Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Shouchun is right here; if you’re so confident, then come and attack.” Seeing everyone fall silent, overpowered by Fa Zheng’s aura, Zhou Yu stepped forward and took the initiative to speak.

”Is there a mistake in the tune, Zhou Yu concerned, is it the ’Handsome Zhou Yu’, Duke Zhou?” Fa Zheng asked with a hint of a smile on his face. Though his tone was inquisitive, the certainty in his words remained undiminished.

”It is I, so what, Shouchun is right here!” Zhou Yu looked down at the silent Fa Zheng for a moment before speaking.

”Zhou Yu, huh? I traveled all the way from the north to the south, only to find such a Zhou Yu, how laughable.” Fa Zheng scoffed, and Zhou Yu did not engage in conversation, simply watching Fa Zheng below with a calm demeanor.

After a long while, Fa Zheng, looking at Zhou Yu, burst into laughter, ”Impressive composure, I suppose you already know what my presence here signifies, and yet you still maintain such a state of mind to confront me.”

”Nothing more than a loss in the North Huai River region, and a hundred thousand troops trapped in Xuzhou. I would think Chen Yuanlong in Xuzhou has long since prepared for a scorched earth defense.” Zhou Yu stated calmly, with no fluctuation in his tone.

”Very well, since that’s the case, how about we use the Huai River as the boundary? Everything north of the Huai River shall belong to my lord Liu Xuande, and everything south of the Huai River shall belong to the Yuzhou Governor.” Fa Zheng was not surprised that Zhou Yu had guessed the current situation; with his own presence there, it was only natural for Zhou Yu to have figured it out.

What’s called a slap in the face? This was it. On one hand calling Yuan Shu the Yuzhou Governor, on the other proposing to use the Huai River as the boundary. A look at the map would show, south of the Huai River only a few places belong to Yuzhou; even worse, these words were not spoken to Yuan Shu, completely disregarding the actual party involved.

”Hulai, stand down.” Naturally, Yuan Shu was enraged by Fa Zheng’s words, and as the saying goes, ’when the lord is insulted, his retainers must die,’ Jii Ling did not hesitate to prepare to jump off the city wall and fight, but no sooner had he moved than Yuan Shu ordered him back.

”My lord!” Jii Ling looked at Yuan Shu with determined eyes. Others might fear Gan Ning, but Jii Ling had no fear at all. As long as Yuan Shu still trusted him, as long as Yuan Shu stood behind him, he would have the will to keep fighting.

”Stand down,” Yuan Shu said in a low voice, shaking his head. He knew Jii Ling’s capabilities were not outstandingly strong, but if he fought for him, he would not be easily defeated, unless there was a substantial gap in sheer strength.

Jii Ling glared angrily at Gan Ning below for a moment before slowly retreating without saying a word, but his knuckles whitened as he clenched his weapon handle, revealing his turmoil despite a composed façade.

”The question of using the Huai River as a boundary will depend on whether Prime Minister Fa has the ability!” Zhou Yu’s eyes revealed his unmasked ruthlessness as he stared at Fa Zheng and laughed coldly.

”Then there’s nothing to discuss, let’s rely on our own abilities. I came here today just to send a message. Those on the city walls can rest assured; as for my proposal, we can discuss it another time.” Fa Zheng was not the least bit fearful of Zhou Yu’s murderous gaze. He even showed a hint of a smile looking at the city wall, provoking his adversary who wished to kill him into a state of helplessness—wasn’t that a skill in itself?

”Xingba, let’s go.” After Fa Zheng finished speaking, he ignored everyone on the city wall completely, retreating to the carriage with a smile, and then gave Gan Ning a signal.

Watching Fa Zheng return to his carriage, followed by Gan Ning leading Liu Bei’s Army in a well-ordered military formation as they slowly retreated without leaving them any opportunity, those like Yuan Shu on the city wall couldn’t help but look at each other in dismay.

”Send someone to follow and probe, letting them withdraw like this is a major blow to our morale,” Zhuge Jin suggested, watching the slowly retreating army below.

”No, it’s not worth it. The adversary’s troops are well-organized, and even if they only had these forces, they wouldn’t be easy to swallow. Moreover, given their current retreat posture, I’m afraid the rear army is well-prepared,” Zhou Yu shook his head, rejecting Zhuge Jin’s suggestion as not particularly valuable.

”Yuan Gong, please command your men to guard the city carefully and await accurate military intelligence,” Zhou Yu said with a bow toward Yuan Shu. There weren’t many troops left in Shouchun, otherwise, Zhou Yu would not have let such an opportunity slip by.

”Come to me first, I have something to ask you,” Yuan Shu said without turning his head, just watching Liu Bei’s Army slowly retreating, the neatness of the enemy’s ranks somewhat unexpected.

”Ziyu, come to me,” Zhou Yu nodded, then turned to speak with Zhuge Jin.

Zhuge Jin didn’t ask further but followed Zhou Yu down the stairs, having basically guessed the questions Zhou Yu intended to ask with his command.

”Ziyu, where do you say Liu Bei’s Army came from?” Zhou Yu casually plucked a leaf from a tree, not even noticing his own inner turmoil.

”From Yanzhou, I fear they’ve come all the way here in one go, and the momentum has been unstoppable,” Zhuge Jin said with a sigh, ”I had once met Fa Zheng, and to think today we meet again, his prowess unhidden!”

”Do you think Pingyu has been taken down?” Zhou Yu tossed away the leaf in his hand and looked at Zhuge Jin, seeking an answer.

”Hasn’t Gongjin already made a guess?” Although Zhuge Jin was also feeling chaotic, compared to Zhou Yu’s concern for Sun Ce, Zhuge Jin’s mind was not as confused.

”Should we attack Pingyu or should we set out to pacify Liu Biao?” Zhou Yu said with a wry smile.

”Gongjin already has his own plans in mind, why bother asking me?” Zhuge Jin looked at Zhou Yu.

”Without counterattacking Pingyu, the areas north of the Huai River are basically destined to meet their end, and similarly, the army of a hundred thousand in Xuzhou would also become abandoned pawns. If we could reclaim Runan, our territories could once again be connected,” Zhou Yu spoke in silence, his analysis spot on, yet his tone said it all.

”Pingyu City of Runan, with its high walls and deep moats, would not possibly be taken within a month without some special method. So even if we take Runan, where we could then advance or retreat at will, we can only abandon this idea,” Zhuge Jin reminded Zhou Yu.

”I know all this. What worries me is Bofu in Jingyi. If I were Fa Xiaozhi, I would certainly divide my forces to attack Bofu!” Zhou Yu said, his face darkening. This was forcing him to give up the lands north of the Huai River and the hundred thousand-strong army set to attack Xuzhou. The adversary had a tight grip on the situation; in Zhou Yu’s heart, none of these mattered more than Sun Ce!

”The Three Lius divide Yuan, whereas previously the Yuan Family thought to have the Two Yuans divide Liu. I did not expect the enemy’s counterattack to emerge so swiftly. Without the need for collusion or negotiation, the situation will naturally reveal how to choose. I hate playing chess, especially this kind that forces you to play according to someone else’s game!” Zhou Yu’s usually refined face showed a hint of ferocity.

”Liu Xuande takes North Huai River, Liu Jingsheng takes Jingbei, Liu Jiyu restores Hanzhong, what a clever strategy!” At such a time, Zhuge Jin still had the mood to praise the one behind the plan, not realizing that if this situation truly arose, the power of the Imperial Clan would rise once again. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)