Three Kingdoms, Myth

Sun Ce naturally had no idea that after his internal energy reached a certain level, he kindly performed a minor energy infusion for the often sickly and frail Yuan Yao, who constantly referred to him as "brother." As a result, Yuan Yao, who had previously been unable to cultivate due to his weak body, now possessed the internal energy of a low-tier martial artist. With his newfound strength, Yuan Yao joyfully ran off on his own, even venturing into areas affected by the plague. Though his internal energy generally protected him from harm, this would still cause Sun Ce great anxiety if he found out later.

Yuan Shu, on the other hand, knew that Yuan Yao had regained his health thanks to Sun Ce and was greatly pleased with Sun Ce's actions. The previously postponed idea of adopting Sun Ce as his son was brought up again, much to Sun Ce's embarrassment.

As a result, Yuan Shu readily agreed to Sun Ce's proposal to subdue Jiangdong and even allocated eight thousand well-armed soldiers for the task. He also appointed Zhou Yu as the deputy commander of the Jiangxia navy, with Yuan Shu himself holding the title of commander in name only, leaving Zhou Yu in charge of most operations.

"That guy, Cao Mengde, attacked Xuzhou... Well then, I'll just give him a taste of his own medicine with a 'relieve the siege of Zhao by attacking Wei' strategy!" Yuan Shu gleefully arranged his military affairs, then ordered someone to find Yuan Yao. He intended to have his only son begin to take on some responsibilities, as Yuan Yao's health had improved enough to start learning military duties.

"Would you like to join me in this campaign to capture Yangzhou, Gongjin?" Sun Ce didn't hesitate to invite Zhou Yu to join him in subduing Jiangdong.

"Sure, but that would leave Jingzhou somewhat vulnerable. If Lord Yuan summons General Ji to assist with the campaign against Nanyang, Xiangyang might be left exposed to Liu Biao's schemes without a strong commander," Zhou Yu replied, agreeing without hesitation but expressing concern over the defenses at Xiangyang.

"You're right. That Huang Hansheng is tough; I couldn't best him even after dozens of exchanges," Sun Ce said, looking troubled. Xiangyang was crucial to Yuan Shu, and they couldn't afford to lose it.

"Bofu, I suggest sending Dong Yuan and Liao Gongyuan to Xiangyang. With Liao Gongyuan's wisdom and capability, he can easily gain recognition there," Zhou Yu suggested after some thought. "As for defending Jiangxia, leave that to Gu Yuantan and Ling Gongji. While they may not excel in offense, they can certainly hold the line in defense."

"Let's do it!" Sun Ce decided without a second thought. "I'll write the transfer orders myself. Lord Yuan said I could issue orders for up to three thousand troops on my own."

Zhou Yu silently acknowledged this, showing no visible reaction.

"Now, Gongjin, come take a look at the map. I want to take them down, so give me some ideas." After quickly handling the orders, Sun Ce spread out a map, pointing at Lujiang County's administrative center.

"The Lu family?" Zhou Yu immediately remembered. This was the same family that refused to acknowledge Yuan Shu's authority, stubbornly claiming to be loyal servants of the Han dynasty and calling Yuan Shu a rebel. They had infuriated Yuan Shu, but he had been too preoccupied with relocating his capital to deal with them at the time.

"Send troops under the pretext of disaster relief and request provisions from them. It's a justifiable reason to act," Zhou Yu sighed. He had little interest in the remaining territory north of the Yangtze River, preferring to focus on conquering Jiangdong. Still, if Sun Ce wanted to eliminate the Lu family, Zhou Yu had no objections.

"Great! How did Youping collect provisions from them before?" Sun Ce asked someone outside the room, and soon, Zhou Tai entered, looking a bit awkward.

"The Lu family usually just gave money and provisions voluntarily. We've never had to force them," Zhou Tai explained.

"How did we collect provisions from others? Give me a process, and I'll give it a try," Sun Ce said, motioning for Zhou Tai to leave.

Zhou Tai hesitated for a moment but eventually stepped back. In his view, the Lu family consisted of just a few direct descendants. If he and Jiang Qin stepped in to protect them, there was no need to explain the underhanded tactics typically used in these situations to Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. After all, it would be embarrassing to admit how unscrupulous things could get.

Meanwhile, in Hebei, Yuan Shao gazed at Ju Yi, who knelt in the snow before him, and sighed. "Zhengli, rise. I approve of your plan, but you must ensure your safety. Whether quickly or in a few years, I will defeat Gongsun Zan. You need not risk your life."

"My lord, Gongsun Bogui may indeed fall in time as you predict, but if we can defeat him sooner, you will gain the strength to sweep across the land all the sooner," Ju Yi said, standing up without bothering to shake off the snow on his body. Once Ju Yi committed to serving someone, he would devote himself entirely, disregarding his own life.

"Summon Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He, and Gao Lan to see me immediately!" Yuan Shao commanded, his demeanor turning authoritative as he resolved to follow through with Ju Yi's plan.

Before long, the four renowned generals of Hebei stood before Yuan Shao in his courtyard. "I intend to march north to attack Gongsun Zan. Even if we do not kill him, we will at least force him to retreat west of Youbeiping!" Yuan Shao declared with steely resolve.

"We await your orders, my lord!" Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Zhang He, and Gao Lan responded in unison. Unlike the straightforward Yan Liang and Wen Chou, Zhang He quickly deduced that this plan must have originated from Ju Yi.

"Zhengli, you will lead this northern campaign against Gongsun Zan. You may select the officers, and as for logistics, even if the roads are blocked by snow, I will ensure that supplies reach you!" Yuan Shao said with the full authority of his position. "I will not let the soldiers fighting on the front lines go hungry!"

"With our lord so determined, how could we not join the effort?" Xu You, dressed in a fur coat, approached with a smile, accompanied by Tian Feng, Ju Shou, Shen Pei, Guo Tu, Feng Ji, Xu You, Xin Bi, and Xin Ping—Yuan Shao's council of advisors.

"I didn't expect that the mere mention of Gongsun Bogui would make all of you so cautious," Yuan Shao remarked, feeling a surge of pride as he saw the group gather.

"Strategy is never a trivial matter, and war determines life and death," Xu You said gravely. "Even with a general of Ju Yi's caliber, we must be vigilant."

"Your words are true. Unlike the milder climate of the south, our northern winters are harsh, freezing everything solid. An assault on Gongsun Bogui during such a time would indeed catch him by surprise, possibly leading to the swift victory that Ju Yi describes. However, there is a crucial issue—can our soldiers meet these demands, and how many can do so?" Tian Feng stepped forward, reminding everyone of the harsh realities of winter warfare.

"We have three thousand six hundred men who can meet these conditions, and my goal is to use these three thousand six hundred men to crush Gongsun Bogui!" Ju Yi declared, his eyes gleaming with fervor. He was a warrior who thrived on the chaos of battle.

The courtyard fell silent. Even the falling snow seemed to pause. Three thousand six hundred men to seize Youzhou? How mad could one be?