With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Liu Bei said to Zhou Yu, "Grand Commander, if you want to take Xichuan, I am willing to lend you a hand."

Zhou Yu was taken aback, then asked with interest, "I wonder how you intend to help me, Imperial Uncle?"

Liu Bei said, "After the Grand Commander leaves, Jiangling must not be lost. Although I am not talented, I am willing to do my best to protect Jiangling for you and ensure that the Grand Commander has no worries."

Liu Bei's words only made things worse, as they immediately displeased Zhou Yu and made him wary.

The importance of Jiangling is self-evident. How could Zhou Yu possibly hand Jiangling over to Liu Bei?

He not only refused to hand over Jiangling to Liu Bei, but also planned to take Liu Bei with him to Xichuan.

Zhou Yu smiled and shook his head. "I am very grateful for Xuande's good intentions, but the matter of Xichuan is of great importance. Without Xuande's help, I am afraid it will be difficult to achieve our goals. Xuande is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and has two brave generals, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who are unstoppable. With the Sun and Liu families working together, I will have to rely on Xuande a lot. Besides, you are a member of the Han imperial family. If necessary, you can also help me persuade Liu Zhang, which will save me a lot of trouble."

Zhou Yu praised Liu Bei extensively, his aim being to bring Liu Bei along to Xichuan.

Liu Bei immediately looked troubled, but Zhou Yu, seeing this expression, thought it was perfectly normal.

He was, after all, Liu Bei, the imperial uncle of the Han Dynasty, yet he was being manipulated by Zhou Yu, so naturally he was unwilling to accept it.

But Zhou Yu didn't know that Liu Bei was putting on an act.

Liu Bei deliberately acted as if he didn't want to go, precisely because he did want to go.

If he acts too readily, it might arouse Zhou Yu's suspicion.

“Xuande, the alliance between Sun and Liu is beneficial to both sides. As you have seen, after we joined forces, we successfully seized Jingnan and Jiangling. Next, we will take Xichuan. With Xuande by my side, I feel more confident.”

Guan Yu remained expressionless, but was extremely angry inside. He looked at Zhou Yu, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

Sun Quan and Zhou Yu both addressed Liu Bei as "Xuande," and as the elder brother of Zhang Fei and the imperial uncle, it was clear from this address that Zhou Yu and Sun Quan deeply despised Liu Bei.

Liu Bei pretended to be hesitant and hesitated for a while before speaking: "I am grateful for the Grand Commander's appreciation and I am willing to do my best."

Zhou Yu nodded in satisfaction, "Cao Cao was too arrogant in the past. After we take Xichuan, we will turn around and I will definitely help you avenge your humiliation. With the Sun and Liu families joining forces, Cao Cao will be no match for us at all."

Zhou Yu's polite words sounded nice, but Liu Bei wasn't stupid; he couldn't possibly take them seriously.

"Oh? Right."

Zhou Yu suddenly remembered something, "In order to strengthen the ties between our two families through marriage, after we take Xichuan, I will put in a good word for you with the Marquis of Wu and help you arrange a marriage."

Just then, Lu Su walked in. Lu Su was taken aback and wondered why Zhou Yu was acting as a matchmaker for someone else.

Lu Su then asked, "Gongjin, may I ask whose daughter she is?"

Zhou Yu smiled and said, "She is the younger sister of the Marquis of Wu."

Lu Su's eyes widened. He wanted to scold him, but due to the occasion, he could only frown and give Zhou Yu a dissatisfied look.

Liu Bei smiled calmly, remaining as still as a meditating monk. No matter what Zhou Yu's intentions were, a mere woman could not shake Liu Bei's resolve.

Zhou Yu discussed his plan with everyone again. He wanted to march into Xichuan with Liu Bei, and planned to lead 15,000 men.

Among them, Liu Bei led 5,000 men as the vanguard to clear the way, while Zhou Yu commanded the central army, leading 10,000 troops as reinforcements.

After the meeting ended and Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei left, Lu Su couldn't help but say, "Gongjin, such a big matter as sending troops to Xichuan should be decided after the lord agrees. You've already made the arrangements, which is a bit too hasty."

Lu Su wanted to say, "You acted so arbitrarily, what about our lord? Do you even respect our lord?"

Zhou Yu, however, had his own ideas. "Zijing, good opportunities are fleeting. I have already made my decision. Besides, this kind of thing is all about surprise. If we plan for too long and it gets leaked, the enemy will be on guard, which will be bad."

Lu Su stamped his feet in frustration. "Gongjin, what can I say to you? You may not have any selfish motives, but our lord is the ruler of Jiangdong. And you actually want to marry the princess to Liu Bei. Isn't that a decision you made without my consent?"

Zhou Yu was quite frank, "That's right, I saw it long ago. Liu Bei is not willing to obey us. My promise of marriage was just to appease him temporarily. Once we take Xichuan..."

Zhou Yu's expression suddenly changed, and a chilling killing intent flashed in his eyes.

Lu Su was startled. "Could it be...could it be that after taking Xichuan, you intend to kill Liu Bei?"

Zhou Yu glanced outside warily, then nodded to Lu Su, “Indeed, I observe that Liu Bei harbors hidden strategies and remains calm all day long. If such a person is not eliminated sooner or later, he will become a major threat. Moreover, Pang Tong is assisting him. Once he helps us take Xichuan, we can find an opportunity to eliminate them all.”

Zhou Yu's style of doing things made Lu Su feel uneasy.

"Gongjin, there are some things I think should be discussed with the lord beforehand."

Zhou Yu waved his hand, "Zijing, our lord is currently in a fit of anger. Zhang Zhao's entire family has been killed, and the people are in a state of panic. If we were to inform him of the military expedition, wouldn't that just add fuel to the fire? Our lord is always cautious. How about this, after I leave, you will be in charge of guarding Jiangling, and then you can inform our lord."

Lu Su tried his best to persuade Zhou Yu, but to no avail. Zhou Yu was so anxious that he was like an ant on a hot pan, not knowing what to do.

Zhou Yu acted swiftly, deciding to send troops two days later.

On the surging river, a fleet of ships stretched for miles, their banners obscuring the sun. The tall warships stood majestically in the river wind, their sharp blades gleaming with a cold light, as if they could tear apart any obstacle.

Zhou Yu, clad in magnificent armor, stood dashing at the bow of the ship. His gaze was resolute, and his confident smile revealed his unwavering determination. Behind him, the soldiers were all spirited, their eyes burning with the desire for battle.

Liu Bei led the vanguard with 5,000 men at the very front, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei standing on either side of him.

Pang Tong leaned leisurely against the gunwale, watching the surging river. He had a half-smile on his face, a look of utter delight on his lips.

The Jiangdong troops were fully prepared and looked imposing. However, Lu Su, standing on the riverbank, could not be happy at all. Everything ahead was unknown, which made him feel uncertain.

Zhou Yu strode over, the river breeze brushing his face and ruffling his hair. A wide belt, inlaid with jewels and jade, cinched his waist, and a long sword hung from his arm, its hilt adorned with gems and its scabbard engraved with exquisite patterns. He wore combat boots embroidered with cloud designs, giving him a majestic appearance.

Zhou Yu was handsome, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his gaze revealing determination and confidence. A slight smile played on his lips, as if he could already see the dawn of victory. He was always so confident, so poised, as if everything was under his control. Lu Su looked at Zhou Yu, his feelings incredibly complex. To be honest, he admired Zhou Yu, admiring all his qualities.

He was dashing and debonair, always so confident and self-assured.

However, Zhou Yu was like a brave warrior riding the tide, always wanting to stir up trouble and take risks, while Lu Su was mature, prudent, and more composed.

Zhou Yu instructed, "Zijing, after I leave, I'll leave Jiangling to you. Also, regarding the Dragon Guards in Chaisang, I thought of a plan last night. Come closer and listen."

Lu Su quickly moved closer; Sun Quan was extremely worried about this matter.

Zhou Yu whispered a few words in his ear, and Lu Su immediately smiled. "I knew you would have a way."

"Zijing, after I leave, I entrust everything to you," Zhou Yu instructed again.

From his eyes, Lu Su could fully feel Zhou Yu's affection for Jiangdong. Overwhelmed with emotions, Lu Su could only nod silently.

Zhou Yu smiled and said, "Zijing, I am good at attacking, and you are good at defending. I am very confident in entrusting things to you."

After saying this, Zhou Yu strode away, and Zhou Tai, Dong Xi, and the others hurriedly followed. Lu Su watched Zhou Yu's tall and straight figure disappear into the distance, and silently prayed, "May everything go smoothly!"

Despite the surging waves on the river, the mighty army was unable to stop its advance. The warships cut through the waves, splashing up layers of white spray, like a giant dragon galloping, with a magnificent momentum.

Liu Bei's journey was eerily quiet. Two days later, the group arrived at Ba County. Liu Bei decisively launched an attack, with Zhang Fei taking the land route and Guan Yu taking the water route, to launch a surprise attack on Ba County.

In fact, Xichuan had already received the hint, and soon, the good news was delivered to Zhou Yu: Zhang Fei had released Yan Yan out of righteousness and successfully captured Ba County.

Zhou Yu was very satisfied and continued to urge Liu Bei to advance.

Liu Bei then swept through the enemy lines with unstoppable momentum, and Yan Yan also provided a great deal of assistance, persuading many of the guards at the passes to surrender.

Good news kept coming in, the war was going very smoothly, and Zhou Yu was very pleased. The army passed Jiangzhou and headed north along the Fu River. Then Liu Bei captured Fucheng and Mianzhu.

On this day, Liu Zhang, based in Chengdu, summoned his civil and military officials together.

Liu Zhang spoke up: "Gentlemen, Zhou Yu wanted to seize my Western Sichuan, but fortunately His Majesty saw through it long ago. The plan to lure him into a trap is almost complete. Luocheng must be defended for me. I wonder who is willing to take the order to guard Luocheng?"

With the emperor and Cao Cao backing him up, and Liu Bei as his inside man, Liu Zhang was still very confident, no matter how incompetent he was.

"Father, I am willing to go!"

Just as everyone was watching, a man stepped out from below the hall. He was none other than Liu Xun, the eldest son of Liu Zhang, the governor of Yizhou!
Liu Zhang was somewhat worried, "This battle cannot be lost. My son, are you confident?"

Liu Xun stood tall and proud, replying firmly, "If Zhou Yu wants to cross Luocheng, he'll have to step over my dead body first!"

Zhang Ren, Ling Bao, Deng Xian, Huang Quan, Wang Lei, and others all showed their admiration upon seeing Liu Xun's sense of responsibility.

Seeing his son's determination, Liu Zhang nodded with satisfaction. "Alright, I will allocate 20,000 troops for you, and have Zhang Ren, Ling Bao, and Deng Xian accompany you."

The generals and soldiers readily accepted the order, and Liu Xun immediately mustered his troops, with 20,000 soldiers rushing to Luocheng overnight.

Liu Xun was not like Zhao Kuo, who only talked about war on paper. After arriving in Luocheng, he immediately began preparations.

The city walls were densely packed with strong bows, crossbows, rolling logs, and thunderbolts, making ample preparations. Liu Xun then went out of the city to observe the surrounding terrain and set up two large stockades on the hillsides to the left and right of Luocheng, forming a pincer movement to protect Luocheng.

After the meeting, as he walked out of the council hall, Meng Da sighed. Seeing that no one was around, he said to Fa Zheng, "Xiaozhi, did you see that? The eldest son is personally leading the troops. Zhang Ren, Leng Bao, and Deng Xian are all seasoned generals who can stand alone. I'm afraid Zhou Yu won't be able to take Luocheng."

Fa Zheng waved his hand calmly and said, "No rush, let's see first."

Throughout the journey, Zhang Song acted as a living map, guiding Zhou Yu along the way. When they were about to reach Luocheng, Zhou Yu repeatedly inquired and learned that there were two mountain paths, one large and one small, leading to Luocheng. Zhou Yu then decided to split his troops into two groups.

"Xuande, will you choose the main road or the side road?" Zhou Yu asked Liu Bei with a smile.

Liu Bei calmly replied, "Grand Commander, if you take the main road, I will take the side road; if you take the side road, I will take the main road."

Zhang Song reminded him, "The main road is flat, but the journey is longer; the side road is difficult to travel and is shorter."

"Please choose first, Grand Commander. I'm fine with whichever side I choose!"

Liu Bei remained calm and magnanimous, letting Zhou Yu choose first, saying he was fine with going either way. This undoubtedly put Zhou Yu in a very passive position.

Zhou Yu stared at Liu Bei with a half-smile, thinking to himself: "Well done, Liu Bei, you've outmaneuvered me."

If Zhou Yu chooses the main road, it feels like he's bullying Liu Bei, as if he's taking advantage of him.

Zhou Yu laughed and said, "In that case, Xuande, take the main road, and I'll take the side road."

Liu Bei readily agreed, and the troops immediately began to cook. After the meal, the troops split into two, with Liu Bei taking the main road and marching in a grand procession straight to Luocheng.

Zhou Yu naturally took the back path, but little did he know that Liu Xun had already set up scouts along the way to monitor him. Upon learning that Zhou Yu had taken the back path, a cold glint flashed in Liu Xun's eyes. "Zhou Yu, you've brought this upon yourself. You can't blame anyone else!"

Liu Xun wanted to personally lead troops to ambush Zhou Yu, but Zhang Ren volunteered, saying, "Young Master, let me go instead."

Zhang Ren was a middle-aged military general. He was tall and upright, with broad shoulders and a powerful build, exuding the imposing aura of a warrior. His face was serious and resolute, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes that revealed his decisiveness and resolve.

He wore a silver helmet and heavy armor, the patterns and decorations on which revealed his status and rank. He held a long spear, the tip of which gleamed with a cold light, sending chills down one's spine.

His eyes were firm and loyal. Zhang Ren was full of loyalty to Liu Zhang and his son. He was a man who was willing to give his life to protect Xichuan!
At the same time, he was also Liu Xun's teacher, and Liu Xun's spear skills were a direct result of Zhang Ren's teachings.

Liu Xun glanced at Zhang Ren, seeing his solemn and determined expression, and nodded. "Alright, in that case, I'll leave it to General Zhang!"

Zhang Ren immediately clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, "I will certainly not fail your trust, young master! Zhou Yu is doomed!" (End of Chapter)