Chapter 456 Zhou Yu’s Thoughts (1/2)
Chapter 456 – Zhou Yu's Thoughts
In the morning, Tong returned to Jiangxia and regrouped with Huang Gai and others.
He did not come here to ferry anyone this time. However, he acted as a messenger. Tong told Huang Gai, ”I've told Zhang He's team to mobilize here. Their legion will arrive in about half a month, so you should use the chaos to move out of the city when they arrive.”
Everyone bowed to Tong, ”Thank you, your majesty!”
As Huang Gai, Zhang Hong, Zhang Zhao were cheering, Zhu Zhi looked distressed.
Among the crews, Zhu Zhi was also a subordinate of Sun Jian, but he leaned toward Sun Ce over Sun Quan after his lord had died.
Thus, he did not want the clan to split into two like this.
When Tong left the city, Zhu Zhi dispatched a messenger to Jianye in secret, hoping to inform Sun Ce.
'Please, stop them from splitting the clan.'
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A month later, Sun Ce received the message from Zhu Zhi.
Upon finding out that Tong took his mother as his concubine, Sun Ce screamed in anger.
”ZHANG TOOOOOONNGGG!!!”
Losing his former wife was not enough, Tong had disgraced him by taking his mother, too.
It was an unintentionally indirect insult from Tong to Sun Ce, translated as ”I fucked your mom.”
Technically, he should have been glad because his status was elevated to a relative of the emperor. If he were lucky, his rank would have been raised to a prince.
However, Sun Ce's anger clouded his judgment, which made him unable to realize this point.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yu was calmer than his sworn brother. He wanted to grasp this opportunity to raise their status. Unfortunately, with Sun Ce's mentality, it would be impossible.
'Has Sun Quan and Wu Guotai joined forces with Zhang Tong? This is interesting. Well, it's a pity that Huang Gai, Han Dang, Cheng Pu, and two Zhangs join that side. I still have the new generation, Zhu Zhi, and Huang Zu.'
It was a pity for Sun Jian's former subordinates. Zhou Yu could not force them to come back since their heart was not with Sun Ce anymore.
Zhou Yu was aware that the foundation of Tong's affiliate cities were solid, but he also knew that Tong's successor issues were his weaknesses. If Sun Quan could take over Tong's authority from the inside, they would still have a chance to destroy the Han Dynasty.
'In the other world, Yuan Shao's successors fought each other instead of continuing fighting Cao Cao. In the end, all Yuans ended up dead. Zhang Tong is repeating Yuan Shao's mistakes by having too many successors in line, and I don't think that Liu Xie gets along with Tong.'
Zhou Yu thought of Liu Xie, who Tong adopted. He also recalled that Tong had two new sons.
'Four successors. His court will be in chaos. I should capitalize on this!'
He thought of the Imperial Seal in Sun Ce's hands. The strategist smiled.
Zhou Yu patted Sun Ce's shoulder, ”Bofu, calm down. This is a perfect opportunity for us!”
”Perfect what!?”
”Zhang Tong made a big mistake for taking in your mother. Do you realize that you're now a prince?”
”Prince!? Do I have to call Zhang Tong FATHER!? NOPE! I'd rather die than kowtowing to that horny bastard!”
”Haha, you don't have to. Actually, can I have that Imperial Seal that Cao Cao gave us?”
Sun Ce's face became solemn, ”What are you trying to do with it? You won't use it to make me another emperor, right?”
”Of course not. Proclaiming someone an emperor right now is stupid since commoners believe that the civil wars are over. I just want to bait someone into taking actions against Zhang Tong.”
”Huh? Who?”
Zhou Yu snickered, ”You'll see. For now, let's summon Zhu Zhi back. Sun Quan and others are lost cause now.”
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A few days later
Zhang He's Ghost Legion relocated from Xiangyang to Jiangxia as ordered by Tong. The sudden mobilization of 60,000 soldiers frightened the local civilians, Sun Ce, and Huang Zu.
After a casual 10 days of marching, they reached Jiangxia.
Huang Zu did not dare to intercept this army as he was working for Liu Biao on the surface. Had he picked a fight with Zhang He, he would be seen as a traitor or a rebel. Thus, he kept his private army in Jiangxia and rode out to welcome Zhang He Army with a few men.
Upon seeing the legion commander, Huang Zu stepped down from his horse and bowed to Zhang He.
”H-Hello, great general. I didn't know that your army is moving here.”
Huang Zu was afraid that Zhang He might attack his city or steal it from his control, so he acted humble in front of this young man.