Honglou: This bastard is too persuasive.

Chapter 749 Back

Zhuge Jin was so happy when he heard this that he almost showed his joy on his face. However, he suppressed his excitement and said respectfully: "Mr. Cao is wise! This is a blessing for the world and Dongwu. Jia Changsheng is ambitious. If we don't join forces to curb him, he will become a big problem for all parties."

Cao Cao nodded slightly and continued, "However, regarding the alliance, this Prime Minister has several conditions. First, the coalition forces must be under the unified command of this Prime Minister, and the Eastern Wu army must obey orders and must not act on its own. Second, the Eastern Wu must provide a large amount of food and supplies for military use. Third, after defeating Jia Changsheng, the Eastern Wu must cede some land to our army."

Zhuge Jin was startled. The conditions proposed by Cao Cao were indeed harsh. But he knew that Dongwu was in danger at this time, and it was not easy to win Cao Cao's alliance. After thinking for a while, Zhuge Jin said, "Lord Cao, I think Lord Sun Quan will agree to the first two conditions you proposed for the sake of the overall situation. However, the matter of ceding land is a big matter. I dare not make a decision on my own. I need to go back and report to Lord Sun Quan, and let him decide."

Cao Cao smiled and said, "I expected that you would not be able to make the decision. Go back and tell Sun Quan that if you want to form an alliance, these conditions are indispensable. If he agrees, we will agree on a date for the dispatch of troops as soon as possible."

Zhuge Jin said quickly: "Jin will convey Cao Gong's intentions to the lord. I believe that the lord will make a wise decision to fight against Jia Changsheng."

After leaving Cao Cao's tent, Zhuge Jin felt mixed emotions, both happy about the prospect of an alliance and pressured by Cao Cao's conditions. But in any case, Cao Cao's willingness to form an alliance was a huge turning point for Soochow.

Zhuge Jin did not dare to delay for a moment and immediately set out on the return journey with his entourage. Along the way, he was eager to return to Sun Quan and tell him the news.

Finally, after several days of traveling, Zhuge Jin returned to the Eastern Wu camp. He rushed to Sun Quan's tent without stopping, and Sun Quan was discussing matters with a group of generals and advisers. Seeing Zhuge Jin coming back, Sun Quan immediately stopped the discussion and asked anxiously: "Ziyu, what does Cao Cao say?"

Zhuge Jin showed an irrepressible joy on his face and said, "My Lord, great joy! Cao Cao agreed to form an alliance with us to fight against Jia Changsheng together."

There was a burst of cheers in the tent, and everyone looked happy, as if they saw hope that Dongwu would be saved. Sun Quan's tense nerves finally relaxed a little, and he said, "Ziyu, thank you for your hard work. Did Cao Cao put forward any conditions?"

Zhuge Jin explained the three conditions proposed by Cao Cao one by one. After hearing this, Sun Quan's face changed slightly and he fell into deep thought. To cede land would undoubtedly be a huge loss for Dongwu. But if he did not agree, he was afraid that Cao Cao would go back on his word and miss the opportunity to form an alliance.

At this time, Zhou Yu said: "My lord, although Cao Cao's conditions are harsh, the situation in Dongwu is critical now. If we do not form an alliance with Cao Cao, it may be difficult to resist Jia Changsheng. Although land is important, it is better to have a green mountain than to have firewood. After defeating Jia Changsheng, we can make long-term plans."

Sun Quan thought for a long time, nodded heavily, and said: "Gongjin is right. Now we can only agree to Cao Cao's conditions first. Preserving Dongwu is the top priority. Ziyu, you have to make a hard trip and go to Cao's camp to tell Cao Cao that I agree to his conditions and ask him to arrange the dispatch of troops as soon as possible."

Zhuge Jin accepted the order and said, "Don't worry, my lord. I will definitely live up to your trust."

Zhuge Jin once again set out on the road to Cao Ying, with a strong sense of mission in his heart. He knew that this mission was related to the survival of the Eastern Wu and must be completed successfully. And the Eastern Wu finally saw the hope of fighting against Jia Changsheng and turning the situation around under the dawn of an alliance with Cao Cao.

Since leaving Liu Bei's tent, Kan Ze has been staying in the residence arranged by Liu Bei, eagerly awaiting Liu Bei's reply. Every day, he is anxiously waiting for news, and his heart is like an ant on a hot pot. He knows very well that Dongwu is in danger at this moment, and Liu Bei's attitude will largely determine the fate of Dongwu.

One day, there was a sudden noise outside the residence. Kan Ze was moved and hurriedly got up and walked out of the room. He saw an attendant of Liu Bei walking quickly. After seeing Kan Ze, he bowed respectfully and said, "Mr. Kan, Uncle Liu wants to see you."

Kan Ze's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and a mixture of nervousness and anticipation surged into his heart. He hurriedly tidied up his clothes and followed the attendants to Liu Bei's residence. Along the way, he kept guessing Liu Bei's decision in his mind, and his steps became more and more hurried.

When they arrived at the main hall of the mansion, Liu Bei was already sitting in the main seat, with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhuge Liang and others sitting on both sides. When Liu Bei saw Kan Ze coming in, he smiled gently and motioned him to take a seat.

As soon as Kan Ze sat down, Liu Bei slowly said, "Mr. Kan, you came a few days ago and asked our army to form an alliance with Dongwu to fight against Jia Changsheng. I have discussed this matter with you for a long time, and now we have reached a conclusion."

Kan Ze straightened up involuntarily, staring at Liu Bei intently, his heart seeming to be in his throat.

Liu Bei continued, "Jia Changsheng is ambitious, and the expansion of his power has become a threat to all parties. Our army, mindful of the principle of "the lips and the teeth are cold", has decided to form an alliance with the Eastern Wu to jointly deal with Jia Changsheng."

Kan Ze was so overjoyed when he heard this that he almost stood up in excitement. He suppressed his inner joy and said respectfully: "Uncle Liu is kind and righteous. This move is a blessing for the world and Dongwu. As long as Jia Changsheng is not removed, all parties will not be at peace. Now that Sun and Liu have joined forces, they will surely be able to thwart Jia Changsheng's ambitions."

Liu Bei smiled and nodded, saying, "It's just that the alliance is a matter of great importance, and we need to clarify the responsibilities and obligations of both parties to ensure that we act in unison and defeat the enemy together."

Kan Ze said quickly: "Uncle Emperor is right. I don't know what Uncle Emperor thinks, just speak frankly, Ze will definitely convey the truth to my master."

Liu Bei said: "First, both sides need to exchange intelligence and share Jia Changsheng's every move so that they can respond in time. Second, in the war, the number of troops and attack directions of each side must be agreed in advance, and they must fight together and not act on their own. Third, after defeating Jia Changsheng, the distribution of his territory should be fair and reasonable, based on military merit."

Kan Ze listened carefully, weighing these conditions quickly in his mind. He felt that the conditions proposed by Liu Bei were reasonable and necessary to ensure the stability of the alliance under the current situation. After thinking for a while, Kan Ze said: "The conditions proposed by the emperor's uncle are reasonable. I think my master will agree. When I return, I will report the emperor's uncle's intentions to the master in detail. I believe that the Sun-Liu alliance will be successfully achieved."

Zhuge Liang, who was standing by, waved his feather fan and said with a smile, "Mr. Kan, this alliance is both an opportunity and a challenge for both the Sun and Liu families. Jia Changsheng is not an easy person to deal with. We need to work together to achieve victory."

Kan Ze nodded and said, "Mr. Zhuge is right. The whole Soochow will go all out and work closely with the Emperor's uncle's army to defeat Jia Changsheng."

Zhang Fei said gruffly, "Humph, I hope Dongwu can really cooperate this time and stop playing those little tricks, otherwise I, Zhang Fei, will not let them off!"

Kan Ze hurriedly said, "General Zhang, rest assured. The situation is critical now. Dongwu and the emperor's uncle share the same hatred and will not have second thoughts. This alliance is only to defeat Jia Changsheng and keep the world peaceful."

Guan Yu also nodded slightly and said, "I hope so."

Liu Bei looked at everyone and said, "In this case, Mr. Kan should go back and inform Sun Quan as soon as possible. Once both parties have agreed on the specific details, we will send troops immediately."

Kan Ze stood up, bowed solemnly and said, "Don't worry, uncle, I will set off immediately and will not fail in my mission."

Leaving Liu Bei's mansion, Kan Ze walked briskly and felt particularly comfortable. The news that Liu Bei was willing to unite was like a shot of adrenaline for the desperate Wu Kingdom. He knew that he had to rush back to Wu Kingdom as soon as possible to discuss the conditions proposed by Liu Bei with Sun Quan and promote the final conclusion of the Sun-Liu Alliance. In this chaotic world, the initial establishment of the Sun-Liu Alliance may become a key step in reversing the situation and confronting Jia Changsheng. Kan Ze was also very pleased that he could play a role in it, and he embarked on his return journey with hope. Sun Quan paced back and forth in the tent, looking anxious, and his eyes looked at the door of the tent from time to time, as if this would make the news of Zhuge Jin and Kan Ze come faster. At this time, it had been a long time since Zhuge Jin and Kan Ze went to Cao Ying and Liu Ying respectively, and Sun Quan's worries were growing day by day.

"Why is there still no news?" Sun Quan stopped and looked at the servant beside him, frowning and his tone full of anxiety.

The attendant bowed and said, "My lord, please be patient. I believe the two gentlemen are discussing with Cao and Liu. It will take some time to travel back and forth, and the news will come soon."

Sun Quan snorted and continued to pace, muttering, "It's been so long, what are Cao Cao and Liu Bei planning? Dongwu is in danger now, there is no time to delay."

At this time, Zhou Yu walked into the tent and saw Sun Quan's anxious look. He said, "My lord, relax. Ziyu and Derun are both eloquent and will accomplish their mission. Cao Cao and Liu Bei are also well aware of Jia Changsheng's threat. They should understand the benefits of forming an alliance with us."

Sun Quan looked at Zhou Yu and said, "Gongjin, having said that, I am still worried. This alliance is related to the survival of Dongwu. What if..." Sun Quan did not finish his words, but Zhou Yu understood his concerns.

Zhou Yu consoled him, "My Lord, even if Cao and Liu refuse to form an alliance, we are not without a chance of winning. We can further strengthen the city defenses, recruit new soldiers, and improve our military strength. But if we can form an alliance with Cao and Liu, our chances of winning will naturally be greater."

Sun Quan nodded slightly and said, "I hope it's as you said. Gongjin, what conditions do you think Cao Cao and Liu Bei will propose?"

Zhou Yu thought for a moment and said, "Cao Cao has always been suspicious and greedy. He might ask for command of the coalition forces, food and supplies, or even cede land. As for Liu Bei, he has always regarded himself as a benevolent and righteous man. He might pay more attention to the fairness of the alliance and put forward requirements in terms of troop arrangements and distribution of benefits after the war."

Sun Quan sighed, "No matter what conditions they put forward, as long as we can form an alliance and fight against Jia Changsheng together, I can consider it. Now that most of the territory of Dongwu has been lost, if we don't seek help, I am afraid that we will be doomed."

As he was speaking, a soldier hurried into the tent, knelt on one knee and said, "My lord, there is a report from a spy ahead."

Sun Quan asked hurriedly, "Tell me quickly, is there any news about Zhuge Jin and Kan Ze?"

The soldier replied, "My lord, no. The spies reported that after Jia Changsheng captured several cities, he is actively preparing for war and seems to be planning further expansion."

Sun Quan's face changed, and he said angrily: "This Jia Changsheng is really too much! Does he think that there is no one in Dongwu who can let him do whatever he wants?"

Zhou Yu said: "My Lord, please calm down. This also shows the urgency of our seeking an alliance. Jia Changsheng's power is growing rapidly. We must reach a cooperation with Cao and Liu as soon as possible to compete with him."

Sun Quan took a deep breath, tried to calm down, and said, "Continue to send people to gather information. Once there is news about Zhuge Jin and Kan Ze, report it immediately."

"Yes!" The soldier took the order and retreated.

Sun Quan turned to Zhou Yu and said, "Gongjin, whether we form an alliance or not, we cannot just sit there and wait for death. Go and make arrangements to strengthen the defenses of each city, supervise the training of the new soldiers, and keep a close eye on Jia Changsheng's movements."

Zhou Yu clasped his fists and said, "Don't worry, my lord. I will do my best."

After Zhou Yu left, Sun Quan waited anxiously in the tent for a long time. Finally, another soldier ran in and said excitedly: "My lord, Mr. Zhuge is back!"

Sun Quan was overjoyed and said quickly, "Quick, let him in!"

After a while, Zhuge Jin walked into the tent and saw Sun Quan's anxious eyes. He saluted and said, "My lord, Cao Cao has agreed to form an alliance with us!"

Sun Quan finally felt relieved and asked hurriedly, "What conditions did Cao Cao propose?"

Zhuge Jin explained in detail Cao Cao's conditions for the command of the coalition forces, food and supplies, and the cession of land. After listening to this, Sun Quan frowned again and fell into deep thought.

Just then, another soldier came to report: "My lord, Mr. Kan is back too!"

Sun Quan hurriedly said, "Please come in!"

Kan Ze walked into the tent and saw Sun Quan and Zhuge Jin were there. With a look of joy on his face, he said, "My lord, Liu Bei agreed to form an alliance with us to fight against Jia Changsheng!"

Sun Quan was overjoyed and said, "Great! Derun, what conditions did Liu Bei propose?"

Kan Ze informed Sun Quan of Liu Bei's proposals for exchanging intelligence, coordinating operations, and distributing territory according to military merit after the war.

After listening to the reports of the two, Sun Quan paced back and forth in the tent, thinking about how to deal with the conditions proposed by Cao and Liu, so as to ensure that the alliance can be successfully achieved and the interests of Soochow can be protected to the greatest extent. At this moment, the fate of Soochow seemed to have ushered in a new turn because of the news of the two alliances.

When Sun Quan listened to Zhuge Jin and Kan Ze reporting successively that Cao Cao and Liu Bei had both agreed to form an alliance, the joy in his heart was like a surging tide that could hardly be suppressed.

Prior to this, Eastern Wu was defeated under Jia Changsheng's fierce offensive, and most of its territory fell. Sun Quan was worried about the survival of Eastern Wu every day.

(End of this chapter)