The video takes us to ancient times; Li Er transforms into the Tongtian Emperor of Shu Han.

Chapter 520 Liu Bang: "Does your promise mean you must keep it?"

"Feigned surrender?"

"Does Sima Zhao think that the emperors of Eastern Wu are all fools?"

"The self-inflicted injury ruse was devised by Gongjin (Zhou Yu), and it thwarted Cao Cao's ambition to march south. Now he actually wants to use such a method against Eastern Wu? It's simply showing off his skills in front of Lu Ban!"

Outside the canopy of the sky, Emperor Sun sneered.

He had originally hoped that Sima Zhao could successfully turn the tide and defeat Liu Bang.

But now, seeing that Eastern Wu had become an easy target in their eyes, the Emperor was displeased.

He, from the mighty Eastern Wu, could advance and capture Xiaoyao Ford, or retreat and defend against the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. Why is he considered a pushover?

"A self-inflicted injury ruse? If I remember correctly, Eastern Wu was still in internal strife at this time, and the emperor was nothing more than a puppet."

"The powerful minister of Cao Wei was Sima Shi, while the powerful minister of Eastern Wu should be Sun Chen. There is no difference between the two. They can arbitrarily depose and install emperors. As long as they are willing to bear the infamy, they can also usurp the throne at any time."

Li Er smiled dismissively.

"Li Er, what you said is easy to misunderstand."

"Even without Sun Chen, so what? Does that mean Eastern Wu won't be a pushover?"

"joke!"

"Among the Three Kingdoms, Shu was the weakest. Even so, when the Han Dynasty was about to fall, there was still Zhuge Zhan leading tens of thousands of soldiers to fight to the death to repay the Han Dynasty, Liu Chen, the King of Beidi, who was willing to die to prove his loyalty, and Jiang Wei who used a plan to harm three virtuous men in order to restore the Han Dynasty from obscurity."

"Although they all failed, they still left a lasting impression with the spirit of Sichuan!"

"And what about Eastern Wu?"

"hehe!"

Even Zhu Yuanzhang didn't bother citing the example of Eastern Wu.

The saying that Zhang Zhao should consult on internal affairs is a joke!

Later on, in his view, the ministers of Eastern Wu were simply a carbon copy of Zhang Zhao!

Even Emperor Sun was just a larger version of Zhang Zhao!

After all, when Cao Cao led his 800,000-strong army south to Chibi, it wasn't just Zhang Zhao who hesitated about whether to surrender; Sun Quan did too!

"Let's not even mention Eastern Wu, it's really disgusting."

"However, Zhong Hui really made the right choice in selecting this target and opportunity."

"At this time, Eastern Wu was embroiled in internal strife. Sun Chen was trying to eliminate his political opponents, and people were in a state of panic everywhere. Sima Zhao led tens of thousands of troops to feign surrender, which might allow him to achieve his goal in one fell swoop."

"After all, Sun Liang was weak, Sun Chen was no good either, and Sun Quan became more and more incompetent and tyrannical as he got older. Sun Wu had long lost the hearts of the people, at least the hearts of the gentry."

"If Sima Zhao seizes the opportunity, compromises with the powerful families of Jiangdong, and gains their support, then anything is possible!"

Can Sima Zhao conquer Jiangdong?

With only tens of thousands of troops, it's certainly impossible on paper!

Despite having an army of 800,000 on paper, and even the assistance of the Jingxiang navy, Cao Cao ultimately suffered a crushing defeat in Jiangdong.

But times have changed, and circumstances have changed.

At that time, Jiangdong still had Lu Su, Zhou Yu, and Lu Xun internally, and Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang externally, all working together to resist Cao Cao.

What do they have now?

Sun Liang?

That's just a puppet.

Sun Chen?

That's a joke!

He didn't have Sima Shi's life, but he got Sima Shi's illness!

His abilities are mediocre at best; he's a complete joke!

In this situation, as long as Sima Zhao obediently follows Zhong Hui's plan, he has at least a 50% chance of taking over Jiangdong without lifting a finger!

Zhong Hui had already planned this escape route for himself before leaving the capital.

Or rather, he had thought about these things before deciding to pledge allegiance to the Sima family.

He was an arrogant man who had long anticipated that one day he would surpass his lord in merit.

So no matter where he goes, he always leaves himself a way out.

Jiangdong was once one of the escape routes he had left for himself!

If he enters Shu and does not fail, he can become like Liu Bei; if he goes down to Jiangdong, he can dominate a region; and if he seizes the opportunity to launch a northern expedition, he can create a great career again!

"My brother and I were once powerful figures in the Great Wei Dynasty. Do you really think they would believe us if we surrendered directly to Eastern Wu?"

"There's nothing they wouldn't believe. There's nothing new between the three kingdoms. Now that we know this intelligence, it's naturally already on their desks."

“If the Sima family had been all-powerful, and you were to surrender, they would naturally suspect a trap. But now that the Sima family has fallen from grace, and you are a tiger fallen into the plains, why wouldn’t they believe you are willing to surrender?”

Zhong Hui quickly explained.

He never doubted whether Eastern Wu would believe this.

In fact, he believed that if his side leaked even the slightest information, the first thing they would face would not be the emperor's siege, but rather the recruitment by Eastern Wu!

"Understood, Shiji, then so be it."

"Take over Eastern Wu, defend our natural strongholds, and then plot to conquer the Central Plains!"

After hesitating for a long time, Sima Zhao finally made up his mind.

……

"Zifang, Sima Zhao and his men are going to defect to Eastern Wu."

Do you think Sun Liang would be willing to tie him up and hand him over to me?

Within the capital city.

Having prepared for the worst, Liu Bang was currently enjoying himself so much that he forgot all about Shu, being served by palace maids.

"Trading Sima Zhao for Sun Chen's head would be an absolute bargain for Sun Liang. No one wants to be a puppet forever, especially when power above millions of people is within reach."

"However, Your Majesty, I am somewhat curious, once Sun Liang sends Sima Zhao back, how will you take Sun Chen's head for him?"

The answer to this question requires almost no thought, but Zhang Liang was still curious.

He found it strange that Liu Bang's letter to Eastern Wu was so full of confidence.

Logically speaking, Sun Chen held absolute power in Eastern Wu, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the Sima Shi of Eastern Wu.

Just as Liu Bang struggled against Sima Shi in the capital not long ago, Sun Liang had just as much trouble trying to eliminate Sun Chen.

Where does Your Majesty get such confidence to eliminate that powerful minister for Sun Liang?

"Why take Sun Chen's head?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bang asked in return.

Zhang Liang: "?"

"Isn't this the promise His Majesty made to Sun Liang?"

Liu Bang: "?"

"Does your promise mean you have to keep it?"

At this moment, both of them were bewildered to varying degrees.

Zhang Liang was stunned by Liu Bang's matter-of-fact tone.

Does making a promise mean you have to keep it?

So what if?

"Your Majesty, your words are not joking!"

"If you fail to keep your promises, it will greatly diminish your prestige as the emperor, and you will find it difficult to gain the trust of others!"

Zhang Liang quickly replied.

"A ruler does not speak lightly? They are neither subjects of the Han Dynasty nor the Wei Dynasty. Whether you are challenging internal or external forces, you have no need to gain their trust, do you?"

"Besides, at worst, you can just send a death row inmate across the river to assassinate Sun Chen."

"Anyway, in his letter, Nai Gong only said that if Sun Liang was willing to hand over Sima Zhao to the Great Wei, he would send someone to help him kill Sun Chen, but he did not say that success was a must."

Zhang Liang: “…”

Your Majesty, where is your face?