Chapter 249: Abandoning Illusions
News of the Cao Army attacking Lujiang Commandery reached Chaisang, but Western Chu remained unperturbed, as this was entirely expected by everyone.
It was now mid-September, and the Cao Army mobilizing at this time was completely within Gan Ning’s expectations.
In the Military and Political Affairs Hall, Gan Ning once again gathered the high officials for a meeting. Except for Xu Shu who was at Queyue City, the other six high officials were all present.
“Sima Zhuge, has the migration been completed?” Gan Ning asked Zhuge Jin.
Zhuge Jin was in charge of the migration. He hurriedly said, “Reporting to the Marquis of Chu, it is basically complete. The Huang Family also relocated to Wuchang Commandery ten days ago.”
Gan Ning nodded and said to everyone, “From now on, we will face a difficult situation. Jiangdong’s attitude is ambiguous, with the surrender faction and compromise faction holding absolute advantage. Even if Sun Quan has a sudden realization one day, we cannot count on him to turn the situation in Jiangdong around, so we must rely on ourselves. Strategist Lu, announce it!”
Lu Su stood up and slowly said, “Starting from the Cao Army’s attack on Lujiang Commandery, we officially enter wartime. Drafted jointly by the three offices, we have formulated the《 Wartime Regulations》, consisting of nine articles and thirty-six clauses, covering military affairs, control, internal guard, commerce, finance, and more. I will read them once. If there are no objections, the Marquis of Chu will sign to make them effective.”
Lu Su began reading. There was a lot of content, including promotions for generals: Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, and Taishi Ci promoted to third-level General of the Middle Army; Xu Sheng, Wei Yan, Ding Feng, and Wang Ping promoted to first-level Colonel.
Additionally, soldiers’ benefits were increased: military household land standard raised from twenty mu to thirty mu, military merit rewards calculated separately, and pension money doubled.
Total troop strength increased from the current two hundred thousand to two hundred and forty thousand. At the same time, establish a militia system: all males aged seventeen and above to be organized into militias, conducting military training in their spare time, mainly archery.
Social control managed by the internal guard will also be strengthened, mainly manifested in closing city gates early, implementing curfew at night, requiring all incoming household registration personnel to report to the government office, all inns to establish ledgers, and prohibiting civilians from raising pigeons, etc.
Among these, finance is particularly important, as it is key to sustaining Western Chu’s national strength against the Cao Army. To achieve revenue increase and cost savings, seven specific measures were formulated, including increasing minting coins, and releasing military supplies to the public, such as donkeys, sheep, wine, salt, etc.
After Lu Su finished reading the clauses, he asked, “Now let’s vote! Those with objections can raise their hands.”
But no one raised a hand. Lu Su nodded, “Since there is no opposition, it is unanimously passed.”
In the official residence, Gan Ning signed the《 Wartime Regulations》 and handed it to Lu Su, saying, “Implement it officially starting tomorrow!”
Lu Su took the regulations, hesitated a bit, and asked, “What does the Marquis of Chu think is when the Cao Army will arrive at Queyue City?”
Gan Ning said indifferently, “It will be soon. Once the Cao Army takes the first step, they will accelerate afterward. Even if they have a plan, changes outpace plans. They need to coordinate with Jia Xu’s negotiations in Jiangdong, to make Jiangdong believe that their target is us, not Jiangdong, making Jiangdong completely abandon the idea of allying with us. That is Jia Xu’s purpose.”
Lu Su sighed, “I really can’t understand why Jiangdong has so many in the surrender faction.”
Gan Ning gave Lu Su a strange look. In history, how did Lu Su persuade Sun Quan? Had he forgotten?
“Noble families fear war the most and ruler changes the least. No matter how many rulers change, noble families remain noble families. But war, experienced once, turns ancestral halls into graves. As for Sun Quan, he is muddled. He forgot that everyone can surrender, but only he cannot.”
“The Marquis of Chu is right. Sun Quan is muddled. Everyone can surrender, but he cannot. I don’t know when he will realize this.”
Lu Su took his leave. Moments later, Gan Ning sent for Wang Xiaoman.
Wang Xiaoman currently serves as head of the internal guard, third-level Colonel, soon to be promoted to second-level Colonel. He leads three thousand internal guard soldiers maintaining internal security in Chaisang City.
“This subordinate pays respects to the Marquis of Wu!”
Wang Xiaoman bowed in salute.
Gan Ning waved his hand, “I’ll get straight to it. There must be Cao Cao’s scouts and spies in Chaisang City, even hidden warriors. I hope you can find them as much as possible, ideally within a month, but don’t alert them. I need to use them.”
“This subordinate obeys the order!”
Wang Xiaoman saluted and hurriedly left.
Gan Ning paced back and forth in the room with hands behind his back, his mind rapidly considering various countermeasures and the current complex situation.
The Cao Army’s attack on Lujiang Commandery was indeed to coordinate with Jia Xu’s negotiations in Jiangdong.
Jia Xu’s negotiations in Jiangdong were also quite difficult. One reason was needing confirmation from Cao Cao, which took a long time for round-trip communication.
Another reason was that neither side was willing to budge on their demands: Jiangdong insisted on Cao Cao promising not to attack Jiangdong for ten years, while Cao Cao offered at most three years.
But one point both sides agreed on: when the Cao Army launches a major offensive on Yuzhang Commandery, Jiangdong must not backstab the Cao Army. Sun Quan agreed to this.
In the Marquis of Wu’s Manor, Lv Fan was bitterly persuading Sun Quan.
“Marquis of Wu, Cao Cao is completely untrustworthy. Talks of three or five years are empty words. Once they destroy Yuzhang, they will surely turn to destroy us. In fact, their real target is us, not Gan Ning. Otherwise, why would he support Sun Ben?”
Although Sun Quan was somewhat dismissive of Lv Fan’s words, the last sentence did remind him—he had actually forgotten about Sun Ben.
Sun Quan paced back and forth with hands behind his back, pondered for a long time, and said, “I might somewhat understand. Cao Cao promises not to attack us, but he hasn’t promised that Sun Ben won’t attack us. It’s very likely they attack Yuzhang Commandery, then let Sun Ben attack us.”
“The Marquis of Wu is absolutely right. Marquis of Wu, Jia Xu is full of tricks. We must not be deceived by him. Marquis of Wu, we should ally with Gan Ning. That is the best way to preserve ourselves.”
Sun Quan hesitated a bit. He originally had no intention of allying with Gan Ning, but he suddenly thought of Sun Ben, and also recalled last year when Sun Ben invaded Danyang Commandery, and Gan Ning’s troops resolved the crisis in Danyang Commandery.
In that instant, his heart wavered again.
Could he ally with Gan Ning again to deal with Sun Ben?
At that moment, Zhang Zhao hurriedly arrived.
“Reporting to the Marquis of Wu, the other side has made a concession.”
Zhang Zhao’s words immediately dispelled the slight inclination toward alliance that Sun Quan had just felt.
His eyes lit up, and he immediately perked up, asking, “How have they conceded?”
Zhang Zhao hurriedly said, “Jia Xu just received a reply from Cao Cao, agreeing not to attack Jiangdong for eight years, though Cao Cao also proposed a series of conditions.”
“Strategist, sit down quickly. Tell me specifically what conditions.”
Beside him, Lv Fan watched Sun Quan’s face full of excitement, and his heart gradually sank into the abyss.
