Three Kingdoms: Madam, I am a decent person

Chapter 728 Zhou Yu and Pang Tong's Choice
The news that 500,000 troops from Hebei were about to march south quickly spread throughout the entire territory of the Han Dynasty.

While Cao Cao was fully preparing for war.

Xiakou Port in Jiangxia County.

Handsome tent.

Zhou Yu and Pang Tong were secretly plotting matters concerning Jingzhou.

Recently, secret intelligence has been circulating in Xiangyang County, Jingzhou: Liu Biao has been poisoned with a slow-acting poison, and the matter has been discovered!
Liu Biao was furious and massacred all the maids and servants in the Jingzhou General's Mansion.

However, it was too late to change anything.

Liu Biao's days are numbered!

The entire city of Xiangyang was in a state of unease, as if a storm was brewing.

The five powerful local clans of Jingzhou were all sharpening their knives, ready to pounce.

Zhou Yu and Pang Tong were also incredibly excited.

With Liu Biao's death, his soldiers would surely turn against the five powerful local clans of Jingzhou.

After more than a decade of peace, Jingzhou is finally about to be plunged into bloodshed once again.

At that time, while the two sides were engaged in fierce fighting, Jiangdong intervened and seized Jingzhou.

The tripartite division of power has thus been achieved!
Zhou Yu and Pang Tong were both excited at the thought of the tripartite division of the world.

Just then, a hurried figure burst in from outside—

Lü Meng!

Lü Meng was one of a group of young scions from powerful aristocratic families who were promoted through a compromise between Sun Quan, the Marquis of Wu in Jiangdong, and these families.

Lu Meng was both brave and resourceful, and was greatly favored by Zhou Yu.

Therefore, a year ago, Zhou Yu transferred Lü Meng from Sun Quan's camp in Qu'a to serve under him.

Seeing Lü Meng enter without warning, Zhou Yu frowned slightly but didn't react. He asked, "What's the matter? Have you forgotten what I taught you?"

Lu Meng paused for a moment, then turned to leave.

Pang Tong, standing to the side, laughed and said, "Alright, it's all done! Tell me, what's the matter that you're in such a hurry?"

Lu Meng then hurriedly said, "Just now, while I was patrolling the port, I discovered that the Qiao family's convoy was heading north."

"They also carried a large amount of grain."

“Normally, the Qiao family caravan mainly sells grain, and we in Jiangdong are their biggest buyers.”

Zhou Yu and Pang Tong both nodded.

Lu Meng said, "But this time it's strange, all their grain has been transported back!"

"I spent a lot of money to bribe someone to get the information."

"The reason why the Qiao family's caravan brought back grain was because the Qiao family received a military order from the Hebei court that 500,000 troops from Hebei were to march south and confront the Xuchang court head-on."

"This was also agreed upon by the Hebei leader Zhang Sui beforehand, to allow two years of rest and recuperation."

"The time has come."

"Moreover, I don't know if that person was deliberately misleading me or if it was the truth."

"It is said that the Hebei court will send 500,000 troops south this time."

Zhou Yu and Pang Tong's expressions changed drastically at the same time, and they exchanged a glance.

Zhou Yu's face paled slightly. He quickly glanced at the map beside him, his gaze sweeping over the Yellow River area. His voice was somewhat suppressed as he asked, "Five hundred thousand troops?"

"The area around the Yellow River?"

"I'm afraid Cao Cao's army won't be able to hold out."

Lu Meng hurriedly replied, "My lord, I think so too."

"If the news is true, should we abandon Jingzhou and support Cao Cao?"

"The lips are dead and the teeth are cold."

"Once Cao Cao is defeated, we'll be next."

"How many talented people are there in Hebei?"

"That scoundrel Zhang Liao, with only six thousand men, was able to defeat our army of one hundred thousand—"

Before Lü Meng could finish speaking, Zhou Yu suddenly turned around, startling him so much that he choked back his words.

Seeing that Lü Meng dared not continue, Zhou Yu turned to Pang Tong and asked, "Shiyuan, what do you think?"

Pang Tong held a small feather fan in his right hand, gently fanning himself while shaking his head and saying, "Don't panic!"

"Cao Cao is no longer the Cao Cao of the past."

"Cao Cao has now defeated Ma Chao's Ma family army, united the warlords of Guanzhong, and opened up Liangzhou and Sili." "He is now in charge of four provinces."

"Hebei's greatest strength lies in its cavalry."

"In the past two years, Cao Cao has been training his cavalry extensively with the help of the warlords in Guanzhong."

"With Cao Cao's command, even if those brutes of Guanzhong cannot withstand the invasion of the Hebei army, they can at least slow down their advance."

"Although it would be best for us to help Cao Cao now."

"However, we only have Jiangdong, which doesn't even amount to half of Yangzhou."

"If Cao Cao can be severely damaged by Hebei, it may not necessarily be a bad thing for us."

"How can we allow others to snore on the side of the bed?"

"Cao Cao has become weaker, while we are relatively stronger."

"He will be even more determined to cooperate with us."

"The best course of action now is to take Jingzhou."

"Otherwise, we are too weak, and Cao Cao might one day lose his mind and try to annex us, and then fight Hebei one-on-one."

"Moreover, Liu Biao doesn't have many days left to live."

"Are we going to let all our efforts go to waste?"

"impossible."

Looking at Zhou Yu, Pang Tong said with a serious expression, "You can't explain this to the Marquis of Wu either."

"The main reason he supported our plot to seize Jingzhou this time was that he led 100,000 naval troops and was defeated by Zhang Liao's 6,000 garrison troops, and he faced a lot of criticism."

"Therefore, he wants to use you, Gongjin, to plot against Jingzhou, thereby diverting the pressure."

“If we give up now, it will be as if we have done nothing at all in the past year.”

"Those arrogant aristocratic families in Jiangdong watched helplessly as Jingzhou completely lost hope."

"At that time, they will surely vent their anger on Lord Wu."

"The Marquis of Wu has compromised with the powerful clans and has nowhere to vent his anger, so he will surely vent it on you, Gongjin."

"Gongjin, have you considered what kind of situation you will face at that time?"

"Gongjin, you are not one of the Marquis of Wu's men. Have all these years of scheming made you forget your own predicament?"

"Moreover, Cao Cao was far from being as fragile as imagined."

Upon hearing Pang Tong's words, Zhou Yu put his hands behind his back and began to pace back and forth in the command tent.

The thought of giving up Jingzhou, which was almost within his grasp, made Zhou Yu frown at Sun Quan's cold gaze.

A year ago, in order to obtain this opportunity, he persuaded Sun Quan and Lady Wu to send their daughter, Sun Ren, to Ye City in Hebei for a marriage alliance.

If this attempt fails, Sun Quan and Lady Wu will definitely be furious.

As for Cao Cao—

He and Pang Tong have been keeping a close eye on the progress they've made in recent years.

This is why he planned to seize Jingzhou in this way.

Taking Jingzhou would give us a better position to negotiate with Cao Cao.

Otherwise, with only the small territory of Jiangdong, every time they negotiated with Cao Cao, it was as if a subordinate was looking up to a superior.

Thinking of this, Zhou Yu glanced at Pang Tong and said, "Shiyuan, you are right."

“A journey of a hundred miles begins with a single step.”

"Now that Liu Biao is about to die, it is the perfect opportunity for us to take over Jingzhou."

"Giving up for Cao Cao is not worth it."

"Moreover, Cao Cao was not as fragile as imagined."

"Once we take Jingzhou, it will be enough time for us to head north and assist Cao Cao."

Looking at Lü Meng, Zhou Yu said, "Give the order that all soldiers are forbidden from spreading rumors about Hebei heading south."

"Everyone should do their own job."

"After we take Jingzhou, we can discuss other matters."

"Everything else should take a back seat."

Lu Meng then gave a heavy reply and quickly left.

Zhou Yu called Pang Tong to continue their secret plot regarding Jingzhou.

(End of this chapter)