A few days earlier, Sun Quan had just turned fifteen and undergone his coming-of-age ceremony. From this point on, he was considered capable of participating in family and state affairs. Sun Ce, clearly intending to cultivate his younger brother, had begun bringing him along whenever matters of strategy and governance were discussed.
Sun Quan possessed a square jaw, broad mouth, and a sturdy, well-built frame. Though still young, he was already tall and carried himself with the presence of a grown man.
As Zhou Yu and Lu Su continued their heated debate below the hall, Sun Ce turned to Sun Quan with interest after hearing his earlier remark.
"Zhongmou, why do you say that?"
Sun Quan cupped his hands respectfully. "Brother, that 'fierce tiger' is ambitious, and even his name carries ominous connotations that clash with yours. In time, he will surely become a threat."
"On the surface, he speaks of dividing the north and south equally. But once he secures Yuzhou and takes Jingzhou, Jiangdong will be attacked from both directions. We would be unable to withstand pressure from east and west alike."
"Furthermore, Liu Bei's whereabouts are uncertain. If that man were to gather Guan Yu and Zhang Fei under his banner again, few in the realm could oppose him. We should act early to eliminate this hidden danger."
Sun Ce listened without interruption, then said calmly, "Let's first hear what Gongjin and Zijing have to say."
By now, the debate in the hall had reached its peak.
Though Zhou Yu and Lu Su were close friends—Lu Su had even been recommended by Zhou Yu—their views on how to handle the powers north of the Yangtze had long diverged. Previously, they had only argued in private. But now, with Yuan Xi's secret request for military cooperation placed before them, their disagreement had become public and irreconcilable.
Lu Su spoke first. "Gongjin, Jiangdong and the 'fierce tiger' currently rely on one another. If they take Xuzhou and Yuzhou, they will block the Central Plains from advancing south. That would secure Jiangdong's rear. Does this not align with your vision of dividing the world in two?"
Zhou Yu let out a cold laugh. "The world may indeed be divided—but not with him."
"With Yuan Shao backing him, and judging by his actions, his ambitions are vast. Who can say he does not intend to replace Yuan Shu and then share the empire with Yuan Shao?"
"And once Yuan Shu falls, who do you think he will turn to next? Jiangdong will be his target. Where will that leave us?"
The hall fell silent at his words.
Zhu Zhi frowned. "Gongjin, do you truly see him as such a great threat?"
Zhou Yu replied without hesitation, "The two Yuan brothers are currently the strongest forces in the realm. Next comes Cao Cao, though he remains, nominally, Yuan Shao's subordinate. After that—only Bo Fu."
"If the Yuan brothers eventually decide the outcome between them, the victor will dominate the Central Plains. How will Jiangdong resist then?"
Lu Su seized the moment. "Precisely because of this, we should follow your earlier strategy—secure Yangzhou, move west into Jingzhou, then advance into Yi Province and Hanzhong."
"But both Jing and Yi are difficult to conquer. Even if we commit all our strength, success is uncertain. Why not allow the 'fierce tiger' to block Yuan Shu for us? Would that not be advantageous?"
Zhou Yu shook his head, a faint sneer on his lips. "Zijing, you are thinking too simply."
"To take Jingzhou, we need not only naval strength but also strong infantry. Jiangxia borders Nanyang to the north. If we attack, Liu Biao will send Zhang Xiu south in reinforcement."
He paused. "Do you believe Jiangdong's infantry can withstand them?"
Lu Su fell silent.
Zhang Xiu's troops, inherited from the Liangzhou army, were among the most formidable in the realm. Jiangdong lacked cavalry, and its infantry could not match their strength.
After a long pause, Lu Su said reluctantly, "Even so, we cannot shrink from battle simply because the enemy is strong. And Yuan Gonglu is not easy to deal with either."
"Moreover, he is still our nominal superior. If we attack him openly, we will be condemned."
Zhou Yu laughed. "That is precisely why this 'fierce tiger' presents us with an opportunity."
"To divide the world does not mean merely holding the lands south of the river. We must push several hundred li northward and establish a buffer."
"Otherwise, once the Central Plains are unified, they can station troops on the north bank, train a navy, and strike south at any time. Jiangdong would never know peace."
"If we must fight, then the battlefield must be in Jiangbei—not here."
At this moment, Zhang Zhao stepped forward.
"Gongjin speaks wisely," he said.
"Jiangdong is the foundation of our strength—the source of our provisions and wealth. If it is ravaged by war, the people will scatter, and the land will be ruined. How then can we contend for the world?"
"By keeping the enemy beyond the river, even war will not disrupt the livelihoods of our people. This is indeed a brilliant strategy."
His words drew agreement from many.
Lu Su, however, felt a growing unease. Are we not using our weakness to strike at the enemy's strength? Jiangdong troops were not suited for large-scale land warfare—so where did this confidence come from?
He sensed that Zhang Zhao's words carried a deeper meaning, but he could not quite grasp it.
Zhou Yu, for his part, showed no joy at the support. Instead, a trace of wariness flickered in his eyes.
He had never trusted Zhang Zhao and the northern gentry, viewing them as opportunists. Though Zhang Zhao's words seemed supportive, Zhou Yu felt they carried an implicit criticism—as if suggesting that Jiangdong men feared battle and thus sought to push the war northward.
He suppressed his irritation and remained silent.
Above them, Sun Ce leaned toward Sun Quan and asked quietly, "What do you see?"
Sun Quan studied the scene—the heated argument between Zhou Yu and Lu Su, Zhang Zhao's intervention, and the shifting attitudes in the hall.
Suddenly, realization dawned.
"Jiangdong gentry and Jiangbei gentry… cannot truly coexist," he said softly. "Brother is using them to balance each other."
Sun Ce paused, then smiled faintly. "In time, your grasp of such matters will surpass mine."
"When I was your age, I only knew how to fight. Now I understand—these gentry are both our strength and our greatest danger."
"They will not truly serve us. To control them, we must weaken one side and elevate the other. Only then will they obey."
He sighed inwardly. Though he felt some regret toward Zhou Yu, he could not afford to rule based on personal feelings.
Below, Lu Su made one final attempt.
"Does Gongjin intend to let the 'fierce tiger' exhaust Yuan Gonglu, and then strike from behind?"
Zhou Yu smiled coldly. "Why not?"
"Did not Yuan Tan sit idle while Cao Cao crushed Liu Bei, only to seize territory afterward? And when we attacked Xuzhou, did they not use us to divide the land among themselves?"
"This time, we simply return the favor."
Lu Su's face tightened. "But this is a betrayal of trust—"
Zhou Yu cut him off sharply. "In the struggle for the world, only victory matters."
"Morality is written by the victor. The defeated have no voice."
Beneath his calm exterior, anger burned fiercely.
By now, Zhou Yu had guessed much of the truth—there was a strong chance that Madam Wu had fallen into that man's hands.
Recalling the "fierce tiger's" infamous reputation, his chest tightened.
Whether for public strategy or private vengeance—
he was determined to see this enemy destroyed.