kingnovel Chapter 1039 Seeking Mother’s Help to Ease the Gap
Chapter 1039 Seeking Mother’s Help to Ease the Gap
Sun Quan thought he could perhaps start by trying to repair his relationship with Zhou Yu by recruiting these four veteran generals. After all, they had served Sun Ce and Sun Quan for many years, held high prestige within the Jiangdong army, and had a deep friendship with Zhou Yu. If they could mediate, perhaps Zhou Yu might change his mind, at least to remain neutral during the attack on Jiaozhou.
Having made up his mind, Sun Quan summoned his personal guards and whispered, "Go quietly and summon Generals Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, and Zu Mao. Tell them that I have something important to discuss with them, but this must be kept secret and not be made known to anyone else."
Soon, four veteran generals arrived. Sun Quan greeted them with sincerity and said, "Generals, I have asked you to come here today to discuss a matter of vital importance to Jiangdong's survival. I'm sure you are aware that Jiangdong is in dire straits, surrounded by powerful enemies like Ma Chao and Liu Biao, and facing numerous hidden dangers within. While Liu Biao and Liu Bei are engaged in a fierce battle, I intend to seize Jiaozhou to expand Jiangdong's strength and secure a chance of survival."
Cheng Pu frowned slightly and said, "My lord, attacking Jiaozhou is quite risky, and General Zhou Yu..."
Sun Quan quickly said, "General Cheng is absolutely right. I'm well aware that Zhou Yu harbors discontent with me, which is why I've summoned you four generals here today. For the greater good of Jiangdong, I ask that you, generals, please speak to General Zhou Yu on my behalf. I'm willing to humble myself and speak frankly with him to resolve our conflict. As long as he remains neutral during my attack on Jiaozhou, I, Sun Quan, will treat him well in the future."
Huang Gai showed hesitation and said, "My lord, the conflict between you and General Zhou Yu is long-standing and may not be resolved in a short time. Moreover, General Zhou Yu has a strong character, so I'm afraid..."
Sun Quan sighed and said, "General Huang, I understand this is a difficult matter, but Jiangdong is now at a critical juncture for its survival. Without unity, we will be crushed piecemeal by our enemies. I sincerely hope to work hand in hand with General Zhou Yu to forge a path forward for Jiangdong's future. The four of you have a close friendship with General Zhou Yu, so I hope you can mediate and lend me a helping hand."
Han Dang and Zu Mao exchanged a glance, and Han Dang said, "Since our lord is so determined, we will certainly do our best. However, this matter requires further consideration. We need to find a suitable time to have a good discussion with General Zhou Yu."
Sun Quan said gratefully, "Thank you, Generals! Regardless of the outcome, I appreciate your efforts for Jiangdong. This matter is extremely urgent, and I hope you will act swiftly."
The four veteran generals, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, and Zu Mao, knew full well that persuading Zhou Yu would be incredibly difficult. But Sun Quan was fighting so hard for the future of Jiangdong. Furthermore, since ascending the throne, Sun Quan had done nothing to harm Jiangdong. They all watched Sun Quan struggle between various factions these days, and a wave of sympathy welled up in their hearts.
The four generals exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with helplessness and emotion, before finally agreeing to Sun Quan's request. They knew in their hearts that no matter what the outcome, they had to fight for the Jiangdong chess game.
The four men galloped to Zhou Yu's tent. Seeing they were four veterans, the guards dared not stop them and hurried inside to report. Upon hearing they were approaching, Zhou Yu personally stepped out to greet them, his manner extremely respectful: "I'm so sorry for the inconvenience of welcoming you, Generals!"
Everyone entered the tent and took their seats, divided into host and guest. Cheng Pu spoke first, his expression solemn, "Grand Commander, today we have been entrusted by our lord to discuss an important matter with you. The situation in Jiangdong is critical, with powerful enemies lurking outside and internal troubles still lingering. Our lord intends to seize Jiaozhou while Liu Biao and Liu Bei are fighting fiercely, thereby expanding his power and seeking a way out. However, this will only succeed if everyone in Jiangdong is united. Therefore, our lord hopes that you and I can put aside our past differences and work together."
Zhou Yu frowned slightly, his eyes deep, but he didn't respond immediately. The tent instantly fell silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The atmosphere was particularly solemn.
After a long while, Zhou Yu slowly said, "Four generals, I understand your intentions and Sun Quan's thoughts. However, some things cannot be easily let go."
Huang Gai hurriedly said, "General, we are all aware of the misunderstandings between you and our lord, but Jiangdong is in imminent danger. If we cannot unite internally, I'm afraid Jiangdong's future will be in jeopardy. I hope the general will prioritize the overall situation and put aside internal conflicts for the time being."
Zhou Yu shook his head slightly, his expression complicated. "General Huang, I understand what you're saying. But some things are done and they're done. You can't just let them go."
Han Dang also advised, "Grand Commander, our lord is sincere this time. We sincerely hope to resolve our differences and work together to plan for the future of Jiangdong. Please consider this for the sake of our past friendship."
Zhou Yu looked at the four veteran generals with respect in his eyes, but he remained noncommittal about Sun Quan's request. "I appreciate your kindness, generals. However, I hope you will understand this matter."
Seeing this, Zu Mao said helplessly, "Grand Commander, we know this is difficult for you. But Jiangdong is in great need of manpower right now. If we can all work together, there might still be a glimmer of hope."
Zhou Yu, however, did not want to discuss military affairs with them any further. He simply said, "You four generals have come a long way and must be very tired. I have already ordered wine and food to be prepared. You four generals, please rest first. We can discuss this matter later."
The four generals, sensing Zhou Yu's hidden meaning, knew that persuasion was hopeless, and their hearts were filled with melancholy. Reluctantly, they stood up, bid Zhou Yu farewell, and returned with heavy hearts to report.
Returning to Sun Quan's tent, the four men detailed their encounter with Zhou Yu. Sun Quan's expression was gloomy, but he remained undeterred. He knew resolving his conflict with Zhou Yu would take time. However, time was of the essence, and he had to devise a solution within a limited timeframe. Otherwise, his plan to capture Jiaozhou would be thwarted, and the future of Jiangdong would be plunged into even deeper darkness.
Sun Quan was now utterly distraught, his mind racing. Suddenly, he thought of his mother. Zhou Yu and his brother, Sun Ce, had a close, brotherly bond, and he had always held his mother in high esteem. Had his mother not intervened and exerted pressure, citing the greater good, it would have been difficult to force Zhou Yu out.
Sun Quan pondered, who was Zhou Yu's most important figure right now? It had to be Sun Ce's son, his own nephew, Sun Shao. If he wanted Zhou Yu's cooperation in the conquest of Jiaozhou, he'd have to find a way through Sun Shao. But how could he approach Sun Shao? After much deliberation, Sun Quan concluded that he might have to rely on his mother's help.
However, ever since Zhou Yu resolutely gave up power to focus solely on raising Sun Shao, Sun Quan's mother initially strongly supported Sun Quan's attempt to exclude Zhou Yu. After all, she was also concerned about the foundation of the Sun family. At that time, everyone said that Zhou Yu wanted to monopolize power, but Zhou Yu decisively gave up power and wholeheartedly protected Sun Shao.
As the days passed, Sun Quan's mother gradually began to feel a strange sense of belonging. She couldn't help but wonder: Zhou Yu had been accused of attempting to monopolize power, yet he had so decisively relinquished it. Perhaps there was a hidden reason behind this. Regardless of the course of events, the ultimate outcome was that Sun Quan held the land of Jiangdong, while his brother Sun Ce's youngest son, Sun Shao, was forced to wander with Zhou Yu.
Sun Quan's mother, with her wisdom and character, had already noticed many unusual things. Consequently, for the past year, she had remained secluded, refusing to see Sun Quan. Even her younger sister, Sun Shangxiang, maintained only a superficial harmony with him, secretly avoiding any further contact. Sun Quan repeatedly sought an audience with his mother, filled with guilt and hope, but each time was ruthlessly turned away.
Whenever Sun Quan thought about this, it felt like a hammer had struck his heart, and pain spread. Admittedly, he was undoubtedly to blame for his brother Sun Ce's death. But given the complex situation at the time, with various factions eyeing him covetously, if he hadn't ruthlessly taken such drastic action to preserve the Sun family's foundation, it's doubtful that the Sun family would even retain its place in Jiangdong today.
Sun Quan tossed and turned countless times late at night, his heart filled with turmoil and helplessness. He knew his actions had hurt his family, but everything he did was also for the continuation of the Sun family line. Now, the situation in Jiangdong was becoming increasingly critical. He wanted to rely on the help of his mother and Sun Shao to resolve the conflict with Zhou Yu and implement his plan to capture Jiaozhou.
Sun Quan, feeling anxious and anxious, once again came to his mother's courtyard. The gate to the courtyard was tightly closed, like an insurmountable barrier separating him from his mother.
He knocked gently on the doorknob, the sound particularly abrupt in the quiet courtyard. Moments later, the door creaked open, and Sun Shangxiang appeared. Sun Quan quickly explained his purpose and pleaded with her to inform his mother, saying he had an urgent matter to discuss. However, Sun Shangxiang hesitated and whispered, "Brother, Mother... still doesn't want to see you."
Sun Quan's heart sank to the bottom of the valley, but he didn't give up. He raised his voice and pleaded loudly to the courtyard: "Mother, Jiangdong is in danger now. I am really desperate. I beg you to see me and listen to what I have to say!" His voice was trembling and helpless, and it drifted in the wind.
Sun Quan looked at Sun Shangxiang expectantly, took a step forward, and held her sleeve tightly, his eyes full of pleading: "Little sister, you are the only one who can help me now. Please help me persuade my mother to let me see me, please!" Sun Quan held Sun Shangxiang's hand tightly, as if he had grabbed the last straw.
Sun Shangxiang looked at Sun Quan's haggard face and anxious eyes, and her heart was moved. She sighed softly and said, "Brother, why are you doing this? Well, let me go and help you."
Sun Quan was overjoyed and thanked her repeatedly: "Thank you very much, little sister! Thank you very much, little sister! If you succeed, I will be very grateful to you."
Sun Shangxiang turned and walked into the courtyard. After a long while, she slowly walked out and said to Sun Quan, "Brother, Mother has agreed to see you, but you must speak nicely and don't make Mother sad again."
Sun Quan was delighted and quickly straightened his clothes. With a feeling of awe and trepidation, he walked into the door that held great significance for him with heavy steps.