Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

In Chaisang City.

Lu Xun sat in his military tent, raised an eyebrow, and asked his military advisor, "Is the visitor named Shen Fan?"

"Yes. That's what this person said." The military advisor bowed and said, "This person claims to be an envoy of Sun Quan, who has something to explain to the general, and has also brought a letter from Sun Quan for the general."

Upon hearing the words "join the army," Lu Xun's nerves tensed up instantly.

Leading 40,000 naval troops in the field, he had to be extremely careful to avoid tarnishing his reputation and having his hard-earned achievements attacked or lost. Why then did Sun Quan send an envoy to him?
If we don't meet him... it wouldn't be right. I'm afraid His Majesty will later rebuke himself for being too timid. It would be unfortunate if we were to neglect important matters.

If one were to see... it would indeed raise some suspicion. Although emperors have always been generous and never overly concerned with trivial matters, who knows if a monarch might change his mind tomorrow?
Lu Xun underestimated Cao Rui's magnanimity, but considering his situation, it wasn't an exaggeration.

"Go." Lu Xun pointed outside: "In front of all the military advisors, immediately seal this letter sent by Shen Fan from Sun Quan, and then immediately send a boat down the river to His Majesty. It must be sealed in a public place so that everyone can see it. Do you understand?"

"Understood, sir." The military advisor thought for a few moments, then bowed and acknowledged.

"Summon Shen Fan over here again." Lu Xun waved his hand. "Go."

"Yes." The adjutant withdrew.

Before long, Shen Fan slowly walked in from outside. He was in his early twenties and had a dignified appearance. Upon seeing Lu Xun, he first bowed deeply and said, "I am Shen Fan, and I greet Lord Lu!"

Only Shen Fan and Lu Xun were present. This was within Lu Xun's army camp, so Lu Xun didn't need to worry too much. He had already done what needed to be done openly.

"Shen Fan." Lu Xun immediately stood up and looked Shen Fan over. "Does your family know that you went to Wuchang with Sun Quan?"

Shen Fan replied, "Since I am in the army, I will follow Your Majesty wherever you go."

Lu Xun nodded: "That makes sense. However, judging from the timeline, your family has lived in Yangxian for generations, and it should have been occupied by Guanqiu Zhonggong's army by now. I wonder what is the situation at your home."

Shen Fan kept his head down and spoke humbly: "As a subject, this is something I cannot foresee, so I will not think about it too much. It's just that I haven't seen Lord Lu for ten years. Today, I am able to see Lord Lu's face, and his heroic appearance is as good as ever."

Lu Xun also sighed: "Sun Quan has put a lot of thought into sending you here. Your family and my Lu family have been friends for generations. The last time I saw you, you were still a little child. Now you are an envoy."

"Please sit down." Lu Xun understood Shen Fan's firm stance from the few words he had just spoken, so he didn't waste any words trying to persuade Shen Fan to surrender, nor did he say anything about protecting his family.

Some things are better left unsaid; otherwise, it comes across as using favors as leverage.

"Thank you, Lord Lu."

After sitting down, Shen Fan chatted with Lu Xun about the recent lives of their elders, and then asked Lu Xun if he had adapted well to living in the north for so many years. After some pleasantries, Shen Fan finally got to the point:
"Just now, Lord Lu sent someone to receive the letter. This is not a problem. The letter only asked Lord Lu to withdraw his troops and said that His Majesty wanted to make peace with Wei and end the war. There was nothing presumptuous about it or that would cause trouble for Lord Lu."

Lu Xun replied calmly, "So Sun Quan sent you to deliver a message?"

“That’s right.” Shen Fan, who was kneeling on the ground, straightened up, looked at Lu Xun for a few moments, and then bowed down.

After Shen Fan bowed three times and then sat up straight again, he said, "Your Majesty wishes to form an alliance with Lord Lu!"

"A united front?" Lu Xun's gaze gradually turned cold.

Shen Fan nodded: "That's right, it is indeed the alliance! Please let me finish speaking, Lord Lu!"

"Speak," Lu Xun said sparingly. Shen Fan's face, eyes, and tone were exceptionally firm, as if he were certain Lu Xun would accept.
"His Majesty promises that he only asks Lord Lu to help him move the family members of the Jianye Palace, a group of officials, and the families of many Wu gentry members in the army to Wuchang. He will not ask for anything else!"

"His Majesty promises to grant Lord Lu all the land east of Chaisang, helping him to establish his own territory in Yangzhou, stretching from Hukou in the west to the sea in the east. Whether Lord Lu wishes to become a king or an emperor, His Majesty promises to help him achieve this! At that time, the kingdoms of His Majesty and Lord Lu will be divided by Chaisang and Hukou to the east and west, respectively, supporting each other and jointly resisting the Wei Kingdom!"

"In addition, His Majesty will send people to escort Lord Lu's family members in Jiaozhou back here with courtesy. His Majesty has already sent people to Jiaozhou to invite them."

Shen Fan wasn't blind; he could see Lu Xun's face gradually turning icy cold. However, he wasn't sure if Lu Xun was genuinely disgusted, or if he was nervous, excited, or at a loss, so he continued speaking passionately:

"Your Majesty is already aware that Wei's ability to cross the river to the south this time was entirely due to Lord Lu's 50,000 naval troops. Now, Emperor Cao Rui of Wei and nearly 100,000 troops are south of the Yangtze River. If Lord Lu could consider Your Majesty's opinion and join forces with Your Majesty's navy to move eastward together, then not a single Wei army could turn back north!"

"When Wei suffers such a great defeat, Your Majesty can lead the Jingzhou army north to take advantage of the situation and capture Xiangyang, then advance directly to Wanluo. Meanwhile, Lord Lu can take Hefei and Shouchun to the north and control the Huai River, making Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou easy prey!"

"If Lord Lu agrees, then this matter can definitely be accomplished! Compared with the imperial cause, what are Lord Lu's old grudges with His Majesty? I hope Lord Lu will think it over and consider it!"

After saying this, Shen Fan immediately bowed down again and kowtowed three times, his movements perfectly executed, as if he were facing a real monarch.

Lu Xun stared intently at the son of his old friend for a long time before finally speaking, "Shen Fan, your courtesy name is Yuanzhi, right?"

"Yes," Shen Fan replied, looking up.

"Whether it's 'principle' or 'conventional approach,' it all means the same thing." Lu Xun sighed softly, his sigh filled with a sense of irony at the impermanence of life: "You have principles, but I don't?"

Shen Fan looked at Lu Xun in astonishment.

Lu Xun continued, "My surrender to Wei was a desperate act by my subordinates when I was unconscious from illness. And if we're really talking about it, during the defeat, not a single one of the many Wu generals was willing to take me with them; instead, they scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing in droves. Did Sun Quan really think I was a man without a ruler or father?"

"I wasn't willing to die for his Sun family before, that was my fault. But after he repeatedly attacked my Lu family and even killed my own brother, Shen Fan, do you really think I didn't know?"

"Lord Lu... I... Your Majesty..." Faced with Lu Xun's sharp gaze, Shen Fan was momentarily flustered and speechless.

"Even disregarding my personal character, my thoughts, the grudges between the Lu and Sun families, and my ability to do this," Lu Xun took two steps forward, slightly lowered his head, and pointed to his profile: "Shen Fan, do you see the white hair at my temples? How could I, who can be a subject of a peaceful and prosperous era, be willing to be a traitor who separatizes, causes chaos, and defames history?"

“Lord Lu can achieve great things!” Shen Fan argued loudly.

"So what?" Lu Xun gave a bitter laugh. "Do you know how many people are left in my family?"

Shen Fan fell silent, lowered his head and looked down, not daring to look at Lu Xun again.

"Someone come here!" Lu Xun stood up, walked to the door, and shouted.

"Your subordinates are here!" Several armored soldiers rushed out from the left and right.

Lu Xun said calmly, "This man is disrespectful to the Great Wei. Behead him and send his head to His Majesty immediately."

"Yes, sir!" the guards responded in unison.

Lu Xun didn't even glance at Shen Fan before striding away. (End of Chapter)