“Gongjin! Good news! Liu Mang has sent soone to negotiate with us!” Sun Ce rushed to Zhou Yu’s residence to tell Zhou Yu the good news.
“This is really good news!” Zhou Yu coughed and then replied happily. “As long as Liu Mang is willing to negotiate, then we will have an opportunity. What about the news from Jingzhou?” Zhou Yu asked.
“There is no news yet but it will co soon. Why can’t we just negotiate with Liu Biao directly?” Sun Ce asked. It would have been faster that way but Zhou Yu instead looked for Jingzhou’s current Military Advisor, Liu Pan. This caused the process to beco slower.
Zhou Yu shook his head. “Milord. If we do that, we would expose our stratagem!” Zhou Yu could place spies in Yangzhou so he was sure that Yangzhou could also place spies in Jingzhou. It can even be said that the two largest noble families in Jingzhou, the Kuai Family and the Cai Family were Yangzhou’s spies. At that ti, Jiangdong can forget about ‘negotiating’ with Yangzhou to buy ti. They can only wait to be killed by Yangzhou’s Army.
This was why Zhou Yu looked for soone else. In this case, the best person to look for was Liu Pan. If Liu Pan were to agree, then Liu Biao would be persuaded as well.
“Milord. Who is Yangzhou’s envoy?” Zhou Yu asked. He needed to know who it is to form a counterasure.
“Originally, Yangzhou’s envoy was supposed to be Zhuge Liang.” Sun Ce said to Zhou Yu.
“What!” Zhou Yu almost jumped from the shock. He had almost reopened his wounds.
“Zhuge Kongming is coming! Not good! Milord! We cannot deal with him!” Zhou Yu furrowed his brows. Both Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu were intelligent so they were naturally hostile to each other.
“Gongjin, there is no need to panic. I said originally the envoy was supposed to be Zhuge Kongming!” Sun Ce repeated himself as he smiled wryly. It would seem that Zhou Yu now feared Zhuge Liang.
“Huh? Milord, what do you an?”
“Zhuge Liang was supposed to co but he was stopped by Liu Mang! Instead, soone we are familiar with will be coming instead.” Sun Ce explained.
“Soone we are familiar with?” Zhou Yu asked skeptically.
“Yes. This person is one of your good friends.” Sun Ce said to Zhou Yu.
“My good friend?” Zhou Yu thought for a mont and then lifted his head to look at Sun Ce. “Milord. Are you saying…?”
“Yes. That person is Lu Su Lu Zijing.” Sun Ce nodded.
“So it is Zijing!” Zhou Yu did not know how to face Lu Su. He had recomnded Lu Su to Sun Ce but in the end, Lu Su was captured. Then Sun Quan was defeated and Lu Su was captured again.
Zhou Yu wanted to laugh because Lu Su was an honest person. Liu Mang must have gone mad if he made an honest person do the work of an envoy. But at the sa ti, Zhou Yu wanted to laugh because Lu Su was his friend. If he cheated Lu Su then Lu Su would be t with misfortune after returning to Yangzhou.
“Milord. I have sothing to ask of you!” Zhou Yu said to Sun Ce.
“You are my brother. There is no need to beg. Just say it.” Sun Ce replied rebukingly.
“If possible, I want to request a position under your command for Zijing.” Zhou Yu said to Sun Ce.
“Gongjin, what are you talking about? Zijing is a talent and I would be happy if he stays at Jiangdong. Of course I will put him in a high position!” Sun Ce understood Zhou Yu’s intentions. Zhou Yu was afraid that Lu Su would not be able to return to Yangzhou. Zhou Yu wanted to compensate Lu Su. At Yangzhou, Lu Su was a high official at the Ministry of Appointnts. Aside from Xu Shu, no one was of a higher position than him. That was why Zhou Yu wanted to prepare a way out for Lu Su.
“Thank you Milord!” Zhou Yu replied as the guilt in his heart lessened.
“Milord. When will Yangzhou’s envoy arrive at Jiangdong?” Zhou Yu asked.
“He should arrive soon.” Sun Ce replied. It would only be about a day or two.
***
The Yangzhou’s naval ship was on the Yangtze River. Lu Su stood at the bow of the ship with a few armored n behind him.
Jiangdong was on the opposite bank. Lu Su looked at it with a sense of joy and hosickness as Jiangdong was his ho.
“High official Lu. Up ahead is Jiangdong territory. This is as far as we can bring you.” A young general cupped his fist at Lu Su.
“General Lu. Thank you for taking this far. I will take the small ship from here.” Lu Su cupped his fist back at the young general. Lu Su did not dare look down on the young general was second only to Gan Ning in prestige when it cos to commanding Yangzhou’s navy. Even Jiangdong and Jingzhou, the two forr overlords of the Yangtze River could not claim to be able to win against Lu Xun Lu Boyan easily.
“Farewell, High official Lu!” Lu Xun replied.
Under Lu Xun’s orders, a small ship was brought over. Lu Su then got onto the small ship and went sent to Jiangdong. Lu Xun walked all the way to Jianye without anyone showing him directions.
“His here! Yangzhou’s envoy is here!” The common people rejoiced at the arrival of Yangzhou’s envoy as this ant peace. The people of Jiangdong had also envied the lifestyle of the people of Yangzhou which they had learned about when visiting the place or from the rchants that did. The thirty percent tax and fertile land sounded like paradise to them.
Lu Su nodded at the common people that welcod him. “Deputy envoy Yang. There is no need to be so nervous. These people hold no malice against us.” Yang Chen, the deputy envoy chosen by Yang Hong has been vigilant the entire ti. He was to prevent Lu Su from getting tricks and also had to ensure Lu Su’s safety. Yang Chen’s martial skill was quite good so he beca vigilant when Jiangdong’s citizens approached. The guards following them were also vigilant. So were even about to take out their swords.
“Sir. Your safety is paramount.” Yang Chen said as he looked at he smiles of the people. He did not dare to be complacent as there were many that knew how to smile. They could easily put a knife in your gut without breaking their smiles.
“Forget it. Let us enter the city first.” Lu Su knew he could not persuade Yang Chen. He could only shake his head as he prepared to enter the city. Lu Su’s mood was good due to the welco. He could not help but feel appreciative and had more expectations in his eting with Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. If Jiangdong were to beco a part of Yangzhou, Lu Su would be able to work together with Zhou Yu again. With Zhou Yu’s ability, Liu Mang would definitely put him in an important position.
“Zijing! It is Zijing!” Suddenly there was a shout along with a group of soldiers while Lu Su was looking around.
“Protect the High official!” Yang Chen quickly took out his sword.
“Sheathe your weapons!” Lu Su ordered. “No one is allowed to take out their weapons without my orders!” Lu Su felt indignant. They were already within Jiangdong territory. If they wanted to harm him, they would not be able to escape either way.
“Marquis Wu?” Lu Su looked at the person that called out to him. This person was Sun Ce Sun Bofu.
“Haha! Zijing, it has been more than a month since we last t. You seem well!” Sun Ce laughed as he cupped his fist. Though Jiangdong was on its last legs, Sun Ce was still a Marquis and the Lord of Jiangdong. He was showing face by going out personally to greet Lu Su.
“Yangzhou’s envoy, Lu Su Lu Zijing greets Marquis Wu.” Lu Su wanted to dismount from his horse and return the greeting but Sun Ce stopped him.
“Sigh. Zijing, there is no need to be so courteous. Zijing is part of my Jiangdong but has grown his wings after being His Highness the King of Shu’s subordinate. Truly admirable!” Sun Ce praised. For so reason, Lu Su felt a hint of sourness from Sun Ce’s words.
“Since you represent His Highness the King of Shu, I am the one who should be saluting Zijing as a subject.” Sun Ce laughed.
Lu Su was shocked by Sun Ce’s words and actions. Can the prideful Little Conqueror really act like this? This must truly an that Sun Ce had the intention to surrender.
“Co, Zijing. Let guide your horse!” Sun Ce said as he dismounted. Yangye felt nervous from this. If it was not because Lu Su ordered all of them not to act, they may have already stepped forward to attack Sun Ce.
“This… You must not!” Lu Su panicked. Honestly speaking, Lu Su had not yet adapted to his role. It was possibly because Lu Su was too much of an honest person to take advantage of people. After all, Sun Ce was his previous lord. What would you think if your ex-boss suddenly started escorting you around?
“Why not? We are going to be co-workers soon, as His Highness’ subordinates. Zijing is currently a High official while I would only be a general of an army at most. Your position would be higher than mine. At that ti, I would still need to salute you.” Sun Ce laughed.
Lu Su was one of the six High officials. These were similar to the Han Emperor’s Three Ministers. Only a Commander can compare to them. Amongst Liu Mang’s generals, the only one that can actually achieve this was Lu Bu. Others were only Commanders during war.
If Sun Ce were to move to Yangzhou, he could only beco a general at most so it was true that he would need to salute Lu Su.
Though Sun Ce say this, Lu Su still felt awkward. In end, Sun Ce had to forcefully request to escort Lu Su before Lu Su gave up. Fortunately, the distance was not too far. At the sa ti, Lu Su felt relieved. Looking at Sun Ce’s attitude, he was certain that Sun Ce was willing to surrender. Otherwise, Sun Ce would not do such a thing even in the face of death.
Lu Su was observing Sun Ce but at the sa ti, Sun Ce was observing Lu Su. He was smiling on the surface but he was actually feeling angry. Many tis, he thought of pulling Lu Su off his horse and cutting off Lu Su’s head. But he endured. Even Gou Jian had to maintain his resolve to take revenge.
Lu Su was not vigilant at all due to the warm reception. But while Sun Ce was misleading Lu Su, soone was watching Sun Ce’s every movent. A few servants saw Sun Ce leading Lu Su’s horse and disappeared behind the alleys. They then reappeared at every noble’s residence and gave their report.
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