Chapter 418: Swords pointed south, the transformation of the aristocratic class! (Must read)

Kuaiji Commandery

Shanyin City

Wearing Confucian robes and a solemn expression, Wang Lang paced back and forth on the city tower.

Surrender to Liu Bei?

For Wang Lang, this did not exist.

Don't look at the fact that Liu Bei had temporarily obtained the support of the four great aristocratic families of Jiangdong and was developing rapidly.

But in Wang Lang's view, surrendering to Liu Bei was completely a short-sighted path.

After all.

The reason Liu Bei came to the south was precisely because he could no longer survive in the north.

With the courage and power Gu Yi had displayed, he would sooner or later lead a large army south to sweep across Jiangdong.

At that time, could those who joined Liu Bei's camp to put up a desperate resistance expect any good fruit to eat?

Therefore.

Even if he had to surrender, Wang Lang would only surrender to Gu Yi, not to Liu Bei.

History had also proven this point.

After Wang Lang's army was defeated, he did not surrender to Sun Ce, but found an opportunity to go to Jiaozhou to join Shi Xie.

Shi Xie, everyone who knows, knows—commonly known as the "earth turtle," his ability to survive was very strong.

Plus, Jiaozhou was far away from the war-torn regions of the Central Plains.

Shi Xie had been an uncrowned king in Jiaozhou for many years.

Joining Shi Xie was, for Wang Lang, a means to save his life.

And several years later.

On the eve of the Battle of Red Cliffs, Wang Lang tossed and turned, then went north to join Cao Cao's camp.

Because Wang Lang's family background was quite good.

Plus he had quite a reputation in the literary world.

Although he didn't become part of the core team under Cao Cao, his position was not low either.

Later, when it reached the era of Cao Pi.

Wang Lang transformed himself and became the second Grand Commandant of Cao Wei after Jia Xu passed away, which could be called illustrious for a time.

In general, Wang Lang was good at judging the situation.

Although Kuaiji Commandery was currently surrounded by Liu Bei's army at every moment.

Wang Lang did not have any intention of surrendering to Liu Bei in his heart.

In his view, joining Liu Bei's camp could never last long.

Even if he intended to surrender, it would be to Gu Yi, not Liu Bei.

……

Huainan

Lujiang Commandery

Inside the City Lord's Mansion

Sun Ce was meeting an old friend from his youth.

To be precise, this friend had taken the initiative to find him and expressed his intention to enter official service.

Regarding this, Sun Ce was ecstatic.

Others might not understand the talent of this friend of his, but Sun Ce understood better than anyone just how capable this friend was.

Moreover.

The family background of this friend of his was definitely not something ordinary people could compare to.

Coming from the Zhou family of Lujiang, his family had produced a total of five Three Excellencies and ten Nine Ministers during the two Han dynasties.

Even his grand-grandfather and great-grandfather had held the position of Grand Commandant for a period of time.

Logically speaking, with such a family background, how could he possibly look up to Sun Ce?

But the fact was that this eldest legitimate son of the Lujiang Zhou family, named Zhou Yu, had been quite compatible with Sun Ce in his youth.

After reaching adulthood, because Sun Ce often followed Sun Jian on expeditions, the opportunities for the two to meet greatly decreased.

But despite this.

Zhou Yu still wrote to Sun Ce from time to time to maintain the friendship between them.

When Sun Jian died in battle and Sun Ce took over the Sun family army, feeling lost and at a loss.

Zhou Yu had also written to persuade Sun Ce to cling closely to the side of Dong Zhuo's faction.

Following Zhou Yu's advice, Sun Ce became a butcher's knife in the hands of Gu Yi and Dong Zhuo.

Although this drew unanimous resentment from the aristocratic families of the world.

It enabled the Sun family army to survive in times of crisis.

Before this.

Sun Ce had also written many times to invite his friend Zhou Yu to assist him in achieving a great cause.

But Zhou Yu, who came from a great aristocratic clan, deeply knew in his heart just how much the aristocratic disciples hated Sun Jian and Sun Ce, the father and son who were known as the "executioners of the aristocratic families"!

If he betrayed the aristocratic camp and chose to join Sun Ce's camp.

I am afraid that even the Lujiang Zhou family behind him would be ostracized by all his aristocratic peers.

The ending would be just like the pseudo-emperor Yuan Shu.

Ultimately abandoned by the aristocratic class, he became cannon fodder in the chaotic times.

Therefore.