Chapter 295: No Results
Jia Xu was indeed a top strategist. A single incisive explanation and a subtle compliment immediately dispelled the awkwardness caused by Gan Ning’s questioning.
“Strategist Jia is very eloquent!”
Gan Ning said indifferently: “I am well aware of Chancellor Cao’s intentions. Chancellor Cao may withdraw the army for negotiations, but the marriage alliance is off the table.”
“Why?” Jia Xu asked unwillingly.
“I just said the reason. Miss Cao has already been promised to Sun Quan.”
Jia Xu laughed. “Marquis of Chu, this reason doesn’t quite hold water!”
Gan Ning sneered. “Where doesn’t it hold water?”
Jia Xu said unhurriedly: “The sister of Marquis of Wu was promised to Liu Bei, and Sun Quan even accepted the betrothal gifts. The marriage was just one step away, but where is she now? Marquis of Chu hasn’t despised her for already being Liu Bei’s fiancée!”
Dantu fell, so Cao Cao naturally knew Sun Shangxiang was hiding in Gan Ning’s manor and knew Gan Ning’s intentions.
Gan Ning chuckled. “I admit the sister of Marquis of Wu is in my manor. I also admit she is my woman, but she is only my concubine. Does the legitimate daughter of the Cao family also want to be my concubine? If Chancellor Cao agrees, I can consider this marriage alliance.”
Gan Ning turned the tables on Jia Xu, leaving Jia Xu speechless. The Chancellor had clearly told him that his daughter must be the main wife. Now, Qiao Shi could remain without being divorced, but she must step down to equal wife.
After a long while, Jia Xu said hesitantly: “Let me consult the Chancellor again!”
………..
The morning negotiations ended unpleasantly. As soon as Gan Ning entered the official residence, Lu Su followed him in.
“Marquis of Chu really won’t consider Cao Cao’s marriage alliance?” Lu Su asked cautiously.
Gan Ning set down the teacup in his hand and looked at him earnestly. “This has never been a political issue, but an ethical one. My wife and I have shared hardships from the initial uprising in Chaisang to now. She has even borne me a son. Not to mention Cao Cao’s daughter—even the emperor’s daughter couldn’t replace her position.”
At this point, Gan Ning took a deep breath and continued: “I know the marriage alliance with Cao Cao is important, so I left them an opening. But it absolutely cannot compare to the heir’s position and my wife’s position. I hope the strategist conveys this to all high officials: on this matter of principle, there can be no compromise.”
Lu Su nodded silently. “I understand. My lord is right—the heir’s position cannot be shaken!”
Although Lu Su and the high officials couldn’t understand Gan Ning’s feelings for his wife Da Qiao, they were in complete agreement on the matter of the heir. The heir was the foundation of Western Chu, and nothing could be allowed to shake that foundation—even shaking the position of the heir’s birth mother would shake the foundation of Western Chu.
That day, Jia Xu wrote a letter to Cao Cao reporting on the negotiations and his discovery about Jiaozhi rice, and sent someone by fast boat to Hefei.
During the waiting period, Jia Xu continued investigating details inside Chaisang City. The next morning, he arrived at Jichun Apothecary. Cao Cao had never suspected the apothecary of betrayal. During this time, Shopkeeper Wang Yao had been sending various important intelligence directly to Cao Cao’s desk.
For example, Zhao Yun and Taishi Ci each led thirty thousand troops south to defend Nanchang. Though this intelligence wasn’t very significant and was within Cao Cao’s expectations, it successfully dispelled the slight suspicion Cao Cao once had about the apothecary.
Jia Xu didn’t enter the apothecary directly—that would be too conspicuous and make Gan Ning suspect the apothecary. Instead, he went to the restaurant diagonally across from it and had a subordinate fetch Shopkeeper Wang from the apothecary.
Soon, Shopkeeper Wang Yao entered the private room nervously, bowed, and said, “Greetings, Strategist Jia!”
Jia Xu got straight to the point: “Previously, you provided intelligence that Gan Ning and Liu Bei were secretly negotiating an alliance. What is the progress now?”
Wang Yao had of course been instructed by Pang Tong on what secrets to reveal and to what extent.
Wang Yao said unhurriedly: “This subordinate has heard they reached an alliance agreement, but it’s only a principled alliance. Each specific cooperation requires new negotiations.”
“What else do you know?” Jia Xu asked again.
Wang Yao pretended to hesitate. That morning, Pang Tong had given him something that could be revealed.
“This subordinate has heard a rumor these past two days. They are still negotiating, possibly related to Hanzhong.”
“Hanzhong?”
Jia Xu was stunned. After a moment, he asked urgently: “Is the news accurate?”
“Seventy percent accurate. My contact told me that before negotiating with Sun Qian, Gan Ning specifically requested several Hanzhong maps and information from the strategist’s mansion.”
Jia Xu narrowed his eyes. As a top strategist, how could he not understand? Liu Bei was about to send troops to Hanzhong, while Gan Ning was responsible for stalling Cao Army’s main force.
Though the intelligence’s accuracy couldn’t be confirmed, the possibility was indeed high.
Two days later, Cao Cao’s reply came—a personal letter with three points: first, his daughter must be the main wife after the marriage alliance, with no ambiguity; Qiao Shi could be made equal wife, second only to the Cao daughter; second, Cao Cao explicitly instructed to find a way to obtain some Jiaozhi rice seeds; third, if the marriage alliance couldn’t be reached, negotiations should be temporarily shelved.
Jia Xu felt helpless. Chancellor Cao’s attitude was firm, and Gan Ning’s was equally unyielding—they could never reach a consensus. But the second task was easy to complete. Jiaozhi rice would definitely be promoted on a large scale, and bribing a few farmers with hefty sums would get the seeds.
Gan Ning met Jia Xu for the second time. This time, both sides formally stated their positions with neither sarcasm nor unpleasant parting, but rather a mutual respect for each other’s attitudes.
“Chancellor Cao’s marriage alliance idea is genuine, with no deception whatsoever. But Chancellor Cao demands his daughter be the main wife, with Qiao Shi stepping down to equal wife. This is the Chancellor’s clear stance!” Jia Xu said sincerely.
Gan Ning nodded and said solemnly in turn: “My wife’s position affects the heir’s position, and the heir is the foundation of Western Chu. The foundation absolutely cannot be shaken, so Qiao Shi’s position as main wife cannot be shaken. This is not just my personal view, but the view of all the army and the people. Additionally, I can agree to the marriage alliance, but the Cao daughter can only be a concubine—this is non-negotiable.”
Both sides signed a memorandum of negotiation, as requested by Jia Xu. He needed to deliver this formal negotiation document to Cao Cao.
In the evening, Gan Ning was reading in the study when his wife Da Qiao brought in a cup of tea. During this time, she had become very calm. After the extreme panic last time, she had gradually come to terms with it. If the Cao daughter could help her husband establish a greater foundation, what harm was there in her stepping down to concubine?
She deeply loved her husband and was willing to give up everything for his cause.
She was about to leave quietly when Gan Ning called her back. “A Zhu, let me show you something.”
“What?”
Gan Ning handed her the memorandum of negotiation. “This is the final result of today’s negotiations. Take a look.”
Da Qiao read the terms in the memorandum. Gradually, her eyes reddened. She looked up, gazing at her husband with deep gratitude.
