Just when the Wei Emperor Cao Rui was about to go south for an inspection tour, Sun Quan was also busy in Wuchang.
The Three Kingdoms had been standing firm for several years, with the Wei Empire in the north, occupying nine of the thirteen states in the empire.
Wu is in the southeast, Shu in the southwest, and together they occupy four states.
Although this is only a rough division, when it comes to details, Wu's Yang state and part of the north of Jing state are under Wei's control. But regardless, Wei's strength is still slightly superior to that of Wu and Shu combined.
Now, Sun Quan intends to take the opportunity of Zhou Fang's pretended surrender to launch an attack against Wei. It hasn't been more than a few years since Liu Bei's death, and the attitude of Shu Han is still not entirely clear. The attitude of this neighbor to the west is also a factor that Sun Quan cannot afford to ignore.
For many years, Sun Quan has been engaging in a seesawing policy towards Shu Han, alternating between war and peace. But if one phrase is needed to roughly summarize it, it could be called "short-sighted pragmatism."
Sun and Liu's families began to unite against Cao after the Battle of Red Cliff, but the alliance was completely destroyed when Sun Quan sent Lu Meng to attack Guan Yu. After Liu Bei marched his entire nation eastward, the relationship between Sun and Liu, or Wu and Shu, had dropped to an all-time low.
After Liu Bei's defeat at the Battle of Yiling, he stationed his troops in Baidicheng. During the time when Cao Pi launched his first three-pronged attack on Wu, even the offline Liu Bei wrote a letter to Lu Su mocking: "The Wei army is already at Jiangling. What do you think if I launch another eastward campaign?"
At that time, Sun Quan did indeed make peace with Liu Bei. However, it was not a "good relations between the two families" kind of peace, but simply a temporary ceasefire.
The so-called "contradiction leads to a good fortune," after Liu Bei's death, "the government is run by Zhuge Liang and sacrifices are performed by myself," Shu Han had Zhuge Liang send Deng Zhi twice to Wu as envoys. Sun Quan also sent Zhang Wen to Shu. Sun Quan's probe and Zhuge Liang's good intentions are the foundations for the harmonious relationship between Wu and Shu.
Now that Sun Quan is about to dispatch troops, he has sent Zhang Wen on his second mission to Shu Han.
Starting from Wuchang, traveling west along the Yangtze River, after passing through Jiangling, if one continues to pass through the western border area under Lu Xun's responsibility, one can reach Shu Han.
Wu Han, West City of Ling.
Lu Xun was sitting in his mansion reading documents when Fu Qing, an official in the mansion, approached him, bowed and saluted, and said, "Your Honor, Zhang Wen, the envoy sent from Wuchang to Shu Han by the King, has now arrived in the city of Xiling."
After Lu Xun put down the document, his brow furrowed slightly, "King Wu has again sent Zhang Wen to Shu Han? What documents did Zhang Wen bring?"
Fu Qing replied: "I have already asked, Zhang Wen has brought the letter from the King to Zhuge Liang in Shu Han."
Lu Xun said casually, "In that case, please bring the letter from the King to Shu Han for me to take a look myself."
Fu Qing carried out the order and withdrew.
Since Deng Zhi's visit to Wu from Shu, communication channels have been established between Wu and Shu.
With Zhuge Liang in power in Shu Han, it is only natural that the communication would be initiated by either Sun Quan sending a letter to Zhuge Liang or Zhuge Liang sending one to Sun Quan. However, this arrangement is fundamentally unbalanced, as it is not a symmetrical relationship.
Therefore, Sun Quan came up with an idea.
Sun Quan commanded Lu Xun to directly communicate with Zhuge Liang for all daily needs of communication. He also had a seal of Sun Quan engraved and kept it with Lu Xun.
For any important matters that require communication between Sun Quan, Liu Shan, and Zhuge Liang, the letters would be sent from Wuchang to Lu Xun at Xiling, of course after being reviewed by Lu Xun.
If Lu Xun finds anything that needs to be changed in the letter, he does not need to ask Sun Quan for permission and can modify it himself before sealing it with Sun Quan's seal, and then sending it directly to Shu Han.
Therefore, when Lu Xun heard that Zhang Wen was carrying a letter from Sun Quan to Shu Han, he naturally told the officials to bring the letter here.
After all, this had become a precedent, and Lu Xun did not give it much thought.
About half an hour later, Lu Xun heard Fu Qing hurrying to the front hall, but hesitated when he came in.
Lu Xun asked: "What's the matter?"
Fu Qing replied: "Your Honor, please forgive my inability to obtain the letter from Zhang Wen. Moreover, even, even Zhang Wen dared to make impertinent remarks, as if he had some grudge against you."
Since he led the army to defeat Liu Bei at the Battle of Yiling, Lu Xun's military talent was confirmed, and his personal prestige was also increasing. Even King Wu Sun Quan treated Lu Xun with courtesy.
Lu Xun asked, "What did Zhang Wen say?"
Fu Qing stammered: "Zhang Wen said that he was carrying the King's letter, what qualification does Your Lordship have to read it?"
Lu Xun had not seen anyone speak rudely to him for a long time, and his tone became somewhat angry when he spoke: "How dare a commoner speak to me like this? Bring Zhang Wen to me, I want to ask him myself."
Fu Qing received the order and left. A moment later, two soldiers pushed Zhang Wen forward from both sides.
Lu Xun staring at Zhang Wen's face said, "I thought it was someone saying bad things about me, but it turns out to be Zhang Huixun, who is from the same county as me."
There were many people with the same name and surname. For example, among the Yellow Turban bandits, there was a Zhang Liang; in the Eastern Wu Summer Capital garrison, there was also a young officer named Zhang Liang. In the past, there was a general named Zhang Yun under Liu Biao's command, and there was also a Zhang Yun in Eastern Wu who was known for his generousness and justice.
In the past, Sun Quan's father, Sun Jian, was under the command of a Han dynasty minister named Zhang Wen. The person before Lu Xun today also bears the name Zhang Wen.
It is interesting that this "Zhang Yun" is actually the father of the "Zhang Wen" before Lu Xun, who is from the Zhang family, one of the four great clans in Eastern Wu: Gu, Lu, Zhu, and Zhang.
Zhang Wen came to Lu Xun's presence much more honestly, bowing and returning: "I was not saying bad things, I was just reminding Your Lordship that there is no need for soldiers here."
Lu Xun said, "I was not informed of your mission to Shu Han before, so it is according to custom for me to review the letters you are carrying. Is there anything wrong with that?"
Zhang Wen faintly shook his head: "It is precisely this thing that is wrong. I would like to ask Your Lordship, has something that has become a precedent been proven to be correct?"
Lu Xun, upon hearing Zhang Wen's words, began to feel alert. He waved his hand to dismiss the soldiers. After a while, only Lu Xun and Zhang Wen were left in the hall.
Zhang Wen asked, "I know that the King treats Your Lordship with great respect, but I would like to ask Your Lordship, do you not know who the King is?"
Zhang Wen and Lu Xun were both from Wu County, of the same great clan, and therefore were hometowns. According to the rules, the Lu family had a good relationship with the Zhang family, so Zhang Wen's words must have some hidden meaning.
Lu Xun got up and walked about one catty (a unit of length) away from Zhang Wen: "Let's first take our seats and then talk."
Zhang Wen did not hesitate, sat down, and said to Lu Xun, "Your Lordship, do you think that King Wu truly values your talents or that he had to heavily rely on you out of state affairs?"
Lu Xun remained silent for a moment and said, "Whether King Wu views me in what way, as long as I am in office, I will always strive to fulfill my duties to the best of my abilities."
Zhang Wen shook his head: "Your Lordship does not know, but there have been rumors in Wuchang for several days that our native people in the east are unwilling to go north and attack, which has angered the King."
"Could it be that you, Your Lordship, are the one they are talking about?"
Lu Xun took a deep breath and said, "When I was in Wuchang, King Wu once mentioned the matter of attacking the Wei. At that time, I indeed did not recommend that the King use too many troops."
"Does the King suspect me?"
Zhang Wen immediately replied, "Suspecting you is not the case, but being dissatisfied is definitely true. Do you know how King Wu treated me?"
Lu Xun remained silent and did not respond.
Zhang Wen continued to say, "When I first visited Shu Han, in order to obtain an audience with the Shu ruler Liu Chan, I wrote a table to praise Shu Han in my words."
"When I returned from Shu Han, all the civil and military officials in Chengdu came to see me off. Zhuge Liang even sent Deng Zhi to visit, accompanying me out of the Shu border."
"However, when King Wu heard that I praised the political situation in Shu Han, he was angry and accused me of bringing shame upon our country, even once confining me in the palace."
"As Your Lordship can see, today King Wu has re-established personal contact with Shu Han in order to appease it. He has seen me off again and apologized to me personally. He has also reinstated my position as an envoy to Shu Han."
"Your Lordship, what do you think of King Wu's actions?"
Lu Xun did not want to speak ill of the King behind his back, so he only shook his head slightly.
Lu Xun asked, "I understand your situation, but what does this have to do with me?"
Zhang Wen's tone rose a few degrees: "King Wu employs you, but he is also constantly on guard against you. For someone like me, King Wu does not bother to hide his disgust. But for the sake of employing me, he can still humble himself to show favor."
"For a position as high as yours, King Wu has given you such a large amount of authority. And you have once had different opinions with the King. I really don't know how long the King has tolerated your existence for national affairs!"
It must be said that Zhang Wen still has good insight. Sun Quan always acts with endurance and restraint, often putting aside his personal feelings in order to achieve his goals.
But what could Lu Xun say? What could he do?
In the early years when Sun Ce conquered the east, the Lu family had over a hundred people, including both adults and children. Half of them died due to famine and war.
How could Lu Xun, who was smart at a young age, forget about this? Later on, didn't he still put aside his pride and serve under Sun Quan?
Lu Xun slowly stood up, looking coldly at Zhang Wen and said, "I will consider the documents you are carrying as if I have already reviewed them. And the words you spoke in the hall today, I will act as if I have never heard them."
"The journey to Shu Han is far away, and I will not be sending you. You can start your journey now."
Zhang Wen understood that Lu Xun, with his intelligence, had already understood his intentions. After paying respects and bowing, he walked out of the palace directly.
Lu Xun himself began to pace around the hall.
King Wu Sun Quan was not a person of great magnanimity. Although he often appears to do things that look generous, they are actually just the King tolerating them for national affairs.
The words Zhang Wen spoke just now, to some extent, expressed his grievances about King Wu with a hint of hostility in his tone.
But there is something Zhang Wen said that is correct.
I have been in Xiling for a long time, and King Wu trusts me so much. How many grievances has the King accumulated against me in his heart?
The more King Wu respects me on the surface, is it not because he hates me even more in his heart? If King Wu has such grand ambitions, and I am unable to help him achieve his wishes, then what should I do?
Lu Xun took a deep breath.
Based on the current situation of Wu's military generals, if Wu wants to use troops in the vicinity of Wan City and win the battle, King Wu will probably still take command of his troops in the front line.
If we win, naturally we would be overjoyed. But if we lose, what will be the fate of the Lu family?
Zhang Wen's words had sown a seed of doubt in Lu Xun's heart.
(Chapter Complete)
