Chapter 288: Jiangdong Collapses
Sun Quan went up to the city wall. The new City Guard Commander Xu Kun came forward to greet him. Lv Fan had already been relieved of his position as City Guard Commander and continued to serve as his Chief Clerk. Jiangdong’s base was left with only Dantu County. Lv Fan became the County Magistrate, and the negotiations with the Cao Army had nothing to do with him.
But more than a dozen “Wu Jian” members were closely surveilling him, and Lv Fan could not take a single step.
“Greetings, Marquis of Wu!” Xu Kun stepped forward and bowed.
Sun Quan asked with concern, “Was there anything unusual from the enemy today?”
“There was a bit of unusual activity. There are signs that the enemy army in the barracks is beginning to assemble.”
Because the negotiations broke down yesterday, Sun Quan felt a little uneasy and came to the city wall today to check.
Sun Quan nodded. “Yesterday’s negotiations were very unpleasant. They will probably use an attack on the city to apply pressure, so you need to prepare your defenses here.”
“Please rest assured, Marquis of Wu. We are always vigilant!”
Sun Quan looked around at the defenses again before descending the city wall to prepare to return.
His carriage was parked in front of the city gate, surrounded by guards on horseback, protected very tightly without any gaps.
Sun Quan walked down the corridor along the city wall and hurried toward the carriage surrounded by a group of guards. This was the only vulnerability in Sun Quan’s defenses, before he got into the carriage.
At that moment, a crossbow bolt glowing with green light shot out with a “whoosh!” Its speed was incomparably fast. Sun Quan was caught off guard. “Pfft!” The bolt struck right in the neck. Sun Quan let out a loud cry and fell backward.
Chaos erupted all around. “Assassin! Marquis of Wu has been stabbed!” The guards were in disarray. Some carried Sun Quan onto the carriage for emergency treatment, while others searched everywhere for the assassin.
Xu Kun was scared out of his wits and ran down to check the situation. He suddenly thought of something and immediately shouted sternly, “Close the South City Gate! Don’t let the assassin escape!”
At this time, a young man was standing near the South City Gate. He looked like a restaurant waiter. He was staring in the northwest direction. Suddenly, a wisp of black smoke rose in the northwest direction.
The young man immediately turned and walked toward outside the South City Gate. No one checked him. Once out of the city, he strode away.
As soon as the young man left the city, cavalry came galloping up. They raised a Command Arrow and shouted loudly, “By order of the City Guard Commander, close the South City Gate immediately! No one is allowed to enter or exit!”
The South City Gate rumbled shut, and the drawbridge was raised.
Sun Quan was struck by an arrow in a vital spot, and the arrowhead was coated with deadly poison that sealed the throat at the sight of blood. Before they even reached the Marquis of Wu’s Manor, Sun Quan stopped breathing.
In Chaisang, inside Gan Ning’s Mansion, Xu Wei burned incense and calmed her mind, divining with three copper coins.
She looked at the divination result and was greatly shocked. She quickly got up and ran toward Gan Ning’s study.
“Husband!” Xu Wei pushed open the door and shouted.
Gan Ning was sitting at the desk reading a book. He looked up and saw Xu Wei rushing in, out of breath. He put down the book and smiled. “What’s wrong?”
“Husband, something major may have happened in Jiangdong.”
“Something major?”
Gan Ning laughed. He always knew his wife liked divination, and sometimes it was very accurate.
“What happened?”
Xu Wei hesitated and said, “Jiangdong… Jiangdong has lost its lord.”
Gan Ning’s brows furrowed. If something had really happened to Sun Quan, then Jiangdong was completely finished.
The next afternoon, Gan Ning received an urgent major message from the Western Chu Liaison Office: Sun Quan had been assassinated and killed.
This news was shocking. Gan Ning was stunned for a long time. He suddenly realized that it was very likely because he had first attacked the water fortress. In order to quickly take Jiangdong, Cao Cao could only resort to this desperate measure.
The Jiangdong Regime completely collapsed the day after Sun Quan’s assassination. Almost all officials demanded surrender. Even the Anti-Cao Faction representative Lv Fan fell silent. Under immense pressure, Lady Wu had no choice but to order surrender.
The city gate opened. Under the leadership of Zhang Zhao and Xu Kun, an army of eighty thousand marched out to surrender. Cao Zhi personally accepted the surrender of the Jiangdong Army.
Thirty thousand Cao Army troops entered the city and took over the defenses of Dantu County. This meant that Jiangdong had fallen.
In the afternoon, Sun Ben went directly to find Cao Zhi. His face was full of indignation, and the dissatisfaction in his heart finally erupted.
Ever since Cao Zhi crossed the river to Jiangdong, Sun Ben had realized he had been tricked. His army of forty thousand had been unknowingly poached. The previous promise from Cao Cao to make him the new lord of Jiangdong was no longer mentioned by anyone.
He felt depressed, angry, oppressed, and dissatisfied in his heart, but he had remained silent until Jiangdong surrendered and the Cao Army took over Dantu County, with absolutely nothing involving him. The extreme dissatisfaction pent up in his heart finally made Sun Ben step forward.
Cao Zhi received Sun Ben in a temporary official residence in the Marquis of Wu’s Manor. Cao Zhi stood with his hands behind his back in front of the window. Sunlight shone on his handsome and elegant face from outside the window, making him appear even more poised and extraordinary in demeanor.
Sun Ben handed over an agreement. “This is the loyalty agreement I signed with the Chancellor many years ago. The Chancellor clearly promised in the agreement to appoint me as the new lord of Jiangdong. It bears the Chancellor’s handwritten signature.”
Cao Zhi glanced at the agreement and smiled faintly. “I understand General Sun’s feelings. Since my father promised it, he will not deny it. It’s just that we have only just taken Jiangdong, and the situation is in chaos. Why doesn’t General Sun wait patiently a little longer?”
Cao Zhi’s attitude made Sun Ben feel slightly better. He continued, “I know the situation is chaotic now. I also have the ability to stabilize it. Young Master Zhi, why not let me participate in stabilizing the Jiangdong situation?”
“This is not for me to decide. I need to consult my father. Please be patient, General Sun. I will send a carrier pigeon letter to my father tomorrow!”
Since Cao Zhi had clearly stated his position, Sun Ben bowed and took his leave.
As soon as Sun Ben left, Cao Zhi summoned Xun You and told him about Sun Ben’s matter.
Xun You sneered. “What is this overconfident fool thinking? He actually still wants to be the lord of Jiangdong. Has he not woken up yet!”
Cao Zhi said worriedly, “But Father did indeed promise him. It’s in black and white. If we don’t acknowledge it, will it damage Father’s reputation?”
Xun You knew that Cao Zhi was still young and not mature enough in politics, so the Chancellor had sent him to assist.
Xun You smiled and said, “There are many things in black and white. The most recent is the seven-year agreement, which the Chancellor also signed by hand. But in the end? Agreements are always upheld by strength. Without strength of one’s own, so-called agreements are just illusions.”
Cao Zhi nodded silently. Xun You continued, “Regarding how to handle Sun Ben, in fact, we had a plan before sending out the troops.”
Cao Zhi quickly asked, “What plan?”
“There are two plans. The first plan is to make Sun Ben a nominal Marquis of Wu with no real power, as a transitional figure for two years. He would have no power, just a puppet. The Chancellor would neither violate the agreement nor suffer any loss. After two years, abolish him directly.”
“And the second plan?” Cao Zhi asked again.
“The second plan is to appoint him as Prefect of Danyang Commandery, use his connections in Danyang Commandery to stabilize it, then make him the vanguard to attack Yuzhang Commandery, wear down Gan Ning’s strength, and finally use Gan Ning’s hand to get rid of him.”
Cao Zhi nodded. “Both plans are feasible. Actually, I prefer the first plan.”
Xun You smiled. “Let’s consult the Chancellor!”
The next morning, a carrier pigeon letter left Dantu County and flew toward Xunyang County.
