Choose Liu Bei at the start, I am the only one who knows the plot of the Three Kingdoms.

As long as Sun Jian's army marches to the city where they are, they will surely "welcome the king's army with food and drink," and even spare no effort to use the power of their families.

"Secretly assist in opening the city gates!"
Youzhou, within the temporary headquarters.

When these detailed reports about the rapid fall of Kuaiji, the rush of powerful families to join Sun Jian, and even the conspiracy to surrender the city were compiled and presented to Gu Rubing, this lord who had experienced many battles and was used to life and death showed an uncharacteristic and uncontrollable rage!
"Snapped!"

Gu Rubing slammed his palm heavily on the hard wooden table, causing the teacups and pen holders on it to jump up! The violent movement caused a tearing pain in the wound under his ribs, but he didn't care. He just stood up abruptly, his chest heaving violently with anger, and the rage burning in his eyes almost turned into a tangible flame!

"Excellent! What a group of 'loyal and righteous men'! What a group of distinguished families who 'pass down the tradition of poetry and propriety'!"

Gu Rubing's voice trembled slightly with extreme anger, yet every word struck the heart of everyone in the hall like an ice pick.

"When our army marched south and recovered Jiangdong, we fought a fierce battle against Cao Cao. They either stood by and watched or pretended to comply but secretly disobeyed. They never had a single bit of sincerity. Now, Sun Jian, this wolf from overseas, has come."

"They've only occupied a mere part of Kuaiji, yet they're like hyenas smelling blood, wagging their tails and begging for mercy, rushing to fawn over me! They even... they even dared to secretly agree to surrender my city?!"

He turned his head sharply, his gaze sweeping over the generals in the hall.

"The bloodstains of the Liaoxi Gongsun and Tian families are still fresh! Do these Jiangdong aristocratic families think my blade isn't sharp enough? Or do they think I'm too wounded to deal with them, so they can act with impunity, disregarding military law and treating my territory like private property, buying, selling, and surrendering it at will?!"

Guan Yu's face was ashen, his hand resting on his Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

"Brother, this trend must not be allowed to continue! If we do not take swift and decisive action, the people of the southeast will be in turmoil, and danger will be everywhere."

Zhang Fei was furious.

"Brother! What are we waiting for? Let's go back and kill them! Chop up these traitorous dogs, along with that blue-eyed bastard, and feed them to the turtles!"

Zhuge Liang coughed lightly, his face paling even more, but his tone remained firm.

"My lord, please calm your anger. Sun Jian has suddenly gained control of Kuaiji and acquired some powerful vassal states, and his momentum is at its peak. However, his army has come from afar, and the subsequent transportation of supplies and the assimilation of the newly occupied territories will all take time."

Our army has just pacified Youzhou, and our main force has moved north, leaving the south vulnerable—this is a fact. However, if our lord disregards his injuries and hastily launches a southern campaign, the journey will be long, the army will be exhausted, and they will play right into Sun Jian's hands. We must plan carefully before acting.”

Gu Rubing took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the murderous intent that was about to burst forth and the impulse to immediately lead his troops south.

He knew Zhuge Liang was right; anger wouldn't solve anything. But Kuaiji had fallen, and Sun Jian had a secure foothold in Jiangdong, rapidly winning over hearts and minds and expanding his power. If they didn't act quickly, the entire southern part of Yangzhou could fall apart!

"Kongming's words make sense, but the situation is pressing, and we cannot afford to deliberate for too long."

Gu Rubing's voice regained its usual coldness and decisiveness.

"Although my injuries have not fully healed, I can still ride a horse and a carriage. The affairs of Youzhou have been largely arranged. Liu Ye is capable of handling the follow-up. We cannot stay here any longer!"

He glanced at everyone in the hall and called out their names one by one.

"Yun Chang, Yi De, Zi Long, Meng Qi, Han Sheng, and Kong Ming, you will all come south with me! Your injuries will heal slowly on the way! Chen Dao and Liu Bao will remain in Youzhou to guard the northern frontier and ensure its defense. Ma Dai and Han Sui will continue to garrison Liangzhou to guard against Cao Cao!"

"Issue the order! Effective immediately, all combat-ready troops in Youzhou, except those who must remain to guard the city, shall assemble! Three days later, we shall break camp and depart for Yangzhou in the south!"
I want to personally meet this Sun Wentai and see just how big his appetite is, daring to swallow my territory! I also want to show those two-faced aristocratic families what price they'll pay for betraying me, Gu Rubing!

Gu Rubing's order was firm and unquestionable. All the generals in the hall, regardless of the severity of their injuries, obeyed the order with a stern expression.

They knew that their lord was dragging his wounded body, racing against time to extinguish the wildfire that had just begun to ignite in the southeast.

Just as Gu Rubing was urgently assembling troops in Youzhou, preparing to march thousands of miles south, the battle in the southern mountainous area of ​​Yuzhang County also temporarily came to an end.

Zhang He was ultimately a capable general. After experiencing initial passivity and losses, he stabilized his position, stopped rushing forward, and instead focused on building a solid camp, advancing step by step, and gradually countering Han Dang's harassment tactics by utilizing his superior troop strength and better equipment.

After several days of intense back-and-forth fighting and small-scale skirmishes, Zhang He finally dealt a heavy blow to Han Dang's forces in a well-planned counter-ambush, forcing them to retreat temporarily and eliminating the direct threat to his supply lines.

However, this victory came at a heavy price.

When Zhang He finally forced Han Dang's troops to retreat and was able to catch his breath and take stock of his soldiers, his heart sank to the bottom.

Of the 20,000 elite troops who set out, after repeated harassment, ambushes, and counter-ambushes, less than 9,000 can still maintain full combat strength! Moreover, the losses of food and supplies are considerable, the soldiers are exhausted, and there are many wounded and sick.

More importantly, news of the fall of Kuaiji Commandery had reached the army, which dealt a significant blow to morale.

Should they continue north to relieve Kuaiji? Not to mention whether these nine thousand exhausted soldiers could break through Zhou Yu's heavy forces in Kuaiji, even if they could, it would be too late, and they might be surrounded.

Zhang He assessed the situation and knew that it was no longer possible to succeed.

He made a decisive decision and ordered the entire army to turn around and retreat westward to Nanchang, the capital of Yuzhang Commandery, instead of advancing northeastward to Kuaiji. The city was relatively safe and well-defended.

Kuaiji Commandery, Shanyin City.

The former residence of the prefect has now become Zhou Yu's temporary command post. The air still carries a faint, lingering smell of blood and smoke, but soldiers of Sun Jian's army have begun patrolling the streets, and order is slowly being restored. Inside the main hall of the government office, however, the atmosphere is quite different from the "peace" within the city.

Zhou Yu, clad in silver armor and a plain cloak, remained handsome and composed despite his continuous command of sieges and takeovers. However, a hint of solemnity and sharpness lingered between his brows.

He stood before the hanging map, his gaze not lingering on the newly acquired Kuaiji Commandery, but rather on the Yuzhang Commandery to the west.

"Zhang He..."

Zhou Yu murmured the name and pointed to the location representing Nanchang City in Yuzhang Commandery.

"As expected of a famous general from Hebei, despite Han Dang's best efforts to obstruct him, he still managed to lead nearly 10,000 troops to retreat into Nanchang. Relying on the fortified city, he gathered the defeated soldiers and reorganized the defenses... He planted this nail quickly and firmly."

Standing beside him, besides the veteran general Huang Gai, was a young man, dressed in fine clothes, but with a pale face and evasive eyes—Sun Quan.

He was Sun Jian's second son, and his presence with the army was primarily for observation and training. However, the harshness of the battlefield and the psychological trauma left by his previous battle with Gu Rubing's army made him seem out of place in the somber atmosphere of the commander's mansion. "Gongjin."

Huang Gai stroked his short beard and pondered.

"Although Zhang He was defeated, he was not seriously injured. He retreated to Nanchang and has established a defensive posture. Our army has just captured Kuaiji, and there are many complicated matters. The people's hearts are not yet won over, and the supply lines in the rear also need time to be consolidated. Should we... postpone the westward advance, first stabilize Kuaiji, and then, as originally planned, threaten Wu County and Danyang to the north? It is not too late to take Yuzhang after we have completely controlled Kuaiji?"

Huang Gai's proposal aligned with the thoughts of most generals and the initial strategy agreed upon with Sun Jian—to quickly seize Kuaiji, expand northward while Gu Rubing's main force was not yet back, occupy as much of the rich lands of Jiangdong as possible, squeeze Gu Rubing's living space in Yangzhou, and establish a stable battle line.

However, Zhou Yu slowly shook his head, his gaze still fixed on Yuzhang.

"What General Huang said is a prudent strategy. However, military situations are like water, changing in an instant. The original plan was based on the premise that Han Dan could successfully block or even defeat Zhang He's reinforcements."

Although Zhang He has suffered a setback, his main force remains intact and has successfully occupied Nanchang. If our army were to divide its forces and march north to Wujun and Danyang at this time, it would be tantamount to exposing our flank to Zhang He.

He turned around and looked at the generals in the hall, his voice clear yet carrying an undeniable analytical power.

“Zhang He is a seasoned general on the battlefield, by no means mediocre. His retreat to Nanchang at this moment seems like a passive defense, but in fact it is a strategy of using stillness to control movement. Once he discovers that our main force has moved north, leaving Kuaiji vulnerable, or that our defenses are weak after we have divided our forces, do you think he will sit idly by?”
He commands nearly ten thousand elite troops, all battle-hardened veterans. If they seize the opportunity to advance eastward, attack our supply lines, seize Kuaiji, or even strike directly at the flank and rear of our northward-bound army, our army will be unable to defend both ends. Kuaiji, which we have just captured, may be lost again, and the northward-bound army may be in danger of collapse!

Zhou Yu's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Sun Quan's face, whose expression was changing.

"Young General, gentlemen, if we do not remove Zhang He, this thorn in our side, while he is still fresh from his defeat, his footing is not yet secure, and Gu Rubing's main force is still far away, he will become a sharp knife stuck in the waist and abdomen of our army once he has established himself in Yuzhang, made connections with all sides, or even waited for Gu Rubing's main force to return to reinforce us!"

At that time, not only will we be unable to confidently expand northward, but we will also have to constantly guard against threats from behind, finding ourselves in the predicament of fighting on two fronts. Opportunities are fleeting; how can we adhere rigidly to the original plan?

Sun Quan felt somewhat uncomfortable under Zhou Yu's gaze. He opened his mouth, his voice trembling slightly.

“Gongjin… what the Commander-in-Chief said makes sense. However… before my father left, he instructed that the most urgent task was to quickly take Jiangdong, establish a firm foothold, and avoid a head-on clash with Liu Bei… and Gu Rubing’s main force too early.”

Zhang He is, after all, a general under Gu Rubing. If we were to launch a direct attack on Yuzhang, what if… what if the battle became a stalemate, and Gu Rubing's main force suddenly returned, or Zhang He held the city and fought to the death, thus depleting our forces? Wouldn't that be… wouldn't that be penny-wise and pound-foolish?

Sun Quan's opposition was not entirely unreasonable; it represented the views of a group of generals, especially those who had suffered losses in battles against Guan Yu on the eastern border or who were afraid of Gu Rubing's army.

They preferred to pursue a relatively "safe" expansion plan rather than tackling the tough challenge of Zhang He.

Sure enough, as soon as Sun Quan finished speaking, a lieutenant stepped forward to echo his words.

"The young general is absolutely right! Commander Zhou, Zhang He is skilled at defense, and Nanchang is a fortified city. Our army has just won a great victory. We should take advantage of this victory to sweep through Wu County and Danyang, expanding our territory by a thousand miles. That would be the best strategy! Why get entangled with Zhang He in Yuzhang, wasting our troops and delaying the opportunity for the Northern Expedition?"

Another captain with an old scar on his face also spoke in a gruff voice.

"Exactly! Gu Rubing and his gang, especially Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, are all killing gods! We finally managed to occupy Kuaiji, so we should take advantage of their absence and seize more territory. If we fight Zhang He to the death and lose our teeth, how will we fight on?"

These words elicited murmurs and nods of agreement from many of the generals. After all, avoiding the strong and attacking the weak is human nature.

Zhou Yu listened quietly, his handsome face expressionless, but the sharp light in his bright eyes grew stronger.

He slowly stepped down from the command table and approached the generals who had voiced their opposition.

His gaze first fell on the lieutenant who echoed Sun Quan, his voice calm and unwavering.

"You say we will sweep through Danyang in Wu County with the momentum of a great victory? I ask you, if Zhang He sends troops from Nanchang to cut off our army's connection with the South China Sea and harass our rear, how much of this 'momentum of a great victory' will remain? How long can this 'sweeping' momentum be maintained?"

The lieutenant was stunned and speechless.

"This... Zhang He might not dare..."

"not necessarily?"

Zhou Yu interrupted him, his tone turning cold.

"For a general to harbor wishful thinking is the path to defeat! As a general, you do not consider the enemy's situation or assess the circumstances, but only follow old strategies, crave comfort, and fear the enemy like a tiger. What use are you?"

Before he finished speaking, Zhou Yu's sword was already drawn from its sheath! The sword flashed like snow and disappeared in an instant!
"puff--!"

The lieutenant didn't even have time to react; he only felt a chill on his neck, then the world spun around him. The last thing he saw was his headless body slowly falling, and Zhou Yu's cold, star-like eyes. Blood splattered, staining the armor of the general beside him.

The hall fell into a deathly silence! Everyone was stunned by this sudden and ruthless act; even their breathing seemed to stop. Sun Quan was so frightened that his face turned deathly pale, and he stumbled back several steps, almost falling, before Huang Gai caught him.

Zhou Yu didn't even glance at the corpse on the ground. He turned his sword and pointed it at the captain with the scar on his face.

"You say that Gu Rubing's men are all killing gods, and you're afraid of a head-on confrontation? Then let me ask you, what is the purpose of our army marching south? Is it to seize territory, or to conquer the world?"

If they dare not even touch Zhang He, a defeated general defending a city alone, and their legs go weak at the mere mention of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's names, how can they possibly stand shoulder to shoulder with Gu Rubing and Cao Cao? Such a mentality is no different from that of clay chickens and earthen dogs! Keeping them around will only disrupt the morale of the army!

"Governor Zhou, please..."

The captain was terrified and was just about to beg for mercy when the sword flashed again!
"Crack!"

Another head fell to the ground, rolled a few times, and came to rest at Sun Quan's feet, its wide-open eyes staring directly at him. Sun Quan made a strange hoarse sound in his throat, almost fainting.

Zhou Yu flicked the blood off his sword, sheathed it, his movements fluid and natural, as if he had just dusted off some dust.

His gaze swept over the silent, pale-faced generals, finally settling on the still-shaken Sun Quan. His tone softened slightly, but still carried an undeniable air of authority.

"Young General, gentlemen. I am not a bloodthirsty man. However, military law is as firm as a mountain, and orders must be obeyed. Today, I execute these two not because they opposed me, but because, as generals, they lacked courage and wisdom, knowing only how to avoid battle and fear the enemy, thus undermining morale! (End of Chapter)"