Chapter 124: Surrendering the Moment You Arrive?

Leaving the manor, Xu Kun sneered.

Lady Wu had actually entrusted him with the vital responsibility of guarding the city gates, a clear sign that the city was hollowed out and manpower was stretched dangerously thin.

"Go, bring men with me to take control of the East Gate."

"Also, arrange for someone to slip into the Chu camp after nightfall to inform them of the situation and express the Xu family's willingness to assist."

"When the time comes, I will open the gates for them," Xu Kun told his confidant. He could already envision Chu Feng storming into Wu County and rewarding his family for their service.

He reasoned that once the city fell, not only would Chu Feng take the two Xu daughters into his harem, but the merit of surrendering the city would be the greatest of all—finally allowing him to overshadow the other major clans. Perhaps the Xu family would even rise to become the fifth great noble house of Wu Commandery!

Inside the manor, Sun Yi remarked with a sigh, "Mother, I never expected that the first to come forward and offer aid would be Xu Kun."

"With Xu Kun's help, the pressure on our troops will surely be greatly relieved. When elder brother returns, we must reward him handsomely."

"Indeed! That is only right," Lady Wu nodded. True character is revealed in times of hardship. She hoped Xu Kun’s initiative would inspire others to help the Sun clan weather this crisis.

Little did she know, the Xu family was already plotting how to collude with Chu Feng. After all, the Yuan family’s reputation preceded them, and with Sun Ce’s fate unknown, it was only natural for the noble houses to lean toward Chu Feng.

Noble houses are like iron, while dynasties are like flowing water; family interests are eternal. Since Sun Ce had not provided the Xu family with commensurate benefits, there was no reason for Xu Kun to lay down his life for him.

***

That night, countless people in Wu County lay awake.

Numerous families were debating how to surrender to Chu Feng. It was common knowledge that Sun Ce’s cause was lost, especially since the Sun clan had favored the Jianghuai faction to suppress the Jiangdong clans—a fact everyone was keenly aware of.

Usually, these grievances remained buried, but now that Sun Ce was absent and Chu Feng’s forces were at the gates, these people were bound to reveal their true intentions.

The Sun clan was in a frenzy, constantly sending messengers to various homes and promising rewards. But to the major families, these promises rang hollow; they were desperate to make contact with Chu Feng first. Otherwise, they would have already breached the gates and let the Chu army in themselves.

At that moment, outside the city in the Chu camp, Liu Ye strode forward with a joyous expression, followed by a middle-aged man. Before even reaching the command tent, he called out:

"My Lord, great news! Great news!"

Inside the command tent, Chu Feng was reading by the light of a lamp. Hearing Liu Ye’s voice, he arched an eyebrow and looked at the man entering. "Ziyang, what could be so joyous in the middle of the night?"

"My Lord, the Xu family has sent a representative to surrender! This is a grand occasion!" Liu Ye said, his face brimming with excitement.

"The Xu family?" Chu Feng paused.

Although he had anticipated that many noble houses would surrender once his army arrived at the gates—after all, even in the later years, when Cao Cao was still only in Jingzhou, these spineless men were already prepared to submit—it was surprising that it happened so quickly. It hadn't even been a full day.

"Indeed!" Liu Ye gestured for the middle-aged man behind him to step forward. "Tell my Lord the details yourself."

"I am Xu Miao of the Xu family, greetings to the General." Xu Miao lowered his head. He was genuinely startled by Chu Feng’s youth; he truly was a hero among men.

"My family has long harbored the intention to submit to the General, but we lacked the opportunity."

"Now that the General is at our gates, the Xu family is willing to open them to welcome you and prove our loyalty," Xu Miao said in a low, firm voice.

Chu Feng’s eyes flickered with surprise. He knew of the Xu family; they were relatives of Sun Ce. It was truly ironic that they were the first to betray the Sun clan. He mused that Lu Su’s strategy of marrying into the clans must have had an effect; given his own identity and status, it was no surprise the Xu family had chosen him.

"If you can bring my army into the city, the Xu family shall be credited with the greatest merit," Chu Feng declared loudly, making no attempt to hide his intentions.

"It is our family’s good fortune to serve the General," Xu Miao said, exhaling in relief. He had feared someone else might get there first, but it seemed no one else had yet contacted Chu Feng.

"When does the General intend to enter the city? I believe the sooner the better; delays breed misfortune!" Xu Miao urged, anxious that their plot might be discovered.

"Right now!" Chu Feng was decisive.

Opportunities in war are fleeting, though he would not trust them unconditionally.

"Xu Chu, go! Order the generals to assemble and prepare to follow me into the city. Also, have Zhao Fan lead the Special Battalion with General Xu to take control of the gates first!" Chu Feng stood up, calling out as he donned his armor.

"Understood!" Xu Chu nodded.

A moment later, Zhao Fan arrived with long strides.

Chu Feng commanded immediately, "General Xu, this is my capable officer, Zhao Fan. He will lead his troops to follow you into the city first, and I will arrive with the main force shortly after."

"Understood," Xu Miao replied.

He and Chu Feng shared a silent understanding. It was clear Chu Feng remained wary, but this only confirmed to Xu Miao that he had chosen the right man—a good sign.

As Xu Miao turned to leave the camp, Chu Feng narrowed his cold eyes and looked at Zhao Fan. "Be careful. Do not trust them completely. If the Xu family shows any sign of treachery, kill them all."

"Understood!" Zhao Fan nodded, fully aware of the stakes.

"Go. Be cautious, secure the key points, and I will follow," Chu Feng said, patting Zhao Fan on the shoulder.

In the dead of night, the Chu camp began to stir.

Countless soldiers were mobilized. Chu Feng personally led three thousand elite troops at the front, with Liu Ye leading several thousand behind, while other generals remained outside to guard the perimeter, preventing any from slipping away. After all, this was the Sun clan’s lair; there were many "big fish" to catch.

Of course, Chu Feng’s concerns were largely unnecessary. The Xu family not only opened the gates to surrender but provided various forms of aid, including maps of the city’s defense layout, the locations of the granaries, and the armories.

This greatly increased Chu Feng’s favor toward the Xu family. The relationship between a warlord and a noble house is one of mutual utility; since the Xu family had provided benefits, he would not be stingy in return.

Armed with the detailed blueprints, Chu Feng led his elites straight to the General’s Manor, while ordering Gan Ning to seize the training grounds and control the garrison. Other officers were dispatched to secure key locations throughout the city.

The once-quiet night was suddenly filled with the clamor of the uninvited guests. The various clans in the city realized that the Chu army had entered.

Seeing them enter through the East Gate, it was clear the Xu family had defected. Many felt a pang of regret; they hadn't expected the Xu family to be the first to surrender, and they lamented missing the chance to offer their own submission first. They could only hurry to prepare their gestures of goodwill for the morrow.

The fighting and resistance were not as intense as expected, or perhaps it was all too sudden for the local troops to react. Furthermore, with their morale broken, there was little resistance even when they did realize what was happening.

As for the civil officials like Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, they frowned upon hearing the chaotic noise. After a moment of hesitation, they could only shake their heads and sigh. They knew Wu County could no longer be held. They just hadn't expected it to happen so fast; they could only blame Sun Ce for failing to even secure his own home.

It seemed they would have to serve a new master, though as members of the Jianghuai faction, they wondered if Chu Feng would continue to employ them after the coming reshuffle.

As for the Sun manor, terror had gripped everyone within.