Chapter 1066

In Jianye, the capital of Jiangdong, Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang were warmly received by Sun Quan. Sun Quan was young and promising, high-spirited and vigorous, and showed great interest in the arrival of the two wise men.

"The two gentlemen have come from afar; Quan feels deeply honored." Sun Quan said politely, signaling for the two to take their seats. "I have heard that the two gentlemen are wise and brave; seeing you today is truly Jiangdong’s fortune."

Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang looked at each other and smiled, returning the salute. "The monarch is polite. Our trip is actually for the sake of the great cause of jointly resisting Cao."

Upon hearing this, Sun Quan’s expression became stern. "Resisting Cao? What high opinions do the two gentlemen have?"

Zhuge Liang shook his feather fan lightly and spoke slowly. "Although Cao Cao has suffered setbacks, his strength remains, and his ambition is vast; he will surely not be reconciled. And if our three parties fight separately, it will be difficult to resist his edge. Only by joining hands can we resist the foreign enemy together and protect the peace of Jiangdong and Jingsiang."

Zhou Yu added, "The monarch’s words are absolutely correct. We are willing to form an alliance with Jiangdong to resist Cao together. At the same time, we also hope that Jiangdong can provide us with necessary support at critical moments."

Sun Quan pondered for a moment, his eyes flashing. "As for the alliance, Quan is naturally willing. But Jiangdong also has Jiangdong’s interests; the two gentlemen need to guarantee that in future wars, Jiangdong’s interests will not be harmed."

Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang looked at each other and smiled, already having a plan in their hearts. They knew that although Sun Quan’s words seemed tough, he was actually testing their sincerity and bottom line.

"Your Highness, rest assured," Zhuge Liang said, gently waving his feather fan, his tone firm. "The foundation of an alliance lies in mutual trust and support. We will certainly give full consideration to the interests of Jiangdong, ensuring that in the war against Cao, Jiangdong can not only preserve itself but also seize the opportunity to grow and strengthen."

Zhou Yu also nodded in agreement: "That is exactly right. I am willing to take the alliance between Jiangdong and Jingxiang as a model and advance or retreat together with Jiangdong. In future wars, whether it concerns strategic deployment or the distribution of post-war benefits, we will uphold the principles of fairness and justice."

Upon hearing this, a flash of satisfaction crossed Sun Quan's eyes. He knew deep down that forming an alliance with these two wise men was undoubtedly more beneficial than harmful for Jiangdong. Moreover, the threat posed by Cao Cao could not be ignored; if he failed to unite the forces of all parties, Jiangdong would sooner or later fall into crisis.

"Good," Sun Quan said, slapping the table as he stood up, his voice resonant and powerful. "Since that is the case, I am willing to form an alliance with you two gentlemen to resist Cao Cao together. May our three parties be as firm as a rock, sharing the same boat through wind and rain, and creating brilliance together."

Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang looked at each other and smiled, both feeling a sense of relief in their hearts. They knew that the alliance with Sun Quan meant the strength of the anti-Cao coalition had increased by another measure. What they needed to do next was to further consolidate the alliance and formulate more detailed strategic plans.

In the days that followed, Zhou Yu, Zhuge Liang, and Sun Quan met frequently to discuss the grand strategy against Cao Cao. They analyzed Cao Cao's troop deployments, strategic intentions, and possible lines of attack, formulating corresponding defense and counter-attack strategies. At the same time, the three parties strengthened their exchanges and cooperation in military, economic, cultural, and other aspects, making the strength of the alliance grow day by day.

However, just as the alliance was developing in full swing, an undercurrent was quietly surging. Cao Cao did not sit idly by waiting for death; instead, he secretly dispatched envoys, attempting to sow discord within the alliance. He exploited Sun Quan's concerns about Jiangdong's interests, as well as certain strategic differences between Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang, to cleverly stir up trouble, intending to disintegrate the alliance.

One day, Zhou Yu received an anonymous letter. The language in the letter was sharp, pointing directly at Zhuge Liang, claiming he had ulterior motives within the alliance and intended to annex Jiangdong and Jingxiang under the guise of resisting Cao Cao. After reading it, Zhou Yu was furious, but he immediately calmed down. He knew this was very likely Cao Cao's scheme to sow discord.

Consequently, Zhou Yu immediately summoned Zhuge Liang and handed him the letter to read. After Zhuge Liang looked at it, he merely smiled slightly and said: "The Commander need not take it to heart. How could such petty tricks deceive us? Cao Cao's move is nothing more than an attempt to disintegrate our alliance. We only need to be more united, and his conspiracy will naturally collapse on its own."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu felt relieved. He knew Zhuge Liang's character and wisdom well; he would never do such a despicable thing. Thus, the two cooperated even more closely to deal with Cao Cao's provocations and attempts at discord.

At the same time, Sun Quan also sensed Cao Cao's conspiracy. He knew that at this critical moment, the stability of the alliance was of paramount importance. Therefore, he took the initiative to find Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang, expressing his firm belief in the alliance and his full trust in them.

"Two gentlemen," Sun Quan said with a solemn expression, "I know Cao Cao is cunning and will surely try every possible means to disintegrate our alliance. But I believe that as long as our three parties think in one direction and exert our strength in one place, nothing can stop our progress."

Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang were both deeply gratified upon hearing this. They knew that these words from Sun Quan were not only trust and support for them but also a firm belief in the future of the alliance.

In the days that followed, Zhou Yu, Zhuge Liang, and Sun Quan united even more closely to face Cao Cao's challenges. They not only strengthened cooperation in military affairs but also engaged in in-depth exchanges in economic, cultural, and other areas. The strength of the alliance grew day by day, and with high morale, it became the greatest obstacle to Cao Cao's southward advance.

Finally, after long preparation and waiting, the anti-Cao coalition welcomed the moment of the decisive battle against Cao Cao. In a battle of unprecedented scale, the coalition army launched a fierce attack on Cao Cao's forces with the force of a thunderbolt. Zhou Yu, Zhuge Liang, and Sun Quan personally took the field to command, and the soldiers fought bravely, advancing like a hot knife through butter.

Although Cao Cao's army was numerous, they appeared vulnerable under the fierce onslaught of the coalition forces. They retreated steadily and suffered heavy losses. In the end, in a decisive battle, the coalition army defeated the few with the many, completely crushing Cao Cao's army. Seeing that the situation was lost, Cao Cao had no choice but to lead his remaining troops to flee back to the north, and from then on, he never dared to easily head south again.

After the war, the anti-Cao coalition ushered in an unprecedented period of glory. Zhou Yu, Zhuge Liang, and Sun Quan stood side by side on the city tower, looking at the river in the distance, their hearts filled with the joy of victory and longing for the future. They knew that this victory did not belong only to the three of them, but also to the entire alliance and the countless soldiers who had fought for it. And in the future, there were still more challenges waiting for them to conquer and create brilliance.