For the rest of the journey, Zhou Yu’s expression remained stormy. Sun Ce poked at him a few times, but Zhou Yu didn’t even want to talk.
“Say,” Sun Ce said, smiling, “stop being angry, all right? You’re already here.”
Zhou Yu replied stoically, “I am not agreeing to your plan, but the greater good is important. I had no choice but to lead the troops out to prevent you from encountering any danger on the road. Yuan Shu is definitely watching us now.”
“Okay, okay,” Sun Ce said. “You’re the most important of us all. Whatever you say goes.”
They passed by a few county capitals on their way from Danyang to Liyang, and every time Sun Ce arrived, people would enlist. The news spread from one ear to ten, ten to a hundred, and ten days later, they had already acquired over three thousand men.
But they were a motley group. Aside from the Danyang troops Zhou Yu brought, many were completely unseasoned. Their marching speed slowed, and their journey dragged on. It took them five days to reach Liyang. When they arrived, without wasting a single breath, Sun Ce began to treat the place as if it were his territory. He entered the city and first found the captain of the city guard, figured out lodgings for his troops, and walked into the prefect’s estate with great familiarity.
The prefect of Liyang, Wu Jing, had a temperament akin to Sun Ce’s; they seemed to be formed from the same mold. When he saw the two of them, he began to laugh a loud belly laugh. He didn’t say anything, instead taking Zhou Yu’s hand as if they were old friends who hadn’t seen each other for a decade.
Wu Jing’s spirit forced Zhou Yu to temporarily set aside his anger toward Sun Ce. Those who witnessed his smile felt bathed in a spring breeze, and Zhou Yu greeted the prefect of Liyang with a bow.
“No problem! No problem!” Wu Jing said. “Your dad, ah, that man’s temper was very short. When I offered troops to help him, he actually felt I was sticking my nose where it didn’t belong.”
“That’s right, that’s right.” Sun Ce hurriedly nodded.
Zhou Yu could tell Wu Jing and Sun Jian had not seen eye to eye when Sun Jian was still alive, but that was often the case between a man and his brother-in-law. Zhou Yu had also heard Sun Quan tell a few anecdotes about his parents and learned that Sun Jian had actually carried the Lady of Wu off to marry her.
If it were Zhou Yu whose sister was stolen away to be married without warning by a man with a fiery temper, he would also not have anything nice to say to him.
Thankfully the nephew was like the uncle, and Sun Ce got along well with his mother’s side of the family.
“What are you planning to do after this?” Wu Jing asked. “Have you gathered these men to seek revenge for your father? What else are you planning?”
Zhou Yu replied, “For our current plans, we need to gather troops and buy supplies, as increasing our forces is key.”
“After that, naturally, we’ll be conquering Jing Province,” Sun Ce said.
Zhou Yu’s expression shifted. Knowing how determined Sun Ce was, he said to Wu Jing, “Liyang has remained at peace for ten years and has been coveted by Yuan Shu just as long. Though this place has well-trained troops and ready weapons, if they were all mobilized to Jing Province, their rear would be left unguarded and open to surprise. Please, think this over.”
“That’s true, that’s true,” Wu Jing said. “Nephew Zhou’s words make sense.”
“The Danyang troops can rush to assist,” Sun Ce replied, “and our two cities can take care of each other.”
Zhou Yu replied unhappily, “How can you toy with the lives of the forty thousand members of the Wu Commandery with Xu Gong watching it like a hawk?”
“It’s not like Xu Gong is fighting for Yuan Shu,” Sun Ce replied sternly. “Zhou Gongjin, don’t overthink it. Uncle, see, Zhou Yu’s—”
“When I went to Shouchun, Xu Gong was sitting right at Yuan Shu’s side! Tell me, does he fight for Yuan Shu or not?!” Zhou Yu said.
“You’re arguing with me in front of my uncle? You think you know better than me, is that it?!” Sun Ce yelled.
“Don’t fight, don’t fight,” Wu Jing said, hurrying to mediate. “What Ce-er said also makes sense…”
“They’re your men,” Zhou Yu said. “You should be the one coming up with ideas. What am I worrying for?”
“Ay,” Wu Jing said, chuckling.
“Hey, that’s too far…” Sun Ce protested.
Zhou Yu didn’t speak. He simply drank his tea, and Sun Ce lifted the pot, pouring him more while he smiled.
Wu Jing thought for a bit.
“Why don’t we try this? Since Xu Gong is an unknown variable, and my troops are lazing about anyway, why don’t you two make another trip and take the troops to the Wu Commandery?”
Zhou Yu was silent while Wu Jing explained, “Originally, this old bag of bones wanted to let things lie, but the year before, a group of bandits brought disaster to the people. There was a bandit leader over in Wucheng County named Yan Baihu, and despite us petitioning the imperial court multiple times for troops to quash them, that bastard hid himself under Xu Gong’s command…”
Sun Ce made the final decision.
“Your suggestion has merit. Let’s first take down Xu Gong, then gather the troops of Wu Commandery.”
Wu Jing said happily, “One of your father’s old subordinates, Zhu Zhi, is in Wu Commandery. He holds the position of marshal. Let’s conquer from both the inside and out—how does that sound?”