Chapter 240: Huang Zhong’s Suggestion
Gan Ning immediately wrote a personal letter to Sun Quan and sent someone to deliver it to Jiangdong with utmost speed.
Western Chu’s relationship with Jiangdong is now somewhat distant, the reason being the fugitive Bu Zhi. After learning that Bu Zhi’s family had fled to Chaisang, Sun Quan immediately wrote a letter to Gan Ning, demanding that Gan Ning hand over Bu Zhi’s family to Jiangdong.
But Gan Ning ignored it and instead heavily employed Bu Zhi, appointing him as Sima, which truly infuriated Sun Quan. Although he did not fall out with Gan Ning, the strained relationship was inevitable.
Now with a great enemy at the gates, if Sun Quan still refuses to see reason and continues to harbor hatred toward him, then once the Cao Army proves difficult to defeat, the first to perish will not be him, but rather Jiangdong.
After sending off the letter, Gan Ning pulled the rope again. Not long after, Lu Xun hurriedly walked in and bowed in salute, “Greetings, Marquis of Chu!”
“Has anything major happened inside Jiangdong?”
Although Western Chu has a liaison office in Jiangdong, and some important events in Jiangdong are promptly reported to Chaisang, certain internal dark matters in Jiangdong, such as internal power struggles, are unknown to the liaison office. However, through the Lu Family channel, Gan Ning can learn some internal news from Jiangdong.
Lu Xun bowed and said, “Two days ago, we received a family letter mentioning that Cheng Pu has been transferred to Wu County to train new soldiers, and the Niuzhu commander position has been taken over by Lu Meng.”
Gan Ning smiled faintly, “Is this the Marquis of Wu making a move against Cheng Pu?”
Cheng Pu is Jiangdong’s foremost great general, yet they transferred him from the most critical strategic location Niuzhu to train new soldiers—too subtle.
“Has Huang Gai been transferred?”
After Sun Jian’s death, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang—these three great generals—served under Sun Ben for several years. After Sun Ce raised his army, they followed Sun Ce, though Han Dang remained under Sun Ben. After the two Suns split, Han Dang continued to follow Sun Ben.
Lu Xun shook his head, “Huang Gai shows no movement!”
“Why transfer Cheng Pu but not Huang Gai?”
“Reporting to the Marquis of Chu, my patriarch says it is likely related to Cheng Pu’s son, Cheng Zi.”
“Is Cheng Zi part of Sun Ben’s faction?”
Lu Xun nodded, “Cheng Zi has long been under Sun Ben. Although he remained in Eastern Wu, after Sun Ce’s death, he supported Sun Ben ascending to power, so he has always been regarded as part of Sun Ben’s faction. On the Sun Ben faction list, he ranks second, only after Bu Zhi.”
So that’s how it is. Gan Ning understood: the son’s political stance had affected the father. The reason Sun Quan dared not act against Cheng Zi was because his father Cheng Pu held military power, so to move against Cheng Zi, he first had to weaken his father’s authority.
Lu Xun continued, “My patriarch expressed great concern in the letter. The Bu Zhi incident has already caused tremendous damage to Jiangdong’s internals, but the Marquis of Wu has not truly learned his lesson and continues to eliminate the so-called Sun Ben faction members. The only lesson the Marquis of Wu has learned is not to make it too obvious—disappointing.”
“I understand. You may go. On the way, send someone to fetch Huang Gai.”
Lu Xun withdrew. Gan Ning pondered silently. Previously, Bu Zhi had told him that Sun Quan was suspicious by nature and very paranoid. He would not stop the internal strife just because Bu Zhi had fled; he would continue to purge the so-called Sun Ben faction. This was like a large bleeding wound inside Jiangdong’s body, constantly bleeding without healing, making Jiangdong’s body increasingly weak and continuously eroding Jiangdong’s strength. Such internal consumption would eventually destroy Jiangdong.
Although Gan Ning was delighted to see this and hoped Jiangdong would decline as a result, with a great enemy now at hand, Jiangdong’s decline was absolutely not a good thing.
At this moment, an attendant below the hall reported, “General Huang Zhong has arrived!”
“Invite him in!”
Soon, Huang Zhong strode in quickly. Huang Zhong is currently training three wan newly recruited new soldiers at the Chaisang new soldier camp, but this is not the same as Cheng Pu training new soldiers. Cheng Pu was demoted, whereas Huang Zhong is leveraging his strengths—he is very skilled at training new soldiers, achieving in three months what others take a year to accomplish.
“This subordinate greets the Marquis of Chu!”
“General Huang has worked hard these past few months. How is the new soldier training progressing?”
“Reporting to the Marquis of Chu, after four months of training, they are nearly ready. The next step is to gain experience and courage through actual combat.”
Gan Ning nodded, “I summoned General Huang today to entrust him with an important mission.”
“Please issue your orders, Marquis of Chu!”
Gan Ning said slowly, “Cao Cao has already begun dispatching troops in great numbers to Hefei and transporting money and grain supplies, while appointing Cao Ren as Hefei’s commander. We judge that the Cao Army’s first step is to unify the north of the river, namely our Lujiang Commandery and Jiangxia Commandery. But I am not willing to let Cao Cao seize the north of the river. I still want to plant a chess piece in the north of the river—this mission I wish to entrust to Old General Huang!”
Gan Ning had deeply experienced Huang Zhong’s city defense skills; he was the only great general who left Gan Ning at a loss.
Huang Zhong said without hesitation, “This subordinate is willing to share the Marquis of Chu’s burdens!”
Gan Ning then led Huang Zhong to the sand table. The sand table was first invented by Eastern Han’s Ma Yuan, but Ma Yuan’s was a battle map, whereas Gan Ning’s is a sand table map with broader applicability. Currently, he has made one of his territory, including Nan Commandery.
Gan Ning took a wooden rod and pointed to Hefei in the east, saying, “Based on various intelligence, we can confirm that Cao Cao’s southern campaign this time will proceed along the Hefei line. However, before crossing the river, they will set out from Hefei to capture Lujiang Commandery and Jiangxia Commandery—this is also Cao Ren’s task. I am considering holding one city in the north of the river, but I have not yet decided. I want to hear Old General’s opinion.”
Huang Zhong asked, “May I ask if the Marquis of Chu has any candidate targets?”
Gan Ning nodded, “There are two candidate target cities: one is Shu County, the other is Xiling County.”
Shu County is the seat of Lujiang Commandery, while Xiling County is the seat of Xixia Commandery; they represent Lujiang Commandery and Xixia Commandery. In truth, Gan Ning has not yet decided whether to hold Jiangxia Commandery or Lujiang Commandery.
Huang Zhong of course understood the Marquis of Chu’s intent. He pondered for a moment and said, “This subordinate suggests holding Jiangxia Commandery!”
“State your reasons!” Gan Ning laughed.
“First, since Cao Cao’s army is advancing along the Hefei line, Lujiang Commandery is too close—Shu County is even the easternmost part of Lujiang Commandery, bordering Jiujiang Commandery closely. Right under his bed, Cao Cao will absolutely not tolerate it. In comparison, Jiangxia Commandery is farther away. Moreover, if Cao Cao’s southern campaign fails and the army withdraws north, we can seize Nan Commandery in the chaos.”
“Makes sense!” Gan Ning laughed: “So Old General means to hold Xiling County?”
Huang Zhong shook his head and pointed with the wooden rod to Queyue City on the eastern bank of the Han River and Yangtze, saying, “This subordinate suggests defending Queyue City. This subordinate has inspected the city—Huang Zu built it well: tall, sturdy, easy to defend and hard to attack, and right next to the Han River and Yangtze. We can support it via water routes.”
Huang Zhong’s suggestion opened Gan Ning’s mind. Gan Ning’s eyes lit up—Queyue City! He hadn’t thought of it himself, but it was indeed excellent: on the eastern bank at the Han River’s mouth, directly across the Yangtze from Xiakou, with water route support—the Cao Army could never take it.
“Your suggestion is excellent, Old General Huang. I appoint you as Prefect of Jiangxia, to lead twenty thousand troops and garrison Queyue City.”
“This subordinate will absolutely not fail the Marquis of Chu’s heavy trust and will definitely hold Queyue City!”
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【My mom is sick, tomorrow I’ll take her to the hospital for a check-up, asking for one more day off from everyone, normal update in the afternoon, sorry!】
