Chapter 33: Alliance With Yu Jin
The major event Gan Ning thought of was the Imperial Edict incident.
It should happen around January of next year. This was a political struggle lasting over a year, in which Dong Cheng, Wang Zifu, and others joined hands with the Son of Heaven against Cao Cao.
Cao Cao had used the Minister of Works Mansion and the Cavalry General’s Mansion to usurp the Imperial Court’s military and political power. How could ministers like Dong Cheng let it rest? They had been actively fighting Cao Cao, attempting to seize back control of the court.
When Cao Cao was trapped in Nanyang, Dong Cheng even briefly captured military power in Xuchang.
Of course Cao Cao knew that Dong Cheng and the others wanted to get rid of him. With the great battle against Yuan Shao about to begin, for the sake of stabilizing the rear, Cao Cao would surely strike first and eliminate Dong Cheng and the others. Cao Cao would naturally also suspect Liu Biao was part of Dong Cheng’s faction.
This should be the real reason Cao Cao did not ally with Huang Zu to tie down Sun Ce—he was wary of Liu Biao behind Huang Zu.
It was very likely that Cao Cao had long known about the Imperial Edict but had been enduring it silently without acting, waiting for the New Year gathering in January to catch Dong Cheng’s faction in one fell swoop.
Thinking of this, Gan Ning felt it was also a chance to gain favor for free. He had to seize this opportunity.
Gan Ning then said softly to Jia Xu: “Last time at Grand Commandant Yang’s Manor, I overheard several court ministers plotting against Cao Gong. I don’t know those people. Please tell Cao Gong to be a bit more vigilant at year’s end and the beginning of the new year.”
Jia Xu was startled and immediately asked: “What did they say?”
“I only vaguely heard the words ‘Imperial Edict.’ When they saw me approaching, they immediately stopped talking.”
Jia Xu was grateful in his heart and quickly cupped his hands, saying: “Thank you, General. I will write to Cao Gong right away!”
Gan Ning immediately ordered his men to hand over Yuan Shu’s family and Liu Xun to Jia Xu, and dispatched troops to escort Jia Xu to Pengze County.
Jia Xu took his leave and departed. Gan Ning stood on the city wall watching Jia Xu board his large ship. What Jia Xu had just said was that he would write a letter to tell Cao Cao, rather than going back personally to tell him.
Gan Ning thus had a vague intuition that Jia Xu’s trip likely had another mission. He was very likely going to meet Sun Ben as well.
Gan Ning had already detected clues. Sun Ben had been unusually quiet in this Liu Xun incident, and it was not without reason.
“What is Lord thinking?” Lu Su asked with a smile from the side.
“I’m thinking about the relationship between Sun Ce and Sun Ben. Will Sun Ce personally lead troops to destroy Chaisang, or will he entrust Sun Ben to destroy Chaisang?”
Lu Su thought for a moment and said: “Sun Ce is someone who insists on handling everything personally. Since he is in Lujiang Commandery, killing his way over from Lujiang Commandery would also be convenient.”
“Mister is right!”
Gan Ning clasped his hands behind his back, gazing slowly toward the direction of Lujiang and saying: “Sun Ce originally planned to personally lead troops to destroy me. He was just persuaded by Zhou Yu to use Liu Xun to destroy me first, then take the chance to sneak attack Lujiang, and finally wipe out Chaisang in one go—a case of hitting two birds with one stone. But if he discovers that the final outcome is Cao Cao sticking his oar in, occupying Pengze, what will he do then?”
Lu Su smiled faintly: “So every situation has its pros and cons. Cao Cao grabbed Liu Xun’s army, money and grain, but that also draws Sun Ce’s attention over there, becoming our shield. Now Sun Ce can’t afford to bother with us instead.”
Gan Ning nodded. “If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. Once Yu Jin is destroyed, we will also find it hard to survive. So we must quickly ally with Yu Jin to jointly deal with Sun Ce.”
Lu Su was truly gratified. When Lord calmed down, he could see the situation very clearly. This was the demeanor for accomplishing great things—not fretting over temporary gains and losses, but prioritizing the big picture.
“Lord is right. Tomorrow morning, I will go to Pengze County to form an alliance with Yu Jin on Lord’s behalf.”
……….
The situation changed beyond Gan Ning’s expectations. That very afternoon, Yu Jin personally led over three hundred ships to Chaisang, bringing Gan Ning 100,000 shi of grain and 30,000 guan.
Gan Ning was overjoyed and personally went to the dock to welcome Yu Jin.
What Gan Ning could think of, Jia Xu could also think of. When Jia Xu returned to Pengze, he heard the news that Sun Ce had already captured Lujiang Commandery, so he realized the crisis had arrived.
Sun Ce’s next step would inevitably be to pull out Pengze County. Jia Xu made a decisive decision and immediately had Yu Jin personally deliver the money and grain to ally with Gan Ning and jointly deal with the incoming Sun Ce army. At the same time, he set off southward to secretly meet Sun Ben.
Gan Ning cupped his fists in a salute and smiled: “I have long admired General Yu’s prestige. To meet you today is a great honor for Gan Ning!”
Yu Jin was around thirty years old, with a fierce and robust build, a nose like a knife’s edge, and a pair of narrow, long eyes. His smile carried a hint of cunning.
“Younger Brother Gan is young and accomplished. To establish a foundation so quickly is enviable.”
Yu Jin turned and pointed to the fleet, saying: “This is money and grain for Younger Brother—100,000 shi of grain and 30,000 guan in total. Younger Brother must not think it too little!”
“How could I! How could I! I am grateful beyond measure. Please, General Yu!”
“Please, Younger Brother Gan!”
The two rode horses together into Chaisang City, arrived at the government office, and Gan Ning invited Yu Jin to sit in the Guest Hall for honored guests, also having tea served.
Yu Jin got straight to the point: “We are both military generals, so no need for beating around the bush. My purpose in coming to Chaisang this time is, first, to ally with General Gan so our two houses advance and retreat together, serving Cao Gong’s great cause. Second, to discuss with Younger Brother how to respond to Sun Ce’s impending attack.”
Yu Jin was a very proud man. Deep down, he looked down on Gan Ning. But with Sun Ce’s great army approaching and unable to hold out alone, he had no choice but to humble himself and come personally to Chaisang to seek an alliance with Gan Ning.
Gan Ning said sincerely: “What General says is exactly my intention. I was just planning to send my strategist to Pengze tomorrow to ally with General. Now our two houses are in a lips-and-teeth situation, so we must unite with utmost sincerity and join hands to tide over the crisis.”
Yu Jin was delighted and quickly took out the alliance treaty drafted by Jia Xu. “This is the alliance document. Please review it, Younger Brother.”
“What a coincidence! We also drafted one!”
Gan Ning took the alliance treaty drafted by Lu Su and placed it before Yu Jin. Gan Ning and Yu Jin exchanged a glance and burst into laughter together.
The two compared the alliance treaties, taking the best from each to create a new alliance treaty. Both tacitly removed the time limit from the treaty, meaning it was an open-ended alliance that could end at any time but could also be extended indefinitely.
The two signed their names on both copies of the alliance treaty. Next, they discussed jointly deploying troops to defend against Sun Ce. Gan Ning immediately promised that as soon as Sun Ce’s great army arrived, he would immediately send out troops.
Yu Jin took his leave and departed. Gan Ning immediately summoned Lu Su for discussion.
Lu Su looked over the alliance treaty and asked: “How does Lord plan to deploy troops?”
Gan Ning said: “I estimate Sun Ce’s great army will arrive in two or three days. I will lead a surprise attack force to ambush in Xunyang County. Sun Ce will send scouts to surveil Chaisang. I will launch a surprise attack force from Xunyang and surely catch Sun Ce off guard.”
Lu Su said approvingly: “This plan is excellent. Now is the season of the west wind, which is extremely disadvantageous to Sun Ce’s great army. Lord can entrust Chaisang to me. With me here, Chaisang will surely be safe and sound!”
The two discussed the plan. Gan Ning immediately led three thousand troops in small boats to Xunyang County to set up an ambush, awaiting the arrival of Sun Ce’s great army.
