Translator: ryangohsff Editor: Nora
2nd month, 6th day, 8th day of the Chinese New Year, Shanhai City.
To the people of the city, one would only be considered to have crossed the New Year after the lantern festival. Hence, although the officials had started working, the city was still filled with the festive spirit and was bustling with excitement.
Apart from Baiqi and the other marshals who had come back to Shanhai City for Chinese New Year, some generals also used the holiday to come back to visit their families.
For example, Nanjiang Navy Fleet Admiral Zhou Yu.
After the Battle of Red Cliff ended, the famous beauty of the Three Kingdoms Era Xiao Qiao appeared together with Zhou Yu. They were given a mansion, and their close relationship was the envy of many.
Helplessly, Zhou Yu could only spend two months in Shanhai City before rushing back to Beihai Bay Squadron for his appointment.
Although the two lands were only separated by a canyon, the military had its rules after all. Zhou Yu was also newly appointed and needed to prove himself. As such, even though he missed his wife, he could not return.
This wait lasted all the way till the Chinese New Year holidays.
Zhou Yu had already ended his holiday on the 5th day and returned to Beihai City. Who knew that on the 7th, the Military Affairs Bureau would send the military reorganization plan to all Legion General level generals?
The Beihai Bay Squadron was renamed as the Nanjiang Squadron and would move over to Zhenhai City. Based on this plan, the squadron would be unable to return to Shanhai City in a long time.
Learning that, Zhou Yu immediately returned to Shanhai City. First, he took the chance to meet Admiral Zheng He, who had not left yet. Second, he took the chance to say goodbye to his wife.
In history, Zhou Yu pampered and cared for his wife a lot. Seeing that they were going to be separated, Xiao Qiao immediately cried, making one pity her.
At this very moment, a soldier came to report to Zhou Yu, “The Monarch summons you!”
Xiao Qiao was stunned as hope appeared in her eyes, “Husband, maybe the Monarch has other plans for you?” Maybe she was affected by the whole issue, and she was not the calm and smart Xiao Qiao she usually was.
Zhou Yu naturally understood his wife’s feelings and smiled gently, “Wife, I’ll go now.”
When he arrived at the Governor-General Manor, he saw Xu Chu standing outside and became speechless, his eyes staring widely. Both of them were enemies before this but now they served the same master; things were just so unpredictable.
Zhou Yu did not dare to treat Xu Chu lightly.
Not mentioning other things, he was one of the great men of the Three Kingdoms. Even as an opponent, Zhou Yu respected Xu Chu’s skills. Just his current position as the commander of the Divine Martial Guards and Personal Guards Captain was a high one.
Zhou Yu smiled, “General Xu is the Monarch here? He summoned me; please inform him.”
Xu Chu took a step to the side, “General please enter; the Monarch is waiting in the reading room.”
Zhou Yu once again cupped his fists and walked in; his actions were truly elegant. When Xu Chu, this brutish man saw Zhou Yu’ actions, he wanted to laugh because he was not used to it.
Once he entered the reading room, Zhou Yu noticed that the Monarch was going through some memorials, so he did not dare to disturb. He silently stood at a corner and looked over. He noticed that at a small table placed at his right hand seat, a young woman was dealing with the memorials.
Looking at her fresh looks, Zhou Yu could not help but be impressed. Seeing that this was the Monarch’s reading room, this lady must be someone close to the Monarch. Zhou Yu immediately kept his eyes to himself and just quietly stood there.
On the other hand, Ouyang Shuo had noticed Zhou Yu’s arrival long ago. However, he was going through a memorial and wanted to finish addressing it first. As such, he did not greet him and just continued to make a few brushes with his ink brush.
After entering the game for three years and going through countless memorials, not mentioning others aspects, just his calligraphy skills had grown better.
Ouyang Shuo raised his head and smiled, “Zhou Yu you’re here! Men, bring a seat!”
Zhou Yu cupped his fists and said solemnly, “I’ve been summoned by you.” As he spoke, he sat on the chair brought in by Xu Chu but did not dare to fully sit down. He only sat halfway on the seat to show his respect to the Monarch.
Tsing Yi also returned to her senses and started to curiously judge Zhou Yu.
In the eyes of the players, Zhou Yu was a super idol, loved by all.
Ouyang Shuo did not go right to the topic. Instead, he used the chance to talk about the Nanjiang Squadron as well as his plans and hopes for the Nanjiang Squadron.
Since receiving the military reorganization plan, Zhou Yu had started to think about how to fulfill the strategic goals of the leadership meeting to form the new position of the Nanjiang Squadron.
The more they talked, the more engrossed they got into the topic, and their ideas all matched perfectly.
As expected from Zhou Yu, toward the construction of the navy, especially the inland navy, he had a unique understanding. Some of his thoughts even impressed Ouyang Shuo.
“Great.” Ouyang Shuo’s smile grew even wider, “With you leading the Nanjiang Squadron, I’ll be at ease.”
Zhou Yu cupped his fists.
Ouyang Shuo changed the topic, and finally arrived at the main reason he summoned Zhou Yu for, “After coming to the territory, do you still come into contact with Pang Tong?”
Zhou Yu was stunned; he did not understand what the Monarch was going at and could only answer truthfully, “Yes, I actually contact him occasionally.”
When he said those words, Zhou Yu felt a little uneasy.
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Pang Tong was an important advisor of the Shu Han Regime, and his position was similar to Zhu Geliang. Shanhai City and the Shu Han Regime were enemies, so was the Lord suspecting him?
The crime of treason was a heavy one.
Thinking back to the contents of their letters, they were all acceptable. After remembering this, Zhou Yu slightly relaxed.
Now, it was up to the magnanimity of the Monarch. If he was narrow minded, even without proof, he would start to ostracize him and not trust him.
Thinking back to what his wife said before he left, Zhou Yu felt a little bitter in his heart.
‘Was she right?’
In less than a minute, Zhou Yu’s head went through hundreds of scenarios.
However, he had overthought things.
No matter how suspicious Ouyang Shuo was of him, he would not think about betraying the Monarch and joining the Shu Han Regime.
The two of them were enemies.
However, this matter was right in front of him, and no one could possibly keep a calm heart in such a situation; especially to a newbie like Zhou Yu, who had not truly merged into the city’s system.
There was more or less a barrier between him and the Monarch.
That was no wonder. Ouyang Shuo was always busy with administrative matters. Moreover, after the Battle of Red Cliff, he was busy attacking Lingnan and Yunnan and did not have a chance to communicate with the Three Kingdoms generals.
Especially to the East Wu navy generals, their recruitment process was not glorious. In their hearts, they were still a little annoyed.
Their relationship was still pretty distant.
It was understandable that Zhou Yu would not able to read Ouyang Shuo’s mind.
Ouyang Shuo smiled and said, “Do not be worried. I’m just asking if you are able to invite Mister Pang Tong over to Shanhai City. If he comes over, he will definitely receive a high position.”
If a Lord wanted to destroy an imperial city, they could not expect to do so in one battle. Rather, they could only fight a slow and drawn out war.
Dali Imperial City temporarily did not have any regimes or dynasties in it, so Ouyang Shuo had no place to act. Hence, he could only target the Shu Han Regime. And the first step would be to dig at the cornerstones of the regime.
The Xiliang Five Horses leaving was the first example.
Now, Ouyang Shuo turned his attention to Pang Tong. Pang Tong was majorly trusted and recognized by Liu Bei, and he was one of the two most important advisors in his camp.
If he could drag him over, it would be like breaking Liu Bei’s arm.
In history, Pang Tong could be credited for helping Liu Bei take down Yizhou (different Yizhou).
Unfortunately, the heavens were jealous of geniuses, and when he led the troops to siege, he was killed amidst the arrows. He was only 36 at that itme and was post humorously awarded the rank title of Inner Pass Lord. The place he was buried at was also name as Fallen Phoenix Hill.
In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, they said that he was ambushed at the Fallen Phoenix hill and was buried there for that reason. This story was created to lower his status to further show Zhuge Liang’s importance.
Ouyang Shuo had invited Zhou Yu over to try and incite defection was not without reason.
First, according to the information that the Shanhai Guards had acquired, Pang Tong was not that happy in the regime. Although he was trusted by Liu Bei, he was getting suppressed by Zhuge Liang and could not show his skills.
It was not that he was worse off than Zhuge Liang. However, more than 80% of the officials fully supported Zhuge Liang. They could only blame Pang Tong for dying too early.
Most of the important officials that appeared in the wilderness in the Shu Han Regime were developed by Zhuge Liang after Liu Bei died. Hence, some of them only recognized the prime minister and not their majesty.
Other than Pang Tong, even Emperor Liu Bei was feeling uneasy. Zhuge Liang was used to controlling everything when he supported Liu Chan. Sometimes, he did not care about Liu Bei’s face.
There were rumors that Liu Bei wanted to support Pang Tong to wrestle power from Zhuge Liang. Helplessly, their efforts showed little result.
This was one of the reasons, but it was not the most important one – Zhou Yu had a close relationship with Pang Tong.
In real history, after the Battle of Red Cliff, Zhou Yu was the side general and was the south Prefecture Governor. Pang Tong, on the other hand, was given the title of South Prefecture Gongcao.
What was a Gongcao?
Based on the Han System, a Gongcao of a prefecture would play a part in all administrative matters. Hence, Pang Tong used to be the core assistant to Zhou Yu.
The two of them had a direct superior and subordinate relationship.
Pang Tong worked under Zhou Yu for two years until Zhou Yu died. There were no history books that said the two of them did not mesh well or that Pang Tong tried to work for others before Zhou Yu’s death.
The Three Kingdoms records Pang Tong memoirs even recorded: when Yu died, Tong participated in the funeral processions.
In ancient times, this was a massive ritual. Pang Tong attending the thousands of miles funeral made his attendance even more meaningful. Unless one was really close or really respected the late person, one would not have the right to participate.
Zhou Yu saying that the two still kept in contact undoubtedly proved this point.