The big man is on the run

Chapter 167 Sun Ce's Ambition

In Kuaiji County, on the bank of Zheshui (now Qiantang River), Sun Ce is in Fuchun and is commanding the army to attack Yan Baihu.

On this day, there was a torrential rain in the sky, the river flooded, and the river flowed turbulently.

Sun Ce stands on a high mountain by the bank, overlooking the rolling tide.

Since Sun Ce crossed the river, he fought and won victories, not only drove Liu Yao out of Danyang County, but also successfully occupied Wu County. With the land of two counties in his hands, he officially became a vassal.

You know, there are only six counties in Yangzhou!
Jiujiang County and Lujiang County in the north of the Jiangbei were in the hands of Yuan Shu, and the westernmost Yuzhang County was in the hands of Liu Yao, which served as the east gate of Jingzhou Mu Liubiao and Jiangxia Taishou Huangzu.

As for the remaining county, that is, Kuaiji County, it is currently actually controlled by various rebels.

Ever since Sun Ce crossed the river, the rebellious forces have never subsided. There are too many people who disobey him. Seeing that he can't be appeased, Sun Ce can only kill, but the more he kills, the more people resist. Now it has become Sun Ce's confidant.

This year, Wucheng Zou Tuo, Qian Tong, Jiaxing Wang Sheng, and Yan Baihu and others instigated tens of thousands of people to rebel, and defended against danger, refusing to surrender. Sun Ce first attacked Zou Tuo and others, and then defeated Yan Baihu. Yan Baihu fled to Yuhang.

Sun Ce, who had killed so many heads, couldn't put down the butcher knife. After breaking Yuhang, he wanted to kill Kuaijigong Cao Weiteng.

An angry Sun Ce's mother, Mrs. Wu, leaned on the well to scare Sun Ce, telling him that when he first arrived in Jiangdong, he should honor the virtuous and respectful, and give up his meritorious deeds. However, Wei Teng only fulfilled his duty of meritorious service. It is easy to kill him today, but rise up to resist tomorrow. There are even more people here. I can't bear to see the day you are defeated and die, so I jumped into the well and committed suicide first.

Only then did Sun Ce stop the blade.

However, the world is so complicated, it's not that you don't have to kill people if you want to.

Xu Zhao, a local demon in Kuaiji County, merged with Yan Baihu. Xu Zhao's family rebelled and proclaimed himself emperor 20 years ago, and was culled and killed by Sun Jian at that time. This was Sun Jian's first military exploit. It can be traced back to the kind 20 years ago, this time, it is really immortal.

Moreover, Shanyue in Kuaiji County has always been aggressive, and many of Xu Zhao's tribe are from Shanyue, so it can be said that it is difficult to deal with.

After observing the terrain for a long time, Sun Ce turned around and said to the generals behind him: "Send down the order, and immediately build a pontoon bridge to cross the river when the rain stops. Soldiers are precious and fast. We must kill the thief Yan Baihu!"

"promise!"

Everyone agreed, and immediately issued a military order to rectify the army to rest and prepare to cross the river at any time.

"My lord, let's not go to the river, but camp at the foot of the mountain to prevent thieves from harassing us at night?"

A counselor stood up and said.

Sun Ce shook his head.

"The river is so fast that the thieves dare not go ashore. Besides, even if the thieves dare to go ashore, how can I be afraid of the three thousand athletes under my command?"

Hearing Sun Ce's words, everyone nodded.

Indeed, although Sun Ce's troops are not many, most of them are the elite trilogy that started the Southern and Northern Wars in the era of Sun Jian, so there is no need to worry about bandits.

As Sun Ce said, he walked towards the big camp by the river, while the others were stationed on both sides.

Sun Ce returned to the tent, lay on the bed, closed his eyes but couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

His mind is full of the shadow of grandpa Sun Jian.

The despicable Yuan Shu took him and his mother, Mrs. Wu as hostages in order to take the Chuanguo Jade Seal from Grandpa, and threatened Grandpa to hand over the Chuanguo Jade Seal.After Grandpa died with hatred, he had to befriend Yuan Shu in order to inherit Grandpa Sun Jian's legacy, and was played around like a monkey. Until today, he barely laid down a foundation.

Even so, there are many people who do not accept themselves.

Why?Why is it that these so-called "scholars" don't take themselves seriously even though they have already become corporals?

Why?Why is it that it doesn't make sense to reason, and they draw their knives, but these people keep pushing their necks to the blades of their own knives?You can't kill them, you can't kill them, as long as you go out and stay away, there will always be people who will rise up to rebel, aren't they afraid of death?Or is he just so unbearable, unworthy to be the Lord of Jiangdong?

Why is a person like Yuan Shu so incompetent to the extreme? Just because he is a nobleman, there are so many people rushing to join him and obey him. The city gate welcomes him into the Lord.

In this world, why is it like this?
Sun Ce was upset and couldn't figure it out, but he was just a warrior, and his grandfather Sun Jian didn't teach him how to govern the country.

People who rely more on force are more afraid of losing it. Sun Ce never dared to lose a game.

At this time, the curtain of the tent opened, and Zhou Yu entered the tent.

"Bofu!"

"En?" Sun Ce opened his eyes, looked at Zhou Yu who was supposed to be stationed in Wu County, and asked, "Gong Jin, what's the matter? A rebellion broke out in Wu County?"

"That's not the case." Zhou Yu with a beautiful face shook his head and said, "Bo Fu, the court envoy is here. I received him for you and placed him in Wu County first."

"The imperial court?" Sun Ce frowned slightly, and asked, "Is it about Yuan Shu?"

"Yes, the imperial court wants you to draw a clear line with Yuan Shu."

"Hmph, I was thinking, what conditions did the court offer?" Sun Ce asked with a cold snort.

Zhou Yu replied: "The conditions of the imperial court are still very favorable. You are officially appointed as the general who conquers the South, the Marquis of Wu Cheng, and the prefect of Kuaiji."

"There is always a price. The imperial court has given such generous conditions, what do you want me to do?"

Zhou Yu had a strange expression on his face, held back for a moment, and then said, "You don't need to do anything, just draw a clear line with Yuan Shu."

"what?!"

This time it was Sun Ce's turn to be stunned. He didn't have to do anything. He just had to draw a clear line with Yuan Shu, and he could get the title of General Zhengnan, Marquis of Wu Cheng, and prefect of Kuaiji. This series made his rule in Jiangdong change. Something that deserves its name?

You know, Sun Ce does not lack the force to subdue Jiangdong, his biggest headache is that he does not have a name!

It is because he has always ruled Jiangdong as a traitor who expelled Yangzhou Mu Liuyou, that's why so many people oppose him.

But now the imperial court recognized his rule over Jiangdong, and unconsciously gave him a precious gift that cannot be described too much.

"Gongjin, you are a smart person, tell me, is there any fraud in this?"

"There is no fraud, this is a conspiracy, and you are too underestimating the significance of drawing a line with Yuan Shu."

Sun Ce asked in bewilderment, "It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. What's the point?"

"Bo Fu, there are too many twists and turns here." Zhou Yu sighed, and had to explain to him: "No matter what kind of enmity between Mrs. Sun and Yuan Shu, from the outside world, Mrs. Sun is Yuan Shu's most capable person. General, the outside world does not know about our quarrel with Yuan Shu."

Sun Ce seemed to understand something, and Zhou Yu continued to speak upon seeing this.

"As far as the court is concerned, even Gongsun Zan who killed the great Sima and Youzhou Shepherd Liu Yu can be pardoned. In the face of a common enemy, what can't you forgive for expelling Yangzhou Shepherd Liu Yu?"

"Besides, you think that Zhengnan General, Xijue Wuchenghou, and Kuaiji Prefect are very important for you to rule Jiangdong, but in the eyes of the emperor, it is the most important thing to dampen Yuan Shu's momentum and bring back the general trend of the world. The most important thing. Compared with the "potential" in the eyes of the emperor, these titles that are only useful to us don't have much weight in the eyes of the emperor."

"Think about it, if it seems to the outside world that Yuan Shu has just proclaimed himself emperor, and the most important general under his command announces to draw a line with him and refuses to recognize his proclaiming the emperor. The child is reversed?"

"Indeed!"

Sun Ce suddenly realized, and immediately asked: "Gong Jin, what should our army do next? Should we return to Wu County and Danyang County to prevent Yuan Shu from crossing the river to attack?"

Zhou Yu went on to say, "No, let's kill Yan Baihu and Xu Zhao first. Yuan Shu won't deal with us now. There are a group of princes surnamed Liu around him sharpening their knives, waiting for the emperor's order to attack the country's traitors."

"Bo Fu, I do have a plan regarding Yuan Shu and his future path, but this plan is too risky."

"Oh? What's the plan? Let me tell you, Gongjin." Sun Ce asked with interest when he heard the words.

"that is."

After Zhou Yu finished speaking, he told Sun Ce his plan one by one, including a series of calculations.

After hearing Zhou Yu's plan, Sun Ce fell silent.

Sun Ce frowned slightly and asked, "Do you think it can be done?"

Zhou Yu hesitated for a while, finally sighed, and said: "Bo Fu, this plan is very risky and should not be carried out lightly. My suggestion is to wait for Chen Yu's movements before proceeding with the plan!"

An embarrassing problem Sun Ce is facing now is, if he accepts the appointment of the imperial court and conquers Kuaiji County, how should he expand?Which path should we develop in the future?

You know, if you stand with the imperial court, you will definitely not be able to fight westward.

To the west are Liu Yao from Yuzhang County, Huang Zu from Jiangxia County, and Liu Biao from Jingzhou. Not only will they be difficult to fight against obstacles, but they will become traitors again in name. At that time, without Yuan Shu to attract firepower, it will be easy to be defeated. will be isolated by the court.

To the east is the sea and the mysterious Yizhou, and to the south is the more barren Jiaozhou.

Therefore, the only way is to develop northward.

If we go to the northwest and attack Yuan Shu's Jiujiang and Lujiang counties head-on, Sun Ce still doesn't have enough confidence, and his troops are really too small.

But going to the northeast, what you have to face is not Xuzhou Shepherd Liu Bei, but Chen Yu who is now living in Haixi, Guangling County, Xuzhou.

Chen Yu is nominally the prefect of Wu County, General An Dong, but the prefect of Wu County is not in Wu County, because Chen Yu fell out with Yuan Shu several years ago. Chen Wen died of illness in the fourth year of Chuping, and Yuan Yi was killed. , Yuan Shu appointed Chen Yu as the governor of Yangzhou. After Yuan Shu was defeated by Cao Cao in Fengqiu, he fled south to Shouchun, and Chen Yu refused Yuan Shu's entry.Yuan Shu retreated to Yinling and prepared to attack Chen Yu. Chen Yu was afraid and sent his younger brother Chen Cong to seek peace.

If Sun Ce occupies the three counties of Wu County, Danyang County, and Kuaiji County, and wants to develop northward, he must get rid of Chen Yu in Guangling County.

And Zhou Yu's strategy dedicated to Sun Ce was to take advantage of this opportunity to jointly attack Yuan Shu and attack Chen Yu first.

Because the rebel forces in Wu County have always been in contact with Chen Yu who is across the river. Although Chen Yu is in the same position as Sun Ce in the crusade against Yuan Shu, the fundamental interests of the two are in conflict.

Sun Ce wanted to cross the river to the north to expand his territory, while Chen Yu wanted to cross the river to the south and take back Wujun.

"The imperial court wants to unite the princes from all walks of life to crusade against Yuan Shu. It can't be done overnight. It's normal for the messengers to make a plan after several months of communication. It's fine to implement it at that time. Don't worry, Bo Fu."

Sun Ce no longer hesitated, and finally nodded.

(End of this chapter)