Tiger Owl

Chapter 313 The last step

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, negotiations resumed. Liu Bei's northern expedition triggered a dramatic change in the situation in the north, forcing Cao Cao to compromise in the end. He could not wait any longer; he had to reach a ceasefire agreement immediately and withdraw his troops from the Jianghuai region.

To this end, Cao Cao even took the initiative to add 100,000 shi of grain, bringing the total to 600,000 shi, promising to pay in installments over six months. The only condition was that no compensation or restitution could be used as grounds to damage the reputation of Cao Cao's army.

Around noon, Lu Su reported the latest progress of the negotiations to Gan Ning.

"Lord Chu, today's negotiations went much more smoothly than expected."

Lu Su laughed and said, "We once again proposed that the compensation in grain should not be less than 500,000 shi, and Chen Qun actually agreed immediately. Not only that, he also offered to give us an additional 100,000 shi."

"Why?"

Gan Ning laughed and said, "Why have they suddenly become so generous?"

"He must be anxious! Liu Bei has already captured Hanzhong, which has shaken the north. Cao Cao is eager to retreat north; he really wants to stop the war."

Gan Ning nodded. He fully understood the significance of Liu Bei's capture of Hanzhong. The impact was not limited to Hanzhong itself, but would have a huge impact on the court and even the Central Plains. It was like a typhoon, where the wind and rain were strongest not at the center, but rather at the edge.

Liu Bei himself had enormous political influence, and his successful Northern Expedition would have made the anti-Cao factions in various places jubilant and eager to try their luck.

"And then?" Gan Ning asked again.

"They agreed to provide 600,000 shi of grain, but on two conditions."

"Are there any conditions?"

Gan Ning smiled and said, "Tell me, what are their conditions?"

"First, the 600,000 shi of grain will not be paid in one lump sum, but will be distributed to us over six months."

This condition was within Gan Ning's expectations. The payment would be made in six installments, which would at least guarantee that they wouldn't break the agreement within six months. That was the little trick he was using.

"And the second condition?" Gan Ning continued to ask.

"The second condition, regarding the pretext for the 600,000 shi of grain, they firmly opposed using terms like compensation or restitution, believing that these were the words of the defeated. They suggested using the pretext of resettling disaster victims, and specifically, the fate of the imperial court."

Gan Ning sneered, "It seems Cao Cao isn't stupid; he saw the essence of the problem!"

Pang Tong, the strategist who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly said, "Lord Chu, the pretext of resettling disaster victims is actually quite good!"

Gan Ning looked at Pang Tong and said, "Strategist, please continue!"

Pang Tong laughed and said, "Because this excuse is absurd. No one would believe that 600,000 shi of grain could be used to settle 200,000 people. Even ordinary people wouldn't believe it. The more absurd the excuse, the more obvious it becomes. When we guide public opinion a little, everyone will understand that the 600,000 shi of grain is war reparations. As for the terms written in the agreement, who can see them except for a few high-ranking officials?"

Pang Tong's strategy was to feign an attack on one side while secretly advancing on another. The agreement clearly stated that the imperial court would provide relief to the disaster victims, but internally, he incited public opinion, claiming that the relief would be in the form of grain compensation. This forced Cao Cao to swallow his anger and remain helpless.

Gan Ning nodded. "Then let's do it according to their requirements, reach an agreement as soon as possible, and bring the refugees in."

Spring plowing will begin in another month, and both Jiangxia County and Lujiang County urgently need to replenish their populations.

At this point, Lu Su added, "The marriage alliance has been finalized. The bride is Cao Cao's fourth daughter, Cao Jie."

'Cao Jie!'

Gan Ning laughed, surprised that it was her. Since his third daughter, Cao Ya, was already engaged to Sun Quan, she was no longer suitable for a marriage alliance. Cao Cao knew this, so he chose another daughter.

Gan Ning never expected that the newly chosen daughter would become the second empress of Emperor Xian of Han in history.

At this moment, Gan Ning felt a faint sense of anticipation.

The following morning, the final negotiations between the two sides began. This time, the issue of grain was successfully resolved. The two sides agreed on 600,000 shi of grain, to be paid out over six months, once a month. The reason given was Cao Cao's suggestion that all of it be used for the court's expenses in resettling refugees. This was all written down in black and white.

The resolution of the food issue signifies the completion of three core projects: land, population, and food.

The two sides then finalized several additional clauses. The first clause was a marriage alliance. Gan Ning promised to marry Cao Cao's daughter, Cao Jie, as his concubine at an appropriate time this year. Chen Qun also conveyed Cao Cao's promise that Gan Ning's five wives would all be personally conferred the title of Marquis by the Emperor. This was a unique practice in the Han Dynasty, where women could be granted the title of Marquis.

Cao Cao certainly wanted to elevate the status of his daughters. If they couldn't be his principal wife, then they could enjoy a noble title. Gan Ning's other four wives also benefited from this and were all granted the title of Marquis.

Besides the marriage alliance, the second additional clause concerned the ownership of Qiupu County. Cao Cao acknowledged that Qiupu County belonged to Western Chu. On the surface, this appeared to be Cao Cao's magnanimity, but in reality, he was reluctantly accepting reality. He knew very well that Western Chu's warships would not leave Qiupu County, so what use would he have for the county? It would be better to do a favor directly.

The third additional clause was proposed by Western Chu at the last minute, to raise the official rank and title of their lord, Gan Ning. This was the final step in the negotiations.

Chen Qun had no authority to make the decision. That day, several homing pigeons circled in the sky a few times before flying towards Hefei County.

Cao Cao received an urgent message from Chen Qun via carrier pigeon, and that very night he summoned Cheng Yu and Xun Yu to discuss the matter.

Cao Cao handed a message by pigeon to his two strategists, saying, "The negotiations have reached the final stage. The other side has made a last-minute request to significantly elevate Gan Ning's political status."

Cheng Yu laughed and said, "This requirement is a bit vague. What do you mean by 'significantly improve'? What political status?"

Xun Yu also said, "I guess Gan Ning also wants to promote his subordinates, but his own official position is not high, so he is suppressing the promotion channels for his subordinates."

Cao Cao said calmly, "Actually, if the marriage alliance is successful, I was already considering promoting Gan Ning and granting him a title. He's my son-in-law! How can he only be a minor county marquis?"

Cheng Yu and Xun Yu exchanged a quick glance, both of them revealing a hint of horror in their eyes. They immediately understood their lord's meaning.

The Han Dynasty had three ranks of nobility: king, duke, and marquis. Kings and dukes could only be granted to members of the imperial family, while only marquises could be granted to those outside the imperial family.

However, Cao Cao had already been enfeoffed as Duke of Wei on the first day of the Lunar New Year, which in itself was a transgression of the Han Dynasty's system. But now the court existed in name only, and the emperor was also a figurehead, so there was nothing wrong with Cao Cao being enfeoffed as Duke of Wei.

But now Cao Cao actually said that his son-in-law could only be a minor county marquis. This statement was quite significant, as a county marquis was the highest rank of marquis, and the next rank above that was duke.

Cao Cao's unspoken meaning was to bestow the title of Duke upon Gan Ning, but Gan Ning was his son-in-law and a local warlord. How could he be on par with his father-in-law, the Duke of Wei? Therefore, Cao Cao's true intention was that he wanted to go further and become a king.

Cheng Yu and Xun Yu both understood Cao Cao's true intentions, and they looked at each other in horror.

Cheng Yu thought for a moment and said, "Promotion is definitely not a problem, but it requires the Emperor's bestowal of a title, which will take at least two months. This will delay important matters. I suggest that we discuss the promotion outside of the agreement, or that the Prime Minister make a promise first."

Cao Cao did not continue speaking. He thought for a moment and smiled, "It would be better to put it in the agreement to temporarily restrain Gan Ning's ambition. I can promise to appoint Gan Ning as Duke of Chu and General Who Guards the South within three months."

Xun Yu added, "I would like to make another suggestion: that both sides establish a liaison office and station envoys there permanently to facilitate communication."

Cao Cao readily agreed, saying, "That's a good suggestion; you can bring it up!"

(End of this chapter)