The land of Shanyue, the great fires inside and outside the Stone City... burned for two full days and nights!
The entire basin was almost reduced to a sea of fire.
The most terrifying thing was that such fires were impossible to extinguish. The wood in these mountains... had now become the sharpest weapon of the Great Wei Air Force.
Inside the entire Stone City...
Thick smoke still billowed, and countless Shanyue people trying to escape were astonished to find that the hundred thousand Great Wei soldiers stationed on the perimeter were approaching them, wielding the scythe of death!
At this moment...
All the Shanyue people broke down in tears.
Originally, there were a hundred thousand people here, including civilians, but now, less than a few thousand remained...
The vast majority were not burned to death, but suffocated by inhaling a large amount of smoke and dust... at least this death looked peaceful.
Everywhere were ruined walls, everywhere was black dust... the smell of charred corpses was unforgettable!
At this moment... facing the troops of Great Wei?
Fight?
Should they still fight?
With what?
Shanyue was gone, utterly gone!
In the eyes of all the Shanyue people, the ancestral pride of "three thousand Yue cavalry can swallow Wu" had vanished, replaced only by fear!
When fear pervaded... revenge became too extravagant for them.
"Great Wei is invincible, stop fighting, we surrender... surrender..."
"Yes, we can't fight anymore!"
"Please, please, let us go, let us go!"
The Shanyue people wailed, beating their chests. The result of their futile resistance was only death...
Xiahou Yuan and Cao Hong led the Great Wei forces... arriving majestically at Stone City.
Along the way, all the surviving Shanyue people knelt on both sides.
And in a clearing outside Stone City, devoid of trees, a group of Yue people gathered, kneeling to surrender.
"Sinners who resisted Great Wei deserve ten thousand deaths... Today, we have repented and welcome the great Wei army. From now on... there is only Great Wei in the world, and no Shanyue. All of Shanyue... sincerely... sincerely submits! We hope the general will not abandon us and treat us kindly... we Shanyue... no... we citizens of Great Wei are deeply grateful and bow north!"
...
...
Ruxu Port.
Sun Quan personally led thirty thousand troops with great momentum. Behind him was Lu Xun's seventy thousand Lu Family Army...
Considering Lu Xun's decisiveness during the alliance with Liu Bei against Cao Cao, Sun Quan had reason to believe that their cooperation would be Jiangdong's last reliance.
This also indirectly proved Sun Quan's determination in this battle.
As the "green-eyed boy" of Jiangdong, Sun Quan had performed excellently in seizing opportunities, avoiding disadvantages, and forming alliances.
The only drawback was his command ability!
Externally...
The former Huang Zu of Jiangxia was captured by Sun Quan, but in reality, without Zhou Yu leading the dare-to-die squad to storm the city wall, how could the great victory in Jiangxia have been achieved!
Sun Quan was eager to prove himself...
To prove that, like his father and elder brother, he could save Jiangdong's unfavorable situation through battlefield means and give Jiangdong more hope.
In contrast...
At this moment, Ruxu Port!
Sun Quan's hundred thousand troops arrived with great momentum... camping five li away, causing Ruxu Port to be filled with apprehension.
The commander here was Zhang Liao, Zhang Wenyuan, with some of his troops being the Bing Province Wolf Cavalry and some being Gao Shun's elite camp... because of the surprise attack on Ruxu Port by light boats, he only brought eight hundred men to avoid detection.
It could be said... these eight hundred former subordinates of Lu Bu were now the elite of the elite in the Long Xiao Camp!
Even the eight hundred cavalry led by Cao Xiu could not compare.
However... eight hundred against a hundred thousand, the numerical difference was also very obvious.
"Wenyuan, Sun Quan has brought a hundred thousand troops with great momentum and has set up camp outside Ruxu Port... Even if Ruxu Port is very strong, it is just a port and cannot withstand the impact of so many people, can it?"
The speaker was Gao Shun...
He looked troubled. As the former commander of the elite camp, he had experienced fighting against superior numbers countless times, but... not once had the disparity been so extreme as it was today!
"Wenyuan, why aren't you speaking? Now... it's up to you to decide!"
Gao Shun was habitually not good with words...
But at such a time, if he didn't speak, and Zhang Liao didn't speak, would they wait until the enemy rested for a night and then attack the city tomorrow before speaking?
That would be finished!
"Cough cough..."
Just then, Zhang Liao coughed lightly.
"When Commander Lu sent me here, he told me that advancing victoriously is not about numbers, and a defeated army should not fear a larger enemy. Soldiers have no constant formation, water has no constant shape. If the method is appropriate, it is not impossible for Ruxu Port to win with fewer troops!"
His tone was decisive...
Zhang Liao's intention was clear: they would not flinch in this battle, they must fight!
However...
Gao Shun frowned. "If we must fight, then we should hold our ground and await reinforcements. The Battle of Red Cliffs has been won, and Commander Lu will not abandon this Ruxu Port. Reinforcements will arrive by water within five days at most!"
"As long as our army can hold on for five days, when reinforcements arrive, we can counterattack!"
Gao Shun suggested...
He had previously led the elite camp, and his fighting style tended to be conservative, while Zhang Liao's style, as seen in the battle of Bai Lang Mountain where Tadun was defeated, was very aggressive!
"Haha..." Zhang Liao laughed heartily. "At this point, why are you still so conservative, General Gao? If we just hold and wait for reinforcements, it would be no fun!"
Saying that, Zhang Liao took out a brocade pouch from his chest.
"What is this..." Gao Shun was startled at the sight of the brocade pouch... and quickly asked, "Is it from Commander Lu?"
"Yes!"
"Good, no wonder Wenyuan is fearless, it turns out you have something to rely on. You kept this from me..." Gao Shun's tone carried a hint of complaint.
"Haha..." Zhang Liao patted his shoulder. "When Commander Lu gave me this brocade pouch, he specifically told me that this pouch could ensure Ruxu's safety and also achieve your and my fame!"
"Then... why haven't you opened it?" Gao Shun urged.
Zhang Liao, however, handed the brocade pouch to Gao Shun. "Soldiers have no constant formation, water has no constant shape. In the current situation... I also have some ideas."
At this point...
Zhang Liao began to write on a blank piece of paper.
Gao Shun was not flustered. He waited until Zhang Liao finished writing before opening the brocade pouch. The only four words left by Lu Yu in the brocade pouch were: "Enemy arrives, then act!"
He hurriedly looked at what Zhang Liao had written – "Horses like flying shadows, spears like thunderbolts. Sudden attack, swift advance, form like lightning!"
This...
Although the wording was different, Gao Shun understood.
Whether it was Lu Ziyu or Zhang Wenyuan, their core meaning was the word "surprise attack"!
"What do you think?"
Zhang Liao asked Gao Shun.
Gao Shun's eyes were deep. After a moment of thought, he finally uttered two words: "It can be done!"
Indeed...
Although the enemy had a hundred thousand troops, they had traveled a long distance. The Long Xiao Camp only had eight hundred men, but they were well-rested.
Furthermore, how could Sun Quan have imagined that eight hundred men, facing the deterrence of a hundred thousand, would still... dare to launch a surprise attack.
It had to be admitted...
Lu Ziyu and Zhang Wenyuan's "surprise attack" was brilliant!
Instead, Zhang Liao's eyebrows rose, and he murmured, "Attack to break the enemy's spirit! Night raid to steal the enemy's courage! Besieged by a hundred thousand, I can still break through and capture the leader!"
...
...
Outside Ruxu Port.
The place where the seven thousand Lu Family Army was encamped.
"Brother, Mister Chen..." Lu Ji asked Chen Gong and Lu Xun in the main tent. "Mister Chen said that the key to persuading the Jiangdong Sun clan to surrender lies with Sun Zhongmou, but we have had opportunities to capture him more than once? Why... deploy such a large army?"
When this question was raised, Lu Xun turned his eyes to Chen Gong.
Chen Gong stroked his beard, as if thinking of something.
"Gong Ji, you are right. Indeed... we could have easily captured Sun Quan, but what about afterwards?"
Chen Gong's tone gradually became solemn. "Afterwards, when Great Wei sets foot in Jiangdong, and when this Jiangdong becomes part of Great Wei's territory, people will remember Great Wei's might and grandeur. But when it comes to your Lu family, it will be slander... it will be a series of evaluations like 'selling out the lord for glory'."
"Your Lu family is Lu Ziyu's maternal family. How much impact will such a reputation have on him in the future? To take a step back, the future Jiangdong... will indeed belong to Great Wei, but it will also belong to your Lu family! You have to lead the various great families... militarily... Great Wei can submit to Jiangdong, but afterwards... Jiangdong's commerce and development will still have to be led and personally undertaken by your Lu family. The Lu family cannot have any blemishes!"
Chen Gong's words were profound.
Once upon a time, he was loyal to Lu Bu precisely because he was too inflexible.
War, actions... are not just fighting, but also human relationships!
Growing older, Chen Gong considered more things.
Moreover, he had taught Lu Xun and Lu Ji since they were young, and he had genuine affection for them.
He sighed softly and continued,
"We still have to put on a show when it's time to act!"
At this point... Lu Ji seemed to have a sudden realization.
And... Lu Xun narrowed his eyes. "Mister Chen, then how should we cooperate with my brother? After all, it's seventy thousand troops, this play is not easy to perform!"
"Haha..." Chen Gong smiled. He took out a letter from his chest.
Slowly unfolding it, Lu Xun and Lu Ji first noticed the signature: Zhang Wenyuan!
This meant that Mister Chen had received a letter from Zhang Wenyuan, the commander of the Long Xiao Camp at Ruxu Port.
Of course, as Lu Bu's former advisor and most valiant general...
Zhang Liao and Chen Gong had a good relationship, and the popularization of paper made sending letters more discreet.
Even Lu Xun and Lu Ji did not know when Mister Chen had established contact with Ruxu Port.
"Hehe..." Chen Gong continued, smiling, "In fact, I sent someone to contact Zhang Wenyuan after he arrived at Ruxu Port. Everything now is under control!"
This...
Lu Xun blinked. "I hope Mister Chen will guide me..."
At this moment, Chen Gong slowly stood up. He walked to the entrance of the main tent, looked towards Sun Quan's troops encamped not far away... and slowly raised his finger: "The front of our camp is precisely where Sun Zhongmou's thirty thousand troops are stationed!"
As this sentence came out...
"Oh..." Lu Xun seemed to suddenly understand.
Lu Ji was still a bit confused. "What does Mister Chen mean?"
"Hehe..." Chen Gong continued to remind him, "Sun Quan would never have thought that Zhang Wenyuan, with eight hundred defenders, would dare to raid the camp, nor would he have thought that the direction of the raid would be from the rear!"
"Raiding from the direction of our camp, this is a place Sun Zhongmou would absolutely not guard against! Eight hundred men... are enough!"
Uh...
Lu Xun was stunned.
At this moment, he looked at Chen Gong with immense shock.
As expected, the older the ginger, the spicier it is!
For a moment, Lu Xun even felt disoriented, thinking to himself... if he were a small soldier of Jiangdong, he would definitely feel tired, having to face the powerful Long Xiao Camp and also... having to guard against the rear!
Wait a minute...
Lu Xun suddenly thought of something. "Mister Chen, if that's the case, then what if we secretly send Zhang Wenyuan a defense map of Sun Zhongmou's camp?"
As soon as he said this... Chen Gong looked up. He had not thought of this!
"Haha..." Chen Gong laughed. "As expected, the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves before, Lu Boyan... you are much more insidious than this old man, haha..."
As if finding a successor, Chen Gong laughed like a child!
...
...
Wu County, Jiangdong.
Inside the palace... outside this hall were crowds of people, while inside sat Madam Wu, Sun Xiaomei, and... Sun Yi!
Madam Wu stood up proactively... to greet the arriving person.
This person was none other than Zhou Yu, Zhou Gongjin!
Sun Yi also quickly said...
"Gongjin, you're back, quickly, quickly sit down!"
Unusually, Sun Yi was very polite to Zhou Yu, because he knew that the current Zhou Yu might not be the Zhou Yu of the past, but a Zhou Yu with a completely new stance.
The fact that the Marquis of Nan Shou could let him return was enough to explain many things.
"It's been a few days since I've seen Zhou Gongjin... this old woman has been frantic!" Madam Wu held Zhou Yu's hand. "Bofu said, 'For internal affairs, consult Zhang Zhao; for external affairs, consult Zhou Yu.' Now that Red Cliffs has been defeated... how can the young men of Jiangdong resist Cao Cao's cavalry marching south? Gongjin, you must help us make a decision!"
Hoo...
As she spoke, Zhou Yu first took out a letter.
"Madam, Marquis Sun... why don't you look at this first!"
Madam Wu took it but did not open it. Instead, she handed it to Sun Yi... Sun Yi quickly unfolded it, and Sun Shangxiang also leaned over.
And the content of the letter...
This was a letter from Zhuge Liang to Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu opened his mouth to explain, "This is a letter from Zhuge Kongming to me. Now, he is advising Liu Bei to write to Liu Zhang of Bashu, saying that he wishes to lead troops to join him and go to Bashu to quell Zhang Lu's disaster!"
"But in reality, Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei both have ulterior motives. Yet he advises me... advises us Jiangdong youths not to give up, to continue to negotiate with Cao Cao, and to await his support. Such a letter..."
At this point...
Zhou Yu clenched his fists, his tone suddenly becoming much heavier.
And his tone was even more furious.
"Zhuge Kongming—he has no shame!"
This roar echoed through the tiles, and the officials outside the palace heard it clearly...
Rarely... in this Jiangdong palace, in front of Madam Wu, Zhou Yu would lose his composure like this!
This...
Madam Wu's face sank.
She could understand Zhou Yu's feelings. Being used would always feel bad. Of course, Madam Wu did not know that this letter was actually forged.
How could Zhuge Liang have time to write a letter to Zhou Yu?
He was busy...
But... undoubtedly, the effect had been achieved.
"Madam, Marquis Sun..." Zhou Yu's tone became even more serious. "Forgive me for speaking frankly, Zhuge Liang is using us to delay time and buy himself time to seize the land of Bashu. But if we believe Zhuge Liang's words, then resisting Great Wei is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot... Moreover..."
At this point, Zhou Yu paused. He thought of something.
Why... was the atmosphere in the palace so calm?
Logically... it shouldn't be!
Could it be... that the intelligence from Shanyue has not yet arrived?
In other aspects, Jiangdong cannot compare to Great Wei, not even its scouts can compare to Great Wei?
Just then...
"Report..."
A drawn-out announcement, a scout had arrived outside the palace, he quickly shouted.
"Urgent report... Urgent report, ten thousand miles urgent!"
Hearing this, Zhou Yu blinked his eyes. He suddenly thought of two words in his heart—
—We're stable!
...
...