Chapter 754: Wish Fulfilled

"Ziyu, you still have the heart to joke!" Zhou Yu said with a displeased look at Zhuge Jin.

"Gongjin, your mind is clouded! The situation isn’t as dire as you think," Zhuge Jin responded with a kind smile, trying to calm Zhou Yu.

"It’s bad enough," Zhou Yu shook his head, not saying more, only gazing westward, where Sun Ce was fighting against the forces from Yizhou. "I’ve given in to Fa Xiaozhi’s wish, I’ve compromised. Next, I will launch a grand campaign in Jingxiang. I trust Shiyuan will not disappoint me."

"Send Deren and Zhongye to Xuzhou," Zhuge Jin suggested. Originally, he himself was the most suitable to lead the retreating troops to Jiangdong, but given the current murky situation, with Zhou Yu unable to stay in Shouchun, he had no choice but to remain behind to keep internal matters in check.

"Very well..." Zhou Yu hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

Since the battle of Jiangxia, where Zhou Yu had orchestrated a decisive victory over Wang Wei and captured Wen Pin, Wen Pin had remained in Shouchun under Zhou Yu’s command. Because there had been no major battles for him to showcase his skills, his name remained largely unknown throughout the land.

As a true internal energy master, Wen Pin could be considered one of the most low-key experts in the current era. Moreover, he possessed considerable military leadership abilities, making him a hidden trump card.

As for Deren, mentioned by Zhuge Jin, he referred to Kan Ze, another figure with little renown. In Zhuge Jin's understanding of the current situation, he had wisely chosen these two relatively unknown but highly capable individuals—Wen Pin and Kan Ze—for the mission, seeing it as a calculated move.

"It’s a pity that General Cheng is currently focused on making a breakthrough in his internal energy training with Daoist Yu Ji’s guidance. Otherwise, sending him to command the army in Xuzhou would have been the ideal choice," Zhou Yu sighed. Now, however, they were at a critical juncture.

Although Zhou Yu had initially been suspicious of the Daoist Yu Ji, he had found no evidence to support his doubts. Furthermore, Yu Ji’s guidance had indeed significantly improved the cultivation progress of Cheng Pu and the others.

For some, breaking through to the internal energy realm might be a matter of understanding one’s heart and mind, while for Cheng Pu, it was about mastering the control of his internal energy. As for his heart and mind, Cheng Pu was already steadfast enough.

Because of this, Zhou Yu, though wary of Yu Ji, never revealed his concerns to anyone. Instead, each time he met Yu Ji, he greeted him warmly. This forced Yu Ji to suppress his anger and curiosity about Sun Ce, not daring to act rashly.

Yu Ji’s original plan had been to form a bond with Cheng Pu and, through him, learn about Sun Ce’s routine in order to find an opportunity to shift Sun Ce’s destiny. However, before he could act, Zhou Yu had caught on. Compared to Sun Ce’s recklessness, Zhou Yu, in Yu Ji’s eyes, was far more cunning.

Moreover, Yu Ji could sense Zhou Yu’s suspicions. No matter how cautious Yu Ji was, Zhou Yu always seemed nonchalant, yet Yu Ji’s calculations revealed that Zhou Yu had never stopped doubting him. This persistent suspicion was the reason Yu Ji hadn’t dared to make a move.

"Yu Ji..." After a long pause, Zhuge Jin finally decided to address the issue openly, given the precarious situation. "There’s something wrong with him, though I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is. Once you leave, I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep an eye on him."

"If you can’t keep an eye on him, isn’t that proof enough that something is wrong?" Zhou Yu stared directly at Zhuge Jin. "It’s better to confront the issue head-on than let it fester like this."

"Let’s not disturb General Cheng. Neither General Wen, General Cheng, nor Deren would likely be a prime target for attention. If we don’t overestimate ourselves, I believe we can save half of our forces." Zhuge Jin shook his head.

In Zhuge Jin’s view, the battle for Xuzhou, whether led by Wen Pin or Cheng Pu, wouldn’t hinge on their capabilities. The outcome would depend on how seriously their opponents regarded them.

"We need to choose the right moment for action in this battle," Zhou Yu nodded, agreeing with Zhuge Jin’s assessment. The success of evacuating their forces from Xuzhou would depend more on Chen Deng, Zhang Fei, Fa Zheng, and Gan Ning's evaluation of Yu Province’s troops than on their own abilities.

It could be said that if their enemies misjudged their forces, there might even be a slim chance of turning the tide. But such an outcome was so improbable that it wasn’t worth considering.

"Now, it all depends on Shiyuan. I hope he won’t let me down!" Zhuge Jin said, looking westward as Zhou Yu had done earlier, though his expression was tinged with more melancholy.

When Fa Zheng appeared outside Shouchun’s walls, Zhuge Jin had understood something that Zhou Yu hadn’t fully grasped—his younger brother, Zhuge Liang, had also arrived. Knowing Zhuge Liang as he did, Zhuge Jin was almost certain that the mysterious sub-army would likely be led by his brother.

Zhuge Jin withdrew his gaze, his expression calm. He had long since mentally prepared himself for this.

While Zhuge Jin and Zhou Yu waited with anticipation for Pang Tong’s bold actions, Sun Ce was in the middle of fleeing desperately with Pang Tong, who had been struck by several arrows. Along with Jiang Qin, Yang Xun, and Li Xin, they were running for their lives. They had already been defeated in thirteen engagements, fleeing from the Jing-Yizhou border all the way to the Yiling region. Behind them, Yan Yan’s army pursued relentlessly, seemingly never tiring.

To be honest, in an era like this, for a top strategist to be struck by arrows was a disgrace, yet this very disgrace had occurred.

Zhang Song had drawn fire, engaging in a direct clash with Pang Tong. Liu Ba provided cover, while Yan Yan and Zheng Du led a direct assault. The archers targeted Pang Tong, and without being able to fully defend himself, Pang Tong was struck twice by arrows.

The Yizhou army, now exhilarated by their pursuit, fought with renewed vigor. Zhang Song, Liu Ba, and the others employed dangerous strategies that completely blindsided Pang Tong. What had initially been a feigned retreat by Pang Tong quickly turned into a real defeat, with 17,000 troops routed in an instant.

As they continued their retreat, the Yizhou army, showing no signs of exhaustion, relentlessly pursued Sun Ce’s fleeing forces. After a chase spanning hundreds of miles, they had almost driven Sun Ce’s army to total collapse, nearing Yiling.

"Shiyuan, are you alright?" Sun Ce anxiously asked the weakened Pang Tong, who had been hit by arrows. He wasn’t too concerned about the rout of the county troops. Ever since Pang Tong had explained his plan to him, Sun Ce had already relocated all his elite soldiers for an ambush against the Yizhou army, though the ambush hadn’t yet been triggered.

"I’m fine," Pang Tong, pale-faced, grabbed a waterskin and took several large gulps. "Those four relentless ghosts behind us... just 30 more miles, and I’ll make sure they understand that this young master isn’t someone to be taken lightly!"

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