Chapter 93: Complete Break
After the onset of winter, Old Madam Wu’s condition grew increasingly severe, especially due to the death of her most beloved third son Sun Yi, which dealt her a heavy blow, leaving her heart ashen and her entire body gradually withering away; she had reached her final moments.
At this time, Jia Xu made another diplomatic mission to Jiangdong, delivering the final investigation report on Sun Yi’s assassination case.
The report clearly stated that Sun Yi’s stabbing was closely related to people around him; in guard Bian Hong’s room, a short crossbow and poisoned arrows were found, completely matching the crossbow bolt used to assassinate Sun Yi.
But Bian Hong had already taken poison out of guilt and committed suicide; after a thorough investigation, it was discovered that Bian Hong did not commit suicide but was poisoned by two other important subordinates of Sun Yi, Gui Lan and Dai Yuan; now the two were missing, and correspondence between them and Sun Ben was also found.
In the Marquis of Wu’s Official Residence, Zhang Zhao placed the official investigation report on the desk and pushed it to Sun Quan: “Marquis of Wu, please read the report!”
Sun Quan hurriedly opened the report and examined it closely; he suddenly slapped the desk, gnashing his teeth: “Sun Ben harmed my elder brother before, and now he has killed my younger brother; I will not coexist with him!”
Zhang Zhao sighed: “At least we can explain it clearly to Old Madam, so she won’t leave with misunderstandings and regrets.”
Sun Quan nodded: “I will explain it clearly to Mother this afternoon.”
After Zhang Zhao took his leave, Sun Quan immediately brought over a dozen guards to a small mansion in Wu County, which was guarded by soldiers; Sun Quan arrived in the hall, where a man knelt and kowtowed to him.
The man was none other than Dai Yuan, who had fled back to Wu Commandery from Xuchang.
Sun Quan stood with hands behind his back and said coldly: “Did you also pledge loyalty to Sun Ben at the same time?”
Dai Yuan was greatly startled and hurriedly kowtowed: “This subordinate absolutely did not play both sides; this subordinate has no prior connection with Sun Ben, so how could I pledge loyalty to him?”
“Did you poison Bian Hong?”
“Absolutely not; when this subordinate fled Xuchang, he and Gui Lan also went missing together.”
“But you didn’t tell me about Bian Hong and Gui Lan going missing.”
“This subordinate was negligent.”
“Hmph! You also didn’t tell me that Bian Hong and Gui Lan were Sun Ben’s men!”
Sun Quan bent down, staring sharply at Dai Yuan: “You clearly knew that Sun Yi was assassinated in a plot by Bian Hong and Gui Lan, and you knew they were Sun Ben’s men, but you concealed it from me; do you still dare say you weren’t bought off by Sun Ben?”
Dai Yuan trembled in fear and kowtowed desperately: “This subordinate was momentarily confused and accepted five hundred taels of silver from Sun Ben, but I truly did not know about the young master’s assassination; I swear, I did not participate—Bian Hong and Gui Lan have nothing to do with this subordinate!”
Sun Quan turned and walked out of the hall expressionlessly, giving a look to his men; several trusted guards rushed forward and strangled Dai Yuan’s neck tightly with white silk; in moments, Dai Yuan stopped breathing.
“Dispose of his body cleanly; don’t let anyone know he came back.”
After instructing his subordinates, Sun Quan got into the carriage and left, heading directly to Wu Palace in Mudu.
In fact, Cao Cao had only uncovered that Sun Ben bought off people around Sun Yi and discovered they had a plan to assassinate Sun Yi, but no evidence of them actually assassinating Sun Yi was found.
But at this point, the truth was no longer important; the assassination case became an important political tool for Cao Cao—as long as he could make the two Suns completely fall out, Cao Cao was very willing to pin the crime of assassinating Sun Yi on Sun Ben.
Everything thus proceeded smoothly: investigators found the murder weapon used to assassinate Sun Yi in Bian Hong’s room; Gui Lan and Dai Yuan fled out of guilt; all evidence was conclusive, and the investigation report was officially issued.
This report was equally a timely help to Sun Quan; at the time of his mother’s final moments, he could clear himself of the suspicion of assassinating his third brother, letting her depart without regrets.
Sun Quan was also convinced that his third brother was killed by Sun Ben, with the aim of ruining his reputation.
Old Madam Wu was already in her final moments.
Sun Quan knelt and kowtowed, weeping: “Mother, the truth of my third brother’s assassination case has been uncovered: it was Sun Ben who bribed subordinates around my third brother, aiming to frame your son and make him bear the crime of fratricide.”
Old Madam Wu gently grasped her son’s hand and asked: “Did you really not kill your third brother?”
Sun Quan broke into tears: “Your son is willing to swear before the ancestors that your son did not kill his third brother; it was Sun Ben who framed your son—eldest brother was also assassinated by men sent by Sun Ben; your son has evidence.”
Old Madam Wu said in a faint voice: “With your words, I am very happy. Mother is going to see your father; from now on, treat Second Madam as mother, honor her well, and take good care of your younger siblings.”
Sun Quan kowtowed desperately in agreement, sobbing uncontrollably.
That very night, Old Madam Wu passed away; Sun Quan was overcome with grief and ordered the three commanderies of Jiangdong to mourn for his mother.
He also ordered monks to hold a forty-nine-day ritual for his mother, after which he would personally escort her coffin to Qu’a for burial.
Sun Quan simultaneously released the investigation report on Sun Yi’s case; Jiangdong was in an uproar, with everyone denouncing Sun Ben.
The official release of the investigation report also meant that Sun Quan and Sun Ben had completely broken off.
In early December, Sun Quan announced that the capital would move to Dantu County next spring.
At this time, Zhu Zhi also returned from Yuzhang Commandery.
In the Marquis of Wu’s Manor, Sun Quan gathered his heavy ministers to discuss forming an alliance with Gan Ning.
Zhu Zhi first reported to everyone about his trip to Yuzhang Commandery.
“Everyone, Gan Ning has agreed in principle to ally with Jiangdong, but we couldn’t reach agreement on Lujiang Commandery; their attitude was very clear—Gan Ning considers Sun Ben no longer part of the Jiangdong Regime but an independent political power, so Lujiang Commandery no longer belongs to Jiangdong, and the Lujiang boundary agreement he signed with us previously is void.”
Lv Fan asked discontentedly: “Gan Ning’s meaning is that he wants Lujiang Commandery?”
“That’s the idea; their alliance condition is that both sides attack Sun Ben together—he takes Lujiang Commandery, and we take Jiujiang Commandery and Guangling Commandery.”
Lv Fan shook his head: “Then there’s no point; Lujiang Commandery is inherent land of our Jiangdong; previously ceding Xunyang County to him was already our greatest concession—now Gan Ning is insatiably greedy and wants all of Lujiang Commandery. Marquis of Wu, this subordinate suggests no further talks of alliance with Gan Ning.”
Sun Quan knew Lv Fan had a personal grudge with Gan Ning, so he asked Zhang Zhao: “What is Zibu’s opinion?”
Zhang Zhao stroked his beard and smiled: “Lujiang Commandery now is not the previous Lujiang Commandery—Cao Cao migrated over a hundred thousand disaster victims to Lujiang Commandery, making its population abundant; losing it would be too great a pity. Once allied, we would lose Lujiang Commandery in law; this subordinate does not recommend alliance, unless Gan Ning accepts our plan: we help him take Jiangxia Commandery, but the three commanderies north of the river belong to us!”
At this time, Yu Fan, Lu Ji, Bu Zhi, and Quan Rou also voiced opposition to ceding Lujiang Commandery to Gan Ning for the sake of alliance.
Sun Quan nodded: “If alliance is not possible, the other side also proposed another plan: both sides sign a non-aggression pact—does everyone agree with this plan?”
This plan received unanimous approval; Zhang Zhao said gladly: “Before recovering the three commanderies north of the river, we will not advance westward for the time being—at least not attack Yuzhang Commandery within three years. Signing this agreement allows us to focus our energy on dealing with Sun Ben without stationing heavy troops to guard against Gan Ning.”
“What is Chief Clerk Lu’s opinion?” Sun Quan asked Lv Fan again.
Lv Fan said indifferently: “Previously, when the Lord ransomed back Sun Fu, he already promised not to attack Yuzhang Commandery anymore; however, this was only our unilateral promise—Gan Ning also needs to promise not to attack Danyang Commandery, so the non-aggression pact is very necessary; this subordinate agrees with this agreement.”
Sun Quan immediately said: “Since everyone does not approve giving up Lujiang Commandery, alliance talks are suspended for now; we can sign the non-aggression pact—please, Junli, make another trip to Nanchang; you can sign the agreement directly.”
Zhu Zhi bowed: “This subordinate will depart for Nanchang tomorrow and strive to sign the agreement before year’s end!”
