Chapter 1729: Presenting the Secret Letter

Several days later, the secret envoys returned to Jiangdong one after another like swallows returning to their nests, bringing news from the north. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu waited anxiously in their command tent; the moment they caught sight of the envoys, the two of them rushed forward impatiently.

"My lord, Commander, the situation in the north has been ascertained." One envoy bowed and presented a secret letter with both hands.

Sun Ce snatched the letter and exchanged a glance with Zhou Yu; both their eyes sparkled with anticipation. Unfolding the letter, Sun Ce scanned it quickly, then burst into laughter and handed it to Zhou Yu: "Gongjin, look at this good news!"

Zhou Yu took the letter and read it carefully. His brows gradually smoothed out, and a look of joy appeared in his eyes: "Yuan Shao's son, Yuan Shang, and Gongsun Zan of Youzhou are both willing to form an alliance with us to jointly oppose the Cao clan. This is truly heaven helping us!"

"Indeed." Sun Ce nodded, his eyes flashing with a fighting spirit. "Yuan Shang and Gongsun Zan are both prominent figures in the north. If they are willing to send troops to assist us, our chances of victory will increase by quite a bit."

"There is no time to lose. We must quickly dispatch envoys to Jizhou and Youzhou to sign the alliance treaties with them and settle on the dates and plans for sending troops," Zhou Yu proposed.

Sun Ce nodded in agreement: "I will leave this matter to you, Gongjin. I trust you to handle it."

Zhou Yu smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and accepted the order: "As you command, my lord. I shall go and make the arrangements now."

The envoys were soon dispatched to the north, and the Jiangdong camp began to bustle with activity. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu spent every day together discussing strategy, preparing to meet the coming great battle.

On this day, Sun Ce was reviewing the troops on the drill ground when Zhou Yu hurried over, his face filled with joy: "My lord, the envoys have returned. Yuan Shang and Gongsun Zan have both agreed to form an alliance with us and are willing to send one hundred thousand troops to jointly crusade against the Cao clan."

"Good!" Sun Ce was overjoyed and slammed his fist into a wooden stake nearby, shaking it until it trembled. "With these two reinforcements, our chances of victory are even greater."

"However..." Zhou Yu's tone shifted, and his expression turned serious. "Although the north is willing to send troops, they have also put forward conditions."

"What conditions?" Sun Ce asked.

"They hope that after the war, we can cede some territory to them as payment for their military aid," Zhou Yu explained.

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce was silent for a moment, then burst into laughter: "That is only right. Since they are sending troops to assist us, we naturally cannot treat them unfairly. As long as we can defeat the Cao clan, what does it matter if we cede some territory?"

"My lord is wise," Zhou Yu praised, cupping his hands.

With the alliance between Jiangdong and the northern warlords, the situation in the north began to surge like a rising tide. Although the Cao clan possessed immense power, under the combined strikes of Jiangdong and the northern warlords, they began to feel overwhelmed. Especially after the news of Cao Pi's capture spread, the Cao army's morale plummeted, and hearts were filled with panic.

On this day, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were in the command tent discussing strategy when a soldier suddenly came to report: "My lord, Commander, the Cao army has sent envoys requesting peace talks with us."

"Peace talks?" Sun Ce and Zhou Yu exchanged a glance, both revealing cold sneers.

"Bring them in," Sun Ce ordered.

Before long, the Cao army envoys were brought in. He bowed and said with a trembling voice: "My lord is willing to hold peace talks with Jiangdong, hoping that both sides can cease hostilities and conspire for the world together."

"Conspire for the world together?" Sun Ce sneered. "Your Cao clan has oppressed Jiangdong for many years; now you know to beg for peace? It is too late!"

Zhou Yu also said coldly: "Tell your lord, if he wants peace talks, he must first release Cao Pi. Otherwise, everything is off the table!"

Upon hearing this, the envoy's face changed drastically, and he hurriedly kowtowed to beg for mercy: "My two lords, my lord was also forced into this. I beg you two lords to show mercy and grant us a way to survive."

"Get out!" Sun Ce shouted angrily. "Go back and tell your lord, if he wants peace talks, he must show some sincerity. Otherwise, our Jiangdong army will surely trample Xu Chang flat!"

The envoy was so frightened that he trembled all over, hurriedly kowtowed, and retreated.

Watching the envoy's retreating back, Sun Ce sneered repeatedly: "The Cao clan is at their wit's end, which is why they want to beg for peace. We must not fall for their trick."

"Indeed," Zhou Yu nodded in agreement. "Now is the time for us to show our prowess. My lord, let us lead the sons of Jiangdong to conquer that world that belongs to us!"

"Good!" Sun Ce waved his arms with great heroic spirit. "My sons, follow me into battle! Let us use our flesh and blood to carve out a world for Jiangdong!"

The Jiangdong army pressed toward the borders, and the northern land was filled with the smoke of war. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu split into two routes, each leading elite troops like two sharp swords, stabbing directly into the heart of the Cao clan's power.

Sun Ce's route was unstoppable, and the cities along the way surrendered one after another upon hearing of his approach. He rode on a tall warhorse, his gaze like a torch, looking ahead: "My sons, we sons of Jiangdong never fear battle! Today, let us use the blades and spears in our hands to fight for the glory of Jiangdong!"

The soldiers behind him shouted in unison: "We swear to follow our lord to the death! Long live Jiangdong!"

Sun Ce led his great army to capture one city after another. Every time he captured a city, he personally pacified the people and restored production. His reputation gradually spread throughout the north, and many commoners were grateful to him.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yu's route also progressed rapidly. He was both wise and brave, winning against superior numbers and resolving the Cao army's sieges many times. In one fierce battle, Zhou Yu even personally took to the field and beheaded the Cao army's main general, causing the Cao army's morale to suffer a heavy blow.

On this day, Zhou Yu was in the command tent discussing strategy with his deputy generals when a soldier suddenly came to report: "Commander, a large force of the Cao army has been discovered ahead, and they are rushing toward us."

"Oh?" Zhou Yu raised his brows slightly. "They come just in time. Pass the order down to prepare for battle."

The deputy generals accepted the order and left. Zhou Yu stood in front of the command tent, watching the rolling smoke and dust coming from afar, his eyes flashing with cold, sharp light: "Cao army, you have finally come. This time, I will make sure you never return!"

Not long after, the Cao army arrived. Both sides set up their formations, preparing for a life-and-death battle. Zhou Yu rode on his warhorse, holding a long spear, pointing at the opposing Cao army and shouting loudly: "Cao thieves, you have oppressed Jiangdong for many years; today is your death day! Sons of Jiangdong, follow me to kill the enemy!"

Having said this, Zhou Yu took the lead and charged into the Cao army's formation. The Jiangdong soldiers followed closely behind, fighting bravely. Both sides were locked in fierce combat, and the sounds of battle shook the heavens.

Zhou Yu charged back and forth in the formation as if entering an empty land. The long spear in his hand was like lightning; wherever he went, the Cao soldiers fell dead one after another. His heroism inspired the fighting spirit of the Jiangdong soldiers, who fought more bravely as the battle progressed, gradually gaining the upper hand.

The Cao army's main general was shocked at the sight. He hurriedly ordered the army to retreat, but it was already too late. Zhou Yu led the Jiangdong soldiers in relentless pursuit, slaughtering the Cao army until they were in complete disarray.

In this battle, Jiangdong won a complete victory. Zhou Yu looked at the smoke-filled battlefield, his heart filled with deep emotion: "In this battle, we of Jiangdong have finally held our heads high. However, the battle is far from over. The true challenge is still ahead."

At this time, Sun Ce had also captured many cities and joined forces with Zhou Yu. When the two met, they looked at each other and smiled; without needing many words, they understood each other's intentions. Next, their target was the Cao clan's capital—Xu Chang. ===== CHAPTER 1730 =====