The Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Tan, intercepted Guo Jia's...

Chapter 117 What's the use of crying? Can crying make Zhang Moling weep?

Sun Ce continued to wander aimlessly through the city, his hair disheveled and his face dirty.

He saw the proclamation posted by Yan Liang to reassure the people, announcing tax reductions and encouraging agriculture and weaving.

Some workshops were recruiting migrants, providing them with food and wages.

Indeed, there were some emaciated people queuing up.

He also saw the arrest warrant on the street corner with his portrait on it, listing his "crimes".

The onlookers pointed and whispered, hurling insults and curses.

He stood at the back of the crowd, listening to his former subjects, who had once loved him, cursing him with the most vicious words.

Betrayed by all, he was utterly disgraced.

He recalled how Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu had advised him against attacking Huainan when he insisted on doing so, saying that his foundation was not yet secure and that Yuan Tan should not be underestimated.

He wouldn't listen, thinking himself a brilliant strategist who could decide the fate of the world in one fell swoop.

The results of it?

Thirty thousand Jiangdong youths are buried far from home. The fates of Cheng Gong, Jiang Qin, and Zhou Tai are unknown. Gong Jin has been disfigured and disappeared. Shang Xiang has been wandering aimlessly. Now, even Jiangdong has been lost.

As dusk fell, the city lights began to illuminate the night.

Sun Ce wandered like a ghost to the vicinity of that dilapidated ancestral hall.

Suddenly, a dark figure darted out from the alleyway next to him, covered his mouth, and dragged him into the depths of the alley.

Sun Ce struggled instinctively, but the man was extremely strong and whispered:

"Bo Fu, it's me."

The voice sounded somewhat familiar.

Does this person know me? If he wants to arrest me, he should make a loud noise now, and I will have nowhere to escape.

But he didn't do that, which means he had no malicious intent.

I might as well go with him; I have nothing left to lose anyway.

Sun Ce stopped struggling and was pulled along by the man, winding his way through the crowd until they arrived at the back gate of an inconspicuous courtyard.

The man knocked on the door rhythmically a few times, and the door opened a crack. The two men quickly slipped inside.

The courtyard is a hidden gem; though simple, it is clean and quiet.

The lights were on in the main room.

Sun Ce was pushed into the room, and the door closed behind him.

A figure slowly rose from the shadows in the corner and walked towards the light.

Sun Ce's breathing suddenly stopped.

That was Zhou Yu, but it wasn't the Zhou Yu he knew.

His once handsome face is now covered with crisscrossing scars, his flesh is twisted, and his left eye is even slightly crooked. Only his straight nose and tightly pursed thin lips can still vaguely reveal his former features.

"Gongjin...your face..."

Sun Ce's voice was stuck in his throat, bitter and unpleasant.

Zhou Yu twitched the corner of his mouth, causing the scar to contort, and gave a bitter laugh:

"Yan Liang drew a portrait of Yan Liang and conducted a very thorough search. We had no choice but to destroy this troublesome seedling to prevent others from keeping a grudge against us."

Sun Ce, however, seemed to have all his strength drained away. He staggered a step and leaned against the cold earthen wall.

He looked at the deep, bone-revealing scars on Zhou Yu's face, and thought of how those hands that once played the zither and flute had picked up a sharp blade and resolutely slashed at him... It was all for him, all for waiting for him, the defeated general!

A rush of heat shot into my eyes, blurring my vision instantly.

He suddenly raised his hand to cover his face, letting out a suppressed sob.

Guilt, regret, heartache... overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

"It's my fault...it's my fault that you've been ruined...it's my fault that everyone has been ruined..."

He was incoherent, and his shoulders were trembling violently.

A cold hand pressed on his trembling shoulder.

"Sun Bofu".

Zhou Yu suddenly shouted sternly.

"Raise your head!" Zhou Yu's voice carried an unusual sternness. "Look at yourself now! Are you still the same Sun Ce, Sun Bofu, who swept across Jiangdong and made even Yuan Shu wary?"

Sun Ce was stunned.

"Cry? What's the use of crying? Can crying bring us back to Moling? Can crying bring back the thirty thousand brothers who are alive or dead?"

Zhou Yu took a step closer.

"Don't forget how we started! We borrowed a thousand soldiers from Yuan Shu, but our generals were less than Cheng Pu, Huang Zhong, and Han Zhi, and our army was less than ten thousand. We built our Jiangdong empire step by step! Our old guard isn't completely wiped out yet; Cheng Pu, Han Dang, and Zhou Tai might still be around! As long as we brothers have a breath left, are you already losing your courage?!"

Hearing Zhou Yu's words, Sun Ce gradually regained his composure.

He recalled his youthful vigor, the soldiers' valiant efforts, and the heroic spirit that once dominated Jiangdong...

"But... Gongjin," Sun Ce's voice was still hoarse, but less desperate, "the hearts of the people of Jiangdong have been lost. Where can we find refuge?"

Zhou Yu stared at him and slowly said, "Since the court says we are rebels, then let's become real rebels."

Sun Ce's pupils contracted.

"Xuzhou, Lü Bu."

Zhou Yu uttered four words.

"Should we join Lü Bu?" Sun Ce frowned. "He is brave, but he lacks strategy, is suspicious, and appoints people based on personal connections. If we go to him, I'm afraid we won't be given important positions and will instead suffer harm."

"It is precisely because of his lack of strategy, suspicion, and lust that we have the opportunity to take advantage of him."

A cold light flashed in Zhou Yu's eyes as he leaned close to Sun Ce's ear.

"Lu Bu is addicted to wine and women, and has no adult children, only a young daughter. Although his men have the courage of common men, they lack the talent of Xiao He. We should surrender to him, temporarily submit to him, and gain his trust. Then..."

He paused, then continued:

"Try to seize some of his military power, befriend his disillusioned generals, and wait for the right opportunity. When he is weakened by fighting with Yuan Tan or Cao Cao, perhaps... we can usurp his position and take over his territory!"

Sun Ce gasped and looked sharply at Zhou Yu.

This plan is too audacious and too vicious!

But...do they have a better option right now?

Seeking refuge with others ultimately means living under someone else's roof.

Only by turning the tables can we find a way out of a desperate situation!

Sun Ce nodded emphatically at this point:

"Very well! We'll do as Gongjin says! This Xuzhou will be where we rise again!"

The scars on Zhou Yu's face twitched, making him seem like he wanted to laugh, but instead he looked even more ferocious.

He took a step back and called softly into the inner room, "Shangxiang, Zhongmou, come out."

The curtain was lifted, and a girl dressed in coarse cloth helped a boy out.

It was Sun Shangxiang and Sun Quan!

"Big brother!" Sun Shangxiang saw Sun Ce and tears welled up instantly as she rushed over.

"Brother!" Sun Quan also stepped forward quickly, his eyes already red despite his best efforts to restrain himself.

Sun Ce opened his arms and hugged his younger brother and sister-in-law tightly.

Feeling the real warmth in my arms, the wandering, loneliness, and despair of these past few days seemed to find an outlet.

He thought... he thought they were already...

"It's alright...it's alright..." he murmured, his voice choked with emotion.

The home is still there, and the roots haven't been severed.

After calming down, Sun Ce looked at Zhou Yu:

"Gongjin, let's go to Xuzhou together!"

Zhou Yu slowly shook his head:

"Bo Fu, with my current appearance, it's no longer convenient for me to walk openly. Yan Liang and Yuan Tan's men are still searching for me in secret. If I stay in Jiangdong, I can better contact my old subordinates and take care of Shang Xiang and Zhong Mou. They are still young and no one knows them. I will train them in military strategy and martial arts. If Yuan Tan is still alive in five years, I will take them to join him. Do you understand what I mean?"

He looked at Sun Ce:

"Your going to Xuzhou is an open move. My staying in Jiangdong is a hidden move. Only by combining the open and the hidden moves can we have a chance of winning."

Sun Ce understood.

It seems that Zhou Yu not only wants to seize Xuzhou, but also wants to do the same to Yuan Tan. What a vicious scheme!

"it is good."

Sun Ce squeezed Zhou Yu's hand tightly, then looked at his younger brother and sister-in-law.

"Shangxiang, Zhongmou, you can stay with Brother Gongjin without worry."

"Brother, take care!" Sun Shangxiang said, her eyes filled with tears.

Sun Quan nodded firmly: "Brother, rest assured, I will take good care of Shangxiang."

……