Chapter 148: Chain Reaction
Ten days after Jiangxia Commandery changed hands, Jia Xu arrived in Shouchun.
At this time, Sun Ben had already received the news of Huang Zu’s destruction, and he was truly anxious in his heart, very worried that Gan Ning’s next target would be himself.
Since last year, Sun Ben had also been actively preparing for war, with his goal being Danyang Commandery, which was his old nest. Although he was forced to exchange Danyang Commandery for Lujiang Commandery, Sun Ben was always thinking about how to capture back Danyang Commandery.
It was at this moment that Gan Ning launched the Battle of Jiangxia, disrupting his plan and leaving Sun Ben annoyed and restless.
At this time, a soldier reported from below the hall, “Strategist Jia has arrived!”
Sun Ben was startled and hurriedly came out to greet him.
“Welcome, Strategist Jia, to Jiujiang Commandery!”
Jia Xu said with a cold face: “I’m just passing through Shouchun on my way back to Xuchang, so no need for formalities.”
“Please, Strategist!”
Jia Xu was traveling by boat along the water route to Xuchang, passing right by Shouchun.
The two came to the main hall and sat down. Sun Ben had his subordinate serve tea, and Jia Xu slowly said: “You should know about the matter in Jiangxia Commandery by now!”
Jia Xu nodded, “This subordinate knows, and is very worried. Gan Ning’s next target is likely Lujiang Commandery.”
“Not within this year!” Jia Xu said very affirmatively.
“How does the Strategist know?”
“He has only captured Jiangxia Commandery, but he has no foundation in Jiangxia Commandery. It’s still far from him thoroughly swallowing Jiangxia Commandery! Moreover, Liu Biao will not sit idly by and let go of Jiangxia Commandery; he will definitely launch an offensive to capture back Jiangxia Commandery. There is still war between Gan Ning and Liu Biao, so at least within this year, Gan Ning will not consider Lujiang Commandery.”
Sun Ben breathed a slight sigh of relief, “Thank you, Strategist Jia, for the clarification!”
Jia Xu waved his hand and said: “I didn’t come to find you for this matter. I have an idea that needs you to implement.”
“Please instruct me clearly, Strategist Jia!”
Jia Xu slowly said: “I heard that Gan Ning did not kill Huang Zu, nor did he send Huang Zu to Jiangdong according to the alliance treaty, but released him instead. This is an opportunity. Use your influence in Jiangdong to persuade the Marquis of Wu to abolish the Gan-Sun alliance.”
Sun Ben nodded, “There really is this possibility!”
“Abolishing the Gan-Sun alliance is beneficial to you. At least they won’t join hands to deal with you.”
Sun Ben’s eyes lit up, “I understand. I will implement it as soon as possible.”
Jia Xu stood up and said: “I came just to say this matter. I now need to hurry to Xuchang, so please stay.”
After seeing off Jia Xu, Sun Ben paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back. He finally made up his mind, wrote a few letters, and ordered men to send them to Jiangdong.
Half a month after the Battle of Jiangxia, many details had also reached Jiangdong, especially that Huang Zu, whom Jiangdong had been eagerly anticipating, was actually released back home by Gan Ning. The court and public in Jiangdong were in an uproar, all denouncing Gan Ning for breaking faith and betraying righteousness, violating the alliance treaty.
“Bang!”
Sun Quan smashed the teacup hard against the wall, shattering it to pieces. With a forceful sweep, he knocked everything on the desk to the ground, leaving a mess.
Sun Quan stood by the window with his hands behind his back, his chest heaving with anger, his eyes blazing like fire.
At this time, Zhang Zhao hurried to the doorway. Seeing the mess everywhere, he waved his hand, signaling the attendants to quickly clean up.
After the attendants had cleaned up and withdrawn, Zhang Zhao then entered the room, sighed, and said: “The matter has already happened. What’s the use of the Lord just getting angry? We need to handle this quickly.”
Sun Quan nodded silently, sat down again, and after a long pause asked: “I heard that outsiders are petitioning jointly again?”
“It’s probably still that group of officials who opposed the alliance before. They’ve finally found an opportunity, so they jointly demand the abolition of the alliance treaty. The momentum is huge, but the influence is not great. The Lord should not take it to heart.”
Sun Quan said angrily: “Now even I want to abolish the alliance treaty. It’s the enmity of killing my father!”
“Lord, the alliance treaty can be abolished, but we can’t just abolish it like a child throwing a tantrum. We need to proceed step by step, to make Gan Ning understand that abolishing the alliance treaty is not our responsibility, but his problem.”
Sun Quan nodded, “The Strategist is right. So what should we do?”
“This subordinate suggests using both soft and hard approaches together. For the soft approach, send an envoy to Chaisang to demand that Gan Ning comply with the alliance treaty and hand over Huang Zu to us. We need to occupy the moral high ground.”
“What about the hard approach?” Sun Quan asked again.
“The hard approach is to cut off their salt supply. The Marquis of Wu can publicly announce that starting immediately, no more salt will be supplied to Yuzhang Commandery. This is their vital point. Choke their vital point and then talk reason. This also gives our internals an explanation, to avoid anyone criticizing the Marquis of Wu for being weak and incompetent.”
Sun Quan nodded slowly, “The Strategist is right. Combining soft and hard is the kingly way!”
Sun Quan immediately issued an order as the Marquis of Wu, publicly announcing that due to the Yuzhang government office violating the alliance treaty first, Jiangdong had the right to react. Starting immediately, no more sea salt would be supplied to Yuzhang Commandery.
This news was like a boulder thrown into a lake, causing a flurry of discussions.
In the Lu Family residence in Dantu County, Lu Ji was reporting the situation to his uncle Lu Yu.
“The Marquis of Wu must have felt the pressure, so he just issued the Marquis of Wu order to no longer supply salt to Yuzhang Commandery. This ban has won the Marquis of Wu a lot of praise, and many officials who were preparing to jointly petition are temporarily holding back.”
Lu Yu nodded and asked his grandson Lu Xun: “You stayed in Yuzhang Commandery for two years. Is the Marquis of Wu’s move effective?”
Lu Xun bowed and said: “Replying to Grandfather, for now, this move directly chokes the vital point, but this grandson finds it a bit suspicious.”
“What suspicious?”
“With the deep foresight of people like Lu Su and Jiang Wan, would they not know their vital point is being choked by Jiangdong? They definitely know, but why did Gan Ning dare to violate the alliance treaty over the matter of Huang Zu?”
“Do you mean Gan Ning has something to rely on?”
Lu Xun nodded, “I suspect they have already solved the salt problem, so they’re not afraid of Jiangdong choking them. They deliberately used the matter of Huang Zu to abolish the alliance treaty, preparing for the next step of attacking Lujiang Commandery.”
Lu Yu narrowed his eyes and said: “You see through it clearly, more thoroughly than the vast majority of Jiangdong officials. We all underestimated Gan Ning. His methods are much more brilliant. I misjudged him before as well.”
Previously, Lu Yu had wanted his grandson Lu Xun to serve Gan Ning, but during the alliance, he discovered Gan Ning refused a marriage alliance with Jiangdong, so Lu Yu thought Gan Ning was nothing special and had his grandson return to Jiangdong.
Now it seems Gan Ning was actually willing to fall out with Jiangdong over a Huang Zu. Lu Yu suddenly realized that from the beginning, Gan Ning had no intention of a long-term alliance with Jiangdong. He only allied with Jiangdong to attack Changsha Commandery. Naturally, he did not want to be bound by a marriage alliance, so he found an excuse, refused Sun Jing’s daughter, and gave up the marriage alliance.
Lu Yu only then realized he had misjudged the person. Gan Ning was an expert!
Lu Yu felt a bit regretful, but if he let his grandson go to serve in Yuzhang Commandery now, it definitely wouldn’t have as good an effect as two years ago.
He said to Lu Ji: “Nephew, you can go if you have prior matters!”
Lu Ji stood up, saluted, and left first.
Only then did Lu Yu slowly ask his grandson: “Are you willing to follow Gan Ning?”
Lu Xun nodded lightly. Lu Yu sighed and said: “You might not get a very high position. You have to take it slow and endure the loneliness.”
“This grandson is still young!”
Lu Yu sighed and said: “Alright! You make your own choice. I’ll handle things on the Marquis of Wu’s side. It might even result in you being expelled from the family, so be mentally prepared. But I promise you, one day, I will let you return in glory.”
Lu Xun nodded silently. He knew he had to make sacrifices for the family, otherwise the family would be implicated by him.
“This grandson has no regrets!”
That night, Lu Xun packed his luggage and quietly left the Lu Family. Officially, he was going out to study again, but he went to the distant Yuzhang Commandery, making his choice in life.
