Chapter 19: Deceiving The Heavens To Cross The Sea
Inside the Xunyang Restaurant, a merchant drank wine while asking the shopkeeper, “It seems there aren’t many troops inside the city! Aren’t you worried about Huang Zu’s army attacking?”
The shopkeeper chuckled, “Chaisang is easy to defend and hard to attack. Previously, Zhang Ying came with a few thousand men, but we only had a few hundred defenders and still held Chaisang.”
“Not just four hundred now, right!”
“Not by much, at most eight or nine hundred!”
“Why are you still flying Cao Army’s military flag?”
“General Gan was originally appointed by Cao Cao!”
………
Inside the inn, another merchant gave the waiter several hundred coins and smiled, “I want to ask you about something!”
The waiter smiled broadly, “Ask away, honored guest. If I know, I’ll tell you truthfully!”
“I want to know how many troops are inside the city?”
“Nine hundred men. Every morning General Gan leads the soldiers in running, nine teams in total, so nine hundred soldiers!”
“Only nine hundred soldiers in total?”
“Of course, that’s already quite a few. Before we only had four hundred and still defeated Zhang Ying.”
“What armor do they wear, and what weapons do they use?”
The waiter smiled, “Tomorrow you can see for yourself, honored guest. Actually, no need to ask me!”
………
The next day before dawn, a force of nine hundred men, led by Gan Ning, ran along the city wall. All the merchants saw clearly: nine teams, nine hundred men, all wearing leather armor and carrying spears.
Intelligence quickly spread in all directions.
………
In Nanchang, the new Prefect Sun Ben received the envoy sent by Gan Ning.
Sun Ben read the letter written by Gan Ning, nodded, and asked, “Why doesn’t your General Gan want Haihun County?”
The envoy bowed and said, “It’s not that he doesn’t want it, but he can’t hold it if he takes it. Ai County has Liu Xin’s three thousand troops. Once Liu Xin leads his army to attack, we couldn’t resist at all. So General Gan simply gave Haihun County to Prefect Sun, letting the able one bear the burden.”
Sun Ben smiled, “General Gan seems quite sensible!”
“My general said that playing tricks in front of Prefect Sun would be asking for humiliation. Better to speak the truth.”
Sun Ben stroked his beard and smiled faintly, “I understand. Tell your general that since he is the Commander of a Detached Unit appointed by Minister of Works Cao, I won’t attack Chaisang for now, but I can’t guarantee the future. Also remind him that his troop strength is too small. Once Huang Zu or Liu Xun attacks, he won’t be able to resist. He should quickly seek aid from Minister of Works Cao and ask for more troops!”
“Thank you for the reminder, Prefect. This one will report truthfully to General Gan.”
The envoy had just left when Lv Fan hurriedly arrived.
“General Sun, I heard Gan Ning sent an envoy?”
Sun Ben said indifferently, “I am the new Prefect of Yuzhang Commandery. As Magistrate of Chaisang, he naturally has to show his stance to me.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he has already destroyed Zhang Ying and is willing to hand over Haihun County to me to show his sincerity. In reality, he just hopes I won’t attack him.”
Lv Fan frowned, “I just received a fast report from a scout that Chaisang only has nine hundred troops. I can’t figure it out. Since he destroyed Zhang Ying, how does he only have nine hundred troops?”
“Not strange. He is the County Chief of Chaisang appointed by Minister of Works Cao, but Minister of Works Cao didn’t give him a single soldier. His subordinates should only be the two or three hundred he had in Xiangyang. I heard his archery is extremely skilled and he awed Cai Yan at Grand Commandant Yang’s Manor. I estimate he shot and killed Zhang Ying.
But how could his two or three hundred men control Zhang Ying’s three thousand? So most of Zhang Ying’s subordinates dispersed. His three hundred subordinates could at most control five or six hundred, so his current troop strength is just under a thousand. Isn’t that normal?”
Sun Ben’s words made sense. Lv Fan pondered and said, “I suspect it was him who previously stole our armory and ships. This man is skilled in both civil and military affairs and quite cunning. If we underestimate him, he will become a major problem later. Better to destroy him now while he is weak.”
“Just a mere nine hundred men, why does Lord Lu value him so much?”
“It’s not because his troop strength is small, but this man… alas! The Prefect should know about the Nanchang armory incident before!”
“Of course I know!”
Sun Ben smiled and nodded, “I have it all figured out. Gan Ning gave me Haihun County and showed a humble attitude. Crucially, I must give face to Minister of Works Cao. So I’ll put Gan Ning last. We first destroy Ze Rong in Poyang County, then Tong Zhi in Luling, then defeat Liu Xin and reclaim Ai County. At that time, I’ll try courtesy first and force second. If Gan Ning refuses to surrender to Jiangdong, then I’ll destroy him directly.”
Lv Fan sighed inwardly. He felt Gan Ning was a greater threat than Ze Rong. To empty the armory right under their noses was no ordinary feat.
In his view, they should definitely eliminate Gan Ning first, but he had to give face to Sun Ben.
After a moment of silence, Lv Fan asked, “Is General Sun sure he was appointed by Cao Cao?”
Sun Ben nodded, “He raised the Cao Army flag in Chaisang!”
Lv Fan dismissed it, “Anyone can raise a Cao Army flag. That proves nothing?”
“Of course I won’t believe it lightly. I think he is Minister of Works Cao’s man for a reason. I heard about the Xuchang matter from Sun Yi in Qu’a. This Gan Ning is actually Cao Pi’s man. He escorted Cao Pi to the banquet at Grand Commandant Yang’s Manor. His appointment as Magistrate of Chaisang must have been in the name of the Imperial Court by Minister of Works Cao. I estimate Minister of Works Cao wants to plant an informant in Jiangdong.”
Sun Ben kept saying Minister of Works Cao this and Minister of Works Cao that, refusing to directly name Cao Cao. Lv Fan found it grating, but he knew full well that Sun Ben had just become relatives with Cao Cao through marriage and already saw him as an ally.
Lv Fan had no choice but to nod, “Then follow the Prefect’s plan: first destroy Ze Rong in Poyang County, put Gan Ning last. Hope he knows what’s best for him.”
Sun Ben reassured him, “He only has a mere nine hundred men. In a few months at most two thousand. Even just Taishi Ci alone could destroy him. Lord Lu needn’t worry!”
Lv Fan could only give a wry smile. Even if worried, what use was it? Fortunately, Gan Ning’s troop strength was too small, and they still had a chance to eliminate him.
……….
Two days later, Sun Ben issued Sun Ce’s order, appointing Taishi Ci as Jianchang Commandant, to lead five thousand troops to station in Haihun County and be responsible for capturing Ai County and expelling Liu Xin’s forces.
He specifically instructed Taishi Ci that Chaisang Gan Ning was currently Minister of Works Cao’s informant. The Lord had just formed a marriage alliance with Minister of Works Cao, so temporarily avoid conflict with him. Do not attack Chaisang County or Liling County. If he has trouble, no need to help. Let Huang Zu or Liu Xun eliminate Gan Ning, then we take back Chaisang. That way Minister of Works Cao can’t blame us.
Taishi Ci agreed and immediately led five thousand troops to Haihun County.
Sun Ben then personally led seven thousand troops and over five hundred warships, appointing Han Dang as vanguard. The grand army majestically advanced north along the Gan River to campaign against Ze Rong’s forces in Poyang County.
Lv Fan and Sun Ben’s brother Sun Fu led four thousand troops stationed in Nanchang County, ready to support the battle in Poyang County at any time.
……….
Among the many figures of the Three Kingdoms, if speaking of vile character, evil nature, and ruthless killing, few can compare to Ze Rong. Guangling Prefect Zhao Yu, Pengcheng Chancellor Xue Li, Yuzhang Prefect Zhu Hao—these were all men who showed him kindness, yet he killed them all with despicable means.
Wherever he went, he let his soldiers slaughter citizens and plunder property.
Yet such a brutally violent man, rotten with betrayal and shamelessness to the core, was an extremely devout Buddhist. The trend of Buddhist rituals in history began with him—truly full of irony.
Several years ago, after killing Yuzhang Prefect Zhu Hao, he seized the lands east of Pengli Marsh, centering on Poyang County to establish his base and power.
Though Liu Yao had defeated him and forced him into the mountains, after Liu Yao died of illness, Ze Rong made a comeback and reoccupied the surrounding lands centered on Poyang County.
Just last year, as he prepared to strike at Hua Xin in Nanchang County to seize the entire Yuzhang Commandery, Sun Ce preempted him by persuading Hua Xin to surrender and sending Sun Ben and Lv Fan with ten thousand troops to occupy Nanchang County. Ze Rong’s beautiful dream was shattered.
Ze Rong was small and thin, with a sallow face, a long horse-like face, and a tuft of short beard on his chin that made his face appear even longer. His triangular eyes were exceptionally sinister and cunning.
At this time, Ze Rong was terrified and restless, knowing Sun Ben would surely come for him. Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows; he began seeking his escape route.
Ze Rong’s gaze fell on Chaisang. Chaisang was ideal for advance or retreat: advance to sweep Yuzhang Commandery, retreat to flee into Jingzhou—a rare strategic stronghold.
“Reporting to the Lord, we have repeatedly scouted and confirmed that Chaisang County has only nine hundred soldiers, commanded by County Chief Gan Ning appointed by the Imperial Court.”
Ze Rong was secretly delighted—heaven helps me! He immediately ordered, “Load all grain and property onto ships, all armor and weapons too. Order the five thousand troops to assemble immediately and prepare to depart for Chaisang.”
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【Previous chapter had a place name wrong: it should be Liling County, not Jianling County. Also, Sun Ben’s daughter married Cao Zhang, not Sun Ben’s sister. Corrected.】
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