Chapter 123: As Expected, There Is More to Follow

However, Sun Ce immediately dismissed this idea. Sun Shangxiang had been visiting his palace for some time, and it was impossible for Sun Ce to be unaware of the details. Had he been displeased, he would have intervened long ago.

Furthermore, during the banquet they attended that evening, Liu Xie clearly perceived from Sun Ce’s subtle expressions that he was quite supportive of Sun Shangxiang remaining there. Although there was no concrete proof, Liu Xie trusted his intuition.

Without hesitation, Liu Xie gave orders to the kitchen to prepare a lavish feast. While this was his forte, the era was somewhat lacking in seasonings. Yet, there was no shortage of high-quality ingredients; even with simple cooking methods, it was enough to produce dishes that would earn even Liu Xie’s praise. Liu Xie was not a man who liked to overcomplicate things; in his view, food, like women, should be valued for quality rather than quantity.

When Sun Ce appeared at the palace entrance with Zhou Yu and Zhang Hong, smiling, it was exactly half a stick of incense’s time before Liu Xie’s usual dinner hour—just enough time to walk from the gate to the dining hall.

"Grand Marshal, you truly are a master of time management! A model for us all, a model indeed!"

Liu Xie did not give Sun Ce a chance to ask what he meant by "master of time management," and after speaking, he led them inside.

More than an hour later, Liu Xie brought his satisfied guests to his study. It was plausible for Sun Ce to visit his sister and share a meal, but bringing Zhou Yu and Zhang Hong along for dinner was a bit unusual.

"Grand Marshal, does your visit today imply that there is some movement in Jingzhou?"

Liu Xie had long understood Sun Ce’s attitude toward him: he would only be informed of matters where he could be of use; news irrelevant to him was never shared.

Recently, the only thing that could prompt Sun Ce to come in person was Guan Yu. Sun Ce did not deny Liu Xie’s inquiry, merely nodding slightly.

"Guan Yu has left Xinye and is heading toward Wu Commandery. Barring any surprises, he will arrive within three days. His purpose is almost certainly to retrieve Lady Mi. Once she is taken away, no matter what happens in Jingzhou, it will be impossible for us to make Guan Yu serve Jiangdong. I came to see Your Majesty to see if you have any untapped strategies for this situation."

Sun Ce stated his purpose immediately—this was his style, one that had not changed even after years in a high position.

Hearing this, Liu Xie showed no surprise, as if he had been expecting this outcome.

"Grand Marshal, there is no need to go to such lengths for a mere Guan Yu. Even if we cannot secure his service for Jiangdong this time, it will have no impact on us. The people of Jiangdong are united, which is something neither Jingzhou nor the Central Plains can match. Whether it be Liu Biao, Cao Cao, or Yuan Shao, they all face the catastrophe of succession struggles behind them. We do not have that here in Jiangdong. Are these advantages not worth more than one little Guan Yu?"

Seeing Liu Xie analyze the situation in Jiangdong so thoroughly, Sun Ce smiled with a hint of pride. This was, after all, the foundation of his power—holding Jiangdong while looking toward the Central Plains. The regime in Jiangdong was remarkably stable, allowing him to sit quietly and wait for the vulnerabilities of other factions to emerge. He could afford to wait eight or ten years. But how old would Liu Biao and Cao Cao be in ten years? They certainly could not afford to wait.

"Your Majesty’s words are true, but Guan Yu is an unparalleled warrior. Since the opportunity exists, we must naturally strive for it. Moreover..."

At this point, Sun Ce glanced at Zhou Yu and Zhang Hong, clearly hesitating to reveal so much to Liu Xie. After a brief moment of hesitation, he decided to speak, as Liu Xie surely wanted Jiangdong to prosper. If Jiangdong were to falter, the Emperor himself would live in constant fear, risking a fate similar to his time in Xuchang. Thus, Sun Ce continued.

"I have discussed with Gongjin and the others that this matter regarding Guan Yu could involve not only Liu Bei but possibly Liu Biao as well. If we use this as a pretext to suddenly launch an attack on the Jingzhou navy, given our current strength in Jiangdong, it is not impossible to win. Your Majesty once said that if Jiangdong wishes to contend for the Central Plains, Jingzhou is a mountain that must be crossed. I have been pondering this lately. Rather than asking Liu Biao for passage, it would be better to make Jingzhou our own. If Cao Cao could defeat a larger force with a smaller one at Guandu, why can I, Sun Ce, not do the same?"

Sun Ce grew more animated as he spoke, clearly eager to compete with Cao Cao and see if he possessed similar capabilities.

"The Grand Marshal’s grand ambitions are, of course, admirable. If we could pacify Jingzhou using the Guan Yu affair, that would be the ideal outcome. However, you should understand the situation in Jingzhou. Liu Biao does not wish to start a war easily, which is why he has not intervened in the conflict between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. The Jingzhou navy is in the hands of Cai Mao, while Liu Biao’s most valued son, Liu Qi, is a thorn in Cai Mao’s side. Liu Bei’s arrival in Jingzhou and his status as a kinsman of the Liu clan—the actions of him and his subordinates must have long been under the watchful eyes of Cai Mao and his faction. Cai Mao surely has spies in Jiangdong; you must be aware of this. Do you think Cai Mao will remain indifferent to the matter of Guan Yu?"

Sun Ce was taken aback by the sudden mention of Cai Mao. He forgot to wonder how Liu Xie knew so much that he had never told him, focusing instead on the possibilities Liu Xie raised regarding Cai Mao.

"Your Majesty means that Cai Mao will use Guan Yu’s arrival to make things difficult for Liu Bei?"

"Not just difficult—he will use it to destroy Liu Bei, and Liu Qi as well."

Liu Xie said this with absolute certainty.

"And how does that involve Jiangdong? How does that help us keep Guan Yu?"

Clearly, Sun Ce still had not grasped the implications behind Liu Xie’s words—which was not his forte.

"That is only the first point. Secondly, if Cai Mao intends to frame Liu Bei, he will use Guan Yu’s arrival in Jiangdong as proof that Guan Yu is colluding with us. Guan Yu represents Liu Bei, and Liu Bei represents Liu Qi. Even if we ignore the affairs between them, any surprise attack on Jingzhou will become impossible."