Chapter 61: Negotiations Begin
Early in the morning, Gan Ning sent people to Xuchang with a letter each to Cao Cao and Cao Pi.
The Imperial Court appointing him as Prefect of Yuzhang Commandery was too important, as it meant he was legitimate, and this legitimacy was enough to cover up the disadvantages of his background and past.
Why must he gain the support of noble families? Because only with the support of noble families could Gan Ning collect taxes. The vast rural areas were controlled by noble families; if they did not support him, the farmers would not pay taxes to him, and the government office would not pursue it.
The messenger had just left when Gan Ning received another piece of news: the envoy Zhu Zhi sent from Jiangdong had arrived at Nanchang County.
Gan Ning immediately arranged for Lu Su to invite Zhu Zhi to the back hall of the prefectural office.
“I deeply feel grief and regret over the death of the Marquis of Wu, and I also hope that Eastern Wu can stabilize quickly.”
Zhu Zhi rose slightly and said, “Thank you for General Gan’s concern. This time I was ordered to come to Yuzhang Commandery mainly to negotiate with General Gan over the release of Sun Fu and Cheng Zi. Let us talk openly and sincerely. What conditions does General Gan need?”
Gan Ning smiled faintly and said, “I only have three conditions, and they are not high demands. I believe you can accept them!”
“Please speak, General!”
Gan Ning smiled and said, “First, please send General Xu Sheng’s family to Yuzhang. This request is not high, right!”
“That can be done. I can make the decision to agree. I will have the Lord arrange it upon return. Please state the second condition!”
Zhu Zhi was genuinely pleased; the conditions Gan Ning proposed were indeed not high, so today he could take Sun Fu and Cheng Zi back to Jiangdong.
Gan Ning pondered for a moment and said, “The second condition is that Jiangdong recognizes Xunyang County as a county under Yuzhang Commandery.”
The new Prefect of Lujiang Commandery, Xu Qiu, had already reported to Sun Quan that the westernmost Xunyang County had been occupied by Gan Ning. He did not dare to act rashly and requested instructions from Jiangdong.
Xunyang County was too remote. If Xunyang County Town had tall walls and a large population, it could become an important chess piece to tie down Jingxiang. But Xunyang County had a sparse population and dilapidated walls; not only could it not become a chess piece, it would instead become a burden.
Sun Quan thus considered exchanging Xunyang County for Sun Fu, so this was included in Zhu Zhi’s authority.
Zhu Zhi nodded. “We can give up Xunyang County, but this is the greatest concession we can make. I hope General Gan does not raise any higher substantive demands.”
Gan Ning smiled faintly. “The third condition is not a substantive demand but one of symbolic significance. I hope Jiangdong recognizes that the ownership of Yuzhang Commandery belongs to me!”
Zhu Zhi was stunned. He had just said not to raise any more substantive demands, but now a huge mountain had suddenly arisen. This was even more excessive than a substantive demand. How could he agree? If he did, it would mean acknowledging that Yuzhang Commandery did not belong to Jiangdong. How could that be?
Lu Su said slowly from the side, “In fact, Yuzhang Commandery has never belonged to Jiangdong. The Imperial Court successively appointed Zhu Hao and Liu Yao as Prefect of Yuzhang. After Liu Yao died of illness, Yuzhang Commandery was in a state of having no lord. Even when Sun Ben led troops into Yuzhang Commandery, it was only a partial occupation. Since Jiangdong never truly obtained Yuzhang Commandery, there is no question of losing it. It is merely recognizing us as the lord of Yuzhang Commandery. What is there to find difficult about that?”
Zhu Zhi understood in his heart that once Jiangdong acknowledged Gan Ning as the lord of Yuzhang Commandery, it would legally recognize that Yuzhang Commandery did not belong to Jiangdong. If Jiangdong then sent troops to attack Yuzhang Commandery, it would be breaking its word and lacking legal standing, triggering a series of consequences. This was absolutely not something he could decide.
Zhu Zhi gave a wry smile and said, “I must return to report to the Lord. This is not something I can decide.”
Gan Ning nodded. “In that case! Out of our sincerity, we can first release Cheng Zi. I hope to reach an agreement with the New Marquis of Wu as soon as possible so that we can join hands to deal with Huang Zu!”
………..
Zhu Zhi took Cheng Zi that same day and returned to Jiangdong on a thousand stone passenger ship.
Gan Ning was not idle either. That same day, he issued a call for talent, sending people to post it in Jingxiang, Bashu, and various places in Jiangdong to recruit great talents from the world, explicitly putting forward the political stance of “promoting only by talent, regardless of scholars or commoners.”
Gan Ning was very clear about his situation. The aristocracy looked down on him and saw him as an outsider. They would rather defect to Cao Cao, Liu Biao, Sun Quan, and Huang Zu than to him. Since he could not win over the aristocracy, he would focus on winning over disciples from poor families and give them a chance to rise.
Zhu Zhi had smooth winds and waters, returning to Wu Commandery in a few days and meeting Sun Quan.
Upon hearing the third condition proposed by Gan Ning, Sun Quan was immediately furious. “He stole my Yuzhang Commandery and still wants me to acknowledge his theft as legitimate. He is simply bullying us too much!”
Sun Quan knew full well that he could not pass the hurdle of Sun Ben first. Having just ascended to the throne, agreeing to such humiliating and rights-losing conditions—how would the scholars and commoners of Jiangdong view him?
Sun Quan hurriedly summoned Zhang Zhao, Lv Fan, and Zhou Yu to discuss countermeasures.
Zhang Zhao pondered for a moment and said, “After all, Sun Fu is still in his hands, so we cannot completely fall out yet. We might as well agree to the first two conditions first and then slowly negotiate the third.”
Lv Fan also said, “For the third condition, we can also strive with the Imperial Court to have it recognize that Yuzhang Commandery belongs to us, making Gan Ning’s demand untenable.”
“What does the Governor think?” Sun Quan asked Zhou Yu again.
Zhou Yu had already considered this issue. He said slowly, “In fact, the Imperial Court only recognizes our occupation of Wu Commandery, so Bofu was enfeoffed as Marquis of Wu. But for Kuaiji Commandery, Danyang Commandery, Jiujiang Commandery, Lujiang Commandery, and Yuzhang Commandery—these five commanderies are not recognized by the Imperial Court. This is the reality.
Since the Lord has decided not to launch the Northern Expedition, we can ease relations with Cao Cao, exchanging no Northern Expedition for the Imperial Court recognizing our legal possession of the five commanderies and striving for the position of Governor of Yangzhou for the Lord. Then Gan Ning will not be able to make us recognize the ownership of Yuzhang Commandery again.”
Zhang Zhao praised, “Governor Zhou is absolutely right. We lost Bofu’s life for the Northern Expedition, so we must obtain corresponding compensation. The Lord can send an envoy to negotiate with Cao Cao and strive to obtain the position of Governor of Yangzhou.”
“Then what about Sun Fu?” Sun Quan asked worriedly.
Lv Fan stroked his beard and said, “Do not worry, Lord. Sun Fu will be fine for the time being. In negotiations, there will always be back and forth; it will not be settled all at once.”
Sun Quan nodded. “Who should go to Xuchang to negotiate?”
Zhang Zhao thought for a moment and said, “Cao Cao quite admires Sima Hua. I recommend Sima Hua as the envoy.”
Sima Hua was Hua Xin. Sun Ben refused to take the position of Chief Clerk, so Sun Quan changed Lv Fan to Chief Clerk, and Hua Xin took over the position of Sima.
Sun Quan gladly said, “It is decided then. Let Hua Xin represent me on a mission to Xuchang.”
In fact, Sun Quan also greatly desired to obtain the position of Governor of Yangzhou.
Sun Quan then received his uncle Xu Zhen; Xu Sheng’s mother and siblings’ wives were all under Xu Zhen’s protection.
The Xu Clan was a great clan of the Three Kingdoms. The main branch was the Donghai Xu Clan, but the Xu Clan had branched out and developed in many places. The most famous was the Wu Commandery Xu Clan, who, because of their marriage alliance with the Sun Clan, became board members of the Jiangdong Sun Clan Group.
Xu Zhen’s son Xu Kun was a trusted great general under Sun Ce, one of the earliest to follow Sun Ce. He was also Sun Quan’s cousin, and Xu Zhen’s nephew Xu Qiu was currently serving as Prefect of Lujiang Commandery.
The Xu Clan had also developed well in other places: the Langya Xu Clan produced Xu Sheng, and the Yingchuan Xu Clan produced Xu Shu.
Xu Zhen was somewhat dissatisfied that Xu Sheng had surrendered to Gan Ning without his consent. Though dissatisfied in his heart, when the Marquis of Wu asked him to send Xu Sheng’s mother and siblings’ wives to Yuzhang, he still agreed.
He knew this was a negotiation condition between the Marquis of Wu and Gan Ning; he did not want his personal emotions to affect the Marquis of Wu’s decisions.
As soon as Xu Zhen returned to the manor, his son Xu Kun hurriedly returned with a letter.
