Chapter 53: Luring Into The House
At the exact same moment when Zhang Zhao was secretly swapping the letter from Zhang Hong, Xu Zhen received Sun Quan’s oral message and arrived at the Marquis of Wu’s Manor.
Xu Zhen is the patriarch of the Wu Commandery Xu Clan. His wife is Sun Jian’s sister, so Xu Zhen is naturally Sun Quan’s uncle. The Xu Family has always fully supported the Sun Family, and it’s no longer just a matter of being Jiangdong in-laws.
If the Jiangdong Regime is compared to a company, with the Sun Family as the chairman, then the Xu Family, like the Wu Family, are board members, and even the Xu Family’s status is slightly higher, so they could be called deputy chairman.
The Xu Family previously supported Sun Yi, and the reason is very simple: the Xu Family’s daughter Xu Wei was betrothed to Sun Yi from childhood, preparing to marry this autumn.
Currently, Sun Yi is leading twenty thousand army northwards, and his deputy general is precisely Xu Zhen’s son Xu Kun. At this time, Sun Quan summoning Xu Zhen makes his intention very obvious.
Xu Zhen was invited to the rear hall and met Sun Quan. Seeing that he showed no sign of illness, he couldn’t help but be startled.
“Why is everyone outside saying that the Marquis of Wu has fallen ill?”
Sun Quan sighed and said, “My heart ailment is the issue, Uncle, please sit!”
The two sat down, and Xu Zhen slowly said, “The third leading the army northwards was also beyond my expectations. I will do my utmost to persuade him not to start a civil war. You brothers should still sit down and talk it out properly!”
Sun Quan pondered for a moment and said, “Today I might use a scheme against the third. I expect I can’t hide it from Cousin. I hope Cousin can remain silent and hand over the army to me afterwards!”
Xu Zhen fell silent. He couldn’t hastily agree to Sun Quan’s request, or rather, he was waiting for Sun Quan to show sincerity.
Sun Quan continued, “I promise to appoint Xu Kun as Prefect of Kuaiji and Xu Qiu as Prefect of Lujiang.”
Sun Quan seemed to show great sincerity. Jiangdong has only five commanderies in total, and he was offering two prefect positions to the Xu Family.
But Xu Zhen still did not state his position. A prefect position could be appointed in the morning and dismissed in the afternoon, so it held little meaning. That wasn’t what he wanted.
Sun Quan was truly starting to have a headache. What exactly did this old Xu man want? Not satisfied with two prefect positions?
Xu Zhen then slowly said, “The Xu Family doesn’t need two prefect positions; it would make others dissatisfied. But Wei’er is to marry Yi’er this autumn, and we do not want Wei’er to become a widow awaiting remarriage!”
Sun Quan hurriedly smiled and said, “The third is my brother; of course I won’t kill him. If I killed him, how would I explain it to Mother? I will make him a civil official. I’m considering appointing him as Prefect of Wu Commandery; it won’t affect the autumn marriage.”
Xu Zhen narrowed his eyes and smiled, “Why not make it a double celebration? Fen’er has been widowed at home, and the Marquis of Wu’s wife unfortunately passed away from illness last year. I very much hope the Marquis of Wu will remarry and take Fen’er.”
The Xu Family has two famous beauties: one is Xu Zhen’s grandniece Xu Wei, and the other is Xu Zhen’s granddaughter Xu Fen. However, Xu Fen married Lu Shang last year, and just half a year after the marriage, Lu Shang fell ill and died this year at the beginning. Xu Fen, only fifteen, unfortunately became a widow.
Sun Quan immediately understood. This was Xu Zhen’s real condition: to marry his widowed granddaughter Xu Fen as wife.
Sun Quan’s wife was the daughter of the Jiangdong powerful family Xie Clan, who unfortunately passed away from illness last year, leaving one son. Sun Quan naturally also needed to consider remarrying.
Of Xu Zhen’s two granddaughters, Sun Quan preferred Xu Wei: clever and beautiful, with a good personality and more tolerant. He didn’t like Xu Fen much; Xu Fen had a strong jealous streak since childhood.
But the twenty thousand army in Xu Kun’s hands was too important. He absolutely had to obtain it. With these twenty thousand army and the Xu Family’s support, his position would be secure.
Thinking of this, Sun Quan finally nodded. “Then it’s a deal. This autumn, I will marry Xu Fen!”
Although Xu Zhen’s granddaughter is Sun Quan’s cousin’s daughter, in the Han Dynasty, such cross-generation marriages were allowed. The most famous example is Emperor Hui of Han, Liu Ying, marrying his own niece as empress.
Returning to the manor, Xu Zhen immediately wrote a letter and secretly sent it to his son Xu Kun.
………..
Sun Yi led twenty thousand army and over five hundred large ships to arrive thirty li south of Wu County. Under the persuasion of his deputy general Xu Kun, he also agreed to temporarily not enter Wu County and ordered the army to camp on the spot.
Sun Yi had previously received a letter from his mother, learning that his eldest brother had been assassinated, and his mother told him to come to Wu County immediately to succeed. He quickly led the army north, but he was still one step late; his second brother Sun Quan had already seized the position ahead of time.
How could Sun Yi accept this? With Big Brother dead, the brothers should sit together and discuss, and finally let Mother decide who inherits Big Brother’s position. Why could the second one ascend to the throne? He wasn’t even the eldest legitimate son?
In great anger, Sun Yi immediately led the army north.
Sun Yi is only seventeen this year, tall and strong in build, with a heroic appearance, strikingly resembling his brother. Anyone seeing Sun Yi for the first time would be drawn to his handsome looks.
But after spending time together, one would discover Sun Yi’s demonic side. He has a cruel personality, treating human lives like weeds, but he is very good at hiding it from his mother. He packaged his cruelty as bravery, making Mother always believe in him unwaveringly.
Xu Wei knew well Sun Yi’s cruel side. Last year, they traveled together to Xuchang, and halfway, Sun Yi disliked the boatman’s cooking smoke bothering him, so he killed the boatman with one knife. Along the way after that, she never paid attention to Sun Yi again until they met Gan Ning.
At this time, Zhang Hong sent his son Zhang Jing with a secret letter to Sun Yi. The contents of the letter surprised and delighted Sun Yi: unexpectedly, half of the civil officials and four in ten military generals supported him, especially the lower-level civil officials and military generals who generally supported him.
The reason for supporting him was also simple: most people believed Sun Quan was no match for Sun Ben, and the position of Marquis of Wu would sooner or later be captured by Sun Ben. They thought only he could defend the Jiangdong that the Marquis of Wu had established.
Sun Yi was very excited inside. He had always taken his eldest brother Sun Ce as his model, and Sun Yi firmly believed he could conquer the entire world in place of his brother.
Zhang Hong’s letter also mentioned that currently Sun Quan had not obtained the Seal of the Marquis of Wu, and many army great generals were watching. Now the Seal of the Marquis of Wu was key. Zhang Hong suggested he personally go see Mother tonight and first obtain the Seal of the Marquis of Wu from her.
Currently, the Wu Palace guard leader Duan Qi is his man and won’t trouble Sun Yi. Zhang Hong requested Sun Yi not bring too many people; three hundred personal guards would be enough to avoid alerting the enemy.
Sun Yi was overjoyed. With the Seal of the Marquis of Wu and Mother’s support, he would have the legal advantage. As long as the opponent’s military morale was unsteady, his twenty thousand army could still defeat the second brother.
He then asked Zhang Jing, “Did your father say anything else?”
Zhang Jing nodded. “My father went to see the Old Madam today. He wanted to retrieve the Seal of the Marquis of Wu and bring it directly to the Third Young Master, but the Old Madam insisted on handing it personally to the Third Young Master, so the Third Young Master must go to the Wu Palace. Additionally, the Wu Palace guard leader Duan Qi has received great favor from my father; he will ensure the Young Master’s safety.”
Sun Yi naturally knew that Zhang Hong had a life-saving grace to Duan Qi’s family. If the Wu Palace guard leader was Duan Qi, then there was no big problem.
The Wu Palace is not inside Wu County town but in Mudu to the west of the city. The Old Madam likes the scenery there, and currently two thousand guards protect the Wu Palace’s safety, so there was no need to worry about encountering Sun Quan’s army.
Zhang Jing took his leave to report back to his father. Sun Yi then instructed Xu Kun a few words, telling him to lead the soldiers to guard the barracks, and he would return before dawn.
Sun Yi immediately led three hundred personal guards on horseback rushing towards Mudu west of Wu County.
Just as Sun Yi had left, Xu Kun began assembling the generals. Xu Kun had already received his father’s letter and knew his father had reached an agreement with the Marquis of Wu.
In the large tent, Xu Kun arrested the seven generals loyal to Sun Yi and ordered them killed on the spot. Xu Kun now had no way out either; once Sun Yi returned, he absolutely wouldn’t let him go.
He immediately led the army towards Wu County. Currently, Sun Quan was waiting in the barracks outside South City of Wu County for Xu Kun’s arrival.
Sun Yi galloped all the way and arrived at the Wu Palace at the second watch in the midnight hour. Sure enough, it went very smoothly; the soldiers guarding the Wu Palace did not stop them and let them through all the way.
At the side door of the Wu Palace, the old butler was already there holding a lantern, waiting respectfully for him.
“The Old Madam has not rested yet and is waiting for the Third Young Master. Please follow me, Third Young Master!”
Sun Yi nodded and turned to instruct his personal guards, “You wait here for me; I’ll be back soon!”
Sun Yi followed the old butler into the palace. “How is my mother’s health?”
“The Old Madam’s health is still fine; it’s just that the Marquis of Wu’s assassination has made her very sad. You must be careful with your words and not stir up her grief again.”
“I know what I’m doing; I won’t make Mother sad!”
At a side door to the inner palace, the guard required Sun Yi to put down all weapons. Sun Yi had no suspicions and handed over his treasure sword and dagger to the guard.
The old butler waved his hand. “Third Young Master, please go in! I won’t go.”
Sun Yi strode through a small door. Just as he entered, the small door behind him slammed shut.
