Chapter 343

Chapter 343

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Volume 10: The World in Chaos, the Time of the Hunt, Chapter 343: Winds Rise and Clouds Surge

Book: Can a Strategist Not Ascend the Throne?

Chapter 343: Winds Rise and Clouds Surge

Once the news of Sun Ce’s death reaches Zhou Yu, what kind of upheaval will it cause?

This might just be the key to breaking the deadlock.

Liu Bei asked, “According to Han Yu’s opinion, should we let this messenger return to Huaiyin City?”

Chen Gui shook his head, “No, doing so would appear too deliberate.”

They couldn’t choose this method to inform.

Zhou Yu wouldn’t easily trust the messenger they sent back, just as they once distrusted the intercepted messenger.

Therefore, they needed to approach this differently.

Chen Gui pointed at the military map before him and said, “We will march directly to Sheyang.”

Originally, following the central route, they should have advanced to Sheyang after capturing Huaiyin, to avoid overextending and being ambushed by Zhou Yu, resulting in a loss greater than the gain.

But now, with the impact of Sun Ce’s death on Zhou Yu’s forces and Qiao Yan’s aggressive moves in Yangzhou showing her determination to take Xuzhou, they had to make a quick decision.

Chen Gui might not be the most successful strategist, but his experience had given him a more mature and shrewd judgment of human nature.

He continued, “My lord, let’s gamble on whether Zhou Yu will come to Sheyang’s rescue.”

“If he does, given his disturbed state of mind, we will have a chance to ambush him halfway. If he doesn’t, then Xuzhou’s southern region will lose a significant ally, which isn’t bad for us either.”

Liu Bei was delighted, “Let’s do as Han Yu suggests.”

However, while Chen Gui spoke of gambling, he first laid out an alternative retreat plan for Liu Bei before executing their strategy.

As the message of the change in position was conveyed, Zhou Yu, from the walls of Huaiyin City, saw the allied forces of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei slowly retreating while swiftly moving south.

This action was highly unusual!

With the combined forces of these two, breaking through Huaiyin City was only a matter of time.

Although, according to Jia Xu, they were at a critical moment akin to Tian Ji’s horse racing, waiting for the other two fronts to succeed and for Lu Su’s forces to act before the tide of battle could turn, Zhou Yu only needed to hold his ground. Yet, he still felt a bit of anxiety.

Not just because he was worried about the situation in Yangzhou, but also because, as a commander, he was responsible for the Yangzhou soldiers who came with him and the many Xuzhou civilians within Huaiyin City—

Being in a passive state where he couldn’t control the situation and had to rely on Jia Xu’s central coordination for support was not a good thing!

But now, with the defenses around Huaiyin City suddenly withdrawn, instead of feeling relieved, Zhou Yu felt an indescribable sense of unreality.

“Quickly send out a scout to investigate the situation.”

From their several encounters, Zhou Yu could judge Liu Bei and Zhang Fei’s military capabilities. While not entirely flexible, they didn’t seem like the type to make such a basic mistake.

Leaving their backs exposed to the enemy was a mistake.

Unless they were confident in successfully intercepting Zhou Yu or capturing Sheyang before Zhou Yu’s pursuing forces arrived.

But what Zhou Yu never expected was that the scout he sent out was delivered to the city gates by Zhang Fei, tied up in a bundle.

The crossbow mechanisms on the city walls didn’t faze General Zhang Fei in the slightest. Sitting on his horse with a spear in hand, he shouted towards Zhou Yu standing on the city walls, “Take these flies of yours who came to spy on us. We come and go as we please, no need for your roundabout nonsense.”

Though looking up at the city walls, Zhang Fei displayed an exceptionally bold demeanor, causing Zhou Yu’s eyelid to twitch involuntarily, “If you dare to chase us, then chase. It’s not me who lost a superior.”

As soon as Zhang Fei finished speaking, before Zhou Yu could respond, his subordinate shouted, “What do you mean by that? Our young General Sun is full of promise, how dare you curse him here?”

“Curse?” Zhang Fei sneered, “Your general’s obituary has been spread all over Yangzhou. He failed in his campaign against Zu Lang and died in Danyang. If it weren’t for Grand Marshal Qiao leading a naval force from Jingzhou to Yangzhou, killing Zu Lang to avenge your governor, Yangzhou would already be in chaos.”

“My Han Yu said, if you, Zhou Yu, consider yourself a Xuzhou native, then stay here and settle the score with us in the wilds. If you still remember you’re Sun Bofu’s subordinate, then don’t meddle in our Xuzhou affairs!”

With that, he turned his horse and headed south, leaving the defenders of Huaiyin City stunned in place.

By the time someone thought to intercept and kill this beloved general of Liu Bei, Zhang Fei was already far away.

Zhou Yu remained silent for a long time, feeling as if Zhang Fei’s parting words were like thunderclaps in his mind. Only when a subordinate cautiously asked, “…General?” did he snap out of his daze.

He looked up to meet the anxious gaze of his subordinate, “What should we do now?”

Zhou Yu knew very well that what the other wanted to know wasn’t what they should do now, but whether what Zhang Fei said was true!

But this question couldn’t be answered in Zhou Yu’s currently bewildered state.

Zhou Yu had never considered the possibility of Sun Ce’s death.

Among the current governors of the realm, Sun Ce was the youngest. No one would guess that he would be the one to die!

Having been friends with Sun Ce for years, he never imagined he would lose him just as Yangzhou was being reclaimed.

Emotionally, Zhou Yu refused to believe what Zhang Fei said.

The moment he heard the news, his mind came up with countless explanations for Zhang Fei’s actions.

For example, he said it to keep Zhou Yu stranded here.

Because it was inconvenient to quickly verify the news from Yangzhou, making him believe in this possibility would prevent him from stopping Zhang Fei’s advance on Sheyang.

Zhou Yu couldn’t help but further speculate that it was because Jia Xu hadn’t provided support, leading Liu Bei and others to mistakenly believe there was discord between them, hence this absurd claim to deceive him.

But rationally…

When he didn’t immediately argue with Zhang Fei about Sun Ce’s survival, he might have already half-believed it.

Zhou Yu subconsciously took a step back.

“Let me think… let me think.”

He spoke distractedly, pushing away his subordinate’s support, leaning against the watchtower on the city wall, lost in thought.

In a direction unseen by others, this young man, who even in armor exuded an air of elegance, looked much paler than usual.

Because, contrary to his emotions, his reason told him that what Zhang Fei said was likely true!

If it were a lie, they wouldn’t need to fabricate so many seemingly false details.

Like Qiao Yan moving from her seat in Luoyang to personally go to Yangzhou.

Like her capturing Zu Lang from the Yishan Mountains in just a few days.

These things would be unbelievable if done by others, but not so much for the Grand Marshal he once visited in Chang’an.

But how could such a lie be so perfectly crafted?

Zhang Fei’s smooth delivery naturally tipped the scales in Zhou Yu’s mind.

The words “Sun Ce is dead” became a bloody, glaring reality before him.

How could he accept such a fact, and how could he make a decision now!

More tragically, he could only gamble that his guess was correct, as he had been trapped here too long, unable to get accurate intelligence from Yangzhou, yet as the commander here, he had to act quickly.

Otherwise, at best, Liu Bei’s forces in northern Xuzhou would occupy southern Xuzhou, and the frontlines pushed to the Huai River would be lost again; at worst, he and his subordinates would lose their lives.

He also had to quickly discern friend from foe.

Especially… Qiao Yan.

This Grand Marshal had already been under his suspicion due to Jia Xu’s presence and the authority he wielded, but previously, Jia Xu subtly suggested that suspicion was useless, and with the urgency of the war, Zhou Yu temporarily suppressed such thoughts.

But now, with her likely arriving in Yangzhou at a too convenient time, Zhou Yu had to revisit this suspicion.

Thinking of the support Sun Ce once received from her, the meetings in Chang’an, her every move in the shifting sands of the realm’s power, Zhou Yu felt—

Determining whether she was friend or foe was no easy task.

Now, he needed to take a stand.

Hesitation on the battlefield is far worse than a failed decision!

“Someone!”

Hearing Zhou Yu’s decisive command, his subordinate quickly approached. “We will immediately…”

Before he could finish, a soldier guarding the north of Huaiyin ran over and said, “Shortly after the enemy retreated from the north, two people arrived at the city gates, seeking an audience with the general.”

“They said they are from the Qiao family of Leping, sent by the Grand Marshal to see the general.”

The Qiao family of Leping?

Zhou Yu frowned slightly.

If he remembered correctly, after Qiao Yan separated from the Qiao family of Yanzhou due to their actions, establishing the Qiao family of Leping as an independent branch, the only person left in the Qiao family of Leping was Qiao Zhen, the daughter of Qiao Zhao. Why were there two more people?

But just like the news of Qiao Yan’s success against Zu Lang, if someone wanted to fabricate a false message, they wouldn’t choose such an identity!

The “We will return to Yangzhou” he was about to say changed to “I will go see the situation.”

As he stepped into the reception hall, he saw two people dressed as men but clearly women standing there.

Upon seeing him enter, the elder of the two bowed and said something that almost made him draw his sword, “The Marquis has instructed us to inform the general that General Sun’s last orders were to entrust Yangzhou and the Sun family to her. Huang Gai, Zhou Tai, and Han Dang are all aware of this, with General Han already coming from Yangzhou to assist. Please think carefully, General Zhou.”

Long before Qiao Yan arrived in Tongguan, Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting were already in Xuzhou, meeting up with their teacher in Sheyang. They were receiving news from Yang Province while keeping an eye on the standoff between Zhou Yu, Liu Bei, and Zhang Fei.

Jia Xu was particularly pleased with these two. Despite their father dying at the hands of Zhang Fei during the conflict between Yuan Shu and Liu Bei, they had remained calm and composed since arriving in Sheyang, showing no signs of being driven by hatred.

They were well aware that the outcome of the Xuzhou battle was not theirs to decide; it was up to Qiao Yan to make the final judgment. When Qiao Yan sent updates from Yang Province to Sheyang, Jia Xu reminded them, “Do you plan to exist only as Huang Yi and Huang Ting from now on?”

Qiao Yan wanted more than just two capable intelligence officers; she needed relatives who could uphold the royal family’s status. Pointing to a line in the letter, Jia Xu said, “Isn’t this the perfect opportunity for you to step into the world as Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting?”

The letter, written by Jia Xu, suggested who should persuade Zhou Yu not to make a wrong decision. The timing he mentioned to Qiao Lan and Qiao Ting was their chance to make a mark in the Xuzhou battle.

They immediately set off for Huaiyin and witnessed Liu Bei and Zhang Fei retreating. After discussing the situation, they decided to appear before Zhou Yu as students of Leping Academy, disciples of Jia Xu, and members of the Qiao clan, rather than as merchants from Shu.

Qiao Lan directly mentioned Sun Ce’s last words and Han Dang’s northward movement. Amid the barrage of news, Zhou Yu’s expression shifted like a revolving lantern before settling into silence. “Let’s talk,” he said.

Qiao Ting replied, “Of course, but military affairs are urgent. We may not have as much time as we think.”

Similar words were spoken by Pang Tong to Lu Su. Jia Xu had confidently written in his letter to Zhou Yu that Pang Tong had persuaded Lu Su to join their side by convincing the powerful families of Pei State to betray Liu Bei.

Pang Tong and Lu Su had already headed north to Langya, potentially becoming key players in tipping the balance. However, despite Jia Xu’s confident words, the actual progress was not immediate.

In other words, while people had arrived, the troops Lu Su was supposed to bring were still nowhere to be seen. As the southern situation grew tense, Pang Tong grew anxious and said to Lu Su, “Why bother trying to win over Zang Ba? Just gather the forces you can from Langya and Donghai, and we can take advantage of Liu Bei’s southward movement and Wang Lang’s administration to seize control.”

“Zang Ba and Sun Guan have been neighbors with Liu Bei for years, paying lip service but never truly submitting. How can we be sure they’ll really help us?” Pang Tong asked.

“Don’t be so impatient,” Lu Su calmly replied. “This is when it shows you still lack experience. No wonder you used to argue with people in Hongwen Hall.”

Pang Tong, usually composed, especially after his earlier speech to Lu Su about broadening his horizons, had made Lu Su think he had matured. But now, it seemed he still had some youthful impatience.

“…” Pang Tong was speechless, wanting to point out that Lu Su wasn’t much older. “Are you sure this won’t delay the battle?”

Lu Su shook his head. “I don’t know if it will delay the battle, but if you show your eagerness to leave, we won’t be able to convince them quickly.”

Pang Tong said, “You can rest assured about that, but you should explain why you want to take the risk of winning over Zang Ba.”

“Why would I hide it from you when you’re worried about missing important events?” Lu Su smiled wryly. “What do you think of Zang Ba?”

Pang Tong hesitated. “A former ally of Tao Qian, now a warlord in Langya?”

“You’re only half right. Zang Ba wasn’t exactly Tao Qian’s ally. Tao Qian knew how to use him better than Liu Bei.”

Lu Su thought for a moment and gave his assessment: “He’s someone who knows his limits but appears ambitious on the surface.”

“What do you mean?” Pang Tong couldn’t help but ask.

Lu Su explained, “Zang Ba made a name for himself young. When his father was imprisoned for refusing to execute prisoners on the Taishan Prefect’s orders, Zang Ba and his friends rescued him, and they fled to Donghai, where they built a considerable force. On the surface, he seems loyal and filial, but if you look closer, he lacks decisiveness.”

“Langya, where he’s stationed, is the northernmost part of Xuzhou. If someone else were stationed there, Zang Ba’s name would be known across several provinces. Early on, Tao Qian had him deal with refugees from Qingzhou, but he didn’t absorb many. Most of his forces were old acquaintances from Taishan. As a result, his influence remained limited.”

“I once asked Tao Qian about this, and he said he taught Zang Ba this approach. Zang Ba, though a former subordinate of Tao Qian, never integrated into Xuzhou’s core circle. Instead of absorbing more Qingzhou refugees and raising suspicions, he recruited from Taishan, strengthening his local ties to ensure he wouldn’t be easily wiped out if things went south.”

Pang Tong listened intently.

Without Lu Su saying more, he understood that Tao Qian’s strategy was clever. He avoided the complications of Zang Ba’s forces growing too large and diverse by framing it as a way for Zang Ba to protect himself. And Zang Ba had followed this path strictly.

What did this mean?

It likely didn’t mean he was loyal to Tao Qian.

No wonder Lu Su didn’t even bother using Zang Ba’s courtesy name in their conversation.

“After Tao Qian’s death, with Yuan Shao to the north, Liu Bei to the south, and Cao Cao to the west, Zang Ba remained motionless. This wasn’t a sign of patience but indecision.”

Lu Su concluded, “In short, he needs security and a leader who can guide him, not an uncertain superior.”

“Liu Bei can’t fill that role, but the Grand Marshal can.”

So, even though Lu Su was technically Liu Bei’s subordinate after he took over Xuzhou, he never suggested recruiting Zang Ba. After all, it was impossible before Liu Bei secured southern Xuzhou.

But since Zang Ba wasn’t likely to cause trouble, leaving him be wasn’t a problem.

This couldn’t be considered dereliction of duty on Lu Su’s part.

Lu Su asked Pang Tong, “Now that you’ve heard my analysis, do you still think I’m delaying the battle?”

Pang Tong clapped and laughed, “You’re being too modest, Zijing. This is called targeting the root of the problem!”

If Qiao Yan had heard Lu Su’s analysis, she would have applauded.

Lu Su was absolutely right!

Historically, Zang Ba was a key figure in resisting Qingzhou’s forces after joining Cao Cao’s camp. He remained loyal during the Guandu Campaign but showed little value during internal rebellions in Xuzhou. Despite holding high positions, he often expressed loyalty through symbolic acts, like offering his father and brothers as hostages, and even later displayed confusion when Cao Cao died.

He wasn’t that dangerous.

After losing Tao Qian, who had guided him, he desperately needed a clear leader with a vision.

So, the more Lu Su appeared indifferent and confident about the Xuzhou situation, and the more he presented Zang Ba with this dilemma, the more likely Zang Ba was to make a decisive move.

Sure enough, the next evening, Zang Ba approached Lu Su, who was playing chess with Pang Tong, and said, “If I’ve decided to assist the Grand Marshal, what should I do now?”

Lu Su, holding a chess piece, exchanged a brief smile with Pang Tong before turning to Zang Ba. “Divide your forces into two groups. One, led by you and me, will head straight for Huaiyin. The other, led by Pang Tong and Sun Guan, will go to Xia Pi.”

“If Xuzhou is secured, you will be rewarded!”

In Langya’s Kaiyang, a place long ignored after Liu Bei’s failed attempts to win it over, two forces suddenly emerged.

As Lu Su had arranged, he and Zang Ba led one group into the central Xuzhou battle, while Pang Tong and Sun Guan joined the fight on the left flank.

Regardless of how the western front, where Chen Deng, Chen Dao, Zhang Ren, and Zhang Yang were clashing, would change with the addition of Pang Tong and Sun Guan, the central front had become a stormy battleground.

Shortly after Zhang Fei’s warning to Zhou Yu at the city gates, Liu Bei, still en route to Sheyang, received news from the rear: Zhou Yu had mobilized his forces and left the city.

Not to return south to Yang Province, but to pursue Liu Bei.

“Did he not believe the news we gave him?” Liu Bei wondered upon hearing the report.

“No, he believed it,” Chen Gui said without a hint of panic. “Listen to his pursuit tactics. If he were truly chasing us, he wouldn’t be moving so slowly or mobilizing his entire army. A small, elite force could have cut off our rear, burned our supplies, and stopped our advance on Sheyang.”

What did this mean?

It meant Zhou Yu wanted to leave but had to maintain the appearance of pursuit to avoid demoralizing his troops. However, at this pace, he had no chance of catching up.

He had been caught off guard by Zhang Fei’s message and was now prioritizing returning to Yang Province to investigate.

“To prevent Zhou Yu from changing his mind and attacking, I suggest you take advantage of his confusion and immediately send word to Huaipu, ordering General Guan stationed there to mobilize the remaining forces and join us in a pincer attack on Zhou Yu!”

If they could kill Zhou Yu first and then take Sheyang—

The disadvantages on the eastern and western fronts would be manageable!