Chapter 340: Swallowing the World
Black Bear also noticed Yang Fu's emotional changes. Even a talented person in a county like Yang Fu could not control his emotions.

Not to mention other people, once the news of Huainan's enthronement comes, it will inevitably trigger greater changes in public opinion.

Black Bear thought about it and felt that he should return to Guanzhong in the near future.

But before returning, the location and area division of the fourteen thousand households must be clearly determined.

The power of land distribution must be firmly in our hands and this matter cannot be delegated to others.

Soon, an official document sent to Hongnong appeared in front of Gan Ning's case five days later.

In the Mianchi camp, Gan Ning sat in the main seat, with a relief of the word "Gan" on the background wall behind him.

This is a detachable relief, consisting of just eight wooden boards.

Gan Ning put down Black Bear's letter and said to the chief clerk Yang Liang, "Go and summon Sun Taolu and prepare the record. I want to ask Sun Taolu a few questions on behalf of the Grand Marshal."

"Here."

After Yang Liang understood, he bowed. He only did some minor things. The confidential matters that should be managed by the chief clerk were assigned to the chief secretary Ji Mao by Gan Ning.

For example, now, the army commander Shi Jimao is stationed in the rear of Hongnong, governing Hongnong on behalf of Gan Ning.

Sun Quan lived in the military camp and soon followed Yang Liang to the big tent.

After taking a bath, changing into new clothes, and shaving off his excess beard, Sun Quan now stood out among the crowd like an ordinary person.

People like him whose hair and beard appear slightly dark red in the sun are actually not uncommon in Guanzhong today, especially in Yan Xing's prisoner camp.

"The criminal will pay his respects to General Gan."

After Sun Quan walked five or six steps into the barracks, he knelt on one knee with his hands clasped together, raised his chin to look at Gan Ning, then lowered his head again in guilt.

"General Zhongmou, get up quickly."

Gan Ning sat still, just raised his arm to signal, and Yang Liang, who had followed Sun Quan in, stepped forward to support him and whispered, "General, please get up."

"General Shegan."

Sun Quan was wearing a brown-yellow robe with fine black diamond patterns on it, which was made of the finest Shu brocade.

At the same time, he tied his sleeves tightly and wore cowhide wrist guards, a practical two-handed sword was hung around his waist, and a pair of leather boots on his feet made him look more capable and martial.

When people see him at first glance, they feel that he is worthy of being the son of Sun Wentai and the brother of Sun Bofu.

Sun Quan sat down with great vigor and without any sense of frustration after seeing an army of more than 100,000 men fall apart.

This made Gan Ning feel a little confused, but he didn't care much, as he had little chance of meeting Sun Quan in the future.

Gan Ning coughed twice and said, "The letter sent by General Zhongmou has been delivered to Hexi. Today, the reply from the Grand Marshal arrived, asking me to ask General Zhongmou a few questions."

Sun Quan straightened his back and bowed, "General Gan, please ask."

"First question, how did General Zhongmou determine that there would be a change in Huainan?"

When Gan Ning asked, he turned his head to look at the side, where Yang Liang had already picked up his pen, ready to take notes.

Sun Quan thought for a moment and said, "The Grand Marshal is so powerful that he intends to eliminate the deep-rooted disease and restore the country to a clear and bright state. This is a move that benefits the country and the people, but it is not good for the clan traitors. My father led the army of Jingzhou to fight against Dong Zhuo in his early years. Because of a moment of carelessness, the clan traitors colluded with each other inside and outside, and the army was usurped by Yuan Shu. When my brother was ruling the Jianghuai area, the clan traitors also used despicable means to murder my brother. As General Gan has seen, the criminal general and the clan traitors cannot coexist."

After a pause, Sun Quan continued, "My original intention was to attack Huang Zu to avenge my father, but the clan traitors kept persuading me, so I was not careful and had to dispatch troops to the north to attack the traitor Cao Cao. I never thought that I would repeat my father's mistakes, and the army would fall apart and fall into Liu Fu's hands." "My original intention was to attack Huang Zu to avenge my father, but the clan traitors kept persuading me, so I came to surrender to the Grand Marshal."

Sun Quan heaved a sigh of relief: "Now the only person in the world who can spare the life of a general is the Grand Marshal."

"My lord is not a bloodthirsty person, he is kind and loves the people. General Zhongmou can rest assured."

Gan Ning then asked, "Second question, is General Zhongmou willing to enter the government? If so, you can rush to Hexi. The Grand Marshal will ask you about your assessment and then make the best use of your talents. I think General Zhongmou is in his prime. Even if he starts as a lieutenant, he will be a great candidate for the position of an official in the future."

With Sun Quan's background, it is impossible for him to hold great power in the future. He can only be a decoration.

"Now, I have no choice. If the Grand Marshal does not think I am despicable, I will be willing to serve you like a dog or a horse."

Sun Quan agreed, and then Gan Ning spoke up: "Third question, is Zhou Yu really dead?"

"I don't know. The incident happened suddenly and the criminal fled to Dangtu to avoid the rebels. During this time, things in Huainan were in turmoil and it was difficult to tell the truth from the false."

Sun Quan said, "If the Grand Marshal takes him in, and uses his power, the criminal general can easily recruit his old subordinates. It will not be difficult to find out whether Gongjin is alive or dead."

"Okay, General Zhongmou, rest for a few more days, and then set off for Hexi."

Gan Ning closed the bamboo slips and said to Sun Quan, "The Grand Marshal has sent a letter to Huainan to explain the matter to the King of Huainan. If nothing unexpected happens, the King of Huainan will protect the general's family. Whether there is an incident in Huainan or not, it will not affect the friendship between the Grand Marshal and the King of Huainan."

What good personal relationship could there be between these two people?

Sun Quan didn't understand, but he was happy to see it happen. He stood up and bowed with a happy smile. Then he felt it was inappropriate, so he bowed towards the northwest and whispered thanks.

After thanking him, Sun Quan asked, "General Gan, do you intend to capture Luoyang?"

"Not urgent."

Gan Ning now has enough patience. Having been the county magistrate for such a long time, Gan Ning also knows that Luoyang is of great importance, and the trouble is not just the logistics and combat readiness work.

Hei Xiong delegated a lot of power to him. He was the prefect of Hongnong County, but Shang Yao, the prefect of Hedong County, was of low birth and was promoted suddenly, so Shang Yao basically obeyed Gan Ning's control; and half of Henei was also under Gan Ning's control.

All matters concerning Hangu Pass in the east were entrusted to Gan Ning, who took more than half a year to complete the construction of the administrative framework.

At this time, Gan Ning was not in a hurry to fight. He had already felt the "hoarse" powerlessness of excessive expansion.

I clearly have enough strength in my heart, but whenever I want to shout, I have to first consider whether I will hurt myself.

He has now gained some insights, such as foreign wars.

As long as he can get the three counties under control, Black Bear will instruct him to start the war without him asking for permission.

Seeing that Gan Ning was calm and composed, Sun Quan said, "If Luoyang is under the rule of the Grand Marshal, the new emperor in Huainan will only be a fake emperor and will not be able to achieve success."

"General Zhongmou need not be concerned about this matter."

Gan Ning said this with a smile, but when he saw Sun Quan's face immediately turned bad, he realized that Sun Quan was the leader of a region after all, and the way he spoke just now was somewhat offensive to him.

Gan Ning stopped smiling and said in a relatively serious tone: "Although General Zhongmou has great strategies and excellent insights into the current situation, the general does not understand the Grand Marshal after all. Given the Grand Marshal's character, if something changes in Huainan and the King of Huainan wants to come to Luoyang to hold the coronation ceremony, my Grand Marshal might go to Luoyang to watch the coronation ceremony."

Gan Ning couldn't help laughing as he explained to the stunned Sun Quan: "If the steamed duck in General Zhongmou's pot could flap its wings, I think you would have the same mentality as the Grand Marshal. For Guandong, let alone the Grand Marshal, Gan Ning would not bother to use any strategies."

Sun Quan nodded, as if suddenly realizing what was going on. He cupped his hands to Gan Ning and smiled bitterly, "So that's how it is. The Grand Marshal is as aggressive as a tiger, but his crimes are even more serious than yours."

(End of this chapter)