Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Objectively speaking, Wu's army had not suffered decisive losses at this moment. They were simply divided along the river, their forces concentrated in a few cities such as Wuhu, Jianye, and Dantu.

The lack of major damage also means that there was no crushing defeat.

Conversely, just days earlier, Quan Cong had fought against Xiahou Ru's Wei army at Jiangxia, achieving an outstanding record of killing and capturing 10,000. Militarily speaking, Sun Quan should be considered a man of action.

But can everything be judged solely on battle results? The fact that the Wei navy appeared on the river itself at Wankou is enough to illustrate the point.

Quan Cong is absolutely right. Whether or not Sun Quan desires war is the core question he must fundamentally consider.

Just then, a military advisor announced from outside the cabin that the Wei navy had sent a small boat with a message. Quan Cong took the letter and, as the commander-in-chief, opened it without a second thought. But the moment Quan Cong saw the contents, he became instantly alert. Under Sun Quan's scrutinizing gaze, he unconsciously made a gesture as if to hide the letter.

Sun Quan glanced at Quan Cong and immediately noticed his unusual expression. His brow furrowed, and he quickly stepped forward, snatching the letter from Quan Cong. When Sun Quan looked at the letter himself, his expression was exactly the same as Quan Cong's had been:
'General Lu Xun of the Great Wei Dynasty, who conquered the East, wrote to Sun Quan, the self-proclaimed Emperor of Wu:'

"Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person."

"I now lead a naval force of 39,735 men and 248 ships of various sizes, intending to race against you on the great river. I urge you not to flee."

The letter contained only this much information, but its meaning was self-evident. The number 39,735, with some parts deducting, roughly 40,000. Adding the 248 ships, it did not appear to be a fabrication.

Moreover... this letter was written by Lu Xun himself.

Lu Xun's handwriting has a distinctive feature: the characters are simple and blunt, which both Quan Cong and Sun Quan recognized at first glance. However, the handwriting of the last two characters, "遁逃" (to flee), is completely different from the previous characters, becoming sharp and angular, and even the font size is much larger!
"Your Majesty, it was actually Lu Boyan in person..." Quan Cong was on high alert.

The relationship between Sun Quan and Lu Xun could have been like that between Liu Bei and Huang Quan. A ruler's defection to the enemy state is a crime committed during wartime, not a crime against humanity. If his family and clan were treated well, they could meet again in the future. However, after Sun Quan personally killed Lu Xun's younger brother, Lu Mao, and exiled Lu Xun's close relatives to Jiaozhou, the hatred became irreconcilable.

"Where is the envoy from Wei?" Sun Quan asked, looking at the military advisor standing at the door.

The military advisor bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the men who came were just two ordinary soldiers from the Wei army. I just asked them, and they were given twenty gold coins and fifty mu of land each by the Wei army. These two men were sent to deliver a message."

"So they didn't intend to go back alive?" Sun Quan gritted his teeth and said to Quan Cong, "Issue the order: the entire army, sails at full capacity, proceed in the original direction, without stopping tonight."

"As you command," Quan Cong replied, bowing. At this moment, Quan Cong understood that Sun Quan still harbored some fear of Lu Xun's military prowess. Engaging in a direct confrontation with the Wei navy on the Yangtze River was not the optimal solution. The correct approach was to utilize ports and other strategic locations to launch a surprise attack before the Wei army could react.

But less than a quarter of an hour later, Quan Cong returned, holding a second letter in his hand.

Sun Quan's expression darkened, and he asked, "Did you send two soldiers again?"

"That's not the case," Quan Cong explained. "It was two naval soldiers captured by the Wei navy in Jianye, both subordinates of General Sun Kai." Sun Quan held his breath for a few moments, then reached out and took the letter from Quan Cong's hand. This time, Quan Cong did not refuse. As the ruler of Wu, he could not avoid such matters; what the monarch should bear, Sun Quan himself had to bear.

It was still the familiar handwriting of Lu Xun, but without the beginning, it went straight into the main text:

"On the 25th day of the first month of the ninth year of the Taihe reign of the Great Wei Dynasty, Gu Yong, the Minister of the Wu Kingdom, surrendered Jianye City. Cao Zijian, the General of the Great Wei's naval fleet, led his troops to accept the surrender at the north gate of Jianye. All the concubines and the princes and princesses of the Wu Kingdom in the Jianye Palace, from Bu Lianshi down, were taken to Shouchun for trial. The officials of the Wu Kingdom's Ministry of the Interior have already issued a formal notice to all counties and prefectures in Yangzhou to accept the military control of the Great Wei. Only Shitou City has not yet been captured."

"I urge you to fight me; do not flee."

Unlike Sun Quan and Quan Cong, who were cautiously observing the 40,000-strong army, Lu Xun was much more composed and eager for battle. Military strategy often involves a mix of deception and reality; the first letter was entirely truthful, while the second could easily deceive Sun Quan.

The next move is just a casual one!

Just as Lu Xun had predicted, Sun Quan was overcome with anger and his blood boiled when he saw the letter. He was furious, but there was also shock and fear in his heart. From Quan Cong's perspective, Sun Quan was sitting unsteadily, his left hand supporting him on the mat, and his right hand holding the letter was trembling slightly.

Upon hearing that his capital had been occupied by the Wei army, and that Gu Yong had surrendered, how could Sun Quan not be furious? Although it was Lu Xun's deception, Sun Quan believed it almost instantly.

After all, he also had doubts about Gu Yong, but at the time there was really no one else available, so he appointed Gu Yong to guard Jianye. On the contrary, his concubines and children were now ranked lower in Sun Quan's mind.

After reading it, Quan Cong urgently advised:
"Your Majesty, how can you believe Lu Boyan's words on paper! The truth of the matter is still unknown. Lord Gu has served Your Majesty for more than 30 years. How could Jianye City surrender so quickly?"

"Your Majesty, I don't believe it! I absolutely don't believe it!"

After saying this, Quan Cong knelt before Sun Quan and kowtowed deeply. Faced with Quan Cong's earnest advice, Sun Quan finally sighed deeply.
"Moving troops westward was my decision, and it was my mistake..."

After the two spoke for a while longer, the military advisor who had come to deliver the message returned. Those who served as military advisors to Quan Cong were all high-ranking officials within Wu, and having overheard the emperor and general's conversation, this advisor was filled with fear. If not for his duty, he would never have dared to return with the message.

"This is the third one?" Quan Cong asked after taking the letter. "Who sent it this time?"

"These two men claim to be subordinates of Zhu Chariot Cavalry of Ruxu," the military advisor whispered. "They not only brought a letter, but also the head of Lieutenant General Zhu Cai, saying that Ruxu has been captured and Zhu Chariot Cavalry has fled to Wuhu."

After saying that, the adjutant asked, "General, the head is right outside, isn't it...?"

"You harbinger of death! Get out, get out!" Quan Cong finally lost his temper, grabbed the wooden box containing the letter, and threw it at the military advisor. The advisor, after being hit, put down the letter, saluted, and quickly retreated.

He joined the army without complaint; in fact, he felt grateful to his general. What did it matter if he'd been hit? He didn't want to stay in front of the emperor and the general for even a second longer. (End of Chapter)