In a sense, Gan Ning was a very pragmatic man. In his youth, to display his splendor, he had dressed in brocade and come and gone everywhere.
Later, he felt he could not go on like that, so he abandoned martial pursuits for letters, studying the teachings of the Hundred Schools. Step by step, he rose from a lowly clerk to the position of county deputy.
The reason he later rebelled was that he felt his ambitions had no chance to be fulfilled.
It was the same now. He had no great conflict with Huang She himself. His anger just now had stemmed from Huang She's lack of regard for him.
But now, Qin Tian's ample regard made him feel as though he had found a discerning patron!
Seeing Qin Tian offer him the post of deputy naval commander, Gan Ning's heart surged. All his previous gloom vanished, and he seized Qin Tian's hand.
"Did you truly mean that, sir? Your army can really grant me the position of commander?"
Seeing how agitated he was, Qin Tian clasped his hand in return and laughed.
"Xingba fears that our army might deceive him, but in truth, I fear Xingba may be unwilling to come. In my view, even deputy commander is beneath your talents!"
"But our navy has only just been established, and we do not yet have many troops."
"Once our forces grow, what would be wrong with letting Xingba serve as naval commander and range freely across the river?"
"But let us make this clear first: our army's discipline is extremely strict, unlike Jing Province. Defying military orders is a grave crime!"
"You must understand that once one serves as commander, the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers rest in the general's hands. They cannot be treated lightly.