kingnovel Chapter 1126 Seeing Through the Trick and Determined to Take Revenge
Chapter 1126 Seeing Through the Trick and Determined to Take Revenge
Ma Chao's murderous aura almost solidified, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists, a suppressed growl escaping his throat: "Sun Quan, that heartless scoundrel, actually dared to lay such a cruel hand on his own brother! Bo Fu treated him with such kindness, yet he could be so utterly inhuman!"
Zhou Yu clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white as frost, his voice icy: "Those old foxes, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, planned this from the very beginning. They deliberately instigated Bo Fu's northern expedition, and secretly colluded with aristocratic generals, feigning compliance on the battlefield while watching Bo Fu get surrounded—their original intention was to have Bo Fu die on the spot, eliminating any future trouble."
He took a deep breath, a chilling glint in his eyes: "As for Liu Biao, they probably had a long-standing conspiracy. They wanted to use Liu Biao to kill Bo Fu, but Liu Biao wasn't stupid. He wanted to severely damage Jiangdong, but he didn't want to become a tool for the Jiangdong aristocratic families, so he deliberately spared Bo Fu's life."
"Seeing that Bo Fu was still alive, they immediately launched the second step: having Sun Quan tamper with the medicine. Once Bo Fu was dead, and knowing that I would definitely investigate, they immediately laid out the third poisonous plan—to assassinate a direct descendant of the Sun family and then pin the blame on me." Zhou Yu's voice trembled. "They understood people's hearts too well: how to play the victim in front of the old lady, how to force her to compromise with the 'great cause of Jiangdong,' how to make her subconsciously choose to believe 'her own family' Sun Quan amidst the chaos of losing her beloved son... Every step they took was fraught with danger."
"The old lady was in a state of turmoil at that time, and all she could see was the four words 'stabilize Jiangdong.' Sun Quan was of the Sun family bloodline, and no matter how many explanations I gave, in her eyes I was just an outsider vying for power." Zhou Yu smiled bitterly. "At that time, the situation was such that I could neither retreat nor advance. Although I had trusted confidants like Taishi Ci and Wei Yan, and I had some military power, Sun Quan had generals from the Jiangdong aristocratic families supporting him, as well as four veteran generals—Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, and Zu Mao—who, although they might not have truly submitted to Sun Quan, recognized the 'Sun family' brand and would never sit idly by and watch me fight him."
"If a war really breaks out, Jiangdong will be thrown into chaos." His voice lowered, carrying an unspeakable heaviness. "It's not that I lack the courage to fight to the death, but at that time... Sun Shao was still young. Sister-in-law Sally died protecting him. If I continue to cause trouble, this child might not even have a shred of peace left. If Jiangdong falls into chaos, the only beneficiaries will be those covetous outsiders like Liu Biao. Wouldn't all of Bo Fu's life's work be in vain?"
The wind in the courtyard suddenly picked up, whipping up fallen leaves that swirled and crashed against the pillars, making a mournful sound. Ma Chao looked at the struggle in Zhou Yu's eyes and finally understood how much helplessness was hidden behind that forbearance—not cowardice, but to protect the last bit of flesh and blood left by Bo Fu, to protect this land that he had won with his life.
"Those old scoundrels..." Ma Chao's voice was hoarse as he slammed his fist into the locust tree beside him, the bark cracking open with a snap. "If I don't avenge this, I, Ma Chao, will have failed as a man!"
Zhou Yu said in a deep voice, "At that time, I really had no other choice but to grit my teeth and hand over the seal of the commander-in-chief, which symbolized military power, just to exchange for half of Wu Commandery to settle down. Here are Chief Shamoke and his troops, Wei Yan and Taishi Ci are also determined to follow me, and Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai even patted their chests and said, 'Wherever Gongjin is, we will be there, even if it means going through fire and water!' These soldiers are all brave men who are willing to risk their lives to protect each other."
My only condition is that Sun Shao be handed over to me so that I can raise him myself. That child is Bo Fu's only remaining flesh and blood; only by holding him in my arms can I feel a little at ease, knowing that I haven't completely failed Bo Fu's trust.
As Zhou Yu spoke, his eyes were already red, and hot tears streamed down his cheeks, staining his clothes and leaving a small dark mark.
Hearing this, Ma Chao's anger flared. He gripped Zhou Yu's shoulders tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, his voice as cold as ice: "Bo Fu... Gongjin, you've truly suffered these past years!" He took a deep breath, his eyes swirling with anger and regret. "Don't worry, I've already investigated everything before I came. Now that I've stepped into Wu County, I have no intention of leaving empty-handed—I will avenge Bo Fu! Those cowards hiding in the shadows will not escape!"
Zhou Yu gently wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, his voice still choked with sobs: "Brother, these things have been weighing on my heart for so many years, and even now, talking about them feels like being stabbed in the heart with an awl. All these years, I've endured it, hoping that someone could understand this injustice. It's so good that you've come..."
Ma Chao frowned and said in a deep voice, "Gongjin, you've suffered. What's the current situation in Jiangdong? What's that brat Sun Quan up to?"
Zhou Yu picked up the cool tea on the table and took a sip, suppressing his turbulent emotions: "Last autumn, Sun Quan suddenly ordered an attack on Jiaozhou, causing a huge commotion. He even came to Wu County in person, saying he wanted to 'make peace' with me and jointly govern Jiangdong. How could I possibly believe him? He couldn't escape responsibility for what happened to Bo Fu back then! But in the end, I didn't take action. Firstly, I was afraid that if a real war broke out, Jiangdong would be thrown into complete chaos, and the people would suffer; secondly, the old lady cried so hard she almost fainted, holding my hand and begging me, saying that we are all of the Sun family bloodline, and we shouldn't kill each other anymore..."
He paused, his tone softening slightly: "It was around that time that Shangxiang stayed behind. She has a strong personality and couldn't stand Sun Quan's hypocritical behavior. She said she would stay in Wu County to help me take care of Shao'er and the other children, and also to keep an eye on the movements in Jiangdong. With her there, the children would have one more person to look after them."
Ma Chao snorted coldly: "Sun Quan is attacking Jiaozhou, isn't he trying to use the war to consolidate his military power? His little schemes can't be hidden from discerning people! It's a good thing that Shangxiang is staying by your side, that girl has the spirit of Bo Fu, she can be relied on."
Zhou Yu tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his brows furrowed. "Brother is right. Sun Quan's move is suspicious. Nanhai Commandery has fallen. Logically, he should have already returned in triumph, but he's hiding his true intentions. Either he's suffered a defeat and wants to conceal it, or he's preparing an even bigger move." He paused, his gaze darkening. "As for whether he's afraid of you, it's hard to say, but he's certainly wary—who in Jiangdong hasn't heard of your formidable reputation in Xiliang? It would be strange if he dared to return openly."
Ma Chao sneered and slammed his hand on the table: "Fear? I think it's just a guilty conscience! He's in cahoots with those powerful families over Bo Fu's matter. Now that I'm here, he's naturally hiding and doesn't dare to see me. A coward who doesn't even dare to show his face, does he deserve to occupy Jiangdong?"
“He’s more than just constrained.” Zhou Yu gave a bitter smile, lowering his voice even further. “After Bo Fu died, those powerful families openly supported him, but secretly hindered him at every turn. Last year, when he wanted to transfer grain to Ruxukou, several clan leaders rejected him with a simple ‘insufficient granaries’; when he wanted to promote his own confidants, the powerful families immediately filled all the positions with their own sons.” He looked up at Ma Chao. “To put it bluntly, he’s a puppet being roasted on a fire, having to bow to the powerful families while also guarding against being extorted by the Jingzhou faction. He probably doesn’t sleep well at night.”
“They must have something on Jingzhou. They’ve been robbing us quite a bit these past few years.” Zhou Yu picked up his teacup, his fingertips turning white. “They talk about exchanging goods, but in reality, they’re just stealing. Sun Quan doesn’t dare refuse, but he’s afraid of being called incompetent if he loses territory, so he can only drag it out—his life is much harder than ours.”
Ma Chao sneered, "That scheming fellow was probably blinded by power back then. With Bo Fu around, who would dare to make a move? But this incompetent man used scheming to rise to power and is now suffocating under the pressure."
Zhou Yu remained silent for a moment upon hearing this, his fingertips tracing the old marks on the table. His voice carried a hint of melancholy: "Brother is right. When Bo Fu was alive, his sharp edge kept the petty villains of Jiangdong from raising their heads. Even if the aristocratic families had designs on him, they dared only to keep them hidden. But he..." He paused, his tone turning colder, "...relying on underhanded methods from the very beginning, his foundation was fragile from the start. Those aristocratic families promoted him only because they valued his 'obedience.' Now that they see he has no ability to control the situation, they naturally dare to take advantage of him."
Ma Chao kicked a nearby pillar, making the wind chimes on the eaves jingle: "A bunch of scheming scoundrels! Bo Fu was such a hero back then, yet he ended up being betrayed by his own people. It's time for a change of the world in Jiangdong."
"Changing the world is easier said than done." Zhou Yu smiled bitterly. "Although he is incompetent, he holds the legitimate title of the Sun family, and he has that old fox Zhang Zhao helping him win people's hearts. There is also the old lady of the Sun family. If we take action, the old lady will always step forward..." He looked up at Ma Chao, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes.
Ma Chao clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white, his voice brimming with barely suppressed sharpness: "We've waited so many years, we really can't delay any longer!" He took half a step forward, his eyes burning with intensity, "We're not here to seize any Jiangdong territory, we're just seeking justice for Bo Fu—he fought for Jiangdong to his last breath, we can't let him die without knowing why!"
He paused, looked at Zhou Yu, and said in a more serious tone, "The old lady is wise and reasonable. With you by Sun Shao's side to assist him, he will surely be able to stabilize the situation. I am in charge of Xiliang and Chang'an. Anyone who dares to make a move against Jiangdong will have to ask the gun in my hand if it will allow it!"
He then turned to Zhou Yu, his eyes sharpening: "Gongjin, you said that Generals Cheng Pu and Huang Gai are in charge of the overall situation? Perfect, pass on a message for me, saying that Ma Chao has arrived in Wu County and has been invited by old friends to come and catch up. Back when Bo Fu was still alive, we drank wine together on the battlefield. Now it's time to get together again and discuss how to get justice for Bo Fu!"
His words were utterly sincere, each syllable carrying the blood and guts of those who fought on the battlefield, which warmed the hearts of those listening nearby—this uprightness, devoid of selfish motives, truly resembled that of Bo Fu in his prime.
Zhou Yu loudly instructed the attendants outside the courtyard, "Go and invite General Taishi Ci here."
As Taishi Ci entered, Zhou Yu rose to greet him, his tone calm and steady: "Ziyi, there is something I need to trouble you to do. Go and see Generals Cheng Pu and Huang Gai in person, and tell them that I have prepared a small feast and would like to invite them to my residence for a chat, as I have important matters to discuss."
Taishi Ci cupped his hands and replied, "Don't worry, Commander, I'll take care of this!"
Ma Chao raised an eyebrow and took over the conversation, saying to Taishi Ci in a deep voice, "Ziyi, when you go to deliver the message, remember not to beat around the bush. Just say that I, Ma Chao, have invited you two old generals. If you value our past relationship, then come to Wu County for a chat; if you don't, don't blame me for turning my back on you without mercy."
Taishi Ci was taken aback. Seeing Ma Chao's sharp eyes, which showed no hint of a joke, he nodded emphatically and said, "This subordinate has remembered!" He then turned and strode away.
Zhou Yu looked at Ma Chao, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "Brother, isn't it a bit too hasty to say this?"
Ma Chao snorted and slammed his hand heavily on the table: "To deal with these people who pretend to be ignorant, we have to make our stance clear! I can wait, but Bo Fu's justice cannot!" His gaze swept across the courtyard, filled with an undeniable determination. "Today, we will make them give us an explanation, or Wu County will not have any peace!"