Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

In reality, the current situation in Jiangdong was fraught with uncertainty. Elderly officials from aristocratic families like Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong had ultimately underestimated Sun Quan. Ever since Sun Ce's death, they had been plotting to sideline Sun Quan, using the young master as a mere mascot while retaining all real power in their own hands.

But who could have foreseen that the casualties they incurred in their pursuit of Zhou Yu would actually create an opening for Sun Quan. Seizing the opportunity, Sun Quan wooed four veteran generals: Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, and Zu Mao, handing military power to them. The Jiangdong noble families, hoping to intervene, could only stare blankly at these four veterans. In terms of seniority, they had been accompanying Sun Jian and Sun Ce in their conquests while the other families enjoyed a comfortable existence in the Jiangdong counties. And in terms of prestige, who among the soldiers did not respect these formidable generals?

Jiangdong had just suffered the sudden death of its lord, and Grand Commander Zhou Yu had been branded a traitor. The soldiers and generals were in a state of panic, and these four veteran generals were precisely needed to stabilize the situation. However, these men were deeply loyal to the Sun family. Sun Quan's strategy of leveraging these men completely thwarted the aristocratic families' hopes of undermining the Sun clan. The Jiangdong court was now like four pillars of support, suppressing the ambitions of the aristocratic families.

While Sun Quan's strategy of using veteran generals to counterbalance the aristocratic families was a brilliant one, he knew in his heart that the game was far from over. The Jiangdong aristocratic families held more than just money, grain, and land—they secretly held evidence that Sun Quan had poisoned his brother, a dagger hanging over his head.

Sun Quan didn't dare to make absolute statements or take all the actions, so he had to carefully strike the right balance between seizing power and compromising. On a daily basis, he relied on veteran generals like Cheng Pu and Huang Gai to command the army and intimidate the aristocratic families, while occasionally ceding some favor to Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, turning a blind eye to official documents and government affairs. While these four veteran generals provided him with the strength to check and balance the aristocratic families, if tensions became too tense and the aristocratic families revealed their secrets, these loyal old officials would become the "forces of justice" who would force him to abdicate.

Sun Quan, under the pretext of military preparation, was placing his trusted aides within the army. Meanwhile, he hosted a banquet at the Marquis of Wu's mansion for the heads of the aristocratic families. While they chatted and discussed poetry, he secretly plotted how to gradually seize the other families' private troops and supply routes. In this silent struggle, he had to guard against the aristocratic families' desperate attempts to take over, while also being careful not to let the veteran generals discover his covert attempts to consolidate power. The balancing act was a delicate one, a delicate one.

Zhou Yu now controlled half the county, a thorn in Sun Quan's side. Although Zhou Yu had refrained from raising an army, concentrating on educating Sun Ce's young son, Sun Shao, his sharp eyes had already seen through the murky waters of the past. Sun Quan knew that as long as Sun Shao remained, Zhou Yu could at any moment raise his arms, citing the banner of revenge for his former master, and Jiangdong would inevitably be in chaos.

Meanwhile, Sun Quan's attempt to suppress the aristocratic families by seizing military power had already sparked the secret resentment of Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong. The aristocratic families, despite receiving no benefits, maintained a respectful relationship between the emperor and his subjects, but secretly began to hinder the allocation of funds and grain. Even more problematic were veteran generals like Cheng Pu and Huang Gai. While they respected Zhou Yu's talent and strategy, they also pitied Sun Shao's fatherlessness at a young age, and refused to lead the troops to fight against Zhou Yu.

Sun Quan, now caught between the forces of the aristocratic families, the veteran generals, and Zhou Yu, felt a sense of unease as he reviewed official documents daily. He wanted to seize power, but feared the aristocratic families would reveal their secrets; he wanted to move against Zhou Yu, but feared it would upset the veteran generals. While the court was a feast of revelry, private life was a savage, piercing, and ruthless. Even the mature young man could not help but sigh late at night over Sun Ce's sword.

Late at night in the Marquis of Wu's mansion, Sun Quan clutched a secret letter from Liu Biao urging him to deliver grain, his knuckles gleaming blue in the candlelight. On his desk lay the urgent military report from Lü Meng, still unopened. Outside, the night watchman's gong struck the third watch, mingling with the waves of the Yangtze River, each thud hammering at his heart. Since assuming power, he had never felt so breathless as at that moment—combine himself with the veiled attacks of Zhang Zhao and his ilk, and guard against the threatening waves Zhou Yu might unleash at any moment. And then, Liu Biao of Jingzhou exploited the situation, repeatedly sending men to demand food, fodder, and weapons.

"Use the excuse that Zhou Yu is holding half the county to delay for a while." Sun Quan threw the secret letter into the copper furnace, and the flames instantly engulfed the letter. Before he could finish his words, his personal guards brought him an urgent secret report. He looked at the Vermillion Bird emblem on the sealing wax, and his heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

The moment the secret letter unfolded, the bronze lamp suddenly erupted with sparks. Sun Quan stumbled, grasping the table, his Adam's apple rolling violently. The words "The Emperor has passed away, the Western Liang army has entered Chang'an, and Ma Chao has been crowned King of Liang" stung his eyes. Memories flooded back: upon learning of Ma Chao's "death," Sun Ce launched his army westward, his most elite cavalry being the Western Liang cavalry gifted by Ma Chao himself. He even assigned his cousin, Ma Dai, to Sun Ce as their leader. Of the Lujiang and Danyang counties they had conquered together, Ma Chao took nothing, leaving them all to Sun Ce as a foundation.

"My lord?" the guards couldn't help but call out, seeing his pale face. Sun Quan clutched the tiger talisman on the table, his nails almost digging into the gilded lines. The scene of the deep brotherly love between Sun Ce and Ma Chao was still vivid in his mind. Now that his old friend had reappeared, commanding 300,000 cavalrymen, how could he let it go if he learned of Sun Ce's death? Even more terrible, Sun Ce had raised his army in the name of "seeking justice" for Ma Chao. Now things had changed, and this old debt had become a sharp sword hanging over his head.

Sun Quan spoke again: "Send orders to Lü Meng and Xue Zong to tighten the checkpoints around Wujun by three times. Don't let even a bird fly out."

The night wind, carrying the fishy smell of river water, filled the hall. Sun Quan gazed at the spear left by Sun Ce on the wall, and a chill suddenly ran down his spine. Zhou Yu, holding half the county, watched covetously from the front; Ma Chao's cavalry, commanding the entire Guanzhong region; and in between, Zhang Zhao and other aristocratic families threatened to reveal secrets at any moment. He stumbled back onto the brocade couch, grabbed the wine jug, and gulped down a fierce gulp. The pungent liquor choked his eyes, reddening—the position of Lord of Jiangdong, after all, was a precarious one.

But how can paper cover fire? In reality, Lu Su and Gan Ning, dispatched by Ma Chao, had already departed from Chang'an. Disguised as a merchant caravan, their carts laden with furs had evaded numerous checkpoints and, by now, had quietly entered Jiangdong territory.

The caravan's wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs of Ruxukou, and the copper bells on the shafts jingled with the bumps. Gan Ning's veins bulged as he gripped the reins. He looked toward Xiakou and spat: "Those Huang She and his son took three cartloads of Shu brocade and left us waiting at the post station for three days!" The ring-handled sword at his waist swung with his horse's body, the tassel brushing against Lu Su's hemp robe, startling a chorus of cicadas.

Lu Su gently waved his feather fan, his eyes glancing at the Sun family warships patrolling the river in the distance. The secret letter hidden in his sleeve poked his palm: "Xingba, please bear with it for now." He stroked the cloud pattern on the fan bone with his fingertips. "The king entrusted you with an important task before leaving. If we start fighting now, how can we complete the task you entrusted to me?"

"I just can't stand that kind of guy!" Gan Ning tugged at his sweat-soaked coarse shirt, and his copper wristband made a dull sound against the saddle. "I gave him so much money for nothing, and yet I still have to put on a smile and listen to him act so arrogantly!" He suddenly pulled the reins, and the chestnut horse reared up, startling the driver next to him into a panic.

Lu Su put away his fan and tapped Gan Ning's hand with his fingertips: "Money is a small matter, the mission is a big one." He lowered his voice, his eyes burning, "First, we must find out the truth about General Sun's death, and second, we must bring back the young master and mistress. If I ruin something important because of my momentary anger, how can I report to the king?" He then pretended to touch the brocade bag in his arms, "If it is really unbearable, I will write a letter and ask the king to send someone else?"

Gan Ning's neck shrank, and he quickly grasped Lu Su's wrist with his rough hand: "Zi Jing, don't try that trick!" He smiled apologetically and patted the wine bag at his waist, the copper ring making a crisp sound. "We've been through hardships all this way, and you taught me how to read and write, and you also said you wanted to help my son learn. When we reach the ferry tonight, I'll treat you to three jars of the best daughter's red wine!"

Lu Su was dragged around for a moment, but he couldn't help but chuckle. He tapped the wolf tattoo on Gan Ning's chest with his fingertips and said, "Just remember it. The waters of Jiangdong are too deep. If you're not careful, you'll be doomed. Let's find a secret tavern to stay. I'll copy the secret letter tonight and send it to Chang'an."

Gan Ning scratched his head, muttered, and loosened his grip, but secretly pushed the wine bag at his waist toward Lu Su. The caravan continued to move forward, its wheels crushing the sunset all over the ground.

However, they were unaware that Jiangdong was already as frightened as a bird, its defenses as dense as a spider web. As soon as the caravan entered Ruxukou, the furs drying on the bow of the boats were spotted by patrolling the river. By the time the messenger's swift horse arrived at Cheng Pu's tent, the old general was lost in thought at his desk, the candlelight casting a cold glow on his silver beard.

"General, a merchant caravan has arrived from the north bank. Their cargo has weighed down their sides, leaving them with a deep draft. It looks like they're drying furs on the bows." Before the scout could finish his words, Cheng Pu's knuckles were already making the table creak. Jiangdong couldn't compare to the Central Plains. How could Jiangdong go after Jiangdong's fur? Ever since Zhou Yu secured half the county and broke with Sun Quan, he, Huang Gai, Han Dang, and Zu Mao had often sat across from each other late into the night, their wine jars empty and then filled, yet they still couldn't resolve the knot in their hearts. Their lord Sun Ce's sudden death was already strange, and now Zhou Yu and Sun Quan were each holding their own opinions. One wanted to purge the court of its former master, while the other accused them of treason, leaving these veterans like reeds swaying in the wind.

"Fur?" Cheng Pu stood up suddenly, his armor colliding with the command arrows on the commander's desk, "How can this be absurd! Immediately send soldiers to guard the caravan - Jiangdong is a hot and humid place, where is the fur trade? How can merchants not know such common sense?"

As his personal guards received the order and prepared to depart, he stared at the location of Chang'an on the map, stunned. The words in the recent secret report, "Ma Chao has been crowned King of Liang, and he reigns supreme in Chang'an," were still fresh in his mind. But back then, Sun Ce, driven to avenge his sworn brother, marched westward, ultimately meeting his end. Now, his old friend was still alive, commanding 300,000 cavalry and dominating Chang'an. The unpredictable nature of fate brought a bitter feeling to the old general's throat.

"Wait!" Cheng Pu suddenly called out to his personal guards who were outside the tent, "Quickly chase the scouts back and pass the order down that we can only siege but not attack, and don't hurt anyone!" He stroked the jade pendant given by Sun Ce at his waist, his eyes fell on the unfinished wine jar on the table, "Then go and invite Generals Huang Gai, Zu Mao, and Han Dang to come, and tell them... that there is something important to discuss."

When Gan Ning kicked open the door, Lu Su was blowing dry the last line of the secret letter. The candlelight flickered suddenly, and the wolf-hair brush on the table left a streak of ink on the silk book.

"Zi Jing!" Gan Ning's wine gourd was still dangling from his waist, but his sword was already three inches out of its sheath. "There's a lot of rustling outside, it's likely he's being targeted!" He slammed his rough palm on the table, causing the oil in the copper lamp to splash out.

Lu Su quickly rolled the silk book into thin strips and stuffed them into the hollow fan ribs. He looked out the window. Under the moonlight, the cold gleam of armor shone on the bluestone slabs. The entire street was completely blocked by soldiers holding spears.