Before Jianye's fast courier boat reached the front lines, Gan Ning and Lu Xun had already captured Dantu Water Fortress. They had expected a brutal, hard-fought battle, only to find that the fortress was defended entirely by the old and weak.
Lu Xun sailed his Doujian Warship into the water fortress. After joining forces with Gan Ning, he sighed. "The lights in the fortress did not diminish last night. I thought Sun Shao would continue to hold out, but I never expected him to run."
"The Sun family is a trapped beast still struggling. If they did not flee, they would be caught in one sweep. General Lu, leave two thousand men behind to guard this place. We will pursue them directly to Wu County, capture Sun Quan, and report back to Sir." Gan Ning did not think much of it.
Lu Xun then offered a suggestion. "Wu Commandery is three hundred li from here. General Gan may continue marching by land, taking Qu'e, Piling, Wuxi, and the other counties along the way. I will travel by water to seal off the Song River estuary. We will meet up at Wu County in the end."
"With Shiyi and Gongxu to assist, we should be able to take the cities along the way with ease. Then we shall meet again at Wu County." As Gan Ning spoke, he deliberately glanced twice at Su Fei, signaling for him to be wary of Lu Xun.
"Wu County, then." Lu Xun clasped his fists in return.
Su Fei and Gan Ning had been old friends for many years; a single glance was enough for mutual understanding. Lu Xun's surrender had been far too hasty. Even with Lan Tian's letter vouching for him, it was too difficult for Gan Ning to completely lower his guard.