CHAPTER 1107: CHAPTER 1063: MORE PEOPLE ARRIVED

Lu Yu’s words were reasonable and well-crafted. At the very least, Zhou Yu couldn’t find any fault with them. From Sun Ce’s previous eavesdropping, it was clear that the other party belonged to a very noble family, and this was an era that highly valued face and connections.

The aristocratic families wouldn’t mind giving someone they found agreeable a house or a group of maids. Of course, if commoners starved to death, they would pretend not to see it.

Zhou Yu and Sun Ce left the next day after arranging the land deed and the people to care for Zhou Tai. It could be said that if Lu Xun hadn’t guessed their identities, the entire affair would have been seamless.

"Aren’t you going to ask Prefect Wang for help?" Lu Yu asked, standing behind Lu Xun, watching Zhou Yu and Sun Ce leave.

"Do you think I could take down those two guys?" Lu Xun replied breezily, "Grudges can be forgotten, but favors need to be repaid. For the Lul Family, repaying a favor is far more important than seeking revenge."

After speaking, Lu Xun descended from the city wall. Zhou Yu was too cautious; if he had lingered for three days, Lu Xun might have had a way to capture them, but Zhou Yu had no intention of staying.

[But that’s fine, repay the favor first, and the grudge can be dealt with when the time is right.] Lu Xun thought silently, while Lu Yu laughed and also followed him down the city wall.

Lu Yu had also considered how to eliminate Zhou Yu and Sun Ce, but unfortunately, without the suppression of a large army and without military generals of the same caliber in Fenggao, provoking them would cause immense destruction, a move that would be unwise.

Lu Yu, Lu Xun, and Ma Zhong didn’t stay long in Mount Tai. Three days later, the three rode their horses to Ye City, and the little old man they met on the way out left a deep impression on them.

"Zijia, why does your face look so gray..." Lu Xun asked, looking at Lu Yu’s pale face.

"That guy’s medicinal smell rivals Old Man Hua’s. I think I have a fear of herbs," Lu Yu said, looking back at the old man who was looking around after entering Fenggao.

"What?" Lu Xun asked, puzzled.

"Let’s go, let’s go. I hate that smell." Covering his face, Lu Yu rode off. After being tormented by Hua Tuo’s medicine once, Lu Yu completely loathed such things; he preferred to keep his distance if possible.

On the other side, witnessing the bustling Fenggao, Zhang Zhongjing felt emotional. After his best experimental subject was taken away by Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, he had no choice but to chase after it. It was an irreplaceable experimental subject, and he felt that with another half-year of research, he might be able to save Zhou Tai. However, before he could convey this message to Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, Zhou Tai was taken away by the two of them.

Zhang Zhongjing wasn’t a fool. If he couldn’t cure the disease, and yet Sun Ce and Zhou Yu had confidence in finding someone else, it was obvious who they would approach—Hua Tuo, the only one in the world renowned for miraculous healing.

Naturally, for top-notch experimental equipment, Zhang Zhongjing directly traveled from Lujiang to Mount Tai. As for how he made the journey, important figures like Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing couldn’t be monitored all the time. If they wanted to slip away, they would manage it cautiously.

Although Zhang Zhongjing didn’t have Powder for Anesthesia, he had plenty of medicine that could make people pass out. The guards protecting Zhang Zhongjing were unprepared and fell into a daze, and this grand master left with his medicine chest.

When he arrived under Liu Bei’s rule, a talent like Zhang Zhongjing didn’t have to worry. Although he lacked official registration and could potentially be detained at any time, there was no concern. He was there to locate his research materials; even if captured, he would eventually be released. Although the Zhang Family’s fame wasn’t as great as Hua Tuo’s, it wasn’t insignificant, and verifying his identity was quite easy.

"Excuse me, where is Physician Hua?" Zhang Zhongjing started asking around as soon as he arrived in Fenggao.

But before long, Zhang Zhongjing, who was inquiring everywhere, was taken away by Wang Xiu’s people. After spending several days confirming the grand master’s identity, he was settled next to Hua Tuo’s residence. Fortunately, Huang Yueying had gone to Ye City, freeing up a room; otherwise, Qu Qi would have to move again, as he currently hated doctors.

Chen Xi, who was in Ye City, was completely unaware of these events. After the last research meeting concluded, Xu Shu was transferred back. After another round of military reorganization with Wei Yan and Huang Zhong, they prepared to head to the border between Youzhou and Jizhou to strategically threaten Yuan Tan, forcing him to withdraw from Youzhou.

However, before Xu Shu’s two corps even approached Jizhou, startling intelligence came from Youzhou.

Gongsun Du, who had previously been advancing triumphantly, suffered a grave defeat, with fifty thousand troops kneeling in Youbeiping.

In such a situation, Liu Bei had to urgently halt the current pressure plan, though he couldn’t help cursing Gongsun Du for not being up to the task. Youzhou was so defenseless that it posed little threat to the North, yet Gongsun Du still managed to fail.

"Wen He, what happened with Gongsun Shengji? Wasn’t everything going fine before? Wasn’t he about to reach Yuyang? How did he suddenly lose the battle?" At this moment, Chen Xi couldn’t maintain his composure.

"Gongsun Shengji initially had the upper hand, and Youzhou was indeed defenseless, allowing him to triumph continuously. But when he reached Youbeiping, there were issues with the grain supply lines," Jia Xu said with a wry smile.

"How could there be issues? The entire sea route is frozen; transport the grain directly by sea! The sea is full of paths, and even if Sheni Pei defied the heavens, he couldn’t possibly block the transport convoy in such an endless expanse!" Chen Xi said incredulously. "I can’t believe Gongsun Shengji didn’t prepare defenses in Liaoxi!"

"Defenses were prepared, but the disasters this year affected more than just the Xianbei," Jia Xu remarked briefly, and everyone understood.

"Fuyu, Goguryeo, the Three Hann States, Cenmok?" Chen Xi said with some displeasure. "Gongsun Shengji should have been cautious. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have firmly held Liaodong. How could he make such a mistake? Even if his base was raided, it shouldn’t be to this extent!"

"In Liaodong Commandery, although there was collusion with the Yuan Clan, those forces hadn’t yet been subdued at that time. Each had their own agendas, so only the grain supply was cut off. Gongsun Shengji was on a winning streak back then and didn’t use the grain sent from Liaodong, so he had the resources to send some troops back to support Liaodong. However, the remaining forces in Youzhou continued their victories, but the plundered grain was insufficient," Jia Xu explained, shaking his head. The situation was quite bizarre!

Jia Xu then described Gongsun Du’s circumstances in detail. Under his narration, the civil and military officials were left speechless. This strategy was, to put it plainly, akin to pulling up a ladder after climbing onto the roof. But unlike the typical strategy, this method played into the psychological notions of luck.

Unfortunate Gongsun Du, like Gongsun Zan, lost the battle thinking they had an absolute advantage! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it. Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)