At the city gate, Sun Ce, wearing a hood and holding a token, rode out of the city gate on horseback through the snow.
"The General's Mansion Gongcao Division is out on business." Sun Ce showed his token and asked, "Did Mr. Zhou Gongcao and Mr. Zhou leave the city?"
The city guard said: "There is a meritorious Cao who has left the city."
Sun Ce said: "Open the small door quickly, I have an urgent letter from General Yuan to Gongcao!"
Sun Ce took out an envelope from the general's mansion from his pocket, and raised it towards the city guard. The city guard didn't dare to be negligent, so he came down with a torch to check, and seeing that it was indeed a letter from Yuan Shao's mansion, he immediately ordered someone to open the envelope. Door.
"Brothers have worked hard, let's have a glass of wine to warm up!" Sun Ce said, before leaving, he did not forget to reward two liang of silver.
"Save the city gate for your lord!" The city guard laughed, "Go slowly! Zhou Gongcao must not have gone very far!"
Zhou Yu was riding on the horse, the hand holding the rein was covered with sweat, and saw that the side gate on the Shouchun City was opened a small crack, and there seemed to be light shining from a distance, and he rushed over. Zhou Yu was about to recite the whole body, Zhao Yun smiled and flicked the long whip.
"drive!"
"Drive—" Sun Ce's proud voice came from afar, and he caught up with the convoy and set off in the dark.
The sound of carriage shafts and horseshoes sounded, and it was just five o'clock when they arrived at the post station. Zhou Yu dismounted first, and said to a group of dead soldiers dressed as official servants waiting in the post station, "Everyone has worked hard, let's go on the road now, and rest at night."
The dead men got up one after another, but they did not speak, and followed Zhou Yu to guard the carriage on the road.
Sun Ce had already hid in the car, and Wu opened the curtains and said to Zhou Yu, "Yu'er, who are these?"
"My subordinates." Zhou Yu said, "Auntie, please rest assured, they are all members of the Gongcao Division."
Mrs. Wu nodded, and glanced at her followers, all of them looked murderous, with veins on the back of their hands, and they kept their eyes fixed.
The killers would glance at Zhao Yun from time to time, obviously wondering why there was an extra person, and Zhou Yu explained that it was his coachman. The group had traveled nearly a hundred miles at noon, and Zhou Yu got into the car several times to visit.
In the car, Zhou Yu said in a low voice: "Yuan Shu must have discovered that you are not at the house by now."
"Not necessarily." Sun Ce said, "Last night he drank with Yuan Shao until midnight, the later he wakes up today, the better for us."
"Will no one monitor you after entering the mansion?" Zhou Yu asked.
"Yes." Sun Ce said, "you have to hurry up. Yuan Shu wants to send someone to chase him, but he is afraid that he won't be able to run fast."
Zhou Yu said: "It can't be any faster. You are in chaos. Are you trying to make those killers suspicious? They are all masters, twenty people, even if we can solve them all, I'm not sure how to protect everyone."
Zhou Yu glanced at Cao Pi, and Cao Pi pulled Zhou Yu's sleeve with a painful expression on his face.
"What's wrong?" Zhou Yu said.
"I want... to relieve myself." Cao Pi said.
Zhou Yu: "..."
"Small or big?" Sun Ce said.
"Small." Cao Pi said.
"Me too." Sun Quan said.
Zhou Yu took a deep breath and said, "Wait, I'll find a way."
These dead men probably didn't know that Zhou Yu brought a few children on the road, but they couldn't be suspicious. Zhou Yu thought about it, and it's better not to let them know, and said, "You two take turns to get out of the car to relieve your hand. Clothes changed."
Said Zhou Yu got off the car and ordered the team to stop first.
Everyone waited aside, Zhou Yu said: "Mrs. Sun needs to rest for a while, everyone go to the side of the road and wait."
Fortunately, Mrs. Wu was in the car, and it was inconvenient for everyone to get too close, so they listened to Zhou Yu's order and waited on the side of the road, while Zhao Yun parked the car a little further away and helped Mrs. Wu out of the car.
Cao Pi, wearing Sun Quan's clothes, also came down and went to the grass by the side of the road.
After a while, Cao Pi returned to the car first, and Sun Quan ran out of the car after a while. Zhou Yu tried his best to talk to the dead men, but most of them nodded or shook their heads, or answered briefly, not to offend him, nor to talk to him deeply. Zhou Yu secretly thought that this group of people might not be easy to deal with.
"Sun Quan!" Zhou Yu shouted, "Don't run around!"
"Hey!" Sun Quan replied in the grass.
After a while, Mrs. Wu took Sun Quan back to the car, and Zhao Yun drove the car and drove.
At noon, in order to gain time, dry food was eaten on the road. At dusk, Zhao Yun parked the car beside the inn next to the official road, Wu led Sun Quan to get off the car, and Zhou Yu led a group of people into the inn to eat, pay, and order food . This shop is very small, and the owner is just the waiter. He saw a big business, so he hurriedly greeted him.
"Don't bother Master Zhou." A follower who was obviously the captain of the dead soldiers said to him, "We eat dry food."
"Brothers have worked hard too." Zhou Yu whispered to him, "Come in and sit for a while even if you don't eat, I am afraid that Mrs. Sun will be suspicious, so she asked me about your background several times on the way... In case Sun Jian finds out I'm afraid I will be vigilant."
The captain thought for a while, and it was indeed the case, so he called people from the backyard and gave a few simple instructions. A group of people rushed into the inn, occupied a place, and began to eat dry food by themselves.
Zhou Yu took the kettle and went to the low table to wash the cups of Wu Shi and Sun Quan. Zhao Yun stood aside and listened to his orders. Zhou Yu said to him, "Go down to the kitchen and have two plates of bacon cut."
Zhao Yun went right away, and a group of dead men sat in the corner eating dry food. Zhou Yu reminded Wu with his eyes, and shook the medicine powder into the kettle with one hand.
Mrs. Wu responded with eyes that she knew. Sun Quan watched curiously, but did not speak.
After a while, Zhou Yu ate with Wu Shi and the others when the dishes were served, but no one moved the bacon that was brought to other people's tables by the waiter. Some people got up to fetch water, but Zhou Yu said, "Drink some wine." The waiter served the wine, and he lifted the kettle to the counter, and the waiter went to the backyard to drink, but the captain said: "Don't bother, just drink some water."
Speaking of the captain coming over and lifting the kettle, Zhou Yu said again: "Let them burn some more."
The captain waved his hand to indicate that there was no need, and went over with the water bottle, and distributed it to the crowd.
Zhou Yu ate the food quietly, and then said to Sun Quan, "This place is no better than the general's mansion. If it doesn't taste good, eat more, or you won't have the strength."
Sun Quan hummed, and Zhao Yun squatted in the corridor to eat, without looking back.
At this time, Zhou Yu's heartbeat was already rushing to the limit. He didn't look back, wondering if the soldiers had drunk the pot of water. After a while, he heard the captain stand up and say, "I'll boil some more water." Grab the pot and head to the backyard.
The captain was fetching water in the backyard, while Zhao Yun picked up hay to feed the horses. The captain said: "Feed our horses too."
"Yes, sir." Zhao Yun said.
The captain put down the kettle, opened the back door, and as he walked past the carriage, he had a sudden thought, stepped forward and pulled the curtain, and took a look inside.
However, with just such a glance, a sharp sword appeared in front of him in an instant, and a pitchfork flew from behind. Sun Ce struck a sword from the curtain of the car, and cooperated with Zhao Yun, the two instantly killed the captain on the spot!
Zhao Yun immediately put down the pitchfork, took off his coat and threw it into the car. Sun Ce dragged the captain's body aside.
At this moment, the poisonous nature took effect.
"Why is it dark?"
"Lights went out?"
"poisonous!"
"Be careful!"
The dead men immediately became chaotic, Zhao Yun covered Sun Quan's mouth, Zhou Yu rolled up the dishes on the table, and the two immediately got up, and were about to escape from the inn, when wind came from behind, a dead man shouted angrily: "Don't let them Run away! Do it!"
Zhou Yu turned around, drew his sword neatly, but did not swing the sword, pointed the long sword at the dead man's chest, the dead man rushed over, hit the sword blade with his chest, and was pierced cleanly.
"Get in the car first!" Sun Ce roared.
The waiter yelled, "Masters! What is this going to do!"
Zhou Yu grabbed the waiter by his collar and kicked him out. The hall of the inn was in chaos, and the dead soldiers who were blind all drew their swords to fight. Sun Ce went down with a few sticks, but the opponent could be recognized by the wind. Sun Ce said loudly :"you go first!"
Zhou Yu retreated into the kitchen, and the two retreated while fighting. Sun Ce pulled out firewood from the stove, whistling and flying. Sound, fluttering.
The two ran out of the backyard, Zhao Yun had already harnessed the cart, Zhou Yu untied the soldiers' horses and tied them together, Sun Ce got on the horse, Zhao Yun swung his long whip and shouted, "Let's go!"
Inside the inn, the waiter rushed out, and Zhou Yu shouted at him: "These horses will pay for your inn! Let's go! Go to Danyang!"
"Take this!"
Sun Ce handed the waiter a roll of warrants, telling him to find his uncle, and then everyone galloped up the official road.
As night fell and it was snowing all over the sky, Zhou Yu looked back and saw that the inn at the foot of the mountain was on fire. Guessing that the waiter couldn't avoid it, he simply set fire to the inn.
"I'm really sorry for him." Zhou Yu said, "It's a disaster."
Sun Ce said: "Twenty horses are enough for him to buy a new property. Although they are military horses, I guess Yuan Shu sent this group of people to kill people and silence them. They are not branded immediately. It is not difficult to change hands."
Zhao Yun said: "I'm afraid Yuan Shu's pursuers are already on the way. The two virtuous brothers will rest for a while, and have to hurry tonight."
Zhou Yu was worried along the way, and he had to say that this escape was due to luck. Now that the tight string was finally loosened, he and Sun Ce got into the carriage and rested in the carriage for a while.
There were so many people in the car, Zhou Yu hugged Sun Quan, Sun Ce hugged Cao Pi, and finally squeezed out. After sleeping in the middle of the night, Zhou Yu woke up and found that Zhao Yun had taken Sun Ce's place, and Cao Pi was sleeping soundly in his arms. Zhengxiang.
"Yu'er." Mrs. Wu said, still awake, "Thanks to you this time, if you hadn't saved our family..."
"Auntie." Zhou Yu said with a smile, "If it weren't for Bo Fu, I would have died in the lonely mountain of Chaohu Lake, or in Luoyang. Anyway, I don't know where I went, so don't talk about it."
Wu Shi smiled. Zhou Yu said again: "God open your eyes, it can be seen that the escape today is also due to the luck of these two boys, Sun Quan and Cao Pi."
"Exactly." Mrs. Wu said, "I heard your uncle often mentioned Cao Mengde, he must be a big man, this time we all rely on his great fortune."
Zhou Yu smiled and stretched his numb arms, Wu put his arms around Sun Quan to make him sleep more comfortably, while Zhou Yu opened the door of the carriage and sat on the driver's seat.
"Go to sleep for a while." Zhou Yu said to Sun Ce.
A lamp was lit in front of Sun Ce's car, and he concentrated on driving the night road. He said to Zhou Yu, "We will be safe after getting out of Bagong Mountain. Yuan Shu will not be able to catch up with us."
"There is still one pass." Zhou Yu said: "Go and recharge your batteries, I'm afraid this sentry post will be difficult."
"It's okay." Sun Ce said confidently, "They don't have Feiyu."
Feiyu fluttered back and landed in front of the car, staring at the surroundings. Zhou Yu said, "Go downhill slowly."
The winding mountain road leads to the depths of the valley, and after passing through the long canyon, it will come out of the mountain. Zhou Yu and Sun Ce are leaning against the car door side by side, looking at the swaying light on the front of the car.
"I think in our lifetime," Sun Ce said with a smile, "mostly we will never encounter such a dangerous situation like today. When I saw the gate of Shouchun City closed, I almost thought I would never see you again."
"I hope." Zhou Yu said lightly, "the days to come are still long, but it shouldn't be more troublesome than this time."
"Fortunately, I came with a quick wit!" Sun Ce laughed.
Zhou Yu pushed Sun Ce's head, and Sun Ce smiled to himself, "I'm also expected to be a counselor."
Zhou Yu squinted at him, meaning: You
Sun Ce leaned against the front of the car with a smile, narrowed his eyes, and the stars all over the sky receded. Zhou Yu took the whip, and the carriage headed northwest.
In the early morning of the next day, outside Bagong Mountain, Zhao Yun carried the sleepy Cao Pi onto his horse.
"Farewell here, two virtuous brothers." Zhao Yun cupped his fists towards Sun Ce and Zhou Yu.
"The kindness of helping each other will never be forgotten." Sun Ce said to Zhao Yun, "If you intend to go to Jiangdong in the future, come to me and Gongjin anytime."
Zhao Yun smiled and said, "There will be a time later."
Zhou Yu and Sun Ce watched Zhao Yun, and left the valley through the thick white mist at dawn. Sun Ce shook his head and said, "It's a pity."
"As a man," Zhou Yu said as he got into the carriage, "I won't abandon Gongsun Zan to vote for you, give up—"
Sun Ce jumped into the carriage and said with a smile, "You think me too lowly. Don't you know how many people with lofty ideals want to hang out with me?"
"You!" Zhou Yu said, "I don't know who doesn't know how to follow you."
"Of course there are people who don't have long eyes." Sun Cele said, "Isn't there one in front of you? Hmm?"
The corner of Zhou Yu's mouth turned up slightly, and he said something casually, ignoring him, but Sun Ce dragged Zhou Yu to make him explain clearly, the two of them chattered and drove out of Bagong Mountain.
However, when they arrived in Shanyang County, Sun Jian did not come when they had made an appointment. It was Sun Jian's subordinate Cheng Pu who came. Seeing Zhou Yu get off the car, Cheng Pu stepped forward to worship, and said in a deep voice, "My lord thanks Zhou Yu for his great virtue."
"What's the point of worrying about such a trivial matter?" Zhou Yu hurriedly helped Cheng Pu up. Sun Ce couldn't wait for Sun Jian, and his heart was probably stumped by something again. He said, "General Cheng, my father is going to war?"
Cheng Pu took off his helmet, he had gray hair, but he looked very young, with scars on his face, his long white hair was especially striking, and said: "The general received Yuan Gong's handwriting and dispatched troops to attack Liu Biao."
"What?" Zhou Yu's heart skipped a beat.
Sun Ce said disapprovingly, "What happened to Liu Biao?"
"Jingzhou does not obey orders." Cheng Pu said, "My lord went to conquer, and asked me to escort my wife along the way, and return to the southeast to Danyang."
Zhou Yu fell silent, knowing that this was Sun Ce's family matter, and he shouldn't interrupt. Wu opened the curtain and asked what happened, and Zhou Yu reported it one by one.
Cheng Pu led 500 people, and Sun Ce led them down the river. Sun Ce got into the car and discussed with Zhou Yu for a while. Zhou Yu thought about it—Sun Jian had received military rations years ago, so he shouldn't have left Hangu Pass at this time. However, Liu Biao in Jingzhou has been holding back his troops for a long time, and Jingzhou has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. It is also common sense for Sun Jian to covet Jingzhou.
Presumably Sun Jian also felt Yuan Shu's persecution. If he didn't seize the territory and become king as soon as possible, it would be difficult to compete with Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao and others. However, it is absolutely impossible for Sili to choose a location. Once Luoyang is occupied, all directions will attack immediately, so they have to retreat and go south.
Jiangzuo involves too much, and there are many families, and it is next to Yuan Shu, so it is not as cost-effective as Jingzhou. Of course, the premise is that Liu Biao can be killed. And the crusade against Liu Biao happened to be famous because Liu Biao did not accept the king's orders and did not participate in the campaign against Dong. The killing of Liu Biao was mostly liked by the princes, and no one would send troops to rescue Jingzhou.
Zhou Yu had to admit that this was an excellent strategy. The only question was whether Sun Jian could defeat Liu Biao when he went south to Jingzhou.
"You have to go to support your father." Zhou Yu said.
"What can five hundred men do?" Sun Ce said, "Don't worry, since he sent troops, he knew exactly what to do."
"I guess Yuan Shu will be on alert as soon as he moves Jingzhou." Zhou Yu said, "We can't go to Danyang now, otherwise Yuan Shu will be too troublesome if he wants to transfer troops to Danyang."
Sun Ce stopped talking, and after listening to what had happened, Mrs. Wu replied, "Yu'er is right, if your father acquires Jingzhou, Yuan Shu may make things difficult for us and my mother again, and now there is no better way than going back to Changsha. "
"Yes." Zhou Yu said, "Go to my house."
Wu was taken aback, and Zhou Yu said, "Yuan Shu must have set up checkpoints on the two roads to Danyang and Changsha, but he must not have expected that when he went to Shu County, Auntie and Sun Quan would stay at my house for a short time, so that General Sun After taking Jingzhou, we will be escorted by General Cheng Pu, and we will meet again in Jingzhou."
Wu said: "I'm afraid I'll disturb your mother..."
Zhou Yu said, "How could it be? If you want to go, she won't even have time to be happy."
Knowing that Zhou Yu's move was like doing him a great favor, Sun Ce said in a few words, "Gong Jin is also homesick, mother should not refuse anymore."
Wu Shi smiled, knowing the meaning of Zhou Yu's words, so she stopped pushing.
In the spring of the second year of Chuping, Zhou Yu led his troops back to Shu County within less than half a year of going north.
Cheng Pu's army was stationed in the lonely mountain, and only sent more than 20 people to protect it. Zhou Yu returned home. Although he was only separated from his mother for half a year, he seemed to have experienced many things. .
The house suddenly became lively, and it took Zhou Yu a lot of effort to settle down one by one. The spring was bright and beautiful, the peach blossoms were flying, and it was another spring of the year. This time, the two of them were finally able to live a peaceful and leisurely life.
However, for Zhou Yu, there is no spring that needs to be more busy than this year.
He first repaid his mother. This time in Shouchun, Zhou's mother listened quietly in the garden, and said: "Mrs. Sun also mentioned this matter. As for the salary distributed by General Yuan, mother will keep it for you. The monthly ones are sealed in the back warehouse, if you don’t want to accept them, just send someone back.”
Zhou Yu said, "My child knows that Yuan Shu must hate me this time."
Mother Zhou said indifferently: "What you did was righteous, Yuan Shu is unrighteous, why should you be afraid of him?"
Zhou Yu thought it was the same, the unrighteous will have to cut their own backs, and said: "It is not necessary to go back. When I was on duty in the general's mansion, my son did a lot for him. After all, Yuxi is in his hands in the end. In exchange for Sun Family members, you can’t say that he’s going to be tricked.”
Zhou's mother said again: "Madam Sun is very worried about taking Jingzhou."
Zhou Yu said: "This child has nothing to do. It is said that General Sun never listens to others. I have one more request."
Zhou's mother looked at Zhou Yu, Zhou Yu said, and Zhou's mother said: "If you think it's okay, do it."
Zhou Yu hummed, and reported to her mother that after a few days in a row, she took out the silver in storage and sealed up some of it. The property that had not been immovable in these years was cashed in, leaving four hundred acres of mulberry fields, and a total of money was realized.