One theory is that after both Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao raised objections, Sun Quan should have given up on the deal and alliance with the Shu Han.
But Sun Shiwan really couldn't bear to leave Jiangxia County.
For Soochow, Jiangxia County is like a sharp sword hanging on your head. It may not fall down, but it is hanging on your head every day. Can you feel at ease? !
However, Sun Quan also knew that the opinions of Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu were also for him and Soochow, and they were reasonable. No matter how arbitrary he was, he could still listen to what these two people said.
Well, not much, just a little.
Therefore, after Sun Quan heard the objections of Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu, he did not give up his idea immediately. On the contrary, he was looking for another reason.
"Is there a way to not form an alliance with Shu Han, but also allow Soochow to occupy Jiangxia?!"
This is the question Sun Quan raised.
This question almost made Zhang Zhao gasp for breath. The old man is over seventy years old, and he has never heard such a shameless question.
What good things do you want to do? ! !
Are the people of Shu Han all fools? They give you a county for free and let you take advantage of the geographical advantages, but they don’t ask you to do anything? !
Do you dare to believe this kind of thing? !
But it was difficult to say this directly to Sun Quan, so Zhang Zhao could only curse in his heart, and then pretend to think, but actually said nothing.
Since he became emperor, Zhang Zhao felt that he could not understand this supreme being more and more. Is this still the same Sun Zhongmou who sat down in Southeast, accepted advice with an open mind, knew people well and was good at assigning tasks? !
On the one hand, Zhang Zhao really didn't have the ability to help Sun Quan with this daydream. On the other hand, he also didn't know how to face Sun Quan like this, so he turned off the flames.
But Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu was still thinking seriously, thinking about how to answer Sun Quan's question.
Different personalities create different ways of coping between two people.
Zhang Zhao has been respected by Sun Ce and Sun Quan since the time of Sun Ce, and respected him as his teacher. If he really chooses to remain silent, there is nothing he can do about it.
But Zhou Yu is different. Zhou Yu has been Sun Ce's friend since Sun Ce's time, and half of Sun Ce's Jiangdong foundation is Zhou Yu's hard work.
By the time of Sun Quan, it can be said that Sun Quan was raised under Zhou Yu's single-handed care, helping Sun Quan secure his position as the lord of Jiangdong, helping Sun Quan win the Battle of Chibi, and establishing the situation of these three parts of the world. Zhou Yu always had a share The sense of responsibility is there.
Therefore, although Zhou Yu found Sun Quan's ideas increasingly difficult to understand, as long as Sun Quan's ideas were beneficial to Soochow, Zhou Yu was still willing to think more and make more suggestions.
Moreover, in Zhou Yu's view, Sun Quan's idea is actually not impossible.
The Shu Han had two purposes. One was to ask Soochow to send troops to distract Cao Wei's attention and divide Cao Wei's troops. The other one can safely dispatch troops from Jingzhou to attack Wancheng northward, cooperating with the two-pronged attack in Guanzhong.
There are also two taboos in Soochow. One is that they cannot form an alliance with Shu and Han openly. After all, the impact of betraying the alliance back and forth is really bad. The other is to take back Jiangxia without paying too much price to provide guarantee for the complete control of the Yangtze River.
Both sides have their own ideas, and these ideas, strictly speaking, do not conflict much.
Zhou Yu thought for a while, and based on the known conditions, he gave his own suggestions through his own thinking.
It's not possible to form an alliance openly, but it doesn't mean that we can't reach a tacit understanding in private.
As for the reason, Zhou Yu also thought about it - use troops and surprise.
Once the two families form an alliance, even if there is no publicity, it will not take more than a month for Cao Rui in Luoyang to get the information.
At that time, Cao Wei will inevitably strengthen its defense against Soochow. If Soochow sends troops to attack northward, the effect will not be great, let alone containing some of Cao Wei's troops.
In this case, it would be better not to form an alliance from the beginning and reach an agreement privately. If you Shu Han can trust me in Soochow, we will do it. If you can't, just pretend it's nothing.
Anyway, it’s not me, Soochow, who is anxious to go to the Northern Expedition.
Once the Shu Han is willing to accept this first step, they can negotiate privately with the Shu Han to first deliver Jiangxia County as reward, and then send troops north from Jiangdong.
As for the "delivery" method, Zhou Yu has also thought about it.
Anyway, the two families are now only having a truce, not an armistice. Therefore, at this time, Soochow can find an excuse to expel Deng Zhi and make it look like the two families are falling out.
Then Soochow sent a navy to attack Jiangxia. At that time, Jiangxia's Wenpin could have led the Jiangxia army and navy to retreat to Xiangyang along the Han River, in a posture of defeat and retreat.
In this way, not only could Soochow Wu take over Jiangxia County, but Wenpin and his troops would retreat to Xiangyang without attracting the attention of Cao Wei. This would help the Shu Han side concentrate their forces in Xiangyang and provide cover.
Of course, there is the most important point - once Sun and Liu fight again, Cao Wei will definitely choose to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight, and his defense against the Shu army in Xiangyang will be lowered.
At that time, the Jingzhou Shu army suddenly went north to attack Wancheng, which would also have an unexpected effect.
As for Soochow's dispatch of troops, they can also benefit from this.
It is unlikely that Cao Wei expected that the fight between Wu and Shu in Jingzhou was just a show, nor did they believe that Soochow had the ability to fight on two fronts. Therefore, when the drama began, Zhou Yu suggested that Sun Quan could launch an attack on the eastern front. , came out of Huainan and caught Cao Wei by surprise.
Zhou Yu even had a target in mind - Runan controlled by Cao Xiu.
Jia Kui of Pengcheng had an excellent strategy and was cautious. It was really difficult to find a breakthrough. But Cao Xiu of Runan was different.
Cao Xiu's ability is indeed not bad, but he is too aggressive. As long as the reason given is suitable, even if he knows that there is a scam, he may still jump in just to take a gamble that he can win. This is what Soochow can do Something to take advantage of.
And if Soochow can successfully leave Huainan, enter Yuzhou, and even capture Runan, then cooperate with Lu Xun of Xiapi, Xu Sheng of Guangling, Yanzhou, and even Xuchang will be at their fingertips.
At that time, Soochow will be able to directly open the passage to Luoyang. It is still unknown who will occupy the Central Plains first.
This is what Zhou Yu could think of in a short period of time to maximize Sun Quan's interests.
To be honest, this strategy is possible, but it is also very difficult.
Anyway, Zhang Zhao immediately felt that this was impossible after hearing this.
First of all, the first one is hard to pass - Shu Han is not stupid, we have broken the alliance twice in a row, why do you ask Shu Han to believe some of our private promises? !
Aren't you afraid that we will take advantage of the acting opportunity to really march from Jiangxia to seize Jiangling and even the entire Jingzhou? !
Even true allies may not dare to take this kind of risk, let alone us and Shu Han, we can only be regarded as temporary partners who are at odds with each other.
Furthermore, it’s not like Cao Wei doesn’t have talented people. This strategy of destroying Guo in a false way and attacking in the east can only deceive people like Cao Xiu. If there are talented people in Cao Wei who see through this plan, they won’t care how we act. Strengthen border defense. No matter how well you perform this play, you may not be able to achieve any decent results.
Therefore, Zhang Zhao raised an objection, and Sun Quan was actually confused about this, thinking that Zhou Yu's approach was a bit too childish.
Zhou Yu had no choice but to sit silently and wait for the opportunity.
When Sun Quan saw that Zhou Yu had stopped talking, he thought that Zhou Yu also felt that there were too many variables, so he gave up the strategy. He turned around and asked Sun Shao, Lu Ji, Bu Zhi, Gu Yong and others if they had any good ideas.
But obviously, even Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu can't come up with any good ideas. What good ideas can these four come up with? !
This meeting will not come to any conclusion.
Even Sun Quan accepted it somewhat. Seeing that no one had a better way, he thought that if it didn't work out, he would reject the Shu Han's request and rely on the natural dangers of the Yangtze River to separate one side. It was not an unacceptable option.
In this way, Sun Quan announced the adjournment of the meeting and dismissed the close ministers who came to attend the meeting. But soon, Sun Quan discovered that Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao were still sitting in their seats, motionless after the meeting was adjourned.
Sun Quan understood immediately, and the other civil and military ministers, seeing the posture of these two, also understood what should go and what should stay.
When only Sun Quan, Zhou Yu, and Zhang Zhao were left in the entire palace, Zhou Yu finally spoke out what was truly in his heart.
This time, Zhou Yu planned to go out in person to communicate with the Shu Han side, and also planned to personally lead the army into Jiangxia and march on the eastern front. Zhou Yu recommended Lu Xun as the commander-in-chief to attack Runan.
If Lu Xun's advance goes smoothly and Cao Wei is unprepared, he can quickly occupy Runan, advance to Xuchang, and threaten Yanzhou.
If Lu Xun's advance does not go smoothly and Cao Wei strictly guards the eastern border, then let Lu Xun retreat when he sees the opportunity without having to fight forcefully.
At this time, Zhou Yu, who was stationed in Jiangxia, would activate the second option of the entire plan - to take the opportunity to march west to Jiangling, or even go upstream to capture Xiangyang.
This is Zhou Yu's complete strategic plan.
No matter which choice is made, Soochow will not suffer a loss.
The only thing that was lost here was probably the reputation that Zhou Yu had accumulated for half a lifetime.
(End of chapter)
