novelAbuy Chapter 55: Saving Zhuge's family and conquering Yuzhang – a huge profit!
Chapter 55: Saving Zhuge's family and conquering Yuzhang – a huge profit!
[System Log: The host has guided Zhuge Jin to join their faction. Today's achievement +1.]
Lu Su led Zhuge Jin through two streets and alleys to a secluded courtyard.
Although the courtyard is small, it has everything you need.
There is a main house, two side rooms, a small courtyard, and an old tree in the courtyard.
Lu Su pushed open the courtyard gate, stepped aside to invite Zhuge Jin in, and said:
"Ziyu, this is the courtyard that the lord left for Guo Fengxiao."
But Fengxiao only wants to stay by the strategist's side, so you can stay in this courtyard.
The main advantage is that this place is next to the granary and close to the agricultural settlement, making it convenient for you to travel for official business in the future.
"Why does Guo Fengxiao only want to stay by the strategist's side? Is it to learn from him?" Zhuge Jin asked curiously.
"Of course...no!" Lu Su shook his head and said, "It's just to pester the strategist for a drink."
"..." Zhuge Jin's lips twitched, and he stopped asking questions.
He followed Lu Su into the courtyard and then looked around.
Zhuge Jin felt a little guilty and said, "Brother Zijing, I have just arrived and have already been given the position of captain and this courtyard."
As the saying goes, "One should not accept a reward without merit..."
Lu Su waved his hand and laughed, "Don't worry, the strategist will definitely have a lot of things to arrange for you."
Zhuge Jin sighed, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, my lord, and thank you, strategist and Brother Zijing."
No sooner had he finished speaking than hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.
Lu Yong strode in.
Seeing Lu Yong's anxiety, Lu Su couldn't help but ask, "Huai'an, what happened?"
Lu Yong walked up to Zhuge Jin and lowered his voice, saying, "Ziyu, I just received news from my scouts that your uncle is the governor of Yuzhang County."
"Yes, my uncle wrote to me before the New Year, and I already know about it," Zhuge Jin replied.
"But the court appointed a new governor of Yuzhang, Zhu Hao, to take over Yuzhang."
Zhu Hao was a native of Yuzhang, a prominent gentry family. Given the imperial decree, the gentry and powerful families of Yuzhang would likely no longer support Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Jin's expression changed slightly.
He had previously received a letter from Zhuge Xuan.
He told him that he had become the governor of Yuzhang and that he could come to him for help if he encountered any difficulties.
The letter made no mention of the court appointing another prefect.
But Lu Yong shouldn't be so foolish as to deceive himself.
"Uncle is not knowledgeable in military affairs, nor does he have his own troops." Zhuge Jin's voice was a little tense. "If Zhu Hao really borrows the power of the local powerful families in Yuzhang County, I'm afraid Uncle will not be able to defend Yuzhang."
Lu Yong reached out and patted his shoulder, comforting him, "Don't worry, Ziyu, you are already our family."
When a family member's family member is in trouble, how can we stand idly by?
I have already informed my lord, and he will send men to rescue your uncle's family.
Lu Su, standing to the side, seemed to have some understanding.
He suddenly spoke, his tone tinged with amusement, "Huai'an, how many people do you plan to send?"
Lu Yong held up five fingers.
Zhuge Jin was delighted: "Five hundred men are enough!"
Lu Yong shook his head.
"?"
"Five thousand!"
"Five thousand?!" Zhuge Jin's eyes widened. "Strategist, why do we need five thousand men to save my uncle's family?"
As soon as he said it, he suddenly realized what he had said.
Lu Yong sent out 5,000 men, probably not just to save his uncle's family.
Lu Yong's scheme was far more ambitious than he had imagined.
Zhuge Jin stared at Lu Yong, then said, slowly and deliberately, "Strategist... do you intend to take Yuzhang Commandery?"
Lu Yong didn't hide anything and said frankly, "Ziyu, your uncle was appointed as the Prefect of Yuzhang by Yuan Shu, but the court did not recognize him and sent Zhu Hao to seize him."
Yuan Shu is currently focused on Cao Cao and Liu Yao, and is probably neither able nor willing to rescue Master Zhuge.
Lu Yong's words were somewhat blunt, but they were the coldest truth.
"Yuan Shu's core territory was Huainan."
Zhuge Xuan's territory, Yuzhang, was located south of the Yangtze River and west of Danyang.
It is separated by the two prefectures of Lujiang and Jiujiang.
If Yuan Shu wanted to send troops from Shouchun to relieve Yuzhang, he would need to first go down to Jiujiang and then cross the Yangtze River.
Upon entering Yuzhang, they would then face the logistical nightmare of the water-rich and mountainous terrain of Jiangnan.
For Yuan Shu, Yuzhang was an exclave within an exclave.
He hadn't even fully integrated Lujiang and Jiujiang, let alone remotely control Yuzhang.
Send Mr. Zhuge to take up his post.
I was just hoping to get something for free.
It's just a convenient way to do someone a favor.
After hearing Lu Yong's words, Zhuge Jin was on the verge of collapse.
After his father died, Zhuge Xuan lived with his family.
If Zhuge Xuan had been defeated by Zhu Hao, he might have lost all his family members.
Seeing that Zhuge Jin was somewhat anxious, Lu Yong quickly spoke up:
"Yuan Shu doesn't care, but we can't just sit idly by."
Yuzhang is located to the left of Danyang. We cannot allow it to be controlled by the court maintained by Li Jue, otherwise it will be like Liu Yao to Yuan Shu, a constant threat.
Therefore, I discussed with my lord that we should take this opportunity to use the pretext of Ziyu rescuing his relatives to eliminate Zhu Hao and the powerful clans behind him, and completely occupy Yuzhang County!
As for Yuan Shu...
Our ally's governor has been bullied, so sending troops to help him is perfectly justified.
Upon hearing this, Lu Su couldn't help but laugh out loud: "What a perfectly legitimate excuse! You're just trying to poach Yuan Shu's men right in front of him?"
Lu Yong didn't take it seriously: "Yuan Shu has plenty of ally-to-be; it doesn't matter if he poaches one or two more."
After laughing for a while, Lu Su said seriously, "But who are you planning to send?"
We are currently facing a severe shortage of manpower.
General Zhao was stationed in Dangtu, while Wen Xiang was on his way to retrieve Guzhang.
General Guan and General Zhang are still escorting the people north of the river.
"And Gongyi!" Lu Yong said, "Gongyi is brave but not reckless, calm and magnanimous."
Moreover, his online army is now quite large.
"Yuzhang is located by the river; having a naval force there would make operations much easier."
"Jiang Gongyi is indeed suitable," Lu Su nodded slightly in agreement.
Lu Yong turned to Zhuge Jin and asked, "Ziyu, would you please write a personal letter explaining the situation? We will send someone to deliver the letter to Mr. Zhuge in advance to contact him secretly and formulate a follow-up plan."
Zhuge Jin had already understood.
Lu Yong wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to directly bring the southern part of Yuzhang under his control.
The area was sparsely populated, with few Han Chinese and many mountains. Yuan Shu was powerless to do anything about it, which benefited Liu Bei—no, his own lord.
"I admire your strategy, strategist!" Zhuge Jin bowed deeply, his tone filled with admiration.
Clearly, he had approved of Lu Yong's plan.
Lu Yong laughed and said, "This is a gift from heaven, Ziyu!"
If it weren't for your timely arrival, it would have been much more difficult for us to take over Yuzhang.
After we quell Zhu Hao and the gentry of Yuzhang, we will bring your family over.
Now that we're here, our safety is guaranteed, and Ziyu, you can confidently unleash all your skills.
Although Zhuge Jin was slightly used, compared to the sincerity shown by Liu Bei, this scheming was nothing.
Moreover, his uncle Zhuge Xuan left Langya to escape the war.
Wouldn't it be better to come to Liu Bei's place, which is more stable and prosperous?
Lu Yong helped Zhuge Jin up and said, "There's no time to lose, I'll go arrange the rescue right away."
Familiarize yourself with the account books first, and feel free to ask Zijing if you have any questions.
"Please deliver the handwritten letter to Mr. Zhuge by the day after tomorrow."
"Yes." Zhuge Jin responded again before straightening up.
Lu Su suddenly spoke up to remind him:
"We also need to inform Yuan Shu, so he doesn't lose face. We can send Xianhe and Gongyou to Shouchun with some treasures and the fine wine you brewed."
We told them that we had heard that our ally's governor was in trouble and were willing to send troops to help.
Lu Yong nodded hurriedly and said, "Zijing is so thoughtful. I'll leave this matter to you."
After saying that, Lu Yong ran off in a flash without waiting for Lu Su's reply.
"Strategist, this is..." Zhuge Jin.
"The strategist is different from ordinary people; he will never hold onto anything that can be delegated."
"..." Lu Su and Zhuge Jin.