Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 225 To accomplish great things, one cannot be afraid to sacrifice oneself.
The attacking forces led by Zhang Fei and Guan Yu withdrew from the city walls once again.

This time, they lost nearly five hundred soldiers.

Back in camp, Zhang Fei could no longer contain himself and shouted at Liu Bei, "Brother! Our army is already limited in strength. Are we going to all be buried under this damned city?"

Zhang Fei was impetuous, and when his emotions ran high, he spoke without restraint: "That Cao Cao is clearly trying to wear us down, brother, why do you..."

Before Zhang Fei could finish speaking, Liu Bei suddenly interrupted him, shouting, "Third brother! Stop talking nonsense!!"

Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but feel a little wronged.

He thought he meant well by reminding his older brother, but was instead scolded in front of him. He immediately felt annoyed, turned his head away, and sulked.

Seeing this, Guan Yu quickly mediated: "Brother, my third brother has always been impatient. He was just speaking his mind. I hope you won't take it to heart."

After saying that, Guan Yu turned to Zhang Fei and said with a hint of reproach, "Third brother, you need to get rid of this impatient habit. Quickly apologize to your elder brother and make amends."

Seeing this, Guan Yu quickly stepped in to mediate, saying, "Brother, my third brother has always been impatient and spoke his mind. Please don't take offense."

How could Liu Bei not know that Zhang Fei was telling the absolute truth?

But right now, both Cao Cao's army and Sun Ce's army are attacking the city with all their might. If I shrink back because of my own selfishness, how will I face the court officials, the emperor, and the people of the world in the future?

"The allied forces are united in their attack on Yuan Shu, and they need to work together. Haven't you seen that Cao Cao and Sun Ce's armies are also attacking the city with all their might?" Liu Bei looked at Zhang Fei with a hint of disappointment and explained, "If we are selfish and try to preserve our strength at this crucial moment, how will we face people afterward? How will the world view me, Liu Bei?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's face flushed.

Fortunately, his skin was dark enough that others couldn't tell.

Guan Yu then chimed in, "Third brother, your elder brother is a descendant of the royal family. If you don't even exert your full strength in the campaign against the false emperor Yuan Shu, how can you establish prestige and build your own image?"

After Liu Bei and Guan Yu's analysis, Zhang Fei finally realized that he was wrong.

He bowed and clasped his hands in apology, a simple smile on his face, saying, "Eldest brother, second brother, it was my oversight. I apologize to you both."

“Third brother, I don’t mean to blame you,” Liu Bei said as he helped Zhang Fei up. He continued earnestly, “I just hope that you will think things through more and broaden your perspective.”

In this way, you will grow into a great general, not just a fierce warrior who only knows how to charge into battle.

Zhang Fei felt somewhat ashamed upon hearing this, and replied, "Yes, thank you for your guidance, brother. I will remember it."

at the same time,

Sun Ce and Zhou Yu rode their warhorses to the front of the army formation and looked out at the fierce battle raging in Shouchun City.

After watching for a while, Sun Ce suddenly turned to Zhou Yu and asked, "Gongjin, do you think it's really worth it for us to make such a huge sacrifice just to help Cao Cao take Shouchun?"

Zhou Yu gave a bitter smile and replied, "It's certainly not worth trading human lives for reputation."

But in order to establish ourselves in Jiangdong, and to get those powerful families in Jiangdong to serve us, we have no choice but to continue this charade with all our might.

Sun Ce reached out and gently stroked the spear hanging on his horse's back, his tone tinged with self-mockery, and said, "Yes, for this so-called 'official position,' I have had to sacrifice the lives of tens of thousands of my brothers..."

As Zhou Yu watched another batch of soldiers fall to arrows from the city walls, he couldn't help but laugh at himself, "Indeed, many brothers will sacrifice themselves, but without official positions, we will probably find it difficult to move an inch in Jiangdong."

Sun Ce remained silent. Before this, he had never imagined that the powerful families of Jiangdong would be so difficult to deal with.

Seeing this, Zhou Yu continued to analyze for Sun Ce: "We started late. Without the support of powerful families, it would be too difficult to consolidate Jiangdong or even compete with Cao Cao, Liu Biao and others for supremacy."

The most likely scenario is that before we've even sorted things out, Cao Cao has already established a force to be reckoned with. Sun Ce, recalling his repeated setbacks with the powerful clans, felt a surge of resentment and gritted his teeth as he spoke:
"Now I finally understand why Cao Cao suppressed the aristocratic families."

Those scions of noble families, with their eyes on the top of their heads and their nostrils flaring upwards, looking down on this and that... Believe me or not, one day I'll make them all kneel before me and call me my lord!

"I believe you." Zhou Yu said with a faint smile and a gentle tone, "One day, you and I, brothers, will conquer this world! But for now, we need to lower our expectations and focus on development."

Sun Ce's face was full of pain. Development, development... He only liked fighting wars and hated those tedious and fussy government affairs.

However, due to his status, and because he had previously forced Lu Kang, the leader of the Jiangdong gentry, to his death during the attack on Lujiang, and had also massacred hundreds of members of the Lu family clan, this thoroughly aroused strong dissatisfaction, even hatred, towards Sun Ce among the powerful families of Jiangdong.

Moreover, in the eyes of the scholars of Jiangdong, Sun Ce was ordered by Yuan Shu to attack Jiangdong.

Yuan Shu dared to brazenly declare himself emperor, making him an absolute traitor.

Therefore, in the minds of the gentry and common people of Jiangdong, Sun Ce was seen as an invader.

When Sun Ce realized that he might have gone too far in killing, he had already completely offended the powerful families of Jiangdong.

Whether it was the four most famous families in Jiangdong—Lu, Gu, Zhu, and Zhang—or other medium and small families, they all adopted a unified attitude of closing their doors to guests when dealing with Sun Ce.

Although Sun Ce had conquered the Jiangdong region, he lacked capable people to govern it, which finally made him somewhat restless.

It was precisely because of these many factors that Sun Ce disregarded the cost and sought a formal appointment from the imperial court to wash away his image as a bloodthirsty and aggressor.

Seeing Sun Ce's fluctuating expression, Zhou Yu advised him again, "Bo Fu, those who achieve great things must know how to be patient."

Sun Ce nodded: "I understand, but I'm just a little unwilling."

In order to achieve hegemony

Sun Ce, the once arrogant little tyrant,
They actually bowed down to the powerful families they had once slaughtered like pigs and dogs.

"Now that you've figured it out, then keep up the act." Zhou Yu looked at Sun Ce, feeling very gratified.

At the same time, he thought to himself, "Bo Fu is becoming more and more mature, and he already has the demeanor of a wise ruler. His future is promising!"

Just then, a messenger came to them and reported, "My lord, strategist! Three passages have been filled in the moat, and we can attack the city now!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce took the spear off his horse and held it upside down in his hand.

Zhou Yu couldn't help but ask, "How's Cao Cao's progress?"

The messenger's right cheek twitched involuntarily as he said, "An hour ago, Cao Cao's army laid out five passages, and Cao Cao's army and Liu Bei's army have already attacked the city twice..."

Sun Ce's body stiffened abruptly.

Zhou Yu sighed, "The overall quality of Cao Cao's army is indeed better than ours!"

Unexpectedly, the messenger suddenly added, "Actually... the most elite troops of Cao Cao's army haven't moved yet!"

"???"

"…………"

(End of this chapter)