Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Gan Manor.

Gan Ning, Jiang Qin, Sun Ce, and Zhou Yu were drinking together, discussing Sun Ce's upcoming coming-of-age ceremony.

Gan Ning was a man who valued loyalty and had a good relationship with Jiang Qin and Sun Ce.

Considering Sun Jian's death and Sun Ce's current state as a young man without support, Gan Ning invited his friends to discuss how to give Sun Ce a respectable coming-of-age ceremony.

However, as the drinks went around, Xu Sheng, who Gan Ning had invited, had not yet arrived, prompting Gan Ning to ask Jiang Zhi, who was nearby.

"Uncle, why hasn't Xu Wenxiang arrived yet?"

Jiang Zhi, who had originally intended to keep it a secret, had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "General Xu sent a message saying he is busy with official duties and cannot attend the banquet."

Gan Ning paused his drinking, then angrily said.

"Bullshit, we water generals don't need to organize the county soldiers and promote the military household system like General Zilong and the others. Besides training the sailors every day, what kind of heavy official duties are there?"

"I think Xu Wenxiang must have won a great victory and looks down on me, Gan Xingba, and doesn't want to associate with me?"

Jiang Zhi knew that Gan Ning, who valued face and loyalty, would react this way. That's why he deliberately concealed Xu Sheng's refusal, to avoid causing conflict over such a small matter.

Moreover, after a few cups of yellow wine, Gan Ning's temperament was undoubtedly more irritable.

Before Jiang Zhi could find a way to appease Gan Ning, Jiang Qin spoke up first.

"Alright, alright, you know Wenxiang's personality. He has always been unwilling to gather with people in private to avoid suspicion of forming factions. I would be surprised if he came."

Gan Ning still said somewhat indignantly.

"What are you afraid of? I am loyal to the lord, and Sun Ce is also a disciple of Master Zikun. How can there be any suspicion of forming factions? If anyone dares to disrespect the lord at the gathering, I will chop off his head and use it as a wine pot."

Seeing this, Sun Ce also hurriedly followed up to appease him, saying.

"Ce knows Brother Xingba's good intentions, but General Xu's style has always been like this. We must not let Brother Xingba and General Xu become enemies because of this, otherwise, wouldn't it be my fault?"

"Tsk."

Gan Ning smacked the table and said, "A gentleman is magnanimous, while a petty person is always worried. Xu Wenxiang is so cautious and meticulous, it is really unpleasant."

This remark made everyone present reveal a wry smile.

It was true that Gan Ning was straightforward, but once this remark spread, if it were someone with a narrow mind, they might hold a grudge against Gan Ning.

Immediately, after learning that Xu Sheng was not coming, Gan Ning took his wine cup and stood up, walked to Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, and said.

"I heard that you two will be having your coming-of-age ceremonies soon?"

This was not a secret in Wu County. With Sun Jian's death, Sun Ce was now the eldest in the Sun family, so he naturally needed to have his coming-of-age ceremony early to start shouldering the responsibilities.

Moreover, although Zhou Yu had completely taken control of the Zhou family of Lujiang through various means, he also had not yet reached his coming-of-age ceremony.

Since the two had become sworn brothers, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were preparing to hold the coming-of-age ceremony together.

"Thanks to the teacher's high regard, the teacher will personally perform the coming-of-age ceremony for me and Brother Yu. The invitations are already being prepared. Brother Xingba must come early to observe the ceremony."

"Definitely, definitely."

Gan Ning replied with a laugh.

Because they had both followed Li Ji to conquer Yingzhou, Gan Ning's personal relationship with Sun Ce was naturally quite good. Moreover, Sun Ce was very young, and Gan Ning usually took care of Sun Ce, treating him like a son.

The reason why Sun Ce was able to independently command the sea ship to bring the cavalry led by Gongsun Zan and Zhao Yun back to the vicinity of Ji City was also because Gan Ning often taught Sun Ce about navigation.

Therefore, Sun Ce also respected Gan Ning very much, treating him like an elder brother and teacher.

Immediately, Gan Ning sighed and said.

"I have also heard about General Sun Wentai's matter. Now the entire Sun family relies on you alone to shoulder the burden. The orphans and widows will inevitably be bullied by others. We still need to think of a way to cheer for Sun Ce at that time, so that others will not look down on him."

Jiang Qin poured cold water on him, saying.

"Xingba, you are overthinking it. Sun Ce is a disciple of the Marquis of Guoshi. Who in the vast Yangzhou doesn't need to give Sun Ce some face? Who dares to make things difficult for Sun Ce? And who dares to make things difficult for the Sun family?"

"Hmph, you only know one thing, but not the other…"

Gan Ning curled his lips and said.

"You are not clear about the ways of the aristocratic families. You must know that the Marquis of Guoshi is about to suppress the aristocratic families in Yangzhou. The aristocratic families in Yangzhou dare not resist the Marquis of Guoshi, and even dare not hate the Marquis of Guoshi, but they may not dare not vent their anger on Sun Ce as a disciple."

"It is easy to dodge a spear in the open, but difficult to guard against an arrow in the dark. If those aristocratic families really use some small tricks, even if they don't cause any trouble for Sun Ce, it will be enough to make him annoyed."

"Therefore, precisely because Sun Ce is a disciple of the Marquis of Guoshi, we need to cheer for him, so that those aristocratic families in Yangzhou know that Sun Ce not only has the Marquis of Guoshi behind him, but also our support, so that they can be afraid of him."

As soon as this remark came out, Sun Ce and Jiang Qin fell into silence, while Zhou Yu's eyes looking at Gan Ning were very different from before.

Gan Ning's reaction just now made Zhou Yu think that he was a straightforward brute.

Unexpectedly, under Gan Ning's seemingly straightforward appearance, he actually hid such a political sense, and this person knew that doing so might offend the aristocratic families of Yangzhou, but he did not hesitate at all, it could be said that he was very loyal.

'Truly a general!'

Zhou Yu secretly praised him, and couldn't help but sigh once again that Liu Bei had a wealth of talent under his command.

Putting down his wine cup, Jiang Qin, with a serious expression, asked.

"Then what does Xingba think we should do?"

Gan Ning replied unhappily.

"I am not the Marquis of Guoshi. If I knew what to do, would I need to specially call you to my mansion? Wouldn't it be better to just send someone to inform you?"

This confident remark stunned Sun Ce and Jiang Qin.

It seemed like something was not quite right, but it seemed to make sense.

"Puchi ~"

This made Zhou Yu couldn't help but laugh.

Gan Ning looked over, sizing up Zhou Yu's outstanding appearance and temperament, and said.

"Do you have any brilliant ideas, young man?"

Zhou Yu, with extraordinary bearing, stood up to salute and replied frankly.

"I am not talented, but I really have some ideas. If I can get the help of General Gan and General Jiang, it would be even better."

Since Li Ji became famous at a young age, Gan Ning did not look down on Zhou Yu because of his age, but gave the unknown Zhou Yu a chance, saying.

"Tell me about it."

(End of this chapter)