Jiujiang, Dongcheng.

Sun Ce returned to the city with a depressed look on his face.

"Defeated?" Zhou Yu was reading a book. Seeing Sun Ce's resentment, he couldn't help but laugh: "In fact, there is no need to fight this battle. Regardless of the outcome, he must withdraw from Huailing. Otherwise, Cao Ren's troops stationed in Zhongli may cut off our army's retreat at any time."

"If you can't go to Xuzhou again..." Sun Ce sighed, turned his head to look at Zhou Yu and said, "It's really worrying that Lu Bu is now garrisoning Chenliu."

Lu Bu's deterrence is impossible to ignore, neither Cao Cao nor Sun Ce. Sun Ce has seen Guan Yu's great power. When he joined forces with Yan Liang, although he suppressed Guan Yu, he was almost killed by Guan Yu in the end.

But Sun Ce could not imagine that when he was in Hulao Pass, he could only tie the game with Lu Bu. Sun Ce, who also had a fight with Zhang Fei, knew very well that Zhang Fei's ability was not inferior to Guan Yu. In recent years, Lu Bu's reputation has become even more popular with the court's support. Lu Bu stationed troops in Chenliu, even if there was no movement, neither Cao Cao nor Sun Ce could be ignored. This is also the reason why Sun Ce was so urgent to decide the victory or defeat with Cao Cao.

Unfortunately... Cao Cao was obviously not Yan Baihu, and Wang Lang and others were comparable.

"Otherwise, Bo Fu thought you could come back so safely?" Zhou Yu handed over a letter of information to Sun Ce and said, "Get an alliance."

"Alliance!" Sun Ce looked at Zhou Yu incredible. Just two hours ago, he almost fought with Xiahou Yuan. The soldiers on both sides fought red in Huailing, but now he told him to form an alliance?

"If you don't form an alliance, you will die!" Zhou Yu signaled Sun Ce to see the information, shook his head with a wry smile, "I have ordered someone to invite Shubi. This time, I will take Shubi down the mountain no matter what. Zuo Ci's old Taoist... is too disgusting."

"Don't mention that old thing to me. I gave my third brother to him when I saw that he was sincere. I didn't expect that this old guy would turn against him! If you and the second brother hadn't stopped him, I would have chopped him with my own hands!" When talking about Zuo Ci, Sun Ce looked angry.

Sun Ce and Zhou Yu have visited Sun Yi several times in recent years, but were blocked by Zuo Ci. It would be fine if they treated everyone equally, but when Sun Quan and Sun Shangxiang went to visit, they were not blocked, which made Sun Ce very angry. Why?

"Look at the information first. I have handed over this matter to Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai. I believe there will be news this time." Zhou Yu shook his head and signaled Sun Ce to read the letter first. Jiangdong said that the current situation in the world is not optimistic. Neither Sun Ce nor Cao Cao could destroy the other party in a short time, which surprised Sun Ce. The time for Cao Cao to take Xia Pi and Guangling County was similar to the time for them to take Runan, but the two counties were already as stable as rocks, leaving them with no chance to take advantage of it.

Cao Cao obviously had the same intention and quickly annexed Sun Ce, and then gathered the two families to fight against the court. If possible, it would be best to annex Jingzhou together, so that it would be enough to compete with the court.

Unfortunately, neither side expected that the other side would be so difficult. The Jiangdong naval army was a big obstacle for Cao Cao. Both the Jiangdong naval army had to be defeated continuously, and Jiangdong's combat effectiveness on land still needs to be improved. Both sides had their own advantages and disadvantages. After fighting for more than half a year, they could not do anything to each other. At this time, if they continued to fight, both sides would be defeated. Therefore, Zhou Yu proposed the suggestion of an alliance, and Cao Cao obviously had the same thoughts. So this time, it could obviously hurt Sun Ce a severe blow, but it was not implemented in the end. In order, it was naturally showing sincerity.

"There are heavy troops in Zhongli?" Sun Ce frowned and looked at Zhou Yu.

"It has been investigated clearly. Cao Ren and Cao Hong have been secretly stationed here for several months. If Cao Cao had not sent this letter, our army would not have any alertness at all." When he said this, Zhou Yu also secretly broke out in a cold sweat. If Cao Cao had not sent this letter to express his sincerity, even if Sun Ce did not die, most of the 30,000 troops brought this time would have been lost. These are the troops that Jiangdong is best at land warfare. Once it is lost, Jiangdong can naturally be safe, but Sun Ce has no capital to compete with Cao Cao for power in Lujiang, Runan, and Jiujiang.

Cao Cao was willing to reveal this matter and let Sun Ce leave, which obviously also expressed his kindness, hoping that the two sides could join forces again, otherwise if they really fought again, the only one who would benefit in the end would be the court.

"What will happen after the alliance? Fight with Lu Bu?" Sun Ce frowned and looked at Zhou Yu and said, "There is more than one Lu Bu in the court who can fight, Guan Yu, Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, and Taishi Ci, Xu Chu, Pang De, and Ma Chao..."

Sun Ce didn't want to count it anymore. Every time he put in Jiangdong, he was comparable to Sun Ce's top general, but in the court, he could attract a lot of people at once. If the victory or defeat was determined by fighting, the court only needed to send these people out and fight one after another, and the world would be pacified.

The four major princes gathered 400,000 troops, but in the end they did not break through the Hulao Pass. Even if they joined forces with Cao Cao this time, they were not as powerful as the last time.

"No!" Zhou Yu shook his head and said, "Go and fight Jingzhou!"

"Jingzhou?" Sun Ce frowned. Isn't it a problem to provoke Jingzhou at this time? Liu Biao had no expression on the princes' attack on the court before. If he went to attack Jingzhou at this time, wouldn't he force Liu Biao to turn to the court?

"Not bad!" Zhou Yu smiled and nodded: "Bo Fu has not been discovered. It has been several years since Liu Biao has not invited a banquet for famous scholars?"

Liu Biao governed Jingzhou with his civilized culture, and scholars had a very high status in Jingzhou. In the past, Liu Biao would greet some famous scholars or young heroes in Jingzhou to host banquets and entertain them almost every few days.

But if you carefully study the information in Jingzhou, although Liu Biao would discuss matters with a group of civil and military officials in Jingzhou every day, he had not held a banquet to entertain these literati for several years. This is undoubtedly a very strange thing.

"You mean..." Sun Ce's eyes lit up. He was able to discuss political affairs, but he had not appeared in public for several years. This is undoubtedly a very strange thing. The explanation that can be imagined is that the monarch and ministers are in harmony, and there may even be internal conflicts in secret. However, in the end, Liu Biao lost and was undermined by the Jingzhou family.

"That's the case!" Zhou Yu smiled and said, "If we can take Jingzhou, we can plan Shuzhong. The emperor has only been here for five years, and the road to Shu is difficult to move forward. Even if the court wants to rescue, it will be difficult to catch up. Just take Jingzhou and Jingzhou can be used as a springboard to attack Shuzhong. It would be best if Cao Cao could restrain the court. Even if we can't, as long as our army can seize Shuzhong, with the two natural dangers in Jiangdong and Shuzhong, and there are also places such as Jingzhou that must be fought against the court, it is enough to compete with the court."

"However, Cao Cao also needs to be prepared." Sun Ce's eyes shone brightly and said in a deep voice.

Judging from Cao Cao's current situation, if he cannot take over Jiangdong, there will be no development. Although he has temporarily reconciled with Sun Ce, if he has a chance, Sun Ce believes that even if Cao Cao does not compete for a big county like Runan, he will never let go of Jiangdong. Only by occupying Jiangdong can Cao Cao have a way out.

Zhou Yu nodded when he heard this. He had to be prepared for this, but there was no need to worry too much. Cao Cao had no naval army, and even if he crossed the river, he would only be beaten by the Jiangdong naval army. At that time, he only needed to block the Yangtze River to trap Cao Cao's crossing the river to death.

"Then I'll send someone to discuss the alliance with Cao Cao." Sun Ce rubbed his face. Although he was fighting with Xiahou Yuan before, he was not a pure general, but also a prince. Although he was a little unhappy for a while, he was able to adjust his emotions.

...

Seven days later, Jiangdong, Qu'a.

In order to facilitate visiting Sun Yi, Sun Ce set up a Taoist temple for Zuo Ci outside Qu'a City. However, for some reason, Zuo Ci suddenly took Sun Yi away on the grounds of his studies, and found a beautiful place with beautiful mountains and rivers in Wujun, and built a hut. Since then, it has been extremely difficult for Sun Ce to meet Sun Yi.

"Master, when will I go down the mountain to help my elder brother?" On this day, Sun Yi completed his daily training and frowned and ran to Zuo Ci. In short, he had not seen Sun Ce for several years. Although he often came to visit his second brother Sun Quan, even if he hadn't seen him for several years, Sun Yi was closer to Sun Ce in his heart.

"It's almost done." Zuo Ci did not answer, but looked at the horizon. Jiangdong's fortune had already been achieved. A few years ago, after seeing Sun Quan, Zuo Ci discovered that the Qianlong in Jiangdong was not Sun Ce, but Sun Quan. Although Sun Ce was in Jiangdong's fortune, he had a death disaster, which was destined by God. Moreover, Sun Ce was also very cruel in Jiangdong. He suppressed scholars too much. Although his fortune was prosperous, it was like a rootless floating duckweed, which was difficult to maintain for a long time. Zuo Ci speculated that the day when Sun Ce responded to the disaster was probably when Sun Quan's hidden dragon came out of the abyss. It was also because of this that Zuo Ci took Sun Yi away and cut off contact with Sun Ce.

Now that Sun Yi's potential has been gradually developed, his spiritual intelligence has also been restored a lot, but his mind has only grown from the age of two or three to the age of seven or eight. Zuo Ci knew that this was also a side effect of the stars descending to the earth.

After all, it is to take over the body directly, rather than to bury the mother's womb. The original body is unable to withstand the power of the stars, and the soul is impacted, or it may change greatly like the Hu people back then, or it may be like Sun Yi now, and his mind is incomplete.

Even he did not expect that the great man, who seemed to be the last dynasty, could be resurrected. In just a few years, he gradually became prosperous. However, this was not the will of heaven, otherwise there would be no stars coming from heaven to prevent the Han Dynasty from unifying the world. Moreover, the Great Han Emperor also made Zuo Ci feel strange. He could actually mobilize the fortune of the Han Dynasty and become a god. I am afraid that this caused the wrath of heaven.

"Master~" A child ran over in a panic: "There are many troops coming down from the mountain, and he threatened to let the master let the young master go, otherwise he would attack the mountain."

"Oh?" Zuo Ci pinched his fingers and calculated, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes, and nodded and said, "Okay, I'm crazy, follow me down the mountain. It's time to meet your brother."

"Oh, okay!" Sun Yi was stunned at first, then he realized and nodded excitedly.
Chapter completed!