Tiger Owl

Chapter 25 Be prepared for danger in times of peace
In the afternoon, a fleet of 500 warships, each with a capacity of 2,000 shi (a unit of dry measure), arrived in Zongyang County, fully loaded with military supplies and provisions.

The boats sailed into the Zongyang River, and the lead ship slowly docked at the pier. A middle-aged man stepped off the ship.

Gan Ning stood smiling on the dock, cupping his fists and saying, "I am Xu An, a flag officer under Commander Zheng. May I ask if you are Steward Liu Chun?"

Gan Ning found a letter written by Liu Xun in Zheng Bao's horse bag, which contained various arrangements.

Liu Chun had no doubts and asked, "Where is your General Zheng?"

Gan Ning took out Zheng Bao's seal and said with a smile, "Commander Zheng was on patrol last night and barely slept. He is currently catching up on sleep in the city and is too tired to get up, so he asked me to take over the ships and supplies for him."

Liu Chun knew that Zheng Bao was obese and prone to sleep, and seeing that the other party had Zheng Bao's seal, he was too lazy to ask any more questions. He took out two lists and gave them to him, saying, "These are lists of ships and supplies. There are two copies. Keep one for yourselves, and then stamp the copy that is returned to me."

Gan Ning didn't even look at it, directly stamped the receipt, and then had a soldier take out fifty taels of silver and hand it to Liu Chun.

"This is just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it!"

"General Xu, you're too kind!"

Liu Chun happily accepted the silver bag, carefully put away the receipt, boarded the boat, and bowed, saying, "I wish you a resounding victory and the capture of Chaisang!"

He left with a dozen or so men on a boat.

At dusk, Ding Feng and Chen Mu returned from Juchao County. They defeated the 500 soldiers left behind in Juchao County, and Zheng Bao's second son, Zheng Wu, led 300 remnants of his army to escape to Shu County.

Ding Feng and Chen Mu ransacked Zheng Bao's stronghold, filling it with three hundred large ships.

Gan Ning immediately set sail, leading his fleet and soldiers back to Chaisang in a grand procession.

This time, they reaped a great harvest, acquiring nearly a thousand warships, including five hundred ships given by Liu Xun and more than four hundred ships from Zheng Bao, as well as five hundred warhorses. The warhorses were also obtained from Juchao County. Zheng Bao spent a lot of money to buy them from the north, but they were seized by Gan Ning before they could even be used.

They also received 20,000 shi of grain, 15,000 sets of armor and bows and arrows, as well as countless shields, war drums, flags, salt, soy sauce, tea, and medicinal herbs.

They also acquired 3,000 taels of gold, 60,000 taels of silver, 30,000 strings of Wuzhu coins, and 20,000 bolts of silk.

In addition, 3,500 new soldiers joined the cause, bringing Gan Ning's forces to 8,500.

...........
Although everyone was happy, Lu Su had some worries.

On the city wall, Lu Su sighed softly and said to Gan Ning, "Hu Xian, Zhang Ying, Zuo Rong, and Zheng Bao are all weak forces. Although our lord has gained strength and accumulated resources by annexing them, the real crisis has also arrived."

"Now that Zheng Bao has been defeated, the news will surely spread throughout Jiangdong. Liu Biao, Huang Zu, and Sun Ce will all begin to pay attention to our lord. Our lord must start thinking long-term, and especially avoid being attacked by Sun Ce."

Gan Ning stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the Yangtze River. After a long while, he said, "I still have one more chance: to swallow up Liu Xun's army. At the same time, Sun Ce is also watching Liu Xun, wondering how to take advantage of the current delicate situation to repeat the outcome of the Battle of Zuo Rong. Sun Ce will take Lujiang County, and I will get Liu Xun's army."

Lu Su pondered for a moment and said, "I can write a letter to Zhou Yu, explaining to him what has happened in the past few months, especially pointing out that Lü Fan has a prejudice and personal grudge against our lord. In this way, Lü Fan's persuasion will be less effective."

Did Zhou Yu and Lü Fan have a personal grudge?

Lu Su shook his head and smiled, "Zhou Yu and Lü Fan have no personal grudges, but I know that the Zhou family is under great pressure because Liu Xun occupies Shu County. Therefore, Zhou Yu is more inclined to take Lujiang County. He can persuade Sun Ce to attack Lujiang first and then consider the general."

I also believe that Sun Ce will definitely adopt Sun Ben's suggestion to use Liu Xun to eliminate Chaisang, so as not to offend Cao Cao. When Liu Xun sends troops, Sun Ce will definitely take the opportunity to seize Lujiang.

In addition, I will simultaneously write to Liu Ye, asking him to agree to persuade Liu Xun to attack Chaisang, thus replicating the outcome of the Battle of Zuo Rong.

Gan Ning pondered for a moment, "Liu Xun is probably not so easily fooled, otherwise he wouldn't have let Zheng Baolai attack Chaisang."

Lu Su laughed and said, "My lord can continue to exert pressure and harass Lujiang County to force Liu Xun to send troops."

"This is a good idea!"

Gan Ning readily agreed, "I will arrange the troops. Please, Chief Secretary, write a letter as soon as possible!" Lu Su nodded, "The first step in the harassment is to occupy Xunyang County; it is urgent!"

Gan Ning immediately ordered Shen Mi to lead a thousand troops to occupy Xunyang County and transport some grain and supplies to Xunyang County.

At the same time, Wang Xiaoman was sent to investigate the garrison situation in Wan County and Juchao County.

Gan Ning himself intensified the training of his soldiers, preparing for the coming real storm.

..........
No secrets stay hidden forever, and news of Gan Ning's great victory over Zheng Bao in Lujiang County spread throughout Jiangdong.

Even Sun Ce, the ruler of Jiangdong, began to take notice of him.

Sun Ce's stronghold was naturally in Wu Commandery, but during the Eastern Han Dynasty, Wu Commandery was not just Suzhou today, but a vast area stretching from Qiantang Bay in the south to the Yangtze River in the north. Even Hangzhou and Fuchun River were under the jurisdiction of Wu Commandery, which was roughly the entire southern Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang today.

At this time, Sun Ce was in Qu'a, and he was constantly considering attacking Lujiang County.

However, the unexpected rise of Chaisang Gan Ning affected the implementation of his Lujiang strategy.

Zhang Zhao slowly said to Sun Ce, "Lu Ziheng wrote that this Gan Ning has quite the same momentum as our lord back then. In just three months, he captured Chaisang, destroyed Zhang Ying, defeated Zuo Rong, and annihilated Zheng Bao. His army has grown from a few hundred men to nearly ten thousand. Lu Ziheng said that this is not his luck, but that this man is brave and resourceful and will surely become a future threat. He suggested that our lord immediately send troops to destroy Gan Ning, while Liu Xun can wait."

Sun Ce was also 1.9 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a thick waist, and immense strength. His back view was somewhat similar to Gan Ning's, but the two had completely different temperaments. Sun Ce was heroic and handsome, with a touch of scholarly elegance.

Gan Ning, however, lacked Sun Ce's refined elegance; instead, he possessed a domineering and roguish air.

Sun Ce always had a serious expression, rarely smiled, and had deep eyes.

Gan Ning usually wears a carefree smile, but at crucial moments, his gaze becomes equally deep and sharp.

Sun Ce said after a long pause, "I also received a letter from Sun Ben. In the letter, he told me the reason why he is not attacking Gan Ning for the time being. Gan Ning is actually Cao Cao's force. He has Cao Cao's support behind him, which is why he has developed so quickly."

"No way!"

Zhang Zhao was somewhat skeptical. "His strategist is Lu Zijing. How could Lu Zijing possibly defect to Cao Cao? This old minister believes there must be something fishy going on here."

Sun Ce nodded. "Zibu is right. Lu Zijing has always hated Cao Cao for holding the emperor hostage to command the other lords. He would never surrender to Cao Cao."

Just then, a soldier announced from below the hall, "General Zhou requests an audience!"

It was Zhou Yu who had arrived. Sun Ce quickly said, "Please invite him in!"

A moment later, a tall, fair-skinned, and extremely handsome young man walked in. This man was Zhou Yu, known as the most handsome man in Jiangdu, and the people of Wu County called him Zhou Lang.

Although Zhou Yu was not a strategist and did not hold the same high position in the army as Sun Ben, Sun Ce trusted him immensely.

As Zhou Yu entered the main hall, he smiled and asked, "Is our lord discussing the matter of Gan Ning in Chaisang?"

Sun Ce nodded and said, "I just received a letter from Ziheng. He believes that Gan Ning's rise is too rapid, and if he is not eliminated immediately, he will surely become a future threat to Jiangdong."

Zhou Yu asked in bewilderment, "Yuzhang Commandery itself has an army of 15,000 men. How could it not be able to defeat Gan Ning?"

Zhang Zhao, who was standing nearby, said, "General Sun Ben believes that Gan Ning is Cao Cao's man and does not approve of us turning against Cao Cao. He hopes that we can use Huang Zu or Liu Xun to eliminate him."

Zhou Yu laughed and said, "I just received a letter from Lu Zijing today. He explained in detail how Gan Ning rose to power."

Zhou Yu took out Lu Su's letter from his bosom and handed it to Sun Ce. Although Lu Su was his close friend and this letter was half public and half private, hiding private information in front of his lord would inevitably arouse unnecessary suspicion, so it was better to be open and honest.

Sun Ce did not accept the letter, and said indifferently, "Gongjin can just say it, I don't need to read it."

(End of this chapter)