Tiger Owl

Chapter 334 Kuai Liang's Choice
When Cai Mao was killed and Kuai Yue was treated coldly, Kuai Liang finally saw through Cao Cao's deep-seated suppression of the Jingzhou aristocratic families. It wasn't just that he wanted to control Jingzhou; behind it was the hostility of the northern aristocratic families towards the southern aristocratic families.

So when Pang Tong suddenly came to visit him, Kuai Liang immediately realized that this was also an opportunity for the Kuai family. Since the Kuai family had no future relying on Cao Cao, they had to learn to balance things out and no longer depend entirely on either side, so that they could survive in a balanced way.

In the inner hall, Kuai Liang received Pang Tong.

"Uncle, it's been a long time! You look great!"

Kuai Liang stroked his beard and smiled slightly, "I'm just like this, dragging on in a state of half-death, while my nephew is doing quite well. Not only is he the deputy military advisor, but he has also entered the Western Chu Military and Political Council. Congratulations!"

"Uncle, you flatter me. It was just a coincidence."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Kuai Liang invited Pang Tong to sit down and ordered tea to be served. Soon, a maid brought two cups of tea.

Kuai Liang took a sip of tea and slowly asked, "Is your visit related to Liu Bei's campaign in Nan Commandery?"

Pang Tong's heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, the Kuai family had connections with Liu Bei; otherwise, how would they know?
Pang Tong felt a chill run down his spine. He dared not reveal the plan any further, so he smiled and said, "It's alright, I just came to visit my uncle."

Kuai Liang gave Pang Tong a meaningful look and said calmly, "I think my nephew may have misunderstood. Although the Kuai family and Liu Bei have some connections, they are neither allies nor dependents. It is just a personal relationship with Zhuge Liang. Liu Bei would never tell me such military secrets. The reason I know that Liu Bei may send troops to Nan Commandery is because the Kuai family has business in Ba Commandery. Our manager in Ba Commandery sent me a message by pigeon."

"So that's how it is," Pang Tong immediately understood Kuai Liang's meaning. He actually wanted to establish relations with Western Chu, which was why he explained it to him.

Pang Tong pondered for a moment and then asked, "If there is a conflict between Western Chu and Liu Bei, whose side will the Kuai family take?"

"That's a difficult question to answer!"

Kuai Liang smiled slightly and said, "However, since my nephew has asked so frankly, I might as well answer frankly as well. I will weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether the Kuai family will help or not. But there is one principle: no matter who the Kuai family helps, we will remain silent and will not get involved."

Kuai Liang's unspoken message was that he would keep the secret, not only for Liu Bei but also for them. Of course, this was the bottom line for any aristocratic family. You could refuse to do someone's favor, but you couldn't reveal their secrets to your rivals; that would be courting death.

Having received Kuai Liang's promise, Pang Tong slowly said, "We want to ambush five hundred hidden soldiers in Jiangling City, and we hope to get the help of the Kuai family."

Hiding fifty people is something you can do without asking anyone; you can do it discreetly by doing it yourself. But five hundred people are too conspicuous. You can't do it on your own; you can only hide them with the help of powerful local figures.

Hiding 500 people is a piece of cake for the Kuai family. They have thousands of laborers at the docks, or they can be placed in dozens of Kuai family shops and workshops. It's like pouring a cup of water into a full tank; it won't cause a ripple.

Although it was a small favor for the Kuai family, Kuai Liang was more concerned about the consequences: who would Gan Ning deal with?

Kuai Liang pondered for a moment, then his gaze suddenly sharpened. "You want to seize Jiangling County from Liu Bei?"

Kuai Liang was also a cunning old fox in the officialdom. How could he not understand that Jiangling City only had a few thousand Cao troops at the moment? It would be easy for Gan Ning to take Jiangling City. However, Gan Ning had only signed a ceasefire agreement with Cao Cao a few months ago. Of course, Gan Ning would not easily tear up this agreement that everyone was watching, as that would completely ruin his reputation.

There is only one explanation: Gan Ning wanted to seize Jiangling City from Liu Bei, which has nothing to do with the ceasefire agreement.

Pang Tong simply drank his tea quietly, which was tantamount to acknowledging Kuai Liang's guess. "But...you are allies with Liu Bei!" Kuai Liang cautiously reminded him.

Pang Tong put down his teacup and said slowly, "Our alliance has a non-aggression clause, but the clause has clear boundaries, limited to the respective territories of both parties at the time the alliance was signed. Nanjun is neither Liu Bei's territory nor Western Chu's territory, so it is not within the scope of the non-aggression clause of the alliance."

After a pause, Pang Tong continued, "As for hurting feelings, that's not the case. Our alliance isn't based on a loving couple, but rather on mutual interests. I believe Liu Bei understands this very well."

"What would the Kuai family gain if I helped you?"

"Uncle, this is about choosing sides."

Pang Tong said calmly, “Uncle, Duke Chu will not make any promises to you now, but as long as you do it, it means that the Kuai family has taken sides, and Duke Chu will definitely not treat the Kuai family unfairly.”

Kuai Liang nodded. "I understand. Let me think about it and I'll give you an answer first thing tomorrow morning."

Pang Tong went to rest, and Kuai Liang paced back and forth in the room alone with his hands behind his back. At this moment, his eldest son, Kuai Jun, walked in, placed a cup of tea on the table, and hesitated for a moment before asking, "Father, does the Kuai family really intend to side with Western Chu?"

Although Kuai Jun did not know Pang Tong's specific request, he knew that Pang Tong would not come to the Three Treasures Hall without a reason, and must be representing Gan Ning.

Kuai Liang sighed softly, "It's not the Kuai family siding with Western Chu, but my personal side. The implications are different, do you understand?"

Kuai Jun nodded, "I understand. No one in the Kuai family takes sides, but Father wants to take sides. However, Liu Bei has also written a letter asking Father to take sides."

This was something Kuai Liang hadn't told Pang Tong. Half a month ago, Pang Tong received a personal letter from Liu Bei, asking him to side with Ba Shu. His son, Kuai Jun, had actually returned for this very reason.

Kuai Jun continued, "Father, Liu Bei has clearly promised to hand over the position of Prefect of Nan Commandery to the Kuai family, while Gan Ning has made no promises whatsoever, merely taking sides. If in the end Gan Ning gives nothing to the Kuai family, isn't that too high a price to pay?"

Kuai Liang pondered for a long time, then smiled, turning back to look at his son with a knowing gleam in his eyes, "Who do you think will ultimately belong to Nanjun?"

Kuai Jun bluntly stated, "The first to be eliminated will definitely be Liu Bei. They have no foundation in Jingzhou, and the Three Gorges Road cannot support their ambitions. In the end, it will inevitably be a showdown between Cao Cao and Gan Ning. One relies on Nanyang County and Xiangyang, while the other relies on Jiangxia County and Jiangling. I believe that the two sides are evenly matched, and it is difficult to say who will win or lose at this time."

"But the problem is, my choice now has nothing to do with Cao Cao. I am choosing between Liu Bei and Gan Ning."

Kuai Jun suddenly realized that his father had long since given up on Cao Cao. He was now choosing between Liu Bei and Gan Ning, and of course he would choose Gan Ning, since Liu Bei would not get Nan Commandery.

“I understand, Father. I support your choice.”

That evening, Kuai Liang clearly told Pang Tong that he was willing to assist Western Chu in ambushing five hundred hidden soldiers in Jiangling City.

(End of this chapter)