Chapter 74: Waiting for Someone

Although Liu Xie appeared calm as he sat, beneath the table his fists were already clenched, preparing for anything—what if Sun Ce was here to attack him? Yet Zhou Yu, who knew Sun Ce intimately, sensed something different. The moment Sun Ce slowly stood, Zhou Yu exhaled a long, pent-up breath he had dared not release.

The silence lingered, but the mood among the three had shifted dramatically. After rising, Sun Ce walked over to Liu Xie’s desk. Contrary to Liu Xie’s expectations of a brash youth who might suddenly throw a punch, Sun Ce simply saluted him gently.

Was this a new tactic? Starting with manners, then following with violence?

Liu Xie pondered inwardly, still doing his best to maintain a cheerful facade, but his hands remained tense and ready. It was a risky move, but given his current sorry state, if he didn’t take such chances, what use would he have in Jiangdong? In no time, even the few women by his side would be lost.

“Your Majesty, your words are like a draught of clarity. Even Gongjin would not dare enlighten me so boldly.”

Saying this, Sun Ce shot an airy glance at Zhou Yu, who was watching the exchange. Zhou Yu blinked innocently, thinking, “Is this my fault? If I were the lord, a couple of kicks would wake you up to everything.”

With a sigh, Liu Xie finally relaxed his fists beneath the table, swallowing quietly as relief washed over him. Indeed, he wanted Sun Ce to understand that striving for supremacy in the Central Plains was not just an empty slogan to be shouted whenever one wished to prove their ambition.

For Sun Ce, he certainly had aspirations, but forging an alliance with Liu Biao and then marching on the Central Plains was, in Liu Xie’s view, a path to doom.

“Since you, Bofu, acknowledge my words, let me say a bit more. Liu Biao once claimed to unite with Yuan Shao against Cao Cao, but when Yuan Shao and Cao Cao truly clashed at Guandu, Liu Biao feigned deafness. Even if he had sent thirty thousand troops, the outcome at Guandu would have been different. Is such an ally what you desire, Bofu?”

Sun Ce took a moment to digest Liu Xie’s words, then nodded again.

Liu Biao was a dignified and courteous man, famed as one of the “Eight Talents,” who governed Jingzhou with prosperity and honored scholars—a refreshing figure among the warlords of the late Han. Yet, these appearances masked his lack of ambition and duplicity; he always sought to maintain stability with minimal effort, merely proclaiming slogans. Such men were often the bane of their allies.

“Your Majesty means… if we wish to march on the Central Plains, we must first take Liu Biao?”

After several exchanges, Sun Ce finally spoke, realizing that Liu Xie was not provoking him, but truly awakening him. It seemed Liu Xie’s real goal was to urge him to attack Liu Biao.

“I do not believe in the so-called interdependence of lips and teeth. When I was in Xuchang, was I not supposed to share that bond with Cao Cao? Yet what I gained was five years of darkness. Jiangdong and Liu Biao are no different.”

At this moment, Liu Xie fully embodied the young man once confined in the palace by Cao Cao; his eyes seemed almost to spit fire. Regardless, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, being of similar age, understood his meaning.

“How would we fight? Liu Biao commands at least a hundred thousand troops, with formidable naval forces. Warfare in the Jianghan region is not like the Central Plains; if our navy cannot gain the upper hand, it will be difficult to defeat him.”

Clearly, Zhou Yu had considered this issue. Upon Liu Xie’s confirmation that Liu Biao should be the target, he immediately voiced his concerns. Jiangdong had indeed grown strong in recent years, and Sun Ce’s campaigns had forged elite troops. Yet, as newcomers, they lacked the depth and foundation, revealing shortcomings in naval strength compared to Liu Biao’s well-rested forces, both in equipment and numbers.

Moreover, many of Jiangdong’s civil and military officials were closely connected with Liu Biao’s men. All knew that while Liu Biao was reluctant to fight, it did not mean he was incapable. He frequently dispatched tens of thousands of troops to attack neighboring towns, partly to train his soldiers and partly to assert his authority, letting the world know that provoking him brought no benefit.

“Gongjin should know that taking Jingzhou and attacking Liu Biao are not the same thing.”

With this air of mystery, Liu Xie’s words prompted Sun Ce and Zhou Yu to sink into deep thought.

The young Sun Ce understood that strategy often yielded the best results with minimal cost, but he believed establishing his authority in Jiangdong required military force, which was why he fought his way to unify the region. Now, hearing Liu Xie’s words, he suddenly felt he ought to consider his soldiers’ welfare; after so many battles, Sun Ce had grown weary, for death was inevitable, win or lose.

“There is indeed a deep connection between Jiangdong and Jingzhou. We know Liu Biao well, and infiltrating his court would not be difficult. But if so, this is not something accomplished in a year or two. It took us more than two years just to bring Your Majesty from Xuchang to Jiangdong, during which Zhang Hong remained in Xuchang throughout. Without the Battle of Guandu, who knows when we would have had the chance?”

The matter of Zhang Hong’s mission to Xuchang was actually Zhou Yu’s plan for Sun Ce and had achieved unprecedented success, inspiring Zhou Yu further. Thus, when Liu Xie mentioned using strategy, Zhou Yu immediately considered long-term infiltration, and given Jingzhou’s geography and relations with Jiangdong, the likelihood of success was high.

“I have already begun to plan for such opportunities, but as I said, success depends on fate. Everything is prepared, but whether it comes to pass is up to Heaven!”

“Your Majesty has already begun planning?”

When had he planned? Since his arrival, had he not been wandering the markets, drinking, feasting, and enjoying women?

Liu Xie’s every move was monitored by Sun Ce—though not as excessively as Cao Cao, he at least knew Liu Xie had done little serious work, except being compelled to respond when Sun Ce sought him out.

“Of course it was not planned in these past few days. Did I not tell you, Bofu? We must wait for news about a certain person after the battle between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. Whether he comes or not makes all the difference.”

“Wait for a certain person?” Zhou Yu, not privy to earlier discussions between Liu Xie and Sun Ce, was thoroughly confused.

“Your Majesty refers to… him?”