The Fortune of the Sima Family

Zhang Zhao drafted the letter of surrender and submitted it to Sun Quan for review; it was filled from start to finish with hymns of praise for Cao Wei.

In the letter, Zhang Zhao employed the strategy of retreating to advance, indicating that the Sun clan would follow the lead of the State of Wei and requesting that Cao Pi ascend the throne as soon as possible.

The Sun Quan depicted in the letter referred to himself as a humble subordinate, and the phrasing perfectly captured the etiquette between a ruler and his subject. Although Sun Quan felt deeply humiliated after reading it, the letter mentioned nothing of substance, serving merely as a verbal gesture of submission.

Sun Quan read it twice and, finding no improprieties, handed it to Zhuge Jin for his third diplomatic mission to the Cao camp in Shu County.

The standoff between the Sun and Cao forces dragged on for dozens of days, and the season arrived at mid-October.

At this time, the fields of Huainan were covered in a golden hue; as the autumn wind swept across the rice paddies, the scent of grain filled the air.

The areas Zhuge Jin passed through were former Jiangdong agricultural colonies, but now Cao Wei soldiers were stationed everywhere, seemingly intending to harvest the rice.

After reading Sun Quan's letter of surrender, Cao Pi was quite satisfied.

"Sun Zhongmou is indeed a man who understands the times. I have already felt his sincerity. If I am truly the one destined by Heaven, there will be no shortage of benefits for Jiangdong."

"Since the King of Wei knows my master's sincerity, then these proud and fierce soldiers of yours..." What Zhuge Jin cared about most was when the troops would withdraw; after all, with one hundred thousand Cao Army