Chapter 126: Sun Ce Struck by Lightning

At dawn, the sounds of battle within Wu County had ceased entirely.

The transition between the old and new regimes was remarkably uneventful, likely due to the limited number of defenders stationed there.

Inside the city, the commander Zhu Zhi, seeing the situation hopeless, took his own life. The general Song Qian met a tragic end under Zhao Fan’s spear. Various officers and soldiers either perished or surrendered.

Meanwhile, Chu Feng acted swiftly, sending men to seize control of the families of the military households. By controlling these people, Sun Ce’s forces were bound to collapse.

Few could have anticipated that Chu Feng’s sudden strike would so thoroughly shatter Wu County, a result also linked to preexisting internal issues within the city.

It was reminiscent of the future event when Deng Ai crossed over seven hundred miles of mountains to surprise the enemy, causing the defending general to surrender without a fight. Moreover, Chu Feng’s prestigious status only made this outcome more inevitable.

At dawn, Chu Feng’s eyes glowed red.

He had not closed them all night and was now growing weary.

Liu Ye strode forward excitedly. “My lord, Wu County has been completely pacified. I have also dispatched letters to the county seats in Yuhang and neighboring regions, signaling them to surrender and cutting off any possibility of Sun Ce’s return.”

“Very well. Inform Xu Kun to assist Zhao Fan in moving south to pacify the counties, maintaining remote control over Kuaiji. We must utterly eliminate any chance of Sun Ce’s escape!” Chu Feng commanded decisively and immediately dispatched troops.

“Understood!”

“My lord, the city treasury has been counted: two hundred thirty million in silver, over two hundred thousand hu of grain, and countless antiques and paintings,” Liu Ye reported joyfully.

“That’s all?” Chu Feng frowned. Sun Ce was indeed poor; as a regional lord, he must have spent most on rewards.

“Then, allocate half of the funds to reward the valiant soldiers and generals who fought bravely in this battle. Use the other half of the grain for disaster relief,” Chu Feng decided after some thought.

Only by rewarding his troops would they fight even harder next time. This would also help him secure the loyalty of the local people who once supported the Sun family.

After all, the Sun family had held prestige for two generations, and he must find ways to erase that influence.

“Your wisdom is unparalleled, my lord!” Liu Ye exclaimed in admiration.

“Oh, by the way, the four great families of the city—the Lu, Zhang, Gu, and Zhu clans [note: this Zhu family is not the same as the Jiangdong Zhu family]—have all sent emissaries to express goodwill.”

Hearing this, Chu Feng felt slightly troubled.

During Sun Ce’s reign, the Jianghuai faction was favored, and these four families were largely sidelined, kept under control by force. Sun Ce knew that to expand his territory, he could not empower them; giving them power meant sharing interests, and once these families gained control, they would lack ambition.

In later times, Eastern Wu was governed by the buqu system, controlled by aristocratic families—how could such a structure maintain combat effectiveness or the will to strive for dominance?

When Sun Ce was near death, aware that Eastern Wu lacked the capacity for external expansion in the short term, he adopted a policy of appeasement and decentralization. It can be said that these four families began to serve the Sun clan only after Sun Ce’s demise.

“Ziyang, the four great families of Jiangdong are no easy matter. If managed well, that’s good. But if mishandled, they could become a burden,” Chu Feng mused.

“My lord, Shouchun is the site of four battles and the future foundation of Wu Commandery. Since it is the foundation, it must be utilized. However, I believe these four families should govern politics, not command the military,” Liu Ye said frankly.

“Factional checks and balances are the way of power!” he added.

Liu Ye spoke plainly, knowing Chu Feng understood this well and was merely testing him.

Chu Feng pondered briefly and made a decision. Unlike the Sun family, who feared losing control over the four families, what did the Yuan clan have to fear?

Still, these local powers needed to be watched carefully.

Of course, these local powers were not without merit. The Zhu family were fierce warriors and vanguards, from a military lineage. Lu Yi of the Lu family was a pillar and later one of the four great commanders of Wu, a brilliant general no less than Zhou Gongjin.

Gu Yong of the Gu family was a talented statesman, probably the Zhang family, represented by Zhang Yun and Zhang Wen, father and son, lacked presence, though their family was indeed a cradle for cultivating talent.

This was the foundation of aristocratic rule in the late Han period.

“Since they have come, let us settle. Now that Cao Cao has attacked Shouchun and Sun Ce remains unpunished, Wu County must not be lost again. Nominate Lu Yi of the Lu family and Zhu Huan of the Zhu family as cavalry commanders.”

“Nominating Gu Yong as Chief Clerk, and Zhang Yun as Administrator of Wu Commandery!” Chu Feng decided swiftly, seeing that empowering the four families now offered more benefits than risks.

Liu Ye’s eyes flickered as he agreed, reflecting inwardly that while Sun Ce had relied on the Jianghuai faction, Chu Feng was doing much the same—perhaps this foretold future developments.

“Oh, right, Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong, and other civil officials have submitted resignations.”

“These old fellows understand the art of survival well,” Chu Feng muttered with a sneer. “Approve their resignations and send them some fine wine!”

These were all talents he needed to take care of.

“Understood!” Liu Ye nodded.

“My lord, with Wu County secured, we should prepare to aid Shouchun,” Liu Ye reminded once more.

“Yes, I have plans,” Chu Feng nodded.

Cao Cao, knowing Wu County had fallen to him, would likely hasten his siege. Chu Feng must act quickly but first must eliminate Sun Ce.

Sun Ce must never be allowed to revive.

——

The third year of Jian’an, summer, sixth month.

Chu Feng concealed his movements and seized Wu County. On the first day of the assault, the city was breached. The Sun clan suffered heavy casualties; Lady Wu took her own life, and Sun Yi died in battle.

He even sent men southward, causing places like Yuhang to surrender without a fight.

The Sun family’s legacy was shattered in an instant, suffering an unprecedented cataclysm.

——

At Piling City, the situation was dire.

The city’s defenders numbered only three thousand, and they were far from elite. After continuous attacks by Sun Ce’s forces, the soldiers were exhausted.

Watching the armor-clad troops scaling the city walls, Sun Ce’s handsome face broke into a smile. The final step to breaking Piling was within reach.

To Sun Ce, without Chu Feng, the Chu army was no different from the disorganized rabble he once faced under Yuan Shu—weak and easily crushed.

“Gongjin, it seems we will soon be celebrating with wine in Piling!” Sun Ce laughed proudly.

“Ha,” Zhou Yu chuckled lightly.

“My lord, after taking Piling and recapturing Dantu, we can join Cao Cao to encircle Chu Feng,” Cheng Pu said gravely.

He feared Chu Feng’s return and considered it best to annihilate him in one stroke.

Zhou Yu, however, sighed, “Recapturing Wu Commandery and Danyang is sufficient. As for killing Chu Feng, I doubt Cao Cao intends that.”

Sun Ce frowned, flicked his sleeve, and said, “Hmph, Cao Cao only uses us to distract Chu Feng. But that little thief Chu Feng, we shall meet again someday and surely kill him.”

At that moment, a horse galloped wildly from afar.

“My lord! Disaster! Wu County has fallen to Chu Feng!” The rider leapt off his horse, shouting urgently.

“What did you say? Wu County has been taken by Chu Feng? Impossible! He’s currently en route to aid Shouchun—how could he be in Wu County?” Sun Ce waved his hand dismissively, disbelief etched on his face.

Beside him, Zhou Yu’s expression darkened. He seemed plunged into an icy abyss, as if realizing something.

“My lord, we have been tricked,” said the rider.

“Chu Feng ostensibly marched to reinforce, but in truth, he took a detour to Wu County. That very night, the Xu clan betrayed us, and Wu County fell.”

Sun Ce froze as if struck by lightning, silent for a long time.