. He had lived in harmony with the major clans. In fact... his Lu family was on the verge of becoming the ninth major clan of Jiangdong.
He had long regarded this place as "home"... so how could he think of escaping?
"There are opportunities..."
"Although it is a desperate resistance, it can still be a fierce struggle!"
Lu Su said lightly.
Sun Quan hurriedly got up and cupped his fists in a salute. "Zijing, teach me..."
Lu Su also stood up and reminded him, "Jiangdong still has troops, but... morale is low. At this time... to resist the strong enemy, it is necessary to first awaken the morale of the three armies, and give the people confidence and determination!"
Speaking of this, Lu Su paused, his tone becoming more serious.
Sun Quan quickly asked, "How... can we regain confidence and determination!"
"We need a victory... no need for a great victory, just a victory is enough," Lu Su explained.
"Victory?"
Sun Quan's gaze lifted, looking at the topographical map in the study.
"Ruxukou..."
Lu Su opened his mouth. "I heard that the Cao army at Ruxukou is only eight hundred men, and Lu Xun has seventy thousand troops, and Zhongmou also has thirty thousand, right? If Zhongmou asks for Lu Xun's assistance... ten thousand against eight hundred... Zhongmou is bound to win the Battle of Ruxukou! And this battle... will break Lu Ziyu's undefeated myth, and give the people and soldiers of Jiangdong infinite confidence!"
Ten thousand against eight hundred...
If it weren't for the fact that Lu Su meant well, Sun Quan would have felt that Lu Su's words were like an insult to him.
Facing Lu Ziyu, even with a ten-fold numerical advantage, he couldn't guarantee victory. Did it have to be a hundred-fold?
"If I don't borrow Lu Boyan's seventy thousand troops, and I only bring thirty thousand men, I should be able to wipe out eight hundred, shouldn't I?" Sun Quan asked.
Unexpectedly... Lu Su shook his head with extreme sincerity.
After a long period of contemplation, he finally recited, "I'm telling the truth, Zhongmou, please don't be angry. This enemy force at Ruxukou is the Dragon Soaring Camp... it is Lu Ziyu's direct contingent. Ten thousand men might not be enough!"
Uh...
Sun Quan felt his throat dry up.
Ten thousand? Can't break through eight hundred?
He... he also practiced martial arts since childhood, and even commanded the Jiangxia battlefield, killing Huang Zu to avenge his father. Why... why was he, with an army of ten thousand, not... not a match for the eight hundred men of the Dragon Soaring Camp?
"Zijing..." Sun Quan opened his mouth, wanting to argue further...
But he soon realized that his arguments were weak and meaningless.
With a sigh, he let out a breath.
"I will go to the Lu mansion immediately and borrow troops from that Lu Boyan..."
"I'll go with Zhongmou!"
The two finally left a remark...
And quickly walked out of the Sun mansion gate, getting into a carriage to go to the Lu mansion.
The Sun family was in the east of the city, and the Lu family was in the west of the city...
As the saying goes—"The south is the north, the north is the south" (meaning going in opposite directions)!
...
...
Red Cliffs Port.
Zhou Yu was surprised today. Early in the morning, he was invited out by Lu Yu.
They traveled by carriage to a spacious area.
And here... countless hot air balloons were ready and waiting!
Of course...
Zhou Yu was not unfamiliar with these flying balloons... Instead, what he was more concerned about now was whether they had arrived at their destination, and where were Lu Yu's people?
"Where is the Marquis of Nanshou?"
Zhou Yu quickly asked...
Dian Wei pointed to the rattan basket in front of him. "Is the Marquis waiting for Commander Zhou inside?"
This...
Zhou Yu's eyes narrowed, and he subconsciously asked another question, "May I ask, why did the Marquis of Nanshou call me here today?"
As these words left his mouth... Dian Wei pointed to the hot air balloon.
Then he blurted out four words: "To send you to heaven."
That's right...
Today was to send Zhou Yu to heaven, to be side-by-side with the sun!
...
...