Chapter 42: Zhou Yu's Plans

After Yan Xiang was imprisoned, no one dared to oppose Yuan Shu again.

He promptly dispatched troops to forcibly conscript laborers, constructing the Heavenly Altar day and night without respite. Many workers died from exhaustion or freezing temperatures, leaving countless civilians suffering unspeakably. Yet, none could halt Yuan Shu’s madness.

Under these relentless conditions, the Heavenly Altar was finally completed just before his coronation ceremony.

The following day, Yuan Shu officially ascended to the throne at Shou County, offering sacrifices to Heaven at both northern and southern altars.

Accepting the Eternal Jade Seal of the Realm, he proclaimed the state’s name as “Cheng” with the era title “Zhongjia.” He then established numerous high-ranking officials and announced his reign to all under heaven.

Instantly, the Nine Provinces were shaken.

Juchao District lay within the Jianghuai region, serving as one of Yangzhou’s crucial strongholds.

Known for its abundant resources and fertile land, even amidst Yangzhou, Juchao was rightly hailed as the “land of fish and rice.”

At that moment, outside a stately residence in Juchao District, a carriage slowly came to a halt.

A refined scholar jumped down from the carriage, ignoring the waiting steward who had come out to greet him, and hastily rushed into the estate.

“Gongjin! Gongjin—!” The scholarly figure shouted while running, his expression filled with urgency.

Deep within the residence, in a tranquil courtyard, a handsome man engrossed in reading looked up faintly upon hearing the distant voice.

“Xiao Qing, please prepare some tea,” the handsome man instructed the beautiful maid attending him gently.

The maid blushed slightly at the sight of his face, softly responding, “Yes, Zhou Lang.” With that, she rose and headed back indoors, while the handsome man resumed focusing on his book.

Soon, the serenity of the courtyard was disrupted.

“Gongjin—”

A scholarly gentleman burst into the courtyard, interrupting Zhou Yu’s reading. Unable to contain his urgency, he exclaimed, “With everything happening now, how can you still find time to read?”

“A major crisis is upon us!”

This handsome man was none other than Zhou Yu, known by his courtesy name Gongjin, and currently serving as the magistrate of Juchao District.

Upon hearing the scholar’s words, Zhou Yu set down his book with a smile. “There’s no need for such haste,” he said calmly. “Please take a seat and enjoy some tea before we discuss matters.”

At that moment, the maid Xiao Qing arrived with prepared tea, pouring cups for both men.

“No time for tea! You don’t understand what has happened!” The scholarly gentleman sighed deeply and spoke gravely, “Just yesterday, Yuan Shu performed a sacrificial ceremony at Shou County and officially declared himself Emperor!”

He anticipated this news would shock Zhou Yu greatly. However, Zhou Yu remained unfazed, taking a leisurely sip of his tea, his expression composed.

“I know.”

The scholarly gentleman was taken aback. “What? When did you learn about it?”

The news had just reached him, so how could Zhou Yu have found out earlier?

Zhou Yu smiled and said, “Yuan Shu craves grand achievements and harbors immense ambition, yet he lacks foresight. Ever since the day he obtained the Eternal Jade Seal of the Realm, I anticipated that one day he would declare himself emperor.”

“Moreover, over the past few months, the forced conscription of laborers to build the Heavenly Altar in Shou County further confirmed my suspicions.”

Though Zhou Yu hadn’t received explicit news, he had already foreseen this outcome, hence his lack of surprise at Yuan Shu’s proclamation.

The scholar fell silent for a moment before expressing some resentment, “If you guessed all this, why did you never mention it to me? Do you not consider me a friend?”

“No, no, no.” Zhou Yu set down his teacup, shook his head, and sighed. “I just didn’t expect, Zijing, that you wouldn’t have figured it out yourself. Honestly, I was quite surprised.”

This scholarly gentleman was Lu Su, with the courtesy name Zijing, a close friend of Zhou Yu.

“Heh,” Lu Su chuckled insincerely, raising an eyebrow. Then, he rolled up his wide sleeves, revealing surprisingly muscular arms. “If Gongjin can’t speak respectfully, I do know a bit of martial arts myself.”

Zhou Yu’s expression shifted, and he earnestly replied, “Zijing, we are both scholars. Resorting to physical violence is too crude; let’s discuss matters civilly.”

He was well aware of Lu Su’s martial prowess. Beneath his scholarly appearance lay exceptional combat skills, rivaling those of an ordinary company commander.

In any case, Zhou Yu knew he couldn’t defeat him.

“Hmph.” Lu Su shot Zhou Yu a glare but had no real intention of engaging in a fight.

After some banter, they finally turned to serious matters.

Lu Su took a sip of tea before directly asking, “What are your thoughts on Yuan Shu proclaiming himself Emperor?”

“Compared to King Wen, how does Yuan Shu fare?” Zhou Yu asked mildly. “And compared to the Ji clan, how do the Yuans measure up? The Ji lineage once held sway over two-thirds of the realm yet remained subject to the Yin-Shang dynasty. Yuan Shu, controlling merely one region of Yangzhou, dares to presumptuously declare himself Emperor. It’s truly laughable.”

Though Zhou Yu’s words were concise, Lu Su understood his point immediately. He was drawing parallels between the relationship of the Zhou royal family and the Yin-Shang dynasty, prompting Lu Su to nod in agreement—their views aligned perfectly.

“The current Han Dynasty may be weakening, but the Emperor is not cruel or devoid of virtue. For Yuan Shu to usurp the throne is sheer folly,” Lu Su concurred. “His actions will inevitably make him an enemy of all other feudal lords.”

Setting aside whether Yuan Shu could unify the Nine Provinces, even if he did, claiming the throne required legitimate justification—not just possession of the Eternal Jade Seal of the Realm.

Unfazed, Zhou Yu said, “This is not our concern. For now, let’s focus on finding a way out; Juchao is no place to linger.”

“What does Zijing plan to do?”

As the magistrate of Juchao County, Lu Su was effectively working under Yuan Shu. With Yuan Shu declaring himself emperor, it would inevitably make him an enemy of all. Continuing to stay here would be unwise.

“Me?” Lu Su hesitated, pondering with a frown for a moment before shaking his head. “Gongjin, I must admit, at present, I am unsure of my next move.”

His home was in Juchao, and amidst the turmoil across the land, leaving Juchao left him uncertain where else he could go. More importantly, despite his ambitions, he didn’t know where he could best utilize them.

Zhou Yu smiled. “In that case, why not join me and head to Jiangdong together? We can seek Sun Ce’s patronage. With your talents, Zijing, you will undoubtedly shine.”

“Jiangdong? Sun Ce?” Lu Su looked up at Zhou Yu, astonished by these words. “Are you referring to the Little Conqueror himself? Gongjin, did you know him?”

Who hadn’t heard of the Little Conqueror Sun Ce? This was the first time Lu Su learned that Zhou Yu had any connection with Sun Ce.

Zhou Yu chuckled, “It goes beyond mere acquaintance; I’ve been welcomed into his home as if family, and we address each other as brothers—our bond is exceptionally close. When Yuan Shu wanted me to serve in Shouchun, I chose Juchao instead because it’s near Huiji, allowing easy access whenever needed.”

Lu Su was utterly stunned. Being welcomed ‘into the hall’ to pay respects to one’s mother signified a deeply formal gesture, indicating friendship between families and acknowledging a kinship akin to adopted relatives.

In short, the relationship between the Sun and Zhou families was extraordinary!

Moreover, Zhou Yu’s decision to take office in Juchao was premeditated—he intended all along to abandon Yuan Shu and align with Sun Ce!