Persuade Xiangyang to surrender? ?
In the Wu army camp outside Xiangyang, Sun Quan stood in front of everyone and carefully looked at the prince in front of him. Wei and Wu had been fighting for so many years, how could a big city like Xiangyang surrender?
Not everyone is Mi Fang and Fu Shiren, there are not so many lucky things!
But in front of so many officials, and having just praised Sun Deng, Sun Quan did not want to lose face for his son:
"Zigao, tell me what you think?"
Sun Deng cupped his hands and said, "I just heard from my father that the Wei army attacked our camp at night to boost the morale of the city. Since the people in Xiangyang are worried, why not send a man who is good at speaking to the Wei army to explain the strength of the city to the Wei army's generals?"
"The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans, the next best is to attack their alliances, the next best is to attack their troops, and the worst is to attack their cities. This is the correct way of warfare." Sun Deng said earnestly, "Father, why don't you send someone to give it a try?"
For Sun Quan, it is certainly okay to give it a try.
If the envoy was beheaded, it would be nothing more than paying the price of a life. If the envoy succeeded, the huge city of Xiangyang would be in his hands. Risking one life for one city is always a win. However, as the King of Wu, sending people to persuade the enemy to surrender is a bit disregarding of the lives of his subordinates. If someone gives advice, it will be fine.
After Sun Deng finished speaking, he took out the arrow that had been shot at his feet last night from his belt and picked it up from the ground. He said, "This arrow was shot at me when the Wei army attacked the camp last night. It is better to return it intact to Zhao."
Sun Quan was not a person who could not make decisions easily. He immediately looked at the people standing in front of him, put his hands on the gold-painted and jade-inlaid belt, and said with a loud smile:
"Xiangyang City is right before our eyes. If anyone can persuade it to surrender, I will grant him a title of nobility with the county of Xiangyang. If he fails, he will still be a nobility within the Guannei. Is there anyone willing to go?"
This was Sun Deng's suggestion, and he instinctively turned his head slightly to look at the four ministers behind him. Unexpectedly, Zhuge Ke, Gu Tan, Zhang Xiu, and Chen Biao all stood there in silence.
"That's fine." Sun Deng sighed in his heart.
Zhuge Ke's father was the Left General, Gu Tan's grandfather was the Prime Minister, Zhang Xiu's father was the Assisting General of Wu, and the only one who was slightly inferior was Chen Biao, who was also from a general family.
To them, a bright future and fame are as easy to obtain as the fruits hanging low on the branches by the roadside. Why would they be willing to do such a life-threatening job as a messenger?
How could the affairs of state and the world be entrusted to the nobles and the powerful? Sun Deng thought of the famous families of Wu that his father, Sun Quan, had counted for him, and his beautiful impression of these people disappeared a little.
But Sun Deng did not blame them.
Zhuge Ke, Zhang Xiu and other four sons of famous families stood there and acted dumb, but there were still people willing to take this kind of fame. If you sacrifice your life to get a Guannei Marquisate, although it is always a bit of a loss, it is worth it, you can give it a try!
"I am willing to go!"
Doctor Zheng Zhi squeezed out of the crowd. He was about thirty years old and handsome. He bowed to Sun Quan and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to persuade the Great Wu to surrender."
Sun Quan nodded slightly: "I know your eloquence, so I don't need to tell you anything. Go ahead, no matter what the result is, I will prepare wine for you tonight!"
"Follow the order!"
Zheng Zhi bowed and accepted the order, then saluted towards Sun Deng. He rejected Zhuge Jin's suggestion to give him armor, straightened his robe, and walked out.
On the top of the Xiangyang city wall a mile away, Chief Supervisor Zhao Yan and Lieutenant General Niu Jin were sitting leisurely on their chairs, pointing in the direction of the Wu army camp.
Niu Jin asked from the side, "Sun Quan brought so many ships and soldiers from Yuliangzhou. What kind of trick is this?"
Zhao Yan was even more nonchalant: "If the enemy comes, we will stop them; if the water comes, we will block it with earth. What is there to fear?"
Niu Jin said: "How could I be afraid of him? I am just curious."
"Then just be curious." Zhao Yan pointed towards the east of the city: "Uncle, someone is coming."
Niu Jin stood up, put his right hand over his eyes, and looked eastward: "Just one person? What is Sun Quan thinking?"
"This must be an envoy from the Wu army." Zhao Yan said with a smile, "Whatever he says, just nod and agree, and pretend to be submissive."
"What are you talking about?" Niu Jin turned his head and looked at Zhao Yan, his face puzzled.
Zhao Yan said, "Just say a few words to him and coax him away. I will go down first. I am in Nanyang, not Xiangyang."
"Don't worry, Lord Zhao. I know what to do." Niu Jin patted his chest and said, "Leave it to me!"
Thanks to the "traditional" friendship between Wei and Wu, Zheng Zhi, a doctor who tried to remain calm, arrived at the foot of Xiangyang City and was brought up in a basket hanging from the top of the city wall. He had a friendly and frank exchange with the defending general Niu Jin, and was then released.
It took him only half an hour from the time he left the camp to the time he returned.
"Your Majesty, Doctor Zheng has returned." Hu Zong quickly walked to the side of King Sun Quan of Wu who was inspecting the wounded, and said softly.
"He's back?" Sun Quan was slightly surprised: "Hurry up and ask him to come to me."
Soon, Hu Zong brought Zheng Zhi over. Zheng Zhi suppressed his excitement and said, "Your Majesty, I have returned from the city and have learned some news from the city." Sun Quan said, "I was right about you. I will give you credit for your contribution! What did you learn about the situation in Xiangyang City?"
Zheng Zhi calmed down and said, "I have heard many things from the city's defenders. It is hard to tell whether they are true or false. I cannot tell the truth. I hope Your Majesty will make a wise decision."
"It's okay, just tell me, I can tell the difference." Faced with Zheng Zhi's "armor stacking" behavior, Sun Quan could only appease him first.
"Your Majesty, the commander guarding the city is Niu Jin, a lieutenant general of the Wei State. He leads 5,000 troops to defend the city." Zheng Zhi said.
"Where is Zhao Yan? Where is Zhao Yan?" Sun Quan asked.
Zheng Zhi replied, "According to Niu Jin, Zhao Yan led an army of more than 10,000 soldiers to station in Wancheng, and Niu Jin was stationed in Xiangyang. Lieutenant General Lu Shi was in charge of defending Fancheng in the north, and he still had 5,000 soldiers."
"Five thousand..." Sun Quan repeated the number in a low voice, and then asked again: "How did you ask Niu Jin?"
Zheng Zhi replied, "I only tried to teach them about the consequences and showed them the power of the army. The heavy rain from heaven and the sudden arrival of the royal army were the will of heaven, not human error. If they do not surrender, they will become criminals of Wei and be laughed at by the world after the city is captured. If they surrender after the royal army has captured the city, it would be a violation of righteousness."
Sun Quan nodded: "He is willing to tell you this, does that mean he is willing to surrender?"
Zheng Zhi responded, "Your Majesty is wise. According to my investigation, Zhao Yan led the army alone in the north, but left Niu Jin alone in Xiangyang City south of the Han River. He must be resentful. However, the laws of Wei do not allow it, so Niu Jin cannot surrender for the time being."
"Laws? What laws?" Sun Quan frowned.
Yin Fan, who was a few steps away from Sun Quan, took over the conversation and said, "Your Majesty, I know about this matter."
"Why didn't I think of Shu Ping?" Sun Quan smiled and waved at Yin Fan: "Shu Ping, if you have anything to say, just say it."
Yin Fan said, "Let Your Majesty know that the laws of the Wei Kingdom clearly stipulate that if a city is attacked for a hundred days and no reinforcements arrive, the family members will not be punished even if they surrender. What Niu Jin in Xiangyang City said should be this rule."
"Humph." Sun Quan showed a trace of indignation: "One hundred days, I have only besieged Xiangyang for six days, do you want me to wait another three months?"
Yin Fan bowed and said, "There are military laws between the Wei court and the generals, and the soldiers are subject to the "Law of the Dead Soldiers". The families of the Wei soldiers are all in Henan or under the care of local government. The soldiers are all aware of this law, and I'm afraid the soldiers are unwilling to surrender."
Sun Quan's face fell. "So, I still need to cooperate with them for three months? How can this be justified?"
Yin Fan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down for now. The Han River separates the north and the south. How can Fancheng and Wei know what is happening in Xiangyang? Besides, all is fair in war. Taking the city is our top priority. We just need to convince the people in the city for now."
"I am willing to go to the city to persuade the Wei army to surrender!"
Sun Quan did not completely believe Yin Fan's words, nor did he completely believe Zheng Zhi's words. He asked:
"If Shuping goes to the city, how can he persuade the Wei army?"
Yin Fan bowed and said, "The promise of an official post depends on the promise of the Supreme. I only have two things to say to the people in the city:"
"First, if they do not surrender, after the city is captured, they will be exiled to the malaria-ridden land of Jiaozhou, living with the wild people in the forest. Second, if they surrender, in addition to receiving rewards, the navy of the Great Wu will hide on the Han River for three months, until the hundred days mentioned in the law of the Wei Kingdom have passed."
Sun Quan pondered for a moment and looked intently at Yin Fan's sincere face.
This man came from Wei at the age of 22 to seek refuge in Wu. While serving Wu, Sun Quan also treated him well. He was given the position of a thousand-stone official, assisting in the criminal law affairs of a country, and was also in charge of the important task of persuading the emperor to ascend the throne in Wuchang.
Twenty-two years old? In a place like Wei, he might not even be able to be a county accountant! It can be said that God's grace is great.
After a long time, Sun Quan sighed and said, "If Niu Jin can surrender, the position of General Zhenbei and Marquis of County will be set for him, and he can be granted 3,000 households."
"Shu Ping, go ahead. I will wait for you to come back."
After Yin Fan accepted the offer with a bow, he paused for a few moments, then bowed down and paid homage, his voice trembling slightly: "I am deeply grateful that Your Majesty has promoted me from a commoner. How fortunate I am! I will fulfill my mission and bring back the news of victory for Your Majesty!"
Sun Quan sighed, stepped forward and helped Yin Fan up: "Shu Ping, go. If things don't go well, come back in a useful state."
"I understand." Yin Fan responded sincerely, and then bowed to Hu Zong, thanking him for his promotion in the past few months, and then walked calmly towards the city of Xiangyang in the west.
Sun Quan looked at Yin Fan's back and said with emotion: "If the country has a good way, then I will serve. If the country has no good way, then I can keep it to myself. I can get people from the enemy country to come to serve me. Isn't this a sign of prosperity?"
"Your Majesty is right." Hu Zong bowed and said, "In the court of Great Wu, there are countless scholars from Qing, Xu and Yu states, just like Your Majesty. It only took Doctor Zheng half an hour to go back and forth to Xiangyang. Your Majesty should go back to the ship to rest for a while, and then meet him after he returns."
"Okay, let's go back to the boat first." Sun Quan nodded. (End of this chapter)
