Mythical Three Kingdoms

Zhuge Jin, while trying to appease Yuan Shu, was looking for a way to escape. He had zero interest in joining Yuan Shu. He had spent a long time in Yuzhou, had delved deeply into understanding Yuan Shu, and had quietly given up on him. Although Yuan Shu had a solid foundation, Zhuge Jin thought that he was not cut out to be a Monarch, but more suited as a heroic figure with profound loyalty. As a Monarch, Zhuge Jin believed that Yuan Shu would eventually ruin his own foundation.

As for Sun Ce, Zhuge Jin also had a thorough understanding of him. However, in Zhuge Jin’s view, Sun Ce was more suited to be a valiant general—a general like Xiang Yu—rather than a Monarch. He shared the same deep loyalty as Yuan Shu, but Sun Ce also possessed a martial force more befitting of a hero than Yuan Shu did.

This was also why Zhuge Jin decided to leave Yuzhou after a long stay and head to Eastern Wu.

Staying in the Central Plains was no longer an option; the great battle in the north was unavoidable to anyone who wasn’t blind, so the only choice was to flee south.

The Yizhou Aristocratic Family was highly xenophobic, and Zhuge Jin naturally wouldn’t go there to seek trouble. Although the Eastern Wu Aristocratic Families had banded together, without the Lü Family, the original structure of the four major families collapsed instantly, presenting other possibilities to Zhuge Jin.

Zhuge Jin was no longer alone; when he fell out with the Zhuge Family, he also took a group of people with him. Those clansmen who were willing to follow Zhuge Jin, he naturally would not treat them poorly. So his original plan was to go to Eastern Wu and, amid the friction among the remaining three Aristocratic Families, seize the opportunity to rebuild the Zhuge Family with his talents.

It was said that Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong had moved the Zhang Family of Xuzhou to Eastern Wu, intending to join the Zhang Family of Eastern Wu. However, after the collapse of one of the four major families, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong employed their talents and now had successfully absorbed the Eastern Wu Zhang Family, yet also eliminated their own Xuzhou Zhang Family’s banner.

Naturally, Zhuge Jin harbored the same intentions, taking advantage of the chaos among the Eastern Wu Aristocratic Families to enter the fray swiftly and then, relying on his own wisdom, not necessarily take over the remaining three major families but at least secure a place to settle and thrive. It was possible he could even make a bold move to quickly rebuild the Zhuge Family.

To be honest, Zhuge Jin may have appeared refined and smooth in his dealings, but that didn’t mean he lacked integrity. He had his own pride, and like any top-tier individual, he had his own backbone. Zhuge Jin often guided others with his words, but that didn’t mean he would always play the nice guy, just as this time, he was contemplating seizing land amidst the internal strife of the Eastern Wu Aristocratic Families.

Pang Tong stood to the side, silent, just listening to Zhuge Jin and Zhou Yu’s conversation, somewhat mocking Zhou Yu’s approach. He had said that Zhuge Jin was a genius, but Zhou Yu still confidently believed he could subdue the other. Now, Zhuge Jin had him discussing matters all over the world, leaving him no chance to steer the conversation back.

Sun Ce was beside himself with confusion as he listened in. He couldn’t grasp the relevance to the current situation of what Zhou Yu and Zhuge Jin discussed—from history to customs, everything but what he wanted to hear.

”Brother Gongjin, what are you talking about now?” After enduring for quite some time, Sun Ce couldn’t accept the situation where the other party seemed very articulate, but he couldn’t understand a thing. Out of desperation, he had no choice but to interrupt.

A flicker of an unusual expression crossed Zhuge Jin’s face; then, suddenly changing his demeanor, he glanced at Sun Ce with a displeased look and said, ”Brother Gongjin and I are enjoying our conversation very much. Why do you interrupt us?”

”Because I can’t understand a single thing you’re talking about,” Sun Ce said as he cleaned his ears. He realized that the other party had no intention of helping him and thus grew more casual. If they weren’t offering what he needed, why should he endure them?

”Just because you don’t understand doesn’t mean Brother Gongjin doesn’t. Your lack of understanding doesn’t mean it’s useless,” Zhuge Jin coldly remarked, clearly demonstrating a hint of irritation, almost outright saying ”what are you, Sun Ce, anyway?”

”Setting aside other matters, I at least am literate and have received a systematic education, yet even I can’t understand, how could the common people understand?” Sun Ce said with dissatisfaction, ”What’s the use of you if the common people can’t understand?”

”Oh, I didn’t expect such a perspective,” Zhuge Jin’s face betrayed an unusual expression, ”Since you have such a perspective, may I dare to ask, does the world belong to the Great Aristocratic Families, or to the common people?”

”The Great Aristocratic Families are also part of the common people.” As soon as Zhou Yu heard Zhuge Jin ask that question, he quickly answered in place of Sun Ce, knowing that if Sun Ce answered, he would definitely say the world belongs to the common people, which is certainly not a good answer.

”Can what he has said be counted?” Zhuge Jin saw Sun Ce hesitating, so he spoke up.

”Yes, what Gongjin says counts as my own words. I am responsible for execution, Gongjin for planning!” After being questioned by Zhuge Jin, Sun Ce’s hesitation turned into a cold laugh and he said.

”And if his planning has problems?” Zhuge Jin looked at Sun Ce and inquired, he was now somewhat interested in this fellow before him.

”Hmph, wrong? Even if it’s wrong, it’s still my doing, what’s so great about that!” Sun Ce declared arrogantly, as if to say, what could happen if I were to make a mistake?

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”...” Zhuge Jin remained silent. He realized that Sun Ce did have his unique aspects. Without mentioning anything else, just that previous utterance was sufficient for a Monarch. Furthermore, recalling that Zhou Yu interrupted and answered for Sun Ce, and Sun Ce showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever, it was clear that Sun Ce was not petty, or rather, he was extremely tolerant towards his subordinates.

”Alas, it’s just a pity that your sense of righteousness is too strong, and Yuan Gong’s as well. You have yet to fully understand human relationships. Otherwise, with just the sentence you said earlier, you could have become a great Monarch,” Zhuge Jin sighed and said.

In this era, it was truly rare for a Monarch to dare to take responsibility for his subordinates. Even a Monarch like Cao Cao often had his subordinates take the fall when there were problems. Few really took the blame onto themselves. The tone Sun Ce used earlier made it clear that he was willing to take on all the blame for his subordinates, a sign he was unafraid of trouble and willing to shoulder everything.

”Yuan Gong has already fully entrusted Bofu with the military affairs of the Three Prefectures, and I am assisting him in handling the political affairs,” Zhou Yu immediately said.

”...” Zhuge Jin was startled, then involuntarily clasped his hands together, tightly twisting his right hand with his left hand, and then slowly retracted them as if nothing had happened.

”I want to know how Yuan Gong’s son died,” Zhuge Jin said after looking at Zhou Yu for a while; his interest was piqued. Having a Monarch willing to take the blame was indeed a good thing; at least such a Monarch had integrity, and it diminished the pressure when undertaking risky ventures.

”It has nothing to do with us,” Pang Tong spoke up, ”You should believe what I say. The matter was entirely accidental, and the process was extremely bizarre. The evolution to this current state is also very extraordinary.”

”I believe you,” Zhuge Jin nodded and said. Then, under Sun Ce’s puzzled gaze, he started to straighten his clothes and, to Sun Ce’s even greater astonishment, he bowed to Sun Ce, ”Zhuge Ziyu pays respects to the Lord.” (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian ) to vote and recommend tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)