Chapter 232: Iron-blooded Decision
In Chaisang, inside the General’s Mansion Military and Political Affairs Hall, Gan Ning held the routine meeting. Every fifth and tenth day, military and political affairs meetings were held to discuss major matters. If temporary major events arose, emergency military and political affairs meetings would also be convened.
The meeting hall was extremely quiet as Strategist Lu read aloud the latest battle report sent by Bu Zhi to everyone.
The report stated that the Western Chu Army had already captured Cangwu Commandery. Prefect Zhang Jin had died of illness, his two sons were engaged in internal strife and fighting fiercely, leaving the entire military and political apparatus extremely confused, without a sense of belonging, and with people’s hearts turning restless.
The powerful entry of the Western Chu Army gave hope to Jiaozhou’s officials and generals, who flocked to join them one after another, smoothly capturing Cangwu Commandery, gaining twenty thousand troops and a large amount of grain and supplies, and establishing a foothold in Jiaozhou.
Immediately after, the army crushed Wu Ju and captured Yulin Commandery. At the same time, Nanhai Commandery also expressed willingness to surrender.
“Now, of Jiaozhou’s three major forces, we have crushed two, leaving only Hepu Commandery and the Three Commanderies of Jiaozhi. Currently, Hepu Commandery is controlled by Shi Xie, and the Three Commanderies of Jiaozhi are also his old lair. Capturing Hepu Commandery is not difficult, but the Three Commanderies of Jiaozhi are. The Shi family father and son have deep roots in the Three Commanderies of Jiaozhi for many years, with the people’s loyalty attached to them. To capture the Three Commanderies of Jiaozhi would likely come at a great cost.”
After Strategist Lu finished reading Bu Zhi’s report, Gan Ning slowly said: “Bu Zhi has two plans. One plan implements civil administration, making Shi Xie nominally loyal to us, but we do not interfere in Jiaozhi. After both sides reach an agreement, the Jiaozhou campaign ends. This plan equates to us abandoning the Three Commanderies of Jiaozhi.
The second plan is military attack, completely annihilating Shi Xie’s army. But within the military attack, there are two sub-options. One is to completely eliminate the Shi family father and son, annihilating them completely. The second option is to spare the man but not the soldiers, depriving Jiaozhi of its army but leaving Shi Xie to continue as Prefect of Jiaozhi Commandery, using his influence to pacify Jiaozhi. Everyone, discuss!”
Jiang Wan pondered for a moment and said: “The first plan equates to recognizing Shi Xie’s independence. If he obediently hunkers down in Jiaozhi, we might acquiesce, but Shi Xie will absolutely not stay quietly in Jiaozhi. He will surely seek opportunities to counterattack Jiaozhou, leaving us unable to guard against him and tying down a large amount of our energy and resources. So the first plan is definitely not feasible; I firmly oppose it. As for the second plan’s two choices, I personally favor the latter option. This is like the resolution of Nanhai Commandery: spare the man but not the soldiers. Shi Xie would be a fierce tiger with its claws and fangs pulled, using his prestige to pacify the Three Commanderies of Jiaozhi, but powerless to rebel.”
At this moment, Gan Ning saw Xu Shu hesitating to speak, so he smiled and said: “Strategist Xu, you can speak!”
Xu Shu stood up, gave a salute, and said: “This subordinate also believes the first plan is unacceptable, leaving endless harm. We should use the second plan, but of the two options in the second plan, I endorse the first one. The second option also carries great hidden dangers. Shi Xie cannot be compared to Nanhai Commandery at all. Prefect Wang Chuan of Nanhai put up no resistance and directly expressed willingness to hand over the army and surrender; that shows sincerity.
Does Shi Xie have sincerity? Not at all. Instead, he wants to fight us to the death and only surrenders after being thoroughly defeated. If we still use him as prefect, who will be responsible for our fallen officers and soldiers?
Our principle is to spare those who surrender, but kill without mercy those who stubbornly resist. Why does this not apply to Shi Xie? If we set this bad precedent, who will proactively surrender to us in the future? Everyone will fight to the death, knowing they can still be governor afterward.”
At this point, Xu Shu took a deep breath and said: “Reporting to the Marquis of Chu, the second plan has no two choices. Unless Shi Xie does not resist and proactively surrenders, once he stubbornly resists and refuses to surrender, we must annihilate them completely.”
Jiang Wan was truly somewhat displeased and waved his hand: “Strategist Xu, don’t get agitated. Calm down first. We must consider this politically, stabilize Jiaozhou first, and after defeating the Cao Army, then consider governing Jiaozhou. Leaving Shi Xie as prefect is just a temporary measure.”
Xu Shu shook his head: “Even a temporary measure must have principles. Does leaving the Shi family father and son mean Jiaozhi will rebel? We grant tax exemptions to the citizens, we guarantee the aristocracy’s interests—must the Jiaozhi citizens still rebel? If we can’t even handle this small matter, why do we need Jiaozhou?”
Due to the lack of unified opinions among the group, Gan Ning ultimately did not state his position and announced the meeting adjourned.
Gan Ning was truly somewhat annoyed. He stood with hands behind his back by the window, silent for a long time. In history, when Bu Zhi took Jiaozhou, he had adopted precisely the second sub-option toward Shi Xie, though Shi Xie had proactively surrendered to the Marquis of Wu without resistance.
Thus, the Shi Xie family had long occupied Jiaozhou and still held an army in hand. After Shi Xie died, his son Shi Hui rose in rebellion.
The reason Shi Xie was willing to submit to Wu was that Wu’s strength was powerful at the time, so Shi Xie chose to proactively surrender and submit. But now, with his own army advancing southward, Shi Xie might not surrender and submit like in history.
Moreover, with Cao Cao preparing a major southward advance, Shi Xie would be even less likely to easily change course and surrender to him. He would surely bet his fate on Cao Cao. Once Cao Cao’s army defeated him, with rewards for merit, wouldn’t Shi Xie become Governor of Jiaozhou?
At this moment, Ma Liang said at the door: “Marquis of Chu, Strategist Lu requests an audience!”
“Let him in!”
Moments later, Strategist Lu hurried in, bowed in salute, and slowly said: “Does the Marquis of Chu not approve of Chief Clerk Jiang’s plan?”
Gan Ning said indifferently: “Does the strategist support Chief Clerk Jiang’s plan?”
Strategist Lu bowed and said: “This subordinate can understand Chief Clerk Jiang’s thinking. He wants to stabilize Jiaozhou first, then we focus all efforts on dealing with the Cao Army. After defeating the Cao Army, we clean up Jiaozhou’s officialdom. This idea is not impossible, just a bit unrealistic. This subordinate believes Shi Xie would rather retreat to the Lin Yi Kingdom than consider surrendering to us. He will surely surrender to Cao Cao, waiting for Cao Cao to turn the tables for him. Chief Clerk Jiang’s considerations are not yet mature enough.”
Gan Ning turned back and glanced at Strategist Lu, slowly saying: “Does the strategist know why I chose to attack Jiaozhou at this critical juncture?”
Strategist Lu nodded. “This subordinate knows!”
“The strategist knows?”
Strategist Lu smiled wryly: “Last year, the Marquis of Chu discussed strategic depth with me, so I considered that the Marquis of Chu’s decision to attack Jiaozhou is to use Jiaozhou as our strategic depth?”
Gan Ning nodded. “Exactly right. I want Jiaozhou to serve as our retreat route. Once Cao Cao crosses the Yangtze River, it will be trouble. We will have to begin strategic transfer, and the only place we can shift to is Jiaozhou.”
“Does the Marquis of Chu think the Cao Army will cross the Yangtze River?”
Gan Ning sighed softly. “I am confident Cao Cao will not cross the river, but… what about Jiangdong? If Jiangdong cannot hold off the Cao Army, or cannot hold off Sun Ben, we will also be dragged down by Jiangdong.”
Strategist Lu somewhat understood. He nodded and said: “So the Marquis of Chu does not want to leave any hidden dangers in Jiaozhou and must completely annihilate the Shi Xie family—that is, Xu Shu’s plan.”
Gan Ning slowly said: “Shi Xie is Jiaozhou’s greatest hidden danger. We must completely annihilate him, or Jiaozhou cannot become our strategic depth. In the face of this life-and-death grand situation, we absolutely cannot show the slightest mercy of a woman!”
