Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

As the night deepened, the clamor of the banquet gradually subsided. Ma Chao, Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Lu Su, cautiously considering the situation and planning for the future, quietly entered the secret room. Inside, the dim, flickering candlelight cast their shadows long across the walls, like a solemn painting of strategic planning.

Sun Ce was the first to break the silence. His brows knitted slightly, and he gazed directly at Ma Chao, his words filled with unquestionable determination. "Brother, Yuan Shu's ambition is clear as day. Like the insatiable Taotie, he has already devoured most of Yangzhou. His power is at its peak, growing stronger by the day. As long as this beast is not eliminated, our ambition will be shattered. It is imperative that we plan our actions swiftly. Tell us, how should we launch a fierce offensive against Yuan Shu?"

Ma Chao, with a solemn expression and steady steps, approached the large map hanging on the wall. The mountains, rivers, and county markers on the map seemed to crystallize his strategic layout. He pointed his finger precisely at the Yangzhou area and spoke with a firm, forceful voice, "Although Yuan Shu's influence is strong and seemingly unshakable, the Yangzhou region remains uncertain and is not a monolithic entity. Yuzhang, Kuaiji, and Wu Commanderies remain outside Yuan Shu's control. These three areas, like three key chess pieces, are our crucial opportunity to break through the impasse. Properly utilized, they could turn the tide."

Zhou Yu frowned slightly, sorting out the complex situation. After a moment, his expression calmed, his eyes gleaming with wisdom and insight. He took over the conversation perfectly, "Liu Yao of Yuzhang County is currently isolated and helpless, clinging to his position like a candle in a raging wind. Yuan Shu's forces are pressing down like a tide, their offensive fierce. If Liu Yao doesn't receive any further assistance, he won't be able to hold out for long in this treacherous situation. If Yuzhang County falls into Yuan Shu's hands, his power will expand further, undoubtedly posing a grave threat to us." As Zhou Yu spoke, he tapped the map showing Yuzhang County's location. His eyes revealed a keen understanding of the situation, as if he could see through the map and see the tense situation within Yuzhang City.

Sun Ce nodded slightly, agreeing with Zhou Yu's analysis, then sneered with a hint of contempt and confidence in his tone: "Huiji County is already under my control. But the situation in Wu County is now like a mess, quite tricky." After saying that, he frowned, and a hint of worry flashed in his deep eyes, as if he was thinking about how to untie this mess.

Ma Chao's face was filled with doubt, his eyes searching. Seeing this, Sun Ce continued his explanation, "Wang Lang and Xu Gong in Wu Commandery are now harboring ulterior motives, like two venomous snakes locked in conflict, each pursuing their own agenda and refusing to yield. Their open and covert struggles have led to internal political divisions within Wu Commandery, leaving it in turmoil, a mess. This time, Gongjin and I will seize the opportunity presented by the Shanyue Rebellion to strike with lightning speed, severing the Gordian knot and pacifying Wu Commandery in one fell swoop."

Lu Su stroked his beard, his expression calm, his eyes revealing a deep consideration of the overall situation. He stepped forward, bowed, and spoke in a low, powerful voice: "My lord, the current situation is extremely complex, like a tightly woven web, where a single move can affect the entire body. Liu Yao of Yuzhang Commandery may not be related to us, nor do we share the same ideals, but from a strategic perspective, his persistence in Yuzhang is of great significance to us. He is like a wedge, deeply inserted into Yuan Shu's sphere of influence, greatly restricting Yuan Shu's forces and energy. If he falls, Yuan Shu will be like a beast freed from its shackles, his power will further expand, and he will inevitably launch an even more fierce offensive against us. Therefore, we must find a way to create a threat to Yuan Shu, distract his attention, and disrupt his strategic deployment. Otherwise, once Yuzhang Commandery is lost, Yuan Shu will have no more worries and can launch an all-out attack. The pressure we face will increase exponentially, and the situation will become extremely passive."

Sun Ce, however, folded his arms in disdain, his eyes revealing a deep dislike for the Liu clan. He snorted coldly, "Liu Yao is nothing but a worthless wretch in disguise as a Han clan member. What does he have to do with me? My father was treacherously ambushed by that old thief Liu Biao and died with hatred in his heart. This hatred is irreconcilable. I have always scorned these Liu clan members and have no good feelings towards them. If Liu Yao can't hold Yuzhang, it's his own fault. He is extremely incompetent, so why should we worry about him?"

Seeing this, Ma Chao knew Sun Ce's hatred was lingering, but now was not the time to act rashly. He stepped forward and offered earnest advice, "Bofu, we all share your deep hatred for Liu Biao. This hatred burns like a raging fire within you. However, the current struggle for world domination is like a vast and complex chess game. We must not simply focus on the immediate hatred but must consider the larger picture and assess the pros and cons with a long-term perspective. Liu Yao's presence in Yuzhang, holding Yuan Shu back, is undoubtedly a force we can leverage. If we can secretly support him and help him hold out for a while, we can use this precious time to focus our energies on pacifying Wujun and securing our rear. Once Wujun is pacified, our strength will be greatly enhanced, and we will then face Yuan Shu head-on. With our strength and strategy, our chances of victory will be even greater."

Lu Su quickly echoed, "My lord, you are absolutely right, Bofu. These days, various forces are intertwined and balancing against each other, and the situation is ever-changing. In these turbulent times, we must weigh the pros and cons, think carefully, and plan for the long term. We must not let momentary impulsive actions ruin the overall plan. As the saying goes, 'a little impatience can ruin a great plan.' We must put aside personal grudges for now and prioritize the greater good."

Sun Ce fell into deep thought, a flicker of struggle in his eyes, his hatred and his desire for hegemony clashing fiercely. After a long pause, he slowly nodded, as if making a difficult decision, and said, "You two are right. Brother, you are very resourceful. Do you have any sound and comprehensive plans for supporting Liu Yao?"

Ma Chao narrowed his eyes slightly, lost in thought for a moment, then spoke with conviction, "Before coming here, I exposed my whereabouts in Runan County. While Runan County hasn't openly submitted to that old scoundrel Yuan Shu, it has secretly surrendered. For this reason, I've stationed a large army in Runan County, radiating outward from Pingyu County throughout the county. For this operation, I've deployed capable generals like Zhang Wenyuan and Xu Yuanzhi. With their talents, we'll undoubtedly expand our gains in Runan County. If the situation in Runan becomes critical, it will inevitably pose a threat to Lujiang County. You know, Lujiang and Jiujiang counties are Yuan Shu's strongholds, his right-hand men. He won't sit idly by and will undoubtedly come to his aid. This will naturally greatly alleviate the pressure on Yuzhang County."

Ma Chao paused, a sharp glint in his eyes as he continued his analysis, "From my observation, Zhang Xun, the governor of Lujiang County, appears to be deeply trusted by Yuan Shu and has been entrusted with important tasks. He appears to be very impressive, but in reality he is a mediocre man with no real talent or knowledge. If the war in Runan County becomes critical, with his abilities, he will be unable to hold on to Lujiang County. He will definitely ask Yuan Shu for help and implore him to return to rescue him."

At this point, Ma Chao's face lit up with a confident smile. "It just so happens that I recently subjugated Gan Ning. Xingba is an expert in naval warfare, possessing extraordinary abilities. I've just noticed that among your heroes, there are quite a few who excel in naval warfare as well. We could combine them into a force, commanded by Gan Ning, to intercept Yuan Shu's reinforcements on the river. Then, Bofu, you can personally lead your elite troops from Kuaiji County to assist Liu Yao. With this two-pronged attack, Yuan Shu will be attacked from both sides and will undoubtedly be defeated."

Zhou Yu's eyes suddenly gleamed with a golden light upon hearing Ma Chao's words, like a hawk scouting for victory in the darkness. Unable to contain his excitement, he quickly chimed in, "Brother, this is a brilliant plan! Regardless of whether we can capture Yuan Shu here, as long as Gan Ning's navy can successfully hold Yuan Shu back on the river, preventing him from returning to Lujiang to reinforce him, we'll already be nearly successful. Yuan Shu, seeing his stronghold of Lujiang in danger, will surely be distraught and in a state of panic."

Zhou Yu paused, his tone growing more passionate. He waved his hand vigorously in the air and continued, "Then our army can combine forces from Kuaiji and Yuzhang and attack Yuan Shu with all our might, like a tiger descending from the mountains. Yuan Shu's elite forces are pinned down in Yuzhang County, unable to escape. And once we successfully capture Wu County, we can then launch our forces from Wu County and aim for Jiujiang County. In this way, even if Gan Ning's navy fails to stop Yuan Shu and forces him to return for reinforcements elsewhere, he will undoubtedly be severely weakened, his forces scattered, and unable to cover both ends. Our army can then pursue his victory, gradually disintegrating his forces, and our great cause will be within reach!"

Lu Su frowned slightly, his expression filled with worry. He slowly spoke, "From a global perspective, the strategy you have devised is indeed ingenious and interconnected. If implemented properly, it will surely deal a heavy blow to Yuan Shu. However, there are still two hidden concerns that require careful consideration."

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd before continuing, "First, Danyang County. Danyang has always been renowned for its elite troops, and the Danyang Army under its command is formidable and should not be underestimated. Yuan Shu is well aware of the Danyang Army's elite strength and must have a significant presence there. If our army follows this strategy, Yuan Shu will most likely dispatch the Danyang Army to support Jiujiang County. If this happens, our attack on Jiujiang County will undoubtedly encounter strong resistance, and the battle could become a stalemate."

Lu Su's expression was solemn, and his tone grew heavier. "Secondly, Tao Qian of Xuzhou has long been secretly allied with Yuan Shu. If our army launches a large-scale offensive against Yuan Shu, Tao Qian will most likely send troops to rescue him to protect his alliance. Xuzhou's military strength should not be underestimated either. If he marches south, our army will not only have to deal with Yuan Shu, but also be wary of the Xuzhou army. With enemies from both sides, the situation will become extremely complicated. Therefore, we must plan countermeasures for these two hidden dangers in advance to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Sun Ce, however, looked dignified and laughed heartily, saying, "Why should I worry? That old villain Tao Qian is just a frail old man, dying. His last breath is almost gone. And his successors are all mediocre, devoid of wisdom or strategy. What kind of trouble can they possibly cause? I don't even take them seriously!"

Lu Su's brow remained furrowed, his face thick with worry. He spoke slowly, "Tao Qian is indeed old and need not be feared. However, Chen Gui and Chen Deng, father and son, of Xuzhou, are no ordinary men. They possess exceptional wisdom and deep roots in Xuzhou, and must not be taken lightly. We must proceed with caution and not underestimate them and thereby err on the side of fate."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao's face lit up with a confident smile. He spoke loudly, "Don't worry too much, everyone. If an enemy comes, we'll meet him with our troops; if a flood comes, we'll block it with earth. Now that we've settled on this strategy, the most important thing right now is to help Bofu capture Wu County as quickly as possible. Only then can we return to Kuaiji County and assist in the troops' advance, step by step, as planned, to rescue Yangzhou."