The Scheme
Clatter. Clatter.
The carriage Zheng Sui drove was comfortable enough, yet stifling all the same. I rarely stepped outside, so the only sights left to me were the carriage walls, the curtains, and the bedding.
There was one exception, though.
“General… no, my lady. Here is a letter delivered from Advisor Xu.”
“Ah, it’s here.”
Zheng Sui still wavered now and then over whether to call me General or my lady, but it was hardly a matter of any real importance.
As we made our way down toward Jiangling, I had been exchanging secret letters with Xu Shu. I unfolded this one and read it carefully.
I have received another secret letter from Zhou Fang. This time he offers to reveal confidential matters—the movements of Wu’s armies and the disposition of their generals. He has also written at considerable length of his grievances against the King of Wu, Sun Quan.
He claims that Sun Quan now suspects even his own talented men, and that the punishments for the slightest mistakes have grown so severe that many ministers’ hearts have already turned away. Zhou Fang himself professes such disappointment that he wishes to defect to Shu. Moreover, according to Lord Deng Zhi—who has been investigating Eastern Wu’s movements—recruitment of new soldiers has been frequent of late. Judging by these signs…
Just as I thought. Events were unfolding almost exactly as I remembered from the Battle of Shiting.
In the original history, Zhou Fang and the Wu forces had patiently, methodically, won Cao Xiu’s trust. They had sent seven letters in all, each one as cunningly phrased as the ones now arriving for Xu Shu. That careful cultivation finally drew Cao Xiu in completely; despite the protests of Zhang Ji, Man Chong, Sun Li and the rest, he advanced with a great army. The result, as everyone knows, was a crushing defeat—and Cao Xiu’s own death on the field.
I could not allow Xu Shu to meet the same fate.
Given my present condition, which made any great speed impossible, this slow, deliberate pace was actually to our advantage.
I wrote my reply to Xu Shu.
Zhou Fang appears intent on winning Advisor Xu’s favor step by step. This is only the third letter; several more will almost certainly follow. In time he will describe in detail how he means to raise a rebellion, and will demand suitable rewards for it.
If we play along and pretend to be taken in, we can turn the enemy’s scheme against them. As for Lu Xun’s army advancing on Hefei, it seems to be a decoy force of new recruits meant to lull us into complacency. And just as before, they may try to make use of traitors within our ranks…
Once I finished the letter, I quietly instructed Zheng Sui to deliver it.
I could guess Zhou Fang’s purpose well enough, yet another worry lingered. Just as Mi Fang had once betrayed us, there might again be those inside our own walls ready to collude with the enemy. I had noted the possibility in the letter, but mere conjecture was not enough to be certain.
Jiangling.
Once again Xu Shu was receiving one of Zhou Fang’s subordinates who had come in secret, away from prying eyes.
“Lord Xu Shu. Have you given careful thought to my master Zhou Fang’s proposal? This is a golden opportunity that will never come again. We will discreetly supply you with the disposition of Wu’s forces and the routes of their formations. There will be cooperation from within as well—so lead your army to Changsha Commandery. You may take Changsha for free.”
Dong Zan, Zhou Fang’s man, dangled the tempting bait before Xu Shu. Yet Xu Shu did not drop his suspicious gaze.
“I wonder. At present Shu must maintain its alliance with Wu. How could we break that alliance here?”
“In any case, the King of Wu, Sun Quan, already intends to break the alliance with Shu. If the pact is doomed to shatter, would it not be better to strike first? Follow our proposal and you, Lord Xu Shu, will win great merit.”
“Even so, Shu is currently at war with Wei. We do not have many troops we can spare to march out.”
Xu Shu continued to cast doubt on the offer and to evade it, but Dong Zan would not give up.
“Eastern Wu has also sent a great army against Hefei. King Sun Quan, determined to avenge his grudge there, has raised troops once more despite the previous crushing defeat. It is reckless valor—mere bravado. At a time when he ought to be tending the wounded and comforting his battered officers and men, is it right to raise another army? He is no longer the Sun Quan of former days. We are not the only ones who have grown disillusioned. We will aid you from within—what is there to fear?”
“Even so, I cannot raise an army on my own authority. For a matter of this magnitude I must receive permission from the center before I can march. Otherwise my own head would roll.”
“Quite so. Your words are entirely proper. In that case, why not send word to the capital and obtain leave?”
“That would only take more time, would it not?”
“We already anticipated that it would take time. Great affairs can only be accomplished by proceeding slowly and with care. In the meantime we will gather information on personnel changes and troop dispositions inside Eastern Wu, and bring it to you again.”
“Hmm…”
Xu Shu still gave no firm answer, only pretending to deliberate.
“If you need more time to consider, we will gladly grant it. It would also be wise to consult the center. After all, to march out you will need His Majesty of Shu’s leave; decide after that, if you wish.”
“Very well. For now I shall send word to the capital. But I cannot guarantee what the result will be.”
“Of course. We fully understand your caution. Then I shall visit again. Next time I will bring further information on the disposition of Eastern Wu’s armies; you may analyze what we provide.”
With that, Dong Zan rose and left.
Once the man was gone, Xu Shu sank into thought.
Just as General Jin said—he is in no hurry. Does that mean he is sharpening his blade all the more carefully in the quiet? We too must pretend to be taken in while we prepare in secret. Yet he will also be working schemes we cannot see. Those we must uncover…
Eastern Wu.
Meanwhile Sun Quan and Zhou Fang, who were advancing the scheme to seize Jiangling, continued their discussions.
“How is Xu Shu responding, Zhou Fang?”
“At first he was full of suspicion, but little by little his resolve seems to be wavering. This time he said he would seek permission from the capital.”
“I see. So the bait is beginning to take. Last time we rushed things, trusting only that scoundrel Mi Fang, and spoiled the affair; this time we may proceed step by step. And what of the rest? I heard there are men on the enemy side who wish to collude with us as well?”
“Yes. The two brothers Shen Tan and Shen Yi have agreed to cooperate with us. They have promised to work together inside Jiangling and steal military secrets for us. It seems they have nursed deep resentment ever since their days in Xiangyong, where they were never given any real importance.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Sun Quan nodded repeatedly as he listened to the report that Zhou Fang’s plan was advancing smoothly.
“And they may bring us something even greater than military secrets.”
“Something greater? What is that?”
“The abduction of the Crown Prince, Liu Shan. If we seize the Crown Prince, we can make far more strategic use of him.”
“Abduct the Crown Prince? Is that even possible?”
Long ago, during Liu Bei’s entry into Shu, Sun Quan had once attempted to kidnap Liu Shan. The defenses had been so tight that the plan never even got off the ground and ended in failure.
“Besides Shen Tan and Shen Yi, there is another who has agreed to join Eastern Wu.”
“Who?”
“A man named Huang Hao whom we have already bought.”
“Huang Hao? Who is he?”
“A eunuch who attends upon Liu Shan.”
“A eunuch at the side of Shu’s Crown Prince? Why would such a man think of joining us?”
At Sun Quan’s question Zhou Fang answered carefully.
“He once enjoyed Liu Shan’s favor, but of late the jealousy and checks around him have grown severe, and he has grown resentful. He says he will distinguish himself in this raid and then turn to our Wu. For that he needs Your Majesty’s promise that if he succeeds he will be given a high post.”
“If he truly succeeds I can promise him a post, but can the man actually accomplish anything?”
Zhou Fang’s lips curled in a sly smile.
“He will assist in the abduction of Liu Shan. Since he serves the Crown Prince at close quarters, we can make good use of him.”
“That would be ideal, of course—but can we trust such a man so easily?”
“From what I have learned, he has been constantly browbeaten by Zhang Fei and is full of resentment. If Your Majesty will only give the promise, he can be put to excellent use.”
Sun Quan stroked his beard, thought for a moment, then spoke.
“A man willing to sell his own master will never make a loyal subject. But this is no time to quibble over such things. Very well. If he properly distinguishes himself this time, I promise to place him in an important post within the palace.”
“My thanks, Your Majesty. I shall certainly bring you news of victory.”