Ever since Sun Ce began his campaigns to conquer Jiangdong, the local great clans had scarcely known a peaceful day. During Sun Quan's reign, they lost more wars than they won abroad, and the state's strength gradually shrank until it became the weakest of the three powers.
Once enemy troops truly reached the city walls, the great clans would surrender for the sake of their interests anyway. It was only happening a little earlier now. Besides, Hu Ke controlled Jianye's army and had no choice but to obey Zhang Zhao's orders.
The wealthy feared loss more than the poor. Having decided to surrender, they proved exceptionally proactive. Letters urging surrender were delivered by the basketful outside the government office gates, and the Jiefan Guard on duty carried them to the docks.
In less than a day, Hu Ke had gathered several thousand family letters. He understood their weight, so before they had all been collected, he had already had a batch loaded onto cargo ships and sent away.
When Hu Ke's cargo ships passed Pengli Water Stockade, Gan Ning was leading his forces in the siege of Chaisang. Xu Sheng guarded the lone city, stubbornly holding out from a corner. Upon learning that Hu Ke had taken control of Jianye, Gan Ning ordered Sun Lin and Zhang Cheng to go before the lines each day to urge surrender.
In late August, the cargo ships laden with family letters passed Pengli, Nanchang, and Xingan before finally docking at Yichun's wharf.
At that time, with Ding Feng covering him, Lan Yuan had just led the Trap-Breaking Army in seizing Yichun, cutting off Lu Fan's supplies at a stroke.
Over this period, with reinforcements such as Zhu Huan joining him, Lu Fan began launching all-out assaults regardless of cost. Both sides' living strength