Chapter 43: Sun Ce of Jiangdong

Facing Zhou Yu’s invitation, Lu Su felt deeply enticed.

The Little Conqueror Sun Ce now commanded awe across the land as an unparalleled valiant general. Unlike most fierce warriors, he possessed not only military prowess but also the wisdom to recognize talent and lead with magnanimity. Moreover, his disciplined army enjoyed excellent reputation among the common people.

With Zhou Yu’s recommendation and his own abilities, joining Sun Ce could indeed be a promising path.

Seeing Lu Su’s interest, Zhou Yu continued persuading him, “Zijing, your talents rival those of Guan Zhong and Bobo. Staying confined in Juchao is truly a waste.

“In these turbulent times, heroes inevitably emerge. My brother Sun Ce has ambitions spanning the realm, excelling both in literature and martial arts. He stands as a true hero among men, far surpassing the likes of Yuan Shu.

“With our combined assistance, we can strive for dominance, and both our names shall be etched in history!”

To leave a lasting legacy was the lifelong pursuit of every scholar, and Lu Su was no exception.

Moved by these words and feeling the intense sincerity in Zhou Yu’s gaze, the last trace of hesitation vanished from Lu Su’s heart. His eyes hardened, and he firmly grasped Zhou Yu’s extended hand.

“Then let us…achieve greatness together!”

As Lu Su and Zhou Yu discussed their plan to travel to Jiangdong and pledge allegiance to Sun Ce, far away in Huiji County, Sun Ce himself received news of Yuan Shu’s proclamation of emperorship.

Within the Prefectural Office of Huiji County, a tall, robust young man with striking features and an imposing demeanor read the secret report detailing Yuan Shu’s declaration. Unable to suppress a sigh, he muttered, “That fool still went through with proclaiming himself Emperor.”

This young man was none other than Sun Ce, known as the Little Conqueror.

Since defeating Wang Lang, Sun Ce had officially established control over Huiji County, serving as its prefect while also creating Luling Commandery alongside Danyang and Yuzhang. These three regions were collectively referred to as the Four Commanderies of Jiangdong.

Now, nearly half of Yangzhou fell under his command.

Standing within the hall were several individuals—Zhang Zhao from Pengcheng, Zhang Hong from Guangling, Qin Song, and Chen Duan—all advisors serving under Sun Ce.

Upon hearing Sun Ce’s words, expressions of shock appeared on their faces.

Chen Duan couldn’t help but furrow his brow and ask, “But General, didn’t you already write to him? Did he truly ignore your counsel?”

Previously, Yan Xiang had sent a letter requesting Sun Ce to advise against Yuan Shu’s proclamation. After discussing it with his advisors, they all agreed that declaring oneself Emperor was sheer folly. Consequently, Sun Ce had responded unequivocally, stating that if Yuan Shu dared to claim the throne, their alliance would immediately be severed!

Yet today, the news of Yuan Shu’s self-proclamation reached them nonetheless.

“Who cares about my advice?” Sun Ce chuckled, unsurprised by this request. “How many can resist the allure of becoming Emperor?”

In truth, he had mentally prepared himself for this outcome.

Now, all he felt was regret. If Yuan Shu hadn’t declared himself Emperor, Sun Ce could have continued leveraging his resources and reputation to develop further, steadily amassing strength. But with Yuan Shu’s imperial proclamation, they must part ways.

Otherwise, they would face joint military campaigns from various warlords!

Only Yuan Shu could be so misguided; Sun Ce knew better than to foolishly accompany him to ruin.

“But the jade seal of the realm rightfully belonged to you, General, yet it was seized by Yuan Shu—how truly despicable,” Qin Song expressed indignantly.

Originally, the jade seal of the realm was in the possession of Sun Ce’s mother, Madam Wu. However, after Sun Jian’s death, Yuan Shu forcibly took it from her.

“Wenbiao, such talk is inappropriate!” As soon as Qin Song finished speaking, Sun Ce sternly rebuked him, his expression grave. “The jade seal of the realm represents the nation itself. What merit do I possess to claim it? When my father obtained the seal, he only intended to safeguard it temporarily before ultimately returning it to the rightful Emperor. He never sought to keep it for himself. Never speak of such matters again.”

It was crucial to remember that the jade seal of the realm belongs solely to the Emperor. To suggest claiming it implied aspirations to become Emperor—a dangerous assertion indeed. How dare Sun Ce entertain such thoughts?

Such words were tantamount to treasonous slander!

Realizing his mistake, Qin Song wore an awkward expression and fell silent.

At that moment, Zhang Zhao asked, “General, now that Yuan Shu has declared himself emperor, should we maintain our position or mobilize forces for retribution?”

Sun Ce had been officially appointed as General Who Subdues Bandits by the imperial court, making him a subject of Great Han. On the other hand, Yuan Shu’s claim to the throne marked him as a rebellious traitor!

As a loyal servant of the Han Dynasty, there was no reason not to confront such a rebel.

Shaking his head, Sun Ce replied, “First, let us publicly sever ties with Yuan Shu and make clear our stance. As for deploying troops, let’s observe how Cao Cao and Yuan Shao proceed.”

“Why rush ahead when they’re doing nothing? I’d rather avoid being used as someone else’s pawn.” Although Sun Ce held no fear of Yuan Shu, he did not wish to be manipulated by others. Having witnessed numerous schemes and betrayals, he was no longer the naive youth from years past.

As this thought crossed his mind, the image of his dear friend Zhou Yu surfaced involuntarily. “If only Gongjin were here,” Sun Ce lamented inwardly. “With his strategic guidance, I could focus solely on leading battles without worrying about these political matters.”

“I wonder when he’ll return to Jiangdong.”

Sun Ce yearned to personally visit Juchao and bring back his trusted companion, but his current responsibilities left him little time. All he could do was wait for a suitable opportunity.

Yingchuan, Xu County.

Cao Cao’s mood had been abysmal lately, or more accurately, ever since Yuan Shao proclaimed to the world that the Emperor resided in Jizhou, his spirits had plummeted.

Originally, according to his plan, having the Emperor under his control would allow him to attract talented individuals and gain support from various factions, significantly bolstering his power.

However, the outcome was far from what he anticipated.

Many people were more inclined to believe the lies of the renowned and influential Yuan Shao than the truth from the one who truly held the Emperor.

No matter how he tried to prove himself, the impact remained minimal.

In this situation, only a handful of mediocre talents responded to the Emperor’s call and joined him, while most outstanding individuals continued to observe from afar.

“Dreadful Yuan Shao!” The mere thought ignited intense hatred within Cao Cao.

Staring at the abundant feast laid out before him, he couldn’t bring himself to take even a single bite. With a grim expression, he walked out of the room.

Spring was approaching, and life began to stir anew.

Though still chilly, hints of spring permeated the winds as light rain fell from the sky.

Cao Cao took a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling his vexation dissipate somewhat, his expression softening.

“How have Yuan Shao’s recent movements been?”

Standing behind Cao Cao, Xu Chu responded, “My lord, Yuan Shao’s forces have reached Qingzhou and are now heading directly towards Xuzhou.”

With two formidable generals, Yan Liang and Wen Chou, leading a force of fifty thousand troops, such mobilization could not remain unnoticed. Cao Cao received the news promptly.

Initially, he feared that Yuan Shao intended to attack Yanzhou, causing him to nearly panic and gather his army for battle. However, it quickly became apparent that there had been a misunderstanding.

The massive army did not march towards Yanzhou but instead headed straight for Xuzhou.

Most importantly, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei were among this invading force!