Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

On the day of the banquet, the morning light was fading, a brilliant orange-red hue etched across the horizon. Along the broad official road of Wu Commandery, a vast convoy of carriages snaked forward like a long, winding dragon. The carriages of the aristocratic families were lavishly decorated, their exteriors meticulously carved with lifelike depictions of flowers, birds, fish, insects, and myths and legends, gleaming with a regal luster in the early morning light. The wheels rolled with a steady, rhythmic sound, and the horses pulling the carriages were tall, sturdy, and agile, occasionally neighing with their heads raised. The dust kicked up by their hooves filled the air in the golden sunlight.

In one of the carriages sat several talented young men from prominent families. While not as renowned as Lü Meng and Zhang Zhao, they were nonetheless meticulously nurtured within their clans, possessing considerable potential. Wang Ming, from a middle-class family, possessed a delicate face and a gaze radiating intelligence and determination. Having studied law since childhood, he possessed a unique perspective on governing the people and longed to realize his ambitions in the government, becoming a county magistrate who would benefit the region. Li Yi, a man of upright stature and composed demeanor, was well-versed in the classics, history, and literature, and adept at handling government affairs. He frequently participated in decision-making on all matters within the clan, possessing exceptional coordination skills and a prime candidate for officialdom. At this moment, they spoke in low voices, their words filled with both anticipation and anxiety for the future.

"This banquet is both an opportunity and a challenge for us." Wang Ming frowned slightly and said solemnly, "If General Sun can use us, it will be a good opportunity for us to show our skills."

Li Yi nodded gently, his eyes firm: "That's right, but we must also act carefully and not ruin the family's plan."

In another carriage, Lü Meng, dressed in a well-tailored plain robe and a longsword with a faint cold gleam at his waist, sat upright. His eyes were closed, his expression stern. He appeared to be resting, but in reality, his mind was like a whirlwind of precision, repeatedly calculating the various possible scenarios and countermeasures. He was well aware of the profound significance of this banquet, shouldering the expectations of his family and numerous other noble families. Every detail was crucial.

Beside him, Zhang Zhao, dressed in an elegant long gown, gently waved a feather fan painted with ink landscapes. A faint smile adorned his face, seemingly at ease, but his slightly narrowed eyes betrayed a shrewd and vigilant eye, never missing a single detail. In the days leading up to this, he and Lü Meng had tirelessly worked, secretly shuttling between various aristocratic families. With their eloquence and exceptional strategy, they had connected the children of these families, fully preparing for the impending battle.

The motorcade slowly arrived at the banquet venue, a magnificent mansion. The towering vermilion gates, with majestic stone lions towering before them, signaled the owner's extraordinary status. Members of the aristocratic families filed out of their carriages, leisurely adjusting their attire and dusting off their bodies. Each movement shone with the grace and composure cultivated over the years of aristocratic family life. Then, with perfectly composed smiles and steady steps, they made their way to the banquet hall.

At this time, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu had already been waiting in the hall. Seeing everyone arrive, Sun Ce immediately smiled and greeted them warmly, saying in a bright voice, "It is really a great honor for my banquet that you can take the time to come despite your busy schedule!"

Du Chong reacted quickly, taking a step forward, standing tall and straight, clasping his hands together in a standard bow. With a warm smile on his face, he said, "General Sun's invitation is such an honor to us. How could we not come? It's just that the clan has been busy with many trivial matters recently, which has delayed me a little. I hope the general will forgive me."

"No problem, no problem. You all are doing me, Sun Ce, a favor by coming here." Sun Ce smiled and waved his hand. His eyes seemed to casually sweep over everyone, but in fact, they were full of hidden meaning. Finally, they landed on Wang Ming and Li Yi, and a hint of curiosity flashed in his eyes. "These two look quite unfamiliar. I wonder who they are?"

Seeing this, Zhang Qi immediately stepped aside with a broad smile and introduced them, "This is Wang Ming, well-versed in law and a master of local governance. This is Li Yi, skilled in government affairs and handling matters very appropriately. They are both talented individuals carefully cultivated by our family. If they can manage counties for General Sun in the future, they will surely achieve great things."

Sun Ce nodded slightly, his eyes gleaming with admiration. "Excellent! Wu Commandery needs talents like these." His gaze then fell on Lü Meng and Zhang Zhao, his eyes filled with growing curiosity and inquiry. "These two possess impressive bearings, evidently extraordinary individuals. I wonder who they are?"

Zhang Qi went on to introduce them, "This is the renowned Zhang Zhao, also known as Zhang Zibu, a man of great strategy and talent. This is Lü Meng, a man of young age yet proficient in military affairs and possessing exceptional strategic vision. Both are the best of our young generation. We heard General Sun is eager to recruit talented individuals, so we've brought them here to broaden their horizons and hopefully serve the general."

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce's eyes flashed with surprise and excitement, and he quickly said, "So it's Zhang Zibu and Lü Ziming. I've long heard of your great names, and meeting them today is truly worthy of their reputation. Come, please take a seat. We must not leave until we're drunk tonight!"

Everyone smiled politely and took their seats. The banquet officially began, the melodious sound of stringed instruments filled the air, and waiters filed in, carrying fine wine and delicious food. After three rounds of wine and five dishes, the atmosphere in the hall seemed harmonious and cheerful, with everyone toasting and chatting happily. But beneath this lively appearance, undercurrents surged. Behind every greeting and smile, calculations and tests were hidden on all sides. This war without gunpowder had quietly begun in this brilliantly lit banquet. Everyone knew that every moment would determine the survival of the family.

After three rounds of drinking, the hall was filled with the sound of stringed instruments, and the aroma of wine and delicious food filled every inch of the air. Sun Ce, with a meaningful smile on his face, slowly scanned the crowd and began his probing.

"Everyone, Wu County is in a state of disrepair now. I want to implement new policies, reclaim wasteland, and develop water conservancy projects. However, this project is huge and will require a lot of manpower and material resources. I wonder if you, the noble families, are willing to lend me a helping hand?" Sun Ce picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and said casually.

Du Chong stood up first, his face full of enthusiasm: "General Sun cares about the people and works for the welfare of Wu County. My Du family will give us our full support! Just ask for manpower and material resources. My Du family will never be stingy!" After saying that, he patted his chest, looking very confident.

The other noble families responded with sincere words and expressed positive attitudes. Lu Yi, the head of the Lu family, also stood up and said with a smile, "General Sun's move is truly a blessing for the people. My Lu family is willing to contribute manpower and effort to the implementation of the new policy."

Sun Ce nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes, but then he changed the subject: "Since that's the case, I plan to recruit some strong laborers from the various noble families to form a corvée team and start construction immediately. In addition, I also need the noble families to donate some money and food to cover the construction costs. What do you think?"

This was a rather demanding request; mobilizing strong laborers and donating money and food would incur significant losses for the aristocratic families. However, the aristocratic families agreed without hesitation. Zhang Qi smiled and said, "General Sun, please make the arrangements. The Zhang family will fully cooperate!"

Zhou Yu sat off to the side, seemingly leisurely fiddling with his wine glass, but in reality, he was secretly observing everyone's every move. He keenly sensed that the aristocratic families' reactions were overly enthusiastic, even somewhat unreasonable. In his past dealings with aristocratic families, they were often shrewd and worldly-wise, calculating over every penny of profit. But today, they were so forthright, truly puzzling.

Zhou Yu frowned slightly, a flicker of alarm in his eyes. He noticed that while Lü Meng and Zhang Zhao smiled and echoed the sentiments, their eyes held a hint of calmness and calculation. Du Chong, the head of the Du family, seemed especially composed, yet Zhou Yu could see his fingers occasionally clenched, a subtle movement that betrayed his inner tension.

Zhou Yu pondered inwardly, these noble families must have come prepared. Their enthusiastic response, could there be some hidden agenda? With this thought, Zhou Yu glanced at Sun Ce, signaling him to hold back. Sun Ce understood and laughed heartily, "With your help, the implementation of Wujun's new policies will surely be twice as effective with half the effort! Come, everyone, continue drinking!"

On the surface, the banquet remained lively, with laughter and chatter, and the clinking of glasses. But beneath this veneer of prosperity, suspicion and wariness between the two sides were quietly deepening. Zhou Yu knew that this banquet was merely the calm before the storm; the true struggle might have just begun.

The banquet ended in a lively yet mysterious atmosphere, and the guests took their leave one after another. Looking at the departing figures of the noble families, Sun Ce's smile gradually faded, his brow furrowed slightly, and he fell into deep thought.

Zhou Yu walked over to Sun Ce and said solemnly in a low voice, "Brother, the behavior of these noble families today is truly unusual. They are too subservient. I'm afraid there's something fishy going on. We must be on guard."

Sun Ce nodded gently, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Gongjin is absolutely right. I've noticed that too. These aristocratic families, who are usually so arrogant, are cooperating today. This is definitely not a genuine surrender. There must be some ulterior motive behind this."

The two walked side by side into the palace. Zhou Yu continued, "They're so eager to make their stance known. Perhaps they're hiding something, or perhaps they're biding their time. From now on, we must closely monitor their every move."

Sun Ce narrowed his eyes slightly, thoughtfully. "Indeed, especially the leaders of the Du and Lu families, as well as Zhang Zhao and Lü Meng brought by Zhang Qi. Their words and actions are all peculiar." At the mention of Zhang Zhao, a strange glint flashed in Sun Ce's eyes. "Gongjin, I've heard of Zhang Zhao, Zhang Zibu, for a long time. Seeing him today, he's indeed a remarkable figure."

Zhou Yu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile. "Yes, Zhang Zhao is a man of great talent, renowned in Jiangdong. His performance at the banquet today seemed to agree with everyone, but in reality, he was hiding something. I think we should find an opportunity to meet with him privately and test his opinion."

Sun Ce's eyes lit up and he nodded, "That's exactly what I want. If I can use this person, he will definitely help me achieve great things. If not, I must make plans early to avoid future troubles."

Zhou Yu nodded slightly and continued, "Brother, you're absolutely right. However, with so many people gathered at the banquet, it's difficult to discuss matters in depth. In my opinion, it would be better to summon them individually tomorrow. Firstly, away from the public's gaze, we can have a frank conversation. Secondly, we can carefully observe their behavior and character before deciding on appropriate positions and entrusting them with important tasks." Sun Ce's eyes flickered with agreement as he nodded heavily, saying, "As Gongjin suggests, summon them tomorrow. I want to see how capable these two are and whether they can be used to build a great cause for me."