Chapter 278: Capture Qiantang
Xiao Lan came out of the Western Chu Liaison Office. She looked to both sides, wanting to find an ox cart. At this moment, an ox cart slowly stopped in front of her. The cart driver smiled warmly, “Miss, do you want a ride?”
“How much to go to the Marquis of Wu’s Palace?”
“Give ten coins!”
“Eight wen qian, will you go?”
The cart driver sighed helplessly, “Get on!”
Xiao Lan pulled the handrail from behind and got on the cart. There were two long benches in the ox cart; two young women were sitting on one bench, and the other bench was empty.
Xiao Lan sat down on the empty bench with her small bundle. The ox cart hadn’t gone far when the two women moved over, one on the left and one on the right, sandwiching Xiao Lan.
“You…”
Xiao Lan became terrified. She thought she had encountered female thieves.
“Follow us obediently, and we won’t hurt you. Otherwise…”
Two sharp daggers pressed against her waist on both sides.
Xiao Lan trembled all over in fear and couldn’t say a word.
The ox cart had already left the main road and was weaving through narrow streets, finally stopping in front of a large courtyard.
The two women supported the now limp Xiao Lan and entered the large courtyard.
Xiao Lan sat in the main hall. A maidservant served her tea and brought several plates of pastries.
At this moment, a woman with gentle features walked in, her voice very soft, “Sorry to have frightened Miss Xiao Lan.”
The thoughtful hospitality and the woman’s gentleness slightly eased Xiao Lan’s fear. She gradually calmed down and asked, “You… who are you?”
“We are Wu Jian!”
“Wu Jian!”
Xiao Lan’s face turned pale in an instant. Was it that organization responsible for surveillance and assassination?
“What do you want with me?”
“I just want to ask you a few questions. Answer honestly, and that’s it.”
Xiao Lan suddenly thought of something. She bit her lip and said, “I won’t say anything. If you threaten me, I’ll tell the Old Madam.”
The gentleness vanished from the woman’s face, and a sharp killing intent flashed in her eyes. She waved her hand, and several soldiers escorted a few civilians past the courtyard.
Those three were Xiao Lan’s parents and brother. Xiao Lan covered her mouth in fright and tried desperately to rush out, but she was firmly held back by several female warriors.
Watching her parents and brother’s figures disappear, Xiao Lan collapsed to the ground.
The woman squatted down and said softly, “Just answer my few questions, and I guarantee your parents and brother will go home safely. And we won’t tell anyone about your answers!”
“What do you want to know?” Xiao Lan finally had to yield.
“Very simple. Why did you go to the Western Chu Army Liaison Office? Have they bought you off?”
“No!”
Xiao Lan shook her head hurriedly, “I… I wasn’t bought off by them.”
“Then what?” The woman’s gaze sharpened again.
“It was… the Old Madam who sent me.” This sentence was very low, as if squeezed out through clenched teeth.
“Oh—” The woman seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, “What did she send you to do?”
Xiao Lan bit her lips tightly. She couldn’t say this secret.
The woman sneered, “If you don’t tell, your brother will accidentally fall into the moat tomorrow and drown. If you don’t believe it, just wait to collect his body!”
Xiao Lan turned deathly pale with fright. She seemed to see her brother’s corpse being fished out of the river, her parents wailing heartbrokenly over it.
“No!” Xiao Lan finally broke down.
“Then tell me! We’re not enemies, and we won’t harm the Old Madam. What are you worried about?”
Xiao Lan cried as she said, “Miss is in Chaisang. The Old Madam sent a message asking her to come back.”
“Miss Shang Xiang is in Chaisang?” The woman was truly shocked.
“Yes!”
“Where in Chaisang?”
“At Miss Xu’s home.”
“Xu Wei?”
Xiao Lan nodded lightly and cried even harder.
The woman immediately put on a gentle expression and handed her the teacup, “There, there! Don’t cry. You can go now.”
“But what about my parents and brother?” Xiao Lan asked, choking.
“They will go home. Nothing will happen.”
The woman said softly again, “But you didn’t say anything, and we don’t know anything. In front of the Old Madam, pretend nothing happened, got it?”
Xiao Lan could only nod. The woman, still uneasy, reminded her once more, “Keep your mouth shut, and your parents and brother will be safe.”
Xiao Lan stopped crying, wiped her tears, and left on the ox cart with a heavy heart.
An hour later, Chen Wu reported this news to Sun Quan.
Sun Quan gasped. Shang Xiang was at Xu Wei’s home—that was Gan Ning’s residence? My god, she was actually at Gan Ning’s residence.
This news was too shocking. Sun Quan couldn’t help but admire his sister a bit. What was she doing? First the marriage alliance with Liu Bei, then Cao Cao’s marriage proposal, and now living in Gan Ning’s residence. She had tangled with all three major powers.
The news was shocking, but Sun Quan was also a bit anxious. Cao Cao was pressing hard, and he wanted his sister to come back soon, then simply send her to Yecheng.
Sun Quan pondered for a long time and finally made up his mind. Some things had to be done!
He lowered his voice to Chen Wu, “Send experts to Chaisang. If you find my sister, you have permission to use any means necessary to bring her back!”
“This subordinate obeys!”
After five days of sailing, 180 sea ships entered the Qiantang River and sailed west along the trumpet-shaped river mouth. The north and south land could already be seen: Sea Salt County to the north, Yuyao County and Shangyu County to the south. This was Jiangdong’s salt field, where sea salt was produced and shipped to various places in Jiangdong.
After two more days, the river narrowed, and a county town appeared ahead. Qiantang County had arrived.
Qiantang County was today’s Hangzhou. During the Eastern Han, it was under Wu Commandery’s jurisdiction, including Fuchun County, Yuhang County, etc., all within Wu Commandery’s scope. Of course, Wu Commandery’s jurisdiction was vast, extending to the Yangtze River.
Xun You’s first target was Qiantang County, because there was a granary inside the county town, and only two thousand commandery soldiers were in the city.
Once Qiantang County was captured, they would have logistical supply, could advance to attack or retreat to defend, and even withdraw smoothly by sea. This was the second Queyue City.
At dawn, the forty thousand army quickly landed and assembled. He Qi led ten thousand as vanguard and charged straight at Qiantang County. Why He Qi as vanguard? Because he was from Qiantang County.
Ten thousand troops arrived under the city wall. The city gate was tightly shut. A soldier dashed forward and shot an arrow letter into the city. This was He Qi’s personal letter to Garrison Commander Zhao Chu. They had known each other since childhood and were close; Zhao Chu’s martial arts were trained at the He family martial hall.
About half an hour later, the city gate opened. Zhao Chu led two thousand commandery soldiers out to surrender. The county magistrate and other officials had no choice but to surrender to Sun Ben’s Army.
Soon, the forty thousand army entered Qiantang County and seized two hundred thousand shi of grain. The first step of the plan was completely successful.
In the main hall, Zhao Chu said to Jia Xu, “In all of Wu Commandery, only Dantu County and Wu County have formal armies stationed. Qiantang County has commandery soldiers; other counties don’t even have those.”
“How many troops in Wu County? Who is the commander?” Jia Xu asked.
“The commander is Xu Yi, with six thousand troops.”
“Xu Yi is from the Xu Family?” Jia Xu turned to ask He Qi.
He Qi nodded, “Exactly!”
The Xu Family had always been typically Middle Faction, not Anti-Cao Faction.
Jia Xu pondered for a moment. He had an idea.
