My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Chapter 136 Are we fighting against the gods? Why not depose Sun Quan and replace him with a new ruler of Jiangdong?
With a scream, a column of blood flew into the air.

Cao Hong's huge body was knocked off his horse by Zhao Yun like paper, and he fell heavily to the ground.

With his heart pierced, Cao Hong's remaining life faded away like lightning.

He lay on the ground, his hands covering his bleeding heart, his eyes gradually closing, but still filled with grief and anger.

"Meng De, you have to avenge me, avenge me——"

After his last mournful cry, Cao Hong's body became completely stiff, unable to move anymore.

He was unable to close his eyes after all, and the only remaining look in his eyes was frozen in a moment of unwillingness.

"Sooner or later I will kill Cao the thief and reunite you brothers!"

Zhao Yun snorted coldly, swept his silver spear across, cut off Cao Hong's head, and held it high on the spear tip.

He took a deep breath and shouted:
"Cao Hong has been executed. Those who surrender will be spared, but those who resist will be killed!"

The roar, which was full of energy, spread in all directions, making the scalps of Cao's army who were resisting stubbornly at the ferry tingle.

When they turned around and saw their General Cao's head hanging high in the air, they were all horrified and their weapons dropped from their hands.

The remaining fighting spirit also fell apart at this moment.

Wow~~
Weapons were thrown to the ground in pieces.

The Cao army soldiers knelt on the ground in groups, gave up resistance, and surrendered to Liu's army in an organized manner.

In an instant, the sounds of killing at the ferry completely died down, leaving only the coming and going of people begging for surrender.

Nearly 20,000 Cao's soldiers were either killed or surrendered, and almost the entire army was wiped out.

Zhao Yun let out a light breath, holding Cao Hong's head, and turned his gaze towards Chaisang downstream.

The east is getting brighter and the sun is rising.

Its daybreak.

...

Jiangdong, Moling.

A banquet has just ended.

Sun Quan, who was slightly drunk, stroked his purple beard and watched Zhu Huan and the other three leave, with a satisfied smile on his lips.

Gu, Lu, Zhu and Zhang are the four surnames in Wu, and are the most powerful surnames in Jiangdong.

Whether these four surnames support the Sun family or not greatly affects the people's support among the Jiangdong gentry and wealthy families.

Not long after Sun Quan ascended the throne, he changed his policy and changed his brother Sun Ce's policy of killing and suppressing the wealthy families in Jiangdong. He instead adopted a policy of appeasement and winning them over, and recruited a group of wealthy and famous scholars as officials.

However, winning over people does not mean giving them important positions. From Bafu to the key points of various counties in Jiangdong, most of the positions were still filled by the old men from Huai and Si left behind by Sun Ce.

The failure of the third expedition to Xiakou and the huge force of Liu Bei's army in the eastward expedition forced Sun Quan to adjust his policy again and accelerate the compromise and integration with the Jiangdong nobles.

In order to make up for the loss of troops and obtain money, food and manpower from various powerful families, Sun Quan could only open a large number of key positions to the powerful families.

At today's banquet, Sun Quan, with the help of Lu Xun, invited the leaders of the Gu, Zhu and Zhang families to a banquet to show his reliance on them and to win them over in person.

Of course, verbal appeals could not fool these cunning men. Sun Quan appointed prefects as prefects to those who deserved them, recruited those who deserved them into the government, increased the number of troops for those who deserved them, and gave them all kinds of high-ranking positions and generous gifts without hesitation.

The three of them naturally understood what he meant. They knew that Sun Quan was in an unfavorable situation and had to change Sun Ce's high-pressure policy and choose to bow to the Jiangdong nobles and compromise.

In a sense, this compromise can be regarded as a humiliating treaty.

Regardless of whether Sun Quan was forced or took the initiative, the result was exactly what they had dreamed of.

The military and political power of Jiangdong finally began to shift from the hands of the outsiders from Huaihe and Si rivers to the hands of the Jiangdong people themselves.

So Gu Yong and the other three naturally reciprocated the favor and expressed their support for Sun Quan generously. They promised to call on the powerful families in Jiangdong, big and small, to offer troops, money and food, and to work together with Sun Quan to fight against Liu Bei.

Sun Quan got what he wanted and was so happy that he couldn't help but drink a few more glasses.

"My Lord, I believe that our policy towards the Shanyue people should also change from suppressing them to appeasing them."

"The Shanyue people are known for their bravery. If we can persuade them to surrender and serve as soldiers, you will gain at least tens of thousands of elite soldiers, greatly replacing the losses in the three expeditions to Xiakou."

"By then, when our army is revived and Commander Lu defeats Liu Bei at Chaisang, we will have the confidence to take Jingzhou on our own without relying on outsiders."

Lu Xun, standing by, lowered his voice and offered another plan without making any noise.

Sun Quan's eyes lit up.

Lu Xun's words "don't rely on outsiders" naturally alluded to the expulsion or even annexation of the 30,000 Cao troops led by Cao Hong.

In this way, Cao Cao's forces could be completely expelled from the south of the Yangtze River. Fortunately, after defeating Liu Bei's main force, he took Jingzhou alone.

"Bo Yan is absolutely right. Surrendering to Cao Cao was originally a temporary solution. If I leave those 30,000 Cao troops in the south, I will always feel a lump in my throat..."

Sun Quan seemed to be thinking about something, and turned his gaze towards Chaisang:

"Right now, it's time for Duke Zimingyi and his men to launch a fire attack and defeat the Big Ear Bandits..."

For some reason, Sun Quan suddenly felt a sense of inexplicable uneasiness in his heart.

Lu Xun smiled faintly and said comfortingly:
"The southeast wind blew hard the past two days, and it blew for two consecutive days. I think it's the same in Chaisang."

"When the southeast wind blows, that's when Commander Lu will take action. Xun believes the news of victory should be on the way—"

Before he could utter the word "road", a soldier came stumbling over in panic, delivering a battle report from Chaisang eight hundred miles away.

"Good news!"

Sun Quan was greatly encouraged. He snatched it away and couldn't wait to unfold it and take a look.

The joy on his face gradually disappeared, his mouth opened wider and wider, his eyes suddenly widened, and his face was frozen in a moment of astonishment and shock.

His hands shook, and the silk book fell out of his hands.

Lu Xun had a bad feeling and hurriedly picked up the silk book. He glanced at it quickly and his face changed drastically with horror.

“How…how could this happen?”

An exclamation of disbelief was heard.

Han Dang's feigned surrender was exposed, and he was captured and beheaded by Liu Bei. Lü Meng's army of 20,000 suffered heavy casualties in an ambush set by Guan Yu. Cao Hong was killed by Zhao Yun at Guangji, and his entire 20,000-strong army was annihilated. Lü Meng, with only 5,000 soldiers, was trapped in Chaisang, where he was besieged by Liu Bei's army, ten times larger, which crossed the river...

The details of the disastrous defeat at Chaisang are clearly described.

Every word was like a thunder, mercilessly striking Lu Xun's head.

The master and the servant turned their heads tremblingly and looked at each other in astonishment. Their expressions were surprisingly consistent, as if they had seen a ghost.

next moment.

Sun Quan felt a tightness in his chest, his vision blurred, and he could no longer stand steadily. He staggered back three steps and fell to the ground.

"Lord!"

Lu Xun was shocked and rushed forward to support him. Sun Quan covered his forehead with one hand and pressed his chest with the other, then collapsed on the doorstep as if exhausted, gasping for breath.

The 50,000-strong coalition army was defeated, and their elite navy suffered heavy losses. Even Han Dang, a third-generation veteran, lost his life after Cheng Pu...

This series of heavy blows had made his mind go blank and he could no longer breathe.

"General Lu's plan was so flawless and ingenious, how could Liu Bei have seen through it?"

"Could it be that General Yigong's feigned surrender was flawed? But that self-torture tactic was truly a stroke of genius. How could it be possible for it to be discovered?"

"Unless you are a god with the divine eye, who can see through this plan?"

Lu Xun's thoughts were in turmoil, and he was muttering in a trembling voice.

Suddenly I shuddered, and a name popped into my mind:
Xiao He!

"It's rumored that Xiao He is a disciple of an otherworldly immortal. Could it be that the rumors are true? Does he really have divine powers to predict the future?"

"If that's the case, how can mortals like us possibly defeat him?"

"This this…"

Lu Xun sucked in a breath of cold air, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on the back of his forehead.

"Lü Meng——"

Sun Quan suddenly roared, interrupting Lu Xun's trance.

He struggled to stand up, his face twisted, and angrily cursed towards Chaisang:

"I was truly blind to trust someone as mediocre as you. If it weren't for you, how could I have suffered such heavy losses?"

"You swore an oath to me, guaranteeing with your life that you would defeat the Big Eared Thief in this battle!"

"Why did you break your promise? Why did you lose to that big-eared thief again? Why, why—"

Sun Quan was like a woman abandoned by a heartless man. She was immersed in extreme disappointment and cursed in anger and grief.

The ruler of Jiangdong was now in great confusion and had lost all composure.

Lu Xun wanted to persuade him, but he didn't dare to say a word. He could only sigh helplessly and watch Sun Quan go crazy.

Sun Quan cursed for a long time until he was exhausted and finally fell down to the ground.

After venting his grievances, Sun Quan finally regained some composure.

After a violent shudder, anger was instantly replaced by terror.

More than half of the 50,000-strong coalition forces were lost, the navy, which was their most powerful force, suffered heavy casualties, and even Cao's army lost nearly 20,000 soldiers.

Now Lu Meng is surrounded in Chaisang, and his fall is only a matter of time.

Once Liu Bei captured Chaisang and his army moved eastward along the river, how would he resist?
"Bo Yan, what should I do? Tell me, what should I do?"

Sun Quan grabbed Lu Xun and asked in a trembling voice, obviously confused.

Lu Xun's face was bitter, and he could only sigh helplessly:
"My lord, at this point, we can only ask Governor Zhou to take charge of the situation and then make long-term plans."

Sun Quan instantly quieted down.

Confusing, unwilling, ashamed...

After going through countless changes, his expression finally ended with helplessness.

"Boyan, quickly prepare the carriage and come with me to visit Gongjin."

"Ugh--"

...

Moling City, Zhou Palace.

A practice banquet is in progress.

Zhou Yu, who had just recovered from his illness, sat in the main seat, accompanied by Lu Su. Sitting in the guest seat was a black-clothed scholar in his early thirties with thick eyebrows, a raised nose, and a strange appearance.

"Sir, you've departed and returned to Jingzhou. Could it be that you intend to join Liu Bei and become an enemy of Jiangdong?"

Zhou Yu seemed to be asking casually, but Lu Su, who was standing beside him, was startled and glanced at Zhou Yu secretly.

He saw a barely perceptible hint of murderous intent in Zhou Yu's eyes.

"During my years traveling in Jiangdong, the governor treated me like a distinguished guest. I will always remember this kindness in my heart."

"As long as the governor is still alive, I will never become his enemy."

The black-robed scholar replied calmly and calmly.

The murderous intent in Zhou Yu's eyes finally faded.

Lu Su secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly added a spoonful of warm wine to the scholar, saying with a smile:

"My lord reigns supreme in Jiangdong, a wise ruler of our time, always respectful to the wise and humble. Why don't you stay and assist my lord? Gongjin and I will certainly recommend you."

The scholar took a sip of wine and said:
"It is true that the Marquis of Wu dominates Jiangdong, but is he a wise ruler of the time..."

The scholar raised his lips slightly, stopped talking, and then sighed:
"Although I am not an enemy of Governor Zhou, as a native of Jingzhou, if I assist the Marquis of Wu, wouldn't that make me an enemy of Jingzhou?"

"Brother Zijing, I can only appreciate your kindness."

Lu Su couldn't force it and could only sigh with regret.

After several rounds of drinking, the scholar stood up and said goodbye.

Zhou Yu did not try to keep him, but just stood up and walked him out the door.

Before leaving, Zhou Yu suddenly thought of something and asked:
"Sir, you have great talent. I would like to ask you if you have any good ideas to reverse the current unfavorable situation in Jiangdong."

The scholar pondered for a moment.

After hesitating for a moment, the scholar said:

"I don't dare to claim to have a good plan, but given the current situation in Jiangdong, only a leader with great talent and strategy can have a chance to turn the tide."

"Excuse my bluntness, but you are the only one in Jiangdong who can be considered a man of great talent and strategy, and that is you, the governor."

At this point, the scribe suddenly lowered his voice:

"Why doesn't the Governor appoint General Bofu's son, Sun Shao, as the ruler of Jiangdong instead? That way, the Governor can fully control Jiangdong as Prime Minister."

"In this way, Jiangdong will be able to have a new look and a chance to turn the situation around."

Zhou Yu's expression suddenly changed.

This person was actually asking me to depose Sun Quan?

(End of this chapter)