Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 807: Consensus Hidden Crisis

As Lü Meng's hand touched the hilt, Zhang Hong's gaunt, eagle-claw-like fingers clamped down firmly. The old minister's cloudy eyes glanced around warily. Zhang Hong coughed softly, breaking the deadlock. His sleeves deliberately tightened around the Grand Commander's seal, the clang of metal ringing like a warning bell. "Since the Commander-in-Chief has made this arrangement, we must abide by our promise. But this half-county..." He trailed off, his gaze lingering on Sun Quan's tense jawline like a venomous snake.

Sun Quan suddenly burst into laughter, so loud that the dust on the beams fell. "Great! A great place to stay! If General Zhou can educate the Shanyue and defend the territory, this half county will be the inheritance left by your brother to your nephew!" The jade pendant on his waist made a clear sound with his steps, but his smile did not reach his eyes. "But let me be frank. If anyone uses this half county to support an army and gain power..."

"Is Zhongmou worried about the troops?" Ma Yue in Zhou Yu's arms suddenly made a noise, and he subconsciously hugged him tighter. "The soldiers led by Taishi Ci and Wei Yan are my old subordinates who followed me to pacify Jiangdong." He raised an eyebrow and looked at Zhang Hong. He caught a glimpse of the old minister out of the corner of his eye. "Why, why not?"

Zhang Hong's Adam's apple rolled, his aged face tinged with grey in the candlelight. "Now that our lord has just passed away, and Jiangdong is divided again, if the surrounding bandits take advantage of the situation and invade..." He paused deliberately.

"Now that we've taken over half of Wu County, I'll be the one to defend against that old man Tao Qian in Xuzhou." Zhou Yu suddenly handed Ma Yue to Da Qiao behind him, his dark cloak sweeping across the messy ground, leaving dark red bloodstains snaking like snakes on the blue bricks. "You all just need to take care of Chaisang and Yuzhang. If you can't even defend your own city gates, how can you talk about the great cause of Jiangdong?"

Zhou Yu ignored the stagnant air in the hall and the piercing gazes of the crowd, slowly leaning forward in the dead silence. His movements were gentle, yet shone with undeniable resolve. He lifted Sally's cold body steadily, his fingertips touching the blood-stained fabric of her clothing, almost feeling the lingering warmth. Sally's untidy hair fell, brushing against his armor, silently revealing the enormity of the incident.

Da Qiao held the sleeping Sun Shao tightly in one hand, tears still wet on the infant's delicate face. With the other, she held Ma Yue tightly. The child's hand, cold and trembling, held Da Qiao's tightly in return. The three of them clung to each other, each the only support in this turbulent vortex.

Taishi Ci and Wei Yan, weapons in hand, stood guard on either side like two towering iron towers. They glanced around warily, their aura of murderous intent deterring those who were ready to act rashly. The cold gleam of their swords and spears contrasted with Zhou Yu's stern profile, forming a chilling barrier.

Under the gazes of the crowd, ranging from angry to shocked to complicated, Zhou Yu and his companions slowly emerged from the ancestral hall. Rain, mingled with the stench of blood, lashed their faces, soaking their clothes, but it couldn't extinguish the unwavering resolve within them. Each step was heavy and resolute, as if shattering past friendships and forging an unknown yet necessary path. Only after their figures vanished into the rain did the atmosphere within the ancestral hall snap like a taut string, erupting into whispers and arguments, piercing the wind and rain.

Cheng Pu looked at the receding figure, the old general's eyes red, his voice hoarse as a rusty bowstring: "Bofu, you and Gongjin have finally come to this point..." Huang Gai silently wrapped the iron whip back around his waist, blood seeping from the cracks in the iron armor dripping onto the ground, mixed with rainwater and dyeing the blue bricks dark red.

Torrential rain pounded against the eaves of the ancestral hall, drowning out Sun Quan's unfinished threats. The swamped water in the courtyard reflected the distorted figures of the people, and the candlelight flickered.

The old lady's arm, supported by Sun Quan, trembled slightly. Her bony fingers tightly grasped the embroidered handkerchief, the tear-soaked silk gleaming pale in the candlelight. "Zhongmou, Shao'er will always be your brother's blood." Her voice was hoarse like the rubbing of rotten wood, and her cloudy eyes stared in the direction Zhou Yu had left. "Your sister-in-law took the child away, a mother's helplessness..." Before she finished speaking, she began to cough violently, shaking her white hair. "All the affairs of Jiangdong, big and small, and your brother's funeral, are entrusted to you..." With that, she shook off Sun Quan's hand and stumbled away, dragging her hunched figure. Her wide sleeves swept across the candlestick, causing the flame to sway violently, tearing her shadow into shattered fragments on the wall.

Sun Quan straightened his back and watched his mother disappear around the corner of the corridor. The haze in his eyes instantly faded. He slowly turned around, a subtle flicker of pride crossing his face before quickly returning to a look of sorrow. Everyone in the hall knelt on the ground, and amidst the constant cries of "Greetings, my lord," he quickly walked towards Cheng Pu and the other four generals, his wide robe sleeves casting shadows on the blue bricks.

"Four uncles, please stand up!" Sun Quan leaned forward with both hands, his voice filled with just the right amount of fear, his fingertips secretly gripping Cheng Pu's arm, "How can my nephew be worthy of such an important task? The future of Jiangdong will depend on the assistance of my uncles!" He looked in the direction where his heart had left, two tears trickling out of the corners of his eyes, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong solemnly putting the Grand Commander's seal into the sandalwood box - a triumphant smile was hidden in the slightly raised corners of his mouth.

Sun Quan wiped away the feigned tears from his eyes, then quickly regained his composure and methodically began arranging Sun Ce's funeral. He raised his voice, his words filled with remembrance and reluctance for his brother: "Brother, you have dedicated your life to military service and made invaluable contributions to Jiangdong. This funeral must be solemn and dignified. No slack is allowed!" He then glanced around the room and sighed with a feigned generosity: "Gongjin is wholeheartedly protecting my nephew. Though his actions were hasty, they were also sincere. I have already promised, and I will not go back on my word. I hope you will refrain from further disputes." These words, while seemingly magnanimous, served as a subtle warning to everyone, urging them to stop making irresponsible comments about Zhou Yu's affairs.

After making all the necessary arrangements, Sun Quan looked at the four veteran generals—Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, and Zu Mao—in a gentle tone that held no room for refusal. "Military affairs are complex, and many matters in the city also need to be properly handled. I'll have to trouble you, my four uncles, to take care of them." He stepped forward and shook Cheng Pu's hand, his eyes full of earnestness. "These are turbulent times, and I can only feel at ease if you, my four uncles, are here to take charge."

Though the four veteran generals harbored many concerns and discontent, facing Sun Quan's words, they found it difficult to offer much. Cheng Pu clasped his fists in salute, then said solemnly, "We will do our utmost to live up to your trust." With that, the four exchanged glances and turned to leave. Their steps were heavy, and the clanging of armor echoed in the empty hall, as if expressing their concern for the future of Jiangdong. Sun Quan watched them depart, a subtle sneer curling his lips, his eyes gleaming with calculation.

After Cheng Pu and the other four veterans disappeared outside the door, Sun Quan raised his chin slightly, nodded to Zhang Hong and Zhang Zhao, and then strode towards the meeting room. Lü Meng and Lü Dai followed closely behind, their steps hurried, their faces filled with anxiety and reluctance.

As soon as he stepped into the hall, Lu Meng could not help but shouting loudly: "My lord! Gentlemen! Just watching Zhou Yu leave with his troops, isn't this like letting a tiger return to the mountain and raising a tiger to cause trouble? We should have made a decisive decision and killed Zhou Yu and his gang on the spot to prevent future troubles!" Lu Dai nodded repeatedly, his clenched fists trembling slightly due to the force.

Sun Quan remained silent, his eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze deep and unfathomable. Zhang Zhao coughed lightly, his face etched with discontent. He rebuked, "How foolish! Zhou Yu has already conceded, accepting the half-county as his home. If we press further, how can the four veteran generals, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Zu Mao, and Han Dang, sit idly by? Not to mention the troops they command, Taishi Ci and Wei Yanhu alone at Zhou Yu's side are formidable. If the four veterans step forward to uphold justice for Zhou Yu, how can you, with just a few men, be a match for them?"

Lü Meng stamped his feet anxiously, his face flushing red as he argued, "That being said, if we let them go, if they collude with the Shanyue in the future, it will be extremely difficult to deal with them!"

Zhang Hong stroked his beard, a sinister glint in his eyes as he spoke slowly, "Let them go first. Zhou Yu is returning this time, and his family is also with the army, heading together to the Banjun area where the Shanyue are stationed. There will be plenty of opportunities to take action along the way, so you should plan carefully and seize them." After saying this, he turned to Sun Quan, bowed, and respectfully asked, "What do you think, my lord?"

Sun Quan showed a submissive look on his face and said with a smile, "Oh, sir, your arrangements are very detailed. We will do everything according to your words." After receiving the order, Lu Meng, Lu Dai and others hurried down to arrange the pursuit.

After they left, Sun Quan watched them go, his eyes narrowed, a subtle sneer curling at the corners of his mouth. He pondered to himself: If I truly exterminate Zhou Yu, I'll only have four veteran generals left at my disposal: Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Zu Mao, and Han Dang. Wouldn't that mean Jiangdong's political affairs will be completely controlled by the aristocratic families? Keeping Zhou Yu around is the key to balancing the aristocratic families and preventing them from harboring any second thoughts. Furthermore, with the old lady around and Sun Shao's nephew with Zhou Yu, if I can just appeal to family ties and the greater good, who's to worry about Zhou Yu not being able to command me?

At this thought, a fierce look flashed in Sun Quan's eyes. He turned and instructed Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, "Gentlemen, please expedite the funeral arrangements for my brother. Send his coffin out as soon as possible so I can focus on governing Jiangdong." Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong quickly agreed and hurriedly left to arrange the relevant matters. Sun Quan stood alone in the hall, gazing at the empty surroundings, pondering his next move.

The rain, like lead, weighed heavily on the azure tiles of the Wu Marquis's mansion. As Zhou Yu stepped out, blood was still dripping from Shalier's corpse on his shoulder, mixing with the rain and leaving dark red trails on the blue bricks. He turned abruptly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. "Return to the mansion immediately! Order three thousand cavalry to prepare and march in half an hour!" His voice was filled with undeniable fierceness, startling Ma Yue so much that he shrank back into Da Qiao's arms.

Taishi Ci gripped his spear tightly and was about to turn, but Zhou Yu grabbed his wrist. Zhou Yu's palm was burning, the heat radiating through his armor. "Quickly send someone to notify Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, and other former members of Bo Fu's army to lead their troops and prepare to rendezvous. If we encounter pursuers, fight and retreat, leading them to the Shanyue territory!"

"Wei Yan, please arrange for someone to go to the place where the Shanyue are stationed and ask the Shanyue to send troops to support." Taishi Ci, Wei Yan arranged for someone to take the order.

Zhou Yu looked towards the Zhou Mansion, then turned to look at Da Qiao and said, "Sister-in-law, everyone in the mansion must travel light and abandon all baggage!"

Zhou Yu tightened his grip on Sally's body: "Pass the order down! Anyone who is left alone or hesitates will be punished by military law!" He jumped on his horse, and the warhorse neighed as it trampled the puddles. The splashing water mixed with blood drew a scarlet arc in the night.

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