Persuading Zhang Xian to surrender was the task Qin Tian had assigned to Lu Xun. As for how to accomplish it, that was Lu Xun's own concern.
In truth, Lu Xun had already considered what sort of attitude he should take on the journey here.
After all, Zhang Xian had no connection whatsoever with them. Even if he had reached the end of the road, he had no reason to surrender to them.
Liu Bei was now merely General Who Conquers the East. By sentiment or by principle, he had no standing to interfere in Jing Province's internal affairs.
If Zhang Xian wished to surrender, then by law and reason, he ought to surrender to Liu Biao, Governor of Jing Province, rather than to them.
Under such circumstances, how was he supposed to serve this bowl of rice right into their mouths?
Thus, after turning the matter over and over in his mind, Lu Xun came up with a strategy: first persuade Zhang Xian to surrender.
Then, through an analysis of gains and losses, steer the target of that surrender toward them, so that Zhang Xian would voluntarily welcome Qin Tian northward.
Only then could Qin Tian openly station himself in Jingnan and gradually seize Jing Province.
Therefore, when Huan Jie asked how to break the deadlock, Lu Xun said that it was simple—they only needed to surrender.
But regarding whom they should submit their letter of surrender to, he deliberately blurred the issue first, without directly revealing their aim.
His words clearly left both Zhang Xian and Huan Jie somewhat confused. Huan Jie immediately asked again:
"Honored envoy, you have not said all that needs saying. You speak only of our surrender, but not of whom we are to surrender to!"
"Are we to submit to Liu Jingsheng, or