Chapter 390: The face of the river is like chess, and the unicorn is hidden across the river
Xudu City, the Imperial Palace, outside Canglong Gate.
A huge official building stands out.
Chancery desk.
As a place where the emperor communicated with officials, and as a place where government orders sent to various places were drafted, the importance of this place is self-evident.
Cheng Yu has returned from the Black Mountain Army in Zhao County.
In Xun Yu's absence, he and Xun You were in charge of the Shangshu Desk, and the most urgent task was to punish Chen Deng, the governor of Guangling City, and Liu Xun, the governor of Lujiang.
This is very sensitive. You must know that... both of them have made great achievements before. This... defeat, how to punish it? After all, it was Cheng Yu and Xun You who were also in trouble.
Of course…
Here, a group of civil servants were inexplicably panicked about the sudden defeat on the occasion of the New Year.
Cheng Yu and Xun You, on the other hand, felt that this matter was not simple, and immediately sent people to invite Lu Yu.
Not long after...
Lu Yu has already stepped into it.
"Cheng Sima, Mr. Xun..."
The three of them bowed to each other and then... sat down on the bamboo benches at the Shangshu table where they were discussing matters.
"I have roughly heard the specific battle situation once. Chen Yuanlong and Liu Zitai did make mistakes and should be punished..."
What surprised Cheng Yu and Xun You was that Lu Yu's tone was quite serious.
It seems that he does not intend to be lenient...
You must know that Lu Yu is well-known as a protector of calves, and Liu Xun and Chen Deng are both the prefects he appointed over all objections. They are so-called "his own people", at least in the eyes of "outsiders" like Xun You.
, this matter will probably become a big deal and become a trivial matter.
Never thought...
Lu Yu's remarks were a bit unreasonable.
"Although the reason for the heavy fog is excusable, Cao Jun's military discipline has always been strict and must not be tolerated. He can't be punished heavily, and he can't be spared lightly. Each of them should be fined one year's salary. A small punishment but a big warning!"
"However, this punishment and this great defeat need to be compiled into a document by the Chancellor and circulated to all armies to serve as a warning! Our Cao camp can only lose people this time..."
Is this the final word?
Cheng Yu knew some of the whole story and could understand it.
But Xun You felt that... it seemed that it was a bit much. Although this was a huge defeat,... both Liu Xun and Chen Deng had made great contributions before, and this time it happened suddenly... Who would have thought that hundreds of people in Jiangdong, how many people...
Do you dare to launch a surprise attack with thousands of people?
At most, the merits and demerits are equal to each other, isn't it?
and…
A year's salary fine is nothing, but this punishment is transmitted to the three armed forces, which feels a bit like... a slap in the face.
Who doesn’t want to save face?
"Lu Situ...this..."
Xun You was about to speak, but suddenly he thought of the letter sent by his uncle Xun Yu, which specifically mentioned that... let Lu Yu make the decision on this matter!
That…
"Mr. Xun? Do you have any objections?" Lu Yu then asked...
"No more..." Xun You waved his hand. "Just follow what Lu Situ said..."
Suddenly, there was only one voice left in the entire room.
Lu Yu smiled slightly, and then said with a smile: "The New Year will be in two days. Cheng Sima...Xun Jun, I have prepared a New Year's goods for you all and sent people to deliver them to your houses."
Xun You smiled and replied: "Thank you very much, Lu Situ..."
Cheng Yu also slightly handed over his hand. He and Lu Yu were too familiar with each other, so even if he didn't thank him, he was a little offended.
"Right..."
Lu Yu thought of something. "Chen Yuanlong is far away in Guangling City, and Liu Zitai is far away in Lujiang. I have also prepared a New Year's gift for them. When I bother the Chancellor to send an urgent message, I will give this New Year's gift to them."
this…
Xun You rolled his eyes. Now he was curious and asked with great interest: "May I ask Lu Situ? Are the New Year's goods of Cheng Sima and I different from those of these two prefects?"
This is a good question.
Lu Yu didn't want to say it.
However...since Xun You asked, he simply spread his hands and said truthfully: "To be honest, Mr.
Three years’ salary.”
Well…
As soon as these words came out, Xun You was startled.
Then, he stroked his beard slightly and smiled...
My dear, this is a one-year salary penalty, but a three-year salary reward through new year goods. Is this still a punishment? Is this clearly a reward?
"Hahaha…"
Xun You and Cheng Yu burst into laughter in an instant.
"Lu Situ's move is really clever. This 'attack on the mind' is dazzling!" Cheng Yu sighed with emotion.
Xun You rolled his eyes. He felt that this matter was getting more and more complicated.
…
…
Outside Guangling City, along the Yangtze River.
At dawn in the morning, the corpses of "Cao's soldiers" were thrown into the river like dead dogs from the water village.
Of course, these so-called officers and soldiers of Cao's army are the prisoners of "two-faced and three-faced" and "Chao Qin Mu Chu"...
More than 10,000 people.
A few days ago... the one killed by Zhou Tai was bloody.
The entire camp was littered with corpses.
Chen Deng didn't have time to bury them, and they were not worthy of Chen Deng's effort to bury them. He simply threw them into the river and let their corpses flow down the river to feed the fish!
The fish in the Yangtze River are really lucky.
And it is announced to the outside world that this is called "water burial", which is quite a humanitarian "water burial"...
certainly…
This news was also clearly seen by Jiangdong's detailed work. The situation here... someone had already spread the news to Jiangdong!
Wujun, the Zhou family's residence.
Zhou Yu hadn't slept for a whole day... His eyes were a little dark, and his whole body was a little tired, but his head was still racing. Opposite him, sitting across from him, was Lu Su, who had just come to visit.
As a close friend, Lu Su could spot Zhou Yu's dark circles at a glance.
"Gong Jin, didn't you sleep last night?"
The only person who answered Lu Su was Zhou Yu's forehead.
Lu Su didn't mind and continued to ask: "Gong Jin is thinking about the fact that the Lu family defeated Cao Ying and alleviated the current crisis in Jiangdong..."
At the mention of this, Zhou Yu's eyes widened a lot.
but…
He still didn't speak, just nodded his forehead as usual.
He was waiting for Lu Su to say everything he wanted to say and his opinions.
really…
Seeing Zhou Yu's silence, the honest man Lu Su stroked his beard.
"Gong Jin is probably the same as me, he thinks this is weird, right?"
When this topic was mentioned, Lu Su walked to the window with his hands behind his back...
"Among the seven major families in Jiangdong, I'm not surprised which family will use all their strength to resist Cao Cao! After all, they are vested interests under the protection of the Sun family! But...only the Lu family should not! Not to mention, the Lu family
The enmity with Bo Fu and the decline of the Lu family are also related to Bo Fu's attack on Lujiang in the past and the death of Lu Kang, the governor of Lujiang at that time."
Speaking of this, Lu Su paused and shook his head. "How could they fight against Cao with all their strength? How could they win two consecutive victories and save Jiangdong from disaster? This is simply... unfathomable!"
Let’s talk about this.
Zhou Yu's eyes flickered, and finally he spoke.
"Zijing, you underestimate the Lu family. They are the ones with vested interests under the protection of the Sun family!"
"What?"
Lu Su was shocked, but before he could ask more questions, Zhou Yu's voice came out. "Do you still remember the mountains and two ridges that the Lu family bought by selling their ancestral property in the past?"
"The 'Qionglong Mountain', 'Shenting Ridge' on the outskirts of Wujun, and the 'Owl Ridge' in Kuaiji?" Lu Su immediately chanted.
"That's right! I sent people to find out that a large amount of the Lu family's iron and gold mines come from this mountain and two ridges." Zhou Yu said truthfully: "The Lu family is now different from what it used to be. It's not an exaggeration to say that. Don't say that.
They are the seven major families in Jiangdong, and even if you include the wealth of your Lu family, the eight families together may not be able to match the Lu family!"
Hiss...this...
When these words came out, Lu Su took a breath of cold air.
One mountain, two ridges? Iron and gold mines!
Obediently...
Maybe in the Central Plains, this is nothing...
Because once it is spread that iron and gold mines can be dug out of this mountain range, then various families will definitely covet it, but...in Jiangdong, under the rule of the Sun family, these mountains and two ridges now belong to the Lu family, then
Belong to the Lu family forever, pass it on from generation to generation, and other families cannot covet it. This is the rule set by the Sun family in Jiangdong!
and…
Once Jiangdong falls into Cao Cao's hands, then...this rule!
In an instant, a series of thoughts poured into Lu Su's mind.
"In this case...it is reasonable for the Lu family to resist Cao!"
yes…
Even if it is to maintain this gold mine and this iron...
The Lu family is bound to stand on the same front as the Sun family, even if there was previous enmity, it doesn't matter.
In the face of absolute interests, what deep hatred cannot be resolved?
"It's very reasonable." Zhou Yu sighed...
From Zhou Yu's emotion, Lu Su felt a different meaning. Immediately, he took the initiative to ask: "Then what is Gong Jin still worried about?"
"Zijing, don't you think... the Lu family's two surprise attacks on Guangling and Lujiang, Cao Jun's performance was a little too unusual?"
Zhou Yu's eyes narrowed.
"The Lu family's opponent is Cao Jun, who can defeat the little overlord. Facing a mere hundred or a thousand people? Even if there is heavy fog in the sky, they will not be afraid...and Chen Yuanlong, how could he possibly
How could he be defeated so completely?"
"These are all too strange and too coincidental..."
After saying this, Lu Su also squinted his eyes... and couldn't help but have some doubts.
Just then.
"Tap..."
Continuous footsteps came.
What followed was a quick voice.
"Report to Governor Zhou, there is news from Jiangbei's informant!"
"Let him in..."
After hearing the "news" from Jiangbei's spy, Zhou Yu immediately became more energetic. He motioned for Lu Su to sit down, and he also sat back on the main seat.
Not long after...
A soldier from the scout camp reported: "Reporting to the Governor of Zhou, just this morning, four pieces of information about Cao's army were received."
"Three articles?" Zhou Yu and Lu Su were slightly surprised.
The pawn's words continued.
"First, for three days in a row, the corpses of more than 10,000 Cao Ying soldiers were thrown into the river at Guangling in the north of the Yangtze River. It is said that Chen Deng, the prefect of Guangling, buried the dead soldiers in the water on the order of the Chancellor! Our army's eyesights were able to detect it at close range. It is indeed true.
Cao Jun...and everyone has wounds on their bodies, and the blood has dried up. It is indeed caused by the surprise attack by the Lu family's soldiers and horses!"
this…
As soon as the first piece of information came out, Lu Su's eyes subconsciously looked at Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu's cheeks also shook violently.
But he still didn't show any emotion or anger, and just chanted the word "continue".
"Secondly, the battle report mentioned that the Lu family captured 75 warships, 200 sets of fine steel halberds, 200 sets of fine steel daggers, and 200 sets of fine steel armor. In the past... Lujiang battlefield, Long
Xiaoying's great victory over General Sun relied on these magical weapons and armors. According to legend, these fine steel weapons and armors...are extremely precious even in Cao Ying!"
After saying this, Zhou Yu rolled his eyes... Still not commenting, he stretched out his hand to signal the pawn to continue.
"Thirdly, news came from our army's informant in Cao's camp. When Cao Cao heard that these two battles were defeated, he was so angry that he had a splitting headache and fainted. Now Cao Cao's camp is in chaos... all the troops of the Eastern Expedition have retreated.
In the capital city of Xu, Xun Yu sent someone to report to the Secretariat urgently and asked the Han Situ Lu Yu to temporarily take charge of the Secretariat!"
call…
Zhou Yu took a long breath, and Cao Cao fainted?
This time... he did not let the soldier continue to report, but stretched out his hand to indicate to slow down.
Is he thinking about the third item?
Cao Cao fainted?
I heard that Cao Cao has been suffering from headaches for a long time and cannot be angry.
Previously, Cao Cao was making great progress and aspired to the Central Plains.
It seems that there is no chance for this symptom to appear, but this time...
This was the first time he had suffered such a big loss. Perhaps he had a headache due to anger.
"Where is Lu Yu?" Zhou Yu asked proactively, his eyes fixed, "Didn't you get any information about Lu Yu?"
"Yes..." the soldier nodded. "That's the fourth article. Lu Yu presided over the chancellery and punished Chen Deng, the prefect of Guangling, and Liu Xun, the prefect of Lujiang, each with a year's salary. He also sent someone to inform the three armies, saying that they would serve as a warning to others.
, but... for the New Year’s goods, Lu Yu prepared three years’ salary and gave them to Chen Deng and Liu Xun respectively. Now this matter has spread in Cao’s camp! "
Hmm...Article 4, this punishment is a bit strange!
actually…
When Zhou Yu heard the first three items, he didn't think it was inappropriate, but he felt it was a bit deliberate.
It was as if Cao Ying deliberately showed the impact of this defeat on them.
But...but...
Article 4.
He was fined one year's salary, told the three armies, but was rewarded three years' salary?
actually…
For a prefect of a county, whether it is one year's salary or three years' salary, is this not a punishment?
Only by informing the three armies will they lose face!
It just so happened that the face I had just lost was regained through the triple salary of the New Year goods.
Is this considered punishment?
What medicine is Lu Yu selling in this gourd?
"A small punishment but a big warning? Win people's hearts!" Lu Su seemed to understand something. He opened his mouth and said: "I have heard for a long time that Lu Yu, the commander of Longxiao Camp, is good at attacking people's hearts and is also a very protective person. Such a punishment is reasonable.
, even...even more of a human touch!"
yes…
Zhou Yu nodded.
It does make sense.
Now that Cao Cao is in a coma, if he punishes the frontline generals, it will inevitably lead to trouble in his life, but...if he doesn't punish, he can't serve as a warning to others or correct military regulations!
hehe…
Zhou Yu smiled.
It's strange to say that according to Zhou Yu's mind, the first three pieces of information are reasonable, but they are too coincidental and too deliberate, which inevitably makes Zhou Yu suspicious.
Only the fourth one at the end seems to have a touch of human touch, and it also shows Lu Yu's wisdom.
It was both punishment and reward, it slapped them in the face, but also gave them a jujube to eat, haha... It is indeed a scheming Yinlin, it is not simple!
"Ha ha ha ha…"
Finally... Zhou Yu laughed out loud.
It was precisely this fourth item that made Zhou Yu feel relieved, and made him feel that the whole incident did not seem to be arranged, nor did it look like a game, but it was real.
Thinking of this section, Zhou Yu finally let down his guard.
"Zijing, I don't think this is fake." With a sigh, Zhou Yu looked at Lu Su.
Lu Su also nodded. "Gong Jin, this is the bloody life of tens of thousands of soldiers. Using the lives of the soldiers under his command as bait to achieve a certain purpose, haha... it seems... since Yinlin joined Cao Ying, Cao Cao
You have never been so cruel, right? There is no way to deal with Jiangdong like this!"
"That's right!" Zhou Yu nodded and greeted, "Who's here?"
"Captain!" A confidant of soldiers walked in here.
Zhou Yu immediately ordered... "Send someone to submit the battle report to Wu County, so that Mrs. Sun can also hear the good news. In addition, let the elders of the Zhou family contact the Lu family and congratulate the Lu family on this decision."
This is the power of ‘anti-cao’!”
"Here..." The confidant, the soldier, agreed and went to make arrangements.
It's Lu Su.
His eyes rolled, as if he was still worried.
And Zhou Yu seemed to understand this look, but he didn't seem to understand it?
"What else does Zijing want to say? You might as well say it bluntly..."
"Gong Jin, people in the light don't speak secretly!" Lu Su's face suddenly became extremely serious. "If Bo Fu can't wake up...then next, is this Jiangdong...the second son of the Sun family? Or the third son of the Sun family?
?”
Lu Su's meaning was expressed very clearly.
Now that the crisis of Cao Ying's march south has been resolved, then Sun Boxu will be bedridden and dying... The Jiangdong Sun family will inevitably choose a new heir.
As for whether it is Sun Quan, the blue-eyed son of the second prince, or Sun Yi, the third prince who looks very similar to the overlord Sun Ce... that is a new story.
Of course, Zhou Yu, as the left governor of Jiangdong, undoubtedly had a great say in the selection of this successor.
Even...his vote is the final word.
call…
Zhou Yu breathed a sigh of relief, and it turned out to be exactly what happened.
He didn't answer immediately, but asked instead.
"Zijing, on an unrelated note, which young master do you think the Lu family will support?"
"The Lu family..." Lu Su chanted these two words.
At this moment, as an honest man, he woke up from a dream. He suddenly realized that the Lu family, which had just turned the tide from collapse and was as rich as the seven major families, had no right to speak.
The heir to the Sun family in Jiangdong may not be the final decision made by Governor Zhou!