Chapter Sixty-Two: I Command Thirty Thousand Naval Troops and a Thousand Warships

“May I ask if you are Gan Ning, the Mighty Gan?”
Gan Ning, who was drying his hair, paused for a moment and raised an eyebrow, looking over with suspicion. “And you must be Chu Feng, the one who led three hundred men to destroy your own father’s imperial capital?”
“Uh, that’s me!” Chu Feng replied awkwardly.
Gan Ning’s interest was piqued; he stood and spoke loudly, “Rumor has it you can fight off a hundred men alone. Is that true?”
“That’s just idle talk!” Chu Feng laughed heartily.
“Haha, you’re a straightforward man,” Gan Ning chuckled. He himself could perhaps slay dozens, but did not truly believe anyone could defeat a hundred.
“I am Gan Ning. What business do you have with me?”
Chu Feng smiled. “I wonder, General, are you familiar with the waters of the Yangtze and Huai Rivers?” For someone like Gan Ning, eager to distinguish himself in service, not much persuasion was needed.
“Every stretch of river and lake, I know at a glance,” Gan Ning boasted.
“I intend to seize the lands of Jiangdong, but currently lack a naval commander to lead my fleet. Having met you today, I see you possess both courage and chivalry. Would you serve as my admiral and command the navy under my banner?”
Chu Feng spoke plainly.
“You want me to be your admiral?” Gan Ning’s words came quickly, excitement in his voice. He had lingered in Jingzhou for years, holding only a hollow post under Liu Biao—tedious and unrewarding.
He quickly composed himself, feigning indifference. “How large is your fleet, and how many warships do you command?”
“My navy numbers over thirty thousand, with more than a thousand warships. We dominate the Yangtze and Huai Rivers—none can stand before us!” Chu Feng declared with righteous fervor.
Xu Chu: “?!”
The burly man blushed, grumbling inwardly: The lord exaggerates again! The entire Shouchun has fewer than a hundred warships and not more than three thousand sailors, but he boasts of ten times that!
Gan Ning narrowed his eyes, but did not immediately agree.
“General, I have several hundred brothers who must be consulted. After discussion, should we accept, how shall we find you?” Gan Ning asked, a trace of anticipation in his tone.
“I am headed to Xiangyang to borrow ships. If you decide to join me, come find me there!”
With that, Chu Feng ordered the boatman to row away.
Gan Ning watched his departing figure and clicked his tongue in admiration.
See, this is the bearing of a great man—he recognized my valor and chivalry at a glance, and wishes to grant me high command. More importantly, he claims to have tens of thousands of sailors and a thousand warships!
In that instant, Gan Ning felt a sense of kinship.
“Oh, wait—what did Chu Feng say he came here for?” Gan Ning pondered, suddenly feeling he’d missed a crucial point.
“Big brother, I think he said he came to borrow ships!”
Gan Ning: “???”
“Big brother, do you think he’s fooling us?”

“Impossible. Chu Feng is a descendant of the Yuan clan. The Yuan family’s retainers and former officials are everywhere. Why would he bother deceiving a lowly officer like me? Would he be interested in me personally?”
“As for borrowing ships, it’s probably just a pretext. He must be here to form an alliance with Liu Biao.”
Gan Ning waved his hand, dismissing their suspicions.
His followers thought it over and nodded in agreement.
It’s like if Ma Huateng suddenly approached you one day, claiming to have a hundred billion and wanting to hire you—would you doubt he has that much money? Even if he didn’t, just becoming a manager would be a promotion!
—
Outside the city of Xiangyang.
Liu Biao, accompanied by the gentry of Jingzhou, personally came out to welcome him for several hundred meters.
The Yuan family name proved useful wherever it went—especially now, after its reputation for treason had been cleansed. Their students and former officials were everywhere, though few of the highest rank remained.
“Yunqing, your late father and I were peers and friends. By that reckoning, I may call you nephew. Come, I’ve already prepared a banquet to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey!”
Liu Biao spoke with a gentle smile.
Chu Feng was speechless. Wasn’t it Liu Biao who’d had Sun Jian, Yuan Shu’s subordinate, killed all those years ago? Now he wants to call me nephew and take advantage? Not a chance.
“My lord, you are too kind. I’ve come not only to pay my respects but also to request a favor. Let us set aside the banquet for now and discuss business first.”
Chu Feng smiled broadly.
Liu Biao narrowed his eyes slightly, then laughed. “Since you insist, let us attend to business first. Please.”
So they returned to the governor’s residence.
On the way, everyone was filled with their own schemes, each considering how best to deal with the others. Though Chu Feng was of the Yuan clan, taking advantage of them would not be easy.
Soon, they were seated in the hall.
Liu Biao presided at the head, with representatives of the Cai, Kuai, and Xi families seated below.
“Nephew Yunqing, since we’re to discuss serious matters, speak plainly. Win or lose, our friendship stands regardless.”
Chu Feng smiled politely, cupping his fists. “In that case, I’ll be direct. I have come to purchase a thousand warships to use in my campaign against Sun Ce of Jiangdong.”
At these words, all the families looked up in surprise.
Liu Biao, with a hint of apology, replied, “Nephew, lately my lands have been plagued by river pirates, I fear—”
Before Liu Biao could finish, Chu Feng interjected, “There’s no need to refuse so quickly, my lord.”
He produced a sack of salt and poured out its contents—fine, pure, snow-white salt, each grain sparkling.
“Gentlemen, you must have heard of snowflake salt. As I understand it, Jingzhou has long relied on brine salt from Yizhou and sea salt from Yangzhou.”
“And Sun Ce has choked off our supply lines from the north—surely you’ve all seen this. Sun Ce is ambitious. He has yet to take Yuzhang, but once he does, who can guarantee he won’t do the same again?”
Chu Feng challenged them boldly.
Liu Biao and the gentry fell silent. They had tasted this snowflake salt before—it was fragrant and mellow, without bitterness, far superior to the salts of Yizhou and Yangzhou.
“Nephew Yunqing, our navy is indeed lacking, but Jingzhou is rich in grain and blessed with good harvests. Would you consider exchanging salt for food?”
Liu Biao asked tentatively.
“Jiangdong is not yet pacified—what use is grain? Without warships, when Sun Ce takes Yuzhang, he’ll march straight for Shouchun. If I am defeated, may I ask who among your men can resist Sun Ce?”
Chu Feng’s voice rang out, powerful and clear.
Liu Biao was silent, deep in thought.
Though Chu Feng’s argument was logical, if Sun Ce fell to Chu Feng, wouldn’t it be the same? Only the name would change. The best course was clearly to balance the two.
“Yunqing, it’s not that I won’t help you. My navy is truly depleted; I can barely defend myself, let alone aid you. Still, since you’ve come, I won’t let you leave empty-handed.”
“I’ll see to it you’re provided with fifty fighting ships—the most I can offer!” Liu Biao declared, as if that was the end of the matter.
“Heh, ha!”
“My lord, if we persist in this way, we are courting our own destruction. It won’t be long before Cao Cao, Liu Zhang, and Sun Ce gather in Jingzhou for a grand feast!”
Chu Feng sneered, then sighed.
“Why do you say such things, Yunqing?” Liu Biao frowned.
“I intercepted a letter from Sun Ce to Cao Cao. It is clear: he has joined forces with Cao Cao and Liu Zhang, and the three are preparing to attack both you and me!”
As he finished,
Liu Biao trembled and hurried forward to seize the letter.
The gentry in the hall grew visibly uneasy. If the letter was genuine, and the three declared war on Jingzhou, what would become of them? Where would they go?
In that moment, all eyes turned to Liu Biao.