Tiger Owl

Chapter 103 Unexpected Capture
With the support of Cao Cao's army, Sun Ben suppressed Jiangdong, making everyone in Jiangdong, from the Marquis of Wu to the soldiers, feel deeply humiliated. A unified voice had formed within Jiangdong: to launch a northern expedition and reclaim the three counties north of the Yangtze River.

Against this backdrop, Gan Ning's proposed alliance received unanimous approval from within Jiangdong.

Soon, Zhang Zhao relayed the opinions of the officials to Sun Quan, the Marquis of Wu, and they all agreed to form an alliance with Gan Ning.

"Reporting to Lord Wu, everyone agrees to form an alliance with Gan Ning this time, including the military. Everyone agrees that reclaiming the three counties north of the Yangtze River is our top priority for the next few years. With an alliance with Gan Ning, we will have no worries about our rear."

"What is Lü Fan's opinion?" Sun Quan asked again.

Zhang Zhao shook his head. "His dissatisfaction with Gan Ning is just his personal emotion. He cannot bring such personal emotions into national affairs. This time, he also agreed to form an alliance based on the Wan River as the boundary. In addition, Chief Secretary Lü also raised the issue of the ownership of Wankou."

Sun Quan said somewhat displeased, "Wankou is on the west bank of the Wan River, there's nothing to dispute about it. Tell him not to cause any more trouble."

"I think so too. Even though we have lost Wankou, we can still build Zongyang County in the future, or establish a new county in Danyang County on the south bank of Wankou. It's the same thing."

Sun Quan nodded. "That's acceptable. Any other objections?"

"Furthermore, Yu Fan proposed a marriage alliance."

"Marriage?"

Sun Quan was taken aback; he hadn't considered this question.

He pondered for a moment and then asked, "What are the opinions of others?"

Zhang Zhao shook his head. "There are those who agree and those who disagree. Zhou Yu and Gu Yong agree, but Lü Fan opposes it. In fact, I also oppose the marriage alliance."

"why?"

Zhang Zhao said calmly, "Unless the Marquis of Wu has truly given up on Yuzhang Commandery and completely abandoned Jingzhou, then a marriage alliance is possible. However, if the Marquis of Wu still has ambitions, I think it's better not to have a marriage alliance."

"Does the strategist mean that this alliance is merely a temporary measure?"

Zhang Zhao nodded. "Whether it's for us or for Gan Ning, this alliance is actually just a temporary measure. Gan Ning wants to advance westward, and we want to launch a northern expedition, so both of us need to form an alliance. Once we take over the three counties north of the Yangtze River, won't Lord Wu want to take back Yuzhang County?"

Sun Quan walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, and Zhang Zhao further reinforced his point of view: "I believe that this alliance is essentially a temporary alliance where each side gets what it wants. The two sides will turn against each other sooner or later, so it is not advisable to consider a marriage alliance."

Sun Quan nodded slightly, "I understand, I will consider it all."

Although Zhang Zhao opposed the marriage alliance, high-ranking officials such as Zhou Yu, Yu Fan, and Gu Yong all supported it. Sun Quan also needed to consider the opinions of other high-ranking officials and weigh the pros and cons himself.

Sun Quan immediately said, "Please ask Military Advisor Zhang to provide a detailed plan and specifications for the alliance. I need to discuss this with the envoy."

In the afternoon, Sun Quan received Qiao An. Inside the Wu Marquis's residence, Sun Quan sat on the upper steps, while Qiao An sat below, creating a superior posture that highlighted Sun Quan's status as the ruler.

"Did Governor Sun authorize a direct alliance agreement with Jiangdong during his mission to Jiangdong?"

Qiao An shook his head. "I am just an envoy who proposed the alliance. There are still many details to be discussed. If possible, Marquis Wu can meet with my lord and sit down to talk about it in person."

Sun Quan readily agreed, saying, "I look forward to sitting down with General Gan to discuss important matters of state."

Qiao An then seized the opportunity to ask, "Lord Wu, is it possible for our two families to form a marriage alliance?"

Sun Quan smiled slightly and said, "Is this General Gan's intention?"

"This is the common expectation of General Gan's men."

Sun Quan nodded. "I understand. We'll discuss this further when I meet General Gan."

After the meeting concluded, the remaining task was to finalize the meeting location for both parties.

Sun Quan then rushed to Dantu Palace to see his mother, Lady Wu. Sun Quan had to prepare for both possibilities. If a marriage alliance was truly necessary, he would make a decision on the spot, but he had to obtain his mother's consent first.

The marriage alliance naturally involved Sun Quan's younger sister, Sun Ren. Although Sun Ren was only twelve years old, they could first arrange an engagement, and then send her to marry when she reached the appropriate age. Just like the marriage alliance between Sun Ben and Cao Cao, when the two families decided to form a marriage alliance, Cao Zhang was only nine years old and Sun Ben's daughter was only six years old. Marriage was obviously not feasible at that time, so they arranged an engagement first and then married.

After hearing her son's purpose, Madam Wu sighed and said, "I asked your sister, and she doesn't like Gan Ning and is determined not to marry him."

Sun Quan was taken aback. "Shangxiang has met Gan Ning?"

"She met Gan Ning once at Grand Commandant Yang's residence in Xuchang, and she didn't have a good impression of him. She said that Xu Wei, on the other hand, really likes Gan Ning. Quan'er, think about it! If possible, let Xu Wei go and arrange a marriage for Shangxiang."

Madam Wu doted on her daughter and would never marry her off to a man her daughter disliked, not even if he was a prince.

Since her daughter had mentioned Xu Wei, and the Xu and Sun families had a very close relationship, Madam Wu naturally wanted Xu Wei to arrange a marriage for her daughter.

Sun Quan had a sudden thought: if he used the daughter of the Xu family for a marriage alliance, he wouldn't have so much trouble breaking the alliance and attacking Yuzhang County in the future, and he wouldn't have to consider his sister's feelings. This was a perfect solution.

Moreover, upon closer examination, it's not impossible. In the Han Dynasty, almost all princesses who were married off to foreign rulers were daughters of maternal relatives, and the emperor could simply bestow upon them the title of princess.

"I understand. The main reason is that I think that in addition to signing the alliance treaty, marriage is also a necessary means for the two countries to form an alliance. I came to see you, Mother, to ask for your opinion. If you decide to let Xu Wei marry into the alliance, then I humbly request that you recognize Xu Wei as your goddaughter. This way, it will be legally feasible."

Madam Wu nodded. "If the marriage is indeed arranged, I can adopt her as my goddaughter."

Xu Wei was not Xu Zhen's biological granddaughter, but as long as there was no blood relation, it was not inappropriate for Madam Wu to recognize her as her goddaughter.

The next step was to decide on the meeting place for the two lords. Before Qiao An arrived, Gan Ning had already agreed to the meeting between the two lords, but the meeting place needed to be discussed.

Zhang Zhao proposed a meeting on the Yangtze River at the border of Yuzhang Commandery and Danyang Commandery.

Zhang Zhao also drafted an alliance proposal based on the respective demands of both parties.

Qiao An, of course, could not make the decision himself, so he returned to Yuzhang County with the alliance terms drafted by Jiangdong.

A passenger ship carrying 1,000 shi (a unit of weight) sailed on the river, followed by a large warship. This was the warship of Yuzhang County escorting Qiao An back.

Qiao An stood at the bow of the ship, nervously watching the river to the north. He could see more than a dozen warships staring intently at him from the north; those were Sun Ben's warships.

"Lord Qiao, there are also Sun Ben's warships to the south!" his subordinate shouted.

When Qiao An turned around, he saw more than a dozen warships appearing to the south, flying Sun Ben's battle flag.

Qiao An's face turned deathly pale. Sun Ben knew everything he did in Jiangdong and was already lying in ambush waiting for him.

Qiao An turned and went back to the cabin, stuffed the draft of the alliance with Jiangdong and Sun Quan's handwritten letter into a sharkskin bag, and handed it to one of his subordinates who was an excellent swimmer.

"You must jump into the water and escape immediately, and make sure to deliver this leather bag to the lord."

The subordinates quickly took off their outer clothes, changed into a suit of water jackets, and carefully placed the leather bag close to their bodies.

"Master Qiao, our boats are fighting with the enemy!" the boatman shouted from outside.

"Come on!"

His men ran to the stern and slid into the water from the edge of the cabin.

Joan watched his men disappear into the southern waters, and only when they seemed unaware that anyone had escaped did he breathe a sigh of relief.

The fierce fighting that followed ceased, and the escort warships of the Yuzhang Army were captured by the enemy. At this moment, more than a dozen warships surrounded Qiao An's ships.

Joanne instructed the boatman, "Don't resist, do as they ask!"

The boatman had no choice but to turn the boat around and head towards Liyang County, escorted by more than a dozen warships.

(End of this chapter)