dognovel Chapter 132 Surrender to Guan Yu, not to Cao Cao
Chapter 132 Surrender to Guan Yu, not to Cao Cao
Upon hearing this, Guan Yu picked up the letter that Lü Meng had sent again and pondered as he read it, saying, "We can agree to Lü Meng's request. After all, we still need the Wu army to divert the pressure from the Wei army. We can't push the Wu army too hard."
"But we can't let Lü Meng have it too easy. Make him leave 200,000 shi of grain as tolls, and at the same time, give me a clear list of the specific locations of the major estates in Wu County and the amount of supplies in each estate. As the Grand Commander of Eastern Wu, he can't possibly not know these things."
To be honest, Guan Yu really wanted to break out of the city right now and personally chop off Lü Meng's head to avenge the day he crossed the river in white robes.
But he was no longer the naive boy who sold mung beans on the street. He knew what it meant to prioritize the greater good. For the sake of the Northern Expedition, he would let Lü Meng go for now and settle accounts with him after defeating the Wei army.
Wang Fu picked up his brush and wrote, then handed it to Guan Yu, saying, "My lord, what do you think of this?"
After reading it, Guan Yu said, "Okay, send it to Lü Meng. Also, write a letter to An Guo, asking him to send troops to take Zhang An as soon as possible, and then settle the rear before leading his army north to join us. Remember to bring Zhang Cheng and Zhou Xun with me."
"Now is the time when we need people. I think we can win over these people, especially Zhou Xun. If he joins us, we might be able to get some of Zhou Yu's legacy."
Wang Fu nodded and said, "I'll go right away."
Guan Yu then said, "Bo Miao, take 10,000 troops and rush to Wu County immediately. Be sure to occupy Wu County before Zhang Zhi does. As long as you keep Zhang Zhi out of Wu County, I believe you can easily deal with him. After Lü Meng is sent away, I will send troops to support you."
Although Wu County is a large city, even the largest city needs people to defend it. Currently, the private armies of various tribes in Jiangdong have all been transferred to Lü Meng's side, leaving Wu County and even the entire Wu Commandery quite vulnerable. Deng Zhi can take over directly there.
However, if Zhang Zhi were to enter Wu County first, things would be troublesome. With the strong walls of Wu County, Zhang Zhi could hold out until the Wei army arrived.
Therefore, whether his plan to occupy Wu Commandery to resist the Wei army could be realized depended on whether he could occupy Wu County before Zhang Zhi.
Deng Zhi nodded and said, "It is possible, but my lord, it is impossible to keep the departure of tens of thousands of troops out of the city a secret from Lü Meng. What if he sends troops to stop us?"
A murderous glint appeared in Guan Yu's eyes, and he said in a chilling tone, "Then Lü Meng just doesn't want to live anymore. I'll grant his wish."
Deng Zhi was thrilled and bowed respectfully, saying, "Yes..."
Before Lü Meng could reply, Guan Yu began preparing to send troops to Wu County. At the same time, Lü Meng also received Guan Yu's letter and, after much deliberation, reluctantly agreed.
Two hours later, Deng Zhi led his troops out of the city to Wu County. Deng Hong went out with him, but instead headed towards Jinqu.
That night, Lü Meng secretly left behind 200,000 shi of grain and a letter and withdrew.
They did indeed evacuate secretly, leaving in such a hurry that no one was notified, and then some people started to get restless.
On the day Guan Yu captured Jianye, the first thing he did upon entering the city was to expel the city's officials and eliminate any potential threats to the city's defenses.
The officials who were expelled naturally included Zhou Xun and his wife, Sun Luban.
The couple had no choice but to live in a manor outside the city. Not long after, Zhou Xun was ordered to follow Zhang Cheng to fight against Guan Xing. He never returned from this campaign.
Therefore, currently only Sun Luban, her mother-in-law Xiao Qiao, and her brother-in-law Zhou Yin's family live in Zhou Family Manor.
That noon, Sun Luban was reading in the lakeside pavilion as usual when her uncle Zhou Yin suddenly rushed over and shouted urgently, "Sister-in-law, something terrible has happened!"
Sun Luban disliked his uncle, who indulged in sensual pleasures and neglected his duties. Hearing this, he asked with displeasure, "What is it now?"
Zhou Yin was somewhat afraid of his domineering sister-in-law. Upon hearing this, he shrank back and said weakly, "News from the front lines says that Brother Zhang Chenghe has been captured by Guan Xing again, and the southern expeditionary army has been completely wiped out once more."
Sun Luban was so shocked that his mouth dropped open, and the bamboo slip in his hand fell to the ground.
Sun Luban was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses, and then he keenly grasped the key point and asked urgently, "What did the Grand Commander say?"
She knew Guan Xing wouldn't kill Zhou Xun; if he wanted to kill the prisoners from last time, he would have done so already, and wouldn't wait until now.
She was also aware of the consequences of Zhang Cheng's second defeat, so she didn't waste any words and directly asked about Lü Meng's reaction. With such a big incident, Lü Meng, as the Grand Commander, had to find a way to deal with it.
Zhou Yin said weakly, "The Grand Commander withdrew last night, and tens of thousands of troops outside the city have all disappeared. They are probably thirty or fifty miles away by now."
"What?!" Sun Luban immediately became furious, slamming his fist on the table and shouting, "Damn Lü Meng and Zhang Zhao, how could they not inform me of such a major event as the retreat?"
Wu Jun has already withdrawn, and she's still sitting at home clueless, completely oblivious. If Guan Yu were to break out of the city at this moment, wouldn't she instantly become a prisoner?
Zhou Yin asked, "Sister-in-law, should we go after the army? Maybe we can still catch up if we do now."
Sun Luban retorted irritably, "They never intended to take you along, and you're chasing after them without even realizing it's embarrassing?"
"Besides, our private soldiers have all been ruined by that good-for-nothing Zhang Cheng along with your elder brother. Now there are only a few dozen guards left in the whole manor. Aren't we afraid of encountering bandits if we go out of the city with so few people? What if we encounter marauding soldiers instead of bandits?"
The order during the army's retreat is unlikely to be good. What if she encounters a chaotic army that ignores her identity and does something to her? Wouldn't she be unjustly killed?
There are plenty of these kinds of messy things in chaotic times. Even if the odds are slim, she doesn't want to gamble on them. It's not worth it, right?
Zhou Yin was a complete playboy and had no idea what to do in this situation. He could only say, "Then what should we do? Why don't we just stay at home and be obedient? Anyway, there are still garrison troops at Ruxukou, so the Wei army can't get through for the time being."
Sun Luban glared at his brother-in-law as if he were an idiot and scolded, "Are you stupid? Lu Meng has already withdrawn the garrison at Ruxukou, so what's the point of keeping them around? To guard the gate for Guan Yu?"
Zhou Yin was sweating profusely from the scolding but dared not refute it. He asked again, "Then what should we do? Why don't we call on the people to occupy the county town and surrender directly when the Wei army marches south?"
Sun Luban was so angry he was speechless. After a long while, he finally cursed, "Surrender to the Wei army? How could you even think of that? Don't you know what kind of person Cao Cao is? You want me and my mother to go and serve Cao Cao in bed?"
"Uh..." Zhou Yin then remembered that Cao Cao had built the Bronze Sparrow Terrace to take in his mother and aunt, and he immediately felt ashamed.
Sun Luban paced back and forth anxiously, and after thinking for a long time, she said, "We can't go after Lü Meng. It's not safe for my mother and me, an orphan and a widow, to travel a long distance. We also can't join the Wei army. My mother doesn't want to be abused by that old geezer Cao Cao."
"Moreover, with Lü Meng's departure, all sorts of bandits, thugs, and local bullies will emerge. Staying in the manor is not safe. Jianye is the safest place now. Go and tell Mother to pack our things. We'll leave now and make sure we get to Jianye before dark."
Zhou Yin said, "But we were driven out by Guan Yu. Do you think that red-faced thief will let us in? Besides, what would it mean if we entered Jianye at this time? Would it be considered treason?"
Sun Luban said speechlessly, "Times have changed. We are no longer a threat to Guan Yu."
"Besides, what's wrong with defecting to the enemy? I'm just a woman, unwanted by my parents. Am I not allowed to make a living on my own?"
"Besides, it's better to serve Guan Yu than Cao Cao. Guan Yu is our own relative, and he has a good reputation for not forcing me to serve him in bed. I can't guarantee anything about Cao Cao. Go quickly."
"Oh, oh..." Zhou Yin didn't dare to refute and quickly left.
Sun Luban immediately went back to her room to pack her things, and with just a few daily necessities, she went to meet her mother-in-law, Xiao Qiao.
When they arrived at Xiao Qiao's room, they found her sitting on the edge of the bed in a daze instead of packing her things. They said anxiously, "Mom, what are you doing? Hurry up and pack!"
Xiao Qiao was also somewhat afraid of this domineering daughter-in-law, and tentatively asked, "Lu Ban, do we have to go into the city? Can't we stay in the manor?"
She didn't really want to see Guan Yu because her deceased husband Zhou Yu had a bad relationship with him, and she herself was also somewhat afraid of Guan Yu, who exuded a murderous aura.
Sun Luban said, "Mother, are you confused? If Lü Meng leaves, Cao Cao will come. You don't want to be imprisoned in the Bronze Sparrow Terrace by that traitor Cao, do you?"