Chapter 25: Preparing For Danger In Times Of Peace
In the afternoon, a fleet composed of five hundred two thousand stone warships, fully loaded with grain and supplies, arrived at Zongyang County.
The ships sailed into the Zongyang River, and the leading large ship slowly docked at the dock. A middle-aged man walked down from the ship.
Gan Ning stood at the dock with a smiling face, cupping his fists and saying, “I am Xu An, the standard bearer officer under Commander Zheng’s command. May I ask if you are Chief Steward Liu Chun?”
Gan Ning found a letter written by Liu Xun in Zheng Bao’s saddlebag, and the letter contained various arrangements.
Liu Chun did not suspect anything and asked, “Where is your General Zheng?”
Gan Ning took out Zheng Bao’s seal and smiled, “Commander Zheng patrolled the sentries last night and hardly slept all night. He is now resting inside the city and really cannot get up, so he asked this subordinate to receive the ships and supplies on his behalf.”
Liu Chun also knew that Zheng Bao was fat and fond of sleeping, and seeing that the other party had Zheng Bao’s seal, he was too lazy to ask more questions. He took out two copies of the list and gave them to him, “This is the list of ships and supplies, in duplicate. You keep one copy yourselves, then stamp the receipt copy and give it to me.”
Gan Ning did not even look at it and directly stamped the receipt with the seal. He also had the soldiers take out fifty silver taels and hand them to Liu Chun.
“This is a small token of appreciation, unworthy of your kindness. Please accept it!”
“General Xu is too courteous!”
Liu Chun happily took the silver bag, carefully put away the receipt, boarded the ship, and cupped his fists, saying, “I wish you a victorious start and success in capturing Chaisang!”
He took more than a dozen subordinates and sailed away on a ship.
At dusk, Ding Feng and Chen Mu returned from Juchao County. They defeated the five hundred soldiers garrisoned in Juchao County, and Zheng Bao’s second son Zheng Wu led three hundred remnant troops to flee to Shu County.
Ding Feng and Chen Mu looted Zheng Bao’s old lair clean, filling three hundred large ships.
Gan Ning immediately set sail, leading the fleet and soldiers back to Chaisang in grand style.
This time the harvest was abundant. Not only did they obtain nearly a thousand warships, including the five hundred ships given by Liu Xun and more than four hundred ships from Zheng Bao, but also five hundred warhorses—the warhorses were also obtained from Juchao County. Zheng Bao had spent a fortune buying them from the North, and they were seized by Gan Ning without ever being used.
There were also twenty thousand shi of grain, plus fifteen thousand sets of armor and crossbows and arrows, as well as shields, war drums, flags, salt, sauce, tea, medicinal materials, and countless other items.
They also obtained three thousand taels of gold, sixty thousand taels of silver, and thirty thousand guan of Wu Zhu coins, along with twenty thousand bolts of silk brocade.
Additionally, there were three thousand five hundred newly loyal soldiers, bringing Gan Ning’s troop strength to eight thousand five hundred men.
……..
Although everyone was delighted, Lu Su was somewhat worried.
On the city wall, Lu Su sighed softly and said to Gan Ning, “Hu Xian, Zhang Ying, Ze Rong, Zheng Bao—these are all weak forces. Although the Lord has swallowed them up and gained accumulation and growth, the real crisis has also arrived.
Now that we have annihilated Zheng Bao, the news will surely spread throughout Jiangdong. Whether it is Liu Biao, Huang Zu, or Sun Ce, they will all begin to pay attention to the Lord. The Lord must start considering the long term, especially to avoid being struck by Sun Ce.”
Gan Ning stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the Yangtze River, and after a long while said, “I still have one opportunity now, which is to swallow Liu Xun’s army. At the same time, Sun Ce is also eyeing Liu Xun. How to utilize the current delicate situation to repeat the result of the Battle of Ze Rong: Sun Ce takes Lujiang Commandery, and I get Liu Xun’s army.”
Lu Su pondered for a moment and said, “I can write a letter to Zhou Yu, clearly explaining to him what has happened in these past few months, especially pointing out that Lv Fan harbors grudges and personal animosity against the Lord. This way, Lv Fan’s persuasions will be discounted.”
“Does Zhou Yu have a personal grudge with Lv Fan?”
Lu Su shook his head with a smile, “Zhou Yu and Lv Fan have no personal grudge, but with Liu Xun occupying Shu County, I know the Zhou Family faces immense pressure, so Zhou Yu is more inclined toward seizing Lujiang Commandery. He can persuade Sun Ce to attack Lujiang first and consider the General later.
I also believe that Sun Ce will definitely adopt Sun Ben’s suggestion, using Liu Xun’s hand to eliminate Chaisang without offending Cao Cao. Once Liu Xun sends troops, Sun Ce will surely seize the opportunity to capture Lujiang.
Additionally, I will simultaneously write to Liu Ye to get him to agree to persuade Liu Xun to attack Chaisang. This way, the result of the Battle of Ze Rong will be replicated anew.”
Gan Ning pondered for a moment, “Liu Xun probably won’t fall for it so easily; otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent Zheng Bao to attack Chaisang.”
Lu Su smiled and said, “The Lord can continue to apply pressure, constantly harassing Lujiang Commandery to force Liu Xun to send troops.”
“This plan is excellent!”
Gan Ning said gladly, “I will arrange the army. Please also ask the Chief Clerk to write the letter as soon as possible!”
Lu Su nodded, “The first step in harassment is to occupy Xunyang County, which cannot be delayed any longer!”
Gan Ning immediately ordered Shen Mi to lead one thousand troops to occupy Xunyang County and transport some grain and supplies to Xunyang County.
At the same time, he sent Wang Xiaoman to scout the garrison situations in Wan County and Juchao County.
Gan Ning himself intensified the training of the soldiers, preparing to welcome the arrival of the real storm.
……..
There is no wall in the world that does not let wind through. The news of Gan Ning’s great victory over Zheng Bao in Lujiang Commandery spread throughout Jiangdong.
Even the Lord of Jiangdong, Sun Ce, began to take notice of him.
Sun Ce’s old lair was naturally in Wu Commandery, but during the Eastern Han, Wu Commandery was not just modern Suzhou; it extended south to Qiantang Bay and north to the Yangtze River, a vast territory that even included Hangzhou and the Fuchun River under its jurisdiction, roughly covering all of modern southern Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang.
At this time, Sun Ce was in Qu’a, and he had been considering attacking Lujiang Commandery.
But the sudden rise of Chaisang Gan Ning affected his strategy for Lujiang.
Zhang Zhao slowly said to Sun Ce, “Lu Ziheng wrote that this Gan Ning has somewhat the momentum of the Lord in those days. In just three months, he captured Chaisang, annihilated Zhang Ying, defeated Ze Rong, and completely wiped out Zheng Bao. His troop strength grew from a few hundred to nearly ten thousand men. Lu Ziheng says this is not luck, but that the man is both brave and strategic, and will surely become a future trouble. He suggests that the Lord immediately send troops to eliminate Gan Ning, and Liu Xun can be dealt with later.”
Sun Ce was also about 1.9 meters tall, with broad shoulders, a thick waist, and immense strength. His back somewhat resembled Gan Ning’s, but their temperaments were completely different. Sun Ce was heroic and vigorous, with handsome features and a touch of scholarly elegance.
Whereas Gan Ning lacked Sun Ce’s scholarly elegance, exuding more domineering air and roguish air.
Sun Ce was always serious in expression, not given to laughter, with deep and profound eyes.
While Gan Ning usually wore a carefree smile, at critical moments, Gan Ning’s gaze was equally deep and sharp.
After a long while, Sun Ce said, “I also received a letter from Sun Ben. He told me in the letter the reason he is not attacking Gan Ning for the time being: Gan Ning is actually Cao Cao’s force, backed by Cao Cao’s support, which is why he has developed so quickly.”
“No way!”
Zhang Zhao was somewhat disbelieving, “His strategist is Lu Zijing. How could Lu Zijing possibly submit to Cao Cao? This old minister believes there must be something fishy here.”
Sun Ce nodded, “Zibu makes a good point. Lu Zijing has always hated Cao Cao for holding the Son of Heaven hostage to command the vassal lords. He would never surrender to Cao Cao.”
At that moment, a soldier reported from below the hall, “General Zhou requests an audience!”
It was Zhou Yu who had arrived. Sun Ce hurriedly said, “Invite him in!”
Moments later, a tall, fair-skinned young man with extremely handsome features walked in. This was Zhou Yu, known as the foremost handsome man of Jiangdong, whom the people of Wu Commandery called Zhou Lang.
Although Zhou Yu was not a strategist and did not hold as high a position in the army as Sun Ben, Sun Ce trusted him greatly.
As soon as Zhou Yu entered the hall, he smiled and said, “Is the Lord discussing the matter of Chaisang Gan Ning?”
Sun Ce nodded and said, “I just received a letter from Ziheng. He believes Gan Ning has risen too quickly, and if not eliminated immediately, he will surely become a future scourge to Jiangdong.”
Zhou Yu asked puzzledly, “Yuzhang Commandery itself has fifteen thousand troops. Surely they cannot even eliminate Gan Ning?”
Zhang Zhao beside him said, “General Sun Ben believes Gan Ning is Cao Cao’s man and does not approve of us falling out with Cao Cao. He hopes we can borrow the hands of Huang Zu or Liu Xun to annihilate him.”
Zhou Yu smiled, “I happened to receive a letter from Lu Zijing today, in which he detailed how Gan Ning rose to power.”
Zhou Yu took out Lu Su’s letter from his bosom and handed it to Sun Ce. Although Lu Su was his close friend and this letter was half public and half private, hiding it from the Lord would inevitably lead to unnecessary suspicion. It was better to be open.
Sun Ce did not take the letter and said indifferently, “Gongjin, just tell me. I don’t need to read it.”
