In this matter, Zhang Zhao, Zhou Yu, and others did indeed recognize Sun Quan's abilities, believing that he could lead them to great achievements, and wholeheartedly supported him.
Zhou Yu has decided to stay in Wu Commandery and serve as the Central Protector of the Army under Sun Quan, jointly managing military and political affairs with Zhang Zhao.
At this time, Cao Cao had already returned to Jiangdong and appointed Sun Quan as General Who Subdues the Barbarians.
Although Sun Quan inherited his elder brother's subordinates, he was only referred to as a general.
Aside from genuine supporters like Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu, there were others who thought Sun Quan had gotten a free ride, taking advantage of the favorable situation left by Sun Ce's death, and didn't truly admire him.
Only Zhou Yu treated Sun Quan with the courtesy due to a ruler and his subject.
At that time, Xiao Qiao had already rushed back to Wu County from Baqiu.
Because her brother-in-law Sun Ce suddenly passed away, Qiao Manman worried about her sister Qiao Jingjing day and night.
As soon as she returned, she stayed at the Sun residence for several days to keep Qiao Jingjing company.
Qiao Manman was unaware of Qiao Jingjing's resolute determination.
She kept comforting her older sister:
“Zhou Lang repeatedly told me that when Ma Yuan replied to Emperor Guangwu in the past, he said that in the present situation, it is not only the ruler who chooses his ministers, but also the ministers who choose their rulers.”
Sister, don't worry!
General Zhongmou trusted virtuous and ambitious people and accepted talented and capable individuals. I have also heard some so-called philosophers make some mysterious arguments, saying that the one who succeeds to the Mandate of Heaven and replaces the Liu family will surely rise from the southeast.
Some enthusiasts even actually calculated the calendar and observed the situation, believing that the establishment of an imperial dynasty would also take place in the southeast.
We are now in the southeast.
It was also an era in which ambitious people flocked to the ranks of heroes.
Sister, although your husband has tragically passed away, you must take good care of yourself and not grieve too much!
Xiao Qiao also brought up a conversation Zhou Yu had with her, in which he comforted her sister, saying that although her brother-in-law was dead, the Sun family was still thriving.
Qiao Jingjing said she wasn't sad, but how could she possibly do that?
From then on, in other people's eyes, she truly was a widow with no one to rely on after her husband's death.
Although Qiao Jingjing was sober, she couldn't help but cry until her eyes were red every day.
The entire Sun family was devastated by Sun Ce's death, the rise of Sun Quan, and the grief of Lady Wu, who fell ill.
It was a scene of chaos tinged with sadness.
Sun Shangxiang also couldn't eat for several days because of her elder brother's death.
She had intended to visit her sister-in-law to check on the situation of the mother and children, but as soon as she arrived at the entrance of Fu Garden, she was reminded of her elder brother's voice and smile, and Sun Shangxiang couldn't help but feel sad again.
Those days were truly miserable.
But that's life; others won't pity your situation and let you off the hook.
When someone is in a pitiful situation, they may not receive timely help, but could instead be subjected to overwhelming and malicious attacks.
First, after Sun Ce's death, news spread that Sun Quan had succeeded him, while Cao Cao was far away in the north and showed no obvious signs of action.
However, problems arose first in the six counties of Jiangdong.
The first to rebel was Lujiang City.
Li Shu, the bandit leader of Lujiang City, was dead, but because his followers and subordinates were still alive, they were the first to raise their banners and refused to accept Sun Quan's rule.
They also repeatedly claimed that Sun Quan was an incompetent person.
Fortunately, Sun Ce had left Han Dang and two thousand men to guard outside Lujiang City beforehand.
Having sensed the momentum, Han Dang boldly led two thousand men into Lujiang City to quell the rebellion.
However, the situation in Lujiang was far less clear than Han Dang had imagined.
Lujiang City is a vital passage. People from the north who want to go south will definitely pass through Lujiang, and people from Jiangdong who want to go north will also definitely pass through Lujiang.
At that time, many people from the Wu Commandery and Kuaiji area fled, wanting to escape Jiangdong and go to Cao Cao's territory via Lujiang.
Even Cao Zhi and Guo Jia fled overnight.
A Luo had already been secretly injured by Guo Jia's scheme, but he still risked his life to return to Fu Garden to report the situation to Qiao Jingjing.
Qiao Jingjing was also overwhelmed and momentarily neglected Guo Jia.
Sun Quan was very anxious because of the incident in Lujiang, and he had been discussing it with Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao for an entire afternoon.
Sun Quan meant either that Zhou Yu should immediately lead troops to Lujiang City to support Han Dang, or that he himself should personally lead the troops there.
But Zhang Zhao disagreed.
Zhang Zhao's objection was that Sun Ce had just died and Sun Quan had just ascended the throne, and Jiangdong was in chaos. If something were to happen to Sun Quan at this time, Jiangdong would be completely ruined and could never be salvaged.
The struggle was so intense that neither side could convince the other.
Because Sun Ce's dying words were, "For matters concerning foreign affairs, consult Zhou Yu; for matters concerning domestic affairs, consult Zhang Zhao."
The war was originally Zhou Yu's responsibility, but Zhang Zhao believed that it also concerned Sun Quan's health and the stability of the internal government, so he had to intervene.
The discussion went on until late at night without reaching a conclusion.
Yuan Shiyi was worried about Sun Quan's health and heard that there was a great deal of anxiety in the study at the front, so he had no choice but to act.
Yuan Shiyi then made a special trip to Fu Garden to find his sister-in-law, Qiao Jingjing.
When Yuan Shiyi arrived, Lady Qiao from Zhou Yu's household was talking to Qiao Jingjing by the window.
Yuan Shiyi walked in and said, "Sister-in-law, how are you feeling today?"
They should have exchanged more pleasantries and shown more concern, but Yuan Shiyi was so preoccupied with the previous events that he couldn't help himself.
"Things outside shouldn't bother you, sister-in-law! But the general, Zhou Zhongjun, and Zhang Changshi are at odds!"
Yuan Shiyi was a smart woman; she knew that many people were initially dissatisfied with Sun Quan's new rule.
If I were to fall out with Zhou Yu and Zhang Zhao again, wouldn't I end up being abandoned by everyone and have no one to support me?
Whether this position is secure or not is another matter; if things go wrong and someone loses their head, that would be a truly tragic situation.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
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