Tiger Owl

Chapter 258 Unexpected News
Cao Cao remained silent for a long time before sighing, "You are right, that must be the reason. I never imagined that Gan Ning would be so cunning, manipulating us like puppets. I underestimated him."

Cheng Yu solemnly said, "Gan Ning is an extremely difficult opponent, even more so than Yuan Shao. Any underestimation of him by us will result in a crushing defeat, both tactically and strategically."

Cao Cao nodded slightly. Cheng Yu was right. He could no longer afford to underestimate the enemy. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Then what is Gan Ning's intention in establishing a stronghold north of the Yangtze River?"

Xun You said calmly, "This shows that he has not given up on Jiangbei. He has just changed the overall defense to a key defense. This Queyue City is located at the mouth of the Han River and the Yangtze River, which is easy to support by water. In addition, it is located between Jiangxia County and Nan County, which means that Gan Ning not only wants to recover Jiangxia County, but also plans to seize Nan County when the opportunity arises."

Xun Yu also said, "This Queyue City is related to the Prime Minister's plan to unify Jiangbei, and the Jiangbei plan is related to the Prime Minister's army crossing the Yangtze River to launch a southern expedition. It is like a poisonous thorn stuck in our back, making us never have a peaceful day. If the Prime Minister's army rashly launches a southern expedition, I believe that Queyue City will inevitably cause turmoil in Jiangbei, forcing our army to retreat. Therefore, my opinion is that before conquering Queyue City, the army should not consider launching a southern expedition for the time being."

Xun Yu's suggestion was supported by Cheng Yu and Xun You. In fact, Cao Cao also knew that Gan Ning's purpose in stationing troops north of the Yangtze River was to contain him. In fact, Gan Ning succeeded, losing 26,000 men in one battle, which made Cao Cao no longer dare to underestimate Queyue City.

"But what about this agreement with Jiangdong?" Cao Cao asked, pointing to the agreement on the table.

All three had read the agreement from Jiangdong and knew the background and consequences.

Cheng Yu smiled slightly and said, "This agreement is a piece of waste paper to us, but it can bind Jiangdong. Prime Minister, please sign it without delay."

Cao Cao nodded. Cheng Yu was right. This agreement was a shackle that could confine Jiangdong, but it could not confine him.

He immediately signed and stamped the document, and ordered Wang Xiu to send it back to Jiangdong overnight.

The news of the great victory at Queyue City was sent to Chaisang by carrier pigeon the next day. This news made Gan Ning breathe a long sigh of relief. The victory of killing more than 20,000 enemy soldiers was enough to make Cao Cao tremble with fear. It is believed that Cao Cao would not dare to make a rash move to launch a southern expedition before capturing Queyue City. It is more likely that he would let Sun Ben invade Jiangdong.

As autumn turned to winter, the weather grew colder day by day after November. The rivers in the north had frozen over, and the war was put on hold. Both sides were quietly waiting for the arrival of spring the following year.

That afternoon, Gan Ning returned to his residence and went directly to find Xu Wei.

Stepping into Xu Wei's courtyard, it was very quiet. A wintersweet tree in the corner was in full bloom, emitting a faint fragrance. The red carp in the fish pond had grown much larger than the last time I visited, and were quite plump. A Taihu stone also looked particularly slender.

Gan Ning spotted Xu Wei immediately. She was sitting by the window in the study, writing something. Just then, a maid saw Gan Ning and quickly said, "Second Madam, the Marquis has arrived!"

Xu Wei was taken aback. She looked up and saw her husband. Her beautiful face immediately lit up with a smile. She put down her pen and came out to greet him. "Why are you here, my husband?"

Gan Ning smiled and said, "I wanted the craftsmen to grind more lenses with crystal, but I forgot the dimensions. I remember you seem to have a record of them."

"Yes, I have detailed records. Come with me!"

Xu Wei took her husband's hand and led him into the study. She took out a book from the bottom of a trunk. "This is it. You can take it!"

Gan Ning laughed and said, "Keep this copy for yourself. Just copy down some dimensions for me. More details need to be kept secret!"

"Okay, I'll copy it for you!"

"No need to rush, just give it to me tomorrow. Are you writing a letter?"

Gan Ning noticed a letter that appeared to be half-written on the table.

Xu Wei blushed and quickly explained, "I'll write another letter to Shang Xiang!"

Sun Shangxiang? Gan Ning was taken aback. "You two are still in contact?"

"Of course, we've always been in communication."

"Then how do we send it over?" Gan Ning asked, puzzled.

"Isn't there a postal relay system?" Gan Ning then remembered that they and Jiangdong had already established a postal relay system, which facilitated the delivery of letters between the government and the people since the last alliance.

Gan Ning simply sat down and laughed, "You write letters very frequently?"

“I used to write one letter about once a month, but lately I’ve been writing more frequently, every ten days.”

"why?"

Xu Wei sighed, "Shangxiang has been in a bad mood lately. Her brother has started arranging marriages for her, but she doesn't want to. Her mother originally supported her, but now she's pressuring her to get married. I'll write her more letters to comfort her."

"Who does her brother want to marry her off to?"

"It looks like Liu Bei!"

Gan Ning's eyes widened suddenly. "Marry whom?"

"She wrote in a letter saying it was Liu Bei, and that she had heard that Liu Bei's wife had passed away."

This is significant news. Does it mean Sun Quan is about to form an alliance with Liu Bei?

"When did it happen?"

"About two months ago!"

"I understand. This is important. Thank you for the news."

Gan Ning got up to leave, but Xu Wei suddenly called out, "Husband."

"What's wrong?" Gan Ning turned around and looked at her.

Xu Wei bit her lip and whispered, "I'd like to invite Shang Xiang over. Do you agree?"

Gan Ning laughed. How could that be? How could Sun Quan allow his sister to come to Chaisang?

Gan Ning didn't expose him, but smiled and said, "I have no problem with that, you decide for yourself!"

Xu Wei was overjoyed. After seeing her husband off, she quickly sat down and continued writing a letter to Sun Shangxiang.

In late November, a heavy snowfall covered the entire Jiangnan region.

In a softly lit room inside the Wu Hou Palace in Dantu County, Sun Shangxiang was carefully reading a letter written to her by Xu Wei. She and Xu Wei were childhood friends, as close as sisters. Although Xu Wei disregarded her family's objections and even turned against them to marry Gan Ning, Sun Shangxiang had once been skeptical. What was the point of this marriage for the legitimate daughter of the prestigious Xu family who wasn't even a proper wife?
But as Xu Wei's letters arrived one after another, Sun Shangxiang gradually came to understand Xu Wei's happiness. That happiness overflowed in the words, that joy leaped on the page, and a trace of envy gradually welled up in the depths of Sun Shangxiang's heart.

Especially when her brother told her that he planned to marry her off to Liu Bei, who was over fifty years old, Sun Shangxiang was shocked and angry. But she also finally understood something: a woman's greatest happiness is to marry a man she loves, not to marry for status.

Although she married Liu Bei and gained the status of his principal wife, would she be happy? Would she be as happy and joyful as Xu Wei?
The answer was obviously no. She didn't know what to do. Her brother told her that Liu Bei would send someone to propose marriage after the spring. Worried, anxious, and in pain, the immense pressure made Sun Shangxiang cry all day long. She didn't know what to do.
But in her letter today, Xu Wei invited her to visit Chaisang at the end, and said that her husband had also agreed.

Sun Shangxiang's heart skipped a beat. She remembered Xu Wei's elopement years ago. Could she also run away? If she hid in Chaisang for a year or two, Liu Bei's marriage proposal would naturally fall through.

At this moment, Sun Shangxiang was so nervous that her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

(End of this chapter)