NOVPUBZhou Yu saw that Pang Tong was eager to try and didn’t dissuade him, maintaining such a spirit was good indeed, as he very much needed strategists with vigor and even more so, intelligence.
"Gongjin, I’ll also join the battle when the time comes," Sun Ce said, placing his hand on Zhou Yu’s shoulder after their conversation had concluded, a trace of fierceness flashing in his eyes, "I must demand an explanation from Gan Xingba for Youping’s injuries."
"My Lord, I earnestly request to join you in battle. This time I will not be negligent or careless. Gan Xingba is not yet worthy to face you directly, please allow me to fight in your stead," Zhou Tai rose and knelt on one knee before Sun Ce.
"I humbly ask to accompany you in battle," Ling Cao appeared before Sun Ce, speaking earnestly, "I was born in Jiangnan, and naval battles on the Yangtze River are my forte. As the old saying goes, ’When the Lord is worried, his ministers are shamed’. Please grant me the opportunity to erase this disgrace."
"Youping, Kuntao, quickly stand up," Sun Ce pulled up one with each hand, but both remained motionless, kneeling like stone sculptures on the ground.
"Bofu, take Youping and Kuntao with you, as well as Generals Cheng, Huang, Hann. Our elite infantry—take them all, leave no generals behind. Let us have a confrontation with the adversary on the Yangtze River!" Zhou Yu got up and said to Sun Ce, "Our journey to Eastern Wu needs to end ahead of schedule."
"The two of us will certainly redress our earlier disgrace!" Ling Cao said gravely, holding onto Zhou Tai’s arm and bowing to both Zhou Yu and Sun Ce.
"Is it necessary to take them all?" Sun Ce said discontentedly, "If they hadn’t shown up so opportunistically today, we wouldn’t have been so embarrassed. And, Gongjin, what do you mean by saying our visit to Eastern Wu must end early?"
"Chen Zichuan, being viewed as Liu Xuande’s most valuable minister, would never put himself at risk lightly. I’m afraid he must have a foolproof strategy. We should measure the opposition’s strength as well as that of Liu Xuande, and it happens to serve as a gift to Yuan Gong," Pang Tong said, though feeling resentful from being outplayed by Chen Xi, he calmed down and realized the situation didn’t allow for reckless action.
Zhou Yu silently lifted his eyelids, slightly surprised by Pang Tong’s excellence; even in anger, he still managed to clear his mind and contemplate. Seeing this, Zhou Yu silently patted Pang Tong’s shoulder, then gave Sun Ce a look, and Sun Ce, curling his lips, did not persist with further questions.
"What is it?" Pang Tong, puzzled, turned to look at the smiling Zhou Yu.
"You might surpass me," Zhou Yu said with a smile, "I see that possibility in you."
"Nonsense, I’ll definitely be better than you. I’ve been learning how to command an army too. Just you wait and see, I’ll be even more formidable than you," Pang Tong replied irritably, envious of Zhou Yu’s near-perfect demeanor.
"Mhm, continue your hard work. I’ll explain the matter you told me to Bofu. After all, whether Yuan Gong’s affair turns out to be good or bad is still uncertain," Zhou Yu said with a smile. "You also take some rest. I’ve developed a way to counter Chen Zichuan’s spirit attacks; his attacks are too chaotic."
"Let’s go, Bofu, step outside with me. I have some matters to explain to you. There may have been some unexpected developments, and the battle at Lujiang has revealed much," Zhou Yu said, standing up calmly and adjusting his clothes before giving Sun Ce a look—an indication to follow—as he talked to himself and walked out.
[Revealed much? What could it reveal? Isn’t the supposed unity of the four great houses of Eastern Wu, ’allies with branches intertwined,’ nothing but a joke? There are significant divisions within. What of it? Yuan Yao’s impending death can hardly be considered good, can it? What is Zhou Yu jabbering on about by himself?] Pang Tong, flipping onto the bed, couldn’t help but ponder over Zhou Yu’s previous words, unaware of the smile playing at the corners of Zhou Yu’s mouth.
"Gongjin, do you have something you wish to tell me?" Sun Ce asked as he came out to the main hall, looking at Zhou Yu.
"We need to return to Shouchun. Yuan Gong’s son Yao is critically ill," Zhou Yu whispered.
"What, how is that possible? I channeled all my Inner Qi, akin to Lyu Fengxian’s caliber, into younger brother Yao. If nothing else, he was nearly at the level of Qi Refining to Gang," Sun Ce said incredulously. "Qi Refining to Gang, if not completely resistant to all diseases, should at least prevent common illnesses from arising. How can he be critically ill?"
Zhou Yu conveyed the entire situation to Sun Ce, who struck a stone platform in anger, shattering it into gravel. "Cao Ren, Du Xi, if anything happens to younger brother Yao, I will not spare you!"
After a long while, Sun Ce looked towards the direction of Jiangnan and sighed heavily, "Forget it, Eastern Wu can be reclaimed at any time, but I cannot ignore younger brother Yao. Let’s return with our troops; in any case, I am implicated in this affair."
A faint smile appeared on Zhou Yu’s face; he knew Sun Ce would make this choice. After all, it was a matter of loyalty, a brotherly duty.
"Then let’s have a go at Chen Zichuan on the Yangtze River, then circle back to Shouchun. It is likely that younger brother Yao, blessed by heavenly fortune, won’t encounter any mishap," Zhou Yu said with a smile. "However, Bofu, do not take any special actions at this time. In such a situation, it’s better to play it safe than to try anything risky."
Sun Ce looked puzzled at Zhou Yu, but Zhou Yu, unlike before, did not explain himself. He just calmly watched as Sun Ce stood dumbfounded, until his endless words turned into a sigh.
[Bofu, you are not yet ready to become an overlord. Your ambition is sufficient, your valor is sufficient, and your early accumulations are enough, but you are still not mature enough. The vengeance for your father, with our current strength, Jing-Xiang could easily fall to us.] Zhou Yu thought to himself, looking up at the azure sky. Huang Zhong, Kuai Yue, Kuai Liang, Cai Mao—these were but minor obstacles to him.
[The storm is about to burst, Bofu. Defeating Cai Mao on the Yangtze River Route is no harder for me than defeating Huang Zu. Jiangling lies beside the Yangtze; a single battle on the river could win it all. But what comes after the vengeance for your father? Yuan Gong is so naïve, so naïve, with his own set of principles, and you with yours. If you were to avenge your father with his help, I fear you might not be able to look back in this life. You need to become a Mighty Lord, and not just a General, and now your Fate has come.]
Zhou Yu withdrew his gaze and gently fixed it upon Sun Ce. Zhou Yu had never told Sun Ce about the vulnerability of Jing-Xiang; he had always been clouding the immediate state of affairs. Liu Biao had grown too weak. After losing the riches of Jingbei and suffering consecutive defeats, Liu Biao was no longer the Overlord who had once dominated Jing-Xiang. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please vote and support at Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)
