Chapter 748: The Filth

Looking at his troops, Fa Zheng felt somewhat helpless. If only they had more cavalry, they could make a quick assault and reach Shouchun by tomorrow while maintaining their combat effectiveness. Unfortunately, Taishan wasn’t suitable for raising horses, and wild horses didn't naturally thrive there.

As for buying horses, they had already acquired as many as possible. It was impossible to get more, as Yuan Shao had nearly monopolized the horse trade in the northern regions, making it difficult to obtain these strategic resources south of Bingzhou and Jizhou. Further south, apart from Yuan Shu possessing some horses, even someone like Liu Biao could only provide a warhorse for his generals, making a full cavalry unit a pipe dream.

It wasn't that the south had no horses, but southern horses were not suited for riding. They were useful for pulling loads but inadequate for combat.

After swiftly organizing his troops, Fa Zheng didn’t waste time with unnecessary words. He left the army under the command of Gan Ning, with himself acting as the military strategist, and they set off for Huainan, heading toward Yuan Shu's seat of power, Shouchun.

As Fa Zheng led his forces toward Shouchun, rumors about Liu Bei's campaign against Yuan Shu began circulating in the city.

Although Fa Zheng had severed most of the communication routes and enforced military control in the rear, some rumors still slipped through. However, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Jin were busy managing internal affairs and didn’t have time to investigate these lower-level whispers.

Moreover, these rumors were mainly spread among commoners, without any confirmation from aristocratic families. The noble families' intelligence networks weren’t faulty, but the communication channels had been dismantled, so when news reached Shouchun, it was mostly hearsay with no concrete proof.

Yuan Shu’s family had also heard rumors, but they didn’t take them seriously. They were aware of the internal turmoil in Qingzhou and Xuzhou, believing Liu Bei would be too preoccupied to make any moves against them. Otherwise, given Liu Bei’s current strength, they wouldn’t dare provoke him.

"Ziyu, take a break," Zhou Yu said, looking at the bloodshot eyes of Zhuge Jin. By now, he had to admit that although Zhuge Jin might not excel in any particular area, his combined qualities made him the perfect person for their current situation.

"I'll rest once we've finished this work," Zhuge Jin replied with a smile, rubbing his eyes to stay awake.

Zhou Yu poured him a cup of strong tea, not saying much, and then continued working alongside Zhuge Jin on Yuzhou’s administrative affairs.

If they only aimed for a basic understanding and a gradual approach, they wouldn’t need to work this hard. However, both of them had long-term goals. Even if they didn’t expect to achieve instant success like Taishan, they wanted to lay the groundwork for Yuzhou’s rebirth from its deeply rooted problems.

"Our best option right now is to redirect internal conflicts outward," Zhuge Jin said, downing the strong tea along with the tea leaves, closing his eyes to gather his strength.

"That's why I agreed to let the Yuan family elders launch an attack on Xuzhou," Zhou Yu said, looking tired. Apart from himself and Zhuge Jin, there was no one in Shouchun he trusted to handle these matters. Others in Sun Ce's camp weren’t as dependable when it came to governance.

"I’ve been to Taishan and know the strength that place holds. Similarly, having lived in Xuzhou for a long time, I understand the situation there. It’s indeed as the Yuan family elders said—dominated by powerful families. I’ve also heard about Li Wenyou’s strategies," Zhuge Jin said, his face expressionless, fatigue clearly overwhelming him.

"You think it's unwise?" Zhou Yu asked, picking up on Zhuge Jin’s hesitation.

"Not unwise, but unnecessary. Even if we lose, it’s better than facing internal conflicts. However, it feels like a wasted effort," Zhuge Jin replied. He understood Zhou Yu’s reasoning behind allowing the Yuan family elders to act, but he couldn’t help feeling it was a shame.

"We’ve locked Yangzhou within our control, so whether we act sooner or later doesn’t make much difference. As you said, at least we’re redirecting the conflicts. Honestly, I don’t fully trust the judgment of the Yuan family elders," Zhou Yu said, his eyes flashing with insight.

"Li Wenyou is in charge of Xuzhou, and neither Liu Xuande nor Chen Zichuan is a fool. There’s bound to be more going on than meets the eye. Leaving aside Chen Zichuan, Liu Xuande is unparalleled when it comes to recognizing and utilizing talent," Zhuge Jin said, still with his eyes closed. His assessment of Liu Bei was extremely high.

"Indeed, his ability to choose the right people is unmatched. If not for him, none of us would have the positions we hold today," Zhou Yu said with a smile. "But I’m betting on a major defeat."

"This is truly filthy politics. Sacrificing tens of thousands of soldiers just to maintain stability and ensure future growth," Zhuge Jin said as he opened his bloodshot eyes, staring at Zhou Yu. "It’s truly filthy."

"We might still win," Zhou Yu said after a long pause. "If Bofu were here, he wouldn’t allow me to make this decision. He’d choose to charge ahead and fight with everything he had."

"Stubbornness leads to fragility. Filthy or not, at least we can ensure such things won’t happen again in the future," Zhuge Jin said with a faint smile. "Let’s focus on planning how to conquer Yangzhou."

"Haha, we might not lose. Even though we both know Xuzhou has Li Wenyou’s machinations, it’s not easy to swallow ten thousand troops. Xuzhou only has one army led by Zhang Fei," Zhou Yu said, shifting the tone with a laugh. "All the schemes in the world are useless if you don’t have the manpower to execute them."

"Victory would bring even more trouble," Zhuge Jin replied, a rare hint of sarcasm appearing on his face.

"That’s why it’s filthy politics," Zhou Yu said, chuckling. "I’ve already pulled my navy back to Shouchun, leaving the middle reaches of the Yangtze completely open. I’ve given Liu Jingxuan the opportunity for a decisive move. If he doesn’t muster his remaining strength now, I’ll simply say that time’s up!"

"He will. Liu Jingxuan may have been distracted by indulgence, but after clearing his mind, he’ll definitely make a desperate bid for survival. There’s no need to worry about that," Zhuge Jin said with a smile. "I’m only concerned about whether Jingbei can hold the line."

"Liao Gongyuan may have a narrow heart, but his abilities are exceptional. With General Han and others assisting, I’ll deliver a strategic blow at the right time. But, Ziyu..." Zhou Yu said, looking at Zhuge Jin with a serious expression.

"Yangzhou is no issue. If you trust me, Gongjin, let me handle it my way," Zhuge Jin said with a smile.

"Very well. I’ll leave it to you, Ziyu," Zhou Yu agreed, saying no more, signaling his approval of Zhuge Jin’s plan.

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