Due to the situation, Sun Quan led the former generals, received gold seals, purple ribbons, and festival axes, and paid homage to the governor of Yangzhou. Lu Su was appointed as the farewell officer, Zhang Zhao was appointed as the governor, and the other officials were promoted and appointed according to their merits.
Although it was a big defeat, the civil and military officials in Jiangdong were promoted one after another. Previously, Huang Gai was just a partial general and was promoted to General Annan. Lu Xun was the Sima of Huainan and guarded Hefei. Sun Quan led his troops back to Jiangdong.
Lu Meng's body could not be recovered, so Sun Quan ordered his people to carve it into a body made of golden nanmu. He was given a close-fitting robe and armor to hold the body. Deng Guang supported the coffin, and the three armies marched in plain clothes.
When the horse and carriage reached Ruxu, Lü Meng's sister Lü Shi and his wife came across the river. Their two sons, Lü Ba and Lü Cong, were only more than ten years old. Sun Quan comforted them. After returning to Jianye, he lived with Taishi Xiang in the mansion and raised them personally.
After worshiping at the riverside, Sun Quan thought that Lu Meng had proposed and supervised the construction of Ruxu Village, and he was from Runan, so he buried him at the foot of Ruxu Mountain and secretly vowed to let him witness the day when the North conquered the Central Plains.
Three days later, people and horses crossed the river. Wu Guotai had already led people to wait by the river and boarded the boat to visit in person. Sun Quan was shocked and hurriedly wanted to get off the boat to see the ceremony, but Wu Guotai stopped him.
After swiping the left and right sides, Wu Guotai inspected the wound and saw that the surrounding area was blue and swollen. It had been raining for days, and there was pus and water. He cried and complained: "My son has been injured so far, why didn't he return to Jiangdong to recover early?"
Sun Quan comforted him with kind words: "Mom, you don't have to be like this. I think my father and brother fought in the north and south, and fought in bloody battles, so that the Sun family's inheritance can be established. The children will inherit their ambitions and maintain the industry. What's the big deal about a minor injury?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Wu Guotai said sternly: "Now that Jiangdong's foundation is all on you, you must love and respect yourself. Your father was killed chasing the enemy, and Bo Fu was killed when he tried to succeed. The lessons from the past are still in front of us. How can my son not be careful? "
Sun Quan nodded and said, "Mother's teachings will be remembered by the children."
"This arrow is poisonous, and it has penetrated into the bone marrow!" Wu Guotai looked at the injury and couldn't help crying. He was angry and anxious: "Although the poison is not violent, if it is not cured in time, it may damage the muscles and bones. My son may die." Worry, how can you be so willful..."
Before he finished speaking, he couldn't breathe and fainted. Sun Quan hurriedly supported him and ordered his maid to help him to rest in the cabin.
Everyone was busy for a while, but Wu Guotai woke up slowly, but he was lying on the bed speechless. Sun Quan was so anxious that he burst into tears again, knelt in front of the bed and shouted, "Unfilial."
Several doctors were helpless and could only speculate that he was out of breath and needed rest to recover. Sun Quan had no choice but to send orders to prepare his carriages and horses to return to the city.
After returning to Jianye, Sun Quan entrusted Lu Su with the task of conquering Shanyue. He ignored the political affairs and first brought Wu Guotai into the palace to serve him. After the medicinal soup was boiled, he withdrew and fed her.
In the dead of night, with the cicadas chirping unnoticed, Sun Quan stood alone in front of the window, feeling confused. The war in Huainan was unfavorable, and his confidant general Lu Meng was killed. Zhou Yu was trapped in Qingzhou again, and Jiangdong was once again in trouble.
As he was thinking hard about how to break the situation, he suddenly heard movement behind him. When he looked back, he saw Wu Guotai slowly sitting up, her expression somewhat gloomy under the candlelight. She was startled, and she hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "How is mother's health? "
"I'm fine!" Wu Guotai shook his head slightly, turned around and took away the pillow, opened the secret compartment on the bedside, took out a brocade box and handed it over, saying: "This is the antidote pill that I have refined for many years. It is made from fish oil and turtle gallbladder. Ordinary poisons can treat it, so you can take it first.”
Sun Quan took it with both hands and asked with concern: "The child is young and strong, and the minor injuries are not serious. The mother should not be too concerned. If she gets sick, the child will feel ashamed and uneasy."
Wu Guotai smiled tenderly and was very touched by Sun Quan's filial piety. He sighed softly: "My son, don't worry. I fainted on the river. I was just pretending to be ill, just to deceive all the officials."
"Ah?" Sun Quan was shocked and asked doubtfully: "The child has been returned to Jiangdong, why does the mother need to do this?"
Wu Guotai stared at Sun Quan, the tenderness in his eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by a cold expression, and said slowly: "If I am not sick, how can I ask Shang Xiang to return to Jianye and trick Liu Qi into Jiangdong?"
Sun Quan was shocked and moved: "Why did mother say this?"
Wu Guotai asked: "Do you know why the Northern Expedition failed so many times?"
Sun Quan looked embarrassed for a while, gritted his teeth and cursed: "I was about to accomplish this, but I didn't know that Sima Zhongda was despicable and deceitful, and ruined my important things twice. It's God's will!"
Wu Guotai said, "Zhongmou's words are wrong. Our army was flooded, not because of the war."
Sun Quan's expression softened slightly and he asked, "What is your advice, mother?"
Wu Guotai said: "In my opinion, it is because the soldiers in the east of the Yangtze River are not good at land warfare, and the north of the Huaihe River is good for land warfare but not water warfare. Our army has no geographical advantage. How can we win? My son takes control of Jiangdong by himself and uses the three rivers to defend the territory. , Yuan Shu, Liu Biao, and Cao Cao did not dare to go to the south of the Yangtze River, all because of the prosperity of our navy! Even if you take possession of the land of Xuzhou, Cao's army will attack in large numbers. Without the support of the navy, it may be difficult to defend it."
Sun Quan pondered for a long time. What Wu Guotai said today was actually similar to what Lu Meng had said before. If the brothers hadn't often asked the second lady for advice since they were young, they would have been shocked today.
Wu Guotai said again: "Now that Cao's traitor has escaped to the north, Cao Pi is far inferior to his father, and he is even less able to defend the land and employ people than Zhongmou. He lost the pass first, and then moved the capital to Yecheng. This has shaken the foundation, and he may not be a match for Liu Qi. Once Liu Qi gains power, if he uses The situation today is that soldiers and horses from Yizhou and Jingzhou are moving down the river, who can stop them?"
"Hiss—" Sun Quan took a breath of air, then shook his head and said, "Liu Qi is my brother-in-law, and I have formed alliances with him many times to defeat King Cao Qin and support the court. How can we turn against each other?"
"A tiger has a harmless heart, but a tiger has a harmful intention!" Wu Guotai said solemnly, "Even if the two of you make an alliance: to eliminate the Cao family, Qin Wang will rejuvenate the Han Dynasty. Then Liu Qi is a descendant of the Liu family, and his contribution to the resurgence should be awarded the title of Wang Xi. Land, be named to future generations, or even accept Zen as the lord of the world. These are all matters of the Liu clan. My son is just a relative and vassal. How can he lead the affairs of Jiangdong alone? If he doesn't obey the order, he will be betrayed and infamy. If he does, , If you lose your inheritance, how can you face your father and brother in the future?"
"This..." Sun Quan's expression changed several times. This conversation actually made him feel a little strange and in awe of the person in front of him.
Wu Guotai sighed lightly: "In the past, Cao's bandits were approaching the river, and Soochow was in danger of losing its eggs, so he had no choice but to form an alliance with Liu Qi. Looking back now, it was Liu Boxi who deceived my orphans and widowed mother, and plotted to contain Cao's army without even an inch of territory. Yes, but he captured Yizhou and Guanzhong, bought people's hearts, and became famous, while the authorities were confused. My son must wake up as soon as possible."
At this time, Sun Quan finally understood the reason why Wu Guotai had just pretended to be ill, and said in surprise: "Mother wants to deceive Liu Qi into crossing Jiangdong and ask her children to plot Jingzhou?"
"It's not just Jingzhou!" Wu Guotai sneered: "Liu Biao is my son-in-law. Now Liu Biao is dead and Liu Cong is young. If Liu Qi is trapped in Jiangdong, it is natural for my son as the elder brother to take over the inheritance. Who dares to disobey?"
Sun Quan was stunned for a while, then took a deep breath and asked: "My mother's lofty words made the child feel like seeing the sun through the clouds. I don't want my mother to live deep in the palace and know the world's major events. Although the mother is good at rebirth, it is nothing more than this."
Wu Guotai shook his head and said with a smile: "How can I know about the important affairs of the country? There is another person who has this plan. I think what he said is reasonable, so I will tell you."
Sun Quan was so surprised that he stood up and asked, "Who is this person and where is he now? I want to visit him personally."
