Zhang Fei drew his sword to take his own life, but Liu Bei rushed forward, caught the blade, and flung it aside. Holding his brother’s shoulders, he wept and cried, “Our oath at the Peach Garden bound us like brothers born of the same womb. A garment torn can be mended—yet a severed limb can never be joined again. We swore not only to live together but also, if need be, to die together. Though we have lost our city and our families, how could I bear to leave you to perish alone? The walls were never ours to keep; our loved ones, though taken captive, will not be harmed by Lü Bu. We will plan their rescue. This moment’s despair is no reason to throw away your life!” Moved by these words, both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei wept in turn.
Lü Bu’s Promise—and Betrayal Yuan Shu, hearing that Lü Bu had seized Xuzhou, dispatched by night five hundred carts of grain, five hundred horses, ten thousand taels of gold and silver, and a thousand bolts of silk, urging Lü Bu to jointly attack Liu Bei. Elated, Lü Bu sent Gao Shun with fifty thousand troops in Liu Bei’s wake. Forewarned, Liu Bei slipped away under cover of rain, abandoning Xuyi and heading east toward Guangling. By the time Gao Shun’s army arrived, Liu Bei was gone. Gao Shun demanded the promised rewards; Ji Ling—Yuan Shu’s general—counselled patience, promising to intercede with Yuan Shu. Gao Shun relented and returned to Lü Bu, who, enraged that Yuan Shu’s letter now conditioned the gift on Liu Bei’s capture, prepared to march on Shouchun. Chen Gong urged caution: “Yuan Shu’s resources remain vast. Better to recall Liu Bei as our vanguard. Once he leads our armies, we can turn on Yuan Shu—and then on Yuan Shao—to carve out a world of our own.” Lü Bu accepted this counsel and sent word inviting Liu Bei back.
Liu Bei’s Return to Xuzhou Meanwhile Liu Bei, fresh from a disastrous strike on Guangling by Yuan Shu, met Lü Bu’s envoy bearing the new letter. Overjoyed at the alliance, he rode swiftly back to Xuzhou. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei warned, “Lü Bu is faithless—he cannot be trusted!” But Liu Bei replied, “He treated me in good faith; why suspect him now?” At Xuzhou, Lü Bu personally returned Liu Bei’s family to him, ensuring their safety in well-guarded quarters. Madam Gan and Lady Mi thanked Liu Bei: “General Lü has honored his word, guarding our home and providing our needs without fail.” Only then did Liu Bei escort Lü Bu’s gifts of grain, horses, and silks into the city to thank him. Zhang Fei, still burning with hatred for Lü Bu, refused to accompany them and took the two sisters back to Xiaopei. Liu Bei returned to camp at Xiaopei, urging patience: “We must bide our time.” Henceforth the two warlords remained at peace.
Sun Ce’s Rise under Yuan Shu Yuan Shu, holding a grand feast at Shouchun, rejoiced to hear of Sun Ce’s victories over the prefect Lu Kang of Lujiang. He summoned Sun Ce, seated him by his side, and lavished him with praise: “Were I blessed with a son like you, I would have no regrets in death!” He appointed Sun Ce Colonel of the Guard, sending him to quell rebel bands in Jing County and then to defeat Lu Kang as he had. Yet in the moonlit courtyard, Sun Ce wept bitterly. “Father was a hero; how have I come to beg like this?” A figure emerged from shadow—his late father’s old retainer Zhu Zhi of Danyang—who exclaimed, “Why mourn alone? Present your case to Lord Yuan: seek troops under the pretense of aiding your uncle Wu Jing, but march instead on Jiangdong to build your own power.” Sun Ce dried his tears and welcomed two more lieutenants—Lü Fan and Cheng Pu—each pledging a hundred men. He and Zhu Zhi and Lü Fan made their plan.
At dawn Sun Ce knelt before Yuan Shu, wept for his father, and offered the heirloom jade seal as collateral for troops and horses. Yuan Shu, thrilled by the artifact, lent him three thousand soldiers and five hundred horses, appointing him Champion Députy and General for the Extermination of Rebels. With that he set out, accompanied by Zhu Zhi, Lü Fan, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang.
Meeting Zhou Yu and Recruiting Allies At Liyang, Sun Ce surprised an escort under Zhou Yu—his boyhood friend from Shucheng. Zhou Yu joyfully joined him, pledging his sword. Two recluses, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, were likewise enticed with generous gifts to serve: Zhang Zhao as Chief of Staff, Zhang Hong as Adviser. Sun Ce now had the men and means to challenge the local governor, Liu Yao.
Tai Shi Ci and the Battle of Niuzhu Liu Yao, once Guǎngling’s magistrate, now encamped at Shouchun after being driven south, heard of Sun Ce’s advance. His officers Zhang Ying and the legendary Taishi Ci argued over strategy. Taishi Ci boldly volunteered to lead the vanguard, but Yao deemed him too young and kept him at his side. Meanwhile Zhang Ying stationed at Niuzhu with vast granaries.
Sun Ce attacked; Zhang Ying marched forth with Huang Gai to meet him. In the fierce fray, fires set by Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai within Zhang Ying’s camp caused panic and rout. Sun Ce’s forces swept in, seizing grain and weapons. Thousands of Zhang Ying’s men surrendered. Yao’s generals, advised by Ze Rong and Xue Li, moved to reinforce from Lingling, but Sun Ce anticipated this and intercepted them at Shentiging. Taishi Ci and his men fought desperately on the ridge until Yuan Shao’s relief never arrived. At dusk both sides withdrew.
A Duel on the Ridge The next day Sun Ce and Liu Yao’s main army drew up on the Plain below Shentiging Ridge. Sun Ce’s standard bearer challenged Taishi Ci: “Had you not fled so fast, I would have pierced you through!” Ci retorted, “If you had my skill and courage, I would fear you not!” They spurred their mounts into a furious duel of fifty exchanges, neither giving ground. Taishi Ci feigned a retreat to the ridge’s far side, luring Sun Ce into a trap—but at the last moment he circled around and renewed the fight. At length both warriors’ horses were spent, and they dismounted to wrestle, tearing at each other’s armor. Surrounded by Liu Yao’s reinforcements of over a thousand, the two paused. Taishi Ci slipped away to secure fresh mounts; Sun Ce reclaimed his friend Cheng Pu’s horse and a spear. When Liu Yao’s host closed in, Zhou Yu arrived with a fresh contingent, turning the tide and forcing Liu Yao’s troops to withdraw. Thus ended the day’s carnage.
Siege of Wu City and the Arrow of Taishi Ci Sun Ce then advanced on Wu City under Yan Baihu’s claim. At Feng Bridge, Han Dang led the charge while Jiang Qin and Cheng Pu flanked by boat and outmaneuvered Yan Yu’s men. Yan Yu fled to the city. Sun Ce besieged the four gates, calling for surrender. Inside, a deputy general mocked from atop the walls, holding the portal-support beam in one hand and jeering. Taishi Ci, astride his horse, notched an arrow and split the man’s forearm, pinning it to the beam. The city’s defenders reeled and sued for peace. When Yan Yu came out under a white flag, Sun Ce feigned hospitality, then beheaded him without mercy. Yan Baihu abandoned Wu City.
Sun Ce pressed northward. Cheng Pu stormed Jiaxing, Taishi Ci took Wucheng; all along the river the people hailed him, bringing food and wine to his camp. He gave generous rewards and allowed surrendered soldiers to return home or enlist anew. In two months, Jiangdong lay quietly under his rule.
Sun Quan, Zhou Tai, and the Bandit Rescue Left in charge at Xuancheng, Sun Quan and Zhou Tai were surprised by bandit raiders. In the darkness Zhou Tai threw himself before Sun Quan, killing over a dozen attackers barehanded. A mounted bandit tried to spear Zhou Tai, but Zhou Tai dragged him down, seized his horse, and rode off to safety. Though gravely wounded by twelve spears, Zhou Tai survived only thanks to the intervention of the famed physician Hua Tuo, summoned by Zhou Tao of Yao County. Under Hua Tuo’s care he was fully healed in a month.
The Capture and Release of Taishi Ci Meanwhile Yan Baihu’s men had regrouped at Jingxian. Taishi Ci rallied two thousand woodcutters and peasants loyal to Liu Yao. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu set a snare: they besieged the town on three sides, leaving the east gate open. Twenty-five li out they concealed ambushes beneath the reeds. In the dead of night Cheng Pu scaled the wall to set fires, driving Taishi Ci’s defenders toward the open gate—where Sun Ce’s troops surrounded them. Taishi Ci rode hard toward the ambush, but his mount was tripped and he was captured. Sun Ce, impressed by his valor, ordered his guards to stand down. He personally cut Taishi Ci’s bonds, clothed him in a silk robe, and invited him to dine. “I see in you the true spirit of a hero,” he said. Taishi Ci pledged loyalty in return and offered to rally his men to Sun Ce’s banner. Sun Ce set the deadline of high noon the next day, stating, “Come then, and prove your faith.” Many scoffed, but at the appointed hour Taishi Ci led a thousand of his followers into camp. Sun Ce’s face shone with pride: “This is true fidelity!” Henceforth Sun Ce’s forces swelled enormously, the people of Jiangdong hailed him everywhere, and he forbade any looting in occupied towns.
Conquest of Wu Commandery and Beyond With his power consolidated, Sun Ce rewarded Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu, and the other generals, sending Sun Quan and Zhou Tai to garrison Xuancheng as he pressed south into Wu Commandery. Yan Baihu’s rebels were routed again at Fengqiao and Wu City fell after Taishi Ci’s arrow pinned down a lieutenant. When Yan Yu begged terms, Sun Ce treated him as a guest before executing him for his treachery. Bandits were scattered, and local governor Wang Lang attempted to resist at Shanyin Plain. Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu’s pincer attack broke his lines; Yan Baihu fled to Yuhang, where he was finally slain by country folk led by Ling Cao.
Embattled, Wang Lang tried to raise troops to aid Ye Baihu, but the magistrate Yu Fan counseled, “Sun Ce’s cause is just; he brings peace to Zhejiang. It is better to yield than to fight him.” Wang Lang’s delay proved fatal: as he sallied forth against Sun Ce’s feigned retreat, Sun Ce’s vanguard of Cheng Pu and Yue Fan surrounded them. In the ensuing slaughter, Wang Lang’s lieutenant Zhou Xin was cut down, and the city gates fell swiftly.
Thus, in a single season, Sun Ce erased Yuan Shu’s footprint from Jiangdong and laid the foundation for his own kingdom—earning the sobriquet “Little Overlord.” His brilliant combination of generous patronage, personal valor, and deft strategy won the loyalty of thousands and reshaped the Southlands around his banner.
