Chapter 268: True Intentions
After seeing off Xun You, Lu Su said gravely: “This should be treating it politely first and then using force, right? I feel that Cao Cao might abandon the original plan to attack Jiangdong and instead attack us.”
Gan Ning smiled faintly, “Isn’t this exactly what we hoped for? Use Queyue City to tie down Cao Cao, preventing him from fully attacking Jiangdong, and finally abandon the original plan to instead take the western route to attack us.”
“But our risk” Lu Su was still a bit worried.
Gan Ning laughed, “I know our risk is great, but this risk is in our own hands, we can control it. If Jiangdong falls, we won’t be able to control the risk.”
Lu Su nodded silently. He fully understood his Lord’s words. After a while, he let out a long sigh, “It just benefits Sun Quan.”
Gan Ning’s face once again showed a calm expression, “No one benefits. I’ve said long ago that Jiangdong is just one dish; the difference is only who it ends up with.”
“Right! Lord did say that.”
Lu Su pondered for a moment and said: “If Cao Cao turns to deal with us, then he will surely support Sun Ben in attacking Eastern Wu. What if Sun Ben captures Jiangdong?”
Gan Ning sneered, “I only said Jiangdong is one dish, not that Sun Quan is the dish. It would be better if Sun Ben captures Jiangdong; it would make me feel more justified in finally swallowing that dish.”
Lu Su’s heart jolted. He suddenly understood that his Lord was not helping Sun Quan resist Cao Cao; he was actually contending with Cao Cao for Jiangdong.
It was just that this intention was hidden too deeply, only gradually revealing signs now.
Lu Su took a deep breath and said gravely: “No matter what decision Lord makes, I will fully support it!”
Xun You took a fast boat and soon returned to Hefei, reporting in detail to Cao Cao about his trip to Chaisang.
Cao Cao’s face truly became very ugly. Pacing back and forth in the hall with hands behind his back, at this time Cheng Yu spoke: “Chancellor, having Sun Ben deal with Sun Quan while our army turns to deal with Gan Ning is the correct approach. This also ties down Gan Ning, preventing him from going to support Sun Quan against Sun Ben, and it is also support for Sun Ben.”
Xun Yu also said: “Chancellor, Strategist Cheng is right. Us going to deal with Gan Ning does not mean we must engage in fierce battle with him, but rather a strategic deterrence to tie him down and suppress him, creating an opportunity for Sun Ben. Once Sun Ben takes Jiangdong, we can send officials to take over Jiangdong, or even directly take over Sun Ben’s army. In this way, Gan Ning will also be unable to counterattack north of the river.”
It must be said that Cheng Yu and Xun Yu are both top strategists. Gan Ning’s strategy of counterattacking north of the river was easily cracked by them. The key was Sun Ben. Previously, Cao Cao had not valued Sun Ben’s role, so he had not realized that Sun Ben was the key to solving the problem.
Cao Cao nodded and looked at Xun You again. Xun You thought for a moment and said: “I agree with the two strategists’ opinions, but there is a problem here: how do we transfer to the west? Previously, Cao Ren had already rebuilt Xunyang County, which is directly opposite Chaisang, separated only by the Yangtze River. We can transfer the army here. Land route transfer is easy; the key is water route transfer. Will our warships be intercepted by Gan Ning? Chancellor, this is a practical issue we must consider.”
Cao Cao understood Xun You; since he raised this issue, he must already have an idea.
Xun You pondered for a moment and said: “This subordinate is not very familiar with naval battle, but I believe we can consult great generals who understand naval battle, such as Cai Mao, and also Zhang Yun who has long commanded Jingzhou’s navy. They might have a plan.”
One sentence reminded Cao Cao, who immediately ordered: “Summon Cai Mao and Zhang Yun to see me!”
Cai Mao and Zhang Yun had already been transferred away from Nan Commandery last year. Both had been given powerless miscellaneous general titles. This time they also followed Cao Cao on the southern campaign and were currently both in Hefei County.
Soon, the two were brought in and saluted together, “Greetings, Chancellor!”
Cao Cao gently waved his hand and said: “No need for formalities, Generals!”
Once the two stood straight, Cao Cao continued: “If I want to migrate a thousand warships from the Liyang navy barracks to Xunyang County without being intercepted by Gan Ning’s navy, is there any good way?”
Cao Cao had truly asked the right people. Cai Mao thought for a moment and said: “We can go via the inner river, no need to go through the Yangtze River!”
Cao Cao’s eyes lit up, “Is there an inner river leading to Xunyang County?”
Cai Mao nodded, “From Hefei, go via Hangbu Water to Wanshui River, then downstream from Wanshui River, there are two rivers leading to Pengli Marsh. We can establish a navy barracks in Pengli Marsh north of the Yangtze River. It is only twenty li from Xunyang County and can reach Xunyang County directly via Xunyang Water.”
Cao Cao was immediately overjoyed. In that case, he was no longer worried. At this time, Zhang Yun also took the opportunity to say: “This subordinate, together with Huang Zu back then, prepared to ally to capture Yuzhang Commandery. This subordinate specially studied Pengli Marsh and knows the most suitable place to station a navy barracks.”
Cao Cao had originally planned to appoint Zhang Liao as navy governor, but Zhang Liao was burned during last year’s attack on Queyue City and was still recovering. Cao Cao did not plan to wait. He immediately appointed Yu Jin as navy governor, with Cai Mao and Zhang Yun as left and right deputy navy governors, and ordered them to go to Pengli Marsh to establish the navy barracks.
Cao Cao had already decided. Two days later, Jia Xu came from Guangling Commandery. Cao Cao immediately sent someone to summon him. Soon, Jia Xu hurried over and bowed in salute, “Greetings, Chancellor!”
“Please sit, Strategist!”
Jia Xu sat down. Cao Cao pondered for a moment and said: “There is something I want to entrust to the Strategist.”
Jia Xu sensed it was a major matter and felt a bit uneasy in his heart, waiting for the Chancellor’s words.
Cao Cao then slowly said: “I have decided to change the southern campaign strategy: have Sun Ben deal with Sun Quan, while I lead the army south to campaign against Gan Ning.”
Jia Xu was stunned—this—
Without waiting for him to object, Cao Cao said faintly: “It is already decided!”
“This subordinate understands!”
Jia Xu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and asked again: “That agreement…”
“That agreement can be executed. You go on my behalf to Sun Quan, tell him that I am very willing to betroth my seventh daughter Xiao Ya to him. Next year I will send my daughter to Jiangdong for the marriage, and then my son Cao Zhi has decided to marry his younger sister.”
Jia Xu immediately understood: the Chancellor fundamentally did not want to marry his daughter to Sun Quan; he was just painting a pie for him, like the plum to stop thirst back then.
“Does Chancellor really want to have Young Master Zhi marry the Marquis of Wu’s younger sister?”
“Of course! I hear Jiangdong has four great beauties, all national beauties. Three have already been married to Gan Ning, leaving only the Marquis of Wu’s younger sister. This one is reserved for my son!”
Jia Xu was drenched in sweat. He had not expected his Lord to truly want his son to marry Sun Shangxiang. He thought it was just to disrupt the Sun-Liu alliance, so he had not told his Lord about Sun Shangxiang’s disappearance.
Seeing he could no longer hide it, he could only steel himself and say: “To report to Chancellor, the Marquis of Wu’s younger sister has gone missing.”
