Recommended Listening: [Admiral Zheng He – By Derek & Brandon Fiechter]
Despite his decision to set his observations aside, Sun Ce couldn't help but feel uneasy about his sworn brother's demeanour. Zhou Yu seemed to be in some form of discomfort when he knelt.
Was he injured? If so, he should not be kneeling to anyone in such a condition.
Sun Ce crouched beside his sworn brother, placing a concerned hand on his shoulder.
He lowered his voice before speaking to avoid unwanted ears. "Gēge, did you sustain any injuries before coming to Jian Ye? You seemed in discomfort when you knelt."
Zhou Yu found it ironic that his pride and arrogance, which made it difficult for him to kneel to Sun Jian, seemed to give off a different impression to Sun Ce.
As always, the young warlord was overly concerned about him.
'Nay, sweetheart,' Zhou Yu echoed in his mind, his expression dark when he turned to Sun Ce. 'An injury? Nothing would ever dare to even singe a single strand of hair on my head. I simply despise your bastard father too much to bend the knee to him. I would much rather die.'
"I am weary from riding," Zhou Yu answered instead, touching Sun Ce's arm to set him at ease. This time his touch was kind, warm even. "Do not be concerned with me. Court matters are of more importance."
Sun Jian's prying gaze followed the exchange between his son and the chief strategist. He couldn't quite fathom it yet, but there was something that stirred in his mind about the way the two of them engaged each other.
Almost as if he'd seen it before.
Sun Ce breathed a sigh of relief, like a heavy weight had been lifted off his chest. He rose again, this time, helping Zhou Yu to his feet.
The Chief strategist, also known as the feared demon hunter across the lands, briefly introduced himself to the ministers and generals present.
Some he'd communicated with often and experienced joint expeditions with; hence, they were familiar with him, while others were wary due to his ill reputation.
Accompanying him from his troops was a general of Wu who had been at his side since his teen years.
Cheng Pu. The man who bravely faced off against the mysterious demon in their previous lifetime, even if it ended with his death and defeat.
"I did not think Wu would ever have your allegiance again, Cheng Pu," Sun Jian stated with an unsettling laugh. "You have spent your days alongside Gōngjǐn more than you have served Wu. We had begun to assume that your loyalty was pledged elsewhere."
Cheng Pu's face hardened with something that was either frustration or a forced smile. No one could ever decipher the emotions on the man's face.
"Nay, Grand General, my loyalty to Wu is iron, and my friendship to the Chief Strategist is steel," Cheng Pu answered, bowing his head respectfully. "I would not trade one for the other."
"Admirable," came Sun Jian's curt reply. "But enough of the pleasantries. Let us proceed with the important matters."
Sun Jian gestured to a large stone table in the middle of the court hall. On it lay a detailed and marked map of the Han Empire, pinned by carved stones marking enemy movement.
The famous Tiger of Jiangdong, Sun Jian, came down from his ornate chair to stand at the head of the stone table. Other generals followed on either side of the table, with Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu and Sun Ce standing at the end of it.
"Dong Zhuo, the Han court's most powerful minister, has seized the capital of Luoyang," Sun Jian announced, tapping his finger on the marked area on the map. "He's abducted the young emperor and now burns the capital to root out opposition."
Sun Quan, younger than his brother Sun Ce by three years, added, "In response to this, a coalition (temporary alliance) is forming between Wu, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu; even Cao Cao has offered his blade. The question is, do we strike the capital or protect our own?"
Zhou Yu's gaze darkened upon the mention of those political figures. As he recalled, each and every one of them proved to be rather problematic in the future.
However, despite holding the knowledge of the past, Zhou Yu was strictly forbidden from drastically interfering with the events of history. He'd attempted it once before in another lifetime and paid the price for it dearly.
Beside him, Sun Ce seemed to take initiative. At his age, he was already bold and well-respected; hence, his opinion was valued.
"The longer we delay, the more power Dong Zhuo gathers," Sun Ce interjected, crossing his arms over his broad chestplate. "His ranks are enforced by Li Jue and Guo si, both known for their mad bloodlust. If we allow the capital to fall entirely, we lose Heaven's Mandate."
Ah yes. Heaven. The self-claiming celestial bastards who supposedly wield the very reins of existence in their hands yet are somehow powerless to alter fate.
"And do not forget Lu Bu," another General spoke, one that Zhou Yu fought alongside on many occasions. "That hungry war beast fighting under Dong Zhuo's banner will be the death of us if we do not tread lightly."
Lu Bu was a name feared even among the bravest of dynast warriors. His brute nature and unrivalled skills would eventually be passed down in legend.
His was a name parents used to frighten their children into obedience.
A few murmured in agreement with Sun Ce, but Zhou Yu stood calmly in the rear. His moon-white robes shimmered faintly under the candlelight as he stepped forward.
"Then the answer is not whether to act, but how to act without breaking ourselves," he stated. The hall immediately stilled and went silent. "Dong Zhuo's rise is built on fear. He moves fast and brutally, but not with caution."
Sun Jian glanced in Zhou Yu's direction.
"A coalition force heading directly to Luoyang would alert him, and he'd retreat west, burn what's left, and leave us grasping ashes," Zhou Yu finished.
"Then what do you propose we do?" Sun Jian's gaze narrowed. To him, it sounded as if Zhou Yu spoke from experience.
How else could he predict the enemy's movements with such confidence?
Zhou Yu nodded to a figure behind him whom he'd been training vigorously under his wing for the past few months. He was a young man with sharp blue eyes, braided black hair and scrolls bundled in his arms.
"As you all know, Lu Xun, son of Lu Jun of the former Wu County, has been under my tutelage for a while." Zhou Yu gestured to him. "He has a natural gift for terrain analysis and warfare theory and will prove to be valuable."
One of the strangest anomalies of this lifetime was the date of Lu Xun's birth. Originally, he'd been born in 183 AD which would make him no older than five in age.
And that had never changed.
Yet somehow, this time, he'd been born much earlier and was now sixteen years of age.
Zhou Yu was still puzzled by the boy's early existence, not understanding why the gears of this lifetime were churning in different directions, but if he could use it to his advantage, then so be it.
"Together," Zhou Yu said, his gaze following along a particular route on the map. "We propose a strategy of divided strikes."