Chapter 325

Chapter 325

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 10: The World in Chaos, the Time of the Hunt Chapter 325: Yang Province Alliance

The book it belongs to:


Can a strategist not ascend the throne?

Chapter 325: Yang…

Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting made up their minds. When the ship was halfway, they would go meet those two.

Su Fei’s other subordinates had already dispersed when Huang She and Su Fei boarded their ship, creating the illusion that they were fleeing in other directions.

Whether this could deceive Sun Ce’s search team was uncertain, but for Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting, it was undoubtedly good news.

This way, those two would be completely isolated and helpless.

With more subordinates, they could leave at any time, but now, with only these two, and Huang She being mediocre in martial arts—

It wouldn’t be so easy to leave.

Huang She, hiding in the cargo box, had no idea his current situation was being viewed this way.

Amidst the rocking waves, he crawled out of the box and joined Su Fei.

Successfully escaping Sun Ce’s pursuit reduced his cold sweat, replaced by the heat of being confined in the cabin.

He wiped his face, not bothering to lament his current predicament, and looked out through the slightly open cabin window.

They had boarded the ship in the afternoon, and now the sun was setting in the west, allowing Huang She to clearly see they were heading east along the river.

Huang She and Su Fei exchanged glances, both seeing relief in each other’s eyes.

Though heading downstream would take them further from Jiangxia, possibly towards Sun Ce’s Danyang or Wu commanderies, the search efforts would also be significantly reduced.

Sun Ce would never expect they were no longer in a place where they could be caught, but on someone else’s cargo ship.

If only the Yangtze weren’t so wide, Huang She might have jumped ship and swam to the opposite shore.

Then, the sky would be the limit.

“When the ship docks, we’ll find a way to jump into the water before they inspect the cargo,” Huang She whispered, pointing out the window.

Su Fei, who had served Huang She’s father Huang Zu for a long time, was a good swimmer, something Huang She already knew, so he didn’t need to ask further.

Su Fei replied, “That’s the plan, to avoid complications.”

But saying so, neither had actual experience in such operations, and hiding on the cargo ship was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

When they felt the ship docking and tried to jump into the water, the splash alerted the boatmen.

The next moment, they heard a loud shout, “Thieves! There are thieves on the cargo ship!”

Su Fei: “…”

Huang She: “…”

Their escape plan was already unique, but now they were being mistaken for thieves.

If they could swim fast enough to escape amidst the commotion, it wouldn’t be a problem. In the dark, no one could see their faces.

However, the cargo on this merchant ship must have been valuable, as there were many skilled swimmers among the crew.

These people were also quite strong.

Su Fei, a military officer under Huang Zu, struggled with two boatmen but was eventually subdued.

Two fishing nets were thrown from the approaching ship, trapping them, and they were roughly dragged before the ship’s owner.

Huang She and Su Fei were at a loss for words.

They really didn’t want to get into any legal trouble, especially since they were still in Yang Province. If Sun Ce found out, it would be the end.

Su Fei thought, since neither he nor the young master had stolen anything, a search would clear them, though their jumping point was unusual.

But he didn’t expect to recognize the owner of the merchant ship.

Sitting up in the net, wiping the river water from his face, he looked up to see two handsome young men at the head of the cabin.

One of them immediately stood up, recognizing Su Fei.

“Captain Su, why are you here?”

Qiao Ting “hurriedly” had Su Fei and Huang She released.

Amidst the chaos of being freed, Huang She subtly squeezed Su Fei’s hand, signaling him to be careful with his words.

News of Sun Ce’s search for them had spread with his troops’ actions around Poyang Lake. But to quickly secure Yuzhang commandery and prevent cities loyal to Huang Zu or Liu Biao from retaliating, Sun Ce likely hadn’t disclosed the full truth.

In other words, Huang Zu’s death might not have reached their ears.

To avoid being handed over to Sun Ce for profit, they had to be cautious!

As Qiao Ting, or the merchant “Huang Ting” from Shu, helped Su Fei up, he asked, “Captain Su, has something happened between Governor Sun and Prefect Huang? Why is he searching for you two around Poyang Lake?”

Qiao Ting looked troubled, “You know, our family has some reputation in Shu, but in Xu and Yang provinces, we must respect local officials. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have come to see you last year.”

Last year, Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting had indeed dealt with Su Fei.

As a trusted aide of Huang Zu, foreign merchants needed Su Fei’s approval to trade in Yuzhang commandery.

Of course, “approval” meant paying a fee, which was why Huang Zu considered his position in Yuzhang a good one.

Su Fei had once remarked that these brothers from Shu were quite generous, unlike those from more isolated regions.

But now, being reminded of this, Su Fei couldn’t help but feel awkward.

Fortunately, Qiao Ting wasn’t bringing this up to taunt them in their misfortune but continued, “We won’t ask why you’re on our ship, but could you tell us if Yuzhang commandery is about to see conflict? If so, we’ll avoid trading there for a while.”

How should Su Fei respond?

Not only was conflict imminent, but a crucial battle had already ended with Sun Ce capturing Nanchang.

Yuzhang commandery was about to undergo a major reshuffle.

With Sun Ce taking control, he wouldn’t allow Yuzhang to remain independent or closer to Liu Biao. County officials would be replaced as needed.

It would be a major purge!

But telling profit-driven merchants this was like telling them to hand over the two to Sun Ce for rewards.

However, Su Fei’s silence seemed to be interpreted differently by the two before him.

“Captain Su, no need to say more. We understand. It seems we should avoid Yuzhang for now. As for your whereabouts, we won’t tell anyone,” Qiao Lan interjected.

The young man’s calm smile made Su Fei understand why they could expand their business in Yang and Xu provinces.

Their ability to read the situation and converse tactfully was truly comforting.

Qiao Lan pointed to the night outside, “But it’s best not to disembark here; it’s not safe.”

Huang She quickly asked, “Why is that?”

Qiao Lan replied, “This is Zongyang port in Lujiang commandery. Recently, Prefect Lu Kang has been inspecting the autumn harvest and taxes, passing through here. If you two accidentally run into his men and are recognized, it could be troublesome.”

Though encountering the inspecting official in this county wasn’t easy, after their recent escape, Huang She and Su Fei were on edge, thinking it best not to take such risks.

While others might not strictly follow Sun Ce’s arrest orders, Lu Kang certainly would.

After all, Sun Ce had saved him when Yuan Shu besieged him.

The fragile relationship between Sun Ce and the four families of Wu commandery was partly maintained by Lu Kang’s efforts.

With Qiao Lan’s reminder, Huang She looked at the merchant brothers with gratitude.

In his previous position, these merchants wouldn’t have been worthy of his attention, but now, they were like lifelines.

He tentatively asked, “Where will your next port of call be?”

Having discussed their strategy with Qiao Ting beforehand, Qiao Lan showed no signs of lying.

She calmly replied, “We were heading to Jing County, where several wealthy families have a deal with us, scheduled for after the autumn harvest. But since we have time, we might as well complete it early. So, our next port is Tongguan town, near Jing County. If you don’t mind, you can disembark there.”

After exchanging glances, Su Fei and Huang She replied, “Then we’ll trouble you two.”

If they ever regained their former glory, they would surely reward these two—

They were just too considerate.

After leaving Zongyang port, Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting even prepared a separate boat with enough supplies, towing it behind the main ship to prevent the boatmen from eavesdropping.

Upon reaching Tongguan, they could leave on their own.

This meticulous arrangement made Huang She quietly thank them, unaware that Qiao Lan didn’t need to mention Jing County and could have directly referred to Tongguan port.

So, her mention of it had its purpose.

When Su Fei and Huang She were in a safe place for them…








After discussing in a relatively private environment, they began to plan their next steps.

According to their previous idea, once they reached the Tongguan ferry, they would immediately return to Jiangxia before Sun Ce could spread the news throughout Yang Province. However, at this moment, it seemed they had another possibility.

“Jing County…” Su Fei pondered the destination mentioned by Qiao Lan and asked, “Young Master, do you remember who occupies Jing County in Danyang Commandery?”

Huang She, who usually did not leave Yuzhang Commandery, was still aware of the various forces within Yang Province. Among them was Zu Lang, who called himself the “Commander of Jing County.”

The Commander of Jing County naturally resided in Jing County!

In recent years, Sun Ce’s growing prestige in Yang Province had not stopped Zu Lang from expanding his forces.

Especially the remnants of Yan Baihu’s faction, which Sun Ce had nearly wiped out. Although they came from different clans, many had fled to Danyang and joined Zu Lang’s ranks.

This was one source of his subordinates.

Additionally, during the turmoil in Xuzhou, Zu Lang had once traveled there, freeloading meals from Ze Rong while trying to see if Ze Rong’s plan to bring down Sun Ce would work.

However, Ze Rong became a casualty of the conflict between Zhang Yi and Liu Bei, who each occupied parts of Xuzhou, and ultimately died at Zu Lang’s hands.

Despite this unexpected event, it did not hinder Zu Lang’s expansion of power.

He was no fool.

After taking Ze Rong’s head, he sent people across the river to bring some of the deceived Xuzhou populace to Jing County. He also plundered wealth and weapons from Tongguan, arming his new followers.

Over the next two years, he secretly purchased supplies from Yizhou through Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting, stockpiling them in Jing County, making it increasingly resemble an independent fortress.

These actions, combined with Sun Ce’s temporary inability to deal with this scattered yet formidable force, elevated Zu Lang from a mere commander to the most likely contender against Sun Ce among the mountain bandits.

If Huang Zu of Yuzhang Commandery died and the remaining resistance in southern Kuaiji Commandery was eradicated by Sun Ce, then Zu Lang in Jing County would undoubtedly be Sun Ce’s next target.

The principle of securing internal stability before dealing with external threats applied not only to the nation but also to individual provinces.

Zu Lang was that internal threat.

But for Huang She and Su Fei, who were now like stray dogs, Zu Lang was a potential savior!

If not for Qiao Lan mentioning his location, they would not have thought of him during their chaotic escape.

“Zu Lang…” Huang She muttered the name, his heart stirring.

The hatred he had suppressed since leaving Nanchang City resurfaced as the possibility of revenge grew.

While hiding in the cargo ship, Huang She had pondered a realistic question.

Liu Biao was indeed the Governor of Jing Province, but unlike Qiao Yan or Sun Ce, who secured their positions through military might, Liu Biao relied on the support of powerful families like Cai Mao and Kuai Yue to stabilize Jing Province.

Would Liu Biao really attack Sun Ce over Huang Zu’s death in Yuzhang Commandery?

Even if Liu Biao harbored resentment, Cai Mao and Kuai Yue, along with their influential families, would never allow him to make such a rash decision.

After all, Jing Province was under imperial protection. Even if Sun Ce sought to avenge Sun Jian, he would have to consider the wrath of the Grand Marshal. With limited interests in Jing Province, would eliminating the Huang Clan of Jiangxia benefit others?

In the dealings of noble families, such calculations were common and likely to arise when Huang She sought aid upon returning to Jing Province.

But what if they used the existing internal strife in Yang Province to retaliate against Sun Ce? Wouldn’t that be a more feasible way to achieve their goal?

He had to try.

Although Zu Lang was a mountain bandit, he was more akin to a clan leader, much like Huang She’s father, Huang Zu.

This gave their conversation a starting point.

Zu Lang had not submitted to Sun Ce and was unlikely to change his stance because of Huang Zu’s death.

If he received support from Jing Province, he might truly stir up trouble within Danyang Commandery!

The more Huang She thought about it, the more he felt a glimmer of hope for his otherwise bleak future.

The next morning, when invited by Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting for breakfast, their spirits seemed reversed.

Huang She said he had realized that Sun Ce’s reckless advance would eventually cost him, so there was no need to dwell on temporary setbacks.

Qiao Lan explained that their gloom was due to news received overnight that a shipment in Lujiang Commandery had been looted.

“The looters were mountain bandits,” Qiao Ting added, showing frustration. “Even the southern barbarians in Yizhou rarely do such things. It’s surprising this still happens in Yang Province.”

“If it had happened in Danyang Commandery, we could have sought justice from the Commander of Jing County. But since it’s Lujiang Commandery, we can only accept the loss. Next time, we’ll hire more guards.”

This explanation made sense of why the guards who caught Huang She and Su Fei were so skilled.

If they were hired to fend off bandits, it all added up.

It seemed their increased losses had forced them to take such measures.

Out of courtesy, Huang She and Su Fei should have expressed sympathy for Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting’s plight.

But perhaps because they had been thinking about how to persuade Zu Lang to rise up with their support, they saw the bandits’ boldness as a sign of strong character.

This made it more likely that Zu Lang could be convinced.

Upon reaching Tongguan, Huang She and Su Fei pretended to leave but secretly followed Qiao Lan’s group. After seeing them head to Jing County and then north to Xuzhou, they entered Jing County and demanded to see Zu Lang.

“After Ze Rong’s false promises, Zu Lang should be more cautious. It won’t be easy for these two to persuade him,” Qiao Ting remarked after receiving a report from her spies.

“So you dropped some hints during the meeting,” Qiao Lan said with a smile.

“But whether they succeed is uncertain. I can only ensure they subtly receive the information I want to convey, not that they’ll act as I wish,” Qiao Ting sighed. “We might need to go to Wu Commandery to stir the pot further in Yang Province.”

Is Zu Lang the only one who can help Huang She?

Not necessarily.

Sun Ce’s current success is also a threat to some Yang Province noble families who still see him as a mere warrior.

Now, it’s a matter of how far the backlash from these three forces will go.

“Before that, let’s inform the Marquis,” Qiao Lan replied.

Sun Ce’s sudden attack had caught them off guard. Despite their quick response, especially in saving Huang She and Su Fei, the distance between Yang Province and Chang’an made it impossible to consult Qiao Yan beforehand.

Now that they had sent the two to their destination without revealing their identities, it was time to report to Qiao Yan.

Qiao Yan, still in Bingzhou, received a secret message sent via carrier pigeon from Leping Academy to the provincial capital.

Upon reading about Sun Ce’s imitation of her tactics, Qiao Yan was momentarily surprised, then smiled.

Perhaps Sun Ce was not only imitating her but also Cao Cao.

After all, both Cao Cao’s attack on Yuan Shu and Sun Ce’s advance into Yuzhang were moves by the more prepared party against those who neglected production during a famine.

A true warlord’s move!

This young man, barely twenty, had indeed grown since his earlier days.

However, Sun Ce’s territorial expansion was not entirely bad, as it did not border her controlled regions.

She had long awaited Sun Ce’s further consolidation of Yang Province to facilitate her future governance.

Reading the letter to the end, she saw Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting’s actions and their final question about whether their actions were appropriate.

“There’s nothing inappropriate about it. They should be more confident,” Qiao Yan said with a hint of amusement, burning the letter. “Unless there’s a way to communicate instantly over thousands of miles, I can’t oversee everything in this vast world.”

Fortunately, despite their lack of confidence, Qiao Yan was pleased that Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting had mastered conveying messages, making swift and accurate judgments, and hiding their identities.

One day, the small Qiao Clan of Leping would become a force to be reckoned with.

She picked up her brush and began writing a reply.

In the letter, she wrote that regarding the “partial” noble families in Wu Commandery, remnants of Xu Gong and Yan Baihu’s forces, “Commander of Jing County” Zu Lang, and Huang She backed by the Huang Clan of Jiangxia, they could decide how to proceed in Yang Province.

The only requirement was not to push things in their desired direction at the risk of exposing themselves.

Thinking of the potential consequences of this alliance, Qiao Yan’s brush paused momentarily.

When she had allowed Jia Xu to plot Sun Jian’s death, she had hesitated similarly.

But in the current state of the struggle for the realm, there was no room for retreat.

She had to take responsibility for her subordinates and the people under her command!

The pause was brief, and she continued writing—

Tell Jia Xu that when Yang Province is in turmoil, spare no effort to keep Zhou Yu occupied in Xuzhou!