Sun Ce received Cai Zhong and Cai He. Just as Zhou Yu had predicted, the two men had come to offer their allegiance after the Prince of Yan gave them a cold reception.
Zhou Yu reassured them and accepted their surrender, promising to reward the Cai Clan once the Northern Army was defeated.
Delighted, Cai Zhong and Cai He took their leave.
Sun Ce frowned. "There's something suspicious about those two. I don't think their surrender is sincere."
Zhou Yu smiled. "They didn't even bring their families. It must be a false surrender."
"Why not kill them?" Sun Ce asked.
Zhou Yu shook his head, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. "I intend to use them to carry false information for me. To think Yuan Xi would make such a foolish move!"
"Everyone says Yuan Xi commands troops like a god," Sun Ce said with a frown. "How could he leave himself open like this?"
"Things have gone too smoothly for him," Zhou Yu said. "He's never suffered a setback. Now that the realm is all but pacified, he thinks Jiangdong will fall as easily as Hanzhong and Yizhou, so he's let down his guard. This is our heaven-sent chance to defeat Yuan Xi and win great glory!"
Sun Ce felt his spirits rise as well.
As the two discussed how to defeat Yuan Xi, a guard reported that the surrendered generals Zhang Yun and Zhang Cong sought an audience.
Zhang Yun had once commanded Jingzhou's naval forces. After Wei Yan captured Xiangyang, Zhang Yun had, for reasons unknown, defected to Jiangdong.
Sun Ce had initially thought little of Zhang Yun, but Zhou Yu had urged him to reconsider. "Sooner or later, Yuan Xi will attack Jiangnan. When our armies meet on the Yangtze River, naval forces will decide