After thinking deeply, Zhou Yu opened his mouth. “To tell Zhugong the truth, Yu has indeed thought of this before. Sun Jian is still holding his troops in front of Hulao Pass. Killing his eldest son now may bring about a change.”
“Hmm,” Yuan Shu said. “Tell me more.”
“Sun Ce’s arrival and the relationship between this lowly one and the Sun family are more than enough to serve as a breakthrough for this stalemate.”
His plan would be foolproof. Yuan Shu would not doubt his integrity—handing over the imperial seal had earned the man’s trust.
“Why not temporarily reassure Sun Ce? After all, the jade seal returning to its rightful master can’t be discovered by that bastard until spring comes and the ice melts.”
Zhou Yu had chosen the phrase “returning to its rightful master” to appeal to Yuan Shu, who began chuckling again.
“Zhugong, after the Shangyuan Festival, why not pretend to have resolved this quarrel amicably and let this lowly one go with Sun Ce? Then, send a group of assassins disguised as soldiers to escort the three members of the Sun family. When that time comes, this modest one will come up with a plan to trick Sun Jian onto the carriage with a letter from Sun Ce. Sun Jian, arrogantly believing he succeeded, will think his wife and sons have left Shouchun. Then there will be nothing hindering Zhugong’s progress, and Zhugong can take the opportunity to act.
“Once Sun Jian is dealt with, Sun Ce can be slaughtered as well. That will prevent any future issues,” Zhou Yu concluded.
“A masterful plan!” Yuan Shu exclaimed.
He looked toward Yang Hong, who chuckled dryly but didn’t reply. Yuan Shu spoke to Zhou Yu. “Go forth to reassure Sun Ce. As for everything else, Yang Hong will assist you.”
Yang Hong, however, seemed to harbor suspicions. “With Sun Jian’s talent, I’m afraid he may not fall for it easily.”
“When this junior saves his wife and sons and arrives at his encampment, Sun Jian will be moved,” Zhou Yu asserted, “and he will arrange for a lavish banquet to award me appropriately. At that time, unless circumstances demand otherwise, slipping in some poison and eliminating all of them in one fell swoop will do.”
“Ah,” Yang Hong said, as if he had formulated the same idea. “If that is the case, you must not let Sun Ce catch even the slightest wind of this.”
“We absolutely mustn’t.”
“Madame Sun and Sun Quan can be released,” Yang Hong said. “But as for Sun Ce… Zhugong, you must not release Sun Ce.”
Zhou Yu’s heart hammered in his chest.
“If we let Sun Ce go, there would be no end of troubles in the future,” Yang Hong said. “Even if we successfully remove Sun Jian, letting Sun Ce live is basically the same as releasing a tiger to return to the mountain. With how I see it, Sun Ce already fully trusts Zhou-daren. Why not take the opportunity to take the Lady of Wu and Sun Quan out of the city to Sun Jian’s camp? As for Sun Ce, we will continue to keep him here.”
Zhou Yu replied, worried, “I’m afraid I may not be able to persuade Sun Ce to stay.”
“It’s all right,” Yang Hong reassured him. “When he hears his mother and younger brother escaped, how can he not thank you? We just need him to stay in Shouchun for a few more days.”
“Hmm,” Yuan Shu mused aloud. “You are right. This way, even if nephew Zhou is unable to get rid of Sun Ce, at least Sun Ce will remain in our hands. Even if Sun Jian manages to capture you instead, it will be easy for us to exchange hostages. He can choose not to care about his wife, but that old man cannot choose not to care about your life, nephew Zhou!”
Yang Hong’s scheme was purposefully cruel. He obviously still didn’t fully trust Zhou Yu, who couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat. As soon as he arrived in Sun Jian’s camp and carried out Yuan Shu’s plan, they would kill Sun Ce here in Shouchun to ensure any future obstacles were removed entirely.
“A magnificent scheme from Lord Yang,” Zhou Yu could only say. “Then all that is required are three waist tallies that allow exit from the city and a set of travel documents.”
“Yes. As for the specific details,” Yang Hong said, “let me think it through once more. We shall try to resolve this in one go.”
Zhou Yu released a breath, acting as though he had set down a heavy burden that had been weighing on his mind. In Yang Hong and Yuan Shu’s eyes, however, Zhou Yu appeared to be a cowardly thief, afraid Sun Ce would find out he stole the jade seal. If he could overthrow the Sun family soon, removing that suspicion would be easy.
Zhou Yu knew Yuan Shu wanted to admire his jade seal more, so he rose and took his leave. Yang Hong and Yuan Shu stayed in the hall.
“Bring it out, bring it out,” Yuan Shu said. “Quickly, bring it over for Zhugong to look at. Does Benchu know of this?”
“I don’t know,” Yang Hong said quietly. “When Zhou Yu came, he was clearly hiding it from his eyes and ears…”
Yang Hong brought the jade seal out again. Yuan Shu unfolded the yellow cloth as if he were a madman, just to blankly stare at the contents within. Yang Hong continued quietly, “Zhugong, Zhou Yu has the heart of a jackal. Look at how he even plotted to murder Sun Ce, whom he’s known since he was young… If such a person remains at Zhugong’s side…”
“I get it, I get it,” Yuan Shu said. “After the Sun family is dealt with, do as you see fit.”
Upon hearing these words, Yang Hong also let out a breath in relief.