Yuzhang Chaisang County, it is the end of April, the rainy season of the flood season in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

The sky was dripping with light rain, and on the eaves of the central hall of the Chaisang County Ya, the rainwater slid down the eaves of the dougong cornices, crackling in the courtyard, and then flowed into the drainage canal next to it, flowing towards the outside of the house.

Sun Quan sat cross-legged under the porch outside the atrium, looking down at the rain that gathered into a stream in the courtyard and flowed down, and there was a trace of silence in his eyes.

When Sun Qian arrived in Jiangdong and found Zhang Zhao as a lobbyist, he understood that Sun Quan would definitely not agree, so he sent someone to tell Zhou Yu and Lu Su, and after the two discussed, they talked with Sun Quan for a long time, and finally Sun Quan reluctantly agreed.

At this moment, Sun Quan was sitting under the corridor, his face was quite unwilling, and Zhou Yu's face was slightly pale, coughed twice, and said: "Sun Qian should go to Chaisang today, is Wu Hou still thinking about this matter?" ”

"I'm not reconciled."

Sun Quan sighed: "My father was killed by Huang Zu, and my brother's long-cherished wish for many years is about to be fulfilled in my hands, but he has repeatedly wanted to let Huang Zu go, how can I swallow this breath?" ”

Zhou Yu persuaded: "Jingzhou is infighting, this is our best chance to annex Jingzhou." If we attack Huang Zu now, we are helping Liu Cong clear the obstacles, Huang Zu dies, then the Jiangxia Navy will be destroyed, and then we will face Liu Cong's more than 100,000 troops, I am afraid it will be difficult to maintain, for the great cause of Jiangdong, Wu Hou should first forbear. ”

"I know."

Sun Quan frowned, saying so, but he must still be very reluctant in his heart.

On the side, Lu Su said with a smile: "Wu Hou doesn't have to worry about not being able to avenge Wu Chenghou, although Liu Qi and Liu Bei will deal with Liu Cong this time, Liu Qi will definitely not have a good time." Once the battle is nearing its end, we can raid Jiangxia again. ”

"Hmm."

Sun Quan didn't have any opinion on Lu Su's betrayal of the alliance, but said: "It's just that I'm worried about Liu Bei, this person is also heroic, and I don't know much better than Liu Cong and Liu Qi." He said that he was helping Liu Qi to restore the throne, but in fact, he probably wanted to seize Jingzhou, if he got Jingzhou, how would this be good. ”

Zhou Yu said in a deep voice: "So we must not let Liu Bei succeed, we are on the side, Liu Bei and Liu Qi will not dare to let go of their hands and feet to fight with Liu Cong, we promise to join the alliance, and when they compete with the clam and the clam will be the time for our fishermen to benefit." ”

"Liu Bei wouldn't be unaware of this."

Sun Quan asked.

Zhou Yu smiled: "He naturally knows, but what can he do?" If we don't retreat, Liu Qi will be defeated in the face of the flank between us and Liu Cong, so he can only choose to curry favor with us. ”

Lu Su said: "When the envoy comes, Wu Hou can pretend to be reluctant to deal with this matter, but he must insist that he is only in alliance with Liu Bei, not with Liu Qi and Huang Zu, and he must explain that after they defeat Liu Cong, we will definitely attack Huang Zu and avenge Wu Chenghou, so that there is an excuse to meddle in Jingzhou affairs, and it is not considered to break the covenant." ”

Now the situation in Jingzhou is a mess, if Jiangdong gets involved again and attacks Jiangxia, then Liu Qi will definitely be defeated.

What's more, in the face of the two-sided attack of Xiangyang and Jiangdong, Liu Qi is likely to give up Jiangxia directly, either defect to Liu Bei, or run to Jingnan.

Both of these situations are things that Jiangdong does not want to see.

Once Liu Qi escapes and Jiangdong enters Jiangxia, then they will face positive pressure from Xiangyang.

After all, for Liu Cong, Liu Qi is the one who wants to grab his position, and Jiangdong is the one who wants to destroy him, they are all mortal enemies with irresolvable contradictions, and there will definitely be a direct conflict.

Although Jiangdong defeated Huang Zu, Xiangyang was still a behemoth for them, so the choice to maximize Jiangdong's interests was to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, and wait until Liu Cong and Liu Bei and Liu Qi were defeated and defeated, and then come out to pick up the bargain.

And in order to have a reasonable and legitimate excuse, when they formed an alliance with Liu Bei, they explained in advance that the hatred between Jiangdong and Huang Zu was irresolvable, and after they defeated Liu Cong, they would immediately attack Jiangxia.

In this way, they have an excuse to enter Jingzhou, and at the same time, it cannot be regarded as a breach of the covenant. After all, they signed a contract with Liu Bei, and they did not sign a contract with Liu Qi not to attack Jiangxia.

"Hmm."

Hearing Lu Su's words, Sun Quan nodded slightly.

This is indeed a good way to annex Jiangxia, take a peek at Jingzhou, and grasp the name of righteousness.

While the three of them were talking, an attendant came in outside and said, "Marquis Wu, General Zuo's envoy has arrived." ”

"Let him in."

Sun Quan narrowed his eyes, although he was very reluctant in his heart, but for the sake of greater interests, he could only temporarily keep Huang Zu's head on the neck, and wait for it to report it later!

After a while, Sun Qian came from the corridor on the side, and at this moment Sun Quan and the three of them had entered the middle hall, and when he entered the hall, he knew that it was Sun Quan when he saw the young man on the main seat, so he bowed his hand to him and said: "General Zuo is engaged in Zhonglang Sun Qian, meet Wu Hou." ”

"Huh."

Sun Quan smiled reluctantly and asked, "Sun Cheng came to my Jiangdong, what are you doing?" ”

Sun Qian said: "Due to the death of the lord of Jingzhou, the second son Liu Cong and the eldest son Liu Qi competed, and my lord General Zuo understood the righteousness and decided to help the eldest son, hoping to become an ally with Wu Hou and not attack each other. ”

Sun Quan sneered: "Isn't the old thief Liu Biao already called the emperor? Back then, His Majesty personally called General Zuo the emperor's uncle, why did General Zuo turn his back on the imperial court? ”

"My lord is not turning his back on the court."

Sun Qian argued: "Uncle Huang has never surrendered to the King of Chu. ”

"Oh?"

Sun Quanhu said suspiciously: "Even if this is the case, I haven't seen General Zuo raise troops when Liu Biao was alive, but at this time he wants to meddle in the affairs of Jingzhou?" Could it be that General Zuo planned to take the opportunity to annex Jingzhou? ”

Sun Qianzheng said: "My lord has no such intention, the reason why he did not raise troops back then was because the king of Chu was kind to my lord after all, although he turned his back on the court and called the emperor without authorization, but my lord thought of the friendship of the same clan, and finally did not send troops to support him." Today's support for the eldest son is also because the eldest son has always opposed the king of Chu to claim the emperor, and is willing to help the eldest son recapture Jingzhou. ”

"Huh."

Sun Quan smiled noncommittally and said, "General Zuo is "benevolent and righteous". ”

"This is natural, the name of my lord's benevolence and righteousness spreads far and wide, and the matter of Jingzhou is that my lord hopes to stop fighting and turn into jade silk, and persuade the second son to give up inheriting the position of the puppet emperor and submit to the court."

Sun Gan heard the connotation of Sun Quan, but pretended not to know: "Now that General Zuo has expressed his eldest son as the pastor of Jingzhou, explained the matter to the imperial court, and condemned Liu Cong as a puppet emperor who rebelled against the imperial court, it can be seen that my lord's heart is true." If Marquis Wu is still interested in the Han family, he should call off the army and make a truce and no longer attack Jiangxia. ”

"How can the father's enmity stop here?"

Sun Quan pretended to be angry and said: "Huang Zu Lao'er, I will definitely kill him and avenge my father!" ”

"Wu Hou."

Sun Qian sighed and said: "My heart is the heart of the main fist, and I hope Wu Hou knows." ”

"Hmph."

Sun Quan snorted coldly and said: "If you want me to give up my father's hatred, you should at least show sincerity, and you want me to withdraw from the army in just a few words, how can it be reasonable?" ”

Sun Qian immediately said: "Now that the south is in turmoil, Xichuan Zhang Lu devours the lord, my lord thinks of the friendship of the same clan, and decides to go to Xichuan to help, but I encountered the matter of the eldest son on the way, and I have to stay in Zigui." If Wu Hou is interested, the eldest son has already promised that as long as he defeats Liu Cong, Jiaozhou will give up to Wu Hou. ”

Jiaozhou?

Sun Quan, Zhou Yu, and Lu Su glanced at each other, and they all wanted to laugh in their hearts.

Liu Bei's meaning is very simple, now Zhang Lu wants to eliminate Liu Zhang, he plans to help, but probably after Zhang Lu destroys Liu Zhang, he will attack Zhang Lu in the name of helping the same sect and occupy Yizhou.

And Jingzhou he obviously wants Liu Qi to get, so that the south is Yizhou belongs to him Liu Bei, Jingzhou is a close ally of Liu Qi, and his Sun Quan will continue to be in Jiangdong.

But if you want Sun Quan not to send troops, you obviously have to give some sweetness, and handing him over to the state will naturally become that little benefit.

What is Jiaozhou?

Later Guangdong, Guangxi and most of Vietnam.

It sounds good, but at the end of the Han Dynasty, Jiaozhou was a place where birds didn't.

So this distribution is no different from insulting Sun Quan.

Sun Quan laughed angrily, and said happily: "General Zuo and Liu Qi are generous and give up Jiaozhou to me." ”

"Did Wu Hou agree to form an alliance?"

Sun Qian asked.

Sun Quan said coldly: "What if I don't agree? ”

"Ugh."

Sun Qian sighed and said: "Then the eldest son can only retreat to Jingnan, and it doesn't hurt to give up this Jiangxia to Wu Hou, when the time comes, my lord and the eldest son will guard Changsha, and I will sit and watch Wu Hou and the second son fight." ”

"You!"

Sun Quan was passive for a moment and became even more angry.

This is actually the main reason why Jiangdong is now forced to agree to an alliance.

Where is Jiangxia?

It is the city of Wuhan in later generations.

Wuhan City, Jingzhou City, Xiangyang City.

In the Han Dynasty, they were Xiakou, Jiangling, and Xiangyang.

These three places were in a triangular trend, and once Liu Qi withdrew from Jiangxia and retreated to Jingnan, then Sun Quan's army would have to border Liu Cong's army in Xiangyang head-on.

At that time, Liu Qi was separated from the north of Jingzhou by relying on the Yangtze River and Dongting Lake, and it was not so easy to fight Liu Cong.

Instead, Sun Quan bore the brunt of Liu Cong's way south to defeat Liu Qi and recover Jingnan.

Will the two sides go to war then?

If the war starts, it will become Liu Qi and Liu Bei who sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight.

If you don't start a war, you can't help Sun Quan, and Liu Cong may not take the initiative to send people to attack him.

So it's a dilemma.

He agreed to form an alliance, which was very uncomfortable and felt insulted.

People gave him a Jiaozhou, which sounds good, but the importance of Jiaozhou is not as good as that of Jiangxia County.

It's like a dog being thrown a bone, and it's very unpleasant.

If you don't agree, it's even more uncomfortable.

Because Liu Qi's forces withdrew from Jiangxia, Jiangxia's vacuum period was bound to be filled by Liu Cong's army, and he and Liu Cong would have to fight at that time.

Unless Liu Cong was stupid enough not to send troops to Jiangxia, or if he withdrew his troops and retreated to Anqing, the two forces were completely bordered, and Sun Quan was on the right side of the road from Xiangyang to attack Jingnan from Hanshui, and the two sides would definitely fight.

Therefore, Liu Bei obviously grasped Sun Quan, knowing that he would definitely agree to form an alliance, which was quite fearless.

"Wu Hou Mo wants to be angry."

At this moment, Lu Su stood up and persuaded: "And ask the messenger with humility." ”

"Hmph."

Sun Quan turned his head.

He was indeed more aggrieved in this matter.

Lu Su looked at Sun Qian and said: "We all understand what your envoy means, but I still hope that your envoy knows that the civil strife in Jingzhou has nothing to do with Jiangdong. My lord is determined to kill Huang Zu and avenge my father, even if Liu Qi withdraws from Jiangxia, what can I do? If we strike and return to Anqing, will Liu Cong still catch up with Yuzhang? So in the end, it was inevitable that Liu Cong and Liu Qi would fight to the death. ”

"Hmm......"

Sun Qian groaned and didn't speak, if Jiangdong was ruthless and retreated back to Anqing, Liu Cong felt that there was no threat, and it was indeed impossible to send chasing soldiers, so they didn't have the opportunity to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight.

Lu Su continued: "But because my lord only wants Huang Zu's head and avenges his father, this matter is not impossible to discuss. In addition to Jiaozhou, if Liu Qi presents Huang Zu and sends him to Jiangdong, not only will our lord not attack Jiangxia, but will send troops to help Liu Qi recapture Jingzhou, what does your envoy think? ”

"I can't be the master of this matter, and secondly, General Huang is the master of the Jiangxia Naval Army, because of General Huang's strong support, the eldest son can fight against Liu Cong, and I believe that the eldest son will not agree."

Sun Qian flatly refused: "If Marquis Wu wants the eldest son to sacrifice General Huang, I'm afraid it won't work." ”

"If that's the case, then there's no way to talk about it."

Lu Su said regretfully: "Anyway, Liu Cong and Liu Qi are at war, and the damage is only Jingzhou, Jiangdong can just sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, and after Liu Qi is defeated, even if we don't send troops, Liu Cong will not let Huang Zu go, someone avenges Wucheng Hou, why don't we do it?" ”

Sun Qian hesitated for a moment, and said after a while: "Then according to the meaning of the captain, Jiangdong plans to withdraw his troops to Anqing and watch the eldest son fight with Liu Cong?" Jingnan is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and there is the danger of Qingcao Lake, with the ability of Jiangxia sailors, I am afraid that Wu Hou will be disappointed. ”

"No matter how disappointed you are, it's better than not being able to avenge your father's death."

Sun Quan said surgingly: "It's still the same sentence, I am about to kill Huang Zu, and I can't avenge my father for the son of man, let alone Jiaozhou, even if I give Jingnan to me?" ”

Sun Qian's brows furrowed.

Sure enough, as Xiaoqing expected, when he came, Shen Chen told him that Sun Quan would definitely seize the matter of revenge on his father, and it seemed that Sun Quan really wanted to grab greater benefits.

Thinking of this, Sun Gan decided to retreat as an advance, so he got up and said: "That is the case, then I can only go back and report to General Zuo, let him write to the eldest son, let the eldest son retreat to Jingnan first, and my lord will send troops to Xichuan at this time to help Yizhou Mu." ”

Ready to go?

Sun Quan, Lu Su, and Zhou Yu suddenly sank in their hearts.

If you really go in this direction, then Liu Qi retreats to Jingnan, with Jingnan being easy to defend and difficult to attack, and Dongting Lake is steep, relying on the Jiangxia Naval Division, Liu Cong is afraid that he will not be able to defeat Changsha in three or five years.

When Liu Bei successfully captures Yizhou, they can only watch from Jiangdong, wouldn't it be the worst ending?

Because at that point, Jiangdong couldn't attack Jiangxia.

Liu Cong will definitely send a large army to replace the Jiangxia Naval Division, although he has many soldiers and horses, but it is not easy to fight in Jingnan, and secondly, he also divides troops to defend Jiangdong, not to mention the annexation of Jingzhou, even the matter of killing Huang Zu to take revenge is far away.

Is this what Sun Quan wants?

However, at this time, Sun Quan was silent, and his eyes were about to erupt with fire.

He was actually very annoyed now, and he originally had the idea of ordering Sun Qian to be grabbed left and right and threatened him with a knife and axe.

But Sun Quan, who has learned to be forbearant by nature, understands a truth, that is, if he really does this, once the alliance collapses, things may develop in the worst direction.

So at this time, he could only choose to grit his teeth and not speak.

And he didn't speak, naturally there were subordinates to do it for him, Lu Su hurriedly got up and said, "Your envoy go slowly." ”

Sun Qian turned around and arched his hand: "I don't know what else is going on with the captain?" ”

"Could it be that General Zuo really plans to watch the eldest son be defeated and flee by us and Liu Congjia?"

Lu Su suddenly said: "Your envoy, don't forget, my lord only wants to kill Huang Zu, and Liu Cong must be very willing to form an alliance with my lord. ”

"Wu Hou is really even filial."

Sun Qian sighed: "In order to avenge my father, I don't even want to ask for Jiaozhou. ”

"It's nature."

Lu Su said in a deep voice: "I hope that your envoy understands my lord's determination." ”

Sun Qian said, "In that case, how can Wu Hou agree to the alliance?" ”

Lu Su and Zhou Yu glanced at each other and said, "First, Jiaozhou must return to Jiangdong. Second, Jiangdong will not send troops to attack Jiangxia, but this is only temporary, and once things change, we will still send troops. ”

"And what's the difference between an alliance and an alliance?"

Sun Qian spread his hands out.

Lu Su said with a smile: "At least we won't send troops when Liu Cong attacks Jiangxia, if Liu Qi defeats Liu Cong and wins Jingzhou, then General Zuo has no reason to ask Wu Hou not to send troops to avenge his father." ”

"Hmm......"

Sun Qian nodded slightly and said: "This is also true, if the eldest son wins Jingzhou, then Wu Hou will attack Jiangxia and kill General Huang to avenge his father, it is indeed a matter of course, since this is the case, then take this as an alliance and conclude an alliance, what does Wu Hou think?" ”

"So be it."

Sun Quan threw up his sleeves and left, this alliance made him feel really humiliated.

As soon as he left, Lu Su said with a slight apology: "My lord has always been determined to kill Huang Zu, and I hope that your envoy can understand my lord's filial piety to avenge his father." ”

"I understand."

Sun Gan was not in a hurry, nodded with a smile and said: "After I go back, I will write the letter of alliance, and when the time comes, I will ask Wu Hou to stamp the seal, and I will go back and hand it over to General Zuo." ”

"It's nature."

Lu Su said: "But there is only one part of the covenant, I'm afraid it won't work." ”

"I will write down two copies, and then Jiangdong can send someone to Zigui with me, and General Zuo will stamp the official seal, and then bring it back to Jiangdong."

Sun Qian said.

"That's the best, so be it."

Lu Su nodded.

Although this covenant Sun Quan is indeed quite aggrieved, this is also the best result.

After the signing of the covenant, Jiangdong stood still and watched the situation.

And Liu Qi and Liu Cong fought to the death, and when both sides were defeated, they also had an excuse to send troops, so that for Jiangdong, it was already the greatest benefit.

What's more, on the bright side, Liu Qi also gave Jiaozhou to them, even if Jiaozhou is like a chicken rib and useless, but it is better than nothing.

On the side, Zhou Yu didn't speak the whole time, just watched coldly.

Sun Qian and Lu Su talked about some other things, then took their leave and went back to prepare the letter of alliance.

After he left, Zhou Yu said softly: "This Liu Bei, I'm afraid he has the heart to annex Jingzhou." ”

"yes."

Lu Su looked at Sun Gan's departing back and said softly: "If he really only wants to get Xichuan, he can go to Yizhou now, and what are you doing in Jingzhou?" It's just that he is afraid that Liu Qi will be annexed by Liu Cong, and it will be difficult to get Jingzhou when he turns back, this Liu Bei should not be underestimated. ”

"When the time comes, it will depend on whose means."

Zhou Yu coughed twice, in the battle of Yixian in the tenth year of Jian'an, he was swept away by the flood, although he was lucky not to die, but he left sequelae, and his lungs were damaged due to drowning, and he has not recovered until now.

Originally, he should have recuperated well, but now it is the key to whether Sun Quan can win the south, and Zhou Yu can only support his body and continue to fight.