Under Hu Ke's "incitement", Wushei finally agreed to become Jiangdong's agent and pass on information about Jiaozhou and Jingnan by traveling by boat.
Because the identity of Captain Hu Ke Moling could not be made public, he opened a trading firm in Jianye with the support of Sun Quan and became a big businessman in Jianye City.
There were many workshops in Guangzhou, and the products produced could not be digested locally, so Wushei continuously sent the excess items to Jianye for sale, and the profits were divided between Hu Ke Sanqi and Hu Ke.
Sun Quan was keen on having fun, but the expenditure of the general's palace was moderate. He would often cut back on his wife, concubines, and children due to a shortage of property. Since the establishment of Hu Ke's business, he had a wallet that could be withdrawn at any time.
Hu Ke was quick-witted and tactful, and gained Sun Quan's trust in a short period of time, making him feel like a fish in water.
In order to make Hu Ke surrender, Sun Quan suddenly summoned Hu Ke into the palace in early October.
After Hu Ke entered the room, he found that in addition to Zhang Zhao, there was another young man dressed as a Confucian scholar. He saw this man with delicate features and a majestic appearance, looking at him up and down.
When Sun Quan saw Hu Ke, he quickly pointed at the young man and introduced him: "Zecheng, let me introduce to you. This is Zhang Huishu, a young talent from Wu County. You should get to know him well."
"I have admired you for a long time." Hu Ke saluted with clasped fists.
"Nice to meet you." Zhang Wen cupped his hands and nodded gently.
"The Lord called me here because..." After Hu Ke and Zhang Wen finished their greetings, they looked at Sun Quan with puzzled faces, thinking that there has been no 'intelligence' recently. Could it be that they want to ask me to withdraw money again?
Sun Quan ignored Hu Ke, but looked at Zhang Wen and asked: "Look at him with kindness and forgiveness, what about Yu Zecheng?"
Zhang Wen nodded slightly, "He is quite talented, but he opened a trading firm in Jianye..."
Zhang Zhao, who was standing next to him, quickly added: "Zecheng was originally from a poor family in Jingzhao. He started doing business because of the war, but his lord thought highly of him. Mi Zizhong, Liu Bei's Anhan general, turned out to be a merchant from Donghai, Xuzhou. So don’t look down too low..."
"Lord, military advisor, what are you doing?" Monk Hu Kezhang was confused.
Sun Quan smiled and explained: "How can Zicheng be young and promising without a wife? Huishu has a gentle and virtuous sister. Now that she is 28 years old, she is waiting for a daughter-in-law. I would like to protect the matchmaker and let the Zhang family recruit you as my son-in-law. Zibu has already agreed with Huishu." My father, he said he came specially to see you today."
"Ah this..." Hu Ke was stunned.
Upon seeing this, Zhang Wen said calmly: "I am just checking for Third Sister. Both father and lord have agreed. Just follow the normal procedures to get married."
"Uh...thank you, lord...thank you, military advisor..." Hu Ke thanked Sun Quan and Zhang Zhao, and also paid tribute to his future brother-in-law, Zhang Wen.
Seeing the situation in front of him, Zhang Zhao couldn't help but feel a little envious of Hu Ke. Because the big families in Jiangdong were marrying each other and maintaining the influence of these families in the region all year round, it was very difficult for him to integrate as a Huaisi sect. His eldest son was also married to Zhuge Jin's daughter.
Sun Quan stroked his purple beard and nodded with a smile, "You go and get ready. I will be there in person to congratulate you."
"Thank you, Lord." Zhang Wen saluted with his fists clasped at the same time.
In the following time, Hu Ke prepared etiquette such as nacai, asking for names, naji, and nazheng, making the whole Jianye City quite lively. Everyone, including Sun Quan, was immersed in joy.
The happy time is always short-lived. Sun Quan suddenly received news from the north. Cao Cao raised troops again this winter and was setting off from Yecheng with great fanfare to go south to seek revenge from Jiangdong.
Sun Quan felt his eyelids jump, so he mobilized troops and horses to defend Ruxukou.
Originally, Cao Cao returned to Yecheng from Hanzhong to be crowned king, but then the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu Huchuquan came to the Wei Kingdom to pay homage. Cao Cao kept him in Yecheng as a high-ranking official with a generous salary, and selected Han officials to assist King Youxian in supervising the Xiongnu tribes. , divide and rule, the Huns' border troubles were pacified from then on.
At this time, Cao Cao really felt like he was ruling the world and all barbarians were coming to court. He was in a high position and viewed everything around him in harmony, until those "Yangtze River News" appeared like mushrooms after a rain.
First, celebrities from Jingxiang and Xiang began to complain in the Changjiang Newspaper. Later, a small number of people in Jiangdong also followed suit. The most outrageous one was Sun Quan's voice.
Cao Cao once wanted to have a son like Sun Zhongmou, but Sun Quan complained that Cao Cao was an eunuch. Because eunuchs have no ancestors, they forget their ancestors.
Cao Cao was so angry after reading the Yangtze River newspaper that he tore it into pieces and smashed it on the ground. The pain caused him to shake left and right without peace.
When the counselor Cheng Yu saw this, he asked curiously: "The Yangtze River News contains evil intentions. I have long advised the King of Wei to ignore it. I remember that when Yuan Shao sent Chen Lin to write a letter, the King of Wei was suffering from a headache at that time. Why could he tolerate it at that time? But now it looks like this?”
Cao Cao covered his head and waved his hands to explain: "Kong Zhang has beautiful articles. Reading beautiful articles is like drinking nectar. Why does it hurt your head? "Changjiang News" Liao Li and others are all mad dogs. What they say is vulgar and smells worse than excrement.. .”
"Sooner or later, these crazy students will die like you Zhengping. Why should the King of Wei trouble his mind with these incompetent Confucian scholars? Please take care of yourself..." Cheng Yu continued to advise.
"Hmph, it's just an incompetent Confucian scholar who retaliates. Sun Zhongmou actually insulted him. It really brings Sun Wentai's face into disgrace..." Cao Cao said angrily.
"Isn't it possible? Sun Quan is the lord of Jiangdong after all, how could he imitate a child and scold him in the newspaper regardless of his status?" Cheng Yu looked confused.
Cao Cao sneered: "Zhongde can't understand, and Gu can't understand even more. Since this son is so ignorant of current affairs, Gu is ready to raise an army of 300,000 to flatten Jiangdong."
Cheng Yu hurriedly advised: "As the saying goes, food and fodder should be sent before the troops and horses are used. Food and fodder for the 300,000-strong army needs time to be arranged. In addition, the soldiers have been very tired after these years of continuous battles..."
"The water army of Xuanwu Pond has been practicing for a long time, and they just happened to have a battle with Sun Quan at Ruxukou." Cao Cao's eyes were firm.
"How should food and grass management be done? This matter has been difficult to handle after Wen Ruo passed away..." Cheng Yu looked bitter.
When Cao Cao conquered Hanzhong, there was a shortage of food and grass, so he asked Cheng Yu, who was assisting Cao Pi in the rear, to raise food. However, Cheng Yu could not raise a single grain of food in the place where the Yingchuan gentry headed the family. In the end, he had no choice but to force the conquest of Yanzhou, his hometown. After loading the carts with the forcibly requisitioned grain, Cao Cao returned to Yecheng victorious.
"Don't worry, Zhongde. I have made arrangements for the food and fodder dispatch. You will go with my army to conquer Sun Quan." Cao Cao ordered.
"Wei." Cheng Yu lowered his head and held his hands.
In August of the 21st year of Jian'an, Cao Cao promoted Tingwei Zhong Yao to the position of prime minister of the Wei state, overseeing the government affairs of the state of Wei and being responsible for allocating grain and grass. This was his compromise with the Yingchuan gentry who were lying low.
In October, Cao Cao led 300,000 troops out of Yecheng to the south to attack Sun Quan. Along the way, the army covered the sky with mighty banners, and the news flew to the world like wings.
At the end of December, Fa Zheng, the prefect of Shu County, asked to see Liu Bei with information. He felt that the time had come to capture Hanzhong.
