funbook-pk Chapter 1038 Sun Quan's Dilemma
Chapter 1038 Sun Quan's Dilemma
The sky above Wancheng was thick with smoke, and the cries of killing and the beating of war drums intertwined, shrouding the entire city like a dark haze. The people lived in constant fear, and every loud noise and cry of killing was like a hammer hitting their fragile nerves.
Despite the fierce fighting between Liu Bei's army and the Wancheng defenders, both sides seemed to have tacitly avoided spreading the fighting to civilian settlements. Yet, even so, the fear and anxiety within the hearts of the people remained undiminished. The streets and alleys were deserted, most shops were closed, and the few pedestrians who could be seen were hurried, their eyes filled with fear.
In these chaotic times, the people could not help but yearn for the days when Wancheng was under Zhang Xiu's rule. Back then, Wancheng was relatively peaceful, governed by Zhang Xiu's wise leadership. The people lived and worked in peace and contentment, their lives, though not rich, were stable. People toiled in the fields, while children played and laughed in the streets. During festivals, the city held lively celebrations, creating a scene of peace and tranquility.
Today, the shadow of war has robbed Wancheng of its former vitality. Elderly people sit at their doorsteps, gazing at the flags fluttering on the city walls, reminiscing about the past and sighing. Young women at home, hugging their children tightly, their eyes filled with worry, praying for a swift end to the war.
Some common people gathered together and talked in low voices: "Alas, it was better when General Zhang Xiu was here. It's not like now, where we are worried every day." "Yeah, we don't know when this war will end, and whether we can go back to the way we were before." Everyone talked one after another, their words full of nostalgia for the peaceful life in the past and confusion about the future.
Meanwhile, the battle raged on the city walls. Liu Bei's army was hell-bent on capturing Wancheng, avenging his son and taking a crucial step toward restoring the Han Dynasty. Huang Zhong and Yi Ji fought tooth and nail, faithfully fulfilling their duty and protecting this crucial line of defense in Jingzhou. Both sides, blinded by the ferocity of bloodshed, were oblivious to the inner torment and yearnings of the people of Wancheng. In these chaotic times, the people were like duckweed in the wind, passively enduring the hardships of war, uncertain when peace would finally dawn.
Just as Liu Biao was being driven to ruin by Liu Bei, Sun Quan in Jiangdong finally found a respite. Previously, Liu Biao had constantly used Sun Ce's death as leverage to threaten Sun Quan, leaving him in a state of unbearable pain. Now that Liu Biao was preoccupied, Sun Quan finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, he knew he couldn't afford to slack off. The situation was rapidly changing, and he couldn't afford to lose time. Sun Quan recalled how, upon hearing the news of Ma Chao's death, he had become obsessed with murdering his brother, Sun Ce, in a desperate bid to ascend to the throne. But who could have foreseen the dramatic consequences of this unfolding? First, Zhou Yu, upon discovering the truth, broke with him completely. Then, upon learning of the incident, Liu Biao constantly threatened him with the murder of his brother. Most horrifying of all, Ma Chao was not dead at all. Sun Quan knew that if he allowed things to continue this way, Ma Chao and Zhou Yu would surely pursue him.
At this moment, Liu Biao and Liu Bei were engaged in a fierce battle, presenting Sun Quan with a golden opportunity. He must seize this moment and secure a retreat. Sun Quan paced back and forth in his tent, his mind racing with thoughts. He knew he had to act to escape his current predicament.
Sun Quan knew that the Jiangdong aristocratic families, while superficially respectful and vocal in their support, were in reality driven by their own family's interests. For the past two years, he had struggled to survive between these various factions, hampered by the various constraints imposed by these aristocratic families, as if trapped in an invisible web. Maneuvering between Liu Biao, Zhou Yu, and the Jiangdong aristocratic families, he could only barely maintain his position. A single misstep could lead to ruin. To break this impasse, he knew he first had to convince Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, two influential figures in Jiangdong. Only by winning their support could he truly employ these aristocratic generals.
Sun Quan was well aware that Zhang Hong and Zhang Zhao, representatives of the prominent Jiangdong clans, were known for their cautious approach. Their biggest concern in supporting his attack on Jiaozhou was the fear of Zhou Yu stabbing them in the back. After all, Zhou Yu commanded a large army, held immense prestige in Jiangdong, and there was a rift between him and Sun Quan. Furthermore, they were reluctant to abandon the position they had cultivated for years in Jiangdong. However, Sun Quan understood that if he found the right entry point, he could persuade them, and Jiaozhou was the key bait in his hands.
After carefully planning his journey, Sun Quan arrived at Zhang Hong's residence. Entering the magnificent hall, Zhang Hong was already waiting in the main seat. Sun Quan, with a look of humility, bowed respectfully and said, "Mr. Zhang, the situation in Jiangdong is extremely complex. I worry day and night, and I truly don't know how to resolve it. I hope you can offer some guidance."
Zhang Hong looked at Sun Quan calmly and said slowly, "My lord, the current situation is indeed difficult. For one thing, Zhou Yu is dissatisfied with you. For another, our family has been operating in Jiangdong for many years. If we rashly intervene in the chaos in the Central Plains, we may lose sight of the big picture. For another, if my lord has any good ideas, please speak up."
Sun Quan nodded slightly and said sincerely, "Lord Zhang, I believe we have a golden opportunity right now. Liu Biao is currently engaged in a fierce battle with Liu Bei in Jingzhou and is preoccupied with his own affairs. Jiaozhou, on the other hand, is vast, rich in resources, and possesses a vital strategic location. If Jiangdong can seize this opportunity to attack Jiaozhou, we can not only expand our sphere of influence but also strengthen our capabilities and escape our current predicament."
Zhang Hong frowned slightly, clearly concerned about Sun Quan's proposal. "My Lord, that being said, conquering Jiaozhou is far from easy. Furthermore, Zhou Yu's stance is unclear. If we dispatch troops, he'll seize the opportunity to launch an uprising in Jiangdong, with disastrous consequences. Furthermore, our family has deep roots in Jiangdong, and abandoning our current position to take such a risk is a difficult decision."
Seeing this, Sun Quan hurriedly said, "Mr. Zhang, I understand your concerns. Regarding Zhou Yu, I will try to stabilize him and avoid internal conflict. As for the concerns of the aristocratic families, I have an idea. If we can successfully capture Jiaozhou, I promise that each aristocratic family will be able to expand their sphere of influence in Jiaozhou and enjoy numerous privileges. Whether in terms of land, population, or commercial benefits, they will far exceed what they gain in Jiangdong. This way, the aristocratic families will not suffer losses from sending troops to Jiaozhou, but will instead seize this opportunity to strengthen themselves."
Zhang Hong's eyes flickered with excitement when he heard this, but he still hadn't made up his mind. "Although your words are tempting, this matter is too serious. I will consider it again."
Sun Quan struck while the iron was hot: "Mr. Zhang, this opportunity is fleeting. With Liu Biao now in turmoil and Jiaozhou's defenses vulnerable, this is the perfect time to dispatch troops. If we miss this opportunity, once the situation stabilizes, it will be incredibly difficult to capture Jiaozhou. I assure you that I will do my utmost to protect the interests of the aristocratic families in Jiaozhou."
Zhang Hong pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "Since my lord is so determined, I am willing to consider this matter. However, this matter still requires consultation with the other noble families and the opinions of all."
Sun Quan was delighted and quickly said, "Thank you, Lord Zhang! I await your good news. If I can gain the support of the noble families, I will stand by you through thick and thin and create a glorious future for Jiangdong."
After leaving Zhang Hong's residence, Sun Quan immediately went to Zhang Zhao's residence. When he met Zhang Zhao, Sun Quan once again revealed his plan.
Zhang Zhao listened, his face solemn, and said, "My lord, attacking Jiaozhou carries enormous risks. Zhou Yu's attitude is a major hidden danger, and our family's foundation in Jiangdong cannot be easily shaken. While my lord's use of Jiaozhou as bait is tempting, we must be wary of potential complications."
Sun Quan said sincerely, "Mr. Zhang, I understand this is a difficult matter, but Jiangdong is now at a critical juncture of life and death. If we don't take the initiative, we will likely decline under the pressure of various forces. I promise that if we capture Jiaozhou, the aristocratic families will have great autonomy in Jiaozhou, allowing them to fully expand their power. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the aristocratic families. As for Zhou Yu, I will do everything I can to appease him and ensure stability in the rear."
Zhang Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "My lord, this matter concerns the rise and fall of the Jiangdong aristocratic families. I will allow this old minister to discuss this matter in detail with the other aristocratic families. But my lord, you must understand that if you want the aristocratic families' full support, you must come up with a practical and feasible plan to ensure that it is foolproof."
Sun Quan said firmly, "Rest assured, Lord Zhang. I have carefully considered this matter and will formulate a comprehensive plan. I also hope that Lord Zhang can persuade the other noble families to join us in this endeavor."
Sun Quan left Zhang Zhao's residence. Although he had not yet received the explicit support of the two family representatives, judging from their attitudes, they had already loosened up.
Sun Quan knew perfectly well that he had long struggled to survive between the forces of various factions, his precarious situation. If Ma Chao were to withdraw from his current affairs, he would face a desperate situation. Zhou Yu, seemingly cautious and content with the status quo, was actually waiting for Ma Chao. If Ma Chao made a move, Zhou Yu would undoubtedly join forces with him. Then, neither he nor the Jiangdong nobles who had participated in Sun Ce's assassination would escape.
Sun Quan's proposed attack on Jiaozhou was ostensibly intended to expand his territory and strengthen Jiangdong's power, thereby securing a more advantageous position amidst the turbulent times. However, Sun Quan, upon learning that Ma Chao was still alive, understood that his ambition to seize Jiangdong and establish a separatist regime had been shattered. His current actions were merely an attempt to leverage the power of the aristocratic families and secure a retreat. After all, Jiaozhou was far from the potential retaliation of Ma Chao and Zhou Yu, and a successful capture of it might offer a glimmer of hope.
Of course, Sun Quan could only ponder these thoughts in his heart and never mention them to anyone. He knew that if these thoughts were discovered, whether it was the Jiangdong family, Zhou Yu, or other forces, they would have a different view of him, and it might even trigger a new crisis.
He knew very well that what he had to do next was to deal with Zhou Yu carefully and prevent internal changes.
Sun Quan knew that if he wanted to successfully capture Jiaozhou, he had to keep Zhou Yu in check and not allow him to cause trouble while he was away. However, Zhou Yu and he had a deep grudge, and breaking this situation would be difficult. As he pondered this, Sun Quan couldn't help but think of four veteran generals: Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, and Zu Mao.
In fact, Sun Quan had long been aware of the four veterans' secret contact with Zhou Yu. However, after learning that Ma Chao was still alive, he was filled with worries and only thought about how to gain a foothold for himself, so he no longer wanted to stop their contact with Zhou Yu.