Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Hearing Ma Chao's words, everyone felt a surge of pride. They were a group of like-minded young men, filled with lofty ambitions, eager to showcase their talents and achieve great things in these troubled times. Now, facing the meticulous plan they had jointly devised, they seemed to have seen the dawn of victory.

Sun Ce's eyes were filled with determination and courage. He clenched his fists, as if he couldn't wait to charge onto the battlefield. He was the first to speak out, "Alright! Let's follow this plan. We'll show that villain Yuan Shu how powerful we are!"

Zhou Yu's lips curled up slightly, his eyes filled with confidence and composure: "With such a brilliant strategy, and with our concerted efforts, we will surely defeat Yuan Shu and achieve hegemony."

Although Lu Su was still a little cautious, he was also infected by the passionate atmosphere and nodded vigorously, saying, "Now that the plan has been decided, we will go all out and must not slack off in the slightest."

Ma Chao looked around at the crowd, seeing their high morale, and was filled with excitement. "With such heroic spirit, there's no need to worry about our great cause failing! Let's work together and forge ahead towards our goal!"

For a moment, the secret room was filled with a sense of lofty ambition and arrogance. Everyone was eager for the upcoming action and full of confidence, as if they were ready to face all challenges. When the time came, they would be like a tiger descending from the mountain to set off a huge change in this troubled world.

Once everyone calmed down a bit, the heated atmosphere in the secret room gradually calmed down. Ma Chao turned his gaze to Zhou Yu and asked seriously, "Gongjin, if we are to successfully capture Wujun, what preparations must we make first? I hope you will be so kind as to give me some advice."

Sun Ce took the lead, speaking with conviction, "Our most urgent task is to quell the Shanyue rebellion and seize this opportunity to seize Wu Commandery. This is a crucial step in defeating the enemy."

Ma Chao frowned slightly, a puzzled expression on his face. He asked, "What is the origin of this Shanyue tribe? How could they have such a significant impact on our plans to seize Wu Commandery?"

Zhou Yu frowned slightly, his expression solemn. He spoke slowly, "The Shanyue are actually a group formed by the fusion of the remnants of the Baiyue people entrenched in the Jiangdong mountainous area and the local Han people. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the Yue State was destroyed by the Chu State. Some of the Yue people fled into the mountains. Over hundreds of years, they multiplied and coexisted with the local Han people, gradually forming the Shanyue. They are familiar with the terrain of the mountains and forests, have a tough character, are good at mountain warfare, and their whereabouts are erratic."

Zhou Yu paused, then emphasized, "The Shanyue have been a threat for a long time. They refuse to obey the imperial court's control and often come out of the mountains to plunder surrounding counties, stealing property and people. This has caused untold suffering to the people of Wu Commandery and caused social unrest. The local authorities have launched numerous encirclement and suppression campaigns, but because the Shanyue are familiar with the terrain and rely on the rugged mountains and forests to navigate, their efforts have been ineffective. Now, the Shanyue have become a major threat to Wu Commandery. If we don't pacify them first, they are very likely to attack from behind when we march into Wu Commandery, cutting off our supplies, disrupting our morale, and leaving us vulnerable from both sides. Therefore, quelling the Shanyue rebellion is the primary prerequisite for taking Wu Commandery."

Ma Chao shook his head slightly, a faint smile playing across his face. He slowly spoke, "A long time has passed since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Think of Qin Shi Huang, his great talent and strategy, sweeping across the six kingdoms with lightning speed and unifying the world. Then, Emperor Gaozu of Han slew a snake and started an uprising, founding the Han Dynasty. This has lasted for over four hundred years. After so many years, the divisions between Chu and Yue have long been lost in the long river of history."

He paused slightly, his gaze steady as he continued, "These so-called Shanyue are merely the descendants of past immigrants from Yue. Ultimately, they are ordinary people. For a long time, they have coexisted with the Han people, and in many aspects of their customs and culture, they have largely assimilated into the Han culture. They are not foreign races with ulterior motives. Furthermore, they mostly live in the mountains and forests, where the terrain is rugged and the living environment is harsh. Life is extremely poor and supplies are extremely scarce. This is fundamentally different from the actions of foreign invasions that attempt to overthrow the Han Dynasty."

Ma Chao's expression grew increasingly resolute, and his words were earnest. "Therefore, we shouldn't simply resort to harsh methods of extermination against the Shanyue. Instead, we should employ both suppression and appeasement, prioritizing appeasement over suppression. If we can employ a policy of appeasement to properly appease and reconquer the Shanyue, forcing them to sincerely submit, our future development in this Jiangdong region will be free of many thorns and will be even more conducive to achieving our great cause."

Sun Ce nodded in agreement, but then added with hesitation, "Brother, what you say is indeed quite reasonable. However, this is easier said than done. The Shanyue people have always been unruly and untamed, completely ignoring the imperial court's teachings and controls." He frowned slightly, his expression solemn, and continued, "If, as you say, appeasement could easily subdue them, then the Han Dynasty, with its over four hundred years of existence and its many wise rulers, capable ministers, and excellent generals, would never have allowed the Shanyue to wander outside its control? We should have brought them under our wing and made them our own. Why would we be the ones worrying about them?"

Sun Ce's eyes were determined. He waved his hand suddenly and said in a resolute tone, "In my opinion, we don't need to be too soft on the Shanyue. Since they won't obey, we should use force to force them into submission. We should just send our troops to attack them until they are hurt and subdued. Let them know that this world, after all, belongs to the Han Dynasty, and they will not be tolerated for their reckless behavior!"

Ma Chao shook his head slightly, his eyes penetrating with thought. He said, "Brother, military conquest can certainly alleviate temporary difficulties, but it is ultimately not a long-term solution. The reason the Shanyue people are so fierce and unruly is precisely because of the hardships they live in."

"They lived in seclusion in the mountains, where the terrain was difficult and arable land was scarce. Relying solely on the meager output of the forests, they could barely make ends meet. During years of disaster, they were starving and poorly clothed. Add to that the heavy taxes and levies imposed by the government, and their already difficult lives were made even worse. In this desperate situation, they were forced to rise up in resistance to survive, and over time, they left the impression of being rebellious."

"If we can truly alleviate their plight, open up fertile land, teach them farming techniques, and enable them to be self-sufficient; reduce taxes, allowing them to rest and recuperate; and even lend a helping hand when they encounter natural disasters, then how can the Shanyue people continue to resist without reason? When they sense our goodwill and experience the beauty of a stable life, they will naturally be loyal to us. Not only will they not become our enemies, but they will become our staunch supporters."

Zhou Yu nodded slightly and said, "Brother, what you said is indeed a good long-term strategy that focuses on the fundamentals. If we can implement it persistently, the Shanyue issue will naturally be properly resolved. However, the current situation is urgent. Our top priority is to pacify the Shanyue and then successfully capture Wujun."

He glanced at the crowd and continued solemnly, "Currently, various factions are constantly clashing, and the situation is changing rapidly. We don't have the luxury of time to implement this conciliatory policy step by step. If we don't act quickly, forces like Yuan Shu are likely to seize the initiative, expand their power, and pose a greater threat to us. Therefore, under the current circumstances, we need to find a more immediate and effective balance between military deterrence and appeasement."

Zhou Yu paused briefly, a glint of wisdom in his eyes as he spoke, "Military conquest is unavoidable. We can first demonstrate our deterrent power with a powerful military force, letting the Shanyue know that resistance is futile. Meanwhile, during the conquest, we can appropriately publicize our policy of appeasement, making it clear to them that if they submit, they will be able to live a stable and prosperous life. This two-pronged approach may allow us to pacify the Shanyue in a short period of time, clearing the way for us to capture Wujun."

Ma Chao's expression was resolute, his tone calm yet undeniable: "I still believe that we should use courtesy before force. Although the current situation is tense, indiscriminate killing is not the best policy. I would like to negotiate with the Shanyue people first, and try to avoid violence and unnecessary casualties."

Everyone was puzzled when they heard this. Sun Ce frowned and spoke up, "Brother, the Shanyue people are known for their brutality. Negotiations will likely be fruitless. It would be a waste of time and a missed opportunity to fight."

Zhou Yu's face showed concern, and he shook his head gently. "Brother, your idea is good, but the Shanyue people are wild and unpredictable. You're going deep into a tiger's den. What if they disregard morality and act against you? This is too dangerous. We can't let you go into this alone. We three brothers don't seek to live together, but to die together. How can I bear to see you take such a risk?"

Lu Su echoed with a look of worry, "My lord, Gongjin is absolutely right. The situation in the Shanyue region is complex, and they are extremely wary of outside forces. You are placing yourself in danger when you go to negotiate. A single misstep could put your life in jeopardy. With such a great cause at hand, we must work together to advance this cause. How can we do without you?"

Ma Chao smiled faintly, clasped his fists in greeting, and said, "Second and third brothers, I understand your concerns. But how can you get a tiger cub without risking it? A peaceful submission of the Shanyue would be of great significance to us. I, Ma Chao, am confident of my martial arts and strategic skills, and I will be able to adapt to the situation and protect myself. Moreover, if we can seize this opportunity to turn hostility into friendship and save countless lives, even if there are risks, it is worth a try. Since we are sworn brothers, we should work for peace for the people in these troubled times and devote all our efforts to achieving our great cause. Don't worry too much about my departure."

Lu Su, looking anxious, hastened to advise, "My lord, the Lujiang incident happened not long ago. It's a true lesson for us! The situation was chaotic then, and even the slightest mistake could lead to a complete loss. As the saying goes, 'A son of a wealthy family should not sit idle in the hall.' Now that you are our lord, the success or failure of our great cause depends entirely on you. How can you easily take risks?"

"If you encounter any misfortune while going to negotiate, all our years of hard work will be in vain, and the brothers who follow you will be in trouble. The Shanyue people are cunning and fierce, and are really unpredictable. You can't gamble with your own safety! My lord, please put the overall situation first and reconsider." Lu Su frowned, his eyes full of worry.

Ma Chao waved his hand and said calmly, "Zi Jing, that's not the case. The ones who truly clashed with the Shanyue were Wang Lang and Xu Gong of Wu Commandery, and it was the local officials who routinely oppressed and exploited the Shanyue. Although Bofu and his men are currently leading their forces against the Shanyue, if Bofu were to engage in further battles with Wang Lang and his men, the Shanyue would see it and understand the reasoning."

"As for me, I've never shown my face in Jiangdong before, and I've never had any conflict with the Shanyue people. This time, I'll treat them with sincerity and discuss matters with them candidly. Even if they have reservations about my views, there's no need to resort to violence right away. After all, the Shanyue people are fighting desperately for survival, not to commit suicide. If I can show them a better way out, they'll weigh the pros and cons and won't attack me rashly. So, there's no need to worry too much."