After the court-appointed Inspector of Yang Province, Liu Yao, occupied Danyang Commandery, Yuan Shu was deeply unwilling to accept this. He immediately appointed his subordinate Hui Qu as the Inspector of Yang Province, with Wu Jing as the general, and sent them along with Sun Ben to attack Liu Yao. However, they were unable to capture Danyang Commandery for a long time.
Sun Ce’s Opportunity
At this time, Sun Ce had already conquered Lujiang Commandery. He then requested permission to reinforce his uncle Wu Jing and cousin Sun Ben. Yuan Shu agreed to Sun Ce’s request and also reassigned all of Sun Jian’s former troops to Sun Ce. Thus, veteran officers like Han Dang, Zhou Tai, and Jiang Qin joined Sun Ce’s ranks.
Reinforcements and a Fateful Meeting
Wu Jing, Sun Ben, and others were locked in bitter fighting in Danyang. Zhou Shang, newly appointed by Yuan Shu as the Grand Administrator of Danyang, was also with the army. Zhou Shang was the cousin of Zhou Yu’s father. Upon learning of Zhou Shang’s appointment, Zhou Yu went to visit him.
Meanwhile, Sun Ce gathered his forces and prepared to cross the Yangtze River from Liyang to support Wu Jing and Sun Ben. Zhou Yu led troops to meet Sun Ce, and their forces merged.
Sun Ce’s blitz through the Jiangdong
Sun Ce led his main army across the river from Liyang, attacked Moling, and defeated Ze Rong and Xue Li. After their defeat, these two warlords defected to Liu Yao.
Sun Ce’s army was at the peak of its power and seemed unstoppable. He successively captured Hushu and Jiangcheng, pressing directly toward Qu’a.
Wu Jing, Sun Ben, and others meanwhile attacked the other counties in the southern part of Danyang.
Liu Yao’s misfortune and Taishi Ci’s arrival
Taishi Ci, who was far away in Donglai Commandery in Qing Province, shared the same home commandery as Liu Yao and had a prior friendship with him. He thus traveled to Yang Province to offer his services to Liu Yao.
By the time Taishi Ci arrived, Liu Yao was already suffering repeated defeats at the hands of Sun Ce. Someone advised Liu Yao to appoint Taishi Ci as a general to counter Sun Ce. Liu Yao refused, saying,
“If I employ Ziyi [Taishi Ci’s style name], Xu Zijiang will surely laugh at my poor judgment in employing men.”
He only tasked Taishi Ci with scouting military intelligence.
Liu Yao, a member of the imperial clan, was ultimately no match for the “Little Conqueror” Sun Ce. Not long after, Liu Yao was soundly defeated by Sun Ce. He was forced to abandon Dantu and Qu’e and, under the protection of Taishi Ci, fled to Yuzhang Commandery.
Consolidation and the Aftermath in Yuzhang
By now, Sun Ce’s forces had grown to several tens of thousands. He said to Zhou Yu,
“With this army, it is enough for me to conquer Wu and Kuaiji Commanderies and pacify the Shanyue. You should return to guard Danyang.”
Thereupon, Zhou Yu led his troops back to Danyang.
Not long after, Sun Ce, Sun Ben, Wu Jing, and others had largely pacified Danyang Commandery.
During Liu Yao’s flight to Yuzhang Commandery, the Grand Administrator of Yuzhang, Zhou Shu, died, leaving the post vacant. Yuan Shu appointed Zhuge Liang’s uncle, Zhuge Xuan, as the new Grand Administrator of Yuzhang. However, the court simultaneously appointed Zhu Hao to the same position. A conflict erupted between Zhuge Xuan and Zhu Hao over the governorship.
When Liu Yao arrived in Yuzhang, he assisted Zhu Hao in defeating Zhuge Xuan. Zhuge Xuan then took Zhuge Liang, his sisters, and brothers to Jing Province to seek refuge with Liu Biao in Xiangyang. This allowed Zhu Hao to secure his position as Grand Administrator of Yuzhang. However, not long after, Zhu Hao was treacherously killed by Ze Rong. Enraged, Liu Yao immediately led his troops to attack Ze Rong. The initial battle resulted in a defeat for Liu Yao. Soon, however, Liu Yao regrouped with forces from the various counties under his control and decisively defeated Ze Rong. Ze Rong fled deep into the mountains, where he was killed by a combination of local people and Shanyue tribesmen, who presented his head to Liu Yao.
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