Chapter 143 Chapter Twenty-Three

Zhou Yu won the first battle, rewarded the three armies, and sent someone to announce the good news to Sun Quan. That night, Zhou Yu went out of the stronghold to wait and see, only to see the flames reaching the sky two or three miles upstream.The sergeants on the left and right told him: "This is Cao Jun's lamp." Zhou Yu didn't know what Cao Jun was doing and wanted to find out, so he took a few capable guards up the land and climbed a small mountain to observe secretly.Zhou Yu is an expert in army management. After watching it for a long time, he was stunned. He said that the Northern Army did not understand water warfare, so how could they have such an exquisite formation on the water.So I asked the people on the left and right: "Who is training the navy for Cao Jun?" The people on the left and right replied: "Jingzhou surrendered Cai Mao and Zhang Yun." Zhou Yu thought: "These two have lived in Jiangdong for a long time. We are familiar with water warfare. To break Cao Jun's confidant's troubles, we must design to get rid of the two of them!"

Cao Mengde was very happy to see that Cai Mao and Zhang Yun were able to manage the army well.Encouraging the soldiers, he said: "Victory and defeat are common matters in military affairs. Wait for the two generals to train the navy well, and the leveling of Soochow is just around the corner!" But Cao Mengde still did not forget the psychological warfare he had formed a habit of.He thought that if Zhou Yu could be persuaded to surrender, Sun Quan would be captured, and Liu Bei would be captured easily.But thinking of Zhou Yu's destruction of books and beheading of envoys, he felt that persuading him to surrender was elusive.He asked people to go around to find out if there was anyone close to Zhou Yu in the army.

Cao Mengde was worrying about this matter, when someone in his account suddenly recommended himself.It turned out to be Jiang Gan, the guest of honor, from Jiujiang, named Ziyi.Cao Mengde was very happy, and asked: "Is Ziyi sure to persuade Zhou Gongjin to surrender?" Jiang Gan said: "Gongjin and I were classmates and friends when we were studying. With my good tongue, I will be able to persuade Gongjin to abandon the dark and turn to the bright!" Cao Mengde said, "Just ask for anything you need." Jiang Gan said, "You just need to go with a boy, and the two of you can take me off in a boat." He became suspicious of Jiang Gan, who was a bit outspoken.I also thought, this person has lived under my tent for a long time, and today he might be showing his true talents, so it’s okay to go, if he can convince Zhou Yu, that would be a great thing.So buy wine and see Jiang Gan off.

Jiang Gan went directly to Zhou Yu's village in a flat boat and called someone to announce: "Gong Jin's classmate Jiang Gan is here to visit!" Zhou Yu was thinking about how to get rid of Cai Hao and Zhang Yun in the village. When he heard about Jiang Gan's visit, he smiled and said, "The lobbyist is here!" Jiang Gan. Jiang Gan bowed his hands and said, "Jiujiang has been separated for fifteen or sixteen years. Gong Jin is living well." Zhou Yu said: "A scholar who travels so far in the rivers and lakes, I'm afraid he is acting as a lobbyist for the Cao family again?"

Jiang Gan was astonished to hear what Zhou Yu said, and said with a smile, "It's been so long since Gongjin and I have separated, and I'm here to catch up on the old days. To think I'm a lobbyist is really not enough of a friend." Zhou Yu said, "Although I'm not as smart as Shi Kuang, I still know you well." Jiang Gan looked displeased, and said, "Gong Jin treats an old friend like this, so I have to leave." Zhou Yu smiled and took Jiang Gan's arm, saying, "I thought you were a lobbyist for the Cao family. Since you are visiting as an old friend, how can I let you go?" The two entered the tent together.

At this time, many civil and military officials from Jiangzuo gathered in the tent. After Zhou Yu introduced Jiang Gan to them, he asked them to sit in two rows, and he and Jiang Gan sat in the upper seat.At this time, the band was displayed under the tent, and a group of beauties entered. As the drums sounded, the dancers relaxed their sleeves, making it lively. At the end of the song, Zhou Yu said: "Mr. Jiang is my fellow villager. Although he is from Cao Ying, he came here today to reminisce about the old days with me. You can never be Cao's lobbyist." He took off his sword and handed it to him. Tai Shici said: "You can use your sword to supervise our drinking. Old friends are very kind when they meet each other. Don't talk about those things of rushing and killing, otherwise, I will let Tai Shici use the sword to kill him." The four were silent like cicadas.

How dare Jiang Gan mention the matter of persuading surrender. Zhou Yu said: "I don't drink at all, but today I got together with my old friends and broke the rules. Everyone drank to their heart's content. Only when they get drunk!" When they were half drunk, Zhou Yu took Jiang Gan's hand and went out of the tent together to enjoy the night view on the river.Jiang Gan looked around and saw warships lined up in the middle of the river, and the sergeant stood calmly on the bow holding a spear in his hand.Zhou Yu asked, "How about my sergeant?" Jiang Gan said, "What a mighty teacher." Zhou Yu took Jiang Gan to the tent to wait and see, and saw the grain and grass piled up like a mountain.Zhou Yu asked, "How about my food and grass?" Jiang Gan said, "There is enough food for soldiers."

Zhou Yu pretended to be drunk, laughed and said, "When Ziyi and I were classmates, how could I have thought that I would have today." It's reasonable." Zhou Yu took Jiang Gan's hand again and said: "A man should not act according to the wind, but choose the master. Sun Zhongmou is straightforward, brave, and has a bright future. I have followed General Sun Even the glory and wealth can't move my heart with Ding Sun Zhongmou!" After saying that, he laughed, and Jiang Gan's intention to persuade him to surrender was far beyond the sky. Zhou Yu took Jiang Gan into the tent again, and drank with everyone until the moon went down. Jiang Gan said, "I really can't drink any more." Zhou Yu said, "It's been a long time since I slept in the same bed with Ziyi. I'll sleep with you." After saying that, he staggered and dragged Jiang Gan into the account.After Zhou Yu entered the account, he lay on the bed with his clothes on, vomiting profusely, and Jiang Gan remembered the matter of persuading him to surrender again, so he was still sleepy.It was almost three o'clock, and the lights in the tent were dimly lit. Jiang Gan saw a volume of documents piled on the table, so he tiptoed to the table, flipped through it lightly, and suddenly saw a letter that said "Cai Mao and Zhang Yun sincerely seal it." Jiang Gan was shocked, so he quietly read:

"We surrendered Cao because of the prestige of Cao's army. The Cao family treated us very harshly. We regretted it and often washed our faces with tears. One day when the time is right, we will lead the Jingzhou navy to join the general..." Jiang Gan thought, no wonder the prime minister blamed the two for not thinking ahead and not strictly governing the army. It turned out that the two had already planned to rebel.I also thought that if the matter of persuading surrender failed, it would not be wrong to bring back this information.So I put the letter in my underwear pocket.At this time, Zhou Yu turned over on the bed, and uttered a series of dreamy words in his mouth: "Zi Yi, if you don't leave, I will show you the leader of the thief in a few days."

Jiang Gan hurriedly blew out the lamp, sorted out the reviewed documents, returned to the tent, and called softly: "Gong Jin, Gong Jin." There was no response.With the secret letter in his arms, Jiang Gan felt like he had found a treasure, so he didn't even want to sleep.At the fourth watch, someone came into the tent and asked, "Is the governor awake?" Zhou Yu seemed to be waking up from a dream, and asked, "Who is sleeping on the bed?" The man replied, "The governor asked Ziyi to sleep with you. How did you forget?" Zhou Yu said regretfully, "I don't usually drink alcohol. I drank a few more glasses last night. I don't know what I said?" The man said, "Someone from Jiangbei came here." Zhou Yu said, "Take it easy. Sound!" He shouted again: "Zi Yi, Zi Yi." Jiang Gan also imitated Zhou Yu and started snoring.Afterwards, Zhou Yu quietly went outside the tent, and Jiang Gan eavesdropped, only to hear someone outside say: "Generals Cai and Zhang Er told us not to send troops for a few days..." After a while, Zhou Yu came into the tent again and shouted: "My son wing." Jiang Gan was still snoring like thunder.Zhou Yu fell asleep again.

Jiang Gan thought: "Zhou Yu is a shrewd son. If he wakes up and can't find the secret letter, how can I get out." At five o'clock, Jiang Gan finished dressing and called Gong Jin again, Zhou Yu was sleeping soundly.Jiang Gan came out of the tent quietly and asked the boy to walk out of the gate quickly.The sergeant at the gate asked, "Where are you going, sir?" Jiang Gan said, "Last night, Gongjin was drinking too much and was sleeping with his head covered. I really couldn't bear to be disturbed, so I left a few words on the record." The sergeant didn't stop him either.Jiang Gan boarded the boat quickly, and ordered the boy to row the boat quickly, and he himself helped to paddle the oars. When the sky was twilight, Jiang Gan went to Cao Mengde's tent alone. "The prime minister never woke up." The sergeant guarding the tent refused to let Jiang Gan in.