Chapter 151: Ample Justification
In the meeting hall, Lu Su and Jiang Wan first received Zhu Zhi.
Zhu Zhi straightened his back, with a cold face he said: “The Marquis of Wu wants to know why your side has not fulfilled the alliance treaty agreement and has not handed over Huang Zu to Jiangdong. The Marquis of Wu needs your side to provide a clear explanation!”
Gan Ning and Lu Su and Jiang Wan had already discussed this matter and come up with a justification. They could confidently claim that they had not breached the agreement. As for whether the other side would accept their reasons, that was another matter.
Lu Su took out a thick scroll of the alliance treaty and said: “This is the alliance treaty signed by both sides. Let’s look at the third clause in the preamble. Both sides jointly promise that all provisions stipulated in this alliance treaty must be executed under the premise of not violating normal morality. Master Zhu, do you see? With this limiting clause, the subsequent clause regarding Huang Zu’s disposition must also be executed only if it does not violate morality.”
Zhu Zhi snorted, “Does handing Huang Zu over to Jiangdong violate morality?”
Lu Su unhurriedly said: “First, it was we who invaded Huang Zu, not Huang Zu who invaded us. Second, Huang Zu led thirty thousand troops to surrender. For someone who did not commit any wrong himself and proactively surrendered, if we still killed him or handed him over to Jiangdong to be executed, would that not violate morality? Since it violates morality, we can invoke the exemption clause of the alliance treaty. We do not have to execute the alliance treaty, and we have not violated it either.”
Lu Su’s speech left Zhu Zhi speechless. Zhu Zhi certainly knew it was sophistry, but he had no way to refute it. What is morality? Who holds the right of interpretation? It was not clarified from the root, so this alliance treaty had a loophole from the beginning.
Zhu Zhi coldly said: “Since your side believes that handing Huang Zu over to us violates morality, then I have nothing more to say. But I must make it clear: we believe this does not violate morality. Repaying kindness with enmity is what violates morality. Since your side does not execute the alliance treaty, then we can also act according to the third clause of the appendix.”
Lu Su turned to the appendix. The third clause was written very clearly: if one side refuses to execute the alliance treaty without reason, the other side also has the right not to execute the alliance treaty.
“So what is Jiangdong’s decision?”
Zhu Zhi said with an extremely serious expression: “I formally notify your side on behalf of the Marquis of Wu that due to your side not executing the alliance treaty, effective immediately, Jiangdong will no longer sell sea salt to your side and will stop all salt material supplies!”
Gan Ning listened with narrowed eyes to Lu Su and Jiang Wan’s report, then faintly said: “It seems the other side is well aware that salt is our vital point. As soon as there is any disagreement between the two sides, they unhesitatingly choke our vital point without giving us a chance to explain. This is the first time, but it will absolutely not be the last. It seems we handled Huang Zu very correctly, resolving our vital point in one stroke.”
Jiang Wan pondered for a moment and said: “The other side is determined to use this move and surely expects us to concede and hand over the person. Once they find this move ineffective, they may become furious from shame and abolish the alliance treaty to give Jiangdong an explanation. We must be fully mentally prepared.”
This was indeed a major decision, one that Jiang Wan and Lu Su could not make. Both looked toward Gan Ning.
Gan Ning had already thought of the answer to this question. He slowly said: “Every major decision we make must align with our own interests, whether short-term or long-term. If we agree to Jiangdong’s demand to hand over the person, it might seem in the short term that the alliance treaty is maintained, but if we look deeper, is the alliance treaty really maintained?
Actually no. The alliance treaty has become an unequal treaty. Whenever there is a slight disagreement between the two sides, the other side will use salt to threaten us, which is very detrimental to our long-term interests. More importantly, by handing over Huang Zu, we also lose our credibility. Who will believe us in the future?”
Lu Su sighed, “So General is prepared to fall out with Jiangdong!”
Gan Ning calmly nodded, “Better to fall out than to compromise!”
In Xuchang, Cao Cao had already launched war against the Yuan Brothers. After the Yuan Brothers fought each other to mutual exhaustion, Cao Cao stepped in as the fisherman. The armies of Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were both routed by the Cao Army.
Just before Cao Cao prepared to head north to Yecheng, Jia Xu hurriedly returned.
Cao Cao received Jia Xu in his official residence. After listening to Jia Xu’s report, Cao Cao walked to the map, examined the territory map for a moment, then turned back and asked Guo Jia: “Now Gan Ning’s base borders the Central Plains. Strategist, do you think Gan Ning will attack north into Runan Commandery?”
Guo Jia smiled faintly, “Gan Ning has only defeated Liu Biao; he has plenty of follow-up matters! Jiangxia Commandery belongs to Jingzhou, and Liu Biao will absolutely not tolerate it and will surely send troops to seize back Jiangxia Commandery. Moreover, Gan Ning actually released Huang Zu to retire to the countryside, a brilliant move, but how to explain it to Jiangdong? This subordinate has seen their alliance treaty, and it clearly states in black and white to hand Huang Zu over to Jiangdong. So Gan Ning still faces Jiangdong’s anger. Especially without Huang Zu as an obstacle, Liu Biao might really ally with Jiangdong to deal with Gan Ning together. So Gan Ning now has a pile of messes; how can he have time to consider the Central Plains!”
Cao Cao looked toward Jia Xu again. Jia Xu hurriedly said: “This subordinate believes Gan Ning has likely already resolved the salt issue, so he is not afraid of Jiangdong’s sanctions on the salt source. This subordinate also thinks Gan Ning and Jiangdong are very likely to fall out over the Huang Zu incident, thereby abolishing the alliance treaty. Perhaps this is deliberate on Gan Ning’s part. After the alliance treaty is abolished, Gan Ning can openly take Lujiang Commandery without being bound by the alliance treaty.”
Guo Jia nodded, “Master Jia is right; the possibility of it being deliberate is high. He signed the alliance treaty with Jiangdong back then to take Changsha Commandery. Now that Changsha Commandery is taken, the alliance treaty has instead become a rope binding his expansion. To break free from the alliance treaty’s constraints, Huang Zu is the best chess piece to anger Jiangdong and make Jiangdong proactively abolish the alliance.”
“Then what should we do?” Cao Cao asked.
Guo Jia shook his head, “My lord, ignore it all. Focus your energy on taking Hebei and Hedong; that is the major task we must do. Let those few families in the South fight it out. When they have fought to mutual exhaustion, my lord will have also resolved Hebei and can then turn south.”
Pausing, Guo Jia added: “But my lord must beware of Liu Bei. This subordinate believes he is very likely to swallow Jingzhou. My lord must send someone to contact the Cai Family to prevent Jingzhou from being occupied by Liu Bei.”
Guo Jia’s reminder was very timely and hit Cao Cao’s concerns. The person Cao Cao feared most was not Gan Ning, but Liu Bei.
Cao Cao pondered for a moment, then said to Jia Xu: “Please handle two matters next, Strategist Jia!”
Jia Xu bowed and said: “Please give clear instructions, Minister of Works!”
Cao Cao unhurriedly said: “First, try to stir up strife among the four Southern houses without letting any one dominate; balance must be maintained. Second, please go secretly to Xiangyang, Strategist Jia, to visit Cai Mao. I will write a letter for you to take.”
“This subordinate will certainly handle the matters properly and not fail the Minister of Works’ heavy trust!”
