Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Sun Ce's gaze was resolute as he scanned the group of capable generals before him. Finally, his gaze settled on Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong. He spoke in a steady and forceful voice, "Zi Bu, Zi Gang, the situation in Jiangdong is becoming increasingly clear, and many important matters need to be advanced. I have decided to appoint you two to take on important tasks."

He looked at Zhang Zhao and continued earnestly, "Zi Bu, relocating the government to Yangxian County is crucial to the future development of Jiangdong. Yangxian County, nestled in the heart of Jiangdong, is a strategically important location. You are a meticulous and strategic thinker, so I'll leave this matter entirely to you. From selecting a new location for the government office, organizing the orderly migration of the people, to coordinating resources to ensure a smooth relocation, every step must be meticulous. Furthermore, with the Shanyue residing in Wu County, how will they coexist harmoniously with the local people and how will they be guided to integrate into Jiangdong life? These all require your careful planning. We must protect the rights and interests of the Shanyue and make them feel our sincerity, while also maintaining stability and order in Wu County and avoiding unnecessary conflict."

Zhang Zhao, his expression solemn, clasped his hands together, and replied respectfully, "I am grateful for your trust, my lord. I will do my utmost to live up to your trust. I will ensure the proper relocation of the administrative center and the integration of the Shanyue people, thus laying a solid foundation for the prosperity and stability of Jiangdong."

Sun Ce nodded slightly and turned to look at Zhang Hong, his eyes full of expectation. "Zi Gang, requesting an appointment from the court is related to the orthodoxy and legitimacy of our Jiangdong regime. Only you can take on this important task. The journey to the court is long and arduous, and the various forces at the court are intertwined and difficult to navigate. But with your talent and eloquence, you will be able to navigate it with ease. You must argue your case and explain to the court the strength and loyalty of our Jiangdong, so as to obtain a legitimate appointment for me, righteously establish Jiangdong's reputation, and enhance its prestige."

Zhang Hong bowed and spoke earnestly, "Rest assured, my lord. I will fulfill my mission. This time, I will do everything I can to mediate between the various factions and secure the appointment you deserve, so that Jiangdong can have a legitimate cause before the world."

As the pitch-black night fell, a secluded mansion within the city resembled a giant beast lurking in the darkness, shrouded in mystery and unpredictability. Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, at the repeated and earnest invitation of the heads of the Jiangdong aristocratic families, including Du Chong, Lu Yi, Gu Yuan, and Zhang Qi, hurriedly entered this secret gathering under the cover of night.

As soon as he stepped through the threshold, Du Chong's face was all smiles. He quickly stepped forward, clasping his hands in a fawning gesture, his tone even more enthusiastic than usual: "Ah, you two are now General Sun's most sought-after figures! You are highly valued, and your future in this land of Jiangdong is bright and limitless! We specially prepared this light meal just to express our congratulations. Congratulations on your rapid advancement!"

A smile played across Zhang Zhao's lips, a smile that held an elusive meaning. He bowed slightly, "Master Du, you're truly too kind. It's simply a matter of chance that General Sun has recognized us and given us the opportunity to showcase our talents." But who could have imagined that behind these seemingly humble and gentle words, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong were actually shouldering a secret and weighty mission entrusted to them by their aristocratic families? They lurked by Sun Ce's side, intent on maximizing their families' interests amidst the volatile situation in Jiangdong. Their every move held hidden meaning.

Everyone took their seats, guests and hosts. The originally relaxed atmosphere was instantly shrouded in frost, so solemn that it was almost suffocating. Lu Yi sat on a carved mahogany chair, leaning forward slightly, and broke the oppressive silence with a light cough. His eyes were like two sharp knives, scanning Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong's faces back and forth, as if he wanted to see through their thoughts: "Mr. Zhang Hong is going to the court this time, shouldering the life and death of our Jiangdong family! You must tell the court the truth about the downfall of the family under Xu Gong's rule, in detail and with exaggeration. Say that Sun Ce was ambitious and ruthless, like a jackal, and Xu Gong was just trying to maintain the balance between the families. He was a little check and balance, and he was tragically wiped out. Now, all the Jiangdong families, from top to bottom, young and old, are in panic and in danger of losing their lives!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Hong's brows furrowed imperceptibly, forming the shape of a "川" (Chuan) character, as if he were weighing something. He remained silent for a long time before speaking slowly, his voice low, steady, and powerful: "Brother Lu, this matter is no joke. It is of grave importance. We must not act rashly! The situation at court today is as complex as a dense web, with various forces intertwined and their interests intricately entangled. If we act rashly and rashly, and if the matter is exposed and the news leaks out, the consequences will be unimaginable. Not only will we fail to bring down Sun Ce, but it could also bring catastrophic disaster to all of us present here, and indeed to the entire Jiangdong family. There is no way to recover!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yi's expression instantly became extremely anxious. He stood up abruptly, waving his hands and shouting, "But if we continue to be so timid and sit back, watching Sun Ce's power spread wildly and grow stronger, will our family still have a chance to survive? Are we going to wait for him to uproot us one by one and kill us all?"

Zhang Zhao's eyes were as calm as water, yet they revealed a profound insight. He slowly looked at the crowd and spoke calmly, "Please don't worry, everyone. Listen to me. To be honest, after spending time with General Sun and getting to know him in depth, Zi Gang and I can truly feel that General Sun is ambitious, well-informed, and possesses extraordinary courage and strategy. If he hadn't ruthlessly slaughtered the aristocratic families and disrupted the long-established order in Jiangdong, he would have been a wise leader. It's truly a pity!"

Gu Yuan had been sitting quietly in the corner, like a silent statue, but suddenly spoke in a low, hoarse voice, "But what's the point of saying this now? His actions have already truly threatened the foundation of our family's century-long heritage. Are we just going to sit there and wait for him to die?"

Zhang Zhao shook his head slightly, his expression filled with a mixture of helplessness and emotion. "Brother Gu, I understand everyone's worries and anxieties, but the more critical the moment, the more we need to remain calm and respond with composure. If Zi Gang simply exposes Sun Ce's so-called 'crimes' when he goes to the court without any strategy or skill, I'm afraid he will not only fail to gain the court's trust, but will also arouse the suspicion of those cunning and calculating officials at the court, which would be counterproductive. In my opinion, it is best for us to hold our troops in place and wait patiently for the right moment to strike."

Zhang Hong followed up Zhang Zhao's words, speaking clearly and logically, "I completely agree with Zi Bu's opinion. Next, we can closely observe Sun Ce's every move and try to understand his next plan. Meanwhile, while I'm on my way to the imperial court, I'll also be secretly monitoring the court's attitude toward Jiangdong, gathering information from all sides and searching for the optimal moment to strike. Only in this way can we achieve our goal with one strike. Otherwise, if we fail, we'll have no chance of recovery."

After hearing this, everyone, though filled with resentment, had to admit that every word Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong said was reasonable and to the point. However, they could only stop insisting. After whispering about the trivial details for a while, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong stood up to take their leave.

In the pitch-black night, the two walked side by side, their footsteps remarkably clear in the silent streets. Their expressions were solemn, their brows furrowed, their minds racing with thought as to how to skillfully maneuver and achieve the aristocratic family's objectives without revealing their intentions. At the same time, they secretly lamented the fickleness of fate. If not for their conflicting positions, with Sun Ce's immense talent and vision, perhaps they could have joined forces and accomplished something earth-shattering in these troubled times.

Under Sun Ce's meticulous planning and coordination, Jiangdong flourished in an orderly and prosperous state. Zhang Zhao, with his exceptional organizational and coordination skills, ensured the smooth relocation of the administrative center to Yangxian County. Meanwhile, the Shanyue settled in Wu County, and thanks to Zhang Zhao's tireless efforts and meticulous mediation, they developed an increasingly harmonious relationship with the local people.

Sun Ce saw all of this and trusted Zhang Zhao more and more. As things went smoothly these days, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were also preparing to rescue Yangzhou.

At the prefectural governor's mansion, Sun Ce gazed at the map and discussed with Zhou Yu, "Gongjin, Liu Yao is now besieged by Yuan Shu in Yuzhang County. The situation is becoming increasingly tense. What are your thoughts on this?"

Zhou Yu leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed intently on the map. His slender fingers traced the winding mountains and rivers, as if sketching a clear battle route in his mind. He pondered for a moment, then responded methodically, "Bofu, in my opinion, if Liu Yao is destroyed by Yuan Shu, his power will only grow further. Given Yuan Shu's ambitions, he will undoubtedly pose a significant threat to Jiangdong. From a strategic perspective, we should send troops to rescue Liu Yao. This is not only to help him out of his predicament, but also to maintain the security and stability of Jiangdong."

Sun Ce was silent for a long moment, a subtle flicker of hesitation in his eyes. After a long pause, he slowly spoke, his voice tinged with resignation and deep thought: "Gongjin, to be honest, I had no intention of rescuing Liu Yao. You and I both know that I hate this Liu clan member with a deep hatred. Even if we rescue him this time, he might not genuinely befriend us. He might even become a threat to us in the future."

Zhou Yu was slightly startled, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. He stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "What exactly is Bofu planning? I hope you can tell me clearly."

Sun Ce slowly turned around and said softly, "I am doing this primarily to cooperate with my brother. You have been so kind to me. Now that I have returned to Runan Commandery, I will surely seek an opportunity to take action against Yuan Shu. However, Yuan Shu's forces are vast, his troops and horses are powerful, and if I were to attack rashly, my chances of success would be slim."

He strode back to the map, his finger gesturing rapidly between Runan and Yuzhang counties as he detailed his plan. "If we send troops under the pretext of rescuing Liu Yao, I will lead my forces from Kuaiji County directly to Yuzhang, while you lead your elite troops from Wu County to Huainan, pressing directly against Yuan Shu's rear. Yuan Shu is cunning and suspicious. If he senses a threat to his rear, he will undoubtedly disperse his forces to defend. This will inevitably weaken Runan's defenses. We should immediately dispatch someone to Runan County at full speed to inform Big Brother of our plan. He will then seize the opportunity to attack and harass Yuan Shu's flanks, putting him in a difficult position. This way, we can coordinate with Big Brother, both relieving Big Brother's pressure and effectively weakening Yuan Shu's power—killing two birds with one stone."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu's eyes lit up with admiration. He bowed and praised sincerely, "Bofu's foresight and ingenious planning truly impress me. If this plan succeeds, Yuan Shu will undoubtedly suffer a heavy blow, and we in Jiangdong will usher in new opportunities for development."