Chapter 146: I don't believe you even if you do whatever you want! Your brother is an honest man! Gongjin, there is a loophole in your plan!
Huang Gai pretended to surrender?

The same suspicion and surprise flashed in the eyes of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.

The two of them have always believed in Xiao Fang's amazing foresight, but this time was an exception.

It’s true that Sun Ce made the wrong choice in employing people.

It is also true that the generals of Jiangdong were dissatisfied with Sun Ce.

Huang Gai, the veteran, got anxious and angry and talked back to Sun Ce. There's nothing wrong with that.

Given Sun Ce's bloodthirsty and violent temper, it was reasonable for him to beat Huang Gai in rage.

For a veteran of two generations like Huang Gai, who was beaten in public by Sun Ce, how could he have the face to continue living in Jiangdong? It was only natural that he rebelled against Sun Ce in anger.

Zhuge Jin just happened to have Xiao Fang's approach, and like Huang Gai, he was dissatisfied with the Sun family. The two of them hit it off immediately, and it was so reasonable for Zhuge Jin to come and express his willingness to surrender.

Not to mention Lao Liu, even Zhuge Liang couldn't figure out the flaws in this no matter how hard he racked his brains.

"Brother-in-law, do you suspect that Sun Ce did not punish Huang Gai with a stick?"

"Then we can also send spies to the south bank to investigate. Brother said that Huang Gai was beaten in public, which means that countless people must have witnessed it. It should be easy for us to find out the truth."

"As long as it is true that Huang Gai was beaten, then his hatred for Sun Ce and his surrender to the lord should be sincere."

Zhuge Liang pointed out the most crucial point of the whole matter:

Was Huang Gai really beaten by Sun Ce?

Liu Bei also nodded repeatedly, obviously agreeing with Zhuge Liang's judgment.

Whether Huang Gai was beaten or not, at this moment, became the basis for judging whether he surrendered truly or falsely.

Xiao Fang had to admit that his brother-in-law grasped the key to the problem at a glance.

To be honest, if he didn't have foresight, he would have believed it with a normal person's thinking process.

But he is not a "normal person".

After taking into account the entire battlefield environment, the advantages and disadvantages of the two main forces, and various factors.

Xiao Fang easily deduced that if Zhou Yu wanted to help Sun Ce win a quick victory, he could only offer advice to Sun Ce and send people to pretend to surrender.

No matter whether the person sent by Sun Ce was Huang Gai, or whether the person who came as an envoy was his brother-in-law Zhuge Jin, it could not change Xiao Fang's "preconceived" judgment.

With this premise, the rest is easy. No matter how Sun Ce and Zhou Yu act, or how perfectly they lay out the situation, I can only say two words:
Do not believe!

As for the reason for not believing it, it is nothing more than shooting the arrow first and then drawing the target around the arrow, and then working it out backwards.

Facing the doubts from Lao Liu and the others, Xiao Fangbian said:

"There's no need to send spies to investigate. Huang Gai must have been beaten by Sun Ce."

"But this beating was nothing more than a self-torture trick by Zhou Lang."

A bitter plot?
As soon as these three words came out, Old Liu's eyes were still full of doubt.

However, Zhuge Liang's eyes changed, as if he had been hinted by Xiao Fang and began to guess something.

"Military Advisor, what is this...torture plan?"

Old Liu had to suppress his suspicion and asked hurriedly.

"Bitterness, as the name implies, means to make your own flesh suffer a little."

"Although Huang Gai is from Jingzhou, the fact that he has returned home with honor is not enough to convince the lord that he is sincere in his surrender."

"So Sun Ce had to stage a play, letting Huang Gai confront him in public about his mistake in employing people, and then publicly punishing Huang Gai with a stick in front of the three armies."

"After this beating, Huang Gai lost all face and his friendship with the Sun family was shattered. It was only natural for him to surrender to his lord with hatred."

"This is the so-called self-torture tactic."

"I think this plan must have come from Zhou Lang's handiwork!"

Xiao Fang slowly and steadily exposed the mystery of this self-torture tactic.

Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were shocked, and the firm belief in their eyes was easily shaken by Xiao Fang in an instant.

"As the military advisor said, it is possible that Huang Gai is pretending to surrender."

Liu Bei frowned, nodded at first, but then a look of doubt appeared on his face.

"But Huang Gai is not young anymore. Wouldn't he be half dead after being beaten by a military stick?"

"You paid such a huge price just to gain my trust, and stole the grain ship to pretend to surrender?"

"Even if he deceived my trust and sneaked into my camp, what did he intend to do?"

"Could it be that he wants to disrupt our army from both inside and outside so that he can cooperate with Sun Ce and take advantage of the situation to attack our water and land camps?"

"We have 40,000 soldiers. He is too confident to think that he can disrupt our camp with just a few surrendered soldiers."

Lao Liu's wisdom was also up to par. He deduced Huang Gai's intention of feigning surrender based on common sense.

If you calculate it this way, the effort and reward are indeed not proportional, and the cost-effectiveness is really not high.

"My lord, you underestimated Zhou Lang. If he just wanted Huang Gai to sneak into our camp and act as an insider, how could he have persuaded Huang Gai to endure such humiliation and suffer such great hardships?"

"Huang Gai's plan of self-torture and false surrender must be to achieve his goal in one fell swoop and defeat my 40,000-strong army!"

Xiao Fang's tone was meaningful, and there was a mystery in his eyes.

Defeat my 40,000-strong army in one fell swoop?

After hearing this last sentence, Lao Liu's face suddenly changed and he couldn't help but shudder.

"Military Advisor, what kind of evil plan does Zhou Yu have that is so powerful?"

Old Liu became alert and asked anxiously.

Xiao Fang smiled and said comfortingly:
"My lord, don't worry. With Fang here, no matter what evil plan he has, he will never succeed."

"As for Zhou Yu's evil plan, I am still just speculating and cannot make a complete conclusion."

"I thought that Zhou Lang might have another trick up his sleeve. If that's the case, then I'm certain of it."

Any other tricks?

This self-torture tactic is already cunning and impeccable enough, but there is actually a back-up plan?

Liu Bei's eyes flashed with fear, and he sighed, "Now it seems that Zhou Yu's wisdom is far superior to that of Kuai Yue."

"Fortunately, the military advisor is more skilled. Otherwise, I would have fallen into his trap without being prepared. The consequences would be unimaginable."

At this time.

Zhuge Liang, who was deep in thought, suddenly changed his expression and said anxiously:

"If my brother-in-law is right, Huang Gai is pretending to surrender. Could it be that my brother is also..."

Zhuge Liang shuddered, cold sweat rolling down his forehead, and dared not say anything more.

Xiao Fang naturally knew what he was afraid of.

He was afraid of his brother Zhuge Jin, who already knew the truth but still stood on the side of Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, and took advantage of his family relationship to pretend to surrender for Huang Gai.

If this is true, wouldn't Zhuge Jin be standing on the opposite side of Liu Bei and becoming his and Xiao Fang's mortal enemy?

If Liu Bei defeats Sun Ce one day, how will he deal with Zhuge Jin?

"Aliang, as your brother, don't you understand your brother's temperament?"

"Your elder brother is an honest man. If he really wants to help Sun Ce to fight against us, he will do so in an upright manner and will not do something like pretending to surrender."

"I guess he must have been kept in the dark, thinking that Huang Gai really wanted to surrender to the lord, and unintentionally became a pawn of Sun Ce and Zhou Yu."

Xiao Fang pointed out Zhuge Jin's character and comforted him with a faint smile.

In history, Zhuge Liang was sent as an envoy to the Eastern Wu and allied with Wu to fight against Cao. Sun Quan appreciated his talent and asked Zhuge Jin to come forward as an elder brother to persuade Zhuge Liang to leave Liu Bei and join Sun Quan's army.

As a result, Zhuge Jin refused Sun Quan's order in person, saying that the relationship between Liu Bang and Zhuge Liang as monarch and subject had been determined, and he would never do anything to alienate the monarch and his subject.

So in the current situation, Zhuge Jin would naturally not deceive his brother-in-law and younger brother and pretend to surrender to Liu Bang for the sake of Sun Ce's hegemony.

After hearing this, Zhuge Liang was shocked, and the worry on his face disappeared in an instant.

After a moment of silence, Zhuge Liang looked somewhat ashamed and said with a folded hand:
"Brother-in-law is right. My eldest brother is a loyal and honest man. He would never do such a thing."

"My brother-in-law has never met my eldest brother, but he knows my eldest brother better than I do. I am really ashamed."

At that moment, Zhuge Liang felt relieved and had no more worries.

Liu Bei asked Xiao Fang what to do next.

Xiao Fang looked towards the enemy camp on the south bank and sneered:

"My lord, you don't need to do anything. You just need to remain unchanged in the face of all changes and quietly watch Sun Ce, Zhou Yu and the others jump up and down."

“When they have jumped enough and come to me to seek death, my lord will launch a surprise attack and defeat Sun Ce’s 40,000 navy in one fell swoop!”

...

On the south bank of the Yangtze River, Fancheng Camp.

"Gongjin, the Huainan spies just sent back a secret report, there is news about the two Qiao sisters!"

After reading the secret report in his hand, Sun Ce raised it to Zhou Yu with joy.

Zhou Yu, who was leisurely sipping tea, suddenly perked up.

"The spies claimed that Mr. Qiao was deeply disgusted with Yuan Shu and had moved his family south from Shouchun, intending to return to his hometown in Wan County to take refuge."

"As soon as he moves back to Wan County, I will send troops across the river to capture Wan County and take the two Qiao sisters into my possession."

"Then I will be able to realize the ambition I made back then, marrying the two Qiao sisters and creating a great story!"

Zhou Yu showed joy on his face and hurriedly took the silk book from Sun Ce's hand.

He recalled that when they were still subordinates of Yuan Shu, they attended Qiao Xuan's birthday banquet in Shouchun and had a glimpse of the beautiful faces of his two daughters.

At that time, the two of them secretly vowed that when they achieved success in the future, they would marry the two Qiao sisters as their wives, and they would go from being good friends to brothers-in-law.

Now Sun Ce has become the lord of Jiangdong, and Zhou Yu has become Sun Ce's strategist, and can be said to have achieved great success.

Now he has the chance to fulfill his vow to marry the two Qiao sisters and embrace the beauties. How can Zhou Yu not be delighted by such a happy event in life?

"According to the spies, Mr. Qiao has been migrating south for only a few months. By then, we will have at least taken over Jiangxia County."

"Then we will be able to split our forces to attack the area north of the Yangtze River belonging to Lujiang County, and take over Wan County."

"At that time, I will have Jiangxia and marry the second Qiao. It will be a double happiness!"

Zhou Yu couldn't hide the smile on his face as he outlined a blueprint for Sun Ce's vision.

The two looked at each other and laughed.

Lu Su, who was standing by, should have said a few words of congratulations, but he just remained silent in deep thought, looking as if he was troubled by something.

Just at this moment, the tent curtain was lifted, and Huang Gai walked in excitedly, holding his waist.

"My lord, everything is just as Gongjin expected!"

"Zhuge Jin has returned from Jiangbei. He has met Liu Bei and Xiao Fang. As Gongjin expected, the master and his minister did not see the flaws and believed in my false surrender!"

"Gongjin, your self-torture trick is really powerful. Xiao Fang was also fooled by you!"

Huang Gai excitedly reported the good news.

Sun Ce was overjoyed when he heard this, and laughed loudly, clapping his hands:
"Today, we have received news about the two Qiao sisters, and Gongjin, your plan of feigning surrender has also succeeded. It is truly a double blessing!"

"Bring me some wine. I want to have a good drink today."

When the wine was full, Sun Ce drank several cups in a row, shouting that he was very happy.

Huang Gai, not caring about his unhealed flesh wounds, raised his glass and said with a smile:
"The plan of feigning surrender has been completed. The next step is to find a suitable time. I will lead my ships to feign surrender to Liu Bei, burn all his navy, and turn Liu Bei upside down!"

Sun Ce was extremely excited, he laughed loudly, and drank another cup of wine.

The atmosphere in the tent seemed to be boiling.

At this time.

Lu Su, who had been worried all along, suddenly thought of something and hurriedly bowed and said:
"My Lord, Gongjin, General Gongfu, I'm afraid we are too optimistic."

"Even if the feigned surrender plan succeeds, and the old general can successfully approach the enemy camp and launch fire ships, I'm afraid he won't be able to burn all of Liu Bei's navy!"

(End of this chapter)